~~P3/P4 Simeon's Protocol Week of 2/26~~

[shelbyla]

Originally Posted by LaraSuzz

OMG, that's maddening. At least you gave it your best shot.

LET'S DO THIS!! Count me in!! I can shoot for my first vlcd monday March 5th? That means I can load during the weekend...

Sidebar: What do you think of chicken breasts in the crockpot with tomatillos for p3 meals? Like shredded chicken? Are tomatillos technically tomatoes? lol. Otherwise it will back to my roast beast, spinach, and apples... but it works. lol

Yeah, right, huh? And I did the damn thing perfectly, too. Zero to eat all day, just black coffee, tea, and water. Big steak and a tomato for dinner. I am hoping for a second day whoosh. I've heard it can happen. I probably won't be loading for a bit. My supplies need to get here first. I'm thinking probably closer to the 15th or so but we'll see. As soon as I get them, the next weekend, I'll load then be on to my "setting the &%$^%(*& goal" round...

On your sidebar, I would think the tomatillos would be fine. I just would count them as my veggie for that meal.

[shelbyla]

Welcome to Marie and Heather!

[garnet10]

126.4 today! Still within my 2 lbs window, thankfully, despite having a "healthy" pour of red wine at lunch yesterday. I am also on P3 and should not have eaten baked clams with breadcrumbs, but I did and lost a pound from yesterday. And the day after my weight went above my 2 lb window I tried to just eat mostly protein and fat the next day, but did not do a correction day, and it all worked out. Total mystery, this process is!

This is two weeks into my so-called "interruption" which I think I will turn into P3. I just can't bear going back to the VLCD. At least not yet. I feel like there are several more pounds to lose in my saddlebags, but I don't want to be less than 120--I was 115 one time in my 20s and had arms that looked like toothpicks. I looked like I had an eating disorder. And my thighs were still saddlebags. So I don't want to go there again.

Since there are only about 6 more pounds to go, I'm going to see if starting to move this sedentary body will help. I need more muscle tone and endurance, although I've been a bit scared to start because I have suffered in the past from post-exertional fatigue. I used to do this amazing kick-boxing work-out, but if I did it in the morning on a day off, I had to sleep the rest of the day from extreme, unrelenting fatigue.

But I won't know until I try. I just don't want to do the VLCD again.

Originally Posted by Arctic_Mama

My TTap, all the way. It tones the tummy and lower body extremely quickly and without a lot of time (though not without a fair bit of effort! It's intense!). I recommend it more highly than anything else I've tried. Only Callanetics comes close.

Okay, now I'm looking into TTap! I've got videos for aerobics, The Firm, DVDs for yoga, weight lifting and just looking at them sitting on the shelf hasn't helped! I just have to find a cure for my inertia.

[hikergurl]

Hey everyone, thought I'd jump in and join this thread since I'll be starting P3 tomorrow. I would like to ask how y'all have transitioned into P3 in the past. This will be my third P3, and both times before I waited about 5 days to add in cheese and nuts. I stabilized well both times.

This time is going to be challenging in that I'm traveling this weekend to CO for my dad's funeral. I would really like to add yogurt, nuts & cheese in right away in order to make traveling in the car and eating at restaurants a little easier during this trip. On the other hand, I'm planning on this being my LAST P3 and really want to make sure I stabilize like a rock and don't mess anything up.

I keep changing my mind about how I'm going to do this. On one hand, I think I'll just eat all legal P3 foods during this trip and see how where I've landed when I get back home on Monday. If I've gained, I'll do some CD's and start P3 over. This trip is going to be stressful & emotional enough without having to worry about adding in P3 foods too quickly. On the other hand, maybe I just need to buck up and try to figure out some non-threatening P3 foods to travel with so that I don't run the risk of stabilization problems.

I'm just asking for advice. Have any of you jumped into all legal P3 foods right away and stabilized ok? Or is that just too risky?

Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom.

[dbunny]

Originally Posted by C'Marie

@dbunny, what is your shake? and you have it even if you have a steak day? 'esplain, please!

