3.2 lbs til ONEderland - will I make it?

[TerriMM]

Originally Posted by RedL.I.

You are so sweet :-) Part of the problem, you see is that I am cooped up in the house and ill with something that is similar to malaria. (Babesiosis) Normally, I travel half the time, and I like to go-go-go!! Given the option, I would work all day and dance all night! I just had to cancel yet another conference management job; so this is my seventh week home. Still can't exercise. Been reading like crazy, (I highly recommend Benjamin Franklin's autobiography, by the way, THAT guy is a genius and funny!), as well as funny mystery novels.

I AM NOT A STAY AT HOME GIRL!! But - apparently....I don't run the universe.

So...that's why I have vented the craziness here of late. My life now, in this tiny house, in this little town, so far from Las Vegas, so polar opposite from working all day and dancing all night on the strip - (not, you know, for money...) - well, it's different.

So thanks for keeping me company while I learn the process of making lemonade from lemons. :-)

Okay explains a lot. You always talk about traveling, but have always been around. I've only been here since late May.
So is this Babesiosis something you got from your travels? Do you know where? Is it something you'll eventually recover from or are you stuck with it? If these questions are too personal, especially for a forum, please don't answer, I was just interested.
You're the second person to recommend Ben Franklin's autobiography. I believe I'll check it out.
So where are you with HCG? From your stats, you don't seem so far from me, though I somehow imagine you're probably a foot and a half taller I'm 5'1", started to do something about this at 180#, maybe ten years ago, with everything that came alone. Joined (and lost with) Weight Watchers several times. (and I do believe people do get fat eating bananas) While mulling over my next diet, my DH (who also travels) was in Las Vegas (of all places) and heard his customers talking about HCG. He asked me if I had ever heard of it. I did a bunch of research on it. Not in small part here. And before he got home I had ordered my pellets. I planned on completing the program by my birthday in June. Learned there was more to P3 then P2, did the refeed thing, went a little rouge and here I am on P3, lost 7 lbs I hadn't been able to lose any other way, getting ready to start R2 in August with a hand full of new friends.
I'm sorry, did you ask?

[LilacBruze]

Red, I can relate. I've had 2 MS relapses since being diagnosed 4 years ago. The first one had me homebound for over 3 months and the 2nd one for about 5 weeks. The first one attacked my left leg so I couldn't walk (I was majorly commuting via train to downtown, lots of walking) and the second one attacked my right eye and I couldn't see (work on a PC all day so I needed to see to be able to work lol). Being trapped at home is NOT something I can do without going buggy! Especially living with the anxiety of "will I end up in a wheelchair" or "will I lose my eyesight permanently". Not to mention the steroids that caused my weight to shoot up almost 50 lbs and the depression. Thankfully, I CAN walk and I CAN see.

My annual MRI's this year found 7-9 new MS lesions in my brain and spine so I have been holding my breath wondering when the new relapse will happen and where it will hit. But until then, I need to keep on keeping on.

[LilacBruze]

I've never really mentioned it here but in 2007 when the whole MS thing hit and I was frantically trying to find out WTH was wrong with me, I had shot up to 295 lbs. I have my daughter's 8th grade graduation pic where I looked like a beached whale. I mean, man... was I FAT! It's something I think of when I feel like eating something bad. I don't want to post that pic on my fridge or anything because I want to cry every time I see it, but just thinking of it is a major appetite suppressant.

[LilacBruze]

Oh yeah... new pic!!

[NeekoM]

Originally Posted by RedL.I.

PS: Has anyone else noticed that no matter which topic the thread starts with, we seem to always find a way to wind it back around to Bernice? What's up with that?

Bahaha - I was thinking this exact thing as I was catching up on this thread today


Lookin' goooood LB! KUTGW!

[RedsSkinnyJeans]

Originally Posted by TerriMM

.
So is this Babesiosis something you got from your travels? Do you know where? Is it something you'll eventually recover from or are you stuck with it? If these questions are too personal, especially for a forum, please don't answer, I was just interested.

So where are you with HCG? From your stats, you don't seem so far from me, though I somehow imagine you're probably a foot and a half taller ..............
my DH (who also travels) was in Las Vegas (of all places) and heard his customers talking about HCG. He asked me if I had ever heard of it. I did a bunch of research on it. Not in small part here. And before he got home I had ordered my pellets. I planned on completing the program by my birthday in June. Learned there was more to P3 then P2, did the refeed thing, went a little rouge and here I am on P3, lost 7 lbs I hadn't been able to lose any other way, getting ready to start R2 in August with a hand full of new friends.
I'm sorry, did you ask?

