Well if you ladies say so......;)

ItsAboutTime - I buy mainly the same foods as I did in phase 2 except I eat all veggies and more fruit. My phase 3 breakfast has been (almost every day) 3/4 cup no fat greek yogurt, 2 squirts of davinci banana flavor in it, 1 cup thawed blueberries, 3/4 cup kashi go lean crunch cereal - mix it all together.

Pauley - I am not a pilot - I'm a lawyer but I do consulting work with cities and towns here in Canada so end up flying in for meetings. Nothing exotic, mainly little commuter planes :(. The good thing is, although I travel once a week for a day or so, I work out of home the rest of the time so get to do some of the mom stuff for my girls (coaching their teams, pizza lunches etc.). It's hard being away but the trade off works. I'm curious, do others work outside the home? (I know some of you have young kids, in some ways I miss those days, especially after a morning with two teenagers :).

I work full-time for an accounting firm (I'm an economist). I am lucky in that I have a few days each week where I can work from home, and it's flexible. That makes all the difference when you have a stressful job. My son (4) is in full-time daycare.

I work full time at a desk job (export compliance) that involves commuting every day, although not much travel at this time, which I'm thankful for as I have a 3 year old daughter that it pains me to be away from! The structure does help with the diet. It must be really tough on those of you have travel frequently!

My shopping list hasn't changed all that much from Phase 2 either. I'm still having shakes for breakfast (but adding a 100 calorie high fiber bagel with WW cream cheese) and bars for snack. I have added in reduced calorie string cheese, and sometimes eat whole wheat pasta or potatoes with dinner, but not always. Once in a while I'll eat a fruit too, but seldom as I don't much care for fruit.

Hello Maintainer ladies!
I've read this thread on and off as I find you all very inspiring.

I'm nearing the end of my journey, I was set to start phase 3 today, but as it turns out I had to be out of town most of the week and got back in town just last night, so I had to push it back to get ready for it. I would love love love to start tomorrow, and I will be doing as much reading as possible on phase 3 (I have already read some info.. but I feel I could use more). A couple of weeks ago I remember you ladies talking about a link or spreadsheet that someone had put together of different phase 3 breakfasts. Does anyone still have it? Can you share it with me? I would really really appreciate it! I'm so looking forward to finishing this right and then joining you ladies in this lovely thread :)

I I find that Thanksgiving week is stressful also..and I feel like I am struggling with all of the planning. My son is celebrating on Wed with his friends so I am making a cheese platter. Then all of the planning for foods that I will not eat ..but will cook on Thursday. I can feel my stress rising.
I plan on making Thanksgiving my fun day also..but do not intend to eat everything that is available..just too much.

Your Bd celebration sounds fun..and nice of your friend to make you a cake. Where are you going on a cruise? I have never been on one, but hear that the food is fantastic..should have lots of buffets..frozen yogurt????

I came up with that idea as I knew I was actively fighting a craving. For me to feel in control, I need to plan the cheat day..even if I can eat what I want.

Determined, Capricious,Pauley, and BC..I am freezing also. I am layering up and wearing merino wool socks. I had my last batch of conferences until 8pm last night and froze walking in and out of classes.

Pauley..I hope your chest cold is better. I do the same..I exercise especially the next morning after a treat. That is my plan for Friday morning. Do you have those ice running attachments? You look gorgeous and thin in your after picture. You look like a new person compared to your earlier one.

BC..I am also surprised at how much I can eat and not gain. I tend to count calories and carbs. I agree those planes are cold..especialy the night flights.
Are you going to be swamped flying during the holidays?

Capricious..I like the idea of linking exercise to a treat day. Friday is going to be a workout day for me. I really think it helps. Step classes are not easy! Hope you are getting sleep!!!

Pat: That was an interesting article. It does support exercise and small meals being important. What was interesting was that the maintainers ate fewer calories than the normal people..as well as burned off more calories. Could that mean that our metabolisms are slower..despite more exercise?

