I am SO lucky! My coach is a Physician's Assistant AND has been my good friend for over 20 years. She sees me at the very end of their workday so I don't miss work going to my appointment. So far, I weigh, get measured, have my blood pressure taken, and then we discuss my week and she looks at my food journal. I have my food picked out already and someone else puts it together.

She is so encouraging and I wish every one of you could have this same experience. Just remember YOU are the customer and it's not unreasonable to ask for the service you desire. Hopefully you have other options if your IP coach doesn't measure up. Vote with your feet and your dollars!

So jealous! I have been on the program since the beginning of June and have yet to meet the official coach. She only works 9-11 Tues and Thurs. The rest of the time she has a high school girl there. Last time I had to remind her to weigh me! Told her to forget measurements as she never does it in the same place.

Take advantage of your available coaches! And then pass on the helpful hints here for the rest of us

DW and I go together. Our clinic has one of the fancy scales you weigh barefoot on that spits out all kind of numbers, so we do that first. Then she does measurements and we talk about whats happened the past week. Our caoches name is Amy and she is very personable. She has been on IP so she understands what is going on and what we are going thru so her and DW's conversations get pretty intresting with all the women issues and stuff. We talk about recipes and what we like and don't like then pick our food for the next week. She lets us trade out packs we don't like and sometimes gives us some to try for a review.
Its actually pretty enjoyable especially when the scale is moving. We started back in January of this year and together we are down over 150lbs. (that means we have lost more tham my 15yr old weighs)

VOVO: Do you go to Ideal Northwest??

Mine is $28 a box.

How do they measure your BF% and hydration level?

Do you mind if I ask where you go?

Yep- our boxes went to $35/box. wow!

Darnit, I want those videos. Saw one last night and I wish my clinic subscribed.

I weigh in and they check with me about the week. They measure once a month or so. They're always available for questions by email too, but once I found 3FC, well, everything I need is here.

That is insane, $35/box? I have been faithful to this diet, but I wouldn't pay a penny over the $28/box. That is really an unfair price.

No, I'm at Alliance Seattle (on Eastlake). So far, I'm really happy with them and to me, it's worth the trek up.

My clinic is great! There are 2 coaches, but I usually see Darla, an RN. I believe she is also OP, though in maintenance now. The secretary & her husband are also OP. Everyone in the office is very nice. When I go in, I give her my food journal and she takes a couple minutes to look at it and ask questions if she has any. Then I get weighed, measured, BMI & fat mass checked on this hand-held thing, and she takes my blood pressure. All these are done every visit. In the beginning I said I wanted a copy of all the numbers each WI, so she gave me a chart like she uses to record all the numbers, and I just fill it in as we go each visit. (I have caught a couple of math mistakes as a result.) I ask any questions I may have. The food is all on shelving units in the waiting room, and I can pick out my own individual packets, then pay for them at the desk. They will also exchange if I have extras of any I don't like. Cost is $28 box, or for any 7 pgks.

I just had a WI today; I was weighed, measured, and I asked a few questions. I still feel like I'm missing out on something!

It sounds like most of us have similar experiences. WI includes stepping on the scale, getting measured, getting food and handing over money.

My coach is very personable and asks about my week, but has never looked at my food journal or even asked what I'm eating that's not IP. Blood pressure is checked once a month. Since I WI every other week, that's every other visit. (Think I'm going to ask that it be done at every visit.)

I've shared with him some of the recipes I've found on this forum. Usually he'd not heard of them before. Kind of makes me wonder.......

Ouch. I'd buy online.