Things I am most thankful for- my husband and children, other family, wonderful friends, great jobs, the health of myself and my family, losing 50 pounds, and the safety of living in the USA.:)

I am thankful for finally finding the person I am meant to be..one who is happy and thin. I am thankful for finding Ip and this support group. I am thankful for my family and my health. I am thankful that I have maintained for over one month.

I am pleased that I did what I wanted to. I stayed in control while enjoying Thanksgiving. Today is off to exercise and maybe shop. Hope everyone in the US had a good holiday. Canadians, are you getting the Xmas sales pitch as well?

Linden..I like both of those recipe ideas. I just made a low carb crab cake similar to your tuna cakes.

Karen.that is exciting to fit a size 6! I am wearing 8s but haven't tried a 6 yet.

Gika..I drink soy and almond milk and consider them as a dairy..do not know if that is right..but it seems to work. Also turkey bacon and turkey pepperoni are legal. I was stressed also about changing Phases..but really it is not difficult..and you start liking all of the new foods!

2ride..Hope you find a new tea. My tea collection seems to be growing as I keep experimenting. Tea is wonderful! I actually have to measure my peanut butter to keep myself on track. It is too good.

Yes peanut butter could be my downfall... I so love it. will have to wean my dogs and me off of it. spent a good time today looking at a keurig or tassimo... can't decide on which but keurig has way more flavors... and does iced coffees so it is winning out for that.

Now this may be tmi but I need help ever since starting phase 4 I am gassy, is it the yogurt or what? Thanks.

Have a nice weekend all

I am thankful that today is my birthday and I am fit and fabulous at forty and no longer fat. I am also thankful for everything that I have learned, maintaining my weight for 2 months, and meeting all of you along my journey.

We leave on our cruise tomorrow, so today will be full of laundry and packing. I've never been on a cruise, never been to the Bahamas (or the caribbean). So I am also thankful that IP helped me find a person who wants to wear a bathing suit and enjoy life.

Have a good day everyone, and a great week ahead. I won't be checking in much while I'm gone.

We have a keurig and we love it. I highly suggest getting one.

Try PB2 peanut butter. It's powdered and doens't have too much fat.

I hope that "someone" doesn't jump on me, but I too got gassed up and I eat what you do for breakfast. I think it is our bodies adjusting to the lactose and carbs. It has settled to a "normal" amount now. I don't know about you, but I was never gassy on IP and I had the "c" issue, which I never have had my whole life, so I reported to be "happy & gassy" and someone said it was TMI, but I feel like to know these things for when they phase off. YOu are doing great, you have been one of my biggest inspirations. I am eating a modified phase III for the most part, a big breakfast (phase 3) and then phase II lunch and dinner, I haven't added the carb at dinner. I still want to lose, so that is what I am doing for now. My first "cheat" (phase 4) was Thanksgiving and I didn't do too bad and now I am right back to my program.:D

Happy Birthday to YOU!

I bought hubby a Keurig 5 years ago and he uses it everyday, he loves it and it has held up well.

2ride. I have never heard of keurig..but wow what flavored coffees. Have you tried any of them?
You know it is too bad they don't make Peanut Butter tea so we could assuage our PB flavors.
As for Phase 4 and gas, I have not experienced a great deal of that. Can you correlate it to a particular meal? Could it be a wheat or milk intolerance? I find that brussel sprouts and tomato sauce cause that in me. Also in your complex carbs, are you eating high sugar at all? That might cause it.
Pet your doggies for me. Hope you are enjoying your weekend.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PIXLEKITTY! Have a wonderful cruise to the Bahamas. How fun that you are going thin and enjoying wearing a swim suit.

Bellamack.. I am glad your health issues have improved and that you are feeling better. I am glad your Thanksgiving went well and you are back on track. I do think our bodies need to adjust to the added carbs. I also am doing a Phase 3/4 ..sometimes I have a carb at night..I am quite leary of adding carbs.

Question on Phase 4: Are you guys measuring your vegetables still and are you really eating any vegetable?

HI Maile,

I do still have my 2 cups of veggies at lunch and dinner, it is probably why I haven't added in a carb, I am pretty full. I still have a high protein snack between 7 -8 pm too. My breakfast is non-fat greek yogurt, either 10 frozen cherries in it or blueberries, 1 whole grain lite English Muffin with 1 T peanut butter. Hope you are doing well :) you are always so kind.

