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

[CherylB]

Just a quick blurb to say a few things. I post on many threads so forgive me if this is a repeat. I had two NSV's between yesterday and today. I tried on my wedding ring and it finally fits! Fits perfectly, too! But since DH is no longer with me, I want to eventually wear it on my right hand. That is going to take some time. But so exciting to have it on my ring finger again and have it feel perfect on me.

Second one was today. I was shopping and I noticed that my purse strap was staying on my shoulder, instead of sliding off all the time! It's been many, many years since I had the pleasure of that experience. Wooohooo! It wasn't the purses after all. It was my chunky shoulder!

[dazygyrl]

awesome NSV's, cheryl!

have a great weekend!

[CherylB]

Thanks! U2!

[MrsPat]

@ Dazy, just wanted to say to you on this thread.

@ Cheryl, congratulations on your NSVs! Isn't funny how such simple things can pick us up and give us the courage to keep going? I typically do not go swimming until the day time temps are over 100 for several days and the water is in the very high 70s (82 is perfect!) Today is in the high 90s, the water is in the low 70s, and it is very windy--too cold to swim!!

DH and I will probably play some Wii later on today.

Diane

[CherylB]

Have fun with your hubby, Diane! Sound like something I could get into doing. Hope the pool warms up for you soon!

[Cruzcrzy]

Cheryl,

this is YOUR year! I am so proud of you, and happy to be witness to your journey. You are a very special lady, and your posts warm my heart.
I am on day 1 of loading. There is such support here I know I can do it.




Marie

[Meek75]

Cheryl. Please post your menu when you have time. Thanks. Have a good evening.

[CherylB]

Thanks, Marie! You can do it, too!

Meek, there isn't much to my menu, but here is an example of a typical day.

Rogue Hhcg, using pellets. I take 4- 3/day. (Per directions on the bottle.) I'm careful to not eat or drink anything for 15 minutes before I place them under my tongue, and then 15 minutes after they are completely done disolving. I take them pretty much on schedule, by setting an alarm. 0900, 1500, 2100.

Breakfast: Usually sleeping until around noon, so basically I'm fasting. (I hate telling people that, but I'm disabled and don't have to wake up at any certain time. My body loses much, much better with lots of sleep.) When I wake up I either drink multiple cups of coffee with Ez Sweetz or (lately, now that it's hotter outside,) diet iced tea. (I think it's too sweet right out of the bottle, so I pour half a glass then fill the other half of it with cold water. I like Snapple.) I chew sugarless gum all day, but I can get carried away with it and try to keep it down to 8 pieces total.

Mid-day: I will eat some fruit. About 6 regular sized strawberries or 4 mega-ones, like the ones I have now. I slice them up into a bowl then add 3 drops of Ez Sweetz. I'm becoming a real fruit fan, and I never have been! (Gunna have me some s'berries tonight!)

Early dinner/late lunch: I fry up 150 grams of ground beef (weighed raw). (I've increased the amount of protein because it's probably a good idea, and sometimes I only eat the one meal.) I throw in salt (lots), fresh cracked pepper, dried cilantro, garlic powder and diced onion (also dehydrated kind, in a jar.) Stir it all up, then when it's all cooked up, I pour it out onto a paper plate with paper towels and let it drain for a minute or less. Then I put it back in the pan and add 1/2 can of IGA brand "Rotel" tomatoes. The can is larger than Rotel's but they are cheaper. Mix it all up then add more salt and pepper. Flip off the burner and let the tomatoes heat a few minutes. Pour into a bowl and enjoy (with a spoon).

Early evening: Either have another serving of fruit or a bag of 100 calorie Smart Pop Popcorn (Reddenbachers.) I spritz the heck out of it with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter zero calorie spray, then top it all off with cheese powder, made for popcorn. (Very salty combo, but goooood.) I have been known to have more than one bag per day, but I'm trying to keep it to one only. (I call each bag of popcorn's butter spray and popcorn cheese powder 10 calories each. They say zero, but you know how that goes.)

Before bed: Either the fruit or popcorn that I didn't eat yet that day.

