The supplements from IP are getting expensive, so I'm switching to One a day multivitas and some potassium calmag or something like that.. would that be okay?

I use alternative suppliments. Although, I am fairly new to IP and do not know what my losses would have been with IP suppliments, I feel good about my 13lb lost in two weeks.

I use alternative supplements too....

Oh! Okay, I was just wondering if it mattered what brand. That's great. Thanks guys. Good luck on your journey.

Thanks for this thread!! I was just wondering about this exact thing yesterday!! I had alternative bottles in my basket and put them back because I started worrying that if they weren't exactly the same it might make a difference on the scale!! Glad to know it is ok...Thanks!!

I too was wondering if I can use alternative supplements. Does anybody like a specific brand or do you just get whatever is the cheapest? I thought I would go to GNC or Vitamin Shoppe and see what they have.

Both my wife and I use alternative supplements.
We have the men's and women's one a day and I have the spring valley, Cal/Mags and Potassium and I have not noticed a difference at all.
Other than I have to take half as many cal/mags to get the same amounts and they are a third of the cost.

I mine at different places, Cal/Mags at Amazon, One a Day at Costco/Sams Club and the potassium at Wal-Mart. Most expensive was the One a Days at Costco and they were 250 for $13 instead of 100 for $25.

I also use alternative supplements. I work in the pharmacutical industry and there is nothing special about IP supplements. Just make sure you choose your brand wisely. There is a difference in quality.

I'm not sure if you are a pharmacist or not but thought you could provide some insight.

The IP Cal Mag has the following ingredients (took 2 at supper, 2 at snack)
Each tablet contained:
Calcium Citrate 750 mg (equivalent to 150mg of elementary calcium x4 = 600mg)
Magnesium citrate 469mg (equivalent to 75 mg of elementary magnesium x4 = 300 mg)
Zinc citrate 16mg (equivalent to 5mg of elementary citrate x4 = 20mg)

I've substituted the IP Cal Mag for Jamieson Calcium Magnesium (take 4 at supper & 4 at snack)
Each caplet contains:
Calcium 333 mg
Magnesium 167 mg
Zinc - zero

Did I make the right calculations?
Kind of confusing with the reference of "citrate" and "elementary"

Thanks for any help you can provide
If you are not sure just let me know and I will see if someone else can help out

thanks

I also use alternative supplements. The only thing I learned is to makesure the supplements are not synthetic based but natural. Otherwise the supplements have very little value and go right through you.

I use alternatives and they work just fine for me. The one supplement that you really do need to spend money on for good quality is the fish oil supplements. I buy Ultimate Omega by Nordic Naturals. They do run about 25.00 for a 60 count (the Mercedes brand of fish oil). A lot of fish oil pills can become rancid (don't waste your money on the solid pills, you need the capsule kind) and you really do need a good quality.

Hi can you please tell me the brand(s) you are using as alternative? Thanks

My Doc told me that the mass produced stuff isn't very good and that taking "One a Day" and similar barely makes a dent. I have no idea if IP supplements are of any better quality though. I'm pretty sure it's not as black and white as we would like it to be though. I did find this:

http://www.supplementquality.com/z_a.../chelated.html