Destony, you pay WAY too much money to be dissatisfied with your coach. Definitely get with the one you like and trust.

I don't go to an official IP clinic, I'm doing the protocol on my own with alternatives. But I'm in an online group (not here) with a mix of "real" IP people and some coaches, and others like me, and I'm shocked to hear how many people get really bad coaching. Even one of the coaches in the group frequently gives advice that conflicts with the official IP protocol. I don't understand why the IP organization doesn't make sure their clinics give out consistent information. I work in health care, and know that it's imperative that patients get correct info to manage their own health.

Destony I hope you have gone back to your original coach. "Only" a pound? What the ****? That is rude! Some weeks I lost less than a pound or nothing at all and some weeks I lost four pounds and did the exact same thing each week. The owner's wife does not seem well-informed. And not to mention, you are not there to listen to her problems! Yick.

You rock and should be proud of this past week's accomplishments! Yay!!!

Also thanks for your support!

Blue - :broc: great loss! & thanks - this is 90% DH's vehicle but I am getting some input on the color...& yes - hopefully Frawnie's amazing losses rub off on us all :)

MiWi - Congrats - sounds like you are doing really well phasing off! Keep us posted as you can :)

Destony - :mad:
UGH! Tales like this make me glad I didn't go through a clinic...I don't do well with external pressure / judgement like that - good for you getting mad at her! And YOU have been propping her up while SHE complains :barf: - very sweet of you but not what you signed up / paid for. I really, really hope you can work it out and go back to your old coach.
Also - YOU ROCK LADY!!!!! Congrats on the 'new' wardrobe :D Forgive the crudeness, but a definite 'middle finger' to that ladies "only one pound?!" comments ;):lol:

After a minor set back yesterday morning with DH's pay stubs, everything is in motion...playing the waiting game now with the bank. Glad the appraisal gives me an excuse for a work-from-home day probably sometime next week!

Time for some thoughts...

I am 'officially' down 67 pounds.
I am only 12 pounds from "normal" BMI
I am fitting M / L on top & generally 12 / 14's on the bottom (although there is that one pair of 16's - Gloria Vanderbilt "Amanda" cut, that just now fit properly)
The muffin top is shrinking
When I sit, I have thigh / calf 'gap'
I can properly cross my legs again
Even though the scale isn't showing it, I know I continue to lose inches - I can SEE the shape of my body changing. I can feel it in my clothes.
I've started to believe that some of my aches and pains are muscles / joints realigning as the fat continues to dissipate.
Here is one of the biggest kickers I've been contemplating recently:
People are treating me differently!
How so? Is it really true? Am I just more sensitive now than before? These are all questions I've given some time to. I generally try to believe most people are inherently good and don't discriminate - but the crux of that belief delves much deeper.
Again, maybe it IS a change to MY mindset, but I swear, more people seem to want to talk to me - strangers. I'll be out shopping and random people stop to talk with me...more men than women, but a few women too. It's WEIRD...for example, leaving work the other day & riding the elevator with a (nice looking) guy I recognize (ridden the elevator once or twice / passed in the lobby)...got very talkative as we rode down. He'd never said 2 words to me before this.
I was getting water in the store and a (nice looking) guy came up, offering to help me get it in my cart.
A (nice looking) mom at DD10's dance class picked up a conversation with me - again, this was someone I see quite a bit
...and it crosses my mind "were these people scared / disgusted of me when I was more overweight?". I know that seems really disingenuous of me - but again, even random smiles...people looking me in the eye, instead of over my shoulder or at the ground...grocery store clerks seem more friendly :?: - is this all just in my perception, or have others noticed this?
There has been a lot of discussion in certain circles about 'fat shaming' and 'body acceptance'. The comedienne Amy Schuemer (sp?) has told the media to back off about her weight (fwiw I think she's beautiful). I know thin = successful / beautiful is what has been pushed on us for years and years through various media outlets and now its swinging the other way...as a survivor of vicious childhood bullying for being overweight, I think the changes are for the good - but I also think, deep down, peoples own insecurities / life experiences will always come into any interaction.

I've also been thinking about my job situation...I've had fairly good success in my career - I've worked hard and it's paid off, but I wonder about some of the other chances I've had to advance...would I have been a more qualified candidate if I'd been less overweight? I definitely feel more confident in the way I presented myself at this last interview than any of the ones I had prior to losing the weight (and yet another benefit of IP - higher self esteem!). I know how important it is to make a good first impression and unfortunately, many people see someone who is overweight as lazy, slovenly :(

Even my own DH...while he was still *ahem* attentive when I was more overweight, he is MUCH more attentive now...and I know I'm more attractive to him than at 234 pounds

Sorry - lots of random, scattered thoughts today.

