~~P3/P4 Simeon's Protocol Week of 03/05 ~ (

[icecreamjunkie]

Originally Posted by shelbyla

I'm right there with ya sister, only my "ex" is my current right now!

Put a tablespoon of butter on your veggies and 4T of HWC (whipped or un) on your berries. That's about 500 more calories...

thanks! I got it up to about 1725 i love my berries and whipped cream!

I will nibble on some crack i'm sure....but bleh, i am sooooo full!

[icecreamjunkie]

haha! that was supposed to be WRITHING! lol...not writing...and WHY can't I stop thinking about him...and her? I want them OUT of my head.....and my heart!!!!

[icecreamjunkie]

Originally Posted by julieboolie

I use ****** and it does the % for me. I think it's based on the source of the calories. 15% of the day's calories from protein, 15% from carbs, and 70% from fat.

I loaded my "planned" menu for tomorrow and am coming in at 65% fat, 21% protein, 14% carbs. I've got about 1850cals on the menu. I'm supposed to be around 2200 according to the BMR/RMR calculator. I most likely won't get all those calories in, but that's the plan .

Julie, how do we have nearly the same calorie needs if you are MUCH smaller than me?? I can't get over 2,000 AND i'm freaking myself out because that just seems soooooo much!

[LaraSuzz]

Oh thank goodness my pic is finally showing. I was about to throw in the towel lol. It irks me when I cant figure out how to do something simple lol.

Time heals all wounds. And getting a new man helps. heehee.

[Ladybates]

Originally Posted by LaraSuzz

Oh thank goodness my pic is finally showing. I was about to throw in the towel lol. It irks me when I cant figure out how to do something simple lol.

Time heals all wounds. And getting a new man helps. heehee.

Lol...it took me about 3 days to figure out how to get my picture to work.

[hcground1]

Originally Posted by bkm

How do you calculate this - by % or by wt? That is, would:

• 15g protein
• 15g effective carb
• 70g fat

be correct? or should it be:

• 15g protein (15*4 = 60cal)
• 15g effective carb (15*4 = 60 cal)
• 30g fat (30*9 = 270 cal)

I've seen this ratio before, but I've never known how to interpret it. (BTW, the calculations are very rough).

Thanks ...

Bonnie, I plug it into ****** and it gives me the ratios/%

[shelbyla]

Originally Posted by icecreamjunkie

haha! that was supposed to be WRITHING! lol...not writing...and WHY can't I stop thinking about him...and her? I want them OUT of my head.....and my heart!!!!

I knew what you meant. And I feel ya also on the calories. Trying to do my first UD and I gotta tell ya, that half bottle of montrasell on the counter looks a whole he11 of a lot more therapeutic than fish and green beans! I wonder if it's true I can eat (drink) ANY type of calories on UDs to cals up???

[hcground1]

Originally Posted by julieboolie

Lady-hoping your adjusted chicken CD helps anyway. I doubt you did too much damage w/ teh dip. There is a lot of cheese in that though I'm sure you'll be down. I agree w/ Leona and think the high fat of the dip will likely help.

Leona-what is your menu for tomorrow look like? I am going to plug my plan into ****** and see if my ratios are close to yours. I'm starting w. GY, and don't think the carbs on the label accurately reflect what's really in it, so that will skew my ratios.

I'm not sure about this yet, because I keep changing my mind... For sure I'm going to take my fish oil, which is like 3Tbl of yummy lemony stuff. I might mix it w/ a bit of kefir if I'm really feeling adventurous. I've never tried the stuff and have no idea if I'll like it or not. 2 eggs w/ sauteed mushrooms and bell pepper, cooked in ghee. Roast w/ some sort of veggie, maybe kale sauteed in ghee or ? I've got some chicken thighs to bake or bbq for dinner w/ roasted broccoli. Not sure what it will add up to in ******, probably not nearly enough fat. I'm going to have to tweak it I'm sure. I'm supposed to only get like 1600 cal a day to maintain but that seems like way too much compared to what I've been getting stuffed on.

I overdid it a bit today on the calories. I was so hungry when we got home from the gym and running errands, and craving something in my mouth, so I ate an apple. But it puts me at like 575 calories for the day. I hope it doesn't bite me tomorrow...

