Sonyainva: yep, I understand the vortex of carbs on a cruise. I phased off temporarily for a cruise in the fall and for me it was a combination of carbs, vacation and knowing it was temporary that made me go all out. I can see myself easily getting into this bad trend for other vacations. Is it okay to do this if I am strict enough to go back to P1 afterwards? Maybe I'm just setting myself on a tougher course. I've been thinking about this because I have a vacation in June. A tour to Russia and the Baltic States. I have no idea what kind of food I will get but I'm hoping that I can do lots of walking to help cope too.

Evepet: I think your reasoning makes sense. It's the same thing that I have seen with some of the early IPers in the daily thread thinking that diet means temporary and they just have to get the weight off fast so they can go back to eating what they want. So why wouldn't the other people around us think the same way? I am glad I took more time to lose my weight and that during the weight loss phase I could see that this is a lifestyle change forever. Here's my tip for dealing with this: when I went gluten free, I would go out or just be eating around people and would make a big deal about what I could or couldn't eat. After a while, I realized that this was making everyone a little less tolerant of it. When I relaxed and just went about my meals, then everyone else seemed to relax. So now that part is no big deal and I hope in future, saying no to foods on the table even while not "dieting" is no big deal too.

Tonight is going to be my first fun meal. I am going out with a girlfriend and the restaurant is part of Chocolate month celebrations so I know there will be a chocolate dessert in my future. Before going out, I'm going to pre-prep my phase 2 day for tomorrow. I'm going to be doing a lot of lifting and walking tomorrow so my coach and I decided P2 would give me a little more protein energy than P1 but still be the low carb I need to recovery from tonight.

This is a long post already but it is time to come clean about what is happening in my life. I am about to accept a new job offer that has been in the works for the last two months. It is for a competitor to the company I'm working for right now so I have kept it hush hush in fear of the wrong people finding out. Only a friend and my mother knew what was going on. The job will move me from to the Toronto area so in anticipation, I've been doing lots of cleaning and decluttering. This week I'm working on the final offer details, met with realtors to sell, meeting with my banker about a new mortgage and planning how to give my resignation to my current employer of 19 years on Monday. At tonight's dinner, I'll tell my girlfriend what is hapepning as the first of many that will be shocked by this turn of events. I'm stressed, nervous, scared, excited, happy all at the same time. It's been a bumpy ride during this decision period but it is now going to be a whole lot busier in future.

Thx for your insights. Like many of us, it took me a long time to lose this weight - almost exactly a year - so I've definitely learned different patterns of behaviour when it comes to eating. Most of the time I have no interest in going back to my former bad habits. But I do have to admit that I'm curious to taste a slice of pizza again, a nice serving of ice cream, etc. But that will be for Fun Day. It just suddenly struck me this am for some reason, that if these particular relatives who are so supportive of me fell into that habit of 'prompting' me to 'allow' myself a taste, nibble, etc. etc. that I probably can expect much worse behavour from others who aren't aware of my dieting journey. As KitKat says though, maybe it's mostly in my head... and if I just merrily do my own thing, no one will think much of it. I guess time will tell.

Kitkat - From how you describe your itinary, I think my sister & BIL did that same Baltic cruise a couple of years ago. Really enjoyed it.

I think you're right in that if I'm not preoccupied with my eating, and don't make an issue of it, then others are much more apt to not even notice what I do or don't put on my plate. The situation I was thinking about from the weekend involved a special dessert my sister had made, and that everybody had thoroughly enjoyed the day before I arrived. There were only 2 servings left, and my niece-in-law was raving about how I should sample it before it was gone. This was mid-afternoon. I didn't really even care that much whether I ate it or not... but found myself feeling like I'd somehow be insulting my sister if I didn't at least sample a small portion of this dessert. So I succumbed and agreed that I'd have just 1/2 a slice. It was good - but it wasn't *that good*!!! LOL. I think the diet has drastically altered my taste buds. For some reason this was on my mind this morning, as a sample of the type of situation that I have to be aware of and sensitive to in the future.

BTW - Congratulations on the new job! I've lived on and off in Toronto for several years and think you'll enjoy it there. I think you're in the insurance business? So you're probably going to be working in the downtown core somewhere? I recall your posts a few weeks ago when you made a trip to Toronto... I somehow got the impression back then that a new job offering was in the wind. Glad that things have worked out. You'll do great.

WOW, big changes are ahead for you, Kitkat!! A new body, new job, new town! How very exciting! I know how hard it will be to tell your good friends that you are moving. I did it 6 years ago when I moved from Houston to Louisiana for a job. It's very exciting to be on a new adventure. I'm 4 hours from Houston, so I get back fairly often. But if your planning a trip to Russia and the Baltic, you must love adventures as much as I do! What a wonderful trip! Keep us posted.

I agree with you and Kitkat; we just have to be aware of this. Right now, for me at least, the big topic of conversation is "how great you look, how did you do it, etc." This will change as they see that this body is my normal body now and it's time for me to be "regular." (whatever that is)

Have a great day!

