Is Anyone off IP and maintaining?

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  •   #16  
    Pxlkitty4's AvatarPxlkitty4 , 04-22-2011 08:55 AM
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by woolberger
    Sherbearjt08,

    I lost 45 lbs in about 17 weeks. I have been maintaining for about 8 weeks. I am 54 (almost 55) years old and have been on just about every diet there is. I now weigh less than when I got married in 1985.
    I took my Dad to a Mexican Restaurant for lunch yesterday. It was easy to eat there. Did I have chips? No, but I did not walk out of there feeling deprived at all. If I remember correctly, Dr. Tran even suggests a glass of wine at night and it is not considered a slip. (Correct me if I am wrong Ladies)
    I am confident I can do this "for life". I know what to do if I overeat so I will not put on weight. I am determined not to let my weight rule my life. This forum is a great place to get inspiration. Good luck & welcome aboard.

    Lynn
    My coach keeps reminding me that I can have a glass of red wine every night with dinner in Phase 4. It's a French diet, after all. They wouldn't give that up!

    Rocky: we need a inspiration/maintenance advice thread sticky, and your post just now to start it off. You are such an inspiration and I love that you "tell it like it is". It's great that you have stuck around to give advice to us all. I know from reading earlier threads/stickies how many of the "elders" have left the forums. We only benefit from their wisdom when we dig through older posts and read them all.

    I too can't ever consider going back to the way I ate before. I am so happy being down 22 lbs in just 7 weeks. I can't quite imagine being at goal, but even if it feels this good, I will take it. I had to buy new pants yesterday because I only own two pair now that fit. I was overwhelmed at the number of options in the "regular" size part of the store. I have only shopped in plus sizes for the past 5 years. I bought a size 12 and they fit perfectly.

    There is nothing that food can give me now that matches the feeling of shopping in the "normal" part of the store.
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  •   #17  
    sherbearjt08's Avatarsherbearjt08 , 04-22-2011 10:39 PM
    Thanks so much for all the comments. I have read the book and taken notes and made notes regarding the food alternatives. I have spreadsheets to print. Looks like I will have the money to start IP by June 1. I may try to start some of these principles next week though.

    I will keep posting. Looking forward to the inspiration and support.
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  •   #18  
    Marionm's AvatarMarionm , 04-24-2011 12:32 PM
    I've been off for about 5 months now and maintained my weight loss within about 5 pounds. I'm also working out pretty intensely so I'm hoping I'm gaining some muscle. What's true of most diets is true of IP though, if you don't change the way you eat to a healthy diet and go back to the way you were eating before, you will regain the weight. The people that I see that are most successful are the ones that see IP as an opportunity to change their lives.
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  •   #19  
    blueandwhite's Avatarblueandwhite , 04-24-2011 01:47 PM
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Rocky Monarch
    What timing!
    Today is my one year anniversary of starting IP.

    I lost 40 pounds in just under 4 months and have been on phase 4 since last August. I still weigh the same as I did the day I moved to phase 4, but I have gone up and down by about 2 pounds, which is my self-prescribed limit.

    Being permanently successful on IP is all about committing to eating differently for the rest of your life. No kidding. Really. Forever.

    But that does not mean feeling deprived or eating in some measly fashion. It means changing the foods that you value.

    I look at it this way...we were not BORN liking pie, or mashed potatoes or bread or candy. We acquired those tastes because when we ate them we learned to associate them with being happy. Family meals....holidays...mom saying "good girl"...big desserts as a "reward"...etc. So over time we learned that we valued those foods.

    IP is a chance to break that conditioning and really, consciously CHOOSE what you want to eat for the rest of your life, instead of numbly eating what you were programmed to like (and what is often not very good for you).

    Mexican food? no problem...but I usually pass on the rice and beans and treat myself to more corn tortillas because I took the time to decide which of those flavors I actually liked and which I was eating as "habit".

    I may have a couple glasses of wine once in awhile (which used to be more like a cheap 1/2 bottle with dinner 2-3 times a week), but I'd rather have a martini made with a high quality gin, and save the carbs. Or wait and buy a really nice bottle of wine to drink, and savor the flavor.

    The biggest thing I learned on IP was how to "spend" my food wisely to be sure I am eating healthy AND never feeling deprived. It has to be both or it won't last...you can't go through your life feeling deprived. BUT you can take the time and make the effort to find out what you really WANT instead of thinking that all your old habits are the only way you will ever be happy.

    I am pretty sure I will never go back to eating the way I used to, because I am so happy to be this new me. I actually prefer my celery root/cauliflower fauxtatoes to potatoes, they are lighter and taste better. If I don't have at least one salad a day, I start to feel sloggy. And I am still having fun experimenting with new ingredients and recipes (I LOVE to cook and I am a total foodie).

    As you can tell, I am a firm believer in IP. If you don't hear enough folks on this forum who can attest to maintenance, it is because most of them get their wings on and fly, once they feel ready to move on. But in the 12 months I've been around, I've had the honor to meet many who have moved successfully to maintenance (and I'm FB buddies with some of them, so I know they are happy with their lives). And I've been amazed by many, many truly amazing women and men here who are smart and dedicated and compassionate who may not have gotten to maintenance yet, but I have no doubt will succeed once they do.

    If you decide to pursue IP you can be sure there will be lots of folks here to share what they have learned. Best of luck, whatever you decide

    PS: I'm 53 and it worked for me!
    Great post, Rocky! So good to get the perspective of someone maintaining successfully, AND someone also in their 50's, like me. Thanks! Oh, and Happy Anniversary!!

    Kelly
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