Ideal Protein: It Just Makes Sense!
Why Ideal Protein and How Does the Diet Work?
Ideal Protein is NOT another high protein diet. In fact, Ideal Protein is an adequate protein, low carb, and low fat diet that promotes fat loss.The science behind it is simple. The body has three sources of energy it uses to meet its metabolic needs: carbohydrates, muscle, and fat. The body will draw from its carbohydrate reserve before it draws from muscle and fat. During the weight loss phase of the protocol, carbohydrate intake is limited to encourage the body to use its fat and muscle reserves for energy.
By eating high quality protein foods, such as those in the Ideal Protein protocol, the body is able to maintain lean muscle mass and burn fat. The protocol also teaches dieters how to develop smarter eating habits and make better lifestyle choices, so they can maintain a stable weight after the loss is achieved.
The Four Phases of Ideal Protein
IP Phases
To be followed until 100% of your weight loss goal is achieved.
The Phase 1 diet plan incorporates measured portions of lean protein and approved vegetables, unlimited select vegetables, and 3-4 Ideal Protein packets.
Phase 2 is to be followed for two weeks after the goal weight is reached. Phase 2 replaces one of the Ideal Protein packets with an additional 8 ounces of protein, bringing the total amount of protein in phase 2 to 16 ounces. The approved vegetables and unlimited select vegetables remain the same and two Ideal Protein packets. Most dieters in this phase will require 2-3 packets of Ideal Protein per day. As you transition through each phase, we will be replacing Ideal Protein foods with regular foods so you are educated and positioned to be successful in controlling your diet after the four phases.
Phase 3 is to be followed for two weeks. Phase 3 reintroduces healthy carbs and fats (in the morning only). Lunch and dinner remain the same as Phase 2. In phase 3, one of the packets will be replaced with an Ideal Protein complete packet and 2 Ideal Protein packets.
Every diet must have a beginning and an end. Phase 4 is the maintenance or “lifestyle plan”. This phase teaches you to enjoy the freedom of eating your favorite foods while maintaining your new shape! The maintenance phase is based on a few simple principles:
Maintaining adequate protein without the Ideal Protein Foods
Meal frequency: Eating often enough
Food combining: The “principle of dissociation” (the avoidance of “bad” food combinations) by separating carbohydrates and fats during lunch and dinner.
Weekly free-day and damage control plans: One day a week, you will be able to relax the rules and the following day you will utilize the principles of the program and whole foods to deplete the excess from stores and reset your body for the coming week.
Get Started
Learn more about Ideal Protein with a complimentary telephone or in-person consultation with one of our coaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ideal Protein
Making an investment in your health is priceless. Below are approximate costs for the services, tools, and education we provide to get you on a healthy diet for life.
Starting costs: Approximately $200
- Support: $50 initial visit (60 min)
- Supplements: initial supplements: $68 average
- Ideal Protein Foods: most people will spend $87-102/wk on IP foods during phase 1
Weekly: Approximately $ 102-117
- Support: $15 weekly coaching fee
- Ideal Protein Foods: most people will spend $87-102/wk on IP foods during phase 1 of the diet.
- Note: As you progress through the program, each phase requires fewer Ideal Protein foods.
- Phase 2 food costs on average $58-87/week
- Phase 3 food costs on average $29-58/week
- Phase 4 does not require you to purchase any Ideal Protein foods
- Note: As you progress through the program, each phase requires fewer Ideal Protein foods.
Monthly:
- Program Fees: $18 monthly program fee: Includes unlimited readings on our body composition analysis (BCA) machine, daily support videos, Ideal Fitness exercise programming fee and more.
- Supplements: Monthly supplements: $68 average
This program is for everyone – whether your goal is to lose 10 pounds or 100 pounds. There is also a two week protocol for people already at their goal weight who want to address cellulite.
