Ideal Protein Questions Answered

I was so excited when I stepped on the scale today and realized that I have lost 16 pounds in 3 1/2 weeks. How have I been doing it? By hard work and determination. IP is very strict, and I have been getting a LOT of questions about the diet lately from people who have heard about it and are interested.

Ideal Protein (IP) is a very unique diet in the aspects that you can only eat IP products and vegetables. I am going through Woman's Center for Wellness to purchase my packets and other products. Here is what I consume daily: 3 IP food packets, 4 cups of vegetables, 64+ ounces of water, 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil (through using it to cook my vegetables), 7 vitamin pills, 8 ounces of lean meet/beef at dinner, and I use sea salt with my lunch and dinner. You have the option to eat unlimited lettuce/spinach leaves at lunch and dinner, but I'm stuffed by the time I'm done eating what is required of me. You are also allowed to use Walden Farm's dressings in moderation, but every now and then I'll use a little Ranch dressing (not buttermilk Ranch) when I'm feeling tired or when I feel like I didn't get enough calories for the day. Also, once per day, I use a pack of Crystal Light in my water bottle (you are only allowed to have one per day). If you choose to eat anything other than what I have listed, it has to be 0 carb, 0 calorie, and 0 sugar.

So, that's what you are allowed to eat. There are 4 general rules to follow for what you are NOT allowed to eat: no starch products, no dairy products, no sugar, and no rooted vegetables (keep in mind that there are a list of a few other things, but these are the major ones). You can get more information from your local dietitian, from the IP website at http://www.idealprotein.com/ca/home, or from the Woman's Center for Wellness if you are a local to Baton Rouge at http://www.womans.org/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&pid=332&nid=256&tid=23 (keep in mind that Woman's does not offer all IP products that you will see on the IP website).

Seems easy enough to follow, right? Some people freak out when I tell them that you are not allowed to eat starch and dairy while on IP, but you get used to it after the first few days. I was willing to put aside my love for sweets, bread, pasta, and cheese to lose the weight. I am a little more than 1/3 of the way to my weight goal, and I will finish. Keep in mind that I have lost a little over 1/3 of my weight goal (16 pounds) in less than a month! You can do it too, regardless of the diet that you choose to partake in. Just have a little faith in yourself, but more importantly, stick to the diet and DON'T QUIT.

I have also been getting the question, "What is your motivation for the wanting to lose weight?" My top priority is becoming healthy; however, I am also getting married in June of next year. A huge fear of mine has always been to look like a whale in a white dress on my wedding day. Tons of pictures will be taken, and I do not want to regret decisions regarding my health when I am showing wedding pictures to my children 20-30 years from now. One of my goals is to be able to mount a picture of my fiancé and I on our wall in the living room and not be ashamed of the way that I look in a dress. I want my fiancé to be proud to have me on his arm on that day, and for the rest of his life. It was very rewarding when he told me that he could tell that I had lost about 15 pounds the other day. Although he loves me regardless of my weight, I want to look good for him, and I want to be able to enjoy our lives together and love him for a very long time. That can't happen if I die from a heart attack or stroke from being overweight.