HCG Alternative Plans - Week of July 24th

[julieboolie]

Just thought I'd start a new thread since I didn't already see one . I'll go post a link in last week's thread.

[dazygyrl]

p3 going ok. seem to be stabilizing at higher end of my window. wish it were a little lower. will stay mostly p3 till aug 1 then maybe venture into an occasional bite of starch/sugar stuffs.

going on vacation aug 4.

planning on loading for R2 on aug 13-14. the 13th is ds's 12th b-day so thought would be a fun weekend to load. CAKE!!

[CherylB]

Enjoy that loading, Dazy! And your vacation!

Julie, your dd sounds like she's doing well. Yea for her! Those <1 lb losses aren't so dramatic but they do add up.

I am down 0.6 today! 70 lbs gone! What a milestone for me! I'm almost 3/4 of the way there. I can almost see the finish line...

I hope all of you have a marvelous week, a spectacular day and I hope we all finish out July with strength and vigor!

[kaylem]

I finally broke through 150.5 to 148.5!!!!! First I am going to do a little happy dance to celebrate, because it was a LONG weekend!!! (I realize these little guys are actually kicking, but all together they kind of look like they are dancing! )

Now, I need to reflect on a few things. It took me a full week to recover from my weekend camping trip. It is what it is, and I can never know how my losses would have fared this past week if I had NOT gone camping, so there is no point dwelling upon it. However, I DO need to acknowledge the fact that LOSING the weight does not mean that it is gone forever. If I don't change behaviors, it will come back--and fast. The weight is waiting right around the corner ready to hop back on my ass at the first opportunity. It is a sobering thought, but an interesting one. It means that I need to change my mindset from 21 day increments to lifelong changes. Hmmmm.....That will be a strong personal focus for me during P3.

Now, about P3. Today is technically VLCD21--if you include my weekend of gluttony. I was considering extending this round to Friday to offset that weekend, but I don't have enough drops for a full five days, and I don't think it would be a good idea to reduce my dosage by enough to stretch it out. (I think I would feel like I do when I do the 500 calories w/o the drops during the transition to P3).

So, I will stay on P2 until the drops run out--probably tomorrow, MAYBE Wednesday. I will see where I end up then. I have to accept that I will NOT reach my goal for this round--140 originally, now 145. In fact, I might not even get to my LDW for R2 (145.5). However, my measurements are the same as they were at the end of R2, so that is significant. I am very satisfied learning to maintain at this weight.

Ah. So, there is my novel for the morning...! Happy reading, ya'll! Now I need to get caught up and see how your losses are going--

--Kay

[catjrow3]

Congrats Kay for breaking through that stall finally and glad that you are at 148. I totally understand and agree about the "changing forever" and its so fast to come back on. Its hard to get a grip on that part though, as we do the work and then we want to eat like everyone else, but without putting it back on, and its hard to do! If you find a good "plan" to live by, share it with us!! I could sure use it too!! Getting ready for school? Its only like a month away now right? Lord help me!! LOL

[kaylem]

Originally Posted by catjrow3

I totally understand and agree about the "changing forever" and its so fast to come back on. Its hard to get a grip on that part though, as we do the work and then we want to eat like everyone else, but without putting it back on, and its hard to do! If you find a good "plan" to live by, share it with us!! I could sure use it too!! Getting ready for school? Its only like a month away now right? Lord help me!! LOL

Man, it IS hard, isn't it? You are right! I just want to eat like others--occasional pasta and pizza, not bingeing or over eating, just eating when I want w/o obsessing over it...Not sure if I will ever be able to do that. As for a maintainable eating plan beyond P3, I'm thinking that I might use one of the eating plans that Jillian Michaels put out in her "Mastering your Metabolism" book a couple of years ago. It was very doable, but I didn't lose ANYTHING while eating on it. My thinking is that b/c it was based on whole, organic foods that are supposed to support your metabolism, then perhaps it would work well with what has happened while on hcg. Regardless, I need to find something that I can do easily w/o thinking about it TOO much.

Yep, school starts (for the kids) in one month. I, however, need to start preparing TODAY. I am trying to get up the nerve to go into school to do some work today, but I am quickly talking myself out of it! Ha!

Have a good Monday, Cathy!

Kay

[dazygyrl]

If I don't change behaviors, it will come back--and fast. The weight is waiting right around the corner ready to hop back on my ass at the first opportunity.

that cracked me right up, Kay.

and ohhhhh so true!!

[julieboolie]

Kay- YEAH!! Happy dance warranted for sure!! You're where I hope to end this round. I'd like it to be in 21 days too, but we'll see. I think if you have enough drops for a day or 2, then the 2 days w/o drops you'll have a little wiggle room and will maintain in the 140's. I hope it works out well for you!! Maintenance is another beast all together!! We'll work on that 1 day at a time. I have found that general LC works well for maintenance. The occasional indulgence can be counter acted w/ a CD (as long as it doesn't become a daily thing!) and I can hopefully maintain that way. I'm also looking into calorie cycling to boost my metabolism.

Cat-How's your round going? Are you doing strict protocol? Haven't seen you much . It's so hard to lose, and I hate how quickly it pops back on!!

Plugging away. Had a LC yogurt today. Going to Ikea to look for stuff to organize for school. Need to hit the gym in there too!!

[minimonkey]

Well said, Kay -- all around!

My weight gain certainly hopped right back on my ass and things... although I opened the door wide for it to do so, assuming it brought some very muscle-bound friends along with it

Maintenance is going to be the hardest part for me, too -- that's why I hope we all keep posting here, so we can go through the process together.

[minimonkey]

Congrats Cheryl on the milestone!!! Let's hope it'll be smooth sailing from here.

Kay!!! Nice drop, and better yet, the end of a stall!!! Hurray!!!!

The whoosh fairy must have been on a roll last night... I woke up to a 1.8 loss since the last time I weighed (which was only a couple of days ago.) I was peeing a lot last night, so I figured a jump on the scale was worth trying... and glad I did

That brings me to 118.2, and roughly 8 lbs to go until I hit target weight... sweet! Best part is that it seems to have come from the gooshy @ss that I was mentioning yesterday -- it looks worlds better today.

Today is a rest day from exercise, and a much needed one -- I think I pushed it yesterday with the workout, and hadn't let my muscles recover enough to take that on... woke up very stiff and achy, and not in a good way.... so it is anti-inflammatory supplements today, rest, and good (but light-ish) nutrition -- and much stretching.

If I had time, I'd opt for a long walk in there somewhere.. but academic work beckons, so I suspect I'll spend most of the day on the couch with my brain working out. Alas. But, it is just a couple more weeks, and then I have a small break before fall term starts.

[minimonkey]

Julie -- thanks for starting the new thread! And major congrats to your dd -- it is so hard to lose weight when you are a kid She'll appreciate it in the long run, though, and it will make her teen years so much easier to navigate!!

I know that there are some weight loss boards/forums for younger folks who are dieting... I wonder if something like that would be a good support for her? You said she could afford to lose 20 lbs... how tall is she? How much does she weigh? Is she active at all, other than going to the gym with you?

[paulabob]

I was "bad" yesterday and ended up having another P3 day (1600 calories). I paid for it with another 1.2 gain for a total of 2.4 to work off!

I just have 7 days till LDW, and 9 vlcd's left. I CAN DO THIS WITHOUT CHEATING! (shouting intended!). I so hope I relose this so quick and get to see a number in the 120s...but that's 4 pounds now.

Cheryl & Kay CONGRATS!!!!

[minimonkey]

D'oh! Paula, I'm sorry about the gain! There's no way that's fat, though... it's water retention/other inflammation. No one gains that much fat on 1600 healthy calories... period.

Cycle a couple of low days in, and I bet it will drop right off.

[minimonkey]

Paula -- I wonder if you are eating a food to which you are sensitive on your p3 days? Or maybe sodium? I am just now discovering how important it is to identify food sensitivites and eliminate the culprits (I was really resistant to doing that.)

