It's no the circumference which matters it's how thick it is back to front. If there is not much difference you have a lot of internal (viceral) fat, if there is a big difference your fat is mostly under the skin ands is not so bad. I did this diet for 4 weeks and failed to lose in a spectacular fashion.

What podcast?

Also, I don't know who's still reading this, but you can get custom protein powders from these people: trueprotein.com

You choose *everything*.

Hi astro- it was an old "Livin la Vida Low Carb" podcast. I'm not doing the diet, I was just interested in the measure of visceral vs subcutaneous fat. But it looks like many people got great results. Are you still doing it?

I just Googled Enova oil and the manufacturer's website says it's discontinued?!? When did this happen? Can you still find it on the supermarket shelves?

Dr. Mike wrote about it here: http://proteinpower.com/6weekcure/?p=17

But, it's still available at my grocery store. I was actually kind of surprised it wasn't pulled off the shelves.

I've been doing this since Wed, and as of this AM down 4 pounds. Officially the lowest weight now of my adult life. Crazy.

Good job!! I learned a lot from this book and it is really helping me maintain that lower weight! Keep up the great work!!

I have eventually come around to the idea that protein powders have their place. It's just *really* hard to actually do a high-protein diet of clean, lean sources without it. Formerly, I thought they were just totally stupid since they seem like an artificial food to me.

I do prefer Lyle McDonald's version of the Protein Sparing Modified Fast (his Rapid Fat Loss Handbook) to the Eades, as much as I like them and their writing and ideas.

The problem is that I actually need to reduce fat to have a high-protein diet be effective for maintenance or weight loss.

Thanks for sharing that info. I'm finding that in order to maintain my weight loss, I have to keep it to one meal a day. I pack that meal w/ protein, fat and veggies and then I'm good until my next day of eating. If I am hungry or just want a snack, I make a yummy protein shake and that feels like a treat to me. I'm really surprised that I am not sick of the shakes, maybe it's because I "shake" it up a bit by tossing in some berries once in a while. I also thicken them w/ a tbls of dry sugar free pudding mix. It's working and for that I am sooooo thankful! I thought I was doomed to those extra pounds forever!

Thank you! The last 2 days were sad scale wise.. I went back up two pounds. I dunno why. I'm eating according to the book but maybe too much meat at night is causiing it. OR I made the wild berry shakes the past 2 mornings.. added berries per the recipe. Too many carbs? Who knows. Hopefully it doesn't stay there lol. I was pretty stoked to see 185 RIGHT THERE but then it slipped away.

well, since last wed I lost four pounds, gained 2 back (I cut the berries from the shakes, dunno if that's what did it or not), but then lost three... so for 1st week a total of 5 pounds lost. I've also lost 1.5 " in the waist and almost an inch in the hips.

We'll see how the next week goes!

Good job!!

Just a warning about magnesium: for me, it was not beneficial.

You know that reaction when you eat a few too many sugar free gumdrops?

Now imagine a gum drop eight feet high...

So proceed with caution.

How much did you take? I have to take about 1,500-2,000 mg of magnesium oxide to have a laxative effect. I normally take about 450 mg a day of the sort that's absorbed better (magnesium malatate).

I take magnesium citramate because it was recommended by Dr. Mike (ok, so I'm easily swayed). I used to take 1 capsule (150 mg) in the morning and 2 at night. Kept me regular and I felt file. Lately I have to take just 1 per day as I get very "loose" if I take more.

Hey, Black. I have another question for you. Lately I can't seem to get to sleep until midnight or later. I get up between 4:00 and 5:00, so I'm usually in bed by 8:30. I used to fall asleep fairly quickly, but not anymore. Maybe I don't need as much sleep while doing IF, but geez, I need more than 4 or 5 hours a night!

Anyone else experience difficulty sleeping with IF? Or maybe find that you don't need as much sleep when doing IF?