My shake is quite simple.. Here is my list of ingredients:
1+ cup Greek Yogurt- fat free Fage, cause it is cheap at Costco
2 big handfuls fresh spinach
1+ cup frozen strawberries
1/8+ c heavy cream (use less if GY is full fat)
sweetener to taste
1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder (optional ~ I use to up my protein)
1 to 2 cups water to thin
Blend up in a blender and enjoy (makes 2 large servings)
I will still have a smaller serving on correction days. Last round, I mixed my CD's up, some times doing a half GY CD, and half steak CD day.. usually GY for breakfast and lunch, then at least an 8 oz ribeye steak for dinner. It usually nets me a pretty good loss.

[dbunny]

Originally Posted by hikergurl

Hey everyone, thought I'd jump in and join this thread since I'll be starting P3 tomorrow. I would like to ask how y'all have transitioned into P3 in the past. This will be my third P3, and both times before I waited about 5 days to add in cheese and nuts. I stabilized well both times.

This time is going to be challenging in that I'm traveling this weekend to CO for my dad's funeral. I would really like to add yogurt, nuts & cheese in right away in order to make traveling in the car and eating at restaurants a little easier during this trip. On the other hand, I'm planning on this being my LAST P3 and really want to make sure I stabilize like a rock and don't mess anything up.

I keep changing my mind about how I'm going to do this. On one hand, I think I'll just eat all legal P3 foods during this trip and see how where I've landed when I get back home on Monday. If I've gained, I'll do some CD's and start P3 over. This trip is going to be stressful & emotional enough without having to worry about adding in P3 foods too quickly. On the other hand, maybe I just need to buck up and try to figure out some non-threatening P3 foods to travel with so that I don't run the risk of stabilization problems.

I'm just asking for advice. Have any of you jumped into all legal P3 foods right away and stabilized ok? Or is that just too risky?

Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom.

Not much advice, but just wanted to say I am sorry to hear of your loss
Perhaps just try to keep it simple and eat as you did before, with little bits of cheese and nuts as necessary.

[shelbyla]

Originally Posted by hikergurl

Hey everyone, thought I'd jump in and join this thread since I'll be starting P3 tomorrow. I would like to ask how y'all have transitioned into P3 in the past. This will be my third P3, and both times before I waited about 5 days to add in cheese and nuts. I stabilized well both times.

This time is going to be challenging in that I'm traveling this weekend to CO for my dad's funeral. I would really like to add yogurt, nuts & cheese in right away in order to make traveling in the car and eating at restaurants a little easier during this trip. On the other hand, I'm planning on this being my LAST P3 and really want to make sure I stabilize like a rock and don't mess anything up.

I keep changing my mind about how I'm going to do this. On one hand, I think I'll just eat all legal P3 foods during this trip and see how where I've landed when I get back home on Monday. If I've gained, I'll do some CD's and start P3 over. This trip is going to be stressful & emotional enough without having to worry about adding in P3 foods too quickly. On the other hand, maybe I just need to buck up and try to figure out some non-threatening P3 foods to travel with so that I don't run the risk of stabilization problems.

I'm just asking for advice. Have any of you jumped into all legal P3 foods right away and stabilized ok? Or is that just too risky?

Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom.

First of all, my condolences. I hope you are doing ok.

I've done both and I must say that going easy on the P3 indulgences like cheese and nuts helped me stabilize better. It can also cause...GI distress if you add too much fat too soon and that's NEVER fun in a car or hotel with other people.

For travel, I love hard-boiled pre-peeled eggs. I also like cold bacon and cold cooked sausage and both keep well out of the fridge or in a cold pack pretty well. Tuna and chicken in packs or cans with travel packets of mayo and celery sticks. I also like to add snow peas, bell peppers, baby tomatoes, and stuff like broccoli and cauliflower because I am usually darn sick of P2 veggies. Grilled chicken breast or baked chicken drumsticks to eat cold with mustard and mayo or ranch dressing (or even blue cheese). Obviously when eating out, there are eggs and breakfast meats for breakfast/brunch salads of all sorts for lunches/dinners. I usually get a side of tomatoes at breakfast instead of potatoes and hold the toast, please. In restaurants, most places have plain grilled fish, roasted chicken, or broiled meat. You can usually get double veggies or a small salad instead of starch on the side. One thing that is often useful is to order two appetizers instead of main meals. For whatever reason, sometimes small plates are less carby than main dishes.

