R1P2D40 Last Dose Day

It's Tuesday morning and the scale says 207.9 pounds for a loss of 1.3 pounds yesterday. I feel a wee bit backed up this morning and it's probably because I eat dinner kind of late.

Yesterday I had strawberries with stevia, coffee with moo and stevia, chicken with spinach, 2 grissini, 1 melba, grilled chicken with spinach, 2 grissini, shrimp on skewer with roasted garlic asparagus, apple pie (yummy!).

Tomorrow morning's weigh in will be my Last Dose Weight. That is the weight I will be stabilizing at during P3 and P4. So today I am going to make it a good day!

R1P2D39 Hello Monday

It's Monday morning (sigh) and the scale says 209.2. I'm pretty sure judging by my full stomach that this is related to daily movements and again not drinking enough water. I definately feel thinner, so I'm not worried.

Yesterday I had a strawberry smoothie, coffee with moo and stevia, a nice rare lean grilled hamburger, onion strings, 2 grissinis, orange spice iced tea, orange slices dipped in 1T cocoa and stevia, fresh snapper in white wine garlic sauce with roasted fennel.  Delish!!!

Preparing for Phase 3

This week I will move into P3. My last HCG dose is Tuesday night and I weigh in for my last dose weight (LDW) on Wednesday morning. From Wednesday to Friday lunch I continue with P2 VLCD, then Friday dinner (72 hours after last dose) I have my first P3 meal.

In P3, you have no sugar or starch at all. You add in good fats. You eat in your normal calorie range. So I'm going to check a few websites to estimate my calories range.

I have read suggestions to follow Atkins Induction for P3, so I will research that today. I'm going to make up a menu for the first week of P3 so I get it right.

R1P2D38 Weekend

It's Sunday morning and the scale says 208.5 pounds. I lost another 0.7 pound yesterday for a total weight loss of 22.5 pounds from starting weight. Yay!

Saturday's menu was a strawberry smoothie, leftover orange rosemary fish with 3 shrimp (to make 80 gm since it wan't enough fish) and spinach salad, 2 grissini, leftover chicken with sweet and sour sauce (strawberry and apple cider vinegar), iced coffee with moo and chocolate stevia, strawberries with vanilla cream stevia and cinnamon.

R1P2D37 Week 5 Numbers

It's Saturday morning the end of Week 5 and the scale says 209.2 pounds so I am down 0.5 pounds from yesterday. That makes 4.3 pounds lost this week and 21.8 pounds lost from starting weight (26.8 from load weight). I took measurements today and have lost 5 more inches this week for a total of 28 inches. Yay!!! I think that is great.

Yesterday my meals were a strawberry smoothie, leftover orange rosemary fish, tomato soup, Chicken Sausage Apple Stuffing [chicken sausage (ground chicken with sausage seasonings) and diced apple, 1 T minced onion with 2 crushed melbas all sauteed together], sea salt & cracked pepper baked radish chips, coffee with moo, and apple pie (baked apple with apple pie spice and stevia). I think the salt in some things has me retaing water again. My body seems to not like as much salt as I like to taste and I need to learn to have less.

R1P2D36 Black Friday

So Thanksgiving is over and this morning the scale says 209.7 which is only a 0.4 pound gain. Not bad! I know that the reason is too much salt, not enough water and no exercise. Today I am going to work on those.

Thanksgiving day menu was yummy for P2 foods. I had an orange pumpkin spice smoothie, coffee with moo and stevia, shrimp cocktail with cucmber tzaziki salad, 1 grissini, herbs de provence chicken saute with pan gravy and onion melba stuffing and oven baked onion strings.  I was going to have crustless apple pie but I was too full!

R1P2D35 Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!! I weighed in at 209.3. Dropped 1.2 pounds yesterday. Thank you to HCG and Dr. Simeons! That makes 21.7 pounds so far. I'm loving it! And I feel great too, I have good energy and feel healthy.

Yesteday I had strawberries, coffee with moo and stevia, chicken and spinach with 1 tsp of ranch dressing, 2 grissinis. After work I had to run to a hair appointment so I stopped for one half a cup of Panera's onion soup no cheese, croutons or bread (ate most of the onions) and iced tea, and when I got home I had orange rosemary fish. I really like fish or shrimp when I have to eat late night because it is light on my stomach.

