Where do you go for support?
 

Hi,

I know these boards seem to be dying. I am just curious where you go for support these days? Is it mainly Facebook and is that the Alternative board there? I was hoping to find some people to share ideas with.

Thanks so much.

Hi cactusblossom: Sad but true there are fewer posters on this site (I'm not sure how many people - newbies to IP especially - even know about 3FC now). A lot of the posters who were on here and who post a lot have moved over to the Facebook pages, but personally I do find it hard to have continuity for the conversations and most of the posts are questions about formulations you can use as an alternative or just posting pix & results. Which is all OK, but it's hard to find any info on a continuing theme if you had a particular question. No possible way to find it with a search feature like you can on 3FC, the same old questions just keep getting asked over and over and getting lost as they drop off the news feed. There are a few of us in maintenance on here still and if you do have a question we will try our best to answer or give support. Great idea is to search for recipes on this board or look at the Non Scale Victories (NSV) pages for encouragement. Even reading them if they are old gives you some fresh outlooks and new ideas to keep you going. You might want to join the Facebook pages as well for 'at the moment' instant help, and use this board for research and ideas, and questions to maintenance IP'ers.

Keep on going and don't make the drift of technology your 'reason' to give up. Do you have some buddies at your clinic that may be able to partner up with you for on the spot live encouragement beside your coach? That's an idea too.

Liana

Hi Liana,

Thank you SO much for such a lovely post! I have read so much here and can see it was once such an active and supportive environment. And you are completely right about using lack of online support as an excuse! Very true in my case especially! Always "planning" to start, but never following through! NO MORE OF THAT!!

I am starting tomorrow, 7/25. I am doing this on my own - no clinic. But I do have alternatives and I will post daily! Maybe somebody, somewhere will join me! And if not, that's Ok. I will be accountable to myself and still hope for some company along the way!

Thank you again Liana! You are awesome!! :hug:

I don't have a lot of posting time, but this board has been invaluable for me in terms of reading. For what it's worth, I'm glad it's here.

Hi! I peek around on the FB pages, but the boards are my favorite. Since its been slow sometimes I'll just randomly jump to an old page, like page "253" and weed through some really OLD posts and find some nuggets of wisdom! We're all in this together!

I'm not on any Facebook pages and I take breaks from here but I will 'lurk' now. I use my husband as my main support and I see a holistic nutritionist and a trainer every two weeks. I too find it's the same questions over and over and many people generally are providing great answers. I don't follow IP maintenance but I do follow some of the threads and find some good 'nuggets of wisdom' as pp mentioned.

Honestly there was a blurp of activity a few (almost years ago) and I found it too hard to keep up too, it was very frustrating lol. Now that it's calmed down a bit I'm enjoying 'lurking', so I wouldn't call this 'dying'. :)

You are totally welcome catusblossom, and I am on here every couple of days depending on my work schedule and read up on everything I've missed, and comment a fair bit too. You may not know it, but there are a few lurkers out there and they do read the posts but don't necessarily feel they have much to add; but think of it as sending your message out into the void, lol and it can encourage someone else or cause them to think of things in a different way or... maybe start/restart them on a healthy path.

Lynn Margaret, I find it interesting to read pages waaaay back too (when I get a bit of extra time, because it can slip away so easily when scrolling through 3FC :o).

Hiya SE72; and Ishbel, how's your toddler, lol. She's grown a bit by now, I'll bet.

I also look at the FB page for alternatives, thinking there might be some new info there, but it is mostly newbies asking the same questions as Liana said. I keep up with the Maintainers page (I think there are only a few of us posting right now). I can't account for the drop off either, but I know that this forum was my lifeline while I was in all stages of the diet and it still is.

Hi cactus blossom;
I think a lot of people are guilty of lurking!! myself included.. I just can't tell you how invaluable the 3FC boards have been to me. I found the answers to so many questions. the recipes, especially from Rainbow are just amazing. I went back a few years and read, and read and read.. Someone compiled a pdf of all rainbows recipes and they are so good.. She is so creative and generous to share with us.
Someone else started a couple of weight loss challenges and I joined those too. It's nice that we are all helping each other.. I am going to an IP clinic and my coach is great.
let me know if you want more info..

