WOW! 40 POUNDS! That is wonderful! I am sure you feel better and look terrific!

You are just in time for some spring shopping. Think of all the cute clothes you will be able to wear!

I still have 10 pounds to go to get to a 40 pound loss, I can't wait. It seems slower for me at 1.5 to 2.5 pounds a week. I have not had had a big loss in quite a few weeks. I don't mind though and I allow myself a restricted everyday usually. I am happy as long as the scale is going down.

Sarkbait -
Wow! Why does your coach say wasabi is fine and my coach says it's not? That was the response I got from the coach when I asked about eating sushi- no wasabi! They practically yelled it at me. Which didn't really make sense since I eat fresh horseradish and it's the same species of plant. Also, all natural ginger (the root or the powder) shouldn't have aspertame in it. Maybe the pickled stuff does? I'll ask them what's in it next time.

Hi, MTG, I just checked my Lindora boxes. None of them had any aspartame in them. They had sucralose (Splenda) and acesulfame-K, which is not aspartame.

Hey, I hear ya on the no-one noticing at 14 lbs. I was in kind of the same situation. There were a couple of factors in play for me:
1. I have been on other diets, lost and gained. Maybe no-one wants to say too much?
2. I am athletic (play soccer), and I carry my weight evenly throughout my body, so while the wt is going down and the inches lost are adding up, it is evenly distributed and less noticable.
3. It wasn't until I started to wear smaller clothes that people (at work) noticed (I wear scrubs--not very flattering for any body type). Two of my co-workers commented that they noticed I lost wt and I said "yeah, a little" (I was at 25 lbs then), but didn't elaborate because of comments that people sometimes make regarding restricted diets (don't need any negative energy; and I know what is happening with my body and that is all that is important).
4. Finally, one of my co-workers commented in our change room. "Wow, you really have lost weight. What are you down, 10 lbs?" Then I said "more like 29". It felt great!! She was surprised that I even had that much to lose, and was even more surprised that I had more to lose (I'm gunning for those size 5s again).
5. My husband and daughter are the best for commenting on my success which is very motivating .
So, my advice is to keep trudging along, and people will comment (maybe some are just being polite). But more importantly, you know how much you've lost and you know how your clothes feel! And, you probably have more confidence in your body and walk with your head held higher. Total strangers will notice that!!

I read his book (online) the day before I started too. My only worry about doing this (packets only) is what happens when you start the other phases and add food (and more calories) into your diet? Maybe it's the same as doing the regular Phase 1 and going into the other phases... Your thoughts?

MuayThaiGoddess - that stinks to have insomnia! Sorry you couldn't sleep last night. That is the worst! I see you edited your post at 3:22am. I am silly when I can't sleep - I end up just laying in bed all night because I'm stubborn and won't let myself get up and do things. Anyway, my back needs the physical rest of laying down. Ugh! I wonder if this Calm stuff is actually helping me sleep? I've been sleeping well since I started taking it but that could be due to any number of factors, including taking less pain medicine.

Glad to hear you feel stronger than ever on IP! Day 10 and what a long, strange trip it's been. Lemme count... Today is my 55th day. I am almost into my 3rd food journal. No wonder your weight loss has been so phenominal! You're eating the packets only. I read that in Dr. Tran's book too. I would have liked to have tried that since cooking just takes forever (too bad I didn't think of doing that at the beginning). I feel like I spend soooo much time preparing food in the kitchen now. I have cut my thumb 2x in the past 3 weeks too. I just bought a steel glove so I won't cut the tip of my thumb off by accident! "Oh what happened to your thumb?" "The Ideal Protein diet!" It's cool that you can afford the extra expense and that it's more convenient for you to eat the packets only! I enjoyed reading Dr. Tran's book. I read it right after I started. Maybe I could use a re-read of it now. How's your book coming? If you want a reader/editor, I'd be happy to read it.

About the daily calories...If you care to track them and know exactly how much fuel your body is getting, I just started using fitday.com and I love the level of detail. You just put what you are eating and how much and it shows you a complete nutritional profile for each day. You can also track your activities/workouts and a whole bunch of other things on it, but I haven't started doing that yet. Just seeing the nutritional values of all the foods is interesting. I've had to enter the IP packets as "custom foods" but that's easy since the label has all the info on it. I think Jordanna uses it too.

I'll help you kick those devilish donut's butts out of your way if they start following you! I'd grab them and put them straight down the garbage disposal!! Woosh and gone! Your weight loss is awesome - 14 pounds in 9 days is really something!!! I bet people have noticed. You haven't gotten any comments yet, but that doesn't mean no one has noticed. People are self-absorbed anyway. You're totally right that if it took you say 14 weeks to lose those 14 pounds you would be depressed that no one said anything. Just wait, you'll get some comments this week for sure! I saw a friend last night I haven't seen at all since I went on IP and the first thing out of her mouth was, "You look great! What did you do?" Woot!

Thanks for the comment on my bird observations. Glad I made you laugh! The birds are singing so lovely this week in the mornings. They are heralding the arrival of spring.

Way to go, Eastcoastmama! (love your name, by the way) That is so awesome!! I have to get to my goal weight of 150 before I am considered to have a normal BMI. Not 151... 150. That doesn't leave me much leeway, does it? haha However, on Lindora's website (I was checking that out last night) my BMI was already normal. It surprised me that it was so different than every other calculator out there - ya know, since they are trying to sell a diet product. Anyhoo, I digress.... Congratulations!!!

Yes, we both have Golden Doodles. Libby has Daisygirl and I have Tucker. Doodles are awesome - sweet, obedient, loyal, fun and smart. "Mama is a little biased of her Tucker Boy, huh?" (I'm saying that in my 'taking to my doggies in a sing-song baby voice' lol)

When I buy anything online,before I get to the checkout, I always open up another browser and type in Lindora Coupon Code (or whatever I am shopping)...this will bring up excellent websites like couponmountain.com or retailmenot.com; they post coupon codes for you to use. some offer free shipping or % discounts. that is where I got the walden farms ccodes. Good luck!

Well it's day 2. I'm obviously new here. However, for the past 24 hours I've read post after post on here, so I feel like I already know most of you! My name is Melissa, I live in FL.

Hi Eastcoastmama-

Yes, that is my Daisygirl-she is a 2nd generation Goldendoodle. Her Mom is a Goldendoodle (Golden retriever x Standard Poodle) and her Dad is a Standard Poodle. We went with a 2nd generation because of pet allergies in the house and we have had no reactions at all. She doesn't shed, has no dander issues and is a wonderful dog to have. She is 60 pounds, 1 year and 3 mos. old. I have 2 boys ages 9 and 5 and she is wonderful to them. Anyone looking for a good family pet that doesn't shed--Doodles are the way to go!!
Can you tell we love our girly?

Welcome Kelsey!! I am pretty new here too. I am on my 9th day and it is going well. It's amazing once your get through the first 3 to 4 days how you're suddenly not hungry anymore and your body just kicks into gear. Make sure you eat all your packets and veggies and don't forget the salt or your headache will get you

Good luck. This website is soooo addicting. I look at it more than Facebook!

Welcome ! You will love this site . I have learned so much from all the great people on here . More than I get from my coach . You will do great ! And feel great also . Good luck !

Congragulations ! $0 lbs is awesoem and what a great feeling to know that you are now considered normal weight ! YAhoo ! LOL . So proud of you .

Sorry thats suppose to be 40 lbs !

Thank you so much Carlasherea! I have read a lot of your stuff. You're always sweet. Thanks for the Will Power Dust - today it seems I may need it. I'm hungry, maybe lunch will be early today!