The first 2-3 weeks I tried a little of everything trying to find out what I liked best. I now drink a chocolate RTD for breakfast and one for lunch.

So I don't have any of the other packets (I would in a pinch) and I have a bar about everny other day, some days I am just not hungry for it and making myself eat it makes me feel sick. I do not think any of it has altered my weight loss considering I lose 2-5 lbs every week (on week 9 now)

I am like Sonyasbug where I occassionally have 2 egg whites for breakfast or lunch, I have found out during that TOM I need that extra otherwise I am starving (even with a bar every day)

I think this sounds like a good approach. I may start doing this myself! Thanks for sharing.

I'm with you on the food packets being "yuck" for me - first time I tried to eat the omelet, I thought I wouldn't be able to keep it down. A couple of the others are "okay", but I'd rather do the chocolate drink than most of the food items.

My coach was fine when I started just getting the chocolate drinks as packets -- she seemed to think it didn't matter which packet you used, you would still be following the program and losing weight.

Best of luck and welcome to the group!

Do not get me started on this.

I think the pasta is unrestricted according to my clinic, but they added it to the restricted side.

According to them, the jello counts as a non-restrictive period. I listen to people on here more than them, truth me told.

My IP packets choices have changed since I 1st started. My list of non-restricts I don't like is growing. I love all the drinks, even the pina colada and I never liked pina colada. But I am starting to back off from the puddings and soups. Totally in to the chicken noodle and creamy chicken soup right now.

Used to love the omelettes, but now I don't use them as much.

Love a lot of the restricted ones. I use them as my treat at night.

thank you thank you for all of your support and advice!

I tried the omelette on it's own and wasn't that impressed. I have been adding what equals to 2 egg whites (usually 1/3 cup of All White egg whites) to the mix and it fluffs up into what I think is a great-tasting omelette. It has a much better texture and helps me get a bit extra protein since my vegetarian protein options tend to be a little on the lower side.

You can buy the collagen as a supplement also. It is a liquid and comes in different flavours but I have only had raspberry. One tablespoon a day I was told not to count but you can take four per day to replace one pack.

My sister did IP with only drinks and lost 72 lbs. I love the bars, soy puffs and crispy cereal as a pancake. The rest is drinks for me.

The collagen supplement is not available in the US, but yes Canadian IP users can get it in that way Collagen is the primary protein source in the jello packet and it is NOT a complete protein. Whey and soy proteins are the primary sources for most other IP packets, and those ARE complete proteins. You should be using the jello packets as an "Extra" or fourth packet and not as one of your primary 3 packets, simply because you're going to be missing out on essential amino acids.

I use the 2 "free" egg whites per day often when I know I'll be very active, or on days when I am hungrier than usual. It's a nice boost when I need it!

Just to add my 2 cents... I also don't like a lot of the foods, too much soy aftertaste. I've lost ~100 pounds, mostly using the vanilla and chocolate drink boxes... I usually did have my one restricted as I also like some of the bars, but most of the foods in general I didn't like... So yes, you can pick out just what you like and work with that... Good luck

Definitely agree with this, the different coaches making up their own rules drives me bat@&#$ crazy!...

I was wondering if some of the original posters were taking the egg whites instead of the pkgs and not realizing they are actually an add on.

I think a huge plus of having the restricted everyday is that your body gets used to having a bit of carbs everyday and does not get a huge shock during the phasing out and maintenance stages. After all it is not really about how quickly we get the weight off but how we set ourselves up mentally and physically to maintain our new weight when we are done.

Cutting things out from the program really sets you up for instant regain in maintenance once you start to add things back.

To answer the original question, yes it is possible to do the program using just the drinks, many people do that. But choosing the lowest carb options all the time may lead to difficulty later when you go back to regular food.
If you are using just drinks a good plan would be to focus on really getting good at preparing a wide variety of veggies because that is a skill that can make all the difference in sucessfully maintaining.

Pat

Right on!!! You know how this works. Congradulations on your wonderful success.

Pat

I agree! One of the important things to do is keep as much variety as possible so your carbs, fat and calories (even though we are not counting) are not always exactly the same. Many diets follow that fluctuation principle so your body doesn't adjust to your lower count eating pattern. So variety in veggies and meats will be very important if you don't vary your IP products. It will also help you to keep from getting bored.