Phasing Out Before a Vacation
 

Hi everyone, I'm hoping you can give me some advice. I've been 100% OP for nearly 5 weeks. In 1 1/2 weeks, I'm heading to the Dominican Republic for an all-inclusive week long vacation. When I started the program, my coach told me that 2 weeks leading up to the vacation, she would put me in phase 3 to re-introduce carbs, then I would return to phase 1 upon my return. I told her that I will not go crazy with my eating on vacation and I will still try to make wise choices, but that I will be enjoying the alcholohic drinks (love the pina coladas!) and will definitely be eating carbs. It's my first all-inclusive and I want to fully enjoy it.

However, last week my coach said that she would NOT put me into phase 3, and that I should stay in phase 1 until I leave. Does this seem right to you? Will I feel ill on my vacation from diving right into carbs and sugar? Again, I won't go crazy (definitely NO desserts), but I will enjoy myself.

I have the same dilemma! I have been 100% compliant with the program for 3 weeks, about half way done with my weight loss. Going on an all-inclusive vacation in 3 weeks and want to phase out properly. I'm planning to stick to the protocol as much as possible, i don't drink but I do like fruit and want to enjoy the vacation as much as possible. I will ask my coach today what's the right way to phase out and I'm planning to go back to phase 1 when I come back. Why would she not put you on phase 3? It does not make sense to me!

Just did this in June. So weird why coaches are so different. I find it annoying..lol. (please laugh). Anyway headed to Napa for a week in June and did 2 weeks of Phase 2 and 1 week of Phase 3 before my trip. My coach suggested this and it did work for me. I ate and drank my way through Napa and I have no shame telling you that....and guess what? I never put a pound on. Hopped right back on Phase 1 when I got back my WI was the same weigh as the week prior to me leaving. This is what worked for me. Enjoy your vacations ladies!

Beachbella! Thank you so much for posting this! It made me feel so much better! I was going to suggest to my coach to do Phase 2 for 2 weeks ( with no restricted foods) and Phase 3 for 1 week to reintroduce carbs into my system and "wake up" the pancreas. I do want to enjoy my vacation and hope that it will work for me as well as it did for you!

Beachbella, did you feel ill for the first few days when you started eating normal? was the transition hard? how was it to go back into phase 1? Thank you in advance for your help!

I also have a big vacation planned for next month and have already started talking to my coach about what to do. Purrfect is actually on a vacation now and her coach had her do 1 week at P2 and 1-2 weeks at P3 before she went. She was going to try to follow a more P4 plan, but with a few more cheats.

This is also the plan I am leaning towards when I go on vacation. I'm no expert, but it doesn't seem like a good idea to go from P1 to vacation madness. I think you / we need to wake our pancreases up slowly to see the most benefit and hopefully gain the least amount of weight while enjoying ourselves.

It is also my intention to go back on P1 upon my return to finish the job up. But I am really trying to get as close to my goal as possible before I head out. I have about 5-1/2 weeks until I go and hoping for at least 10# lost before I head out. That will put me within 10# of my goal.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I just contacted my coach and told her that I did a lot of internet research and it all suggested to move into phase 3 before I leave. She really insisted that I stick to phase 1 until my vacation, because her reasoning is that I would be off of protocol for 3 weeks (2 leading up, plus the vacation) instead of just 1. I guess that makes sense. I told her that I would try to stick to phase 4, with a few more cheats, and she just insisted that I drink as much water as possible when away, continue with the supplements and also try to have an IP packet or 2 per day.

I still don't know what to do, but I guess I will hesitantly stick to what my coach is telling me. She (and everyone at the clinic) is really helpful and seem to be knowledgable. I'll let everyone know how it goes.

Hi Zozylya

I may be different but honestly I did not feel sick or have any issues. When I tell you I drank bottles of wine that week... I DRANK bottles of wine... I was never gassy or had any stomach issues. My body honestly did ok. One thing I should have mentioned earlier was my coach suggested I stay away from pasta while I was away so I did. But I enjoyed everything. I made sure I was still drinking my water daily and taking my supplements. Those 2 things did not change while I was on my planned cheat week. I had no issues hopping back on. It is mind over matter with me and this diet. I did not feel hungry and had no cravings once I was back on (which I thought I would). I hoped back on Phase 1 that Sunday following my vac I weighed that Friday and my weigh was the same as before I left. I felt good about that since my coach said do not be surprised if you get a 3 or 5 lb weight gain he did say it would be water and not fat. 2nd week of being back from vacation I was down 7lb. Again every coach is different but this is what i learned from him. Good luck and I can not say it enough ENJOY your vacation and when you get back jump back right on.

