Rocky Monarch, this is a brilliant post. You should cross post the same thing in the Life After Phase I thread. What you say about changing our eating habits permanently is so important, and so true. And so much for the better for all of us--IP graduates AND our families.

I have been on IP for about two and a half months, and my husband has been on it with me for about a month and a half. We have lost our middle-aged tire rolls and we feel so much better. I have had a hard time on a couple of occasions, mostly early on (dinner out at a favorite restaurant for my son's birthday was one) but now my cravings are fleeting and easily overcome. I am bored with the diet, and I'd love to try some different foods, but healthy ones, not my former junk favorites. I really think my tastebuds have changed and I intend to keep it that way.

We do ourselves (and our loved ones) no favors by feeding them junk, too much fat and sugar, foods we crave but do not satisfy and sometimes hurt our bodies. Now when I go into the supermarket I am stunned and sometimes appalled by the amount of nutrition-free items around me, all displayed in colorful, enticing, addiction-catering towers. We are victims of this! Food processing industry giants don't make a cent on consumers who head for the fresh fruits and vegetable aisles!

I love how IP has made me investigate new vegetables, new seasonings, new varieties of fish, new ways to cook. You just need to focus on the POSITIVE elements of this diet--and there are many--instead of what you are missing, or crave, or feel bad about. You live with what you pay attention to. And it is such a relief, feels so good, to be healthy and trim again.

I agree with Rocky Monarch, biggirl86, start weaning your family off the old fast-carb, high fat diet. It will be a lot easier on you personally if you can, and keep reminding yourself that you are doing it for the lot of you, in the long run.

Hey everyone, Tanx for all the ideas and support, I just found another clinic closer by and I will like to share my experience with u guys. I am sooo lucky is one of the 15 best clinics in the country, the service, motivation,ideas, and everything is sooo nice. In the other clinic they never took my measurements, no motivation no nothing. This clinic is what I needed, to keep going, the best thing of all is that overhere I can have restricted foods mmmm variety!!!! I am soo happy, and sad I didn't find this other clinic before. Tanx everyone.

I'm going to " Bump" this thread. Very good advice! I fell off the wagon this WHOLE week! Starting fresh in the morning.

Variety and creativity. I think that is the key. I have been on this less than 2 weeks so I cannot speak for sure but I was struggling last week. I didn't want to cheat or anything but everything seemed so dull, so uninspired. And I think that is the fun about eating and cooking. Aromas, textures, flavors.
So, I came on here and found some great ideas. And voila...more taste and flexibility and creativity. And then I actually enjoyed some of my meals. And then it got me to thinking. We don't actually need all those creams and fats for food to taste good, we need taste.

I don't know if any of this helps but soon after I started this started I kinda "got it" I was like, "ohhhhhhhhhhhhh....this is how I am supposed to eat" Not pudding for breakfast. But, lean meat (we grill) with a whole lotta vegetables. Down the line it might include a small amt of rice or something.
This is something I have sorta known for years but never wanted to do anything about it. We need all those veggies (and probably that crazy amt of water) to move things through our system, to make us healthier, to reduce illness. But, until last week, there was no way I was going to willingly eat meat and veggies everyday and not after I hand some veggies/salad for lunch.

Some of the things fellow IPers do with the packets resembled 'other foods' I had eaten before. I think that may help to make this diet feel less alien, like you are doing it alone or like no one else eats like this.


It's hard for me to be in the grocery store but the other day I was in a regular one and passed aisle after aisle. I realized that I don't eat like 90% of what is in there. I go to a sorta health food store. Has really good meats and that helps because at least in there, I can eat 30% of what is in there plus they carry Walden Farms and other things. Less aisles to pass up. No cooked food aromas.

I think it is great you found a new clinic. You may want to report your old clinic to IP. You need to be successful on this and your clinic is a big part of that.

Take care of you first! I don't know how old your kids are, but, you don't have to cook delicious snacks throughout the day. Fruit works as a delicious snack too and think of the time you are saving. I think the hubby is old enough and capable enough to make his own delicious breakfast. May sound selfish, but, this is for YOU!

