Well, it's a year later.....
 

And I'm even skinnier than I was last year!

Waa Hooo!

Among my dozen or so serious concerns was that I would not keep the weight off long term. I am very cautious, skeptical, cynical, and not a gambler by nature. So doing this diet was a big thing for me!

I also believe in "Big Picture Thinking." I had been on many diets where the weight would come off. But to KEEP it off? (And especially through the winter?)

Bottom line - if you change your thinking, (drop white flour, white sugar, etc), develop the healthy habits after you've lost, (one forkful of dessert), it'll stay off.

I think I can finally give away the old clothes. :-)


Anyone else?

Good for you! I kept the weight off when I did a round 4 years ago, but gained about half back this past year -- emotional eating, mainly. So, I know it's possible. Just have a wrap my mind around it for the long haul.

In December I started yo-yoing around. 3 or 4 pounds up, then down. My highest was 6 pounds over LDW, but I always went RIGHT to the CD.

But frankly, deep down, I didn't think it was possible. Heck, I couldn't even imagine the HCG working after everything else failed after the first ten pounds, with all my resistance issues.

I am still wrapping my head around this. It's so hard to believe. Most of the time I still see myself as a size 12, and I'm trying to fix that too.

I'd love to read more experiences like this.

~Red~

I started my hcg journey about 15 months ago. Like Red, I have been on LOTS of diets (LOTS! Cabbage soup anyone? :D ) and I really didn't think I would be able to keep this off long term. I've dropped 70 pounds or so since my highest in January 2011 and finished my second round, which was roughly goal, in May 2011. So a maintainer here :hiya: for just under a year. While my last round that got me those final 10 pounds down has been a bit of a challenge, I still weigh LESS than my driver's license says I do. :eek: :up: And I'm aiming to keep it that way!

I haven't been on program long (October 2011) but I will say I've learned so much. I have learned strategies to keep the weight off (CD anyone?). I don't feel deprived, except once in awhile on P2, and then not really.

For example, I baked today, experimenting with LC caramel cupcakes and I didn't even lick my fingers. I just ate lunch and it's 2:00 because I wasn't hungry. I'm in R3, P2 Day 6.

I had lost a bit on LC before I started, but I've lost 43 pounds since starting hcg. I used the strategies I learned and kept it off during Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's and Easter! WOOT! WOOT! I feel confident I can keep it off this time.

It's the cycle of lose/maintain and daily weighing that has made a huge difference for me!

Nicely into phase 4 and am starting to add back some carbs, tried some oatmeal yesterday and a few sweet potatoe oven fries today but am taking it very slowly.

I am hopeful that I will be posting the same thing a year from now. I certainly feel that my outlook on food has changed a lot in the last nine months.

Congrats for sure.