Ok, I'm doing it.....and I'm nervous!!

[Sun_Luvin]

Got my HCG drops (and 3 kinds of Stevia drops) yesterday. Got the recipe book, handout and manuscript from my local natural foods store. I'm ready. I think

I'm kind of intimidated by all this. I like the simplicity of the foods list. I find that if I have too many options I get overwhelmed and just can't focus. I'm chosing to do this now because DH is out of town for 2 more weeks and it will be easier for me to do this without him here.

So, I'm loading over the weekend and starting VLC on Monday. But I'm admittedly a little confused by all the phases and what not. My handout breaks it down a bit too simply and I want to make sure I do this right. Is it really this simple? According to my sheet I have:

2 days of "pigging out" and taking HCG
23-40 days restricted eating while taking HCG
3 days of restricted eating AFTER finishing HCG
21 days of watching what you eat (maintenance phase - 1500 calories per day)
21 days wait before starting next round of HCG


Is that accurate? And yes, I have read the manuscript, but it's a bit intimidating for me :blush:

[jabbok]

Originally Posted by Sun_Luvin

Got my HCG drops (and 3 kinds of Stevia drops) yesterday. Got the recipe book, handout and manuscript from my local natural foods store. I'm ready. I think

I'm kind of intimidated by all this. I like the simplicity of the foods list. I find that if I have too many options I get overwhelmed and just can't focus. I'm chosing to do this now because DH is out of town for 2 more weeks and it will be easier for me to do this without him here.

So, I'm loading over the weekend and starting VLC on Monday. But I'm admittedly a little confused by all the phases and what not. My handout breaks it down a bit too simply and I want to make sure I do this right. Is it really this simple? According to my sheet I have:

2 days of "pigging out" and taking HCG
23-40 days restricted eating while taking HCG
3 days of restricted eating AFTER finishing HCG21 days of watching what you eat (maintenance phase - 1500 calories per day)21 days wait before starting next round of HCG


Is that accurate? And yes, I have read the manuscript, but it's a bit intimidating for me :blush:

It is only 2 days if you are on the hcg drops after you have done the 21 to 40days of P2.

P3 is where you are stabilizing your weight within a 2 pound window of your ldw, you don't want to maintain only 1500 calories per day unless you only want to eat that much everyday. There are veterans here who will pop in and answer that better for you.

Have fun on your loading days make sure you get lots of good fats and eat things that you really want to eat.

[Sun_Luvin]

Thanks so much!!

I got this info from the handout at the local store. I was asking questions and would say something like "Ok, so in P3 I need to eat low carb?" and she would respond by saying "This whole diet is NO carb!! You can't eat any carbs" then she proceeded to make sure I had my box of Melba toast and recommended a good apple for my meals

Thats why I wanted to come here and get some good info before I got started.

[dawnyama]

Originally Posted by jabbok

It is only 2 days if you are on the hcg drops after you have done the 21 to 40days of P2.

P3 is where you are stabilizing your weight within a 2 pound window of your ldw, you don't want to maintain only 1500 calories per day unless you only want to eat that much everyday. There are veterans here who will pop in and answer that better for you.

Have fun on your loading days make sure you get lots of good fats and eat things that you really want to eat.

Could NOT have said it better myself!! Cindy, my dear, you are a veteran, you have answered very well!!!

[dawnyama]

Originally Posted by Sun_Luvin

Thanks so much!!

I got this info from the handout at the local store. I was asking questions and would say something like "Ok, so in P3 I need to eat low carb?" and she would respond by saying "This whole diet is NO carb!! You can't eat any carbs" then she proceeded to make sure I had my box of Melba toast and recommended a good apple for my meals

Thats why I wanted to come here and get some good info before I got started.

That is typical!!! This diet is NOT low carb. It is unlike anything I have ever seen before. This coming from an 11 year Atkins veteran. LOL. The grissini and melba I have eaten without guilt. And the apples---heaven after having none for practically 11 years Enjoy!!!

[MzMelissa]

good luck, I will be loading with you, heres to a great round.

[Sun_Luvin]

Thanks everyone!!

I just want to make sure I do this right. I would love for my husband to come home to a surprisingly slimmer wife. And it would be my dream to be maybe 15 pounds smaller by Christmas. I have a total of probably 40 lbs to lose to be at a comfortable weight.

I am worried about the cosmetics thing though. How do you do no make-up and still go to work everyday? Shampoo, body soaps.....those are the hurdles I'm trying to wrap my brain around right now.

[dawnyama]

Originally Posted by Sun_Luvin

Thanks everyone!!

I just want to make sure I do this right. I would love for my husband to come home to a surprisingly slimmer wife. And it would be my dream to be maybe 15 pounds smaller by Christmas. I have a total of probably 40 lbs to lose to be at a comfortable weight.

I am worried about the cosmetics thing though. How do you do no make-up and still go to work everyday? Shampoo, body soaps.....those are the hurdles I'm trying to wrap my brain around right now.

