P2 VLCD10

Weight: 181

Total loss so far is 9.5 pounds.

I think my body is working on breaking through a setpoint, as I've stayed this weight for awhile recently.  I was more hungry today than I expected and had to make a couple of adjustments, but I'm determined and I'm sticking to the diet.

P2D3 - 185.5

Weight:  185.5

I'm doing pretty well this round.

I haven't really been hungry and work has been busy so it's been pretty easy to take each part of the day as it comes.  I had a bit of stressful news at work today, but that didn't phase me; even if it had, I had no food left for the afternoon!  Ha!  How's that for planning?

P2D1 - 190.5

Weight: 190.5

Today is the start of my first VLCD for this round.  I only gained 2.5 pounds during the load, which I'm thrilled with.

I first started this blog because I couldn't find out any information about how long lasting the results of losing weight with hCG would be.  Well, now I feel I have a pretty good handle on that question.

The short answer is, it depends.  It depends on what you're willing to do to maintain it.  Eat well, rest, exercise, don't eat or drink to excess.  Those are all common sense actions that we've heard a million times.  And it's true.

What hCG allowed for me was to find out, for the very first time as an adult, what it would be like to have a normal, even slender, figure.  I can tell you I felt absolutely amazing at my lowest weight.  So, how did I gain it back?

I fell for the idea that just because I didn't gain weight right away, like I had when I ate something before, that my body would tolerate the stress.  It does, for awhile, but eventually something gives.  And slowly, I returned to many of my former habits.  Not all of them, mind you, just the ones that, apparently, count.

So, I'm starting another round because I've gained back 40 pounds over the last 3 years.  I maintained for about 2 years.  Then, in 2012, I took a new, very sedentary, job and I put on 20 pounds over 2 years.  This last year I went on vacation in May and after that my weight shot up another 15-20 pounds in 6 months.  I know, because that's when I ate a LOT of ice cream because "I'm on vacation".

So, I'm back at this again because I need to turn this train around.  Exercise and eating well are essential for health and well being, but they weren't doing anything to help in this situation.  Even well tuned machines need tuneups.

P3D24 - 168

Weight:  168

See, I get all confident and look what happens!

Well, I think I did OK on food yesterday in that I had pretty much the same food I’ve had in the last few days.  However, stayed up pretty late working on a quilt project, and I also made gluten free cookies from a box (I’ve been craving sweets) and I ate quite a few.

This morning I’m also really tired, and really puffy….the bags under my eyes look puffy, which isn’t usual for me.

What I should do is get on the elliptical this morning.  I might…after I go back to bed and get a nap.

P9P3D23–166.5

Weight: 166.5

Wow, I seem to have stabilized!  AND survived the first round of Christmas food!

So in the past 13 days while I haven’t been blogging, my max weight has been 167.  What I’ve done so far is go for really low carb fare.  That means no bread, no cookies, no cereal, no grains.  Most of my carbs have come from fruit, like oranges, frozen berries in protein shakes, and on occasion, bananas. I’ve also ventured into a spoonful of leftover cornbread stuffing and some refried beans.  And I was convinced I’d shoot up.

On Thursday we had a potluck at our office.  Many of the attendees are either vegan or gluten free and there were LOTS of desserts, rice and few low carb protein options.  Well, I only gained a pound, I went from 166 to 167.

Yesterday I got onto the elliptical for 25 minutes and today I’m down by .5 pound.  Also, I wasn’t really hungry after all that food the previous day and I didn’t eat my normal amount of food, I just went with protein / low carb when I did eat.  In other words, I listened to my body and didn’t eat just because it was “time”.

I’m trying not to get overly confident.  Mostly, I feel like I dodged a bullet, but then, I always feel that way.  Sort of along the lines of “you don’t deserve to be thin”.  Which is total crap.

(Notice the phrase “you”, not “I” ?  That’s someone else talking, and I bought into it long ago).

Pure crap.

R9P3D12 – 166.5

Weight: 166.5

I’ve been sick with swollen glands the past 3 days, and I’m tired of it!

