copy of what I posted on the other board:

Where did all the regulars go? The ones with all the good advice because you have been doing IP for months?

Welcome to all the new people...but we cannot do this alone

I am nearly at the end of week 4 (two more days). Feeling good. But I have to admit...this extreme exhaustion at the end of the day is defeating. I certainly notice it more on days when I have forgotten vitamins and the salt, but in general I spend most the day with energy feeling good, only to have it totally disappear by 8pm. On the flip side....I am getting lots more sleep!

This bad breath/taste in my mouth is annoying and I cannot find fennel seeds and don't want to start with the sugar free varieties. I have also tried sipping on peppermint tea and putting extract in the water...eh. Didn't help much and didn't taste great, so I stopped.

I am also getting bored with the food...the last few days were hard. Not sure if it is the intense need to be prepared (which is just hard for me) with cut veggies and only the right options at hand. I find myself thinking about "bad foods" a lot lately, only to get a little depressed moment over not being able to have them.

I am close to losing 20lbs this month (only 2 more to go, which I think is do-able) and clothes are getting loser and I am feeling better....but I have so far to go. I look in the mirror (naked) and see the changes, but it just isn't enough, then I instantly get another little depressed moment. Anyone else?

How are the long-term people maintaining this Phase 1? Lets face it....Phase 1 is boring. Packets, Salads, Packets, meat, salad, veggies, Packets. Prepare, prepare, prepare. Not so much variety there. I am motivated to keep doing this and not near 'throwing' in the towel. I guess I just need a push to move forward in my thought process. Help?

Is there a time in this process ( a week/month) that results just suddenly start happening? I remember reading or hearing (cannot remember where now) that month 1 is more about numbers on the scale and then it seems like people start to "melt" with the inches (and weight, but more noticeably inches). Have you all experienced that?

also...re: vitamins.

Did anyone find a comparable vitamin/supplements to the IP ones? I know several ordered from Puritans Pride. How are those working out?

It was recommended I take Fish Oil, but I have not (several reasons, past experience, no real good reason, just don't because of a past experience). What is your experience with it and this plan? Anyone see a difference while on the plan from taking it and then not, or vice a versa?

I have the vitamins here ready to research the sites online, but wanted to see what the final verdict was since some made the change to different kinds.

Do any of you follow www.mercola.com ? Interesting stuff there. Recently posted info about multi-vitamins.

I have to say that I was very glad to have found everyone on this thread. Although I have not been on IP as long as some (2 months) I find the constant questions tiring on the other thread. I do not post often, but read daily and feel more connected to this group.

My biggest struggle lately has been getting in my 4 cups of veggies. I don't have a problem with the lettuce but find my like of others approved veggies, and their seasonable availableness (prefer local and organic) is hindering my intake. My body does not tolerate broccoli (extreme gas pain) or cauliflower. I do like the turnip fries, but do you have any other suggestions aside from peppers, cucumbers, and celery?

Have a great day!!!!

I hear you on getting enough veggies. My favorite way to eat them is generally in a stir fry, with peppers (both sweet and hot), bok choy, mushrooms, zucchini, bean sprouts, eggplant, turnip, etc., with plenty of garlic. I don't have any coffee in the morning, so sometimes I'll saute some spinach and add a spoonful or two of nonfat, plain Greek yogurt to make it a little creamier. I've also started cooking asparagus in my toaster oven, first I line the tray with foil and drizzle a little chili oil on it and roll the asparagus around in it, then drizzle on top with garlic oil and cook it at 350 degrees for 10-15. Yesterday I did that then rolled the asparagus in soy cheese and sliced deli turkey for a quick meal on the go, and it was quite tasty.

Thanks, I'll try some of those!

