If I searched it right, the product is the equivalent of the Mccormick spices in the USA. It is part of the one step product line and is just called McCormick's Parmesan and herb. I THINK :)

I went through that. My problem is my waist and belly shrank very quickly but my hips/thighs/butt wouldn't budge. I wore my size 18 pants from 230 pounds all the way down to 195 pounds! GRRR. THEN the inches started to shift and in 6 weeks I went down more than 2 pants sizes. Now at 170 I am a size 10/12.

I'm back
 

WOW, I really missed all of you. I was out of town and couldn't get the motel wireless to let me connect. It was a pain. So, I spent the last hour reading everyone's posts. What a week. I am so excited about all the great losses. They are awesome. Some of you are dealing with some very major personal issues. My thoughts and prayers are with you. :hug: And my very favorite thing is all the pics!!!! You guys look wonderful. :cp: I love having a face to go along with the name. I still haven't found anything I want to post. One of these days!!

Some random comments:

We have always had to take our journal(they provide them) to the coach each week. I forgot one week and she just told me to bring it next time. I agree with all of the other comments about the rude coach. I would like to lose 8 lbs. a week, but I know that ain't going to happen. When I weighed in the week after Easter, I said something about hoping I got to the 170's and she said, "why, did you cheat?" I said no and she said I was one of the few. But, it wasn't in a nasty manner or anything.

When I am hungry I will go for a cup of hot decaf tea. That really seems to help. I also will try to do something that I have to use my hands. Like this long post. :)

OK, now about my week.....I had to be on their schedule, so things were a little tough. Had to eat breakfast at 7:30, lunch at 12, supper after 5:00 and then my snack later. That may be what some of you do, but I am used to being home and can space my food out a little, so I had to be hungry some. (not that it hurt me!!!) The first day, some of us went to a bistro and they had a cashew chicken salad. So, I asked for it and asked that they leave out the cashews. I have my dressing all ready and they bring the salad. Ugh, it is a bed of lettuce with "chicken salad" on top. You know, mayo and stuff. It was only about 3 tbls. of "chicken salad", so I just ate it instead of making a fuss. So, I'm freaked out the first day!!! The rest of the week I went back to my motel room and had my IP soup and cukes. Luckily my room had a fridge and microwave. I found my biggest challenge in getting my veggies and oil. Thursday night the instructor took us to dinner at a BBQ place. Of course everyone had pulled pork and all the trimmings. I had salad bar. One of the guys saw my WF dressing and asked where I got the bacon ranch dressing. He loves bacon ranch dressing and didn't see it on the bar. I got to laughing and told him I didn't think he'd probably like my zero, zero, zero dressing. I went the week with only that one cheat(not on purpose), but it is work to be out of town and stick with the diet. Kudos to all who have to do that. And I haven't even mentioned that one day the instructor brought candy bars for everyone, another day granola bars and another day a guy brought donuts.
Sooooo, I didn't get to the IP coach. I called her today and asked if I should weigh in on Mon. and again on Fri. or just Fri. for 2 weeks. She thought I should come in on Mon. morning. So, my information will be posted then and again on Fri. According to my home scale, I'm down 3 lb. I only post my IP weighins on here.

Stacerp, I'm still trying to catch you!!!!

I weigh on my home scale every morning. I also try to do Wii most mornings. I like the free step. You can adjust your pace and keep your heart rate where it should be. I also weigh on the Wii everyday(even if I don't excersize). It keeps track of your weight and BMI. You can set goals and add other excersize that you do. My scale and the Wii are not exactly alike, but the weight lost is about the same.

Well, I'm glad to be back home and I really enjoyed all the information that was posted this week. Welcome to the newbies. You will get a lot out of this board. There is a lot of good info here and everyone is so helpful.

Some of you will be able to relate to my NSV for the week. My son said that my Ex noticed I had been losing weight when he saw me at a ballgame a couple weeks ago. Just so you know, we do get along and he probably would say it to me if the opportunity came up. It was just nice for me to know that it is noticeable.

Has anyone found a good protein powder substitute for one of the IP protein packets? I am flying to Seattle for a bridal shower weekend and I am trying to think of ways I could stay on the IP protocol while I'm gone but basically only using drink mixes since I won't really be able to guarantee that I'll be able to cook anything and I really don't want to check a bag (no liquid in my suitcase). Any advice on a weekend trip like this?

thank you sooo much showgirlaz. that is gonna be a huge help! my ip person isnt very experienced i cant wait to notice the difference in myself. awesome place to come foe help

I LOVE Jay Robb Protein! You can get individual travel packets like the IP stuff. Lots of flavor choices too. I think you can find it everywhere - walmart, kroger stores (frys, etc), healthfood places, whole foods, and sprouts. He makes whey or egg white proteins that are hi protein, low carb, stevia sweetened and they dissolve well with water in a shaker.

http://www.jayrobb.com/cat_proteinWheyVan12.asp

I also like pure protein products. The bars are quite good and so are the premade drinks. also, pretty low carb.

