My HCG Protocol Experience

Things You May Need Before Starting HCG Protocol

2011-02-03T14:24:00.000-05:00

I'm starting my 2nd round next week, and thought it would be a good idea to list some things that you may want to have on hand when you start:

Mineral Oil and Vaseline (body/hair products that won't absorb)
Stevia-- You will need this natural sugar substitute to sweeten your tea, lemonade, and in some fruit recipes
Bag of Lemons-- I don't know what I would have done without my fresh lemonade :)
Sandwich bags or freezer bags. I pre-portioned my proteins and threw in the freezer for convenience.
Potassium Supplement -- prevents or stops muscle cramps
Crushed tomatoes -- I used them in some recipes as my tomato portion
Organic Chicken broth --not on protocol, but I used it sparingly in come recipes and to steam some of the veges
Variety of teas-- this protocol diet can get boring, so variety in whatever we can have is welcomed!S
Scale and measuring tape. Track that progress!

Can't think of anything else right now, but if I think of something else, I'll add it.

P3, P4, Ready to start Round 2!

2011-02-02T08:39:00.000-05:00

Hey Ya'll! In my MC HCG Sis Rapper Voice:

Its been a long time, long time, I shouldn't have left you, left you...without some dope blog entries to chill to, chill to....wiki wiki wiki...

Ok, so I'm no rapper, but I do apologize for my absence. But as the saying goes, no news is good news!

I've maintained my weight of 168, going up slightly during TOM, and coming back down with no problem. I've eaten whatever I wanted (pizza, pie, ice cream, etc), just not a ridiculous amount. I've been tickled to death with the results. I'm starting Round 2 in a week, so I'll be back on for my daily blogs, God-Willing!

Talk to you soon :)

P3, days 1-3; +3 lbs over LDW, but TOM is in the house....

2011-01-01T10:56:00.000-05:00

Salaam and Good Morning All!

Well, after my last vlcd day on hcg, I did the three vlcd days for letting it leave my system, then moved onto P3. P3 is the three weeks where one avoids sugars and starches, but eats everything else (fats, any protein, veges, and fruits that aren't too starchy). This is the part of the protocol where the current weight becomes stabilized.

I find myself missing P2, but boy am I lovin' me some P3! I mean, I'm eating cashews and almonds like they're going out of style. My first meal was a 2 egg omelet with green peppers, onions, marbled cheddar cheese, and some homemade beef sausage. Eating it was like stepping into a warm jasmine and vanilla bubble bath--it felt GOOOD! LOL! I've eaten turkey chili with sour cream, chicken salad on lettuce, crispy baked chicken and kale (I made cauliflower faux mashed potatoes, but didn't like the texture. I would rather have eaten the cauliflower by itself with some seasonings and a hint of butter), and fried chicken dipped in an eggwash (didn't miss the flour batter). I've also made that stevia sweetened creamy hot chocolate, which was amazing! I'm not craving carbs much, but I'm looking forward to a bowl of cereal, and maybe a biscuit at dinner.

If you recall, my LDW (last dosage weight) was 165. We should not exceed 2 lbs over that LDW. If we do, we must do a correction day (basically eating protein), and the weight should go back down to our LDW. Well, TOM paid me a visit on my first P3 day (Wendesday), and its still here, of course. I got on the scale this morning and was 168 lbs! But, I've done my homework, and I'm not alarmed, folks. It seems many woman gain during TOM, and a correction day isn't warranted until TOM leaves and we don't see the weight go back down. I definitely feel bloated. So, I'm eating reasonably (I think I may lay off the salted cashews though, I tell you--they're addictive!), and I'm just going to see where I am when TOM leaves before I do a correction.

I have posted some after pics, including changing that blog pic to the right. My girlfriend, who is also embarking on her own hcg journey, is a professional photographer, so maybe I'll get a better pic soon (after round 2 maybe?). But wow, I am so glad to SEE the difference! God is Great, Indeed! And I am ever grateful!

TTYL

VLCD #37, My Last Day on Hcg for this round

2010-12-27T07:17:00.000-05:00

Well, Friday December 24th wound up being my last day on Hcg, because I ran out a day short. So, after doing some research, the weight you claim as your LDW (Last Dosage Weight) is what you weigh the morning of the day you take your last doses. So that would put my LDW at 165 lbs.

That's a total weight loss for Round 1 of my Hcg Protocol 23 lbs! I am totally happy with that :)

While I had ambitiously hoped to lose 30 lbs this round, I am just so happy I lost that much. Oh, and I also lost about 15-20 inches off of my body (I didn't measure myself until after week 1). I just feel soooo much better looking in the mirror, or trying on clothes. While I'm happy to move into P3, eating whatever I want minus the sugars and starches, I find myself looking forward to my next P2 round, when I can release more lbs! But for now, I'm going to focus on maintaining my weight. P3 is very critical for finalizing and stabilizing the set-point of the metabolism (so my body will want to stay at 165 lbs as opposed to shooting back up to 188 lbs or higher).

TTYL

VLCD #36 Another Milestone!

