Hi All! I have been away for a bit from the forum but still IP 100% strong!! Go August starters, we are no longer newbies, we got this, keep up all the amazing work!

Ariel- my trip to the mountains was enjoyable but definitely challenging because I was thrown off my routine. There were days with too much protein because there is so much eating out. So there would be eggs at breakfast and meat at dinner. I tried to counterbalance this by only having one packet instead of two (ala Phase 2) but it definitely wasn't a perfect week. Maybe too because there was so much activity involved?? My weigh in is usually Monday but I will be weighing in along with you tomorrow (Wednesday). Pants are fitting me better so I do hope this will be reflected on the scale.
Briael- I was actually just thinking about how the diet is coming more easily with less internal squabbling before I got on the forum. Funny to hear others expressing the same feelings. It is nice to feel in sync with others who are on the same path.
IronWoman-it's always great to hear from the OP!! So glad to hear from you and that you are doing so well. Keep up the great work!

Feel great that I have past my 1/2 way mark in 7 short weeks...25lbs down 15 to go! Worried about Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend...will try mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes and stick with it and turkey for my meal

Congrats on being closer to goal than start.

You have a plan for Thanksgiving, that's half the battle and I'm sure you've got this under control now and will be just fine!

Good morning,
Well this week is week 8 for me and while it seems forever it also seems like no time at all. I am seeing much more visible results at this point and have been revelling in a sense of of comfort. I really need to focus on weighing my dinner protein and getting in my 2 cups of veggies at lunch time (I usually end up consuming them a bit too close to dinner).
It was the Canadian Thanksgiving this past weekend and we had a few different events. Dinner at a steakhouse with two other couples, all of whom including DH ordered alcoholic beverages. I definitely stood out like a sore thumb ordering Perrier and at that point had to explain why I wouldn't have 'just one' to the entire table. Then proceeded to order steak and veggies with no butter and salad with no dressing. Felt like I was blasting an 'I'm on a DIET' foghorn at the table. But, it's all part and parcel of losing weight and I would far rather the temporary embarrassment of standing out like a sore thumb than the long lasting embarrassment of being overweight.
Thanksgiving dinner itself was more simple as I was in control of it and could make what I wanted along with what others wanted and it allowed me to feel much more 'normal'.
I think this is one of my bigger issues that I need to deal with. Being okay with what I need to do to be my best self rather than fitting into the pack. Beck deals with a lot of that in her book and I feel it will be invaluable in maintenance.

RefreshingMe Wow! Grats on surviving Thanksgiving You're doing a terrific job staying OP I understand about "having to explain" why we don't drink or can't eat "normally" but I've done it so many times already, that I really don't mind anymore, I guess I already know what to say and how to say it...I guess now I know I am a walking proof that this diet works because before they would just see me "not eating" certain things, and now they can see that I am losing weight and that whatever I'm doing, I'm doing it right, it's working, and I should stick to it

Today was my 8th WI, I've been doing IP for 2 months, and I've lost 40 lbs I've gone from a size 18 to a size 12 I am so happy and I am proud of myself for been 100% OP, but today, I also did some quick mental math, and even though I've lost a great amount of weight, and I feel very, very good about it, I still have a very long way to go, and I wonder how I let myself get that heavy! These 8 weeks went by fast, I really, really hope the next 8 weeks to go quick too!

for everyone!

Anyone else finding that their weight loss is slowing down at this point? It is still coming off but very slowly. Just completed my 9th week and I have lost 27 lbs...which I am very happy with....but the last few weeks it has only been around a pound a week. Suggestions to help ramp things up a bit?

I too started in August and am at my 8th week, officially as of today. According to my WI on Monday, I have lost exactly 30 pounds. I have cheated 3 times in 8 weeks. Little cheats, but enough to throw my out of ketosis for a few days. It makes me wonder how much more I may have lost? For instance, perhaps I would have been 40 down pounds too like Ariel13. (Great job!) Oh well. I am hoping to not cheat during Thanksgiving and Xmas, but I honestly dont know . Congrats to the poster above for making it thru (sorry on my phone and its difficult to scroll up to see names). Thats quite an accomplishment.

