2014 is the year! Ideal Protein ideas and support?

I am considering Ideal Protein as well and would love to hear what people have to say.

I started IP two weeks ago today. I've lost 11 lbs so far, which is kind of amazing. Though you figure the first few weeks will be big numbers, I suppose. The first 4-5 days were harsh. truly. I felt achy and frantic all day long. But then it was like my body got over it and I feel pretty normal as long as I stick to the plan and eat at the right intervals. I've got another 32 lbs to go and hoping to be there by June.

I'd love ideas for recipes and mixing things up. I'm going to get really tired of chewing lettuce all the time. I've already started blending it up in the soup mixes or steaming it with a stir fry.

I'm also curious what your average daily intakes are for fat, carbs, and protein. I average around 900 calories a day, but the others kind of fluctuate a bit. I don't know what the goal should be in each category, or what the absolute limit is before kicking me out of ketosis. I haven't cheated and am sticking to the plan religiously, which I suppose is enough. I'm just a numbers person so would like to know the math. I've read things about total carbs vs net carbs; how is that figured and what's the real number we should shoot for? And protein should be at least .5 g per lb of body weight, but what about fat?

I'm pleased witht he success so far and am ready for the progress to slow, so I want to be sure I'm doing everything right!

Good luck to you!. I feel your enthusiasm! I've been doing IP since 11/1 and lost 26 lbs/19 in. I feel fantastic and look pretty darn good having gone from a 12 to an 8. Yahoo!. I can give you a couple of pointers that were good for me. Especially in the first week or two, if you are starving, have a IP drink to get you past it. I really takes the edge off. My coach told me I could have 2 extra IP meals a day if needed (non restricted). I also would guzzle that water down to shake it off and it works. I got very sick of salad and started bringing chopped veggies to work (ie> broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, zucchini), zapping them and adding them to my soup or chicken ala king to give it more substance. I'm not a big salad girl but I do like cooked veggies. My favorite soups are the chicken and mushroom. Broccoli & Cheese isn't too bad either. Potato Pure e and Chicken Ala King are edible especially if you add veggies. Rotini is not so good but if you really cook it and then add it to sautéed veggies you can get it down. : ) Breakfast was pretty easy. If time allows the omelets are very good with sautéed veggies. Crispy cereal is good but a very small portion and I usually need a IP drink within an hour or two to get me to lunch. I loved the Maple Oatmeal but avoided it because it is restricted and I prefer my restricted snack after dinner (especially the Lemon Wafer bar). I didn't realize that at first and made the mistake of having it for breakfast 3 days one week with another restricted snack later. I only lost .2 that week and couldn't understand why until we reviewed my journal. Dummy - I didn't notice that some of the breakfasts are restricted too so blew the week. Was so mad at myself. Regarding the restricted snacks.... yes they are excellent -- probably why they are restricted. I found that when I had the Double Chocolate Brownie-- it sometimes pushed me out of ketosis. I would test my urine every morning to make sure I was in ketois and it seemed that whenever I had the brownie I was barely in it. (buy them at the drug store in the diabetes section - Keto sticks) So I stopped eating them. There are lower carb choices that are just as good (did I mention the Wafer bars!! : ) I weigh myself every morning which helps me keep an eye on myself. My IP weigh in was on Monday evenings so I knew that I was always going to be about 3 lbs heavier than my home scale but as long as you know that it's not too disappointing. Plus the inches don't lie. I lost inches every single week, including the week I only lost .2. I killed it with the inches. I felt like I was disappearing. I really didn't cheat either. I had my first alcohol in January visiting my brother in Florida we went to a bar and I had two Vodka/Soda/lime drinks. Wasn't really worth it. But I did it. Also had a sugar free mousse dessert on Dec 30th (hubby's b'day) and within a half hour was ready to explode. Didn't think I'd make it to a bathroom. Same thing happened a week later when I tried a sugar free ice cream. Our body can't handle the fat I suspect. No more experimenting with that type of dessert. I went to a wedding this past weekend and had 2 drinks and a very small biscotti. Baby shower on Sunday had a couple of bites of pumpkin cake. Lost weight in all of these weeks including this week. Keep the cheats small and you should be okay. Drink a ton of water and eat your veggies. You will find the weight will melt off. Good luck! I started Phase 3 yesterday and screwed it up by not reading the instructions correctly. Hope I'm back on track and didn't hurt myself. I want hit my goal of 30lbs by 2/14.

