One thing to consider, as far as IP goes, is that eating carbs and stalling weight loss is a momentary thing. It is short-sighted. Our goal is to "fix" the problem, i.e. our pancreas. When we eat off plan carbs, we are not resting our pancreas. Resting the pancreas, then reawakening it slowly is the key to keeping the weight off physically. Much of the binging and some of the cravings are more a psychological thing. We need to become aware of our destructive behaviors and make an effort to change how we cope with stress & triggers. We can have the best diet in the world (IP) but if we don't change the other stuff, the weight will come back because the old habits were never changed. I read somewhere on this board a quote that has saved me several times. “Not NEVER…just not NOW”. There have been foods I wanted to eat because they were seasonal. Instead of eating them, I bought them and set them aside for when I am done and it’s time for my “free” day.
I hear people say “I’ve been good and I felt I deserved a treat.” The problem is that the treat is like poison. It’s not a healthy fuel for your body and your body tells you so after you consume it. If you view IP as torture, you set yourself up for failure. Same thing if you view the processed food (carbs) as the best food ever. If you look at processed food as it truly is, a less than healthy food that you will be able to eat once a week, if you choose, once you are into Phase 4, you will have made a great strive toward success.
I believe that the only thing we can truly control in our lives is how we react to what life gives is. Everyone has heard of someone who had a smile on their face despite tragic circumstances. And every knows someone who has it really good and complains ALL the time that life is terrible. In both cases, it is how each person arranged their mind, and the way they look at things that makes one happy with nothing and the other unhappy with everything.
The same thing goes with you and IP. Start by telling yourself you are valuable, even if you don’t yet believe it. You ARE valuable and you WILL believe it if you keep telling yourself you are. Then, the next time you want to binge, tell yourself “I am valuable. The food I crave is not healthy and is not good enough for me. I can have it later (phase 4) if I still want to”. For now your health is too valuable to give it up for that bag of XXX.
Everything is just a MIND GAME. One YOU can control!