Hello!! what does your meal plan look like? I get 4 meal replacements a day because I'm 5'10. I had to tell myself that this is a small portion of my life where I'm not eating food. I'll eventually get to enjoy healthy foods again. Give yourself a daily challenge to not eat anything beyond your eating plan. If you make it the whole day, give yourself a non-food reward such as a nice bath, new earrings, etc. then try again the next day. It gets easier every day you go following your plan.
Maybe you're exercising too much and keeping yourself too hungry.
If you eat foods beyond your plan, you're not going to get in the proper fat burning state your body needs for New Directions to work.
Seems like you have enough determination and will power to work out 3-4 times a week... So I KNOW you're strong enough to resist temptations. it's a small portion of your life so you can be healthy and fit.

Take care and let us know about your progress.

I just started on Monday. It's definitely not easy. I was hoping it will get easier but now I'm just dealing with very little energy - just want to take a nap. I don't feel like I've got enough fuel to keep moving! That being sad I am proud to say I haven't cheated but it's only day 5. I'm doing 4 shakes/day, plus 64 oz water plus 2 cups of hot water w/bouillon. I miss chewing!

Good luck to you!
Kathleen

SAAto100

At my clinic we're not allowed to exercise for the first month and after that are only allowed to do very light exercise and some moderate strength training. I found that if I exercised too much it backfired on my every time. I tested my body a lot during the 8 mos I was on the program and would do a week of normal exercise, a week of walking and a week of no exercise. I always lost more weight doing no exercise and stalled doing normal exercise, walking still gave me a loss, but it was never as good as doing nothing. My clinic is very pro walking as your only exercise while on shakes only. They really want us to create an exercise habit, but all the doctors are pretty upfront that it's not going to speed your weight loss along.

The other thing that's required on my program which is different than I think everyone else's is that we have to drink 3-5 quarts of water per day. Through my doctor's studies he's found 4 quarts of water is the sweet spot for weight loss. We also have to have a minimum of 1 bouillon per day, a max of 3 per day.

I will just say from experience be careful with your exercise, it can really come back to bite you in the *kitten* and I know that sounds counter intuitive but the scientific reasoning we were given makes total sense.

If you're going to cheat make sure it's protein you're cheating with no carbs, fruit, sugar or you'll throw yourself right out of ketosis.

Hang in there, I found if you can power through and not cheat it really does get easier. As soon as I let food back into my life even a little I struggled to stick to just shakes.

THat first week is tough on the energy but your energy will kick in soon!!!! You will feel really good! I think my salvation has been the chicken chips and chocolate cookies made from the packets. Chicken soup pack, 4 tablespoons of water - pour on parchment paper and microwave for 2 minutes. Add a little salsa and very good! Chocolate beverage mix, a little pure stevia, 2 or 3 T of water to a thick consistentcy.....drop 6 T of mixture on parchment paper and microwave for 40 seconds. Have with a cup of coffee....very filling!

Good luck!!!!

Hi!! I just started New Direction this past Friday (7/25). My plan is 2 shakes, 2 bars, 1 protein/veggie meal, 1 small protein snack and 64 oz water. I am also taking 2 types of vitamins. So far I'm doing well. Have had the low carb flu for a couple days now with a headache, but it has been tolerable. I also find that I am peeing A LOT! LOL I know I am only 3 days in...but I really believe I can do this thing!! I find it takes all the thinking out of things for me which I LOVE. Feel free to message me anytime! I sent you an add request.