[New Englander]

I have a question about sushi in maintenance (on non "fun" days).

Price Chopper nearby sells brown rice sushi with crab, cucumber and carrots (I think). Would this be an acceptable dinner option for P4? I was thinking it would be because of the no fat and carb of brown rice. Am I missing something?

Thanks!

[Busymomx4]

Originally Posted by New Englander

I have a question about sushi in maintenance (on non "fun" days).

Price Chopper nearby sells brown rice sushi with crab, cucumber and carrots (I think). Would this be an acceptable dinner option for P4? I was thinking it would be because of the no fat and carb of brown rice. Am I missing something?

Thanks!

LOL i asked the same question awhile back as i only like the sushi with cucumber. Even if its made with brown rice, its sticky rice which is a lot higher in carbs than regular brown rice so i'll tell you the same as i was told. I would not have it unless its a cheat day and enjoy all the sushi you like. And i did have some brown rice sushi (on a cheat day) and its not as good and it falls apart, lol.

[New Englander]

Originally Posted by Busymomx4

LOL i asked the same question awhile back as i only like the sushi with cucumber. Even if its made with brown rice, its sticky rice which is a lot higher in carbs than regular brown rice so i'll tell you the same as i was told. I would not have it unless its a cheat day and enjoy all the sushi you like. And i did have some brown rice sushi (on a cheat day) and its not as good and it falls apart, lol.

Not the answer I was hoping for LOL!!! But I'll hold out for it on a fun day. Plus it's a better fun day choice than some of the other things I've been enjoying (in abundance)...

Thanks!

AND...you look great! What a great transition!!! Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Busymomx4]

Originally Posted by New Englander

Not the answer I was hoping for LOL!!! But I'll hold out for it on a fun day. Plus it's a better fun day choice than some of the other things I've been enjoying (in abundance)...

Thanks!

LOL i know, i was hoping for a different answer when i asked too.

[capricious]

Hello all... back from the cabin... again... back on phase 1... again...sigh...
I don't mind being on Phase 1. Other than the giving up my social life part. Summer has been a difficult time to stay on track. Especially when I'm away from home and we're out of routine and eating and caving to well meaning food pushers... That combined with staying up late painting the cabin every night for almost two weeks left me searching for easy energy and I found it in the pantry
But I really do not like gaining weight. And I really do not like feeling bloated. And I really do not like the after effects of simple carbs. The body does not run well on them plain and simple. It will never cease to amaze me how little I really need to eat (phase 1) and how much I can convince myself I need when I'm not paying attention (phase 4 run amok ). Truly is the beauty of phase 1. A refresher course. I do not need to graze all day. I do not need carbs. And I will feel a whole heck of a lot better when I acknowledge these two things rather than ignore them.
I have committed myself to a proper restart. 2 weeks phase 1. 2 weeks phase 2. 2 weeks phase 3. I am beginning to think each of the phases are individually important (duh) and that I need to begin properly again to put myself on the right track for phase 4.
Maile- I loved both of the blogs you posted. The one about the different states of maintenance had me laughing. I keep bouncing between 3-5. Looking forward to doing 6 properly. Congratulations on your (almost) one year. The National Weight Control Registry will be lucky to have you in there numbers. I know that we are lucky to have you here.
Ishbel- I think 10k in 1hr8min is fantastic! I'm a slow and steady runner myself so most of my 10k have registered around 1hr15min... It was a funny visual picturing you being toppled by the knapsack. And it is truly amazing what having a tangible reminder of the weight we've lost can do. So much lighter and freer now... thank goodness
BusyMom- Congrats on losing the added 8! Hope you have a great time on vacation! The free day is tricky territory. You want to have it because it allows you to feel free to indulge but there is always the anxiety from the weight gain. Every time you tackle the extra pounds you prove to yourself it can be done and that can really help with self efficacy. But there is much to be said of a calm maintenance and it can feel like a bit of a roller coaster ride when a free day is thrown in. Such a tough call...
PurpleSky- maintaining is worth it. I'm sure you know that. But it doesn't mean perfection just a willingness to stop a slide before it becomes an avalanche. You acknowledge that so... I'm just reinforcing your opinion
To the new maintainers- welcome!- post often it really does help!
Can't help but come back to IP. The structure and safety of it just works for me. Carbs are not my friend. Unless they're the backstabbing kind That pretends to like me whilst putting the knife in my back. And the sad part is I keep falling for it.
But honestly Maile, those blogs really resonated. And I've had enough. I don't want to put on weight and I don't want to feel sorry for myself because I can't eat this or that. And since I control the outcome. Well here I am. Ready to do what needs to be done to stay on track.
I feel a bit badly about 'switching sides' so frequently... but everyone's maintenance is their own... and mine has involved a lot of experimenting that has led me to believe what I should have known all along... stick with what works.