2010-12-25T08:49:00.001-05:00

Glory be to God! Great Mornin' to ya!

Yesterday I attended Jumuah (prayer service), and it was one of my first public appearances since losing over 20 lbs. I ran into a girlfriend who immediately noticed my face was smaller. She was like, "Wow, girl, you look good, look at your face!" LOL. Together, we went to visit another friend, and later she told me she was surprised to see my face looking so healthy and vibrant. She had known others to lose weight fast, and their face actually looked a bit gaunt and aged, sometimes with darkness under the eyes. Masha'Allah, I was like that's the Hcg, honey! And my other girlfriend's reaction? As soon as I hit the door, even with my coat on, she was like, "OH....MY.....GOSH!!" She kept on looking at me in disbelief. A beautiful day, I tell ya.

Now onto my results for yesterday:

I lost another lb, bringing me to an even 165 lbs! That is my official Driver's license weight!! Now, I only have today and tomorrow left for my hcg VLCD days, followed by 2-3 more VLCD days without hcg as the hormone is leaving my system. Then its time for some good eatin', and I can't wait! TOM is on its way (was fighting some serious cravings so getting out of the house helped distract me), so I'll be glad to add some more foods in, and have some stevia hot chocolate with half n half cream! Ooooh, and that natural sugar free ice cream I told you all about (Clemmy's from Harris Teeter). I made that hot chocolate for my sister yesterday (who is on P3), and I did take a lil' taste--it was a creamy pleasure!

Now, today may wind up being my last day with hcg, because it seems I'm a bit short (if you go slightly above that .5 cc mark, it adds up over the days, so next time I may add an extra cc of B12 to account for human error in dosing). My sister had a tiny bit left over, so I'll see if its enough for me to do my last hcg day tomorrow. I wanted to try and lose another lb or two, to give me that 2 lb wiggle room to go up to 165 lbs instead of 167 lbs (if 165 winds up being my last dosage weight). Another part of me is like, "you know what?? Yes, I'm done!!" LOL. I'll keep you posted.

Once again, I cannot WAIT to show you guys my after pic...just another day or so, God Willing :-)

TTYL

VLCD #33-35

2010-12-24T09:47:00.001-05:00

Here's the latest update:

On VLCD 33 I stayed 167.
On VLCD 34 I lost a pound, bringing me to 166!
On VLCD 35 I stayed the same, still 166. I wonder if the coconut oil I used to moisturize after showering played a part in no loss.

I have 3 more days left, including today.

If you don't like the HCG diet, don't do it!!!

2010-12-22T05:16:00.002-05:00

*Sigh*

I saw a yahoo article naming the HCG diet as one of the crazy fad diets of 2010. Never mind that it's been out around since the 50's. I chuckled to myself. The expert commented on the 500 calories, not surprisingly. I've researched this protocol up down and sideways, and I'm prepared for comments like those--after all, I made them myself at one time.

Then I saw a fb (facebook) friend post that she was on day 4--I was excited to welcome her into the hcg family. Another mutual fb friend of ours made a status saying something like, "why are people doing crazy diets that but their bodies into starvation mode, and just don't put in the work to lose weight normally"

Okay, so while I don't know that status was referring to the hcg diet, I will say its the most misunderstood plan out there. The only believers seem to be those who do extensive research, or who just try it for themselves. People are so quick to judge without knowledge--but in any situation that is nothing new. I cannot reiterate enough that this is not a diet, but a cure for our ailing metabolisms! Most overweight folks I know have occasional indulgences, but don't binge on loads of calories. Its frustrating to work out everyday for a month, cut out junk food, reduce calories, and see you've only lost 4 lbs, that come right back after ONE day of eating normally and having that slice of cake. Something else is going on, and Dr. Simeons gave us the answer. Believe me, if I was hungry on this protocol, I would have to stop, because I don't have the will power to starve myself. I use to joke that I couldn't be an anorexic if I wanted to because I just can't deal with hunger, unless I'm doing a religious fast. And I'm telling you, I've gone from 4:30 in the morning until 8:00-9:00 at night without a morsel of food or a drop of water while on a religious fast, and I know how starving yourself for a day feels. I'm usually tired, sluggish, weak and moody. I have not had any of those symptoms while on the hcg protocol. I am not starving, my body is not only feeding off of the 500 calories I've eaten, but off of the 2000+ calories I've released in abnormal fat.

Now, the will power I have had to exert is to avoid sugar and starches. But knowing this is a temporary medical protocol to improve my metabolism and restore a quality of life I've been missing for so many years is worth it.

And yes, we are going to need to change our ways of eating. This is not a magic pill that we swallow and bam, we can eat like crazy people! We need to cut out some of the sugar (if we were eating too much), and definitely cut out the foods with artificial ingredients (preservatives, additives, dyes) and meats that are fed unhealthy feed. We should rely on homemade food more than going to fast food places that put who knows what in the food to keep you craving it and buying more. But we should not have to deprive ourselves, or eat fake this,or lowfat and low sugar that--in order to keep our weight in check. Healthy fats are good for us. And I can't wait for this part of the protocol to be over so I can get to them, lol.

