8.2.10 Phase 2 Day 1 .. who's with me?

[ChristiansMom]

Walkingwoman - Yeah, it started over last weekend when we had events going on outside of the home. I was too stressed that I didn't eat - which is a common problem for me. It's either stress because I have too much going on so I don't eat or stress because I'm upset and I over-eat. Luckily I have not had to deal with the second issue since starting hHCG.

Then I started back to work for the first 3 days of this week and it's hard to drink all of my water at work BUT I did manage to drink a lot when I got home at night so I wasn't too far off on that regard but by the time I ate dinner, it was late.. I was tired and not that hungry so I would just eat a portion of meat and veggies and then go to bed. I was not that far off from the 500 calories (between 465-490) over the last 5 days but last night I got much closer and I plan to continue to eat as close to 500 as I can get and drink at least 128oz a day (that is how much we are supposed to try for, right?).. that's equal to 16 (8oz) glasses of water and I'm doing pretty good about hitting that every day.

Last night I made an awesome soup for dinner - I hope I didn't mess up with the spice and such because I'm trying to eat as close to protocol as I can. I also ate more protein and veggies than I might normally, because I needed to hit 500 calories and I hadn't eaten enough earlier in the day.

Soup:
3.9oz Cooked Steak (chopped into tiny pieces)
4.1oz Tomatoes (chopped into tiny pieces)
1/4 of a Clove of Garlic
Shake of dried onions
Shake of garlic salt
A couple of splashes of Tapatio Hot Sauce
Water
1 Garlic Grissini

I heated up a saucepan (for a minute) and then added a very small amount of water.
Added in the dried onion and diced up garlic and let it cook a couple of minutes to infuse the water with the flavor. Then added the steak and a little more water (to just cover). Let it cook for 2-3 minutes.. added tomatoes and more water and continued letting it cook to a boil and then turned down to simmer. Added in the garlic salt and tapatio and more water if needed and kept letting it cook for a few more minutes. Pour into a deep fancy bowl, break apart the grissini and put on top - ENJOY.

I was down 0.8 this morning so a little over 12 pounds since I started. Not as much as most people but I'm not comparing myself because it will drive me nuts. I'm just happy with every single loss.. whether it's small or large.

I'm going to make that soup again but with chicken tonight for dinner. It's very similar to a dish I make for my DH and DS so it felt good to have something that tasted like an old favorite. Theirs is not really a soup and has onion and chili's plus served with tortillas and cheese but I didn't even miss any of those.

Does anyone know how much Potassium we should be taking? I'm taking 1 pill a day but I'm still getting minor cramps in one leg and even my big TOE. It's so weird lol

I'm going to have ground beef, today, for the first time since starting this protocol. Hope it has a positive affect for me.

Keep up the successes ALL of you.

[tempted_by_food]

brittanilh...Dont compare yourself to a man losses it will drive you batty MEN! !!pfft lol. Your doing great thats some great losses!

[tempted_by_food]

ChristiansMom....12lbs is great going!!! I wanted to lose 10 or 15 but I have a funny feeling that wont happen theres my skeptic side at work

[ChristiansMom]

Tempted.. which round are you on again? Sorry.. I need to keep better tabs here with everyone - I'm really bad about remembering details like that :blush:

Everyone should start the top of their post with R1P2D? lol just for me jk

I was originally very optimistic and thought I could lose 30 on R1 but then, changed it to 20. Now I'm thinking I should not have made a goal and just gone with whatever happens, happens.. because I do not want to be disappointed if I do not lose 20 pounds.

I made a delicious soup for lunch today - ground beef, celery, garlic, hot sauce, dried onion flakes and water. Hit the spot. Wasn't as good as last night's soup but I'm saving my tomatoes for dinner.

[CaTriGirl]

Originally Posted by ChristiansMom

Tempted.. which round are you on again? Sorry.. I need to keep better tabs here with everyone - I'm really bad about remembering details like that :blush:

Everyone should start the top of their post with R1P2D? lol just for me jk

I was originally very optimistic and thought I could lose 30 on R1 but then, changed it to 20. Now I'm thinking I should not have made a goal and just gone with whatever happens, happens.. because I do not want to be disappointed if I do not lose 20 pounds.

I made a delicious soup for lunch today - ground beef, celery, garlic, hot sauce, dried onion flakes and water. Hit the spot. Wasn't as good as last night's soup but I'm saving my tomatoes for dinner.

Sounds good. I may need to try that. I made chili once and REALLY liked it. I felt like I was cheating.

I have a goal also, but it's flexible, because I don't want to be disappointed either!

[wendysmiling]

First day of VLC. I wasn't able to eat the 2nd apple afer dinner. No appetite. I have some chicken I cooked in water and it tasted gross to me. Hopefully I'll find a recipe before it goes bad. LOL . I did have the shrimp ceviche and it was awesome.

[tempted_by_food]

ChristiansMom.... lol here you go R1P2D7, so this is my 1st time on HHCG, I have been low carbing for over a year before I found this and got the balls to try it

VLCD7 down 1lb from yesterday that makes 6lbs from load weight and 3.2lbs from my lowest weight, was pleased with the drop today as yesterday was .2.

[catzrule]

Wendy, good going on VLCD1. I hope I'm as lucky on Monday with mine!

TBF, great losses! Look at you go!

[bogusjourney]

Today is my first loading day! Wish me luck!

[catzrule]

Good luck! Tomorrow will be mine!

[brittanilh]

Well, I was only down .2 lbs this morning. I was disappointed and now a bit worried since it is only the 5th day of Protocol. Shouldn't it be a pretty steady loss in the beginning? Now I'm running over EVERYTHING I ate trying to figure out where I went wrong.

I hate to be gross but could it have anything to do with the fact that I haven't had a BM since Sunday? How often do you have one only eating 500 calories a day?

I did eat 1 packet of mustard yesterday - Could that have had something to do with it? Amazing how something so small can make such a huge difference!

I still am not horribly worried about things - A body surely can't hold on to this weight when it's only consuming 500 calories a day!

How has everyone else done so far? I'm anxious to see how others are doing and tweaking on this HCG journey!

[brittanilh]

Originally Posted by tempted_by_food

brittanilh...Dont compare yourself to a man losses it will drive you batty MEN! !!pfft lol. Your doing great thats some great losses!

Thanks Tempted! I appreciate the encouragement! Always needed!

I have decided to ignore how well the BF does for now and focus on me - He is very encouraging though and that helps alot! Love the BF!

[tempted_by_food]

catzrule...Thanx

brittanilh...I was worried too yesterday having a .2 loss but today I had 1lb loss and its day7 for me so dont worry follow the plan the weight will come off Oh and BM could have something to do with it I dont have that problem luckily am regular. Check the contents of the msutard could be sugar in it.

bogusjourney...happy loading

[CaTriGirl]

Originally Posted by brittanilh

Well, I was only down .2 lbs this morning. I was disappointed and now a bit worried since it is only the 5th day of Protocol. Shouldn't it be a pretty steady loss in the beginning? Now I'm running over EVERYTHING I ate trying to figure out where I went wrong.

I hate to be gross but could it have anything to do with the fact that I haven't had a BM since Sunday? How often do you have one only eating 500 calories a day?

You may want to take a magnesium to supplement it helps things move along.
Also Smooth Move tea is terrific take both before bed. I would start with 2 magnesium, just to see how you do with it. Sometimes I need more, some less.

Oh and yes! It can make a difference in the scale!

[brittanilh]

Originally Posted by tempted_by_food

brittanilh...I was worried too yesterday having a .2 loss but today I had 1lb loss and its day7 for me so dont worry follow the plan the weight will come off Oh and BM could have something to do with it I dont have that problem luckily am regular. Check the contents of the msutard could be sugar in it.

Thanks Tempted - I'm so glad to hear you had a 1 lb loss today!! How encouraging!!!

I do always check packaging before I put anything in my mouth so I know that the mustard had no sugar in it but it did have vinegar - Could that have been the culprit? In any case, no more mustard for me!

[brittanilh]

Originally Posted by CaTriGirl

You may want to take a magnesium to supplement it helps things move along.
Also Smooth Move tea is terrific take both before bed. I would start with 2 magnesium, just to see how you do with it. Sometimes I need more, some less.

Oh and yes! It can make a difference in the scale!

Thanks Catrigirl - Always fun to talk about body actions Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely give it a go - Are these things I can buy at my local CVS or Walgreens?

[tempted_by_food]

Vinegar is allowed maybe your body is just trying to get to grips with the losses am sure you will have a great big loss tomorrow

[CaTriGirl]

Originally Posted by brittanilh

Thanks Catrigirl - Always fun to talk about body actions Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely give it a go - Are these things I can buy at my local CVS or Walgreens?