I will say that this last round was one where I added things back in too soon. I am currently sitting at 7 pounds above LDW (4 pounds over my window) and cannot get back down, regardless of what I do. I thought I was totally done but apparently I WILL be doing another round. I did a perfectly on protocol round with zero cheats, too. And other than adding stuff in too soon (I waited about 3 days), I can't figure out why I'm not stabilizing.

[hikergurl]

Originally Posted by shelbyla

First of all, my condolences. I hope you are doing ok.

I've done both and I must say that going easy on the P3 indulgences like cheese and nuts helped me stabilize better. It can also cause...GI distress if you add too much fat too soon and that's NEVER fun in a car or hotel with other people.

For travel, I love hard-boiled pre-peeled eggs. I also like cold bacon and cold cooked sausage and both keep well out of the fridge or in a cold pack pretty well. Tuna and chicken in packs or cans with travel packets of mayo and celery sticks. I also like to add snow peas, bell peppers, baby tomatoes, and stuff like broccoli and cauliflower because I am usually darn sick of P2 veggies. Grilled chicken breast or baked chicken drumsticks to eat cold with mustard and mayo or ranch dressing (or even blue cheese). Obviously when eating out, there are eggs and breakfast meats for breakfast/brunch salads of all sorts for lunches/dinners. I usually get a side of tomatoes at breakfast instead of potatoes and hold the toast, please. In restaurants, most places have plain grilled fish, roasted chicken, or broiled meat. You can usually get double veggies or a small salad instead of starch on the side. One thing that is often useful is to order two appetizers instead of main meals. For whatever reason, sometimes small plates are less carby than main dishes.

I will say that this last round was one where I added things back in too soon. I am currently sitting at 7 pounds above LDW (4 pounds over my window) and cannot get back down, regardless of what I do. I thought I was totally done but apparently I WILL be doing another round. I did a perfectly on protocol round with zero cheats, too. And other than adding stuff in too soon (I waited about 3 days), I can't figure out why I'm not stabilizing.

Thanks Shelby, you've been super helpful. I do think it's worth it to go slow so I don't have to do any more rounds. I'm so sorry you're having trouble stabilizing. That really sucks. I hope you can figure it out.

[shelbyla]

Originally Posted by hikergurl

Thanks Shelby, you've been super helpful. I do think it's worth it to go slow so I don't have to do any more rounds. I'm so sorry you're having trouble stabilizing. That really sucks. I hope you can figure it out.

You and me both, kid. You and me both!

[BaileysGirl]

Happy Hump Day Peeps!

At 191.5 so still in my window! YES!

Have a great day all!

[heatherwagnon]

Originally Posted by hikergurl

Hey everyone, thought I'd jump in and join this thread since I'll be starting P3 tomorrow. I would like to ask how y'all have transitioned into P3 in the past. This will be my third P3, and both times before I waited about 5 days to add in cheese and nuts. I stabilized well both times.

This time is going to be challenging in that I'm traveling this weekend to CO for my dad's funeral. I would really like to add yogurt, nuts & cheese in right away in order to make traveling in the car and eating at restaurants a little easier during this trip. On the other hand, I'm planning on this being my LAST P3 and really want to make sure I stabilize like a rock and don't mess anything up.

I keep changing my mind about how I'm going to do this. On one hand, I think I'll just eat all legal P3 foods during this trip and see how where I've landed when I get back home on Monday. If I've gained, I'll do some CD's and start P3 over. This trip is going to be stressful & emotional enough without having to worry about adding in P3 foods too quickly. On the other hand, maybe I just need to buck up and try to figure out some non-threatening P3 foods to travel with so that I don't run the risk of stabilization problems.

I'm just asking for advice. Have any of you jumped into all legal P3 foods right away and stabilized ok? Or is that just too risky?

Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom.

First round I had a HORRIBLE time stabalizing because I added all fats and cheese and nuts and all that entails back in right away, gaining every day so I hopped back on p2 for 2 more weeks and recieved this advice before I got back to p3 and I stabalized awesome and kept all of it off till this round (a year later)
First day p3 I had a p3 breakfast (bacon and 2% cottage cheese) and had p2 lunch/dinner but upped the protein oz
Second day p3 breakfast and lunch p2 dinner
Third day was all p3 meals
Fourth upped the fat and protein
Fifth is when I started adding in cheese etc

That's just my "advice" lol but every body is different (my disclaimer lol!) some can add it all in right away...I couldn't so the above helped me tremendously. Good luck!! I'll be on p3 on Friday and the above is my plan!

