Wayward, I went over everything with wuv2 a couple of weeks ago and have been on track. Since then I have lost 1 pound in 2 weeks. I just can't figure it out. I am having everything I am supposed to have and not cheating. I just don't know.

But if you think about it, 21 pounds is still nothing to slouch about.
That is still quite a chunk of weight of your frame.
Sorry you are struggling, one of these weeks you will have a huge loss though and then all they hard times won't matter.

So you DID have a good loss and you were worried about WI'ing in...shame on you....great job!

Another hot day here in the south but hey I'll take it instead of Rain! I am feeling better today than the last 2 days my tummy has been churning for 2 days and I haven't changed anything that I eat so I may have caught a stomach bug or something. Yesterday when I had my WI I didn't feel like I would of loss anything at all so I was happy with the 1.5lb loss, I just wasn't feeling right. Today I feel like I've lost 5lbs over night, its crazy!

Watkat, get that word ONLY out of your vocabulary!!! its 21lbs GONE not, ONLY 21lbs....its 2-10lb bag of potatoes GONE from your body, you should be very proud of yourself for that. You might want to see maybe if Longdivision could maybe help you out with your eating, I believe she is also a vegetarian and she has loss like 90lbs or so. Have you looked to see if there is a thread about Vegetarian's?

Hooray! Another pound gone! Since I spent more time off program this week than on program I am very thankful to have lost a pound and to not have gained. Minus 22 works for me today! :)

I agree with you Wuv, 21 pounds is great. it's 21 pounds you will never see again. you just have to keep doing what your doing and it will come off, maybe not in 3-4 months like you want it too but eventually it will come off!!!! Keep at it.

Great job!! keep it up!

Wow, great job everyone!! Nice to read of everyone's successes, big and small!!

I, on the other hand, am up 2.5 total since my last weigh in. Last Thursday I was 142.2 and today I was 144.8. I haven't seen that 142 number except a few times a few weeks ago ang the scale has just been up. I, too, haven't been following protocol as well as I should, but I am otherwise comfortable with my choices/approach/modifications except that I am not seeing any loss and now a gain. I sound like a broken record, but I am completely baffled.

Anyway, today was the last day of the estrogen pills they have me taking and I am really hoping that my "gain" was merely bloating / water retention from that (although I don't think so). Only time will tell...

Gooood afternoon... well.. i didnt sleep all night...i was literally up for the entire night...i finally got some shut eye as of this morning at 8am...and i got 3 hours??? im sooo tired..

Good news!! I weighed myself and i finally did it!!! I finally lost that stupid 20th pound!!!! YAY!!! so technically i lost like 2 pounds so im happy...

I hope everyone is having a good day..i will check in later..but right now.. i need a nap!!!

Hang in there Coliep! Dont give up!

Sorry been really busy today... congrats on finally getting that stubborn 20th pound Port!!!

So you are still working at the same job? I thought you quit last week, did you end up going back and getting it back then I take it?

I'm sorry and I truly mean no offence but I'm baffled. You say, "I, too, haven't been following protocol as well as I should, but I am otherwise comfortable with my choices/approach/modifications except that I am not seeing any loss and now a gain."

You haven't been following protocol (as well as you should is kind of meaningless because you either are or you aren't - it's a no cheat diet). You say your comfortable with your approach. But obviously you're not because you are unhappy and puzzled by your inability to lose.

What happens when you do follow protocol as laid out? do you still gain? If you do then that would be baffling. but if you don't, then it's only baffling that your baffled.

Hey guys/gals...new here.

I have been OP for 5 weeks. Can I be part of your group?

welcome krazy!!...you can be part of any group, we welcome everyone from everywhere, we are just one big happy family on the same journey cheering each other on.!!

Jackie - I am not totally doing IP, I am more doing a low carb diet using some IP products at this point. I just happened to like the group of IPers that I met when I was doing IP and so I still post here.

My approach is to keep my calories at an eat-to-lose within more traditional guidelines (i.e. approx. 1200 calories + exercise eat back) vs. the 900 calories on IP but to keep my carbs reduced sufficiently to be in ketosis. I am still eliminating dairy, not adding sugars etc. So basically, I am trying to take some of the tenets from UP and apply them in what feels to me to be a more sustainable "diet" or lifestyle choice.

So what I thought was that provided I have a sufficient calorie deficit it should result in a loss of pounds and, provided I am in ketosis, should cause those pounds to be my fat stores. However, despite these two things I have gained 2.5 pounds this week. I find that baffling -- If I haven't consumed nearly 10,000 calories above my basal metabolic rate and I haven't introduced tons of carbs so as to "reload" my glycogen stores, then I am puzzled at how I haven't lost weight but especially at a gain in weight.

Make sense? I suppose what I need to do is switch forums now that I am not on IP and am just doing a lower carb diet, guess I'd just miss the Newbies!

Colip, See I knew you weren't following the program exactly but really didn't know what you were doing either. The things you go through might be scaring some of the newbies....haha....the gain's and such, but now that you have explained kinda what you are doing they will get it.(I think anyways) You don't have to switch, you are good here.

Thanks Wuv =)

WUV - I may be more of a Newbie on Monday since I am thinking of taking a weekend break. I just finished a cycle of estrogen to try and address some spotting which I had assumed was caused by my current BC (the spotting preceded my starting IP for about a week). However, the estrogen has not solved the problem and I am wondering if perhaps there was just some overlap and the spotting is, in fact, caused by the diet. The only way for me to know (I think) is to come off the diet and see if there is any change. I know you have a wealth of information so just wondering if you have any idea how quickly that "side effect" of IP would stop once off the diet? Like, could I just have a non-ketogenic weekend (3 days) and see results or would/should I stay off longer?

Oh, and as far as scaring the Newbies etc. I think that is why I try to put in my disclaimer that I am not totally OP. . . so people can disregard my weird "issues" lol!!

I would have no clue as to an answer to your question. Maybe Carla can help you with that(showgirl i think is her name). You don't have much to go so your body is holding onto everything its got. Doesn't want to give you that satisfaction it seems....haha

Ha, it definitely feels that way!! Just so many factors right now, could be the hormones they put me on, could be that I haven't been as accurately measuring my portions each time (sometimes I am grabbing a cucumber or some celery as I run out the door), could be that my theory just doesn't hold water and is not a good way to lose weight like I thought it would be! 1 week isn't the be all / end all, I know, but I don't take disappointment well -)
Anyway, thanks for the idea, I will post something and see if maybe she can give a response... part of me is thinking, just go 100% OP, return to the diet in its purest form and power through regardless of the side effects until you lose the stupid 8-10 pounds but then there's a little voice that is also afraid I might be overlooking some medical issue.

You have been doing it your way for how long? maybe you should just go 100%OP. That is what I would do, maybe it will trick your body into losing it. Maybe there isn't a medical reason at all and you are just paranoid!...ha

Guess I could be, but 7 weeks of spotting does seem pretty odd . . .

I have been doing my own thing more or less since week 2 actually but, I agree, perhaps going back 100% OP to see if I can push past this gain trend and get back into the loss zone might be the thing to do.

Oh thanks for explaining. If you don't choose to do IP 100% I wonder if perhaps you should take a look at one of the Atkins books on what to do if you aren't losing. I believe that he promotes actually eating more fat when you hit a stall. I don't understand why that is but I'm pretty sure it's explained in the books on Atkins.

Or, like Wuv suggested, just do a OP 100% to have a boost. To your morale at least. cuz it's got to suck when you keep trying and it doesn't work. I know - been there done that.

Thanks, I might look into that. It is a bit overwhelming at times with all the choices (paleo, primal, atkins, south beach, etc.) and sometimes the information contradicts the other and I am certainly not making it any easier by essentially doing a hybrid lol! I will do some googling to see what I come up with =)

I think the theory is that you need to eat "fat" in order to burn fat. Probably why we need to get the olive oil in in IP.

As for taking a weekend off to see if your cycle straightens out I think you will need more time than that. Why don't you just try two weeks of "normal" balanced eating but staying at about 1200 calories and cutting back on the heavy duty exercising you are doing. That would give your body a chance to stabilize and would give you a baseline to determine if your cycle problems are food related.

You are in a healthy BMI range anyway so your losses are going to be different than those of us in the overweight or obese range.

2 weeks, eh? I was afraid it might take longer than a few days lol!! I will try it, and try for some balance in it all . . . . Thanks =)

Busy night, biked and walked today, but feeling pretty good considering, and tomorrow is Friday.
Watching a little "The Wire" and relaxing and hanging out.
See you all in the morning.
Stay strong.

Good Morning!

Just wanted to introduce myself. I'm just starting the IP diet today and let me tell you I am SO happy to have found a forum of people for whom the diet has worked. I was seriously doubting and scaring myself after I got home from my appointment and started Googling IP. I have 50-75lbs to lose, I've been overweight my whole life so I'm not sure exactly what my goal is. Can't wait to get to 'know' some of you better!

Michelle

Michelle - welcome! Yes, there are tons of success stories on here and you will find lots of support and encouragement!!

Welcome to the forum, you will find tons of information here and Wuv is to me anyways THE QUEEN of IP she will be able to answer all your questions.
Don't be shy to ask, they will answer!!!

First WI and lost 14.4 pounds and 5.5 inches. I'm under 300! I haven't been here for a couple of years. :)

http://www.3fatchicks.net/img/bar007...135/299.6/.png

Wow, that's amazing! That is more progress than I have made in total so far! I can only imagine how motivating and encouraging that must feel. Congrats on your success!!

Wow! Good job!

Thank you. I know most of it is water weight but it feels good and I feel good overall...more balanced than I have been.

Welcome Michelle, and big congrats Blu!!!
Well it's another Friday morning here int eh northwest.
Cold riding in this morning, I think the warmest it got was 52, which wouldn't be bad but still wearing my summer mesh gear because it's still getting hot in the afternoons.
Totally forgot my water bottles today, I knew I was forgetting something but I just couldn't remember what until I got off the motorcycle this morning and didn't need to take anything with me.

Now I am stuck drinking the water from campus......crap
Plan on riding and walking tonight after work.
Have to get up early tomorrow, making a shopping run out of town for more veggies and meat at Costco.
Wife is going to see her sister about 100 miles from here, first time she will have seen our son since we got him out of the hospital, so they are all excited to get together.
Which means Wayward gets a Sunday ALL TO HIMSELF!!!!!

I just can't make up my mind what I am going to do with it yet lol.
Anyone else with any plans this weekend?
Everyone have a great morning.

ok apparently no one is around today.... bad enough being 1 of only 2 guys in the thread, but when you are the only 1 at all it just makes it worse :dizzy:

Hope everyone is doing well.

Lol. I am here, I am just struggling to find fabulous things to say.

My day has consisted of screaming and more screaming (children), embarrassing behavior in the doctor's office, dismissive jerk of a doctor that made my BP increase further, a headache from all the screaming, etc. I am dreaming of a babysitter and the energy to run about 7 miles. What will really happen is that I will straighten the house and try to ignore the screaming :/ Some days are better than others, eh?!?!

He did say the estrogen could've easily caused my weight gain and while I feel somewhat comforted to have an explanation, that doesn't make the pounds go away so I still have to deal with having spent over $100 / pound at this rate. It is what it is . . . but I am very mad at the estrogen lol!

Anyway...........here's hoping for a great weekend!!!!!!

Hi all (old thread members and new thread members)! Now that I've been on vacation and away from the thread for so long I have so much catching up to do.

My quick recap is that I went totally off IP for 10 days and was very happy (and lucky to find that I'd only gained 1.6lbs back). I got back on the diet immediately (which was VERY hard) and in my 3 days back 100% OP I'm already down the 1.6 and down an extra 1.4. :) My game plan is to do IP fully until Sept. 5th (or maybe Sept. 1st depending on how the weight comes back) and then phase out using non IP products but the principles. I'll need to stay on the board regardless for support.

Missed you all and looking forward to reading the thread to catch up!

Good afternoon everyone!

Well i jumped on the scale and lost another pound..which was awesome news! yay!!! I had an oops last night. As i was making test recipes for beverages for the cafe last night that we are opening, i made everyone a drink and then made myself one..i opted to combine an ounce of dairy with some hot water and some sugar free vanilla to make kind of a steamed milky water..but i forgot when i topped it with whip cream that not only am i not allowed whip cream....the whip cream itself is sweetned with a sugary vanilla syrup..which makes it a double no no...so after eating my whip cream..i clued in..and threw the whole thing away.. i figure whip cream was a bad enough oops cheat that i shouldnt continue drinking my 1 oz of dairy mixed with my water..Luckily my hunny isnt holding that oops against me.. You see we have a deal going on right now.. the deal goes like this: If i cheat once before are holidays then im not allowed to cheat on our holidays at all...if i dont cheat at alll...then on our holidays i will be allowed one special cheat...So...it comes down to...one taste now and then nothing for holidays...OR...nothing for 42 days..and then one cheat taste during our anniversary...have i mentioned im not sure what that will be yet??? should it be pizza?? or should it be a slice of chocolate cheescake?? Im dreaming of that night!

Anywho..im looking forward to my clothes arrving in the mail sometime soon...im excited for the bathing suit! i know ive been losing my back/boob fat..so i think it should fit just in time...

Have i mentioned.. i cant wait to get out of the 270's? Im like..4 pounds away from getting into the 260s...which would officially put me at my pre-pregnancy weight! Still a long way to go after that..but hey! it can be done!

Well.. i hope everyone is having a great day..im going out to enjoy the sunshine!

Heya Cher and Coliep... good to know someone else is lurking.
Hope you had a good vacation Cher.
I wish I could say I was only going to be on until Sept lol.
My first mini goal is still to lose 50 pounds by the end of Sept, which I think I am still on pretty good track to do.
I hope to lose the 92 pounds I want by Dec. I then have my annual banquet which I plan on eating at, luckily I am so picky I won't end up eating much there I never do lol.
And now my vacation to see my folks is cancelled because after speaking to the surgeon my mother will not be able to hold my son by then, she is going to be recovering for 6-12 months.
So they said it would be harder on her for us to come down and my son be there and her not being able to hold him.
So we aren't going there, that was going to be our done with diet extravaganza lol.
So now we will just have a week off from work together I guess.
I do think I will probably go down to about 190 in the end, but I am only planning on staying on phase 1 until 205 or beginning of Dec. If I hit that goal early I will see how far I can get down to Dec, but it hopefully should be right about the same time.

Wow rambling, ok enough for now.

Wow WAYWARD...your gonna be in the 260 land in like 1 pound!!! so by next weigh in! I envy you!

Heya Port.... trying to catch back up all of a sudden huh... good for you.
I will say I am not updating my weight day to day, you guys got me checking the scale again dang it.
But not as often as you guys, just like twice a week, but I am out of the 270's I will tell you that, but until my WI it doesn't count.

So push through and catch up with me.. :)

Hehe ok I typed as your were posting on the last one... just make that your daily push, have to catch up to Wayward :carrot: