MustangMolly-I think Wuv's name is Lisa Corner. She does still check in here every few months.

M35A2 your post made me smile. I'm sure it will get better after a few classes. I started biking a more challenging route on Saturday and when I got home my legs were so shaky I couldn't walk up the stairs to take a shower. I had to wait about 30 minutes and even then it was rough. I biked the same route again Sunday & Monday night, and didn't have any problems walking up the stairs after Monday nights ride.

Thanks everyone for the help. I have now been able to catch up with her on Facebook.

I am back from my trip to DC. I was in Fairfax and loved that city and had wonderful food.
Joysh: I think Dc is a great city! I hope you enjoy your visit.

Ragdoll: That is good to hear that Evanston is a good place to live. My two sons are flying out next week to do a preliminary scouting for apts. Then I may drive with my son on a 3 day moving trip. If the humidity is anything like Dc, I suspect it will be hot. One more question;;do you think it would be hard to have a car in Evanston in terms of parking?
It sounds like your biking is going well and a real workout.

Ishbel: You look absolutely beautiful in those pictures! I loved your dress..it totally fit you..and was elegant and flowing. Your husband looked dashing in his kilt. The cake was perfect. I might comment that you both looked very slim and attractive!

Evepet: I don't know how to use the fitbit either. Beck has a new book out that i am going to investigate. I liked the Diet Solution also.

M35AZ; I have heard that Crossfit is an excellent but strenuous workout.

Dregan: I am working on 2 pounds up from my vacation. It is back to low carb and P1 for me.

Sarabean: I hope you are feeling better. Those first months can be rough.

I think WUV would be an excellent IP coach.

Thanks. Today wasn't too bad as we mostly did practice with the bars (again just pvc until we're ready to go full out). We then did a mini workout of 21-15-9 kettle bell lifts and box jumps (or in the case of newbies "box steps"). I'm still feeling it in the quads but not nearly as bad as yesterday.

The nice thing about CrossFit is that it's scalable to the individuals abilities. I have MS so balance, muscle weakness, and fatigue are big issues for me. The coaches know this and fit the training around me. I'll use smaller weights, box heights, etc to accommodate my limitations. The oldest woman in the location I go to just turned 80 and has COPD but has improved her breathing function remarkably since starting.

Maile your son may want to try to find an apartment with a parking lot/garage. The on street parking can be really bad in the winter. From November 1st- March 1st, they only allow parking on one side of the street. Even without a parking spot it is doable though.

He should try to stay east of Ridge Road. West of Ridge Road in Evanston is a little scary.

Ragdoll..that is so helpful! I am searching for apts now with him and will use that information to guide him. I must tell you that I am shocked that people want over 1000 a month for a studio! My son is dying to try the famous Chicago pizza. It is a good thing I am not going with him as I would also love to try that! LOL.
M35A2: That is great that the CrossFit trainers can modify the program for you. It really does sound excellent. I have noticed that doing the Nautilus for a year has really toned my muscles and increased my stamina.

Today is a P1 day and exercise!

Maile the pizza here is my kryptonite. I still haven't had any of the good stuff since getting into maintenance. I'm afraid that we would end up with leftovers in the house which would be to much of a temptation for me. A good place for your son to have pizza is Giordano's pizza. There is one in Evanston near Northwestern.

Ragdoll: Thanks for input. I will pass it on to my sons. I have not had real pizza for years. I have made low carb pizzas using a cauliflower crust or a low carb pita with very little cheese. I am not quite ready to eat a real wonderful pizza either..but visits to Chicago might be tempting.

I am still sticking to low carb and working on a few stubborn pounds.

Hi everyone! I've been MIA a bit here, and thought I'd check in.

I was going great on my reboot... then I was away during a weekend and gave in to an icecream temptation. Ever since then it's been hard to get settled back fully 100% complaint with P1. (sigh)

I received my The Beck Diet Solution book earlier this week and am working my way through it. While the time I spent on the diet helped adjust my eating habits tremendously, I've slipped back to a few bad habits and cravings so I definitely think I can use some 'thinking adjustments' to support IP-healthy eating habits in maintenance.

Other than this my major complaint is how friggin' Hot and Humid it's been since last weekend!! Phew! With all this heat and humidity you'd think the lbs would be melting away.... I'm very grateful though, that I'm not back to where I was pre-diet with that extra 55+ lbs still on me.....

I also have been wondering why I've been feeling quite bloaty for the past few days.. then realized that I've been drinking much more carbonated water than usual. I bought some bottles of it and have been adding a couple of squirts of Crystal Light strawberry/lemonade flavoring to it - tasty. But I'm suspecting that the carbonation is contributing to this bloatiness... so it's back to regular iced filtered water for me... the carbonated stuff is going to go back to being just an occasional treat.