[LaraSuzz]

Oh cheese and crackers I only lost .2 on my so called salmon day. Sick of salmon, and it costed $15.00. Boo!

P2 here I come. Treat me well my old friend.

[hikergurl]

First day of P3 and I'm up 0.8 this morning before I even start. UGH!

Had a protein shake for breakfast, and will have a big salad for lunch with chicken, hard boiled egg, bacon, avocado & ranch dressing. Not sure yet what I'll have for dinner. Probably something light.

[garnet10]

1 lb up today after my dinner out last night, but still within my 2 lb window. Had one glass of wine but also stuffed myself on their delicious thai calamari (and I don't usually like calamari but this was just amazing), and then short ribs with a couple of tastes of the mashed potatoes on the plate.

So today I will eat carefully and be sure not to overeat. I have also looked back on every successful stable P3 day or losing P3 day, and they all involve eating lots of vegetables, so for me, eating just protein & fat is not the answer.

I have always done well with veggies, so I'm going to focus this last week of P3 on making sure I get enough veggies in every day.

Originally Posted by heatherwagnon

First round I had a HORRIBLE time stabalizing because I added all fats and cheese and nuts and all that entails back in right away, gaining every day so I hopped back on p2 for 2 more weeks and recieved this advice before I got back to p3 and I stabalized awesome and kept all of it off till this round (a year later)
First day p3 I had a p3 breakfast (bacon and 2% cottage cheese) and had p2 lunch/dinner but upped the protein oz
Second day p3 breakfast and lunch p2 dinner
Third day was all p3 meals
Fourth upped the fat and protein
Fifth is when I started adding in cheese etc

That's just my "advice" lol but every body is different (my disclaimer lol!) some can add it all in right away...I couldn't so the above helped me tremendously. Good luck!! I'll be on p3 on Friday and the above is my plan!

This is such great advice, and entering P3 slowly was always my plan, yet I never managed to do it! Once I started eating fat, I couldn't stop. Even with prior knowledge of the necessary bathroom trips!

Shelbyla, I hope you are able to work it out soon.

Hikergurl, so sorry for your loss.

[Arctic_Mama]

Definitely enter P3 slowly! I concur, ladies.

So many little gains here, I'm so sorry to see it . You all are such troopers - keep working at it and I'm sure the scale will be kinder over the long haul. Sometimes it bounces despite our best efforts but the trend line is almost always in our favor

Another stable day for me, inside my window even with exercise (yay!). I'm definitely in the upper half of my window (178.0 today, my window is 174.8-178.8) but given the inch losses and strength increases I've seen, plus crazy sore muscles from my workouts, I have zero complaints! I have also been managing 200-400 calories of starch per day without issue I am still perfectly happy to keep all whole grains and legumes gone, I don't miss them, but a little rice, sweet potato, or banana is nice to have back and isn't causing cravings or autoimmune reactions.

Shelby, Heather, Hikergurl, hang in there!

Lara - I wouldn't eat salmon hardly ever if my husband didn't catch it. Way too expensive in the stores for the good stuff! I'm so spoiled that we get hundreds of pounds of fresh copper river salmon straight from the source, frozen for year round consumption. In fact, I get sick of it Maybe try sardines or kippered herring and see if that doesn't play more nicely with yor wallet? A sardine salad on cucumber "crackers" is my lunch a few days a week and it is awesome! Sardines, mayo, mustard, capers, celery, lemon juice, a little salt and paprika. Yummy!

[Arctic_Mama]

Originally Posted by BaileysGirl

Happy Hump Day Peeps!

At 191.5 so still in my window! YES!

Have a great day all!

Yay! Good job!

[dbunny]

STS today...Last nite I even ate peanut butter, coconut oil, and stevia mixed together.. it was delightful!

