HCG Diet Snacks Phase 3 (P3)

P3 Snacks Apple, almonds, cheese

Stabilizing on Phase 3 is one of the most challenging things about the HCG Diet.  It is so important on P3 to avoid all starch and sugar and often starch and sugar shows up in the most unlikely places like additives in spice mixes or hidden sugar in condiments and dressings.  Staying on track and keeping blood sugars stable while you stabilize your weight on P3 is critical for achieving the lasting results the HCG Diet is known for.  Regular snacking on suitable HCG Diet snacks on P3 can help you healthfully transition from the HCG Phase 2 to Phase 3.

Still, people always ask me… “What can I do for P3 snacks?  It’s just so hard to stay away from the sugar and everything has starch in it.”  “What do I eat?”  HELP!  I hear that a lot.  As you probably know, P3 is that point in the HCG diet where your body stabilizes and you can eat more variety of foods but must avoid starches and sugars for a period of three weeks.   It can be challenging to choose foods that don’t cause you to gain.  So, I compiled a list of some of my favorite snacks while on P3.  These snacks shouldn’t cause any problems with P3 of the HCG Diet and are sooo very good for you.  As always in P3, you must check ingredients for hidden sugars and starches in most foods and enjoy nuts in moderation.

HCG Diet Snacks for Phase 3

  • A handful of raw almonds.  These sure stave off hunger and are handy to keep in your purse or car for a quick snack.  Super good for you with healthy fats and vitamins.
  • An apple with 2 Tbs. peanut butter (no sugar, all natural variety) or toss apple slices with a handful of walnuts and add a sprinkle of cinnamon and stevia.  Yum!
  • A piece of string cheese and a piece of fruit
  • A turkey roll up  with a slice of turkey breast, provolone, tomato, and mustard in a lettuce wrap.
  • Cottage cheese with salsa.  Enjoy by itself or as a dip and serve with raw veggies.  I like it extra spicy.
  • Fresh mixed berries with cream or half and half.  I particularly love to add a little milk chocolate flavored stevia to fresh strawberries and cream.  Very decadent and absolutely delicious.

More Helpful Tips for choosing HCG Diet Snacks for Phase 3

  • Consider consulting the Glycemic index and choose only foods that have a low glycemic number.  Choose foods that are high in fiber, protein, and make sure to avoid sugar or starchy additives.
  • You may have fruit in moderation but take care not to overdo it.  The fructose (fruit sugars) in fruit may cause an issue with P3 for some people.
  • Avoid all fruit juices and concentrates.

Enjoy these ideas for some tasty HCG Diet Snacks for Phase 3 and all the best with your HCG Diet!

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171 Responses to HCG Diet Snacks Phase 3 (P3)

  1. Cindy October 21, 2009 at 3:47 pm #

    Those are some of my favorites as well, Tammy!

  2. cathy October 22, 2009 at 10:13 pm #

    Hi, I am just starting. Took HCG for the first time today, will begin the low-calorie phase Saturday. Looking forward to seeing what’s going on here, love the recipes so far!

    • Tammy November 9, 2009 at 8:09 pm #

      Hi Cathy! Congrats on getting started!!!!! You will be absolutely amazed. I’ll be posting some fun stuff. Just got back from vacation and I have to say I DIDN’T blog for 10 days but I’m back and on track. Hope my blog helps you out a bit. Stay true, stick with it and keep me posted!

      Tammy

      • Britney Baze September 25, 2018 at 5:44 am #

        Hi I am wondering about original dry non dairy coffee creamer. It doesn’t seem fattening or anything but I know stuff has hidden things in it. I stopped using it during p2. And I will be on p3 in 2 days. I did the 28day cycle. Started at 128.8 and ended at 115.0. I am very nervous and stressed about being in p3. At least in p2 it’s so specific and layednout for you. And I’m such a yo yo dieter. And esqueed way of thinking about food. And I want my weight to stabilize so bad so I can just feel normal when I eat. But I love my coffee creamer so much. It doesn’t say it has sugar in it and is like 10cal can I use it ?

        • Tammy February 21, 2019 at 11:18 pm #

          Sorry but non dairy coffee creamer won’t work on the diet. Most of them have unwanted ingredients that will stall your diet and if you taste them, they are sweet. Sugar of course is a no no.

    • Lorena Cobian July 31, 2016 at 8:28 pm #

      I have a gigantic question…. I’m almost done with p3 I have a couple of days left, but my b-day is coming up so my question is what happens if i start eating normal (sugars) a day or two before my p3 is done?? I’m asking bcuz my parents are coming to visit for by b-day y they want to throw me a party, and the thing is they only coming for my b-day… thank you I’ll appreciate it if some of you guys answer my question.

      • Tammy August 1, 2016 at 9:16 pm #

        Everyone is different when it comes to stabilizing on P3. Most people go through a period of wild swings with their weight for a week or two and then it starts to settle down in the third week. Because it is so close to your transition, you may be able to celebrate your birthday with your parents, have some cake and maintain your weight or you might not. If you gain a pound or two over your last dose weight, do a steak day. Hope that helps you and Happy Birthday!

        • Lorena Cobian August 1, 2016 at 9:30 pm #

          omg, thanks for answering.. I’ll definitely will try it and see what happens…. and thank you

  3. cathy November 27, 2009 at 4:41 pm #

    Was on the VLCD for about 10 days. Lost 12 pounds! Had to interrupt for an unfortunate seies of events, but am back loading today. Has anyone else had to interrupt so soon in? Wondering whether I need to load for 2 full days, I’m REALLY sick of food. I’m reallly anxious to get back into the VLCD. I loved it! Really made making lunch simple, and I had virtually no hunger. This protocol has given me hope that I will lead a normal life with regard to food, and it’s made me feel like a million. Would love to see some new comments here, how’s everyone doing?

    • Tammy December 1, 2009 at 9:15 pm #

      Hi Cathy,

      Congratulations! Fantastic news on the 12 pounds. Don’t worry, just get right back on the diet and it will be okay. Regarding the load. Oh yes! Load, load, load. It’s vitally important to load. People who have skipped the load have reported pretty severe hunger for about 2-3 days (the time it takes for the hcg to get circulating in your system) So glad you are doing well on the protocol. It really is an amazing diet with little to no hunger and rapid results. This blog is fairly fairly new so I expect it to become a hub of new information. I’m planning on blogging about 3 times a week with lots of articles and information. Good luck and keep it up!

  4. Kimberly February 1, 2010 at 12:59 am #

    so peanut butter is allowed in p3?

  5. Tammy February 10, 2010 at 11:02 pm #

    Hi Kimberly,

    You can have some peanut butter on P3. Just make sure it has no sugar in it. Check the ingredients on the back and it should say just peanuts and sometimes salt. A lot of the commercial varieties put loads of sugar so I would avoid the common popular brands and stick to the natural varieties. Valencia peanuts have a naturally sweet taste so try to find one made with them. One of my favorite P3 snacks is sliced apples with peanut butter. Very satisfying and delicious 🙂

    • Cherelle January 8, 2012 at 11:58 am #

      My local health food shop in Australia grinds raw peanuts into a paste – no added anything. After a while you don’t miss the salty taste that was in commercial peanut butter. Might be worth looking for.

      • Tammy January 17, 2012 at 1:00 am #

        Hi Cherelle and thank you for the info! Peanut butter is okay for some people on P3. All natural is the way to go. No added sugar or starch. Some people do have problems though so they need to be aware ahead of time.

  6. Tina April 29, 2010 at 3:39 am #

    Great snack ideas! I’ve also been using cottage cheese with a little stevia and some cinnamon when I’m wanting a sweet snack.

    • Tammy May 9, 2010 at 12:07 am #

      I’ve been working on some cottage cheese recipes for a new P2 book coming out this summer. You can actually stir in some apples (add walnuts in P3.. totally yummy) or switch it up and put some fresh sliced strawberries and a hint of vanilla stevia. So good. Thanks for sharing! A little something sweet is so nice on this diet.

  7. Nick June 3, 2010 at 12:05 am #

    On day 40 of HCG phase 2. I did sub-lingual mix. I started at 246.4 pounds and as of today am at 215.1 pounds. I mixed the drops myself using 5000 iu of HCG to 8 cc of sub-lingual B12 and 7cc of Sovereign Silver. It took 3 vials of HCG to get through the 40 days. I experienced no hunger on phase 2 of this diet, but I am now looking for some guidance for phase 3. I do not want to give back what I have lost. I know the 21 days of phase 3 are hugely important. Can I get some ideas .

    • Tammy June 8, 2010 at 11:28 pm #

      Phase 3 is really really important. When you transition to Phase 3 Dive right in with full, normal, amounts of calories, fat, protein, and fruits and vegetables. It is tempting to want to keep dieting thinking you will gain it back but remember that this diet is changing your metabolism. The last thing you want to do is go back into starvation mode. So… expect some pretty wild swings in your weight, especially during the first week on Phase 3. You may even have to do a “steak day” at some point but the swings will calm down and you will stabilize at a new weight “set point”. Then, I suggest a healthy whole food/low sugar diet as you introduce carbs back into your life. All the best to you!

    • Jason February 8, 2012 at 4:03 pm #

      Congrats! I started R1P1 at 347.8 lbs and ended round one at 308.8 lbs. Started R2P1 at exact same weight and as of today, day 1 of R2P3 I am at 285.4!! I did just fine with EGGS and either turkey bacon, turkey sausage and some FF cheddar or feta and spinach/mushrooms for breakfast. Did not count/worry about calories at all, just NO SUGARS/STARCHES.

      • Tammy February 9, 2012 at 2:02 am #

        Thanks for sharing Jason. We’re here to support you. I did feel a strong responsibility to express my concern. The real deal about this diet is about keeping it off afterward, and to reset the hypothalamus, the protocol must be followed pretty closely. Just about anyone starting off at nearly 350 pounds would lose lots of weight in the beginning, even eating all the wrong foods and too many calories. You will find that eating fats and cheese on P2 doesn’t work for those who have less to lose and when you yourself get closer to your goal weight it would likely be very problematic. I felt it was important to let you know my thoughts and I wish you all the best.

        • Jason February 9, 2012 at 3:06 am #

          I did NOT eat anything except the allowed strawberry or apple
          and allowed 150 grams of veggies and 100g of protein on PHASE 2!
          The title of this was Phase 3, and that is the stuff I had 1st round of P2
          so no need for concern

          • Tammy February 12, 2012 at 4:05 pm #

            Very glad to hear that Jason — I always want to make sure people are very clear with that (including people who will read these posts later and not realize we’re talking about P3 or P4 instead of P2) so they have the best chance of success on this wonderful diet! You’ve been working very hard and I know you’re very proud of yourself for the great work you’ve done!

            Keep it up!

          • Mandy February 17, 2012 at 4:57 am #

            This is the first time I’ve seen a weight mentioned for veggies in P2. I’ve read blog after blog, the original protocol and even your cookbook Tammy (which was a LIFESAVER btw!), and nowhere did I see 150g of vegetables mentioned.

            Either I’m half blind, or the weight just wasn’t mentioned.

            Tomorrow morning I start P3. Started P1 on December 31st 2011 (great loading day!) and I’m 28 lbs down. Would have liked more, but hey, I’m not complaining!