So, uh, call me crazy for doing this protocol. But when you see me, you can also call me "Slim."

TTYL

VLCD #29-32

2010-12-22T04:45:00.001-05:00

Within these last four days, I've lost another 2 lbs, brining my total weight loss to 21 lbs and my weight to 167 lbs.

I'm just two pounds shy of my driver's license weight, so while I may not hit my 30 lb. loss goal this round, that in itself will be awesome, God Willing.

TTYL

VLCD #28

2010-12-17T08:51:00.001-05:00

Mornin'!

I'm not sure if you are going to be as excited as I am this morning, but...

I am now in my 160's.

Wait, I'm not sure you heard me. *Ahem* (clears throat)-- I repeat:

I am now in my 160's!!!!! Woop Woop! DANCE BREAK!

(cabbage patch, whop, running man, kid n' play, and yes, the MC Hammer!!!)

Whew! LOL, I know I'm crazy ya'll, but Lord Have Mercy! I am now 169 lbs! All Praise is Due to my Lord!

Okay, that is all.

TTYL

VLCD #27

2010-12-17T08:44:00.002-05:00

Just to keep you updated, my VLCD #27 I didn't lose, so I remained at 170.5 lbs. But after VLCD #28....

Stevia, Sugar, and Food Documentaries

2010-12-16T07:20:00.001-05:00

I still laugh at how I was talking with my girlfriend telling her how I dislike stevia. She was like, "well if you're doing this diet, you're gonna learn to like it!" lol. And she was right.

I don't think I'll go back to full sugar use again. Many stevia recipes call for mixing unrefined sugar with stevia for a sweet balance with less calories. Here's a link to Stevia In the Raw's website :www.steviaextractintheraw.com

Yesterday I just bought some liquid vanilla stevia (brand name 'Kal') from SunSplash, a health food store on Reisterstown Road in Baltimore, Maryland. I added it to plain water just to taste it, and it was very good. This morning I steamed a large organic Red Delicious apple with the vanilla stevia and some cinnamon, and it was wonderful! I mean, I'd make it again for the whole family--I even slurped up the leftover juice from those apples. No butter, no sugar, and it was sweet and satisfying ( I had steamed apples with regular stevia in the raw, and it was ok, but not as good). Oh, and in the Harris Teeter Market, I found some natural sugar free ice cream using the natural sweetner, xylitol, called Clemmy's (click the link to find where you can get it near you). Yes, I had a little taste, and I was pleasantly surprised! I definitely plan to eat that on P3.

I'm finding it almost unbelievable that I've gone this long with no sugar. I wonder if the sugary foods I used to eat will seem too sweet now. And as picky as I am, I'm so grateful to find a NATURAL sugar free sweetener as opposed to using chemically derived sweeteners.

I'm also noticing how much I'm appreciating my food more--I mean, I relish the taste of a sweet crisp apple or sweet onions. I used to hear or read fitness guru's say if you're having a craving for sweets, grab some fruit. I was like, What!?? That is NOT going to work. But now, I think it just might do the trick at times. Also, I am so not a vegetable eater. Now, however, I find myself looking forward to more vegetables when I'm done P2, and even though spinach is getting on my nerves, I'm definitely enjoying my vegetables more even now.

I saw some cool documentaries about food lately (on Netflix), thought I'd share the titles. Check them out:

Food, Inc.
Food Matters
The Beautiful Truth
The Future of Food (haven't seen this one yet, but its in my Que)

We have no choice but to take responsibility for our health.

TTYL

VLCD #26

2010-12-16T06:41:00.001-05:00

Salaam and hey there!

Woke up the morning after VLCD #26 and had lost 1.5 lbs! Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout! I almost had a fit when I saw 170.5 on that scale! Okay, let me take a moment to breath.....

So, in 26 days, that's a total of 17.5 lbs. I am so close to breaking into the 160's! Ya'll know I had to put my face to the floor and thank The Almighty Creator of the Heavens and Earth!

So I'll post to you all later about VLCD #27, since I haven't weighed in yet. I'm scared, lol.

TTYL!

VLCD #18-25

2010-12-14T08:12:00.001-05:00

It's been a minute since I've blogged! About a week--but rest assured, no news is good news!

I've lost 2 lbs in the last week, bringing me to a total weight loss of 16 lbs in 25 days. I have 13 more days left!

Well, maybe it could have been better news if I hadn't stalled a few days due to some self-sabotage in the form of organic animal cookies. So while I didn't majorly (yes, I made that word up) cheat, this protocol has no room for cheating, so my penalty was no weight loss for a couple of days (At least I didn't gain).

For these last 13 days on hcg, I'm going hard ya'll. No deviation from the protocol--I'm even nixing the broccoli (though I did still lose while eating it). I'm back to spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuces as my veges of choice. I also think I'm going to skip beef and shrimp (my sister stalls when she eats shrimp for some reason---maybe its the shrimp, maybe its something else, but in any case, I'm laying off). I also know my water consumption has been sub-par, so I'm going to make sure I hydrate throughout the day to make sure I get it in, God-Willing.

