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 :carrot: 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 :carrot:

Today was my 8th WI, I've been doing IP for 2 months, and I've lost 40 lbs :carrot: I've gone from a size 18 to a size 12:carrot::carrot: 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!

:dust: for everyone! :carrot::carrot::carrot:

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! :carrot: The good thing is that you're still losing :carrot: 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! :carrot:

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. :carrot: 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! :o 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!! :carrot:


RefreshingMe - Woohoo!!! Grats on losing inches!!! :carrot: 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! :hug:
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 :hug:

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. :hug:

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.

Started August 19th, as of todays weigh in - down 53.4

I am thrilled - originally wanted to get to -50 by Christmas.

Still have a long way to go - I started at 333.6, but 280.2 feels good.

Awesome! You're almost there! That must feel great!

I am so excited to be in the 220's. Lol. I have a long way to go to be where you are now but I know I will get there.

I started august 28 and am down almost 40 (i think like 39 as of today). You are losing ridiculous fast! Thats awesome! Its so amazing how it perpetuates you to lose more, isnt it? Good job!

I am in 220's for the first time in 5 years. (In 2010 i got down to 190 by literally starving myself and exersizing like a maniac-- i lose very hard likely because of how many times I have lost and gained in my life). Anyway. Thats super exciting for me. I kept all my skinny jean from then and am excited to be back in them. I know that once i get under 220, the losses start to become her noticeable -- so I'm exited for the next 10 pounds too. I'm just exited period!

My goal is to be 205 by christmas and i think that if I can keep from cheating (which i havent done since the 2nd week of October) i think I can do it.

Congratulations, that's a big chunk of weight to lose in such a short space of time. You must've been 100% OP to make those numbers each week! :)




I'm sure you'll do it, too! Congrats on your first 40. Here's to the next 40 for all of us. :)

We're neck and neck, Snozzey - I'll be on 40 (or below) on tomorrow's weigh in, also! Nice to know we're mirroring each other with our 2 day apart starting dates. :)

.


Isnt that awesome?? How did your weight in go?

Down 2.4 for an exact 40lbs in 10 weeks. :)

wow you guys are all losing a lot faster than me! Maybe I should be stricter with myself. I have to admit sometimes I don't drink enough water. Sometimes I drink too much diet coke. And I don't take my vitamins all the time. But would those things make a difference? Really?

awseome!!!! im still stuck at 39; been fighting up and down the same 3 pounds for a week now. trying not to get frustrated.

JackieGee; you have less weight than me to lose, so mine will go faster initially. Also, YES! Getting all the water in makes a huge difference for me! The more I drink, the faster I lose (that's how your body flushes ketones, so think of it as every time you go to the bathroom, you're losing weight). I don't drink any soda either. The apsertame makes me hungry and the CO2 makes me bloated. I do drink coffee once in a while but I'm very careful to drink even more water. However, lately its been causing some retention problems so I'm dumping it for now.

The supplements are important too for your body to function propertly. Even the Cal/Mag are important because Magnesium helps keep you from being constipated.

Hey August peeps .... everyone's disappeared again! Hope you're all doing well and the losses are gradually shrinking you. :)

Briael- I am still kicking around :) It is hard to believe that I am going to start phasing off tomorrow. Still kind of surreal on that count. It seems to have gone by so quickly and it almost doesn't feel like I 'deserve' to phase out. But, I am trying really hard to be a reasonable person this time around and be happy with being the size that I wanted to be and not to become fixated on the number on the scale (kind of drove myself crazy with this last time around). I am apprehensive a bit of the change that is coming my way in the form of a new phase. Phase 2 is always kind of a toughie. Giving up the convenience food and going to 'real' food (a whole lotta protein!!)... the stall out as the body adjusts to a higher calorie count... yep, tough to look forward to that one. Really, really hoping that if I stick to the lighter proteins of fish and eggs that it will abate the stall a bit...
I admire how well you've done on the program so far. And can't wait for the next few months to pass so I can check out your before and afters!:D

That's so great to be phasing out already. I read somewhere that you may gain up to 5lbs when you phase out, because your body will try to replenish the glycogen stores in the muscles first AND to do that it needs extra water, so don't freak out if you gain at first. Apparently it does balance out within a couple of weeks.

Be brave Refreshingme, you are our August point gal. :)

I'm still kicking around too! The time has gone by so quickly it is hard to believe we've been on IP for over three months! It feels good, I feel good and my skin is looking much better... HA! Makes me sad that I was eating so poorly for so long.

This has always been one of my favorite quotes: "Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels."

It is so inspiring to come here and read about everyone's successes. Thank you!

Ah, Kate Moss and her skinny body and quote. :)

I love how we're seeing the numbers drop and the inches go, such a wonderful feeling and how very motivating it is.

Going out for a meal with hubby for our anniversary today. I managed to dissuade him from our normal restaurant (which serves a hefty portion of butter in with veggies AND very rich desserts that are too tempting), so we'll do Texas Roadhouse and "go light". I can't cook steak to save my life, so it's a nice treat to be able to have someone else cook it perfectly. :)

In Onederland!
 

Hey Briael,
Thanks for waking us up! I slowed down the last two weeks, but I stayed the course, and then this week, I lost 3.6 pounds. Now I am officially in ONEDERLAND!:carrot::carrot::carrot:

Each month seems to go faster and faster, and I feel like I am learning so much. I love the structure of this program, and I feel like the habits I am learning now will benefit me when at that point (far in the future) when I phase off.

