I agree that tracking really helps a lot, not only so you know what you're actually eating, but as a motivator. And you've got to hold up your end, lady, because you got us into this. :D :carrot:

Keep reminding yourself of that especially when you are in the throes of it! Been there, done that and now I want to change and so can you. I cannot stand that I can let a little slip become a landslide. woops:
Today is your opportunity to begin anew. Let's help each other! :hug:

Great for you for staying on 3-4 days in a row! Remember when you were having trouble even stringing 2 days together? I have always been very empathetic to your posts because our struggles seem to be very similiar. You have to get back on track because you're the one who inspired me to recommit last week when you asked all of us if we were in......remember? I'm in and I want you with me! You did it before and were very successful so you can do it again. I think that it is a great idea to reflect on what made you so successful in the past and do it again! Daily reflections......excellent! In fact, I think that I will dig out my OA daily meditations and share them.:book2: So......are you with us???????? Now go out to your garage and get rid of ALL of those peppermint patties! :coach:
Here's to our success! Let's clink our MIO water glasses together! :high:

I feel like a drug addict, too, and have always likened my compulsive overeating to that of an alcoholic. I've always considered putting a TV monitor in my kitchen to video when I am in compulsive mode. I am sure that I would be totally disgusted. That being said, if a drug addict or an alcoholic can stop their addiction, then there is hope for us. The anger and misery will pass as soon as you see some progress. That's the beauty of this program.....it works, when you work it and it can work fast, but you have to follow the guidelines. Keep your eye on the prize! You can do it! :cheer2::cheer3::cheer2::cheer3:

Just what I thought! They look you right in the eyes and seem to understand. Thanks for the encouragement on ALL fronts.

Thanks for giving me hope. I got to goal in December and have struggled enormously because I never had that attitude. I am hoping that my second time around is a charm. It is my all or nothing attitude that gets me into trouble. Congratulations for such a great accomplishment.

My sentiments exactly! You always put things so succinctly and beautifully! We jumped into the boat with Iowahawkeyemom and we need her to steer us to the freedom land from the food demons!

:grouphug::grouphug:

Linden and Janedocman.......I have a big smile on my face right now because of you two! Both of your posts were just what I needed! I think I'll print both of them out and put on the frig to remind me every day.

By gosh I started this thread and I intend to see this diet through to the finish and reach my goal. Cheers to all of us....with a glass of water with MIO while I write in my journal. Thank you SO MUCH!

I just have to say I am so grateful for this thread!! I'm having a rough go. I started IP three weeks ago and absolutely loved it - for the first three days. Then I became this major B****, taking offense and picking fights with family and friends. I was so not prepared for the intense emotions that came up, I was shocked and felt way out of control. So I never made it past day six. I needed to regroup and I also realized I needed to go real deep for inner strength on this one.

I too have been a compulsive overeater - I manage emotions with food, and I wondered if that was part of it. I usually suppress all the hurt/pain/anger of life with massive food consumption, which was now taken away. My crutch was removed, and now with nowhere to go and escape these feelings - no bag of chips, no large pizza, no chocolate cake - it's as though I was finally facing life head on - and falling down hard. I was scared.

But then that experience really got me analysing, everything. I need help, I can't do this alone - but that's what I usually do. I deal with life alone, keep everything private and buried deep inside. Big Mistake!!

Personally I think the IP journey is going to be very enlightening for me. So far it has given me a tiny window of hope as I briefly saw what my life could be like. For those three days I lived without obsessing over food, I felt in control for the first time in many years. I experienced the simple pleasures of life for the first time in sooo long. I took a soothing bath instead of stuffing my stomach until it could be stuffed no more; I coloured with my kids instead of rummaging through the cupboards, or surveying the fridge; I had a cup of tea like a civilized lady in the afternoon while reading a magazine instead of the usual 'carbohydrate couch crash'; I lingered at the park with the girls - not feeling compelled to rush home because of the left over lasagne that was calling my name. For those three days I felt as though there was hope.

