Hi Juiceman! Thanks for offering to help. One question I had - as I go thru all this information over the weekend - Supplements - what is the requirement on the supplements to use if you don't use IP? I have a Whole Foods rights down the street so maybe I can find whatever I need there? I already take 3000mg of Fish Oil a day.

Thanks,
Sher

I wouldn't even think of suggesting that anyone do 3 drinks/day. Boring! Many of us have an egg meal- Egg Beaters or equivalent. Personally, I use 1 whole egg and 2 egg whites. I don't think you need to be limited to eggs, but to me it seemed a good alternative to the IP omlette. I also use store bought ready to drink shakes, protein bars (be very careful which you choose), and soy nuts in addition to Proti-Life products I ordered online. It helps to research the nutrients in the IP products and try to replicate using what is available to you. Ultimately you want to cut down on carbs, eliminate sugars, and focus on protein and veggies for meals.

Cinnamon-

Have you tried the Syntrax nectars yet? I'm very interested in them...since they have flavors other then the staple Vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.

I have not tried them. Just discovered them today via browsing. All the flavors sound divine! I am especially interested in the ones made with Stevia (they are the Natural flavors, but they only have fruit punch, peach, and something else I thought I wouldn't like, orange maybe?). I am probably going to order some. I wish they came in smaller packages though. I bought some egg white protein -powdered, vanilla flavor - which is really gross but now I have a 2.5 pound jar of it. Netrition has a Syntrax nectar sample pack of 13 flavors, maybe worth the $21 or so just to try them all. I'll let you know if/when I try it, which flavor, and what I think. :D

Designer Whey has some good flavors that are made with Stevia. I just bought the double chocolate for my husband, who needs protein to keep on weight... He loves the vanilla... netrition has them too and the ones with Stevia only are labeled as "all natural". you can also buy 1lb jars at TJs and Harris Teeter.

Hi. I use the Dopps Clinic here in Wichita. I have been on the program 14 weeks and have lost 42 lbs and I am a slow loser. Love the program. Did Jenny and gained weight. This diet is sooo much better and with faster results. I have lost over 30 inches. My bust alone went from a 42c to a 36d. Highly recommend this program. Worth the money. Keep using this forum and you will be on the road to skinnyville.

Cost is hard to calculate, because it depends on how much you're spending on groceries now. The IP foods are replacing a lot of what you're eating now. For me, I went from eating takeout every day for lunch to cooking all my own meals, so, ultimately, it probably saved me money.

I buy pretty much the most expensive thing they have, exclusively, and I pay about $150/week. I personally consider it money well spent.

I have not gone OFF the diet yet, but in just under a year, I've lost 85 pounds on this diet. You have to commit to it (once you're on it, you're on it. no cheating.) but if you do, you'll get good results.

The 3-7 pounds/week they advertise is a little deceptive - MEN lose 7 pounds a week, women lose more like 3. But there will be weeks when you lose 5, and weeks where you lose 1, and even a handful of weeks when you lose nothing.

I can't say if this diet is right for you, but it changed my life.

Ratio of Carbs to Protiens to Fat
 

I have read the book and reviewed the alternative product forum. There is a lot of comments about counting carbs but I could not find anything that said you need to have ___ g protein, ___ g carbs, ___ g fat. I looked at the book again this morning.

Does this ratio exist? If so, what is it?

I think the reason you're not finding that sort of breakdown is because if one is focused on eating the prepared foods, the work is done for you. As far as carbs go, we land somewhere between 30-50 per day depending on which packets and veggies you choose in a day.
If you're thinking about doing the protocol with alternatives, focus on trying to find products that are similar in cal/carb/pro composition to the IP products and use those.

For those considering alternative products.....I too have now switched over to the 'saving money side'. I've been using Pure Protein Shakes (by Worldwide Sports) these taste WAY better to me than EA. I use Supreme Protein for the bars (YUM!), the 50 gram size (15-18 carbs/ea). Found them the cheapest at WholesaleSupplements.com. About $1.77/meal (including S&H!) I buy about 3 wks worth at a time :)

Sher-

I read through this weekend too, and couldn't find a ratio per se.

I noticed that some things have changed between the book and the newest protocol. (like book says unlimited amount of ok'd veggies, and new protocol is 2 c/ 2 meals). And a few veggies have been added too...

Anyway...
I am planning on doing an egg meal for one packet, and protien shakes for the other meals. I ordered protien drinks as close to the same as IP as possible, and not Soy protien (I have a thyroid problem).
I'm hoping that this works for me!

Be interesting to see how I do... :D
I don't have a clinic near me, and would be on my own anyway..so might as well try it this way first.

I've bought supplements:
Digestive Enzymes (which I'm unsure of when I'm to take them)
Calcium-mag
Multi-vitamin
Omega-3
Potasium

I haven't bought Protein bars yet, as I plan on going restricted free for the first 2-3 weeks depending on how I feel.

You should take the enzymes with your meals.

So...everytime I eat..I take an enzyme pill?
Thanks for the clarification and help!

The bottle should say to take it about 30 minutes prior to a meal. Probably a max of 3x a day. You really only need them if you're having digestive issues.

IP after Pregnancy
 

Hello Everyone!

I have been doing some research on some weight-loss plans as of late to start after the birth of my second child this coming July. Before I was pregnant with my 1st child, I worked out and ate clean, but found that it was harder to lose weight; as it normally comes with age. During my pregnancy with my first child, I was horrible with my diet, and did not exercise and gained 50 lbs. I never really lost the weight after birth and my son is now 3. I am expecting my daughter in July, and this pregnancy is better as I eat healthier (although I do indulge in ice cream a couple of times a week) and I try to do light exercise 3-5x per week.

I looked at a holistic clinic here in Wichita that promotes the hCG diet (the pregnancy hormone), but more research I do on it, I find it is dangerous. Using the hCG hormone and a Very Low Calorie Diet.

I remember an acquaintance referred me to do IP and said it is monitored by a Dr. while you are on the program, and although pricey, it is worth it. The other hGC diet is over $1000 for 8 weeks. I am willing to pay as long as I can see results and learn ways to keep the weight off.

My question is, would it be best to start the IP after I am finished breast feeding? I would assume so. I plan to breast feed for about 6-8 months (if I can, I could not produce enough for my 1st child, but am trying to with this next one and ways to up my milk supply).

Thank you all!