The end of phase 2, round 2!

Yes, you read right--I've just about completed my second 40-day round of shots! Yay! Yesterday was my last injection day, so I have one more day of following VLC diet--and then phase 3! I can't wait. I already stocked up on cheese, nuts, and a few vegetables I've been wanting to have.

I supposed you're wondering about the final results--both rounds totaled together, I lost 54 pounds! I was trying to make it to 55, but didn't quite make it. The first round I lost 27 pounds--then gained back 6 during loading days. Then amazingly, I lost 27 pounds again (isn't that weird? I lost the same amount, to the pound!) But if you add the 27 pounds plus the fact that I lost the 6 pounds from loading days, I technically lost 33 pounds this round! Amazing!

As I posted earlier, my newfound hunger never left me, and I do think now it's because I switched to subcutaneous injections (in the belly fat instead of in the muscles) and I didn't really change my dose. Next time, I will mix the hcg with about half the water and hopefully I will be able to inject in my thighs again.

What happened was, a friend showed me how to mix it and we mixed the whole bottle of bacteriostatic water--I think it's 20 ccs--with the hcg. Consequently I had to inject more than 1 cc in my upper thighs, which is a lot of liquid! This round my legs started hurting all over, in places where I'd gotten the shots, and the weird thing is they are still hurting in places! Victoria Smith said if you get a real bruise it can last for a couple of months, so I hope that's it and it will go away. Anyone else experienced this and have any advice?

But the IM worked so much better as far as cutting hunger, so if my thighs aren't better for next round I've got to figure out somewhere else to do the injections that I'm not scared to try. I just don't know where to inject in the arms, or shoulder or whatever it is--I even looked up the chart online on where to inject--but I just couldn't figure it out. It's not the same as having someone tell you where to do it.

Anyway--it's late at night again and I'd better go to bed. I plan to try to post some pictures soon, if I can figure it out. I'm quite tired of seeing my photo on the intro page, since I'm squinting. Also, I do look 54 pounds lighter now!

Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well, and keeping on keeping on. Take care, Merry

50 pounds lost!

Well, here I am late again--both late at night and late in updating my blog. But the good news is, as you can see from the title, that yes, I lost 50 pounds total (combining the two rounds)! I'm so excited! I still have about a week to go on this round, so we'll see what I can get up to before my next break. I have to say that in a way, it doesn't even feel like any time has passed--like the weight really is "falling off" as they say. I have really felt a lot of energy most of the time, and it has gone very well.

There are a few differences this round however--one, lately I've been more hungry, and I've wondered if I'm becoming immune? Or, is it that I can't find my candida-G so haven't been taking it? --But I haven't really been having sugar cravings, so I don't think that's it. I also have switched to the subcutaneous shots in the belly, instead of intramuscular in the thigh--so it makes me wonder if I'm absorbing it the same way, thus contributing to my hunger. And the last possible reason is, perhaps my hcg has lost potency, as it's been about 2 weeks now since i mixed it up. So I don't know what to do to change it to see what would make me less hungry.

In fact, I've been dreaming a bit of phase 3--I can't wait! I've even considered ending this round a little early, because I was in a stall anyway. But I probably will keep going, just to get down to the lowest liw I can before I stop losing weight for a while on the break in between rounds. I'm thinking I probably won't start until after Christmas, what with holiday eating and all, although my eight weeks break should end right when Thanksgiving is starting.

Well, it's midnight now, and I'm falling asleep--there's still lots more to update you on, but I think it will have to wait now! Good night! --Merry

Here comes the stall..

Well, yes, people say that in the third or fourth week the stall comes, and that was true of me last week. I had a few days running the same, then lost a pound or two, then started another stall. So, I don't feel like I've been making lots of progress in some ways--but I know I am! Some people say to take measurements during the time, which I may still do. Part of it may also be that I'm a bit sloppier in weighing my food lately, but sometimes I just don't care and do what I have to to get me through it.

Also, I wonder if perhaps my hcg mixture was losing potency--last round I found it was losing potency after three weeks, and when I re-mixed it I was ready to go again. So, I didn't wait this time, and re-mixed it yesterday. I was trying to give my sister a tutorial about how to mix it, because she is thinking about starting it herself.

Anyway--sorry I didn't write in here for a while again, but I notice if I'm stalling out I'm not as motivated to write. But I HAVE been losing--I have now officially lost 16 pounds this round! This makes my total for both rounds (subtracting loading gain weight)--drum roll--43 pounds! Not too shabby! In fact, sometimes I can't believe I've lost that much just since April 26, first day of VLCD! That's in four months! So I am happy, even in the midst of a stall.

I also just switched from doing the intramuscular shots (IM) in my thighs to subcutaneous shots (IM) in my belly. I wrote in to the HCGdieters forum for advice because although I had no pain when I gave myself shots, afterwards the muscles in my thighs were aching for days on end! My thighs felt like pin cushions! They said I could use the longer needles that are used for IM if I didn't inject it as far in, and so far it's hurt much less in the belly. I do seem to have a bit more hunger today, though--but I didn't yesterday. So I don't know what the difference is. I will keep doing it in the belly for a while though. I may get up enough nerve to try it in the deltoid muscle of my upper arm--but I'm afraid I won't be able to find it! By the way, one person on the forum said I may have pain after the shots because of the way I mixed the hcg up--I've had to give myself shots with a bit over 1 cc liquid, which could contribute to the pain, one person said. But I don't know how to mix it any other way (I'm bad at math)--I'll have to eventually get my friend to help me with it, but probably not until next round!

The other thing that happened was--I ate too many tomatoes, and I think was getting too acidic! My lips are dry and chapped and I had a cold sore on the corner of my mouth. Today and yesterday I concentrated on no tomatoes, and the cold sore went away. My lips are still chapped, even with putting on lip balm (which I worry will contribute to my stall.) But oh well, what can you do?

Well, thanks for reading! Hope you are well! Until next time, Merry