Day 1 -- excitement, fears, concerns

[hcggirl50]

Hello, everyone,

I have been reading this board for about a week and finally took the plunge and began the hcg diet, using drops. I finished up two 'load' days and today was my first VLCD day. I think I did okay...I didn't measure my asparagus for dinner, because I'm not sure just how much is ok? I probably ate two cups of cooked asparagus. No butter or oil, just seasoning salt. I also had a 'piece' of steak, lol -- not enough to qualify as "a" steak, to be sure! It was awesome though. I did cut as much fat off as humanly possible. I used Montreal Steak Seasoning, which does not include any sugar according to the list of ingredients. Does anyone know if Montreal Steak Seasoning is okay or not?

I'm so hopeful that maybe this diet will work, after reading all of your posts. I just turned 50 years old and I weigh 216 pounds (according to the scale this morning, post-load days. It was only 212.5 last week). I am one of those people that have always struggled with their weight, since birth. The only times I've been able to lose weight was using illegal speed in my 20s. My family and friends will tell you that I rarely overeat and am very healthy, diet-wise. My pulse, cholesterol, and blood pressure are all quite good. And yet I am FFFAAAATTTT. My body is pear-shaped. I am a single mom of four children, and sole support of all four. I sit at a desk job 9 hours a day, and then come home and freelance at my computer for another 3+ hours a night. I am beyond frustrated and I hope so much that this diet will work for me.

Questions:

#1 do you all seriously avoid liquid foundation, etc.? That just sounds crazy to me!

#2 is it possible to have an occasional drink (alcoholic) while on P2?

#3 being 50, I am entering menopause, which means my cycle is not steady. After reading all of the doctor's material, I am unsure as to how to use the hcg diet with an irregular cycle. Do you stop taking the drops when TOM appears?

Thanks so much; I am tentatively excited about this and will keep you posted!

hcggirl50

[katiesmemaw]

QUOTE=hcggirl50;15033158]Hello, everyone,

I have been reading this board for about a week and finally took the plunge and began the hcg diet, using drops. I finished up two 'load' days and today was my first VLCD day. I think I did okay...I didn't measure my asparagus for dinner, because I'm not sure just how much is ok? I probably ate two cups of cooked asparagus. No butter or oil, just seasoning salt. I also had a 'piece' of steak, lol -- not enough to qualify as "a" steak, to be sure! It was awesome though. I did cut as much fat off as humanly possible. I used Montreal Steak Seasoning, which does not include any sugar according to the list of ingredients. Does anyone know if Montreal Steak Seasoning is okay or not?

I'm so hopeful that maybe this diet will work, after reading all of your posts. I just turned 50 years old and I weigh 216 pounds (according to the scale this morning, post-load days. It was only 212.5 last week). I am one of those people that have always struggled with their weight, since birth. The only times I've been able to lose weight was using illegal speed in my 20s. My family and friends will tell you that I rarely overeat and am very healthy, diet-wise. My pulse, cholesterol, and blood pressure are all quite good. And yet I am FFFAAAATTTT. My body is pear-shaped. I am a single mom of four children, and sole support of all four. I sit at a desk job 9 hours a day, and then come home and freelance at my computer for another 3+ hours a night. I am beyond frustrated and I hope so much that this diet will work for me.

Questions:

#1 do you all seriously avoid liquid foundation, etc.? That just sounds crazy to me!

#2 is it possible to have an occasional drink (alcoholic) while on P2?

#3 being 50, I am entering menopause, which means my cycle is not steady. After reading all of the doctor's material, I am unsure as to how to use the hcg diet with an irregular cycle. Do you stop taking the drops when TOM appears?

Thanks so much; I am tentatively excited about this and will keep you posted!

hcggirl50[/QUOTE]

So happy to see you here!!! Here's my input. Other folks here will also respond to you.
#1 I did stop using the foundation I was using. I went to Walmart and found a liquid that was "physician's type". Used that with mineral powdered makeup.
#2 I didn't drink anything other than water, tea, zero carbonated drink (very occasionally), coffee (without cream). I might add this was the one thing that I thought I'd never be able to do. I like a little coffee with my cream!!! White coffee. I got some liquid Stevia (french vanilla flavored) and made it just fine. Never thought I could!! I do see that many others never give up their cream and still lose. It really is all about each of our individual bodies and systems.
#3 I'm 67 so I'm waaaaaayyyyy beyond the TOM stuff so I'm absolutely no help to ya. Many here will be able to help with that.

hcggirl50 THIS WILL WORK!!! I was very skeptical but it worked. I always said I was born fat and just got fatter. I tried everything from Atkins, to NutraSystem, to WW to the ultimate Stomach Stapling. Nothing worked beyond the time I was doing that particular WOE. My top weight in the early 90's was 346. This works....not only to lose but at this point it does appear that my metabolism HAS reset as Dr. Simeons said it would. My eating habits have totally changed and since my last dose day of R1 (8/14) when I weighed 197 I am as of today 9/25 at 188.6!!!
Now after loading today and tomorrow I know I may gain but KNOW that I will be able to once and for all get to my ultimate goal. I will be so anxious to watch you drop the pounds. Good luck to you. Continue to post and ask questions if you come up to any. Read Pounds and Inches and follow the plan!!!!

[laylabean]

i can only speak to one thing...the alcohol. while on p2 i had 1/2 a cooler and it stalled me for days, plus i felt awful the next day...like i had drank 1000 of them. then while on a trip, i had a glass of wine and a *cheat* dinner. i gained 6lbs and stalled for days.

i dont recommend it! all i accomplished was to sabotage myself, stall my weight loss, and make myself ill lol. its so not worth it as the plan is hard work, the hard work pays off, and its just not worth it!

it will work!

