New rogue hhcg/hcg thread for week of April 30, 2012

[CherylB]

Oh, No! It's new thread time! I'll have to take notes and comment on the new thread. Who's going to start it???? I'm not doing hhcg right now....

[minimonkey]

I vote for waiting to start a new thread -- this one is moving slowly, and there are finally some posts here!

The birds aren't a stressor, at all -- they bring me much more joy than I can say -- in that moment, I was thinking that I might not be able to care for them properly long term, though, and hence the contemplating re-homing them. If I ever do that, you know something is really, really wrong -- that was serious despair talking.

I'm a little cheerier now -- situation is just as bleak as before, but I am more rested and very close to being done with grading, meaning I will have some real time off.

I like working under SOME pressure, but not the kind that makes me gain 20 lbs out of thin air and cough up blood from pulling three or more all nighters a week, working physical labor for ten and twelve hour stretches, and still failing to do "enough work" in these people's eyes -- *&*&&&*** that!

I'm definitely healing, and the inches are coming off like gangbusters -- I don't have a true starting weight for this round, but I am guessing I've probably lost ten lbs or more already -- mostly in fluid!

I enjoyed my cleanse today -- and am doing it again tomorrow. Then back to p2 for a couple of days, and then a blessed fat fast is in the plans!

I'm hanging on for the minimum round this time, and very much doubting I will go longer than that ... I am seriously jonesing to get back in the gym... and JUDDD/p3 has that written ALL over it!
I

[minimonkey]

I think I am going to bite something of a bullet, and go get some of a lesser psyllium/bentonite cleanse at the health food store tomorrow. The one I am thinking of is a good cleanse, it just isn't as great as the one I love so much -- but it also costs a whole lot less, and it will get the job done.

If I continue this now, I can get in a full cleanse while on p2, accomplishing a lot in a short time.. and my body is loving this -- it is part of the ongoing project to heal my gut as completely as possible, and each time I have cleansed in the last 4 years has been easier, and has left my gut feeling progressively better --

So... I am going to do it, and go for a full seven to ten day cleanse, with the majority of it limiting my food intake to fruits and veggies. I still may throw in a day or two of fat fasting, on just coconut milk and oil, since those are really conducive to cleansing and help mediate any detox symptoms as well.

Sorry about the bowel talk...lol! I am a huge believer that ill health starts in the gut much of the time, and that healing the gut is imperative if one is ever to be healthy and well ... it has certainly been a huge factor in my recovery from Lyme and all the related problems.

Somehow, I have much less of a mental block to adhering to the cleansing diet than I do to calling it a p2... even though the cleansing diet is far more restrictive in many ways.... funny how we can play mind games with ourselves...lol! Whatever works, right?

[minimonkey]

WOW -- DOWN 2.2 lbs today! Thank you G-d!!!!!!!!

[goddesslynne]

Congrats, mini!! So, I decided I need to somehow muscle through a few more days of my plan. Night time is my worst time, so I just have to get through those few hours...

[minimonkey]

You can do it, Lynne! I am thinking lots of good thoughts for your success and a huge whoosh for you!!!

So -- I am going to order the Nerium today, and I am super excited to get going with that!

In order to get the most skincare bang for my chronological buck, I'm planning to do a TCA peel today -- I won't go super aggressive with it, but it will prepare my skin well for the addition of the Nerium -- and since I am doing a cleanse, I won't be scampering off anywhere in public for the next ten days, anyhow -- so this is the perfect time to do it.

My skin is threatening a break out, which is so common when I cleanse and/or do p2-- and maybe this will help nip it in the bud.

It feels good to be doing some repair work on this body of mine -- and wow does it ever need it after the abuse I heaped on it over the last couple of months!

[minimonkey]

OKAY!!!

Nerium ordered! TCA peel: in progress! I am on my way to gorgeous skin!

