Phase 3 information for HCG diet

[Labadorlover]

Hi, I start P3 Sunday, I am also worried about regaining. I have an all day 4-wheel ride with a picnick so I will be busy the 1st day, I am worried about the picnic part, but am taking my own chicken, fruit, and veggie, just in case they only have hot dogs etc. I would like to join this forum I need all the help I can get too.

[Debbiec58]

Labrodorlover, is this also Suzie? If so, hi, this is debbiec, Debbiec58 here

Glad to find you!

[nurseypoo5]

so....if i used to go to lets say OUTBACK STEAK HOUSE on atkins and eat a filet, a huge salad with lots of blue cheese and reg cheese, and some scallops with drawn butter and lost wieght then, i can do this on P3?

Cuz me needs some advocado and blue cheese and some hunk o' meat with some butter...in a big fat bad way!

[KelliC]

Originally Posted by nurseypoo5

so....if i used to go to lets say OUTBACK STEAK HOUSE on atkins and eat a filet, a huge salad with lots of blue cheese and reg cheese, and some scallops with drawn butter and lost wieght then, i can do this on P3?

That's pretty much what I've been doing. On my 4th day of P3 my hubby desperately wanted to go out to eat, so we went to Chili's and I had the Monterey Chicken w/o BBQ and a side salad w/ bleu cheese--awesomeness Sounds like you have a plan for p3

[1moretry]

Originally Posted by jessp

P3 is harder for me than P2. So scared to eat the wrong things, or eat to much. Luckily have stayed at the same weight.

Question, can splenda be used during P3 or should it be avoided?

If just keeping your weight down is your priority, I would think it's okay for P3. However, if you want to eat HEALTHY, then all artificial sweeteners would not be okay. I learned the hard way about chemicals in my body. They sabotage the body's systems and create chaos in the regulatory systems. I was disabled and unable to work for 9 years and that was how I learned to eat clean and live clean. Trudeau's book only scratches the surface of how we are made ill by what is in our food and water.

The HCG goal is to heal/repair the hypothalamus so it works properly again. Chemicals of any kind in our food or water work against that goal, so while people may do okay on Splenda, it seems that learning to enjoy the natural taste of foods or using something like stevia would be a better choice. I can't even do stevia, as it causes my body to think I've eaten sugar, and I am diabetic so it's a no-no for me.

i think we're all very individual in terms of our sensitivity to chemicals of all kinds. I learned that I am very sensitive, and on this protocol, I discovered that I was sensitive to salt! I am still early in my first round of P2 and just reading this thread to prepare myself mentally for P3. I am not really qualified to say what will work for you, but my doctor (who put me on HCG) says Splenda and saccharine are no-nos for everyone, HCG or not. I think most people do well with stevia, even though I don't.

[1moretry]

Originally Posted by lovely_star

I know your right. But I can't find a healthy alternative to butter (which I love BTW). I'm open to suggestions?

If your butter is organic, it's healthy. If it's conventional butter, it's full of pesticide, hormone and possibly antibiotic residues.

Margarine is "bad fat" through and through, and also has pesticide residues.

I am learning to like coconut oil in place of butter on many things. It takes time to learn new tastes and habits. It also is burned better by the body, from what I have read.

[1moretry]

Originally Posted by nurseypoo5

dont you already eat 100 grams of protein each meal on p2? i have been...did i read somthing wrong?????

On P2, you are eating 100 grams BY WEIGHT (3/5 ounces) of a PROTEIN SOURCE twice a day. Protein sources allowed on the program have about 7 grams of actual protein PER OUNCE, so you if you are following protocol exactly, you will be getting 49 grams of protein a day. If you double the amount, you would double the number of OUNCES, or eat 400 grams (by weight) per day. Some people might need more.

If I am wrong about this (I am still in early P2 and learning), someone with more knowledge please correct me. I want to know as much as I can about P3 before I get there so I don't blow it. It seems to be the critical phase of getting your system to re-set to the lower weight and not try to put it back on.

[Labadorlover]

Yes I can't hide from you huh Trish, glad you found this site and welcome.

[Trish9]

Can't delete this thing. Yikes!

[Trish9]

Originally Posted by Labadorlover

Yes I can't hide from you huh Trish, glad you found this site and welcome.

How did you DO THAT!Labadorlover?

[Zenngrl]

I'm on day 16 of Phase 3 and still bored with food. Both good and bad days. I'm breaking my love affair and comfort system addiction and it's sad. Not sad that I'm ridding myself of the crutch of food, but it's sort of like a little death in a way.

[debkeversole]

Originally Posted by 1moretry

On P2, you are eating 100 grams BY WEIGHT (3/5 ounces) of a PROTEIN SOURCE twice a day. Protein sources allowed on the program have about 7 grams of actual protein PER OUNCE, so you if you are following protocol exactly, you will be getting 49 grams of protein a day. If you double the amount, you would double the number of OUNCES, or eat 400 grams (by weight) per day. Some people might need more.

If I am wrong about this (I am still in early P2 and learning), someone with more knowledge please correct me. I want to know as much as I can about P3 before I get there so I don't blow it. It seems to be the critical phase of getting your system to re-set to the lower weight and not try to put it back on.

i think you explained it pretty well KUTGW!

[Trish9]

Originally Posted by Debbiec58

Labrodorlover, is this also Suzie? If so, hi, this is debbiec, Debbiec58 here

Glad to find you!

Hail, Hail, and I'm Trish9, but Trish to my friends

Deb, did you get my PM from hcgdietinfo.com?

Tomorrow is my last day of P2. Holding at 152lbs. That 150 must have been due to extreme elimination. Oh, Well. Looked at my before pictures today. Really, really so ugly.


So, Labrodorlover. how did you manage to write me that note before I even found you? How is almost normal eating going for you? And you Deb?

[Trish9]

Originally Posted by 1moretry

I am learning to like coconut oil in place of butter on many things. It takes time to learn new tastes and habits. It also is burned better by the body, from what I have read.

Hey 1moretry

I like coconut oil, in fact, that's what I ate a lot of the 2nd day of load. It was easy on my stomach and no carbs or sugars. If you eat popcorn, try it on that. It isn't greasy. The first day of load was a disaster, ate an eclair - not used to fired foods not going to do that again.

Interesting what you mentioned about organic butter. I never thought about that.

When I was using butter, before HCG, I would mix half and half = butter and water, (room temp) and using my mixer whip the water and butter together. It makes twice the amount with half the calories. It really works, just don't use hot or cold water, tried that, not good!

[C'Marie]

Originally Posted by Trish9

Hey 1moretry

I like coconut oil, in fact, that's what I ate a lot of the 2nd day of load. It was easy on my stomach and no carbs or sugars. If you eat popcorn, try it on that. It isn't greasy. The first day of load was a disaster, ate an eclair - not used to fired foods not going to do that again.

Interesting what you mentioned about organic butter. I never thought about that.

When I was using butter, before HCG, I would mix half and half = butter and water, (room temp) and using my mixer whip the water and butter together. It makes twice the amount with half the calories. It really works, just don't use hot or cold water, tried that, not good!

Good idea about the butter! With the price of things, half the calories is good!

Also, with the coconut oil and popcorn, then how did you season it? Did you get the coconut oil that didn't taste like coconut? or did the seasonings make it not noticeable? I know in the old days they used to use coconut oil on popcorn at the movies until the dang government came in and told everyone it wasn't healthy. Sheesh. Now we have plastic on our popcorn.

[1moretry]

Originally Posted by Zenngrl

I'm on day 16 of Phase 3 and still bored with food. Both good and bad days. I'm breaking my love affair and comfort system addiction and it's sad. Not sad that I'm ridding myself of the crutch of food, but it's sort of like a little death in a way.

All endings have a certain element of loss in them, even if it's a good ending for a good reason. One of the things I remind myself of repeatedly is the good that comes from letting go of old patterns and opening oneself to something new. There is a sadness in letting go, so just feel it and it will pass with time.

I am not bored with this food. For some reason, I can REALLY TASTE IT like I was never able to taste it before. It's like my taste buds got an upgrade or cleaned out or something like that. I am 2 weeks into P2 and am down to 2 proteins, 2 fruits, and 3 veggies (cukes started tasting too bitter to me), but I really relish eating them when it's time to eat. I am really looking forward to being able to mix vegetables on P3, but plan to go very slowly with the changes and pay attention to problems right away so I can correct them.