Thanks to so many of you that come here, I still believe that change is possible. These inner struggles will always be present, but coming here and learning new ways to manage them will always be inspiring.

So tomorrow is day one...again.

Thanks for sharing, Startingoveragain. Sharing like that is a phenomenal first step. Compulsive overeating works best when you isolate.....just you and food and no one else. Compulsive overeaters are experts at making excuses and following the path of least resistance. Only through self awareness and sharing can you change your course. You may want to try to go to some OA meetings. I was going for a while, but was following the IP program. I find their literature especially their 12 step work book excellent for understanding why I overeat and the tools for changing the way I approach food. Hope that helps, but we are here for you and struggling just like you to take it one day at a time and one meal at a time.

In closing, here's today's meditation from Food for Thought....."Success comes with commitment.......Sharing our commitment out loud, with another person, reinforces it." :listen: We're here for you.....use us. Join us!

:grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

Ah. Ur, um. That dancing carrot was supposed to be a hug. But on second thought . . . . *How pathetic is it when you start quoting yourself? :o

Startingoveragain, you are not alone! I also pull away from people. After awhile, I willget my head in the right place and it will be easier. You can do that too! I bought some books about over eating and how to handle the stressful situations in life. They do help if you follow them. I keep telling myself that baby steps soon turn into a marathon. One day at a time. Post away on here because we are all in this together.

Linden, is quoting yourself sort of like talking to yourself? :) Not in this case though. But I do admit to talking to myself every now and then. I like the dancing carrot too. Tells me to get my butt moving. Hugs are good too though.

Side note....I made it thru my first day back AGAIN.......and the sun still came up this morning. Now to continue the pattern. I even made homemade potato/noodle soup and rolls and didn't sample it. Settled for a grilled beef patty and green beans. Oh the joys of life. I just kept thinking I can get through this and reach my goal. It's not like that is the last potato on earth and I'm never going to be able to have it later on in moderation. Time to quit my pitty party and get on with life. Food will not control me or the mood I am in. Sometimes I have to say to myself, "not my day to care or worry". Big girl panties on are. I pulled them up and walked away from the food and it's control over me. Now if we could just solve the world's problems. :)

Footnote, not my day to care is not about anything on here, just crap in my personal life. Keeps me from eating to comfort myself.

Today I am headed to Iowa City (50 miles from me) and just remembered they have an all natural / organic food store there. I'm going to be sure and stop there before heading home and restock my frig with lots of good veggies. Out here in Iowa, I have to drive miles to get to a place like that. Iowa City is a progressive town since the University of Iowa is there. People from all over the world attend to study medicine there which makes it a pretty neat town for Iowa. I need to take advantage of it more often.

Rah, Rah, Rah!..
 

pep talk
n
an enthusiastic talk designed to increase confidence, production, cooperation, etc.
(Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003)

Now that it's fall & football season is underway, I started thinking about pep rallies & how that gets the players, as well as the fans, fired up for the big game... so I thought, why not hold a pep rally for myself... every morning... to get me fired up for a perfect IP day... it seems, for me at least, what lies beneath my fears & negativity is anticipation... it’s usually anticipating the worst, especially if a situation is new to me... not always, but sometimes... so why not turn that around & start anticipating the best... when I start picturing "worst case scenarios" I can take action to "change the channel" & use my imagination to picture "best case scenarios" instead... instead of envisioning & anticipating the worst, I can remind myself to ask, "what’s the BEST that could happen?".. & that's where the morning pep talk comes in, 'cause sometimes I wake up with those negative thoughts & feelings & no idea where they came from... it might take lots of practice to undo my "negative" habits... but it’s worth it... my freedom is at stake...

I'm definitely a work in progress...

Time to dig out those old pompons... :cheer2:

hugs :hug:

Thank you so much for support Janedocmom, and yes coming up with excuses and following the path of least resistance are my daily challenges extactly! I will definitely be proactive about getting the help through the OA meetings/literature, I really want to find out the 'why's' of my actions so that I can be in a better position to work on the things I can change.

