~~ Rogue/Alternative HCG/hHCG plans for week of 8.26.12~~

[goddesslynne]

Mini, I haven't been around for a while, but I want you to know that I do understand your commitment to your man. Mr. Goddess and I had some hard times, too, much of it having to do with his lack of employment. Although it was different reasons and circumstances, some of it had to do with his own avoidance tendencies. The huge anger and frustration challenged my love for him, but love won out!! I can't imagine my life without him! He accepts me as I am, and I him. I'm sending out many loving supportive vibes for you all!! p.s. I had to file BK in 1998, nothing to do with Mr. Goddess, it was a mess my ex-hubby left for me when he left the country. It was devastating for me at the time, but I got through it and so will you! Now I've dug myself a bit of a hole again, but I don't think I'll have to take that route again. It's much harder now, and I wish you the best of luck!!

[CherylB]

Thanks for sharing, Lynne. Glad you and hubby are going strong!

[minimonkey]

Plarsen -- My heart goes out to you over about the pet loss -- I know how devastating that can be!

Lynne -- nice to see you! Thanks for the supportive words. The bankruptcy laws have changed, but with an attorney's help, and having no assets to speak of and a low income, it's still a pretty good option -- better than the alternatives, anyhow. I just hope it all goes through without any hitches.

I'm up a smidge on the scale today, but I am assuming that is because TOM did appear in earnest, hormone replacement or no.... so, I'll stick to the plan, and hope to see some more nice losses next week. Scale notwithstanding, I am starting to see an inch loss already, and that is encouraging!

[CherylB]

Checking back in after a very busy and productive day! Did the gym: 16 minutes on the elliptical, then 15 minutes on the rowing machine. Then I did the Nautilus machines twice through, and followed up with two other machines in the other room where the "big boys" train.

Got home and made lunch. While eating it, Sissy (my dog) was on the treadmill (for just about an hour) and I was on the computer. I got an email from some guy interested in my vent-free propane woodstove. He came out two hours later and bought it, as well as a few other things I had! Now I'm more than $200 richer than I was this morning.

I ate my two protein meals and one orange, now I'm cooking my zukes and I'll go off to bed. I'm going to rest tomorrow until it's time to go do the farm stuff. I hope my arms can handle all the grooming after doing the weights today. Even when I haven't worked out the day before, grooming takes the stuffing right out of me. I like to do a good job and let the horses feel like they got a full-body scratching. Nothing better after being chewed on by flies all day.

So the only other large item I have left to sell is my entertainment center and there is a woman in my town who is interested. We shall see how it plays out.

I hope everyone is having a good night and I'll check in tomorrow with (hopefully) great scale news!!!

[pendragginp]

Plarsen, I so know just how you're feeling about your pets; I too lost my older dog last week. I'm grateful that he passed away here at home, just kind of slept himself away over the day. But to have your cat lost in that way too - I AM so sorry about both of them! VERY hard week!

Cheryl, WTG on selling your stuff and YAY to $200 richer! And don't worry about a just a smidge up.

I was down another lb this morning, happy happy joy joy! So now I am down into the new decade.
Getting ready to go to sleep. TTYL all, and everyone sleep tight. Happy September to us!

[CherylB]

WTG, Plum! Welcome to your new decade. Thanks for being happy for me, too.

I'm having some trouble falling asleep so I'm on here for a few minutes more. I'm sort of hungry and may go eat a piece of fruit. I hate going to bed with an empty stomach. Too much like deprivation to me. Just hope it doesn't mess up my scale morning.

Night, ladies. Hope all is well.

[minimonkey]

Whoohoo on selling things, Cheryl! Now they are out of your hair, and there's money to be used on things you need, too

Sorry to hear of the problems sleeping -- that often happens to me when on a round. Hope the fruit helps -- I doubt it will mess anything up, scale wise.

I hear you about the grooming -- it is quite a bit of work!

Plum -- excellent on the new decade!

I had TOM with a vengeance today, and was also really quite hungry for much of the afternoon. I ended up eating a bit more than planned, so I think I am coming in at about 1100 cals today, rather than the 800 I was shooting for....I'm not going to stress that, though .. I've lost reasonably well on rounds where I aimed for 1200 cals, and came in high sometimes... though I won't make a habit of it.

