It is so quiet on the IP section now, probably because everyone is so busy with holiday things.
I have been quite bummed because for the third week in a row I am stuck at 137. I had hoped to be closer to goal by Christmas so I could phase off on my two week break, actually hoping to get to phase 3 by then because with my long commute the breakfast is not going to be easy.
But two things put it into perspective for me. One is that if anyone had told me at any Christmas since I was 15 that I would weight 137 I wouldn't have believed it.

The other thing is a book I am reading but not a diet book. In Canada there is a yearly book award called the Giller Prize for Canadian authors. The books on the list this year were incredible. I am reading the winner now, Half Blood Blues. It is about African Americans, African Germans; Germans ( and a token Canadian of course). They are jazz musicans in Germany and France during WW ll. Man, if people can survive conditions like they did I have not right to get down over a few extra pounds when I have been so overweight all my life.
Kind of philosophical for a diet site I know, but it really changed my stinking thinking.

Hi Pat, I'm truly sorry that things haven't progressed a little more but, but but you're not gaining. I liked that bit about every Christmas since you were 15. That sure is a great perspective. And I appreciate the book citation. I think I'll see if the English bookstore here has it yet. And re: above. Your picture is really terrific. Have you, or anyone, heard anything from Rosemary?

hi Pat, sorry to hear you're no longer losing, are you on Phase I still?
I too fear that once I get to the 130's I will not lose as much as I would like. Being short I would like to get to 125 but don't know how realistic that is for me. I have NEVER weighed less than 140. I remember seeing 139.8 ONCE a very very long time ago but it only lasted a couple of days.

Are you doing anything differently now such as exercising more? Do you eat a restrictive daily?

Here are a few tricks for getting motivated that seem to work for some people. Set realistic mini goals and reward yourself with a gift, however token it is. Take pictures of yourself and begin to compare the results. I think this is as effective as the tape measure. But I also found that a tape measure as good,if not a better motivator as a scale.

If you're the personality type, track you food and its components. I track calories, proteins, carbs, sugars, fat, fiber and sodium and, because they're low on the IP program, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. I found, for instance, on days that I got really good magnesium (400 mg) and potassium (4,000+ mg) that I had no hunger at all and no BigC. I also found that days that were really light in sugar usually produced the most positive effect. And of course, everyone's different. But if you can find a pattern, that's good. And water. Also, having a companion, live or on the boards, is also awfully useful for some. I wish you the best of luck.

Edit: I just thought of something else. Before you think yourself into believing you're a slow loser, as some do unrealistically, go to the Christmas challenge and see what others who are similar in weight to you are losing. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...=message#gid=0

Trinique, once you get to the 130s, the loss is slower for us shorties but you rs will be not nearly as slow as mine because you are younger. The best thing any woman can do for herself is get the weight off before you are post menopausal, it is brutal after that.

You will also find it thrilling that you will fit into much smaller sizes. This didn't happen quickly for me but younger people build up muscle tone far better than I do.

I am on phase 1 still and will continue to be over Christmas. I am actually OK with the slow loss, I am only 5'1" and have been overweight since I was 8; which if I will admit it is 55 years.
I know it was age 8 because I have my first communion pictures at age 7 and I was slim. But my mother went back to England for a holiday when I was 8 and I didn't like the food the house keeper prepared and survived on apples for the two months she was away. I was way up in weight by the time she got back, I realize now that was a sure sign carbs would do me in.

Hubby and I just our results back from our semi annual blood work etc and doc said everything is showing up as excellent for both of us so that is nothing to sneeze at.

Also I am using alternatives now so it is actually costing me less than my regular food used to be.
I guess what gets my thinking off track is some of the posts on other threads about "only" losing half a tonne a week and also I hate filling in the challenge at the same weight week after week. But it does give me a good record of where I have been at certain points.

I do have a restricted everyday, I'm not willing to give that up, I'd never had made it this far without that daily trat on my long commute home.I am quite sure that cutting it out wouldn't increase the amount I lose per week.

Also I have been on many low carb plans over the years.

As soon as I went back to normal eating the weight I lost came back along with more instantly. I think on this one with all the veggies and the restricted it puts the carb counts high enough that it is not a shock to the system when a moderate amount of carbs are added back.

It is when I get very busy and don't get everything in (e.g veggies) that my weight stalls so I really need to get back to monitoring my veggie intake , it is so much easier in the summer when I love big salads.
I think in my case if I got some walking in it would help. But with my work load and with our climate that is not going to happen until I retire.

Liden, I am wondering about Rosemary too. Her weight issues are so similar to mine, we have to accept that this is basically how we have to eat for the rest of our lifes. She also is working in a pretty stressful people oriented career. Like mine if you don't get things done due to ever increasing workloads someone one else is going to be directly impacted. In my case it is kids needing funding going to schools from the government to support special learning needs.

I was also wondering if you did IP with a coach before you went overseas? It must be very tough doing it from scratch without even alternative products readily available.