I’m not inclined to exercise when I’m sick, but my back is sore from sitting and now I’m up a whole pound, too.

Crabby? You betchya!

R9P3D11 – 166

Weight: 166

R9P3D10 – 165.5

Weight: 165.5

Well, I rather anticipated a larger drop, what with working out and the 1 pound drop earlier this week…or, at least, I was hoping!

I’m starting to think that this will be my set weight for this round, and I’m really quite pleased!

I am starting to crave sweets, though, so I have to be careful.  Also, my legs are still itching and I suspect nuts and/or dairy (cheese) is the culprit.  I need a new snack!

R9P3D9 –166

Weight: 166

I was grazing yesterday, and the choice I went to most was string cheese.  You know, instead of the veggies I had right in front of me!

I have a sensitivity to the protein in dairy so I really do need to stop eating string cheese, most dairy for that matter, at least on a consistent basis.

Anyway, my co-worker wasn’t available to go, but I did go for my walk yesterday.  When I looked at my fitness tracker it said I had burned 100 calories less than when she goes with me.  I’ll tell her that today!

As for this morning, I’m getting on the elliptical.  Gotta keep moving!

R9P3D8 – 165.5

Weight: 165.5

I had a pretty good low carb day, but I’m feeling pretty full this morning so thought my weight would be up.

I’m tired this morning, too, so no workout, but I’m planning a walk at lunch time, even if it is below freezing outside!

R9P3D7–165.5

Weight: 165.5

Well, the workout, and a low carb day, got me back in range.

I got to thinking about it, though…the protocol is talking about 2 pounds from LIW.  For me, that would still be 165 and at 166.5 I’d still be in range.

I called myself on it because it was an overall gain of more than 2 pounds no matter the number for LIW, and certainly, I’m still 2 pounds over where I was, due to my carb indiscretion.

It’s too easy to let this creep up, giving myself permission to stay higher than I should, and then I’m back in the same boat as before.  Then, what’s the point, right?

Overall, I’ve lost about 13 pounds on this round.  I’m still 15 pounds over my goal weight, one I’ve achieved in the past on the diet and where I feel fabulous.  The way I see it, I’m on shaky ground, and I need to be very vigilant.

I feel SO much better than I did before the diet, though.

R9P3D7–166.5

Weight: 166.5

So, I can’t do a steak day.

That is, I got hungry in the morning and I was hungry at lunch.  So I ate low carb all day.  And had a steak and low carb faux-tato salad.

And I’m up .5

So, this is where that “several days of strict dieting” comes into play.  I’m working out this morning, too.

Sigh.

R9P3D6 – 166 (Steak Day)

Weight:  166

I’m surprised that I’m up a whole pound from yesterday, as I thought I kept to low carb really well.

However, what I’ve found in the past is that the previous days’ indiscretions sometimes snowball and show up 2 days later.  So, today is a steak day, as outlined below.  Bleh.

As long as their weight stays within two pounds of the weight reached on the day of the last injection, patients should take no notice of any increase but the moment e scale goes beyond two pounds, even if this is only a few ounces, they must on that same day entirely skip breakfast and lunch but take plenty to drink. In the evening they must eat a huge steak with only an apple or a raw tomato. Of course this rule applies only to the morning weight. Ex-obese patients should never check their weight during the day, as there may be wide fluctuations and these are merely alarming and confusing.

It is of utmost importance that the meal is skipped on the same day as the scale registers an increase of more than two pounds and that missing the meals is not postponed until the following day. If a meal is skipped on the day in which a gain is registered in the morning this brings about an immediate drop of often over a pound. But if the skipping of the meal - and skipping means literally skipping not just having a light meal - is postponed the phenomenon clues not occur and several days of strict dieting may be necessary to correct the situation.

