You made me laugh about the anxiety thinking about your boys married. Not to make light of your feelings, but I get it! It's certainly different once there are in-law children in the family. My daughters aren't that fond of their sisters-in-law, and I've had to remind them that they don't get to pick their in-laws. So they have to learn how to get along.

Combat bars... I haven't found a flavor yet that wasn't delicious. I lean toward the chocolate peanut butter and the cinnamon. The chocolate cake flavor is also yummy. I just ordered some stuff from GNC and I'm getting a box of chocolate chip cookie dough. Probably my least favorite flavor is the strawberry.

If you haven't tried the Oatmega bars yet, you might want to pick one up. They're not as candy-like as the Combat bars, but they're full of good stuff, and tasty. So far my favorite is the chocolate mint.

____________________________

Another good walk yesterday, but today I'll have to go to the gym because we're having rain all day. I actually had to do a short jog yesterday to cross a street in front of cars. It was just 5 seconds of running, but nothing hurt, so that was encouraging.

Scale finally dropped 1 pound this morning. I felt like having a party. LOL.

It dawned on me yesterday that I've been basically following the P1 for diabetics and athletes plan without realizing it. :D That boosted my spirits; now I know I'm eating right so the weight will probably eventually come off, it's just going to take a while. I pretty much eat a P2 style day, with an apple at lunch or mid afternoon, and dairy (milk or yogurt) at breakfast or for evening snack. I don't really have any grains, and don't plan to, although I often have a small carb (like potatoes or corn) at dinner.

ETA: Thoughts on the branched chain amino acids? IP has added them to their stock, so I looked into them and decided to buy some BCAA powder from GNC (MusclePharm brand). It's supposed to help with maintaining or increasing muscle mass when you exercise. Beth, are you using BCAAs?

Sounds like everyone had a quiet Easter weekend. For us too. Although we are certainly old enough to be grandparents , none of the next generation in DH’s side of the family are cooperating. On my side, there are a bunch of little ones, but we are scattered far and wide, and so don’t get together for holidays (DH’s family are all either in town or just a few hours away). So holidays are usually smallish groups of us. Still very nice though.

Great idea, Candi. I timed my phase off so I would start P4 when I started vacation. I found it difficult, even though it all worked out Ok, it was probably pure dumb luck! If I had to decide again, I would have preferred a couple of weeks of P4 at home first to get the hang of it.

WTG on those shorts, Sue! :cheer2: Great feeling!
And congratulations on the mortgage approval – one step closer! You must be starting to get excited about moving.
Hope that woozy episode was just a one-off, but maybe carry a bar with you in case it happens again

Ouch, that doesn’t sound like fun. :( Prednisone is nasty stuff, even though it works. Hope the effects wear off quickly --- and you know any “weight” on your scale is NOT real.

{{{Hugs}}} :hug: Hang in there! We all feel your frustration!

So sorry to hear that, I don’t know how hard it is to find a nanny , but I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you to find someone quickly!

Linda and Beth, glad to hear all is going well with you both (aside from the NB, must admit, that is becoming a temptation here as well ).
This week has been going well for me too, weight is holding steady, and I’m starting to feel comfortable with P4 ( is that a jinx to say that??). My meals have been less than adventurous, I feel like I’m getting into a food rut, a lot of same-old. I need to find some interesting new recipes, now that I’m feeling more relaxed about what I’m eating. Maybe I’ll take a few cookbooks and spend an hour looking at pictures to inspire me. :D
FB is a funny place, I didn’t see the post you mentioned. I usually check the P2-3-4 group most days, still find some good info and discussions, but also lots of not-so-much…. but I must admit I don’t check in on many of the other groups any more.
I’ve been trying to work on my taxes, I always procrastinate, but have to finalize my business statements, big PITA, not difficult, just not a favorite task. Meeting a friend for coffee later this morning, so maybe I’ll try to get something done before I leave.

ETA
YAY!!!!

Had a post ready to go this morning and the all h311 broke loose at work. Oh well, survived


Candi - sorry about the nanny - one week wasn't much notice - keeping :crossed:

HIS - congrats on the pound ! So, new drama ;) I am honestly starting to wonder if that one guy on the support & love board isn't SL in disguise...??? Something about the whole things stinks IMHO - 4 / 5 separate posts about pickles? Same with water enhancers? And then getting upset if you don't agree with him - reminds me of Cartman from South Park ("I'll do what I want!"). I thought I had blocked his posts from showing up but obviously not and now I'm just responding to get a rise out of him...
Oh, and bra lady turned up :p

Blue - b/c of Emancipation Day in DC, we down south get an extra 3 days to submit our personal taxes :D April 18th! And I'll wait until the night of the 16th or 17th lol glad things are status quo

Had a run in with the NB monster last night - actually, the eat everything monster...anyway, done, over - and today was even more stressful but I've been ok
Had a true rest day yesterday also - no gym, no run...today I did a light weights session. Tomorrow is my last, easy run in preparation for Sunday's 10 miler.

Unfortunately DH and I had a huge fight last night too (over water...yes, water) and right now I am just completely disengaged. They say the opposite of love is indifference and I'm there right now - sorry to unload here :( *sigh* glad I have the run

Oh - bcaa's - the GU we use is Roctane and contains extra amino acids - I know they are good for people who work out but not sure about any more supplements

Hi all,

House update - closing has been moved up to April 22nd. All is moving along. I did by a fast scanner to move files to paperless so I don't have to move them. It arrived today and it is nice to see the files emptying out.

Went to an advocacy day at the capital today. I planned ahead and brought food for the day along. Good thing. Nothing I could eat at lunch so I tried asking for a vegetarian meal ended up with the same meal potato salad, grapes and a wrap -- only this one had tofu instead of meat. Southwest cheese curls were very good at least.

HIS - sorry about your fight and bad day at work. Is this the Cherry Blossum run this weekend? DH may still be suffering / jealous that he can not do it with you.

Blue - We used to have those big grand holidays. Easters were always by my Aunt's. It is funny that in my mind it seems like it was yesterday. She passed away a few years ago and in recent years we would go out as a family and then over to her house. The only time my dad's family gets together anymore is thanksgiving by my folks house.

HIS- congrats on the the pound and the realization of P1/ alternative.

MiWi - Sorry about the Nanny. Hoping you can find at least a short term qualified substitute in the short time frame. Yes the shorts fit -- kind nice my closet is starting to look pretty empty. I have a bed full of clothing to try on before I go to bed. I need to get rid of some of the t-shirts etc.

Kayala - Are you having any problems sleeping on the prednisone? Some people "jumpy" on that medication. It will also cause you to retain fluid, but you will loose it once you are done. Hope you are feeling better soon.

Sue

HIS Thanks for the flavor recommendations!!! I will try them. DH and I are already planning how we are going to stay on a good maintenance plan. I traditionally have been a snacker, so I think having a yummy bar in the afternoon will stop me from eating junk.

Beth Sorry about your fight. Feeling numb or dissociated is a sign of sadness and hurt. It sucks. Hope y'all work it out soon...about the water. DH and I had a huge argument over carpet versus laminate flooring. Oh well. Do something good for yourself (not food)!

Sue Yay for the house and the scanner and being super productive!!!

blue Glad Phase is going well for you. DH (our cook) and I were just talking about trying some of the Phase 4 recipes on the Low Fat/Low Carb website. Also talked about making spaghetti squash instead of pasta. Just trying to figure out ways we can be more successful than last year! Hope you get out of the food rut soon!

Thanks everyone for your support. In order to afford a nanny, we offer our basement apartment (including utilities) as part of the compensation for caring for our kids. So it's just stressful to me to have to trust a new person living in our home. Oh well, we have some applicants right now. DH gives them a phone interview and I do the in-person interview, so that's our life this weekend. Interviewing. We also start Phase 2 on Saturday which is cool. We have 4 weeks and 2 days to plan for our first week of maintenance. I think we can totally do it. I am hopeful.

Wishing everyone a great end of the work week!

Down a wee bit on the scale today, about 1/2 pound - yay! But I'm struggling with cravings in the evening hours. I usually have a bar around 8 or 8:30 pm, and then it seems I just want to eat and eat and eat.

I noticed yesterday that my yoga pants are little tighter than they were, so I mustered up the courage to do measurements, which I hadn't done since I started P4 in November.... very discouraging. I'm up 2" in my waist, hips, and thighs. So I wasn't imagining that my clothes were fitting differently. I'm still right around 5 pounds over goal, and it's surprising that just 5 pounds added that much in inches. I tried on a brand new pair of size 8 shorts that I was planning to wear on vacation in May, and they're far too tight. So I'm going to have to change something - diet or exercise or both - in April. :( Still planning to wait until after my orthopedic appointment on Monday before deciding what action to take.

ETA beth: yeah, that guy on the FB page.... he's gonna be a problem. Only 3 days in and he already knows more than anyone else. I mean, I asked a ton of questions in the beginning because some of the protocol just didn't make sense to me, but I still followed it because there was so much proof it works. He seems to post questions even though he already has his mind made up that he's going to do things his way. I don't think he's SL, though - SL wouldn't waste his valuable knowledge and time to be in a group with so many people who aren't doing things the exact IP way.

So many people don't do the mental work they should in P1. If you're constantly looking for ways to modify the protocol, what's going to happen when you get to maintenance? You will continue to justify bad habits and end up right back where you started.

Hey Everyone,

Thank you all for the well thoughts!