          • Tammy February 17, 2012 at 1:24 pm #

            Hi Mandy and congratulations on your 28 lb weight loss!! Way to go! It’s always so great to hear that my cookbooks have helped too!

            Although I didn’t see a mention of a measurement of vegetables in this blog post (did you see it in another post?) Dr. Simeons did not put a specific measurement on vegetables, although there are guidelines. Much of this is due to the very limited number of calories that can be eaten per day in P2. If you know that you’ll have a number of calories left for that day’s count, you can eat more of the allowed veggies in that meal or as a snack as long as you don’t have more than 2 servings per day or go over the calorie count.

            Hope that helps and best of continued luck on your diet!

  8. Robin July 27, 2010 at 7:23 am #

    I was originally on HHcg from May to June and lost 18 lbs. Got on real Hcg June 26 (sublingual then started injections about 10 days ago) and lost another 10 lbs for a total weight loss of 28 lbs. I am hungry all the time now and can’t get back on track. Nothing works on the hunger except xtra protein. Am I building up an immunity? I am thinking of making yesterday morning (monday 7/26) my last injection day and doing vlcd for 72 hours and starting P3 on Thursday at noon. I am happy with the weight loss right now and have no regrets about stopping for 6 weeks. I started at 198.6 and weighed in at 170.4 this morning. I fluctuate between 168 and 171. My goal weight is 145. I think I am ready for more variety right now. Any suggestions/

    • Tammy July 28, 2010 at 11:25 pm #

      Hi Robin, It does sound like you might be reaching immunity or it’s also possible that your HCG may not be fresh for whatever reason. You could go a couple of ways: You could try fresh HCG and see if that makes a difference. Or, if you believe it might be immunity you should continue taking your HCG for a minimum of 21 days, Raise your calories to 800 of the allowed foods and then transition into P3 as you would normally do. I’m slightly questioning the freshness of your HCG. Immunity usually occurs if you aren’t taking the breaks in between or when you get really close to your goal weight. I wish you well 🙂

  9. april July 28, 2010 at 1:13 am #

    Hi there, I am getting ready to go into P3R1 in a couple of days and I am just trying to prepare myself. I have read on a couple of websites that SPROUTED whole grain breads like Ezekiel and or Alvarado St. brands are ok in small amounts on phase 3. There is a lot of conflicting and misleading info out there and am wondering if this is ok??
    Thank you!! April

    • Tammy July 28, 2010 at 11:15 pm #

      Hi April, I tend to take the conservative approach on P2 and P3 mostly because it’s so critical to stabilize on P3 that I never wanted to chance that stabilization process. That said, there is some controversy about certain foods. I ate nuts in moderation and they are technically a protein/carb combo food and never had a problem and I’ve used nut flours like almond without issue. I’m a big fan of the sprouted grain breads in general but they do still contain starch along with all that fiber. Use your best judgement and remember it’s only three weeks of P3 eating and then moderate grains and starches are no problem at all!

  10. Terry August 19, 2010 at 5:27 pm #

    Hi there, am glad to find a place where I might get some answers. I have completed the 20 days of HCG, and am on the last of the 3 day low calorie diet before I go into the Phase 3. This is baffling, I only needed to lose 15 pounds, but wanted to lose 20, well, I lost 13. I am afraid of screwing this up, you mentioned that yogurt was okay, well, I went shopping today and checked endless types of yougurt, all have sugars, even the plain…well, now I am upset because I love yogurt, with fresh fruits, and another thing, non-starchy vegetables? And, on this phase, we can’t stay on the 500 calories, so what, am I to take a steak and eat with vegies no matter the size, I like Phase 2, everything was there to follow, now I feel like I’m in outer space with no link as to what to follow….HELP

    • Tammy September 1, 2010 at 3:32 am #

      Hi Terry,

      I’m here for you! I hope this gets to you in time. I’ve been on vacation and haven’t checked the blog this week. Dive right in on your Phase 3. Normal calories, healthy fats, eat often and avoid preservatives, starches, etc. With regard to yogurt. Use it sparingly on P3 because of the milk sugars. That said, Greek yogurt is fine in reasonable amounts. Full fat, no sugar, honey, cane, anything like that. Plain only and ideally with probiotics. Full fat only and don’t overdo it. The full fat varieties will still have some milk sugar but much less than most of them. It’s hard to find because low fat is so “popular”. Sweeten it with stevia and some fruit. Monitor your weight and journal and if you find that it causes a problem, omit it right away.

      Oh goodness, I’m getting a lot of emails about Phase 3 and I know I need to finish up that P3 cookbook and start posting more recipes. Basically, Eat meals throughout the day and plenty of calories. Full fat food, healthy oils, eggs, cheese, small amounts of nuts, any kind of unprocessed protein, fruits and vegetables. A few sample meals would be a big omelette with veggies and cheese for breakfast. Any kind of delicious salad with chicken/beef or other protein with full fat dressing and a variety of nutritious vegetables for lunch. For dinner a steak or chicken breast with herbed buttered vegetables. Snacks: Cheese sticks, fruit, almonds, a protein smoothie (rice, whey, or egg white protein unsweetened) with fruit. I hope this helps you and reaches you in time. Read your food labels and look out for any starches or additives. All the best to you

      Tammy

      • Adda November 23, 2011 at 3:36 pm #

        This is great, it gives me an idea of what to eat. I will be starting my PE in 10 days, and wanted to know what to eat and sample Menus. If I understand, we are not to have any Fatfree milk in the coffee in P3. Can any half and Half be added to coffee in the morning? I have lost 22 pounds, but I find I have lost more inches than the actual weight. Love this diet!!

        • Tammy November 28, 2011 at 3:57 pm #

          Hi Adda! You’re allowed 1 tablespoon of milk or half and half each day in P2. In P3 you need to watch your caloric intake. You can try using Stevia in your coffee to add flavor and variety too!

          Congratulations in your wonderful 22 pound weight loss!!!

      • Cherelle January 8, 2012 at 12:02 pm #

        Would it be OK to have a green smoothie with blueberries and chia seeds in P3 as a breakfast option? The chia seeds would be the protein. Or should I wait until P4 to go back to my green smoothies?

        • Tammy January 17, 2012 at 12:58 am #

          Hi Cherelle! Your smoothie (sounds yummy!) is a good option for P3 and P4 so enjoy!

  11. Jessica September 22, 2010 at 7:19 am #

    Hi! So, i am a few days in to P3 and so far so good..fingers crossed. I’ve basically doubled to tripled my protein, veggie, fruit intake and am drinking even more water now that the weather has changed as well. I have not put in new fruits or veggies as of yet, did bring in olive and coconut oil and seem to be ok so far. Only thing is, I am allergic to gluten, wheat, and most importantly dairy. I also don’t eat meat, so I am an egg and fish eater only with animal protein. So, all the wonderful butter and yogurts and cream and cottage cheese you all can use, I cannot. I do not want to mess up my p3 and metabolism because I did not get enough fat or oils in my body the way those foods I cannot have would do for others. So, any ideas? I’m open 🙂

    Thanks!!

    • Tammy September 23, 2010 at 6:04 pm #

      Hi Jessica,

      Glad to hear you are doing well. I would urge you to vary up your diet however with regard to different fruits, vegetables, etc. And YES! add some healthy fats like coconut oil, flax oil, olive and others. It’s also important to immediately start eating more calories when you transition to P3 (This is for all of you reading this). The HCG is no longer burning calories for energy in your body so its important to get that fuel. Sorry to hear about the allergic reactions. Wheat and gluten products are just not that good for many people and I’ve been occasionally enjoying brown rice pasta here on maintenance myself and definitely minimizing wheat. I am happy to offer some suggestions to help you get enough calories. Power foods that would be good for you would be salmon (healthy oils), a veggie omelette sauteed in coconut or olive oil. A stevia sweetened egg white protein shake (I like the J Robb brand of protein powder) as a snack. Juicing vegetables is great on P2. Small amounts of nuts like almonds and walnuts are just fine. Avocados YUM! and then a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and proteins. All the best to you! Tammy

  12. Heather September 27, 2010 at 11:24 pm #

    Hi,

    I am on day 13 and have stalled. I am down 10.5 lbs and cannot seem to get it going. My husband is also on this and he is down 18 lbs and not stalled. HELP…..I have not done the steak day, and all of a sudden I am hungry again. For the past 12 days I have not been hungry and some days not even been able to eat all 500 calories. Can I have have become immune so soon?

    • Tammy September 28, 2010 at 4:47 pm #

      Hi there,

      Day 13 is around the range where stalls sometimes happen. Plateau’s are normal with this diet and weight loss often occurs in a stair step fashion so don’t worry. You are doing great at 10.5 pounds! If you are on the “HCG Phase” then the proper corrective measure is the “Apple Day” Drink minimal water and eat 6 apples throughout the day and that should help. If you are experiencing some hunger it is possible that you have reached immunity. It is unlikely that you would experience it so soon but if you are starting to get close to your goal weight it could happen even after just a couple of weeks. I hope that helps you and all the best with your diet.

  13. Bernadette September 29, 2010 at 7:04 pm #

    Hi everyone,

    I’m going to be 63yrs old next month, I just so very successfully dropped 25.6 lbs in my 40 days of HCG. This is truly God sent! I’ve dieted most of my life, and have never experienced anything as wonderfully successful as this Protocol. God Bless Dr. Simeons, wherever he is!! I started with the injections and toward the ending transitioned over to drops. My coach (who is fantastic) encouraged me to try the drops and I am so happy I did. I will be starting P3 in 3 days, and I’m so excited I can hardly wait. I had many times stalled and found out it was mostly due to lack of sleep. I had and have so much energy I couldn’t get to sleep at night. Even during my stalls I never got upset because I knew “I was doing nothing wrong.” So I patiently waited. As a result of my success, I have recommended at least 25 people to my coach. Everywhere I go if I meet someone who is just mildly interested in being “cured” from obesity, I recommend!!!! At first I only wanted to lose down to 145. As of this morning I weigh 144.8. I’m only 5’1′ so I’ve decided to go for another course. So easy when done properly. So easy to stay on when I realized I would be able to eat anything I ever want to ….. AFTER…..I get to the 115 mark. Even went to the movies with my wonderful husband and didn’t even touch his “buttered popcorn.” For those of you out there that are younger than I am, (I’m sure you ALL are), please believe me, you can do it!!! After all, if we keep our patience and do it properly straight through to maintenance, even if we decide to get crazy with ourselves and “try” to eat something out of whack, 2 things come to mind: 1) I might not even be able to eat it now that my stomach has shrunk, and my tastes have changed. 2) Most importantly, I’ll never be fat again as long as HCG is in this world!!! GLORY TO GOD!!!

    • Tammy September 30, 2010 at 5:12 pm #

      Thank you so much for sharing! So thrilled and happy for your success!

    • Amy Flegel August 17, 2011 at 4:38 pm #

      Well said, exactly what I am thinking 🙂 Thank you God and Dr. Simeons for this wonderful miracle of hcg, I wish I had known earlier!!! Way to go.