[shelbyla]

Down a few tenths today for me after a normalish day of eating yesterday. By the skin of my teeth, I talked myself out of sushi and saki. I literally turned around like 3 times and took out my cell phone at least twice. But I persevered, went home and ate my fish and broccoli like a good girl. I think if nothing else, I need another round so I am NOT tiptoeing around carbs and alcohol like they are evil and I can never have them. I need to be able to live a little once in a while...

[LaraSuzz]

Originally Posted by Arctic_Mama

Definitely enter P3 slowly! I concur, ladies.

So many little gains here, I'm so sorry to see it . You all are such troopers - keep working at it and I'm sure the scale will be kinder over the long haul. Sometimes it bounces despite our best efforts but the trend line is almost always in our favor

Another stable day for me, inside my window even with exercise (yay!). I'm definitely in the upper half of my window (178.0 today, my window is 174.8-178.8) but given the inch losses and strength increases I've seen, plus crazy sore muscles from my workouts, I have zero complaints! I have also been managing 200-400 calories of starch per day without issue I am still perfectly happy to keep all whole grains and legumes gone, I don't miss them, but a little rice, sweet potato, or banana is nice to have back and isn't causing cravings or autoimmune reactions.

Shelby, Heather, Hikergurl, hang in there!

Lara - I wouldn't eat salmon hardly ever if my husband didn't catch it. Way too expensive in the stores for the good stuff! I'm so spoiled that we get hundreds of pounds of fresh copper river salmon straight from the source, frozen for year round consumption. In fact, I get sick of it Maybe try sardines or kippered herring and see if that doesn't play more nicely with yor wallet? A sardine salad on cucumber "crackers" is my lunch a few days a week and it is awesome! Sardines, mayo, mustard, capers, celery, lemon juice, a little salt and paprika. Yummy!

I'm jealous! Arizona has got nothin on you all over there in Alaska! Wild salmon and big brawney men, yum. LOL I chose Salmon cuz the meat at price club was like very expensive, like $50 for 5 steaks are they crazy? They should call it "Pricey Club" lol

[BaileysGirl]

Hey Hey It's Thursday!!! Weighed in at 191.5 so stayed the same. I even had a chickfila sandwich yesterday w/ a side salad.

B - 2 scrambled eggs, 1 sausage patty & a little white gravy, sweet n spicy tea
L - jersey mikes turkey club on whole wheat
D - leftover zucchini crust pizza & salad

[LaraSuzz]

2lb gain from a small bag of cashews and powdered coffee creamer grrrr. but I dont really care cuz I will loose it all in less than 5 days.

I made the mistake of explaining to someone that the fda is pulling hhcg off the market and now they think I'm hurting myself with the prescription version, thats the last time I do that. ugh.

[HCG girl]

Originally Posted by shelbyla

Down a few tenths today for me after a normalish day of eating yesterday. By the skin of my teeth, I talked myself out of sushi and saki. I literally turned around like 3 times and took out my cell phone at least twice. But I persevered, went home and ate my fish and broccoli like a good girl. I think if nothing else, I need another round so I am NOT tiptoeing around carbs and alcohol like they are evil and I can never have them. I need to be able to live a little once in a while...

I know how you feel, it would be nice to have a cushin so you can feel better about have a little treat sometime.

I went out with my family last night for b-day dinner and even had a 1/2 piece of low carb cheese cake and i STS this morning. Wheew
I have been trying to be really good and keep to low carb, no sugar!! I am hoping to stay the same or even lose a few extra lb's. So far just staying the same! P3 has been good to me, I am enjoying more variety of foods. Almost a week in!!

[hikergurl]

All ready for my road trip tomorrow!

roadtrip.jpg

[garnet10]

Back down a pound today to 126.4 and still in my window! I am now wearing size 8P pants! And it looks like my size on top is now "Small". I was never a small! I still have a mental block against ordering shirts/sweaters in that size.

Yesterday I ate:

B: Fage yogurt w/fro raspberries
coffee w/heavy cream
L: chili (kidney beans & ground beef) w/cut up Edam cheese
coffee w/heavy cream
D: lentil soup w/grated Romano cheese
more Fage yogurt

So....I can eat legumes! This has always been my history--I stabilize and/or lose weight the more legumes & veggies I eat. So happy to be able to eat things like beans and lentils--I feel SO MUCH BETTER eating like this than all fat and protein.