I am sure you all know that I am a teacher..My commute is 15 minutes through back country roads where I only see coyotes,deer, and mountains.
I have one son at home and 3 others in various parts of the country.

Hi Gika.. That is so exciting to be moving to Phase 3. I may have saved the spreadsheet and will try to PM it to you. It seems like a lot of people in Phase 3 eat no fat greek yogurt, berries, cereal and sometimes peanut butter for breakfast..but I am sure there are many more variations. You are so close to your goal..great. If you track your breakfast on fatsecret, sparkpeople or my fitness pal..you can tell exactly what the counts are for your food. Good luck if you begin tomorrow. Please let us know how you are doing! I began posting here before I reached goal weight..and received lots of support and information.

Itsabouttime: I basically shopped for Phase 2 as usual and just added non fat greek yogurt, frozen berries, low carb high fiber cereal..kashi or special K protein..or low carb bread.
San Francisco is a wonderful city..You will have a wonderful time!

For Phase 3, I bought raspberries, blackberries, bananas and frozen mixed berries and frozen mangos. Cerial - Alpen sugar free musili and 7 grain bread, whipped peanutbutter and whipped butter.. everything else the same as phase 2. Haven't shopped for 4 yet but sticking close to phase 3 menu.

2 ride: I hear that Celestial Seasoning has a good gingerbread spice and sugar plum tea for the holidays in case you are interested.

Linden, Gika, and Itsabouttime: I believe I forwarded you the Phase 3 spreadsheet. Let me know if you did not get it.

Today's goal: calm down, focus and not get overwhelmed. I will be cooking up a storm. I think what happens is that I have strong emotional triggers to these holiday foods. I realize that I cannot remember a Thanksgiving when I did not eat too much. Thus, I think I am very worried about feeling out of control. I want a treat day but not an out of control one. I can create a new tradition..mantra for the day.

Thank you I will look for that, my roommate and I are (I hate to say) need some other flavor other than chai (have double spice, indian spice, chocolate, dark chocolate, green chai) need a variety. I tried the pumpkin spice sf syrup in my ice coffee today... didn't really taste like pumpkin just was sweet...

I am overduing my peanut butter.. man did I miss it... but now I am going to have to have it only a couple time a week as I always want MORE! I also am having a hard time deciding what to eat (thank you Pxlkitty for your shopping list) I have to go shopping hopefully tonight or tomorrow night after work.. I get to baby sit my friends kids tonight and tomorrow Red dog has agility classes, friday getting a bed delivered... and of course saturday is my free day sooo that will be busy... am also on Standby at work until tuesday morning...
I hope everyone is having a great Thanksgiving week. I know you all will do wonderful and stay firm in your plan.

:hug:

Several days ago, Pxylkitty, you asked us to share our favorite dinner recipies. Here are 2 of mine but they are more ideas than how-tos since I have to juggle things here to accommodate.

First, tunafish "meat"balls. Tons of recipes on the internet. I use 2 small cans, drained well, with the juice of one half lemon, lemon zest, handful of fresh parsley, finely chopped red , and bind with egg. Mush really well with your hands and make 1.5" balls. Saute in 1 teaspoon of coconut oil over medium to medium high heat for 10-15 minutes. You can also simmer in tomato sauce, bake, etc. The beauty of these is that they're simple, fast, and they freeze really well so you can make 2 or more main meal proteins at once.

The other is blackened catfish. Use whoever's seasoning you prefer; heat a nonstick skillet to medium high then quickly swirl in 1 t olive oil, add the fish, lower to medium heat, and turn once. Cooks in about 5-6 minutes, depending on one's stove. Again simple and fast. I like it with spinach. Very French, just not creamed, alas. Hope you like these as much as I do.

You, too. Quiet Thanksgiving here. Of course, one could always go to the hard Rock Cafe in Berlin. Hum.

The two pictures you posted on the new pix site are wonderful. I can barely recognize you from one to the other. :carrot:

Got it, and thanks again. Thanks also to Woolberger.