A MAJOR MILESTONE -- NAILED IT!

I'm writing after a very productive weekend. I went camping at my friend's off-grid cottage on the lake. This is one of the environments that I feel may contribute to some of my struggles with weight loss as this is the kind of place where regardless of how great I do in the week--a couple hours around the fire can throw it all out the window.

This time, I've got too much skin in the game (literally). I went prepared. My significant other, bless her, seems to be operating at a slower pace these days. Could be her attempt at cutting back doesn't give her as much energy. She doesn't have the secret weapon that I do--whatever is in those Ideal Protein foods. Because, I'm suddenly on fire. If I get any more energy, I'm going to worry people think I'm manic.

All about the prep

I rushed out of work at lunch on Friday and went and weighed in. I was down 4. I don't know why but I felt down. I hear such stories of these huge first weeks that are then followed with moderate losses and I wanted to be one. But, I was happy with what I got and I didn't throw a fit.

Then, I went to the grocery store and took advantage of some nice pink stickers (in Nova Scotia half priced items about ready to expire are marked by a pink triangle--I try not to build any bridges between the whole gay pink triangle thing). I loaded up on chicken breast and pork tenderloin and fresh veggies (3 turnip for $1.49--not bad) and planned meals around what's on sale. After all, I'm kind of on a budget now that I'm paying for these IP foods.

I had hoped P would have it all done by the time I left work. She managed to get the chicken done. So I set to weighing, chopping, and bagging meals for the three of us and packed it all with clear labels about who could have what. I am not normally that controlling but basically, they could eat what I eat (minus the IP) and for the rest, they were on their own.

I then packed a cooler with IP foods, weight scales, measuring cups and spoons and we were on the road.

It was a challenge only cooking on a coleman stove with limited fresh water--but it worked. Cereal in the morning, shake (with 2 oz pork and 2 cups of cucumber) at lunch one day, chicken patties (awesome, by the way) the next with 2 cups cucumber,  turnip and reheated stirfry chicken breast for dinner the first night. I drank lots of water. I did a 2 hour hike and a lake bath/swim so I snuck in my IP bar as a refuel necessity mid-hike. And, each night I kept my salt and vinegar chips for when the snacks came out. They were very satisfying and filling -- thank goodness. If I still felt snack-y, I ate some lettuce that I had cut and bagged in advance. For the most part, given the amount of exercise and environment, I wasn't too hungry. If I felt hungry, I'd check in with some water and then wait and then see. We drank herbal tea.

Change the routine

I guess the big thing was that we didn't have our usual beer. It's not much to give up really. But, I'm thankful for friends and partners who are supportive and try to be as diet-friendly as possible while I figure this all out. Overall, a great weekend. I slept better and enjoyed mornings better, even had time to read Gone Girl--worth it. I might be onto something here. :)

Oh, and yes, by the way, the water was freezing! But, if it comes between me and my hygiene, I'm afraid even a thin coat of ice isn't enough to keep me out.

IDEAL PROTEIN PROTOCOL - THE DIET

I hope I don't get in trouble for sharing this, but I think it is beneficial for those who are considering the program to see what it is all about. Sure, there may be some of you who would like to try it on your own. To those people, I say good luck. The program, videos, and most importantly, food and coaching is what makes the program a success. I'd hardly think that one would have much success following the regimen alone.

This is also helpful for others like me, who received older sheets upon starting Ideal Protein and who have not seen these new edits to the program.

So, here's the scoop on Phase 1.

All of this information was accessed at http://www.idealprotein.com on October 15, 2014. All information below is written and provided by Ideal Protein.

Phase 1

To be followed until 100% of your weight loss goal is achieved. 

IMPORTANT: Only the items indicated on this sheet are permitted. Serving size must be respected: eat no more/no less than indicated.

Breakfast

1 Ideal Protein Food

Optional:
Coffee/tea with 30 ml (1 oz.) of regular milk.
Sweetener permitted (in limited quantity)*
*Some sweeteners contain hidden sugar and may hinder your weight loss.

SUPPLEMENTS
1 Natura Multi-Vita
1 Natura Potassium

Lunch

1 Ideal Protein food and 2 cups of select vegetables (see veggie list below)
Optional:
Unlimited raw vegetables/lettuce

Dinner

225 g (8 oz.) of 1 dinner protein and 2 cups of select vegetables
Optional:
Unlimited raw vegetables/lettuce

SUPPLEMENTS
2 Natura Cal-Mag
1 Natura Multi-Vita
2 Omega-3 Plus
1 Ideal Protein food

Snack

1 Ideal Protein food

SUPPLEMENTS
2 Natura Cal-Mag

Every Day Requirements

• Drink a minimum of 2 L (64 oz.) of water
• 2 teaspoons of olive oil 
• or grape seed extract oil
• ¼ teaspoon of Ideal Salt
• Natura Anti-Oxy (2 capsules daily) and Natura Enzymes (1-2 at mealtimes) are strongly recommended in all phases.

DINNER PROTEIN – No frying or breading permitted / Weigh before cooking.

Fish: Anchovy, bass, catfish, cod, flounder, grouper, haddock, hake, halibut, mahi-mahi, monkfish, perch, pike, red snapper, redfish, sea bass, shark, smelt, sole, swordfish, tilapia, tuna (red tuna once per week), trout, turbot, walleye, whiting, salmon (wild salmon once per week).

