infoplease Really good answer! I kept thinking "wish I had, had that answer when I moved into maintenance". Glad you and maile are around (come out more often?). Congrats on making it past your one year!

lizzy I think it's because the people that see me everday are now used to it so I thought it was 'done'. These were new people, who didn't know. So I guess I should have expected the acting strange, maybe I forgot about that in the last year and a half (which is a good thing too right?)

Annik Interesting points, I was just telling a friend today that I love pineapple but don't have it too often as I find it too sweet.

willsea Phase 2 for two weeks and Phase 3 for two weeks.

Meeshellee Your goal is for you to decide so no judging here. I'm 5.5 (and 3/4 cause that counts) and I hang out between 160-165. I'm a size 8-10 and I'm ok with that. It's all about how you feel, maile once stated it's not achievable weight it's maintainable weight. I see the bones on my chest pop out A LOT if I go lower then that. Pick the goal weight that's best for you in your world Welcome to almost maintenance!

evepet I was thinking about you yesterday morning and only found the time now to post. What if you just made some super busy plans to get through the weekend that kept you on task and so busy that you could only follow your eating schedule? Sleep in on Saturday and then your breakfast is later and the world shifts. Go to bed earlier so there is less time for you to think about food. Have a list of tasks you want to get done (even if it's re-organizing something you've alread organized) AND, dump all the tempting stuff. I know you can get through a weekend!

LizzRR Just a shout out to ya lady, hope everything is well!

Thanks both of you, for your support and comments. I'm on the P1 'straight and narrow' again right now (tummy feels flatter again), and am going to forge through the weekend. I really do want to get rid of these extra lbs around my middle by Christmas. I like Ishbel's idea of purposely organizing the coming weekend so I'm more fully occupied... I'm mulling that over in my mind as I type this, thinking of different things I can do this weekend to keep busy... maybe head to the mall on Saturday afternoon (walk, weather permitting - it would take about an hour)... some shopping....reorganize my winter/summer clothes... schedule in an exercise session both days in the late afternoon before dinner ... enjoy a lengthy soak in a bubble bath following dinner. Everything in my cupboards/fridge/freezer is OP again, and I just have to keep it that way. Sounds like a plan.

Evepet - I understand - hard to do phase 1 when you don't keep busy. Too easy to think about eating!

Funny how that works with the waistline. I seem to be at a weight where it's coming off my middle first. Started phase 1 on Monday - down about 2 lbs. this morning - and it feels like it all came from there, which is great!

Willsea - I skipped phase 2 and did two full weeks of phase 3. Worked well for me - still lost in phase 3.

Here is the article about fruit:

Certain Fruits May Be Linked to a Lower Risk for Type 2 Diabetes

Interesting article, Annik. I think with my 1/2 cup of berries at breakfast and a daily apple, I am within the 15 grams they suggest for people who are insulin resistant. Too much of anything - even fruit - is usually not a good idea.

I saw on the 50+ thread that Alison officially made it to maintenance today - WAY TO GO!

Been doing Phase 1 since Monday - was down almost 3 lbs when I weighed today, so I am feeling good about it and getting close to the bottom of my range. May keep going another week.

I am getting so close to my goal and have been thinking about maintenance. I love this thread and will continue to check it out until I can contribute. Just wanted to pop in and say "hi" and thank you to everyone for your comments for someone on the way to where you are now. I hope to be here soon!

Hey everyone! I had my little girl, Payton Ann, 3-weeks ago! We picked her name on Saturday, then I went into labor on Sunday, and had her on Monday! She is just the sweetest little thing, I forgot how precious those little newborn smells and snuggles are - but I could do without the 2-hour sleep shifts. Her days/nights were flipped the first 2 weeks, but we are now getting contiguous 2-hour shifts in a row.

I ended up with a c-section, but actually healed up pretty fast and was walking around within a week, and never took any pain meds (although the first 2 days I was pretty sore). I am DYING to get back to the gym and lift & run, but still have 3 more weeks until I get cleared. I do bust out our dinky treadmill for short 30-minute walks while she naps (glad I never got rid of it). I credit the continued weightlifting with my quick recovery, I actually hit up Bodypump the Thursday before I went into labor!

Unlike my last pregnancy, I never suffered any pains in my back, knees, heel (plantar fasciitis), or wrists (carpal tunnel). I totally went gung ho on eating these first few weeks, but am trying to get back into a groove now that I am not ruled by pure exhaustion or pregnancy cravings. I need to return regularly back here to stay honest, I am nursing, but that's no excuse to "let loose".

