I think I would gag if I hate salad twice a day lol....I eat it once a day for lunch, a spring mix salad and i cut up two romaine leaves to make sure things always move. I Use two cups of spring mix, and it counts as two cups of veggies, so that leaves only two cups left to get it, way easier:carrot:

I have been doing a salad daily for my lunch and just the cooked veggies at dinner. I'm thinking of scaling back the salad to half of my required 2 cups and splitting my lunch into that and cooked veggies for variety, and because this will be week 2, and I'm supposed to stop the extra supplements that are allowed the first week.

I have found WF Sesame Ginger and Honey Mustard to be pretty good. Nice to know someone has tried the Chipotle Ranch! I think I would look for that one next time I shop.

I'm going to Integrative Health in DTC. A lady I know did Pinnacle Chirpractic, but they were $250 for the coaching fee where I only paid $50 for the coaching fee. BIG difference!

Now that you have reached goal, do you still use IP products? What phase are you in? You are doing so great!!! What was your weight loss on average (per week)? Do you drink caffeine at all (coffee, etc)? That is my downfall. I am supplementing an extra glass of water for every cup of coffee, but I still think I'm having too much!

Hi there Longhorn :wave:

Pinnacle thats it! That's the one that Bettany runs. I was referred to her from a friend who lost 80 pounds on IP. If I remember right she is in Parker or Lonetree, or some far out flipping area, so I just found another clinic that's closer. I sure wasn't gonna drive my *** off for a 10 minute WI.

If you ask my couch, my average weight loss was 3 a week, but I don't think I by that. I had many weeks of 1 pound and some 1/2 pound. I have always been an IP "bootcamper" No restricted items, ever! and no occasional veggies, ever! 6 weeks before I hit goal, I gave up all cooked protein for another packet. That did help jump up the weight loss, but in the end it kind of screwed me, because when I got 3 pounds past goal, I couldn't start phase 2 until I had 2 weeks of adding back that cooked protein, instead of the extra packet. Boy, I was pissed! But the coach believe phase 2 would be to much, to fast for my body and ya know what? He was right! The first week that I added back the cooked protein, I gained 8 oz, but the following week I lost 2 pounds. So now, I've been on phase 2 for 1 week (1 more week to go) and I could bet ya, that I gained weight this week. Seems to me when I start adding back something that my body isn't use to, I gain. I don't worry about it tho, I think it's just my body getting use to changes that it hasnt had in months.

I am very anxious for Phase 3, not so much the big breakfast (if you ask me, that's an awful lot of food, and I have no idea where I'm gonna put it, plus I'm not a breakfast person anyway. I just love my protein coffee) but I'm excited to start working out. I am skinny skinny now, but I need some serious toning... lol.

Before IP I was drinking 3 cups of coffee in the morning. Now I take my big coffee mug, pour my IP RTD or 1/2 of my GNC Lean Shake (that's what I use now) and top it off with coffee. I may drink 1/2 my coffee with that mix, then top it off with a bit more coffee. I do, once in a while drink hot tea too but only if I'm really cold or if I'm hungry.

I can tell you guys this. You will have **** weight loss weeks, even when you've been well behaved, it happens and it will happen more then once. I know it's hard to deal with, but you have to have faith in the plan because it works. If you get a bad weight loss week, just keep your head up and eye on the goal, it'll happen :)

My other tip is this: DO NOT CHEAT! Not ever, not even once! It breaks your focus and once you cheat once, it's easy to cheat again. If ya get hungry, have an extra salad, drink more water or have a hot tea. Do not make a plan to be done by a certain date. I did that and you have to just let this diet work, don't put deadlines on it or your setting yourself to be disappointed. You need to set yourself up to be proud of yourself and what you have accomplished as you accomplish it.

Thank you so much for all the information! My coach never told me to cut restricteds the first few weeks! I've been having one a day. Maybe I'll stop! I never have occasional veggies (except I have had a total of 5 grape tomotoes in a week and probably 4 Tbsp of salsa that only has IP ok veggies). My only other "cheat" is coffee which is technically allowed... I was just hoping to give it up. OH... and I do have some of my water as the sparkling flavored water from King Soopers (sweetened with Splenda). Will that hurt me?

I'm going to try to keep the "real" meat for dinner just for the sake of cost! OMG I'm going to go broke. I'm trying not to set a time limit, but holy moly my mind is setting a limit based on my bank account.

