Ideal Protein Diet: Pros and Cons

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mrslpf44
mrslpf44 Posts: 2 Member
in Motivation and Support
I am on Day 4 of Phase 1 of the Ideal Protein plan. I have heard wonderful things about it from friends who have had great success AND have kept the weight off for some time. I spent a great deal of time researching it and am pleased with the scientific basis of the program.

However, my husband and I are both STARVING. We are drinking our water, sticking only to approved foods, and following the program to a "t." I was told by my coach and prior participants that hunger would not be an issue.

Any words of wisdom? Thanks!

Replies

  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
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    I'm not sure what the Ideal Protein Diet is. Tried to look it up. Not sure why you went that route, but how many calories are you eating? What are your stats?
  • Jesssamesssa
    Jesssamesssa Posts: 116 Member
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    Not familiar with the plan, can you give a description of what you are doing? Protein types, grams, workout, calories etc.
  • Raynne413
    Raynne413 Posts: 1,527 Member
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    I'm only familiar with it because people I work with have done it. But here's a link:

    http://www.idealprotein.com/
  • mackeyj
    mackeyj Posts: 11 Member
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    There are going to be times when you're hungry and can't eat and full and should eat to fill up your macros.

    Food is enjoyment, don't get me wrong. At the same time it's a tool to maintain a healthy lifestyle and fuel for your daily activities.
  • lishie_rebooted
    lishie_rebooted Posts: 2,973 Member
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    It's about 1000 calories. One of my coworkers did it. She used to go for walks at lunch with me but they yelled at her doing that since she was only intaking about 1000 cals. She could continue the walks if she ate more. As soon as she went off, she's gained everything back and more. And the entire time I had to hear her say "I can't have that" in a super obnoxious voice. She complained about how expensive it was too. It excludes various veggies and all fruits at any given time. She could only drink a certain amount of coffee a day and it had to black. The whole thing is super restrictive and teaches you nothing. Especially since you need to eat at least one of their products a day at any given point during the phase... knothnx
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,136 Member
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    My words of wisdom are to stop doing Ideal Protein and go with a moderate calorie deficit (follow MFP). To me, it's a big red flag when a diet program limits food choices and tells me to only eat their products along with their multivitamin.
  • TossaBeanBag
    TossaBeanBag Posts: 458 Member
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    My doctor has me on reduced calories at 50/30/20 ratios, which is 50% protein, 30% carbs, and 20% fat. I have about 15-20% body fat to lose. I suppliment omega 3, DHEA, D3, and Niacin per orders. I am never hungry, now, and find it hard to meet my caloric goals. I have gained muscle mass while simulataneously burning off fat. I also have daily injections of B-12/L-carnitine, except Friday. On Friday, I have two different shots. Usually, I feel really great; today, I am recovering from a stressful workout, last night.
  • lishie_rebooted
    lishie_rebooted Posts: 2,973 Member
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    jbach2 wrote: »
    My doctor has me on reduced calories at 50/30/20 ratios, which is 50% protein, 30% carbs, and 20% fat. I have about 15-20% body fat to lose. I suppliment omega 3, DHEA, D3, and Niacin per orders. I am never hungry, now, and find it hard to meet my caloric goals. I have gained muscle mass while simulataneously burning off fat. I also have daily injections of B-12/L-carnitine, except Friday. On Friday, I have two different shots. Usually, I feel really great; today, I am recovering from a stressful workout, last night.

    This has nothing to do with the fad diet called "ideal Protein".
    I hope your doctor is also a registered dietitian since doctors don't take a lot of classes on nutrition (typically 1, maybe 2) so they aren't well versed on this stuff and are not the best sources for dietary advice.
  • TossaBeanBag
    TossaBeanBag Posts: 458 Member
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    S
    603reader wrote: »
    jbach2 wrote: »
    My doctor has me on reduced calories at 50/30/20 ratios, which is 50% protein, 30% carbs, and 20% fat. I have about 15-20% body fat to lose. I suppliment omega 3, DHEA, D3, and Niacin per orders. I am never hungry, now, and find it hard to meet my caloric goals. I have gained muscle mass while simulataneously burning off fat. I also have daily injections of B-12/L-carnitine, except Friday. On Friday, I have two different shots. Usually, I feel really great; today, I am recovering from a stressful workout, last night.

