I have no idea what aloo ghobi is, but I do like some Indian foods & do like spicy stuff. Would you share the recipe? The lettuce wraps sound good too, I will have to try that. Thanks!

Hi, fellow October newbies!
 

I started officially October 23rd as part of a pilot group for a brand new wellness center. I decided to do the program because I met up with a friend I hadn't seen over the summer. She had lost over 50 pounds on IP since I saw her and honestly, all I really recognized were her eyes! She is gorgeous beyond belief! She told me she had never been hungry on IP and that had me hooked, plus that's its fast and medically supervised. She's an RN, and now she's my coach! In the 3 weeks before the clinic opened, I cut back on calories, so my scale loss is now about 20 pounds. I'm doing this with my daughter and we both have made it through those difficult first two weeks. I wore my favorite dress pants to a theater performance yesterday and struggled all day to keep them on as they are suddenly WAYY too loose! That's not a problem I'm accustomed to! It took a couple weeks to figure out how to cook the veggies in tasty ways, and get into the habit of trying new recipes (I'm a lazy cook). Now my fridge is stuffed with veggies for the first time ever. I'm trying to decide whether to stay 100% compliant over Thanksgiving and Christmas. I do think it's possible but I have the biggest sweet tooth on the planet (which is why I'm here, of course). A lot can happen in two and a half weeks on IP, so we'll see...

Hi!
I love the story about your coach. Mine is an RN too and she lost 70 pounds on Ip and had kept it off for 18 months! She's had cancer three times so she wants to do her best to be as healthy as possible and have the est quality of life possible. It's very inspiring.
You've had a great loss so far. Keep up the great work. I plan to eat normally on Thanksgiving but I think lots of people will stay OP.

Today was such a struggle for me. I woke up starving and pretty much was weak and starving all day. I couldn't wait until dinner time. I made myself eggs with mushrooms for dinner and am finally not starving. I spoke with my mom on the phone and told her that at this point maybe I'm just going to have to be fat for life. I feel frustrated and worried that I can do this. I haven't gone Op at all and I've been tempted daily by the foods have am have to prepare at work and for my kids at home. I need some serious strength here. I want to lose so badly and thought by now I wouldn't e so hungry and lethargic.

Jemma, are you eating every few hours? My coach said that will stave off the starving feeling. During the work week, I have a boiled egg at lunch, then 6 oz of protein at dinner. I think that we are going to be tempted for life. You made a decision to stay OP, be proud of yourself. Worrying and getting down on yourself will just stress out your body. Believe me there are moments when I am crabby and want some comfort (food) but you know what? I do not want to be "fat for life". I was not living a full happy existence. I really hated part of my self for creating the body I was living in. This is not easy, but think of all the reasons that you started. I know that you can do this! Sending you a :hug: and hopes for an easier day.

Whew, just worked out tonight for the first time in a long time. Huffin and puffin but getting healthier everyday. Keep up the good work everyone.

Way to go, Jig! Keep on moving. I worked outside in the yard getting ready for our first winter weather. Climbed the stairs a hundred times (the garden and patios are on the second story of the yard, but the garage is on the first) 2 full sets of patio furniture. Emptied and put away all the ceramic containers, pulled out the vegetables from the garden and planted 40 tulip bulbs. I am tired too!

I too hate the "fat" person I have allowed myself to be. I'm going to give this everything I have. Maybe I should have a little protein at lunch. Thanks for the idea and the encouragement.:)

Slipfree-Awesome job! My doctor reminded me that heavy manual labor like that should be counted towards my 20-30 mins of exercise a day and to be sure to have an extra unrestricted packet if I do a lot of manual labor or exercise. Not sure if you doctor feels the same or already told you that.

Jemma, what do you have for breakfast? Maybe try adding 2 egg whites. I have a (hot) choc drink with 2 egg whites (they don't count towards anything) then maybe have 2-3 oz of protein with your lunch packet and eat your veggies as snacks. Then you still can have your restricted ip food and still have 3-4 oz of protein and veggies with supper. Try breaking your foods up into 6 meals a day instead of 3 bigger ones. My first week on ip I have to do this to fight off the picking, snacking, cravings and hunger. With each meal I also have a bottle of water. 6 meals. 6 bottles. It keeps me full and satisfied. Good luck Hun. There is nothing worse then Feeling trapped and frustrated with yourself and feeling addicted or controlled by food/cravings. But were here for you! You can do this! You are incharge of what you put in your mouth and how you let yourself feel <3

Just joined the 20lbs by christmas challenge.. WI is tomorrow. This week's been particularly tough for me. I've been fighting off weird food cravings. I've been craving salty meats (like salami) and all kinds of proteins. I've also been beating myself up because I started working out last week and after my dismal (ok maybe not really dismal, but it *felt* that way) donation to the fat bank last week, I thought maybe holding off on working out this week to see if it caused any changes..

But because I made the commitment to work out, I'm feeling like a slacker for not doing it the 3 days a week that I'm supposed to. UGH... Why do we have to invent ways to be mean to ourselves!?

claustin, thank you so much for the ideas. I am just entering week 4, I think. I am surprised that I still have days like this. I woke up this morning in a good place. I'm not starving, thank goodness. Although I'm not starving everyday, some days are pure torture. I don't hear others talking about this.

Hunger
 

Jemma - You're right, there isn't a lot of discussion of legitimate hunger (not just emotional) on here. I have been completely OP with the exception of occasional added fat. I haven't eaten anything that could possibly take me out of ketosis and so I was shocked when I spent an entire day with a growling stomach around the 6 week mark. I had additional packets (no access to eggs at work) and toughed it out, but was caught completely off guard. Up until then I had been amazed at the fact that I was never hungry in the morning and rarely later in the day.

I have had a few hungry days since the first, but not as bad. I'm sure it is our bodies telling us they need something, I just haven't figured out what that might be. I drink 10+ glasses of water a day, get all my salt, fat, protein, veggies, supplements, and packets. I figure something essential must be missing.

Well, even with the slight blip on Sunday....I'm down 3.6 pounds! Now to keep rocking it until I hit goal!!!

Way to go!! :cb: