Sounds like you're following the plan exactly!

The great thing is you know you can stop any "uppages" with a few days back on Phase 1 or Phase 2. Jamaica ... no problem!

How'd it go? I loved your planned cheat day...I froze some Christmas cookies in anticipation of my first day. How did you feel after the food, the next day?

I am starting phase 3 tomorrow. Just took the bacon out of the freezer, I have my greek yogurt, and my Mona's Granola, fresh strawberries (happy coincidence that my phase 3 and FL's strawberry season fall together). I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready!

Day 3 on Phase IV - which will be more like a phase I or II today. Had a birthday celebration supper for our youngest son. Did fine with the food and enjoyed a nice glass of wine. The garlic toast did not call my name and I wasn't interested in the mashed potatoes. Later that evening I had a few pieces of chocolate - saved from Christmas for life after IP. Had a few pieces and that was enough. Found the same with the wine...still have some left over in the fridge. Before we would have finished off the bottle! Will need to get creative with the meals tho...the no mixing of the carbs/fats. Why is it ok to have some butter on your toast in the morning but not any butter, sour cream or fats on your potatoes, carbs in the evening?

You will enjoy phase III esp with the start of the strawberry season. What great timing! I am not a big yogurt fan but really like greek yogurt. I find a bit of stevia powder, fresh fruit and some maple or other flavouring very satisfying. Layering the yogurt, granola and fresh fruit in a clear glass (like a parfait) looks elegant and pleases the eye as well as the palate. Have fun with Phase III.

Congratulations on having and enjoying the foods that used to "have you." Can't answer your question about "Why" but I will share an opinion validated by my own experience in the last few months ... Getting out my You'd be better off having the fats with vegetables, potatoes and other root veggies than you would with any grain product, especially anything with flour -- yes even whole wheat. Crumb (pun intended) ... the only way most grain flour products tastes good is with fat and/or sugar.

I may get around to posting on my blog with some informative links that opened my eyes to this. Haven't yet. Maybe next weekend.

I don't know where you live, but it is probably cold there, so I imagine this is an ideal time to go to Jamaica. I am so glad you went beyond your goal before your trip. I know you look great and will have wonderful time. Post some pictures. This is the first year in a long time I have been very anxious for spring to arrive. We have had colder temp. and more snow than usual. I'm ready to shop for a bathing suit. I want to get a tan this year. Have a great trip and be safe. Judy

Thanks Judy! We are leaving tomorrow and I will try to post pictures when I gt back (I'm not real technoligically inclined :P) Have fun with phase 4 and keep posting, cause I'm gonna need pointers when I get back!

I live in WV and it has been one long, cold winter. Last week we had a day that hit 74degrees, today it is 50's and pouring the rain. I sure am looking forward to the sunshine....and spring! I'm going to put out a garden this year and try to grow a lot of veggies (especially with the rumors of prices raising in the grocery stores).

I am on day 4 of Phase 3 and really, really, really loving the Big Breakfasts! I generally have 2 pcs of whole grain/extra fiber toast with butter spray and peanut butter, 1/2 cup of berries (either blue or black) mixed in a container of Choboni Greek Yogurt (plain, NF) with one packet of splenda. Also a couple of pieces of bacon. So delicious! I will continue with this in the morning for sure. I think I will substitute oatmeal tomorrow for my grain...as I do love oatmeal! I will need to substitute my a protein for the peanut butter too. This new Phase has just really brightened my spirits in the mornings and I feel great eating so healthy and being able to make the best choices, not to mention fitting back into my skinny jeans

Just read todays posts, going to respond without quoting.
I can't say I was sick last night after eating all those sweets and 2 pieces of pizza, but I did not feel great. Just had a funny feeling. I woke up several times during the night with a headache. When I got up this morning I had a bad headache and have had it all day. I have not had headaches while on IP. Let me go back to last Thursday. I didn't have much energy Thursday, I had to push to stay up and move. This was the first time I had felt this way. Friday morning when I got up I was extremely lightheaded for the first time. My blood pressure was lower than usual. I laid around, I did not feel well all day. I thought maybe it was because I had not measured my salt in several days, just sprinkled it on food. Sat. and Sun o.k. Then headache today. Does this have anything to do with a cheat day?

I have been told that when we mix fats and carbs. it produces insulin thus increasing fat.

We usually have a garden, sometimes small sometimes large. We are planning to have a large garden this year. They say that the snows we have had will help the ground produce better this year. We have heard about the increase in food prices this year, in fact we are already seeing higher prices.

Do y'all eat the same amount of breakfast on phase 4 that you did on phase 3?

I felt fine after my cheat day.....save a little anxiety because I was afraid the phase 1 wouldn't work. Perhaps you have caught something? Both of my kids are sick, complete with nasty headaches.

I eat a large breakfast-probably a little larger than phase 3-I have added more fruit-I CRAVE fruit now! I guess that is a good thing.

Hope you feel better!

Can someone tell me where I can read about the cheat days and all that on phase 4,, or just run it by me? I"m not sure if I have read everything I'm supposed to. I want to do it right. Thanks, Sunnymae

Would you recommend having the potatoes or other root vegetables for breakfast (I'm totally comfortable with this) with the fat?

First phase 3 breakfast today....after dreaming about it all night, seriously. It met and exceed expectations. I don't think strawberries have ever tasted so good, and that new greek yogurt, so rich and creamy! I ran with your idea about the parfait, took down my dusty martini glass, washed it last night, and what a sight to behold! I know that there is more to life than phase 3, but I am loving it! I have my next two mornings planned out already, bacon and eggs tomorrow, peanut butter the next day....ahhhhhhh!

Here is some info on the cheat day in phase 4, I cut and pasted from the first "Life after phase 1" thread:

• It is MANDATORY to have a “cheat day” followed by a low-carb day once a week, for two reasons
o Psychological
o Physiological: Your metabolic “set-point” won’t re-set lower if you have a cheat day once a week

Phase 4 cheat day examples:

--drinking wine is a cheat day event, drinking a martini (one!) is not
--Fried food will always be a cheat day (french fries, etc.)
--if it is a slow carb it is not a cheat, if it is any other carb, it is
high carb/fat combos, that would be a cheat day for me.


"Cheat days need not be a major production, nor do they have to be an entire day. Consider following Dr. Z’s lead. Her “cheat day” is actually Friday, Saturday and Sunday after 3:00 PM. She eats a healthy breakfast and lunch each day, then has her evening out with friends on Friday, goes to the Saturday cookout, and prepares a nice Sunday dinner at home. Every Monday it’s a no-carb day—either with IP products or without—so her body can’t store the fat." (This is from a Novak post).

I hope this helps. I am not there yet, so I can't give you any personal experience.