& Don't get me wrong, I like these changes but underneath, there is a sadness...a sadness that I can't verify 100% - it's a gut feeling that before I lost the weight, a lot of these random people wouldn't talk to me just b/c I was overweight - and maybe too, it come full circle that I am more confident / carry myself differently so seem more approachable? :?:

Goal!
 

This morning I officially slipped .6lb past goal of 175 and started phase 2! Real lunch! 97.6lbs down since Jan 5! I'm just mentally done with packets, so happy to get real foods in my system. Phase 3 breakfasts will be an interesting time as I hate eggs and dairy products, so I see a lot of almond butter toast and turkey sausage in my future. ;)

I think it's a combination of both, hysteria.... When you have lost this weight you feel proud and more confident and that does show in posture, the look on your face/in your eyes and a generally more positive attitude. People can feel the difference. But also they may have felt uncomfortable looking straight at you or in your eyes before because they didn't want you to feel they were staring when really that wasn't what was happening. I know because I have felt that way inside. I have felt at times that really noticing a person and singling them out for conversation or chat might make them uncomfortable (and often they appeared to feel that way - like they didn't want to be noticed as they also did not initiate eye contact or even smile). At least I always try to smile at everyone I meet, where it goes from there is mainly up to them, is it reciprocated or does a conversation start?

Liana

Congrats Ennui!!!! :cheer:

Thanks Liana - lots of conflicting thoughts and emotions right now (good 'ol PMS :devil:)
Since adding an extra mile to my walks I've been super ridiculously hungry - and tonight I guess I was having a low blood sugar issue / hit the IP wall and almost had a true moment of road rage (DMV drivers can understand lol)...I won't detail but it was really like the Snickers commercial - and so I dug into my emergency stash and had 1/2 a Quest bar & almost immediately felt better / calmer
Came home and had chicken thighs instead of lean breast and probably more than I should have to be 100% OP - and don't really care right now b/c I feel SO much better.

I officially start phase 2 today as I reached my goal that I had modified from my original goal. I am also happy to be off of a packet but like Ennui worried about the breakfast in phase 3. I am also having a mixed of emotions of feeling so proud of my accomplishments and a fear of moving away from the comfort zone of phase 1

It is so awesome to see so many folks reaching their goals and phasing off :D :bravo:

Apologizes for the long-winded posts the last couple days...I need to start a blog :lol:

The extra food yesterday seemed to have helped and I went to bed a little early again. I think last Friday peaked 3 months of continuous running and stress & I think this past week all of that caught up with me at once. Then compound an already over-stressed system with additional exercise...well, I was ripe for a melt down.

Taking it easy the next couple days - it's suppose to rain in the DMV today / tomorrow so no walks. I am going to try and do some light yoga from a YouTube series I follow. I also think I am also going to cut the walks back to 2 miles again.

The weekend looks nice, but there are things we have to do to get ready for the appraisal - projects DH has started and need to be finished so lots of furniture moving and general cleaning.

NSV - a co-worker stopped me in the kitchen this morning and basically said 'You look amazing...I know you are doing more than "diet & exercise" - fess up" :lol:
Diet & exercise has been my go-to response, not wanting to get too deep into IP with most people...but I told this co-worker about it - they said they are serious about wanting to lose 50 pounds, but when I said "no carbs, no fruit", they just shook their head and said "Nope, no way I could do that" - I said "You can do anything you set your mind to - it's worked for me" :)

Are you exercising?
 

SOOOOOOOOOO great to see how well everyone is doing! Even if there are slips here and there, I think that is just a part of life and still overall success is amazing and SO encouarging!

The camping trip was fun but glad it was only 3 days LOL The spots we were in were very dusty and the youngest granddaughter can't seem to get dirty enough haha - so I'm glad to be back home and dirt free.

I think I did great. Given all the junk food and temptations I only had a few chips and crackers and still managed to lose 3 lbs last week :carrot:

I was wondering how many of you are exercising and if you are at what intensity and how much? I am amazed that in my 9th week OP I still get very tired and have low energy most days. I tried doing pilates and some strength training but then I felt like I was starving the next day so quit for now, but I feel like I need to be doing something. Does anyone still feel tired and hungry after several weeks? I'm sure hormones have something to do with it too but I just hoped I'd have a lot more energy than I do this far in.

Thanks for your input!

Cindy

Are you taking all your supplements? Any health problems prior to IP (thyroid, diabetes, etc.)? Getting in all your water, salt, and veggies? Eating any salads?

