64 oz or more liquids

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Well, Im quite impressed. Im down to 156 lbs today, and on Tuesday I go in for my Maintenance consultation. The clinic offers the Maintenance consultation to patients in view of their goal so you know what to expect and to keep you motivated. No doubt to also encourage sticking with the program through Maintenance.

Ill let you know what I find out.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Its a funny thing on the diet. Youre required to drink at least 2 litres (or 64 oz) of liquids per day, with at least 1 litre of that being fresh water. Now, with my freshly squeezed lemon/Splenda/water potion, it tastes so good, Ive been quaffing 4 litres of the stuff alone per day. It helps me stay away from the nasty diet pop and coffee, which I can easily fall back into relying on.

PROBLEMATIQUE:

Heres the problem. While Ive been consistently losing and meeting my bi-weekly weight loss targets, when I have to provide my pee-samples, my ketones are registering very low: a trace (-), 1 (+) or a 2 (++) at best.

Hmmmmmm :-(

ANALYSIS & EVIDENCE:

When I met with the doctor yesterday for my regular consult, he said not to worry - the more liquids the better. However, today the nurse said to stay within 2-3 litres maximum per day. Too much liquid washes away the potassium which helps fuel the ketosis.

I must say that when I look back on my diet sheets, I did have the best "burn" when I had a coffee for breakfast and an 8oz glass of lemon water for the morning, without anything extra. I dont particularly like schlepping my 2 litre jug of water to meetings with me. With moderate liquid intake, I was a consistent 4 (++++) at weigh-in. I would then drink most of my liquids in the afternoon, and have another glass only in the evening with my sacred Strawberry jello cup snack.

CLINIC PRESCRIPTION:

As punishment for delivering a "trace pee", I am banished again for two days from eating fruits to get the burn activated again. No worries though. Armed with my own ketosis sticks at home I can test my burn-efficacy.

SOLUTION:

Im just going to reduce my lemon/Splenda potion by a litre, and see if that helps.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Otherwise, only another 3 weeks on program to get to my goal weight. I feel (and look!) just great!

Im sure Ill be okay. I certainly didnt cheat on the diet, so I know its not from any sugar interlopers, starch or fats creeping into my system.

But I cannot tell a lie: I do occasionally covet the poutine truck sitting on the corner of Sparks and Bank, and the sausage stand outside the Dr. Bernstein Clinic.

They look tempting...but no...

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2 litres of liquids a day Thats the trick!

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LIQUIDS

The key to staving off hunger is:

1) pace the protein four hours apart - I find meat is much better than egg whites, though the protein level is max. in eggs, it doesnt fill you up like meat. Even 2 oz of meat in the morning with fruit and a coffee ties you over to lunch much better than eggs.

2) take the potassium (ask for K-Lite tablets) at breakfast and lunch. Potassium is needed to help get the protein immediately into the bloodstream, and keeps circulation in your body. I was on their intro level and had some cold feet/tingling and dizziness. They tell you to advise them immediately if you feel that, and they will put you on K-Lite. Its a stronger dose, and about 98% of patients are on it. Its a Tang-flavoured orange tablet which fizzes in 3-4 oz of cold water. You down it and tastes great. Take the first one with our daily multivitamin in the morning to give your body the nutrients for the day.

3) you have to drink about 2.5 litres of liquids per day - half being water. I will have a couple of coffees in the morning (one caffinated; one decaf) and use only 1 tablespoon milk. Because I like sugar in my coffee, I bought SPLENDA. It is the only sweetener you can use in unlimited quantities. I use it on my grapefruit, coffee and wherever I want some sweetness.

For water, I bought a 2 litre jug and bring it to work every day. After a few weeks of experimenting, I bought the largest bottle of ReaLemon lemon juice (because there are 0 calories and you are allowed unlimited lemons and limes. I fill up the container with water; put in about 1/4 of the bottle, and sweeten to taste with Splenda. I have it to the point now that its like a sweet lemonade - 0 calories and delicious! I put some fresh lemon slices, and have that at my desk. I have no problems drinking my daily requirement. In most cases, Ill make another 2 litres when Im at home, and will drink that in the evening.

The water is key because as your body burns the fat, you need to pee it out. You go to the washroom often, but it works. I dont get bored of the water that way, and it keeps me absolutely full!

I will have a half can (you know, the mini ones I buy at IGA) of Diet Coke. However, again, it has sodium, and it was holding back my progress. If you like sparking flavoured waters, etc., there are plenty on the list.

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