Question

Okay, tell me how important are the supplements? I don’t really use them.  

Answer 1

I get my vitamins elsewhere, I already was on a high dose multivitamin, and have to manage the other vitamins around risk of kidney stones. the supplements may not be one size fits all.  

Comments

@hominy i’ve been thinking about getting my vitamins from Costco I’m just not sure what to buy.  

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I basically bought all the things that were part of the program. your coach should be able to give you the amounts you should be taking.  

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@plectrum99 I went to Costco and did label comparisons and found everything comparable except for the Omega 3, that one I stick with IP.  

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@reimer last month at our Costco they had the mega red on sale for $19 a bottle so I stocked up.  

Answer 2

Ok. You’re buying a plan to lose weight as the plan proscribes and eating the foods that it proscribes, but don’t want to take the supplements the plan proscribes. Okay. How much dairy are you getting a day? That’s what the calcium is for to replace that loss. How much magnesium are you getting? Have you ever had leg cramps or restless leg syndrome? If not, get ready. That’s what magnesium helps with. The electrolytes replace salt and other minerals that you may not be getting. I’d say to ask your coach what all they do and don’t support. But the bottom line is, you need to be taking something to replace lost vitamins and minerals.  

Comments

@sensation962 Thanks! I take 4-5 Fizz effervescent tablets daily. They replenish the minerals and electrolytes. It’s just that the supplements are huge and it’s super hard for me to digest them.  

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I already knew a woman who did not take her supplements and she had heart problems because her minerals and her body were unbalanced

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@sensation962 Damn. That changes the perspective. Thanks. Can you share how you space the vitamins out?  

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@ingraft773 I take them as suggested on the sheet. After the meal, or you WILL be nauseated. One way to help is to put one in your mouth, get a good sip of water, lean forward, the pill goes to the back of your throat and then swallow. I take Melaleuca vitamin/supplement packs that have anywhere from 6-10 and toss them all back with a good drink of water. How comfortable are you drinking water? Do you drink it like you drink orange juice or soda? In gulps? Or do you sip it because you don’t like it? That makes a difference. Drink water. Drink it in swallows. Try drinking non-stop for 5 swallows. Then 10. If you can’t, that’s probably why you have trouble taking the supplements.  

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@ingraft773 One thing I do differently is I take the two multivitamins in the morning. I don’t like the aftertaste so I don’t want to experience it twice. I take all my calcium pills with my evening meal. But that doesn’t sound like it would work for you. In addition I take collagen with every meal recommended by my coach. I’m worried about my skin sagging after weight loss. I have questions about where to get the collagen and what type so. right now I’m getting it from my coach but I think I can find a better deal somewhere else. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.  

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I drink a lot of water. A lot. I’ll start with the vitamins immediately. Thank you all for responding to me.  

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Here’s why you should follow the sheet. Your body can only absorb 500 mg of calcium at a time, so if you’re taking 1000 mg in the morning, guess where 500 mg is going. down the toilet. If you’re supposed to take your magnesium twice a day, there’s a reason, it’s divided so your body absorbs it. Do you take your supplements with diet soda? The carbonation binds with magnesium and flushes it out. All of it. Sugar also binds with magnesium and renders it useless. The ting is, you are paying for an expensive program o lose weight and get healthy. No offense, but smarter people than I put this program together. People who understand and KNOW nutrition, nutritional science, etc. if I knew it, I wouldn’t be fat! All you have to do is google your question. “Can I take 1000 mg of calcium at once? ” Why do I have to take Synthroid, e. g., on an empty stomach? Is it okay to drink carbonated beverages with ________? My biggest peeve on the I. P. “Help” pages is offering suggestions of how someone has “hacked” the diet to make it easier, tastier, cheaper, etc. I try really hard to just scroll on, but sometimes, one person’s hack is another person’s reason for not losing like they should. I’m sorry if I offended anyone, it was not my intent. But the bottom line is Follow the sheet.  

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I see your point. Like I said I’m not trying to skip or make anything cheaper. I just really hate huge pills lol.  

