Weight In #2 tomorrow! I'm always so nervous. I felt a little better yesterday and MUCH better today. Thank goodness!

I really appreciate the encouragement and support here on this forum. I've never been part of a forum before. I typically read through different ones...but I must say, this particular one here...it's very positive, helpful, encouraging, and even direct. I appreciate that, too.

Congrats! Hard work, planning, and restraint are the hallmarks of success on IP!

Nice! Very cute!

Ems, I am right with you. Very close to goal, so the losses are slower, and eating on plan is definitely getting old at times. Part of me thinks it is self sabotage; someone mentioned this in the past, the idea of almost being afraid (subconsciously) to reach that goal, because then the really hard part starts...the rest of your life. Maintenance. The other part of me just thinks I am tired of the restrictions. I have tried some of the recipes, but they aren't for me, especially since I do not have many products around. I mainly have soups for lunch, bars for snacks, and the cereals for breakfast. I do like some puddings, but as puddings- no desire to change them into something else. Sometimes the veggies get bland LOL. And a smaller part of me maybe links it to the long, cold, difficult winter we have had. Who knows? Then there's stress, heavy workloads, etc.

The strange thing is that MOST OF THE TIME, I am just fine. I am satisfied with what I can have, and usually enjoy it! I just go through about an hour or so each afternoon where I just feel sick of P1. We can make it through! We are almost there! So, to sum it up, don't give up!

Excellent advice from GettinHealthyNow and from your friend. Don't stop now! (I need to listen, too!)

Renee

Nolasmurf, great new look!

Renee, how did you choose your goal? I remember that you wanted to be in a smaller size, are you there yet?

I agree -it is a great forum! It would be so much harder to do this without all the support. I'm sure you will do great tomorrow :D



Two nights in a row I have not been able to finish my evening meal. It is just too. much. food. I need to do some serious thinking about how I can rearrange things so the last meal isn't so daunting. I know I need the protein, but I don't sleep well with too-full-tummy-ache-itus! Advice appreciated.

Looks awesome.......good for you! Change is good

I wish I could help you but I look so forward to my evening meal and have no trouble with the protein at all. Beyond salad, pre IP I would eat veggies maybe twice a week so that is the part that is the worst for me. I am surprised how well I am adjusting though. I disliked veggies so much I the past I actually tried hypnosis to try and get over it! Their answer was for me to just find ones I liked and eat them more.

Don't forget you can split your meat between lunch and dinner.

Also, just making sure...you are measuring raw, correct?

I am just going along to get where I get. I am seven or eight pounds below my original goal, but am still hanging in a size eight. I'd like to get to a six; I will stay in P1 for a little while longer and see what I see, I guess.

This IS a Great forum full of supportive and uplifting people. I have learned from so many of you- your ups and downs, successes and struggles. Thanks for making this a safe place to share and grow.

Turtlemom, I used to struggle with the large dinners on IP, but I have definitely gotten used to them. They help me stay full all night. If it helps, perhaps have some of that protein with your lunch? Maybe an extra half cup or cup of veg with lunch, too? And if you are going to bed too soon after dinner, perhaps try moving your meal back an hour so you have more time to digest before bed. Good luck, whatever you try! Let us know how it goes!

Renee

I split my protein up every day :) I eat 2 oz. at lunch and 6 oz. at dinner. 6 oz. of protein plus veggies is still a lot for me to eat at one meal, but it's better than 8 oz. of protein plus veggies! ;)

Feel free to split your protein up :)

It took me a LONG time to actually eat veggies. Now I don't mind the veg so much,-it is the protein that is bothering me :p


Yup, measuring raw. If I were to split the evening protein, would I still need a packet with lunch then, or make the packet an extra snack?

Way to go dir:carrot:

Ems and Gettinghealthynow so glad that you both have decided to "finish the race"! When I start getting sick of it I will come Bach and read today's chat. I'm just at 6 months now.

I have 7 more days of the weight loss challenge at my gym feeling good and so happy about my progress whether I win or not. I'm in for the long haul:)

You would still need to eat your "lunch" packet but, yes, you could have it at a later time.

