Happy Friday! Been such a busy week! Walked one night and made it to the gym another in the rain to get some treadmill time in. May is such a crazy busy month for the kids (and in turn, me). Have a meeting tonight and my DD has 5 games tomorrow followed by a birthday dinner my DH has planned. I don't see another workout in my future until maybe Sunday. Lately, I feel like I only see loses when I get my walking in. But I need to get and stay in ketosis for a week or two first...

I've been really thinking about waiting to start phasing off for a few more weeks. I wanted to get to 150 so bad. I know my coach said I will continue to lose during phasing off but I've been at or near 160 for weeks (of my own doing). IDK. Maybe all the cheats are a sign I need to phase off for a bit and tone up. Or maybe I'm just scared to change things up. So worried about regaining the weight. What should I do?

CenTX I wish we had an active thread for all our posts on "what should I do?" when we get to the phase you are at.
I had all the same thoughts and questions and can relate. I got quite a bit of help on the Maintainers thread of you want to post your question there also.

Two thoughts of my "two cents".... as a newbie padawan in maintenance

1. On the area specifically about food and weight, physical health:

I am 5'7", my original goal was 160, I changed it part way through P1 to 149.
Same as you, couldn't get way from about 158/59 for about 3 or 4 months, very slow losses, but continued losing inches. Sometimes would go down about .5 lbs every few weeks, lots of up and down fluctuation of a few lbs during that.... similar to you found myself doing "cheats" that felt like came from starvation - for me the cheats were adding IP packets - finally around 156 just knew I had to phase off.
I did get down to a 155 goal, I have seen 151 on the scale and I have seen 158, but generally I am between 154 and 156 pretty consistently. Also I have built muscle so I continue to lose some inches while maintaining the weight.
Of course I have the desire to see 149, but every time I try to cut calories below my maintenance range of about 1700 net, my body rebels and I end up eating the extra calories at night. I am working out fairly intensely.

I realized this morning that this mentality is pretty stupid to some extent I think. I have my MFP type tracker set at 1420 calories so that I can lose a few more pounds, so every day it tells me in red I am around 200 over. This has been a month now. So I had to laugh at myself and realize that actually I have been successfully maintaining 153 to 158 and my body is consistently eating the calories I need to maintain it.

I told myself I would wait 9 months before I did more than a day or two pf P1 reboot. So my goal this weekend is to just be at peace with where I am, and continue to focus on my muscle toning and maintaining. I just changed my tracker to my maintenance calories.

2. On the area of the mental aspect:

I am starting to see more and more where I use food to establish some kind of control in my life, esp. over stress or feelings that make me uncomfortable. I have a perfectionistic streak, and have chosen food and body as one area I feel like I can have control over. I notice that not having something to "fix" or control in this area bothers me, and I want to have something to focus on, and I question whether (aside from many actual health problems, which many of us have discovered or are discovering in the last few years of our journey) there was some kind of partial sabatoge that went on just so I could keep a hold of this safe area that I wanted to focus on. Like somehow I just didn't want it to work, I didn't want to just be "OK" - like an attachment to the suffering of it as a kind of comfort mechanism. Also if I noticed myself bothered or agitated about life, my mind wants to just focus on my body or health, because that is something I personally can fix, and maybe if I fix that the uncomfortable feelings will go away.
Anyway I know I don't have to figure it out of have a mental mindspin about any of it, and I didn't even like just writing that last paragraph, as it bugs me to face those areas, but I keep forcing myself to, because every day in the last year I feel better in all areas and am grateful to see my mechanisms that cause me suffering. Once I face them I can correct them.

p.s. Well guess what when I entered my 155 goal weight etc. and did the calculations my calories to maintain are about 2000, which is over what I have been averaging, so all my mental negativity has been no point whatsoever it turns out

Recipe I am planning to use is this one. While I know that the base NEEDS a cheese I am going to prune the amount by 50% of the 2% low fat low moisture and replace the other with veggie shreds. Found a 4g carbs pizza sauce (quarter cup) so hubby can have his half filled to the brim and I'll scrape a tbsp over mine! Although it's not 100%, it's not going to be far off - and, in light of the amount of eating out I've been doing, it's probably going to be closer to the right macro levels.

Hope your aversion to all the sweet stuff holds up through the dessert day and please let us know what you get at Kohl's! Clothes?

This is fear talking. You know how P1 works, P2 is an unknown at this stage and you're not where you expected to be going into it.

From what I've read P2 is just about putting an extra carb in at breakfast - how difficult can that be from what we're supposed to be doing already?

What's the worst that can happen if you try it and it doesn't work out the way you want? A lb gain at most?

Trust YOUR instinct. Your coach can guide you but you know where you're at mentally and emotionally right now.

Hahaha, the games we play with those trackers. I always laugh at mine, too. How it adds the exercise calories onto the allowance so you feel you have plenty of overhead to eat more.

