Maintenance and Forever Phases (P3 & P4)

After Weight Loss

After completing the main weight loss phase (Phase2) you want to neither lose nor gain weight for the next 3 weeks -- just maintain. Your body's hypothalamus needs to reset itself and adjust to this new weight. After 3 weeks, you will either do anotherActive phase (P2) to lose additional weight. Or shift to Forever Phase (P4) when you have reached your ideal weight.

In the maintenance phase plan on staying on Phase3 for at least three weeks. Having succeeded in cleansing your body and losing a good amount of weight, your body is primed and ready to enter this phase. As much as possible, stay away from starchy foods and sugar-filled foods including processed foods for the first two weeks of Phase3.

First and foremost you will want to consume the appropriate amount of calories. Most people, including licensed dieticians, underestimate the amount of calories they are consuming. What is the right amount of calories to consume? Take your ideal weight and add a zero. This is the general rule and can be adjusted slightly in some cases. If your ideal weight is 220lbs then your new calorie amount should be 2,200 calories. If your ideal weight is 110lbs then you can eat approximately 1100 calories.

Secondly, you need to better understand the difference in eating good carbs versus bad carbs. A good rule of thumb is to stay away from refined and processed foods. Bad carbs are usually distinguished best by their color – white. Typically, foods that are highly refined and or processed are high in calories and low in nutritional density. On the flip side good carbs will provide better nutrition and fulfill your hunger needs for longer periods of time. Moreover, good carbs will better fuel your body and allow you to have more energy throughout your day. The best carbs are fibrous carbs. Fibrous carbs and green vegetables are full of fiber, nutrients and are low in calorie density. It’s hard to eat too many green vegetables.

In Phase 4 is similar to maintenance mode with similar caloric intake, but you can gradually add back in limited sugars as occasional treats. In Forever phase, daily weight monitoring is important. If you shift more than 2-3 pounds gain then you quickly need to lower calorie intake and focus on low/slow carbs and 1000 calories per day until you are back at your desired weight. WeightLoc is also a very helpful supplement to use during these times.