There are four phases to the protocol:
- Phase I: You will be on Phase 1 until you hit your goal weight; then you will transition to Phase 2;
- Phase 2: Two weeks of for stabilization;
- Phase 3: Two weeks of reintroducing all food groups at breakfast only
- Phase 4: This is your maintenance of “Lifestyle” program. You will not be required to use the ideal protein foods during this phase; however, your coach can continue to support your achievements and new lifestyle with our 12 month maintenance support program. You are not required to continue the program for 12 months however, we have found that our most successful dieters utilize this phase to expand their diets while learning how to make lifestyle changes that are supportive of their goals and teach them to keep the weight off.
Yes, we have many successful dieters; some who travel 80% of the time. The ideal protein foods are conveniently packaged and travel friendly. The whole foods you are required to consume can be found at any restaurant and grocery store. Your coach can offer you the option of a telephone or Skype visit if you are not able to come into the office for your weekly coaching visit and your designated coach will help guide you based on the parameters of your life no matter how hectic it is. The coaches maintain electronic contact with you between appointments so you are never left wondering what to do whether it is what to order if going to restaurants or how to navigate business luncheons.
The IP protocol is designed to be as easy and convenient. Delicious IP food options and also easy prep dinner recipes are available at your fingertips and your coach will customize the diet to you and your palate. This is a diet that you can design around your lifestyle. If you’re someone who loves to cook we have two gourmet cookbooks featuring amazing recipes to satisfy any pallet, cooking videos and a private Facebook group where our dieter’s post their favorite meal ideas.
- Fill out the IP Intake form
- Once we have received both the completed intake form and physician’s release, we will call and schedule your program start appointment with your designated certified Ideal Protein Coach
We have had many successful young adults on this protocol. This program is ideal for pre-teens and teens because it teaches young people how to eat. There are kid-friendly snacks and we have a designated coach for our young dieter’s.
This program is a good strategy for a structured plan that will get quick clinical and composition results and offers both the young adult and parents the support they need to achieve their goals.
The advantages are that it’s structured (no guess-work for the parent or the young adult), it’s vegetarian and was originally designed for Olympic athletes for healthy fat loss.
You will meet with your coach once a week for 20 minutes, complete a BCA reading, review your diet journal and losses, discuss the upcoming week and create strategies for success and pick out foods for the following week. These visits may also be held over the telephone or on Skype to accommodate your busy life and schedule. Our coaches are available between 6am and 8pm for coaching visits.
Many of our dieters report better energy than before starting the diet. This is a mildly ketogenic diet and most dieter’s take 2-3 days to get into ketosis. Once in ketosis, you will not be hungry as the body will be breaking down your stored fat and using those calories in addition to the foods consumed. Many of our dieter’s actually struggle to consume all of their required foods on Phase I of the diet.
The first few days, until you get into ketosis, you may feel hungry however, the first week you are allowed to consume an additional Ideal Protein food if hungry and we will also provide you with a list of unlimited vegetables that can be consumed at any time you are hungry. During your initial appointment your coach will give you some helpful hints to support you during the first few days.
You will be eating a combination of a few ideal protein foods in addition to whole foods. The ideal protein foods are non-GMO designed to be highly absorbed. The ideal Protein foods tend to be used as snacks rather than meal replacements.
Yes! You will have extensive supporting recipes and you coach can customize the selections to your palate and lifestyle. As part of your program, you will receive daily videos and will have access to a database of recipes and videos through your My Ideal Protein portal. Additionally, there are 2 comprehensive cookbooks, you will be invited to our Pinterest page that has recipes both for the Ideal Protein foods as well as for your lunches and dinners.
Within the first week! On average, men lose 4-7lbs per week and women 3-5 lbs per week. Even more remarkable that the weight loss, this program focuses on fat loss which is even more visible.
There are over 65 products in the Ideal Protein product line and something to please every palate. Whether you crave salty, sweet or zesty; we have something for everyone’s palate.
You will not only achieve your weight-loss goal but also learn valuable information on how your body stores and burns fat. That, along with nutritional information and education will give you the tools needed to keep those unwanted pounds off forever and enjoy the renewed skin, body shape, health and energy you deserve.
