P3 Reminder to Self

[Izzysdream]

"The hypothalamus isn't reset until you maintain the weight loss you achieve using hCG diet long enough to reset your body fat percentage.

This can only be done by maintaining the desired weight for at least 18 to 21 days. This is why I think so many fail at weight loss.

They lose the weight, they feel good about themselves then revert right back into their old eating habits"

[jabbok]

Originally Posted by Izzysdream

"The hypothalamus isn't reset until you maintain the weight loss you achieve using hCG diet long enough to reset your body fat percentage.

This can only be done by maintaining the desired weight for at least 18 to 21 days. This is why I think so many fail at weight loss.

They lose the weight, they feel good about themselves then revert right back into their old eating habits"

Something good to remember when we are impatient and want to start losing weight again without doing a proper P3 and P4.

[torister]

That is why P3 is so important. That is when you reset.

[Charms]

I'm only one week into P3 and not only am I stable but still losing inches. One off my waist and two off my hips

[julieboolie]

Very good quote and great reminder!!

[torister]

Originally Posted by Charms

I'm only one week into P3 and not only am I stable but still losing inches. One off my waist and two off my hips

Isn't that great? I wore a pair of jeans friday that were snug at the beginning of P3 and had plenty of room in them when I put them on. I did a happy dance. LOL! I was wearing a quilted vest yesterday that I love, but was snug at the hips last time I wore it...well it was loose at the hips yesterday!

This protocol is amazing!

[Lost and Found]

Originally Posted by Charms

I'm only one week into P3 and not only am I stable but still losing inches. One off my waist and two off my hips

Originally Posted by torister

Isn't that great? I wore a pair of jeans friday that were snug at the beginning of P3 and had plenty of room in them when I put them on. I did a happy dance. LOL! I was wearing a quilted vest yesterday that I love, but was snug at the hips last time I wore it...well it was loose at the hips yesterday!

This protocol is amazing!

Do you girls think that we could get some of your results on here: The Results Thread! ?

I know, with the negative press, that people lurking would like to see some of the other results...besides just the weight loss.

AND...the "Results" thread has alot of viewers.

[Izzysdream]

Originally Posted by Charms

I'm only one week into P3 and not only am I stable but still losing inches. One off my waist and two off my hips

Oh this gives me hope. My hips are about the same, I'm hoping I lose a couple inches in P3!

[dawnyama]

Originally Posted by Izzysdream

"The hypothalamus isn't reset until you maintain the weight loss you achieve using hCG diet long enough to reset your body fat percentage.

This can only be done by maintaining the desired weight for at least 18 to 21 days. This is why I think so many fail at weight loss.

They lose the weight, they feel good about themselves then revert right back into their old eating habits"

This is why I went running back to P2 this weekend Starting off P3 on the wrong foot is not good and then it just went downhill from there. Extremely hard to play catch up. I know I can do it, I have done it before. Just have to give myself an honest start and it will come together

[minimonkey]

Dawn -- you and I can be p3 buddies next time. I chickened out, too, and went back to p2 after an interruption (I tried to convince myself to stay in p3, really I did!) -- but now I am closing in on goal, and feeling a lot more relaxed all around about p3.

Instead of dreading it, I am looking forward to it -- that is a big difference, and I feel great about that.

[bflogurl]

MM, you are so freaking close!! WTG!!

[Evo gal]

How long would I have to stay on P3 before going back to P2? I seem to be failing BIG on P3....only 9 days in and I have had a 4 lb gain. I did a steak day today but I still have about 8-10 lbs to lose. Obviously I didn't learn as much as I thought about food and my poor eating habits

[dawnyama]

Originally Posted by minimonkey

Dawn -- you and I can be p3 buddies next time. I chickened out, too, and went back to p2 after an interruption (I tried to convince myself to stay in p3, really I did!) -- but now I am closing in on goal, and feeling a lot more relaxed all around about p3.

Instead of dreading it, I am looking forward to it -- that is a big difference, and I feel great about that.

I am liking the losses after the interruption too. It seems to be just falling off. I think my body is used to being so light (geesh I have hit goal 3 times already it should know to STAY there ) that it is racing to get back to it. I like it Glad to hear you are more relaxed this time about P3. That is another big factor---stress and worry doesn't equal stability. The stress of the earthquake in Japan hit me hard too. I totally shot up 3 pounds overnight with that one. While we knew DH's family was OK, he was not able to talk to his mom himself til Sat night or Sun morning. That just worried the heck out of me.

