I have been IP since November, so I have had Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, My Birthday, many of my kids' birthdays (2 of the 4) along with family dinners out for other birthdays... and Christmas Parties to tend with.

Every single one I have stayed 100% because I wanted to for ME. Yes, do I get jokes from time to time? Do I wish I could have that one glass of wine? Sure! It's Normal. But now after losing over 70 lbs my friends are impressed and realize just how serious I am about taking care of me.

Doesn't mean you can't go out. I go out, yes I drink water with lemon or sneak in a crystal light. But I still have fun because it's the focus of friends not food or drink that going out should be about.

Originally Posted by KristaL32:
How do I get the little tracker to show up on every post... And the icon for each 5 pounds? Help!

I asked the same question yesterday...and still have not received an answer.
R.

Originally Posted by Rachel3:
I asked the same question yesterday...and still have not received an answer.
R.

Actually if you read through yesterday's posts, the same question was answered a few times. You need to be on the forum for 20 days and have posted 20 times before you will have access to your signature in the User CP.

I think I was able to do it now Rachel, thanks for the help scorbett. I have not yet had 20 posts but I went to edit signature under user cp... When u make ur little icons u have to cut and paste the URL into your signature. Not sure if URL is the right word... Not much of a comp person...good luck

Originally Posted by KristaL32:
I think I was able to do it now Rachel, thanks for the help scorbett. I have not yet had 20 posts but I went to edit signature under user cp... When u make ur little icons u have to cut and paste the URL into your signature. Not sure if URL is the right word... Not much of a comp person...good luck

You did it Krista :)

I'm probably going to get a lot of flack for this, but this is taken from out of the Atkins Diet book:

When you consume Alcohol, it is the first fuel to burn. While that's going on, your body will not burn fat. While this does not stop weight loss, it will postpones it until the alcohol has been used up. If you must drink alcohol, straight liquor such as scotch, rye, vodka, and gin would be the best choices as long as the mixer contains no sugar. If you have added alcohol to your diet and suddenly stop losing, give it up.

That being said, remember that alcohol lowers inhibitions and makes you more likely to eat off plan and it does add calories at about 100 calories per shot of clear liquor. I have had drinks on occasion (vodka & club soda), and it hasn't really impacted my losses noticeably. I am NOT advising that anyone deviate from the program; I am simply stating what my experiences have been. Everyone is different and must evaluate what is important to them, and everyone's bodies are different too so my experiences are not necessarily reflective of anyone else.

Originally Posted by PacNW IP:
I'm probably going to get a lot of flack for this, but this is taken from out of the Atkins Diet book:

When you consume Alcohol, it is the first fuel to burn. While that's going on, your body will not burn fat. While this does not stop weight loss, it will postpones it until the alcohol has been used up. If you must drink alcohol, straight liquor such as scotch, rye, vodka, and gin would be the best choices as long as the mixer contains no sugar. If you have added alcohol to your diet and suddenly stop losing, give it up.

That being said, remember that alcohol lowers inhibitions and makes you more likely to eat off plan and it does add calories at about 100 calories per shot of clear liquor. I have had drinks on occasion (vodka & club soda), and it hasn't really impacted my losses noticeably. I am NOT advising that anyone deviate from the program; I am simply stating what my experiences have been. Everyone is different and must evaluate what is important to them, and everyone's bodies are different too so my experiences are not necessarily reflective of anyone else.

I agree!

Originally Posted by musicsmylife:
So thankful for this thread because quite frankly, the social struggles of this diet are what scare me the most. I have not told many people that I have started IP.
My husband has been very supportive, especially for the days I couldn't stomach some of the sample foods my coach gave me my first week.

WELCOME !

Very few people actually know that I'm on IP. Most people don't even know I'm on a "diet". I tend to be very private on things like this. If people notice that I'm not eating what is being offered at a social gathering, I will responds with things like:
"I'm just trying to make healthier food choices"
"I'm just trying to eat better"
"I'm trying to lower my cholesterol"
"That looks great, but the calories just aren't worth it for me, lol!
"That looks great, but I'm already so full - I just had something to eat! Thanks, anyways!
Some people will go as far as saying they have some type of "food allergy" that doesn't allow them to eat certain foods.

You only need to be as honest as you choose when telling people about your IP journey. If it's an acquaintance, I stay pretty vague. If it's someone closer in my life, I share with them in private so they know where I'm coming from and don't continue to offer food or ask pushy questions in front of others. If it is someone who is overweight like myself and I really feel like they want to know how I'm losing weight, I'll be honest and tell them.

