Hi everyone,

I have been in Phase 2 for about a week...in name only. Unfortunately, I have been up to my old tricks in the last few days and ended up eating about 6 cookies yesterday. I feel like Phase 1 is rather easy for me *because* it is so rigid...but I don't know how to handle the freedom that comes with Phase 2.

I'd love to hear from veterans that struggled with Phase 2 and how they made it through successfully!

I haven't posted in over a week and I think it's partly because I was hiding from this...but I really don't want to get derailed permanently. I have gained back a pound already...so I really want to turn this thing around NOW so it doesn't get too far out of hand.

Thanks so much -
Kate

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Kate, I'm just entering Phase II myself and am interested to hear what others have to say on this matter. I am sure that if I'm not vigilant, it would be really easy to slip up. I applaud you for being honest with yourself and stopping this before it gets farther gone.

One thing I'm going to try is to play this like I'm still on Phase I and be VERY STRICT with the few things I'm adding back in. I think journaling will help with food amnesia and keep me on track.

Best of luck to you! I know you can do this!

Kleo, sounds like you haven't ditched the cravings. I suggest you go back onto Phase I for a couple of days and then ease into the next Phase - Phase I.5.
What foods did you gradually add when you transitioned? Not cookies, I hope!

It's important to ease slowly into Ph2. If you add too much, too fast, your cravings can return. I agree with Ruth that you may want to go back to Ph1 for a few days to ensure cravings are gone. In the meantime however, don't beat yourself up. Damage done is minimal and you can recover from this and carry on with great success. We all hit speedbumps, we just have to keep going.

I always go back to Phase I for a few days when I "mess up". Be strong Kleo. You can do this. Your body will thank you. (Can you get the cookies out of the house?)

I'm in agreement -- if the cravings aren't gone, go back to P1 for just a few days. You already know how good it feels to be "clean", and that will give you some more motivation to continue on P2.

I'm a P2 newbie myself, and I can relate to fearing the freedom that this Phase gives us. I just try and remember that this is a lifetime change for me, this is the way I want to eat for the rest of my life. I would almost much rather stay on P1, but I know that is not realistic. I am adding in one thing new each week (this week is brown rice), and we'll see what the scale says on Friday AM. In the reading that I've done on this forum, it looks like it will just take some experimenting to see how my body reacts to the new things I introduce.

The boys brought home a box of doughnuts from church yesterday, and the beautiful pink box was sitting on my kitchen table. And as I looked at it, I just focued on the grease spots on the box, and I had no desire to put that junk inside my body. That was just such a huge victory for me.

Hang in there, Kate, you can do it!!

I agree with those who say to go slowly into phase 2. What foods where you particularly missing in p1? For me it was fruit. I added fruit to my breakfast and learned that it triggers me to eat the rest of the day, I changed to a single serving of oatmeal with vanilla and sweetener and some milk. That worked well.
Of course now, I eat a high fiber breakfast-all bran or fiber one with some berries. That doesn't cause cravings. I think the fiber keeps me full longer.

So the p1.5 is basically adding only 1 P2 thing in a day to see how you react. Either stay with that one thing for a few days or try a different food item for a few days. See how you react.

Good luck
Sarah in Md

Thanks everyone! Going back to Phase 1 sounds like good advice. I think I did suffer from too much too soon. I will do p1 starting tomorrow (got to get some groceries) and then try again on the weekend with fruit only.

Thanks!!
Kate

I think everyone has given you some good advice Kate. Sounds like some more Phase 1 would be a good thing for you.

I remember feeling the exact nervousness about starting Phase 2, and worrying that I would mess up without being so "restricted". But I chose to look at it this way ... Phase 1 has a foods list of things you can choose from, and only from that list. Phase 2 is no different, it's just some different foods. I just had to trust that as long as I followed the plan and stuck to the list, I was going to be okay.

Dust yourself off, and start working at it again. Never stop trying. You can do this !

Good luck

P.S. get the cookies and junk out of the house !