Not sure about the packets. I use a lot of the RTD's because I am lazy. Do you put the water in the container first and then add the powder? That may help, or get one of those bullet machines and blend the heck out of it

Yea ~~ it's usually a brand new poland spring bottle, or I pour some water into the bottle before the powder because I've had it stick to the bottom of the bottle too many times lol.

What does RTD stand for?? I'm on a tight budget and considering purchasing the alternatives that other members were nice enough to share on the other thread, after I finish up the IP supplies. I've been eating Balance bars in place of the IP bars already and they didn't affect my diet at all the first time around. I was pleased that the Balance bars actually came out with a new caramel nut blaster flavor that tastes exactly like the IP caramel bars.

Freaks me out too, especially since the first week I hardly even ate so I gained most of it the second week. All I could stomach for a week was saltiness and Ginger ale. I am very discouraged. Not sure what I'm going to do, so fed up with this vicious cycle.

So basically in two weeks I've gained back half the weight I lost in three months.

I'm really sorry about the gain, and the surgery. But you didn't gain back 13 pounds of fat, right? Did you phase off correctly. Sorry, I can't remember. Still, I really don't think you have a lot of reasons to be discouraged because you're going to lose a lot of fluid once you're back on the program. And when you get back to where you were you'll know that you can't eat "horribly", right?

I guess the broader issue, and what set me off, is that you've opened an opportunity for people to question the effectiveness of the IP Program. The way I see it is that when I screw up, it was I who screwed up, and believe me, I can do that with the best of you. So I speak with authority.

I have to agree with Linden here... this program teaches you how to approach food in specific combinations in order to 1) lose weight (phases 1-2), and then 2) maintain a healthy weight (phases 3 and 4). If you ignore all that you have learned, don't blame the diet...

Here is some good info that I picked up from reading the original "maintenance" thread that Novak and others had going a long time ago. This is part of a sticky now, but I think it's good for everyone here to read this...

I weigh myself daily now, knowing that I am in the learning phase of maintenance. It's up to ME each and EVERY day to figure out what my body is comfortable with. There are fewer rules, but that is by design. The diet as a way of life would definitely fail if it were as restrictive in maintenace as it is in Phases 1 and 2...

See my signature for how I feel about this diet. This diet is freedom from the weight issues of the past, but you have to follow it (in all phases) and LET IT!

RTD is Ready to Drink that I buy through IP. The chocolate, vanilla, and mango. I really like the mango. I always keep one in the car just in case I am gone from home too long. Along with a ziplock baggy of single serve packages of Walton Farms salad dressing. Just in case

Oh!! I know!! Like the juice boxes, lol. I liked those, they were really convenient, but I always felt like I was still hungry afterwards, so I thought by using the powdered version, I could stretch out the drinks and fool myself into thinking I was eating more

Faith, do you ever use a shaker with a blender ball? It's a little wire ball that acts as a whisk inside the shaker. I don't know how well these packets would mix without it. A lot of us use the one we got when we started the program, but they sell them at Bed, Bath & Beyond and health food stores. Or, as was said, a lot of people put it in a blender or bullet with water and ice.

I always mix my chocolate RTD with an equal amount of seltzer water. It tastes like a chocolate soda and is much more filling. I know some coaches say no carbonated water but my coach said it was OK. It did not affect my weight loss.

Oh I still believe in the program and am certainly not throwing in the towel! I've already lost 6 of the pounds I gained . No I didn't phase off because I fly intended on staying op, just wasn't prepared for the post surgery nausea to hit so hard and crackers and Ginger ale were my friends. Also wasn't expecting the pain meds to cloud my judgement like they did! I was just shocked by the huge gain! I have tried so many diets over the years and really hope this plan works for me long term. Plugging along here

Starting this plan after a huge gain has been difficult for me. I was on this plan for 7 months without one cheat (I lost 120 pounds). When I stalled out from exercising I tried "it" my way and gained 30 pounds back quickly. It has been horrible to try and get back on the plan. I would follow it for a few days, rarely more than 4, lose weight and relapse. I always gained 10 - 12 pounds within the first two days off. The yo-yo of going on and off could not have been very satisfying for my body and certainly not for my mind. I finally figured out that the only thing I was doing differently was not logging in to this forum. Now that I have, I feel like I have got the magic again. I just want to thank everyone for being here with all of the encouragement and information as you have always been. This is only my third day, but I feel totally different from when I was out there "alone". I have a closet full of size 8's that I cannot wear and I plan on being in them again soon. I will do this today and try to remember that I only have to do this one day at a time.

Thank you!

BINGO! Pain killers can be your/my worst enemies. Not only because of the fog, and lowered resistance, but they actually contribute to weight gain in and of themselves, some of them, and the chemistry of others make it very, very difficult to lose. Mode modifying medications ditto. I hope you're feeling a whole lot better. Maybe it's nice to know that you aren't the "fault"?

Hi, it's really nice to see you again, or your avatar rather.

So now that I've gone back to see if you had pictures and that you looked like I remembered. Your before picture cracks me up (again) and the after is pretty d--m good. I hope day three goes really well. It's easy-peasy after that, right? Please pardon my exaggeration -- for effect, you know.

Hmmm, I'm doing some thinking here.......Would over the counter pain meds like advil slow weight loss too? I can't blame them for my gain since I was eating off plan, but last December I started to have back pain like no other and I was put on celebrex but stopped taking it because of the labels warnings for stoke, but started taking advil for arthritis of the spine. Wondering if I just need to stop taking it and buck up to the pain. It's not horrible but there are days I hurt. I also found out during a MRI of the spine I have two large kidney cysts and I know pain meds can cause kidney problems. After additional ultra sound and kidney function tests, I was told they are simple cysts (which are the good ones if you're going to have them). Also was told over 50 % of people over 50 have them but most don't know it until they have tests done for something else.

Enough about my old body, but thinking maybe I need to just start moving my body more and knock it off with the meds. Yesterday for some reason, I started thinking a lot differently about staying loyal to plan. It was like I finally got my mind wrapped around it again. It didn't seem like punishment to be on plan, but that I actually wanted to do IP and be thin and healthy for life. I've got a list of reasons why I want it, and they all out weigh that fattening food I was putting in my mouth for a moment of statisfaction.

Everyone have a great day.