P2 Simeons Protocol Month of January

[pandora174]

downloaded Weight loss Apocalypse to my Nook..going to start reading it tonight. Have heard so much about this book here and on the Internet. Trying to see if I can get some insight into this whole emotional eating thing and see if I can get a better grasp on my relationship with food.

[moonriver]

Down 1.6 today! Whoo hoo!

And after a blissful, cramp free absence of 8 months....yep, TOM showed up yesterday with a vengenance! Man oh man, I'm ready to be done with him!

[dooy]

Originally Posted by moonriver

Down 1.6 today! Whoo hoo!

And after a blissful, cramp free absence of 8 months....yep, TOM showed up yesterday with a vengenance! Man oh man, I'm ready to be done with him!

Congrats on the loss! I feel ya on the TOM thing...10 months and BAM! at Christmas when we were visiting family. Oh well...

DOWN another pound for a 10 day loss of 7.4! At times, I look at others who are lossing 13 to 15 lbs in the same period and I get a twinge of jealousy, but I'm going to stay focused on the declining scale - no matter how great or small! It's going in the right direction and I'm not hungry, tired or crabby!

[rocketmom]

After a slight uptick the last two days, I had a whoosh this am of 3 lbs. My first week is a loss of 7.6 since I didn't gain on load days. I am very pleased.

Like pandora I just started reading Weight Loss Apocalypse and am quite surprised that it makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the tip about this as I think I may be looking at my rounds or "protocols" a lot differently this time around. I am not sure I really do know what real hunger is...!

Congrats to all our losers this week...you all encourage me and make me want to succeed also!

I am wanting to make up a crock pot cabbage soup...someone on another list mentioned this...anybody have a good recipe?

[rocketmom]

Quick question...has anyone tried the chocolate stevia drops? I am having a chocolate craving (and I am way past the age for TOM btw) and I am looking at a way to add this flavor to my coffee. This is my first week of plain old black coffee with a bit of the vanilla creme stevia drops. I still miss my cream!!! The vanilla creme is ok, but does nothing for this sudden mocha coffee craving...

[pandora174]

Morning ! Woke up R4P2D8 & -1.0 to 132.4 so I am now 1.4 away from pre-vacation weight. Let's see what the next 2 weeks brings. Still the toughest round for me but usually the work week makes dieting easier for me as I am so busy.

Got up to Chapter 3 on WLA and so far it makes a lot of sense. Trying also to figure out my "true hunger" and why I was able to maintain and not cheat through b-days, Christmas etc but not vacation. I think so many people telling me that "it's vacation, relax, you're entitled, you know how to lose it, you don't want to be one of those diet police, do you" and its honestly what I wanted to hear as well as I always had in the back of my head that I was going to do another round. So the blame is all mine I just want to know "why". So the main question is "can I have fun/go on vacation and not over eat ?" I have done it before when I was at the clinic on appetite suppressants & came back with losses !! But back then I still had so much to lose. So which is why I want to get my head straight so when I go back on vacation for Spring Break I can happily report "no gains". Wouldn't that be something

[dooy]

Originally Posted by rocketmom

Quick question...has anyone tried the chocolate stevia drops? I am having a chocolate craving (and I am way past the age for TOM btw) and I am looking at a way to add this flavor to my coffee. This is my first week of plain old black coffee with a bit of the vanilla creme stevia drops. I still miss my cream!!! The vanilla creme is ok, but does nothing for this sudden mocha coffee craving...

So far, I've only used them on my strawberries and truthfully, not crazy about them. I taste alcohol or something strong that offsets any real chocolate flavor. YMMV though... it may taste different in coffee or a liquid.

