Good morning my ever shrinking cyber friends...

I need to apologize to everyone. I am very guilty of not reading all the posts in our threads. Sometimes I just skim through, quickly absorb any highlights and then close my connection. Other times, I feel the need to "say" something, and I do so without acknowledging others struggles and/or accomplishments. I am truly sorry for not "talking" on a regular basis. I do try but here lately, I've been struggling with many personal conflicts. My way of handling these types of situations may not be the best, but laying low and keeping to myself is sometimes the only way to be...until things pass. I think this is why I now find it so easy to stay off the scale. I am staying in the moment, nurturing my body and will emerge triumphantly on the other side...very soon.

Thank you for the birthday wishes....it was a very good day. I treated myself to 2 new scarves, a mani/ped and some new panties.

I am so happy for the newest members of the "50 pounds lost" club! Job well done ladies, job well done! and a special

NSV yesterday too.....We all know how (most) men won't compliment us on our new physiques...well straight men anyway. I was dropping off some gargae sale items to a good friend and member of my club...a gay male. I was bending over gettiing things out of the car when he exclaimed (and no, he doesn't have an effeminate voice) "OMG, look how skinny you are!" Yes, I was wearing my black jeggings and a new scarf blouse, but THAT comment sure felt better than ANY I have gotten in quite some time. For a few moments, I forgot that I still have a tummy pouch. I can't wait for that miracle moment that will never again pass when I FINALLY see me as the rest of the world does! Soon, very soon.

Best wishes to all!

I've been back OP for 4 weeks now and am down 13 lbs. Very excited. I feel a little "fluffy" today, but my TOM is right around the corner.

I love that IP has given me the tools to lose weight. When I now see the weight creeping up I know how to get it off!! I heard a statistic that people who can keep their weight off for 2 yrs will most likely keep it off for life. I am only 6 months away from the 2yr mark!!

Congrats Lynsey!! I knew you could do it!!!

Good morning everyone,

Everyone sounds like they are doing well, congrats Lynsey and Sandy with your 50lbs lost, it is an exciting moment when you get there.

I too have been hanging low lately, not a lot to talk about and now with a new roommate and 2 more dogs and another cat in my house it has been like a zoo. Trying hard to convince my friend that veggies aren't a bad thing, and so far she has eatten everything I have cooked, baked, roasted so all is good. Our first "BIG" winter storm is suppose to be happening today so I hope I make it home after work on time... Monday was really bad took 2 hours to get home.

She is good to have around, I was saying last night that I really wanted a cookie and she said no you can't have one, I said you are right and then made some ip pudding to have later. She does help to stop me if I get carried away. My dogs are adjusting to the new state of my house. Like for example my Red dog when I leave goes and crawls into bed with my friend, her 2 dogs and cat... getting a little jealous as she doesn't sleep with me much. The old girl (according to my friend) comes in her bedroom and dumps all the dog's food on the floor and then goes back downstairs. (she always trys to bury food) I think to eat later. She now eats around 230 or 300 am I can hear her dump the food and then start nibbling on it.

Lynsey - my breakfasts are going well. I have had to cut back on the bread though as I have found I get an upset stomach if I eat bread but am fine when I eat cereal.
My breakfasts consist of: dannon greek yogurt (I add splenda and vanilla) 1 cup of mixed berries (loosely one cup I don't measure probably more like 3/4) a tblsp peanut butter, and 1/3 cup of alpen sugar free musili. I sometimes get a cup of coffee with 1/2 and 1/2 in it instead of skim milk. This is my weekday breakfast and on the weekend I usually have poached eggs and a yogurt smoothie or yogurt and fruit in a bowl.
Phase 3 will be done on Tuesday morning when I am being set free into maintenance. I am ready and not going to be scared, this is life and I just have to adjust.
Have a great day all.

Thanks for sharing! I'm trying to do my research so I am ready to move on Dec 8th. I am really going to miss my vanilla shake in my coffee in the morning. I still may have to find a way to use at least half so I don't go through withdrawls.

Congratulations to all with NSV and SV. I am so grateful you all share what is going on with you, and those on phase 3 thank you for sharing what you have for breakfast. I was confused and overwhelmed but it is very reassuring you all are on the same page I am .

I lost a little on phase 2. I had my 1st phase 3 WI today and it was hard for me. No matter how prepared you are to phase off, you loose more to be below goal, you read here about all the successful fellow IP'ers but when you actually gain you are FREAKED, at least I have been. I gained and lost this week, my final WI today showed +.4. I am not ready for this . I feel so stupid but I want to cry over +.4.

