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

[DisneyPrincess]

Good morning. Got my run done. Feeling pretty awful and ate off pplan last night. I weighed in this morning and am making NO MORE EXCUSES! Plus, 3 loading days I'm wasting hHCG. Lol

3 kids again today and then class tonight. Hope everyone has a good day

[MrsPat]

I will try and post later today. Hope you are all having a wonderful day.

[paulabob]

Wow, fell off the peanut butter wagon last night and was rewarded ANYWAYS with a 1.2 drop...biggest drop since the first day this round!

I'm going back to 1 pellet am, 10 drops afternoon, 2 pellets pm. And skipping the exercise (except the swimming pool) today. I also ate lower levels protein yesterday, closer to protocol. I'm going to up that today...or eat my deviled eggs. I always find them so filling.

132.8 ladies....ALMOST 100 pounds lost since 2006. ALMOST 60 pounds since I started HCG last year July 9th.

[dazygyrl]

you ROCK, paula!! congrats!!

[Bierarsch]

Originally Posted by paulabob

Wow, fell off the peanut butter wagon last night and was rewarded ANYWAYS with a 1.2 drop...biggest drop since the first day this round!

I'm going back to 1 pellet am, 10 drops afternoon, 2 pellets pm. And skipping the exercise (except the swimming pool) today. I also ate lower levels protein yesterday, closer to protocol. I'm going to up that today...or eat my deviled eggs. I always find them so filling.

132.8 ladies....ALMOST 100 pounds lost since 2006. ALMOST 60 pounds since I started HCG last year July 9th.

Congrats, Paula!!!! That's awesome! I miss peanut butter. So much. Peanut butter and cheese.


I am hungry today. I was very hungry yesterday. I'm not sure if it's because my last shot was Sunday morning and I'm transitioning, or what. I'm going to wait until Thursday to adjust my pellet dose, because that will be after the 72 hours for the injectable HCG to get out of my system.

[catjrow3]

Good job ladies, sounds like a good start today.

Paula, great job!! How amazing huh? I had almost hit 100 pounds lost in May and then blew it and gained some back and still working back to it!!

I was down 1.8 this morning, but still so far away from where I was!! I hope this week is good to keep me motivated to keep this diet up!! Happy Tuesday everyone!

[paulabob]

Thanks dazygirl & Maggie!

Originally Posted by catjrow3

I had almost hit 100 pounds lost in May and then blew it and gained some back and still working back to it!!

You will do it again! And here's hoping for a rock solid P3 for you. P3s my favorite part of the program, but then I've been eating Atkins style for almost 5 years now.

Anyone else have bizarre cravings on P2? Over the last year I've cheated on some awfully strange things in addition to peanut butter, there was a white flour tortilla day, and a couple of days with sliced American cheese. Those are so bland...I don't know what my problem is/was? I do wonder if it's partly the hcg...it is a pregnancy hormone, and I sure ate strange with both pregnancies.

[catjrow3]

Originally Posted by paulabob

Thanks dazygirl & Maggie!



You will do it again! And here's hoping for a rock solid P3 for you. P3s my favorite part of the program, but then I've been eating Atkins style for almost 5 years now.

Anyone else have bizarre cravings on P2? Over the last year I've cheated on some awfully strange things in addition to peanut butter, there was a white flour tortilla day, and a couple of days with sliced American cheese. Those are so bland...I don't know what my problem is/was? I do wonder if it's partly the hcg...it is a pregnancy hormone, and I sure ate strange with both pregnancies.

For me its usually PB or ... bread...toast type of things...

[Bierarsch]

Frito pie macaroni was one of my weird cheats. Cravings for weird fried stuff that you would have at a fair.... I have had all kinds of weird cravings. This time around I really think my body is craving fats since I am so close to goal. If I could just have one giant whoosh... then I would be done!

I am STARVING. Ugh. I don't know what to do. I don't want to eat off protocol and have breakfast for fear that I won't have a loss tomorrow. I am so ready for this to be over but too stubborn to leave the last 5-6lbs on. I am trying my hardest to get rid of the belly fat to help my PCOS. Between my thyroid and PCOS, I highly doubt whether I can lose any weight on my own. I'm too chicken to try!

[dazygyrl]

maybe it's time to decrease one dose? i had to decrease my afternoon does from 3 to 2 pellets. notice a difference almost immediately. just a suggestion, maggie.