[buttah]

I'm thinking I may toss my last injection (today's) and make yesterday my LDW. It's getting hard (hunger), and I seem to be back to just bouncing around the same weight! But I don't like the slightly higher LDW. Then again, maybe tomorrow I'd see a whoosh (if I inject today). I mean what's one more day of VLCD? What to do?!

pre-load weight - 155ish (didn't have my scale)
12/17 - VLCD1 155.9 (gained .9 from load)
12/18 - VLCD2 154 (lost 1.9 total, -1 lb from pre-load)
12/19 - VLCD3 152.5 -1.5 (down 2.5 from pre-load)
12/20 - VLCD4 151.9 -.6 (down 3.1 lb from pre-load)
12/21 - VLCD5 152.5 +.5
12/22 - VLCD6 151.1 -1.4 (better!)
12/23 - VLCD7 150.6 -.5 (down 5.3 from pre-load)
12/24 - VLCD8 150.9 +.3
12/25 - VLCD9 150.7 -.2
12/26 - VLCD10 149.9 -.8
12/27 - VLCD11 149.1 -.8 (down about 5.9 from pre-load)
12/28 - VLCD12 148.5 -.6 (-6.5 from pre-load, but I think pre-load was more like 155.5!)
12/29 - VLCD13 147.5 -1.0
12/30 - VLCD14 148 +.5
12/31 - VLCD15 146.6 -1.4
1/1 - VLCD16 STS
1/2 - VLCD17 STS
1/3 - VLCD18 146.1 -.4
1/4 - VLCD19 STS
1/5 - VLCD20 145.6 -.5 and a whoopdee BFD doo.!
1/6 - VLCD21 145.8
1/7 - VLCD22 145.5 TOM!
1/8 - VLCD23 144.6 -.9
1/9 - VLCD24 144.0 -.6
1/10 - VLCD25 143.3 -.7
1/11 - VLCD26 142.2 -.1.1
1/12 - VLCD27 143 +.8
1/13 - VLCD28 142.8 -.2

[Felina]

Pandora, IMHO I agree with those that are telling you not to worry because you're on vacation.

The food has to be good enough to be worth it and you do know how to lose it. In only eight days you lost 20 lbs of your gain.

The only thing I would suggest is trying to keep the carbs down (at least for the first few days of vacation), because you gained an insane amount of weight in a relatively short time. But it was fake weight because it came right back off.

Once you get yourself stabilized in the 120's, I'm sure a little vacation splurge like that won't affect you so much. You just need to stay at your goal weight for a good while before taking any more vacations, then take a vacation and enjoy it. That's my two cents.

[pandora174]

Originally Posted by Felina

Pandora, IMHO I agree with those that are telling you not to worry because you're on vacation.

The food has to be good enough to be worth it and you do know how to lose it. In only eight days you lost 20 lbs of your gain.

The only thing I would suggest is trying to keep the carbs down (at least for the first few days of vacation), because you gained an insane amount of weight in a relatively short time. But it was fake weight because it came right back off.

Once you get yourself stabilized in the 120's, I'm sure a little vacation splurge like that won't affect you so much. You just need to stay at your goal weight for a good while before taking any more vacations, then take a vacation and enjoy it. That's my two cents.

hmmm looking at my weight calendar I gained the bulk in the first 2 days 14 lbs & then the remaining 8 lbs over the next 5 day. I also was just exactly out of P4 meaning exactly 6 weeks from vlcd. SO yes I was not really stabilized and I think you do have something there. But I do need to get a handle on this vacation/eating since Spring Break is coming up (first week in April) and I will again just fresh out of P3/P4 the only difference is there are no other rounds around the corner But I am seeing that I am getting scared or gun shy of these types of situations. I actually was pushing for a "staycation" so not to be tempted. I just don't want food to control me !! I am so tired of it....

I also turned down a dinner for my mother-in-law's b-day next week. It's at a Mexican restaurant and to be honest I won't cheat but I don't want to have to explain to the family why I can't this or that kwim ? My husband, mother in law are understanding but my sister in law is super thin & can eat anything so I just don't want to deal with it or her. This round has been really hard. I feel drained not physically but emotionally.

[Crazy PreK Teacher]

Hi

Checking in....

Day #2 of FF(1st day of no dose)...166.6 lbs....so STS.

I looked back on my weight loss chart from my last round of hHCG, and did exactly the same thing. I STS the first day after, had a small +.4 gain, then had a -1.4 loss the next day...perfect maintenance thereafter on JUDDD. So...here's hoping I follow the same pattern the next few days.

Have a great Sunday!!!