Can I lose 14 lbs in 13 days?? Not sure, but that's what I'm gunning for. Shoot, I'm already happy with the 16 lb loss, so no matter what, I already feel successful!! You know I'mma keep you posted.... :)

And I can't wait to get rid of that fat girl pic to the right!!

TTYL

My new BMI! I'm no longer Obese!!!

2010-12-06T09:28:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I decided to use that little gadget on my page to calculate my BMI. Last time I did it, it was 32.3, which is in the Obese Range (anything over 29.9 is considered Obese). I never felt OBESE (had to use all caps to show the gravity of the word, lol), but the numbers said I was.

Well, as of today my BMI is 29.86, taking me out of the Obese range! Alhamdulillah, Thank you!!

VLCD #15, 16, & 17

2010-12-06T09:09:00.000-05:00

Salaam and Hey!

VLCD #15
Lost .5 lbs

VLCD# 16
Lost 1 lb

VLCD #17
No loss. I did a little cheating that day though, so I'm grateful I didn't gain. I ate some organic graham craker bunnies I had bought for the kids, and for one of my meals instead of sticking to the protocol, I wound up eating a huge chicken strip my daughter had (which was fried with breading). I was mortified after I did that, and prayed I didn't gain, lol. Including the rest of today, I have 22 VLCD days left, and I really want to make the best of them and stick to the protocol. I've already lost 14 lbs in 17 days, which is awesome. If I can lose another 16 more lbs in the days I have left, I would have met my 30 lb weight loss goal for this round, so I'm keeping my eye on the prize and trying not to have any more bad days. I'm so happy that I'm not hungry though, which makes this so much easier than anything I've tried before.

Oh, and I took my measurements this past saturday, and in one week I had lost a total of 9 inches off my body!
TTYL

VLCD #13, 14

2010-12-03T11:13:00.001-05:00

VLCD #14

I lost .5 lbs, bringing me to 175.5

I tried the Miracle Noodles, and I'd say they were decent and a welcomed change. I made a makeshift spaghetti using protocol ingredients.

The noodles are packed in water and have a fishy smell. You should rinse them thoroughly--about three minutes-- then parboil them by dropping them into boiling water for about 3 minutes. Drain them, pat dry with paper towels or dry roast them in a pan, then they are ready to be added to your dish. They pretty much soak up the flavor of the dish. My sister had them with some shrimp and veges seasoned with broth and Bragg - Bragg Liquid Aminos (tastes like soy sauce).

VLCD #14
Didn't lose anything after Day 14, but still very happy with 12.5 lbs gone in just 14 days :) I'm blaming my TOM!

Since I didn't lose anything, I decided to try on clothes that were previously too small just to see how they fit. I'm sorry I didn't take my measurements when I first started, but I can DEFINITELY see a change in how my clothes are fitting! Today I even paraded around in some size 10 pants (mind you, they were stretchy, but still no muffin top while standing up in them, so I'm happy with that!).

I am starting to get bored with the food. I really don't feel like being too creative--mostly because I don't have the time or energy. By the time I fix food for the kids all day, then my own food, I don't feel like working sugar-free-wonders with an apple or making culinary magic with a chicken breast, lol. On some days I just prepare a quick dish to eat and get it down and overwith. The food is still tasty, just repetitive. I'm reminded of how blessed we are to have such a variety of food and ways to prepare them, and I look forward to completing this protocol so that I can enjoy those foods as well. And honestly, the excitement over the rapid HEALTHY weight loss trumps any discontent over the limited food selections.

Well, I have 24 more VLCD days to go (not including the 3 VLCD days I'll do once I stop dosing with hcg). I'm praying to drop at least 17.5 more lbs, giving me a total of 30 lbs lost/released this round. That would put me at 158 lbs! Now how awesome would that be?!

Miracle Noodles???

2010-12-01T08:43:00.000-05:00

I've read about Miracle Noodles on a number of blogs and websites about the Hcg diet, but I think I was turned off by the name. I was like naaah, I can do without them! But after my first pms day of serious cravings, I thought again.

I went to the website, read about them, and placed an order!

Basically, they are noodles that are made from soluble plant fiber with no net carbs or calories. Folks have been using them on the hcg protocol with seemingly no problem. I figured they might help with cravings and add to a full feeling, so my sister and I can't wait for them to arrive so we can try them. I'll let you know how they are. You can read about them and order them from here:

MIRACLE NOODLES 411

TTYL

VLCD's 7 through 12

2010-12-01T08:10:00.001-05:00

Its been a few ROUGH days since I've posted, so let me let you in on what's been going on.

Okay, Thursday was VLCD #7. Sadly, I gained .5 lbs taking me up to 178.5 that day. That started some serious PMS days ahead. I age extra protein that day (about 70 extra grams of fish) and I took little bites of almost everything I served the kids (including a couple of bites of my 2yr. old's ice cream. For shame!).

