Happy Inch Day

Just dropping in to give the results of our week three measurements!

I lost another 2.5 inches, and my friend lost another 7 inches :-) We are at 18 lbs lost and 15 lbs lost on VLCD #22.

Not bad. It has been a tough week, lol. I am finally finished with TOM, and ready for week four. I have read a lot about the terrible week three, where you get sick of your food, have stalls in losses as your body adjusts, often encountering TOM (if you, like me, start hcg just after your cycle ends) and psychologically reach that place where you decide whether to stop at a short 23 day round, or hold out for 40. So, yes...now I understand, lol. I am no less excited than when I began, but am ready for a fresh and fantastic week four! AND dreaming of P3 and it's expanded menu. Not that I can complain really...tonight is curried chicken and spinach soup. Yum!

We are definitely holding out for 40 days and hoping for our original 30-35 lb goal =-) See you soon!

Steady as she goes!

Today is VLCD# 21 and I am down to 201.6, for a total of 18 lbs so far ;-) It has been a happy October! My friend is holding at 195, but still seems to be losing inches. There is a corrective measure called and Apple Day, I will research that just in case. Friday evening is "Inch Day" or the happy day we measure our inch loss.

My size 12's are fitting comfortably now, and I am feeling hopes of getting into a size 10 by the time this round is over.

Happy almost Halloween everyone. I have a busy weekend planned, but I promise to stop in and update our stats a time or two.

Only 2 more lbs to ONEderland!

The beautiful place where the number on the scale begins with a ONE! It has been an amazing weekend, and I am still in shock over my successes so far. I knew it was going to great, but to feel this good while changing this fast...awesome. Life is good, and getting better every day!

Today is VLCD# 19, and I am down 17 lbs to 202.6, while my buddy is up .2 today, but looking amazing as she shrinks out of her clothes, so who cares about the brief stall, lol!

The good news is, we are half-way to P3, and the rebalancing phase (which will last three weeks.) Then P4 (phase 4) for another 3 weeks. The beginning of round 2 will be near the first of January, so any of you who want to join me for round two can plan ahead!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

18 vs 12

The new pics are the first in each set (no necklace ;-)

From size 18 to size 12 in 16 days

I promised I'd let you know how the shopping went, and there it is. I kept trying on pants, thinking...it's a fluke. But no, my instincts were right, and I am comfortably wearing size 12 now, though they are snug. I'm guessing that they'll be perfect by next week and loose soon after that, lol! I cried a couple of tears in the privacy of my dressing room. Freedom.

I had a fabulous time at my friend Robin's 40th b-day bash, and I even danced...with no alcohol induction! It has been a long time since I felt comfortable enough in my own skin to dance...it felt really amazing!

Today's stats for VLCD# 17: down .2 lbs to 203.8 for me, and down 1.6 lbs to 195 for my hcg buddy. Happy Sunday everyone!

Happy Saturday :)

VCLD #16, and I am down another 2.6 lbs today! My friend is down 3.4 lbs!!! That means 15.4 lbs and 16.25 inches lost in 16 days for me. 15.4 POUNDS and 16.25 INCHES in 16 DAYS!

And for my hCG buddy: 14.8 POUNDS and 18.5 INCHES in the same 16 days!!!!

What more can I say folks?

I am off to the thrift store for pants that will stay on. I only have one pair now!

Happy weekend everyone!

UNbelievable!

Today is VLCD # 15 and I am down .2 lbs (not bad for TOM.) However, since it is my measure day, I feel compelled to say that I have lost ANOTHER 9, yes 9, inches! That is a total of 16.25 inches of FAT gone in 2 weeks. My friend lost 9.5 inches, for a total of 18.5! UnFREAKINGbelievable!

My size 16's are hanging off of me. I can not be certain, but I suspect I may fit into a size 12 now. I am going to thrift store shopping tomorrow (no reason to spend big bucks on pants I'll only be able to wear briefly, right? LOL!) I will be certain to let you know.

