** HCG Alternative Plans, week of August 8, 2011 **

[minimonkey]

Congrats on the steady losses Mousie! Great start ImaMommie!

Congrats on the huge whoosh Dazy, though that is a heck of a way to get there! My GI tract threw a fit yesterday, too (same thing) -- not at all sure why, but it certainly wasn't pleasant. (I resisted the urge to get on the scale today.)

I'm definitely losing fat, slowly but surely. The gap between my thighs has come back for the most part (and boy was it missing in action for a while!) -- so my legs are leaning back out for sure.

I'm incredibly sore today from working out, and definitely retaining some water in the muscles and under the skin too.

I'll keep you all up to date on the IF-ing... it's only day two, so nothing worthy of reporting yet.

[CherylB]

Hi, ladies. I got back from camping last evening and I am trying to get caught up on the threads but there are 3 pages of posts to read just on this thread alone! I am having trouble getting through them all but I promise to work on it and do personals.

I'm glad to be back home and in the comfort and convenience of modern living. Camping is nice but everything you do is such a chore! My medication schedule got all screwed up and my diet got skewed. But I am raring to go again on my next round and I spent some time today eye-balling the calendar to see when it would be a good time to restart. I was thinking of starting again tomorrow but I know it will be torture next weekend at the Fair. So I've decided to reload next Friday and Saturday during the Fair.

That will give me 40 VLCD's before I need to enter P3 for hopefully the last time. (I may be driving 7 hours up to New Hampshire with my sister the weekend of Columbus Day. She wants to hike/climb Mount Washington with her daughter and her friend. I won't be climbing but want to help her get there and back safely. She has Narcolepsy and other health problems. And as of today, she has one or two broken toes!) I will have to negotiate my way through my sister Robin's 60th birthday on September 4, but I can't keep putting off getting back to losing weight and reaching new goals. I want to get back to exciting scale days!

I've really enjoyed my summer, now it's time to get back to serious weight loss. I'm ready! I hope everyone is well tonight. I'll see you all again tomorrow, God willing.

[julieboolie]

Sounds like you're all losing well!! So happy to hear that!!

Mini-tough to stay off the scale! Hope your tummy settles down and you continue to lean out!

I did a GYCD yesterday and dropped down 2.2lbs, back to LDW+1. That's a good place to start the weekend. Doing all homemade P3 foods today. Coming in at about 1400cals so far, a lot of fat though and hope to lock in that loss and maybe drops down a bit farther? We'll see!

Cheryl-glad you're home and settled back in. Best of luck in your next round.

Have a great weekend!!

[CherylB]

Thanks, Julie! Nice CD results! I love your new AVI, BTW. Have a great weekend.

[Lbibclc]

Originally Posted by julieboolie

Sounds like you're all losing well!! So happy to hear that!!

Mini-tough to stay off the scale! Hope your tummy settles down and you continue to lean out!

I did a GYCD yesterday and dropped down 2.2lbs, back to LDW+1. That's a good place to start the weekend. Doing all homemade P3 foods today. Coming in at about 1400cals so far, a lot of fat though and hope to lock in that loss and maybe drops down a bit farther? We'll see!

Cheryl-glad you're home and settled back in. Best of luck in your next round.

Have a great weekend!!

Great Job Julie!!

[Violet_Dream]

I'm starting my first loading day for R2 tomorrow even though I've only been on P3 for three weeks and did several CDs due to being out of my window.

I know the rule is six weeks....I'll be sure to have a eight-week break between second and third round.

Has anyone else had only a three-week break between their first and second round? I know I should give my body a longer break and will have to learn more about stabilization the next time I do P3.

[IMaMommy]

Enjoy your load day...eat some cheesecake for me!

[minimonkey]

Welcome home Cheryl -- glad you're safe!

[paulabob]

Originally Posted by Violet_Dream

Has anyone else had only a three-week break between their first and second round? I know I should give my body a longer break and will have to learn more about stabilization the next time I do P3.

I cycled between several of my rounds, just not my first. No immunity issues as such I think until round 4 or so... Just my experience!

Cheryl Cute new camping pic! Boy your hair shines in the sunlight, how pretty!

Down a fraction, but will probably rebound after the weekend. Intend a little lowcarb pizza today or Sunday. After 6 days of 131 today was 130.

Funeral to head to with DD and her friend in a couple of hours (it's another friend's grandmothers). Will be packing some kleenex. I hate cancer!

