Here's a question I have been thinking about for the last few days. I just started IP and have been thinking about the success people have had and preparing for some of the local criticism that some may have with this plan.
Ok, so I am 230+ lbs. My diet previously has been full of poor quality crap. Let's say that maybe 1000 calories (being generous here) were of food that my body could make use of. The other 2000+ calories in my day consisted of sugars and junk that are of no use to my body.

What would be the harm of a plan containing virtually all food and supplementation that my body could use in the 900 or whatever calories that I am consuming during the day? All high quality protien,veggies and including vitamin,nutrient supplementation that my body needs (and most of which I didn't get before with my crummy diet). In theory, I am getting more high quality nutrients with this plan without the empty calories that I was previously ingesting causing me to get this way. Is my logic way off? I just know that if I told people (laymen) that I was consuming 900 cals/day they would tell me it was not healthy even if results showed otherwise. So far I love this plan!

Everyone has different plans that work for them, so I am not trying to say one plan is better than the next, but I am just thinking out loud.

Hi! Very few people know the name of the plan I'm on. When people ask, I say, I cut out the carbs that were bad for me. I'm eating a lot of salads and healthy veggies and lean proteins including protein shakes( if I happen to be drinking one at the time! lol). I leave it at that. If you say that and finish with "it's amazing how unhealthy I was eating before with all the sugar and fried crap I was putting in my body. I feel so much better eating only food that is good for me." Then it's very hard for them to tell you that you what you are doing is unhealthy! You don't have to go into detail to naysayers about the program or how many calories you are consuming. Good luck!

I honestly don't worry about the criticism. I let people know what I am doing and that I am doing under the direction of my doctor. If people think it is unsafe or unhealthy then that is their issue. I thank them for the concern and move on. It might seem a little harsh but I trust that what I am doing is good for me and in the long run that is all that matters.

Based on what's been said elsewhere, the balance of your daily calories is coming from stored reserves which, while in ketosis, comes from body fat.

That makes sense to me! Thanks for the replys. It also ties in with the recent post about cheating on this plan.

Thank you and best of luck!

What I always say is that while I may only be eating 700-900 calories in a day, for each pound of fat on my body, I have stored 3500 calories for my body to use. So, I have well over 100,000 calories in stored fuel on my body! They generally agree that this makes sense. :-)