Thank you for sharing your encouraging thoughts, and the warm welcome.


Iowahawkeyemom, I appreciate your 'baby steps' reminder too. Made me smile as I thought about Bill Murray 'baby stepping' around in "What about Bob?". It's so true though, workable increments. Many thanks!

So far so good today on IP. Baby steppin' to supper time!

Have to share what I had for dinner tonight. My daughter, son, and I went to a French restaurant. I was really nervous not knowing what I could possibly order. The owner waits on his customers and cooks everything from scratch himself. The menu changes everyday and there is only certain things on the menu everyday. I talked to him and told him I was on a low carb diet and he made some special changes so I could enjoy the meal also. I had a filet mignon dry, and instead of the buttered yukon gold potato he was serving for the night, he made me fresh veggies for a side. It was sooooo good. Passed on wine and sipped my ice water. You know what? I didn't feel cheated what so ever! Patting myself on the back :cp:

I think you deserve it. And a pom pom, too. Is one pom pom a pom?

Good question. I'll answer with another question. Is a pom on the restricted list:D

One Full Week On IP!!!!
 

You are so right, Aunt Sheshie! The secret is to live in the moment and not let past failures determine our future. One has no control of what happened in the past or to control the future, but one can optimize one's present. The present is what we have and the only thing that we can change. Starting the day in the right frame of mind is absolutely essential and we have to be our own cheerleaders to get through the day. We're all a work in progress. That is what is so fantastic because there is always an opportunity to change.


Iowahawkeyemom, I appreciate your 'baby steps' reminder too. Made me smile as I thought about Bill Murray 'baby stepping' around in "What about Bob?". It's so true though, workable increments. Many thanks!

So far so good today on IP. Baby steppin' to supper time![/QUOTE]



All those baby steps add, but make sure that you have your big girl panties on when you do!

:cheers::cheers:

:dance: This is what happens when a pom pom becomes a pom.

I finally was able to put together an entire week of being on IP. I lost 5.4 pounds and feel sooooooo much better. I am taking it one day, one meal at a time.
:grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

esammy12, I'm not sure which maintainers you're following, but that is NOT how Phase 4 works!! 5 days a week look like this: protein, carbs, fruit, and fat for breakfast; protein, fat, and veggies (no carbs!) for lunch; protein, carbs, and veggies (no fats!) for dinner; and an IP food or protein snack before bed. ONE day a week is your cheat day. It does not have to be a gorge-fest. Mine rarely is. But whether you take a big cheat day or a little cheat day, you always follow it up with ONE day of Phase 1 type eating.

Anyone who explains it any differently than that is misinformed. And your body will naturally try to put 3-5 lbs back on per year because humans are programmed to store fat for energy. So once a year, if you want, you can go back on Phase 1 for a week, do a couple days of Phase 2, a couple days of Phase 3, and then go back to the 5-1-1 pattern of Phase 4.

There isn't a way to outsmart the system, 'cause ya can't trump hormones or science...they ALWAYS win! If you just follow the plan as written, it works.

You do eat whole foods, you do eat a balanced diet, and yep, you can exercise 7 days a week if you want. I pattern my workout schedule after my eating schedule...5 days a week, I run, do pilates, yoga, or the elliptical and weights at the gym. My cheat day is my "fun" day, i.e. no workout, and my Phase 1 day is my "rest" day.

Thank you for that! I have to say that I would follow the advice of any one on this forum that calls themselves Liili Von Shtup!! Oh Madeline Kahn - how we miss you. Okay, that is good information to have. I have fallen off. I did 5 days and then slipped (right before TOM) and I start back tomorrow. I feel like a loser, a failure, I'm bloated and feel awful, eating sugars never satisfies it just makes you want more sugars, I don't even enjoy the food. Honestly, I prefer eating the foods OP. What is wrong with me - it is a mental treat I'm looking for, not a culinary one. Every time. Thank you Lilli - back on tomorrow. I put some inspirational pictures up all over my office today. If I can just put one whole week together. Then another, then another...

