I quit going to the MD office where I initially started IP. There was no support, and pretty obivious it was a money making thing for them. The nurse was more concerned about telling me how horrible she was doing on IP than answering my questions and giving guidance. She even told me at my last weigh in that only 6 pounds was okay (it was 2 wks between my weigh ins because I was out of town), but I was losing muscle mass and must not be eating my veggies. What?!?!

Anyone else ordering IP food (i use The Protein Store) and going at it alone (not completely alone because I have y'all), but you know what I mean?

Well i don't go to the clinic anymore but i still go there to buy my products. I told them that they don't have convinient hours for my WI and i know what i'm doing and if i have questions eventually, i'll make an appointment. They had no problems with that.

All of the people using alternative products instead of IP are doing it without coaches. You can get all of the information you need right here.

I used a coach for 12 weeks. She didn't take the program seriously. Says she cheats all the time, but when I didn't lose a least three pounds, what she felt was the minimum for everyone, she'd be sure I was cheating. She didn't like me reading this forum (it gives bad advice) and the recipes would impede my weight loss. I decided I didn't need all that and the high cost.

I've ready everything on this forum on alternatives and have ordered up lots of replacement food and I'll try it on my own. After all those weeks, I know what I'm doing. Besides, what I don't know, someone here can help me.

I've read where others talk about coaches that seem so very good and interested and knowledgeable. I'm glad for them. Too bad it cannot be like that all over.

I just started a couple days ago with the alternative products. We'll see how it works out.
Molly

This is my second time on IP and the first itme I used only IP, now I use 80% alternatives from www.nashuanutrition.com. There are others - this is one I picked up from reading the many messages on the "Alternatives" threads here. On those threads you'll find spreadsheets comparing all the nutritional data to IP and in the messages read which are truly identical, which are similar, which are quite different, etc.
I have lost an identical amount of weight this time. Although its possible I lost a little more now (meaning I traded more fat for muscle but the poundage appears to be the same) since I work out 5X/week now and didn't work out as much or as hard before.

My coach in my first location was OK - she was really just learning...In my new location, the coach is practically non-existent, often away, doesn't stock any food, lost my order the second week...so alternatives have worked out well for a few reasons. Saving 60%+ is also nice and I spent the extra money on a great, color pedometer, a body scanning scale, a new pair of earrings today...

I dumped my coach after two or three months. I, too, found more help here on 3FC than I did from my coach. Heck after the initial consultation I hardly saw him, his assistant would handle my WI and measurements. My main concern was losing the accountability---that's just my personality---I do better when I have to be accountable to someone and then I realized I am accountable to myself and to my wonderful husband to take the best care of myself that I can, to be healthy, and to be happy.

So with that being said, thanks to all the great supporters here on 3FC!

I think we both invested in an Omron body scanning machine around the same time. I love mine, and really like being able to monitor the various things it measures. Curiously, earlier this week while I was on a walking errand, I was thinking it might be nice to have a pedometer so I could be aware of my daily steps. Do you find that it motivates you to be more active? I'm doing Leslie Sansome's 'Walk Away The Pounds' program - watching the video and walking along with her inside, and I'm enjoying it... but it would be pretty easy to incorporate some outside walks too. I'm curious to know what pedometer you bought?

Almost forgot... to quote just a portion of another's post (as I did above) you can also just hit 'Post Reply'button... then right-click your mouse and drag and highlight the section of the post that you want to quote... then go to the window where we enter our message and look for the row of icons at the top rightside of the window... click on the one at the farthest left of the row. That brings up two [QUOTE][QUOTE] indicators right into your new message, and the cursor will be flashing between them... you then just right-click your mouse and paste the bit you've already highlighted where the cursor is... the bit you want to quote should then appear as a quotation in your new message. (That's a lengthy explanation - I hope it's follow-able.. LOL).

My husband and I started IP and got the enthusiastic rah-rah speech from the owner, the wife of a cardiac surgeon. We stayed with it for two months, weighing in about every 10 days. Never saw the owner again, always saw a different "coach," never got measured after the first time. It was pretty much the weigh-in, and then "What kind of packets would you like"? I asked for advice prior to going into Ph 3, and she handed me the printed protocol sheet - guess she had no advice to offer. We stopped going after that, and I discovered this site - getting much better information here than I ever got at the clinic!

I agree 3FC is the best with support and motivation, and I am so very happy to have found it. I wish I could log on more than 1-2 times a day to post, and read what everyone writes.

I was worried about not going in weighing in somewhere, so I text my weekly weigh ins to my mom. I have also started weighing each morning...it helps me to see the scale moving bit by bit and keeps me motivated.

I have to agree with Wuv about not getting on the scale every day. I did when I first started IP and when my weight went up before my official WI day I would stress about it the rest of the week. You don't have to quit cold turkey...start by weighing every other day, then every two days and work you way to just once a week. It really does take some of the stress out of losing weight. IMO

That's exactly what happened to me... I allowed myself to step on the scale during the weekend, only to find I'd gained a pound. Then I obsessed over it until today's WI. I 'only' lost a pound this time - WI #3 - but at least the scale is moving in the right direction now! And I won't create anxiety for myself by weighing between official WIs anymore. It's too hard on the nerves.

That really stinks that you are not having success with your coaches. I LOVE my coach. Granted I have not been doing this but a day but the person who is over the program I have known for years. He is NOT about making any money, just getting people healthy. He will actually look through files and make sure people are not cheating all the time and if you are he will boot you from the program. He is all about health.

My chiropractor office is my coach and said there were protocols they have to follow for cheaters. I cannot afford the packets so I will be going alternative. They said they will still weigh me weekly as part of my adjustment. They also said if I want to jump back in at phase2 or whenever they won't charge the initial set-up fee again.

It makes me sad to hear that some of you are not receiving the quality of care that Ideal Protein requires of their clinics. I urge you to contact IP to report any sub-par coaching. Ideal Protein is about helping people get healthy & educating to maintain your weight loss. Clinics will be closed if they are not properly coaching & supporting their dieters. Clinics have to qualify & train before being approved. IP requires continuous training for their coaches. Don't just quit the clinic, please report the clinic so that you can receive the best care possible. I am a coach & this really disappoints me to hear that people are not being coached properly. I strictly do this to help teach what I learned myself because IP changed my life for the better. I did not receive coaching when I was on IP & that clinic was shut down. Again, please report any clinics that are not properly training. I don't want to get anyone in trouble, but it is extremely important to me that IP is represented the way it is supposed to be. Thanks & continued luck to each of you that are in control of your health!!