Hi there. it has been months since i contributed anything to this site. My reasoning is that i was not following IP enough, and felt that my comments could be discouraging to some. For ME (only speaking for myself), getting off IP was an emotional roller coaster. I felt guilt at everything i consumed. Even though i was no longer eating packets, i was not allowing myself to eat any carbs whatsoever. So basically i was eating everything the IP allows, minus the packets. I chose not to do the phases, and that is because of my family and friends. They felt such a drastic change in my mood and energy levels. I have lost 67lbs, and kept that off. My husband felt that i was not myself while on IP. Initially on IP i felt energetic, and estatic that i was losing weight. But after probably 2 months, i had no energy, i was moody and irritable, and i was depressed at continually missing out on the social events that we are accustomed to. I started getting anxious wondering if i would ever eat an apple or have a glass of milk again. Really started questioning how i would ever implement some "normal" foods back into my life, without feeling guilt and regaining weight. My coaches did not support my thinking. Although they are at their goals, and have been for sometime, they still use the products. Quite frankly, that scares me. I never went on this diet to become dependant on the products, and live carb free forever. A healthy diet requires carbs!! So i stopped going to my coaches over 3 months ago. I am doing the "phasing" out on my own. Which goes back to the weight watcher way of eating, combined with the life style way of eating on Dr. Trans website. Face it, any form of healthy eating, combined with exercise is better than how i ate before. I am proud to say that on my journey since i stopped "regular IP" i have lost close to 20 more pounds. I did this "my" way. I learned alot from this diet, would recommend it to anyone, short term. My husband finds me happier now, i have the energy to exercise, and i feel much more freedom. Good Luck to everyone!

Thank you Sandrab! I will start phasing out of IP for the last time next week & had the same worries that you mentionned as I have followed the plan with some breaks since Aug 09. Knowing that you succeded without IP lowers my apprehensions of the days to come. Congratulation on your continued success! :D

Congratulation Sandrab--on your continued losses that is fantastic! Thank you for coming and back and sharing your thoughts---I am so not alone. Everything you said I can relate too---I am switching to phase 3 in a few days---and I know that my thought process is messed up---because I look at food and think carbs and you are so right a healthy diet does include carbs. I have lost about 70 pounds and I am happy about that---I just want to incorporate a more well rounded diet that gives me more energy without gaining it all back. Thanks again for sharing your experiences.

good day everyboby, Just wanted to know a few things about the IP alternatives..Can you use soft tofu with no carbs and no sugar with whey protein powder as a pudding in the morning? what about eating cheese with no carbs? My understanding is as long as we have 30 gramms of carbs or less a day it is OK..What about jello with no carbs in it? and also how much potassium do you need per day? If somebody would be kind enough to answer me that would be great!
Thank you

Sandrab thanks so much for your honesty and info! I am following the IP protocol, but do not use the IP products. I did notice when I watch others eat I just count the carbs they are putting in their mouth....something I never considered prior to this program. I too was wondering if I would be drinking protein shakes the rest of my life. the only thing I seem to miss right now is fresh fruit because it is summertime and all those are beginning to be in season. My plan is to lose quite a bit more weight before I begin to incorporate carbs back into my diet. This diet is incredible, easy to follow and is really working for me.
Thanks again for sharing your story and best of luck! Please keep us updated on your progress as a way of encouraging those of us who are not to that point yet;)
wen

Just some info
 

My boss, who has been Sooooo successful on IP showed me a research article that says people on "quick loss" diets (aka IP) keep the weight off better than slow loss diets!! :book2:

Also, she has been so impressed with IP that she has talked our hospital into offering IP as a weight loss program to the community.

you wouldn't believe all the nurses I see with their green topped shakers when I'm rounding at work!! Hee, hee, what did I start?????

Depending on how successful the clinic is, you added somewhere near a million dollars a year to your hospitals revenue. NICE JOB!

