I love this, so happy that you have made a change that is going to make a big difference in how you experience IP.

Congrats, JJTx on taking another step in your journey to reach your goal!

So it is Day 3 (of 10 Days) of doctor prescribed metabolic detoxification diet related to thyroid treatment and being on IP Phase 1 for 7 months. My blood work showed high platelet count so this is part of the treatment to eliminate a potential cause of the inflammation that my body is experiencing (ie, clear out any remaining fat that has been released from my cells during Phase 1 that is still in my blood stream).

The diet is restrictive but in a different way than IP phases 1-3. There is no calorie or macronutrient counting but I can't help myself. I am limiting myself to no more than 1200 calories per day (this is about 300-400 more than I was consuming for last 7 months on Phase 1) and it is much heavier carb as I don't eat fish (fish and legumes are only protein sources on the detox - as well as some in the "medical food" that I have to drink).

On Monday, after the diagnosis and knowing what I was in for on this detox for 10 days, I splurged as I was feeling sorry for myself and just tired of not feeling my best. As a result, I was up 7 pounds over the prior week when I started this detox Tuesday morning. I have lost 4 of that, which I am encouraged by because of the increased calorie count over P1 and higher intake of carbs as well as knowing that my metabolism is very slow. I have been learning about my body in regards to weight since beginning of Feb when I first deviated from Phase 1. I am proud of myself for being within 3 pounds of my low weight while dealing with this thyroid issue and whatever else is going on medically. For the past 20+ years, I would have gone off the rails and not got back until I had gained it all back and then some. I have learned that I can fill my cravings and get right back and drop the uptick and be satisfied. I'm sure I will keep dropping over the remaining days of this detox even though higher calories and carb as it gets even more restrictive in upcoming days. I am looking forward to maintenance starting next Thursday - I feel I have learned a lot through this process from all of you as well as being very in-tune with my body's reactions to my eating behaviors.
Physically, there hasn't been much improvement in how I am feeling. I have a follow-up appointment tomorrow so I'll see what he says, but in the meantime, I am following the new diet (I view this as a different version of P2-P3). I am curious to know that with his telling me he doesn't want me to diet any longer after this, by not following the P3 protocol, am I setting myself up for cravings, etc because I haven't retrained my pancreas? Given that I am following a 10 day program where I am getting carbs throughout the day, I guess so, right? What do you think?

Ro

If your thyroid treatment metabolic detox is higher carbs it's likely that it's going to take you out of ketosis anyway.

In your position I would spend the money to go for a basal metabolic rate test and find out what your ACTUAL caloric intake should be. That way you can eat within it if you want to maintain while you resolve the thyroid issue, and then simply reduce calories SLOWLY in future when you are ready.

If IP P1 has been responsible for your thyroid becoming unbalanced then it's probably a good idea to consider that element of the diet "done" and look at P4 as a minimum.

Glad you got some answers and have a path forward, even if it's opened up a few more choices to be made. Always good to know what is going on.

Cravings are one of those things that do come back when you go back to carbs as fuel. However, do some research on what sort of food plan you want to follow in maintenance. Scout out recipes that contain ingredients. You can always make an alternative to a high carb item that you love, you just have to plan it in advance.

Thanks, Amanda.

I have had my BMR calculated - did that last week. Of course, they say it will increase when thyroid is fixed so just a snapshot as of now.

I am sure I am out of ketosis. My specific question is whether there is value in me doing P3, starting next Thursday when this detox is over, for 2 weeks to train my pancreas to release proper amount of insulin. If there is value in doing that given my current journey, do I have to get back into ketosis for a period of time in order for p3 phase to work as intended?

2bskinnyagain -- Thanks for sharing this - I think you had mentioned it before, and I was trying to recall specifics because I have been feeling much the same as you describe. I have been hungry every day. I keep trying to fill that hunger with green salad, and a couple times I have had an extra packet because I just had to eat something and I figured an extra IP was better than some other off program choice. I have not exactly stalled, but with 3 lbs of uptick in the past 8 weeks, my net loss has been only 7 lbs in 6 weeks.... excruciatingly slow loss. I may give your approach a try.

CenTXChk -- I am so sorry to hear of your mom's condition. Nothing is more miserable than losing your mom. Spend as much time with her as you can, and do what you can to make her comfortable. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Sue -- so glad you got downward movement on the scale - every little bit of downward movement helps!!

