Just starting

[bratgirlinsd]

Hi:

My name is Linda and I'm about to embark on this HCG journey.

I'm very excited and have had a tremendous amount of support from a very awesome friend of mine (thank you, Patrick!) who I know I can't do this without. I really can't wait to start and hope to get a lot more support and information from this site. (I've yet to read everything that's here but I'm working on that and thank you all for taking the time to share your stories and information/recipes etc.) I am sure that this site will help me very much.

I'm not sure what to think about the 800 calorie "upgrade"...

Thoughts?

Thanks again. (And Patrick? You rock and I adore you!)

[heahyou00]

To be honest I dont really write my calories down or keep track that strictly, so I am sure many days I go over my 500 calories but its still super low and I am still losing on almost a daily basis. I do the HCG injections.

on a daily basis here is what I eat:

Bfast- small scoop of cottage cheese with 2 melba toasts
s- sometimes I have a small handful of cashews if I am super hungry
l- piece of baked chicken and some sort of veggie
s- apple
d- piece of baked fish and a veggie

There have been times at night I have made my own version of hot chocolate using cocoa and splenda and even added a lil milk. So am sure my calories are over, I dont even know what the totals are really cause I dont weigh anything.

But the point being I think if you stick between 500-800 you will still lose!!


Kelly

[bratgirlinsd]

Kelly:
Thank you for your reply and insight. I have menus and I'm ready to do this. This weekend is my big pig-out fest. I'm not really looking forward to it because I don't want to get sick eating stuff I don't usually eat. I know it's an integral part of the diet so I'm ready to eat all the foods I love that I'll have to do without for quite some time.

You used just plain cocoa right? No sugar at all and then added splenda? I saw that we could have a tablespoon of milk per day too? I guess I know where that tablespoon will be going! In the cocoa!

~L

[heahyou00]

Yeah just plain cocoa, no sugar and then add Splenda and water and then I just put a lil milk to top if off to make it a lil more creamier. It helps fill me up at night especially if I am craving sweets or feel a lil hungry.

Also you can microwave an apple with Splenda and cinnamon for kind of an apple pie type treat, I have done that too, sure helps stay away from off plan stuff.

Can you tell I have a sweet tooth? lol. I could live on desserts if they didnt cause me to gain so much weight lol.

[bratgirlinsd]

I never used to like sweets at all until menopause hit. Now I crave them and packed on the pounds. It has not been a good couple of years for me which is why I'm here.

I can't get my picture to post and I'm not sure why? I'm doing everything I correctly I thought. Perhaps I should make an album first?

[bratgirlinsd]

Thanks for the tip on the apple and cocoa. I love apple pie and I bet that will be an awesome substitution!

[bratgirlinsd]

Does anyone know if we can use TOFU as a protein? I would think it's actually healthier than beef? I'm not a big meat eater usually - fish and chicken basically. I love tofu and would really like to incorporate that into my meals. It's pretty much no fat, no sugar, no carbs?

[shelbyla]

Originally Posted by heahyou00

To be honest I dont really write my calories down or keep track that strictly, so I am sure many days I go over my 500 calories but its still super low and I am still losing on almost a daily basis. I do the HCG injections.

on a daily basis here is what I eat:

Bfast- small scoop of cottage cheese with 2 melba toasts
s- sometimes I have a small handful of cashews if I am super hungry
l- piece of baked chicken and some sort of veggie
s- apple
d- piece of baked fish and a veggie

There have been times at night I have made my own version of hot chocolate using cocoa and splenda and even added a lil milk. So am sure my calories are over, I dont even know what the totals are really cause I dont weigh anything.

But the point being I think if you stick between 500-800 you will still lose!!


Kelly

The 800calorie protocol is a little different. Check out the Omaha Weight Loss diet for specific lists of allowable foods.

I'm not sure I agree with the above approach, though, especially for a first round. (No offense intended Kelly! ) The original protocol is pretty specific as to the foods that you can eat, how much, and when. Obviously anyone can do as they choose and add things such as nuts, extra protein, tofu, etc. but FOR ME, it was much more important to lose the weight than it was to add anything extra, right off the bat. I figured if I followed the P&I protocol strictly and it worked THEN I could tweak in later rounds, if I felt like it. If I DIDN'T follow it strictly and it didn't work, I wouldn't know if it were the diet or the "extras," kwim? We are here to support anyone, however they choose to do the diet but personally I always advise a by the book protocol for the first round. And similarly, if you are adding something or otherwise going "rogue" indicate that so that if folks choose to do the same, they know what they are doing.

[bratgirlinsd]

Thanks Shelby. I'm not going to go off protocol this time in Round 1. I'm all about losing the weight and I have a great support network and I know for a fact if I go off protocol 'someone' will be all over me like a crazy homeless person on bath salts. I am not going to do the 800 calorie 'upgrade' because I see a lot more people having good results with the 500 calorie protocol. I'm going to suck it up and do this!

Thanks for the tips and the help!

~L

[toomuchbooty]

Good decision! Master the protocol before you start tweaking. It's worth it!

[dawnyama]

Originally Posted by bratgirlinsd

I never used to like sweets at all until menopause hit. Now I crave them and packed on the pounds. It has not been a good couple of years for me which is why I'm here.

I can't get my picture to post and I'm not sure why? I'm doing everything I correctly I thought. Perhaps I should make an album first?

When you post a picture intended for your avatar you have to post it to "edit avatar" not post a pic!! You will understand when you hit user panel. Just click on avatar---not edit a profile pic. Profile pic is only when we go INTO your profile to see you. Avatar is what shows up to the left of the post. I would love to see you

[bratgirlinsd]

Dawn! Thank you! I figured out the avatar pic!

[toomuchbooty]

Looking good!

[dawnyama]

Originally Posted by bratgirlinsd

Dawn! Thank you! I figured out the avatar pic!

You did it!! I can "see" you know. Lovely!!

[bratgirlinsd]

Thank you ladies!

[shelbyla]

Originally Posted by bratgirlinsd

I know for a fact if I go off protocol 'someone' will be all over me like a crazy homeless person on bath salts.
~L

Bahahahahaha! Hilarious!

[RVRFLY]

Well I've been working hard since January. I work out to Zumba Gold for an hour each morning and I've only lost five. With more than 100 to lose more like 120-130. I'm not discouraged but determined. My nutritionist has me on 1500 calories. Hopefully the shock of 500 with get this party started. I'm a three year breast cancer survivor, I have maintained this wt. and have been unable to lose, not sure if its from chemo or radiation, or just getting older. I do know one thing I have hypertension and diabetes. I have to get healthy and change my life style.