For me, it's dairy that kills me and makes my weight shoot up fast....elimintating that has helped tremendously.

[BlueMonday]

Today is VLCD2 and down .6. I am pleased with that, especially since I had an overall net loss over the load. I just hope things will continue in that direction. Trying to stay out of the kitchen so that I will not be tempted.

Originally Posted by dazygyrl

p3 going ok. seem to be stabilizing at higher end of my window. wish it were a little lower. will stay mostly p3 till aug 1 then maybe venture into an occasional bite of starch/sugar stuffs.

going on vacation aug 4.

planning on loading for R2 on aug 13-14. the 13th is ds's 12th b-day so thought would be a fun weekend to load. CAKE!!

I tend to stabilize at the higher end of my window also. Just try to weigh yourself over vacation if you can. Stopping the daily weighing is what really did me in.

Planning a load around events and holidays is great. Last year I had load over Thanksgiving and that worked out very well. My DS just turned 12 also.

Originally Posted by CherylB

Enjoy that loading, Dazy! And your vacation!

Julie, your dd sounds like she's doing well. Yea for her! Those <1 lb losses aren't so dramatic but they do add up.

I am down 0.6 today! 70 lbs gone! What a milestone for me! I'm almost 3/4 of the way there. I can almost see the finish line...

I hope all of you have a marvelous week, a spectacular day and I hope we all finish out July with strength and vigor!

Wow... 3/4 of the way... that is awesome

And you are so right, the <1 losses do add up. Any loss is something to cheer about.

Originally Posted by kaylem

I finally broke through 150.5 to 148.5!!!!! First I am going to do a little happy dance to celebrate, because it was a LONG weekend!!! (I realize these little guys are actually kicking, but all together they kind of look like they are dancing! )

Now, I need to reflect on a few things. It took me a full week to recover from my weekend camping trip. It is what it is, and I can never know how my losses would have fared this past week if I had NOT gone camping, so there is no point dwelling upon it. However, I DO need to acknowledge the fact that LOSING the weight does not mean that it is gone forever. If I don't change behaviors, it will come back--and fast. The weight is waiting right around the corner ready to hop back on my ass at the first opportunity. It is a sobering thought, but an interesting one. It means that I need to change my mindset from 21 day increments to lifelong changes. Hmmmm.....That will be a strong personal focus for me during P3.

Now, about P3. Today is technically VLCD21--if you include my weekend of gluttony. I was considering extending this round to Friday to offset that weekend, but I don't have enough drops for a full five days, and I don't think it would be a good idea to reduce my dosage by enough to stretch it out. (I think I would feel like I do when I do the 500 calories w/o the drops during the transition to P3).

So, I will stay on P2 until the drops run out--probably tomorrow, MAYBE Wednesday. I will see where I end up then. I have to accept that I will NOT reach my goal for this round--140 originally, now 145. In fact, I might not even get to my LDW for R2 (145.5). However, my measurements are the same as they were at the end of R2, so that is significant. I am very satisfied learning to maintain at this weight.

Ah. So, there is my novel for the morning...! Happy reading, ya'll! Now I need to get caught up and see how your losses are going--

--Kay

I'd just go as long as the drops last. You did make it into the 140s, and that is great. It is hard when something throws a wrench into your plan. But a camping trip is a very hard obstacle, in my opinion. I feel like I can only be successful in P2 when I have a very consistent schedule and can prepare my food in my own kitchen and be away from people eating when I need to. So don't beat yourself up.

Just keep up the daily weighing and do a correction when you need to, and you will maintain.

Originally Posted by paulabob

I was "bad" yesterday and ended up having another P3 day (1600 calories). I paid for it with another 1.2 gain for a total of 2.4 to work off!

I just have 7 days till LDW, and 9 vlcd's left. I CAN DO THIS WITHOUT CHEATING! (shouting intended!). I so hope I relose this so quick and get to see a number in the 120s...but that's 4 pounds now.

Cheryl & Kay CONGRATS!!!!

Yes you can!! That is mostly water gain, so I am sure you can get it back off quickly. Just stick with it and it will release.

