How many people have cheated? IF and I mean a big if someone were to have something not OP does it automatically throw you out of ketosis etc?

I haven't cheated, but boy am I starving.

I decided to keep track of what i'm eating in Calorie Counter/My Fitness Pal app and it says I'm allowed approximately 1200 calories a day to lose weight. So far adding in what i've had today i'm at 285 with dinner being the last meal remaining. I'm wondering if this is what is stalling my weight loss am I possibly not getting enough?

Breakfast - IP Vanilla Shake
Lunch - Cappuchino drink, 1 cup red pepper, 1 cup cucumber and approximately 1 cup lettuce.
Dinner will be a 8 oz meat (probably chicken) and 2 cups veggies.

Just trying to figure out early on if I'm not eating enough or what was the cause of such a low (0.2 lb) weight loss.

have some egg whites if you are hungry... is 100% allowed on the plan.

also, are you having a restricted item once a day?

I was having a bar around 3pm everyday and it helped a little with the hunger, but since my weight loss was so low last week the coach said no restricted this week

And I forgot to add I am not drinking my required water, getting my sea salt in, and of course using olive oil

How much egg white are you allowed?

I haven't cheated, but I do wonder if I'm eating so little that I'm actually depriving myself and causing my body to hold on to the fat? If that is the case i'll gladly eat more because of course I'm always hungry...well so my stomach says (always growling and upset with acid

Where is your 3rd IP packet for snack? I have to eat every 4 hours or else I am STARVING!!!

Most coaches allow 2 egg whites a day as "free". Also, do you exercise? If so you would need to add in an extra 4th packet (I have 4 on weightlifting days).

If you are truly hungry then I would go for an extra IP packet or do some more veggies rather than going off program.

I never cheated and after my first three days I was never hunger...well 90% of the time I wasn't hungry. I agree keep some egg whites on hand and go to those when you're hungry. If you're following the plan you sould have no problem losing...I don't agree with eliminating a restricted...but every coach teaches us differently.

Be sure to keep your water in-take up and get all your protein and veggies... hang in there you can do it!!!

You also need to have your 3rd packet whether it is a retricted or not.

Edit: lol Liz we were posting around the same time... great minds........

Let's see, Breakfast is fine, Lunch is fine (although check with coach whether cucumbers are now free), SNACK (Use a non-restricted packet), Dinner looks fine, I find that steak fills me up more than chicken, and is higher in protein (i.e. your body has more to use during the night).

I haven't cheated, or maybe I have and don't consider it a cheat because I'm on alternative products, BUT I pay a price for it, smaller losses than normal. My mother in law said "if you must cheat, eat pure protein, egg whites, MAYBE some tuna, or some chicken grilled in a salad, do NOT cheat with carbs or an extra bar (too many carbs)"

Assuming you are having a snack you day looks just like mine in phase 1, and almost exactly what she eats..and he is 240 pounds still!

Add in another salad, even if it's boring! Consider fattier meat, it is more satisfying. Add eat some egg whites, or even a couple eggs during the day and reduce dinner by a couple ounces. The hunger should resolve.

You're third packet is missing my dear. My total calorie intake for the day is usually around 730-900. Somethings definitely missing...hmmm. Go to Fitness Pal and it lists all of the Ideal Protein foods (so cool!) and allows you to calorie track. Try this for a day or two. Add more lettuce to salad at lunch and drink more water if needed. Don't cheat though...you can do this. Just keep sending us your daily menu and we can help where we can. Hugs!

if I ignore my actual food intake my calories from shakes/bars is...360 most days, some days more if I splurge for lunch and go out for a salad etc. , then add my few veggies and dinner...I'd say I hit probably 750 cal / day

That sounds about right. I don't think I've ever actually gone over 800

It's weird I have dreams that I go off program, which is how my brain is dealing with it! I have a hard boiled egg (with salt) in the afternoon if I am really hungry and then redistribute the protein amount I have at dinner.

Hmm when I use the My Fitness Pal app it looks like following everyones advice I end up at 862 Calories. That's with adding 2 egg whites from hard boiled eggs (didn't eat yolks).

And you guys are right I was using the bars as my third protein of the day and when they said no restricted I just didn't think to replace it with something non restricted. Menu last week was the same except around 3-4pm I would have a bar to tide me over.

So much good advice, WI #3 on Friday so we'll see how it goes. For now I'll add that third packet.

So for alternatives what things do you guys use? It's getting a little expensive for me to constantly be buying their products

My Fiance uses the Protein from Costco...think the company is Premier Nutrition, you get a ton more shakes for approximately $30, they are 11 oz instead of 8 oz and they almost identical in Carbs/Fat/Sugar. Does anyone else use them?

Did you say you have a shake and a bar at lunch? What is your menu like?