Thank you nodee for the compliment :)
ariel- that does sound like a very scary couple of experiences between the stairs and your classroom. I am so glad for you that you are on the path to taking care of your health. It will help exponentially when you have dropped a significant amount of weight in regards to exercise. What you will notice is that you are quite strong and your endurance will be greatly improved. It comes from losing the weight fairly rapidly and your body still being used to carrying the amount of weight you were originally. I know from my first round of IP (and I did not exercise during the program as it tends to cause stalls for me) that when I hit goal and began exercising again I almost felt weightless. I could run harder, jump higher and lift more (thank goodness cause after losing weight all I really wanted was tone, tone, tone!).
Here's to health :cheers:
:welcome: shootingstar and thinkthin!
shootingstar- did you manage to stay OP while you were on vacation?
thinkthin- I've read that one of the key determining factors in whether we'll be able to maintain is whether we phase out properly. Good for you for recognizing it. I did phase out properly and maintained at goal for a year then gained 15-20 (about half my original weightloss) and maintained there for a year and then got pregnant and ended up right back where I started. So, I'm in a very similar boat. I am reading the Beck Diet Solution as this is very recommended reading for changing the mindset of dieters stuck in a yoyo cycle. I'm a few chapters in and already finding it helpful. Good luck and I look forward to sharing this journey with you.

RefreshingMe- Yes, it was a scary experience, and after that episode of going up those stairs, I'm a lot more careful of not "overdoing" it with my physical activities. Even though I'm a big girl, I had high endurance, and I wasn't aware that my body couldn't do as much as I did before.

The weekend before I started IP diet, I went out to a party, and I was shaking it all on the dance floor for over 3 hours nonstop, my sister, who's very fit, works out every day, and wears a little size 0 or 1, couldn't keep up with me! She was amazed of my endurance, and honestly, I could have danced longer, but I knew she was tired already. But now, I know that I'm not consuming a high amount of calories like before, and I need to take it easy on my body moving, since I'm a big girl, my body already burns calories just taking me places. :carrot:

I've had so much energy though, I've cleaned my closet, my room, my trunk, and I'm not tired. I rather finish doing something FIRST then eating, eating is not my number one priority because I don't feel hungry, but I have energy to do things...I feel like the energizer bunny! And I'm also not sleepy, I should be going to bed early because I get up at 5am, but I usually end up going very late to bed, and I still wake up on time, and work 8-10 hrs a day. I guess I have a lot of fat in my savings account!!

Once I get to goal, I would like to be active, I would like to join kickboxing, go to boot camp, Pilates and some yoga. :carrot: (Lol thanks for that glass of wine, I think that's the first thing I'm going to have once I'm allowed to have it) :cheers:

Ariel, after reading this I got chills. I was walking at least 5 miles a day 2 years ago, and then I was walking up this really big hill and had the same thing you experienced. It happened a couple more times and I thought that I was going to die. Literally die. Ambulance called and everything. Turns out that it was BPPV. But it was almost a year before that was diagnosed, by an ENT doctor. Before the diagnosis, I developed severe panic attacks and you could not get me to walk, even if Ryan Gosling was going to be at the end of the walk.
I still have occasional vertigo attacks that bring on panic attacks, but am learning how to deal with it. I've come to learn that I have to overcome the attacks, both of them. So this past month my family has been walking with me. Two weeks ago, I started walking on my own (with my dogs) as well.
I'm by no means saying that you have these issues, it just while reading your experience, it sounded so much like mine. I just felt compelled to share with you.

Ariel- you sound like me! I love to dance also... And dance and dance. Saddest thing for me is that my hubby hates it... I always have to wait for girls nights.
Nodee- what is BPPV?

RefreshingMe - BPPV is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. I've had ear problems since I was 12. That was when I got carbon monoxide poisoning and had to go into hypobaric chamber. After that I couldn't even attempt to go to mountains when I had a cold. Peopke could hear my ears pop in a car. Or I would pass out because of pressure. Then I started having extreme dizziness two years ago. Then panic attacks. But hopefully on the road to recovery.

Hi Rrefreshingme I am back on track and am doing well.Thanks for welcoming me to this forum.It sounds like its very helpful and informative.

Thanks for the info nodee. You are very strong to be dealing with that in stride. i lived in the mountains for most my life and would be heartbroken if I couldn't visit them at will. Are you okay on airplanes?

Glad to hear you're on track shootingstar... That is the most important part! Were you born in 1980? If so we are the same age!

What a day yesterday! I had to go to Seattle to watch my son play football. Left the house at 8:30am got home about 1:00am. Went with girlfriends ate out twice.... had salads both times. Drank lots of water and took packets with me. We stopped at fat burgers and Kristy Kremes. So glad that day is over.

@Bolt, congrats to you and your willpower! Wow! (I live in Seattle btw, great weekend to be here!)

Update for me - I"m officially down 10 pounds. Guys, you just don't know how exciting that makes me feel. 10 pounds in 3 weeks. For the last 7 years (since having my first child) I have basically stayed the same weight, give or take a few pounds. This is the smallest I've been since then.

So, I'm geeked - taking one day at a time, but very motivated to continue on.

:cheer: :cheer: Way to go newsluv- what wonderful news!! A huge congrats in the drop. Breaking through a seven year stand- wow!!

Great work bolt on getting through such a loooong day and staying OP!

I'm finishing up the weekend feeling proud as well. I made my son's 4th birthday cake and fruit tray and stayed OP. I think the grapes were screaming louder at me than anything else. Go figure. WI is tomorrow... Her's hoping for the 170's!

Ariel13 and Refreshing me - thanks for the welcome. I am definitely motivated and I plan on following through all the phases. Thanks for the information on the book -- I will get a copy and start reading it also. I am willing to try anything that will help me maintain once I hit goal.

Yes I was born in 1980 Refreshingme..... Wow BOlt and Refreshingme for staying on track.Lots of determination and inspiration to others. Tomorrow is WI , crossing fingers that I am down if not it is ok as i am just very happy to be back on track and making healthy choices and trying new recipes.I noticed on one of these posts someone suggesting the book called " The beck diet" i have the audio version as i drive a lot for my work and i find it to be very helpful.

After a long tempting weekend I'm back!! Today marks Day 33 for me on Alt IP. And I'm doing very well about 95% OP going back to my 100%. Feeling better then I have in months, mind & body ��������

Thank you RefreshingMe. Its tough but I don't want to think about alternative if I let my issues keep control of me. I can handle the mountains IF I take meclazine. Planes, I don't even consider at this point. But and I have to laugh, long car rides are bad too. I just have to think that " and this too shall pass" with lots of therapy and me not giving in. ;)

Nodee- I love your 'come what may attitude'. It is sure to serve you well on this journey.
Shelby- was it your sister's bachelorette this past weekend??
Thinkthin- I am finding the Beck Diet Solution to be very worthwhile reading. I'm determined to replace bad old habits with new positive ones.
Shootingstar- how was your WI??

I had my third weigh in yesterday and hit the 170's!!! Yay!! My coach was full of news because she had just attended an IP conference and taken in a lot of new ( to her) info. She said they focused mostly on how important the Omega supplements are because they're what allow us to better absorb nutrients. She also mentioned they stressed how important it is to check all clients diaries. Lastly was that if clients were not fully adhering to the program to give them a warning and then the second time cut them loose. My coach said she'd have no clients left with the exception of myself and one other lady if she implemented that. Crazy. For the cost (mental, physical & financial) of being in Phase 1 I would think more people would want to get on, get done and get out. I sure do.