All throughout the day, gum, tea or coffee and water. I average 700 calories per day.

That's it! Sometimes I will use ground Veal or ground Pork instead of the beef, but if I do, I use 120 grams instead of the 150 because of the higher fat content. Then I'll make sure I eat two "doses" that day, or two actual meals.

I have had fish and chicken on this plan but I don't like them nearly as much. I have had shrimp (the frozen kind; I just defrost what I need for that meal) and I've made cocktail sauce with Heinz LC Ketchup and plain horseradish. This is very good! I put a cup on my food scale and measure out 50 grams of ketchup. I log everything into ******.

On special occasions such as holidays or family dinners, I go off plan (I schedule it and know it in advance.) I eat whatever I want, but I don't eat so much that I get that "OMG; what have I done" feeling. The day before or the day after my day off plan, I fast. This helps to spread the calories I ate on the off-plan day over two days! It has been working like a charm. I will do this for the rest of my life.

On the fasting days I drink coffee, tea and water. No solid food. The hcg pellets makes this not a problem at all! I have no hunger. Maybe a few times a week I feel hungry, but it's usually because I need to eat! And the gum gives me something to chew on.

Back to fruits and grains. The only other fruit I've had on this plan has been apples. I love Gala's but lately I can only find "Royal Gala's" and I don't like those as much. That's why I went back to the strawberries. But if I have an apple, I either eat it whole and plain or I cut it up into little pieces and place it into a bowl. I sprinkle it with lots of Cinnamon and then add a few drops of Ez Sweetz (yeah, I go through that stuff much quicker than I used to.) I stir it all up well, then put a cover on it and nuke it for 2.5 minutes. Baked Apple!

The other grain I use is something similar to Grissini. (Can't find anything by that name, and I usually only shop at the little IGA in my town. They don't have Melba Toast, either.) One serving of these long, skinny, hard, dry breadsticks is about 120 calories, so if I don't have the popcorn, I'll have 2.5 of these sticks. I like the garlic ones the best.

Some days I have gone without fruit and/or grain, but I don't think I've lost any better without them and I have really grown fond of them both!

So, that's about all I can tell you. I don't eat veggies per se because I am an old Atkins girl and I like my veggies with lots of fat. I can wait until P3 for those. I did buy a bunch of Walden Farms dressings but I don't crave a salad bad enough to try them. Not to mention I am suspicious of anything that says it has zero calories, zero carbs, yada, yada, yada.

Please, nobody tell me I'm not eating enough protein and I'm losing muscle tissue! This is my plan and I'm sticking to it! LOL

I take vitos: Multivite (the ones for seniors, since I'm post menapausal), Calcium/D, Magnesium, Potasium Gluconate, C, B-comlex and B-12. I take stuff to keep me regular (I have IBS) and so that helps to keep things moving in the right direction on the scale. I take something called Mag O7 either daily or twice daily, and I still need to resort to Milk of Magnesia (aka MOM) on occasion. Fiber pills and/or solutions don't do anything for me.

I think that's everything! It's simple, but it takes a long post to explain. But now I can direct people to this post if they want to know what I'm doing.

Have a very blessed evening and holiday weekend, ladies! See you soon.

PS: I have had on a rare occasion some low fat cottage cheese, and some eggs in a carton (those low fat eggs.) I ate those mostly those couple of days when I had a stomach flu. I didn't lose those days, but it was probably due to being sick.

[CherylB]

Checking in for Sunday. Woke with the dawn (or before) so no scale losses today. I will hopefully get adequate sleep tonight and have a good reading on the scale tomorrow. If not, I won't see a new low until I'm nearly at the end of this round.

Have fun, ladies! Must get busy. Check back later!

