P3 Newbie Thread :)

[SunnyFL]

Ok...so we aren't there yet but soon!
I suppose we can all post what we will be eating on day 1...our plans for the week...Thanksgiving ideas...and hopefully veterans can guide us if we stumble!!

[BaileysGirl]

Excellent NEWBIES UNITE!

I have to say Sunny - Just looking at your avatar makes me smile!

I start P3 on Wed Oct 16th and cannot wait! Still planning out day 1 menu and will begin making grocery list.

[SunnyFL]

I am a Chihuahua-holic....I have three chihuahuas
I love them....
I start the 14th! I'll write down my shopping list later and welcome additions to it LOL....

[SunnyFL]

Wondering if this is P3 friendly...

Papaya smoothie

3/4 cup papaya, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1/2 cup fresh strawberries
1/2 cup milk (or soy or almond milk)
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 packet stevia/splenda

[misslatte]

I'm P3ing it right now, still trying to get the hang of it. Documenting everything on ****** so I can go back and analyze things if needed.

Hopefully a good number tomorrow!

[SunnyFL]

Hi! How far along are you? What does your menu look like? I'm curious as to your first few days. Are you sticking to a certain number of calories?

[oneoftwo]

Can I join in? Depending on my weight tomorrow morning after my short interruption I will either be moving to P3 or doing one more week of P2 and then moving to P3.

[Violet_Dream]

Good Morning! This is my second time on P3. The first time I introduced a TON of dairy the first day and was up almost two pounds the next day. I only did it for twenty days before I moved onto R2 of P2 because I was so frustrated. I track every pound, weigh every day and had to do SEVEN CDs in that period of time.

This morning I am up on pound (which is to expected, but still under LDW) and didn't have any dairy yesterday. My focus is protein and veggies this time and not jumping from 500 calories to 1500 in one day. I drink a ton of water so that's never been an issue. I'm not sure if/when I'll incorporate exercise. I may wait until I get to goal - still not sure. Do you all exercise? Have a great day everyone!

[misslatte]

Originally Posted by SunnyFL

Hi! How far along are you? What does your menu look like? I'm curious as to your first few days. Are you sticking to a certain number of calories?

I'm on day 4 right now, introduced eggs and cream back in along with Fage (0 and Classic). Today I am up 1 from LDW. My BMR is 1939 (with the harris benedict stuff factored in).

Day 1 - 1425
Day 2 - 1859
Day 3 - 1907
Day 4 - 1869

I've been getting a LOT of protein so I should try to lower that and up the fats (). My Fat/Protein percentages have been pretty close, I think I read somewhere that some folks try to do that but I don't honestly think I'm at a point where it matters right now. My main focus is to gradually add different things back in and see how my body reacts to it. Definitely wanted my LATTE!!!! (see screen name.. lol) I have an espresso machine at home and just got some new davinci/torani syrups so I've been happy to make my breve lattes again.

[BaileysGirl]

I went out and found the BMR calculator and putting in my weight several pounds around where I think I'll be it came up to around 2100 calories! That seems like a lot compared to our 500 but that's probably close to what I was eating before HCG anyway.

I'm probably not going to log my calories at first but instead log my meals. Unless it gets to the point I need to to get me on track. I think I'm dreaming of diving in too deep. I keep rethinking my menu for Day 1. Here's what I've come up with.

Breakfast
1 egg/2 egg whites w/ 1 tbsp hwc blended in bullet. Sautee mushrooms, onions, spinach & garlic in real butter and make an omelete. Might sprinkle in a little grated parmesan. Pick up a side of bacon from here at work. I don't have time to cook the bacon at home and dislike it microwaved. (any ideas?)

Snack
1 apple peeled, diced w/ cinnamon/couple of chopped pecans & sf syrup microwaved for 1 minute

Lunch
1 can of tuna w/ 1 hb egg diced, 1-2 tbsp full fat mayo, dill pickles, yellow onion with ?? - Having trouble on this side item. I don't want anything hot. A cold sort of salad but not w/ lettuce. OR I might just do the P2 chili w/ a dollop of sour cream for lunch this day.