[buttah]

Well, I surely disagree with those who say don't worry about vacation overindulgence because you can lose it later. At all. Pandora, if you want my opinion, the answer to vacations is low carb and the Hunger Scale. I still haven't posted my "method," but I have been on years of enjoyable vacations with no gain - I did post a thumbnail sketch of it in another thread. I was lucky in that I found a "hunger scale" type diet years ago, and that has kept me coming home from vacations the same weight as when I left. Or even lower (because I enjoy everything but carbs - except occassional shared desserts.)

I'm sorry, but I don't agree with gluttonous vacation behavior - ever. It's not a way to live, and even though one can re-lose, that is not good for your body to do too often (although I'm thrilled you've re-lost your recent vacation weight.) A person can enjoy herself in moderation and not have to do vacation-loss rounds. Unless people WANT to do those rounds. I sure as heck don't. I want to change what I call "life of obesity" or "life of dieting" behavior more than I want to ever overindulge. The key word is "over." "Normal" people don't gain more than a few pounds on a vacation, if any, because they know when enough is enough of whatever they're enjoying. We know this.

Just my two cents. And talking to Robin W. has helped me solidify this for the non-vacation parts of my life. I hope!

[buttah]

I just did my last injection after all (28 VLCD's/30 injections). I guess my LIW OR LDW is 142.8. But I wonder why we don't record the LDW the morning AFTER the last injection. The body doesn't know it's not getting another injection that morning, and then you've got your losses included since the last one. Oh well.

I'm may round up to 143 in my stats.

[Crazy PreK Teacher]

Originally Posted by buttah

Well, I surely disagree with those who say don't worry about vacation overindulgence because you can lose it later. At all. Pandora, if you want my opinion, the answer to vacations is low carb and the Hunger Scale. I still haven't posted my "method," but I have been on years of enjoyable vacations with no gain - I did post a thumbnail sketch of it in another thread. I was lucky in that I found a "hunger scale" type diet years ago, and that has kept me coming home from vacations the same weight as when I left. Or even lower (because I enjoy everything but carbs - except occassional shared desserts.)

I'm sorry, but I don't agree with gluttonous vacation behavior - ever. It's not a way to live, and even though one can re-lose, that is not good for your body to do too often (although I'm thrilled you've re-lost your recent vacation weight.) A person can enjoy herself in moderation and not have to do vacation-loss rounds. Unless people WANT to do those rounds. I sure as heck don't. I want to change what I call "life of obesity" or "life of dieting" behavior more than I want to ever overindulge. The key word is "over."

Just my two cents.

I do agree!!!!

Unfortunately, I am a FAST gainer on any carbs, si I tend to do the same thing...Stay low-carb/high fat...and honestly...it's really easy. I think it's much easier than low cal, IMHO! I am naturally low-carb anyway...so it's never depriving for me.

You can ALWAYS find a low-carb version of anything...ceasar/chef salads, bunless cheeseburgers, steak & veggies, turkey legs, chicken wings, fajitas, insides of tacos, sour cream/quac. etc. Diet drinks/water. My downfall is candy, so I always stock up on SF candy/nuts & tuck it in the ice chest/suitcases/ purse, etc. I also pack pork rinds in small baggies to dunk in to salsa if going mexican.

To me, it's not worth the huge gains...even temporary. Now, let me say this...when I am in an "I DON'T CARE" attitude (when not caring about weight loss, like over a year ago...) I ate anything & everything...but never weighed before/after to even know how much I gain

I do love food...however, now that I am at goal...it just does not appeal to me like it used to. And, if a craving hits me for a long time...if I do eat it, it is just a few bites...never a full serving...and to my surprise...I'm over it In order for me to stay at maintenance...I HAVE TO BE CONSCIOUS & DILIGENT CONSTANTLY-EVERY DAY!!!! If not...I will be at 291 lbs. again.

Have a great Sunday!!!

[buttah]

Originally Posted by Crazy PreK Teacher

I do agree!!!!

Unfortunately, I am a FAST gainer on any carbs, si I tend to do the same thing...Stay low-carb/high fat...and honestly...it's really easy. I think it's much easier than low cal, IMHO! I am naturally low-carb anyway...so it's never depriving for me.