Okay, here's phase 4. Sorry for the delay.

baseballmom5 Thanks for posting that. Makes you wonder how you would maintain by eating all that 'sinful food'... Question for anyone...I know rhubarb is seasonal, but does anyone know where it is available frozen? I thought a rhubarb sauce with splenda would be a nice change.:broc:

Committed 1: I don't think this forum was started to get away from the "newbies" as much as it was not to bring the "newbies" down. some of us are really struggling with getting back on plan, or trying to keep the costs down. The IP diet is so confusing at first and we didn't want to make it more confusing with adding about "our down days" or what we are substituting for IP packets.. There are SO many posts on the other forum that it is hard to get thru them all (for me....). I am sure it will slow down a bit....

OK - klutzy me! Friday I decided I was going to go into town and buy some clothes. On the way, I dropped off a pair of shoes I couldn't wear at my friends work. Get this....I could SEE the step was angled going down and handled it....but must have forgot going up (it was still WAY too early in the a.m. for me to function). I tripped and fell hard on the cement. Since it was early....no one was around. I tried 3-4 times to get up, and just couldn't do it. PLUS it was minus 4 degrees out. I finally made it up and to the car....but I have some big bruises on my body. I got into town and did some of my errands...but decided to stop at the auto dealer to look at a SUV they told me about. I loved the vehicle....and would LOVE to have this all over with....but it took me over 3 hours to decide to walk away from it. In the meantime, I was craving sushi and wonton soup (probablly nerves)..which I hadn't had since August 1st. Yup - I caved. Meanwhile, my body was really starting to hurt...so I came home (still totally upset about the car). TODAY has been awful. It hurts to lay...to sit....****, even to type (my fingers and arms hurt). Guess it was the "fight or flight" thing, huh? My body knew it was going down before my thoughts did. (Hey, at my age....). I tried to cut out material tonight...and my stupid fingers hurt so much, I had to stop!!!

My "cravings" have been bad, so I must be out of ketostis(they didn't even know what ketostix were at WalMart when I tried to buy them). Tapioca seems like a comfort food, along with those 100 calorie ice cream bars. Didn't I learn ANYTHING in the last 4 months? I keep thinking if I could have POPCORN...it would keep my hands busy. How BAD do you think popcorn would be? I, too, have added in a bit of 0% greek yogurt...and some butter on my veggies. I stay pretty close to plan until after dinner...and then all **** breaks loose. I am not used to just sitting around at night watching t.v., but it seems that is all I have done since I got back from Ohio.

TODAY I planned on drinking all my water to flush that chinese food out of my system....I was in such pain, that I was only up for about 2 hours...and couldn't deal with all the aches (add THAT to the fibromalygia) so I went back to bed. So I only got about 1/3 of my water in. Accomplished nothing.....Getting nervous cuz I have no clothes to wear on my trip in March....and January was the pits.

I wish the trial was over.....I wish I could quit looking for cars....I wish my son and his fiance were not having so many problems right now....I wish my son could find a job....I WISH I hadn't fallen on the steps.(the list goes on....) It doesn't seem like I can handle any stress right now. They upped my antidepressants in October....geez, I would hate to see what I would be like IF I didn't take them.

I know....whine, whine, whine! (mmmmm....wine!!). Is it gonna end? Why can't I get the motivation to get back on IP. At this rate, I soon won't be able to fit in my size 10 jeans. (Committed 1 - if you are reading...now you KNOW why I don't want to post this stuff on the other board). I don't know the new people and certainly can't WHINE and complain to them....).

[QUOTE (Committed 1 - if you are reading...now you KNOW why I don't want to post this stuff on the other board). I don't know the new people and certainly can't WHINE and complain to them....).[/QUOTE]

I am still reading. Sorry about the fall and the food struggles and the family touble. I read about everyone's struggles when I started (they are still the same today from what I can read) and I am still here. It actually gave me motivation to keep going.

Everyone is here to help themselves anyway....if we are complaining, asking a question, seeing what others are doing, or wanting advice. I get that you are tired of reading the same thing over and over (who isn't) and just want your small group of people you have grown accustomed to back. I get it. No fault there.

