frawniemae -- Glad you are here!! Our fellow IPs are terrific and always only a a few key strokes away! I would not be where I am without them and their endless support!!

This program is amazing! As you can see, I started within five pounds of you and today -- just 3 months later I am over 40 lbs lighter!

Best of luck on your "weigh" down!

:welcome3: you will do great if you follow the program! In 1/2 a year I have taken off 64lbs...and survived many events / occasions....it can be done. I highly recommend checking in with the people on these boards often. Tons of ideas, tricks and packet modifications to make you have a greater variety of food so boredome does not set in. Good luck!

Welcome frawniemae! I agree with Kelly and Sue - IP is VERY doable. At the beginning you need to be compliant and get your ketosis established. Once there, you will do best if you are 100% on plan (OP) but if you find it too hard you can build a little variance in there. Definitely read all the packet hack threads, and Rainbow's recipes (OMG can that woman make packets delicious!!!!) and ASK if there are questions burning a hole in your brain. The daily thread that Lisa maintains each day is the best place, as more people will see it.

As you'll see, many of us like alternatives - sometimes for taste, sometimes for cost, sometimes for convenience or simply variety. While the IP coaches don't like this, some of them are smart enough to realise that there are clients who will not make the long term journey unless they are allowed a few deviations.

The advice? Take a look at some of the Walden Farms (WF) items, some of the sugar and carb free Torani syrups and start eyeing up all the veggies on the approved list next time you go grocery shopping. I never, in a million years, thought I would be loving veggies, but I finally appreciate them now I don't have that burning craving for sweet foods all the time.

And finally - check in on the What are you eating threads, both for P1 and maintenance for your real meal menu ideas. We have some veteran IPers who have learned some truly tasty tricks. :)

Welcome! You will find that after the first couple days this is an easy diet to follow. Getting 8 oz of protien daily is such a great benefit in comparison to some other diets that only allow you a piece of protein the size of your palm. This is a second go round for me and I am in my second week and down 8 lbs. On those days when you really need that protein at lunch add a hard boiled egg or 2 oz of chicken and then deduct from dinner protien. I have found that it helps me. Other days I'm just not hungry. The first couple days can be harder as your body is detoxing but hang in there. Most of us feel great by day 3 or 4.

I hope in a few months that I can say I've lost 80 lbs! Good job!

Thanks! It took a long time to get this size so I know it will take a while to get to where I want to be.
I have spent a huge portion of the last couple of days finding my way around this forum. The wealth of information here is phenomenal!
Thanks for the pointers! A couple of those threads I hadn't gotten to yet and wondered what they were about.
I'm looking forward to really getting started. I have already changed a lot of my food choices and my menu to reflect lower carbs. Hubbie is on board, too. I'll be emptying my pantry in the next few days to make a huge donation to the local food bank. I'd never realized just how big a carboholic I am!

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::cheer::cheer: Grats Kelly!!! It feels WONDERFUL to have gotten rid of all that weight!! :carrot:

I also would like to announce that since last Wednesday I've lost 80 lbs in 5 months! :carrot::D I started IP diet on August 13th and now 5 months later I'm 80 lbs. lighter, smaller, happier!! I think I might go for 20 more to make the 100 mark, not sure yet, but first I want to reach the 165lbs I first wanted, then we'll go from there!

This can totally be done, if you put your mind, heart and will into it! We're ONLY doing it for OURSELVES. We need to love ourselves first, I didn't love me really anymore when I got so big, but now I love me again, and I want to take care of ME!

Keep up the good job everyone!! :dust:

Great results Ariel!!! I wish you would post what you are eating everyday in the What are you eating IPeeps thread! I wanna do what you are doing!!!

KellyC14 and Ariel13 Awesome losses, ladies. I'm lagging behind, but I'll get there in the end. :)

WOW! Ariel13 (80 pounds since Aug 13th) and Briael (68.4 pounds since Aug 25th) -- the speed/rate at which you both losing weight is AMAZING!! I am loving it! Thanks for sharing. I am down 63 pounds since Sep 1st, so I am just a little behind you two.

Only on the IP Diet can losses this big and this fast be achieved (IMHO).

Everyone is doing so wonderful! So congratulations to everyone here, no matter your total loss or loss rate. Every pound down is a good thing no matter how long it takes. Keep going everyone!

:bravo:

Great job! Your results are fantastic!

Awesome, awesome, awesome!!! You are all doing such an incredible job!! I don't post here too much, but read daily. You are all incredible!! :)

Wowee, what great results are being posted this weekend! Thanks for sharing - I feel like everyone's success helps us all to stay motivated!

I had to bump this thread. I've done a lot of reflecting today about the last 7 months - and I went back to the first few pages of this thread. Those of us who started posting here have come a long way! I know I rely on your advise and support to keep going on this long road. :)

Big Congratulations on your 100 pound loss JJTx!!! WOW!!! You are a rock star!

You are rocking it JJTx!:carrot: 100lbs is amazing! I hope to be as big of a loser as you! ;)

I had a miserable WI this week. But I think my coach and I figured out where I went wrong with my plan (eating a processed protein). Had shrimp last night with cauliflower fried rice and saw a drop on my home scale this morning. I hope to be back on track.

Does anyone keep a spreadsheet or list at home of your losses? I am no where near Avalon1957's cool charts but based on a 3lb per week loss, I anticipate making goal by the end of April. After a couple weeks of not great losses I had to add some weeks to my spreadsheet. :(. Sadly that spreadsheet was really motivating me until now. I was dreaming where I would be at Valentines Day or by spring break. My birthday is May 6th and I *really* want to be at goal by then. :crossed: fingers crossed I don't have to add anymore weeks to it.

Several of the new posters have been talking about their exercise programs which has started me thinking about starting walking at minimum. I would like to get back into yoga or try Pilates. I've pretty much decided that I am going to hire a trainer when I reach goal. Need to set myself up for success the best way I can...and working out has never been my strong point. :)