the Moving Goal Post....

November 20th, 2012.
I am maintaining now, alll is well.  I have no reason to think that I will not be able to keep this weight off.

My husband is still going strong.  It has been 14 months now.  He has lost a total of 218 lbs!  Wow Wow Wow.  When he first started :  his goal was 88lbs higher than he is right now..  As he reached that, he lowered the goal by 20, then 30, then 50, etc. pounds.  I think after all the times of trying to take off weight and failing, he just didn't believe that he would EVER be THIS light.  Today - the moving goal post is only 2 lbs away!  I THINK this will be it - and then he will transition to phase 2.  I couldn't be more pleased for him!

Ok -- lunch is over...back to work.

That was EASY!

I started back on Phase 1 on the 10th - today is the 22nd and when I weighed this AM I was UNDER (by .4lb) where I was when I started maintenance in May.
It is JUST as easy the second time- so there is no excuse for letting that 6 lbs become 10, become 20 etc...

Now that I have taken off that 6lbs, I need to decide if I want to carry on for a while on Phase 1 and see if I can take off an additional 10 to 15, or if I should join my husband when he transitions to Phase 2.  Yep -- he weighed the other day - and was 1 lb from goal!  By Thursday when he meets with Carrie at Ignite Health and Wellness, he WILL be at goal.  Actually - he will be 30lbs PAST his initial goal, and 5 lbs past his second goal.  He is slimmer now than when we got married (back in 1990!).  His inches lost is something like 130" !! wow!  I know they often say that your inches equals your lbs lost, but because a good amount of my husbands extra weight was surrounding his internal organs (heart, lungs etc), we are unable to measure those inches.  I couldn't be more proud of my ol' man!

If I can take off 10 more lbs, I will be at the weight I was when we got married....hmmm - something to think about!

I have a number of coworkers who are on the program, they are doing incredible as well!  I think this really is a new diet revolution!

Good luck on your weight loss journey - it CAN be done!. 

Back on the PHASE 1

As of yesterday I am back on Phase 1.  I had gained that 6lbs while on vacation this year and the weeks in between my vacations, and then my hubby was out of town for 1 week, then another 3 weeks, so I deviated off the  maintenance lifestyle.   I ate and drank and ate and drank - and didn't follow the guidelines at all. I am NOT surprised that I gained this.  It DID take me 4 or 5 months to put it on.  The first while (3 months or so) on maintenance I was really good, I didn't find it difficult to follow the "rules" - and I deviated some, and still was able to maintain.  Just the summer that did me in.  Really - if I have to go on Phase 1 for a few weeks after a great summer -- really not a big deal.  Easy Peasy!

Thought I should nip this 6lbs (and the 2 more that seem to come and go) in the bud!.

I lost .4 of a lb yesterday, so I am on my way.
I MIGHT even decide to take off a further 10 or 15 0 depending on how I am feeling and how it is going etc. etc.
I actually forgot to have my 3rd protein pack yesterday - I remembered after supper...so I had heated up the chocoate drink (just a minute - at 30 sec intervals) and had hot chocoate.  Was nummy!  This is JUST as easy the 2nd time around as it was the first time, but I think I am more excited than I was before.  I KNOW the weight is going to roll off...

My hubby is 3 lbs away from his goal!  He has lost 203 lbs!  WOW!  he is 1/2 the man he use to be! 

THANKS to my new followers!  I now have SIX followers - that thrills me!  It means a lot to me that I have some people who really ARE interested in this journey we have taken.

until next time (I will try to keep you posted in a week).
kmac

Maintenance / Anniversary / New follower!

Today is Sept 17th, 2012 - it was EXACTLY 52 weeks ago that my hubby and I started the IP diet.
So, happy Anniversary to us!  I have been maintaining for approx 4 months now -- so a third of the year.  I am up a tiny bit - (4-6 lbs), but it is due to extended holidaying.  I am back following the guidlines for maintaining.  If I don't take this couple of lbs off in a reasonable amount of time - I WILL pop back on to phase 1 for a bit.  NO WAY am I returning to that weight I was before!
My hubby -- OMG!  I am sooooooo impressed with how he has done / is doing.  He didn't acutally weigh on day 1, but we are fairly confident when we say -- he is down almost 200 LBS!  To have lost 197 lbs over a period of 1 year is just so impressive!  We have been married for 22 years and I have NEVER seen him like this!.  I measured him the other day -- he is down 121" !!  He is thinking that he maybe wants to take off approx. 7 or 8 more lbs - and then he is going to transition onto phases 2, 3 and maintenance.  I am so proud and happy for him - (and me, because he is more active and outgoing).
Over the course of the last year, we have been sharing our successes with family and friends and co-workers.. and 12 other people have signed up because they have been inspired by our success - most of them have done and are doing very well.  I am so pleased to have played a part in someone making this positive change in their lives.  What a great feeling!
Follower!  I have a new follower!   Thank you very much!  I am sorry that these blogs have tapered off and become few and far between.  I will try to do better.....Feel free to post a comment -- that should motivate me to get on here and update.
Take care all !  Good luck on journey's of your own.  IP Rocks!

