One day at a time

I have officially completed all injections necessary for this round of HCG treatment.  Today was my first day without a shot, but I will continue the very low calorie diet (VCLD) today and tomorrow because there is still plenty of HCG in my body.

I am pleased with the results thus far.  They say, on average, a pound a day is lost, and I have lost 34.5 pounds as of this morning.  We will see as of Saturday morning when I am complete with the VLCD where my final statistics are.

Saturday starts 3 weeks of phase 3, where I am still not allowed to eat carbs or sugar, but I need to maintain a 1500 calorie diet with a protein, vegetable, and fruit combo I’ve gotten plenty used to in the last 40 days.  I am excited to broaden my foods a bit.  I’ve been stuck in this cycle of lean beef, chicken, and shrimp - or a combo of two - every day for over a month.  And eating out I will have more options because salads and proteins will open more variety.

I stored a lot of fat on my hips apparently, because my pants won’t stay up today, and my belt is at it’s tightest notch.  I suppose I shouldn’t be complaining, only because I’ve lost 1/3 of my weight lost goal already, but I’m sure my co-workers won’t be happy if my trousers drop all of the sudden today.  When does one decide it’s time to get their clothes taken in when there is still a long path of weight loss ahead of you????

I am going away for the weekend.  I will be very glad to get away, as well as to rest, relax and read :o)

Just a day short of 3 weeks on the very low calorie diet and I’m nearly 30 pounds lost and over 5 inches off my waist.  I’ve always worn my weight well.  Most people would never had thought I was as heavy as I was.  So the scale shows a large loss, but there are only subtle changes in my hip size, back, face and neck.  My problem areas of thighs and stomach haven’t changed much.

I had another work function on Friday.  We went to an Irish Pub where there was not much for me to eat, however I did order the bison burger with a side of kale.  I was so full that I ended up falling asleep early that night without really having dinner.

The rate of weight loss is declining as the weeks go on.  I have about 20 more days left before moving to a 1500 calorie diet.  This weekend tried my dedication to this diet as I was faced with a rush of emotions, and found myself, as an emotional eater, trying to stay strong not to eat what would “make me feel better”.  Unfortunately, I would say that I might have had less than I needed instead, which of course is just as bad as eating the wrong things.

When I was at my doctors last week, I was scolded for not taking a multi-vitamin, and then the doctor who did my nerve test suggested taking B6 for my nervous system.  I bought both today.  And in the count down to when the very low calorie diet is over, I am excited to get my workout routine into full swing since being ‘benched’ during this time.

So I’ve lost 25 pounds so far and over 4.5 inches from my waist.  My biggest fear this week is balancing my diet with work functions.  We had a few visitors from our Wichita office in yesterday and the place they ordered lunch from literally did not have one thing on the menu that I could eat.  It was frustrating.  Luckily, they offered to puchase something from the resturant on the first floor of our building so I didn’t have to be the only one to provide my own lunch.  I tried a salad with grilled chicken.  I felt like an idiot asking for no bacon, no cheese, and no nuts that came with the salad I ordered.  And I’ve read in a few books how they suggest not combining the vegetables so the tomatos and cucumbers, while not in quantities of a serving each, would be combined with the lettuce and may deter weight loss.  When I weighed this morning I had not gained, but I was stale even from yesterday, so no loss either.  I’ve got another work function tomorrow, so we’ll see if the menu is a little bit more reasonable for me.

25 pounds is a big deal.  People keep telling me I should be happier about the loss I’ve had so far.  I certainly am, but when I’m driven, I’m disappointed until I reach what I’ve set my sights on.  I still have 20+ days on the low calorie diet so I have plenty of time to lose more, it just won’t be as quickly or as much as I had in the first week, and I understand that.

I don’t know if my family doesn’t support this diet or they just don’t notice the change, but I’m not getting the response from them that I had expected.  I guess that’s had an emotional impact on me.  But then again, I don’t remember the last time I heard “I’m proud of you” from one of them…maybe college graduation?

Oh well, I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished so far.  We’ll see where I am in another 20+ days!

