I will give a little history. I have been on IP for a little over 7 weeks and have lost 22lbs. The last two weeks I have stayed the same weight even though I have followed protocol. I was feeling so frustrated not seeing that scale move and feeling like if things continue at this rate it will be so long before I can eat “Regular” food. I started thinking about all the things I can’t wait to eat after I am done with this, you know on my 1x a week “cheat day.” So I go to The County Fair with my 15 month old and see the mini doughnut booth, that when it started. After the mini doughnuts it was like I screwed up already I might as well keep going. So then it was mini corn dogs, hamburger, fries, chocolate shake, and fig newton’s at home. I felt so sick, ashamed, angry & guilty. I vowed that it wasn’t worth it and I needed to get back on the “horse.” The next day I’m at a relatives and she says “I’m making homemade pizza for supper, can you have that on your diet?” I say “no, but I will.” What??????????????? So here we go again, the day after I vow it wasn’t worth it! So here I am up 3.5 lbs in two day (how is that possible?) and I hate myself for this. Please share your thoughts and experiences with me. I know I’m not alone but sometimes I feel alone.

It is so hard to diet, and stay 100% all the time. Don't beat yourself up about this. Get right back on it, and know that these slip ups are part of the journey. We all have our own moments of weaknesses and daily struggles. Forgive yourself, love yourself, and Continue on...

One of the best things I've seen in these forums is when folks go through a part of what you went through, the week or two with no weight loss. Then, they report back that POW, they just had a 4 pound loss. What was so great about reading those was that it gave me an insight of what is to come. The little to no weight loss times are expected. So, best advice I would give you is just forget about your tumble off the horse (if it were just a piece of cheese it would be a slip, but I am afraid you tumbled off that horse ) So, pick yourself back up and keep going!!

Hi Sherah! I'm so sorry to hear about your experience. I'm a newbie struggling through my 2nd week and I think people like you who have been on the plan for a while and have lost that much weight are inspiring. The fact that you slip up every now and then doesn't make you any less so, it makes you more human, and all the more inspiring for us beginners to see you have struggles and still be able to recover. So you may have stumbled this once but we know you're strong enough to keep going. We're all here for you.

You can try what I do. Everymorning I tell myself "I'm not going to cheat today." I do that all day long anytime I am tempted. It's gotten me through 5 weeks and I feel like I can do this every day for the next 20 weeks.

I'm not sure how creative you are with your meals, but I think that might help. On all my previous diets I did the same thing as you. I would just break down one day and binge on all the stuff I missed. Everyday I would say tomorrow I will start again. Then the next day I would binge again.

Now I make things like the cauliflower fried "rice", big mac bowl, zuchini muffins, chocolate pudding cake, etc. It helps me when I feel like I am not missing out on anything. I have to admit though, I still would love to have a slice of pizza. Havent found a good alternative to that yet.

You can do this. Just take it one day at a time.

I totally get where you are coming from. I baked a lovely lasagne last evening for my family and guests served with cheese buns and butter. Smelled SO good, and I don't even like lasagne as a rule. Dinner was followed by lemon merigue pie (which I enjoy). It was difficult to sit and watch others enjoy while I ate my meal, but with that said, there will come a day when I can partake in some of these foods again (being conscious of my choices and in moderation). DO NOT GIVE UP!!! It is 3.5 pounds. Get back into ketosis and those pounds and more will go. Don't beat yourself up - if you do, it is easy to wallow in your own misery and throw in the towel. It is 3.5 pounds you've gained back - not 100. Maybe this slip-up was meant to teach you something - perhaps you are like me in that I CANNOT allow myself to contemplate cheating - I am an all or nothing person - if I allowed myself to cheat I would use it as an excuse to just throw in the towel - but DO NOT DO THAT!!!!! You have come so far - it was a mistake, hitch up your pants and get back on the "wagon". You can (and are) doing this! Focus on the positives (you have been OP for 7 weeks) and use the slip up as a teaching tool.

I was soooo off program on Saturday that it was pathetic...BUT...with all my other attempts at dieting I just gave up and belittled and berated myself so badly that I totally gave up.......this time I jumped back up and fasted until supper on Sunday ( not part of IP but I felt it's what I needed) when I made a delicious chicken and veggie dish. 100% back on track in no time!!
Don't give in ! Keep plugging along...encourage yourself and don't beat yourself up. No one is perfect...this is real life and we're all human.
Have a great 100% OP week!

I know you wrote this to some one else BUT I needed it more than you will ever know!! Thanks for kicking my butt! Needed it big time.

I had a bad weekend too! Just the compounding effects of everything. But I didn't beat myself up as much as you did. I realize sometime things just spiral out of control, even with the best intentions. So yesterday I said okay. Stop. Start over RIGHT NOW! and I did. Because I am not willing to throw in the towel. Most importantly I know I could have made it a whole lot worse and I didn't. I did exercise an awful lot of self control given the circumstances and to be honest I am very proud of myself for that. So I guess I am learning and that is a huge plus for me. You'll be okay, just put on your big girl pants and get back on the journey with us.

I feel ya! I'm so good up until Saturday's then it's really tough. For me, cake, sweets, etc is not tempting...it's those couple of glasses of wine that I used to have with my husband that I miss. We just bought a new home, my birthday is coming up and we're having a huge house warming next Saturday and I'm just dreading not being able to have "fun" is guess. I'm not an alcoholic by any means but I do enjoy a few drinks with my friends...just hard.

I know it's not forever but on the weekends it seems to drag!

'WUV' that is some awesome tough love! AND you know we all need just that, tough love! Thanks for that!!!!

And I will not cheat, mostly of my own willpower but slightly out of fear from you fussing me! I know you are a southern lady b/c that is exactly how I 'fuss' my friends about their men drama haha!

Learn from it and move on...We are all human and make mistakes.. You can do this... Ive lost 75 pounds and Ive broke down and cheated and got right back on the IP wagon ..!!! Stay positive