WilsonBlack's Phase 3 thread

[wilsonblack]

"If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans"

If you are in this forum you have most likely followed or read my journeys through rounds of HCG. The main reason for my writing is a diary for me. I find it helpful. I hope others who are looking for a way to reclaim their body and health can learn some things as well. I know I get long winded and ramble a bit, so do your best to put up with me here.

I am currently transitioning from Phase 2 to Phase 3. This is the conclusion of my 7th round of HCG protocol in my life. My first 2 were done in 2008/2009. Took a 10 year hiatus and jumped back into it in 2019. My last 2 rounds were basically losing the same weight over and again. So what do we take from this? Basically I have the process of losing the weight down pat. But I have work to do in phase 3 and 4. I go way more into detail in my latest thread so if you want more background, go over there and read. I don't want to rehash and this post is going to be long enough.

But lets just say that I haven't attacked phase 3 and 4 like I have with phase 2 in the protocol. In the last couple of rounds especially. So that brings us to this thread.

My plan is to attack this phase 3 like I have in every round's phase 2. Keep my mind in the game for lack of better words (or cliché's). So this thread will be my devotional and my means to improve.

Before we start: I just want to go back to the quote at the top of this post. When we are in phase 2, our eyes are opened. We have been forced to confront or at least notice our past eating habits. You all know what I mean. Then what do we do? We make some grand plans. "I will not do this" or "my plan is to start doing that". You can read my two threads and see plenty grand plans from me. What happens? We make some big changes. Some take root. Many do not and we simply slide back into old habits. Any lessons? Keep grinding, but don't be too hard on yourself. For me, my biggest issue is not confronting certain key mental eating habits. I go into more detail in other threads but basically I fixed what I was eating, but didn't fully fix how much, when, why, where and so forth. My plan of attack is to focus on these areas this round as much as still eating the right foods. I can already see a difference in my last phase 2. Even though the weight loss and inches lost was basically the same as previous rounds, I found myself not wanting to snack as much (or at all). Also, no real desire to cheat. Not a single spoonfull (or finger full) of peanut butter. I have had an unopened jar of natural peanut butter sitting in my pantry for the last 2 weeks. Untouched. That in itself is a victory.

That finds me at today. So here we are. Yesterday was my last dose day. I was doing homeopathic HCG so the transition time from last dose to Phase 3 is 48 hours. Last dose was at 4:45 yesterday so the clock is ticking. My first regular meal will be tomorrow's dinner.

I am already up 1.2lbs from yesterdays LDW of 218. But it is a temporary water retention issue and that weight should come off easily tomorrow. There was no over eating or cheating. I played tennis last night for 2.5 hours. I really felt bloated, like I was carrying extra water in my muscles. I thought I kind of looked it too when I took a shower. Very little urination last night or this morning. But these things happen. Don't sweat it.

Am I excited about phase 3? Yeah kind of but not like before. I am not craving anything. More than anything I am bored with certain things and am happy to open the menu up. I am tired of seafood for now and ready to move to land based protein. Ready to add some healthy fats in the mix. Avocado oil. Avocados. Some cheese. Olives.

Going to the grocery store tomorrow afternoon after a 3 hour tennis session. The first market trip in phase 3 is generally a special moment for me. I plan to savor the moment and enjoy. As I walk through the store I love being able to buy certain things again. I also take the moment to reflect on a successful round. Life is good.

p.s. if you are wondering about my forum name. My actual name isn't Wilson Black. It is Jeff. I am a tennis nut. Absolutely love to play. My tennis racquet is a Wilson Pro-Staff Black edition. I know, not very exciting. One of the reasons I got back into the protocol is to carry less weight on the court. That mission is accomplished. I am lighter on the court and my game has never been better. My skill, especially in doubles has taken a quantum leap recently. Mainly due to working hard to improve certain areas but being lighter on the court certainly helps. Now to cross a couple other goals off.

To be continued.

[Dubbles]

Really enjoyed your post this morning WB, so interesting about your forum name. Will only call you Jeff if you are ok with that. We could tell you really enjoy tennis, and sounds like you are very good player! Good luck as you go in P3. I remember when first starting P2, going to grocery was agonizing. I still wanted some of the goodies they display EVERYWHERE! Still had cravings, but after a while on HCG, and clean eating, don't seem to have those cravings and I can walk around in store, thinking I don't eat any of that **** anymore. Enjoy your shopping for P3 friendly foods and receipes--lots of options.

Keep us posted on how its going. Like you said, we seem to be able to lose weight, P2 is so structured--the real challenges come in P3/P4 when so many more options are available. That is where we really need mindfulness, consciousness of eating--not only what we eat, what we add, but when and how much we indulge ourselves. Good luck as you attack P3, starting tomorrow. If you attack it with consciousness, skill, discipline as you do your tennis game, you'll be a winner!

[wilsonblack]

thank you dubbles.

[wilsonblack]

Saturday update:

Wife and I had crawfish last night. Practiced eating more deliberately. Took a few breaks to register fullness. Keeping my mind in the game. Really awesome meal.

I could really feel the effects of less HCG. Was a bit hungry last night. Not cravings. But manageable. In past rounds I usually upped protein a bit to compensate. Not yesterday.

Woke up this morning and my weight is all the way down to 216.4 lbs. Nearly 3 pounds drop and almost 2 lbs below LDW. I am sure I will swing up a bit but am on the case.

Tennis this morning. 3 hours with at that. Have some homemade jerky left. Will have 2 pieces beforehand and will have another during play. Chick-Fil-A grilled nuggets for lunch then off to the supermarket. Tonight will be steak, salad and avocado. Glass of wine is in the cards. Probably going to open something nice to mark the occasion.

[DivineMissM]

LOVELY!!

So glad you've established a new thread where we can follow along. I love your reminder about making plans . . . and being real with ourselves about how things have gone in the past. And the eternal optimist in me also fully believes that right now we can choose differently. Again and again. Moment to moment. Day after day. It will require discipline and diligence and regular reminders to ourselves for WHY we're choosing differently again and again--doing the hard work of deeper personal transformation. It starts with food, but it's about so much more than food.

And for you, I think your passion for tennis may be tremendously useful as a motivating force to keep off the weight and continue to eat in the most healthy ways for you and your body. The stronger, healthier, fitter you are, the more enjoyment, no doubt, you get on the court, right? I feel that way about dance and yoga. Something I've noticed, for example, is that having lost significant belly fat there's literally more room for me to bend and twist into very cool postures that I simply couldn't access before. That's highly motivating!

Anyway, super grateful we're going through our P3 together. Eager to observe your wise reflections and observations. Even mistakes are better shared and reflected upon. But you seem really steady and even-keeled about all this right now. I think that's great and I'm going to take a cue from you on that to the best of my ability!

[Dubbles]

LOVELY!!

So glad you've established a new thread where we can follow along. I love your reminder about making plans . . . and being real with ourselves about how things have gone in the past. And the eternal optimist in me also fully believes that right now we can choose differently. Again and again. Moment to moment. Day after day. It will require discipline and diligence and regular reminders to ourselves for WHY we're choosing differently again and again--doing the hard work of deeper personal transformation. It starts with food, but it's about so much more than food.

And for you, I think your passion for tennis may be tremendously useful as a motivating force to keep off the weight and continue to eat in the most healthy ways for you and your body. The stronger, healthier, fitter you are, the more enjoyment, no doubt, you get on the court, right? I feel that way about dance and yoga. Something I've noticed, for example, is that having lost significant belly fat there's literally more room for me to bend and twist into very cool postures that I simply couldn't access before. That's highly motivating!

Anyway, super grateful we're going through our P3 together. Eager to observe your wise reflections and observations. Even mistakes are better shared and reflected upon. But you seem really steady and even-keeled about all this right now. I think that's great and I'm going to take a cue from you on that to the best of my ability!

Enjoying both postings so far this morning. WB sounds like you are on the way to a great start of p3! Could not possibly think of anything to expand on what Miss M had to say. She is always spot on. I truly believe we learn from mistakes as well as victories . As we all know many victories are non scale, like she said—just how we can bend and move more freely with 15-20-25 lbs gone. It truly makes a difference. And we so want the differences to permeate our psyches and lives. But it will take work and mindfulness, like your eating more slowly to stop and enjoy your meal last night. Good for you. Looking forward to all you p3ers postings! Thanks.

[wilsonblack]

Back home from my day. Starving. Seriously. Pretty sure the HCG is officially out of my system.

Played tennis for 3 hours. Played doubles for 1 set. Played well and won. Then played a set of singles. Lost badly. Same issues as before. No fuel leading to errors on shots that I normally nail. By now I am really feeling the lack of calories. Then play a set of doubles. Win easily and play well.

From there at grab a 12 count order of grilled chicken nuggets from Chik-Fil-A. From there went to the supermarket. Picked up plenty produce for salads and meals for the week. Pick up a nice bone in rib-eye for my wife and I to split tonight. Also got some flanken cut beef short ribs for the smoker for tomorrow’s dinner. Going to visit my son next weekend and he requested fajita meat so dropped by a Hispanic grocer for their premarinaded fajita meat for the grill. Will chop up some for lunches with grilled onions and peppers

Grills are heating up and first post protocol meal about to go down.

[wilsonblack]

Okay first meal is down. Dry brined a bone in rib-eye with coarse sea salt for my wife and I to split. Basic sized Rib-eye. Thickness between 1.25 and 1.5” thick. Smoked to an internal temp of 110 then seared on a hot charcoal grill. Served with a simple salad dressed with avocado oil and basalmic vinegar. Topped with some feta cheese and a lot of chunked avocado. Opened a bottle of Roth Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley in Sonoma. Wonderful meal, wonderful wine.

Focus was on pacing myself and being mindful. After a few bites, I would pause and pay attention to my satisfaction level. After just a few bites of rib-eye I was surprised that I was satisfied. My wife was stuffed. Between the two of us we barely ate half of the steak. We knocked out a medium avocado between us. I ate most of my salad my wife ate mainly half. I half a little more than half a bottle of wine left.

I am sure that somebody or several somebodies will read this and say “ so what?”. This is a huge step for me. Past rounds first meals of phase 3 were much more robust with a much different mindset.

Great first step. But it is only that. A single step. But I will take it.

[Dubbles]

Okay first meal is down. Dry brined a bone in rib-eye with coarse sea salt for my wife and I to split. Basic sized Rib-eye. Thickness between 1.25 and 1.5” thick. Smoked to an internal temp of 110 then seared on a hot charcoal grill. Served with a simple salad dressed with avocado oil and basalmic vinegar. Topped with some feta cheese and a lot of chunked avocado. Opened a bottle of Roth Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley in Sonoma. Wonderful meal, wonderful wine.

Focus was on pacing myself and being mindful. After a few bites, I would pause and pay attention to my satisfaction level. After just a few bites of rib-eye I was surprised that I was satisfied. My wife was stuffed. Between the two of us we barely ate half of the steak. We knocked out a medium avocado between us. I ate most of my salad my wife ate mainly half. I half a little more than half a bottle of wine left.

I am sure that somebody or several somebodies will read this and say “ so what?”. This is a huge step for me. Past rounds first meals of phase 3 were much more robust with a much different mindset.

Great first step. But it is only that. A single step. But I will take it.

Good job on "first step!", WB

[wilsonblack]

217.4 this morning. First full day of P3 today. Started off with 2 scrambled eggs and 2 uncured sausage links. Normally would eat much more. Very satisfied. Was hungry again last night.

3 hours of tennis this morning then some yard work and meal prep for the week. Very excited to have more fuel in the tank.

[DivineMissM]

Eager to hear how your tennis changes as you feel yourself to be better fueled.

[wilsonblack]

Still too early. Still a bit light headed on court. Did not play as well as I could or should. But it takes a couple days for the new diet to catch up and fuel the system. Especially since I am not pigging out on approved foods.

On the way to tennis the old me popped in. It was an absolutely beautiful morning, I felt awesome and congratulated myself on another successful round. There! Caught it! The round is not over!! In fact the most important part has just begun.

Finished tennis and picked up some chicken wings for my wife and I for lunch. Local chain, Pluckers. Really good. They have some awesome dry rub wings there. Ordered 15 to split. Got home and chopped up an avocado. Made a simple arugula salad dressed with avocado oil, a hit of truffle oil, white basalmic vinegar and grated Parmesan. I strongly recommend this salad. It is sooooo good. Finished a small salad and moved on to the wings. Past rounds I could have blown through 10 easily. 15 even if the moment was right. At 3 I stopped to check in and note how satisfied I was. Almost there. Still just a bit hungry. ate one more. Satisfied but can do one more. 5th wing and done. My wife stopped at 3.

I know this sounds silly for some but this is a huge step for me. Yard work now and some meal prep for the week.