My dog likes to kiss my face when I go down into push ups on my ball. He's going to be so excited when I get the ball back out tonight. He also snuggles when I lay on my yoga mat and gets in my way but I don't mind.

Nice NSV! I am in that place where I'm tired of the comments. This should be another "stages of weight loss" post. I was pi$$ed when people weren't commenting in the beginning and just this week I told my husband, "I can't wait until I can go somewhere and the first thing mentioned isn't my weight loss." Don't get me wrong, I like the nice comments here and there but it's just not all there is to me. Am I the only one that is so wishy washy? :dizzy:

Great NSV!

When I started on the ball, I found it helpful to just sit on it and bounce a bit. It's good for a leg workout and helps get those core muscles working which will make the crunches easier. Remember the farther out you roll on the ball, the more difficult it is to balance. There's a lot to be said for just sitting on the ball and rolling out while keeping your hips up.

Reverse crunches on a ball can be fun. I usually have a cat walk under me, but I can see the dog in the face too. The bigger the ball, the harder they are.

I totally hear what you are saying and I can be just as wishy washy. I want people to acknowledge that I look good, but not necessarily that I have lost weight. I think that was part of why I actually stopped the first time around. People were making so many comments--including the 'don't lose too much' that I was uncomfortable. Imagine saying to someone well over 200 pounds don't lose too much weight! For me though, most people don't have a clue how much I weigh because my body is relatively proportional. I have a belly but it is below my waist, so I just look curvy.

Anyway, most of the time, I appreciate the compliments, but there are definitely times when I'd rather be recognized for something other than my weight loss. Last time through I was pretty public with what I was doing and this time, I've been much more of a need to know basis. I don't know how long that will last or whether it's really the best decision because I know that my resolve is shakier with everything else going on in my life, but we'll see. People will notice eventually, but I've still got another 15 pounds to get back to where I was when I stopped.

Okay, I've rambled enough! :) Have a great day!

Morning ladies!
I find the numbers kind of interesting myself. I'm finding when I shop for clothes that while I'm reaching for the correct sizes, my brain really isn't making the connection that yes I am that size. Here are my stats thus far:
total loss of 57 inches
chest- 38"
waist- 30.5"
hips- 37"
thigh- 20.75"
arm- 11.5"
I'm currently wearing a size 10 but if I keep losing from my mommy muscle, I will be comfortable in an 8 soon.
It's another blah type November day here, quite cool yet and the wind is supposed to blow so I think I'll get caught up on some cleaning and organizing.

Morning all...Today is a much better day. I'm 50 (few weeks shy of 51) and perimenopausal for years. 5 years ago I had an endometrial ablation (basically had the inside of my utereus fried) and no longer bleed. I have bled enough in my lifetime for 10 women! I am now having periodic spotting and am so not happy about this. Praying its just some hormonal upheaval from rapid fat loss. Explains to me why I'm having "non skinny" days and wishing I lived in a two-story home so I could throw the scale out the window!!!!

Interesting to be comparing inches lost and sizes. I would like to pipe in with my measurements later. I'm wearing M/L tops and 12 dresses/pants. And while I never thought it would happen, especially now, today I am wearing sz 10 velvet jeans very comfortably! Yes, I'm smiling.

Congrats to all continuing the weight losses in the next phases. I know we don't count calories but I have decided I need to begin looking at current food choices and how they will compare to life ahead. Does anyone have an idea of the accepted calorie allotment for phase 2 or 3? I know there are a few who use myfitnesspal. Please chime in!......I just began to do so. (scanning the barcode on my bar this AM was too cool)

Keep up the good work exercising. As you work to stabilize your body on that ball, you are working your core. Your core is not just your abdomonal muscles, but your mid and lower back as well as those side muscles. Visualize those muscles while doing your exercises and see just how fast they respond to your efforts. I was so stressed out on Tuesday that I pulled out one of my power walk tapes.....3 miles for about 50 minutes, start to finish. I used to be able to rock it, but my endurance is gone. Yes, I felt so much better afterwards, but during...thought I was gonna die! I did have an EAS drink prior but a friend of mine pointed out that I'm lacking the carbs for my body to burn for fuel. Duhhhh! That is why you should keep the intensity down...which I have been until the other night.

Regarding weight loss comments......I have mixed feelings here. Here lately, I've been "in need" of them to keep me focused and remind me that I am not finished this journey yet. I just ran into a former (male) coworker the other day. He hasn't seen me in about 15 years. Even though I weighed about the same, I look so much better NOW. He didn't see me in my rough years and it was nice to know that.....and I so appreciated the look on his face when he saw me! :)

I will weigh/measure either tomorrow or Sat. and post my numbers.

Toodles.....

Just wanted to add...... I just received the text below in an email from my coach. I know it's all positive but this is some of where my rant came from the other day. What would you feel constantly reading these?