[Laschance]

Hi Cheryl ~ Thanks you for the post about what your day is like.. Wow, what a bonus.. It really helps me to have a map for everything... I think I am ADD... your success and dedication makes you a great roll model for me. I plan to do just what you are doing... I like my extra lean hamburger and love tomatoes.. yumm.. I have to like hamburger cause I have 2 big boys to feed as well.. I will skip the popcorn, only because I don't care for popcorn.. LOL
PS Can you share the brand name for the pellets you use.. I may want to get some, don't want to run out again.. LOL If you can't mention brands on here just send me a PM.. Thanks Cheryl.. : )

[CherylB]

I think we can mention the brands we take. We've done it many times before. I use Vox. Someone suggested them to me back when I was just contemplating taking "the leap" into hcg and I'm so glad she did. I bought more once I realized that I was going to be doing this for much of the rest of this year. Don't ask me where I got them because I do believe that would be against rules. But I just googled and did some comparison shopping, then went with the best deal.

I hope you have much success on hcg!

[CherylB]

Just wanted to say, "Happy Memorial Day" to all you lovely ladies! Next time I see you will be post picnic partying. I'll be hot, tired and happy.

Though, if the scale is good to me I'll have to update my stats first thing!

[Meek75]

I the scale is good to you.

[CherylB]

Down 0.6 today! I'm in the 172's! Can you believe it?

Now for the bad news. Thunderstorm in full force at 0700. Sister was going to arrive at park for 0830 to get things set up and to pick the best tables. This is supposed to pass, but I don't know what's going to happen now. I sent her a "Now What?" text, but no reply yet. This may end up being at her house.

It must be passing though, cause dog stopped freaking out. If the sun comes back out, we should be back on for the park. But boy is it going to be steamy!

So, back to the scale. Wooohoooo! After today, 5 more VLCD's, 3 more days on Pellets. I am nervous about switching over to P3 because I truly have no appetite. I hope it is because of the pellets and not just because I've gotten so used to eating so little.

Have an excellent, sunny day and Happy Memorial Day!

[dazygyrl]

woot, woot! congrats on 0.6!

have a fabulous family day!

[Laschance]

Hey Cheryl, So happy for you.. soon you will see the 60's. Maybe I will add in some popcorn to my diet... KUTGW!!

I am happy to share that on my 3rd day I am finally now below my start point.. 1.5 lb down...and 1 lb less than my preload weight.. I am trying not to think that it actually took me a whole 5 days to drop this1 lb.. but I am hopful that the rest of the month will make up for it. I was still pretty hungry yesterday so I upped my dosage to 10 drops this AM.. So far so good, I think if I can get thru this hunger phase I will be ok..

BTW I found some VOX and ordered some, just in case.. Its takes about a month to get things here, so I decided to be prepared. I dropped my bottle in my 1st round and that's why I ran out so fast and the new one I ordered had not arrived.. and then I find out it had broken... It was just not meant to be.. I guess. I am not sure if I should even consider that round 1.. since I did not do p3... I just went straight back to low carb dealt with some weight gain but got back on track a little lighter.
Sandi

[LilacBruze]

Originally Posted by CherylB

Down 0.6 today! I'm in the 172's! Can you believe it?

Hurray for you! What a nice Memorial Day, if the weather would just cooperate!

[CherylB]

Thanks, Lilac and Sandi! (oops! And Dazygryl!) I had an excellent day with the family. Now it's back to work and get as low as I can before this week is over.

Sandi! Good job, honey! That one lb is just the beginning. A word of caution though, with hunger and drops. Some people have less hunger with fewer drops, not more. I don't know why that is, but just be mindful of how increasing them affects you and scale back down if you don't get some relief. Can't wait for your pellets to come!

I am whipped so I'm going to race through my other subscribed threads and then kick back. Tomorrow it's back to business!

Blessings and sweet dreams, ladies! I hope you all had a lovely day, too.

[obraxton]

Sooo...the 160s is just around the corner!!! Hooray!!!

[obraxton]

Originally Posted by Laschance

Hey Cheryl, So happy for you.. soon you will see the 60's. Maybe I will add in some popcorn to my diet... KUTGW!!

I am happy to share that on my 3rd day I am finally now below my start point.. 1.5 lb down...and 1 lb less than my preload weight.. I am trying not to think that it actually took me a whole 5 days to drop this1 lb.. but I am hopful that the rest of the month will make up for it. I was still pretty hungry yesterday so I upped my dosage to 10 drops this AM.. So far so good, I think if I can get thru this hunger phase I will be ok..

