5th WI...
 

Had my 5th WI today and I'm down another 3 lbs, bringing my total WL this far to 22.5 lbs. If someone had told me 5 short weeks ago that I'd be down by 22.5 lbs by this time I'd have laughed out loud. This diet, or should I say new way of life, is unbelievable. IP and all of you have made this so easy for me. I can't remember the last time I felt this good about myself. Such a wonderful feeling. And noticing all the little things along the way is kinda fun too. Such as being able to move my seat a little closer to the steering wheel in my car. Or being able to bend down to pick something up off the floor without pain in my stomach. I keep hoping for those bursts of energy to come though. I haven't felt anymore energy yet. Could it be because I was pretty heavy to start with? Then again I am able to do a few things more than I did before. Maybe those are little bursts of energy and I'm just not seeing it that way...hmm. I'll have to ponder that thought for a little while..lol

Andi

http://www.3fatchicks.net/img/bar057...150/249.6/.png

I googled all kinds of things but couldn't get an exact answer.

I have a 100lbs to lose (I'm 240 right now...).

How long does IP take to lose 100lbs and about how much a week do you all pay without alternatives?

I'm desperate for any answers right now. Thank you. :)

I started in January and I am almost at 100 lbs lost.
I would say on average I spend about 100$ a week on my IP products from my clinic.

Oh thank you!! And congrats, you look awesome! I'm going to google clinics in my area. I hope they are very supportive vs. the ones who only seem to push products with no support.

Can't wait to read your future updates, good luck!

I spend about $90 a week on IP only products.

I had to cut costs by adding in some alternatives.

I average about 10 lbs a month but everyone is different. My sister started at 276 on August 29th and her weigh in last Friday (10/10) she weighed in at 243. So that's 33 lbs in a little over a month (she only does alternatives/no clinic). Some lose more and some lose less. The weight does come off on this diet especially if you follow the protocols 100%.

It took me 54 weeks to loose 100 pounds. But, as I mentioned earlier in this thread, I have been taking breaks along the way.

I'd suggest asking in the daily thread for people in your area who have a clinic they like. You've already realized how much variability there is in the service level and you haven't even started yet. I would have been willing to drive to a different clinic if I had any idea how different they could be.

If you can possibly afford it, I'd encourage you to start with a clinic though, even a less than great one. I really liked the accountability and weekly check-in at first while I was getting the hang of things. But once I had a bit of routine down and had tried a variety of alternatives, I stopped going since they weren't providing any value beyond the products by then.

Everyone is different so your rate of loss may not mimic others, but I lost 120 lbs in 12 months (+ 1 day). The cost was about $90 a week, depending on how much I was buying.

You don't notice the energy levels change unless you are actively moving around. I'll bet when you vacuum and dust you have more energy, but you simply don't pay attention because you're focused on what you're doing rather than how you feel while doing it. :)

I would make a point of ringing them up and doing a telephone interview. Asking them how the plan works, what the initial fee is for, what you get for your money in terms of weighing, access to recipes, advice, measurements etc, how flexible they are on returning packets that you don't like, what their stance is on restricted packets and if they have some sort of group meeting for their IP family. If they take the time to answer your questions and/or encourage you to come in for a face-to-face meeting so you can see the products and meet the staff then you know you're onto a winner! The way people treat prospective clients will give you a very strong indicator of the service they provide to actual clients.

Wahoofan is spot on. Having that accountability helps many people who are just starting out, or who have repeatedly struggled with loss/gain cycles or may be suffering from PCOS or insulin-resistance. If you have any health issues for which you're being medicated it is a really good idea to go via a clinic for the safety net of getting meds adjusted and making sure the IP diet can be modified to meet your own personal needs. :)

IP does suggest that women lose between 3-5lbs per week if they are compliant with the protocol but, again, this varies with what else your body is doing. ToM can be a real nightmare week, and if your body is battling a cold or a virus then your numbers can be all over the place. How much water you drink can even affect the loss, whether you have all your protein and your veggies, whether you take your vitamins. It all adds up. :)

Can't comment on the price as we get IP at cost through DH's sister, but I believe it's something like $28 box of 7 unrestricted and slightly more for restricted packets. You need 3 boxes (21 meals) per week.

I love it when everyone puts their weekly WI details in their signature. It's really helpful to see other people's loss patterns as well as my own. It certainly helps keep the ranting down on this end.

Weight loss is unique to each individual because we are all at different body fat percentages, different activity levels, different metabolic rates. One size never fits all in the dieting world.

It will also depend whether you can/want to be 100% compliant with the diet, or if (knowing you have so much to lose) you want to take it slower and keep a couple of not-compliant foods in very small amounts to make the diet more palatable and help you stay on it when you are faced with a binge through deprivation. :)

Had 4th weigh in yesterday & according to their scale have lost 17# so far - a few days less than a month. (my scale today shows 18.5 in 4 weeks)

I am impatient & wish it was faster, but at least the scale is moving in the right direction & not the other way!!

