Thanks for the motivation. I really need it this week. I am starting to get tired of no bread, no fruit no cheese. I shouldn't be complaining since there is a lot of people here on phase 1 for a lot longer and are still persevering. I need to to stop whining and stick to it a little longer.

A couple of questions:
When do you stop taking the IP supplements?
Does Whey Protein Powder work as a breakfast protein, by chance?

According to the Phase 4 sheet you are supposed to take them forever. I just think they are too expensive, so when I phase out I'm changing to other brands. I found that Centrum Performance are very similar to the IP ones. I also check some Nature Made for calcium, magnesium and potassium and the are comparable as well. As for whey protein, I used to take that every morning with my smoothies, but I think the IP shakes have other nutrients you won't get with just whey protein. I plan on taking my whey protein when I phase out as well. I can't afford IP products for life. I'm not an expert, but I'll suggest you do that.

So I was thinking that it is going to be really expensive to be eatting 10oz of meat a day! What are some other 'protein' choices? I was thinking hard boiled egg but can't remember how many equal a protein? I also saw that at costco there was precooked turkey strips, could you use these in a pinch? I didn't look at the nutrional values.

Based on the Phase two sheet. The options for protein say 2 eggs, 5 oz. fat free ham. I don't know where I read it but it is also suggested for ham free of preservatives/nitrates. As for precooked meats, watch out for hi sodium content, this could slow down weight loss.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Coqui
I was hoping to start Phase 3 today, but my coach is a bit concerned about it. She thinks I should reset my goal to 135 because I didn't loose as much on Phase 2 ( 3 pounds in 2 weeks). Her rationale is that between Phases 3 and 4 some people might gain up to 5 pounds due to the body's reaction to the change and it's adjustment to glycogen levels. As a prevention meassure she thinks if I go on Phase 3 at 137 and gain 5 pounds I will be above goal. For my age and height I should weight no more than 140. So I think I will do it for another week and see what happens. If I survived 14 weeks without the big breakfast (no bread , no fruit, no dairy), I can survive another one. I have to be positive and think that Phase 4 is around the corner. I can do this.
My coach said the same thing, you tend to gain about 5lbs in the transition, so she also wants me to get 5lbs below my goal. The only reason I am going to phase II now is cause I am going to Mexico in the begining of March and want to enjoy it!

I think you can do it... seems like you have a good outlook!

Same here...my coach is keeping me on ph 2 another week to ten days to get a few lbs. below goal weight, so when I gain the glycogen and water weight back I'll be right in the zone. I am also chompin' at the bit for fruit and my beloved cottage cheese, but will wait and do this right. It's so much harder the closer you get. I'm also aware of old sabotage thoughts coming around. This is really the time for brain re-patterning!

You can use canned tuna, egg whites or eggs, vegetarian style proteins, edamame or black soy beans, other fish, shrimp, etc.

If I may make a suggestion, try finding the tuna and fish on sales. I often find tilapia for 2.00 a pound. You may also buy the frozen bulk packages of fish or chicken tenders at Costco. I just picked up some frozen tilapia there, it was lightly seasoned, and had less than one carb from seasonings. There were 6 servings in the package and I paid 12.99 for the whole lot. It seemed fairly reasonable. I also get the chicken tenders for around the same amount. I get about a 10 servings per bag.

Remember you are trading 1 IP packet per day at 4.00 usd per day for 7.00 a day so, you will have about 28.00 a week to put toward that extra serving per day of protein.

Thanks for the tips... I guess I never really thought about the price of the IP packs, I just always paid for them cause they are working why question it kinda attitude. Makes sense when you say it that way, I have $4.00 to spend on protein for lunch!! WOW!! ;) hehe

I'm not a big fish eater, can you do veggie burgers without the bun of course? And what are chicken tenders? I shop at Costco quite a bit but don't think I've seen these?