R1P2D34 Two OH Pounds Gone!

It's Wednesday morning and I weigh 210.5! I lost 0.9 pounds yesterday. I am down 20.5 pounds from my starting weight and 25.5 from loading weight. That is 0.62 pounds/day. So nice!

Yesterday I ate strawberries, 2 melbas, 2 grissinis, chicken, 1/3 of 140 calorie Atkins bar, coffee with moo and stevia, sauteed garlic shrimp with spinach, mandarin orange slices with 1 T cocoa sauce (cocoa, water and stevia.) I love my little chocolate fix even if it is off protocol, same with the Atkins bar.

I had a couple stressful events yesterday and I am not thrilled that I still turned to food for relief, even if I did minimize it. It seems like I should think of an alternative for next time. Deep breathing, take a walk or something.

R1P2D33 Another Pound Down

Its Tuesday morning and the scale is at 211.4 so I lost 1.1 pounds yesterday! Yay me and HCG.
My menu was strawberries, coffee withmoo and stevia, chicken with spinach salad, 2 grissini, orange rosemary tilapia and balsamic roasted asparagus.

R1P2D32 Monday Morning

Monday morning (sigh), the scale says 212.5 today. No gain, no loss.

Yesterday I ate an orange, coffee with moo and stevia, lean burger with sauteed celery (not so great), 2 grissini, iced green chai tea with stevia, sauteed garlic shrimp with spinach (a new favorite). My non-stick fry pan got a workout this weekend.

Around 3 pm I pulled in to the mall parking and got a tinge of acid reflux in my esophogus. I drank some water and then it was gone. I think I had not drank enough water which is still an issue for me. Also, I think it was the coffee right after the orange that did it. So I need to drink tea regularly and coffee as an occasional treat, but not with citrus, that is too much acid at once.

R1P2D31 Nice Drop

It's Sunday morning and I weigh 212.5 pounds for a loss of 1.2 pounds which brings the total to 18.5 pounds so far in Round 1.

So this weekend I have been struggling to get some listings on eBay to sell some of the stuff I have piled up in my living room to garage sale. And last night I went to see the Harry Potter movie which let out at 10pm so I was cooking dinner at 10:30pm. I wasn't too hungry so I made a light meal and it was good.

So yesterday I had a sweet navel orange segmented with cinnamon sprinkled on it, large iced coffee with 2 moos and stevia, rare grilled burger with tomato soup, 1 grissini, a late night dinner of sauteed garlic shrimp and spinach.

R1P2D30 Harry Potter

It's Saturday morning and I weighed in at 213.7 for a gain of 0.8 pounds. I would guess it was the extra carbs, supposed to only have 2 grissini or 2 melba, and probably not enough water. Also my TOM is on Day 10 which could be making me retain water. I may need a round of progesterone if it continues to next week.

So for this fourth week I have lost 5.1 pounds and 1.25 inches, all off my waist! All in all I have lost 17.3 pounds and 23 inches in four weeks!! And I have 14 more days left in P2 to lose more!

Friday I ate an orange smoothie, coffee with moo and stevia, chicken with tomato sauce, 4 grissini and a melba, sauteed shrimp and wilted garlic spinach with sweet and sour sauce and strawberries with chocolate sauce (1 T cocoa with stevia and water.)

I am going to see Harry Potter tonight at the 7pm show so I will be sure to eat right before so I can deal with the popcorn aroma. I think I will bake some radish chips, they are almost like eating popcorn!

R1P2D29 A Cold

It's Friday morning, the scale reads 212.9 pounds which is a 0.7 pound loss for yesterday. The last two days I have been really tired and I think the reason is that I was fighting off a cold or something. I was headachy and tired and dehydrated. So I slept a LOT the last two nights and drank a lot of water and today I am feeling a bit better.

Yesterday's menu was a strawberry smoothie, coffee with moo and stevia, grilled chicken and romaine, 2 melba toasts, soy ginger tilapai, tomato soup, mandarin orange cup (in water not syrup).

R1P2D28 Thai Lunch

It is Thursday morning and the scale reads 213.6 so that is 0.9 pounds lost yesterday!