JJTx -- how terrific that you found an inspiring coach at this point in your journey! Looking forward to celebrating that 199 mark with you. It's an exciting milestone and you are so close!

Ro22 - I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis but glad you have not only a diagnosis but a treatment program. I hope that your doc visit tomorrow goes well and provides additional information. I cannot begin to imagine what effect there would be from doing P3, with or without a return to ketosis. Those questions go beyond my understanding of the total science involved here.... I think I would be inclined to do the P3 and P4 phases as if all this other stuff had not happened... unless your doc indicates that this would exacerbate your thyroid condition.

Briael - howdy - glad to see you hanging out here in the Summer thread! Your postings are informative and supportive as always!

Shasta10 and I were going to go to the P3 and P4 Maintenance workshop on Saturday morning, to be given by the same person (Dr Zumbado) as the one referenced in the Life after P1 thread posting that Ro22 found... Then Shasta10 was told she cannot attend if she is outside of Dr Zumbado's network of clinics.... I did not get such a message, but I am fearful that I may go but be turned away when they discover I am not a regular client of theirs... I will contact them tomorrow to try to sort this out. Bummer .

Meanwhile - several Wash DC area 3FC IPeeps are looking forward to meeting up - I have about 5 who contacted me via PM to share their emails - I think we are going to meet up, do a walk together, and have coffee or lunch. Just gotta work out the details.

I had my WI today - lost 2.8 lbs over the past 2 weeks (missed WI last week due to snow closure). Down is good -- I will take it! But as I said above, the pace of loss is making me feel P1 fatigue.... I had a different coach doing my measurements today - and she measures tighter than my regular coach, so I am not paying attn. to the inches this time. My lean pounds were down - just under 100lbs of lean this time. I definitely need to do some strength training to build some muscle, stoke my metabolism, and fill my loose skin with something other than remnants of flab.

I am not exactly jazzed at this point, but I am not discouraged either. Just somewhat diet fatigued. So glad I can share with you guys and also soak up some good vibes. You all are the best!!

Interesting idea. Maybe I'll add some dinner protine to lunch and see if that shakes things up! A little tuna in my salad can't hurt!

I am so happy for the new coach that is breathing life back into the program for you......I can't wait to celebrate your milestone!

Sorry for the diagnosis. I hope everything works out!

Nice WI! Good for you. Yes I am in major diet fatigue too....but I think this week I may have kicked that! Lol. Trying to follow like I did week one. Always measuring not eyeballing....being super careful about food timing and just really paying attention....back to basics. I need to be under 210...NEED! Lol .
Wish in lived closer to DC to have lunch with you...

My financial planner came over last night for our 6 month check in...I opened the door and her jaw dropped to the floor. She was like how did you get so skinny! Lol. It felt great! So even though this diet has drained my bank account LOL that reaction was so worth it!

Congrats on your loss this week!! I was getting hungry a lot during the day before my old coach added the 2 oz of protein, for a total of 10/day. I usually had something (like 2 HB eggs or a couple of oz of deli turkey or ham) mid-afternoon and it was definitely helping. I asked my new coach about it, and she said it will be part of the tweaks we'll be working on, but for now, if I feel like I need it to have it.

I hope they let you go to the Conference!!


Thanks all for your kind words! As I've been processing this change I feel more and more secure in the decision. Guess we'll see what happens on the scale next week! My new WI day will be Wednesday mornings, so I'm out of the "Tuesday club." Even schedule-wise it's better for getting everyone up and moving in the morning, plus my new clinic is on my way to work so no more special trips.

JJTX your new setup sounds good all around -- I would like to be able to go for morning weigh in's but my clinic is no where close to my commute route for work, and it is only open 3 days a week and even then I think the don't open until late morning. I have to say that IP in the DC metro area., primarily an adjunct line of business for Chiropractors, is a very unusual business model.

I am finding the idea of extra protein to be very appealing. I may give this a try and see if that helps with my hungries, and maybe stokes my furnace for losing.

I am trying to get MyFitnessPal set up -- I put some regularly used recipes into it -- it seems that the IP food items are already in the MFP database, as are a lot of WF items. I use a lot of the same dozen or so food items to comprise my menus, so it should not take much more setup to make logging the food diary daily pretty easy.

