Yes the finding time to work out is tough. I too have no excuse as I have the equipment at home and I do use it but not as regularly as I'd like. I really need to make it part of my routine and stick with it.

Thanks, Maile!
I'm finding maintenance challenging to figure what to eat & how much. After a fun day, I went back on Phase 1 for a day, and the next day lost 4 lbs and have had really dry skin on my hands in the few days since. Overall, the less carbs I eat the better I feel. If not for wanting to eat healthier, I could stick to Phase 2. BTW, IP has started daily emails and a website with FAQs, (recipes in future),etc. Your coach has to sign you up--so far it's free. There are about 7 days of Maintenance emails, with more to come.

mars, I think phase 2 is a healthy way to eat. It is my usual way of eating 5 to 6 days a week. I can't tolerate grains or much dairy. If I could I would usually eat phase3 I think.

patns, You've got me thinking that Phase 2 is actually a good way to eat, with a few tweaks like more veggie variety, a little more healthy oil. Thank-you!

Mars thanks for the info about the emails I will ask at my next weigh in.

Ladies I am inspired to have an early morning workout tomorrow, will be thinking about my compatriots exercising with me.

Ishbel I haven't had long enough to decide what my go to options are, but so far I like Doctor Krackers Apple Crisps when I am looking for crunchy. If you are coming to Minot they have them at Walmart in the deli on top of the fancy cheeses. I am sure they are at most Walmarts.

Good morning need some help from maintenance folks!! My friend is in maintenance and wants to do two things occasionally utilize some of the IP food and incorporate more food and carbs in because she has a trainer who wants to put her on a vigorous exercise routine. Any IP maintainers out there that can relate and advise?

I LOVE THIS PROGRAM but they drop the ball for the maintenance support at least my coach does!

Thanks guys hoping you can help

Kcdoe: I am not knowledgeable about this subject. Others here might be able to help you. Some people have trained for 5 k runs. Hope your friend does well in maintenance.

Crystalwolf: Good luck on the am exercise. I am with you and working out in the dark cold mornings!

Mars735: Phase 2 is healthy. I eat the Phase 3 breakfast and keep to P2 for most of the days. I do better with less carbs also. That is good info on IP online.

Patns: My son just found out he cannot eat dairy. He really feels better without it.

65x65: Yes, it is nice to know that age is not a factor. I know you will join me in two years. Your BMI of 22 is excellent.

Cassieleanne: It was hard at first and I was half awake at 5 am. Now I am used to it and wake up early. Good luck on your workout.

Ishbel: You made me laugh. There are definitely people who are not morning people..like you and my son. I have done the same thing when I don't want to go to the gym..tell myself that I will allow myself a shorter workout..then talk myself into doing the whole workout. There are days when the timer on the elliptical seems to take forever to move!

Iolani: Good luck on starting your maintenance.

I just finished my second National Weight Control Survey. It makes me feel good to be a part of people who are maintaining weight. The questions really focused on do you feel in control or out of control in your eating and on the amount of exercise in your life.
Cheekyskeeter: It is hard to find time to exercise in a busy day!

Good morning all.
Kcdoe, I can only answer part of that question. Access to the IP foods would depend on her clinic's policy. Mine allows me to continue to buy IP foods forever so they can be utilized as snacks, on P1 days and resets. I can also continue to weigh in and get measured for free. I can pay $10 a month and utilize the body scanner machine as well. If her clinic doesn't allow her to buy the IP foods any longer she can certainly look into Nashua Nutrition for the foods that are the same as IP. They have a number of them.

Kcdoe, I agree with you re IP could incorporate more maintenance support. Suggestion for your friend is to ask coach to enroll her in the IP daily emails, which they are just phasing in. It's a 2-minute video that greets you each day with good info and also FAQs to click on, video clip of cooking tips, recipes, etc. The maintenance videos are just being built and there's only a few, so I asked my coach to enroll me in Phase I, which is useful even for maintainers. I'm going to ask my coach to sign me up for all of them-every bit helps. Thank goodness for the wonderful posters on this thread!!!

Good morning everyone, feeling like phase 4 is a little harder than I thought. Just figuring out what to eat every day seems more complicated than phase 1. But I am going to make a plan this weekend and stick to it, including more exercises before work is going to be a must..

