First of - WUV congrats on your 119lbs :)

And you're stronger than me cause i find it exhausting reading post after post about cheating, etc. I remember when i started 6 months ago..there were a few strugglings but very rarely would people cheat over and over.

For me and according to my coach being on plan 100% is not that black and white. In my humble opinion.

1) indulge in any carbs and you are off plan.
2) go against what IP or your coach approves and it's off plan.

It's been over two weeks now and we have been 100% in accordance to what our coach has approved. I do elliptical everyday and burn between 300-500 calories, for example we have 1 egg (70 calories) between lunch and supper to keep from really losing it and our coach approved it. Is that off plan, no since it's approved by our coach. After two weeks as a couple we've lost 28.6 pounds.

I have in front of me the Official Ideal Protein Spring/Summer recipes book and in some recipes they call for such things a Splenda, Lime/Lemon juice, and on page 16 they call for 1 1/2 cups of plain yogurt, on page 18 they have 2 tlbs of blanched almonds ect...

Even the official Ideal Protein recipe book isn't even 100% on plan. To me being 100% on plan is what your coach approves for you according to your health and fitness requirements.

I sure hope we can all come to an agreement so this thread will continue to exist. It sure would be nice to come to a place with others who are like minded in how they do IP each day. I don't mean like minded in having Splenda or not, but rather knowing that having a slice of pizza is just not an option for us.

Of course we wouldn't want it to be a thread of we're better than you, but rather a thread for those of us who decided to commit to this way of life 100 percent. None of us are perfect, if we were I guess we wouldn't have gained so much weight. We all make decisions in life, and for right now there are those of us who have decided (for each his own reason I'm sure) not to cheat at all on IP. I guess this would be our "safe" place.

I agree! :)

I don't have a coach... doing this solo with alternatives but I follow the IP protocol as close as I can.

I did the program for about 5 months or more before I cheated. I phased off for vacation right before Christmas and it's been a struggle getting back on plan. I have about 20 more pounds I'd like to lose and it's coming off, but I doubt I'm in ketosis. The one thing I will say is that my cheats are different than they would be had I not been on IP. I cheat with string cheese or a handful of peanuts. I know a cheat is a cheat but in my book, if it's not cookies and bags of chips or ice cream or something, I'm learning something. And one little thing is all I need. Not the whole container of peanuts.

So, anyway, it's great to be op. It's what you NEED to lose the weight! And like someone else said, it's so hard to stop once you've allowed yourself to do it so STAY ON PLAN! But make sure you are doing it for the right reasons and learning in the process. If you live to get done, it's all coming back! This is a lifestyle change and a habit maker. Good luck to all of you!

Are you sure you are not reading in the maintenance thread? That is the only place I read about "cheat" days which is actually not a very good name for a necessary part of the program.

I am with you, just finishing up week 3! It has been easier than i thought it would be. They say one day at a time, but, really, it is one meal at a time. Reading this post has been a very helpful too for me. I don't know if I would have been his strong without it. I love reading the stuff from the newbies as well as the long timers. I am off to my weigh in. Good luck to all, keep posting and keep up the non-cheating!

Well said. My coach actually recommended the 2 egg whites, she said it was an excellent source of protein fow very low cals.
I don't think we need to get our knickers in a twist because of some slight changes in what coaches interpret. The important thing is to keep monitoring what works for you.

Pat

ooooh I like this thread. I am no cheater. I have tough days but I dont give in. I am even scared to use MIO, splenda or some of the other things some people use for flavoring. I am 100% OP allll the time :)

[QUOTE=Ishbel;4186594
Lately I'm having a bad taste in my own mouth from feeling that there is too much cheating asking for support getting it and only starting the cycle over again. I had my cheat (a drink during week 12 and lost only .2), did I learn? YUPPERS I DID! :) If you stumble, dust yourself off, get some support, confess, whatever you need to do and plug along I'll be there for you! But if you're tumbling you have to figure it out.

Do I consider cheating mio? egg whites? etc etc...if your coach says they're not cheats then they are not cheats. Is eating pizza/pasta for your supper a cheat, doesn't matter what your coach says...it's a cheat.

[/QUOTE]


This is a case in point about what my issue with this topic.

As far as I know I haven't cheated but can't guarantee what is actually in things I eat when I am in a restaurant so can't say I have been 100% OP.

But I lose very slowly and couldn't take the stress of thinking I would get the boot because I was losing at the rate of a pound to a pound and a
half a week and went to alternatives, saved a bundle and am almost at goal.
But Ishbel, you are a total sucess story, one I really consider a role model and I am always inspired by your posts.

You say you had a drink for what ever reason at week 12. Following the line of reasoning of 100% or you are out you would have been gone. But you got right back on track and are more than 100 pounds down. So that makes mush more sense to me than one strike and you are gone.

Coming to the end of phase 1 I finally realised I don't lose when my regular meal options are always very low fat such as chicken breasts. I am thinking an issue was not getting everything in rather than having a few egg whites. Pizza is so far off my radar I don't think I'll ever eat it again.

Starting on Thursday, and the cost of the program, compared with being told that while I am 26, I am living in a body aged 42 makes me not want to cheat, I was even given a box of Bars, and reading through these pages, I am not going to touch them until I am on my 5th week!

Willpower is an amazing thing!

Cheers/S...

However, the bars (or at least one restricted a day) are part of a carefully balanced program that much research has gone into. It is went I cut things out I don't lose.

Lynsey, I don't mean this to be offensive...but did you read the book? When I did I completely bought into the science of the program so yes it's not a big bag of cookies or chips but your cheese sticks have natural sugar in them. The nuts have higher fat. If you get back to where you were you'll get your head back in the game and 'git r' done'.

Quite simply, if you don't cut it out you may lose your 20 lbs to goal but you're highly likely to gain it all right back. You MUST give your pancreas the rest this diet intends for it. Or, all your hard work will be for nothing. The quicker you get back into ketosis, the easier it will be. You might not like what I'm saying...but I'm saying it nonetheless.


Actually I found it to be a thread that 100% OP people could stick together not a "one cheat and your out" thread. It's become a defensive back and forth and is therefore full of tension. If we were all in a room I bet a knife could cut the tension.

I'm tired and can be exhausted by people who are in a continuous tumble vice a stumble (like my drink at week 12). Mine was a planned drink, I learned from it. I don't even think I whined about it on here...I actually got mad at myself and my inner voice said "ok, I did it, it's ok focus on the end, keep plugging alone my girl". FYI - I was OP until then AND my coach actually encouraged me to have a drink as a treat (she was new). lol - I still love her, we have our own special relationship.

What I was attempting to do, was use it as an example of a 'cheat'...and moving on. Not a continous cycle of where I need continuous support. I do need support and I get it in various different ways but it can't all be one sided on this forum. We're all on different paths but on the same journey. Some of us will stumble some of us will tumble. If you stumble get your support and move along...if you tumble...figure it out...only you can figure it out and get your head back in the game.

Again, I didn't find this thread at all "one cheat and you're out" I was like "oooooo....maybe I can call this home?!"

NO cheating for me either..
 

I am on board! NO cheating from me. I am starting my program tomorrow...and promise no cheating from me, I am so tired of being unhealthy.