Ok, I have noticed that a lot of the newbies are having troubles with the packets so I went digging to find some changes and I found this post from Jordanna. Its on one of the links on the first post of the daily chats but here it is anyways....


Ip - Tips For Newbies
♥ Instead of the Chocolate drink which is 7 carbs, why not have the chocolate pudding as a drink for only 3 carbs!! Just add 10 - 12 oz of water I like mine with a bit of instant decaf coffee, some coconut extract & a bit of splenda...so good

♥Add a bit of coconut extract to your raspberry jello for a change of flavor!

♥Turn your vanilla pudding in to a shake by adding about 10 oz of water. Add a dash of vanilla extract, a dash of cinnamon and some splenda to make it seem like a delicious no no

♥for those hungry days - Use romaine lettuce in stir fry's in place of celery or bok choy, that way you can have your 2 cups of veggies plus the lettuce in your stir fry, it makes it seem like more food but without adding carb filled veggies. Trust me, you won't even notice it's lettuce!

♥Add some diet splenda sweetened ginger ale to your raspberry jello to give it some effervescence!

♥Superstore has blue label ketchup that is comparable to my recipe - 1 carb per serving...easier than making your own ketchup.

♥I've heard the WF ketchup is similar to cocktail sauce for anyone who's looking for something like that

♥if you feel the need to cheat, have a big glass of water and wait 15 minutes, if the craving hasn't gone away then grab your favorite IP package of food; A 4th package is going to be much... better for you than any other choice

♥Having trouble getting all your salt in everyday? Sprinkle a pinch in your water bottle every time you fill it up, or add a little to your IP puddings and shakes...it won't change the taste at all and you'll be ensuring you get your required salt everyday!

♥Try a veggie you've never tried before; you might find you have a new favorite veggie. Bok Choy & Napa cabbage are two of my new low carb favorites. Don't know how to use it - try my bok choy soup recipe!

♥Make an "IP Emergency Kit" in your purse. Include a days vitamins, sea salt, an extra IP pack, some splenda packages and a WF dressing package for those emergency days when you find yourself stuck.

♥use your water flavorings in 1L of water instead of 500 mls. This will cut down on the extra carbs & artificial sweeteners/flavorings you're taking in and in a few days you won't even notice the difference anymore!

♥Don't get stuck in a rut eating the same things over and over again, it's the easiest way to get sick of a diet and cheat. Try a new recipe, prepare your veggies in a new way. Have you borrowed an IP Cookbook from your coach? Have you tried roasting cauliflower or eating asparagus raw? Shake things up, you might find a new favorite!

♥Experiment to keep it interesting!

Don't rely on the same meals over and over again to get you through this diet, that is a sure fire way to fall off the wagon. Go online and look up low carb recipes, grab one from our discussion boards, borrow a cook book from Trista, take old favorites and add new spices...change it up so that you don't get bored and give up!

Mix up the packages into new flavors - I recently started adding half a package of chocolate pudding and half a package of cappuccino to 10 oz of water then pouring it in a mug and heating it for about a minute (give or take depending on the microwave). It's delicious and comforting and rich. Next I'm going to blend it with ice to make a yummy mocha ice cap!

Have you tried a dreamsicle yet (1/2 orange drink & 1/2 vanilla pudding with 8 oz of water)?

Have you tried a strawberry delight (1/2 strawberry pudding & 1/2 vanilla pudding with 10 oz of water)

or how about a double iced cappuccino (1 pkg of cappuccino mixed and 8 oz of coffee shaken over ice).

Experimenting with flavors and new ideas will keep you on the track to success!

♥ask questions & plan ahead!!

If you go out to a restaurant you can mix and match different dishes to accommodate your needs on Ideal Protein! Most restaurants will dry grill your food, change salads around to suit your needs, pull vegetables from one entree to serve as a side dish on your entree...all you have to do is ask!

It also helps to plan ahead, most restaurants show their menu online so you can plan your meal ahead of time and have a firm plan in place by the time you get to the restaurant with hunger and a weakened resolve!

What restaurants do you eat at on IP? What do you order? Feel free to share your ideas with everyone on the forum - knowledge is power & success for us all

♥Whether you have 20 lbs to lose and you're losing it a pound at a time or 100 to lose and you're losing it 4 or 5 at a time it can get overwhelming to think about getting to that end goal. Focus on mini-goals to achieve one at a time and reward yourself along the way; before you know it, you'll be there!

I put $50 in a jar for every month I'm on program with no cheats, at the end I hope to have about $600 to put toward a new wardrobe! I've also gotten a pedicure, a haircut & a new bike as rewards for my success. We don't always have to celebrate with food!

"I can't lose 120 lbs that's too hard to do but I can lose 10 lbs 12 times, that I know I can do!"

♥Have you been craving something you can't have? Try using the flavor profile from what you crave to create a meal that will satisfy your craving but keep you on program!

Great post Wuv~~Thank you :)

Newbie checking in here :) I love reading everyone's posts so I figured it was finally time to join. I have been on IP since Nov 1st and lost 18lbs so far. Feels great. I am slightly discouraged, however. Not by the plan itself but by my coach or lack thereof. She hardly gave me any information. Anything I know about this diet is due to reading this forum. I didn't even know this diet put you into ketosis until I read it on here. She is ALWAYS late for my appointments (by 30-40 mins) which is really a bummer because I have to wrangle my three small children while waiting. She also acted inconvenienced when I wanted her to measure me at my last WI.

I thought this experience was supposed to be great with the coaches. My friend has nothing but good things to say about hers. Has anybody else had this experience? I need to talk to her about how I am not that hungry and not wanting to even eat my vegetables but I don't even want to talk to her.

Happy weekend IPers!

Every profession has it Duds! My coach was nice, sweet, kind and useless! Haven't seen her for months. My hubby picked up my food for me when he went, but I got 95% of my info and 100% of my support here on the site. Perhaps you can find a different coach???

Thanks Sherwood...I want to and need to look into it more. I think if my WI goes the same way on Tuesday then I will definitely seek out a new coach.

Hey Wuv...what did your son say???

I'd find a new coach if you can. My coach is one of my biggest supporters and always there if I have a question. She weighs me, measures me and checks my body fat at each visit. Hope you can find a more supportive coach.

OMG! I love this program!
 

I have so much thanks for those who inspired me to start this journey! I think a little of it had to do with fate, really. My brother always said, you just have to find what works for you. Well, I found it!

I went to my 4th weigh in today and was pleasantly surprised with another 3.5 loss! That's 22.5 lbs in 4 weeks! There's no turnin' back now baby!

Keep up the great work everyone! We WILL do this! With results like this, you can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel! Then, the new chapter begins... maintenance. I am so looking forward to that challenge too!

Beautiful profile pic wuv!!!!

Welcome, where are you located? lots of information along with recipes and tons of support....welcome to the family :)

Thanks for asking!! He drove up and I walked outside and he said WOW mom you look GOOD!!....dang I wouldn't of known it was you AND you are rocking an MSU shirt....HOLD ON..what size is that? I said a 2x he said OMG woman....You are smaller than me...that is SO not fair....i said YUP!!....lol....he said you are doing great mom and look fabulous! So needless to say I was ONE happy mom to see her son!

Thank you :)

:cheer3::cheer2::cheer3::cheer2::cheer3:

Wuv great post. Thanks for the ideas.

welcome:hug: