The Breaking-Free Round--VLCD 1 on 5/14 Join Me! :)

[minimonkey]

Afternoon, everyone! I just woke up -- we had a late night, and I find that without a daytime schedule, i become nocturnal very quickly.

I woke up hungry, and craving fat I had my egg/chocolate concoction, and added just a tiny smidge of MCT oil in it -- I am hoping that helps. I also had a ton of cocoa powder in it.

I am at my most weak, dietarily, when I first wake up -- that is when my hunger and cravings are strongest. So, I made it though with just a tiny blip -- that's good!!!

I think this meal was a bit high on the cals, so I will be very diligent the rest of the day -- I will do mostly veggies, maybe a little bit of chicken on them for flavor.

I was tempted to get on the scale, but decided to wait. Mirror says I am in the 113-114 range, though I know that on protocol, looks can deceive at times, since lbs and inches come off at wonky rates comparative to one another.

It's day 6, and I can do this. I may not be enjoying it much, but it IS working, and that is what matters right now.

[minimonkey]

Nice scale drops, everyone!!!! Whoohoo!!

Dbunny -- lots of people have cycled successfully, and if you think you can get your head back in the game when you restart, then I say go for it! The one real drawback I have seen in myself/others with cycling is that later rounds tend to go more slowly, so keep that in mind.

[minimonkey]

Skinny --

I think having too many choices messes me up, too -- and I feel a certain imperative to eat on straight p3, so that I reset the metabolism and all that ....

JUDDD is appealing to me in a lot of ways, in the same way that intermittent fasting is -- you have the freedom to enjoy food without guilt, while still having a built in system of checks and balances -- I just hope I have it in me to do the down days correctly!

If it doesn't work, I'll try something else -- but a lot of former hcg-ers are doing JUDDD with amazing success, so I hope it works for me, as well.

[skinnywish]

wow, hard day today, very hungry....didn't exercise and maybe I should have. Gonna go head to a movie focus on something else other than my hunger. Maybe more water and tea

[minimonkey]

I was super hungry today too, Skinny -- I decided to do an IF-ing day, and ate all my calories within a two hour period from waking up (I had some chicken and veggies) -- now, I am not hungry, and I will fast until tomorrow morning.

Definitely, drinking liquid helps with hunger for me, so I hope that works for you.

I'm holding off on doing the fat fast until after I start weighing daily. I will save that for my emergency stall breaker -- which I will almost certainly need at some point, since I tend towards long stalls in p2. If I don't have a stall, then that's great -- but I will save the fat fast until I need it. I may also use it if my energy really starts tanking, or my mood does an utter and lasting nose-dive....

[skinnywish]

Mini - had some passion tea from starbucks, largest size I could get. Really helped. I too was like you, ate my chicken first thing this morning because I could feel the hunger. So by 2:00 pm I had all my fruits my and half my protein and vegies.....went to movie....which was a good diversion. Gonna cook my chicken and have some cabbage.

Mental game today for sure....keep my eye on the prize.

[minimonkey]

I ended up having an apple this evening -- hmph. It wasn't bad physical hunger, so much as just tanking energy -- but I am not going to stress it. I think I am coming in closer to 700 calories today than I am to 500 but so be it.

I'm mentally battling with this round a lot more than I am physically battling with it -- but I figure if I can stick it out, even on slightly rogue terms, that is a lot better than jumping ship.

I'll be ready to transition to JUDDD at the end of this, though! I've never done that for any length of time, and I am excited to see how it goes.

[minimonkey]

I will not break down and quit this p2. I will NOT break down and quit this p2!

Hungry tonight, and really not wanting to be doing this -- it is at least 75% mental, I think... though I am HATING the low fat. I think a fat fast may just have to happen.

Still planning on getting on the scale tomorrow -- really hoping to see something shy of 115. I think I started the round somewhere upwards of 120, based on my best guess....

I suppose I am in a zen enough place to accept whatever number I see -- maybe....

[minimonkey]

Um...maybe not, lol! I did a preliminary weigh tonight, with clothes, knowing that it would weigh heavy due to it being night, having lots of liquid in me, etc., not to mention being clothed... but I'm thinking I'm likely to see closer to 120 than 115 tomorrow, which is disheartening.

I ended my last round at 107, I think... and then embarked on the crazy work/sick a thon.... could I really have put on that much weight in such a short time? I seriously think I must have gained 20 lbs, in just two months -- and that was with eating low carb! I am now guessing I must have started the round somewhere around 125 - 128 (post-load). Scary!

