I used 100 % IP products when I started, but the last time I have seen my coach and she was encouraging me to buy some products because they were going to be even more expensive than they were, I found myself in the impossibility to continue due to financial restriction and this is when I started looking for alternatives having learned from this site that many members had success with them.

So... please for all the members who have the luxury of buying the real IP, please do not exclude us out just because we cannot afford to buy the real thing.

Having said that, yes I do agree, we cannot say we are doing IP since we are not buying IP products, but still... we learnt from IP and are following exactly what IP preaches except with cheaper products.

It is really kind of like a fashionista woman who still has a sense of fashion, but cannot really afford to wear Prada, so she opts for some kind of similar style...

Well.... I think you know what I mean.

But, pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaase embrace us in, cause believe it or not, we would love to buy the real thing, it is just that we cannot.

I hope you would all understand what I feel.

Lets all take a deep breath.

The way I see it, Ideal Protein is two things at once. First, a weight loss protocol modified by Dr. Chanh from earlier low carb. protocols. His book describes the basics of the science behind the protocols.
Second, a diet marketing business with convenient, albeit high priced, prepackaged food items and a loosely arranged "coaching" network.

There is nothing magic about the IP food packets. They are convenient. They are easy to use in terms of following the protocol. But, to say that someone is not on "IP" because they use alternative products is not entirely accurate. One can follow the protocol without using the IP marketed products; it requires a certain amount of attention, to compare ingredients and portion sizes, but it is certainly not impossible.

I follow the IP protocol. I used a very restricted set of IP products at the outset and I still use the chocolate shake packets when I'm on the road and in hotels - they are simply the most convenient way to stay OP while traveling for an extended period. I have also been using alternate protein shake powder for several months as I find the IP branded products ridiculously expensive when there are equivalent products available.

Admittedly it is easier to stay on the IP protocol with IP branded products, but using the IP products does not guarantee you are on IP protocol (eating six bars a day, for example).

So, I really don't see the problem here, except for folks who want to be on the IP protocol without following the IP protocol regardless of what products they use.

Did any of that make sense? I hope so.

Stay Strong.

Originally Posted by wuv2bloved:
I don't think we are kicking anyone out of anywhere....we are all in it together. Sometimes its just hard for some of the newbies and they get confused when someone who is doing alternative post a food that is not on our sheet or allowed for us. Doing the alternatives have a lot more variety than we do, you for one know this. I do not think this was to alienate anyone

Wuv, I have a sincere admiration for your patience and kindness when you answer the same questions repeatedly (and don't tell people to just Google for their answers) as I've said privately and, now, publicly. But let me break this down. You, and you is a plural pronoun, "don't think we are kicking anyone out of anywhere." I'm sure you all don't. Regardless, perceptions differ. See the various responses. And I'm also sure there will/may be other responses to support your point of view. But the fact of the matter is LABELLING, when it presents an either/or proposition, is exclusive; segregating.

" Sometimes its just hard for some of the newbies and they get confused. . . ." Well, I can believe that. Consider the number of times people ON the program have said things like, Well, I don't eat lettuce but. . . . Or That's just my opinion, but, when it differs from IP protocol. Or the worst offender: talking about exercise, particularly cardiovascular, without qualification. Lord, give me strength!

But here's where we part company, you and I personally. "Doing the alternatives have a lot more variety than we do, you for one know this." I buy one 2.41K or 5.32 lb container of whey protein (because I'm allergic to soy) and have it 3 times a day religiously. While I was on IP products I lived on the butterscotch, non-soy, packets after I finally found out I was allergic to soy. 'nuff said.

Originally Posted by Linden:
I'm a little disturbed by the tenor of some of the posts here. Case in point: I used IP packets exclusively AND the IP supplements (which are FAR superior to any substitute) for 6 months, including an almost 3 month stall. This was the old program. No restricted, 5 oz meat, etc.

I have tried, unsuccessfully, to buy IP products on two trips back to the states. Once the IP people didn't answer my e-mails, e-mails plural. Once they sent me 2 names of coaches who were within 200 miles of where I would be. Neither was willing to sell me the product, one didn't answer the other would only accept me as a "new client" and weekly-participating client -- even though I was willing to spend about $1,000 dollars to get enough product to take back to Germany to try again. And that's just my personal experience. Others have had far worse from some of their IP coaches. Nonetheless, I truly believe in the program. And I have seen over and over again that the science works IF one follows the program.

Now, my real concern. This forum has always been welcoming and supportive; has been inclusive rather than segregating. While I have over and over again told people to use the IP products because I'm convinced that they are superior to anything else unless it is identical, superior in taste and, particularly, amino acids, I would be extremely uncomfortable excluding (or labelling) someone who doesn't use them. And, I might add, it dissolves better than other products; much better. (I wish to heaven I could get them. I wrote Steven's people in Finland to see if they would ship but they're still in trial mode.)

Regardless of my appreciation of the IP products , though, I am not prepared to make others, or myself, second class citizens if they, or I, follow the plan faithfully but use alternatives.

I sincerely hope some of you will re-think your, perhaps hasty, opinion.

I think Y Guy's initial suggestion was helpful and I dutifully added the relevant information without making a big deal of it. I will not, however, go back and revise it to say I am using alternatives because that, in no way, reflects my experience with the program or knowledge of it.

