Starting to worry. How am I going to keep it off?

[Zbunny]

Are you using the "calculate your daily calories" multiplier? Or are you just using the first number that comes up? It makes a HUGE difference!

ETA: When I input my info, this is what comes up on the first page: You have a BMR of 1520.35. (That's pretty measly, huh?)

But, even if I were sedentary, it tells me to multiply that by 1.2, so it would be 1824. (Starting to sound better, right?)

But, since I'm not sedentary, I can can decide if on a given day I'm in the "light" or "moderate" category, which gives me 2,090 to 2,356 cals per day. (Now we're talking, right?)

[debkeversole]

Originally Posted by shannashimmers

mine is only 1502 cals..doesnt seem like much

you did multiply by 1.2 didn't you?? and with lots of fruit and veggies it can be a lot!
if you are active there is a higher number to multiply by but IDK what it is.. i am pretty much a couch potato:blush::blush:

i forgot to do mine by 1.2:blush::blush: so it is more like 2300 i think

[Buttercup]

Originally Posted by shannashimmers

that is so funny I do the same thing everytime I'am on this diet. It makes me wonder if my way of thinking about food is ever going to change.

For myself, after all that effort, I sure wouldn't be indulging in pizza alot. LOL! It sounds very good though. I will try it one day.

[debkeversole]

Originally Posted by shannashimmers

mine is only 1502 cals..doesnt seem like much

i multiplied it by 1.2 and got 1802 does that sound better??

[Zbunny]

I don't know your height, weight, or age, but I just played with the calculator, and if you are sedentary, 5'0" and weigh 110 pounds, then you will indeed need only 1500 cals to maintain, so sorry if I got that wrong. But then again, if you're that small, you probably don't need to lose much weight, right?

[Millenia98]

Originally Posted by Sleepy

i took a break and did p3 while on vacation
you wont even crave that type of junk anymore, didnt appeal to me at all
didnt even have cake on my birthday
look forward to the eggs, bacon, BIG steak, ham & mayo, loaded salads .....

Exactly same here. No cake on my birthday!

[shannashimmers]

Originally Posted by Zbunny

I don't know your height, weight, or age, but I just played with the calculator, and if you are sedentary, 5'0" and weigh 110 pounds, then you will indeed need only 1500 cals to maintain, so sorry if I got that wrong. But then again, if you're that small, you probably don't need to lose much weight, right?

BAHHAHA dont think I have seen that weight since I was way younger. I didnt multiply by 1.2 and right now I'am 175 and 5'5

[Zbunny]

Originally Posted by shannashimmers

BAHHAHA dont think I have seen that weight since I was way younger. I didnt multiply by 1.2 and right now I'am 175 and 5'5

Assuming you're at 160 lbs. or so when you finish this round of P2, in P3 you'll probably be maintaining between 1800-2200 cals then! Isn't that awesome?That's right where I was and it was so weird to be able to eat so much and still maintain -- but it worked (keeping in mind that you need to avoid starches + sugars (aside from fruit)). The hardest thing was overcoming my initial resistance to eating so much -- once I got past that I stabilized really well.

[Lildrew]

Originally Posted by Balance101

You share?!

So, basically is P3 Atkins induction or more low fat like South Beach? I did read P&I but I guess I skipped over some of the more er.... dry parts. :blush:

You ask the best questions!! I was just wondering about that too!!!

[Balance101]

Originally Posted by Lildrew

You ask the best questions!! I was just wondering about that too!!!

Thanks Drew! I'm glad other people want to know the answers to what I ask. Sometimes I'm embarrassed to ask initially.

From what I've gathered, P3 is like Atkins induction, except we don't have to count carbs. We count calories instead. Oh, and some fruits are allowed! It sounds great!

[dazygyrl]

actually...p3 is NOT low fat at all!!

and p2 is more about calories not carbs.

p3 is eating at or slightly above BMR while eating fats, protein, veggies, and p2 fruits.

[RedsSkinnyJeans]

Originally Posted by Balance101

From what I've gathered, P3 is like Atkins induction, except we don't have to count carbs. We count calories instead. Oh, and some fruits are allowed! It sounds great!

