Thanks! I have them from some other plan that I was doing previously so when I found them I decided to give it a try just to see what it would show. It showed trace to low last night on the strip but I know in the past once I was in the mode the strip would show a deep purple. I'm an LSU fan so I LOVE purple! :-)

Thanks, by Egg I meant the IP omelet. Its my usual breakfast =)

As for veggies staying fresh, I have been ok most of the time. The easiest things that stay most fresh are cucumbers, radishes and celery - those are the main three I put in my salads. I buy the ready made baby spinach in a bag and I buy the organic tub of mixed greens for salads. I buy romaine hearts for stir fry, which I don't cut until I am ready to eat them. I did ok once on prepping aspragus, another time it rotted before I got it out of the bag (24 hours dangit!). I pretty much just rinse and break at the natural breaking point. I cut those eaceh time right before I put in my soup or salad, or I will stir fry whole.

I have only done as needed preparation / chopping of zucchini, green onions, ginger. I use the minced garlic from the jar because it is SO much easier that way.

I cook my lettuce stir fry in 1/2 tsp of oil in the morning and use about 1/4 tsp of the salt between the lettuce stir fry and the IP omelet. I do this because that way I am sure I get the minimum in. Then, if I have the chance I will use the other 1/2 tsp of oil and the remainder of the salt (other things do have salt, so I am not too worried if I am slightly under on the sea salt). I up my sea salt on hot days where I sweat a lot, too.

As for messing up at a party, I feel ya. Don't stress, just move on. You might be pleasantly surprised. For me, I don't feel the setback was huge in retrospect. My appetite has been ok, nothing really feels different so I am very happy with that (though I don't view that as an ok to cheat).

Tomorrow will be my 3rd weight in (end of my second week). I am going to take my Milk of Magnesia tonight to make sure things move right along in the morning, will up my water tonight, and keep my fingers crossed that I have a decent weigh in!

I am feeling pretty good otherwise. Tomorrow night I do have a workout planned, so I will monitor how I feel (i.e. if I feel lethargic and a desire to cheat again). I also plan to discuss the athletic protocol with my "coach". Perhaps starting that at the end of week 3 would be an option. I would be very happy if that were the case!!

I bought super lean beef for taco salad today. I will brown it tomorrow and its enough for 2 x 8 ounce servings, so dinner is taken care of the next two nights for me!! How do you season the beef (i need specifics if you don't mind . . . I am cooking challenged).

I would like a few more WF options myself, but all we have are some salad drsesings as well. I really want to try the chocolate syrup, peanut butter (to add to shakes), marshmallow and a few other sweets. . . but then again I think that doing so will not help me reprogram myself and just adds more chemicals to my body so I am torn. I would much rather just lose the cravings as they say we will than foster them.

I am also an LSU fan BUT my son got a full ride to MSU so we are a house divided at time.....hahahah...purple is my favorite color..its my birthstone...lol

Oh, my gosh! I really like the WF chocolate syrup! I use it in my Vanilla puddings and my Isopure Zero Carb protein drink. I also have the Da Vinci syrups one is English Toffee....WONDERFUL! They make things a little tastier.

Well...it can take up to 2 weeks to stop losing water weight, but it can take 2 to 4 days to go into ketosis...so it is possible to be losing both. I would suspect after 2 weeks you can safely say everything you are losing is fat, not just water. I asked my Biology Professor and that is what she said.

Really, THAT long? I guess I had assumed the fat was already melting off! Tomorrow is the first day of week 3 for me, so I will NOW watch the fat melt away -) I am excited to see these changes . . . the belly pooch (I still look 5 months pregnant despite my best efforts!), the fat and cellulite @ the back of the thigh, the inner/outer thigh "excess", the little fat pocket right near my armpit, the love handles. If these go away, I will be in H.E.A.V.E.N.!!!

I think i will splurge on some syrups etc. Just wish they were on Amazon Prime (free shipping)!! I have been craving chocolate tea, I thought it might be a good way to get a hint of a dessert w/o all the chemicals. Any thoughts?

Ok, i found it online via Amazon. Nothing like a $10 bottle of chocolate syrup and I go the PB (even though everyone says its nasty). Together they may do something wonderful -)

lol...my go to dessert is..my raspberry white chocolate syrup mix for my club soda..delicious...

Its amazing how some things are a trigger for others but then not for some..for example: coliep..you crave for penut butter..but for me..its...cereal...lol..not the healthy kind...and greasy food..like bready type products..