Terri,
I am glad to get to know you better! Not too personal at all! I suspect Lilac is the same in this - but I do not have the personality of "sick" and I really struggle with the identity. Illness does not discriminate, however.

I got the Babesiosis right here. Lyme disease/associated things are from ticks. More tiny than the period at the end of a sentence - and you get them from just walking through the grass. In the nation, Lyme is most plentiful here on Eastern Long Island and Connecticut. The treatment is a combination of powerful meds that makes a person EXTREMELY ill; and half the time not effective. Doc says if I can rest, stay still, and let my body heal itself, my immune system will be even stronger in the end. STAY HOME? STAY STILL? Ha! Right! I feel like a passenger plane that has been grounded and sitting on the tarmac for 7 weeks now!

With the dozens of changes from moving, remodeling, and illness, and an often absent husband, ( one who has never had to do housework/dishes/laundry/vacuum in all of our marriage. He's a genius and doesn't know which vacuum attachment to use. ALL need for any type household chore remains constantly invisible and unnoticed by him.) the past 8 months have wreaked havoc on our marriage. 'Nuther challenge. Good guy - radical change in team dynamics. I could by dying in bed and the house could easily start looking like it was ransacked with every dish and item of clothing dirty and he'd never notice. Sick as a dog and trying to put him through "Husband 101" Frankly, I couldn't wait for him to leave, (work trip - just a week). Sorry - that turned into a vent.

To return:

The past 2 years have been rounds of dieting efforts of all kinds. Was over 170. Most of the unsuccessful stories are from there. 4 full months following WW to the letter and after the first 5 - no more loss. Atkins the same. My personal favorite was when I had a flu and didn't eat for 3 full weeks and yet my weight stayed exactly the same.

In March I did something a friend gave me: Isagenix. Took off 7 - which came back promptly. April was something else. Then all of May was HCG. I'm 5'7" I look ok - but really want to take off the last 7.

We know lots of folks who are very sharp that have lost well, and kept it off in Las Vegas. That's where we learned of it also.

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

Red, I can relate. I've had 2 MS relapses since being diagnosed 4 years ago. The first one had me homebound for over 3 months and the 2nd one for about 5 weeks. The first one attacked my left leg so I couldn't walk (I was majorly commuting via train to downtown, lots of walking) and the second one attacked my right eye and I couldn't see (work on a PC all day so I needed to see to be able to work lol). Being trapped at home is NOT something I can do without going buggy! Especially living with the anxiety of "will I end up in a wheelchair" or "will I lose my eyesight permanently". Not to mention the steroids that caused my weight to shoot up almost 50 lbs and the depression. Thankfully, I CAN walk and I CAN see.

My annual MRI's this year found 7-9 new MS lesions in my brain and spine so I have been holding my breath wondering when the new relapse will happen and where it will hit. But until then, I need to keep on keeping on.

Oh honey. That is HUGE. And SERIOUS! I need to go research MS a little.
You also seem like a strong person. Stuff like this is very humbling! Yeah - the babesiosis, (which I only got Memorial Day weekend) was healing ok and then hubby brought home this tiny flu and I got so stinkin' sick from it because my immune system is shot - it brought me way back farther than when I initially got it. Bed and pain pills every day.

It is a struggle, some days, to keep a good attitude huh? I really admire people that struggle with serious challenges and maintain a positive attitude and always seem to have a ready smile. Last night I just wanted to go out drinking and perhaps find the biggest, ugliest bad ass guy and pick a fight! (I'm kidding)

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

I've never really mentioned it here but in 2007 when the whole MS thing hit and I was frantically trying to find out WTH was wrong with me, I had shot up to 295 lbs. I have my daughter's 8th grade graduation pic where I looked like a beached whale. I mean, man... was I FAT! It's something I think of when I feel like eating something bad. I don't want to post that pic on my fridge or anything because I want to cry every time I see it, but just thinking of it is a major appetite suppressant.

I get that. YOU ARE WINNING

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

Oh yeah... new pic!!

LOVE THE PIC!!! GORGEOUS!! I think you should copy it and crop the face for your avatar. :-)

On another note, I really value that we can be crazy, wild, silly, and also serious. Life is hard. Losing weight is hard. I really treasure the support here.

[LilacBruze]

Originally Posted by RedL.I.

Good guy - radical change in team dynamics. I could by dying in bed and the house could easily start looking like it was ransacked with every dish and item of clothing dirty and he'd never notice. Sick as a dog and trying to put him through "Husband 101"

On another note, I really value that we can be crazy, wild, silly, and also serious. Life is hard. Losing weight is hard. I really treasure the support here.