One Month
 

Well, I re-started the program on the 7th of September and I'm down 12.2 pounds. Not a really remarkable number. On the other hand, it's the most I've ever lost in a month -- despite 2 pain killers a day and 2 cortisone shots a week for three of the weeks, and probably because of the support on this site. I guess all I'd trying to say is If I can do it, I'll bet you can, too.

Two things are different this time around, though, and if mentioning them will help, here goes. I walked 3-5 or 6 miles a day most days; not hard when you like to walk, left your car half way around the world, and live in a city were everything you'd ever want is within 3 kilometers (opera) and most are within 1 (organic markets, grocery stores, all kinds of shops and, unfortunately, about 70 bakeries, restaurants, cafes, and bars with people eating luscious looking and smelling stuff right under your nose at tables on the side walk.) The puppy-for-life occasionally stops and begs. People think it's really cute, really really adorable. I think I probably momentarily inhabit him, but perhaps I exaggerate.

The other thing is that the Ideal Program hasn't taken over my life. At the risk of sounding like Nancy Reagan (please God, no), I've just done it. In the great scheme of things, it's really not a very difficult or complicated program. And there are so few dishes to wash. (My dishwasher still isn't hooked up so life isn't all a bed of roses in this town that's as far north as my friends in Canada [Happy Thanksgiving].

But I ramble. I sure hope this helps someone. And it you want to totally replicate what I've done, I have a 7-foot sofa in the living room and two furred hot water bottles who would be glad to keep you warm on a long winter night. :D :hug:

:cheer3::cheer3::cheer3: Three cheers for YOU! I think 12.2 pounds is awesome! I think I'll take you up on that walking idea. This time of year is beautiful in Iowa. My two hot water bottles (Maddie and Zelda) would like the walking too. Maddie is a spoiled over weight puggle and Zelda is a great girl someone dumped at out farm. Lucky her, she now sleeps in my bed with Maddie and me.

I can't imagine walking past the bakeries and cafes. If I remember correctly, you are in Germany now. My son and I are planning a trip there next summer. Every year I take one of my 20 year old kids on an adventure outside of the US. It's a great time being one on one with them and lets them see there's more out there than the farm here in Iowa they grew up on. Not sure what part of Germany we will be visiting yet, but your walk sounds like somewhere I would like to see. Any suggestions on what to see and do is appreciated.

Your post has inspired me even more to keep going on this diet plan. Not Nancy Reagan, please.......But, yeah to not many dishes to wash. Rambling is good sometimes too. Ramble on.

I'm in Berlin. It is truly a great capital and cheaper than Vienna, Paris, or London. I don't know how long you'll be staying, if you like to stay in one place, get to know it, do day trips, or drive around. (Forget the autobahn's reputation. It's a breeze to drive and most summer's there's so much construction nobody goes over 60 mph, if that. (Gasoline, of course, is prohibitive.) Berlin's also a wonderful walking city and not nearly as large as many other German or European cities, with wonderful museums and parks and a world class, well run zoo. Public transportation is fantastic and it's an easy place to take day trips from. It's also quite possible to snag an apartment, via Craigslist, for a short stay. Inexpensive and you can cook if you like. I always try to go to the markets in countries I visit, even if I don't buy anything, because you get a nice glimpse at what people are like by what they eat. And you can often fly into one city and out from another in Europe, for the same price, if that's of interest. Drop me a PM and I'll see if I can help, OK?

Was this in Burlington, by chance?

Congrats, on the 12 pounds, Linden!

Hi Linden - So great to see you on here. I recognize a few people, but most are new. I am back on Phase 1 and excited to be reading the posts. I hope to hear from you soon. I have gained about 30 pounds back, so I will have to adjust my tracker and all of that stuff. I am pretty disgusted with myself. I have a whole closet full of size 8's that I can't wear, but I am going to work hard and be in them soon.:cp:

Congratulations. It's great to see you on here. Come visit more often!