Sigh..and i sit here in failure eating a mint chocolate bar which is totally off plan...There is nothing like a good cry and a bar of chocolate..after 3 hours of crying..chocolate sounded good at the time..course im kickin myself cause i feel happier now that ive cried..so im not sure i went toward chocolate...except for PMS..that stupid ...er... and now i dont know what to do..do i get back on board this morning??? or do i wait a day? cause its technically into a new day and im still eating my chocolate...

Atta girl! You should pat yourself on the back for this - any little NSV counts, and is a step in the right direction!

Girl, it's not a failure, it's just a setback. Get back on the wagon ASAP before it turns into a day-long gorge! I am so guilty of that... one misstep and I'm saying, "Well, I've blown it, might as well eat whatever I want!" And then it's the next day, I feel sick, and sick with myself. You ate the bar, it's done, move right on to the next IP meal! ;)

When I fell off, I jumped immediately back on the moment I recommited. It happened to be the same night as the cheat. My thought proces was this: Don't let the slope get any slipperier; the sooner I jump back on, the sooner I enter ketosis again and my body starts changing for the better; the less cheat the less expensive this will be.

One slip is not the end of the world. Put the chocolate down - actually throw it out. If you will eat it because it is there, please get rid of it. Go have a chocolate IP shake, its OP and tastes great. Make a chocolate pudding cake from IP products if you need some chew. You won't feel better if you keep eating that bar. You just won't. Food never ever ever solves problems. Go for a walk for the endorphines, too. You CAN do it!

No weight loss for me this morning. A little disappointed, but understandable. We can't lose EVERY day and, considering my cheats this week I am lucky to have seen the 2 pound loss at all. I am grateful for every lost pound and ounce. i struggled to lose them at all before so 2 in a week, 8 pounds total for my first two weeks is wonderful. I will revel in it and dig through my closet again to find something I haven't been able to fit in a while, just as a constant daily reminder to help keep me on track. It worked yesterday - I had no desire for homemade strawberry balsamic dressing, homemade bread, sweet desserts, fruit, peanut butter. Nothing tastes as good as those clothse felt!!

Strawberry/Orange Drink
 

Tried a new mix yesterday it was yummy.

1 Packet Ip Strawberry Pudding w/10 oz. h2o
1 Packet Ip Orange Drink w/10 oz. h2o

mix together, i use Immersion mixer so I don't have any clumps
Separate into 2 mason jars or blender bottles chill in fridge and enjoy!

Glad you put this, think i will have to buy the syrups WF on amazon NOONE here carries them....hence my tempting outing to ALL 5 grocery stores yesterday.....but my buddy kept me straight, texting vs. eating...

BACK ON as SOON as you finish the bar, or you will blow the whole day!!! We all have lapses......hang in there...find a IP bar that is one you really like, and next time, go for it, even if it is not what you want.

Today begins day 4. Today I have to resist office ordered pizza lunch, HH 1$ bellini's, peanut butter cake someone just offered me. Honestly I don't mind the resisting right now because I know that I have a break coming August 5th - when I leave for over a week for a wedding extravaganza. But - because of this short turn around - I'm so badly wanting to see huge weight loss. So far I'm down about a 1lb a day - but I guess I thought there might be possibly even more the first week? But I know that's crazy ... I think today is the day where I'm feeling the most nervous that this won't be enough, and it's all going to be water weight, and I won't be able to keep it off (or even most of it off) while I'm gone. So - still high on discipline but a little low on enthusiasm. :(

Hang in there. Don't get down. I too have an out of town event the same weekend as you. Last nite I wrote my IP menu for that weekend consisting on bars/drinks. Something easy that I can do without upsetting the "party" boat. I'm on Day 13 and you have to hold on to the discipline and keep one eye on the future and one on "a minute at a time". And a pound a day is GREAT!

Thanks so much Celticgirl. Unfortunately I won't have extra bars and shakes for the entire week and 2 days I'm there. I will bring some whey protein isolate powder with me and veggie snacks and make the best choices possible, continue to drink lots of water, and also continue to have small portions to not entirely enlarge my stomach. Then I think I'll get back here and get back on this until I reach my goal weight - which is actually smaller goal then what I have down - I'm going to edit it to my real goal weight, which is 118.

Cherbe...I am on day 6 and I was thinking the EXACT same thing last night, tomorrow is my 1st WI....nervous....

Second week down, second WI down... it was as expected, only a 3 pound loss, quite a difference from week 1, but on a positive note the wife lost 5 this week, I think she was very happy with that.
So wife is at 10 pounds and I am at 13, not bad at all for 12 days I guess :carrot:
So on to week 3 today, I got my cappuccino for breakfast and my chocolate for lunch.
We ended up just having grilled chicken last night, by the time we got back from the clinic we didn't feel like doing taco salad.
But tonight I think it's a go, will be nice to have something a little different.
I hope everyone is doing well, and has a wonderful day.