[hcground1]

Originally Posted by icecreamjunkie

This just gave me a headache THINKING i would have to do math....i prefer someone to just tell me what to eat!

I would never be able to do that kind of math everyday! I hate it! ****** makes it sooooo much easier.

[julieboolie]

Originally Posted by icecreamjunkie

Julie, how do we have nearly the same calorie needs if you are MUCH smaller than me?? I can't get over 2,000 AND i'm freaking myself out because that just seems soooooo much!

I'm not sure. I used several different websites. Did you use a multiplier to increase you RMR to the # of calories you burn a day (activity level?) I workout about 3 times a week.

to Shelby, and ice. Men!!

Leona- are you a CO user? I'm toying with adding it in P3. I gained on it a few years ago, but that could have been from too much crack!! I'm making an ital beef onion soup tomorrow. Froze the leftover roast I made last week, and was given a Lot of diced onion. Sautéed them and will throw all if that in my crockpot tomorrow, with beef broth and crushed tomatoes!! I over cooked for P2, so I'll be working through leftovers for a few days. Many advise eating larger portions of P2 foods, which I will be doing (w/ added fats). I doubt an apple will hurt you on the scale!!

Really excited for tomorrow!! Got the coffee pot all set to go, unopened container of heavy cream waiting in the fridge!!

[icecreamjunkie]

Originally Posted by julieboolie

I'm not sure. I used several different websites. Did you use a multiplier to increase you RMR to the # of calories you burn a day (activity level?) I workout about 3 times a week.

to Shelby, and ice. Men!!


Really excited for tomorrow!! Got the coffee pot all set to go, unopened container of heavy cream waiting in the fridge!!

soooo, if i gain again tomorrow (will be day 4 of p3) should i strictly go back to eating p2 foods in larger quantities? I am using co (crack! lol) to get the nearly 2300 cals i am supposed to eat....i've been averaging around 1700 since monday.

[hcground1]

Originally Posted by julieboolie

I'm not sure. I used several different websites. Did you use a multiplier to increase you RMR to the # of calories you burn a day (activity level?) I workout about 3 times a week.

to Shelby, and ice. Men!!

Leona- are you a CO user? I'm toying with adding it in P3. I gained on it a few years ago, but that could have been from too much crack!! I'm making an ital beef onion soup tomorrow. Froze the leftover roast I made last week, and was given a Lot of diced onion. Sautéed them and will throw all if that in my crockpot tomorrow, with beef broth and crushed tomatoes!! I over cooked for P2, so I'll be working through leftovers for a few days. Many advise eating larger portions of P2 foods, which I will be doing (w/ added fats). I doubt an apple will hurt you on the scale!!

Really excited for tomorrow!! Got the coffee pot all set to go, unopened container of heavy cream waiting in the fridge!!

I've got lots of it, I've just never known how to incorporate it into my meals other than using it to saute. I do use it as lotion though, does that count? How do you guys make the crack?

[shirleychef]

We use CO in everything. I add a blob to every soup, stew, chili, taco meat, spaghetti sauce, you name it.. I slip coconut oil in! I also slip bone broth into everything. SHHHH... what my family doesn't know will only HELP them! We go through 1 gallon of CO a month. Plus I make coconut crack, and coconut manna/cream candies with added coconut oil.

My steak day gave me ZERO loss... but I did have a run in with a batch of home made coconut manna/cream.... I tried making my own and had to sample.. like about 1/4 cup worth.. So my steak day did not go as planned.

Today I had a great food day, I felt very balanced and in control so maybe the scale will be friendlier tomorrow. I've been sore the past couple days b/c I've increased my work out from 1 power mile to 1 power mile and 1 aerobic mile, I'm using Leslie Sansone CD's for the work outs. So I know being sore is not helping at all.. it will take a while for my body to adjust.. then by the time it does I'll increase my work out and GAIN again! I'm asking for it I guess.. but I'm bound and determined to tone up this jiggly body!

