Beginner's Questions

[KellyJo]

Today is my second day on the plan. I love the whey smoothies with fruit and cranberry water, but I wonder if it is okay to add a little unsweetened almond milk to the shake for a better consistency. Also, is all right to use a little olive oil spray when cooking. And, is it normal to have a headache?

[wendya]

Hi KellyJo -

I'm a relative newbie too, but I think the almond milk is a no no at this time. The olive oil spray is ok.
And the headaches are a common sign of detox. Funny how our bodies make it known that we're cleaning house!

Welcome to the forum. Feel free to drop into any of the threads and talk story.

Looking forward to getting to know you.

WendyA
Vibrant, healthy and strong thread

[ElyMom]

Hi KellyJo,

Welcome to the Forum!

Almond milk isn't on the food list for P1 and P2 – once in P3, you may try introducing it slowly once in a while and see how you do, but when starting out it's best to stick to the approved food lists so you can minimize the risk of reacting poorly to something while at the same time helping your body detox and maximize loss of weight and inches

Are you using frozen fruit? I found that it gives my smoothies a nicer texture, particularly when I make them with the FF Whey, which seems to result in a creamier smoothies than the brand I can buy locally.

Headaches are a common while detoxing – drink lots (shoot for 1/2 your body weight in ounces, including your 2 quarts of cranwater) and do the mild exercise recommended for P1, particularly rebounding, to help your lymphatic system flush those toxins.

A little olive oil spray when cooking is perfectly ok.

Keep us posted on your progress, and pop in any time you have questions or need a boost! We are a friendly bunch

[KellyJo]

Thanks for the quick answers! Yes, I am using frozen berries, my vanilla whey powder, and flax oil along with my cranberry water, and I like the smoothies a lot. I look forward to them. The way I understand it, we can only have two a day. I am adapting to the diet and feel better every day. I weighed this morning and have lost 3.5 lbs. That is a great motivator.

[MichelleO]

Welcome KellyJo!
I'm a smoothie lover too and know what you mean about looking forward to them. It is permissible to have a 3rd smoothie on days when you're extra hungry or need a little boost. Just be sure to limit yourself to 2 fruit servings a day as well as the recommended amount of flax oil. You can either divide your fruit and oil among the 3 smoothies, or you can have the third smoothie without fruit and oil. Your choice.

Congratulations on the 3.5 pounds!

[KellyJo]

Okay, I've been on the plan for nearly two weeks and it's going great. I've lost 8 lbs., and I have never been able to lose so quickly. The only nuisance is that I am up all night running to the bathroom. Is this normal? I drink my 64 oz. of cran water, and am eating on plan. I just am not getting the undisturbed sleep others are talking about. Comments? Solutions?

Also, this weekend I have my first real challenge. I'm going to a wedding with a sit-down dinner, open bar, etc. How can I stay on plan and eat right at this event? Should I just eat ahead of time and watch everyone else eat? Not looking forward to this

[ElyMom]

Wow KellyJo, great progress, congrats on the 8 lbs!

I know our bladders can take some time getting used to the additional fluids in P1, and the cranwater does tend to make us "go" more often

What I do is the following: since I shoot for a gallon daily, I try to drink all my cranwater by early afternoon, so I have only water the rest of the day, with the exception of a glass of cranwater at dinner, which I save. If I wake up during the night I still end up going to the bathroom, but not quite as much as when I drink lots of cranwater late in the day.

As for the wedding, follow the same guidelines as if you were going out to dinner: choose some protein and load your plate with veggies. Skip the alcoholic drinks and keep yourself hydrated by consuming lots of water – I would ask for some lemon or lime slices to add to the water, but you don't have to. And then feel free to join other attendees on the dance floor and consider that your workout for the day! You will wake up the following day free of the food coma and hangover many of the other guests will be suffering

[KellyJo]

Thanks! But won't the seasonings and sauces, etc, mess up my progress? I almost hate to go anywhere yet.

[lizbeck]

I understand your hesitation. Ask if you can have your protein without the sauce and ask for double veggies. Have your salad without dressing and ask for lemon. If you have the option to ask for a "plain meal" ahead of time that would even be better. There are people who have special diets and usually a cater can accomplish this.

[LSue]

Hi KellyJo!

Welcome to the Forum and kudos to you on your fantastic P1 weight loss!

You have received outstanding advice. I just wanted to jump onto what Liz said. Special dietary requests at restaurants and catered affairs used to be looked at as less than favorable in many places. But today, people are very vocal about their needs and aren't afraid to let their servers know what they require (nicely of course!) In fact, I think most places actually expect it and to keep customers happy in these tough economic times are more than willing to try to satisfy.

So yes, making special food arrangements may not be as easy at a catered affair, but if you place your request ahead of time, I'm sure they will try to do what they can to help.

Also...I think it's a great idea to eat at least a mini meal or a smoothie, all your supplements, oil, ground flax, Cranwater, etc. before you go so that when it's finally time to eat at the wedding, you can pick and choose as you like (since you won't be starving) from whatever selection of on-plan foods are offered.

Hope this helps! Good luck with the rest of Phase 1...have you begun to think about your plans for transitioning into Phase 2? There is lots of helpful Phase2 info on the Forum...so do check it out when you have a chance!

Enjoy the wedding!