[porkfatrules]

Welcome! If you haven't read Pounds and Inches yet, go do it! It'll answer so many questions you may have.

1) Foundation -- I use an oil-free liquid foundation. If you're following protocol, as long as you're using oil-free products, or ones with non-nutritional oils (like mineral oil) you'll be fine.

2) I'd avoid all alcoholic drinks for P2 -- save them for P4

3) If you're taking the drops, then it sounds like you're on homeopathic HCG. It's my impression (somebody else chime in if I'm wrong) that you continue these regardless of the cycle. Avoiding doses during your period is more about the Rx version.

Good luck!

[Tommyswife]

If you're using the homeopathic drops, you can take them during your cycle.

[bevvy5]

My two cents based on my first round of - I'm starting round two next weekend.

1. I don't wear a lot of makeup but I didn't buy anything special. I also continued using a bit of lotion, I have pretty dry skin. I found my skin felt not as dry as it usually does during P2.

2. Found out the hard way that drinking and P2 are not a good mix for me. I had two glasses of wine after a very long day helping some friends move - hadn't had any fruit so thought I'd "treat" myself. The next morning I felt like I'd been on a three day bender. It didn't stall me or anything, but it was not a pleasant experience I'll be repeating.

3. I'm 52 and my cycle is extremely erratic. Unfortunately, it started three days after I started on the drops, went for five days. Then I had a seven day break, then it started AGAIN for another four days. Not extremely heavy the second time but definitely there. I just continued the homeopathic drops through the full time.

I did a 23 day run and lost 17 pounds. Can't wait to get on to R2 and I'm hoping to do six weeks and hopefully lose at least 20 pounds.

[walkingwoman]

1) I use a mineral based powder to begin with and didn't change.
2) I did have a glass of wine last round but wouldn't recommend it and won't be doing that again. Just not worth it to me. Club soda with a slice of lemon is my drink when going out.
3) I'm 49 and my cycles are whacked. I plan to use the drops if (or when) I get my cycle during P2.

We have a new group just formed a few days ago. Please feel free to post with us. We are the Awsome Autumn losers.

[Zbunny]

Welcome!

I think my advice is similar to the above, so I'll just say:

1. Some can use their same makeup and products, and others cannot. Switch out the products you can within reason ($ and availability) and if you find that you stall when using some regular products, stop using them. It's 3 weeks and it's worth it.

2. I'll repeat myself: It's 3 weeks and it's worth it. There is no way I would drink during P2, and trust me, I enjoy wine. I can have vino or other alcohol in P3 and P4 without gaining, but the point of P2 is to lose, so why slow yourself down and/or completely halt your progress by including alcohol? Completely not worth it. Drink hot tea in the evenings if you need something calming after work. I love Good Earth no-caffeine tea.

3. If you are doing homeopathic, I don't think you need to stop. If you're like a lot of us, your losses will slow when TOM kicks in, but you'll likely have a whoosh of pounds afterward.

Best of luck to you! This really does work as long as you follow the plan!

[hcggirl50]

Thank you all for the warm welcome and the great advice. I was down 3 pounds this morning!!!!! I am STARVING though..... determined not to cheat (or have that glass of wine) :-)

hcggirl50

[errihu]

If you are starving you may need to adjust your dose. Shelby can give good advice on how to do that.

[shelbyla]

Hiya all!

hcggirl - if you are hungry, ask yourself one thing first, are you REALLY hungry, as in stomach growling all the time, not just at mealtimes, low-blood sugar headache, hungry? Or is it just what we call "head hunger"?--you THINK you should be hungry or you are craving something other than what you have to eat?

If the answer to the above is YES you are really hungry, then skip a dose of hcg tonight. If you wake up LESS hungry, decrease your dosage two drops each dose (if you are taking 10 drops 3x per day, decrease to 8). If you wake up MORE hungry, INCREASE your drops by two, each dose.

To answer some of the other questions...

1. I didn't measure my asparagus for dinner, because I'm not sure just how much is ok? I probably ate two cups of cooked asparagus. I usually eat 300g or 7oz of vegetables per day. I don't eat the melba though so if you do, keep it to 200g per day.
2. I used Montreal Steak Seasoning, which does not include any sugar according to the list of ingredients. Does anyone know if Montreal Steak Seasoning is okay or not? If it doesn't have sugar it is fine for the diet but be careful with salt mixes as they can make you retain water.

Questions:

#1 do you all seriously avoid liquid foundation, etc.? That just sounds crazy to me! Yes, I avoided oil-based foundation. I found a non-oil one that I used. as mentioned, most mineral makeups have no oil.

#2 is it possible to have an occasional drink (alcoholic) while on P2? NO! No booze on P2!!!

#3 being 50, I am entering menopause, which means my cycle is not steady. After reading all of the doctor's material, I am unsure as to how to use the hcg diet with an irregular cycle. Do you stop taking the drops when TOM appears? This is only applicable to the prescription hcg. Are you on prescription drops? Even if you are, most people dose through TOM unless you have very heavy periods and during those times skip your dose on your heaviest day.

HTH

[hcggirl50]

This helped alot everyone, thank you!

[torister]

This works! I am 47 with irregular cycles. I take the RX and never stop taking the HCG during my TOM. I echo the no alcohol during P2. Seriously, it is 3 weeks. Stick to it for 3 weeks...save the drinks for P4. Good luck!