ummmm. hmmmmmm. Salted Caramel anything, let alone cheesecake is like dying and going to HEAVEN! I have squashed that particular craving with Torani's Sugar-Free Salted Caramel Syrup ( I ordered 6, LOL) You are doing such a great job!

Re: Alcohol

I would HIGHLY recommend abstaining or limiting yourself to just one. I had three mixed drinks (vodka and diet) a few weeks ago and blacked out. This would literally not have had an effect on me at all before IP. It was actually kind of scary. Plus that week I lost absolutely nothing.

This last week has been rough for me on IP and I could really use some positive thoughts, prayers, energy, whatever you have to give. I've had so many events to attend and then family here visiting and I did a so-so job of staying on plan. I was super excited to have my cousin here...she's a major health nut and a personal trainer. She saw me and was amazed at how I looked. I told her all about IP and she was actually really impressed. I was scared with how she would react, but she was super positive about it. She tried some of my food and thought it was great.

The problem was...I did too many little cheats lately. Took her to the Brown and Haley factory outlet (her husband loves Almond Roca and you can get it SUPER cheap there) and we bought some of that, so it was around. Then we had girl scout cookies here. I've noticed if I just have one little cheat, it turns in to a bunch of little cheats. Man, it's easy to see how sugar or carbs can affect you like that...you just want more. I didn't have big horrible nasty cheats, just little bits here and there that have added up and now I feel awful. My stomach feels bloated and I know I've just really blown it. It's so hard for me too, because the first 9+ weeks on IP I didn't even have one itty bitty bite of anything I wasn't supposed to have. And then this last week, it's been small bites of something bad almost every day. I HAVE to get myself under control and commit 100% starting right now that I will be 100% on plan from here on out. I know I feel better when I am and the only way this is going to be truly successful is if I am committed. Nothing that I've eaten tastes as good as healthy feels.

There's my confessional. It's completely my fault and I KNOW that I have the ability to be 100% on plan. I did it to myself. I've been fully on plan before and it's time to stop the crud and get back at it again.

Thanks for listening and thanks for any positive thoughts.

jendilly, I had a slip myself and was totally bummed cause I'm a firm believer in being 100%. I was supremely disappointed in myself but decided that the cheat was over and it was back to business. I had a few hard days trying to get my hunger under control again but was soooo relieved when the hunger subsided and I was back to plan without effort! Beating yourself up won't help anything... get back on the horse!

Hi JLUS: The meeting went well and yes, it was the one that I met on here. He is going to be talking to the clinic Dr. about me to see how we will work out the financial part, but I am going to his Workshop this coming Sat. and if all goes well I will start going to this new clinic. I should know something for sure from him by tomorrow or Tues. Then I will go to the old clinic on Tues. for WI and to get food and then I will be done with her.

I was a IP baking fool today. I made waffles, cookies, and zucchini chocolate muffins. Veg is cut up and ready to go.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

TurtleMom: You will find tons of support here, great recipes and advice. These fantastic ladies have helped me so much already!

Jendilly, time to move forward. You can not change what has happened but you can change your next bite- Not a lick, a taste or a bite off program. You can do it! You have been doing it for 9 weeks. White knuckle through the cravings, get back into ketosis and be back on your way toward your goal.

LOL it must be a teacher thing! I figured alcohol would be the hardest part for me and so far it's been fine, I can't believe I'm starting week four tomorrow this has gone by so fast.

I hope you are okay now. They warned us about that happening at the clinic I go to. I don't remember the exact explanation, but something having to do with ketosis and the kidneys/liver not being able to process the alcohol. I had to sign a paper that I was cautioned about the risks of alcohol use while on the protocol.

Welcome Pauline. I am going for week 4 WI tomorrow. I went through some of the exact same things you are mentioning during my first week. I felt achy, sore throat and felt like I was getting sick; actually took a day off of work. Also had the emotional stuff - on one of the IP videos I watched they referenced hormones being stored in fat and being released as you burn the fat. Hang in there, I felt much better during week 2. I hope you do as well

Hi, everyone; another newbie here. I started IP last Tuesday and have been ... having trouble with the 4 cups of veg per day. I've managed most days, but there were a couple of days that I didn't eat the full amount. Any suggestions? I'm looking forward to trying lisa32989's zucchini muffins, but I need more packets for that.

Also, I see some fellow teachers here ... how do you manage balancing the water input/output thing? I don't have pee breaks except before school, lunch, and after school. :\ The first day on IP was quite a challenge, just for that!

OK. Lol. I just need to make sure. Fear of the unknown. lol
Thanks Ruth Ann