Phase 3 Explained

Phase 3: Introduction

Phase 3 is a concept unique to the Ideal Protein Weight Loss Method and arguably the most important part of the Ideal Protocol. This phase always lasts for 2 weeks (14 days) with the exception being of clients who are engaged in the Cellulite Protocol. In this specialized protocol, only 7 days of Phase 3 are required. This phase is very simple as the only difference between Phase 2 and Phase 3 is the morning meal. There are three major objectives in this Phase and successfully meeting them will almost certainly guarantee the client long term success in his / her lifetime weight management. These are:

• "Re‐start" the pancreas' production of insulin and actually "train" the organ to produce the correct amount of this hormone in response to the carbohydrates that are consumed. In other words we are going to address the problem of hyperinsulinemia, a condition which many experts feel is the root cause of Metabolic Syndrome or Syndrome X.
• Provide a transition from a weight loss protocol to a weight maintenance protocol. Most diets go directly from their weight loss mode to the maintenance phase as far as calorie consumption is concerned. These types of programs we feel, promote "food storage" rather than "food burning". In simple terms we will slowly increase the caloric intake so our metabolism can keep up with the increased fuel. Losing muscle mass during the weight loss phase and failing to slowly increase calories to a maintenance level are major reasons for the "yo‐yo dieting" so typical in most popular programs.

Resetting the Pancreas
Remember, the only meal we are changing in Phase 3 is breakfast. Lunch and dinner will be exactly the same as they were having in Phase 2 as well as the evening protein snack. Breakfast in Phase 3 will consist of the following: Complex carbohydrates from two sources, fruit and grains. They will also get a serving of protein and one of fat / dairy. Lactose and gluten intolerant folks as well as vegetarians don't worry, we have suggestions for you! Now, I didn't want to get into counting grams and calories but for simplicity's sake and to make sure everyone is on the same page and the protocol is followed exactly by every clinic, here are your guidelines for the 2 weeks of Phase 3:
GRAINS No more than 30 grams of carbohydrates.
FRUITS No more than 20 grams of carbohydrates.
PROTEIN Aim for at least 25 grams, more is OK (remember these are whole proteins, not the highly absorbable isolates).
DAIRY No more than 120 calories (this would be 8 oz. of low fat plain yogurt).
FAT No more than 15 grams of total fat per day (you'll have to look at the grains, protein and dairy and add the grams of fat, you can make up the difference with butter (not margarine), coconut oil or other "good oils" (olive, grape seed, peanut butter, almond butter, etc.).
These guidelines will help create a breakfast containing between 400 and 500 Kcals.
The mechanism by which we "reset the pancreas" goes like this: when we eat these carbohydrates our blood sugar rises. The pancreas now secretes some insulin, but very little is required to lower the blood sugar now. This is because our muscles and liver are depleted of glycogen and, just like after a vigorous workout, our bodies want to replenish the glycogen and much of the glucose can enter the muscle cells without needing the action of insulin. Remember, during Phases 1 and 2 of the protocol, very, very little carbohydrates were consumed and consequently very little insulin was produced. This period gave the cells of our bodies the required time to "re‐gain their insulin sensitivity". Now when they see insulin they respond to its presence instantly.
Bottom line is that very little insulin is now required to facilitate glucose uptake and the pancreas no longer needs to "keep pushing insulin" in order to regulate blood glucose control.

Well That Sounds Interesting, But Do You Have Any Clinical Studies?
No not yet, but what we have are hundreds of individual cases from scores of medical clinics nationwide that all show the same results. Upon completing the program all show normal fasting glucose levels, stellar lipid panels and fasting insulin levels usually less than 2 micro‐units / dl (prior to starting the program most insulin levels where above 9 mu/dl, many much higher). These results are predictable and repeatable and the change in fasting insulin levels show we really do "re‐set the pancreas'!

Basically we are treating a problem caused by food with food, in other words 'let your food be your medicine'......what a concept!