Firecrackers!

Every day I see your name on a post I wonder if it's your swan song and hope it isn't. You've given and shared so much. I watched the Fathead video again last night, to embed the principles once and for all. (For those of you who haven't seen it, it really is a must. http://www.fathead-movie.com/index.p...fiasco-speech/).

I'm sohappy for you; I totally understand the point you make about self-perception; and do hope you'll continue to share for a much longer time. Congratulations. The whole experience must be deeply satisfying.

Welcome back, SylvieG! You should visit the "I'm Baaaack" thread...lots of "oldtimers" are hanging out there now. Good luck with Phase 1. Looking forward to seeing you back here in Maintenance.

Congrats on reaching Onederland, I'm Svelting! I totally agree, with your comments re: body perception. I look in the mirror at my 45 lbs lighter body and still see a fat stomach and thighs, not the dramatic transformation that family, friends and co-workers see.

My yo-yo-ing continued again at last week's weigh in...up 1.8 lbs. I was sick with stomach flu-like symptoms so I hope that's the reason for it. Off to make dinner now, so wishing you all an ideal weekend!

Thanks Linden and Sweetstina!

No swan song from me for a long time yet. I'm really glad you found the video useful and informative. I asked ScooterMan if he wanted to understand why I make the food choices I do. He said yes and was open to receiving the link. He hasn't watched it yet but has started to make some changes in what he eats already.

I was thinking today about why Onderland isn't a big deal for me. I think it's because I just kind of skipped past the 200 mark on the way up without knowing. I remember being 180, 186, 190, and 196. Then one day years later my doctor asked me to get on a scale and I weighed 234 lbs. I'd been up to 257 before and dropped to 225 or so on Weight Watchers 5 years ago. So getting below 234 and 225 meant more to me than 200. It's a series of interesting spaces -- mental and physical -- that we get to move through during this project.

I have realized that I had just the opposite perception -- I looked in the mirror when I weighed the most and pretty much saw what I was before. Not exactly the same, of course. But what I knew in my mind was terribly unhealthy fat didn't necessarily translate to seeing myself as 50-60 pounds overweight.

Part of this can be attributed to very small bones and the ability to "wear" more weight without it being to obvious, given the right clothes, posture, etc.; part to having been slim most of my life; and part, I think, to the despair and denial attributable to the fact that I was following a nutritionist's recommendations faithfully and still constantly gaining weight.

Now that I've lost about half of that weight I can see the difference and I think that's what keeps me going, no matter how slowly.

Hi everyone,

this is just to say howdy and that I am hanging on. I have had a bad 3 weeks here, traveling, no time to exercise or eat right. worried to get on the scale so not doing it until I have a full week of doing everything correctly. I do know that I haven't gained alot based on my clothes but who knows.

I posted a new thread under Lean EFX and wanted to know if anyone had any input.

a friend of mine swears by them, I did buy it and had one today. So far I am actually feeling a bit odd but it might have to do with being so darn tired.

ta for now.

{{{pitakitten}}} I don't know anything about Lean EFX. A quick web search reveals that the spaciness seems to be a fairly common side effect.

I understand your thinking about getting on the scale. I would however encourage you to just do it so that you know the truth and deal with that rather than cutting back on food and increasing your exercise because you think your weight is up. Your body isn't your enemy, you know?

I agree svelting. I have gained about 3 pounds, I think I can take care of it on my own. Besides, the one I took yesterday did nothing but give me cotton mouth and just general wierdness; no curbing of appetite or energy boost as they claim. To be honest I have no idea where they are made either.

They will be disposed off in a safe manner as to not endanger any animals out there.

Good for you! Trash that trash!

You know how to burn off 3 lbs -- in the dark and with one hand tied behind your back! Up and at 'em.

Given you travel so much for work, what do you think you can do differently on your next "adventure"?

Take my gym clothes with and work out instead of drink only one trip was for work, others were to parents and Mexico for fun. When am away it's really the drinking that's my downfall and lack of movement. Eating is not that bad. To be honest even before IP it was the same reason for gaining weight: wine every night instead of gym.

I am still work in progress I guess

Just finishing up my lunch on day 2 of phase 3.

2 Observations so far: 1) I am so full after eating my lunch both days that I think I might explode. I am force feeding myself the last few bites today.
2) Greek yogurt BLECH! I was never a big yogurt fan to begin with, but had hoped my tastes had changed. I really had to force myself to eat it. I can scratch that off my list.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Tomorrow I will go to phase 4 and move on. After going through 2 weeks of phase 3 I realize that I can do this and keep the weight off. I weigh myself almost every day and I have a 3# limit for gain. If I reach that then its a no carb day to get back. It will be much easier to stay down than get back down!

I have lost another size though going through phase 2-3. Don't spend a lot of money on your new wardrobe until you settle into phase 4. I have to dress up for work, and really needed some pants. I had tried to alter but it was just too much. Well, most of my "new" pants are now too big. I will have to live with it, but new ones will be purchased smaller. What a problem huh? Just a word to the wise.

Has anyone else been having cramps in their feet at night? When I lie down the cramps start. I am going to try having more calcuim. Any other ideas?

Don't do the calcium. Increase your magnesium. Calcium is a contractor, magnesium functions as a relaxant.

Yes, and they've been particularly bad the last three nights but worse in the early morning.

I've done the cal/mag thing. Supposedly we need 250-350 mg of magnesium. I always had 350+ from eating regularly. Have increased that to 750, 1000. Still get cramps. My doctor says increase the potassium, which is what I was told when I was pregnant and got leg cramps. I've done that, too. I've also tried the old "stand on cold tiles" trick -- hard in Hawai'i. But that helps. These are so bad that my muscles feel bruised all through the day. I'm getting [I]plenty[I] of water and blood tests show adequate levels of everything tested.

Any other suggestions?

Sorry for going AWOL. I'm back, below goal weight and starting Phase III, earlier than I'd expected to and for a reason I never would have chosen.

Our lovely (and healthy, athletic) 25-year-old daughter was diagnosed in early October with a large, very aggressive breast cancer. She is currently receiving excellent care at a large cancer center/teaching hospital and we're very hopeful. But it has been a time of disbelief, dread, anxiety and prayer. NOT the preferred way to drop weight.

I have to say that being on IP has given me a strange stability in the face of it all, something routine that keeps me connected to "normal" life. Not that life will ever be normal again, as we knew it.

I would ask you to keep Kiara in your prayers, positive thoughts, chants, or whatever feels comfortable to you. Here is a picture of her, taken last Friday. She starts her pre-operative chemo treatments on Thursday.



Many thanks.

Oh, Meggie, I'm so sorry. Kiara and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.