Hey Elizabeth!

:) So, did your friend say how long is "too long"?

well here is the thing...every body is different, but honestly a 500 cal diet is extreme. It works like that with the HCG one too and they will only allow you to do it for 40 days at a time I believe? I will ask him what he recommends.

thing is most people are not strict 100% with the program so it kind of does help? but if you were strict I think you have to be more careful with the thyroid thing.

When I can get him on the phone again I will find out for you

CW: So happy for you, your hubby, and family! I hope the next 2 weeks are great!!

Trying to remember other points read.....

Dry skin? Yes, I have it, usually it is worse when I am fully into ketosis and maybe even a little dehydrated.

Feeling cold? OH YEAH!! Seems Like I am always cold now. It seems that women are more inclined to feel cold as a result of high estrogen levels. Also, rapid weight loss, all by itself, contributes to the cold. It is a frequent side effect following bariatric surgeries (gastric bypass/lap band). Apparently, hormonal changes such as a rise in estrogen cause a cold feeling. We are releasing alot of estrogen with the burning of fat. Thyroid problems cause a prevalent cold feeling. BUT, it can also be NORMAL. It is very common and healthy to feel cold in the morning and following eating. Another thing, our bodies control body temp by either sweating or shivering. WE are burning off alot of our fat and are more likely to experience the "cold" feeling as our body constricts blood flow to the surface and extremities in its regular efforts to maintain a normal body temp and keep the organs warm. For patients of bariatric surgeries, the change in body temperature following a rapid weight loss, settle out between a year and eighteen months after the weight stabilizes.

thanks!

That is new to me! Please verify as I have been on the program WAYYYY too long then! (Started Aug 09 with phase out in December, back on the plan in January and "breaks" on 1st week of March and on Easter!) That also may be why I have been hitting a plateau over the last 2 weeks with no energy by mid-afternoon and cold all the time... Worried now! :?:

here goes, word for word

ME:so how long is too long to be on a 500cal before Thyroid craps out?

HIM: That, unfortunately, is so individual that you can have it happen in two days or over several months...the only way to be sure is through monitoring bloodwork.


For me personally this was his advice... he saw my pics and how my arms are now bugging me LOL
"I think that by bumping up your caloric intake with more pure protein calories we can speed your metabolism up, allowing for more intense cardio and more fat loss...which will result in toning the arms, which in turn contribute to that area that you want to work on..." he told me the Zero Carb powder was better than the Zero Impact too, I believe I wrote that on one of these threads as well.

And that is my report today LOL

Enjoy

500 cal??
 

Hey all, not sure where the 500 calorie count came from....My coach said IP is supposed to avg 800-1000 cals. The three packets alone are around 300 calories, more if you have a restricted packet; add in the 2 tsp of oil, the 4 cups of vegies, the 5-7oz of meat/fish and salad and you can easily be at 1000 calories. Though that too is not a lot of calories.

When I started this my coach gave me Tran's book and Tran kept mentioning being on the diet for 3 weeks. When I asked about that "3 weeks" the coach said that was for people that only had about 10 lbs to 20 lbs to lose. Well, Remember Tran originally developed this for "out of shape athletes" that needed to get back in top form. You and I know that an athlete coming back from the off season isn't going to need to lose a whole lot of weight. So I always questioned the safety of being on the low calories for any length of time. But I also never heard any negative stories from those that have been on it for a while.

ok, I feel I need to say something, as to be clear.

I am NOT advocating anyone to get off IP. I was merely communicating what a friend who is a nutritionist said to me.

the "books" of fitness say that women should never consume less than 1200cals a day, 1500 for men. That is what, as personal trainers, we were taught. HOWEVER you can go lower to achieve short term results...example, Body Builders before competition, etc. No one advices on staying on a diet that strict in the long run.

I have NOT read Dr Tran's book. I understand that this diet works (as the atkins does) by restricting carbs mainly wich induces the body to use fat as energy source as opposed to carbs/sugars...hence the loss. IP is better than Atkins in the sence that also it limits the fat intake so it taps into the already stored fat as opposed to newly consumed fat.

All that being said, all I was suggesting is BE CAREFUL (hey, I'm doing it too, right?) When your body is in Ketosis it is producing something like amonia...hence the bad breath and fuzzy brain. People are also showing hair loss and other signs... Yes, it is the diet adjusting or re-tuning your body, all I am saying , again, is just be careful about it. We get very excited about the huge weight loss, heck I do too and I have not loss 5 or 6lbs like most! Just keep checking your health too. Once you move from phase 1 it is a bit better. Maybe what we need to say is try not to be on phase one for too long?

Look everyone knows their own bodies. Just pay attention is all I am saying. For instance, I know the reason I am not losing as FAST is because my gain was mainly a hormonal imbalance, not necessarily an eating habit, so it is helping me immensely as it is tapping into those extra stored hormones that were hiding in the fat. I needed that boost.

