Hcg Rogues and Alternatives 2/6/12

[catwalk]

Hi, all! Sorry for not posting earlier, things have been crazy. Thank you everyone for the warm welcome.

Popcorn: I still need to get that air popper, because I know popcorn fills me up. I looked at the smartpop and was worried it still had a lot of fat, even though it is allowed. I wonder if air might be better low fat. I'll measure for the calories, too.

I was starving last night, and I had almost 950 calories yesterday due to a double snack last night. The scale stayed the same, but I know why. Oh, well. Today, my hunger is down. I think coffee really helps and the days at the gym keep my hunger down, too. Maybe I will up my exercise.

Thanks for the green bean recipe, I need to order more of those marinades, too.

I had a canary growing up, but it wasn't tame. It was really loud, lol.

MiniMonkey, that protocol is working so well. Great job! I wish I had the willpower to stick to it.

I'll try to get back in tonight, otherwise I'll post again tomorrow. Good luck everyone!

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by Gremom

All of you complaining about burnt popcorn...that is the only way I like it! We have a mircrowave popper that I add coconut oil to and then the kernals. The butter and salt after cooking (burning). Total PERFECTION!!!

Erin, my cals were between 800-1200 because I was exercising too. I am not sure of the percentages, but my fat was the highest. I would say 50% fat, 30% protein and 20% carb if I had to guess. I wasn't as good about logging in my food at that time. It was an experiment and it paid off! Hope that helps.

Jackie, good luck on your juice fast. A friend of mine just did one and she loved it. Cheated at the end and felt sick as a dog though. So ease back into regular food at the end.

Wow! That sounds like a great plan. Especially eating that many cals. Glad it worked for you. I hate burned popcorn.

Originally Posted by DisneyPrincess

30 days!
Well I hope that means it gets easier as time goes by. That's what I've been reading

I'm starting with 5 days to test it out. Dh leaves the 17th for 5 weeks so I'm hoping to do a long stint with it.


Thanks. I'm not really doing it for weight loss- more for mind and body stuff

Okay. Well, I hope you gain whatever you are hoping to gain by doing it. Do you have a juicer? I just gave away the one I had. It was ancient and used to belong to my step father.

Originally Posted by catwalk

Hi, all! Sorry for not posting earlier, things have been crazy. Thank you everyone for the warm welcome.

Popcorn: I still need to get that air popper, because I know popcorn fills me up. I looked at the smartpop and was worried it still had a lot of fat, even though it is allowed. I wonder if air might be better low fat. I'll measure for the calories, too.

I was starving last night, and I had almost 950 calories yesterday due to a double snack last night. The scale stayed the same, but I know why. Oh, well. Today, my hunger is down. I think coffee really helps and the days at the gym keep my hunger down, too. Maybe I will up my exercise.

Thanks for the green bean recipe, I need to order more of those marinades, too.

I had a canary growing up, but it wasn't tame. It was really loud, lol.

MiniMonkey, that protocol is working so well. Great job! I wish I had the willpower to stick to it.

I'll try to get back in tonight, otherwise I'll post again tomorrow. Good luck everyone!

Don't worry about the fat in that smart pop popcorn bag. It never bothered me when I used to use it on P2. Canary's are very pretty. (And loud, apparently.)

[hikergurl]

Originally Posted by julieboolie

I live in Gilbert and our fam loves to hike. We're big Sedona fans!! How 'bout you? Glad to see a local here. Are you doing Rx? I'm gonna' use the pellets this round.

Hi Julie, we live in Mesa. We love to hike everywhere in Arizona, from Sierra Vista to Flagstaff to the White Mountains

I am doing Rx. I'd love to hear whether you're liking the pellets as I am seriously considering using those on a subsequent round.

[hikergurl]

Hey everyone, well I'm on R3D3 of the HCG 800-calorie protocol and things are going along just fine. I'm down 6 pounds. I'm really liking this protocol and hope the losses are going to be just as good as my first two rounds on the 500-calorie protocol.

