Your Path to Wellness
Frequently Asked Questions
We know that starting a new program can feel overwhelming—especially if you’ve been disappointed before. These FAQs are here to give you the clarity and confidence you need to take the next step on your wellness journey.
Common Questions
Your Questions Matter—We’re Here to Answer Them
Most diets focus only on calorie restriction — Ideal Protein focuses on resetting you metabolic flexibility. We use your body’s unique chemistry to create your own personalized macro code. You’ll work with trained, medically credentialed coaches who adjust your plan based on your progress and own ideal weight goal. This isn’t guesswork — it’s science-backed weight loss with real human support.
No. Our program is clinically validated and rooted in functional medicine principles. We focus on resetting you metabolism from storing fat and burning carbohydrates as its primary fuel source, to using your fat stores as efficient energy. We do this, while maintaining lean muscle mass, through adequate protein intake and ketosis. Each of our 3 phases has a purpose — from weight loss to stabilization to maintenance — ensuring results that last.
We use Ideal Protein as a structured foundation, but we personalize your plan based on your body and your lifestyle. Some clients follow the full protocol; others use it as a framework within a more flexible approach once their metabolism stabilizes. Following the protocol exactly will always yield the most effective results, but our clinical staff will work with you realizing that one size does not fit all.
Everyone’s ideal balance of protein, fats, and carbohydrates is different. Your blood tells us where your metabolism is struggling and what it needs to return to balance. By stripping away its current dependency on carbohydrates and resetting your metabolic flexibility, we will learn your ideal number, or code, (in grams) of protein’s, fat’s, and carbohydrate’s that you need to support your new weight and daily energy needs indefinitely.
Unlike calorie counting, we’re not focused on numbers but on metabolic response. And unlike strictly ketogenic diets, which can be extreme and unsustainable, our plan uses a moderate, balanced approach to low-glycemic eating — providing enough protein and nutrients to support energy, muscle, and long-term health.
You’ll enjoy a mix of Ideal Protein meals and fresh whole foods — lean meats and vegetables. The Ideal Protein catalog of options is quite extensive and offers all kinds of options including sweet and savory snacks to meet your preferences. As you move through the phases, we’ll expand your options to include more flexibility and freedom while keeping your metabolism optimized.
There will always be some initial discomfort as your metabolism resets and learns to burn fat as fuel instead of depending on readily available simple sugars and carbohydrates. However, most clients are surprised at how satisfied they feel by the end of the first week. Because your meals are rich in protein, adequate hydration is encouraged, and low in simple carbs; blood sugar stays stable, cravings diminish, and hunger is well-controlled. We also provide easy-to-grab Ideal Protein foods to keep things simple when life gets busy.
While Phase 1 is the most rigid, and we are here to help coach you though the tough days, it gets easier the longer you stick with it. Once you are in the maintenance phase, we teach real-world flexibility. You’ll learn how to navigate restaurant menus, make smart swaps at social events, and keep progress steady even when life gets hectic. This isn’t about perfection — it’s about mastery.
Yes — though we tailor it to your phase. In the early stages, we focus on fat-burning efficiency, so light-to-moderate exercise is ideal. Once your metabolism adapts, we’ll guide you toward resistance training and cardio that enhance muscle tone and energy.
Yes. Our functional approach is specifically designed to help people with hormonal, metabolic, or inflammatory conditions. Your initial consultation includes detailed health screening and we offer lab work analysis, so your program is built around your body’s needs — not a one-size-fits-all plan.
Just book your initial consultation. We’ll start with a comprehensive intake, review your goals, and map out your personalized plan. You’ll leave that first meeting with clear next steps and a timeline tailored to you.
You’ll never be left to figure things out alone. You’ll have:
A dedicated coach who checks in weekly
Access to medical guidance for interpreting any lab work or questions you have with prescription medications
Step-by-step education so you understand how your body works
Community support, recipes, and mindset resources
We walk with you through every phase — from your first pound lost to full lifestyle maintenance.
In Phase 1 (active weight loss), you’ll meet weekly to review results and refine your plan. In Phases 2 and 3 (stabilization and maintenance), meetings transition to biweekly or monthly check-ins to ensure continued success.
No — we work with clients both in-clinic and virtually across Canada and the United States. Your weekly coaching sessions can happen in person, by video call, or by phone — whatever fits your schedule best.
That’s completely normal. Almost every person who walks through our doors feels that way. But here’s what happens next: within weeks, you’ll start seeing your body change, your energy return, and your confidence rise. We’ll help you every step of the way — you just have to take the first one.
We get it and you are not alone — that’s the #1 fear most clients have. The difference here is you’re not doing it alone, and we don’t rely on punitive measures, willpower, or “discipline” alone. We know that you tried hard in the past and its not a matter of having failed. You have likely never been introduced to scientifically backed weight loss like this before, and we are excited to share our experience and knowledge with you. We want to help you rebuild your metabolism, coach you through the tough days, and help you understand your body so deeply that you’ll never have to diet again.
Results will vary, but during Phase 1 of the protocol most women can expect to lose between 2–4 lbs per week with a mid estimate of around 12 lbs per month. Men can expect to losing 4-8 lbs per week with a mid estimate of 24lbs per month. Factors that can influence this loss depends on your starting weight, you ideal weight, how strictly you adhere to the Ideal Protocol protocol, as well as any prescription medication you may be taking. The real difference is not just the weight — it’s how you feel: more confident, clear-headed, energized, and in control of your body.
