My HCG Journal. Looks like I need to start one!

[Cruzcrzy]

I'm addicted to Fit Day too! I am not sure how I will account for the mexican food, but, I will. I need to check to see if the restaurant has a website. If they do, I can plug all the stuff in, if not, I will do my best. I think I will be okay, weight wise. Dinner will be VERY light, IF any.

The recliner will be delivered on Wednesday. The one he has now we've had since 1990 and it finally broke. The one I have, I bought from a garage sale a few years ago $15 or $25, can't remember because I also have a wing back chair I bought used from a different garage sale in 2006. With my recliner, his wife was making him get rid of it because it didn't fit in with her decorating scheme. In my younger years, I would have felt the same way, but, now I go for comfort. I don't want or need a new one yet, and am perfectly happy with this one still.

Well, back to a few more things around here.

[CherylB]

That's funny. I love comfortable things, too. I never could get into formal furnishings. I'm glad he got a new one! My latest piece of furniture that I bought second-hand was a wing-backed chair. I didn't realize it was a recliner until the guy was carrying it out to the truck! I love those so much and I had sold a sofa and loveseat last summer. There were four recliners total in those pieces. (Long story about why I sold them.)

As far as logging in that Mexican meal, I'd put things in separately rather than trying to figure the calories for a single item. Break it down into its components and estimate the amounts. If you think it's something you might eat again, maybe create a "new food" and you'll have all the estimates for next time!

I'm going camping on August 15 and I will have to go cold-turkey on logging my food. It will be so weird. I'm tempted to take one of my scales with me, like I would have done if I was on P4. But something about that seems so crazy to me. I think I should just be as careful as I can about what and how much I eat and then deal with the results when I get back home. I'll only be camping for 4 days.

[LilacBruze]

Originally Posted by CherylB

Lilac, I agree that slicking your hair back works for you! You are so pretty. I'm sorry you have MS. How long ago were you diagnosed? I'm glad you had to stop all the tanning. It looks good now but when you're 50 you might look more like 60. It's not worth it!

I have some tanning products that give you a fake tan but they are kind of old. I wonder if they still turn your skin orange! Maybe I'll get wild and apply some so that when we go the lake again this week, I'll look better. (Or more orange.) I can't reach some places on my back, though. Need to find a way to get that area or skip the whole idea.

Marie, how are you doing? Where did you go, my friend? I hope you aren't under the weather. Come out and play!

Lilac, what does the Bruze part mean in your name? I've always wondered.

I had my official one week weigh-in and I have decided that those aren't going to work. If I hadn't caved and weighed last Thursday, I wouldn't have seen the new low weight which is in my ticker. I was 165.6 today so no great news. Slowly, (painfully so) I'm creeping down the scale. I am okay with this because I am enjoying my summer to its fullest and when September rolls around, I'll do my last (hopefully) round of hhcg pellets.

I'm going to take a harder look at the ingredients of the things I'm eating and buying. I have been eating Yoplait yogurts and thought they were healthy for me, but then I read the ingredients label. Too much crap in there for me to be eating it. I will be more choosy from now on.

Five more weeks of my summer eating plan! This is going to be tough to handle.

Have a wonderful Sunday, girls! I'll check back again later.

I was diagnosed with MS 4 years ago. I woke up suddenly one morning unable to use my left leg. I could not feel myself putting any weight on it, it would give out suddenly from under me, I was falling a lot and bumping into things. Not a fun time in my life. That is when I shot up to 290 lbs, the steroids I had to have via IV and then orally had a big part in that but so did some major depression. I miss tanning, but it is not worth it to feel so crappy afterward. I tried some self-tanning lotion earlier in the summer and it was pretty good as long as I kept applying it, but once I stopped, it faded in splotches and looked pretty awful.

LilacBruze is just sort of a nonsense phrase, Cheryl. Lilac for purple, which is my favorite color AND the official color/shrub of the town I live in, Bruze 'cause when I first came up with the screen name LilacBruze, I was falling down a lot and getting tons of bruises. Not very interesting, I know, lol.

