Good morning everyone. I have been in a dark place lately and need to get my act together before my "several pounds over my weight range" turns into something more than that.

As for mayo, I'm not a huge fan and really don't eat it much at all. I've been buying the Kraft mayo with olive oil for the hubby. He really likes it, for what it's worth.

Thanks. My day fell apart at the end. Hubby had made homemade pizza for him and the kid... I ended up eating two pieces. They weren't big, and it's not like eating take-out pizza, but I still felt like I fell off the wagon. Before that happened, though, I had already fallen off the wagon. I was going to have a taco salad without any carbs, and then the baked tostitos called my name and I ended up making little piles of salad on top of the scoops... Terrible!

Here is my thought for the day. Every day, I have to ask myself

1) "Am I letting the food I eat control how I feel?"

OR

2) "Am I controlling how I feel by controlling the food I eat?"

For me, the past few weeks have been much more (1) than they have been (2)... That's not good, and it has to change.

So, IP omelet for me for breakfast. I need to recommit and get in control of what I'm eating.

I certainly hope that your ice will melt soon... We had ice on Monday morning, but it was really nothing like the rest of the country has been getting and hasn't even really felt like winter this year.


Oh, man. I've had this happen. How frustrating for you... I can never type the same thing twice. Glad that you enjoyed your housewarming party. I say that if your weight is in the right place, go for it!!

Oh my goodness. I hope that you are ok. Did you see a dr? What did he/she say? What do you do for a cracked vertebrae? Sounds painful... So glad the puppy is doing better.

I'm not too much of a sugar person, although I really do enjoy the occassional chocolate something. I found that I developed a taste for teh Pure Protein bars, even though I rarely let myself have them. Now I have a ton leftover, and I really don't like them anymore. When I see real chocolate, though, I really want to indulge...

For me, it's the starchy carbs... I just discovered "golden french toast" coffee for my Keurig. I'm not much of a french toast fan, but I just had my first cup of this and I have to say that it is DIVINE!! Just wanted to share my new discovery with everyone.

Good morning all! I am going to my weigh in this morning and I know that I am up a few pounds. I know what to do to lose them, but I was feeling like a failure if I didn't stay on plan , and gave in to my cravings. I like the accountability of weighing in as it makes me "check" my food consumption at least for a few days before weigh in. I need to learn to maintain properly.

I am right there with you... I battle the emotional feelings of worthlessness when I am outside my weight range. I'm not sure it will ever get easier. Perhaps I need to go down to 140, then have a bigger wiggle room??

Just remember. It's the food that you are eating that is giving you the cravings. If you can control them for a day or two, they will go away. I keep telling myself this, and I hope to get it under control over the next few days. Hang in there! You are NOT alone.

Paint Lady, I am so pleased to see you are doing so well. You really helped me over a very rough spot when I was upset over a negative post early on.
This thread is so helpful as I am thinking of the next step in the journey.

Interesting about aquiring more of a fancy for sweet things. This didn't happen with me as I found many of the products way too sweet. Any of the berry type things I can't take although I love real berries.
But my down fall is salty and crunchy things. I had to go cold turkey off potatoe chips 10 years ago and craved them constantly for about a year after that. I know if I eat one I am gone again even after all that time.
Thanks to everyone for posting so frankly all your ups and downs, maintenance is a steep learning curve for all of us. I'll bet we all have lost weight a number of times but never learned to keep it off so this is the tricky part of the journey.

Pat

Me too! I would be a total failure if it weren't for the ridges. BBQ and Salt and Vinegar are my favorites...

Pat, thank you for saying that. It really made me feel good to know that I helped you out during a time when you needed it.

I've been trying to post in the daily thread every other day or so. When I was new to this diet, I appreciated hearing about how "successful" IP dieters felt about certain things. I liked to hear about those members' experiences. I'm finding it very hard lately to go there though. I just wanted to thank those of you here that posted in those threads once you moved out of phase 1.

I'm OK, honestly. I've seen a GP, an orthopedic doctor, and a radiologist so far.

I'm not sure I voiced my concern about sweets clearly. Now I look at other people's desserts and think they look good. Before I thought they looked sickening. On the other hand, now I KNOW they're sickening, so probably won't succumb when I get the chance.