Most patients hardly ever need to skip a meal. If they have eaten a heavy lunch they feel no desire to eat their dinner, and in this case no increase takes place. If they keep their weight at the point reached at the end of the treatment, even a heavy dinner does not bring about an increase of two pounds on the next morning and does not therefore call for any special measures. Most patients are surprised bow small their appetite has become and yet how much they can eat without gaining weight. They no longer suffer from an abnormal appetite and feel satisfied with much less food than before. In fact, they are usually disappointed that they cannot manage their first normal meal, which they have been planning for weeks.

R9P3D5 - 165

Weight: 165

I’m up 1.5 pounds today because I ate carbs at a get together yesterday.

It was stupid, really, because I’d brought my own lunch, with all of my allowed foods, but it just seemed weird to eat it when there was a table with stuff on it that other people brought to share.  Selfish, is how it felt.  Because I hadn’t brought enough to share with anyone else.

So, today has started out with a nice omelet, and I’ll focus on lots of high protein foods and water and see what happens.  I’m still within the 2 pound limit, before a steak day is necessary, which I’m thankful for, but it’s a good reminder for this holiday season.

R9P3D4–163.5

Weight: 163.5

Wow, I certainly didn’t expect another drop!

I’m serious, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a drop after LIW before.  I’ve heard others talk about it, but never experienced it.  Nice.

R9P3D3 - 164

Weight: 164

Wow, even after Thanksgiving, I lost another .5!

I had a bowl of stir fried broccoli, onions, peppers and mushrooms for breakfast.  That’s been holding me really well in the morning, and I may continue this as my normal breakfast.  We’ll see; it doesn’t have the same mental satisfaction as my regular breakfast of hard boiled eggs and cheese.

My husband always cooks, and this year he just scaled it back.  We had a turkey, corn bread stuffing and greens, but no pie or potato salad.  We’re going to have faux potato salad this weekend, though!

I had a couple slices of white meat, a spoonful of stuffing and a large helping of greens with my 3pm dinner.  After that, I had an apple about 10pm, I just wasn’t hungry any other time during the day.  That being said, it would have been VERY easy to have a seconds, but I’m sure glad I didn’t; I was thinking I’d be UP a couple pounds today!

Happy Black Friday!

R9P3D2–164.5

Weight: 164.5

I don’t think I’ve ever gone down after the last injection!

Well, maybe, in NINE rounds, it’s happened…ha!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Final Injection Weight: 165

Weight: 165

Today is the first VLCD without hCG.  According to the protocol:

Patients who need to lose 15 pounds (7 kg.) or less require 26 days treatment with 23 daily injections. The extra three days are needed because all patients must continue the 500- Calorie diet for three days after the last injection.

This is a very essential part of the treatment, because if they start eating normally as long as there is even a trace of HCG in their body they put on weight alarmingly at the end of the treatment.

After three days when all the HCG has been eliminated this does not happen, because the blood is then no longer saturated with food and can thus accommodate an extra influx from the intestines without increasing its volume by retaining water.

 

So, the signs of getting hungry will tell me when the hCG is out of my system.  This round has gone amazingly well.  I haven’t been hungry at all and I haven’t cheated at all.  I really haven’t felt like I was on a diet.  I’ve worked through a lot of issues through all of these rounds; I think some of this might be sticking!

R9VLCD21 - 165

Weight: 165

A whole pound drop!  Nice!

I’m usually not focused on a specific number when it comes to my weight, but there is something satisfying about hitting those “even” numbers.  No, 165 isn’t an even number, but it IS half way between those “decades”!

Yesterday I hit the elliptical for 25 minutes, and had a 35 minute walk at lunch.  My back is feeling a lot more limber, but it’s still a bit sore, and it doesn’t take much to stiffen up again.

It always makes me wonder about the protocol and how we interpret it these days.  Dr. Simeons didn’t say “sit on your butt while you’re on this diet”, he said don’t over do it.

That goes along with loading, too.  Most people go way overboard when loading.  I’ve done it, too, in the very beginning, and then spent at least a week of the diet getting that weight off.  What I’ve found is to focus on healthy fats, and don’t absolutely gorge.  It’s just not necessary.

R9P2VLCD20 - 166

Weight: 166