HCG Alternate Plans for the week of 06/13/2011

[2BabesMama]

Originally Posted by Beezer Louisiana

I don't know what is wrong with me. I could eat the sofa.

OMG, we just saw a show called "My Freaky Addiction" or something similar and this one woman would eat sofa cushions! It was the foam she liked. It was sad and disturbing! Do not eat the sofa!

I got to the point where you are now where it was a struggle. that was the time I think my body decided time for a break. I was going in circles! Good luck with making a decision.

[Violet_Dream]

Down .6 this morning. I'm going back to strict protocol and an nixing the half and half in my coffee for now. Yesterday, I had one cup of coffee w/ cream and used some Splenda. I feel good on this plan, the only thing I miss is my half and half.

Not a big trade-off for weight loss - 8.2 pounds gone in four days.

[2BabesMama]

-1.6 for a total of 5.4 so far!

[paulabob]

Originally Posted by moonstruck

Down .6 this morning.
Not a big trade-off for weight loss - 8.2 pounds gone in four days.

Originally Posted by 2BabesMama

-1.6 for a total of 5.4 so far!

Wow ladies...y'all are having FANTASTIC results!

[nmbnancy]

Originally Posted by tracyann71

"Be yourself, everyone else is already taken" This makes me smile and gives new meaning to being happy in your own skin.

Luv you all!!! Have a wonderful day and prosperous day

This quote is fantastic !! Thank you for sharing it

[Beezer Louisiana]

I knew this would happen. I woke up to a 1.4 lb. loss. Now what?!?!

1. Should I take the 155.4 lbs. as my set-weight and move to P3?

2. Or should I try another day and see how close I can get to 150 lbs.?

I just don't know.

But I'm TIRED. Physically tired. I think that this has all been a shock to my body and the tiredness and cravings are just a sign that it's time to move to P3.

I've lost 14.8 lbs. in 22 days and that's pretty awesome! I've seen huge changes in my body and I could be happy at this weight. I'd like to go play some tennis and maybe work out, but haven't been able to on the protocol because I don't regularly work out. I play tennis occasionally, but not often enough to qualify me for doing it during protocol.

So . . . I'm moving to P3. Today and tomorrow I won't take my drops but will still eat the 500 calorie diet. (HOW hard is that going to be?)

[catjrow3]

Donna, you will do fine! If you start exercising during P3 and decide to do another round, you can continue your exercise in P2. I have exercised hard now in P2 for a while, and it makes me feel so much better!! I eat a few more calories because of it though. Great job on the 1.4 this morning!!

Congrats all on your losses this morning.

I think I am back in the groove this morning, since restarting again yesterday. I was down 5.2 this morning (which was just more water whooosh from the bad eating) but hopefully I will keep it up and get back where I was before Jamaica!!

Have a great Tuesday everyone!!

[Beezer Louisiana]

Originally Posted by 2BabesMama

OMG, we just saw a show called "My Freaky Addiction" or something similar and this one woman would eat sofa cushions! It was the foam she liked. It was sad and disturbing! Do not eat the sofa!

I got to the point where you are now where it was a struggle. that was the time I think my body decided time for a break. I was going in circles! Good luck with making a decision.

I saw that show! She wasn't even eating nice sofa cushion foam! LOL! She was eating old, yellowed funky stuff! LOL! (Not that eating NEW cushion foam would be any better. But old funky stuff that people have been sitting on for years . . . yuck!!!!)

Originally Posted by PiDevil

Beezer, why can't you have steak too? I eat it a few times a week as well as plenty of ground beef.

Because when I buy steak, I buy prime rib eye that are well marbled. It's definitely NOT low fat! LOL! Eating lean steak just wouldn't be worth it to me. (Remember, I've been a low carber for one year now. I'm spoiled when it comes to steak! )

I think I'm just done with this round. I'm tired and I'm hungry. I'm 5 lbs. from my goal, but I just can't see myself doing another day. It will be a challenge to get through these two 500 calorie days without the drops. (I'm a little scared! :blush

I'm also terrified of P3. What if I gain it all back?

[dazygyrl]

back to my anniversary interruption meal or go on to p3 quandary. i am down 9.2 from my start weight. i think i may get to 10 even and then go on to p3. a couple weeks of p3 then back to p2 for another 10lbs.

has anyone done just a couple weeks of p3 then gone back to p2? is this a bad idea?