The most positive thing I got from two rounds of Weight Watchers was realigning my relationship to food as nutrition, rather than solace or celebration. I was a binge eater and used food for every hurt that came along, something my mother had taught me when I came home from school crying because the other children had been cruel to me and she offered me some cookies and milk instead of the hug I really needed.

It takes some creativity to find non-food ways of comforting or rewarding oneself because food is just so convenient (I could eat a whole pan of Sara Lee Chocolate Brownies at one sitting or a 1.5 lb steak at a single meal, so I do know how that one goes), but the penalties of using food for comfort hang around much longer than that moment of relief from eating does. One of my acquaintances lost 60 lbs in a year just from stopping that pattern alone. Unfortunately, I had damaged my metabolism over the years, so even though I only eat food for nutrition now, the only way I know of to get this fat off is the HCG protocol. I've tried everything else and nothing worked.

Once I get it off, I intend to enjoy looking and feeling better than I have in years and it just isn't worth it to me to go back to the patterns that made me fat in the first place. Hang in there! Your sadness will pass and if you use this time as an opportunity to re-examine your relationship to food, that will pave the way to new patterns that hopefully will bring you to a better place with regard to how you feel about yourself. KUTGW!

[Debbiec58]

Yeah, Larodorlover and Trish, we are all over here and have found each other. (How romantic)LOL!

Yes, I got both of yours private messages, just took me a bit to figure out WHERE they were.

How is P3 going Labrodorlover? I start Sunday and can't wait! Bacon and eggs in butter, here I come! I am wanting fat, not starches or sugar (thank goodness) and want to just wallow in some fat.

Trish, you have started P3?

So glad we are all three staying in touch.

[Debbiec58]

Tomorrow is day 1 for P3!!! Eggs, bacon and butter, here I come, (within moderation of course) I am going shopping shortly for my foods, got so much helpful information from this thread.

Got into a pair of jeans that I didn't even know I had and they fit like a dream. My husband just kept saying WOW! I have gone from 1 pair of jeans that looked painted on to 4 pairs that all fit well, some even getting baggy!

So grateful for all of you!

[1moretry]

I have a question and would welcome any input you can offer.

In reading Pounds and Inches, Simeons is not very explicit in terms of what to do between rounds of treatment. He covers the 3 weeks after the last injection (no sugar or starch) and at the end of the book, under "Plan of a Normal Course," he only says:

• After third injection, 500-calorie diet to be continued until 72 hours after the last injection.
• For the following 3 weeks, all foods are allowed except starch and sugar in any form (careful with very sweet fruit).
• After 3 weeks, very gradually add starch in small quantities, always controlled by morning weighings.

There is a bit more information in Trudeau's book: he says (p. 96) regarding P2, "If you need to lose more weight after the forty-five days of treatment have been completed, you take six weeks off, eating normally with the exception of no sugar and no starch. You then resume Phase 2..." On page 105, he says "Phase 4 is for the rest of your life."

I am very sensitive to carbs and part of what I intend to learn from P3 and P4 (when I get there) is what I can do and what I can't do, watching my blood sugar as well as the scale. I am still working my way through my first round of P2, but I know I will have to do a second round after the required 6-week lapse. My question is about the SECOND three weeks of those 6 weeks. It's clear to do P3 for the first three weeks. However, because Simeons was not specific about what to do between rounds, other than the waiting period needed to "overcome immunity" to HCG, what have those of you who have done more than one round discovered is the best way to handle those second 3 weeks?

I had a horrible first week (SCREAMING HUNGER) because of doing too many carbs on load, even though it wasn't a large amount (I'm diabetic and nromally keep my carbs low -- 22-25 grams per meal) AND my dose being too low and my not kicking into fat-burning mode. I have gotten my dose correct now and things are going well, but am confused and scared about what to do with those second three weeks before I do P2 again. Any thoughts?

Also, related to that, if one does a low-carb load after doing all 6 weeks on P3, how does that look in terms of what you use to load up on fat without carbs being part of it? I normally don't eat a lot of fat and restrict carbs so would appreciate ideas here.

[Trish9]

Originally Posted by 1moretry

I have a question and would welcome any input you can offer.

In reading Pounds and Inches, Simeons is not very explicit in terms of what to do between rounds of treatment. He covers the 3 weeks after the last injection (no sugar or starch) and at the end of the book, under "Plan of a Normal Course," he only says:

• After third injection, 500-calorie diet to be continued until 72 hours after the last injection.
• For the following 3 weeks, all foods are allowed except starch and sugar in any form (careful with very sweet fruit).
• After 3 weeks, very gradually add starch in small quantities, always controlled by morning weighings.

There is a bit more information in Trudeau's book: he says (p. 96) regarding P2, "If you need to lose more weight after the forty-five days of treatment have been completed, you take six weeks off, eating normally with the exception of no sugar and no starch. You then resume Phase 2..." On page 105, he says "Phase 4 is for the rest of your life."

I am very sensitive to carbs and part of what I intend to learn from P3 and P4 (when I get there) is what I can do and what I can't do, watching my blood sugar as well as the scale. I am still working my way through my first round of P2, but I know I will have to do a second round after the required 6-week lapse. My question is about the SECOND three weeks of those 6 weeks. It's clear to do P3 for the first three weeks. However, because Simeons was not specific about what to do between rounds, other than the waiting period needed to "overcome immunity" to HCG, what have those of you who have done more than one round discovered is the best way to handle those second 3 weeks?

I had a horrible first week (SCREAMING HUNGER) because of doing too many carbs on load, even though it wasn't a large amount (I'm diabetic and normally keep my carbs low -- 22-25 grams per meal) AND my dose being too low and my not kicking into fat-burning mode. I have gotten my dose correct now and things are going well, but am confused and scared about what to do with those second three weeks before I do P2 again. Any thoughts?

Also, related to that, if one does a low-carb load after doing all 6 weeks on P3, how does that look in terms of what you use to load up on fat without carbs being part of it? I normally don't eat a lot of fat and restrict carbs so would appreciate ideas here.

Hi Onemoretry,

I hear ya. I guess when I read about the 3 weeks and then another 3 weeks, and since I know I want to do another round, I just figured the 2nd 3 weeks would include everything, including starches and sugars. (Boy, that's a long sentence.

This helped me to load up without carbs or sugars on my first round load, Coconut oil. In fact, since I am not a big eater, though the appearance of my waistline and hips would beg to differ, I am going to take in extra calories and fat with:blush:, yep, coconut oil. Fortunately for me, I like the taste, not as much as ice cream, but I don't gag. Organic, virgin, coconut oil.

Today is my first day of P3. I'm still waiting for my bacon and eggs for breakfast and it's now 6:30pm. I got up around 8:00am, have a cup of coffee for the first time in 6 weeks, and never drank it because now it tastes bitter. I ate a nice big orange, fooled around for 3 hours trying to figure out how and where I was standing to take my first before picture so I could make the after pictures (of P2) match up. There's three hours I'll never get back. By that time, I had to hurry for my hair appointment. I took 2 oz. of raw almonds and half an apple to eat on the way. When I finally returned home, (Saturdays UGH) it was 4:30PM. I ate what was left of my almonds and apple. I'm still not hungry, but now I've very little time to get my 1000 calories*, into my stomach.

What to do? Yep, going to eat some coconut oil**. Will probably make me sick. How's that for a report on P3?

Wish I could help you out better than this, OneMoreTry, but maybe at least I gave you a reason to smile at this old lady.

* don't know where I got the 1000 calories from???
** This is the kind of coconut I use.
Does this lowcal forum have moderators? The previous HCG site that me, DebbieC58, and Labradorlover, came from had people who are seasoned (pardon the pun) people who have accomplished their weight goals and now help others. If you want the link, let me/us know.

Thus ends my song.

[Labadorlover]

Well P3 going good I am staying in the 2 lb range very nice my chart looks like a zig zag that I put my weight on, remember the spreedsheet we downloaded. but I go from 260
259.3
258.4
259.6
258.5 like that

Eating is fun again, I am goin easy as we all should, don't have a lot of hunger but from time to time it kicks in, how are you two doing Trish & Debb. It's kinda scary huh, if you think that eating is scary wait till you get on scales next morning I thought I would faint with fear. But I was wrong, I was right on.