Yesterday I began to feel tired all day, when I got home from work I just went to bed without eating my dinner. My friend that I work out with also didn't feel good and she thinks she may be getting the flu. I feel a little better this morning but still a little tired maybe from skipping dinner.

Yesterday I ate 6 strawberries with stevia for breakfast. I went out to a Thai place for lunch with friends and ordered steamed chicken and onions with nothing on it and the owner of the place was so nice and accomodating. I had 4 grissini in the afternoon.

R1P2D27 Working Out

It's Wednesday morning and the scale says 214.5 for a loss of 1.1 pounds. Losing again! Yay! It is good to see the scale moving again! I feel good today after yesterdays workout. I recommend working out but gently, don't push. It affects my body chemistry and makes me feel better. At the gym, I had energy but my muscles felt weak on the machines. As the fat releases from muscle areas the muscles are temporarily too long and it takes more extension to get them to work.

My meals were strawberry smoothie, tea with moo and stevia, chicken and spinach, 4 grissini, taco lean ground beef with celery scoopers.

R1P2D26 Stalls

It's Tuesday morning and the scale says 215.6 so I'm at the same weight for 3 days in a row which sounds like a stall, but really that is typical for the protocol. During weight stalls, the body is losing inches. Dr. Simeons manuscript is aptly titled "Pounds and Inches". Weight is lost in a stairstep manner. I just need to drink the water and stay the course and it will come off.

Yesterday's menu was strawberry smoothie, tea with moo and stevia, chicken and spinach salad, 3 grissinis, 1 bite (1/6) of an Atkins bar (CHEAT). Okay I had my first cheat. I was avoiding homemade cookies brought in by a coworker and it was making me crazy, so I figured this was the lesser of two evils. For dinner, fish and tomato soup and strawberries with 1 T chocolate dipping sauce (1 T no sugar Hersheys cocoa with chocolate stevia and water - off protocol.)

I am having my TOM and I suppose this may be contributing to some emotional food cravings. Hormones are a problem for me. I stopped the progesterone during TOM but maybe I should continue it.

R1P2D25 The Weekend

It's Monday morning and the weekend flew by as usual. The scale reads 215.7, same as yesterday and Saturday so no loss all weekend. I know one reason is not drinking enough water because I just don't think about it. Next weekend I am going to make a pitcher of lemon water and keep it in the fridge that I have to finish each day so I have a visual goal to meet.

I went shopping for pants since mine are too loose now and found 2 pair of size 20 that were inexpensive since I won't be in them for very long.

On Saturday I had strawberry smoothie, coffee and moo and stevia, shrimp with radishes and radish chips, 2 grissini, lean rare burger with tomato soup, baked apple with cinnamon and stevia.

On Sunday I ate a strawberry smoothie, tea with moo and stevia, gyro seasons steak with cuke ranch salad (taste like tzaziki), 4 grissini, ginger soy fish with asparagus and tea with moo and stevia. I never very hungry with is evidence to me that the HCG is working.

R1P2D23 Fat Burning Machine

It's Saturday morning and after two days of solid losses I expected a slight gain. The scale says 215.7 for a loss of 1.1 pounds! I am a fat burning machine! Total losses from loading day are 20.3 pounds and from start day are 15.3 pounds! That's 5 pounds a week. That motivates me to follow the protocol exactly, because it works. Today I also took my measurements and I lost 6.5 inches last week for a total to date of 21.75 inches! Yay!

Yesterday I had a strawberry smoothie, coffee with a moo and stevia, chicken and romaine, 3 grissini, lean ground beef burger grilled rare (yum), oven roasted onion strings (great substitute for french fries) and an orange smoothie.  The food is very satisfying and I am not hungry except right before meals a little.

I am doing okay without the Prilosec. I had some uncomfortable gas, burping and sick feeling between lunch and dinner but that's all. I forgot to bring the digestive enzyme capsule to work yesterday. I'll be sure to take one today with lunch and see if that helps.

I would also like to get off my blood pressure meds one day. I have a cuff at home and will check it more often to see if anything is changing. This morning the middle of 3 readings is 116/73 (high 125/73 low 91/63.)

R1P2D22 Huge Release!