[PiDevil]

Originally Posted by Beezer Louisiana

Because when I buy steak, I buy prime rib eye that are well marbled. It's definitely NOT low fat! LOL! Eating lean steak just wouldn't be worth it to me. (Remember, I've been a low carber for one year now. I'm spoiled when it comes to steak! )

I know what you mean! I love my rib eyes! However, a nice lean sirloin is very tasty too. Especially grilled with some onions....

[Missouri_Librarian]

GREAT JOB TO ALL THE BIG LOSERS...LOL...

Day 2 done for me yesterday and was down 3 pounds this morning...8 pds total...

Day 3 here I am coming....I am loving it...thanks again for all the help and support

[CherylB]

Big Congrats to all the losers, and to those struggling on the plan and still hanging tough!

As far as your question, Beezer, I would not end the round now, no matter how you feel. Isn't one more week of P2 now better than 3 more weeks during another round? I know you said you are happy with your body now, as it is. So, if you will be ending P2 now and just chipping away at those last 5 lbs over time without hcg and another P2, then stopping now and going into P3 sounds like a plan. But why go through another entire round for just 5 lbs? The minimum a round can be is 3 weeks.

Tracy, love the quote and I'm glad you feel well. I also want to know how tall you are, as someone else asked. Is your goal reasonable for your height? You admit to having an ED, so that's why I'm asking.

Originally Posted by PiDevil

R4 VLCD Day 15 - no change today. I am into my every other day loss pattern. I made a lovely soup for lunch - chicken oriental with spinach, bean sprouts & pea pods. Something to look forward to in a couple of hours.

As of yesterday, I am 0.2lb from 1/2 way to goal. I started this journey on 1/3. I am finding this so hard to believe! Never thought I would see a number that didn't start with '2' but I am very close now. After this round, I will do another round in August & then again in October. Then I will take the holidays off. It will be interesting trying to maintain over the most food-centric time of year.

Cheryl - How's that P3?

Have a great Tuesday!

That oriental soup sounds yummy, Pat! That's so great that you are almost out of the 200's! Onderland is a Wonderful place to be, and soon you will find this out for yourself. I know what you mean about the holidays this year! This will be my first holidays living at goal. AT GOAL! How amazing that will be. And it will just be the first of the rest of them, for my entire life. How liberating! How can living a moderate eating plan for life be liberating? It is an oxymoron. But there is freedom in being in control.

P3 is great, now that I'm used to not losing any more weight! It was hard to let that go, but today is day 10 and I'm doing really well. I'm so not into greasy foods anymore! I am prefering foods high in fat but not dripping with oils and butter. Such as Cottage cheese, cream cheese, cheese, cheese, cheese, nuts, . I'm eating other things like chicken thighs and stuff, but mainly I am doing the same thing I did on P2; eating something I love basically day in and day out. Makes tracking things on ****** much easier, too!

Originally Posted by dazygyrl

back to my anniversary interruption meal or go on to p3 quandary. i am down 9.2 from my start weight. i think i may get to 10 even and then go on to p3. a couple weeks of p3 then back to p2 for another 10lbs.

has anyone done just a couple weeks of p3 then gone back to p2? is this a bad idea?

That's called Cycling and I will be doing that this round. Or, I may do 3 weeks of P3 and then 1 week of P4, then reload on the 4th of July. That will cut my R2 down, but it will allow me to not have to go off-plan a week after starting P2 again. I have to give this more thought, but I may do that.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

PS: Nice job, Missouri!

[Bierarsch]

Originally Posted by Beezer Louisiana

I knew this would happen. I woke up to a 1.4 lb. loss. Now what?!?!

1. Should I take the 155.4 lbs. as my set-weight and move to P3?

2. Or should I try another day and see how close I can get to 150 lbs.?

I just don't know.

But I'm TIRED. Physically tired. I think that this has all been a shock to my body and the tiredness and cravings are just a sign that it's time to move to P3.

I've lost 14.8 lbs. in 22 days and that's pretty awesome! I've seen huge changes in my body and I could be happy at this weight. I'd like to go play some tennis and maybe work out, but haven't been able to on the protocol because I don't regularly work out. I play tennis occasionally, but not often enough to qualify me for doing it during protocol.