My biggest challenge has been that I just don't think I was mentally quite prepared when I started this round. I still haven't even been on a full-out grocery shopping trip to stock up on the needed staples. I'm hoping to do that on Friday. But we're just going through a lot as a family right now (my dad is terminally ill, we are considering a move out of state, daughter/boyfriend issues, etc.) and it's just causing me to not be totally in the game mentally. But I'm determined to do at least 23 days and hopefully closer to 30.

A nice thing about this round is that I'm not going to completely obsess about making it to a certain number on the scale. I'm going to let my body do what it's going to do this time without freaking out over stalls or not getting down that last pound to goal. I've lost 39 pounds with HCG so far (although I did put back on about 3-5 before this round) and I'm just so happy with that. Now I'd like to drop maybe 10 more and hopefully be able to maintain that long-term.

Ok, that's my story. I'm happy to be back posting on LCF to have some accountability and support, and I look forward to getting to know you all.

[minimonkey]

Catwalk -- well, I am only on VLCD 2, so I hope I have the willpower to stick it out, too! I think I do -- I have invested in this round both financially and emotionally, and I think I may need a really clean round in order to stabilize.

I'm encouraged by the upfront loss -- that actually hasn't happened to me in a long time... my last few rounds I haven't seen a loss until the second week, so that may bode well for this one. I hope so!

In any event, I am going to give it my best shot to do it clean, clean, clean --- I hope I get the stellar results that others have.... if I do, it is well worth the temporary loading gain, and the effort of sticking to protocol.

[RileyWorm]

Welcome Hikergurl!

[minimonkey]

Hiker -- I am sorry to hear about your father and other life stresses -- that makes dieting a lot more challenging, for sure.

It sounds like you are going into this round with a good attitude. I am going to try to have the same one -- not freak about stalls, not obsess over a number, etc. We'll see how well that pans out for me...lol!

Being chill isn't necessarily my strong point....

[hikergurl]

Originally Posted by belfrybat

I found a really neat PDF file for P3 -- it is a three week chart that gradually takes you from 900 cal to 1600. I'm nowhere near P3 yet, but thought I'd try this system when I get there. I downloaded the pdf file and now can't find the original website it came from since the computer I found it on went belly up and is at the repair shop. If you are interested, PM me your e-mail addy and I'll send it to you.

Hey Belfrybat, I would LOVE that file! Unfortunately I tried to PM you and it said you couldn't accept PM's. Any other ideas?

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by hikergurl

Hey everyone, well I'm on R3D3 of the HCG 800-calorie protocol and things are going along just fine. I'm down 6 pounds. I'm really liking this protocol and hope the losses are going to be just as good as my first two rounds on the 500-calorie protocol.

My biggest challenge has been that I just don't think I was mentally quite prepared when I started this round. I still haven't even been on a full-out grocery shopping trip to stock up on the needed staples. I'm hoping to do that on Friday. But we're just going through a lot as a family right now (my dad is terminally ill, we are considering a move out of state, daughter/boyfriend issues, etc.) and it's just causing me to not be totally in the game mentally. But I'm determined to do at least 23 days and hopefully closer to 30.

A nice thing about this round is that I'm not going to completely obsess about making it to a certain number on the scale. I'm going to let my body do what it's going to do this time without freaking out over stalls or not getting down that last pound to goal. I've lost 39 pounds with HCG so far (although I did put back on about 3-5 before this round) and I'm just so happy with that. Now I'd like to drop maybe 10 more and hopefully be able to maintain that long-term.

Ok, that's my story. I'm happy to be back posting on LCF to have some accountability and support, and I look forward to getting to know you all.

I agree with Mini. You sound like you know what's ahead for you and you still feel confidant enough to begin the round, so WTG! Life can be so darn hard sometimes. I'm sorry about your father and hope that he doesn't suffer long. I was a hospice nurse. I hope that when the time finally comes, that he will choose to die comfortably and peacefully, at home if at all possible.

We're happy to have you with us. Best of luck with your P2!

Originally Posted by minimonkey

Catwalk -- well, I am only on VLCD 2, so I hope I have the willpower to stick it out, too! I think I do -- I have invested in this round both financially and emotionally, and I think I may need a really clean round in order to stabilize.

I'm encouraged by the upfront loss -- that actually hasn't happened to me in a long time... my last few rounds I haven't seen a loss until the second week, so that may bode well for this one. I hope so!

