If you have read my blogs along the way, you know that I have been maintaining within 3 pounds of my goal weight for over a year.

There are a lot of things that go into this program.  In phase 1 you are given a very specific protocol.  Follow it to a T, you will lose weight.  If your body is resistant, it may take you a little longer, but eventually your body will learn to go with the program, and the weight will come off.

I am not the person to tell you if something is or isn’t on protocol.  I have a great coach, and she is right there to tell me these things.  She is my guide, and in some cases my beacon.

I know that the situation I am about describe is one nearly every client faces.  The reason I write this is so that A) you know you are not alone, and B) maybe seeing a different reaction can help you.

I was nearing the end of Phase 1.  I had 10 pounds left to go, and it was crawling off me.  I was 100% on protocol, and my only exercise was walking. I had been injured when I started IP and had been in a cast for 12 weeks.  I was in physical therapy and they had me walking as much as I could, so I was walking about an hour a day.  I was so excited to get on the scale because I knew that I had lost weight.

Ready for that big drop and the excitement in my coaches eyes… I climbed on that scale… so very proud… then BAM… I was up nearly a pound.  WHAT?????

I started to cry, I wanted something decadent and sweet, and I wanted to scream.  I went from excited to devastated in 10 seconds.  It felt like all that hard work, all that “sacrifice”, all the missed opportunities to gorge where wasted.

And sitting there was my coach.  Trying to get through my completely defeated posture to have me hear her.  I dropped 2.5 pounds of fat.  But, but, but the scale says I gained.  I gained.  I didn’t cheat and I gained.

In this moment she reminds me not to lose site of the big picture.  I began at 209, I was now 165, and I lost 2.5 pounds of fat, and had added over 1 pound of lean muscle, and was holding onto some extra water.  What I “gained” was some added benefit of burning power.  I gained strength.  I gained confidence.  I gained determination.

I had to stop the stinkin thinkin in its tracks.  I pushed myself.  Dedicated to my mission, I made sure I got enough water in, I stayed the course, and pushed that negative self-talk out the door.  Guess what… the scale eventually moved again, and I kept my new muscle… Yeah baby!!!!

Morale of this story, don’t let this scale own you… If the scale shows a bump, and you were 100% on protocol, it’s either water or muscle.  Push yourself to make sure you are getting enough water and that you are eating all your foods… hunker down and go for it.  This program works.  I am living proof.

I am 50 years old, my blood pressure is 105/65, I weigh 158 and I am 5’7.5”.  I went from a size 22 to a size 6… My hair is thick and glossy (and curly which is new!).  I run/walk 3-5 miles 5 days a week and I do Bikram yoga 3 days a week. I have ab muscles, and my legs are strong.  I am happy with who I am… and very proud of my journey on IP.