+39 votes
by (1.6k points)
This is my 3rd rodeo with IP ‍♀️ Losing the weight isn’t my issue but keeping it off seems impossible. I think part of my issue is the high structure with IP. I literally eat the exact same products everyday (all sweet ones). What’s the secret to keeping the weight off when you have to make choices about what to eat in the real world? I really want this time to be my last time!  
This is my 3rd rodeo with IP ‍♀️ Losing the weight isn’t my issue but keeping it off seems i

32 Answers

+35 votes
by (1.6k points)
 
Best answer
I was able to keep my off for a very long time by trying to find healthier sweet things as a replacement. For example, having the think thin Brownie crunch bar with strawberries really helped me with my sweet tooth. Of course, it was all after I made my goal. I was able to keep mine off for a very long time. I recently have gained some back in I’ve had several failed attempts of trying to get back on IP. I started last week and I plan on sticking to it this time. I have to☺️ In addition, I don’t think there’s anything wrong once you reach your goal was still getting some IP food and having it as a snack. If you’re at your goal weight… I think one IP product (fav) a day would help.  
by (1.4k points)
Agreed. I just answered before reading your response. No matter if I a in maintenance or on full protocol I always have IP food on hand. Sometimes none a day but sometimes twice a day.  
by (1.6k points)
Valerie, yes! For example I love the vanilla crispy’s
+8 votes
by (810 points)
 i hear you! Same here☹️
+34 votes
by (3.7k points)
Same here.  
+17 votes
by (3.1k points)
The new IP plan has a totally redesigned stabilization and maintenance plan that will help a lot once you reach your goal weight.  
by (4.1k points)
@zinovievsk can u post a sheet. I don’t have a clinic
by (3.1k points)
The new phase one plan is not that different . Unfortunately the stabilization and maintenance plans are now individual specific and so there is no one sheet. The plan is based on macros and seeing how your body reacts and then adjusting. The process requires a coach
by (4.1k points)
@colorcast649 thank you. Darn I’ve seen this b4. Just too blurry to read and even printing it the font is so small and reading thru the color is hard. Thanks tho.  
by (1.1k points)
@meliorism2478 I turn it to black and white on my printer
by (4.1k points)
@colorcast649 I’ll try that. Thanks sweet lady
by (1.1k points)
@meliorism2478 you’re welcome
+5 votes
by (7.6k points)
Same here. I’m hoping the new stabilization and maintenance plan we will help keep me in track.  
+28 votes
by (1.6k points)
I’m not huge to begin with but I keep losing and gaining the same 10-15 pounds. It’s frustrating! After the last time I got off of IP, I tried WW and all I did was gain  
by (3.7k points)
It is normal to gain 5-7 pounds per year, some sooner than others, some later. How long do you keep your weight down? And, it is normal to have to do a "tune up" with IP. to reboot your pancreas and keep you within a 2-3 pound radius of your new normal. But, you also need to go through all the phases, especially the stabilization phase and maintenance. It is not a failure of you or the protocol to have to 'tune up' yearly. It is normal. Good luck on losing this 10-15. Stay connected to your coach~
by (3.8k points)
@demakis great feedback, thanks
+18 votes
by (510 points)
No answers here unfortunately. I need to start my third round but we moved so I have to find a new clinic. after I get back to work (lay-off from vivid ) Good luck on your journey.  
+25 votes
by (10.4k points)
Did you transition off properly? Doing the full transition is a key to maintain all you’ve accomplished. Also staying in contact with your coach during maintenance. Perhaps your coach could put together a custom maintenance plan.  
+2 votes
by (4.2k points)
I wonder if it would help to stop eating all sweet IP foods. They keep your taste buds and you craving or expecting sweet. Maybe shift to two sweet and then to one sweet so you rejig your taste buds. Going into maintenance craving sweets three times a day could be a big issue. Just a thought.  
+23 votes
by (1k points)
This is my 3rd time too. The first time life just got me the 2nd I got pregnant. This time I am just determined!  
+15 votes
by (520 points)
Your post is exactly my life! Where I fail is the maintenance.  
