THE CENTURY CLUB! For those who have 100lbs + to lose, and those who have done it!

[marion93]

Originally Posted by Ladybugsy

Feeling ok this morning Much better than last night. Reporting a 3.8 pound loss this morning, so happy about that.

One thing that may have hurt me is that I didn't take my final dose of hhcg until about 8:30pm. I forgot

One day at a time.

YAY! What a great whoosh for your VLCD2 weigh-in! Taking your dose late doesn't seem to have damaged you in the weight loss department, but maybe it contributed to hunger? I don't know, I did not do hhcg, I did injections. BTW, forgetting to take a dose is EXACTLY why I chose injections. I do it once in the morning and I am done! I am the WORST in remembering to take doses throughout the day. Right now, I am trying to take some supplements and half the time I forget.

Anyway, I am so proud of you! It looks like you did your shopping and got all your inner preparation done...WTG!

[Sassine]

Originally Posted by Ladybugsy

Sassine and Marie, Looks like you both are headed to P3 after successful rounds. do you tend to stop losing, or does it slow when you need a break from vlc?

Hey, Ladybugsty

I'll be back on again. I have a boat load of weight to lose. I was vlcd for 47 days and I'd lost 20 pounds in 33 days. 4 in 12. I think my body needs a rest. I stopped now because I have a birthday coming up and I wanted to be firmly in stabilization so I could have a wee treat.

I'll probably have to do 4-6 rounds total.

[marion93]

Originally Posted by MarieTN

On R2VLCD18 and I'm down another 1.2 pounds for a total this round of 15.4 pounds. One week from today, I will transition to Phase 3.

I think my tentative plan is to enjoy Phase 3-4 through the holidays and the start of the year and see how I'm doing come March 2012. If I feel the need for another round, I will do it then.

Excuse me..wait...I just noticed...is that a new pic for your avi, Marie? You look stunning! You are positively glowing!

(if I am late in noticing, I apologize. I'm not always the sharpest tool in the shed!)

[marion93]

Originally Posted by shelbyla

Chicken broth is fine. ...Here in California at Ralph's (aka Kroger) their store brand, Private Selections, in the carton has no sugars. It's pretty much a freebie so drink as much as you can hold.

Huh? How did I miss that? I'm going to go to Ralph's today and get some! Costco is too far for me.

[Ladybugsy]

Shelbyla, I'm going to chalk yesterday up as a mistake and keep moving forward. I felt SO bad last night that I went to bed, then got back up and had half a cuke and a little broth. I felt well enough to go to sleep and i woke up not hungry. Go figure!

This afternoon for lunch I had rosemary chicken, and cukes in red wine vinegar. An orange and melba toast. It was strange because I ate the chicken and cukes first, and really felt pretty full. Then the melba then I sort of felt a pang on hunger, then I had the orange. I'm concerned the melba or the orange may not agree with me. I'm afraid the orange is going to cause me to be hungry, and the melba, well, everyone knows bread is the devil! I low carbed for years, so this is such a new way of thinking for me to embrace.

Sassine, I will be right there with you...I'm looking at 5 or 6 rounds myself.

Marion, tyty, I am happy with the loss. But cautiously so. And chicken broth may be my saving grace.

[pmartin6618]

Check-in down 1-lbs. today, for total of 4.6-lbs. in two vlcds. New weight today is 279.4.

[Ladybugsy]

Originally Posted by pmartin6618

Check-in down 1-lbs. today, for total of 4.6-lbs. in two vlcds. New weight today is 279.4.

Great news, pmartin! How is your hunger? I notice mine picks up at night. I had a bad day yesterday, didn't eat enough, and hoping for a better evening tonight

[TrishD]

Originally Posted by pmartin6618

Check-in down 1-lbs. today, for total of 4.6-lbs. in two vlcds. New weight today is 279.4.

OUTSTANDING JOB!!! I am really happy for you!! We are all going to be even more stunning than we already are when this is over! WOOHOO!!

[pmartin6618]

Originally Posted by Ladybugsy

Great news, pmartin! How is your hunger? I notice mine picks up at night. I had a bad day yesterday, didn't eat enough, and hoping for a better evening tonight

I probably messed up yesterday... because I only at once at night... I didn't have any hunger at all yesterday until around 7pm... and then I took some hhcg and wasn't hungry until 9pm....