:balloons::bday2you::balloons: Happy Birthday pxlkitty! Enjoy your time in the sun rocking a swimsuit!
I still definitely eat my vegetables twice a day plus salad at lunch. I measure because it's easier to input for tracking. I find eating vegetables to be beneficial in an immediate way in that they are filling so I feel satisfied after eating them and they make me thirsty so I drink my water more consistently.

Have a great vacation I would love to go on another cruise... someday I hope.

I have pb2 in my cupboard and I do use it sparingly... will have to switch to that I think... My friend and I are both looking and keurig is winning so far... now if it could only make lattes, but you can buy a frother so we are good to go...
First cheat day was kind of an all day thing... my friend made sure of it... she is very funny...

I am thinking it was the wheat so I stopped eating bread for a while... but was still gassy, think it is me getting use to the dairy...

so I ate way to much on my free day... I had pb & c baskin robins, salted chocolate caramel, chocolate lava cake, sweet potato fries, pulled pork enchillada, oh and chocolate eggnog in my chai tea...

My friend has a tassimo and she has made me both tea and coffee from it but haven't tried the keurig yet. but there was some chocolate and caramel coffees that I want to try that is keurig..

sidenote to my glutteny... I did walk my dogs twice today as it was so nice. My old girl makes me laugh at around 8 pm every night if we are still upstairs she barks and whines until I carry her downstairs and stay down and watch tv with her... she is now sleeping quietly by my feet, and my other one is in her kennel snoring...

Have a great weekend, am kind of looking forward to phase 1 tomorrow... I can wait another week to give in to my food fantasy...

Umm. Did you say you like chocolate? :D Met a greyhound yesterday only here he's called a wind hound. Isn't that lovely?

Thanks Bellamack. You and I are eating almost the same thing. I am still measuring my vegetables also..I have a protein snack at 3 instead. I am just a little leery about adding new higher carb vegetables. might do them one at time and see what happens..

Thanks for the info, Capricious. I am still measuring my vegetables also. I am trying to get to the point of adding artichokes, eggplant and other ones I have stayed away from on the earlier phases.
I like your warm spinach salad with feta recipe. It is good.
Have you ever tried spanokopeta? It is a greek filo dough pastry with spinach and feta cheese. I made one for the holidays..but just ate the filling!

2ride..It does sound like you enjoyed yourself on your free day! I have been putting sugar free eggnog in my chai tea after hearing about eggnog and chai from you. Now chocolate eggnog in chai is an inspired invention. Thank goodness for Phase 1.
at least you got two walks in with the doggies. It is amazing how the animals train us. Your older one sounds cute. My cat has trained me to give him a few bites of grass when I try to get him to come in. This is not fun in the freezing weather.
By the way..I make a cheater latte..just microwave the milk..not optimum foam..but it works.

Linden..I liked the NY times article on willpower. I like the concept of willpower being self renewing. The more you do it, the stronger it gets..People here have likened it to developing a muscle. Did you fly your dog and cat from Hawaii to Germany? Did you have to go through quarentine like in HI?
Yesterday I made mango bread to use up mangoes. I am freezing them to get them out of my sight!

What a nice Thanksgiving weekend I've had. I cooked for my family and the dinner turned out great. I ate it all, did strict phase 1 with extra exercise on Friday and was back to my normal weight on Saturday. Love it!

I think my brother went into a bit of shock though. It's the first time he's been here to stay with us since last summer. Not only is there a lot less of me, but there's a lot less to eat in this house! He may have been glad to head back to California yesterday so he'd have something to eat besides vegetables!

I am thinking of Pxl on her cruise this morning. It is windy and rainy here. The Caribbean sounds pretty good!

Mango bread sounds wonderful. Think I'll make that for a Christmas gift.

No quarantine in Germany but you can't fly through Great Britian. And there's only one direct flight from the US to Berlin. They stayed in a kennel at JFK for 12 hours as a lay over. I was a little worried because the cat was eighteen then. Well, a lot worried. But it worked. :)

Pauley: It sounds like you had a great Thanksgiving. Glad your goal weight came back quickly. I could use a little warm Bahama day here also. It is windy, rainy and cold.

Linden..That was my plan..to make the bread for Xmas. I have to find a better recipe. Glad to hear your animals had a direct long flight and made it safely.

Today I am tired and heading back to work. More coffee!!! Did my challenge check in. Wt is the same..but still have leftovers for my son around.

Has anyone read Younger Next Year or Thin Commandments?

Good afternoon all, don't have much to say just wanted to bump this up to the first page again...

Maintenance is going well, asked coach about carbs/fat and was a little confused... her answer didn't help much other than I know I am not suppose to eat spagetti and alfredo sauce at the supper meal... just the spagetti..:D.

Going to have rice tonight with spare ribs, we will see how that goes. If I make it home in time that is...

Sorry Maile haven't read either book.

If you happen to shop at Costco... In the same section as the cheeses/ packaged meats, in the end isle is a brand called Janet & Greta's. They make all natural chicken burgers which are fantastic and only 200 cal/ patty and they also make a couple different kinds of sausage which are also very good and run at 150/ sausage. All are low in fat. Very easy and quick to prepare. I have the chicken burger with the Bakerstone Boys thin buns that are in the bakery section and only 100cal/ bun! With the sausage I usually make 10 min brown rice. Add some veggies on the side and for supper it's only 350 cal on average... Another convenience food that I've had and enjoyed is WW soup. They've put out a few different kinds and all are 100cal/ cup or less... great for these cold winter nights that have begun...
I have to get myself unhooked from my skinny pumpkin spice latte drip... they are becoming more of a habit than a treat...

Hey all! I haven't read through the whole thread, but wanted to pop in and say "hi" and that I am officially in maintenance! WAHOO!!!! So I will be jumping in here now and then to catch up. I am not nearly as dependent on this site as I used to be, so I don't come on as much as before, but I still like to see what is happening.

So happy to finally be joining the maintainers!!!! :D

I'm sure you are tired of my endless grocery questions but I am getting my list done right now and would love to know the answers to these....

1. Best brand of greek yogurt. Favorite flavors?
2. Can we have granola in P3?
3. Can we use brown sugar splenda or anything in our oatmeal?
4. What kind of whole grain sugar free cereal are you eating?

Thanks!
__________________

I live in Canada, so here's what I get here:

Kashi golean crunch (3/4 cup)
Liberte 0% plain greek yogurt (3/4 cup)
Blueberries frozen (1 cup)
2 squirts of sugar free davinci banana flavour (I find I prefer to add my own flavour to unflavored yogurt)

I then add nuts for fat or chia seeds into the above.

The kashi, yogurt and blueberries are all alot cheaper at Costco. I use splenda and sweeteners on everything.

Itaboutime: I use Special K protein, Kashi Whole Puffs and Healthsmart Cinnamon. I like Chobanni yogurt plain as it tastes like sour cream. Other have eaten granola in Phase 3 and have put SF syrup on it. I think the brown splenda has more calories than the regular splenda but have not heard anything about it. It is exciting that you are getting closer to Phase 3 breakfasts!

Capricious>.I am very excited about your Costco sausage and chicken burgers. Thanks for the tips. Plus your idea of adding rice or WW soup is a good one..and easy. We are big Costco shoppers. Last night my husband returned with a total indulgence of Alaskan Crab legs from Costco. They were wonderful.
I am also hooked on pumpkin pie latte..as well as gingerbread and eggnog lattes.

Bcgirl: I have been reading about the excellent effects of Chis seeds. Do you just dump them in or do you have to grind them? Do they have to be refrigerated?

Joanne: I found the Phase 4 carbs/fats confusing also..and my coach wasn't a great help either. I still stir fry my vegetables or roast them with olive oil for dinner. It seems like fats include cheese/dairy also. I am glad your maintenance is going well. So I have decided that potatoes would be the perfect way to donate my poundage. Today's mission is to buy potatoes for our food bank.

I saw my coach yesterday. I am going to stop in once before Xmas and then after New Years. I really am ready to continue without the coach. So far so good as I am staying under my goal weight..

I was observed by 5 administrators in my class yesterday. This was very stressful to have people watching you teach. Thank heavens my students behaved. The good news is that even though I was stressed about the whole event, I did not turn to food.

Congratulations Jennydoodle!!!!! That is very exciting that you have entered maintenance!! I would love to hear how you are doing. Are you still eating the pudding cakes?

We've had to do one of those health assessments at work to get health insurance. This is the first year we've had to do it, and thank goodness it coincides with me no longer being in poor health! I was able to answer the questions truthfully and get a top score!

Thanks folks for sharing the cereal information. I haven't had any type of hot or cold cereal yet but I'm thinking this weekend may be the time to add it back in. I'm missing oatmeal with the freezing weather we're having.

I'm glad you made it through your observation with well behaved kids Maile! My husband is an elementary school teacher and he gets really stressed for his observations too. I feel for you guys.