I also need to figure out the linkage with my Fitbit (which also reflects my Aria digital scale readings daily). Then I can designate some of you guys as friends so I can share my stuff on MFP! I need to go back to my PM's and pick up specifics. Ain't technology wonderful?

I'm moving to Phase 2 tomorrow I'm going to keep it simple, with canned tuna and lean precooked ham for my lunch protein.

I hope everyone has a great OP weekend

Oneuh2 - yay!! I look forward to "seeing" you on MFP soon

DD - good luck, you've got this!!

I log all meals into MFP which is linked to my Aria scale and FitBit account. It really helps get a handle on things. I haven't found any food that is not already in the database.

Also, on the subject of diet fatigue....it seems like everyone is hitting the wall at the same time. When I started IP I read posts from others further along in the program....hitting the wall. I swore it wouldn't be that way with me because p1 was such a breeze. I even decided to lower my original goal because I was so sure I would hit it. But, alas, the slow crawl toward my goal began and dragged on & on. I struggled staying on P1 for the last few lbs, went to P2 per protocol. Bounced up and done a couple of lbs. and got into the cycle of " ok, I'm going to do P1 perfectly for the next 2 weeks to get these last couple of lbs off." Then I would fall off one day( not huge deviations) and the cycle would begin again. My coaches ( yes, my clinic has a number of great coaches) worked with me for weeks and we finally decided I needed to phase to maintenance. It wasn't good for my mind or body to keep struggling. I felt relieved when the decision was finally made. As we looked back at my weigh ins over 8 weeks, I was basically maintain already....just bouncing up and down with the same 2 lbs and not even benefitting from a nice range of yummy food!! if I want to lose more weight, I will revisit in the summer. Right now, I am enjoying maintenance ...and working at it. MFP is a critical tool.

Cheryl, whe you get connect on MFP, let me know and we can be friends or whatever it is called.

Good luck to my fello summer starters. You are not alone in the diet fatigue struggle. We can get this done together !!!!

How exciting DD! I'm looking forward to learning from your phasing off experience -- I have only 20 lbs to go to reach goal -- ideally I won't be too far behind you to begin maintenance too.

I thought I was going to go to another clinic to learn more about maintenance this weekend, but they decided to charge a $75 fee - not happening. And now I don't need to go there, because Novak, the poster in the Life after P1 thread here on 3FC has dropped by and begun a thread that is telling her story of 5 years of successful maintenance!

How fortunate we are to be getting this kind of information at this time!

I know that several of us have discovered the thread - I am discussing it here in case anyone from our Summer 2014 Starters has missed it.

I think it's the slowdown in loss that contributes to the diet fatigue. The feeling of "is it still worth it to be eating this way and losing 1lb every other week".

I have to say that I think the 5 day break I have taken (had anything I wanted - pizza, chocolate, wine, candy, 4 meals out) has given me the impetus to get back into P1 with renewed vigor. It's a combination of things - 1. the nasty side effects that a carb heavy diet brings (and I had completely forgotten how horrible they are) and 2. the memory of those foods was so much better than the reality now that my tastebuds have changed.

If you are suffering diet fatigue it may be worth scheduling a very short break (a weekend, perhaps?) where you don't go crazy with problem foods, but where you have a little of what you like - see how it affects your digestive system, your comfort level and whether it appeals as much as you anticipate.

I found it hugely anticlimactic on the whole (enjoyed the Mexican food, but that's not a diet deal breaker) and am now ready to go forward.

My clinic is out of my chiropractors office also!

Good luck! keep us posted

Yeah for you! Glad you are enjoying maintenance. So good to hear.

Interesting idea. I had toyed with the going off one night in Vegas idea, but I think I am already going to be in a can't get and IP compliant meal situation there some of the day's with lunches prepared and dinners so let's see how I make it thru that! Lol

HUGE NSV alert! So without getting into too many details because I really don't have any yet, DH got some potentially really bad medical news yesterday. We need further testing but he went for a CAT scan for a kidney stone which is there and large, but they found something else too that is not a kidney stone. We found this out early am. Now my norm would have been to eat my feelings all day and I did have the opportunity because I was alone most of the day and I did have a shopping trip to Costco! BUT I ate NOTHING off program yesterday! As a matter of fact I think because I was thinking about being perfect all day I was totally on track with measuring and weighting...so yeah me for not turning to food. As for DH he follows up with his primary wenesday, then I am sure more tests to figure this out. ugh....never dull.