Just curious?

Hi, everyone! I am so excited to hear about a couple people in my life starting HCG! I wish you much enjoyment and success on your journey! I thought I would post a poll in the sidebar to get a feel for how many people have possibly benefited from my blog. It gives me much joy writing this blog and sharing my feelings and experiences with you all. I would love to hear from those of you reading this blog. The poll is asking if my blog has influenced anyone to start HCG, but please feel free to post a comment and let me know how much weight you have lost thus far and how you came to know of HCG! It is very interesting to me to hear about what started a person's weight loss endeavor, so don't be shy! :)

It is not a dream...

A couple nights ago I started a yoga regimen. I used to do yoga many years ago when I was in high school. I remember feeling amazing and loving it. I tried and tried to "stretch it out" when I was 24 pounds heavier and still ended up not feeling so great. It wasn't that I lost my flexibility, but rather I had too much fat which prevented me from getting into many of the positions! I didn't realize it before, but fat holds stress, if that makes sense. I don't hurt when I stretch, and if there are a few aches and pains they dissipate more easily. What an amazing feeling to be able to do the things that will keep me in shape and not have to struggle and fight against myself!!! I can run now, too, but greatest of all I have the energy to keep up with my little girls! Just love it! HCG is amazing in that regard. It allows you to lose weight quickly so you bypass the extreme frustration that can come with many other weight loss plans. It allows you to take control and get to a point where you can do physical activities you once thought arduous or just plain impossible!

I have gained a greater respect for my body. I remember now what it was like to run and be active! It is funny. Sometimes I still wake up and look into the mirror thinking it is all a dream and I will look and feel the way I did before. But it is not a dream! This is the new me. A new me I can maintain! It has been a couple weeks and I am holding steady around 155.6 pounds! I can't wait for my second round and residing in the 130 pound range!!! Yipee!

Steak Day & A Beautiful Dress!

This morning I was up 2.8 pounds, so I am taking a steak day. It is mid-afternoon and I have not felt hungry. I am looking forward to a big steak tonight! :) It really is simple enough: if you gain more than 2 pounds do a steak day!

But more interestingly I had a wonderful experience this morning. My mother-in-law, whom I get along famously with and who I love dearly and the girls and I went downtown to do a little shopping. We went into a bridal shop (Mountain Valley Bridal), because I saw a beautiful jade green dress in the window a couple days earlier. Well, Mom convinced me to try it on. The size was a 12, but the very helpful and pleasant woman who helped me said they run small. Thank you for your help and it was really nice talking with you! I was terribly worried, but I went in, tried it on and fell in love with the dress! I looked quite good, if I say so myself! Something like this would have never happened before. I would never have even considered trying on a strapless dress like that, and if I did I would be whining and would have ended up coming out of the store feeling completely awful. I wanted to buy the dress right there and then! My husband and I may have a five year vow renewal next year since we didn't have a "real" wedding. I don't want to wear white or ivory and this green would be just stunning with all the red hair that will be present (both my girls and me ;)). What a fun time! Does anyone else have a story like this? For me this is such a big benefit of shedding some extra pounds: to really enjoy shopping for yourself!

Here is the link to a picture of the dress: Jasmine Bridal.

It's not too bad!

I am loving the maintenance period! :) I don't crave food as I did previously. So far I don't eat as much, and I am just enjoying being appreciative of food and how I feel. During the 3 days after discontinuing HCG I lost some extra pounds. Currently, I have lost a total of 24.4 pounds! I have now been holding steady at 155.8 pounds for the past 2 days.

For my first meal as a "free woman" I went to my favorite restaurant, Sweet Melissa's with my two little girls. I also had the pleasure of meeting back up with a dear friend who has reentered my life and has recently started her own HCG journey! You are going to do great! I had such a great time, and enjoyed catching up with you immensely! I ordered a veggie burger (without the bun). On top there was portobello mushrooms, swiss cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. Yummy!

