Hi C. Wifey! First off big congrats on your terrific loss! 55 lbs in 9 weeks in FANTASTIC!!! Woo Hoo!!!

Regarding the exercise...... I was not an active person prior to the IP plan, and was always afraid of trying new things - exercise wise. I wanted to do something, but all aerobic exercise was off limits in the beginning - and to be honest, there was no way I could do those types of exercises anyways!!!!

I spoke to the regional coach, and explained my desire to do something. to help with the loose skin and flab. He encouraged me to eat the jello or cran/pom drink daily, and do yoga! He said the best thing about yoga is that it is low impact and focuses on building your core muscles - which helps to tone and firm your body!


At first though I thought there is no way I am going to get into those positions lol - but it is so gentle and gradual that I have been doing 30 miunutes of yoga daily (on my Wii fit and with exercise video's) and LOVE it!


I am now happy to report that I am a full fledged yoga enthuisist! lol!

We have some analytical people on this forum that count everything they eat because it works for them. I don't count carbs and I don't think you need to worry about it. That is why we measure vegetables and meat and the packets are already done for us. The nice thing about this diet is the convenience and it will work for you without counting.

Thanks Kris! I just bought a yoga video. I am going to have to try it.

YES! I do measure the water, veggies & meat... so for now I'm gonna go forth with that.

FuzzMa - Until I read your table I was feeling that any
veggies allowed on this diet are fine but now -- some of them I don't like enough to have the extra carbs-- like the turnips for instance! I have been enjoying them baked in the oven with the recipe from here but seriously, I like zucchini just as much. I am eating one now for lunch...
Thanks for educating us. Signed- Stuck at 23 lbs- it is time for a loss...

Oh and by the way Kelsey, WELCOME to the forum.

I think one of the best things about this forum is all the new people that keep joining. The questions they bring make those of us that have been doing this longer think again about what we are doing. It is a great journey to be sharing and we all have similar bumps in the road along the way. Good luck!

No you don't! That's the beauty of the plan. Work the plan, and the plan works. Just know which veggies are restricted and which aren't. I never count and I am losing just fine (fingers crossed...hehe)

Raspberry Vinegarette and Cappuccino recipes are now posted in the recipe section!!

I think of measuring food and counting carbs, etc. as two different things. I think it's a great idea to measure your food, until you know you can accurately eyeball it, to ensure you are not only going over what you are allowed, but to make sure you are getting enough. If you know the carb counts of everything though, I guess you are already in tune with how many you are getting.

Whew...sorry for that mindless ramble

No, no, no, I don't know the carb count of anything. I simply measure out the 2 cups of allowed veggies, eat my lovely salad (sometimes), and I have teh packets... That's my point. I DON'T know - and don't really want to know how many carbs it is I'm eating.

Kelsey -
Welcome!
Glad you have joined us and hope you are powering through your first week!

About your above comment - I also just measure the veggies and forget about it. Well, until this week (now I'm using fitday.com because I'm on phase 3 and wondering what it all adds up to). I saw that people on here were talking about cauliflower and broccoli having lots of carbs and I asked my coach right away about it. He is also on the diet. He took out the phase 1 sheet and pointed to where it says we can have cauliflower and broccoli included in our daily 4 cups of veggies. He said, "See? You're allowed to eat those veggies." That was the end of the discussion. You are right that this diet is easy because everything is laid out for you and there's the packets too! You know what I think would make it even easier? If the IP brand shaker had the measurements that it has now marked on it, but also if it had markings for where you fill the water to make the IP packets. One marking for puddings, another for drinks, one for soups, etc. It would make me not have to squint at the shaker and put it on the counter to measure. Haha! That's my biggest complaint about the diet. And really, that's small.

I'm vegetarian. You asked if your daughter could do the diet. I was told I could do it as a veg, so I did. At first I ate 2 eggs for dinner every single night. That got old after about a week and a half. So I added the fish and seafood. My coach said no tofu and beans when I asked about them as protein substitutes before I started. Just warn your daughter that the strict IP protocol calls for animal protein once a day in phase 1 with 3 packets. In phase 2, it's 2x a day and 2 packets. In phase 3, it's 3x a day and only 1 packet. Ogdog is doing her own version of IP and eating meat substitutes. It's working for her, maybe she will throw in a comment here! I think the loss is slower with the protein substitutes but I don't know since I'm not doing that! Also I am not sure exactly which ones she is eating. I thought I'd warn you since your daughter has a smallish amount to lose and will have to move to phase 2 sooner rather than later (and thus have to consume more animal protein).

Thank you for the welcome!

My daughter doesn't eat eggs, seafood, nor chicken... she hasn't since she was 7 years old.

Thank you ! Your the best !

Thank you . I have always been a bit leary of yoga because I am so not flexible . but I will definitly give it a try . Thanks for the information .