Some do - it is what works for them.

For myself and a few others, we do not count calories. We load up on them, building up over the first week of P3 and then loading them on for the next weeks.

When I was younger, and before I messed up my body with yo-you dieting, I ALWAYS had to be careful, count calories, etc. I read that P3 is to re-set our hypothalamus, teach it a new set point. My goal was to try to set that as high as possible. I figured I could always modify from there.

So, by the end of week on in P3, I was way over 2200 calories, (important here is to NEVER add to that starchy stuff or sugar, that would mess the whole thing up). I've been doing that for over a month now, with never a gain. (I'm 5'7") There have been some days I've gone over 2500 calories. The cool thing is that if I eat low, (like 1500) calories for even ONE day, I lose a pound!

The way I see it, if I have a chance to teach my body that it has a new set point, I am pushing it as high as I can get away with! I've shared before that I have dozens of stories about times when I was strict, (or sick) and not lost a pound; times when it seemed to even fly in the face of proven science! (How can you be SICK IN BED with the flu, not eating, for 3 weeks and not even lose a pound?????) Anyway, I support those that count calories, and eat to their BMR, and the day may come when I have to do that also. But I'm staying with this for as long as I can!

[Balance101]

Red, thanks for your reply. I am so happy that I am starting to understand the importance of P3 before I get there. And now I understand why we aren't supposed to lose during it. If we try to lose on P3, we continue to kill our metabolism and are never able to eat more. Am I right?

[debkeversole]

Originally Posted by Balance101

Red, thanks for your reply. I am so happy that I am starting to understand the importance of P3 before I get there. And now I understand why we aren't supposed to lose during it. If we try to lose on P3, we continue to kill our metabolism and are never able to eat more. Am I right?

EXACTLY!!

[RedsSkinnyJeans]

Yes. Obviously, it's a personal choice how to go about P3. I'm shooting for the moon here. I've had a day when was DEFINITELY over 3000 calories, several other way high days. I did not have a gain if I didn't mess it up with starches or sugars. Most days I estimate that I'm around 2200.

I love the saying "start as you mean to go on" I would like a life of NOT counting calories. Eating to my hunger level. I know I'll never be able to eat more than a serving or two of whole grain a day. I know that sugar will always have consequences for me. But, as much as possible, I would like to live my life without counting ANYTHING in the way of carbs or calories. Just healthy. Lots of plant based foods, protein, and healthy fat.

[Viola De Lesseps]

Red- I like your P3 plan, and I'd like to follow it. I was nervous to add too many calories in P3 the last few rounds... I'd like to push it! What foods do you eat in a typical P3 day? Do you eat yogurt... full fat or 2%?

[Zenngrl]

Originally Posted by debkeversole

P3 P3! i keep telling myself every day how many more days until i can have it LOL i have 2 weeks and 2 days to bacon (and that pizza!)

I'm 9 days away and I'm literally dreaming about ribeyes dipped in kerry gold butter. :blush:

[Zenngrl]

Originally Posted by RedL.I.

Yes. Obviously, it's a personal choice how to go about P3. I'm shooting for the moon here. I've had a day when was DEFINITELY over 3000 calories, several other way high days. I did not have a gain if I didn't mess it up with starches or sugars. Most days I estimate that I'm around 2200.

I love the saying "start as you mean to go on" I would like a life of NOT counting calories. Eating to my hunger level. I know I'll never be able to eat more than a serving or two of whole grain a day. I know that sugar will always have consequences for me. But, as much as possible, I would like to live my life without counting ANYTHING in the way of carbs or calories. Just healthy. Lots of plant based foods, protein, and healthy fat.

I was able to eat an average of 2400-2800 calories a day, but I ate no fruit and absolutely no starch. Just sort of Atkinsy and it was thoughtless... no correction days and I fluctuated up and down 1.5 lbs each way, but never more or less... UNTIL P4... that will not be the case this round!