I can't wait to go shopping! Most of my clothes are so baggy and I definitely need some clothes to show off my new figure! Yipee!!! I don't know if I should wait until I have completed the second round, though? It is not too far off and that way I won't have to spend money on 2 sets of wardrobes. Another loss of 20 pounds and the clothes I buy today won't fit then. It is amazing and almost unbelievable to think I will be in the 130's before Thanksgiving!!! I guess it was hard for me to think I would ever be in the 150's either. I just feel so light and there is definitely a spring in my step! :)

My thoughts go out to all of you out there losing with HCG! How liberating!

Oh, and I just have a question to those of you who may know: (Thanks in advance!)

1. Do you start counting the 6 weeks before starting another round from the last day of the 3 day period after stopping HCG? If that makes sense? It wasn't especially clear. Thank you! Goodnight.

Some minor details...

It has been brought to my attention that I have left out many details of this weight loss process that might be of help to many of you! Thanks, Monique! So, I will outline a day in the life of a HCG user... Here it goes!

(Just a little side note before we begin...I bought my HCG through DIYHCG, and other companies suggest taking it 6 times a day, which would be really hard for me, and I have experienced the same results doing only 3 times a day. Also, this is merely from my experience and I would strongly suggest either paying for consultation (if you have the money) or stay connected with all the different groups and people out there who can share their knowledge and experience!)

1. Wake up
2. Go to bathroom or where ever you keep your scale and weigh yourself naked after you empty your bladder. (If I have a BM in the morning I weigh again after and record that weight.)
3. Write it down!
4. I usually tried to write how I was feeling and what I ate throughout the day. This helps to see where you could improve (ie. if you ate something you should not have- write it down. It will help you correct yourself).
5. Take HCG drops after weigh in. I just took about 1/4 of a dropper full (I can take a picture for those of you who don't really understand what I am talking about- I just felt it worked better and I definitely was not hungry at all. And, 2 ounces lasted 23 days with some extra- probably could have gone to 30 days, but I didn't go that long). Don't eat anything for breakfast just liquid: water, coffee, tea or mineral water.
   
6. At 11:30 I would take another dose of HCG, and then eat at 12:15. I started being able to hold the drops in my mouth for 15 minutes and then eat 30 minutes after my 15 minutes was up. I did the dishes or other work that needed to be done to make the time go by faster.
7. Stay away from the kitchen during the day as much as possible in between meals (not very easy with two little kids, but at least you aren't truly hungry, just habit hungry). I never gave in, but I definitely have a habit of wandering around the kitchen trying to find something to eat. :(
8. At 6:00 I would take another dose of HCG and then eat around 6:45.
   
9. Stay away from the kitchen again after the kids go to sleep! :)
10. And, drink lots of water, coffee, tea or mineral water all through the day- it definitely helps and makes you feel great!
11. Try not to get too excited, I mean enjoy your journey, but realize not every day will show a loss of 3 pounds and it is okay! An average of a pound a day is pretty impressive!!!
    
12. Oh, and don't exercise! :) :) Just do what your body tells you feels right.
    

And, other than that enjoy losing weight and enjoy feeling great!

Just a little note...

There are some things I have neglected to make clear, which I think all should know. This is not just your regular weight loss plan. Although, it is easier than some I have experienced in the past with better results, it still is NOT easy! You have to follow the diet very carefully and you CANNOT cheat and achieve the kind of results you desire. If you decide to take HCG you need to be committed. You have to follow through with all the instructions to ensure no unwanted weight gain. I am not trying to scare anyone away at all. I just want you all to research, research, research before you begin and prepare yourself for the dedication it will take to finally free yourself from your weight loss constraints.

I am entering the maintenance period. I decided to call Day 23 good for now. I am happy with the results thus far. Your dedication does not end at the end of Day 23 or whatever day you decide to discontinue HCG. You must continue to weigh yourself EVERY DAY! You must keep close tabs on your weight and any gain of 2 or more pounds you need to take action:

"When the three days of dieting after the last injection are over, the patients are told that they may now eat anything they please, except sugar and starch provided they faithfully observe one simple rule. This rule is that they must have their own portable bathroom-scale always at hand, particularly while traveling. They must without fail weight themselves every morning as they get out of bed, having first emptied their bladder... As long as their weight stays within two pounds of the weight reached on the day of the last injection, patients should take no notice of any increase but the moment the scale goes beyond two pounds, even if this is only a few ounces, they must on that same day entirely skip breakfast and lunch but take plenty to drink. In the evening they must eat a huge steak with only an apple or a raw tomato." (33)

