The same thing happened to me. Fortunately I found another clinic and things are working out much better. As Lisa said, report this clinic to IP and demand your money back.

On a side note, I pulled a Strawberry RTD out of the fridge yesterday to have for lunch. I got it from the old clinic. It had an expire date of 3/12/13. This is the 3rd thing that I have found that was expired from the start bag that I paid for. Threw it away. So glad I don't go there any more.

Has anyone found that their skin has gotten really dry on this diet? I'm going on week 3 and my lips, hands, and the inside of my nose is super dry. I know it's a bad winter but I usually don't get like this. My diet used to be really high in fat before IP so I was thinking that had something to do with it.

Hello everyone. So I started IP using alternatives today. So far, I have had an EAS Carb Control RTD shake, romaine with 2 cups of veggies, and a Muscle Milk 100 RTD. And lots of water! For dinner, I am going to have some broiled tilapia with 2 cups of zucchini. I plan on picking up some Quest Chocolate Peanut Butter bars on my way home from work so I can have one as a snack, and I plan to place an order with Nashua Nutrition tonight so I can make sure to have some variety in my non-restricted items.

I think I am in need of a little pep talk and some reassurance that this CAN be done long-term and with a busy lifestyle! I work full time and have two young boys who are very active with school and extra-curricular sports. Before starting this diet, I am ashamed to admit that we ate almost every weekend meal out and even a few during the week. I want this to work and I will make it work because I have finally realized that I am worth it! And my kids deserve to have a healthy Mom who feels good about herself, is willing to get out there and run around with them, and who will actually get IN a picture with them instead of hiding behind the camera.

I KNOW this plan will work...but as the day wears on, that negative self-talk and doubt is creeping in. Would love to hear from those of you on this diet long-term and how you make it work with a busy lifestyle.

By the way, I LOVE this forum...although new here, I researched and read (and read and read some more) about the diet before starting, and the info and encouragement found here can not be beat. Thank you!!

P.S. Do you know why pork tenderloin is acceptable but a lean cut pork chop is not?

And we can have tuna, right?

Speaking as someone who is now in maintenance... who the heck eats a 1/4c of steak spice??! use a 1/2 tsp on your tenderloin or even your veggies and you won't have any carb effect. Re: pork chop - because most people eat those lovely crispy fatty edges on their bbq'd chop without even thinking about it. If the chop is cheaper - trim all fat off before cooking then go for it. Yes to tuna.

Hang in there and retrain the self-talk to positives, mix it up with your veggies (a whole 2 cups of zucchini sounds pretty dull, chop in red peppers, celery, green onion, and add hot sauce & soy sauce - yum!) and you WILL make it. All of us on here are a great fund of knowledge and support and experience so visit & comment often!
Liana

Hi Everyone - I've decided to end my experimentation with alternative products and go back to all IP for my last 12 pounds. Since I started using alternatives (things like Muscle Milk, Quest Bars, Simply Protein Bars, ChocoRite) I've just stalled out, haven't really lost anything at all in the past six weeks.

It's not that those products are wrong, I researched extensively to find things like that could be used as less expensive replacements for the IP packages with the same or similar nutrient values, but it seems that when I went off the IP products, that mentally I gave myself license for little cheats here and there. That will be fine for maintenance perhaps, but I really want to get to my goal, and I think using alternatives turned into a psychological barrier of sorts for me.

Have a great day everyone!

My skin is VERY dry, too! I was thinking diet, but who knows. I live in California...so we have not had a bad winter at all. Maybe it's because we haven't had any rain!

Nice job!!!

Wow!!! That is awesome! Super happy for you!!!

Great job Panya!!!

Yes! I have noticed my skin is very dry too. I have never in my life had so much split skin by my fingertips. I also noticed my hands are very dryer than normal as well. On top of that, I wear contacts and my eyes are especially dry. I drink a metric ton of water, but that hasn't helped. This is my second time doing the diet and my second time with dry eyes and skin so I definitely attribute it to the diet. I keep lotion nearby all the time, rub tea tree oil into the split skin on my fingers and keep lens rewetting solution handy for my eyes.

Sorry you had to go through this! My coach is super organized with everything. I was VERY impressed! I'm thankful that he is this way because if he wasn't...I probably would not have done IP. He's the only one in the Sacramento area...which is weird considering we're the capital of California and densely populated. He has also started 3 other IP offices in the San Francisco area, but wanted to move away where it isn't so absurdly expensive to live. Anyhow, good luck!

And CALL Corp IP...they really do need to know about this.

Very important to make sure you are getting the required amounts of fats EVOO/ grapeseed oil in AND make sure you take enough Omegas too. That will help. Drink your full 8 glasses or more of water and slather on the body lotion. Keep showers warm, not HOT - that dries skin as well.
I had trouble with the skin at the corners of my thumbnails cracking deeply. Just had to Krazyglue them. Yep, that works - surgeons use a similar glue in some wounds to keep them closed. That stage did pass though.
Hope it helps
Liana

I can speak to the busy lifestyle question! I work 4 days and have two small kids - one with lots of extracurriculars and other in day care, so plenty of running around. I have found that planning and prep work are essential to skipping the drive-through.

Breakfast is easy since I just grab a shake on my way out the door.

Lunch - I prepare two salads at a time in two 7-cup Pyrex bowls with lids. So on Sunday I make lunches for Mon and Tues and on Tues night I make lunches for Weds and Thurs.

Dinner -I love meals that I can throw in the oven all at once, such as a pork tenderloin with roasted veggies (I toss in baked potatoes for the rest of the family at the same time). While they cook I can supervise homework, bathe the little one, or even run out and pick up DD from an activity. The microwave is great for steaming veggies - plus I've read that many veggies keep their nutrients better in the microwave than being steamed on the stovetop. I think the key is to purchase meats that you will realistically be able to prepare on a weeknight.

Thanks for posting this. I, because of the cost, have wanted to move to alternatives, but have hesitated just for the reason you said. I'm getting close to goal, so I'll hang in there and perhaps use them on maintenance as well.

Yes same here - full time working mom of two very busy kids. We are on the go every night. Most evenings I get home at 5ish, throw dinner down their throats then it's off to practices, games, dance classes, whatever. And my husband works nights, so it's all on me. Life before IP was the same as you noted- all too often through the drivethrough. Meal planning ahead of time is key, and the crockpot is my best friend... but sometimes life gets in the way. When that happens, a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store has replaced the drivethrough for me, and is just as fast. I always have a bag of spinach in the fridge, which takes literally 3 minutes to saute up. Dinner - done.