[icecreamjunkie]

OMG HELP! I gained another 1.2 putting me at 269....w/in ounces of being 2lbs over. I have gone from 265 on my last vlc day to 269 today! That is making me crazy! I have been posting my menus just in case anyone sees anything that I am doing wrong. I have had NO sugar or starches. I don't like this at all!!! The only thing I have truly added was co and avocados and a fattier cut of steak & berries and a bit of heavy cream w/ my berries...but everything else was p2 foods....eggs, spinach....i've actually been very boring w my food. TOM shouldn't be for two more weeks? ugh.....should I not do the coconut oil? OH I did have pork side...which is just thick cut bacon that has had NO curing...so tasteless really but high in fat.

Please advise??

ps i put this on th p2/p3 thread so sorry for the duplication....i just don't want to go over

[LaraSuzz]

the berries are the only thing that could be causing a gain, take them out and see how it goes?

remember the rule; protein and fats make you loose
fruits and veggies make you gain

[Ladybates]

Originally Posted by LaraSuzz

the berries are the only thing that could be causing a gain, take them out and see how it goes?

remember the rule; protein and fats make you loose
fruits and veggies make you gain

I didn't know that fruits and veggies make you gain.

[LaraSuzz]

Originally Posted by Ladybates

I didn't know that fruits and veggies make you gain.

I mean that they help you to stabilize. There are more carbs in veggies and fruit than meat of course, and the p&I rule is no starch no sugar...

A Plan for Surviving P3, P4, and Lifelong Maintenance
by Jeanette Shouse and jointly edited with Sunlight/ada


P3-How Long?

In my opinion we must figure out what works for us as an individual. Some people may not need any P3 at all and can continue on P2 indefinitely. Some of us may need a full six weeks or more between rounds. However, after following the newsgroup posts for quite some time, I feel that we might need to continue P3 for a few weeks AFTER the weight becomes stable. In other words, if your weight only stabilizes (no ups and downs to speak of) at or near the end of the 3 weeks, it might be very beneficial for long-term success if we continue maintaining that weight for an extra week or so before moving into a new P2 or on to the extended and lifelong maintenance of P4.

P3 is not just something we have to live through to get to P4. Take it very seriously folks, and learn from the experience of others who DID NOT do it right the first time around and are doing it over again.

If you are planning to immediately begin an additional round of P2, you may be able to do only 2 weeks of P3 before returning to P2. If you have any symptoms of immunity, or plan to take several weeks/months off before a new P2, or if you are at your goal weight, you MUST complete a strict P3 and have stable weights for as long as possible before beginning P4. Stable weights are when you do not lose or gain more than 2 lbs. from your last injection weight (LIW). Not continuing to lose weight is important because any loss in P3 is usually loss of muscle or structural fat.


The Purpose of P3

The three weeks of strict P3 must be done because the ultimate purpose of P3 is to RESET and lock-in your new base weight (the weight you recorded as your LIW). If you fail to follow the protocol during these weeks, your experience when you begin adding back other foods in P4 WILL be to regain weight up to your former base weight (the weight you were before you began using the HCG protocol or the level you set on the previous round).

Personally, I feel that P3 is the most difficult and most important part of the whole process. Not only must it be done correctly to establish the new base weight, there are many other things that have to be learned in P3.

• You have to learn how individual foods affect your weight as they are added back into the diet. Continuing to keep a daily food journal will help you pinpoint problem foods and discover which ones work well for you.
• You have to learn to identify the foods that cause you to gain weight. Once you know which ones do this, you can decide when to eat them and what to do when the gain comes.
• You have to learn what portion sizes you can eat without gaining weight.
• You have to learn how to make adjustments to your food choices and portion sizes to maintain this new base weight.
• If you do not do this in P3, you will gain weight in P4.

One way to approach P3 is to keep your vegetable and fruit choices (but not quantities) the same for the first several days to a week and to add additional proteins and fats. Your protein intake should at least double or triple and you should not be trying to limit fat intake.

If you are still losing weight, then increase your vegetable consumption. Add back green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and other low glycemic veggies. (See the Glycemic Index Chart in the HCGDIETERS YAHOO GROUP files.) If you are still losing or maintaining nicely, then add some new fruits and berries, such as blueberries and cantaloupe.

If you gain weight or your weight begins to fluctuate, reduce the amounts consumed or eliminate the latest foods added for a few more days to a week and then try them again.

