Meghan, it gives you the option to open or to save. Save, then you can view it. I think the files we loaded were too big to just open. ??

Mmmmmm, a bliiiizzaaarrrddd. Okay, take a breath. You have done the best out of all of us. We really slipped up during xmas and new year and you didn't. It's okay. You are human!! You WILL get back on and WILL succeed.

Way cool, thanks!!!!!

I opened them with no problems. Thanks for posting that, I am looking forward to seeing the phase 4 when you have the time baseballmom.

Ottawa, Phase 4 (from the tran tien site) is posted in the Phases forum already.

MeghanO: do not beat youself up too much. I went on a binge last night myself - was so hungry on the way home when I stopped at the grocery store bought a box of those stupid 100 calorie things and by the end of the night ended up eating all but one of them. I think we all have had or will have sometimes where this has/will happen!!!

We are all human and I am hoping that by letting myself off the hook a bit and by indulging that one night I can get back on track. I notice that today I am a bit hungrier than usual (probably a side effect of all the carbs etc) but do not have the craving for sweets that I had before. It is a lesson to me to make sure I am always prepared and to not let myself get so hungry that I eat everything in sight!!!

Hi Everyone,
I am glad to see we are all still here, way to many posts for me to keep up with, so many new people which is cool but hard to follow, I hadnt been on the forum in some time, I couldnt believe all the pages of posts. Anyway, things are going Ok we are in the process of selling our house so been very busy trying to get it ready and pretty.
MeganO: I can so relate to the grumpies, I was reading about phase 4 where you have a planned cheat everyweek which is mandatory, I think that is the reason for it. When my husband was on IP, I told him either he had to eat more, quit IP, cheat once a week or we would end up getting a divorce!!! Even he was like I cant believe how pissy I am!!! I think your brain needs those carbs once in awhile to level out, my husband also suffers from depression which he is on meds for so I am not sure if that made it worse or better??!! So he started eating more when needed, cheated just about every sat and still lost like crazy, bugger, he is done now and is maintaining with no problem.
Ottawa- Good on you for quitting smoking and getting to your goal, whooot whoot!!!!
Ogdog- Thank you for messaging me and for all the good info on maintenance, we can do it, I figure if we can get thru phase 1 we can do anything cause its hard, totally rewarding but still pretty tough when carbs and food have been your friend for a long time.
Josh- Great results, I am so happy you got your Dad on, mine is still is watching I think he is waiting to see if my husband gains it back.
Torchlaker- In the beginning I wasnt using the packets and I was still able to lose, it took me alot longer but we couldnt afford to have both of us on at the same time. I tried to follow the program as close as I could with food, I ended up eating probably double cals and way more carbs but it can be done, just way slower.
General comment about cost - totally jealous we cant get Lindora in Canada some of there stuff looks super yummy and the price difference is substaintial.
Ok wow sorry this is so long, I just feel I have to get my words out1!!!

Hi, Meghan. Have you, or anyone else noticed an all or nothing tendency with your eating? I seem to get in this place where I'll have one slip-up, and then just say in my head,"OK, the rest of the day is messed up, I'll just eat what I want"? I keep doing this since Christmas.

And Torchlaker is right. It wouldn't do the newbies any good to hear us talking like this.

QUOTE WANNABEIP:General comment about cost - totally jealous we cant get Lindora in Canada some of there stuff looks super yummy and the price difference is substaintial.

I read someone's post that new life style delivers to Canada. Exact same stuff. http://www.newlifestylediet.com/

Thanks Echobaby for the link I am gonna check it out. I totally have the well I messed up lunch so the day is a write off thing, I am trying to tell myself if I have a slip I just made one bad choice, thats all, I look at every meal as a new choice or else I beat myself up way too much. I am still mad at myself for gaining all the weight back two years ago after WW.

yeah, whats with the beating up of ourselves?

MeghanO - cut yourself some slack girl!! You didn't eat as planned but it's not the end of the world (it just seems like it)

I find when I'm hungry - when I eat out - I make good choices, but there's just not enough food. I'm starving by the afternoon and then have a hard time not snacking before my supper is ready. I seem to be hungry again even after I eat. It's one missed portion of veggies at lunch/supper or something and it throws the whole day out of whack hunger wise. Next day it continues.

Why we beat ourselves when we slip up - that's easy - we just want this (weight loss, to look better, feel better, to fit our clothes, etc., etc.) so darn bad. We have so much hope invested in this diet that when something comes along to derail our plans we get discouraged. Take it one day at a time, one meal at a time...

MeghanO hang in there. You will get back on track. I thought I was never going to stop the peanut butter love affair but here I am almost two weeks with no peanut butter. I have not been as good as I should this last week. went to lunch on tues had fried chicken and jo jo's (potatoes) with ranch, then on wed had thin crust chicken pizza because I could not get home to eat and it was the only thing availiable where I was. Then on thursday I had a few handfulls of popcorn and some red licorish. I have been good about my veggies just celery and spinich.
It has been a very emotional week for me. I am a social worker for our Family Drug Court as my primary job and there are days when swimming in the depths of human depravity really get to ya. I had a horrid day on Monday and my diet has paid the price. I know I will get back on track and things will get better. So far so good today. I think we all have to remember that we are human and &%$^&* happens. Meghan hang in there.
One thing that I thought was really interesting is that I think your body adapts to this diet even when you are not on it (for a period of time at least). When i was in Mexico I ate whatever I wanted and indulged in deserts and frozen drinks on the beach and I only gained 2lbs. Then I came back and followed the ip (cheated twice) and lost 7lbs. your body will adjust as you do as long as you find the will power to get back on it.

So sad you all created another thread just to get away from the "newbies". I agree there are lots of repeat questions and a large influx of people, I guess myself included, but I joined the board because of reading your posts and enjoying the spin and input you had to offer. Even if I don't agree with an alternative plan...but really, that isn't a big deal. You still have excellent experience in dealing with all things IP.

Asking everyone to go back and read old posts is not realistic at times....although, I agree all the answers are there and wanted to say the same thing. There is just too much interest in this right now and soooo many pages....maybe there should be a "common concerns while on IP thread". I am sure you all doing this for multiple months could collaborate something? Please? I just spent most of the morning reading old posts (again) and looking through recipes to pick myself up. And I still want some today answer/motivation/pick-me-ups.

It is nice to come onto a forum, read what is going on, post a concern, get a response rather quick. Your contribution is very helpful.

I posted something on the other board and I will post it here too. Hopefully you all can help.