FAQs

Our protocol is safe for everyone, except those with dysfunctional liver or kidneys. Type I diabetics should only do the Alternative protocol and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should only use the Ideal Protein’s protein foods to supplement their diet.

Both protocols have 4 phases: Phase 1: 90% Success Phase 2: 10% Success (maximum 2 weeks) Phase 3: Maintenance Phase 4: Stabilization The only difference between them is that on the Alternative Plan dieters are permitted up to three (3) additional food items per day, one from each of the three different food groups: carbohydrates (Group I), fruits (Group II) and fats (Group III).

While dieters on the protocol are actually “getting more calories” than they were prior to starting the protocol. During the first 3 weeks, your body is getting the necessary “enzymatic machinery” in place so it can use 100% of the cellular fuel that your body is producing from burning the fat. In the first couple of weeks, it cannot use all of the ketones so you micturition and breath them out. If you increase the glucose demand (i.e. exercise vigorously during these first 3 weeks) you will increase gluconeogensis markedly. This CAN result in muscle loss.

All diet drinks (i.e. sugar-free, carb-free) are NOT contraindicated on the Ideal Weight Loss Method. The problem that can arise is imbalances in acid / base regulation. Our protocol is very alkaline and this is why we do not see complications common to other “protein type diets”, namely kidney stones, gout, bone spurs, etc. Some diet drinks (Crystal Light for example) are mixed with water and these are acceptable. Many others (flavored Aqua-fina, Dasani, etc.) contain a lot of phosphoric acid. This is a very strong acid and will play havoc with the body’s bicarbonate buffering system. The same goes for diet sodas…particularly the “brown ones”: Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, root beer, etc.). Flavored seltzers are usually OK, just read the label and make sure it is carb-free and contains no phosphoric acid. Carbonated beverages contain CO2 which, when dissolved in water becomes a weak acid known as carbonic acid (unlike phosphoric). To have a glass occasionally would not be a problem, but consuming large amounts (like in place of the 2 liters of water per day) would not be a good idea. The pH of Perrier is about 5.7, weakly acidic. Our protocol provides so many health benefits besides weight loss; it would be a shame to compromise some of the benefits by consuming these products. Acid / base balance plays a major role in physiology, particularly in such conditions as osteoporosis, gout, “hardening of the arteries”; and a more acidic blood does not carry oxygen as well. Using sugar-free, carb-free drinks and diet sodas will not compromise your weight loss (providing you drink extra water if these drinks contain caffeine, remember an extra cup of water for every cup of coffee you drink, same thing here). The dieter who chooses to use these products a lot, will not receive all of the wonderful benefits of the program.

There are many different types of sugar alcohols, some are more easily absorbed (xylitol) and some are absorbed very poorly (erythritol). If they are absorbed, they can affect blood sugar. As a rule of thumb, divide the grams of sugar alcohols by 2 and consider the number of grams of carbohydrates that are being consumed. If you have 13 grams of sugar alcohol in the mints (13 / 2 = 6.5) + 1 other carb = about 7.5 grams of absorbable carbohydrates. If you decide to eat a serving of this on Phases 1 & 2, don’t have any “restricted foods” that day.

Yes, during the first week only. A dieter may have up to five (5) Proteins envelopes per day but no more than one (1) Protein restricted food.

While fruits do not make you gain weight, they can slow down and even prevent you from losing weight. That’s because once metabolized by the body, fruits transform into sugar – or glucose – and the glucose reserve is precisely that which you want to deplete in order to get your body to begin to burn calories from your excess fat supply. Fruits are denied on the protocol only until the weight loss goal is achieved. Fruits are later introduced in the stabilization period of the protocol, once your pancreas’ proper metabolizing of sugars has been restored.

Sea salt has nothing to do with shellfish. Allergies are usually caused by protein molecules (like chitin) not inorganic minerals. Some patients might be allergic to freshwater shrimp and clams (where there is no sea water).

The protocol would be considered a medium to low calorie diet whereas the Alternative Plan, which incorporates additional foods from Groups I, II and III, would be considered a medium calorie diet. Neither protocol is considered a hypo protein diet nor a hyper protein diet. The Ideal Weight Loss Method offers the optimal quantity of proteins, vitamins and minerals required to ensure the proper functioning of all body systems.

The immune system, all of your vital organs, your eyes, your nails, your hair, your skin and your muscles all are made of protein. Muscles are the engine that burns calories. So, the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn and the more calories you burn, the more fat you burn. That’s why men lose weight faster than women, because typically men have greater muscle mass than women.

Cooking breaks long-chained sugars (which digest slowly and do not raise the blood sugar rapidly) down to short-chained ones or Monosaccharide’s (small sugar molecules that are easily absorbed). It raises blood glucose and consequently causes a “blast of insulin” to be released. This is counter-productive to the protocol. This is true whether you sauté or bake them.

Tofu is allowed and Tempeh (which is a Japanese ‘fermented tofu’) as well. Plain Tofu has about 7-8 grams of protein per ounce of raw product, so the dieter would want about 3 to 4 ounces to create a meal (around). Be careful with some of the “flavored tofu” because they might have too many carbohydrates (total carbs should be less than 5 grams per serving). Also there are many soy “meat products” out there like “Tofurkey”, and the dieter should read the labels. Most of the “Garden Burgers” are unacceptable as they have little protein (5-6 grams) and way too many carbohydrates.

NO, phase 3 is not a weight loss phase; dieters are on a phase that maintains their weight. We are going to re-introduce carbohydrates in Phase 3 “to wake up the pancreas”.