I'm back from from Jamaica! :D It was great! Up 8 pounds, which is my normal post-vacation bloat, so I'm back on P1 today and feeling good about it.

JW, you look amazing! :carrot: What a fantastic transformation!

I don't usually eat soups yet, but I'm sure I will once the cold gets more established. I'm pretty sure the sheets intend for you to make your own soup.
I think the point is to just put a bunch of vegetables in soup stock to continue to get your vegetables.

Phase 4 is different from phase 3 in that I add fats (storebought dressing, peanutbutter, pecans, coconut, cheese) at lunch, carbs (black rice, quinoa, sprouted grains, potatoe, popcorn) at dinner PLUS vegetables can include carrots, along with not having to limit tomatoes & eggplant. Snacks are nearly always IP Chocolate Drink Mix timed before/after workout (because I have not found anything I like that tastes as good). That is the basis of regular days.

I am struggling with having too much fun (sugar, likely) on fun days (usually Saturday), which means a P1 day and regular P4 sometimes gets the weight back down by the following Saturday and sometimes it doesn't.

I am also playing around with having Arctic Zero with dinner as the carb. I feel compelled to eat the entire 150 calorie pint and I'm pretty sure the 20g of sugar are a problem (sometimes it creates a carb craving). I have also found that I can easily tolerate an 1/8 cup of oatmeal (basically half a serving) at breakfast but a full serving is too much.

P4 is much easier to go to a restaurant and stay within the rules. It is a little tougher to go to an event where you don't know what will be served and you don't necessarily want to make it a fun day.

Oh, and wine with dinner. I may go back to that as it sort of helped in some way. (and no, it was just one glass!).

I have yet to get the definition of 7 oz of carbs at dinner. I have used that to mean about a cup of cooked pasta, 6 mini potatoes, maybe 1/2 cup rice, a cup of quinoa salad, and a pint of arctic zero.

Lots of people here, and I'm sure they will comment, seem to keep to p2 or p3 plus the random indulgence, some follow the p4 as written.

I have a p4 food diary that helped with the structure to start. Let me know if you would like a copy; I can't seem to find a scan of it right now.

One other struggle: I'm consistently using My Fitness Pal to track portions, calories and macronutrients & it is making me kind of nuts. I did NOT do that when I was using the p4 paper diary and it was less stressful, but I then couldn't tell what would make the weight vary. I am also trying to figure out how weight training plays into this, and thought the MFP info would be important.

Infoplease: Thanks for adding that detail to Phase 4. I forgot that I am eating unlimited tomatoes and eggplant, etc.. and that I have added fats like dressing or PB. I also have a glass of wine now and then. I also react to sugar by craving more.I am also trying to figure out how weight training plays into all of this.


Jenny: 1 pound below goal!!! Woo Hoo! You have stayed on Phase 1 for days and really have achieved your goal! I know you will enjoy your Phase
3 breakfasts! Great job. I like those attitudes also...especially wanting it badly. I do not ever want to return to plus sizes!

I am now drinking pumpkin spice coffee with my pumpkin pancakes! I love the fall colors. Yet I can feel the stress of the holidays building..all of the recipes for the perfect rich meal..all of the pressure to get ready for Xmas.

Lizr: somehow I missed that IP and losing weight has helped you with your pains.
Are you fairly painfree now?

Locopollo: I bet your trip was wonderful. Phase 1 works and you will be on track soon. I am going to Hawaii in Jan and know there are maitais calling!

I had soooo many Krazy Coconut drinks in Jamaica! Delicious! I will have to try putting some coconut flavoring in my Vanilla Drink Mix. I will miss the rum. :lol:

Nearly half of my vacation pounds are already gone, and I'm back in the 120's. :D I know I can be back to 125 if I stick with this. The hardest part is the wine, and if I keep that out, the rest is no problem.

Capricious- where arrrrre you?

I am 100% PAIN-FREE now, I have been since about 2 months into Phase 1. Before IP I had constant back pain/pinch and I would get a fit of heel pain (plantar fasciitis) if I attempted to do longer walks or runs. Also could wear nothing but the medical line Crocs because of my various heel, knee, & back pain combos. Now I wear cute shoes everyday!

Where is the LIKE button?

Funny, except for my hands ,y overall aches and pains are gone, as are my headaches and eczema....

Lizr: That is such wonderful news about being pain free!!! What a great step you have taken for your health!

Locopollo; Those pounds are coming off quickly! I love coconut drinks also..with the rum.

Momto2cs: How was the gala? Did you enjoy wearing your dress?

I am getting hungry an hour early with this time change. I will get used to it!

Here ya go ... LizRR has "modified" also

Originally Posted by healthyangie
Another good one that I've been doing ... this makes 12 pancakes. 1 serving is 6 pancakes. 1 serving nutrition is:

240 calories
6 g fat
16 g net carbs
0 sugars
8 g protein


1/2 cup coconut flour
6 eggs
3 tbsp stevia
1 tsp (or more to taste) vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup almond milk
1/2 tsp salt

** you can add about 4-6 tbsp melted butter and maybe some pumpkin but that changes the nutrition of course. I added 4 tbsp pumpkin butter and they were AWESOME

whisk liquids, then add powders and whisk. Mixture should be the consistency of regular pancake mix (I find if I use extra large eggs, I need to add some flour)

Do on griddle on med-high heat.

Serve with fresh berries and WF syrup. YUMMY!

Morning! The gala was great. I will change my profile pic tonight!
Have a great Monday everyone! I know I am phase 1 ing it today!
Anne

Thanks, but did you say RUM? I miss my old friend. :devil:

Rum can be so fun!!! I am from the land of maitais where you make it with 3 types of rum.

Healthyangle: Thanks for the recipe. I am going to try it..just need almond milk.

Momsto2cs: that is great that your health and pain have improved so much. Good luck on Phase 1.

I was reading a blog here on being hungry. I was wondering if any maintainers still felt hungry when they go to sleep? I sometimes do.

It's been 8 days without power here in NJ. But, finally last night the cable came back so at least I can have internet now. I missed reading these posts. Maintaining during this storm, and no power has made maintaining very difficult. As soon as my power is restored, it will be a P1 reboot for me! They say my power will be restored anywhere from later this week to another whole week. Well, at least I have internet now.

Glad you are back online, explore. The storm would be very difficult to deal with...hope you are back on track soon. I am rebooting too.