I've also been reading too that high humidity can cause water retention and bloat?

Cheers to everyone - have a great day.

hi everyone!

Ishbel, Stunning photos!!! Congrats!

Evepet, It's going to feel like 105 in CT today. This is our fourth heatwave... I'm doing a reboot and TWICE have gone up in weight...(I weigh each and every day)... I was told it's likely caused by the extreme hot temps and the way a body naturally reacts to the heat is by holding on to fluids??? I don't know (or care to know) the science behind it. I just know extreme heat does cause the scale to go up... (Well, it's the cause when you know you're doing everything 110% right!).

Today is my last day of P3 so I can be an "official" maintainer starting tomorrow (of course DW would plan her office BBQ for tomorrow at our house).

My last WI of the "diet" portion of the program saw me up 1# since last week to 167 but I attribute it to a couple of things 1) starting CrossFit this week - all my measurements went up as well 2) I had already had 38oz of water so far this morning so that added some. My home WI had me holding steady at 165.5 so that's what I'm sticking with.

I didn't seem to get any of the 3-5# glycogen replacement gain. Could it be possible I'm not getting enough carbs with the P3 breakfasts? Guess after this next week on maintenance I'll see if it suddenly shows up.

I also picked up the Wheat Belly Cook Book this morning. We had already decided to go mostly Paleo and will see about combining the 2.

Hope everyone stays cool. It's actually been nice here this week due to some much needed rain and cloud cover. Today is expected to be the hottest of the week at 95.

Hi! Congrats on starting maintenance! I did not have the glycogen gain either - consistently lost in phase 2 and 3, and even for a while in maintenance. I recall others making similar comments. I wouldn't worry about it. Just enjoy maintenance!

Upper 90s today here in IL. I have not noticed fluid retention, but that absolutely makes sense to me. I've been mostly hiding out indoors. Should be cooler tomorrow, thankfully!

Hey everyone! I've been MIA for a bit too. I havent had time yet to read back too far but hope to get caught up,soon. I hope everyone is doing well. I've been doing great in maintenance still and loving the summer even though the last bit has been way too humid. I'm still sitting below my goal which still surprises me. Loving it. I'm picking up my new 'summer' car in a few hours and I'm super excited. Got myself a cute little convertible to boot around in. The sales rep,was laughing at me....he asked me what I wanted and I said my only condition is I have to look cute in it lol.

Ishbels you look stunning in your pictures. Love your dress!

Cheekyskeeter: That convertible sounds perfect for summer and you are going to have fun driving around in it. I am glad your maintenance is going well.

New Englander, Evepet, Lizzy63, I hear you on the heat. It was 105 here yesterday. I really have noticed a change in handling the heat with my weight loss. I honestly seem to handle the heat better than other years. When I was in dc with all of that humidity, I was hot, but not exhausted like in previous years.

M35A2: I did not gain weight on p3 either. Welcome to Phase 4! I have read the Wheat Belly book and will search for the cookbook. South Beach Diet has a new gluten free cookbook that I am also investigating.

I liked this comment on staying motivated in terms of eating. It goes with my idea that I maintain better if I do not feel deprived.


"Viewing motivation as the ability to resist the lure of "bad" foods or overcome the appeal of lying on the couch will only lead to frustration and self-blame. Things go much better when you see motivation as the ability to give yourself the chance to make conscious decisions and take responsibility for these choices. Therefore, the main "enemy" of motivation is the tendency to see yourself as the hapless victim of forces (or urges) over which you have no control."

Instead of feeling deprived, make it positive as a chance to make healthy choices and take responsibility for these choices.

The scale is moving in the right direction. Another day of low carbing.

HI Everyone! Just a quick touch-in for me!

I'm still on my trip. In New York right now. I spent a week in Syracuse with my daughter and her family (yay for grandkids) and then a few days in Washington, visiting friends and one day downtown at museums. (my usual annual "fix")

Now I'm in NYC for a few days and then I'll drive back to Syracuse and fly home on Tuesday. Well, fly to Houston and then drive to Dallas - oh, y'all don't want to hear all this. I hope all my traveling doesn't make you tired....

Anyway, I'm doing great. I've gotten my swimming in when I can and in NYC, walking and subway stair-climbing are all the exercise needed. I think I'm doing pretty good with food, and although I'm allowing myself tastes of yummy things, I'm still too scared to actually eat sweets other than my chocolate Zone bar in the afternoon.

Last night I had no time to eat a proper dinner before curtain time at a Broadway show, so I grabbed a piece of pizza. Well, a piece of broccoli-chicken pizza with limited sauce and cheese. After the show I was hungry and bought a little packet of almonds to eat. I called that a triumph.

Anyway, I know this is a "me" post and I'm so happy to read about everyone to keep in touch. Thanks for being here.