Hey Roxy - so far, no negative side effects to report (I am super sensitive to meds / supplements).

A few (potential) extra positives?

- I am more *ahem* regular (that could be dietary but worth noting)
- not as blah / tired as I was (again..???)

Also, the amount of hair coming out has lessened significantly.

ImAShark WTG!! Almost Onederland!!
Just anther 0.8, pfff....a mere trifle....I'm sure you'll get there by Monday, let us all know so we can celebrate with you

...And you'll probably enjoy wearing that dress so much more since you've waited so long to fit, don't you think?

Hi guys. Great you are all the stage of going through so many clothes

I wanted to suggest what I did, which was basic thrift store. I had never been a thrift store person before, but boy did that place help me. I could get inexpensive things that I knew wouldn't be fitting for long, but helped me get through the middle phases.

One thing I want to recommend, based on my experience and others', is that when you get down to about 10 or 15 lbs of goal weight, you might want to hold onto some of those clothes. After goal, myself, and I think most people here, have generally gone up and down about 10 to 15 over their goal. Sometimes due to hormones, water retention, vacation or other indulgences, etc. It's nice to have comfortable clothes when that happens. You'll get the 10 lbs off, but it's nice to have the clothes in the mean time.

I gave a way a few things I wished I'd kept - like right now my jeans are a little snug in the tummy, so I wish I had one size up also.

I was so sure of myself that I didn't want to keep that last "size up" but I think all women go a little up and down in size and it's good to have what you need. Also in the smaller size snug pants, even 5 lbs water retention can make a difference in fit. Larger sizes have more wiggle room I've noticed.

Shark, that's AMAZING!!! Congratulations on all of your victories!!!
LegalGlad to hear things are going well. I need to start doing some toning up as well. I need to motivate myself- I've got about 20 more to go myself, and I am thinking I might want to go for 30- just not sure yet.
I'm interested in the Biotin now. I can be such a supplement junkie- I am doing collagen, just added Chromium today. Anybody else take a bunch of additional supplements??

Shark - Can't wait to hear the great news! Onederland & lmao on "frumpy bag lady". *raises hand high* Me too! I am just amazed a few of these pants / dresses I am still wearing (and are not literally falling off) FIT me 60 pounds ago This morning though I decided to wear one of my form fitting lady T's and have received 2 compliments already...sometimes I think I am still "hiding" in the big clothes...that and I am CHEAP

Destony - A 30 day push-up challenge popped up in my Facebook feed yesterday (looks like it came from "refinery29") - at the end, you are suppose to be able to do 10 'real' push ups. It's a start Now I just have to actually do it
& supplements - a bunch, no...but beyond my multi-vit, Rx Vit D, Calcium I do take Fish Oil 3 x's a week, Natural Calm (magnesium) every night before bed, and now the biotin. I've heard / read good things about Chromium and will probably get a small bottle to try towards the end as I'm phasing off.



***********ah**************

Finally, a semi-free weekend...to work! Oh well, that's life.

We're going to do our first backyard fire in the fire pit tonight - we've either been ripping and roaring, out of town, or its been raining the entire summer. DD10 is excited as the fire pit = s'mores Next to the ocean watching a fire crackle and burn is so relaxing (for me)

Sunday we are going tubing with friends on the Shenandoah. It's suppose to be hotter than Hades Sunday...but unlike other weekends, we shouldn't be exerting too much - just floating lazily down the river but still need to be prepped with food and water.

Lost .2 again this week, coach decided to put me on Phase II to shake things up a bit, thinks I'm not eating enough even though I added the extra egg this week. Becoming pretty discouraged now.

Speaking of challenges, I started the 30 Ab challenge 11 days ago, feels really good to be doing something active. No inches lost yet, will see after 30 days.

Down another 2 lbs this week. I am so happy with progress to-date. I was having problems walking the last year with severe pain in my ankles. I knew my weight was partially responsible. I'm now able to walk pain free, sigh, and I no longer feel like I'm waddling, which is a huge NSV for me.
I've lost weight before and it's usually at this point where I become diet fatigued, and then gain everything back. This time, I'm going for goal and will never allow myself to gain it all back. Thanks all for the motivation in these threads. These are absolute lifelines for me.

Way to golivinlrg Those are awesome NSV's!!

