The Stabilization of MissM

**DivineMissM** · March 15th, 2021, 09:04 AM

Took a little break from the forum over the weekend. Just yesterday, really, but all is well.

I'm also taking a little break from the scale. I'm sticking to P3 protocol, listening and responding to hunger and satiety cues, and have been cautioned against overdoing steak days, so why bother? Especially since the fluctuations are so emotionally fraught for me at the moment.

Anyway, that's my thinking at the moment, and for now it's been a good thing to step away from the number on that box in my bathroom and focus on the longer journey. It's quite likely I'll end up stabilizing higher than my LIW and I need to be OK with that. Perhaps ironically, right now the way to do that seems to be to focus on mindset and habits with a little break from that number. That experimentation is going pretty well. I'll pivot and adjust as needed. Per usual.

And I'm somewhat naturally shifting back into a modified IF/two meals a day at the moment. It feels right, it's not forced, and it's falling into alignment with my hunger and satiety cues. It feels normal. And normality with food, steadiness in mind and body, and resulting flexibility, ease, and joy is what I'm ultimately after.

mrsstrong, keep us posted! I hope you achieve everything you hope to in the next couple rounds.

Yvonne, so sorry about the stress and injury and pain. I hope you're moving through it OK.

Dubbles, thanks for checking in! I'll try to find your posts elsewhere on the forum to see how things are going for you in P3 so far. . . .

xoxo

**DivineMissM** · March 16th, 2021, 06:21 AM

Quiet around here at the moment, eh?

Things are still fine here. Really good, actually. Feeling quite at home in my skin and very even keeled--about food and mood and things in general. Staying the eff away from sugars and grains and dairy really does help me stabilize, and I'm feeling it right now. Though it may also partly be my cycle, which I'm starting to think is veering into perimenopausal territory. I'll be talking to my ayurvedic practitioner about it today and my MD in two weeks. This last period has been a bit strange. I guess it could be HCG's influence at least partly, but I had my usual, normal, three-day period, but then have been spotting for a week afterward. And the increased water retention and mood swings, etc., in the lead up may mean some hormonal shifts, methinks. I'll bring it up, anyway, and see what my trusted advisors have to say about it.

Sunday I off roaded a bit with BF. I had a few sips of beer, tasted a homemade potato chip, and dipped a grilled chicken wing or two into some blue cheese dressing. I'm not mad about it. It actually feels a little victorious. To have very deliberately and moderately enjoyed some normality around food. This is me starting to dip my toe in the dangerous waters of food freedom, I guess.

And today I'm pushing it a bit as well. I think I've mentioned what a Hibernian I am, that I lived in Dublin and visited often, and that Paddy's Day is a major holiday for me. Not so much a big drinking holiday, because I just don't care, but I do love the foodways of the holiday. Anyway, one of my all-time favorite things is a proper Irish breakfast. So, months ago I ordered the real deal: Irish sausages and rashers and white and black (blood) pudding to fry up. I'll round it out with grilled mushrooms and tomato and eggs for a delightful feast, probably today. Tomorrow will be corned beef and cabbage, which of course is perfectly fine for P3, especially because my brisket is grass fed and not treated with whatever nasties are in those pink packs sold en masse in grocery store chains this time of year.

But I digress. What I discovered is that there are, indeed, noncompliant ingredients in my Irish brekkus meats. Fillers like wheat and oats, a tiny bit of sugar. It doesn't add up to a ton of carbs, so I'll probably go for it anyway, but just seriously limit my portions. I imagine it will have an impact on water retention and inflammation, but that it will also subside. This is one of those "worth it" risks for me. I hope I don't regret that decision!

Anyway, I'm keeping to my hunger and satiety attentiveness as well as my commitment to go for short walks after meals. It's going great, and my steps are way up.

It may be the increased movement that's helping me see more definition on my body as well--even in my midsection, which is my most stubborn area. And I received some new clothes I ordered online--and though I worried they'd be too small, they fit, and some are even baggy. I'm not 100 percent confident enough to get rid of my larger sizes, but I'm working up to a big clear out. That will be a major step for me.

Off for my fasted walk--my latest addition to my metabolism-boosting and hormone-regulating plan. Enjoy the day!