For 3 days following the last day taking HCG you have to remain on the strict diet. HCG is still present in your body, and for those 3 days your weight can be affected and potentially, drastically. Another 3 weeks following the end of those 3 days you cannot have starch or sugar, but you can eat anything else (see above). After the 3 weeks are over you can start to introduce starches. Please refer to Dr. Simeon's Manuscript for further details (page 33- conclusion). See my link list in the sidebar.

Additionally, the success rate of keeping the weight off is quite high: "As a general rule one can say that 60%-70% of our cases experience little or no difficulty in holding their weight permanently. Relapses may be due to negligence in the basic rule of daily weighing. Many patients think that this is unnecessary and that they can judge any increase from the fit of their clothes... This is a disastrous mistake, because after a course of HCG as much as 10 lbs. can be regained without any noticeable change in the fit of the clothes. The reason for this is that after treatment newly acquired fat is at first evenly distributed and does not show the former preference for certain parts of the body." (34)

The way I figure, it is not too much time out of my life to change my body and habits for the better and ultimately for a lasting weight loss achievement. I have also looked at the calendar and have determined my game plan. I will start another round in early October and be done with a 23 round and 3 week maintenance a week or so before Thanksgiving. I have such hope and enthusiasm for a complete change in this area of my life. I will no longer have angst over my weight or what I can and cannot wear. I will no longer yearn for a skinnier me. I will no longer fret over that pesky thing called fat. I will be able to do things I have always wanted to do and could not because I was carrying around too much weight.

Dr. Simeons states in his final paragraph of his manuscript:

"The problems of obesity are perhaps not so dramatic as the problems of cancer, but they often cause life long suffering. How many promising careers have been ruined by excessive fat; how many lives have been shortened. If some way -however cumbersome - can be found to cope effectively with this universal problem of modern civilized man, our world will be a happier place for countless fellow men and women." (35)

It is so true. Weight problems can affect our day to day life so easily. I have experienced feeling poorly physically and/or emotionally about excess weight. One can deprive oneself of the energy, capability and confidence to live the way one desires by carrying around extra pounds. I have done it. I have not done things I wanted to do, because I felt I was too heavy or too out of shape. So, I just thought I should write this post to alert anyone out there reading this blog to make absolutely sure you are ready for this. And, then do it!!! :)

All my best goes out to current and potential future HCG weight loss achievers! :)

(P.S. Sorry, I apologize for the lengthiness of this post- it wasn't "just a little note". :))

Day 23- A realization...

This morning as I read the reading on the scale of 159.2 pounds- a realization hit me. I have not been in the 150's since I had my first daughter, Amelia, 4 YEARS AGO! I was 156 pounds when I became pregnant with her and have never returned to my pre-baby weight. AMAZING!!! I am here now! Although, this is still quite heavy for my frame, and I wasn't happy with this weight 4 years ago, at least I am headed in the right direction!!!! :) What a wonderful feeling!

I also have had another interesting observation based on my weight loss experience thus far. As one loses weight, rather than gradually gain over the years there is a greater appreciation for what you look like at that moment. A certain confidence. I remember growing up always feeling insecure and thinking that I will never be one of the "skinny girls." I never valued my body as it was or viewed myself as nice looking even when I was 135 pounds. I suppose it takes going in the opposite direction to realize that you have to embrace and appreciate what you are at any given time in your life. I see myself, better now, if that makes sense. My actual reflection and my own personal perceptions of my body are more in balance.

I am going to remain on HCG for a couple more days and then call it good for this round. I will resume in 6 weeks and go for another 20 pounds! I am interested to see how much I will lose with just a little exercise and eating more conscientiously during my break period!!!??? :)

I hope this blog has given anyone with the slightest interest in HCG the confidence and encouragement to give it a try and you never know, you just might be pleasantly surprised! :)

Happy losing!