I meant to say that I have only been on IP since May 26 2016. down 19.2 in 9 weeks.. Not spectacular results like some people.. BUT it is working and I don't feel hungry or deprived

Originally Posted by sasseym:
I meant to say that I have only been on IP since May 26 2016. down 19.2 in 9 weeks.. Not spectacular results like some people.. BUT it is working and I don't feel hungry or deprived

Way to go! I was also at 19 pounds at week 9 - I'm very satisfied with the pace of my results. Like you said not the "WOOSH BANG ZOOM" of some, but better than anything else I have ever done, all around! Keep it up, lady!

Yes, the important thing -- the scale is going in the right direction

Fwiw, the P2,3,4 board on facebook has even slowed down (imho) in the last 4 - 6 weeks, which is where I am most active publicly.

What I've also noticed is the ebb / flow based on the time of year. There seems to be a fairly decent upswing in January / February & again around April / May when people realize swim suit season is 6 - 8 weeks away.

My main reason for switching over from 3FC to FB is how unfriendly 3FC is on my mobile (IPhone). I don't get on the laptop like I used to at home - mostly b/c I don't have to work 12+ hour days anymore ;)

Originally Posted by canadjineh:

Hiya SE72; and Ishbel, how's your toddler, lol. She's grown a bit by now, I'll bet.

Hey there, thanks for asking! :) Yes, she's just over 2 years and quite spunky to say the least :D. She's petite though, not sure where she got that metabolism from! Kinda envious of it haha.

I knew parenting would be fun but I don't think I knew how much fun it was going to be. Just showing her an earth worm was amazing to me and typing this makes me smile. I'm re-learning the world through her eyes.

Hi Ishbel! So nice to see your picture and the picture of your little one! I remember when you got married and had the baby! Time just goes right by!

Enjoy it all!

And yes, everyone, I come here for support! I try to check in each day at lunchtime, as I'm eating my lovely IP soup!

The support really helps! I'm two weeks into a reboot and doing very well.

Regards to all!
:)

Hi gals! I had a lovely IP Athletic/Diabetic Protocol Day (except I ate a bit too much popcorn - my grain choice - at the last 'Live Band in the Park' night for the summer). At least I danced my @ss off - the band was swing, jazz, and dixieland. Hubby & I like to 'move it, move it.' lol
http://www.picturesanimations.com/d/dancing/111.gif
Liana

Hi everyone,

I would just like to say I am a lurker, but I hope to change that. I've really struggled to get back on a solid path these past years, and to be honest, I'm not one to declare victories or mistakes, primarily because I fear that I will do the ultimate failure and quit. I hate the guilt associated, and it makes me almost avoid all interaction about my diet.

Like I said, I will be posting more, I hope. But like others have said, I really appreciate being able to lurk productively :)

Sara

I started using 3FC back in 2012 and love it. I don't do FB generally. When I restarted dieting back in Jan of this year, I came back here. Mostly to the 100# Club. I restarted on IP 3 or 4 weeks ago and started coming back to the IP section. I checked out the FB page but like canadjineh, I find the FB page to be the same questions over and over again - where here you can develop friendships and really have support and a safe place to share. There is great information here and a lot of very knowledgeable people. Even reading over old posts is helpful.

I do wish they could make a better app version for phones, (as I don't have internet service at home) but I find if I really need support, I can make it work on the iPhone.

Originally Posted by Kat117:
I started using 3FC back in 2012 and love it. I don't do FB generally. When I restarted dieting back in Jan of this year, I came back here. Mostly to the 100# Club. I restarted on IP 3 or 4 weeks ago and started coming back to the IP section. I checked out the FB page but like canadjineh, I find the FB page to be the same questions over and over again - where here you can develop friendships and really have support and a safe place to share. There is great information here and a lot of very knowledgeable people. Even reading over old posts is helpful.

I do wish they could make a better app version for phones, (as I don't have internet service at home) but I find if I really need support, I can make it work on the iPhone.

Haha, I want a 'Like' button on here :D

I posted on the IP phase 1 and IP alternative boards to see if anyone uses 3FC - and am trying to steer people back here LOL.

I've said this before - unfortunately, this board is really hard to use on a mobile phone :( I wish there was an app or they would redesign it for easier use on mobile devices.

