Hey all. Today I decided to bite the bullet and switch to alternatives. I feel comfortable knowing the do's and donts of IP and I just can't justify the expense when so many on here have been so successful at half the price.

So here's my question...for those of you on alternatives, I can't seem to find a good thread that talks about which vitamin supplements are comperable to IP's supplements. PLEASE HELP. This is the one alternative area of IP that I'm unsure of. Your help is appreciated!

There is tons of information on the boards but it's difficult to get a consensus on the correct vitamins. Although lots people on alternatives recommend you still take the IP vitamins, they're super expensive.
Someone posted this link on one of the discussions and I came across it when I was doing my research (http://www.centsablediet.com/vitamins.htm).

The easiest is potassium citrate 99mg, can be found at most stores.
I still take the IP multi and I am intrested in what the new IP omega 3 Pill Stats are (apparently 2 a day now) as I havent seen them yet.

I've just done this research - I looked at all the ingredients and when there was a difference, say in calcium, I looked up what the word after meant and determined what impact it had on the vitamin itself. I used http://www.luckyvitamin.com/
and here's the alternatives I came up with:
111711
Bluebonnet Nutrition - Calcium Magnesium Softgels - 120 Softgels $15.96

52783
Nutricology - Potassium Citrate - 120 Vegetarian Capsules $7.63

108523
Good 'N Natural - Omega 3-6-9 Flax, Fish & Borage Oil with Evening Primrose Oil - 120 Softgels $8.97

101552
Solaray - Spectro Woman Multi-Vita-Min - 120 Capsules $20.96

I purchase supplements from swanson vitamin online. I just looked up different ones and picked what I thought matched up the best. They have great prices and wonderful quality. I think it is just a matter of preference for some, and convenience. I have used non IP supplements since around the end of June or July and all seems to be going well. Just keep an eye on how you are feeling. I have googled symptoms that seemed to crop up occasionally and determined when I needed to adjust. For example, sorry if this is TMI but I was having very loose stools and determined it was too much magnesium, so I decreased my dose and everything straightened out. I think it's a matter of listening to your body.

Good luck. I too could not afford to continue with high priced IP foods. I have been successful in reaching my goal and have been maintaining since around the middle of October, or so. You can totally do this!

ecdslim: For all of those vitamins/supplements, what was the frequency you took them? One a day? Twice?
This is such a great question and I too have been in search of comparative vitamins, thank you so much fo rthe leg work.

You guys are so great. Thank you for all of your input.

I just placed a lucky vitamin order. Whoo hoo!

I can't remember for each pill but took the dosage that's on the IP vitamins and matched it against the recommended dosage on the alternatives.