How much would you say being on ideal protein has cost you financially? Wondering if I can afford it or not. From what I understand you have to go into a clinic, how much are the visits? How often are the visits? How much is the food?

315 to start...that includes all your visits, 11 days of food, first month of vitamins, shaker, salt

then its about 85 a week for food

then the vitamins when you run out
It is very expensive but worth every penny in my opinion.
I've lost 18 lbs in 5 weeks

Wow... that is REALLY expensive! I'm sure it is absolutely worth it, but if you don't have the money you don't have the money :/ I've seen so many people on here lately with success stories on ideal protein. Congrats to you.

Mine was about the same. $300.00 to start and that covered the first 9 days of food and supplements, salt and shaker. It's $84.00 per week there after. I have not lost as fast as others. I am down 15lbs, but I am going on my sisth week. I do get frustrated with the expense if I don't lose that week, but I am one of those people who think it's all going to fall off...ya right! I'm not sure how long I can afford to stay on the program but I am hoping to for the next two months.

I don't know how much you've looked around the forums, but there are cheaper alternatives. There's a whole thread for alternatives. For example, instead of one of their packets, you can get EAS Advantedge Carb Control drinks. If you have a Sam's nearby they're probably cheapest there. You can get vanilla or chocolate for almost $28 for a 24 pack. If you like more flavors, places like Walmart and Target have them at almost $5 for a four pack. If you get comparable drinks from IP, they are $27 for a 6 pack of already-made or 7 pack of the powder. You can find pills and some protein packets on ebay also.

That's just one example though. You can read the thread for more.

It is kind of pricey but I look at it like this.....If i was to go out to eat it would be at least $10-$15 a meal and most of the time I was only eating once a day anyways. Now I eat 3 meals a day and a snack. When I go to the grocery store instead of spending $200 I may spend only $75 depending on what I need. Now I only have to worry about cooking ONE meal a day. I have lost 41 lbs and 49 inches in 8 weeks, its worth every penny. My mom is doing the alternative with the EAS drinks and has lost about 23lbs. My brother is also on IP and has lost 20lbs in 5 weeks. Its a great program!!

I think it's really expensive too, but I have to say that I'm lucky because I didn't have a whole lot to lose so I knew that I wouldn't have to be on phase 1 that long. I just consider it an investment in my health and plan to stick with the protocol so I don't have to go back and do it all over again.

It was worth it because being 50 the weight doesn't come off as easy anymore and even going to the gym everyday was not working for me.

I agree and would like to add:

So many threads bring up the cost of IP. Sigh.

Yes, in this tight economy and especially as part of a family, it's seems selfish to spend this money on ourselves.

But instead of looking at just the cost of IP, why not consider the COST of NOT making the decision to change your life by losing weight for good, getting healthy, and becoming and staying active, all while being an excellent role model for your family and friends?

With that perspective, you can easily see that it's more than worth every penny.

Mine was a $60 start up fee and then $110 a week after that. I quit going to a coach almost two months ago and it costs me about $30 a week I think. I buy for every two weeks and get my EAS shakes at Sams. Then I get supreme protein bars when I can find them, otherwise pure protien. I've also ordered from Nashua.

The alternatives thread is super helpful, I couldn't do this without it!

Mine was $300 to start that included the 1st 2 weeks of food ,then $75 a week

Yes, it is expensive -- but I have lost more weight in two weeks with IP than I lost in six months with another plan. I haven't cheated once and the plan really works. I'm 54, and as Susank2 said, the weight doesn't come off very easily anymore.

I thought about the alternative plans that are talked about, but I don't think it is really worth the risk of those other products not working.

I'm very happy with the results!

$195 to start. Enough packets of ALL unrestricted IP foods for 4 packets per day for a week (3 a day, plus 1 "emergency" packet), vitamins, salt, shaker. After that it's $84 per week. But my thoughts are, I could keep dumping my money into other weight loss things and keep failing or go with something that works. I eat better now that I have in a long time, and I make better choices on what things I do eat.

I like to think in terms of investment and value rather than cost.

While I am spending a fair amount of money up front ($713.00 for the first month, which includes an inventory of 59 packets of protein drinks that I have on hand). My weekly cost is $107 which includes the WI and three boxes of shakes plus any supplements I need. I thought I would have to pay for the additional supplements but today I was told no - they come with the package. I guess that is why I am paying more than some people on a weekly basis?

There are cheaper alternatives to the protein shakes and those are well documented in the threads. I personally use Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey powder. I like the double rich chocolate and the Chocolate malt - especially mixed with unsweetened Almond Milk. This powder is less than $1.00 per serving when buying in the 2 lb containers. It gets even cheaper in the 5 lb containers.

More than anything, I'm saving money on meals out and some meals in. And, I'm motivated to stay OP given my investment.

I spent &250 the first week which included all my consultations (weigh ins) as long as I'm on the program, my shaker, seasalt, vitamin packs, calcium/potassium supplement and my first week of food. Now I am paying $81 a week. Phase 2 is $56 a week and 3 is $27 a week. It's expensive but worth every penny. I feel great and haven't had this much confidence in years!

Mine is through my Chiropractor. 1st month was 420.00, that included all my food for 28 days, vitamins (multivitamin, potassium, magnesium, calcium), and a shaker. My second month was 390.00 and was for 28 more days of food and a few of the vitamins I was out of.

It is expensive but to lose 19 lbs in 28 days is worth it to me. I just cut things out of my budget to make room for the extra expense. The only things that I'm shopping for out of my food budget are veggies.

I wish you luck finding something that works for you. Post up your decision on the board.