So, I actually found my own blog doing research on HCG again. LOL. I forgot I had written this. I have to say that I was successful in P2 of HCG when I did this years ago, but right as I was going into Phase 3 I started seriously dating someone and it became very hard to stick with it. When someone you are falling for cooks you chicken curry, you don't say..."um, I'm sorry, I'm on this HCG diet and I can't eat that." It was still fairly new and I'm sure he would have thought I was a crazy dieting girl...which perhaps I am. Anywho, I gained back :( My advice is to make sure you follow through with Phase 3 diligently because that is where your Hypothalamus resets itself to your goal weight.
I've tried to go on the diet various times but the timing was bad. It is difficult without eating beef, chicken and having food allergies. I am ready to try it again since I am so busy with work and school I don't really have time for dating etc. I had just started my grad program when I started this diet and I'm happy to report that I graduate in 2 quarters! I have no days off between my internship and work so, that is my biggest concern with this diet... and I stand all day at work. But I think I will "up" my calories from 500 to 800 and go with a slower weight loss...but a more tolerable journey considering my busy lifestyle.
I will try and post back once I get started again. I am still waiting for my HCG to arrive. I do it old school, not the drops.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Modifications I made but still losing
OK, so I have made some modifications to the protocol for myself and seem to be losing fine. It works for me.
Like I said before, once in a while I have Ezekiel bread, I'll have egg whites scrambled, coffee creamer (10 cal a tsp) and only 3 tsp max. I started using I can't believe It's Not Butter Spray but don't over-do it.
International Coffee Swiss Mocha (sugar-free and decaf).
Cauliflower and pico de gallo.
Here is a typical day for me:
Wake up, go to restroom, drink 16-32 oz of water upon rising. Make coffee.
Mid-Morning: Baked Apple with Cinnamon and Truvia
Lunch: Talapia 3.5 oz with 3.5 oz of Asparagus (I got a letter weigher from Office Depot to weigh my foods) Herbal Tea
Snack: Swiss Mocha coffee drink
Dinner: Talapia or Egg Whites, Cauliflower, cooked with I Can't Believe It's not butter spray and 3 tbs of Pico de Gallo on top.
Maybe a diet pop for later or a Zevia soda.
Like I said before, once in a while I have Ezekiel bread, I'll have egg whites scrambled, coffee creamer (10 cal a tsp) and only 3 tsp max. I started using I can't believe It's Not Butter Spray but don't over-do it.
International Coffee Swiss Mocha (sugar-free and decaf).
Cauliflower and pico de gallo.
Here is a typical day for me:
Wake up, go to restroom, drink 16-32 oz of water upon rising. Make coffee.
Mid-Morning: Baked Apple with Cinnamon and Truvia
Lunch: Talapia 3.5 oz with 3.5 oz of Asparagus (I got a letter weigher from Office Depot to weigh my foods) Herbal Tea
Snack: Swiss Mocha coffee drink
Dinner: Talapia or Egg Whites, Cauliflower, cooked with I Can't Believe It's not butter spray and 3 tbs of Pico de Gallo on top.
Maybe a diet pop for later or a Zevia soda.
Almost a Month Later...
Gee, I'm really good at this blogging thing huh? Well. No excuses really except for that I have been job searching, working hard in graduate school and busy with family and all this holiday stuff. To catch you up:
Thanksgiving was tough for me. I cheated and didn't think I cheated too much but it was the little things here and there. Being at my parents for so long was difficult, especially at the very start when I was just getting used to the diet. The temptations were around. Cheating on Thanksgiving through me off about a week and I'm sure I would be at least 6 lbs lighter today if I hadn't, but you can't change the past and I believe you have to forgive yourself a little on this diet or else you'll feel guilty constantly and then quit.
Once I got back to my home in Seattle it was much easier. There aren't the same temptations and for some reason I just felt more focused (probably because I equate going there to relaxing). And also because I have friends there that want to go out to dinner and stuff. Going to get coffee or tea is not a problem and I'm thankful I can still do that. Not getting my normal Grande Soy Chai (250 calories and $4.00) every day has done wonders for my pocket book too. Now I spend a 1.50 every time I go to Starbucks, which isn't every day.