Linden, I think Berlin sounds awesome. Not sure where all my son wants to visit but Germany is top of his list. I'll check with him and see what cities he wants to visit. He is really into history. I'll pm you when I find out more from him. We are thinking next June.

Amylew, it was a French resturant in Coralville called Chez Grace. It is just off of the Coralville strip north of the University of Iowa softball diamond. I can't wait to go back. It is rather expensive so I only go there for special occassions.

I mentioned a week or so ago about not weighing myself. Well, today I stepped on the scale and the darn thing is broke. It weighed me at 140....I wish. Past two days everything is breaking around my house. Last night I was grilling steaks on the inside jenn air stove and they caught fire and the grate actually melted a chunk out of it. I wasn't paying attention can you tell? Then I put a fan in the window to get the smoke out of the house and it fell and broke a blade. Then today the scale is broke. Hope tomorrow is better around my house.

Hi, I stumbled across this forum 2 years ago, when I was first introduced to IP. I'd occasionally browse through, but I was just too lazy to create an account :)

Now I finally created one because I think I need support to get myself back on track. I've also had the same problem with restarting and giving myself excuses each time. My chiropractor introduced me to IP because I was having a lot of physical health issues, and being overweight definitely contributed to a lot of those issues.

I started IP in Sept. 2009 and by Nov. I had happily dropped 26 lbs, but my goal weight was 50. That Christmas, I took a break from IP to go to Italy for 10 days ... and let's just say that since then, I haven't been 100% back on IP. Up until Jun. 2010, I managed to maintain the weight I had lost because I was partially on IP ... then I got into a relationship, which ended up being consistently, all eating and then napping due to food coma (instant weight gain). My boyfriend ended up losing all his gained weight while he was at bootcamp ... and although it's kind of depressing that I'm now the only "fat" one, I still haven't found the motivational drive to get back on 100% ...

I finally was really determined and got past day 3 last week. Today would be day 8 for me. It was definitely easier to maintain a steady eating schedule when I was working a 9-5 job. I'm back in school now, and I have yet to fix my sleeping schedule. Also due to classes, I don't have set eating times throughout the week.

The first time I started IP, after day 3, I had dropped 4 lbs ... but this time around, I haven't dropped any weight on the scale at all. My mom told me that my face did slim down a bit though. I'm wondering if the wacky & unsteady sleep/eating schedule might be a major cause of it? Also, I've been drinking coffee, with the powder creamer (I'm lactose) and honey (I try not to use too much - but I'm going to try to cut coffee out completely).

Has anyone else had this problem? I'm sorry if I just posted inappropriately in the wrong thread with my back story and such!

Finally got back in the groove! WI this week - lost 2lbs and 3 inches! It's taken me about 6 weeks of starting phase 1 again to make it through the week! I think I enjoyed maintenance too much! I've maintained my weight at 134 for the last 6 months. Now to lose that additional 10-15 lbs that I put off on the first go round! Have a great weekend everyone!

faith27, welcome to the group! We're all in this for each other....post away. I have been on and off program for over 10 months now. Getting back into the swing of things.

I think it is possible for the sleep pattern and your schedule having something to do with it. But, I know for sure the honey and powder creamer will stall you. I hate to comment on such things because I am no poster girl for IP. I did really good when I was 100 % on plan last year and if we follow the plan perfectly, the weight does come off.

Again, welcome to the restarting thread. We are here for you, and everyone else to succeed at this.

Yeah Rubyh! It's always great to see people be successful! You have a great weekend too.

iowahawkeyemom, thank you! I'm trying to "start over" by eliminating everything, for the time being, including all allowed sauce usage. I also realized that since I mostly use the IP drinks, I tend to forget to drink a lot of water ... so I don't think I'm properly "flushing" my body out.

