Coaching failures ... I originally posted these comments on another thread...
I see sadly from the previous posts, ...that the philosophy of how to help clients is also quite a bit variable, and possibly damaging. This plan's not perfect...and neither are we .... or anybody else!!!
How dare a coach intimidate or ridicule! Another of my opinions..
If this is their job...and they are guilty of the above..., they are facing a bigger failure of self than any cheating. Add that to the list of what needs to be watched for. A coaching failure ...
#25
65X65
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 27
Fairly new. Perspective.
This is long...and purely my experience and opinion.
BUT..I see a lot of variation in what we are being told. However; I know the main responsibility for success with this program lies with me. With that being said...I see gaps either in knowledge/training or ability of some coaches and perhaps some centers to dispense accurate guidance. And the center I go to has given me a decent number of issues for me to recognize some of what they are doing could be incorrect! Reading what some of the other IP participants on this site are being told...confirms this is not isolated. This is, after all a business ... to someone. It might be aligned with health care, but the products are expensive, the information on the IP site is guarded. Anything that makes money for someone else, opens a potential door for someone else's objective to overtake my own!
My coach has made mistakes calculating my total weight loss, and has made chart transcription errors. (All in only three weeks...)
Today I asked for a copy of my WI chart so I can make sure I agree with and can manage my numbers. Several fairly simple questions I have asked for clarification on, measuring vegetables..( she told me cooked)....and portion sizes for the animal protein...( she told me 4 whole eggs or 8 oz of animal protein....). Both of these done regularly would lead to more carbs and calories...and impact loss. Also I need Gluten Free packets, and was given incorrect info on that last week...I think she does not know what gluten is. Starting today, I tell her what I want ...and don't rely on her verifying the GF issue.
So far in three weeks I am at just under a 9 lb weight loss...so this works...but not because of consistent good coaching and help I've received.
A few things I've learned on my own involve:
1. Time taking thyroid meds. I was told by the coach soy "does not interfer with thyroid replacement meds.." Just google that...it sure does!! Since H20 intake on this diet is so high...I wake up between 2-3 AM and keep the thyroid meds by the sink and take my meds then. This was also suggested to me years ago by an endocrinologist...This is working for me....it relieved my feeling cold all the time. I feel sure the meds are working again. That of course also has jilted my metabolism. I lost 4 lbs this week, after a 2 week slow start. If I start to see backsliding...I'll head of to my internist for a TSH/thyroid panel to discuss if dosage should be adjusted while I am doing this. I don't want to add soy as a restriction just yet....If I can get through a few months with out having to do that I think it will be easier. Don't want to have to order anything else online. The simplicity of this program is what is attractive to me.
2. I am GF so the snack bars and restricted IP foods are NOT on my protocol. They are interestingly enough, higher in calories...so with in the week...I have a bit of wiggle room to ever so slightly boost my animal protein at dinner. If I am ravenous...and a boiled egg white or another 1/2 cucumber does not fix it...I am gingerly adding an extra ounce of chicken or what ever animal protein is my flavor of the day. As I said...I lost 4 lbs.... almost 2X what I'd lost the previous 2 weeks.
3. I retain water...some of us do. Some of the packets have way high sodium....!!! I am also restricting those myself to only a 2 packets during the entire week.
4. I've been 100% compliant ...when I verify it all on my own. Listening to the coach....well....
5. I plan to be on this for about 6 months...( going forward then with a lifetime adjustment to eating...) I feel like the lack of variation in what I can have will not be the end of me. This is an end to a means! And I am the master of that end.
So, I feel it's imperative to use our own intelligence and common sense...knowing what I am putting in my mouth...even if it is in an IP packet....is what is going to determine my success. At some point it will all come down to that anyway. A huge variable is everyone's metabolism and physical status are different. Unless we take responsibility or at least share understanding ourselves ...we are vulnerable to someone else's motives trumping our own. If anyone...even the coach tells me something that sounds tooooo good to be true...it probably is wrong.