Thank you. I agree with what you have said 100%. :hug:


Honestly, as soon as I was allowed a signature after the 20 day probation, I DID add that I am using strictly alternatives. With that being said, do I still think I am following IP protocol? ABSOLUTELY. After weeks and weeks of research, I ordered products that I could get in Canada that match up nearly identical to the IP products. A bonus was that these products were also A LOT cheaper then IP products. I live in a remote location and I am unable to get IP products where I live so the opportunity for me to use IP products was never an option.

When I comment to any newbies in the "Newbies Unite" thread that I created, I ALWAYS state that I am using alternatives.

ETA - I sure hope the US vs THEM attitude dissipates because aren't we all here for the same reason anyways, to become healthier???

I am sorry if I caused anyone grief that was not my intentions at all. I have removed all of my post from this thread...again I am sorry if I offended anyone that was not my intentions

Originally Posted by Linden:
I'm a little disturbed by the tenor of some of the posts here. Case in point: I used IP packets exclusively AND the IP supplements (which are FAR superior to any substitute) for 6 months, including an almost 3 month stall. This was the old program. No restricted, 5 oz meat, etc.

I have tried, unsuccessfully, to buy IP products on two trips back to the states. Once the IP people didn't answer my e-mails, e-mails plural. Once they sent me 2 names of coaches who were within 200 miles of where I would be. Neither was willing to sell me the product, one didn't answer the other would only accept me as a "new client" and weekly-participating client -- even though I was willing to spend about $1,000 dollars to get enough product to take back to Germany to try again. And that's just my personal experience. Others have had far worse from some of their IP coaches. Nonetheless, I truly believe in the program. And I have seen over and over again that the science works IF one follows the program.

Now, my real concern. This forum has always been welcoming and supportive; has been inclusive rather than segregating. While I have over and over again told people to use the IP products because I'm convinced that they are superior to anything else unless it is identical, superior in taste and, particularly, amino acids, I would be extremely uncomfortable excluding (or labelling) someone who doesn't use them. And, I might add, it dissolves better than other products; much better. (I wish to heaven I could get them. I wrote Steven's people in Finland to see if they would ship but they're still in trial mode.)

Regardless of my appreciation of the IP products , though, I am not prepared to make others, or myself, second class citizens if they, or I, follow the plan faithfully but use alternatives.

I sincerely hope some of you will re-think your, perhaps hasty, opinion.

I think Y Guy's initial suggestion was helpful and I dutifully added the relevant information without making a big deal of it. I will not, however, go back and revise it to say I am using alternatives because that, in no way, reflects my experience with the program or knowledge of it.

Hi Linden, if my post is one of the ones you are referring to I am so sorry to have upset you or anyone else that was not my intention. My wanting to put "using IP products" in my profile wasn't to put IP users and Alternative users on a different level, as far as I am concerned we are all in this together doing the same protocol, all loosing weight only with different products. I just thought it would be easier when posting if we knew if it was IP or ALT products that was being used. I can also see where it is confusing for the new people when they start up and have questions as everyone is following IP protocol but using different products. Myself, I cannot remember who uses what products and so when reading a post for information or asking or answering questions, I just thought this would be a way of knowing by seeing it in their profile what they were using. I look forward to all the help and support on here and it doesn't matter to me what product anyone uses. Once again I am so sorry, I truly didn't mean to upset anyone with my post.
Weight loss and then maintenance is a tough journey, for me it will be a life time of watching myself very closely how I eat, and it is great to have all the help and support on 3FC. I plan on trying some alternative products someday, just to have some variety and I also drive 85 miles (160 round trip) to my clinic and buying alternatives would be more convenient for me.

I have the utmost respect for any and all of us who are on this program. It's easy to look over the fence and think the grass is greener on IP or greener on alternatives. The fact of the matter is... we are all on a very restrictive diet and it is confusing, especially when first starting out. We are all here to ask questions and support each other. I would like to see who uses alternatives and who uses strictly IP, not to point at anyone and say they aren't doing it right, but because if I have a problem or question about alternatives, I want to know who to ask about them. If I have a question about an IP product, I want to ask someone on IP. I am kind of a blended dieter. My clinic doesn't allow restricteds until phase 2. I am buying atkins advantage bars to use as an occasional restricted. I also have a friend who picks up a few restricted IP pkgs from her clinic for me. My husband just started this diet with me and is doing alternatives only. I may share some of my food with him and he will likely share some of his food with me. I don't think any less of any of us. We are all in this together. I don't think Wuv meant any disrespect when she made her suggestion. And Linden, I feel like you would be one of the people I would go to with alternative questions because I know you are on alternative products. It's no secret and no reason to feel shamed or for anyone to think less of you because you aren't on IP products. I wish sometimes I could go to strictly alternatives, sure would save some money, but I'm scared for a few different reasons. For now, I'm gonna stick with what I'm doing because it's working for me. Either way, I guess it's each members' personal choice what they put under there name. If you're on alternatives and rocking it, why now own it? Just my 2 cents! Love to all!

That got a little rocky :o I'm glad you all worked it out and your community spirit came through :) I'm going to go ahead and close.