Committed-

i don't think this post was created to get away from the newbies!! we were newbies once ourselves!! and as you said in your post above....'It is not realistic to expect newbies to go back through all the old posts"...on the same note, it is really not realistic that those of us who have been on for months really have the time to read through pages and pages (and i mean lately, there have been extrememely long posts and millions of pages to leaf thru) of the same info we have already been through months earlier. so i guess, it is really the same thing. on these kind of forums,it is important that everyones needs are met. and because some of us are on a different level/phase of our diet, our needs are different. in fact, some of our issues may even be considered a distraction to someone just starting out. not sure what you mean about not agreeing with the alternative phase...it is a means of transitioning. it is something to look at once closer to goals. so rest assured, this post was only started for those getting closer to the transitioning stage, and may have been confusing to those just starting out.

Okay, something is getting lost in translation...I ultimately don't care why this thread was started. After reading through many of the other posts on the other forum I realized all the regular posters had left and really was looking for advice from them....people on the program longer than myself. This is why I posted here. No one needs to explain anything me. The needs are different.

In regards to not agreeing with the Alternative Phase: Many people have concerns over money. Many have chosen to "change" or "alternate" the IP plan to meet their own budgets. As soon as you do that....you are no longer following the IP plan. It isn't Phase 2-3-or 4. Its your own plan. So sure, your needs are different because you aren't even working the IP Plan! It is just another diet.

I realize I am in the minority and clearly others disagree and feel they have done their research on the matter. I would love to know if it works....it does not mean I have to agree with the approach. If I am wrong....great, I would love to see the proof. Good luck if this is what you are trying. I doubt I will be joining you though.

Clearly, I struck a nerve with some of you with the comment of leaving the newbies.

Hey torchlaker - sorry about your fall. Not sure if you asked for ketostix at the pharmacy or not but they keep them behind the pharmacy counter at my walmart :)

ummmm. the alternative phase is the IP plan - distributed by the IP reps. you still use three packets of protein per day. you eat the same meat and veggies as allowed on phase 1. you follow the same guidelines. however, you are slowly transitioning back to normal eating by adding in one serving of dairy, fruit, and bread per day. as none of us expect to be eating from packets lifelong, this is the start of maintenance and reintroducing some foods back into our diet. and there is 4 phases of IP for once you have reached 90% of your goal. they are all transistioning stages. and are all part of the program.

Torchlaker--sorry to hear about your fall. I hope you are feeling better today. Try a soak in a warm bath with epsom salts to ease the aches. Your posts tell me you are a strong woman and this little set back you had called the month of January will not keep you down! Best to you!!

OK - I freaked out this a.m. Got on my scale (which is a piece of S---, I know)..and it shows I gained 4#!! Yeah...shouldn't have broken down and gone to the chinese restaurant, huh? I still thought I ate fairly good there...but it is also those stupid 100 calories Ice Cream things that are calling my name. Now I am scared that the clothes I bought are not gonna fit!

So -- I DID go to the Lindora site. Was pretty impressed with their selection...and was glad they had a 25% off sale and free shipping over $75 today (it is over at midnight). I didn't take time to compare carbs to carbs, etc. Just ordered what sounded good and would keep me on plan (if NOT the IP plan as noted). Of course, I will be honest with my nurse on Tuesday...and it is hard to say what she will say. She has been on this plan since July...and her daughter started in September....so I think she will understand the financial part of it.

I feel better today...not quite as sore. That is pretty scarey...given my age. I have a huge welt on my left thigh...and my right hand is pretty buggered up...but nothing is broken...so I am happy with that.

Yeah, January was the pits! I get mad at myself when I cannot handle the stress. Heck, I used to be a police dispatcher and dealt with stress constantly. I wonder if it is just me...my age....not having a hubby to bounce things off of....My heart aches for my kid....he has never been without a job....and with the stress he is under, I am sure he is a bear at home.

Jordanna - I DID tell the stupid pharmacy gal that the ketostix would be behind the counter at WalMart...(why is that??)....and she said that it was not, and would be with the diabetic stuff. Oh well. I ordered some off the Lindora site. She was VERY unhelpful!

So - I think I may sew today. Maybe it will get my mind off things (or else I am really gonna screw up my project). What if I can't wear these new clothes? Oh well. Stressing again......