[julieboolie]

Cheryl-YEAH!! 70lbs? Wow!! WTG!! Nice job!!

Mini-yes, my dd is about 4'10" and was 129 when we started the weight loss. She's gained about 20-30 lbs in the last year, mostly in her belly. She's very active - plays outside a lot, volleyball multiple times a week, swims, rides bikes etc. And she's a pretty healthy eater overall - I'm a LCer, and she'll have chips or fries once a week when we eat out. A lot of fruit, loves tomatoes and pickles, chooses frozen yogurt over ice cream etc.. I had the Dr do some blood work and her thyroid is low, but not so low that the Dr. will do anything about it. She wants her to try to lose 10lbs in 6 months then retest. I'm hoping a combination of losing some lbs and a growth spurt will help her a lot. I was full grown (5'6") in 6th grade, which she's entering this year. W/ vball I'd like her to be tall! I have hormone imbalance and a low thyroid too, which is why I had her tested. We'll see. I'll give it another 6 months. She says she feels great eating LC, and that works best for me too. Thanks for asking.

Paula-I think your "normal" weekend thing is so ingrained you may just be naturally leaning that way. Tell yourself it's Monday and get back to P2 today!! You can do it!! It'll be gone soon!

Ok, off to Ikea!

[paulabob]

Ahhh...y'all are all so supportive!

And Mini those almonds I could be sensitive to. But at this point in P2...it takes very few calories to cause me a gain. Generally I'm 10 days into P3 before I can safely eat BMR...I'm just built for going slowly.

I can already feel it coming off. I just have to be strong! Time for a nice dip in the pool now.

[minimonkey]

Julie --

wow -- 20 to 30 lbs is a lot for a young girl to gain in a year -- I hope her growth spurt kicks in soon! I was fully grown in 6th grade too, but I never got much past your daughter's current height... I didn't quite make 5 feet tall! Her diet and exercise sound good, particularly for someone her age... I hope you get this all figured out soon and she can knock the weight off with little difficulty. Too bad the doc won't address the low thyroid -- that really could make such a difference, even if it isn't super low.

[minimonkey]

I decided to make today an up day for me, eating wise -- my body is still threatening to go back to migraine-land, and is still pretty achy (though I am doing better than yesterday) -- so I decided to give it rest and clean eats a plenty today. I'm looking at probably 1800 to 2000 ish calories, which is basically maintenance for me, I think.

I'll follow it with a low, low day tomorrow and the next day, which should undo any damage done, and I hope to be the better for it. I think I'm doing a sort of up-day down-day on this round, alternating between the low days, and maintenance days -- the low days outweigh the mainteance days in terms of number, and result in an overall deficit -- hopefully also they will result in a stronger, happier metabolsm when I hit target weight.

If I can do this, I don't mind running this round for a while (I may need to get more pellets eventually) and just march more slowly towards goal. It'll be well worth it if I can switch easily to p3 and maintain with no drama... and never need to do this again.

I think I am done with the bulking/cutting thing once I hit goal.... I wanted to try it, and I am glad I did... but from here on in, I think I will just keep my gains gradual and controlled, so I don't have to deal with the losing on the other end. I'm not aiming to look like a bodybuilder -- just a very fit. lean, strong chick with buff muscles and great definition.

Of course, if I get to goal and am just wowed beyond belief with the results, I may rethink that A lot of the reading I'm doing indicates, though, that there are better ways to get the same (or even better) results -- and I think I am wanting to go that direction.

[ellenalesa]

TOM started today, so I was up a pound. I am looking forward to seeing what happens in the next couple of days....

[CherylB]

You girls have been busy this afternoon! Took me some time to get caught up again, but it was so fun reading what everyone wrote. No way am I going to try and comment on all that, but I'm in your corner! KUTGW, ladies!

We got a good, soaking rain today and our temps never got out of the 70's. Oh, yeah! It felt nice and, when so many places are aching for rain, I can't help but feel blessed when we get some. I'm sure all the little birdies and creatures outside are singing their praises, too.