+23 votes
by (1.4k points)
Do you phase off correctly? I will probably always have one sweet ideal protein snack a day. Use that as my daily "yummy" when everyone else is having something I reach for my ip food just like I do when I am in protocol.  
+2 votes
by (2.1k points)
After losing all the weight I think it is so important to maintain low carb for the rest of our lives, lots of veggies and perhaps a “cheat meal” once a week. It is a lifelong journey ie. change of lifestyle not just a diet. This is what worked for me.  
+4 votes
by (380 points)
Eat fruit when you have a sweet craving. Fresh not dried. Lots of vegetables. Eliminate processed foods. Do intermittent fasting as often as possible. And go for a walk when you want to eat something unhealthy.  
+14 votes
by (3.6k points)
It’s SO hard! I found the best success keeping it off by literally following the maintenance sheet to a T, eating only the suggested foods listed, sticking to portions, have the “fat/protein/carb” for breakfast, the “protein/fat” for lunch, and the “protein/carb” for dinner. also my “carbs” remained vegetables. Good luck you got this!  
by (3.6k points)
(Unless I got sushi which I did about twice a month then I had brown rice! ) ☺️
+3 votes
by (2k points)
So true! I’m in the exact same boat!  
+2 votes
by (2.5k points)
Get creative in the kitchen! If you love cooking you will love making healthy versions of things you crave  there are a million different ways to cook veggies and SO many things you can use from the produce section to make an infinite amount of food that will only make you feel amazing! This isn’t a punishment it’s a privilege ❤️❤️ now is the time to find healthy things you absolutely love! My air fryer made things a lot easier too!  
by (2.5k points)
And don’t forget to keep drinking a ton of water!  
+15 votes
by (6.1k points)
Making healthier choices is a lifetime commitment now. We can’t go back to the way we ate before. You still need to minimize your carbs and focus on healthy fats and veggies. Sure you can eat something unhealthy once in a while but as a treat. You got this ☺️
+10 votes
by (17.5k points)
I am the same, also my third time for the same reason.  
+20 votes
by (1.3k points)
Maybe I’ll post today and do this with you! I keep trying every single day myself and it’s not working! Did it 3 years ago and probably never really stopped trying all the time. Lol But I’m posting on your post because I want to be accountable. Sorry for the hijack answer. lol Also my answer to your question; although I can’t say for sure since I gained most back, but in my personal opinion and the way I know I eat, it is all moderation and healthy and balanced eating. Along with exercise to keep off. That’s my opinion. Something I never followed all my years of life. Lol.  
+12 votes
by (4.1k points)
I did it 3 times now I put all the weight back on in 3 months I don’t know if I can do it again
+7 votes
by (2.2k points)
You can keep using your favorite IP products forever to satisfy your sweet cravings and still stay low carb. (Not 3 daily of course) There are great other products for maintenance too that are slightly less pricey - lots of options at the keto health stores. Lilly’s chocolate at Whole Foods is yummy too.  
+32 votes
by (820 points)
This is my second go round too. I think in maintenance I will stick to protein & veggies. Over 3 years I gained back the 30lb I lost. So far I’m down 15lbs. I was eating everything the family was eating. My body can’t handle carbs without gaining. I will be watching the scale closely to not go over my trigger number. Of course all of this is much easier said than done. Good luck Liz!  
+14 votes
by (4k points)
I had a lot of same questions. All your answers have helped me out to get to my goal, then Phase 2 and then Maintence!  
+21 votes
by (1.3k points)
Following. My same concern.  
+15 votes
by (2.4k points)
I think most people can describe their personality. Or how they would react in certain circumstances. They can identify with a political party- or not! But most people don’t stop and think what kind of eater they are in life. They go about their day mindlessly eating. Maintenance takes more than just eating the right foods. It’s about figuring out what is going on in your brain. What made you open the pantry? What are your trigger foods/drinks? What foods do you need to eliminate? (Yes- some foods/drinks need to be just cut out for good! Diet Coke for me. ) Get to know yourself in maintenance. Study yourself. Great advice on this post. Weigh yourself often. Eat well. Drink water. Keep IP on hand. Remember all the things you learned in phase Eat your veggies! Keep up the protein. But find out who you are and make it work! You can do it!  
