Phase 3 information for HCG diet

[KelliC]

From what I see, some people can dive right in and not have a problem--others can't. I chose to take it slow because.. what can it hurt? I'd rather go slowly and maintain than dive in and be 5-10 lb over ldw in a week or two. My hubby definitely dove right in and has gained 5lbs back (he also has a really fast metabolism and didn't really need hcg-- he pretty much did it to support me and dd) DD didn't dive in a badly as hubby but she was having "normal" amounts of bread and sugar within the first week of P3 and her weight definitely fluctuates more than mine. I am have small portions of just about anything I want and the biggest fluctuation I've seen from foods (now that I'm in P4) is .3 lb and it was right back down the next morning. My dd will fluctuate up to 1.5. Some people that take it slowly still fluctuate a lot I just prefered to go slowly so that when I did fluctuate I could be pretty sure of why and what to expect. I'm really thankful for everyone here that shares their experinces and gives advice, It's been truly invaluable to me

[dawnyama]

Originally Posted by hikergurl

Hello all you wonderful people! I've learned SO much from this thread already and really appreciate the time all of you put in to pass on your knowledge & experience to us following behind you.

So I'm pretty "Type A" and probably overanalyze things way too much. I'm still 2 weeks away from P3 but want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row before starting. Even after reading through this whole thread, there are 2 things still confusing me:

1) It seems some people go about entering into P3 very methodically, only adding one thing at a time throughout the entire course. Others just dive right in. Is there one method that is proven to be more successful than the other?

2) If I take the route of adding things in one at a time, am I just to assume that the weight showed on the scale the very next morning is an accurate reflection of my body's reaction to the previous day's food? I've read that sometimes you can have a gain just from too much sodium, or water weight, from TOM, or even from something you ate TWO DAYS before. So it seems like it might be wrong to assume that the scale is reacting to only what I ate the day before when it could be so many other things.

I think the bottom line is that I don't want to live in a constant state of stress and over-analyzation over every little morsel of food (as long as they are allowed foods) - as I do in P2 whenever the scale doesn't move. Especially if the scale number may not be telling the whole story.

Advice?

1. I dive right in every time that start P3. Eggs scrambled in butter smothered in sour cream with 2 slices bacon for every breakfast!! That and coffee with plenty of heavy whipping cream. I know what foods effect me and what don't. So I don't worry about it any more.

2. You will know when it is a reaction to a food versus a gain from anything else. Peggy had a 3 lb gain from eating almonds and it happened EVERY time she ate them. So you will know the difference.

Advice: Journal your food so you can watch your trends. If you gain every time you eat a certain food, you will know. I forget from breakfast to lunch what I ate, so I write down everything I put in my mouth. Kind of tedious but it is your best tool in finding your trigger foods.

[NeekoM]

Originally Posted by dawnyama

1. I dive right in every time that start P3. Eggs scrambled in butter smothered in sour cream with 2 slices bacon for every breakfast!! That and coffee with plenty of heavy whipping cream. I know what foods effect me and what don't. So I don't worry about it any more.

2. You will know when it is a reaction to a food versus a gain from anything else. Peggy had a 3 lb gain from eating almonds and it happened EVERY time she ate them. So you will know the difference.

Advice: Journal your food so you can watch your trends. If you gain every time you eat a certain food, you will know. I forget from breakfast to lunch what I ate, so I write down everything I put in my mouth. Kind of tedious but it is your best tool in finding your trigger foods.

I dove right in with the fats but the other things - dairy, nuts, fruit, and cheese mainly - I took slowly, adding only one new thing every two days. It seems to take until that second day for it to show on the scale for me. I completely agree with Dawn about the journal. I wrote down everything during P3 and it was pretty easy to see what caused my gains when I had them.

Good luck, hickergurl, during P3! Try not to stress too much and enjoy your food!

[RedsSkinnyJeans]

I "dove in" to butter, eggs, avocados, upping all the fats and more of the proteins. I was careful and slow with cream cheese, nuts, splenda and all that. I am my own science experiment :-) I didn't keep a journal because I have an inherent tendency to hate that sorta thing, but I watched everything very carefully and determined that if I gained, I'd be alert to the cause. My only mistake was the agave' syrup, which I wasn't supposed to have anyway. I remember feeling positively DECADENT after eating some sweetened mascarpone with strawberries and fully expecting to see an increase the next morning - and I didn't!! (hey, it was like a tablespoon..).