I have lost 15 lbs so far. I thought I would lose more but considering it is twice as much as what would be expected in a months time (6-8 lbs if you lose 2 lbs. per week). If I did things perfectly I know I would have lost more. Still, I believe I'll be at goal by the end of January for sure.
I started at 162 and I'm now at 147. I also gained back and fluctuated on my period and freaked out. I searched the web entirely it seemed for topics on periods and stalls. I had stalled for a week and was sure that the HCG quit working. So, to ease my mind I just decided to keep recording calories, follow the plan but only weight every 5 days. I feel good about this plan because I'm still measuring and I can hardly fit in any of my pants anymore. My clothes are getting bigger consistently. What is most exciting is that I am losing in my belly, thighs, hips and arms and of course waist too. I have always had a pear shape and even at my heaviest (186 lbs.) I still had a hip to waist ratio of around .65-.70. So, right now I still am a pear. Everything is just smaller. I heard that later in Phase 2 you will see your body to start to reshape. Thankfully I have not lost much in my breasts.
Other things I've noticed: I feel flabbier. I am thinking of starting to do mild weight lifting to start to tone up. Not sure if that is advised but I'll do some research. Hopefully at age 29 my skin will get tightened up. It's not like it's hanging there, I just notice that where there was harder fat on my thighs, it is much more squishy. Sorry if this is graphic. LOL. I guess that means it is working.
I started my HCG through a clinic but I'm not following their plan. They have a 800 calorie diet with shakes. I'm doing the Simeons protocol 500 calories a day. I do, once in a while, have a sugar-free/fat free swiss mocha, the International Coffee stuff. I also substitute egg whites once in a while and occasionally have a peice of Ezekiel bread for my protein. I don't do this too often, mostly as a treat on the weekend because although low in calories, one slice is only 4 grams of protein, good for bread, but not as good as the protein level in fish. I don't eat beef or chicken and I needed to mix it up a bit.
I like having coffee to start my day and originally thought I'd give it up, but when you don't have much in ways of luxury in this diet food wise, the coffee is a treat. I also havn't had soda in 2 years but started drinking Diet Cherry Dr. Pepper occasionally as a treat too.
So far the real treat is seeing my body change and feeling better. I feel healthy. The first two days of the diet I thought I was going to pass out. I don't think I loaded properly. You really need to focus on high fat foods and not just "fattening" foods. The whole first week I was starving and only thought about food. After the first week I felt fine and the 500 calories was enough.
There has been some times that I have been out and about all day and have only had coffee and an apple and come home pretty tired, but surprisingly not like I thought I would. And I was walking most of the day. (This was not smart but it happened) I advise eating all your 500 calories and in a timely fashion. I also stopped eating the grissini breadsticks and just eat the apple. I have to eat gluten-free and did find some grissini gluten free, but honestly would rather have my swiss mocha then that crusty bread that doesn't fill me up. I can sip and enjoy the drink and get some water vs. that.
I did go out to eat on a date one night to a Mexican restaurant of all places! I looked at the menu online ahead of time and ordered a grilled fish taco. I ate 7 chips and only ate the fish (and hoped my date didn't notice my odd eating). I also accounted for all those calories too and didn't eat until dinner.
For social outings it is tough but once you've lost a decent amount you don't want to ruin your success and hard work so you'll stick with it.
Sorry so long!
Thanksgiving was tough for me. I cheated and didn't think I cheated too much but it was the little things here and there. Being at my parents for so long was difficult, especially at the very start when I was just getting used to the diet. The temptations were around. Cheating on Thanksgiving through me off about a week and I'm sure I would be at least 6 lbs lighter today if I hadn't, but you can't change the past and I believe you have to forgive yourself a little on this diet or else you'll feel guilty constantly and then quit.
Once I got back to my home in Seattle it was much easier. There aren't the same temptations and for some reason I just felt more focused (probably because I equate going there to relaxing). And also because I have friends there that want to go out to dinner and stuff. Going to get coffee or tea is not a problem and I'm thankful I can still do that. Not getting my normal Grande Soy Chai (250 calories and $4.00) every day has done wonders for my pocket book too. Now I spend a 1.50 every time I go to Starbucks, which isn't every day.
I have lost 15 lbs so far. I thought I would lose more but considering it is twice as much as what would be expected in a months time (6-8 lbs if you lose 2 lbs. per week). If I did things perfectly I know I would have lost more. Still, I believe I'll be at goal by the end of January for sure.
I started at 162 and I'm now at 147. I also gained back and fluctuated on my period and freaked out. I searched the web entirely it seemed for topics on periods and stalls. I had stalled for a week and was sure that the HCG quit working. So, to ease my mind I just decided to keep recording calories, follow the plan but only weight every 5 days. I feel good about this plan because I'm still measuring and I can hardly fit in any of my pants anymore. My clothes are getting bigger consistently. What is most exciting is that I am losing in my belly, thighs, hips and arms and of course waist too. I have always had a pear shape and even at my heaviest (186 lbs.) I still had a hip to waist ratio of around .65-.70. So, right now I still am a pear. Everything is just smaller. I heard that later in Phase 2 you will see your body to start to reshape. Thankfully I have not lost much in my breasts.
Other things I've noticed: I feel flabbier. I am thinking of starting to do mild weight lifting to start to tone up. Not sure if that is advised but I'll do some research. Hopefully at age 29 my skin will get tightened up. It's not like it's hanging there, I just notice that where there was harder fat on my thighs, it is much more squishy. Sorry if this is graphic. LOL. I guess that means it is working.
I started my HCG through a clinic but I'm not following their plan. They have a 800 calorie diet with shakes. I'm doing the Simeons protocol 500 calories a day. I do, once in a while, have a sugar-free/fat free swiss mocha, the International Coffee stuff. I also substitute egg whites once in a while and occasionally have a peice of Ezekiel bread for my protein. I don't do this too often, mostly as a treat on the weekend because although low in calories, one slice is only 4 grams of protein, good for bread, but not as good as the protein level in fish. I don't eat beef or chicken and I needed to mix it up a bit.
I like having coffee to start my day and originally thought I'd give it up, but when you don't have much in ways of luxury in this diet food wise, the coffee is a treat. I also havn't had soda in 2 years but started drinking Diet Cherry Dr. Pepper occasionally as a treat too.
So far the real treat is seeing my body change and feeling better. I feel healthy. The first two days of the diet I thought I was going to pass out. I don't think I loaded properly. You really need to focus on high fat foods and not just "fattening" foods. The whole first week I was starving and only thought about food. After the first week I felt fine and the 500 calories was enough.
There has been some times that I have been out and about all day and have only had coffee and an apple and come home pretty tired, but surprisingly not like I thought I would. And I was walking most of the day. (This was not smart but it happened) I advise eating all your 500 calories and in a timely fashion. I also stopped eating the grissini breadsticks and just eat the apple. I have to eat gluten-free and did find some grissini gluten free, but honestly would rather have my swiss mocha then that crusty bread that doesn't fill me up. I can sip and enjoy the drink and get some water vs. that.
I did go out to eat on a date one night to a Mexican restaurant of all places! I looked at the menu online ahead of time and ordered a grilled fish taco. I ate 7 chips and only ate the fish (and hoped my date didn't notice my odd eating). I also accounted for all those calories too and didn't eat until dinner.
For social outings it is tough but once you've lost a decent amount you don't want to ruin your success and hard work so you'll stick with it.
Sorry so long!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Load Day #2 Tues. 11/17/09
Hi everyone! Today is my second day on the HCG Very Low Cal Diet. I was originally concerned about eating enough during the load days because I can only eat dairy and gluten-free, low-sugar and no greasy foods, thus has forced me to eat more healthy, which is great. I know people who have been eating pizza, cakes, chocolate, fast food. So I was worried I wouldn't be "loading" enough.
However, I believe eating a lot of high fat foods was more in regards to things like salmon, nuts and seeds, avacados, butter, etc. I am not too worried anymore.
I weighed myself after waking and have lost 1 lb. since my first load day. I have stayed pretty much the same weight up until now so I feel it must be the HCG, although there could be no causation. I did read on the Internet that some people lost during their loading phase. We'll see if I gained it back tomorrow when I weigh again.
Today was pretty busy for me so I didn't load throughout the day like I did the day before. I did eat quite a bit when I got back from my class this evening at 8:30 p.m. I hate feeling really full! It's so uncomfortable... but I'm very excited to start the low calorie part and see the weight come off. I feel like it will happen, although there is this little voice in the back of my head saying, "You don't really think this will work do you?" Perhaps it is just an echoing of all the nay-sayers on the forums I've gone onto. I did a lot of research before doing this... and I mean A LOT! I think the reason it can be controversial is because it requires such diligence, self-control, and acuracy. It could be very easy to see no results on this diet if you do not follow it properly. When Dr. Simeon's was doing the study he had control of the variables, where as, individuals doing this on their own or even through a clinic can measure food wrong, add foods not allowed, not drink enough water, use lotions with oil etc that can compromise results.
Anyway, that was a rant I went on, huh? I will post again tomorrow, my first low-cal day and the beginning to getting slim and toned :)
However, I believe eating a lot of high fat foods was more in regards to things like salmon, nuts and seeds, avacados, butter, etc. I am not too worried anymore.
I weighed myself after waking and have lost 1 lb. since my first load day. I have stayed pretty much the same weight up until now so I feel it must be the HCG, although there could be no causation. I did read on the Internet that some people lost during their loading phase. We'll see if I gained it back tomorrow when I weigh again.
Today was pretty busy for me so I didn't load throughout the day like I did the day before. I did eat quite a bit when I got back from my class this evening at 8:30 p.m. I hate feeling really full! It's so uncomfortable... but I'm very excited to start the low calorie part and see the weight come off. I feel like it will happen, although there is this little voice in the back of my head saying, "You don't really think this will work do you?" Perhaps it is just an echoing of all the nay-sayers on the forums I've gone onto. I did a lot of research before doing this... and I mean A LOT! I think the reason it can be controversial is because it requires such diligence, self-control, and acuracy. It could be very easy to see no results on this diet if you do not follow it properly. When Dr. Simeon's was doing the study he had control of the variables, where as, individuals doing this on their own or even through a clinic can measure food wrong, add foods not allowed, not drink enough water, use lotions with oil etc that can compromise results.
Anyway, that was a rant I went on, huh? I will post again tomorrow, my first low-cal day and the beginning to getting slim and toned :)
Load Day #1 11/16/09
Today is my first day on the HCG Diet. I am doing the loading day. Eating a lot of food is harder than I thought. I don't eat very much usually and never to the point of feeling full so it's rather uncomfortable.
I got 5,000 IU of HCG and did the mixing myself this morning. I was more nervous about mixing it correctly than giving myself the injection. The injection was SUPER easy! I didn't even feel the needle. Piece of Cake. I can't wait until the week is over to see how much I lost.
I have to eat gluten-free so it limits me on the amount of junk food I can eat. A lot of people eat a lot of junk food on their load days. The original Pounds and Inches study listed mostly good fats to load on. Well, this morning I had 2 eggs, scrambled, a glass of orange juice, 4 pieces of gluten-free french toast with cinnamon, butter and syrup. I was pretty full after that. I'm now eating a whole avacado and a dairy-free/gluten-free dark chocolate bar.
More updates to come!
I got 5,000 IU of HCG and did the mixing myself this morning. I was more nervous about mixing it correctly than giving myself the injection. The injection was SUPER easy! I didn't even feel the needle. Piece of Cake. I can't wait until the week is over to see how much I lost.
I have to eat gluten-free so it limits me on the amount of junk food I can eat. A lot of people eat a lot of junk food on their load days. The original Pounds and Inches study listed mostly good fats to load on. Well, this morning I had 2 eggs, scrambled, a glass of orange juice, 4 pieces of gluten-free french toast with cinnamon, butter and syrup. I was pretty full after that. I'm now eating a whole avacado and a dairy-free/gluten-free dark chocolate bar.
More updates to come!
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