Joanne,

Good for you!! You will do so well. I can't believe how you have handled this whole program. You are a star!!
I received my Torani SF Salted Caramel Syrup (and my SF Pumpkin Syrup) while I was away. I'm thinking of using a chocolate or vanilla drink with coffee and adding the Salted Caramel for my breakfast. What do you think?

A "sweet" choice. I wonder if our first indulgence defines us?

I love the Salted Caramel SF from Torani, it is good in the Cappacino!

2ride, tomorrow is my last day on phase 3 and I am doing really well too. My first cheat day will be Thanksgiving. I won't be going wild, but will have some stuffing, turkey and some steamed green beans, but will skip all the potatoes and breads and opt for a small piece of pumpkin pie, without the crust. I can't wait to see how I do in maintenance and then I am back on IP protocol the first of the year to get the last 18 lbs off. So very happy for you!

that sounds good, still trying to find the salted caramel syrup here... haven't found any yet. I have chai tea with chocolate and eggnog syrup... I was shopping the other day and they have eggnog out in the stores and they have a new flavor this year chocolate eggnog so I tried the sf equilivant... it was good, but I was too tired to really taste anything.
Thank you so much I hope to do just as well in maintenance. I am going to have to post a couple of before and after pictures. The work ones are the scariest.

I wonder too... my actual sweet cheat will be something with peanutbutter and chocolate... my two favorite. maybe baskin robins peanutbutter chocolate ice cream... but I can always have that the next week, so many weeks and so many things I can try again and then just stick with my favorites...

So true. Mine will be a grilled cheddar sandwhich. I sure hope that doesn't imply a melt down, and pictures would be great.

Congratulations! I know how you feel about tracking ethnic foods. They aren't always in the database, and different recipes vary so wildly in calories, fat, etc. I just tell myself, if I can't track it, I'm not in control of what I'm eating. It's ok to do that from time to time, but doing that all the time will lead to TROUBLE...[/QUOTE]

Pixle. I forgot to to tell you that I love your photos! You do look wonderful.
I know trouble is ahead when you stop calculating. My trip is over and hoinestly I am happier with my counts and planned foods. I feel more in control..not having to worry about the unknown..much as I love ethnic foods.
By the way..I just finished a night of 15 minute conferences and I am exhausted.

LInden..I always appreciate your knowledgeable and interesting posts. When I think of it, my brother-in-law who is German, did not like sweets.
Are the German breads such as the dark ones lower in carbs.
Have you started Phase 3 breakfasts yet?

[QUOTE=2RIDEROLLERCOAST;4110461]So week 2 on phase 3 and haven't gained and am at 149.4 so down I guess .4 so not bad at all. really liking the greek yogurt and fruit and the pb and toast.

2ride: That is great that you are down on Phase 3. Good for you!! All of your efforts have paid off. I am thinking that Nov. 24..Thanksgiving will be my first fun day. I like the flavor of salt and caramel.


What brand of chocolate chai do you use? One that I found has carbs..must have chocolate.

I made a mistake in San Francisco. I accompanied my kids to a tour of the Ghiradelli Square chocolate factory. I felt like I was in the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory..to say nothing of seeing rivers of chocolate, smelling chocolate and seeing free samples. All of a sudden I started thinking of chcocolate..way too much.. I got out of there. Environment really can affect you!

The bread I'll have for breakfast looks like this for 43 grams, about twice as dense as most American breads: 102 calories; 3.7 g protein; 13.4 g carbohydrates; .9 sugar; 2.8 fat; and 4. 1 g fiber. The fat comes from about 3/4 T sunflower seeds. Lovely.

And funny you should ask. I woke up at 5:00 and thought Breakfast! I was half way to the kitchen before I remembered it is Friday, not Saturday. And I think I might have had it if I had any fruit other than a ripening avocado. [Avocados are a big, one seed berry. Neat, huh?]

Linden..That bread sounds excellent and like the breads I remember. Fruits are getting hard to come by in the US. It is frozen berries for me..goodbye summer fruit. Are your avocados imported?
I feel like it should be Saturday also. I am trying to drag myself to work

Good Morning All! I had a really tough week, I was hoping to start phase 2 today, but I ended up with TOM this week and I guess I will have to shoot for next week...I am starting to feel really discouraged I know that I shouldn't feel this way. I should be proud of my 32.6lbs and 41 inches but I stalled out this week and I feel really defeated. I have been doing a lot of reading lately, I came across the Cellulite Protocol. I was wondering if anyone has done the Cellulite Protocol or know someone who has done it? Were u happy with the results? What did u think of the shortened phase 2 and 3? Thanking u all in advance Have a wonderful weekend!

I actually just finished the Cellulite Protocol...it DOES work! BUT...it's pretty intense and unless you can commit to doing it 110% for a minimum of two weeks, you shouldn't try it because your cellulite will actually look worse about halfway through. The shortened Phase 2 & 3 was an easy transition, and my butt looked fabulous. The results are only temporary though - they last for a few weeks, and then cellulite does start to come back.

Also, it won't work if you have over 20% body fat since that's the last fat your body burns, so it's really designed for people who are more or less at their goal weight. And it's not considered a weight loss program since it's purely aesthetic, but you will still lose a few pounds, so you could actually end up looking TOO skinny. Bottom line (no pun intended, heh heh) is that if you have a special event like a wedding, reunion, or vacation to Mexico coming up and you want to look extra hot in a little black dress or bikini, it's great, but for the average person, it's too hardcore.

On another note, for all you kids on Phase 4, has anybody else noticed that alcohol affects you differently than it did before IP? I've always been a lightweight since I'm a moderate drinker (2-3 glasses of wine or cocktails per week or less), but since losing 26 lbs on IP in 2010, I've noticed that 1) I'm REALLY a lightweight, 2) I wake up in the middle of the night feeling anxious, and 3) I feel noticeably depressed the next day. Eating protein and fat in conjunction with drinking and alternating alcoholic beverages with water lessens the severity, but I find it fascinating that my body is metabolizing everything so differently, especially alcohol, so I'm just curious. I have to say, it does make it easy to stick with maintaining and it makes me a cheap date, so it's not necessarily a bad thing.

The avocados, depending on the time of year, come from southern Spain, Isreal, and South Africa. The reason I know is because grocery stores post the origin of their fruits and vegetables. And I sure hope your day picked up. 15 minute back-to-back meetings are killers. (As is the heavy, damp fog here. London with wind.)

Lili- I also read that alcoholic calories are the first thing our bodies will use for energy. My take? Dance- if the atmosphere allows it, or make sure to exercise the next day...
I have been so tired this week. Too many late nights and early mornings make me a very unhappy, hungry camper... Here's to righting my schedule this weekend!
Linden- I stayed in Germany for three months when I was younger. At that point in my life I'd never seen 'natural' peanut butter and was quite revolted by it due to the oil at the top Had never seen the likes of the bread cutting machine that was a staple in every kitchen to cut your hard round loaves. Gained a love for apples because they tasted way better there. The fresh baked goods provided at school fascinated me (this vs. the vending machines at my home school?). The main difference I found between the North American diet and the European is the amount of processed goods..