This is a great program, but I see many people have found they can not give up control of the process to the company, coaches or center in order to meet their goal.
My opinion is also that the products and the theory of how this works is sound.....but buyer beware.
Again this is my opinion and based on my initial weeks experience.
Thank you everyone for your feedback! I think what made me most frustrated was that I was clearly asking her for help to not cheat, in a way that I know that I will respond well to. Small goals, daily goals (of not cheating, of staying on plan) make more sense to me than just - never cheat. I've run plenty of marathons to know that I cannot run 26 miles... but I sure can run 10, and then 5 more, and then five more, than then can take on the rest one mile at a time.
This diet has been working for me. I've lost about 15 pounds (slowly, it's been about 5 weeks), and many inches. I LIKE this diet. The diet has changed the way that I eat. That said, I have decades of food issues to deal with, and I was hoping that I would have someone who would help me with them. I don't think they just go away over night.
I suspect that she will not let me buy food (which - totally don't get that business model), but I'm getting more excited about the alternatives.
It sucks - I would recommend this diet, but NOT the business model. I do wish that they would let me just buy the food online - which I would do, even though it's more expensive than the alternatives. I especially wish that I could pick my own coach.
You can buy the food online. Go to plainprotein.com The prices are the same as most clinics. I don't know if you are in the US. I am in Canada so had to pay more for shipping but it is better to US addresses.
This is a great program, but I see many people have found they can not give up control of the process to the company, coaches or center in order to meet their goal.
My opinion is also that the products and the theory of how this works is sound.....but buyer beware.
Again this is my opinion and based on my initial weeks experience.
I have to agree with this 100%
I have water retention issues, so I only eat the lower sodium choices. I'm a non-insulin diabetic, but my body cannot handle the restricted choices, so I don't eat them. I've also found other companies (other than IP foods, such as Health Smart) that have good protein foods with less carbs than IP, which is what this diabetic body needs.
I follow the sheet, only eat within what is allowed, (veg and meat) but I have had to make a lot of little changes to the "just do what we tell you" type plan.
You can buy the food online. Go to plainprotein.com The prices are the same as most clinics. I don't know if you are in the US. I am in Canada so had to pay more for shipping but it is better to US addresses.
I found this company very good to deal with.
I am in Canada, but use a USA drop box, because I'm close to the border. I saved a little bit on the price of food compared to my coach's sales. AND within in the USA, it's free shipping and at least to Washington State, there's no tax, which I have to pay in Canada.
The shipment came within 1 week, and they seem to be a really good company. I will definitely order from them again.
I know that I've seen other threads on bad coaches, but I'm not finding them easily.
This is such a good diet, but I'm frustrated that we can't find a coach that fits our own personality. My coach is the wrong one for me. She doesn't seem to really listen to me, she always feels rushed, I don't feel like I can be honest with her (I know that I can't be honest with her - when I asked her about wine early on, her response was - I'm so glad you asked. If you have a glass of wine, you'll be immediately kicked out of the program.... way to make sure that I NEVER report it if I did have wine). She made me feel guilty about traveling for work (and once again, threatened to kick out out of the program if I can't weigh in in person, despite the fact that I told her in advance about the travel).
Last week was the final straw. I have a very challenging job. I've been having issues with small cheats. I don't want to have the small cheats, and want to find a way to get back in control. I was asking for small goals that we can work through to help me with that (be 100% for a day - the reward being the feeling of the control, and repeating the next day), and her response was great, and if you can't stay 100% on goal for the entire week, we need to transition you to phase two. Having that stick come from her, vs. come from me, just made me angry. I immediately went to McDonalds (and I don't even LIKE fast food). I felt like I had regressed into a teenager, acting out.