Some people always know their bank balance in their head. Some people rarely have an accurate idea. But we've all put a lot of investment in this. So I think it's just whatever way you choose - but the important this is to pay attention and "learn" your body.

[KelliC]

acckk I need to correct myself. I did pretty much dive into P3 --I took it easy on dairy for the first 2 or 3 days, but I don't seem to have a problem with any P3 friendly food. My dd and hubby were eating bread and sugar in P3 by the first week of P3, so the lines of P3 and P4 got blurred around my house-- in P4 I have taken it very slowly and now 4 weeks into P4 I'm having small servings of bread and small servings of sugar --mainly because I'm skeered , but it's working for me --- I think a lot depends on how well you know your body in relation to what affects it ( I'm not that great at it so going slowly has helped me be better) plus did I mention I'm skeered??:blush: lol.

[RedsSkinnyJeans]

Oh my gosh, I'd lose my mind!! I haven't had even a TASTE of bread or sugar since February!! I have a strong feeling I'd be right back in my size 12 jeans if I had bread and or sugar. The problem for me with that is once I have some, it's like crack. I WANT MORE!

For me, it's not about eating it, it's about the ensuing insanity. It will make my life difficult. What is that AA saying? "One drink is too much and one drink is never enough"? (something like that) I'm that way with sugar, bread, and high carby stuff in general.

One night, on P2, I went thru a whole pack of melba toast. The ENTIRE next day, you'd think I was a starving lioness on a hunt. I wanted to "jump" on ANYTHING and devour it! (preferably a box of jelly donuts). I'm also sure that with the exception of a once a month splurge day, that sugar and bread can't EVER come back into my life. When I'm finishing up, I'll figure out my "rules" I'm thinking that Ezekiel bread and some occasional whole wheat pasta will be it - (and of course, the starchy veggies).

That said - for my husband - the rules are all completely different. He'll probably be able to exist on Krispy Creams and pasta Alfredo half the time and not gain. Rrrrrr!!!

[KelliC]

Originally Posted by RedL.I.

That said - for my husband - the rules are all completely different. He'll probably be able to exist on Krispy Creams and pasta Alfredo half the time and not gain. Rrrrrr!!!

Mine too--after P2 I found out that my hubby was eating doughnuts throught and he STILL lost more than me (and I strictly followed protocol) Oh well I know what you mean about the AA statements Carbs and sugar definitely can be addicting. I found that after P3, some of my favorite sweets taste a little off to me now. Not neccessarily bad but no where near as good as I remember them tasting--don't know why that happened but I'll take it

Hope you have an easy transition to the next phase

[NeekoM]

Originally Posted by RedL.I.

That said - for my husband - the rules are all completely different. He'll probably be able to exist on Krispy Creams and pasta Alfredo half the time and not gain. Rrrrrr!!!

Oh my word! My husband eats so much "junk" and has not had to do one correction day! Men

[hikergurl]

Thanks everyone! You have been super helpful

[Trish9]

Originally Posted by dawnyama

1. Milk is out! It has lactose--milk sugar. But cream is in, less sugar that way.
2. avocados are great!! Not sure why anyone would say no to them in P3--perfect P3 food. I cannot have a salad without them.
3. Nuts--very tricky!!! Some people have trouble with keeping to the portion size. A can is not a portion If you can handle an oz or 2 at a time, then go for it! The other thing is so many people have sensitivities to nuts, so you have to watch for a gain after eating them. Peggy has had trouble eating them on P3. And remember that peanuts and cashews are NOT nuts--so hold off on those til P4.

Should be, Johnny come lately to this topic...

I like milk, but rarely drink it. So, if I buy even a quart, it will probably spoil. I did learn one thing when I was making my own yogurt, however. I buy the lactose free milk. It lasts way longer and freezes way better than the regular milk, which includes fat free, 2%, or whole. For some reason, these milks, after being frozen, have tiny lumps. Not really lumps, but perhaps tiny curds. The lactose free milk doesn't do this.

What are they putting into our milk now?" she said with great trepidation.

Done any reading about fluoride and chlorine lately?

