That was my problem! I was too many pounds over my goal that my clothes no longer felt comfortable Things are now back to normal, and since I am totally in P1 mode, I am just going to keep rolling with it for a while longer. I think a couple of leeway pounds going into the holiday season would be beneficial.

I do have to admit that now that everything is back to normal (weight wise and clothes wise), it made it that much harder to do P1 today. I actually wasn't 100% today. Ate a little bit off plan, but my carb count was still low enough to not kick me out of ketosis. And tomorrow is going to be another challenging day as we are going to a football game and tailgating. I have a salad and my burger (no bun), but not nibbling on the chips and snacks is going to tough. Better bring a lot of gum

Jenny YAY! That's so awesome that you're back to where you want to be. Something about gum that keeps you occupied hey (insert 'eh')? Although, for me it's hard to use for some of the functions at work where everyone's so dressed up! hahaha (it doesn't help that sometimes I chomp hard as I'm concentrating)

mooselover I felt the same during my trip (ugh! do I have to?) and once I started it wasn't as bad as I thought. I like to compare it to algebra (I hate HATE math), I used to ignore my homework and have it hanging out over my head, but once I finished it I would say "it wasn't that bad, you spent more time worring about it then actually doing it". So if you wanna, just do it...just do it (Referencing starsky and Hutch here).

cap I knew the sleep between 10-1 is important but I didn't know it was stress fighting hormones....I wonder if we went to bed at 9 would we get MORE of those helpful hormones

pat It's ok, I knew weddings do that...I've been disappointed myself in the past but I sucked it up and offered to help where I could. I'm told that I'm the norm and what I experienced isn't. Trouble is now I'm scared to ask her to do something for the program cause I don't want her to think it's coming from guilt. VIP just rolls his eyes and says "you girls are SO complicated!"

So in Phase 1 I created a pulled pork recipe that I've been craving...so today I'm making it. I have made it with the epicure sugar free, but mine just tasted better. I hope I remember right!

You know you've changed your lifestyle when you buy a healthy slow cooker recipe book because it has the breakdown on every recipe, cause you are so busy you KNOW you have to plan...and although you can get the same recipes online...you prefer to have it in a book so you can read it while in the bathtub while planning in your head. (vice the fashion magazines you used to read and wish you could fit into some of those clothes!)

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day!

Well..I found some very nice sweaters at a thrift shop and some lovely Alfani blouses on sale. The blouses will not help in the winter, but are so nice.

jenny..good luck at the tailgating. Keep chewing gum and drinking water!!!

ishbel: One does become consumed with meal planning. I have been thinking of finding more crockpot meals also...easy meals. Last night I made a spicy turkey pasta sauce to put on spaghetti squash...yum

Maile, I <3 thrift stores! I just got a couple of skirts that fit and I am itching to hunt for more.

Ishbel- I have been bothered all day... by posts that I have seen from the same poster that you referred to earlier in this thread. I question his motivations in being here and I feel for the many newbies and soon-to-be's that have to deal with his naysaying. He is irrefutable in that he will never concede a point but weight loss has so much to do with the heart & head... not just physiology.
I read an interesting article about a study that was done on belief. A group of maids was split into two, with half being told that the exercise they did throughout the day at their job would more than balance what their current diet was. The other half of the group was told that they were not covering the dietetic balance. Interestingly, the group that was told they were more than covering the diet lost on average 2 pounds over the course of 4 weeks. The second group maintained or gained.
Funnily, he doesn't post in this thread. The maintenance thread. Where those of us that finally succeeded in achieving our weight loss goals have gathered to continue to support one another in this next stage. And it strikes me that he can't very well come in here and tell us that we did it the wrong way or are doing it the wrong way because he can't refute success. IP works. You have lost more than double the amount that he did. Maile has lost more than double the weight he has. I have lost almost an equal amount. And I can only hope that for any newbies reading this thread in hopes of joining it one day that you will recognize that this diet does work. And that a large part of it working is our support of one another and our united belief that this diet works. There is living proof in this thread. It is incredibly ignorant and disrespectful in my opinion to comment upon someone else's journey when you haven't walked a mile in their shoes. So, as someone who has never participated in IP I would love to see this poster put his money where his mouth is.
I apologize for venting so vehemently but I do truly believe that IP is a beacon of hope to many who have had troubles losing weight with other programs. And that maintenance, while it may be a different ball game, is possible.

Well, I think the VIP hit the nail on the head with that observation! My brother forgot to ask me to do a reading at the church and then wondered why his soon wife- to- be was beyond annoyed when I didn't show up at the rehearsal. Guys are just not into the details.
I think it would be a nice gesture to ask your friend to do something for the program.
Can't wait to see pictures after to see what dress you pick!
Pat

Cap..I have not read these posts, but I totally agree with you. IP worked for me in the losing weight..but also gave a framework to maintain weight. I regularly eat following IP guidelines. It has given me enormous strength in maintenance. I also believe the support of people here is so helpful.

Good morning! I am happy to report that I stayed OP during tailgating yesterday!

Other than that, the weekend was fairly uneventful and glad to have the structure of the week back

jennydoodle - thanks so much on the info for phasing out after doing phase 1 again.

Congrats on hitting your goal again!

Good morning!

