I signed up this weekend. I am excited but there is something weighing heavily on my mind. I did a lot of research before I made the appointment and decided before I even got there that I knew the program, costs, and that I was ready. When I got there I noticed that my coach was overweight. I figured that she is still losing weight but I found out that she has gained 100 pounds back after losing the weight 10 months ago doing IP. I am having a hard time with that. I can't help but question IP.

The coach told me that she is embarrassed and the she needs to restart and I feel bad for her but . . . Seriously this is how she makes a living and she really does need to represent herself better. I guess she might have insights to the pitfalls, right?

What are your thoughts? Can you reassure me that I can do this? Can you tell me anything to make me believe that I can keep the weight off as long as I follow phase 4 and don't start eating excessive processed carbs and junk?

Gina - I think that question would be better posed in the daily thread or maintainers thread, rather than the "newbies". However, I will say this. Nothing is going to magically keep weight off for you. The diet is not magical - it is an ultra low calorie ketogenic diet so it faciliates weight loss more rapidly than a "regular" diet. The different phases add carbs back in as well as slowly increase calories (I believe). They teach you how to eat properly. If you continue to eat properly than I believe (though I obviously don't know) you will maintain the weight loss. I suspect that for the most part anybody who gains it back after losing it did so because they returned to poor eating habits. Best of luck!

well im alive..im on day 1 again..and ive survived so far..no cravings really..been using the "alernative atkins idea" using bacon to help me with my cravings and hunger pains until i get back into ketosis!

Well, I was a little down in the dumps today but think I have talked my way out of it somewhat.

It is my first day back to work fulltime as school is starting. The plan is actually quite easy to follow on a work day. They brought in lunch today, the usual carb laden stuff. I just had my IP stuff and salad and it actually was more tempting to me than the stuff they brought in.

Today was my 5th weigh in but because of work schedule I didn't get into the clinic so weighed in unofficially at home. I got enough IP products for two weeks last week.

Anyway I was down -.4 last week, -.5 this week. That is a total of 9 pounds for the month, so that is not bad but the past two weeks add up to less than a pound. I am post menopausal so I knew when I started that it was not going to be a quick journey.
But I find it so discouraging to come on the site and see so many people unset with 1 and 2 pound losses.
But then I thought what the heck, I'm enjoying the food, I'm not hungry. So I'll keep on trucking until the end of September. If the losses continue to be so slow I'll switch to alternative products then because I can't afford to continue for months.
So I guess the only option is to suck it up and keep on trucking as I actually gain on conventional plans such as WW.

Pat

Hey everyone! My name is Ashley, and I currently looking to drop another 15-20 pounds before my wedding next July. I know I can drop it, I just hope Ill be strong and KEEP it off!
I am finally starting IP on Labor Day after months of being "not ready". A good friend of mine is an IP coach and invited me a few months ago to sit in on one of her free open houses to explain the diet. I went, loved what I saw, but thought "this is way to expensive". Well...after a few months and trying other avenues, including Atkins, I have finally taken the leap and signed up for IP. I can't wait to start. Already trying to up my water intake and start eating my veggies at the times I need to on IP, and hopefully this will help "tansition" into the new diet.

Anyway, hello all, and I am glad to have your support, and hope to one day contribute with my own knowlege here!

Actually, today I made the kale chips everyone is talking about and he just loved them! Yes, some more veggies and he doesn't even know it

Welcome Ashley, Looks like you will have a lot of support being that one of your good friends is an IP coach. If you phase off probably when you get to goal there should be no reason you can't keep it off. This program is expensive but worth every penny. Good luck

Wow! That sounds really good. Thanks a bunch :-) Can't wait to go buy some WF 1000 Island.

So today was WI#1 and I lost 7.4 lbs!!!! Now that is encouraging versus the the 6 weeks I went away and worked out 3 times a day tracking 10+ miles a day. I was doing cardio and weights and at the end of the 6 weeks I lost a whopping 6 LBs.... This is so much better than that :-) So I am ready to see next Monday how week 2 is going to fare. I know it won't be as large of a number, but I finally found what my body needed to get moving in the right direction.

Congrats on the first WI and well done with the loss that is for sure. Here is to week 2 for you....keep it going and you will see a thinner new your sooner than you know

Really wiped tonightm did over 11 miles tonight, but did my monthly goal in 15 days, so stoked for that.
My week is slowing down with the weight loss, but I am still hoping for a good week.
Welcome to the new members and good luck.
Redy, awesome job!!!

Hopefully I will actually have time to post stuff tomorrow, today was just one of those Mondays when I was slammed at work.
Stay strong everyone, and hope you had a good night at work Port!!

[QUOTE=Wayward;4012573]Really wiped tonightm did over 11 miles tonight, but did my monthly goal in 15 days, so stoked for that.
QUOTE]

Congrats for reaching your goal. Very impressive!

Hi Ashley - welcome to the forum. I am 100% confident that you can lose the weight you want in plenty of time for your wedding.

Keep coming back to this site. It's really helped me stay OP. I kind of feel 'accountable' to everyone on here to stay on track and not cheat.

Keep us all posted on your journey.

Hi Gina, here's the deal. Many of us have lost weight only to gain it back afterwards by going right on back to our old eating habits that made us fat in the first place. In order to maintain weight loss we simply cannot eat the same way we did before, the way that mad us gain in the first place. Why would we think anything would be different this time? That we could lose weight by dieting and then continue in the old pattern.

I used to get so sick of hearing it, but truly our diet has to become a new way of life. We have to change the way we eat forever if we want to stay slim and fit.

This is the challenging part. BUT thats what I love about this diet. It is very doable.

The final phase of this diet is totally doable for me! And having a fit body is worth it for me. I feel so much better almost 30 pounds down.

This is not to say that we will never be able to indulge in our favorite foods again. I cannot live without cheesecake forever! This diet in the final phase allows for those 'free days' and we get right back on for one day afterwards.
You CAN do this, but you must look at this as not a quick fix, but a total diet overhaul. Might do ya some good to look at the 'maintainers' thread. I know people personally who HAVE kept the weight off for 5 plus years so far.
Welcome!

Wayward - Congrats on the exercise. I know you mentioned that your coach knows you are walking but does he/she know the extent of it? I really think you might see bigger losses if you added an additional packet (or 2) per the IP Athletic Protocol. 11 miles would have put you beyond a calorie deficit and perhaps your body is responding in a manner less conducive to weight loss. Just a thought, perhaps just add 1 more IP product mid day to see if the additional protein and fuel can help speed your losses. I know it sounds counterintuitive but I think with your level of exercise perhaps it is a good idea to test for 1 week.


Uh oh gotta run . . .