[catjrow3]

Originally Posted by Bierarsch

Frito pie macaroni was one of my weird cheats. Cravings for weird fried stuff that you would have at a fair.... I have had all kinds of weird cravings. This time around I really think my body is craving fats since I am so close to goal. If I could just have one giant whoosh... then I would be done!

I am STARVING. Ugh. I don't know what to do. I don't want to eat off protocol and have breakfast for fear that I won't have a loss tomorrow. I am so ready for this to be over but too stubborn to leave the last 5-6lbs on. I am trying my hardest to get rid of the belly fat to help my PCOS. Between my thyroid and PCOS, I highly doubt whether I can lose any weight on my own. I'm too chicken to try!

I could definitely cheat on anything sweet too, which is my normal, but not "overly weird"

I hear you on the starving part. Those last 5, nightmare city!! I was about 8 away from goal in May and then went on vacation and gained a ton.. (I am super sensitive to carbs) and now am going through it all over again!! You have been on protocol a long time! I would be ready to quit too, but you are staying strong, good luck getting to your goal!!

[Bierarsch]

Daisy, do you think maybe I'm overdoing it? My last shot was on Sunday morning, and on Monday (yesterday) I started that morning with the pellets. I wonder if there is too much in my system? I just drank a 100 calories Muscle Milk protein shake, and I feel a little better but still hungry and spacy, which tells me that it's real hunger.

Thanks, Cathy!!! I'm glad I'm not the only one that has struggled with the last 5lbs. I haven't been rogue so much as I fall off the wagon every weekend and it keeps setting me back. Normally I would just say screw it and be happy with 5lbs over, but I have never been able to stabilize in the 3 previous rounds, so if I had that extra cushion I would be okay with that.

[paulabob]

Originally Posted by Bierarsch

Daisy, do you think maybe I'm overdoing it? My last shot was on Sunday morning, and on Monday (yesterday) I started that morning with the pellets. I wonder if there is too much in my system? I just drank a 100 calories Muscle Milk protein shake, and I feel a little better but still hungry and spacy, which tells me that it's real hunger.

Why don't you take one pellet now, and see if your hunger is worse or better?

If it's immediately worse, you might need to decrease dosage, and immediately better, it may not have built up enough yet.

I suspect the different forms accumulate differently in our body...

I hope you feel better soon.

[Bierarsch]

Thanks, Paula. I will try that and report back.

[HellsBelle]

Hi ladies! Posting from my phone right now to distract myself from the fact that I'm sitting in a pizza parlor while my husband & son chow down. Sigh. I had a zero loss day today even though I was perfectly on plan yesterday, so that makes it extra frustrating! I know it happens, but it still sucks.

[dazygyrl]

Originally Posted by HellsBelle

Hi ladies! Posting from my phone right now to distract myself from the fact that I'm sitting in a pizza parlor while my husband & son chow down. Sigh. I had a zero loss day today even though I was perfectly on plan yesterday, so that makes it extra frustrating! I know it happens, but it still sucks.

don't stress it belle....just stay on plan. your body will do what it needs to do. as long as you know you are eating on plan, that's all you can do. your body will respond the way it wants/needs. i only had significant losses (1-1.6 lbs) every 5-6 days while in p2. in between those i had none or 0.2 or 0.4, maybe a 0.6 every now and then for losses. it's just what my body did.

just stay the course and don't sweat it!!

[makeupmom]

I am on my first round of P2 Day 23. I have lost 8 pounds from my LD high of 181.2 and 4 from my beginning weight. Not a huge amount but I will take it. I have not been following protocol exactly and I had a weekend or two off program during this past three weeks. I am just so happy the scale is moving in the downward direction.

My calories fluctuate between 800 and 1300 on the days I stay on "my" program.

My day usually goes as follows.
3 pellets at about 6 a.m.
B coffee with half and half
1 egg scrambled
1 slice double fiber toast or 5 mini pancakes
sometimes 6-7 strawberries

L is salad mix
salad spritzer
protein either steak, salmon pattie or tuna

S is usually an apple with peanut butter powder

D is green beans with protein either what I had at lunch or whatever I am making for dinner.

Cheats a piece of dark chocolate. a cup or two of popcorn airpopped with a little bit of butter sometimes a carb smart bar

I don't cheat every day.

I do exercise three days per week but have stopped the weights and just use the treadmill for 35 minutes. I found I was too hungry on the exercise days and was going up to 1500 calories which stopped weight loss or made it go up a bit on the next day.