Day 22!!!

I HAVE LOST 20 POUNDS AS OF THIS MORNING!!!!!!! YAY!

I took a picture of myself yesterday evening after we went out to dinner. It was so nice to dress up and put on some makeup for a treat. :) These clothes don't really show just how much of a drastic change my body has taken on, but all I can say is I could not button the jacket and the pants were terribly uncomfortable before. And, the pants are bunched up in back due to how much I had to tighten my belt. :)
I will post a before and after picture after I am completely done.

I am thinking of finishing off this bottle and then just complete another round in 6 weeks. I need a bit of a break. I have also heard people usually continue to lose 1-3 pounds a week after completion. So, I will run and do some yoga and see how the HCG changed my body and metabolism. If I lose another 20 I would be very happy, and then I can reevaluate after that if I want to try for another 10-15? We will see, but losing weight for me is doable now and not just a lofty and dreaded dream.

Just as a side note, I started being a little more inventive with my food. I broiled this chicken with tomato and orange, basil, garlic and parsley. The juices really made it tastier. I also did a chicken breast with strawberries, basil and cloves broiled on top. Yummy!

I don't think I will be eating shrimp for a long time after this diet. It just doesn't sit well with me anymore. :/

Can't wait to eat normally, though! :) But, in moderation and with more carefulness. Until next time!

Day 19- Cinch your belt up!

I have officially got back on track and I have lost 17 pounds to date! That is pretty impressive for 18 days (day 19 is not completed yet). I have cinched my belt up a notch and could go to the very last notch if I wanted. :0 I wish I would have taken my measurements, because it is true women lose more inches than pounds.

Got to run! Just wanted to let everyone know that I feel great again and my spirits are high once again. :) See ya!

Day 15- You lose some, you gain some

This morning the digital reading was: 165.0 pounds

I only gained 1.2 pounds- not as bad as I feared. :) My total loss to date including my gain is 15.2 pounds, still pretty good. I am back on track and doing well again. I look forward to tomorrow morning. I only have 11 more pounds to lose at this time. I can do it!!!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Until tomorrow...

Goal Reconsiderations

Sometimes you have to step back and reflect on the rationality of your goals. I think I need to adjust my goal weight for this round, at least, and just take it easy. I would like to end up at 154 pounds at the end of this round. I am also going to only go 23 days or so, and not the full 40 days. Twenty pounds is a lot and I can be proud of that loss, especially if I keep it off. I think that is reasonable. At the end of this round I have at least 6 weeks to contemplate another round if need be. It took years to gain the weight I have and I just need to remember to be patient. "Rome wasn't built in a day." :)

Day 13 & Day 14- Me the Overachiever

If you know me, you know I like to do everything as fast as I can. I am a complete overachiever in some areas of my life. Well, this weight loss endeavor has not been an exception. I have lost an insane amount of weight very quickly and my body just freaked out. I have lost a total of 16.4 pounds in basically 12 days. Only an extra pound over the past 3 days has come off, and I have felt awfully terrible- light headed, dizzy and lethargic. I haven't been eating as much as I should and please whatever you do, eat the total 500 calories and don't get so anal that you ignore your body when it is telling you that you need a little extra. It won't be the end of the world.

So, today I think I ate a little too much junk to make myself feel better. I do not want to get on the scale tomorrow, but I will just take this as a lesson and be mindful of a very important point a reader posted on my previous post- you can under eat on this diet! It is wonderful, but don't get all excited you lose sight of protecting yourself while on the diet.

I am doing just fine now and will update a huge gain tomorrow, I suspect. :( Hopefully, it will come off pretty easily, though.

Day 12- Fluctuation in Weight Loss?

I think I am experiencing a fluctuation in weight loss. No loss or gain today, holding steady at 164.8 pounds. I am going to just drink a lot of water today and take out the breadstick. See Dr. Simeons' manuscript and post for Day 10. Since yesterday I have been experiencing a slight dip in energy. I am considering a B-vitamin supplement. I will update later.

I still love this diet and have no real concerns as I know it will break. Until tomorrow!

Day 11- It is all kind of blurry...

