~P3-P4-Simeons-protocol-week-7/8~

[shelbyla]

Well, I was tempted to weigh this morning but restrained myself. Not sure if I posted this here but I "peeked" yesterday--146.1 which is about what I expected. Good to know that my mental "weight-o-meter" is still pretty on target. I am still giving the clean eating another couple of days. Saturday morning is going to be the "official" day and I will go from there. Tonight is yoga so I'm assuming I will be retaining water from a killer workout tomorrow. I've been alternating days with light dinners this week and tracking but not obsessing over calories--really trying to go for a more intuitive approach based on hunger signals combined a bit with rrarf (hahahahahaha!). I DO think the eating in Mexico as well as a whole lot of relaxation helped pump up the ole metabolism a bit more.

Anyway, lots of random musings from me today. Everyone have a great one...

[dawnyama]

Originally Posted by Bitsky

Ooooo For my steak day, do you think it's OK to have bison instead of beef?? Maybe I should stick to beef seeing as I just experimented and had an iced capp..eeek! Hopefully it's OK. it says no sugar and my teeth didn't feel fuzzy after drinking it so it's got to be sugar free! The recipes online for homeade versions have sugar in them though so I got scared.

Here is a thread on steak days and coffee:

heavy cream in coffee on steak day?

and this is what you should do the day after your steak day:

Ideas for a Perfectly *Clean* P3 Day to Follow Correction Day

See how all this has been asked/talked about before. Searching through old threads can get some really good information. There is a search button at the top of the hcg forum that I use quite often.

[cocoapeanut]

Agree with Dawn on post searching! I read random old threads when I'm bored.. hehe.

Shelby - I <3 your random musings.

[Bitsky]

Originally Posted by shelbyla

Honestly, I think that looks pretty darn stable! (Aside from the pizza "incident"! ) If I were you--after your steak day of course--I would just eat to satisfaction unless and until your weight starts REALLY jumping around or rising and not going back down. JMHO

Awesome, I'm so happy to hear that one part of my life is normal! LOL I'm going to take your advice! Thanks a ton!!!!

[minimonkey]

Shelby -- thanks for the advice. I've scrapped the fast idea for now -- you can read all my endless thoughts on the matter over at the Atkins after HCG thread if you care to read them ...

Your advice is always welcome, and usually quite wise, as well!

[shelbyla]

Originally Posted by minimonkey

Shelby -- thanks for the advice. I've scrapped the fast idea for now -- you can read all my endless thoughts on the matter over at the Atkins after HCG thread if you care to read them ...

Your advice is always welcome, and usually quite wise, as well!

You are very welcome! It's still weird to me to worry about people that I know only over the internet! Are you feeling any better today?

[LaraSuzz]

Happy Friday the 13th!

Things are going well, last day of catering. I'm kind of missing my low carb food. Have a good day all! =) Lara

[Bitsky]

Steak day was a success! Down 2lbs this morning and it still feels like I have 'stuff' inside me to get rid of today. Thanks Dawn for the thread links, of course I had 5 roasted almonds shortly after rising this morning before reading the thread so I now I will know for next time. It does change my supper plans that's for sure!! I was going to have almond flour pancakes and turkey bacon so I will save that for breakfast tomorrow. I made some cocoa crack last night for the weekend and I'm pretty proud of myself, I only licked my fingers a couple times...unlike the first time I made it... I was a hot mess that night, just wanted to climb into the bowl lol I felt more in control this time making it.

[cocoapeanut]

Egg day wasn't terrible, lost 1.4 lbs which is probably fine. Not my fave tho ;] eating within a window today and skipping dinner, hopefully that continues to help

Hugs to everyone!

[christyb]

Hi! I've been hanging out in the P2 thread, but today is my first day of P3. I was hoping to have a longer round but the doctor determined that I was starting to lose lean mass instead of fat, as well as having some hunger. So they wanted me to move to P3 and here I am! I lost 22 pounds in 26 days, so I have to be happy with that!

I have been watching the Weight Loss Apocalypse Videos and the book just came yesterday. I want to start to relearn hunger. So I am trying to do that today. I slept really late because my friend took my kids to VBS for me. And now it's 1pm and I haven't eaten yet. I'm just starting to feel some hunger.

I'm finding myself a little worried about following my hunger. I'm worried about not getting enough calories and causing problems. I'm worried about getting too many calories and causing problems. Ugh! I hope I can learn to trust my body and trust myself again. I've messed it up for so long, you know?

Also, I was curious about your opinions about going more than 2 pounds below LDW. I have stuck to the protocol like glue. I didn't cheat and I don't want to start. But my doctor told me that I could lose weight in P3, as long as it is only 1 or 2 pounds a week. However, P&I clearly says not to go 2 pounds below LDW. I am very concerned about stabilizing correctly, because I don't want to gain anything back!! I'm going to question my doctor but they are closed today.

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to eating something different! In fact, I'm going to make myself some eggs!! Woo hoo!!

[cocoapeanut]

Hey! Welcome to P3 - congratulations on losing 22 lbs! That's super awesome!! Be proud

Definitely trust your hunger, after you assess that it's real hunger! Sometimes people just get head hungry and eat out of boredom. Try not to get too bored Since you're transitioning, you may not want to eat a whole lot cause your stomach has shrunk. It's okay. Just stick to the no starch no sugar rule and you'll be okay! You'll get hungrier and eat more eventually. The less you overthink it, the more natural your eating patterns will be. (PS I know that's easier said that done, I'm STILL trying to not think about my eating patterns all the time..)

P&I does say you shouldn't lose any more weight, and my doctor also said I could lose in P3. I actually didn't lose, even though I didn't eat anywhere close to BMR for the first week..haha. If you start losing and want to stop, just try eating more protein and fat! No complaints there, right? Hehe. Some people actually do stabilize slightly lower than LDW. Correcting if you go over 2 lbs higher than LDW is SUPER IMPORTANT but other than that, let your body do what it's gonna do.

And don't feel like you're failing if you have to do a correction day -- your body is just trying to stabilize. You're likely not at fault. Unless you had some pasta.

It will all be okay!

[christyb]

Originally Posted by cocoapeanut

Hey! Welcome to P3 - congratulations on losing 22 lbs! That's super awesome!! Be proud

Definitely trust your hunger, after you assess that it's real hunger! Sometimes people just get head hungry and eat out of boredom. Try not to get too bored Since you're transitioning, you may not want to eat a whole lot cause your stomach has shrunk. It's okay. Just stick to the no starch no sugar rule and you'll be okay! You'll get hungrier and eat more eventually. The less you overthink it, the more natural your eating patterns will be. (PS I know that's easier said that done, I'm STILL trying to not think about my eating patterns all the time..)

P&I does say you shouldn't lose any more weight, and my doctor also said I could lose in P3. I actually didn't lose, even though I didn't eat anywhere close to BMR for the first week..haha. If you start losing and want to stop, just try eating more protein and fat! No complaints there, right? Hehe. Some people actually do stabilize slightly lower than LDW. Correcting if you go over 2 lbs higher than LDW is SUPER IMPORTANT but other than that, let your body do what it's gonna do.

And don't feel like you're failing if you have to do a correction day -- your body is just trying to stabilize. You're likely not at fault. Unless you had some pasta.

It will all be okay!

Thank you! I will probably read this over and over to remind myself! I am ALWAYS one to overthink! I make myself nuts (and probably my kids and dh too)!

I've read a lot of people say that if you don't eat enough you'll be stuck at that level forever. But that doesn't seem to be what Robin Woodall or Dr. S say. But that has kind of freaked me out. I'm glad you said that my hunger will increase. I really wasn't very hungry today, and what I did eat didn't seem to set too well. I've had a bit of a bathroom issue today

I ate 2 eggs cooked in butter when I first got hungry. Later I had an apple with some peanut butter. And for dinner I had a small salad with taco meat. I got sick about five minutes after I finished. Ick!

I'm assuming it's because I haven't had fat for a month? I hope that works itself out SOON!

One more question. . . do I include what I gained loading in my total loss? If so I lost 26.8 in 26 days! I like the sound of that even better!

Looking forward to getting to know everyone!

[cocoapeanut]

Originally Posted by christyb

I ate 2 eggs cooked in butter when I first got hungry. Later I had an apple with some peanut butter. And for dinner I had a small salad with taco meat. I got sick about five minutes after I finished. Ick!

