Hi, I'm new to the whole forum thing, I couldn't find an answer to this on the boards.. So I re-started yesterday ( I lost 20 lbs in the past and loved IP always 100% compliant and I'll be going on vacation for a week in June. Last time I did IP and I had a weekend away, my coach had me do a mini-phase off for 3 days so I could drink champagne and eat the food.. So this time around my coach is telling me that I need to phase off for three weeks before my vacay! Does this sound right?? The weight comes off quick and I could lose at least another 10 lbs in those 3 weeks. Just wondering what others experiences are with taking a "break" from IP. How long did you phase off before-hand? I'll be going straight back to phase one when I get back. (And no there's no way I'm sticking to plan, it's a week in Hawaii for the honeymoon we never had

I took a week off last summer for a vacation planned prior to starting IP. It was a month after I started IP. I stayed OP until lunch the day before we left.

I gained 7lbs during vacation and was able to jump right back on P1 the day I returned. Took me a week or 2 to get back to where I was before I left.

Don't understand phasing off 3 weeks prior. I would certainly need good reasons to do that! Good luck!

I personally didn't. This past Wednesday evening - Sunday evening I was on vacay for spring break. I didn't phase off and ate carbs/drank beer, but I didn't stuff my face either. I only gained 4lbs which I'm sure is just glycogen stores. I also swam laps a couple of days I was in NC as well (the amount I could swim on carbs was amazing to the amount I could swim on IP). Getting back into ketosis was much easier this time too - drank some powerade zero and had pho with no noodles and I was good to go.

It is WISE to do some phase off to avoid feeling miserable by quickly introducing carbs into your body. In most people (no, not all), this quick influx of carbs can cause terrible headaches, bloating, stomach upset and more for the first couple days. It is truly a shock to your system and can ruin the first few days of your vacation!

MORE importantly, there are some significant risks involved in drinking while in ketosis!! No, these problems do not happen to everyone and you will find those who drink occasionally during IP.Mand will vocally tell you it is no problem and don't be scared off by those who say no... BUT, the risks of fainting, blacking out and even more serious outcomes ARE real. The problem is, no one will know if they are prone to these risks or not until they try it. Why take the risk.

Most coaches fall somewhere in between three days and three week from al I have read on several message boards. My coach had me do phase 2 (sub out a packet for another 8 oz meat at lunch) for 3 days to get used to eating more volume, then had me do Phase 3 (the big bfast) to add back some carbs. He suggested for the bfast to just add dairy for 3 days and then a whole grain food for 3 days. So it was about a 9-10 day phase off to get me slowly used to more food and out of ketosis.

What you eat and deink while you are gone will determine how much you gain. Many choose to stay lower in carbs, do lots of activities, have only a small indulgence of sweets each day and drink very moderately. This way, most of the gain you see will be water weight and come off quickly. If you go all out, your gains will be fat gains and take a lot longer to lose.

IMPORTANT TIP: Have a detailed plan and committment for returning to IP as soon as you get home, otherwise it becomes easy to find reasons to get started "tomorrow"! Plan to be back on plan as soon as the plane lands. Have your foods stocked and ready and buy veggies and meat on your way home. This will ensure you are back on track and loosing your gains sooner rather than later!!

My hubby and I are going away next month. I really want to have a glass of wine and pasta while we are away but I decided that I need to focus on losing weigh. I will have many more trips in the future when I am skinny. The temptation is there but I am looking at the bigger picture!!

I took a break Easter week. Like Anikens I ate some off-plan things (slice of cake for example) but was moderate in my cheats. Oddly I don't think I went out of ketosis, which may be because I was outside and very active that week. I didn't lose any weight, but I didn't gain any either. Back on plan this week and down about 3/4 of a pound since Monday, which is about right for me.

This makes sense, thank you! I really do not want to phase off for three weeks, but I think I will do at least three days P2 and four days P3, so one week phasing out before hand. Last time I did IP I did not phase off correctly and that's why I gained all the weight back.. The carbs didn't effect me when I went back to eating my reg diet cold turkey, but I will be enjoying plenty of alcoholic drinks in Hawaii and definitely want to be safe! I don't plan to go all out with food, I don't have much of a sweet tooth anyway, and I will be 100% back on track as soon as I return!

Thank you for sharing your experiences everyone

I am having surgery on Tuesday, and my coach wants me to start phasing off tomorrow (obviously this isn't vacation, but my point is, she is having me go to Phase 2 for 2 days, then Phase 3 for 2 days then Phase 4 right before surgery, so I am off Phase 1 completely for surgery) Don't know if this helps or not--enjoy your vacation!!!! :-)

That sounds like a great plan, thank you, I think that would be perfect for me too! I hope you surgery goes well and wish you a speedy recovery!

Just an update - today is day 3 after my 4 cheat days. I weighed at night, in clothes, and when I have to go to the bathroom like a crazy person, but I'm already back to my morning pre cheat days weight. I'm sure my results aren't typical, but I just wanted to share.

Good Luck!

Thanks for sharing that's great to hear! I hope I bounce back quickly too!

I am leaving in a couple of weeks for a 2 week vacation in Mexico. I asked my coach what would be the best plan and she did not suggest that I phase off but we did go over what food choices I can make so that I maintain my weight. My plan is to eat and drink sensibly and be active. I will also weigh myself regularly to keep track and modify my intake/output if necessary. Hopefully I can follow through and not overindulge. I am having self-sabotaging thoughts like "well you paid all this money you should enjoy all the food and drink and deal with the consequences later". BUT at least I am aware of these thoughts and I am motivated to follow the plan I have with my coach....here's hoping

... think about it this way... You paid all that money for your room... so are you going to spend the whole vacation in your room? You paid good money for the flight, but you're not staying on the plane for 2 weeks, right? Food and drink should be enjoyable, but it's just a way to fuel our bodies for the lovely sightseeng and interesting activities you will be doing.
Good that you and coach have a plan - and it sounds like a healthy lifetime maintenance plan. You will be so proud of yourself when you get back and hop immediately onboard again.

Liana

I travel a lot for work, and I try to plan ahead but that is not always possible, I just talk to my coach and she helps me make wise choices, I have lost my three way ins, but was out of town for t=wo weeks and weigh in this week, I have lost about 2 pounds on my scale which is about accurate to my clinics. I sometimes need to have lunch at meetings I pick wise salads bring my WF dressing and than do the shake at supper. If I have another meeting in the evening I try to have salads with 4 oz of protein a meal.

Thank you..... I never thought of it like that before