Wondering how good this Ideal Protein Diet is - I just started on Tuesday May 17th, these last few days have been pretty hard due to all the cravings I have and being surrounded by "real food" all the time.
I have gained 100-110lbs over the years and I feel absolutely horrible, I am 32yrs, turning 33 in a few months and my weight has ruined the last few years of my life in more ways than I can explain.

My doctor told me this was my "LAST DIET", that if I didn't do this, then nothing was ever going to work. I need to do this more than anything... any suggestions or words of encouragement that this does truly work....also do u work out on this, I was told working out would actually cause more harm?

I started IP on March 20th. I have tried so many different diets and nothing ever worked. I would workout non stop and not lose weight. It has been a huge battle for me. I was a size 18-20 (depending on brand) when I started just over 8 weeks ago. Today I am down 40lbs and now wear a size 14 or 12 depending on brand of jean.

This diet DOES work.
No i do not work out on it.

It works! I have been on every diet out there. This one works. Just don't cheat at all and you will do wonderful. You will be surprised at how fast you will see results. You will get past the cravings. Keep true to the program.

I lost my weight in just over 12 weeks. I have been off since the first of December and just getting ready to restart and finish up.

You will do well but you have to be strict. No cheating what so ever. As for exercise all I did was walk my dog about a mile and a half a day at a easy pace.

Best of luck to you! You made a wise choice to start this program.

I answered a question similar to this in the daily thread just a moment ago. I'm quoting myself here. Yes, it works. Go look at everyone's progress pictures for encouragement!

Give it a serious try and you will be amazed at the results! The first couple of weeks may have some hard days here and there, but if you push through the hard times you will be successful! Here's more good news......the hard days get fewer and farther between. I now go three weeks or more before I have a hard day. This diet is AWESOME!!

I am on week 11 and have lost 40 pounds in the first 10 weeks. I use all alternative products but follow the IP rules.

I like to keep a diary of my food intake on "my fitness pal dot com" I am friends with a couple other IP'ers on there and we can read each other's food diaries and keep each other encouraged and accountable. I highly recommend it! Feel free to invite me as a friend if you join.....my user name is the same there as it is here.

One (of many) thing I love about this diet is that it is "all or nothing" To be successful you have to follow it carefully with no cheating. It sets the boundaries for you.

Best wishes for success to you!

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I can't tell you how much it meant to hear your words of encouragement. I have done so many diets in the past, that I wondered if this was just another one of "no result diets". Every time I look at myself in the mirror I panic thinking how will I ever do this and what if it doesn't happen for me.
The last few years have been horrible for me. I have a vacation coming up end of September and I have to do this. My marriage and wanting to become a mommy depend on it.

What would u say is the average monthly weight loss on this? And what do u do to keep from cheating, because oh its so tempting...especially cooking for my spouse and being surrounded at work with food and treats all the time.

I have not cheated and I really hope this will be my last diet, as my doctor said. Thank you all...

I'm on day 4 and I've already lost 4.2lbs!! I've been trying for months to get past 158lbs and haven't been able to... I've busted my a$$ at the gym at 5:30am everymorning. Counted everysingle thing I put in my mouth and still no loss. This past 4 days, I haven't gone to the gym (due to allergies and feeling like crap because of it) and have busted through the lowest weight I had gotten to 156...I'm at 154 now!
If you follow the program and you really have to be true to it and no cheating you won't have the craving and stuff.... I passed around a box of doughnuts to the little ones today and it never even phased me to try a bite. .. normally I would have eaten half the box.

Good luck!

I get the wanting to be a mommy thing, but why does your marriage depend on it?

The average monthly loss depends on the person - it's different for everybody. The higher your starting weight, the faster you tend to lose (at least at first) - there will be high weeks & low weeks, but you will lose if you don't cheat. After 31 weeks on program, I've averaged 2.5 lbs a week. Some weeks I was only down .2, some weeks it was 6 lbs. It averages out. And as far as cheating, the day before I started the program, my husband and I went through the house and got rid of all the carbs in it. Enlist your husband as your ally in your battle - he can eat the same things that you eat (you know, at dinner). Tell him that you need his help and if he could keep his treats that make you struggle in a place where you won't see them (his car, etc), it will make it easier on you.