Well - I'm back! After a break for about a month, I'm back to IP. I tried going off the diet and transitioning onto another diet, and found that I kept finding excuses to cheat. I don't have much more to lose and I've already come a long way - I just want to be done with this diet and finally feel good about myself again! :) With the help of EAS AdvantEDGE carb shakes and some leftover Lindora products, here we go again! :)

Greetings... :wave:

Since reading the posts in this thread, I've figured out this is where I need to be... since I'm not using any IP products & don't have a coach other than this forum, I'm alternative for sure... I've printed out the protocols from Dr. Chunh's website & several other helpful lists & schedules, etc., from the IP forum & have been trusting my own judgement, more or less... I've been using up some GNC Pro Performance Whey Protein for my 3 shakes/day & otherwise following the IP program... sort of a boot camp, I believe Jordanna calls it, no restricted stuff yet... it worked!!!.. as of last night, I'm in ketosis!.. I'm so excited!.. :broc:

Does anybody else use GNC products?.. what else besides whey protein do they have that fits IP?..

Another question - the list of veggies includes dill pickles... would this include kosher dill?.. I love those, usually eat a couple of spears every day, but if they're too "carby" I can give them up... or cut down...

Thanks!..

hugs :hug:

ketosis
 

I have a question about ketosis. I use the strips and I am definitely in ketosis, but wondered if you can be too much in it? On the scale I am second from the highest. Does anybody know what is safe and what is not? I am still losing so I guess it is okay:?:

thanks:cool:

This is an extremely delayed response, but I wanted to welcome all the new people and the returners:)

EmmasMommy - Nice to have you back! Like you I have replace the IP shakes with the EAS. I like the taste and the price is soooo much better!!!!

AuntSheshie - Glad the boot camp worked for you! Congratulations on getting into ketosis, which means the detox is now behind you. Hope all is well. I've never used GNC products so can't help you there.

wuc1013 - Everything I've read about ketosis states that the higher you are on the scale the more dehydrated you are. If the stick changes color you are using fat as fuel regardless of how light are dark the purple is. I've found this to be true for myself. In Phase 1 I lost no matter where on the ketostik scale I was. HTH

Take care, Mirazon

Hi everyone:
Well, I guess I took a LONG break from IP....over 2 months. AND I gained 14#.....so you can say I am pretty upset. I didn't want to be on these packets for the rest of my life. I tried doing induction on Atkins the month of May...but of course, I probably overdid it with the cream cheese and whipping cream, because I only lost 4# of it...and that came back in a heartbeat.

SO -- back to IP (without using their products)....but I am discouraged. I felt lousy on IP....altho this is my 2nd day, and I don't feel too bad now.

Reading back thru some pages, someone mentioned that there is a comparison of alternative products vs. IP....but I could not find it......any help

So GREAT to see so many names I recognize (toomanycats, mirazon, sylviaG, SandraB....and more. I did get discouraged reading Dr. Tchans book when he said the diet was not long term.....I should have finished the Phases. I was on Phase II when I stopped at Christmas.....went back to Phase I and then onto Phase II (see a pattern here??).

ON a bright note (for those of you who know me.....), the legal issues with my hubby's death are over. Still, the stress seems to continue. Here I thought when the trial was over, my brain would come back...my energy and stamina would come back .....still waiting.

I will have to change my stats....the 150s look pretty far away for me right now.

I agree
 

I was going to reply that dark purple meant not enough water in.....like Mirazon said, but wasn't totally sure. I thought I heard it somewhere but when I went to the new atkins book and looked up ketosis they said about nothing. I will have to look at his older book.
So in short I agree with Mirazon - so drink more water.....and keep going!
Good luck!

welcome back!
 

Torchlaker -
Sorry to hear you are still feeling stressed. I have a suggestion....you mentioned your "brain".....have you tried meditation? I mean just sitting there quiet - concentrating on your breathing? :chin:
I am not currently practicing what I preach :no: but I sooo believe in the power of us, of being able to heal with our brains (in my case with God's help...but everyone has their own relig beliefs & I don't like to preach one over another).

So, that said....I understand your feeling of 150s being so far away. I am in the same boat... been off IP for awhile and just got off the scale :stress:
So maybe we could band together and go at this again? Far away will stay there for us if we don't put one foot in front of the other and start off down the path again.

I'm in if your in!
Lisa

Welcome
 

:welcome:
I just want to let you know that I've noticed on this thread we don't post a lot - so I hope that doesn't discourage you if it takes awhile to get an answer back.
re:dill pickles - they are allowed but be sure to check your bottle - should not have sugar in them. Then the carbs will be low or nill. So ENJOY!
re: GNC, I don't use 'cuz I think they are too expensive - So I would look for some of the other products people have talked about here....EAS, METRX, etc. But really the staff at GNC could probably help if you tell them no sugar and no aspartame, etc.
Good luck!