Thanks! It certainly seems like splitting is the way to go :D

So I have a question... I know we measure raw, and I always do. I've been making my food separate from my kids and making them other things (most of the time). My question is about these other times, for instance today made cauliflower rice and stir fried veggies and shrimp with soy sauce, amazing "Chinese food" which my kids love so I made a lot of it. The protein was easy to split I just counted out my shrimp but I put in a ton of veggies and made a pot of cauliflower rice so they could eat it too. So how do I measure after I've cooked, I kinda just guess at it, I mean part of me says it's not like too many veggies is the end of the world, but I know its better to be careful. I kind of eyeball it based on how much I made.

SMS, Gettinghealthynow and Reenhag - your posts ring so close to home. I have been on IP for 8 months - and I have been feeling diet fatigue as well.

65X65 and Ruth Ann - thank you so much for your words of words of wisdom. I have remained 100% OP, but I have been "re-evaluating" my goal. I picked an arbitrary #. I still want to lose more, and you get tired of the strictness of the protocol and want a change. But, I continue to work forwards. It is hard when the closer you get to goal the slower it comes off.

Onwards and "downwards". It's nice to know I am not the only one feeling this way

Are you weighing/measuring everything raw?
8 oz meat cooked is way more than 8 oz raw and then cooked (it cooks down).
Same with veggies. 2 c. raw veggies cooks down quite a bit
If it is still too much then consider having some with lunch.

But if you do that, remember, 2 oz cooked meat at lunch isn't 2 oz raw meat.

If you added food to lunch, yes, you'd still need your 3 packets per day.

I also eat my dinner fairly early (5-5:30 ish). Not super full by bed time.

WELCOME!

The way to follow IP on alternatives is to follow the IP phase 1 protocol sheet (always available in the first post of the Daily Chat thread). Follow it exactly, subbing the IP packets for nutritionally equivalent alternative products. When you follow IP protocol whether with IP products or alternatives, you really do not need to count carbs, calories, fats or anything! Following the protocol will keep you in the correct amount of everything. (Though someone may jump in here with the approximate numbers of each you will get on IP, you don't have to track them!)

HOWEVER... You DO need to know how to select appropriate IP alternative products. Find the thread Alternative Products That Work on Phase One and in the first post or so there is a graphic that shows exactly what the parameters are for selecting products based on calories, fat, carbs and protein, as well as what is non-restricted (2 per day) and what is restricted (1 per day). Then keep reading and make notes of what sounds good.

Also read ALL the posts you can and feel free to post questions after you have done lots of your research. Posting in Daily chat is a great place TO start!

Good luck and let us know how we can help!!

Ketosis
 

Hello IP program followers! This is my 2nd week following the IP program. I have to say, I love the program. Initially, I was sceptical because of the restrictions and the packaged food. Now that I have taken the steps to be on IP, I am so happy that I did it! With my first week behind me, I feel energized and confident that I will lose this weight. For my first week, I measured 11.5" LESS. I weigh on my bathroom scale and they are saying I am moving in the right direction as well.

My question is to you experienced IP followers: when should I expect my body to reach KETOSIS?

Thank you to anyone who can help me out on this. I love this website and all the information that's on here.
:dizzy:

First I would measure how many cups of veg you get from just rough-chopping the cauliflower. Then shred it and divide it into the same number as cups it measured. You could then measure one portion to see what it equals (maybe a quarter or third of a cup?) That is your allowable serving size.

It might be wise to measure your remaining veg raw and cook separate from your kids' portions so you know what your serving looks like (at least for awhile until it becomes second nature!)

I cook for just me and my husband and even though he isn't on IP, he eats exactly what I eat for meals when we are at home. So I just double measure, cook and divide!

It seems to take around four or five days for most people's bodies to clear out the carbs and reach ketosis. Somewhere way back there is a thread with posted "symptoms" that tell you you are there. You can also google signs of ketosis. Some are BAD breath and icky mouth taste. Some get a metallic taste. Also your hunger will take a definite downturn which is a very helpful "side-effect!"

Well. Today was definitely a day where it was hard having my classroom next to the kitchen ... they were making one of my favorites for lunch (grilled cheese. I am definitely missing cheese right now.) I ate my IP lunch, but I was really hungry by the time lunch rolled around.