Something else I can really relate to! I love my husband to death but when I first got sick, I was HORRIFIED to realize that I couldn't count on him to take care of the house. I was bedridden for most of my first relapse and I would look into the hallway from the bed and see mountains of dirty laundry and the sink piled high with dishes and I would get so angry and upset. Like... where did you learn that it was okay to live like this? Took a bit of counseling to find out that he too was affected by my being sick. Poor guy was bewildered and scared and not used to seeing his strong, independent wife so helpless and fragile. If you can imagine a close to 300 lb woman being fragile, I was it!

I LOVE the support here! I have belonged to various forums on various topics for over 10 years now, and NOWHERE has come close to LCF! In fact, if I DO make the trek to LI in September, count on me asking you if we can meet for lunch or something!

I used to blog on a pretty popular site that was unfortunately closed, but prior to it closing, I made it a habit of connecting IRL with the people on my friend list. Two came and spent the weekend at our house, one had a layover at Midway airport and I picked him up and took him sightseeing for 4 hours, another two invited us to a family reunion where we had a blast and are still good friends with today. I could go on but it's making me sound a little weird I think, lol.

I'm not just an avatar and a forum poster with a big mouth, I'm a real person!!

[RedsSkinnyJeans]

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

I would look into the hallway from the bed and see mountains of dirty laundry and the sink piled high with dishes and I would get so angry and upset.

So relate! Don't get me wrong, he's a great guy - and the RIGHT guy for me, but previously, we were very departmentalized, and it worked well. I've built up so much resentment in the last two months. "During the time when I need you most, you're not there for me", I say. To which he replied: "Well, if I were sick, the LAST thing on my mind would be the laundry or dishes or cleaning." He was trying to take care of me as if I were a martian! (Which means, he offered to always bring me food). How can you be a genius and be so incredibly poor at getting groceries from the store?


Anyway - felt good to vent about that. Thank you.

And if you come to Long Island and I'm in town - would love to meet for lunch!!

[nmbnancy]

Wow y'all have been busy posting ! Lilac wanted to read this forum, to see what you had decided. Hope this will be a good week for you. Your pic looks great, you need to do a before and after photo post.
I hope everyone is feeling good today, I'm sorry for the illnesses some of you are experiencing.
As for weighing quirks, I do everything listed plus I blow out all my breath before stepping on the scale

[RedsSkinnyJeans]

LILAC!

My apologies for the thread jack.

How did it go with your weigh in today? What's going on?

[LilacBruze]

No worries, Red! I've been out all day!!

Meh. I was up to 207.0 this morning. I suspect due to my increased - and later - consumption of water. I drank over 100 oz yesterday, some of it as late as 10pm and then I was up at 4am so not sleeping enough didn't help.

Oddly enough, I am already down to 206.0 right now and I typically go UP at night, not down. So. Point being. I think I am gonna wake up to a whoosh tomorrow!

Either way, this outlaw ain't sweatin' it!

[LilacBruze]

Originally Posted by nmbnancy

Wow y'all have been busy posting ! Lilac wanted to read this forum, to see what you had decided. Hope this will be a good week for you. Your pic looks great, you need to do a before and after photo post.
I hope everyone is feeling good today, I'm sorry for the illnesses some of you are experiencing.
As for weighing quirks, I do everything listed plus I blow out all my breath before stepping on the scale

Suddenly, I don't quite feel as neurotic.

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

Oh yeah... new pic!!

Lilac, you look absolutely fantastic girl!!!

I've got my fingers crossed for your woosh today!

[LilacBruze]

Thank you!! Not a huge whoosh, but down 1.2. Weight this morning was 205.8. Still up from my lowest of 202.8 about a week ago, but that was not "normal" since I've already confessed to my crazy weighing schemes.

I was thirsty at about 10pm last night so I drank a big glass of water. My glass holds 22oz and I drank it all. Don't think I've peed it all out but I am an outlaw and no longer care. Weighed myself once this morning and made coffee.

How about you, DC?

[LilacBruze]

I wish I could rename this thread "6 lbs to go until ONEderland".

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

Not a huge whoosh, but down 1.2. Weight this morning was 205.8. Still up from my lowest of 202.8 about a week ago, but that was not "normal" since I've already confessed to my crazy weighing schemes.

So happy to see your 1.2 woosh!

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

I was thirsty at about 10pm last night so I drank a big glass of water. My glass holds 22oz and I drank it all. Don't think I've peed it all out but I am an outlaw and no longer care. Weighed myself once this morning and made coffee.

Way to go! Much, much better! Keep on being an outlaw!

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

How about you, DC?

