What exactly is "muscle recovery"?

When your muscles recover from exertion.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/15...cise-recovery/

Thanks, scorbett1103!

I have had a rather sedentary lifestyle (contributing to my weight problem, along with poor eating habits -- I am just now starting to appreciate vegetables) and have been following the "no strenuous exercise" IP guideline, just doing longish walks with a friend. Good to hear the "do not work up a sweat/do not get to breathing heavily" rule.

Last night, though, I had an unplanned workout -- I was in downtown Seattle with my sisters & their husbands and they decided to walk up the (many) stairs from the waterfront to the Pike Place Market. I just took it slow and stopped several times to rest. My thigh muscles felt weak & sort of like they were burning. We went to a wine bar where they sampled wine and I drank water. Any tips on what I could have done/how I could have handled the situation better? We had just eaten dinner, and I'd had an IP peanut bar while they were having dessert -- if I'd had an emergency IP snack along with me, should I have eaten it after climbing the stairs?

That's a bummer! I did have a big loss my first week, however I did no exercise at all, I was prohibited by my coach. Hope you have a better week.

Great job avoiding the wine! The muscle fatigue you experienced is probably because you are not normally active, so those muscles aren't used to working that much! I would always recommend keeping an emergency packet handy as you definitely could have used one after your walk/climb. I used to keep them in my purse, my car, and at work - you never know what life will throw at you!

Thanks for the info/tips, and for the congrats! I was pretty proud of myself because I watched the others have cocktails, wine, entrees I couldn't have, sides I couldn't have, and desserts, and it didn't bother/tempt me. On the plus side, I did have delicious halibut with steamed asparagus that was to die for... plus lemon slices in my ice water.

I completely understand because I only lost 1 lb my first week on IP... it was very discouraging and such a let down. I was actually the LOWEST number for the first week weigh in that they had ever seen... lucky me! However, I seem to cycle... 1 pound 1 week, 3-4 pounds the next week, etc. It will happen... it simply isn't possible not to being on such a low calorie diet plan (at least that is what my coach always says). My coach says that I must not eat any less than 8oz of protein... funny how all coaches have different instructions while following the same IP plan. Good luck and hang in there!

Yes... My DH has not lost anything his first week either. Talk about discouraging! We are doing it on our own and do not have coaches. But I know he is eating right. We will see I guess. I just have to keep encouraging him not to give up!!

Second week.....better! 3 lbs down. But still no great big shakes like so many have. Coach suggested checking vitamins and mineral levels to see if there might be a deficiency? My life history of dieting has been SLOW. LOL

How does your hubby follow the program without a coach? Meaning how do you get him the food?

We do alternatives. Mostly the EAS Advantedge Carb Control Shakes. As it turns out, he has lost some. Not as much as one would expect, but 9 lbs in 2 weeks. I guess he just had a slow start. He does have a lot of muscle so maybe that was it.

3 lbs lost is awesome! Congratulations!

One thing I have learned since joining this forum -- DON'T compare yourself, and your amount of weekly loss, to other people -- every body is different, and will react to the diet somewhat differently. Some will lose fast and some will lose slower, but if you stick to the IP protocol you WILL lose.

My second week I lost what seemed to me a smallish amount based on what I'd heard (that women tend to lose 3-5 lbs per week), BUT I had a big loss in inches. That was a pleasant surprise.