So . . . I'm moving to P3. Today and tomorrow I won't take my drops but will still eat the 500 calorie diet. (HOW hard is that going to be?)

Originally Posted by Beezer Louisiana

I saw that show! She wasn't even eating nice sofa cushion foam! LOL! She was eating old, yellowed funky stuff! LOL! (Not that eating NEW cushion foam would be any better. But old funky stuff that people have been sitting on for years . . . yuck!!!!)



Because when I buy steak, I buy prime rib eye that are well marbled. It's definitely NOT low fat! LOL! Eating lean steak just wouldn't be worth it to me. (Remember, I've been a low carber for one year now. I'm spoiled when it comes to steak! )

I think I'm just done with this round. I'm tired and I'm hungry. I'm 5 lbs. from my goal, but I just can't see myself doing another day. It will be a challenge to get through these two 500 calorie days without the drops. (I'm a little scared! :blush

I'm also terrified of P3. What if I gain it all back?

Donna, I think you are wise to move on to P3. You will be able to maintain just fine, and who knows, maybe your set point will end up being lower than your LDW? Hang in there. I always slept a lot during my 72 hours to try to avoid the hunger.


I am up .1 today. 138.8. I have been on protocol every day the past 10 days except Saturday. I didn't gain anything until today? I am about to frisbee the scale out the back door into the yard.

[Bierarsch]

Just wanted to tell everyone that y'all are doing an AWESOME job!! The newbies are rocking it, too!

[catr31]

Hi guys, I'm hoping I can join you all over in this thread since I will be going a little more rogue this round. I am on day 1 of P2 after stabilizing about 3 lbs over LDW but want to lose another 10 lbs. My plan is to do the OWL plan and stick to it by the book except for a couple of interruption meals, in which I will continue the drops. OWL appeals to me because of the wider range of veggie choices.

Summer for me means a lot of hiking and biking and I am really afraid I will not be able to keep up with the family or get through the hikes with so few calories. Should I eat extra protein on those days or not? I was thinking maybe a couple of boiled eggs in the morning. We have a big day hike coming up soon and I don't want to crash and burn and not be able to hike back out.

[LilacBruze]

Donna, I'm with Cheryl on this one. Your losses have been great and what is one more week when you have so little left to reach goal? Just my $.02.

[dazygyrl]

Originally Posted by CherylB

That's called Cycling and I will be doing that this round. Or, I may do 3 weeks of P3 and then 1 week of P4, then reload on the 4th of July. That will cut my R2 down, but it will allow me to not have to go off-plan a week after starting P2 again. I have to give this more thought, but I may do that.

thanks, cheryl!

is there risk of not being able to stabilize doing this? or will stabiliazation be established when i get done with R2 and do more of a full p3-4?

[CherylB]

Maggie, you got your siggy!

Originally Posted by catr31

Hi guys, I'm hoping I can join you all over in this thread since I will be going a little more rogue this round. I am on day 1 of P2 after stabilizing about 3 lbs over LDW but want to lose another 10 lbs. My plan is to do the OWL plan and stick to it by the book except for a couple of interruption meals, in which I will continue the drops. OWL appeals to me because of the wider range of veggie choices.

Summer for me means a lot of hiking and biking and I am really afraid I will not be able to keep up with the family or get through the hikes with so few calories. Should I eat extra protein on those days or not? I was thinking maybe a couple of boiled eggs in the morning. We have a big day hike coming up soon and I don't want to crash and burn and not be able to hike back out.

Cat! You sound like me with the plan you are going to do (except for the hiking and biking, though I'd love to be like YOU in that area.) I think it would be wise to take some protein with you on your hikes. Maybe take the boiled eggs with you then munch them when you feel like collapsing? You'll know what to do. Each day will be a learning experience. Just don't get caught unprepared and you'll do great!

[2BabesMama]

Originally Posted by Beezer Louisiana

I saw that show! She wasn't even eating nice sofa cushion foam! LOL! She was eating old, yellowed funky stuff! LOL! (Not that eating NEW cushion foam would be any better. But old funky stuff that people have been sitting on for years . . . yuck!!!!)

I know, right?! With everyone's body oils, spilled food and who knows what else!

I was nervous to move into P3 too and thought I'd just gain it all back. I stabilized a bit higher than my LDW, but it stuck and even though i didn't do the best P3 eating all the time, I stayed steady. It can happen to you too Beezer!