Mmmm... Yoplait yogurt! I used to love the Thick & Creamy banana and vanilla flavors. Sigh... I am thinking of going Paleo once I stabilize and sadly enough am seriously considering giving up dairy forever. It will be interesting to see if I can do it or not, I love cheese and cream in my coffee and a nice big, cold glass of milk! But anyway, yes, Yoplait, while very yummy, is really not all that "good" for you. Definitely better than say, a donut or coffee cake, but not by the huge leap you'd think.

You DO know that you were one of my major sources of inspiration and motivation, right Cheryl? When I was struggling with the whole, "Omg, how am I gonna make it 23 days" I would come and lurk here and see you "keeping on" and you totally helped me continue my journey when sometimes all I wanted to do was give up!

[CherylB]

ME?

That always freaks me out when someone says that I was a big inspiration to them. If you really knew me, you'd get the joke!

I have no imagination at all, hence my username of CherylB. I can never commit to something that I may think is stupid later on. Well, not in something so public, that is.

Steroids are some of the worst drugs ever created! Once I really struggled with pain all over my body and I went to see a Rheumatologist that someone recommended to me. All the lab tests checked out negative for Lyme, negative for Arthritis, etc. But since I kept asking her what we could do next about it, she offered to put me on PREDNISONE! I'm a nurse so I knew better than to take her up on that. But how horrible! Don't know what the problem is but the patient has pain? Give 'em roids. (Turned out to be plain old depression. "Depression hurts." Well, that and being ginormous!)

Well, no wonder you gained so much weight! Anyone in those circumstances would have! I'm so proud of you for getting it together and getting your life back. It's never easy, but neither is choosing to continue to live in utter misery! No pain, no gain.

Don't you hate how these sayings are so true? I mean, yes it's nice to have them around at times to have them to call upon, but it's sad that there are universal rules out there that have made them become apparent. Why can't we gain without pain???

I have to just mention something that I have noticed over the six months of my sobriety. I've noticed it in times past when I stopped drinking for a few years or so. It doesn't matter what it is that I'm drinking. I drink one after the other after the other. With booze it showed because I got shnockered (had to clean that up or use symbols), but I do the same thing with cans of diet soda. When I stopped drinking diet soda a week ago, it's water. I have lost count how many bottles of water I've drunk today! And my bottle is about 24 oz (I think.)

Why do I do that? Maybe if I could figure this out I wouldn't have to banish things from my life. But I know I can never risk going back to drinking. I've given it all my best shots and still, here I am. Better to admit defeat and live in happiness and contentment, in full control of my faculties.

Well, I'm going to bed now. I love you all so much! (No, I didn't take my Ambien yet and so that's not why I'm saying that.) I just love having so much support and being able to support others, too. I love LCF!

[CherylB]

Hey, ladies! It's a good morning over here! I'm down 0.6 lbs and that makes my total losses come to a whopping 70 lbs! I love even numbers. They're so neat and tidy! So, I'm almost 3/4 of the way home! Wooohooo!

It's another overcast day here but that means it will be cooler. I can deal with that! In fact, I woke with the dawn today and it may be the perfect day for a Siesta. I'll see if I can manage it.

I hope you all have a lovely day! Let's finish out July strong!!!

[Cruzcrzy]

70 pounds!!!!! That is AMAZING, absolutely AMAZING. I am so very proud of you, and so happy for you! YOU ROCK! Woo-Hoo today I am celebrating YOU.

[Nicole T]

Wow Cheryl...70lbs! I hope you really take the time to reflect on that and truly realize what an amazing accomplishment that is. I think it's easy sometimes to get stuck on looking at the next goal and to not look back at what you've accomplished. I can't imagine how many jugs of milk you'd have to have in your sig for 70 lbs!

[dazygyrl]

congratulations, cheryl! well done!

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by Cruzcrzy

70 pounds!!!!! That is AMAZING, absolutely AMAZING. I am so very proud of you, and so happy for you! YOU ROCK! Woo-Hoo today I am celebrating YOU.

Originally Posted by Nicole T

Wow Cheryl...70lbs! I hope you really take the time to reflect on that and truly realize what an amazing accomplishment that is. I think it's easy sometimes to get stuck on looking at the next goal and to not look back at what you've accomplished. I can't imagine how many jugs of milk you'd have to have in your sig for 70 lbs!

