Welcome back to the Daily Chat thread - post your plans for today, share what's been happening, ask questions!

Some forum lingo:
NSV = Non-scale victory
TOM = time of the month
WI = Weigh-in
WF = Walden Farms
OP = on program

Bookmarking:
Ideal Protein Sub-forum Home page
Consider making it a bookmark or a favorite in your browser so you can come back easily to get your RDA of Ideal Protein information.

Information for newbies:
Check the sticky page (top of forum, above all the topics) for lots of good information and please read here before asking what might be a frequently asked question in the daily thread: Information on Ideal Protein phases (1-4), IP Ultimate List Recipes, FAQ, Newbie Guide, Exercise, and other Important Threads

More Recipes Here Mix'n in the kitchen...Recipes from the Rainbow
MiX'N' iN THE KiTCH'N.... Recipes from the Rainbow Volume 2
here Fun with Ideal Protein Packets
and here Fun with Veggie Purees!
Ideal Protein Diet Recipes #4

Tickers and Signatures:
There are 2 requirements to have access to signatures and tickers. You must have been a member of 3fatchicks for 20 days AND posted at least 20 messages anywhere on the 3fatchicks forum. When you've met those requirements check The Ultimate Signature and Ticker Thread for more information and instructions.

Quoting: The best quoting tip - EVER!! Thanks Rosie, aka 6710.

Searching:
If you can't find what you're looking for in this forum using the website search function, try using the "double search" using Google.

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For example, if you want to look for "big mac in a bowl", type "big mac in a bowl site:3fatchicks.com" in Google search. No need to include the quotation marks when you type.

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Progress photos have been moved to the Mini-Goal Photo Album.

Other helpful links related to the Ideal Protein diet:
Dr. Chanh Tran Tien's website

Morning everyone! Patiently waiting at the garage for my snow tires to be switched out..."patiently" Hoping to get some shopping done this afternoon, in need of some pants/shorts. Also, got surprise tickets to the Red Sox game this Sunday! So I'll need a new t-shirt as all the ones I have are too big Hope everyone has a great OP day!!

Yesterday, had some discouraging news about a surgery that I don't want to have but need - had a mini meltdown but thankfully only took it out on 2 restricted products and not the bags of left over Easter candy. Today WILL be better. Feels better already by writing this down!

Hi IP's:

Wishing everyone a great day OP.

Has anyone gotten a recommendation on how much added stevia may be used per day? My coach has said no more than 4 packets of splenda, but no restriction on stevia.

I'm at a plateau so just trying to figure out some thoughts on what I can shift around.

I try to limit all of the extras to 5 a day, and most days I only have 1 or 2.

My losses have slowed way down, 6 lbs over a 8 week period. I had a 3 week stall, so did a phase 3 week to break it.

Try to stay focused on the big picture. Even though it's super slow, you are still going to get to goal.

How long have you been stalled?
Is it just a scale stall or a measurement stall as well?
A true plateau would be 4-6 weeks of zero measurable change (scale or tape measure).
It is my understanding that stevia is on of the 0/0/0 additions which still has trace carbs so people try to limit to 4-6 servings per day.
If you're using Truvia, it has maltodextrin, which is a more blatant carb.
I do not use Truvia at all after the reading I've done.

You're getting much closer to goal. That'll slow weight loss in many people as well.

Good luck!

Thanks so much for your reply. It's a true stall, I'm frustrated to say. It is getting harder and harder to be motivated when nothing is budging for these last pounds. My coaches suggested exercise, and I am happy to do that but unsure because the science suggests otherwise.

I definitely am going to just cut out all of the extras to see if that helps -- I just use Sweetleaf brand stevia.

Know what? We learn on IP why our weight got out-of-control. Emotional eating is a big trigger
I've had a few meltdowns while on this plan. I share them here b/c then I don't eat over them.
There are way worse things than grabbing an extra OP item.
I'm with you. Move forward & don't look back, except to formulate a plan for how to deal with emotional eating when it pops up again.
Many folks around here are referring to the Beck Diet Solution as helpful for longterm weight loss/maintenance support. Lots of good ideas there.

Sending (((hugs))) regarding the news about the surgery. And sending huge pats on the back for coping without abusing food! Huge NSV! Good for you.

Morning everyone--- it's the day I've been waiting for. I'm going to weigh in today and let the dr know I'm ready to phase off. I"m pretty excited!

Gotta say, I am over the non-visible moon this morning!!!

Down another 4!!! That's 2 weeks in a row!! I had braced myself for a very small loss this week since last week was so big . . . I am just thrilled!!!

Debrasb -- You have been at this much longer than me, so I am not sure I have any advice for you, but do offer my support . . . I can imagine how frustrating it would be. I know you'll find your way out of this. Keep at it.

I'm off to do my measuring -- just couldn't wait to come on here and change my siggy!!

I like the taste of Splenda but it does have trace/hidden carbs (I think nearly 1 per packet?) A good alternative is liquid sucralose which is truly no carb. I have tried Sweetz Free. It seems a little pricey but is super concentrated so the bottle seems to last forever. There is another brand called EZ Sweetz which is a little less expensive (but it does come in two different concentrations so be careful about which you order).

http://sweetzfree.com/
http://www.ezsweetz.com/

I had some horrible GI issues with the Truvia but sucralose has never bothered me in either liquid or powder. And liquid is 0/0/0.

Morning all, been busy the last little while with work and what not so haven't been posting but have been surfing here. Jumped on the scale against my better judgement I might add as my home WI is actually tomorrow, and seeing how it's week two of my losing cycle - meaning I seem to only register weight loss every second week - I was expecting the numbers to be down. Well nope, zip, zero, zilch, nada.

Hmmm. Thus starts the inner dialogue/conflict between reason and emotion.

Reason - You've lost 55 pound in 8 weeks - that's pretty darn good
Reason - You've gone down several pants and shirt sizes
Reason - You are averaging close to 7 pounds per week in losses
Reason - People have mentioned numerous times about your weight loss
Reason - You have not strayed off the diet once in 8 weeks
Reason - DW reports that my snoring is significantly reduced
Reason - After losing this much weight your body needs time to readjust
Reason - My weight loss while significant at first has to slow down
Reason - Two weeks without a loss is not a plateau never to be recovered
from - get a grip
Reason - You didn't get this size overnight you won't lose it overnight

Emotion - GOOD LORD THE SCALE HASN'T MOVED - ALL IS LOST
Emotion - That's it IP has stopped working I'm done
Emotion - All that sacrifice for nothing - shaking fist at the heavens
Emotion - I've hit the dreaded plateau it'll be weeks before I lose more
Emotion - I've gotta start exercising like a fool to get any change
Emotion - This is going to take forever - months, years, decades
Emotion - @$%@$&!#, !)"@$%$%, @#$@"$*

So that's the ongoing dialogue today. I'm confident reason will win out and I'll see what tomorrow brings. I'm sure of several things however - the scale will register either a loss or no change - the sun will rise and set - DW loves me and will support me no matter what - and life goes on.

Have a good day all.

I got on the scale this a.m. and saw a number I haven't seen since 1999: 192.5. I almost fainted. I took a shower and weighed again to be sure. LOL