Ideal Protein - follow up

So...it's been a while since I "graduated" from Ideal protein. I started at 131 pounds and I am currently 115 pounds.

I wanted to update these posts because I know that for myself I have tried so many diets that were quick results but they didn't last. This is the thinnest I have been since I was about 20 and I am no longer dieting, but I am maintaining the weight loss.



Ideal protein works under the premise of resetting your metabolism and teaching your body to only make as much insulin as it needs to breakdown what you bring in. I truly feel like I am living in a new body. Not only in shape, but in reaction to foods. When I was hungry before this diet, I used to get jittery and sweaty and I needed to eat the first thing that I saw, which was usually something horrible for me, a muffin, cookie, etc. Now don't get me wrong, I still get hungry, and I still love cookies...but now I don't get that horrible weak feeling when I am hungry, I just feel hungry, which I can normally appease with a glass of water until I can make myself a nutritious snack. Overall the word I would use to describe myself now is: healthy.



I still monitor what I eat and I am logging it all into Livestrong (http://www.Livestrong.com) so that I can see what it is that I am putting in my body. Livestrong gives a great breakdown of each food and it's calories, protein, carbs, fats etc. I can't ever decide to live a life with no junk food, or no carbs. Here are the general rules I now live by:

• I only have carbs twice a day (if that) and I try not to have them after lunch.
• I eat a large meal at breakfast, a regular meal at lunch and a small dinner
• Dinner is usually meat and veggies ONLY
• I don't snack after dinner
• snacks are usually fruit, veggies or low fat yogurt

and most importantly: I CHEAT ON ALL THESE RULES ONCE IN A WHILE ...and I don't feel bad about it. You can be disciplined 90% of the time, but you still have to enjoy those foods that you know are not good for you. The key? knowing that they aren't good for you, it means you will have smaller portions and you won't eat them every day.

For me, Ideal Protein has been the best diet and lifestyle change that I have discovered, but I look forward to hearing about your experiences and successes as well.



For Ideal Protein and me...I think this is my last Blog, we will check this off as a success!

September 30th, Ideal Protein graduation day

Friday was my last day of dieting! I went to my Ideal Protein location to get final wieght and measurement. I had moved into phase three 2 weeks before and I was curious to see what that would mean in my results.  In phase three you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner and have 1 Ideal Protein snack a day. 

Breakfast includes a carb, a fat and a protein. I have been having shredded wheat with 1% milk and a fruit. Lunch and dinner is still a protein and an approved veggie.

When you start phase three you are done losing weight and in fact you should be prepared to put on 3 pounds of glycogen reserve from eating carbs again. knowing that, I wanted to be at 117 before  I started phase three so I could end up at my goal wight of 120 when the diet was complete.

Shoes off, sweater off, I step on the machine to view my results.......It turned out I had no put on three pounds, in fact I WAS DOWN ANOTHER POUND! ...and as my measurements went on, it turned out I had lost another .75 inches. YAY!

So, for 48 days of dieting the total was 15 pounds and 17 inches lost. I am eating normally and maintaining my weight. I could not be happier.

In phase four, the maintain, (or life) phase - you should maintain a healthy eating style and keep fit and active. Carbs are allowed twice a day, but should not be combined with a fat (so don't put sour cream on that baked potato) and cheat days are MANDATORY.  Cheat days are days where you eat what you want and you don't feel guilty, I am definitely on board with that!

So I will keep you posted on any big changes or exciting news, but in the mean time I welcome your questions and comments, AND ...I guess I need to think of a new blog topic while I enjoy my yummy pasta for lunch!.