Your right cashews are seeds that grow inside the cashew apple and peanuts grow under ground. I wish I could post a link here, but do try Googling pictures of cashew growing.

[Zbunny]

I was more of a "just dive right in" girl. I just ate to satiety, avoiding all sugars (except fruit) and starches. I did see fluctuations the first 3 days, but luckily the smart people around here told me not to worry about it, just to keep my calories up (esp fat calories). I am currently maintaining very stably with about 1800-2200 cals/day (the only exception is when I eat peanut butter, which isn't on P3 anyway, and is a huge trigger food for me - I have had gains after eating it which resulted in Correction Days, but other than that, steady as a rock). I didn't overanalyze things too much, although I do track in ****** (not every day anymore, but I did during P2, and the first week of P3, which helped me to see that my friends here were right -- I stabilized AFTER increasing my cals and fats!) I am thrilled to be able to eat so much and stay so stable. The reset is real. I look back at my ****** entries from before Simeons and I see that I was maintaining with MUCH lower calories, and I would register a gain every time I'd bump up my cals to near BMR. Enjoy it! It's a huge part of the journey, and it helps map out how you will maintain for the rest of your life!

ETA: I did NOT dive right back into dairy though: I slowly added it in (I was having half-n-half all along, so I kept that, then added in GY, was fine, so added in a bit of cheese, etc.) and I still don't eat nearly as much cheese as I used to.

[RedsSkinnyJeans]

Originally Posted by Zbunny

- I stabilized AFTER increasing my cals and fats!) I am thrilled to be able to eat so much and stay so stable. The reset is real. I look back at my ****** entries from before Simeons and I see that I was maintaining with MUCH lower calories, and I would register a gain every time I'd bump up my cals to near BMR. Enjoy it! It's a huge part of the journey, and it helps map out how you will maintain for the rest of your life!

ETA: I did NOT dive right back into dairy though: I slowly added it in (I was having half-n-half all along, so I kept that, then added in GY, was fine, so added in a bit of cheese, etc.) and I still don't eat nearly as much cheese as I used to.

I agree with this completely!!! I am like a religious zealot in regard to pushing my calorie envelope! And my weight has stayed stable. From so many years teaching Weight Watchers, I know all about my daily calorie intake and how much makes me gain. I've had one chance so far in my adult life to change my set point - and I am running with it! I am careful with cheeses and heavy cream, but other fats, (and especially olive oil and avocado), I pour on!! I'm eating over 2000 calories a lot of days - and it is nothing short of astounding to see my weight stay the same!!

When we got into P3 there were some days when I saw my husband eating conservatively, cutting back, (like we used to eat every day...while we were 30 pounds over...), and I would say..."No! You're messing it up!!! You need to teach your body that we LLOOOVVVVEEEE calories!!! Don't teach it to live on 1200!! You're being a bad parent!" LOL

[Zbunny]

Originally Posted by RedL.I.

I agree with this completely!!! I am like a religious zealot in regard to pushing my calorie envelope! And my weight has stayed stable. From so many years teaching Weight Watchers, I know all about my daily calorie intake and how much makes me gain. I've had one chance so far in my adult life to change my set point - and I am running with it! I am careful with cheeses and heavy cream, but other fats, (and especially olive oil and avocado), I pour on!! I'm eating over 2000 calories a lot of days - and it is nothing short of astounding to see my weight stay the same!!

Yep, yep, and yep, to all of that!

Originally Posted by RedL.I.

When we got into P3 there were some days when I saw my husband eating conservatively, cutting back, (like we used to eat every day...while we were 30 pounds over...), and I would say..."No! You're messing it up!!! You need to teach your body that we LLOOOVVVVEEEE calories!!! Don't teach it to live on 1200!! You're being a bad parent!" LOL

Love it!

[Missouri_Librarian]

bumping, just started P3 this week..love the tips here..ty

[privatediva]

Miss. Librarian....your success is *incredible*. You look so beautiful. Congrats. Really inspiring.

[Missouri_Librarian]

Originally Posted by privatediva

Miss. Librarian....your success is *incredible*. You look so beautiful. Congrats. Really inspiring.

thank you, I appreciate that

[maggiek]

I am entering P3. I am not a breakfast person and dislike eggs in any form. I will opt for the protein shakes. Can anyone recommend a good (tasty) low carb protein powder that doesn't have sugar or aspartame/sucralose?