Thanks, ladies! I laughed about that milk jug idea. I then went online to see where people get those jugs they post and I couldn't find them. However, in my research I did find out that a gallon of whole milk weighs 8.6 lbs (milk with less fat weighs more, due to the water.) So, that means a little over 8 gallons! That's alotta moo cow.



I will do what you said, Nicole. I'm going to reflect on what I've accomplished and look at how far I've come, rather than just obsessing on how much farther I have to go. Sage advice, my friend!

[LilacBruze]

Congrats! Sorry I missed ya, I was not on much yesterday. That is such a HUGE accomplishment and I am proud of you!

It's tough being a role model, huh? Oh well, you're stuck with that title, in my eyes at least.

[CherylB]

LOL! I'll take it, and be humbled by it.

I'm not in the mood for much posting today, so I'll keep this short and sweet. Down another 0.6 today and almost made it into the 163 range! It was flickering back and forth on the scale and then settled on 164.0. I'll take it!

Have an awesome day today, ladies!

[verbqueen]

Look at you go, girl! AMAZING!

I am on my last day in Seattle, so no clue what's happening with my weight, but I have successfully made a superhuman effort to stay completely on plan despite all manner of big challenges (fancy "company dinner" at a country club, family birthday party, restaurants, eating at the airport, etc.)

I keep thinking about you and your remarkable commitment to weight loss, and then I think, "I can do it, too!"

[CherylB]

I'm so proud of you, Jessica! For me, that is a bigger deal (to stay on plan during all those events) than it is for me to keep trudging along. I'm very impressed! I know I wouldn't survive a situation like that. I hope you are rewarded on the scale when you get back home! What a shocker that might be! You may be the first person I've ever known to go "scale-less" that long in P2. Way to blaze a new trail!

I'm so committed because I know how far I can regress if I don't stay attentive. I've done it time and time again. And now that I remember what it is to feel happiness and true JOY, I'm never going to give that up again.

When you get back home, let me know what the scale says!!!

[Zbunny]

Awesome losses, Cheryl! I'm so proud of you and happy for you!!! You are amazing, girl!

[CherylB]

Thanks, Sheri! How you doin'?

[Cruzcrzy]

Hi Cheryl,

I hope you are doing okay. Your numbers look great!!!

Not a whole lot new with me today. I went to TOPS and I am five pounds from my TOPS goal. Their scale weighs a bit heavier than mine. Mine shows 159 today, theirs 160. I am anxious to stabilize in the 150's. My sister has ordered her hhcg, and will start loading this weekend, if it comes in time. I will either be loading tomorrow/Thursday or Thursday/Friday. My appt. for my consult was next Tuesday, but, they called today, and offered for me to come in at 9am tomorrow since they had a cancellation. I was hoping to lose a few more pounds before seeing him, but, am more anxious for the consult. Dh's recliner is being delivered in the afternoon so no conflict, thankfully. That is all my news from my exciting life, lol. What are your birthday plans????

[CherylB]

Well, 1 lb difference at TOPS ain't bad! I have multiple lbs more at the Dr's office. I kick off my shoes but it's still higher. I try to wear light-weight clothes when I go there, too. You're reloading that soon? That's exciting that you and your sister will be doing it at the same time. How much does she have to lose?

Marie, you are going to get to your goal and have plenty of time to spare in this new round! You said the 150 was your TOPS goal, right? I remember you saying that you were going to go lower than that. Well, you'll get there! It will be exciting to watch you shrinking!

I have no plans for my birthday yet, but we always go out to dinner someplace. It's usually the birthday girl's choice. I haven't given in much thought because I want to stay on plan! But I will mull it over and pick a place so I'm ready when they ask me where to go.

I hope your hubby loves his new recliner! And good luck at the Dr's tomorrow.

Just found out our lake date has to be moved to Friday. Sister doesn't want to go without the kid and the kid can't come that day. So, I will find something else to do until then!

[Cruzcrzy]

155 is my TOPS goal. My ultimate goal is 148. 148 will barely put me in the normal range, but, I think I would be setting myself up for failure to maintain anything lower. For TOPS I have to stay within 3 pounds and not go lower than 7 pounds to remain in what they consider "leeway" to stay a KOPS. KOPS is what you are when you make goal (keeping off pounds sensibly). It's all a form of accountability for me.

