Here's one... if you cheat, just the slightest, do you still eat your three IPs?

We will be totally thinking and praying for you!! :hug: Please let us know how it went when you are able!!

We will all be thinking of you, Melissa. You're brave, and you'll do great. Enjoy your time off IP. :hug:

I think I am going to do this too. If all goes according to plan I'll be ready to start phase II in about 3 weeks. I'm a little nervous, but have gotten a lot of great guidance here. Hope your recalibration goes as you hope!

Why would you throw in the towel and have a cheat week once a month? You'll just have to start all over and get back into ketosis. I cannot even imagine doing this once a month, once was enough, and that cannot be good for you! My cravings have been remarkably less since being on IP, you may experience the same thing. If not, nice salty kale chips are good, or, you could try having a bar that has chocolate. Chop it up in about 8 pieces and snack on it throughout the day, whenever the cravings hit. Better to have an extra restricted that cheat. Good luck!! :hug:


Try some herbal tea when you get hungry, worked wonders for me. As a fellow coffee drinker I feel your pain. :( Maybe try to taper from 6 cups back to 2 over a week or so?

Yes ma'am, happened to me several times during the first couple of weeks. I added an extra bar for a few days and felt much better. When my body adjusted to IP I didn't need to do this anymore.

OMG, I hope not! I love to have a coffee in the afternoon. I just make sure to have extra water to compensate, I've been doing fine.

First of all, don't cheat. This diet doesn't tolerate cheating if you want results. You're only hurting yourself. If you want to succeed, just plan on taking that option right off the table. Second, yes, you still need to get all your protein in.

confessed that i wanted to phase off to boss/coach today and she was VERY SUPPORTIVE, huge sigh of relief, the breakfast list for phase 3 is ridiculous, i'm not sure when i'll be able to sit down and eat that much.

one thing though..she told me that you only have to do phase 3 for 1 week, anyone else heard this???

Probably a good plan...you want to go into your surgery as strong as possible. We'll be thinking of you and praying that all goes well! :hug:

I've always eaten all 3 packets, regardless of cheats. It's important to get the protein!

Glad to hear that she agreed. Hopefully now you can relax and enjoy your reintroduction to real food! ;) My Phase 2 sheet says that you have to be on it for a minimum of 2 weeks. My Phase 3 sheet says that you have to be on it for 14 days.

Wow--it DOES get easier.:cheer2:

Last week we ate out for my son's 21st birthday. I stuck to protocol but it was HARD--sitting there with my little filet of fish on salad while everyone else chowed down on ribs and BBQ chicken and whipped sweet potatoes washed down with champagne and tried to get me to take sips of the divine homemade soups they all ordered. We won't even talk about the desserts. :( It was tough, and I felt virtuous but very deprived.

Today I spent the day with a bunch of friends that included a long and languorous Italian lunch al fresco beside the river and a late stop to Starbucks for iced lattes. I found it so much easier. :) Can't say why. Passed up the shared pizza appetizer at lunch, said no to a fine white wine (even when my friend tried to insist I try just a glass, knowing how ordinarily I LOVE MY WINE), stuck to a totally protocol salad of arugula, peppers and shrimp with lemon/OO dressing, passed up dessert, ordered unsweetened iced tea at Starbucks and when I tasted it (in the car, as we had to grab our drinks and go; we were running late) and it tasted sweetened anyway, kept it till I got home and dumped it down the kitchen drain without the slightest interest in having more.

No cravings. No feeling of deprivation. No having to take deep breaths and remind myself keep your eye on the prize keep your eye on the prize.

Sticking to this diet in the long run is going to be a lot easier than I feared.

So we are off to the State Fair on Saturday (the highlights of which are sugar powdered fried lattice thingies and hot dogs and cotton candy and ice cream) and then another dinner out at a famous local diner. Let's just hope this newfound equanimity holds!

That's so cool, I'm glad she was supportive! :D

great job sticking to the plan! it really does come much easier as the weeks go by with friends and family offering food.

today, a few people at work were telling me "go ahead and just eat a little piece of pizza, it won't kill you". every single one of the 8 or so people there have been on ip at some point or another. i have two people tell me how shocked they were that i didn't give in at the end of the day. it smelled delicious and looked so good but i want to end this the right way, not blow it again and gain all this back.

it really is a lifestyle change to say the least.

stacey and stina
i was so relieved HOW supportive she really was. i felt like i was going to let her down but she knows i've really done my best and lasted WAY longer than most people. i'm happy where i am, just would like to tone up a bit and lose the last of my belly:) exercise is on the agenda again tomorrow! can't wait!

everyone, i'd really recommend the biggest loser "power sculpt" dvd, it's not too intense and perfect for someone just getting into exercise. i had the best feeling of a tad bit of soreness today in my butt, legs and arms. i know i didn't strain anything-but i sure did work it!

ellie,

i have coffee in the afternoons 2-3 times a week to get through the post lunch lag. try to keep it at 2 cups or less a day in the coffee department:)

great job kitty!!:cheer2:

stina
my sheet says 2 weeks too but she said 1 is all you really need. i think i'll stick to 2 unless anyone else had had an ok experience doing 3 for just a week. any thoughts?

maybe i should post this is life after phase 1...NO.....i don't wanna leave y'all!! :(

Got my hair cut today! I'm all ready. Outfit is done, hair is done, nails are done, shoes are done. Let's just get it over with already! :)

melissa
CUTE CUT! let us know how it goes for ya!! sending "you got the job!" vibes your way;)


mpeterson
we're thinkin' about you, good luck on surgery day and take care of yourself you hear?

Thanks Erin, and everyone else. Going to get some sleep now. Goodnight from central FL!

You look absolutely beautiful! You'll do great and we will all be waiting to hear how it goes!

I like it! Get a good night's sleep and knock their socks off tomorrow!!

:cheer2::cheer3::cheer2::cheer3:

Hi everyone!
I'm new here! I've enjoyed reading through the posts, what a great community.
I'm only in the start of week 2, but I'm SO HUNGRY much of the time. I don't have cravings, I'm just hungry! I did get some extra snacks in week 1 and had only one of them, lost 5 pounds in week one. I'm too afraid to add extra calories but I don't know if I can stand the hunger! I'm following everyting to a tee. When does the hunger go away?

Also...I decided to ride my bike yesterday evening. I didn't ride too fast, but had to go up a hill, and afterward I got a terrible headache. It was in the top of my head, like my brain was hurting. I also just did not feel well. I don't know if I like this feeling! The headache did not last, thankfully.

Does anyone know if we can have a product called True Lemon Lemonade? It has zero sugar and less than 1g of carbs, but after I had it, I had a terrible headache again.

I hope I can stick with this! I'll keep reading your posts for encouragement so thanks everyone!