Originally Posted by petiteandcute (Post 3756156)

The only thing I can think to tell you is to review the protocol often to make sure you are doing every facet correctly. Hang in there it is worth the wait. Judy

Originally Posted by esammy12 (Post 3755471)

I'm sorry your coach isn't helpful. My coach yells at me, berates me, belittles me, tells me on weeks where I've lost 3 lbs. that I'm not working hard enough, blames my lack of energy on me, when I showed a 1 lb. loss of muscle mass instead of all fat loss - she yelled at me again and told me they were going to "terminate" me from the program. I'm in week 8. My losses have been 5, 4, 3, .5, .5. 2, 0. We have to turn in our journals every week and those are scrutinized by the local IP sales rep - who then has the Dr. call us at home and tell us what we're not doing right. They get confused, they forget some of my medical history and things that we've already discussed she brings up again as if we never talked about them. I'm constantly explaining myself, they make me feel like a child. I hate going there. I started to lose steam 3 weeks ago, I just felt crappy about going in to the office, I started to question the program, I ate more protein than I should - never ate foods off program, just more than I should. I started this diet (my coach is my cardiologist) because my blood pressure was 180/110. Three weeks in she checked my blood pressure again (right after picking a fight with me) and it was still 150/90. She yelled that this program probably wasn't going to help me, that I was obviously a Type A personality - told me I should get therapy - then closed the door and proceeded to tell me that she was now in therapy for the first time in her life because she was having marital problems !! - I'm not a type A, am no stranger to therapy. Anyway, I have had minimal weight loss the last 3 weeks (3 lbs. and some inches) but when they took my blood pressure yesterday it has come down to 120/80. I was euphoric, so happy. They were pleased for my BP victory, but told me that if I didn't lose 3 lbs a week from now on, they're going to "terminate" me. It's all I can do to remain positive and try to convince myself that this diet is for me - not for them. And not for them to make me feel like s***.

Originally Posted by hollybear1 (Post 3755986)

I believe you can work with whoever. This program is about you. Find a different coach or just stick with the one you have. Your coach keeps you accountable and is a necessary part of the program. I think you will be much more successful with a coach.
Maybe try to prepare some bags of measured veggies, drink your water. and tell yourself each day that you can and will do this. You are human, you will make mistakes, and if you do, you face the consequences, the diet will take longer, cost more, and getting back on plan is harder then staying on plan. Just keep going with the diet, you will get there. Stay away from the sugar and carbs that will knock you right out of Ketosis.
Maybe you just feel the need to cheat?
Try chopping up the bars into 3rds-4ths, freeze and have a little piece, when you need something "cheat like"- but that bar would be your restricted packet-you can have up to 4 packets total per day. Maybe try to put a teaspoon of Parmesan cheese on your food. Its really not permitted- but if it keeps you on plan with little impact. Even a bar for my evening snack keeps me in line. Make the diet work for you, while you are adjusting. The worst thing you could do is stop trying.

Originally Posted by Tweety bird (Post 3755808)

Well had an official wiegh in and finally moved the scale a significant amout 4.2 lbs lost. yippee the last 3 weeks I was lucky if it moved even two pounds, mostly just one. So getting a little upset with myself. Anyway went out for supper tonight and quite proud of myself I ordered as what I could eat even though the waitress thought it was an odd request. I ordered a grilled chicken no cheese or mayo, or bun but saute' d mushrooms and placed between 2 pieces of lettice. I finished it all and was quite comfortable my friend did not finish he meal and felt overstuffed about only difference in the meals was the bun. Anyway feeeling way better about the diet and maybe will be on phase 2 next week. god luck everyone and have a good op weekened.

Originally Posted by kjw83 (Post 3755900)

Thankyou to those who replied to my question about what to do over my sisters wedding next wkend! I am going to stay on plan 100 %....I`ll just have to get my meals ready ahead of time, as I am the coodinator :) I really don`t even care about the cake, just didn`t want to worry about taking my own food! But I`m a big girl and I`m used to taking my meals everywhere so it`ll be fine!

Originally Posted by calival (Post 3755913)

Hi, I just finished day 2 on the program. I already feel lighter and more energetic---could it be all the visits to the bathroom??? Seriously, this is a great support site.

Originally Posted by Alaskaipjourney (Post 3755954)

Starting to feel like I have been on IP forever and I'm only on week 10. Don't get me wrong my weight loss has been incredible but sometimes it makes me feel like just quiting but I know I can't. I've got 10-15 pounds to go and it feels like the last bit of weight loss is now crawling off. I'm still sticking with protocol but feeling on and off discouraged and today is just one of those days. I want the 120's just gotta take it one day at at time.

