Hey there!- SO glad to find your post today - thank you for the kind thoughts -- the outcome for my husband was not where I expected things to end up... This is tough - I cannot believe how alone I am. No children, and his daughter from prior marriage is in Kansas City... more like a sister than a daughter, age-wise. And my own siblings are all brothers.... 2 are out of town and the other is 40 miles from my house. Great supporters but in no way do they offset the emptiness without my husband. It will take a while for me to wrap my head around this, and some kind of grief support group may be a good idea.


I have thought often of how well you managed through your loss of your mom without falling off the IP wagon - I am ashamed to say I have not had the same success. Must get back on plan as soon as I can.


Right now people keep bringing the wrong food to me, and I have no one else with me much to eat it and get it gone... this will pass pretty soon, and I hope to get back on track starting Monday. Clear the fridge and pantry and start fresh.


I am amazed at the fall off of participation on 3FC... but quite by accident I discovered a couple of very good group pages on Facebook -- a lot of enthusiasm like we used to see here on 3FC. So I am checking in there as well as here.


I will try to be more present on MFP - I was doing good with that in January and then DH took some downturns and had to return to hospital in February, and twice in March, then into skilled nursing -- I just could not plan ahead for anything, and I ate my way through the stress. I could not bring myself to post my junk food meals on MFP....


So I will need support from everywhere I can find it to get back on track - I love you guys and hope you will be around to help me.
cheryl


ps - I read your plastic surgery story in the Maintainers thread - way to go, girl!!! And I am sure your conclusions re being in good shape are right on - your recuperation will be quicker and your return to full capability will be more certain because you were strong going into the operating room. I am looking forward to new before and after pix after you recover..... wow, 5lbs of skin!!! That alone must make any pain and soreness worthwhile!

Cheryl - I am so very sorry for your loss and having to cope with loneliness. I am wishing you peace and hope you can get back to dance, which I know you enjoy.

Sue and Cheryl - I haven't been posting here because I am not following IP any longer. I stopped in December between frustration of not losing last 10 pounds and working on the presidential campaign. I just couldn't do all I was doing on 800-900 calories. I didn't get back on track until the beginning of March having gained it all back. I just couldn't get started for so long. Part of it was that I could not psych myself up for IP. I had been considering a ketogenic diet for a while and had bought the book, Keto Clarity, in December. Anyhow, I am doing an 800-900 ketogenic diet now so no more packaged food for me. I really enjoy the fat and feel so much more satisfied. And, I don't know if you recall my complaints about measuring my blood ketones and finding myself not even in optimal ketosis in spite of being totally compliant. Well, my readings now are 2.6, which is well into optimal ketosis so I know I am burning fat for energy and enjoying the freedom of very accessible foods especially with ttbeing on the campaign trail. I am in Week 5 and feeling good. I have not weighed myself at all yet. I am going to do that at the end of month 2 (in 3 weeks). Anyways, I just thought I would share in case a change in plan is something you think would be helpful to stay on plan. It was SO hard to get started! It took me 3 months to get on track and I believe mainly driven by not having a plan because I did not want to do IP again. As it turned out, I find that I am carb sensitive so staying under 20 total carbs, which also means that excess protein triggers an insulin response so consequently, to get enough calories but not too much protein, I fill in the remainder with fat. I am very fulfilled by the plan. So, just a thought for you...

Ro22 - so glad to hear from you and so sorry that IP just did now work out for you in the end. I am not back on program yet, so I will give your keto clarity book a look as I try to get myself on some path in the right direction.
At the moment I am still clearing out the kitchen - my husband was losing so much weight that we brought in all manner of calorie loaded foods trying to get his weight to stop dropping, and maybe even increase - now I have all sorts of goodies and stuff in the freezer -- I need to make space for the foods I want to be eating for my good health instead of stuff that just feeds my addictions.

You should stop in here periodically and share your successes and any thing you are learning that might be helpful to know -- you have been a terrific weight loss buddy and I don't want to lose track of you!!

Hi Cheryl... just sending out a hug, thinking of you. Be strong & chuck the bad-for-YOU foods! Fresh start time
Liana

Ro22 - glad to hear from you and that things are back on track. As a long time proponent of LCHF, I highly recommend the "Active Low Carb Forum". There is a core group that has been on those boards a LONG time, and, relatively speaking, have also been very successful. I am personally not following LCHF / Paleo / etc... but still check in over there from time to time, mostly to read currently articles regarding LCHF, sugar, etc...: http://forum.lowcarber.org/forumdisplay.php?f=4

Cheryl - more to you - please be gentle with yourself

Thanks, Cheryl I will check in periodically because regardless of the type of program, making habit changes requires support.

Thanks, Beth. I will check it out. I have found a couple of great sources and one just this week, ketodietapp.com. Others are ibreatheimhungry.com and sugarfreemom.com. I enjoy looking for recipes to make.

The Keto Clarity book opened my eyes to a full LCHF plan and these online sources have been invaluable with recipes and other guidelines. Ideal Protein started me on the journey of a ketogenic type diet so I am very happy to have found it and done it twice, but I am finding with running my own company and the presidential campaign work, staying on plan for a LCHF diet requires less planning and more convenience and quite honestly, more satisfaction from what I am eating which I know is critical for long term success. Also, I was so nervous and worked up about transition phases on IP and couldn't wait until I could add additional foods but with a general LCHF, I don't have to worry about such things as I am already eating natural foods. The only difference for me will be adding more calories from the same foods when I am satisfied with my weight loss.

