Yay everyone get on board with TACO SALAD! It has always been a filling low carb regular of mine. When not trying to shed pounds I add delicious beans.

Scofflaw1 - I noticed our similar stats - so I hope that stays true. I'm already weighing myself too much and my starting weight is slightly unclear - I was 152.8 that afternoon - so I could have been lighter in the morning. But that's the first time I got to weigh myself - all other times are in the morning. My coach seems to think if I stay OP I can lose 12-15 after 19 days of IP (i.e. before I leave for the wedding - I'm going to need advice come Thursday August 4th about how to best mantain while away for more than a week, with a wedding and without IP products.) Then, depeneding on how well these 19 days go, I think I'll come back and get started again.

Once Ketosis starts is that the time where you start losing fat versus just water?

Wayward - just remember anything brings you closer to your goals and you've been doing everything you can to accomplish that. We rely so much on numbers - but give yourself credit for taking control of something that's emotional and physical! GO YOU!!!

Hi, I'm a newby as well. Today is day 3 for me. I have ketone strips at home so I'll have to check tonight. I hadn't expected it to happen so fast for me today but as of a few hours ago my mouth has changed dramatically and my (sorry for TMI) urine has changed as well. It's been a long time since I was on a diet that caused you to go into Ketosis but I remember this taste in the mouth anywhere. :-) I'm hoping that after another day or 2 my body will get better used to this and I won't be as hungry. I used to eating more during the day and less at night but my coach is against changing the protocol at all. She has allowed me to have my evening snack in the afternoon on my workout days but other than that she is against me changing food times. :-(

Oh and I almost forgot to brag on myself. I know that it's only day 3 so my motivation is strong but today was a birthday of a coworker. I asked the other cake maker to make the cake because I didn't want the torture in my home but when they cut the cake today I just stood there and drank my green tea. I guess this is my first NSV on this program. Small victories make for success in the end I guess.

Just remember the strips are pretty much a waste from everything I have read.
They may show just a sliver on the strip, but a sliver is all it takes.

Thanks! I have them from some other plan that I was doing previously so when I found them I decided to give it a try just to see what it would show. It showed trace to low last night on the strip but I know in the past once I was in the mode the strip would show a deep purple. I'm an LSU fan so I LOVE purple! :-)

Thanks, by Egg I meant the IP omelet. Its my usual breakfast =)

As for veggies staying fresh, I have been ok most of the time. The easiest things that stay most fresh are cucumbers, radishes and celery - those are the main three I put in my salads. I buy the ready made baby spinach in a bag and I buy the organic tub of mixed greens for salads. I buy romaine hearts for stir fry, which I don't cut until I am ready to eat them. I did ok once on prepping aspragus, another time it rotted before I got it out of the bag (24 hours dangit!). I pretty much just rinse and break at the natural breaking point. I cut those eaceh time right before I put in my soup or salad, or I will stir fry whole.

I have only done as needed preparation / chopping of zucchini, green onions, ginger. I use the minced garlic from the jar because it is SO much easier that way.

I cook my lettuce stir fry in 1/2 tsp of oil in the morning and use about 1/4 tsp of the salt between the lettuce stir fry and the IP omelet. I do this because that way I am sure I get the minimum in. Then, if I have the chance I will use the other 1/2 tsp of oil and the remainder of the salt (other things do have salt, so I am not too worried if I am slightly under on the sea salt). I up my sea salt on hot days where I sweat a lot, too.

As for messing up at a party, I feel ya. Don't stress, just move on. You might be pleasantly surprised. For me, I don't feel the setback was huge in retrospect. My appetite has been ok, nothing really feels different so I am very happy with that (though I don't view that as an ok to cheat).

Tomorrow will be my 3rd weight in (end of my second week). I am going to take my Milk of Magnesia tonight to make sure things move right along in the morning, will up my water tonight, and keep my fingers crossed that I have a decent weigh in!

I am feeling pretty good otherwise. Tomorrow night I do have a workout planned, so I will monitor how I feel (i.e. if I feel lethargic and a desire to cheat again). I also plan to discuss the athletic protocol with my "coach". Perhaps starting that at the end of week 3 would be an option. I would be very happy if that were the case!!

I bought super lean beef for taco salad today. I will brown it tomorrow and its enough for 2 x 8 ounce servings, so dinner is taken care of the next two nights for me!! How do you season the beef (i need specifics if you don't mind . . . I am cooking challenged).

I would like a few more WF options myself, but all we have are some salad drsesings as well. I really want to try the chocolate syrup, peanut butter (to add to shakes), marshmallow and a few other sweets. . . but then again I think that doing so will not help me reprogram myself and just adds more chemicals to my body so I am torn. I would much rather just lose the cravings as they say we will than foster them.

I am also an LSU fan BUT my son got a full ride to MSU so we are a house divided at time.....hahahah...purple is my favorite color..its my birthstone...lol

Oh, my gosh! I really like the WF chocolate syrup! I use it in my Vanilla puddings and my Isopure Zero Carb protein drink. I also have the Da Vinci syrups one is English Toffee....WONDERFUL! They make things a little tastier.

Well...it can take up to 2 weeks to stop losing water weight, but it can take 2 to 4 days to go into ketosis...so it is possible to be losing both. I would suspect after 2 weeks you can safely say everything you are losing is fat, not just water. I asked my Biology Professor and that is what she said.

Really, THAT long? I guess I had assumed the fat was already melting off! Tomorrow is the first day of week 3 for me, so I will NOW watch the fat melt away -) I am excited to see these changes . . . the belly pooch (I still look 5 months pregnant despite my best efforts!), the fat and cellulite @ the back of the thigh, the inner/outer thigh "excess", the little fat pocket right near my armpit, the love handles. If these go away, I will be in H.E.A.V.E.N.!!!

I think i will splurge on some syrups etc. Just wish they were on Amazon Prime (free shipping)!! I have been craving chocolate tea, I thought it might be a good way to get a hint of a dessert w/o all the chemicals. Any thoughts?

Ok, i found it online via Amazon. Nothing like a $10 bottle of chocolate syrup and I go the PB (even though everyone says its nasty). Together they may do something wonderful -)

lol...my go to dessert is..my raspberry white chocolate syrup mix for my club soda..delicious...

Its amazing how some things are a trigger for others but then not for some..for example: coliep..you crave for penut butter..but for me..its...cereal...lol..not the healthy kind...and greasy food..like bready type products..

Sigh..and i sit here in failure eating a mint chocolate bar which is totally off plan...There is nothing like a good cry and a bar of chocolate..after 3 hours of crying..chocolate sounded good at the time..course im kickin myself cause i feel happier now that ive cried..so im not sure i went toward chocolate...except for PMS..that stupid ...er... and now i dont know what to do..do i get back on board this morning??? or do i wait a day? cause its technically into a new day and im still eating my chocolate...

Atta girl! You should pat yourself on the back for this - any little NSV counts, and is a step in the right direction!