Is Round 2 ALWAYS Misery?

[lemonmama]

I've been planning to begin Round 2 on May 31st but as I read through the forums, I'm getting really nervous. It seems like almost everything I've read about Round 2 is about people finding it totally difficult. Either they are hungry the whole time or just can't get into it. Is this the norm? Can anyone tell me that their Round 2 was okay?

It seems like I also read a lot about people having trouble stabilizing after Round 2, even when they stabilized easily after Round 1. This is yet another reason why I am getting more and more nervous about going for another Round of HCG....although I'd really love to lose another 12-15 pounds.

So...can anyone offer any hope or positive stories about Round 2?

Thanks!

[Lbibclc]

I had difficulty stabilizing after round 1, round 2 P3 was perfect. I was strict protocol the first round and did an alternative plan the second and third round. I am in P3 of the third round.
Round 2 was the easiest and best round for me. I knew what to expect, I didn't have any headache like I did the first round. I knew what supplements to take to keep me regular and my legs from cramping. But mostly I had the support of this forum to help me. I did not find this forum until after my first round. Lack of support really sucks!! Because of this I knew if I ate 700-800 a day the world would not come to an end. Protocol is great if you want to follow it but everyone has to find what works for them.

GO FOR IT!!

[lemonmama]

Originally Posted by Lbibclc

I had difficulty stabilizing after round 1, round 2 P3 was perfect. I was strict protocol the first round and did an alternative plan the second and third round. I am in P3 of the third round.
Round 2 was the easiest and best round for me. I knew what to expect, I didn't have any headache like I did the first round. I knew what supplements to take to keep me regular and my legs from cramping. But mostly I had the support of this forum to help me. I did not find this forum until after my first round. Lack of support really sucks!! Because of this I knew if I ate 700-800 a day the world would not come to an end. Protocol is great if you want to follow it but everyone has to find what works for them.

GO FOR IT!!

Thank you! This is just what I needed to read. I had just spent the last hour or so reading 18 pages of a thread where everyone struggled through their Round 2 P2! It was freaking me out.

Do you mind me asking what your "alternative plan" was? I want to consider all of my options before I begin.

Your stats are amazing!

Thanks for your response.

[C'Marie]

My round 2 was a bit harder, only because my mind was playing little games with me until I made it stop. LOL. My stabilization after R2 was GREAT!!! Don't let it scare you. Everyone is different. And since I stayed away from most sugars, really, after R1, I had way less of a detox effect starting R2.

You'll do fine!

[cdicenso]

There are a few who have a rough time in the second round but I've heard of alot more who have success - even better - in the second round. Like Liz said it's b'c you know what to expect.

Cristina

[CMac]

Ive not read anything really negative about hcg so im not sure what you are reading. It really isn't that difficult. It took me a good full 2 weeks before I finally gave in to my cravings and said fine ill do it. Im never hungry, I get normal hunger that a person gets when the3y are hungry. I noticed mine increased a bit after my period ended which I read is normal. Still I honestly am having no issues.

[lemonmama]

Thanks you for the responses. I'm feeling better just reading this. I know Round 1 was GREAT for me, so surely I can pull off Round 2 now that I know so much more.

CMac--I obsessively read the forums (this one and HCG Diet Info), so I have found quite a few threads where people are discussing their second rounds on HCG. That's where I found lots of conversations about people really struggling in Round 2 with increased hunger, cravings, slow losses, etc., so I decided to post this question. I guess I was just hoping to hear from others who have done Round 2 and didn't suffer through it!

Thanks again, everyone!

[C'Marie]

Originally Posted by lemonmama

Thanks you for the responses. I'm feeling better just reading this. I know Round 1 was GREAT for me, so surely I can pull off Round 2 now that I know so much more.

CMac--I obsessively read the forums (this one and HCG Diet Info), so I have found quite a few threads where people are discussing their second rounds on HCG. That's where I found lots of conversations about people really struggling in Round 2 with increased hunger, cravings, slow losses, etc., so I decided to post this question. I guess I was just hoping to hear from others who have done Round 2 and didn't suffer through it!