[dawnyama]

Originally Posted by Evo gal

How long would I have to stay on P3 before going back to P2? I seem to be failing BIG on P3....only 9 days in and I have had a 4 lb gain. I did a steak day today but I still have about 8-10 lbs to lose. Obviously I didn't learn as much as I thought about food and my poor eating habits

Did you want to treat this as an interruption? If so, then you have until P3 day #14 before deciding to head back to P2 with no loading. That is what I did. I did 10 days of P3 and went right back into p2 with the drops and VLCD--no loading. I am loving the losses this week. Much better than playing catch up with all those steak days.

[Izzysdream]

Originally Posted by minimonkey

Dawn -- you and I can be p3 buddies next time. I chickened out, too, and went back to p2 after an interruption (I tried to convince myself to stay in p3, really I did!) -- but now I am closing in on goal, and feeling a lot more relaxed all around about p3.

Instead of dreading it, I am looking forward to it -- that is a big difference, and I feel great about that.

106.8? Awesome! How long is this round going to be?

[halebop]

If you stick to the plan (avoiding carbs and sugar) in P3, can you still maintain well when you increase calories even if your weight loss has really slowed down in P2 by the time you end?

I'm on VLCD 29 and I've lost 20 pounds (I'm going 40 days). I'm definitely happy with my overall loss and realize I'm well above the 0.5 pound per day average for women. BUT my weight loss has really slowed. I thought week 3 was rough because I "only" lost 3 pounds. But then week 4 hit and I only lost 0.6!

Is that reason for me to worry that my P3 will be harder than most? I'm worried that if my losses on 500 calories a day have slowed down now that I'll gain easily in P3 when I increase calories. Is that a valid concern?

[shelbyla]

Originally Posted by halebop

If you stick to the plan (avoiding carbs and sugar) in P3, can you still maintain well when you increase calories even if your weight loss has really slowed down in P2 by the time you end?

I'm on VLCD 29 and I've lost 20 pounds (I'm going 40 days). I'm definitely happy with my overall loss and realize I'm well above the 0.5 pound per day average for women. BUT my weight loss has really slowed. I thought week 3 was rough because I "only" lost 3 pounds. But then week 4 hit and I only lost 0.6!

Is that reason for me to worry that my P3 will be harder than most? I'm worried that if my losses on 500 calories a day have slowed down now that I'll gain easily in P3 when I increase calories. Is that a valid concern?

No. Not a valid concern. I have been very stable in P3 and I am eating 2500 calories a day. It will get easier when you see for yourself in P3--promise! The only thing I have seen as a contributing factor to a difficult P3 is if you cheat in P2 and/or eat starches/sugars in P3.

[dawnyama]

Originally Posted by shelbyla

No. Not a valid concern. I have been very stable in P3 and I am eating 2500 calories a day. It will get easier when you see for yourself in P3--promise! The only thing I have seen as a contributing factor to a difficult P3 is if you cheat in P2 and/or eat starches/sugars in P3.

You wouldn't be describing me would you Shelby Dear me, this round has been a bit tougher than I would have liked, for sure

[minimonkey]

I guess the proof will be in the sugar-free pudding when I try to stabilize, but right now I am really glad that I did the interruption and went back to p2.

Izzy -- I am not sure how long I will run this round. I'm definitely going the full 23 days, but I may go a bit longer... it will depend when I get there. I think I may have to open my last bottle of drops to finish this round, and if I do, I will probably run it another couple of weeks... (don't want to waste the drops.)

I'd like to get to the low end of my goal range (100 lbs) and then stay there for a bit with higher cals on p2, if possible, before moving to p3. I don't want to drop much below 100 lbs, because I know that is getting too thin for my body type... but I would like to be able to stay thereabouts. I know from previous experience that is a good weight for me, where I am genuinely thin, but not too scrappy.

We will see what the next 9 days holds, and I will decide from there. I'm doing this round with added protein and fat free dairy, so I am feeling quite good, and in no hurry to end it.

[halebop]

Dawn...do you mind if I ask if the round has been tough for you b/c it's been hard to avoid starches / sugars? Believe me I am NOT judging in the least. You (and shelbyla) have both been HUGE helps to me and very inspiring. So please don't think I'm trying to point out any slips you've had. I'm just so worried about P3 now that my P2 losses have slowed that I find myself wondering when (most) people say P3 has been rough if it's rough b/c they do all the right stuff and still gain or rough b/c it can be so hard to do the "right stuff"

Thank you so much!!!

[dawnyama]

Originally Posted by halebop

Dawn...do you mind if I ask if the round has been tough for you b/c it's been hard to avoid starches / sugars? Believe me I am NOT judging in the least. You (and shelbyla) have both been HUGE helps to me and very inspiring. So please don't think I'm trying to point out any slips you've had. I'm just so worried about P3 now that my P2 losses have slowed that I find myself wondering when (most) people say P3 has been rough if it's rough b/c they do all the right stuff and still gain or rough b/c it can be so hard to do the "right stuff"

Thank you so much!!!

