Hi Everyone! :wave:

My name is Sharon and I started IP on June 14. I currently live in Louisiana. At my last Weigh-In almost 3 weeks ago, I had lost 57 pounds. I'm sure at least another 3 have come off so that I can claim 60 pounds gone! My weight loss has been slow (for this program) but very steady. I feel great!

I, too, have been overweight my entire life and am happy to say that I am no longer overweight! This diet is wonderful - and I love the IP food. I've been 100% on IP products, but will probably add alternatives to my maintenance program. I plan to phase off properly and maintain this new weight.

Welcome! You'll be glad you made this choice! The forum has been a wonderful support 24/7. It's a great motivation to network with people who are going through the same challenges and successes on this journey!

Bet of luck to all the newbies! Check in often!

My name is Kay and I live in Hattiesburg, MS. I started IP Sept. 13, 2012. I have been 100% since I started and as of today have lost 41 lbs. I am half way to goal. This is going to be an awesome new year.

My name is Lynn and I live in Manchester, Conn.

I started on April 4th and have lost 94 pounds so far.

When I turned 49 in January I told myself that I would not enter my 50's like I spent my 40's. It took me a few months to do something about it and am so glad that I found this program! I will be celebrating my 50th birthday on Sunday at least 94 pounds lighter - and much healthier - than my 49th!

I will be phasing off for my vacation in February and will be back on program the day we get back to finish. Hopefully I will get to 100# before we go!

There will always be a holiday, birthday or another reason to not stay on program. I started a few days before Easter, and brought my own meat. On this program I have learned to plan - I go online and check menu's before I go to a particular restaurant, I will bring a dish that I can eat to a gathering.

Good luck to all of the newbies in here - you can do it! This site is invaluable!! There is so much knowledge, experience and compassion here.

Everyone is so amazing here with their losses and support....newbies this site will get you thru some tough times!!!!!! This diet is amazing where you quickly see results. Easy to stick to after you get over the first 4 days. I used to hate vegetables, now I love them and will eat almost anything now. I am Kelly, live in Ontario...I lost 50lbs, started Mar 7, so it took me about 5 months to loose. Now I am back on to loose a few I have gained since August.

Welcome newbies you will do great.

Welcome IP Newbies,
My name is Tammie I started IP October 29, 2012 as of last Thursday I have lost 28 lbs. This program and site is absolutely amazing!!!

Hello! My name is Cheryl and I started IP October 12th.I've lost a little over 20# thus far. I lose a bit slower than others, but it's pretty consistent, so I'm happy with my progress thus far.

Good luck everyone starting in January 2013 and to those of you who are currently working the program! This is a wonderful, supportive group of folks here and they really help me every day to stay OP! Thank you!!:D

Thanks for tip - I was eating with food, but maybe taking it too early. I will try after breakfast and then try night if that doesn't work.

Hi - I'm Marie from PA and my stats are close to Cheryl's - I started IP on Oct. 13th and in 10 weeks, lost 20 lbs. Also slow but also consistent - no gains, so I've been happy with it.

I've been off for a couple weeks, for the holidays, but will be getting right back in to P1 this weekend. I actually just left my coach so will be on my own with this group for support. I'll use plainprotein.com for IP purchases and Nashua Nutrition for some alternatives.

My original goal was 25 lbs, so that's only 5 more to go. I may drop my goal lower when I get there, depending on how I'm feeling.

Hi there! My name is Tracy and I started IP late October and have lost just shy of 30 lbs. My coach is helpful, but this forum is where I come for the real support and encouragement! I use the IP products, but have just started to try some alternatives for a little variety. Variety is really important on this diet....it's easy to eat the same thing day after day because you know it's OP, but if you do that you get bored and risk cheating. This forum is a great place for recipe ideas.

I have a coworker who keeps a huge bowl of snack sized candy bars on her desk. Before starting IP I was eating 3-4 a day. Since starting IP I haven't had any interest in them....their presence doesn't phase me at all! I've made it through Halloween, Thanksgiving, a high school reunion, Xmas, and a variety of family functions and managed to stay OP.

My family, friends, and coworkers all know I am doing IP and they have been super supportive (except for the candy coworker...I swear she has put out even more chocolate!). And, my weight loss has stimulated several of them to try to eat healthier and lose weight.

