Good morning all..

I just realized I fit into this category.. :)

Regarding vacation.. when I went away for a few days I stayed OP for breakfast and lunch and relaxed a little for supper and and the odd snack when my family were playing games (I really wanted a drink!). Since I only strayed a bit I only gained one pound. When I came back and went back on plan I lost 2 within a couple of days. So in the long run I didn't feel deprived or sick and enjoyed myself but didn't go crazy. If you can balance it you may come back pleasantly surprised especially if you are doing a bunch of walking on your trip. But that depends on you. If it will trigger you to eat a ton if you eat one thing off plan then I would stay 100%. I guess you have to be in tune with what you and your body can handle. :)

I just came back from a couple of weeks taking care of my father after surgery and a planned vacation. My family was very supportive...except for my Down syndrome brother who suggested I have lettuce pancakes! He's very funny. Any way, I enjoyed cooking for my family and didn't even crave what they were eating. I did miss out on the big family breakfasts and eating ice cream at the local stand. However, I still joined in with the conversation and enjoyed the company. I snacked on lots of peppers during happy hour and sipped on flavored seltzers. Put the seltzer in fun glasses. If anything, I didn't eat enough but never ate anything I shouldn't. Even with the stress of my father's illness and vacation, I lost 9 pounds in about 2.5 weeks. If I can do it, I know you all can too. Good luck and enjoy your vacations! Enjoy the company, sights and your new, healthier you.

I just read 65x65's post on the Mexico thread. Listen to her not me!! Haha! They are great tips!

Only had IP chicken noodle soup and 1 cup of cauliflower for lunch today. I am extremely full so I can't eat anymore. So with that, thinking of creating a huge chef salad tonight for dinner. Anyone have a favorite they like to share? I can't eat turkey. so can't add that. Highly allergic to it. I know..odd! and I miss it!

Had my WI past Friday. Lost only 1.4lbs. But that was with a full day of cheating at a family feast. I just gave in like a junkie!!!! Picking up the pieces and getting back on track. Hope everyone is OP and stays strong. Xxx

How are all the June peeps doing?

Can I let you know in about 4 hours...after WI lol

Overall doing good. How about you? :)

I'm doing good. Down 23.8 lbs since my 6/12 start. Staying OP is so much easier after I got on the routine of doing so. I don't have cravings for breads and sweets or feel bad because I see something I want and it's not OP so I don't indulge. Although it's about to be TOM and I was CRAVING something sweet and I keep most of my sweet restricted products at work in my desk - so I made a trip to GNC and got a Cinnamon Roll Quest Bar and substituted it for an IP Restricted product this weekend. It was good and kicked that craving out.

I'm hoping I hit my halfway point of at least 28.5 not this week's WI but next's.

sd - Good luck at your WI.
Bull - Glad to see you are doing well and sticking with it.

Kissi! I hear you on the general disappearance of cravings. Knock on wood, but it's been kind of easy lately staying OP. We've been experimenting in the kitchen, creating coconut milk out of cauliflower and sugar free coconut syrup, things like that, and I have been having such delicious dinners it's hardly felt like a diet at all. Last night I felt so full, so satisfied, that I was concerned I had somehow over-eaten so I sat down and added up every calorie I had consumed that day -- I had consumed 910 calories for the day. Unbelievable.

Good luck everyone! Sdhinds, go get 'em at the WI.

Also,do any of you June peeps have any awesome recipes to share? What have you been eating that's getting you through this? I'd love to know!

I agree with this completely. I look forward to my Breakfast every single day. It's the RTD Vanilla mixed with Coffee and a couple packs of splenda. I always look forward to dinner as well.

A few of my favorite recipes (kitchen experiments).

I made a Shepherd's Pie that was so good and so filling. I just browned some extra lean hamburger meat with like half of a bell pepper and mushrooms and roasted and pureed some cauliflower and put that on top. It was so good and tasted sinful like meat and potatoes!

I'm a huge fan of Zucchini. I bought a Veggetti from Amazon and make noodles out of it. Just put it in a skillet and add a little EVOO and some spices and cook it down.

Zucchini chips are really easy as well. I have a mandolin and slice the zucchini really thin, toss the slices in some olive oil and use just a pinch of sea salt over the top of them (it doesn't take much). Put it in the oven on 225 and bake them for about an hour (rotating the pan 3/4 of the way through).

I'm also a huge fan of cauliflower. I've grated it in the food processor and tossed it in the skillet with some EVOO and cooked it down and it tasted so good (and a much different flavor from having it roasted).

I've also made the cauliflower tortillas when I'm in a Mexican mood - they are very involved though so I don't do them often. I preheat my oven to 375. I use 3/4 of the head of cauliflower and puree the heck out of it. Place it in a microwave safe container and cook it for 3 minutes, stir, cook it for another 3 minutes. Then transfer it to another bowl lined with a dish towel or cheesecloth. Then I drain it (this step is really important. It should be drained really well....be careful it will be hot - I use one of my silicone oven mitts when I do this). Then I put it back in the bowl and mix in about 4 egg whites as the binder and some salt and pepper. I mix it with my hand mixer and then use a spoon and spread out 6 even circles on some parchment paper on a baking sheet (keeping them relatively thinned out). I bake for 10 minutes then open the oven, peel them back to flip them over (very carefully) and then bake on the other side for about 10 minutes. Take them out and let them cool on a wire rack and toss them in a skillet to warm them before serving. (I only eat 3 at a time so I'm not overdoing the egg whites).