I wanted to reply before reading all other comments so this may be repetitive. Think back to why you began this diet. Keep that in your mind at all times! Know that this phase is TEMPORARY!!! And once your get through it you can go back to "normal" food! And at that point you'll be looking and feeling better than you have in a long time! You are worth it! You can do it! So come on...join all of us...we're all in the same boat..If you have a piece of clothing in a smaller size than you currently are hang it where you can see it as your motivation. That will keep your mind focused on your physical goal...start working with the food you can have and made it really enjoyable. I truly crave my chocolate or cap drinks (which is all I have) plus one unrestricted choclate item / week. I crave my baked turnip chips with salt...tons of salt! You can do it!!!

I have 4 children, so I understand about having to cook for them. If I cook a meal for the husband and family that I won't be eating I either have a protein shake while I am cooking, snack on veggies or have a pickle. For dinner they have the same meat and veggie that I do. I'm to busy to cook two meals so I do try to modify what they eat. So far they haven't complained and they have discovered a few new veggies they like. Occasionally, I do have the urge to have a piece of cheese or a cracker but then I think about how fat I look in my daughter's first communion pictures and it's plenty of motivation for me to stay on track. When my oldest daughter has her Confirmation I don't want to be fat.

Why are cooking meals that you don't get to eat? Teach your husband how to cook, or tell him to fend for himself. As for lunch and dinner, I work so have lunch on my own. For dinner, when I was on phase 1, they got what I got PLUS a starch. That's it.

There has been an ongoing joke in our house that I quit cooking when IP started, my kids and boyfriend understand. Just let them know its too tempting to prepare their meals, hopefully they will step up!!

When I go on a diet I cook one meal for the whole family. I try to make those meals healthy and low fat. My husbands invariably complains. On the other hand, he complains when I sit down with a separate meal. I can see how hard it would be for you to cook delicious things for your family, then sit down to plain old veggies. If your diet is not too restrictive, I would be looking for other meals to prepare for yourself that isn't plain or boring and is low fat and filling. If you've filled up with a nice meal it's less likely to binge I find. Perhaps try to find a low fat, low cal way to still enjoy your favourites for lunch.

And the corollary to Pyxlkitty's good advice, and this is tough love so watch out, is why should they eat unhealthy meals when you're concerned about their welfare? Yours should not be the only healthy lifestyle change if the rest of the family is not getting good nutrition. I mean, you probably care for them as much as you do yourself and, if you're like 90% of the women I know, probably more. And what happens when you get to Phase 4 and eat healthy meals for the rest of your life? Will they go to Pizza Hut every night?

I would take a pair of Jeans and make that your "net goal" jeans and hang it in your kitchen. This way it will remind you how close you are to fitting into them. Also your husband and kids will see it and will know the hard work you are puttting into this whole effort and realize they need to support you more

I agree with folks who say start thinking about life after IP. It includes your family as well. Start researching products that are low in carbs and sugars but taste great. Look for low carb, syrups, pancakes, pasta and rise and start substituting them in your kids and husbands meal. This will help them get used to it and give you the practice you need to adjust later.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Let me just say in defense of the moms who are fixing their dinner separate from their families dinner, that is not always something that you can't sustain. I currently fix myself something different from my family almost every night and it's not because they're not eating healthy. IP is so strict that I don't want to make a silly mistake just because I'm trying to save time. Most nights they eat some manifestation of soup, chili, casserole, stir-fry, etc. It's all whole grain, local (when I can get it), 100% home made food, but even in my soups / stocks (which I make at home) / homemade broth, there are non IP approved veggies (example, all the stock I have now was made with carrots and onions in it) / beans.

Now there are occasions where I will make something like pork loin for dinner and eat the same thing (marinated in soy sauce and garlic is delicious!) as the family, but I will add rolls or bread for the family, along with all the veggies. That's tomorrow night's dinner in fact. I just don't think it's totally reasonable to always eat the same things. I would say now I am fixing myself something different 6/7 nights a week. Once I phase off IP I will join them in their evening meals, because they are healthy meals and I can tweak them a little to adapt to phase 4.

I admit though I have had to adapt my cooking. I have always been a taste while cooking person, but I'm learning to actually follow recipes now and let my family season their food if it needs more when they're eating. I also chew gum while I'm cooking so I don't accidentally taste the food without thinking about it.