Cindy - Hope things work out Ok with your knee. DH had surgery for a torn meniscus a coupe of years back. I think knee pain is awful!

The interview is with a different employer, but still a government job. I love the job I have now, but this is an exciting opportunity. I guess the good part is I won't be unhappy to stay where I am if it doesn't work out.

I'm going to go google the vibracize thing too!

There are machines you can buy for your home and there's exercises/routines online so if anyone wanted to make this a permanent part of their exercise regime, it would have a payback. We use trainers because we will get lazy and stop exercising regularly, sad but true. With various health issues we have, we figure if we don't pay for trainers, we'll pay for it in health bills later and be physically miserable (and maybe poorer). So it's not that we're rich, we just figure this is one of the best investments we can make as we're both technically senior citizens now. What would be great is if we had lots of discipline and didn't need trainers!

Greeniris,
Liz'z veggie purees are what work best here. Once pureed, there's a week's worth of puree to make into soups. Sorry you can't workout yet, but its better to be 100% before you start than get hurt.

I feel badly, I've had a few "I,I,I" posts too. Really don't mean for that to happen.

You've had a great weight loss on the reboot! Keep up the good work!

Liz

I am soooo happy for you. I know you wanted this and I had a feeling a few weeks back that you were pregnant even tho you didn't say so Congratulations!!!

Hi maintainers. I have been lurking with not much time to post. Still on P3 and still loving breakfast! I lost at first, gained a little and now down again. My scale says 122-125 so below my goal so feeling good. Just bought some size 4 pants yesterday, can't believe it. I see my coach on Wednesday and the start of maintenance. Right now I am totally happy with P3 so not sure how much I'll change for P4, maybe a little fruit and greek yogurt for a snack which I'm loving! I don't even feel the need for the cheat day yet. Piece of pizza might be good though...

Sorry, this was an I I I post also. I really look forward to reading this thread for inspiration so thank you everyone!!

Chloe - I've been very fortunate to have the loan of one. A friend has a BodyVibe machine. She's working for about 3-4 weeks in her Vancouver office and asked if I'd like the use of her BodyVibe machine while she's away. She went over her routine with me, and left me with an excellent instruction DVD where a trainer demonstrates each exercise. So I've been reviewing that a lot and making sure I have the exercise moves right. I'd been reading about vibracize before this, and it's great to have an opportunity to test it like this. I'm not sure how BodyVibe compares to other cibracize machines, but it's definitely doing something positive. It's only been a week, but I swear I can feel a a difference in toning already.

Beck - that's really how I think of maintenance... It's phase 3 with extras - fruit for snacks, a bit of cheese, or a carb at dinner now and then. I hope that approach works well for you - it has for me, so far.

Maile Sorry about your mama...it was hard on my mom.

Lizzy Good luck on your job interview! Always good to like your job enough that it doesn't matter how the interview goes...kinda takes the pressure off.

bubbleblower I waited until I hit goal to get rid of my clothes, there were a LOT of them :/...but I sold them on a facebook group for $1-$7 and anything left over went to good will. Sold enough to pay for my goal ring. I still track what I eat, only to give me comfort that if the scale goes up there is a reason (I am conviently forget what I eat, I have done that in the past!)

scorbett1103 I would have stolen her recipes too! And have done so for the VIP! We've been very lucky to have her around!!

Liz Awe, I love you too! Careful, we may get someone eating popcorn again! hahaha

Darbs WOOHOO for almost two years!!

Jenny thanks for checking in once in a while

Lynnie63 Welcome to almost maintenance, I too ate all colours of peppers and still do almost everyday - nothing better right now then baked peppers and tomatoes, got a thing for them lately!

greeniris Hope all goes ok with your knee :/

evepet Nice to see a face with your name, lookin' good in your slim jeans!

mom2c Welcome back from all your travels!

Chloe My father in law has something similar to a vibracize plate. He really loves it.

New Englander Well done on the reboot!! You know you can post in here anytime...rebooting is part of maintenance...never think you're not welcome.

sunnymae Good job on the 4 lbs!

Beck Maintenance is all about what you decide will work for you. Good luck, keep posting and let us know how you decide to handle it.

++++

Chilly here today, tired of the continuous temperature fluctuations, it was +2C here on Friday and -25C on Saturday, same temp today. Wish it would just pick a temperature and stick with it.

Making beer chicken today...my house smells better then any bath and body works candle! LOL

Oh no! don't say that! It would stay at -28. It is -26 here now.
I am very pleased with something I figured out. The weather app on my iphone converts the temps between C and F.
I find Cecius so much easier for measuring temps but want to know how cold or hot it is when other people post temps.

LOL...yeah, I was biting my tongue when you were asking not so long ago. I had kind of gone underground for a while but ultimately I need all the support I can get. No Phase 1 days for me so I have to watch my fun times!!!

Thanks, Lizzy. I hope I can handle maintenance as well as you seem to be doing.

Thanks, Ishbel. It is nice to see the long time maintainers on here keeping your weight off.