It depends on your goals and your body. There is no fixed time as Phase 1 will last until you are happy with your weight or reach your ideal weight goal. On average, however, Phase 1 can last anywhere from 8–16 weeks. This is followed by stabilization, which can last anywhere from 2-6 months, and then maintenance, which is encouraged for 12 months following your stabilization. This last phase is often overlooked, but is extremely important, as it teaches you how to keep the weight off for life as our coaches provide ongoing support and tweaks to make sure your diet is right for you.
Your first step is a comprehensive consultation which is $399. This includes everything you will need, including all Ideal Protein food for your first week and all nutritional supplements for your first month.
After that, our weekly program costs of $109 are comparable to what most clients already spend on groceries, coffee, and takeout — except now, every dollar goes toward your health and confidence. This weekly fee includes your appointment, biometrics with analysis, and all of your weekly Ideal Protein foods.
We also offer an Enhanced package at $499 that includes a food scale and your own home biometrics scale so you can upload and follow your daily progress.
Our Comprehensive package, at $579, includes everything listed above as well as a blood chemistry analysis and cell blueprint completed by our Nutritional expert for an even further dive into the unique make up of your body. This will enhance your journey so that we can start working with your body, instead of fighting it, to reach your health goals of not only wight loss, but a clear-headed and energized life.
Not at all. We offer flexible options depending on where you’re starting — whether you want to lose 15 lbs or 100 lbs. You’ll always have clear guidance, structured support, and choices that fit your goals and lifestyle. We have a flex Ideal Protein protocol for those that don’t feel quite ready for a complete metabolic overhaul as well as offer blood chemistry analysis and the cell blueprint separately for those wanting insight into other health concerns.
That’s when the most important phase begins: stabilization. We gradually reintroduce healthy carbohydrates, test your tolerance levels, and coach you on how to eat for your metabolism long-term. You’ll stay connected with your coach for ongoing accountability and support.
Yes. Our functional approach is specifically designed to help people with hormonal, metabolic, or inflammatory conditions. Your initial consultation includes detailed health screening and we offer lab work analysis, so your program is built around your body’s needs — not a one-size-fits-all plan.
Ideal protein weight loss is clinically validated and medically supported making it safe for the vast majority of people experiencing a wide variety of medical conditions. One of the first things we do is a comprehensive medical and medication history to make sure that Ideal Protein is right and safe for you. That being said, there are a few conditions that would exclude people from the program:
- Ideal Protein is not designed for women who are pregnant, plan on becoming pregnant, or currently breastfeeding.
- Individuals with Type I diabetes, or uncontrolled blood-glucose issues, may require the “Alternative Protocol” or might not be eligible for the standard program.
- Because the protocol is high in protein and low in carbs, people with significant renal (kidney) dysfunction or liver dysfunction may be excluded or need special monitoring.
- Ideal Protein is not recommended for people with a history of bariatric surgery (e.g., gastric bypass, duodenal switch).
- Major recent cardiovascular events (such as acute myocardial infarction, stroke) or serious life-threatening illness may exclude someone from participating in Ideal Protein
- A history of anorexia, bulimia, or a binge eating disorder may be an exclusion because the structured diet may conflict with safe nutritional/psychological management.
- Medication or medical conditions interfering with low-carbohydrate high-protein diets, for example, being on a prescribed SGLT-2 inhibitor (a specific diabetes medication) prevents starting the regular protocol.
- Patients with uncontrolled psychiatric conditions, such as dementia, or inability to follow protocol instructions reliably, may not be able to participate in Ideal Protein.
Ideal Protein is not designed for women who are pregnant, plan on becoming pregnant, or currently breastfeeding.
While blood work is not a mandatory requirement of the program, it is strongly recommended as these clinical indicators can help protocol management as well as highlight other medical factors that may be inhibiting you from achieving your ideal health and wellness outcomes. Our clinic offers comprehensive blood analysis as well as cell blueprint clinical testing to help you along your journey to ideal health. We can recommend what kinds of tests to ask your family physician for or, if you do not have a family doctor, connect you with our community supporting prescribers who are happy to partner with us and can order these labs for you.
Ideal Protein protocol states that strict vegans (who consume no animal proteins or by-products) are not eligible as the program is built around certain animal protein or egg/animal-derived foods. However there are a multitude of vegetarian options the Ideal Protein is quite compatible with a vegetarian lifestyle.
You can absolutely continue to drink coffee or tea on Ideal Protein protocol. The only change that may need to be made is to any additives, such as cream or sugar, that you may be used to regularly adding. Due to the low carb high protein nature of the protocol only 0 cal/carb/sugar sweeteners should be used and cream of half-and-half should be limited to 2 tablespoons per day.
It is not recommended to drink any alcohol while on Ideal Protein protocol, especially during Phase 1, as it is designed to keep you in mild ketosis — your body burns stored fat instead of carbohydrates for energy. Alcohol metabolism will always take priority in your liver meaning that it shifts from burning fat to breaking down ethanol. This process temporarily halts the fat burning process stopping the very thing that drives weight loss on Ideal Protein. Unfortunately even small amounts (a glass of wine, a beer) can kick you out of ketosis for 24–48 hours.
The other major concern is that while in ketosis, your body’s glycogen stores are very low. As alcohol lowers blood sugar and impairs gluconeogenesis (your body’s ability to make glucose) this combination can trigger dizziness, fatigue, or even hypoglycemia — especially as you’re eating low-carb, low-calorie meals. The good news is that alcohol can be reintroduced in Phase 2-3 in moderation and with awareness of carbohydrate content. The general recommendation is waiting until your weight and metabolism have stabilized (after 8–12 weeks of Phase 2) before having an occasional drink.
Your Health, Our Mission
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Get in touch and we’ll personally answer whatever questions you have.
- 403-360-0114
- info@wellnesshealthsolutions.ca
- Suggett Centre 2009 18th St, Coaldale, AB