MiSto's hcg journey

VLCD 3

2008-08-12T14:08:00.001-07:00

Well here are the first numbers:
VLCD 1 : 301.1
VLCD 2 : 299.8
VLCD 3 : 297.5

Today I switched the order of my meals. I had been keeping the early meals light, not by design but by accident. Today I moved my protein to my first "snack" and it seems to have helped my energy. I haven't had the early big loss numbers like I did the first round, but I didn't gain any weight during my load days.

I'm trying to pace myself as I adjust to the protocol this round. I am working hard to stay in the calorie window and not add food that isn't fat free or low carb. I have some LA Lite beverages that are 40 and protein. This seems like as good a time as any to drink them :) I am counting two of them as one of my proteins.

It is good to be low cal again.

VLCD 1

2008-08-10T13:45:00.000-07:00

It feels great to be back on protocol. I have been very good today and have been getting used to the empty tummy, but not hungry feeling. I keep reminding myself that every decision about what to put in my mouth matters. Until I get used to the protocol I can't take it for granted that I will be as conscientious as I need to be.

So far I have had black coffee, an apple, and 3oz of chicken. Dinner will be a large salad with chicken and an apple.

Back in the Saddle Again

2008-08-09T12:30:00.000-07:00

So I am finishing up my second day of loading and it feels great to be back on plan. Other health issues have been resolved and the doctor gave me the go ahead to get back to the protocol! Tomorrow is VLCD number one.

The hard part is that I gained all of my lost weight back while I was on treatment since I couldn't exit the protocol correctly. Now I am hoping that the weight is going to roll off as fast as it did the first time.

Update

2008-04-13T06:24:00.001-07:00

Ok, just a quick heads up to the readers... I'll be back latter this summer. I have had a couple of other medical concerns pop up... have been taken off of protocol by my doctor so that they can more accurately access my condition. :P

No worries though, I'll be back in June....
I hope all of you are well.

And slowly rolling back down

2008-03-31T15:07:00.001-07:00

So this morning I was 288. I will take a downward trend right now. I am not hungry which makes me think my hcg levels are finally where they ought to be. I forgot that it would take a little time for my own levels to come down too.

I have not done well eating enough food today. I am going to have to leave the office soon and get some dinner. I am thinking a tossed green salad minus anything not green and no dressing :)

Oh and I had to share.... I went to a luncheon and ate my apple!!! I am proud,
M

Back in the game

2008-03-28T17:48:00.000-07:00

I will be able to start back to the protocol in the morning. I've done fairly well with the calories. I added in some protein and just listened to my body and now that the bleeding has stopped I don't feel like I need to eat more.

I can also tell a difference in my fat and my body mass. It will be interesting to see how the body reacts now that I am back on protocol since I should have some fluid volume to lose...

It feels good to be back... I look forward to getting to a healthy weight :) My weight has been bobbing around 289 while I was going through the "shift" and I am interested in seeing what my weight is over the weekend.

Some setbacks

2008-03-25T12:09:00.000-07:00

Well, I can say that this has been an interesting lesson in how changing your life can result in some unstable cycles... I just had my first miscarriage, well I guess technically that is still in process. I started my second round and had trouble with the period that just wouldn't stop and when I stopped my Hcg, it would stop. I restarted my hcg on Sunday and Monday morning, it finally happened. I say finally, because now I know what was going on with my body.

I am relieved because I am not in a place where being a mom is an option and I haven't really talked about it with my family because they don't even probably remember the guy I was dating two months ago that well. I feel blessed because before I even knew I was pregnant it was over. So I didn't have to worry or make any hard decisions. I was able to just live in ignorance. I was unaware partially because I was on birth control that lasts for three months.

I am not sure if I have to wait to start my low calorie days back up... I am listening to my body now and trying to give it what it needs, so yesterday I had more protein than usual. We will have to wait and see how this plays out over the next few weeks.

VLCD - and the direction is still good

2008-03-12T17:10:00.000-07:00

Sweet.... 288.8. I like the downward trends... i am getting hungrier in the evening than before i need to figure out what to do with my meals to make that work better. Perhaps I just need to go to bed earlier....