The past couple of days that is, well I guess the whole 11 days for that matter. I can't believe how fast the time and the fat is all flying away from me. :)

Here is the most recent update. I have hit the 15 pound mark!!!! As of today I have lost 15.4 pounds!

weigh in: 164.2 pounds
loss of: 1.8 pounds

I feel so amazing! I just can't say it enough. I can put on my clothes that were quite tight and uncomfortable and feel like I am looking pretty good. Since everyone has been up I have had to tell everyone about my diet and I have received different responses! Mom, thought initially I was crazy and that I was going to die or something, but now that she has been a witness to my rapidly shrinking body for a couple days and my jovial, energetic attitude I think she is coming around. Besides what I do eat is extremely healthy and it shows. It is pretty hard to explain to people the sound theory behind this weight loss plan and the results are kind of hard to believe too! I will continue to share HCG with anyone and everyone who will listen though. Just wonderful!!!

Anyway, I have got to run and hope all my HCG comrades are doing well too!!! :)

Day 10- Okay, I take it back...

weigh in: 167.0 pounds :(
loss of: 0.2 pounds :(
total loss to date: 13.2 pounds

I am disappointed. It is true, I take it all back from yesterday. I guess it is just not possible for me to keep in mind all the things you need to remain calm. :)

I take slight comfort in the following from Dr. Simeons' manuscript:

"After the fourth or fifth day of dieting the daily loss of weight begins to decrease to one pound or somewhat less per day, and there is a smaller urinary output. Men often continue to lose regularly at that rate, but women are more irregular in spite of faultless dieting. There may be no drop at all for two or three days and then a sudden loss which reestablishes the normal average. These fluctuations are entirely due to variations in the retention and elimination of water, which are more marked in women than in men.

The weight registered by the scale is determined by two processes not necessarily synchronized under the influence of HCG. Fat is being extracted from the cells, in which it is stored in the fatty tissue. When these cells are empty and therefore serve no purpose, the body breaks down the cellular structure and absorbs it, but breaking up of useless cells, connective tissue, blood vessels, etc., may lag behind the process of fat-extraction. When this happens the body appears to replace some of the extracted fat with water which is retained for this purpose. As water is heavier than fat the scales may show no loss of weight, although sufficient fat has actually been consumed to make up for the deficit in the 500-Calorie diet. When such tissue is finally broken down, the water is liberated and there is a sudden flood of urine and a marked loss of weight. This simple interpretation of what is really an extremely complex mechanism is the one we give those patients who want to know why it is that on certain days they do not lose, though they have committed no dietary error."

Other possible reasons are as follows: I did help make enchiladas for a big gathering yesterday and had to roll the fried tortillas. Lots of oil! I tried washing my hands frequently, but perhaps that affected my weight loss? Other possible reasons according to Dr. Simeons' manuscript and all don't really give me comfort, because the above one I cited usually occurs near the end of treatment. The following other reasons are as follows:

• The Plateau (usually lasts 4-6 days and occurs during the second half of a full course) not in this range either. :(
• Dietary error (I actually ate less yesterday than 500 calories).
• Or, I am pregnant. (Please don't be this one! Not ready to be pregnant right now.) (see pages 24-26 of the manuscript- I put a link to an HTML format in the sidebar)

Here is what I ate yesterday due to time constraints and a mere lack of desire to eat completely.

Lunch: apple and grissini bread stick

Dinner: shrimp, orange, cucumber, grissini stick (I left some of the shrimp, orange and cucumber on my plate.) Just have not been feeling that hungry.

So, this is why I feel really disappointed. I will drink lots of water today, and see what happens tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Recent Update:

Nothing to worry about right at the moment!!! Sorry, about the gory details that follow, :) but I just had a BM and reweighed myself I am down to 166.0 pounds.

Loss of: 1.2 pounds
Total loss to date: 14.2 pounds!!!

Amazing! I thought I would leave all this information up anyway, because it is helpful.

Day 9

weigh in: 167.2 pounds
loss of: 1.8 pounds
total loss to date: 13 pounds!!!