Snack
almonds

Dinner
grilled chicken on a bed of romaine with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, broccoli, bit of cheese & full fat ranch dressing!

[SunnyFL]

Anyone use Splenda? I bought a box today cuz I'm getting sick of stevia.
I'm on the run but I'll respond regarding my menu soon!
If my last shot if Friday btw do I start Monday or Tuesday hmmmm......

[BaileysGirl]

I use Truvia - I disliked the Stevia. WalMart has come out with some green/white packets like maybe store brand version of Truvia. I'm going to see what the ingredients are and it's much cheaper so I might get it, if not, I'm sticking w/ Truvia. I used Splenda years ago, I can't imagine it's that bad. I think it had more of an aftertaste to me than Truvia did.

FOUND IT!

After 3rd injection, 500 Calorie diet to be continued until 72 hours after the last injection. So if you take your injection say Friday morning at 8am, Monday 8am you are good to go to P3.

[SunnyFL]

I haven't tried Truvia...might have to steal a packet from a buddy. I had heard it wasn't good to use, but

Stephanie I will begin exercising in two weeks. A buddy and I will be going to the gym and exercising for an hour a day. She is on the South Beach diet and is on maintenance as well.

And I thought I started Monday These doctors....they were trying to tell me I stay on 500 without injection until Tuesday...umm no lady...
I know when my P3 start day is and I'm starting Monday



Now, I WILL have HC in my coffee Monday at 7 am... I have been having fantasies of creamy delectable coffee. It will be my only real change.. I think I am sticking to P2 fruits and veggies (plus peppers) but adding all proteins, minus oranges for the first two days...but upping the cals to 1000 day one and slowly go up after that... I dunno I need to figure it out! I'm 5 ft...


But for Breakfast

Fried egg in butter with bacon...sauteed peppers and onions on the side

Lunch

A chicken salad with full fat mayo, lettuce and tomato. I am shredding the chicken breast, adding a tablespoon of mayo, then my lettuce and tomato.

Dinner
Buffalo steak cooked in olive oil with grilled asparagus...

Snacks for the day
Blueberries and strawberries with a handful of almonds

Not sure what else to add...this of course might change as the weekend gets closer and I go wild at Whole Foods!!!

And Yes welcome everyone who wants to be a part of this lovely little newbie area

[SunnyFL]

Oh and what brand ranch dressing? All the ones I see have that darn sugar. So I might do full fat Marie's blue cheese in about 5 days into P3.
I won't add cheese for at least 5 days or so....I wanna see how I do as I am soooo stalled right now.

[BaileysGirl]

I checked I have one each of Ken's Ranch & Blue Cheese - sugar is added but it's not til the 4th or 5th ingredient and it has 1g sugar/0 carbs per 2 tbsp. I will have start reading labels to try to find some that have no added sugar. I just DON'T GET IT! WHY!?

[SunnyFL]

I know Marie's blue cheese is ok...
But haven't been able to find anything else. I would love ceasar dressing with no sugar...I love caeser dressing! I love Parmesan dressing! AHHHH!!!

And yes why? I mean really? No sugar....it might be ok being that all the bacon has corn syrup and most everyone has it with no issue.

I tried those Walden Farms Ranch and almost started to cry...no joke...it tasted like plastic, just awful....a tad bit dramatic but remember i am taking the HCG injection so I am a hormonal mess 24-7 LOL!!!

[BaileysGirl]

Okay EWE!!

Yea some do fine w/ the regular bacon and regular dressings. I may just go w/ the ones I have for now and see what happens.

Mmm I love Marie's - I was thinking Naturally Fresh is in the jars too near lettuce and they have a Jalapeno Ranch that is to die for...Might swing by their website to see ingredients. Checked ingredients and sugar is not one of the first 4-5 and it's 1g sugar for most and 1g carb for some. Not bad...

[SunnyFL]

I say go for it...we won't know until we try and everyone's body is different.

[IThinkICan]

I've always started out P3 with dressings that say 1 carb... might even have a 2 carb one by the second week. But I also don't drench my salads... just get some flavor.