Can I qualify as an alternative plan? I also drink at least 64 ounces of water per day not counting my coffee in the morning.

[catjrow3]

Originally Posted by makeupmom

I am on my first round of P2 Day 23. I have lost 8 pounds from my LD high of 181.2 and 4 from my beginning weight. Not a huge amount but I will take it. I have not been following protocol exactly and I had a weekend or two off program during this past three weeks. I am just so happy the scale is moving in the downward direction.

My calories fluctuate between 800 and 1300 on the days I stay on "my" program.

My day usually goes as follows.
3 pellets at about 6 a.m.
B coffee with half and half
1 egg scrambled
1 slice double fiber toast or 5 mini pancakes
sometimes 6-7 strawberries

L is salad mix
salad spritzer
protein either steak, salmon pattie or tuna

S is usually an apple with peanut butter powder

D is green beans with protein either what I had at lunch or whatever I am making for dinner.

Cheats a piece of dark chocolate. a cup or two of popcorn airpopped with a little bit of butter sometimes a carb smart bar

I don't cheat every day.

I do exercise three days per week but have stopped the weights and just use the treadmill for 35 minutes. I found I was too hungry on the exercise days and was going up to 1500 calories which stopped weight loss or made it go up a bit on the next day.

Can I qualify as an alternative plan? I also drink at least 64 ounces of water per day not counting my coffee in the morning.

This made me giggle, you definitely fall in the ROGUE section.. Just not following exact protocol will do that. I exercise 7 days a week ... I always tell myself I am not going to everyday, but I do anyway, addicted!! and I usually eat about 600-700 calories a day. If I exercise too hard, then I end up eating more too...makes me very hungry. I have not found the right amount yet for still losing well and eating, so I just plunge through every day and hope for the best! I run 4 miles a day in the morning and then either walk or job or turbo kick at night too... Welcome to our happy little group of roguer's!!

[makeupmom]

Thank you. I cannot tell you all how happy I am that I finally decided to try hHcg. I have been struggling with the scale going up and up and up no matter what I did and had almost given up. I figured the hypothyroid and age had finally won out over any efforts on my part to lose weight. This has been very doable for me with my "modifications";-).

[minimonkey]

Hey folks --

Cheryl, you GO with liberating yourself... I hear you! We've all been dieting for a while now, and it really does wear on a person after a while.

I had this odd moment going to school the other day -- I stopped in my regular place for coffee, and was eyeing the bagels, thinking how freakin' nice it would be just to be normal for a while -- able to just grab a bagel for breakfast, or have a beer and chips with all my artschool colleagues. Sigh.

Then I reminded myself that I am an athlete doing serious training, and that if I want to reach my fitness goals, I need to be diligent about what I eat -- for life. Most of my artschool colleagues aren't athletes (and they have no aspirations in that direction.) The ones who are athletes (dancers, mostly) also watch what they eat just as carefully as I do.

[minimonkey]

Speaking of liberating oneself, however -- I had a refeed yesterday that would have almost done Nola proud! I was hungry and depleted, and I think my body sucked up those calories and used them to help heal and recover. I didn't go anywhere near the scale this morning, but I am sure it is showing a leap up.

I am starting to look leaner, and it is starting to be evident just how much of the recent gain is muscle -- quite a lot! I'm back to aiming for a caloric deficit today (1500 cals or less, to be safe) -- and that feels much more possible after loading up yesterday.

I am going to make peace with being in bigger jeans for a bit, until the muscle pulls itself in and I achieve more leanness. I'm doing a lot of reading, and this seems to be a necessary phase to go through as I gain muscle, and lose fat -- the inches will come off again in time as the muscles become denser and more compact, and as my bodyfat continues to drop.

Maybe I will eventually develop some patience with this process -- one can hope

[minimonkey]

Paula and Cathy and Cheryl (and anyone else I am missing ) -- you ladies are completely amazing -- when I think of the amount of weight you have lost, and how far you have come, it totally blows my mind!!!

Cheryl, you're right -- you can do anything you put your mind to doing! In fact, we all can... Look at what we've accomplished already! We are one strong, determined, amazing group of people who can definitely reach and exceed our goals. Thanks so much for the reminder of that today... I needed it

[Bierarsch]

The extra pellet helped some. I am about to take my afternoon dose, and will try 4 pellets instead of 3. Thanks everyone for the support and help!!!!!