I'm assuming it's because I haven't had fat for a month? I hope that works itself out SOON!

One more question. . . do I include what I gained loading in my total loss? If so I lost 26.8 in 26 days! I like the sound of that even better!

1. Yeah a lot of times some bathroom issues can arise due to the sudden intake of a lot more fat, haha. Another good reason to take it easy at first! It will resolve.

2. As for including that extra weight in your total loss, I did... Some do, some don't.

[Arctic_Mama]

Hi ladies! Since I'm maintaining I guess I should hang out on here rather than tempt my P2 ladies with yummy food

I was lower today and haven't been very hungry, we'll see if that changes over the next few days or not. Either way, I just keep repeating to myself that if the problem isn't hunger the answer isn't food and I think it has been working beautifully so far!

[cocoapeanut]

Yay Taryl's here! CONGRATULATIONS on your pregnancy, how marvelous!!

[LaraSuzz]

Hi all. My experiment worked, I ate lunch all week keeping it under one hour and actually lost 3 lbs. So now I'm 3 over LIW which is fine for my 8th week out of p2... ie P4... I think I will do this today it seemsto be stabilizing me and I feel satisfied.

Congradulations new mama Taryl to the addition of your new bundle of joy!

Have a great Monday all.

[TiffanyM]

Congratulations Taryl! How exciting!

Still hanging in there, maintaining and oh so glad!

Christy, you're going to be fine. Congrats on 22 pounds!

Cocoa, glad your egg day brought you a decent loss. You too Bitsky!

I am working hard to practice that hunger scale. It's hard sometimes!

I sound like a broken record but I can't wait for round 2!

[TiffanyM]

Where's the P3'rs at this morning?

[jt_gmotu]

Originally Posted by TiffanyM

Where's the P3'rs at this morning?

Hi all, just finally playing catchup here, as work has been jamming me this P3...and on top of it all...last two AM's...roofers are here at 5:30am...pound-pound-pound...1 more day... but I'm a tad sleep deprived.

Eating to Robin's "Hunger Scale", and it's been awkward... as I'm feeling like I'm still eating more than I might need to... But, as a friend of mine says..."It had WANT UNITS...and I wanted it!" My non-scale goal for this P3-P4 is to get better at sensing when the hunger is gone..and then stop eating until I'm at the hungry number for me.

Been continuing to walk almost daily in the pool for an hour...I have an exercise buddy who really encourages me (embarasses me??) to not miss a day (I do the same with her) and so we typically do that a minimum of 29 days/month...if not all 30 or 31...

Have already made my favoite Cheesecake recipe twice...and some cocoa crack with macadamia nuts...Going to have to give Shelbyla/Cocopeanut's choc brownies a whirl....

One Question for everyone on P3...is it ok to go LONGER than 21 days? or must one transition to P4 on Day 22???

Jodie in AZ
R4P3D8...Down 66 and loving my java with HWC!

[cocoapeanut]

The brownies!! Dooo iiiitttt... PS I'm currently bake-testing a recipe for P3-friendly maple pecan scones. Not that I advocate going bake-crazy in P3, but the recipe happens to be starch and sugar free so technically I can call it that!

Doing a chicken thigh day today y'all! I ate one for breakfast earlier and already decided this day would probably be sweet. Ever since my July 4th/bf visit gorgefest(s), I've been hovering more around 166 than 162. I'm wondering if I should really stress out that much over it. Probably not..I think I'm gonna test out more correction days for fun and then just relax and eat normally for a little bit, even if that ends up being a bit higher carb. I know I can lose weight eating carbs. It's just that I think I'm so tired of diet restriction type stuff that I keep eating a lot (sometimes junk) for no reason. I may need to settle down a bit and do my best to eat normal portions to hunger, whatever I eat. Even though I do eat mostly healthy anyway Perhaps when I cut portions I'll lose a couple pounds anyway!

Hugs to everyone!

[Arctic_Mama]

Originally Posted by LaraSuzz

Hi all. My experiment worked, I ate lunch all week keeping it under one hour and actually lost 3 lbs. So now I'm 3 over LIW which is fine for my 8th week out of p2... ie P4... I think I will do this today it seemsto be stabilizing me and I feel satisfied.

Congradulations new mama Taryl to the addition of your new bundle of joy!