It's Friday morning and the scale reads 216.8. That's 1.9 pounds lost yesterday. Woo hoo! Now, I understand I may get some back today if it was partially water, but I am still thrilled and amazed. It is more surprising because I got TOM yesterday, well maybe, I never know what is going on since menopause decided to wreck havoc on  my cycles.

Yesterday, I had strawberries with a melba, coffee with moo and stevia, chicken and 2 oz spinach (wasn't hungry), 2 grissini, fish with orange sauce and tomato soup made from 1 tomato and 1/2 can tomato paste. Dinner was yummy! I love the tomato soup.

I stopped taking my daily 20 mg Prilosec on Sunday. I just forgot. I had been researching about how to stop taking it. I have been on it for almost 10 years. So Tuesday when I felt fine, I decided to continue not taking it. Tuesday night Donna suggested I take digestive enzymes. Yesterday I felt some gas and bloating and I went to Nutrition World and bought some enzymes. Took 1 with dinner and had a soft, light dinner and feel good this morning. I hope I am able to stop, because I usually get rebound acid but that has not happened this time. More proof to me of how good this protocol is for my body.

R1P2D21 Outback

Today the scale reads 218.7, which is a 1.2 pounds loss from yesterday. I think I will gain some back today because I only drank about 60 oz. I need to try a different approach to getting in the water. I got in a workout at the gym with Jennifer after lunch.

Yesterday I ate strawberries with 1 melba and cinnamon for breakfast, chicken with spinach, lemon and Frank's original hot sauce for lunch, coffee with moo and stevia, then went out for dinner for the first time.

So last night, I was invited to dinner at the Outback Steakhouse with some friends. I worried for nothing. I ordered the "Filet Wedge Salad Tender sliced filet with a cool, crisp wedge of fresh Iceberg lettuce, Blue Cheese dressing, grape tomatoes, red onions, bacon and Blue Cheese crumbles, drizzled with a sweet balsamic glaze" - no blue cheese dressing, no tomatos, no bacon, no crumbles, no glaze. Just filet, lettuce, and I kept the red onion for a little seasoning. I asked the server if they had apple cider vinegar or soy sauce. She was so sweet she said she would go next door to the Chinese place and get soy sauce for me! When it came I asked her if she knew how many ounces of meat it was, and she said 3-4 ounces. Great, I could eat it all. Turns out I could only eat half. I weighed the other half at home and it was 2.2 ounces and had a narrow bit of fat on the side that I would cut off if the restaurant was better lit (I didn't see it.) I need to make my own dressing and find a way to bring it with me.

Before Photos

I posted my before photos. That was me. I knew it. I accepted it. I didn't hate myself. I did not know how I got that way. No, it wasn't from eating too much. I'm not a glutton and I'm not lazy. I tried to lose weight for 10 years. Now finally, I feel hope. I understand how my body works, and I can gain control over my weight.

I have learned so much since I stumbled upon HCG in Google search one day back in September. HCG is truly the obesity cure. There is no way I could be taking this journey without it. It is hard to imagine that in such a short time, from reading Dr. Simeons protocol guide in his book Inches and Pounds and from following the knowledgeable people who post on Yahoo HCG Dieters group, that I would have a complete change in how I think about what is in the food I eat and obesity. I know that obesity isn't just being fat, it's a specific kind of fat locked in the adipose tissues. I know that the real cause of obesity is ingesting too much sugar and starch, not from eating fat. That it causes a disfunction of the hypothalmus gland. I know from watching the video "Sugar:The Bitter Truth" by Dr. Robert Lustig how harmful high fructose corn syrup is to my body. And from watching "Food, Inc." the movie, how prevalent corn is by all its pseudonyms in our food supply. And being an avid label reader now how most packaged, processed foods contain some version of sugar or starch added to it.

R1P2D20 In the Teens!

Today I weigh 219.9. Long time no see. I had to look twice because I didn't recognize the number. LOL  So that means I lost 0.7 pounds. 16.1 lost from loading day and 11.1 from starting weight.

My meals yesterday were satisfying. I had a strawberry smoothie, coffee with moo and stevia, lamb with cinnamon and garlic and spinach with a dressing of braggs, stevia and mustard. I know it sounds weird but I was going for gyro meat and it was good! 4 grissini. Tilapia microwaved in Braggs, stevia and ginger sauce, and raw radishes. Then strawberries with 1/2 melba crumbs and cinnamon. 

