I am on day five and I broke down and had tea and added stevia. I "think" I was only supposed to have stevia in my one cup of coffee a day. Today I am the hungriest I have been!

I don't want to mislead anyone but Nicole my coach told me Stevia would not cause an insulin response and to use it over any other sweetener. Check with your coach to be sure though…..

Thanks ladies for the awesome advice

Hi all – just checking in: I’ve been OP for 11 days and feel great. Very little hunger problems. Beginning to break the cycle of – Oh, I’m hungry … and then running to the local drive thru. Cooking and preparing food is a NEW BEGINNING for me!

Kristie.23 ~ As my coach said … it can be like the old game “telephone” when it comes to the IP plan. One clinic says one thing, another says something else. So… with that in mind I will tell you what my coach said about restricted items. “We HAVE TO have one restricted item a day.” Additionally, I have read where most people say their second week is a smaller loss than their first week. Since this is day 15 for you (2 weeks) and you have an 18 pound loss in two weeks… you are doing AMAZINGLY!!! Stick to the plan 100% (because even less is cheating – they say) … and you are guaranteed results! HANG IN THERE!! (Oh, I see others already answered you - but I started reading from when I last posted so -- repeat )

Enjoy the week IPeople!

Hi all! I'm starting IP on Monday, and actually looking forward to it. There's no clinic here, so I'm going to be doing it on my own. I've researched and read up on what I can find, but one of the sheets I read refers to the restricted items being limited to once a day, but then says that they should be avoided for the first 2 weeks. Is that true? I want to make sure I'm starting out properly.

Any help would be appreciated!

Good morning!! Good luck tomorrow and enjoy the ride! It's amazing!! Let me just say that you will read a lot of conflicting things on the threads. Coaches approach things differently, sadly, some are clearly not thoroughly trained, some are amazing,, some seem to just want to sell product, and as someone said- it can be like a game of "Telephone" - that being said-My story quick and dirty-started P1 2/16/15, went in to maintenance 1/30/16 and have been there a month. (So far so good) lost over 85 lbs and over 46" -my coach (she is amazing) has done the program, lost a tremendous amount of weight (she said she had "back cleavage"-lol) and she has been successfully maintaining for over 4 years-because of this I trust her judgement implicitly-so you can take this information with as much or as little impact on your journey as you wish. Of your daily packets you can have 1 restricted per day-YOUR choice- not protocol to absolutely must have it or not have it for a specfic period of time. The only time people seem to completely eliminate them (if they are eating them) is if they have a "stall" which, you may or may not have -usually can happen well in to your journey-as I learned here on these threads (which are an amazing, invaluable tool-for support and education) is that EVERY one of us is diferent. What might work for me, might not work for you-but you'll see that as you progress. Another word of advice- make sure that the sheets you find and use are the most current- I saw that to be a bit of a problem with some people pulling old sheets. Definitely log everything that goes in to your mouth- including your oil, any Walden Farms products you may choose to use, everything! If I hadn't done this, there are things that my coach never would have picked up on, I never would have learned what I am sensitive to, it's just another important piece of the pie. There are a lot of people on these boards who have successfully done this without a coach/clinic and used alternative products-check out the "alternatives" threads-you'll find a whole bunch of information there- which, without a clinic you will need because you'll be doing it with alternative products. It can be confusing, but it's only temporary. Welcome to IP and wishing you great success!!!! YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!

ruby2sday ... I agree about using these forums to stay focused and encouraged. I look at the before and after pictures for an extra motivation... In my research I found very limited sheets listing food and then a very exhaustive list of food. I'd be glad to share the list in a private message if you'd like. From what I've read... this can be a very successful plan... if you stick to it. The basis is after 3 days you will be in ketosis, thus your body will be getting it's energy from the stored fat rather than from sugar/carbs. It is strongly stressed to not do exercise that will exert you -- as you then may burn muscle, which you want to avoid. I also agree with Destony -- this can be a game of telephone when it comes to the different information from one coach and another. Find the plan you want to follow -- and stick to it. If you waiver here and there... it will increase your instability... and you need to stay "mentally" in the game. I also have a chart of vegetable weight that equals a cup. Sometimes it's easier to weigh the veggies than to guesstimate if the cup is a real cup. REMINDER - food is measured before cooking! And, to answer your specific question "no restricted items for the first 2 weeks" ... my coach said to plan 2 unrestricted items and 1 restricted item ... per day. So, as you see -- differing instructions, but I think it's safe to say if you want the restricted items ... than have them, just make sure it is not more than one a day! Good Luck ... It works. I've lost a little over 12 pounds in 3 weeks. REMEMBER ... all results can be different. They estimate an average of a 2 - 3 pound loss per week. I have found the MAIN THING for me ... MENTAL! Remembering the WHY I'm doing this. LOGGING what I eat (as Destony stated). CONNECTING on these forums... a good one I use is http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/weig...e-welcome.html (we'll be starting a March one soon). ENJOY the process... everyday we have an opportunity to be a NEW YOU/ME.