Have a great Monday all.

I'm glad the experiment worked out, if you've stabilized and feel satisfied and good, that's victory!

Originally Posted by TiffanyM

Congratulations Taryl! How exciting!

Still hanging in there, maintaining and oh so glad!

Christy, you're going to be fine. Congrats on 22 pounds!

Cocoa, glad your egg day brought you a decent loss. You too Bitsky!

I am working hard to practice that hunger scale. It's hard sometimes!

I sound like a broken record but I can't wait for round 2!

When is your round two scheduled to begin?

Originally Posted by TiffanyM

Where's the P3'rs at this morning?

We're here, just lazy posters (okay, maybe only me!). I am always talkative and need support in P2, but for some reason I'm just fine mainaining on my own without much to talk about. I've noticed that trend with a lot of posters

Originally Posted by jt_gmotu

Hi all, just finally playing catchup here, as work has been jamming me this P3...and on top of it all...last two AM's...roofers are here at 5:30am...pound-pound-pound...1 more day... but I'm a tad sleep deprived.

Eating to Robin's "Hunger Scale", and it's been awkward... as I'm feeling like I'm still eating more than I might need to... But, as a friend of mine says..."It had WANT UNITS...and I wanted it!" My non-scale goal for this P3-P4 is to get better at sensing when the hunger is gone..and then stop eating until I'm at the hungry number for me.

Been continuing to walk almost daily in the pool for an hour...I have an exercise buddy who really encourages me (embarasses me??) to not miss a day (I do the same with her) and so we typically do that a minimum of 29 days/month...if not all 30 or 31...

Have already made my favoite Cheesecake recipe twice...and some cocoa crack with macadamia nuts...Going to have to give Shelbyla/Cocopeanut's choc brownies a whirl....

One Question for everyone on P3...is it ok to go LONGER than 21 days? or must one transition to P4 on Day 22???

Jodie in AZ
R4P3D8...Down 66 and loving my java with HWC!

The hunger scale takes definite work. I'm doing really well on it, except when I gave into social/stress eating last night. But I'm back on track this morning and feeling much better.

Getting in your exercise is great! Sometimes a little accountability helps immensely.

As for longer P3, you NEVER have to leave P3 if you don't want to, especially if you get enough starch through moderately starchy veggies like pumpkin and sweet potato (which are marginally P4). If you feel good, stay on as long as you want. It is a very healthy way of eating and many maintainers find they don't do much P4 add-ins, just like many people stay in phase three of Atkins for life. No issues if you're happy with it.

Originally Posted by cocoapeanut

The brownies!! Dooo iiiitttt... PS I'm currently bake-testing a recipe for P3-friendly maple pecan scones. Not that I advocate going bake-crazy in P3, but the recipe happens to be starch and sugar free so technically I can call it that!

Doing a chicken thigh day today y'all! I ate one for breakfast earlier and already decided this day would probably be sweet. Ever since my July 4th/bf visit gorgefest(s), I've been hovering more around 166 than 162. I'm wondering if I should really stress out that much over it. Probably not..I think I'm gonna test out more correction days for fun and then just relax and eat normally for a little bit, even if that ends up being a bit higher carb. I know I can lose weight eating carbs. It's just that I think I'm so tired of diet restriction type stuff that I keep eating a lot (sometimes junk) for no reason. I may need to settle down a bit and do my best to eat normal portions to hunger, whatever I eat. Even though I do eat mostly healthy anyway Perhaps when I cut portions I'll lose a couple pounds anyway!

Hugs to everyone!

Careful on not correcting, it really creeps on many of us and we find most of our future rounds being spent relosing old weight because we broke the two rules Simeons set out. There are many non-restrictive feeling correction days to choose from, maybe doing induction-style or high fat correction days could help you get back down without feeling too restricted? Whatever you choose, I wish you luck!

As for me, I ate too much last night, as already mentioned, due to stress and insanity with guests over and emergency changes of plans. I should have stopped when I felt satisfied, but instead I ate to belt-loosening territory. Boo! I was up to 165 today, and right so. Now I'm back on track and listening to hunger cues. I have a serving of cocoa crack for breakfast with one hardboiled egg and been sipping at my coffee. Right now I have NO hunger, even though it is lunch time, and so I am not eating. It's tough to break clock eating habits, especially when I run my life on schedules and routines, but it is necessary to adjust.

