I was never one to salt my food, but since IP...OMG does it make veggies extra tasty. Wow!

Welcome Meadow!

Ish, can't wait to see the dress!

Hi All!

Haven't been on in a few days ... sooooo busy!

Locopollo - super cool pic!!!

So I was just wondering if anyone has experienced mood and energy swings when they hit phase 4?
I haven't really eaten many carbs (should actually be eating more ..) but I have enjoyed my 1 glass of red wine with dinner lately :)
Anyway, I seem to be aweful b!tchy the last week and I'm wondering if it's the addition of carbs and maybe hormones getting out of whack from them? I'm also a lot more tired! Doing a phase 1 today to clear out the cob webs!

Thanks everyone for your helpful advice!

After I posted my message yesterday, I met with my coach. I lost 1.6 lbs & 2.25 inches this week. I was very happy to lose 1 inch around my belly area, as I haven't lost in that spot in weeks!! They tested my body fat...and I'm at 18.18% body fat! That just about floored me! I do know that I am close to where I want to be. I have a lot of extra IP food, so I think that I will stay on Phase 1 for an additional week or 2 and then start phasing off...especially since I finally lost in the belly area - maybe I can get another inch or two gone there before phasing off.

You all have inspired me in this thread! Thanks for sharing your workouts...that is getting me REALLY ANXIOUS to start working out again. 12weeks of no workouts was an amazing break; but I'm starting to look forward to working out again! :-)

Howdy Folks! I am in such a great FRIDAY mood! I got my son a Superman costume with little muscles that he looks so flipping adorable in - going to a trick-or-treat breakfast tomorrow and running a 'Haunt Jaunt 5k' with my cousin tomorrow evening. I feel so energetic and refreshed today!

"The Guys" in the lab went out to eat lunch today - I was almost tempted (even though I packed my chicken breast & rutabaga fries), but then they mentioned pizza and it was immediate turnoff. That just soooooooo doesn't sound good to me....Old Liz would have been the first one out the door!

Anyways - hope y'all have a fun & freaky Friday!

I am 38, had a 10lb kid 2 years ago, but have always been overweight/obese and I have noticed the same skin toning track as you Mailie. I am SUPER happy with my arms & leg toning - I think my weightlifting helps a lot with that - but the stomach still has 'the flap'. Honestly, it doesn't really bother me now since we want to start trying for #2 soon - I'll deal with it hopefully after/if we are blessed with another child. I have heard that cardio can help 'whittle the middle' a bit so I am keeping tabs now that I am starting up running more regularly.

And I agree about Locopollo - you are looking Super HAWT!!

I talked with my orthopedist about that - I was also concerned, but I also LOVE running - spondylolysthesis is something I will always have to keep tabs on. I do listen to my body a lot more than I did in my younger days - what's funny is the past few weeks of running I have felt great. Whereas before IP I couldn't barely do decent walking mileage without plantar fasciitis, aching right knee (partially torn ACL), and back pinch (but that was chronic pain - GONE now).

YEAH MEADOW!!! So glad you are on this thread!!! Just remember to start out slow and work up from there. I remember you had the foot problems before. I had the after-run aches & pains myself pre-IP, but man - the stress relief that losing 70lb+ off your body does for you is AMAZING!

I actually used to run a good amount in my 'thinner days' (i.e., size 12/14 ~10 years ago). I love it and always enjoyed the group dynamic of road races and running groups. But this is by far the fastest I have ever been, or ever thought I could ever be. My only complaint is that I can't get in my 3 Bodypump classes a week like I did before (used to be Tue, Thur, Sun - now I can only do Sun), but my schedule is super-packed because of my sons speech therapy (which he is doing WONDERFULLY in), so it's worth it!

LOL - I have totally become a 'salt my food' girl - I at least taste it before I do it, but I definitely find that I am doing that more and more with meat & especially veggies.

I was never a salt my food girl before either. I think it is probably ok to continue salting to the extent you are staying with pretty "whole foods" and don't have a lot of labels creeping in. If don't have a whole lotta labels in your diet then you probably won't get enough salt if you don't salt your foods.

Fit girl
That's great. I'm around the same bodyfat, but am quite muscular. I think getting much lower requires intense focus.

Lizr:I was also overweight all my life..I think this lose stomach skin is here to stay unless I get surgery. I did lose 2 inches off my waist..at my last weigh in..so I am developing stomach muscles.
Your Halloween run sounds fun.

Ishbel: I am not only adding salt, I add tons of spices. My husband and son can't believe my love of hot spicy foods. I would say this has increased since I joined maintenance.

Healthangle: I did not notice mood swings..but remember being anxious and worried initially.

Meadowheeler: Welcome to Maitenance!

Fitgirl: 18 percent body fat is great.

Hard to believe October is almost over. I put up Thanksgiving decorations in my room.
I know it is fall. I am back to eating pancakes with pumpkin syrup. One half cup pumpkin mixed with WF maple syrup and pumpkin pie spice, makes a great syrup and counts as a morning fruit!

Lizr: I am going to make some of your purees this weekend..looking for a holiday gravy!

Good morning! So I tried maintenance this week "as written" and I am up 2#. Not good. So I think I need to go back to my old way of maintenance. I realize that my body just cannot handle so many carbs. The good news is, is that my measurements stayed the same. Phew! But I definitely have lost that "hollow" feeling that you get on P1.