I am soooooooooo excited to find these threads!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been on IP since September but I kinda took the Christmas holiday off and now I am kicking myself in the *kitten* for doing that!!! but I am now back to where I was before Thanksgiving/Christmas BUT being in a school I am having a very hard time not eating the Valentine Candy and the scale is showing it soooooooooooooo this may be just what I need!!! I am soooooooo excited!!! OH and my husband lost 100lbs on IP whcih is why I decided to get on...I didnt want him smaller than me BAHAH

Girl I am right there with you!!!! I cannot wait until you get some answers!!!

I started IP on Feb 9th and have lost 12 pounds to date. The first week was the toughest for sure however I lost 5 and half pounds the first week so it kept my incentive up. There are days that I only eat two of my protein packs now simply because I am not hungry. I have been exericising on the program but at keeping it a light workout. I love to bike so I spoke to my coach about it and she agreed I could continue as long as it didnt affect my progress. I do put cream in my coffee most days now as I can't seem to go without it. My coach knows all my cheats and yes I have them. I have two: cream in my coffee and the odd time I use Paul Newmans Oil and Viniger dressing on my salad. This program has been the best thing for me. It feels like a lifestyle change that I can adapt to. If you follow the protocol and don't give up, it works! I don't remember when I felt so good!

Hi There!

I'm a 26 year old, very sedentary person and I start Ideal Protein on the second week of January. So far I've lost 20lbs and I have 15-18lbs to go.

I agree with all the previous posts that it is hard and on some days you'll be wanting to quit but don't. You're investing time, money and determination and it will pay off,. You just have to stick to it. Also, don't cheat. I allowed myself a cheat weekend and honestly felt horrible. Simply horrible and i plateaued for a couple of weeks after.

From what I hear of people that have followed IP through till Phase 4, it is very much worth it and it does change your perspective on food once you are done with IP. Which really is a good thing in the long run, because you don't want to fall back to your old eating habbits.

If anyone is following IP and needs another FitnessPal buddy, feal free to add me

Hi there! I have been on the Ideal Protein protocol for 16 weeks and I've lost about 50 pounds and nearly thirty inches. I am halfway to my weight loss goal. The fairly rapid weight loss is enough to keep me motivated for the most part. I do struggle with social engagements from time-to-time but it isn't something I can't overcome. I usually just have to have a chat with myself and reset my priorities. This is only temporary but at the same time I am learning a new way to look at food and my relationship with it. All of the benefits I am experiencing far out weigh the sacrifices. Good luck!

I started IP on Jan 21. I have lost 28 lbs with IP and a total of 19 inches. I have lost a total of 38 lbs. I actually really enjoy IP. Don't tell my coach, but I have some pizza every sunday after weigh in.

Love it! I wont tell!! :laugh:

I am at the end of week two of IP. The first 3 days were difficult. I felt withdrawal from taste and was in a pretty grumpy mood. All I could think about was how can I sustain this. There is no way I can stick with this. Then day 4 I woke up feeling energized and thinking so much more clear. It was almost a buzz. Since then I have noticed my energy levels remain up and I am not that hungry. I lost 10 pounds the first week and I am on track to lose another 5-7 this week. I have been successful on WW and the last 12-18 months I have been tracking on MFP. The weeks I track I do much better, but lately I have been struggling getting back on track. I heard about IP from a friend who had great success. Lost a bunch of weight and inches, but what really impressed me was he was able to stop all of his maintenance drugs and put away his CPAP machine. I am borderline diabetic and needed a jolt to the system. I am glad to see this thread and the success stories that are here.

I am going to the beach on vacation in two weeks. When I started IP i figured I would just take a week off, but now all I can think of is how to maintain things while I am away. I am used to a few beverages each day that would not be IP approved, but I really think I can work this into the vacation. I hope this thread continues and will keep an eye out. Please keep the recipes and little tricks coming. I got some great ideas already and can't wait to try some of them already.

I have excepted that this will be life long struggle for me, but education is the key to conquering this and I feel good about the path I am on right now.

Keep on Truckin!!

if you have the ability to use a Magic Bullet or blender, I like to use the chocolate or cappuccino or pina colada drink mix blended with ice when everyone else is enjoying a 'refreshing' beverage.
I pre-cut my veggies and put them in Ziploc bags and take them with me when I am going somewhere there will be snacks and temptation. if I have already done the work to prepare them, I am more likely to convince myself to grab them!

Started IP in late May. I've lost about 9 pounds over the last 4 weeks - a little frustrated. I have followed the diet exactly but I haven't gone into ketosis. Not sure what I need to do. Anyone else having this problem. I'd love to friend anyone that is also doing IP.