As you add new choices to your diet, keep a food record and note what reactions you had to the new items. Did you gain weight? Did you retain fluid? Did you have stomach upsets, gas, bloating or indigestion? Did you feel more hunger after eating, stay satisfied for shorter periods of time, have food cravings? Use these notes to develop your own personal list of foods that are OK, should be limited, or should be avoided.


Analyzing a Gain in P3

Many people NEVER have to resort to calorie counting or analyzing the intake percentages of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. However, there are some of us who do not experience an easy stabilization of weight in P3. If you are gaining weight in P3, try the following in the order listed:

1. Check all the foods and beverages you are consuming for hidden sugar and starch.
2. Count calories!! OH NO!! Just for a little while, until you find your individual intake level.
3. Use a site like ****** - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal to check your calorie count and your intake percentages of protein, fats, and carbohydrates (carbs). If your calorie level is where it should be to maintain your weight and you are still showing a gain, you may need to adjust the percentages of the nutrients you are eating.
4. During P3 your protein and fat intake needs to be higher than normal. Many people find that their protein intake needs to be around 65% in order to maintain.
5. After you have stabilized and maintained for a while, you can adjust the protein downward and the carb intake upward until you find a good balance for you.
6. Eliminate the fruits for a few days to a week. Add them back slowly after the weight stabilizes.
7. Are you exercising too much, too soon? Try cutting back or cutting out any new routines you have added until P4.

8. Has your elimination routine (BM’s) returned to a normal pattern?



PHASE 4

Analyzing a Gain in P4

Entering P4 is not an automatic green light to eat everything in sight, or to gorge on all the things you have not been eating! It is a continuation on the process of losing weight and learning to maintain that loss. You are not quite yet to the point of total freedom from watching what you eat or free from analyzing the process.

Add back small amounts of sugars and starches SLOWLY and add back only one item at a time. If you find that you are gaining weight—you must go hunting for the culprit causing the gain.

Here is what to do (In addition to a steak/protein day, should you need one!):

• Continue to keep a daily food journal and write down ALL the foods and beverages. If you have a gain, check to see what you ate the day prior to the gain showing on the scale. Sometimes the cause for the gain can even be traced back to a food eaten about 48 hours before a gain shows up on the scale. Do this for each incident of a gain. You must experiment and analyze your findings to discover which of those items may be causing your gains and fluctuations. It may be a food itself, components of a food—such as flour, sugar, or chemicals and additives—that may be in the food and cause a reaction in your system.

• Keep a list of all the items you identify that cause you to have a gain. This will be your list of specific foods to keep a close watch of. Try them again a few weeks down the road and see if you get the same reactions. It is possible that as your system stabilizes and normalizes, that you will be able to handle some of these items, at least on a controlled and limited basis.


Choosing What to Eat and How to Add Foods in P3 and P4

For those who are finding themselves uncertain about what foods should be added and when to add them, or are showing sensitivity to carbs, I suggest that you try adding carbs back according to the glycemic index. The glycemic index is a rating of carbohydrate foods and is an indicator as to how fast they are absorbed by the body and converted to sugar. Diabetics use it to keep blood sugar levels under control, but it is also a guide as to which carbs will create more glucose in your blood stream and also the amount of insulin that your body will release to handle that sugar. Insulin is what controls whether your body uses the sugar for energy or stores it as fat. The higher the insulin levels circulating in your bloodstream, the more fat is stored.

The glycemic chart is separated into three sections: low, medium, and high impact carbs. The higher a food item is on the chart, the higher and faster your blood sugars will rise and the more insulin your body will put into your bloodstream in response. Start adding carbs back from the items that are lower on the list and slowly move up the charts to see what the individual items do to you.

There are very good glycemic index charts on this website: http://www.4eatsmart.com


How Can We Maintain the Loss for the Rest of Our Lives?