R1P2D19

It's Tuesday morning, Day 19 and the scale says 220.6. That is 0.3 pounds lost yesterday. I worked out with my girl friend after work.

I had an orange cream smoothie for breakfast, coffee with moo and stevia, chicken with spinach and 1 T dressing of mustard and red wine vinegar. 2 grissini and tea at 4pm, 2 grissini at 6pm before going to the gym for an 40 min work out; 10 min cardio and 30 min upper body. Dinner was shrimp cooked with tomato, oregano, garlic and dried red pepper and raw tomato slices with basil. Too full and tired at 9:30pm to have the second fruit. I ate too late and feel full this morning. I should try to eat earlier.

R1P2D18 Trust the Protocol

It is Monday morning and the scale reads 220.9. After the stall on Friday, the same thing happened on Saturday, then I actually gained on Sunday! I was worried. But today all of that was released plus 0.4 pounds more. I will take that for a weekend. And the lesson learned is to relax and trust the protocol. It works.

Saturday morning I only had coffee with moo and stevia, and since the weather was very cool, I went outside to do about an hour of garden work to my front entrance that was sorely needed. I had to take it slow and drink a lot of water but afterwards I felt great. I had chicken with cooked spinach for lunch and sweet and sour shrimp with roasted radishes for dinner. It was so yummy, the sweet and sour sauce was made with strawberries, apple cider vinegar and stevia. I had the rest of the strawberries crushed for dessert with 1.5 crushed melbas with cinnamon. More yummy. I was quite satisfied with my meals today.

Sunday I rested most of the day. I had a strawberry smoothie, the last taco burger with tomato soup. I had to cook up more burgers at dinner time. This batch I grilled rare the way I like burgers and they were SO enticing that I had to have one for dinner too, although I normally would not have beef twice in the same day because it is more calories. I roasted onions two ways, sweet thick slices and thin crispy strings with a little spicy seasonings. Delicious! I was not hungry after, so I skipped the second fruit.

I measured on Saturday and I lost 7.05 inches last week,  and a total of 15.28 inches to date.

Today is Day 18, I am down 15.1 from loading day (0.839/day), and 10.1 from Day 1 (0.561/day). I'm happy with that!

R1P2D16 What's the Culprit?

It is Saturday morning, time for the weekly check in. I lost 3.9 pounds this week and 7.0 inches. Yay!!! 4 pounds in a week is great for me, but I think I can do even better. I need to strictly limit the grissini and melba and moos. I need to meet the 100 oz of water daily.

Yesterday I was pretty active and I thought I would lose more after stalling the day before. This morning the scale says 221.1. So that is 0.2 pounds lost. Dr. Simeons says we need to check our food if there is a stall to find a reason. The first thing that comes to mind is that I am still having a hard time getting in the 100 oz of water. I'm going to get a large pitcher with just that amount that I have to finish each day. Also, I noticed that the garlic paste in the tube that I love so much has sunflower oil and olive oil. So that could be it too. I'll save that for P3. Third thing is that I have used tomato paste instead of tomato in the last few beef meals and the label says it is 50 cal for 1/3 of the 6 oz can, so it is much more concentrated that real tomato. I counted the calories but I think I wll stick with real tomato.

Here is my meu from yesterday. I had a strawberry smoothie, coffee with moo and stevia, beef with tomato, 1 grissini, fish with onion, and lemonade.  Total 446 cals. My hunger is definately lower. I still am susceptable to craving food that I see in commercials on TV, but I don't feel it in my stomach at all.

R1P2D15 Steady

Weighed in at 221.3 today, no loss or gain. Yesterday, I tried to get in all my water (100 oz) but I think I got only about 80 oz. I had a strawberry slushy, coffee with moo and stevia, chicken and spinach, 2 grissini and 3 melbas, lean ground beef with tomato paste and onions and roasted garlic cooked together which made a tasty sloppy joe mix. I counted the tomato as the second fruit. I am going to make an effort to stick to the 2 grissini or 2 melba on protocol as I am sure the extras are not helping me.

