JW doing well despite the stress of work and life in general. Thanks for the support, I need it.

Chicagoboiler what center is your IP coach out of?

I used the date difference calulation and determined that there are 292 days since you started IP. When you divide 154/292 you get .52 pounds per day. You are a fat burning machine!

Don, I am out of Glenview and my husband used to go to Buffalo Grove, but his coach had never been on IP and was no help at all. His friend, ChicagoPhil, is out of Des Plaines.

Howdy All:
VET: You have time yet to break below the 3 mark bro...think of your best weeks OP and how tough you were in those weeks and then smack it hard. Use those great weeks as inspiration. You have achieved so much already and you certainly know the drill....so make it happen!

Today I weighed-in and have achieved GOAL! Now I plan to stay on phase 1 and drop down to around 205...then I will have a 10lb "cushion" to use on phase 3 and 4. Feels great! I figure another 3-4 weeks phase 1 as my weight loss has really slowed down now that I am thinner.

To all the new folk's; WELCOME! Great program and great people here...you will have no problem if you remember to keep it simple, follow the sheets, don't expect big loss numbers every week and most important:
View this NOT as a diet...view it as a life change. If you can get your mind around that, then this is not a diet, it is simply your new way of eating and it becomes "normal". Then, you do not feel like you have "x" number weeks or months to go before you get back to eating "normal" because you ARE eating normal as per your new way of eating! See what I mean? This is your new way of life to change all the over eating you did before. This is what will get you thinner, healthier, and on track for the REST of your life. There is no failure...there is no going back...and you are NOT a slave to the scale. If one week you gain 1 lb and another week you lose 3 lbs, so what? Get over it....you are not doing this for the short term, you are doing this for LIFE!
This is not something you do until you reach goal and then go back to old habits. Thats how we ALL got fat to begin with, and that doesn't work.
The program works ONLY because you MAKE it work by following it.
My brother went to phase 4 3 weeks ago after reaching his goal. After 3 days on phase 4 he decided on a cheat day, that lasted 3 weeks!!!! Right you are...he is now re-gained 24 lbs and back on phase 1.
Do the program...but do it right or your are wasting your time!
Lets drop some inches today gang!
Cheers
Jake

Thanks Jake and Man I am PROUD OF YOU! AWESOMENESS Dude.

I thought of you on the way to work today because I was pissed about the new 7 round legislation. I hope the lawsuits come quick and this law is deemed un constitutional. How many rounds does you Kimber take? Even my little officers sized Kimber carried 8 + 1. I bet those protecting the Gov. are not limited to 8 rounds!

Just to update...I had my 2nd WI this morning and I lost 5 lbs. this week making my two week total 15 lbs.

On a separate note, I am feeling a bit proud of myself this week for staying OP. I had to go out of town for work on Monday and got back late Tuesday. I was a little concerned for some self-control for the extended meeting at the bar/restaurant (with everyone drinking cold beer)...but I resisted all the temptations and the "crabs in the bucket" that found it more of a challenge to get me to "fold like a lawn chair" . I had pre-packed everything I would need for both days (Water, IP packets, salt, veggies, etc) and drank my water/tea in the bar and ate according to plan. Just thought that I'd share my pat on the back to myself!

Any time bud.

How awesome is this, reaching GOAL! You brother sure did mess up a little. I've been in P4 since the beginning of November and have stayed in my 5 lb window. Cheat/treat days are important, and a lot of fun, but gotta keep it to cheat/treat DAY. All of your advice/comments to the new folks was spot on. Keep it simple, keep to it, and keep progressing. Awesome1!!

Prior planning, this is a must for going out of town. I had to do this a few times. Way to go man.

Feeling good today. Good the read about all the losers here! =) I am feeling a whoosh coming, hope I am right. Not sure I can explain it but just little things, the watch and pants are a little lose today and they're fresh from the laundry not the loose ya get from wearing them a second time. =) hang tough guys.

Buried at work.

I bet you all thought I didn't make it past week 2.

I had the weigh in yesterday. Down 5 pounds, for a total of 12 pounds.

Since I am in the third week and now can exercise, I hit boot-camp hard, instead of going at half speed. Felt good.

IP Coach was pleased, that very expensive scale she has me step on that tells you everything, now says I am a 88 year old man instead of a 90 year old! She seems to expecting a major slip up. But as far as going off the guidlines the past 15 days, it has been zero. After looking at all those You-tube vidoes, and reading tons of web sites, and reading parts of the book, I still haven't had any major urges to deviate.

Of course we haven't gone anywhere yet. Big things coming up, the SuperBowl party at my daughters. The Chicago Auto...

Failure is not an option. (Apollo 13)

Well I'm back from holidays and am sure I will be up... Enjoyed myself though and am looking forward to joining you losers again! Back 100% till my goal!

Let me know how the working out goes for you. Are you adding any additional protein daily? My coach asked me to wait a month before working out so I guess I will follow direction. I am in my third week also and seem to be getting stronger with being able to stay OP. I haven't really had any urges to cheat... although the popcorn at the movies sure smelled pretty good last week!

Down 28 pounds, after my 3rd week. Hanging in there doing, great!

KIT...where you been? That's great man...you must have had around a 10lb week! Keep it up!!!

It was a good weekend. Good WI. Hung out at home all weekend, puttering, picking up the garage a little and a little cleaning in the sewing room. Getting it ready to start making some new shirts when I get down to me goal. Not that I have not saved all the "skinny" ones from the past.
It is pretty cool not to have to stretch out my t-shirts before I put them on. Few more pounds and I will start doing ab workouts. Staying OP.
Hope you all have a great week.