I have lost 29 lbs - would like to lose another 10. Should I enter this stage or continue for a 3rd round of the VLCD?

[Missouri_Librarian]

i dont eat breakfast at all, as i have never been a breakfast person myself...

I am not at goal ether and went on to this stage and then will go on to P4 to get to goal...I am having some trouble with this phase as I keep on losing daily and know I am not supposed to...luckily one of the ladies on here is helping me with that

I get my protein powder at Sams club...EAS brand....but sorry just checked it has sucralose

good luck in whatever you choose

[maggiek]

Thanks! I looked up a product called "Metabolic Reset" by Nature's Way. It got mostly good user reviews and a local health food store does carry it.

I find this third phase to be confusing - I want to continue to lose more, but I'm doing this with my wellness doc and she didn't want me to continue with the HCG drops for more than two months consecutively. I will just keep re-reading everything so I don't screw it up. This forum thread has been very helpful so far.

[LowcarbFan]

I would check Netrition's prices. That is the store here on the site. It looks like their Nature's Way products are on sale for half off or so and shipping is always just 4.95. Netrition is most always cheaper then any price on the net and most stores. I order several things from the site and always save a ton of money. I even send things to my diabetic parents!

Sorry for sounding like a commercial but I love Netrition!

[1moretry]

Originally Posted by maggiek

I am entering P3. I am not a breakfast person and dislike eggs in any form. I will opt for the protein shakes. Can anyone recommend a good (tasty) low carb protein powder that doesn't have sugar or aspartame/sucralose?

I have lost 29 lbs - would like to lose another 10. Should I enter this stage or continue for a 3rd round of the VLCD?

I have used Garden of Life Goatein powder. It is made from goat milk, so if you have dairy issues, this might not work for you. One scoop has 13 g protein and only 3 g of milk sugars, net of fiber. Plant-based protein powders are usually higher in carbs.

The Metabolic Reset mentioned above has xylitol in it.

As for continuing for another round of VCLD or moving into P3, you don't say what form of HCG you are using (homeopathic or actual Rx hormone), and that does make a bit of a difference. Either way, though, you have lost a substantial amount of weight and your body probably needs to rest, reshape and adapt before asking it to go further. That's the purpose of P3, IMO.

After treating thousands of patients, I think Simeons had good reasons for how he said the protocol should be followed, so I recommend you look at P&I for what he had to say on this subject.

[maggiek]

Thank you for the response. I was using the actual Rx hormone; working with a wellness doctor on this program. I will continue to read thru these forum postings as well as re-read (and re-read again!) the P&I for Simeons' methodology.

[shannashimmers]

I'am not eating this for awhile but just wondering about the low carb ice cream that is sugar free? would those be a big no no

[dawnyama]

Originally Posted by shannashimmers

I'am not eating this for awhile but just wondering about the low carb ice cream that is sugar free? would those be a big no no

You need to read the labels. If it is starch free and sugar free than it is OK. You can even make your own I bought my own ice cream maker when I started P3 2 summers ago. Yum!!

[shannashimmers]

Yeah I'am just wanting some ice cream so bad! Here is the ingredients in the low carb ice cream maybe someone can tell me if there is a starch in there

Milk, Skim Milk, Cream, Sorbitol, Polydextrose, Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Whey, Glycerine, Cellulose Gel, Propylene Glycol Monoesters, Mono And Diglycerides, Salt, Cellulose Gum, Carob Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Sucralose (Splenda ® Brand), Acesulfame Potassium, Carrageenan, Natural Flavor.

[Missouri_Librarian]

I had a sf fudge bar tonight...will see how it effects me in the morning....

[1moretry]

Originally Posted by shannashimmers

Yeah I'am just wanting some ice cream so bad! Here is the ingredients in the low carb ice cream maybe someone can tell me if there is a starch in there

Milk, Skim Milk, Cream, Sorbitol, Polydextrose, Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Whey, Glycerine, Cellulose Gel, Propylene Glycol Monoesters, Mono And Diglycerides, Salt, Cellulose Gum, Carob Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Sucralose (Splenda ® Brand), Acesulfame Potassium, Carrageenan, Natural Flavor.

As a general guide, anything that ends with -ose is a sugar. Polydextrose and sucralose are both sugars, although sucralose is an artificial sweetener that the body can't utilize, so it passes through intact (which is why it can cause diarrhea -- the body is rejecting it). Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol, like xylitol. Skim milk and whey are high in lactose (milk sugar) and since skim milk is second in the list, it is probably there in significant amounts. (FYI, propylene glycol is something found in antifreeze and toxic air fresheners.)

In reading labels, look at the breakdown for Carbohydrates. It should show total carbs and list the amount of fiber underneath that. Subtract fiber (in grams) from the total carbs and you get "effective carbs." Then multiply THAT number by the amount you actually eat. Most serving sizes are quite small (like 1/2 cup) and it's not uncommon for us to eat a lot more than a serving when we are responding to a craving.

When it comes to cravings, especially for carbs, they are made worse by our body's insulin response to even thinking about them, and ingesting them causes more insulin to be secreted in response. Some of us are more sensitive to carbs than others. I can't even use stevia because my body responds to the sweetness as if I had eaten table sugar. Gary Taubes' latest book explains this quite well and shows how carbs make us fat. IMO, Jonny Bowden's book on Living Low Carb does an even better job of explaining how this works and then gives comparisons of 36 different low carb plans for the long haul. He doesn't talk about HCG, though, so we have to rely on P&I for guidance about how to do P3. No sugar or starch in P3 and then very slow experimentation, always watching the scale, after that.

[martiangurll]

Hi everybody. I have just a couple of silly questions. I am not going into P3 anytime soon, but I really want to understand this part of the HCG protocol, since it appears to be the most important part?

Why are oranges okay for P2 but not P3?
If I follow low sugar/low starch in P3, I am not sure I can avoid losing weight! (Unless I eat enough fruit to exceed my CCLL that is. Is this how you ladies maintain? Or will the HCG reset so that I don't lose weight on Atkins anymore, just when I use the HCG and calorie restrict? Because if it does that, I don't want to do the HCG as Atkins is working--not as quickly as I'd like, but it does work and I don't want to mess with a good thing. Finally, if you are allowed fruit in P3 (and from the thread it looks like you are allowed certain fruits, just not high glycemic index ones) how do you ladies control your appetite? Because fruits make me crave big, big, big time. I think I am super sensitive to sugar of any kind, even natural fruit sugar, with the exception of really low carb stuff like raspberries and melon. But if I eat those, I will not stabilize I think, I will continue to lose, unless I eat a lot, kick myself out of ketosis and then I will crave food again!

[Missouri_Librarian]

Originally Posted by martiangurll

Hi everybody. I have just a couple of silly questions. I am not going into P3 anytime soon, but I really want to understand this part of the HCG protocol, since it appears to be the most important part?

Why are oranges okay for P2 but not P3?
If I follow low sugar/low starch in P3, I am not sure I can avoid losing weight! (Unless I eat enough fruit to exceed my CCLL that is. Is this how you ladies maintain? Or will the HCG reset so that I don't lose weight on Atkins anymore, just when I use the HCG and calorie restrict? Because if it does that, I don't want to do the HCG as Atkins is working--not as quickly as I'd like, but it does work and I don't want to mess with a good thing. Finally, if you are allowed fruit in P3 (and from the thread it looks like you are allowed certain fruits, just not high glycemic index ones) how do you ladies control your appetite? Because fruits make me crave big, big, big time. I think I am super sensitive to sugar of any kind, even natural fruit sugar, with the exception of really low carb stuff like raspberries and melon. But if I eat those, I will not stabilize I think, I will continue to lose, unless I eat a lot, kick myself out of ketosis and then I will crave food again!

those are some of the same questions I have been having to get help with since i started P3 last week...I did the omaha plan with my drops, not strict protocol....I still eat oranges just like i did on P2...I am losing weight on P3, not everyday, but some days and am still 3 pds below my ldw....Not sure why as I am eating my high cals, am eating my same fruits and am introducing new fruits and veggies...i am pushing the envelope so to speak as far as cals and carbs go.....that is my understanding as to how this phase is supposed to work...I am wanting my body to get used to this higher amount of cals and carbs so when this 3 weeks is over i can start really losing again and get to goal...Some days i gain, some days i lose...i no longer want to be afraid of carbs and cals as i was in my past way of eating of less than 5-8 carbs daily...i want healthy carbs and healthy cals to be my friend...i hope with the help of another member on here i am doing this correctly and after my 3 weeks i can get to goal..my goal of doing hcg, even though i was losing great on my previous woe was getting my body reset and used to these new healthy levels....good luck to you