I have to try not to get overwhelmed by how much more i have to lose as well. I just try to stay focussed on the next 10 pounds. I would like to be in onederland by jan 1.

I am in my 9th week and have lost 20 pounds. Two of those weeks I only lost 1 pound and .8 but they are still gone and I have 11 pounds left to lose. When you had smaller numbers did you lose inches.

So hang in there and remember its not all about the number..... not easy to do I know.

I had a 0.8 gain this week. TOM is right around the corner... but still. Hard to see. I did lose inches in my arms and hips so I know that things are still working as they should and I just need to wait it out and the drops will show up on the scale again. This is all I can do. Just keep going til I get where I want to be.
I ordered Green Mountain Pumpkin Spice keurig cups and are they ever yummy! So nice to have a tastebud treat that I don't have to feel guilty about.

The weight loss has slowed down for me as well. My last to WI's have been around 1.4lbs & 1.8lbs. My next WI is today and I'm really hoping to make it past my half way mark! That will be a nice little incentive to keep at it.

It is really nice to see everyone losing... good job! It helps me keep my head in the game .

mommymeg- Grats on your losses! The good thing is that you're still losing but I understand what you're feeling because one week I lost a bit over a lb. and I wished I had lost more, like the other weeks. What is your coach telling you? I've read that you should make sure you're eating everything you're supposed to, your 4 cups of veggies, your 8oz. of protein, your IP packets, your supplements, and water, water is very important. Good luck to you and keep us posted!

Snozzeberries- Thanks! You're also doing a great job. I haven't cheated at all because I start thinking that just a minute of pleasure (with the forbidden foods) will kick me off ketosis and it would take me a couple of days to get back to burn fat, and I tell myself it's not worth it, and I just don't eat it, it really isn't that hard anymore because I know if I don't cheat, I will get to my goal faster. I also think about all the weight I still have to lose, and I want to get there faster, so now I'm counting by 20 lbs. I've lost 40, today I went for WI and I lost another 5.5lbs so I'm 14.5 lbs away from my next goal of 20lbs, which will then add up to 60lbs lost! And I still have more 20's to go. We can do it, keep up the good job and like you said, focus on little goals! Good luck!!


RefreshingMe - Woohoo!!! Grats on losing inches!!! and yes, you gain is only because you're retaining water with your TOM approaching. I usually lose less a week before my TOM. You're so close to your goal, you've done great!
I LOVE pumpkin spice coffee!!! Is that Green Mountain Pumpkin for Keurig IP approved? We can actually have a nice cup of brewed pumpkin spice coffee?! Is there another flavor for Keurig that we are allowed to have without risking getting out of ketosis? Thank you so much

Ugh...another slow week...only 1.1 lbs down...should I pick different packets? I usually have a bar (either mint or cookie dough) for breakfast....the chicken patty or soup with my veggies for lunch and the chocolate drink mix for my supper.

Just a note that when you get to the last 10 or 15 lbs, it's going to take a 'long' time compared to the previous weight. The closer you get to your goal, the more efficient your body becomes and the less fat you have available to pull out of storage. It's just a normal process and pretty well everyone goes through it. Have the packets you feel like as there really isn't much difference between them all except that some feel lighter and some may be more satisfying to you. You are still losing weight and inches, just let your body do its thing and you will get there. If you average it out over the course of the weight loss phase once you get to maintenance, you will see that it is fine. Every body is different and will react in a different way from week to week - weight loss is never linear. It sounds like you are doing well, just stay on plan and don't sweat it, you will be at your goal before you know it. If you haven't yet, now would be a good time to start adding in some low key exercise (this is not to increase weight loss) to adjust your body to a more active lifestyle that you will need in maintenance to stay healthy and at your goal weight.
Congratulations on your healthy losses, Mommymeg! After all, how long did it take you to put the weight on?
Join us on the daily chat thread for some knowledgeable support from those that have been through the whole process already.

Liana

Sticking with it...had a bigger drop this week. End is sight with 31.2 lbs gone and 8.8 to go! Hoping to start Phase 2 by the end of November.