    This has nothing to do with the fad diet called "ideal Protein".
    I hope your doctor is also a registered dietitian since doctors don't take a lot of classes on nutrition (typically 1, maybe 2) so they aren't well versed on this stuff and are not the best sources for dietary advice.

    It sure does have something to do with the "ideal protein" diet if you are not narrow minded. The OP is starving on the ideal protein diet. My MD is a specialist in internal medicine who is working side by side with nutritionists and NMDs in his office to offer patients a more wholistic approach to weight loss. My post was alluding to the possibilities of alternatives to fad diets.

    I sure hope you are coming to the right conclusions instead of jumping in with both feet on half-baked assumptions as far as your health is concerned. Best of luck.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
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    It has nothing to do with the "ideal protein diet" because anyone can change their ratios to match yours. Plenty of people do similar combos, if not exact. That isn't "ideal protein diet" specific, therefore, it has really nothing to do with the diet. I won't even get into debating the burning fat while gaining lean mass deal...
  • TossaBeanBag
    TossaBeanBag Posts: 458 Member
    edited October 2014
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    Hornsby wrote: »
    It has nothing to do with the "ideal protein diet" because anyone can change their ratios to match yours. Plenty of people do similar combos, if not exact. That isn't "ideal protein diet" specific, therefore, it has really nothing to do with the diet. I won't even get into debating the burning fat while gaining lean mass deal...

    That's fine, again, you missed the point I tried to make, but after reading your post, I can tell you have all the answers, and your debate will be filled with wonderful assumptions.

    It irks me to hear people come out and say something "can't" be done. Such negative nay-sayers are motivating though. Like running a 6.5 minute mile for 13.1 miles and still having a 500 lbs bench press (without a shirt), or qualifying for Ranger School in the Army after having been a 230 lbs powerlifter by running 5 miles at an 8 minute mile pace. YES, you can lose body fat while increasing in mass.

    In the last month, I have shed around16 lbs of body fat from my fat *kitten* and actually increased my lean muscle mass by 12 lbs. I only have a net weight loss of 4 lbs.

    Do I know about the "ideal protein diet." No, I don't, yet. I just saw the OP said she was starving on it and wanted to share what was working for me. If it doesn't work for you and your body type, well, no harm no foul.

    Best of success to you on your journey to figure it all out. I know I don't have all the answers, and I am only sharing my personal experience. I seriously doubt my diet plan and medications would work for everyone. In fact, they won't. But, maybe the OP wouldn't be starving if they had the right ratios for them.
  • kikityme
    kikityme Posts: 472 Member
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    My sister is on it, and truly, if I could afford it, I'd be all over that. She looks freaking incredible. And I've tasted the snacks and those are the best tasting protein bars I've ever had.

    As for the starving issue, she said she did get used to it once she learned that what she thought she was eating wasn't actually enough. For instance, 8 oz. of cooked chicken is way more than you'd think.

    She didn't exercise for the first couple weeks though.

    My favorite part of MFP..."I don't know what you're doing, but I don't like it and you should STOP RIGHT NOW! Even though I don't actually know a thing about it..."
  • hookilau
    hookilau Posts: 3,134 Member
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    My favorite part of MFP..."I don't know what you're doing, but I don't like it and you should STOP RIGHT NOW! Even though I don't actually know a thing about it..."

