Ideal Protein questions ...
 

I am new to this web-site and have posted some messages, but I am not sure how to find out if anyone has responded.

I will be starting into my 8th week on the program and I have lost 35 pounds --- which I am thrilled with!

I have some questions:

1. Green cabbage - can we eat it or not?
2. Regular tomatoes (not cherry) - can we eat them and how often?
3. Restricted foods - my coach gave me a bar on the first day and told me that I could have the restricted foods, but only once a day. I am reading that some coaches were saying no to restricted foods until 3 or 4 weeks into the program.

I welcome all answers and thank you in advance!

There is a ton of answers to everything all over this forumn....read read read....that is how I learned so much. I have been on the program 5 weeks today and I am down 25 pounds. Green cabbage is listed as approved on my list of non-restricted veggies. Tomatoes are a restricted (limited per week) and my coach allows restricted food items from the beginning. But my choice is that I did not have any for a few weeks and the past few weeks I have had two per week....soy nuts as a snack once and I made the chili on Saturday. I will continue that routine for a few more months. I live off the omlettes and vanilla shakes. Good luck on your journey. :carrot:

Yes, green cabbage is permitted.
Any tomatoes are limited as an occasional vegetable. They may be had 2x a week. A maximum quantity of 2 cups per week.
Yes. Restricted foods are permitted from the beginning. You may have them once per day. Most people try to add them in slowly to get a feeling for how they are impacting the weight loss.

Finding your questions and others' answers
 

Lorrie, I know I've answered at least one of your questions and others did too, but I can't remember where. :?: :hug:

A couple of suggestions:
Something that might help is for you to bookmark or "make a favorite" of the pages where you've posted questions.

If you click on your username next to your post, you'll see an option to "Find all posts by JonathanandZeus" Click that. You'll get a list of every post you've made. Click on one of the links and read your post and those that follow!

Hope that helps!

Thanks I'm for your advice --- I did what you said and VOILA --- I found the replies to my messages --- thanks so much!!!

Thank you from me too! I could never find the responses to things I posted either nor am I able to remember where I posted! Nice to know they can be found again.

One Wish for the new year...
 

I heard about ideal protein today and I am skeptical about it and it's results. I have tried everything from all the different "fad" diets to Releana (HCG) and nothing seems to help me. Growing up I was always overweight so I took measures into my own hands and became anorexic and bulimic. After realizing that wasn't an answer, I gained all of the weight back plus some and went from 130 lbs. to 350 lbs. I know I need to start exercising however at my current weight there is no way I can do anything. I lost a considerable amount of weight in May after being diagnosed with Celiac's Disease however I decided not to listen to the doctors or my body and gained it all back and am currently 198.5. I need to get back down to 130 and was wondering if IP would be good for me...any suggestions or comments would be great!

IP works if you follow it. It's strict and no cheat so you have to be willing to make the adjustment in your eating habits, and as with all plans you will gain the weight back if you don't follow the maintenance plan and go back to the eating that caused you to gain weight. I lost over 30 pounds in less than 2 months on IP and have been at or below goal weight for the last month on maintenance. I loved the structure and for me the fact that it worked made it easy to follow.

Good luck :)

It totally works, but as BCGirl said you must follow the program 100%. No cheats and you must follow all 4 phases. I have been on just about every diet out there too (most of us have). And while this is the strictest diet I have ever been on, it's also been the most successful for me (about 35 pounds in 9 weeks) and the easiest by far. Check out the website, read this forum and then make your decision. Best of luck to you in whatever you decide.

go for it....but do not use the ideal products ...search the altenative products for ideal protein on this site Three fat chicks on a diet ..I use alternative products and have lost 38 lbs since august 19th 2011...you can find all the phases on this site as well...otherwise it will be around -94 dollars a week...plus vitamins and first visit...good luck...

I started this diet on Nov 1 and I am having great results so far. I was also diagnosed with celiac disease and can relate to your story, I yoyo dieted for years and tried all the risky diets. I find this one has really worked for me. Considering we are already conditioned because of the Celiacs not to eat what everyone else eats it makes it easier to follow because we are used to being "high maintenance" lol I hate being considered high maintenance. I find its also beneficial because I hate telling people that I am dieting so instead I just tell people that I am eating special gluten free granola bars or gluten free protein shakes, not diet shakes. that way I dont need to answer all the questions that everyone seems to have about diets and their opinions. I considered doing the alternatives but I find because of my personality it really helps me stay on track by seeing a coach once a week, even though its only to pick up food and chat it still helps me stay on plan.

Hope this helps and good luck. :)

Hello everyone. Im excited to start IP on my own. I ordered some material about the program and printed out some food comparison charts in case I want to order alternative products but I am still a little confused about a few basic ideas of phase 1. From what I understand, per day it's:
3 IP packets, 5-8oz protein (I have a list of permitted items), 4 cups of veggies (I have a list of permitted items), 64 oz of water, supplements and 1-2 teaspoons of olive/grape seed oil.
My question is....is a soup pack the same as a pudding or drink mix or soy puff or protein bar?? I understand that some items are "restricted" meaning 1 per day but does a pudding or an orange drink mix etc count as an actual IP MEAL PACKET or are these things snacks?? I am about to order some food and I just want to be clear. Any help would be great. Thank you!!

Yes the packets are the actual meal packets. For example breakfast could be an orange drink, lunch a soup packet with veggies, snack a restricted bar, and dinner 8oz (the new requirements are 8oz for all meat) meat with 2 more cups veggies. Or if you were on a strange schedule you could do soup for breakfast, bar for lunch (with veggies), dinner, and drink for snack. Point being it doesn't really matter what you have when. Hope this helps and welcome to the boards!!

