Sandrab, I think switching to the alternative plan is a great idea. You have lost 50 -- wow! Rather than going through "guilt", by switching to the alternative plan you can still retain your discipline level, but get a break by going onto a much easier program. Later on after you have had a good break, if you still want to lose more at a faster pace, you can always go back onto the regular IP plan.

Torchlaker,

I trust you've had a wonderful day! and wish you the BEST for the coming year. YOU ROCK!!!

Well I gained 1 lb at weigh in today. I expected more and am pleased. During my 2 weeks on the road, I wasn't able to exercise and ate more calories. Plan to do Phase 1 for awhile to move into the next decade of weight.

Mirazon, can you remind me again when you began IP? Our starting weight and end goals are so similar that I am just curious.
Thanks

Want2run: find Mirazon's starting date right under her name, upper left.

She is a great inspiration to us all.

Welcome Back Mirazon. Yep, it's hard to travel and do IP at the same time. I guess it's because IP is such a "routine" at home. And the travel world does not offer easy choices. Remember that one of our original posters traveled for business and she lost 100 pounds using IP while traveling? We haven't heard from her in a long time. I can't remember her name right now, was it Valkyre? Either way, I don't know how she balanced travel with staying on IP. I would love some tips from her now.

Oh, by the way, I, too, have lost the size of a 2 year-old. A wiggly one. LOL.

Torchlaker, always good to read your posts. It's like a novel......."Little Women" comes to mind. Something always happening but yet it's very homey and reassuring. That firefighter birthday party sounded great. Yes, I know how those firefighters stick together. When one of them comes to the ER as a patient the whole battalion shows up. They are very quiet and respectful and will "stand guard" just like a line of Angels. God Bless Them All.

Anyway, Torchlaker (stop crying) I bet you are at goal and don't know it yet. I can't wait to see some before and after pics of you (of all of us) Oh, yes, this novel has a Happy Ending. It's got you in it!

I have been sooo sick this past week. I am pretty sure I had the Swine Flu (fever, sore throat, sinus pressure with yucky drainage, chest congestion, wheezy cough, spine shaking chills, total fatigue, not sleeping well) I'm glad y'all can't catch it from me over the Internet because I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy much less my Cyberbuddies.

I have lost another couple of pounds but I can't credit IP for it. My boyfriend
has been feeding me "regular" food and I have not been able to finish any of it. I did start eating fruit for the first time since October. I have eaten some peaches, oranges and bananas. The only thing I did enjoy was the oranges.....so refreshing when you have a fever. As far as the peaches, they must be from South America and they were mushy. And the darn banana didn't taste as good as I thought it would. Another learning experience for maintenance. If the fruit is not in season and in absolutely luscious condition, why waste the carbs? Oh and I have been drinking Diet Splash, made with sucralose in lieu of orange juice.

Also, any semblance of energy went out the door. My boyfriend has never seen me "down and out" like this and he kept the home fires burning. He's definitely a keeper.

Then my 12 y.o. grandson spent the weekend with us and he was so worried about me. He made an ice pack for my feverish head, made me some hot herbal tea and rubbed my head. Awwwwww.

Oh, yes. I remember I made a comment about having a "big pudding" on a previous post! LOL. To clarify: all my puddings are "big." I always add extra water and ice to the shaker. Then I pour it (without the ice) into a 12 ounce glass and top it with a dollop of sugar-free Cool Whip and a sprinkle of nutmeg. I drink it with a straw. It's a pretty big pudding! I wish I could figure out how to add malt flavoring to it.

Yes, I am addicted to the Olympics except for the Curling. Enough said.

Back to work for me tomorrow. It's been over a week! I am worried about making it through a 12 hour shift without coughing in someone's face or just losing my energy. I guess I can always come home if I start to feel sick again. (I live less than a mile from the hospital, lucky me.)

This was the week I was gonna hit the gym hard! Now I have to wait. I've been watching the Biggest Loser and am inspired to "give it all I've got, plus more."

Did any of you see the last episode? Warning! Spoiler........

They went to the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado! They got to train with some of the Winter Olympians! Oh, man. Very inspiring to just get into the gym and exercise!

Okay, back to watching the Olympics. Stay strong!

Happy 63rd Torchlaker! Hope you had a stellar day! I am so jealous that you can make your own clothes and tailor ready-mades to fit. I can sew straight lines (well sort of) enough to make pillows or simple drapes. My mother and I have long joked that I should've become a fashion designer instead of interior designer - she's 5'9, I'm 5'10 and we've both had our share of difficulties finding clothes to fit correctly - even before I had all of this insulation! Thankfully, many more brands offer long and tall lengths now.

