16 Pounds Gone!

Oh, it feels good writing those words. Tomorrow is my 23rd injection, and I'm really considering when to stop so I don't get immune. I'm thinking Tuesday or Wed. will be my last dose, and then the three days on VLCD without the shots--so I'll finish Friday or so. I really want to be done by the weekend, because I'm going to a seminar all day Saturday, and it's much easier if I can eat a bit more. I probably will still bring my lunch, but I'm really looking forward to more protein!

And speaking of protein, we just got a fourth of a cow, and it's all neatly in the freezer! I can't wait to have a big juicy steak, but although steak is allowed on phase 2, I don't know how lean this meat really is, so I don't know if it's okay. I did have some of the hamburger, but I rinsed it off really well first. On the other hand, I didn't lose anything that day either, so I'm thinking to wait of the steak.I was really hoping to lose 20 pounds this round, so we'll see if I make it. I'm tempted to try some coconut oil too, which seems to break a stall for some people. If tomorrow I'm still the same--which will be day 4 of the stall--I'm definitely going to try adding coconut oil! A woman on the hcgdieters group said she and a few other people added it every day, not even counting calories, and she though it helped them lose faster! So it's worth a try!

People are saying I look thinner too Yay! So I feel good about that, but I wish my hunger wouldn't be so strong this time. I still think I need to adjust the dose. Actually, I re-mixed it and froze some of the syringes, only saving out 6 syringes in the fridge. So I'll have to see how it works! Well, it's after midnight again and I need to get to bed! Until next time, Merry

Lost 11 pounds in 11 days! It's working!

Well hello again and Happy Valentine's Day to all! I did give my kids and husband some little V. day treats, but I was happy okay with just the cards I got from them. I'm thrilled to be losing a pound a day, on average--there was one day when I lost a half a pound, and then the other pound and a half came off--but basically it is a pound a day.

I have to say I've been hungrier this time though--I don't know if I'm giving myself enough HCG. I think I'm going to adjust my dose tomorrow, because every time I see a photo or hear the name of a different type of food, I start wanting it. I've been trying to remember to take candida G, which helps with cravings--but I seem to be craving my comfortable phase 3 foods, like peanut butter, cheese, etc. But since I'm doing a shorter round this time--either 3 or 4 weeks, depending--I just tell myself, "only two more weeks," and it helps me get past it.

The thing is, I didn't have to do that on the other 2 rounds--except for the first week or so, when I'd be hungry and maybe weak and dizzy even. I guess it is still just a week and a half, so maybe this will go away too.

But all in all, I'm excited and can tell I'm skinnier already. I've now lost a total of 49 pounds since starting the protocol last April 26, 2008! I still have a lot more to go--but it's like a long endurance race, isn't it? So I'm running the race to win!

Well, take care--until next time, Merry

8 Pounds Gone this round in 7 days!

Hello, all! Sorry late again. It's been going very well--I had gone off sugar and most carbs before I started the low calorie diet, so I didn't have the carb withdrawal. I really recommend doing that if you're getting started!

I know I said I wasn't going to gain during my loading, but guess what. I did. So I started out 16 pounds above my last injected weight. So my total loss since starting the challenge is now 46 pounds. Still good! I bagged up some of my old clothes to give away--I'm never wearing them again! I am determined to get to my goal this time, no matter how long it takes!

And that's a change from before--always before I'd save my bigger clothes "just in case." But I really believe this time what I lost is NOT coming back.

So--what are the keys I've found to success on this protocol? I have listed some of them in the past, but I'll go over them again here:

1. Miracle Noodles--what a life-saver! If you don't know about them, they can be ordered at miraclenoodle.com and they are a Japanese noodle with NO CALORIES! They are made out of a plant which provides fiber, so they also help keep me from getting constipated on this diet, which is easy to have happen! I have these every day if I can, usually in a can of organic, no-salt added tomatoes, which I heat up and add spices and garlic--sometimes I add lower fat ground beef (4 percent fat) or my chicken breast for the meal.. YUM! I find I even want this on phase 3 and 4--except then I add zucchini and other vegetables and CHEESE--it tastes a lot like lasagna to me then!