I doubt they'd have Smooth Move there. I get that at my grocery store in the Health Food Section. But they would have Magnesium.

Hang around a little while longer and you will hear a lot more than that!
You missed a certain someone's special greeting to her BF.

[brittanilh]

Originally Posted by tempted_by_food

Vinegar is allowed maybe your body is just trying to get to grips with the losses am sure you will have a great big loss tomorrow

Thank Tempted! - I am most definitely hoping so!!

Originally Posted by CaTriGirl

I doubt they'd have Smooth Move there. I get that at my grocery store in the Health Food Section. But they would have Magnesium.
Hang around a little while longer and you will hear a lot more than that!
You missed a certain someone's special greeting to her BF.

Hmm.. Sounds scary!

I'll have to make a trip to the health food store after work.

Thanks everyone! Very much appreciate all the feedback

[walkingwoman]

Originally Posted by CaTriGirl

Hang around a little while longer and you will hear a lot more than that!
You missed a certain someone's special greeting to her BF.

<---Takes a bow

[catzrule]

*snort!

[ChristiansMom]

wendysmiling - You're doing good.. How is today going for you? I'm looking forward to hearing your successes! Stay focused on your goal

tempted_by_food - You really are doing so well already! Good job! I've done LC, off and on, ever since I joined this site - WAY back in the day. I love it and will never knock it - I think it's even a huge part of this protocol and a good way to focus on eating for the rest of our lives. It works, I just couldn't stay focused on it and I think the resetting of our Hyp (however you spell it) could be the reason it never stuck for me. I do plan to live a LC WOE for the rest of my life once I'm done losing. My body loves it and so does my husband.

bogusjourney & catzrule - Lots of good (((vibes))) being sent to the both of you. Looking forward to getting to know you both on this protocol

brittanilh - Don't be hard on yourself. I told myself before I even began this protocol that I needed to be ok with having a zero loss on some days and maybe even gaining at times but to remember that if I stick to the plan, it will correct itself - it's just our body and brains adjusting. Somewhere I read that no loss days were Tighten and Repair days and I liked that - so that's what I'm calling them. Also, try not to compare yourself with others. Firstly because who knows who is being honest and who isn't about things.. secondly, we're all different and you could be having a slow loss week right now but have an amazing loss week in the future - and I could be the opposite. Just stick to the plan and in the end, we'll both end up in the same place - thinner and happier I also run my head over everything when I do not lose as much as I expect but I don't think that's a bad thing. Keeps us on our toes about what we are putting into our mouths. I ended up checking the garlic salt, I've used for 2 days, last night and it has sugar in it - I was so beyond mad at myself for assuming it was just a "salt" and not reading the label. Live and learn, right? And yes, not having a BM could make a small difference too. Everyone has given you great suggestions - I haven't had a BM in 3 days now so I just took a magnesium and I hope it helps move things along. I bought Potassium, Magnesium and B12 at Rite-Aide. I bought the cheapest ones I could find, which were about $4, $5, $6 a bottle. Nothing too expensive. I have not taken the B12 yet but bought it because everyone talks about it (not sure what it does ) I also picked up a Woman's One A Day but only because I was concerned I wasn't getting enough nutrients on my own. By the way, I doubt the mustard was a bad thing in your diet. It's allowed and so is vinegar so don't stress about it.

I'm rooting for ALL of you

[ChristiansMom]

Now my update

It's a Tighten and Repair Day because I woke up to a 0 loss. Was a little bummed when I first saw it but then quickly got over it. No use letting those feelings linger. Tomorrow is a new day.

Could have been the sugar from the garlic salt.. could have been any number of things. Just going to move forward and see what the rest of the week brings.

I had eggs for lunch today. 1 whole egg + 2 egg whites with salt and pepper. Made scrambled eggs (non-stick pan, no oil or butter or anything else). They wanted to stick to the pan but I refused to allow them They were good and hit the spot and were something "different" for me. I'll have some celery, a grissini and an apple a little later if I'm hungry. Tonight I've decided to just make a burger with onion flakes and a ground up grissini mixed in, wrap it in lettuce with some mustard on top and that will be dinner. Maybe a strawberry smoothie for dessert when DH has his Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich

I was taking to DH today about future plans and time lines for my next phase etc and I told him, I have never been happier to eat LC in my life .. and we both laughed because in the past, it was such a struggle mentally to get into a zone to eat LC and be so limited with food choices but now I know - compared to VLCD, LC (P3) looks like HEAVEN. I'm actually VERY happy I have so much experience with LC recipes and such because I think I'm well prepared to succeed when P3 gets here. I will just need to work on portion control and staying in my 2 pound window.