Dieters who phase off of the program maintain their weight loss following the maintenance program. The protocol features 4 phases – you will be losing the weight during phase 1 and stabilizing the weight loss during phase 2. Phases 3 and 4 will guide you through the reintroduction of the carbs while maintaining the weight loss and will equip you with a lifestyle change that will reinforce the tenants of maintaining your weight loss. We offer up to a 12 month maintenance program to support you in maintaining your new shape.
1) Why can’t I have alcohol when I’m in ketosis?
Alcohol is not permitted while on Phases 1 and 2; and it must be strictly avoided while you’re in ketosis. During ketosis, your liver is busy converting the fatty acids being released from your fat cells into ketones that can be burned by your body for energy. It’s also busy converting protein (and sometimes fats) into glucose for those organs that have to have glucose to operate. As well as busy doing all of the other functions that it is responsible for. Alcohol is a toxic substance. Your liver immediately focuses on removing it from your body and puts other things on hold – such as creating the glucose your brain and other organs need. Hypoglycemia can result and if it happens while you’re driving, it could be especially dangerous and even life threatening.
The BCA Machine will accurately measure your body fat, lean mass and hydration. This will be performed at your weekly coaching visit (may be scheduled at another time if your session is held over the phone) and will help you track your success beyond the scale achievements. Because our focus is fat loss rather than solely weight loss, these readings are an invaluable tool for both the dieter and the coach. The clinical accuracy studies were conducted comparing DEXA scan for adults and hydrostatic dunk tank for youth populations. Copies of this study may be obtained from our office. While burning body fat, we will also track your lean mass to ensure you are losing the majority of fat mass so you maintain your success. You will be provided with a log in and password to view your grid as well.
Your primary care physician or prescribing physician will be managing any and all changes in medications. Often times, providers will establish guidelines in your physician’s release form as to when you are to follow up for visits/medication checks.
If you are on medications for blood pressure and or blood sugar, you will be monitoring your readings twice daily and both you and your coach will be reporting your progress to your physician. In most cases, you will probably need to be seen for medication checks once a month if on prescriptions for hypertension and/or diabetes medications. We typically see appreciable drops in values in the first three weeks.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat and related grains causing a wide variety of mild, to very serious symptoms in gluten sensitive individuals.
As part of their initiative to meet the dietary needs of gluten sensitive dieters, Ideal Protein has made it easier than ever to select gluten-free alternatives on the Ideal Protein Weight Loss method, printing an easy-to-spot “certified gluten-free” symbol on over 40 of their packages.
The items that are certified gluten-free are produced in a Celiac certified facility and on equipment certified to be free of gluten-containing grains. Dieters who have Celiac Disease must select from only these selections. Many of our gluten-sensitive dieters are able to consume the full line of Ideal Protein products without complications.
Our primary goal is to keep our dieters safe while on the protocol. If you’re on medications that will likely need to be adjusted, we are required to have your prescribing physician release you to participate. We will work with you and your doctor to ensure we work as a team to reduce your needs for prescription medications. Your physician will be responsible to safeguard your prescription is adequate, reduce and eliminate as needed.
We have a team of excellent certified coaches to help guide you to your goal. You will meet with your designated coach once a week for 20 minutes. Your coach will measure your body composition, review your logs to help accelerate your losses, review any upcoming challenges and give you tips and recipes to help you be successful throughout your lifestyle change.
Yes, our coaching visits may be held in-person, by telephone and over Skype. Our coaches offer electronic support of texts and/or email between your weekly visits.
Testimonial
I have lost almost 50 pounds, have gone from an XL shirt to a medium, 42 pants to a 34 waist…. I am in the best shape of my life, I am fit and healthy and am off all of my meds, including insulin, with blood sugar at a non-diabetic level, and my cholesterol, blood pressure, and triglyceride levels are excellent.
Marcos C.