  14. Marti October 14, 2010 at 8:06 pm #

    Hi Tammy,
    I am on day 17 and have lost 14lbs. I am thrilled but when I ordered my mixing vials I only ordered 1 (I didn’t know better). Now I am waiting for a new vial in the mail. What should I do? Go to P3 & P4 and do the 6 weeks interval or start over when the vials arrive? Also my husband can get his arms around me more, he can’t believe it. I’m 62 and retired so this is pretty easy for me.
    Thanks

    • Tammy October 15, 2010 at 5:21 pm #

      Hi Marti,

      Congrats on your weight loss!!! I would suggest taking the break and going on P3 and 4 and just start fresh on P2 again when you have your HCG. BTW, I am totally thrilled to hear how wonderfully you are doing. Good hugs and snuggles is a marvelous side effect of this diet! All the best to you! Tammy

  15. Diane October 17, 2010 at 1:14 pm #

    Tammy,
    I have been reading all I can about the diet and as I go into P3 I am not sure what to eat. Do you still only eat 1 veggie at lunch and dinner? Is it ok to eat a veggie plus a salad? Is it ok to eat a salad mixed with lettuce, tomato and cucumber for example? Is it ok to just have fruit for breakfast as I am not a breakfast eater? I lost 17 pounds in 23 days. I stopped as I went on vacation. I did well as I went to an all inclusive and only gained 2 pounds back but I want to not gain anymore in P3. I only do well when I have a guideline to follow that is why I found P2 easy with your cookbook.
    I plan to do another P2 round as I want to lose 50 more pounds so please help with guidelines with P3 as I do not want to gain.

    • Tammy October 19, 2010 at 7:49 pm #

      Hi Diane,

      I’m happy to help. You’ll be glad to know that the variety and amount of food you can eat on P3 is much easier than the low calorie diet. In fact, I recommend just diving right in. You can eat just about any protein/meat you like as well as eggs, sugar free protein powder, just about any fruit or vegetable (Just avoid excessive amounts of super sweet fruits and starchy vegetables. You can now mix vegetables and fruits. You can also eat fats with P3. I recommend full fat dairy (cream in your coffee) olive oil, coconut oil, and real butter. The goal with P3 is to stabilize but you can expect some wild swings when you first transition. This is normal. Just ride it out and do a steak day if you go above 2 pounds of your last dose of HCG. Hope this helps you and all the best. You will get there 🙂

  16. Larita October 20, 2010 at 4:00 am #

    What is Phase 2 and Phase 3 I have been on the diet since Oct 11, 2010 and have lost 5 pounds am I doing something wrong and can I eat black beans

    • Tammy October 25, 2010 at 8:06 pm #

      Hi Larita,

      Phase 2 is what most people call and what I have renamed “The HCG Phase” I renamed it because many clinics are calling the low calorie, specific food phase 1 and that gets confusing for a lot of people. Phase 3 is what I have renamed the “Stabilization Phase” Which is where you can eat a more varied normal calorie diet but just avoid starches and sugar for a period of about 3 weeks. No black beans I’m afraid until the “Maintenance Phase” which is basically the rest of your life and includes carbs and starches. All the best with your diet! Congrats on your weight loss so far 🙂 Tammy

  17. Tamara October 26, 2010 at 10:23 pm #

    Tammy~ U are so sweet and helpful to all that approach u with questions… Here’s mine with a confession… I did the HCG phase starting at 172 lbs…goal was 150lbs…went 30 days and stopped drops (153.2 lbs this am) its 3 days without drops, and here’s the confession part, these 3 days i have been (in tiny amounts like one to 2 bites) I had 2 bites of chocolate cake and to bites of PIZZA! and the second day i had a handful of granola…and a small piece of bread with a slab of cheese…and the next day i had a handful of my 3 yr old cheese tortollini! I was on the 500 cal protocol..but with a few “extras” i actually lost another pound…but am terrified that i will not do the Phase 3 properly, or that i scewed up my metabolism already by not doing those 3 days properly!!! Help…Tomarrow is my first day of real maintanance phase, and i am so guilty …dont know what to eat! The Scale has of yet has not been affected negatively…but any advice please be tough with me, I would GREATLY appreciate!
    Big Hugs to you for your kindness!
    Namaste. The new Skinny Me!

    • Tammy November 1, 2010 at 9:42 pm #

      Hi Tamara,

      Thanks so much! I’m so proud of you for your amazing losses! Well, with regards to confessions… I don’t believe in looking to the past or beating yourself up but strongly encourage you to get back on the wagon. It might have been that you were so close to stabilizing that the bites of non P3 foods didn’t cause too much of a problem. Still, the whole goal of this diet is to create lifestyle changes to permanently keep the weight off. Watching out for sugar and processed foods for example will help you maintain easier. Eventually you won’t even have a taste for it! You can still have occasional treats but just be very conscious of the foods you eat. Get your sweets from natural sources like fruits or even a little wild honey swirled in Greek yogurt (full fat) or by enjoying Stevia. It’s really about tweaking the foods you love into their most natural and healthy version.

      Hugs back to you Skinny Me!!!

      Tammy

  18. Tamara October 26, 2010 at 10:26 pm #

    I meant my 3 yr Olds…not 3 yr old tortolinni! hahaha…. and after 30 days i weighed 154.2, and today after 33 days…i am at 153.2! Just to be clear 🙂

  19. Kel October 27, 2010 at 5:59 pm #

    I start P3 Friday and I lost .7 lbs my first day off drops (still eating 500 cal) is this ok? Do I judge my 2+/2- days off the last day of drops or the weight I’m at when I start P3?

    • Tammy October 31, 2010 at 7:31 pm #

      Hi Kel,

      Hi Kel, It’s normal to perhaps lose a little after you discontinue the drops but are still eating the 500 calories. You do still use the last dosage weight as your guide when you move into P3 and monitor the 2 pounds over that number to know if and when you need to do a steak day. When you transition into the “Stabilization” diet just dive in with regular food and calories avoiding all starches and sugar. So to answer your question the number you use is your last dosage weight.

  20. Kel October 27, 2010 at 6:17 pm #

    Another question… I would like to do another round to lose about 10-15 more pounds. Lost 20.2 on P2. Do I stabalize for 3 weeks, then maintenance for 3 weeks then start again? Or just stabalize then start? Also do I load the first two days before I start another round?

    • Tammy October 31, 2010 at 7:27 pm #

      Hi Kel,

      I recommend taking the 3 week break on P3 then another 3 week break on maintenance before beginning another round. If you have already done several rounds, Dr. Simeons recommends extending your breaks between rounds to help you prevent immunity. This is especially important as you near your goal weigh. The last few pounds that is. Yes, absolutely load again on your last round. Every time you do a round of HCG it is really important to do the loading the first few days while on the HCG. This will help you prevent hunger when you start the low calorie aspect of the diet. Good luck to you!

  21. Kel November 1, 2010 at 1:10 pm #

    Thanks Tammy, this is just my first round and I only think I need to do two. Is it normal that my weight is all over the place now that I’m on P3? One day I’m up a few onces then down the next then up etc.

    • Tammy November 1, 2010 at 9:27 pm #

      Hi Kel, Totally normal to be all over the place particularly the first few days. It will settle down and your weight should stabilize near the end of the 3 weeks on the “Stabilization Phase”

  22. Sam November 5, 2010 at 3:39 pm #

    Just wanted to give an FYI for those of you who are misserable doing the loading phase…..DONT SKIP IT!!!!!! I only did one day cause I was so anxious to start losing and the first three day of the LCD were awful!!!! I was super hungry! And if it wasnt for my wedding coming up, I probably would have quit but im on day 4 and down 7.5 lbs! The hunger isn’t so bad now, but whatever you do NOT skip or shorten your loading days…..you will regret it!

    • Tammy December 7, 2010 at 6:44 am #

      Thank you thank you Sam. I concur, fully agree, can’t say it too many times in enough different ways…… Don’t Skip the load. Thanks for sharing 🙂

      Tammy

  23. Kel November 8, 2010 at 7:30 pm #

    I have 10 days left on P3, I have maintained great, no steak days!!!! I have a question after I do P4 for 3 weeks and I start round two, do I have to do it for the whole 23 days? I only want to lose 10-15 more pounds. Can I stop after I reach my goal weight? I’m afraid I’ll lose too much weight if I do the whole 23 days. My first round I lost 20.9 and I don’t want to lose another 20 lbs.

    • Tammy December 7, 2010 at 6:55 am #

      Hi Kel,

      So thrilled for you! Sounds like you are stabilizing perfectly. To answer your question… Yes. You must always complete a minimum of 23 days on the HCG. When you reach your goal just increase your calories to 800, then finish out your daily doses and transition back into P3 then maintenance. All the best to you!

      Tammy

    • Ana October 26, 2011 at 6:34 pm #

      Hello, Kel, I’m starting P3 in about a week and a half, but since you did so well on P3 and maintained your weight, could you share with us what you ate for a full day, maybe 3 days in a row to get an idea of the amount of food (I read what I should start adding–but how much?) Would like a menu for about 3 days….Would you be so kind? Or anybody? Include how much “half and half” you put on your coffee even? I still haven’t found a “full day menu, including how much to eat and snacks, adding up to a 1500 calorie @ day. Would really appreciated.

      • Tammy October 29, 2011 at 4:50 pm #

        Hi Ana! I can give you a sample menu for one day (Below) but please also know that 1500 calories a day is probably not enough unless you are under 5 foot tall. The ‘normal’ calorie count should be somewhere between 1700 – 2500 per day. In P3 is when you set your caloric set point. You determine what amount of calories is good for you to keep from being hungry, stay healthy and maintain your weight. You’ll also want to watch your glycemic load carefully without restricting your fats.

        For breakfast, you can try a large veggie and cheese omelet or fruit with cream or 1/2 and 1/2.

        For lunch, try a cobb salad with a vinaigrette or blue cheese dressing.

        For dinner, steak and veggies or mashed potatoes.

        For dessert or a snack, fresh fruit.

        Just stay away from sugar and breads and you’ll do great!

        Best of luck on P3!

        • Leslie November 15, 2011 at 4:50 pm #

          I thought we could not eat starches, aren’t potatoes a starch? also can I have grissini bread sticks?

          • Tammy November 16, 2011 at 1:00 am #

            Hi Leslie! Starches are definitely not allowed on P2 and P3 and potatoes are a starch. Most breads are starches as well, but you can have Melba Toast Crumbs / Croutons as you’ll find in my cookbook. Good luck on your diet!

  24. Rachel November 13, 2010 at 2:19 am #

    Tammy,

    I have been reading all of the questions people have asked you as well as your responses. You are so helpful! I have had so many of my questions answered as well. I completed 23 days of drops and lost 22.4 pounds. After I stopped the drops for the three days before phase 3, I lost another 1.2 pounds. Am I right to use the last dosage weight rather than the additional weight loss during those three days as my +/-2 pound guideline? Also I took a close up picture of my face before I started the drops and then when I stopped the drops….it was amazing to see the difference (no chubby cheeks or double chin). I finally feel better about having my picture taken again!! I have 3 more rounds as I want to lose 100 pounds, but now I know I can do it. Still nervous about phase 3 starting tomorrow. Thanks again for all of your help!!!