1. Practice what you have learned in P3 and P4.
Use the information you have gathered about your body and your individual reactions to foods, your personal calorie intake and nutrient percentage, and how to best deal with weight gains to manage your eating.
2. Find substitutes for items that caused problems, if possible.
For example, there are many types of flour available. If plain white or wheat flour causes you problems, try some of the alternatives such as almond or coconut flour.
3. Develop a new collection of recipes that you love and that appeal to your taste buds but do not cause weight gain. If you love cheesecake, go find a low-carb recipe that you like. Use spices and herbs to add flavor to food. Try new things.
4. Have a plan for dealing with “food” events. Know what types of events you must attend and plan how you will deal with them BEFORE the time comes.
If it is a family food event, what items can you contribute that work for you? Find a recipe for a dessert that everyone will like but that meets your requirements.
Know what items restaurants and fast food places serve that will not cause you problems and stick with those choices when you eat out.
Be prepared for unexpected situations. Always have something close by that will get you through an emergency situation. Fruit is always good. Maybe a protein bar or drink. Find some good choices for YOU and practice having something always at hand in case you get stuck in traffic, at a meeting, or such.
5. Be vigilant - Watch the scale!
Once you are able to maintain your weight for weeks at a time, you may be able to weigh only once a week. Until then, weigh daily or at least every few days. Take action immediately if you have more than a 2 lb. gain!
6. Develop your personal plan for dealing with weight gains.
Find what works best for you and what your personal preferences are for dropping the weight and DO IT IMMEDIATELY when you have a gain of more than 2 lbs. A steak/protein day is always an option. So is cutting your calorie intake for a few days until you drop the extra pounds.
7. Live Well
Enjoy your family!
Enjoy your health!
Find new hobbies and enjoy old ones!
Find ways to give to your family, friends, and community that will feed your spirit and bring joy to your life!
Savor each new day, each bite you take, and each moment that you live!

[Ladybates]

Originally Posted by icecreamjunkie

OMG HELP! I gained another 1.2 putting me at 269....w/in ounces of being 2lbs over. I have gone from 265 on my last vlc day to 269 today! That is making me crazy! I have been posting my menus just in case anyone sees anything that I am doing wrong. I have had NO sugar or starches. I don't like this at all!!! The only thing I have truly added was co and avocados and a fattier cut of steak & berries and a bit of heavy cream w/ my berries...but everything else was p2 foods....eggs, spinach....i've actually been very boring w my food. TOM shouldn't be for two more weeks? ugh.....should I not do the coconut oil? OH I did have pork side...which is just thick cut bacon that has had NO curing...so tasteless really but high in fat.

Please advise??

ps i put this on th p2/p3 thread so sorry for the duplication....i just don't want to go over

I wish I had some words of wisdom to offer, but unfortunately I'm a P3 newbie. I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone. I'm having a rough time maintaining also and I am exactly 2 pounds over my LDW. I've been posting my menus everyday also in hopes that someone will point out my errors. I'm beginning to think that we should definitely expect some fluctuations, especially in the beginning since our bodies need time to adjust to all of the new foods that we're introducing.
Hang in there, we're all in this together.

[Ladybates]

Good morning ladies. Here's my menu plan for today, criticism and suggestions are welcome.

Coffee w/HWC
Breakfast - 2 boiled eggs and 2 slices of bacon
Lunch - Large salad w/chicken and blue cheese dressing (no cheese)
Dinner - Baked chicken drumsticks and spinach w/bacon

On another note, I didn't lose anything this morning (probably thanks to the buffalo chicken dip that I ate yesterday) but I also didn't gain. So, I'm still exactly 2 pounds over my LDW. I did get out in this beautiful weather yesterday evening and did a nice, fast paced walk for an hour.

[shelbyla]

Ok, update on JUDDD experiment, day 2.

Yesterday was an "up day". I probably had close to 2100 calories and frankly really didn't feel like eating dinner (emotional trauma with the bf) but I did anyway. I am trying to really get this to work. SO after an UD you are supposed to gain weight, from food volume if nothing else. This morning, DOWN 1.1 and back into my REAL window. Very very weird. Today is another down day or DD, P2 style. Hard boiled egg for breakfast, chicken salad with fat free dressing and an apple for lunch, beef patty, green beans (small helping) and strawberries for dinner. Yoga tonight which usually kicks my butt so we'll see how that goes on VLC without hcg. And maybe I'll see another low tomorrow before UP #2. Hmmmm...this is interesting...

