Kandy...please don't be so hard on yourself. Sounds like you have gone through so much in the past year. You have lost the weight, so you know that you can, and will, do it again.

Now for my confession...I am restarting this program, again tomorrow. I lost 40 lbs, only to gain it all back. (Like you, IP43, I wanted to change my name in here!!) It was my own food choices that got me here. I have realized & learned that I must truly be a carb addict. In maintenance, I was very careful at first to track everything...and was very successful...until I added the cheat day into my week. After that, I was on a roller coaster for awhile until I finally fell off. (Bouncing from phase 1 days to cheat days and I hated it). Like you, I got rid of all of my bigger clothes, so I'm left with just a few things that fit. I feel horrible. I hate leaving my house for fear that people I know will see me. This is so depressing. So tomorrow, May 25th, I'm going to put an end to this madness. I can't wait to feel great again!!!

Thank you all for sharing your stories. It's so helpful to know that we're not in this alone!!

So here is another longer post in light of most peoples post.
yes I do need to learn to eat properly, but as for right now I need something easy and simple to stick to (which this is), I really dont have to focus in cooking especially when I am living out of a hotel for work most of the time.
Yes some people dont see it a failure, but my personal self I feel like I have put my body through **** losing 100 pounds then gaining it all back in less than 2 years. So I see it as failing myself.
Maybe things are different now but there are some serious IP people out there who give their every bit of input on everything and what you do is wrong. There was no winning. But things change and I look forward to jumping back into everything and contributing to threads.
I am definatly going to be more prepared for the aftermath this time.
I am glad tthere is many of us starting over (not glad that people have to start over, bu t happy there is support! Lol)
Thanks everyone!

Hi,

I hope that you can use your experience as information, now that you know what to do differently. Every person is using the IP protocol to deal with a weight issue, but it is a personal journey. What other people think or say- is about them. You seem to fear the judgement of others, but in reality you have already been your harshest critic. Just take it one meal at a time. Now that you know better, you will do better. Good luck.

Kandy, I think the backlash you fear was much more likely several years ago. There were very zealous posters here then. It doesn't seem nearly as argumentative now. Good luck in your ongoing journey.

So nice to see that scale moving the right direction this morning! That is a great way to start a Monday (not usually my favourite day of the week! LOL)

I know hey! I started thursday and took a quick peek! Down 7 so far!

Way to go Killer Kandy! I was just reading this thread. Like you, I lost weight on IP before than let myself gain it back. I've been so nervous to re-start being already anxious over maintenance (ummmm...how about I get there first?) I've struggled my entire life and now at 42, it is not getting any easier and to be honest, I'm so tired of thinking about it and planning to actually "live" my life when I'm happy with my weight. I just want to feel comfortable in my own skin. I will say that the posts from those on maintenance are definitely inspiring and give me some reassurance that it can be done. Good luck to you.......I'm on the journey with you!

I am going up the same hill, down the same path... However one wants to say it.... Lost 35 pounds then some life challenges hit and I gained it all back, and I thought, once things settle down I will get back on track, well I realize life is not going to settle down not for a long while, so I recommitted myself last night, and as was posted by another, IP works, but you/I have to make it work for the individual And be certain to phase off properly with a game plan for maintenance
So nice to know these boards are a constant!
Looking forward to next Monday weigh in!

Looks like there is a bunch of us "Oops I did it again"-ers... But using that Britney Spears song is not a bad mantra. Look how many times SHE messed up and she got back up and got in shape/got her kids back/got her career back...

Knowing I'm not the only one kicking my own makes me feel a little better! As does seeing all the people here living and modelling success. Whatever stage one is at, it is helpful and inspirational to others -- even if we don't recognize it right away

Lol in love that 'Oops I did it again-ers' definatly made me laugh
Hope everyone is having a good day and that the weekend was not to brutal. I think I may keep posting here to share what the difference is from last time to this time for me. I am sure I could post on tons of threads but I like to stick to only a few

Thanks for being brave enough to tell your story, Kandy! I have been beating myself up and feeling so depressed, embarrassed and frustrated because I had lost over 60 lbs on IP over a year ago and have gained most of it back also. I have tried to restart a million times but just can't seem to stay with it for more than a few days. I was so strong when I was on plan before, I can't figure out why I am not able to follow through this time. I worked so hard and I think I am just so mad about messing up I can't let go and just re commit to begin again... everyone at work was so supportive and now that I am heavy again no one mentions it to my face and another girl who had bypass is getting all the praise and I praise her too, don't get me wrong I think she looks gorgeous but it makes me feel even more like a failure, anyway reading your post helped me to think that maybe I can join you and the others to start over.

For me all of the above is true. It is a bit scary to go through it all again (and I'm one of the ones who has hair loss issues to boot) BUT you have to have a changed mindset for the END. We KNOW it works. We know we can do it. Now we just have to work on the "Maintenance" part.

My friend had the gastric bypass and looks great, lost a ton etc. BUT she can hardly eat anything and many foods make her sick. I want to avoid that option.

There are enough of us here who understand your feelings -- the embarrassment and all that. BUT we also appreciate that you have the knowledge on how to be successful to share as well.

Pity party is over for all of us. Grab yer and join the "one hot mama" party!!

Thanks IP43! You're right! The pity party is over right now! Instead of worrying about it not working which is why I think I am giving up after a few days and continuing to gain more ( which is a cop out) I just need to focus on succeeding one day at a time.

Good to hear that! Now tomorrow is "day 1" -- no doing the "this is the last day I can have ....(fill in the blank)..." You DO know it works because you already did it. Just keep remembering how good you felt when the weight came off. And as Larry the Cable Guy says in his infinite wisdom "Git 'er dun!"

P.S. I personally did not announce this time that I'm doing IP again at work (I'm sure you appreciate why). I just have been bringing my salad and have said "Oh I felt so much better when I was eating more salad -- gotta get back to some healthier eating so I can wear my thong to the beach"...

Today is day 3 for me and feeling better already...I am busy helping a friend on hospice. Last week when I first started the final stages with him I though okay so there is no way I can lose weight with all of this going on, but then I said no this is the perfect time to learn how to lose weight when LIFE hits...so I started back and am very glad I did...and as we all said earlier using the IP platform and tweaking it for me...day 3 down 4.5 pounds(yes I weigh daily!) hope the rest of you have a great day!