Ok, so I'm about 20Ibs down and so excited. My lovely husband and I have decided to have a night off and go out for a yummy meal. Yes, I know that involves lots of cheats, but we've made that decision and we're sticking to it

Here's my question:
- Is the best thing for me to skip my IP Lunch and Snack 'packets'? I think if i eat those too, then I'll just be adding crazy amounts to my naughty eating today.

Then I'll be back 100% on plan tomorrow again.

Thoughts?
Clair

HAPPY VALENTINES!

Personally I would eat the IP Lunch but forego your evening snack. I know you are set to have a nice dinner but try to have it geared towards IP. You can still have a nice steak or seafood dish with veggies and then if you add something else you aren't going too far overboard.

Obviously this is your choice so enjoy the evening!

Totally agree with thin4me! You can have a delicious meal without going crazy! A nice steak and some grilled veggies are amazing, especially when you don't have to cook them yourself. Cheating sets you back 3 days! I have been on Ideal Protein since the week before Thanksgiving and have not cheated, if I can do it through Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Year's, anyone can. Is one meal worth 3 days? Just my opinion.

It isn't the amount of food you eat that is going to cause the biggest set back it is anything that you eat that will knock you out of ketosis. That is the big 3 days setback and then you have to go through that headache again. Also, if you eat something that is very fatty your body will be burning that fat before your stored fats. I'm agreeing with the others to stay as IP as you can.

Truthfully I don't get this, but I have to ask - does it really matter that much what you have for lunch or an IP snack this afternoon? By cheating tonight you will have blown the entire day anyway and you will spend the next three days getting back into ketosis. So, if you are going to blow the diet tonight, you might as well just have what you would like this afternoon, and not waste your money on IP foods today.

I don't agree with your decision, but in the meantime have fun tonight with your husband and Happy Valentine's day.

If by "cheat" you mean eat sugar/carbs, then it doesn't matter what you eat during the day. You will blow yourself out of ketosis at dinner, so it doesn't matter what you eat during the day. IMHO, it's not worth it. If by cheat you mean lean protein and veggies, then I would just eat my normal packets during the day so I have a normal appetite at dinner and am not starving.

Eat your usual lunch, enjoy your dinner.

Tomorrow get back to phase 1. I know the hard core people here don't like this, but sometimes a cheat can keep you motivated and happy.

Although ip helps you lose weight fast, it is not a sprint. An occasional deviation, if kept to that, should not really impact the length of time you are doing ip.

Don't allow one meal to set you off track, though. Enjoy and then stop. It can be a slippery slope into constant cheating.

Expect to feel boated, etc tomorrow. Stay off the scale for a few days.

Thanks folks for the responses. Wow some of you are hardcore!

Enjoy your Valentines!

I am new and not sure if I am hardcore! I have no plan to eat off plan for the duration. If I understand the process of ketosis and the $$ on my debit card for IP food, I don't feel I can afford to go off plan.

My DH & I are going out to a local Teriyaki House...my coach says that they will make you a veggie-filled stir fry with ONLY soy sauce & garlic if you request it and hold the rice.

I have also had good like with Thai places being able to keep my "on track" with IP eating!

Last year someone posted a good analogy between ip and mountain climbing. It was something like this:

Losing weight is an uphill climb, like climbing a mountain. If you slip and fall do you give up and jump off? No you get up and continue on your climb.

One cheat, slip up, etc. should not cause you to forgo ip and abandon you attempts at weight loss. Just continue on and eventually you will reach the top.

Some people can be very rigid with ip, and if it works for them that is great.

Just don't complain next week if you don't see a good loss!!! You will know why, and the next week will be better!

For me the real beauty of the plan is that you can eat out so easily and not go off plann. I usually have a loss after I eat out. No carbs, no sugar and I still have great meals.
Pat

If I may suggest, maybe go easy on things like rich desserts and wine. This is not directly IP related but it has been my experience that after a period of healthy eating, the headache for rich desserts and booze almost make the meal experience unpleasant. Sometimes if I eat too much too rich foods I feel bloated. But, that is me. You really want to enjoy yourself today which is why you are risking the next few days don't go all out. Your body is not used to richer foods anymore. You may only enjoy it in your mouth but less so elsewhere. Take bites. See how you feel. Maybe that is all you need to get back on that mountain, Momto2cs referred to.

Good advice. My hubby and I ate at red lobster for his birthday on Sunday. I had crab legs - no butter and broccoli. At my weigh in on Monday I didn't lose anything. At first I was ready to just chuck it all but I have lost 12 lbs in 4 weeks so I am not going to quit. Hopefully next week will be a loss!