I'm pretty hesitant to ride out hunger too much at this point, after my disastrous rebounds the last couple of times I've done that.

I'm just hoping that as long as I keep calories relatively low, the losses will continue ... I don't really mind if they are on the slow side, so long as I keep losing steadily.

I do seem to be losing inches I noticed tonight that my warmup pants are feeling looser again -- they were pretty darn tight a couple of weeks ago, so that is truly encouraging.

Hoping the scale is kind in the morning... though with TOM here, who knows what it will have to say.

[plarsen]

OK--I missed something, what is TOM?? and Cheryl--could you tell me where you get your pellets>?

TIA--pat off to hot yoga, I love it! Up a pound but not surpirse there, cake and cake and beef, back on track this monday am. at least

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by CherylB

Pat (am I remembering your name right?), I can tell you I use Vox pellets but I can't tell you where I purchased them. It's against LCF rules. But if you google Vox pellets, you'll see a number of choices. Just shop and compare. I like free shipping so that played a part in my decision.

Hi, Pat. (Please correct me if I'm remembering your name wrong.) I wrote this reply to you on page 4 but I guess you missed it. In addition to what I wrote, I bought them a year and a half ago, so who knows who has the best deal now? Just shop around online. Vox is the brand so it makes no difference where you buy them.

Mini, I know it! So thankful to finally be liquidating some more of my assets. Foreclosure is a big enough loss without losing things inside that have value. Sorry about the TOM from hell (plarsen, TOM stands for "time of the month.") I hope the hungries settle down fast. I think if you are hungry, eat something that is on your plan. I did that my hungry day and I lost nicely the day after.

I made my 10 lbs in week one goal! It looks like I'm a day late but if you really think about it, VLCD1 is the post load weight. VLCD2 is your first actual weight after beginning the low cal phase. So even though it's VLCD8 for me, that is the weight I got after 7 VLCDs! So, I'm calling it "goal met"!!

I have a few phone calls to make and then off to the barn in a few hours. I'll bbl. Love and hugs to all! I hope you each have an amazing scale day (if you are weighing regularly) and if not, please come tell us how your round is going! There are quite a few MIA's from page one of this thread. Don't fade away!!

[minimonkey]

Morning Ladies!

I hope I didn't run everyone off the thread with all my whining

Whoohoo on the 10 lb loss, Cheryl! That's awesome!

I'm up on the scale today, but I know that is TOM -- so I hope when it goes, it'll take some friends with it, too. Nothing exciting on board today -- school work -- but it'll be nice to get it done, and nice to have a short work week, too.

Wishing you all good, on plan days

[keepingcupsfull]

Cheryl great job on the 10 pound loss. Happy to see you are still going to the gym and dropping pounds.
Bee

[plarsen]

Ditto Cheryl--great job indeed! TOM--duh!

[pendragginp]

YAY for you Cheryl! That's awesome!
I'm the same weight today, which is fine and not a surprise.

[DrunkenSailor]

Hi everybody! <quick wave>

I did one solid round of hcg two years ago plus a couple partial rounds. I lost about 30 pounds total. Unfortunately most of it's back now. I'm "blaming" my SO that I've been with for the last year. I'm truly fat, dumb and happy!!

He's going to do a round with me--we'll see how it goes.

We start the VLC tomorrow. It's great to hear everyone's progress. WTG Cheryl!!

[CherylB]

Thank you, ladies! And DrunkenSailor! That's so cool you'll be doing it together, AND that you are happily in love. Do like the rest of us and just call this "Round 1". It's the first round this year, right? Right!

I am so unbelievably wasted right now. I did so much work at the farm that I can hardly believe the weight isn't just melting off of me. Tomorrow will be better cause there is another girl that does Tuesdays and the staff girl said I shouldn't bother coming tomorrow until after 4 (meaning 4:30 or closer to 5, when the other woman arrives.) That way the work will be more evenly distributed.

There were a couple funny things that happened with the horses and goats today. The staff girl left the gate open from the paddock to one of the female horses' run-in and stall area and when I brought the two horses into that paddock from one that was farther away, they headed toward Lola's stall like it was an escape route! I caught up to them and they were inside her stall together, like the happily married couple that they are. Calvin was nibbling on Lola's grain bucket. I took them by their fly masks and headed them back out to the paddock. They didn't argue.

