Hi there...I have started IP 5 days ago and my coach told me I could have 1 protein bar per day, but I was reading more about restricted foods and it says that you could only have 2 bars during the first week. I also have not noticed nuch difference in my weight despite me following the rules meticuliously...I cant buy any different IP meals until tomorrow. Should I skip the bar today (since that's one of my 3 IP meals) and replace it with regular protein food?

My coach said none until week 3, but several on here have been OK'd since day 1. Depends on your coach

yup, seems to depend on the coach...mine says every other day is ok....

My sister and I started a little over a week ago and we were never told we coudn't have the bars everyday. In fact they gave us a couple extra bars the first week and told us to to go ahead and eat half of one during those rough spells to help us get through them. (Nothing extra the second week though!)

I was allowed 2 restricted my first week, 3 the second week and 5 per week thereafter. It does seem to vary quite a bit between coaches.

I have been having 1 restricted every day since day 1. It definitely varies coach to coach.

Thank you very much! I feel better now that i know that i am not the only one who was told that they were ok during the first week. I think I'm gonna buy another meal tomorrow though and use it instead of the bar for the remainder of the week...

When I very first started my coach did not explain to me that we could have only one restricted a day so for the first month I was having 2 restricted daily. When I found I was doing it wrong I switched to only having one restricted a day and that week I gained .6 its was weird. But that was the ONLY gain I have had so far!

I have one bar a day. Well, sometimes I only have half if I can't get the whole thing down.

i eat one restricted per day...and have consistently lost weight..i would say if you have only a few pounds to lose..you hold off..but if you have lots to lose..it might help to have the extra carb content..

Interesting reading here! I have my first weigh in tomorrow. I just realized my coach didn't even offer the bars as an option for the week. But I did get some restricted such as the salt and vinegar things. She did say only one a day. When I was reading this thread I went back and checked the protocol sheet. It did say it is suggested no restricted for the first 2-3 weeks.
Pat

Restricted Foods - only 1 of the following Ideal Protein envelopes are permitted per day; All Bars, All Soy Puffs, Chili,
Oatmeal, Pancakes, All Soy Nuts, Muffins, Salt and Vinegar Ridges, (Hearty Beef Stew & Spaghetti are permitted a maximum
of 2 times per week). Please note: it is strongly recommended that no restricted foods are consumed during a dieter’s first
2-3 weeks for maximum results.

That sheet has been recently updated and if I remember correctly (I don't have it infront of me at the moment) the last part about the first 2-3 weeks was dropped.

Bars were included in my 2 week starter package and I was never told I couldn't have one everyday (I don't really like any of them so it wasn't an issue for me)

At my first weigh in, I told my coach I wasn't eating any restricteds. She wasn't happy, and actually told me that I need to eat 1 per day to prevent cravings. It's obvious now that it depends on the coach, but I still only eat about 3-4 restricteds per week.

It definitely varies...I have 2 shakes and 1 bar every day, since day one. I don't have any of the other food packets. They put me on this since day one and I am still doing it lol. I would stick to what your coach says, but ask lots of questions. A lot of the time I read things on here and take it back to them for advice.