How about supplements?? Can people share what they are taking for supplements if they are doing all alternatives?? I'm going to be starting IP without actually going to a clinic and would love to know what supplements people have been taking that work for them.

This is probably a stupid question but I am new to this diet. I also have bought a large tub of whey protein and am not sure if I should be using one scoop or two when using it as my lunch along with vegetables. Can anyone help me with this?? Also, what is considered low carbs? One of them has 7 carbs per serving, is this too much?

My WI for week 4 is on Monday but as of last Monday have lost 17 lbs on alternative IP diet. I have 3 Advantedge Shakes a day (yummy on the Dark Chocolate at Walmart), I drink 5 quarts of water a day (with MIO drops), meat with dinner (2 c veggies at lunch and dinner), salad with Walden Farms dressings. I think that the supplements that I use have also helped in the weight loss. I only weigh once a week.

7 carbs is unrestricted.

You want 15g protein per "IP meal replacement" meal, so breakfast, lunch, snack. At least 30g of protein with dinner (so if you were in a bind, that would be two IP/Alternative products.

As low in fat as you can get, my powders are 3g or so.

Supplements are hard. You'll have to take several different ones to get the same/close amounts in the IP ones. It's really research you have to do on your own.

Thank you!!

I am doing alternative IP. I went to the initial consultation, bought vitamins and omega III, one week of supplements and then turned around, running away clinching my purse to my chest. Ouch, $$$, I could not afford to stay on the endorsed IP program.

I am not endorsing that this is correct but what I calculated is an equivalent of the IP Supplements, I use the following daily:

In morning
1 Multi Vitamin-Sams Club
8 Potassium (99 mg)-Sams Club
1 Vitamin E (1000 IU)-Sams Club
1 Magnesium (400 mg)-Vitacost.com/Free Shipping
1 B-12 (1000 mcg)-Vitacost.com/Free Shipping
1 Vitamin C (500 mg) - Sams Club
1 Fish Oil (1000 mg which includes 300 mg of Total Omega-3 Fatty Acids)- Sams Club

Lunch
1 Fish Oil (1000 mg which includes 300 mg of Total Omega-3 Fatty Acids)- Sams Club

Dinner
1 Multi Vitamin-Sams Club
1 Calcium which includes D3 for absorbtion (600 mg)-Sams Club
1 Magnesium Citrate (400 mg)- Vitacost.com

Snack
1 Calcium which includes D3 for absorbtion (600 mg) - Sams Club
1 Magnesium Citrate (400 mg) - Vitacost.com

**Guesstimate**By buying supplements in bulk from a wholesale club and the internet (rather than a health food store), I figured I save $346 for the weight I have to lose.
Ideal Protein Vitamins $540
My Diet Vitamins $194

Wow! That's a lot of pills! I've been doing alternatives and just take one "woman's complete multi" several potassium throughout the day, and one calcium/D.
I track my vitamins and my food on "my fitness pal" app. You can just scan the bottles. I've never been a vitamin taker until this diet.

I haven't been a vitamin taker either. It is a lot of pills to swallow, pun intended

Thank you both Blueskywyoming and Ugh73, this will really help me work out something that will work for me. My biggest concern was not getting enough potassium.

How about using the http://shopforprotein.com/supplements/ website? You can order the regular IP supplements there, including the potassium.

If I eat a bar is that in place of one of the packets??

That was my concern also because I drink 5 quarts of water a day but I have not had any problem, I believe because of the supplements that I take.