I haven't run across a post by I'm Svelting for scampi. I have run across some other scampi recipes in the original recipes thread and references to using the WF scampi sauce. Maybe I'm Svelting can direct you? I will keep looking.

Congratulations! And, YES! we all get there at some point. I don't know if it is the rapid weight loss effecting our insulation or our changes in blood pressure or vascular changes. I have been wondering based on some comments about brown fat others have made if, when they say we burn brown fat, they don't mean we activate brown fat. I wonder that because brown fat is a fat burning "tool" that activates strongly when we are cold. I may be getting this wrong or cause/effect wrong but, it was something I pondered. ANYWAY, to answer the question, YEP, nearly all of us end up feeling cold.

Congrats on hitting 30 pounds lost! Way to go, Lady!

Definitely go to the 145 goal. You will notice as you phase off and starting eating more like a balanced diet that sunken look changes. I had it and I had dark circles below my eyes (just starting). With in about 2 weeks of moving to a phase 3 approach it was back to normal. Still a more slender face but, I had a more natural look. You can always tackle another 10 later if you feel it is still important at that point in time.

GOOD FOR YOU!!! That took a lot of commitment and will power.

Well.... The good news is, after 2 days of fasting your body is in ketosis. Starvation always brings on ketosis, so, getting back on plan will be easy if you remember that the fast KEEPS you in ketosis.

The bad news, if you hadn't eaten the pre-fast feast, your body was already in ketosis, would have stayed in ketosis, and would have taken all of the needed calories/energy for the 3 day fast from your fat. You would have lost more and gone back on plan very easily.

More good news, when you finish the procedure and are allowed to eat, go back on plan immediately, use a restricted packet or occasionally veggies right away (more carbs), then stay on plan using an extra packet a day if you need too. You should be in ketosis on day 1! You really don't need to have any other "stuff" and you can't really justify a cheat given that a liquid fast (provided it isn't made of fruit juice) will keep you in ketosis.

Be careful with sugary fluids during your liquid fast. They will cause you to gain some weight because they will replace glucose, glycogen, and add water back to your body. Try to go with sugar free and low carb low sodium chicken broth.

When you go phase off, you might try treating it as coming off an allergy identifying diet. This plan takes away many foods that people are allergic to in small or large degrees. New science is showing that some forms of inflammation, including weight gain/obesity, may be the result of toxins created from undigestible parts of food. Those toxic food parts actually cause the body to swell when it can't eliminate them through proper processes.

As you phase off slowly add one item then another. Try adding a sugar first and see how it reacts with you. Then try adding a non gluten flour item (rice, oats, etc), then add an ancient wheat like spelt or a rye, try adding a gluten free dessert, and last add a real wheat. It will be a slow process but, it can help you identify if you are allergic to a sugar, a grain, and which grain. Wheat flour is a common food allergy. Also, consider that you may be allergic to dairy food or real eggs. (That assumes you haven't had any real eggs while on this plan.) Any of these allergies can cause you too rapidly hold water,and feel achy, sick to your stomach, or gassy.



You could make the "big mac in a bowl" recipe that Jordanna posted in the tips for newbies thread.

Southwest STYLE taco salad. Onion, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, hamburger seasoned with taco seasoning (Jordanna posted one), I have added a few of the bbq chips crumbled or the bbq soy nuts as a treat. I make a cumin, lemon or lime, with chilli pepper vinegar dressing to go with it.

You could make sliders using lettuce leaf or mushroom caps as the buns.

Make hamburger lettuce wraps or lettuce cups. Kind of like chicken lettuce wraps.

You could make a goulash with lightly sauted onion, red pepper flake, ground chili powder, garlic, and ground black pepper with chopped tomato (assumes you have your occasional veggie allotment left), and put it over cauliflower rice. (many modifiable recipes online.. search hamburger goulosh and drop the macaroni from the recipe. make the cauliflower rice and add it toward the end or serve the hamburger mix over the "rice" on the plate.)

You could make a hamburger stew with ground hamburger, turnip or rutabaga, leeks, mushroom, zuchinni, onion, green pepper, or any other mix of acceptable veggies. (my grandmother made something like that when I was a kid.)

I used to make a clear hamburger gravy with rice (cauliflower rice) and veggies.

You could make stuffed peppers, mushroom, cabbage, or tomatoes. The mix would be with an IP soup or egg white to hold together, onion, bell pepper, finely chopped cauliflower, zucchini shreds.

Those might be some starting ideas.

I LOVE THAT!! Honestly, of all my pictures the ones I like the least are the side views.

As always, thanks Carla for your expertise! I was thinking the exact same thing, that it would be easy to get back in, but didn't realize that I would stay in ketosis during the fast without the protein. Learning all the time. I think for the most part, I was really wanting to eat because I am going to have to go 3 days without. I had lasagna because its my favorite. Other than that, I have still stayed within limits without the packets.
I will go right into the packets and right at it, as soon as I am allowed to eat. As I am also getting a gastroscopy, am thinking that fluids will be until next morning. Hard to say! I always wake up from surgery STARVING and demand food! LOL!

Talk to you soon!

Susan

That happens sometimes. Zucchini can be very wet. Try drying them out with a little salt or with paper towels.

Some people make these with dehydrators so they become very crisp.

Another website tips is :Cut the chips and par boil them for about 3 minutes until they are soft. Make sure oven is very hot *(220C or 425F) put on a pre-heated tray at top of oven until golden brown.

Try putting them back in the oven and dry them out some. I can't remember who said this, last week, maybe Mrs. Diettrich??, use a lower heat, maybe 300 or 325 and check on them about every 5 minutes until they seem to be going the direction you want.