SO - now that I'm done being angry, I'm going to try to start up again. I sent her an email letting her know that I was not able to stick to 100% this week, that the stick was a trigger for me to overeat. My expectation is that she will either move me to phase two or kick me out (which seems so counter intuitive to me as a business model, but whatever). That said, while her plan for me is to move me out to phase two or to kick me out, I actually really want to be on this diet, and want to be on phase one. It's been working for me (other than me not liking my coach), I've been losing weight slowly but consistently, and I think that if I move to alternative products and start finding small goals (being 100% on plan day by day) I can do phase one successfully.
Has anyone had experience with being moved to phase two by the coach, but actually staying on phase one with alternative products? Should I just quit the program all together, and work my own program? Any good advice? Doing the program entirely on my own seems really scary, but perhaps I can do it now that I understand the program better.
Sorry about your experience, I was wondering if we go to the same clinic lol then saw you are in a different state you can do this alone, getting products online, and using this site as support/advices/tips/etc, I have learned that this is about me and that thinking is what keeps me going, if I dive into food I will be paying the consequences, no my coach, she still is making money and I'm gaining fat, I also learned that this program is not for everybody, I had to re-evaluate and make sure I was committed to the program, after a soul check I was able to start over and be successful - Good luck to you and feel free to contact when you need a ear
Well, this program is what it is - I am not 100% surprised to hear your story. I have been part of an Obesity Management program where everyone you spoke to was a physician (obesity specialist, endocrinologist or psychologist) and you never had this kind of thing - but - that program cost $700 a month back in 1996. This program is relatively cheap so you do not get the highly trained health providers talking to you. I feel lucky that my coach is at least an RN and the program is run out of my cardiologist's office, so there is always a doctor "on call" to her if she has a question or suspects a medication should be changed. Does your clinic have more than one coach or is this the only one you can go to? There may be other clinics in your area that have programs and you might be able to find a coach who is more willing to work with you.
MMMC - I am a coach... Lost 52 lbs on IP and started seeing clients late last summer. I like to think that I have a "mentor" relationship with my clients. I agree that is important to work with people's lifestyles (work, travel, etc) & be supportive but not enable "cheating". I must disagree with you on one point:
DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL WHILE YOU ARE IN KETOSIS
"A person who is ketotic is 100% reliant on gluconeogenesis to maintain adequate levels of glucose in the blood. If, under these circumstances alcohol is taken, the person will become disorientated and might lose consciousness, not just from the alcohol, but from low blood sugar. Needless to say, this could be very dangerous, and even fatal."
Good luck to you and I wish you continued success!
DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL WHILE YOU ARE IN KETOSIS
"A person who is ketotic is 100% reliant on gluconeogenesis to maintain adequate levels of glucose in the blood. If, under these circumstances alcohol is taken, the person will become disorientated and might lose consciousness, not just from the alcohol, but from low blood sugar. Needless to say, this could be very dangerous, and even fatal."
Pamelama is RIGHT.
The basic concept of ketogenesis is probably the most important physiologic piece of how this diet works. But, what we put in our mouth is only half of the issue to achieve success. There is psychology. "Know thyself" my mom used to say... What is in our head is the other half and maybe the most important element of all, and everyone is different. If this is all adequately explained on the front end...it might take more than a poor coach to incite derailing most of us!!
Coming to terms with the control piece was a big..NO HUGE... deal for me. I played around with dieting for the last few years ...and KNEW in my heart... my head was not really there yet. Once my head got wrapped around wanting this.....I was ready. I'm sure I'd NOT be successful if I left any of the decisions..big or small.... up to someone else. That kind of control in life is important to me in anything that matters.... Maybe that is why there are so many different plans that work. I could not find one that worked if someone else was calling the shots. For those that want that there are probably other plans that are really well suited because they allow...(some even encourage!!!) a little cheating. This one blows up once that happens. Money..time and lbs lost all wasted.
For me at almost the 1 month mark now, it is now most important not to veer until I reach goal. When I was still working...all those profiles given in the workplace pinpointed me as goal oriented...so I know this will work for me..but being older...it is going to take me much longer than if I'd gotten my head right 10 years ago...sigh.....
Those broader eating/diet plans gave me too much leeway to blame someone else.... Now if I slip...it's all on me baby...!
Pamelama...I feel like I'm on my own in this because my coach is NOT like you...and where I live, this is the only place that offers this plan. I learned about it in Texas when visiting my daughter...and could only find 1 place that offers it locally with out traveling almost 60 miles....one way. Once I reach the end of this...I'll try to use alternative products for the rest of my life to keep things there.
And for now --- I will get my "coaching" from all of you instead....but for those struggling.....don't give up the fight..! We all get the challenges faced here.....truly!!! But if life makes this plan wrong...don't give up!!! Try one of the plans that works better with the pressures of job related stress and situations. Especially travel. I get that...this diet would not have worked for me 10 years ago...no way. And as an aside, I have not yet shared what I am doing with my husband because I can't deal with another all too public failure. My daughter in Tx knows though, and she is great.........but she is 1500 miles away.
Pam, I do know that not drinking while on this diet is important, for many reasons. I support that too (I work in a high stress profession where drinking is the norm, so it's actually really nice to take a break). One thing to consider with your coaching.... if the answer is just, you are never allowed to do this, you will be kicked off the program if you do.... you may have some people respond well to that type of coaching, and you may have some people say yes, I agree... and then just lie to you about it.
I do think that I would be less likely to cheat if I knew that I could be open with my coach. I know that I would put it on myfitnesspal.
I know what you mean. Last week, I interrupted my coach's rambling to say, "Look, I care about my health and well-being WAY MORE than you do. I know you are vested in this protocol, but I am vested in my LIFE...let's get that straight right off the bat."
She looked stunned for a second, and then said, "Yeah, well, I guess that makes sense, you're right, I'm sorry."
I think that, sometimes, my coach needs a "reminder" that she is NOT a doctor, and she is not God. Maybe your coach is the same way?
I feel bad that so many of you have had bad experiences with coaches. My coach is great and I really look forward to seeing her every week and getting any questions I have answered.
I think the thing that frustrates me the most is that I am bought into the program. No drinking? No cheating? AMEN, Awesome. Totally down with that. I want that. If I could just do that by saying or hearing that, I would. What I was hoping from the coach was practical help to achieve that*. Just saying don't do that - doesn't help me, because I know that I shouldn't. HOW do I not do that. What habit can I start that will replace me grabbing food when I'm stressed/ depressed.
(Have you read the Power of Habit? AWESOME Book). I was hoping to find someone who could help me see patterns that I wasn't seeing. I was hoping for someone that I could be totally honest with. I was hoping for a partner in this. It's an expensive program... I should have that.
*Example - I was having problems with a cheat in the afternoon - Bad days, I would grab a couple of nuts. When I really explored that, it wasn't the nuts, or the carbs or the fat that I was missing. It was the days that I hadn't eaten vegetables earlier in the day. I was cheating because I needed something to crunch. Eating celery at 11 removed the urge for a handful of nuts at 2. It wasn't hungry, it wasn't being weak, it was a pattern that needed to change. Yes, I got there on my own, but I was hoping that I would have a coach to help me find those patterns.
But, you're right, I can do this myself. Today, my goal is to be 100% on plan, and this forum has a tremendous amount of information and help.
Coaching failures ... I originally posted these comments on another thread...
you can do this alone, getting products online, and using this site as support/advices/tips/etc, I have learned that this is about me and that thinking is what keeps me going, if I dive into food I will be paying the consequences, no my coach, she still is making money and I'm gaining fat, I also learned that this program is not for everybody, I had to re-evaluate and make sure I was committed to the program, after a soul check I was able to start over and be successful - Good luck to you and feel free to contact when you need a ear 
.....but she is 1500 miles away.