Thanks for the insight. When you did the 2 weeks of P2 before your vacation did you still lose weight? I am thinking of doing the way you did it, which is also the way Purrfect's coach advised her to do it. I want to go away and be able to ENJOY but inflict the least amount of damage as possible. I am fully prepared for a 5# gain ;)

I am going still try to do IP packets for b-fast since I will be staying with family and I plan on bringing some bars for snacks while we are out and about. I also certainly would have no problem eating a protein and veggies for lunch and having a more splurge-y dinner. I mean, who really knows until I get there, but I feel like if I could follow this kind of plan, the damage would be minimal.

I went right from phase 2 to vacation. I tried to stick to low carb choices, but at kid places sometimes there are only burgers!
I did have very bad gas and stomach pain...I think I might be gluten intolerant! Plus my old headaches and eczema came back, but that could be over indulgence of white wine and hotel detergent!

Bring some gas x and pepto just in case!

Ps-I did gain 5 pounds, but it came off very fast back on phase 1/2.

HI guys...I am in the beginning of my vacation after phasing off with 2 and then 3. Phase 3 was a joy! I still lost weight, too.

Now that I'm starting to be less strict with food, I let myself cheat big for a dinner last night. While it was alot of fun and I loved the indulgence, I did absolutely feel poorly physically. I had absolutely no trouble sticking to a phase 1 day today, because I wanted to feel better. And, I do.

I think I'll still enjoy the food and drink here, but I will do so in more of a moderate way. That's probably the idea with IP anyway, modify past behaviors that put me into an overweight body to begin with. There's an easier way...kinder to the body.

Let me know how you all do.

I think phasing off was wise, tho...

Hi Jenny:

Yes for some odd reason those 2 weeks I was on Phase 2 I lost 1lb more each week. Made no nense to me. Good luck and enjoy your vacation.

Hi everyone! I talked to my coach yesterday, and he told me to phase out doing the Cellulite protocol, which is:
1. Complete at least 2 weeks on phase 1
2. Do 4 days on Phase 1 with NO RESTRICTED FOODS
3. Do Phase 3 for 5 days only with restricted foods
4. Do Phase 3 for 5 days only.

This makes sense to me, you are slowly reintroducing carbs into your body and not shocking your pancreas. I think that's what I'm gonna do.

Hope it helps! :)

Wow, it is so confusing that so many coaches and IP users have such different ideas of how to do the phase off for a vacation. I wonder if it wouldn't be wise to consult with the originator of the plan to see what his advice would be. My GF who is a MD and recommends the plan has access to the national director of IP. I will ask her to see if they can provide a hard guide for this situation, as it is rather common.

Thanks Purrfect! I still don't know what to do. I'm leaving in 9 days, and I really think I might move into phase 3, even against the strong advice of my coach. I'm just really scared that my body will react negatively to the introduction of carbs and sugar, and that I will feel bloated and uncomfortable while on vacation. Arrgghhh, I'm so confused!

Hey girls-
I talked to my coach today about the plan for my upcoming vacation and what she recommended was (1) week at P2 then (1) week at P3 and then try to follow "maintenance" as closely as possibe on vacation (which I do not think I will have a problem doing) with a few more cheats. She also said I could go all out, but I am not too sure what I am going to do.

JennyLauren- if it were me, I would follow P2 for the next couple of days, then transition in P3 for 6 or so days before you leave. I think it is much less detrimental to do P3 to slowly wake up your pancreas. My coach also said that this way is probably the way to gain the least amount of weight.

Please keep us posted on what you decide to do and how it all works out for you in the end.

Oh- and I have heard from several people that they continued to lose weight while on P3, although more slowly. I think you will feel more bloated and uncomfortable on vacation if you DON'T phase off and go through phase 2 &3, even if it is only for a few days each. Personally, I think going from P1 to all out is a baaaaaaaaad idea. But that is just my opinion.

