Experience thread #2.
 

We were officially shut down. I was going to watch for that and completely forgot. So, here is our new home for now.

Lynsey, isn't it interesting how "politics" even enters the dance studio! I think if your daughter has the ability she should go to the advanced group.

I am doing great! I am on day 2, still not in ketosis but I really binged for 3 days. I have to pay the price. It helped that I had scrapbooking for 3 hours yesterday.

BTW, Grandby sent me her phase 3 and 4 sheets from IP headquarters and they are different from what my coach gave me. I told my coach I thought hers were outdated (I could tell by meat ounces and only said green peppers), but she didn't bother to get the right information. Maybe she doesn't read her emails from her higher ups. My coach just got engaged and has romance on her mind.

Ok , everyone, here is to a OP low carb day!

I forgot to tell you that the scale was down after one phase one day, it said 154.6.

It is annoying but I try not to let it bother me as much as it bothers my hubby. For what we pay, she should be able to dance with others at her level.

Does you new phase 3 sheet say ALL veggies are now allowed? I've seen some that do and some that don't. Both have the new meat ounces though so I don't know which is correct.

Woohoo! Keep at it and you will be phasing off soon! I actually stayed off the scale this morning. It killed me but I came downstairs at 5 and made coffee and once I drank it I didn't want to weigh anyway. I don't think I'll be as strong tomorrow. :D

Good morning!!
I sit here huddled over my hot tea (again) as Mother Nature is still PMSing up here. Doing alright on my 3rd week of Phase 2 tho my weight was up yesterday morning but I think I got into some "bad" salt on Friday. I'm working on my list of questions for Tuesday, although I must admit I don't have many... it appears to be straight forward, just a matter of keeping all the info at the front of my brain. Lots of water and tea again today, I've been slacking on that the last couple days. Have to get rid of the extra salt by Tuesday ;) lol

We were cold here in NE Montana too yesterday. I made a pot of tea for my scrapbooking ladies and they loved it. Drink lots of water to get rid of the salt.

Lynsey, good for you for not getting on the scale.

When I quit weighing myself I start to get into trouble. I went for months last year and never stood on the scale ( I gained a LOT of weight too)

Oh, I won't make it even 2 days. It was a struggle this morning. I just want to know I can have a day here and there without that being the determining factor of how the day goes.

Check you email Lynsey, I could be in spam if I'm not in your address book.

Sounds good! Thanks!

HEY!!...I was just going to ask if anyone had seen you!....didn't recognize you in your avatar!!....glad to see you are still around!

I'm still doing great! I am back to 3 packets a day, I wonder if there is something in the packets themselves that reduce cravings? Or, geesh, could it be that I am getting back into ketosis? Tomorrow I'll be back to phase 2 meals.

:D :hug: :D

Hey all! Just checking in after what has been an extremely busy weekend. I started P3 on Friday and have been loving it. Checked in with the scale this morning and still holding steady at 133.4, which I am happy about. I know that I am still "shifting" and losing inches because clothes are still getting lose. I have a couple of pairs of pants that I am using as a guideline and they are getting looser even though I am not losing any weight.

I have been thinking about P3 & P4 lately and I think P3 is a happy place that I think I will find myself living pretty much day to day, with a cheat day followed by a P1 day thrown into the mix. The breakfast is just so satisifing that I don't find myself really wanting anything else the rest of the day (carb wise). Who knows what the next couple of weeks will bring, but I am definitely spending quite a bit of time thinking about the future lately.

Great job Jenny! I am going back to phase 2 tomorrow. I was hoping to be at phase 3 this week but I had 3 bad days. My coach wants me to stay at phase 2 until I reach goal.

Good morning all....Back to work (at least its a very short week), back from an unexpected stay in NOLA (excellent get-away) and back from the physical therapy evaluation on my knee. Possible torn meniscus...that's the stuff that cushions the two thigh bones (upper knee) as they rest upon the lower knee. How I respond to 3-4 weeks of therapy 2-3 times week will determine whether or not I will need surgery in the future! PT's words "There are no guarantees with treatment but I have seen patients like you do very well in therapy, while others do not".......:):(

I had decided to begin Phase 3 on Friday, phase out and then rev up my exercise to finish toning up and getting rid of my last few pounds. This has put a kink in my plans. I am afraid that I will have to minimize my physical activity once my knee therapy begins....hopefully this week. I have to jump through some hoops for insurance purposes but I think I can make it all happen.

What's a girl to do? :dizzy:

Good morning Cat! It's tough when you have knee problems. Hope it all works out for you with insurance.Are you still going to phase 3 on Friday then? I am doing phase 2 and would like to be in phase 3 soon. Just want to get the last few pounds off first.

Have a good day everyone. I have had 2 perfectly OP days. It feels good.

I can walk just fine, no problems with stairs, etc. The knee just seems to have a mind of its own and "freaks" on me at times. From what I've been reading this is very common with meniscus tears. And the older we are, the thinner it is and the more easily it can tear. Insurance isn't a problem. I have to have my doctor sign my orders before they can begin the therapy....insurance requires this. I sure hope she didn't take off this week...waiting for 8AM to make that call!