Another dieter just walked out of the clinic after completing all phases of the diet.

Suz lost 10 pounds and 4 and 3/4 inches in less than 7 weeks on the diet.

Suz DID NOT CHEAT!!

She says," It really was not hard even though others tried to sabotage me. It was easy to stay focused knowing I could wear my bikini on vacation and feel good in it."

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Love the new pic Cat!

I just had a great phase 2 lunch. I'm not gonna lie, I was watching the clock for about and hour and a half before lunch because I was so excited to eat real food. I only had 1 phase 1 day this week, to try to jumpstart things, but today I needed that "real" lunch more than other days for some reason.

Jenny: I just noticed my week 17, 18 and 19 weigh ins are similar to a sequence you had. Maybe this means I will lose 2lbs next week like you did. ;)

That would irritate me.

love your new profile picture, you look great!!

I would not appreciate those kind of emails, For myself, I would feel they are being directed towards me and then it would just upset me

And a great avatar picture. The velvet pants?

Thanks.....I will see her on Sat and I am going to come up with some way to let her know that it affects me negatively. Unfortunately, like so many things in this world we have no control over, the only thing that really needs to change is my attitude. I understand exactly why she's sending them out but she needs to know that there can be a down side as well.

Thanks....and yes ma'am, those are my velvet pants! I think its a really good idea for us all to take photos when we really feel great about ourselves. I see a woman in that picture that I don't see in the mirror and I can really see what everyone else sees. :D Makes my frustrations a bit easier to handle.

Isn't that the truth! I never see the same thing others do so when I have a good day I cherish it.

work is getting in the way of my diet
 

Getting love the new pic, and yes that would irritate me getting something like that. the only thing I thought of at the time of reading it is... she only had to lose 10 lbs? and it took 7 weeks... *****y that I am...
I have to tell you I am not having a good week where food is. It has been sketchy all week, I am working downtown for 2 days and there is a little food court but hardly anything I can eat. I did bring my salad and tuna yesterday to eat but today I thought I would be back at my office so I brought stuff to make egg foo young and am still downtown... ended up having a lettuce with thai chicken on top not the best but ate my bean sprouts and mushrooms later to get my 2 cups... haven't been having my night time snack. would rather have a tea. and today can't seem to get water down me... and tonight off looking for a house for a friend. I think I am at the point where I know it matters what I eat but just not hungry this week... and of course my supper meals have been late all week first because of Halloween and then just busy. I keep saying I will try better today... tomorrow back at my regular office so can do better...hopefully.

I hope all of you are having a wonderful day.:hug::hug:

Hugs back at ya! We've all been there. Oh, and I was thinking the same thing, 7 weeks and only 10 pounds? Then I got to thinking, the rate I'm going, it will take me longer to lose the last 11lbs than 7 weeks so I should probably keep my mouth shut.

Oh this is so fun looking at measurements! I've lost 46 1/2 pounds and 46 1/4 inches. I wear a size 10 and my measurements are:

chest- 37.25"
waist- 34"
hips- 38.5"
thigh- 20"

I am going to be 59 in 11 days and have the matronly up and down figure (no hourglass anymore). I went through menopause 8 years ago, so no more estrogen!

Hi everyone. I've been kind of busy lately and haven't been able to post much. I get the time to read a few posts and then I have to get off the computer before I post.

Something really.. surprising.. and disheartening happened, and I hope you guys can give me some insight into this, because I can't comprehend it, and I'm really kind of freaking out. I'll try to be brief:

So I got labs done about 2 weeks prior to starting IP. Everything was normal. My cholesterol level was 176 (normal range 125-200). Now, this past Monday I went in for labs again, since I have new insurance blah blah blah, I was so excited to see what difference IP made (even though I was in the normal range.). Everything came back normal EXCEPT my cholesterol level, which is now high, at 201. I know it's barely out of range.. but it really saddens me. I've been regarding IP in such a positive light, and now this result.. I don't know what to make of it. All I could think of is that it's because of all the meat that I've been eating. I eat beef about once a week and the rest of the time it's either chicken, fish, shrimp. Before IP I didn't use to eat meat all the time. Red meat was really rare for me.. like maybe once a month, and chicken 2-3 a week. When I read the results I felt immediately as if I had completely lost faith in IP, and I felt like just eating whatever. Maybe it was an extreme reaction.. but really, why am I getting worse numbers now?? I would really really appreciate some feedback. I know that whatever i"m thinking right now isn't completely rational, so Im going to try to just hold on, hear what you guys have to say, and try to calm down as soon as possible.

I would really appreciate your input guys

Also I should add, for those of you who have thyroid problems. My TSH level is 4.23 I did some research on this because I know that one of the symptoms of hypothyroidism is high cholesterol, so I thought that might be the case. From what I've read so far, the "normal range" of TSH is considered .5-5.0 by some and .3-3.0 by others. By the latter, I would be considered hypo, and that could explain the cholesterol level. Unfortunately I have to wait a couple of weeks to be able to see my regular doctor.. so I would just really appreciate any input in the meantime..

