Haha thanks! Ya I had quite the mood swing this morning. Went from very annoyed/angry to very happy/optimistic within a couple hours! Thanks for all the support!

Lucci-There is a large site where I live where plutonium was produced from the early 40's through the 80's for making nuclear weapons and nuclear power. It is the largest concentration of nuclear waste in the country. Since 1987, the federal government has been working to cleanup the waste. My family's company provides professional and technical support services to some of the main companies out there. Our employees are project managers, cost estimators, schedulers, industrial hygienists and many other roles. It's basically a highly technical temp agency. Just help provide specialty workers to complete jobs for these larger companies if they don't have someone in house. Its hard to explain haha. My dad owns the company and bids on the jobs, my mom does the accounting and I'm taking over for her.

Kawaii-Just cause we don't really know each other doesn't mean we aren't connected!

Great posts today!

Jig, so glad to hear from you. Seems like your coach situation worked out. My mama calls that kind of thing, walking in God's pocket. Congrats on 68 pounds gone forever.

Luccilove, I use garlic olive oil a lot on my veggies and when I have salad.

Steph, good luck with phase 3 and have a great visit with your parents.

Kawaii, glad that you are feeling comfortable and resting up. This bug thing takes a while to kick. I think that I will sign up for the phantom weight class. Did you see the recipe trial class too? The clinic was out of a number of things today.

Heading out tonight. Annoyed with myself right now because I thought I had tuna at home. Looks like eggs for dinner. Lent is taking some thought this year, can not rely on cereal or grilled cheese for a quick Friday dinner.

Have never been so grateful to find a can of tuna fish in my pantry!

I ended up making crab cakes for dinner tonight with dry fried miracle noodles and steamed asparagus.. it was tasty!

Good morning friends, I so miss the days when my body would allow me to sleep past 8:00 on a Saturday! It is sunny here in CT today (50s) and I am planning to clean up the garden a little and plant some seed trays for grow lights inside.

What are you up to on this Sat.?

Good Morning!

Slipfree- I'm happy you have a sunny and not freezing day to get outside and work on your garden.

I don't have much going on. I'm in the mood for spring cleaning. I definitely need to go through my clothes and figure out what to do with the stuff that's too big (sell or donate). I feel like my closet is getting too full.

I discovered a tasty, calorie free way to get in more water. I buy the Tazo Passion Tea that they have at Starbucks, double brew it, ice it, and then add a few drops of liquid stevia...yum! I figured I'd share the idea since I love it and it's much cheaper than getting the Iced Passion Tea at Starbucks.

Just got new clothes at ll bean. Had 10% off coupon. Can't believe I fit into petite xl shirt and regular women's medium. So happy. First time I bought nice clothes

Gardening clean up done, just in time for grey skies to roll in!

Luccilove- so funny, I cleaned out a little more of my closet this morning and ordered some jeans and capris (10 pairs). None of my current spring clothes fit. Need to find some cute tops, but still not loving my arms. Have lost tons of inches off my back, so all the arm holes hang way to low. Same problem with my spring dresses. Kohl's has 20% off - Family20.

I'm baaaaaaack! Had a good family vacay, not mine or Dh's favorite spot but still had a good time. We did lots of walking, even climbed a volcano! Didn't stay op(please don't hate me) but I am ok with that. Got home this afternoon and DH and I are already back op!

Luccilove: Down 51lbs! That is awesome! Congrats. Sorry you are still dealing with the liver enzymes, I am sending you a PM. Isn't it fun buying new clothes and finding out what size we are? LOL

Kooky: Congrats to you on your 51lbs lost!!!

Kawaii: No more meds? Amazing, what an amazing feeling I bet!! And over 100lbs gone, forever!!! Really interested to hear what you learn at the Phantom Fat class.

Scottysgirl: Sounds like you got your motivaton back! Congrats on the 41lbs lost!!!

Slipfree: I know how you feel about having to buy new clothes and spending all that money. I look at it as I can spend that money on bad for me food and medication because I am heavy or I can spend it on new clothes. Kind of puts it in prespective for me.

Steph: Size 6, that is exciting!! Congrats. Wear them with pride, you earned them.

Dlr: Sorry you are struggling but glad you are going hard core again to knock off 30lbs by June 1st.

wantanewme: Great loss on you first week back!!

lisa: Glad to know I am not the only one with a saggy belly. Not looking forward to how it will look when I get to goal, but I know I will be healthier at goal!!

Jig: Sounds like getting a new coach has remotivated you, that is great. You are doing amazing!

So reading thru the last week of posts I have noticed alot of talk about body images and how we see ourselves now. I have been thinking this last week about my body, how I want to look at goal and my goal weight. I know I have lost weight all over but it seems to be slower coming off my back and lower half. Anybody else have this? Is this normal? I guess my fear is "what if I get to goal and I am still not happy with how I look?" I know the easy answer is to "lose more weight", but how far do I go? Anyone else think about how they will look at goal and what happens if they don't like what they will see?

By the way, it is great to be back!

I just weighed in, and am down another 2 pounds! Total from this diet is 43, but im down 60 from my highest weight! I bought a couple of pairs of dress pants maybe about a month and a half ago, and already theyre baggy on me. Hmmm, might have to go shopping later today...

Scottysgirl---congrats on your wi. Kmart Kohls Walmart have cheap clothes until we level out to a more stable weight. I found a lot of basic stuff at kmart.

I think its a hard thing to really be pleased with every part of our body! I think we tend to be hardest on ourselves. That said, I'm appreciating how I look much more now than I did, say over 10 years ago when I lost the same amount of weight. I just feel better and I love putting on the smaller clothes. I gain weight on my lower half, I'm a pear, so would love to be smaller but I am thankful for the inches I've lost on my hips and thighs and now I'm working at toning. My goal is to maintain but firm everything up. I think when you can exercise and feel good, you tend to be more happy and positive with your body image. But, some days are definately better than others!

Welcome back want2bskinnyagain! We would NEVER hate you for going off plan! I am not OP this weekend with my parents either. Things like this happen. LIFE happens. This journey is going to take me a bit longer than expected but it will never actually finish. Vacations, special events, etc are always going to come up. Maintenance is going to be a life long adventure now. I feel like when I go off plan now that I have the knowledge and will to get back on the IP bus and "fix" whatever small weight gain has occurred. We are not perfect, nor should be expect ourselves to be. I'm having a great time with my parents but I am also looking forward to Tuesday when I can get back to Phase 1! IP has really changed me. In the past I wouldn't be so motivated to get back to healthier habits.

Hopefully, the following statement will make you laugh. I feel great about my body with my clothes on, take them off and that is a whole different story

After ten years of being 75 pounds heavier than right now, I have come to accept the inherent characteristics of my body. Some characteristics are genetic and others from time. Someone recently commented, well at least you still have your hips/curves. I replied, I will always have hips and a chest, because I have always been hour glass shaped. I have been this weight and lower before, so losing weight isn't going to change the basic shape of my body. The difference, is that I am not in my 20s and comparing myself to others anymore. I went into this IP journey for my health, and it has resolved my bp issue. Looking cute in new clothes, definitely a bonus.

Our personal perceptions, are sometimes so different from the way we are seen by others. Recently, I said to my mom, my face looks so much older. Since losing weight I see more wrinkles, yet 3 people in one week- said how much younger I look now. I was hoping that if I lost the weight, I would feel comfortable going sleeveless. Not sure that is going to happen, because I still do not like how they look.

Acceptance of our bodies during this journey is an ongoing process.
Where do our ideas of perfection come from? How can we deal with our shame or disappointment about not meeting those standards? I think we need to deal with those feelings, to prevent sabotaging or comforting ourselves with food when those expectations are not met. Because let's face it, some of our expectations are not realistic. Learning to love and be grateful for what we have accomplished is the key.

Scottysgirl- congrats on your loss!

Want2be- I enjoyed Hawaii but it is not on my list to visit again. Now Italy and Ireland on the other hand require multiple visits. Glad that you had fun though and are back on track. As for my back fat, tons coming off there but not off my chest. Not much coming off my thighs, but quite a bit off my hips. Do not panic, you really do not have any control about where it is going to go from. But aren't
we glad it is going.

Steph- glad you are having fun with your parents. This healthier motivation is great!

Kooky, where are you girl?

UCONN men won last night and move forward to the Sweet 16 and the UCONN women play tonight. Was able to clean up the garden and uncover the first blooms of spring- snow drops. We are heading back to freezing temps and possible snow on Tues., so I am trying to enjoy the the Madness of March.