My first week is done and I find this diet relatively easy although I have only purchased Protein powder and bars so my meals are exceptionally boring. I bought vanilla protein powder but can I use cocoa powder to make it chocolate? Also, I lost 7 pounds in the first 4 days but have not lost anything since. I have stuck to it to a tee and I'm not ready to give up just wondering if this is normal? I'd be ecstatic had I not weighed myself everyday. lol I am ready to make this work. I want to lose a minimum of 65pounds. Been through a lot of crap for the past 5 years and it is time to shake that weight off and move on and LIVE. I love reading everyone's posts and to know so many people have succeeded. thank you all.

ps: how do I get the icons to show weight loss on the bottom of my posts?

I answered some of your questions on the coffee creamer thread. Yes, using alternatives works, if you follow IP protocol. I've lost 42 pounds in 14 weeks. Some people choose to weigh only weekly so they don't obsess over slight variations on the scale; other people (like me) weigh daily, but understand that our weight can go up or down or "stall" depending on many variables from one day to the next.

You can't put a signature or tracker at the bottom of your posts until you've been here long enough and posted a certain number of posts. (I don't know the minimum time/posts.)

Hi ALL - I'm an IP Newbie... My first weigh in is tonight and I'm anxious... I don't expect much as yesterday I got my monthly. But I must say I have noticed a difference in my mood, energy and sleep already. The first 3 days were harder not on day 7 I seem to be super hungry! I am at work and only came with my typical daily lunch. 2 cups of salad, 2 cups of veggies and my IP food today is a chocolate shake ...WHY am I still hungry lol. I've been doing so well with that. Anyways, in situations like there where there is nothing but junk food (ie: pizza places, convenient stores, grocery store) around what do you do if your truly starving...I have been drinking avg 3 litres of water a day. TIA!

Many convenience stores and grocery stores now have hard boiled eggs, which can be a life saver sometimes. One or two whites are generally considered freebies. It is best to only eat the white, but if you are really hungry, eat the whole thing and count it as your fat for the day. Many stores have cut up celery or whole pickles too, which are both unlimited veggies.

It is also really good to keep some emergency packets at work. A fruity drink or a bar for those times when you really need it or forget to bring your planned food with you. While you shouldn't do it routinely, an extra unrestricted packet is a much better option than eating something off plan because you are desperate.

I don't have TOM any more, but I remember when I did, it seemed like my metabolism always sped up at that time and I was hungry.

I would have a cup of chicken broth in those first few weeks when I got extra hungry. Or have a dill pickle or a hard boiled egg. You can easily keep some chicken bullion cubes in your desk at work. Hot drinks seem to help with fullness. Maybe try some tea.

Bump, to make it easier for newbies to find

Bumpin

Question for some long time vets-

Have any of you tried incorporating intermittent fasting with IP? Have you seen a change in results or helped you through a plateau?

This would be sticking to the IP plan, but keeping all your consumption within an 8 hour window each day.

I have not tried it, but my concern would be that eating that much protein in just 8 hours would put a lot of stress on the kidneys. I'm not sure it would be beneficial anyway. Fasting gets you into a ketotic state and severely limits calories - and the IP protocol already does that.


The IP protocol recommends that when you plateau (or "stall") for 4 weeks, with no loss of weight or inches, that you eat 5 packets/day, + your four servings of veggies, every day for a week. No animal protein, no restricted packets, none of the "occasional" vegetables. It seems to me that only rarely do IP followers get into a true stall.

Hi All:
I started IP using alternative September 8. By day 18 I had lost 19 pounds!! However, now by day 21 I have gained 6 pounds without going off plan as far as I can figure. Could this be normal and I will suddenly drop them again? It is disappointing to say the least but yes, I am happy with the 13lb loss in 3 weeks. Just hard to see 19 then back to 13. Thanks for any help/input

Sorry to get personal, but when someone gains, the first questions are:
1. Are your bowels moving reguarly?
2. Is it TOM, or close to it?
3. Are you drinking all the required water?
4. Are you using any of the 0-0-0 extras?

Bmc - I am about to ask a slew of questions what about lady-time aka TOM? Did you weigh at a different time of day? Any issues with constipation? Are you getting enough water? Could you share the last 2 days menus? Any and all of these could be culprits for a gain. I tend to fluctuate about 4/5 pound over the course of a day and always step on the scale first thing, in the buff, after my morning pee

To HereIstand and hysteria.
I am 53 so I don't get lady-time any longer, I always weigh first thing in the morning. Sunday morning I was down 18, Sunday night 19 but by monday morning i was up 4 lbs. and up 2 more by Tuesday. I would say i may not have drank all the water on Sunday but probably 5 cups. Saturday night I had dinner at my sons; salad w/ 1/4 tsp Italian dressing (i know but thats all they had) and roast chicken (no skin). My days consist of a shake for breakfast/lunch. 2 cups of veggies with lunch, restricted bar in the afternoon and supper. Sunday was same but had pork and cauliflower "fried rice" (w/ soya sauce). Monday fish and "rice" again. Sunday/Monday definitely had more than enough water. I walk for approx 1/2 hours a day but much more on the weekend. I definitely do not have a BM as much as I should and have added Restoralax to my water in the morning. I don't know if i should exercise more or eat more because of the walking. lol Oh, the weightloss dilemma. Thank-you for taking the time to help

The sodium in the Soy sauce can cause water retention. Also depending on the carbs in the bars, you may see a scale swing. Hope this helps and that the scale upswing has retreated. Try to push the water.

The bars are the same ones I have been having for the entire 3 weeks. I am just baffled as things were going so great and I haven't changed anything. I did have cabbage last week which is allowed but did feel bloated afterwards. Could cabbage have some weird effect? I will continue with it and hope this week brings more loss. Thank-you all for your advice.