I am very slowly starting a work-out regimen. If I can lose the rest of the flab on my thighs with exercise, I will be happy not to have to do another round. And if I must do another round, I'm going to take a full break (one more week of P3 and then P4), because I was really, really tired and cold on the VLCD.

I'm so happy to be stable so far this round. I spent a lot of time between 130 and 134 in the last few months of 2011, so this is not that much lower, but it IS a new stable weight for me. Now I've just got to get moving.

[garnet10]

Originally Posted by LaraSuzz

2lb gain from a small bag of cashews and powdered coffee creamer grrrr. but I dont really care cuz I will loose it all in less than 5 days.

I made the mistake of explaining to someone that the fda is pulling hhcg off the market and now they think I'm hurting myself with the prescription version, thats the last time I do that. ugh.

Oh, I hear you on that one! I see myself as a maverick, but some of my colleagues feel I've "left the pack", and when I was safely losing weight, I decided to "share" how I was losing weight, and now everyone is coming back to me to "let me know" the FDA is taking it off the market.

I just laugh because IMHO the FDA has been another corrupt government agency, over-regulating the wrong things. They took hhcg off the market and then, coincidentally, have started the approval process for a diet drug that has actually caused deaths. Unbelievable.

[moonriver]

.2 above the window after a CD. TOM is next week, could be water weight....may just be a good girl today and see what happens.

Been stress eating. Have to get that under control because it does not help!

Today is a new day so gonna fix my attitude and fix my stress causing problem.

[BaileysGirl]

Morning! P4 Day 18 and at 192 so right at the tip top end of my allowance! DH wanted to go out for Chinese for dinner last night. Plus I had a cupcake in honor of my Boss' birthday yesterday.

B - 2 scrambled eggs w/ cheese, strawberries w/ truvia & 1 tsp pb
L - leftover lc pizza & salad w/ ranch
D - chicken fajitas w/ guac

Have a great FRIDAY!

[shelbyla]

Originally Posted by hikergurl

All ready for my road trip tomorrow!

Attachment 43164

Look at you GO girl! (Or should I say "hikergirl"? ) Good for you for being prepared! Again, on this sad occasion, I hope you celebrate that you were able to be with your father while he was able to understand that you were there for him.

********************************

Well, yesterday, I was inexplicably down a pound plus overnight . I ate lightly (around 1400 calories) due to stress and a late night so I'm sure that's part of it. So yesterday I ate similarly, around 100 calories more (1500), and dropped another 1.4. Today, I am going to try and eat similarly at 100 calories more (1600) and see what the scale says tomorrow. Maybe this is just about figuring out my best calorie level? Maybe it's stress? Hormones??? In any case, I got my kit. Now all I need is my hcg!

Oh and HAPPY FREAKIN' FRIDAY to you all!

[heatherwagnon]

Originally Posted by garnet10

Oh, I hear you on that one! I see myself as a maverick, but some of my colleagues feel I've "left the pack", and when I was safely losing weight, I decided to "share" how I was losing weight, and now everyone is coming back to me to "let me know" the FDA is taking it off the market.

I just laugh because IMHO the FDA has been another corrupt government agency, over-regulating the wrong things. They took hhcg off the market and then, coincidentally, have started the approval process for a diet drug that has actually caused deaths. Unbelievable.

I hear both of you on this one (well I'm sure we all do lol) I don't tell many people, close friends my mom and hubby. Friends are skeptical about putting a "hormone" in their body...um hcg is in your body when you're pregnant my hubby is VERY supportive he just doesn't want me to lose my a** my mom is the one that says "did you hear.....?!" "watch dr oz, heather it's about your diet thing" and I had a brain aneurysm and mini stroke in June (dr's have no clue why) and my mom says "well don't you think it may be from that hcg stuff you do?" ummmm no!

[heatherwagnon]

YAY I'm here!!! P3 D1 and down .6 from LDW.
B is gonna be bacon and cottage cheese and a fried egg
L is p2 (steak or beef with onion)
S we'll see I don't get that hungry at all first couple days of p3
D is p2 (same as lunch)

Here we go!! Glad to be around such amazing ladies~~~