Have you spoken to your coach about this? And were you given a sheet about which foods are restricted (for your 1 a day choice if you want) vs. the non-restrictives?
Its is great your coach gave you a variety your first week to try so that you arent stuck with a whole box of food you dont like at all.
Yes I have the sheet, I use it when i'm planning my day and write in my little diary thing what i've had and what I may or may not like for following weeks.
I was just curious as I had no idea how its done and really the only thing i was worried about was that it was 84 PLUS food! hah! As long as that's not the case i'll deal!
My coach gave me a starter kit the first week.
I am allowed to select individual packets but pay a "per box" price (21 packets = 3 boxes) I am charged the same for a dry packet or a RTD.
I was also allowed to trade packets from the starter kit that I didn't want for items that appealed more to me.
You might want to call and ask your coach some questions so you can go in ready to order. You'll need to know if you'll be choosing individual packets or whole boxes.
My coach also gave me an order sheet. Restricted items are highlighted in gray so I'm sure to not overdo those.
So, when I plan, I know I need
7 soups (that's my lunch),
5 dark chocolate puddings (or cappucino) for my spinach-coffee smoothie breakfast during the work week
2 "other packets" to make breakfast on the weekends (I like to make the banana-zucchini or Maple/oatmeal-zucchini pancakes or a veggie omelet)
7 snacks (some restricteds, some not)
My first week I got 28 packets (4 boxes) so I had extra. I think I used one extra one day. It's given me some "wiggle room" to have some variety in the house AND to have some of the collagen packets for if I choose to have one (Rasp. Jello or Blu/cran/pom). The weekly fee is for the food.
I also recently bought the EAS carb control vanilla RTD for my coffee cream so that I don't have to "spend" one of my IP meals on my coffee creamer. I use about a quarter of one box in coffee about four times per week.
It'll depend on your coach because on my first week, my husband got the week 2 set so we could compare and contrast so I made a draft of what I wanted to get the following week but my coach said I had to get the set week 2. They might let you do all the set weeks (1-4) and then you get to choose on your 5th week. Am not sure about this though, just basing it on my experience at the clinic.
WOW, how different places can be so different. This is like night and day. I am totally clueless as to what you are talking about when you say 'set weeks' I never got a 'starter pack' and never heard of 'set weeks' My first visit I was handed a piece of paper and told 'Pick what you want'. Suggestions were made, but not much. I had no clue to even ask if I could get individual packets. I still forget about that. I may need to take out that sheet and order 21 different things, just to make the coach work harder.
Anyway, to the OP, I guess it depends on your clinic/place on how to organize your orders. For the past month I have just been getting the RTD Chocolate Drink, RTD Mango, Box of Bars, EACH WEEK. I've become pretty tired of the same thing over and over so next week I will be shaking things up a bit.
WOW, how different places can be so different. This is like night and day. I am totally clueless as to what you are talking about when you say 'set weeks' I never got a 'starter pack' and never heard of 'set weeks' My first visit I was handed a piece of paper and told 'Pick what you want'. Suggestions were made, but not much. I had no clue to even ask if I could get individual packets. I still forget about that. I may need to take out that sheet and order 21 different things, just to make the coach work harder.
My coach did a "starter set" the first week...28 packets worth, equivalent of 4 boxes. It sounds like the "sets" the other person was talking about was something her coach dreamed up. You are so right about things being very different coach-to-coach
I really like variety, so I pick up extra boxes so I have lots of options - they'll all get used eventually, anyhow. We buy by the box, but then they have trade boxes where we can switch out packets. So, I might get a box of chocolate shakes, for example, and trade a few for soups of another flavor of shake.
I would go crazy if bought 3 boxes and had to eat those same 3 things all week long!!!
My clinic does not allow us to buy individual pkts. I wish they did. I have to buy a whole box of an item and then figure out if I like it. I have several things already that I have that I do not like at all and now I am stuck with them. Maybe we should start an envelope exchange! Probably not legal to do that tho. Oh well...I did just try the choc chip cookies. Love them! Was surprised that they are not restricted.
My clinic does not allow us to buy individual pkts. I wish they did. I have to buy a whole box of an item and then figure out if I like it. I have several things already that I have that I do not like at all and now I am stuck with them. Maybe we should start an envelope exchange! Probably not legal to do that tho. Oh well...I did just try the choc chip cookies. Love them! Was surprised that they are not restricted.
Start a trade thread! I traded with a couple of people b/c I can get individual packets and they had to get boxes. What don't you like? Maybe somebody can help you figure out a hack to like them.
My first two weeks, they gave me a weekly meal plan & no duplicate packets so I could try a bunch of things. I kept a list of what I liked & hated, and used that to choose 7 restricted & 14 unrestricted packets. This week has been awesome; no nasty soups, and all things I like
I pay a weekly rate--$72. We get a discount for being the first group at this clinic.
The ridges are my favorite. BBQ & salt and vinegar. Mmmmm.
My clinic does not allow us to buy individual pkts. I wish they did. I have to buy a whole box of an item and then figure out if I like it. I have several things already that I have that I do not like at all and now I am stuck with them. Maybe we should start an envelope exchange! Probably not legal to do that tho. Oh well...I did just try the choc chip cookies. Love them! Was surprised that they are not restricted.
The chocolate chip cookies are DEFINITELY restricted...they have the most carbs out of all of the IP products.
My clinic included the first week of food when we started the program, with all different products so I could try different things. We have the option to buy individual packets or whole boxes. When I started researching the program I knew the food would be pricey but I definitely need variety - so I saved up a big chunk of money and bought a lot of different boxes after my first week.
The trickiest thing for me was making sure I have twice as many UNrestricted items than restricted - the restricteds are SO yummy and it's tempting to keep a lot around. I do a spreadsheet every week of all of my meals, and I set everything up ahead of time (the night after my WI) so all I have to do is grab the baggie of packets for that day and go. That way I also keep close tabs on my restricted items!
OMG....chocolate chip cookies are restricted??? My coach said that they are not!!! Sometimes I would like to turn my coach in for lack of coaching and knowledge.
iwiggy - Try adding 1 - 2 cups of sauteed veggies to the chili - This helps you get your veggies in and it's pretty tasty. I like zucchini, mushrooms, pepper, or whatever I have left for dinner. This way it really seems like a pretty hearty meal.