I am going to see my daughter today. We have not seen her since we took her to Ohare on January 8. We have skyped once, and phoned a couple of times, but she is very busy. We get to see her in a show and then we are caravaning back because she is coming home for a few days on spring break.

I am preparing a cooler and P3 is easy to travel on. I also am bringing my swim gear. The Y there takes away members for free which is nice.

drd...I remember us both commenting on the snow and sub zero temps back then as I had just returned from Chicago for the holidays...we have stayed away from flying into O hare and therefore not seen our kids either...too much bad weather and predictable flight delays over the last 2+ months to even think about it. But, now in process of making reservations to go for a week ...kid's ballet recital weekend in May (still 2 months away :cry::cry: though) and my GDs 12th B-day!

Hoping for it to be sunny by then. Yesterday my daughter said there is no sign of spring at the moment though. :(Just like here...we got another 5+ inches of snow on Monday...and we are not going to see spring temps for the near future around here. Not even a bud on the trees yet.. or forsythia, kittywillows or crocus blooms either....
If we were smart..we would go back to the other daughter's ..in Austin for another week!! At least they are having some pretty nice weather daily now!

You drive safe....and enjoy your daughter..!!!
Gotta love Indiana (spent a few years in West Lafayette before moving east) and Illinois in the spring and fall.....Hope you get some clear sunny days soon... and no more snow while your daughter is home.

PS- I did not type "kitty willows"... there must be an auto correct on that word....

Thanks, it is actually suppose to be up near 70 tomorrow, both here and Nebraska. And then back to cold next week. I cannot wait for the grass to green. Right now we still have ugly dirty snow piles.

Work has been so crazy lately that I haven't been able to exercise. Decided that it wasn't such a bad thing as I was thinking that it might have been having an effect on my losses even with the extra packet. My coach was also becoming concerned that my lean mass was going down. So the past two weeks, instead of my usual 1.5 down on the scale, it's been 3 and 2 lbs so perhaps the no exercising is better for the weight loss?!! I like the feeling of exercising though.

To be honest, work is so stressful, and I'm sleeping so badly that I was surprised I lost at all. I've heard that stress hinders weightloss so maybe once things improve at work, there will be an even bigger whoosh. Fingers crossed.

That is tough! Do they ever bake cookies? Coz that is what would bring me to my knees :p

I hear you on the exercise! I miss the feeling of a good workout, but I am wary of jumping back in just yet. I DO NOT want to lose any more of my precious muscle mass. What do you do for exercise? Once the ice clears the sidewalks around here, I'm hoping to get some walking done :)

Thanks! I will be adding a hard cooked egg to my lunch, and was planning on fish for dinner this evening. What you recommend for a raw portion of fish?

It is sooooooo nice having a panel of wisdom sharers :)

Raw fish is 8 oz. for the serving.
If you're adding an egg to lunch, it gets a tad fuzzy b/c 4 whole eggs + 2 whites = a protein serving, so if it were me, I'd measure 6.5 oz raw fish

I add hard boiled egg to pre-gym snack (right after work) if I'm super hungry. Works well!

I left and now I'm back. I've missed "visiting" with IP daily chat. Had a victory...traveled, ate in a lot of restaurants, and still came back with a 3.4 lb loss. That was for 2 weeks. My sister in law gushed at my loss...my parents didn't even notice or didn't say anything if they did. :-( I'm having a great time shopping in my own closet. I have some cute yet classic things that I couldn't get rid of as I gained weight. Now I look forward to thinning out closet and getting rid of the fat clothes. I don't want to enable myself to go back.
Got to get on the tread mill and get my day going! Hope everyone has a great OP day!

Good morning!! I feel like I haven't been on here forever. Thought I had better stop in to say hello!

:wave:

Reenhag, hear ya on the bland veggies. Yesterday was a big day for me. I went through the decision here on 3FC, with a close friend (or 2) and my mom. I ultimately decided that I set a goal for a reason and it's important to get there. I don't want to look back and say, well I decided to try something else (even though what I was doing was working). I can continue to go through P1 in a boring state and risk an explosion (which I don't want) or I can begin to start spicing it up again, like I did in the beginning.

