Who else is scared of P3?
 

I'm afraid I'll start pigging out again.

I'm afraid I won't stabilize.

I'm afraid the weight I've lost will come back despite my best efforts, and bring more besides.

Tell me I'm not alone in being nervous of my first P3!!!

:hiya: Me! I'm scared of p3. I don't know how to eat low carb. Really, I lasted about a week on Atkins. I really need to look up recipes but right now I don't think I'm strong enough to read though all that without cravings setting in.

Sassy, remember to weigh every.single.day. The scale is your best accountability partner. Journal often. I wish you the best of luck! I'll be in p3 right after you! :hugs:

I'm a little worried about it. I think my plan of attack is to begin with the protein/veggies I've missed, then only buy reasonable portion sizes of my add-ins like cheese. I'm going to only buy cheese sticks(1 or 2 at a time), or deli cheese in a few oz. to begin with, an indy bag of pork rinds, etc. so that I don't have a big group of stuff in my house. I think what has helped me so much on this plan is living alone and not having anything in my house that isn't pretty much protocol. I applaud all of you with children and husbands eating tempting food all around you :eek: I've got some condiments that aren't but aside from that, the cupboards, they are a empty :laugh: of stuff. I'm also going to really get back into my IE way of thinking when I'm out to dinner. It's so easy to eat whatever is there instead of truly enjoying it and stopping when you're satisfied. It should be interesting to see how my weight fluctuates. I'm planning on continuing to post my losses, etc. daily so I'm accountable here.

I am doing this through my doctor. He adds many extra rules and restrictions - I joke that he doesn't think it's hard enough!

Anyway, these are his instructions.

P3 Day 1 750 Calories
P3 Day 2 1000 Calories
P3 Day 3 1250 Calories
P3 Day 4 1500 Calories

Also, he uses the 72 hours WITHOUT hCG method of determining when P3 starts.

FWIW, I followed all of his advice and have had no troubles. I will be starting my second round on Tuesday and hope it goes as well as R1.

Thanks Kimberly! I appreciate your sharing your doctors recommendations. :cool:

So, is 1500 cals the max he recommends for P3 or is that just to begin P3 and a YMMV from then on? I like the structure that the calories represent.

I found this on another thread cant remember where..............info on P3 eating on another site and thought it was really informative - it tells you how to calculate the number of calories you should eat in P3 to maintain your weight, it's based on the amount of calories our bodies are used to "eating" in P2:

Calculate your average daily loss: Total amount of loss (based on you PRE-LOAD WEIGHT) divided by the number of days you were on P2. This is your ADL.

Multiply the ADL x 3500 (cals) = the approximate number of calories needed for Phase 3

For example. ADL = .5 lbs a day
3500 x .5 = 1750 calories

In this example the body is used to "eating" about 1750 calories a day from the 500 calorie diet + the stored fat it is burning.

There wasn't a calorie maximum for P3/P4 that I know of. As I had no trouble stabilizing, we never had a conversation about it.

I ate a lot and a lot of fat.

I don't find P3 too scary now, but it was before going in.

I thought I would be hungry with no drops, this is day 10 for me in P3 and I still have the not really hungry feeling. It is wonderful! I am eating pretty much anything I want. (minus the sugar and starch)

Stabilizing well, 2 pounds under.

I would say I am more curious than afraid. I maintained my loss on Atkins for 8 months....I prefer maintenance to STALL. :laugh: Seriously...looking forward to it as another learning experience. I can't wait for a veggie salad with *dressing*!! Isn't it funny the things we look forward to? :rolleyes:

Helpful info girls, thanks!

I have 2 wks to go for P3. P3 doesn't scare me. I'm pretty excited about it actually. This food is getting OLD. P4.....that scares me. LOL

OMG!!! Me too!!! :laugh: All I wanted when I started P3 was eggs for breakfast and then a mixed veggie salad---with real blue cheese dressing. This coming from a girl who would sell her firstborn for some chocolate :hyst: It is so hysterical the things we look forward to in P3!!!

I'm scared too but then I have to remind myself that it's basically Atkins Induction and every time I've done LC Induction - I have no hunger or cravings after the first couple of days so I think I'll be ok. I just have to remember not to tweak it and stick to induction. That's where my trouble comes in. I know how to do LC, I have a hard time doing Induction level LC. I need to remind myself it's only 3 weeks and to enjoy the bacon while it lasts :laugh:

I am actually really looking forward to P3. I can do most anything for 3 weeks and I am not hungry in P2, but the food is so...meh. I think that is why while it might take me longer to get to where I want to be, I will take whatever I lose and :kicking::kicking::kicking: and go forward. It is most important for me to stabilize. It does me no good to lose the weight and put it back on. Been there...done that...it sucks!

My last injection day is either next Sat or Sun...then 72 hours no injections..then P3 here I come!