    • Tammy December 7, 2010 at 7:19 am #

      Hi Rachel,

      So nice to meet you and thanks! I’m really happy for you with your losses! To calculate your last dosage weight it is the last day you take your HCG rather than the last 72 hours without the HCG. 100 pounds is very doable and we BOTH know you can do it. Really proud of you! Keep us all posted on your progress!

      Tammy

  25. Ro November 14, 2010 at 4:20 am #

    I am on day 20 and will continue my drops for a full 2 days. Then I will do the 3 days w/o drops then to phase 3. I have lost 15/16 pounds so far and would be happy with another 5 to 10 more lbs. My question is I will be on vacation and w/Thanksgiving. Do not want to hurt my lost very much. I am being realistic and know I will eat. What can you suggest?

    • Tammy December 7, 2010 at 7:24 am #

      Hi Ro,

      Congrats on your losses! I’m sorry I didn’t get to reply to your post quite in time for Thanksgiving. Holidays can be really tough. Especially P3 and Thanksgiving. Lots of starches. I would suggest just doing your best. Ideally, planning the diet around big holidays is best but the other thing you can do is bring a few yummy desserts that are sugar free or plan with the hostess to have some foods that are P3 friendly like cauliflower mashed potatoes etc. The third option is if you have decided that you are going to eat a regular holiday meal… consider just a few bites of some of the more damaging foods on P3 like mashed potatoes or dessert. Hope that helps you through the holidays and all the best to you!

      Tammy

  26. Carina November 16, 2010 at 1:41 am #

    Has anyone had wine on P3? And did it have any effect on your weight?

    • Tammy December 7, 2010 at 6:42 am #

      Hi Carina,

      No problem enjoying wine on P3. The white wine tends to have a higher sugar content and avoid dessert wines or anything sweet. Reds are really the best on P3 and 1-2 glasses on occasion is just fine.

  27. Cindi November 17, 2010 at 12:58 am #

    Hi Tammy:

    I’m currently down 40 lbs with less than 1 week to go. But, my question is, can I have almond flour on PS3? From what I’ve read about almond flour, I’ll be making it myself from raw almonds in a food processor. Is this okay?

    Please let me know, and this is a fantastic site!

    Cindi

    • Tammy December 7, 2010 at 6:41 am #

      Hi Cindi,

      I would say just use it in moderation. I never had a problem with nuts on P3 myself but they are a combo food so contain starch as well as protein so you want to be careful. It’s always best when you make it yourself over even a health food almond flour. They could add anti caking agents or starches so you are probably fine. I always recommend a food journal and then watch what could trip you up or make you gain and then eliminate or minimize the amount of the food if you need to. Take care and so happy you found this site!

      Tammy

  28. Emily November 20, 2010 at 12:20 am #

    Tammy, I have 3 more days on Phase 2, then I go on the no drops but still 500 calorie diet for 3 days. I wanted to lose 10 lbs – I started at 138.6 and today was 131.2, yesterday I was 131.- today I am doing an apple day (this is my second one) hopefully tomorrow will move me back downward. I am 5 ft 6 inches so I was not grossly overweight, but I had a pouch and jeans were tight. I have never been much of a dieter I have just always tried to watch and eat healthy. but at 67 my metabolism has changed and for the last 3 years I have had weight creep. This is about resetting my metabolism as it is about losing wt. I have not lost as quickly as others, but I am guessing that is because I don’t have that much to lose.
    Don’t want to mess up these 8 lbs I have lost (worked too hard for them) so am concerned about 3-week maintenance – can you list starches I mean I know some obvious ones, like white potato, sweet potato (?) bread, rice and also I know we do not do sugar on this either, but is there a minimum amt, like I used to drink a organic raw Kombucha drink, called Synergy – calories 35 with vitamins, min, but 2g of sugar – is that allowed on maintenance.

    So what I need to know is starches and what they are. Please hurry up on Phase 3 book. Your HCG book has been fun, I actually have learned so much about spices and how to use them – never did before- and I love the flavor it gives.

    Thanks.

    • Tammy December 7, 2010 at 7:39 am #

      Hi Emily,

      Hope your transition into P3 went well! Thank you for sharing your story. This diet is just as much about resetting the metabolism as it is about losing weight and you are a great example of this. I’m really happy to help. Just to clarify for anyone else reading this post… The 3 weeks following your “HCG Phase” are your “Stabilization phase” which is also called P3 or Phase 3 and avoid all sugars starches. On maintenance you can enjoy just about all foods in moderation. I do recommend minimizing sugar and white bread, and processed foods.

      So like you said. Potatoes, butternut other starchy squashes (zucchini and yellow squash are fine) rice, quinoa, any grains really. Watch out for hidden sugars in things like condiments, ketchup, dressings, and most processed food. Reading food labels is key. Look for ingredients that end in “ose” Sugary drinks, fruit juices are not allowed. Watch out for milk products particularly low fat. They are high in milk sugars. Full fat dairy like greek yogurt and half and half or cream for your coffee are fine in small/moderate amounts. Fruits and vegetables are fine and moderate amounts of nuts and nut flours just don’t overdo it. When in doubt keep track of what you are eating and if you find a problem. We are allowed wine on P3 so Kombucha (Which I have been drinking myself… its FABULOUS!) is a fermented drink and the sugars are just part of the process. I wasn’t drinking it on P3 personally so I’m not 100% sure but I don’t think it will cause a problem for you.

      I am working on that P3 cookbook! I hope to have it available next year and thank you so very much and I’m really glad you are enjoying my cookbook! All the best with your diet!

      Tammy

  29. shayna November 21, 2010 at 9:54 pm #

    Hi tammy
    I just wanted to let you know that your cook book was so helpful to me on p2. i was getting so tired of the same old thing. i don’t think i would have been able to do it w/o the variety. im not a fancy cook but i do like new things. thank you so much. i had to get off the p2 cause i was starting to get immune to it. was getting light headed and very hungry. so in the 21 days i lost 39 lbs. im exstatic! i dont feel the difference but i get compliments all the time. i started p3 yesterday and so far so good. i acctully lost 3 pounds since i been off the drops. i have a few ?s. number one, do you have any recipes for the holiday on P3? number two, do you have any good lists of the things we can start having on the P3?

    thank you so much!

    • Tammy December 7, 2010 at 6:37 am #

      Hi Shayna,

      Thank you so much! I really appreciate that you are enjoying the cookbook. Wow 39 pounds! I’m so thrilled for you and you absolutely did the right thing moving into P3 when you started to feel the symptoms of immunity. Do try not to lose more weight on P3 but focus more on stabilization as best you can. Making sure you are taking in enough calories. On P3…. around the holidays… just play around with versions of traditional holiday favorites but substitute P3 friendly foods and use Stevia instead of sugar. You can make some delicious fruit trifles with Stevia sweetened whipped cream, fruit, and a few chopped nuts. A bit of rum or caramel flavoring is nice too. Green bean casserole just made without starchy thickeners in the roux. Same with the gravies. Cauliflower or other less starchy vegetable makes a nice mash.

      A few ideas for P3 foods. Well, I’m working on a P3 cookbook due sometime next year hopefully. Bit behind schedule…. but to get you started, most meats are fine (watch out for sugar, starches, additives in processed meats) Most fruits and vegetables are fine. Fats, cheeses, full fat dairy products are okay. Some nuts are fine. Home cooking is safer on P3 that restaurants or any processed food. All the best to you 🙂 Tammy

  30. Haley November 29, 2010 at 8:05 pm #

    Hello! First of all, like many of you, I am currently R1/P1/D14 and LOVING IT!!! I am 5’4″, very athletic, but after years of eating disorders, emotional eating, and general disregard for my body, I got up to 160lbs (which for me is not ok). I have been through years of therapy and although not completely cured of all my food issues, definitely feel like I am heading in the right direction. I often fear it will be a lifetime battle, but perhaps with all of the benefits HCG offers (metabolism reset, etc) I can finally have more peace with food and begin a new life…I know it will be hard work but this whole process had been hard, so I’m ready to battle! Anyway, on with my thoughts/questions…
    First of all, Tammy, thank you for being such a positive and informative role model. I have read SOOOOO many articles, blogs, forums, etc and would like to settle in somewhere positive like this 🙂
    I have already lost 12 pounds and really feeling great. I initially wanted to do the 40 day round, but I decided to do a short round first, see where I end up and then do a second if I feel the need. In a perfect world I’d love to get back to 135lb, but the weight doesn’t concern me as much as my shape and size (ideally, size 4), but again, we’ll see. As I head near the end of P2 and get ready for P3 (and believe me, I want to be as ready and informed as possible as to really reset everything) I find I have more and more questions. Like most of us, P2 is simple — eat this and only this! But with so much more freedom (and more on the line) I find the thought of P3 nerve racking!! Tammy, I am looking forward to seeing your recipes for P3, that will certainly put my mind at ease even more 🙂
    Thank you again everyone and best of luck to all!!
    🙂 Haley

    • Tammy December 7, 2010 at 6:28 am #

      Dear Haley,

      Oh goodness. Haven’t we all been there. Seriously. Thank you so much for sharing your story and I and many people who will read this will also relate. I’m starting to focus a section in my new P2 cookbook on mindset and I’m finding that feeling better about our bodies and making peace with food is critical especially with maintenance long term. It really comes down to some lifestyle changes and that doesn’t always happen overnight. Keeping P3 in mind especially… a lot of what we were told about food is backwards. Eating fat isn’t the problem but for most of us who have struggled with weight it’s the sugar and white bread/processed foods that is the issue. So I wish you all the best as you move through into P3 and beyond and I plan to post more in the near future. All the best to you 🙂 Tammy

  31. Haley November 29, 2010 at 9:04 pm #

    Oops, typo *R1/P2/D14*

  32. Diane December 5, 2010 at 9:05 pm #

    Tammy,
    Lost 19 pounds on 1st round in 23 days. Waited 30 days and started round 2. Only lost 11 pounds in 30 days. Did I not wiat enough time in between? My goal is to lose 50 more pounds so I’m a little disappointed in this round.

    • Tammy December 7, 2010 at 6:21 am #

      Congrats Diane! You really are doing great so don’t be discouraged. I do believe that the diet is Waaay more effective when you take longer breaks as you do more rounds on HCG. Also evaluate your skin creams, fat or starches on P2 and other things. 11 pounds in 30 days is a bit low although most of us experience at least one major plateau around that time that can last a week or even longer. Still, it’s always good to keep track of anything that might trip you up. All the best! Tammy

  33. sharon franks December 29, 2010 at 11:13 pm #

    P2 day 33 lost 18 lbs.. Whoops ate pork… only have 10 more lbs to go. I will stop at day 40. So close, looking forward to cheese !!. After 6 wks I will have another go at it. Please give me some good ideas for P3..I really feel good, and glad I did it. Yet it is alot easier to do if you do not have children and your partner is also doing some kind of diet..thank`you

    • Tammy January 14, 2011 at 7:47 am #

      Hi Sharon, Happy for you that you are so close to your goal weight! Fantastic. Phase 3 is wonderful. I love veggie stuffed omelets with cheese and crock pot roasts and chicken with non starchy vegetables. I still cook meals out of my P2 cookbook and love moderate amounts of nuts, cook with healthy oils and coconut oil. I recommend home cooking for P3. Restaurants can be tricky. Read the labels and look for hidden starches and sugars. Anything chemical sounding ending in “ose” Take care and all the best to you. I am working on finishing up my P3 cookbook this year 🙂 Tammy

  34. Elizabeth July 28, 2011 at 8:19 am #

    Tammy,

    Quick question please: On P2 I can have 2 Melba toasts in a day. Can I still have the 2 Melba toasts a day on P3? If not, do you know another "bready" alternative I can eat on P3? Also, I did my two days of fat loading and started P2. If I want to do P2 for four weeks do I do six days shots and one day skipping the shot each week to avoid immunity? Also, if I do six days of shots and one day skipping the shot on Day 28 of week #4 of P2 does Day 28 count as Day 1 of the three days at the end of P2 when I have to do the P2 diet without the shots? Thanks in advance and I love your cookbook!

