******************
Many of us on here take exception to John's consistent simplification of this. If it was merely related to calories...weight watchers and about 5K in personal trainers over a number of years would have worked for me...and also some others. I actually have to say this: I sometimes wonder due to John's ardor in discounting the carb factor, if/WHY he has a stake in getting some folks off IP! He is as bad as the IP sales force...but at the opposite end of the spectrum. I'm not sure why he feels the need to get on this support forum and stir the pot. Very few here are on their first serious attempt to lose weight. With or without a coach. A coach/accountability is also not a key factor for everyone.

You will have to find what works for you. Carbs ABSOLUTELY matter to some of us. This is an IP forum and we should not have to defend that this is what we have chosen. There are a lot of lo cal forums where folks would embrace his take on weight loss and experience. And I am not saying what he has to offer is not of value in the right context.


1.YES.. it's expensive.
2.NO ..his take is not 100%
3. And most importantly...It's MY nickle and I have had a different experience across the board with losing weight than what I see him recounting.

It is always prudent to be as educated as is possible on what you are doing to your body. Decisions need to be balanced with your own medical team, personal metabolism and previous experiences. If it was as simple as the literature supporting "thermodynamics" there would not be the obesity problem in this country we see. It is not that easy. Horrific education...?? well..there is still a lot to be learned on WHY this works for some when nothing else does. People thought the world was flat for a heck of a long time. In the next generation there will be more knowledge, and better evaluative tools available. Many things we do not totally understand now will be explained better. Right answer...but faulty problem solving pathways are not new or rare in science. That's progress.

Weight loss a function of calorie uptake only for everyone?? Not in my life. Maybe his.

Because of this, I would never say carbs affect everyone the same way they do me. Therefore, it's not fair for John to assume what he has read and his experience covers mine, and most who are successful on this forum. I don't expect to need to defend the value of a lo carb metabolic influence on this forum. Also, I do not discount the value of a low calorie diet at all. It does work, but not for everyone. Calorie deficit is only a piece for some and no where near enough for me to have lost over 70 pounds (38.9% of my body mass to be exact) in less than the last year. I and the rest of us who are JUST as ardent about this, offer our experience to those who have already tried the mainstream stuff you can easily find written up and supported (in spite of the fact there is a high failure rate) ...and were/are still looking for something that works.

Ditto and amen, 65X65. Thank you for your calm and logic.

Pardon me for invading the "guy" space but have to applaud Kathie for one of the best posts I have read in a long time. Totally agree with everything you said!

65x65 here here!!! well said!

ive hit a bit of a plateau the past week or two pretty discouraging. what do you guys recommend for breaking through the plateau?

separately, what is wrong with cooked onions? running out of ideas on what to eat!

When you cook onion (sautee, grill or caramelize ) they release a lot of sugar hence the golden brown color, and sugar is not good I love cooked onions but they are worth not eating (raw yes) on PH1. HTH

Maybe a more senior member can add to this too

So, I've been eating cooked onions many nights for the past few months while on this diet, with my salad and protein. Not sure if it's slowed me down at all though. You can look at my tracker and see that that I've lost 60 and someodd number of lbs so far. (I started Sept. 1) But I'm not usually eating it as my full 2 cups of veg. I'm also not cooking it so much it becomes caramelized.

I've also used onion in many of my dishes as an aromatic. Like if I bake a whole chicken or in beef kebabs. Or in the marinades I prepare.

I'm of the mindset that you should try to experiment with items on the allowed list and the restricted list and find your sweet spot. Of course monitor your success and if something is holding you back in your weight loss numbers than eliminate it. For me, eating onions works.

Awesome weight loss. I am losing slower than you LOL. I have a hard time staying 100% and I started sept. 13 LOL.

I guess everyone's body works differently and kudos to you on your success!!!

It's different for everyone. There was a week where my wife killed it in numbers and I was so discouraged I had only lost 1 or 2 lbs. I did everything right and I was so upset. Fast forward to the next week and I lost something like 4lbs.

Since then I don't care about the numbers as much. (Deep down though I love seeing big numbers)... but I don't sweat the occasional low numbers. You're body is going to push against your efforts of losing weight. If weight loss were easy then we all wouldn't be here, right?

Thanks for the kudos and right back at you! You're kicking butt too!

I've seen a plateauing of my numbers with the recent holidays. I haven't been 100% but I've been making what I consider good choices, or at least better choices than I would have four months ago. Just wondering how you guys are dealing with the holiday season. Did any of you leave the reservation?

Also the wife and I are thinking about starting a workout plan starting the first of January. It's going to be a circuit training through our clinic. Anybody doing anything similar and how is your progress?

You're right eat them raw, it adds flavor and it is IP that way, cooking them is not IP.

Hi there..circuit training is the best! I'm a believer..started about 2.5 months in to the program. I do the circuit 3 days a week and cardio the other 3 days. Also needed some PT for the last 3 months (which is hopefully over). So now that's done am planning to add the cardio daily along with an INTENSIVE stretching/ flexibility regimen.

BUMP!!!!!

Hey, guys, it is pretty quiet here!! Vet? Shingen? Others?? Hello????? (Echo)

I found you all on page 5!!!

Hope you all are well, keeping on, staying in the saddle and just too busy to update us !!!!! Happy new year.

Hey just checking in. I've been absent for a while! Hope everyone is doing well!