Seafood: Clams, crab, crawfish, lobster, mussels, oysters, scallops, scampi, shrimp, squid.

Beef: Flank steak, ground beef (extra-lean), lean roast, round, rump steak, sirloin, tenderloin, tournedos.

Poultry: Chicken (skinless), 6 eggs (2-4 whole, remainder must be egg whites), fowl, quail, turkey, wild birds.

Pork: Lean ham, pork tenderloin.

Veal: Breast, cutlet, inside round scaloppini, rib, shank, shoulder, tenderloin.

Other: Bison, deer, elk, frog legs, kidney, lamb loin, liver, moose, ostrich, rabbit, plain tofu.

UNLIMITED RAW VEGETABLES/LETTUCE

Arugula, Bibb lettuce, Boston lettuce, celery, chicory lettuce, cucumber, endives, escarole lettuce, frisée lettuce, green and red leaf lettuce, iceberg lettuce, mushroom, radicchio, radish, romaine lettuce, spinach and watercress lettuce.

SELECT VEGETABLES – 2 cups per meal – Weigh before cooking

Alfalfa, asparagus, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, bell peppers, broccoli, cabbage (all), cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chayote, chicory, collards, cucumbers, dill pickles, fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese broccoli), green onions, jicama, kale, kohlrabi, mushrooms, okra, onions (raw only), hot peppers, radish, rhubarb, sauerkraut, spinach, Swiss chard, turnip, zucchini/yellow summer squash.

OCCASIONAL VEGETABLES – Maximum 4 cups per week – Weigh before cooking

Beans (green and wax), Brussels sprouts, eggplant, heart of palm, rutabaga, snow peas, tomatillo, tomatoes.

SEASONINGS

Apple cider vinegar, fine herbs, fresh herbs (basil, bay leaves, cilantro, chervil, chives, dill, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, savory, tarragon, thyme), garlic, ginger, lemon, lemongrass, hot mustard, hot sauce, soy sauce, sorrel, spices (MSG free/no carbohydrates), tamari sauce (1 tablespoon), white vinegar.

RESTRICTED IP FOODS – You may choose only 1 restricted Ideal Protein food per day.

You can find additional meal ideas (with or without Ideal Protein foods) in the My Ideal Recipes book by Chef Verati, as well as on Facebook and my.idealprotein.com (requires program membership).

AND THEN IT BEGAN

And, just like that...with one video and one day of refining carbs and carefully paying attention, it happened. I registered last night for a mild amount of ketones which means, ketosis has begun. And, I can already feel it. If anyone else is going through this, please just trust the process and wait for it.

This morning I had a bowl of oatmeal and then headed out to a conference with my purse packed full of the day's food. I kept busy until 12 and then back to work to make my chicken soup. I decided that 2 oz of protein with my lunch is necessary when working with the low carb options so I had some stir fried chicken left over from last night. Then, I ate my 3 cup romaine and apple cider vinegar salad with 1 tsp oil. This afternoon I'll have a shake and my veggies for a snack.

I have a feeling that there will be a lot of this in my future!

My afternoons were the hardest but I refined to add the salad and to reduce carbs and I already feel better. I feel much more full and more energy all around. I can tell that the ketosis process is changing things for me. It just means I have to have less carbs than the other people seem to. That's okay by me if it means I have this energy and I can enjoy the food I do eat. My salad felt like a luxurious treat to have for lunch.

I did think of a unique way to have a quick meal last night. I weighed out chicken breast into 6 oz (I had 2 oz of protein for lunch) and cut into strips. Then I stir fried them in a little bit of grapeseed oil (1 tsp) and tossed them in Franks RedHot sauce. It was my version of wings. I then chopped 2 cups of veggies (celery, broccoli, and cauliflower) as crudites and dipped them in 1 teaspoon of organic low calorie fat and carb free ranch dip.

It was filling and felt like an easy and quick meal that I might have in a pub somewhere.

Daily Videos

Today's video was about willpower. I found it really interesting and true for myself. The idea that this diet works because it reduces the number of decisions you have to make in the day. The rules are easy and if you just follow the guide, you don't have to decide much. Then, there are things you can do to make it easier, chop veggies in advance, write down net carbs, weigh and measure. 

My partner loves to tweak things to her satisfaction--it seems like she wants a loophole or a cheat. She likes to be smarter than the rules, or to take the rules and apply them for her own benefit. She is smart and sometimes too smart for her own good. This creates huge anxiety for me. I need things to be simple because I know that if I start granting myself freedom of choice, I end up taking liberties to pick and choose and within a blink it all goes out the window. I like the rules. I hope that this time the rules help me be successful for a long time. As the video said:

If you go all in, and put your diet on autopilot, you face fewer decisions...your willpower will last longer

Journalling

The video also talked about food journalling. I also know food journalling is the best thing I can do. If I didn't have the food journal, I wouldn't have had the idea of where I went wrong and I might not achieve any ketosis or weight loss this week. I am hoping I will really commit to this practice and hopefully use it to help me plan the day in advance to account for any needed accommodations due to schedule or social events. 

Heres a link to a Kaiser Permaenente Research Project on food journalling and diet success.