Navy mom is correct... Have 3 packets. One which is a restricted.... Then your meat meal... If you stick with it. It will work. I would also recomme d more water than 64 oz. That is the minnimum... Also. Don't forget to take your vitamins!!

I do not know anything about Celiac's Disease but know that there are one or two people on this site who have Celiacs and do IP. I will tell you I have been on every diet known to man. Non of them were as successful as IP has been and I am only on week three. I am a slow loser and down 9.25 lbs but for me that is great. One year ago Feb. I tried HGC drop. I lasted 3 weeks, was starving the whole time and lost 7 lbs. I am not hungry at all on this diet. The first couple days can be hard on some. I did not get any head aches or any of the other issues.

I say go for it. All you have to lose is weight!

So what happens if you accidentally have 2 restricted packages in one day? Does this kick you out of ketosis?

Probably not, but it is a lot of carbs. I know some people weren't informed about the 1 restricted per day rule when they started and accidentally had 2 per day the first week or two because they didn't know. Not something I would advise doing on purpose, but if you do it once or twice accidentally it won't be a big deal.

IP Foods
 

Why in the world would you not use the IP foods? The foods are complete proteins. They contain all the amino acids that are required for a healthy diet & you are seen weekly (or as often as needed & always available by phone) by a qualified diet coach? Being accountable to someone & getting feedback and encouragement from the clinic is part of that price too. That is what makes Ideal Protein "Ideal Protein". If you are not using the foods & supplements, can you really say you are on the Ideal Protein diet? You are really on a very low carb diet & that is great. Don't get me wrong, if it works for you that is absolutely wonderful! However, not everyone can do it alone, so I just ask that you not discourage anyone from using an Ideal Protein clinic & foods. Having a trained coach is a BIG part of success with the program, not to mention, education for maintenance. Wishing each & everyone success with their health goals!!

There definitely are many advantages to doing ip with a clinic. Accountability, information and readily available food choices.

But, it is definitely possible to get the same results using alternative products.

Cost is one factor that might deter some people, but if you really look at how much it costs, and what you would otherwise be spending on food, alternatives, etc, the difference might not be that significant.

Good luck.

I am unclear on the "restricted packets"...this is the first I am hearing about it even

Tomorrow is my first weigh in and I'm nervous! How much weight did everyone lose the first week?

Lisa, your story is amazing and so inspiring. I do have a question for anyone (with more in the wings as time proceeds). In some of the recipes, you are mixing packets, for example a drink and a pudding etc. How do you account for that in your daily allotment if it uses two packets. Do I have to make that, say, my lunch and snack divided? Hope you understand my question. Thanks!!

Thank you Lisa. I am looking up recipes, and we certainly seem to have the same taste in food! I am putting together a recipe folder now.

Thanks Lisa. Got it and printed it. Great recipes. My own personal recipe folder is really full thanks to the tons of recipes on the recipe thread. I will let you know how this goes. Went to the seminar tonight which I thought was the actual start of IP, but I actually start next Tuesday. We will be meeting each week, as I am sure you know ;) Just wishing I was beginning tomorrow. Should I start eating the veggies etc so that I might ease myself into the program for Tuesday next week?

Everytime I see your post I'm so inspired by you. I only hope I can be as successful with this diet. First week was great, but now things have really slowed down and I'm not sure why. It's so good thought to see that all of you guys have succeeded and that gives me the strength to continue regardless. Thanks!

I lost 7 lbs the first week, 3.5 the second, 1.5 the third, and my fourth wi is coming up on Monday.

I am on day 11 now, and never been this fatigued before. Day3-5 was brutal with massive hunger, headaches and fatigue. Then by Day 7, it seemed I had a burst of energy actually where I couldnt sleep even. Day 8 was my first WI, and I felt great. Now super fatigued again. Is this just my body adjusting? Could the TOM thats nearing have anything to do with it maybe? This is no fun, I never fall asleep as my desk! HA!
Also, it seemed in the beginning week I was actually a little short on my carbs (like 22-24, not always 25) and then I spoke with my coach on weigh in day and was going to try to up them more with veggies (as I know its important not to go too low). The last 2 days, I have increased my veggies (allowed ones, mostly smalls salads or cabbage) and now I am going over by 10 or so. I am not sure how to get the balance here.
Any tips?

How many carbs are you supposed to have a day? I asked my coach the other day and she didn't know. I had mentioned the restricted items being high in carbs and wasn't going to eat them to keep my carbs down.

25 a day.

Now I see why you wouldn't want to eat the restricted IP food, the bars have 16 carbs. Thanks!

The sodium content on some of the items is incorrect. The herb omelet is one of them. It has 600 + mg not 150. I am one that has to watch my sodium intake.

If you follow the protocol it is carefully balanced and you don't have to count all these things yourself. It is no longer recoomended that people don't have the restricted. The loss is not more for people who cut out the 1 restricted a day and people who have them tend to stay with the program longer.

Thanks Pat, I have been logging all of my food in on myfitnesspal.com site and with following the protocol, my carbs are around 40. Cauliflower has a big number of carbs and I was surprised that lettuce has 4 carbs for 2 cups of lettuce.

carbs, protein, fat
 

Can anyone tell me how many carbs, protein and fat grams we are supposed to have in a day?

I was told that I could have bars, but now 4 weeks into the program, I'm finding them too sugary. I think they're really helpful in the beginning to wean off carbs though. I've been having halves at a time.

Hi

Can I drink gengiber te in the diet?