2. Stevia--this sweetener is one of the few healthy ones out there, and I add it to my lemon water every day--it helps me keep drinking lots of water. I also have it in my tea or coffee. Sweet Leaf brand is best. It comes in different flavors which can be added to carbonated water to make root beer or some other flavored waters. The packets of it are okay, but some say the liquid ones avoid the bitter aftertaste.

3. And speaking of coffee--I've been drinking this healthy coffee that actually nourishes the adrenal glands. You can order it from Victoria at significanthealing.com --Also has no caffeine.

4.I love to put cinnamon on my raw cut up apples. Fuji is my favorite. Cinnamon also controls blood sugar. I confess I have two apples a day and they are too big--so I may lose faster if I just had one, but I like them too much and they help me psychologically!

5. Cabbage soup--I often make a big pot of cabbage soup with tons of spices and my chicken and miracle noodles in it. Also filling and yummy!

6.Apple Cider Vinegar--this key ingredient supposedly also helps you lose weight, and is very handy for dressings for salads. My favorite salad dressing: a splash of ACV, fresh squeezed lemon juice, lemon-flavored stevia liquids, and Redmond garlic sea salt.

7. And speaking of sea salt--I found there are certain healthy salts that actually give you lots of minerals and don't raise blood pressure. I always used Celtic Sea Salt, but I recently discovered Redmond Real Salt, which comes in onion flavored and garlic, both organic, which I love.

8. Cucumber "pickles"--I cut up my cucumber in slices and marinate it in the same dressing I said above--lots of apple cider vinegar--but it you add LOTS of healthy garlic salt it tastes a lot like dill pickles!

9. If I really am craving foods, I know I need to take Candida G to help control the yeast imbalance. Also from Victoria at significanthealing.com (although she may switch to a different product that does the same thing she told me.) HCGers get free shipping from her, so mention that.

10. Celery--if I'm still really craving something I give in to celery with a dash of salt on it. It gives a crunch and is only about one calorie per stalk! I've had this at the end of my round, when I'm off HCG and about to start phase 3--the 72 hours on the VLCD is required and sometimes I'm just so hungry by then!

11.Natural Calm--this hot magnesium drink relaxes you and helps with constipation. If you add a little lemon stevia to it, it tastes great too!

12.If you think you might get the late night munches, sometimes I save one of my vegetables to eat later--like the cucumbers, or asparagus! Helps me get through a long night.

Well, there are more tips I'm sure, but I need to go now. That is a pretty good list! Let me know what you think of it! Until next time, Merry

First Day VLCD!

Well, today was the first day on the very low calorie diet, and it went fine. The loading didn't however--I got such bad heartburn on Sunday night, that I couldn't sleep--so I decided to load one more day. Also, I had had my shot so late in the day, it was like it went with the day after. So I feel fine about loading 3 days. Next time, I'm not going to eat such rich foods that gave me heartburn though!

My friend Ann is also starting the hcg diet for the first time, and I was helping her figure out how to mix it today. She had had an appointment with the hcg coach Shalom, but still had a few questions I helped her with. I feel like I should start a support group, since I've learned so much in the last year. This, by the way, will be my third round.

I gained some of my weight back since the second round, plus gained some from loading--so my official starting point this round is about 35 pounds lower than I started, instead of the almost 50 I had lost. But, I really believe I became immune before the 40 days were up, and I was losing the wrong kind of fat, because about 10 pounds came back almost right away. But then I stabilized and stayed pretty much the same--something that never happened on any other diet. This plan is amazing!

So today went pretty well, but I have been feeling a little dizzy this evening. It does take a while to adjust again when you start back on. But I can tell I'm already losing weight, so it's all worth it! Well, it's late again--more later! Until next time, Merry