here's an interesting aha for me....I have just learned that even when a piece of clothing seems the right "size" it still may make you look bad. OK, I know that seems like a "well, duh" but I have been going through my closet to get rid of all my old clothes and as I come across those from 10 or more years ago (I know, I'm a pack rat, I kept the things I loved, thinking I would fit into them someday) I try them on and I am surprised that while they fit, they don't fit "right". And for the first time in my life, I want to have clothes that fit right and look good (after so many years of buying anything big enough and baggy enough to hide the details). So as of yesterday I realized I need to buy pants in juniors sizes (no booty) and shirts in petite sizes (short but busty), and if I combine those 2, it looks much better than buying everything in Misses or Womens (which I have done for the past 20 years). Ok, maybe everybody else already knew that and I just flunked Girl 101, but all I'm saying is, as you start shopping for clothes to fit the new you, be sure that you push outside your old expectations and you might be as amazed as I am at how much better you look with clothes that don't just fit, but actually fit "right".

And for the guys: my DH is finding the same thing. We went to Carharts to get him new work pants and shorts and after looking at a bunch of baggy butts in the men's area, we learned that they have a "slim seat, slim thigh" style. He looked at me like I was crazy but I made him try them on and DANG he looks good coming and going! So, men's clothes (even work pants!) can really make a difference when they fit right too!

Don't sell yourselves short, you've worked long and hard to look this great and show it off to yourself and the world!

I was planning to start on a regular IP program soon but after finding out that many of the products have sucralose in them I wonder if there is an alternate way to do this. Sucralose makes my stomach cramp (very similar symptoms to what TaylorMayde described) as do almost all other artificial sweeteners except stevia. I am also somewhat gluten intolerant.
I started dieting 3 weeks ago by just cutting out bread, eating salads at lunch and dinner with a protein and having two eggs at breakfast. So far I am down 18 lbs. So I know the ip type diet will work for me.
Any suggestions from anyone? thanks for the help.

My NSVs!!!!
Yesterday was my cousin's wedding, it was at a beautiful winery. So in preparation for this wedding I couldn't find anything to wear. I was at my parents house (took my mom and aunty with me) and trying on a few optioons I brought to show my mom. What I brought was baggy skirts and shirts. So then my mom started sifting through the closet in my old room and pulled out a couple of dresses I haven't worn in a long while... and one of the dresses actually fit (SIZE 12). WOW... it's been at least 6 years since I've worn it.. and the style was still OK. It's a black dress, can't go wrong with slimming black!



SO... I also debated what to do about the food situation. Well... it all worked out great. . I watched everyone else eat my favorite hot artichoke dip, fresh fruit, and cheese and fancy cold cuts. and I did not have any appetizers, not a one. And then when it was dinner time, they served salad, and then brought family style platters of chicken, steak, green beans, mashed potatoes and another favorite mac & cheese for each table. I asked (well begged!) the server to bring me a dry chicken with steamed veggies. So SHE DID!! it was perfect. As much as I wanted the other stuff, I stayed clear away, drank my water and enjoyed my chicken and green beans!! I left before the cake and desert was served.

Feeling great right now! WI 7 is on Tuesday evening.
Have a great day.. I will be enjoying the World Cup - GO ESPANA!!

I'm really proud of you, you did a great job, and you'll see the results !!

You seem to do great ! Maybe you could follow the alternative plan ?

My coach is completely gluten free and some of the IP products don't contain gluten (she does the diet too). The coaches should have a list of ingredients for all of them. I'm not sure what to say about the sucralose though, I'll let one of the other people around here take that one on!

Okay so my whole family and i mean my whole family thinks that im obsessed with weight loss. And they think that i need to stop the program because my goal is really unrealistic. so i wanted all your opinions. Im 5 9 and right now im at 166. im still nothappy with my thighs and midsection. I work out everyday after work for just an hour. i dont think that im obsessed. but do you guys think htat my goal is unrealistic?

:D So true, Rocky! But you better keep your eye on who else is watching your DH come and go!

Given your progress to date, it sounds like you would do pretty well using all natural proteins. Go to the IP Alternative Phase 1 thread for April, and find a post from Birman. She is a vegetarian and followed the protocol without any IP (or Lindora, EAS, etc.) products... she was basically on Phase 2, and did use some protein powder, since she didn't eat meat. You can search her posts and see some sample menus, and substitute other proteins if you don't want to (or can't) use protein powder.

Over the long haul, I don't know how quickly you will lose, but it is possible to adhere to the general concepts and lose quite nicely. I know Birman had read Tran's book, and made a lot of careful choices to follow the plan as closely as possible.