Amanda for some reason that made me giggle out loud at my desk. I know it's crazy sometimes! It thinks if I dance for an hour that is 547 calories. Yeah Right.
I have to use it as a guideline and I've learned from myself what's accurate about what I actually burn, and it's still a learning process overall for sure.

I have to be careful not to mess around with it, like if I'm in the red at the end of the day, I want to add 5 minutes to exercise so that it's not red anymore. My OCD tendencies can entertain me sometimes. Better to let it entertain me then drive me nuts.

CenTxChk, I can't tell you what's right for you but I'll let you know what it's been like for me.

When I first thought about doing IP I said I'd like to get to 150, but then at the last minute before starting I said heck, I'll go for 140. I phased off at 141.5, and did not lose more than 1/2 a lb in phase 2 and 3. As I got closer to goal my losses did slow down, but I had also added in exercise. I wish I had changed my goal to 130, because by the time I got to 141.5 I was like "ok, I made it, time to phase off" and now I think I'm at a weight where it's not what I want it to be, but it's low enough I can't justify to myself restarting to lose the last 10 or so.

So like grateful I've set my food tracker to a daily total for losses yet eat between that and a maintenance level 1200-1600.

It's definitely harder to lose off IP so make sure you are happy with where you are before you phase off, but don't stay on it because of fear. After all, you have the tools to lose and you know what to do if you slip up, shake it off and get back on track before 5 becomes 50.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and that all the mothers out there get spoiled with non food treats

Happy Friday!!

It's been a wild day ladies - got up early to make the coffee run and help set up and serve breakfast to the teachers and staff at my son's school. I even made IP breakfast bread for a couple of the teachers who are on IP.

Then took care of some errands, and went to Penneys for retail therapy - everything is on sale, and I needed more things to wear for work/church. Found a couple of cute skirts and tees, all medium. Then I grabbed jeans because the ones I've been wearing are falling off- I needed an 8!! Single digit - I was floored. (And bought 2 pair!) still can hardly believe it, I started IP in a Size 24.

Got caught in a downpour picking up the kiddo - now home with my feet up. Whew!!

Happy Friday right back at you all!!

Your day sounds like it has been extra productive, JJTx -- love that you could get size 8 jeans. I am still in the the 10 or 12 petite range.... and my favorite Dream Jeans from Norm Thompson are not in stock in my size now! Very disappointing, as the cut of those jeans fits me perfectly, when at the right size. I am trying to be patient waiting for them to come back in stock.

G4H and CenTxChk -- the conversation re: whether to phase off or hang in to lose more is a very deep one... I may be back to comment on this later this weekend. I get the control thing G4H, and I certainly get the fear of change from P1, esp after my cheat episode over the past weekend. Tough problem to reach a decision about.

Right now, I am about to change clothes to go to the social dance party at my studio - I have missed dancing since before I went to California -- it will be fun to go tonite, and I see on the calendar that there is a dance party tomorrow nite too. I may get plenty of dance time in this weekend.

I have to share my giant mess up earlier this afternoon -- I had missed getting my breakfast packet in this AM, and then had lunch out. So I was ready for an afternoon snack. I had gotten some IP Milk Choc pudding mix last nite at my WI, and set it up in my shaker - water, mix, little round spring, and when I picked it up to put the lid on it, it slipped from my fingers, poured down the front of my just out of the dryer jeans and new cotton knit jacket, onto my barefoot in sandal and all over the floor and cabinet face..... half dry mix everywhere, and half wet mix splattered over a 6 foot radius. What a Mess!!! And that stuff leaves a kind of protein residue as you wipe it up - it requires soap and water and a lot of wiping with clean paper towels, to get it all. All I could think of was my MFP and wonder if this clean up was an activity in the database that would credit me with extra calorie allowance.... So crazy! I have to say -- I have had more than one explosive experience with those shaker cups. After all these months, you would think I could manage to avoid such spills. Apparently not....

JJTX- Woooooot size 8 jeans! That's awesome, JJ, congrats.

Oneuh - Have you looked at the "Not Your Daughter's Jeans" at all? They are designed around women with curves, not the straight from low waist to knee. I used to love the Chic brand but they have changed too much.

Hope you had fun at your dancing, bet it's great to get back into after time away!

Hubby calls it the "shaker dance" as I look like I've been electrocuted when I bounce around shrieking - boy, do I ever hear you on the spilling when the cap isn't on correctly, or the spout isn't locked in place. I still do that, too. I think it's being in a hurry to get it done and out of the way (packet drinks are auto-pilot and we have them before the gym so we're always half in and half out of the door). Hope you didn't stain your new jacket - fingers crossed!

Made the pizza. Oh Em Geeee, to die for. Hubby took one bite and said "anything you don't want, feel free to pass it on". Seriously, just the smell of the base ingredients as I was smoothing it out into the pizza pan was driving me crazy with longing for pizza. I also cooked up a little chicken with spices and topped it with some veggies and a side salad. This is DEFINITELY going on the repeat list.

