I'm on strictly alternatives & I order my restricted from NashuaNutrition. I get the chocolate soy balls & they're delicious! Just because you're on alternatives doesn't mean you HAVE to suffer ;) haha. I'm paying more now for food a month than I ever have, but it's worth it. I may not be able to afford "IP" but I can afford my own version. If you can afford IP & need a in real life coach, then by all means go for it :D

Very well said, couldn't agree more!!

Thanks guys for all the help! I guess I thougth the nausha nutrition and other alternatives did not really have things comparable to IP. I knew they had the puddings and some drink mixes but not the crunchy salty stuff ;) If I had to I think I might be able to afford IP but don't really see the need, I think it would make finances super tight, I'm feeling I can do okay with out a coach, I guess I will keep reading and keep trying to find things that are offered on other websights. I just don't want to mess up and be having more than I should when I know IP works.....

You are all so great and I love all the help and support! THANK YOU!!!

Again, read read read the stickys on the first post of the daily threads. If you are doing this without a coach there is a wealth of info there. That was the only way I could figure out the alternative equivalants of the IP foods.

Couldn't agree more. I think I will always be a foodie! This site and all the creative people have inspired me to stay on plan. I find myself really thinking about and creating good choices.

Mini goal hit!!!!
 

My first big-mini goal was to make
It to the lower 200s and today I did it!! I'd been stuck at 250.4 for 3 days and today was 248.4! Yeah!!! Onederland here I come!!!!!!!
This is it. This is real. This is forever!:D

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!

I just looked at Nashua Nutrition today, and Proti-thin has quite a few crunchy yummy-looking foods that I might try: chili, BBQ, sour cream & onion, or sea salt & vinegar soy snacks, chocolate covered soy snacks, cookies, and even some pasta (I know, not crunchy, but I've never seen it before). ProtiDiet has a couple of crunchy cereals as well. The only thing I've tried are the chocolate covered soy puffs - they are yummy. I think most of these would be restricteds, but I'm pretty sure they would be restricted on IP as well.

ETA: HealthSmart brand has cookies that would work as a restricted, and proti-thin has a chocolate chip sweet roll that WOULDN'T be restricted. How have I not seen these before?

Grrr. Just had my weigh-in and only lost 1 pound. I thought it would be more, since the week before was my TOM, and I only lost 2. I guess it's in the right direction, but it makes me feel like it's going to take forever. I was hoping to get to goal by end of May, but maybe I need to scrap that date. Probably best to just set a weight goal instead.

(Not gonna lie, I was hoping for a bigger loss this week, especially since I've been struggling with the diet). Maybe next week?

Congrats! Such a great feeling, isn't it?

Hi JK! We are almost exactly together in this battle! You started 7pds below me and you are 7 pds below me now! How are you doing?

I survived the super bowl party-I took an IP cookie-and needed it-I was ready to deny the nacho cheese dip-but when someone had brought pepperoni pizza I grabbed my cookie!

Has anyone figured out if there is a reason sometimes we lose 7 and sometimes 1?? Is it exercise? salt/water? :dizzy:

My mom had to cut way back on pickles. When she eats them, her weight loss is much, much less! I think on this diet it's easy to eat sodium filled foods, or season our meals with too much salt. Also, remember your body will need to play catch up every now and then, especially if you have a week with a really big loss. As long as the inches are still coming off, don't worry about the pounds!

YAY! You can do it...we started at pretty much the same weight and look where I'm at now. Hopefully i get the big 100lbs next week! It IS such a great feeling :)

I drink the EAS AdvantEdge Carb Control drinks as well. I have not had too many problems with being hungry after. The only time that I find I am hungry an hour or so after are the times that I do not have my snack shake at night before I go to bed. If you are not having one for a snack at night you might want to give it a try. And the times that you get hungry an hour or so after drink a shake, have one of your cups of veggies.

I am such food aholic, I love food and that is all I used to think about. But being on this plan I have finally learned the difference between a true hunger and a head hunger. If my stomach gowls, I will drink some water and go fix myself a cup of hot tea drink it. If after about 20 minutes my stomach is still growling, I will eat some veggies. 9 times out of ten now the water and tea take care of it.

I honestly never thought that I would beable to follow thru with this plan after I started because I knew how much I love to eat. But I have made it this far and the food addicition has actually subsided. You can do this, when you are feeling hungry try the water and tea first and wait at least 20 minutes, because it takes that long for it to register with your brain.:dust:

You have alot of support on this forum and we are always here for you!! Stay strong and keep telling yourself that YOU ARE worth it.

Oh my gosh I am sooo cold today! I have my heater cranked up to about 76 in my office. Good thing I don't share with anyone haha. We went out for our (late) work Christmas party on Saturday to a Brazilian gill. I think I could have ate most of the meat that was served but was not 100% sure about the way it was cooked and didn't want to chance it. I opted to just order a steak and asparagus with salad bar. They brought the desert tray over and we got one of each for everyone to share. I just sat there and smelled them as they went by. That was totally good enough for me. I feel so much better if I can get a good whiff of things I miss having. It seems like the smell is often better plus there is no guilt with it :) I hope everyone has a wonderful Monday.