AHA - that’s why it’s called the “I Pee”! (Quote from a fellow newcomer to the IP diet)

Most of you will probably know the feeling - although I thought I’d always been good with my water intake, I’ve probably doubled my intake since starting the IP and we’ve now got a ‘no flush’ rule unless of course absolutely necessary!  I laughed quite heartily the other day when I spotted a posting on FB from a friend which said, “You know you’re getting old when an ‘all nighter’ means not having to get up to pee’!

That said, I do feel better for the extra water and am looking forward to positive results all round in the near future.

Tony and I are adapting well to the diet and I’m still experimenting with how best it all works for us.  Two things we were missing were nibbles before dinner and also dessert and so we’ve discovered that what works for us is a packet for breakfast, a snack in the day and then using our 3rd pack to have dessert and although I’ve yet to try them all I have discovered I quite like the chocolate pudding as follows,

1 pack IP chocolate pudding

1 pack chocolate soy snack (let’s call them maltesers!)

generous pinch of sea salt

generous pinch of chili powder (or to taste)

Make the pudding per the directions then split the maltesers in half - crush half of them and mix well into the pudding with the sea salt and chili powder - pour into 2 ramekin dishes and then sprinkle the remaining maltesers over the top.  This obviously works well because there’s 2 of us on the diet - if you’re doing it alone I’m not sure if the 2nd pudding will keep overnight - I’ll check with my “coach” and revert...!

As for pre dinner nibbles - as long as you can spare some of your 2 cup vegetable limit - this was a lovely appetiser we enjoyed the other night and something I’ll definitely do again,

Cauliflower and/or brocoli (or a mix of the 2)

a splash of olive oil (or use a sprayer if you have one - it does use the oil sparingly)

garlic powder

chili powder

sea salt & freshly ground pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Put the cauliflower (and broccoli) in a dish with a lid - add the remaining ingredients - put the lid on and shake well.

Place the vegetables on a baking tray and cover in foil - bake for 20 minutes and then remove the foil and bake for a further 10-15 minutes.

ENJOY!