Now, on a normal day, and a normal "diet", that would be no big deal. But on this protocol--just like you can lose weight fast, you can gain it really fast. I have read of folks cheating gaining 7 lbs! Lord knows I didn't want to undue all I did, so I was grateful for only a .5 lb gain.

On VLCD #8, I lost 1.5 lbs, so I went down to 177 lbs. Those pesky cravings had disappeared, THANK GOD ALMIGHTY!!

On VLCD #9 I stalled, so my weight stayed the same. I braided my girlfriends hair today, and my hands were all in moisturizing lotion and hair grease, which is against the protocol because that oil absorbs into the system and can affect the hcg's effect. This may be a contributing factor to why I stalled. I had been doing my own daughter's hair with gloves, but I couldn't braid with gloves on. (You can read about personal care products near the end of Pounds and Inches by Dr. Simeons.)

On VLCD #10 I lost .5 lb, so I was at 176.5

On VLCD #11 I lost another .5 lb, so I was at 176 (I started my TOM this day, and have decided to keep taking the HCG, although some stop on the heavy flow days of their TOM's)

On VLCD #12, which was yesterday, there was no loss or gain. This was my first full day on TOM. I did not notice any heavier flow (some stop the hcg on heavy flow days because it can make flow heavier). I was craving like CRAZY again, just like I was on Thursday. I ate some lamb for one of my proteins (though it is unapproved) which I did not measure--I ate what I wanted of it to keep me from eating some crazy carbs that I REALLY wanted, and I drank a LOT of homemade lemonade with stevia. I was so scared I would gain because of that lamb, but I stayed the same. That is a blessing since I'm feeling bloated from TOM anyway. Today is my VLCD #13, so I'll see how I do today and get today's results in tomorrow morning's weigh in.

TTYL

VLCD #6

2010-11-25T10:24:00.000-05:00

Gooooood Mornin'!

While I was singing and dancing about my 1 lb weight loss yesterday, my sister who is doing the hcg protocol as well lost 2.6 lbs! I was like, wow!!** I was totally happy for her, especially since she weighs waaay less than me, and I figured smaller folks needing to lose a smaller number of lbs would lose a little slower. Well, she reminded me about drinking plenty of water/fluids to flush out that fat. I knew we had to make sure we drank our water, but just like I'm not that hungry--I'm not that thirsty! So, yesterday, for my VLCD #6, I made sure I drank every time it crossed my mind. This morning, I had lost 2 lbs! Let me repeat that:

THIS MORNING I HAD LOST 2 LBS!
That's a 10lb weight loss in 6 VLCD days! That also means...
I'm finally in my 170's! Oh my goodness, I haven't seen those since '05 or '06!

Yesterday though, I was fighting cravings. I think my PMS symptoms have started, and I was seriously craving some carbs. Even right after I ate, and my stomach was full, I wanted a candy bar, some cake--sumthin'! I just distanced myself from the kitchen. I've also decided I would get my older kids to do some of the cooking for themselves to keep my temptations low. I just tell myself when the protocol is over, I can have it! I will not binge God Willing, but I will take my time and eat healthy versions (organic if possible, and homemade if possible) of the foods I want. Losing this weight is a dream come true, and the thought of being the weight I want and having a metabolism that works right are my motivations to keep at it. My desert for now is seeing those lbs continue to melt away :)

TTYL

** sorry to bombard you with a flurry of exclamation points, but I'm just that excited!!!!!!!!!

VLCD #5

2010-11-24T10:03:00.001-05:00

(singing) dun--dun--dun-- Another one bites the dust!

Yes, another lb, gone! I am now 180 lbs! Alhamdulillah!

Yesterday I ate seasoned ground beef and onions in a bit of broth over some green leaf lettuce for lunch, and for dinner I ate eggs (one egg, 3 egg whites) scrambled with onions, green pepper (wasn't sure it was allowed, so I only used a tiny piece of green pepper) and spinach. Delish!,

Spinach is definitely my go-to vegetable.

Oh, and don't tell anyone, but I had 4 dates, too. I was hoping I wouldn't pay for that addition.

If you're going to do this Hcg protocol, you may want to start stockpiling recipes, and even cooking some meals to freeze. Part of us eating what we have no business eating is convenience. Having an idea of what you'll eat makes the protocol diet much more pleasurable. Sometimes just reading the reviews of books like the ones listed below, or doing your own search for 'hcg protocol recipes' will give you great ideas.

TTYL!

VLCD #4

2010-11-24T09:45:00.000-05:00

I skipped a day of blogging, but let me fill you in...

On Monday, my VLCD #4, I lost another lb! So my weight that day was 181 lbs, yay!

I had gotten up around 5a.m. and stayed up, and around 10a.m I started feeling hungry. I started to make my lunch and eat it, then I remembered I hadn't even had my morning tea and fruit (my typical 'breakfast' while on this protocol). I decided to go ahead and get my tea and a grapefruit with a lil' stevia on it, and I felt fine!