[darbs7]

Thanks for bday wishes ladies Cap I will be doing the same but four weeks in phase one. I ignored all rules this summer. Starting September 2. In the meantime weighing in once a week and more gaining.

[swimcoachmomma]

Good morning folks. I am back. Argh! Sigh! I am a carb addict. I took off 70 pounds on IP from October to April or may. Maintaining in 5 pound window for couple months. Now 8 are back. Sugar is the enemy. Early on I could have a couple M&Ms and leave it at that. Not so anymore. I need to breathe deeply and take control of this crazy thing again. Imagine that. I tickled the dragon and it woke up!!!!! So glad u all are here. Not quite ready for full phase one yet, but this is my first step.

[Maile]

I am glad you liked the blogs. I found them helpful.

For 3 days I have been in training and sitting with 200 people ..and at a table of 10 people I work with. So now I have decided that a key to my maintenance is to be self reliant. It struck me that I am a member of the Nobody else is doing this club..verses everybody else is doing this.
Nobody else was getting up early and walking before the meetings.
Nobody else was not eating the donut breakfast.
Nobody else ordered a stir fry at the restaurant..everybody chose the deep fried heavy gravy lunch.
Nobody else stayed away from the chocolate on the table for snack 1.
Nobody else stayed away from the cookies for snack two.

My point is that I felt very much alone and walking a separate path from all of the people I work with. I would say 90 percent of the people in the room were similar to the ones I work with. I am not feeling sorry for myself..just feeling very different from most people.

Cap: It is good to hear from you. I know you will feel much better with the structure and low carb phases. Good luck on your restart. You sound focused and ready to go. You sound like you have been very busy with your cabin. Are you done painting it?

Ishbel: I loved that Beck article. It is absolutely the key. You have got to stay focused no matter how busy you are. I can feel the pressure of work starting to hit me, and I really have to stay focused on exercise and food planning.
You have done a wonderful job of losing 150 pounds..3 suitcases!!!!!

Busymom: That was great losing 8 pounds. You were wise to attack it quickly before your vacation.

Darbs: I hope you enjoyed your bd. and are getting ready for your vacation!

New Englander: You could check the nutrition of the sushi..and calculate the carbs..so they would equal what you normally eat for dinner. It might be just one piece or two.

Mamazu: You are right. Our self talk is important and it is helpful to have tools to keep you on track.

[swimcoachmomma]

Originally Posted by Maile

I am glad you liked the blogs. I found them helpful.

For 3 days I have been in training and sitting with 200 people ..and at a table of 10 people I work with. So now I have decided that a key to my maintenance is to be self reliant. It struck me that I am a member of the Nobody else is doing this club..verses everybody else is doing this.
Nobody else was getting up early and walking before the meetings.
Nobody else was not eating the donut breakfast.
Nobody else ordered a stir fry at the restaurant..everybody chose the deep fried heavy gravy lunch.
Nobody else stayed away from the chocolate on the table for snack 1.
Nobody else stayed away from the cookies for snack two.

My point is that I felt very much alone and walking a separate path from all of the people I work with. I would say 90 percent of the people in the room were similar to the ones I work with. I am not feeling sorry for myself..just feeling very different from most people.

Cap: It is good to hear from you. I know you will feel much better with the structure and low carb phases. Good luck on your restart. You sound focused and ready to go. You sound like you have been very busy with your cabin. Are you done painting it?

Ishbel: I loved that Beck article. It is absolutely the key. You have got to stay focused no matter how busy you are. I can feel the pressure of work starting to hit me, and I really have to stay focused on exercise and food planning.
You have done a wonderful job of losing 150 pounds..3 suitcases!!!!!


Busymom: That was great losing 8 pounds. You were wise to attack it quickly before your vacation.

Darbs: I hope you enjoyed your bd. and are getting ready for your vacation!

New Englander: You could check the nutrition of the sushi..and calculate the carbs..so they would equal what you normally eat for dinner. It might be just one piece or two.

Mamazu: You are right. Our self talk is important and it is helpful to have tools to keep you on track.

Maile. I so agree with your observations. It does feel lonely. Those times are the ones where we need to double focus. When I travelled in phase one I would go for a walk or go back to my room instead of hanging around during the breaks. Self talk is truly so critical. I catch myself saying negative things about myself. I am worth this.

