not to be rude, but...
this may not be the plan for you if you can't stick to it the first week, I would think real hard maybe there is a more flexible diet for you. I hope you continue but really there are NO CHEATS on this diet, it works if you follow it. There has been way too much talk about I cheated here and I cheated there. This protocol works when you follow the guidelines, if you can't it may not be right for you. It is a hard diet if you make it a hard diet. There is also the money aspect in it, it is not a cheap diet to be cheating. Also there is a health issue it is not good to go into Ketosis and out of ketosis this is hard on your organs. I know you aren't in ketosis yet, which I guess if there was a good time to cheat...but maybe write down on a piece of paper the pros and the cons of this diet and if the cons out way the pros than not for you. Now if the PROS outway the cons... then post this list where you are likely to see it when you go in search of a snack or whatever you are cheating on. I know it is hard when you have a family that is eating differently than you. My first day a friend had sweet potatoe fries and dessert right in front of me... and when we go out still that happens. I needed this diet, and if you do too nothing will stop you. I bake all the time for the office and yes it is hard but it took me a long time to get FAT as well, it will take time to lose the fat. This is a journey and not a sprint.

I hope I didn't hurt your feelings but someone has to say something. With all the encouragement that is on this forum that should give you motivation and just wanting to lose the weight. Welcome and hope to hear of your sucess.

I'm almost at the end of my second week and I have to admit I had a more cravings this week then I did last, but I think its because its TOM for me... Thankfully I've figured out that if I cut my protein bar into little pieces I can eat it whenever a craving strikes.

Looking forward to conquering another weekend! I feel so empowered when I can resist the temptation!

WELL SAID!!!!!

I say for the hair dilema, try something different with color, you'll love that as a change. i'm a hairdresser and that will usually give you a great lift. even be daring a bit too. i just colored mine and i always put blonde highlight in and this time i went with a brownish red color with caramel colored streaks. i love it! it makes it fun, and with all the changes in our bodies right now a new look feels really good. post a pic after you get it done.

You are just doing amazing.....and sending out great vibes...Have a great weekend..
:c arrot::car rot:

I accidentally put myself in starvation mode yesterday. We made an unexpected trip out of town to go camping with my parents and sister and I didn't realize it was 5pm when we left! I usually eat dinner between 5:30 and 6pm. I stopped at 8:30 to pick up food for the girls and got a water since I know that place puts sugar in everything. I didn't get to eat until 9:30pm. By then I was feeling pretty sick as I'd only had breakfast and lunch packets, no veggies even. I tried to eat but threw up. Bummer. Today is much better thankfully!

I really feel like I got my focus back after seeing that 168 on the scale. As hungry as I was and as bad as the somach cramps were, I didn't want to sabotage myself. I was 100% OP but I didn't cheat either. I'm 100% back in the game!

Best part is that I'm only 4 lbs from weighing less than DH!

The first week I was so excited I had no problems like some people claim...
a little tired but I was tired before that...I think you need to re think a few things..this is not a punishment...its a change and a life improvement...plus with children let them eat good food with you..but give them a few extras..this is good for the whole family to eat the meat-veggies-salad...
You will be sooo glad when you decide this is what I want...I don't have to do it..I want to do it..and wow your life changes...Go get em...you'll be glad you did..its ok to say no to yourself...

I went to a store today and they had candy and goodies on sale for 30% off. my favorites...sweet tarts. I'm on day six and I thought I could maybe buy some and keep it for when I reach my goal weight (which will be weeks and weeks away still), but I didn't, even though it was really, really hard. I DIDN'T BUY MY FAVORITE CANDY!!! for me, this is HUGE

Kids need carbs. Their bodies are just balls of energy..constantly moving and burning, and their brains are growing and carbs are the easiest form of nutrient to be processed for the brain.

I too have a home daycare. I have 4 kids of my own plus 3 more. I am around food constantly! I am more important then a taste of their snack!!!!!!! I made this decision to lose weight. I've worked hard to get where I am, and I am keeping my eyes on the goal.

As the saying goes: Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.

I am in this to win. I can not be the heavy, unhappy person I was before.

Each day I start the day with the goal to better myself.

My decisions are my own, no one else can make them, or do this for me.

That is definately a victory! Not setting yourself up with easy access..Yay you!

Good luck Ann!! THis place is wonderful. I started 3 weeks before xmas (and my bday and my sons bday and new years....). You just have to stick to it and it's great. I always made sure there were veggies (raw veggie dip) - I often brought my own to make sure. This does take work/planning/will power but trust me, it's so worth it!



Wow! you are doing so great!!! Congrats.