I did the peel on the whole face, the jawline, neck, and upper chest -- these are the same areas that I dermarolled, and the areas I plan to treat with the Nerium.

This will probably only be meaningful to Lynne, but I did a 25% all over, with two layers on the problem wrinkle areas, and three on the deep lines and super problem areas. With this, I barely frost in tiny places -- my skin is so adapted to TCA now.

I'll look a little wrinkly and beat up for a week or so, but this is still a pretty mild peel session for me. No pain to speak of, except a tiny sting for the first 30 seconds or so.

[goddesslynne]

I'm excited for us, mini!! Be sure to take.before pics!!

[minimonkey]

Are you taking your own before pics, or having someone do it for you?

I plan to use a 1mm dermaroller regularly throughout the process, which should just help the Nerium work better, I think.

I'm a bad case study, because I am combining treatments .. but I have very high hopes for this product.

I LOVE having a skincare buddy on here, who isn't the least bit put off when I go over my face with a mini-rototiller, or put various acids on my skin....lol!

Do you do peels on yourself? You probably told me that, but I don't remember....

[shelbyla]

Keep us posted on the Nerium experiment! As always, interested in the results you get!

[goddesslynne]

Mini, I'm a little lazy with the peels, I really need to do more! Even just the occasional single pass of TCA would be good for me. Do you follow yours with retinol? My understanding is that w/out it, even fairly agressive peels don't "peel" as much, making it nice for ongoing maintenance without so much down time.

Last peel I did was Dermaquest's Skin Brite Peel, and boy, did I peel!! Just as much as a Jessner's/TCA!! I need to do some dermarolling this week, too!!

Have you been Wellbox-ing lately? I think endermologie is such a great lymphatic drainage, it would probably be beneficial for your inflammation.

I'm going to take my own pics with my ipad and my phone, just to be sure I have a format I can send to her. I have high hopes, too!! If it can improve my neck and jawline, even a little, it will be worth it's weight in gold!!

[minimonkey]

I don't use retinol -- it thins the skin, and it hasn't been good for me long term.

I generally do intermittent glycolic/salicylic acid peels between the deeper TCA, and that is sufficient prep it seems. I do get some good deep peeling if I go aggressive -- usually a full week of the real uglies, and another flaky week -- I use coconut and emu oil (and sunscreen) for aftercare.

I need to get back to my wellbox. Grades are due tonight, so I will officially be on a break starting tomorrow, and that wellbox is coming right out! I have been skin brushing and using contouring gel, and that has been helping.

Shelby -- you will probably get daily skin updates here.. I love a good experiment!

[minimonkey]

How did the skin brite peel treat you in the long run?

I'm always up for new peeling adventures. I've never done a Jessener's --after I discovered TCA, I've stuck with that one.. but maybe I will give it a try, if I don't look 16 after the nerium, lol!

[RileyWorm]

popping in to say HELLO to all of you gals and very interested in all this skincare talk! following with interest!

[minimonkey]

Riley ! I've missed you!

So glad you are interested in the skin talk, too -- I can get pretty obsessive about skincare, and I may post your head right off, so beware!

It has paid off, though-- I am often mistaken for half my age, so something is working.

[goddesslynne]

Honestly, the Skin Brite peel was just o.k. I think I needed to do as directed: 3 peels 4 weeks apart, but I just did the one. I've never done just a Jessner's peel, only layered on top of 3 passes of TCA. The Jessner's I have is modified and also contains 2% Sal. This is at quite a low pH. I can get the % for you later, it's in one of my manuals. I also have a 20% sal, but it's at a higher pH, so not as dramatic even as the Jessner's.

[julieboolie]

Hey girls!! Glad to see you losing and doing so well!! I had a great weekend and did a really good job of resetting my metabolism/refeeding . It's good for you once in a while. Can't make that type of indulgence a lifestyle!! But it sure is fun for a few days .

Doing a GYCD today and will be sticking to LC until I'm back where I should be. Did a GREAT workout today too. I didn't weigh, but from experience I suspect 10lbs or so! I'll likely weigh tomorrow and see where I am. But, maintaining has it's ups and downs. All part of living at the new lower weight .

I'll try to post more often to keep up! Take care and keep plugging away!!

[minimonkey]

I think I've looked at a peel really similar to the one you are describing -- the Jessner's with salicylic added -- I thought it looked pretty good.

That TCA/Jessners combo is supposed to be dynamite, but with a lot of downtime.

I do find that regular peeling, less aggressively, gives better results -- the actual skin improvement comes in the healing phase, not from the peel itself, for the most part.

I really should do the salicylic/glycolic bi-phasic really regularly -- the sal. keeps the acne down for sure if I keep up on it.

Of course, once we have our Nerium, we'll never need any of these things ever again, lol!

[minimonkey]

Julie!!!!!!

Good for you for having a heck of a refeed! Sounds like you enjoyed it, and that is the best part of all Rock on with the workout too!

It is crazy to me that a body can put on that much weight so quickly, but mine surely did its share of that the last two months. The good news is that we are catching it now and correcting, in whatever form that takes.

I am going to be starting JUDDD at the end of this round. I know it didn't work out the greatest for you, or Paula, but it seems others have done wonderfully with it, and I want to try it. I'm determined to make recurring rounds of hcg a thing of the past -- I need to find a more sustainable way of controlling my weight. JUDDD with p3 foods sounds excellent as a starting place, and I will see if I can add some good carbs in from there and remain stable.

I will also be resuming workouts, slowly, this week, and working up to hitting the weights in earnest in p3. Man, I miss that more than I can say!

Even if I don't make goal this round, I may not extend it, or at least not for very long. I guess I will see when I am closer to reaching the end. I suspect I'd be better off doing another p2 entirely, after a break, than to drag this one on too long.

[RileyWorm]

Hi Mini! I could talk for hours about skin care also, but I've never done a peel or anything though I want to! I am anxiously awaiting a body wrap party on Friday night. I have heard (and seen) wonderful results from these so can't wait to check it out! They have wraps for your neck and face too...
I've just been maintaining for the most part - having to do one heck of a CD since I was up almost 5 pounds over Memorial Day Weekend - but down 3 already...fingers crossed for tomorrow....

[goddesslynne]

The Nerium does look like a miracle, doesn't it? I'm a little guilty of getting my hopes WAY up!!

Good job, Riley, getting 3 of the 5 off!! I'm sure the other 2 are close behind! I look forward to reading about your body wrap party. I do body wraps where I work, although I don't have a ton of faith in them. I'd love to be wrong!! Maybe I'm just using the wrong process. And, a NECK wrap??!!?? Sign me up!!

Mini, I think I might be with you on the JUDD. But, I doubt it will do anything for me but maintenance. If I can just get down to goal...I'm fairly sure my original target tade of 6/29 is out of the question, I just want to get as close as possible. I will be headed to P3 on 6/23 or 24, no matter what.

No whoosh today, but down .2 after an OP day yesterday. I will be OP today.

[RileyWorm]

Lynne, I have high hopes but not expecting a miracle. Though that would be nice! I am not sure of the process but I will let you know when I go on Friday. Apparently the results show up best 3 days after because I have to 'detox' (drink lots of water? I guess?) for 3 days afterwards.
Do you work at a salon/spa? I have never really had much faith in them either but we'll see...
Protein day today. Waiting impatiently to hear about a job....
Have a nice day everybody!

[goddesslynne]

Originally Posted by RileyWorm

Lynne, I have high hopes but not expecting a miracle. Though that would be nice! I am not sure of the process but I will let you know when I go on Friday. Apparently the results show up best 3 days after because I have to 'detox' (drink lots of water? I guess?) for 3 days afterwards.
Do you work at a salon/spa? I have never really had much faith in them either but we'll see...
Protein day today. Waiting impatiently to hear about a job....
Have a nice day everybody!

Hope it's great!! Yes, I'm an esthetician and massage therapist!!

[minimonkey]

Riley -- I bet you are talking about the It Works wraps, right? I am so eyeing those! I think a pack of those will be my reward for getting to goal.

I used the predecessor version (I think) back when it was just called "the applicator" -- and they did work --really quite well, actually.

I'm a bit put off by the aggressive pyramid marketing scheme behind the product, but I do think the product is a good one. They tighten the skin, and help drain out the lymph system and flush water from below the skin -- not in a dehydrating way, but in a "getting rid of stagnant fluid" kind of way.

[goddesslynne]

Originally Posted by minimonkey

Riley -- I bet you are talking about the It Works wraps, right? I am so eyeing those! I think a pack of those will be my reward for getting to goal.

I used the predecessor version (I think) back when it was just called "the applicator" -- and they did work --really quite well, actually.

I'm a bit put off by the aggressive pyramid marketing scheme behind the product, but I do think the product is a good one. They tighten the skin, and help drain out the lymph system and flush water from below the skin -- not in a dehydrating way, but in a "getting rid of stagnant fluid" kind of way.

off to google!!!

[minimonkey]

Lynne -- well, I am fully expecting a miracle from the Nerium, lol! The power of belief goes a long way

My loss from yesterday stuck, plus I am down another .2, so I'll take it! Glad it wasn't just a temporary down dip.

More of the same today -- fruit, veggies, cleanse. I added a T of MCT oil yesterday, and a T of coconut oil today -- I don't think that slows losses much for me, and the health benefits are worth it, particularly while cleansing (plus, I feel a lot better with even a tiny bit of fat in my diet.)

I think the cleanse is the one thing giving me the motivation to stick to this p2 -- the benefits of it are SO great (at least for my body) that it is absolutely worth sticking to a very limited diet or fasting for ten days to get them. I was planning to cleanse fully later in the summer, but now is the absolutely perfect time to do it.

I'm looking a little post-peel-mashup today, but nothing awful -- the expected crepey skin, one dark spot on the right crows-feet area, but certainly not as bad as after my first few TCA peels!

[minimonkey]

Lynne -- I am pretty sure the old "the applicator" product is now the current It Works wraps -- same basic pyramid marketing, same products, but a much less sexy approach to packaging and marketing.

I went searching for "the applicator" last year -- because I wanted to get them again -- and couldn't find them. They really were pretty darn effective, especially combined with other treatments.

[goddesslynne]

im confused by the wrap...it's just one square of stuff? I need to wrap my tummy, muffin top, love handles, thighs and upper arms. I would need about 10 of these things and an entire roll of saran wrap!!

the wrap I do at work is a seaweed wrap by Yon-ka. mix up the paste (smells like sushi) apply to the body and wrap firmly with moist ace bandages. then the client is laid in a plastic lined heating blanket to sweat for 45 minutes. take 'em out, wipe 'em down and they're good to go! It is mostly a detox wrap, but some clients love them for inch-loss. however, the results last only 24 to 36 hours.

[minimonkey]

The It Works products aren't actually wraps -- more like patches. They don't use compression the way traditional body wraps do.

They do work, though, or at least the old version did -- rather surprisingly well.

I have some of the Suddenly Slender clay wraps left over from having bought them a while back-- and I like those a lot for detox (they don't do a thing for inch loss that isn't temporary) -- but they leave the skin feeling great! Those, I do with saran wrap or ace bandages, more like the traditional wraps.

I've been meaning to use them again ---- I assume the clay stays good for a while.

[minimonkey]

Oh, and yes, I am thinking JUDDD for maintenance. I don't know how well I would lose on that --at least not being this close to goal. I do think it sounds sustainable for maintenance though -- and I am hoping it will help repair my metabolism.