[Maile]

Swimcoachmomma,
Hang in there. You can do it. You have done it before and you can get yourself back on track. You know Phase 1 works and you will feel so much better when you don't eat sugar. Just tell your self you are learning about maintenance and you will put that dragon back to sleep in a cave...He must be a sugar dragon!

Thanks for your support! That is a good idea about taking walks during breaks.
Self talk is critical! You might go to www.beckdietsolution.com. She has lots of self talk tools to share. You are right. We are worth it!!

Ishbel: That Beck site is great and a good daily motivator. I really like it. Thanks for sharing it.

[NOVAScents]

I love this place! Whenever I get discouraged I know I can hop on here and be lifted right back up.

Maile, you are right in all of your posts! I too feel like I'm an outsider. Just today we got invited to a brunch and it was all about this "amazing french toast"... I can't eat french toast, sorry. Omelet, sure! I really, really, really, hate having to force people to make something "special" for me, you know? It's guilt, but its also ridiculous because those people shouldn't be eating that crap anyways. I have to begin to see things as I am HELPING them. I know my husband has mentioned that when he goes out to lunch with co-workers they are making healthier choices because they see him ordering the salad with no dressing... so we are making a difference!

Now I need to get my butt in gear to exercise, even if it is only doing a few floor exercises at night while we watch tv!

Also, very happy to report that we went away for a mini-vacation and I ate whatever I wanted with only a 1lb gain. I'm on my second day of phase 1 and will see what the scale says tomorrow and will move on or stay.

[New Englander]

Hi all! Well, today is my "fun" day. I'm keeping it low key. Like I'm getting a Skinny Starbucks Latte! Going shopping with mom this morning but she had an accident last night and needs to get a tetanus shot this morning. (She cut her hand when the watermelon she was getting for dad fell and hit a plate in the fridge. She needed three stitches!)

I'm happy to have done so well this week. I love being able to come here. Even if I don't write, just reading all your posts really helps!

Thanks!

[Ishbel]

novascents WOOHOO for going on vaca and only gaining a lb.

cap WELCOME back! Your posts are missed when you are not here...don't worry about 'switching sides' there are people in imperial army that want to be with the rebels too...and vice versa...ALSO, autobots can become decepticons and then back to autobots at anytime too...it's all good, just keep sticking around! You're plan sounds great, I know you'll rock it!

new englander yup, I'm backpacking....little stressed about the pile on my sparebed...it's getting a 'little big' LOL...but the VIP said he'd take what I couldn't lift LMAO...I'm taking some IP bars and simply bars to help with healthy choices...so I'm packing those as my pack will get lighter! HAHAHA

maile You have just awesome posts...you are SO right, it IS lonely. I find some of my friends are having problems connecting with me as I'm passionate about no sugar and eating healthy and exercise...and she doesn't want to hear about it so now we have 'rules' in some of my relationships and when I'm talking to her I actively try NOT to talk about 'healthy stuff'.

***************

So yesterday was 3 months into maintenance and I'm 7 lbs below my goal...exactly where I started maintenance. I'm happy with that considering I'm going to be 16 days away from home on vaca in a place that I won't be able to cook for myself...so very little control other then my choices (which is a lot of control)

I have a question for you all...when you say you fluctuate within 1-3 lbs...is that only on your weigh in day, cause I fluctuate 4-5 within the week but I'm always 1-2 lbs difference on fun day (today was unusually low). I'm quite comfortable with my fluctuation and I know I couldn't keep the daily fluctuation to 1 lb LOL.

Let me know?

[2RIDEROLLERCOAST]

Well ladies I am back, have lurked a while, cant get onto this site at work anymore so I won't be on every day but try at least once or twice a week. I was so impressed with ishbel's running I started last week running at the off leash park. So today I did a 4 K which isn't much but I am preparing for the big event.... I just entered to run my first 5k in years.... and it is next Sunday.
It is for HARTS run for Rescue ( a dog rescue org) I will be taking my two girls, am hoping they won't pull me too much. When we run at the off leash it is off leash, next sunday will be on leash, so as long as they don't trip me I am good. I am sure we will complete it but I am not as fast as Carla or Cap, it took me about 45 min to run a 4 today but that is fine. after we did that we met a friend and walked with her her kids and dog for 1 hour so my dogs are both flaked out sleeping and I am here telling you all how I have missed you.
I am still in maintenance but most of the time I kind do a phase 1/phase 2 protein shake for breakfast, shake and salad for lunch and meat and veg for supper... am good most of the time but still have a candy once in a while. found lately have really missed torillas and salsa, been having salsa on salad a lot but not quite the same. For whoever asked about protein powder I get a brand called kaizen naturals as it has stevia and not splenda for a sweetener, I have found it in vanilla or chocolate.. I have only had the vanilla one, I mix it with big train caramel smoothie mix, or with fruit. I really like it and it is a big container so a little cheaper than pure protein. I am maintening after gaining fast at the beginning of maintenance am around 169 so I still would like to get back to the 150s but maybe with the little more exercise now I can do this.