So my 3 year old daughter was crying the other day because she had hurt herself. I actually handed her a cookie "to make it better." Good grief! What is wrong with me?! Way to set your kid up for the same eating disorder you have Mom.

;)

Grrrrr. Five! Isn't that a bit excessive? Poor kids were probably cowed.

itsabouttime-
I too am in Canada so my list quite resembles BCgirl's...
Liberte Yogurt
1 C Blueberries or raspberries or the two mixed together ;)
1/4 C Ancient Grains Granola (Costco Brand)
I like, and will also use, Nature's Path Pumpkin Granola, Kashi Honey Almond in lieu of the granola.
I've tried the Oikos yogurt and don't like the taste as much as the Liberte and it is higher in calories and fat. Same goes for the president's choice brand and Danon. I like a very tart taste so have really enjoyed my greek yogurt- never tried it before Phase 3 but had liked plain yogurt in the past and didn't find this to be too much of a jump...
Bread: WW brand, Bodywise (can be found at Costco) and one that I have only found at Safeway and like the best of all is a low cal winnipeg rye bread.
Top the bread with Kraft natural peanut butter. Was buying Adam's brand natural peanut butter before but the Kraft is easier to spread and has less calories... I still like to use WF spreads on top of the peanut butter for a PB&J type effect...
There is an excellent turkey sausage made by Grimm's that is at Costco and comes in a round shape. This can be paired with an egg and low fat slice of cheese sandwiched in an English Muffin for a breakfast sandwich -it is very good. I always liked having this with grapefruit (but I haven't had it for awhile... should tho' now that I'm thinking about it).
Turkey bacon, eggs, toast with lite cream cheese and an apple or grapefruit is one I like on the weekends when eating with the whole family...

To those on Phase 4- has anyone tried the Larabars? They are all natural bars comprised typically of fruit and nuts. Not as sweet as the IP bars or most protein bars but they are all natural and still quite yummy...
Thank you Maile... it's so good to know that I'm not the only one with latte issues...:D Good for you for getting through such a stressful time without turning to food. It's such a positive reinforcement each time we deal with our emotions rather than eating them. What a battle it is to try and reprogram something that seems so innate. These are the strongest NSV's in maintenance... And to Pauley for recognizing it- it is so habitual to distract the kids from a hurt with something tasty. I catch myself with this as well- wanting to reward a good report card with dessert... Old. habits. die. hard. As long as they do though that's what really counts.

Thanks! It feels so good to have finally made it here :D I actually haven't had a pudding cake in months! I think I OD'd on them, as I ate them every single day for months. Today was technically my first day on maintenance, so, so far so good.

I really wanted to be able to be on maintenance by the holiday's, so I met that goal. I am hoping to stay steady through new years and then I will think about possibly taking off another 8-10 pounds (but on alternatives this time). This time of year is extremely difficult to be in a weight loss mode, so my goal was to get to a good place and then be able to stablize that through this time of year. There are just so many gatherings and dinners and parties, that to be in P1 just seems so hard and restrictive. At least with maintenance you can make adjustments and utilize "cheat" days for the holidays and parties.

Anyway, that is where am at and am hoping that this is truly my last diet!

Haven't tried the Lara bars, but I have found some other really delicious bars I thought I would throw out there.

1). Detour Lean Muscle- I think these would actually be acceptable in P1 as they compare pretty well with the IP bars. But these babies are just like eating a candy bar!
2). Think Thin Bars- definitely only a P3 or maintenance bar, but they are tasty (especially the "nut" or "crunchy" ones). Plus they have a decent amount of protein and very low sugar
3). Odwalla Bars- again, only a P3 or P4 bar, but soooooo good! These probably need to be consumed in moderation, but they are made with whole ingredients and organic. I do not think there is more than a gram or 2 of protein in them, so definitely a treat.

Jennydoodle- It's funny because I just finished a big box of the detour bars! They are very good and like you said so comparable to the IP bar for stats. I was still having an IP bar once a day and have been trying to wean myself off of those so moved onto the Detour bars. But I've also been trying to steer away from 'fake' sugars hence the Larabars. They are higher in both calories and fat but less in sodium and they have no sugar or sugar substitute in them. Maintenance is so close to clean eating but it's so hard to take that final plunge and go fully clean. I can feel the muscles in my abdomen but they are not clearly defined and the allure of eating clean is that maybe that definition could be acheived... Just parting ways with my sugar free syrups... ahhh... that's a tough one. Why is it that the hardest things are always the most worthwhile?
woolberger- are you lurking? Haven't heard from you in soooo long

Maile; it sounds as though they are top heavy with administrators if they can spare 5 at one time to observe. You must be happy to have that behind you!

