I love the Green & Black's chocolate, but they didn't have any in the gift shop at work, so Dove's won Still very yummy, and scratches the itch nicely!

I LOOOOOVE the idea of a maintainer's recipe thread! Especially to see how people balance the fat poor/carb poor meals.

You are going to ROCK maintenance - you do so well planning ahead! I'm trying to get better about it, yesterday I made a double batch of lemon broccoli chicken for the freezer, cooked a bunch of chicken breasts in the crockpot (hubby and I both use them on salads and as quick meals, me on IP and him on a bodybuilding diet), and made some cauliflower hummus. I'm still playing around with snack ideas, but eventually I'd like to have some grab-and-go snack packs in the fridge or cupboard that I can make up ahead of time.

Off on my trip today, so I won't be able to keep up for a while....

I just LOVE reading everyone's posts! It really helps to see that we are all triumphing and struggling together. One thing I have learned is that we all have challenges (they are different for each one of us), but reading about how everyone faces them and overcomes them really helps me to figure out how to deal with my own. Thanks!

Have a wonderful day!

I too love the idea of a maintainers recipe thread! I have a chicken pot pie recipe I've been playing with to adapt for maintenance. Still needs a bit of tweeking, but now will have to wait a few weeks while I lose these up lbs.

Thank you everyone for the support and suggestions. I agree that the sugar/chocolate is an addiction, but I'm uncomfortable saying so. It's difficult for me to place it at the same level as alcohol or drug addictions, but I suppose it could be. I too have heard that a bit of dark choc each day is a good thing, but am afraid I wouldn't stop at a small piece, so it has to be off limits completely

Was it you, Maile who said you like the pitas, tortillas, & lavash breads from Netrition? I ordered some last week and they arrived yesterday. Put them in the freezer for now, but looking forward to trying them. I also purchased some CarbQuick and 3 different muffin mixes. Will be better prepared for maintenance this time!

I love the idea of a maintainers recipe thread also! I am always looking for new recipes and have a few of my own that I like.
It has been a tough week and I am feeling pretty out of control. I did a couple days of P1 and then seemed to lose my resolve again. Not sure what is going on but I think I am going to head back to my coach and do a true P1 for a week or so. I was trying to do it with just cutting out all carbs, but I think I mentally need the IP food and some coaching to give me a swift kick in the butt.

greenirisI agree that it is hard to place sugar addiction in the same arena as drug and alcohol, but I think it is for some people. I feel like although I haven't had drug or alcohol addictions, I have an addictive nature and I do think food has been an addiction for me for many years. I really believe that sugar is like a drug for me and once I start, I really struggle to stop and I binge . Until I figure out why I let it control me, I probably will continue to struggle with it and will need to eliminate it from my life.
I didn't lose 100 lbs to gain it back again so, I am promising myself and my family that I will do whatever it takes and be as obsessed as I need to be to keep it off and we all need to remember that we are SO much healthier and feel SO much better that we were before this program came into our lives!

Thanks for letting me unload....I will make it through this, it is just a reminder that it didn't come on overnight, nor did it come off overnight. This is a marathon, not a sprint and I will learn how to keep it off even though there will be bumps in the road!

Woo - hoo!! Almost there! My scale gave me 150.3lbs this morning... only .3lbs away from my goal. I see that my ticker is ignoring the outstanding .3lbs and saying I've met my goal - so I decided to do that too. I wanted the psychological boost of getting to goal, but I know I'm going to stay P1 for a few more weeks until I have 2-3lbs of cushion between phasing out and possible glycogen regain in P3. From my temp stint in maintenance at Christmas, I know it's most likely I'll regain 2-3 lbs, so I want to be prepared. So I'm still not quite there.... but getting close..... Soon I'll be 'Maintenance Legit'!

P.S. - Love the idea of a maintenance recipe thread. I know that each of us will have out own particular struggles and issues to find our best way forward in maintenance, but a sort of 'tried and true' recipe favorites thread would be very useful.

