In the past I've tried the Atkins diet and lost 20lbs but quickly gained it all back.
This past year I did Ideal Protein and lost 45lbs! But since being off of it I've gain almost 15lbs back!
Scared to gain it all back I'm considering going back on it. However I have some reservations.

This is my ordeal....
1) Cost
2) Ease
3) Restrictions!

I loved IP. It works GREAT! You defiantly see resulted. But it's not for every one as there so soooooooooooo many restrictions! No sugar was hard, I forgot how many food products have sugar, and FOR ME it make eating out near impossible. Don't get me wrong. I can easily ask for lightly seasoned grilled chicken breast and lettuce at every restaurant I go too. But IMO that's something I can create at home. And if I can make it at home, then why eat out?
Since being off of IP I've tried my best to stay in maintenance. However I did end it short of my goal cause I was honestly board and my cravings just got the best of me.
I started last August 2010 at 180lbs and stopped in December at 155. Went back on in Feb and stopped in March ending at 145. Since March I've gained 10-15lbs! I want to be 135-125 but I'm scared of failing. Scared of committing to the restrictions that I know will drive me crazy.

Cutting milk or cream out of my coffee was ****!
Giving up alcohol was ****!
Giving up cheese was ****!
Giving up rice and bread was ****, but manageable.

Plus I work three jobs so the ease needs to be at a super easy level.

I don't know what to try next. I just know that IP cost me an average of $200/month that's just not in my budget anymore.

Should I go back on IP or try a new diet?
I'd love input and suggestions. My ears are wide opened!

Thanks!

We have an alternative thread you can look over. It has lots of information and suggestions. I started using foods from Nashua Nutrition - just be sure to choose foods with no aspartame. Or you could look into the 17 day diet (you can get the book online or at your local store). It's low carb, just less restrictive. Good luck!!

kind of sounds like you have your answer... if you are not willing to give up all those things then no don't do IP. You know how strict it is and that if you cheat it will cost you money and time. I think you did great on IP except for the most important phase and that is maintenance... that is the key to keeping the weight off. Good luck, hopefully you can find a diet that fits in well with your wants.

Ok, my two cents? IP is supposed to be your "Last Diet". If you've already been on it twice, it is clearly not your last diet. You need to find something sustainable in life. Going up/down 15lbs is a lot and will be a terrible physical and emotional burden time after time.

If you like your carbs, your alcohol and your sugar, you'd better make exercise and the gym your new best friends. While you cannot exercise off a bad diet, you can indulge in a little more if you are willing to do the time.

Weight watchers and other calorie counting diets (lifestyles) allow you to have whatever, whenever, provided you stick within a general framework, i.e. under a certain number of points or calories. Perhaps that is a better way for you to go.

Also, re eating out. If you eat out a lot you will need a shift in attitude (says the person who, herself, needed a shift in attitude). It started out similar to what you say - when I go out I want something I don't get at home, and I found In indulged more in a dessert or something since it was "special". However, it became less "special (i.e. more frequent) yet I didn't alter my approach. The result was some weight gain. I had to completely readjust.

Personally, I could care less about rice and bread. They are so not worth the calories and, in general, not that nutritiouis or filling. Giving up cheese was ok, once I made my mind up many years ago. I finally just decided that ounce for ounce it was higher in calories/fat for the portion I would get, and it required more exercise than I wanted to give it! Giving up alcohol is harder because I love love love me some wine. Giving up my dark chocolate is also hard. So, for me, the net result was a compromise - limit the starches generally (cut potatoes, rice, breads, corn), don't eat fried foods, don't order cheese on most things etc. But, I could keep my wine and my 1-2 squares of dark chocolate. I worked out 4-6 days/week and kept my calories at an eat-to-lose of around 2 pounds per week. Anyway, if you want to have the freedom to eat those kind of things and learn to eat for life (vs diet for loss) then perhaps a calorie & nutrition based diet could be a solution.