[j4Christ]

[QUOTE=dazygyrl;14928539]would you mind sharing you veggie soup recipe? [/QUOTE/]

I get in so much trouble with friends because I don't "do" recipes, but I'd be glad to share what I usually do. Mostly I start with chicken broth (lowest cal I can find, or homemade broth with all fat skimmed off) then throw in whatever vegies I have most of in the fridge, carrots, celery, broc., cauli., zuccini, add in garlic and onion powder. The last soup I made I used some lettuce spring mix that was a bit too wilty for salad, but just spinach is good, too. Just simmer until vegies are tender. Sometimes if I'm low on fresh vegies I put in a can of diced tomatoes (in the chic. broth) and spicey seasonings. Sometimes I add in shiritaki noodles, too. I know, my "recipe" is vague but really anything can make good soup IMO

I am down 2 lbs. this morning and feel so much less of a butter ball

[dazygyrl]

thank you for your soup "recipe" . i appreciate you sharing. congrats on your 2lbs!

i am down just 0.4 today, but after a 3.2 lbs whoosh yesterday, i s'pose that's to be expected. soooo hoping to be closer to LDW by mon so i can get into VT. but that is 2.4 lbs away. still so disgusted by my loading. i have lost all that weight, but feel like i wasted a week b/c of loading poorly (too many carbs this time, will stick to my instincts of loading on LOTS of my fav LC/ high fat favs if i do a R3).

[IMaMommy]

Yay for weight dropping! Congrats ladies! Fabulous job!

I'm down .8 this morning. I'll take it! I'd really like to see a whole lb. being dropped every day, but .8 is really close! I hope to be below 200 by Tuesday! HORAY!

Happy weekend everyone!

[Lbibclc]

Well, I got some wicked stomach virus yesterday and as a result from the inflammation I am up 3.2 pounds since yesterday morning. All I could keep down were saltines and cheerios. I feel like I got run over. So I am drinking lots of fluids today and eating as close to plan and as bland as possible. Plain chicken and maybe more chicken, lol.

[Lbibclc]

Originally Posted by IMaMommy

Yay for weight dropping! Congrats ladies! Fabulous job!

I'm down .8 this morning. I'll take it! I'd really like to see a whole lb. being dropped every day, but .8 is really close! I hope to be below 200 by Tuesday! HORAY!

Happy weekend everyone!

Way to go. I would love .8 every day. That would be sweet.

[Lbibclc]

Originally Posted by dazygyrl

thank you for your soup "recipe" . i appreciate you sharing. congrats on your 2lbs!

i am down just 0.4 today, but after a 3.2 lbs whoosh yesterday, i s'pose that's to be expected. soooo hoping to be closer to LDW by mon so i can get into VT. but that is 2.4 lbs away. still so disgusted by my loading. i have lost all that weight, but feel like i wasted a week b/c of loading poorly (too many carbs this time, will stick to my instincts of loading on LOTS of my fav LC/ high fat favs if i do a R3).

Good for you. A lot of times a big whoosh is followed by a small up tick. So be very happy!!

[Lbibclc]

Originally Posted by CherylB

Thanks, Julie! Nice CD results! I love your new AVI, BTW. Have a great weekend.

Like your new picture. Hope your BP stabilizes. Do you have your own BP machine?

[Lbibclc]

I would like to try the Miracle noodles. Any suggestions on brands or types let me know. I have heard they stink? How do you fix them?

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by minimonkey

Welcome home Cheryl -- glad you're safe!

Thanks, Mini! It's good to be home. There really is no place like home. As far as "safe" goes, read on...

Originally Posted by paulabob

I cycled between several of my rounds, just not my first. No immunity issues as such I think until round 4 or so... Just my experience!

Cheryl Cute new camping pic! Boy your hair shines in the sunlight, how pretty!

Down a fraction, but will probably rebound after the weekend. Intend a little lowcarb pizza today or Sunday. After 6 days of 131 today was 130.

Funeral to head to with DD and her friend in a couple of hours (it's another friend's grandmothers). Will be packing some kleenex. I hate cancer!

Thanks, Paula. That's why my sister took the picture, because of the sun lighting up my hair like that. I'm sorry about the funeral. Yes; pack those tissues. I hate cancer, too. You're doing well in P3 so far! KUTGW, Paula.

I wrote about it in my "daily note" but I had a hypertensive and bradycardic crisis last night. My HR was 47 bpm and my pressure was around 180's/115. It varied up and down from those rotten numbers for hours, no matter what I took to try and bring it down. My HR was very regular and I was listening to my heart sounds with my stethascope. Just your usual S1S2 sounds, no murmer or irregularity.

I took some meds to get it under control. I took my Lisinopril, one of my Statins, an aspirin, a Lasix (took a second one later in the evening) and finally things started to kick in. At 1230 am I finally started to see a vast improvement in my vital signs. HR back into the upper 60's, BP down to 100's-120's/60's-70's.

