I have had much success following phase 1 of the ip protocol using alternatives. I have attempted for years to lose 30 lbs. without success until I embarked on this plan.
I really enjoyed phase 1, I had already given up my soda habit and letting go of bread and fruit was not difficult for me at all.
I am a person who tends to focus on what I am doing in the moment, without giving a lot of thought to the bigger picture.
Eventually it came time to consider phase 2 as I was at a weight that I was very happy with and was ready to phase out. I had previously read the phase 2 protocol and knew what was expected and was feeling very leary about my ability to do it and kept putting it off. However, I realized I could not continue on phase 1 forever, no matter how much I was enjoying it. So I began phase 2. Following through with that did prove to be difficult for me. I managed 9 full days of phase 2 ( admittedly there was a crab and sushi meal out during those 9 days), but by the time my dinner for day 10 came, I was pretty much chocking down the last ½ portion of my protein. I remembered reading that some ladies who phased out before vacation (or to continue with protocol) were saying that their coach said it was okay not to do the whole 14 days of phase 2 and move to phase 3. I thought great...I will move on to phase 3. When I read the protocol sheet and saw that phase 3 was still 2 8oz. servings of protein a day with the addition on a piece of fruit or some toast, I balked. What!!! I knew I would be unable to eat all that protein from my experience of 10 days on phase 2 and I am really not sure that I choose to continue to eat bread, or even fruit for that matter. My decision was to set that all aside and continue on phase 1 with cheating....ie crab and sushi 1 day a week and a handful of raw almonds almost everyday. I am pretty sure I am not in ketosis most of the time because of these cheats.
Now I don't have a clue what to do. I know I cannot stay on phase 1 forever. Since Christmas I am not losing weight, nor do I necessarily want to, and happily, I am maintaining my loss.
I read somewhere in this forum where a gentleman had said that the plan works the way it is so don't try to change it. I so agree with that, and I sincerely wish I could phase out the way I am meant to, but it is just way too much food for me to sustain that for 4 weeks (phase 2 & 3). I am 5'2” and weigh 138lbs at 59 years of age. I teach 5 yoga classes a week and participate in 2 fitness classes a week, so activity is not an issue. I still take my supplements. The only downfall for me is that my hair is falling out at an alarming rate. I have read the forums on that issue and 1 gal commented that it was actually not falling out, just not growing. I have to disagree, my hair is most definitely falling out and maybe it isn't growing, I don't know.
I spend some time almost every day considering what to do next and I am stymied. I feel like I am right back to where I was before losing weight, obsessing about what to do with my diet. That was what I loved about phase 1, I didn't have to think about it.
I have had fun packing up and handing down my larger sized clothing as much as I have loved shopping thrift stores for smaller sized clothing. Like I said, I am very pleased with my results, but it does need to have an ending....just not sure how to play it out.
Any thoughts on this would be gratefully received. Perhaps you have had a similar experience and were able to work through it.