Check out the experienced thread too. That has good information too...

Very well said! You hit the nail right on the head

I know this is going to sound terrible, but I just don't have the patience to answer the same questions over and over. I pretty much stick to this thread and once in a while pop over to the "experienced" thread.

When I was ready to move on to the next phase, I did a thread search and just read old threads about whatever phase I was on.

Sometimes a new thread will catch my attention, but I am sticking with you ladies. You are the ones helping my in my current journey. There is comfort in knowing I am not alone in trying to figure out "my maintenance plan".

Pxlkitty- sorry you are struggling right now. Do you think you might have better days if you could do a P3? I know for me, that when I get to have the good b-fast, I have no trouble the rest of the day turning down "off plan" foods. It's when I am in P1 & P2 that I feel the most deprived and tend to fall of the wagon. Sometimes even just a couple of strict P3 days will get the scale moving down a pound or 2. Just a thought, as this has worked for me in the past in getting myself "back in the game", so to speak.

First week on Phase 3 and I lost 1.4 pounds. Total weight loss of 85 pounds. The coach at the clinic I go to made me stay on Phase 1 until I lost all the weight I wanted to lose. I actually was 1 pound under my goal, so she moved me to Phase 3, she didn't feel I needed to go to Phase 2. I was extremely nervous going to a different phase. Thankfully this thread has a wealth of information. Many days I read every post that was made. Thanks to everyone who posts about maintenance. I plan on continuing to read this faithfully. Hope everyone has a great week.

I feel the same way.

Yes, I definitely have done this in the past... In fact, tonight I did a low carb dinner and so I was phase 2 with the addition of a small amount of cheese for dinner. I sauteed/baked chicken breasts with roasted red pepper and asiago cheese filling (tiny bit of cheese), and had asparagus, broccolini, and broccoli alongside.

The breakfast thing really does give me a mental hangup, especially if I have wonderful berries in the fridge that I know won't last the few days that I'm doing phase 1/2. This morning I had the plain omelete. I had to add spices, but it was all I could do choke it down and then I felt deprived all the way until lunch.

I will try a phase 3 day tomorrow. I MISS my yogurt, high-protein toast, and berries... It's another day. I'll just see what the scale says and do it all over again.

On a very positive note, I have noticed that my shopping/fridge habits are so much better now. I shop for small quantities only, only have one "spare" of anything in the pantry or the fridge, and don't have a fridge overflowing with stuff. I always have something to eat, despite having some empty fridge shelves, and NEVER throw out vegetables anymore. This diet has definitely changed that. I used to have things sitting in the fridge that I hadn't used in ages. Well, at some point I cleared everything out, and I've never gone back.

I remember staying with someone in France decades ago. I couldn't believe that they could make a fantastic meal from the ingredients in the house. Somehow, dinner would always show up and it was amazing. I feel like I've moved a tiny bit in that direction. YAY!!

Sorry for all the negativity lately. Work has me stressed out, we're attempting to clean and organize our basement, and I feel like I never ever just stop and sit and relax. So, speaking of which, I'm going to crawl into the bath with a cup of hot decaf green tea.

Good night all. Thanks for the free therapy!

Pixl..I am sorry this is a hard time for you. This maintenance and weight issue is very much a struggle and at times old feelings or habits reappear.
You are totally right..it is the food you are eating that is creating the cravings..For me that high carb and sugar will make me want more.

I was just thinking this yesterday..I really can't eat many carbs in my life. I am maintaining..but eat carbs at breakfast..and once in awhile at night. I have stopped losing...but don't see adding many carbs.

Somehow in learning about this maintenance, we all have to learn about how to deal with the negativity of the pounds going up. You mentioned more of a cushion. That is what I am doing..This will sound crazy but I tell myself that my top limit is 132..but I weight 128. This way when I go up a pound or down a pound I do not feel as panicked. However even more nuts..I still want that 129 extra pound back to 128. However, I will say I am calmer with that cushion if a pound goes up.
You are a strong vibrant person. I was wondering if there was stress in your life and you mentioned work and house.
I am glad things are going a little better. Hang in there..You can do it.