I am still waiting for my new alternatives. Last week lost 3 pounds.

Originally Posted by patns:
I didn't realize that Shopper's Drug mart had proidiet products. i will have to check more closely next time I'm in.

I'll also have to check Drs Best weight loss site.

A very interesting article on sugar alcohols. I find the bars with higher sugar alcohols give me the a strong aftertaste so I avoid them.

Pat

Hi Pat. Just a note that I was able to find a couple of different types of Protidiet bars at Shoppers Home Drug - nothing else. I could have easily overlooked them, but was picking up different protein bars to check the nutrition labels, etc., and luckily happened to notice them. But as I also found Atkins shakes, that got me equipped for a few days. BTW, I 100% agree with everyone who says the Protidiet bars are tasty! Yum! :carrot: (I'm doing a happy dance with Mr. Carrot :) ...my problem will be in wanting to eat more than one). My Omron scale was delivered earlier this am, along with my other protein drink mix... I chose a Natural Factors Whey Factors High Protein Formula, which includes BCAAs and is BSE & rBGH free. Seems to have lots of good health benefits, as well as fitting very well within the profile of what we need to be IP 'shake compatible'. Had a chocolate one for breakfast this morning. It was quite good, but it worked out best to put it in the blender. Didn't mix all that well in my shaker cup. But I don't need them to be portable anyway, so it's no big deal for me. More important to me that they have a good nutrition profile as per 'suitable alternatives' and TASTE good! (Now I've got to figure out how to use my fancy new Omron BHF body composition scale.... :)

I learned quite a bit from that article about sugar alcohols... many things that I wasn't aware of, and will certainly know better to watch out for now.

Have a great day.

ProtiDiet Peanut Butter and Smooth Caramel Crisp
 

I know I've already given my opinion on the Proti Diet Peanut Butter and Smooth Caramel Crisp bars and how much I love them but I had to fill you guys in again. They've changed! And are even better! Before they were a bit hard and had a lot of the "crisp" but were still my favorite out of all the ones i've tried. The 10g of fiber helps. Now, they are more like a snickers bar with a bit of chewiness to them. YUM!! I strongly recommend them! I ordered 3 boxes today so i'm stocked up :)

Originally Posted by evepet:
Hi guys. Haven't posted in a day or two, so thought I'd give an update. :)
I decided on the weekend that I was going to switch over to the alternative products, due to the cost. I found my local Shoppers Drug Mart carries some ProtiDiet products, so I got some of those, as well as some Atkins shakes to tide me over for a few days. I prefer some of the other products I found through Doctors Best Weight Loss... lots of items there that are appropriate IP program alternatives. They've been shipped already, and hopefully I'll get my 'stash' today. I've also bought an Omron HBF 514C body composition scale, so I'll be able to track my progress at home.

Like everyone else who is going the alternate route, I've been paying very careful attention to ingredients and carb/protein/fat/sugar/calorie etc. in order get alternate products that are as close a fit as possible to the IP plan. In reviewing labels and ingredients, I found myself a little confused about the true 'net carb' worthiness of sugar alcohols, so did some further research. I'm glad I did... it's info that's very useful.

I came across this article which talks about 'net carbing' and the impact of various types of sugar alcohols, glycerine, polydextrose, etc. I was aware of some of this info, but this article really goes into detail and is very informative. Some of you may find it useful.

Cheers to all, and I hope everyone here is having a good OP 'Alternate IP' program day.

http://www.mendosa.com/netcarbs.htm

Eve,
Great article! I'm very interested in learning as much as I can about carbs so I/m well prepared at phase 4. It really helps me have discipline when I understand the "why" its particularly good for my body. I used to have an all over achiness and stiffness as well as arthritis starting in my spine and feet. Still there but since I started IP, well, perhaps around week 3 or 4, I started noticing the absence of discomfort and it keeps getting better.

I bought the same scale - hope it gets delivered in the next day or two.

Originally Posted by Chloe222:
Eve,
Great article! I'm very interested in learning as much as I can about carbs so I/m well prepared at phase 4. It really helps me have discipline when I understand the "why" its particularly good for my body. I used to have an all over achiness and stiffness as well as arthritis starting in my spine and feet. Still there but since I started IP, well, perhaps around week 3 or 4, I started noticing the absence of discomfort and it keeps getting better.

I bought the same scale - hope it gets delivered in the next day or two.

ITA. When I understand "why" it's important to do something, I'm much more apt to see things through. I also have some arthritis in my feet, and over the past couple of years have had arthritic-like pain in my knees as well. I've been trying on my own to cut out sugar and starches for the past year or so and it has helped a lot with that joint pain. I'd also been eating relatively gluten-free since January '12, but it's not my utmost priority at this point. But while my aches and pains have decreased, my 'solo' efforts at cutting sugar/carbs/gluten haven't budged the scale downward, so I figured I'd better do something more disciplined. I don't want to be at this same place ( or worse ) a year from now, which is entirely possible if I don't get serious and follow-through with this.

I've figured out how to use my Omron scale .. it's not that complicated when you follow the instructions - :D - so I'm going to post my first WI results. I've gone from 209lbs to 202.4lbs. :carrot::carrot: Some of my other measurements on the Omron are pretty eye-opening... that's actually the main reason I went for the more 'comprehensive' full body composition scale ...I thought seeing viscereal fat, body fat %, muscle %, body age etc. would help motivate me to stick the long haul with this. It makes everything somehow more serious.