OMG you are absolutely beautiful in your new pic!!! Way to go!!!!:hug:

My name is Mary. I am 50yrs old and Mother to a fabulous 4yr old little girl. I was closerthanthis to gastric bypass and using it as an excuse to eat with abandon until after the holidays. Well, after a few weeks of that all I felt was ill. I saw the amazing results on scorbett and decided if I am going to spend all that money on surgery, including time off, why don't I at least try this 1st and see where it takes me.

Well, I started the end of October and have lost 30lbs. It hasn't been easy 100% of the time, but I have gotten into a groove that I hope will continue as I continue this journey.

I am grateful to scorbett (Um, how many times have I said that>>;)) for all her help and for leading me here.

I am grateful for all the kind words and wonderful people here on 3fc!!!

Hi everyone! I am Amber- I am 28 and a mother to two wonderful littles that are 4 and 19 months. I started the program on August 30, 2012 and as of my weigh-in last thursday I have lost 60.5 lbs.
I have been 100% since day one and it has not been easy, but reading about how wuv has been on program as long as she has and has not cheated showed me I could do it too.

Hello fellow IPers. My name is Willi and I have lost just over 40 pounds since September 7. I was a choco-holic before IP and haven't touched a chocolate bar since I started (other than my IP treats!).

For newbies, this lifestyle change is doable (I don't like to call it a diet because I will need to keep a lot of my new habits for life). The first 4-5 days might be difficult but after that it gets easier. Planning is key to doing well!

This is a very supportive group!

Lynnie HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! you are amazing with your progress!!

Hello and happy new year to all of the IP ers! I am Jan from Texas and started IP Nov 21st...I am thrilled with my consistent weight loss, my body reshaping and my overall sense of well being. The lack of cravings and clarity of my mind continue to amaze me.
I have tried gobs of diets and most years lose some weight that I nearly always regain the following 6 months (after a weight stall). This is the first time that I feel confident that I will continue to lose! I feel certain about my ability to break thru any stall after reading the miraculous stories here on the forums. So thank you to all of the "oldies" who have taken the time, patience and love to post here!
I am determined to figure out how to maintain my weight once I reach my goal. I already feel so much better thinner and I am certain this will only continue as I am able to lose more weight!
I love these forums and send a warm welcome to all of the new 2013 "newbies". In one week you will no longer be a "newbie" and begin to feel integrated into the fold if you join in on the discussions!

The participants here are both inspirational and supportive of permanent changes in our lives. Paying what you recieve forward is the social norm for your entries and you truly never can know when what you type is the exact thing that someone else needed to read. So please feel free to join in and share your journey.

Happy New Year and NEW body everyone!
Jan

Welcome to all the newbies and Happy New Year! You will find great support here, plus lots of proof that this diet WORKS! :)
My name is Tammy, and I live in Maryland. I started IP in early October and have lost 38 pounds so far. I feel so much better, physically and emotionally, and am very excited to have found this program and this site. I have about 50 more pounds to lose, and would love to accomplish that by the end of this school year (I work in the public schools).
My resolution for 2013 is to finish what I have begun with IP and add some exercise now that I'm several weeks in.

I had that too due to the Multi Vitamins, I have always had problems with them and prenatals. I went the first week only taking them at night and then phased in the morning ones, it worked for me.

Good luck!

Hi everyone! I'm Sandra, and I'm a happily married mom with an eight year old boy. I started IP on Oct. 1, 2012 and have lost 30lbs so far. So that's 13 weeks total, at an average of 2.3 lbs per week. I stick to the diet protocol pretty well, except for minor tweaks to deal with hypoglycemia, like dividing my packets into 2 portions.

I'm very grateful that I started IP in the fall, I feel like I'm 30lb ahead in my new years resolution lol! This is the most wonderful site in the world for supporting anyone on IP. Hope everyone has a prosperous, healthy, and successful 2013!

Hi everyone and welcome to everyone new.

I've been mostly a lurker here and have posted a few times in the Fifty + thread.

I'm 59 and doing this program with non-IP brand products. A co-worker used IP to get to goal and stay there a year. I also have encouragement from two other co-workers who started IP about 1-2 months before I started. Information that I read in this forum is what made me truly believe I could do this on my own.

I was thin at 119 pounds until I was 29 when I started slowly gaining weight. I tried Weight Watchers a few times. In April 2007 at my highest weight, 212.5, I found 3FC and have participated in various forums. I lost 30 pounds with WW, South Beach and a doctor's program similar to the Mediterranean & Sonoma diets. When my weight crept back up to 193, I decided to try IP without the IP products. I started September 20th. In the first month, I lost 12 pounds and was satisfied that going it alone with alternative products was working for me. At 14 weeks I've lost 27 pounds. I'm at the lowest weight I can remember for a long time.