Up a half pound yesterday, down a whole pound today. Going to do everything in my power now to stay off of the scale until Wednesday. My losses just go too dang slow for everyday weigh-ins!

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

I've spent the past 2 weeks in the 0 loss hamster wheel. I really hope to break through this week or that's it. Off to P3 I go.

I know you hate to hear this more than anything but the more I think about it, I just can't help but think that your body is just screaming to go to P3!

You have lost 66.2 pounds in just a little over four months, is that correct?

Girl, you are an absolute whole new person! That is a LOT of weight loss in a very short period of time and you have every reason in the world to be as happy and darn proud as you can be!

Maybe your body is ready to stabilize and adjust itself to this incredibly different person that you are and that's why it's rebelling with the 0 loss hamster wheel! Could be that it's just trying to hold onto the weight right now because of the huge change. It just needs some time to get used to the new you!

You are totally awesome and I will support you no matter what, my friend!

I just want to make sure you are keeping your eye on the big picture, KWIM?! It's so, so easy to get caught up in the little day to day frustrations that don't really matter overall!

[Cruzcrzy]

I agree with moving onto P3. If I were you, my fear would be that once you hit 199 it would be very difficult to stay there during P3. Imo, it is important to not have too many correction days in P3, if any. I just got out of P3 with no correction days. I was fortunate to have a nice loss of 1.2(or something like that) after my ldw, and that has helped alot. Since you've been on the program much longer than intended I have to wonder if your body has gone into starvation mode, and that is no longer why you are losing, and in some cases gaining. Remember, this isn't a race, and you want to learn how to keep the weight off for life. Best wishes to you.

[Zbunny]

Originally Posted by Cruzcrzy

I agree with moving onto P3. If I were you, my fear would be that once you hit 199 it would be very difficult to stay there during P3. Imo, it is important to not have too many correction days in P3, if any. I just got out of P3 with no correction days. I was fortunate to have a nice loss of 1.2(or something like that) after my ldw, and that has helped alot. Since you've been on the program much longer than intended I have to wonder if your body has gone into starvation mode, and that is no longer why you are losing, and in some cases gaining. Remember, this isn't a race, and you want to learn how to keep the weight off for life. Best wishes to you.

I totally, 100%, unequivocally agree with Marie. But you know that, because I posted it way earlier on this thread. I'm concerned with what you're putting your body through just to reach a number on the scale that has nothing to do with your health. You WILL get there, but maybe it's time to give your body a freakin' break and stabilize in P3 and P4 before you move on. Ah, I sound like a broken record, and I know you don't want to hear it. So I'll just say: Great job on stabilizing, Marie! You are such a rockstah!

[LilacBruze]

Sheri, I know, and bless your heart for being the voice of reason. I hear everything you all have been saying, really and truly. I'm sorry for being a stubborn knucklehead, but being a Romanian Taurus, it sort of comes with the territory.

Marie, my goal of 199.8 has nothing to do with stabilizing and/or P3. It's just the goal I set before stopping the VLC diet. If I were doing LC, the goal would have been the same, it just would have taken me MUCH longer to get there than with the HCG. I realize with P3 that my weight will fluctuate and it would be extremely unrealistic to expect it not to or to expect to remain in ONEderland, especially with hormones and my penchant for crazy water retention.

I'm not killing myself, honest. I understand how Simeon wrote the protocol for Rx HCG and I know that if I were on Rx, this wouldn't even be an issue, I would have been in P3 almost 3 weeks ago.

I know it seems like I'm fixated on a number, but in reality I am fixated on a goal because I have never had the motivation and perseverance to keep going when the going got tough before. I don't want food to win. I don't want metabolic resistance to win. I want to overcome both and be better than both. I want to understand obstacles and overcome them. That to me is important if I hope to succeed in the long term. If I don't buckle down now, who is to say that 6 months from now, or a year from now, I won't get depressed and in a fit of weakness revert to old, unhealthy habits.

I NEED to be better right now. I NEED to keep my head in the game and my eyes on the prize. I NEED to not give up right now. Does any of this make sense?

[Cruzcrzy]

Honestly, it doesn't make sense to me, especially being on day 70, and the type of experiences you are having. Imo, being in P3 is still keeping your head in the game. It is part of the big picture. I sincerely wish you only the best LB. Take care.

[LilacBruze]

Again, P3 has nothing to do with this. I'm pretty confident that when I am ready to go to P3, I will keep my head in that game as well. I appreciate the concern.

[Cruzcrzy]

I have no doubt you will do well on P3. I was not implying that at all. Sometimes I don't articulate so well. Wishing you continued success.