My Body Fat has dropped 5 points already so I guess I have to be happy about that, and I lost like 2 more inches off my waist this week, so even though the pounds didn't drop the inches still are.

Ha - you'll do fine - we really can only do what is in our control and that's being 100% OP. Even if not perfect, we're all putting in effort. I just can't help but get in patient sometimes and look ahead and worry that for some reason it'll fail - or ... I don't know, I imagine it's inpatience and wanting to magically be 15lbs down in 2 weeks and 4 days. That's likely not going to happen - but I want it to so bad ... :)

You will be fine!! don't be nervous something will come off even if it is just a small loss, its STILL A LOSS!!...remember that....YOU GOT THIS!

Wayward - sound slike you're doing awesome!! Keep up the great work. We never know how the numbers will roll - and that's the scaries part of me because to a certain degree I can still do evrything and have an average or less than average week - but sounds like you're going solid with the TRIPPLE THREAT (weight loss/inches loss/fat loss)!

OMG...I know it might be a little hard to hear in the beginning but...DO NOT CHEAT. I had a planned cheat day two days ago for my bf's birthday party. I was good all day but I planned on the dinner as it was BBQ style and there are some things I just can't resist when I'm faced with them. I have to keep myself away from my own macaroni salad...which I had to make because it's a favorite in the house. I also had to have a piece of "gaga's sky high lemon meringue pie" because it's mouthwatering.

I planned this and I accepted that I would have to live with the consequences...but I never expected to feel the way I did the next morning. My weight is up 2 lbs...my stomach is bloated and I feel like I have a ten pound food baby doing backflips in my gut. I feel way more sleepy that I have to date on the IP plan and now I'm craving sugar like there's no tomorrow. This is my epiphany...my aha moment...the cheat is so not worth it.

Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels!

So my week 2 weigh in was not very impressive. Down 0 pounds per their scale, 2 pounds per mine (I went in right after breakfast and a liter of water). And, no real change in measurements except a teensy bit in my biceps and in my chest - oh joy :/ Hips actually measured bigger -- I wonder if its because I am not working out? IDK. Anyway, overall I am ok. My BMI decreased a bit, which is great. My body fat was 26%. According to a chart I found online, this is "fit / fair" for my age group. I would like it below 24% in the slim / healthy or even lean (21%). One step at a time =)

Bought the vanilla peanut butter bar and will have that as my afternoon / pre workout snack!

Feeling a bit emotionally wrought as my 3 1/2 yaer old got the better of me and I left making somewhat of a scene and a huff from a playdate because he set me off with bad behavior. I felt like everyone was looking at me with pity and wondering why I overreacted. Sigh.

First off congrats on no gain!!! You aren't really that big overall so you are going to have weeks you won't lose very much, but if your BMI is dropping you are still doing good. Just stay on plan and don't get discouraged.
Vanilla peanut is great I think.

Don't get stressed, look at it this way, I have been TOTALLY OP since I started, not a waiver, not a slip and I weigh almost TWICE as much as you and I only lost 3 this week lol. So by comparison you are just fine.
Everyone supports me and points out the positive and you should do the same.
The measurements can be off, the only ones that are easy are chest and belly because you have line up spots lol.
My arms were bigger by 1/2 inch this week which no way happened. I haven't been doing anything specific to work on my arms so I obviously was measured in a different spot.
The hips are kind of the same way.
Don't stress the little things, keep positive and we will continue to fight the cravings and urges together.

I know I never talk about it, but it's not like I don't miss bad food too, all the new fast food and pizza deals being advertised in the summer!!!
**** I just bought this AWESOME deep fat fryer like 2 months ago, I love that thing, and I have fried up a ton of stuff in it and it tastes awesome.
Now it just sits on a shelf waiting for who knows how long before I can use it again.

I have like 3 cases of pop sitting in my house that I walk by every time I go to my water dispenser. BTW people if you don't have home water delivery you never know it may be a godsend.
Our bill is about $25 a month and we go through I think 25-35 gallons of water a month and that includes the dispenser fee, much better than tap water.
I bring 2 water bottles to work every day because the water at work sucks.

Btw got of track, 2 weeks now without any pop, and only have had I think about 7 or 8 cups of coffee since starting IP. That's a big step for me, so that's something to be proud of.