Oh, no. I am the first to admit that this is hard and you have to watch everything you do. It is not easy sometimes and sometimes it is!! This round ended with my first P3 day being my DD's birthday. I wanted to go out to eat and not worry about what I chose. I did well with a steak, but had the salad and too much other things for my first day in P3. I was not bad in that I had starch or sugar, but I did eat way tooo much. So, my very second day I needed a correction day. Then my DS's birthday was 4 days later. Another restaurant meal. Well this one was out of control. I ordered steak but also I ate whatever they put on my plate. As well as the bread they put in front of my face. And it WAS full of starch as well as sugar!!! It was my fault for indulging. I thought, Oh, I can just do a correction day tomorrow. Well that won't wipe away what I had just put in my mouth.

The whole point of the story is do NOT start off on P3 day #1 going off to a restaurant for a celebration!! And as long as you stick to the rules of P3 you will do great!!! My whole attitude was I was treating my P3 like a mini load because in the back of my mind was the idea that I was going right back to P2 if I gained weight. I think that set me off on a binge and it didn't stop with just the 2 birthdays. I am either on or off something and once I decided I was off there was no holding back. If you have the right mindset, you are golden. Dont' be nervous also. Stress and worry will pack those pounds on the worst. I was so worried about what happened this weekend I put on 3 lbs I was a wreck!!! So just relax and follow the no sugar no starch rule. Things will work out.

[halebop]

Thank you. I have to prepare myself mentally. I'm worried b/c I'm not on P3 yet and I'm already planning (literally planning the food) for my 2 load days after P3 and P4 (since I know I'm doing another round)

That can't be good - but I'm still doing it!

[Izzysdream]

I need to let go of the worry of P3 also. I'm concerned because I ate much more calories for a good two weeks because I was so hungry. But I'm back down below 600 the past two days. Tomorrow was to be my last injection day but I'm probably going to shoot for Friday unless my weight stalls again in the next day or two. Guess I'm concerned because I haven't lost the inches like others, my hips haven't budged darn it, and am afraid I messed it up. Wish I had done research before I jumped into this. I was clueless about dosage and my dosage was off for over two weeks (100 units the first week), and that I should have waited til my pms was over (severe case of it) that caused severe hunger and anger issues the first 10 days. lol
Whew, can't wait to get this round over and done with.

[Izzysdream]

I was wondering about how many calories should we start P3 with? Dive in at 2000 or slowly increase?

[Ravenj9]

Originally Posted by Izzysdream

I was wondering about how many calories should we start P3 with?

Honestly, I didn't count calories on P3. I just ate P3 foods when I was hungry.

[minimonkey]

I think Raven has the right idea with calories on p3 -- a lot of people are very hung up on the numbers, and I think that is part of what tripped me up last time. Don't undereat -- that will only make you gain (many, many people swear this is true) -- but last time, I felt like I was calorie loading (or worse, bingeing) to try to hit 2000 calories a day, and it made me really anxious.

This time, I am simply going to eat on plan, what I feel like eating, when hungry.

I trust that will work better, and allow me to relax and enjoy p3.

I am also not nearly as starved as I was at the end of the last p2 -- the extra protein and calories has helped a lot this round, so I don't think p3 will be nearly as much of a head trip as it was last time.

[C'Marie]

Originally Posted by Izzysdream

I was wondering about how many calories should we start P3 with? Dive in at 2000 or slowly increase?

I'm quite a bit bigger than most of you, and when I started my very first P3, I was quite a bit bigger than I am right now I was around the 230's after my first round, so my calories could've been quite a bit higher than some to maintain. Of course I did the online calculators and listened to those who were more experienced.

I think I started in at about 1600- and then went up from there. I got up to 1850 or so in my first few days. I'm a tax accountant, so of course I logged everything.

I stabilized very well. Just take it slow, start with at least double the meat for your lunch and dinner, mix your salad! and eat veggies and fruits and meats, with the same balance and similar foods to P2 (except you can have skin on your chicken and you can eat thighs!), eat a couple servings of simple, good fat, such as a little butter or olive oil, and add eggs for breakfast. Repeat for 3-5 days. Then add in more fun foods after you are stable. (such as coconut flour pancakes, oopsie rolls, cauliflower crust pizza, etc etc etc) Where most of us slip up is adding too much dairy, too much fat, nuts, or alcohol right at the beginning. Learn from our mistakes. We share them gladly.