I wish I could help you 1moretry. This is my 1st round and am winging it like most

Trish lead you in the right direction there is a lot of help on the other forum page. I like this one now cause it has a lot of different info I need like recipe for P3 & 4.

Nursy poo Outback REALY???? I'm in, I have a dinner to go to next week w/friend and I think we will do the Outback salads thing. I love their shrimp on the barbie too. Thanks for that Idea!!!!

Well good luck all hope everyone is having a nice Mem. weekend. I have not lost any one in the service, but have plenty who served. My dad still alive 89 was in WWII battle of the bulge. My husband, brother both in viet namm. My grandson did 1 tour so far in Irac. Bless all the men and women serving too. Everyone be safe!

[C'Marie]

Originally Posted by 1moretry

I have a question and would welcome any input you can offer.


I am very sensitive to carbs and part of what I intend to learn from P3 and P4 (when I get there) is what I can do and what I can't do, watching my blood sugar as well as the scale. I am still working my way through my first round of P2, but I know I will have to do a second round after the required 6-week lapse. My question is about the SECOND three weeks of those 6 weeks. It's clear to do P3 for the first three weeks. However, because Simeons was not specific about what to do between rounds, other than the waiting period needed to "overcome immunity" to HCG, what have those of you who have done more than one round discovered is the best way to handle those second 3 weeks?

I had a horrible first week (SCREAMING HUNGER) because of doing too many carbs on load, even though it wasn't a large amount (I'm diabetic and nromally keep my carbs low -- 22-25 grams per meal) AND my dose being too low and my not kicking into fat-burning mode. I have gotten my dose correct now and things are going well, but am confused and scared about what to do with those second three weeks before I do P2 again. Any thoughts?

Also, related to that, if one does a low-carb load after doing all 6 weeks on P3, how does that look in terms of what you use to load up on fat without carbs being part of it? I normally don't eat a lot of fat and restrict carbs so would appreciate ideas here.

Only the first 3 weeks of maintenance should be sugar/starch free, no matter how long your required break is. Some of us extend it SLIGHTLY - I did an extra few days to be sure I was stable before starting P4. What happens in the rest of your break, between R 1 and R2, which is 6 weeks (longer as you get more rounds under your belt) is you gradually spoon-feed yourself little bits of starch or sugar, one at a time, and small servings. This does not mean you go out and have a large pizza. It doesn't even mean you have to add wheat or grains if you're a person who doesn't do that. I'm carb sensitive too. But I refuse to live in fear. And I want to practice maintenance before I get to my final goal. The 3 weeks extra between R1 and R2 is a perfect time for that.

With steak day at the ready (or other correction day you deem more acceptable to your situation) you gingerly try one thing at a time. 1/2 serving. Early in the day. Eat P3 the rest of the day. Don't add combination foods -- ie, only test sugar OR starch on any given day. A bit of potato. A bit of Ezekiel bread. A bit of oatmeal.

There are folks who find out that they CAN handle some P4 foods, in moderation, exercising portion control, after hcg has helped their metabolism push the reset button. Whatever your situation, this is where the rubber meets the road. If you flub up, steak day, lean day, get it back down, and try again.

AFTER that 6th week, 3 of P3 eating and 3 of P4 eating, then re-load doing low carb fat if you don't want to have detox symptoms again or too much gain.

Mine:
olives, cream cheese, pepperoni "chips" (bake pepperoni slices in oven on baking sheet by themselves, use to scoop up aforementioned cream cheese and olives) Avocados, heavy whipping cream, real ice cream made from real cream only and sweetened with xylitol Clemmy's ice cream, found at whole foods, full-fat greek yogurt sweetened with stevia. If you want a little carby treat, then go ahead. But this way you have covered the bases of fat quite nicely.

[Trish9]

Originally Posted by nurseypoo5

so....if i used to go to lets say OUTBACK STEAK HOUSE on atkins and eat a filet, a huge salad with lots of blue cheese and reg cheese, and some scallops with drawn butter and lost weight then, i can do this on P3?

Cuz me needs some advocado and blue cheese and some hunk o' meat with some butter...in a big fat bad way!

I have a similar problem. I have two $25.00 gift cards for Outback from mother's day. What ever will I do?:blush: Nurseypoo5, we're in the same boat - Outback Bound!

Oh, waiter, I'll have what she's having!

