I gained! Rounding up the suspects...

[MyKidLoves]

Well, I have had two days of gains, after only losing or maintaining for 29 days on P2...

Last week I had a 3 day stall which broke with an apple day, followed by losses of -1.2 and -1.4. I think I got a little cocky after that and allowed myself a few 'rogue' elements that might have caused me to gain 2 lbs. in the last 2 days (+1.4, +.6), so today I'm back on STRICT protocol!

Here are the suspects:

• Walden Farms Ranch Dressing (2 Tbsp)
• Tuna (packed in water)
• Bok Choy
• Cottage Cheese & tomatoes
• Dark Chocolate Stevia drops
• 1.5 oz of protein late night "binge"
• 2-3 extra ounces of veggies at one or two meals
• ground chicken (97% fat free-so all visible fat probably not removed)
• chipotle salsa

Just felt like I had to vent that information to sympathetic ears! Thanks for listening...

[Lildrew]

I think any one of those might getcha...except for the ground chicken, I would think that would be okay.

I don't have any input, just a hug . I have weekly stalls of 2-4 days every week and I know how frustrating it can be.

Hoping a nice whoosh is coming your way!

[verbqueen]

I really don't see how bok choy could be included on the list! It's just cabbage by a fancy name. Dunno about the rest.

But I don't think you really gained--I think that you are experiencing a temporary fluid accumulation, probably for hormonal or maybe even heat/humidity reasons.

I prescribe the old "tincture of time" cure--give it a day or two and you probably have a big loss.

[paulabob]

sodium? tuna's full of it... so is cottage cheese. It accumulates.

I love salt...it doesn't love me!

[MyKidLoves]

I'm so glad you all chimed in!

Paula-I didn't think about the sodium content of those two items. Salt doesn't like me either!

Jessica-I wouldn't have thought bok choy would be an issue either, but I put it on there because it was something I hadn't tried before. But when you mentioned that it is related to cabbage, it gives me pause. I don't think cabbage has been very good for me on this diet! So maybe there is a connection there after all. I really hope you are right about the water retention. That would be great!

Lildrew-thanks for the hug!!!

[verbqueen]

Oh gosh--if cabbage turns on me, I'll really be in trouble because that's the main thing I've eaten since I started. It stir-fries fast, mixes well with everything and is so low in calories it seemed like the perfect food to me.

Have you had stalls from eating cabbage?

[MyKidLoves]

Originally Posted by verbqueen

Oh gosh--if cabbage turns on me, I'll really be in trouble because that's the main thing I've eaten since I started. It stir-fries fast, mixes well with everything and is so low in calories it seemed like the perfect food to me.

Have you had stalls from eating cabbage?

You know, I had a suspicion that it caused an issue early on, so I've been avoiding it. When I made it in a soup (with mini-meatballs), I was SOOOOOO happy. It tasted wonderful, it was filling, and the next day I had 0 loss. Of course it could have been totally unrelated, but with only 40 days and me being a slow loser (or at least it feels that way), I just didn't want to risk it.

[Balance101]

I eat cottage cheese almost every day and have had losses 28 out of 30 days of P2. As always, everyone's body reacts differently to different things. You kind of have to add things one at a time to see if they give you trouble.

[julieboolie]

Originally Posted by MyKidLoves

Well, I have had two days of gains, after only losing or maintaining for 29 days on P2...

Last week I had a 3 day stall which broke with an apple day, followed by losses of -1.2 and -1.4. I think I got a little cocky after that and allowed myself a few 'rogue' elements that might have caused me to gain 2 lbs. in the last 2 days (+1.4, +.6), so today I'm back on STRICT protocol!

Here are the suspects:

• Walden Farms Ranch Dressing (2 Tbsp)
• Tuna (packed in water)
• Bok Choy
• Cottage Cheese & tomatoes
• Dark Chocolate Stevia drops
• 1.5 oz of protein late night "binge"
• 2-3 extra ounces of veggies at one or two meals
• ground chicken (97% fat free-so all visible fat probably not removed)
• chipotle salsa

Just felt like I had to vent that information to sympathetic ears! Thanks for listening...

2 things as I read this...
This list of "cheats" or possible triggers would be completely legal and encouraged on other meal plans

The gain I suspect is is rebound from your apple day. Your nice losses right after that were likely temporary water. When we do any correction days, in P3 too, you run the risk of regain the next day. Laxatives seem to bring about the same pattern.

Keep working your clean plan and you'll be losing again soon!

[MyKidLoves]

Originally Posted by julieboolie

2 things as I read this...
This list of "cheats" or possible triggers would be completely legal and encouraged on other meal plans

The gain I suspect is is rebound from your apple day. Your nice losses right after that were likely temporary water. When we do any correction days, in P3 too, you run the risk of regain the next day. Laxatives seem to bring about the same pattern.

Keep working your clean plan and you'll be losing again soon!

I know my cheats are not really cheats! So, Julie, are you saying that after the apple day I lost water and not fat? Urgh.

[C'Marie]

Yes, an apple day is a water-loss day usually.

And the chocolate stevia isn't off protocol at all. Cottage cheese is also allowed as a vegetarian option, although it's a very small portion so it's not very satisfying.

Keep at it! You'll get it done!

[MyKidLoves]

Originally Posted by C'Marie

Yes, an apple day is a water-loss day usually.

And the chocolate stevia isn't off protocol at all. Cottage cheese is also allowed as a vegetarian option, although it's a very small portion so it's not very satisfying.

Keep at it! You'll get it done!

Thanks for your good wishes, C'Marie!

I wish I would have kept a food journal during this first round, but the most I have done is to jot down foods that I think are suspect. I know cottage cheese is allowed, but I don't think I do well with dairy in general. I'm so curious to see in P3 & P4 which foods I can eat and still maintain my losses! It has been great to be off of sugar, wheat and dairy, but I'm hoping I can have at least a little of each in the long term and not suffer too much.

The dark chocolate stevia is YUM. It's one of those things that feels like it shouldn't be on the protocol!

Have you done all of your rounds on prescription hcg?

[C'Marie]

Yes, I have done Rx almost the whole time. One round, I used some hhcg drops for awhile in the evening for hunger control to get me through a tough spot.

I did use cottage cheese a few times on P2 - especially with some chopped strawberries and stevia, blended together it tasted like cheesecake to me. When I am really stressed out (think April 15th stress for an accountant) I can't eat very much - the stress really makes me feel ill - but I need to get some protein/food in, then that's what I used, along with a little bit of eggs. Oh, and some gelatin I made by myself with knox plain gelatin, stevia, and some flavorings with fruit.