EAS makes a good protein and bar. EAS 100% whey protein vanilla flavor is made with just splenda and acesulfame potassium sweeteners, like IP.

Atkins has a few things that could work. They have a peanut butter cup that would work if you are doing an IP like protocol on your own.

HI-Health food stores carries a bar called Just Deee-licious by ultra plan. The net carbs are between 1 and 3 like IP.


If it were me, I would get the Jay Robb products and maybe some premade pure protein drinks. Stick with veggies, eggs, salads, and grilled chicken on the trip and everything will be fine. Find some walden food salad dressing packets and take them with you. I like italian best but each person is a bit different. Also, when you get to seattle, you might be able to swing by a grocery store in the area to get a few cut up veggies. Call your hotel and see if they have a fridge in the room or a mini bar fridge. It could help you to keep cool a drink or two and your veggies.

There will be drinking so tell everyone up front you won't be drink. Have sparkling water, mineral water, club soda... whatever you like with lime or lemon if you like but don't drink. The cravings are usually the worst that happens. (If you must drink, stick to distilled alcohol like gin or vodka.. no carbs there.)

Just go with the mind set that you can do this and make it work. You will be fine.

Carla

I totally forgot the Wii Fit can weigh me! I just don't know what scale to follow anymore..and it's really stressing me out. I will try the Wii.

I too have been out of town all weekend, and I feel like all I wanted was some comfort food! No cheats, but I know I way over did it w veggies and protein to compensate for not being to eat what everyone else was eating! Looking forward to going home and back into routine!!

PS, your chicken salad wasn't a real 'cheat', you did what you had to do!

Oh, and the other thing that was a problem.....the water. I didn't get near my daily water. We got one morning break and one in the afternoon. That just isn't enough when you are drinking 64 oz of water per day!!! So, I only got in about 32 oz. But, starting today, I'm back on track. Thank goodness!!

So drinking vodka soda won't kick me out of ketosis?

Very good feeling, huh! I love that this happened for you! Looking at your tracker, you are doing a great job!

In one or two days you'll look down and see that you are in the 170s...how exciting. I think we all want to see you reach your goal so you can knock your hubby's socks off even more!!

I so LOVE this!

Another 4.8 lbs....congrats!
I think eveyone else has answered you dressing/seasoning question...make sure no sugar is in the ingredients.

5 lbs. is a great loss!

I had gone shopping as all my pants looked like I had an accident, I was so excited to go down a size, well, didn't happen for me. I called my husband and he said that he had a hard time believing that as I had done so well. A couple weeks later and I had to totally replace all my pants!! And a few weeks later and I can pull all of them up and down without unbuttoning them. Give it another week or two, it'll happen for you. Keep up the good work!!



I hope I remebered everyone!

Oh, yeah, showgirlaz, you sure do post some helpful things and diane, sorry I don't remember the rest of your name, your excersize suggestions always make me smile. I love them. I go to a personal trainer a few times a week and have asked and asked him to give me homework to do on the days I can't see him and haven't gotten anything. I am going to look at some of your stuff you have put on.

LOL :dizzy: I knew that was going to be keyed in on. :) Yes, you will very briefly go out of ketosis. That is why there will be cravings, most commonly for more alcohol, fats, and other carbs. However, you will come back into ketosis most quickly after using these. I think you will be best off sticking with water but, I also think you should know what your choices and the reality is. DO KEEP IN MIND, carb free is not calorie free so, if you were to choose to drink, you still have to deal with the slow down in weight loss from the added empty calories.

Here is an interesting take on shapefit.com and from Dr. Atkins on this topic.

The mysteries of alcohol and carbs

Still, sensibly enough, the first thing nearly all weight-loss plans require is that you stop drinking. (Not the notorious “Drinking Man’s Diet” of yore, a prehistoric ancestor of Atkins, which consisted of martinis, steak, bacon, and eggs.) This is because alcoholic beverages give you calories with no other nutrition, and they also may loosen your resolve to lose weight and make you eat without thinking. Beer goes with peanuts, wine with cheese. Also, alcohol itself is high in calories—7 calories per gram, almost as much as fat (9 calories per gram) and more than carbs or protein (about 4 per gram). Here are some things you should know about alcohol and nutrition—facts that run counter to what many people believe:

Alcoholic beverages all contain calories, and most of the calories come from the alcohol. (We are speaking about straight spirits, wine, or beer—not mixed drinks made with added ingredients, which can bring calories to, well, staggering levels.)

