Dana! Hi!
You were one of my big motivators when I started!
I'm "there" with you on the 20 up/down/up

I was 15 from goal at one point. Had to give my body a break from p1 AND went on a 1-month vacation. Wasn't careful. Wow do I gain weight fast.
Went back on P1 but the painfully slow losses remain.
I've decided this: What choice do I really have?
I can choose health or sickness.
I'm choosing health. It doesn't matter how long it takes.

Right there with you...today is day 3....

For those struggling to get back on the program, there are some books I can recommend that will help you shy away from all those carbs that we are trying to avoid.

Read The Wheat Belly or Grain Brain and you may never stuff away carbs again. Wheat Belly will give some insight into what our body actually does with grains, even "good grains". It does not suggest to ban all carbs forever but it may surprise you what we may wish to consider avoiding.

Grain Brain is more specifically directed at how grains, again all grains, affect our brain and how the rise of Alzheimers and other debilitating illnesses may be tied to what we eat. As someone who watched my father and his mother go through horrible years of dementia, I am more than willing to read this and consider some of what the doctor discusses.

It also just helps me when I am tempted - I make myself remember what these books say and ask if it is worth it, even if only half of what they say is true.

I lost almost 50 lbs and started maintenance in April. I'm up about 10 lbs even though I think I'm eating a lot better. My bigger question is, can the weight we end IP actually ever end up being our 'ideal' weight? I'm a tour guide so do cruises and many other high end tours where all the food is free. Even then however I tend to choose a protein and vegetable but of course its much harder when your eating out every meal. Just would like to hear from other 'maintainers' and see what the secret is. I don't want to live in fear of gaining a few lbs back however I also don't want to be yo yo'ng for lots of yrs. I so relate to the original poster, good luck.

Here's the thing... You have to be realistic about what your "ideal" weight is based on your activity level and the way you want to eat, your body type and your health. You might be able to drop down to a crazy low weight - and it's exciting when you drop below sizes you wore in high school, but what will you have to do to maintain that weight? The answer won't be the same for everyone. You can't exercise off every bad food choice either - if we were naturally thin we wouldn't have needed IP in the first place! Losing all the weight unfortunately doesn't mean we are able to eat whatever we like.

If 10lbs keeps creeping back and you are making good food choices and maintaining a level of exercise that fits your lifestyle, chances are you dropped too low to realistically maintain. But like I said, it's different for everyone.

Reading everyone's trials, has me nervous....I just got a job promotion that means that I will be on the road Monday through Friday. I've been 100% since 7/14/14, and have lost 20lbs. I hope to lose 10 to 15lbs more before I go into P2. I just hope that this job change doesn't throw a wrench into my resolve.

Don't be nervous! Part of this journey includes ups and downs...but if nothing else this thread proves that there's no such thing as the point of no return!

There is an older thread about staying OP when on the road - "Road Warrior" or something like that - there are tons of great suggestions there to help you stay on track!

Scorbett, thanks for the advice. Actually my concern is even with the 10# change my 'fat' went up and muscle declined so I know I'm doing something wrong. The # doesn't matter cause I feel better but wherever I end up I'm hoping its easier to maintain. I didn't start with Ideal Protein, I started with a program that was advertised on the radio. What they say is when you get your body fat down to the normal range your metabolism makes adjustment so eating moderately shouldn't be a big problem. IP seems to be doing much the same. I like the links to Nashua Nutrition and think incorporating that into my meal plans may help out. Thanks for the wise words.

Coming back here to 3FC is a huge first step -- the other key step is getting on program 100 percent.

I have done every diet program there is over the past 45 years - I was originally 20 lbs overweight, and now I am 90 lbs overweight -- every yo-yo down was followed by regain, plus a few more lbs, until I have almost quadrupled the extra weight I need to lose.

