Consider eating the yolks of the eggs. They are very nutritious.
I think you need more fat! Go to 2% Greek yogurt. It tastes better!

Momto2cs: Your pn eating seems healthy and well balanced. I like the idea of focusing on eating to 80 percent full and eating slowly. It is interesting that you only have 3 oz of protein for lunch, but that you get lots of protein throughout the day. I am glad it is working for you.

Zombiedawn: My plan is to stay in a 3 percent range from my goal..up or down. Congratulations on reaching your goal weight!

Workingit 50: I eat a fairly high level of protein and find it satisfies me as well.

Canadiandieter: I also find that I gain weight around my stomach when I go up.

Ragdoll, Evepet, Halfagain: Thanks for your warm support. I also find that refined carbs and sugar foods can be triggers. I mainly stay away from them. Last night I took one bite of a french torte. The good news is that I stopped with one bite.

Today is a low carb day and getting exercise in at the gym. Yesterday we had my son's friends to dinner and I am tired. One of my sons is allergic to gluten and dairy. I have been learning new ways of cooking.

"In the depts of winter, I finally learned that there was in me, an invincible summer." Camus

I am simply enjoying maintaining in summer. My non scale victories for the summer are good changes.

For the first time in over 10 years, I am wearing sleeveless tops. Last summer even though I was at goal weight and had lost 110 pounds, I did not like the loose skin on my arms. I always wore shirts that were either long sleeves or covered up with a sweater. Now after a year of strength training, I have muscles in my arms. I felt very self conscious wearing a sleeveless top at first, but now am comfortable with it.

I had the same reaction to loose skin on my legs last summer. I would only wear shorts that reached my knees or capris over the knees due to loose skin. Now with muscles in my legs, I am wearing shorter shorts!

Another thing that I am celebrating is gaining muscle strength from last year. On my last trip to Hawaii, I found that my strength in swimming is much developed from my previous trips. I wish I had know this when I was young and competitively swimming.

It took me over a year to lose my weight. I am in my 1 year and 8th month of maintenance. In that year of losing, one of the tools that I used, was to tell myself that I wanted to wake up happy with my food choices from yesterday. This mantra was very helpful when I was resisting foods to lose weight. I would picture how happy I would be the next morning..to get through an event or food situation.

Now in maintenance I use this same tool. Here is the reality of my maintenance. Mr. Creep can still occur with up pounds even if:
You are no longer bingeing..3 years for me.
You are eating healthy low carb, low sugar foods.
You are exercising 6 to 7 times a week.

There is no, " I've done enough. I am doing everything right and I should not have a weight gain," in maintenance. You simply start tweaking or changing your eating or exercise. There are times when you lack motivation, but you just keep following your successful habits.
I drag out my mantra and tell myself that I want to wake up happy in the morning while I am cutting back to basics or increasing exercise.

Then success occurs. There is the glow of satisfaction when the scale moves. Yes, I am doing it.Yes, my efforts are working.
This is the invincible summer that is in me, that is happy to be healthy and taking care of myself.

I hope all of my IP friends enjoy that glow of accomplishment and feel their invincible summer.

Thanks to all of you for your warm support.

Maile,
Thanks so much for this bit of inspiration!
I've felt the same way. "I've done enough. I am doing everything right and I should not have a weight gain, in maintenance."
I do want to be happy tomorrow morning. So I'm on day 4 of a mini-reboot to lose the extra 5lbs that I acquired during the last month. I'm hoping it won't take too long so I can resume my Phase 3 breakfasts. Really miss them.
Thank you all so much for the support!

LOVE this. Need to cut and paste on my inspiration document that I keep for motivation-- love to look at great tips when motivation is needed!!

Yesterday was my first "holiday" on maintenance. Had a few bites of treats, but tried to alternate with bites of kale leaves. My neighbors were cracking up that I brought a cookie cake AND a plate of kale leaves and celery to our potluck, but it was a great thing for me to have a healthy option to alternate with bites of unhealthy. I probably had a few too many bites and sips, but, today is a Phase 1 day to make up for it. I am learning this maintenace thing one day at a time, and, Just like during the weight loss phase, all you 3fc IP posters are such an inspiration. =)

Momto2cs, I will try your suggestions... I look forward to it actually. More fat?! Ok, twisted my arm! LOL!

Maile, you know I just love your way of thinking! I'm going to remember that for myself. So many good points to remember.

Maile
There is nothing stopping me from eating more protein at lunch except for the fact that I am usually too full. I often only eat part of what I thought I wanted.
Some of that's the salad, but I really like it!
I could probably use a bit more protein...I occasionally have a protein shake just for that reason...but usually I just can't fit it in!
If I am snacky hungry I have one of there's 100 calorie almond bags. If I buy a larger package I have been known to eat the entire pack in a day ��

Mom2cs I like your WOE.