    =)
    This totally cracked me up.
  • JenKTx13
    JenKTx13 Posts: 17 Member
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    To the original poster - during the first week, you can add an extra IP food during the day. Take advantage of the unlimited veggies - have an extra salad or cucumbers during the day. You can also, just as an example, split up your dinner protein - have 2 oz with lunch and then 6 oz at dinner. Make sure you're getting in all your water, protein, veggies, etc.
  • mrslpf44
    mrslpf44 Posts: 2 Member
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    Well, thanks to those of you who kept it positive. We're all learning as we go along. I have done a great deal of research prior to embarking on this diet and my internist recommended it to me. It is one of the few "diets" that promotes a life-long change in eating patterns. I don't mind eating their food, since it is so perfectly put together, bio-available, etc. The hunger has subsided and I am feeling more energized than I have in a long while. I'm not saying that Ideal Protein is for everyone, but given my particular set of challenges, not the least of which is reactive hypoglycemia, I am very happy with the plan. I am also looking forward to the phase during which I eat only whole, clean, organic foods and am neither required nor encouraged to eat Ideal food. Best to you all.
  • shelleysharley
    shelleysharley Posts: 2
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    I am about 2 months in and had the same issues at the beginning and still do some days. I eat an extra IP meal or a EAS Carb Control Shake that you can get at Walmart that has the same calories/carbs as the IP pre-mades. I am all in on this diet, cheat occasionally, and don't berate myself for it. If I'm hungry, I eat something and try to have it be IP or veggies. I pre-cut 90 heads of broccoli and 11 heads of cauliflower (I LOVE Alaskan veggies!) and put them in 3 cup Ziploc freezer containers. 8oz=2 cups of veggies for me. I did not waste time blanching, just froze them. I get them out for lunch, put a small amount of water in the bottom, microwave for 3-4 minutes and then drain off the water and pour a soup over them. It's working very well! I also pour a pre-made into espresso in the morning so that I don't have to use more milk than I'm supposed to. I just joined in here, so I'm not sure how all of this works, but feel free to message me if there is a way to do that.
  • ljlantgen
    ljlantgen Posts: 48 Member
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    I did IP and had great success and felt great! I go back on phase one or two occasionally if I've had a crazy binging weekend. I started exercising when I went to maintenance and am still down from what I was when I started a year ago. Yeah you may gain weight back if you go back to your crazy eating lifestyle. Logging, exercise and healthy eating the majority of the time, with occasional 'fun' days, is the key. When I was on phase one and two I didn't get a single cold or sinus infection, which was the norm for me before. You're right it isn't for everyone, but it was for me. I needed the strict diet. Good luck to you! Sounds like you are doing fine.
  • sweetie531917
    sweetie531917 Posts: 4 Member
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    ljlantgen wrote: »
    I did IP and had great success and felt great! I go back on phase one or two occasionally if I've had a crazy binging weekend. I started exercising when I went to maintenance and am still down from what I was when I started a year ago. Yeah you may gain weight back if you go back to your crazy eating lifestyle. Logging, exercise and healthy eating the majority of the time, with occasional 'fun' days, is the key. When I was on phase one and two I didn't get a single cold or sinus infection, which was the norm for me before. You're right it isn't for everyone, but it was for me. I needed the strict diet. Good luck to you! Sounds like you are doing fine.



    If you are hungry in your first week, eat an additional packet. With anything you do the weight may come back on. I think losing the weight is easy. Maintaining the weight lose is the most difficult. Best of luck to everyone!
  • saharfar1
    saharfar1 Posts: 2 Member
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    mrslpf44 wrote: »
    I am on Day 4 of Phase 1 of the Ideal Protein plan. I have heard wonderful things about it from friends who have had great success AND have kept the weight off for some time. I spent a great deal of time researching it and am pleased with the scientific basis of the program.

    However, my husband and I are both STARVING. We are drinking our water, sticking only to approved foods, and following the program to a "t." I was told by my coach and prior participants that hunger would not be an issue.

    Any words of wisdom? Thanks!
    mrslpf44 wrote: »
    I am on Day 4 of Phase 1 of the Ideal Protein plan. I have heard wonderful things about it from friends who have had great success AND have kept the weight off for some time. I spent a great deal of time researching it and am pleased with the scientific basis of the program.

    However, my husband and I are both STARVING. We are drinking our water, sticking only to approved foods, and following the program to a "t." I was told by my coach and prior participants that hunger would not be an issue.

    Any words of wisdom? Thanks!
    mrslpf44 wrote: »
    I am on Day 4 of Phase 1 of the Ideal Protein plan. I have heard wonderful things about it from friends who have had great success AND have kept the weight off for some time. I spent a great deal of time researching it and am pleased with the scientific basis of the program.

    However, my husband and I are both STARVING. We are drinking our water, sticking only to approved foods, and following the program to a "t." I was told by my coach and prior participants that hunger would not be an issue.

    Any words of wisdom? Thanks!
    mrslpf44 wrote: »
    I am on Day 4 of Phase 1 of the Ideal Protein plan. I have heard wonderful things about it from friends who have had great success AND have kept the weight off for some time. I spent a great deal of time researching it and am pleased with the scientific basis of the program.

    However, my husband and I are both STARVING. We are drinking our water, sticking only to approved foods, and following the program to a "t." I was told by my coach and prior participants that hunger would not be an issue.

    Any words of wisdom? Thanks!

  • saharfar1
    saharfar1 Posts: 2 Member
    edited October 2016
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    @mrslpf44 To the original post: it's two years past ! How did you do ?

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