Keep in mind too, diets come and go. The activity pattern I've noticed over the last 18 months is that is gets busier:

Right after New Years
Around April when folks realize bathing suit season is around the corner
After Labor Day when people are trying to lose the vacation pounds

Alternatives for IP phase 1
 

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I've been on IP for 5 months & lost about 30 pounds. I feel great, even if my weight loss is slow. My husband also started at the same time & has lost 65 lbs. it's been great.

However, the cost is getting too much for us, and hoping to get alternatives to help us continue our weight loss. Please help & share what all of you had found through your own journey. In the old posts I've read, there seems to be some information but it's hard trying to trace it down. Please help. Thanks!

OMG - I cannot do the FB page - this woman is complaining that she is losing so slowly and she doesn't know what is wrong... she lost 17.6 pounds in 4 weeks...... that is slow???????? I have lost 6.6 in 4 weeks...

Honestly - I can't take that board. With 35,000 + members, all you see are posts of I lost 50 pounds in 5 weeks... my psyche cannot take that. Deleted myself from that group. Reminds me why I also stay off of facebook.

Originally Posted by joysh:
Hi Ishbel! So nice to see your picture and the picture of your little one! I remember when you got married and had the baby! Time just goes right by!

Enjoy it all!

And yes, everyone, I come here for support! I try to check in each day at lunchtime, as I'm eating my lovely IP soup!

The support really helps! I'm two weeks into a reboot and doing very well.

Regards to all!
:)

HEY there! :wave:

Yes it does! She's over two years old now and I've learned I'm quite addicted to coffee haha, no plans on deleting it for a few years. :D

Originally Posted by Yve:
Hi, I'm new to this forum. I've been on IP for 5 months & lost about 30 pounds. I feel great, even if my weight loss is slow. My husband also started at the same time & has lost 65 lbs. it's been great.

However, the cost is getting too much for us, and hoping to get alternatives to help us continue our weight loss. Please help & share what all of you had found through your own journey. In the old posts I've read, there seems to be some information but it's hard trying to trace it down. Please help. Thanks!

Hello,

You can totally follow the IP protocol while using alternative, similar products to IP in order to save on the cost.

Here are two links of threads about alternative products:

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/idea...ives-help.html

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/idea...deas-tips.html

I'm also attaching some files for you containing some nutritional info about the IP products and IP supplements so you could compare with what you can buy.

Hope this will help. Please let me know how it will go.

Good luck :)

Originally Posted by Kat117:
OMG - I cannot do the FB page - this woman is complaining that she is losing so slowly and she doesn't know what is wrong... she lost 17.6 pounds in 4 weeks...... that is slow???????? I have lost 6.6 in 4 weeks...

Honestly - I can't take that board. With 35,000 + members, all you see are posts of I lost 50 pounds in 5 weeks... my psyche cannot take that. Deleted myself from that group. Reminds me why I also stay off of facebook.

Kat - just a note to say I JUST NOW deleted myself from the Phase 1 group - after someone posted "Only 13+ pounds, 9+ inches in three weeks?! Why is this taking FOREVER?!" *cryface *cryface *cryface I officially BOUNCED on out.

sandralosingweight thank you so much for posting all those links and sheets! I really appreciate it as once I hit 40 lbs with IP, I am going to switch to alternatives to save money. Just really need the accountability to get me down to 180 - and break the 200 lb barrier.


Lynn Margaret isn't it crazy?!?! This one person posted 29 days and lost 26 pounds - why isn't this program working.... I'm flabbergasted. I would be peeing myself with excitement if that happened - not complaining I just dropped 26 pounds in a month! I honestly couldn't take it for that mostly - the ridiculous expectations of the diet and also the fact that my loss this time around is much slower. I know logically that I'm older, going through pre-menopause and on medications that effect weight this time, but it still a slap in the psyche to see that kind of stuff.

I will stay with my 3FC - I love this place and the people I meet here for support. I am going to attempt to revive the Daily Chat thread. I think that will get more posting other than just the 2016 rebooters.