    All the best,

    Elizabeth

  35. Katrina August 17, 2011 at 4:26 pm #

    You are so helpful. Thank you for sharing so freely. I am on day 37 and have only lost 18 lbs. I continue to plateau and today I gained a pound! I am so frustrated and HUNGRY. Do you think I should just start Phase 3 and start again later. I have another 10 lbs that I would like to loose. The extreme hunger started on Monday. August 20, would have been my 40th day.

    • Tammy August 31, 2011 at 6:37 pm #

      Hi Katrina and so sorry for the delay in answering! Have you checked to make sure your HCG isn’t outdated? Taking fresh HCG will normally keep you from getting so hungry. If you’ve been hitting plateaus lasting 4-5 days, you may want to try an Apple Day. The way to do an Apple Day is to eat 6 apples over a 24 hour period and drink minimal water for the day — just enough to quench your thirst. This usually resolves the plaueau and regular weight loss usually resume the next morning. Hope that helps!

    • Tammy August 31, 2011 at 10:03 pm #

      Hi Katrina! Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment! Please know that during the Phase 3 portion of the HCG Diet, there are often wild swings in your weight but things will regulate themselves as you go if you’re super vigilant about your food. In P3, do a Steak Day if you need to, and do not continue dieting as you need to eat enough calories! You need to add oils and proteins back into your diet and eat a variety of vegetables and fruits (don’t limit yourself to just the ones in P2). You can also resume your normal exercise. Best of luck on your diet Katrina!

  36. Jan August 21, 2011 at 3:43 pm #

    Hi there. Last week I finished phase 3 and lost a total of 37.4 lbs. Very pumped about that. I’m struggling in p3 though. Last week was fine, but I was away for the weekend and this morning I was up 4 LBs! I’m obviously having a steak day, but my problem is I’m going to Vegas for the week (planned a long time ago). Ant restaurant help you can give me?
    Jan

    • Tammy August 31, 2011 at 10:31 pm #

      Hi Jan and thank you for writing! Congratulations on your wonderful weight loss!!! I know you must be very proud of yourself!

      In Phase 3 there are normally wild weight swings as your body stabilizes itself so don’t worry about that too much! The Steak Day is a great thing to do at this point (anytime your weight goes up more than 2 lbs). Just be hypervigilant about dressings and condiments; order all sauces on the side so you can apply a smaller amount. Totally avoid sugar and starches — just eat pure foods. A collegue of mine is coming out with restaurant guide soon so make sure you’re receiving my newsletter and watching the blog so you won’t miss the announcement! Best of luck with your diet!

      Tammy

  37. Melissa August 31, 2011 at 1:45 am #

    WOW! Tammy thank you very much for answering the many questions re the HCG diet. I am in my second week of completing the 40 days. I have gained 2 pounds and have become discouraged. Are the recipes in your current cookbook good to use in the stabilization phase. Doing the 40 days was so easy. It took the thought out of what to eat. Tomorrow I will do a steak day (fluid all day until dinner). I started back doing cardio today. Is that a good idea. Like a couple of other post I am really afraid of gaining it all back from making poor choices (i.e. pizza). Any further insight you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Again, thank you for providing your insight so freely.

    • tammy August 31, 2011 at 10:50 pm #

      Hi Melissa and thank you so much for your kind comments! There are often wild weight swings during this phase and you can have a Steak Day if you need to. You shouldn’t continue using the recipes in my cookbook as they are in P3 as they don’t have enough calories. If you want to use them, be sure to add oils and protein to your diet and cooking. Also add back in a large variety of fruits and vegetables. You can also resume normal exercise back into your schedule. Best of luck on your diet!!

      Tammy

  38. Misty September 6, 2011 at 1:35 am #

    Hi, I’m a week into P3, I lost 15lbs during P2. I was having a really hard time getting enough calories at the beginning of P3, (needless to say a steak day didn’t help with that…) So this last weekend I was on a road trip and really discouraged, and ate a ton of junk food. now I’m up 7 lbs from P2, and I got back on track today, but I was wondering if it’s even possible to get back on track at this point. I don’t know if that makes any sense, but any help would be really appreciated! Also, can I exercise normally now that I’m in P3?

    • Tammy September 12, 2011 at 8:24 pm #

      Hi Misty and congratulations on your weight loss!!! Don’t beat on yourself — we’re all human and this happens. If you only got off track for a few days, just reaffirm your commitment to the diet and get yourself back on track. Vary your vegetables, including cabbage, and other high fiber foods, and drink water and coffee. Check out this and other blog posts for inspiration and ideas: http://hcgrecipes.com/hcg-diet-advice-for-when-youre-tempted-to-cheat-on-p2. As for exercise, as long as your doctor says you can exercise, then you can, although you should take it slow as your body is adjusting to your new eating regiment. Best of luck on your diet!!

  39. Deb September 6, 2011 at 11:42 pm #

    hi Tammy,
    I have two weeks left of the 40 day cycle. I’m down 18 lbs and am having NO problems with this phase. Actually loving the limited choices and the structure of it all. Of course I’m a bit apprehensive about phase 3, but am researching all I can ahead of time. My question is about the steak day if you gain 2 lbs. I don’t eat red meat. Is there any other substitution for the steak? thanks so much for your help!!

    • Tammy September 12, 2011 at 8:33 pm #

      Hi Deb and congratulations on your fabulous weight loss! Dr. Simeons does recommend steak although, unofficially, you can substitute your protein day with chicken, which has worked well for others.

      Best of continued luck with your diet!

  40. Tonya September 10, 2011 at 4:48 am #

    Tammy all of our info is very helpful / i starting phase 3 but still not sure about salad dressing are any dressings allowed or can i just use olive oil & spices on my salad? anything is better than mustard & vinegar at this point lol

  41. Bonnie Bernstein September 11, 2011 at 11:52 pm #

    Hi Tammy, I am on my 30th day of my first phase. I have lost 20 lbs. Actually I lost 18 lbs. on day 21 but my husband was admitted to ER with heart problems, he stayed in hospital for 5 days and my diet suffered too!
    But, though I tried, I gained a couple of lbs. when I hate alot of ‘comfort food’ the first night! however I figured out a way to take my food to the hospital, eating with my husband on his heart healthy diet. So, I was so delighted to see I lost that 2 lbs. yesterday. I will be going on phase 3, after the next 13 days. I had hoped to lose 40 in 43 days, but I know that won’t happen. I do plan to go back on the HCG again after my 6 wks. phase 3. Could you please tell me what the steak day entails. Thanks so much for this site. It is so very helpful!
    Bonnie

    • Tammy September 12, 2011 at 8:46 pm #

      Hi Bonnie! I’m so sorry to hear that your husband was in the hospital and hope he is feeling much better! It sounds like you were doing really well on your diet before his hospital stay so take pride in how well you did and don’t beat yourself up — just re-commit yourself to the diet and get started again! A Steak Day is used if a weight gain of over 2 lbs over LIW/LSDW (Last Injection Date/Last Sublingual Dose Weight) occurs during the “Stabilization Phase” (P3). You will need to perform the steak day on the same day as the gain and eat nothing untilt he evening and then eat a large steak with either a large apple or a raw tomato. The weight gain should be corrected by the following day. Best of luck!!

  42. ] Joni September 13, 2011 at 12:26 am #

    Hi Tammy!
    This is such a wonderful informative sight! I am 5-3 and beginning weight was 134. I was on the HCG injections for 23 days and stalled the last week, my doctor suggested increasing my protein. That done with no results I was wondering if your body can become immune when it gets close to a stable weight? Now I have 24 more hours on my 72hr after last injection. I am extremely hungry! I was under the impression that it takes 72hrs for the HCG to leave your system? I just question why I am just famished!!!!

    • Tammy September 18, 2011 at 11:44 pm #

      Hi Joni and thank you so much — I’m so happy you’re enjoying the site! You really shouldn’t be experiencing extreme hunger so you may want to check to make sure your HCG is fresh. And remember that it has to be refrigerated at all times. Even 1 hour out of the refrigerator is too long! If that isn’t the problem, you may need to try a difference source. Normally if you hit a plateau in P2 you want to have an “Apple Day”, a technique recommended by Dr. Simeons to break up a plateau in this stage of the diet. If you have had a plateau for 4 or more days, eat 6 apples during that day while drinking minimal water. Weight loss should resume the following day. In P3, a “Steak Day” is used if a weight gain of 2 lbs over your weight occurs. You need to perform a steak day on the same day as the gain and eat nothing until the evening and then eat a large steak with either a large apple or raw tomato. The weight gain should be corrected by the following day.

      Best of luck on your diet and keep up the great work!

  43. Steph B. September 13, 2011 at 6:03 pm #

    I’m 14 days into Phase II with drops. Happily I lost 10 pounds in the first 8 days but after that, through today, my weight & fat loss has slowed to a microscopic crawl. I’ve been religiously sticking to the protocol and drinking tons of water. I’ve felt very hungry all the time, without exercising, and all of this has me questioning whether there is actually any hCG in my system at all. It seems that the results I’ve gotten could have been achieved simply due to the very low calorie diet, and I’m worried I’m damaging my metabolism. Wondering what brand people are finding success with? Also: if I start on a different hCG system, would you recommend I redo a loading phase (yuk!) or simply continue on in phase II with the new hCG? For the first time in a long time I have been SO good, and I need some success! I still have about 17 lbs to lose to get healthy. Thanks!

    P.S. I will be starting tennis lessons soon. On those days, should I add a small amount of extra protein before my workout? What would you recommend?

    • Tammy September 16, 2011 at 1:59 pm #

      Hi Steph! I would consider returning to your doctor and questioning the freshness of the hcg. If you are experiencing hunger, consider switching brands or from drops to injections, or from homeopathic to RX hcg. I can’t recommend a specific brand right now. If you switch or feel you may not be getting the benefits of hog, you might consider just taking a break and starting over in a few weeks. That is the healthiest thing to do.

      Best of luck on your diet!

      Tammy

  44. Leah h September 15, 2011 at 2:03 pm #

    I was wondering if you could tell me what kind of fats on p3..I have lost 28 in 30 days and stay on tract but am very worried about p3…what about balsamic vinegar and olive oil??

    • Tammy September 16, 2011 at 2:13 pm #

      Hi Leah! Most vinegars are okay in P3, but balsamic is very sweet and should be avoided. Olive oils are okay.

