Thread: Steak protocol... phase 3

mpoloface2,
I am not sure how I missed the rest of your discussion but would like to try to help. The steak protocol is to correct a possible protein deficiency. If you are not gaining due to this state I doubt the protocol would work. Did you make sure to eat LOTS of protein as soon as you began the phase? Are you eating lots of protein now? Simeons notes protein dificiency will cause marked water retention. If you read his paragraph under "protein dificiency" he gives other instructions for eating also (eggs for breakfast, steak for dinner etc). I would try that next. It is also imperative that you stick to the no sugar, no starch instructions. I know others that have made this mistake because they were not 100% sure what sugar and starch contained. For instance one friend thought it was okay to make a meal with beans considering beans a protein but beans are very starchy and should not be consumed. I also have a friend that did not know all the names sugar can be called in ingredients like dextrose, sucrose, evaporated cane juice and was ready to purchase products with these items. I myself was thinking I could have some oatmeal in this phase and confirmed this too was a starch. Unfortunately the instructions are not real clear on specific foods. For me when in doubt I just don't eat it. The best way to look at this stage is to add back into your diet healthy fats, eggs,dairy & nuts. In reference to your menstral cycle this can definitely mess things up. During my phase 2 I lost almost a full week of loss due to my cycle. You may have a combination of things happening at the same time. I wish you the best as you try to work it out. Take Care.

realtorgirl Great suggestions!
mpoloface2, I would definately follow those, examine what you are eating and be careful with the trail mix. I've had the same problem because I want to chew on something and I can't have any carbs so I ended up eating too many nuts, it's not that you can't have them but they are very calorie dense as is the dried fruit so you have to be careful. Also, what kind of trail mix are you eating? Is it raw and organic? You don't want to eat roasted nuts as you lose most of their benefits and you don't want to eat dried fruit with sulfur, this will definately mess you up.
Water weight around your period can also be part of it, I go up 2-3 pounds around my period. So I would examine carefully everything that you're eating, maybe add a little exercise and do the steak protocol again and see how it goes. Be patient, phase 3 is all about resetting and it can be turbulent. It's very important though to do this phase properly. Hang in there!

Dear mpoloface2, I am only in phase 2, I am assuming you are in phase 3, One of the e-books I purchased Hcg Guide suggested following Suzanne Somers or Atkins diet when off of phase 2. If you google and go to Suzanne Somers web site her girls have a fantastic discussion board with loads and loads of recipes that you could benefit from on phase 3 and of course they are more toward protein. I did her diet once for six years did great and manitained so what happened Dr Pepper happened oh well. I am only human. Any way I hear Atkins is good also and has good recipes try both of those. I had a lady on another hcg forum said when whe did atkins some of her friends came up with "egg day" which she uses with the hcg diet. I could never get a respond to know which phase it is but I have done two egg days here in my phase 2 and dropped a pound on more each time got me off my stall. It is basely 8-12 (I did 6 because I can only have 500 cal) anyway 8-12 eggs and nothing else but water and teas. I did great wans't hungary and my stomach felt better than at any other time so far.
Also a tea for water retenion is corn silk tea. I went on line and ordered me some, it hasn't arrived yet. I hold a lot of water sometime. of course you posted six days ago, I hope thngs have improved for you good luck

Hi mpoloface2!

The only area I feel that could be getting me into trouble is trail mix - but by 5 lbs?

Yes ma'am! Nuts will get you in trouble I have found. I gained a 1.5 lbs overnight with Almond milk. One Almond milk had flour in it, one had evaporated cane sugar. OUCH! Goodbye Almond milk and all other nut products for me. I'm really uncertain at this point why adding nuts is always mentioned. As a friend on another thread identified: they seem to always pop up in these "I can't understand it" conversations.

Did you eat nuts in your pre HCG diet days? I never did, and all of a sudden I'm adding them as it's a normal part of eating for me. Also, trail mix usually has raisins, currants, Legumes: such as peanuts or baked soybeans, cranberries, apricots, or candied orange peel.....all anti p3 foods. Check that label. Some mixes are also dusted in sugar and salt.

By the way I was cautioned to read the label on shredded cheeses. Guess why all the shreds don't stick together? Dusted in flour or starch. If you think about it, it makes sense. But, darn, I can grate my own cheese and save myself some morning scale terror!

Hope it all goes well from here on out!