My intent is not to dissuade anyone from IP so I hope no one views my comments that way. I just wanted to share my current journey with others that are struggling a bit like I was in case that helps them. IP provided me with the building blocks.

Wishing you ladies all the best!!!
Beth - Congrats on the successful maintenance!

I don't take your sharing as anti IP at all - and I hope others do not either. I am always interested to hear about variations on the ketogenic approach.

btw I read an article in FastCompany newsletter today about work being done to treat sugar addiction in a similar fashion as they treat other addictions, like nicotine -- if I understand it, it's a lower dose Chantix treatment.... and I have to say that Chantix really worked for me - I quit smoking in 2008 using Chantix and I have never smoked since (except while dreaming ) so I am fascinated by the idea that a similar approach could work for sugar addiction. This will be something to watch - after a year of IP and no sugar, no fruit or dairy, just a small amount put me right back into the sugar craving mode. Unbelievable.

So keep coming back Beth - and I hope everyone else is as glad to have you popping in from time to time as I am.

Good explanation of this....

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/of-whooshes-and-squishy-fat.html/

Cheryl, thank you for posting the article. I have a major problem with water retention. Even when I went off BP Meds, they had to put me on a diuretic. These last couple weeks with TOM and a head cold have been bumming me out on the scale. I know it is water but my impatient soul wants Phase 1 over!

I have been keeping you in my prayers.

Cheryl, I am so sorry for the loss of your DH. My thoughts are with you as you adjust and I wish you the best of luck getting control of your eating and weight loss. Hugs.

Oh, Cheryl, I'm so sorry. As someone with a husband in fragile health, I know how hard it is to watch them decline. I wish this outcome had been different for you. And, yes, you've been missed. Those of us in the 2015 thread wondered how you were doing.

Thanks everyone - you are sending such kind thoughts and remarks, and lots of good vibes!


HereIStand - so sorry to hear you are dealing with fragile health with your DH - it is so hard to stay on top of the medical issues, but at the same time, maximize the quality of the time you have together. You are in my thoughts and prayers in that regard.


I have been getting a variety of chores completed - many dealing with loose ends from the past several months - filed for Long Term Care insurance reimbursement for helping caregivers today, have been gathering tax stuff together and filed for extension, and...


I finally had a real Day 1 on re-Reboot today. Trying my hardest to get with it and watch myself melt away as the days go by. I know that is what will happen when I get on program and stay there. Much better than watching the days go by and weeks go by and seeing the scale continue to rise. I did well in January and then un-did those results in February and kept packing it back on through all of March - eating the stress and emotions really blew me back up in a hurry.

Today I connected with a few of you guys on MyFitnessPal, too -- posting there is very important for the long haul, so I am trying to get a good streak going there.

I actually cooked today for the first time since being alone in the house.... it has been very difficult to get up enough will to cook for just one, and besides, without cooking I could make the excuse to stuff face with junk food. I even let a lot of nice veggies and salad stuff just rot in the fridge. So mad at myself for that... children in China are starving, ya know....

Anyway, today I made myself some pancakes from crispy cereal using Janeva's basic pancake recipe, adding half a cup of finely grated zuke to make them more substantial and filling. And before lunch I roasted a large pan of mixed veggies in the oven - cauliflower, sweet peppers, elephant garlic, chunks of celery, asparagus.... it came out great and was a lovely addition to some IP Leek soup I still have on hand - nice lunch with a green salad. Those veggies also went nicely as a side dish with the porterhouse steak I seared, roasted and rested before enjoying for dinner tonight along with a salad. Finished off with a double choc brownie... pretty good Day 1, I'd say....


Sue - if you are still willing to pick up and send some IP products to me, I'd like to do that - will send you an email in a day or two and see if that's still doable for you. I am trying to do this without the cost of a coach and clinic relationship. Money is tight until the survivor benes from DH's retirement income kicks in... federal retirement operations center has a large backlog, so it will be a few months of watching pennies.



thanks to everyone for the support and love -- it really means a lot to me.
cheryl

Since you find water retention to be frequent issue, I am so glad you read the article - we talk about water retention, and I know when it's happening to me much of the time, but understanding more about it helps to explain a lot of situations we find ourselves in... the relationship to the whoosh was very encouraging to me.


I have run across some interesting posts on the FB groups that have appeared for IP... I swear that many who would have been here with us on 3FC are more attracted to FB -- people go there anyway, so while there it is easy to get an IP encouragement and support fix. Lots of Before and Afters are posted, and the photos of food are fascinating.


But I found this link there and was glad to share it. I post about info that's available here on 3FC over there too... maybe we'll get some new blood from my hints...

Hey guys - I am one week in on my April reboot- down 6.8 lbs and only one lb away from One-Derland! YAY!!! I am finding my rhythm with the IP protocol on alternative food items. I will take a pound a day anytime!!!

That is great! Very encouraging to hear