Hi everyone, I hope you're all having a successful week!

I am in Phase 1, started July 3rd. I am wondering, if I only have unrestricted items (3 packets/day), will this help to jump start my weight loss rather than having 1 restricted item per day?

Since I started, I've been OP 100% but did have a 3 slices of pizza Saturday night. Something I had been craving and just had to get it out of my head. That's the only time I've gone off plan, so now I'm just looking to jump start my weight loss for the week.

I did get on the scale this morning and I am exactly the same weight as I was Saturday morning when I got on the scale.

Some will say "yes" and some will say "no"

First off Pizza doesn't help. lol

For me I lost more eating the restricted everyday, I think I needed the extra calories and carbs.

First, I would say that you should not try to "make up" for the pizza. Just get back on track. You don't want to start playing those games with yourself (tuff love here)

That being said, I cannot have any restricteds. I think I am real sensitive to carbs, so my coach has helped me make real low carb choices. That has helped me have better losses.

Good advise! Not a great weekend for me (long weekend @ the lake). But today's a new day.... I have such a nervous stomach thinking of weighing in this morn. When I know I screwed up.

For most people cutting the restricted doesn't result in lower losses. The program is very carefully balanced and restricteds are part of that balance.

Some people may be super carb sensitive and react to them. But I am very carb sensitive and had a restricted every day and continue to do that in maintenance with good results.

The pizza will upset the balance for some days but what is done is done. Get back on the program as outlined, it will even out the damage from the pizza.

Thank you, everyone!

I am on plan 100%, and have been since Sunday morning. It was only the pizza (and the rest of dinner was on plan - salad and water!) Saturday night... otherwise I've been doing great. Eating the pizza was a decision I made because I knew it would satisfy the (month long) craving and ultimately, keep me on track longterm. I was just thinking maybe not eating the restricted items for a few days would be helpful.

There have been other days I've chosen not to have any restricted items and everything has worked out well. My coach also told me that you do not have to eat any restricted items if you don't want them... I guess I was just wondering if anyone had tried one week with the restricted, one week without any restricted and notived any difference. I may just have to give it a try!

My first week on plan, I ate a restricted every day...till I found out how many carbs the bars have!! I am sensitive to carbs, they raise my blood sugars and I am trying very hard to keep them normal. The bars are delicious and I do keep one in my purse and in my car for emergencies....

I went the first two weeks without restricteds and averaged 3.5 lbs weight loss each week. Went a few weeks having a restricted everyday and averaged 2 lbs a week. Last week I cut out restricteds completely and still had 2 lbs weight loss-- so this week they're back in (every other day). When I had the bars everyday, I found myself a little too eager to get to the restricted snack. It felt like a treat and I was a little too into, so cutting back has helped me mentally, but the weight loss is still about the same.

I do make sure to have all unrestricteds on days I have tomatoes, green beans, or rutabagas.

Hope that helps!

I am very carb sensitive so no restricteds at all for me. I also began July 3rd...lost 35 lbs in 35 days....100% OP, no restricted items, lots of water and no cheats. But man, I bet that pizza was GOOD! haha!

Whether or not doing away with restricted items is really a personal issue. For some people it may actually help weight loss while others, like me, it is the kiss of death. I learned while on atkins (lost over 100lbs on atkins) that restricted bars etc stall my weight loss.

Best thing to do is experiment and see if you can tolerate them. We are all different so there is no "correct" answer here.

Cheers
Jake

I found adding the restricteds helped...but I exercise a lot. The program includes them-if they really hindered loses I expect ip would have phased them out...

Thanks for starting this thread! I had the same question...and am going to pay closer attention and see if carbs impact my losses or not.

I love having the bar mid-afternoon everday and I don't feel it's hindered my weight loss at all. I'll have my 9th WI Friday, so far 34lbs lost as of last Friday. I had the same pizza craving as you in the first week. It's always been one of my weaknesses. We went to a pizza buffet and I ate the top off of a few pieces (not the crust). It cured me. I know it increased fat, but at least not carbs too, lol. You gotta do what you gotta do to make the long term work.

This is my first week on IP and I have not cheated, or eaten any of the restricteds, hoping to boost the fat loss for my weigh in tomorrow.

I wonder, since we keep daily logs, if IP have considered doing any type of study on whether or not it is beneficial for faster weight loss to skip all restricted foods?

I guess we shall see tomorrow if my theory worked, although I have really, nothing to compare it too since it is my first weigh in.

I didn't eat a single restricted for the first 5 weeks. I notice big time when I have them. They are an emergency treat/snack only.

The restricteds keep me from wanting to cheat. They're nice treats.