In addition, I really believe I will lose more, although I have to pinch myself to believe how quickly & easily I've lost what I've already lost. I'm 6.5 pounds away from a normal BMI. I have enough faith in the results that I'm buying clothes for future sizes.

Once I get to my current goal 11 pounds away I'll reassess my goal.

I've been reading ahead for the future phases and really appreciate all the information and support on this forum. Thank you everyone.

Hi and welcome ! I started the program Nov 6th and lost 13lbs. so far.A little slow but it's coming along. This diet is changing my body in different ways that I don't think 103 (goal weight) is going to look good on me. Which is good because I like the way its looking so far. Good Luck to everyone on their Journey. Here's to a New Year and a New You!!!!!

I started June 1st with the hope of losing a bunch of weight for my sister's wedding October 5th. I started at 204 and weighed 156 on her wedding day just 4 months later (48 lbs in 4 month). I took a break from the wedding until 3 days ago. I gained some weight back which I expected. I am only +2 from my first ending weight, and I am hoping to lose about 35 more pounds by May. I would love to be bathing suit ready for our beach vacation in June.

I am in San Antonio, TX, but I am originally from New Orleans. I went to LSU (geaux tigers!!) and really miss my Louisiana!

Hello,

I'm new to this forum, but I started IP on November 2nd. I have lost 37lbs. so far and have about 80lbs. to go (don't have a set goal yet). The only problem with the diet I've encountered so far is with the potassium supplement. Other than that, I love this diet; it's the only one that has worked with my thyroid problem and I feel great!

Happy New Years all!

I am Cindy and live in Montana...54 years old, life time dieter! College Professor
I started IP in June of 2012 during my summer break. I was extremely nervous about it...I think because I had gone up and down since I was 13 years old. Now I wonder why I was so nervous

I love IP. It works. I lost 30 some pounds over the summer, and went into phases 2, 3 and 4 very successfully. Now I am in reboot, something I planned for the first of the year, and I have been in phase 1 for five days...my scale says I have lost 5 pounds, which is more than my very first week last June.

My advice to newbies:

Use this forum. This was the key to my success. I have made wonderful friends here, and they support me as I support them

No excuses or complaining about how hard it is. Get into the 100% forum and stay 100% no excuses. It is not hard at all, and if it is some days, well, tough. You can do hard things (dammit!)

Check out the amazing recipies. Three threads---the IP recipies, Rainbow Smiles and LizR's threads are amazing. Have fun with veggies, and make your veggies your main dish. THAT worked very well for me.

Good luck everyone, although I don't believe in luck. We make our own success, so maybe I should say success to all!

Hi All! My name is Meg, I'm starting IP tomorrow January 2nd! Very exited for this New Year's resolution to be the one that sticks!

THIS! :bravo: :cp: :soap:

Hi, my name is Becky and I live in Wisconsin. I started this diet in April and 8 months later I met my goal and lost over 100 lbs. My incentive was my son's wedding in September which was great to be thinner for! Six weeks into the diet my 53 year old brother had a heart attack (he's doing well) which runs in our family. So that is my motivation for keeping it off or I'll be going down the same path. I am on phase 2 right now and a little nervous for the next two phases but with the help of this forum I can do it.

I can't say enough about this forum. It has helped me more than anything. My coach is great but this is where I get my questions answered and the motivation to keep going. I don't post alot but I read it all the time. So newbies, stick with it and come here often. This was the easiest and last diet I will ever do with reboots I'm sure!

Happy New Year!

P.S. Click on my name to see my before and after.

Hi
My name is Carol, I started IP on 2/16/12, by the end of June I had lost 60 pounds. (10 pounds from my goal). Early July I had bad news and fell into a depression. I turned to food as I had in the past and I gained weight as I had in the past. I have been back OP for almost a week now and I feel better, (at least about my self control & my weight). I am going to do my best to stay OP 100%, get to goal and phase off properly. The bottom line is this plan works IF you work it.

I hear allot on this forum about no cheating, no excuses. well, in my opinion if you find yourself in a bad way and you do fall back into your old ways, please forgive yourselves and get back in the game.. It is so hard to forgive yourself and start again but it can be done. PLEASE don't let shame or guilt keep you from succeeding.... After all We are only human.