**oh, and she was 9lb 2oz & 20". I have big babies, my son was 9lb 7oz & 21". I blame my 6'4" hubby, he was a 10lb+ baby (my poor MIL, she is tiny).

**also, signed up for a half-marathon on feb 15 as my motivation to get back to it @ 6-months post partum. The last one I ran I was 18-weeks preggers and I stopped jog-walking completely at 28-weeks...it's been a loooong break for my sneakers!

Congrats, LizRR! I'm sure Payton Ann is beautiful, just like her Mom!

Good to see you back here - I'm sure you'll be back where you want to be with weight quickly. You're clearly a very determined and disciplined person.

Lizrr CONGRATS!!
love her name!! Hope you get some sleep soon.
Best wishes, love that baby smell! LOL!
And good for you having such motivation already! Way to go!
D

LizzRR such good news all around! Payton-Ann is a beautiful name. It is wonderful that you are getting back into your fitness routine so soon and hope both you and the little one have longer streches of sleep very soon.
Pat

LizzRR, CONGRATULATIONS! I love the name!! : )

Lizzy, not to be a killjoy, but I think you are over 15g with the apple alone. At least the apple I had yesterday (small-medium macintosh) was listed at 22g. I don't *think* that macintosh is considered especially sweet, but not an apple expert.

Let's talk carbs here for a second since you guys are the experts. I had my first day of maintenance yesterday and was tracking everything in My Fitness Pal and came up with 170g carbohydrate, even though my "add ins" were only a quarter cup of cheese, 2T fat free sour cream, one piece of low fat string cheese and an apple, plus a bunch of not-allowed-in-phases-1-3 vegetables in vegetable soup. I was kind of surprised that the carb count went up that high and was somewhat concerned because I am a former diabetic. I am happy to say that my blood sugar this morning was only 72, so I guess I can handle it (or at least one day of it.) But it made me curious to hear other people's carb counts in maintenance. I have one handout on phase 4 that says no more than 250g of carb per day, but not sure if that is an "official" IP position or if it is just a suggestion made by the clinic of the dieter who shared it with me. Thoughts?

I was way WAY under in calorie count yesterday. I was surprised that lowering the amount of protein at dinner had that big of an effect on total calorie count. I was still way over the "recommended" amount of protein for the day because I had strained greek yogurt (23g) for breakfast and 8oz of chicken at lunch (42.7g), an IP Dark Chocolate pudding snack (18g) and all the random protein in vegetables, cheese and so forth. But I did a lot of exercise yesterday, it being Saturday, and ended up about 600 calories UNDER my maintaining calorie count. I guess I could have higher calorie snacks, I was just very surprised that the calorie count of what seemed like a big eating day for me was so low.

Anyway, I would be interested in your thoughts! Thanks in advance!

Alison - I always eat Granny Smith apples - they are lower in sugar - more tart than sweet, but now I see that it is 13 g. So, with 1/2 cup of berries, I am in the 15 - 20 g range ( depending on whether I have blueberries or raspberries). Don't have an apple every day, though, and I have never had issues with blood sugar, so I am OK with some higher days, I hope.

My carbs are usually in the 100 - 150 range. I usually avoid fat free products - there is often added sugar to improve the taste, but I don't think it could be just the sour cream that put your carbs so high...

I had to play with calorie count for a while to figure out what I needed to maintain. Just keep tracking and see what the scale does, then adjust accordingly. You may continue to lose for a while - I know I did.

Came up with a great snack today for Phase 4:

8oz. strained Greek yogurt
1/2 cup pure pumpkin (not pie filling)
cinnamon and sweetener to taste (cinnamon makes things taste sweeter so you do not need much sweetener)

Total 170 kcal, 14 carb, 0.5 fat, 25 protein - about the same as an IP restricted item but SO MUCH MORE FILLING! Very yummy for fall!

Alison: That is a great idea. I love pumpkin, especially in the fall. I figure that the one half c of pumpkin is about the same as a cup of berries. I eat the pumpkin with WF syrup on pancakes, I would guess that 150 carbs is what I consume.

Lizrr: Congratulations on Payton Ann! That is great that you are planning ahead and signed up for a run. Getting workouts in while taking care of the baby is impressive. Your sneakers will be glad to see you again,.

I am off for a walk in the dark early morning.

2 years this October. I am going for year 3.