Question

I need motivation and honest experience. I did IP 5 years ago and lost 35 lbs. It took me 5 1/2 months. I have slowly put back on 25 lbs. I have to be honest, I did not follow the IP protocol 100%. I did not measure my olive oil when making recipes, I did not weigh my 8 oz protein but eyeballed it and I ate a mozzarella cheese stick 2-3 times weekly because it was so hard to be without cheese for so long. I am about to start IPA. Can you all tell me do these minor breaks in protocol make a big impact on weight loss? I want to loss 25-30 lbs but don’t want to spend 5 months again trying to lose it. I want to hear that if you really stick to protocol it will come off quickly. Trying to get started but I’m having trouble. Any tips/feedback are greatly appreciated!  

Answer 1

5 weeks and 2 days 100% protocol and I have lost 20lbs. started at 227 and down to 207 now!  

Comments

@rettke , me too! I lost 20 lbs in 5 weeks and followed it exactly.  

Answer 2

Yes if you eat the sheet and follow it to a t, you should be down 25 to 30pounds in 3months give or take. No cheese, measure everything.  

Answer 3

I am in the same boat. Lost 56lbs in IP. I have slowly gained at least 25 for sure. I a ready to get back on track. But just can’t get myself to spend the money on it. It is way more expensive here in Alberta then it was in BC.  

Answer 4

I think you’d get there quicker if you followed protocol

Answer 5

I'm 4weeks in and down 12. 4 lbs. I also work 3 graveyards a week and with prepping in advance prevents me from cheating or eating extra.  

Answer 6

I lost 50 lbs in 7 months in 2015 - I stuck 100% protocol until the last 2 months and then started little cheats - which made the end drag and drag. I did hit goal. I stayed at goal for 2 years and then the creep started happening. I have not made it back to goal but have done IPA every year since - losing 10 - 15 lbs and then going completely off plan - and that starts with little bits of straying. I just started again to get rid of 25 lbs and I am sticking to 100% protocol every. single. day. I am counting, weighing, measuring. Nothing off protocol. I want it off in the worst way (closet full of goal clothes! ) and would rather be 100% for 3 months than having it drag for more. I KNOW it works when you stick to it and don't stray. I do not take to heart the posts that say "I ate this and this off protocol and still lost weight" because I did too and I KNOW it would have been better if I had not.  

Comments

@leann I pray this time around you reach goal, phase off correctly and stay in maintenance. I am dedicated to do same thing. Enough of the rollercoaster weight loss. We are to fully enjoy life without the control food has had over us. I would rather eat broccoli regularly for the rest of my life ha than to deal with another setback of feeling failure and old bad food habits creeping in. Glad you are in 100%! I have 30. 8# to lose after losing 31. 6# the last 13 weeks. We are very similar in goals. Maintenance will be a huge focus for me. Let’s do this!  

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@eolande I am with you sister - I just feel a million times better already just with the resolve I have. I too have been feeling so disappointed in myself, not happy with how I look, going through bouts of "Hey I'm 58 years old - its ok to be chubby" etc etc. We can do this!  

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@leann lets do this!  

Answer 7

For those of you that commented, was this with IP or IPA food?  

Comments

@abnegate IPA food for me!  

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@dickens26 yes! Thank you! I love the fact that it teaches how to use and understand macros instead of only depending on the IP meals.  

Answer 8

I downloaded a free app called carb manager and I recorded everything I ate. I used the food scale to measure everything and I planned out my meals. When you follow it exactly the weight falls off. I did IP with a coach in October and spent tons of money and no weight loss. I realized I was licking spoons and taking small tastes of other foods that was for my kids. It stunted my weight loss. As of today, in 3. 5 weeks I went from a size 12 to an 8 and lost 11. 5 pounds. SW 181 to CW 169. 5.  

Answer 9

The average is about 10 pounds a month your cheating meant you lost at half that rate. What a huge waste of time and money. IPA is cheaper but still! Buckle down and it will be gone in a couple months!  

Comments

@poolroom you would make a great coach!  Let me get myself together.  

Answer 10

Thank you all for that! It is exactly what I was looking for!  

Answer 11

I averaged over 3 lbs a week and I was very strict with protocol. I think the cheats lead to more cheats and I knew that my habits and addiction couldn’t allow for that. So I stuck to protocol.  

Answer 12

You are not alone, as you can see from the comments. Just because you religiously stick to the sheet doesn’t mean you will lose 30lbs in 3 months. It took me 6 months to lose 30lbs and I never broke protocol once. It was hard to see people lose faster but it is what it is. Insomnia was my problem with IP and that slowed my loss down. But I did lose! And that’s what you need to focus on, if you can.  

Answer 13

Ok so obviously I have to count everything, and one thing I am unsure if is how to account for eating 2 boiled eggs in the morning. On mornings I was very hungry and a protein packet was not enough, I would eat 1-2 boiled eggs. How much protein would I have for dinner? Would it be 4 or 6 ounces or less from the approved list?  

Comments

@dickens26 thank you!  

Answer 14

First time I did this is I stuck  to protocol. And lost 36 lbs in 9 weeks. It absolutely makes a difference if you cheat.  

