Good Saturday Morning Friends!!!!!

Yup, I was CORRECT....up two WHOLE pounds today! Interestingly, I haven't been up this high since Nov. 11th (methinks must've been last months O day). I actually have more middle of the month than end of the month. Anyhoo....I feel good since I know what's going on. No panic here. I am going to keep sodium ultra low today but not going to restrict calories past what I would normally do.

RuthAnn....LOL! I always think the same of you....when do YOU sleep? Me, I just had a great sleep last night. Thus, why I am so behind on my photo books. Ah well....a girl needs her beauty rest.

Shasta10.......Thanks for coming by for a visit! I did a LOT of reading maintainers posts while in in P1....it helped me SO MUCH! I especially recommend reading the "Life AFter Phase 1..." posts (I believe they're stickied). It's a lot of reading, but I learned so so so much from them!

Funny you ask about bread. I also missed bread SOOOOOOO much when I was on P1! One thing I learned about myself is I am somewhat wheat sensitive (not celiac....just sensitive) and now I tend to have a stomachache after I eat a lot of wheat products, especially in the evening. That said, I don't have bread nearly as much as I thought I would once on P4. I tend to do better with oatmeal and oat-based grain products.

That being said, there is no reason you shouldn't be able to enjoy bread on P4. P3 breakfasts (which continue in P4) are the perfect time to enjoy bread. When I first started P3, I bought a whole grain white bread (forget which kind now) which used a little splenda in it. Now, if I have sandwich bread (which isn't too often), I just eat my kids whole grain white bread. It has about 25net carbs for two pieces...which fits just fine in both a P3/4 breakfast and also for a carb meal in P4.

The only trick with sandwiches in P4 is that you are going to practice fat/carb separation during lunch and dinner (not breakfast though...so that is a big plus). So sandwiches are most easily used as a part of a carb meal. What that means is that you will be having 3 carb grams for every 1 fat gram. WHat does that look like? Well, most likely it will be a sandwich with lean meat (not pepperoni, salami, peanut butter), and maybe ONE fat (such as cheese slice OR mayo OR avocado).

What I do when I'm crazy busy at work and don't have time to go home to make lunch is to get a wrap from my local convenience store deli (they are custom made). The wraps are lower in carbs, and I usually get lean turkey (twice the meat by skipping the bacon), a serving of cheese, TONS of veggies, and light mayo.

Of course, free days or free meals are up for grabs....so I have had a few doozy sandwiches (bbq pork on sourdough, french baguette slice from panera, etc).

I know other maintainers use Dave's Killer Bread (which I can't seem to find around here) and whole wheat breads. I can't always get past the bitter taste of some of these.

So, the LONG answer to your question is: YES! You can have bread!!!!!!

haha...slipfree...we posted at the same time!!!!! JINX...you owe me a soda!!!


Wait....how about a skinny no-sugar latte?

Happy Saturday morning Maintainers!

evemomma: Hope you get some time today to work on your photo books. I used to scrapbook years ago but haven't done anything in quite some time.

So the Christmas party was at the City Club in Ft. Worth. Swanky. I had such a good time. The food was delicious. The beef tenderloin was so tasty and I could cut it with my fork. Yummo. My tablemates laughed at me when I pulled my bag 'o vegetables out and put them on my plate. But I stayed OP even when they brought out the mini lava cake, cheesecake and flan. The server put the plate in front of me and I asked her to take it away. Done and done. I danced. I haven't done that in years. At the end of the night, my boss, who is a 6'6" came up and gave me a big hug and picked me up and twirled me around. Told me how proud of he was of my accomplishments. He'd been drinking and was a bit rambunctious but it was funny and people were clapping and laughing. I got lots of compliments. What girl doesn't want to hear that? My son is coming over in a bit to set up a new computer for me. I'm going from a PC to a Mac so if I'm not here for a few days it's because I'm in a major learning curve.

Have a good weekend ya'll.

You look absolutely beautiful and so happy in that photo Andrea. Congratulations! Sounds like you had such a fun time at your party.

catlady; Your post made me smile! It sounds like you had fun and did great at staying on track too. You look wonderful! I love your dress and you are glowing!

eve; I have no worries that you will get those 2lbs off in no time. You are so on it!

Slip; I'm glad that you had a good week!

Ruth Ann; hope you get that nap in and a calmer week next week!

Hi Steph!

Just checking in before I start my day. I'm hoping to keep the carbs lower today, water in and exercise done! Stepped on the scale and I usually have a number in my head that I think I'll be, how nice to be lower! It seems to work the other way most times but am happy to be mistaken! hee hee Happy Saturday everyone!!