We all have temptations and thoughts, it's about the choices we have made and will continue to make. We have to be strong, come on and complain about them BEFORE you make that bad choice.
You never know someone maybe online right then and they may just make that one comment you need to remind you of why you are here in the first place.

Keep positive everyone, and I will strive to do the same :hug:

Very well said Wayward, I agree totally. I have 2 coaches one measures really tight and the other not so much so I always lose when the really tight coach measures me and none when the other coach measures me. I know I am doing everyone OP so it will come off when it comes off.

I weigh more than the both of you and had a 2.2 loss, it will come off eventually will just take time. The weight didn't get on us over night so it sure in the world won't come off over night either. Stay positive and you will be just fine!

First day on IP
 

Hello every one, I'm new to the board and started IP today. Weight is 154, goal is 136. I enjoyed reading the other posts and will be coming back daily for inspiration and hopefully sharing some good news. Wishing every one well :D

Welcome to the thread and IP... let us know if you need anything.

Welcome piglet, and good luck, reading the post has proven theraputic for me and helped me not cave, when I feel like cheating, I read updates on posts.....will be sad to go back to school (I am a teacher) in 2 weeks...will have to wait till late PM to read threads.....have to update my phone!!!!

You better update your phone, I have to keep my eye on you!...hahaha

Wuv...that is THE TRUTH, not even kidding, we don't have data, and our contracts ends October, but I NEED data to follow threads @ school and stay motivated.......... but don't worry WUV.....I have texting , so we WILL be connected, you better keep TWO eyes on me ;)

Wayward put a picture up! I love your cute baby <3
Well everyone, i'll be lucky if I have a 2 lbs loss this wekk, weigh in tomorrow and not quite there. But at least it's coming off!
Right now, I'm making a list of things I want to do in life when I'm skinny <3 it really helps my motivation. Like snorkel, sexy photo shoot, (my bro in law is a great photographer) and get my cocktail waitressing job! I also draw pictures of myself skinny and hang them up where I can see them every day ;)
Have a great day to all!

Thank you very much, I appreciate that, he is pretty cute :)
He is one of my main motivators on this diet so I figured I might as well have him up there.

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/9581/duck3g.jpg

Well, today is day 4. I had a rough afternoon/evening yesterday and put myself to bed at 8:30 so I wouldn"t do something I'd regret later.

Today is better. I am not in an energy slump, so I'm happy about that.

Question....I didn't get to eat my 2 C of veggies for lunch so I just ate some as a snack. Is that ok? I'm guessing that as long as I eat it, I should be ok.

Also...I am seeing some people sat that cucumbers and dill pickles are free (like unlimited??). Is that true? I don't want to do anything that will jeopardize what I've done so far.

No they are not "free" it counts towards your 4 cups of veg a day... only lettuce is unlimited.

Awwwww..he is adorable!!! He would be a great motivator.

:welcome:
You will love this forum. So many people who care about each other and offer tons of support.

Thanks to every one for the nice welcome. Day 1 and I feel a little tired. So much water too, not use to it.

Wayward, your lil one is gorgeous!

Wayward - Thanks for the kind words and support. I know things will slow down and that weight loss is not linear. I do in fact feel pretty notwithstanding the aberrant weigh in and measurements! I feel even better that I was down 1.5 pounds this morning =) The weight loss is absolutely motivating.

And, that baby is adorable!!! I love baby-in-towel photos!!!

ExPiglet - just keep pushing through the first few days (or maybe first week, depending on you). Sleep early or more if you need to. I took naps my whole first week. Not sure if I was just plain old tired, or just tired thinking about what food I wasn't eating! Either way, it DOES pass. I feel really good even in my permanent state of sleep deprivation. I have adapted to what I am eating, how much water, not snacking etc. Each day you retrain yourself and 21 days makes a habit. We are working on good habits!!

Oh, on that note, anybody else feel they need to cut down on food quantity? I am still eating pounds of lettuce a day it seems - I have 1-3 lettuce stir fries. One at breakfast (I like the idea of veggies with breakfast, with my IP omelet so I use lettuce). I have one for an afternoon snack too usually, if I am home and hungry. I don't mind hte calories, etc., but I worry about the volume of food and if I am successfully retraining my body not to eat such large amounts (even though it really cooks down to be about 2/3 a bowl full). Any thoughts?

You know what is kind of interesting, I am down 9 pounds since starting this diet 2 weeks ago and I am not sure its that noticable. I notice, but not sure other people look at me and notice. I am ok with that (for now!) but kinda wonder where the weight is coming from if nobody notices and fear that its more than 1/2 water :/ Whatever, I will take it for now while my body continues to eat my fat!