Thanks a lot Jenny Doodle! I think you are right. I have my WI tomorrow and I'm going to be honest with my coach and tell her I don't think my body will react well if I don't move to phases 2 & 3 beforehand. I'll let you know how it goes!

Ok, so I talked to my coach again today. I told her that I've done a lot of research and I don't feel comfortable going directly from phase 1 to eating normally. I told her I know my body, and I think I won't feel well. She was super nice and told me that it was my decision and she would support whatever I wanted, as long as I would return to phase 1 after my vacation. She also said that she needs to give me all of the information and her advice, but ultimately it was up to me.

Thank you to everyone for your advice!!

You've had nice losses so far. I did ask my friend and am awaiting a response, but it isn't going to help you so close to your vacation date.

For what it is worth, I LOVE phase 3 and found it to be a happy spot. I could eat like that almost every day of my life and not feel like I"m on any diet, or sacrificing what I like. My body still lost weight on phase 3, too. I am going to go back to phase 1 when I get home but I plan on being REAL faithful to it, get rid of the last pounds, so I can get back on phase 3. Phase 4 is probably nice too, I guess realistically having a "cheat" day works well for life in general.

Let us know how you do!!

I'm in the swing of vacation, and I"m eating one day phase 1, one day relaxed having what I want. It's going ok. Haven't gained much, am exercising, feeling ok so far. I have not felt great on the days I cheat, get the feeling after that it wasn't all that great afterall. It makes it alot easier to stick closer to the plan and just let loose on small things like salad dressings. Remember, I am not trying to stay OP right now just do damage control while having a good time, and using my new skills in choice making.

Good luck.:carrot:..

So, I thought I would give an update on my vacation experience. I went to the Dominican for 1 week, on an all inclusive. My coach told me to stay in phase 1 until I left. I was really concerned about bloating and feeling sick on vacation so I decided to move into phase 3 about 6 days before I left. Except, I was too scared because I didn't want to lose the progress for that week so I stayed in phase 1 until I left.

My intention on vacation was to eat mostly according to phase 4, but to include alcohol. Well, as soon as I got there, I completely blew it!! I ate like a pig all week, eating a ton of desserts and everything I could get my hands on. I didn't have that much alcohol, but inhaled all food in sight.

So, for the good news. . . I didn't feel sick at all on vacation. I didn't feel bloated, or have any bathroom issues. I noticed that my belly was a little more "round" but overall, my body handled it very well.

Now for the bad news. . .when I got home, I was up 7 lbs! I knew most of that was not fat but it was still shocking. I went right back to phase 1 the next day. I had my WI yesterday, and officially I was up only 4 lbs (so I lost 3 of those lbs in 4 days). I was honest with my coach, and she told me not to worry and I probably only really gained maybe a pound or two, and most of it was stored glycogen. I am down another pound this morning, and hopefully the rest will come off quickly. My coach told me to not feel guilty and look at it as a learning experience.

Before the vacation, I was 100% OP for 6 weeks, and I plan to be 100% OP going forward until I reach my goal. I don't feel guilty for what I did because I know that will not be my everyday lifestyle. I am confident that I will stay on track, and am more motivated than before to lose the extra weight. I actually think the experience was good for me, because when I returned, I was actually sick of eating junk food and couldn't wait to restart phase 1.

By no means am I recommending for anyone to cheat or lose control, but I wanted to share my experience to maybe let some people know not to beat themselves up over a minor (or major) cheat. If you have the right mindset, you can recover from it, and move past it. Also, in my experience, a vacation really isn't your everyday life, so it can be a time to indulge and let loose, as long as you go into it knowing that you will return home and continue making healthy choices.

Thanks JennyL for sharing your experience. It is really good to hear that both you and Purrfect have been able to jump right back on the P1 wagon upon returning. I am starting Phase 2 today in preparation for phasing off for my vacation. It will be interesting to see the difference in our experiences since I am phasing off and you didn't.

I also know that I tend to go a little crazy on vacation because, it is vacation, afterall. My day to day eating (before IP) is fairly disiplined, so I am not too worried that I will go nuts on P4.

Welcome home and welcome back to IP! :)

Thanks to everyone for these encouraging posts. I will be going on a cruise with my HS alumni on October, and had not really thought about what to do leading up to embarking.