Originally Posted by blastergirl411 (Post 3755960)

Lost 4.4 the first wi and only .3 the second. The average is good. I wore the same thing, it was at the same time. Early morn before eating. It could have been due to the big c. Hoping the next wi is better. Thanks!

Originally Posted by momoffive (Post 3755987)

Wow.. What a lot of great posts..
I had 2 good things happen today..
First I was in the 150's... (Barely) this morning!!
(Woo hoo 5 1/2 weeks on IP lost 23)
Second, going through all my clothes ..none of my bigger jeans fit(they were super tight when I started IP) one pair of 14's fit, so that was good news considering I was a tight 16 over 5 weeks ago. But I went to kohls to try on and get one more pair of jeans and the 14's were a little big , so I bought some 12's. I can't believe it! The 12's fit, but will be super comfy in a few pounds. This really works.. It gets easier as time goes on...

Originally Posted by maykatcooper (Post 3756368)

ARGHHHH!!! Loose skin and stretch marks on my FACE! My daughter's wedding is in 7 weeks in Hawaii. Any suggestions? of note... this is a wonderful problem to be having but would just like to do something if there is something to be done... does the Raspberry gelatin really help at all and how long before results are noticeable? Smile..

Originally Posted by nerdigrrl (Post 3753972)

For those of you with >60 lbs to lose (I have 80...maybe 100), did you stay in phase 1 the whole time, or did you set intermediate stages and cycle out to phase 4 and then start up again? This is what I've planned with my coach so that I don't get overwhelmed and defeated with the big goal--20 lb chunks seem more attainable.
But I'm worried how long will this prolong my whole process? I tend to be a run/walk kind of person rather than a long slow jog. How hard is it mentally to "keep in the game" for (maybe) a year?

Originally Posted by longdivision (Post 3754001)

my friend in denver is doing 20 lbs at a time and then phasing off for a few months in between, and i am doing it straight through. this is a tough question. my friend has been on IP since december and she lost her first 20 and phased off in january. to date she has lost about 27 lbs. i started in january and have lost 38 lbs. so staying on is definitely quicker. i've heard that it's really hard to start up again after you have phased off (just ask some of the ladies on this board and they will tell you how difficult it has been to get back on the horse). while i do agree with my friend's reasoning for doing the plan this way (she thinks she will be able to keep it off better in the long run if she loses it slower), i think it might be better to do larger increments than 20 lbs. the weight goes so quickly that you could easily do it in rounds of 40 lbs. (about 3 months of phase 1, 3 months in the other 3 phases, repeat). you might be really surprised at how quickly you lose that 80-100 lbs if you stay on plan straight through. like i said, i've been on plan for only 9 weeks and i have lost almost 40 lbs. my goal is 75 lbs and i'm already half way there! i estimate that i should be done by june. it's really not that bad if you think about how long it actually took you to put the weight on. for me it took 29 years to get as heavy as i was, but only 6 months to get thin. not a bad trade-off.

Originally Posted by Figgypudding (Post 3754071)

I have between 100 and 120 and I've lost 71. My plan was go straight through. I went off for a couple of weeks in December for vacation and it was a bit of a mistake. I lost momentum and diligence. I wasn't loosing that fast to begin with but I slowed down due to a lack of following the program perfectly. I have lots of mini goals that keep me from being overwhelmed. I just met a milestone weight and got into the 170s. My next goal is 169.5. I also write down on a cheat list everything I want to eat on my cheat day when I'm done and it helps me not feel like I've said goodbye to it forever. I did that for Christmas and found that a lot of the cravings didn't appeal to me when the time came to have them.

Originally Posted by Gentlehyena (Post 3755465)

My weight loss has slowed to a crawl, in my 5th week. I don't have a coach but mentioned it at the Spa where I purchase my IP products and she thinks it is because I allow my vegetables to brown, when I saute or bake them. What do you think, anyone? I know I am not drinking all the water I should so that may be it too?? HELP. I feel discouragement creeping in..........

:book2:I have 1-2 zucchini sauteed til brown at least 5 days a week and have since I started the diet. This has been done on the weeks with my biggest weight losses and the weeks I had smaller ones or stayed the same.
In an ideal (no pun intended!) world we should probably eat our veggies raw, gently steamed or gently sauteed.

From the first time I browned them I asked my coach if this was "illegal" because they were so sweet and good. She laughed and said it was fine and they sounded delicious.

Because somewhere in me I have this "food issue", I asked her on at least 2 more occasions if she felt they could be a problem for me, and her answer was an emphatic, "No."

So the moral of the story for me is to take in all the info and do the best I can. If for right now browned sauteed zucchini is what helps me get through the day and this diet with the success I am having, I'm going for it, with a mindful eye on a commitment to improving my diet as my "food issues" improve one day, one meal at a time. Hope this helps.:dancer: