Had my weigh in this morning and I am down 3lbs and 1.75 inches this week! Getting closer to a healthy BMI and a weight that I am comfortable with. Plus I am only 2lbs away from weighing less than my hubby!

Thank for all the advice on going on vacation while staying on the protocol! I'm not sure what I will decide to do but I will definitely bring plenty of protein powder and stick to protein and veggies and no alcohol while on vacation and hopefully stay in ketosis - I really don't want to relive those first few days! We'll see I can't wait - I leave for Seattle on Friday!

Traveling so I don't have my usual vanilla boxes to drink.
Had Lindora hot chocolate for breakfast. It was so good I just know someone here will tell me why I shouldn't have had it. 90 calories, 1.5g fat, 5 carbs and 15 protein. No aspertame. Don't know what the bar numbers are. All my papers are at home. Was this like having one?

Tricia, I think you made a great choice. The bars have 15-18 carbs in them. The IP cereal has 7 and it is not considered a restricted.

I hope you had a wonderful time in Vegas and enjoyed some wonderful food! I would not put too much serious thought in your weight this morning, some of that is going to be water. Wait until tomorrow or the next day after you have cut the carbs out and see that the scale will drop.

It does amaze me to go to Vegas or even a hometown restaurant and see how many people struggle with their weight. If they only knew our secret!! Don't you just want to go up and tell them? I especially worry for the young girls I see when I go to the mall. Where are they headed?

Welcome back, get right back on plan and you will do great!

Have a wonderful time. You will find it is fairly easy to stick to the plan. We went to Arizona for 5 days and we were only 3 weeks into the diet. We drank premade drinks for breakfast. We went to the grocery store and bought some veggies to eat at lunch with the crisps or a bar and dinner was usually salad, meat or fish and veggies at a restaurant. Sent the bread away every time. It was much easier for me because my hubby was also on the diet. We did not drink alcohol either. Vacation's usually involve sight seeing and that involves walking so you will be getting some good exercise as well. Don't worry and have a terrific vacation!

WooHoo! You earned your butterfly wings!

I have a question for you. I just went and lifted weights this morning. I go to a 24 hour fitness place. I have only been a few times since I started IP. I just have not had much energy. I took a break from the diet for the last few days and ate some carbs so I thought I would put the energy to good use. I use some free weights and mostly nautilus machines. I tried to make sure I kept my heart rate down. It tends to go up when I do the leg machines since they are much larger muscles. I try to do 2 sets of 15 on each station I do. This is with the amount of weight that it is hard to get the 15th rep out. Is this okay or should I do 3 sets of 8 with heavier weight? Or should I be doing lighter weights and more reps? That has always confused me.

Let me give you a brief history of myself. I am 45 years old. I was athletic all through high school and continued to be fairly active since. I arm wrestled for 10 years after high school so I have lifted weights on a regular basis. I am a "big boned girl" and carry my weight head to toe. I consider myself strong for my age and being a female. I am seeing my muscle definition now since I have lost 35 lbs but I feel jiggly and the aging skin does not help. And of course, you know I am not happy with my flat butt either!

As the personal trainer to our forum, what do you suggest? Thanks in advance!!!

You totally rock, Bev! Thanks.

And I love that you and I are pretty much in line with each other. We're doing an awesome job, don't you think?

Hoboken! know it well I grew up in Weehawken. I now live in Morris County don't think I will be taken the trip to Hoboken maybe next time I am visiting family I will check it out thanks for the info.

Hi All-

I am not on the board much but was wondering if anyone is staying on the IP Protocol but using the Lindora bars and the EAS Carb Control Shakes? I ordered the Lindora products and the carmel nut bars are EXACTLY the same down to the bar packaging and they are MUCH CHEAPER! In this economy I am considering changing over completely to using the EAS Drinks and the Lindora Bars.

Please let me know if anyone else is doing this and if they are still losing.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday

ok, well make sure the weights you are using are heavy enough that you can honestly only do 8 to 10 reps...that's if you are trying to build muscle. If your goal is more "burning" (which would be my advice on IP...at least for now) go lower so you can do the 15 reps... but try to go slower and more controlled, you will see how it will be much more challenging.

For your legs I'd say forget the machines for now and do Good old squats or lunges...again, sloooooowwwwwllllyyyyyyyy. Make sure when you squat that your heels do not come off the ground... here is what I suggest to do since most people tend to do them all jacked up... get a chair or maybe a step with some raisers and do as if you were going to sit down (hence the butt goes back, right?) and right before you touch that come right back up. Keep you back straight and abs in while you are doing it all too... it helps tons!.

Hi Fellow New Jerseyians-

There is a doctor in Mercer County that sells IP Products. I don't think they ship though. Please let me know if you would like his information.

I use some Lindora and EAS carb control shakes. I still have pudding and jello from IP. It seems comparable weight loss wise but much cheaper. If you go to the alternate IP thread, BIRMAN has done IP protocol without any IP packets and she can give you some great ideas on protein powders. I think BevS on this thread may have recently posted some alternate protein powders a few pages back.

Thanks for your help! I will try the squats and lunges.

Thanks - I sort of feel bad because I really like my coach I was honest about the bars with her and told her I might have to be on my own for awhile. She was very understanding and not pushy either way. I am going to find out if I can still order some shakes and the vitamins from her.

Okay, so I just got back from a trip to Kohl's to buy some slacks for work, since most of the 10s in my closet are wool, and nothing larger fits anymore. I walked around the store throwing size 10s into the cart until I had like a dozen pair, hoping to find a few that actually looked okay. I hung them all up in the fitting room, and started trying them on... but not a single pair fit.

They were all TOO BIG!

I was shocked. What a great problem to have! I made another pass through the store and threw in a bunch of size 8s, which mostly fit fine, though a couple were actually kind of loose.

What I hadn't taken into account is that styles have changed in the past few years... the waistbands in my closet were snug, but the mid- and low-rise slacks at the store eliminated that problem completely.

Anyway, I ended up buying just three pair marked down, since I have no clue where I'll be when the last 9 pounds come off...

Nice.