Congrats to everyone on their weight loss this week. Each and everyone of you is such an inspiration to me everday! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Tonight is the end of my first official week, and I have to tell ya, I'm a little afraid to weigh in in the morning. It's been a little stressful around the house the past couple of days - I have teenagers. Need I say more? I love 'em to pieces, but sometimes I just wanna ring their necks! I hope tomorrow's numbers are better than I expect. And I pray God gives me back some of my patience that has been absent lately! Wish me luck.

I am SOOOOO tired for the past two days. I'm sleeping well at night, I think. Could this be the Phase 1 effect since I've cheated so bad this last weekend? I hope that I'm not getting sick.

Jordanna, thanks for posting the egg pizza recipe, I have one that uses cauliflower if you'd like it. Watch yourself girl, it isn't phase 1 compliant with the cheese and you might get told about it!!! Just a warning.

Finally took some time to catch up on all the posts - have lots to say - hope I can remember it all...

Let's start with a big Happy Birthday to Torchlaker!!! You Rock - I love your stories and really feel invested in how you're doing. Your posts are like a book that I need to need to read the next chapter.

mepeterson and others - congratulations on your weight loss -Mirazon "weigh" to go - your small weight gain after a holiday really encourages me that things can be different for us!

SandraB - I hear you on the money spent - I've sure given my fair share to IP and feel no guilt at all about adapting the principles of IP to suit my situation. I've been using egg beaters (but they're not called that) for breakfast - 1/2 cup of the original and 1/4 cup of the egg white one. the egg white one doesn't even have any carbs and they are lots cheaper than IP eggs. I tried my bulk President's Choice unflavored protein powder yesterday for lunch. I mixed one scoop with about 8 oz. of chicken broth, some dill and some other spices. I was O.K but the taste was a little weird - i put that down to the cheap chicken broth I had and the wrong spice - not the protein powder - definetly will try it again. way cheaper - less than 1/3 of the cost. So I'm down to one IP pack a day - snack.

Calcium supplements - why are we using them? I know we're not eating any dairy but I checked out my IP chocolate pudding last night and it has 263% of the daily calcium requirement. I haven't taken any of the ca pills for a couple of days and have not been constipated - finally. I figure as long as i make sure the one IP pack i do use has good ca levels, i'll skip the supplements - and save even more moola.

I've been watching the Olympics too - curling and hockey - i was really happy to see the ice dancers won gold with their friends the US team taking a silver - they train together and you could tell they were so happy for each other - that's the spirit of the olympics for sure!

Here's a NSV for me - I bought a couple of size 10 jeans - they probably really aren't a true size 10 but whatever the label says, that's what I go by. They are getting loose and i bought a size 8 pair the other day - here's the kicker - my size 10"s are now my fat pants!

About the "other" IP page - I caught up on this page first and was thinking - holy cow - what's going on. then when i read the other posts i got it - first i felt frustrated that a support site was withdrawing suppport and wanting to kick out the rule breakers. As i read more however, my faith in all the IP'ers was restored - it was two people who don't want to wade through the posts - everyone else seems to be asking the same questions, having the same concerns and trying to avoid division amongst folks who all have the same goal - to lose weight using the principles of IP. Truth be told - it would make more sense for those who are strictly IP to start their own thread but there would only be two people and I don't want that to happen. So, keep on posting - keep on supporting - keep on losing weight!

Haha - I know right...gosh, some people take life too seriously. As of this morning I'm still in ketosis so what's a little cheese and pizza sauce once in a while if it keeps ya happy Even though I'm newer, I know the diet well & sometimes I get a bit frustrated with the other board...

I would love your cauliflower pizza recipe Is it on the recipe section?? I don't remember seeing it there

Mom22, I'm all for saving money, but be sure that you are getting enough potassium and magnesium, even if you use non-IP supplements.

Er..."rule breakers". Who's rules?

Jordanna, I didn't post it there because someone made a point to chastize that not all the recipes posted are IP compliant (I pointed out that they are Phase 2 compliant). Anyway, I posted it in the normal thread for the superbowl. But, using you as inspiration, just posted it in the recipes section! Let me know what you think.

Ogdog - that looks fantastic!! I can't wait to try it. I figure if I don't indulge in the 1 oz of skim milk every day a little bit of low fat cheese once in a while as a treat isn't so bad. I've been doing that since the beginning and I don't think it's affected my results. In my opinion, which I'm sure doesn't count for much, if it helps you stick to the diet then legal or not it's worth it!

Amen to that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry - should have clarified - It's just the Ca supplements I'm dropping. I still take my multi-vitamin, Potasium/Ca, Vitamin D and Omega 3 supplements.

yeah I hear ya - rules schmooles...