Plateaus - and the Walmart HHCG

Well, first off, I need to adjust my review of WalMart's homeopathic HCG.  It does work, but it tastes nasty, until you get used to it.  (It's chocolate mint flavored.  I didn't think anything could make me dislike chocolate mint.  Eww.)  Once you get used to it, it's not bad.

It does work.  Did I mention that?  Works just fine. 

So, I've been plateaued for a week.  It's been driving me crazy.  Apple day helped some, but then I stalled again the next day.  So I went back to that old standby that always helps me.

Exercise.

Now, Dr Simeons does not prescribe exercise in his protocol, but I suggest that you include it in your regimen if you are physically able to do so.  Even if it's just a stroll around the block.  Your body was designed to move, not to veg out in front of a screen.  So start walking.  Just gentle walking, you don't need to run or do power walks! 

I would not suggest starting an Olympic training protocol while on the HCG protocol, but you do need to move. 

My routine will be a run around the block.  I do interval training - a 5 minute warm up, then 1 minute running and 2 minutes walking for six rounds, then a five minute cool down.  However, I am used to training!  I've been working out all my life on some level or another.  I've worked with Olympic trainers and done boot camps, I've done a lot of weight training, and I will say this over and over.....

Listen to your body! 

You may not be able to do what I do.  Find something that is gentle enough for you to stick with, and then stick with it! 

I'm kind of weird about working out these days, I'm so busy that I just can't stand to go to the gym and add another thing to my list.  But I can manage a quick run around the block (and I do this just before bedtime, by the way).  Somehow getting in the car to drive to the gym is just that one more thing I don't want to do. 

So get out and move.  There is so much to do! 

Oh, and I dropped 2 pounds overnight after my first little run.  It will work.

Apple Day

Pounds and Inches says that when you stall for a few days, you're to do an "apple day."  Today, for this round, is that day.

For an apple day, you eat 6 apples.  And that's it.  Simeons says to cut back on fluids, too, but that's folly - I drink more liquids on an apple day to keep me from being hungry all day.

The interesting thing is that by eating just apples (even though it's the same calories!) I will drop about 2 pounds overnight.

The reason for my stall this time, is that lovely Aunt Flo has come to visit, and she has a habit of stalling things for me.  So, ladies, be aware that this is a reason for a stall.  (Sorry, guys, I know it's TMI, but it's also a fact of female life.)

This morning I had my water and Diet Coke.  For the rest of the day, I will have my six apples.  Tomorrow morning, I'll be back on the regular protocol.

Still stuck at 165.2.  I'm looking forward to progress in the morning!

Dealing with Cravings

I thought the first three days would be the hardest, but I would kill someone for a piece of cake.  Or a box of Nilla wafers.  I hope this eases up!

We had a Blue and Gold Banquet for Cub Scouts last night, and some sick person brought a chocolate cake.  With chocolate icing.  I adore chocolate.  My ex came since our Jared was receiving awards (the religious square knot and his 5th Arrow Point on the Wolf Trail) and kept offering that cake to me.

Or a hamburger.  With french fries. And fry sauce.  Or onion rings. 

Oh, well, I will hold strong.  I'm drinking lots and lots of water, some with Crystal Light, so I don't feel hungry.  I'm really not hungry, I just want to eat.  Since I can recognize the difference, I can tap on it and hold strong through it.  Sometimes it's just a matter of staying busy.  Sometimes it's a matter of just looking at the photo I have of when I was thin, and knowing that I just have 35 more days to go, and then I'll be at my goal weight. 

The thing to remember is that this is all worth it....

So: Lots of water, green tea, coffee, diet soda (or whatever other liquids work for you), and hold out just a little longer.  Reach out for support.  Hang in there.  Sometimes just getting busy for 15 minutes at a time will help.  EFT helps.

Stats: Weight this morning, 165.4, down 4.6 pounds in 4 days from start weight of 170.0.  Consistent loss of a pound a day.  GOAL: 135.