[icecreamjunkie]

Thanks for the post on all the p3/p4 information! I read it again and it said protein should be about 65%....Mine has been about 25% w/ fat being around 65%. I adjusted this morning...no coffee and will do the apple and steak tonight for dinner! I will try raising the protein level, cut out the berries and the whipped cream (i love cream!) and see how that goes. I am just morbidly afraid of gaining....i need to get over that!

deep breaths! lol....I am so glad tomorrow is Friday....I couldn't take any more!!!

I hope everyone has a great day!!

[Ladybates]

Originally Posted by icecreamjunkie

Thanks for the post on all the p3/p4 information! I read it again and it said protein should be about 65%....Mine has been about 25% w/ fat being around 65%. I adjusted this morning...no coffee and will do the apple and steak tonight for dinner! I will try raising the protein level, cut out the berries and the whipped cream (i love cream!) and see how that goes. I am just morbidly afraid of gaining....i need to get over that!

deep breaths! lol....I am so glad tomorrow is Friday....I couldn't take any more!!!

I hope everyone has a great day!!

I hope it all works out for you.

[julieboolie]

Good morning girls!!

Lady- sorry your modified CD didn't net you a loss. I hope you settle in to P3. You're right. The beginning can have wild fluctuations. Ride it out, follow the plan, and I'm sure you'll stabilize well.

Ice-relax. You're still in your window. You're doing fine. Simeon's expected us to gain and lose as we adjust to our new body weight. Your menu looks fine. I'm not sure I'd change too much. But hopefully you're higher protein day will give you some insight into what your body likes.

Shelby-wow!! That's wonderful news!! Good job!! And on the BF. Sorry for the stress!! Hope your DD is effortless.

I'm down 0.6 to 147.6 (lowest weight ever!!) and just had my coffee/cream. I really have very little appetite, which I'm surprised by!! so far, so good!! My tummy is a bit rumbly today, but I'm ok w. that. I know it's just part of the adjustment. P3, although scary is fun!!

I have my ital beef/onion soup going in the crockpot, and am looking forward to enjoying that for dinner. I think I'm doing double P2 chili for lunch over spinach w. a bit of sour cream (taco salad like). I was looking forward to GY for bfast but am not hungry. I'm not going to push myself to eat if I'm not hungry. I did that in the past and it didnt' go well for me. I'd love to make it through 3-4 days w.o a CD. We'll see.

I hope you all have a good day. And be strong, the weekend starts tomorrow. I'm always scared of weekends, and the inevitable dining out challenges!! Dh wont' be home until Sat. night so I get a little breathing room .

[fultymom]

Shelby- sounds like you've gotten this under control.

Ladybates- your menu looks great to me, but maybe not enough food.

Theresa- I'm not sure you are eating enough either. I'd try concentrating on proteins and fats, less veggie and fruits for a few days.

I agree, after P2, eating a different diet will always cause the scale to bounce up, which is why we have a window to work with. I think if you eat mostly higher fat meats and fats, it settles down quicker.

I have about 5/6 days of P3 left. I have stabilized well so far, but I'm a bit nervous about P4. I'm not really missing carbs, so I should be able to add them in slowly and see what happens.

Hoping things work out for each of you.

Cindy T

[hcground1]

Good morning ladies... to Lady and Ice. Sorry you guys are having such a tough time. I hope things settle out for you soon.

Congrats Shelby, it looks like the JUDD experiment is going well so far. I'm curious to watch your progress in it! You can be the guinea pig!

Julie, we're both down the same today, how weird. Good luck to you today!


I'm down .6 today from my last vlcd. I had hoped for more wiggle room, but such is life. I've done something a bit rogue, after saying I was going to try and be safe... I had some fresh carrot/kale juice (1/2 C) mixed w/ a TBl of homemade kefir first thing. I took my probiotics and fish oil with it. It's supposed to help both detox and repopulating good gut flora. I'm kind of taking some of what I've learned through GAPS and mixing it into my P3, hoping I can begin to heal my gut as well as stabilize. If it doesn't go well, I may jump into full GAPS intro. I'm going to give it a few days and see how things go.

Well, I'm off to cook breakfast! Good luck ladies.

Today I plan on eating...
S: carrot/kale juice, probiotic, fish oil
B: 2 eggs w/ mushrooms and bell peppers, ghee
L: onion and beef soup, maybe sour cream?
S: avocado w/ o/o
D: roasted chicken thigh and roasted broccoli

Subject to change!

