I hear you on the weight gained form anti-depressants is the hardest to lose. I went on Cymbalta last year for pain- it works but the side effects are awful including insomnia for me and of course weigh gain. I gained about 13 pounds. Finally just now went back to Phase 1, and I have lost the weight. Nothing else would make my body let go of it!

Have salsa 2x a week as your alotted tomatoes. Make some fresh!

About the alternative products, should work great, just as well as IP. It takes some thinking and research but it's worth it in the end and saves a lot of $. I just got some Syntrax Nectar and I forgot my shaker today. I mixed it in a cup and it actually dissolved! I was going to be really upset and grossed out about having to drink lumpy cappucino drink, but it dissolved so no worries. I got it on Amazon. I also got Roadside Lemonade flavor (because it was on sale!), but I don't like it as much as the cappucino flavor. I tried to make jello with it and Knox gelatine, and it didn't turn out at all! I ended up throwing it away after choking down half of it. Hahahaaa...

Funny! 4 kids here, too! ;)

We have our family on a strict budget as we are saving for some larger purchases (eventually buying a house). I started the ideal protein program back on February 19th. A week after I started the program, I switched to some alternative products to save a few bucks. First, instead of using the IP packets, I bought Atkins shakes from Walmart. In doing some research, they are slightly higher in total fat, but lower in some instances in total carbs. I figured I would give it a try. I thought I would keep buying the restricted packets through my health coach. By the way, health coaches do NOT like it when you do this. :) I continued to hit good losses and stuck with it. In 11 weeks I have lost 36 pounds. It would have been more, but I had to travel for 2 weeks on business and went off the program during that time. I was 1 pound heavier after those two weeks gone, but i think that was pretty good only eating hotel food and such. I worked my tail off at the gym while I was there though. Anyway, I have recently found that my favorite restricted items were the soy nuts. I found some soy nuts at the store the other day for $1.88, with enough servings to last me for 2 weeks. That saves me a grip of money. The nutrition facts are the same, so I am thinking it should work just fine too. I may get tired of them soon, but it is worth it to me in the money savings. That is just my experience. Others may not have had as much success in using the atkins shakes, but I think they taste good and they still help me lost the weight.

I just phoned a nutrition and suppliment store here and he said the EAS carb control shakes are no longer available in canada??!! :(
Anyone in Ontario seen it in stores?

Thanks for the nutrition information on the EAS shakes. Makes it really easy for me to know which ones to buy. Does anyone know the comparable nutrition information for the Pure Protein bars? I would like to know specifically which ones equal/replace the IP bars.

Here are what you should target:

Non-restricted (2X a day).....around 90-120 calories, under 5 grams of fat, and under 5 carbs (the lower the better...I stick to 2 grams)

Restricted (1X a day)....around 150-180 calories, under 9 grams of fat,, and around 12-16 carbs.

Avoid asparatame, look for sucralose

I did strictly IP products my first 5 months, but have used products from Nashua Nutrition for the last 3 months.

1 packet for breakfast (I use the bacon and cheese omelet packet)

1 packet for lunch ( I use EAS carb control shake, mixed with tea)
lettuce and 2 cups of veggies
1 tsp of evoo

6-8 ounces of lean meat for dinner
2 cups of veggies
1 tsp of evoo
lettuce if needed


One packet before bed (I eat a restricted bar)

Tons of water, correct supplements, no cheating...not a bite

Certain veggies are restricted (tomatoes, green beans, brussel sprouts, and carrots/peas are not allowed)

You can use mustard, spices, tamari, hot sauce

I'm trying to convince dh to let me try the IP diet for a few weeks to get the hang of it, but it's not in the budget right this moment ...

Thank you for explaining this... it makes a lot of sense now! I can't wait to get my stuff from Nashura and begin this journey!

oooo, look what I found: Pure Protein gelatin cups!

http://www.thelowcarbgrocery.com/cat...oducts_id=3476

100 calories, 0g fat, 2g carbs and 23g protein!

NO problem....IP gave me my life back and if I had a better coach I would still spend the money on the products, but the alternatives work well.

My son-in-law did strictly alternatives and lost 92 pounds in 4 months. My daughter did strictly alternatives and lost 60 pounds in 4 months.

Ooooo Yum! Is it a cdn company? THe website asks for postal codes, that would be awesome if it was! So hard to find the a huge selection of lowcarb food like what is available in the states!

Yes, they're out of Ontario.

Editing to add: I just googled Pure Protein Cups and voila! http://www.pureprotein.net/pages/wheretobuy.aspx

Did they do the Nashua Nutrition diet as an alternative?

I am staring today and am going to just use alternative. I want to go on the Ideal Protein diet but just not in the budget right now. This board has so much information.

I just noticed that amazon.com has ProtiDiet products. Depending on the seller, some are available for free supersaver shipping. I ordered a couple of things to try out before I put in a huge nashua order!

If anyone is from Edmonton AB they have the pure protein cups at sweets and tweets on 50st. Theyy are sooo good I bought them the other day.