[Trish9]

Originally Posted by Debbiec58

Tomorrow is day 1 for P3!!! Eggs, bacon and butter, here I come, (within moderation of course) I am going shopping shortly for my foods, got so much helpful information from this thread.

Got into a pair of jeans that I didn't even know I had and they fit like a dream. My husband just kept saying WOW! I have gone from 1 pair of jeans that looked painted on to 4 pairs that all fit well, some even getting baggy!

So grateful for all of you!

SO! YOU HAVE A HUSBAND

Yes, isn't it just a giggle to put something on that has been crouching deeply, deeply, in the bowels of your closet, with a faint whispering that sounds vaguely like the cawing of a raven, never more, never more.

HCG has rescued those long forgotten gems of joy.
Isn't it like a miracle?

Love these icons

Just think Deb, by September, assuming you will be doing a round 2, you won't have A THING TO WEAR!
Neither will I.

[Trish9]

Originally Posted by C'Marie

Good idea about the butter! With the price of things, half the calories is good!

Also, with the coconut oil and popcorn, then how did you season it? Did you get the coconut oil that didn't taste like coconut? or did the seasonings make it not noticeable? I know in the old days they used to use coconut oil on popcorn at the movies until the dang government came in and told everyone it wasn't healthy. Sheesh. Now we have plastic on our popcorn.

Hi C'Marie

Funny thing happened on the way to the movie theater. No one bothered to tell us that coconut oil is very healthy and good for us. Well, yes, they told us that it was bad, but simply forgot to mention they were wrong.

Now, I'm not saying that what I use at home and what is used in the theaters are equal. My husband microwaves the popcorn with no oil, in a microwave popcorn bowl. Then he pours on a huge amount of butter on his and a small amount of coconut oil for me. The only other seasoning is salt. Check out the link I gave you. It's quite a good read. Doesn't it make sense, that if the fruit, milk, and oil of the coconut comes from a tree, untouched by human hands until it's time to eat it, so to speak, why would it be something bad? Granted, eggs are perfect too, it's only after humans have man handled it the hen, that it changes into ugly stuff. Look where the coconuts grows...in some parts of the world, the people would be in a world of hurt without coconuts.

I use Organic, virgin coconut oil. Never refrigerate it, it will turn into a rock. Leave it out of the fridge and it changes from clear liquid to a white soft translucent firm oil, depending on the room temperture. It will keep on a pantry shelf. It's great for so many, many areas. The next time you want to put a sparkle to your hair, touch your a few finder tips LIGHTLY- BARELY in the firm coconut oil and then touch a few strands of hair at a time, of course, not during P2.

Okay, I'm climbing down off my soapbox, HELP!, I'm falllllllling....: Well, no one promised me a rose garden.

[C'Marie]

Originally Posted by Trish9

Hi C'Marie

Funny thing happened on the way to the movie theater. No one bothered to tell us that coconut oil is very healthy and good for us. Well, yes, they told us that it was bad, but simply forgot to mention they were wrong.

Now, I'm not saying that what I use at home and what is used in the theaters are equal. My husband microwaves the popcorn with no oil, in a microwave popcorn bowl. Then he pours on a huge amount of butter on his and a small amount of coconut oil for me. The only other seasoning is salt. Check out the link I gave you. It's quite a good read. Doesn't it make sense, that if the fruit, milk, and oil of the coconut comes from a tree, untouched by human hands until it's time to eat it, so to speak, why would it be something bad? Granted, eggs are perfect too, it's only after humans have man handled it the hen, that it changes into ugly stuff. Look where the coconuts grows...in some parts of the world, the people would be in a world of hurt without coconuts.

I use Organic, virgin coconut oil. Never refrigerate it, it will turn into a rock. Leave it out of the fridge and it changes from clear liquid to a white soft translucent firm oil, depending on the room temperture. It will keep on a pantry shelf. It's great for so many, many areas. The next time you want to put a sparkle to your hair, touch your a few finder tips LIGHTLY- BARELY in the firm coconut oil and then touch a few strands of hair at a time, of course, not during P2.

Okay, I'm climbing down off my soapbox, HELP!, I'm falllllllling....: Well, no one promised me a rose garden.