Hope everyone here has a great day.

greeniris Your comments about sugar addiction caused a lot of reflection with me. I haven't dealt personally with drugs and alcohol addiction but I have been affected by it. However, nicotine addiction is no less of an addiction because it's not a stronger drug. How I react to sugar, definately is an addiction for me more so then smoking was. I don't think that considering sugar an addiction makes drugs and alcohol less of an addiction. But I do see where you're coming from.

So, I had a filling finished, just the filling not the tooth! Apparently, here's the kicker, your BITE can change with significant weight loss. She said my jaw had moved and adjusted and I was giving that filling direct pressure everytime I 'chomped'. (that was an 'Oh, duh!' moment) So she went through my mouth and adjusted all the areas that were not meeting together properly. SO anyone reading this (lurking) or active on this forum...note to yourself.

Significant weight loss in my life has caused quite the changes in my body physiology. My hips are nutzo, my lower back, my feet and now my TEETH!!! lol I think I was naive to think that everything would just be better with weight loss. It will take sometime for my body to re-adjust to all the changes, I do think it's getting better though! . Who would have thought about TEETH though.

Hi ladies! I have been MIA lately, just really busy. I am back on P1 for a few weeks as I am up from goal. I have been really struggling lately trying to find that balance of eating more and getting stronger in my workouts (crossfit) and staying close to goal and not relying on packets so much (ie: wanting to eat more FOOD).

I don't really know what is going on, but I am just having a really hard time. Right now I am up 8# from goal and feeling it! If I was building more muscle and losing fat, I wouldn't feel so bad about it, but I FEEL bigger and my clothes are tighter. Ergo, I am back on P1 to get back to feeling good.

Sigh, the never ending struggle of maintenance.

The "sugar addiction" comments struck a cord with me as well...addiction of alcohol and sugar run in my family and myself... I have never felt more "in control" as I did on the IP eating plan and so far so good in maintenance. However for us northerners, winter and light deficit can take its toll on our serotonin levels. There have been studies done that show that increased carbohydrates actually elevate serotonin levels and improve moods. Many of us self medicate with carbs vs. SSRIs (like prozac). Luckily winter's end is in sight! March has always felt like the beginning of the new year for me as far as my mental state and my ability to control my food intake. Hopefully this will also help those of us who have had a difficult winter.

I'd love a recipe thread too! I've been having fun with different recipes and protein options ( I tried smoked sardines for the first time this week ), but would love more ideas.

Ask and you shall receive!!

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/idea...e-recipes.html

Scorbett: Thanks so much for starting the recipe thread. I am excited to try them. I will post some recipes after this weekend. I noticed you used coconut oil. Have you tried coconut vinegar?

My husband has invited 12 musicians and wives for dinner tomorrow night. I am going to be cooking and cleaning all day Saturday.

On the topic of sugar addiction..I personally know I need to stay away from sugar as much as possible. This is the most stable I have been in many years.

Mommak8: I am ready for winter to end and for more sun and warmth.

LoriT and Jenny: It is so hard when you go through difficult times in maintenance. Thank goodness we have Phase 1 to turn to. Phase 1 and packets definitely make you feel like you are in control again. Hope both of you have a good week with Phase 1.

I still tell myself that maintenance is managed not cured. (might be from Ishbel) I also reflect on someone saying that maintenance is losing and gaining the same 5 pounds over and over. It definitely is an ongoing work project.

I think the the hardest times are when you feel like your body is not cooperating when you are eating healthfully. I found myself with up pounds and not from particularly indulging in anything. This lasted for a week or so. I finally tracked it down to chia seeds. I have added chia seeds which can cause bloating and water retention. I stopped eating them and the scale moved down!

Ishbel: Who would have thought that teeth would be affected? I have noticed that I bruise more easily. I read that as you age and when you lose weight, you have less fat under your skin..so you bruise more.

Evepet: congratulations on being .3 from your goal!

Greenirsis: I do use products from Netrition and love them. I have heard that that Carbquick is good. Eat low carb breads is a treat.

Gazelle: Have a great trip!

Molly you sound totally prepared and ready to stay on track for your trip. I like the idea of vegetable chips.

