Well, 2 and half weeks in and worried about the finances so I have been checking out the IP Alternatives thread and it's great!! I also tried zucchini noodles tonight (made spaghetti for the family) and I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't feel left out and really felt like I was having spaghetti.
This site is awesome! Thanks for all the ideas!

I just finished my first week yesterday and I always felt hungry! So far today I am not but it usually hits the worst in the afternoon so we'll see what happens today. You made me feel better by posting this.. I am not alone! YAY lol

I only put about 1 cup of veggies with my lunch and eat the remaining 3 for snack in the afternoon, it seems to help me as I'm close to the same schedule as you (lunch at 12 and dinner at 6:30)

I am not sure what others would say about this... but my coach told me that you could rearrange when you had your meals/supplements as long as it was still the 3 packets, 4c of vegetables, 5oz of meat.

So. for example, I could have the packet breakfast, packet lunch, regular dinner, packet snack after dinner.... Or on days where I am having that late afternoon hunger pang, I can have the packet at like 3PM at then eat dinner, no packet/snack after.

Sometimes I space out my veggies too... so I'll have some of the veggies at lunch, some at dinner, and then some (usually the rhubarb sauce or pickles or something) at some other point during the day.

I tend to find that I feel slightly less hungry if I am eating something every couple of hours rather than every 4 to 6hrs.

I'm so worried because I have only 3 more weeks until i have to phase off for the beach. I had dinner tonight and my meal had what I thought was cooked down tomatoes, I asked and it was tomato sauce that had sugar in it. is it now going to take 3 days to get back in? I used the strips and it indicated I was still in ketosis? also, is gum completely ruled out? Does anyone notice crystal light slowing you down?

Laudie - my coach told me I could only have stevia, so I don't drink crystal light although I love it. I also noticed each piece of my sugarless gum has 2 grams of carbs so I no longer chew gum :(

my coach told me I could have crystal light once a day and orbit sugarless gum occasionally not everyday. I still don't understand why every coach has different rules lol

Tomorrow is first weigh-in -- yikes! :o

My blood pressure has been higher than I like -- I am on bp meds. If I go to my regular doctor and tell him I'm on this IP plan, I think he'll hit the roof! So . . . I will talk to my coach about this tomorrow because I thought the bp would get better -- when I am in ketosis -- which I don't think I am yet. I followed the plan, but I got really sick the second and third day. I hope I can stay on the plan. :?:

My coach told me that the aspertane in crytsal light acts like a sugar, your body I guess believes that it is and reacts accordingly but splenda and stevia I guess are different. I stick to splenda crystal light and only use it on moderation and see no difference.

sometimes I have "dinner" at lunch especially if I go out for lunch.

Something to try/look for/have other than the Crystal Light:

4C Totally Light 2 Go

They are flavor packets (admittedly they flavor STRONGLY - I use one stick for 24oz of water when the recommended says 16.9).

They are made with Splenda, no aspartame! Yay! :cheer3:

I actually have been using these for years (before IP) because I have a friend who has epilepsy and can't have anything with aspartame in it at all because of it's possible neurological effects.

Anyway, check 'em out. Lots of flavors (tea, lemonade, pomegranate blends, fruit punch, etc etc)

I would think they would be possible to find in most grocery stores (here on the east coast I have found them in Stop and Shop, Big Y, Shaw's, etc).

Hello I am a new member to 3fatchicks and I've never blogged or anything like this before. Been on IP for several months and have lost 30lbs but still need to lose my last 10! It's hard! Not to mention I am dreaming of all the foods I haven't had for a long time! I have cheated alot in these last few weeks which I know causes weight loss to come to a crawl! My husband has been super succesful on the IP diet so I asked him to coach me and he is but it's still tough. I'm trying this since my husband suggested it as a way to talk through the desires to cheat and go off of "the plan"! I also love to excercise and find that to be difficult in managing the food and satiate the appetite too. Any suggestions...bring them on...I am very open to your help!

Check out the recipes on this site. Lots of great ideas so you don't get bored with the food.
Everyone here is very friendly and helpful. I eat lots of dill pickels, lettuce and celery in between meals. Just having something to crunch on really helps. And of course tons of water. You are almost there! You can do this!:carrot:

If I were you and that close to my goal I probably would just start fresh like it was your first week on the program, no restricted foods and 100% following the plan. You will probably hit a big number in your weigh in and it might motivate you some more. What is a week right? You are soo close!:D

Hi!
Im new to the site, but am enjoying reading all the encouraging posts! I am just starting the IP plan and since my coach is across the country (I've known her a long time but she recently moved to Colorado) I figured it would be good to have a source of encouragement that was more consistent.
Ive heard that the first few days are the toughest, but I'm willing to do whatever necessary to rid myself of these extra lbs!