Catlady...ow ow!! hot momma!! Sounds like you had a good time and good for you staying OP! That is awesome.

Hi all!

Andrea, you look gorgeous!!! Your delight radiates in your smile.

Hawaii, I was at my almost happy weight this morning, but I am having some wine later so it will bump up tomorrow. Just life on the scale

Eve, sending you a virtual no sugar latt,lol.

Off to a Celebration of Trees in Hartford today. Then to a great restaurant for free meal. Going to go lower carb, because book club is Monday at a restaurant too. Tis the season!

Andrea....you look aaaaaaaaaahmazing!!!!!! Congrats for you work and staying on plan! 1,000 gold stars for you!

Slipfree.....sounds like a fun weekend! Mmmmmmmm...wine .

Hawaii...Hooray for a great weigh-in day! Always awesome to be surprised by rhe scale in a good way!

Yikes, I cant believe how many great postings I am behind. I have been falling asleep at 8 or 9 for the past few days. Work has been busy, try to avoid snacking, and just tired. One night the kids had to tuck me in, DH was out, and I'm pretty sure I was asleep before them. Weight has been been good, 1lb up from lowest so 158 and feel like I did better resisting temptations this week.
Ran 14km this morning along a nice hilly side road, my bum and hamstrings may be upset with me tomorrow.

Congratulations to all the new maintainers and Andrea, you are so close to P4. Love your picture.

Hawaii - congrats on a happy weigh in.

Slip - enjoy the celebration of Trees. What book is your boom club reading now? I'm always looking for some good reads.

Eve - good for you for being on top of the photo situation. My goal this year is to do something about my pics. It seems with everything digital we don't bother with prints but then I find I never look at them. I love the idea of a photo book each year.

Ruth Ann, sounds like your weekend has been busy to. Hope you got a nice nap in.

Hi to everyone and hope that the weekend is going well.

Thank you for the response. I will figure it out and maybe I don't miss the bread as much as I thought. I think what I miss is the convenience of a sandwich and for me that's at lunch. And being able to just order food at a restaurant for that matter! I find that the IP and alternative snacks actually fill in the convenience "on the go" options that were my downfall when I was in Atkins maintenance and I fell off after a year or so in maintenance... so, again maybe it won't be such an issue now that I've found the Quest bars, chips.

Happy Sunday

I am off to the Y to do the treadmill and machines. My DH is not due back till after noon so I can get my workout in.

I pledged to go to the Y six days a week and I am. Yesterday 50 minutes on the treadmill with no music, I forgot my iPod , it was charging.

I am old so I am into this aging thing. Has anyone used Miranda Esmonde-White Aging Backwards videos and books ?

I read your posts but I do not know where you ladies find the time to do everything you do. I am retired and I can not keep up with you. You have jobs,family ,friends and P4 to do everyday.

Hats off to you wonder women.

Thank you for the response. Once I'm able I'll try these bread options. I have found "butter lettuce" which is exactly the right size and elasticity to use to "wrap" a homemade hamburger and I could probably make little sandwichs with it (note to self - try this now!!). But, this is with the homemade stuff which I feel totally in control already.

stephascope, hawaii, evemomma, pishposh, slipfree, jenny Thank you lovely ladies for all your compliments! I feel glowing every day now. It's amazing how much more confident I feel now that I have shed this weight. It was like a very heavy coat covering up the real me in so many ways. I'm down another 1.2 as of this morning! Yeehaw!

My son got my new computer all up and running. This was the first place I visited. I am putting together some very simple P3 breakfasts today and then I get to to shopping for them. I'm thinking I am going to have to get up earlier to have enough time to eat all this food! I will probably be copying some of your menus for a while until I get it down more solidly on my own. Apples, bacon and cashew butter are the 3 things I am really looking forward to!

Happy Sunday Maintainers!

Way to go Catlady! your pic is stunning - very chic with the straight hairdo, too! And doesnt it feel great to dance that slender body around? So glad you received open recognition and acknowledgment for your hard work that has brought your weight down. Bask in the good feelings and make them into a strong memory that you can call up when you need a reminder of why you don't want to fall too far off the maintenance path.

I am so happy for you!

cat lady You look amazing!! Confident and gorgeous in that picture. Congratulations for staying OP during the evening, sometimes it is hard during an event to pass on food, but at the end of the night the sense of accomplishment " I did it" really is the best feeling.