Quote:
Originally Posted by mama2three
Hey Rocky Monarch. I appreciate your honesty about the holidays. It appears that I opened a can of worms about the IP philosophy. I have a couple of comments/ concerns. I understand where you are coming from as far as transforming your mind. I believe if the diet is only to lose the weight and return to previous eating patterns, one would end up at the starting block once again in a short amount of time. But, with that said, I'm not quite sure how I see IP teaching someone how to eat healthy long term. I am only in phase one and very new to the whole system but as far as I can see, it is not healthy for one to eat out of little foil packets for the rest of their lives. ...My question was strictly in reference to the opinions of others as to whether or not to have my Thanksgiving meal with the family while on protocol ... I have done alot of work in this area of my life and refuse to go back. ... If the philosphy of IP is to eliminate carbs, including and especially healthy carbs for the remainder of my life, than this diet is not for me and would not have been approved by the FDA as a healthy option for weight loss. Our great God has given us a wide assortment of fruits and vegtables among many other beautiful things and they were meant for our enjoyment and health. Just my $0.2.
Hey Mama: opening cans of worms is what this board is for, so that is a good thing (as long as we don't have to eat them!).
You are right, Phase 1 is NOT healthy or balanced. The good news is that you will eventually eat all the fruits and vegetables and not have to eat out of foil packets (thank heavens!).
As you move into Phase 2, 3 and 4, the IP protocol will gradually transition you into eating healthy, normal meals 3 meals a day for the rest of your life. (I found it very frustrating that my coach did not teach me all that up front and somehow it was a big "secret" I had to have revealed at each step. But check out the "life after phase 1 thread for the information).
If you are asking how big a deal is it to eat some green beans? As Carla explained, you can have 2 cups (without the mushroom soup and fried onions my sister would put in them!). If you want to eat a small portion of potatoes for one meal while in Phase 1, it will be a set back but with the right mindset (which it sounds like you have) it is not a crisis, even though it can be a slippery slope...
But--not to pick nits--but your original question was
"I am starting to plan for Thanksgiving and my coach is encouraging me to phase off the protocol between Thanksgiving and Christmas and then pick back up in January."
To that question, I still emphatically advise "no". Because the philosophy of IP is to (pretty much) eliminate unhealthy carbs for the rest of your life. And unfortunately for most of us, most holiday food is about unhealthy carbs--sugar, white flour, etc. So going off protocol for a 6-8 week hiatus would not just be the set back for that period of time, it would be inconsistent with what IP is all about
: finding healthy ways to eat for the rest of your life.
I don't see that my point of view and yours are inconsistent, but I think I do find a flaw in your coach's thinking if that is his/her advice. What tools would s/he offer you next year to be sure you don't gain weight back (the average weight gain in the US during that time is over 5 lbs.)? If your coach really believes this is the last diet you will ever be on, then s/he is responsible for helping you develop tools for that. Giving you a "free pass" for the holidays is not doing you a favor. (sorry for the coach-bashing)
I agree that your best bet is to proceed as it seems you are thinking: stay on protocol for the holiday season. If at one holiday meal there are some things that are important to you for personal reasons, allow yourself one cheat, knowing that the next day you are back on Phase 1. Good luck in whatever you decide...this is a hard journey and we are all here to help each other. But in the end it all comes down to our personal choices (thanks Salesgod!).