I work in fashion, so if stress causes inflammation, then it's no wonder I'm at the weight I am

Thanks for the good advice! I didn't realize cooking with the oil would diffuse it so much. We can't use coconut oil to cook- my kids have life threatening allergies, but I suppose if we use the EVOO to cook, i'll use a little extra at lunch to make sure I get in the 2 tsps.

Using the olive oil while cooking doesn't count?? I've never heard this and with 8 weeks in, I'd love to know if I've been 'messing up'.

Why would having to go at wedding make you fall off the wagon.?

Sarita- my friend also told me to cut back on the restricteds...it's so hard to though.... those are my favorites. I'm a really picky eater, and the only foods I can get down on IP are some of the soups (NOT the tomato one- that was a complete disaster), the chocolate drinks, and of course the restricteds. After the wedding tomorrow i'll try doing a week of no restricted snacks and see how that helps.

Your coach is wrong about thinking it will kick up the losses. Watch the IP coaching video for some info. Close to the end is where they say it will not improve losses.

http://idealcoaching.tv/wp/archives/196

For other IP coaching video on exercising check out this thread.
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/4687166-post17.html

re: the wedding- maybe i've been following the diet too strictly, but in the last month, we've had alot of "occasions" and I wind up eating nothing at all, as the food choices for me were non existent. Most weddings i've been to have had the cocktail hour foods laden with fat, oils, and lots of carbs. I'll be ok at dinner, as I can always request the protein made without any of that. I just have a tendency to fall off the diet wagon when I get discouraged, especially when wedding cake and pigs n blankets are involved

Have you thought about trying alternatives if you hate the IP food? EAS advantege shakes are really good, I love the cafe carmel, the strawberry, chocolate and vanilla are all good too. Quest bars are amazing. I personally have switched mostly to alternatives and it makes me much happier. I don't want to pay a ton of money for food I hate! I'm more likely to stick to the diet with food I like and that is so much cheaper too!

Are the products you mention non-restricted? I'm ok with some of the IP foods- I do like the chocolate drink, the broccoli soup, the mushroom soup, the chicken pottage soup, the jello and the pudding cups. I haven't tried the pasta or the crepes or anything that required actual preparation, but i've been ok so far on those. I was afraid to try anything not IP because I was worried it would slow me down even more, but their foods are so expensive that I wouldn't mind supplementing.

Regarding the RESTRICTEDS - They are PART of the IP plan and are factored into your DAILY intake. Awhile back IP suggested NOT having them the first couple of weeks, but that has been changed by IP. As we can all attest, many coaches either do not keep up with changes made to the program as more information comes to light OR they choose to ignore them and make their own "house rules.

Most people here have lost quite successfully with the restricteds unless they are exceptionally carb-sensitive!

Having the restricted for most of us is something we look forward to as a daily treat and it helps with motivation and in sticking with the other aspects of IP.

In fact, for the WEDDING - take your favorite restricted and enjoy it when the cake is served!! (You'll be losing weight and everyone else won't!!)

IP average weight loss is 2-4 lbs/week for women (they lowered it some time back. Some coaches are still using old "promises) so you are ABOVE average. You don't look at it weekly, you look at the average weight loss, including the first week. You're doing great. We didn't gain this weight overnight but boy! Do we get impatient to lose it, don't we?

Just look at my progress pics. Good things come to those with patience and perseverance (especially sticking to it through "special" days - I've been through almost every holiday, weddings, parties, BBQs, tailgates, vacations, & STAYED OP with planning!)

Quest bars are restricted (and super good!)
EAS Carb Advantage drinks are not restricted.
Syntrax nectar is another great alternative. 100 calorie, 0 carb mix.

Several things;a coach who lost a huge amount on IP posted somewhere it is actually 6 to 8 ounces of animal protein for dinner for women. I am on several boards with her so can't remember where I saw it. At 5'1" I found 6 ounces was about all I could usually handle but did often take 2 ounces at lunch.
As for the oil intake this is super important. If you are using it to cook you are not getting it all in. Best way to get it is on your salad as it sticks to the lettuce and you get it all. Don't skimp when measuring it out either. It is really good to use vinegar or lemon oil on the salad with the oil.
The official IP advice is not to exercise while on phase 1 because you are taking in so few calories. Some people do exercise though but they take an extra non restricted and they accept they will lose more slowly.

Also the quest bars are really good to use because they are very high fibre. The IP plan is very light in the fibre department.

I remember WUV posting that, but can't remember which thread. I think she said officially it's 8 oz, but if the client can't eat all 8oz then 6oz would be ok.

First of all, 17 lbs in 5 weeks is fantastic. I've lost 11 in 3. DON'T expect to lose 5 lbs a week, its just not realistic.

I agree that you should be able to split your protein, ESPECIALLY since your are eating your 'big' meal 2 hours before you go to bed. Is your coach aware of this? When do you eat your snack? If your coach says you CAN'T split your protein - well I would do it anyway - but if you DON'T want to split your protein, how about swapping dinner for lunch? Have your packet for breakfast, 8oz protein and 2 cups veggies, olive oil for lunch, a packet late afternoon and one more before bed? That would be totally in keeping with the program.

I don't think this is correct. You are right that oil absorbs better if we use it to season food or on a salad rather than cook with it, but if we choose to cook with the oil we STILL have to count it toward the 2 teaspoons daily that is allotted -otherwise you are going OVER on your alloted oil. Only exception is cooking spray, which we don't have to count toward fat (as long as you don't over-spray).

No this is DEFINATELY NOT TRUE. Just confirmed with IP.