Thanks, and sorry for the snappiness.

Normally, I can filter out negativity and anything else I don't find helpful. I guess the filter just got clogged. It literally was a "last straw" moment.

I've just never felt so intimidated or found myself in such a "no-win" situation before. I don't know how any of you (especially those of you who've found minor protocol modifications helpful) feel supported and not under constant attack here.

I've always thought of myself as having a thick skin, but WOW! I admire the courage of those of you who share your experiences, knowing it's likely to be attacked.

I've left other boards because of the unnecessary brutality and name calling, and have grown accustomed to viewing 3FC as haven where most folks are more civil.

I tend to be a gut-spiller, and while I find that degree of openess extremely helpful, I have to feel safe to do it. I hate the idea of having to hold back my experiences and opinions to avoid being jumped on. I can take constructive and even not-so-constructive criticism quite well, but not so much the personal attacks (even - heck, especially when it's someone other than me being attacked).

I have 3 IP foods a day, have since day one. I also sometimes struggle with exactly the same hurdles. Afternoon hunger (used to a snack) and having to force the evening snack. A dill pickle handles the afternoon and I have hot chocolate after dinner. I have sometimes had a big salad for lunch (all the lettuce I want, right?) and my IP in the afternoon. I've also gone to bed with only 2 IP foods in me for the day because I just ran out of time in the day. ??? It's all working for me. As far as going to bed hungry, I have never done, and your body naturally goes into ketosis during sleep. You will not deplete muscle. That's everybody.

IP protocol is defined very clearly and not difficult to comprehend. The program is not convenient many times and meal preparation is essential. This may not be a program you would wish to choose for yourself considering you may base that decision on anybody else. I'm just tickled pink with IP and this website is awesome fun.

[QUOTE=kaplods;3884681]Thanks, and sorry for the snappiness.

Normally, I can filter out negativity and anything else I don't find helpful. I guess the filter just got clogged. It literally was a "last straw" moment.

Kaplods, I'm not sure if it's negativity you're getting or just, as with any written form of communication, being difficult to express feelings. I know this board can be helpful. At times I've gone back and removed or edited a post because upon reading it, it didn't sound like I wanted it to! I'm what my family refers too as a smart a$$.... It's hard to joke around on a forum when the people can't hear the laughter or inflection of your voice. You belong here as much as anyone else. If you have something to say, say it. If someone blasts you for it, don't get your feelings hurt. I quit a forum that was the best source of information ever (sock machine) because someone accused me of yelling. I didn't know what he meant,(I had said I didn't care for the type of elastic he suggested because it changed the color of my sock yarn even though it worked well.) It just hurt my feeling and I resigned from the forum because I have enough people in my life that hurt my feelings without a total stranger doing it.

So, I agree, this is supposed to be a supportive safe environment. There shouldn't be food police here! LOL My mistakes are my own, no one elses. It's okay for people to say they are 100% on plan. But it's also okay for people to say they are 50% or 10% on plan, (it's their money) if it's working for them. I am vegetarian. The plan works differently for me because I have to really watch what I eat or my day is less than 500 calories. I started adding an extra packet per day (one of the lower carb ones) or an extra RTD. That's when I started losing consistently. Did I ask my coach? No, because he said you need to start eating meat. I won't, so we are at a impasse on that point! The one protein I will eat, albeit reluctantly, is Salmon. On my sheet it says ONCE a week! Well ****......

I admit, I'm not much of a poster about my progress on these threads either for a lot of the same reasons kaplods said. I kind of felt like if the 100% can have their own threads, why not a thread for everyone else to share? I tried the alternative thread, but I still don't really feel welcome anywhere on the IP threads. So I'm doing the program, and I only post when I have followed it 100 - anything less I keep to myself. Not a good way to diet - keeping all the bad feelings locked away.
Maybe I should just delete this post....

It's funny...cuz i picked IP because this forum was so helpful and friendly! I will admit though, that since I joined in April, it's gone in phases/cycles, as I think most everything does, as far as negativity and such happens.

I have learned a lot on these boards, and am having great success at the IP protocol! I am doing alternatives, and do not have a coach/clinic in my area, so this is the only place I have for information.

I have learned to filter what i don't really want to read about...especially when emotions run high. I'll admit there was one post a week or so ago, that really had me upset and feeling like I didn't belong..but I figured..Let it go! I'm not going to short my self on knowledge, or someone else on any knowledge I have that they might need, because of One person.