Maintenance

I have been very very remiss in posting.  Sorry to my 2 followers!  (wish I had more....)  But I thank the 2 of you!
I am MAINTAINING!  For - I think - the first time in my life.  I am trying to follow the guidelines that I should.  I slip sometimes, but I am keeping a close close eye on the scale.  When I do go up a couple of lbs - I pay attention to what I am doing - follow the rules - and before I know it - I am back down those couple.  I feel awesome!  I have been on maintenance for 3 months now.

My hubby -- stepped on the scale a bit ago -- and we can safely say that he is down --------
drum roll please...........
OVER 180 LBS!
Last time we measured him (couple of weeks ago) - he was down -- 111.5 inches!
Are you kidding me????!!!!
He feels the best he has felt since - FOREVER!
He is actually below his original goal weight, but is feeling so good, he is going to try for maybe 20 or so more.
Started Sept 19th, - this is week 46...his average is 4 LBS per week!  Cannot ask for better than that.
I hope you enjoy the success that we have on the Ideal Protein Diet!  If so, please share - I would love to hear from you.

Weeks 29 and 30 Ideal Protein Diet

And the successes just keep piling up!
Weigh in this time -- 4.6lbs down for 2 weeks
TOTAL lost - 73 lbs!
Inches lost this month - 8.25"
TOTAL inches lost - 69"  - hey, wait a minute - I am 5'-8" tall -- I have lost as many inches as I am tall!  How about that!
Measured my hubby - he is down another 11" - total loss in inches 86"!

I was a good girl this last couple weeks, no cheating or going off protocol.
So - as of today I am transitioning to Phase 2.
Instead of a protein pack and 2 cups of veggies for lunch.  I am to have 8 oz of meat and the 2 cups of veggies.  According to my coach, most people continue to lose a bit through this next phase.  We shall see.
I am planning to stay on Phase 2 for 2 weeks.

Speaking of my coach -- I just want to send a "shout out" to those GREAT LADIES at Ignite Health and Wellness in Salmon Arm BC.  They have been so informative, supportive, and given me "tough love" when I needed a reminder about why I had signed up to do this in the first place.  I HIGHLY recommend that if you are in the area and have the desire to drop a few pounds that you give them a call:

250-808-3580 or 250-833-8354

Weeks 27 and 28 Ideal Protein Diet

I have been a bit remiss with my posting.  But I am still going strong, and so is my hubby!  In fact -- These 2 weeks have been excellent!  I have not gone off protocol at all.  Stuck like glue.  I believe it is due to the fact that I am getting darn close to goal, but my loss per week has slowed a bit. Still going down though, and that is all that matters.
Loss this weigh in - 3.6 lbs.  Total loss 68.4.
Measure up at next weigh in.  My clothes are all getting too big!  Even my "skinniest jeans".  I dug up some old jeans from the basement.  They fit - BUT - it has been so long since I wore them (some time around 1995 I think!) that they are soooo far out of style it is laughable.  My plan for this weekend is to purge all the clothes out of my closet that are too big.  Up til now I have been wearing those 2X shirts and 1X shirts and XL shirts, and those L shirts -- but really -- at this point I truely am a MEDIUM!  Wow -- that thrills me!  So, once I purge - I will see what I need to shop for.  Between jeans and shirts I am sure it is going to add up.  But HEY - I am so worth it!  We are planning a trip in July, at which point my hubby is hopes to also be close to goal.  He is sooooo going to need new clothes as well.  Each week he discovers that the clothes that he wore the previous week just keep getting bigger and bigger!
I am looking forward to learning how to maintain!  I have lost weight in the past, but then figured "I have this licked" - and not folllowed through to learn the art of maintenance.  One of the things that drew me to IP was their major focus on maintenance. 
Good luck to you on your weight loss journey as well!  We CAN and ARE doing this!
Until next time..
kmac