What caused it? I think a few things. I drank my first cups of regular strength instant coffee yesterday. I started feeling jittery later on and had an "awareness" of a bit of tightness in my chest. That's why I took my pulse. Then I dug up my semi-automatic (BP cuff ) and started monitoring pulse and pressure. It was also a hypervolemic state from all the high sodium, high fat, high crap I ate. I know that because I woke to sausage fingers earlier in the day yesterday. You know the feeling I'm sure. Like you have blown up rubber gloves in place of hands?

I'm now back on my BP pill and my Statin. I am done with the crappy eating I did the past two days (It was basically loading without the pellets. Pure emotional stuff) and back on my clean summer eating plan for the next week.

I have decided to reload this coming weekend (at the Fair) with my pellets and do a 40 day R3. I will just fake my way through my sister's 60th birthday party, if one materializes eventually. I'm tired of all this "biding my time until the coast is clear!" I want to get back to losing and feeling great! I'm getting depressed and I can't afford to "go there."

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend! KUTGW!

[cathiasplace]

Originally Posted by Lbibclc

I would like to try the Miracle noodles. Any suggestions on brands or types let me know. I have heard they stink? How do you fix them?

Whole Foods sells a brand called PastaSlim. According to the bag, the company has done all the hard work for you and all you have to do is put the noodles in hot water for about a minute, then drain. They're still chewy, but so easy to prepare. My 5 y/o was happy with them as a spaghetti replacement.

[dazygyrl]

wow, cheryl! that sounds, NOT FUN!! so glad you're feeling better.

[Lbibclc]

Originally Posted by cathiasplace

Whole Foods sells a brand called PastaSlim. According to the bag, the company has done all the hard work for you and all you have to do is put the noodles in hot water for about a minute, then drain. They're still chewy, but so easy to prepare. My 5 y/o was happy with them as a spaghetti replacement.

I so wish there was a whole foods within 2 hours of me. they have everything cool. I might get a local store to order it.

[verbqueen]

Originally Posted by cathiasplace

Whole Foods sells a brand called PastaSlim. According to the bag, the company has done all the hard work for you and all you have to do is put the noodles in hot water for about a minute, then drain. They're still chewy, but so easy to prepare. My 5 y/o was happy with them as a spaghetti replacement.

Sounds intriguing. Is this a refrigerated product, or with the dried pastas? TIA!

[cathiasplace]

Originally Posted by verbqueen

Sounds intriguing. Is this a refrigerated product, or with the dried pastas? TIA!

It's in the refrigerated section with the other tofu noodles, tofu, and other meat replacement products.

They do need to be drained first before putting them in the hot water and I give them a little rinse too cause they're stinky! Still, can't beat the calorie count for a pasta replacement!

[julieboolie]

Thanks Cheryl - that's in Sedona at Slide Rock park w/ dh last week. It's so beautiful on Oak Creek in Sedona!! My happy place! Sorry about your BP and heart night!! Hope you're feeling better today. Good for you!! Go for a new P2 round!

Liz-sorry about your tummy trouble! !Hope you're better today!!

Just got home from the gym. Made my fam come too and dh and dd(11) worked out w. me too. I just need to find a way to consistently go more!! I've got to quit this gym as it's very expensive and the deal was I go through the summer so there's a pool for my kids to swim. It's expensive there, and more country club like, but I do like going there. Sigh. I'll have to go end it and join the cheap gym down the road. But, my favorite zumba instructor is there, and my BFF, so there's a silver lining. I just need to go more often!!

Anyway, gotta' go hang w/ the fam. love the weekend!!

[CherylB]

Sorry, Liz! We must have posted at the same time, or my post was just so long and took so long to write that you posted during that time. Anyway, I do have my own cuff. It is the kind that you pump up manually and it automatically releases the air. It uses less battery power than the kind that blows itself up. LOL. Glad you like my new Avi.

Dazy, so "not fun" is right! It was scary not knowing what was going to happen next. I've been checking my bp a few times today and everything is back to normal. I wish I knew what really happened.

Julie, that is such a beautiful place. I have pictures and video taken at Oak Creek Canyon but way back before the digital age. Slide Rock is so awesome! I took pics of it from the road above but never did any sliding there.

Not much else to report (Thank God!) so I'll check back in later. Hope all are well.

[Lbibclc]

Good morning everyone. Slow today. I am now recovered from my GI mess and am down to where I was three days ago. So hopefully it's onward and downward from here.

Cheryl I hope your BP/HR are doing better today.