I took my kids to a belated Eid party that day, there was lots of moon bounce jumping, pizza and cupcakes.Yes, I was tempted. And the other mothers were like, "Hey sis, there's plenty of pizza left for the moms, get some!" I just replied I wasn't that hungry...which was true, but Lord knows I wanted some. I took a teeny nibble of my 3 yr. old's slice, and I did taste a dab of frosting from the cupcake. For shame. Whatever!

By the time I finished all my running around, I got home about 4:30. I fixed my food first, because by then I was good and ready to eat. I think had I fixed food for the kids first, I would have wanted to eat a lil', so while on this protocol, I have been fixing my food first (and when do we mothers ever put ourselves first? Feels good! Only my two little munchkins keep wanting bites of my precious food, lool!)

Because I go to bed early, I didn't really feel like eating my second meal. I just added a lil' extra protein to the first meal, and ate my apple (steamed with cinnamon, mace, and stevia).

That was that!

VLCD #3

2010-11-22T08:01:00.001-05:00

Salaam and hey ya'll!!

I lost one pound after my VLCD #3! So, I'm at 182 lbs :), and that's great considering....

I accidentally ate some lamb : O. See, what had happened was....

I cooked a leg of lamb last week for our huge Eid celebration dinner (leg of lamb, by the way, has got to be the best part of the lamb-- hardly no fat, only the bone from the leg, and lots of juicy, tender meat *sigh*), and we had a lot leftover that I was preparing for my kids for dinner. I was taking it off the bone and munching at the same time, lol! I had a few bites before I realized that was a no-no. So I considered that my lunch, and didn't make anything separate. For dinner, I ate baked swordfish (in an aluminum foil packet with onions, lemon juice, and seasonings). Let me tell you, that fish was good and meaty, and definitely hit the spot. And once again, my munchkins kept wanting some (why do kids ALWAYS want what's on your plate, no matter what they have on theirs??).

I'm glad I did not stall or gain because of that slip-up.

TTYL

Why do I have to load? Dr. Simeons explains.

2010-11-21T13:34:00.000-05:00

If you've been dieting, more than likely you have been losing 'normal' fat instead of that hideous abnormal fat that you really want to lose. Your body needs the normal fat for proper function. This is why when you return to eating normally, or have one bad day, you gain the weight back! Our bodies are not going to start burning the abnormal fat (and on hcg, its the burning of that abnormal fat that keeps us from being hungry) until the normal fat is replaced. To help this process along, we load. Read what Dr. Simeons has to say here:

Gain before Loss
Patients whose general condition is low, owing to excessive previous dieting, must eat to capacity for about one week before starting treatment, regardless of how much weight they may gain in the process. One cannot keep a patient comfortably on 500 Calories unless his normal fat reserves are reasonably well stocked. It is for this reason also that every case, even those that are actually gaining must eat to capacity of the most fattening food they can get down until they have had then third injection. It is a fundamental mistake to put a patient on 500 Calories as soon as the injections are started, as it seems to take about three injections before abnormally deposited fat begins to circulate and thus become available.
We distinguish between the first three injections, which we call ‘non-effective’ as far as the loss of weight is concerned, and the subsequent injections given while the patient is dieting, which we call “effective”. The average loss of weight is calculated on the number of effective injections and from the weight reached on the day of the third injections which may he well above what it was two days earlier when the first injection as given.
Most patients who have been struggling with diets for years and know how rapidly they gain if they let themselves go are very hard to convince of the absolute necessity of gorging for at least two days, and yet this must he insisted upon categorically if the further course of treatment is to run smoothly.
Those patients who have to be put on forced feeding for a week before starting the injections usually gain weight rapidly- four to six pounds in 24 hours is not unusual-but after a day or two this rapid gain generally levels off. In any case the whole gain is usually lost in the first 48 hours of dieting. It is necessary to proceed in this manner because the gain re-stocks the depleted normal reserves, whereas the Subsequent loss is from the abnormal deposits only.
Patients in a satisfactory general condition and those who have not just previously restricted their diet start forced feeding on the day of the first injection. Some patents say that they can no longer overeat because their stomach has shrunk after years of restrictions. While we know that no stomach ever shrinks, we compromise by insisting that they eat frequently of highly concentrated foods such as milk chocolate, pastries with whipped cream sugar, fried meats particularly pork, eggs and bacon, mayonnaise, bread with thick butter and jam, etc. The time and trouble spent on pressing this point upon incredulous or reluctant patients is always amply rewarded afterwards by the complete absence of those difficulties which patients who have disregarded these instructions are liable to experience.
During the two days of forced feeding from the first to the third injection - many patients are surprised that contrary to their previous experience they do not gain weight and some even lose. The explanation is that in these cases there is a compensatory flow of urine, which drains excessive water from the body. To some extent this seems to be a direct action of HCG, but it may also be due to a higher protein intake, as we know that a protein-deficient diet makes the body retain water.

Of course, you know to substitute 'injections' for 'sublingual dosing'.

TTYL

VLCD #2 and Curry Chicken and Spinach Soup

2010-11-21T08:39:00.001-05:00

Salaam and Gooood Morning!