Good morning maintainers - This is a 'me' post, and I apologize ahead of time.
I have been spiraling out of control and too embarrassed about it to post for quite some time. I have been depressed as well, probably due to feeling out of control. Have made a few half-hearted attempts to get back into ketosis, but never made it. Think I'm up about 15 lbs from when I began P4. Most of it was the chocolate addiction, which I had posted about & gotten some great feedback from all of you. I think I'm making progress there, but haven't completely kicked it. I want to try again to go back to P1 with a sincere effort, but not using packets. My savings account took a huge hit last year between IP and paying for foot surgery, and I just can't afford the packets, even alternatives. Also, am beginning to think all the soy in my diet may be the cause of the increased hot flashes/night sweats I've had.
So my question is...what foods do you recommend for breakfast during P1/P2? I can have eggs/egg whites fairly often, but will need a bit of variety. Lunch & dinner will be lean protein & the veggies, like P2. The various protein drink powders/mixes I've tried really upset my stomach, so those are out, but I can drink the EAS CarbadvantEdge RTDs. Not sure there is enough protein in one of those to be a complete breakfast though. Any suggestions? I am going to see my coach on Tuesday and ask her these same questions. Hopefully she will have some ideas, but am worried what she'll say/do when I tell her I can't purchase the product.
I know I am my own worst enemy sometimes...too hard on & unforgiving with myself. It is very hard to share all this, but I know now I can't do it on my own. Those of you that talk about how this is a daily struggle, and still succeed with maintenance - You are my heroes! It takes a lot of mental & emotional strength to get where you are, and I so admire you!

Hi GreenIris. I'd just been thinking about you earlier this morning, thinking that we hadn't heard from you in a while. Sorry to hear that you're having a struggle. A couple of suggestions for breakfast. How about lean ground beef meat patties? Or tuna or salmon patties? Or a couple of slices of a salmon loaf, but keeping the carbs down to an absolute minimum? Or how about a P1-version of chili, with extra lean ground beef and lots of celery, green peppers, mushrooms, a bit of onion, and diced tomatoes. I've done that in the past and played around on fatsecret.com with the ingredients to hold the carb content down as much as possible. I've also made a version that has finely shredded napa cabbage in it, which sounds a bit odd but which I enjoy. Another thing I make sometimes is an individual-sized egg custard - you'd have to 'fudge' a little and use about 1/4 cup of unsweetened almond milk, but I take a 1 cup size pyrex measuring cup and add 1 egg and enough egg white to fill it to 1/4 full, whip the egg/egg white, then pour in enough unsweetened almond milk to bring it to 1/2 cup full. Add dash of vanilla and some Splenda or stevia + nutmeg, and microwave at #2 heat control for about 35 minutes. I top with a couple of tbsp of WF pancake syrup and it's a nice treat. Don't know about you, but I could eat it for breakfast. It has about 125 cals, 6.8g fat, 1.8g carbs, 0 fibre, 0.8g sugar, 13.4g protein.

Also, if you buy a box of a pre-made low carb pancake mix like New Hope Mills or Big Train from netrition.com, it's pretty reasonably priced as you get several servings/box. I used them quite often while on P1, but I generally did add a little unflavored protein powder to it. But check at netrition.com and see what you think. They carry boxed low carb cereals too, that are more cost effective than buying them in the alternative packet form. One type that I've used and can personally recommend is 'Hi - Lo Cereal' by Nutritious Living. Definitely P1 complaint.

I was just also noting that I have a recipe for a 'Apple Cinnamon Protein Bar' that I made a few months and found quite good, but it includes some unflavored whey protein powder. It's nutritional values per muffin are 80cals, 3.5g carb, 0 fibre, 2g sugar, and 11g protein. I remember thinking at the time that it was compatible enough for P1. If you're interested in this recipe that includes protein powder, let me know and I'll PM it to you. Or I might just do a post about it on my blog, since I didn't before. The only reason I didn't make it again is that it's now abundantly clear to me that I don't do well with having multiple servings of sweet things around - even frozen. I kept wanting to eat 'just one more'... sorta like my problem with some protein bars, etc. I'm realizing I'm a one-serving kinda gal, and have to just accept it if I don't want to constantly be fighting the temptation.

Neither the egg custard or apple cinnamon protein bar/muffin have quite enough protein, so you'd have to add a bit there with that meal/snack. Although I'm not sure it's that essential within a gm or two, as long as the protein intake for the day is within the right range.

I just checked the nutritional info for EAS CarbAdvantage RTDs and 1 container has 17g, so you're fine there. Most IP products we used on P1 have somewhere between 15 - 18g protein per serving.

Also, I've been making my own protein soups the last while and you might find that info useful.... have a look at my last blog post - link below.

Don't be a stranger. We're all struggling in our own ways, and here to help and support each other. I feel a little like I'll run off the rails if I indulge in some pizza, or ice cream, etc. But part of me is also curious to see how I feel/react to it, so I think I'm going to have some small indulgences tomorrow and see how it goes.

Great discussion in this thread.

I have just started Phase 4. I definitely feel some of the peer pressure to "eat normally" that Evepet and Joysh have been describing. The price of success, I guess.

