Hi Mezmerelda! I'll be one week behind you!

You can do this - do check in regularly here on 3FC - many of us find this to to be the best coaching and support resource for success on the IP program!

Thanks for the warm (re)welcome, oneuh2! And welcome to the journey to those starting in a few days! I decided to start Dec 28 because I just couldn't stand eating like pooh anymore and I had food waiting for me. I was super hungry day 1, and today I'm just exhausted. Can't wait for the energy again.

I did really well this time last year. I got down to 177, and now I'm back up over 200! So mad at myself. I wish I could have gotten it together to stick to the program. Oh well. The past is the past and all I can do is move forward. It obviously wasn't the right time before, but this time I am planning and preparing, working the Beck Diet Solution, using my cousin as a diet coach (a therapist and on a similar Medifast-type diet). I check in here and with her daily, and it's incredibly helpful.

Thankfully there aren't any food-heavy holidays until Easter and my birthday in May so I should be able to get my stride going before I have to worry about sticking to the program during major celebratory events. I so can not wait until I'm closer to 100 than I am 200. I'm trying to come up with non-food-related rewards for milestones--what does everyone else do for themselves when they hit goals?

I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year!

Hi all! I have been do a bit of lurking here today and found y'all to be so warm and encouraging so I figured I'd join if that's okay. Just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Dee and I started IP on Dec 1.

I am only 5' tall, and prior to having my 4th child, I had always done well at losing the pg weight. Well, my baby is now 5 years old and I have been going to wrong way with my weight! I had no idea just how heavy I looked until I saw a picture of myself from Thanksgiving and literally had to turn away because I was so disgusted. Started IP a few days later (December 1st) and am down almost 18 lbs. Still have 20ish lbs to go, but already feeling much better about myself.

I cannot believe how much more energy I have now! I had no idea how tired I was before until I compared it to how I feel now!

Can't wait to continue this journey with everyone here!
-Dee

Thanks for the welcome, everyone! Hi Dee! I got to my first meeting tomorrow, but I'm know about IP now for over 3 years. I have a friend that lost the weight and has kept it off now for almost 3 years. I know it works, if I work it, and I will work it. Everyone here is so supportive.

I've been *stalking* the IP board since 2012. I stopped when a lot of the 2012 starters reached goal and didn't post as much. To be more precise, this was around the time that LizRR was entering her second trimester, apparently that baby is now over 2 years. WOW!

During the time I stalked, when I did try to watch my diet, I did WW, calorie counting and went from 218 to 170 to 180 for a while, then 220, and for the past 8 months 230. The smallest I've ever been is 138. Really, I don't know my goal weight. I believe I'll know I'm where I want to be when I reach there, and that it'll likely be at least 160.

I'm so glad to be here.

- Kay

New year. New us. This plan does work which makes it easier to get back on it. Plus I feel so good. I am doing a reboot as I gained back 20 pounds and I wanted to lose that last 10 so a total of 30.
My main reason for gaining back was we unexpectedly moved to Ontario and we're basically living with friends and relatives for 3 months. Having fun and not having control of my food really did the damage. This time around I am going to learn to do some cooking, instead of using shakes and bars. Then maybe I will ease back into living after I reach goal. So I will be looking for recipes. Any idea which threads I should be looking for. I am basically doing this diet with alternatives so don't have access to the packets.
Good luck everyone.

Hi Largo - another Ontarian, how nice
If you go back to page1 of this thread, there are a lot of links to recipes there. You can also look at the Alternatives thread
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/idea...-part-7-a.html

You can replace IP packets in the recipes with Alternative packets (Quest powders work great). Also you may have heard of Janeva's recipe book, it has many good recipes, she also has a FB page that has lots of recipes there too, worth a look (Janeva's Ideal Recipes Cookbook - Phase 1)

Good luck!

Is the weight of protein 8 oz before cooking or after cooking

coffeebean - Welcome. All weights (meat and veggies) is before cooking.

Largo - welcome back. Lots of folks using alternatives. There is also a facebook page dedicated to alternative products. My first order of alternatives is arriving today. I am going to use a supplements to the IP products for now. (Primarily collegen based products - jello and drinks).

Kayweight - I hope your initial consultation goes well. Please just jump in on the forum. I find it helps me so much to stay on track.

dinkydee - Welcome; I started on November 9th. I am nearly to 8 weeks (but I have not weighed in for 3 weeks so my stats are old). Next weigh in is Thursday.

taffetadarling --Welcome. I have not done any rewards yet. I think I will get a massage when I get to 30. For me getting rid of bigger cloths and fitting into smaller cloths has been a reward. I have read of people getting a Pandora type of bracelet.

Sue

Taffeta- I think I'm going to stick some money aside, maybe $5/lb, so that I can afford new clothes once I reach my goal weight.

Largo - That's part of the reason I really like this program, the maintenance, accountability, and that when a few pounds do creep on for whatever reason, there is support to get back on track and lose them/Reboot! I wish you all the best with your rebooting!

Sue - Thanks! The consultation was great. I got my food and supplements and I start tomorrow. My cupboards are almost clear (I have a pile of food I'm giving to those who have more control and can eat those things while maintaining a healthy weight. It's exciting to begin a journey I've wanted to for a while.

Welcome to all the other newbies and thanks to everyone for being so welcoming!

On day 1. One of my concerns has been the reaction to the vitamins they push at you. I have a hard time digesting certain vitamins, but I'll give it a couple of weeks with this stuff. I'll get stomach problems, migraines, etc.

I am ready for this. I would have started earlier, but I thought I would be setting myself up for failure over the last couple of weeks. Also, making the decision and then waiting until 1/4 to start gave my husband, who does not need to go on it with me, time to accept how things will change. He has bee trying to get all his interesting meals (he likes to cook a lot) out of his system. I'm happy that he still wants to cook for me.

Hi Peeps I am back at it again. This is the 3rd or 4th time. In 2011 I lost my weight, but did NOT phase off properly. It's time to get it right. Happy, Healthy, 2016!

Hello Everyone. Just checking in. Today is my first day of reboot. I am hungry, but not feeling as bad as I did a year ago when I started for the first time. My overall goal this time is to learn moderation in maintenance, but I can't do maintenance until I've gotten these pesky pounds off again.

Wishing everyone starting and rebooting very well in this New Year!!!

You can do alternative vitamins that are more compatible with your system. Just make sure they are equivalent amounts of nutrients and always take at mealtime - partway through or after to prevent tummy upset. I had to use my own vitamins since they couldn't guarantee gluten free for me (I was also very restricted in my packets). They should do this for you as well. DH can still cook interesting for you... use lots of spices and get creative with veggies, lol. Lots out there if you google low carb recipes.

Liana