Yesterday was my VLCD #2 and it went well! I was not hungry, Alhamdulillah! And......[drumroll please].....

I lost 2 more pounds! That's a total loss of 5 pounds in 2 VLCD days! I am now 183!

In the morning, I fixed a big breakfast for the kids: homemade waffles, eggs, fried potatoes, bacon, and hot chocolate. I won't say I wasn't tempted at all, but I was okay with it. I think if I was hungry, I would have broken down and cheated, lol. My mental attitude is that his is a temporary restrictive phase for medical reasons, but when it is done I can have what I want--in moderation, of course. I did eat a bite of the eggs though, because they are allowed. When it came time for my lunch though, one of my lil' munchkins stole a couple of bites of my chicken, so I figured that made up for the bit of eggs, lol.

On the protocol, there are certain allowed vegetables. Dr. Simeons says we are not to mix them. Many HCG'ers, however, have said the mix vegetables with no problem, so for variety's sake, this is what I do. For lunch I made a curry chicken and spinach soup ( I took a pic, and I will post as soon as my daughter uploads it for me).

First, I simmered onions in water mixed with vegetable broth (the broth is only 15 calories per cup, with many of the allowed veges in it, and its a chance I was willing to take adding it into my meal. I only used about 1/4 cup of it, and the some water to desired amount).
Then I added in a small handful of baby spinach and simmered until it was wilted.
I poured that into a bowl, leaving some liquid in the pan.
I added chicken breast, and simmered that until done (adding more water if necessary), adding curry seasoning, garam masala, and vege salt, the one allowed tablespoon of milk (if you didn't use already) and a tablespoon or so of crushed tomatoes.
Once that was done, I poured the onions and spinach back on it, mixed, then put in my bowl
VOILA! :) I served it with one piece of Melba toast, peppermint tea with stevia, and water.

For dinner I steamed chicken breast with season salt, onions, pepper, and a bit of organic chicken broth and water, then put that over some green leaf lettuce (I use the broth in place of salad dressing). I drank some chamomile tea with stevia, and some crystal lite (not the regular kind, but the Pure Fitness line which has all natural sweetener. Its not as good as regular crystal lite, but you are saving yourself from the artificial sweetener). Oh, and of course I had my melba toast (seems like just when I'm feeling carb deprived, that lil' teeny piece of toast comes in HANDY, lol).

TTYL!

Do I inject my HCG??

2010-11-20T08:17:00.001-05:00

HECK NO!

No disrespect to those who wish to do that, but I mix my HCG in a solution of colloidal silver and liquid B12, and I take it sub-lingually (I hold it under my tongue).

Some people choose to do sub cutaneously (SQ) or intra muscular (IM) injections. The results seem to be the same, so I will not be sticking myself. So in your research if you run across those injecting, just know you can also take sub lingually.

Anyone Can Lose Weight on a 500 calorie diet, so...

2010-11-20T07:50:00.002-05:00

So what's so special about the hcg diet protocol?? Well, you definitely need to read some more about the protocol, especially the story of The Emaciated Lady in Pounds and Inches by Dr. Simeons, but I'll outline the differences here.

Although you are on a low calorie diet, your body is releasing up to 7,500 calories of your abnormal fat stores. Your body is feeding off the nutrients of that released fat so that you don't feel hungry, unlike your being on a low calorie diet without HCG.
Most diets have you lose structural fat and normal fat first, before attacking any abnormal fat. This is why someone with a dramatic weight loss may look older, with drawn facial features, and have loose or hanging skin. With HCG, thousands of people have reported that their bodies are actually RESHAPED as if they had liposuction (Lord knows I dread any hanging skin! I've seen it on others, and it is horrific!). The before and after pictures on youtube show some of this.
After the protocol is done, you can resume a normal diet (and normal exercise routine) without gaining the weight back. You don't have to dread doing diets for the rest of your life, or killing yourself everyday at the gym afraid that the weight will come back.

So while you may lose weight on a 500 calorie diet, you'd basically be starving yourself if you're not using HCG. You will feel hungry, fatigued, irritable, and possibly set yourself up to binge. You may lose a similar amount of weight, but it will look differently. Also, once you resume a normal amount of calories, you will more than likely gain the weight back, since your metabolism is still out of wack--in fact, the extreme dieting without HCG will make it even slower, so you will probably gain MORE weight back.

So there you have it :)

Starting VLCD #2....am I HUNGRY??

2010-11-20T07:07:00.000-05:00

NO, I'M NOT! Oh gosh, I feel sooo much better this morning than I did yesterday morning, let me tell you!

So like I said in my previous post, I'm down to 185 lbs. I'm excited now, super glad I'm not hungry. I'll keep you posted on how the day goes.

Forgot to Post my starting numbers!

2010-11-20T06:52:00.000-05:00

So not everyone I've read about posts their numbers, but they do post their weight loss. I've decided to just put it all out there, lol.

Before starting the HCG on Wednesday, November 17, I was 186.5 lbs

After Loading day one, I remained 186.5

After Loading day two, I went up to 188 lbs

Moment of truth...this morning, after weighing in after my first VLCD...