My hunger was up a little this a.m... but again took some hhcg.. and zap in 10-min. it was gone... this stuff is amazing...

I just ate 2-eggwhites and 1-whole egg friend in non-fat spray... this is the 1st time I've eaten today... but again.... I wasn't all that hungry....

Anyways... just stay on the drops... and hold steady... the hunger will be gone soon...

We Will Succeed!!! Please Believe!!!

[TrishD]

Originally Posted by Ladybugsy

Shelbyla, I'm going to chalk yesterday up as a mistake and keep moving forward. I felt SO bad last night that I went to bed, then got back up and had half a cuke and a little broth. I felt well enough to go to sleep and i woke up not hungry. Go figure!

This afternoon for lunch I had rosemary chicken, and cukes in red wine vinegar. An orange and melba toast. It was strange because I ate the chicken and cukes first, and really felt pretty full. Then the melba then I sort of felt a pang on hunger, then I had the orange. I'm concerned the melba or the orange may not agree with me. I'm afraid the orange is going to cause me to be hungry, and the melba, well, everyone knows bread is the devil! I low carbed for years, so this is such a new way of thinking for me to embrace.

Sassine, I will be right there with you...I'm looking at 5 or 6 rounds myself.


Marion, tyty, I am happy with the loss. But cautiously so. And chicken broth may be my saving grace.

For what it is worth, I try to pace out my food so I can keep sane and not be tempted. So far it has boded me well! I eat my protein and veggie at lunch( 12pm) with a SF Jello cup, and then have my apple and melba (if I want the melba) about 3pm. Then I eat dinner protein, veggie, and occasionally a melba about 6pm and my apple by 8pm again usually with a choco delight cup (in my previous message to you). And all that is filled in with lots and lots of water throughout the day. I also start and end my day with a cup of hot tea. I can count on one hand in 37 days how many times i was hungry - and two of them were the first 2 day of the VLCD.

I am also looking at 6 Rounds as well....But we all have each other and many of us are pretty close to the same cycles, which is FABULOUS!

[TrishD]

Originally Posted by marion93

I use a spreadsheet as well as ****** online, as it was recommended by Shelby. I haven't checked out the other ones though. I have noticed that some of the pre-calculated calorie counts can be a bit off. I always double check that before using their calculations. Or better yet, record everything as a "custom food." It's a pain to input at first but it makes life easier later.

Ladybugsy, I cannot stress enough how much success on this diet is linked to proper preparation. My strong advice is to STOP EVERYTHING, and get prepared for the rest of this diet. Tell family, hubby, even work, that they MUST wait! You and your health is that important. I'm serious, call in sick if you have to....you must get your prep work done!

Consider that many of us women are in the habit of putting ourselves last, and that is a big contributing factor in our weight gain. Doing hcg is not just about losing weight and resetting the hypothalamus, but it is about resetting our mindset and behaviors that got us this way. Without resetting our mindset and behaviors we set ourselves up to regain any weight that is lost.

Life is going to have to be different from now on. You are going to have to make you a priority, even if people around you don't like it at first.

I am sorry to come off hard with all this tough love, but I really believe in you and I know that you can do this!

Here is a list (off the top of my head) that I recommend for proper preparation of the hcg protocol. I am sure it is incomplete, but it is a start:

* read P & I, two, three, even four times, (or more).
* Get your food scale and bathroom scale ready. Fresh batteries if need be.
* Measure yourself...this is a must, since sometimes during a stall, you lose inches and not pounds.
* Have all your P2 spices handy.
* Do your food shopping.
* Separate meats in 3.5 oz portions and freeze (or cook ahead if you like)
* have some frozen veggies handy in case you run out of fresh
* if you can swing it, buy all organic. Its one more way of being really good to yourself (and THAT is the new behavior we want to set).
* Sit at the computer and come up with your menu for the week ahead.
* If you choose to still cook for hubby and family, figure out their menu as well, making it close to what you cook for yourself. Or just make larger portions for them of your P2 meal and add a starch. You don't want to be turning around food options in your head, of all the things you can't have. Keep that to a single task.
* Realize that this is reprogramming, so when you sit down to eat your P2 meal, enjoy! Say to yourself, "Yum! Look what I get to eat! This is delicious!"
(btw, when my fiance tells others about my hcg success, this is the behavior of mine that he cites. He was amazed at how un-deprived I felt. Observing my process, it looked to him that I was reprogramming my subconscious to feel rich and abundant on that kind of food. Honestly, I was just really enjoying my cooking, as I had never done much of that before! )

Ok, enough lecture. Please know that this comes from a place of believing in you.