My family has done a 7-layer salad which includes mayo, no dressing - really yummy after it sits in the fridge for a while (so make it in advance). In order from bottom to top: Lettuce, onions, celery, hard-boiled eggs, bacon, mayo, cheese. It looks pretty in a clear bowl... but you could also mix it all up when it's time to serve.

Good luck P3 Newbies! I guess I'm not a newbie since this is my fourth round, but I start P3 on Thursday! Isn't it something that we can get excited about having these salads - containing mixed veggies and tasty, creamy dressings?!

[SunnyFL]

Naturally Fresh makes a ginger dressing that is drool worthy. I usually mix some of it with sour cream and add Tabasco and put it on top of fish tacos (now I suppose lettuce wrap fish tacos lol) I have to read the ingredients. It's so yummy!
And yay for starting on Thursday! Give us your menu please and thank you
Us newbies need ideas

[Violet_Dream]

Good Morning! I'm UP another pound, but still .4 under LDW. I'm not having any dairy and being very careful.

How long did it take you all to stabilize? This is day #3 for me.

[misslatte]

Morning ladies!

I've always been a fan of Marie's Blue Cheese, it's the only 'dressing' that I'll buy anymore. Lately I've enjoyed just using some EVOO and pepper.

I drove by the gym the other day and I missed it's foul stench and the weird people there. My plan was to wait at least a week and a half to try to stabilize then get in there for some weights or something.

I'm .5 under LDW today, things are going good so far! In P&I the Dr mentions 'violent' fluctuations - what exactly does this mean?

Hope you all have a wonderful day

[shelbyla]

Originally Posted by misslatte

I've been getting a LOT of protein so I should try to lower that and up the fats (). My Fat/Protein percentages have been pretty close, I think I read somewhere that some folks try to do that but I don't honestly think I'm at a point where it matters right now. My main focus is to gradually add different things back in and see how my body reacts to it. Definitely wanted my LATTE!!!! (see screen name.. lol) I have an espresso machine at home and just got some new davinci/torani syrups so I've been happy to make my breve lattes again.

Hi ladies! That was probably me that you saw keeping fats and proteins pretty close--but just to clarify it was fat GRAMS and protein GRAMS that I tried to keep close. For example, I would have something like 140g of fat, 140g of protein and 80g of carbs. Because protein is only 4 calories per gram and fat is 9 calories per gram, it ended up being something close to 55% fat, 25% protein and 20% carbs most days--so almost double the percentage of fat as protein. In case anyone is keeping track...

Everyone keep up the great work! Being prepared for P3 is one of the biggest keys to the whole thing! And having a successful P3 sets you up for continued and stable weight maintenance!!!!!

[SunnyFL]

I cannot wait...just fantasizing about mixing veggies and dressing
I can't wait either to have some sour cream on my eggs with Tabasco..yummm!!!!

I don't think I could keep track of the fats, carbs and proteins...how are you doing that?
I'm logging all I eat on calorie count on my iPhone.

Congrats Miss latte and Stephanie!!! What was your meal plan for today?

I finally got over my stall. I lost 1 pound.. I refused to do an Apple day because apples are the only fruit I can still stand so if I did an Apple day I know I'd get tired of them too...so I just chugged along.

My concern is how to keep my calories up once beloved P3 comes along. I know I have to go slow with coconut oil so I won't run to the potty lol....

Anyone introduce wine? How does that work on P3? I already bought a bottle of Pinot noir...it's calling me

[SunnyFL]

Oh and Pumpkin on P3...when can I add that in? I really want some baked pumpkin with SF syrup and cinammon and pumpkin spice yummmmy...

I know for a fact I want pumpkin cheesecake for thanksgiving but I don't want to make an entire one for myself because the rest of my family ordered a pumpkin cheesecake from the cheesecake factory (slight tear)

Are there any recipes that can be made for one person? Pumpkin pie mug cake? Cream cheese frosting P3 friendly? Hmmmm....

