I am so far along in my journey now that now it is the maintenance attraction of Dr. Zumbado that really appeals to me -- be sure to read Novak's posting, and check out Dr. Z's website - great recipes! ....Dr Z's approach IP and her clinic's setup online is thorough and professional, and her clinic offerings reveal her own real life experience - she is an IPeep, and she is a doctor.

Gaithersburg is a bit of a trek from where I live just inside the beltway in Annandale, but I have a brother in Germantown (another 15 miles beyond Gaithersburg) so I don't mind the trip out there. And when I get to maintenance it will decline to a monthly visit to the clinic anyway, I think....

Interesting that they got the locations mixed up for your appt - now that you have that sorted out, maybe your experience at your clinic will improve. I hope so! :crossed:

I go to the clinic in Tyson's that stand-alone. It's been great for me, I don't always have the same coach and certainly have favorites among those I've had but none were awful.

It's a busy clinic but I feel like they get through the material in the time allotted. I usually buy food there so don't have much insight into how it would go should I opt for alternates.

I did attend a Phase 4 seminar and thought it was well-done and informative. Good luck where ever you end up.

Andrea -- good to know. As I said, that's the clinic I wanted to join. When I made the appointment, I had no idea that I called the wrong mclean clinic. oops! The saying goes, "dance with the one who brought you" ha so I think I will keep the same clinic for now -- and maybe eventually switch.

Whoa! Your TSH is +8! Wow - I would be sleeping all day long with a level that high. +4 had me conking out constantly. Do you know your Free T4 / T3 #'s?

Let me say though that everyone's optimal TSH is different - for me, I function best with a TSH under 2.0 - and closer to 1.0. I take 125mcg levoxyl

Amber - I asked her to clarify and she said it wasn't just my iron level - she was concerned I was taking other meds with my levoxyl - but I wasn't, so it was just the extra ferritin floating around / interfering. High iron levels and hypo-thyroid present with very similar symptoms.

FYI - for anyone medicated for thyroid problems, be sure you take your meds, first thing, empty stomach, with NO other supplements. I knew about calcium being an issue, but yes, iron can also interfere with absorption.

Katy - read about your coach issue too - sorry & hope that works out. I work in Tyson's at the "Emerald Palace" ;) (I guess everything around here now is starting to look like that though) but am 100% alt-product / on my own so, sorry, no good advice.
Vacation - I was worried too when we went camping & to Indianapolis recently. It honestly wasn't that bad and it was a win-win with a 6 pound loss when we got back on Memorial Day :) I had a cooler packed with hard boiled eggs, water, unsweetened tea, pre-cut broccoli and cauliflower. I also Ziplock'd a variety of Quest and Nashua's protein bars, along with 4/5 different protein concentrates (peach mango, grape), and brought a couple bags of Quest chips - those hit the spot when we did turkey burgers camping!
Frawnie also did fantastic on vacation and I believe she traveled for 2 weeks (she was my inspiration!).
And, at the end of the day, it comes down to personal choice and responsibility. You said your mom has done IP, and will / should be understanding. It's tough when you are around a lot of people who don't understand and try to pressure you.
You can do this!!!!

Frawnie - so sorry to read about the coaching situation :( Your coach left, but did they also change receptionists or did you have to go to another clinic? I wouldn't hesitate to bring up your concerns with the new coach - if they are truly in this to help you, they will understand and accommodate you as necessary. Otherwise, it may be time to start looking elsewhere.

I am so sorry to hear this- I have an awesome clinic- the 2 coaches are great-I was hesitant the first time I had to see the other one, but now, I am happy with either one- though love my original gal to pieces! I did the same thing and loaded up in the beginning, also have had a couple of girlfriends give me their stuff. So, my weekly bill isn't a heck of a lot each week. If it were me, I think I would probably try it on my own for a bit-and if you find that your success wanes, go back to the clinic. You are doing such an awesome job, it's terrible to hear you've been treated this way.

Thanks to all for your advice and support! I'll be giving this more thought before I decide anything.

Hello ladies, I started IP on May 23, and have been doing good with one slip up. I actually am back for the second time, lost 30 pounds over a year ago and then life happened. My clinic closed down and then we moved and have no IP where I now live. when I was on holidays last month I found a clinic that I restarted at and then I can get packets mailed to me.

You all are so inspiring , have a great day!,

Frawnie everyone is different but I've really needed the whole clinic experience. For the past couple of weeks my weight losses are less but my fat percentages have been dropping significantly and I wouldn't have known that w/o going to the clinic. I've reached my goal as of today and I feel like I need the guidance of the coach more than ever.

Having said that, a friend went to a different clinic, has had an experience much like yours. One day her coach read the mail while she was there.
She hates going in every week, in fact she quit the diet already. I think a different clinic would have made all the difference for her.

But look at Beth, total success story w/o a clinic!

Good luck!
___________
Mary

190/150/150. 16 weeks.