Every time I have'restarted' it has taken an enormous level of commitment to get back on an effective path to weight loss. Taking those first steps each time is very hard. I lost the same 20 lbs 3 times in 2013, and became so depressed about it that it took me until July to get my act together and begin IP. Now I am in week 8, and it's almost like auto-pilot. Once you get a rhythm going, the losses become consistent, and you can kind of ride the wave.

After taking the first steps to get started with your program, the next big question is what are you going to do differently this time?

Every time in the past, as I have reached goal, or decided to cease the active pursuit of weight loss, I have tried to deal with maintenance by making it up day by day. Each time I have promised myself I will not let myself become obese again, but I am living proof that this is not a successful approach.

This time, I am finally accepting that the transition to maintenance, and then effectively executing the maintenance protocol, requires the same level of meal by meal commitment as the Phase 1 protocol for weight loss.

I am putting in time checking out the 3FC IP maintenance threads now, lurking with those who are making the transition, and trying to understand how it is supposed to work and what its challenges are. Based on suggestions here on 3FC, I have picked up The Beck Solution and am reading it and working with its recommendations to try to get a successful mindset developed so that I can succeed in maintenance. And I signed up for group fitness training classes with my IP Coach that begin this week -- this will help me to begin to build some exercise habits that will contribute to both weight loss and maintenance. My coach will help me regulate intensity to stay with the IP protocol guidelines for exercise.

I am not sure what else I can do at this point, other than staying not only on program, but on purpose.

The thing is -- Each of us can lose the pounds, and each of us can keep it off. But the likelihood of success by just 'winging it' is pretty close to zero, no matter how young and resilient you might be. Youth is helpful, and I can say from experience that with each passing year, it gets harder and harder to make any weight loss program work. You are lucky -- because you are young you have the ability to make the commitment now and avoid a lifetime of restarts. Do it!!!

Sign me up....
Did great in maintenance for about a year....then gained about 30.....lost it.....slowly gained.....lost again.....back up 50!!

Life certainly has it's ups and downs (that's what it's all about tho unfortunately). Had a minor hiccup when I broke my ankle this past spring (the DAY BEFORE we flew down to Disney I might add....)! Let's just say I "blossomed" even more over the summer! Wahhhh!

Turned 50 in August.....was hoping I'd have more "control" over this lifetime battle as I grew wiser. Nope.

Hubby has also lost on IP over the years. We know it works, it's just frustrating that we can't keep a grip on it! His cholesterol is up and now needs meds.....so now it's even more important to get the weight off.

What has always worked for me is coming here and READING! Always nice to see familiar names (and faces)!

Thank you all for your wisdom!!

Best wishes to all!!

(And.....I can't remember how to do my ticker....lol)!

This thread is scaring the crap out of me.

I never had problems with weight until college when I went on a medication that made me gain 30 lbs. It took time, but I got it off. Then by graduation, I'd put it back on. Went on South Beach, lost it all and felt amazing. Six months later, met my future husband and with all the dinner dates we had, put 30 lbs. back on and carried it around for several years. Then we got engaged and in 10 months of calorie counting and exercise, I was back down for the wedding. Looked fabulous, felt fabulous. But starting my own business, buying a house, and other life stresses had me back up 30 lbs. again, which is when I found IP. I'm down 20+ and feel amazing.

What I've realized is: food makes me sick. Not all food, but a lot of it. I was diagnosed with a litany of allergies in January which has helped, but my doctors wanted me on an extreme elimination diet (essentially, IP). I'm terrified to get off this diet and go back to my old ways of eating. Not only will the weight come back (and really, it's dangerous to keep yo-yo-ing up and down 30 lbs. right?), but I will FEEL terrible.

I've been working on completely changing my mindset while on IP. My husband will eat a rich dessert in front of me and all I want to do is shove it in my face, but out loud I proclaim, "that would probably kill me." Ok, that's a little dramatic - but I've been up enough nights at 2 am thinking I need to be taken to the hospital because my stomach is in so much pain to know better. I hope. I think this diet is - like others have mentioned - making me come to terms that I cannot eat whatever I want.

