Hey IPeeps - it's getting quiet around here - hope everyone has a great day!

Hi Liz
I remember you from my first go around with IP. I used alternatives that time too, and lost 50
pounds in 5 months. I started out woh twenty extra pounds at the beginning of he pandemic, not sure how much I’ve gained because honestly I’m not ready to face the scale.
Also there seems to be more activity on a few Facebook IP groups I follow.

YES! I remember back in the "old days" ....lol. Yeah, pandemic wasn't a great time (at least for me) to start a diet - I was almost at the end of my "Round 2" and over 15mo quarantine I wiped out the progress I had made just before lockdown. I'm starting to feel like I'm crawling out of that hole (at least stress-wise) slowly but surely now.

I joined a FB group, but it was pretty unforgiving, and I've needed some grace lately.

yes none of us have lived through a pandemic before, and most of us are here because we use food for comfort. I made a pact with myself early on during lockdown that I would not shame myself for cooking and eating for comfort and that when I was ready I would deal with the weight. . And I actually am very proud of myself that I accomplished that.
I am four weeks back in with IP using all alternatives as I did the first time.

Thank you for that MaMaZu.... I need to change my mindset to yours - because now I DO feel better at dealing with it than before. I had tried and retried earlier this year, but it was so easy to slip back when it was all still so stressful.

Well, I'm for real starting Round 3 today! I signed up to do a boot camp for 5 weeks in the mornings at 6am....my second round on IP I actually worked out 3-4x/week, honestly, it wasn't as fast/effective as my first round with no exercise/all IP - but after going through lockdown the community and camaraderie of the group is sorely needed. I'm watching my exertion level and adding in an extra packet and see how my hunger goes. It's Mon, Wed, Fri @ 6am - this is something that should also help with my cutting down my drinking - since I'm waking up at 5/5:30am most days I don't really want to do my wine down at night and exercise does help me sleep better (I've always had problems getting/staying asleep).
I'm going to be posting my WI every Monday - still doing alternatives at home. My clinic is down by my old office and I'm mostly WFH now, so don't want to do that 45min round trip just for a 15-min WI.

I got 2 big heads of cauliflower, 2 bunches of celery, a red bell pepper, and 6 garlic cloves - roasted them - then blended down with 4 cups of chicken stock w/salt & pepper....Perfection! I have a HUGE pitcher of delicious pureed vegetables. I did take a few big spoonful's before a late lunch date with my husband. That turned out to be great, because I wasn't starving and ordered a responsible blacked salmon with roasted vegetables. There was some balsamic glaze and a "sauce" over the vegetables that probably wasn't 100% legal, but I'm not going to sweat over the small stuff...right now I'm trying to avoid any Big Wine Cheats! I've had none so far in a week, which lately has been a big deal for me. I am feeling good, just need to remember to take my supplements!

I went through the old threads from 2012 and re-reading what "Old LizRR" wrote and trying to get that mojo back! I gave myself my old ideas back - remembering how I used to "big batch" cook (like I did today). I think the big pitcher of vegetable puree will be very handy!

Hey Liz!
I make the “soup” also with just cauliflower and seasonings and I freeze it and have it for lunch most days with chips. I’ll have to try adding in other veggies too. I’m close to goal and this where I always fail, maintenance. It has to be different this time. I listen to podcasts everyday and this keeps me motivated. Hang in there, you got this!

I do something similar but view it more as a cream soup: Sauté my veggies, for instance broccoli and onion, add curry powder, cover with water and bouillon or use stock, simmer and purée. I also use cauliflower, zucchini or mushrooms. Sometimes add an herb mixture instead of curry powder. I am very happy and satisfied with it.

So quiet around here - hope all are doing well. Getting ready to move to Phase 2. I’m sticking with the Classic Phase 2 and not the new version. No coach so nervous to start messing with macros just yet.

You will do great!! Struggling to get back on track, but I wont give up!! 💕💕

Good Morning All-
Back at it- IP was my "magic bullet" back in 2015/16 ( 85 lbs) and I will stand by that likely forever. We all know the magic of it. I have done pretty well over the years keeping things in check- and when they got out of hand -2017 (20lbs give or take) I went back on actual IP clinic and all because I couldn't seem to get myself on track. Didn't love the coach like my original one - I give that gal a lot of credit for my success. Anyhow- I called my old clinic again this time (I've got about 35ish lbs to get off- and if I can get really rockin and rollin I may go for more) about price of food and things like that and didn't get the warm and fuzzies so I decided to do this with alternative products. One of the gals I got friendly with back in the day did it completely alternative and did an amazing job, so I think that I can do this too. I'm into my third week and so far so good. I was pleased to see that Nashua has really upped their game with the website allowing filtering for IP alternatives P1 R vs non and all that. I'm keeping a spreadsheet of what the costs would be if I was doing the same through a clinic and wow I knew it would be a great savings, but holy crapadoodle- seeing it really drives it home. I hope that the success I found back then will be the same success this time around. I'm tired of wearing yoga pants and feeling like a frump- I want to feel good about myself again and wear all the cool clothes I loved so and have control of one thing in my life again. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. It's fun to come back and see some of the people I used to see on here back then all of those years ago. Looking forward to connecting with you Linda

Thank you!! Hang in there one day at a time. You got this!!

You got this