Have a great weekend all, will let you know how I did next week, I keep singing to myself (not out loud as I CANT sing) What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Originally Posted by darbs7

MY CHALLENGE TO ALL CURRENT MAINTAINERS:

I have been on this website for a few years and 15 months of that in maintenance. I have seen the names on the maintainer thread change about 4-5 times over that time period. Twice I got to know a group of people and both times a Facebook group formed. It is amazing to me...how many super-focused and successful IPers put all or alot of the weight back on.

I am currently up 15 pounds (happened in the last 3 months...just lost all focus) of the 83 that I lost. Do I feel that I have failed...NO! So the correct move is to regroup and lose it before it goes the other way. This is life, we will all get further and further away from that super-focused weight loss period and we have to find strategies to stay focused.

1. Weigh-in weekly NO MATTER WHAT....most the people who gained back..avoided the scale for months on end (that is the mind's way of saying...hey you are gaining).

2. Must do a phase 1 "type" day...with or without packets...I choose meats and veggies on that day.

3. stay connected on here or whatever group works

4. Find someone in your life that keeps you focused...mine happens to be hubby who is 100% on board with this "lifestyle" change.

When I stuck to the phase 1 weekly....I was able to maintain well.

But anything I craved the last two years was eaten or drank this summer....especially 2 weeks in Las Vegas, followed by several weeks travelling New England on the road with my husband.

Well ladies...tomorrow is my birthday and I am headed for one more road trip this summer...headed to western NY for a 2-day golf vacation, followed by reservations at my favorite Italian restaurant..ouch!

I return to 100% phase 1 for six weeks starting September 2nd.

have a great day!

Hope you had a great birthday, and I do like your list will try to follow as well.

Originally Posted by Ishbel

maile - awesome post...reminds me of the daily thoughts that show up in my facebook newsfeed from Beck Diet

darbs Happy Birthday, I'll be on Phase 1 to undo the damage from Scotland on starting the 8 Sept....we will be rebooting together

newenglander I lost a lot of hair too but it comes from drastically changing your diet and stunting your hair follicals (even my MD started to nod knowningly when I complained originally of the hair loss and she's not my coach) which I don't think you'd be doing now with 5 days of Phase 1. 1. you aren't changing your diet drastically and 2. it's only for five-seven days....I started losing mine about the 3-4 month mark. But you DO have to do what works for you and what you're doing seems to be working!

busymom so proud of you and your determination you're my inspiration for the 8 Sept...

Couldn't sleep last night thinking about the piles of clothes and how much or how little I must take and whether I can lift the back pack. When I helped the VIP pack for his Holland trip in June we packed a 45 lb pack and I tried it on and fell backwards onto the bed...so yes I can take 50 lbs but will I be able to LIFT it...funny how I would carry three times that much before.

Have a great vacation and enjoy everything including the food.
You will come back refreshed and ready to continue.

[Maile]

Novascents:
That is a good way of looking at it. You are helping people to eat healthier. I am glad your husband is having a good influence on others. I always order salads with a dressing on the side or no dressing. I think you have to get used to being different..to being the absolutely only one at the table eating differently.
My husband and I went over to a friend's for dinner. After the dinner, we both said that we did not want desert...despite the fact that one of the guests had made an elegant desert. People are always surprised when you just say no.

Have you looked at the Phase 3 breakfast recipes here? There is a post for french toast. I am wondering if you could make a low carb version of French Toast?

Great job on only one pound up after vacation.


Ishbel: You re right. It is lonely to be the only one eating healthy. Also your friends and family often pressure you or don't understand you. But holding firm works and people are forced to get used to the new you.
That is great that you are 7 pounds under goal and maintaining!
Good luck on your packing for your trip.
I personally have a 3 pound range. I do not let my weight get above 3 pounds on any day.

2Ride. Your run is for such a good cause. How fun that they let you run with your dogs. That is wonderful that you are running and exercising. I am glad your maintenance is going well. I have missed hearing from you.
In the Phase 3 breakfasts, people mentioned low carb tortillas from Costco.

Quite honestly I have not maintained for this long for a number of years and never at this weight. I really did not expect that in maintenance you would be dealing with issues of feeling alone or feeling pressure from others.
I am so glad that I can post here and feel understood.