[QUOTE=hysteria_625;5185556]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

OOOO! I got told yesterday to STOP wearing a pair of pants that were literally falling off even with a belt! But I am sooo cheap! Luckily, I had a friend tell me they were going to get rid of a bunch of clothes and gave me first dibs! GOOD ol Cheap hand me downs!

So...last week I gained 0.2 lb
Felt really crappy about that for a few days, but I talked myself out of it. Actually, I had to change my WI that week from am to pm, so I told myself that made a small diff.
BUT... WI this morning

DOWN 4 lb !!

Just goes to show, one bad week is not the end of the world, no matter how much it seems so at the time

I've gone through most of my 'big' clothes, dropped them off at the women's shelter; yesterday I went down to one of the malls near Detroit to see what was on sale, and bought a few things...including 2 pairs of size 14 pants! funny, cuz I've been congratulating myself the last few weeks for fitting into 16s...(now keep in mind I'm pretty short, so all this fat has less room to distribute itself than on all you lucky tall people so for the weight I'm at, sz 14 is pretty darn good)

Amber, great suggestion. I'm going to stop in at a couple of places this week, just to see what I might find, I'm Ok for summer things, but come the cooler weather, I'll need some, and since I won't be near goal, this will be a good solution

Beth, I saw the picture, WOW! you look fantastic! and nice outfit too (Hope you bought the blue top on the hanger behind you, very pretty, and looks like a nice color for you). You're going to walk into that interview with so much confidence. Keeping fingers crossed for good results for you :

OMG! ditto what everyone else said! How moneygrubbing is that?
Actually, after the first month I stopped using the journal, found it was too small, so I made my own (just with excel), one page per day, keep them in a binder. I don't know how to post a copy of it, but happy to share if you want it - just PM me your email address.

I am always leery of supplements, but I asked my coach about chromium at my WI today. She's a pharmacist, very knowlegeable and helpful. She said it's usually for keeping blood sugar level, which we shouldn't need on IP, but she's going to research it for me. She wasn't opposed to it, but said it might be something to try once I'm at goal

dickinsp - I've had a couple of times when I had a week with no movement (or very little). Pretty sure most of us have. Your loss is really good so far, don't let one bad week get you worried. Even if it is a plateau, it will only be temporary. You'll probably lose next week, wait and see!!

Sunflower - my clinic did charge for the journals, but after the first two weeks I stopped using the journal, Phase 1 was so easy for me, it just wasn't worth the time. My coach was fine with that.
I think the problem would have been if I wasn't losing weight or inches or was doing something off program, then they would have been able to see what it was and help me. But that's didn't happen really so I was fine.

Quiet week - guessing lots of vacations

I feel like the interview went really well - we all hit it off, but I still feel at a disadvantage because of the learning curve involved in the software they use. The position sounds interesting and challenging - crossing fingers.

A bit of an NSV - I may be taking my $100 skirt back and exchanging it for a SIZE 10! Wth! lol The 12, after a little stretching (from sitting) kept moving and was too large in my waist. I was definitely very confident about the way I looked though and hopefully it made a difference.

Oh - and a bit of a TMI issue...something gave me stomach issues Tuesday night...rhubarb? Too much WF syrup? Stress...a combo of things..? Ugh! The absolute nightmare was it struck while I was in the middle of a 3 mile walk I made it - but it was a near miss

I'll bet you rocked it! You felt great, I'm sure you looked great- and so there you go!!! We can always learn new things, it is getting a little harder (lol) but I'm keeping everything crossed for you!
Wow-that's great, you have to trade down a size- amazing!!!!
Sorry about the stomach issues- it could have been worse- think of it hitting in the middle of the interview-eek!! Thank goodness you made it home

Great to hear the news that your interview was good, count me in on crossing fingers for you! Something exciting to look forward to - an interesting and challenging position! {{{thinking positive thoughts}}}

on the TOO BIG 12!! Two great things happening on the same day, you must be floating!

I can definitely relate on the stomach issue Glad you made it all the way home. Had to smile when I read that though, mental picture of you walking very quickly home with your butt cheeks clenched tight ...Good butt toning, if nothing else
Fortunately, IP hasn't (so far) given me any big C issues....mine are just the opposite. ( prob some meds I take). Episodes of urgent scampering to the nearest bathroom usually in the evening, so always a worry if I'm out somewhere.

LOL you guys are hilarious

I weighed in at home this morning since I am going to be heading to the Mountains today for 5 days. Unofficial WI puts me at 1.4 down this week. Glad to see the scale moving again. Only did 1 day of Phase II, but will do Phase II while I'm away for 5 days. Here's to hoping I can stay away from all the good food that is going to be served at the convention. I have a plan so going to try my hardest to stick with it. On day 15 of the 30 ab challenge and I surprised myself and did a 60 sec plank last night. Could barely do 20 secs 2 weeks ago. Down 1 inch on my waist. Yay

Size 10, sigh, how wonderful! That is awesome! Fingers crossed for the job, don't worry about new software, it's always so easy to pick up.
My WI is tomorrow and this is the first time I don't feel as if I dropped...and according to my scale, I didn't. I haven't deviated at all from P1 so I'm wondering if I'm slowing down. Hope I'm wrong, don't think I'm mentally prepared for stalling.