I feel great OP; I no longer have a mid-afternoon slump. I added walking to my daily routine 2-3 weeks ago. I wear a FitBit and work to get in 10,000 steps a day, which usually means I take a 2-3 mile walk in the evening to accumulate the remaining steps. My heart rate doesn't go up much (into the 90's, usually), so I don't add an extra packet. I just have my protein snack when I'm done with that evening walk.

I also eat the dinner meal at lunch. It seems to work better for me. I'm not hungry in the afternoon, and I don't go to bed feeling overly full.

I get days, or even afternoons of low energy. In general, I feel more energetic on IP, but it's not enough energy to handle high intensity activity. If you are exercising, you may want to add an extra packet or protein to see if that helps with the energy.

Cindy - Glad to see the camping trip went well and you had a terrific loss to top it off :)
Exercise / tiredness - I believe this is a YMMV (your mileage may vary) issue, but here is my situation:
I've been 90 - 95% OP for 27 weeks now - I am 38 y/o, medicated for hypo-thyroid (just checked in June - all is well), taking my supplements (plus Rx Vit D, extra magnesium, and Biotin) & still dealing with TOM...my energy levels rise and fall.
I had been doing regular 2 mile walks 3 - 4 days a week since April, averaging 15 minute miles - so a fairly good clip and I was fine. I had added an extra low-calorie packet (either peach-mango concentrate or vanilla pudding - both under 100 cals) when I felt like I needed it.
About 10 days ago, I decided to up it to 3 miles and at first seemed fine - then I hit the "IP Wall" - complete exhaustion / fatigue, irritability, extreme hunger.
It's taken 2 days of extra protein, packets, rest, and salt / potassium to recover.
I documented above some of the other issues I've been dealing with over the last 3 months - but the extra mile was the only major change I made recently and I hadn't felt that horrible in a long time.
This is why I say its a YMMV issue - some people may do perfectly well / have tons of energy / exercise all the time...others, not so much.
I think exercise is important in general for our well being, metal health, and long term success & this is one of the great things about IP imho - you get to really learn about your body / listen to signals / understand true hunger / know your limitations.

I am so upset!! I typed a long response to a bunch of things yesterday- and POOF- gone- so-here in a nutshell~
Thank you for your support everyone! I switched my time and back to my original gal. Feel so much better!
Beth-I know what you mean, I feel it, and know that it happens-having been a yo-yo my entire life-skinnyLinda gets WAY more attention than fatLinda does, hands down- be it at work, from people in general and so on. It's not your imagination.
Aro, congrats on phase 2- i look forward to hearing how it feels and how you are doiong with it.
I think I am going to bump my goal down I just don't think 140 will do it for me. It could also be the fear of leaving phase 1- but I'll know when I hit 140 if it's right or not.
Roxy, I'm doing a 30 day plank challenge, 25 squats and 10 lunges ea side- something -but not (likely) as much as I should do.
Happy Friday one and all and again THANK YOU for your support!!!

Destony I ended up bumping my original goal down as well, when I got close I realized I wanted to go a little more but don't forget you will probably lose weight on phase 2 and 3 or so I have been told

I went for my second consult for the tummy tuck and breast lift and augmentation I really liked this Dr. so I decided to officially book the surgery for Nov 9th. I have my mammography, blood test EKG and pre-op all booked as well. I am super excited :)

Happy Saturday - hope everyone is busy doing enjoyable things...3 months of fun weekends has caught up into one weekend of super-cleaning :lol:

Appraiser comes Tuesday - DH isn't too concerned but it's still a good idea to put your best foot forward, so-to-speak

So, IP related...idk how many more months I am going to be able to tolerate and push through these "walls"...I keep a fairly detailed diary on MFP and so I can see the pattern, and it's PMS related :( I am always so scared to deviate from protocol too much - and when I have deviated, I have yet to mess with sugar (ie, cakes / breads) or alcohol.
This last time was a d@mn near thing though. What I wouldn't have done for a slice of cake / muffin Wednesday / Thursday. I did have extra Quest bars, packets, and protein (ie - 10oz steak last night). MFP has put me at 1,100+ k/cal for 3 days!

But get THIS - the scale finally budged and I lost a couple ounces - frikkin wacky

I think I am finally feeling a little better - definitely not as irritable or hungry as I'd been the last 2/3 days...and that's another thing that's on my mind...the "price" my family is paying. I TRY to be cognizant of my behaviors, but man everyone got a piece of my nastiness this time :( Not cool :(

We are taking a couple hours 'off' and heading to a Nats game tonight - weather for the dog-dayz of August is perfect :) Planning to enjoy my ballpark hot dog with some proti thin white cheddar crisps for dinner