I'm counting on you calming me down in a few weeks girl! This is the part where people freak out because you are introducing balance back into your life. Losing weight is easy compared to maintenance. Losing weight is black and white, and maintenance is a grey area. Your body WILL find balance, but it has been in a chaotic state for how long now? It needs time to get back into that healthy swing of things.

You've learned a lot of good tools with this diet. Veggies at lunch and dinner is a good one. So on maintenance you might have pizza, but it might be a slice or two with a salad and some veg! Not just the old way of slamming down as much pizza as you can and washing it down with cheezy bread or whatever. Having a good fulfilling breakfast will help your whole day as well, as opposed to downing a coffee and a sugar filled treat and setting yourself up for a bad day of eating.

Another good tool that I have heard is eat your protein first, veggies and then carbs, this is exactly the opposite of how I used to eat and I love zanthia's idea about putting veggies under the carbs to make it look like more, I am a big eater or I guess used to be so I go for quantity but I also like yummy food..... oh lets face it I good food!!!!

Hey Erin:

maybe you just gained your glycogen reserves and are a very lucky IPer???

as for me, I haven't gained a pound after my weekend away. Of course that is on my own scale, we'll see the truth tonight on the gym scale.

ellie

not sure if i'd consider the 3 lbs lucky

i'm forcing myself to not workout today and telling myself the 3 lbs is all the muscle i've gained from working out this past week and it will just MELT my fat off soon.RIIIIIIIIIIGHTTTT

wannabe
great idea eating the types of foods in a certain order. might not ever eat carbs that way!


[B]xanthia[/B
i'll be here! kind of thinking about staying on phase 3 till i'm down again to at least 162-163 again, who knows how long ip will have control of my life!

Hello all you wonderful gals!!! I have made it to Phase 2 but i it feels overwelming. Ugh more meat for lunch, i cant even think about more. What the heck, is it really important to have meat for lunch and dinner or can i just pretend and have my protein packs please help, before IP i was a terrible eater, no breaky, no lunch only dinner and snack and now i am accustomed to phase 1, help all you smart ppl please

WOW... Your coach sounds like she needs some coaching... sorry

That is a perfect idea

I will also give this a try and see what works out best... I dont have a shake weight so the egg white may lose by default.

Yepper afraid so its back to 2 regular proteins a day for you missy.... sometimes in a real bind I would use a packet but really you need to phase off correctly ....gradually introducing more lean proteins which also increases your calories and your fats a little before you hit glorious phase 3, ....

Hey, speaking of glorious Phase 3, it seems to me you've got a transition to Phase 4 coming up this week... are you ready for it?

I'll be in NH, but I think I'd better make it a point to check up on you every so often in case a crisis arises! I don't want you having a panic attack or anything.

Oh yeh of little faith, I have learned from the best I will be just fine not too worry but thanks, I am ready for 4..... I will keep it simple just do what I have been for the most part, I will be away for awhile too so if I dont check in dont worry..... I will return at the same or a lower weight then when I left if I do have a crisis I will track you down however, where you going again? Just kidding... have a great time with your family, wish your Mom Happy Birthday from your crazy forum buddy

FYI- Breakfast bars- So I have made the bars that Xanthia posted, subbed half quino flour for ww flour, used PB2 instead of real peanut butter, just brown sugar slenda, to cut back on carbs & fat and added more protein, they came out really well, I made them into bars rather than cookies and I added cocoa which I discovered is 1 net carb per tbs

hello Avacado! I had missed you sooooooooooo much!

I have all the faith in the world... but I know how it felt to have the net pulled out from under me when I kissed Phase 3 goodbye... (or tried to!)

I am gonna keep it simple to start... you know I was thinking geez what am I gonna have for my first treat (no longer a cheat) there is really nothing that I can think of, how strange is that When your on all you can think about is what you cant have now that I am done I can be bothered.... I think I need help.... oh wait I have you and all the other maintainers some of the best coachs around to if need be.

Bumping this...because I love reading about my future

Holding steady, first week of maintenance almost done. I think I can handle this as long as I keep exercising regularly.

Thanks for the bump!

I predict that your future will be very bright!!

Hi y'all. I haven't been posting on the boards, but can I join you Life After Phase 1ers?! I'm starting Phase 2 today, but am having a few doubts about it. I keep thinking maybe I should stay on Phase 1 another couple of weeks to lose another 5 lbs or so (and try to get to the ever elusive size 4), but I'm also happy with myself for the first time in years when I look in the mirror, so decided to phase out. Has anyone struggled with when the right time is to start Phase 2? I'm looking forward to it, but afraid that I should stick with Phase 1 a little longer. I'm also going on vacation in the middle of September, so I'm thinking I will do better if I'm on Phase 3 by then.

Congrats to all of you on maintenance. You look fantastic (and I bet feel it too!)