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by catjrow3

Cheryl, Billy Blanks is Tae Bo king! He has tons of videos out there for TaeBo, high energy, combining tae kwon do and boxing, tae-bo... LOVE THEM. You can google him. He is using whole wheat bread. He is more on the low fat, 1200 calorie, high fiber, fruits and veges type of meals... So did you do any of your kettleballs today??

No. I had to get up early and leave the house at 8. I was at my sister's house from 09-17, dog and kid sitting. She had to go out with her hubby for a dr appointment but when they got home I still hung out for about 3 hours. She made swordfish on the grill and a tossed salad with berries in it. I was afraid to eat it because I'm not used to being able to just eat something someone offers for me to eat. I went back and forth on whether I should join them. It was a real inner struggle! But finally I decided to go for it. I put it all into ****** when I got back home and it was only in the 800's (everything I ate over there.)

Tomorrow we're going to meet at a local lake/park to go swimming and sunbathing at 1pm. It will be fun and also the first time I've worn a bathing suit or exposed my poor, white body to the sun since last August. I will be careful and use sunscreen, and also my beach umbrella.

So, in the morning I will do my very first kettlebell workout! I want to have that behind me so I can feel that I've earned that beach time! I want that satisfaction. So, that's the plan and I'm sticking to it!

I've never tried Tae Bo (sp?) but it looks fun. I'll have to check him out.

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by paulabob

Wow, fell off the peanut butter wagon last night and was rewarded ANYWAYS with a 1.2 drop...biggest drop since the first day this round!

I'm going back to 1 pellet am, 10 drops afternoon, 2 pellets pm. And skipping the exercise (except the swimming pool) today. I also ate lower levels protein yesterday, closer to protocol. I'm going to up that today...or eat my deviled eggs. I always find them so filling.

132.8 ladies....ALMOST 100 pounds lost since 2006. ALMOST 60 pounds since I started HCG last year July 9th.

Yow! WTG! I love when that happens. It's never happened to me, but I enjoy hearing about it happening to my friends! You're doing great, Paula! I'm proud of you, girl.

Originally Posted by Bierarsch

I am hungry today. I was very hungry yesterday. I'm not sure if it's because my last shot was Sunday morning and I'm transitioning, or what. I'm going to wait until Thursday to adjust my pellet dose, because that will be after the 72 hours for the injectable HCG to get out of my system.

I hope your hunger subsides asap! It will. You're body is wondering what is going on but it will get the idea soon enough. I hope you enjoy the pellets!

Originally Posted by catjrow3

Good job ladies, sounds like a good start today.

Paula, great job!! How amazing huh? I had almost hit 100 pounds lost in May and then blew it and gained some back and still working back to it!!

I was down 1.8 this morning, but still so far away from where I was!! I hope this week is good to keep me motivated to keep this diet up!! Happy Tuesday everyone!

Nice, Cathy! I miss whooshes so much! I took them for granted and now I want them back! You'll get back to where you were before and then you'll leave that number in the dust, too.

Originally Posted by paulabob

Anyone else have bizarre cravings on P2? Over the last year I've cheated on some awfully strange things in addition to peanut butter, there was a white flour tortilla day, and a couple of days with sliced American cheese. Those are so bland...I don't know what my problem is/was? I do wonder if it's partly the hcg...it is a pregnancy hormone, and I sure ate strange with both pregnancies.

I binged on the smart pop popcorn a few times but other than that, I did okay unless taking a planned day off/refeed. Those kept me on the straight and narrow during that mega-long first P2. Maybe it is the pregnancy hormone aspect of hcg that is causing you to go wild sometimes. My body wouldn't know a pregnancy hormone if it slapped it in the face!

Had a busy day today with dog and kid sitting. Was at sister's house from 09-17 then drove home (about an hour.) Then had two hours of no internet service and then it suddenly came back on while I was on the phone with yet another clueless ATT customer service rep. Boy was I happy to say, "Ooop! Never mind. It's back on."

Tomorrow I'm going to meet sis and the great nephew at a local lake/park and go swimming. It will be at 1 pm so plenty of time to do my very first kettlebell workout in the morning. I will give you a full report tomorrow evening.

I hope everyone is doing well today! I had a panic attack when my sis came back home at 2 pm and asked if I wanted to join them for a swordfish steak cooked on the grill and a tossed salad. It was like OMG! I wanted to, but at the same time I felt so out of control. I went back and forth saying yes and then no, then decided to go for it. All told, everything I've eaten so far today is still under 1000 cals, so I'm happy. Still got 200 to play with!

