I too am a restarter. Lost 55 lbs last year on IP. Gained back 15-20. This is day 4 of my restart and I'll admit it's harder the second time around. I'm already sick of the food packs and all my same old meals from my last go round, so I really need to find some new recipes!!

But with that said, I'm already down over 4 pounds in 4 days!! I know it's water weight, but it's still encouraging to get on that scale and see the numbers dropping again instead of heading in the wrong direction.

As to your question AeRose, I personally didn't really experience much gain when I phased off IP. I know they say to expect about 5 pounds gain between water and increasing your glucose stores, but I really didn't experience any gain. I think I'm the exception though, not the norm.

This is day 3 of joining the rebooters. I feel so much better when I am on ideal protein. I feel like I am in control. We can do this. Lost 30 pounds in 2010. Had this under control until this year. Not sure what happened but I am ready to get back down. Can't wear the cute clothes in my closet. We can do this.

Yes!! For me this is all about the cute clothes I bought when I went off the first time. That is seriously the advice I would give newbies (if any of them ever asked me!): Do NOT buy clothes right away. Give it six to eight weeks. THEN buy them!

I too am starting IP for the second time, although the first time I did not stick it out very long at all. My scale keeps ticking up, up, up and away! I am on day 3 of IP and I had cut out carbs 2 days prior to my IP appt. I am craving carbs so badly I can barely stand it! A cupcake, cookie, donut ANY pastry would just make my day right now. How do you get past the cravings? How long before they are gone? Help! Please....

For me, it took a solid week not to have the cravings at all. I also started having a bigger breakfast (IP omelet with spinach and mushrooms) which helps me make it through the day better than a light breakfast. It WILL get better, and I promise - the feeling of losing weight becomes a craving in itself!

I restarted in June too. I need to drop 20 pounds. I saw someone posted a new phase 1 sheet that states there's unlimited viggies and cucumber and celery are on that list is this true unlimited anytime?

Hi KarinF: The Daily Chat opening post always has links to the latest sheets and there is a new phase 1 with unlimited uncooked salad type veggies - same as lettuce. Hope it helps with your progress

I am re-starting. After successfully losing 50#, I still had about 20 to go when I had to quit suddenly for health reasons.

In the past 9 months, I have gained 20# and I have finally admitted to myself that I have a food addiction!

I will be starting over next weekend with the induction into ketosis, when I have 4 days off, but am doing things a little differently.
- I am NOT basing my eating on sweet bars and chips, because then I crave them after the diet is over. I don't want to train myself to eat like that.
-I am staying away from fake sugar as much as I can, because I hate the taste of all brands of it.
-I love fruit, and rather than having a restricted of processed fake sugar, I will allow myself blueberries. Berries, fresh without sugar added, are not that high in carbs from the research I've done.
-When I get the urge to cheat, I will move over to the alternative plan for a meal or day or so. One whole grain, or one dairy, or one fruit. I am not doing the restricted items.
-I am tired of the coach concept, so I won't have access to the IP products once I use mine up. I really loved the cappucino and berry yogurts! The only thing even close is the Atkins cafe caramel drink. I find that when I have that for breakfast, I don't need a snack at 3 hrs like I did with the IP drinks.
-I am not avoiding exercise like IP recommends, because this has made me into a couch potato by habit. And I want a habit of fitness, not idleness. I plan on gentle pilates and slow walking. Again, the concept for me is to maintain the "habit" of exercising.
-I am going to journal and work on the emotional reasons for eating, so that I'll have that under control by the time I've lost these 40#. I have found several very good books from the public library, and plan to buy my own copy of the best one or two.
Will post the titles later in case anyone else wants to do this doubleheaded approach also.

And about buying new clothes...for me its being able to wear all the cute clothes I was wearing the first time around that is pushing me here again! My secret of motivation the first go round was to buy cute clothes IN ADVANCE, to go online for clearance of off season clothes, and then keep them until I'd lost the weight. By the time I'd lost the 50#, I had an entire new summer wardrobe of all the incredible sale items I got from places like JJill over the winter. Just kept them in a big box and tried them on every few months. Instead of investing in ice cream, or going out to eat, I invested in cute clothes. And it really worked for me as a motivator. Something about putting money and effort into buying clothes to wear really cements it in your mind that you are committed to this thing!