As told early January, got back on IP to loose some more lovehandles and the plan works again!! Lost 8# in my first week so defenitively motivated to end this overweight part of my life for once and for all!

Welcome to all the newbies to IP... We are worth feeling good about ourselves! Started IP the 1st time on August 4 2009 and had dropped 60# by mid-December. This plan works! After Phase 2 and 3 of the program and "regular" Holidays, had got 5# back and decided that by this summer I would be the thin lady I always wanted to be! Seems this weight gain was mostly water as it is already gone. Feels good to be back on track...

(The ticker seems to move sooo fast this time around!!)

Echobaby, your spelling was perfect!!

I just got my starter packet today and it list "soya" is this the same thing as edeamame?

HELP!!! I was doing sooooo good. I lost 17lbs, then went on a vacation right (where I didn't follow the program) after Thanksgiving and through the holidays I have gained 10 back. I am really struggling. I start off everyday soooo good and then I cheat. I don't know why I am having such a hard time getting back on track. Need some encouragement as I am feeling so sorry for myself :-(

Lilita, you are SOOOOO right. I am no longer craving those fries, pop & breasy burgers. My portions are under control & I DO NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO MY OLD AWFUL EATING HABITS!!! Thank you for posting that, it is motivational what you wrote!

I have started exercising but kept it very moderate in length & primarly done strength exercises, it is feeling good!

I would love to hear what people think about the GYMNEMA if they have started taking it yet. I think it has helped my BM's.

My 29a birthday will be here the first week of February ;-) ie 30. OMG!!! I am considering going off the diet for one day to eat out with my friends...i dunno, is it worth it? Or to have bday cake??? Advice welcome!

First of all, most of your weight gain is "false fat." Your body is holding on to water weight caused by the carbs and preservatives in the junky food you've been eating.

By going back on strict IP, you will lose at least 5 of those pounds in the first week. I'm a "daily scale hopper" and I have lost that much in 3 days just by staying clean on IP.

So start "fresh" as if you were brand new to the program. Remember back how you made it your top priority when you first started. If you haven't already, make a special shelf or cupboard just for your IP items. Buy some flavorings that you haven't tried.

I added orange flavoring to my Pre-made vanilla shake and it tasted just like an Orange Julius (from a smoothie restaurant chain found at malls.)

Go shopping for some veggies that you haven't tried: bok choy, eggplant, turnips. I found some kelp noodles suggested by Josh B.

Make a batch of "Mom's Salad Dressing" (see recipe thread page 1.)

Don't give up! The road to success is full of bumps! This was just a bump on your road.

Forgive yourself and move forward.

I am going to suggest a "Forum Party" each time one of us gets to our goal. Don't you want a "Forum Party?" Huh,huh,huh? A "Forum Party" just for you with balloons and everything?

I just had a great idea!

Every time one of us gets to maintenance we will have a "Forum Party." (see post above.)

Everyone is welcome. It will involve paying loads of attention to the Honoree. Our goal will be to fill up one whole page of posts dedicated to the Honoree.

We will thank them and congratulate them and add tons of icons to make the posts very colorful (like a party.)

Who wants to have the first "Forum Party?"

Thanks Lilita, I can tell that I don't take as much time for planning and going to the store for veggies. I was sooo exciteed and then when the weight crept back I was frustrated, still am. I can do this!!!

Hi,
Did you get the HSA to cover the cost? I was going to call ours tomorrow because it is expensive.
Tina

I am just about completed with day 4, and I can't believe how different I feel today! I was tired and a little light-headed, but I never felt a pang of hunger. There were chocolates, cookies and pretzels in the teacher's lounge today, and I was the only one who didn't touch them... it felt so good to restrain! Unfortunately, my boyfriend, who is doing the diet also, is not having quite the positive outlook I am. But, I guess in a way, it's making me stay super positive and focused to keep him on track too, and every time I remind him of why we're doing it, it's a reinforcement for me. I have my first weigh in on Wednesday (I'll have been on program for about 5.5 days), and I'm excited to see what kind of progress I've made!!

I want to share that today was the first time in a vvery long time that I have not reached out to food to comfort a work frustration. I came home as soon as my official day was done (I'm a teacher and usually have to stay longer than my "contracted" time in order to complete all that needs to be done), and went for a nice 47 minute walk around the neighborhood lake. It just so happens that it was the one part of the day were it wasn't raining so that was a bonus. I'm not sure I have let teh frustration go, but I am working on it in a different way.

Huskermom, just like Lilita said, just get back on the horse so to speak. I first went off IP back in Nov around my birthday, back on for two weeks, then off for Dec. I too put back on 10 lbs. But I restarted this last week and was losing a steady pound/day. SO YOU CAN DO IT!

How do you get that cool little graphic that show your weight loss at the bottom of the post?

I also like what someone (sorry, I don't remember who) said awhile back, about cooking a bunch of stuff at once then dividing it up so meals are so easy - no real thinking. I do that with frozen vegies like broccoli. That way its cooked, I just stir in my soup of the day (I like them all) and heat together. Or chicken breasts. I cook them all then throw them in the fridge to grab when I come home from work famished!

Happiest Birthday!

I haven't been on this plan long, but I hear and read that getting back on plan is hard and one little slip, intentional of not, will take about 4-5 more days to get the "fat-train" moving again, not to mention going through carb withdraw again. And I mean in Phase 1, then one day off, and right back off without any transition.

You should enjoy your brithday however you would like if that means eating cake....please enjoy. I just don't want you to hate your cake for the next 1-2 weeks. ya know?

I have had that happen to me on other plans (not here, yet). But do you have to go terribly off plan to eat out? Is there someplace you are going that is special? Either way....hope it is wonderful and you love it!