Thanks again, everyone!

Personally, I think the reason so many of us report more issues in Round 2 is because we've done it once and the other complaints start to come out. In R1, we're all so freakin' amazed the weight is coming off like it is, the annoyances and problems feel like they're worth it. In R2, my attitude needed adjusting! Several times! I just started to get whiny. I'm not saying my R2 was easy, but I had nothing to compare with when I went through R1.

Compared to any other diet, even my R2 was great! Sail on!

[Zbunny]

I agree with C'Marie, plus, keep in mind that it's human nature to complain and/or seek advice when things aren't going well, hence the large numbers of threads and posts about struggles. But if, say, your Round 2 is going great and you're plugging away, you are less likely to start a thread saying "Hey, I'm not having any problems, thought you all should know." KWIM? That's why I think it would be good to have some stickies on this forum showing success stories -- otherwise they get buried in the avalanche of "Hey, I'm having a hard time" threads.

[TwinMama]

Well it's good to hear such positive things about R2 because I too, have read so many things about how hard R2 is! It intimidated me! Good to hear some of the reasons why people complain more on round 2 too.

I have another 4 weeks before I even go there though.

[dawnyama]

I have had a tough round #2 but have also seen so many with the flip side. I know that Jenn had a much better round #2 than a round #1!!! So you will do just fine. I think CMarie also has something there. You know how great P3/P4 is and you just don't want to get back to being so deprived. However, that was not my problem in my round #2. My problem was being hungry every single day. But I plugged away and lost 15 pounds.

[Bierarsch]

Originally Posted by C'Marie

Personally, I think the reason so many of us report more issues in Round 2 is because we've done it once and the other complaints start to come out. In R1, we're all so freakin' amazed the weight is coming off like it is, the annoyances and problems feel like they're worth it. In R2, my attitude needed adjusting! Several times! I just started to get whiny. I'm not saying my R2 was easy, but I had nothing to compare with when I went through R1.

Compared to any other diet, even my R2 was great! Sail on!

Originally Posted by dawnyama

I have had a tough round #2 but have also seen so many with the flip side. I know that Jenn had a much better round #2 than a round #1!!! So you will do just fine. I think CMarie also has something there. You know how great P3/P4 is and you just don't want to get back to being so deprived. However, that was not my problem in my round #2. My problem was being hungry every single day. But I plugged away and lost 15 pounds.

Both of these. I was hungry every single day in R1P2, R2P2, and R3P2. Those rounds were also before I found this awesome forum with knowledgable and supportive people. I needed an attitude adjustment in R2 and R3, because of upcoming holidays and vacations.

You'll do great!

[halebop]

I've had a few brief tough moments in P2 (usually that means the scale has showed a few days in a row at around the same weight which can be discouraging even though you know it is to be expected and it will pass). But overall, I can honestly say it hasn't been bad at all.

My hunger has been in check. I've had a craving here and there but that's to be expected and definitely manageable. I maintained my weight loss pretty easily (1 correction day that worked right away) in P3 and P4 my first round. My losses were a bit better my 1st round than my 2nd but I imagine that is because I'm now in the "normal" weight range.

I definitely don't look at my weight loss journey using HCG as overly difficult and the best part is I can honestly say I've felt physically great the whole time. I've slept well, no weakness - no physical symptoms or issues at all.

Go for it!

[lemonmama]

Thank you, everyone, for all of the great feedback and responses. Very helpful! I purchased the drops for my husband and myself (he decided he's going to do his first round with me!) and we are ready to load tomorrow.

My primary problem at the moment is that after deciding a couple of days ago I was going to do Round 2, I've been eating WAY too many crappy foods. Why oh why, after months of near-perfect eating (P2, P3, P4), am I going wild?!? I guess it's that knowledge that I will be entering the land of deprivation soon.

I was up another pound this morning, so I am really trying to reign it in today so I don't end up with 5 extra pounds to lose when P2 begins!

Thanks again for all of the responses.