Historically, I haven't seen much by way of scale losses until the second week of a round, so maybe this one is the same way. The inches are definitely coming off, though, and that is a huge blessing, and is what I am going to focus on.

It does make me think I may have to do a longer round, though, or be willing to accept a higher goal weight for the moment (110 would be okay for the time being) -- or both.

Or, maybe a huge miracle will happen, and I will start dropping lbs like crazy ... that could also happen, I suppose.

Note to self -- weigh every day for the rest of your life, and make corrections immediately, so this never happens again!!

[skinnywish]

Originally Posted by minimonkey

Note to self -- weigh every day for the rest of your life, and make corrections immediately, so this never happens again!!

I can agree with this statement. I get in trouble when I don't weigh, I get in trouble when I don't correct. I get in trouble when I give up.

Today was down .5, working through hunger yesterday was good, and it wasn't even bad or real hunger. I think I was bored. All my friends are off on trips right now, some in Cancun, some in Hawaii, another in Palm Springs. Think because all I had to do was work, and I was tired of the routine......I think the hunger set in as something to do, as the other alternative instead of work.....old behaviors.

Glad I diverted my focus and went to movie. Today I need to put in a couple hours. But maybe my head is on straight and I will be okay.

[TerriMM]

Big for a happy weigh in Mini. You know that dropping inches is the most important, that's really what it's all about. But a nice # always brings a and mood sunshine.

Little worried this morning. Went to Carl's Jr. yesterday, we drive on the weekends all the time. I got a Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich, lettuce wrap with no cheese or sauce and then instead of ripping each other's heads off DH is doing P2 too; we picked up a bottle of wine. I had a glass, he had two. We were both down today

I was very tired again yesterday. I'm beginning to see a pattern that the day after exercise I'm more tired. Will check it out tomorrow as today is exercise day. Of course yesterday I'm sure the wine didn't help. One glass and wow, cheap date.

[dawnyama]

Well, if anyone is following my day to day saga---we had 6 fire trucks in our cul de sac yesterday. Someone set a fire in the woods behind on of our houses, our 13 yr old son called DH to let him know, and off DH went with the phone to call 911. Thank God my son had the sense to call home and let us know what was going on, instead of just walking away. But still was not a great thing for them to do. Crazy day I tell ya. The boy who started the fire is/was our son's friend (our DS is now banned from playing with him) and thankfully he admitted his part to the firefighters when they got there. So my son is in the clear, however they have my DH's name because his mom was no where to be found all day long yesterday. Talk about stress city. Let's just say I am so glad I stopped the drops on Friday LOL. P3 for me today!!! Yeah to bacon!! I will do straight P3 this week....have the holiday and DD's graduation to get through and then next week will attempt JUDDD. I hope I can lose weight with it, so I don't have to do hcg again. But I can always "fall back" to hcg.

Nice to see so many drops on the scale over here! You ladies are doing really, really well.

[TerriMM]

You can totally do this Mini. You only have two weeks to go with the hardest week behind you. You can do anything for two weeks. And you're already feeling the rewards.

[minimonkey]

Well, scale faced: 117.8

I'm content to take 110 as a stopping point this round, unless by some miracle I can get lower without utter misery -- and I think 110 is do-able. I'd need to average 4 lbs a week to do it with a short round, though .. so I may be extending this infernal thing beyond the 23 days. I have a party to navigate on June 9th -- if I am going for a longer round, I may make that a slight deviation day, so I can have a drink or two. If it looks like I'll be going the short round, I'll just drink mineral water and tough it out.

As long as there is dancing, I am good to go. I'd rather dance than eat or drink any day! I just hope there isn't obligatory food involved -- it's an engagement party, but it is at a bar, and I think it is likely pretty chill that way.

I do have to say: I am more compact at this weight than I have been in times past, so the muscle gain is making itself evident. I may end up being fairly content with the way I look at 110, though I doubt it -- I really like it best when I am extremely lean.

[minimonkey]

Dawn! Hugs! What a mess -- I am so sorry for all your stresses. Good for your DS for calling your DH... maybe he is starting to get on the right track now!

I applaud you for your decision to move to p3 -- that will make your life so much easier for the time being.

Have you done JUDDD before? How did it treat you?

I am super interested in giving it a try!

[minimonkey]

Thanks for the kind words, as always, Terri. You are a much needed cheerleader for me this round, and I greatly appreciate it.

