Started Ideal Protein April 5th of this year. I've been having trouble keeping on track, focused and motivated. My weight loss has drastically slowed and i'm getting frustrated. Anyone have any advice or experience with this? Will the weight loss pick up again? My diet coach suggested i eat a half of a whole grain muffin to "shock" my metabolism/wake my pancreas up a little bit. What do you guys think of this? Didn't do it, but ate just about everything else bad i could think of (so horrible, i know). As of tomorrow, no more cheating until i'm allowed cheat days in phase four. I feel terrible, guilty and angry with myself for falling off the wagon so badly. Urgh.

I started IP a month after you (May 4) and did not cheat once until this month. I remain motivated because I still see results; however, the losses are much lower each week and I've found it a bit harder to focus on dieting with all the bbqs and parties that summer brings. I try to remember why I need to keep going and be strong...my physical and emotional well-being are at stake. I also follow the IP forum thread religiously each day to gain inspiration and motivation from all the wonderful men and women who are members here and going through similar struggles. The last few days I've also "expanded my horizons" and checked out some other threads on 3FC...most notably the Low Carb Recipes one...for some ideas to change things up since I have been in kind of a stall.

Take care of yourself and don't give up Britt! I know that you can do it!

Hey Britt!

Sorry you are losing motivation. I know how that can be. You and I were similar in starting the program. I started about 20 pounds heavier but we are the same height and aiming for the same goal. It seems you have been on this about 12 weeks. Some "thing" changes right around that point. I can't explain it but I did the same thing. I started a crazy slow then quick loss pattern. I was losing many more inches per week than pounds in that phase. When that stopped I went to a slow loss of a pound or so a week. I haven't had any large losses in months. I have tried the "cheat", the "extra food", I just can't budge. I also have had a hard time since doing a cheat. I am constantly fighting wanting "stuff". My body, or my mind, is objecting I think.

I am not sure how your body is going to respond. I hope NOT like mine. I hope you respond like a few others where the cheat give you the kick you need.

My advice, stay focused. Don't start a pattern of cheats. Each time you cheat is several days getting back into the program and a less that positive use of your money to get there. Once you start that pattern of cheats, even little ones like extra food or dairy or non carb but non program items. You give yourself permission to do something that may not be helpful.

Try getting creative. Review your journal, go back and "recreate" weeks you had your best success. Find a few new recipes a week that are on program and see if you can excite your palate.

I really can't offer too much more than that. I am in this place myself and trying to get back to where I was. I have been so stalled it is crazy. I am trying to add some nice easy walking. I have removed caffeine again. I am trying to correct my "relaxed" prep/cooking habits. I am thinking of adding fit day just so I know other people could look and it gives me some added accountability and awareness. Do you have fit day?

This makes me a little nervous. I have a few weeks yet but 12 is not that far away. I still have a lot of weight to loose.

Someone mentioned in weekly chat, when they feel the need to cheat, they figure up how many days that will set them back. Usually one little cheat is about 3 days, right? 3 days is 9 packs. Most of us get out packs at $4-$6. Thats $36-$54. Is that coke or piece of pread worth $36?? For me, that would be a no. I would never in a million years spend $36 on a piece of bread! It helps keep me from cheating anyway Hope it helps you too! You can do this!!

I had a planned cheat last week, dinner for my wedding anniversary. As I'm about halfway to my goal, my cheat turned into a 2-day bender...

The funny thing is that I decided to eat things I haven't been able to try since I've been on the diet. That might sound weird, but here's what I mean. About 7 years ago, I eliminated all caffeinated beverages from my diet. I was a guy who downed a couple of large Mountain Dew, Coke, Dr. Pepper, whatevers a day. After I swore off the caffeine, Pepsi came out with about 10 different varieties of Mountain Dew, Coke introduced new flavors, as did Dr. Pepper. Each time something new appeared, I wanted to try it, out of curiosity. Same thing has happened to me with food. I went on the diet, and new restaurants opened up near work, familiar restaurants added new and interesting menu items, and old favorites were always close by to tempt me.

So when I went on my bender, I "made up for lost time" as it were. What I discovered was that most of what I was curious about really didn't end up satisfying me at all. I'll admit being dissatisfied by white bread and cheap ice cream. Many of the staples of my former diet now have almost zero appeal to me. It took a major binge to prove that to myself. And getting back on track hasn't been fun.

