I can’t really dress it up all that much. I have already shared 3 major mistakes people make when undertaking the PAGG protocol.

There are only two motivating factors in life: 1. Pain. 2. Pleasure.

So I could call this “Keys to Success with PAGG” (then tell you of all the pitfalls.) Or I can say “Mistake No. 4″

I know it’s weird and I like optimism more than pessimism. But damn it, if you jump out of an airplane, you take the plunge, make sure you have a parachute and know where the ripcord is located. Ok?

Have you bought Tim’s book yet? Sure would make my job easier if you did. Buy it here.

The first 3 mistakes, already written about cover 90% of what can go wrong with PAGG.

So I am going to lump the rest of the pitfalls here; read them at least once. (then I can say, ‘I told you so.’ 1000 apologies kimosabe)

These are quoted directly from The 4 Hour Body.

MISTAKE #4: BELIEVING THAT YOU’LL COOK, ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE A BACHELOR In a sentence: if you don’t normally cook,
get canned and frozen food for the first few weeks.

Mistake #5: MISTIMING WEIGHINGS WITH YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE (NOT A PROBLEM FOR BACHELORS) Women tend to retain much more water just before their periods. Be sure to take this into account when you start your diet and take measurements.

Ignore scale readings in the 10 days before menstruation. They’re not at all a reflection of what’s happening. If you are following the diet to the letter, you will lose fat. Treat your first weighing following your period (as soon as one day following is fine) as your “after” measurement. Don’t let short-term water fluctuations discourage you. Be aware of your menstrual timing so you don’t mistakenly conclude the diet isn’t working.

Mistake #6 Overeating “DOMINO FOODS”: NUTS, CHICKPEAS (GARBANZO BEANS), HUMMUS, PEANUTS, MACADAMIAS There are certain foods that, while technically fine to eat on the diet, are prone to portion abuse. I call these “domino foods,” as eating one portion often creates a domino effect of oversnacking. My fat-loss has plateaued three times due to almonds, which are easy to consume by the handful and simple to excuse as nutritious. Unfortunately, they also contain 824 calories per cup, 146 calories more than a Whopper from Burger King (678 kilocalories). A few almonds is just fine (5–10), but no one eats just a few almonds.

Mistake #7: HITTING THE GYM TOO OFTEN One female slow-carber wrote: I have been going to the gym 5x/week, 2 hours on the treadmill plus a one hour spin class 2x a week.… I have been doing this for almost three months. In the first 3 weeks I lost almost 20 pounds but since have regained about 7 pounds. I also complete a variety of exercises targeting various muscles groups (2x/week for my legs, hips, arms, etc) The seven pounds could have been muscular gain, which is good, but she was spending more than 12 hours a week in the gym. I suspected her problem, which I’d seen in others, was unsustainable overtraining and related “reward” eating. Too much will not only not help, it will reverse your progress, as it also leads to overeating, sports drinks, and other assorted self- sabotage.

Ferriss, Timothy (2010-12-14). The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman (Kindle Locations 2295-2296). Crown Archetype. Kindle Edition.