Just joined today and I'm gonna give the IP diet a shot!!! I have tried every single diet, pill, and potion out there! I had a baby in July and managed to lose my pregnancy weight (yay!) but still have a long way to go!!! I was 212 pre-pregnancy, and I'm 209 currently, hoping to get down to 150 eventually. Just joined curves, they are great there and very supportive. After reading all of your stories, I'm feeling pretty good about myself, and about this diet.....Thanks everybody!

I was thin for most of my life. When I was a kid, my mom had to spend over $40 for every pair of jeans she bought me (that was expensive in the '70's!) because only LuvIt super slim jeans would fit. Throughout highschool and college, I was thin and athletic. I played softball, was a cheerleader, was one of the popular girls, was very outgoing.

I had some complications with my first pregnancy and gained about 70 lbs. I lost most of it during the next year and stayed that same size for the next 3 years. My second child was born in 2005. It was a much easier pregnancy, I didn't gain as much weight and was losing weight for the next few months. Then I stalled and started a slow gain. I did the Alli diet for a little while and lost a few pounds, not enough though. Then the slow, steady gain. I joined a gym, did about 10 hours of cardio every week. After three months, I had gained 3 lbs.

My sister was having similar weight issues. We had joined the gym together with similar results. She was diagnosed with insulin resistance, was put on medication and was told to eat a high protein, low carb diet. After much research, I concluded that I had the same problem. I researched IP and decided I had to do it. Nothing else was working. I didn't want to become a diabetic. I avoided social situations because I felt too uncomfortable, too fat. People I went to school with didn't even recognize me anymore. I hated shopping for clothes, so I really had nothing to wear anywhere anyway.

My husband is a great man. He has been very supportive of IP and the changes that I have made to our family's way of eating. Although his weight was fine before, he is eating healthier and is more knowledgeable about nutrition now.

Since I am now at a better weight, I find that I am wanting to do things again. I want to go out to dinner, I want to attend social gatherings, I want to get out and see people. I enjoy shopping for size 8 jeans and medium tops.

Before IP, I avoided people in the grocery store, pretended like I didn't see them, just so I wouldn't have to talk to them. What a shame! It sounds cliche to say that a diet gave me my life back. Maybe that's too profound. It definitely has made a difference. My life was good before IP, I just had issues with me being overweight.

Im Jenn! I have always struggled with body image. Growing up I was the only girl surrounded by boys. And boys can be mean! I was constantly bullied by my cousins and brother because I was developing faster then them. My first "diet" I went on I was 14 and managed to keep my weight in check doing sports and eating right during high school. After I met my now husband and got pregnant the weight just came on. I ended up gaining 70lbs with my son. After 2 years of struggling with weight I joined IP and successfully lost 50lbs. Then got pregnant again and was very surprised to learn at my 20wk ultrasound that it was twins. I made it my mission not to have small NICU babies so gained that 50lbs I had lost. My girls were both almost 8lbs but after having them I didnt lose any weight. So I have joined IP again to lose this weight forever and gain control of this for myself and so I can set a good example to my kids about eating right. Im excited to wear normal pants and not maternity pants! lol My husband and I are planning on going on our honeymoon in nov and I want to feel comfortable on the beach and not all covered up in layers. So glad to have found this site! It is so motivating to see all the women who are losing the weight and supporting eachother!

I'm so glad there is so much support here at 3FC. I really enjoy reading everyone's stories!

Mine is pretty different, although it starts out the same as a lot of others. Growing up, I was always the perfect weight. I attribute that to the fact that from age 6 to 16 I was a hardcore competitive swimmer (you can NOT be overweight while that is going on haha). I think that basically set my metabolism to the level of awesome and I was able to eat whatever junk I wanted all through college and keep my figure- I was able to stay between 120-130 with no exercise at all. Oh, the days...!!! (although I didn't feel as good as I could have, which I didn't realize at the time.)
Fast-forward to age 21... I got pregnant. (Oops! That's another story. She was adopted by a wonderful family ) Well, I still ate junk all the time. Frozen corn dogs and chicken nuggets were my go-to staple. Of course with my crazy hormones and inactivity, I got up to 185 during my pregnancy. I just blamed it all on being pregnant. After I gave birth, I got down to 150 without much effort, but I was going out with friends and drinking and eating all that lovely junk food again! Amazingly, I stayed around 145/150 for 2 years, but I hated my body shape and longed to get back to where I was pre-pregnancy. Because I convinced myself that I could never give up all the foods I loved so much, I just resorted to thinking I had to just live with my new body and that was that.
I did about 2 weeks of south beach a few months before my wedding in spring '11. I got down to 140, but gained about 6 of those lbs back on my honeymoon lol. I was barely overweight, but I wasn't happy with that. I guess I am considered a "featherweight".
Fast-forward to Summer of '11. I got this job at a Chiropractor's office. I started on reception, but then was trained on Ideal Protein. I became the coach a few months later, and being surrounded by people losing weight (and being in an office with this IP food around me all day) inspired me to just DO it! In November, I started the diet and lost 15 lbs in a month, down to 131! Amazing.
Christmas time hit, and I did NOT stick with maintenance. I guess I thought I was some exception, that my old metabolism of the good ol' days just would magically re-appear. Eh, wrong!! I gained about 4 pounds back and felt kind of crappy from the reintroduction of junk into my diet when I decided to change my eating habits FOR GOOD.
Since the new year, I have been experimenting with my everyday diet, and it has evolved into 95% gluten-free. Since doing this I lost the weight I gained, plus a few more pounds, and I feel great. I only have wheat/grains if I am eating out or it is a special occasion. I am loving it. I was a person who thought I could NEVER be on a diet or eliminate certain things because I love food so much. Now it just seems natural to me to not eat wheat or grains. This evolution has changed my life and the way I look at my health and how much food affects my body. Luckily, my husband is a hippie at heart and together we have decided to get rid of all processed flour and replace everything in our house with healthy options. The journey is just beginning, but I love my body again and feel better now than I have in a long time. I can't believe I almost gave up on myself.

ksparkleg



Thank you all so much for sharing your stories. I am enjoying reading all of them. I feel that sharing our stories bring us a little closer together. This afterall is another family for me.