I can't believe that I was able to string together 3 days. I am feeling so much better and believe it or not, more satisfied. I just finished my dinner of tofu broiled with WF Sesame Ginger sauce and baked kale.

I have to thank you, Iowahawkeyemom, for the suggestion of drinking your MIO water when you get home from work. That is probably my worst time when I don't feel like cooking and want something to eat. The MIO makes me feel satisfied enough to get it together for dinner rather than grab.

To Carlasherea, I have an appointment this weekend to checkout a new litter of miniature schnauzers. How old is Louie?

We can do it!

I am just like you are feeling - I felt confy and gained back 10lb - but these last two weeks have been working on my mind, setting up my mind basically, and I feel ready - I already got my packages and have everything to start over, I decided to say good bye to food this weekend as the plan is to start off Monday - Good luck to you and don't feel embarrased, I think it is great to admit what we are going thru, we are humans and not perfects, this forum is to suport each other, I think no one is here to judge us - Let's do this, together we can!

Thank you for the encouragement, foreveryoung. I wish you good luck, too. It truly is a "head" game to stay on program and requires 100% commitment. This forum is certainly my salvation and inspiration to continue to fight the daily struggle of staying on program. Can't wait to have you join me on Monday!

I try so hard to stay on program but life sometimes gets in the way. I will keep on trying because what happens when I give up is worse.

I've got to work on my problem of sailing along fine for 3 or 4 days on program and then I fall apart. Dang it.

Of course Janedocmom! see ya tomorrow - I have a great dinner, grilled new york steak, JoJo wedges potatoes, and soda... how sounds that?! lol
and ice-cream coming in few minutes, this is my good bye till Thanksgiving day - let's do this together - see ya soon!

Monday is here once again.....so that must mean I'm starting all over again on IP. I remembered something this morning that I hope will help keep me on track. Last year when I successful on IP, I kept a written journal of my thoughts and progress. This morning I found it and dusted it off to start a new.

OOOOH this is so me! I feel like a drug addict jonesing for my next fix. And the worse part is knowing that Im doing it and feeling so sorry for the people that I'm being *****y to.

To Carlasherea, I have an appointment this weekend to checkout a new litter of miniature schnauzers. How old is Louie?

We can do it![/QUOTE]

He is going to be 5 yrs old this month. I have had him since he was 4 mo. old. Best decision ever. They are so loyal and smart and he brings so much personality and character to our home. If anything ever happened to him, I wouldn't hesitate to get another schnauzer.

Hi there,
I reached my goal in June and I've been off and on IP ever since. I just have come to the realization that I will never be able to eat like I did before but I can enjoy the things I love in small doses. I try to tell myself that food isn't everything and I am positive of this when I put on my size four pants in the morning!! My weight has been between 133 and 139 since I've began phase 4. Right now I'm 136 and I am aiming to stay around there.
Hope everyone is having a great day!!

I agree that tracking really helps a lot, not only so you know what you're actually eating, but as a motivator. And you've got to hold up your end, lady, because you got us into this.

Keep reminding yourself of that especially when you are in the throes of it! Been there, done that and now I want to change and so can you. I cannot stand that I can let a little slip become a landslide. woops:
Today is your opportunity to begin anew. Let's help each other!

Great for you for staying on 3-4 days in a row! Remember when you were having trouble even stringing 2 days together? I have always been very empathetic to your posts because our struggles seem to be very similiar. You have to get back on track because you're the one who inspired me to recommit last week when you asked all of us if we were in......remember? I'm in and I want you with me! You did it before and were very successful so you can do it again. I think that it is a great idea to reflect on what made you so successful in the past and do it again! Daily reflections......excellent! In fact, I think that I will dig out my OA daily meditations and share them. So......are you with us???????? Now go out to your garage and get rid of ALL of those peppermint patties!
Here's to our success! Let's clink our MIO water glasses together!

I feel like a drug addict, too, and have always likened my compulsive overeating to that of an alcoholic. I've always considered putting a TV monitor in my kitchen to video when I am in compulsive mode. I am sure that I would be totally disgusted. That being said, if a drug addict or an alcoholic can stop their addiction, then there is hope for us. The anger and misery will pass as soon as you see some progress. That's the beauty of this program.....it works, when you work it and it can work fast, but you have to follow the guidelines. Keep your eye on the prize! You can do it!

Just what I thought! They look you right in the eyes and seem to understand. Thanks for the encouragement on ALL fronts.

Thanks for giving me hope. I got to goal in December and have struggled enormously because I never had that attitude. I am hoping that my second time around is a charm. It is my all or nothing attitude that gets me into trouble. Congratulations for such a great accomplishment.

My sentiments exactly! You always put things so succinctly and beautifully! We jumped into the boat with Iowahawkeyemom and we need her to steer us to the freedom land from the food demons!

Linden and Janedocman.......I have a big smile on my face right now because of you two! Both of your posts were just what I needed! I think I'll print both of them out and put on the frig to remind me every day.

By gosh I started this thread and I intend to see this diet through to the finish and reach my goal. Cheers to all of us....with a glass of water with MIO while I write in my journal. Thank you SO MUCH!

I just have to say I am so grateful for this thread!! I'm having a rough go. I started IP three weeks ago and absolutely loved it - for the first three days. Then I became this major B****, taking offense and picking fights with family and friends. I was so not prepared for the intense emotions that came up, I was shocked and felt way out of control. So I never made it past day six. I needed to regroup and I also realized I needed to go real deep for inner strength on this one.

I too have been a compulsive overeater - I manage emotions with food, and I wondered if that was part of it. I usually suppress all the hurt/pain/anger of life with massive food consumption, which was now taken away. My crutch was removed, and now with nowhere to go and escape these feelings - no bag of chips, no large pizza, no chocolate cake - it's as though I was finally facing life head on - and falling down hard. I was scared.

But then that experience really got me analysing, everything. I need help, I can't do this alone - but that's what I usually do. I deal with life alone, keep everything private and buried deep inside. Big Mistake!!

Personally I think the IP journey is going to be very enlightening for me. So far it has given me a tiny window of hope as I briefly saw what my life could be like. For those three days I lived without obsessing over food, I felt in control for the first time in many years. I experienced the simple pleasures of life for the first time in sooo long. I took a soothing bath instead of stuffing my stomach until it could be stuffed no more; I coloured with my kids instead of rummaging through the cupboards, or surveying the fridge; I had a cup of tea like a civilized lady in the afternoon while reading a magazine instead of the usual 'carbohydrate couch crash'; I lingered at the park with the girls - not feeling compelled to rush home because of the left over lasagne that was calling my name. For those three days I felt as though there was hope.

Thanks to so many of you that come here, I still believe that change is possible. These inner struggles will always be present, but coming here and learning new ways to manage them will always be inspiring.

So tomorrow is day one...again.

Thanks for sharing, Startingoveragain. Sharing like that is a phenomenal first step. Compulsive overeating works best when you isolate.....just you and food and no one else. Compulsive overeaters are experts at making excuses and following the path of least resistance. Only through self awareness and sharing can you change your course. You may want to try to go to some OA meetings. I was going for a while, but was following the IP program. I find their literature especially their 12 step work book excellent for understanding why I overeat and the tools for changing the way I approach food. Hope that helps, but we are here for you and struggling just like you to take it one day at a time and one meal at a time.

In closing, here's today's meditation from Food for Thought....."Success comes with commitment.......Sharing our commitment out loud, with another person, reinforces it." We're here for you.....use us. Join us!