i did P3 for 3 weeks, and then for about another week i didn't add much but sweet corn and watermelon. right now it's been 5 1/2 weeks since the end of my last round.

i really haven't added in bread (a few bites here and there), have had no potatoes, rice, beans. have had pasta once. eating any and all fruits and veggies without trouble, but sugar is another matter... I've had blueberry pie several times, and one muffin, but the sugar makes me gain.

my biggest problem is major water retention. i can tell by how stiff my hands are in the mornings. i don't drink near enough water, never have (even on P2)- i'm not thirsty and can't seem to remember to drink.... i keep trying, but my memory is crap! even with reminders, etc.

but the water retention has been much worse on P4 than it was on P2 or P3. the sugar-free stuff causes it, as well as sugar. yes, it's better if i drink more, but i also feel like i've become somewhat carb intolerant. BUT, i had no sugar, bread, rice, pasta, potatoes for 6 mo other than load days. i only took 3 weeks off after R1 and R2, so i never re-introduced carbs.

trudeau suggests not re-introducing carbs until you are at goal weight- to always stay on P3 in between rounds. but based on my own response i think i'd have to disagree with that. i wonder if i'm more carb intolerant because i've gone so long without eating any. ?? that said, i was having a little trouble stabilizing this time even before i introduced carbs, so it might be because i did those 3 rounds so close together- or just losing weight so fast. i lost 70# in a little over 5 mo. after rounds 1 and 2 i stabilized about 2 pounds below LIW. this time i'm stabilizing about a pound or two over LIW (about -69 or -68).

the rest of this week is going to be experimentation, because i'll be curious to see how high i go when i load. my weight did get up as high as 3-4# over LIW, but i could tell it's water. my waist measurement is the same, and i've lost another 1/2" in my belly since the end of round 3. also, my body fat percentage is averaging around 1% lower than it was at the end of my last round. i think with all the walking i did on vacation i may have added a little muscle- so that could account for the extra weight, too.

linda (lygirl) and i email regularly and she's very carb intolerant- much more than i am. has anyone else had this problem? or problem retaining water?

mary- jeni has been in the states but without internet access much of the time, so she hasn't had a chance to make some of the changes we've talked about. we will have some basic threads that will be regularly bumped back up to the top, and i'll make sure that the "p4 lounge" (love the name) is one of them.

Pubah...1) you are always welcome anywhere...2) you are not fat any more...you need to own that and accept it. THAT is a requirement for admittance into the p4 lounge...:)

This is a great idea. I know the other Terry also went off on P4 as well so hopefully she'll pop in this as well. It is great to get all the P4 folks in one area so we in P2/P3 can learn from their lessons.

Annette

I am on P4 eating everything in the house and cant wait to start next round. Didnt do P3 right this time and this was the first morning I didnt get on the scale cuz i was afraid of what it would say. Starting next round as soon as I can get my hcg either this Friday or next Wednesday. The sooner the better I am thinking.