WOO HOO! Happy Friday people. I have to say, I needed this today. I went to the divorce attorney w/ Ivan today to begin the official proceedings. Even if it is right, and necessary, it is still undeniably sad. However, between the tape measure and my great friends who are taking me out to a movie tonight, I am feeling loved and supported. And perhaps just a touch sexy ;-)

Loving the compliments!

I wish I could say that I can see a fabulous loss when I look in the mirror, but not really much so far...though I DID notice my neck looked longer yesterday, and I can shadows of shifting in my face. However, I am getting complements nearly every day now...so I feel certain that it shows.

I CAN feel the weight coming off, and am stunned each and every day to realize my close fit differently every time I get dressed. I am loving this! Tomorrow is our second day for measuring, so I look forward to posting those for you.

Down to business: today VLCD# 14 and I have lost 12.8 lbs. My friend had a stall/gain, but is back to her lowest weight today, putting her at 12 lbs gone exactly. *Happy Dance* No complaints here! My appetite is wonderfully non-existent, making following the plan simple and avoiding indulgences much easier. I have begun to dig a little deeper to vary the menu, which is a bit narrow for me since I don't like seafood and have found that beef causes stalling for me. I can imagine that for someone who actually likes chicken, tillapia, shrimp, lobster, etc, and who can still lose with beef...that it would be a delightful menu. As it is, with just the chicken and tillapia I have been able to keep it pretty interesting, though with 24 days remaining, 26 with the two clearing hcg from the system, I am feeling even these dishes will become a bit weary. I'll keep you posted!

11 pounds in 12 days

Today is VLCD# 12, and this morning's weigh in gave me another 1.4 lb loss, after a few days of stalling again. I am quite happy with the results, and the inch loss, but still feeling a bit baffled by the hanging numbers/drops. I think most people tend to lose at a more steady pace, but it seems my body is a bit different in that regard, lol. It is good to keep my eye on the big picture and realize that all is well, even when the required morning weigh in is deceptive (as a biology student I recognize that a complex dance of fat loss, toxin release, water retention and release, and other rebalancing factors are at play here...but I still get the emotional attachment to instant outcome gratification, even when my head knows better.)

I'll be back soon! I'm keeping it short because my final paper for my shortened 8 wk online class is due today, and that means I'll have a bit more free time for the remainder of the semester...WOO HOO!

Seven and Nine

Before I begin, I want to tell you that my friend and i went shopping last week, a few days into our program, and I purchased a beautiful sweater in a size medium. I did so despite the fact that when I tried it on it was very tight, but I could tell the shape and color would be very complimentary eventually. I normally wear XL or L, depending on the cut. Then, only four days later, I felt that I had begun to shift in the inches department...so I tried it on fully expecting it would still be tight and unattractive. I was wrong! It was smooth and lovely on me, and though still snug, it looked fabulous ;-) I am thrilled to be re-shaping so nicely! OK, on to the details...

Today is VLCD # 11. I have been doing the mini-stall thing again this week, with my last three weigh ins being a gain of .6 lbs, a gain of .2 lbs, and a loss of .4 lbs. Leaving me in basically the same weight loss category as last check in (209.8...a total of nearly ten lbs gone in 10 days, so still impressive.) However, we measured on Friday, and I have lost an amazing 7.25 inches thus far!!! Seven inches gone!

My anonymous friend has had a steady loss of nearly a pound each day, and has, so far, lost 9 inches! Woo HOO! She is also officially in ONEderland, having reached 198.6 lbs today :) Nearly 11 lbs in 10 days *happy dance!!!*

Once again, I am still registering heavy ketosis, I can feel my body changing dramatically, but I am not seeing the numbers on the scale drop as quickly as I would like. Stay tuned!

I am eliminating splenda for a couple of days, and making certain I have adequate water intake. I will also start a more detailed journal of my activities to see if there is something I may be missing which is causing the stall on the scale. Honestly, I suspect I will have another big drop (2 to 4 lbs) soon...like I did the last week when this same pattern was unfolding.

Happy Monday everyone!

