I noticed at about 20 pounds. I hit 50 lbs this week and two people asked me about losing weight, and I've had a few compliments on the (not new) tops I was wearing.

I started at almost the same weight as you and people are just now starting to notice! So around 50 lbs. hang in there!!! I just recently retired the pants I started in and my 16s are getting loose on me. I'm in a large shirt. It's funny to see people's reactions- or lack of!!

Ha I got a nice hair compliment the other day.

Cocky and complacent is one of my biggest fears. I am at the lowest weight right now that I have been over 10 years. I was 230 when my son was born. That's my next milestone but some days I look in the mirror and think I got this I can indulge, but I know in my head I can't. I ordered the beck book and according to my email it shipped yesterday. Can't wait to dig in. Hopefully it helps with these head games I play.

Sgrealtor I totally hear you. I am finally hitting weights that I can't remember the last time I've seen them on the scale. I feel great and have shrunk into and out of clothes I haven't been able to wear in 5 years. But at 40lbs down, I still have a looong way to go. My coach has told me that between now and the end of the year will fly by. I hope she is right but there are a lot of eating holidays/parties coming up.

Since I hit 40lbs everyone is starting to notice me losing. Conversation at my book club stopped when I walked in this past week. Everyone wanted to know what I'd been doing. Conversation would move on, another person would show up and my diet would become the topic of conversation again. I am not used to being the center of attention and it was somewhat uncomfortable after awhile.

On the other hand, people noticing helps keep me accountable. Now that people notice, they will also notice if I start gaining again.

Thanks for this post. It definitely has been supportive.

I also missed fruit immensely the first time I did IP. All these artificially sweet bars really made me crave sweets when I went off suddenly for health reasons. And I was never big on chips.

So this time, I am not doing any chips (why learn a bad habit I don't have?) Am limiting bars to more emergency when need a meal on the run (not using them as treats because don't want that association of sugar as reward.) IF I am going to have a restricted as a treat, I WOULD MUCH MORE PREFER fruit! A cup of blueberries is net 18 gms CHO. I would rather have blueberries any day than an artificially sweetened processed bar.

My suggestion to you is that you have to make IP work for you in the long term to be successful. Research the lowest carb fruits, and use those as treats. Unsweetened berries rank up there, and are high in antioxidants. My person theory is that IP has a lot of "junk food" substitute foods that were never meant to be a long term diet, just to get people over a craving hump when you first start the program. If you're someone who doesn't eat that kind of junk food, you are LEARNING BAD HABITS that will stay with you after you get off IP.

Good luck on your journey!

Microwaved rhubarb with WF strawberry jam helps me with fruit cravings. I also put a dash of minute maid lemon juice in my water often. I still miss fruit but these things help for me.

The thing I agree with here is the overfocus on sweet items or treats on IP. They keep cravings going!!!

However, blueberries don't replace a restricted. Restricted contain approx 15 g of protein, in addition to the fat & carbs. There are other plans that may meet your needs. Have you read the Atkins and/or South Beach books?

Part of why I didn't start IP sooner was all the processed/packaged foods. I grew up in a house where everything was made from scratch. We didn't eat cereal for breakfast. No fruit roll ups in our lunch boxes. While I certainly ate my share of chips prior to IP, I didn't buy baked goods or eat breakfast from a package. I eventually decided to get past the hang up after watching a male coworker loose 100lbs in 4 months.

The artificial sweeteners were my hardest part in the beginning. I have always hated them and didn't like the idea of adding all those unnecessary chemicals to my diet. Now I mostly choose salty options because I like them better. I keep bars around for emergencies, but probably only eat 1 a week. I use the fruity syntrex nectars, but mix a half serving with a serving of the unflavored syntrex. It gives me all the protein with less over-powering artificially sweet flavor.

I agree with Lisa that adding fruit is going too far away from the core of IP and heading more towards South Beach. Scientifically, it is certainly possible to eat some fruit and still stay in ketosis, but IP isn't just about staying in ketosis.

I liked rhubarb, which I have a-plenty in my garden... and the wildberry yogourt IP packet, for when I felt I needed fruit early on in the plan. I never made it myself, but many have enjoyed the zucchini 'apple crisp.'

But I do agree with the problem of getting 'hooked' on the snackier type IP foods like the crisps or the bars, especially if that wasn't your eating style before IP. As already has been said, why start a 'bad habit' for when you get to maintenance.

Liana

The processed nature of the packets (and soy content!) kept me morbidly obese for 8 months until I decided to jump in!
I'm very grateful I learned (over time) how to get packets with no soy (and eventually no gluten).

I like that Syntrax makes a line of Nectar naturals (no sucralose or artificial colors) and Quest makes a natural line, as well. Now there is a line of natural bars from Nashua Nutrition, as well (organic, no GMOs, sweetened with stevia).

I, too, have used the Syntrax plain to reduce the sweetness of many items. I started IP with an eye on learning to maintain & I knew that sweets & treats were not going to be commonplace in my maintenance plan.

It's interesting that so many people held off starting IP because of the soy, the artificial sweeteners or the "pre-packaged" nature of the diet. I am another who was forced to capitulate and start it after seeing the success my DH was having, and realised that I could eat IP and lose weight or not eat it and end up gaining even more. Lesser of two evils, right?

When I joined him, he bought 20 different varieties as he knows I get bored with food quite easily. Now I find that all the restricted sweet items are leftover (the bars, the wafers, hated the chips with a passion), where I choose the less sweet options like the dark choc pudding and the drinks made with more water.

In the 4 weeks I've been on IP I've seen the sweet craving disappear and noticed that my tastebuds are changing. Where I disliked a few of the soups and drinks to start with because I could either taste soy, had an aftertaste or they were under-sweet, I am now finding them a little too sweet.

Okay 100+ers... I need some encouragement! Today was my second weight in with no loss - not in a row, but 2 out of the total 7 weeks on plan. The first, I chalk up to that TOM, but this week, I can't figure out why no loss!

Anyone else experience this on their journey? Thoughts? So discouraging after a week of "work".

That happened to me a time or two, but the following week I would have a huge loss!! Keep your chin up and look forward to next week Its a process and your body will let go when it wants to... you've probably lost but for some reason you were holding onto water this week.

I had LOTS of 0 or <1 lb weeks.
We are all so different.

My first question is are you following plan 100%? With meat & veggies measured, all water, oil, salt, supplements? 3 packets per day including your restricted? Varying your diet to include a variety of meats and veggies? No off -plan BLTs (bites, licks, tastes)?

Do you have any medical issues? On any meds?

These are a few of the factors to consider.