What does RTD stand for again? I do get about 1/2 cup skim milk a day with my coffee which my coach said is ok. Do you think it is? I also opened a packet of the chocolate soy crisp things and have about 4 a day. He said to do this the first week or two just in case I get a craving. My thought was I could have one packet of these a week spread out over 7 days. However, I DO NOT want to do anything that will hinder this diet. I won't even allow myself a single blueberry when my kids are eating them because I'm afraid it will take me out of ketosis! NOT worth it! I should have you be my coach! tee hee

I have no intention of cheating. We have two Rockies games in the next two weeks that had me a little nervous, but I'm just not going to ruin what I have done so far. I will take my sparkling water and just not eat at the game. I know I won't cheat, but I hope I'm not miserable and starving!

Oh... and my name is Kay! I'm waiting anxiously for my siggy day to start!!! I keep forgetting to put my name at the end of my posts!

Best advice ever, Sherry. Good to see you at goal, girl!

Well Hi Kay!

I really think you are on the right path to reaching your goal. J.M.O. Some coaches allow coffee and milk, some do not, my coach said NO to milk. RTD = Ready to drink, those drinks that come in those little boxes. Those things are much better in coffee then milk alway, plus that's your breakfast for the day. Not only is it super yummy, it fills you up!

Now, I don't think bootcamping IP is for everyone, I just was on a mission... lol. If you can handle it, I would say for you to give up all restricted's and if you just can't bring yourself to do it, limit them to 2 weeks at the most. Some say restricted can boost your weight loss, if your at a stall, but your not there yet.

You coach may allow sparking water (you will have to check) but anything with carbonation is a no no. It doesn't really hamper weight loss, but IP also puts your body in an akaline state, instead of an acid state. (Research akaline in a body, it is much healthier and better for you) Sparkling water can hamper the akaline state of your body.

For your Rockies Game, I would pack some chopped up veggies or take a salad with ya, don't forget the water, or take on of your packets/shaker, or heck, make it simple.. take and RTD! lol. You'll do just fine!

The first week or two of this diet is the hardest, actually fist the 1st week is. I think at week 2 it's starting to sink in, that this is what your gonna do and your body kind of accepts it... lol.

Well Hi Jolie!

How are you? Haven't seen you around in a while. Thanks for the compliment! Yep, I finally hit that magic number, shhesshh... the last 3 weeks has been a struggle with the scale, AGH! It was like it was so close, I could just reach out and grab it, but I just couldn't grab it...not even with my long nails... lol.

It is frustrating to get differing advice from coaches. Mine said 1/2 cup of skim milk a day is fine. He also said the sparkling water I am having is fine. There is no phosphoric acid, but there is citric acid. I'm going to grill him a little more on it on Wednesday when I go. The last thing I want to do is keep my body from going into ketosis and repairing my pancreas and whatever else is supposed to be going on!! He did tell me he recommended using the RTD as a creamer instead of skim milk. So not as my protein for that morning, but more as an additional packet that is spread over several days (a week?) used as a creamer. I have about 8 restricteds that I am going to use, but then I might try boot camp for week 2 and 3. We'll see! I have low expectations for this week's weigh in. I feel so bloated and my pants don't feel any loser. I feel like I've gained weight! But we'll see...

Longhorn...

Every coach is different, doesn't mean your coach is wrong. He/she maybe trying to give you a little bit of "normalcy" so you stay on plan. Sparkling water won't keep you out of ketosis, but it does raise the acid in your body. I personally would limit your sparking water for when your at the Rockies game or your "out" and feel like you just need something other then water. You can try adding lemon, lime or even cucumber slices to your water for a touch of flavor if your stuggling getting all your water in. You really should be drinking 100 oz. Protocal is 64 oz but almost everyone says 100. I usual drink 100 to 150 per day.

I wish you all best on your journey. I'm here to tell ya, if I can do this, anyone can do this! I was known as the pasta/mexican food queen around my town... lol. Didn't care much for sweets, but if you had a mexican item, I'll beat ya down for it! lol.

Keep doing what your doing and you'll be melting before ya know it!

I really like the Honey Dijon from WF. I add some vinegar and I find its a great salad dressing, or even dip for veggies. I also cannot 'choke' down more than about one salad a day. Good luck to you and definitely try WF dressings