You can ALWAYS find a low-carb version of anything...ceasar/chef salads, bunless cheeseburgers, steak & veggies, turkey legs, chicken wings, fajitas, insides of tacos, sour cream/quac. etc. Diet drinks/water. My downfall is candy, so I always stock up on SF candy/nuts & tuck it in the ice chest/suitcases/ purse, etc. I also pack pork rinds in small baggies to dunk in to salsa if going mexican.

To me, it's not worth the huge gains...even temporary. Now, let me say this...when I am in an "I DON'T CARE" attitude (when not caring about weight loss, like over a year ago...) I ate anything & everything...but never weighed before/after to even know how much I gain

I do love food...however, now that I am at goal...it just does not appeal to me like it used to. And, if a craving hits me for a long time...if I do eat it, it is just a few bites...never a full serving...and to my surprise...I'm over it In order for me to stay at maintenance...I HAVE TO BE CONSCIOUS & DILIGENT CONSTANTLY-EVERY DAY!!!! If not...I will be at 291 lbs. again.

Have a great Sunday!!!

Yup! And btw, I re-emphasized the no-low carb thing in my post while you were quoting me!

[fiveninepointfive]

Originally Posted by Crazy PreK Teacher

I do agree!!!!

Unfortunately, I am a FAST gainer on any carbs, si I tend to do the same thing...Stay low-carb/high fat...and honestly...it's really easy. I think it's much easier than low cal, IMHO! I am naturally low-carb anyway...so it's never depriving for me.

You can ALWAYS find a low-carb version of anything...ceasar/chef salads, bunless cheeseburgers, steak & veggies, turkey legs, chicken wings, fajitas, insides of tacos, sour cream/quac. etc. Diet drinks/water. My downfall is candy, so I always stock up on SF candy/nuts & tuck it in the ice chest/suitcases/ purse, etc. I also pack pork rinds in small baggies to dunk in to salsa if going mexican.

To me, it's not worth the huge gains...even temporary. Now, let me say this...when I am in an "I DON'T CARE" attitude (when not caring about weight loss, like over a year ago...) I ate anything & everything...but never weighed before/after to even know how much I gain

I do love food...however, now that I am at goal...it just does not appeal to me like it used to. And, if a craving hits me for a long time...if I do eat it, it is just a few bites...never a full serving...and to my surprise...I'm over it In order for me to stay at maintenance...I HAVE TO BE CONSCIOUS & DILIGENT CONSTANTLY-EVERY DAY!!!! If not...I will be at 291 lbs. again.

Have a great Sunday!!!

Awesome Post! Congrats, BTW, on your success!

[fiveninepointfive]

Originally Posted by buttah

I just did my last injection after all (28 VLCD's/30 injections). I guess my LIW OR LDW is 142.8. But I wonder why we don't record the LDW the morning AFTER the last injection. The body doesn't know it's not getting another injection that morning, and then you've got your losses included since the last one. Oh well.

I'm may round up to 143 in my stats.

Congrats, Buttah!


I think I did okay at my dinner. I had a drop of balsamic on my salad and the dry scallops. I did have a couple ounces of wine, but skipped my fruits. I may have had too many calories, but I'll find out tomorrow morning. I stayed off the scale today because there was so much sodium on my six tiny scallops that I am still thirsty 24 hours later! I drank so much water today, I am hoping I'll have a realistic outcome on the scale. I only really have three more VLCD to work it out.

[pandora174]

Originally Posted by fiveninepointfive

Congrats, Buttah!


I think I did okay at my dinner. I had a drop of balsamic on my salad and the dry scallops. I did have a couple ounces of wine, but skipped my fruits. I may have had too many calories, but I'll find out tomorrow morning. I stayed off the scale today because there was so much sodium on my six tiny scallops that I am still thirsty 24 hours later! I drank so much water today, I am hoping I'll have a realistic outcome on the scale. I only really have three more VLCD to work it out.

Reading your post gave me some courage about my mother in law's dinner this Friday night. I feel bad about not going and I am working so hard on my relationship with food. So as long as the family's plan are still on I am going to go ! I will order plain chicken or a kid's steak and eat whatever veggie they have or plain lettuce/tomato salad with lemon. I'll drink unsweetened ice tea & have coffee afterwards. I am very determined to not let food rule me.