I am back on track, though. Motivated to see this through to the end. I'm only halfway there, and I feel better than I've felt in years. I look better. I have more energy. Instead of slinking into those Big & Tall stores, I'm starting to be able to shop in regular stores.

My advice is let the motivation of who you want to become push you forward toward your ultimate goal.

Salesgod....I know what you are saying...my bridal shower turned into a 3 day bender.....and I realized the cheats weren't really worth it....

One thing that did happen at my shower....I wasn't shy about taking pics....and looking at them after...normally when someone takes my pic I say no I don't want to see myself....but at the shower...people took my pic and I looked so good in the shots....this is what IP has done for me.....can't wait to see the wedding shots!!!!

Sorry! I don't mean to scare you!

I can't say it happens to everyone. In fact, many people sail through without any issues at all. There do seem to be a few of us that behave or react differently on the program and I have been seeing a common pattern that occurs around that 12 week time frame. It also seems to occur with people who not only are around 12 weeks but have lost 30 -35% of their INITIAL body weight. I am not sure why that is but, everyone who has posted a stall, a feeling weird, a body change... all of them have had those things in common. That is not to say I understand all the variable. They are just the 2 that I can see and that do stand out. I assume there may be several things I can't see that have influence too because, we have had many who go through without issue. Think of CW (chaplain's wifey) and Novak. I don't recall either of them hitting a stall or a wall.

Don't look for this with yourself until it is happening and then, just understand it may be normal for some people.

Thank you guys for all your comments and support! My three day food bender was actually very unsatisfying and i realized that what i was craving really didn't taste that great. I feel so much "cleaner" when i'm on ideal protein. If that makes any sense whatsoever. Soooo, i'm back on plan as of today and feeling very very focused and happy. I'm ready to get this weight off my body and get into phase four!

I made an awesome dinner of egg salad (with WF mayo, i've officially perfected my recipe) and ate it with cucumber spears. So yum.

Regardless, as a result of my food bender i'm pretty sure i gained three pounds. Do you think they would question me i f i didn't want to weigh in on Friday? Or should i just own up to my binge?

Deal with it friday. First of all, if you are back on track today (Tuesday) you will probably not show a gain on Friday. You may not show a loss and can explain you haven't been yourself. Stress can effect loss. If they want specifics you can decide what to say. Some will be understanding. Others will choose to warn you as a means of getting you to straighten up. I know some people on here have subscribed to a "if they don't ask, I don't tell" policy.

Brittplease share your egg salad recipe on the recipes thread! i've tried tuna salad with the wf mayo and it's just terrible, i'm a cook by nature and i just couldn't get it right

glad to hear you are back on track!! go you!

carla
this friday is my 12 weeks, don't you scare me like that!!!

My IP egg salad: a glob (a little more than a tablespoon) of WF mayo, a dash of salt, pepper, garlic powder and two dashes of minced (dried) onion and dill. Add about a 1/2 teaspoon of grey poupon country mustard. Mix and let it sit for a little while. SO YUM!

I also took a recipe for orange chicken and modified it to be IP friendly. I'll post that if anyone is interested. I use the sauce for steak, shrimp, chicken, etc. It's amazing as a marinade and then grill whatever protein you're having. It would even be awesome to marinade tofu in for a stir fry.

Glad you're back on track. I'm feeling much better after my bender too. My scale showed that I was up about 4 lbs, until yesterday when I went back into ketosis. Yesterday was brutal with about 12 trips to the bathroom while at work, but I guess I lost all the water I was retaining because at weigh-in this morning, I was down 1 lb. from last week, even with the bender. My coach knew I had planned to cheat for my anniversary, but I fessed up to the 3 day bender (she actually guessed before I even stepped on the scale), but was glad to hear I was back in ketosis and seemed pleased that I'd lost even a little. I know some coaches are really strict. I'm glad mine isn't a drill seargent...

Oh, and btw, I tried my first cauliflower mashed "potatoes" last night. Fantastic. I made some "gravy" with mushrooms, zucchini, tomatoes, green pepper and green onion, that I put in the blender. Yum!

it's funny how the foods you were thinking, dreaming, and craving about this whole time didn't taste very good, isn't it? Maybe not funny... disappointing at best.... but perhaps that'll remind you for next time that cheating may not be worth it after all

Yes I agree! Everytime I've cheated for something that I was craving for a while, I've been disapointed. It taste good for 10 seconds, and then I feel angry about myself, bloated, disgusted and so on...

Nothing taste as good as skinny feels !