I got this in an email. Much of it resounded with me:

"Weight Loss Truth #1: Weight loss is a commitment. What got you to your current situation, whatever that may be, will NOT get you out of it.

You WILL have to change -- whether it's removing a food or two that you're sensitive to, exercising a little bit more, having better sleep habits, etc.
You will NOT succeed in weight loss if you don't COMMIT to making a change to better yourself. It just won't happen.
Trust the process. It may suck at first. You may miss some of your previously favorite foods. But it will all be worth it. And trust me, there are plenty of other ridiculously tasty, healthy foods to choose from.

Weight Loss Truth #2: Real, healthy weight loss DOES NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. You might lose only ("only!") 2 pounds per week. But I want you to know that that is OKAY.
I need you to erase all of the media & women's magazine junk out of your head that suggests that losing 10lbs every week is healthy. It is not.
Your body CAN NOT sustain permanent weight loss when you are following these "rapid weight loss" programs.

They blast through your adrenals, destroy your blood sugar, and your likelihood of gaining the weight back (if not MORE weight) is through the roof.
If you stick to truth #1 (commitment) - you'll find that those 2 pounds per week will add up VERY quickly, and before you know it, you'll have lost all the weight you wanted, without any negative, unhealthy side effects.

I know these are not the sexiest truths.
I know that hearing "Just be patient with your weight loss!" might sound like nails on a chalkboard.
And do I wish that I could have lost all my weight with a snap of my fingers? Sure. Who wouldn't?
But I am here ONLY to give you the TRUTH."


The email goes on to attempt to sell me something I don't want or need. But the message fit to support the "mental game"...the part of weight loss that is about committing and sticking to something, even when it is hard.


Hope it is also helpful for someone else today.

I make mine up with the low sodium fat free chicken broth and some black pepper. Comes up like a spicy potato mix if you use less broth than you would water.

Alternatively, bake them into dinner rolls with spices - there's a great recipe on the Recipe thread (and a few more on Pinterest).

Could be that instead of just losing fat, you are building muscle - which weighs heavier and is healthier for you - but it negates the "fast loss" pattern that coaches like to see.

Ultimately, gaining muscle will net you better loss further down the line (muscle burns more calories than fat - even while you are sleeping!), but not in the short term, as muscle stores more water (ever notice your hydration levels go up at a weigh in? Normally one of three things - either you are high on sodium, ToM is about to start or you are developing muscle). However, you can confirm if it's muscle by the tape measure, as muscle weighs more, but it is less bulky so you see reduced measurements. :)

WI #2 today and down another 3.1lbs for 11.6 total! Yee haw!

Tomorrow is our annual Cozy Casserole Lunch at school. I'm making cabbage slaw with red onions, yellow and red bell peppers, and jalapeno peppers added to it. Will use the WF Asian dressing and squeeze in a little fresh lime to brighten it up. A friend is bringing venison chili so I should be able to eat.

Another teacher and I were chatting this morning during early morning duty, and she said I looked so good I was going to melt away and suggested I've lost enough. I know she meant to be supportive, but she's also 5' tall and wears a size 2. When I told her I needed to lose at least 60 more pounds, she looked shocked. I asked her if she would be satisfied if she was wearing size 14 jeans (which I was able to fit in this weekend). She admitted "probably not." I just wish I didn't have to justify what I'm doing. I'm doing it for both health and vanity. Aiming for great health and a long and happy life.....looking and feeling great in clothes will follow.

My favorite IP products are chocolate drink, the vanilla drink, the vanilla peanut bar, the cookie swirl bar, the brownie (warmed 12 seconds in the microwave), the lemon and strawberry wafers. Just discovered some Vanilla Mint Chai loose leaf tea at Whole Foods. It's fabulous with the RTD Vanilla, and smells HEAVENLY. The brand is Numi Organic Tea.

MizBeadz,

I heard variations of this kind of comment many times during my weight loss from people who have many motivations. Some are kind and caring, and don't know how to express it in a positive and supportive way. Some have their own food issues (one friend used to have a problem with anorexia and kept commenting this way to me). Some we won't ever know why they say crap like this.

To me, the bottom line is that I trust myself to make the right decisions for my body, health and life. Some people we know won't trust us to make those decisions for ourselves. I decided to be an "impervious rock" that lets these comments roll away like liquid or sand. We can also throw the ball back to them--Your question about size 14 was great. Another possible comeback to this line of questioning--" You must think I don't deserve to be thin like you."

I deserve it, and so do you and so does everyone else!!!! You do not have to justify yourself to anyone.

Thank you, Murrcat. I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing. The kiddos still haven't noticed that there's less of me. LOL!

Good for you MizBeadz! You are welcome!

Has anyone heard of a clinic removing the omega supplements from the protocol as standard and why?
A family member has joined as a result of my success and her clinic did this and she asked me about it as she knows the supplements I take, and I didn't have an answer.

Ro22, my coach didn't start me on the omega supplements since I have a shellfish allergy and they may contain trace amounts of shellfish. She said that was standard with IP. Maybe that pertains to your family member too.

Day 2 and feeling pretty good. I have experience a headache but nothing too bad. From what I have been reading day 4 is the magic day. Can I expect to feel less hungry then - will I be in ketosis by then? So far so good. Thanks for any input.

You should be. The headache is actually a pretty good sign that your body is detoxing from the carbs, shedding the glycogen from muscles and that your sodium level is dropping as a result of not eating processed foods for a few days.

The next symptoms you'll begin to see are a metallic taste in your mouth - drinking water will taste slightly odd - and your pee may smell strange compared to normal. These are normally strong signs that you are in ketosis. :)

Re: fave Ip packets:
I liked the Dark Chocolate pudding spiced up with chili powder and salt crystals, or with lots of cinnamon, or with the WF Peanut spread (kinda like Reeses, but not ;))

Liana

Thanks. I asked her that - whether she had any medical issues or allergies such as shellfish. The answer was no to both. The clinic seemed to change the protocol for everyone in regards to the omega supplements as a rule and on an exception basis, recommend the omega supplements.

Not related to IP but thought I would share what I did when my DD had this issue, I made the bed with multiple layers separated with rubberized mattress pads. If she had an accident, I pulled off a layer and everyone was back in bed in 5 minutes. Not completely uninterrupted but pretty efficient.

In my reboot it took me 6 days. I never have "signs". I tested with ketostix. However these aren't always accurate and not worth the money but since I have them them now I figured I may as well use them