I am actually on Ideal Protein. It is awesome! But lets look at some of the myths....
1. NO exercise.....Um no not correct, you are to do exercise just not the first few weeks while you body is adjusting, then you add in walking and light weight lifting. Yes you eat few calories and carbs this is why you don't want to over do the work outs.
2. It WILL just come back....in any diet a person will gain the weight back if they do not change their eating habits. You don't just gain weight back for no reason most people that gain the weight are those that return to their old eating habits and that's how they gain the weight the first time what makes them think that they can return to those habits and the weight will stay off.
3. You will always be hungry.....um no if you eat your IP food and your veggies and whole protein and drink the required amount of water, you will not get hungry. This diet provides the right amount of protein to maintain muscle mass. This means you get the protein your body needs. You will find most people that get hungry during any diet is because they eat carbs. You think fruits and veggies are good for you. Fruits are all sugar, your body burns it right off and leaves no reserve for you to make it to the next meal.

Downsides to the diet
1. Yes it is expensive. But you have to understand you are not only buying the food but you are being tracked and advised by nutritionist and dietitians the whole time. They know what they are doing and can adjust the diet for you if something doesn't feel right. USE their knowledge! If it is too much for you and you have and HSA account, look into how your coach bills the expense, depending on that you can actually use your HSA account.
2. Your friends will not be as supportive as they claim they will. They will constantly question your choice in the diet. But mainly while you change your habits they are staying they same. They will be eating those fries and chips and cookies in front of you all the time.
3. You will have cravings every now and then that will drive you crazy. Just stick to it and don't cheat, it's not worth it.

To make it easier
1. The first couple weeks try a variety of food. Find a center that sells the food packets individually to find out which packs you like. Most places that do food this way will also let you exchange food if you find that you didn't like it. I had a whole box of vinegar chips, ate two chips from one bag and couldn't do it. I asked them what I could do and they said pick out new food and took the unopened chips back.
2. Once you find three that you like, only order those. I find I like the premade chocolate drink, the orange drink, and the bbq chips. I do only those. I am never hungry. I eat my whole protein and veggies. 9 weeks and 38lbs lighter. Yay me! Average between 4-5lbs a week. And honestly I haven't added in my exercise yet as I have work and school and a wedding to prepare, but at the end of this month watch out!
3. Watch the videos they send you every day. They are there to teach you what to change when you are finished in the phase 1. They are very informative and helpful.
4. If you hate water, get flavored water as long as it is 0 calorie 0 sugar. I drink a powerade zero every day. I use those little flavor adders from desani. Even fresca is okay if need the carbonation, but keep it to one a day. Powerade and fresca are not a water replacement just a little alternative if needed.

I am still very far from my goal, but every day I don't eat those fries, or chips, or cookies I want them less. When I watch my friends eat them I can see what I must have looked like shoveling them into my mouth. I know that at the end of my journey my habits will change because my mind, my WOL has changed. That is the key to keeping it off.

In 12 weeks I am 3 lbs from my 50 lb goal! I started at 291 and am down to 244. Keep at it. Hopefully these tips will help you.

Thank you for starting this thread.

I am on week 4 of phase 1 and I'm starting to despair. I find most of the IP foods to be pretty gross, but I switched to the readymade smoothies and they're really good. I'm not really "cheating" per se - but I am eating foods that aren't allowed on the protocol - mainly small amounts of cheese and almond milk - that are very low-carb. I'm not sure why they're not allowed and so have gone ahead and done this as it's made my morning coffee ritual doable (i use almond milk and coffee instead of a latte or misto). which is huge to me. However, last week I lost no weight and this week I've lost none, too. The idea of giving up my tiny allowance of cheese and/or my unsweetened vanilla almond milk makes me want to cry. Both have zero carbs, but I can't think what else is stalling my weight loss. I'm noticing that I'm hungry all the time, even if I double the amount of veggies. I'm pretty miserable actually, haha. Though I had great success my first two weeks - lost 10lbs in 2 weeks, now I feel I am plateauing and I don't know what to do. Some help please??

This is by no means and exact answer for you but my own opinion....Stop eating things that are not on the protocol that is the major issue right there. You are not plateauing but your body will have weeks of adjustment. I have on about every 3 weeks or so. Do the IP strictly and you will see the weight start coming off again. As for the food. I do only three things. Orange packet, premade chocolate drink, and bbq chips. I have lost 47 lbs in 12 weeks. Make sure you are eating the right veggies and drinking your water. If you are still having issues as your IP provider to re-examine your diet to either increase or decrease your net carb amount with the IP food.