P3

In P3 and beyond, the HCG protocol gives us a remedy for sudden overnight gains, which is the steak day. That is wonderful and mostly dependable. But then, how does one go about figuring out what caused the gain in the first place in order to avoid a repeat crisis?

This is a checklist you can review if you find yourself in the position of experiencing a huge overnight gain of multiple pounds. Knowing the reason for the gain can help you avoid or at least recognize future re-occurrences. ...

Clinics and diet centers often mislead people about how to stabilize in P3. If you are using a clinic that tells you to just increase portions of P2 foods, or to ramp up calories slowly over the 3 weeks, they are giving you very bad advice. More people have problems in P3 by eating too little than eating too much.

P3 is not ever about low fat or counting calories. It is about lots of good healthy fats right away, and about throwing everything you "know" about calories out the window. ...

Your hypothalmus has been undergoing adjustment and healing during P2, so it will be sending you hunger signals. It will be a new experience for some. You have the opportunity to get in touch with those signals in P3. Its important to realize that there are different hunger levels. Basically:

Thoughts of food: You are involved in something else and suddenly you start thinking about food. This is the beginning of hunger.
Food looks good: If you are already thinking about ...

For those crunchy/salty cravings in P3. btw, I've made this with dried spices instead of grating fresh ones, and its fine.

1/2 cup chia seeds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup pepita seeds (or pumpkin seeds)
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup water
1 large garlic clove, finely grated
1 tsp grated sweet onion
1/4 tsp pink or sea salt, or to taste
Herbamare & kelp granules, to taste (optional)
...

For us who miss our pasta in P3!

I've found that I'm pretty happy with some pasta alternatives:

Spiral sliced zucchini: this is my fave actually. It really surprised me that it has about the same "tooth" as al dente pasta if you cook it right. After spiraling, quick-saute in a bit of olive oil and garlic. You don't want to boil or steam it, because then it's too watery.

Kelp noodles: made from kelp/sodium alginate. These are great. Crunchy like waterchestnut ...

The best recipe I've ever found for homemade salsa. Thanks, Ann!

This is great for FMD phase 1, or if you don't mind mixing veggies, as a condiment for HCG Phase 2...since there is no oil or sugar needed. If you still have some garden tomatos to use up, you can make a huge batch and freeze any leftovers (good luck) to use later as a mexican pizza sauce. Top your pizza with jack cheese and experience the yum.

PICANTE SALSA
1 medium to large sweet onion ...

Love this instant gratification chocolate recipe! It lets you have a cakey or fudgey cookie any time you are restricting eggs, sugar or fats. Since its mainly protein powder and a tsp of cocoa powder, I think it could even work for P2. (Of course you should test since protein powder is not protocol on P2.)

Note: you have to use whey protein powder. (Egg protein powder might work too, but I haven't tried it.) The vegetable protein based ones don't bind the cookie together and ...

It is often posted that peanuts are not permitted in P3 because they are a legume and assumed to be starchy.

Before I started reading the information on this site, I went by the food charts in Linda Prinsters "HCG Weight Loss Cure Guide". The charts list foods with Yes or No designations that show which of the phases of the HCG diet they are suitable and not suitable for. Some foods are listed as "caution" foods, to be tested to see if you can tolerate them in that phase or not. ...

This is a taco salad without any lettuce--but you can certainly use shredded lettuce if you like it. I'm just not a big lettuce person. I'd rather have crunchy veggies instead.

Taco Meat:
Brown 1# or more ground beef with some onion and garlic flakes. Drain after browing if fatty. (I used the package of organic ground beef from Costco. Its a pound and a quarter.)

Add taco seasoning:
1 T. chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder ...

O my...what a lovely fat bomb for P3!
WARNING: These are addictive!

I've adapted the original recipe to use my xylitol blend as a sweetener, and shortened up the steps some. If you want to check out the original recipe and watch a video on how to make them, here are the links:
http://www.loseit4ever.com/hcg-lemon-truffle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvK7wqHMbGk

LEMON TRUFFLES - the Leez variation:

1 tsp lemon zest
juice ...