Hey Capricious,

I am going to Hawaii next week. I haven't been to Hawaii in 22 years. Last time I went I was a beached whale (pregnant). I'm going to the Big Island. I've never been there. Vacationing with the FIL. Where are you going?

When you're in Hilo, think of me, OK?

[N.b. The Big Island was just named the 7th most beautiful island in the world. And up to 20 million tons of debris from the Japanese tsunami is headed toward the Hawai'ian Islands. But you'll miss it. I hope you love the island as much as I do.]

Woolberger..On how to make pumpkin lattes..Unfortunately Starbucks only carries a few sugar free syrups..not the pumpkin sugar free one. I am going to make my own at home.
I like the morning star sausages also..I use them for taco meat. Your recipe sounds perfect for fall.

How exciting that you are going to Hawaii next week. It is one of my favorite islands. The volcano is worth going to. How fun that you are going as a thin you. I am going to Hawaii in Dec. to visit my family.

Capricious: I often reflect on what I used to eat and how I have changed. This seems to hit particularly as we approach the holidays. It is nice to reflect on the good changes that have occurred. It seems like you are calm on your cheat days.
I am going to Hawaii also..but in Dec. Just hoping the planes are flying.

Today is WI day and the day I tell my coach I am moving to Phase 3. I am ready!

PixlKitty..Thanks for the in depth posting on how to navigate FAt Secret..It is appreciated. I think I have a block against fats, yet I know they are needed. I am going to try the whipped butter.


For those of you that have a Cash and Carry Store nearby..I hear they sell SF syrups at 3.00 a bottle.

ah would be nice to have a cash and carry, my store only sells the big bottles and about $9.00 each.... but I found this online while I was in "training" last week... lots of good recipes and the pumpkin latte is one of them...
Sugar Free Pumpkin Pie Latte
INGREDIENTS
1 oz. Torani Sugar Free Pumpkin Pie syrup
8 nonfat oz. milk
2 shots espresso* INSTRUCTIONS
Steam milk and Torani together. Pour heated, flavored milk into a tall glass and add brewed espresso*. Spoon a thin layer of foamed milk over beverage. *If needed, 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee can be substituted for 2 shots espresso

http://shop.torani.com/

Hi all, a question for you maintainers... when your pancreaus restarts do you get warm again? I am a little tired of being cold for 9 months... and winter is coming... It will be a horrible winter if I have to wear gloves at work.

Joanne! You're in the 140's ?!??? How did I miss this momentous occasion- congrats! And it looks like your past 2 WI's have both been 3's? That's awesome- so very, very happy for you right now! I'm freezing my ***! off right now and like you, living where we do, I can't believe it's only autumn and winter is looming. I. am. going. to. be. an. icecube.
woolberger- I'll be going to maui in February. We go with my husband's family usually. Love, love, love it there because as I was just mentioning winter here is horrible and it is so nice to go somewhere there's flowers, sunshine, water and such a feeling of peace. The only bad part is coming back
The skinny pumpkin lattes I get are from Second Cup- which is Canada's version of Starbucks...
Maile- WELCOME TO THE LAND OF AWESOME BREAKFASTS!! I know you don't get much of a chance to enjoy them, as you mentioned you're short on time in the mornings, but the feeling of having yogurt, fruit and toast again is one to be cherished Heck, I've been on maintenance for two months and I still cherish getting up in the morning to a bowl of fruit & yogurt with granola... missed out on it this morning and I'm still feeling a bit ripped off- ahhh- tomorrow though, tomorrow is a few mere hours away...
And don't shy away from the fats, they are so helpful in the digestive process! They are not the enemy (at least not on their own anyway )...
Been a bit under the weather as a bad cold is passing thru my family and haven't been getting my exercise in- think I have to set a date with the dvd player & Jillian Michaels. Love it when you're about 5 minutes from the end and want to die a bit she's yelling "Don't you quit!!! You don't quit when you see the finish line do you??? No!!! That's when you put even more into getting there!!!!" . It's incredibly good timing and I love the analogy. Would really like to run a 5k this year...

Yes I snuck it in monday after my weigh in... happy to be finally there, and hopefully will continue to lose as I think now instead of moving to phase 3 my coach will have me go to my goal in phase 2, which isn't bad but I was looking forward to breakfasts this week... so I have to wait a few more weeks... I have time, am not going anywhere.
As for cold, one of the ladies I work with and have known most of my life, is always cold and she is now happy that I am too... such a bag.. we were comparing how cold we were this morning at the -5c we know it is getting colder. I have to find new clothing for winter, thermal underwear, a new winter coat, gloves and hats as even my head gets cold now where as before I just covered my ears and I was fine. When I go for walks with the furry girls long sleeved shirt, 2 hoodies and a fall coat (and that is more than I wore all last winter) yikes.

Do any of you by chance have any low carb Greek salad dressing suggestions? I can't wait to have a Greek salad with feta Fri on my first phase 4 day

BCgirl I use Renee's Spring Italian or Creamy Italian dressings on my greek salads- both are super yummy! Greek salad has always been a fave of mine too and has been a regular go to lunch... although... have had an absolutely fabulous warm spinach salad the past couple days that I'm so hooked on. Never tried wilting spinach before and after I tried it I could have kicked myself for not having had it before now in life. Have to admit spinach has never been a favorite but it sure is now.
1 T evoo
1 cup chopped peppers (red only or a mix)
1 garlic clove
1 tsp lemon juice
2-3 cups of spinach
20- 30 grams feta
Heat the oil in a large skillet add peppers over med/high heat 1 minute. Turn heat to medium saute another 3 minutes. Add garlic & lemon juice saute another 30 seconds to a minute add spinach keep sauteing until all the spinach has wilted. Remove from heat and stir in feta. Serve.
Seriously, it doesn't sound like much but this is ridiculously good especially when it's cold out and you're freezing...
2ride- I'm both happy and sad for you. Happy that you're weight loss seems to have restarted sad that means more Phase 2 but Phase 3 will be here before you know it. And once again your patience is astounding, keep up the great work!!

I absolutely lovelovelove EMERALD cocoa roasted almonds for a snack- just enough to satisfy a chocolate and crunch craving if you buy them in the 100 calorie packs- yummy yummy- 4 carbs.

You guys are prompting me to search airfares for a spring break in Hawaiii! My favorite part of Maui in winter/spring is the humpback whales! And the heat. Definitely the heat!

I am not nearly as cold now that I'm eating more. Not as warm as last winter with my huge extra layer of fat, but warmer than I was all summer. Funny how carbs heat up the body.

I have a question. Lunch is supposed to be vegetables and meat, no carbs in Phase 4. Do the "restricted" vegetables from Phase 1 count as a carb? Can I only have beets and spaghetti squash for dinner, or do they now count as a normal vegetables?

Thank you for sharing the spinach recipe. That sounds so easy, it may be dinner tonight!

Good luck with vacation planning! We just booked 2.5 weeks in Costa Rica over Christmas so I have to get going on my workouts to be bikini ready

My understanding is that all vegetables are allowed in phase 4, including at lunch.

I'm surprised to admit how good that spinach sounds - before IP I didn't eat nearly enough vegetables. I'll let you know when I try it.