Hi guys! It's been a while since I've been on here. Summer is so busy for me. Kids are home and my oldest plays baseball most of the summer. I'm still maintaining my weight loss, just not thinking about it as much. I guess it would be better to say that I'm not stressing about it anymore. I know what I can eat and maintain, and I know what to do if I deviate and gain a few. Thank goodness for phase 1. I guess eating healthier has finally become a habit. Don't get me wrong, I have a weakness for chocolate and especially raw cookie dough, but I just make sure I keep the supply here to a minimum, just enough for a decent cheat day. The kids and their friends eat whatever is left, so not nearly as much temptation. I hope everyone is doing well and I guess I'll be back regularly once school starts. Keep strong!

Malie: I think I am older than you..but even now and then do something crazy like weigh myself in the middle of the night! I'm 55 -- but you don't have to share that. Actually I think it's pretty sweet that I have a waist again -- we've been told too often that once you are of a certain age that you can't lose weight. I even went into Meno Paws about eight months ago. MP has not impacted my weight -- eating carbs impacted it plenty. Still obsessing over weighing myself every morning -- I doubt that will stop -- that's just me.

Purple Sky -- I entered P3 (during reboot) last Friday and I went P4 this morning -- too bloated from the things I was eating for breakfast. And I just didn't feel good -- nodding off during the day at work (bad) and really grouchy at night (bad) -- getting really sleepy at around 8:00 at night. I was not that way during P1 and P2.

So -- P4 -- here I am again. We'll see how long I can keep it going. . . Didn't want to do reboot during the summer -- but, is there ever a good time to do a reboot? There is either a holiday or birthday or some other thing going on. =)

Hi everyone!!! Its been awhile since I posted its my field season at work so I have been working long hours on boats.... I have managed to keep up with eating healthy even though at first it was awkward to whip out a salad while everyone else is eating sandwiches!

Excited to try to keep up with this new volume

Hi, I too have been away for quite some time...I've been doing fairly well on Maintenance. Maybe a few pounds over my comfort zone, and I think it's because I've had many activities to attend and wasn't giving myself at least 5 days between "fun" days...oops...I was going from fun day to P1 and back to fun day every few days...that went on for a week and now I'm getting back on track...

I'm not a big eater, drinker at Thanksgiving/Xmas and New years time so I'm thinking summer may be my weakness...

Be well and can't wait to keep reading how everyone's doing!

lone loser for doing a reboot...how long have you been in maintenance? When did you say "ok that's enough" and decide to do the reboot? (if you don't mind my questions that is!)

So, apparently I'm not eating enough 158 yesterday morning...so I reviewed my food diary and noticed that I was eating slightly less carbs and calories, sitting at an average of 1500 this week...SO, adapt and overcome. I'll try to figure something out next week. I also ate a lot of chicken this week because I made the same amount I usually do but the VIP isn't here to eat his share. mmmmmm jerk chicken...I'm in love with it!

VIP and I facetimed last night at 1130 so I'm super exhausted today and find it difficult to concentrate...ugh I can't wait to sleep in tomorrow.

Hope everyone has a great day!

The summer time is DEFINITELY my big weekness too! I love sitting at the beach with a cocktail and grilling! I have been looking up healthy recipes for the grill. My new favorites is salmon burgers! YUM!!!!

I need to get back in touch with healthier options so my non-fun days are more enjoyable. I've never gone through all the stickies recipe threads and need to give it a look over... Enjoy your beach time!

Ishbel -- I decided to do the reboot after about a year (almost to the day) that I started IP . . . and . . . after I had gained about 13 pounds. It took a little while to talk myself into it -- I was actually afraid that the weight wouldn't come off and I just dreaded going on P1 again. But it wasn't that bad -- I "eased" into it by cutting my coffee back and eating less carbs for about a week before I started the reboot. I also wasn't sick this time -- I was really sick for about three days when I started IP the first time.

It took me three weeks on P1 to get to the point where I was ready to go to P2 -- (I blew it during the first week by going to a restaurant that was anything but IP friendly and I caved -- so I started P1 again for two weeks).

It's really a personal choice when you decide to reboot -- but, it's nothing to dread. It's supposed to only be two weeks in each phase until you reach maintenance.

For whatever reason, I just didn't handle P3 very well -- only did that for a week.

Hope that helps and wasn't TMI!!! =)

So, Maintainers, what are your thoughts on P3 following a reboot? Do you really think it's necessary to "wake up" your pancreas? Do you think your metabolism actually runs better if you wake up your pancreas properly?

Here's my dilemma. I have been on P1 for about 3 weeks and am down to normal weight again. I'd like to lose a little more. But I have 3 weeks left before going on a mini-vacation and would like a free meal or two. So I need to decide how to allocate my three remaining weeks among P1, P2 and P3. I don't think P2 is necessary at all after a reboot because all you're doing in P2 is adding a few more calories. I'd like to do 2 weeks of P1 and 1 week of P3. Do you think one week of P3 is enough, or do you really buy into the necessity of 2 weeks on P3?

My completely personal opinion is that the pancreas is never resting-insulin is secreted even if you only eat protein. Just less of it.
As a result blood sugar stays more stable, fatty liver deposits are burned and the entire body works better.
Phasing off gives a slow return to normality, and keeps people in control, while allowing more and more options.

If you like phase 3 than a week of it would probably be a good transition into maintenance. If not, I woul return to you normal maintenance diet the week before you leave.