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by dazygyrl

thanks, cheryl!

is there risk of not being able to stabilize doing this? or will stabiliazation be established when i get done with R2 and do more of a full p3-4?

I'll let you know! I'm winging it myself. I am having no problems stabilizing in P3, but I don't know how my next P2 round will go if I skip P4. Still not sure how I'm going to play it. I know in my head that the smart thing would be to load on July 4th and do a pristine R2P2, but the impatient part of me wants to jump back into P2 and get as many days in my next round as I can. I think the rational me is going to win the arguement. Yea! I love being responsible and 'grown up'.

[dazygyrl]

sigh...i'm so indecisive. i still may just do a 40 day round. mostly to use up my pellets...don't like the idea of wasting the leftovers. so i'm guessing i will just have an interruption meal on our anniversary and stay p2 till 40 days.

[CherylB]

Decisions, decisions! I know, cause I'm STILL trying to work out the plan for the rest of the year, in regard to what phase when.

Has anyone done a shorter round P3 and then gone into P4? I will be doing a full 3 weeks on P3 this round, but then I'll just be doing P4 for 8 days so that I can load on the 4th of July. But that takes a bite out my R2 and scrunches things up a bit.

R2P2 will be 21 days, then I'll only have time for two weeks of P3 before I have to be in P4. Then I will reload again for the third and hopefully final round and do another 23 days on P2. Then I'm home-free!

[Beezer Louisiana]

I hear ya', Cheryl and Lilac, but I'm just tapped out. Mentally, I need to go to P3 now. I can't go another week.

I had an MRI of my head this morning to check my pituitary gland for a tumor or cyst. My thyroid has been just crazy these past four years. Maybe my tiredness is due to thyroid and not the protocol, but I'm just DONE. :blush:

If I stabalize at 155 lbs. that would be nice and I can live at 155 lbs. forever. If I stabalize at 160 lbs. I will want to do another P2. But I just can't go anymore right now.

[CherylB]

We're here for you, no matter what! We just don't want anyone making any rash decisions in a weak moment. Enjoy your P3! Lord knows I am.

[Beezer Louisiana]

Originally Posted by CherylB

We're here for you, no matter what! We just don't want anyone making any rash decisions in a weak moment. Enjoy your P3! Lord knows I am.

Thanks!

I'm really conflicted about losing further weight because of my shrinking boobs. LOL! :blush: I'm trying to balance the loss of a little more thigh fat with basically the rest of what's left of my boobs. I'm at the point of not wanting to lose anymore boob fat. I can work with what's left of them, but there is definitely some 'wrinkly boob skin' and I'm not liking that.

I really can live at 155 lbs. I'm just worried about not being able to maintain at 155 lbs. (I guess everyone worries about that when moving to P3.) I would have liked five more pounds of leeway, but I really do think that five more pounds would leave me embarrassed about my boobs. I know that when I was 145 lbs. I never took my bra off, even in bed. I didn't want my husband to see them because they were mainly just . . . skin. :blush:

So, for those reasons, I'm stopping now. Plus, I feel really tired and I'm ready to eat some P3 foods! LOL!

[star a.d.]

I really sodium-ed (and STRESSED) it up yesterday...up 2 lbs today. trying to drink a massive amount of water, but I'm still stressing out and my stomach just doesn't want to accept it the way I want it to. and I can't do a correction day until friday. hopefully I can get it under control somehow tonight.

beezer, good luck with your MRI and results! one of my cousins has a pituitary tumour, she's been living with it for years.

[Bierarsch]

Originally Posted by Beezer Louisiana

Thanks!

I'm really conflicted about losing further weight because of my shrinking boobs. LOL! :blush: I'm trying to balance the loss of a little more thigh fat with basically the rest of what's left of my boobs. I'm at the point of not wanting to lose anymore boob fat. I can work with what's left of them, but there is definitely some 'wrinkly boob skin' and I'm not liking that.

I really can live at 155 lbs. I'm just worried about not being able to maintain at 155 lbs. (I guess everyone worries about that when moving to P3.) I would have liked five more pounds of leeway, but I really do think that five more pounds would leave me embarrassed about my boobs. I know that when I was 145 lbs. I never took my bra off, even in bed. I didn't want my husband to see them because they were mainly just . . . skin. :blush:

So, for those reasons, I'm stopping now. Plus, I feel really tired and I'm ready to eat some P3 foods! LOL!

