I've been exercising my entire journey and have always had a full extra packet on the days of more than moderate intensity exercise. You have tricky question....but I personally would be inclined to have the entire packet. Think about what's happening. You have your protein drink prior....this fuels your body/muscles for your activity. Depending on the exercise intensity, more than likely whatever fuel/nutrition was available prior has now been depleted if not
non-existent. NOW, you need to refuel so your body doesn't attack your muscles looking for fuel. Personally, I think those few extra calories are a mute point. I keep EAS low carb drinks around for my extras.....keeps my cost down.

Hope this makes sense to you......I've had a strange, rough emotional day. And proudly I can say, the only thing I have control over is my food! Another 100% OP day.

I'm really sorry for the upheaval but I think proud is just the right word for having control over food.

Jelly, I really hope the new medications are working out a lot better, in all directions. I'm just tempted to ask if you have had your thyroid checked recently, especially if the medicine caused any hormone imbalance -- on top of the hormone imbalance IP can cause?

Thanks CAT. That does make total sense. I do have EAS drinks in the fridge so that will be no problem. They are also like 2 carb and 17 protein so I think that will be perfect. I am sorry you have had such a crappy day yesterday. I hope your weekend is much better. Be proud you were 100% OP. We ARE without a doubt worth it

Help my friends.....

This is the part of my restricted journey that I hate. I haven't even had my lunch yet and I'm stressing over dinner. I just found out my night out with the girls tonight will take us to a sushi restaurant that I am not familiar with nor do I know the name. It's in a town about 40 miles from me (great meet in the middle place for us all).

What the heck do I order as a Phase 1er???? I know what I like to eat. I don't do raw...at all. But give me a bowl of salted edamame and a spicy shrimp roll and I'm a happy girl.

Suggestions please, please, please!

Going to post in the Maintainers thread as well!

Most sushi restaurants have real food options.

Maybe you can request salmon or chicken plain with steamed veggies...

Or eat before and have green tea - boring, but at least you can socialize!!!!

Thanks....I think I'm going to pack a little to-go bag of veggies and a drink. I have yet to have my lunch...trying to hold out as long as I can. I'm leaving in a hour or so.....that makes eating beforehand is not an option. Let's hope they do have a few basic options for me.

I had a moment of panic set in today when I found out our evening plans.....right after l left yoga class where my bad knee decided to rear its ugly head once again.....yes, I'm currently in pain and probably shouldn't be heading too far from the house. There's been this black cloud following me around all week and decision making is not one of my strong suites at the moment. Just have to keep reminding myself that I am intelligent enough to make wise choices.

They are checking it again... I've never had an issue with it in the past... But who knows... I should be able to see my results by Tuesday... I wasn't fasting this time she wanted to see a difference... I've also been put on the NuvaRing... I know a handful of ladies used it while on IP. Anything I should look out for??

Have any of you ladies tried doing 'boot camp' where you cut out meat for 4-5 days and up your protein packs?

Just curious if it helped your weight loss, thanks!

I never knew this as a boot camp. I thought it was cutting out the restricted...

The original definition of boot camp, from the manual as it was a year and ago was 4-5 packets a day, all the vegetables, salad, oil, and water and no more than a week in duration.

I can not remember whether this came from the Canadian or states' manual, and don't know whether it was the same in both.

Got some new motivation to stay op. Yes, at this point I need everything I can get. The jeans I've been wearing are getting big and I've been wearing them all since October so I went jean shopping yesterday. I got 3 pairs and 2 of them are a little snug. I know 5-10 pounds will make all the difference at this point. (Paper towel theory.) So, went ahead and bought them and will do my best to get into them comfortbly by the end of February. Also, we are staying in a motel with a water park in March. (We take our girls around the end of Jan-Feb every year just to get out of the cold for a bit.) I will be need a new suit and I'm waiting until probably that week to get one. I want to be as close to goal as possible when I get it so I don't have to go out and get another. Anyway, my hubby really wants to see me in a bikini. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't wear one in public because of my "battle wounds" from having children but I'd like to try one on "just to see". And maybe take a pic for my husband. I obviously won't be toned up but I hope to be about 10 or more pounds less by then.

None of this will happen if I let myself act as I have been acting. I needed a kick in the pants and I think this will prove to be it. It's already working and my "I don't care" attitude has had to take a backseat about 50 times today. I keep reminding myself I have those jeans up stairs and I wouldn't want to waste all that money! It's an extra step when I want to throw something in my mouth to actually stop and think, but it's working like a charm.

What kind of things are you doing that are helping in this area? Maybe you can help someone else out by sharing.

Helllllloooooo? Is there anybody in here?


Just checking in to see how everyone is doing!

Hi all.....laying low and doing my best NOT to get sick. Just about everyone around here has some sort of congestion-cough-upper respiratory illness. And I'm just finding out there's been an intestinal virus spreading like wildfire. My son is currently home "suffering" its ill effects. I was in the movie theatre this weekend and had the most unfortunate luck sitting in front of a woman who kept sneezing. Where's a can of Lysol when you need it? Praying my immune system doesn't let me down.

Waiting for my physical therapist to return my phone call. What I had been dreading has to happen. Time for surgery on my knee. I reached back to grab my ankle in yoga class Sat. AM and there was the "pop". I've been on/off in pain ever since....almost afraid to put any weight on my left knee for fear of a "wobble". Wobble = great pain + lingering muscular pains all up and down my legs. I am so not happy but have now decided that this surgery MUST be fast tracked. My PT should be able to get my MRI scheduled quicker than myself. <fingers crossed>

And then there's the scale.....I gave it an unpleasant gesture this morning, refusing to grace IT with my presence. I was feeling super bloated this morning and decided I didn't need a number I didn't care to see weigh me down today. There's always tomorrow.

Really struggling to stay OP. Many, many times I have said the heck with it and "went" looking through my pantry at home for something "bad". Thank goodness, there's nothing "bad" in my house. (I'm not the type to go out and get something). By the time I realize there's nothing there for me to eat, that feeling has passed. I haven't had a protein bar in my house in several months.....that was always my "bad".

I hope everyone is having a better day than me! I just needed to vent and deflate. Fresh cup of hot tea awaits me.

Toodles

Oh no!! Well I guess it is better to have surgery now before it affects your hip or goes totally out and you screw up your back (knock on wood). Either way I can see how you would be frustrated. I totally hear you about the lysol can. The family went out for pizza (except me of course) and a guy a few booths down was hacking up a lung. It was real gross and I wanted to tell the kids don't breath!! On the bright side you didn't mess up and do something bad You are still OP and well to be honest I'm sure you would not be the first person to give your scale the finger.

Protein bars are my bad too. I do have other bad things though with a hubby and 2 kids it's hard to keep it all out of here.

I've had this darn cold for weeks! It seems to be getting better today finally. This is the first time I'm not Rudolph from blowing my nose in weeks.

Good luck with the knee. Sounds horrible!