Wow - I am so glad to see newbies on 3FC - there is something about conversations here that are so much more substantive than the FB groups.
My week one weigh in resulted in official -7.2 lbs, and by the next morning I had dropped another 2 lbs - I seem to be holding there per the home scale... Maybe another lb will drop by my week 2 WI on Wednesday. Fingers crossed.
So far this is working ok - I just am wistful that I let myself regain 75 of the 82 hard lost lbs you see in my avatar picture here.
Brigitte is right - if you look all over the thousands of postings here on 3FC Ideal Protein forum, the typical average monthly losses for anyone's journey work out to be about 10 lbs per month. More per month at the start, maybe a bit less the closer you get to goal.
We just
have to follow the protocol - realize that cheating buys you a few seconds of pleasure on the lips but it costs several days for your body to re-adapt and your body chemistry to function at full capacity to result in losses at the best rate your body can produce.
I understand the desire for extra fat - I am drawn to that too, as I tried Keto Way of Eating thru the FAll. But just realize that stepping outside the lines has effects one way or another, and when you do that, you are no longer on protocol. We each make choices for ourselves and our minds are good at coming up with justifications to rationalize them.
In truth - the IP protocol is tested and it works. You are paying IP for the value that protocol offers. Those who strive to stay on, 100 percent, have stunning results. If you want to get rid of excess pounds as quickly and certainly as possible, get a little obsessive about the protocol and do all you can to follow it.
We are not perfect anyway. Stuff will happen - you will forget your IP foods when you are away from home one day, or you will have an unplanned situation and find you have few to no IP friendly choices, or the travel on the job meals will be very inflexible. Save your off plan tactics for those situations instead of making voluntary off plan choices because of a momentary craving. You will be SOOOO glad you did!
This reminds me - set up an emergency pack to keep in the car or in your work tote or briefcase - I have an extra shaker that lives in my backpack I carry to work, and with it there are a couple IP drink and pudding packets... Water is pretty available if you don't carry some with you but I always have a couple bottles in the car, and I carry it in my backpack - we are all drinking it daily on plan any way. But planning ahead will reduce the need to 'make do'. Another strategy is to know where you can find a nearby GNC - their quest chips are good alternative to an IP packet, and sometimes they have envelopes of quest protein shakes hanging near the register. They sell shakers too if you are really in a pinch.
Once more I recommend Elizabeth Benton for good motivation and tips and tools for getting your head into the game and keeping it there. Her FREE podcasts and her daily motivations are excellent. Check her out on
www.primalpotential.com.
I am doing her 12 week webinar series ($500, gulp). Today begins week 2. Will share from those sessions periodically here. The head game is key no matter what food plan you follow.... We need to get that mindset to work
with us now, and more so in maintenance. Self sabotage is so prevalent for those of us who have battled weigh issues for a long time.
Ok - that's long-winded-me for today - enjoying this long weekend - hoping to make headway on getting my tax papers into shape today and tomorrow - this would be a big accomplishment for me, especially doing it in January!
Ta Ta for now,
Cheryl
I'm soooo worried about that and it seems like most people experience it from the fast weight loss 
Have you had any experience with that?
I am on day 7 of IP with first weigh in tomorrow morning. I am in Australia so we use kilograms but I converted and my beginning weight is 191.3pounds! Woah! Sounds a lot like that!! It is 86.8kg -which still sounds like a lot really ����
