Hello to all, I have been posting since mid-january but for some reason have never read this thread. My name is Ella and I am 48 years old and live in a very remote town in Idaho. I never had a problem with weight until I was 30 and it has been a battle ever since. When I moved to Idaho I broke the 200 mark and have steadily climbed ever since. I felt like I could not eveer get the weight off and lost all hope. Then I tried the HCG diet (injecting myself with a hormone every day) and it did work, I lost 50 lbs and then gained it back. I did it again and lost 40 lbs and gained it back. This last time I gained it back I really began to feel bad. My joints hurt, I had no energy and I started to think I was sick. Anyway, my sister dragged me to a meeting about IP in january and I said very nonchalantly, why not. Within 2 weeks I felt great. No more joint pain, and I have energy that I have not had in awhile.
So now I am on week 5, have lost 21 pounds and feel good. Wow, what an improvement!
I think this site has been very helpful. Hearing the stories from women who sound like me and have as much to loose inspire me. This is possible.
Now I am looking forward to working in my garden and hiking this summer.

I am 53 years old, married to a saint and have 2 grown boys. I was a nurse for over 20 years but am currently staying at home.

I have struggled with my weight for many years. Dieting became increasingly useless and I gave up on it. Then I developed metabolic syndrome. I was sort of resigned to it but was actually getting very depressed. I wanted to live an active life. I didn't want to become a burden to my family as I grew older or die early. I was in such a sad state when a friend started talking to me about IP. I read as much as I could about it and finally decided it might just be my chance for recovery!!

I train and show dogs. I have German Shepherds and Shelties. It is so exciting now that I am beginning to feel better on IP that I am back to being more active with the dogs. One of GSDs is a registered therapy dog. We have begun doing canine assisted reading in the public schools. So enjoying that.

Just can not say how important to me that I am successful on IP and beyond in my life regarding food and weight. My carb issue was beginning to rule my world... ugh!

Hello, thanks Wuv for the invite to get to know each other. My names Faye, well my middle name is Faye, my first name is Fanny, but most people call me Faye. I am 43 years old and live in Seattle. I have loved food my whole life. There is a picture of me at 18 months old with one hand full of cocktail onions and the other covered in jam. I have always been chubby, but I got sober in 1990 and since then I have gained about 60 pounds. I definitely use food for comfort and entertainment and as a mini vacation. I know if I eat a few doughnuts and a big glass of milk I will be in a carb coma and then my stress, or anxiety or sadness or boredom will slip in to oblivion. So, I consider myself an addict and just like with any addicts drug of choice it will definitely take my life. I already feel like it has robbed me of years and I am ready to be free. I have lost weight a few times and I feel like I sabotage myself when I start getting male attention and just feel more comfortable with armor of fat on, but I can see through that illusion now so hopefully it won't take me out this time. Anyway, I know this may be more information than a casual introduction calls for but I don't know how else to talk about this so I figured I'd just let it all hang out. I have just had my last meal of day 2, a chocolate pudding waffle-yummy, and I feel ok. I had a brutal headache for most of the day but to me that just means this is working. I am super excited about this community. There is a saying in another group I belong to that says, "we can do together what we could never do alone." and I feel that same way about you guys and this program. I look forward to getting to know you all and my SINCERE gratitude to those that have come before and offer sooooooooo much wisdom and support to each other and to us newbies. Thank you!!!

I'm Back!!
 

Hi, my name is Mandi. I started IP originally February of 2011, but with some major issues at home and tragic events within the family, I lost my way. I'm proud to say I am back and more committed than ever. I am married to a wonderful man who is also doing IP with me. We have both decided we are going to shoot for a 50lb weight loss to start with and go from there. I started again on Wednesday, February 15. I can definatley feel a difference within my body and I'm praying I can keep the right mindset.
I have two beautiful daughters one almost 15 and the other is just 18 months!! I am hoping that losing this weight will help us all to be more motivated and more active!!

Hi, my name is Sue and I will be 51 this year. I have been married for 28 years and have a 23 year old son. We live in Arkansas. Being a short person, not quite 5ft tall, I am aiming for 125lb. When I started IP, almost 4 weeks ago, I was 171lb and I am down 13 pounds already. While I am excited about losing the weight, I worry about maintenance already. I know I can lose weight because I have doen it before but can I keep it off?
I enjoy reading all the info and began supplementing with AES shakes to help with cost before payday :). Otherwise I intend to stay as close to the IP program as possible. I feel a million times better since I started this. Since last summer, I felt really achy and after sitting for just a few minutes, I would get up and walk like an 80 year old. Now, to be fair, I have to say that I am doing IP through a chiropractor and started getting adjustments at the same time I started IP. However, my doc said, the alkalinity of the IP program was to credit more than the adjustments. Also, I have extremely high cholesterol readings (over 300 at times) and can't wait to see what that will look like next time.
I love reading all your posts and wish all of you good luck and much willpower for the journey and beyond!

I just started two days ago and have followed it completely, today is my third day and I'm gaining instead of losing?