Also, to keep myself from cheating at work, I remind myself that what they are eating isn't that great, it will still taste the same in the end when I CAN eat it and that if I eat it, I'm letting myself down, I'm letting my husband down and I'm wasting a lot of money!

[QUOTE=thinmint;3858814]

What would u say is the average monthly weight loss on this? And what do u do to keep from cheating, because oh its so tempting...especially cooking for my spouse and being surrounded at work with food and treats all the time.

QUOTE]

For most women, the average WEEKLY loss is 3-4 pounds and 7-10 pounds the very first week.
Some lose more slowly, and sometimes the more you weigh when you begin, then the more you lose at first.
I have averaged around 16 pounds off per month. I know of no other diet that will do that for me!!

You're carb cravings will be minimized after a week or so......seriously......it's hard to believe when you are beginning and craving every thing is sight but you do get to where you won't be tempted. This is tough at first, but just tell yourself that it is only temporary.....you can have some of those yummy foods again but JUST NOT NOW! Push through your cravings by guzzling water or hot tea. I love to add the MiO flavorings to my water and drink, drink, drink! It really helps!

We are not "special" people who are exempt to temptations. We are REAL and have been where you are. I can assuredly say that you can do this because we are doing this! We will encourage you every step of the way if needed! Ask questions and read as many threads as you can, it takes time, but they are invaluable! Everyone here is very helpful!

ThinMint - I have only done this diet for 8 days. For 4 out of those 8 days, the only thing that got me through it was to look at that carb-filled, tasty treat, stick a water bottle in my mouth, chug like a frat boy, and keep walking. You absolutely can do this. I also love the MiO flavors, and my faves are Mango Peach and Berry Pomegranate. Don't don't dont give up! :hugs:

The reason why I said my marriage also depended on it was because of alot of reasons...too many to go into detail, but to name a few I have become a totally different person due to the weight, all I want to do is stay home where I am in my comfort zone, where I do not have to panic over what to wear or what I will look like, or how "fat" I look or how hot I feel in the summer when I wear stuff to cover up if I am out with my spouse....This weight has truly brought me down, i can't believe how much it has changed my life. I have wasted TONS of $$$ on diets, trainers, bootcamps, everything you name it.... my husband finally told me how unhappy he was a few months after we got married, he said that he loved me with all his heart, but that he was no longer attracted to me and what I had become, someone that he no longer knew, that he could not help how he felt. It has been quite a struggle dealing with knowing that, and I think knowing how he feels and acts due to the weight makes it that much harder...the first 2 years were really hard, but now he is trying his best to help me and understand all this, he is a great guy, but unfortunately he can't lie to me and say he is happy with how I look and its very hard for him to deal with it, and the truth is we can't keep living this way... all this makes it that much worse for me. I was miserable on my honeymoon, it was not the honeymoon I dreamed of, where I spent most of it wondering how to cover up...therefore that is why this vacation coming up (celebrating our 3yrs) is so important to me to lose most if not all of this weight....

Hi Wekaba....
I have not tried the mio flavorings...i was not sure if we could have that kind of stuff.... what I do drink is Gold Peak DIET fresh brewed iced tea...I think its okay to have because its all zero stuff and only 25 of sodium.

I do chew alot of gum to help me through the cravings and distract me...I am hoping that gum is okay.

Have u found anything else to have that helps with the cravings or hunger, etc...

Thank you so much for the information - truly appreciate it

It works. 22 pounds in 4 weeks. Exercised every day. Phasing off as at 146 and 5'8" I have decided I am happy and 13% body fat! Love ip

MRS DIETTRICH: I so love this comment you wrote and I am defientely going to keep remembering this.... what they are eating will still taste the same when I CAN eat it....that is so true, even though its so hard sometimes...and my favorite : I'm letting myself down, I'm letting my husband down and I'm wasting a lot of money!
Thank YOU