Phase 4 seemed daunting at first. It takes more work than just using the packets. Planning ahead is helpful. I cook ahead on the weekends.

Have a great weekend Maintainers! I am off to a Costco run and later going to the gym.

Add me to the list of people who basically do a P3 breakfast (GF, though) and P2 the rest of the time.

I felt guilty canceling an exercise class today, but it was for a good reason: I got back in the water and went diving again! This was a big deal for me since I've been out of the water since around Memorial Day. The other thing that was cool was that one of my brothers came diving as well - and he hadn't been diving for 20 years! I used to go diving with him back then - when we were both a lot younger! - so it was fun to see him getting back into it. He's in the middle of an unpleasant divorce so he's starting to rediscover all the things he loved to do. There's fresh hogfish (my absolute favorite fish of any!) and lobster in the fridge for tomorrow's dinner!

In other news, I tried the new Quest double chocolate chunk bar and the white chocolate raspberry. Both were good and I'd get them again (with the raspberry I have to be in the mood for something very sweet).

I have never tried hogfish..but love lobster. Did you get them while diving? I am glad you are back diving again. How fun that your brother went with you.
I must try these quest bars that everyone loves.

Off for a cold walk.

Hogfish is a very mild, white fish - no fishy taste whatsoever. We grilled it with just basic seasonings, and then served it with a mango salsa that my DH whipped up. There's nothing quite like fresh fish right out of the ocean. It's spoiled me in terms of ever eating any supermarket bought fish. We also got some lionfish, but they were small and not really worth the hassle of cleaning (they have venomous spines and are an invasive species in east coast and Caribbean waters; we cull them whenever we see them, but it's a losing battle since they multiply so quickly.) A friend of mine spearfishes on the dives and the rest of us look for lobsters. (Unless of course I have my camera with me. Then my focus is on taking pics vs. lobsters. )

The diving was fun but it really showed me that I'm not quite back to normal. I was exhausted afterward and through all of yesterday, even though they were pretty mellow dives. Guess I have to get back into it gradually. My brother also was beat afterwards, but I know he really enjoyed getting back in the water. He found out that his divorce has been finalized, so what better way to celebrate than to get back to doing some of the things he loved to do before he got married.

Today I'm meeting with a nutritionist to see what she thinks of my diet (basically, a modified P3) as well as all the supplements I'm taking. Should be interesting! I'm still getting back into work mode (via telework) and trying to keep my stress level down. I got all of my medical records and reading some of the biopsy results was downright scary. It helps to make it sink in just how sick I was. It's too easy to forget and move on as if everything is just fine. It would be way to easy to slip back out of remission.

For anyone thinking of ordering Quest bars, you can usually find discount codes for free shipping and other discounts on the Quest bar thread. I've found that the bars are freshest when ordered directly from Quest. If you live in a cooler climate, put them in the microwave for 8-12 seconds (depends on your microwave) to soften them up a bit prior to eating.

Have a good start to the week, everyone!

Hi everyone! My name is Laura and I have lurked on this thread for a while, in anticipation of the day I would begin maintenance. Well, today is it! I am down 55 lbs as of today, since beginning IP on May 13th. I am in a loose size 6 for dress pants, M or S shirts, and 7/8 jeans. I just can't believe it!

A little about myself as a way of introduction; I am married with 3 children and two grandchildren. I will be turning 50 next June and decided to begin the next chapter of my life as a healthy new version of myself. Many things contributed to this decision; a family history of diabetes and heart disease, losing my mother and other close relatives in their late 50's and early 60's due to these conditions, and having surgery early this year, being heavier than I have ever been and having tried to lose weight with limited to no success through the years.

I am thrilled with how I feel now. I am anxious and a little fearful of maintenance. I discovered very quickly in P3 that I have a sensitivity to wheat, so I have been researching paleo and primal cooking sites. I lost an additional 5 lbs after beginning P2 and figure I have a 5 lb cushion, so to speak. My concern is that I only know how to eat as though I am still on P2, which is so easy and I actually quite like it. I just don't want to continue to lose. Who would ever think that would be a concern!?

I so appreciate this thread and everyone's thoughtful, and valuable input. It is especially important to me, as I have been on alternatives for the last 3 months with no coaching support. I will probably do a bit of worrying until I have my feet under me, so I ask for your patience in advance. Thanks so much!