+14 votes
by (4.7k points)
I successfully kept the weight off for 7 years and had to return to IP in yr 8. The reason is no surprise- pizza, turkey burgers, fries, donuts, cake, cookies almost everyday with no exercise. To be successful in maintenance, the same principles were all doing apply. Be mindful of portions, get your veggies with every meal, balance your food/time between meals, etc. Mixing fat with carbs will be the key that encourages your body to store fat - so don't choose this everyday. IP teaches you that don't need a 23 oz porterhouse or a pint of ice cream. There are healthier options, including ongoing use of IP or IP-like snacks if you so choose. This is a lifestyle change and for it to last, the protocol principles need to be followed - with far less restrictions. Plus you'll be able to add exercise. Also, I had set a max weight gain I would tolerate and then back to IP if I waivered. Over those 7 years, I turned to my fav products occasionally to get my head back in the game.  
+15 votes
by (640 points)
I’ve had doubting thoughts this time around as well. This is my second time, I didn’t phase off correctly the first because of pregnancy. But sometimes I think is it even normal to eat 900-1000 calories a day? Is it good for you? I did some google research and reviews gave ideal protein a lower review stating most people will gain there weight back. I don’t know what to think. I know it works, but is it temporary? And then does it screw up your metabolism even worse because of such low calorie intake? My husband keeps telling me, if you ate 1, 000 calories a day of any food you would lose weight. It’s starvation ‍♀️
+9 votes
by (1.2k points)
We are all carb addicts. So when we can eat the brownies and bars we think we are eating candy and cake. Then you start loosing and looking good and we starting a little frozen yoghurt, then the carob chips and before u know it you start eating every carb known to man. I have been o this yo yo all my life. It’s a sickness. It’s all or nothing at all and it’s hard. Like an alcoholic, or a drug addict we are carb addicts. Good luck to everyone struggling. I cannot take it anymore. If anyone has any words of wisdom, pls Share  
by (340 points)
@carraway it really is an addiction. I chose carbs over feeling better. I felt horrible after bingeing on snacks. Just like any other addict. You reached out right now. Just like any other addict. Being at a healthy weight is EVERYTHING. It will give you energy, help protect you from some chronic illnesses, allow you to live longer. It’s worth this struggle! Have an extra IP snack rather than that cookie. Chew slowly. Keep busy. When I’m bored, I eat. Ill be living a low carb lifestyle forever. I will snack on IP snacks forever. I’m learning to accept it. Keep reaching out. This group is very supportive  
+31 votes
by (6.3k points)
Healthy keto and intermittent fasting. I follow Dr Eric Berg - he has tons of videos and explains things so simply. Following his plan is how I kicked my carb cravings. It only makes sense as you lose all this weight following IP which is a ketogenic plan then why would you go back to burning glucose for energy. Adopting a keto lifestyle was a game changer for me.  
by (11.6k points)
Me too, stick to less than 40g net carbs per day. I don't go back to GPS (grains, potatoes or sugars). I don't intend on finding the 100lbs I *lost* lol!  
by (11.6k points)
Oh and I also keep the IP products as part of my daily regimen in maintenance. I love adding fat to my packets then too (whipping cream with chocolate drink mix, cheese and guac with nacho dorados, etc.! )
+29 votes
by (3.4k points)
I lost 135 pounds on IP and have been maintaining for almost 3 years. I have gone up and down 5 to 10 lbs a few times but I reign it back by always keeping IP products at home. Like you, the sweet ones. And I keep the shake mixes handy too to replace a meal if I see weight creep back on.  
+32 votes
by (670 points)
One of the P1 videos said that while cardio rich exercise is not great in P1 - exercise and activity along with a good diet is the way to maintain the weight loss! I agree! I know when I am active then My body responds to what I eat! I encourage working exercise into your lifestyle in maintenance.  
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