Hi Everyone and Happy Mother's Day!
I posted earlier...but do not see it on the forum...so I will try again.

I have beenon the program about 10 weeks and have lost about 20 pounds, which I am thrilled about. I have about 8-10 more to lose to meet my goal. However, due to multiple long weekend trips, a long 13 day vacation this summer, my craving for summer fruits, my need to get back to exercising(which is a big stress reliever for me), the cost of the program, and the fact that my hair has started to fall out, I have decided to go off the program for the summer. My thought is to transition to WW now that I am used to eating more restrictively and reconsider IP in the fall if needed.

I don't really have what many of you call "coaches" at the center I go to. Rather, I go in, get weighed, pick out my foods and have a quick conversation with the girl working the desk at the clinic (sometimes in front of other people waiting for a service which is a bit uncomfortable). I started to approach my plan, but did not get a very supportive response, more of an annoyed one.

So, I thought I would ask you all who seem to be the experts my questions. Just wondering what I can expect in terms of weight gain initially and how long it will take to stabilize things again with that (I don't want to freak out at the initial weight gain...I will do better with it if I am expecting it). Also, will I feel physically ill at all once other foods are introduced? Any info on what to expect would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

Since you are so close to your goal, would phasing out be an option for you? This way you would spend less money on IP food and be able to introduce carbs and regular food back in. From what I understand, the later phases don't take as long as phase 1. Regardless of what you decide to do, I would be careful about adding carbs and such back in too quickly. I know from experience that if you go from very restricted carbs to a normal healthy and balanced diet too quick you will gain back what you lost and then some. Maybe check out some of the other threads on phasing. Also, mention this in the daily chat threads, you might get more responses that way.

Good luck!

i'm glad u asked this question because i have been considering WW as well. i have been dieting for a year now, and have been on IP for over 3 months. i need a break. my bff lost 50lbs in 6 months on WW and she thinks i can do the same. i am so conflicted...and in the meantime i've been cheating

Adding to NannyOgg's response, the reason why phasing off would be a better idea is because Ideal Protein is specifically used to train your body to respond to insulin correctly and most efficiently. While we're overweight and eating unhealthily, our pancreas works in overtime creating insulin to process the carbs. It overproduces insulin, which causes our blood sugar to drop. The leftover insulin then gets stored as fat. So we keep storing fat, which makes it even MORE difficult for our pancreas (and the rest of our organs).

IP Phase 3 is the most important phase, when we re-introduce simple and complex carbs to our bodies. Some of it gets stored as glycogen in our muscles (2.5 to 5lbs), so our pancreas only needs to produce a little insulin at first. Because of this, our pancreas only produces the amount of insulin needed to process carbs, and the rest of our cells can react to the insulin appropriately - without storing insulin as fat.

The diet doesn't just teach us how to eat, but teaches our bodies how to most efficiently process the food we eat. It's a diet with an extensive scientific backup, and so that's why the program needs to be followed closely. If you really do not want to follow it, I would highly recommend phasing off first before changing diets.

Good luck, and best wishes on your weightloss journey!