Day 3 VLCD

I weighed in this morning at 166.4.  That is down 3.6 pounds from my start weight of 170.  I'm pretty hopeful now that a 40 day round will see me to my goal weight of 135.  I am already seeing my tummy start to "deflate." It's exciting to see the changes so quickly!

One of the things I noticed before, is that if I allow myself a cheat -- even one -- it opens everything up and I might as well hang up the round.  I have to be really, super careful.  I'm like that in a lot of ways in my life - if I leave my savings account alone, I'm fine, but once I dip into it, it's open season.  If I allow myself a day to sleep in, pretty soon I'm sleeping in all the time.  It's like, once I cross that boundary, it becomes very difficult to re-establish that boundary.

Results from Day 1, how Day 2 is going

I began loading at a weight of 170.0.  After load, my weight was 172.4.  This morning, my weight was 167.4!  That's down 5 pounds from yesterdays, weight, and 2.6 pounds from my start weight. 

THIS is why I love this diet plan so much.  The hunger isn't too bad, and the results are outstanding - and immediate!

I'm preparing my lunch right now.  Salad with Waldon Farms dressing, grilled chicken, apple dusted with a bit of cinnamon.  Dinner will be the same, but with asparagus instead of salad.

Incidentally, for the "You'll gain it back" crowd, I began this in 2010 at a high weight of 189.  I have kept most of the weight off for 2 years.   Once this weight comes off it is staying off for good.  Part of the program is to weigh daily, so you can adjust your food intake, which I did.  Most of the time when the weight is re-gained, it is because the habit of weighing in is lost.  You can't manage what you don't measure!

Tips and tricks:
Weigh every day, whether you're on protocol or not. Then you can adjust your regimen if the weight begins to creep back on.

Waldon Farms dressing has no carbs, no fat, no sugar, no gluten, no calories.  If you can't stand to skip dressing, try it and see if it stalls you.

If you don't like/can't find Waldon Farms, try putting your salad dressing on the side.  Dip the fork into it before taking a bite of salad, you get just a bit of the salad dressing taste without the calories.

Have a mint if you are craving foods.  Even water tastes nasty after a mint.

Water, water, water!  Dr Simeon recommends a high fluid intake.  Pure water is best, but Crystal Lite, or lemon in your water, green tea, herbal teas, or black coffee will do as well.  I drink Diet Coke throughout, with lots of water, and that helps with the hunger.  The carbonation helps me feel fuller as well.

The first 3 days are the hardest.  HCG doesn't do much for hunger for me, it helps release the fat in the body.  The first 3 days, the stomach is getting accustomed to the reduced food intake.  After that, you'll be used to it and it will become easier.  My first round, I almost didn't want to quit because I was used to it!

If you're going to an event, plan in advance (if you can) how you will handle food.  For example, my son's Blue and Gold Banquet for Cub Scouts is tomorrow.  I'd forgotten it when I began the protocol.  We're having tacos.  So I will enjoy the seasoned ground beef with lots of shredded lettuce.  Voila!  Taco salad!

So far, so good!

Today was the first day of the very low calorie diet after 2 days of loading.  There is an evil, evil cupcake sitting on my kitchen counter absolutely calling me to eat it.  However, I am holding strong, reminding myself why I'm doing this, and eating an apple dusted with cinnamon.  Yum!  I'm looking forward to weighing myself tomorrow to see what the first day brings!

I did gain 2 pounds during loading.  However, that is perfectly normal on the HCG diet.  I'm a little hungry today, but then again I only ate 1 meal instead of the 2 I am allowed - I wasn't hungry at dinnertime!  Lunch was a chicken breast grilled on my George Foreman grill.  I bought it because it's too cold to use the outdoor grill.  And romaine lettuce, an apple, and the croutons from a Caesar Salad kit.  It's a very filling lunch, and then at dinnertime I just wasn't hungry. 

A cheat that I use to get some dressing taste (no dressings allowed except for balsamic vinegar), is to put the dressing in a cup on the side, dip my fork into it, then spear the lettuce.  I get just a hint of dressing as opposed to a salad swimming in it, still get the taste, and don't stall my diet. 