Many of us are on this forum sharing what we hear. I don't think any of us are medical experts. I am a personal trainer but that does not make me an MD. I am only sharing information I think others may like or need. Take it or leave it. PLEASE listen to your bodies and don't just dismiss signs or chuck them off to the "it's just the diet" list.

I for one KNOW my body needs more fat than the one I was getting on strict IP phase one mode. I am a "fast oxidizer" and that is just what my body needs. I was never a carb crazy person, honestly, more of a delivery mechanism to me (example the bread in a sandwich was only to hold the contents together, pasta is there to deliver the sauce) My CARB weakness is in dairy...then it's on! LOL even when it comes to dessert... not into cakes or cookies or chocolate... but give me ice cream or better yet, a milk shake and we are talking business.

Point is I've had to adapt the IP protocol a bit to fit MY needs. I am going to add a bit more protein to my diet because I will need it. I am training too.

Just monitor yourself from time to time. Many extreme diets say you need a break in between series if you will, for that same reason. They work, just like IP work, when you accept them as a LIFE STYLE CHANGE, a diet alone won't because the moment people stop the diet they go back to their old habits. I believe in great part the success of IP is that because they are ON YOU monitoring you very closely they are in deed creating new habits for you so you are more likely to stick to them.

On the plateau note, your body will always adapt and get used to what you are doing, works that way with exercise as well. Your body will get used to the routine you have and just won't be challenged as much after a while, that's where our job as trainers come in, we will change your routine up after a month or so to trick your body a bit again. Same with food and diets. Ever heard of the "cheat day" on some diets? Some times they ask you to be very strict all week and then have one day off (cheat day) to make sure your body doesn't "adapt" to the lower calorie consumption. I am not an IP coach, but I know that our bodies do adapt. Another friend of mine that is in Venezuela and working with a nutritionist has her diet changed every couple of weeks, maybe there is something to that...I do not know.

I hope you all know I was not being defensive on my last comment. I like things clear and some times I can confuse people.

Use your judgment is all. HUGS to everyone!
<3

Your last comment brought me a needed sense of perspective on my weight (IP) and my health (long term). I decided to follow strict IP until my next WI and see how it goes. No one else but me will decide what I eat/what is good for me and their judgement will not affect my choices! Hoping to get a better response than in the past few weeks but, if not, ready to phase out for my health. Hoping to move to the 130some soon!

Thank you for bringing the info Deinekatze!

Or see... maybe take a HEALTHY break for a couple of weeks or a month, by that I mean still eat healthy and low carbs and all, and then go IP again? just switching things up a bit may do the trick

Elizabeth-I believe you are correct in everything you have said. I am definitely not a personal trainer or a nutritionist, but a diet cheater expert...lol!:o Having tried many diets I know that I have learned how to manipulate them to fit my needs (more like desires) I stay on it for a while...learn how it works...lose a few pounds and then figure out how I can get around the diet without gaining for a few weeks and then pow...it is over and I have gained it all back. I am 51 years old and I think I am going to run out of time before I run out of diets...lol!
All that being said, I know this is working for me right now. My sister, who has lost 30 pounds, and myself have thyroid issues and take medication and it is difficult to find something that will take the pounds off. Today this is working and I am sticking to it. One of the benefits for me is that I don't have to make a lot of decisions. On WW you are always having to figure points and decide what combo to eat and by then I just say forget it!
The IP diet is very similiar to the SWBMO that I lost 30 pounds on several years ago. You get a lot more carbs on SWBMO(six week body makeover) but the choices are small and it is easy to follow. What I did find with that plan was that if I was having a stall I would incorporate something that I generally did not eat....like beef for dinner and within the next few days I would show a loss. I attribute that to a way of shocking my body into realizing...oh she is doing something different. Just as you have described above.
I think we are all sensible enough and in tune enough with our bodies to know if something is not right on a diet.
Well I am sure I have said more that anyone needs to hear....but there is my two cents :)

I do have one question and I remember having this before when I lost the 30 pounds and can't remember if it went away or if I made some changes.....I am exhausted....I mean I am soooooo tired all the time. I wake up tired and I go to bed exhausted....any remedies?

on the journey with you
wen:cool:

Well I would up the Omega 3s and make sure you are consuming the salt as they say... lots of minerals in that salt we all need. Magnesium makes us kind of sleepy too hence why we take it at night, make sure you are not over doing it with that. Take only the recommended amount from your coach.

Also if you start to work out a bit, as in walking, it should help with the energy a bit

I definitely identify with always being cold. Now that the AC is on at work, I had to take a space heater in for my cubicle:)! Everyone thinks it's hilarious. There is a lady next to be who had gastric bypass surgery and she is in the same boat. I knew I had lost fat insulation but forgot about the estrogen part.

Wow!! that kind of tired definitely does not sound normal. Have you had your blood work checked. You said you had thyroid problems, but anemia could also cause tiredness. Also have you been checked for sleep problems like apnea? I would definitely consult a medical professional to be sure nothing else is causing this.