My coach gave me a new sheet last week. I don't know how to post that sort of thing on here, but I have it in my car. I can scan it in if someone can give me instructions on how to post it.

I've lost everywhere but my belly. Maybe TMI but, I have a lot of extra skin and just gross stuff there (think its called a curtain or something) from having babies and being fat. I want more than anything to have a tummy tuck because I know that no matter how much I lose it will always be there. I would lose major inches if I could do that but, I will never have the money.

I have the same thing. Years ago I lost 120 lbs and I had excess skin on my stomach, it did tighten a little but if I would have had a tummy tuck I would have lost 10 more lbs.

I wish I could have surgery but like you, I can't afford it. I just tell myself that I would rather be skinny with excess skin than fat.... of course in a perfect world I would be skinny and have perfect skin!

It's not TMI and I don't think it's uncommon to have extra skin after having babies. I haven't had any kids, but I could probably still use a tummy tuck too! I would like to have kids at some point (probably in the next few years, since I'm 33) and I hope that I can look at my post-pregnancy body as being pretty awesome for all it went through to nurture and help my kid grow. It does suck that your permanent reminder on your body of your kid can't be a cool tattoo or something, and has to be loose skin!

A tattoo would be cool but, in this case gross because of sag. Unless I got like a deflated hot air balloon falling outta the sky. LOl
I had four kids so maybe it's my trophy!!

Maybe if I ever got a tatoo, I'd get the word "gravity" put vertically on my boob in small letters. Then, with age, I'd "grow into" my tatoo and it would look fantastic 30 years later! LOL. If you didn't go to the "humour" thread, there is a good cartoon there about why some people shouldn't nude sunbathes much along the theme of this discussion ;)

RE: excess skin
I have the tummy flab too. I could say I don't lose there but 15+ inches says I have (just not so much to tighten it up!). Like many others, I'd need surgery to correct my abdomen, especially the "abdominal apron" area.

My back doc says he can probably make a case for skin removal with my insurance company b/c it is pulling on my pelvis and most probably contributing to chronic back pain. I told him I'd be back to "talk" when I get to goal. I'd need to be normal BMI and maintaining for a time before the insurance company would be convinced.

I PM'd you

Hi Jemma,

I found out about IP at my doctor's office, and went to an information meeting that was supposed to be at lunchtime. It lasted nearly 2 hours and I had to go back to work, and still didn't know what IP was really about (the nitty-gritty). I was contacted by someone the next day who said she realized there was an issue with the presenter, and she said to email back and/or call to come back in and meet. I did both, but never heard back. Meanwhile, I came here and found out so much that I thought I may as well try on my own and save the money.

I would like the weekly weigh-ins and support, but I was impatient and still have not heard back from the clinic (in 2 weeks).

~Lori

My coach told me about new vegetables that were unlimited on the sheet and a change to the Phase 3 protocol. Can anyone else confirm the new information?

Like to know

for the first time I am happy to have no weight change from one WI to the next. I was away a few days this week and had gained 3lbs but happily dropped them a few days later.
This is new for me, other diets I would have thrown in the towel and said its too hard to do in the summer. :carrot:

I have a question about alternate foods for everyone. I am finding IP too expensive. I'm a teacher and off for summer so income is limited.
Are people finding success with alternatives? What shakes and bars are you using? I've been picking some up at stores and tried to compare with IP but not sure if they are correct.

Lots of people have great success with alternative products. Check out the Alternatives That Will Work On P1 thread - great ideas there!

ETA: I bumped the thread for you

I can relate, I also work for the school district so no paycheck for me this month. I am using all alternatives and have since I started. I use RTD protein drinks, Quest bars from GNC and a couple snack items that I order from Nashua Nutrition. It is working great for me. I could never afford to use real IP products on my salary. Look at the alternative thread. I can't remember the name of the shakes I use but they are around $5.00 for four drinks.

This thread is becoming slow.... Anyway I posted last week how frustrated I was that nobody is noticing my losses. Well, my BF's 12 year old son did. LOL,
go figure a child would say something. He said " wow, you've lost a lot of weight". I told him thank you so much for noticing. :)