There are some varieties of veggie burgers are good. I would have to review the forum to see what advice our past vegetarians were given to help answer your question. Maybe someone currently vegetarian would have the answer.

Chicken tenders are that tender, slender portion inside the chicken breast. It is about a 2-3oz piece of meat. The chicken tenders are frozen in large bags in the freezer aisles of costco. They are really convenient to cook up. You'll find them near the frozen chicken parts (wings, breasts, thighs) that are not prepared or breaded in anyway.

I buy some fish like that too. They have really nice tilapia tenderloin (individually wrapped and frozen), mahi, salmon, tilapia (seasoned with herbs only or a pesto (less than 1 carb per serving). Explore the frozen aisle and read labels. You will find many thing.

A tip my nutrition coach gave last night was to buy up a pack of chicken breast, broil or bake them, then keep a few in the fridge and, tightly wrap (saran) and freezer bag the rest. As you need them, take out a breast or so, defrost and rewarm. It is a quick meal.

I woke up this morning with a better attitude towards continuing on Phase 2 until I reach 135. I have to thank Carla for her post in the OOPS!! thread regarding the importance of transitioning through all phases. I am changing my goal to this number and wait patiently until my body adjusts and is ready to move on. I want to share with everyone on this thread what she has posted, so here it is:



Coqui,

First, I'm sorry. I know what it is like to have a plan and feel that is not being permitted or supported to develop as you want it.

Second, and I know you may cringe to here this, in terms of how this program works (that is key) your coach is right. The goal of IP is to allow your body time to heal what went wrong physically. It will not stop the natural body chemistry and processes. Therefore, when you go back to eating carbs you will, to some degree or other gain back weight in the form of fluids associated to eating carbs (This is a bit fuzzy but roughly, the body can hold a little less than four pounds of glycogen stores. It can also hold 4g of water for every 1 gram of glucose. That capacity is to some extent determined by the individual. On average, another 3 pounds, IF I remember correctly.) SO, you could end up with upwards of 7 pounds new fluids. Your coach just wants to see you meet a goal and be satisfied, no, HAPPY, with the end result of your work.

Don't be too eager to end a phase. You have a great opportunity to learn to use food to fuel your body and not feed your emotions. This experience was an example of emotional eating. You were hurting and disappointment and frustrated and sought food to manage the resulting feelings and stress. WE DO THAT! You feel upset again because it happened and maybe because there you were wishing for phase 3, being told to stay in phase 2 and now, because of the inappropriate food choices considering phase 1.

I think, if you just do phase 2, you'll be fine. You will enjoy losing and using real food. You will have a bit more variety. Appreciate that phase 2 has its purpose too. It isn't a worthless or stepping stone phase. Phase 2 PREPARES. It prepares your body to manage larger portions of real foods. It allows to body to get used to breaking its nutrition out of a more complex "package". You pancreas starts to make more of the enzymes needed in digestion. It has a definite albeit more minor purpose than phase 3.

Phase 2 is still a reduction phase you just exchange a prepared highly bio available protein for a real protein.

Let what happened go. Unless you are ok with the possibility of going to 145 when you go into phase 4 (may or may not happen but you should be prepared that it could) I would stay in phase 2 to finish the 2 pounds then go to phase 3 for 2 or 3 weeks. THEN hit phase 4.

As far as transitioning to phase 4 and the results, it isn't the transition that is the problem and, the answer is to some extent yes. You are supposed to have glucose, glycogen and a little more water in your body. (as explained above) so, when that is replaced you will see a drifting up of some kind (minor or a bit more) in your weight. It SHOULD happen.

IF you transition to phase 3 properly you will see better results in phase 4. The rest of what happens with phase 4 and long term is up to you.

REMEMBER, phase 4 is what your lifestyle diet should end up looking like.