Thank you so much ladies for the advice and support and motivation! I'm inspired by you both! Back cleavage ... yes, I can sadly relate! lol

Even though I'm doing this without a clinic, I am going to be using actual IP products I purchased online. I've got my packets all ready to go! I'm still checking out lots of the other threads too and will def check into the alternatives one to see how others are doing without the clinic/coach. I have been on 3FC a very very long time, and the times I have been active, have found this to be an amazing place for support and motivation. I plan to be checking in on a regular basis.

Thanks again ladies, for sharing!

Hello all...
Many of my friends have lost so much weight (averaging around 50-60 lbs) using IP so I finally decided to jump on the bandwagon...although not until 3/21 since I'll be going to Puerto Rico for a week before then.
I have lost weight in the past and 3FC was a huge help and support in it so I figured I'd come back again... and get some supports, advice, make friends...
I'll be doing IP with a coach, who herself lost tremendous amount of weights.

So excited to try this and can't wait to actually start it...

Welcome Tara we'll be here cheering you along!!! It's SO worth it!!! Best thing I've done for myself in a very long time!!!!

Welcome ruby and tara! As Linda said, we are cheering you on all the way!!! Tara, I am going to PR from March 11 to 14th! Hope you enjoy yourself and are ready for your IP journey when you return. IP totally works!!! I am so thankful to IP for changing my life.

Hi gang! I'm an IP virgin, so be gentle

I've decided that I am sick of being fat so I am looking for the right program for me. I am in the early stages of my research but IP is on my list. I'm 59 years old and have been heavy for most of my life. I did lose 120 lbs 20 years ago through a locally run program, but it's all come back. I am type II diabetic, have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, all controlled mostly by meds. I also went through proton therapy for prostate cancer in 2012 and have been in remission for 3 1/2 years.

It's clearly time for a change but I'm not sure what is best for me and my health issues. I am going to a session at a local hospital to learn about their options (a medically managed program and New Direction), and I am looking for a place near me to learn about IP.

We're planning on going to an introductory session at a local IP clinic tonight. What questions do you recommend that I ask about the program, the clinic and the coaches? There are four clinics within a 15 minute drive so I want to figure out which would be the best option for me.

Hello everyone!

I am just starting my 8th week on IDP Phase 1. I am 24 pounds down and I love the program. Before I began the program I had my first lipid test. Needless to say my numbers were high. I was so excited to see my doctor after my second lipid test. My "bad" numbers have reduced significantly. However, she was alarmed that my "good cholesterol" had lowered significantly also. Even though the test shows that I am in the right range, she says that that number should be higher. She explains that I can correct this with 45 minutes of exercise a day. The clinic she works through offers the Ideal Protein plan but she was concerned about the small amount of calories and the no exercise that makes you sweat on Phase One philosophy. She believes I am a great risk because of family history. She has given me the option of taking a Statin??? She said it is up to me because many people believe statin's can harm your kidneys. Family members urge me not to take a statin. I am on the Alternative program and this site is my only connection. I can't find anything on this subject anywhere else. Any thoughts???

Hello again- I wanted to share a product with you. They are called Miracle Noodles. Have any of you tried them? The advertisement floated in front of my eyes while on the internet. I was skeptical as first but I ordered the Variety Sampler. Crazy noodles, served often in Japan, and made from a Shirataki something or other??? They come in packets of liquid. You rinse them for 15 seconds then boil for 2 minutes. Finally you throw them into an un-greased skillet to dry. Variety Sampler comes with 2 Rice, 2 Fetuccini, 2 Angle Hair, 2 Capallini, 2 Ziti, and 2 Spinach Angel Hair for $32.42. They are guilt free, no anything, no carbs, no calories.... And...I really believe I am eating noodles! I have had Chili Mac, Spaghetti with sauce, Stir Fry with Rice. Just ordered my second Variety Sampler. Also ordered 4 different sauce packets from Nashaua Nutrition. Variety!!! I am in heaven!! Try the name and dot.com.

donna2theg: I love Miracle noodles, I eat them in maintenance because they are great for those of us that have to be gluten free. There are two kinds: Shiritaki tofu noodles (they have up to 15 calories per serving and a carb or 2 - I think - and the Konjac Yam starch noodles that are 0/0/0). The very important thing you've noticed I'm sure, is to rinse off the stinky liquid they come in very well! lol. The Tofu noodles work really well for 'spaghetti' and the Konjac noodles work best if drained very well and added at the end of a stir-fry. No need to boil for any time at all.... just rinse with extremely hot water and break up any clumping to loosen the noodles and there you are.

CaptainRon: hope you found out the info you needed. This program isn't cheap, but it can also be done with alternative protein pack items with similar nutrition profiles from other companies. You are welcome to comment on any thread you wish and there is also a Men on IP thread although it is pretty quiet. It does make some interesting back reading though and may have more of a guy's perspective on issues related to IP.

Keep it up team!!
Liana