Brilliant! And I'll bet you STILL had a great time... :D

Hope everyone had a successful weekend!! I ventured up to Dallas to pick my bridesmaids dresses. Luckily all of my bridesmaids were able to come out shopping with me. Every one of them commented on how great I looked and great I will look at the wedding. It was such a reinforcement that I'm doing the right thing! I planned ahead and brought pre-made shakes with me for after our lunch out, salad dressing for lunch, and extra protein for my snack. I even stepped on the scale this morning and it read 189. Woo hoo!!! I love being successful and I love how easy IP makes that happen!

Oh- and I got to make my Austin singing debut at the Four Seasons hotel in downtown on Friday night. It was more fun than I know how to describe. My fiance said that he hadn't seen me have that much confidence in myself in a while. :) :)

Well, if you're 5' 9" and if you got to your goal of 125, that's just on the edge of healthy/underweight BMI of 18.5, and you're already well within the healthy range. How hard are you working out? There are a couple of threads that discuss on this diet, because we're eating so few calories, make sure you keep your heart rate at 60% instead of 70 or 80%. Of course, no one can tell you where you'll be happiest, and calculators like that are just measures like the scale.

Good luck.

I would start with a BMI calculation and aim for that target weight. For your height, 166 is at the high end of the normal range, and 125 pounds is verging on underweight. I'd shoot for something in the middle (some say 22 is ideal for most people), and evaluate as you get closer to that goal. A 22 MBI would put you at 149 pounds; from there, you might want to add a cushion for the 3-5 pounds you may add back when your body restores glycogen at the end of the diet. So, using that simplistic approach, 145 would be a reasonable goal for your height.

One thing you need to consider is that you lose more inches on this diet relative to others, so you'll be in a better position to decide as you get closer. Right now you may think 125 sounds good, but in reality, you'll probably find that you look fantastic and feel great at a much higher weight. Earlier in my adult life, I weighed 10-15 pounds less than I do now, but I am wearing smaller sizes than I did then.

That's my opinion, based on my experience :)

Soon 2BMrs T-What kind of music do you sing? Were you accompanied by a piano? Did the audience love you? I live on the east coast but would definitely want to hear a song or two if I ever got near Austin. You should do something on myspace. Congratulations on your performance! I have noticed that I have more confidence too after this weight loss. Isn't it great?

Coming back to reality after 3 days of bad and fun choices. Take off on IP again in 90 mins once back in Seattle.

Okay So here I am !

So much going on, busy busy busy !!

Yesterday was Montréal City Chase 2010. City Chase is a extreme sports, running, overcoming you fear event, that I was organizing since January with others persons. It's really a big event, and everything went well, I'm really happy about it ! I've holded a snake in my hands for most of the day, and I've kissed an Iguana ! That was so much fun :)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...4_263265_n.jpg

I'm really happy about my commitment to IP for this day. I think that in the beggining of my journey to lose weight, I would have cheated, just because I would not have planned my day. Since I'm in Quebec City, I needed to go to Montréal, 3 hours away. I was driving, and we leaved Quebec City at 3 in the morning on saturday, we needed to be on place at 6 am on Saturday. I've put in the freezer the night before 6 bottle of water, and 2 protein shake. I made sugar free jello with more gelatin, and sliced cucumber, celery and mushrooms so I'll be able to go through my day. I've also put in my car a Beef Jerky bag (100 cal, 1 fat, 3 carb, 20 protein) because I knew that I wouldn't be able to eat somewhere since I needed to be back at home at 9 pm (event stopped at 6 pm on saturday).

The lunch was given to us by a sponsor, but it was a sandwich. I've taken a small but, pretended to not like it, and put it in the garbage. (I didn't wanted to say no thanks I'm on a diet, and then to have the discussion about it). After that I had my veggies, my shake, and all my bottle of water, stayed on plan, and didn't cheat !

My comitement paid off, I'm at 155.8 this morning ! That's CRAZY :)

Since I was a volunteer, I received so much free stuff ! I've received 10 boxes of yogourt (my brother love them so he's a happy guy right now). I've received also 10 box of almond roasted with sea salt (I'll keep it for later :) ) and I've received also many pills.



I was wondering if you guys could help me! I received some pills from Second Life global, that are supposed to help with weight loss, and I would like to try them but I don't know if I can use it in the same time than IP. Here's the label http://www.slgworld.com/pdf/Silhouette_label.pdf do you think it's alright ?



Oh and I also bought a really fancy scale that give me body fat weight, body fat %, body hydratation ! That was my gift to myself for myself for my half goal :)

Congrats WannabeIP!!!!!
I can't even imagine 125lbs That is awesome, good job!

Did he turn into a prince? ;)

Personally, I would not add anything else into the mix while on the plan. If you are on all the IP protocol supplements, you have everything you need... and it's obviously working for you. But that's just me. Someone else here likely has more expertise regarding the ingredients, though it would probably be helpful to know what supplements you are currently taking.

Enjoy your scale! :D