Sweet dreams to all. I will see you again later tomorrow, when I will have much more to tell.

[CherylB]

MakeUpWoman! (Did I completely screw up your name? Sorry!) Belle, WTG on going into the lions den and coming out clean on the other side! That is a true test of your will and you did GrrrrREAT! Maggie, so glad you are feeling better!

If I missed anybody else, forgive me. I'm doing the best I can to get caught up! You sure miss a lot when you're gone most of the day.

Originally Posted by minimonkey

Hey folks --

Cheryl, you GO with liberating yourself... I hear you! We've all been dieting for a while now, and it really does wear on a person after a while.

I had this odd moment going to school the other day -- I stopped in my regular place for coffee, and was eyeing the bagels, thinking how freakin' nice it would be just to be normal for a while -- able to just grab a bagel for breakfast, or have a beer and chips with all my artschool colleagues. Sigh.

Then I reminded myself that I am an athlete doing serious training, and that if I want to reach my fitness goals, I need to be diligent about what I eat -- for life. Most of my artschool colleagues aren't athletes (and they have no aspirations in that direction.) The ones who are athletes (dancers, mostly) also watch what they eat just as carefully as I do.

I'm going, indeed! I am afraid, but I'm willing to work through the fear to get to freedom. I want it, I've earned it, and it's mine. You're right, Mini. You are an athlete and you are training hard. But I don't see the harm in taking a night once a month and slamming back a few with your buddies. It's not the things we do on special occasions that do us in. Live!

Originally Posted by minimonkey

Paula and Cathy and Cheryl (and anyone else I am missing ) -- you ladies are completely amazing -- when I think of the amount of weight you have lost, and how far you have come, it totally blows my mind!!!

Cheryl, you're right -- you can do anything you put your mind to doing! In fact, we all can... Look at what we've accomplished already! We are one strong, determined, amazing group of people who can definitely reach and exceed our goals. Thanks so much for the reminder of that today... I needed it

It IS amazing how far we've all come. It's a freakin' miracle! And we made it happen because we decided that we wanted it bad enough to put our greedy appetites aside and get-er-done. And aren't we glad we did? Life is so much more fullfilling when we are happier in our own skin! Why did I wait so many years to get my life back? I'm just glad I didn't wait any longer.

[Bierarsch]

I just wanted to thank everyone so much for the support and advice! 4 pellets seems to be helping. I'm still a tiny bit hungry, but nowhere near the "I'm going to chew my arm off and then eat a pound of Blue Bell ice cream and an entire family size bag of Snickers" hungry. Whew!!!

I am hoping for a whoosh tomorrow. I snuck on the scale after work and am lower now than I was this morning.

[catjrow3]

Originally Posted by Bierarsch

I just wanted to thank everyone so much for the support and advice! 4 pellets seems to be helping. I'm still a tiny bit hungry, but nowhere near the "I'm going to chew my arm off and then eat a pound of Blue Bell ice cream and an entire family size bag of Snickers" hungry. Whew!!!

I am hoping for a whoosh tomorrow. I snuck on the scale after work and am lower now than I was this morning.

Maggie, with you....swwooosshhh fairy, Maggie needs you!!!

[DisneyPrincess]

Good morning.

Got in my run and have to jump in the shower before Ds gets up.

Down 3 pounds today, I think I'm about 1.5 from pre load weight. Hoping that will be off tomorrow. Gonna keep it a nice clean p2 day. I'm still under the weather so lots of rest as well

[paulabob]

Everyone is doing so well, and I've really enjoyed reading all the updates! DP get better quick! Kids can sure do a number on you health-wise. If you have more than 3 in one room, one is bound to be sick!

I sure don't miss those days...DD is 11 now and FINALLY had her first year, 100% attendance at school. DS (14) still hasn't, but then I suspect he plays me quite a bit! Plus what would be 102 fever in DD is only 100 in him, so he's harder for me to figure out.

THRILLED to be down .6 today. I'm at the point in the round where I don't expect losses two days in a row...so thrilling when it happens anyways. I'm definitely motivated to stick it out. I do plan on taking a LONG P3 this time, as I suspect it does build the metabolism up, and the smaller we get, the more we need it. I've never had a raring one... And since I don't work out like a mad woman like many of my fellow roguers (you know who you are!), I need all the help I can get!

132.2 29.2% body fat (WHOOP!) BMI 24.2