ALSO REMEMBER, IP only gets us back to a place with knowledge where we can have a healthy trim body. If we go back to eating as we did, eating the foods we did, or using food the way we did we WILL get the same results. What we should have learned in the long run is that some bodies, ours in this case, respond better to diets with more protein, less carbs, few junk foods and more natural foods.
__________________
Carla

Thank you, Coqui. I am glad I was helpful. I was worried as I posted that first then saw your other responses for the day. I was hoping I hadn't muddied the waters and confused you again.

I AM SURE you will have great success and that things will work out beautifully.
:hug:

My posts were reflecting my frustration and confusion. All related to lack of understanding of the purpose of every phase. Now I'm set to do this the right way and be patient. Thanks again!!

Ana

It's another day in Phase 2 paradise! I have come to terms with the fact that this phase is as important as the others, so I'm following it until I reach my goal. Thank you Carla for all your support and motivation. Phase 3 is just around the corner, but I'm not going to get obsessed about it.

Great job and GREAT attitude!!

This is a life long path. You are just taking a few steps to a place where you will be maintaining your weight loss permanently. In the end, it all works out.

:hug: I am so glad you are having a great few days! That weight will be off in no time! THEN, you'll be bragging about that that big breakfast you ate! ;)

Today is my 1st day on Phase II !! I'm kinda excited, kinda nervous for the change!? I brought 5oz of left over steak to go with my salad at lunch time!! I'm hoping that it's enough to keep me full, but I'm also worried that maybe it's too much and I'll have that "oh - I ate too much" feeling after lunch?!? I also think I'm going miss my afternoon chocolate shake!? :( I really like those shakes, they are sooo convienent, it's going to be weird now that I have to actually prepare my lunch!? lol

I hope your first day went well. I did feel full the first few days, like I had cheated, but then my body got used to it. Now I need both meals plus the two IP products. As you probably read on this thread I struggled handling this phase as I was getting anxious to get to phase 3. The key is to be patient, do it right and you will reach your goal.

I really appreciate this thread. I think I will be moving to Phase 2 in another week.

Day one on Phase II went well, I felt like it took me all afternoon to eat my lunch!? Partially because we were busy at work and partially because it seemed like sooo much food!? lol However it did keep me full for the rest of my day. I might try and postpone my morning shake and have it in the afternoon. I like to have my chocolate fix after lunch. ;) We'll see how today goes but so far so good!! :)

I just realized I've been on IP for 14 weeks!!! Seems like I started last month. For the first time in my life I have committed to following a diet or eating program this long. It's true my journey hasn't been perfect but for every cheat and fall off the wagon, I have been able to jump right back and stick to the program. I have done so many diets and spent so much money in the past with no success, that I was skeptical at first. I researched and read about IP for two months. I didn't tell anyone about it, except my husband and my mom, until about week 8 when my sister and my girlfirends started to notice the weight loss. I was afraid of failure one more time, but this time I was successful. Today my WI didn't show any changes. I'm at 137 with 2 more pounds to goal. This means one more week on phase 2. Climbing a mountain isn't easy, but the hardest part is to get to the top. I can do this! We all can do this! Hang in there!!!

Not an easy day today. I think I have a stomach flu. My body ached all day and I have the Ds with horrible stomach spasms! I have not eaten much. I started the day with a chocolate shake. I had been dirnking water and lemonade with splenda all day. I ate a bar around 1:00 and now I'm about to have some homemade chicken soup with allowed veggies and white meat. I hope this makes me feel a bit better. I feel very weak.

YIKES. feel better quick!

Ana, I am so sorry you feel sickly! :hug: I hope the soup helped. Feel better soon. Remember, you can have a diet soda (sprite or ginger ale type) if you find those things help you.


Really try to get in plenty of water, warm herb tea, things to hydrate you. I liked the jello WARM and the Blueberry POM drink warm when I was sick.

I'm not at all sure when to start Phase 2. Some of the material I have says that Phase 1 is to be followed until 80% of the weight is lost. Is this the standard most of you have used? Is there a limit on the time you should stay in Phase 2?