So wish me luck on that, anyway . No nausea yet today either, which is great!

[cocoapeanut]

I'm actually in P4 so I think correcting is still important, but perhaps not quite as much as it is in P3. Still, though, part of the reason I worry is exactly that -- I don't want to gain a whole bunch back and have to lose it again! I know it's only 4 or 5 lbs but I'm fighting the good fight over here

I've started a new job and notice that I can naturally skip dinner because I get home kind of late and am usually not that hungry anyway. I may try incorporating this into my eating schedule and see how that works out.

[shelbyla]

Morning guys. I've been sitting right around 146-147 since last week, regardless of how I eat, so I am going to call that stable. It's 9-10 pounds over LDW but I think I may need to just live with this weight for a while, see if I can settle here, and be happy. I really am in a great weight range for my body (137 was too thin and not really maintainable) so I am going to cruise along and see how I do eating the occasional sweet potato, etc. IF I can settle here, I'll take it and be happy. I may play around with induction for a few days to see if I can drop into the 140-145 range but honestly, I am ok where I am right now as long as it doesn't go up!

[CaTriGirl]

Originally Posted by LaraSuzz

Hi all. My experiment worked, I ate lunch all week keeping it under one hour and actually lost 3 lbs. So now I'm 3 over LIW which is fine for my 8th week out of p2... ie P4... I think I will do this today it seemsto be stabilizing me and I feel satisfied.
.

Sorry if I missed a precious post of what you did specifically, I looked and couldn't find it. So did you eat all your meals for the day in less than an hour? Or you only ate lunch all week?

I'm doing a lot of reading on fasting now that I'm trying JUDDD for maintaining my hcg losses, (and hoping to lose a few more) and didn't realize how many fasts where out there, how effective they are and healthy! I have it engrained in my head that not eating every 3 hrs will slow my metabolism.

Originally Posted by Arctic_Mama

Hi ladies! Since I'm maintaining I guess I should hang out on here rather than tempt my P2 ladies with yummy food

I was lower today and haven't been very hungry, we'll see if that changes over the next few days or not. Either way, I just keep repeating to myself that if the problem isn't hunger the answer isn't food and I think it has been working beautifully so far!

Great job!!!

Originally Posted by jt_gmotu

Eating to Robin's "Hunger Scale", and it's been awkward... as I'm feeling like I'm still eating more than I might need to... But, as a friend of mine says..."It had WANT UNITS...and I wanted it!" My non-scale goal for this P3-P4 is to get better at sensing when the hunger is gone..and then stop eating until I'm at the hungry number for me.

Been continuing to walk almost daily in the pool for an hour...I have an exercise buddy who really encourages me (embarasses me??) to not miss a day (I do the same with her) and so we typically do that a minimum of 29 days/month...if not all 30 or 31...

Have already made my favoite Cheesecake recipe twice...and some cocoa crack with macadamia nuts...Going to have to give Shelbyla/Cocopeanut's choc brownies a whirl....

One Question for everyone on P3...is it ok to go LONGER than 21 days? or must one transition to P4 on Day 22???

Jodie in AZ
R4P3D8...Down 66 and loving my java with HWC!

Eating with the hunger scale is hard for me because I think my hunger scale is broken! I am so use to not eating unless I workout intensely some days I can eat way below my BMR and then I am afraid my body will reset at a lower caloric rate.

Yes as long as you want. I think I will continue except for special occasions because once I start, it's hard to stop.

Originally Posted by cocoapeanut

I'm actually in P4 so I think correcting is still important, but perhaps not quite as much as it is in P3. Still, though, part of the reason I worry is exactly that -- I don't want to gain a whole bunch back and have to lose it again! I know it's only 4 or 5 lbs but I'm fighting the good fight over here

I've started a new job and notice that I can naturally skip dinner because I get home kind of late and am usually not that hungry anyway. I may try incorporating this into my eating schedule and see how that works out.

That could definitely be a blessing!

