Thank you, you are so sweet to say that! I found the official phase 3 alternative sheet, (thanks to ragdoll!) and it answered all my questions.

Have fun at the gym, and stay warm!!

Is the official phase 3 alternative sheet available somewhere on this website? I haven't yet taken the time to search for it, but Im interested in that info too.

Edited at 2:25pm - Cancel the above question .... I found Ragdoll's PDFs in the other thread. All printed now, and ready for future use if I decide to go that route.

Lisa also just added them to the FAQ sticky so next time we need them it won't be so hard. I search and searched before Ragdoll gave them to me!

Just wanted to say hi. I've read through a few pages of posts and gotta say it's heartwarming to catch up with everyone! I'm focusing on regular exercise (cardio 4x week, strength 3x). Working with a trainer also to implement a program I can use on my own rather than always taking group classes. Trying very very very very hard to be patient with myself and practice good eating habits. I'm in the 150's... Not where I loved being have to appreciate that I'm not in a feast/ famine mindset anymore and truly feel healthy. As always it is difficult to place more value on health than appearance as one is quite tangible and the other not so much...
When I was having the cramping issues I was given an IgG blood test for food intolerance and it came back that wheat, dairy , gluten & eggs (nearly cried over that one- I love eggs!) are causing issues. As all IP products except for 2 contain one or all of these it is no longer really an option. So that leaves me here. Eating clean, exercising at a reasonable ( but definitely not ideal ) weight. Acceptance has come slowly... Still not entirely sure I believe but the mental state is definitely much more 'even' which I am thankful for...

I use the regular powdered peanut butter and add it to my vanilla shakes or puddings with WF chocolate syrup drizzled on top. It's amazing! Plus when I slightly freeze any of my puddings like the chocolate mint or cheesecake, drizzle the syrup and put 1T of the PB on it...I swear it's an ice cream sundae. What a great invention...enjoy it

Great to hear from you cap! I am back on phase 1- for the thousandth time- 21 days and feeling great- pants are getting loose. Walking about 3 miles a day. Trying to figure out maintenance

Well, due to the terrible road & visibility conditions this afternoon, I came straight home after work instead of going to the gym. I-75, in a 6 mile stretch, had more than a dozen vehicles in the ditch, a few fender benders, and at least one major accident. I brought the back roads home without any problems, just drove slow.

Tomorrow will be a pretty stressful day at work - I have to say I'm amazed just how many, and how severe, problems there can be in a church environment! Big meeting at 10:30, to 'air' some serious problems, and as the Elder that would normally take notes is out of town with a sick family member, I've been asked to sit in to do it. Not looking forward to it...sure hope the roads will be better so I CAN go to the gym afterwards! LOL

Hmmm - think I'll put some PB2 in my EAS RTD drink I'm going to warm up in a few minutes...

EDIT: Cap, I'm sorry to hear about your health issues, but glad you got it figured out. You'll do it however you can.

Hey cap!
I had those food intolerance test in the past and mine were similar. I found most of my health issues resolved on ip. I really think wheat and sugar are the worst.
I couldn't give up eggs. If I did I would struggle. With the other things removed I am ok.
I hope you find a happy balance.

Same here! Gluten and sugar. When I keep away from those, the other sensitivities (swelling/burning skin, abdominal distress/water retention) pretty much disappear. By trial and error I found out what the major and then minor culprits were.

Let us know how you do Cap.

Cap. I was so sorry to hear about your health issues. However, it is good you have explanantions for your symptoms. Giving up eggs would be hard!!I am glad your mental state is stable. Good for you. You are eating healthfully and are exercising. I think you are doing the best you can for yourself and know you will find out what works the best for you. Hang in there. You are doing great with acceptance and changes! Hugs.

Sunnymae and Momto2cs: I hear you on the sugar..I do not get strong reactions to wheat, but barely eat it.

Greeniris: Good luck on your big church meeting tomorrow. Drive carefully on those dangerous roads.

Ishbel:What di you name your freezer? Too funny. Thaks for the beer chicken recipe. I used Bay Seasoning with the shrimp. I like freezing things for the nights you don't want to cook.

Determined: 21 days on Phase 1 and losing inches! You are doing it.


The up pound is gone!

Had my first P3 breakfast today: whole wheat English muffin with smart balance from olive oil and plain lowfat Greek yogurt with blueberries. It was ok. I should have added an egg. Overall today I ate 100 carbs and 1200 calories. Egads!

