I am being sooooo good, but I'm soooooo hungry after I've eaten my last allowable food.
No, I do not want to munch on celery sticks or stuff plain lettuce in my mouth...is that really my only choice?
I tried taking a fourth protein package, that helped but my weight loss was pretty slowed. Thought I'd really go for the effort to use three a day and be true blue to the plan.
I've had plenty of protein, almost 50 grams this evening over the last few hours so I SHOULD not be hungry.

Anyone else have this issue? Any ideas: thanks

Happened to me too. I think its just our minds playing tricks on us. I would drink a HUGE glass of lukewarm water or munch on a couple of petite dill pickles and then drink the water. If all else fails, move...jog/march in place, walk around the block, sweep the kitchen floor, etc. Anything to distract the brain. 9 times out of 10....it worked for me! Good luck.....

Buy yourself some Talking Rain sparkling water..then drink that as a treat with ice..Also make a huge batch of herbal ice tea..I make Celestial Seasoning Bengal Tiger Spice..sweet.. Also lots of water.. If you vary these drinks it helps.
Can you alter your snack so it hits your hungriest time?
Also..if you have your oil before your hungriest time you might not be as hungry.
I get hungry also. I keep telling myself this is only temporary!

There are two types of hunger a person can feel (At least I felt):
- Mind Hunger: Its your brain saying you are hungry! It was used to eatting so much and became habit! It takes the average human 30 days to break a habit! I countered the brain hunger by always drinking LOTS of water, enough to have that physical full feeling 99% of the time.
- Stomach Hunger: This is real, actual body hunger. If after day 3-4 and you still feel hunger, then you are somehow getting too many carbs. Could be something you would least expect. Double check everything non-packet you are intaking and make sure it is 0/0/0.

I've been in maintenance for a couple of months - my best aid in keeping away hunger in phase 1 was a hot cup of tea. Yeah I know it's summer, but I still use it when I'm starving! I don't know if it's the warmth or what, but it works for me! I've become a chi tea addict!

Are you finding it easy to maintain your losses? Are you following Phase IV? Do you find you have completely changed the way you eat and view food? Sorry, I am just really curious about life after Phase I and my biggest fear is gaining the weight back.

I have gained 5 lbs - which my coach told me I would - I've had 2 weddings (my son and daughter - within 2 weeks of each other), 1 week long cruise, 3 week long business conventions. So I've had a busy time since I phased off and I did it properly. I usually eat phase 2 or 3 during the week, on Sunday I have my cheat day - and I usually eat whatever I want, then on monday I go strict phase 1. It has to be a lifestyle change - if I go back and eat the way I did before I started IP, I'm sure I would gain everything back and more. I will only allow myself to be at 133 lbs - If I am 134 - I'm back on phase 1 - I worked too hard to lose the weight and I'm keeping it off. It's just a life choice.

I did phase 4 for a couple of weeks, but I feel better without the carbs - Just my personal experience.

Well said!

Thank you for your honesty. I know that I will not go back to the way things were before IP. I know that this is a lifestyle and I am fully committed to this plan and way of eating. I have read through the paperwork and do not think I will have a problem with P3 or P4 eating. I have a feeling that I will feel better without a lot of carbs, just based on how I feel and how I have felt (in the past) when I ate a lot of carbs. While I never really ate junk carbs, I used to eat a lot of sweet potatoes, fruit, brown rice and quinoa and I would always feel bloated and tired afterwards. I am so glad to hear that through a lot of busy times and vacation you were able to stay on maintainance. I feel the same way, I am working way too hard to even consider gaining the weight back. I am fully prepared for the 2-5 pound regain of the glycogen (sp?) stores, but beyond that, no way. I truly believe this will be "my last diet".

I began IP feeling the same way and couldn't seem to get full. I didn't cheat and I was cranky and stressed!!! What I discovered was it was really important for me to have that olive oil. Previously I had been making salads with just lemon juice, herbs and mustard. I started making a lemon vinaigrette with a touch of olive oil and it made all the difference in the world. I am no longer stared or cranky!

Thanks...all of you. Great suggestions. I found the drinks to really help; I made my own lemonade, with xylitol, and that feels really good. I think I was feeling deprived, and my husband said to stop being such a '[poor me" victim...he was a bit right, there are lots of great choices on this plan and being able to control my weight is a wonderful choice.

I am very new (1st week) but have been pretty hungry myself. My solution? A romaine stir fry. I change the seasoning a bit to suit my mood, sometimes just minced garlic, sometimes minced ginger, sometimes green onion, sometimes all 3 and other times just salt / pepper. I add red pepper flakes if I need some kick. I saute that up in pam (or olive oil if I still need to consume that) and then have a piping hot slightly salty snack. I was having several of these each day. At night, I make herbal tea with a splenda or stevia also. I was having both at night, so it satisfied my sweet and salty cravings/habits. I think this is all OP . . .

I'm on day 8 but the previous 4 days were pure H E double hockey sticks! I felt terrible and my family was getting the brunt of it. I called my doc yesterday and he had me come in. He added a supplement - maybe your body is missing something and that its way of telling you. I'm no expert, but my hunger is gone and my mood is much better. I hope you feel better soon!!

Rubyh,

I agree with the cup of tea. Pom Green tea got me through a lot of hungry spells. Something about the warmth. Since I am doing phase 4 to shed the 5 # I have gained recently (by not being careful and paying for my cheat day afterward a few times)I have used the cup of tea again and it did the trick