@greeniris. The EAS Advantage Carb control shakes have 17g of protein. I don't know how much you need, but that has to be a pretty good start, I would think. I used them a couple of times (I was traveling during phase 2 and got caught short of packets) along with a boiled egg. Good luck getting things back on track. I am sure you will. The fact that you are taking action now - before 15 becomes twice that - is a great sign that you will have it under control.

I have been busy and need to catch up here and in the 100% thread, but I read this article (hopefully it lets me post the link) and I thought of several of you ladies who are limiting or eliminating gluten. I think it also applies to maintenance eating in general. I am lucky to have supportive friends and family while I am in P1 and I know they will be wonderful once I am in maintenance. Anyways, hope this article is interesting/enlightening.

Happy Friday!!!!

http://www.examiner.com/article/givi...irst-few-weeks

I had forgotten the EAS drinks have that much protein (was thinking they were around 12/13) - certainly sufficient for breakfast. Thank you Evepet & Shawsy for looking it up. And Evepet, you have some great suggestions... guess I was thinking more traditional breakfast foods, but going "outside the box" is a good idea. Evepet, your egg custard sounds good too. I'll do some experimenting this weekend. Am going to look up your protein soups as well. Thank you!

Hey green iris
This is what I would (and have) done...

B make an egg casserole with 12 eggs and a bag of low carb frozen veggies. Bake and cut into 6 servings. Done for the week.

Lunch-salad with vinaigrette. 3 oz protein and at least 1 cup veggies

Snack- 3 oz protein or 1/2 c cottage cheese ( not ip but a real food way to get the protein)

Dinner-usual ip dinner, maybe reducing your protein to 5 or 6 oz, but don't let yourself starve

Snack-protein shake. But a big tub and drink it. It might not be delicious, but it will work.

Keep it simple and try it for a couple weeks and see if it is working.

You can do it!

Anne

Thank you, Ishbel, for the wonderful post.

KIT-KAT!!! Wow! Big life changes! Very happy for you and understand you must be having a rollercoaster of emotions. Wishing you the very very best and so proud of you! Any change takes courage, even good change, and it sounds like you are doing so great.

Greeniris-many, many hugs! It's temporary, you won't go back to where you were. I was thinking the other day about whether I would keep the weight off and what was different to allow that. Here's what's different for me, in the past, if I gained a pound or two back, I'd panic, the fear and anxiety would lead to more eating and I'd spiral slowly out of control. It was all fed by fear and avoidance. Now I know it is normal to gain back some weight at some point, it's a sign that I'm veering off course. We are all in it together with you and here for you!

On that note, I'm going back to a more rigid IP schedule for a few weeks. I'm up 2 lbs but I'm pretty sure a lot of it is water weight as I overdid soy this week big time. I'd love to lose 5 more lbs right now, so I'm going to go phase 1ish for a month and see what happens. One other reason I'm doing it is because I feel I'm getting too lax about some of the rules, like my veggies. For example, I'm substituting too much fruit for veggies and not drinking enough water. I don't like the feeling of being out of control that I'm starting to develop, so I'm rebooting to get help the rules become permanent.

Best to all my IP friends out there!
Sandra

Weird - was in the middle of writing a post and all of a sudden the site took me to 3FCs external link policies. Wasn't even including a link...

Thanks for the hugs & support Sandra...
And Anne - love the egg/veggie cassarole idea. So simple, yet perfect. And I think breaking up the protein into smaller amounts and including it in snacks is going to help. Thank you!

Molly - you're a great friend. Thanks for being there.
Lisa - I know you're lurking, and really appreciate your support too.

I went to the library to get the Beck Diet Solutions book - they don't carry it, so I took out "Skinny *****" & "Flat Belly Diet." The first one I just couldn't resist because of the name! The other seems more serious. Most of the diet books they have are kind of old.

KitKat - The changes you're making are so exciting! This must be a huge opportunity for you to make such a big move. Very happy for you.

Ishbel - love the post...I printed it out.

Cindy, just wanted to let you know that I hear you and support you, too. I haven't been able to get back online since yesterday afternoon.

Hang in there. You did great on this program and you'll do great on it again. You have been an inspiration to me. We're all learning, growing, and changing. It's hard sometimes, but we have great faith in you!

Skinny b $&@ sucks. I think you need to start out skinny for that diet to work. And the serious lack of protein is scary.

Why we get fat is a great semi diet book. But I think the beck diet solution has what most of us are looking for-skills to understand why we eat and how to keep it under control.

Congratulations to everyone in this forum, successful losers, people looking ahead to maintenance and realizing it's not a race to the finish with a return to former habits, people starting maintenance, all the experienced folks, posters & lurkers!

I start Phase 4 Tuesday. Sometimes I have to pinch myself that I've had so much success on this eating plan. After years of not being able to get below 182, it's fantastic to be at 153, two pounds below goal.

Thank you to all the posters in this thread and all the threads in this forum, especially the regular ones - the 100%, daily thread, and Fabulous at Fifty+. I've learned so much from all of you.

I like the positive post. I love this diet..