Yummers
 

I have one of those noodle things -- I don't know the brand, around here we call it "the noodler". It's in storage though, and about 15 times yesterday I said to my husband, "we should go to the storage and get the noodler". We never made it though, but I gotta go get that thing! I'm def going to try that shepherds pie. I've done the Cauli tortillas and didn't love them (liked them, though) but I'm hopeful for the "potato puree" wrap I've been reading about.

I did have Cauliflower custard yesterday! It was kind of an accident as we were trying to create coconut milk from cauliflower. I put cauliflower and about 1/4 cup Sparkling Ice Pineapple/Coconut in the blender (incidentally, the result was pineapple flavored apple sauce). Anyway, it was so good I put it in a small oven safe dish, added an egg white and some cinnamon and put it in the oven to see what happened. Custard happened! Next time I'd flavor it with caramel though so I could have something closer to flan. I ate it piping hot and it was gooooood.

Your experiments in the kitchen sound about like mine! I may need to try that. Are those sparkling ice's okay to have?

My coach said I could have up to two a day. But of any kind of splenda beverage, like crystal light. So, only two, not two ICE then two Crystal Light. I also used 1 cup to make jello (1 cup Sparkling Ice Raspberry, plain gelatin). Made a dish of completely yummy jello. The gelatin has a few calories, but the ICE beverage is a 0/0/0. And the little bits I've been using in cooking have allowed me to just drink the rest. I like them, they don't take me out of ketosis (this may not be true for everyone though -- some vets might weigh in on that).

WI update: was 199..scale showed 198..then dropped back forth to 197.8. We went with 197.8 so I can say I lost 20 pounds by my 38th B-day (8/6). I just had this feeling today going in that it was 1-2 pounds when I had been averaging 3 pounds. It seems discouraging a bit when you only see a pound lost. I think possibly I took in some extra salt?! So I am really going to be watching that this week. Yes, I am happy with a loss...you just wish for more :) Good luck with everyone's wi this week!

Happy Birthday!
 

That's a dandy Birthday gift!!

Thank you..Technically I am .4 away...but shhhh 20 it is LOL

I am a super big believer in rounding numbers!!

2 month mark
 

Hey all my June peps. I am at the two month mark and 34lbs lighter. I am happy overall. Didn't see the scale move much this past week but I ate out a lot. I choose foods that were completely OP but I know that they may have not been cooked correctly.

I am not going to worry too much about it and just stay OP. What I am noticing, especially, going out is that I have learned to make better, healthier choices. This is one of the reasons I enjoy this diet so much is the learning. Makes me feel like after I loose the weight I will be able to maintain the loss.

Going to be heading our of town for a few days of amusement parks. Feeling a bit nervous about choices for food at these places. need to prepare and pack for myself.

Congrats to you Lala!

A few weeks ago I took our daughter and friend to a water park. At their food location they did grilling, plus also on the menu was caesar salad. I asked if it was pre-made and they said no. So I had them "make" me salad with the lettuce, tomato (they used those for the burgers/chicken sandwiches), grilled chix and onions. I then used the condiments and added pickles and some banana peppers. For a lite dressing and call me crazy..I mixed in a squirt of mustard. Something to keep in mind. I drank an IP shake before entering...then salad later. *did the protein a little to keep me going* had the rest for dinner time. I was home for dinner/snack. Pack a bar in your bag/purse if your going to be there later.

I know how you feel. I lost 2 pounds this week too (I also WI on Mondays) and it was a bit of a bummer. Even though I know the scale is going in the right direction and the body has to catch up and all of that, it is still a bit disappointing to see less of a loss than your used to.

WTG though on reaching 20! And on your loss! Happy early Birthday! :):carrot:

Calling all June starters
 

Hi all,
I started at the beginning of June. I lost about 20 lbs and then went to the beach. I just let myself get off and began again last Monday. I went today for weigh in and lost 4 more.
I need to keep my motivation going. Looking for support.
Suzanne

Okay wait. You lost 2 lbs in one week and that is disappointing?
That is well within average for this diet.
With a journey ahead, it's time to work on attitude. The scale doesn't get to control how we feel!!! Sticking with the plan is most important so we need to let go of expectations. What will be, will be. Progress is measured by the scale, by the measuring tape, and by sticking 100% to the sheet :)

Suzanne hang in there! This is a great spot for support.

Speaking of support I am heading to the bra store this morning for some lady parts support lol.... My bra's are all stretched out. I just need 1 or 2 to get my by to the next size drop.

