Hi to all the IPers out there. I am having an issue and need some help from you great people out there. This is my second time around and this time am really close to my goal. My last time I made it to around 165 and then quit for various reasons, of course, gaining everything back. Right now this diet is so easy for me. I have a great routine that I do everyday, no cheating in 4.5 months. I think I only indulged in a couple restricted items that whole time. But I am scared. I am scared of phase 2,3 and maintenance. What if I start eating real food and gain everything back again. I do not want to have to go buy a whole new wardrobe again! I haven't spoken to my coach about this yet, just wanted some input from some others who have been there. Thanks so much in advance.

I am only just beginning IP, but I read a LOT about the whole process before taking the plunge.

The best way to think about moving from Phase 1 to the next phase is to think about a vehicle coming to a stop. All this time on Phase 1 you've been rolling along, engine roaring down the highway. Your weight loss is the car in motion. Phase 2 is when you slowly apply the brakes to get on the off-ramp to your destination. You are adding back some foods to slow down the weight loss and get your body normalized again. Phase 3 and 4 is the process of coming to a slow stop at your final destination. You aren't adding back foods to gain the weight again, you're adding back foods to slow the engine down and stop the weight LOSS so that you can MAINTAIN your weight.

I can totally understand why it's scary, especially since it's not your first time. Just trust the program, talk openly with your coach (because you don't want to revert back to emotional eating because you're stressed about switching to a new phase), and congratulate yourself for finally hitting goal!!

Peanuts, I can understand why you are nervous. I am still at the beginning of my IP journey, but I already am having nervous thoughts about transitioning out of Phase I. I agree with scorbett, we have to trust the process. Sometimes that is easier said than done! I think that if you are having some apprehension about gaining weight, you'll probably be more cautious, therefore successful! Good luck!

I was talking this over with DW tonight, and I couldn't help but compare it to quitting smoking...you're one away from being a smoker again. I don't know how I'm going to handle maintenance...I'm trusting that I will feel so good, that it will be enough to keep me in line.

I was so miserable before starting IP...between the weight, the meds, the stress, it was overwhelming.

I never want to go back to that again. I'm planning on eating low carb for the rest of my life, but I'm also a diabetic, so this is literally life and death for me.

Congratulations on your success! Your transformation is life-long . . . you'll never be the same again. Onward and upward!

My coach and I already talk about this even though I have a way to go. My strategy will be to set a top weight, I.e. goal is 169, top weight will be 179. I need to weigh myself periodically and if I get close to 179 then I go back to phase 1. My coach suggests even planning these resets every 6-12 months. Reset would be phase 1 for 2 weeks, phase 2 for 2 weeks, phase 3 for 2 weeks. We know the tools that helped lose the weight so we can rely on those for the rest of our life to maintain.

I also suggest you start reading the maintainers thread as they are going through it too. Stay here for support and to support others.

Thank you for all the posts. I feel the same way. I still have quite a ways to go and I dont ever want to go back to my old weight/issues. I look forward to learning from all of you.

this was a GREAT analogy!!

Love the way you illustrated this... as I'm heading to Phase 2 soon.