Comments

@serrulate33731 can you give me an example of what a day looks like for you? I get so hungry in between meals! First time around I ate lots of celery. Now I can barely stomach it.  

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Ginger, I used premier protein ready made shakes this time and the first time I used IP foods until I confirmed with my Dr/Coach that EAS Carb AdvantEdge protein drinks were an acceptable alternative. I absolutely hate vegetables so I only eat green peppers while I’m doing this and maybe occasionally a cucumber. The first time I did it I had a hard time getting in it mentally so I would eat a couple of hard boiled egg whites only in the morning with my shake. Otherwise it was exactly the same as I’m doing it now. I work 8-5 and I am on thyroid medication which has to be taken on an empty stomach with no food for an hour afterwards. So I take that when I get up and get ready for work. AM: when I get to work, usually 1-2 large cups of coffee, 1 pkt sweet-n-low, and a splash of protein shake in each. Coffee helps a lot to curb my appetite. Around 10-10:30 I drink what’s left of the shake I was adding to my coffee. Around 12:30-1 I take my hour lunch and eat the green pepper. I usually drink my second shake right when I get back to work. Sometimes I save a little of the pepper if I think I’m going to need something between then and dinner. Dinner I do the protein first and then just eat the pepper till I’m full sometimes it’s all of it sometimes it’s not. I drink the last shake later usually around 9-10pm For my protein I usually eat 2- 1/4 lb patties only from Hardee’s if I can’t eat at home (usually at least 3x a week. At home I’ll make chicken, steak tips or eckrich turkey smoked sausage. All measured on a scale before cooking. Chicken I pressure cook and finish in air fryer. Steak and sausage I fry in cast iron with the oil allotment. I don’t use the salt, other than to season the chicken or steak. And I don’t eat the oil unless I’m cooking in the pan. ‍♀️ I just don’t like either much so I don’t eat it.  

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Thanks so much! It's always getting over the hump mentally! That's hardest for me. Glad coffee helps with appetite but i can't stomach it. I drink water & tea. Do you do a whole chick in pressure cooker? How long dows it take to cook? I don't have a thyroid & on meds. 2nd time around. I'm trying to be creative.  

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I have the Ninja Foodi. I swear it’s the greatest thing ever! I usually buy frozen boneless skinless breast from Costco or Sams Club. They’re huge and I can usually fit 3 at a time. It’s give or take 10-15 minutes under pressure cook setting and then it’s 5-10 minutes under the broil or air fry setting. I use a rub on my chicken that is salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika. Equal parts except a tad more salt. I mix a bunch up ahead of time.  

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This round I started on 2/04 and I am down 9. 8 lbs so far. I cheated last Sunday. My SO’s parents wanted to do brunch at Cracker Barrel. I ate their new pot roast dinner, came in a pot with pot roast, carrots, potatoes, celery, onion and tomatoes. I ate the meat carrots and potatoes only and then had 1 biscuit with 2 little individual butter thingies. LOL. I only lost . 4 that next morning, but since then I have lost 4, so that time the biscuit didn’t screw me, but if I let myself cave like that say once a week I am certain it would. (A couple years ago I tried to get my heart in this and couldn’t so I was doing little things like that every few days and ultimately didn’t lose anything worth noting before I gave up. )

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I will say one thing though. Sticking to it , after about 3-5 days, your body gets adjusted, and then you’re no longer hungry, hangry, dying for more food. It actually gets pretty easy. And I think it helps me mentally get there by eating such a plain basic menu. it’s like I’m tricking my brain into accepting that for a tempory portion of time. I am not eating for satisfaction. I think it’s harder when you’re trying to find variety or ways to trick yourself into feeling like you still get to eat the “good stuff” when you’re making pancakes out of protein powder etc.  

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That makes a lot of sense! Thanks for sharing. So the Premier protein shakes fills you up? Morning I am hungrier. You're doing great! I appreciate the help!  

Answer 15

My story to a t! Going away this weekend and then tues is my start over. I have a trip 8 weeks from that point so I’m trying to tell myself it’s time limited, do it  for 8 weeks then feel so much better and enjoy vacation

Answer 16

Go look at the comments on my first post dated nov 14 2019. I asked the same question. The answers I got were surprising yet needed and truthful. I emphatically agree after losing 30#. This plan must be followed per protocol. Don’t short change yourself. Don’t try to take an easy way out. We all have had food addictions for the most part and that’s why we are all on this site. Food should not control you. Emotions should not dictate what you eat, why you eat and when you eat. There are foods like cheese that will sabotage your progress. If you have a food you can’t live without ask yourself why? Unless it’s broccoli and chicken or one of the other approved items you should really consider your relationship with food. Your honesty is so appreciated! You are being real and transparent! We all want a shortcut but this plan just isn’t that way. You need to be all in! Bottom line. I made it through Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and three birthday parties and Super bowl party. I stayed protocol THE ENTIRE TIME. You can do this! Make the best choice for yourself and commit 100%!  

Answer 17

Sticking strictly to protocol I lost my first 50 pounds in about 4 months. The next 20 took 3-4 months. I can't recall exactly. Then I've been pretty much maintaining by thinking that "this one little thing won't hurt" and have been fighting to stay on protocol and start losing again.