The absolute wonderful thing about this program is that it works, it works very quickly, and that I am able to easily keep the weight off once it's gone.  Even the "approved" weight loss protocols don't do that.  When I work out and eat well, I can only maintain.  HCG is the only thing that has worked for me for weight loss.

I'm still nursing that sore shoulder - the pain isn't as bad, but my arm still goes to sleep at inopportune times, like when my kids are leaning against me and want affection.  It's irritating as can be. 

Reviewing HCG

I am beginning a new round of HCG (today was my 2nd load day) and realized that not only am I nearly out, I don't know if I can get more from my supplier in time.  So I've been  looking at other brands of homeopathic HCG to see what my alternatives are.

I've been getting some good laughs reading the reviews.  Remember - Homeopathic HCG has a vibrational fingerprint of HCG, so everyone who is used to the shots is screaming "Oh my hell, there's no HCG in that!"  Of course not.  And I don't care!  I want to know one thing, and one thing only.

Does it work in conjunction with the Simeons Pounds and Inches protocol?  

After reviewing several sites and brands, I have decided that nearly any brand will work.  Don't freak out if it says "hormone free" - homeopathic does not contain anything but water.  And that's OK, because it still works.  I don't care if it's a placebo effect, I care if the scales are going down and my clothes are getting too big - and if I still feel good through the process.

Tomorrow I begin the diet itself.  I've got chicken breast, apples, cucumbers, and lettuce waiting for me.  After gorging for two days, I'm looking forward to eating what I know will work.  Cucumbers are delicious sliced up with salt and maybe some hot sauce - just as good as chips!  Apples with a dusting of cinnamon, perhaps a dip of stevia, strawberries dipped in a little stevia for a treat.... I am never hungry on HCG, in fact often the salad and protein are plenty.

I'd tried to do a few more rounds before, but just could not stick to the diet, mostly for emotional reasons,  and ended up quitting within a couple of days.  This time I have firmly decided that the last 40 pounds are coming off.  I should reach that by Easter.

So far as the running, I'm struggling to get that done.  I have come to enjoy running, but the added step of getting to the rec center seems to be more than I want to do right now.  I did go yesterday, and I plan to go today.  Last week I was so exhausted for some reason that I was sleeping 12 hours or more a day and just felt like I couldn't function.  I don't know what the challenge was - last time that happened I was on vacation in Central America and fell asleep every time I was in the car, in addition to nights and siesta.  I must have been pushing myself way too hard (which would also explain the shoulder injury).

I will report back tomorrow!

The Mind Body Connection to Weight Loss

First off, let's throw out the whole stupid notion that fat loss is just "calories in, calories out."  If you're working with HCG as a method of weight loss, you already know that's just not true.  If that was true, I'd be about 84 pounds of skin and bones.  Really!

In the past, I have tried everything to lose weight.  Now, I'm not "obese" (except by those ridiculous BMI measurements - I carry a lot of muscle so I "weigh heavy" for my size), but I've always wanted to slim down and feel trim and sexy again.  After five kids, there's some extra belly weight.  I'm concerned about my health, and I want to be strong.

So, I tried everything.  I would work out twice a day, five days a week.  I ate next to nothing,  I'd subsist on salads and no protein.  I'd basically starve myself down, and then struggle to maintain.  The first real emotional issue that would come up, I'd go right back to food to medicate myself. 

I'm starting to understand that part of the reason I gain weight when I'm emotionally distressed is that fat provides a layer of "protection."  Granted, that protection is emotional rather than physical.  I've been told all my life that I'm fat (even when I had a 24" waist), and gaining weight is a way of "proving them right."  There are so many emotional issues tied up in weight and food!

Right now, I'm considering what I need to do to release the emotions related to food, so I crave healthy food and stop eating when I'm satisfied.  Even as I write this, I'm struggling with a craving for ice cream - and I know I can't have sugar. (I get headaches when I eat too much sugar.)  I don't want the ice cream for any reason other than emotions!  I want to fill an emotional void.