BTW I found some VOX and ordered some, just in case.. Its takes about a month to get things here, so I decided to be prepared. I dropped my bottle in my 1st round and that's why I ran out so fast and the new one I ordered had not arrived.. and then I find out it had broken... It was just not meant to be.. I guess. I am not sure if I should even consider that round 1.. since I did not do p3... I just went straight back to low carb dealt with some weight gain but got back on track a little lighter.
Sandi

It will probably be more steady for you starting off slower this round!

[Laschance]

Cheryl ~ About the drops I actually had a really good day today I did up my drops from 6 to 10 and felt absolutely no hunger at all today.. it was a breeze. I had hamburger and diced canned tomatoes for lunch and for dinner I had yogurt ( the yogurt is plain with 0 fat plus some egg whites.. I mix these together to make a pancake which I then sprinkled with splenda and cinnamon, sent you a pic I also had several Strawberries as a filler.. I love this!! Thanks for the info... and have a really great evening!!

[obraxton]

Originally Posted by Laschance

Cheryl ~ About the drops I actually had a really good day today I did up my drops from 6 to 10 and felt absolutely no hunger at all today.. it was a breeze. I had hamburger and diced canned tomatoes for lunch and for dinner I had yogurt ( the yogurt is plain with 0 fat plus some egg whites.. I mix these together to make a pancake which I then sprinkled with splenda and cinnamon, sent you a pic I also had several Strawberries as a filler.. I love this!! Thanks for the info... and have a really great evening!!

How did you do this?!!!!

[Laschance]

Dessa ~ Its very easy.. and happy to share..
Mix 1/2 cup egg white till foamy
add 2 TBLSP of Plain 0 fat Greek Yogurt
1 TBLSP of Splenda
and 1 TBLSP of Oat Bran (This is optional )
Mix this all together into the egg whites and drop onto a hot skillet..
I cook it slow... on med low for about 3 min per side.
when they are done just sprinkle with the cinnamon and splenda you can also add syrups for something different..

[Laschance]

Cheryl ~ Day 4 and I had a 4 oz gain this morning and I was under 500 calories yesterday.. used ****** I hope you don't mind if I ask your advise directly, but I really admire your passion and wisdom with this WOE.. If you could please critique my meal from yesterday I would be most grateful.
Breakfast ~ Skipped
Lunch ~ 1pm boiled up some chopped up chicken ( I had 100 grams Cooked in water)
I topped chicken with 1 TSP of Bragg's liquid Soy and combined with 1 cup of plain diced tomatoes also added salt and pepper
For a snack I had 6 med large strawberries thru out the day.
For Dinner at 5pm - 1/2 cup egg whites - 2TBSP Yogurt - 1 TBSP Oat bran total 117 cal
I Made this into a pancake topped with cinnamon and splenda ( I have had this everyday for past month and it has not been a problem) helps with BM
Oh I also had a TBSP of Coconut oil, I read somewhere that it was ok and would increase my metabolism
Total calories including coconut oil was 496
last meal 6pm bed time 11pm up at 6am
60 oz of water I normally have 2 jugs 120 oz
I am under the impression that carbs do not matter on this WOE is this correct?
Thanks in advance for you help...

[CherylB]

Those pancakes look and sound scrumptious! But in P2, I see three things on your menu that make me think you are retaining water.

Braggs Soy sauce. (Are these the "Amino's" many people use?) This is full of sodium so people tend to see a bump-up on the scale after using it.

Oat bran. I don't think we can have anything like that on P2. It's sort of a grain, is it not? It might be "all fiber" but it will affect our progress. I have not tried anything like that on this P2. (Hope you post this on the regular roguers thread. It's always best to get mulitple opinions.)

Coconut Oil. I can't take this stuff, the way many people can. It causes me to put on about 2.5 lbs and I'll hold onto that weight and not lose an ounce until I stop taking it. Then the losses continue. Are you accustomed to taking CO?

