I know Tim hortons is in the US but have you all started calling it by only it's first name? Goin to Tim's? Or Timmies as Liana and Jenny mentioned? Im horribly addicted to the steeped tea. Which I find kind of weird. It's only tea!

Jenny - I don't buy Halloween candy until Oct 30 and I on,y buy things I don't like. But I still manage to eat it all night on the 31st. I have always been good at not touching the kids stuff unless they give it to me. I just feel it is about respecting what is theirs. The kids wished their dad was the same!

I spent a little too long using the spreadsheet from JLUS to plan out some P3 breakfasts on,y to have the power go out and everything was lost! Oh well, I know my plan for tmo, at least.

Great discussions taking place this week!

Liana - all the best with your patrol.

Jenny - that is too funny that TOM has arrived just after you saw the doctor. Well done on staying away from the candy. I had some choc chips in my cupboard from when I made a P3 breakfast with waffles. Eventually, I had to throw them out as I was debating that a handful as a snack was perfectly reasonable. If only I could stop at a handful!

Slipfree - I hope tomorrow isn't as tiring. Tiredness has always been one of my excuses for inappropriate eating so I know what a challenge it is to stay on track after a hectic day.

Mars and Sylviesgirl - the discussion on euphoria in P1 makes perfect sense to me as well. P1 was just so easy and I did it during busy season at work when working over 80 hours a week was the norm. Now I'm on P4 and working normal hours and it's a constant challenge not to let loose and eat everything in sight!

Evemomma - I think I'm going to have to implement some fast food rules like yours and stay away from fries and other fast food items. I had some fries the other day on a fun day and they weren't even very nice, plus the gassy tummy (sorry TMI) afterwards was not fun. Not doing that again!

I think implementing new goals so you have something to refocus your attention on is key to maintaining. I'm currently doing boot camp in an effort to get stronger. I feel that P1 left me rather weak. Once the six weeks is over, I am intending to increase my running to the point that I can run 5k non stop. I shouldn't really call it running, I'm so slow that it's more of a ramble or maybe a toddle!

Rest day tomorrow. Phew! My hamstrings are sore today and climbing the stairs at work has been a challenge (I've given up using elevators for the month of October in an effort to increase my non-planned exercise).

Timmie's did a smile cookie campaign the other week and I bought one for DH for his lunch. They are large 'smiley' cookies that cost $1.00 all proceeds to the TH children's camp. Good thing I am gluten free - easy to say no, lol.

Liana

ps: don't forget to stretch out your muscles after a day of stairclimbing, RosieP. Good plan - a non-elevator month.

For those giving up fast food fries who may want a healthier alternative, I cut up Yukon gold or white potatoes in fries and toss in egg white that I have seasoned with Cajun spice. Lay them out on a heavily sprayed sheet pan in a single layer, give another spray to the top of the fries and bake in the lower half of a 425 oven, turning every 15 minutes until they are crispy. My kids love these homemade fries. The egg white helps them get a crispness

Thanks ChipnDip. I'm going to give this a try.

No Tim Horton's here in our area. Honestly, probably a GOOD thing for me since i'm such a SUCKER for doughnuts!!!!

RosiePosie.....what a great goal to do no elevators! I live a VERY suburban life, so I don't encounter an elevator but for the occasional trip to a doctor's office. But I need to do simple things like parking in the back of the parking lot when I go to the grocery or drop my daughter off at preschool.

ChipNDip......Google the Phase 3 Breakfast thread because there is a GREAT wealth of info there. When it comes to your foods....greek yogurt counts as your dairy AND your protein (as far as you can count the protein grams and then add meat also to get your totals). Just make sure you stay under 150 (hmmmm....I think?) calories from dairy - which isn't a problem with greek yogurt because it's so low cal. I have greek yogurt every day because it's so high in protein. I doctor it differently....sometimes just add some fresh fruit to it. Today, I added a tsp of splenda/raspberry preserves AND raspberries AND a dash of salt....that tastes awesome! I also posted some recipes on the P3 breakfast thread that use greek yogurt and oatmeal to make pancakes. They are delish and super easy! I love your idea for homemade fries btw....I have some sweet potatoes I need to use up....may be doing this on Friday.

