True! I felt bad and I felt really bad and thank you for all the support

Good for you, that's awesome!

I think that is one of the benefits of being candid on a site like this - not that people don't slip, but I'm not sure what we all need is people saying "hey don't worry about it" - what would benefit most of us is someone saying, "okay, that's not great, but it's not fatal, now what do you plan to do to prevent it next time?". This plan to me is about learning to change the behaviors that got me here (which for me means I can't always eat what I want when I want it).

In some ways unconditional support when people are engaging in behaviors that could sabotage their success is the most unkind behavior.

The parallel I see in other areas of my life is when people are unhappy in a relationship and everyone simply supports them as they complain about their partner - the true friend asks "now what do you think you might be doing to contribute to it?".

I'm glad for those around me that tell me the truth about how I'm behaving - don't always like it, always appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Busymomx4 View Post
I've been OP for 9 weeks now and never had a cheat, can't even fathom putting the wrong food in my mouth. It is frustrating when people still lose after a cheat but i feel that in the long-run, they are more likely to put the weight back on.

You had some valid points Busymom, but this is not one of them I'm afraid. I stayed on program to a tee, no cheats, no deviations. Lost the weight. got to maintainance and have slowly started slipping back into old habits and struggling to lose the nearly 10lbs I've gained back. It's called all or nothing behavior, and I am just now starting to re-educate myself in the world of real food and balance. Whether you learn how to do it right by cheating and finding a way to recover during or after IP, it's all the same. It's extreme behavior and that's what got you and the rest of us into the journey we have all been sharing here together.
I agree that cheating and getting back on is extremely difficult and I did heed the stories of those who regretted having done that, so I chose not to. Didn't mean a hill of beans when I got on maintenance though. It just gave me discipline for the moment during ph.1
However and WHENEVER we come to our epiphany and finally get it right, is what's right for us. Progress not perfection is my motto from 12 steps programs. My hats off to everyone who has fallen off program at any phase and found the support and the where with all to get back on and take what I call the next available "you" turn.
Good work everyone!

I do the exact same thing, I can't stand the "I cheated..blah blah blah", I love how when we sign up we state that we are ready and will do this 100% with NO CHEATING!!!! and you hear about others doing it and I just want to shake them and scream..."This is what got you here in the first place... where's your will power???"
I gave up on them yuppies lol

Yes....that is what I was saying....when I was 100% OP without a bite/lick/taste of anything...that was to the other extreme...since being on maintenance and then trying to lose another 15....I am learning a nice comprimise. We really have to learn to balance.

There was such safety with IP...just follow 100% and lose....but those old habits creep up even when you think they won't....well I have been maintenance since Memorial Day weekend and I am currently about 5 pounds less than when I phased off....it is not ideal....but I am learning how to live.

It is very very difficult to envision that maintenance could be hard, but I have yet to find one person not struggling....but at least we are aware and focused and not blindly gaining the weight back.

This is a fight we will all have for the rest of our lives...we must win the war and try to conquer as many of the little battles along the way as possible. I only wish luck to everyone...as this 13 month journey is certainly a battle even at goal.

You ain't crazy...you just ready! Go for it...

YOu know, to be 100% honest, food is my "drug" and it has taken a long time to get the mind set that I will follow a program and stick to it 100%. Very few people who use alcohol or drugs are successful the very first time they try to quit, so there is a long road behind me! I also think food is the hardest drug because you need some in order to live. Alcohol, tobacco, drugs can be totally banned from your space. Remember how strong we are doing this, it really is pretty amazing!

I totally agree with you everything you said here Bellamack. My DH and I were just talking about this same thing about being drug, alcohol and food addicts. He said we are food addicts and how we all need food to survive and that there is always going to be food available. With me my biggest problem is the carb foods and with my type O- blood, carbs is the worst for putting on weight, so I will have to watch out for those when I get to phase 4. We have always eaten lots of vegetables but also ate too many of the wrong foods that is what got us here in the first place. it will be a life long struggle to keep the weight off, but we are so much more aware of the food we are eating now. Even grocery shopping takes longer now because we are reading all the labels, and the funny thing is when he is with me he is right in there comparing labels of the different foods, he couldn't have cared less before.He is now starting maintenance and I will be on phase 1 for awhile yet, so 2 different meals at our house now. I have not cheated with his foods, but they sure do look and smell good, (I am the cook I prepare them for him), but I know someday I will be back there eating those foods again. All the support on this sight is wonderful., and IP is a great program, we just have to follow the rules to achieve our success.

I too have felt somewhat "put off" by the admissions of cheating. I don't really have any particular feelings towards the people who cheat per se.. I mean it's everyone's choice and I have no reason to meddle in their lives. The thing is, this is a "support" forum, so while it is normal and expected that if someone falls off the wagon they seek support.. it should also be taken into consideration that the rest of the people are trying hard NOT to cheat, NOT to be tempted, etc, so the person who "cheats" should probably be careful in how they seek their support in that case, because by talking about their cheat they might be negatively affecting others, so in that way they are not being very supportive themselves. The "OOPS I cheated" thread was great, as most of the cheats were reported there. Even though I have not cheated myself so far, I have found myself fantasizing about doing it, and still losing weight like others have.. when I hear such stories.

2011weightbegone,

I too am type O, so yes carbs are the enemy,, unless closely watched. Hubby is AB and can eat pretty much everything, however he had a heart attack in March ( only 55 yrs. old) So, he has been watching everything and although he certainly wasn't fat at 230 lbs @ 6'4", he has lost 30 lbs and is looking great. His mother had heart disease, so I think that is where that came in.

Glad to hear all is well with your husband, must have been a scary time for all of you. not sure what blood type DH is, but up until he was diagnosed with reflux esophagus 2 years and was put on meds for it, he never had a weight problem. A Dr. recommended to me the book Eat Right For Your Blood Type for some ideas on the right foods. I have only seen it in 1 book store but found it at amazon.ca, for you it would be .com, for way cheaper so am going to order it from there.

Great points!

I don't think that a planned phase off for a vacation is a cheat. If you phase off the proper way and make smart food choices that is no different than when you phase off the program all together. Some people actually go back to phase 1 for a "reboot" after phasing off completely. I did phase off for a vacation, I was going out of the country and it was not practical for me to try and carry food out of the country and then be able to prepare it where I was staying. Yes I gained 6 pounds on my vacation because I did allow myself some indulgences but the the very first week I was back on plan I lost 7 pounds. Also, I'm sure we have all read or been told that you will gain back about 5 pounds when you phase off for good due to the glycogen stores being brought back to normal.
Lastly, the word "cheat" covers much area. I didn't have my sea salt with me and used regular table salt..to the very strict/hardcare IP'ers that would be considered a cheat. I did a lot of walking for my job one day and had a fourth packet..again that could be considered a cheat.
Thanks to those that encourage and support, thanks to Wuv for the loving kicks in the butt when I need them and thanks to the 3FC site that allows to share, learn and even vent.

I am also typ O but am not aware of the correlation between blood type and carb sensitivity. Please tell me more!

I don't understand cheating myself. I really don't understand any sense of bragging about it or celebrating weight loss while cheating.

IP is something I pay a considerable percentage of income to do. It is something I view as my "friend"...a great help for my problems. To turn my mind to an idea something like it is "me against IP" is a twist I just can't make! If I were to have a trigger that caused me to act on my eating compulsions, it would be of great concern to me. It would be something that I would have to do personal work on. It would be an act against myself, in my way of thinking. Disturbing!!

I am not surprised we make mistakes or succumb in a moment to old ways that we have long had in our lives. Some how thinking it is cool in any way? Do not get it.