I was just going to do medifast again and actually already posted a thread in the medifast forum, but I see this seems to have a lot of momentum and there is good discussion about alternatives.

I have searched lots, and have been TREMENDOUSLY HELPED by the website diettalktoday.com. I downloaded all of the IP PDFs, and saved a copy of basically everything on the site.

So I ordered 32 boxes of EAS Advantage Carb Control off of Amazon prime. Since they are a little lower calorie than some of the IP foods, I was going to do 4 per day (Also, I am a very big, younger, male. From what I read I think the IP coach would put me on 4 per day anyway).

I'll also get some quest bars at GNC tomorrow in case I'm caught out and about without the ability to carry a cooler with protein shakes.

I have plenty of chicken breasts, fish, egg whites, salad greens, and broccoli on hand, and know how to eat them and in what proportions after reading the phase 1 pdf.


Vitamins and water, I'm good with that too.


Anything that I'm missing out by not going to a center? It seems pretty straightforward.

I've never gone to a center. What I did was read Dr. Tran's e-book and then read what people were doing here since his book was written 30 years ago. A lot of alternative folks will order from certain places and we do have a thread called "alternate product reviews" that I'm sure someone will hot link for you any ole time. I personally only bother with EAS carb control shakes and just eat real food for the rest and that works fine. It's probably a little harder to do that way, but I'm sure it's cheaper too (which is my big concern).

Oh, and I'd be cautious about snack bars personally. Your mileage may vary, but I've found that the sugar alcohols in low carb bars totally stalled my weight loss efforts after awhile. Can't speak personally for Quest as I never tried those, but I can only imagine they have a lot of sugar alcohol.

I have about four alternative threads bookmarked already . I did A LOT of searching.

I did download the Dr. Tran book pdf but I have just skimmed through it.

The bars are something that I will only use if I'm stuck unable to carry a shake for 4+ hours or something, pretty rarely. I am looking over the quest site and some have sugar alcohols and others do not, I will certainly order the ones that don't (sugar alcohols upset my stomach).

Good to hear that you are successful like this, thanks!

Re: assumption about Quest Bars

The sucralose-sweetenened ones contain zero sugar alcohols.

The stevia-sweetened ones contain erythritol (in smaller amts than many bars), which tends to be gentler and less impactful than other sugar alcohols

So, no, all Quest bars are not full of sugar alcohols

Yes probably way more than half of the posters here have never gone near a clinic.

Also wanted to comment about the Quest bars. When I was doing phase 1 the biggest issue was constipation due to lack of fibre although I had lots of raw veggies. I am rebooting now and the Quest bars have solved that problem, they are very high in fibre.
A common theme on this board is warning people away from any of the bars. But IP research shows that people who follow the plan exactly including the daily restricted items are far more likely to stick with the plan long term.

I stopped going to my Coach after 8 weeks. I have since lost over 50 lbs on my own using alternatives. I do still take IP vitamins and supplements but the food I order online or drink the EAS Carb control drinks. I do log everything into "My Fitness Pal" so I can keep track of carbs/protein/fiber/sugar. If you are interested in see what I have been eating, you can find me there - LGLAustin. And of course you can message me any time for support. You can do this..!

I stopped going to the clinic after 10 weeks. I am happy I did go into the clinic, however, I am saving a ton of money. ( happy DH). I am losing and feeling great. This site for IP and Alternatives is a great place to keep track of weight loss, questions and have fun doing it. Good people on here!