I know it's supposed to be "the norm" to go up 3-5 pounds in phase 3 or 4 and I'm just curious who has and who hasn't? Thanks!

About Time - I've lost an additional 6 lbs since leaving Phase 1. I never did gain the 3-5, maybe because I took up running immediately upon completion of Phase 1. I also track in MFP and try to stay below my calorie threshold.

Maile - did you win the ugly sweater contest? I love the idea! I think I will host one next year, or suggest it for one of the many potlucks we seem to be having here.

Potluck #1 - survived! I ate vegetables, fruit and cabbage salad.

I am hosting Christmas Eve so I think I will do finger foods, and have plenty of vegetables and meats available. I will ask others to bring the desserts and take any leftovers home with them. I think Christmas Day at home will be my "cheat" day. We have a large family party the day after Christmas also andf I've signed up to bring vegetables to that event. I don't know why they even ask me what I want to bring anymore... the answer is always vegetables!

Hi all! Today is my first day of maintenance! I lost 53 pounds and am now at goal. I enjoyed eating a garden carrot today and plan on having some 94% ff popcorn tonight. I am calling that my "complex carb" for tonight!

I cant wait to be there!! I miss me some Popcorn :0)

itsabouttime- I didn't have a gain in ph 3 but I was only eating eggs or tilapia or tuna for my protein to combat the extra carbs. I don't know if you're totaling your calories for the day but that can help as well...
sandy- :congrat::cheer2::cheer3:- welcome 'officially' to maintenance. It does feel strange eating carrots, peas, corn and especially potatoes for the first bit but it's so nice to have them back as friends rather than foes ;)
Pauley- good for you for sticking to your plan for the potluck! And I think your suggestion of exercise is an excellent one- it definitely helps with maintaining...
I find myself stuck in the same boat of too many parties not enough free days. I'm debating just sticking with regular maintenance because my parties are all in a row and I don't want to be Ph 1ing for any of them...
Christmas Day will definitely be a free day though... I am soooo looking forward to stuffing (not me, the turkey :D)

Lynsey- I stayed roughly the same through P3 (I think I might have gained 1/2 pound) and I have been fluctuating in a 2# window on a daily basis. My coach told me that it is NOT uncommon to gain in P3. She told me on the day that I was starting to expect to gain, so I was. The fact that I didn't, I considered a gift. I wouldn't worry about it, Phase 3 is not a weight loss phase. Some people are just lucky that way. I never lost in Phase 2, either, and lots of people continue to lose very well in P2. I know that I will need to do P1 days if I want to lose.

So, having my P1 day helped, and I am now back in my window of 132-134. I did elminate the "culprits" yesterday, so I don't know if it was a combination of P1 or the elimination that got be back down. I feel so much better "mentally" being in my safe window.

2 ride- I am not really sure if I should phase back in after a P1 day. Does anyone do that? I was actually coming on here to see if anyone had some insight as to if I should do a P2 and P3 day before I go back into maintenance. Any insight would be appreciated!

The Ugly sweater party was a kick. Picture 50 staff members all wearing very ornate Xmas sweaters on the same day..many with added ornaments, ribbons and bows added everywhere...People dressed up and looked like Xmas trees. It was very fun to see and all of the students loved it. I did not win, but it was fun..plus since I love Xmas..the sweaters were not really ugly..just very colorful!

Sandy: CONGRATULATIONS and welcome. Enjoy your popcorn. Isn't it nice to eat carrots again? I have been enjoying tomatoes and artichokes. Your 53 pound loss is wonderful.

Pauley: Good for you making it through the potluck. I keep taking vege plates also so I can have something to eat. Finger foods are saviors!


Jennydoodle..I am happy that you are back on track. To answer your question..I Phase 1 and then jump back on Phase 4. I don't do the intermediate steps.


In picturing 2 big feast days, Xmas Eve and Xmas, I realize that calling xmas eve a free day for one week and having xmas day a free day for the next week will not work...sigh. I am simply going to have to chose one day probably Xmas.

Itsabouttime..I did not gain on Phase 3 or 4. Like Shannon and Pauley, I watch both carbs and calories and stay on the low end. I track also.

LInden..We are glad you are here and appreciate your support! Plus I would love some of those wonderful German breads and cheese.

Shannon..I am trying to do the same..get through these holiday parties..as you said lots of parties and not enough free days. I mainly try to maintain so I can have a real free day..It is not easy.

Pat: I too would like to see that information. I am fine with the weight loss rate in IP!

Joanne: Thanks for the advice. I probably will do that..focus on a low carb on xmas eve and save the free day for Xmas. My mind just wanted both days!
I just heard that if you put cinnamon in your coffee grounds it adds flavor.

One more party this afternoon and then a break!

One more week of this crappy phase 3 and I will be in maintenance. Is it bad if I try to lose weight on phase 3 and 4? Am I supposed to just let it happen if it happens? I'd like to at least get back to where I was last week before I started 3 if it's at all possible. I've been running again and will run even more if I need to so I don't have a ton to lose when I restart in Jan.

Good morning! I have been tracking my food at My Fitness Pal as that is the one that is most familiar. However, I entered in that I was in maintenance and it figured out that my daily caloric intake should be 1725 calories (I think). What is your daily calorie total in maintenance? I realize age and activity needs to be taken into account.