Amy,

I lost 15 in my first round. It was enough to make me fit into all my summer clothing that I was unable to wear because I had grown so much from the year before. That was quite exciting!!! I don't wear makeup so I didn't worry too much about that. But I do wash my face!! Just make sure what you use says "Oil free". There are a lot of products that are oil free these days. I used Neutrogena facial soap for my face and they have lotions that are oil free as well! I used Alberto V05 shampoo/conditioner. I went the cheap route as I found it for 69 cents a bottle!! I used Dial soap--no body washes for me. I learned the hard way with a gain the day after I used my Oil of Olay body wash!! It is not forever that you do without oils--just 21 days!!! You can do it!!! I did---hung on for 5 rounds too!!! It is so worth it!!!

[jabbok]

Originally Posted by dawnyama

Could NOT have said it better myself!! Cindy, my dear, you are a veteran, you have answered very well!!!

Thanks Dawn my knowledge came from all of the veterans here on this board.

Sun_Luvin if you have any questions just ask as there are lots of helpful people who are more than willing to answer for you.

[CurveControl]

Originally Posted by Sun_Luvin

Thanks so much!!

I got this info from the handout at the local store. I was asking questions and would say something like "Ok, so in P3 I need to eat low carb?" and she would respond by saying "This whole diet is NO carb!! You can't eat any carbs" then she proceeded to make sure I had my box of Melba toast and recommended a good apple for my meals

Thats why I wanted to come here and get some good info before I got started.

and and another

Originally Posted by Sun_Luvin

Thanks everyone!!

I just want to make sure I do this right. I would love for my husband to come home to a surprisingly slimmer wife. And it would be my dream to be maybe 15 pounds smaller by Christmas. I have a total of probably 40 lbs to lose to be at a comfortable weight.

I am worried about the cosmetics thing though. How do you do no make-up and still go to work everyday? Shampoo, body soaps.....those are the hurdles I'm trying to wrap my brain around right now.

I wear bare minerals so no issue with oils or anything. I do still use CO on the few occasions I do wear mascara because nothing else really gets it off (I won't put soap on my face)
I use suave shampoo and conditioner but I rarely get the conditioner up yo the roots of my hair so that hasn't been a big deal. my lipstick I am sure has some oils or something in it but since I don't go out every day I don't even wear makeup every day. Maybe 2x a week or so.

I just noticed this week that my body wash says it has conditioning vit E pearls but again, I don't know how much it is affecting me. I haven't seen a difference in the days I do shower and I don't (I shower every other day because I get soooo dry in the winter, so I am not *****y or stinky LOL)


and Glad to see you here!!!

[Sun_Luvin]

Thanks everybody!! Gosh, such support!!

I am reading the threads here and trying to get as much information as I can before asking a question for the billionth time :blush: I'm just afraid I'm going to miss something.

But one more: Are you not worried about this protocol forming some kind of obsession about weight control? I know in the manuscript he recommends taking your scales everywhere you go. I'm worried that I'm going to be weighing myself daily for the rest of my life. I don't really want it to turn into that.

[jabbok]

Originally Posted by Sun_Luvin

Thanks everybody!! Gosh, such support!!

I am reading the threads here and trying to get as much information as I can before asking a question for the billionth time :blush: I'm just afraid I'm going to miss something.

But one more: Are you not worried about this protocol forming some kind of obsession about weight control? I know in the manuscript he recommends taking your scales everywhere you go. I'm worried that I'm going to be weighing myself daily for the rest of my life. I don't really want it to turn into that.

I think once you get to goal you will be able to feel if you have put on weight, you probably could go with once a week for weighing. If you do put on some weight you have to make sure to deal with it early so things don't get out of control again.

I am looking forward to having toast with peanut butter for breakfast, have a dessert after a meal without having to worry that I have blown it. I want to be able to enjoy whatever fruit or veggies that I want.

[dawnyama]

Originally Posted by jabbok

I think once you get to goal you will be able to feel if you have put on weight, you probably could go with once a week for weighing. If you do put on some weight you have to make sure to deal with it early so things don't get out of control again.

I am looking forward to having toast with peanut butter for breakfast, have a dessert after a meal without having to worry that I have blown it. I want to be able to enjoy whatever fruit or veggies that I want.

That is it!!! Cindy is on a roll today I can get up in the morning and tell if I am up or down in my weight. It is kind of weird but after doing this for longer than 1 and 1/2 years, I can kind of tell. It gives me a good gague and knowing that I eventually won't HAVE to rely on a scale is good. I hope to one day be like that!!! I still get on the scale every day because I am only in my first few days of P4. I want this one to stick. I agree--I want to eat what my family eats at dinnertime when at a restaurant and not obsess about what I eat. I want to eat a roll, or an appetizer, or 1/2 a dessert on ocassion, and not gain 5 pounds!!! That is what I am looking forward to!