Well said Marion!!!

[dfwgirliegirl]

Good afternoon losers (that makes us winners, right?).

I am down .4 so all is good. Congrats to all those who are releasing...and those who are making it thru another day on protocol.

Ladybugsy, I was so hungry the first week. That is normal, I think. Some do not experience it but boy I did. Just hang tight and it will go away and you will be so glad you held on. Drink water to fill your belly.

I have a week left, I think, of P2...then I am on to P3 thru December. I am so excited to try a new phase. I want to do it right RIGHT R I G H T !!!!

Off to Sprouts to get some yummy oranges, grapefruit, and apples.

Tiff

[Ladybugsy]

I can have JELLO? on Protocol?

So if I find something that is pretty much zero on fat, calories, carbs and proteins, it's ok to eat it? I'm not sure I want it, but man I would have yesterday...lol.

and the chocolate?

[shelbyla]

Originally Posted by TrishD

Yes, chicken broth is okay - just count the calories. I use the FF Low Sodium. I use it a lot when cooking my meat - especially ground tureky/chicken. Another great tool i use is Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. I put a little in the pan and saute what ever my protein is. Most of them don't have a very distinct coconut flavor, which is great. Plus, it really has many many health benefits too. There are different brands and costs. You also use the Extra Virgin Coconut Oil to make the Choco Delights aka choco crack. Just google either of those names with HCG inthe search and you will get the recipe. It is a dark, kinda bitter choc, but is AWESOME with Apples and Oranges. Speaking of, I need to make some more!! Great for that Choc craving!!

Just fyi, coconut oil and cocoa crack are NOT for protocol P2. If you're rogue, it's fine but not for protocol.

[shelbyla]

Originally Posted by Ladybugsy

I can have JELLO? on Protocol?

So if I find something that is pretty much zero on fat, calories, carbs and proteins, it's ok to eat it? I'm not sure I want it, but man I would have yesterday...lol.

and the chocolate?

Jello isn't protocol either. Again, fine if you are rogue--but it's not on the original list.

[shelbyla]

One thing that y'all might find useful if you are feeling hungry is to replace oranges with apples, strawberries and grapefruit, all of which are lower GI than oranges. Also, whenever you eat a fruit or a melba/grissini eat it with a little protein. I always ate just two meals, lunch and dinner, and had my fruit as a dessert.

I completely hear you about the melba/grissini being weird! I have some wheat issues so I skipped the bread entirely and just upped my veggie portions to make it to 500calories. If I had to go back and do it again though, I would include the bread, simply because I think having it during P2 reduces any sensitivities people have to carbs when you finally get to P4. JMHO

[MarieTN]

I save my fruit for an evening snack. I buy frozen unsweetened strawberries. Most nights I just let them thaw out a little and eat them. For a "treat" though, I put them in my Ninja Blender with a couple of ice cubes. It comes out in a shaved ice consistency.

[Twirl]

Hi Everyone,
I've been mia, sorry. I'll read the thread to catch up.

Yum, frozen strawberry treat. I have to try it.

For me, my loss has slowed down a bit. I bounce around a lb and then drop to the next lb 2 to 3 days. Need to up my water and not worry about it.

Also, last night power went out for the Santa Ana winds, Shelby did you lose power? And I was hungry and had 2% cottage cheese for dinner. I woke with a .3 loss. I'll take it.

Lydia

[shelbyla]

Hey Lydia! I didn't lose power but I got stuck on the way to work this morning with a power line down on the way. Took me 75 minutes to go 10 miles. Oh well--turn it UP and hope for the best! Be sure to check out the SoCal thread--we're discussing P2 meetup possibilities in January...

[Twirl]

Shelby!

Um, I can't eat chicken.

So, I've gotten better at actually tasting things since being on P2. And I had my trusty hugess lb bag of frozen chicky breasts in the freezer And I was making much better recipes on P2, getting tender moist little portions, perfectly seasoned, And I was all proud of myself....And then I started tasting the actual chicken. And it tasted like dirty salty water not chicken at all. Dismay. Yuk.

Then I went online looking for natural chicken and it turns out the anyone for any kind of chicken can put the word "natural" on the package.

At this point I'm thinking about raising my own chickens Because, right now, I can't even sneak up on one of those grocery store packages of chicken.

Lydia

[shelbyla]

Lydia, there is an absolutely GREAT butcher up in Culver City. Their chicken is fabulous and no more expensive than grocery chicken. And their steaks...OMG!!!!! I canNOT say enough about their steaks! And the steaks are usually CHEAPER than the grocery. The name is Victor's Meat & Deli. It's at that weird little intersection where National, Palms and Exposition cross. The only thing that I've had there that I don't like is the filet mignon for whatever reason. Everything else is amazing. They even make all their own sausage/brats and carry things like duck and goose and prime rib for holidays. Might give it a shot...

[TrishD]

Originally Posted by shelbyla

Just fyi, coconut oil and cocoa crack are NOT for protocol P2. If you're rogue, it's fine but not for protocol.

Originally Posted by shelbyla

Jello isn't protocol either. Again, fine if you are rogue--but it's not on the original list.

Those are the only two deviations I do on the program. I shoud have prefaced that by saying everyone's body is different on what they can and can not tolerate. I can't eat beef or drink dt soda, but the sf jello works out ok for me as well as the choco delight/crack. Again everyone is different --it isn't strict protocal as Shelbyla stated, though.

And who wouldn't thought I was Rogue!!! LOL!!! Must be getting wild and crazy in my old age!!

[TrishD]

Originally Posted by Ladybugsy

I can have JELLO? on Protocol?

So if I find something that is pretty much zero on fat, calories, carbs and proteins, it's ok to eat it? I'm not sure I want it, but man I would have yesterday...lol.

and the chocolate?

See my message below in response to Shelbyla comments.

[shelbyla]

Originally Posted by TrishD

Those are the only two deviations I do on the program. I shoud have prefaced that by saying everyone's body is different on what they can and can not tolerate. I can't eat beef or drink dt soda, but the sf jello works out ok for me as well as the choco delight/crack. Again everyone is different --it isn't strict protocal as Shelbyla stated, though.

And who wouldn't thought I was Rogue!!! LOL!!! Must be getting wild and crazy in my old age!!

You go, you wild thing, you!

[Sassine]

Originally Posted by shelbyla

I completely hear you about the melba/grissini being weird! I have some wheat issues so I skipped the bread entirely and just upped my veggie portions to make it to 500calories. If I had to go back and do it again though, I would include the bread, simply because I think having it during P2 reduces any sensitivities people have to carbs when you finally get to P4. JMHO

I started off with the bread but every time I ate it, I got nauseous. I eliminated it for a while and then tried again. My stomach didn't like it and I made up the difference with a bit of extra protein and extra vegetables. I don't expect to eat many carbs when I am all done. I'll see how my new stomach likes it. I do know I do not have acid reflux like I did before and that was one damn expensive medication.

I was hungry through week 2 and thereafter. I spread my food, but what finally worked for me was increasing my drops and spreading them, taking them 6 times a day and not 3. So, I'd do drops 6x a day and eat something 6x a day.

It was hard to separate the emotional "wanna eat" hungries from actual physical hunger. The "wanna eat hungries" I just ignored. The worse time for me was between 2-430.

[Twirl]

Headede there now,kinda know where it is. Thanks Shelby.

