Hi! We are similar places- starting/goal/height so maybe I can be of help.
a GREAT week for me is 5 (has happen twice) good is 3 and usually its only 1 or 2. Restricted doesn't mean don't eat them, it means don't have more than one a day. Some people have found that they actually have bigger loses when they eat them. I've had one a day every day!
If you excursive you're suppose to have a 4th packet, 1/2 before and 1/2 after...

Think of the Biggest Loser, its done by percentage of body weight lost, not actual pounds lost. so try not to get discouraged!

I thought about pizza so much today that I have that guilty feeling like I actually ate some!Boardergirl you will be at your goal weight before you know it. Just stick with it! The last 3 nights I have been blending baby spinach in with my chocolate shake and ice so it FEELS like a dessert when really its my dinner veggies....yum! Just changing things up sometimes it gets a little monotonous.

IP will certainly mess with TOM big time- be prepared for it not to be "normal" in length, or regularity
and YES, you usually bloat right before and have smaller losses

PATNS- you are SO CLOSE! how awesome.
I see you joined in 2008 but when did you start IP? (we are similar in size so I'm just curious)

We have similar stats and i'm in week 7 100% OP, haven't cheated since wk 1.. and have lost about 14lbs. I've been sticking to the sheet and the last two WIs haven't been good. BUT I still feel my clothes getting loose. You'll find that you have good weeks and bad weeks and in the end it's all about how your clothes are fitting and how YOU see yourself. I'm only halfway to my goal and feel like i've lost SO much! The little things will really excite you. Being able to cross your legs comfortably, etc. They key is to build healthy habits that you'll use for the rest of your life to stay in maintenance. Don't rush, just let the diet do all the work for you. Stick to the sheet and it'll come off.
Plus before you know it, you'll be in week 7 like me! Seems like just yesterday I signed up

Eat a restricted once a day!! You'll love it and it may help the losses.
Also, if you've always exercised then you're fine. Just be sure to keep your heart rate below 70%. I'll bump up the exercise thread for ya. Theres a lot of good info i've learned in there since I started working out last week.

We are about identical. I have always exercised, so when I was told not to I wasn't sure what to think about that. I didn't the first week and lost 5 lbs. The second week I did a little and lost 4. The third week I picked it up - but found I didn't have the endurance I normally do (assuming this is from the lack of carbs) I lost 2 lbs. 4th week, still exercising, still have low endurance from what I had before starting the program, and lost 1.8 this week. I have been adding another packet each day when I work out and/or having a hard boiled egg or two as well. I have also ordered the mango drink as it has the most protein of all the products and it's really good. Perfect for a post-run drink. I know I would probably lose more faster by not exercising, but I'm okay with the rate I'm going and its been such a part of my daily routine I don't want to give it up.

With the warmer weather, I just had popsicles made from the dark chocolate pudding and premade chocolate shake, with some Walden Farms chocolate dip thrown in and blended. They were great! I'm going to try chopping up a peanut crunch bar and add that with the next batch.

So I didn't get a Doctor Divorce today only a trial seperation! Oh well at least I have until July to wait to see he again! He is a great Doctor, but just want to be frreeee! He said I was much too hyper to turn loose quite yet! MEN!!! No really I am blessed! Oh and he was totally impressed with my weight loss!

I found trying to exercise the first month kind of difficult because of the lack of endurance. That got much better by the second month and was soon back to normal. Also loosing a lot of weight in the meantime really helped too.

Hi everyone, hope you all had a great day. I had my 2nd weigh in today with my coach, 2 lbs down.....it was alright, but hoped for more. I have been very good and sticking with the program, except one day I was a little short on veggies and meat......just not hungry. I actually have 2 weigh-ins, one with my coach on Wednesday's and one on my own first thing Thursday morning. Long story, but I ended up having to weigh in 1 day early with my coach on a Wednesday, but started the diet on a Thursday, so I like to weigh myself first thing on Thursdays to get the "real" reading LOL....so tomorrow, I am hoping I will like the number better. I have found splitting up my snack between late morning and late afternoon has helped alot, I have worked out a little here and there, couple days of about 45 min weight training, and then just bike rides with the kids and walking the dogs. I still feel great, no feeling of wanting to cheat, I realize now I need to stay away from carbs completely.......for now anyway, I have no control with them at all. I just hope I remember how good I feel when I am eating this way and it helps to keep me on track. I figured out to get to my goal weight, obviously depending on weekly losses, I will have to be on track for at least 16 weeks........I have never been able to stick with anything for that long, so I have this forum in my favourites and check in daily to read post to help keep me focused on my goal. Thank you everyone for you positive posts and helpful info. for us newbies. Sleep tight everyone.

I started in August, so it's been a long haul. But I was stalled for quite awhile this winter. Then I realized I had gone too low in food by having chicken breast as my protein all the time. Also I was not getting my oil in because I was using individual packs of WF dressings. Jan & Feb are super busy on my job so I was taking the same stuff all the time for convenience.
One I measured out my olive oil and put it on my salad, added krill oil (omega oils make me nauseous) and mixed up my protein choices I started to lose again after a stall of 6 weeks.

After I'm getting close to goal I am losing about a pound a week.
I also make sure I get my restricted in everyday too. So many people think if you stall you need to cut something out. But in my case it was important to see what I wasn't getting in.

It does seem that things go slower for those of us built closer to the ground.Also I am post-menopausal and that really slows the whole process.

Pat

Very wise words! And congrats on being so close to goal....are you planning anything special from a celebration standpoint once you are there?

WI #26 today. Down another 2 pounds and 4 inches. I'll take it! Just can't break into wonderland yet! Leaving on an 8 day vacation Saturday. Maybe I'll come back in wonderland.

Wow I all most did not even recognize you! You are looking amazing! GREAT job! Keep up the great work!

You are doing an amazing job and it will happen! Have a great vacation