Just a little different perspective - I think it's good for some people to receive emails like that to see the program working for other people, especially if they aren't on a forum like this one to know that it works.

I know I've been guilty of posting news like that on here and really hope it isn't a bad thing. I don't see it as negative, just the opposite, but I guess it depends on the tone that's set at the clinic as well.

What are your HDL and LDL levels. Also, what are your triglycerides? Not all cholesterol is bad. In fact, statistically, women with higher cholesterol live longer. So, don't freak out. We need cholesterol. Hopefully your HDL went up.

Thanks! I feel kind of silly that I freaked out SO much.

One more vent-fest if you guys don't mind. Just really need to get this off my chest. Since I can't go in to see my doctor, I called one of the physicians associated with the IP clinic I go to, I spoke to one of them and before I knew it we were having a very "tense" conversation. At first he suggested that I might be cheating (which I'm not), then he said that "small fluctuations are normal", but I tried to explain to him that such an increase wouldn't be so small, in light of the fact that it should have been lowered after 4 months on IP, so for it to be higher, something else might be going on. He went on to blame it on stress. Actually he blamed my hair loss, insomnia and high cholesterol on stress... the fact is I clearly told him I'm not more stressed than usual. Whatever. I've had time to cool down.. I'll just make sure I don't slack on exercise from now on, and I'll wait until I can come in to see my regular doctor.

My HDL did go up from 62 to 68, but unfortunately so did my LDL which went from 99 to 121 sigh.. my triglycerides went from 75 to 59. As far as the ratios, I'm still considered low risk for cardiac problems. Thing is, I'm not worried about the levels themselves, I'm worried that they are what they are WHILE I'm on IP. I feel like there's something going on and they are going to skyrocket the minute I stop IP.

Anyway, sorry for the rant. I'm much better mentally now though. I didn't go and eat the house, so that's good :D

Hi Gika, the research citing .5-5.0 is pretty much only subscribed to by GPs and others who haven't kept up with the most recent. Having said that, however, it's important to also say the the TSH level isn't the whole picture. It's good that you're having blood work and the very best of luck with it. :hug:

I'm hypothyroid and was misdiagnoised for too many years. The TSH levels should only be used for monitoring a normal thyroid. IMHO, with the levels at the upper end of the range (indicating hypo), your doctor should be doing a full thyroid panel on you to see why. Most docs like to see the TSH levels around 2 of just below, but once you begin to take medication you can throw the TSH test out the window. Are you experiencing classic symptoms of hypo...fatigue, cold hands, low grade depression, dry skin, hair loss on outer edge of eyebrows? The list goes on and on....Also note, my cholesterol levels were just slightly elevated with my last tests (prior to my beginning IP) but nothing to be overly concerned about....next round of tests come at the end of this month.

I agree that this type of info is WONDERFUL motivation for people. But given my circumstance and several of us struggling, this begins to get our goat after awhile. I keep hearing about people who are in and out of the program and I suppose I could say that I'm just a tad bit jealous! It's all about attitude and I came here to vent and hopeful be able to put it behind me and move on. My posting was to help others do the exact same thing.

I pick up my blood work results at the health fair tomorrow. I will let you know my results too! Unfortunately, I don't have a beginning number to share as I haven't had my blood work done for about 3 years.

I am struggling too. I just keep telling myself....this is life and learn how to deal with these things. If I wasn't dieting, I wouldn't have issues with food so I end up stressing out becasue I didn't eat on time! This is why I've had issues with those d**m bars. I decide this AM that rather than throw them out, I am taking them to my neighbor for "safe keeping". Evidently, I can't be trusted to have more than a few around/with me. I need to find another "go-to" food when life has me running! Funny how I never had "issues" with them earlier in my journey. Last night I dreamed of having oatmeal and egg whites for breakfast. I can't begin to tell you how disappointed I was when I woke up and reality "bit" me.

I was so disgusted with my scale this morning that I decided to hold off on my measurements. Hope to post sometime this weekend. Question for all...when you measure your waist, are you measuring at your smallest point or at your belly button? I think I noticed Jennydoodle with a waist and then a stomach measurement. Thanks to my shrinking apple shape, my two measurements are TOTALLY different!

And Sandy.....quess whose 51st birthday is 2 days after your 59th? :D Even though my estrogen levels are dwindling, I still have some serious ups and downs from time to time. Thank goodness, not as bad as it was about 5+ years ago.

Forgot to mention....I totally concur!