[Sun_Luvin]

Ok, so how do the phases break down? Is this right? Please correct if I'm wrong:

Load days
Phase 1 - very low cal and drops
Phase 2 - no drops maintenance
Phase 3 - conscious eating

[dawnyama]

Originally Posted by Sun_Luvin

Ok, so how do the phases break down? Is this right? Please correct if I'm wrong:

Load days
Phase 1 - very low cal and drops
Phase 2 - no drops maintenance
Phase 3 - conscious eating

Nope. It goes like this:

Phase 2: load days + drops; and very low cal days; + your last 48 hours of no drops and P2 low cal days.
Phase 3: P3 style eating which the rules are no starch and no sugar
Phase 4: eating for life

[CurveControl]

No
IIRC
P1 is some cleanse that no one does LOL
P2 is the loading days and VLCD
P3 is low carb (No startches or sugar)
P4 is maintaining with real foods


OOps posting at the same time!

[torister]

Originally Posted by CurveControl

No

P3 is low carb (No startches or sugar)

Not really low carb...just no sugar/starches.

[Stevie Renee]

You will be a thinner you by Christmas! Guaranteed. It is that effective

Read, read, read...and come here often because it helps with accountability

Good luck!!

[CurveControl]

Originally Posted by torister

Not really low carb...just no sugar/starches.

In another thread I thought someone also said no high glycmic fruit too. How is that not low carb? What can we eat on P3 that we can't eat on LC? Or NOT be able to eat on P3 that we CAN on LC?

I am not sure of the difference??

[Sun_Luvin]

See! I screwed it up before I even started

Ok, got it now.

And I'm reading and trying to absorb all I can. The "no sugar/starches" phase scares me. Is that natural sugar or just white sugar? If I think "low carb" then I will leave out the sugars/starches naturally. But I might be depriving myself of things I could have that I would be afraid of on traditional low carb.

See, it's so complex sometimes

[MellaBella]

Just wanted to say welcome and good luck! The knowledge & support here is great.

[Sun_Luvin]

Another question

The book says at least 23 days on the drops. Does that include the load days? I'm probably going to go past 23 days, but I need to make sure I'm counting right. Do you start counting VLCD after your two load days or do they count as days 1 and 2?

[jabbok]

Originally Posted by Sun_Luvin

Another question

The book says at least 23 days on the drops. Does that include the load days? I'm probably going to go past 23 days, but I need to make sure I'm counting right. Do you start counting VLCD after your two load days or do they count as days 1 and 2?

23 days with drops day 1 and 2 are loading days with 21 days of vlcd or longer if you want.

[Sun_Luvin]

Originally Posted by jabbok

23 days with drops day 1 and 2 are loading days with 21 days of vlcd or longer if you want.

I know that was a stupid simple question. Thanks so much for your patience and help

[dawnyama]

Originally Posted by CurveControl

In another thread I thought someone also said no high glycmic fruit too. How is that not low carb? What can we eat on P3 that we can't eat on LC? Or NOT be able to eat on P3 that we CAN on LC?

I am not sure of the difference??

I continue eating apples in my P3s. Low carb is not no starch and no sugar. Here is a thread that explains what to eat and not in P3:

Phase 3 information for HCG diet

[jabbok]

Originally Posted by Sun_Luvin

I know that was a stupid simple question. Thanks so much for your patience and help

There aren't any stupid questions here just ask away.

[Sun_Luvin]

Two load days done. I was amazed at how little I was able to eat. I thought I would just pig out for two days straight, but I found myself being full almost constantly. I weighed Saturday morning before loading at 185. Sunday I weighed 187. This morning I weighed 186. I just knew I would be up over 187 this morning.

The headaches have already begun. I'm sure it's caffeine withdrawl. I'm dealing with it. It will pass. But my hunger seems bad already. I had my drops at 7:00 and have been drinking on my water. I did slice up my apple this morning and have been munching on my apple slices all morning. Maybe a slice or two every half hour.

Melissa, how are you doing?

[CurveControl]

Originally Posted by Sun_Luvin

Two load days done. I was amazed at how little I was able to eat. I thought I would just pig out for two days straight, but I found myself being full almost constantly. I weighed Saturday morning before loading at 185. Sunday I weighed 187. This morning I weighed 186. I just knew I would be up over 187 this morning.

The headaches have already begun. I'm sure it's caffeine withdrawl. I'm dealing with it. It will pass. But my hunger seems bad already. I had my drops at 7:00 and have been drinking on my water. I did slice up my apple this morning and have been munching on my apple slices all morning. Maybe a slice or two every half hour.

Melissa, how are you doing?

You can have coffee, and diet soda. Why did you cut caffeine out?

[Sun_Luvin]

No diet sodas, right? Can have coffee and tea. I thought I read that if you could do without caffeine then you should. I also lose better without caffeine.

[MzMelissa]

the original plan is coffee tea and water. The newer plans have diet soda's and more veggie choices. I would do what feels best for you. I am trying to stick to original as much as possible without becoming obsessive....
I am doing water tea and coffee.
I am doing great thanks for asking, finished my 1/2 apple (dd finished my other 1/2)lol
am on to green tea now.