I also know that the void will still be there after eating a half gallon of ice cream.  So the thing to do to fill the void is consider why I want ice cream.  And to do EFT to release the craving.

The setup would be something like this:  "Even though I want to eat ice cream, I deeply and completely accept myself."

Then I can work through, tapping the reasons why I want the ice cream.  Even though I feel empty inside, I deeply and completely accept myself.  Even though I don't think I deserve to lose weight.  Even though I want to hide behind my fat.  All those reasons can come up and be worked through. 

And once you work through what is keeping you fat, you can release the weight with grace, and ease, and HCG.

Still struggling - working out helps!

You know, the first round I did was so easy.  I was able to stick to the protocol with grace and ease and quickly and effectively take the weight off.  This round has been a grind!  I'm sure a great deal of the challenge has to do with being put through the wringer emotionally.  When you're emotionally struggling, it's much harder to remove an emotional crutch, such comfort food. 

I am finding that a solid workout does a great deal to help with the depression and emotional challenges.  It doesn't have to be a huge, strenuous workout (and if you're in Phase 2 - VLCD, don't start a strenuous workout), even a walk around the block can help release endorphins and raise a low mood.

Before children, I'd use walking as a way to raise my mood.  There's nothing like a long, brisk walk to help you process a down mood or negative emotions.  (Once I had children, it was a bit more challenging, but I still work out in some way regularly.)

Currently, I'm in P2, and going to boot camp three days a week (my goal is to not lose muscle, always a concern on low calories).   I'm also starting to add more cardio to my workouts.  The more I can get my body moving, the better.  Keep in mind, however, that I'm fairly athletic to begin with, even with the extra weight I'm carrying around.  If you're not working out to begin with, try adding a 15 minute walk around the block at an easy stroll to begin with, and work up from there.  It'll help with cravings!

Headachy And Still Want Sweets! More on Emotional Eating (VLCD Day 2)

Yup, I'm still dealing with the emotional eating aspect.  I want to go on a monster binge - and that has nothing to do with hunger, but everything to do with sadness.  I'm still using EFT to manage the emotional process. 

Eating is such an emotional activity.  We eat when we're happy, we eat when we're sad.  We eat to celebrate (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day), and to commiserate.  We tend to eat more when we're with others (not me, though, as a binge eater I eat more alone).  Staying on a diet like this brings the emotional component of eating right up front.  I can't sit down and binge when I'm trying to lose weight, I have to feel my feelings.

Which usually isn't fun.  When I want to binge, I'm trying to fill an emotional void, which means I'm just not very happy.  I don't like being not happy, and I don't like feeling sad or blue, so I have a tendency to stuff those feelings right down.  Usually washed down with a half gallon of ice cream, eclairs, cheesecake, frosting right out the can....  Somehow salad doesn't quite work as a comfort food. 

Give me Southern fried foods, mashed potatoes loaded with gravy, and sweets any day. 

But for now, I need to forgo the comfort and remember the discipline.  I know what I want to look like.  I know what I want to feel like. 

I can do this. 

VLCD Day 1 - Filling the Emotional Void

I'm not hungry, but I want to eat.  (I bought some loading foods yesterday that I didn't finish.  I keep telling myself they will still be available when I come off the protocol.)  The emotional stress that I've been dealing with hasn't eased. 

I had 2 apples today, and a chicken breast baked in salsa and chili powder.  The recipe called for Colby Jack cheese, but I took that off mine.  (The kids liked the cheese.)  Spring greens in Walden Farms dressing on the side.  I was full when I was finished eating dinner (meat and salad) but now I want to eat everything in sight.  The sad thing is, like I said, I'm not hungry. 

It's like an emotional hole that I want to stop up with food.  I'm working on being more aware of it (hence the blogging) and I'm using EFT to manage it.  I'm going to fix myself some herbal teas and drink a few gallons of tea and/or water.  Filling up with fluids is a good thing.  I usually don't drink enough water (diet Coke doesn't count) so that's probably an issue there.

