Hey Hey Everyone,

cbl70 Take it slow, add slowly and see how your body reacts. I can't have pasta others can.

John The bloat should go away, this is another reason I don't even have pasta on my fun day. It just bloats me UP something fierce! Hope you feel better soon!

LizRR Burpee/Burped...it probably does get things going...I'm assuming people have needed to burp during or after a burpee...or even vomit if they do to much (it made me laugh thanks)

Leganegan Was I expecting it? Yes...because it was "are we doing this or what" time in the relationship. Was I expecting to be asked in Scotland...I was hoping. But he asked me at Edinburgh Castle so he gave me a good memory And a reason to go back!!!

healthyangie 29 June 2013...I find most 'younger' gals have been planning for up to two years. SO, I had to move fast on the date as it's also around grad. I kinda let him pick the date. We agreed together but really he said "29 June?" and I said "ok". lol

I've been MIA lately, went on a business trip and didn't bring my scale or my iPad tracking ap. So the plan was to stay relatively close to Phase 3 'just to be sure' which was a vast improvement on business trips years ago. I used to give myself permission to eat whatever I wanted as I was being paid to eat out. The plan proved itself well (away Wednesday and Thursday) as I was 159 on Friday morning and because I couldn't weigh in on fun day (away again) I kept the fun day reined in as well and this morning I"m 161 (day after Phase 1). WOOHOO!!!

SO, fun day was my 7 months into maintenance...I found my dress... My mom and one of my sisters cried...I didn't want to take it off. I said "I would like to try to sit in this" and the lady brought a chair and said "I'll put it in front of the mirror so you can sit and look at yourself". lol It was a total "yes to the dress moment" which I didn't think I was going to get. I tried on a total of 13 dresses (10 on Saturday) and I was EXHAUSTED. I said "This has to be done today!" and the lady helping me said "we've had girls try on dresses every weekend for a year"...O-M-G!!

I'm happy...SO happy!!!

Ishbel - you are going to be such a beautiful bride!!!! Can't wait to see some wedding dress pics!!!!

Random ETA: I roasted a huge butternut squash last night while I was using the oven to cook dinner (pork loin) and was looking for a way to use it - found a yummy sounding gnocchi recipe using almond flour & eggs I will try out. Also will probably put some in pancakes. It is A LOT of squash! I am just loving the seasonal squash!

Ah - A June bride! You'll be lovely!!!!!

Enjoy the journey - don't get too caught up in all the drama over a wedding

Your coach was right on about triggering the carb cravings at breakfast.
I know my breakfast will always be a spinach protein shake. It is so much easier to control eating all day with that protein low carb booost to start the day and it fits so well in my super busy mornings with my long commute.

If you stick close to a phase 2 plan you likely will lose on your vacation.
Have a good time!

Pat

Ishbel, so exciting on the dress! A crying mom and sister is a very good sign you found "the one".
Pat

Goal weight to the 10th of a pound! Down 19 pounds in my 6 week reboot! Back to maintenance...then January first going for some more weight (going for a size 4-6)...my 8's are very comfy and loose now.

darbs7 That's awesome!!! Sometimes I do my Phase 1 day with alternatives but since you've done your IP 100% I've changed and started doing my Phase 1 with IP products and really notice a difference! Doesn't mean I won't go back and forth but hey there's a 'difference'.

Thanks for all the comments on the dress...when I'm feeling stressed/blue/angry/frustrated/happy/excited/nervous...any feeling...I go look at a picture of it and I feel better. And then I feel 'silly'...but then I do it again LMAO

VIP has lost 40 lbs now...I asked him if he bought a new shirt today and he said "no I tucked it far down the back of my pants". He still doesn't 'see' that he's lost weight. "I'm still fat, I have a gut!" and I never thought he was 'fat" It's interesting that we are much the same (hard on ourselves but not on each other) but we view food so differently. He doesn't need to even like the food he's eating to eat. "why do I need to like it, it's just there so I can live". OH TO HAVE THAT ATTITUDE!!

