Well I have just finished my first week on IP and I have lost 10 lbs! Although I am very happy with the results I have made the decision to switch over to protidiet! Since it is half the price. I have also started drinking the EAS carb control shakes. My question to you all is how much success have you had following the protidiet and how long did it take you to lose the weight? I am so worried about not losing the weight as fast but I would love to here some success stories to put my worries at ease!

Hey Kaylae24! I just switched to alternatives at the beginning of December and so the last 20 lbs off have been with alternatives. I use a variety of alternatives that I order through Nashuanutirtion.com
I use the pure protein bars that I get at wal mart as my restricted item. I haven't heard anyone say that the alternatives haven't worked. Just make sure that you are using the comparable product as a replacement
Great job on your first week and keep up the great work!

20 lbs that's Great! Thank you so much!

There is nothing special about IP products in the context of fat loss. This is extremely basic knowledge but I know marketing and advertising from supplement companies can be compelling.

However since you asked for real world experience I'll point out that while I've never followed the IP protocol I lost 55 lbs following a similar program and never touched an IP product. In fact, I bought the cheapest protein powder I could find. Bought 5 lbs for less than $20. (Protein powder was cheaper back then)

Except for the first week when I was on IP products (lost 9 lbs that week), all my weight loss has been through the use of alternative products. I've lost a total of 55 lbs. My weight loss was slower than most, but I don't attribute that to the alternative products I used. Many other dieters here have used alternative products and acheived the same or very close to the same results as those using IP.

All of my weight loss has been on alternatives. I started out buying the starter two week package from New Life Style Systems, then started buying from Nashua, and local chain stores, Costco, etc for my drinks, bars, packets and vitamins. I do buy some IP brand supplements regularly on line as well. For me, I like the ready to drink shakes (EAS Carb Advantage & Premier Nutrition). The powders have been disappointing, though shaking them with ice chips (snow cone maker purchased was nice for this) it did make them thicker and better tasting.

I only used IP products for the first 3 weeks or so. I mostly use protithin products from Nashua, but also use some weight loss system, healthsmart &EAS products.

I started IP at 292 lbs and have lost 16 lbs in 18 days using all ProtiDiet and ProtiThin products from Nashua.

I've used alternatives from the very beginning. I actually only found out about IP from stumbling across it on these boards. I read a lot of the threads and found out about the alternatives that way. I supplement sometimes with IP food purchased from plain protein, but I use EAS shakes, syntrax protein powder, simply bars and a lot of stuff from Nashua Nutrition. The only drawback to alternatives is the lack of coaching, which is important to some people.

Alternatives work the same way if you're knowledgeable about the substitutions. I would urge you to look at past threads of where to find the IP supplements. Those are something you might want to hang on to.

12 lbs in my first two weeks using Protidiet and Walmart products. John is right...it is the structure of the weight loss... Nothing magical in those little foil packs!

I lost all my weight, 54 pounds, using alternatives.

100% alternatives. Tracker says it all!

I agree with chicagoboiler on this one. I still use only the IP supplements. I tried some alternative supplements, but I didn't feel as good on those as the actual IP ones. The cost savings on alternative supplements wasn't worth it for me.

How inspiring! Almost 60lbs in 4 months! It can be done! That is so great!!!!