The goats are allowed to meander when we let them out of their day pen, so they can nibble on this and that and wander here and there. Eventually the party must end, so when the mother goat (Lucy) came to her stall of her own free will, I gave her a nudge and closed the gate. Then I went looking for her daughter, Ellen. She saw me coming. I pretended I was going to walk past her but as soon as we were within a few arm's lengths, she started to haul @$$. I grabbed onto her collar and we took off running! Finally she stopped and I got her in the stall, too. Mission accomplished!

Cowboy got a crappy grooming from me tonight because I had four of them to groom and he's such a hopeless case. He's like a darn yellow lab! YKWIM? You could brush them until pigs fly and there is always more hair to be had. So I made him look pretty and then put the last little ounce of energy I had into doing a good curry-combing on Calvin. He has this really wimpy curry comb in his grooming box and it is nice for the face but useless on his body. So I got him in the cross ties and used his partner's knobbier curry comb (Lola.) He really enjoyed it and I got a lot of fur and dirt out from underneath.

He's the oldest horse they have there and he used to be a race horse. The poor thing doesn't have many teeth and he has trouble eating and consequently does some pretty nasty "sliming." I got so slimed today from him! I came home right away and washed my clothes. I pre-treated the worst of it and I hope it all comes out. I like that dang shirt! By the time I was done grooming him, there was a puddle of green slime beneath his face. We splashed some water on top of it and then I broomed it out when I swept that side of the barn.

I know I'm going to sound pretty arrogant but they are so LUCKY to have me! I am a volunteer but I always work as though I'm being paid. It's just how I'm built. And I want to do my best for the animals, not just the facility. I don't know why they haven't snatched me off the job market yet. They know I'm looking for a job but they want people with more equine experience. (And probably younger and fitter.)

Sorry for this huge post. I could tell more stories but that's enough! Now I need to drag my freshly showered body into the kitchen and force down some food. I can't skip my protein meal. Not when I put these kinds of demands on my body. Ain't going there! I will take good care of myself.

Hugs and love all around!!! Looking forward to a new number on the scale tomorrow. Whoosh Fairy, don't be stingy!

[TerriMM]

WTG Cheryl & Plum

You guys are kicking some double$ this round.

Hey everybody Hope everyone had a good labor day.

I did a three day low carb load. Start VLC tomorrow. Please feel free to rub my post to share some of your great success this round will ya!?

[CherylB]

You got it! I hope it goes as well as the best round you've ever done before! That's how this round is going for me. Just like the very first one, only this time (so far) no grain.

[pendragginp]

Yes, this round has been very like my first round during the winter.

Joining Cheryl on the 10 lbs gone bench! I'm down another .6 today. Today also starts week 2 for me; one week successfully done. We'll see what week 2 brings!

Good Tuesday to everyone!

[suzi7]

Quick peek in as I get rev'ed up to run out the door and take my son to college and me to work....

153 today. I be rockin' this round!! (one more pound and one more day to go for my first week 10!)

Cheryl, CONGRATULATIONS on your 10! All the rest of you, wtg!

WHOOSH wishes for all of you

[TerriMM]

Way to Go Pen & Suzi

I ended up doing three load days, all low carb. Today is VLCD1. So far down .30. Hoping this is a good sign for things to come. I'm going to be weighing in on Fridays from here on out.

[Gracie514]

Hi ladies! This is my journal update, don't feel like typing twice. Hoping everyne has a fantastic P2 week

Good morning I survived the weekend without gaining! I'm down about 2 lbs from the weekend which is pretty good considering it was a holiday weekend. I did not partake in any of the adult beverages and I tried to keep on plan. I did fall off once on Sunday night because I was starving. I was at the football field for 8 hours and got home at 8 pm. I ended up eating 4 chicken wings because they were there. I can tell that I'm retaining water as well. My fingers are puffy and my rings are tight. I need to push the water today. After 8 days I'm down approx. 10-11 lbs. TOM is nearly gone which is fantastic. Today is LCD #9 and I'm still optimistic to finish this round. If I can make it through a long weekend the rest should be cake right? MMMMMMM CAKE On Sunday morning I was lower by about 1.5 lbs. but after Sunday night's wing fiasco it came back and hasn't left yet. Praying to see a nice drop tomorrow. I have a goal for myself set and once I reach it I'm getting a nice mani/pedi. And if I reach my big goal I'm getting my hair done I'm only a couple lbs. from my first goal - hoping to get the mani/pedi on Friday!!!!