As for beginning Phase 3, I am now sitting on the fence about this. The uncertainity has made me stop dead in my tracks but the proactive me says stick to your guns........I think it best that I go ahead and phase out but I keep going back and forth with my decision. Help!!!!

Please see the daily thread today. I posted a " How to survive the holidays" that came from my coach.

I just came to thank you for the daily thread post! I "borrowed" it and shared on Carla's ideal protein facebook page. It was great.

Good morning. I was back up a little when I weighed this morning and wishing I hadn't peeked. Oh well, 3 days of phase 1 and hopefully Thursday will have me back down to where I was.

Both of my daughter's got first at the dance competition so I was one proud mama. It was a late night and since we were sitting in packed bleachers all day I barely drank anything. I had MAYBE 32 ounces of water and could tell. I wasn't feeling right at all. I'm used to over 100. That could be why my weight is up also. Who knows. I'm not gonna stress it.

Have a great Monday!

Sandy stay away from those bars and you will be at goal in no time!!!! :)

Cat, can you swim? would that be better on knees till you can increase?

Lynsey, you know by now your body weight fluctuates throughout one day. Don't let it get to your mind. I don't own a scale and I only weigh myself at clinic once a week. trust the plan silly. Dance your stress away with your daughters! :)

Jenny! So excited for you! I am starting phase 3 on the 30th. In my mind I feel like I could lose 20 more lbs, but that would be too low, my body fat is at 23%, maybe working out will help tone me up.

So I went to naples over the weekend for a shopping spree with a dear friend from high school (may I add, she doesn't eat much at each meal but she eats what she wants, and she is barely 100lbs). So I tried on a pair of 4s at a store, and she told me they looked kind of big. I tried on the 2s which was insane to me because I still feel like a size 12 in my head. I ended up buying the 4s, which is still hard to wrap my brain around. huge NSV for me. Glad i emptied out 1/2 my wardrobe. Felt empowering!
Now if I could just win the lotto and wardrobe buy a new wardrobe... :)

So our insurance lady at work was just reviewing our info and she asked my weight and I felt so good rattling off, "155". She walked away and I was so mad cause I lied! I lied in a way I never have before. I'm not 155, I'm 153! WTH? My brain hasn't wrapped around this yet.

Leganegan.....I will wait and follow the PT's advice to a tee. If she says do nothing...then that's what I have to do. I want to heal my knee as quickly as possible and without having to deal with the "S" word. Enjoy those new clothes (and it looks like a new purse)...you worked hard for that privilege and it's all yours. :)

I forgot to mention my NSV or what I should really call a huge eye opener for me. My IP program has been through this PT clinic (the reason I drove to the city to see this particular therapist). We talked about my weight loss, its impact on my muscular issues and my success with IP. He looked at me and said "Well you're in manitenance now, right?" I replied "No". He said "Really?" Reality check for me......people see so much more than we actually do of ourselves.

I had forgotten all about that moment on Friday. This only helps reinforce my decision. Friday...Phase 3!

Me too Jennydoodle, I started Phase 4 on friday and have yet to add the extra carb at night, just enjoying the big breakfasts and otherwise veggies and lean protein are fine with me. I am planning my first cheat day on Thanksgiving (not way overboard) and then friday I will do phase I and see what happens. My weight continues downward, albeit slow, but this morning I saw a lower number than last fridays WI., so maybe more calories is helping me a little, who knows? but I am Happy :). You look so good!

Phase 4 Ideas
 

I start Phase 4 today and I am hoping to get ideas from you. Adding 1 or 2 fats at lunch should be easy, PB, Yogurt, cheese, any other suggestions?

The part that I am really interested in your input is the "7 oz complex carbs" at dinner. My coach said brown rice. The examples say baked potato, or spaghetti. I googled complex carbs but I wanted to hear your suggestions.

Phase 3ers, currently or newly completed, please answer.

What types of fruit are you eating? I would normally go straight to berries or melon but it's late fall. Apples, pears and grapefruit are coming to mind....anything low glycemic. I prefer to stay away from frozen unless I have to go there. And I can't wait to taste my first mango....my absolute favorite!

I am so not there yet but I do know what my staples will be. Brown rice, quinoa (both cooked in low sodium chicken broth) and sweet potatoes. Occasionally, I will throw in some whole wheat pasta when the urge strikes. It's very easy to dress up those complex carbs.

I agree! I am not there yet, but brown rice, legumes (beans), quinoa and sweet potatoes will be my staples for the evening carb. I avoid wheat at all costs (I react very strongly to wheat) so pasta and bread are out for me. In the morning I have been doing oatmeal / granola mixed in with non fat greek yogurt.

I experience the same thing sometimes. I know that I am a size 4, but I always think that they will never fit and I never stop being amazed when they do. I guess it takes a while for the mind to catch up. And, when I see myself (naked) I don't think I look that much different, but I guess I really do.

Thanks! Sometimes it does help when you change things up, you are shocking your body with more calories, which it sounds like you are responding to well.