Because I haven't been losing this month she wanted to see my Journal. Hence the reason she put me on PHase II or added the extra egg. Once I'm done with this Journal I won't be buying any, I'll use my own dollar store note book I have. I'm not paying for them. The least they could do is throw in a journal for how much the diet cost

Destony - You are right - it could've been much worse. Getting out on the boat this weekend?


Blue - CONGRATS on the great whoosh!

Thanks!!! I am not much of a shopper so spending $$$ on clothes is next to unheard of - I think I was more annoyed than excited to have to go back.
& OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!! That was it - exactly!!!! Shaun T would be proud! I definitely worked the glutes

Sunflower - were you able to work something out with your clinic? As others have suggested, hit Target / Wal Mart / the $ Store & get a marble notebook (all the back to school stuff is out & on sale in NoVa - saw marble notebooks at WM for $0.50 each). Imvho, that's ridiculous for your clinic to charge for that...they are making $$$$$ on the food sales even if they don't charge for each visit...the clinic I was going to go to was $300, but included visits...but of course, each visit there was a min. purchase of $80 in IP products

After the first month of P1 I had a monthly cycle where I lost lbs for two of the four weeks, not much the other two weeks. I still lost inches. I learned not to worry about it and focus on the monthly results.

It’s still the same for me in maintenance - now I gain a little and lose a little through the month - I’m sure it’s something around my TOM and the way my body cycles through it.

Good luck at your WI and hope your mind can stay steady and know you are doing fine.

Grateful4Health: Thanks for the advice. You are right, the monthly results are the most important, and I'm in this for life.
Just back from my WI and down 1.5lbs so I'm very happy with that. I stocked up with 3 weeks of product as I'm away on vacation starting a week today (leaving very early next Saturday). I am a bit worried that I will be missing my weekly check-in at the clinic. I really do need that accountability. I tried so many times on my own and could never stick to it. I have to give kudos to my clinic, everyone there is amazing. They seem to really get how difficult this journey to health is. Everyone from the receptionist to the owner take great pains to learn your name and give tips and encouragement. They often open up packets of whatever you want to sample. This program is expensive but I feel as though I actually get great service and it does clearly work. I can't remember when I last felt this healthy.

livinlrg WTG on the loss 1.5lbs is pretty good. I know, I know, we all want those 3 or 4lb weekly losses and emotionally we are all just a wee bit disappointed with a low number, but logically, realistically, I think we all know that some weeks will be low, some higher. I think someone said - any loss is better than a gain!
I've had some weeks with TINY losses, but usually bounced back the following weeks with better ones.

I was looking at your stats, you're actually doing very well. Averaging more than 3 lb/week.

Sounds like you've made good plans for your holiday. Your clinic sounds very accomodating. Wherever you're vacationing, is there somewhere you can weigh yourself, maybe arrange with your clinic to call in your weight once a week? That might be all the accountablility you need to stay on track.

In any case, have a great vacation, you've been OP for 3 months, know you can do this!

Happy Saturday!
Enjoying some time with hubby, dd10 and my niece / nephew. Brought them over to go swimming with dd10 and we all had a great day. Heat just really zaps me - I've always gotten ridiculously hungry while swimming though. I was absolutely famished when we got home and Ate an extra snack. Trying to stay away from anything else but legitimately feel hungry. We'll see...

Felt awesome to have so much confidence out in a swim suit today think I may get a nice treat on the scale tomorrow too

isn't that an amazing feeling? Putting something on that may have been a "not likely" another time?? Congratulations on that feeling!! I have found that apparently bathing suits are something I have also hoarded, lol. When we go on vaca, that's (hopefully) all I'll live in. We did get yesterday on the boat, today is cloudy and going to rain most of the day today, so I guess home chores.

Time has come to get a dress for my sons wedding at the end of next month. Can't find anything I love here, the bride wants me in a certain color, and I am trying to be respectful of that, but that just makes it more difficult. I don't remember telling my future mother in law what she could wear... Times, I guess they change...anyways, last night I ordered a couple of dresses and I'll try them on and hope one fits, and I like it and send the rest back. I really hope I didn't overestimate my weight loss, I mean I am pretty much a 14 on the bottom, but a 12/med on the top so that makes it hard. It's weird how I am losing the weight with this diet, but I think a lot of us has made mention of that.

Hoping that everyone has a great Sunday !!