I think I'll chime in here as well. I'm approaching goal as well.. 13 lbs seem so close.. yet so FAAAR. My losses were never stellar, and now that I'm getting close to goal it's no different. I didn't officially weigh in last week because I did a little "experiment" of substituting my regular moderate-cardio exercise routine with the very much intense P90X. Results? 1 lb gained. I tried to convince myself that maybe I gained some muscle, but I think it's much more likely that I put myself into starvation mode. So I stopped exercising altogether for a few days and ever so slowly the lbs (or should I say ounces) are coming off. I'm resuming moderate cardio today though. Maybe this is weird.. but even if the scale goes down.. when I don't exercise at all I get this feeling that layers of fat are attaching themselves right under my skin. Silly I know.

I think I'm going to try the phase II every other day.. see if that makes a difference; and I would be interested also in how many ounces of protein you can eat for both lunch and dinner during phase II? Is it 5-7? or does it have to be 8?

When I started getting hungry I believe that was my body saying I needed more. try having an extra packet or a little more protein for your meal... it does go away. Now id phase 2 I am back to not being so hungry, which it shouldn't as you are not adding anything extra just swapping out proteins... only phase 3 you add extra everything. Tomorrow is the big day goining over some menu plans now... Good luck to all

Phase II is the same as phase 1 you just replace a packet for your own protein just like your supper no more no less.

Several days ago I posted a link to an article based on recent Duke University research about "belly fat". For one thing, they said that what we normally call belly fat -- the overhang, the muffin top, etc. -- isn't. What real belly fat is, is the deep, deep subcutaneous fat that clings to the liver and other organs. And that only, ONLY aerobic exercise will get it off. Cardio does nothing. They strongly recommend walking at a moderate to slightly above moderate pace.

I went back to Duke's main page and tried to find the original research. It's probably there; I just couldn't find it. But I think what they say is awfully interesting in light of those who gain weight doing cardio, or perhaps too much. Just thinking here.

Edit: Try this. http://www.dukehealth.org/health_lib...ning-belly-fat

You are starting 3 tomorrow? Exciting...and scary. Good luck.

As freaky as it feels to do phase 3, my guess is you will drop a few pounds. Hope you LOVE it.

Hey, thanks for the article. I just read it

http://www.dukehealth.org/health_lib...ning-belly-fat

You are right that they say that only aerobic exercise will get rid of the visceral fat, I'd just like to point out that aerobic exercise = cardio (moderate). Cardio only becomes anaerobic exercise if you are sprinting full force, which can only be done for very brief periods of time. Other than that cardio is aerobic and weight training is considered anaerobic.

I definitively will stick to the moderate cardio then (even more so in light of this article). Although I really can't wait to be able to do P90X once I'm done with IP. I will need all the toning I can get.

Thanks!

Got it. Thanks.

I'm back...and chilled to the bone, again. LOL...gotta laugh I guess. I see a couple of you had mentioned P90X. I tried that last winter and didn't lose a single pound. Not getting enough protein I'm sure. I can't wait for phase 3, then I will start it again but slowly, probably arms and legs couple times a week with a bit of light cardio thrown in. My scale and Wii fit both said 158.5 this morning so hopefully I have a good WI tomorrow. I hate that nervous feeling I get lately on WI days. It shouldn't be like that.

You will be joining the 150s club! How exciting. I am hoping for about 156 this week but the scale is moving in the wrong direction. Good luck!

And it's about freakin time too!! I just hopped on the scale to double check as I will WI tomorrow at this time and I'm still where I was this morning so if her scale doesn't agree tomorrow I will not be a happy camper.. It's a small town clinic and she only does WI on Tuesday afternoons. Her scale sits in her car all day while she is at work so I suspect as I am her first client of the day that it needs to adjust to the room a bit. I'll test me theory tomorrow and weigh first as I always do and then again right before I leave.

Yeah for the 150's club!!! I am so hoping the clinic scale will say 150 ish for me on Wed. I have 2 scales that I am hopping on now, one said 158 , the other 157, nekked of course.

Hehe...best of luck on Wednesday Sandy. I don't do anything nekked cept shower!! I'm running way too cold to even think about hanging out in full glory to check the scale!!

I turn the little space heater on and it gets warm fast! Had to park under the carport tonight, I don't want to scrape my windshield in the mornings this week. sigh... winter is coming. Last winter was HARD on everybody and lasted forever. Then the floods....