Weeks 25 and 26 Ideal Protein Diet

Well, it has been 6 months (26 weeks).  The time has just flown bye!  I have to say the rewarding feeling of all we have accomplished has far far outweighed any difficulties that we encountered over the last 6 months.
This weeks report :  Loss of 2.8 lbs (16 days) - total loss to date 64.8lbs.
Inches lost - this time only 2.75" (for a month) - which is CRAZY because my clothes felt like they got looser this month than other months!  Total inches lost to date - 52 1/2".  WOW!  That explains how I have gone done 4 sizes in my jeans!  This time all the inches were off my waist, and hips and thighs - which makes me very happy! 
Now -- Hubby - Loss in inches this time 11 inches!  Are you kidding me!!!  His is still doing great!  His total inches lost now is 75" !!  OMG!  He has now lost in inches more than he is in Height!  He is feeling GREAT!
True confession time again.....  I went away on the weekend of the 10th - with friends for a spa and overnight stay in a hotel.  We really enjoyed it, BUT I went off plan for 2 days.  So -- that being said - and the fact that I kicked out of ketosis and WASTED 3 days -- I am actually happy with my small loss this time. 
Time to buckle down and get these last few lbs OFF FOREVER!  Take Care - and Good Luck on any weight loss journeys of your own.
Until next time.  kmac

Weeks 23 and 24 Ideal Protein Diet

It was only 11 days between weigh ins.  I have been trying to go 2 weeks, just because we don't need weekly coaching anymore (it's been long enough).
Official weigh in - on March 5th, 2012 - Loss of 4.6lbs! (In 11 days!).
total loss to date - 62 lbs!
WOW!  Still SO pleased with the way things have been going.
I am only 8 LBS away from my original goal.  I am considering changing it to a lower number because things have been going so well.  I think I will cross that bridge when I get to it.
I am really looking forward to getting onto maintenance - as this is the part of all diet programs that I have NEVER gotten into my head.  I WILL NOT gain this weight back.  IP has a BIG focus on maintaining the loss - so I am pretty confident with the great coaches I WILL figure this out.
PLUS - neither hubby or I want to face down another big loss like this, it can be overwhelming.  One day at a time - or, as we did in the beginning:  a promise to yourself that you WILL make it through 8 weeks, or 4 weeks, or 12 weeks....
I have been sticking to the program, and it is showing.  I feel like I am losing inches as well.
I have been to the gym a few times with my husband - it is good that we have both joined up now, we should keep each other motivated.  He is still sticking to the program like glue!.  He says this is the best diet he has ever been on, because he is not hungry at all.  I (being a girl) have cravings on occassion - but they have certainly been managable.  Those highs and lows that we all experience with the standard North American diet are not being missed by either one of us at all!
Until next time!
kmac

Weeks 21 and 22 Ideal Protein Diet

Weighed in on Thursday 23rd - it had been 2 weeks since my last official check in.
Total loss (for this 2 week period) - only 2.6 lbs.
Total loss to date:  57.4 lbs.
I was expecting this low number because I had a weekend with some beer in it. (6 light beer!).  That slowed my loss down for sure.  I also had a short cold, didn't last long, and I didn't really feel that bad -- but I still craved some comfort food (as I think we all do when we are sick).  I ended up making a broccoli/cauli soup.  It made me feel better, without me going too far off plan.  I used home made stock, so it couldn't have been that bad.
I am getting closer and closer to my goal.  I can SEE the light at the end of the tunnel!
Going to the gym after work today, going to meet my husband there.  I would never have imagined that we would be going to the gym as a couple, for years our main couple activity has been watching TV!  It is GREAT!  I am really looking forward to it.
I continue to be impressed with how dedicated hubby is being to the plan.  He sticks to it like GLUE!
until next time...
kmac

Week 20 Ideal Protein Diet

What a great week!  It was measurement week, we have been doing our measurements every 4 weeks.
Weight loss - this week 4 (** oh yeah ** count 'em - 4!) lbs!
Total loss to date - 54.8 lbs!
I am starting to focus on the finish line - I believe I am aiming for approx. another 15 - 20 lbs more.  At this rate, I will be on maintenance before I know it.
INCHES -- my loss this weeek -- 10.25"  - Are you kidding me?!  That reminds me -- I am wearing my SKINNY-EST Jeans!  I decided to try them on during the week, because my "normal skinny" jeans seemed like they were Big...and they FIT!  They were the one thing in my closet that I was not quite into when I did my closet "shopping" a few weeks back.  I was/am thrilled thrilled thrilled!
I have heard that inches off will equal weight loss, and I didn't believe it back when my weight loss was at a rate of 2:1 to my inches lost.  But, as you can see - they are starting to even out.
TOTAL 54.8 lbs lost vs. 49 3/4" lost
My hubby lost another 10" this week as well -- his total inches is 64"!! 
He is still in the higher lbs lost than inches lost phase though, because I am SURE he has lost around 100 lbs!    He is feeling GREAT, looking GREAT..  Going to the GYM every second day, he never misses!  He rides the stationary bike and goes on the treadmill.  I am SOOOO impressed!  I have never seen him so motivated.  When he notices how loose his clothes are getting, I think it just re-focuses him.  And it seems like every day he gets smaller.
I said to him the other day "I forget, when I am away from him all day at work how much smaller he is now - and every day I am just a bit surprised when I see him!".
Going out to a special banquet on Saturday....The good news is that I have MANY choices for clothes to wear, and so does hubby! - The challenge will be avoiding all the "not to be consumed while in phase 1 foods..."  Wish us luck.  We will be surrounded by friends who have been nothing but supportive through this, so that should help.
TA TA for now (until next week).
kmac

