IDEAL PROTEIN - Your last diet!

Ideal Protein was developed by Dr. Tran Tien Chanh, a European-Asian medical doctor with a PhD in nutrition, sports medicine and biology. This is a 4-phase retraining eating program (or "treatment") that helps stabilize the pancreas and blood sugar levels while burning fat and maintaining muscle and other lean tissue.

The program was originally developed to secure the muscle mass of high-performance athletes and regulate their insulin levels. Dr. Tran improved the protein source of the acclaimed "protein diet" originated in 1973 by Dr. Blackburn, a Harvard University professor. Dr. Tran used this approach with athletes in Europe for over 18 years, also targeting energy and good, safe nutrition. The Ideal treatment program is focused on the pancreas, insulin production, and stabilizing and maintaining weight loss long term.  

The program utilizes a natural health coach that may facilitate success for even the most frustrated dieter that has "tried everything" or some troubled with blood sugar challenges. This valuable coaching process serves to educate and encourage the dieters with a consistent method that is scientifically proven and deemed by most as easy to execute and maintain.

Although dieters are warned that the first 3 days of the sugar withdrawals can be quite tough, the small percentage that experience problems almost always hang in there for amazing results starting on day 4. Most commonly, dieters tell us about:

• Improved energy and reduced cravings on usually the 4th or 5th day
• Dramatically improved blood sugar for the sugar challenged, often within the first week
• Elated joy and pride early in the process
• Attainment of their goal weight and often exceeding it
• Maintaining their goal weight, even after extended vacations from the diet

Based on experience in Europe, Canada, and now a large group of people in the US who have tried it, the program enables the following:

• Quick weight loss without sacrificing muscle mass
• Gaining an understanding of how food affects and is utilized by the body, including what causes fat storage
• Utilization of fat for energy usually by day 4-fat (including cellulite) that sequesters chemical toxins
• Improved energy and appetite control, reduced cravings - usually on day 4 or 5
• Improved blood sugar and cholesterol levels, reduced blood pressure

The Ideal Protein instant packets contain the highest quality proteins and are low in carbohydrates and fat with no trans fats, no aspartame and are MSG- and GMO-free. Protein is the main building block in the body, is the primary component of most cells, and is essential to human life. Every cell in the body has it, including skin, hair, bones, muscle and organ tissue. It is found in the bloodstream, in hormones and in enzymes.

The Ideal Protein Diet is nothing like the typical diet that offers packaged foods. Ideal's instant packets are NOT the common meal replacements that contain a so-called "balance" of carbohydrates, fats and protein. Consuming carbohydrates promotes insulin production thereby promoting fat storage. For a balanced diet, consuming fats is very important, but for fat loss, one must eliminate most fat from the diet for the initial stage of the program. Eating a "balanced diet" prevents the proper set up of the fat loss process in the body. One of the goals of the Ideal treatment is to cause the body to delve into its energy reserves-into stored fat-for its energy, thereby facilitating fat loss.

Additionally, by virtually eliminating all highly-refined sugars and starches from your diet, the pancreas is afforded a rest since there is no need for it to produce much insulin, which happens to be its main function.

Whether or not the pancreas is working properly partly determines one's predisposition to gain or not to gain weight. Clinical research has shown that a dysfunctional pancreas is often a key reason many people have difficulty losing weight. A properly functioning pancreas is essential to good health and healthy weight loss. A properly functioning pancreas produces the right amount of insulin necessary to regulate our blood sugar levels (or glycemia). The Ideal Protein Diet is a short-term "treatment" program for the pancreas as well as a program for fat loss.

How does Ideal Protein work?

The typical American diet consisting of processed foods-refined sugars and starches such as bread, pasta, potatoes, snacks and sweets, etc.-overworks the pancreas. The pancreas must constantly pump out insulin to take care of all the sugar (or glucose) that makes up these foods. (Realize that a slice of bread is nothing but pure, simple sugar; the same is true for potatoes, pasta, white rice and all other processed "white" foods, including breakfast cereals.)

It is important to understand that the minute carbohydrates are consumed, they are broken down into glucose in the bloodstream, and then whatever is not needed immediately for energy is swooped up by insulin, converted into fat and stored. Since it is the job of the pancreas to produce the insulin necessary to remove glucose from the bloodstream (and store it as fat), eating a high carbohydrate diet causes the pancreas to work overtime, to eventually become worn out or dysfunctional.

A dysfunctional pancreas produces excess insulin, resulting in a drastic drop in the blood sugar level (hypoglycemia), thereby leading to cravings of more sugar. Then, more sugar is consumed and the cycle starts over. Remember, insulin is the fat storage hormone - the hormone that converts the foods you've consumed into stored fat. Consequently, an overproduction of insulin leads to excess fat storage.

