***HCG Alternative Plans for week of 7/4/11***

[minimonkey]

I'm ok with losing fat slowly at this point... I may grumble, but as long as I am getting results, I'd rather do it right. At this point, for me, leaning out means dropping my bodyfat back down, and continuing to work and stretch the muscles so they become denser and less puffed up-- more compact. I like a somewhat striated look on me... and I am getting that a little in the chest and arms now. My legs are showing definite promise, but I do need to drop some fat there... and there is still the matter of my butt

I am definitely working on the leanness re: the six-pack dream, but the water retention may be another matter altogether. My body seems to love to hang on to abdominal bloat, in particular. I am doing some nutritional and supplements work towards balancing hormones, and I think that will help, if I ever get it right.

[minimonkey]

Hope you get some sleep Cheryl! I am heading off for a tiny bit of that myself....wish it could be more, but my schedule won't permit that right now.

[DisneyPrincess]

Morning. Phew. Loading done and I'm onto P2 and excited about it! I didn't weigh today and won't weigh daily during this phase. I just don't feel the need.

I'm happy to report I got in an 8 mile run yesterday and a 7 miler this morning. Weight training will resume this week to supplement my runs.

Cheryl- that's a big misconception about heavy weight training. It absolutely doesn't produce the bulky look. I've been lifting heavy for years and it's helped me look lean and athletic vs skinny fat

[paulabob]

I love seeing all the fitness goals... I would just be happy losing the flappy belly. With all the scars, I'll never be interested in seeing a six pack there...but at least not a big pooch!

STS this morning. Really want to see fresh numbers. Still .4 above my low on the first during P3.

[minimonkey]

Well, the scale is not my friend this morning -- I am up .4 -- I worked out hard yesterday, so I am sure its from that (I'm sore.) I think I am going to weigh every few days and leave it at that.

Hunger is much, much better, so I am aiming for lower calories today -- I will, however, eat if I am truly hungry.

Hope you all have a lovely day -- I am off to do a big art performance project thing (for lack of a better term) at school -- so it'll be a long one for me, but it should be fun.

[HellsBelle]

Good morning ladies! Eating the sausage & peppers last night worked out ok, I'm down .4 this morning. Just a quick post from me, posting from my phone-hope everyone has a great day! : )

[minimonkey]

Oh, two more things-- one, my sweats seem a lot looser this morning -- and two, I am cold today! These things both bode well for this working.

I have had long stalls, and bizarre ups and downs, in all my low-calorie rounds, and I still always managed to come out looking leaner and better, as well as eventually dropping scale weight too -- so I am just trusting the process.

I am going to ditch all dairy for a bit too and see if that helps with the bloating -- I think I am sensitive to it.

[catjrow3]

Morning ladies!
How was everyone's saturday?? We went to the movies and watched the Green Lantern. Its sure hard not to get the popcorn and crap... LORDY!

The movie was okay... not bad, not great... anyone else seen it?

I got my new set of DVDs for the Billy Blanks PT24/7 has anyone else seen them advertised on TV? I love tae-bo and saw these and had to order them. You hook these bands (look like bungee cords) to your gloves and shoes and they put tension in every kick and punch, etc... Have not tried it yet, just got it, but they look like a good workout!! Something to change up the running!!

Okay, well, down 1.8 and ready to go clean the house. Have a great Sunday everyone!

[CherylB]

Good afternoon, ladies! I woke up about 12:45pm after being awake all night. I had no idea how late it was! I fell so deep into sleep that I had forgotten all about the night's troubles. You should have seen my face when I looked at the clock!

You weight lifting girls know what you're doing, so I'll just stay out of it. I promise! I will just watch, wait and see. It's hard not to comment on other's posts, though. I try hard to comment on things, but now I have to learn not to in some cases.

Yippee to those who lost today and have a NSV, Yahoo to those who didn't and are still staying strong. WTG to everyone, regardless of what happens today! There... that covers everyone!

I am fasting today and took my milk of mag to clear out my system of all I ate off-plan yesterday (and last night) on my refeed day. Water only and sugar-free chewing gum (did this on R1 and it worked great.) Then tomorrow I'll weigh and begin P2 eating again. I have decided to eliminate all diet sodas from my plan. I didn't drink them on R1 and R2 I've had multiple cans on a daily basis. Could be part of the problem, and I won't know unless I live without them again.

