Clean Eating and Cardio!

OK, so I got a little carried away with the traveling and holiday fare (my mother's oh-so-lovingly prepared turkey and noodles, to be exact!) I have not had a weight fluctuation, but I can say for certain that at least twice this weekend I ignored my body's signals and now I feel groggy and a bit out of sync. My buddy is feeling much the same way, so we are planning a correction day and a return to a very clean menu for a few days. The really good news is, we are about ready to begin adding cardio back in for a few weeks and perhaps a good, gentle yoga. I miss the regular movement of my body, and I feel ready to connect to the new shape I am experiencing...before it shrinks again in January, lol!

I will be heading into surgery on the 22nd, so things will slow down again after that while I take a relaxing sojourn of healing. It is my intention, if I am feeling ready, to begin loading for R2 on Dec 31st. Here's to a peaceful and healing holiday season!

Cruising through P3

Nothing new to report :) We are both still experiencing some weight fluctuation within range of acceptability. I'm looking forward to expanding the menu again in P4, and especially to beginning round 2 at the end of December.

My buddy calls round 1 the chopping phase, R2 the chiseling phase, R3 the sanding phase, and R4 (if needed) the polishing stage, lol. I think it is an apt analogy!

Happy Thanksgiving week!

Inches Update

So, we finally had time to measure this morning, and our final set of P2 stats included a 4 inch loss for me and 5.75 inches for my buddy (27 total for me, 33.25 total for her!) Awesome.

P3 is going well. I feel a bit heavy eating regular meals after such a simple and clean 40 days, and am finding it hard to get in my proper amount of calories...a good problem I suppose, lol. I'll keep up the good fight and let you know how stabilization goes. I was pretty close to my 2 lb upper limit this morning, so tomorrow may be a correction day.

I'm still loving those compliments!

Blessings,
Angela

P3 is here!

I enjoyed breakfast today, and am sipping pumpkin spice coffee...heavenly! My final official weight: 194. Yes, folks: 25 lbs down in 35 (instead of 40) days. I am good with it, lol. My buddy ended at 186, putting her at 23 lbs down. We still have to measure today to give you the final inch stats, but I doubt we'll be disappointed, lol.

I have to say, I was worried that it would be difficult to contine the VLCD once injections stopped on Tuesday...but my fears were unfounded. Neither of us has experienced and hunger. It was not hard to eat breakfast today (I was ready for eggs, lol) but there was no great hunger, even 72 hours after stopping the hcg ;-)

Happy Friday! I'll keep you posted ;-)

Cutting it short!

Much to our confusion, my hCG buddy and discovered that we were running quite low on our injection mixture a couple of days ago. With only a few days left, we decided it is better to end a few days early than to remix another batch and risk having it lose it's potency before R2 (beginning Dec 31st.)

Therefore, today was our final injection, putting us 72 hours away from P3 (phase 3, maintenance begins: 3 weeks of no sugars/starch, but otherwise normal caloric intake.) During this time we must remain in a very strict window of 2lbs above and below our last hCG weigh in. There are measures in place to assist us with this (steak days and various modifications of the same.) The really great news is that while our bodies are stabalizing and restoring/resculpting muscle tone, we should continue to lose inches ;-)

I'll log in with our official end of R2 stats tomorrow or Thursday!

There she goes!

I am happy to report that I am down another 2.2 lbs in the last few days, putting me at 23 lbs in 30 VLCD's :-) Only 8 injection days left, and 10 days until P3! My friends has finally broken her stall and lost just over a lb last night...I look forward to seeing her morning weigh in! I lost 2.75 inches this week, and she lost 2. Here comes our final week!

I just got in from a late movie with my son and roomie, so it's off to bed for me! (Love Happens...MUCH better than I would have guessed for a romantic comedy, BTW.) I wanted to stop in and give you an update and apologize for keeping you waiting, lol. I'm making it a priority to do a little better this week ;-) Want a picture? Sure you do. This is me enjoying a cup of Yerbe Mate after Art Walk on Friday :) Tired, but happy.

Fellow hCG Blog

A link to a fellow hGCer, Colin Watson's blog:

http://hcgdietrevealed.blogspot.com/2009/11/are-hcg-orders-being-stopped-by-us.html

Enjoy!

Another Day, Another Pound!

Today is VLCD # 27 and I am down another lb today. My friend had a slight gain. We have 11 more injection days to go, 13 more VLCD days (there is a 72 hour period of releasing the remaining hCG from your system, during which the low calorie diet must be maintained.)

I have been researching P3 (the first 3 weeks of our 6 week stabilization period) today, and am beginning to get excited about the new menu possibilities coming our way. Essentially, a no starch/sugar plan. Here is a nice summary page:

http://www.hcginfoonline.com/maintenance%20phase.htm

And a fantastic recipe thread:

http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/lowcarb-recipe-help-suggestions/

First on my list: Pumpkin Toffee Coffee. I have a new recipe that has been brewing in my head and luckily, it's the perfect time of year for it!

Happy Wednesday everyone :) OH! And for those of you following on FB, you can access the original blog here @ Blogger.com by hitting the read original post link at the bottom of the note. It is much easier to read and follow if you do (especially if you want to read my earlier blogs!)

I have ARRIVED!

Officially in ONEderland this morning! I lost 1.2 lbs, putting me at 199.6 on VLCD # 26 *Happy Dance!*

My friend is down another lb as well, putting her at 190.6! That is a running total of 20.2 lbs and 25.5 inches for her, and 19.8 lbs and 18.25 inches for me in LESS than one month: 26 days. WOW.

Everyday is a new adventure: clothes fitting differently from the last time we wore them, new contours and muscle definition and bones, and a slightly different face in the mirror each morning. We have two weeks left, and though we are looking forward to P3 and P4 menu expansion, we are more excited than ever to see where the inches fall off in this last stretch. I am wondering if I can make size 10 for the holidays :)

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Breaking 200?

I am heading out of town today, and won't be able to weigh in tomorrow morning. A shame since I hit 200.8 this morning and am thrilled to see if I break that 200 lb barrier and head into ONEderland! I'll let you know Tuesday morning ;-)

My friend woke up this morning to a 4lb loss, breaking her stall and bringing her to a lovely 191.6!

VLCD #24, 16 day to go...Life is good! Thanks for stopping by!

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!

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!