[C'Marie]

Good job, Pandora! You can do it! (shredded lettuce and steak strips is my go-to at mexican places when I had to restrict!)

[Shrinking]

Still not weighing but being very good

MIL showed up with "whoopie cookies"( never heard of them but they look like pure sugar)and her famous fudge. The fun begins...

[dooy]

Originally Posted by Shrinking

Still not weighing but being very good

MIL showed up with "whoopie cookies"( never heard of them but they look like pure sugar)and her famous fudge. The fun begins...

Yikes! Hang in there!

[MOMMYONAMISSION]

So buttah are we supposed to weigh at night on your last day of vlcd? That would be your ldw?

[buttah]

No, it's supposed to be your weight the morning of the last injection/dose. Always seemed weird to me it wasn't the morning after, though!

[MOMMYONAMISSION]

Oh okay, buttah do you do anything special or different when you transiton to p3?

[Shrinking]

MIL switched from wine to whiskey so it was pretty easy to turn that one down! They had their cocktail and I had a nice long soak in the jacuzzi. Much healthier!

[dooy]

Originally Posted by Shrinking

MIL switched from wine to whiskey so it was pretty easy to turn that one down! They had their cocktail and I had a nice long soak in the jacuzzi. Much healthier!

Good job!

Same weight this morning. First time this has happened and I am not sweating it. Food has been consistent, took a detox bath for the first time last night. Boy, hard to stay in there for 20 minutes!

Still trying to figure out the drop schedule. My bottle says 5 drops 4 times per day but I am trying 7 drops 3 times per day. Yesterday, I totally forgot one dose! Not good.

Happy Monday, everybody!

[pandora174]

Morning ! R4P2D9 & down -.08 to 131.6 which puts me -.06 over my vacation pre-weight & close to my first goal

That being said I feel much better physically about this weight. I like where I am. All of my clothes fit which feels fantastic. Now mentally this is the toughest round ever. Last night I was so close to just chucking this round in. I am hanging on by the skin of my teeth. I don't know what it is because I did not want to cheat, it's I am just over it. I am tired of worrying about the scale going lower, the 500 cal, so many things. I just want to be where I left off before and maintain my weight and exercise again

But I am reading WLA and I am trying to find that hunger and I realize for me P2 sets me up to just find that again. I did read the Chapter on hunger & I realize I was doing that when I was most successful on maintenance. The only parts I am having a hard time is not weighing in or being a slave to calories, pre-set meal times etc. But baby steps I think. Also for me anyway things work best when I incorporate things as how they apply to my life specifically. I can take some advice here or there but not just follow one way of thinking. It is not all or nothing in my book.

I am continuing my commitment to one day at a time. By next weekend I will be at 23 days & I can do anything for 3 weeks considering how far I've come. So I think in the long run this round will help me mentally prepare for maintenance. Ok vent over thanks !!

[moonriver]

Down another lb today! Whew!

Total of 11 so far. Have been really good too!

Have a good Monday everyone!

[buttah]

Originally Posted by MOMMYONAMISSION

Oh okay, buttah do you do anything special or different when you transiton to p3?

I take adding fats in GRADUALLY, per my clinic's instructions (this clinic is run by a wonderful internist who really believes in HCG). I also do a bit of what Shelby posted in the HCG stickie about gradually ramping in calories on the last two VLCD's and beyond, but not quite as quickly - maybe adding half and half to my coffee and having a teeny bit more protein for lunch/dinner if I feel too hungry on my last 2 VLCD's.

Here, I have cut and pasted what my clinic hands out as far as GRADUALLY adding in fats, etc:

This phase is intended to lock-in the weight you have successfully lost. It starts by stopping the hCG. After your last dose of hCG, continue to eat the 500-calorie diet for three more days (while the hCG leaves your system). Although a few pounds may be lost during these last three days, this represents water loss, which will naturally return. Your target weight for the Stabilization Phase is the weight you logged on the last day of hCG administration.

Starting on the 4th day (and continuing for 3 weeks)…….