LOL I love your style of writing, Trish. I use coconut oil alot - I just thought it might taste coconut-like on popcorn since I use the extra virgin, and I wondered what you used for seasonings. Salt it is! (OF COURSE - now that I'm hungry for popcorn, I have to wait 3 weeks to P4!!! )

[1moretry]

C'Marie,

Thank you for that response. It is very helpful to know more about the territory in front of me. I particularly "heard" your statement about not living in fear. That's one I have to work on regarding this weight issue because one thing I have been afraid of underneath all of this is that the weight will all come back after all this hard work to get it off, just like it has every other time I have tried to lose. The best I have had to show from all of these other programs is not gaining. Losing it and keeping it off afterward has eluded me so far, and I so want to keep the loss I have worked so hard for.

I will do what you said and find out more about my body in P4. I will be doing another round of P2 to get to my target BMI and will have more time to experiment with maintenance (and possibly address some of my food allergies) after that. When it takes 3 days to recover from a glitch, 3 weeks hardly seems long enough for the trial and error method, but I will do what I can and accept where I go.

Thank you again for taking the time to answer my questions.

[Labadorlover]

Trish

Where do you get coconut oil and any spec. brand.

[Trish9]

Originally Posted by Labadorlover

Trish

Where do you get coconut oil and any spec. brand.

Spectrum has it for $8.76, but I pay a lot less at our base commissary. Since HCG, I haven't been using any coconut oil, of course, but I still buy a pint (actually 14 FL OZ) each week and store it away. Also, the pretend pint jars (14oz) can be used for canning, FYI. Notice that it is not only Organic, but unrefined. Worth Googling for better price.

When I researched coconut oil this site is the one I found to be the gold standard for coconut oil. conclusions. Click Here

Before I knew I could get coconut oil from my base commissary, I was going to purchase a gallon of Gold label Virgin Coconut Oil, Certified Organic, Expelled-Pressed from Tropical Traditions For Sale.
I planned to get a few other people to go in on it and share the cost plus shipping. Scroll down the linked page, and you will see a 640 FL.oz. pail now for $155.00. Divided per ounce, it would come to $3.87 per 10 oz pint plus shipping/tax. I know this is a lot to mull over, and it really is wise to read the entire site.

When I was making pizza, olive oil was fine in the crust, but I use coconut firm, not runny, oil now, it's even better. My only claim to cooking fame is my pie making. Once I realized, after a hundred years, it seems, that buttery flavored Crisco contains SOYBEAN OIL, FULLY HYDROGENATED PALM OIL. I tossed my large can of Crisco, so I can't be more specific on the ingredents. Hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated, is not good, and personally, I stay away from anything soy as much as possible. It's bad enough they put soy lecithin in my Dove dark chocolate bites, not going to eat it other wise if I can help it.

I know you didn't ask for a history on my buying habits, but I pray all this typing and research helps you and anyone else who is interested.

[C'Marie]

Originally Posted by 1moretry

C'Marie,

Thank you for that response. It is very helpful to know more about the territory in front of me. I particularly "heard" your statement about not living in fear. That's one I have to work on regarding this weight issue because one thing I have been afraid of underneath all of this is that the weight will all come back after all this hard work to get it off, just like it has every other time I have tried to lose. The best I have had to show from all of these other programs is not gaining. Losing it and keeping it off afterward has eluded me so far, and I so want to keep the loss I have worked so hard for.

I will do what you said and find out more about my body in P4. I will be doing another round of P2 to get to my target BMI and will have more time to experiment with maintenance (and possibly address some of my food allergies) after that. When it takes 3 days to recover from a glitch, 3 weeks hardly seems long enough for the trial and error method, but I will do what I can and accept where I go.

Thank you again for taking the time to answer my questions.

I know, 3 weeks isn't much on P4, but if you're going to go back into P2, you might as well just do it. I know you could be on the break longer, that's totally up to you. I will be breaking for much longer than that this time, due to the increase between rounds as per Dr. S. However, I doubt I will be breaking 6 months.... Doc says I must get this weight off my hip. Hubby is concerned with how easy it will be to stabilize at a lower weight. He hates to see my struggle, and we both are quite happy with my results so far. I'm not looking to be stick thin, I'm quite muscular. I am going to start hip rehab/exercise in earnest soon. We will see. Who knows, I may lose more and then not like it down there!