[icecreamjunkie]

ok, so i was reading "out there" on the web about steak days and the site (and I have seen this elsewhere also) says to eat around 1200 to 1500 calories....yet we all seem to go with what ever a caloric need site says (fit day etc)...What are ya'lls thoughts on this?

Also, (don't throw anything at me!) but the same site also said go with the weight of your last dosage.....now mine was Friday....had morning and lunch dosage and weight 269. BUT since I had dosed that day, I assumed the weight I would use would be Saturdays weight, which was my first day w/o any dosage of hcg...I know i'm not the brightest crayon in the box (says the art teacher! lol) but which day do i go with...friday or saturday?

[fultymom]

Theresa- Yes, you take the weight on your Last Dose Day, so Fridays weight for you.

Also, I would not recommend you consistently do P3 at 1500 calories. You don't want your body to think you have to eat that level to maintain the weight you are now, since you still have more to lose, it could cause problems later when you are at a lower weight (you may have to drop from there on later P3s to maintain at your lower weight).

Cindy T

[icecreamjunkie]

Originally Posted by fultymom

Theresa- Yes, you take the weight on your Last Dose Day, so Fridays weight for you.

Also, I would not recommend you consistently do P3 at 1500 calories. You don't want your body to think you have to eat that level to maintain the weight you are now, since you still have more to lose, it could cause problems later when you are at a lower weight (you may have to drop from there on later P3s to maintain at your lower weight).

Cindy T

lol should have asked this question sooner! lol i was so confused! THAT weight is 269!!! oh well, i will go through with my steak day and cary on tomorrow! lol...i am such a dork! I am going to get the BIGGEST JUICIEST marbled steak i can...bank account be damned!!!

Thanks for all the tips! I TRULY appreciate everyone on here so much! I can't imagine having to go through all of this alone!!

[LaraSuzz]

Your last dose day was Friday you would Fridays weight anything above 2lbs over that days weight!!!!

[shirleychef]

There are a LOT of phase 3 tips floating around out there, everything from recommendations on foods to % of fat/protein/carbs. I think the most important thing to consider is that phase 3 is by no means a "one size fits all"! You may do fabulous with cream, berries, fat, protein, etc. I have a friend that can eat 7 servings of fruit, and loads of veggies with moderate protein/fat and she stabilizes like a ROCK. My teen daughter.. eats WAY different than me and always stays within 1 pound of her LDW (I'm very jealous... can you tell?!?)

Phase 3 is the time to find YOUR personal food balance by following the basic rules of no sugar no starch. Some folks do discover that they have food sensitivies that will cause a bump on the scale. Most of us find we have to mind our portion sizes with some foods like cheese, nuts, dairy, etc. PLUS you throw in the variable that each round is different.. you have shrunk after another round and your body responds differently with a need for a different food balance. Each round, each phase 3 has to be handled with your learning glasses on. You have to chart what you are eating and pay attention to how your body is responding... PLUS... you MUST relax. Stressing about those ups and downs do NOT help. Stress can cause our body to freak out and retain water... which causes a gain!

The day of your Last Dose is your Last Dose weight. You have a wonderful 4 pound window to be totally relaxed in. +/- 2 of your LDW.. AND Dr. S tells us that our weight will bounce around during those 3 weeks... so guess what... if your weight is bouncing that is OK!

There are also those that don't seem to ever stabilize in their window... currently I'm 6 pounds above LDW... been 6 pounds above since Thursday and have only had a .4 variation in my weight each day... I say... I'm stable. My weight has gone from 152.2 - 156.6, consistently. I have had TOM and added exercise so my body has picked this weight... and I'm settling in nicely.. not panicing.

NOW.. I do plan to JUDDD my way down into the lower 140's or 130's eventually, but for now allowing my body to adjust to my increasing workout and my body at this health BMI is OK! :-)

So.. you newbies to phase 3... it is OK. :-) Eat within balance, enjoy a variety of fruits, veggies, fat, protein, and everything else that is not sugar and not starch and learn your food balance. If you end up doing a CD it does NOT mean you have "failed" it simply means you are LEARNING your food balance. If everyone knew that balance perfectly... Dr. S would not have needed to tell us about Steak Days!

Have a super day everyone!