[mousie tartufo]

Cheryl - Sounds like you had a panic attack. Not fun, whatever it was. But I'm glad you're feeling better! And good for you for deciding to continue on your journey - too damn bad if someone else doesn't like what you're eating. Where were these turkeys when you were eating garbage and gaining weight and getting unhealthy? Well? Yeah, exactly - nowhere. You do what's right for you, toots.

Weighing in today, down a pound (though I went nowhere yesterday, so it's still an average of .5 per day). I can tell I'm nearing the end of the round - just the thought of real food and proper portions gets me hungry. Don't get me wrong, I like the fact that the pounds are going away, but I'm getting really really tired of being so damn strict - and the same four things to eat all the time is getting old. Yes, I know there are plenty of recipes out there, but I'm also lazy and don't want to be cooking all darn day either. *repeats mantra - 7 days left - 7 days left- 7 days left*

Hope all you lovelies have a great day!!

[julieboolie]

Good morning girls!! You're all losing well!! WTG!! I'm so happy for you (and a little jealous ). I was telling dh last night (who was complementing me on how great I look and how proud of me he is - we worked out together yesterday which seems to have impressed him! - anyway, I was telling him that no matter how much I've lost, or how far I've come, or how "good" I now look, I always want more! I'm not normally discontent in life, I'm a "glass half full" kinda' girl, but when it comes to my body/weight I'm never satisfied. Maybe that's a good thing and helps me stay diligent so I can maintain.

But, after some reflection, I think I am really done with trying to lose weight. I know I have some fat left to lose, but I also know I like how I look. I like wearing my size 4 capris - only 1 pair fit me in size 4, but I love them!! I am usually a good 8, sometimes 6, sometimes 10 depends on the store, etc. But, I am quite happy a solid 8. I will continue to exercise and build muscle and strength, and if I lose some more fat along the way, bonus! But, as I was discussing w/ dh last night, I am content w/ my weight/size. I will be adjusting to my new attitude over the next few weeks as I finish up P3 and head into P4. I am much more peaceful about it now, and feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

So, that's my revelation this lovely Sunday morning!! Hope you all have a great day and I'll keep checking in w/ you lovelies!

Oh, here's a repost from the P3 thread w/ my daily weight:
I did make it to the gym yesterday! Finallly!! It's been many days!! I got a good HI cardio session, then did some weights. I'm a bit sore today, which I expected, but so glad I went. I really need to settle my schedule down and just go!!

I also had a delicious bacon wrapped filet mignon, green beans w/ bacon and ceasar salad for dinner. YUMMY!! Then we found a frozen yogurt place that makes their yogurt w/ stevia!! They were all so yummy!! I had to get some. Couldn't believe it. I don't normally like stevia, so I was surprised and delighted!! All of this dining out and water retention from working out has me up 1lb today, out of my window. I'd like to do a CD, but we'll probably dine out w. friends after church, so that may not work well. I will try to do GY for bfast and probably dinner, may do a burger for lunch and see if that'll help. Sigh. Definitely worth it, and I know the exercise is good for me in the long run, but scale!!

Just sharing for accountability .

Keep up the great work you wonderful losers!!

[catjrow3]

Originally Posted by julieboolie

I also had a delicious bacon wrapped filet mignon, green beans w/ bacon and ceasar salad for dinner. YUMMY!! Then we found a frozen yogurt place that makes their yogurt w/ stevia!! They were all so yummy!! I had to get some. Couldn't believe it. I don't normally like stevia, so I was surprised and delighted!! All of this dining out and water retention from working out has me up 1lb today, out of my window. I'd like to do a CD, but we'll probably dine out w. friends after church, so that may not work well. I will try to do GY for bfast and probably dinner, may do a burger for lunch and see if that'll help. Sigh. Definitely worth it, and I know the exercise is good for me in the long run, but scale!!

Just sharing for accountability .

Keep up the great work you wonderful losers!!

Julie, good for you on being content!! Its hard to do, and I have tried too, after losing 90 pounds, you think I could be happy, but I am not, and I keep bouncing up 10 lbs.. LOL

Anyway, whats the name of the yogurt place with stevia? I would like to inquire at ours, as I am a froyo fanatic, but have been steering away to behave myself!! Would be nice to know if we have one near by!!

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by mousie tartufo

Cheryl - Sounds like you had a panic attack. Not fun, whatever it was. But I'm glad you're feeling better! And good for you for deciding to continue on your journey - too damn bad if someone else doesn't like what you're eating. Where were these turkeys when you were eating garbage and gaining weight and getting unhealthy? Well? Yeah, exactly - nowhere. You do what's right for you, toots.