I notice a difference from the progesterone on days I apply it and when I don't. It calms me. I want to get my hormone levels tested so I can get a more specific dosage. I also notice my skin is drying out a lot more so I am applying a protocol friendly lotion on my arms and legs and a deep moisturizer at night on my face and hands. I'm also taking the magnesium, potassium, l-glutamine and l-carnitine which all seem to help me in other ways along with my long list of vitamin supplements, my bp meds and prilosec. Can't wait to get off of the last two soon.

R1P2D14 Busy Week Still Losing

It's Thursday morning Day 14.  I got good sleep last night and I feel good. Have not been hungry at all except a teeny bit by mid-afternoon when I've had too many meetings to stop and get a drink. And I have not been taking enough water so that would help too. Today I am going to try to reach my 100 oz.

I'll try to give a quick recap of each day.

Monday was super busy and stressful. I had to work very late. Despite that I ate well. A strawberry smoothie, coffee with moo and stevie, chicken, salad, 4 grissinis, 1.5 melbas, a mexi burger with celery bites for dinner. 459 cals total. Tuesday morning I had lost 1.6 pounds.

Tuesday also busy and I didn't get my fruit for breakfast. I had coffee with moo and stevia, chicken and salad, 4 girssini, ginger soy fish and asparagus and lemonade (1 lemon and stevia in ice water). At dinner time I wasn't hungry and I had to force myself to eat. Only 347 cals. Wednesday  morning I neither gained or lost.

Wednesday I had strawberry smoothie, coffee with moo and stevia, chicken and salad, 2 grissini and 2.5 melbas. For dinner I had to run to a hair appointment, so I grabbed a chicken that I had bought at lunch and tucked in the fridge, quick nuked it and tucked it in paper towels to eat on the drive there. I should have checked the time around when I was having the melbas and had the chicken instead. When I got home I had a 2 oz serving of mandarin orange. 376 cals total. I am allowed to eat more but Dr. Simeons says those who are not hungry do not need to take in 500 cals. Thursday morning (today) I lost 1.7 pounds.

I'm much better now at taking the sublingual dose. I keep it under the tongue but let it roll to the back sides where there are more glands. I use the 15 mins to write this blog. I use the timer on my iphone.

To me the weight is coming off my back around the bra line and waist the most and a some from my chin and neck and a little every where else. I am down 9.7 pounds from my starting weight in 14 days, so that is 0.7 pounds a day. From 231 to 221.3. I am very happy with that!

R1P2 D10 and D11 Halloween and Nov 1st

On Sunday after having that ill feeling on Saturday night I was not very hungry. I had an orange smoothie, which made me feel full until around 2pm then I had shrimp and asparagus for lunch. At 5pm I just was not hungry and decided I would eat after the movie if I was hungry. I sliced some radishes to bring to the movies.

It was Halloween night and I wanted to leave before kids came for candy, since I had none.  So I went out to buy a new bathroom scale to replace the ancient dial kind I've used forever. The new digital one measures BMI and fat % and some other data and its pretty too, glass and black lucite with silver aluminum bands where you step on it. I don't think I got in all my water since I was driving around.

At 7pm I went to see the Social Network, interesting and it was over at 9:30pm. When I got home I just dosed and went to bed.

Yesterday, Monday morning (11/1) I expected a loss, but I was flat. The new scale said 224.6 and my old one was at 224. I think it was either not enough water or getting ill that caused the stall.

I had a strawberry smoothie, chicken and salad (with a tiny bit of red onion and red wine vinegar and lots of salt and pepper), and during a stressful afternoon ate 4 grissini, coffee with a moo and stevia, and 1 and a half melbas. I also had l-glutamine and l-carnitine capsules opened on my tongue. They both are smilar sweet and sour powders and gives some energy but I like to do it because its allowed and it tastes sort of sweet. Left work at 9:30pm. Had taco seasoned beef and celery cut into dipping size pieces. It was very satisfying to dip the celery into the beef like an appetizer and tasted pretty good too. It was late and I skipped the fruit.

So yesterday was a stressful day like the first day of every month is in my job, and I thought I would gain but today the scale read 223.0. Yay! Lost 1.6 pounds. I love this protocol.