* Alcohol is not a carbohydrate.

* Your body processes alcohol first, before fat, protein, or carbs. Thus drinking slows down the burning of fat. This could account for the weight gain seen in some studies.

* Hard liquor is distilled and thus contains no carbohydrates. The current “Zero Carb” campaign for vodka and whiskey is baloney and may encourage mindless consumption. It’s like bragging that a candy bar is “cholesterol-free.”

* When grapes are made into wine, most of the fruit sugars (carbs) convert to alcohol, but a few carbs remain. A 5-ounce glass of wine typically contains 110 calories, 5 grams of carbohydrates, and about 13 grams of alcohol (which accounts for 91 of the calories). A 5-ounce glass of wine supplies roughly the same amount of alcohol and number of calories as a 12-ounce light beer or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits.

* Beer, too, contains carbohydrates. The new low-carb beers are not new at all, though this type of beer does indeed have fewer carbs. Low-carb beers are simply the old light beers with a new label and ad campaign. The old Miller Lite has 96 calories and 3.2 grams of carbs in 12 ounces. The “low-carb” Michelob Ultra has 96 calories and 2.6 grams of carbs. Coors Lite has 102 calories and 5 grams of carbs. The differences are tiny—hardly worth mentioning. In contrast, a regular beer has 13 grams of carbs and 150 calories.

Robert C. Atkins –– the Granddaddy of them all:

"Here's the problem with all alcoholic beverages, and the reason I recommend refraining from alcohol consumption on the diet. Alcohol, whenever taken in, is the first fuel to burn. While that's going on, your body will not burn fat. This does not stop the weight loss, it simply postpones it, since the alcohol does not store as glycogen, you immediately go back into ketosis/lipolysis after the alcohol is used up.

If you must drink alcohol, wine is an acceptable addition to levels beyond the Induction diet. If wine does not suit your taste, straight liquor such as scotch, rye, vodka, and gin would be appropriate, as long as the mixer is sugarless; this means no juice, tonic water; or non-diet soda. Seltzer and diet soda are appropriate."


THAT SAID, if you want to stay on the IP protocol... NO ALCOHOL! Sorry :(

What I meant was, if in the fun of the night you are pushed to the point of caving in and having a drink, pick something like vodka. The safest, zero carb alcohols are :1 oz of gin, vodka, rum, or whisky.

Carla

Yes! I had lost 30 pounds, and while most of my 14s were too big or needed a belt to stay up, I still had some that fit; the 12s were better... still baggy, but pretty good around the waist. A few 10s started to fit, but others stubbornly refused to zip. Then suddenly, my waist started shrinking an inch a week rather than a half inch a week while I lost another 10 pounds. Now the 10s are no problem.

But I'd have to say the top half was faster... I have more tops and jackets than I know what to do with. I need to do a load or two of laundry today just to get the "closet" smell out of the tops that are hopping back into the rotation. Uh-oh. I think that means the iron goes into overtime this afternoon... :(

Protocol for Type 2 Diabetics
 

What is the IP protocol for diabetics? I know I have seen the subject discussed, but can not seem to find it anywhere this morning. :?:

Can anyone help?

Thanks!

ksb001 I have noticed this too. Jeans are very very baggy but the waist still fits though it is much looser. I've decided that I was wearing pants that were basically too small when I started, so now they fit better. I have some tops/jackets that are too big and plenty that I can't fit into yet. My choices at the moment are just a few things. I bought a new silk suit for a party last weekend. HATED spending the money knowing it will be too big very soon. Need to find a good tailor but that might be as expensive as just buying new things. I can't wait to have a really smaller waist and stomach. Hope to have Novak's experience -- suddenly your waist starts shrinking.

I use NOW natural flavor whey protein isolate. I can't find it in the stores, but it's on several websites. I order from Netrition because their shipping and handling is a flat $4.95 no matter how much you order. I use the natural flavor because I can add Walden Farms syrups to have any flavor I want: chocolate or strawberry or blueberry. Plus I can bake with it without changing the flavor of the recipe. It has 25 grams of protein per 1/3 cup serving plus 1 gram of carb. If you really prefer the flavored whey shakes, NOW has those too.