I was 185 lbs! That's down 3 lbs :)

I have not taken my measurements, but I'm going to try to do that today (I'll probably take them weekly).

VLCD #1

2010-11-20T06:47:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was my VLCD #1 (Very Low Calorie Diet, only about 500 calories, day 1).

I am not going to lie to you, I was hungry. I mean, I woke up hungry. But since I get up for my morning prayer around 5:30-6:00a.m., I stayed up for a while and just went back to sleep. I woke up again around 9, still hungry. I drank my tea sweetened with Stevia (which I didn't like before, but somehow didn't mind today, lol) and ate an orange for breakfast. I held out eating my lunch until 11:30a.m.

I ate lunch, and wasn't hungry, but I think I was missing carbs or something. And I'm allowed to have a piece of melba toast with my two meals, but I had forgotten to pick some up from the store. For lunch I ate steamed shrimp, with nicely seasoned cabbage and onions.

I called my girlfriend up, who had started the hcg protocol before me, and was like, "I'm hungry, what's up with this??" She reminded me that she was like that her first VLCD day, too. Now, I have read that some folks may experience hunger the first couple of days. I just wasn't trying to hear that, lol. One reason I may have been hungry was because of poor loading on my first load day.

I ate dinner around 7p.m. I softened some onions in a minuscule amount of vegetable broth, then poured that into a bowl. I browned some very lean ground beef in a pan, seasoned well, and added that to the onion broth. I then poured that concoction over some green leaf lettuce and spinach mix (the broth took the place of salad dressing) and ate that. I totally appreciated the sweetness of those onions! I was satisfied and couldn't eat it all, nor did I eat my apple. But let me tell you, that lil' piece of melba toast made a world of difference to me.

I felt great otherwise though, no headaches, fatigue, or anything. And I didn't have hunger pains, so the hunger wasn't that bad, lol.

R1, Loading days 1 and 2

2010-11-20T06:06:00.000-05:00

R1 means round 1. I'll be taking my HCG for about 5 and 1/2 weeks, followed by a 3 week maintenance phase. After that I can return to normal eating. My hypothalamus will be set at that ending weight point. If I want to reset it further and lose more weight, I'll do another round of HCG, or R2 (Round 2).

My first day of loading (eating to capacity, giving your body a large amount of fat and calories as you start the HCG) didn't go that well. I simply wasn't that hungry! I did eat some pie I had made, but I didn't do nearly what I had read others do.

My second day of loading went better. I fixed fried potatoes and turkey bacon from breakfast. I added whipped cream to my chai, as well as a very rich mug of hot chocolate. I ate more homemade pie, and pizza. I still wasn't that hungry, so I sort of grazed on rich foods throughout the day, hoping it was enough. I'm not sure it was, as you can see by my next post, lol.

Getting Started

2010-11-20T05:58:00.000-05:00

I'm a few days behind recording, so I'm playing catch up, bear with me.

In order to get started, I needed a kitchen scale like this one KINTREX SCL0640 Digital Tempered Glass Kitchen Scale, to weigh my food. I also needed a bathroom scale to weight myself daily to document my results. A scale that weighs you to the nearest .2 or .1 lbs would be the best, but I kept my scale that weighs to the .5. If that goes out, then I guess I'll spring for a scale like the Omega Ultra Thin Digital Bathroom Scale, 400 lb. Capacity, Super Sleek Design,Precision Accuracy,Sense-On Technology. You can get both of these from a local store or order them online.

I also bought and pre-measured my foods, so I'd be prepared to whip up my meals quickly. Okay, time to post the good stuff, lol.

The HCG Diet is NOT a diet!

2010-11-20T05:48:00.000-05:00

Many wonder, "what is the HCG diet?" Well, first off, it is NOT a diet. It is more appropriately called a weight loss cure. This cure was discovered over fifty years ago by Dr. A.T.W. Simeons. Dr. Simeons learned that the hypothalamus portions of our brains control, among other things, our hunger, thirst and metabolism. He observed that obese people permanently had incredibly slow metabolisms that would not speed up. He determined that obese/overweight people did not simply lack the will power to eat less nor were they too lazy to exercise. They have a legitimate hunger that drives them to eat (and even eating the same as their slimmer counterparts can cause them to gain weight, since their metabolism is abnormally slow), and even if they allow themselves to be hungry to lose weight, they seldom do it successfully.

The HCG protocol is designed to RESET the hypothalamus, restore the metabolism to a normal rate, and end our struggles with obesity. After doing the protocol, we should be able to return to a normal, sensible way of eating and burning calories. I'll probably sprinkle more information about this cure here and there, but my purposes here are to chronicle my daily experiences on the protocol as well as my weight loss results. For more in-depth information, you can read The Weight Loss Cure "They" Don't Want You to Know About by Kevin Trudeau (purchase a cheap copy or check it out from the library). Also, you will want to read Dr. Simeons original manuscript, POUNDS AND INCHES - A New Approach to Obesity.