Quote:
Originally Posted by cicibel
I need some encouragement today. My clinic had a meeting (kind of support group) of the people that have been on the diet. Keep in mind that that it has only been in the area since beginning of Jan. Anyway, I was the Smallest Loser at only 16 pounds in one month. One lady has been on for 50 days and she has lost 38 pounds. Of course, the guys all had huge numbers!! The Brats!! Everybody tried to be positive about it but I keep wondering if I am doing something wrong that the scale is moving so slowly for me. I eat the food - no restricted at all - take the vitamins, get the salt in. My only cheat would be at dinner I occasionally have extra protein. I have not done much exercising except walk once in awhile. Should I pick up on the exercise? Any suggestions? This is not the easiest diet to stay on especially if you aren't losing much. It was only one pound last week and the scale has not moved this week and weigh in is on Friday.
Fifteen years ago I did a diet, lost 16 lbs in 4 months, and was pretty darn pleased with myself. So 16 lbs in one month sounds great to me!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cicibel
The problem with being a slow loser is that every week I don't lose means I will be on the diet longer and I have to go broke with the purchase of the packets. My husband is on the diet with me and will reach the goal way before I will. Can you imagine how much this is costing us to have two people on it. I hesitate to stray from the IP packets and use those unmentionable ones because I want to not deviate any more than I must. On top of that my daughter wants to try the diet as she has prom coming and the dress is shall I say "snug". I did purchase the unmentionable products for her and pray they taste good. She only likes the Choc version of the EAS shakes.
Ahhhh. I get what your concern is now.
Let me quote back an excellent post of Novak's.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Novak
Don't confuse the diet with the products. I believe the diet is sound, but if you understand enough about the chemical process, you can duplicate the effects in other (and less expensive) ways. What you pay for with the IP products is convenience and choice. Someone has done all the figuring for you, developed lots of different food flavors and textures, and all you have to do is follow a specific protocol to succeed. It's relatively mindless, which is just what I need.
Cicibel, you need to do this diet in a way that is right for YOU. The product system works great for some people. But it's not ideal for everyone. It wouldn't work well for me, for example. For two reasons. First, every product meal I took I would feel like I was eating a packet of money -- and that would just plain irk me! Second, I like to eat FOOD. I have food meals for both lunch AND dinner every day. Last night at dinner I got so full that I couldn't finish it, and had to put half away in the fridge. I was so stuffed that I thought I would HAVE to weigh more this morning. But nope -- instead I had dropped another pound. (That's 17 lbs in 3 weeks). Being able to eat more actual food, and not having to spend a fortune on packets helps me stay on the diet. And staying on the diet is where the results are. You need to do the diet in a way that works for you -- and if cost is a problem, then make adjustments to reduce the cost.
To do the diet without a dependence on the packets, one needs to A) be knowledgeable about the principles on which the diet is based, and B) be knowledgeable and careful about what they are eating.
One can accomplish the first by reading Dr. Tran's book. It is available online for free
here.
One can accomplish the second by reading food labels. If it still seems a bit nebulous to you, then track what you're eating for a few days in Fit Day or some other program. That way you can be fully aware and knowledgeable about your choices. Come here and ask questions as well. We will help.
The fact that the cost of the products repeatedly comes up here is indicative of what how important it is for us to address this issue in supporting others in their weight loss success.