Good morning all, finally at my own office but have a busy day so will have to go shortly. Went house hunting with a friend, I think we found one for her last night... and it is about 5 min from my place which is nice. I have a busy weekend planned, my friend is moving in with me next week as she has to be out of her sold house by thursday so going to try to rearrange things to make it as comfortable as possible for her. Together we have 4 dogs and 3 cats so it should be interesting the first couple days for everyone to settle in. Tonight I get to go and babysit my friend's two precious kids while she goes to a book club. I have never seen such good kids before, they are fun to babysit.

Today I am not stressing about weight and just going to let it happen, going to try to get my veg in earlier today than yesterday ended up eating some of my veg limit at 9 pm so then had a pudding as I have been kind of skipping them this week. I am really tired this morning, I think because a cold front rolled in over night and there is a skiff of snow on the ground at the airport where I work. Now for sure I have to think about winter clothes as my jeans are not warm enough to walk the 10 minutes to my other office a couple times a week...
Hope everyone has a great day and weekend. Later :hug:

Good morning. My scale was up a little this morning, not much, and it was expected because I had a taco salad and the sodium and such from the seasoning always gets me.

Shopping tonight (alone!) for tops for everyone to wear in our family pics on Sunday. It's supposed to be super windy here that day so that should make for some interesting outdoor pics. I'm hoping to have a hot pink/teal/gray/navy blue theme but we will see what I can find.

Morning all!
Still having a weird week, not really sure why. I had a dizzy episode again late yesterday afternoon that lasted like 4 hrs. I did eat my supper as planned and made sure to take an extra potassium. I will confess to iving in to the temptation monster, too much chocolate in my house!! I feel fine so far today but then I felt fine yesterday too right up until my world slid sideways. lol
They are calling for snow tonight and tomorrow, :( I hate that our winter is so stinkin long. I guess it is November and it has to happen sometime so bring it on so we can get it over with.

Best of luck on good weather for your pics and finding the right tops!

I propose you get it retested. I don't think the numbers make sense. I don't know how they could up that much while on IP.

I really agree, Gika. I vaguely remember, from somewhere in the mist of time, hearing that LDL may go up and that it is temporary. I think it was Carla who mentioned it, but I can't find it. I did find this, though. Hope it helps.

"Triglycerides drop drastically if elevated, and this occurs early in the diet. HDL-C (good cholesterol) increases, but this is over a longer period of time. LDL-C (bad cholesterol) may or may not improve in by total LDL-C measures. However, the LDL-C ratio of apoB (bad, dense component of LDL) and apoA (better, less atherogenic component of LDL) improves."
From THE IDEAL PROTEIN WEIGHT-LOSS METHOD: AN OVERVIEW http://www.ihpweightloss.com/The_Ide...Mike_Ciell.pdf

GIKA-I am a Family Nurse Practitioner, and I keep my patients' TSH below 3.5 most times-depending on many other factors of course. There are more thorough ways to measure thyroid-free T3, free T4, etc. Sounds like your symptoms bear a thorough investigation and not by a chiropractor or an Ideal Protein coach. Hope you get in to your primary care provider and feel better soon!:smug:

Thank you everyone for your replies!:hug: After reading them I feel that I'm not crazy for thinking that something is not quite right, and that my concern is not unwarranted, as the doctor seemed to think.

Thanks. I'll definitively read more on this and keep this info in mind when I go see my regular doctor.

I do have some of those symptoms, hair loss, dry skin and cold hands and feet. I had just completely attributed them to IP. But the high cholesterol indicated to me that there's something else. I'm thinking I'll try to convince my doctor to refer me to an endocrinologist. Good luck with your tests are the end of the month!

It'll be nice to see someone else's numbers and compare. I did a search to see what other people have experienced, and it looks like everyone has gotten better numbers. I know IP works, and whatever happened in my case, is not IP related, so good luck on your results!

I agree! I will have my doctor retest them. Unfortunately my next appt is at the end of this month, so I'll have to wait a little.

Thanks! This is helpful information! I thought for sure LDL was supposed to decrease. I will have to do more research!

Ah! It's nice to hear that there are health care providers who don't just blindly abide by the lab ranges alone. I hope my doctor is one of them. Thanks a lot for your input, I will definitively make sure "this" gets looked up more closely. :)

Good evening all! I enjoyed my tuna fish salad at noon today. But still caving and having a protein bar after school.

I often have tuna salad at lunch. I always have a protein bar on my long commute home after school. Why do you consider "caving in", unless you already had one during the day?

Yes, I measure my waist at my smallest point and my stomach, which I measure at roughly 2-3" below my belly button.

Yep, you got it, already had one!!!

Get rid of them! Don't buy more! :D you silly girl!

My husband bought them for me when he was out of town!!! LOL.

Freeze them!!! Oh wait they probably taste even better that way.

Hey CAt , we can celebrate our birthdays together with an IP zuchinni muffin!

I love the idea of taking the bars to your friend's house!! Great idea.