Rogues and Alternatives, week of 11/28

[HexaTheAmazon]

When you do an interruption on the protocol do you start counting from the day you stop taking the HCG or after the 3 days it takes for the HCG to get out of your system? It makes a big difference. I know that you can do a 14 day interruption and not have to load again. I don't want to load again.

[star a.d.]

Originally Posted by minimonkey

Star --

I went through really similar anxiety when I have gone to p3 -- seriously, just add the calories back slowly, and correct as necessary -- you DO need to eat! You don't want to down regulate your metabolism -- that said, I do know how scary it is to start eating again after restricting and being successful at it!

We are here for you -- so vent all you like!

thank you! I don't have a hope of getting to the number I'm *supposed* to today. maybe if I'd had breakfast. which I shall tomorrow.

if I can get down the amounts I put out for myself, I'll be at 1700. chances of that happening? not very good at this point.

[DisneyPrincess]

Quick check in, back from the holiday party. I made it without eating anything I shouldn't have!! I'm backkkkkk!

[HexaTheAmazon]

Originally Posted by DisneyPrincess

Quick check in, back from the holiday party. I made it without eating anything I shouldn't have!! I'm backkkkkk!

You are a strong woman. Holiday parties equal desserts which equals

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by Violet_Dream

Hi Everyone! Congratulations mini! Someone I work with who knows I'm using hhcg asked me about muscle loss with the VLCD's. I have not had any issues and am not concerned. Has anyone heard about this?

I think any prolonged dieting will result in some muscle loss. It's probably inevitable. I have been dieting almost straight (with a few glitches) for the past two years. It's hard to compare my strength now to what it was then because I am not heaving around the same amount of weight. You know what I mean? But I definitely need to work on my strength and stamina when I get to the new year. I mean, I'm going to start working on it now, but this year is pretty much shot.

Originally Posted by DisneyPrincess

Quick check in, back from the holiday party. I made it without eating anything I shouldn't have!! I'm backkkkkk!

I knew you would!

[star a.d.]

Originally Posted by HexaTheAmazon

You are a strong woman. Holiday parties equal desserts which equals

I generally subscribe to this math too.

[Alaskafisher]

Cheryl...my mom and dad lived in Kingman for a few years in the 90's. So I spent alot of time there...No Thanks to that!!!! We go to Vegas about 4 times a year, I love it there but Casinos are too tempting so possibly a town close to Vegas. My BFF and I have already figured it all out.... I will spend July ( fishing season) with her and she will spend lots of time in the winter with me. But dh has to change his schedule first..not feasible to travel back and forth every week. Every two weeks will be more doable.

Going to my granddaughters Christmas concert tonight. She's six...will be way cute I'm sure.

[DisneyPrincess]

Yup- brownies and cookies and Swedish meatballs and candy...and I ate 1 strawberry and 1 red pepper

I better be rewarded tomorrow.

I'm off to bed. I can't even explain my exhaustion tonight! I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday and we don't have anything pressing this weekend

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by Alaskafisher

Cheryl...my mom and dad lived in Kingman for a few years in the 90's. So I spent alot of time there...No Thanks to that!!!! We go to Vegas about 4 times a year, I love it there but Casinos are too tempting so possibly a town close to Vegas. My BFF and I have already figured it all out.... I will spend July ( fishing season) with her and she will spend lots of time in the winter with me. But dh has to change his schedule first..not feasible to travel back and forth every week. Every two weeks will be more doable.

Going to my granddaughters Christmas concert tonight. She's six...will be way cute I'm sure.

I hear that. We moved to Kingman because it was where my husband wanted to move to when we left Vegas. His parents had a condo in Bullhead City (hell on earth) and he wanted to stay close to them. I didn't like Kingman. It is a one-horse town.

A town near Vegas? That would be Boulder City, Henderson or Pahrump! Henderson might be your best bet. I wouldn't know my way around there anymore. I left in 1999, and left AZ in 2000. Hubby passed away in Kingman (another reason why I don't like the place.)

That's awesome that you will still be able to have the best of both worlds! Rock on, woman! Enjoy that concert! Those things are so precious.