Sunflower - don't get too discouraged! Keep in mind:
1. You are fairly close to goal (within 20 pounds?)
2. Many report losses slow down after adding exercise (guessing you told your coach?)

lrg - GREAT NSV! & congrats on the WI

Didn't get the work done I'd planned this weekend - but I did get my interview outfit (picture in before/after thread). Although $$$$$, I was so pleased...and its a size 12 / M silk shell top.
We also went tubing today. Hot, but the water was nice and cool. We've also had a a very rainy summer so the river was up / moving / swift. Saw a couple folks I hadn't seen in a while and got very self-conscious about all the compliments.

I still can't believe how well IP has worked. I have to be careful to not let up now and get to goal! We stopped at a great mom / pop restaurant and thought I would be safe with the salmon and veggies (avoiding the rice)...I really should have avoided the veggies - found out they had been marinated in their home made balsamic vinaigrette...and just way too good to pass up. Guessing I had way too much oil today, but there are worse things...

I saw the outfit on the other thread, you look FABULOUS in it!!!! Congratulations!!!
I know what you mean about being self conscious about compliments. I have always had a hard time with it- being the yo-yo that I have been for my entire life, I have a little practice at it- Now, I just say thank you for noticing and try to change the subject. I enjoy the compliments, don't get me wrong, but I am very self conscious about it.
As I understand it, the oil is good for preventing kidney/gall stones...so you're right=- there are worse things...lol-I try to always find the silver lining....
We spent Saturday and Sunday on the boat, Saturday was cold and cloudy-by cold I mean damp- so I am cold when it's like that. Yesterday was gorgeous and it's so much fun to wear a bathing suit, (albeit with shorts..that lower half just won't cooperate as nicely as the top half has...) and not shorts and a tank top.....
Amber Come Fall, the thrift store circuit is probably what I will do- though I may not need to-again, I am a clothes hoarder....so Unless I get to a 10-anything 10 and below(which I highly doubt I'll see- BUT....) I would need to- I have never been a 10 or less.
Well everyone- it is Monday- so I wish you all a successful, wonderful day and week!!!

Thanks I'm trying really hard not to give up. My coach knows I'm doing the challenge, in fact she recommended it. It really only takes 5 mins a day, it's just 4 Ab exercises. I love it though. I started doing Yoga, only 1-2 times a week and I find that more tiring that doing Abs, not sure if that's what's preventing me from losing. But to honest when I worked out a long time ago on IP, even 20 mins on the crosstrainer 3 times a week with very light weights prevented me from losing, so perhaps I should stay away from all activity for now. I just miss working out and feel so fat and sluggish when I don't do something.

Decided to wait until Friday to do Phase II since I'm leaving for the mountains for 5 days (conference for work) and might find it easier to do Phase II while I'm gone.

Does anyone now pay $1 for their journals? They are starting to charge me for it and I told them I'm not paying for it. I've been in this clinic for 2 years and the mark up on their food is already high so I told them if they want me to journal I'm going to buy a Journal from the dollar store and write my food down. So she gave me the Journal for free two weeks ago.... I just think it's ridiculous they want to charge for it now.

Seriously? Buy your journal. My clinic doesn't give out journals, they're just weekly sheets to write everything down. I have a friend on IP at a different clinic and she gets the journals. I made my own in a spreadsheet because I hate carrying something around and write stuff in so now I just key it in and print it out before I go. Don't pay for them. Save your $$$ for your new clothes.

Weigh in day today! I added Chromium to my daily supplements almost a week ago. I am curious to see if that makes a difference. I made the Rhubarb crisp last night to take for my lunch today=- can't wait to try it- fresh Rhubarb from m/i/l's garden- love that we can have fresh vegetables this time of year.
Hope that everyone has a great Tuesday
BethGood luck with the interview when you have it- you are going to do great- and look awesome in that new outfit doing it
frawnieLove the new profile picture!
SunflowerCan't believe they try to make you pay for a journal-thats ridiculous!!! and more importantlyDON'T GIVE UP!!!

Thanks Destony! A little nervous about tomorrow - I don't prep well for interviews and feel like if I'm going to be a good "fit" it will happen natural. I am either what they are looking for or not, kwim.
I just <3 rhubarb and am so jealous of the northerners pulling it right out of their garden right now. Some is making it's way to NoVa, but I am sure it's not the same

Happy Tuesday - I am stressed to the gills right now...I really can't afford to take tomorrow off, but also don't want to fool with coming in after my interview at 9:30 and have a dozen other things at home that need to get done that have to be done during the week I am calling out but the timing really bites.

Good news = the scale continues it's downward trend today It would be great to see 16X pop up by the weekend

hi ladies,

how many pounds you guys lost until you got stuck for a bit without losing? I lost around 38lb and since last week I lost nothing. I need encouragement ugh!