Sue - Most definitely have been experiencing sleep issues this week. I'm so tired tonight though, so hopefully it will be a full night of sleep then tomorrow is my last course of the pred. The first night I couldn't sleep at all!

Blue - I think I will still check out the damage on the scale come this Saturday morning. I know it will be discouraging, but I think I will be curious to know how my body responded to everything and just do my best to take it with a grain of salt. Also so glad to hear that you're enjoying maintenance :) I'm the same way, basically eat the same things most of the time and throw in some occasional experiments. Did one for dinner tonight, and fortunately it turned out well! (That's not always the case lol)

Beth - I'm sorry about your fight and slip up. I was just there this weekend with my bad habits and it really helped me when I read your post regarding 'this is life' basically. So let me just remind you of what you said, that things happen! There are special occasions, emotional, and stress triggers that are inevitable when walking through life. Just try not to beat yourself up - like you said, you have the tools, knowledge, and resources to stay where you want to be!

HIS - That must be frustrating. I'm sure all of your running probably did wonders for losing inches. It sounds like you've got a good plan going and the scale is reflecting that. Just look forward to the things that you can do and still have to look forward to. You haven't run your last race! Re: the mental process you mentioned. I totally agree. For the past month or so I have been really trying to work on that myself. It's for sure a process (at least for me) that requires a lot of attention.

MiWi - That is one arduous task. Maybe you will be pleasantly surprised and find a someone who works out even better!

Sue - hopefully the close date moving up is a good thing for you guys :crossed: Yup, the 10 miler is Sunday :D I am really excited! I get to run *with* Meb K...those who don't run (like me prior to December ;) ) wouldn't know Meb, but he made the 2016 Olympic marathon team for Rio, has won the Boston Marathon (only American to do so over the last 25 years) and is 40 years old!!!! Gives me hope ;)

Candi - oh wow - that really is a bonus! My SIL (British) started out here in the U.S. as a nanny / similar situation with a family. You're in a cool area too! Good luck :crossed:
& yah, I would say I am hurt / in pain...but completely detached right now. DH & I have a very long history of (mostly) verbal / emotional abuse (him) / codependency (me). We've worked through a lot of issues over the last 24 years, but my tolerance level is now zero. *shrug*

HIS - congrats on the SV & hope you are remaining pain free!
ding ding ding! I seriously doubt he's going to have a bad WI next Monday - no matter how he's doing it, I am sure his caloric / carbohydrate intake has been severely reduced this week...I will be curious to see going forward...but I get the impression that no matter what, he is going to put himself out there as the "rebel" poster child :lol:
One pattern I am noticing is if someone calls him out on a mistake - like saying on the one thread all he's had for breakfast this week are the RTD's, & someone pointed out 'but you said you had the omelette" he doesn't respond / acknowledge.
On one hand, he is asking / posting so much, any newbies coming on board should be fine ;)
OTOH, it's kind of creepy (like my creepy fascination with this...but I'll explain more below - its just a distraction from 'real life' right now)
...and apparently "protocol" doesn't (or shouldn't) exist on the 'support & love' board :lol:

Thanks Kay

So yes, am still allowing myself to feel and am really excited about Sunday & the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler! I honestly can't believe I get to say I ran in a race with Meb K.!

I am really over-it with DH right now though. *FYI - rant below*
What happened Tuesday:
We have a water dispenser and buy Deer Park - he refuses to drink tap, even filtered (1st world problems eh?)
We ran out of water Tuesday evening - found out about 9pm. He flipped and started raging - primarily at DD19 & turned it full force on me too...
Words were exchanged...I couldn't understand why he couldn't just go to the store - why the blame game & all the anger??? I quickly realized he wasn't going to resolve the issue in an adult manner, and while I wasn't happy about it, was going to go to the store (my codependent nature) & was on my way out the door when he said "whatever you bring back I'm not drinking"
Who the f*** says cr@p like that???? Why not just "thanks, I appreciate it"
I got the water...problem solved, and haven't spoken to him since Tuesday night. I've always been the peace maker but I can say with 100% certainty, I did NOTHING wrong - neither did DD19, who he coped most of the blame at :(

It's been building though - we go through cycles - and the injury / not being able to run brought it to a head...& if it hadn't been the water, it would have been something else, probably just as minor

I refuse to bow down to this b-s anymore. I told him I was done walking on eggshells after 24 years. I've been trying to anticipate his moods and keep him happy for all these years - not just for myself, but the girls too, because I never know which way his anger is going to blow...

I'm not perfect and can be a royal PITA too - but I own my mistakes, try to learn from them, and believe I strive to be a better person.

3 days and he hasn't once attempted to talk to me or apologize.