I'm on day 3 of phase 3. I'm loving the breakfasts!
I was hoping I wouldn't have the typical weight gain during phase 3, but - I did. I was up 3.2 lbs. this morning.
As I was peering down at the scale all I could say was "that's exciting" then I started to laugh - I laughed and laughed and laughed some more. I don't know why I found this so funny...it ended up being a great way to start a week...laughing til the tears are rolling down my face...having gained over 3 lbs.

maile Everytime I try the thrift store there is nothing...so I think it matters how big the community you're in or the type of thrift store. I have friends in 'larger' centres that have awesome deals at their thrift store, but me...nada! :/

Jenny way to go staying OP! You're on a roll girl! Glad to have you back and actively posting...havta say I missed your posts (even though I wasn't in maintenance when you first got to goal, I do remember doing Phase 1 with you at the same time)

Heitina I still have my Phase 3 breakfasts....love them to much to give them up and since I'm a creature of habit I just change the fruit once in a while.

pat I'll never deny that girls aren't complicated...and many times boys are dumb...and they never really help themselves LOL "girls rule and boys drool"

cap I know, his posts bother me and although I try VERY hard to stay away from his posts sometimes I click on a new thread to see if I have anything 'different' to offer and find his posts...then the cycle starts again. Interesting thought though, never pondered why he's never in here...then again lets hope he never does come in here.

I don't feel this poster really cares much for Ideal Protein and again instead of encouraging people to find what suits them...either discourages them from doing it at all (because he found something he thinks is 'better') or encourages them to go off plan "cause it won't hurt you". His excuse is always "everyone has the right to know both sides of the coin" or some version of that statement. He's right, everyone has to find their own way in their journey and I do agree that there are pros and cons to Ideal Protein...but if someone is chugging along with a bit of struggle here and there...why jinx them. AND, if you truely don't believe in a diet...why are you preaching against it, let people be and figure it out on their own. <sigh>

We could go on an on I suppose...but I generally try to stay away from him.

VIP is doing IP on alternatives...and he asked "what's the difference between IP and U weight loss" and I said "really I don't think it matters what you do, you have to find something that suits your personality and just stick with it, I'm not of the opinion that one is better than the other". And I've always maintained that, my mom LOVES paleo (she tried Ideal Protein and originally lost 40 lbs...but really dislikes not having the ability to have fruit), so I took her to Chapters and she bought the book. I encouraged her to buy into the science of the book...if you buy into the science then you're more likely to believe and more likely to achieve your end result.

AND, you have to have a plan for maintenance!! Your work is NOT done, as we can all testify for!

SO, on a 'lighter' note, VIP has lost 20 lbs on this diet (that's just less than a month) and now is walking around in MASSIVE clothes, for someone who only needed to lose 50 lbs to start with, 20 lbs is HUGE on him. Although I'm surprised that no one has commented as I can totally see it in him. I think he's pretty happy. I'm pretty happy that he's bought into the style of eating for maintenance. We went to a movie and I had yogurt for my 'dessert' with frozen berries (he brought his bar) and we talked about what he could have for 'popcorn' during maintenance as he's been craving it. "You can't have the extra large that you usually do but you can definately try a small to see if the scale complains, if it complains then go with the kiddy size, if it still complains keep it to fun day" I'm so hopeful and relieved that I have someone who's willing to keep at it with me so we can gain strength from one another. He likes to run, so we've made plans to run on Phase 1 day together...as something we can do 'together'.

I'm pretty sure I know the individual you are referring to, although I couldn't find his original comment.

I think most of us have learned to ignore him - even if he responds directly to our posts. He's a negative Nelly - and honestly I don't think he has his information straight at all. I have no idea why he trolls the IP threads anyway since he obviously isn't a supporter of the diet.

If I do see him negatives to a newbie, I directly respond to the newbie to try and vacate his opinions ...

He is frustrating though, isn't he!?!

Speak of the devil ...

You all deserve to know why I post on this forum (Three Fat Chicks) and this subsection (IP Diet). The reason is in my signature. I believe the foundation of losing weight and KEEPING it off long term is education.

If you think I am negative on IP it is only your interpretation. I am only negative on certain aspects of IP for example the over emphasis on always staying in ketosis. No one should be stressed out about the color of their keto stix. On the whole though I believe the IP diet is a reasonably good diet and could be really good with a few minor changes.

You're always welcome to block me or report any of my posts you feel are breaking the rules to the moderators but what I would encourage you to do is PM me and open a dialouge if you have a problem with something I am posting.

As for my information being wrong I would really appreciate being educated because learning new things is always a pleasure.

Hey ladies...its me. I returned to my clinic last week and am doing 100% IP with the IP foods not alternatives.

I tried for about 4 weeks with alternatives and the scale would go down a little and then up a little...so frustrating.

So six full days on IP foods and down 9.0 pounds...so wild!

two more pounds to my pre-summer weight and then another 7 to goal weight and then going for a "cushion" to head into the holidays with.

Wow...starting my 18th month in maintenance and boy am I still learning...I was so perfect the first 8 months in maintenance...and then it just slipped and slipped and slipped to up 18 pounds

On the right track now...

Darbs YAY! So happy for you, as far as I'm concerned, maintenance is all about nipping it in the bud. Glad it started moving for you again! 18 months in maintenance is nothing to sneeze at that's fo' sho'