Cat,

I have been putting 10 frozen cherries in my greek yogurt in the morning, I add just a little splenda. I am just loving this. One morning I cut up a freshly picked McIntosh apple, put it in my greek yogurt with cinnamon and a dollup of WF caramel, very good. I haven't switched it up much yet. I absolutely love Ruby Reds and they are in season soon. Yum. I am going to pick up a couple of pmomegran at Wegmans, they are 2/$5 this week and they have such a short season.

I too will have quinoa, rice and sweet potatoes, but haven't been that hungry at dinnertime yet.

I'm not on phase 3 yet but I am thinking of sweet potato or rice for supper, fruit will be blueberries on my yogurt with my kashi cereal.

I am on day 3 of being back On Plan! I will check my ketostix in the am and see if I am back in ketosis. My breath is kind of funky so I think I am. Back to phase 2 today.

Woohoo on the new clothes Legan (and the bag)!

Thanks..never tried frozen cherries....might have to step outside "my box" and give that a try. Apple and WF caramel is on my list. Sounds divine!

What brand of Greek yogurt are you using? I haven't checked my local store to see what they stock.....I sure hope I don't find myself having to make special trips just to stock up on yogurt. I used to do that just for my keifer I used in my smoothies before my local store starting carrying goat's milk. That was all before I discovered how much I love almond milk. I stay away from soy due to my thyroid.

I like Fage brand Greek yogurt. I have found it at just about every supermarket, including Super Target and BJ's.

Stay with your decision, phase 3 was great for me... tomorrow phase 4...

fruits, I was dying for berries as well, the first week I had blackberries and raspberries, this week I added a banana, and this morning I had frozen mango in a smoothie with peanut butter... so good. I really liked dannon oikca greek yogurt... oh and I made sugarfree freezer strawberry jam this summer and I add some of that to my yogurt... going with frozen fruits right now as everything is so expensive now.

Oh man I haven't even thought about the complex carbs I am thinking sweet potatoes would be good too.


So my friends I had a pretty good day, bought for the first time ever size 5/6 pants... loving that... and also lost 3 lbs IN PHASE 3, no gain I guess I did that enough in phase 1 and 2... my coach basically said that she thought my body really needed the extra lbs.
Tomorrow I start phase 4, will have to go shopping after work for complex carbs...

Tonight I made zucchini spagetti and baked chicken with a homemade tomato sauce it was great... having left overs for lunch... less things to prepare.
Have a great night all.:carrot::carrot:

Joanne! Get out!!! You sure blew through that phase. :D Happy, happy Phase 4 today. :hug:

Congratulations!! Have a great time shopping. I know you'll do great on maintenance. I really like whole wheat pasta, whole wheat couscous, and the thin corn tortillas. I've also found "ancient grains" wheat tortillas that I really like.

My favorite maintenance dinner is mexican tostadas. I get the extra thin corn tortillas and heat them up in the oven with a spray of olive oil. When they are crispy, I spread a thin layer of with fat-free refried beans, top with a tiny sprinkle of Cabot 75% reduced fat cheddar cheese, seasonsed ground turkey breast, salsa, and fat free sour cream. It's SO delicious, and I feel like I can eat Mexican every night.

Youll have to share your new favorite recipes with us.

Posting link to my first maintenance shopping list in case you find it helpful:
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/4062876-post300.html

Don't forget the roses. You are fabulous too...

Good morning all! Woot,woot, on all of you starting phase 4-MAINTENANCE!!!I will be there someday. I had a regular phase 2 day yesterday and did not see the scale go down. I'm wondering now if I should do a couple of phase 1 days before Thanks. We are going to my mother in laws and not quite sure what the menu will be. She is getting older and doesn't always cook as much. She said something about going out to eat.

I bought some Greek yogurt and am anxious for a good phase 3 breakfast.

Thanks.....I am staying with my decision. Grocery shopping today. I'm a little too afraid to add peanut butter to my list just yet.....maybe my second week!

Thanks for the FB comment. The positive thoughts are paying off...see below!

And kudos to you for reaching maintenance. What a wonderful feeling that must be!

Thank you for posting this. It will be extrememly helpful for me in the coming weeks. I tried to take a look at your Phase 3 menus on fatsecret and realized I had to be your "buddy" to do so. I sent you a request....I think! :)

I had ANOTHER wake up moment yesterday wth my physical therapist. This one will be actually working with me till the end of the year while the guy I saw on Friday was just an inital evaluation. She and I were talking about my muscles and body structure. I got a looking directly in the eye comment of "You look fantastic. Everything (muscle structure) is there, just need to get it all back to where it belongs." But the best news is....she doesn't think my knee is too bad and wants me to continue ALL current exercise while undergoing PT. I've got numerous muscular issues that we will be working on. Bottom line....after a 50 lb weight loss, my body is desperately trying to right itself. I told her AGGRESSIVE is my middle name...let's get after it!

Thanksgiving lunch at the office today. Fried turkey and goodness knows what else. I brought my own veggies!

Good luck with phase 4! Your dinner sounds amazing. Way to go losing in phase 3. That just shows how everyone is different.

Those tostadas sound super. I am going to have to remember that. Off to check out that link!

Thanks for the link to your grocery list on maintenance Pxlkitty!