Everything matters on this plan, not just carbs. When in doubt, go back and read the Pounds and Inches pdf that is free to download online. Being rogue, we tweak and we tweak, but we use P+I as our touchstone.

I am up 2.6 after yesterday's family feastings. But it was so worth it. Today I'm fasting and cleansing out my system and ready to sprint to the finish line! Got my countdown in my siggy now.

Have a great day, ladies.

[shelbyla]

Originally Posted by CherylB

Diane, the pool's not warm enough yet? In Phoenix? Yowzer. I should think it would be close to the boiling point by now. (LOL) Enjoy P3 with your DH. It will be such a shock to start eating so much food and fat again. I'm going to do my best.

I'm down 0.2 more today. I'm happy as long as it goes down. After that big whoosh, it was bound to slow back down again.

My next-door neighbors are having a tag sale and bottle/can drive for some cause. I keep hearing bottles and cans being bagged and put into a truck that is parked right outside my window. Think I'm going to close my window and turn on something loud!

Have a great weekend, ladies. I'll be getting going shortly. Need to go pick up a few things at the store, then I'll be cleaning and cooking and preparing for our picnic. I have volunteered to make the Macaroni Salad and hamburger patties. Also bringing Saurkraut for the dogs. It will be a lot of fun with family and friends. I am NOT in the mood for shopping right now, but I'll work myself up to it. Luckily I can get everything I need at my local rinky-dink IGA store.

Or NOT close the window and turn on something loud...Metallica, anyone? (I'm so bad!)

[obraxton]

Originally Posted by Laschance

Dessa ~ Its very easy.. and happy to share..
Mix 1/2 cup egg white till foamy
add 2 TBLSP of Plain 0 fat Greek Yogurt
1 TBLSP of Splenda
and 1 TBLSP of Oat Bran (This is optional )
Mix this all together into the egg whites and drop onto a hot skillet..
I cook it slow... on med low for about 3 min per side.
when they are done just sprinkle with the cinnamon and splenda you can also add syrups for something different..

I can't wait till I can try this!!!

[Laschance]

Thanks Cheryl So sorry to hear about your jump...I am in good company now, I guess I should be grateful with my 4 oz eH!!

I do agree with you on the Braggs Aminno's it does not tell you on the bottle how much sodium it has.. I will just put this away for future.. I do refer to the pdf but I am not use to eating fruit or veggies and feared that it could be an issue for me.. It was nice thinking I could have some and did indulge for the 2 days prior with me still losing and then this..

The Oat Bran is my replacement for the bread sticks, I have been taking this while low carbing and still would lose, so I do not think it is the Oat Bran.. There is actually less calories in the 1 TBSP of bran than the recommended Grissini bread suggested on the Diet so I replaced it as the oat bran has more benifits.

And the Coconut oil could be my problem cuz its an oil, I found it interesting that it was suggested for P2, I will put this away as well..
and increase my water today..
Keeping my fingers crossed for a drop tomorrow.. I am of the Island for the day, will check in later..... Have a great day!!!

[CherylB]

The CO is a medium-chain fatty acid and the body can't digest it (I think.) That's why it's allowable on P2. (If I'm wrong, please correct me, but be gentle. ) I have a ton of the stuff, just sitting in the pantry. Tried to sell it on Craigslist, but the woman was a no-show. I hate that.

Sounds like the Oat Bran is a keeper, then! See? We rogues do as we please. It's all good!

I went off plan yesterday for the picnic, so the gain was expected. But it will be gone two days from now and I'll start losing virgin weight. The clock is ticking, though! My P2 days are numbered! (Literally!)

Fasting today, with diet iced tea, water and sugarfree chewing gum. Tomorrow will be a regular P2 day with calories around 700.

Hey, Shelby! I wouldn't have pegged you for a Metalica fan! I got confirmation on Friday that my spit kit was delivered to the lab. Will let you know how it turns out! Hope I'll know soon. And I hope it shows me that there is something I can do to increase my zest and zip!

[obraxton]

Today will probably pay off physically Cheryl