YOU MAY EAT:

- Any type of protein (including eggs and moderate amounts of cheese).
- Any vegetable, mixed and in any quantity, (limiting carrots and peas),
- Any fruit (except bananas and coconuts)
- Fats (butter, olive oil, salad dressing, avocado, nuts, seeds, and nut butters (in moderation*).
- Alcohol may be consumed but limit the intake to no more than one glass of wine, 2 oz of hard liquor, or a bottle of light beer per day (two to three times a week). Mixed drinks (which contain large amounts of sugar) are not allowed.

* (5-6) servings of fat per day is considered moderate. However, since zero starch and sugar are consumed during this phase, a slight overage of fat servings should not result in weight gain.

(1) fat serving equals:
- 1 tsp of butter
- 1 tbsp of olive oil, canola oil, nut & seed oils
- 1 tbsp peanut butter (or other nut butters)
- 16 pistachios
- 20 peanuts
- 6 almonds
- 1 tbsp cashews
- 4 walnut halves
- 2 tbsp. salad dressing
- 1/8th of an avocado
- 1 slice of bacon

DO NOT EAT:

- No starch or sugar is allowed during the 21 days of Stabilization. (Read labels carefully)

Avoiding starch means: no cornstarch, white flour, wheat flour, any flour, pasta, any bread or bread product, breadsticks, bagels, hamburger and hotdog buns, crackers, tortillas, oatmeal, rice, polenta, peas, corn, beans, pita bread, pretzels, corn chips, potato chips, yams, potatoes, pancakes, muffins, nearly all root vegetables, any breading on fish, chicken, or other protein, beans, grains, acorn squash, butternut squash, cereals, granola, cereal bars, popcorn, biscuits, corn bread, taco shells, croutons, rice cakes, Cream of Wheat, corn meal, and humus.

Avoiding sugar means: no cookies, cake, ice cream, pie, candy, cupcakes, frosting, soft drinks, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, processed foods, energy drinks, fruit juice, honey, yogurt*, milk products*, low-fat or fruited salad dressings that may be higher in sugar, donuts, pudding, maple syrup, brownies, high sugar sauces such as BBQ sauce, teriyaki, or fruited sauces, and canned fruit in heavy syrup. Also watch out for “low-fat” and “non-fat” foods, as they may be loaded with sugar.

cereals, granola, cereal bars, popcorn, biscuits, corn bread, taco shells, croutons, rice cakes, Cream of Wheat, corn meal, and humus.
Avoiding sugar means: no cookies, cake, ice cream, pie, candy, cupcakes, frosting, soft drinks, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, processed foods, energy drinks, fruit juice, honey, yogurt*, milk products*, low-fat or fruited salad dressings that may be higher in sugar, donuts, pudding, maple syrup, brownies, high sugar sauces such as BBQ sauce, teriyaki, or fruited sauces, and canned fruit in heavy syrup. Also watch out for “low-fat” and “non-fat” foods, as they may be loaded with sugar.

* Yogurt and milk (1%, 2%, whole, or non-fat) all contain approximately 12 grams of sugar per 8oz serving. The sugar grams come from the naturally found milk sugar known as lactose.

ADDITIONAL CHANGES DURING THIS PHASE:

- Resume or start a regular exercise routine. (trainer referrals available upon request)
- Resume taking supplements as long as they do not contain sugar & starch.

(It then talks about steak days, which you all know about but which I don't do, per Robin...)

And then it goes on with:


REASONS FOR SCALE CHANGES:

1. Fluid Shifts cause the scale to change due to:
A. Too Much Salt Intake – the kidney may retain sodium and along with it water is retained. Watch out for meats high in sodium i.e. bacon, sausage, and other cured meats.
B. Accidental Carbohydrate Intake – for each molecule of carbohydrate, three molecules of water are present. To burn carbohydrate calories, insulin is secreted. Insulin is a water-retaining molecule.
C. Medications – some medications cause water retention.
D. Hormonal Changes – Female hormones such as estrogen cause fluid retention. Water weight fluctuations are particularly common before, during, and after menstruation.
E. Vigorous Exercise – weight lifting or high intensity exercise creates changes in the muscle. The muscles retain water in order to repair and rebuild.
F. Alcohol – consumption of alcohol can increase or decrease water in the body.


