NSV - I have a pair of Gap "Long and Lean" jeans, size 12, that I haven't been able to wear for at least 10 years but I kept them because they looked so good on me when they did fit. Last night I was able to get them on and buttoned! They're still a bit too tight to wear for real, but I'm just so excited that fitting into a 12 is on the near horizon!! (Down from an 18/20.)

That's awesome news!! Congratulations and keep up the great work!!

Hey Linda, congratulations on making it to the 150s! I haven't had much to report, still hanging in here. I expect to hit the 130s soon, I didn't expect to still be in p1 at this point but I wanted to see if I lost a bit more my last tummy fat would go away. I think it is the last stubborn holdout! Just about gone though, thank goodness. Glad to see you and Beth still contributing.

Thank you 3!! Yes, you are right around the corner from them- that's wonderful!!! My original goal was a size 12, then the coaches wanted me to give them a weight goal so I picked 140, but I really think I will probably shoot for the 130's too, for the same reasons. I hoped, originally, to be done by August- but now realistically, I think I will be finishing up around October. I'm okay with that. Some times, I think I am addicted to the diet-lol.
I think it's great to see how well Beth is doing with alternatives. I haven't had the guts to eat anything other than their stuff. I'm one of those people that I'm either all in or not doing it. I'm really nervous about when the time comes, doing it on my own, knowing the macros and all of that. I need to start really educating myself, not just blindly following protocol. I had a super long discussion with the coach (owners wife) that I see now on Tuesday nights. She has bouned back up for a variety of reasons and I asked her a lot of questions about it. I did ask about people gaining the weight back, and she said that the most common denominator is that once they are done, they go away- they don't check in with their coaches, things like that. We know, from reading these forums, that it is doable to maintain after the diet is over. I ant to be one of those success stories. I know that I will have to be held accountable for all of my choices or I will fail yet again, and put all my weight back on.
Wow, did I just go off on a rambling...5AM, still haven't finished my coffee and it's time for breakfast and to get ready for work.
Happy "Friday Jr" as one of my friends calls it- Hope that you all have a great one!!!

Destony I feel the same way I am on my last week of P1 and although I am happy to move onto the next part of the journey I am worried about leaving the "structure" of P1 and the comfort that it brings. I have also regained from IP in the past but I never followed through on the phases, this time I'm doing it right plus I have a coach that I look forward to seeing and is invested in my success as well.
We are and will continue to be success stories

Thanks ladies...as I inch in closer to goal (looking like October-ish) I get more and more nervous about NOT doing this with a coach. Phasing off is going to be tough. Thank God for 3FC - I would have never been able to figure IP out otherwise - Lisa, Amanda, Liana - the February starters group This is absolutely possible with the alternates...we will see about 'sustainable' but I am going into it with the mindset like I had when I quit smoking (2001)...I've invested too much of myself into losing the weight to turn back. That doesn't mean that life couldn't interfere but I believe going through this process has given me a new appreciation for what I need to do going forward to maintain. Again, phasing off properly will be the biggest hurdle.

I really need to vent - and not about weight or IP...

So I mentioned my interview went well (or so I believe). I am creating a lot of anxiety for myself right now "waiting for the call"
I feel like every day that passes is another step away from this job. It's not my dream job but anything is better than the 10 - 14 hour (unappreciated) days I am putting in at my current job. Why am I putting in 10 - 14 hours...well, one of our team members had twins (so now has 3 kids) and can't afford daycare, so is being allowed to work from home approx 50% of the time now - which has increased my workload picking up the slack for what she is unable to pick up and do from home (mail, inquires, etc...)
The other team member is just unmotivated - they go through fits and spurts...for a while, they seemed to pick it up...and now the summer doldrums have hit during one of the most stressful and busy times I've ever faced in the 8 years I've been here. Won't ask for help...didn't say they were behind (we have a hard deadline to get all of this work done by FRIDAY!) - I finally had to stop them and say 'hey, can you get this done on your own? What do you need?'...as opposed to them coming to me - I get not wanting to seem 'helpless' or like they can't get the job done - but I get it. I am under the same pressures they are. It is so frustrating!
Then there is the flip side to the job I interviewed for which is if I am offered the position, I am leaving my current job in a horrible position.
Can you say GUILT
But, I have to be offered the job first...and again, as I said, every day the phone doesn't ring seems like a step away from that even being a possibility.

I think bottom line is I am TIRED & BURNT & need some time away from work, period.