[Lbibclc]

Originally Posted by lemonmama

Thank you! This is just what I needed to read. I had just spent the last hour or so reading 18 pages of a thread where everyone struggled through their Round 2 P2! It was freaking me out.

Do you mind me asking what your "alternative plan" was? I want to consider all of my options before I begin.

Your stats are amazing!

Thanks for your response.

I ate broccoli almost everyday as one of my vegetables, I increased my protein to at least 4 ounces cooked each meal, I drink diet soda and use splenda, I used a gluten free cracker instead of melba, I mixed vegetables and I ate something if I was hungry. I also used my own health and beauty products. I usually ate between 400-800 calories a day. I am allergic to cows milk so I use broccoli as a source of calcium.

Dieting is not a competitive sport unless you are on the biggest loser. It doesn't matter if you lose as much as the other person. Set short term goals and keep moving forward. Even if you slip up, learn and keep going!! That's easy to say, even I have a very hard time with that, but hard to do. That's why we have to keep helping each other.

[Lbibclc]

Originally Posted by lemonmama

Thank you, everyone, for all of the great feedback and responses. Very helpful! I purchased the drops for my husband and myself (he decided he's going to do his first round with me!) and we are ready to load tomorrow.

My primary problem at the moment is that after deciding a couple of days ago I was going to do Round 2, I've been eating WAY too many crappy foods. Why oh why, after months of near-perfect eating (P2, P3, P4), am I going wild?!? I guess it's that knowledge that I will be entering the land of deprivation soon.

I was up another pound this morning, so I am really trying to reign it in today so I don't end up with 5 extra pounds to lose when P2 begins!

Thanks again for all of the responses.

Maybe it's this week. I've gone wild this week also. I just wrote on my log that I failed my first week of P3. So you aren't the only one to gain. I blame the stress from all the tornados in our area. But in reality I can only blame me. Then when I slip I want to just jump in with both feet. Let us know how it goes.

Oh, did your husband want to join you or did you have to talk him into it? I want my husband to try but he is very resistant. Any suggestions?

[paulabob]

Let me chime in and say my Round 2 was way better than Round 1. I had also decided on a shorter round...had less candida detox and better hunger control after the first couple of days. My results were pretty much the same (1/2 pound per day average)...was very happy with round 2. I think there's plenty of us out there that loved round 2.

[lemonmama]

Originally Posted by Lbibclc

Maybe it's this week. I've gone wild this week also. I just wrote on my log that I failed my first week of P3. So you aren't the only one to gain. I blame the stress from all the tornados in our area. But in reality I can only blame me. Then when I slip I want to just jump in with both feet. Let us know how it goes.

Oh, did your husband want to join you or did you have to talk him into it? I want my husband to try but he is very resistant. Any suggestions?

Thanks for the feedback and encouragement. Honestly, I live in Missouri, too, and we were having tornado warnings all day on Tuesday last week and that is the exact day I started just eating whatever. I think you may be right on about the stress being related. We were on edge for two days. Hoping for a peaceful weather week!

As for my husband, I didn't really talk him into it. He has been trying to lose 10-15 pounds for a while, but hasn't really worked too hard on the nutrition side. I think when he saw how quickly I lost and then how I could eat so much in P4 without gaining, he was ready to give it a shot. I hope it will go smoothly for him. I know if he has a lot of hunger or weakness, it may be difficult to convince him to stick with it. He plays sports two days a week, so he needs to have enough strength and energy to play!

My only suggestion would be to just tell your husband about the metabolism reset aspect. I think that part is so appealing, because not only can we lose fast, we can get our metabolisms burning, so we can have higher calories without gaining it all back!

Originally Posted by paulabob

Let me chime in and say my Round 2 was way better than Round 1. I had also decided on a shorter round...had less candida detox and better hunger control after the first couple of days. My results were pretty much the same (1/2 pound per day average)...was very happy with round 2. I think there's plenty of us out there that loved round 2.

I'm glad to know your Round 2 was so successful! Thank you for sharing that. Loading is over for me tonight, and I'm thrilled to be starting VLCDs tomorrow!

[Laschance]

Oops wrong place...