Originally Posted by Linden:
I could really use some advice. I have stuck to the protocol totally. Done everything I was told to do, including have one restricted packet a day for the first two weeks. Probably only the second time in my life I've been so diligent. (First time was when I was pregnant.) Twice now I've had good losses; and twice, over 30 days, I've gained back practically all the weight. Apparently I've gone into starvation mode. But [I]if[I] I follow protocol I can't seem to get above 800 calories a day.

My coach says add more protein. That will take me well over 100 grams of protein a day. And she has never seen this happen before. Please, if any of you have had a similar experience could you please share how you dealt with it? What you might have been advised? I really, really want to do this, and do it right.

I have NOT had that experience, but I see you've gotten some good feedback from folks here. Like Carla, I had no restricted items during the diet, which was my own choice. That seems like a good place to start. Most guidance I've heard/read is no restricted items the first 2-3 weeks.

Let us know how things go...

How are any of you getting around 800 calories per day following the program? I've tracked mine on Livestrong's "My Plate" and I haven't had more than 750 calories in a day and the two days I did have over 700 I had 4 or 5 packages. I'm concerned about this low calorie intake -- it's over 2000 cals short of what I would need to maintain my current weight.

I got some pushback from my coach about having the fish/meat at anytime other than dinner, and about having it more than once. Not that I have a great deal of confidence in her. Her knowledge of the system appears to be superficial, seems as if she's trying to remember something somebody told her and that she knows she's supposed to know. She's nice person who lost 60 lbs on IP but doesn't have a lot of experience delivering an intangible service (e.g. coaching).

hateusernames
I have been on the alternative site looking up hair loss. Suddenly in month 5 I am loosing fist-fulls of hair. By my estimate in the last 2 weeks I've lost almost half of my hair! I saw you take a multi for hair, what brand did you go with and at what rate do you take it? This has been a real emotional shocker to me, and your help would be very welcome.[/QUOTE

Two years ago I started losing tons of hair too. Very scary. Used to have long thick hair and ended up cutting most of it off so it didn't look so thin. I got a blood test. I was down to 14 on my VitD levels. One should be up to about 80. I had severe VitD deficiancy. The doc immediately put my on VitD supplements, high quality ones. (Thorne brand)

I looked up VitD deficient symptoms. It is the second cause of hair loss in women. Second to alapecia, the one that cause male pattern baldness.

I highly recommend getting your blood tested for VitD if you haven't already. You may very the result very interesting.

Once I started the supplements my hair stopped falling out after a number of weeks and then is started growing back in. What a relief! I am now tested every six months. I am up to 34 units in my tests and my doc wants me to 100.

Originally Posted by Golfergirl67:
Morning all!!! I was trying to look through all the posts looking for veggie nutritional count if anyone knows where to look please point me in the right direction THANKS

Any of the food/fitness tracking sites will have information you can use. I use My Plate on livestrong-dot-com, others here use fitday-dot-com.

Originally Posted by Soon 2 B MrsT:
NSV!! NSV!!! NSV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As of this morning, I can look down and see my toes WITHOUT sucking my stomach in!!!
:cloud9: :high: :faint: :hyper:

"I can see clearly now the tummy has gone. I can see no obstacles to my toes ... It's a bright bright sun-shiney day." [/end of corny humour] Congrats!

"I can see clearly now the tummy has gone. I can see no obstacles to my toes ... It's a bright bright sun-shiney day." [/end of corny humour] Congrats![/QUOTE]

That is hilarious. I love it!:D

Ok, can someone help me. I seem to be incapable of quoting people with the grey box around their quote. How does one quote correctly? I feel stupid. I bet it's obvious.

Originally Posted by lcw32:
"I can see clearly now the tummy has gone. I can see no obstacles to my toes ... It's a bright bright sun-shiney day." [/end of corny humour] Congrats!

Bahahaha.....that was awesome. Completely awesome.

for those who are using ketostix, I read somewhere awhile ago that if you are working out, your muscles will utilize ketones. So if you're wondering what's going on when the stix say different than what you want and you're following protocol, you should look back and see if you did anything strenuous the day before (like weeding if you've got a weed jungle like my backyard!)

so a friend has the book "The Metabolism Miracle" and it sounds exactly like the IP program but 10x cheaper....has anyone tried it?

the only reason i am asking is that i dont think i will be able to afford the program after august!

Originally Posted by Vicjul:
ELIZABETH Just saw your updated wedding pictures they are simply amazing you looked stunning as I have said before !!!

I'm Blushing now ;-)

Thank you!!!

Originally Posted by Golfergirl67:
Morning all!!! I was trying to look through all the posts looking for veggie nutritional count if anyone knows where to look please point me in the right direction THANKS

http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/nutrit...egetables.html

Originally Posted by hateusernames:
Carla,
I have been on the alternative site looking up hair loss. Suddenly in month 5 I am loosing fist-fulls of hair. By my estimate in the last 2 weeks I've lost almost half of my hair! I saw you take a multi for hair, what brand did you go with and at what rate do you take it? This has been a real emotional shocker to me, and your help would be very welcome.

I started losing my hair after about 3 months on IP. It happens to about 10% of people who lose a lot of weight fast, no matter what the diet. Some people have suggested being sure to take your Omega-3 supplements. Also inositol and biotin. Unfortunately, once it starts, Carla has said it will take about 6 months to a year to complete the cycle. It might help to go to a health food store and ask a clerk to direct you to the vitamins for hair, nails, and skin and give his/her recommendation.

Originally Posted by natchamp:
Ok, can someone help me. I seem to be incapable of quoting people with the grey box around their quote. How does one quote correctly? I feel stupid. I bet it's obvious.

Be sure not to delete the bracket with the word QUOTE at the beginning of the quote.

Natchamp you are right! My tummy has deflated too! I always looked and felt like I swallowed a big beach ball! Only one problem - it used to be a handy place to balance my plate......oh that's right, no more need for snacking at night! Yeah! the cravings have flown the coop!
Gosh this diet is good....

Originally Posted by CheeseCake4me:
Natchamp you are right! My tummy has deflated too! I always looked and felt like I swallowed a big beach ball! Only one problem - it used to be a handy place to balance my plate......oh that's right, no more need for snacking at night! Yeah! the cravings have flown the coop!
Gosh this diet is good....

And it's much easier to cross my legs. I'm feeling so my more feminine now. I don't care that it's not healthy to cross our legs. It makes me feel good!

Lindora bars
 

about to pull the trigger on some lindora bars. YAY or NAY? Craving for something sweet has been killing me lately.

Originally Posted by Soon 2 B MrsT:
NSV!! NSV!!! NSV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As of this morning, I can look down and see my toes WITHOUT sucking my stomach in!!!
:cloud9: :high: :faint: :hyper:

LOL! I read this too quickly without my glasses, and thought you said you could now suck your toes... Sorry!

Though if you think about it, that would be pretty impressive, too. :D