Hope you feel better soon!! Thinking of the athletes at the Olympics helped me overcome the fatigue and get up to go to the gym! Will never be at their level of fitness but happy to say I feel a difference from 2 months ago... Take the time to heal before you start working out!

I really enjoyed that article. It is an eye opener. Now my last cholesterol panel makes much more sense. After 2 months on IP, last December, my total cholesterol number went up along with my LDL. But my triglycerides went down and my HDL went up.

This indicates to me that even though my fluffy (light) LDL is elevated, my dense LDL is not. So I'm in the healthier Pattern B group. Right on!

I forwarded this info to my family members that are also doing IP.

Next I will email it to my internist.

Thanks Elisha!

Thanks, Sylvie. Usually the Olympics motivates to get outdoors and exercise, also.

I have found a new appreciation for the word "energy."

Lilita - I am so sorry to here about your pneumonia! I work with patients with pneumonia so I can only imagine how miserable you must be!! Sorry, hope you feel better soon though!

Oh yeah, loved this article! Thanks elishatamar! I have always felt that between my family history and my hashimoto's that I didn't have to be overly worried about my highish cholesterol numbers. Now that is not to say I just eat whatever, but my grandpa lived to 95 and grandma died of stroke complications at 83 so there is at least some longevity in my genes

Very interesting article elisha, thank you!!!

Ok, well since this is the alternate group discussion I feel safe asking if anyone else is using Lindora or EAS shakes from walmart? I have had a stand still 2 weeks (well my scale at home hasn't moved this week) and I am doing nothing different but using these brands of shakes instead of IP. I'm starting to get worried that the relief I was starting to feel financially will soon be ruined. Any comments would be appreciated!

When I take a closer look I see that there is sucralose in my Lindora shakes whereas there isn't in any of the IP products... I've bought a 2 week supply from Lindora and am about to kick myself.. uggghhh bad morning!

I've been using Lindora and still losing. Plateaus hit, hang in there.

Hi everybody:
So sorry I haven't been on.....boy, I need a course in time management!! My son is still going thru a lot of "relationship" problems....and calls me a lot. I am "wrung out" after I talk to him, and have a very hard time getting back to my projects!! My therapist said I should "limit" his calls...but I just can't. I remember when Eddie died, I called my son a LOT.....just to hear his voice...just to know there was somebody that cared about me. He has apologized over and over for how "short" he was with me then.....because he feels like he is going thru a death all over again. So - I just try to flow with it. I just wish he would end the relationship....oh well.

Don't know if I will have time to change my stats...but I did lost another 3#!! So now I am only 3# from goal. AFTER I weighed in (the day after my birthday) -- I told them I was going to get a "rueben pizza" and birthday cake. I had been so good....and this guy only makes rueben pizzas once a year...Feb.17-Mar.17!! BUT -- I only ate 4 pieces and just a few pieces of cake...and I froze the remainders. I am having sushi/california rolls tonight....I shouldn't have bought it...but I did and I am gonna enjoy it!

Hey....when I was at the drs. office Tuesday, they had Dr. Chan's book there for $10. I almost bought it -- cuz I can't picture me sitting here in this cold room reading his book onthe computer....but nurse told me that there is a new revised version coming out. Said that the way he does maintenance in the book is NOT the way he states in the book. Just thought I would share...

I leave a month from today for St. John. Mmmmm...beaches and palm trees and conch fritters...sounds like heaven. It would be so cool to lose 4# before I go...so I could say I was in my 140's...huh?

I have been sewing up a storm...but not entirely pleased with the outcome...so I bought a few shirts and shorts last week. Of course, everything needs to be altered...even brand new stuff. I am built like an inverted triangle...big boobs....big waist...and small hips! If I find a tshirt to fit my bust...then I have to take in 4"5" thru the hips!

Hey...I can't remember which newbie mentioned Blair for 2 piece bathing suits....but I received my order yesterday. They are quite nice....I have to send the bottoms back cuz they are TOO small...but the top part of the suit fits beautifully. I also got knit shorts from them...and was impressed with the fabric. They are WAY too long (just above the knee)...but I will shorten them. Yup -- those were size SMALL, too! Who would have thought?? I think the bathing suit separates were $20/each -- unheard of! The shorts were $13!! (Again, just sharing....summer is coming....!!)

Lilita -- you poor thing!! No wonder you don't have energy (energy...what IS that anyhow??). I had bronchitis this summer.....and it whipped me out big time. Took me 3 weeks before I started to feel like myself and then the whole darn summer was gone!

Rachel13 - I got some of the Lindora stuff...it was okay. Just didn't fill me up as much as the IP, so I haven't reordered. (they DO have a 25% off sale going on right now). I would think surcralose would be okay.....it is just aspartane that we need to worry about. I add Splenda to all my puddings......along with those DiVinci sugarfree syrups.

Oh geez...someone lost weight...must be on the other page....I will go look.

I have left over IP foods that I didn't like so I'm going to try using them only all next week and see what happens so then I will have a better idea

This sounds like me! Maybe I'm not crazy! I have been at 153 for 14 days with no cheating!!!!!!!!!!!! what is carb cycling, I see that this post was a long time ago did you finally break the plateau?? My impatient side is shining through at the moment. Please forgive me everyone

Alihal....congrats!!

Mom22 -- we are both within reach now.....I can smell ORANGE JUICE!! (Phase III - I have heard....). I think I miss OJ the most.....what about you???

Lilita -- try rubbing your ears! Not kidding! My acupuncturist does this.....and now I do it every day when I get my headache (had to take out my earrings!!). Must have something to do with reflexology or something.....but I always feel better. Drink something warm.....(geez....I sound like a mom...!).

Rachel -- are you allowed to exchange your IP packets that you don't like? I did a WHOLE bunch of exchanging at first....finally figured out that I didn't like the soups...didn't like the shakes....didn't like the drinks.....I like their oatmeal....and bars (both restricted)....and live on their puddings. I think OgDog makes a "big" pudding -- (but then...it would be a shake...and I don't like shakes. -- Well...wait -- ONCE a year I used to get a green shake from McDonalds in March! I did like that!), I don't like anything with texture to drink!! (leaves out metamucil....pepto bismol....).

I am making my own pudding now...and alternating it with IP pudding. It probably is gonna effect my weight loss cuz it is high in fat and calories.....but I needed a cheaper alternative...and Lindora's just didn't cut it for me. I take 1 c. whipping cream, 4 oz. cream cheese, some DiVinci syrup and 1 c. water....(or whatever it takes to get it creamy). I eat one every other day.....

Gonna go shower...do some filing...and then sew AGAIN!! Oh...and I updated my stats!! (procrastinating the sewing here....)

Oh....I forgot to say I add all that high fat whipping cream, etc. to a pkg. of sugarfree pudding.

Lilita - hope you start to feel better soon.
Rachel13 - hang in there - plateaus happen for lots of reasons - you're probably doing everything right.