Originally Posted by DisneyPrincess

Yup- brownies and cookies and Swedish meatballs and candy...and I ate 1 strawberry and 1 red pepper

I better be rewarded tomorrow.

I'm off to bed. I can't even explain my exhaustion tonight! I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday and we don't have anything pressing this weekend

I know you'll be happy in the morning.

I'm off to bed, too. Got to sleep and get up early to meet sister at state park and go hiking with our dogs. It's rare when we are actually one-on-one so it will be very nice. Adult conversation is nice sometimes, ya know?

Nite ladies! Pleasant dreams and happy scale mornings to us all!

[minimonkey]

Violet -- I've always taken the hcg during refeeds before, but this last time I stopped the hcg for two days before hand so I was technically hcg free on my refeed day... this time I gained very little, and it came right back off... so if I ever do another one I am doing it that way.

Hexa -- I'm not positive about the interruption times... I honestly doubt it matters too much, but I think I'd go on the conservative side and say 14 days from when you stopped the hcg... I really don't know how the protocol intends you to count the 14 days. I don't blame you about not wanting to load again!

Whooohooo on staying on plan, Disney! That's my girl!

Wow -- that small meal made a huge difference in how I feel -- I was hungrier than I realized. I get to sleep in tomorrow (yeah!!!) so I won't have breakfast until later in the day -- I bet that will make the day go more smoothly.

I can't wait until the inches start coming off too -- it generally goes lbs first, then inches later, for me. I know I lost ten pounds my first round before I could even tell a difference in my size, and then all of a sudden, I started shrinking really quickly. It was truly odd how that happened!

But... I want some more lbs gone... so if it has to be one or the other, I'll take the lbs for right now...lol!

[Alaskafisher]

Concert was awesome!!! My granddaughter was the cutest one there, not biased or anything

Cheryl...that's the biggest reason I hate Kingman too, my dad and mom moved there when he retired in 1994, and my dad passed in 1998 there in Kingman. I was there visiting at the time and he didn't wake up one morning. Saddest time of my life and I still miss him every single day.

Just got done with dinner, filet mignon and some broccoli, I usually lose when I eat filet so hopefully tomorrow the scale will be kind to me.

Oh and they had brownies after the concert so I RAN out of there pronto! Chocolate is my addiction, along with carbs!!!!

[minimonkey]

Good job dodging those brownies, Alaska! I hope the scale is kind to all of us in the morning... I think we should lose extra for doing this during the holidays, don't you???

Glad you had such a good time tonight!!

[minimonkey]

I'm curious to what degree a good night's sleep actually facilitates a loss....

I haven't had one in a couple of days, but will get one tonight (assuming I can sleep!) and I wonder if that will help?

I'm so terrified of stalling out again -- that is so silly -- even if I don't stall, I know there will be days where I don't show a loss on the scale, and I know there is very likely to be a jump up at some point when TOM gets here -- whenever that might be.. lol.

I do hope I can ride this post-refeed losing streak for a few more days, at least -- it has been so long since I've seen a decreasing number on the scale, and it is SO nice to see it.

[minimonkey]

Geez -- I really have nothing better to do than to post your virtual ears off, apparently

I'm wondering, though, about set points. Specifically, I am wondering if I will have an easier time maintaining by having set my goal a bit lower this time around... I stayed at about 100 lbs for quite a long time in high school (just a bit lower than 100, I think) and I wonder if that will make it any easier to stabilize there?

I know I have other weights that seem to stick, and ones that don't -- and I am wondering if it would be easier to stabilize at a lower weight, but one which is a set point, rather than a slightly higher weight that isn't?

Thoughts, anyone?

[star a.d.]

I have NO idea about stabilization, the concept was foreign to me before HCG, and I utterly didn't get it the first time I did it. all I know is that I petered out at about 1550 calories when I should be aiming for 2300. BREAKFAST from now on. le sigh. I also don't know what to do if I show gains over the next few days thanks to water retention.

my g-d, I'm like a broken record with that one. paranoia! I has it! me: "waaaaah, tom makes me hold water and is timing with the start of p3!" *repeat, ad nauseum.* HAHAHA!

speaking of PMS, I also just made caramel sauce out of erythritol, xylitol, stevia, cream, butter and SALT. it's so good, I nearly wept. I feel like some kind of wizard.