Weeks 19 Ideal Protein Diet

I did not go in for an "official" weigh in this week...
BUT I weighed at home, and according to that scale I am down another 2.6lbs!
Total loss to date:  50.8 lbs
My "skinny" jeans are actually getting a little big on me.
AND - if I was playing "true confessions" - I would admit to being 'off plan' last weekend...
Spent Friday night at my brothers.  He had said that we would go out for dinner, so I planned to be good and order a steak and salad or something equally on plan....BUT - when I arrived at his house, it turned out that he had been great enough to make dinner.  Nice of him - even though there was not a single thing I could eat and stay on plan.  So, I did what any good sister would do - I said "Thank-you" and then I ate small portions of each thing.  I also drank some of that Sublime beer...
AND THEN
on Saturday - I met my friends for brunch, which was at a restaurant that served fruit and crepes with everything -- so I didn't make a fuss, and just ordered and ate.  Saturday night we went out for a really nice (fancy) dinner, and there were definately parts of my meal that I should not have eaten - PLUS, I had a few drinks there.  We went bowling after that
It was lots of fun!  Celebrating my friend's birthday and enjoying each others company. 
Sunday - I tried to be good -- came home early -- got the munchies and ended up having 2 extra protein packs that day (guess I was coming down from a carb high or something?). 
Weighed on Monday morning - and I was UP 4 lbs!  from Friday morning.  To be expected though.  So, I buckled down and was a little angel for the rest of the week - even getting in some 1 hour walks with the dog in the evenings.  So - end result of being down 2.6 lbs - I am SERIOUSLY okay with the outcome, considering how the week went..
Until next time.
kmac

Weeks 18 Ideal Protein Diet

2.6 loss this week!  Total of 48.2.  In just over 4 months!  (with a week off at X-mas).
Everything is great.  I even had 1 Canadian 67 (Sublime) beer last Thursday.  It is only 67 calories, and 2 carbs - but hey it tasted good and I still lost.  Woo Hoo!

Weeks 17 Ideal Protein Diet

Down 1.6 for the week.  I will take it.  Total loss to date - 45.6lbs.  I am hoping that the pace off loss picks up a bit, as my average is going down.  BUT - the weather has been very cold, so I have not been getting much exercise.

Interesting thing I learned this week -- I went for a 2 hour hike on Saturday - and ate my normal alottment of food that day and was not hungry.  Sunday - I ate normal and felt good.  And THEN - On Monday - I was HUNGRY all day.  I ended up eating an extra restricted and 2 cookies that day!
Spoke to my expert about it at my weigh in - she said what I should have done was have an extra protein pack (not a restricted) on the day that I did get lots of exercise - then I would have fed my muscles and would not have had that "fall-out" 2 days later.  I will do this next time and see if I can stay on track.

Ok - that is all I have.  ttyl

Weeks 12 thru 16 Ideal Protein Diet

I have to get caught up here.
Well - I have NOT quit, in fact other than a 1 week period over Christmas - I have been sticking right to plan.  And it shows!  I am actually going to weigh in tonight, but in the mean time I am down down down.  My total is.......around 44 lbs!  My hubby is down a total of 56" -- CRAZY!  for 4 months.

Hubby didn't even have ANYTHING that was not "on plan" over the holidays.  He is doing amazing!  He still has not weighed, but we brought up some clothes from the basement last weekend - and he fit most of them!  It has been a long long time since he has felt this good, and fit into those clothes.  I ALSO am really down in inches.  I went through my closet last weekend and tried on EVERYTHING in there and in my dresser - guess what....it ALL fit!  I don't know how long it has been since I have had such an extensive wardrobe!  What a great feeling!  It was like shopping in a store that ONLY has clothes I like and all in my size!  I packed away my big clothes, and after maintaining for a bit - I will give them away.

It is still pretty easy to stick to plan.  I am not hungry -- oh ya, I sometimes miss the action of munching on something, or the comfort of pizza etc.  BUT I should be at goal in no time flat - and then - I will be able to enjoy these things (in moderation).

Foods I really enjoy on IP:
Yogurt Drink
Chocolate Drink (I make hot chocolate).
Crispy Cereal.
Granola Bars.
Parmesan Crisps

kmac
p.s. - feel free to comment if you read this....I dont' know if anyone is reading it or not...  :-)