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". :))