Getting ready to go on a 5 day trip to a health resort. Of course, their food will not be 100% compliant. But it will be so nice to have someone else wash & chop the veggies! ;) I am taking along extra packets because I will be taking exercise classes, although I will be "taking it easy" and exercising lightly. I will have a microwave & refrigerator, so that will help.

I am planning ahead so that I will be successful. Next week I will get off the plane and drive straight to weigh-in. That will be motivation to keep on track!

Good work, 4 beautiful music... just an interesting side point. If you are flying, you will be retaining water and may not have a weigh in you expect. Don't be discouraged if it's not quite what you thought ;) and you may have to remind your coach about this fact depending on how much they know about biology.

Liana

Also 100 pounds to go
 

New to 3fatchicks. I have lost 30 pounds so far, started end of august and am now at exactly 100 pounds to my goal (healthy weight), which seems daunting.

Yet, at the same time, I realize that this is going to have to be a life change, not just a "get to the end" mentality.

My all or nothing personality has made keeping weight off a struggle my entire adult life. I have lost 60 and 80 pounds before, only to gain it all back and them some... Starting from the very first time I found myself 20 pounds over weight. Its been a cycle... Lose, gain plus 10 more.... Until i eventually found myself 130 pounds overweight and nothing I could do about it since my body seems to be done with the cycle. (I spent all summer running and exercising like an animal with no result). I am glad tht IP is working, and when I get sick of the food and want to cheat, I remind myself that this time needs to be permanent change. I saw this posted by another poster and it hit home; "if I quit now, I will soon be back to where I started. And when I started, I was desperately wishing to be where I am now."

I have been reading thru the maintainence threads and its amazing seeing the success stories! I will be there one day. Good luck to you all!

I was told that average is 30 pounds in 8 weeks. You are about where I was at 4 weeks. And at 7 weeks i am almost 30 pounds lost. Its easy to get discourged. But atleast the weight loss is consistent. Dont get discouraged.

Ugh. I was so hoping losing 100+ pounds would go faster. But thats my all or nothing personality again. Congrats to you who had the perseverance to do it, i envy and look up to you. I am just afraid that I wont b able to so this for that long without giving up. I'm good with the idea of maintaining, so that once in a while I can enjoy food again... I dont have to all the time, I've come to terms with that. But this... Phase 1... A year feels so daunting.

I really feel bad for you. You seem to be looking for a quick fix and unfortunately you won't find it here. But of all the diets I've been on, this is by far the quickest and easiest fix there is. For me anyway. You didn't gain the weight over night and you're certainly not going to lose the weight over night. I think you're just looking at this with the wrong mind set. You say you're 'an all or nothing' girl. So in order for IP to work for you you have to give it your 'all'. You are looking too far into the future. Let your mind look at things in smaller increments. Don't focus on how much you have to lose all together. Instead look at what you lose each month. My Goodness, you've already lost 30 lbs in only 8 weeks. That's an average of 3.75 lbs/week. You really should be proud of that loss rather than looking at it as, "OMG, I've ONLY lost 30 lbs." Look at some of the other ladies here. Some are losing a lb or 2 each week and they are thrilled with that. Thrilled because the weight is coming off. Thrilled because they KNOW this program works. If you look at things in smaller increments then before you know it you're going to turn around and think, "Wow, I've lost 50 or 60 lbs." And think of where you were only 8 short weeks ago. You were 30 lbs heavier than you are now and probably wishing there was a diet out there that could really work. THIS DIET WORKS. You've proved that to yourself over these last 8 weeks. Trust me, there's nothing out there that's going to make you lose any faster. And the beauty of this diet is that not only are you GUARANTEED to lose weight (as long as you stick to the program) but you'll learn to eat properly and know what to do and what not to do for the rest of your life. So give yourself a pat on the back for losing what you have up to now and then give your head a shake and realize that your "all or nothing" mentality is exactly what's going to make you succeed with IP. Give IP a chance and IP will do you proud. Remember, 'all or nothing'..stick with IP 100% or choose to do nothing. Your choice. That being said..my rant is over..lol I wish you much luck and hope that we see more of your posts.

Andi

http://www.3fatchicks.net/img/bar057...150/247.2/.png

Phase 1 is restrictive, but it becomes a way of life after a while. Yes, I miss other foods. But they will be there when I'm not in ketosis.

You've made it two months. That means you've gotten the hang of things and have figured out what foods you like. Start trying new recipes. Mix things up to avoid getting bored with your food choices.

A year is going to go by if you are Phase 1 or not. Wouldn't you rather lose weight during that year?