Weeks 29 and 30 Ideal Protein Diet

And the successes just keep piling up!
Weigh in this time -- 4.6lbs down for 2 weeks
TOTAL lost - 73 lbs!
Inches lost this month - 8.25"
TOTAL inches lost - 69"  - hey, wait a minute - I am 5'-8" tall -- I have lost as many inches as I am tall!  How about that!
Measured my hubby - he is down another 11" - total loss in inches 86"!

I was a good girl this last couple weeks, no cheating or going off protocol.
So - as of today I am transitioning to Phase 2.
Instead of a protein pack and 2 cups of veggies for lunch.  I am to have 8 oz of meat and the 2 cups of veggies.  According to my coach, most people continue to lose a bit through this next phase.  We shall see.
I am planning to stay on Phase 2 for 2 weeks.

Speaking of my coach -- I just want to send a "shout out" to those GREAT LADIES at Ignite Health and Wellness in Salmon Arm BC.  They have been so informative, supportive, and given me "tough love" when I needed a reminder about why I had signed up to do this in the first place.  I HIGHLY recommend that if you are in the area and have the desire to drop a few pounds that you give them a call:

250-808-3580 or 250-833-8354

Weeks 27 and 28 Ideal Protein Diet

I have been a bit remiss with my posting.  But I am still going strong, and so is my hubby!  In fact -- These 2 weeks have been excellent!  I have not gone off protocol at all.  Stuck like glue.  I believe it is due to the fact that I am getting darn close to goal, but my loss per week has slowed a bit. Still going down though, and that is all that matters.
Loss this weigh in - 3.6 lbs.  Total loss 68.4.
Measure up at next weigh in.  My clothes are all getting too big!  Even my "skinniest jeans".  I dug up some old jeans from the basement.  They fit - BUT - it has been so long since I wore them (some time around 1995 I think!) that they are soooo far out of style it is laughable.  My plan for this weekend is to purge all the clothes out of my closet that are too big.  Up til now I have been wearing those 2X shirts and 1X shirts and XL shirts, and those L shirts -- but really -- at this point I truely am a MEDIUM!  Wow -- that thrills me!  So, once I purge - I will see what I need to shop for.  Between jeans and shirts I am sure it is going to add up.  But HEY - I am so worth it!  We are planning a trip in July, at which point my hubby is hopes to also be close to goal.  He is sooooo going to need new clothes as well.  Each week he discovers that the clothes that he wore the previous week just keep getting bigger and bigger!
I am looking forward to learning how to maintain!  I have lost weight in the past, but then figured "I have this licked" - and not folllowed through to learn the art of maintenance.  One of the things that drew me to IP was their major focus on maintenance. 
Good luck to you on your weight loss journey as well!  We CAN and ARE doing this!
Until next time..
kmac

Weeks 25 and 26 Ideal Protein Diet

Well, it has been 6 months (26 weeks).  The time has just flown bye!  I have to say the rewarding feeling of all we have accomplished has far far outweighed any difficulties that we encountered over the last 6 months.
This weeks report :  Loss of 2.8 lbs (16 days) - total loss to date 64.8lbs.
Inches lost - this time only 2.75" (for a month) - which is CRAZY because my clothes felt like they got looser this month than other months!  Total inches lost to date - 52 1/2".  WOW!  That explains how I have gone done 4 sizes in my jeans!  This time all the inches were off my waist, and hips and thighs - which makes me very happy! 
Now -- Hubby - Loss in inches this time 11 inches!  Are you kidding me!!!  His is still doing great!  His total inches lost now is 75" !!  OMG!  He has now lost in inches more than he is in Height!  He is feeling GREAT!
True confession time again.....  I went away on the weekend of the 10th - with friends for a spa and overnight stay in a hotel.  We really enjoyed it, BUT I went off plan for 2 days.  So -- that being said - and the fact that I kicked out of ketosis and WASTED 3 days -- I am actually happy with my small loss this time. 
Time to buckle down and get these last few lbs OFF FOREVER!  Take Care - and Good Luck on any weight loss journeys of your own.
Until next time.  kmac

Weeks 23 and 24 Ideal Protein Diet

It was only 11 days between weigh ins.  I have been trying to go 2 weeks, just because we don't need weekly coaching anymore (it's been long enough).
Official weigh in - on March 5th, 2012 - Loss of 4.6lbs! (In 11 days!).
total loss to date - 62 lbs!
WOW!  Still SO pleased with the way things have been going.
I am only 8 LBS away from my original goal.  I am considering changing it to a lower number because things have been going so well.  I think I will cross that bridge when I get to it.
I am really looking forward to getting onto maintenance - as this is the part of all diet programs that I have NEVER gotten into my head.  I WILL NOT gain this weight back.  IP has a BIG focus on maintaining the loss - so I am pretty confident with the great coaches I WILL figure this out.
PLUS - neither hubby or I want to face down another big loss like this, it can be overwhelming.  One day at a time - or, as we did in the beginning:  a promise to yourself that you WILL make it through 8 weeks, or 4 weeks, or 12 weeks....
I have been sticking to the program, and it is showing.  I feel like I am losing inches as well.
I have been to the gym a few times with my husband - it is good that we have both joined up now, we should keep each other motivated.  He is still sticking to the program like glue!.  He says this is the best diet he has ever been on, because he is not hungry at all.  I (being a girl) have cravings on occassion - but they have certainly been managable.  Those highs and lows that we all experience with the standard North American diet are not being missed by either one of us at all!
Until next time!
kmac

Weeks 21 and 22 Ideal Protein Diet

Weighed in on Thursday 23rd - it had been 2 weeks since my last official check in.
Total loss (for this 2 week period) - only 2.6 lbs.
Total loss to date:  57.4 lbs.
I was expecting this low number because I had a weekend with some beer in it. (6 light beer!).  That slowed my loss down for sure.  I also had a short cold, didn't last long, and I didn't really feel that bad -- but I still craved some comfort food (as I think we all do when we are sick).  I ended up making a broccoli/cauli soup.  It made me feel better, without me going too far off plan.  I used home made stock, so it couldn't have been that bad.
I am getting closer and closer to my goal.  I can SEE the light at the end of the tunnel!
Going to the gym after work today, going to meet my husband there.  I would never have imagined that we would be going to the gym as a couple, for years our main couple activity has been watching TV!  It is GREAT!  I am really looking forward to it.
I continue to be impressed with how dedicated hubby is being to the plan.  He sticks to it like GLUE!
until next time...
kmac

Week 20 Ideal Protein Diet

What a great week!  It was measurement week, we have been doing our measurements every 4 weeks.
Weight loss - this week 4 (** oh yeah ** count 'em - 4!) lbs!
Total loss to date - 54.8 lbs!
I am starting to focus on the finish line - I believe I am aiming for approx. another 15 - 20 lbs more.  At this rate, I will be on maintenance before I know it.
INCHES -- my loss this weeek -- 10.25"  - Are you kidding me?!  That reminds me -- I am wearing my SKINNY-EST Jeans!  I decided to try them on during the week, because my "normal skinny" jeans seemed like they were Big...and they FIT!  They were the one thing in my closet that I was not quite into when I did my closet "shopping" a few weeks back.  I was/am thrilled thrilled thrilled!
I have heard that inches off will equal weight loss, and I didn't believe it back when my weight loss was at a rate of 2:1 to my inches lost.  But, as you can see - they are starting to even out.
TOTAL 54.8 lbs lost vs. 49 3/4" lost
My hubby lost another 10" this week as well -- his total inches is 64"!! 
He is still in the higher lbs lost than inches lost phase though, because I am SURE he has lost around 100 lbs!    He is feeling GREAT, looking GREAT..  Going to the GYM every second day, he never misses!  He rides the stationary bike and goes on the treadmill.  I am SOOOO impressed!  I have never seen him so motivated.  When he notices how loose his clothes are getting, I think it just re-focuses him.  And it seems like every day he gets smaller.
I said to him the other day "I forget, when I am away from him all day at work how much smaller he is now - and every day I am just a bit surprised when I see him!".
Going out to a special banquet on Saturday....The good news is that I have MANY choices for clothes to wear, and so does hubby! - The challenge will be avoiding all the "not to be consumed while in phase 1 foods..."  Wish us luck.  We will be surrounded by friends who have been nothing but supportive through this, so that should help.
TA TA for now (until next week).
kmac

Weeks 19 Ideal Protein Diet

I did not go in for an "official" weigh in this week...
BUT I weighed at home, and according to that scale I am down another 2.6lbs!
Total loss to date:  50.8 lbs
My "skinny" jeans are actually getting a little big on me.
AND - if I was playing "true confessions" - I would admit to being 'off plan' last weekend...
Spent Friday night at my brothers.  He had said that we would go out for dinner, so I planned to be good and order a steak and salad or something equally on plan....BUT - when I arrived at his house, it turned out that he had been great enough to make dinner.  Nice of him - even though there was not a single thing I could eat and stay on plan.  So, I did what any good sister would do - I said "Thank-you" and then I ate small portions of each thing.  I also drank some of that Sublime beer...
AND THEN
on Saturday - I met my friends for brunch, which was at a restaurant that served fruit and crepes with everything -- so I didn't make a fuss, and just ordered and ate.  Saturday night we went out for a really nice (fancy) dinner, and there were definately parts of my meal that I should not have eaten - PLUS, I had a few drinks there.  We went bowling after that
It was lots of fun!  Celebrating my friend's birthday and enjoying each others company. 
Sunday - I tried to be good -- came home early -- got the munchies and ended up having 2 extra protein packs that day (guess I was coming down from a carb high or something?). 
Weighed on Monday morning - and I was UP 4 lbs!  from Friday morning.  To be expected though.  So, I buckled down and was a little angel for the rest of the week - even getting in some 1 hour walks with the dog in the evenings.  So - end result of being down 2.6 lbs - I am SERIOUSLY okay with the outcome, considering how the week went..
Until next time.
kmac

Weeks 18 Ideal Protein Diet

2.6 loss this week!  Total of 48.2.  In just over 4 months!  (with a week off at X-mas).
Everything is great.  I even had 1 Canadian 67 (Sublime) beer last Thursday.  It is only 67 calories, and 2 carbs - but hey it tasted good and I still lost.  Woo Hoo!

Weeks 17 Ideal Protein Diet

Down 1.6 for the week.  I will take it.  Total loss to date - 45.6lbs.  I am hoping that the pace off loss picks up a bit, as my average is going down.  BUT - the weather has been very cold, so I have not been getting much exercise.

Interesting thing I learned this week -- I went for a 2 hour hike on Saturday - and ate my normal alottment of food that day and was not hungry.  Sunday - I ate normal and felt good.  And THEN - On Monday - I was HUNGRY all day.  I ended up eating an extra restricted and 2 cookies that day!
Spoke to my expert about it at my weigh in - she said what I should have done was have an extra protein pack (not a restricted) on the day that I did get lots of exercise - then I would have fed my muscles and would not have had that "fall-out" 2 days later.  I will do this next time and see if I can stay on track.

Ok - that is all I have.  ttyl

Weeks 12 thru 16 Ideal Protein Diet

I have to get caught up here.
Well - I have NOT quit, in fact other than a 1 week period over Christmas - I have been sticking right to plan.  And it shows!  I am actually going to weigh in tonight, but in the mean time I am down down down.  My total is.......around 44 lbs!  My hubby is down a total of 56" -- CRAZY!  for 4 months.

Hubby didn't even have ANYTHING that was not "on plan" over the holidays.  He is doing amazing!  He still has not weighed, but we brought up some clothes from the basement last weekend - and he fit most of them!  It has been a long long time since he has felt this good, and fit into those clothes.  I ALSO am really down in inches.  I went through my closet last weekend and tried on EVERYTHING in there and in my dresser - guess what....it ALL fit!  I don't know how long it has been since I have had such an extensive wardrobe!  What a great feeling!  It was like shopping in a store that ONLY has clothes I like and all in my size!  I packed away my big clothes, and after maintaining for a bit - I will give them away.

It is still pretty easy to stick to plan.  I am not hungry -- oh ya, I sometimes miss the action of munching on something, or the comfort of pizza etc.  BUT I should be at goal in no time flat - and then - I will be able to enjoy these things (in moderation).

Foods I really enjoy on IP:
Yogurt Drink
Chocolate Drink (I make hot chocolate).
Crispy Cereal.
Granola Bars.
Parmesan Crisps

kmac
p.s. - feel free to comment if you read this....I dont' know if anyone is reading it or not...  :-)

Weeks 10 and 11 Ideal Protein Diet

I have been remiss in my posting lately.  Busy getting ready for the holidays.
Still doing the protocol very strictly, and still doing very well.
Week 10 - 1.6 lbs lost for the week, total loss 31.4
Week 11 - 5.2 lbs losts fot the week, total loss 36.6 !
(somewhere along the way I think I got messed up with what week I was on) - Next week is 12 weeks, so this should be 11..I don't know what happened - does it really matter?

I am NOT making this up.  These are REAL results just by following the Ideal Protein plan to the letter!
I have not been exercising very much - couple of 1 - 1.5 hour hikes with a freind and our dogs, but I could certainly do more.
Went to freinds for a big dinner last weekend.  Turkey and all the fixings.  We all brought something.  I brought mashed cauli, and roasted veggies with ginger.  Hubby and I had to pass on most of the other dishes, and of course - NO Alcohol, but we still enjoyed the evening very much and everything turned out really well.

My plan is to weigh in next week (and take measurements) and I may not go in until after the new year - we shall see.  Sounds like the 'ol man is going to be more strict with himself over the holidays, but my ma and pa are going to be at our place for around 4 or 5 days, so I am going to relax a bit and hopefully not gain too much of this back.  THEN - back on this religiously - only another 10 or 12 weeks and I should be at my goal weight.  I would like to learn how to maintain.

Week 8 Ideal Protein Diet

LOST 4 lbs last week!  AWESOME!
TOTAL loss to date 29.8lbs!
Measurements taken.  I am now down 15.5 inches.
Measured my husband as well - he is down 36.5 inches!  He is still not weighing, as he does not want the emotional roller coaster.  BUT - doing the math, I think he is likely down around 70lbs!  Pretty impressive for 8 weeks.!
Neither one of us is really exercising.  I have done a little bit of hiking on the weekends (not much).  He has increased his activity a bit - because he is feeling so good - but not "exercise" in the typical way people think of it.
Ideal Protein protocol WORKS!  I am so impressed! 

Week 7 Ideal Protein Diet

Another week, another great loss!
When you hear "average loss for women is between 3 and 4 lbs per week".  Most of us think "oh ya, I have heard that before!".
This week -- 7th week done - LOSS of 3.0 lbs!  Total loss 25.8!
Seriously!
No major cravings, I guess that roller coaster that they talk about -- being caused from the sugar highs and lows - really is true.
Measurements taken - Total inches lost for me:  15.5"  (YES, they are taken in a total of 9 places - but I do not care!  It just proves that I am getting smaller, agreeing with what my clothes are telling me.
My hubby (who I have mentioned is NOT stepping on the scale) is down an INCREDIBLE 36.5"!!  WOW.  For the short amount of time we have been on this, that is more than impressive!  He is feeling great (as am I).
2/3 rds of our way through this 3 month committment!  It has gone by pretty quickly.
tty soon..

Week 6 Ideal Protein Diet

GREAT week -- down another 3.2 lbs for a total of 22.8!
WOW - will this success ever stop?
I am a few days late in posting these results ....weigh in was last week.
1/2 way through this 12 week commitment - and very pleased.
I AM looking forward to easing off a bit over Christmas, but seeing the results makes sticking with it easier.
Hubby was away for a few days (*he took his protein packs with him and meat and veggies - and stuck to the program while he was away!)...I will admit to thinking on the way home one evening "he will never know if I stop and buy some BEER!" - BUT I did not, and I am happy with myself because of it.
There have been a couple of days where I had my 3 protein packs for the day (including 1 "restricted"), and I got the muchies later on in the evening - so I have given in and had a second restricted item.  NOT approved and NOT a good idea, BUT I am still losing, so I guess that choice was better than going all whole hog and getting a bag of chips or something.
Hope all is well in your world - imagine yourself 22 lbs thinner in 6 weeks!