Are there long-term success stories of people keeping the weight off with IP?

The Maintenance threads have a lot of successful maintainers - and a good view of what challenges they are experiencing and what strategies they are employing to help them continue to maintain. One of the most successful strategies seems to be staying with 3FC to benefit from the support that's here everyday.

You have grasped what I think are some key hard truths -- we cannot go back to old ways when it comes to eating, and that means we cannot regularly eat whatever we want. Adopting habits of mindful eating, and recognizing the difference between a 'fun day' and sensible days devoted to regular maintenance is critical.

It occurs to me that all through my yo-yo life I have spent the better part of every day thinking about my weight - 90 percent of the time it was because I was overweight and uncomfortable in the company of others who were not fat, and who were so much more at ease in their own skin. That voice in my head has been commenting relentlessly on how I must look to others, and at the same time, trying to rationalize my ingestion of any sweet thing within a several mile radius.

So if I can get down to goal and then have to spend time every day thinking about sensible food choices and eating management, it's ok with me. It can be a much more positive and meaningful life experience. I find the IP foods and alternatives perfectly ok-tasting and I'm willing to continue to include them in my eating management strategies. To be more slim and more comfortable in my own skin can provide a completely different perspective -- I am following IP as closely as I can, so I can reach that point as quickly as I can, and along the way, trying to train that voice in my head to help me maintain once I get there.

Lisa's quote says it all for me... Losing weight is hard. Maintenance is hard. Being fat is hard. Pick your hard. (-Ishbel)

I wonder if the answer is to catch it sooner? I am new to IP so I hope to break the cycle of loss and regain as others have mentioned. I have done most of the major diets over the years, had success (on weight wathchers and atkins) kept it off a few years and then ultimately went past + more. Part of it is that I've aged and it does get harder. For me, adding pregnancy weight plus kids where I find it hard to fit in exercise made me double my last amount to lose. In my 20s, I needed to lose 15 pounds -- did it, stayed at ideal for a few years. In my 30s I needed to lose 35. Did it, stayed at ideal for a few years. In my 40s, I need to lose 60. Maybe the key is to not let yourself go above a 15 pound weight gain. Do mini reboots if you have to? I haven't made it over to the maintainer threads yet but I will once I get going on this weight loss/downward journey. But, remember you're doing something about it. That's the important thing.

Hi Darth,
There are long time success stories - but I would say there are more stories where the weight has crept/leapt back over time. Lifetime habits are so hard to change and sliding into the "easy" mode is well... easy. There is another thread that came up the last time we had restarters posting. People got nervous and started asking for successes (sort of felt like they didn't want to know about us restarters). I certainly don't take your question offensively - I do understand. Personally I don't feel like a failure - I'm here and back at it which to me is the big win, though of course I wish I'd not had as much to re-do before I got back here.

In June of 2012, I really did't want to see myself restarting and hearing of those that did were the "not me" stories I wanted to believe could be me after I worked so hard. Gosh same holds true for when I did WW with my Mom when I was in 8th grade. Anyway, don't be discouraged. IP will take the weight off, much faster than any other eating plan I have been on. Maintenance is the hard part - and it is for the rest of my life. With the amount of weight I need to lose, and my age/activity level I believe I will be basically on phase 2 or 3 the rest of my life. I've come to terms with that. So here I am - doing this anew, and feeling great about it.

Thank you all for sharing your honest experiences. I have been maintaining since June and your stories have made me even more determined to be vigilant about staying in my range. It seems to me that maintenance works when we work it. I can see this getting old as the thrill of weight loss fades.

One common thing that I noticed in your stories is that many fell away from posting on the threads. I wonder why? Being busy? Not following program? Only wanting to post success? Being fatigued by the weight loss process?

What makes many of us stop reaching out for support once we hit goal?