Oh, and that said I am trying to do a modified IP at this point -- something I can live with. So, I am using the eating principles (low sugar, lower carbs, non-insulin spiking foods) to try and find something that works for me as a lifestyle. My weight loss has slowed in the last 2 weeks as I struggle to find what will work, but I am confident I will find a healthy, permanent approach and I think those elements are key (healthy, permanent). I think for me calorie cycling / carb cycling might be where I end up. Keeping it lower calorie, lower carb during the week with a less restrictive weekend. That, to me, sounds perfectly liveable!

Why don't you try Weight Watchers? You don't have to deprive yourself of anything...you just need to account for it.

AAWWWW, yer killin me girl!!! I miss my cheese!!!! Awesome post. thanks.

I'm contemplating the same thing myself. I feel pretty good on this diet and really only feel hunger between lunch and dinner but I'm really discouraged with the amount of restriction vs my rate of weight loss. I won't complain about my 2 lbs per week or less but at the same time I could probably lose 1 lb per week doing some less restrictive plan where I wouldn't have to give up my social life and my alcohol. It's getting harder sitting at dinner with my friends while they have cocktails knowing that I'm suffering only for a pound or two per week. :-( I really thought this would be the one. I'm sad to even consider throwing in the towel.

I think this diet costs the same $$$ as if you were to eat out or by organic foods all the time. Maybe it's because I live in Canada that I am used to the cost of food being high. I enjoy being less lbs than if I were to try some other diet for a longer period of time the costs I'm sure would add to be about the same. The end is so close and the knowledge of the food count is amazing. I hope you stay and see the advantages of being at the weight you want quicker than the rest and enjoying life sooner.

Everyone has their own opinions but I do not think that I am suffering by doing this program and I also can go out to dinner with friends and enjoy myself without having a cocktail. I am there to enjoy the company of my friends and don't need a cocktail to "fit in," I can drink my water with lemon and have just as much fun. I am learning to eat better with this program and this is something that I can live with. If I only lose a pound a week that is one pound that I don't have to deal with any longer. The choices we make depends on how bad we want it. I have made the choice to lose this weight no matter what it takes. I know I will have to make sacrifices and deal with a lot of other problems that may arise but I am willing to take that chance to make a healthier ME. Maybe I look at things different because I have much more to lose than most of y'all. Chose the diet that will work for you, make the adjustments you need, again like I said at the beginning we all have our own opinions I just wanted to say mine.

I agree with Wuv2. I have often gone out for a dinner or cocktails with friends and had only water, because I have to drive. It used to bother me when I was young but then I had to get drunk to relax and even go out because I was so shy. Now what I'm drinking is not an issue. And when it comes to choosing food in a restaurant, I'm fine with ordering a steak or chicken and salad because I'm there for the company not the food usually.

However, if you feel restricted then it may not be the diet for you for sure.

Wuv it is wonderful to do things for ourselves isn't it?

I think I can feel for people, who like me, are not losing as much as say you are and therefore wonder why we are paying big $$. If I had your losses, I would be on cloud 9. I have not cheated at all, moderately exercise and am not seeing what the diet promises. I think that is when people ( including myself) start to reevaluate the cost and restrictiveness. With that said, I am still going strong OP and eating the less starchy of veggies, more fish and no propel, but seem to back in my "stay the same" mode. grrrr

I totally understand what you are saying price wise. After everything is said and done I will have lost almost 200lbs. When you have a lot to lose like that there is a tenancy to lose more weight at a time. I am sure that I will get to where you are when I weigh what you weigh. I am glad to see that you are still going strong and OP. There has to be something else going on with you, just haven't figured it out yet.

I bet it is my thyroid. I called my doctor yesterday and I can't get in to see her until Sept 8th (she is out of the country) but the nurse said I can get my blood drawn and then the results will be there when I see her on the 8th. I don't know what else it could be, I may just need an adjustment in my medication.

Wow, what a great post. No, I don't think your mindset is any different from the committed people to their IP program who need to lose less. You have it right. You have figured out how to succeed. Way to go.