Becky81: Congrats on reaching P4 on Wednesday. It is nice that you are below your goal weight before going on Phase 4. I look at Phase 4 like Lizzy63..P3 with some extras now and then.

Lizr: How fun to be gaining baby weight! Are you staying away from packets?

Patns: You and Ishbel must be freezing up in Canada. I am wearing extreme cold chill blasters and double merino wool socks and I am warmer than you.

Ishbel: How was the beer chicken? I am making beer shrimp..if my husband does not consume the bottle before I make it. Thanks for your support on my mom. She moves on Friday.

Lizzy63" That is how I look at Phase 4 also. Good luck on your job interview. Government jobs have great benefits. I will not be happy if the government decides to tax those benefits as income.

Chloe22 and Sunnymae: Thanks for the info on powerplate and vibracize. I am going to look them up. Good idea on using Lizr's purees for soup. I am going to look some of them up.

Evepet: You look wonderful in those slim fitting jeans. It is so nice to fit into old clothes from the past.

Greeniris: I am patiently waiting for March when they start growing asparagus around here! Hope you get some help with that knee.

Determined: lately I have been eating red, orange and yellow bell peppers in my salads. They are sweet and crunchy.

Momto2cs: Let us know any food information from your program. I would like to learn more about developing muscles.

New Englander: You are very successful in your rebooting and have a great loss. You will be in great shape for that March vacation.

Sunnymae: Good for you losing 4 pounds and exercising.

Today is a holiday so I am going to exercise at the gym. It is work off an up pound day..I knew Indian butter chicken was going to do this, however it tasted wonderful.

patns I have a unit converter on my ipad and iphone that I use when I'm cooking. When it comes to temp I always remember room temperature is 72F or 21C

Liz HEY! I'm having mac and cheese today!! Added a tad bit of chicken in after the fact. Also used ricotta cheese and extra yogurt and pumpkin to make it a 'bigger' serving in the pan. That way what we made lasted us two meals vice just one. Looking forward to it, it smells DELISH! (nervous though, I've never attempted miracle noodles YET!)

Maile I always enjoy beer chicken...I use herbes de provence (added some garlic/onion powder this time) and give the chicken a good rub and put some of it in the beer. We use hutterites chickens...organic and fresh (the one I just cooked was butchered within the week of me getting it). We just bought a new freezer so the possibilities of having different meat options are endless now. Amazing how things that make you happy change as you are older. I was and still am excited to have a 20 cubic foot freezer (I named it too, fyi). Makes planning for meals more 'calm'...therefore I'm less irritated! Made turkey chilli last week and there was enough to have a second meal sometime within the next two weeks. Couldn't do that before with my little 3 cubic foot freezer, wasn't enough room for left overs.

Hello ladies,

Not sure if anyone else has seen at stores... Powdered Chocolate Peanut Butter!!!

Here is the comparison to the reg powdered PB:
CPB - serving size 2 tbsp
40 cal
Total Fat 1 g
Sodium 55mg
Total Carb 6g
Dietary Fiber 2g
Sugars 3g
Protein 4g

Reg powdered PB
Cal 45
Total fat 1.5g
Sodium 90 mg
Total carb 5g
Dietary Fiber 1g
Sugars 2g
Protein 4g

Today was a Phase 1 day, so will try tomorrow. I bet it tastes like a snickers bar w/o all those calories. Ummmm

Hi everyone-
I'm cross-posting a question here as I know you have all been through phase-out. Plus you are some of the folks who have been here longest, seen and read a lot. Thanks for any info/opinion you can share!...

Hi everyone-
I am researching and pre-planning for Phases 2 & 3 (tho it's 1 or 2 mths away). I switched to alternative protocol due to hypoglycemia recently & have the phase 1&2 sheets for alternative protocol. I haven't found anything addressing phase 3 for those on alternative protocol. I'm guessing it's because both traditional and alternative protocol IPers follow the same phase 3. But I can't find anywhere that specifically SAYS that...does anyone know for sure if that is the case? If so, do the alternative protocol IPers simply switch their carb groups to breakfast, and drop the "3 additional food items, one at each meal" part of their diet? I know correct phase off is so important...I really want to get it right. I am without a coach, so I can't ask coach.

I should find that app - I often wonder how cold it is when you Canucks post your temps! For recipes, I've sometimes had to go online to find the right baking temp for recipes you've posted.

This is what I'm going to have to do too...

I can't answer your questions, but want you to know you will be really successful in maintenance because you are already looking forward & planning what you need to do!

Speaking of how cold it is...our wind chill index was down to -15 (-26 C)yesterday. This morning the lock on the garage door wouldn't turn. Must be some of the wet snow got into it yesterday and froze. As long as we don't lose power, I don't mind the cold outside. Of course, I don't work outdoors either - then it would be a different story!

Going back to the gym after work today; upper body exercises only. Have a great day everyone!

Oh, re: homemade soups/stews...I generally don't use recipes, so I have to think about how I make various ones. Will post a couple 'recipes' soon.