Water - I take my "refill cup" from the convenience store and fill it with ice water.  Looks like a cup of soda, I drink it through a straw, and I end up drinking a lot more water than I would otherwise.  Water is imperative any time you're trying to lose weight.  I never quite give up my diet Coke, but I cut way back and add huge amounts of water.  It helps.

Load Day 3

Yes, I know, Pounds and Inches says 2 load days.  I always do better when I do a third.  I've had so much fatty foods today, I am looking forward to healthy food tomorrow!  (Steak and salad on the menu!)  I've got apples chillin' in the fridge, plenty of salad greens, Walden Farms dressing, steaks, boneless skinless chicken breasts - yum! 

I freaked out a little when I weighed myself this morning.  But then, I had to remember that the weight gained from loading generally comes off quickly.  The fat loading is essential for rapid weight loss in the first week.  It's kind of like retaining water.  If you're retaining water, the best thing to do is ... drink more water.  I'm out to lose fat, so it makes sense to try to trick my body into believing that there is plenty of fat available.  That way, it won't try to hold on to it.

So far today I've had cheesecake, eclairs, pizza rolls, sour cream, cream cheese fruit dip.  I feel so full and kind of sick.  Here's to a rapid weight loss!

Load Day 2

I'm not sure how much loading I can stand to do.  I really feel ill from all the fats and junk food.  I'll be glad to start the protocol on Monday. 

While loading, eat as much fat as possible.  (As Americans, this should be fairly easy to do.)   Most people are actually deficient in dietary fats due to strenuous dieting and the mistaken notion that fats cause you to be fat.  Fats are required in the diet for mental strength (fats build the brain and nerves!), help with beautiful skin, prevent aging, and create hormones.  I always cringe when I see parents put young children on fat restricted diets - and I'm not sure fat-restricted diets are that good for grown ups, either.

I never eat fake fats.  No margarine, no "fat free" dairy.  Full fat butter, full fat dairy, olive oil.  The only time I restrict fats is on a temporary basis.  (Carbs are what tend to cause me to gain weight - that and emotional stresses that lead me to overeat.)

Great foods to load on?

Sour cream, cream cheese, full fat diary, ice cream, avocados, nuts and nut butters, hamburgers and fried foods (this is a good time to say goodbye to them!).  You're not after carbs so much - but fat, fat, fat! 

The whole thing is rather counterinutitive to me.  Start a diet by eating fatty foods? Loading helps control hunger as the hCG kicks in.  And it really works.  And, believe it or not, loading properly with high fat foods helps you lose more weight! 

Don't skip your load days.  I'm off to go eat some ice cream!

Load Day 1

Today is my first day back on hCG.  We had an office party for the four birthdays we have in February (Aquarius Rocks!) - cake and ice cream, a meat and cheese tray, fruit with dip.  I loaded up on ice cream and fattening dips.  Now I feel sick.

I sometimes wonder if Dr Simeons suggested this in the manner of getting a drunk to quit drinking during a hangover?  You know - right when they're sick and wailing, "I'll never drink again!"  LOL!  I'm always glad of a chance to work throught the binging at the beginning.  By the time it's time to hit the protocol, I'm thrilled to be eating clean again.

I Will Not Age Gracefully - I'm Fighting It Every Step of the Way!

For the most part, I believe in doing things with grace and ease.

Aging (and weight gain) is not one of those things.

I remember the old TV commercials where the beautiful blonde model said, "I'm not going to grow old gracefully. I intend to fight it every step of the way!"

That's my philosophy. 

My birthday was Monday.  Somewhat to my shock, I'm now 44.  

I just bought some Olay anti-aging products, I'm going back on protocol shortly, I'm drinking tons of water, and have decided that I will look young and gorgeous for as long as I can. I'm also growing my hair out longer. 