Yes, I am reloading sometime this week. It's been about 6 weeks, maybe this is my seventh??? I feel more than stable. If my sister were not going to go on the hhcg I doubt I would do another round.

Do you think you feel like having a nice steak for your birthday? Are you feeling okay about this upcoming birthday. I know for some people(like myself) it is not a day I look forward to. I hope it is a nice day for you. Do you have much going for the rest of this week?

[CherylB]

It was hardest for me when I turned 30, believe it or not. I turned 40 having my gallbladder taken out in FL, (with no one to visit me! Travel nurse assignment) and the rest of the decade has followed suit.

I feel good about this birthday for a couple of reasons:

1- I'm 15.2 (+/-) lbs lighter than I was this time last year. (Regained 23, then lost all + more.)
2- I'm sure that this last year in my 40's will be the best one of them all.
3- I'm happier and more content than I've been in so many years that I can't say when.
4- I'm sober and in control of my life.

What more could anyone ask for than that on your birthday?!

I don't know if I want a steak or what. I prefer fish if it's done well. My ultimate choices would be pasta or mexican, but the family doesn't dig mexican much and I don't want to go too far off my plan. I really don't have a clue what we'll do, but it will be great no matter what.

This time last year, we went to a pizza place and I thought it was going to be the last birthday I'd be celebrating with my family for years! I was on my way to Virginia to complete the sale of a motorhome I had decided to purchase. I had been selling my furniture and everything, getting ready to embark on my new life in November. (I would have missed out on one HELL of a winter, too!) But the guy turned out to be a dishonest man and, after flying down there on a one-way ticket, I hastily bought another one on the last flight out of the airport that night and got back home the same day. Live and learn. Even when you think you've covered all the bases, you can never trust people.

So, that was that. And this year I'm still celebrating my birthday with my family!

Off to bed now! No lake for me, but I think I said that before. We're going on Friday instead. I want to come up with a pretty place to walk the dog, drive there and hike with her a bit. Haven't decided where yet but the weather is too good to blow!

[TerriMM]

Great Job Cheryl! Congratulations!

[Nicole T]

Well, today I fly across the country to CA. Not looking forward to it but I'm going to just keep picturing Cheryl diving into the water

On a good note, I was 179 even this morning (been 179.4 the last 3 days). Today is day 2 vlc with no pellets. Yesterday was not fun and I can definitely tell that the hcg has left my body! LOL Funny... I totally forgot what hunger felt like after not having an appetite over the last 3 weeks.

I'll be back on Wednesday evening and then I'm starting right back up on P2 again. I'm going to stick to P3 while I'm gone but I'm not going to go crazy with the really fatty stuff like cheese, bacon and wings. Going to try to do "lean Atkins" with healthy proteins instead of going crazy with the fats (egg white omelets with veggies, salads with full fat dressing, chicken/steak with veggies for dinner etc...). Hopefully that will help me stay around 179.

I realize what I'm going to do is not totally protocol but I spoke with someone from the company I ordered my first drops from (DIY HCG) and he said to just consider it a planned break and then get right back on with no loading. He said if it were going to be longer than a week he would recommend doing a longer P3 and then starting over but since it's really just 5 days, I should be ok. Guess we'll find out

I may pop in from CA at night when my boys aren't playing just to check in and see how everyone is doing. I hope there's a scale at the hotel...if not, I'll just be going by my clothes and how I feel. Good luck to everyone for the rest of the week and weekend and HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHERYL!

[CherylB]

Nicole, I woke late and then got the reminder on my blackberry (that I set) to pray for you because you were flying today. I hope my prayer didn't come too late! I'm sure you'll be fine, though. That's so cute that you'll picture me diving when it gets rough. Awww! I hope it helps!

I think your CA eating plan sounds perfect! I really do. So, do that and enjoy your time with your sons and in lovely CA and take pics to share with us when you return safely to MD. We want to hear all the details of your trip, so take notes!

I had another midnight peanut butter episode. It's funny, though. A friend of mine said that if you are taking the weight off slowly through diet and exercise, then it comes back on just as slowly, not in big horrifying jumps on the scale. She's right! Because over the last two peanut butter eating days, I gained 0.4 yesterday and up to 165.2 today. I still feel skinny, though and I was sure when I got on the scale today I would be down, in spite of the peanut butter.