[BaileysGirl]

Ok Sunny you're making me hungry! I'm almost out of drops so luckily this nice lady at work is going to give me some of hers so I can make it to the end of my first round. She has given me her Dr. # in Michigan so I can order my next bottle for R2 which I will think about doing around Christmas/NY...Ugh I don't want to talk about P2...On to P3! LOL

P2 makes me realize just how valuable salad dressing or cheese or mayo is! I mean it's just amazing! We take those things for granted and when you cannot have them you really get it!

I am a member of Spark People - I used it this year counting calories of course and guess I'll use it if I have to, to input my food for the percentages of fat/carbs/protein. I used to lack in the protein dept b/c I was eating lean cuisines and they are always full of pasta or rice.

I think cream cheese would be ok for P3 and pumpkin too. Did you look in the Holiday Recipes or Thanksgiving Recipes thread? I got a pumpkin bake recipe from there, a sausage mushroom stuffing, some sort of casserole too. I noticed today I smelling every smell at work, the cafe this morning had bacon going as usual, then at lunch someone had what smelled like french fries and I was like ugh!!! I just inhale and that's it! I'm so proud that I've stuck to this 99%! Thru my 21 days I've had a sprinkling of cheese, 1 pc of rotini pasta, 2 yogurt covered pretzels (left over from my loading days ) and that's about it! I have avoided halloween candy like the plague! So proud! I'm a rockstar!!

[SunnyFL]

Yay!!! You rock!!!
I had some candy...it stalled me for 3 days
But alas...I know that it's not worth it...all this sacrifice and then you stall for days. Lesson learned.
You are brave, I cannot do another P2...so we'll see how this works out for me if I can successfully get through P3 and have a fabulous P4...
I have dreams of oatmeal...haha!

I smelled fries the other day and all I could smell was the old grease yuck. What I did eyeball was my friends flourless fried chicken...it's just chicken seasoned and fried in peanut oil but my goodness did that drumstick look divine lol...

I would love a recipe for individual pumpkin recipes. Maybe I'll experiment and see what I come up with once in P3. Sunday evening I am fire roasting green chiles so I can have them on my eggs Monday morning...and bacon...ahh bacon...beautiful fabulous yummy bacon. Can't wait to later on make an oopsie roll and plop a burger between it! Can you tell I am hungry? I have been starving lately...so can tell my 40 days are nearing!

[BaileysGirl]

I didn't realize you've been on P2 for 40 days! There is no way I can go past 21! NO!

You're pretty close to goal too so you shouldn't have to do another round. I'm not too close to my goal yet. I was hoping to get under 200 this round but seems like now I'm only losing every 3 days. Praying for these last 4 days!!

[shelbyla]

I track and log on ******. It shows at the bottom the percentages. A lot of people don't bother but I am pretty anal that way...

Keeping calories up...avocados, full fat dressing, chicken thighs, olive oil, bacon, pork chops, coconut milk. After the first week, cheese, nuts, and did I mention CHEESE???

I started my first P3 day of my first round wine tasting (because I love me some wine and it was my cousin's bachelorette party). The whole weekend, I drank plenty and didn't gain an ounce. I found I have more trouble with alcohol if I drink sweeter wines (dessert wines or champagne) or if I have it with carbs in P4--although that is stabilizing a bit too. Be careful with the wine, though. I found that I get drunk WAAAAAY quicker and I have killer hangovers that I didn't use to have. Weirdly, I seem to do better now on liquor as opposed to wine--and I've never been a big liquor drinker...

As far as pumpkin goes, it's a winter squash. I would hesitate to add it until P4--but that's just me and I don't like it much anyway. You might consider something similar like zucchini muffins or bread that has the same kind of spices. You can also make a fabulous low-carb cheesecake with a berry swirl that is to die for. I can dig up a recipe if you want... Also if you search the forum for "fudgey peanut" there are these bars--OMG, delish! And if you sub out the peanut butter (that's for P4) with almond butter and the chocolate chips with unsweetened chcolate, they are P3 friendly.

[BaileysGirl]

Thank You Shelby!

Sunny - Here is the link for the recipes I might try it also has link to the fudgy pb things in which Shelby says we should use almond butter instead of pb THANKSGIVING RECIPES... YUM!!!