Oh wow!

Yes, you do need protein, that can come from a good low sodium or homemade low sodium chicken broth. If you don't get protein, your body will start to burn its own muscle along with fat. That will happen on any liquid fast too.

Sometimes the doctors will be ok with you using a gelatin. As long as they don't say no red, you might be able to use the IP jello. You could ask if they would allow the orange drink, or blueberry drink, or pina colada, or pineapple. I KNOW! As I write this, I am thinking too late, maybe next time.

Maybe it will help someone else. We have had several people go through surgeries and pre-procedure care. Maybe we should write a thread about what can be done based on experiences of those who have been there?

Good luck with the procedure. I am sure things will be great. Enjoy your break. You will get back on program very easily when you are ready to start up!

I would second that crab cakes are a no-no...even without bread crumbs there has to be mayo or eggs or something holding them together. I am 10 weeks in an only ate out once (I used to eat out 3-4 nights a week...very social) and that is because I can control everything. This is such a strict diet. No sauces or additives in our foods. But I have gotten used to it. With that said I plan on phasing off before goal sometime mid to late January because five months of this will be enough. good luck to you the diet is amazing and works wonderful.

Off to watch some football (49ers) for a little while. I hope you are all enjoy your Sunday.

See you later tonight

If you are looking for a seudo taco thing I use chili powder and mix ground meat with grated and cooked cauliflower makes it seem like A LOT more and use lettuce as a wrap mmmmmm I add some pico de gallo to the top too.

Ya, it does say no red or purple dyes, so thats out. I am stocked up on jello though. I bought a tonne of the sugar free stuff. I also have a load of broths, and clear sugar free juices. I am going to sneak in a few of the IP drinks in there, only because I think it will help with the hunger and any weakness. I am working the first day, but then am off for the rest. I plan on going straight back onto protocol on Thursday morning.

I think it would be awesome to have a sticky surgery/procedure thread. We also have a lot of medical people on here that can give great advice!

Off to make more jello!

Susan

My NSV for the day - this morning, I put on my favoritest Gap trouser jeans and they were too big! Big enough that I won't be wearing them anymore... Old man butt, a big old gap in the waistband - it was AWESOME. And a little sad. I loved those jeans. Good thing I bought them on clearance...

It was me that suggested that, but in reference to making the crepe crackers! I suppose it could work with the zucchini - in essence, you're turning your oven into a dehydrator...

Some people make these with dehydrators so they become very crisp.

Thanks Carla! They truned out better but I think I'm going to get a dehidrator.
Aside from zuchini and trunips, what other vegetables could be good for chips? I love dried fruit but I have never tried veggies.

I have had my first weekend in a long time without the stress of some type of home work or running around like a chicken with my head cut off.

So I took the kids to the YMCA and we walked the track, my DH is a runner so I was feelling good and was able to jog three laps with him talking and smiling hte whole time. It is amazing what jogging feels like when you are 30lbs lighter. After a cool down, we took the kids to open gym and played basket ball, It was also a lot easier to shoot the ball.

This would be enough for and NSV, by my DH was laughing because as I manged to do all this my work out pants kept falling down, guess it is time to go shopping for new workout cloths!

I love your idea about treating phasing off as an allergy identifying diet. I used to get migraines quite frequently. When I last charted them, I had 22 migraine days in one month. Since starting IP, 15 weeks ago, I haven't had 1.
I don't eat many eggs because they upset my stomach and I also avoid most dairy because it causes my acid reflux to act up. I am wondering if Gluten was causing the migraines. I am definitely going to add only one thing at a time. I LOVE BEING MIGRAINE-FREE!!


Linden I ran across a Shrimp Scampi recipe from Ogdog in the original recipe thread post # 483 (page 33 for me). Don't know if that was the one you were looking for.

I am also in the Freezing-All-The-Time club. Like some of you have mentioned, I too wear my coat at work, have a space heater on and cover my legs with a blanket! Such a professional look! I love my bed though, I added a down comforter and turn my heated mattress pad to high!

I've really thought about eating a 'Normal' Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, since my coach recommended it. But, honestly, there is nothing that I really want as much as I want to get to goal. I'm only going to have turkey, mashed cauliflower, veggies and a salad. I may take a vanilla RTD with pumpkin pie spice for a treat!! I can't believe how all of my cravings for the 'sweets' have gone!

Have a great IP week! Good luck everyone at your weigh -ins!!

I'm still keepin the program, yessirree....but I have to say that today...I am sick sick sick of lemons, vinegar and mustard. WI disgusting Mayo. I loved the ketchup 2 weeks ago. Thought I'd gone to Heaven. Today it just tasted gross.
Can't finish my salad. It's on the table and I'm hoping I can go back and take just a few more bites.
All my food is boring me. I have to change it up from the turkey, chicken monotony. Mrs Dash can take a hike. I've squeezed enough garlic to wilt fresh flowers and have everything free chicken stock coming out of my arse.
Thank you for letting me vent. I'm stickin' with it...just hitting a wall today.
Thank you for listening and sharing. That helps the most. Have a great evening and a wonderful upcoming week.

HUGS

I hit that wall too, but when it passed, it was wonderful. I hit that wall again last week, but am motivated to keep trucking this week.

Good Luck!

Hitting those walls aren't fun. I hit one about the 5 week mark too! It wasn't much fun and I mostly felt angry at everything including the diet. Hang in there. Your venting rant is encouraging and helps with my resolve too. Thanks.