[jessicaspector]

Originally Posted by Crazymama5

Here are some vegetables to avoid

Starchy (High Carb) Vegetables
The main veggies to be avoided when reducing carbohydrates are the starchier vegetables:
* Beets
* Carrots (depends on diet)
* Corn
* Parsnips
* Peas
* Plantains
* Potatoes in all forms
* Winter Squashes (particularly acorn and butternut)

And fruits to be careful about or avoid
Fruits fairly high in sugar:
* Grapes
* Tangerine
* Oranges
* Pineapple
* Kiwi

Fruits to be avoided in the maintenance phase:
* Bananas
* Dried Fruit
* Mango

Information about starch
Avoiding starch means avoid cornstarch, white flour, wheat flour, any flour, pasta, any bread or bread product, breadsticks, bagels, hamburger and hotdog buns, crackers, tortillas, oatmeal, rice, polenta, peas, corn, lentils, pita bread, pretzels, corn chips, potato chips, yams, potatoes, pancakes, muffins, nearly all root vegetables, any breading on fish, chicken, or other protein., beans, grains, acorn squash, butternut squash, cereals, granola, cereal bars, popcorn, biscuits, corn bread, taco shells, croutons, rice cakes, Cream of Wheat, corn meal, and some nuts.

Do not eat processed cheese (i.e. Velveeta), it contains unnecessary sugars and starches. Try not to eat processed anything for that matter.

It is important to remind you: eat at least double the protein you were eating on the protocol - at least 100 - 125 protein grams - that is not weight, but grams of pure protein. On the protocol you averaged about 50 so at least double that so you won't be protein deficient.

Be careful of introducing too many new foods at once. Try to introduce foods one at a time, so you can determine if a certain food causes a gain or loss. Some people have trouble with dairy or nuts. Our suggestion is to go with lean protein, fruit and vegetables during the first few days to balance out. Then, GRADUALLY introduce foods like nuts and dairy one at a time, so that if you react negatively it is easily identified.

If you are having trouble stabilizing your weight, begin by reducing the fats a bit (i.e. cheese or oil) and increase protein and vegetables. Some people, especially women, seem to be sensitive to cheese and the sodium apparently increases water retention = nominal weight gain (though not fat gain).


Low Carb Vegetables - good for P3
This list is roughly arranged from lowest to highest carbohydrate counts, but all are non-starchy and generally low in carbohydrates. Exact carb count depends on serving size. Remember when counting carbs in vegetables that the fiber is not counted, and can be subtracted from the total.

* Sprouts (bean, alfalfa, etc.)
* Greens – lettuces, spinach, chard, etc.
* Hearty Greens - collards, mustard greens, kale, etc.
* Radicchio and endive count as greens
* Herbs - parsley, cilantro, basil, rosemary, thyme, etc.
* Bok Choy
* Celery
* Radishes
* Sea Vegetables (Nori, etc)
* Broccoli
* Cauliflower
* Cabbage (or sauerkraut)
* Mushrooms
* Jicama
* Avocado
* Cucumber (or pickles without added sugars)
* Peppers (all kinds)
* Summer Squash (including zucchini)
* Scallions or green onions
* Asparagus
* Bamboo Shoots
* Leeks
* Brussels Sprouts
* Snow Peas (pods)
* Green Beans and Wax Beans
* Tomatoes
* Eggplant
* Artichoke Hearts
* Fennel
* Onions
* Okra
* Spaghetti Squash
* Celery Root (Celeriac)
* Carrots
* Turnip (see Carb Counts of Root Vegetables)
* Water Chestnuts
* Pumpkin

Fruits lowest in sugar:
* Rhubarb
* Strawberries
* Cranberries
* Raspberries
* Blackberries
* Blueberries
* Grapefruit
* Melons
* Apricots
* Plums
* Peaches
* Pears
* Guava
* Cherries
* Apples
* Papaya

great!!! Thanks you are making this very easy for me. I don't start phase 3 for a while (28 days) lol. however I want to be VERY prepared. Thanks