Thank you all for the support
Mom2cs I kept meaning to mention about your joint pain/ arthritis that nightshade veggies (peppers/ eggplant/ potato) should be avoided...
And for those who take fish oil- Barlean's extra strength- key lime- is lower in cals for liquid form and provides almost twice the dose (which is what the naturopath recommended to me).
Determined- I'm so happy for you that the pants are getting loose and you are exercising!!!! Yay!!!! That will definitely help in maintaining your weight- it is the number one marker for doing so! Keep up the great work!
Sunny- great to see you kicking around so regularly on here... But I know too that you value your maintenance... Which has always been inspiring for me...
Maile- congrats on shedding the pesky up pound... And many thanks for being the maintenance rock star. Your regular posting is so invaluable to so many (myself definitely included!).
I read a book called the virgin diet before Christmas that was pretty much an elimination diet (no wheat, dairy, sugar, eggs, soy) and also ended up on a candida diet (pretty much IP with real food) as when they tested my IgG they also tested my candida levels and those were also a bit high. Candida apparently loves sugar... As does cancer, diabetes and a whole host of other diseases. But the thing is that IP Phase 4 is a very healthy balanced plan. The whole cheat day/ meal is quite questionable but the other 6 days a week are rock solid healthy eating. For those new to maintenance... Treat phase 4 as you did Phase 1... Exactly as prescribed with no deviation for at least as long as you were on Phase 1... And you will have the cornerstone of healthy eating. It will behoove you greatly. Read an interesting bit that people who lose weight faster maintain longer than their cohorts who lose slower... I'd always believed the opposite... Was a head shaker that one.
I feel very blessed to be a part of this group. Always have. So many who have fought so hard and continue to do so with a smile and encouragement for others. Hope everyone had a great day (and if you exercised I know you did- cause those endorphins are just so darn happiness inducing ).

Cap-
So glad to have you back on boards- you and Maile are always so encouraging and sweet. I always love to hear about the readings you have done! I too am very skeptical of "fun" days as I have read over and over on these boards that that is where it all starts for most " re- gainers" . I know it was my down fall as eventually, one lead to a day and a half then 2, then a week and so on. Feel good getting some exercise. Even added some -nothing crazy- weights this week in an attempt to reduce my flabby chicken wings.sounds like you are doing well and are feeling healthy. Sooo happy for you! Keep posting dear, you know it helps!

cap Hey missy! I'm glad you found some reasons for your pain...and I'm glad you're figuring it out. It is hard to be patient with ourselves. For the last three years my new years resolution has been "Be Kind to Yourself", I gave up making a new years resolution on losing weight and just decided to be kind. It's difficult to give yourself crap when you realize you're not being kind....so you just 'stop'. Be kind to yourself and look at how far you've come and how much you've learned about yourself.

Liz So the mac and cheese went over well! Phoned the VIP and asked "SO! How was it?" He said "it was good, I'd eat it again...but I could deal without the green stuff" (I had put Kale in it). It made me laugh but I'm happy we were both sucessful with miracle noodles. I don't really miss pasta, but the whole mac and cheese recipe sounded interesting so I'll be using miracle noodles soon!

Maile I named him "GOOSE", had a friend suggest that I name him Iceman (Top Gun) and I said "No one likes Iceman and Maverick was Tom Cruise. Tom Cruise is kinda strange and everyone liked GOOSE". So my freezer's name is Goose, works out as I'm sure one day there will be a goose in it.

I'm feeling under the weather, have a sore throat and have purchased nyquil tablets and sugar free halls. Bah!

On a lighter note my VIP recieved the Queen's Diamond Jubliee medal today for all his volunteer work over the last probably 20 years (He's been volunteering for a long time as he's only 39)...pretty proud of him. In typical 'medal' fashion you cannot pin the medal on unless it's been offically delgated by the Queen (lots of rules with medals) so his boss's boss's boss gave him a hand shake and handed it to him. Once it's awarded he can wear it...and put it on himself or have someone help him...so I took it and said "let me do it, I'm a princess!"

So it looks like I will be joining your ranks officially sometime in the next three or four weeks - I have about 2 weeks worth of products left on Phase 1, and as of this week I have officially crossed over on the BMI charts into a HEALTHY range!! (BMI of 24.8)

I don't know if this is true with others, but I find that the closer I am to phasing off, the LESS focused I have become on the scale. I set a "goal weight" for myself, but I'd really be happy phasing off now, or in a few weeks - the number doesn't matter to me nearly as much. I feel great, my clothes feel great, and whether I lose another two or ten pounds doesn't really matter to me. Anyone else get that way as they closed in on the finish line?