Good morning all,

Sandy I usually still stayed around the same as when I was in phase 3. It really helps to keep track just in case somewhere along the line you need to see where you did wrong.

Maile - you name it I have put it in my coffee, pumpkin spice, all of the davinci syrups... getting a new coffee maker was a bad thing but I am doing good this week I have cut myself back to 3 cups... except last night where I went to starbucks for a skinny no sugar cinnamon dulche latte... sooooooo good.
still kind of have a question... so say I have gained 10 lbs and have gone back to phase 1, until I am down again... do I do phase 2 - 4 again? or go right to phase 4? does it depend on how long at phase 1? and if so How long? Decided I would try to get back to 146 before Christmas but don't want to screw things up by not phasing off properly if I have to for a few days of phase 1? Thank you.

I have this question, too. I went back to Novak's post about what Dr. Z told her and this is all it says. "Decide on a weight that tells you it’s time to do something more serious. If you hit that number, go back on Phase 1 until you drop down to your ideal weight. Maybe it takes 3 days, maybe 2 weeks. Then do Phase 3 again. If you want, just plan to do 2 weeks of Phase 1 annually; Dr. Z reserves the 2 weeks every year after the holidays to get back with the program." That doesn't help much, I'm afraid, because it might infer that you only do 2 weeks of Phase 1 and then 1 week, 2 weeks. of 3? But I think it means do 2 weeks of 1 and back to 3 for one week. All bets are off if you do more than 2 weeks of Phase 1? And I'm probably over reading the instructions or being as clear as mud. :o

Thank you I didn't want to screw it up and do it wrong by skipping something that was vital... know for sure I will be doing phase 1 for a week anyway after that not sure.

Pat - Thank you for your input! I have found out that I also have a food intolerance to wheat along with yeast, dairy and chocolate and shouldn't be eating them if I want to feel my best. Hoping I can do IP fine with this...I will check the beginner threads but it looks like I can.

I also couldn't do WW. Funny how I would go for the chocolate (see above, I shouldn't!) and tried to stay within my points. I was too much of a game player, I guess!

I am terrified about maintenance - even BEFORE I lose the weight. (ha!) I just want this to work and be rid of the weight. Honestly, it almost sounds too good to be true to see how much weight people have lost so I hesitate....but I truly need to get to that place of feeling healthy. I wish there weren't so many emotions connected to this. I do also know I eat emotionally and pray that getting on IP will help me cope in different ways.

Again, thank you all for your willing advice to this newbie. After all my investigation here, I'm going into to schedule a meeting with a coach and ask a few more questions and figure out when I can get started when we get back from the holidays. I hate to wait but I don't know if it is wise to start at such a stressful time when I'm out of town. Rather start when I get back and can deal with the detox (be grumpy) when my kids are in school! :)

Good for you, the biggest thing to remember it the diet is EASY but STRICT... I think we all worry a little about okay what happens when the weight is gone... It is a trial and error phase and with what you learn in phase 1 - 3, phase 4 maintenance should look similar to phase 3 or 2... I basically eat the same stuff as phase 3 but have a "fun" day, but even that it isn't as exciting as looking forward to it.. Good Luck, I really wonder why I couldn't do this before but this gives you the tools in your toolbox to continue. It is worth all the things you "think" you are sacrificing..

Jennydoodle & 2ride- my two cents for the phasing... If you are phase 1ing after a free day or you are within five pounds of goal then just phase 1, have a phase very strict phase 3 day after you are back in your 'window' (as this is so close to ph. 4 anyway) and back to your regular maintenance. 2ride for 10 it might be best to do a mini run through the phases. Stay in Phase 1 until you are in your window then a couple days of Phase 2 and a week of Phase 3 if you can swing it. Considering that we are so close to the holidays and it would be nice for you to be able to enjoy Christmas day maybe take a free day that day and go back to Phase 1 after? And continue that into the New Year? I don't know if you had a chance to read about the rainbow diet that I mentioned on here earlier but I did really think about you and darbs. The creator of the diet mentioned that many times when a person loses a significant amount of weight utilizing a low calorie diet that at the end they will gain weight even though they are still following the diet to the letter and it has something to do with an imbalance of water in the body. As well, coffee is a diuretic and you may be unintentionally dehydrating your body, I know you drink copious amounts of water but it can be hard for your body to use it when the coffee is forcing it all out before it can be properly utilized. Just food for thought... you have been so strong and done so well, you completely deserve the peace of mind of having your weight stabilize...
Maile- I loved the image that your description of teachers adorned as something akin to a Christmas tree brought to mind. I bought a Christmas baking for gifts mini cookbook yesterday and was looking through it salivating and the thought that came to my mind is that this is not something I should be looking at. I'd also bought a diabetic christmas special cookbook and did I ever feel a whole lot less guilty looking at that. I'm not diabetic but the cookbooks are very well suited to maintenance as they are all low in sugar and as healthy as a macaroon can get. I believe in karma, that what goes around comes around and if I give away a bunch of high sugar, high fat christmas treats the universe will see fit that they come back to me somehow :p
lynsey- good for you for taking up running! Are you enjoying it?
I don't know if anyone has tried zumba... but I have always wanted to. Finally ordered the new set of dvds off ebay and I love it. Working out for an hour feels a lot more like fun and a lot less like work. Still feel it the next day which I take as a good sign and it was cute to watch my little ones bop their heads and bounce around with me :)