I've suspected over the years he is either bi-polar or has narcissistic personalty disorder / BPD - not an excuse, just sayin...and I'm the codependent who has stayed & tried to make things better...
whats the definition of insanity? ;)

Anyway, thanks for letting me rant...back to IP

Beth - rant away, :hug: there are days when you just have to get it off your chest. Sorry it was such a bad day for you. But having to focus on your run on Sunday is probably good timing, put it out of your mind and don’t revisit it. Good thing is you didn’t turn to food (old behaviours, as you so eloquently phrased it, idgaf :mad:)…well, we’ll forgive you the nut butters ;)… but you know what I’m saying. :) Most us have had that reaction to stressful, emotional events by eating our way through it for comfort, whatever, and we’ve learned (hopefully) not to do that! So, fwiw, something for you to feel darn good about yourself. And when you have Fantastic results in your race, even more so.

Sue – wow, just a few weeks to closing, hope it all goes smoothly. You sound very organized, so I have no doubt. So exciting, it will be such fun getting settled in your new place.

HIS – could some of those inches be muscles from running ? Like you said, hard to think 5 extra lbs could add 2 inches. If you’re following what you describe as basically P1-alt, you’ll drop those 5 lb in a month, for sure. Can’t remember when you see your doc again – next week? Maybe good news when you go, you’ve been having a lot of pain-free days.

Candi, how are you liking P2 so far? I haven’t looked at the P4 recipes at Low Fat/Low Carb, I'll have to check them out – funny thing though, after eating such low carb dinners for so long on P1, I’m finding many days when I look at my dinner plan on MFP and consciously have to add more carbs – like potato or sweet potato, or some fruit – even though I’d be quite happy without it.

Actually that’s a good question for you all – how necessary is it to have a carb meal at dinner (assuming fat is low so it’s still more carb than fat) or can you have a higher fat meal for both lunch and dinner? I’m getting carbs at breakfast --- surprising to me, I’m continuing with the P3 breakfasts, and liking them, never used to be a breakfast eater. And I like fruit for a snack, apples, grapes, whatever, so there are carbs there. Just dinner carbs, I don’t feel like I want them sometimes.

Happy snowy Saturday. ..

I am at the hairdresser getting the Grey out. I have noticed that my hair is falling out at a faster rate, but this is after noticing that it had slowed down earier.

The problem with posting on my mobile phone is I can't see your posts at the same time.

Beth..it seems like the weather is going to be a little cool and maybe wet for your cherry blossom run. I am sorry about your fight, have you ever read a book called crucial conversations. I had to read for a class I did last year and found it quite helpful in learning to talk with my dh. The only challenge is it would be nice if they would read as well. I used an audio book and would read on my walks/ drive to work. I think there is something about this ip journey that helps us learn about ourselves and the things that contributed to our weight gain.

Wishing you a great run this weekend.

Sue - thanks, we do both need to work on communication - doesn't get easier, even after 24 years.

Blue - think I would rather have the snow than the winds we are suppose to have tomorrow morning - ugh!

Been trying to post all day - first 2 were deleted :mad:
Carbed up with a fresh, warm brownie and some coconut-milk ice cream - mmmmm had a really healthy lunch / dinner after getting our bibs and still needed some glycogen fill ;)

Excited but a little nervous too - it's suppose to be 30 degrees with 25 mph sustained winds...gust up to 50 mph :( :yikes: and while not very honest of me, I am using DH's bib tomorrow so I can start in a higher corral - otherwise I'd be waiting to start for almost 40 minutes!!!! With wind chills in the teens...no thanks.

Just wanted to pop in for a sec this morning to say hi. Things have been going well this week. Getting into a routine with food, and weight has been pretty stable, staying withing a 1-2 lb range, still a couple of lbs below goal. :)

Sue - you'll be a new woman with the grey out - it's on my list too for a touch up this week too :D
Beth - sounds like a nasty day for a run, but I hope it's not too bad. You'll do great anyway!! Looking forward to hearing the results

Hope everyone is having a great wk/end!

Ok - it was COLD!!! Thank God we drove downtown and found parking right across the street. DH was such a trooper today - he had to be at bag check at 5:30am and was outside for 5 hours straight in the cold and winds. I stayed in the car until 7am :) then went back to the car by 9:45 and stayed warm.
It was a beautiful run and I made my time / 10 min miles - I probably would have ran 9:45's but I got a nasty stitch around mile 7 that slowed me up the last 3 miles
No indulgence meal today - I am going to have one more brownie and finish off the ice cream tonight :)
Hope everyone had a great weekend

Blue - regarding the carb / fat separation - that's where I completely lose any "IP poster child" status points I may have ;) :lol:
I try but often fail as my lunch is mostly veggie - I don't like the full fat dressings anymore & cheese scares me (I don't keep a scale at work). Mostly I add avocado (1/2) but that's only once or twice a week (they're expensive)- night is also generally still P3ish with protein / veggie - occasionally I add a carb like low carb toast with a little butter or quinoa