Replacing packets with whole food?
 

Has anyone tried replacing packets with whole food? Someone suggested on the main chat thread trying 2 boiled eggs in place of a packet, and I was wondering if anyone has tried this? I know this is getting away from the IP diet and protocol. I'm just trying to figure out what works for me.

Sometimes I do that. Sometimes I would also use an IP packet and eat an addition egg as well. Depending on my activity level and what I had available. I think you can certainly eat whole foods, nothing magic about the packets, IMO.

You could probably also substitute 5-7 oz of baked chicken breast or 3/4 cup egg whites, scrambled.

Originally Posted by snowclover:
Has anyone tried replacing packets with whole food? Someone suggested on the main chat thread trying 2 boiled eggs in place of a packet, and I was wondering if anyone has tried this? I know this is getting away from the IP diet and protocol. I'm just trying to figure out what works for me.

You may replace eggs with your MEAT meal in phase 1 -- the problem with eggs is that 2 eggs do not contain the same amount of protein as most of the IP packets including the restricted items and they are higher in fat. IP is a high protein low fat low calorie diet --The IP omelet is good if you like eggs and it is high in protein low in calories and fat and very filling.

I am not sure how this works if you are the alternative protocol -- are you? The 3 packets are critical from a protein and amino acid stand point. There has been much discussion lately in the medical/dietetic community as well as IP on the amount of protein women need. Many of the recommendations given are not enough - IP recently upped the amount of protein we can have for our meat meal to account for this research. For me, this is still not enough protein. I am also 5'9 inches tall so what works for me in terms of protein needs may be more then someone who is 5'2 and probably less then what a man needs. I add 1 hardboiled egg to my day in ADDITION to my 3 packets and my meat meal. I need about 90 g of protein (maybe a bit more) to maintain my muscle mass and to continue to loose weight which I don't get from my 3 packets (and I tend to pick the high protein items) and my meat meal. Hope this helps???? Maybe if you tell us exactly what isn't working for you we could give you some suggestions on things to try.

I'm having a hard time stomaching the packets. My coach is limiting me to soups, drinks and puddings the first few weeks (for no reason that I know of) and I battle nausea constantly...

Originally Posted by snowclover:
I'm having a hard time stomaching the packets. My coach is limiting me to soups, drinks and puddings the first few weeks (for no reason that I know of) and I battle nausea constantly...

Before you go to food....have one restricted a day...the bars are great and for many people they do not slow down the loss.

Also...I couldn't stomach too many....but I love the vanilla RTD in coffee or tea...very good and became a staple.

Also....LOVE LOVE LOVE The omelet...I have the omelet every single morning with Frank's red hot on it.

I don't have alot of variety...but those are my staples and I have a whole new feeling about food...it is purely to keep me alive and not to enjoy.

I have been doing this for 34 weeks so I understand it can get old.

In phase II you replace one protien pack with a whole food source. My coach says you still are in ketosis, but since this is my first week in phase II I really can't comment on whether you much weight.

I think that if you tell your coach that you're going to quit IP because you hate the packets s/he is restricting you to, s/he'll let you choose some others.

Honestly, I think you can replace the packets with protein, but the loss will be slower because you would be consuming more calories per day if you use meat equivalent to the protein in a packet at each meal. But then you'd pretty much be doing a basic low carb diet, right- it's not really IP.

I don't think IP itself has magic in it. The meal replacements just provide a convenient source of high protein, low fat food in a variety of forms. It's still ultimately a pack of protein powder with assorted flavourings.

Originally Posted by snowclover:
I'm having a hard time stomaching the packets. My coach is limiting me to soups, drinks and puddings the first few weeks (for no reason that I know of) and I battle nausea constantly...

Initially, for the first 2 to 3 weeks coaches prefer you to use the unrestricted packets only. It helps you get into ketosis more easily and gets the ball rolling well. THEN you can add restricted packets if you like. Some coaches will agree to your using restricted day 1 and this is ok with IP but, may not give the most desired result as fast. It depends on you.

Drink more water if you are nauseous. If it is ketosis related it will go away in the near future, usually 2 weeks in and the water helps.

You may add real food. It is fine but remember it won't be as balanced or as high in bio-available protein. Your best bet would be egg whites instead of a packet. It is most bio-available and most complete.

You can do chicken breast or fish too and get reasonable results.

Many people who are sensitive to the sucralose can do better if they just use the IP eggs, IP soups, and a few of the IP puddings. Those tend to be lowest in the grams of sucralose per packet.

Originally Posted by snowclover:
I'm having a hard time stomaching the packets. My coach is limiting me to soups, drinks and puddings the first few weeks (for no reason that I know of) and I battle nausea constantly...

Are you allergic to whey protein? Nausea is a symptom of whey protein sensitivity. Check on it because it can cause a lot of problems

Originally Posted by snowclover:
Has anyone tried replacing packets with whole food? Someone suggested on the main chat thread trying 2 boiled eggs in place of a packet, and I was wondering if anyone has tried this? I know this is getting away from the IP diet and protocol. I'm just trying to figure out what works for me.

A few times with travel and family crisis situations I did that for a few days...(long weekends). The thing is you need to remember..is it is non-negotiable as far as managing portions VERY carefully.Make sure the carbs are low enough..protein is high enough and the calories are equivalent and not more for the total meal than what a packet would be. The salads and veggies are important and must be adhered to strictly or your results will not be good. I managed to lose when doing this...but it is not the way the diet is designed to work. It's too easy to get off track....and I got myself back into packets ASAP and was grateful the design of choosing something pre packaged helped me stay with in boundaries when I was tired, stressed or bored.

Also...some of us do find we are sensitive to sodium or soy, gluten, whey or a combination...and have to eliminate one or more categories. You are really not alone in that. Lots of help here. You will need to become proactive and keep track of what gives you problems and try to work around the offending ingredients. There are alternative products available that can be ordered (not from IP) But to make that successful, you would have to understand how the diet works because you'd be going it alone with out a coach. But there are a LOT of folks on this forum who are doing great on their own. They have taken over control themselves to work around an issue or an unsatisfactory coaching situation.

Good Luck snowclover...it's NOT an impossible situation!

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This thread was started over 2 years ago. Replies to the OP may not be seen.