:broc: WTG!!!

Oh my goodness, thank you all. I went to a meeting this morning and came back to some good advice and good motivation. I really needed it. I am a slow-ish looser, usually 2 lbs per week if that. I am just getting a little sick of having to cook and control my food every night. Sometimes I just want take out! But today I am feeling better and not so frustrated and the kind words helped out a lot! Thanks everyone :)

ugh know the pain of wanting takeout!! Sometimes I get home from work and would rather someone feed me than do anything else. Then I get my butt up and cook eggs because I have no energy to do anything else!

There's a great 'kitchen' here called Zoe's Kitchen. They make an awesome Chicken Kabob that's totally IP friendly. Comes with a huge 'Greek salad' but i say no cheese and it's the closest to a warm takeout dish I can get! Also, if you have a Jason's Deli nearby, they have AMAZING salad bars. Some nights I'm so lazy I don't even feel like chopping veggies. One more place is Zea Rotisserie..they have a veggie platter (comes with hummus so toss that) but they grill up HUGE veggies for ya. Kind of perfect.

I relate - I don't really like to cook, so it's a chore. I've tried to do different veggies and recipes and all, but sometimes it would just be easier to order in! Still I keep plugging along, and remembering that this is a temporary phase of my life. I also have been losing at about the same rate as you and sometimes it seems like my goal is so far away! A friend who started IP at the same time as me (but had a lot less to lose) is now finished and it's hard to get together and watch her reintroduce foods and wine and things. I've been trying not to have a pity party over it but stay strong and keep my eyes on the prize.

I like to chop veggies twice per week and portion them out.

It takes extra time at that particular moment but then I can just grab-and-go when I'm tired!

Good morning IPers! I was going to get back on the IP wagon on Monday but my shipment from Lindora still isn't here... tick tock tick tock... I'm trying to enjoy myself before I start IP but I feel quilty about EVERYTHING that isn't IP friendly, I am so ready to start! Maybe I will just use my muscle milk lites for all 3 packets until my box gets here lol. I have heartburn right now and it makes me miss being OP all the more!

I am seeing happy news from a few of you, thats great! and Lisa I definitely see what you mean about the monthly starter's thread! I'm going to stop posting over there. I can see why they'd want support from people who are still struggling in their first few days but it benefits everyone more to be together on one thread.

Cheers!!

This diet is hard enough! Has your doctor ever actually DONE the plan??? Can you find another coach who follows the plan the way it is written?
I needed MORE spice to get myself thru.
And the best hint to make the soups palatable: make a veggie puree & add to the soup (and spice it up!!!). Spices don't slow weight loss. What is WRONG with people???

Hi all - just did a nice big order from Nashua and Netricon of Proti-thin and ProtiDiet and Healthsmart along with Walgreen Farms. I still get my IP stuff but i'm planning for when I'm off plan so I have this stuff kicking around - if its in my pantry it's better than other food! Stick with it - I'm back OP after a 4 day trip to Boston and feel better already.

Check the first post of this thread. there are NUMEROUS recipe threads, righ here on 3FC

I don't know why I am amazed each time I hear some wack-a-doo advice from a coach or doctor. On day one of this diet I ate the "traditional" diet meal of steamed broccoli and bland grilled chicken breast with a little of my IP salt and some pepper. Yuck! I realized right then that if I was going to be on this diet for any length of time I would need some "good" food!

I have had many evenings where I just didn't feel like cooking and drug my butt to the kitchen and made an omelet for dinner. Most of the time I just got into a rhythm and once I started cooking I could put together a pretty good meal. The recipe threads really saved me. I found that I could have some delicious meals with a little tweaking and stay P1 compliant. I know many others on this site have eaten some of the same things and I am going to list a few for some of the newer members. This might help you not to feel so deprived:

Shepherd's Pie
Taco Wraps (in lettuce)
Chinese Stir Fried "Rice"
Hearty Homemade Soups
Frittatas
Pot Roast with mashed rutabaga
Blackened Tilapia with homemade tartar sauce and asparagus
Spicy shrimp over "rice"
Roasted Cauliflower
Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Sauteed veggies and "rice"
Chili

These are just a few meals I make often. I have made so many other meals. I agree that this is a short time out of my life to make a change to be healthier. However, what I discovered along the way is that I had to not look at this as a diet I needed to endure until I reached goal. I learned to cook in a much healthier way. To spice up my food and enjoy the flavors of things I never tasted before. If the weight came off too quickly we would not have time to really learn and adjust to the new way of life we "need" to follow when we are done. Otherwise, the weight will just come right back.

As Ruth Ann said, the hormones released when we burn fat can play havoc with our moods and emotions. This will pass and you will have moments of such happiness at what you are accomplishing. We can all do this and the support here is tremendous. I know I would not have done it without the help from others on this site.:hug:

I noticed the same thing. Things seem to have quieted down a bit...maybe everyone's just busy with the holidays? I'm thinking things will pick up after the first of the year...

When I joined IP, I was provided a flyer from two local restaurants that actually have an IP meal special just for us IP'ers. I thought that it was pretty amazing because if I am out shopping at meal time, I don't have to rush home to make it....I can just go to one of these restaurants and get a meal that is made just for me.

I don't know how the IP owner did it, but she was only open for about 6 months when the restaurants came on board. And that is the only IP shop for 160 km......actually I'm fibbing....she just opened up her second shop not 7 min from my home. I am sooooo happy!:)

Lisa, thanks, I've been looking through the recipes on here and other sites. I'm just lazy and would like them all in one place. I guess I'll have to get a binder and start my own cookbook. I've got four kids so its hard to get stuff like that done.

My clinic sells a cookbook. I can see what the name is for you when I weigh in tomorrow!

Good morning all! Lisa, thanks for spearheading this always. :) Glad to see so many recurring faces in here, as always.

Sorry to hear that some are struggling with headaches and veggie-issues. I know I get that way sometimes - with the veggies. But people are right - figure out how you like them. Stirfry? Yum! Soup? Yum! I got through my "humps" by blending spinach in with chocolate drink mix (dried mix + water + ice + cinnamon) and was easily able to get 2c. down like that. Be creative. Remember that part of this journey learning to love veggies and foods which are good for you.

As for headaches on Day 3 - totally expected but sucky. I am sorry you aren't feeling good. Try to salt water trick and, if that doesn't work, just take some solace in the fact that you are going to get through this. The first few days, fighting to get into ketosis, are always the pits.

P4/Maintenance continues for me. I am working on readjusting my attitude re: carbs, but it is hard. I am not eating enough yet, but it will get there. I still want to lose some more weight so I am not going all the way back up to normal calorie intake. Just introducing a somewhat limited P4 protocol under the direction of my coach. It is pretty good. I am still losing, 2.6 pounds in the last week due to the calories + exercise (i do love to run!) but need to slow that down a little bit. Anyhow!! Stay well everyone!