I'm about to go search through the threads, but off hand, do you or anyone else know if there's a thread for issues with the IP packets? I never had a problem til the new boxes of the pineapple banana drink mix I just opened up. The powder seems to have a problem with dissolving in the water. I tried cold and even hot, it'll mix up but then a few minutes later, just separate and settle to the bottom of my water bottle. I also ended up having to drain out all the nasty clumps that had formed ... can powder go bad? :?:

Gee whiz. I sure hope you don't mind my laughing out loud, but I'm laughing with you. I have these kind of days but usually with things electrical -- something will blow, then something will stop working, then the computer goes wonky, then. . . . And usually within a couple of hours.

And to anyone who heard me enthuse about Berlin, I won't take it back, but in all honest I should admit that I live in an historic area of East Berlin that didn't get bombed as much as other parts, and it's pretty affluent, even if I'm not. What did get bombed out has been replaced by parks, play grounds, or ritzy apartment buildings that try to maintain the turn-of-the-nineteenth century look of the grand old (renovated) apartment buildings that still stand, with their 10-11 foot high ceilings, huge windows and french doors (now double or triple paned) and balconies. Not all Berlin is like that.

Well after surgery and 9 days of recovery and eating horribly I am up 13 pounds in 2 weeks. Need to get back on the wagon! Help! So discouraged. I was 2 pounds from goal :(

Still hanging in there!!
 

I have lost 14 lbs and 9 inches still restarting IP last month. I still have a hard time being 100% on the program, but I am still seeing results. I am just taking it one day at a time.

This is the part of this diet that I find frustrating. When else in your life have you ever gained 13 lbs. in 2 weeks? It's extraordinary. It's bizarre to me. I know we lose weight quickly, but maybe if you don't lose it so fast, it won't come back on so fast??? I don't know. It kind of freaks me out.

Just when I thought my weekend couldn't get any worse......tonight my dogs were going nuts barking at something under the deck and wouldn't come into the house. After 10 minutes of constant barking, I found out why they were acting up. A stinking SKUNK! One blessing, my dogs didn't get hit by the spray. Needless to say, my windows are closed for the night. I can't wait for my luck to change. The smell does keep me from eating though.

This bothers me too. I think I'll go over to the maintainers thread and see how everyone is doing there. I just hope when I hit my goal, I will have changed my eating habits and adjusted to eating this style for life.

Not sure about the packets. I use a lot of the RTD's because I am lazy. Do you put the water in the container first and then add the powder? That may help, or get one of those bullet machines and blend the heck out of it :)

Yea ~~ it's usually a brand new poland spring bottle, or I pour some water into the bottle before the powder because I've had it stick to the bottom of the bottle too many times lol.

What does RTD stand for?? I'm on a tight budget and considering purchasing the alternatives that other members were nice enough to share on the other thread, after I finish up the IP supplies. I've been eating Balance bars in place of the IP bars already and they didn't affect my diet at all the first time around. I was pleased that the Balance bars actually came out with a new caramel nut blaster flavor that tastes exactly like the IP caramel bars.

Freaks me out too, especially since the first week I hardly even ate so I gained most of it the second week. All I could stomach for a week was saltiness and Ginger ale. I am very discouraged. Not sure what I'm going to do, so fed up with this vicious cycle.

So basically in two weeks I've gained back half the weight I lost in three months.

I'm really sorry about the gain, and the surgery. But you didn't gain back 13 pounds of fat, right? Did you phase off correctly. Sorry, I can't remember. Still, I really don't think you have a lot of reasons to be discouraged because you're going to lose a lot of fluid once you're back on the program. And when you get back to where you were you'll know that you can't eat "horribly", right?

I guess the broader issue, and what set me off, is that you've opened an opportunity for people to question the effectiveness of the IP Program. The way I see it is that when I screw up, it was I who screwed up, and believe me, I can do that with the best of you. So I speak with authority. :D