  45. April September 29, 2011 at 12:19 pm #

    Tammy first and foremost, you are providing great information regarding this diet. My question to you is if it is normal for weight loss to slow down during your menstrual cycle? I am taking the drops and in P2 and am 17 days in and have lost 15 lbs. Since my cycle has begun earlier this week, my weight loss is literally at a crawl. Can you please provide some insight on this and thanks for all of your help.

    • Tammy October 4, 2011 at 10:20 pm #

      Hi April! Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment and I’m very glad that I can help you! In answer to your question, yes it is common for weight loss to slow around the menstrual cycle. Sounds like you are right on track with your weight loss. Often, the biggest plateau will be around your period and normal weight loss should resume soon. This diet has lots of plateaus so don’t worry, and make sure to keep drinking lots of water to push out any water weight and excess fluid. Keep up the great work!

  46. Juanita October 3, 2011 at 4:10 pm #

    Hi, I am wondering if there is a big difference between the real Hcg & the homeopathic version of the drops?

    • Tammy October 6, 2011 at 12:41 am #

      Hi Juanita! Prescription HCG is a doctor prescribed medication. The advantages are that it works well and is currently in clinical trials to prove it’s effectiveness. It needs to be kept fresh and cold and immunity may occur if you don’t take sufficient time between rounds. Homeopathic doesn’t need to be refrigerated and stays good for a year. Many people are having success with homeopathic HCG but you do need to be very careful when choosing a brand and I recommend getting a personal recommendation from a friend. Some just don’t work.

      If you decide to go the homeopathic route and it’s not working as well as you hoped, try a different brand. If you go with the doctor prescribed HCG and it’s not working, go back to the source and check the potency and expiration date. Either way you go, I advise staying strict to the diet as written by Dr. A.T.W. Simeons (read “Pounds and Inches” if you haven’t already). Also you can add lots of variety and flavor to your diet with my HCG Diet Gourmet Cookbook (and my upcoming books). Whichever way you decide to go, I wish you all the best and please keep me updated on your progress!

    • Tiffany October 20, 2011 at 10:41 pm #

      I am using the homeopathic version. Currently I am two days away from beginning phase 3 and have lost a total of 41 pounds! I would def go with a recommendation from a friend who has used it for which ever company you order it from. I also contacted the lab directly to verify their information and I also contacted the BBB to see if there were any complaints against the company or lab. I know it may seem like a bit of overkill but I would rather be safe than sorry! Good luck!

      • Tammy October 22, 2011 at 2:13 pm #

        Wow Tiffany — a 41 pound loss is wonderful!!! I agree that you definitely need to do your due diligence when it comes to ordering since there are now so many products out there that contain little to no real HCG, making them very ineffective. Best of continued luck on your diet!

  47. skinnyagain October 7, 2011 at 4:24 am #

    wow Tammy, your terrific. Can you just come over to my house for phase 3. I will feed you!!! Scaring me a bit. may I eat…prime rib? what about fried fish or chicken? flour tortilla shells? wheat thins? peanut butter? butter or margarine? ham? or taco salad if i make the meat with the pakaged seasoning? Peanut Butter? I am starting phase 3 next week and want to do my grocery shopping with a variety of different foods. I enjoy phase 2 because it keeps the guessing out but look forward to using my taste buds again. LOL Where can I get your cookbook? Is it on-line only?

    • Tammy October 10, 2011 at 2:04 pm #

      Thank you so much!! I wish I could go to everyone’s house to help out and since I can’t, I hope my cookbooks help! If you’ve not yet read Dr. Simeons’ Pounds and Inches book, you really need to. That book, along with mine, can make a huge difference in your success. . A hint on P3. It’s not so much about calories. I’ve moved away from calorie counting and am now focusing more on the kind of food and quality of food that I eat. I also eat a lot of healthy fat even now on maintenance. It helps with hunger and you actually eat less and are more easily satisfied. Olive oil, coconut oil, some nuts are fine. Real butter, Cream or half and half are better choices than fat free dairy or eliminating fat. I realize this will be controversial and even uncomfortable for a lot of people who believe calorie counting and fat gram counting are the way to stay slim. The other secret is just to eat clean, healthy, unprocessed, high fiber food and lots of fruits and vegetables. On Phase 3 and for life! Many doctors, clinics, health food stores, etc. are carrying my cookbook so you can check locally, or you can order a cookbook directly from my website at http://www.HCGRecipes.com. Keep me updated on your progress!

  48. carol October 9, 2011 at 1:21 am #

    I’ll be starting P3 in two weeks. Excited about my weight loss of 21 lbs. thanks to your wonderful recipes. I have not seen any mention of number of calories in your cookbook when converting P2 to P3 recipes.

    • Tammy October 16, 2011 at 7:23 pm #

      Hi Carol! Congratulations on your 21 pound weight loss — that’s wonderful! When converting to P3, you should increase your calories to 1800 – 2000 calories per day. I’m also testing recipes for my Phase 3 cookbook and my maintenance cookbook. A hint on P3. It’s not so much about calories. I’ve moved away from calorie counting and am now focusing more on the kind of food and quality of food that I eat. I also eat a lot of healthy fat even now on maintenance. It helps with hunger and you actually eat less and are more easily satisfied. Olive oil, coconut oil, some nuts are fine. Real butter, Cream or half and half are better choices than fat free dairy or eliminating fat. I realize this will be controversial and even uncomfortable for a lot of people who believe calorie counting and fat gram counting are the way to stay slim. The other secret is just to eat clean, healthy, unprocessed, high fiber food and lots of fruits and vegetables. On Phase 3 and for life.

  49. Amy October 25, 2011 at 2:12 am #

    Hi Tammy, Help, help, help please. I am in my 3rd day of phase 3 after doing 2 rounds of sublingual drops. I am completely confused about how many calories I need to be eating. I have seen several websites that use a formula that tabulates the number of calories you need to maintain your current weight. For me (since I still want to do another round or 2 to lose another 40-50 lbs), that number of calories currently works out to be around 2,600. Could that possibly be right?? I have had 2 horrible phase 3 days of trying to find what I could eat to equal that number of calories with no sugar/starch, and am absolutely terrified to gain back the 42 lbs I lost. I gained 1 lb yesterday already. I am finding that I am almost physically unable to eat the required # of calories because I’m too full. Also, can I use any sort of protein shakes? Any assistance you can provide would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

    • Tammy October 25, 2011 at 12:28 pm #

      Hi Amy! I know this diet can be confusing with so much conflicting and misinformation out there! My view, using Dr. Simeons’ protocol is that it’s not so much about calories. I’ve moved away from calorie counting and am now focusing more on the kind of food and quality of food that I eat. I also eat a lot of healthy fat even now on maintenance. It helps with hunger and you actually eat less and are more easily satisfied. Olive oil, coconut oil, some nuts are fine. Real butter, Cream or half and half are better choices than fat free dairy or eliminating fat. I realize this will be controversial and even uncomfortable for a lot of people who believe calorie counting and fat gram counting are the way to stay slim. The other secret is just to eat clean, healthy, unprocessed, high fiber food and lots of fruits and vegetables. On Phase 3 and for life.

  50. Pauline October 25, 2011 at 2:32 am #

    Hi Tammy, I am on day 5 of Phase 3 and my weight has gone up each day. I am almost at 2lb over my start weight and worried. I love yoghurt and fear that it may be the cuprit. I have been having 2-3 cups of it each day in phase 3 to make up the calorie totoal. I have been eating a brand of no-fat yoghurt with less than 1% added sugar. the label looks like this-
    70cals per tub (175 grm),protein 7gm, fat .2gm, sugars 8.9 grms and added sugar less that 1%, total carbs 9.9gms. I thought it was a good choice – can you advise me here? thanks in advance.

    • Tammy October 25, 2011 at 12:32 pm #

      Hi Pauline and thanks for contacting me! Please know that during the Phase 3 portion of the HCG Diet, there are often wild swings in your weight but things will regulate themselves as you go if you’re super vigilant about your food. In P3, do a Steak Day if you need to, and do not continue dieting as you need to eat enough calories! You need to add oils and proteins back into your diet and eat a variety of vegetables and fruits (don’t limit yourself to just the ones in P2). You can also resume your normal exercise. You may be better off limiting your yogurt intake at this time and gradually re-introducing it back into your diet. Best of luck and keep me updated on your status!

      You also may want to check out my reply to Amy today for further tips on the P3 phase of the diet…

  51. Jill October 26, 2011 at 2:58 am #

    I have heard mixed messages about drinking beer on phased 3. I was told Bud Light or Michelob Ultra are ok in moderation. Is this true or not?

    • Tammy October 29, 2011 at 4:35 pm #

      Hi Jill! Although I don’t have experience with beer and can’t recommend any brand, you would just need to watch your carbs. I don’t believe that a beer or two should be much of a problem in P3. Mixed drinks, especially those with vodka and gin are okay if they’re not mixed with a sugar mixture. Wine is also fine, although red is better than white. Hope that helps!

  52. gloria October 29, 2011 at 11:32 pm #

    when i am over my pounds in p3, i have apple and chez day. 2 apples three times aday with real cheese or have boiled eggs for a whole day, i eat 12 eggs for a day and it works for me. when eating cheese 2oz with 2 apples 3 times that day works for me

    • Tammy November 2, 2011 at 10:32 pm #

      Hi Gloria! You are taking the position of a protein day rather than a “Steak Day” There are people who swear by this and are doing modifications to the protocol. Our position is we officially only recommend the Steak Day because it is in Dr. Simeons’ Pounds and Inches and the original protocol. Our view is that those that deviate from Dr. Simeons original protocol do so at their own risk although some people do have some success when they do…

      Best of luck on your diet!

  53. Jo Mac November 8, 2011 at 7:38 am #

    Hi Tammy

    I love this site. You seem to be one of the few who has decided to stick to the real HCG (Dr Simeon’s) I’m on day 5 phase 3 and going really well. I’m shocked that every thing Dr Simeon’s says does happen. Too many people are putting there own spin on it. I have chosen not to count calories. However I am shocked how many products have so much sugar added. Phase 3 is about going back to basics and eating healthy proteins, fruit and veg. I love how it makes me feel. It’s also great to be able to have a nice glass of red with a meal. I look forward to the new healthy me in the future. Good luck to all on this amazing diet.

    • Tammy November 9, 2011 at 12:12 am #

      Thank you so much Jo! Yes, I stay very strict to Dr. Simeons original protocol and encourage everyone to do the same. That’s how I lost my weight, along with thousands of others!

      It can be difficult to stick to this diet because so many people only see the limitations, which is why I wrote my cookbooks — to show people the variety of tasty foods the actually can have, especially on P2.

      Best of continued luck on your diet – it sounds like you’re doing GREAT!

  54. Misty November 9, 2011 at 9:49 pm #

    Hi Tammy!
    I just love what you are doing here. I am on phase 2, and I had lost 22 lbs in just under three weeks. But I had some problems. I did not research enough, I guess, because I started me period and It was crazy. I gained over 5 lbs in 2 days and felt like I had a hard ball in my stomach. I dealt with this for days,gained an additional 4 lbs and did not feel good. I kept telling myself it would go away, but it didn’t. I had severe pain and clotting. I stopped the drops on day 6 of period and lost 5 1/2 lbs in 24 hrs. Has anyone else had these problems, and what should I do?
    Also what about coffee mate creamer on any of the phases. I can not get used to black coffee, any ideas that might help would be great.
    Thank you!!!!!!!!!