I hope you are right about the first week being the hardest. I've had rounds where that was true, and rounds where it got infinitely harder as the weeks went by -- so I am hoping it does get easier from here.

Nice scale drop Skinny! I love it when the rewards of hanging tough are so tangible.

[dawnyama]

Mini--that is great that you have a number now. You can do this!!! Absolutely do-able. You are so determined.

I have never attempted JUDDD, but have seen so many hcgers be so successful at it I want to give it a go. I figure I know what 500 calories is, so that is half the battle! The other side should be easy for me to do too! We shall see how it turns out for me.

[minimonkey]

I have been encouraged by the results of other hcg-ers on JUDDD too, Dawn. It doesn't work for everyone -- Paula and Julie both did it, and neither had stellar results -- but others certainly have.

I'll be jumping on the JUDDD wagon for p3 this time -- so we can do this together. I like the idea of JUDDD a lot, and I think it may be just the thing my metabolism needs. I suspect you may do very well on it!

Yes, it is nice to have a number, and not be fearing that anymore. I don't happen to love that number, but I've seen worse....

I'll trudge through this last portion of the round, whether I am hating it or not -- and hope it gets me near where I want to be. Two more weeks is not that long, and after that, I can stop at any point for a maintenance break.

I can live with 110 as the top of my window -- it doesn't thrill me, but I can certainly live with it.

[minimonkey]

I decided to rogue it up today with the p2 -- I was HUNGRY! So, I am dropping the fruit, and adding protein and fat (eggs, a bit of MCT oil) up to about 850 calories total. I ate in a window from about 9 am to 1 pm... and am fasting for the rest of the day.

I guess it isn't ALL that rogue as things go (we roguers can get pretty wildly rogue sometimes, lol!), but I have been trying to do this close to protocol, so it seems like a big deviation -- hoping that helps me no have to fight this round quite so hard. In rounds past, doing a day like this every so often has helped keep the losses rolling, and has seemed to help rather than hurt matters.

I was getting very sorely tempted to jump ship entirely on this p2, so I decided to try this and see if it helps the hunger and the dragged out feeling. I thought this might be a better option than a fat fast -- we will see what the scale has to say in a couple of days.

[minimonkey]

I was doing some minor cleaning and organizing (during breaks from grading) and found that I have two left-over days of the best-ever psyllium/bentonite cleanse! So, I think I am going to do it .... it is best done completely fasted.

I will do the first dose tonight, and then do the next two days of it fully fasted -- lemon/vinegar water and tea only, and minimal supplements (and limited coffee, which I never fully quit, even while cleansing).

I figure this is best done while on p2. I've been doing the oxygen cleansing along with the p2 anyhow, but the psyllium/bentonite will kick it up a much-needed notch, and maybe I will drop a pound or two in the process, though that isn't the main goal with a cleanse.

Speaking of cleansing, I am doing some major cleaning/purging of the house, and boy does that ever feel good! Once I am done grading, I will launch into that full force, which will feel wonderful.

I also need to do some emotional housecleaning. Funny how all this stuff comes together when on p2, if one has the time to devote to it. Now, if only I could dump the extra 13-ish pounds into the goodwill pile, along with the other things I don't need, I'd really be in business...lol!

After the cleanse is over, I'll resume p2 on protocol, and see how it goes. I am pretty determined to see this round through in some fashion, despite the ever-so-strong desire to quit that crops up from time to time.

Today is going much more easily, due to the added fat and protein ... boy-ee does that ever make a difference! If that is what I have to do to get through the rest of the round, then so be it -- though I will give one more good attempt at protocol first, following the fast.

[minimonkey]

I take back everything I said about today being easier -- I am now hungry and miserable. I have no idea why my body and mind are fighting this round so badly, but they surely are I am so tempted to just jump ship on this round altogether -- do the 72 hours, and call it p3.. but that isn't what I really want to do, I don't think.

I'm hoping the fasting helps -- sometimes it does (I am a pretty experienced faster.) I am probably going to tweak the hcg dose a bit and see if that helps, too -- but at this rate, it is really going to be a big challenge to get through the minimum round, much less consider extending it.

This is real hunger, too -- not head hunger -- and that is WITH having upped the calories and fat. Harrumph.

I'll stay the course tonight, and see how I feel (and what the scale says) in the morning. Maybe the hunger will go away, and it will get easier.

I am not a quitter by nature, so this kind of waffling is really rare for me. In the mean time, I am going to have another cup of tea....

[skinnywish]

Dawn - glad to see you are still posting and have a plan. Isn't that half the battle. Wow, to stay on plan with all the family stuff going on is even better!! Pat yourself on the back

Mini your energy astounds me....always an interesting read...

Terri - I agree I think I am tired as well the next day following exercise, and after a week of exercising everyday, I found I needed a break. haven't for the past two days, but now I crave it and will go to gym tomorrow. Had a sore toe - maybe my shoes.

It was great to come online and see everyone posting through a holiday weekend.

.

[minimonkey]

LOL. Skinny -- you should see me when I am not so depleted -- I've been told I could power a small country if someone could take my energy levels and use them that way!

I figure life is really too short to waste any portion of it, so I pack in as much living as I can -- and try to experience life as fully as possible, ups and downs alike.

I totally caved to hunger tonight -- but as caving in goes, it wasn't bad... I ate two bowls of veggies. Off protocol veggies, admittedly (green beans, brussel sprouts, and mushrooms) -- but a lot of full belly for relatively few calories. I actually feel worlds better (physically) for having done so, and I am not going to let it get me down.

I do still plan to fast tomorrow and the next day -- and that should be sufficient to allow for a decent, if short, cleanse. I'll consider tonight's meal a pre-cleanse dose of extra fiber, and move forward from there.

I am bleary eyed from grading -- hence the frequent posts today, as I take little breaks from reading papers. My students really knocked my socks off this term ... very smart, creative, engaged people, who put a lot of thought and effort into their final papers. They are a delight to read ... but there are 220 of them, and no matter how great they are, that is still a lot of work.

[skinnywish]

I have a question about mineral oil. They say we can use it, if our skin is dry - my legs sometimes really need the help. Will mineral oil slow down your loss?

Wow, down 2.1 this morning.....can't imagine what switch got flipped, but I'll take the loss. Maybe it was the coffee. I had black coffee yesterday, thinking it would help me want to sit at my desk and work....NOT. Not that the coffee didn't give me energy,I mean after not having any for 13 days it was like a shot of speed, its just that for some reason I didn't want to work so I decided to take another day off and read a book and get some sun.

Terri, you are right, its the inches we are after. So far I haven't noticed a big difference other than the puffiness going down.

Mini, I think it was something you wrote a long time ago about sugar causing inflammation. I could be wrong...it might have just been inflammation in general. Spoke with a friend of mine over the weekend and she's a fitness instructor who used to own her own gym and I told her about my doing HCG this time and thinking about staying on P3 through the maintenance round, never going to full P4 and then doing another bit of HCG. I told her I was thinking of the atkins protocol and she thought that was a great approach and very doable. She talked quite a bit about keeping sugar out of the diet in the future has it is a huge cause of inflammation......I thought that was interesting. I'll have to do some more reading on it.

She mentioned one of her favorite breakfasts is a protein drink with a fruit, spinach and sometimes some aloe. She said she drinks every morning.

I have another fit friend, who drinks a protein drink every morning. She's off in Maui with hubby and they both drink them and took their protein powder on their trip. Ok that's commitment. That's the gene I',m looking for!!!!!

[TerriMM]

[QUOTE=skinnywish;15684775]Wow, down 2.1 this morning.....can't imagine what switch got flipped, but I'll take the loss. Maybe it was the coffee. I had black coffee yesterday, thinking it would help me want to sit at my desk and work....NOT. Not that the coffee didn't give me energy,I mean after not having any for 13 days it was like a shot of speed, its just that for some reason I didn't want to work so I decided to take another day off and read a book and get some sun.

Terri, you are right, its the inches we are after. So far I haven't noticed a big difference other than the puffiness going down.

Mini, I think it was something you wrote a long time ago about sugar causing inflammation. I could be wrong...it might have just been inflammation in general. Spoke with a friend of mine over the weekend and she's a fitness instructor who used to own her own gym and I told her about my doing HCG this time and thinking about staying on P3 through the maintenance round, never going to full P4 and then doing another bit of HCG. I told her I was thinking of the atkins protocol and she thought that was a great approach and very doable. She talked quite a bit about keeping sugar out of the diet in the future has it is a huge cause of inflammation......I thought that was interesting. I'll have to do some more reading on it.

//QUOTE]

Woo Hoo Skinny!! Very nice drop!!

I'm totally buying the sugar/inflammation thing. Kept my calories real low yesterday because I was going to my sister's for dinner. Had a small piece of berry cobbler (total calories about 700 for the day) and boom up .80. I also think for me the white sugar and starch comb is killer. Sometimes I can get away with one or the other, but both together seem to be a killer for me.

[skinnywish]

Originally Posted by TerriMM

I'm totally buying the sugar/inflammation thing. Kept my calories real low yesterday because I was going to my sister's for dinner. Had a small piece of berry cobbler (total calories about 700 for the day) and boom up .80. I also think for me the white sugar and starch comb is killer. Sometimes I can get away with one or the other, but both together seem to be a killer for me.

I'm right there with you Terri, when I've done the protocol before and allowed myself just a touch deviation with sugar. I've gone up and worse I've had trouble getting back on track - like my hunger changes for a couple of days.

I did a search on the sugar/inflammation and it seems there is a lot of evidence out there. I guess I am trying to wrap my head around the changes I need to make in the future, to keep the weight off.

[skinnywish]

My friend the trainer just sent me an email, with the following, it couldn't have come at a better time. Its from her monthly email she sends out to all her friends and clients and it was titled "No More Chubby Days" It kind of struck a cord with me, because really that is what I want to achieve.....It was like her email was written for me. Its a bit long, but it has a good message or at least it did for me.

"Have you noticed a pattern?

You'll spend a couple of weeks eating clean, exercising and losing weight, but then the pendulum swings and you spend the next week or two indulging in your old unhealthy habits.

After enough chubby days you'll get back to your clean habits, and so the yo-yo goes.

It's time to stop this vicious cycle that never brings you all the way to your goal – keeping you comfortable enough, yet frustrated.

The good news is that your yo-yo days could be quickly and permanently turned off with this simple mindset change.

Find your reward in the process, not in the results.

When it comes to weight loss, we've been brainwashed to focus all of our efforts on the "results". Your desired result is the ideal body that you dream to have – it's your reason for passing on dessert and the image you hold in your mind as you toil through burpees and mountain climbers.

News flash: If you only find reward in the results, you're likely to fail.

What?!?

Think about it. Results are abstract.

Oh sure, you can picture it in your mind with crystal clarity, but what reach does that image have on you when you're lured into the drive thru?

Let's face it - future results are easy to lose focus on.

The Process: this is the act of working toward your goal – your meal plan, your exercise routine and your healthy life style choices.

If you had a map of where you are today (blue dot) and where you'll be when you reach your goal (red dot) the process is that black line connecting the two.

When all you're focused on to reinforce your journey is the promise of results, it's easy to wind up lost.

Finding Reward in the Process: Make a new habit of feeling rewarded after every day on your chosen path.

Completing your diet and exercise each day needs to become its own reward. Look down and applaud yourself for each step forward.

When you find reward in the process, the results will take care of themselves."

[minimonkey]

Sugars and grains are the two biggest offenders in terms of inflammation for most people -- wheat is probably the worst of the worst, but most grains can cause problems.

(I've been reading some portions of the book Wheat Belly -- don't have the book yet -- but man, wheat is some scary stuff the way it exists today!)

Diary causes inflammation in many people, too.

A truly anti-inflammatory diet requires diligence, but it is worth it, in my book. Systemic inflammation is an underlying agent in a lot of disease processes, and the more we can reduce it, the healthier we are.

Fruit sugars -- from fruit, not in the form of fructose sweeteners -- seem to be pretty safe as long as eaten in moderation. My body seems to do quite well with berries, apples, and melons -- Fruit is so high in enzymes and other nutrients, I find it worth the carbs to eat the low-glycemic varieties (plus, I love them!)

[minimonkey]

There are a lot of ways to fight inflammation with supplements, if anyone is interested. I had a doctor who addressed this with me when I was sick, and I've also done a lot of reading and researching on my own.

Obligatory disclaimer -- I am in no way a doctor, and nothing I say should be taken as medical advice!

[amylou]

hi girls!

Well after 4-1/2 weeks of working 15hr days/7 days week straight, my DH ended his work season this weekend. We ended up going out of town on a very rush last minute plan...I forgot my HCG, and was not good on eating without much time to plan. I feel crappy, am exhausted, and am not looking forward to the scale tomorrow

Another issue was that I was planning on being in P3 by June 14th when we go on an overnight rafting trip. They provide the meals so I wanted to be out of P2 by then, figuring at the very least I can do it low carb. But now if I restart P2 over again, with a fat fast load on my new drops, I won't be done with my round by then.

I'm so frustrated and discouraged with myself right now...getting ready for an early bed...will check in on you all in the morning.