WOW, I can so totally relate to the "I'm still fat, I have a gut!" One of the reasons I started IP was to help loose the gut. Well, after 49 lbs lost and a total of about 22 inches lost, I still have a gut!!!! It isn't the same size or shape, but it is still there. When I start to get angry at it, I just remind myself "Dude, you have gone from a 36-37" waist to a 30" waist, shut the **** up!"

Anyway, tell him to hang in there. Good job to both of you. (BTW, what does VIP mean)

John: I think VIP means very important person and is her fiancee. 7 inches off your waist is impressive.

Ishbel: My son is that way. He could care less about food and stays thin. He did not inherit that from me..LOL. Your dress sounds lovely.

Lizr: I am loving those squash also and use the leftovers in pancakes. Gnocci could work with the almond flour. I just made Spanekopita spinach feta pie...plan to eat only the filling.

Darbs: You reached goal!!! That was a lot of hard work. Great.

I'm looking for advice - I had my cheat day on Saturday - I ate a LOT as I was at a special event, I was perfect phase 1 on Sunday and have been doing mostly phase 3 on Monday and Tuesday - yet I'm still up 1.5 lbs from last Friday - should I stick to phase 1 days? I'm not using Thanksgiving as a cheat day - we don't do much for the day - I want to take off the last 1.5 lbs - or am I worrying too much? Any advice would be helpful.

I would Phase 1 and Phase 2 until you're back to goal weight since you aren't planning a crazy Thanksgiving celebration. You certainly don't need to worry, but you are right to want to nip this in the bud. IMHO.

drakegirl For me, sometimes it takes at least until Thursday Friday or even beginning of Funday to see the same weight as the week before (offical weigh in on Saturday morning before funday). So you should be ok, there is a natural swing of your weight when you use 'fundays' and depending on how 'fun' they are depends on how much the swing is. My swing is pretty low these last few weeks because I've reined my fun day in. Make sure you get your water in and if it's not off WHEN you want it off, Phase 1 or Phase 2. Only my opinion though, I'm sure others will chime in, I think many people keep it to Phase 3 most days anyway. I have low carb Phase 4 most days.

John VIP - Very Important Person (maile is right )...I even introduce him as my VIP I am that person that has to 'name' objects or use different names for them. So even when he's my hubby I'll probably call him the VIP.

Thanks!! You guys are the best!

Drakesgirl: That is an impressive weight loss. I agree with the others..if it does not come off, go with Phase 1 or 2.

You Canadians are lucky that your Thanksgiving is over. Lots of cooking and cleaning to do today. Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate it!

I am now wearing Chill Blasters under my leggings to stay warm. Thus my stretchy tights feel tighter..So then I "feel fat". Now this is crazy as I weigh the same. I reflected that I associate tighter fitting clothes as the first drop in that waterfall of weight gain. That fear is still lurking around..but I am going to get used to the tightness and keep maintaining.

My mantra lately is that maintenance is continuance..continuance of the same healthy habits and foods that you developed while losing.

I hope everyone has a great Turkey Day tomorrow! I still need to hit the grocery & clean up the house (folks come in tonight), but we are doing it pretty low key so I'm not really too stressed. I am going to take off early and get things done. I am meeting up with my running group tomorrow at 6am for an 8-10 mile 'Turkey Trot' - usually we do 6.5miles @ 5am on Thursdays so it will be nice to "sleep in". I am hoping I can hit up Bootcamp tonight!

Drakegirl: I will typically do Phase 1 for 1 day and Phase 2 until I am back "at goal". But honestly, I usually follow a Phase 2/3-ish (aka, low carb) in maintenance now. I just find that my bloat and cravings get increased when I overdo the grains/carbs. Ex: I typically will just make the custard part of pumpkin pie or cheesecake without the graham cracker crust.

Maile: I also use my 'clothes test' as the main signal it's time to reign in. A few weeks ago when things went crazy at work and getting the schedule down with my son I was wearing the 'stretchy jeans', then went back to wearing my jeans with no 'give' as a reminder to stay on track! I threw out all of my old clothes (size 12 & up), but I still have some of the jeans from when I was downsizing (size 8, 6, 4).