This is amazing! I'm heading to Vegas for New Years and the World Series of Beer Pong. This will help me tremendously to enjoy myself (in moderation) and not worry so much about being OP.

This whole discussion has been very helpful! I wont be phasing off until February for Mardi Gras and then only for a few days. My big phase off will be in June. Im wondering if I will be near my goal by then? hmmmm

Are you doing the big phase off for a trip or what? :)

I bet you will be at goal!!

I'll be phasing off for a cruise in a couple of weeks. I've been reading the Phase 3 breakfast ideas posts and the Phase 3 and 4 sheets to prepare.

I'm not going to do phase 2, but going to phase 3. My question is - can I still do the shakes for lunch? I was just wondering what that would do. I was thinking I might still loose some weight while I'm doing phase 3 breakfasts.

Thanks in advance.

Where's Jennydoodle!!! Hmmmmmm. I'm glad this post made its way back to the top...I'm vacationing for 16 days in Ireland and don't want to do to much harm... :)

Woo hoo!!!

Hi there, you may want to post this in the daily thread or under the maintenance thread. I don't know if this thread gets that much traffic. (And I don't have an answer...but I think you sh ould be fine doing it...)

Phase 2 is meant to help your body start coping with the added calories of protein instead of packets for lunch. Just as Phase 3 is meant to help cope with added calories and carbs for breakfast. I can see the idea of not doing a full Phase 2 but once you are in Phase 3 I would stick to that which includes the changes to lunch protein that you should have made in Phase 2.

I phased out in the fall for a cruise. I did 2 weeks of Phase 2 and 2 weeks of Phase 3 then went into maintenance 2 days before the cruise started. I found phase 2 a learning time for me which was valuable. I don't know if I could have handled adding the large Phase 3 breakfast and a Phase 2 lunch at the same time. When I reach goal soon now, I will probably do a more limited 1 week Phase 2. On the cruise, I did some maintenance principles but ended up more relaxed. It was amazing how quickly the added carbs did me in (not to mention I have a gluten sensitivity and still ate regular bread!). However I only gained 5lbs over 3 weeks and lost that within the first week back - I believe this is because I properly phased out and jumped back in really quickly.

Most importantly, think now about what will happen when you get back home. Lots of people have taken breaks for whatever reason, with or without phasing out, and experienced challenges getting back on program. It seems that it is harder to stay 100% the second time around. Before I left I made up my mind as to what would happen when I returned. I had my packets ready and menu planned for the first couple of days. As soon as my plane touched down, I was back on program. Others have talked about setting up reminders like pictures or posters as to why you are on the program now so you get a fresh renewed focus when you get home. Planning now as to what you need to get back on track will help you be successful.

Good luck and happy cruising!

Just wanted to say thank you for all the valuable info, not to mention the inspirational progress pictures some of you have! Awesome work ladies!

Thanks for the advice. Maybe I'll do a week of P2 before P3. I've been reading the P3 breakfast ideas, and have plans for work week breakfasts.

I'm going to try to keep track of my eating while on the cruise, I'm going to bring some bars wih me and must be my shaker and packets for a snack before bed.

I do plan on going right back to P1 when we get back, I'm almost here, and want to finish.

Love this thread, have a 6 day trip to costa rica coming up and an 8 day cruise.

will be in p4 by costa rica. coach has said do a few days of p1 before costa rica after costa. rica three weeks later is the cruise, so 4 days prior to cruise will do p1 again

love vacations, hoping to have learned a lot and not go beserk at the sight of food on vacations

bump for Curliegirl

Hi Jenny
Did you exercise while you were on Phase 3 for your mini phase off?