What an amazing diet! I am feeling so good, too! Even if I run into a plateau or set back, which from Dr. Simeons' manuscript is completely normal and one should not get too upset or disappointed I will remember that any other diet I would be killing myself right now to lose a mere pound a week if I am lucky. I will need to keep this in mind.

Anyway, I am glad I have finally built up the confidence to share with everyone my journey and I appreciate and welcome comments! Thank you all so much! I will update more on the day a little later. I hope the new background is more suitable, I thought the apples pertained quite nicely since apples are quite important in this diet. :)

Under Construction

Sorry, everyone! I am fiddling with the background style and haven't found something yet. This will have to do for now. Hope you can read the text better for the time being, because that is what is really important! :)

Happy losing!

What's for dinner?

I wanted to upload a couple examples of the food I eat every day. This is it for a whole day! Just add a lot of water, tea or coffee. I can't really get down any more black coffee so tea and water is it for me. You can also have mineral water, but all I have found in the store is sparkling mineral water and I don't know if that is allowed or not- perhaps too much sugar??? I will have to find out. There are other options available to the dieter, which you can view if you download Dr. Simeons' manuscript on DIYHCG. I just am not a big fan of the other vegetable choices.

Lunch is up! My favorite! Who knew I would love poached eggs so much? Doesn't look all that great, but oh my I love them! I haven't eaten a poached egg since I was in high school and I never remember them tasting this good!!! :) Notice the grissini bread stick.

As I noted in the previous post, I am not too sure about beef and I don't think I will eat anymore. I think it just has too much marbled fat and effects my weight loss. Perhaps I will try it once more, but if my weight loss is not consistent with other days I think I will cut this meat choice out of my diet.

I would also like to take note of my changed perception of food due to this diet. I have a greater respect for food, for lack of a better word. I like making every meal nice (not only the food I make for myself, but for the rest of my family). I would put effort into preparation on special occasions or when I was making something different, but not take such care with every meal. I think the girls are enjoying it more. I know my husband is. I like that not much goes to waste. I like that I buy food differently at the grocery store. I really have dreaded grocery shopping, but now it seems different. Instead of going to the store to stock up on stuff to keep us full or just full of options, I now carefully and joyfully pick out the foods we will need in the next few days. I wonder how much of this change will reverberate through the coming days and months after I finish the diet? I hope I can learn a lot from this dieting experience and carry it with me, not only for myself but for my family. We will see!

Day 8- Strawberry smoothies, BAD!

Yesterday, we stopped by the roadside coffee stand and I ordered a tea and a strawberry smoothie for the girls. Well, I took a tiny, tiny taste, and I am hear to tell you it is so true- DON'T GIVE IN! Your body is a sponge and any deviation will slow your weight loss. I also wore some more makeup which didn't go so great also. I really miss makeup. :( Oh, and I also had 100 grams of beef for dinner, which is allowed but it is cautioned that the marbling in hamburger is too excessive in American beef. So, I think these factors had much to do with not much weight loss yesterday. See below.

weigh in: 169 pounds
loss of: 0.8 pounds
total loss to date: 11.2 pounds

I could actually feel that I hadn't loss hardly any weight. It is amazing because being on the weight loss program I can feel the fat being removed from the outside of my body not empty from the inside out, if that makes sense. I am not hungry. I don't feel weak. I don't feel depleted. I can already see that the composition of fat deposited in my body is changing and shifting. My arms and tummy are really decreasing and I am starting to see more of a waist, which I never really have had before! :)

I am still having extreme will power struggles. I want to eat a chocolate chip cookie so bad! :) I am not hungry just psychologically think it would taste wonderful. But, it will be worth it in the long run. I will feel better about myself and once I am done with the diet I can just keep up maintenance with an exercise plan, weigh in every day to keep tabs on gain or loss, and a diet that will hopefully be much improved after 40 days of sticking with it.

Lunch: poached egg, strawberries, cucumbers, grissini breadstick (I finally got some of these and they are kind of nice to add to the diet, these and Melba toast are allowed, but no more than 2 a day) and tea.

I will update the rest of this day as soon as possible. The girls and I are headed off to Vedauwoo for a little hike and reconnection with nature. :)