What hypo symptoms are you having?

I would stop now. You can always work out to tone up your thighs. I went from a D cup to B cup, and I feel weird.... like when you cut your hair short after it was long and you feel "bald." I have a history of fibroids (runs in the family), and I have always joked that I would just get everything taken out and replaced with implants, but I hate the idea of foreign objects in my body.

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by Beezer Louisiana

Thanks!

I'm really conflicted about losing further weight because of my shrinking boobs. LOL! :blush: I'm trying to balance the loss of a little more thigh fat with basically the rest of what's left of my boobs. I'm at the point of not wanting to lose anymore boob fat. I can work with what's left of them, but there is definitely some 'wrinkly boob skin' and I'm not liking that.

I really can live at 155 lbs. I'm just worried about not being able to maintain at 155 lbs. (I guess everyone worries about that when moving to P3.) I would have liked five more pounds of leeway, but I really do think that five more pounds would leave me embarrassed about my boobs. I know that when I was 145 lbs. I never took my bra off, even in bed. I didn't want my husband to see them because they were mainly just . . . skin. :blush:

So, for those reasons, I'm stopping now. Plus, I feel really tired and I'm ready to eat some P3 foods! LOL!

I'm sorry. I completely didn't address the MRI part of your post. I really hope that all is well when they read the results. As far as the boobs are concerned, I can understand your dilema. But I feel that you should save your pennies and buy a nice pair! Tell DH that you want an "awesome rack" for Christmas. Something tells me he'll be into that plan, if he's a breast man. I would LOVE to "have them done" someday. I don't want size, I want firmness and "loft." I don't want to rely on a bra to keep them up where they belong.

Originally Posted by star a.d.

I really sodium-ed (and STRESSED) it up yesterday...up 2 lbs today. trying to drink a massive amount of water, but I'm still stressing out and my stomach just doesn't want to accept it the way I want it to. and I can't do a correction day until friday. hopefully I can get it under control somehow tonight.

beezer, good luck with your MRI and results! one of my cousins has a pituitary tumour, she's been living with it for years.

Why no CD until Friday? I hope you feel better soon!

[Beezer Louisiana]

Originally Posted by star a.d.

beezer, good luck with your MRI and results! one of my cousins has a pituitary tumour, she's been living with it for years.

I've read that they can do one of three things:

1. Do nothing except to just monitor it.
2. Give drugs to shrink it or keep it from growing.
3. Remove it through the nasal passages.

I'm not all upset about it. If I do have one, it will almost be a relief to explain my weird thryoid problems.

Originally Posted by Bierarsch

What hypo symptoms are you having?

I would stop now. You can always work out to tone up your thighs. I went from a D cup to B cup, and I feel weird.... like when you cut your hair short after it was long and you feel "bald." I have a history of fibroids (runs in the family), and I have always joked that I would just get everything taken out and replaced with implants, but I hate the idea of foreign objects in my body.

I am now taking Synthroid and Cytomel in the morning, then Cytomel at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. If I'm an hour late taking one of my afternoon Cytomel pills I immediately feel exhausted and terribly sleepy. This is an improvement from before.

I was having 'thyroid crashes' every several months. I would just crash and feel like someone had given me Valium and had extreme need for sleep. This would last until the dr. raised my meds, which would take about three weeks. (Because they'd need blood tests done and I'd have to wait for results and an appointment.) I needed sleep so bad during the day it would literally hurt. My meds keep needing to be increased again and again every few months. I also had 'brain fog' and loss of memory. It feels like I'm getting Alzheimer's sometimes and it's scary. My memory has improved since my meds were increased, but there are lots of things that I just don't remember anymore.

When my thyroid would crash I would also start gaining weight, even though I wasn't eating differently.

The dr. said that my numbers aren't making sense and because the last thyroid crash gave me a 13 day headache (until they raised my meds) across my eyebrows. So he ordered an MRI. (I'm not a headache person, so this was very unusual for me.)

I should know the results tomorrow or Thursday.

[CherylB]

Please keep us posted when you get the results. I'll say a prayer for you, Donna. Try and get a good night's sleep. ((HUGS))