Beth, you can come here to vent anytime. We all have stuff in our lives besides diet, and you have friends here that are happy to listen. Hope the vent helped de-stress you maybe a bit.
I do sympathize with your dilemma. No news is always harder than even bad news, but keep optimistic, all my fingers and toes are crossed for good news for you soon.

You may have done this already, but I remember someone telling me that quite often, sending a handwritten Thank you letter to the interviewer had quite a positive impact on the decision. Helps you stand out. Couldn't hurt

Beth, I like Blue's suggestions about staying positive and the TY note. If the offer comes you can tackle that guilt (which you shouldn't be feeling IMHO) so until then - breathe. Be proud of yourself, it sounds like you are handling the situation like a pro. You're superwoman, you've lost 66 or more lbs?!? If you can do that, you can do anything! And without a clinic, coach and with alternatives... Amazing.

talking about new clothes... I am currently wearing some old tight jeans I have size 16, when I started the diet I was wearing size 18 and quickly fit into my old jeans. However, my size 16 are quite large at the moment, how many lbs down you guys normally buy new pants? With skirts its easier but my jeans even with belt get a bit too large at my waist and I have thisextra fabric hanging between my legs. The jeans dont look super large but I feel I can fit smaller ones... cant decide if I should wait a bit or get new pants soon. My weight loss is kind of slow, I lost 42lb in this diet since the end of March when I started and for what I see a lot of people lose quite a bit more. Am I wrong?

Linda, I had originally thought I would be done by mid April, and here I am. Once I got to my goal I knew my fat % was not what I wanted and something just happened and I realized I really like eating like this. All of my severe indigestion and allergy problems have disappeared which has made my life so much better. I think I can't go back to eating grains and dairy.

Also, I still go to the clinic every week and they said the same thing that you did- that those who come in for monthly checks successfully maintain. Btw, I have gone all alternatives for the last 6 wks. My clinic doesn't seem to mind.

Dickinsp - I collected pants/jeans from friends, thrift store etc. so I didn't have to worry about spending money on them while I was going through sizes.

3bigdogs nice to see you

Hello to everyone - Beth hang in there. Often right before I change something big, like a job, there is for sure full-on frustration, as I let myself see everything that's not working. You can do this - if you don't get the job you interviewed for, you'll get another one.

dickinsp , I second the idea of thrift store shopping when you're not at goal yet. You're average height, so I bet you can find at least a few things. Also, it doesn't look to me like you're losing slowly. IP says 2-4 pounds/week for women, and you seem to be in that range.

3bigdogs, you know 1:100 people have problems with gluten (grain proteins). Once gluten has destroyed the villi in the small intestine, dairy becomes hard to digest, too. If you're gluten intolerant, you might still be able to handle dairy, now that the villi have grown back since you're not ingesting gluten on the IP protocol. Something to think about.

Hereistand Thanks for that info, I now suspect gluten was also causing some arthritis symptoms that have also disappeared. Once I'm in p3 I'll try dairy and see what happens.

Hi Amber! I agree about thrift stores. They are great for those clothes to bridge between your size losses. Dickinsp, I found getting smaller sizes as soon as I outgrew my others was very rewarding. I am retired so I really don't need expensive clothes on a daily basis but try a thrift store in your area. Some of the clothes there are fabulous. I got 3 Ann Taylor blouses this week for $14.00 total. Love those bargains!

Beth I know what you mean about the guilt, HOWEVER-guilt is a wasted emotion. ☺ From what I have seen, you are an amazing woman. I also agree with Blue, the thank you is a good thing. I find that when I interviewed for an assistant, the ones that sent the thank you stood out. It also kept them in the forefront. I second, third and forth what 3Bigdogs said- "Be proud of yourself, it sounds like you are handling the situation like a pro. You're superwoman, you've lost 66 or more lbs?!? If you can do that, you can do anything! And without a clinic, coach and with alternatives... Amazing."!!!!!
Dickinspanother vote for thrift stores and also consignment shops. I started in tight 16's and it took me forever (it seemed) to get down to the 14's-just the way my body was/is shedding the fat and inches. Congrats and enjoy it!!
Happy friday everyone!!!

I also will be going for interviews in September so I will keep the idea of a thank you note in my mind...thanks for the tip

A little off topic......I went to a plastic surgeon this week. I have had this apron of extra skin on my tummy as a result of my 3 pregnancies so for the last 28 years I have hated looking at it. Of course the yo yo weight loss and gain didn't help. I am finally at a place where I can do something about it, when I was waiting for my consult I was almost in tears because I was so happy to finally making the first step towards what is like the icing on the cake on my "the best I can be journey". Seems surgery would be in November