[Alaskafisher]

Mini... I'm curious about the set points also! This round has been extremely ssslllooowwww!!! I have been in the 150's for 3 flippin weeks. All I'm asking for is anything in the 140's. Only have a couple of days of drops left then I have to get busy on maintenance. I want to be stable before the cruise in January.

I have always been thin my whole life, until I quit smoking in 2000, I gained 30 lbs in 3 months. Of course I have started again since then thinking that if I smoked again I could drop the weight....YA RIGHT. I know, not too smart.
Oh well, live and learn.

Swelling never went down today so I'm thinking TOM is coming to visit soon. So I might just have to live with where I'm at. Which is okay cause I feel thinner and have lost alot of inches..

[DisneyPrincess]

Good morning. I decided not to weigh today. Im going to try not to daily because I start to get obsessive plus I haven't had a visit from Bernise in days. I'm going to stay 100% clean today and do another mainly protein day. Ill drink some smooth move tea tonight. That always helps. Hopefully I'll be down at least a pound tomorrow from yesterday's weight

I'm at my set point now- between 112-114. I can maintain here with no issues but it take some wirk to get below it. Once I get below 112 it is actually easier for me to lose so I'm really pushing to get below it this weekend.

Gotta go get my coffee and get opened

[Violet_Dream]

Good Morning my wonderful friends! R3VLCD5 and I'm down .6 even though TOM is here. I'm taking cinnnamon during this time to calm Aunt Flo as CMarie has suggested. It seems to help.

A lot of negativity at work and I'm job searching. I've been with the same company for over seven years, this is the third position I've held there and I'd like to retire there. It's unfortunate that some adults act like children and lately I feel like I have to keep pulling the knife out of my back. On a positive note, I DO have a job and am very grateful for that.

Have a wonderful day ladies and congratulations to all of us! Thank you Cheryl and mini for your replies. Rock on everyone!

[paulabob]

Well, same weight today. However I succumbed to 2 taquitos after my kids concert last night, ended with 840 calories - not enough for a loss for me.

Got to hear my 15 yo do 2 solos (trumpet) in jazz band, and my DD doing her percussion thing (sleigh bells and tympany (sp?)).

Congrats all you losers and stall busters (mini!) and hugs to everyone moving slow!

[goddesslynne]

Grrr, 1/2 lbs. up today. I had a run-in with a few ounces of feta cheese last night. I still kept my cals under 1000, but it was pretty salty. Also, I think I'm coming down with a cold, and no TOM yet.

Grrrrrrrr!!

[catjrow3]

Originally Posted by goddesslynne

Grrr, 1/2 lbs. up today. I had a run-in with a few ounces of feta cheese last night. I still kept my cals under 1000, but it was pretty salty. Also, I think I'm coming down with a cold, and no TOM yet.

Grrrrrrrr!!

Boy, I can relate with these feelings!! Hope you feel better soon and the 0.5 will be gone in no time!!

[minimonkey]

Yikes Y'all -- now I am scared to get on the scale -- it's being so mean to most of you!

Whoohoo Violet on having a loss with TOM! Now that is amazing!

I think I just broke through a set point, and I don't think I have another until about 100 lbs if memory serves me at all well... so that is why I was wondering....

I am going to go weigh -- and Disney, I hear ya about the obsessiveness of daily weighing... but I'll probably be obsessing about not weighing, if I don't...lol. This darn protocol breeds obsessiveness, I swear...

Star -- if you get a TOM gain, I'd just keep the eating really clean until it passes -- or maybe do a correction day just to be safe... but that is a reality of living in a female body, sadly... we get TOM gains.

[minimonkey]

Down .2 -- that's just fine -- it's a loss, and not a gain, so I am fine with that.

Not nearly so hungry today, either -- maybe the hhcg has reached a proper level in my body now...

I am grumpy this morning... little stressors are getting to me (getting snapped at first thing in the morning also isn't fun, in all honesty ) -- not sure if that is TOM impending, or just general stress, but I don't like it.

[DisneyPrincess]

Yes, this protocol does bring out obsessive tendencies!

I'm doing well today- a little munchie but so far so good. I had a half of a rice cake(40 calories) and ham, plus my coffee with creamer. Im hoping the ham doesn't cause some water weight on the scale if I decide to weigh tomorrow. I'm going to drink lots of tea and water the rest of the day and probably have a little chicken salad for dinner. I should come in around 600 calories

[Gremom]

Good afternoon!

I hd been out all morning running errands. The kids are going to my parents house for the weekend so DH can have some time to ourselves. YAY!! So I needed to go get some things for them to take.

I had good news on the scale today. Down 1 whole pound! I am very happy with that. Now I just have to behave this weekend and not go crazy if we go out to eat. I probably will be good because I don't want to mess this up.

Hope everyone is having a decent day. TGIF!!

[minimonkey]

I'm definitely due for some inch loss, I think -- I am pretty sure I was smaller at this weight the last time I was here -- but I do know the inches tend to come off after the pounds do, so I am not stressing that right now -- not too much, in any event.

I looked back at my journals -- I'm definitely not due for TOM, but that means very little with my wacky body cycles.

I may not eat again today, unless I get really hungry -- that would make for a 500 or less day for me... might do me good in the losses department.

Once this coming week is over, I will be on my winter break from school, so there will be some tangible stress relief there -- doesn't get rid of all the other stresses, but at least I will have some time off... and that may help get the scale moving, too.

[minimonkey]

Whoo hoo for the loss, Gremom, and also for some grown-up time with your husband!

I know what you mean about not wanting to mess it up, once you finally start seeing successes! I am right there with you -- and it definitely helps the frame of mind when this actually starts working!!!!

[DisneyPrincess]

Woohoo gremom! And enjoy your kids free days! Me and Dh are trying to get Kyle into Saturday evening daycare next week so we can do dinner and a movie. It's been forever!

Right now I fit into 2 pairs of jeans and today one pair got a hole in the knee! Thankfully that are the kind that has a few worn spots so they don't look scrappy but I don't do the it ripped holed jeans so now I HAVE to fit into the other 6 pair I have because I refuse to buy jeans in this size!

[minimonkey]

Funny you should mention jeans fit right now, Disney -- I am going through my closet and trying things on as we speak --

I have clothes in so many sizes it is ridiculous -- I've changed sizes so many times over the years that it is mindbending.

I've kept most of the smallish ones ( a decision I actually haven't regretted, as I have needed them several times) - the really big ones are in my "use for fabric" pile, except one pair of my biggest trousers to remind me how far I have come.

Anyhow, I fit into about 3/4 of my "goal" clothes now! I just have a few things that are too snug -- I'm taking anything that is even vaguely loose on me at the moment and sticking it in the alterations pile... and the things that fit, or are too snug, are staying in the closet. I am putting the snug ones in a separate section to try again after I drop a few more lbs.

This feels good -- I haven't wanted to deal with what fits and what doesn't in a while, so I haven't been very creative in dressing... at least now I will know what fits, and it will be exciting to watch them get looser in the coming weeks

If this round is like my first at all, this next few lbs makes a huge difference in the way bottoms fit -- it was the last 5 lbs last time that came right off my butt and thighs ... that is where I still really want to lose. I'm going lower this time with the weight, too (and I may actually want to maintain there -- we'll see how I feel about it when I get there) so I suspect that last ten-ish pounds will make a tremendously big difference.

If I do decide to maintain at 100, I'll have to figure out how to work that -- drop a little lower? Or just be diligent about p3? I will figure that out when I get there. Anything below 100 seems so low to me, but looking at the BMI charts and such, I could easily weigh 95 without even being considered marginally underweight. I don't place a ton of faith in charts, but they are a reasonably good reality check sometimes.

[minimonkey]

I think you and I wear about the same size, if I recall correctly, Disney. At goal, I am in 0s and the smaller 1s. Right now, I'm wearing mostly 1s, a few larger 0s, and a few smaller 3s. I hate how inconsistent sizing is!

If I decide to maintain at 100, I suspect most of my current "goal" clothes will still fit, just a little bit loosely.

I rather like the ripped jeans look ... I guess it is my hold-over fondness for the 70s and 80s -- lol!