I had lost 45 pounds and my body did not want to loose anymore and so I cheated a bit which made things worst. Finally after 3 weeks of not losing I asked my coach for suggestions. She put me on boot camp and I lost 5 pounds in 1 week. Boot camp is taking 5 packets per day vs 3 and losing the meat at supper time. Really lowers the amount of fat but my coach told me to only do it for 1 week, wait a couple of weeks and do it again. Worked for me.






I waited 3 months before going to the restaurant but when I did, it went very well. Ask for steamed veggies vs other stuff. Get chicken or steak. \bring your own dressing and splenda. You will do fine.

Good luck. Tell you Dad to be supportive. Be firm. I had to tell my Mom a few times before she got it. Then she was great about it.

I completelly understand where you are coming from. Now I buy myself a magazine or a new hand cream or something vs the junk I used to buy myslef. Trust me, it fells even better than the old junk.

Here's me sending all of you will power hugs!!!

I completely agree. The diet is strict. Very, very strict. However, it is EASY... There are rules. Just follow them. It's hard if you make it hard because you are not following the rules. But, it's easy if you follow it.

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to get a little trim and have them add a few additional layers at the back and on the sides. I'm going to the Paul Mitchell school, so only have a haircut appt b/c they didn't have time for highlights... I will see what I think after this cut and then think about color. I do have highlights in my hair, but maybe could do a little something different with those.

Wow!! Thanks for that!! Now I know what Boot camp is!! Were those 5 packets all non restricted? I will check with my coach next week and see if I can try that too!

That is wonderful and very ambitious! I am so in awe of those who are on this for a long time and able to stick with it like that! You are doing amazing! My undedcuated guess would be, in that case, that this may be a normal plateau and you will just have to ride it through until your body readjusts... although maybe some of the experienced members here may have some better advice for you (I hope they do!). If you have a Coach, you should maybe discuss it with your coach. I don't know if you've been having 4 packets per day... maybe it's time to go to 3?

I really hope the "whoosh fairy" visits you soon!


Thank you for the great idea! I may just do that!


Here are my thoughts and tips for you:

If you cheated every day, I would say that you just haven't started yet... So then, what is holding you back? What are you afraid of? Why are you stopping yourself from doing this? Time to ask yourself some serious questions, maybe you can journal to get to the bottom of this.

You can lose the weight if you want to. Right now, the food is controlling you but you can be in control of your own body IF you want to but you have to really want it. If you follow the plan, the food addictions will eventually get weaker and leave you. In the last few weeks, I have finally reached the point where I don't feel deprived. I feel that I am actually chosing not to eat certain food items that are not permitted. I am chosing my skinny self over the food or treat that used to tempt me so badly. Today, is my first day of TOM and it is a bit harder but I am still holding strong.

The first few days are the most difficult. Have a plan. My Coach told me that it is important for me not to be hungry. To keep on hand: hard boiled eggs (whites only), lean low-sodium cooked ham without sugar, dill pickles, celery and use them if I need them. Have your sea salt handy, it helps with the sugar withdrawal headaches and if that doesn't work, my Coach said that I could take Tylenol and I did. By day 5, I was over the hump and I felt so much better than before I started IP real fast! By then end of my 2nd week, I was already buying smaller jeans for denim day at the office! Such a wonderful feeling!

I also have two children (ages 5 and 8). My kids eat the way we eat. They always have. They eat meat, healthy starches and all kinds of veggies... and the occasional treat! One trick I had, was to always put a little bit of everything we were having on their plates. I never forced them to eat anything and I never argued with them about food. If they don't like it, they don't have to eat it, they could just leave it on the plate until the meal is over. Young children don't like anything "new". So putting something on their plate over and over again makes them familiar with it and eventually they will try it. They will still have their likes and dislikes and that is okay. You eventually will know what their true likes and dislikes are. My son will not eat potatoes or sweet potatoes. My daughter won't eat tomatoes. Both kids dislike cooked mushrooms, onions and peppers (I think it's a texture issue).

Now that I am doing IP, I have cut out carbs and sugar for me. My family eats what I eat + I serve them a portion of healthy starches with their dinner. There are a few treats around the house but not too many and they are only for dessert and not to eat all day every day. I encourage healthy snacks (fruit, vegetables, healthy starches high in fiber or dairy products). I am okay with that although I am really looking forward to having some of those things again in phase 3.

Note that a very important thing to remember is that this is not a forever diet. It has a beginning, a middle and an end. You are not depriving yourself. You are chosing to forego certain foods for a certain amount of time in order to rest your pancreas and allow your body to relearn how to process these foods properly. Once you have reached your goal, you will reintroduce your favorite foods again in a healthy way.

If you have not done so, please read the book, available as a free PDF, by following the link in the introduction of each daily chat threat. It will explain everything very clearly and I am sure will help you to decide if this diet is really for you or not.

If you decide to join us on this journey, there is lots of encouragement and support on this board!

You can do this!