Weighing in today, down a pound (though I went nowhere yesterday, so it's still an average of .5 per day). I can tell I'm nearing the end of the round - just the thought of real food and proper portions gets me hungry. Don't get me wrong, I like the fact that the pounds are going away, but I'm getting really really tired of being so damn strict - and the same four things to eat all the time is getting old. Yes, I know there are plenty of recipes out there, but I'm also lazy and don't want to be cooking all darn day either. *repeats mantra - 7 days left - 7 days left- 7 days left*

Hope all you lovelies have a great day!!

That's too funny, Mousie. My bro-in-law calls me Toots. He's called me that since I was a teenager. It's possible that I had a panic attack, but I have no idea what brought it on. I was looking at all the physical factors. I was also drinking mainly diet soda and O'Douls when I was away from home. No water at all, which is normally what I always drink when I'm home.

You're doing really well, Mousie! What "4 things" do you eat every day? I don't know what I'll be eating this coming round. I just want to find things that I enjoy, like the first round. You can do 7 days standing on your head! It'll be over soon enough.

Originally Posted by Lbibclc

Good morning everyone. Slow today. I am now recovered from my GI mess and am down to where I was three days ago. So hopefully it's onward and downward from here.

Cheryl I hope your BP/HR are doing better today.

Everything has been back to normal since that night. It was so strange and not the least bit comforting. I was just thinking about the diet soda thing as I took one last sip of the last can I had today. I wonder if all those things combined just threw my body out of whack. Even the humidity this week has been bad. I feel it in my spine and joints. If I can feel the effects of humidity in my joints and bones, then it's making other things swell up, too.

I'm sorry to hear you had some GI trouble. I never did go back and read up on all the pages of posts I missed while I was away. I guess I need to! I'm glad you are feeling better now.

Originally Posted by julieboolie

Good morning girls!! You're all losing well!! WTG!! I'm so happy for you (and a little jealous ). I was telling dh last night (who was complementing me on how great I look and how proud of me he is - we worked out together yesterday which seems to have impressed him! - anyway, I was telling him that no matter how much I've lost, or how far I've come, or how "good" I now look, I always want more! I'm not normally discontent in life, I'm a "glass half full" kinda' girl, but when it comes to my body/weight I'm never satisfied. Maybe that's a good thing and helps me stay diligent so I can maintain.

But, after some reflection, I think I am really done with trying to lose weight. I know I have some fat left to lose, but I also know I like how I look. I like wearing my size 4 capris - only 1 pair fit me in size 4, but I love them!! I am usually a good 8, sometimes 6, sometimes 10 depends on the store, etc. But, I am quite happy a solid 8. I will continue to exercise and build muscle and strength, and if I lose some more fat along the way, bonus! But, as I was discussing w/ dh last night, I am content w/ my weight/size. I will be adjusting to my new attitude over the next few weeks as I finish up P3 and head into P4. I am much more peaceful about it now, and feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

So, that's my revelation this lovely Sunday morning!! Hope you all have a great day and I'll keep checking in w/ you lovelies!

Oh, here's a repost from the P3 thread w/ my daily weight:
I did make it to the gym yesterday! Finallly!! It's been many days!! I got a good HI cardio session, then did some weights. I'm a bit sore today, which I expected, but so glad I went. I really need to settle my schedule down and just go!!

I also had a delicious bacon wrapped filet mignon, green beans w/ bacon and ceasar salad for dinner. YUMMY!! Then we found a frozen yogurt place that makes their yogurt w/ stevia!! They were all so yummy!! I had to get some. Couldn't believe it. I don't normally like stevia, so I was surprised and delighted!! All of this dining out and water retention from working out has me up 1lb today, out of my window. I'd like to do a CD, but we'll probably dine out w. friends after church, so that may not work well. I will try to do GY for bfast and probably dinner, may do a burger for lunch and see if that'll help. Sigh. Definitely worth it, and I know the exercise is good for me in the long run, but scale!!

Just sharing for accountability .

Keep up the great work you wonderful losers!!

Here's to contentment! Whatever else you have to lose will come off over time, as you fine-tune your maintenance plan and continue exercising. Sounds like you've got yourself a good DH. I'd like to hear where you got that Stevia Frozen Yogurt, too.

The humid weather pattern we've been in for a week is going to go out with a big bang today! I just gave Sissy 2 Benadryl in a piece of hot dog. That always chills her out during storms. I took some Advil and I'll be feeling less achy soon. I'm back to drinking lots of water and I know that I'm going to feel like my old self again very soon.

It's going to be so strange being back on my pellets and such a strict diet! I hope I can get back into the rhythm of it like in R1. I have 40 days to do it in, and I think I can really get moving again during that time.