Maile congrats on all your NSV's! I'm hoping next year I'll be more comfortable with the way my arms look. My arms are definitely a problem area for me. I still have some fat there and also a lot of loose skin. Hopefully some exercise and time will help with that like it did for you.

dukeollano the visual of alternating bites of kale and treats is pretty funny. It's a great idea though and I will use that with some other veggies since I'm not a fan of kale.

I'm going to a wedding tonight at Maggiano's and will be eating low carb all day knowing dinner will be an Italian carb fest. Tomorrow will definitely be a phase 1 day.

Great posts and inspiration from fellow "losers". I had another bad eating day, these non-structured days for me are just plain tough. I will take your tips and get back on track.

Hi everyone! Wow - it's hot and humid today! I was up and out at 8:30am today to have a 1 hr walk with a girlfriend - we have a gorgeous trail/park only a 10 minute walk from us that is part of the Trans Canada Trail. I'm glad I got that exercise in early in the day, because it's already hot & humid, and both the temp & humidity is going to increase as the day goes on.

Doing pretty well with P1, although I slipped a little yesterday. Today is re-committed again to stick 100% P1/P2... otherwise I'm just procrastinating and delaying my results. I also have a family event to go to on July 20th and I want to be back to my goal weight (or as close as possible) for that... want to show any naysayers there that I've got the stamina to keep this weight off!!! I'll think of that if/when I'm tempted to stray again...

Maile - you always have such thoughtful posts. I loved that last one. Thank you.

Cheers from hot, humid Central Ontario - hope everyone has a great Saturday.

Hello everyone!!!! I had been in reboot mode for the past few months and was posting in that thread until I found out I was pregnant! It is still early on....only eight weeks.... but i am beyond excited! this is my first. A few people suggested I should maybe start looking at the maintence thread. So here I am

I am trying to stay healthy and have added carbs back into my diet. I am trying to follow the same type of eating habits as phase 3, but not focused so much on packets. So far I am feeling good. I've gained about 3lbs which I guess is normal.

Hoping others have some eating advice for me during this exciting and completely new time!!!!

Sarabean: That is so wonderful about you being pregnant! You might look through past posts here or look for Lizzyrr posts as she is pregnant and doing very well.

Thanks to all for your kind comments. I was in the mood to write a celebratory blog.

Evepet: I am heading to a trip next Thursday and like you want to get down a few pounds..We can do it. I was going to tell you that Big Train buttermilk pancake mix is a good one for low carb! Too bad about all of that humidity.

Workingit 50: Those unplanned days can be hard. Hope today is a good one..and you always have P1 to return to.

Ragdoll: That is a good plan..eating very low carb before a big Italian event.
My arms are not perfect..but the muscles do help. I am sure you will see results over the next months.

Momsto2cs: I do the same..I either eat the 100 packages of nuts or count exactly 15. Nuts simply taste too good. It sounds like you are getting plenty of protein.

Zombiedawn: Good luck with adding more fats! Thanks for your support.

Dukeoflano: That was too cute about munching on Kale while enjoying your food. Kale is so good for you. Thank goodness for Phase 1. One day at a time is a good motto.

Cbl70: good luck on that miniboost..Yes there is a point that you just have to keep working on up pounds, even if you are eating healthy. It really is hard to give up those p3 breakfasts. I miss my strawberries when I do. Hope you will be eating p3 soon.

Off to clean. My main problem is my dear Foodnetwork son loves to make wonderful foods and wants me to try them. I have to limit myself to bites!

Congrats SaraBean!! How exciting!!

Hi Everyone!

Just checking in to say hi! I'm on a three-week trip. Right now I'm in Syracuse visiting my daughter and two little grandkids. I'm hanging out with the 4-old this week, so I'm getting plenty of exercise.

Since I've been here last (in December) I've reached my goal (in March), but one significant thing is that my daughter's mother-in-law started IP in January. She was inspired by me and I was her coach on the phone for the first 3 months. She has now lost 50 pounds and looks great. She's still on P1. Tonight she and her husband came for dinner and we all had a wonderful IP-style dinner. She just about cried when she saw me and I did the same.

Workingit, I completely agree. I find that when I don't eat a huge amount of protein for lunch and dinner, I just feel "off" It's interesting what we become accustomed to.

Maile, I loved your post. It was really inspiring! Thanks! Yes, that mantra will work well. I will try it! Also appreciated the bit about the muscles in your arms. I've begun working out and will look forward to this!

Sarabean, Welcome!

Hi all,
Just wanted to report that after 6 days of P1/P2 style eating, I'm back in my range. I'll be doing a few P3 days before I head off on vacation again. If that bumps me out of my range, I'm planning a longer reboot (2 to 3 weeks) for the end of July.
Again, thanks to all for your support. It's so helpful to know that so many of you are finding ways to maintain you losses.
Hugs!