I am in need of dinner so I'm going to shove off again for a while. Knowing me, I'll be back again later. Be good until I get back!

[lebebe]

Horrible cravings today!!!!!!!! WHY OH WHY were cupcakes invented??? I HATE YOU, HOSTESS!!!!!!!

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by lebebe

Horrible cravings today!!!!!!!! WHY OH WHY were cupcakes invented??? I HATE YOU, HOSTESS!!!!!!!

Down, girl.

[Nicole T]

Kay--would you do me a favor and look at my question I just posted "How would you handle this situation?" I guess you could say I am going to be doing something similar to your camping trip for 5 days (Fri-Wed) and am not sure how to handle it. I don't plan on eating carbs/sugar but I know I will eat things I wouldn't usually eat on P2 since I'll be eating every meal out. Just not sure whether to stop the hcg and do maintenance or keep using the pellets knowing full well that I won't be totally on plan for P2.

[paulabob]

Originally Posted by lebebe

Horrible cravings today!!!!!!!! WHY OH WHY were cupcakes invented??? I HATE YOU, HOSTESS!!!!!!!

Totally understand that!

Hope you handle it better than my past weekend. But if not, dust yourself off, and move on!

[Lbibclc]

Good evening everyone. I am down .2 today. Plugging through. I got very little sleep last night for some reason. My issues continue to be the late night munchies. I have to get stronger.

Now here's a weird thing. I went to look at shorts since they are on sale. 4's fit me at Penney's. I was wearing 6's while in the 140's. It's that moving fat thing. When I gained weight it went to my upper tummy so my hips and thighs are smaller.

I would like to get to 130 at some point but may not. That is just over 20 pounds.

Just had a nice salad with lettuce, cuc's and tomato (my rogue mixing veggies). Used my own raspberry vinaigrette and added grilled chicken. Very good. I had my P2 chili for lunch. Gosh I love that stuff. I have enough for all week's lunches and some dinners. 2 cups is a full meal for 207 calories.

Very hot here in Mid-Missouri. We had rain north and south of us by less than a mile yesterday and missed it.

Time for the treadmill when this food settles.

[BlueMonday]

Originally Posted by CherylB

We got a good, soaking rain today and our temps never got out of the 70's. Oh, yeah! It felt nice and, when so many places are aching for rain, I can't help but feel blessed when we get some. I'm sure all the little birdies and creatures outside are singing their praises, too.

I'm so jealous! Extra hot today and we desperately need some rain. Staying indoors with the air conditioning.

Originally Posted by Lbibclc

Good evening everyone. I am down .2 today. Plugging through. I got very little sleep last night for some reason. My issues continue to be the late night munchies. I have to get stronger.

Very hot here in Mid-Missouri. We had rain north and south of us by less than a mile yesterday and missed it.

Time for the treadmill when this food settles.

Yes, evenings are hard for me too I have to try to stay out of the kitchen. Of course DH ends up bringing food into the bedroom-- eeek!

Have a good treadmill! Our gym is closed Mondays (except early in the am). I may try to get myself over there for at least a little while tomorrow.

[lebebe]

Well, I caved. Having a cool little bodega three steps away from my place that always has a seemlingly unlimited collection of Hostess cupcakes available doesn't help. But I'll do exactly as you said, Paulabob... gonna dust myself off, lick the whipped cream off my lips, and keep it moving.

Cheryl... I forgive Mrs. Hostess! It's not entirely her fault, nor the bodega's. I have to accept my part in this travesty. lol

[lebebe]

Hmmmmmm... think I'll go to the gym later this evening. I don't usually go late, but it might be fun.

Oh, and thanks for the hugs, Paulabob... they really do make a difference when you're feeling defeated.

[paulabob]

Originally Posted by lebebe

Oh, and thanks for the hugs, Paulabob... they really do make a difference when you're feeling defeated.

Anytime. We may fail, and we may fail over and over, but we're never failures!

FYI BlueMonday, we are so praying for rain up here in north Texas too. I know some local crops are failing.