So now I am going back on P1 until I get back to goal weight again, then I am going to follow P3 during the week and P3 with a little flexibility on the weekends. That is what worked before, so it is back to that. I thought I would experiment with maintenance a little bit again, to see if anything changed. But it didn't. I really don't mind P3 anyway, because it is really the breakfast that I am after ;)

I can't believe that I am approaching 1 year maintaining. I am proud that I have been able to keep things in check and am still wearing all my 4's that I purchased. But at the same time, I am a little bit discouraged that it is still so much work. And that I am still experimenting and trying to find that groove that lets me maintain my new body and live a little. Sigh. Oh well, it is still worth it and no matter what it takes, I am bound and determined to never go back. :)

Oh, that pumpkin syrup sounds delicious! I made pumpkin dog treats last week, and I have been doing a lot of sniffing of them. Love pumpkin!

We are leaving for Jamaica tomorrow. :carrot: Really looking forward to it. And when I get back, I will be back to Phase 1 until the bloat is gone. Hopefully it won't be too bad. I am bringing workout clothes...we are going with a group, most of whom I don't know (yet), and my friend who invited us is a Body for Life Champion. Which is the whole reason I started IP in the first place! :cool:

I bought protein bars from Nashua and had to put them in the kitchen at work because I kept binging on them. I cannot handle them at all. :dizzy: This is the second time...I don't know why I thought I could deal with them. I cannot, and there will not be a third time.

I see we have a dieter of the week among us! Congrats!

Congratulations on one year maintaining! That is such an important milestone.

Very interesting on the "real" way to maintain causing a gain. I started to gain rapidly with stage three so had to work out my own way. What works best for me is a phase 2 basic plan with small amounts of fruit and beans added.

I was surprised that some clinics are cutting out phase 2, that was such an important step for me
.
But you are so right, it is so much work! But things were easier in our heavy days because we didn't think about food at a conscious level; we just grabbed what was around us. Unfortunately what is easily available is super bad for us.

I am so glad that several of you who are long term maintainers continue to post. I often wonder what happens to the people who just disappear and what the actual long term successful maintenance numbers really look like.
Pat

I do Insanity 6 days a week. And Liz, every time I do it I think of you because one of the girls reminds me of you ;)

My eating is around a phase 2/3 diet unless its a cheat day. I've been sticking to a Paleo diet, except I consume dairy (Whey protein shakes after working out and as my night time protein plus the occasional yogurt or cottage cheese).

I'm not sure how anyone avoids this holiday season because I am ready to lock myself away! Treats are EVERYWHERE. I'm half tempted to go to the dollar store to buy toys for kids instead of candy since 80% of the people donate it to the dentists or take it into their jobs... it feels like such a waste of money!

Jenny Awesome on the 1 year, agree with Pat's post, it is a milestone! Thanks for hanging out and posting...:) There ain't nothin' wrong with finding what fits you.

loco have fun in the land of RUM! oooohhh...so jealous

maile big into spices too! ...just seem to have a weakness for salt which messes with my head as it shows up on the scale and then down the next day cause I know it's salt and add more water etc etc...sigh

SO, apparently my butt is a mess...I've been having problems with my hips, after yesterdays run it took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes...SO went to a massage therapist and she took my breath away too...<sigh> ...multiple things wrong with the muscles in my butt LOL

So for the next two weeks it's walking and stretch stretch stretch...grrr...I'll have to carve out some yoga time..I always feel better when I put yoga into my weekly routine, I guess my body is saying "time to suck it up buttercup and make some time for me!"

This after spending the day tiling a porch...not sure I feel like doing anything but hanging out in the bathtub with detox salts (ooo lookie that, salt AHGAIN!)

...to stretch and nix the salt...this week to be my quest it will (for you cap - if you're lurking) :)

I have had a big day today! Ran 3.5miles, Did a Halloween Breakfast with my son (the cutest Superman!), stocked up on veggies, ran some errands, made enough roasted cauliflower-celery-garlic Purée for the week, ran a 5k race (3.1miles), and have some sweet fauxtato pies in the oven now!

Today was my "cheat day", nothing too crazy though - I did have "real pancakes" this morning at my sons breakfast and honestly I prefer my crispy cereal ones better.

That pumpkin syrup sounds AMAZING!!! And I hope you find some recipes you enjoy! I started doing a lot of roasted whole chickens and did a turkey once - and found that the veggie purees made great gravies in Phase 1.

Congratulations on approaching the 1 year mark! I find strength and inspiration in how y'all handle lifetime maintenance....a struggle, yes...but wow, you look AMAZING!!!

Now I have to try Insanity just to kick my own butt! Your eating plan sounds a lot like mine, although I am more liberal with veggies and lean meat/proteins.

sorry to hear about your butt! It sounds breathtaking though! Very glad to hear you are listening to your booty and taking it easy, I haven't always been so wise in the past.

I'm still here...tough weekend. My nanny has gone home for 3 months. Yikes. My parents decided to come help this week. Every day has been what's for dinner, what are we doing now, it's too hot, it's too cold?....aaaaaaaaa I don't need this kind of "help".

So today I pretty much binged. They leave tomorrow. Hopefully another phase 1 week will have me looking good in my gala dress on Saturday!

Sorry to rant!