Just wondering if you can buy the produts online without having a coach? I am a little leary of paying that 307.00 joining fee. Just wondering....
Linda
You can use alternative products plus there are links to websites which sell IP products w/o the investment in a coach. Alternatives cost 1/3 -1/2 the price of IP and in my opinion, having done both, work equally well.
Read through the stickies and pick up the dietary requirements per phase as well as the "alternatives" threads. I use alternatives after a less than positive experience with an IP clinic and use www.netrition.com and www.nashuanutrition.com to buy products. If you are in Canada, you have other/more choices, I'm in the US. Watch your supplements very carefully and adhere fully to all IP requirements. Alternatives take more time initially since you need to read and learn, but I found it interesting so didn't mind that at all.
Does anyone have any recommendations for some of these places?
Yes! I would also be interested as it cost me about $65 for shipping and import duties. Then fedex lost my package in my city. Should get it tomorrow... sigh!
One thing to remember - the "joining fee" usually includes your first week of food (about $85-100 worth of product), your shaker bottle (about $7), sea salt ($5 at their price), your necessary IP supplements (Potassium-Calcium, Calcium-Magnesium, and Multivitamin - worth about $55 or so. So a bit more than half of that fee is just startup product.
I've been switching gradually over to alternatives, but the supplements are something I will only get the IP version - particularly the Potassium-calcium, I have yet to find something commercially available that is the same FORM (and form does matter, it affects how your body processes the nutrients).
Assuming you prefer to go to a clinic, you can also call another clinic and "price shop".
Check what their start up fee is (and what it includes--some include 11 days of food, some 7) what a typical product fee is, their hours.
Ask if they are running any September "Back to School" specials.
Otherwise, the on-line and alternative options offer you some choices, too.
I am in the Ottawa area of Ontario and after doing the program thru a spa where I had to book an appointment every week for weight-in and measurements, I found a Jiu-Jiustu studio that sells the IP products to anyone who walks in, at a slightly cheaper rate than the spa. If you haven't done so already, Google the IP distributors in your area and call around and ask if you must join in order to purchase the products.
Does anyone have any recommendations for some of these places?
Quote:
Originally Posted by vvei
Yes! I would also be interested as it cost me about $65 for shipping and import duties. Then fedex lost my package in my city. Should get it tomorrow... sigh!
I'm in Ontario, and have been using alternative products since I switched over after 1 week on IP. Like vvei, the shipping costs (and custom tariff) on ordering products from the USA got to me, and apart from one 'across border' order I've just bought from sources in Canada. My blog http://diettalktoday.com/ focuses on helping those who want to go the 'alternative route' - you may find it useful. I give my sourcing info under the tab called 'Selecting Alternative Products'. This is still a work-in-progress... unfortunately this past week I've been so busy I haven't been able to add much to it. But there's still lots of info there that should be useful to you.
Does anyone have any recommendations for some of these places?
The easiest one to use in Canada is proteinwell.ca
The low carb grocery is good too but has a very wide variety of products for different types of plans so I found it harder to fiqure out what I needed there at first but I do use it now.
One thing to remember - the "joining fee" usually includes your first week of food (about $85-100 worth of product), your shaker bottle (about $7), sea salt ($5 at their price), your necessary IP supplements (Potassium-Calcium, Calcium-Magnesium, and Multivitamin - worth about $55 or so. So a bit more than half of that fee is just startup product.
I've been switching gradually over to alternatives, but the supplements are something I will only get the IP version - particularly the Potassium-calcium, I have yet to find something commercially available that is the same FORM (and form does matter, it affects how your body processes the nutrients).
Check carefully whether your joining fee includes food, supplements, etc. Mine did not - still cost $300. and the coach knew far less than the seasoned folks on this board.
Can you buy the products without "joining"