The body gets its fuel or energy from the three macronutrient sources: 1) carbohydrates, 2) protein, and 3) fat. The carbohydrate or glycogen energy reserves are used up first, followed by our protein and fat reserves. (Glycogen is the form in which glucose is stored in the muscles and the liver.)

After approximately 3 days on the Ideal Protein program, your glycogen reserves are depleted and your body begins to burn your stored fat cells for energy naturally. This results in your body producing ketonic bodies (ketones) that are a natural appetite suppressant thus preventing cravings after the first few days and providing you with energy. You will start losing weight-or fat-as soon as fat becomes your first source of energy. You will then burn fat while nourishing muscle with the high-quality, highly-absorbable Ideal foods containing the 9 essential amino acids that you consume throughout the day. Remember, muscle is the engine that burns calories every minute of every day, and by supplying your diet with this essential protein, you ensure that your muscle is not used significantly for energy.

During this time you will also rebalance your pancreas by giving it a much-needed rest. A properly functioning pancreas is the key to avoiding filling up your fat reserves once you have completed the "treatment" period and you return to more normal eating.

It is well known that there are certain foods as well as certain bad eating habits that cause weight gain and there are other foods and eating habits that prevent weight loss. The Ideal Protein program will guide you and support you in your quest to lose fat safely by helping you understand the difference between "eating a balanced diet" and "eating for weight loss." And most importantly, upon reaching the final stage, you will also have learned to use the right combinations of foods within each meal to maintain your weight loss permanently.

With the Ideal Protein program, you will not only rediscover your ideal shape, but you will also significantly improve your health. The program is designed to work with Ideal's high-quality nutritional supplements, a unique combination that guarantees safe and healthy weight loss. These supplements are designed to ensure a nutritionally comprehensive weight loss program.

Supplementation is crucial to your success since you will be missing out on some important fats and other nutrients during this short-term diet or "treatment" period. The coach works with your dieter's profile (that you will fill out) to assist you in selecting the proper supplementation for your specific issues (e.g. food allergies, digestive issues, toxicity of the liver or kidneys). The coach will encourage you to consult with your health care provider regarding any such issues.

The 4 Phases

Your first step is to schedule a consult with our office ($100 fee and $150 for your first week of foods and supplements).  The consult fee and the fee for the first week's foods and supplements are due at the time of your appointment.

Stage 1: You start out using a packet as the basis of 3 of your 4 meals each day-you follow this until you have reached 90% of your weight loss goal. Average Cost: $85 per week

Stage 2: You reduce the Ideal foods to 2 per day and continue the Ideal plan until you've reached 100% of your goal. Average Cost: $60 per week

Stage 3: For weight loss stabilization, you will reintroduce moderate amounts of fats and carbohydrates to your diet for 14 days. Average Cost: $30 per week

Stage 4: You continue to eat the way you have by this time learned to eat by choosing healthy foods and the right combinations of foods.

Ideal Diet Foods

• Raspberry Crunch, Caramel Nut, Lemon, Vanilla, or Banana Bar
• Blueberry, Cranberry, Pomegranate Juice
• Pineapple, Banana, Chocolate, Peach, Mango Drink
• Wild berry Yogurt Drink
• Orange, Plain, Chocolate Crêpe
• Raspberry Jello
• Soya Nuts
• Chocolate Coated Soy Crisps
• Maple Oatmeal
• Butterscotch, Chocolate, Vanilla or Lemon Pudding
• Chicken or Mushroom Soup
• Vegetable Chilli
• Bolognaise Spaghetti
• Fine Herb and Cheese Omelette                                         

There is not any one diet that is universally best for all people there are some simple dietary principles that are applicable to everyone. If these are followed, almost everyone seems to improve in health and functionality, and all chronic diseases seem to at least improve in severity if not go into remission. Some individuals may require more regimented diet protocols such as an elimination diet, GI diets, or other individualized programs.

You can learn as much or as little as you want to at Women’s Health Advantage, then make your own decisions as to what changes, if any, that you wish to make in your life. You'll be surprised at how much control you have over your health.  There are several ways to learn more about a Healthy Diet and what you can do to reduce your risk of disease. You can make small changes in your life and lifestyle that can help you get your weight under control, get your blood sugar under control and get your blood pressure under control, just to mention a few.

We also offer frequent monthly seminars so check out the Seminars section on this site.

The Last Diet - The Ideal Protein Diet

What we’ve found works best is to jump start your diet program by losing several pounds quickly and in a healthy manner. We use Ideal Protein Diet products to accomplish this. It includes a combination diet of your normal food in addition to a small amount of specialty Ideal Protein foods that help clean your system. Not surprisingly, you'll find most of the Ideal Protein Diet foods to be very tasty. Because some high protein diets, often high in saturated fats, can tax your liver and kidneys, we recommend a program that provides you with just the right amount of the highest quality protein needed to protect and even improve your muscle mass, all the while keeping you deliciously sustained, until you’ve reached 100% of your weight loss goals.