Lori - We are here to support you however we can...we all go through the same ups and downs. When I tried to do P1 a couple weeks ago my heart just wasn't in it, so of course on the day I felt really sick from going into ketosis, I stopped. Dumb, dumb, dumb. So now I've been P1 since Tuesday afternoon, and so far so good. Had a bit of a headache last night, but today am ok. Don't think I'm actually in ketosis yet though...
I understand what you mean about having an addictive nature; that's a good description, and fits me to a T. I sincerely believe maintenance will become easier the longer we manage it. The bumps in the road will still happen, but we'll recognize them and take positive action quicker.


You're absolutely right about the nicotine; I should have included that in my original post.
Very interesting re: your teeth/bite changing. I just had to have a crown replaced because I had worn a hole through one that was only 3 yrs old. I wonder if my bite has changed too???

Hi Jenny - seems that quite a few of us are struggling right now. I've been up about 10 lbs recently, but it is going back down now. My clothes have been too tight too. P1 is the right path, and as others have told me, a very natural part of maintaining. Hang in there...you'll be back on track soon.

Love your explanation about "self-medicating" due to serotonin deficit. Makes a lot of sense. Still thinking I might have to invest in one of those lights to help with SAD (seasonal affective disorder), which can also be related to low seratonin levels. Regular exercise and certain supplements can also help. So putting a plan in place for next winter is on my list of things-to-do.

Thank you Scorbett for starting the maintaince recipe thread! I will be adding to it occasionally.

Maile - good luck with your dinner party tomorrow. Sounds like fun!

Gazelle: have a good trip!

Lori: good luck with going for a week on P1. It feels now like it should be easy but I'm still only in P2 and denial.

Yeah Evepet! We'll see you here sooner than later.

Ishbel: I've been checking my teeth all day!

Thanks for starting the maintenance recipe thread! As soon as I'm back in town I'll go through my ideas of what to add but another 3 weeks before I can make anything.

I'm leaving home shortly for the airport. I'm nervous and excited for this long weekend trip. I'll try to check in from the road.

I have been completely MIA lately, not even lurking...just busy! I have had a few bad meal days, still staying up on working out, and of course the baby bump is growing. I am still wearing my regular jeans, but they are now completely unzipped! I skipped my Tue run, but did the rest of my weekly routine (Sun-Wed-Fri Bodypump, 6.5-mile Tue, 8-mile Sat). I am not too concerned about my 10lb gain as I am 15 weeks along, but still keeping tabs on it, I guess it's a small victory that I can still shimmy into my size 2s...even if they are completely undone! Finally breaking down and getting some maternity jeans!

Mailie, I am excited to hear about your National Registry paragraph! Hope you enjoy your Spring Break. Your posts are very inspirational.

My maintenance meals are a little "off" from the mainstream for now, but am excited to check out the new thread, thanks Scorbett!

Hi, all! Busy week - haven't posted in a while...

Evepet - congrats on reaching goal!!

Scorbett - thanks for the recipe thread. Definitely gonna check it out. Looks like you are doing great on maintenance!

Maile - I was kind of wondering about bloat with chia seeds... I got some recently, but quickly decided it would not be an every day thing for me - definitely felt bloated, although I did not really feel less hungry. Think I will have them a few times a week for the omega 3s, but definitely not on weekends - I weigh on Sunday morning.

Ishbel - sorry to hear about the dental problems... Who would've thought weight loss could lead to that?? Crazy!

Greeniris - sorry you are struggling. Chocolate is not a big temptation for me, but some other things are... I would remove the temptation entirely if you find you can't control it - just don't let it in the front door of your house!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

So true! It does seem to be the same 5# up and down at any given time!

Chia seeds also make me very bloated and retain water. They make my stomach pop out!

Still hanging in there, haven't really gotten totally on track with P1, but I am feeling better. The worst part is, is that I can't seem to pinpoint exactly what made the scale make the jump. Usually it is vacation or some totally off track eating, but all the sudden, the scale just jumped up. So hopefully a few days on true P1 will at least get it down to a less stressful number.