At 50+ and menopausal, it is generally thought that women don't lose weight, and I really didn't think I could. IP has been awesome.

Congrats RefreshMe :carrot:on getting so close to goal. It is so exciting to see all of our August starters doing so well.

Lose2Win2014.... Congrats on reaching ONDERLAND!!!!!

Huge congrats on Onerderland, that is SUCH a wonderful achievement. :)

I agree that the weeks are now flying by. It doesn't even seem difficult to BE on IP anymore. It's just habit.

I can't believe how quickly IP helps us shed weight. Really, without that much hardship. I know my tastebuds have changed a lot since starting. Now when I find myself craving something, it's seldom the sweet things, it's always something savoury and the stronger flavour the better!

Hello wonderful August starters!!!:carrot::carrot: We're almost in the middle of November and I'm so happy to see we're still going strong and shedding inches and pounds! :D
Today, I saw an acquaintance that I hadn't seen since the first week of September, and she was VERY surprised to see how I had changed ;) She told me that I looked GREAT! and asked me what I did, I told her I was "doing" because I still want to lose more weight, but it felt great to see the reaction of someone who hasn't seen me in months! Today was my WI and also is TOM so losing 4.5lbs and inches (almost 2 inches on my waist) was excellent news!!

Briael- Grats on your anniversary! :carrot: and thanks for reviving this thread! ;)

RefreshingMe- Congratulations on going to phase 2!!! :bravo: You've done great and will continue to do great in every phase!! :hug: I wanted to ask you about that kcup coffee pumpkin flavored that you purchased, is that IP approved? I asked my coach and she was unable to tell me since the ingredients said "artificial flavor" she was skeptical and just advised me no to take it, but I actually bought it (and I've had a couple of them already) because you mentioned that you ordered them. Are those ok for me to have or is it ok for you because you're on phase 2 already?

Lose2Win2014- Woohoo!!!! :cheer2: Grats on getting to ONEDERLAND!! Great accomplishment, I can't wait to get there too!! Hopefully by the end of this month I should join you :D

Ariel Congrats on your incredible weight loss! You are amazing! I am glad you found a polite way to tell someone that your weight loss was still in progress. It is really easy to hear people start to compliment you, and then you lose track of your real goal. I know, I did exactly this before.

You are going to be in onederland before you know it!

Glad we August people are all in this together. Even though we may phase off at different times, there seems to be so much similarity in this part of the experience.

I am traveling again. It is amazing I am losing weight at all with all the traveling I have done while on IP. I have my bag of packets, a cooler of vegetables, salt, pepper, a knife and cutting board. I am actually getting pretty good at traveling with IP.

:congrat: losetowin on ONEDERLAND!!!
- that is awesome! Everyone has done so well thus far and it really is a short scoot from onederland to goal. Excited for all of you!

ariel- I really didn't think about the kcup having artificial flavor, just assumed it was coffee with pumpkin spices in it, which I'd heard was better to have than making regular coffee and adding the spices after... as the spices have trace amounts of carbs. So... I was drinking them in Phase 1... I guess ignorance was bliss :o -whoops!

briael- my first time around, when I was phasing out I stalled my first week of Phase 2, lost 2 pounds in my second week P2, lost over 2 in each week of P3 and lost in the first week of P4. I ended up 9 pounds below goal. And I stayed there for about a year. So, I decided to phase out a bit early this time. If weight does end up coming back on I will probably opt to do another round of Phase 1 in January.:dizzy:

I'm hoping when I get there I can learn from the rest of you. :)

Did you lose more inches in P2-P4 or just the weight?

Definitely inches as well. I went down another size. And I was fairly obsessive about staying there. Which is good and bad. It is important to be vigilant in maintenance... but there's a lot to be said for feeling sane as well:o
I'm sure when you get there you'll be well prepared for it- you are very knowledgeable already!

Glad to hear about the inches, too. Thanks for the thought on being well prepared - I read a lot (perks of being a retired housewife), but you know about good intentions and how life often gets in the way, so I'll worry about making maintenance work once I get there. :)

How's your week been, August folks?

Slowing down from the 4s to the 3s now, but losing inches nicely. It's gradually coming off the butt (hoorah!) and hips (wish the saddlebags weren't the VERY last) and I'm looking a little more shapely than a pure pear. :)

Are you mentally prepared for Thanksgiving? I'll have a super busy week taking care of my friend's kitty while she's away with family, AND I have a 8 hour round trip this Saturday, with a 2 hour round trip on Sunday to help with a kitty rescue with the Underground Railroad Rescued Kitty Network.

Always looking for people who can spare time (and gas money) to do a 90 min journey to transport kitties from rescue centers (sometimes from desperately sad backgrounds where they are abused or neglected) to a forever home with someone who really wants them. Coverage is thin in some areas, and means that we don't get many transports through this corridor, so if it's something you are interested in please check URRKN out. :)

Ugh Girls...Kicking myself today. Ate a Ghirardelli Brownie at a work meeting. So mad at myself...I am only 3.7 lbs away from Phase two, which I was hoping to achieve by next week...anyone have advise on how to counteract my bad decision? Haven't had my supper or snack yet.