I have been doing 100% IP for 27 weeks. I have lost 56 pounds during that time. My losses have been slow to say the least, but I had stalled for the past 3-4 weeks. I decided to do Phase 3 for a few days to see if that would help break the stall. Has anyone else tried this? How long should I do Phase 3? I plan to go back to Phase 1 and lose the 58 pounds I still have to lose. I hope this works.

I am on phase 3 through the Holidays... I had the same thing happen to me, my last 10-15 pounds was stalling .. I am now loosing. I will go back on phase 1 right after Christmas day. But since you been 100% you might want to do phase 2 for a week or even a couple days. However, its all up to you and either way.. you will be ok. good luck!

Thanks Skinnyjeangirl! I was thinking of doing Phase 3 for two weeks, but now I'm thinking that might be too long. I'll have to see what the scale says at the end of the week and then decide if I want to stay on Phase 3 for another week or just return to Phase 1. I can't seem to get past the emotional guilt of eating carbs.

I know what you mean about the carbs ! Yeah, it took me three weeks to work up to phase 3, I planned out meals and made sure I was mentally ready.

I moved to P3 for a vacation earlier this year. I wanted to work out while on my trip so figured I should add in some extra calories. I basically maintained my weight while on my trip. I came home and went back on plan and lost 3 lbs the first week back. I hadn't necessarily stalled before my trip, so tough to say if P3 made any difference, but I felt great that first week back on P1 and lost a ton of inches, again this could be from the two weeks of working out as well. Either way, all in all, me switching to P3 for my trip worked out well for me. I think it's definitely worth a shot.

Thanks knm. How long did you do Phase 3?

I did Phase 2 for two weeks, then Phase 3 for 2 weeks, then back to Phase 1.

Thanks knm! I didn't do Phase 2, I went directly from Phase 1 to Phase 3. I figured this would be ok since I'm not having any extra carbs after breakfast.

There was a frequent poster on here last year 'Wuv' who lost around 200 lbs... she stalled as she got closer to her goal weight, and her clinic told her to go directly to P3 for 1 week (no P2) and then return to P1. I also did this last fall as I got closer to my goal weight (I'm on a reboot at present) - it worked for both of us, and got the weight loss started again.

BTW, 'Wuv' is now an IP coach.

Thanks Evepet! I have high hopes that this will work!

I also did P3 to break a stall. It worked. I went down some more but then stalled again. My losses were always consistently slow but steady prior to my stall. I'm actually now on P4 thru the end of the year just to give my mind/body/spirit a break from the most restrictive P1. My P3 was 2 weeks.

Are you in a true stall? No WL or inches lost in at least 4 weeks?
Nothing else has changed that could account for it? No illness or injury that could be causing inflammation (water weight)? Your medical labs are normal?

Lisa- enjoy your time on P4, so that your body is ready when you start P1 again.

I really am experiencing a stall. More than anything, I think the mental challenge and disappointment of being on such a restrictive diet with no progress at all that was really getting to me. I have decided to just do P3 for a week. I plan on going back to P1 on Monday morning and hope for the best. I had my thyroid levels checked in August, and they were normal. I still haven't figured out why IP isn't working for me any more, but I don't know if I'll ever figure out why. I just plan on following the protocol and hope that my body cooperates.