Torchlaker, no I didn't think 200 was high. My understanding is that 10% is about right for nutrition and such. I really think that Phase 4 is doable, but it will take learning to eat all over again...what foods at which meals. Not easy, but doable.

If you aren't cooking now, are you really going to make your own puddings? If you like them that much just order from Lindora or NewLifeStyleDiet so you will be getting the protein too. I'd double check on both sites though to see if they have the right sugars and some do have Phenylalanine (sp) which I believe is an ingredient of aspertame (not allowed).

The link isn't working for me. What are the key words and I'll do a search on Oprah for it!!

I've heard about this book from Alicia S. It is supposed to have some quite tasty recipes in it.

Sorry I guess I should have checked that out.

Food 101 with Michael Pollan

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/The-T...Michael-Pollan

Okay, I went through their site and compiled a list of products that follow IP Protocol (for the most part, some have sugar in them...I only took out the stuff that had aspertame ingredients in it so read the ingredients). You can't seem to open them directly (I also loaded them in the FAQs page) so save them then open. Hoepfully that all makes sense. Happy ordering.

DOH forgot to load them.

Again, took out the aspertame stuff. Keep an eye on the ingredients. I apologize that I don't have a lot in here they don't have ingredients listed for all things.

Food Inc...own it. Yes, the veg head in me loves the movie, buys locally and organic as much as possible. Oh, and do try to get it in products that are recylable/compostable. I'm weird, I know...veg head dirt worshipping tree hugger that I am.

HaHaHa - no, my brain was dead when I was trying to think of a name and it's Mom to two - my boys are 15 and 17. I may be biased but they sure are wonderful. It's such an interesting time of life right now - often my husband is at work (he works construction and is often home late) and the boys are both at work - the house sure is getting quiet.

I've never tried the ketostix either - have been thinking of trying them out too. Regarding my goal - funny how things go - when I set that goal I was almost 200 lbs and I just couldn't remember what i used to look like and how much I weighed then. i remember thinking - maybe 160 - hmm yes, that would be amazing if I could weigh 160 - after awhile i realized that i could do150 and be the size i want. i want to go into a store and fit any size 10 and not have them tight. Interesting too that you (Torchlaker) have been stressing about not eating right, and not getting back on track and you are about the same height as me and you are 3 lbs from MY goal weight. are you sure you're not where you need to be? just a thought.

Tara - i would love if you could check out carb counts on Newlifediet. I figured that to hit the $200 mark and get free shipping (what can I say - every little bit helps) i have to order 16 boxes. I usually have omelet, chicken soup and pudding packs. i really don't deviate too much from those ones. I was thinking I could mix it up with tomato soup, chicken soup, they have an omelet and some of the puddings are lower carb. I'd like to keep my carbs down around where they are now with the IP products - I know - I want everything but I don't want to pay for it.

thanks OgDog13 you must have been posting at the same time as me. I'll check out the info.

Thank you Torchlaker for the suggestion! Feels good... 229# was my 1st start-up weight & had dropped to 171# before the Holidays. I see this time around as moving from overweight to healthy weight and guess I wanted the ticker to move faster than last time around!

Sure would like it to move!!!!!

I added an IP bar after workout which I do now 4x a week on my lunch break and the scale has started to move... slowly but it is moving again!!

Ogdog you rock!! I'll be checking these out. I gotta know HOW THE HECK did you calculate those figures? Can you calculate mine? I had my weigh in today, lost 4 lbs, and I go to phase 2 very soon. I also got print outs for phases 3 and 4 and will be happy to scan and share (if I can figure it out)!
I will be checking into these products for Phase 4. 8 more pounds to go!!! I know I'm more of a newbie, but it was very hard to keep up with the posts and I am so close to going to the other side, I didn't think you'd mind if I posted here!

So, I'm developing this theory...

For the first month I was on IP, I dreamed almost every single night that I was accidentally eating non-IP approved foods, and I'd realize what I was doing and freak out. I lost 17 lbs that month. Second month, though, no more dreams... and only 8 lbs lost. Admittedly, I did cheat more frequently that month and used some IP "substitutes" (EAS shakes), so my mind might have just been satisfied with what I was doing, and found it unnecessary to taunt me in my dreams. I think I'm about to be able to test this theory very soon, though, because I've been stricter with myself for the past several days and the dreams have started coming back. I'll see if they persist for the next few weeks, and what my weight loss ends up being. Who knows, my dreams might be a better indicator than those ketostix. :-)

Not to be a bummer, Elisha, but maybe your dreams were driving your behavior, and not vice versa?

Oh, Dang.....I kinda meant that as a joke, but I just read it again, and it doesn't really come off that way, does it? Sorry Elisha, for that. Issues going on this night.

Here's what I got today. I may have to retype Phase 4 because it was so dark, so I'll post this weekend sometime!