[C'Marie]

I've been MIA also - am working on maintaining my 100+# loss and actually not doing great right now. I'm sure this is a repeat of some of what I said at the beginning of this thread when I introduced myself, but my hormones have gone out of whack and the inflammation and pain is heavy in me right now, and lack of sleep seriously, and all of the above mean gain for me. Like 8 pounds suddenly in about a week - and I was already settled into P4 with about an extra 4 or 5 which is pretty normal with me - with no change in diet. I was well into P4 so of course I was having a little bit of starch and/or sugar here and there but never anything serious (half portions if that), and as soon as the gaining started then I cut that out. And then of course came Thanksgiving! which I did pretty good at, but there was one day of stuffing/potatoes/gravy/one roll/punkin pie ---- but only one day and very small portions - and alcohol

So I'm back down really quickly to the pre-Turkey day weight but my body is trying to refuse to go further back down. I'm hanging out at about 8-9 pounds above where I'd like to be. I seriously don't eat anything bad or I would definitely tell on myself I do need to remember to drink more water also. That may help the pain level with the inflammation flare up. Getting up and down from the loo is painful at this point so the tendency is to NOT drink water so I don't have to pee as much LOL!

I'm seeing a new doc tomorrow morning to do a new kind of injection in my hip to see if we can get rid of the inflammation at least in that worst spot. I'm taking some new supplements to help with the hormones and the overall inflammation flare up. I still so resist taking pain meds. I hate them. I'm TRYING to get enough sleep, but honestly, no matter what I do I am not falling asleep and then waking up way too early so am lucky to get 3-4 hours. I am keeping my protein up and trying to stay pretty low carb even though I am on P4. I'm a little down about it all but really, all things considered, even with a recent gain I feel like a success. And I know that even if my hormones have "unset" me, the fix is another round! That's what Dr. S says about menopause, that it "may" unset you, so then do another round - so easy. I will be doing that after the first of the year regardless. Even if I have to re-lose some of what I lost in R5 then so be it. In the meantime, I am just trying to cope with the hand that has been dealt me and not freak out and starve myself because that would be my natural tendency - and it never works because I have gained weight not eating enough LOL.....

@Ladybugsy, I'm glad you got started and I'm glad Marion was here to tell you how to be better prepared. I'm sorry I wasn't around for you. She's right about us always putting everyone else first. I finally decided late in 2009 to make 2010 MY year. I was always handling one crisis or another for someone else, either in my family or in my volunteer work or church, or something - and my own life was falling apart, especially healthwise. If we don't take care of ourselves, we can't help anyone else. I finally had to come to that point and decide it wasn't selfish to put myself at the top of my list. It didn't mean I don't care for and love everyone just like I always had, just that what is important to me needs to get done, also. My family was really pretty supportive and concerned about me always stretching myself too much helping other folks out all the time anyway.

Ok so that's my book for the evening! I'll try to get back here to this thread more often. It's exciting to watch people LOSE! Yay!

[Sassine]

Originally Posted by C'Marie

I'm seeing a new doc tomorrow morning to do a new kind of injection in my hip to see if we can get rid of the inflammation at least in that worst spot. I'm taking some new supplements to help with the hormones and the overall inflammation flare up. I still so resist taking pain meds. !

Ask your doctor for Rx LIDODERM patches. They are very expensive, but they work and you don't have to get the pain medications through your whole system. You leave them on for 12 hours. Most insurance covers it.

Heat patches (can leave those on for 8 hours) help as well, especially if you don't want to take pain medications. These are worth a try and are OTC.

Pain = stress = weight gain. Hang in there. There are solutions. I have awful pain in my hips. If I let it get bad enough, I can't think. Lidoderm works for me and I can put the patches exactly where I need it. The relief is blissful.

And using the toilet, how about getting a toilet riser so you're not having to bend down so far?

Hang in there.

[Ladybugsy]

Reporting another 3.0 pound loss today! Woohoo!

Pre load: 357.8
VLCD1: 356.8
VLCD3: 350.0

Can't beat that with a STICK!

I'm not counting calories, but eating strict protocol. Weighing all protein and just a 2servings of veggies, one at each meal, along with the fruit and that darn toast. Is there any other palatable way to eat that?

I'll be back in a few to read up on everyone else's posts.

YAY ME!

[shelbyla]

Yay ladybugs! Awesome loss! There are some pretty good recipes on the recipes sticky but I think the most interesting include making crab cake with them, using them to "bread" chicken strips, and putting them as a kind of topping on a baked apple.