Thanks everyone for the support on my observation. Yes, it was top heavy..normally you have only 1 principal observing. However, they have received a Walk through grant where they invade your school with 15 people and sit there typing on IPads during your observation. Yes the kids reacted and I am very glad it is over!

Yesterday I chose to buy 6 bags of potatoes and donate them to our food bank..Looking at an entirely filled shopping cart of potatoes and realizing that this was the weight that i carried..was a cathartic??? emotional moment. As I carried them in I felt like I was giving away the pounds I had lost for good.
Crazy as it seems, it was a very good experience. Needless to say I had to have 5 fifth graders grab my 20 pound bags...and everyone wondered why I was giving away so many potatoes!
Thanks Joanne for the idea.

Capricious: I applaud your effort to get rid of SF syrups.That is also lurking in the back of my mind..to get off my sweetener dependence. I printed all of your good tips to take to Costco with me. I also am trying to get off the IP packet a day. In my case it is pudding. I agree with you about the hardest things being the most worthwhile.

Jennydoodle..Thanks for the bar info. I am trying to find a snack to replace the IP oudding. I still have your pudding cakes periodically. Maintenance should be very helpful in the holidays.

Pauley..It is amazing how even after teaching many years, you get nervous with observations. I would not feel bad about the cookie. You are giving your 3 year old so many other excellent ways of living healthy.

Pat: Thanks for the thought..I was happy to have had it done. I had been dreading it for weeks. I do not know how people think it is normal to have 5 adults sitting there with ipads..

Linden..Hope you are not freezing in Germany. are you getting the short days like we are?

Hey ItsAboutTime.....I started eating my restricted item for breakfast....now I always have a bar....and then chocolate drink( I warm mine in the microwave for hot chocolate) in the evening. That helped me speed up my numbers a bit. Might be worth trying?

What's funny is, that before IP, I ate VERY clean. Now, I am back to the "fake" stuff :?: That was the biggest factor I had to consider when my doc approached me with trying IP. I am so against fake and processed food that I was a little taken aback with all the packets. Of course, now I thank the heavens everyday for IP, but I am back eating the bars and the sugar free coffee syrup and the Mio or Crystal Light...

I agree, the next thing to go will be the sugar free syrups for my coffee. One thing at a time. I have a feeling that the bars will be the last to go ;) They are my saving grace sometimes in the afternoon.

I think the Think Thin and the Odwalla bars will fall right in line with the Lara Bars though, and should be a good choice for those of us eating clean. Back in the day I used to make my own snack bars. I should probably get back to that. They were delish!

Congratulations on the symbolic victory. Definitely a cathartic experience, I'd say. And surprisingly it was 54F here today, lovely. But fewer than 8 hours of daylight.

I, too, have a question about eating processed food. Bread, for instance, and peanut butter and cheese with they're salt. I will start making my own breads but can't get the right pasturized milk to make cheese. I know because I tried to make paneer saag for the family a couple of weeks ago with pathetic results. I wonder if others had problems with water retention when they went to phases 2 and 3 and, perhaps more important, did the problem go away? I gained a little weight in the past 3 weeks and the only factor I can identify is sodium. (It's also true that there may be more sodium in processed food, and less sugar, here than in the states.)

HaHaHa. You caught me! I actually check in here almost everyday but I don't feel like I have anything to contribute. After the Family vacation (husband's father & stepmother), then the family Thanksgiving (my brother, father) and the upcoming family Christmas (my brother, sister, Father & MIL) (do you see a common theme here?), I'm spent. I love my family but I feel a touch like Cinderella (pre-prince).
I'm doing well. I was able to drop the 3 lbs I gained in Hawaii and have maintained since. I am checking in once a week in Fatsecret to update my challenge stuff.
I love the conversation about sweeteners. NO WAY am I giving up my SF syrups. My kitchen counter looks like a coffee shop. I actually drink black coffee in the AM but love a sweet treat in the afternoons. I use it to flavor my FF yogurt too. I also have the occasional IP or alternative bar. I've been eating artificial sweeteners my whole life all the way back to cyclamates so it's too late for me!
Sorry for the silence. I'll at least let you guys know I am here.

Lynn

Glad to see you all here! I did see the scale drop a pound on my third day of phase 3. 9 more days and I will be a maintainer!! Woohoo!