I am enjoying a quiet morning at home without the kiddos before I work this afternoon. Did my zumba and now rewarding myself with a little social media!

I need to spend some time planning my meals for the next two days. I find that it's so much easier to look at MFP and just see what I'm eating that meal. I keep forgetting to thaw out the pork tenderloin I bought for this week. Ah well....it's only Thursday.....:dizzy::dizzy:!

Have a great day everyone!

Hello Everyone,
Although I wasn't posting much these days I was still stalking the threads. Now I feel confident enough to post about my diet as I didn't want to mislead other dieters without checking my weight or fat/muscle percentage for 2 months into maintenance now.

The challenge with the fat meal was that I tried taking full fat yogurt and some peanuts/almonds/macademia nuts and I was feeling sick. I don't know if it's that combination or what the fat meal didn't sit well with me.

So I made both my meals carb meals.
Breakfast : Regular P3 breakfast as i love it still
For lunch :
1 whole grain breadslice and 2 eggs , banana/apple and cucumbers

For Dinner:
1 whole grain slice - Indian curry with vegetables, Grapes,cucumbers

I am full and I have been following this for 2 months now and I am still 140 pounds with 0.3% increase in my fat ratio which my coach thought was alright.

I told my coach about the fat meal issue and she suggested full fat milk with cereals. I like the idea but isn't cereal carbs again?
Does anyone do milk and cereals for fat meal?

Hi Hope2781....

I'm a new maintainer, so I'll let the REAL vets help you out with their wealth of knowledge! Are you eating enough calories? I love P3 breakfasts also! I think I can get myself a little cuckoo about ratios and such. There are three sources of calories: fat, protein, and carbs. If we are trying to cut in one area, we are BOUND to have to increase in another area or we bring our calories down too low. It scared the heck out of me to put my fat ratio for 35% (protein 35% and carbs 30%)....but it does seem to be doing well for me. Do you know what your calories and ratios are? That might help others help you!

Oh, also just had a thought: do you have a gallbladder? I used to be very ill after high fat meals when I had gall stones. Hope this isn't your struggle!

Way to go hope2781!!!
I was a little worried about you since it seemed you had disappeared off the boards and I hoped you did not have a bad slide into old food habits. It is so good to hear that you are doing so well with your maintaining.
That's the trick with the maintenance part of things is that our bodies all react a bit differently to our 'forever' plan. It's not like the losing weight phase at all, really.
If you don't have gall bladder issues, maybe you have a sensitivity to nuts? I don't know if you used them in your meals before? Is it the combo of full fat yogourt and nuts or have you tried a few meals with just one or the other. Perhaps you need to repopulate your gut with a full range of bacteria using a wide spectrum pro-biotic. The usual Lactobacillus in yogourts and probiotics doesn't help digest nuts, only dairy. Newer studies have shown that unhealthy eating habits and cravings can be caused, or at least made worse, by an incomplete or damaged gut biome.

Also don't forget ghee is a good fat. Just add a bit more into your fat meals. Or try a higher fat paneer - 100g should get you 19g protein, 21g fat, and only 3g carb.

BUT, if all seems to be going well, you are staying at your bf% range and weight, and are healthy otherwise, then this is your new plan, don't worry about it. My coach told me that it was important to listen to your body and tweak maintenance to work for YOU within limits of course. Some people do better with more carbs, or a higher % of fats (mine is actually over 40%) or still keeping it to fairly low calories or very low in carbs.

Once again, sooo happy for you!
Liana

Good morning maintainers! Thanks Slip, about the advice about picking a goal weight. Its a lot harder than I thought and I'm trying to decide where I feel good at and the challenge of staying there. I am not panicking about it though and you are right about things settling down now that we are into fall. Its much easier to be in control of things when life is in a better schedule for sure!