If only I had Dolly Parton's budget!  I always admired her, and I love her statement, "If I see something saggin', baggin', or draggin,' I'm having it nipped, tucked or sucked!"  (She's also known for saying, "It takes a lot of money to look this cheap."  I love Dolly.) 

And, as I said, I am going to skip the last post and start back on protocol again.  My last load day is scheduled for Monday.  I have set up my FridgeGraph account with a goal of 125 by the end of April. 

Here we go again!  :)

So far, so good!

I've recommitted to releasing the last little bit of weight.  It's been too easy lately to eat a bunch of foods that I know are going to pack on pounds (ice cream sandwiches, chocolate eclairs, and Nilla wafers have been my comfort foods of choice lately). 

So I'm back on protocol, and much to my surprise I released 4 pounds the first day. 

I've printed out my low-carb menu from Saving Dinner's Menu Mailer, and I've chosen my veggies.  I'm heading to the grocery store tomorrow.

I'm getting cucumbers that I can salt well for a crispy treat instead of potato chips.  Apples - trying different varieties.  Honeycrisps are delicious!  And a terrific treat is an apple dusted with cinnamon, perhaps with a little stevia.

I'm stocked up on yerba mate and herbal teas.  They are delicious with stevia to sweeten them and help me relax before bed. 

And I'm doing the acupuncture and EFT to help me control my cravings. 

So far, so good - I just have to take things one day at a time.

Using EFT to eliminate cravings

The holidays have been stressful for me.  Lots of good stuff, lots of....not so good stuff....that seems to be magnified by occurring in December.  My boyfriend went into the hospital the week before Thanksgiving, which stressed me almost to the limit.  Naturally, given my disposition, I don't show my emotion.  I stuff them.  Usually with a chocolate chaser.

That is NOT conducive to weight loss.  In fact (hangs head in shame) I gained back 18 pounds.

In 2 days, I've lost 4 of them.  I've started tapping to promote the weight loss.

If you don't know what tapping or EFT is, I invite you to check out the website http://www.eftuniverse.com/  There is information there on how to get started, and where to tap. 

The statements I used were:

(karate chop) Even though I am carrying this extra weight, I deeply and completely accept myself. 
(top of head) I don't need this weight.
(eyebrow) I can release this weight.
(under eye) It's safe for me to release this weight.
(under nose) I don't need this weight.
(sore spot) It's OK for me to release this weight.

The days I've used EFT, in conjunction with HCG and good nutrition, I've lost 2 pounds a day. You can use it to eliminate cravings, settle stress, stop smoking, and much more.   Let me know if you try it, and what your results were!

Stalled!

I've been stuck at 155 for a week now.  Even after an apple day, it's not moving.  I dropped two pounds and gained it right back.  I'm wondering what to do to shift the weight a bit faster. 

Boot camp started back up today after a week off, so maybe the exercise will help move things along. 

I am so frustrated!  Argh.

And this time I can't say that it's because of a cheat.  I've been following the protocol perfectly!

Finishing my break, back to the protocol

I'm going back on protocol again, and (since I use homeopathic) I'll stay on it until I've reached my goal weight.  I'm adding protein powder and vitamins this round, as I think I've depleted my nutrient stores pretty badly.  I'm also emphasizing drinking more water. 

So -- off we go!  35 pounds to go!

Does Homeopathic HCG Really Work?

It forever amazes me that people are willing to post idiotic things on the internet.  Things like, "Homeopathic HCG cannot work, because there's no HCG in it."  "Homeopathic HCG cannot work because hCG is a hormone...."

And yet, it does.  How ironic.  How many people are being deprived of an excellent method of weight loss due to cost, when homeopathic is available at a fraction of the cost, all because a few people, with no knowledge of medicine (let alone homeopathics) are claiming this does not work - based on, what, ten minutes of research on the web?

Homeopathic medicine does work.  And it works very well.  I've had tremendous success with it - not only for weight loss, but for other things too. 

Dr. Kendra Pearsall routinely uses homeopathic HCG in her practices, and in this article discusses the effectiveness of it.