Stick with it and you'll change the camera. I find myself intentionally walking past mirrored windows now. No way that would have happened 4 months ago.

Great job but I can beat that (not that it's a contest or anything). I now weigh less than I did in 4th grade or any time since. My goal is to beat my 3rd grade weight.

Yikes! Thanks for the head's up! I went back and changed the posting! Thank you! Interesting re: dietary fiber and carbs. I am going to explore that with my coach next week.

Hi everyone!
 

I'm totally new to 3 fat chicks. This looks like an awesome place to find support and be able to vent frustrations with ideal protein.

A bit about me:

I started Ideal protein May 8, 2013 with a starting weight of 189.2
1st week I lost 12.6 pounds and 7.5 inches O.O!
I go weigh in tomorrow, but I keep peaking and I'm down about 5 pounds so far.

I am kinda nutty about what I eat and have checked the nutritional value of everything. Every time I have a bar, I don't lose. So, no bars for me. My coach said some people are like that and they can't have any of the higher car items.
We've found for me to stay in ketosis I have to stay under 35-40 carbs a day (checked with a pee stick).

I love the diet and probably 1/2 of the foods. But that's ok! I can just pick what I like.

I've had a few rough days, but I have not cheated at all. Not even a sliver of pepperoni!

I love seeing all the results everyone here are having! Congratulations and keep it up! I look forward to talking to you all and crying on the proverbial shoulder on bad days.

Athena

I've just read the word DEPRESSED on a number of your entries. I'm just wondering if perhaps we are all feeling so much a little or lot strange due the the tragedy in Oklahoma City. That news is just so horrid and also terrifying! May we just keep praying for all those involved as we allow our depressed moods to not cause us to throw in any towels but to care over those who need us and all our prayer and support right now. Sigh. :hug:

Went camping for the long weekend. and between all the booze, smores, chips and candies temptations, I stayed OP :carrot: and to top it all off, it was my weigh in today and I'm down another 4lbs AND I'm in ONEderland!!

:carrot::dancer::carrot::cheer3::carrot::cheer2: :carrot::broc::carrot::cheer: :carrot::goodscale

Things I love:
Chocolate or Vanilla drink (the already made ones) with my cup of coffee in the morning. I'll add a little cinnamon and nutmeg with the vanilla one and shake with ice in a larger bottle than they provided in start up. It's fantastic.
Orange drink mixed with green tea (decaf!) instead of water for the afternoon. I hated the orange at first, then I got creative and this is good.
And the banana-strawberry drink (bottled) is delicious!
The bars I tried were very good, but as I mentions... too many carbs for me.
Cappuccino O:

I HATED almost ALL the "food" items though. I tried chicken a la king (GROSS!)
Chicken soup (GROSS)
Cheddar broccoli soup (OK but I added more broccoli to make it palatable.)

I started back up today after a baby and nursing break and tried the veggie chili for the first time. It wasn't too bad! I got one of each of a couple different packets, hopefully I'll find some new ones to like. And there's always hot sauce,

I have a headache already which is annoying but I knew it was likely.

Also, new to me, I was told that restricteds couldn't be the before bed snack? Anyone know?

:welcome2:

I just want to mention a couple things after reading your post.

1 You will not lose weight everyday, so don't base your decisions on restricted items around a daily WI.

2. The ketostix are worthless. With the amount of water we drink on IP it dilutes the ketones so they barely register. If you follow the sheet as written, you will be in ketosis.

Okay, I have been trying to catch up on my reading on the past couple of day’s postings. I have noticed some of you learning the Carb Count of your food. Is this something I should be doing? Does the next phases as easy as phase 1? At the moment I am just going off the list.

First of all: Welcome to all the newcomers!
Be sure to read the first post of this thread and check out all the links. So.Much.Info there!
:welcome:

You've already gotten some great advice about this.
If we follow the sheet, our averages work out to be just perfect.
Some days we are lower and some days a bit higher. Fiber is subtracted from carb totals. You DO NOT have to drive yourself crazy with MFP right now if you don't want to. Just keeping track in your written journal and learning how to do the program to the best of your ability might be enough. I started MFP 4 (or so) months in.

Just follow the protocol, which calls for 1 restricted/day and occasional veggies twice a week. It all averages out. Really no need to try to tweak the program. It really does work! You will love it!

There really isn't any way to know for sure without more expensive testing done. The biometric scales some clinics use can give trends but their accuracy is questionable. Just relax and enjoy the ride. This plan is great and you WILL shrink!

You do NOT have to track the carbs. It is all done for you on P1. P2 will be just as easy. You just replace one of your packets (typically lunch) with a meal just like the current dinner. Luckily, we learn it as we go.

Many people have found these hungries come right before a visit from the whoosh fairy. You are correct that it can just be part of the ebb and flow, some days are "hungrier" than others (and some days my cravings return :( )
Sending you some :dust: and hoping the whoosh fairy visits you really soon!

As far as the carb count goes, everyone has contributed awesome advice. I would only be cautious when using the Rotini as it is 12 grams of carbs, limit that package (even though unrestricted) if you are noticing your weightloss slow down.

Thanks, Lisa! Here's hoping!

Thanks everyone for the good wishes. Just saw my 2nd video this afternoon and I looked even bigger than this morning. LOL. I know that's not the case. :) It just helped me to recommit even more to get this weight off. One of my coworkers did say that my legs are so skinny so I guess that is something. It's the triple chin that I hate. Moving on......

But the rotini also has 5 grams of fibre decreasing your net carbs to 7 grams! And as has been said, many times by the senior members, if you follow the phase one sheet, adhere to the rules, you really don't have to worry about the carbs. My coach has advised when my weight loss slows to use an extra packet at dinner, forgo the store bought protein in place of the IP meal. I have done this and it works! ....and my go to packet for that is the rotini! With some sautéed mushrooms, peppers, zucchini, garlic, maybe some wf Alfredo, olive oil....makes a very satisfying meal!!

I think I'm going to dub little add-on rules like this "coach's choice". That is NOT official protocol from IP, just something your coach decided to throw in there. Old dieting wives tales carrying over into a diet that is anything but conventional. When you have your restricted item is totally up to you.


I did not track anything (carbs, calories, protein, etc) until I got a lot closer to phasing off, and I really only started tracking in Phase 1 because I knew I would need to be in the habit of it in Maintenance, and I didn't want to be trying to learn too many new things all at once.

You can feel VERY comfortable just going off the protocol all the way through to Phase 2. Once you hit Phase 3 you have to be much more aware of nutritional content as you assemble your P3 breakfasts, and maintenance....well that's its own animal :)