My hHCG journey begins in 3,2,1.....

[chicamala]

Down .4 today. Forgot one of my doses yesterday. Blood pressure numbers are really low and my blood sugar is actually normal!

[2011me]

Originally Posted by chicamala

Down .4 today. Forgot one of my doses yesterday. Blood pressure numbers are really low and my blood sugar is actually normal!

[C'Marie]

Chicamala, you're doing so good. I'm Proud to "know" you! You will BE that success story and motivate others!!!

[chicamala]

C'Marie-Ahhh....I'm happy to "know" you! The inspirations began with you and I've sure enjoyed reading about your successes!

[chicamala]

Thanks for the thumbs up 2011me!

I've been kind of shaky this afternoon. My blood pressure is quite low. 101/62....I'm calling doctor to see about stopping one of my meds for the time being. I can do that with one, but the other two require weaning. This is such great progress!

[chicamala]

Going to make a list of goals I would like to accomplish over the next 6 months regarding my general health. They will be listed in increments so that I can have the sheer pleasure of seeing things checked off every so often.
Begin 6/5/11

Complete R1 HCG
Complete R2 HCG
Complete R3 HCG

Lose 05 lbs X
Lose 1o lbs X
Lose 15 lbs
Lose 20 lbs
Lose 25 lbs
Lose 30 lbs
Lose 35 lbs
Lose 40 lbs
Lose 45 lbs
Lose 50 lbs
Lose 55 lbs
Lose 60 lbs
Lose 65 lbs
Lose 70 lbs
Lose 75 lbs
Lose 80 lbs
Lose 85 lbs
Lose 90 lbs
Lose 95 lbs
Lose 100!

Get blood sugar down to normal X
Get off of one blood pressure med X
Get off of two blood pressure meds
Get off of three blood pressure meds

Fit into my 20 clothes that I have plenty of!
Fit into size 18 comfortably
Fit into size 16 comfortably
Fit into size 14 comfortably
Fit into the 2 sweaters that my dearly departed mother knitted for me, oh, so very long ago!

After dinner walk daily, by habit
Resistance training 2x a week, by habit

[chicamala]

I'm kind of a hyper person in general, so me being chatty today is just my norm. I am terribly happy though. That makes me even more hyper chatty. I took 13 year old son, 5 year old son and 3 year old granddaughter to play at McDonald's playland. We ate lunch beforehand, including me. At MD, I got some tea and watched them play where it is cool. It is 106 outside right now. I was kind of stressed at first when I walked in the door and was assaulted by the smells. I have heard of some saying the smell makes them sick after a while, but it didn't me....it still smells pretty good! But, they got to play for a good hour and I came home feeling pleased to be able to do it without sabotaging myself.

[chicamala]

Down 1.2 pounds today. I'm very happy to be off of one of my blood pressure meds. Really hoping that it continues that way for me when I go to P3. I am pretty sure that I will end this round at the 21 day mark as I had originally planned. I want to practice P3 for 3 weeks or so and then try P2 again. I think the one thing that will help me decide the best when the time comes is how my blood pressure and blood sugar is doing. I don't really anticipate my blood sugar going too haywire on P3, but one thing I may have issues with is the blood pressure since I will probably get more sodium on P3. I do plan to add in a small amount at a time to see how it goes. I may not be able to have sodium at all still. I would like to be able to have hot wings....that has been on my mind so much lately. grrrr........

[ShellbellTX]

Chicamala~Your doing great and I am amazed you survived McDonalds..I am a slave to their fries!
I was down 1.2 pounds this morning too..crazy how fast time is going by as well..we started the same time I think?
Already approaching 1/2 way through the round~crazy..but in a good way!
XXXX

[LilacBruze]

I really like your goals! A co-worker and I were discussing this very thing today - to set small, attainable goals instead of just one from start to finish! I'm so happy that you've had such great losses and such an improvement on your attitude (not that it was bad, just um, dubious, as most of us start out lol) in such a short time.

I really feel that HCG has given me the faith and motivation that I CAN do this - like NO OTHER diet has ever done. Six months ago I would have thought that the only way I could ever lose 100 lbs would be to have a Lap Band installed. To think that I have lost almost 60 lbs by learning new and better eating habits and discipline I never knew I possessed still takes my breath away sometimes!

And the blood sugar! I mean, I get that it is low because of the VLCD and very limited natural sugars. HOWEVER, I feel pretty confident that continued good eating habits will keep me at a decent level. I have not taken my Metformin or Onglyza in over 2 weeks now and my fasting numbers are 105-110 - almost like a non-diabetic person! My last A1C was 8.8 so I am hoping to walk into my doc's office on 7/6 and have it down to at least under 7.0. On 7/6 he was going to put me on insulin if it didn't improve drastically and with HCG, I know it has!

Not only that, but my neuropathy symptoms have all but disappeared! My docs never figured out if it was caused by my MS or by the diabetes, but 4 years later - that is four years of constant, 24/7 pain - I woke up 5 days ago to quiet, peaceful, painless nerves! I've had 5 days of no pain!

I am convinced that HCG is indeed a miracle. It's given me ME back. And it sounds like you're getting YOU back as well! Hurray for us!

[chicamala]

Originally Posted by ShellbellTX

Chicamala~Your doing great and I am amazed you survived McDonalds..I am a slave to their fries!
I was down 1.2 pounds this morning too..crazy how fast time is going by as well..we started the same time I think?
Already approaching 1/2 way through the round~crazy..but in a good way!
XXXX

We did start close to each other and I've sure enjoyed seeing you do so well. This board and getting to "know" a few of you ladies has made this whole experience successful.

The time is going faster than I thought. I've been doing the things I should have been doing before when I got to thinking too hard about cravings. I remember hearing someone say that you can't keep a bird from landing on your head, but you can swat it off before it builds a nest. They were referring to lustful thoughts popping into your head...but, it is just as relevant here. The frequent and long thinking about food drives me to eat! I've been swatting the bird off lately.

Keep on doing what you've been doing...it's a workin'!

[chicamala]

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

I really like your goals! A co-worker and I were discussing this very thing today - to set small, attainable goals instead of just one from start to finish! I'm so happy that you've had such great losses and such an improvement on your attitude (not that it was bad, just um, dubious, as most of us start out lol) in such a short time.

I really feel that HCG has given me the faith and motivation that I CAN do this - like NO OTHER diet has ever done. Six months ago I would have thought that the only way I could ever lose 100 lbs would be to have a Lap Band installed. To think that I have lost almost 60 lbs by learning new and better eating habits and discipline I never knew I possessed still takes my breath away sometimes!

And the blood sugar! I mean, I get that it is low because of the VLCD and very limited natural sugars. HOWEVER, I feel pretty confident that continued good eating habits will keep me at a decent level. I have not taken my Metformin or Onglyza in over 2 weeks now and my fasting numbers are 105-110 - almost like a non-diabetic person! My last A1C was 8.8 so I am hoping to walk into my doc's office on 7/6 and have it down to at least under 7.0. On 7/6 he was going to put me on insulin if it didn't improve drastically and with HCG, I know it has!

Not only that, but my neuropathy symptoms have all but disappeared! My docs never figured out if it was caused by my MS or by the diabetes, but 4 years later - that is four years of constant, 24/7 pain - I woke up 5 days ago to quiet, peaceful, painless nerves! I've had 5 days of no pain!

I am convinced that HCG is indeed a miracle. It's given me ME back. And it sounds like you're getting YOU back as well! Hurray for us!

Lilac, I've paid close attention to you and your progress. I'm truly thrilled for you to be free of the neuropathy pain and to have all your sugar numbers go down so nicely. I know I'm still "thinking" I will end at 21 days, but I really can't say for sure. Each day I feel more and more excited for what is happening to me. Thanks for the encouragement and the great example!

[C'Marie]

CJ, I just love reading your progress..... it makes me happy. I tear up thinking about it. You and Lilac are so BRAVE to lay it all on the line and go for it like you have, fears and all.

I caught my bs issues *just* before they became a problem - I had insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome and was gaining weight just nonstop, like a snowball rolling downhill. For every year I don't gain 20 pounds now, I feel like I should be able to count that as weight lost ! LOL

[chicamala]

Originally Posted by C'Marie

CJ, I just love reading your progress..... it makes me happy. I tear up thinking about it. You and Lilac are so BRAVE to lay it all on the line and go for it like you have, fears and all.

I caught my bs issues *just* before they became a problem - I had insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome and was gaining weight just nonstop, like a snowball rolling downhill. For every year I don't gain 20 pounds now, I feel like I should be able to count that as weight lost ! LOL

I just wish I would have taken my health more seriously like you. When I was diagnosed 4.5 years ago with the insulin resistance, high blood pressure and metabolic syndrome, I started lowcarb. I lost 57 lbs in a long year, but in the last year I have gained all but 7 lbs back. My blood pressure was so unpredictable and my asthma way out of control. Then, the diabetes diagnosis....oh. That is when my head really got in the game. I have so many family members that just eat what they want and shoot the insulin to compensate. I told myself, if I get like that, I can just buy the shovel that goes along with it. Never mind the fact that I was already eating what I wanted minus the injection, even though I knew I was wrecking havoc on my body....

Glad to be in the game....well, glad to not just be in any game, but THIS HCG game. It is much easier than I thought it would be. I have already surpassed what I lost in the 2 months prior to this (6 lbs) just in the first week of HCG.

And what you now have is what I have to look forward to! Thanks for sharing your journey with all of us!

[chicamala]

Down .8 this morning. I'm down 15.6 total on this 10th day of VLC.

[C'Marie]

Holy Moly, girl - what are you going to wear to weigh in at TOPS now!? LOL

[ShellbellTX]

Your awesome and it's so inspiring seeing your losses day to day.
Keep on doing what your doing as it is working for you SO well!
XXX

[chicamala]

C'Marie- I have no idea...someone suggested a scuba suit. LOL

Originally Posted by ShellbellTX

Your awesome and it's so inspiring seeing your losses day to day.
Keep on doing what your doing as it is working for you SO well!
XXX

My friend has been doing this with me, her and her mom. She has been mixing a few veggies and I asked her if she knew that wasn't actually Simeon's protocol. She said yeah, but she didn't think it would hurt. She was surprised I was being so rigid. I just want to follow it to the letter, at least the first time so that I know if it will "work" for me. Now that I have been losing consistently, I am very compulsive about getting my meals at exactly the same time each day, drinking tons of water and eating right. I won't even add any new supplements right now cause I'm afraid they will throw things off, or if they don't, and I am not losing the same way, I will automatically assume it's the supplements. I had a RAD attack today....I wouldn't even allow myself to use my inhaler. I usually do to shorten the length of the attack, but I didn't want any steroids in my system! LOL Fortunately the attack was short lived on its own.

[chicamala]

Down another pound. I went on a cooking frenzy yesterday. Wanted to get some meals in the freezer for my guys and also have some things to take when we go to work on our property in the pines. I spent about 5 hours on my feet cooking, sweating, cleaning kitchen, sweating....heehee. Although, I must say, I am cold most of the time now! I do have hot spells, like when I first get in my 125 degree car, after soaking in a hot tub, working hard cooking or cleaning. :0) I also took kids swimming and although I sat under an umbrella the entire time, I got burned. :0( Basically, it was a fun and productive day and I cannot believe that I can still do all of this while eating such low calories!

I'm going to extend my round...as long as my drops hold out. :0) I was pretty determined to be heading into P3 by July 1st, but, well....I cannot mess with this progress!

[Zbunny]

Wow, CJ, great work! You are doing so well and it's awesome to witness first hand! I have been MIA for a couple of days with work stuff, and it is amazing to come read your progress in just those few days! I am so happy for you!

[chicamala]

Thank you Zbunny. I'm reading about P3 on the threads now. How is P3 going for you? I still have a little ways to go, but feel like if I begin my research and see how people have done and what mistakes they made and warn against, I may be ready to do it right when the time comes.

[chicamala]

My favorite food is the bean....I'm dreaming about them! It's a long ways away to trying beans again. :0( I would love some butter bean soup or chili beans right now. LOL

[Zbunny]

Here is my best P3 advice for you (remember, this is coming from a P3 newbie, but I can speak to my experiences):

1. Continue to eat VLC for the two no-hcg days, but you can increase protein a bit for hunger if needed.

2. Do not, I repeat, do NOT freak out if the scale jumps around a bit the first 2-3 days of P3. I think it's too soon to do a CD that quickly, and it will likely move around a bit before settling back to your LDW.

3. Do not be afraid of calories and fat. Once I increased my calories and fat from P3 legal foods, my weight stabilized well. Think along the lines of adding butter on your veggies, cream in your coffee, higher fat meats instead of 96/4 beef, chicken with the skin; for brekkie have eggs and bacon if you like; I still have my fruit, because I want my body to be able to handle it for maintenance, so I have whipped HWC on strawberries, or blueberries mixed with Greek Yogurt, or a grapefruit after my lunch protein, etc. I have added in a little cheese here and there, but I'm cautious with it, because it tends to be a trigger food for me, as are nuts and PB (see next bullet).

4. Do not eat peanut butter. And no, it's not a P3 food, so don't ask me why I ate it (I think I may have to join PBA (that's peanut butter anonymous to the uninitiated) -- I have a serious problem).

5. If you miss your PBA meeting and DO eat peanut butter, or anything else that causes you a gain, do a CD, such as Greek Yogurt (32 oz of full fat GY + up to 8 oz of berries mixed in -- I used frozen blueberries). The day following your CD, do NOT eat peanut butter! Yes, I actually did this because I am a complete dork, so I had to do another CD. Eat clean P3 foods the day after a CD to stabilize. Make sure you drink your water, too. Very important.

Seriously though, don't look at CDs as failure -- they are part of the P3 process until you sort out what your body will and will not tolerate without a gain. Some people set a 3 lb. window instead of a 2 pounder, but for me, I don't WANT to go up 3 lbs, because that takes me back to a set point that I fought long and hard to bust, so I refuse to stabilize there again. I'm back at just below my LDW now, and I plan to stay in my window whatever it takes. It's actually easy when I eat correctly and get enough calories; the problems come into play when I'm gone for 12-14 hours, don't have enough foods with me, come home starving, and give into the wrong foods (read: organic peanut butter). Now, some folks can eat PB, but those are the folks who think that one spoonful is a serving, which I simply do not understand, unless that spoon is more of a "ladle" if you will.

It's actually a truly interesting process -- I love realizing that I can EAT serious calories and still maintain my weight, as long as I eat the correct foods. And the food choices are delicious, so I really don't mind -- I just have to be prepared. I will not be doing a P4 this round -- just a slightly longer P3 (4 weeks) and back into P2, but after that round I look forward to stabilizing in P3 and then exploring P4 territory to see what will work for the rest of my lifetime. It's exciting to realize that this time, the weightloss will stay off because I actually have a plan to maintain. The scale is your friend during P3 (and P4) -- I'm realizing that this is basically training us to eat like "naturally" thin people, who automatically adjust their calories down when they overindulge. Pretty neat to finally learn that trick!

Sorry for the novel!

[chicamala]

Oh, please don't be sorry for the novel...it was very good to read and entertaining, to boot! I like peanut butter every once in a while, so I probably won't have difficulty with it. I am really craving the things I was eating lowcarb before I started this woe. I am hoping that I can slowly start adding in foods and see if anything causes a trigger gain. I wonder if I can do P3 for just a couple of weeks and then go back into P2? I just kind of want a break from it, but I really do have quite a bit more weight to lose.

I do find I am less interested in this diet when it is right up against my next meal...well, duh...it's cause I'm hungry. I'm pretty darn happy with the diet after I have eaten even though there aren't many calories. I suppose it's a moment by moment thing for me for the rest of my life. This darn compulsive behavior drives me crazy!

I was going to order some chipotle ranch from netrition, but then I had an epiphany! I had Walden Farms bacon ranch that I actually do like. I put some chipotle powder into it.....wow! My bacon chipotle ranch chicken salad was very, very enjoyable!

[Zbunny]

I know that Cheryl is doing that -- 2 weeks of P3 and then back into P2 -- so you can take a look at her journal thread to see how that's going for her over the next couple of weeks (she's starting P2 again tomorrow, I believe). Her rationale is the same as yours: She doesn't want to stabilize at this higher weight -- she wants to get it off and stabilize there.

As for me, I want to stabilize here before I move on because that's what so many of the experts on this site recommend, but again, everyone is different. I totally get why Cheryl is jumping back in, and she was maintaining well in P3, so I think she's good to go, but for me, I fear that I will not learn how to maintain if I don't learn it along the way, kwim? I don't want to wait until I'm "there" and then be lost about what to do. I figure this will take me 1-2 more rounds to get to goal (it would take most people one round to lose what I need to lose, but I'm a totally slow loser) and I want to make it a journey of learning. If I get there too quickly, I know that I won't be as motivated to maintain, because in the back of my mind I'll always think, "I can just do another round -- I'll go ahead and have that cake, nachos, etc."

I think it's best to reflect on what you know about yourself as a person and as a "dieter" and then go from there. I also think that if you stabilize easily in P3, you may not need to stay on it as long as you would if you swing around a lot.

[shelbyla]

Originally Posted by Zbunny

4. Do not eat peanut butter. And no, it's not a P3 food, so don't ask me why I ate it (I think I may have to join PBA (that's peanut butter anonymous to the uninitiated) -- I have a serious problem).

5. If you miss your PBA meeting and DO eat peanut butter, or anything else that causes you a gain, do a CD, such as Greek Yogurt (32 oz of full fat GY + up to 8 oz of berries mixed in -- I used frozen blueberries). The day following your CD, do NOT eat peanut butter! Yes, I actually did this because I am a complete dork, so I had to do another CD. Eat clean P3 foods the day after a CD to stabilize. Make sure you drink your water, too. Very important.

Seriously though, don't look at CDs as failure -- they are part of the P3 process until you sort out what your body will and will not tolerate without a gain. Some people set a 3 lb. window instead of a 2 pounder, but for me, I don't WANT to go up 3 lbs, because that takes me back to a set point that I fought long and hard to bust, so I refuse to stabilize there again. I'm back at just below my LDW now, and I plan to stay in my window whatever it takes. It's actually easy when I eat correctly and get enough calories; the problems come into play when I'm gone for 12-14 hours, don't have enough foods with me, come home starving, and give into the wrong foods (read: organic peanut butter). Now, some folks can eat PB, but those are the folks who think that one spoonful is a serving, which I simply do not understand, unless that spoon is more of a "ladle" if you will.

Right there with ya sister! CanNOT have it in the house AT ALL! I switched to almond butter because I don't like it QUITE as much but I can still eat 1/2 a jar with a spoon! :blush:

[Zbunny]

So, shall we start out PBA meeting, Shelby?

Hi, I'm Sheri and I'm a PB-aholic. "Hi Sheri."

[chicamala]

Thanks Zbunny. I am going to reflect on my eating habits and try and make a good choice for me. I'm actually not in that big of a hurry I guess. I am already achieving what I set out to achieve quickly....lowered blood sugar and blood pressure. As long as I don't do anything to sabotage myself, I would probably be happy to do a full P3 and P4. I'm really excited about figuring out what I am actually sensitive to. I do plan to do the slow intro of food items and watch the scale. I will definitely extend my round and finish my bottle, though.

[C'Marie]

CJ, I would really recommend you do a full P3/P4 cycle at least the first round. There are many reasons for this. I know I've beat this to death in other threads.

I know other people feel differently. I'm ok with that

I'm interested in learning how to maintain, and it takes some practice. I don't want to learn it all at the end, when I'm at goal. I want incremental setpoints so if I flub up, it's not all the way back to the top! I want my body to get the breaks it needs to hit the reset button. Shorter breaks, many times, slow down progress in the weightloss phase - so that you are neither "resting in P3" and getting in very needed protein again, or really losing gangbusters in P2 - kinda just dragging it out. I want to follow the protocol as best as I can, and this is what is the clinical experience of over 40 years taught Dr. Simeons to do for success. Sure, people may fiddle around a bit and do ok. Do I want to do just ok? NOPE. I have to beat this obesity thing. I MUST. So I take it seriously, as anxious as I was when I started to get the weight off. It's tempting, I know. I have big reasons for getting it off just like everyone else. My mobility is compromised, for one thing.

This is my advice to you, because This is for all the marbles.

[chicamala]

C'Marie- I am really leaning toward doing the full P3 and P4. I have my moments where I think, just stay in the game and lose, lose, lose.....Well, I will figure it out when the time comes. In the meantime, I am learning everything I can about P3 and P4.

Down .4 this morning. Had trouble getting going, but I finally found my funk and am working on the big Father's Day dinner. I was really worried about having to cook for all my guys while on this diet, but they have had fun doing all of the tasting and telling me what to do to "fix" my meals as I cook. I am not a recipe kind of cook....I fly by the seat of my pants and that requires a lot of "tasting."

Have a nice day with family today everyone!