So, I'll be chucking the jar (what's left of it) and kindly say "no thank you" the next time Mom offers me one because she got two on sale. I use peanut butter to bait my mouse traps, so I probably relented and took it for that reason. But the mice aren't eating this one, so it's dangerous!

Hard to imagine that you could gain while eating 2000=2100 calories in two days. That was my daily total! Maybe it's just Bernice and water retention. I've been doing so phenomenally well on my plan! I love eating the food I allow myself to eat. It's all so refreshing and easy. No cooking at all, unless you call boiled eggs cooking. I starting eating HB eggs this past week. It helps me keep my protein levels up because the other things aren't high in protein at all.

If I were putting real milk in my cereal my protein would be higher, but I'm using almond milk. I think it's better for me and it does taste yummy! I had only used Almond Breeze before this, but bought Silk unsweetened unflavored almond milk the last two times. It's creamier! Yummmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Nicole, have a wonderful time in CA! I'm jealous! Terri, thanks for stopping in and congratulating me! Maybe after reading all my peanut butter escapades you won't think I'm so rocking it! But I really am happy with all I'm doing.

Thanks for the birthday wishes, Nicole! I still haven't decided where we'll go for the party. It's complicated in that two of my sisters are limited as to funds and distance they will travel, so we have a small area in which to choose something. That's why it's usually pizza. Probably will be again, but I think I'm going to choose a different pizza place. One that we always used to love when we were growing up. Hope it's not a flop!

Must go for now. Sorry for the book. I have no idea how massive this post is because I keep having to go grab my blackberry and answer a text or email and then I come back to this post and add some more. Must be ginormous!

[Nicole T]

Nope Cheryl, your prayers aren't too late I don't leave until 6:30 pm tonight (I'm in Maryland). That's so sweet that you even set an alarm for me! Thank you for that!!!!!

[Cruzcrzy]

Hi Cheryl,

celebrating your birthday with family who loves you, well, it doesn't get any better than that!!! It will be a wonderful time of fellowship, and the food is secondary . Pizza sounds great.

It is day 2 of loading for me. I gained 2 pounds from day 1(161). I will update my stats tomorrow morning after this madness is over, lol. I thought my sister had ordered her hcg, but, didn't find out that she had not until after I started loading. It appears she won't be doing the hcg which is fine, but, I wouldn't have gone another round had I known that. My head is in the game so I will go ahead for with it. I do want to lose more weight, and do P3 right so I can reset my metabolism. Even though I never had a correction day in P3 or P4, I added sugar and starches before I should have so it's possible the resetting did not occur. I don't think it did based on the calories I was eating(average 1100).

I had my consultation yesterday and my surgery date is Nov. 17. That is about all that is new with me. Do you still have lake plans for tomorrow?

[Cruzcrzy]

Originally Posted by Nicole T

Nope Cheryl, your prayers aren't too late I don't leave until 6:30 pm tonight (I'm in Maryland). That's so sweet that you even set an alarm for me! Thank you for that!!!!!

Nicole,

wishing you safe travels and wonderful family time while in CA. Enjoy this time with your mom!

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by Nicole T

Nope Cheryl, your prayers aren't too late I don't leave until 6:30 pm tonight (I'm in Maryland). That's so sweet that you even set an alarm for me! Thank you for that!!!!!

It's set to pray for you again on the day your fly back home! Don't worry! Angels watching over you!

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by Cruzcrzy

Hi Cheryl,

celebrating your birthday with family who loves you, well, it doesn't get any better than that!!! It will be a wonderful time of fellowship, and the food is secondary . Pizza sounds great.

It is day 2 of loading for me. I gained 2 pounds from day 1(161). I will update my stats tomorrow morning after this madness is over, lol. I thought my sister had ordered her hcg, but, didn't find out that she had not until after I started loading. It appears she won't be doing the hcg which is fine, but, I wouldn't have gone another round had I known that. My head is in the game so I will go ahead for with it. I do want to lose more weight, and do P3 right so I can reset my metabolism. Even though I never had a correction day in P3 or P4, I added sugar and starches before I should have so it's possible the resetting did not occur. I don't think it did based on the calories I was eating(average 1100).

I had my consultation yesterday and my surgery date is Nov. 17. That is about all that is new with me. Do you still have lake plans for tomorrow?