I looked at what I was eating everyday. Like you, I liked what I was eating. There are also other foods I was not eating, but still liked. This goes for IP packets and veggies. I'm going to get my packets today (I can't weigh in because the only time I can go today, she's booked) and I have a list of all the different types I want. I usually buy 3 boxes of my fave things (maple oatmeal, salt vinegar crisps, Ready to eat pudding) but I'm going to try others!

last night I made a pretty delish salad and topped it with a stir fry of Cauli-Rice, zucchini, and chicken, I put some buffalo Tabasco sauce on it. I normally don't like to cook at night but realize that in order to enjoy P1, I have to spice it up! For breakfast this AM, I turned my normal IP maple oatmeal into a muffin by using 1 egg and some baking powder! Just a different way to eat it-makes it feel like I'm eating 'real food'! Let's not allow ourselves to get bored in any way because it may set us up to fail! We've worked way too hard to let that happen!

HulaChick-Let us know how your WI goes today! You'll do awesome. I remember my first few WI's, I felt on top of the world for finally tackling this task.

1102go-Welcome! We're very close in stats, you'll do great!

Great Job RosiePosie! You must look and feel pretty amazing! I was hoping to start walking once everything melts and defrosts over here, don't want to fall down on ice, but I am very ambivalent about doing something more intense. Once I reach my goal and phase off, then I will start to do something more intense.

I am having my first TOM since starting the program, it came kind of very late, but that is expected with such a change in diet. Hopefully I will get rid of this water retention before my next weigh in. I am feeling kind of crappy today, the only good thing is that I did not experience any PMS.

As for the veggies, protein, my coach said to have 8oz cooked and that is what I have been having. I eyeball my veggies, but I am eating mostly cucumbers and lettuce that I am not worried that I am overeating on them. I started steaming my other veggies such as zucchini, mushrooms, kale, so they do not "shrink" as much as when I was cooking them. I am a creature of habit, so I tend to have most of the same things all the time.

Have a great OP day y'all!

Tis was my breakfast this AM
 

Today I can tell that I would need more this AM to help keep me full until lunch.

So this was my breakfast

2 eggs with fresh cilantro, 1 Tbs of tomatoes, 1/2 a mushroom finely diced, salt, pepper and garlic . then placed on romaine leaves with home dressing and a few diced onions

Today has been really tough. I'm on day 9. I am dealing with the big c despite having lettuce salads and eating my veggies and being OP 100%. I'm going to try some miralax (doctor said to use it when I needed). I was really ready to quit bc I was achy and didn't sleep well. However with some support from family and friends I am forging on. Whiny rant over.

First, congrats on making it through the first few days - they really are hard!

Are you getting your supplements in too sapphire? The cal-mag is really important, if I skip a day I can tell!

I was achy the first couple of weeks on IP and it does get better. Be nice to yourself while your body adjusts - it's hard work and can be rather a shock to your system. I went to bed early a lot.

And feel free to rant here - one of the best things everyone on this board does is sympathize and give suggestions for making things better!

I felt really bad for a few days after my first weigh in. I upped my water do deal with the big c, ate more lettuce, and hand more unsweetened herbal tea. Just hang in there, it will pass.

Miralax is a HUGE help, it doesn't cause any discomfort at all, and it's safe to take every day (if you choose to) :)

I use this pretty much every day in my morning shake, and it has made a difference... good luck to you! :hug:

Good morning everyone! I don't know how to post a link on this site so I will just share some interesting information with you. You have all heard of gherlin?? that nasty little hormone produced by your stomach that makes you hungry (when a gastric sleeve surgery is done it removes this part of your stomach). Dr. Ari Sharma (bariatric surgeon and obesity specialist) from Edmonton Alberta has a blog which I follow and he had this study that was done on ketosis and the suppression of gherlin. He found that when a body is in ketosis that indeed the production of this hormone is suppressed. I always wondered why we are not hungry when in ketosis! Yay for ketosis.
Hope everyone has a great day.

Yay! You go girl!