I officially told my clinic today, that I am starting alrenatively as of monday. I won't be weighing in with them from now on. I have 4 days left of IP Products. I did a lot of compare shopping over the past few days at the walmarts here in town and costco, now I need to look at shoppers for products. But even so for the amount I was paying weekly on IP Products, I can get 18 Days worth of alternative product for about $12-14 cheaper. For me that makes it a whole lot more worth it in the end. I will be spending my money a lot wiser. I just hope it works for me as it has been for all of you. I do not own a scale so that'll be something I will have to purchase.
Today I was only down 1.2 which was kind of depressing, I am so close to being under 200 I can hardly stand it.
But let this journey begin!!!

Just an FYI for those of you that use the Muslce MLK shakes from Costco. This week there is a coupon for $5.50 off..........

Posting re using alternative product
 

I'm just wondering if it's preferred that those of us who've opted to go the alternative product route, do all of our posting here? ie. including WIs, etc.?
I've only been around for 1.5 weeks, so 'inquiring minds want to know'. I don't want to go where I'm not wanted! :D:p

Originally Posted by evepet:
I'm just wondering if it's preferred that those of us who've opted to go the alternative product route, do all of our posting here? ie. including WIs, etc.?
I've only been around for 1.5 weeks, so 'inquiring minds want to know'. I don't want to go where I'm not wanted! :D:p

I think it is a good idea, to do it here. :)

Originally Posted by evepet:
I'm just wondering if it's preferred that those of us who've opted to go the alternative product route, do all of our posting here? ie. including WIs, etc.?
I've only been around for 1.5 weeks, so 'inquiring minds want to know'. I don't want to go where I'm not wanted! :D:p

Evepet, you can post anywhere you would like. We just try to keep the confusion down. Are you on the Easter challenge? its a spreadsheet where we post our WI's weekly and it keeps your totals running for 2 months at a time. You can see how everyone is doing.

Originally Posted by CassiR:
I know I've already given my opinion on the Proti Diet Peanut Butter and Smooth Caramel Crisp bars and how much I love them but I had to fill you guys in again. They've changed! And are even better! Before they were a bit hard and had a lot of the "crisp" but were still my favorite out of all the ones i've tried. The 10g of fiber helps. Now, they are more like a snickers bar with a bit of chewiness to them. YUM!! I strongly recommend them! I ordered 3 boxes today so i'm stocked up :)

It was the ProtiDiet Peanut Butter bar that I bought a couple of days ago at my local Shoppers Drug Mart. Absolutely yummers. Can't believe this is part of a *diet*. :D:D

Originally Posted by wuv2bloved:
Evepet, you can post anywhere you would like. We just try to keep the confusion down. Are you on the Easter challenge? its a spreadsheet where we post our WI's weekly and it keeps your totals running for 2 months at a time. You can see how everyone is doing.

Wuv, no I wasn't aware of the Easter Challenge. I'm pretty new here and hadn't noticed it as yet. Thanks for the info.

Originally Posted by lindsayk86:
I think it is a good idea, to do it here. :)

Thanks Lindsay. :):)

Originally Posted by evepet:
Wuv, no I wasn't aware of the Easter Challenge. I'm pretty new here and hadn't noticed it as yet. Thanks for the info.

Thanks Lindsay. :):)

Well here is the link to it!
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...0SXp4Wnc#gid=0

Originally Posted by CassiR:
I know I've already given my opinion on the Proti Diet Peanut Butter and Smooth Caramel Crisp bars and how much I love them but I had to fill you guys in again. They've changed! And are even better! Before they were a bit hard and had a lot of the "crisp" but were still my favorite out of all the ones i've tried. The 10g of fiber helps. Now, they are more like a snickers bar with a bit of chewiness to them. YUM!! I strongly recommend them! I ordered 3 boxes today so i'm stocked up :)

How do you eat just one? They sound so good, I'm afraid to order them!

Originally Posted by evepet:
ITA. When I understand "why" it's important to do something, I'm much more apt to see things through. I also have some arthritis in my feet, and over the past couple of years have had arthritic-like pain in my knees as well. I've been trying on my own to cut out sugar and starches for the past year or so and it has helped a lot with that joint pain. I'd also been eating relatively gluten-free since January '12, but it's not my utmost priority at this point. But while my aches and pains have decreased, my 'solo' efforts at cutting sugar/carbs/gluten haven't budged the scale downward, so I figured I'd better do something more disciplined. I don't want to be at this same place ( or worse ) a year from now, which is entirely possible if I don't get serious and follow-through with this.

I've figured out how to use my Omron scale .. it's not that complicated when you follow the instructions - :D - so I'm going to post my first WI results. I've gone from 209lbs to 202.4lbs. :carrot::carrot: Some of my other measurements on the Omron are pretty eye-opening... that's actually the main reason I went for the more 'comprehensive' full body composition scale ...I thought seeing viscereal fat, body fat %, muscle %, body age etc. would help motivate me to stick the long haul with this. It makes everything somehow more serious.

Very nice weight loss!

I look forward to getting my scale - received confirmation just today it had shipped - I hoped it would have shipped last week when it was ordered, but it will be here soon, in time for my next weigh in.