Rogues and Alternatives, week of 11/28

[CherylB]

Sorry, ladies. No energy for personals. I did read all the posts though and I'm right there with ya, wherever that may be.

Day 3 of loading and it's the first and last time I do 3 days. My blood sugar level has just crashed and I can barely type. Today will be a low-key load and then tomorrow I weigh and see where I'm starting this round at. It won't be pretty. I hate the fact that I once was 159.6 for ONE DAY and then never again since. I wasn't doing HCG at that time, so it's not like it was my LDW or anything. But all I keep thinking is that the lbs I lose between here and there are only just getting back to where I was. That is discouraging and I need to shift my mindset.

I hope we all have an awesome week this week, and that December is kind to us all. May we remain strong and focused on the prize, may we remember how far we've come and that this is a process and a journey, not a cure or a miracle. It takes work, persistence, patience and faith. But we are all made of the right stuff and we will all get to where we long to be.

Amen.

Love, Me

[minimonkey]

Awwww... thanks Violet! You rock too!!!

This last few weeks, I've just been eating breakfast, and usually nothing else for the rest of the day. I am generally only truly hungry in the morning.

I feel a bit better having decided to Juddd -- I know that for each up day, there is a down day to help correct for it -- I hope that works.

In rounds past, I've lost just as well rogue as I have on protocol, but this last stall has me really questioning that.

I have no idea how long I'll stick this plan out -- but it won't be long. I'm feeling impatient too. I wouldn't be doing it at all if I hadn't stalled out for so long.

When I do go back to p2, I think it'll probably be with a vengeance!

[minimonkey]

Cheryl -- I SO hear you! That is what has been so frustrating with losing and gaining the same three or four pounds... I just keep getting back to baseline

Glad your load is nearly over -- I wonder why it messed up your blood sugar? With Atkins? Weird... that usually seems to keep mine incredibly stable... so I can only imagine it must be the hhcg doing something.

[Violet_Dream]

Cheryl! Hope you feel better and thanks for the great post. You all may get a spike in blood sugar if you read what I ate for my loading days. I get in my protein and fat and then I'm off! The magical thing is I still have no cravings!

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by minimonkey

Cheryl -- I SO hear you! That is what has been so frustrating with losing and gaining the same three or four pounds... I just keep getting back to baseline

Glad your load is nearly over -- I wonder why it messed up your blood sugar? With Atkins? Weird... that usually seems to keep mine incredibly stable... so I can only imagine it must be the hhcg doing something.

My loads have always been "anything goes." Nothing is off-limits and I eat whatever my heart desires. Hence, the blood sugar crash on day 3. It'll pass. Three days was just too long. Tomorrow I'll start to feel better.

[Violet_Dream]

For some reason, about nine years ago, when I was a stay-at-home mom to our son, I developed this unhealthy obsession with water. At that time, I was doing Weight Watchers and had somehow gotten it into my head that if I started drinking huge amounts of water, I'd lose weight quicker. So I began drinking TWO GALLONS of pure water daily for months. Sometimes, I'd drink so much at one time that I felt I was "intoxicated" by water and eventually stopped when I learned how dangerous it is. I've cut way back, but have been drinking five quarts for years now.

According to this site Water Calculator - How Much Water To Drink a Day I only need 86 ounces. I just decreased it to one gallon which is still a lot, but better than I've been doing and I do make sure I space it out. This doesn't include the coffee, green or the herbal tea I also drink.

Thanks for letting me share this.

[HexaTheAmazon]

Originally Posted by DisneyPrincess

Uggg...well today is a wash. I caved again and had fried okra, fish sticks, and a roll
Guess will call it another interruption day and leave it at that. I'm going to chug chug my water and still hope to hit under 110 by Sunday

Mini- I think you are making a wise choice. One or 2 weeks in maintanance might do you a world of good. Im rooting for you!

Cat- don't look back, there's nothing you can do but move on I'm right with you

Don't worry about it. You exercise and run, just run it off. Your body was craving it for some reason. Now that you've eaten it just work it off. Make a fair exchange.

[HexaTheAmazon]

Originally Posted by pugswin

Oh! Hexa, you are so inspiring, hope your muscles pop with your break.

I'm feeling really good about doing this P2 thing for the next three weeks and seeing how close to goal (170) I can get. I got some new Levi's this weekend and everyone says I look great... I'm wondering if I'll only be in these pants for a month or so and then its on to size 14.. I can shop in normal stores?

I appreciate that. We all work hard here and encouragement is always a good thing. Congrats about your clothes fitting. One way to measure if your body is reshaping is by looking in the mirror. If your clothes are loose and you can move easier in them then you are losing something. Clothes never lie. They either reveal you are eating too much or working hard to get the pounds off and the shape a curvin' Good for your pugs

[HexaTheAmazon]

Originally Posted by paulabob

Yesterday was my day for caving...finished off my lowcarb cheesecake. Exceeded my Up Day calories by 1200.

3.4 pounds above my low. Tired of being a yo-yo!

I know how hard it is to stick to it with you feeding little ones all the time.

You are very strong. If I had kids I don't know what I would do. I would everything they eat.

[HexaTheAmazon]

Originally Posted by Violet_Dream

Mini - Good luck with your break.
Heather - this is a great board and a great bunch of women.
Cheryl - how were your loading days?

Hi to anyone I missed.

Hello Ladies! R3VLCD2 here and I'm down a whopping 3.4 and in virgin territory from my loading weight!!!

That is awesome. It is so exciting to be in virgin territory It really gives a person the encouragement to continue forward. Congrats to you!!!

[HexaTheAmazon]

Originally Posted by minimonkey

Hexa -- Keep Melonie on a leash, would ya? She's running all around this thread wreaking havoc!!!

If this plan works to keep me maintaining (the Juddd/P3) I will try to stick it out for a couple of weeks. If it doesn't, I am heading back for p2, and kicking it into high gear.

I hate how neurotic I get when I get close to goal - this seems to happen to me regularly. I don't know how much of it is physical, and how much is psychological, but I don't like it!

Let me know how it is going. If our interruptions are not going well then, I will start P2 again with you. Mine will not be long because of the training but I would like to lose a little more

I told you about Melonie. I am making her suffer though. Worked out six days last week and did weight training this morning. I am beat

[Gremom]

Originally Posted by HexaTheAmazon

Clothes never lie. They either reveal you are eating too much or working hard to get the pounds off and the shape a curvin'

Love this! So very true!

Cheryl, hope you feel better!

Violet, Rock on with yo' bad self!! KUTGW! I, too drink a lot of water, but other than 1 cup of coffee/day, that is all I drink. I try to stay just under a gallon.

Disney and Cat, just keep your eyes forward. Yesterday is old news! Just keep going. We all have those days. And trust me, that was the last 3 days for me. Today is a fresh start as is tomorrow.

Mini, thanks for the tip for the pellets. I took 4 this afternoon and that seemed to do the trick. My cravings were way down.

[Violet_Dream]

Originally Posted by HexaTheAmazon

That is awesome. It is so exciting to be in virgin territory It really gives a person the encouragement to continue forward. Congrats to you!!!

Thank you! Congrats to you too!

Originally Posted by Gremom

Violet, Rock on with yo' bad self!! KUTGW! I, too drink a lot of water, but other than 1 cup of coffee/day, that is all I drink. I try to stay just under a gallon.

That is a good rule of thumb. A gallon is a good amount to drink, but I've been obsessing and telling myself that the more I drink, the faster I'll lose. I need to stop flooding my poor system.

Has anyone had any blood work done since you've embarked on this amazing hcg journey? When I go for a physical early next year, I'm going to have a full blood panel done and am looking forward to seeing my doctor's jaw hit the floor as well (the last time she saw me I was 225.6).

[CherylB]

Stephanie, it's funny you just asked about blood work. I was going to ask you if you are ever low in sodium or calcium or other levels (from being so hydrated from all that water you drink.) "Too much of a good thing" is never good. I like to drink water too, and in all honesty, I need to shift from coffee back to pure water this round. I will take in much less Ez Sweetz that way and that's got to be a good thing.

And WTG on the VT! That is exactly what I need to get back to in order to feel "on top" again. All these months I've been "dorking" around with the 60's and even 70's when I had regained some. It's really taken the wind out of my sails. I have to hunker down and just get to the next level. I have to do this for me; for my sanity and my happiness quotient.

[Violet_Dream]

Originally Posted by CherylB

Stephanie, it's funny you just asked about blood work. I was going to ask you if you are ever low in sodium or calcium or other levels (from being so hydrated from all that water you drink.) "Too much of a good thing" is never good. I like to drink water too, and in all honesty, I need to shift from coffee back to pure water this round. I will take in much less Ez Sweetz that way and that's got to be a good thing.

And WTG on the VT! That is exactly what I need to get back to in order to feel "on top" again. All these months I've been "dorking" around with the 60's and even 70's when I had regained some. It's really taken the wind out of my sails. I have to hunker down and just get to the next level. I have to do this for me; for my sanity and my happiness quotient.

You must've been reading my mind Cheryl - because today especially (other days too) I felt "off." TOM is about to start, but I felt a little "shaky" and know it's not from the VLCD, but too much water. So, I did cut the water back to one gallon and may cut it back even more (the site I use says I only need 86 ounces for my current weight and no exercise). Today, I splurged and the only off protocol thing I had was some non-dairy cream in my third cup of coffee. I'm amazed at the size of my first day loss (bigger than the other two rounds). Are you feeling better? I used Truvia my first round, but am not using any artificial sweeteners at all this round or the last one. Thanks for asking about the sodium, calcium or other levels and stating that "too much of a good thing" isn't always good. You're exactly right. I'm glad I can stay here with all of you wonderful ladies. This thread is so much better than the other ones!

[DisneyPrincess]

Originally Posted by HexaTheAmazon

Don't worry about it. You exercise and run, just run it off. Your body was craving it for some reason. Now that you've eaten it just work it off. Make a fair exchange.

Yup, I'm doing a metabolic workout tomorrow so I can use up some of the carbs I ate today.

Originally Posted by HexaTheAmazon

You are very strong. If I had kids I don't know what I would do. I would everything they eat.

You'd make them foods you would eat, that's what I do. My son or my daycare kids have nothing I wouldn't have. My son gets a nutri grain bar in the evenings because he loves them, that's his idea of a great

Originally Posted by CherylB

Stephanie, it's funny you just asked about blood work. I was going to ask you if you are ever low in sodium or calcium or other levels (from being so hydrated from all that water you drink.) "Too much of a good thing" is never good. I like to drink water too, and in all honesty, I need to shift from coffee back to pure water this round. I will take in much less Ez Sweetz that way and that's got to be a good thing.

And WTG on the VT! That is exactly what I need to get back to in order to feel "on top" again. All these months I've been "dorking" around with the 60's and even 70's when I had regained some. It's really taken the wind out of my sails. I have to hunker down and just get to the next level. I have to do this for me; for my sanity and my happiness quotient.

Me too. I n red to slip under 110 to feel accomplished! Let's do this

I'm debating about weighing tomorrow. I have to get up way early to workout so it may be skewed anyways, but seeing the # go down usually helps. Guess ill decide when I wake up

[robinkay]

I would like to join this group. I started hHcg on Sunday 11/27. I do not do the eating protocol, I do low carb/low calorie. I have also started an exercise problem using The Firm.

P2VLCD 1: 208.4
P2VLCD 2: 205.0

[Gremom]

Robin!! Glad to have you here with us! Nice loss so far!

[DisneyPrincess]

Originally Posted by Robin1960

I would like to join this group. I started hHcg on Sunday 11/27. I do not do the eating protocol, I do low carb/low calorie. I have also started an exercise problem using The Firm.

P2VLCD 1: 208.4
P2VLCD 2: 205.0

Welcome and best of luck!!

[star a.d.]

Originally Posted by minimonkey

Star --

Good luck with your pellet-free days -- mine were a breeze this time for some odd reason -- and I hope yours are too!

It'll be great to have a p3 buddy! ( I am already feeling anxious about the decision, so I suspect I'll need talking off a few ledges even during this short interruption....)

thank you! I'm really hoping they will be, but certainly have my doubts.

and yes! I'm actually really excited to move to p3! but I'm not clear on calorie counts at that point. I know it's low carb, and that's all I know for certain.

[Violet_Dream]

Originally Posted by Robin1960

I would like to join this group. I started hHcg on Sunday 11/27. I do not do the eating protocol, I do low carb/low calorie. I have also started an exercise problem using The Firm.

P2VLCD 1: 208.4
P2VLCD 2: 205.0

Robin and much success to you! Congratulations on your losses so far. We have a great bunch of women here.

[minimonkey]

Okay ladies...I'm just not in this p3 groove -- so I'm changing course after all.

I turned today into a re-feed day -- and it'll be a one day deal. It was P3 legal food, but I ate a lot of it -- and that is going to be all there is to this interruption. I made that decision consciously ... when I realized I didn't want to continue p3, I decided to make today a re-feed.

Tomorrow I am restarting the pellets, and restarting p2. I've got too much going on in my life to be worrying about trying to balance p3 at the moment -- so I am not going to try. It's adding to the anxiety rather than decreasing it.

I have no intention of getting on the scale for a few days after today -- hopefully the overall damage will be somewhat minimal, given that I had the pellets out of my system.... but I don't plan to weigh until maybe Sunday, at which point I will have several days of p2 under my belt again.

Maybe this will be beneficial in the long run, either psychologically or in terms of metabolism... one thing is clear, though -- eating is not making me feel any better about all the rest of the stresses I am facing.

So -- I guess I got the uncertainty out of my system, and answered my own question -- I don't want to do a p3 right now.

Refeed over, interruption over, pellets and p2 will resume tomorrow.

[Violet_Dream]

That sounds like a great plan mini! I know what you mean about P3 - this last round for me lasted 18 days and my first P3 was 20.

[minimonkey]

Welcome Robin!!! Glad to have you aboard!

Good luck with your p3, Star I hope you are feeling the love for it more than I was -- I just realized that I am not in a place to make major changes right now (hair, yes... eating, no!) -- so I am calling this a lesson learned.

I'm off to make coffee and tackle the real hurdle I need to face -- writing a large chunk of thesis for work-shopping tomorrow. I need to kick my academic work up a couple of notches for the next two weeks and try to finish this semester relatively strong.

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by HexaTheAmazon

You are very strong. If I had kids I don't know what I would do. I would everything they eat.

Hey, wait a minute! Aren't you the one who wants to adopt three kids? Better get this thing sorted out before adoption time!

Originally Posted by Violet_Dream

You must've been reading my mind Cheryl - because today especially (other days too) I felt "off." TOM is about to start, but I felt a little "shaky" and know it's not from the VLCD, but too much water. So, I did cut the water back to one gallon and may cut it back even more (the site I use says I only need 86 ounces for my current weight and no exercise). Today, I splurged and the only off protocol thing I had was some non-dairy cream in my third cup of coffee. I'm amazed at the size of my first day loss (bigger than the other two rounds). Are you feeling better? I used Truvia my first round, but am not using any artificial sweeteners at all this round or the last one. Thanks for asking about the sodium, calcium or other levels and stating that "too much of a good thing" isn't always good. You're exactly right. I'm glad I can stay here with all of you wonderful ladies. This thread is so much better than the other ones!

I went to that website you provided the link for and I don't know about that. Seems a little too "perfect." I don't think you have to take in all those variables to determine how much water you should be drinking. But if you have a tremendous thirst, see your Dr. That can be a sign of "Diabetes Insipidous."

I am feeling better! Thanks for asking and thanks to all those who sent me a hug. They did their magic and I'm feeling much closer to normal. I'm over the hump!

And I agree! This thread

Originally Posted by DisneyPrincess

Yup, I'm doing a metabolic workout tomorrow so I can use up some of the carbs I ate today.

You'd make them foods you would eat, that's what I do. My son or my daycare kids have nothing I wouldn't have. My son gets a nutri grain bar in the evenings because he loves them, that's his idea of a great

Me too. I n red to slip under 110 to feel accomplished! Let's do this

I'm debating about weighing tomorrow. I have to get up way early to workout so it may be skewed anyways, but seeing the # go down usually helps. Guess ill decide when I wake up

Okay, DP. Let's get this show on the road! Let's have the dust and dirt flying through the air from our tires as they go squeeling down the strip! I feel the need. The need for speed! (A little Top Gun humor.)

Originally Posted by Robin1960

I would like to join this group. I started hHcg on Sunday 11/27. I do not do the eating protocol, I do low carb/low calorie. I have also started an exercise problem using The Firm.

P2VLCD 1: 208.4
P2VLCD 2: 205.0

Robin! I have a big sis named Robin so you must be okay. It will be interesting to see how you do on HCG with just doing a LC/Low cal diet. Many many many people will want to see how you do. (Including me!) Are you on drops, pellets or shots? How are you doing as far as hunger goes? Good luck with starting to exercise but if you find your losses are too slow, you might want to wait until you've lost more weight before you incorporate exercise. Dr Simeon said if it was something your body was used to, keep doing it. But don't start something strenuous during this time.

Then again, you aren't doing Simeons so see how it works and then give us the full report!

I'm going to seriously miss the cream in my coffee again. That's why I'm thinking it might be better to just go back to water for a while. Once the old tastebuds are spoiled, they throw tantrums when you take things away again. Poor babies! Suffer! You're not the boss of me!

** Go, Mini! Go, Mini! **

[DisneyPrincess]

Looks like a lot of us are kind of just restarting. Cool! Let's do this

I'll be up at 5am for a workout. Hope I don't die by mid morning and want to strangle 6 kids!

[Violet_Dream]

Originally Posted by CherylB

I went to that website you provided the link for and I don't know about that. Seems a little too "perfect." I don't think you have to take in all those variables to determine how much water you should be drinking. But if you have a tremendous thirst, see your Dr. That can be a sign of "Diabetes Insipidous."

The funny thing is I don't have thirst - all these years I've been making myself drink all this water because I actually believed it helped with my weight.

[CherylB]

Yeah. Who knows!? Just don't float away and go by how you feel and what your lab work says. Otherwise, keep on keepin' on!

DP, that's an awfully early wake up call. If the run will keep you from strangling kids, then run your @$$ off!

I was just looking back over the months and it's depressing how I've lost focus. I've been in the 160's (give or take) since June 29th. I've been setting my life in order so that I can live amongst all those who are not following my plan of eating. All this time I've been trying to live "in the real world."

I had even planned out my refeed days this last round to coincide with Christmas Eve and or Christmas Day. Now my sister found out her son won't be flying into CT until the day AFTER Christmas, so any family dinner events she throws will be AFTER Christmas, which is when I thought I'd be in my last week of VLCD.

I can't plan my life around family goings-on any longer! I just can't! It's standing between me and what I want and it's STUPID! This is one major wake-up call and I'm thankful to finally be able to see what this way of thinking has cost me.

And to top it all off, the food isn't that great! Thanksgiving was just reams and reams of food and the things I liked the most were the crescent rolls (the kind you whack on the counter to open the package) and the stuffing and gravy. So why do I feel I have to go completely off plan for something like that? It makes no sense. Not anymore, it doesn't!

My sister has been making headway all these months, because she just counts calories and exercises. So a special occasion just means eating less the day before and day after and being careful during "the event." I can't do that, or I'd be doing the same plan. For me, it's either "I'm on-plan or off plan." I hate that so much! But for as long as I'm trying to get this weight off, that is how it's going to be.

I've gone off-plan long enough. Now, I'm just going to set my sights on where I am going and I'm not going to deviate. I don't care what anyone has to say or think about it. It's getting done, and it's going to be done before the New Year arrives.

Case Closed!

[HexaTheAmazon]

Originally Posted by DisneyPrincess

Yup, I'm doing a metabolic workout tomorrow so I can use up some of the carbs I ate today.


You'd make them foods you would eat, that's what I do. My son or my daycare kids have nothing I wouldn't have. My son gets a nutri grain bar in the evenings because he loves them, that's his idea of a great

You are on point. Wow, that means no sodas, no processed sweets, only homemade deserts, no candies. Oh, they are going to hate both of us. You for making the suggestion and me for thinking it's a good idea and carrying it out

But really, that is an excellent idea

[DisneyPrincess]

Originally Posted by HexaTheAmazon

You are on point. Wow, that means no sodas, no processed sweets, only homemade deserts, no candies. Oh, they are going to hate both of us. You for making the suggestion and me for thinking it's a good idea and carrying it out

But really, that is an excellent idea

lol lol. I won't say that my son doesn't have any of that, but it's rare. The only thing he gets often is the nutri grain bars and he gets little dum dum suckers maybe 2-3 times a week. He prefers vegetables to fruits and would much rather have an apple or orange as a snack than chocolate. He's eaten that way since he's been in my womb

Cheryl- I could have written your post. Finally after my marathon I got fed up and I told Dh. I can't do this plan with the dinners I cook for him and my son, it's so hard for me. So I told him I'll prepare dinner but I'm not eating it. He was a bit upset at first but I told him this isn't forever, it's just for now. All this is just for NOW. You can do this!

Tired, going to bed. P90x at 5am is sounding brutal right now!! Pray for me