So this morning, just 9 days of injections and only 7 days on the very low calorie diet, I weighed in a nearly 18 pounds lost. My mind is pretty strong now even with the untouchable foods like cupcakes and patties at work and mashed potatoes at home. I don’t give myself a choice - I stick to my meals, there is no other option.

I’m starting to see a physical change where my stomach has become flatter. The downside - my face broke out this weekend as if I was 15 again. I am hoping using some moisturizer will help the dry red spots go away.

Made homemade meatballs and marinara sauce this weekend from a HCG cookbook! Very yummy. I’ll look at making some dressings this weekend as plain lettuce is not yummy…

I realize I am only at the beginning of this adventure, but I am excited.  After the first full day of the very low calorie diet, I’ve already lost 4 pounds.  I’ve had more energy today that I’ve had in MONTHS.

I’ve stuck to the diet very well.  I did learn that gum was not a good idea.  I chewed gum today and it stirred up the digestive juices so my stomach grumbled a few more times today than yesterday.  Also those who have said I need to change toothpaste and shampoo for this regiment are misinformed.  My case manager even said I could use my moisturizer.

I may not write each day, but when I learn things, I will certainly share.

My experience with my weight has not been something I openly talk about - much less write about - because I am definitely a private person.  I’ve tried it all - Weight Watchers, calorie counting, no carbs, etc. and it works for a short amt of time and then it becomes less of a habit and more of a chore and my weight yo-yos.

More recently I realized that I need to make a huge life change.  Forget the fad diets and get serious.  I needed to make a conscious decision to live differently.  In my research I found articles about the HCG diet.  Through 40 years of research by Dr. ATW Simeons combine daily injections of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin, a water based hormone) and a very low calorie diet in order to reset one’s metabolism and promote careful consideration of portion sizes and the nutritious value of food.

When HCG is not involved and calories are severely restricted, the body first burns normal fat, then structural fat (the fat necessary for our survival as it protects our organs), and only then is the abnormal fat - the stuff we all want to get rid of - burned.

I had a couple of concerns.  1st, I am petrified of needles.  There are HCG drops out there, but I’ve read they may not be true drops depending on the manufacturer.  Plus it’s tougher to be compliant with the drop program because you have to take it 3 times a day, 30 mins before you eat.  I truly was concerned about sticking a needle in me - I’ve spent my whole life avoiding doctors for just this reason.  But the needle is more like an insulin needle I’ve been told.  All the more reason to overcome a fear.

2nd concern was the very low calorie diet (VLCD).  500 calories each day.  No dairy or carbs at first.  um, excuse me?  I would be starving after only 3 hrs when I could eat anything, how in the world am I going to survive on 500 calories?!  And dairy - cheese just makes everything better.  Could I go without it in my life?

In the end, I decided to try it.  I thought it would be a good life lesson to start with and see how I do.

This diet comes in 4 phases.  Phase 1 I started on Saturday.  Nicknamed the “gorge” or “loading” days, all someone does is load up on fatty foods.  They literally told me to eat foods high in fat and eat all day long.  Literally, I ate until I felt like it wasn’t going to stay down any longer.  I ate cheese fries, a huge prime rib, cheeseburgers, and fried chicken.  I also considered it my last “hoorah” in the food world, so I treated myself to mint oreos and a butterfinger blizzard.  Oddly enough, the injections were like nothing.  I’ve figured out where to inject on my stomach so that I can’t even feel it (found by unfun trial and error of course!).

Today started Phase 2 - daily injection and 500 calories only.  I prepared the two meals I would eat today last night at home.  Each meal had a protein, fruit and vegetable.  100g of lean ground beef made two very cute hamburger patties!  I took the injection around 7am and waited until about 11:30am to have the fruit portion early, which was the first time I started to feel hungry.  Between the two meals I had lean ground beef, chicken, apple, orange, cucumber, tomato, and two Melba Toast pieces.  I made it through cupcake and ice cream temptations.  I even made it through the steak and potato my dad had for dinner.  And if I’ve done my calorie figures correct, I’m actually under 400 calories for the day.

I wanted to write this down not only for me, but if someone out there was looking for support, this entry could be found.  I’ll report back from time to time, or vent my cravings, if any, as needed.  until next time…