Its a cool and rainy day today. One of those days you could sleep and sleep, fall tends to do that to a person. I'm wanting to get a run in, maybe on the treadmill today! My hubby is working on some up lbs that he put on during the summer too so we are back at our health routines with eating and exercise. He's a calorie counter and its what works for him. Its so much easier when you can work together and encourage one another to make healthy choices! I hope that everyone has a great day in maintenance world!Happy Friday!

Hawaii....Sounds like you have a great "partner in crime" to work with you on your healthy journey in life! I wish my hubby had kept more of the health habits he started when I started IP. He has given up soda long-term, but really hasn't done a lot else. And of COURSE, he has maintained his 20lb weight loss that he achieved with just a few changes. Jealous? YES! But, I also see how tired he is....and I know how ENERGIZED I feel putting healthy food in my body, so I remind myself of that if I get TOO annoyed!

We had a very rainy day yesterday that yielded a cool, sunny fall day here! Taking it easy so far today with my 4 year-old. I was ambitious and made myself a pumpkin/mug bake this am (from the Running with Spoons site I mentioned on here earlier), but it turned out more of an eggish pumpkin oatmeal (perhaps not cooked long enough in microwave?). I used oatflour instead of the coconut flour suggested.

But now I have 3/4 of a can of pumpkin to "play" with this weekend! May try some flourless pumpkin muffins or maybe some pumpkin pancakes! Hmmm...may have to crack open a few MORE cans of pumpkin, come to think of it!

I need to go to the store for a solid vegetable run today. I feel like I can easily get complacent with veggies....so I need to get my favs and clean them this weekend so they are too easy to resist! Funny, I keep forgetting that I CAN have restricted vegetables now. Besides tomatoes, I haven't been eating some of my historic favorites: carrots, sweet peas, green beans, squash. I think I may pick up some of the frozen steamfresh bags of some of these to toss in the microwave as a quick way to make veggies also when I'm zonked from work.

OK...off to make my day more productive! I have billling to do with my work and an episode of Biggest Loser to catch up on (teehee). I also need to do some shopping for some fall clothes that fit me. My fall jacket is an extra large and looks ridiculous.....but it's all I have right now.

Take care all!

TGIF!

Thanks for the recipe Chip, haven't had fries in forever :)

It is really cold and rainy today---I am doing a P1 day but might try these this weekend.

Yay weekend:)

Roseposie - good for you for giving up the stairs. Despite all my exercise I still circle the lot looking for a spot close to the door, may be more related to being late than not wanting to walk tho. Sounds like you have really committed to the boot camp. You will do the 5km non stop no problem when your ready.

Chipndip- your recipe for fries looks tasty, will have to try. We have a hard time getting kids to eat potato that doesn't look like it comes from McDonald's. Clearly we would do it differently if we could have a do over :D

Hi Hope, great reading your post sounds like you're doing well and figuring out what works.

Hawaii- that is great that your DH is working on the same health journey as you, you can keep each other focused and accountable. Hope you got your run in.

Eve- the pumpkin recipe ideas sound yummy, especially the muffins. My DH sounds a little bit like yours, he hasn't quit jumped on board the plan. I figure in his own time. And yes super annoying when he does lose weight it happens at warp speed.

slipfree- I think your goal of looking healthy and slim for the wedding you have is a great one. Hope your week went well.

Had my weigh in today, 159.5lbs up 2 from lowest but not worried as it was mid day and with TOM and my range is ideally below 160 but trying to be okay with 162. I am finding that WI day becomes fun meal or snacks day and not sure if that is a good habit or not. It feels like rewarding with food which feels somewhat like a backwards step. I think I need to go back to other rewards like a new book for kindle or iTunes music for running.

Have a great weekend.

Hi everyone;

Yes Eve, men make me annoyed as far as the losing weight department. My hubby can drop weight so fast when we puts his mind to it. And I could be running for awhile and he'd still have no problem out running me in distance and speed! But, I do eat healthier than he does so I will just be proud of that! hee hee I hope you found a fitted jacket that shows off your slim figure.