[LilacBruze]

Marie, honestly, I had this long typed out explanation ready to post and then just decided against it. Most of it is redundant any way, given my free posting of related subject matters. Multiple sclerosis, many years of being 250+ lbs, needing to get control of my health; lather, rinse, repeat.

I understand that you don't understand. I understand the concern and believe me, I love the support, advice, and camaraderie provided here. I have many reasons to continue and not enough right now to NOT continue. People continue to diet all the time, despite reaching plateaus. In fact, usually a plateau makes people MORE determined. HCG is the only diet I've come across where plateaus past a certain time-line make people say "it's time to move on."

I anxiously awaited my blood test results wondering if I was doing damage to my body. The overwhelming evidence was that I was not. I would have stopped if this extended round was affecting my health. It isn't.

I'm not ready to quit, not without trying. I have to at least try, not throw my hands up at the first sign of things not going my way.

[RedsSkinnyJeans]

Hello :-)

Been gone all day. Did I miss something? Did you have a heart attack or stroke? Did you pass out and wake up in the arms of Trace Adkins? Did you mug a pizza delivery guy, end up in jail, and then have a private jet pick you up, (....stop and get me...), and we are now going to Mexico? Are we going on a cruise with the Monty Python guys? Or doing a new comedy book on Aunt Bernice's ability to be seduced through music and poetry?

Just asking.

[LilacBruze]

RED! LOL! None of the above. In fact, I was down 1.2 lbs this morning, despite a late night of overindulging in H20 and Bernice not making an appearance at all today.

How do you feel? The heat here has kept me indoors most of the time this weekend. The highlight of my day was having to take a shower with my puppy after she came in looking like she had mud-wrestled with dogs next door. Okay, that sounded much stranger than it actually was.

[TerriMM]

Originally Posted by RedL.I.

Terri,
Doc says if I can rest, stay still, and let my body heal itself, my immune system will be even stronger in the end. STAY HOME? STAY STILL? Ha! Right! I feel like a passenger plane that has been grounded and sitting on the tarmac for 7 weeks now!

The past 2 years have been rounds of dieting efforts of all kinds. Was over 170. Most of the unsuccessful stories are from there. 4 full months following WW to the letter and after the first 5 - no more loss. Atkins the same. My personal favorite was when I had a flu and didn't eat for 3 full weeks and yet my weight stayed exactly the same.

In March I did something a friend gave me: Isagenix. Took off 7 - which came back promptly. April was something else. Then all of May was HCG. I'm 5'7" I look ok - but really want to take off the last 7.

here.

It's a strange world out there in our own backyard!! You would think with everything else we can do, this Lyme disease ought to be something we could eradicate. From what I've heard, you’re lucky to have a doctor that was able to diagnose it. I certainly wish you the best and a speedy recovery! I’m not someone who does well being dependent either.

Your diet struggles sound remarkably like mine. The only thing I can say is try to find a little peace in the fact you now know how to lose the last 7 after your body has a chance to heal.

[Dreamchaser]

How's it going today Lilac?

Reminder..........just sayin, big picture!

Originally Posted by Dreamchaser

I know you hate to hear this more than anything but the more I think about it, I just can't help but think that your body is just screaming to go to P3!

You have lost 66.2 pounds in just a little over four months, is that correct?

Girl, you are an absolute whole new person! That is a LOT of weight loss in a very short period of time and you have every reason in the world to be as happy and darn proud as you can be!

Maybe your body is ready to stabilize and adjust itself to this incredibly different person that you are and that's why it's rebelling with the 0 loss hamster wheel! Could be that it's just trying to hold onto the weight right now because of the huge change. It just needs some time to get used to the new you!

You are totally awesome and I will support you no matter what, my friend!

I just want to make sure you are keeping your eye on the big picture, KWIM?! It's so, so easy to get caught up in the little day to day frustrations that don't really matter overall!

[LilacBruze]

LOL... I love you guys.

Bleh. I am up a whopping 2.2 lbs from yesterday. My ankles are so swollen. I again drank LOTS of water yesterday - it was almost 95 degrees - and again I have not been peeing out what I am putting in.

Since I am up so much, I am tinkering with the idea of today being my LDW. That way, my window will be nice and high, right? I'm at 208 today.

Question - I know we are not supposed to lose weight in P3, but what happens when my body finally lets go of all this water? My weight will drop. I've had 3 lb whooshes and I even had a 5 lb whoosh last month that was ALL water and had me up all night peeing every 1/2 hour. Will that type of loss be okay?

[Balance101]

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

Oh yeah... new pic!!

Beautiful! I agree with Red, would make a great av.