Hi everyone! My name is Julia, I started IP 6 days ago and have lost 0lbs!! I am pretty discouraged and wondering if any of you experienced this at all? I am following the protocol almost perfectly

Thanks Y'all

Before any of us can help you, what do you mean by "almost" perfectly?

Sorry, well...I follow the menus to the T and take my cal/mag, pottasium and daily vitamin. I just dont have a scale yet, so sometimes I estimate on my dinner protein. By sometimes, I mean I've done it twice, for steak.

I have not cheated at all (even thru Easter!), I am drinking tons of water, I just don't know what I'm doing wrong

....I did accidentally skip my snack one time this weekend (I fell asleep)

OK first of all, breathe.

You should not be stepping on the scale before your weigh in. Weight fluctuates from one day to the next, as well as over the course of the day. Also, scales are not calibrated the same - your scale may read completely different from your clinic scale. Remember that the scale isn't REALLY giving you concrete numbers - it is measuring the trend - weight up/weight down.

When you say "almost perfectly", what is it you are struggling with? Have you had foods off plan, or are you just having trouble getting everything in? There may be something that is happening which could affect your losses.

Your losses may be lower if you are closer to your period, if you are under stress, feeling ill or have an injury. There are MANY things that can cause us to retain water, the good news is that water retention weight isn't REAL weight and will eventually flush away.

If none of this seems to apply to you, it may just be that your body isn't fully adjusted to the diet yet and isn't ready to give up the weight. There are a few people on here who had low losses their first week, but then saw a big drop in weight the second week.

Just stick with the program, follow your sheet, and see what happens over the next few weeks!

I can relate, partially. I did have a big loss my first week (-9) but then had nothing the following two weeks, despite being 100% OP. It can be disheartening when everyone else is dropping a pound here and a pound there. And everyone keeps saying "trust in the plan". I actually had to stop looking at the forum because I found it depressing.

HOWEVER, my body is now getting into the groove and responding. So now I'm saying, trust in the plan. Every person's body responds differently. You will lose weight. Try not to compare your weight loss to others (although that can be hard). Weight loss is not always logical or linear.

I would definitely recommend that you get measured every week, because you may lose inches and not numbers on the scale. And the program is a learning process the first couple weeks, identifying where you may be making mistakes or how you can tweak/improve things.

Good luck!

I just finished my first week and had Very low losses this week but I'm sticking with the plan cause I know it'll be worth it in the long hall

Your start weight and height are very close to mine. My goal weight is much higher then yours though. But each person knows what is right for myself. I am going to be 54 yrs old next week, so I know that for me 135 will be perfect.

I am finishing my 4th week this Thursday.