Originally Posted by shelbyla

Morning guys. I've been sitting right around 146-147 since last week, regardless of how I eat, so I am going to call that stable. It's 9-10 pounds over LDW but I think I may need to just live with this weight for a while, see if I can settle here, and be happy. I really am in a great weight range for my body (137 was too thin and not really maintainable) so I am going to cruise along and see how I do eating the occasional sweet potato, etc. IF I can settle here, I'll take it and be happy. I may play around with induction for a few days to see if I can drop into the 140-145 range but honestly, I am ok where I am right now as long as it doesn't go up!

That is very stable and I love how at peace you are with that. You have done an amazing job losing weight and you have such a healthy attitude toward maintaining!

[Arctic_Mama]

CaT, I HAVE to prop Dr. Amanda Sainsbury-Salis again, I think her work would be immensely helpful to you. It is a lot like Robin's, except she is a primary leptin researcher and doesn't deal with hCG. However she explains the hunger and satiety scale beautifully and how leptin functions. Undereating your BMR is just fine, especially if yor body isn't signalling for food. You will naturally have refeed periods just as you naturally have restricted periods, based on the hormonal cues, and it won't make your ceiling magically too low for your needs.

Please google her and get her book, "The Don't Go Hungry Diet". When you are working at maintenance it is ideal and I think a little more detailed than Robin's book regarding eating to your hunger and not eating when not hungry. They complement one another beautifully.

[CaTriGirl]

Originally Posted by Arctic_Mama

CaT, I HAVE to prop Dr. Amanda Sainsbury-Salis again, I think her work would be immensely helpful to you. It is a lot like Robin's, except she is a primary leptin researcher and doesn't deal with hCG. However she explains the hunger and satiety scale beautifully and how leptin functions. Undereating your BMR is just fine, especially if yor body isn't signalling for food. You will naturally have refeed periods just as you naturally have restricted periods, based on the hormonal cues, and it won't make your ceiling magically too low for your needs.

Please google her and get her book, "The Don't Go Hungry Diet". When you are working at maintenance it is ideal and I think a little more detailed than Robin's book regarding eating to your hunger and not eating when not hungry. They complement one another beautifully.

Thanks so much I will look it up now!

BTW, I meant to congratulate you on your pregnancy! Wonderful news!!!

[Arctic_Mama]

Thanks! I haven't been too nauseous so far, which is a blessing

[christyb]

Originally Posted by Arctic_Mama

CaT, I HAVE to prop Dr. Amanda Sainsbury-Salis again, I think her work would be immensely helpful to you. It is a lot like Robin's, except she is a primary leptin researcher and doesn't deal with hCG. However she explains the hunger and satiety scale beautifully and how leptin functions. Undereating your BMR is just fine, especially if yor body isn't signalling for food. You will naturally have refeed periods just as you naturally have restricted periods, based on the hormonal cues, and it won't make your ceiling magically too low for your needs.

Please google her and get her book, "The Don't Go Hungry Diet". When you are working at maintenance it is ideal and I think a little more detailed than Robin's book regarding eating to your hunger and not eating when not hungry. They complement one another beautifully.

I'm so glad you posted this! I've been wanting more info on Leptin, and much of what's on the internet is a bit technical for my taste. I will definitely read this one too!

[Arctic_Mama]

I am actually switching entirely back to Dr. Amanda's forms, now, after three years of calorie counting. I am discovering that calorie counts are getting in the way of listening to my body and I am giving myself permission to overeat because I have calories. So I have come full circle, because this is what I found when I first decided to lose weight four years ago. This started it all, and I'm ready to implement it again. Robin convinced me, but for pregnancy I think hybridizing the hunger scale noting with the nutritional balance of the Perfect Health Diet is my ticket.

I blogged about it extensively, but I had a rough night and I have put my foot down on where I want to go over the next ten months. I'll reassess postpartum and see how I fared, but I have outgrown calorie counting as a tool and need to try something else now that I am more aware of nutrition, servings, etc.

[francelle]

I am day 5 of P3 and I have been pretty stable. I lost 24lbs in 40 days of P2. I hoped for more but I am happy with this. I have not been below 200 since 1990. I am sitting at 200.4 LDW oh how that is driving me crazy! I will start another round when I get through P4. I learned yesterday that I can't eat cashews and eating higher fat is hard because it makes me feel bad. I have been reading the post here for about a month but never post anything. I have really felt supported by reading everyone's experiences. Thank You!!