However, I won't share with those people that don't really care what the truth is about how I'm losing weight, they just want to tell you that whatever your doing isn't the right way and they know what is (despite not losing any weight themselves). You can distinguish the difference between who is asking because their sincere and who isn't, lol!

I'm glad you have a supportive DH (darling husband). I do, too! They're the best and worth their weight in gold - no pun intended!
I struggled the first few days on IP - really didn't like most of the food I was trying. I'm glad you're sticking with it. 52 lbs lost and I'm soo GLAD I stuck with it, too! I adjusted to the foods shortly after that first week! Jen

Originally Posted by PacNW IP:
I'm probably going to get a lot of flack for this, but this is taken from out of the Atkins Diet book:

When you consume Alcohol, it is the first fuel to burn. While that's going on, your body will not burn fat. While this does not stop weight loss, it will postpones it until the alcohol has been used up.
That being said, remember that alcohol lowers inhibitions and makes you more likely to eat off plan and it does add calories at about 100 calories per shot of clear liquor.

No flak here, lol!
I would only add that I think your WL does stop. It stops in the way that while your body is taking the time to burn the alcohol, it COULD be burning fats instead. So, for that brief time period you are losing out on burning more fat.
I agree that in the big picture - this will probably not make a noticeable difference. However, if you do it once and and a second time and it becomes more frequent - it could become noticeable. And some people aren't good at stopping at one when they start down a slippery slope or have a hard time rationalizing why they shouldn't do something again that they first did a few weeks ago that didn't "seem" to have any negative consequences.
That's why I agree it's a very personal choice and one that we have to make ourselves.
I did like other viewpoint the Atkins Diet Book gave about alcohol (re: That being said, remember that alcohol lowers inhibitions and makes you more likely to eat off plan), and do other stupid stuff, too - lol!

:) Jen

I just tell my friends I won't drink, but I will point and laugh. At first they were a little pushy, but I've never been one to buckle to peer pressure (thankfully!) and now that they see me slimming down they leave me alone. Obviously what I am doing is working and is worth not having that drink.

This is a great post and conversation. I was getting really frustrated with slow loss and battling strong cravings. I was so close to giving in to a heat this weekend but I sayed OP. as a result I had a whoosh and at my WI (2 weeks) I was down 7 lbs.! Yippee!

I thought I'd miss having a glass of wine when going out with friends but I don't. I order Perrier in a 'pretty glass' instead. My friends and my hubby's friends are extremely supportive and don't push me to drink or eat. The other night we were out with a large group of his male friends and one other wife. Well she asked me why I wasn't having a drink. Hubby's best friend grabbed my hand and made me do a spin and said look at her...that's why she's not drinking. It was sweet.

Originally Posted by JenRem:
I did like other viewpoint the Atkins Diet Book gave about alcohol (re: That being said, remember that alcohol lowers inhibitions and makes you more likely to eat off plan), and do other stupid stuff, too - lol!

:) Jen

Actually, that part was straight from me. I've found that the only time I've ever deviated from plan there has been alcohol involved. :o The part about postponing fat burning is from Atkins!

Originally Posted by Cheekyskeeter:
I thought I'd miss having a glass of wine when going out with friends but I don't. I order Perrier in a 'pretty glass' instead. My friends and my hubby's friends are extremely supportive and don't push me to drink or eat. The other night we were out with a large group of his male friends and one other wife. Well she asked me why I wasn't having a drink. Hubby's best friend grabbed my hand and made me do a spin and said look at her...that's why she's not drinking. It was sweet.

LIKE!!! :D

Originally Posted by runnergrl7:
This is a great post and conversation. I was getting really frustrated with slow loss and battling strong cravings. I was so close to giving in to a heat this weekend but I sayed OP. as a result I had a whoosh and at my WI (2 weeks) I was down 7 lbs.! Yippee!

WOW - 7 lbs! Great reward for perservering; that is so cool! :cool:

Originally Posted by Cheekyskeeter:
The other night we were out with a large group of his male friends and one other wife. Well she asked me why I wasn't having a drink. Hubby's best friend grabbed my hand and made me do a spin and said look at her...that's why she's not drinking. It was sweet.

Aaawwww! That is so SWEET! What a gentleman!

Originally Posted by PacNW IP:
Actually, that part was straight from me. I've found that the only time I've ever deviated from plan there has been alcohol involved.

You are a WISE woman, then! Good advice.
I'm not a drinker - just never found anything I like and I'm super sensitive to the strong taste of liquor (get it honestly from my mom). If and when I do have a drink it's a lot of juices with a little something like peach Schnapps. So, never had the personal experiences of what a little inebriation makes one do, lol! :D