Have fun!

loneloser not TMI at all! ! I'm happy to learn that you were on maintenance for a year (thank you for that), did you do a cheat/fun day (I like calling it a fun day) for that year??

bigpassport I agree somewhat that the pancreas is still secreting insulin but just in very limited quanities which allows the liver to start using your fat stores. However, IMPO there is too much evidence for me on an over active pancreas secreting ad-hock insulin because it doesn't know what you're going to feed it next, resulting in extra energy (fat) from excess insulin. (I think in initial consultation they call it an overheated engine...can it learn from your last maintenance...maybe?) So I personally would do a phase off. That’s just me though!

When I was on Phase 1 I was talking to a close friend who once managed a weight loss centre about IP "it's called IP, maybe you've heard of it" she said "no I haven’t heard of it, does it phase you off?" and I said "yes" she said "they all work if you phase off properly, be sure to do it properly". That's always suck with me.

Would I need to phase off with two weeks each, that's a different question, I would do a few days of each even or one week of each.

Just my opinion! Let us know what you do and what the results are?

Ishbel -- Fun/cheat day was pretty carbed up and pretty irresponsible. I also had a hard time getting in all of my water on fun/cheat day. And . . . usually I felt like I'd been on a drinking binge the next day. I'd swear I wasn't going to do it again -- and I'd do it again (go carb crazy).

For maintenance I usually tried to have a good, normal breakfast (for IP) -- in fact, through maintenance I had usually had 2 eggs, three pieces of turkey bacon and sometimes toast -- but I found out the carbs really do impact my belly bloat -- so eventually I cut out the toast. For lunch I would have a P2 lunch. for Dinner I would have a P1 dinner with sweet potatoe or rice (I like the Knorr rice mixes -- Mushroom or Red Beans and Rice as they have only 1 gram of fat).

So during the week I would lose all of the fun/cheat day weight gain and be pretty much back to normal.

Where I went wrong (and gained the xtra 13 pounds) was the month that my husband had surgery for torn rotar cuff, I fell and sprained my hand/wrist, I had too much birthday celebration, there were two retirement parties at work, there were a couple of going away parties at work -- and I just simply gave up and fell off the wagon. Then after Memorial Day I decided to prepare myself for reboot. It wasn't bad at all -- I knew that it would be fairly short lived. Unfortunately, I blew it one week into P1 and went another two weeks on P1. Everyone has their weak moments.

I'm grateful that the weight came back off and it made me realize that IP is a way of life and that it is something that I can live with for the rest of my life.

bigpassport -- During reboot, I could only do one week of P3 -- got very bloated. I don't think that when I reboot again that I will do any P3. Personally, I'll do P1 until the weight comes off, P2 for two weeks and then go straight into maintenance. But, again, that is how it worked for me. Everyone is different.

I think that when you have been on IP for the first time and you have lost the larger amounts of weight to get to your intended goal, P3 probably should be followed for two weeks b/c you have been on P1 for quite some time and then P2 for two weeks.

Paint lady: Good to hear from you! Your summer sounds busy, but you sound like maintenance is going well. Your eating plan seems to be very workable for you.

Lone Loser. I am the senior member..60. I must admit I am happier at this age than I have been in years..and have more energy due to weight loss. I find my fear of the scale is lessoning..but i still check it to keep on track. I alter my eating depending on the scale. It seems to work, Ihear you on the carbs..I react strongly to them also. I love yur meno paws. I have many cats and love them. If you don't mind sharing, we both weigh the same weight, are you wearing size 6?

Sarabean: greaqt job of eating salads while everyone else is eating sandwiches! That is my life at work. I love salmon burgers also.

New Englander: You are right..if you can make the non fun days more enjoyable, that will help you stay on track. I am a recipe hound!

Lee: This is just a personal reaction. I eat a P1 for a day or two if needed and then jump back to P3..no problem. I would do whatever keeps you in the most control and on track.

Ishbel: That is what my coach told me also..the ones who phased off correctly were the ones who maintained on IP. I followed all of the Phase off stages when I reached goal. However, now I modify things a bit.

Well.my son is home from college and is quite the chef! I have to stay calm and not panic as he likes french cooking with butter. So far so good..no gain!
French cooking does taste wonderful.

I am apartment hunting with my son. I forgot the joys of looking for college pats. Yuk...there are so many bad ones.
We went to an Ethiopian vegetarian restaurant. I still worry about the carb content..even if they are good carbs, lentils and chickpeas and ingera buckwheat bread..However, it was wonderful food.
Hope everyone is having a good week.

Have a great week everyone, thanks for starting the thread Carla.

I have been away the last week or so, had to split up my dogs while I was away, they are both happy to be home. Visited with family and worked at another office. It was nice to get away, swam every night, but did eat and drink too much so my scale is up today but know how to fix that so phase 1 today and probably the rest of the week. Looking forward to vacation am hoping to get lots done around the yard and house.

That is great that you got things out in the open, I am sure he will mind his business and just encourage you now.

I kind of had a funny thing, while having breakfast with my sister at the hotel, I had 1/2 banana in my oatmeal and her comment was, you know mom always said bananas are very fattening. I kind of looked at her and went yes, that is why I am having a half one perhaps you should have a few of them. My sister is super skinny and a very bad eater, she sometimes goes for days without eating and then she eats bad things... deep fried mushrooms, deep fried everything... and cheese lots of cheese, like a half box of velvetta with a little cauliflower in it... She is sickly and I tell her because she doesn't eat properly... oh well I guess we all have our problems...