    • Tammy November 14, 2011 at 10:23 pm #

      Hi Misty and thanks for writing! Congratulations on your 22 lb weight loss — that’s wonderful!

      If you are having clotting and bleeding then you really need to see your doctor and get checked. Those are not normal symptoms of HCG.

      Regarding coffee mate, that’s a big no-no! Hydrogenated oil is the worse kind of starch. You are allowed 1 teaspoon of milk per day so you could use that in your coffee.

      Hope that helps and please keep me updated!

    • Rene November 17, 2011 at 3:46 am #

      Misty, I don’t like black coffee either. To get my coffee fix, I put a few drops of the Hazelnut or Vanilla Creme liquid Stevia in it. Also I have tried putting just a little black coffee in my water. I love Ice coffee so it was not bad. At least I got the taste of coffee.

      • Tammy November 18, 2011 at 11:14 pm #

        Stevia is GREAT and works for all Phases of the diet!

  55. Rene' November 17, 2011 at 3:39 am #

    I will be finishing up my P2R1 Monday before Thanksgiving. I don’t plan on doing a cheat day. I want to make good choices for that day. However, I would like to stretch my P2 untill Wednesday before Thanksgiving. My questions is “Will that cause a problem”?

    Second, I want to stretch my P3 until the day before Christmas so I can use Christmas day and the day after to use as “Load Days”. So my second question is “Will it be ok to be on P3 for 31 days in lieu of 21”?
    Or should I just do a “Cheat Day” for Christmas and get back on the program?

    • Tammy November 18, 2011 at 11:13 pm #

      Hi Rene’! Treat it as a planned interruption. You must have 72 hours without the HCG before you do this or you could have terrible weight gain. Then strict Phase 3 eating until you resume HCG. With regard to the other question, you can stretch P3 longer or transition to maintenance before starting another round. A longer time between rounds is ideal but you should be fine.

      Good luck and keep me updated!

  56. Melinda December 5, 2011 at 7:31 pm #

    I AM STARTING P3. I FIND ALL OF YOUR INFORMATION SO HELPFUL. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT HCG INJECTIONS. I AM ALWAYS A LITTLE SCARED OF MEDS, SO THESE SHOTS HAVE ME NERVES. I WAS USING DROPS BUT I AM WANTING TO MOVE ON TO INJECTIONS FOR MY NEXT ROUND. IS THERE ANY INFO U CAN SHARE WITH ME ABOUT THEM. ANY INFO WOULD BE WONDERFUL… DO U KNOW OF A SAFE PLACE TO BUY THEM ONLINE. THANKS AND GOD BLESS….

    • Tammy December 20, 2011 at 9:26 pm #

      Hi Melinda! I know that injections can make people nervous, but once you’ve had one or two they’re not nearly as scary! At this time I don’t offer any recommendations but do ask for referrals from people you know that are or did use the injections successfully. My suggestion is to do your research carefully.

      All the best with your diet!

  57. Zahra December 20, 2011 at 5:41 pm #

    I got 9 more days on phase 3 and I’m not doing so well at all. I’m not cheating at all that is no starch or sugars, but I’m eating like a pig. literally. I’ve gained 8 pounds. I did one day steak, but because I travelled 4 days that wasnt so helpful.
    I will get back on track tomorrow and I plan to start my second round Jan 1 or 2, but to be honest I have no idea why I’m just eating what I can see…
    I dont want to do the hcg again especailly that I’ve reached my goal but at the rate I"m going I guess I have to for 13 or 26 days again.

    It was easier on phase 2. .. Maybe because I’m a tea and milk addict. We drink it hot in this part of the world (Kuwait) so I was craving that. I think that helped in gaining weight.

    Another major problem I faced was constipation.. yes I was drinking my two litres a day, but I suppose because I wasnt having enough vegetables. I"m trying to increase my veggies intake, and I even skipped a few days of weighing myself but tomorrow morning I will for sure.

    I"m just venting out loud because I looked good, but I never felt good and healthy, I have no idea why.. maybe I need to work on myself mentally.

    Thanks for listening/reading.

    • Tammy December 20, 2011 at 10:40 pm #

      Hi Zahra and thank you so much for writing! There could be several reasons why you didn’t feel as good or as healthy as you should have while on this diet, but I would first check the quality of your HCG. Go back to the source and check the potency and expiration date. I advise staying strict to the diet as written by Dr. A.T.W. Simeons (read “Pounds and Inches” if you haven’t already) which you can find on my website for free. Teas can be a wonderful part of the diet, especially oolong, green, Yerba Mate, white or black tea, and herbal teas such as such as chamomile, rose hip, ginger, mint. Just be careful of what you put into the tea! Stevia is a great sweetener with no calories or fat. Hope this helps and please keep me updated!

  58. Felicity January 9, 2012 at 6:57 pm #

    Hi Tammy, Thanks for the great advice to all above, I can use a lot of it myself. I experienced constipation for the whole 3 weeks on P2 depite plenty of water – 7-9gl + 2x coffee + 4x tea. I hate the aftertaste of Stevia and while I don’t typically add any sweetner to my tea or coffee one teaspooon of Xylitol in coffee once a week did not affect my weight loss (25-lbs in 23 days), but it did have a good ‘flushing’ effect and I only had BM’s on my Xylito days – 3 times in 3 weeks is a tad concerning. I constipation typical during P2?

    • Tammy January 16, 2012 at 10:12 pm #

      Hi Felicity! For constipation, you can try an occasional cup of tea like “Smooth Move”. Keep in mind that you are eating less food and will have less frequent bowel movements. I don’t recommend Xylitol or Erythritol on P2 in general as it can cause problems for some people with their weight loss but I understand that some people can tolerate it and that it seems to be helping your constipation. Best of luck to you!

  59. Susan February 4, 2012 at 9:55 pm #

    Tammy-

    Thank you for all the information. I have been on the HCG for 30 days and lost 18 lbs. I am moving into P3 because I have to travel for business and wanted to make sure I had P3 under my belt for a few days before I was traveling. I am trying to understand a few things
    1. One list says can’t have mushrooms an on another it says it is OK? Do do which one it is?
    2. Can you have organic natural peanut butter on P3?
    Like others I like the 3.5 oz of protein stated
    3. going into P3 how much protein are you suppose to have at each meal. I can not imagine eating much more than 5 oz (I never was able to eat much more than 4 oz. at one meal).
    4. I read somewhere you should have approximately 65%protein on P3. To get that high, can you have chicken or steak as a snack?

    I appreciate your feedback.

    S.

    • Tammy February 7, 2012 at 3:06 pm #

      Congratulations on your 18 pound weight loss!! Mushrooms are allowed on Phase 3 and I’m sharing more information about foods on P3 and stabilizing secrets in the new P2 cookbook which you can find at http://www.HCGRecipes.com. There are many theories, percentages, and numbers that people are recommending. It’s actually simpler than that. Eat a clean, whole food, unprocessed, diet of proteins, fruits, vegetables, no starches. Monitor how YOU feel eating peanut butter or other foods and if it causes a problem for you then stop. Other people can eat natural peanut butter without issue. No guarantees or fast rules for though other than avoid starch, carbs, and sugar.

      Best of continued luck on your diet!

  60. Beth February 8, 2012 at 1:54 am #

    Hi Tammy & all reading. I just have a quick question and didn’t see anyone else ask this from what I could tell so I thought I’d ask it. I’m on day 9 of VLCD and day 11 of homeopathic drops. I’ve lost 16.6 pounds this round. This is my third round of doing it since last summer. I have been feeling SUPER light headed, dizzy, and the world spins everytime I move for the past 4 days. Whether I eat the full amount allowed or not I still feel this way. Has anyone else experienced this? What should I do? I’m only doing 23 days this round as I know I’ll have to do it one more time either way so it’s easier to do it in steps and for shorter times due to my job & personal life. Any recommendations?

    • Tammy February 8, 2012 at 1:37 pm #

      Hi Beth! If it’s not working as well as you hoped, try a different brand. I recommend you go with the doctor prescribed HCG as there are many products out there that don’t work well and have side effects — you should NOT be feeling this weay. Whichever way you decide to go, I wish you all the best and please keep me updated on your progress!

  61. Wendi February 11, 2012 at 5:32 pm #

    Hi, I am starting p3 today and must say am scared of adding the additional food into my diet. As of today, lost 25 pounds. I felt absolutely amazing on p2. How much dairy products can now be added to the diet? Also where can you buy the flavored stevia’s? Your blog is wonderful, as well as all the dieters that have submitted their thoughts, fears and questions. You are a very special lady. Best of luck to you.

    • Tammy February 12, 2012 at 4:04 pm #

      Well I’m thrilled for you with the 25 pounds! Don’t be scared. Start off cautiously and don’t eat too many fruits right away. Full fat dairy like yogurt, half and half only due to the milk sugars and start slowly also with that. Cheese is fine but be careful with things like yogurt. Real cream or half and half for your coffee.

      You can buy the flavored stevia drops on Amazon and I’ll be putting up some direct links on my website soon for some of my favorite specialty products to make things super convenient for people! I just thank you so much for sharing. You are so special too! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

  62. Beth February 16, 2012 at 2:37 am #

    So today I finally went to the doctor and was told that I have bronchitis & a sinus infection. Tomorrow is my last day of drops. Problem is I have to eat yogurt with my meds so they don’t make me sick (this was a direction from the doctor and pharmisist). Should I just do the yogurt and keep to the VLCD til Sunday or switch to phase 3 tomorrow or what?

    • Tammy February 17, 2012 at 1:07 am #

      Use non-fat cottage cheese as your protein and use that instead of yogurt to take your med or take them with your regular hcg meal. You are so close that I would just finish up and transition to P3.

      All the best!

  63. Alissa February 17, 2012 at 4:37 pm #

    Hi Tammy,
    I am on day 25 of phase 2 and getting frustrated because I have 8 days at the exact same weight. I am not cheating and staying very strict to my diet. What should I do to kick start the weight loss?

    • Tammy February 17, 2012 at 6:11 pm #

      Hi Alissa! Try not to be too frustrated, there are several reasons why you could be stalling. First, you should check the freshness of your hcg and make sure you always keep the RX hcg refrigerated as it very quickly loses its potency if it’s not fresh and stays cold. It is also common for weight loss to slow around the menstrual cycle. Often, the biggest plateau will be around your period and normal weight loss should resume soon. This diet has lots of plateaus so don’t worry, and make sure to keep drinking lots of water to push out any water weight and excess fluid. You can do an Apple Day since you’ve not lost weight in 4-5+ days. Eat 6 apples over a 24 hours period and drink minimal water for that day – just enough to quench your thirst. This usually resolves the plaueau and regular weight loss usually resume the next morning.

  64. Alissa February 17, 2012 at 6:22 pm #

    Thank you so much, Tammy. I will do the apple day, had done it before but didn’t know about the minimal water. I also just got new drops that I refrigerate (my other ones didn’t say to keep cold). You are such a great assett, thank you for being you!