**Dubbles** · March 16th, 2021, 07:13 AM

Enjoy your St Paddy's day celebratory foods, Miss M! Like you said, sometimes you have to take "worth it" risks! And for the long haul it has to be about balance. We can't live in a HCG bubble our entire lives. And regardless of what we read, life is about celebrations, and food is often a mainstay of those. I think the Beck Solution is more in tune to my thinking, than some of the thoughts expressed in HCG WLA. i know there is a balance to be had, but I don't feel guilty about enjoying celebratory meals with family and friends. And, truthfully, while I am trying my hardest to eat to hunger cues, and satiety levels, there will be times I will probably go past those points. Or have a piece of cake at BD celebrations when I'm not really hungry. I just want to be in control of my eating, not the other way around. Mindful, a word I've heard you use several times. And with all of us it will take time, practice and intent to get there. Your choosing to do your St Paddy's meal, is a mindful one--it should be okay. I hope you enjoy. Good to read your thoughts this morning.

I know this isn't my thread, but I'm on day 6 of P3. Holding my own, up .2 of Last Injection Weight. So that's good. I ate a lot of tuna salad (with mayo) yesterday--on plaintain chips. It was so good. I always felt because of the high calorie is mayo that I would gain eating that, but I guess if you aren't eating the starch of bread along with, it's okay. I'm glad, because I make really good tuna salad Just being honest.

Have a great day Miss M. Enjoy the holiday, good for you on your steps!

**DivineMissM** · March 16th, 2021, 07:44 AM

Good for you, Dubbles! So glad your P3 is right on target--as I expected it likely would be given how well you did "practicing" with your PI. Very happy for you.

Glad Beck Diet Solution is speaking to you as well, and I agree with you 100 percent. For me the aim is not to make food into something that's only perfunctory, as fuel. But it is to stop misusing it mindlessly for all variety of emotional crutches. Enjoyment and celebration, when deliberate and in its own time (ie not every day, because I can totally fall into "celebrating" with food everyday, LOL), is a wonderful part of the human experience.

But yeah, that's what this whole experiment is about, isn't it? Finding the sweet spot of what's livable and maintainable and makes us most happy and joyful. Part of that is living in a body that is healthy and not overfed. Another part of that is eating what we love, but discovering in what quantities and frequency can allow us to maintain the bodies that are healthiest in every way for us. It's quite a process, really. A lifelong one, most likely.

Anyway, I always appreciate your input. Please do keep posting here, especially your own updates. I love to hear how you're doing!

ps--I'm terrified of plantain chips, LOL. Plantains are one of my MOST FAVORITE foods and I know myself too well and my tendencies to overeat crunchy, salty, snacky hand-to-mouth foods. But I'm THRILLED they work for you and Leez. I'm going to just live vicariously through you at the moment. However, I have discovered Flackers, which are crackers made of soaked flaxseeds. They're great, but not too tasty to make me want to overdo them. I've made them from scratch but I've also found the product called Flackers through Thrive Market though I'm sure you could also find them at your Whole Foods. Just FYI, if you're interested. XO

**FlirtyFlo** · March 16th, 2021, 07:52 AM

Miss M...
you got it covered! You have not started P4 yet have you?
My stomach feels heavy just listening to the massive Paddy's day Brekkie you have planned.... obviously my favourite is potatoes... which I have been superbly good about.... (not having ...or craving)

My neighbour and I decided to celebrate P3 and went to a local restaurant and ordered grilled fish and Spinach..... that was the cause of the gain.... I misunderstood the amount of flour that was added to a kg of spinach.. so we both had a gain on Saturday.... moral of the story.... don't trust restaurant foods

I am a bit annoyed about having to slow down on the walking, but I need to listen to my body... in all the time I started chasing my steps I never felt sore.... then came this weekend and for the life of me I cannot figure out where I hurt myself...

Such is life!

**Dubbles** · March 16th, 2021, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by DivineMissM

Good for you, Dubbles! So glad your P3 is right on target--as I expected it likely would be given how well you did "practicing" with your PI. Very happy for you.

Glad Beck Diet Solution is speaking to you as well, and I agree with you 100 percent. For me the aim is not to make food into something that's only perfunctory, as fuel. But it is to stop misusing it mindlessly for all variety of emotional crutches. Enjoyment and celebration, when deliberate and in its own time (ie not every day, because I can totally fall into "celebrating" with food everyday, LOL), is a wonderful part of the human experience.

But yeah, that's what this whole experiment is about, isn't it? Finding the sweet spot of what's livable and maintainable and makes us most happy and joyful. Part of that is living in a body that is healthy and not overfed. Another part of that is eating what we love, but discovering in what quantities and frequency can allow us to maintain the bodies that are healthiest in every way for us. It's quite a process, really. A lifelong one, most likely.

Anyway, I always appreciate your input. Please do keep posting here, especially your own updates. I love to hear how you're doing!

ps--I'm terrified of plantain chips, LOL. Plantains are one of my MOST FAVORITE foods and I know myself too well and my tendencies to overeat crunchy, salty, snacky hand-to-mouth foods. But I'm THRILLED they work for you and Leez. I'm going to just live vicariously through you at the moment. However, I have discovered Flackers, which are crackers made of soaked flaxseeds. They're great, but not too tasty to make me want to overdo them. I've made them from scratch but I've also found the product called Flackers through Thrive Market though I'm sure you could also find them at your Whole Foods. Just FYI, if you're interested. XO

That's what I miss when you don't post. I'm not trying to put pressure on you, but your postings are almost "poetic", guess it helps your being a writer! Your first 2 paragraphs were so insightful. Thank you.

Will look into the Flackers, had a trip planned to Whole Foods today, I get my green tea there and I am running out. Have a good day and week!

**mrsstrong** · March 16th, 2021, 09:49 AM

Enjoy St. Patrick’s day, MissM!! Those foods sound delish and I am happy you will enjoy.
TJ has plantain chips with chocolate drizzled on top. Never buying those again. They are too good. OMG

I always loved following your reports. Glad you are still doing them and giving us some great things to think about. I am still trying to figure out what happened between my last round and now. Part of it I think was experimenting with carbs but I could have stopped when I saw it was no good. I didn’t and I am not sure why. Maybe I figured I’d enjoy it for a bit but man, how smart is that?? Not. Losing weight when loading keto style should be enough of an indicator I need to eat that way! It is just too hard to stop the carb monster.

**mrsstrong** · March 16th, 2021, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by FlirtyFlo

My neighbour and I decided to celebrate P3 and went to a local restaurant and ordered grilled fish and Spinach..... that was the cause of the gain.... I misunderstood the amount of flour that was added to a kg of spinach.. so we both had a gain on Saturday.... moral of the story.... don't trust restaurant foods

I am a bit annoyed about having to slow down on the walking, but I need to listen to my body... in all the time I started chasing my steps I never felt sore.... then came this weekend and for the life of me I cannot figure out where I hurt myself...

Such is life!

Oh I am so glad your neighbor joined you in a round, Yvonne! I hope it went well for her!

Sorry your body is a pain. It sucks but then what can you do but listen to it?

**mrsstrong** · March 16th, 2021, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by Dubbles

We can't live in a HCG bubble our entire lives. And regardless of what we read, life is about celebrations, and food is often a mainstay of those.

I certainly don’t want to but I think many of us come back here and there over the years. I thought I would never be one of them but here I am. Not just back for maintenance round but first because I gained back half of the 90 pounds I lost, and then now instead of losing the last 20 of those, it is still another two rounds because I again let go. At least I maintained really well for a long time but ack, I never wanted to be this person!

I bought tuna for loading and was looking so forward to it and then I got nauseated after a slice of cheese while prepping and I was done eating for the day. Darn!

**wilsonblack** · March 16th, 2021, 10:53 AM

Sounds like you are doing well. I understand the frustration with the scale. Just hang in there and be good to yourself.

**Dubbles** · March 16th, 2021, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by mrsstrong

Enjoy St. Patrick’s day, MissM!! Those foods sound delish and I am happy you will enjoy.
TJ has plantain chips with chocolate drizzled on top. Never buying those again. They are too good. OMG

I always loved following your reports. Glad you are still doing them and giving us some great things to think about. I am still trying to figure out what happened between my last round and now. Part of it I think was experimenting with carbs but I could have stopped when I saw it was no good. I didn’t and I am not sure why. Maybe I figured I’d enjoy it for a bit but man, how smart is that?? Not. Losing weight when loading keto style should be enough of an indicator I need to eat that way! It is just too hard to stop the carb monster.

mrsstrong, there is no way that I could purchase the plantain chips with chocolate drizzled on top. Never ever. They would be consumed in one sitting. Didn't know they were even available!