Trip to The Desert... oh no!
 

I'm doing really well on this getting in shape deal. 7.5 weeks, 40 lbs and 25 to go (before I hit the gym to add back about 10 of the good stuff).

I've cheated off and on because, as time has passed I've realized I need to listen to my moods and my body. As such I've sacrificed maximum losses (Ideal Protein says 7 lbs/week) for happiness and sanity. I'm very happy with my results thus far.

Tuesday I'm off to Vegas for a few days then to La Quinta (Palm Springs area) for maybe a week. Sun, sun and more sun. That place just puts me in a good mood! :carrot:

Anyway, I don't plan to follow the IP regimen at all while there. I believe (and they say) that even moderate attention to what I put in my mouth should keep the pounds at bay. Aside from junk food and too much booze, most of what we eat doesn't make us gain weight so much as it keeps us from losing it.

I've known about this trip since I started the eating plan and it appears I have a great chance to make the goal I set for myself way back then (reach the 260s by the day I fly out). This, by the way, is a number I've not seen for maybe 15 years. Then again, I can say the same for my current weight. :D

This thread is to document the theory mentioned above. Can I have a good time, feel somewhat free to eat what I want and maintain my starting number? We'll see.

Congrats on those 40 pounds gone. That's a bunch in only 7.5 weeks.

My take is that attention to what one eats is, indeed, the key. Have a fun trip in the sun.

Definitely let me know how it goes.

I hope that when I reach my target goal I can stop calorie counting and ditch the food diary but still make informed choices and healthy choices so that I don't gain weight.

Best of luck and have an awesome time

I think you will be just fine. I am sure you will see a little gain no matter what, depending on how you have cheated in the past while on IP. IP does not really allow cheating and all the processes to keep working. You will definitely knock yourself out of Ketosis. Being out of Ketosis can cause your hunger pangs and cravings to get the best of you. We are all different.

I plan on this weekend on enjoying a party for my 32nd birthday. After 13 solid weeks of being on IP protocol and close to 20 lbs of my goal, i am ready to enjoy this one day and not worry about it. I am not going to be a glutton, but I am going to enjoy beverage and watch what I eat.

Sunday or Monday I will jump right back on plan and finish my last 20 or so pounds. Ip states males can lose up to 5-7 a week. I was averaging around 5 a week then it has slowly tapered off. To reach the full 5-7 a week you really have to follow to a "T". All throughout, I have added extra protein, but never cheated in my 13 weeks so far. Good luck to you and I am sure you will be just fine.

I was strict for the first several weeks. I soon learned, though, that any unusual form of activity caused me to be unbelievably hungry for the following day or two. At first I fought it and was miserable. Not long after I decided that since hunger isn't supposed to be part of this deal that my size was probably a factor. Even though I was doing four food packets per day it seemed what I really needed was another small "real" (protein) meal on those days. That usually consisted of shaved ham or turkey and really did the trick.
Also, I'm a big fan of broth, especially when served with shiritaki noodles.

Yeah but I think it's skewed by the 14 lbs I lost the first week. I was holding a LOT of water.

As you reintroduce more carbs into your diet your glycogen levels will go up in your muscles and water is a part of that. This means your weight will go up but depending on how many calories you eat you may gain a little or no fat possibly even losing fat. Calories dictate fat loss or gain.

Once you resume your PSMF you will go back to a glycogen depleted state over the course of several days and the water weight will go away again.

There is also the matter of eating more causing more mass moving through your bowels adding scale weight but that is a small number compared to water weight via muslce glycogen stores in us taller males.

Have fun!

Good info, even if it is all scientific-y. :p

And I thought I was tall... damn, boy!

I've had this earwig since I first saw your post; it wont' go away.

from http://www.accessbackstage.com/america/song/song005.htm