Well, second long winded post of the morning. I wonder if I am trying to avoid said work?

Pat

Oh back again! Linden, do you have a Kindle or something like it? You can download anything from Amazon.com instantly. I love mine. Many Canadians have the Canadian equivalant -the Kobe. That one is good because you can download books from your local public library on it.
I got the Kindle before the Kobe could do that and it still is a huge saving for me to download books instead of buying a hard copy.

You're last sentence caught me off guard. Morning? I'm getting ready to go to bed. :D

I think you're advice to Trinique is awfully good. And I DO understand stressful jobs. So hard; so necessary; and, sometimes, so gratifying.

I had a funny situation vis a vis a coach. She was on another island. I never met her. I did my own weigh-ins and measuring and, because she was new to coaching and had done the program for a short time because she was slim, not a great deal of help. But she tried. On the other hand, I had Carla and Novak and so many others. Here, finding ingredients is tough. A very different food mentality, almost carb-based. I actually walked into a diabetes clinic once and asked them where to find low fat sugar-free stuff. The woman's English was excellent and she looked at me as though I were asking a question about a newly discovered species, one she'd never heard of. (And probably didn't want to meet.) Ah well, one of life's little challenges. Thanks for asking.

Ooops. Forgot you Kindle question. I have an ipad, don't like it much, but do read books online. Thanks for the reminder.

Pat, I think not going up is progress! Your body may just like that weight.

Linden


Going to bed sounds like a good idea, but I just got back from my weigh in and I have 37 things on my "Todo" list for today. (I wish that was an over-estimation!)

Weigh in was up a pound. I'm just not staying on plan right now. There are so many things going on in my life and what I thought would make it easier, is actually making it more stressful. I just deleted what I wrote that were all my excuses because they really don't matter. The bottom line is my doctor and I agreed that we will just meet for measurements weekly until the first of the year and then we will see where I'm at. He also gave me a suggestion of handling the extra food needed for dance. We'll see how it goes. I'm still using some IP products, but more as a convenience.

Marion...good to see you back. I have been in maintenance now since the end of May...it is so freakin hard. The last month or so I have put on between 6-9 pounds depending on the day. I agree this is a lifelong battle and we have to do what we have to do to minimize the damage when we can't be at it full force. Keep it up and enjoy the holidays.

Thanks, Darbs! Don't let it go too far... stay focused and it will be easier to not see it climb back on.

I've been having one of those days when I've been tempted on have a pity party, but I have avoided letting myself go there by keeping really busy. The good news is that I was very productive though I might have not been as positive as I normally am in my post about the effects of old age in my exercise physiology class! :o

Bumping this for Jency.

I think anything one can do to reduce stress at this time of year, Marion, is really good. Besides, you know what you're doing and where you're going.

I didn't make my exercise goal this month. True, I could still go out and walk another mile and a half. But the pup WILL NOT move off the front step in the rain, and my knee socks keep falling down. Two, probably, of the sappiest excuses not to exercise I've ever seen. Still, the last 61 days I've walked over 544,000 steps; 270 plus miles of actual out-and-about walking. :)

WOW that's a lot of walking! I only walk a couple of days a week. Go to the gym, 3 or 4 days a week for step class, body pump, and zumba. I really have to stay active. It just makes me feel better.

Just trying to stay at the weight I am now until after the holidays - I really need to start over and lose these last 10 lbs. I start every morning with good intentions, - but sometime after lunch, I just have to have a treat - i'm going to move my evening snack to afternoon. I used to drink a vanilla RTD with Chai tea every afternoon - but I've pretty much burnt myself out on that. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated! Have a great day!

I would TOTALLY stop trying to do anything IP-related until you get your mind wrapped around it. That's not now. But it probably will be the first or second week in January when so many other maintainers go back for the refresher course. Come on. You've done very, very well. When you're ready to restart, believe me, it will be like falling off a log. So easy; so elegantly simple. 3 protein liquids; 4 cups vegetables; lots of salad; lots of cider vinegar; 2 t EVOO; 100 grams water; and 8 oz fish/meat protein. You CAN do it. Honestly. :hug:

You may not have made your goal, but look at what you did accomplish! That's awesome!!!

Turns out the pain in my hips is not just dancing... looks like bursitis. I see an orthopedic after Christmas and a physical therapist later this week. If the ortho confirms diagnosis they'll give me injections which should make my dancing world better quickly and the physical therapy should help long term.

We are having weird weather... it's in the 40's and raining... should be snow by now. My daughter is ready for snow, but I'm not sure yet.

"So easy; so elegantly simple." THAT'S exactly what I miss about Phase 1. It was "elegantly" simple and effective. This self-discipline and being accountable only to one's self is a difficult (but not impossible) task. I went on maintenance a month ago and have stayed at that weight. This time of year, though, I battle the denial and magical thinking constantly. It's so worth it to feel great and look good but it calls for constant diligence.