That's exactly the breakfast I've settled on. Trying to work bread into the equation just never added up for me. The slippery slope is stopping at 1 tablespoon p.b. So far, so good... but I always want more. Congrats on the losses, ladies. You rock!

I have been on the slippery slope of cheating the last 2 days. It's happening at nitetime. So I am going to try to have a strict phase one day and then decide to phase off completely properly. I hate the fact that I did not phase off properly. Obviously, I am ready for fruit and more and need to take a break. I hate saying this, but I want to do it right. sigh....

Right there with ya, Sandy! I was so grateful that no demon bars were in my house last night. I fixed myself a blueberry drink and it seemed to "calm" me. I almost talked myself into returning to Phase 1 and actually thoight about posting this morning asking for everyone to remind me just why, one week from today, I am beginning Phase 3. Al is well this morning...so far.

I hope you can find some peace with your decision.

Heading to New Orleans later this morning to see a physical therapist with regards to my knee and hip. I worked out last night and sure enough I have some swelling and stiffness.....he needs to see what I experiencing! Wish me luck!!!!

Stay strong everyone.....Life is good, let's live it, happily!

Hi ....

I am so glad I found this website. I was beginning to lose my motivation with the diet. I feel like I am not losing weight as fast as I should be.

I have lost approximately 21 lbs in 9 weeks. I want to lose another 20 to get to my goal of 130. Does this sound like an appropriate amount to have lost?

Thanks!

I know they weren't the best thing to have in your house but maybe get some bars, just a few, and then when you want real candy you can have a few bites of one. I think a few bites would do the trick. I hear ya on phasing out properly. I really don't want to go through this again and again so I will do it right too. We got this!

Good luck!

SO interesting that you said this. My husband has ADD, and takes medication. Years ago, we experimented with controlling his symptoms by feeding him a wheat-free diet. He was a completely different person (like when he's on his meds) when he's OFF wheat. He actually tells people that he's allergic to wheat. Not sure that he's had an official test or anything, but isn't that interesting?? There are definitely a lot of links between things.

We eat almost exclusively sprouted grain protein bread now, although I must admit to having Nature's Own whole wheat hot dog buns in the house right now. That is one of the few brands of bread that I buy anymore of real "bread", as while the ingredient list isn't perfect, it's far better than most others.

As for the "kids have been ___ for years". Unfortunately, that is not true. Kids have always eaten junk, but the ingredients list was never as long as it is today. There are all kinds of scary things in supermarket food.


Kids used to eat PB&J sandwiches, now we feed them prepackaged frozen ones. Kids used to eat homemade mac and cheese, now we feed them frozen dinners. Kids used to eat homemade cookies, now we feed them prepackaged sugar-lagen garbage. My kid still gets junk, but he also asks me to buy apples if he knows that I am going to store AND he thinks that Perrier is a treat. He calls it "bubble water". He is also a connoisseur of seaweed salad when we go to Japanese restaurants, of which I am very proud. Gotta balance the junk with the nutrition...

Don't come after me with the or the or especially the but I already stepped on the scale this morning. I have a problem, I understand! Anyway, I've had a couple of awesome days and wanted to see if it was working. Well, I was down to 153.2. I've never seen a 153 number before so that was exciting. I know it will go up and down a bazillion times before next Thursday so I'm not holding my breath for a big number. Heck, I'd be cool with staying right here til Thursday. I have a big dinner out tomorrow night that scares me a little but the good number only makes me want to stay op that much more. I am off of work today for the baby's funeral so it will be a tough day. I hope everyone has a great weekend.


I got a little smilie happy in this post didn't I

Lynsey my thoughts are with you and the family to get through this tough day.

I am surprised your husband hasn't broken the scale on you... at least take out the batteries... I do know how it feels to weigh less after a good couple of days the bad thing is to weight MORE after you thought you had a good couple of days. I hate to say it but I do think I am losing on phase 3... don't know how. but..

Lynsey such a sad sad day for your family. My thoughts are with you.

You know, since I switched to alternatives I weigh myself everyday too. When I was eating IP packets I knew everything was very carefully balanced and trusted they were going to work well if I followed protocol correctly. But with alternatives I don't have that same level of trust and need the feedback from the scale. I was at a stall for about a week and realized the calorie count from the alternative packets I was using was quite low. I switched about the ones I was using and the weight started going down a bit again.

Pkitty, that is interesting about wheat and ADHD. My adult son is extremely ADHD and is on meds (has been for many years). He also has the same troubles with wheat that I do. He went on a weight loss program at his gym which is grain free and has done well. His is much calmer and I never thought about the wheat connection before.
Pat