I want to quit and I have hardly started!!!!!
 

Hi all-
I have done the protocol a few times in the past and was doing pretty good until I moved twice within a years time and had some really rough clients.
I did a round earlier this year, lost like 17 pounds doing a short rounds, but then did *not* follow the P3 rules. (and I knew better!)
For some weird reason, I snapped on Sunday, mixed up a batch of HCG, loaded Sunday and Monday and I am already ready to stop.
DH was discussing all the fun things we should do this holiday season "We can go see the lights and then go to <favorite happy hour restuarant>. :cry:
Now I am thinking I would rather do Weight Watchers for the holiday season and then pick up HCG afterwards.
What have I done? Can I stop? argh!

Do you want a kick in the pants to continue or do you want us to tell you that you can quit and pick back up again?

Obviously you can do either... A couple of things to ponder maybe...

1. If you continue, are you just going to end up cheating or quitting later?
2. Is Weight Watchers going to be any easier to stick to over the holidays?
3. If you do neither, how much weight will you gain during the holiday season?
4. Can you appreciate the holiday season WITHOUT indulging in a lot of food or booze?
5. If you continue, can you stick it out for 21 days OP and commit to a CLEAN P3 after your round, even if that includes Christmas (no cookies, no potatoes, no sweets, no breads, no stuffing, etc.)? A minimum round if I am counting right has you starting P3 on the 20th, P4 on January 10th.
6. Can you enlist DH to be supportive or will he always be in the "just this once" temptation place?

Maybe thinking about these questions will help clarify what is best for you.

Good luck whatever you decide!

Keep in mind, you can weigh 15-20 pounds LESS come Christmas if you stay the course for a short round. I'm currently 5lbs LESS than I was the day before Thanksgiving. It would have taken me 1-2 months to lose what I did had I been on Weight Watchers.

The scale moves so slow on WW, I go crazy and then throw in the towel.

I say, stick with it through the week (put in a whole week), and then decide. Don't decide just yet. Give it til next Monday, and you'll be more ready to either keep on track or alter your course.

My thing is, that if my head is not in the game then the round will be a bust. Happen to me in R2. Emotionally I just wasnt't there. I took long 4 months to really make sure I was ready to make the commitment this round. But on the flip side...Being stict p2 will keep you from gaining that Holiday weight. Also, and I learned this the hard way. The Hcg hormone and protocol is nothing to fool around with. So if you haven't really even begin, no harm no foul. It is when the hormone has been in your system a while is when you really see the weight fluctuations if protocol is not followers to a t! But again that is just me and my experience.

I'd be concerned that even if you stick to P2, pretty close to protocol, throughout all the pre-Christmas celebrations and are successful in losing some weight, how hard will the P3 stabilization phase be? You'll be coming off the VLC portion feeling deprived and like you've supremely sacrificed for weeks, only to overdo the P3 phase and gain some or most of it right back. I know the losses are quick w/ hcg, but locking them in is another 6 week process. That's the part I've grown to appreciate and take more seriously in recent rounds.

Whatever you decide, you'll be ok. There is always Jan. for a fresh start :shake:.

I totally feel your pain and get where you are coming from! I just started my 4th round on Monday and I KNOW it's going to be hard for the Holidays but for me, I was pushing going into my size 16 jeans and that is just NOT acceptable--even if it means missing out on some egg nog and sweets.

BUT, you have to want it bad enough. I've done enough rounds to realized that if you aren't totally gung ho and super motivated, don't do it! I did a round where I stopped after 10 days and the re-gain was horrid! I quickly gained what I had lost back (even with doing a proper P3) and then added even more weight even though I wasn't eating out of control at all. As the previous poster said, HCG is nothing to mess with and you need to either be all in or all out but not in the middle or you will mess with your metabolism.

From you post, it sounds to me like you may need to get through the holidays first and then start a round in Jan. As much as I'd love to post about how you could actually be skinnier by Christmas...you have to be realistic and if doing a round now is going to turn you into the Grinch for the whole season because you can't do the things you love (that involve food), it's not worth it.

I just want to say that you will decide whats best but... what better way to start the year out by looking and feeling better? Will you be okay with stopping and then feeling guilty? I wish that our loved ones can support us but it seems like sometimes they sabotage us, and that would make me resent them in the end. Knowing me I would put myself to the challenge just to prove them wrong. The holidays are about family and being spiritual not about food... is what my doctor said. Do whats in your heart whats best for you, I guess what I'm saying is how badly do you want this?
:heart: Lara

Thanks so much everyone!
I sent Robin (Weight Loss Apocalypse) an email and she said to put the hcg in the freezer, move on, and start when ready.
Yeah, it's true- your head has to be in the game, otherwise it's just about impossible. I don't want it badly enough to feel left out or deprived. I know in my head the holidays aren't "about" the food. But I think I will have a better chance of success if I wait until we are past this season.

I went through the same thought process in deciding to wait until Jan. As much as I'd love to be thinner to start the new year, I just know I'd be miserable depriving myself during the holidays. That being said, I'm committed to doing a P4 style plan through the month of Dec. and start a P2 round in Jan. This means basically LC eating with OCCASIONAL treats. If I can maintain my weight (as high as it is) I will be happy and prepared for a round!!