Hi, my name is Tammy, I am going to be 43 at the end of the month and I am hoping to have met my first goal of -25 lbs by then. Would be the best birthday gift ever.

I have always been overweight and I haven't seen onederland for the last 15 years. I started IP on January 5th and I have lost 20 pounds. My goal is to lose a lot more, but I am a slow loser (at least on other plans) so I have resigned myself to the long haul with IP. Great thing is, I am not feeling deprived, and I am losing weight. My family, who are very encouraging, are also eating a lot better as they share the same supper as me every night.

You guys are great and I am glad to have this sight to come to for program answers, recipe ideas and encouragement.

Wuv you are great and an inspiration to all. I love your no nonsense attitude.

Hi everyone. I'm on day 2 of IP. Been lurking for quite a while on the blogs but had to wait to start until now due to medical reasons. The last two days on IP have been interesting, that's for sure. Some things have been great and some I had to throw out and try again. However - I'm OP 100%! Thanks for everyone's comments, recipes and wisdom. It definitely helped me get ready for this journey.

Hello, I am Sandi, I am 65 years young. I have been married to my BFF for 45 years next month, March 24. Kitechaser and I have been dieting together off and on since the early 70s and yes men always loose quicker than women. We live north of Seattle and we are still working. We have been blessed with 4 children, 4 wonderful-in-luvs, and 7 grandchildren, all of them are super wonderful. Son, daughter in luv and 2 grandsons - 8 and 10 - live 16 miles away. Daughter and son in luv and only granddaughter - 8 live 17 miles away, 1 mile from her brother. In 1972 with a 4 year 7 month old son, and 22 month old baby girl, we were blessed with twin girls (this explains our insanity) the youngest lives in Europe with her husband and sons - 5 and 2, the older twin lives in Hunt Valley Maryland with her husband and 2 sons - 4 and 3 month old baby . My parents live in North Central Texas and have been married 71 years and counting!

We are on day 4 and with each others' support we are doing pretty good. For lunch today we had soy patties with chili powder, cumin, and other seasoning crumbled over lettuce. We used hot sauce and WF catsup with Arizona dreaming mixed in drizzled over it, with jalapeños and green onions. I found the recipe on the IP recipe site but can not find it now or i could give credit to who posted it.

Hi my name is Diane, from NS I did the program last fall with success, thought I would have a cheat day , then the next week another, then before I knew it I was not trying to be op any longer. I can tell anyone here, if you've got it do not sacrifice it for anyone or anything, it's really hard to get back. The desire is there but getting back to it is very difficult, especially 30 lbs heavier.... I actually opted not to get some of our wedding pics ( got married last week down south) because I hated seeing myself back where I was almost.... Thanks for letting me babble.... S

My name is Jenn! This is the 2nd go for me on IP. I did it almost 2 years ago and lost 50lbs then was blessed to have gotten pregnant so had to stop. Later finding out I was double blessed with twin girls. They are now 9 months old and I am ready to get this weight off for good now! So to inspire myself I signed up for a 10k run in july and have started to get moving more and training. It was a rough start to get back on the diet, since finding this site it has clicked and I am feeling more confident that I will accomplish my goals! I started my cleanse today! Gonna have squeaky clean intestines after this week! haha

Well HELLO fellow IP’ers! My name is Billie and I’m a 28 year old female and today is day 17 of IP!!! I live is a very small community of 1,200 people called Alix (2 hours away from Calgary and Edmonton Alberta, Canada). I’m a mental health worker and have been working in social services for 10 years now. I have a wonderful husband who is my rock! We have 2 doggies (our “kids” lol) Roxie the Australian Sheppard and Harley the Border Collie.
My weight has always been an on and off again struggle! I was a completive swimmier in my high school years and was very active and ate whatever I wanted to and always stayed thin. I did however put on about 70 lbs at 18 when my brother was diagnosed with Schizophrenia. I kept it on for a number of years and then lost it all when I was 22. I then moved out to Calgary Alberta to gain more experience in my line of work. This is when I met my husband and slowly put the weight back on and then some more, reaching 260 and that has been on me for 2 years now and I’m miserable! So it’s time for change as we would like to have kids soon and I don’t want to be this weight and get pregnant as there are health risks! So there you have it…. My short and sweet story!

Hi all! My name is Kirstie and I'm on my 4th day of IP! Like a lot of you, I've struggled with my weight all my adult life and tried any number diets with mixed (short term!) success. But a bunch of family members have had great results with IP over the last year and I'm feeling really hopeful! I'll be 40 years old in a little over a year and I want to enter my 40s feeling a whole lot healthier than I do now -- the weight is really starting to take its toll on my knees and joints and I'm just plain tired of feeling miserable.

And so far, so good. I love how clear cut IP is -- strict for sure, but also really uncomplicated which works for me! I'm still a little hungry between meals but the headaches of day one and two are gone and I'm feeling pretty good. Obviously it's early times but I've found this place and I'm feeling pumped and ready!