[HopefulTricia]

Originally Posted by alihal

Not sure if anyone has a Sam's Club by them, but my Mom made a great find this weekend. They have the premade shakes, almost identical to IP, they are 3oz bigger and have 2g more protein and 20 cal more but she bought 24 for $27!!! That is a HUGE difference from the 6 for $27, if need be I will just let a little bit go to waste. Just wanted to pass this on to everyone, I am starting to feel the purse strings get tight with this diet. I am going to go to BJ's tonight and check there since that is closer to me, but those place's usually all have the same stuff. If not I guess I will be asking my Mom to pick some up for me, lol.

I am out of town and my husband would go to Sam's for me but can you tell me the specific brand and what they look like? He will need all the details... Thanks.

[HopefulTricia]

Originally Posted by torchlaker

Yeah, I got thru Valentines Day too...watching the Olympics helped...sewing helped...napping helped. It is just so hard sometimes.....

wow...there were a lot of posts to wade thru....I tried to make notes...but I know I am forgetting something.

HopefulTricia: Just remember that the IP oatmeal is restricted....altho I ate it every day. My coach wasn't as strict as others. As far as salad dressings....I posted my mom's and my motherinlaws salad dressings in the recipe section near the beginning of the section. I use those all the time.

Wagonomore: Yup, I get leg cramps...sometimes it is a lack of water....or a lack of potassium. If I get them in the middle of the night, I get up and take 2 potassium pills.

Skittlescda....I have IBS...and no, I have never taken the Cleanse. Never even heard of it....but I have had Cleanses before....and they just seem to mess up my IBs. I have struggled with constipation the whole time I have been on IP. Usually, nightly I take 2 Colace and/or Citrate of Magnesium. Tonight, I think I will have to take a laxative, cuz nothing is moving.....

BlueMermaid...wish I had never bought those stupid ketostix. I hadn't used them at all until 2 weeks ago. I barely register a trace. My nurse told me she never registered either...and she has lost 20#. I think if you aren't starving, or having high sugar cravings, that is good enough.....I have never heard that IP is bad for the liver and kidneys....(heard about it on Atkins....but we are not eating much fat here, gal).

I have been told more than once that any high protein diet strains the liver and kidneys.

[jordanna]

Originally Posted by BlueMermaid

WOW! Jordanna! Your husband will be so surprised when he gets to see you again. The 20 lbs you have lost so far is terrific and given another couple weeks you may have 10 - 15 more. It will be really noticeable to him. I think when we look in the mirror every day, we don't seem to be able to see it as easily as someone that doesn't see you everyday. I bet he is excited to see you. Keep up the great work!

Thanks BlueMermaid, you're doing amazing too!! I am VERY excited for my husband to see me, I've been really careful not to say much about it when he calls me, so it should be a BIG surprise when he gets home!! I can't imagine him going away and coming home 30+ lbs lighter, so I'm sure it will be a shock to him!

[HopefulTricia]

Originally Posted by onemorechubbychick

Okay first time on here, hope I'm writing in the right space. Wanted to say that I also was encouraged to try the cleanse. As I really struggle with not being able to go...and weight loss has been fairly slow for me. Lost lots the first week but slowed right down after that. I had some results the first week then after that it quit working. I have to take about 4 Nova-Lax a day now for it to help.It did not make a difference in my weight loss although I had hoped it would. I wouldn't recommend it especially with IBS.But then I'm not a doctor, You might as well go to your local Health Food store for some senna or Casgara Segrada or buy some milder herbal laxative tea. I found the Yogi brand works well for me. i'm not saying that there might have been some things it helped with that weren't obvious, I felt extremely tired on it as did another friend so maybe there was some detoxing going on. Hope this helps.

I have had great success with Chia seed. You can buy at health food store or online. I used psyllium for years but like chia a whole lot better. Flax seed is supposed to be helpful too.

[jordanna]

Good luck to everyone weighing in today, I'm hoping for another 4 lbs but I'll be happy with anything really!!

Well done to everyone who made it through Valentines Day, and to those who didn't do so well, just dust yourself off and move forward!!

Have an amazing week everyone!!

[shelleydar]

Week four weigh in today...another 3# lost and 1 inch off my waist!!!
AND I'M DOWN ONE PANT SIZE

[echobaby]

Originally Posted by BlueMermaid

Re: Ketosis - does everyone use the sticks? Or as long as we're losing weight - don't worry about it?

I used the sticks when I was doing Atkins. My coach said not to worry about the sticks if I was losing weight. I just like to see if I am in ketosis and it was looking like I wasn't and the scale is not moving at all. The ketostix are kind of expensive. I did not have a restricted IP protein today and am finally seeing color on the sticks tonight. I think they are a good tool if your weight slows down to see if you are truly in ketosis. I was hungry the last few days and usually if I am in ketosis I eat because it is time to eat not because I am hungry. I think I will try to stay away from the restricted IP's for awhile.[/QUOTE]

Regarding the expense of the Ketostix: Mirazon suggested cutting them in halves or thirds to make them last. Just be sure to avoid touching the test area.

[alihal]

Originally Posted by HopefulTricia

I am out of town and my husband would go to Sam's for me but can you tell me the specific brand and what they look like? He will need all the details... Thanks.

They are called EAS Edge. They are the same shape as the IP ones just a tad bigger. They are silver with blue and red writing on them.

[alihal]

Originally Posted by shelleydar

Week four weigh in today...another 3# lost and 1 inch off my waist!!!

Awesome job, keep it up!!!

[ritiki19]

Just a quick note about the ketostix....after reading about them on here I wanted to go get some. I did a little research online first and read that some people will NEVER register on the sticks. Most people said they were a waste of money. I think, as many people on here have said, as long as you're losing then don't worry about it. But, if the scale isn't moving and the sticks aren't showing anything then you need to talk to your coach!

[shelleydar]

I like the sticks because I know I am still in ketosis..."peeing fat"...lol Just another motivator for me.

Ailhal, thanks for the encouragement. Down 16.5 pounds and one pant size!!!

[jordanna]

The ketostix always work for me, I like to use them once in a while just to double check!

[fluffymama]

went to the dr. this morning for my third weigh in. I lost 4.9 lbs. for a total of 15 lbs. and 11 1/2 in!! I am super stoked about that! It was just the motivator I needed. Now I realize that I really did the right thing by passing up those valentines treats! Yay me!!

[BlueMermaid]

Originally Posted by fluffymama

went to the dr. this morning for my third weigh in. I lost 4.9 lbs. for a total of 15 lbs. and 11 1/2 in!! I am super stoked about that! It was just the motivator I needed. Now I realize that I really did the right thing by passing up those valentines treats! Yay me!!

GREAT JOB! You got a great reward for resisting the treats. 15 lbs. in 3 weeks is terrific. Woohoo!!!

[skittlescda]

Way to Go Fluffymama....15 pounds in 3 weeks is awesome. I hope that I can join you at that total for 3 weeks also but maybe my valentine's setback may have thrown me off alittle...I did behave the other six days of the week though lol I'll post later today.