Supplies and Inspiration Links

I thought I'd share my supply and inspiration links:

ESSENTIAL reading for those considering the protocol or who have questions: Dr Simeon's "Pounds and Inches" which explains the protocol:
http://www.hcginfoonline.com/ORIGINAL_Dr_Simeons_Pounds_and_Inches.htm

Some current hCG research:
http://www.hcgobesity.org/

For the hCG itself:
http://www.alldaychemist.com/

Note: hCG can be mixed for oral subligual use rather than the injections I chose. It is also availble in homeopathic drops or spray, which do actually contain hCG but seem to be nearly as effective. There are also clinics available, at a much higher cost, if you feel daunted by the idea of doing this yourself!

For the injection supplies:
http://www.researchsupply.net/

NOTE: there are other suppliers for the hcg and supplies, these were the ones I chose based on good pricing.

An incredible group of people using hCG, in its oral, injection, and homeopathic forms:
http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/index.html NOTE: search for hCG in the bulletin boards and the group will come up. It is a high volume thread, new each month, so between the current month and past archives you can read to your heart's content and see real results.

Another great group for information and support:
http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/index.html

And finally, I highly recommend searching YouTube for "hcg diet," "dr. simeon's protocol," etc...there are many vlogs and informational videos from a wide variety of people using hcg. Read with discretion of course! My favorite you tubers: mamaclok and delmem

Enjoy!

VLCD # 7: Nearly 8 lbs GONE!

Today's weigh in brought me down to 211.2...a total of 7.8 lbs WOO HOO! The great news is that my clothes are already feeling loose, especially the pants ;-) My protocol buddy has lost exactly 8lbs so far, most of that early on since this is her TOM. I can't wait to see what next week brings!

No hunger issues for the last several days. Injections going smoothly. No side effects I can note. So far, so good!

Easy Breezy

Today is VLCD # 5. I actually gained .2 lbs today, and my friend gained 2 lbs. Strangely enough, we are both really OK with it. She is experiencing TOM and though we are being aware of what is going on in our diet and lifestyle (she tried some oil free lotion yesterday, for example,) we feel like we are being very intentional and all will balance out in the end. Also, my keto sticks are still showing that I am in ketosis, so I feel confident all is well.

On the extreme upside, I am no longer feeling more than mild hunger, and only that at mealtimes ;-) Yea! The shots are going smoothly, the diet is simple, clean, and so far delicious. I have lost over five lbs in 4 days. SO...I am shiny and will be glad to let you know how weigh in goes tomorrow. I am really psyched to do measurements again on Friday!

We're MELTING!!!

VLCD 3

Ok, today's weigh in was -.2 lb (4.2 lbs total) for me, -3 lbs (6lbs total) for my buddy. A little less than I had hoped for myself, but I am feeling the shift in my body and down is good by any degree, lol. I am also using a keto-stip to test for ketones in my urine, which indicate the body is burning fat. I am solidly in ketosis, so I am looking forward to both a more dramatic loss tomorrow, and a good showing of inch loss on Friday!

My issue today has been increased hunger. Luckily, my partner in protocol is not experiencing the same issues. My sources tell me this will pass soon, and if not there are adjustments which will need to be made (more protein or high iu's of hcg.) I'll definitely keep you posted! Honestly, I think my metabolism has been down so long it is just jumping back in the swing of things.

Thus far, no temptation has been enough to even coming close to swaying me, even though I have been around odious amounts of social eating every single day. Friday was a party with homemade cookies, Saturday was the VW lover's Halloween gather with tons of food and alcohol, and today was the big Chili cook-off at church. I just keep telling myself there is plenty of time to indulge later, and feeling fit and healthy makes it all worthwhile!

I am proud of myself (and my wonderful friend.) We're MELTING!

4 lbs!

My VLCD 2 weigh in was a shocking 4 lb loss! WOO HOO! That puts me a solid lb under my pre-loading weight ;-)

I am enjoying that floating on air feeling for day 2, and though I do not expect quite such dramatic results every day...it is nice to begin with a bang. I became quite hungry by 2:30 this afternoon, while attempting to wait for my protocol buddy, who was planning to lunch with me today. I finally gave up and enjoyed a yummy spinach and chicken soup, along with my melba. I had my apple earlier for mid-morning snack. I am planning to bake my apple this evening with cinnamon and stevia to add a dessert like touch to my lemon pepper tilapia salad dinner ;-)

I did experience stinging with my shot this morning...perhaps because I was so giddy and impatient after my morning weigh in, lol.

