Kale chips, turnip fries... lovelovelove. I still eat them on maintenance. Yum.

Rock star!! it will be SO worth it in the end. Miss you, and look forward to your return!

Brilliant effort! I know how you feel. Went to a cookout while in Phase 2 at the home of a couple who had started IP a few weeks before. Thought for SURE there would be a veggie platter or SOMETHING I could make a dinner out of (I don't eat burgers or hot dogs), but that didn't happen. And no bottled water... just soda, beer and wine. I ended up hanging out at the H20 dispenser on the refrigerator door. I finally did eye a stray veggie burger and managed to finagle one of those. So yes, it's best not to let yourself get caught unprepared!

So terrific, Kelsey!! You absolutely WILL get it done, and the results will be downright thrilling! Keep it going, girl!

Wonderful NSV! I would think at your current weight and height you'd be a 12. I'm a 14 now, with some really close 12MT, so by that weight I'm hoping to be sporting 12s!

Congrats on the trackers!!!

We miss you, but have a great time.

You should be excited. : It will be great, you'll be amazed how the WIs are the reason that you stay motivated (most of the time). Other times you will need this board, but we'll be here!

Thanks, Novak. I'm trying!

Currently, I'm in love with cauliflower and mushrooms sauteed in olive oil, sea salt and red pepper flakes...what would I do without my red pepper flakes!

I also, really like my lettuce sauteed lightly in the same mixture...yummm.

Thanks Novak. Here's today's question. I was good as gold yesterday. Gained those 3 pounds in one evening. Why don't they come back off in one day?? One of life's little mysteries...The good news is I feel so much better today. Yesterday it was almost like a hangover even though I had no alcohol. Sugar hangover I guess!

Melissa K-- big congratulations on the 77777777777777sss. Just keep thinking about today and suddenly you will be at your goal. Ok maybe not suddenly but you know what I am saying. It doesn't seem like 5 months for me at all. I feel like I started IP not very long ago. So, keep doing exactly what you're doing. Today I can do IP. I don't know about tomorrow but I know that I can do it TODAY. And that's what you say each day....besides, you don't need my pep talk. You' re doing GREAT!!!

Well, first of all, you didn't gain 3 pounds of fat that's now redeposited itself. What you gained is what you ate, fluid, etc. that hasn't yet been completely eliminated.

Second, you have yet to go through Phase 3, during which time you will awaken your pancreas and "retrain" your body to process food. You want to establish new patterns that mimic the fat-burning capabilities of people who are naturally slender... which I certainly ain't!

Phase 3 is critical to your ability to manage your weight during maintenance, for that reason. Unless you have been bopping in and out of ketosis during the weight loss phases, you should be fine. What I don't know is whether people who continually force insulin secretion during Phases 1 and 2 will be able to achieve the same effect during two weeks of Phase 3. It certainly will not happen if you cause insulin spikes more than once a day while in Phase 3... that's what the "big breakfast" is all about. But I can't say whether frequent patterns of being in and out of ketosis prior to Phase 3 will disrupt the "retraining" process. If someone has a really good nutritionist/coach, they might know the answer.

I like to make my own salsa withe diced tomatoes, sea salt, galic salt, cummin, cider vinegar, splenda, onion and you can add a little jalepeno pepper if want a little kick...I use it as a dressing on my salad, it's kinda like a taco salad...I sometimes add my 5-oz of hamburger with it at supper...YUMMY

According to my scales, I had lost 6 pounds from Thursday to Sunday. At the weigh-in on Tuesday, his scales said 8.2 pounds down in 6 days. I asked him if it was really possible that it was so high, and he said that a lot of that was just the excess fluid and other non-essential stuff from the foods I had been eating BIP. Subsequent weeks would show less weight loss, and it was just fine and expected.

So, that all being said, apparently a larger loss in the first week is the norm and I think you're doing great!! Keep it up and just think, even if you only lose 2-3 pounds a week, that's still 2-3 pounds closer to your goal and 2-3 pounds less than where you were the week before. You CAN do this!!

Some WI are better than others! Today was a great one
NSV down 5 inches waist, down 4 in hips and 2 inches in the chest (where I didn't want to loose) Have to buy a couple of things to wear for work - all my tops are falling off my shoulders. Think it's time for a trip to the hairdresser and to get a pedicure - I've earned it!

In my registration, I didn't count the 11 pounds I lost from March to May on my self-implied "eat less, move more" try at losing weight. When I started that process, my scales said 236. Before I went to the IP clinic last Thursday evening, my scales said 226 that morning. (I must have regained a pound!) Of course, Jeff's IP scales said 233.6.

This morning, my scales definitely said 217. Now I know that any weight loss is good, but I think I could safely count the difference from 236 to 217 as my grand total. On my IP weigh & measure on Tuesday, I know that I'll see a difference there too.

For confidence purposes, I'm gonna say that I'm down a total 19 pounds since March. Since I started IP, I'm gonna say that I'm down 9 pounds. I really need to get one of those fancy scales like Jeff has - he says they're only $35 and at least I'd be more in line with what his scales say. This back and forth is confusing, but both numbers are still going down!!

Also, I'm finding that I need to keep digging in my closet and drawers for smaller sizes. What a great feeling that is!

Barbara

One for every five pounds lost:

Just me, checking in after my weigh in this morning, I am down 2 more pounds and 4 more inches!!! ( and I still need to poop!) lol

That's 9 1/2 " total loss and 11 1/2 inches lost in TWO weeks...( wish I knew how to post the danicing carrots!!!!!!!!!!!)

Oh, my coach "Deb" says after the 3rd week on this diet my energy should kick in.. but she wants me to let her know at my next weigh in if I am still dragging, cause she may want to adjust something.... ?????

I chose to move my weigh in appts from fri mornings to monday mornings so I will stay strong over weekends!! AND I am treating myself to a massage today!!!!!!!!!!!!

I want to thank you all for your loving support!!! Knowing your all a just a lap top away is so comforting, esp when my emotions call me to the kitchen..

Be Strong, Have Faith and let us stand united fighting this battle together!!!!

Just another quick note - I found a really cool Bon Jovi shirt online that I desperately want to buy. It's long sleeve and runs small, they say. It will be perfect as a birthday gift to myself, but I just wonder if I should buy a large or an extra-large. They recommend buying a size larger since it runs small, but I know that I'll be a lot smaller by then. And I LOVE Bon Jovi!! Gotta have this shirt!!

Now, just to keep avoiding my 15 year old daughter's ice cream birthday cake for a few more days. . . . .

Barbara

One for every five pounds lost:

Great job!!! You're doing so very well!!

Nice OSV here... I have had a pair of gray pants in my closet for awhile. I haven't worn them in at least 2 years, probably more. I put them on today and they fit very nicely. My youngest daughter said to me "Soon they won't fit again Mommy, but in a good way!" I love my cheerleaders!