You need a diet that will transform your body’s ability to digest sugars properly by regulating your insulin level. How? By giving your pancreas a well-deserved break and by cutting out carbohydrates, until you’ve reached your weight goal. The secret is to detoxify your pancreas. This requires a no-sugar, high fiber, high protein diet. The length of a solid diet plan is dependent on how much weight you want to lose. Our recommended plan requires a commitment on your part to stay off of sugars while retraining your pancreas. This can take as little as a few weeks. Or it can take months. After all, you didn’t gain that weight in only a few weeks. And when you’re at your desired weight you will obviously need to make good lifestyle choices so you don’t gain the weight back. Retraining your pancreas gives the body the ability to respond with renewed levels of vital force, energy and, most of all, profound well-being. This process oxygenates the blood, eliminates toxins and balances the acidity level (pH level). It also improves the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food (bioavailability) by fulfilling the body’s potassium requirements. According to Dr. Tran Tien Chanh, MD, “The cause of most weight problems in a modern society is insulin dysfunction. A diet grossly disproportionate in its share of saturated fats and sugars, such as in breads, cereals, muffins, cakes, pastries, pasta, pizza, rice, corn – very much like the Standard American Diet causes the pancreas to produce an overabundance of insulin, which stays in your system and puts the blood sugar level in a negative balance.”

What does the bank do when your account is in the negative? They call you and tell you to put more money in your account. Well, your body will do the same thing. It will ask you to put more sugar in your body which is what you experience as sugar cravings. Sugar cravings are caused by a negative sugar level in your blood. An overproduction of insulin leads to hypoglycemia or low glycemia, which in turn induces constant cravings, which in turn induces weight gain. Insulin not only regulates your blood sugar level, it is also the hormone that makes you gain weight and locks in fat cells.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention labels obesity as public enemy number 1. Obesity affects nearly 30% of our population. Obese individuals have a higher than normal rate of hypertension, Type II diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, gallbladder diseases, osteoarthritis, strokes, respiratory diseases and even some types of cancers. Government studies predict that one in three people born today will develop diabetes in their lifetime. According to Dr. Walter Willet of Harvard Medical School, if our current dietary trends continue, for the first time in our history, our children will live sicker and die younger than their parents. This is not a legacy that we are comfortable leaving.

So what changes do we need to make?

• First, learn to live off your body’s own fat reserves. Your body gets its energy from three reserves: carbohydrates, protein and fats. The body first burns energy from its simple and complex carbohydrate reserves and, when depleted, turns simultaneously to its protein and fat reserves for energy. A trim person typically has 1-2% of their reserves in carbohydrates, 19% in muscle mass and 79% in fat.
• Second, until you reach your weight goals, restrict all sugars from your diet, even healthy fruits and those vegetables that have a high sugar content such as corn, potatoes, beets, peas and carrots. Because as long as sugar is entering your system, you’re not burning fat. The idea is to deplete your carbohydrate reserves completely in order to get your body to turn to its fat to burn calories.
• Your weight control program should begin with a consultation with a health care provider. During this time you should be instructed on the different programs, which are proven to lower your blood insulin levels, reduce inflammation, reduce oxidative stress, benefit impaired metabolism, detoxify your system and address mind, body and spirit imbalances. These are the forces of chronic disease, illness and weight gain. If you have any of the above listed issues you will be required to have a signed release form from your primary physician.
• Your physician or dietician should evaluate your medical and weight history, and make the appropriate recommendations for your individualized program. You may be prescribed a comprehensive blood panel and/or other specialized blood and urine testing. Your weight and body fat index should be tested along with your hydration level. You should be provided with an individualized lifestyle program with exercise specific protocols that are very important components to a successful weight loss and lifestyle program, just for you.

Attend our FREE health talks as shown on this Web site to learn about healthy weight loss. Learn about a method that targets quick loss of inches and fat, while feeding muscle mass, improving digestion, increasing energy, lessening cravings, stabilizing blood sugar, and more.

Call our scheduling department to schedule a $100 non-refundable consult with a Nurse Practitioner.

Stefani Johnston, NP is currently taking appointments on Wednesdays at our Dupont Location. 

Shelby Kiebel, NP is currently taking appointments on Thursdays at our Dupont Location. 

Rachael Johnson, NP is currently taking appointments on Mondays and Tuesdays at our Jefferson Location.

Ideal Protein Information Packet - please print this packet  - YOU MUST BRING THIS PAPERWORK TO THE OFFICE PRIOR TO YOUR FIRST VISIT.

Ideal Protein Website

Recipes