Jenny:I got my run in! But, I was pushing hard the whole time even though it was only 30min and had to stop and walk a few times. It seems at ovulation time, my body is tired and I have no energy but I'm glad that I did it. I agree with rewards. Its better to do something non food related although nothing is wrong with having something on those free days. I recently got my nails done which I don't do a lot and it just makes a person feel better. And I feel best at the weight you are hoping to maintain at. 162 was my limit. Staying under 160 is what I think I want to be.

Hi Taye, Liana, Chipndip, Ruth Ann, Maile, Rosie Posie, Slip and anyone I have forgot. I continue to read your posts and they help me get through my day! Have a great Saturday!

Jenny, This is so true for me~on P1. I got compliments every day, to the point that I grew tired of them...until they tapered off. Now I appreciate them again :) Very good idea about goal setting. I remember Maile posting about looking forward to joining the National Weight Control Registry--you have to keep 30 lbs off for one yr to qualify. (She also posted some stats about how your odds of keeping the weight off go up each yr which I'll see if I can find). Triathlon sounds like a great goal. (the only way I could stop parking by the front door was to wear a pedometer. The food as reward mentality is very difficult to change. i have only managed it, not really changed it. Music seems like a great alternative.
It might not be a bad thing to have a day of higher intake to rev the metabolic furnace. But maybe better to try and disengage it from a habitual post-WI reward and see it as just a WOE. Think I'll see what Beck has to say....

Same here re forum as a place to sort out thoughts! :) And you sound like me re goal weight. I've realized my goal weight needs to be higher. With your workouts and clothes fitting it makes sense. I think we tend to set the lower goals because IP makes it possible to go as low as we choose--part of that euphoria thing, maybe, to realize, finally that we CAN do that. Sounds like you are getting it figured out--it's taken me a yr.

That sounds like a meaningful goal, Slipfree. What is the 6 mo reward? I totally agree, maintaining is really hard work. But isn't it fun to do the hard work from a nice size? Sounds like you had 2 weeks rolled into one--Wishing you a restful weekend. Thanks for the hot tea idea. What kind do you like?

I learned this week that my extra packet on long work stretches is NOT an indulgence or sign of weakness. It's real! P1 ketosis was a great opportunity to learn to recognize the feelings that masquerade as hunger, such as boredom, etc. But in P4, I am finding that I need to hone the skill of recognizing and responding to real hunger-who knew! Anyway, Wednesday was a write-off as I made the mistake of grocery shopping Whole Foods before my blood sugar stabilized.

Hi RosiePosie, Strong move to get rid of the chips! When I feel like letting loose and eating everything in sight, It can mean I'm not getting enough calories in plan. It's counter-intuitive after P1, but upping my food intake has been the only thing that keeps me from acting on those urges. (That said, I don't have to deal with TOM cravings anymore. I'm not sure how I would manage that since I never once, in my entire life, managed to withstand TOM craving, whether thin or overweight).

Impressed with the stairs! What a great way to build strength. How many flights?

Thanks for this, ChipnDip! I hope you are enjoying P3!

Hi evemomma! Looking forward to hearing more about pumpkins What a lovely way to spend a fall weekend! Enjoy those veggies!!!! Isn't it wonderful to feel indulgent with "restricted" veggies? Gotta check out Biggest Loser. (I'm hooked on Snapped).

Hope you find the perfect small jacket. I don't know if everyone has this issue but fwiw, it's common to have less cold tolerance as a newly thin person. Apparently our metabolism still thinks we're starving and so it turns down the thermostat in our body to conserve energy. A neurologist in the maintenance threads mentioned this and suggested to eat more and exercise more. (This worked for me--wonder how I'll feel when I'm down 5 more lbs). Meanwhile, be prepared to bundle up!

SylviesGirl, and fellow Maintainers: :wave: