Third Week Summary

Total reduction:  14.5 pounds

Day 21

Weight:  180
I am on a roll again!  Down another pound, when it's only been 1/2 pound every couple of days this week, for a grand total of 3.5 pounds this week so I am really encouraged.  I am delighting in my newly evolving shape!

I don't know enough to say what actually got the weight loss going again, it could be a combination of skipping the HCG cream yesterday and doing 15 minutes on the elliptical trainer, which never hurts anything...EVER!

Possible causes:

• Set point
  
  I do know that I maintained my weight in this weight range for almost 2 years, about 2 years ago, so I think this is a set point area for me, which the manuscript says can be the reason for an apparent stall.

• Stress
  
  I've also read that stress can cause a stall, and this has been an exceptionally stressful week, with my husband getting hurt, and an overdue paperwork fiasco.

However, I am not inclined to do anything more drastic, such as an "apple day", as the manuscript also says that is mostly for psychological benefit of the patient, and that the body is changing in ways that aren't apparent on the scale.  Besides, I want to eat real food!  Eating only 6 apples a day is not psychologically satisfying to me, in ANY way!
I have been trying to remind myself that *any* loss is a step in the right direction, but considering the drastic nature of this weight loss approach, I have reservations in the back of my mind that I'm not working hard enough or that this is the "easy" approach, and I am also worried about the rebound effect, if I am unable to maintain my weight afterwards.  All my life I've experienced the adage “if it's too good to be true, it probably is”.  I am hoping that this HCG diet is the exception, and that I am truly able to reset my metabolism.

I’m going to the quilt show today, going to be there late so I am eating my lunch late and planning to take my snacks with me into the convention center, against their “no outside food” rules.  They don’t even offer “real” food, only hot dogs and chips!  How dumb!!

Skip Day

Weight:  181

I am disappointed about this 1/2 pound loss, yet again.  Since my husband hurt his shoulder and can’t sleep very long, we are both up early, so I decided to get on the elliptical machine.  I programmed it for about 20 minutes, but I can see that I am out of shape so only ended up doing 16 minutes.  It sure felt good!

I left work today and forgot to put on the hormone cream.  The manuscript said after 20 days to skip one day of the hormone to prevent an immunity building up, so I decided that, rather than my planned Sunday, I will skip today.

Day 20

Weight:  181.5

Really??  Only 1/2 pound…again??  This is supposed to be 1 pound per day

I’m feeling cheated, and also a bit worried.  What if I am getting to the end of what my body will do?  As happy as I am with a net loss of 13.5 pounds in 2 weeks, how am I going to get 20 more pounds off of me without this assistance?

Day 19

Weight:  182

Oh, good, another pound lost!  I must’ve eaten too many calories in the past couple of days, that might explain the slow down.  I’ll have to be more diligent.

Day 18

Weight:  183

Another frustrating weigh-in, only 1/2 pound lower.  What am I doing wrong??

Day 17

Weight:  183.5

OK, this is disappointing.  I didn’t lose any weight from yesterday, and my goal for this Monday was to be at 182, so I am 1.5 pounds “behind” schedule.

What I’m worried about is how much weight I’ll still need to lose once the 40 days are up, and if/how I’ll be able to do that on my own.

Sigh…working to give up that worry, it’s not good for me, anyway.

Day 16

Weight:  183.5