That's my mini goal as well!! We can motivate one another.

I completed my health profile and they figured out all my numbers today. I start the protocol in the morning. I'm super excited about it, but I'm having a hard time figuring out what type of "dressing" I can use on my lettuce and vegetables for a salad. Any ideas? I can't imagine just throwing sea salt and pepper on a salad.

I'd like to encourage all of the November starters to join in the Community Daily chat.

The chat is the heart of this IP online community.

Most people check it daily so it is the best place to ask a question (most questions are FAQs). When newcomers band together, it frequently it takes someone who has been around longer to answer the questions. Not as many longtimers check the monthly start threads.

The chat is where I learned what the maintainers were up to. It is where I learned how to stick with IP for a LONG time. It is where I learned how much of a lifestyle change this needs to be to keep the weight off. It is where I learned how to find other threads to that gave me recipes, alternative product ideas, and ways to stay on plan when I felt like cheating.

Sure, it is great to find out who started about the same time as I, but more importantly, it was important for me to learn from others. Monthly start threads can only offer so much of this. Everything I learned when I arrived was from the successful people who came before me.

I'll joint the mini goal as well!!! Good luck everyone!!!

Thanks for the advice, Lisa. I am in that thread as well, but find to prefer our little group here. I agree that the daily chat thread is better to ask questions on. But sometimes it's nice having us smaller group of newbies. A little more personalized!

Sounds like we have some good 25lbs mini goals set up! I like it!

CountryCutie - welcome!! I find that there are quite a few good recipes in the recipe thread for salad dressing. One of my favs is EVOO, Soy Sauce, and mustard. Sounds kind of weird but it's tasty!

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I'm sooooo sick today. I thought I was doing better yesterday and then last night I was up for hours because my chest hurt so bad I couldn't sleep. I'm sure I have bronchitis, so will go to the doctor today to get it checked out. I've had to take some cough medicine and I'm nervous about how that will affect my weigh in.

Woo hoo! im glad so many are gonna do the mini goal!

TeagsC, I hope you feel better, bronchitis sucks. I would just let your coach know whats going on and she can mark it on the sheet(thats what my coach siad to me anyways).

Its my second weigh in tonight. Getting excited, i can already start to see the small changes in who my clothes fit which is awesome!

Ohhh, good luck tonight, Katie. Can't wait to hear about it. How did you find week 2??

You can make some fantastic homemade vinaigrettes using your daily oil allotment, some apple cider or white vinegar, and a little lemon/lime juice and seasonings!

Walden Farms also make a line of 0 carb, 0 fat, 0 sugar dressings (I can find them in my local supermarkets in the produce section with other refrigerated dressings) that are Phase 1 approved as a condiment. Just watch your portion sizes and keep track of how many "extras" like that you use in a day (i.e., sugar free sweeteners, walden farms products, etc). I try to limit myself to 6 servings of those no-calorie no-sugar items per day.

I'm not finding it too bad. I found ive had a lot more cravings this week which is the tough part. But i have to keep focusing on that finish line.

We're starting to get the 'Christmas' coffee at work. Which is exciting so im not limited to Columbian, Dark Roast and a pumpkin flavour lol. I was already drinking 'black' coffee before so having the different flavours helps

Morning everyone! I'd love to join the mini Christmas challenge too. I didn't look at the number on the scale when I went for my "starting WI" so not sure where I started, but I'd love to be back to 125lb by Christmas.
I've always been one to weigh myself at home daily, just to keep my motivation going, but I've felt so big lately I've been too scared to step on the scale and see reality! I'll update my ticker after my first official WI and will then know how realistic 125 is.

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This is day four for me today. So far so good. Tonight will be my first test as I'm going to a charity steak night. At least that means steak, potatoes and veggies, so I can just skip the potatoes. On the weekend I'm hosting my friend's daughter's first birthday, so that will be more tricky as there will be lots of treats around all afternoon. Then that night it's to a comedy club for another friend's birthday. I haven't told my friends I'm back on a diet again, but not sure I can get through this weekend without them picking up on it.

Have you tried any of the Walden Farms dressings, you can have 2 Tablespoons and they dont cound against you. They are not all good tho. Try getting small packets on Ebay or another site instead of spending $4 or $5 on a whole bottle to try them. Everyones taste is different. I enjoy the creamy bacon tho I've never tried real bacon before. I just got the Thousand Island and like that and the Italian dressing I only like to marinate chicken, not on salad. Good luck!

Thank you all so much for your responses! I'm brand new to this forum and didn't realize there were other places to find good info for recipes on here. Thanks y'all for pointing me in the right direction!!

Hello Everyone,
Lisa, thanks for mentioning the other thread. I do go there as well to learn from the long time users of IP, but I also feel more comfortable in this group for now. Maybe that will change with time. I guess it just feels smaller and I am starting to recognize the names of the ladies that started when I did.
TeagsC - I hope you are feeling better soon. A bad night of sleep must make it hard to stick to this plan in the daytime. Thinking of you here!
Katie - can't wait to hear about your WI tonight - cheering you on here!
I would like to join the 25 lbs by Christmas group too - I am assuming we are counting where we started from. I think I can do that and I will be hoping for amazing wi's for everyone else too.
I just enjoyed my salad for lunch with WF Thousand Island and a Brownie for dessert. I ate my brownie so slowly - I wanted to enjoy every little bite!

Yay for the mini challenge of 25lbs by Christmas! I think it should be where we started from too. We have made progress already!

knm - Sounds like dinner will be deelish! Hopefully they don't put any sauce on the steak or cook it with butter. I'm sure if you ask they will do what you want. I am so craving a big juicy steak now!

itstimeinbc - I tried the WF Thousand Island last night and really enjoyed it! Was the brownie an IP one? I don't think I've seen them, it sounds awesome.

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Well, I have a hurdle ahead. My hubby and I are driving from Calgary to Winnipeg tomorrow and back on Monday (it's a 15 hour drive each way).

So, my plan is to go and get a bunch of fresh veggies to cut up tonight and have them all in individual ziplocks to grab on the road. Also will need to bring all my IP food with me so I have enough for 4 days. I'm a little nervous as it's WAY easier to grab a burger or something but I know I will be strong and stick to it.

Bummer that I am going to miss my WI too. I was so excited for it! LOL! Oh well, hopefully two weeks number will be a biggie. I'm not sure how these antibiotics are going to affect things anyway.

Teags, it's cool enough that you can probably take cooked chicken breast & HB eggs in the shell for your protein needs for dinner in the evening if you have to (or switch off lunch with real protein for dinner with a packet at a hotel if needed). They can store easily in your trunk in a little lunch cooler bag without freezing probably Sounds like you've got a plan which is more than 1/2 the battle! Good going!