Hi Everyone...and thanks for all the nice welcomes.
I started IP on 11/30 and so far am down 19 lbs. I can honestly say this is the only diet I have ever stayed on 100% through the month of December. It has me so encouraged for the rest of my journey.
I had waited years to take my whole family with us to Mexico over Thanksgiving and this year we were finally able to do it. However, I was so miserable in my own skin, it affected everything I did while we were there. I didn't want to go to the pool, the beach, the zipline etc. And I felt like everyone was looking at me the whole week! So...my sister told me about IP and how successful her friends had been on it and I started the week I got home. I've made it through a trip to Vegas, several Christmas parties and cooking for the family over the holiday. I feel like I can do this!! I come here when I need extra support. Here's to all of us making our weight loss dreams come true!!

Hi, I'm Alison and I live in Virginia. I started IP on August 31 and I have lost 60 pounds. I have gained and lost weight many times, but this is so painless, I know I can stick with it. I have had huge health benefits from this - I used to take both short acting and long acting insulin (and a lot of it) to manage my diabetes, and now I am completely off all diabetic medication. My blood pressure medication has been reduced by 75% and the diuretic part of it gone completely. So I have to say, this diet is a real lifesaver! Good luck to you all! We can get through this together!!!

This.... :) There is much talk about no cheating and staying 100% on this forum. That being said, when a person falls off, we understand that we are all human and we have all been there. Forgiving yourself and getting back on the program is what we all want for anyone who fell off. We're hard enough on ourselves as it is.

And this is one inspirational thread. :)

Re-Starting IP today 1/1/13
 

Hi All, I'm getting re-started on the program today. I was on from Nov. 2011 to May 2012 and lost 50 lbs. Didn't phase off properly, went back to my old habits, and have gained back 25 lbs. I am so ashamed,but back to try again.

We are DEFINITELY all hard enough on ourselves as it is.
How do you all think we all got here in the first place? Not eating right! If we could have done it right without help, we wouldn't be here at all! We "get" that we are not failures just because we sometimes fail.
A friend of mine once said, "If I fall on the ice in December, I don't wait until April when it thaws to get up. I get up, brush myself off, and move on. But I learn what to do so I won't keep falling."

Hi All!

Brunette here! I have bought all my food items and the EAS RTD shakes at Sam's club. I'm ready to start. I think 2013 will be a good year for us. I also want to thank all the ladies on this forum! Everyone is so nice and very helpful. Some of the before and after pictures are amazing! BTW I'm from Maryland! Happy New Year everyone!

Brunette

Well said Wuv!!! we need to support and encourage each other. Of course we are going to have times when something doesn't go right but this is what this forum is all about. Supporting each other!

Exactly! :) And your new photos, oh, wow, Wuv, just oh wow. :)

I for one thank all of you ladies on the forum for helping me get back on track.

It may not have come out right in my last post but in a nutshell, the plan works IF you work it, if you dont it wont. BUT should you slip, PLEASE get right back on track because if you dont you will be right back where you started.
Just a little advise from someone whos been there. :D

I am Ashley from the Chicagoland area in Illinois. I found IP Memorial Day in 2012 and it was my last resort diet to get ready for my wedding in October. By September I lost almost 50lbs and many inches! My fiance lost 50, my mom lost 50 and other family members and coworkers lost about the same amount....it was a contagious diet...BECAUSE IT WORKS!!

After marriage, my husband and I maintained for a while and then got crazy in December with parties, and too many high carb foods. We also officially booked our delayed honeymoon and it gives us incentive to get swimsuit ready and be focused again. We're back again starting tomorrow, our bodies are excited to feel better again, and we will work on maintaining better this time around.

Good Luck to everyone and this forum is priceless with helpful information on your journey.

Hi everyone,

I started here in late November and lost 6 pounds (good for me) and realized low carb works best for me. I put 2 pounds back on over the holiday but got back on the wagon yesterday. I ordered a 4-week food plan from diet direct which should arrive soon and I'm using up the rest of my Nutrisystem items for now. NS is very good but too many carbs for me.

I've got about 15-20 pounds yet to lose...I'll be 55 this year and really need to get myself in better shape!

Thanks to everyone here for their great ideas, support and humor! To all of us in 2013!

restart IP on Jan 4, 2013
 

Hi,
I am starting IP again on Jan 4 and I am very excited. I lost 30 pounds in July of 2010 and now I need to do it again. My goals are to lose the 30 pounds by April 1. I am trying to get into picture perfect shape for my son's wedding in June. I am so happy to have found this forum to share my journey with all of you.