Mary you hid in there that you reached goal:). Wonderful for you:).

Wi 6
 

I'm down 5lbs this week. Total of 24.5lbs. Couldn't be happier. I feel energized that maybe this time I can do it. I always sabotaged myself in the past and never got to my goal. Btw, I don't have a goal weight yet. First mini goal is to get under 200 and now I'm 3lbs away from reaching that one.
Heading to the cottage for the weekend after work, I can easily stay OP as long as I'm prepared. I just worry if I got stuck and didn't have my stuff.
I'm also noticing now that my finger nails are hard as rock. Is that the protein or the supplements? Have a great week all!

Thanks Amber!. Feels good, and thanks for encouraging me to stay until I reached my goal a couple of weeks ago. You told me that it is easier to do it now than to try to get those last few lbs off later. You really helped me. Btw, are you mostly on the maintainers thread now?

livinrg Congrats on those 24, that's a lot! You can do it, it gets easier. I still feel a little panicked if I am not prepared but it sounds like you have it under control. "Weekend at the cottage" sounds lovely. Enjoy!
_________
Mary. 190/150/150

:carrot: :broc: :carrot::bravo::dancer:

You did sneak that in there ;)

Congratulations Mary!!!! What an accomplishment! So proud of you!

& thanks...without 3FC though and all the wonderful, thoughtful advice, I wouldn't be where I am today :hug:

livinlrg - that is fantastic! Not sure about the fingernails as I am a habitual nail biter :o hard is definitely better than brittle though (imvho)

Scale is still looking good this morning but had a bigger NSV:

A belt that in January, at 234, wouldn't even cinch, is now on the second to last hole :D 18 weeks! Amazing...humbling

I need to find my friend at work (who told me about IP in January) and give her a big hug and a "thank you"...

Not necessary, but thought it might be fun to get to know some of the other iPeeps coming over from the individual threads:

I was a February "monthly" - even though my official IP start date was 1/31
I believe it was 1/28/15 when I weighed myself and saw 234 on the scale, so that became my official start weight.
I found out about Ideal Protein when I ran into an old friend at work in the cafeteria - we used to be down the hall from one another, but she transferred to another (secure) department so I rarely saw her. I think it had been about 4/5 months since I'd seen her last.
I was FLOORED and in awe by how much weight she had lost! I started gushing about how fantastic she looked and she told me about IP - I didn't get or ask for the whole story, but she'd had some health issues and started doing IP through her cardiologist. She also was the one who told me about 3FC (I've never asked if she was still active...) and encouraged me to be open to doing it on my own.
I was scared, but determined, and by the end of the first 10 days, knew I was ready to stick with the program.
I also discovered I had an issue with soy (from drinking soy-based protein RTD's) I tend to avoid soy b/c of my hypo-thyroid condition, but apparently it also inflames my joints. This hurdle was going to be very difficult as approximately 60% of IP products are soy based.
With this knowledge in hand, I went to a clinic in my area - the coach I met with was nice and gave me some good starting advice, but made it clear they needed to be able to make a profit and approximately $80 worth of purchases would need to be made per WI. :dizzy:
I'd already found 3FC and was asking questions, finding information, and discovering recipes (and new veggies! rutabaga! jicama! brussel sprouts!). My questions / concerns were always answered - or I was pointed in the right direction :D The boards are a wealth of information (although I never got the hang of the ticker in my signature ;) )

Oh, I have 2 kids, a supportive husband (he is very healthy but needs his starchy side-dish), and 3 fur-babies

Mary, I mostly post on Maintainers, yes, but if I feel pulled that I have something that might be helpful I'll say it anywhere I read it. My work as changed a little so sometimes I can check the boards a few times a day and other times it's a few days between checking.
I still feel very new to everything even though it's been a year on P1 and now a few months on P4. I read through Novak's last post last night and it helped. I feel that Maintenance is just going to be pretty challenging for me and I really need to stick in there esp. the first few years and I am going to go through trial and error figuring out what really works for my body.

I am having a lot of water retention and inflammation the last week and for the life of me I can't figure out why. I see my doctor on Monday and will talk it through. I think I must have a sensitivity to something but I haven't eaten anything very different so I'm still not sure what it is. I did eat a few new bars and I'm wondering if it's sugar alcohols or something. Shocked that my body is that sensitive to sugar, but I'll see....

I keep forgetting about the consolidated threads, posted this in the May 2015 starters:

5th WI tomorrow and not feeling very optimistic about it. TOM is on me plus I started doing 30 mins of weight resistance training this week so my muscles are quite sore. I haven't weighed but don't expect great things, although I'm feeling skinny today. I guess that's all that matters LOL.

I cannot believe how weak my muscles are though. It's going to take a few weeks and consistency to feel strong again. Anyone else did weight training without cardio while doing IP? Care to share their thoughts on it? I find my heart rate goes up quite a bit sometimes during my reps, so I am thinking it's more than enough exertion on such limited calories.