HOW MUCH SHOULD TO EAT:

You will most likely find that the amount of food you now require is much less than before you started the program. It is very important that early in the Stabilization Phase, you build up to consuming at least 1200 calories daily.

The goal of the stabilization phase is to maintain the target weight (or last hCG treatment weight), not to lose more weight. If you have more weight to lose, you can do another round of the hCG protocol and diet (after 3 weeks of the Stabilization Phase). It takes about three weeks before the weight you reached at the end of the treatment becomes stable. The longer your target weight is maintained, the more likely the body will reset to that weight.

It is particularly important that you eat a sufficient amount of protein. The amount of protein you eat seems to be directly related to your success in setting your new weight and keeping water retention at bay. Bear in mind, your weight will fluctuate the first week or two; this is normal. The weight will eventually stabilize. Watch the starch and sugar religiously during the 3 weeks.


They have a similar sheet for ramping carbs back in that I can copy later.

And per Robin (and my own darn common sense), I do not eat up to some random number on a BMR calculator that doesn't know anything about me (and is likely more food than this 55 year old woman needs). (Also, you'll notice my clinic doesn't recommend BMR calories, either). I eat to hunger. Which many interpret to mean eating more than it really does! Here are some excerpts from the important parts of Robin's book on P3/P4 that I have posted before. I hope nobody minds me posting them again. But anyway, this is what I do. YMMV.

Week one:

"The first few days of the second phase [this is P3 to most of us] you're not going to notice a lot of hunger. DO NOT eat just because you think you should.

Proceed with caution. Avoid super fatty foods like bacon and sausage to start. Your stomach is not used to digesting fats so introduce these foods slowly. If you get too excited and eat more fat than you should, you may end up feeling like you have the flu - coming out of both ends.

You shouldn't need the scale to tell you you've eaten too much. Food weight after eating and fecal fluctuations will return, so expect some weight increase. It's normal for your guts to fill with more foods, so expect to feel that in the waste.

Only eat when hunger gets uncomfortable and just enough so that hunger is gone. Avoid satiation or fullness. Absolutely no sugar or starchy processed foods. The goal is to mimic the same feelings of hunger and satiation as you had during the first phase.

If you mimic the hunger scale felt during the first phase, your body should continue to change. This is your time to build confidence in your body, so give it a try and after three weeks you'll be pleasantly surprised.


Week two:

"You may notice this week your hunger creeps back a little bit. Continue to be prepared and add a variety of protein and fat sources. Add different types of nuts, cheeses, and attempt to eat at a restaurant."

Week three:

"The third week of the second phase is usually when hunger starts picking up. We've noticed significant increases in resting metabolic rates during this time. DO NOT get sucked back in to the world of gluttony, attempting to eat more than you need to see if your body gains weight back. In fact, you shouldn't need to weigh yourself anyway."

"Start planning what carbohydrates you're going to attempt to eat once this phase is over. Is it pizza, sushi, or a danish? Whatever you choose, observe your body's hunger response, gage how quickly it satiates, and how long the satiation lasts before hunger presents itself again." [this is how you PLAN for parties, dinners and special events - me speaking, not Robin.]

"You'll notice sweet foods taste too sweet, and what you thought was tasty before just isn't worth eating. Choosing to eat for taste and quality is far more rewarding than eating for quantity, and without the obvious side effect of weight gain. Eating what you want and allowing your body to decide when and how much is a true "win win" situation."

However, I do "limit" carbs and sugar, even in P4 (I just think my body does better that way, in life), and I have yet to follow Robin's advice on not weighing. I'm still driven to weigh every day, but I KEEP IN MIND that there are many things that cause temporary fluctuations. I do not let myself over-analyze that this or that bite of food from yesterday made me gain today. I know it doesn't work that way (especially for women with all our "fluids")!

My gosh this is long! Mind you, this is just what I do. I maintained successfully for 9 weeks between my rounds, and once or twice I took a maintenance break on my nearly year-long journey to get here (even before HCG). But I am not yet a years-long maintainer, so take what I have to offer with a grain of salt.

[rocketmom]

Buttah, thank you so much for taking the time to post this last message. I have copied and pasted it to my P3 file to review again in a few weeks.