Answer 3

This is the times you should take the vitamin supplements. the cal-mag helps with sleep as well

Answer 4

The Entire program is designed to work. It’s scientific. If you’re going to pay for it, then follow it. Otherwise you’re setting yourself up for failure. Also, by accident I didn’t not take the morning and lunch supplements the first 2 day. I had terrible leg cramps in the evening. After getting straight day3 and on-by day 5 no more leg cramps!  

Answer 5

I didnt take potasium because I was afraid all the packages has potassium more than enough! I did my blood work everything was normal but I took the rest

Comments

@romanic357 you need the potassium. There isn’t enough in the packets and food that you are eating. There’s nothing to be afraid of in taking the supplements  

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@romanic357 The people who put this program together are nutrition scientists. Why would you think they’d put too much of something in you proscribed diet? It’s in there because you need it.  

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I respect your opinion I had ppl around me who had problems due to high sodium level durong this porogram so I was scared I did not use it at the end my sodium level was normal all the time as well as others

Answer 6

B/c of the amount of meds I am already on I asked my coach what suppliments were a MUST! She told me to go to Costco n just but a mulit vitiman and it would be more then enough if I felt the need. I already take 15 pills a day.  

Comments

@flightless42657 I take 14 different medications a day. I have bipolar disorder and other issues. I still take all the vitamins because I know that’s what my body needs on this diet. If I can do it I am confident that you can too. I just think of them as a few more medications I have to take. Good luck I know you can do this!  

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@flightless42657 wow can’t believe a coach will do this !  

Answer 7

I was told they’re very important. Be sure to take them!  

Answer 8

Magnesium helps you poop Potassium helps when you feel sluggish

Answer 9

Extremely important as this is a low calorie diet. You can do damage to your body, hair, skin etc by not taking them. It’s a good idea to take supplements even when we are not on IP as it’s very hard to get all the vitamins we need from food. I also take additional supplements like Biosil for hair, skin and nails.  

Answer 10

The supplements are a requirement to be compliant with the phase 1 protocol! They are pharmaceutical grade and precisely formulated to replace what we know is being depleted while in the weight loss phase. Just take them for maximum results and benefits!  

Answer 11

Thank you all so much! I’ll definitely take them.  

Answer 12

I only eat mushrooms, cauliflower, 6oz of protein and ip so they are my only source of vitamins lol

Answer 13

They are MANDATORY.  

Answer 14

On top of all of the benefits for your heart, hair, joints, skin and digestive system, they will boost your metabolism and help you burning fats easier and quicker. You sad should take all as recommended.  

Answer 15

My doctor told me they are not what makes you lose weight. It’s the diet. Buy the supplements over the counter

Answer 16

I don’t take the supplements. I was diagnosed with 2 pulmonary embolisms and my doctor told me to cut out the supplements. I’m on a blood thinner and need to cut out salt. I am on 2 prescriptions: 1 for high blood pressure that I developed in the hospital and another for my heart. I’m following the advice of my Doctor.  

Comments

@rajab you should be sure to inform your coach about what your Dr said. Most Doctors (unless trained on IP) don’t understand this diet. You very likely should not be doing this diet if you can’t take the supplements. You could be doing extreme harm to your body especially with medical conditions you already have. Please be careful.  

Answer 17

Yes please please take supplements or change to a different lifestyle. I jad a dear friend who did the program neglected the supplements and ended up in the hospital. The supplements help supply nutrients at a cellular level. Please continue to educate yourselves in this life long food journey.  

Answer 18

Very important !  

Answer 19

All multi-vitamins make me nauseated including the one on program. I tried with food and at night before bed and still didn’t work. My doctor/IP coach is strongly recommending that I take them for all the reasons everyone has already posted. Any other ideas to take without feeling like I’m going to ?  

Comments

See if you can get one with lower iron content. I think that might be what tends to make people queasy. If you're getting enough iron via what you're eating, that should be ok.  

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@hominy Thank you. Perhaps that is it!