Have a very blessed day, ladies!

[paulabob]

Church was great, just had my P2 rogue deviled eggs. YUM! I need to make those more often, forgot how much I enjoy them! And so filling.

Kids are being good...it's amazing how well disciplined they quickly become while I'm on P2. They dont' get away with anything. I guess being in food deprivation mode keeps me alert!

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by paulabob

Church was great, just had my P2 rogue deviled eggs. YUM! I need to make those more often, forgot how much I enjoy them! And so filling.

Kids are being good...it's amazing how well disciplined they quickly become while I'm on P2. They dont' get away with anything. I guess being in food deprivation mode keeps me alert!

Go get 'em, Paula! Enjoy those eggs. Eggs without fat is blah to me. The only eggs I've had during R1P2 were the kind that come in a carton (low fat, already scrambled) and just spritzed them with butter spray. They weren't great.

[MM2011]

Popping in here, Ladies! Wow! Am I drained! The wedding went well, had a nice visit with my sister and her family. My daughter and her fiance came for a visit, too.

I am just exhausted, and I want to get back on P2. Felt horrible eating all that other stuff. I think my weight is ok-will check tomorrow a.m. Too tired! Too old, too fat! Hahha! You all think it is ok to start right back up again? I have been P3 for a week...

I had ordered pellets (they got here the other day), and I have some drops left (we had purchased 2 bottles). Just want to lose more!! Too antsy to maintain!!

I'll check back later tonight, or first thing tomorrow. Enjoy the rest of the day!

[nola baxter]

hi Cheryl
Comment away! another viewpoint is always welcome.


Mini; it is said that for some people dairy does cause a kind of water retention,
a trainer I used to work with said it can make you look "soft"- in other words, hiding the definition .
I cant tell if it does with me or not- though it does affect me in other ways for sure- but I do love it so!!

My ideas re heavy lifting;
The heavier you lift, usually the more you need to rest afterwards;
and by that I mean post workout - in the days following.
Generally speaking, you cant do heavy lifting on the same muscles day after day. And the stronger you get, and the heavier you can lift, and the more all out effort you can put into it, the longer you need to rest after.
A powerlifter once said it took his body 26 days to recover from an all out lift!

I would go for basic lifts or movements- lunges, squats, bench press, pullups/chins(if/when you are strong enough), farmers walks , dead lifts, shoulder press..
5-10 reps.
So that at the end of the rep range , you are approaching or at failure.

To start with, dont go all out 100%, train your body into it a bit, get the muscles and joints used to the heavier weights.

Hard bodyweight exercises are just as good if not better than weights;
ie, chins, bodyweight back rows (need to add weight to this when you get stronger), harder variants of press-ups, tricep dips, alligator crawl..
In other words- bodyweight exercises that are hard enough so that you dont need to do many reps to approach failure/fatigue.
I sometimes go to the park and use the bars to do pull-ups and back rows. And also do the monkey bars- which is good for arms and shoulders, and a bit of core.

And if you watch Scott Abel- pushing a car at speed! lol..

Thats all that comes to mind right now!

I sure there will be much other advice out there..

Nola

[CherylB]

26 days to recover? Holy Toledo! Was he able to walk for the first week after the lifting? I am enjoying all the tips you are giving to Mini, too. I am really starting to get jazzed about doing something. I remember in the days when I was younger and fit, I used to think to myself how great it was to work out hard and then have the rest of the day to be lazy. It seemed too good to be true, but it was working for me.

I'm going to treat myself tomorrow and go buy some new clothes. I can't tell you how seldom I do that, and most times in the past (during all my fat years), I bought them second hand at Goodwill and places like that. Well, tomorrow I'm going to buy some brand new clothes to workout in. Stuff that I wouldn't be embarrassed to be seen in in the light of day. Ya know? Stuff that's comfortable and flattering. I'm going first thing tomorrow when I get up.

Maureen, I'm glad you made it through the wedding hubbub! It will be fine to just get right back into P2. No loading necessary and you can just call your one week of P3 an Interruption. I'm glad you are all fired up to get back in the game! Wooohoooo!

[CherylB]

I went ahead and started the new thread for the week. Come on over, ladies!

**HCG Alternative Plans for the week of July 10, 2011**