I really feel good on this diet. I lost 65 pounds with eating better and exercise, but I stalled out. This plan has been..I don't want to say easier, but at the same time..that's exactly what it is. I know what I can eat: This packet, these veggies and this meat. It's freeing in it's strictness...if that makes any sense.

I hope that you reconsider! There are truly some amazing women in this group, that are very informative and supportive!

No Laura, don't delete it and POST whatever you need to! PM me privately and vent, whatever it takes to help you along! My husband & son are both doing IP, they actually started before I did. My son who is not always 100% (Tuesday is "taco wagon day" and he has a spinach wrap) has lost 72 pounds in 12 weeks. It's working for him because he knows what he can and cannot eat for the rest of his life. No more "super sized" drinks, he now drinks supersized water (I rarely see him without a 1 liter bottle in his hand) and watch portion size. I know he'll be successful. His life depends on it. He has a condition called barretts esophagus. It' totally under control on this diet and he feels good. He was scheduled for a very risky surgery a month ago. His Dr says as long as his diet remains this good, he isn't having symptoms, he will probably never need surgery. He needs to be checked every 6 months, but that's a simple thing!

Hi everyone,

I have actually had quite a positive experience overall with this board. I think it has really helped me tremendously. I benefit daily from others' experiences and insight, so I keep coming back. Sure, there are the occasional know-it-all's or rude people who get everyone else worked up (including me sometimes) but it's more the exception than the rule in my opinion. I hope that you all stick around 'cause I need you!

Karen

I havent had any negitive responses here, We are here for IP support, so ifsomeone is doing something wrong, isint it better to tell them? Why spend all this money and do a half a@@ job at it. If you go to WW forum or other sites, the same thing happens. People tell you if your right or wrong about the diet plan. I think most want to follow a plan as close as they can, if someone cant with too many tweeks, then maybe they need another program. When I first started IP, the coach asked me how ready was I ready to commit to IP, out of 10. I said 10 so off we went to help me lose weight. If I was not 100% she wouldnt coach me through the diet.

I think their is more help on here in the forum then most coaches give us. So what is sometimes were told were wrong when we do something. I would rather know the right way to make my $ go as far as possible. And also so I can learn the right way so I can make these changes for the rest of my life.

Like pop, why is it hard to accept, NO SODA POP lol. I dont see a thread on no chocolate, or no big mac LOL....its like we try to find loop holes to make things we like work instead of accepting what were suppose to do. I love chocolate, but it just wasnt on my list of acceptable veggies, so......I dont eat it lol.

I used to do WW, was on the forum, many tell you when your doing something wrong, and many people modify their points, never eatting a veggie a day and wonder why they dont lose. IP has a formula that has been proven to work we just have to follow it. Unfortunately alot of coaches arent helpful, but FORTUNATELY the wise girls here at 3 fat chicks are soooooooooooooo good. They make IP alot easier. Except for that John dude, not sure whats up with him lol...

If everyone agreed on what "doing something wrong" meant, I could agree with you, but I've seen people attacked for doing exactly as their coach told them (and not doing some "add on" that the attacker admited he or she didn't even learn from his or her own coach. He or she just decided themselves it is a component required for success).

From what I've been reading in the threads it doesn't seem like there's a consensus on what "doing it right" means, and no matter how you do it, it seems someone is going to come down on you (and hard) for it.

I probalby will be trying IP or similar program/products, but from the reactions I do see here, I do feel much as Laura G posted, that I would do best to keep my choices to myself since I know I will not be able to fit anyone's idea of perfection, let alone my own.

I've never felt that lurking was the best way to get support, but this just doesn't seem to be a program that allows or accepts anything but perfection (even if there are different opinions on what perfection looks like).

The 90 lbs I've lost so far, have all been lost very imperfectly. Only by accepting imperfection have I had any success. I've spent 40 of 45 years of dieting failing more than succeeding, because I thought perfection was the only way, and since I couldn't manage to be perfect for very long, I always ended up eventually giving up.

For me, accepting imperfection was vital to learning to keep the weight off, and this just doesn't seem to be a forum in which any type of imperfection or plan-tweaking is tolerated.

I'm glad that so many of you find support here. I don't really get it but I guess that's just how my brain is wired. I guess I'm just more at home in the "imperfect and plugging along, anyway" threads.

That at least is one advantage to 3FC, there are so many different forums, that if one doesn't fit, there are many others to try.