  65. Tammy February 17, 2012 at 10:53 pm #

    So happy that I could help!

  66. JR February 18, 2012 at 1:46 am #

    I lost right around 30# in 29 days now I am 3 days into the maintenance or phase 3. the first day off I exercised and eat around 850 to 1000 calories. with minimal fat. and I weight lifted/ aerobic exercise for 30 min. I gained 3 pounds. The next day I did the steak day and lost 2 pounds still 1 pound over my start weight. Now I am eating like the first day but slowly adding in some fats in cheese and oils but I am afraid that I am going to be over the 2 pound limit again. Do I do another steak day tommorow if I am over 2 pounds over my start weight? How long should this go on for?

    • Tammy February 18, 2012 at 3:32 pm #

      Hi JR and congratulations on your wonderful 30 pound weight loss! Please know that during the Phase 3 portion of the HCG Diet, there are often wild swings in your weight but things will regulate themselves as you go if you’re super vigilant about your food. In P3, do a Steak Day if you need to, and do not continue dieting, as you need to eat enough calories! You need to add oils and proteins back into your diet and eat a variety of vegetables and fruits (don’t limit yourself to just the ones in P2).

      It’s not so much about calories in P3. I’ve moved away from calorie counting and am now focusing more on the kind of food and quality of food that I eat. I also eat a lot of healthy fat even now on maintenance. It helps with hunger and you actually eat less and are more easily satisfied. Olive oil, coconut oil, some nuts are fine. Real butter, cream or half and half are better choices than fat free dairy or eliminating fat. I realize this will be controversial and even uncomfortable for a lot of people who believe calorie counting and fat gram counting are the way to stay slim. The other secret is just to eat clean, healthy, unprocessed, high fiber food and lots of fruits and vegetables. On Phase 3 and for life.

      Best of continued luck on your diet!

      • JR February 18, 2012 at 4:21 pm #

        I actually may have been using the wrong weight to judge my maintenace weight on I was using my lowest weight not the weight when I stopped taking the HCG I lost around a 1 1/2 pounds after I quit taking HCG. so if you use the stopping date then I didn’t actually need to do a steak day. am I correct on this theory?

        • Tammy February 20, 2012 at 5:08 pm #

          You do judge it based on if you’re more than 2 pounds over your LIW (last injection date). Looks like you’ve got it figured out!

  67. Ray-Chill February 19, 2012 at 6:44 pm #

    Hi Tammy! My husband and I are about to start Phase 3 on Tuesday (doing the VLCD with no drops now). Proud to report that he lost 40 lbs in phase 2 and I lost 27 lbs 🙂 Our question is, are you still aloud to eat the grissini sticks in Phase 3? Also, we may decide to do another cycle with the drops after phase 3, do you recommend waiting 6 weeks, or do you think that it’s okay to jump back in after this phase? Thanks for your help!

    • Tammy February 20, 2012 at 5:06 pm #

      Congratulations to you and your husband on your wonderful 40 and 27 lb weight losses!! You can eat everything in P3 that you were allowed to eat in P2, in addition to all the other foods. I suggest the 3 weeks on Phase 3 and then 3 weeks on Maintenance for a total of 6 weeks off between rounds, then increase each break by 2 weeks per round until you reach your goal weight.

      • Mandy February 22, 2012 at 4:37 am #

        Hi Tammy

        I thought no starches or sugars were allowed in P3, which includes the Grissini bread sticks. At least that’s what I read in Dr Simeon’s protocol. Has it changed now?

        That brings me onto a question about P3. My weight the day before LIW was 235. My LIW was 238, so I’d gone up 3lbs (no idea why!). I’ve been quite steady on P3 at 235, but can’t get it to go back to 238, despite eating what feels like LOADS! (oh my, I’ve wanted this problem all my life!!). This morning’s weight was 235, then after a bathroom visit (sorry, tmi!) it dropped to 233. Eek! I’m losing on P3 and really trying hard not to.

        Any advice?

        Thanks, Mandy

  68. Tammy February 23, 2012 at 2:12 pm #

    I don’t recommend grissini on P3 or in the article on snacks. On P3 make sure you eat enough and try not to lose weight weight. The goal is to stabilize. Obviously there will be some fluctuation. Just do your best.

  69. Cindy March 16, 2012 at 3:21 pm #

    Hi Tammy!

    Tomorrow is first day of P3. I lost 20 pounds in 33 days and am at 145.2. Although I am 60 I was spinning and weight lifting like all the younger kiddos and my daily calorie burn according to my fitness pal was about 700 cals a day. Should I wait until P4 to start working out again? I am losing muscle mass and am SO ready to work out.

    Another question is after P4 can I lose down to my previous natural setpoint weight of 137 without another 23 day round and keep it off????

    I am thinking about transitioning to another weight loss doc who gives lipoplex injections and keeps you on track. I am SO determined never to get over 150 again!!!!! I’ve always been a health nut but too much partying and tailgates!!!! fun!!!

    Anyway am I doomed to 145 without another round or do you think I can stabilize at 137 again with diet and working out?

    You are terrific! I have read all your posts and I also followed the Simeons protocol like my bible. You have given me what I need for P3…SO scared at first!

    PS…I have been on the old WW Momentum plan forever (with times off for bad behavior:)) and that works like magic. What do you think…sorry so many questions!!!

    Thanks! Cindy

    • Tammy March 27, 2012 at 10:01 pm #

      Hi Cindy! So sorry for the delay in answering — we’ve been having technical problems with the blog and they just got it up and running again!

      I’m so happy to hear that my blog posts have helped you and that you’ve stayed strict to Dr. Simeons’ original protocol which is a great reason why you’ve been so successful on this diet! Love hearing that you’ve stayed so active and in great shape AND lost an incredible 20 pounds! As for losing the last few pounds, a lot of people are having good success with the Belly Fat Cure and I’m considering it as one of many programs I would recommend for maintenance after HCG corrects the metabolism. Or your Doctor might have another suggestion for you.

      Best of luck to you!

  70. lj March 17, 2012 at 4:06 pm #

    I’m on. P3 and been losing inches and I lost a lb what will happen.. I have not been trying to lose.

    • Tammy March 27, 2012 at 9:49 pm #

      Hi LJ! In P3 your weight will fluctuate as it adjusts. On P3 make sure you eat enough and try not to lose weight. The goal is to stabilize. Obviously there will be some fluctuation. Just do your best.

  71. Tammy March 27, 2012 at 9:43 pm #

    You are right where you want to be. In the 2 pound zone. Stick with the original plan; within 2 pounds up or down from your Last Injection Weight.

    You’re doing great! Congrats!

  72. Andrew April 10, 2012 at 3:04 pm #

    So I’m at the end of the first week of phase 3. I have been sticking to no sugar or starches and trying to stick to about 1400 cal a day. I keep gaining, and I am getting concerned because I have to do my second steak day. I don’t understand what I am doing wrong! I still have about 10 lbs I want to lose after phase 3, did I slow down my metabolism?

    • Tammy April 10, 2012 at 6:27 pm #

      Hi Andrew! Remember that your weight will fluctuate a lot in P3 and that’s to be expected. I would keep track of everything that you’re eating as you may find that something you’re eating causes a weight gain – even things you wouldn’t expect. Also, watch your ingredients very carefully as so many products have hidden sugars and starches. A hint on P3. It’s not so much about calories. I’ve moved away from calorie counting and am now focusing more on the kind of food and quality of food that I eat. I also eat a lot of healthy fat even now on maintenance. It helps with hunger and you actually eat less and are more easily satisfied. Olive oil, coconut oil, some nuts are fine. Real butter, Cream or half and half are better choices than fat free dairy or eliminating fat. I realize this will be controversial and even uncomfortable for a lot of people who believe calorie counting and fat gram counting are the way to stay slim. The other secret is just to eat clean, healthy, unprocessed, high fiber food and lots of fruits and vegetables. On Phase 3 and for life. Best of luck to you!

  73. Tammy May 3, 2012 at 11:51 pm #

    Hi Kim and congratulations on your wonderful 20 lb weight loss! On P3, it’s not so much about calories. I’ve moved away from calorie counting and am now focusing more on the kind of food and quality of food that I eat. I also eat a lot of healthy fat even now on maintenance. It helps with hunger and you actually eat less and are more easily satisfied. Olive oil, coconut oil, some nuts are fine. Real butter, Cream or half and half are better choices than fat free dairy or eliminating fat. I realize this will be controversial and even uncomfortable for a lot of people who believe calorie counting and fat gram counting are the way to stay slim. The other secret is just to eat clean, healthy, unprocessed, high fiber food and lots of fruits and vegetables. On Phase 3 and for life.

    Best of continued luck to you!

  74. Rene May 16, 2012 at 7:02 pm #

    Hi. There is a website that sells products that the nutritional value matches up to “diet” products that are sold at a chain drugstore. They are listed as Phase 3 products, and include some chips and bars and shakes. I have used these before on another very low carb diet. Are these really allowed? The net carbs range from 8g carbs & 3g sugars (chips), 7g carbs & 5g sugar (shakes), and 13g carbs, 5g sugars & 6g sugar alcohols (bars). What is the difference between sugar and sugar alcohols in a product? Are sugar alcohols allowed if there is no sugar in a product? I start Phase 3 in 2 days and I have done hundreds of hours of research since I started Phase 1 (for the second time after a failed first attempt). I travel a lot so convenience items are often the only thing I have available to eat, or I eat nothing. Any help is very much appreciated.

  75. Tammy May 20, 2012 at 11:33 pm #

    Hi Rene, Sadly, most products being marketed to HCG Dieters have all manner of unhealthy ingredients in them. Many will even stall or cause you to gain. Some bars for example have wheat flour and other starches. Artificial ingredients such as aspartame etc. Be warned. Egg white or whey protein shakes can be okay if they use Stevia or erythritol (a sugar alcohol) and don’t have starches added. Hope this helps you.

  76. Tabatha Evans February 4, 2014 at 6:04 am #

    Hi all, I am on my second round, in 3 yrs….I am doing great! I was just going to let you know my coffee secret 😉 I sprinkle a healthy dose of cinnamon in the coffee grounds before I brew!! Yum!

    • HCGCookbook February 5, 2014 at 12:12 am #

      Hi Tabatha, That sounds so yummy! You could also try pumpkin pie spice, cocoa, or Vanilla powder on your coffee grounds too. Thanks for sharing this!

  77. anonymous April 8, 2015 at 12:03 am #

    Hello Tammy,

    Thank you for taking the time to help answer all of our questions to help us succeed on our journeys! I’ve recently just finished my first round of HCG phase 2 and I’ve noticed that I had been plateauing for at least a week towards the end. I am wondering if this week of “maintaining” the same weight counts towards my stabilisation in phase 3. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!

    • Tammy April 9, 2015 at 7:35 pm #

      Your very welcome! I’m really happy to share the knowledge. This diet is amazing and I hope you are getting great results. To answer your question, Some people do stabilize faster than others but you really can’t count that plateau week although you may drop another pound or two during those 3 days. Stabilization phase 3 begins after your 72 hours following your last dose and then you can start enjoying phase 3 foods. Hope that helps you!

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