This weekend I'm doing a bunch of nothing except going to the store to pick up my food for the week and that's about it ... oh and I'm going to make a menu with some new recipes that a wonderful member here sent me

I hope you all have a great weekend of releases!

[CaTriGirl]

Christiansmom - You are doing so fantastic and with such a great attitude! It's inspiring.
Keep up the great work!

[wendysmiling]

I'm down 3 lbs today. It's cool that sodium isn't a factor so much on this protocol.

Yesterday was an apple, ceviche, and for dinner a can of fire roasted tomatoes w/ chopped chicken breast, italian seasoning, garlic and dried onion. It was thick like a stew and really good.

I carry my weight in my stomach and yesterday wore a belt all day at work and I wasn't uncomfortable which is a first. Oh and on the first VLC day I threw on my shorts to go to Wal-Mart and almost lost them in the parking lot.! They came half down one cheek. Even after such a short time I lost enough girth in the gut to cause that to happen. A good thing... but I'm wearing a belt from now on.

[catzrule]

Wendy, way to go!!! (should we call you 'flasher'?)

[walkingwoman]

Wendy, I love your story That's great!

[brittanilh]

Thanks ChristiansMom - Greatful for the encouragment! Very uplifting!

It can be so exciting to drop the weight so fast, then a slow day comes along and just KILLS ya! Ugh!!

Wow Wendysmiling! You are doing so awesome! I wish MY britches were falling down - Even if I had to be nicknamed Flasher!!

I had a 1 lb drop this morning which has made me feel SO much better! I just have to remember to take it one day at a time...

Hard to do sometimes ~ I'm just ready to be out of the 200's (I can see the light at the end of THAT tunnel!) and ready to be thin and healthy and run around like a crazy person and not feel tired after I'm done doing it but happy and healthy and NORMAL!!

[tempted_by_food]

ChristiansMom...yea doing this protocol has really opened my eyes regarding food and my body, I will be sticking with low carb too after, and here was I thinking low carb was getting boring lol I will appreciate it more after P2, even though am enjoying the foods right now.

Wendy...thats a great start

brittanilh...your so close to onderland!!!

VLCD8 down 1.2 today I was suprised of such a nice loss, and this is the 1st time I have seen 165lbs on the scales in over 14 years!

[wendysmiling]

Tsk tsk.... you didn't start your post with "R1P2D?" It would really help. I'd like to see it too.

Originally Posted by ChristiansMom

Now my update

It's a Tighten and Repair Day because I woke up to a 0 loss. Was a little bummed when I first saw it but then quickly got over it. No use letting those feelings linger. Tomorrow is a new day.

Could have been the sugar from the garlic salt.. could have been any number of things. Just going to move forward and see what the rest of the week brings.

I had eggs for lunch today. 1 whole egg + 2 egg whites with salt and pepper. Made scrambled eggs (non-stick pan, no oil or butter or anything else). They wanted to stick to the pan but I refused to allow them They were good and hit the spot and were something "different" for me. I'll have some celery, a grissini and an apple a little later if I'm hungry. Tonight I've decided to just make a burger with onion flakes and a ground up grissini mixed in, wrap it in lettuce with some mustard on top and that will be dinner. Maybe a strawberry smoothie for dessert when DH has his Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich

I was taking to DH today about future plans and time lines for my next phase etc and I told him, I have never been happier to eat LC in my life .. and we both laughed because in the past, it was such a struggle mentally to get into a zone to eat LC and be so limited with food choices but now I know - compared to VLCD, LC (P3) looks like HEAVEN. I'm actually VERY happy I have so much experience with LC recipes and such because I think I'm well prepared to succeed when P3 gets here. I will just need to work on portion control and staying in my 2 pound window.

This weekend I'm doing a bunch of nothing except going to the store to pick up my food for the week and that's about it ... oh and I'm going to make a menu with some new recipes that a wonderful member here sent me

I hope you all have a great weekend of releases!