Vacation is on the horizon for me too. Amusement parks (Disney) for 10 days. I'm looking at all the menus and making a plan. Doing the best I can do and bringing IP packets with me. My attitude is good so I am planning on actually losing weight on this vacation instead of coming home 10 lbs heavier...:carrot:

Had my WI this morning. Down 25.2 lbs since June 20th. Have been getting more adventurous with recipes. This site, friends and Pinterest have given me great ideas and kept me from getting bored. I am discovering some favorites and settling in to this life style nicely. Hope this can carry over when I get to maintenance.

Here is a laugh for all:

PROTEIN OVERLOAD!!!! (guess this is what I get for running on 2-3 hours of sleep)
I messed up. Got a meat lettuce wrap for lunch today from Jimmy Johns (also had to wash everything, it was loaded in mayo). Also ate my IP lunch. OOPS! Was not even thinking of switching it to tonight. My stomach is saying what the BLEEP BLEEP BLEEP did you just feed me. Food overload!!! ugh. I should be good for quite a few hours now till I have to have my night snack! — feeling blah.

Good morning Juners! Hope you all have had a great week/weekend. I know today a handful of us have WIs today. Good luck to you all. Today I have measurements and hoping there is a difference from 2 weeks ago. For some reason I feel like just the weight is dropping and no body change lol. I look at myself and think...nothing has changed. Just seems like the first 4 weeks boom drastic'ness and now it slows. Anyone ever feel that way? Anyhoo..hoping the #s today tell me different. :)

I did notice that but then just very recently, I started noticing changes again. I think it has to do with your body shifting around maybe? As we lose weight we start carrying it differently. I hope your measurements go well. I was measured last week and the results were not really great. I was down in some areas (by a half inch or an inch) and the same in others. But that's okay, it is going in the right direction!

Just had my WI - down another 6 pounds. woohoo! And this is after I started having a restricted every day and having 4 packets about 3 times this week. Not because I was hungry but because I wanted to add the blueberry cran granata into the mix for the collagen and someone had mentioned that it is good as an extra packet. I wish I started this diet sooner. LOL Good Luck to everyone on their weigh-ins!

AWESOME!!!!!! Great job!

I feel the same way. I've lost almost 25 lbs and my clothes are fitting so much looser and I've actually gone down in sizes....BUT I still look at myself in the mirror and see an overweight person. I get a lot of comments from people on how good I'm looking and I just don't see it. I guess it's just part of the mental battle.

Hello juners! Great to read that everyone is OP and are dropping lbs, some less some more. My last two weeks have been slow moreso because of my own self. Got off track due to personal reasons , but I am back now and am fully focused and ready to lose. Good luck to everyone !!! Xx

Welcome back! Worry about one meal/day at a time.

Hello June-Peeps!

I'm still trucking towards my goal but I seem to have slowed down. I started using some alternatives -- I'm going to back them out of my diet and see what happens. I am at the point where I know I am expected to slow down, but I want to do everything in my power to keep momentum.

Are any June starters using some alts? I'd be curious to know how many of us are... Have a great week, everyone!

Hey June Ppl... Funny I have also felt things going slow. My body to me looks the same, inches and pounds are slowing down. But the good news is that I feel fantastic! Have not felt this great in years.

So I plug along lol...... WI on Thursday....

Great week for WI! Down another 2.8 :) My 2 week measurements are 3.50. So somewhere I am losing it :P I wonder if I can go a week with out looking in the mirror. Sounds like a challenge. I can brush my teeth with out a mirror. I can throw my hair in a pony tail (well till it gets chopped off Thursday). I think I will try this challenge and then see if next week I look different HEHE.

I am not using alts...strictly on IP. I believe I would fail if I tried something else.

Remember to keep one pair of 'fatpants and a fatshirt' to compare when you aren't sure if there have been changes... Even though my loss was only just over 30 lbs I wish I did that because theoretically , my brain KNOWS I've lost the weight, but sometimes my eyes don't tell me the same story... :goodscale

Liana

woohoo! Wtg!:carrot:

I don't know what is worse. I am the opposite. The problem is that I apparently have convinced myself that I still look "good" until I look at a picture of myself and then I freak out... OMG, how and when did I get that big, LOL!!!! Seriously people! I should not be surprised! :D:D:D:D

Lol I'm the same way. I saw a picture of myself and was like, "who the heck is that???" A week later I started ip!

Hello my June peeps!

Took a week off IP for a long planned vacation with family and friends. Got back home last Wed and wasn't going to weigh myself but broke down mid-day Thurs. Up 7.5lbs. Yikes!! But hit it hard since Thurs and by WI today I am only up .4. Coach said I would gain mostly water weight and she wasn't kidding. I have been peeing my brains out.

Coach is telling me now through the end of the year will fly by. Sure hope so. That should put me at half way but I'm in it for the long haul.

So proud of all of you and the weight you've all lost. Am a little bummed my trip has put me behind everyone but its not a race, right?

Seriously I am a bit impressed that after a week "off" you are only up .4
I am heading off for Disney the end of the week and I really am planning on staying on program. I have my ziplock packed with my packets for the week. If I can manage to stay 90% on plan I will be thrilled...Good for you! :)