Can you buy the products without "joining"
 

Just wondering if you can buy the produts online without having a coach? I am a little leary of paying that 307.00 joining fee. Just wondering....
Linda

You can use alternative products plus there are links to websites which sell IP products w/o the investment in a coach. Alternatives cost 1/3 -1/2 the price of IP and in my opinion, having done both, work equally well.

Read through the stickies and pick up the dietary requirements per phase as well as the "alternatives" threads. I use alternatives after a less than positive experience with an IP clinic and use www.netrition.com and www.nashuanutrition.com to buy products. If you are in Canada, you have other/more choices, I'm in the US. Watch your supplements very carefully and adhere fully to all IP requirements. Alternatives take more time initially since you need to read and learn, but I found it interesting so didn't mind that at all.

I use alternative products from Nashua and Lindora, but you can also buy the IP products at plainprotein.com.

Does anyone have any recommendations for some of these places?

Yes! I would also be interested as it cost me about $65 for shipping and import duties. Then fedex lost my package in my city. Should get it tomorrow... sigh!

You can get the 'branded' IP products and supplements at plainprotein.com without going through a coach, but the Alternatives are cheaper.

I think there's also something called Ideal on the go or IP on the go that's "official" -- I don't know if there's a starting cost though.

I've read about people in Canada using lowcarbgrocery.com for their alternative products (I think).

Thanks for the help
 

Thanks for the help.. I will check out these sites. Does anyone have a favorite flavor? Lol
Linda

One thing to remember - the "joining fee" usually includes your first week of food (about $85-100 worth of product), your shaker bottle (about $7), sea salt ($5 at their price), your necessary IP supplements (Potassium-Calcium, Calcium-Magnesium, and Multivitamin - worth about $55 or so. So a bit more than half of that fee is just startup product.

I've been switching gradually over to alternatives, but the supplements are something I will only get the IP version - particularly the Potassium-calcium, I have yet to find something commercially available that is the same FORM (and form does matter, it affects how your body processes the nutrients).

Assuming you prefer to go to a clinic, you can also call another clinic and "price shop".
Check what their start up fee is (and what it includes--some include 11 days of food, some 7) what a typical product fee is, their hours.
Ask if they are running any September "Back to School" specials.
Otherwise, the on-line and alternative options offer you some choices, too.

The following website ships free to Canada on orders over $99; http://www.proteinwell.ca/diet-foods...FcHJKgodenewcA

I am in the Ottawa area of Ontario and after doing the program thru a spa where I had to book an appointment every week for weight-in and measurements, I found a Jiu-Jiustu studio that sells the IP products to anyone who walks in, at a slightly cheaper rate than the spa. If you haven't done so already, Google the IP distributors in your area and call around and ask if you must join in order to purchase the products.

Hope this helps

I'm in Ontario, and have been using alternative products since I switched over after 1 week on IP. Like vvei, the shipping costs (and custom tariff) on ordering products from the USA got to me, and apart from one 'across border' order I've just bought from sources in Canada. My blog http://diettalktoday.com/ focuses on helping those who want to go the 'alternative route' - you may find it useful. I give my sourcing info under the tab called 'Selecting Alternative Products'. This is still a work-in-progress... unfortunately this past week I've been so busy I haven't been able to add much to it. But there's still lots of info there that should be useful to you.

The easiest one to use in Canada is proteinwell.ca
The low carb grocery is good too but has a very wide variety of products for different types of plans so I found it harder to fiqure out what I needed there at first but I do use it now.

Pat

Check carefully whether your joining fee includes food, supplements, etc. Mine did not - still cost $300. and the coach knew far less than the seasoned folks on this board.

the ready to drink chocolate are YUMMY !


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