My silent partner ALSO lost enough to put her below her pre-load day weight, coming in at 3 lbs lost. I will be posting her stats and pics along with mine, but leaving her information private at her request. SO, you get to see the results in double time, lol.

Day 3, VLCD #1

Here I am, closing out day three of injections, but my first day of the restricted calorie diet. I have to say I spent the greater part of the day with absolutely no hunger. I ate lunch a bit late, and had dinner around 5:30. I reserved my grapefruit for around 7pm. I was feeling hungry for the first time all day by 8 pm and demolished that feeling with a cup of coffee minus the cream.

If I had been wiser I would have gone to bed early, lol. Now it is after midnight (because I went to see a movie: The Hangover, definitely worth it) and I am finishing my last 20 oz of water. I am mildly hungry again, but honestly, I am OK with that. If I had been in bed by 11, as planned, I would be blissfully unaware of craving food just because my teenage son is eating it in front of me.

So, yes...day 3: success. I'll let you know how weigh in goes tomorrow ;-) I'll also try to post my original measurements, in preparation for my week 1 weigh, measure, and pics.

It All Begins: Loading Days!

I took my first injection of hcg yesterday morning and began my first official load day. I was AMAZED at how easy the injection was and how little pain was involved (I have been queasy at the thought of injections from the get-go...I hate needles.)

Yesterday (my first load day) was a truly miserable experience, lol. I am doing this in tandem with a close friend, so she stopped by to do injections together and we celebrated by going to IHOP and beginning our load with a bang. I swear, the hcg was already affecting me within that first hour! I had to force down my breakfast (3 eggs, 4 slices of bacon, and a pumpkin pancake with lots of real butter and butter pecan syrup.) I then came home and ate every couple of hours (avocado, cream cheese, coconut oil, sharp cheddar, cheeseburger patty, cheesecake filling.) Evey time I put something in, it was forced. I then went to Logan's steakhouse for dinner, and enjoyed a juicy steak, sauteed mushrooms, 1/2 sweet potato with loads of butter and cinnamon. I though I might really die. I walked out SO full, lol. Valiantly, I was able to finish out the night with five strips of bacon and a slice of cheesecake. I only got in about 70 oz of water. I am also savoring every cup of creamy coffee I can, since that may be my one tragic loss for the remainder of protocol.

Despite all that, I still woke with a .4 lb loss today. I hope the load shows up better tomorrow! I am off and running with a similar day today, only no carb rich foods (I HAD to have my pumpkin pancake yesterday, lol. They only come once a year !)

SO begins my journey. Thanks for reading!

Basics: What the Protocol looks like

The protocol, based on Dr Simeon's "Pounds and Inches" is based on using the hormone hcg, in conjunction with a very low calorie diet or VLCD, to assist people in losing fat from their abnormal fat stores (as opposed to losing a combination of fat, muscle, structural or normal fat, and other healthy tissue.) Normally present in pregnant women, hcg is a natural sunstance that is not dangerous for women OR men. The protocol has been around for many years, faced some controversy, and still has a healthy run of supporters and nay-sayers. I am not here to do battle with these ideas. I am here because I have done the research and am aware of numerous people, both in my personal life and through online forums, who have had/are having enormous success.

The program requires daily injections of the hormone hcg (availble by prescription or, as I did by purchasing from overseas.) For the first two days of injections, eating high fat foods is required: aka load days. After that, a very specific food plan is laid out which will be followed for the remainder of the protocol, and for two days afterward as the hcg leaves your system. After limited number of injection days (23 to 40...I am planning to do 40,) there is a stabilization period, which I will describe in more detail later, that allows you to return to a richer food menu while your body balances the rapid weight lost during the injections. You may then choose to do another round. Typical wieght loss PER DAY on the protocol is between .5 and 3 lbs a day.

Official "Before" Pics

These were taken the night before my first injection. My official starting weight: 219 lbs. There are also more scantily clad ones, lol, but I'll save you the pain until there are some good differences for you to note.