My coach told me until I reach 90%, but there is discrepancy among coaches. I started phase 2 when I was about 85% but it has taken me longer than to weeks to meet goal. You still loose, but I think that because you are at the end of the rope it's harder to loose the last few pounds. Do you have a coach?

Thank you everyone for the advice and good wishes. Actually I don't drink pop, but I have been drinking water and some lemonade made with splenda. I found it at a store nearby called Aldi. It's 0 cals, 0 carbs,0 sugars. So it has been my savior. I had some of the soup, but I'm still feeling weak and my body aches all over. I step on the scale every morning. I know some advice not to, but for me is a great motivation. My scale is 1 pound higher than the clinic's scale. This morning I registered 135. Would this be because of the unplanned cleansing I went through? Will I gain the weight back once I start eating again? I plan to continue Phase 2 this week regardless, but quite frankly the way my stomach feels veggies and meat don't sound appealing.

Sorry to hear your not feeling well, I don't have any answers for you, just make sure to keep up on your fluids!?

I made kale chips on the weekend, they were good. I'm finding Phase II a little difficult, either I feel like I over ate or I'm not sure I had enough protein!? I am trying things a little different this week and will make my lunch protien something a little smaller (like hard boiled eggs). I also feel pressure to have things premade!? I'm a grab a go type gal so I'm worried that if I don't have a protein ready to grab then I will reach for the wrong choice? So now my fridge is stuffed with so many things that I'm worried they will go bad before I can eat them all!? ? :P

My coach wanted me to get to 100% of my goal before phasing out, however ... I am going on a holiday in March and wanted to be phased out by then so I made the choice to phase out a little sooner then planned. I will hopefully continue to loose, just not as much as before so I might not make it to goal by then time I go for my trip but thats ok... I'm already in my goal jeans so anything more is a bonus!! :)

Carbs or net carbs?
 

I'm doing my research on products with carb contents to prepare for the guidelines on phases 3 and 4. The breakfast on phase 3 calls for no more than 30 grams of carbs in whole grain bread or cereal and no more than 20 grams in fruit. Which carbs do I count, whole content as stated in the label or net crabs? I'm assuming net carbs is the number of carbs minus the fiber grams. Am I right?

bump
I am curious about your question too.

Not everybody agrees on using net carbs (I do)- so from everything that I have read you should only be counting the net carbs since the fiber is not being digested by your body and passing through.

That sounds so good! I have founds some 100% whole grain breads but they are like 20 carbs per slice with 100 cals,and the fiber is about 8, so that would be awesome.

The only caution I am going to throw your way is to eat some then go a couple of days without to see how your body handles the added wheat to your diet.

I just had my first weigh in on Phase II and it wasn't that great ... only -0.2lb loss!?!? Not even sure I should count it!? I suppose the only good thing though it is that I didn't gain! Hopefully this was just my body getting used to the change and this week will be better? I am going to try a few thing different this week and see if that helps? Stick to the lower fat protein for lunch cut back on my salad veggies and add them to soup. Hopefully this helps keep me full without eatting a ton of protein!?

I think I must be misinterpreting you. You don't mean you're going to cut back on salad, vegetables, and protein, do you?

No, I used to use my 2C veggies with my lunch salad/lettuce and I think now I will only use 1 1/2C in the salad (with a little less lettuce) and the other 1/2C I will make a soup with so that I am still getting the veggies but can spread out my meals. Make sense ? :s

Yes. And thanks.

Congrats to my husband...who is starting Phase 2 tomorrow. I am still on Phase 1, but holding strong....and working hard!

Oh, this is wonderful, especially the having-someone-to-do-the-program-with part. (see note on walking) A potential partner?

Hi, I am starting Phase 2 today and really looking forward to it.

I know I basically just started and have a long way to go but I honestly can't wait to beginning phasing out. To me it is going to be such an accomplishment. Congrats to all of you that have already hit these phases...