Jackie, thank you so so much for your suggestions! We don't have Metro stores here, but if I can't find the WF products here, I can always order online as you suggest.

By the way, congratulations on your wonderful success with IP so far!!!

Does anyone know of a low sodium soy sauce? I looked on the recipe forum, but did not find anything.

I am 52 and lost 50 pounds between January and May and 11 inches from the belly. I don't need a tummy tuck. My tummy has tightened up surprisingly well. My neck has a bit of loose skin, but it seems better than at first. If I were going to have any work done, it would be on the neck. I'm not too keen on plastic surgery though. I had a small dermatafibroma removed from my upper arm a few years ago. It looked like a cigarette burn. The plastic surgeon said he could remove it and repair the skin with about three tiny stiches. Imagine my horror when the bandage was removed and I had a thick, 1 1/4 inches long scar with 7 train track scars going crosswise. Among other problems, he left the stitches in too long. The train tracks still show. Cigarette burn versus train tracks, hmmmm? Anyway, I worry about the scarring from plastic surgery.

I use NOW whey protein isolate in natural unflavored. It contains no sugar, salt, starch, wheat, gluten, corn, egg, or preservatives. The serving listed on the container is 1/3 cup for 25 grams of protein, 105 calories, and 1 carb, but you can use 1/4 cup for 19 grams of protein, 80 calories, and < 1 carb. I buy it from www.netrition.com. They charge a flat $4.95 for shipping and handling.

Good morning! I need a little advice on the Big "C". My girlfriend and I started IP on 8/24/10 and we both have been experiencing it. I have increased my water and have been taking Novalax but it still has been a problem for me. My friend called me last night and asked me to ask you wonderful ladies for help. I know that it is very important to take care of this for our weight loss. HELP!!!

I have found 2 plain, unflavored whey protein isolate powders that I like with 1 carb or 0 carbs/serving and over 30 g protein. I used to have plain with skim milk, almond milk, soy milk, or some combination. The taste took a little time to get used to. (I'm using the old buckets as storage containers and can't remember the name of them )

Just make sure that you get plain, unflavored, unsweetened powder. I've seen brands have a "natural" powder that is plain-ish but has some sweetener. As others have said, the plain whey PPs are widely available in grocery stores and health food stores. If we can find it in Canada, it will be no problem for you! (Only a few products that are the exception to that rule, and whey PP isn't one of them.)

Once you find one that you like,

Thanks Jackie. I'm not in the east end that much. I guess I'll just have to stop when I see a large Metro store and scout it! Right now I"m looking for the travel packets of the dressings.

Great explanation about PPs and lists of options for Coastalcrafter!! I hope you know I think you're awesome, but it can't be said enough -- You are awesome!

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Oh Jackie thank you!! Your a sweetheart! and others too who responded to my dilema!

THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!!!
I am THRILLED that I can continue on Dr Tien's plan using unsweetened/unflavored whey isolate powder!!!! A drug store in town has a huge GNC section and wally world sells Protein powders too ,,I will read all labels!!!

Thank you again and again!!!
love you all!!!

Do you think the IP clinic I go to will buy back the packets at $4. each? ( what I paid for them?)

Buy a small container to start. After a few days, you'll know whether you like it and whether your body likes it. Then, go buy the 10-gallon drum!
Ask the owner on Monday about a refund for the packets, or maybe they'll exchange them for supplements. As Wayne Gretzky said, "You miss 100% of the shots, you don't take."

Did you ever think you'd be excited to be ABLE to continue on a diet?

Three quick things:
- search the forum in separate searchs for
--->"Constipation"
--->"Big C"
--->"magnesium citrate"
- I've used psyllium husks (available in bulk packages at health food stores and "healthy natural" sections of grocery stores). Start with 1/4 - 1/2 tsp in water for a few days, then bump it up gradually.

Another thing that works for me is to get my body moving ... just simple walking near home, 'cause I don't want to be too far from the loo!

[QUOTE=I'm svelting!;3495907]Buy a small container to start. After a few days, you'll know whether you like it and whether your body likes it. Then, go buy the 10-gallon drum!

You are so funny!!!!

Ask the owner on Monday about a refund for the packets, or maybe they'll exchange them for supplements. As Wayne Gretzky said, "You miss 100% of the shots, you don't take."

So true!!

Did you ever think you'd be excited to be ABLE to continue on a diet?

NEVER IN MY LIFE!!! hahahahaha



QUOTE]

[QUOTE=MotherDuckMJ;3495753]Hi All!

Hope your weekend is well. I love stopping by here and reading how your all doing. Hang in there everyone! Sounds like many temptations are out there for folks between cinnamon rolls and shots of whiskey.

I'm having the opposite problem this weekend. Bored with my food choices and not eating all I'm supposed to and took a day off of my vitamins for no apparent reason. Also short on my water a bit. So tom. I commit to being much much better!

I'm done a couple more pounds, yay! I was so much more comfortable in the pews at church today. I could cross my legs and kneel on one knee, haven't been able to do that in a while. I still have so far to go that I get to feeling sorry for myself sometime, but I am determined to take this to the end and I'm so grateful to have this place to check in with all of you!

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __
Hi Motherduck!

I had a lot to lose when I started (no pun intended). My doctor said that I was the sickest person, with the most weight to lose, that she had ever signed up for this diet. I wore that as a badge. I was determined to prove to her that I could do it. And I HAVE! I have never eaten one thing off of protocol, even if I want everything I see at the grocery store. I have had extra protein drinks when I absolutely think I have to eat. I just go with the belief that all I have to do is follow the guidelienes and the weight will take care of itself. My health issues are resolving themselves (insulin dependent diabetic) and my blood pressure is down. I spent 20 years as a bulimic and when I recovered from that the food was still an issue. I kept on gaining without success at any diet I would try. This is the first time in many years that i feel free. It scares me to death to think about going off of Phase one, but with the help of all of you, in about 50 pounds, I will be able to do it. It is not about the weight for us - it is so we find peace and contentment with our lives. You can do this one day at a time with the help of the beautiful people on this board and the belief in your self. I don't post alot - usually if I really have something to say, and I guess today was the day. I love and believe in all of you! I hope no one thinks I am bragging because I am not like that, but I am living proof that this diet works and we can do this.

Coastal:
Before I started IP we were using Nutribiotic Rice Protein powder, plain. It is protein extracted from whole grain brown rice, and per 15 gram serving it has 55 calories, 1.8 gram carbs, 12 grams protein (so you could use a couple of tablespoons instead of one ).

No other ingredients. Taste, not so great because it is so very plain. Before IP I was mixing it with juice, poor ignorant me - no wonder I wasn't losing weight! But it felt good to eat, nourshing and non-irritating to the system.

The best place pricewise is Vitamin Shoppe, either online or locally if they have it in your area.

In other news, my husband and I spent the day at Sachuest beach in Middletown yesterday - one of my favorite places in the whole world. We even swam twice - I think that's our last time in the ocean in New England for this season!

I bought the enzymes from my coach this week, and they WORK!!! Going to cut back on them LOL.

Thanks for reminding me about the METROMINT, I tried it a while back and loved it. Can't find it around my small town but I will definately be getting some when I go back to the city.

I get that gnawing feeling in my stomach - like I haven't eaten all day, too. Sometimes I have another packet but a lot of the time I just go to bed early and of course am starving by morning.

Keep up the good work ---- you are doing great!!

That's awesome! I'll bet it feels great!

Definitely a NSV and a fun one!

Kikoman's makes a low-sodium soy sauce.

Magnesium Citrate which is an oral solution. I add 1 Tablespoon to my morning blueberry/cranberry/pomegranate drink if things are moving well and 2 Tablespoons if they aren't. Because it is citrus flavored and slightly carbonated, it actually tastes good in the drink. You can also just drink it. It has helped so much and it's very inexpensive. Just make sure you get the one that is sucrose free. Good Neighbor Pharmacy is my brand. You'll find it with the laxatives but it's in a bottle because it's liquid.

Scale hasn't budged all week. Eating protocol, no slips. Cleaned out my closet and have a bag of clothes to give away, still feeling a bit disappointed. Tell myself I shouldn't...just coming off of a 9lb weight loss for the last 2 weeks and body needs time to adjust. All in all, I have been on the diet 70 days and lost 39 lbs which is a phenomenol success! Can't expect big losses every week. It is amazing how we set our selves up for failure! Really??? losing over 1/2 lb per day isn't good enough? How crazy is that thinking. Need to remind myself that just over 2 months ago I was wearing 20W-22W and now in a solid 16 misses! How long ago has that been? I will stick to plan, weigh in tomorrow and look for success next week. Perhaps I should not measure success by the scale but rather by sticking to plan!

Good morning everyone!
I am in Canada, so hope I can find these MetroMint drinks here. I am fine with drinking lots of water all day long, but in the evening I'd like something "special". This is going to sound like I'm a regular wino, but part of my weight problem came from the fact that I would come home from a long day at work to relax with a couple of glasses of wine. I seriously did not know how I was going to give that up. Thankfully it hasn't been that hard. I've bought some grapefruit Perrier and have it in a wine glass and I'm good to go! However, Perrier is not the best because of the carbonation, and Crystal light has aspartame, so I'm looking for something better to substitute.
As to feeling hungry after dinner, I've felt the same a few days this week. During the day I've been fine, but an hour after dinner (chicken breast, steamed broccoli/cauliflower and salad) I have mild hunger pangs. My evening snack fixed it up though.
On another note, I just had the omelet for breakfast and it was fabulous! I sauteed up a few mushrooms first then added the omelet mix. Delicious!
Last night we did a chicken stir fry with bean sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, celery and green onion. It was great too! I know I am eating a lot healthier, and my body can tell.
I have arthritis in my hip and I realized yesterday that it wasn't giving me any grief, even after an afternoon of gardening!