[lisa32989]

Originally Posted by Ruth Ann

You're quite welcome!

And for the record, I don't think Lisa was trying to be difficult - more trying to point you in the right direction. I have found tons of good recipes by looking for other recipes. Lisa is one of the most helpful and supportive members of this board.

Thanks Ruth Ann
When I offer help and get nasty responses it makes me wonder why I'm helping at all

It takes time to figure out how to use the boards and how to search but the best way is to jump in and do it. I've done so many search refinements I can't even tell you. But I learned how to do it thru persistence. Kinda like IP

[jendilly]

Originally Posted by lisa32989

Thanks Ruth Ann
When I offer help and get nasty responses it makes me wonder why I'm helping at all

It takes time to figure out how to use the boards and how to search but the best way is to jump in and do it. I've done so many search refinements I can't even tell you. But I learned how to do it thru persistence. Kinda like IP

Wasn't trying to be "nasty" in my response. But you have to admit that your reply was a little abrupt when I was just asking the original poster for more info on the recipe. Maybe you could've answered for her or posted the link to the recipe itself. Just seemed a bit short. I know there are recipe links posted. Every day. Yes, they are in the daily chat thread. But when someone posts part of a recipe, is it really that wrong to ask them a question about it? I guess I need to read up on board etiquette. I thought no question was a stupid question and that we are all here to help.

I've only been here a short while. I'm still finding new things every day. I do appreciate the support and ideas that you share. Just maybe remember that some of us are still learning how to reshape our eating plans with IP, let alone trying to find all the wealth of info that is on this board.

Have a great evening!

[Tree_fishes]

going back to the OP and topic... I was also wondering if there's something wrong with not having any restricted foods... because I've found that I really enjoy the unrestricted foods... Would that do anything to slow or speed my loss? I'll ask my coach tomorrow but it would be nice to get an opinion from someone who's experienced a similar situation.

[jendilly]

Originally Posted by Tree_fishes

going back to the OP and topic... I was also wondering if there's something wrong with not having any restricted foods... because I've found that I really enjoy the unrestricted foods... Would that do anything to slow or speed my loss? I'll ask my coach tomorrow but it would be nice to get an opinion from someone who's experienced a similar situation.

I'm sure others here with more experience will give great advice. For me, I tried not doing any restricted for a week to see if it would do anything to "speed it up" and it really didn't. I've tried only having 3 a week to see how that was. I think it really has to do with your preferences on what you want to eat. The "restricted" offer just some different variety when you are wanting the ease of a bar or the saltiness of a chip. Every body is going to be different on how you lose. The plan with one restricted a day works well for people, or IP wouldn't have that built in.

I say, go with what you want to do. If you want to try not having restricted, go for it. If you want one a day, that's fine too. My good friend lost 45 in just about 3 months. She rarely ate restricted packets. I have another friend that has lost 90 pounds in about 8 months. She has had a restricted just about every day.

[lisa32989]

Originally Posted by Tree_fishes

going back to the OP and topic... I was also wondering if there's something wrong with not having any restricted foods... because I've found that I really enjoy the unrestricted foods... Would that do anything to slow or speed my loss? I'll ask my coach tomorrow but it would be nice to get an opinion from someone who's experienced a similar situation.

The restricteds are there for motivation.
They also provide a few more carbs and fat than the nons
YMMV on restricteds. I used them for MONTHS and literally probably wouldn't have done IP/stuck to it if it weren't for them.

Now my use of them is rare, mostly because soy/gluten-free restricteds cause me more cravings than I found with IP brand.

Some, very carb sensitive folks need to limit restricteds. Most people though should just follow the plan as written. It is low cal/carb enough without attempting to hack it further.

Re: coaches. ymmv on them, as well. There are different training levels and some only got basic trainings and never any refreshers as the plan evolved. You'll know if you have a good one or not by comparing responses to what others in the forum are told. It is amazing (and sad) how widely varied the info given out by different coaches can be.

[Delgen]

Originally Posted by jendilly

Thank you SO much. I always appreciate your willingness to help and your kindness, Ruth Ann. You are so supportive and a real inspiration.

I always spray my cup with PAM too.

I have even tried muffins with soup packets for a more savory one.

And I always put an egg white in my omlet mixes, too

[Delgen]

Originally Posted by Tree_fishes

going back to the OP and topic... I was also wondering if there's something wrong with not having any restricted foods... because I've found that I really enjoy the unrestricted foods... Would that do anything to slow or speed my loss? I'll ask my coach tomorrow but it would be nice to get an opinion from someone who's experienced a similar situation.

My coach originally told me to very careful with restricted. Then when I hit a plateau she had me eat one a day. It really did the trick. She said you sometimes need a few more calories after you have been on program for awhile.

[65X65]

Originally Posted by Tree_fishes

going back to the OP and topic... I was also wondering if there's something wrong with not having any restricted foods... because I've found that I really enjoy the unrestricted foods... Would that do anything to slow or speed my loss? I'll ask my coach tomorrow but it would be nice to get an opinion from someone who's experienced a similar situation.

My own, very successful, IP experience was one of 8 months of using totally unrestricted items. Being Gluten Free long before IP, my choices were limited.

Choosing to stick only to easily accessible alternatives (used the EAS RTDrink Shakes a few times a week, esp when traveling) and only GF IP packets the majority of the time, limited choices for me. I was fine with that...and lost consistently, an average of 2+ lbs until the last 6-8 weeks ...which at that point - YES, those last 6 lbs were slow. Note: by then I was actually in a normal BMI range and that is an expected slowdown. Inches were still dropping quickly though during that last phase. Given my age and size ...the slight decrease in calories MAY have helped me, in spite of the fact the program is designed to work WITH using them.REALITY: I'm not average size..I'm older and I'm carb sensitive...so...would I have lost more with them? Who knows...I'm not an unhappy camper... This worked well for me, and MAY have been helpful.

I also really had to pay attention to sodium...which I did. I retain water and in spite of the guidelines of the program ....some of the products were problematic for me...( any product over 500 mgs) like the soups....we're more than my body could process well. Some EAS drinks also are a little higher than the comp IP item...but still not as high as the soups in sodium...but I was not using EAS exclusively, or every day. So if you think you are seeing some slowdowns and you are not approaching goal, normal BMI ...and are slowing down for what feels like too long, this is where paying attention to which products you use and astutely analyzing the rhythm of the scale, may give you some information. I did pay attention to this....a "scale freak-out" reaction is not my style. For example-I did not eat fish the same days I used EAS. It was just information. Information allowing me to deduce....too much sodium..not a good idea for this short old body. And one which helped me understand and adjust using common sense and the knowledge of how MY body works. It possibly kept me moving the right way.

So..two not popular things here:
No restricted products at all.....and I weighed every day..first thing in the AM. (Once and only once...why would I start weighing the coffee and water I drink..once I'm up and moving?!)