When John said "not designed for someone like you" I believe he meant that IP is really designed for people with Metabolic Syndrome (sometimes called syndrome x). This is a different need than people who need to shed 10-20 lbs, with different associated medical problems.

I can see how it sounded hurtful but I saw where he was coming from when it was said. I'm sorry you felt mistreated at Weight Watchers. That program is EXACTLY for people who want to shed 10-20 lbs and who have not gotten themselves into the Metabolic Syndrome predicament.

Patns makes some good points, as well.

It really is time to talk to a doctor

I think you should see a doctor immediately. I am not a medical professional, but I am a 'dieting professional', having been on just about every diet there is starting at age 10 (I am 51). I have never had an experience like yours on any diet, and I am wondering if the fact that it started when you started the diet might be coincidental. Please get checked!

Generally speaking I think the IP diet is better suited to heavier people but if someone has 20lbs to lose and wants to do the IP diet than so be it.

My comments though were specific to you primarily based on your exercise/activity level and that was before I knew about your headaches.

For someone who doesn't have a lot of fat to lose and is very active the IP diet is not something I personally would reccomend.

Hi,

My 2 cents - I am a Nurse Practitioner/cardiology: DO NOT do a salt water flush. You don't want to mess with your sodium levels in such an extreme way, especially when you are on such a restricted diet.

Have you had your BP checked?

Do you take any medications, any medical history, how old are you?

Extreme headaches could be your sodium level too high or too low, dehydration OR too much water.

You should phase off asap and see your MD - you should not screw around with your head.

If you are having serious headaches you need to get them checked! That is not something to try to self-diagnose.

I would check with your doc. Like other posters mentioned you are probably getting rebound headaches with the constant dosing of codeine and Advil. Your doctor should be able to give you a shot to get rid of it.

I hope you feel better soon! I truly don't think this diet is worth it to be in so much pain.

Ps- are you using mio? I was drinking it over the summer and couldn't get rid of an awful headache for over a week and it ended up being the fakey sugar in the mio.

No salt water flush - got it!!

I'm in Canada and see my doc on a pretty regular basis - I get a full blood workup done every 6 months, plus my annual physical and outside of low iron and my underactive thyroid everything is normal all the time. I had all that done before I started the diet so less than 2 months ago. My BP has always been on the low side of normal. I'm on synthroid and BCP.

I'll see my doc again and see what she says. I'm turning 50 in December - but a very healthy 50.

Thanks for the advice.

Mio isn't even available in Canada and my Coach said no Crystal Light - so just plain water for me. Wondering about the Splenda though - I never used that before IP. But I only have 1-2 packets a day.

I'm really beginning to think it's the sodium though - I'm going to start measuring that today.

It's funny - my Coach is a size 0 and she went on the program only to lose 30 pounds which I think was mostly baby weight. She is super skinny, and was kind of my role model for IP. Even when she had the 30 pounds on she wasn't what anyone would consider overweight. She's my friend's sister so I know her a bit more than most people know their coaches.

When I did the info session at her house there was an IP guy there - I think the head IP guy for the region. He did individual consultations with every single one of us including body fat, weight etc. and explained this Syndrome X to me, described how it was not something I had to worry about, and told me I was a great candidate for IP because I was so healthy and that I could get into the fitness body fat zone which is what my aim was (is).

So again, I was welcomed into the program wth open arms, so you can see my frustration as people start to tell me it's not the program for me.

So, to answer your question about my goal weight - I don't really think 110 is low for me. WW actually would have let me go down to 102! Besides that, my life revolves mostly around healthy people in great shape. At my gym I always felt like one of the bigger women there - and I'm talking women my age and older. A lot of then work out with trainers like I did before IP and had amazing bodies - and I'm talking mostly women in their 40s and some in their 50s. That was my normal.

A lot of the women at my gym did IP and/or IP type diets, it was my trainer who gave me the idea when I wasn't getting the results I wanted with WW.

I used to be a fitness instructor myself years ago so I'm used to being on the low side of normal for weight and being in good shape. However I got lazy, let myself get out of shape and became a couch potato and started eating lots of crap and gained 20 pounds, I finally got scared of what was happening and went back to the gym.

And as far as WW is concerned I even got attitude from some of the leaders. At least I knew with my size 0 IP Coach she understood where I was coming from - and she is only a few years younger than me with 3 kids.

I went on IP because other diets weren't working for me, including WW. My goal weight was one I decided and is much higher than the charts would have me. According to WW I should be 120, which honestly is WAY to small for me. Those charts never take muscle mass and frame into account. My IP coach would have like me at 125-130 which is also way too small. I'm at 147 now, in a size 6 and comfortable. This is a weight I can maintain and my body is at ease with.

I agree with you on so many points except for the idea of going to a 0 at age 50. It's not that I don't think it's attainable, but is it healthy and maintable. Remember, being skinny is not the same as being athletic and healthy. I'm in my mid 40's so I know that as we get older, maintaining a super lean body simply doesn't work, unless you have 8 hours a day to dedicate to that (like maybe Madonna - which let's be honest, she's a bit overboard also IMO).

Go by what you look like, how you feel and what your body is telling you. Not what the other ladies at the gym look like

Well said Angie! I agree, slow2lose, maybe your body is trying to tell you something? You stated earlier that you didn't want to go to your dr because you worry that she will pull you off the IP program. IMHO I would rather get rid of the headaches and be healthy than half kill myself to lose 4lbs...do they really make that much of a difference?

I'm not advocating one way or the other about using it.... but fyi MIO is readily available in Canada at several supermarket chains. It's been at Metro and FreshCo for at least 4 months or so. And if they've got it I imagine most of the others do too.

Perhaps these are questions you should be taking to the people you are referring to since you aren't feeling the support here. We all are suggesting medical advise and it seems you don't want to hear that (?) yet you keep coming back to see if anyone offers anything else? Health is most important and these headaches are telling us something is WRONG!

If you were not having health issues I am sure few would say anything about being on IP or your goal weight. However, the fact you are having serious headaches but not going to the doctor because you are worried of being told to go off IP is the issue in my humble opinion.