Everyone have a great week!

[TerriMM]

Good job Gracie, I'll bet tomorrow sees that 1.5 as history.

So Roguers, what are you eating this round?

Today for me:

B - 1 Cup mixed fruit (strawberries, cantalope & a little pineapple) breadstick

L - Chicken Thigh and a bag of homegrown cherry tomatoes

D - P2 chili, breadstick

S - Apple

[Gracie514]

Originally Posted by TerriMM

Good job Gracie, I'll bet tomorrow sees that 1.5 as history.

So Roguers, what are you eating this round?

Today for me:

B - 1 Cup mixed fruit (strawberries, cantalope & a little pineapple) breadstick

L - Chicken Thigh and a bag of homegrown cherry tomatoes

D - P2 chili, breadstick

S - Apple

Thanks Terri - I hope so!!!

My menu has been close to protocol but following the 800 calories. My fruits have been mainly apples and strawberries - and I haven't been having much of the starches. Yesterday I had an apple for lunch and for dinner I had a side salad and steak (ate at Lone Star Steakhouse which may be why I am up a little this morning). I saved all my protein for dinner.

[CherylB]

Good "morning", peeps! I just woke up after 12 so it is definitely my morning. Still foggy-headed so technically I shouldn't be "driving" right now.

Originally Posted by pendragginp

Yes, this round has been very like my first round during the winter.

Joining Cheryl on the 10 lbs gone bench! I'm down another .6 today. Today also starts week 2 for me; one week successfully done. We'll see what week 2 brings!

Good Tuesday to everyone!

Yea Plum!!! That bench of ours is going to be filling up and spilling over in just a matter of days! This is so dang exciting! This is week 2 for me, as well. Let's keep going strong!

Originally Posted by suzi7

Quick peek in as I get rev'ed up to run out the door and take my son to college and me to work....

153 today. I be rockin' this round!! (one more pound and one more day to go for my first week 10!)

Cheryl, CONGRATULATIONS on your 10! All the rest of you, wtg!

WHOOSH wishes for all of you

Go, Suzi! Hope taking your son to college isn't too sad for you. Have a good day at work! See you later today, we hope. KUTGW!

Originally Posted by Gracie514

Hi ladies! This is my journal update, don't feel like typing twice. Hoping everyne has a fantastic P2 week

Good morning I survived the weekend without gaining! I'm down about 2 lbs from the weekend which is pretty good considering it was a holiday weekend. I did not partake in any of the adult beverages and I tried to keep on plan. I did fall off once on Sunday night because I was starving. I was at the football field for 8 hours and got home at 8 pm. I ended up eating 4 chicken wings because they were there. I can tell that I'm retaining water as well. My fingers are puffy and my rings are tight. I need to push the water today. After 8 days I'm down approx. 10-11 lbs. TOM is nearly gone which is fantastic. Today is LCD #9 and I'm still optimistic to finish this round. If I can make it through a long weekend the rest should be cake right? MMMMMMM CAKE On Sunday morning I was lower by about 1.5 lbs. but after Sunday night's wing fiasco it came back and hasn't left yet. Praying to see a nice drop tomorrow. I have a goal for myself set and once I reach it I'm getting a nice mani/pedi. And if I reach my big goal I'm getting my hair done I'm only a couple lbs. from my first goal - hoping to get the mani/pedi on Friday!!!!

Everyone have a great week!

Bummer about those wings. Been there, done that. But I have called them "refeeds" in the past, when I've taken one day off-plan for a special event. It does slow us down and take us back a step or two but in a couple of days it will be history and you'll be moving again. The salon day sounds like a perfect reward!

Originally Posted by TerriMM

Good job Gracie, I'll bet tomorrow sees that 1.5 as history.

So Roguers, what are you eating this round?

Today for me:

B - 1 Cup mixed fruit (strawberries, cantalope & a little pineapple) breadstick

L - Chicken Thigh and a bag of homegrown cherry tomatoes

D - P2 chili, breadstick

S - Apple

Hi, Terri! Welcome to your VLCD's!

I've been eating ground beef, canned diced tomatoes, oranges, strawberries (but only once), and zucchini. Here's my entire routine:

I buy the ground beef. I take it home and measure out 3.5 oz portions and then roll those up into "meatballs." I put all the balls back into a ziplock baggie and suck out the area just before I zip the bag all the way. When I go to make my two meals per day, I reach in, grab a ball and toss it in the pan.

Then I chop the meat all up and add garlic powder, cayenne pepper, dried onion flakes, dried cilantro, salt and freshly ground pepper. I cook all that up on high, and keep chopping the meat into smaller and smaller pieces so as much of the fat cooks out as possible. (When I was using ground chuck, I poured it out onto a paper towel and paper plate, but this is ground round and that would be a waste of both paper products.)

Put the meat back in the pan and add about the same amount (or slightly less) of the diced tomatoes. Heat through and put into the bowl. Add a little more salt and eat with a spoon. That is my two main meals per day.

I might eat one of my fruits (if I have more than one that day) in the afternoon but I prefer to save them til the evening. So then I do the same meat meal for dinner and eat an orange after that, and before bed I make my zucchini in the toaster oven. Here's how I make those:

I take one zucchini or two, if they are on the small to midlin size, and I cut off the ends. I slice them into strips lengthwise, trying not to make them too thick or too thin. (Usually they end up on the thicker side.) I spray the toaster oven pan with Olive Oil flavored Pam, then lay them out in a single layer. I spritz them with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray (henceforth to be known as ICBINB spray) and salt the heck out of them.

Pop them in the toaster oven (which I usually forget to preheat) at 450 and cook for at least 30 minutes. Only the very thin parts get crispy but that's okay. They taste amazing even if just cooked-through. Then I pull them out, put them on a plate, add more ICBINB spray and more salt. Eat those with a fork and a very satisfied smile.

And that's my daily menu! Today I told myself I'd make some Chicken Cacciatore but I slept so late that I'm wondering if I really want to do that today. I still have the farm at around 4:30. I guess I could throw it into the crock pot.

The only other thing that is concerning me about making it is I'm not used to making a batch of something. I want to make sure I have just the right about of meat per meal. I'll have to give it more thought. But I bought this cute little bag of mixed colored peppers and that will make it look so pretty! They were little jalapeno-sized peppers.

I am down 0.8 more today! I am one happy woman. Tired but happy. It's looking like rain but I don't care. I'm just too tired to care.

Have a very blessed day, ladies. See you later on, God willing.

ETA: No grains so far and I'm following the Omaha Weight Loss plan. I don't track calories, only weigh the meat raw.

[minimonkey]

Hi, all you lovely ladies with lovely losses! Whoo hoo for those of you who are already 10 down ... that is totally amazing!!!

I didn't weigh this morning -- still on TOM, so didn't bother -- I'm still feeling the period puffiness. Calories the past couple days have been closer to 1000-1100 than the 800 I am aiming for -- I'll shoot for the same today, and then drop back down starting tomorrow. I always seem to need a bit more while on TOM, and this one was a killer.

I think I should still lose, even with the higher calories, but it may be slower than it would otherwise. Hoping weeks two and three kick in good in the losses department for me.

I'm probably looking at a long-ish round, which is fine, as long as I keep losing steadily. I'd rather do it a bit slower, but be less dragged out overall.

Hoping for some lab results this week -- I'm getting impatient on that front.

[Gracie514]

I've got to try that zucchini! That sounds really good. I do have some yellow squash - maybe I'll slice that up and bake with some spices and butter spray. Thanks for the idea!

[Gracie514]

Originally Posted by minimonkey

Hi, all you lovely ladies with lovely losses! Whoo hoo for those of you who are already 10 down ... that is totally amazing!!!

I didn't weigh this morning -- still on TOM, so didn't bother -- I'm still feeling the period puffiness. Calories the past couple days have been closer to 1000-1100 than the 800 I am aiming for -- I'll shoot for the same today, and then drop back down starting tomorrow. I always seem to need a bit more while on TOM, and this one was a killer.

I think I should still lose, even with the higher calories, but it may be slower than it would otherwise. Hoping weeks two and three kick in good in the losses department for me.

I'm probably looking at a long-ish round, which is fine, as long as I keep losing steadily. I'd rather do it a bit slower, but be less dragged out overall.

Hoping for some lab results this week -- I'm getting impatient on that front.

TOM sucks while on P2!!! Hoping it eases up for you soon

[suzi7]

Originally Posted by CherylB

Go, Suzi! Hope taking your son to college isn't too sad for you. Have a good day at work! See you later today, we hope. KUTGW!

not sad at all about son and college. He is 24 and dropped out after his first year (right out of high school). He has aspbergers syndrome and was just not ready socially for all the freedom and pressure. Since then, he has grown a lot. Lives by himself (government housing, but...) and has managed to lose 100 pounds in a little over a year all by his lonesome! This is just his latest goal from his life "list". Not to mention he is doing it at the local branch campus for the first year (then transferring to the main campus. then I will be sad. Right now, he is getting himself up extra early so he can ride with me and not inconvenience anyone (even tho his first classes don't start til 11ish). I am so proud of him, I could burst!!

Originally Posted by CherylB

Bummer about those wings. Been there, done that. But I have called them "refeeds" in the past, when I've taken one day off-plan for a special event. It does slow us down and take us back a step or two but in a couple of days it will be history and you'll be moving again. The salon day sounds like a perfect reward!

O I do know about those "refeeds". I had a kinda special visitor Saturday who brought my favorite pizza (thin crust at least). It didn't help that I was SOOOO hungry. I had two big pieces and a bit of an up on Sunday. Just did a cd (didn't eat til dinner. then ate a normal (for me) meal.) Was back down on Monday (.2 below Sat morning's weight.) I think we can overreact and panic and stress and probably eat more. or we can scrug, buckle down, and get on with the WOE. Every once in a while, life throws one at you. We gotta live and learn... and plan better next time. (like the Sunday night Steeler game, where all my boys will be here chowing down... thinking, thinking... must avert disaster!!!)

Originally Posted by CherylB

I am down 0.8 more today! I am one happy woman. Tired but happy. It's looking like rain but I don't care. I'm just too tired to care.

Wahoo! glad to hear. and yes it rained here too, and soupy humid. they say it will be like this til sometime Thursday. Not good for walking.

Mini, sounds like a plan for TOM. I've already decided to stay on the hHcg, but up my calories for mine. I get ravenous, especially the day before and the day of. Sometimes you have to listen to what your body needs. and you are good at that!

VERY stressful day at work. In the midst of all the eom stuff, payroll prep, and the hugest pile of checks I have ever seen, and being the new kid there , everyone seemed to be giving me orders (sometimes at cross purposes). I felt the cry for some serious comfort food. (like donut, cookie, pizza, mashed potatoes w cheese... you know) Instead, rogue that I am, I had a total of about 5 tictacs. mint. haha, I felt so decadent! Some days it's fun to be rogue!

Going to go relax this evening with some friends (the kind that understand that I don't want pizza... not really. not today. )

Talk to you all tomorrow.

Wishing you all BIG WHOOSHES!! (and me too. hehe.

[plarsen]

Maybe I am on the right track avoided the brownies at school all day but for a mini bite at the end!! Foiled! BUT I did give the last piece of cheesecake to my husband so that is out of the picture. I dont feel as famished as usual this day back to school after some days off...Maybe sanity is setting back in instead of the emotional hungries. I realized how much good nutrition I do eat my breakfast whey shake with strawberries, and 1/2 of greek yougert added---and lunch of salad, peppers and whole chicken breast. I bet I have close to 800 cals in both so dinner SHOULD be low key and my smallest meal of the day.... I am doing 1000 -1200 and a boat load of excercise and no hcg this time to try to loose the last 7 d*** lbs!

[pendragginp]

Instead, rogue that I am, I had a total of about 5 tictacs. mint. haha, I felt so decadent! Some days it's fun to be rogue!