calypso: I do a meal..or sometimes just indulge in something I like..I don't do a day. I actually do not like having the scale go up for any reason..I am somewhat nuts! I am glad your scale didn't go up. Your p1 plan should work. Good luck with the Italian dinner.

Matolmama;;I was like you..I wanted the quick packets..for breakfast and was very reluctatn to give them up for Phase 3. If you have yogurt, fruit, and cereal, and nuts..you can make a very quick breakfast. You can also premeasure things the night before. I did not use the packets on P3.

Pixl..I am the same way..if I can have a carb in the morning..I don't feel deprived..and eat pretty much low carb the rest of the day. I also add an avocado for lunch..am trying to add sweet potatoes or beans once in a while.

Momto2cs: I cannot see why staying away from grains could be unhealthy. Lots of people who strength train seem to love Paleo.

I am making a soybean felafel..low carb..will see how it turns out. Work is getting stressful with potential changes in staff for next year. I am going to work out to get rid of some of my stress.

[QUOTE=Momto2cs;4244373]
I do a lot of reading on bodybuilding sites. Phase 1 seems in line with their cutting diets. I hope perseverance pays off as I will be on phase 1 with my dh for a while as he has quite a bit more to lose.
Wheat and sugar really do not agree with me. QUOTE]

Yes, I noticed too that P1 seems to be right in line with "cutting" and it also (sans packets) is right in line with Paleo eating, which is huge in the crossfitting community (my choice of exercise).

I, too, do not tolerate wheat and sugar well, so it really takes a lot of choices out of cheating.

Eating Italian is my favorite "low carb" option when eating out. I always order some kind of chicken and get the veggies instead of pasta. At Carrabba's I always get the fire grilled chicken and whatever veggies they have and at Maggiano's, I like to get the chicken saltimbucco with asparagus. I have never had an issue substituting the veggies, and I have never been up charged either. Even at a local mom and pop italian places, I do the same thing.

Since I am a touch behind on the threads, I am just going to jump in and quote rather than try to take notes and then forget

After I finished P1-P2, I realized that I cannot handle wheat or sugar very well. This led to a few different experiments, all with the same outcome. Sugar makes me crave more sugar. Wheat makes me bloated, lethargic and "blue" (I just noticed that I am not as happy or positive). So, I pretty much avoid these, unless there is really something I want. Then I really have to make the conscience decision to eat it.

That said, I am very interested in Paleo, as a lot of people I know eat that way (I do Crossfit). I feel like it is a modified P1, but with more fat and allowed fruit. I believe that all grains are out on Paleo, but I am not sure. I think it is a very sensible and healthy way to eat and would be a great choice for maintenance.

So I am clearly behind here and have been crazy busy lately. Finally just got caught up on the conversations. Work has been so crazy lately that at night I just don't feel like getting on the computer.

We just booked a weekend cruise for not this weekend coming up, but the following, so I am going to get on P1 to lose a couple of preemptive pounds. I am not nearly committed enough to walk for 10 miles a day and avoid carbs on a cruise So I am going to try to lose a few before I go, relax and enjoy while on vacation, and lose a few when I get back.

I have been holding steady at 134-135. I seem to be having trouble getting back to 132-133, so I am hoping some time on P1 will get me back there. Everything still fits the same and people keep asking me if I am losing more weight, so I have to chalk that up to building muscle, but dang if that number on the scale doesn't wreak havoc on my mental state. My workouts have been ridiculously good, so I can't complain too much, but I would like to get to where I feel most comfortable.

Sounds like all reboots are going well and everyone is still working their maintenance. My eating this week has been sub-par, so I am especially looking forward to hitting P1, even to just get back to a happier place in my head. For me, bites lead to more bites, which leads to more bites, so I really would like to get a few strict days under my belt to get everything out of my system.

I know a lot of you use alternatives for your P1 days and / or your reboots, but does anyone use EAS & Pure Protein? I find it is just so much easier to grab them at the food store and use them for my P1 days. My very first week on IP I used them exclusively. I have never ordered anything from Nashua or any other site. Just curious.

Well, hope everyone had a great weekend. I can't believe it is Sunday night already and tomorrow will start another busy week.

Hey ALL! Hope everyone had a great weekend! I had a good day yesterday...actually celebrated meeting my goal weight with my bff with a sundae to die for! Today Phase 1 and I wasn't really prepared, didn't realize I didn't have any phase 1 friendly snacks.

Any ideas? I love sweet not savory snacks.

ALSO...thinking about going down 10 more lbs...how many of you had been in P4 and then decided to lose more? I feel like it will be extremely difficult to go back to P1 for probably 3 weeks to lose the 10lbs.

Jenny..Your maintenance is going great. Your cruise sounds such fun and something to look forward to. Doesn't Paleo say no legumes? That is what I would miss...grains not so much. Thanks for the info on Italian eating. Hope your Phase 1 goes well.

droidgigi: I eat cocoa dusted almonds for a snack. Others eat bars. Hope Phase 1 goes well today.

Well. I am in my irritated mode ..ie the scale went up a pound for no good reason pity party. I need to get positive and not complain about something that will always keep happening! This is normal..but I still do not like it. Thanks for letting me vent!

Have fun on your cruise!! Great idea to phase 1 in order to prepare. As for EAS and Pur Protein, I do use the Pure Protein drinks. I bought some Atkins bars (coconut ones) and I've also been eating those.

Me too!!! I did have a tiny cheat Saturday, so I can't complain too much. It's back to Phase 1 for me today... Sigh.

Jenny...yay for your cruise! And yes, I use the EAS Carb AdvantEdge shakes when I did my reboot, but I think I'll use them as a mid afternoon snack too when back on maintenance. I really like the chocolate fudge ones, and you can get a case of them at SAMs club.

As for me, I had a cheat day Saturday and it was soooo good. STill a little boated today, so keeping it low carb. And I'm so sleepy from this darn time change!!! I want to drink 6 cups of coffee...ugh.

Jenny, I use EAS quite faithfully for phase 1 meals. I like the rich dark chocolate shakes the best. They are easy to just grab and go. I have some Pure Protein bars and some Atkins Advantage bars that I still use for a snack almost every night.

Thanks...I have tried the wasabi almonds and love them...didn't even know I liked almonds...so I will look for those!

BTW...I don't like being in irritated mode... I understand...but just think of those days when it says just what you want or less *channel that happiness*


*Any thoughts on sugar free pudding?

Yay Jenny, have fun on your cruise.

We leave Fri for Costa Rica and I am scared to death about a huge weight gain while ther. Not much in the way of veggies. Tons of fruit. Any advice from the pros?

Calypso..I have heard Costa Rica is beautiful. I would just try to eat as low carb as possible..and stick to beans..avoid rice. Most of all enjoy yourself. There is Phase 1 when you get back!

Droidgigi: wasabi almonds sound incredible. I will look for them. You are right about trying to focus on the positive times that the scale has cooperated!

Cajun..The kids at school were definitely off with this time change. It will take a few days to get used to.

Pixl. Good luck on Phase 1 and getting back down. This maintenance is work, work, work! Hope the scale starts cooperating! However the joys of being thin are worth fighting for.

I'm going to have a pity party today. I'm still at 152.5 and I'm really sick of it. I need to buckle down for a few days and hopefully the scale will move. I really want to have a cheat day without the guilt. grr...

No loss on scale/inches/body fat. All three remained the same!