[QUOTE=Kat117;5279961 isn't it crazy?!?! This one person posted 29 days and lost 26 pounds - why isn't this program working.... I'm flabbergasted. I would be peeing myself with excitement if that happened - not complaining I just dropped 26 pounds in a month! I honestly couldn't take it for that mostly - the ridiculous expectations of the diet and also the fact that my loss this time around is much slower. I know logically that I'm older, going through pre-menopause and on medications that effect weight this time, but it still a slap in the psyche to see that kind of stuff.

[/QUOTE]

I started to say it when you made your original post, but really, I think a lot of the people making those types of comments, either knowingly or unknowingly, are just fishing for compliments, ie, 186 response that say YOU ARE DOING GREAT! YOU ARE ROCKING IT GIRL! etc. etc. Again, I got tired of EYEROLLING/scrolling through all those to get to anything helpful. And yay to trying to breathe some life into the boards! I'll try to do the same! Keep at it, girl!

Hi guys - I have spent many hours here on 3FC and this forum has an enormous amount of useful info - not to mention online friendships that have developed as we all tackle similar demons.

I am not much into the FB groups that have IP in the name - but I do like Janeva's FB page and I use recipes from her files there. Her magic with packets is excellent.

I also go to some other support sources - try the podcasts by Elizabeth Benton on www.primalpotential.com - her take on food is a low carb high protein approach, though not as restricted as IP because she believes that to live with food beyond a diet each of us has to find what works for us. She has lots of good tips on how to discover the practices and foods that work for you in the long haul. There are some recipes - good for maintenance, I think. But the biggie is how she really tackles the mind game - let's face it - we know what food we should be eating and what to stay away from - it's our mind, that little voice, that convinces us that it won't hurt to get off track. The podcasts and daily motivation messages from primalpotential are terrific at helping me learn how to win the mind game. Elizabeth has a good story about her yoyo routine that she followed for years and then her loss of 135. I highly recommend you ADD her to your 3FC forum for support.

hope this is helpful,
cheryl

Hi Cheryl! Missed your insightful and upbuilding comments on the forum. Glad you are here again! Hugs (((()))))
Liana

Just curious, returning here for the first time in years, are the daily chats no longer used?

Carla

Originally Posted by canadjineh:
Hi Cheryl! Missed your insightful and upbuilding comments on the forum. Glad you are here again! Hugs (((()))))
Liana

Thanks - missed you too!

Hi Cheryl - So good to see you!!! Been thinking of ya and wondering how you've been doing. Thanks for sharing your sources of support. Hope to see you around here more often too! :D

Originally Posted by CenTXChk:
Hi Cheryl - So good to see you!!! Been thinking of ya and wondering how you've been doing. Thanks for sharing your sources of support. Hope to see you around here more often too! :D

I see you on MFP and am so proud of your success with maintenance ! Glad to reconnect!

Thank you very much!!

Originally Posted by sandralosingweight:
Hello,

You can totally follow the IP protocol while using alternative, similar products to IP in order to save on the cost.

Here are two links of threads about alternative products:

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/idea...ives-help.html

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/idea...deas-tips.html

I'm also attaching some files for you containing some nutritional info about the IP products and IP supplements so you could compare with what you can buy.

Hope this will help. Please let me know how it will go.

Good luck :)

Sandra,

Thanks so much for the information. Unfortunately. The links are not working. Is there another way I can ge to these threads?

Thanks again,
Yvette

Originally Posted by sandralosingweight:
Hello,

You can totally follow the IP protocol while using alternative, similar products to IP in order to save on the cost.

Here are two links of threads about alternative products:

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/idea...ives-help.html

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/idea...deas-tips.html

I'm also attaching some files for you containing some nutritional info about the IP products and IP supplements so you could compare with what you can buy.

Hope this will help. Please let me know how it will go.

Good luck :)

Yve, the links worked for me, but I am in my browser on my desktop.... perhaps they don't work if you are on your mobile device??
Liana

Originally Posted by showgirlaz:
Just curious, returning here for the first time in years, are the daily chats no longer used?

Carla

Hi Carla: there isn't nearly as much traffic on the 3FC site these days, many have moved to a Facebook page, so there isn't enough for a daily chat. There's still quite a few of us around though, so keep posting! :D


BTW, Cheryl (oneuh2) the Primal Potential site is awesome!! Great info! I believe from some of her comments/links, she lives only a few hours from me. I sent her a message today and may find out soon. That'd be funny if it's true.

Liana