Why didn't she order it? That sucks, Marie! Well, you're in it to win it now! Make the most of it and make her wish she had gotten on-board with the hcg plan.

Surgery for November 17th? Please refresh my memory what the surgery is. I have completely forgotten and I apologize. :blush: Resetting in P3 sounds like a plan. If you could only eat 1100 cals in P3 and 4 this last time, that's no good! I wouldn't want to live on so little food for the rest of my life. Try and push the boundaries a little and see what you can manage!

I also forget; do you do protocol or rogue it? What do you eat and how many cals? My memory is pretty shot. It's not just stuff about you. It affects everything. (Thank God for blackberry calendars! They remind me of what I need to remember.)

Yes, lake tomorrow at noon. That will be nice because I will sleep-in like I enjoy doing, and noon is not so early that it will affect my sleeping the way morning appointments always do.

The pizza is probably what we'll do. Money is tight for everyone (some more than others) and I don't want to pick a place too far away or it will be hard for some to get there. (Schedules, cars, etc.) If I really had my choice, I'd pick Cracker Barrel! But that is either in Danbury or Newington (I think), which are about 45 minutes away or so. If we had a couple vans we could carpool but the people who have the vans are the ones with the money and car issues! So, pizza it will likely be.

I also love Chili's. Maybe I can pick Chili's! Then we can all just buy what we want. The problem there is having enough seating for all of us. We'd probably need 3 booths and that makes it so hard to enjoy each other's company. So many factors! Then there is trying to figure out who owes what toward the bill. Gah! Maybe I'll call Chili's and ask if they have a party table or room.

I solved the peanut butter matter! I was going to chuck it but wanted to recycle the plastic jar, so I would have been scooping it out into the garbage. Then I thought of my dear doggy and decided to take one of her old bones and stuff it with some butter. She went to town on that thing! I will have to cut back her calories some for a few days, to compensate. She's almost 8 1/2 years old now and I know my neighbor gives her 2 biscuits whenever she roams over there. I caught them in the act today. She trotted home with them in her mouth and I snagged one of them and put it in the pantry with her treats. I begged them to give her carrots instead, but they are being bad.

So, today was a bad day to give her peanut butter, but better her than me! Lord knows I've had my share the last two days.

[LilacBruze]

LOL I love to feed my puppy peanut butter. Watching her licklicklicklicklick is better than TV!

Sigh. I miss peanut butter. I bought some sugar free PB for P4. Can't wait. Hope you're having a great day, Cheryl!

[Cruzcrzy]

Oh, I love Chili's too. If they have a separate room that would be fun. With pizza or Chili's you can't go wrong. It will be fun celebrating your special day.

My surgery will consist of a tummy tuck with lipo AND a breast lift...no implants not interested in that, just lifting.

What you said about making my sister wish she did the hcg is my thoughts EXACTLY, lol. I will be protocol until I feel I need to go rogue. My plan is to do a minimum round. It's possible I could go 30 days, but, no longer. I am not enjoying the weight gain of loading. I have realized that the food does not fulfill me like it use to. The weight loss fulfills me more.

I think that is so sweet your neighbors spoil your dog. I can just picture her trotting back home happy with her biscuits. Animals are such a joy, aren't they?

If I don't talk to you before tomorrow have a wonderful day at the lake. I just edited my post because it involved your birthday which I thought the 1st was on Saturday, but, it is on Monday. You'll be around Monday, won't you? When do you leave for camping?

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

LOL I love to feed my puppy peanut butter. Watching her licklicklicklicklick is better than TV!

Sigh. I miss peanut butter. I bought some sugar free PB for P4. Can't wait. Hope you're having a great day, Cheryl!

I know! If I put it into a bone or kong toy, she can eat it in tiny little licks and not get overwhelmed with it. If I give it to her on a spoon, she gets too much at once and it sticks to the "roof" of her mouth and she can't get it loose.

What kind of PB did you buy? I am always looking for the "natural" kind but if you really look at the ingredients, you're either stuck with the kind you have to stir (I even looked into the devices that you stir them with, but then they don't fit every jar ) or the no-stir kind that has added junk in it.

I looked at "skippy natural" yesterday in the store. It has sugar in the ingredients!