In any event, I am going to give it my best shot to do it clean, clean, clean --- I hope I get the stellar results that others have.... if I do, it is well worth the temporary loading gain, and the effort of sticking to protocol.

I didn't know that, Zoe. How annoying! Well, I'm so glad this round is off to a stellar start. Loading can be fun.

Originally Posted by minimonkey

Hiker -- I am sorry to hear about your father and other life stresses -- that makes dieting a lot more challenging, for sure.

It sounds like you are going into this round with a good attitude. I am going to try to have the same one -- not freak about stalls, not obsess over a number, etc. We'll see how well that pans out for me...lol!

Being chill isn't necessarily my strong point....

[minimonkey]

Cheryl -- your losses this round so far are stellar! Whoohoo!

I'd love to have a few good days of losses, to get me back in the ballpark of where I was last round (i.e. my stall weight!) We'll see how it goes. A little hunger this afternoon, but not a lot -- so far so good with the sticking to protocol.

I am, however, already freezing -- I know that is an hcg thing, and I had it all through my first round, so I know to expect it ... but it is one of my least favorite parts of a clean p2.

[catjrow3]

Originally Posted by minimonkey

Cheryl -- your losses this round so far are stellar! Whoohoo!

I'd love to have a few good days of losses, to get me back in the ballpark of where I was last round (i.e. my stall weight!) We'll see how it goes. A little hunger this afternoon, but not a lot -- so far so good with the sticking to protocol.

I am, however, already freezing -- I know that is an hcg thing, and I had it all through my first round, so I know to expect it ... but it is one of my least favorite parts of a clean p2.

I am freezing too Zoe, back on my injections and brrrr!!! Almost time for my nightly detox bath...so thats good!!

[julieboolie]

I'm hungry . Sorry, just wanted to share. Had my small steak for lunch, ate my apple, and drank tea and water. I'm doing chicken lettuce wraps for dinner. May throw a strawberry or 2 in for dessert later.

I seem to recall not being hungry on my middle 2 rounds. I do remember starving my first round. I think coffee in the mornings really helps, but I just can't drink it black.

Sorry, just wanted to share.

[minimonkey]

I'm sorry, Julie I remember one round where you had almost no hunger, but almost no losses either -- so maybe the hunger and the losses just go together. It's uncomfortable, though.

Sorry you don't like black coffee -- the protcol does allow for a tiny bit of milk, I think -- I prefer my coffee black, so I didn't really take note of what was allowed in that regard.

I'm thinking good thoughts for your hunger subsiding, and your losses being stellar all around!

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by minimonkey

Cheryl -- your losses this round so far are stellar! Whoohoo!

I'd love to have a few good days of losses, to get me back in the ballpark of where I was last round (i.e. my stall weight!) We'll see how it goes. A little hunger this afternoon, but not a lot -- so far so good with the sticking to protocol.

I am, however, already freezing -- I know that is an hcg thing, and I had it all through my first round, so I know to expect it ... but it is one of my least favorite parts of a clean p2.

Thanks, Mini! I hope you have an amazing round, too. I am thinking it is all the work I'm doing on the farm twice a week. I'm so used to being sedentary that it has to be a big jolt to my system. Whatever it is, I'm thankful.

I've been freezing too! It's been going on for a while now. It's tough to tell if it's just living in a house that is kept just bearably warm (to save money) or if it's the hhcg or if it's time to have my thyroid levels checked again and my meds tweaked. I'm going to call the Dr's office tomorrow and ask them to fax over the order for the lab work. The trouble is he's not an endo so I always have to ask him to order a Free T4. I think he usually orders a total T4.

And the last time I had my labs drawn, everything was out of whack. I'd forgotten totally about waiting 5 hours after taking Cytomel. I really need to see where I'm at in the chemistry department. My hands and feet feel like ice in the afternoons and I find myself clutching onto mugs of coffee and clinging to my hot pad. Even my nose is cold tonight!

Originally Posted by julieboolie

I'm hungry . Sorry, just wanted to share. Had my small steak for lunch, ate my apple, and drank tea and water. I'm doing chicken lettuce wraps for dinner. May throw a strawberry or 2 in for dessert later.

I seem to recall not being hungry on my middle 2 rounds. I do remember starving my first round. I think coffee in the mornings really helps, but I just can't drink it black.

Sorry, just wanted to share.

I hope it's just a hungry day and not going to be a hungry round. Hungry sucks.

[lunagirl704]

hikergurl...nice to meet you!

Cheryl- really- popcorn...never affected you?! I never tried, but I make those 100 cal bags for my kids and they split it...so 50 cals can't be that bad?!


Mini- so sorry you are cold...I am always cold too while dieting and dh is in shorts in 20 degree weather.


Does anyone watch The Middle? My kids love it! Goodnight all

[CherylB]

It didn't affect me when I was doing my first round (OWL version) but I sometimes had trouble limiting the number of bags I'd eat. I take sleeping meds and sometimes have "sleep eating" episodes.

This round I'm going completely grain-free.

[catjrow3]

Julie, sorry you are hungry. I have that problem sometimes too. I drink alot of coffee and drink a lot of water... if I can take my mind off the food, it helps, but my mind is my biggest problem!!

Today's foot picture. Green/purple toes, swelling is down some though, still around the ankle and up the leg and on the top of my foot, but not as bad as before!! Definitely need a pedicure! UGH!!

[CherylB]

You're on the mend, Cathy! It's looking much better.

[catjrow3]

Originally Posted by CherylB

You're on the mend, Cathy! It's looking much better.

[Sasseaux]

Cheryl, grats on the losses, Babe. You're doing great.

Zoe, way to go!

Cathy, foot is looking better. Dang that musta hurt!

All else - keep it up rah rah!

I'm about to go to bed so will report today's success! Despite being extremely hungry this a.m. I made it through. Hunger subsided as the day progressed. I think I was dehydrated and tried to drink a lot of tea all day - celestial seasonings kind.

I still measured my Dreamfields dry and then cooked it. (What a doofus). But I remembered before I ate it all that I was supposed to measure it cooked. So yay! I saved half for tomorrow.

Results: 584 calories!!!!!! 31 carbs (boo!!) who knew a can of green beans had 18 carbs? I always thought green beans were good on Atkins. that may explain a lot of failure. Sigh. Fat 7 grams (1 over the limit I had set), sugar 9 grams (again with green beans!! They had 4 grams of sugar!), Oh its probably a net carb thing because the green beans also had 14 grams fiber. Anyhoo. I don't beleive in net carbs, Call me a skeptic, but net carbs on Atkins means losing like 1/2 pound a month for me.

Anyway, I bet I lost today. Maybe a whole pound or more. We shall see in the a.m.

Measurements - I took them today. I don't have any "before" to compare them. I have misplaced by old measurment sheet from R1. I feel frustrated trying to take measurements because so much depends on where you put the tape and how tight you hold it, etc. So I will go more by clothes fit.

Ordered my board shorts and a tankini with matching shorts for the beach trip. I of course already own a variety of black tankinis and black one-pieces. I did my best to order per my measurements, but who knows by mail order?? At least they are mostly stretchy fabric.

Now I gotta find a serious waxing place. Serious. Waxing. You feel me?

[julieboolie]

Thanks guys. Feeling better now. Had dinner, and a few strawberries. Tea and water. I did have a coke zero too . I know it's not on protocol, but I think if Simeon was writing it currently he'd approve Splenda and Nutrasweet. Needed something to help me over the hump today.

Mini-you're right, and i hope the hunger is a good sign. I am glad you're losing. Hope this is a great round for you!!

Cheryl-I'm cold too. and I live in AZ!! Hope you keep losing this well!!

DP-good luck w/ the fast. I've fasted in the past and it was a very good experience. Very freeing from food.

I really don't like cooking for the fam while on P2. Dh is going away for the weekend which is good. My dd's are much easier to please. I can eat my food and make them something easy. Should be a safe weekend . They're the hardest.

[Sasseaux]

Wow Julie, you are so close to goal of 156! That's great. You have really lost a lot!!

Gratz and keep it up!!

[minimonkey]

Today was a breeze, all things considered. I ate most of my food, though I just had the one fruit, and that's fine. I've had almost no hunger -- what I did have was mild, and transient, for which I am thankful.

Very interested to see what the scale has to say in the morning..... sleep well, all!

[minimonkey]

Great job today, Sass -- keep it up! I hope you are well rewarded by the scale in the morning. Same goes for the rest of you -- whooshes all around, please....

[mdolph]

Cathy- what's in your detox bath? I do these often too. I use epson salt, baking soda, glycerin (sometimes) and ginger.

Ahhhh popcorn! I can do the 100 calorie bags and not burn them IF I stand there and watch it like a hawk. I prefer the coconut oil and fre kernals on the stove though. Anything to add some coconut oil to my diet!

Cheryl- our chickens could have cared less about their visitor! We handle our chickens quite a bit so they don't spook easy.

Mini- you're rocking protocol!

Hiker- welcome!

Sasseaux- I just ordered a bathing suit also! I got one with spanx and a miracle bra top. I hate bathing suits as I can't hide the saggy girls and extra skin, but this should help. LOL!

Luna- I live in Indiana so yeah, gotta watch the middle. Tonight's episode cracked me up!

Disney- goodluck with the juice fast!

So I nice littel drop on the scale. Made it to 140.2 today. Perhaps I'll get back under 140 for tomorrow! I havn't been there for awhile. I had a huge shock yesterday when I went to the bathroom and found that TOM had arrived. I really thought something was wrong with me, lol! Then I did the math and while yes it's early its not unusually early. I forget the hhcg takes away all my pms symptoms! Another little extra bonus. At least it explains the exhaustion I had the last 2 days. Perhaps today I will have some energy to run!

Have a great day ladies! I've got a full plate!

[paulabob]

Originally Posted by Sasseaux

Cheryl, its Tony Chachere's original creole seasoning.

I grew up here in north texas and it was always stocked in my mother's spice cabinet. DH & my son prefer "Slap Ya Mama", another cajun seasoning. It's also msg free.

Originally Posted by catwalk

I wonder if air might be better low fat. I'll measure for the calories, too.

Air is healthier (whether air pop machine or a microwable popper) because the microwave popcorn bags are coated with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and the butter flavor has diacetyl.

Originally Posted by julieboolie

I'm hungry .
Sorry, just wanted to share.

Back to my nov 5th weight (126)...waist back down to 30 inches. Now let's make some real progress!!!

[Sasseaux]

Melanie, Gratz on the loss and with TOM that is super great. I did order some Spanx bottoms, too. I'm usually a lot better after I get to the beach or waterpark and realize that non-catalogue people come in all shapes and sizes. But Spanx and miracle bras certainly can't hurt!!!

Yay - loss of exactly 2 pounds today. That was the last of my loading weight. VFT here I come!

EVERYBODY DANCE NOW dah dah, dah dah dah dah...Everybody everybody dance now....

Also, if my measurements are to be believed, since 1/11/12, I have lost 4 inches off my boobs, gained 3 inches in my waist and lost 2 inches off my hips. Maybe that's just the sagging of middle age. LOL. I think I did something wrong. LOL

[Gremom]

YAY SASS!!!! Dancing with ya!!! And the inches lost! AMAZING!! KUTGW!!

Melanie, glad to see that you are down today too! TOM came 4 days early for me yesterday and I was so annoyed, but whatever! HCG made my pms symptoms so much worse! Go figure! I need a bathing suit to hold up my girls too. Nursing the babes totally deflated them!

Mini, can't wait to hear how much you lost today!!

Paula, YAY!! Nice to see drops in the scale and inches!! Just keep going!

Julie, glad the hunger subsided and you got to feeling more in control. KUTGW!!

[Gremom]

Well, this morning and I hopped on the scale. Didn't want to since TOM is slowly starting, BUT....I was down 1.5lbs!! I was so freakin' happy! Did a little jig in the bathroom! The hard work (diet and exercise) is paying off!

I am on cloud 9 right now!

[DisneyPrincess]

Well I decided to hold off a day for the fast. I need more stuff so I'm going to go to the store this evening. I'm going to do 4 days, 1 meal out, then resume for as long as I can.