I'm planning on doing P3 during the week and P4 during the weekends after the inital 3 weeks of P3 is done. I need structure, no if's ands or buts.

[KelliC]

P3 is soo important. Not everyone is the same, but my pastor kinda ignored p3:blush: and gain 15 lbs of his 38lb loss back. My metabolism was dead (WAS is the key word) I did a very, very careful P3-- only counting calories occasionally to make sure I got enough. I never had a big appetite so unless I'm eating restaurant food, I'm doing good to make it to 2000-2200 a day. I can have small serving of bread and sugar with no effect now in late, late p4 (I take everything slow) And if I do have something special--yesterday a couple of slices of pizza and a pb cookie - weight was up .2, which is like nothing. So I'll be clean p3 eating today. I think it's mostly about training ourselves to give our bodies good fuel and to recognize a treat for what it is and not live on them

[KelliC]

Originally Posted by RedL.I.

The cool thing is that if I eat low, (like 1500) calories for even ONE day, I lose a pound!

isn't that wonderful!! I'm the same way. Before, I routinely would go without eating all day in a vain attempt to lose weight. Now I make myself eat so that I keep my awesome metabolism going. And if I go down to bmr I'll be down at least .5 lb the next day

[ellenalesa]

I am only on Day 2 VLCD, R1.

I have been reading and everyone is talking about not adding sugar in P3, but does fruit count? I want to enjoy peaches and cherries and bananas....

[KelliC]

Originally Posted by ellenalesa

I am only on Day 2 VLCD, R1.

I have been reading and everyone is talking about not adding sugar in P3, but does fruit count? I want to enjoy peaches and cherries and bananas....

In P3 you can have fruit but not the high sugar fruits like bananas and grapes-- wait for P4 for those

[Solstyce]

Originally Posted by Zbunny

P3 P3 P3. Believe in it, live it, love it, and eat to your BMR. Seriously. No starches or sugars for those 3 weeks, and just see how high your calories can be (Nancy/Charms said it best, "push the calorie envelope"). I was amazed that I could maintain on 1800-2200 calories, as long as I ate P3 foods. So don't be tempted by the pizza and sweet potato fries. Make a low carb version of pizza -- there are a ton of good ones. Eat roasted green beans -- they are just as good as sweet potato fries.

Then in P4, see what you can add back in. I know that I will never be able to regularly indulge in high carb foods without gaining, but I can eat some and keep it in check. YMMV, but I highly recommend following the protocol on this.

I agree with this. I've done Atkins before, and as soon as I lost the weight and decided I was done with the diet, I gained it all back.

I have finally come to the realization that I can't keep the weight off and eat most carbs. I have decided to live a P3-type diet for the rest of my life and allow myself small doses of healthy carbs once in P4.

If I have a desert or a treat, it will be infrequent (maybe once a week). I will also add daily walks to help burn calories and keep my body burning fuel (since my job is sedentary).

[Zenngrl]

The original protocol from what i can remember said to eat to your satisfaction, just no starch and no sugar. that is what i did and i did great. I think the people who still try to restrict fat or calories are the ones who have a hard time stablizing.

[Agee]

Popping in to give a quick keeping-it-off success story.
I did 1 complete round of hHCG in March and lost 12 lbs in 3 weeks. For someone who's done LC for 10 years and NEVER got below 170, to drop to 162, while not a HUGE loss for some, was amazing.
And what's doubly amazing is that this morning I weighed myself and I was at 162.4.
I eat pretty much whatever I want. I try not to eat too much junk, b/c junk isn't healthy, and I feel crappy if I eat a lot of refined carbs, but I do eat carbs - fruit, rice, potatoes, even tortilla chips - balanced w/other stuff, of course, but I eat them.
And I am staying the same!
I *did* try to do a 2nd round of hHCG and failed at it - I think it was too soon after my 1st round, combined w/the complexities of summer parties, vacation...it didn't work. I plan to do another round when I come back from a week at the beach mid August. Hopefully my heart will be in it again and I can drop another 12!
Anyway, I truly believe my metabolism has been reset. Happy!