Hubby had the idea of using english muffins to make pizza for himself while I'm away, and I have to say I was quite impressed by his thinking. Easy cook - toast the muffin, spread the pizza sauce, add the pre-cut veggies from the store, add pepperoni and pop in the oven for 8 mins. He's improving on food awareness with all the IP friendly recipes we've tried.

Next time I think I'll drop the mozzarella amount down, and put the parmesan on top instead of in the base mixture. It's plenty cheesy enough. This is so good I think it would make a perfect garlic bulb only on top of margarita style with just some oregano. It really is something special. We both liked it more than conventional pizza base.

Does anybody know what the daily carb count is supposed to be? And if we should be looking at total carbs or total net? Thanks!

Woo Hoo on the shopping spree and the size! I made it thru dessert day at school with flying colors......didnt even lick a finger LOL

Oh no...I have not tipped the whole shaker over yet but have been know to splatter taking the drink spout cover off. Annoying bugger. Actually purchased a rubbermaid shaker on vacation last year in Disney (I had forgot mine) and it is much easier to open. I find I use that more than my IP one

Sorry I am an eat the packet they tell you kind of gal. I don't figure any of those items yet.

So my deal of the day at Khols yesterday... First off drum roll....all the stuff I bought was a 14! WooHoo.. I got 6 pairs of capris, a pair of shorts and 1 top for $80 after my mothers day coupons and Kohls cash... Yeah me.

Managed fine thru dessert day at school...didn't even lick a finger. Actually the smell of the sweets was making me sick...

Seems like I get off work for the weekend... I was not planning on working tomorrow and my client that I was supposed to have out today called to say she missed her flight last night so she was not coming...Yeah...a full weekend off. I have not had that for a long time. I already warned DH it is house clean up weekend then LOL... I have a bunch of clothes I need to bag up for the donation place. I can finally clean up our home office of all my In laws estate stuff since I was finally able to close out the last of their accounts this week...I can now box up all that paperwork and store it away somewhere else. I need to finish moving spring stuff into the closet and pack some winter stuff away to make room. I get dressed in my closet every morning (don't worry its a walk in LOL) so I need to get my capris and short in there and out of the dresser drawers. I am up at 5:30 and don't want to turn on lights to disturb Hubby.. Hopefully my plans will not carry into tomorrow so I can sit and relax on mothers day..

These are just rough estimates, but it depends on what your exact food choices are ...

On IP Phase 1, your total carb count will probably fall between 50 grams and 70 grams per day.

I am taller than most, so I've been eating about 98 grams of carbs per day and losing just fine (about 12 pounds a month on average), but I might need to start cutting my total carb count as I am getting closer to a healthy BMI and probably not burning as many calories to run my body.

I think that some (most?) nutritionists might call a diet "low carb" if it's below 200 grams per day. But again that probably varies as to your sex, height, weight, and exercise level. It could be closer to 100 to 150 grams per day for some/many people. Clearly the IP Diet is more restrictive on carbs than most other so called "low carb" diets.

In terms of what is "Normal" (supposedly healthy) to eat in terms of carbs. The Mayo Clinic says that on a "healthy diet" (I suppose that means if you are a healthy weight and eating to maintain and be healthy?) you can (should?) eat up to 325 grams of carbs per day. Again that total probably depends on your height, sex, exercise level, etc.

So summarizing:

Healthy/Normal Carb intake (supposedly) < 325 g
Low Carb intake < 150-200 g
More Restrictive Carb intake < 100 g (this is where I am, and might be better if you are tall and/or really big)
Strict IP P1 = 50 to 70 g

Just some rough ideas on the numbers!

Speaking of carb intake. When I was a kid in the 1960's, my school taught me the "food pyramid" as a healthy way to eat. Boy this really messed me up! Is it any wonder so many Americans are overweight -- with information like this being propagated!

Oneuh2 - sorry about your shaker mishap! I have had some powder messes before but never one so explosive!

Sue - great job staying away from the treats yesterday! And shopping victory hope you enjoy your weekend off, you deserve it!!

Light weekend planned around here too,we're all ready for some down time.

Avalon - you are so close to the 100 lb mile marker - I have been meaning to tell you all week that I am looking forward to celebrating with you SOON!

Sue - you are so industrious!! I feel I am a lazy bag of bones... I will try to be inspired by your plan for today! I will hang on to some energy tho, so I can go back and dance tonite at the 2nd Saturday dance party at my studio. I had fun last night and it was good to be moving.

I have a nice pork tenderloin that is going into the crockpot with chopped rutabaga and some WF maple syrup and chicken broth. Love that IP friendly dish!

I KNOW! So close. You are doing great too!! Keep it up. It will be great for both of us to hit our goal.