:)

VLCD 3 - Back in business

2008-03-11T05:07:00.000-07:00

Ok, so not as low as I would have liked to be but 290.1 is a good chunk lower than 294. So, I woke up down 3.9 pounds from yesterday. I still feel bloated, my body is still trying to have a period, and at least I only work 12 hours today :) I would love some feedback on the whole TOM thing, I don't know if I should stop taking my BC and let TOM come, or if I should stick to the BC and treat it like breakthrough bleeding... I am using HCG from DD.ca this time and it doesn't feel the same as the HCG from NHW... in that I've felt hungry more... I'll wait and see if this changes over the next few days. I'm eating the same food as I was the first go around. So we shall see. Hope all is well with everyone...

Today's Menu:
Coffee, Splenda (2 packets) for breakfast
Blackberries, am snack 9:30
melba toast, no-fat cottage cheese, and mixed salad greens for lunch 1:00pm

Blackberries, melba toast, chicken breast, and mixed salad greens for dinner. 3:40

Round 2 VLCD 2

2008-03-10T06:04:00.001-07:00

Argh!!!! Ok so this morning, I weighed myself a couple hours earlier than yesterday... I was up 2.2 pounds to 294.0. I vaguely remember something like this from round 1, and that afterwards I dropped a nice amount. I am however not trying to get frustrated. I could feel the bloating in my belly, so I at least know that it is water...

Today's Menu:
Breakfast: coffee, black with splenda
Morning Snack: A handful of blackberries (10:00 am)
Lunch: A handful Blackberries, 4 slices turkey breast no-fat, 1 cup mixed organic greens (1:00pm)
Dinner: No-Fat chicken broth, 100 grams grilled chicken breast, green onion

I am trying the blackberries because they are on the Native Healing Ways approved fruit list. My calories should total for the day 443.

Glad to be back in the game....

Pack for Round 2

2008-03-09T12:16:00.000-07:00

Greetings all... as I approach my 31st birthday, I feel it is the right time to set some resolutions. One of mine is to keep my blog updated despite the intensity of doctoral study! I just finished my two load days and am one day 1 of VLCD. My post load weight was 291.8 this morning. I was maintaining at 283, until I got sick. I think that caused my body to retain some water and my weight was bouncing all over the place. I am curious to see how this round progresses. I feel as though I am starting it with a better mindset. I have been looking forward to starting and feel as though the structure of my schedule should help me stay on track. I've already brought Protein powder to the office in case I forget to pack my lunch. I am also fortunate that there are two grocery stores near campus.

I need to take my measurements latter today... but so far so good, 1 grissimi, salad greens, and 3 0zs of lean meat for lunch :) Now I just need to get in my apple :D

Sorry for the absence

2008-02-02T16:32:00.000-08:00

Well ladies and gents I did my last injection for round one on Friday. I will enter P3 on Wednesday. I am really looking forward to bacon and cheese :) The last few weeks have been crazy with travel and with the spring semester starting. The best thing about this protocol is that it is very forgiving. I mean that in the sense that I went way off plan in week five. I really didn't keep myself from having what I wanted... and though my weight went up a little with water retention, it came right back down when I got back on plan. I can honestly say, with no diet or lifestyle change have I had the ease of returning to the plan or the response from my body. My body was happy to go back to 500 calories, my weight immediately corrected. So I know the bad thing is that I probably would have lost another ten pounds this round, but the good news is that I still have lost more weight in 6 weeks than I ever have before. I am actually looking forward to round 2 which I hope to begin March 21st.

Glad to be back.... Load 307, Current weight: 283.

VLCD 19 - 288.6

2008-01-11T08:20:00.000-08:00

Greetings! It is a lovely rainy day here in the DC area. All I can say is wow what a snowstorm this would be if it was cold enough! This has been another slow week, but after incorporating the snack style meal plan things definitely picked up. I also am feeling like I have more energy. I want to get back to work and off of holiday. I feel like I need to get active. I do have some muscle fatigue when I climb a few flights of stairs and I have noticed that different muscle groups feel tight on different days.

My mom and I will be getting together latter today and I will finally be able to see how she is progressing with her hcg protocol. I am hoping that I will be able to help her out a bit while I am staying in her house next week by making some food and packing her lunch. She has been having trouble finding time to do those things for herself. I also need to schedule definitive boundaries around my schedule for the spring so that I can stay on top of my work. Perhaps it is that new year enthusiasm, or maybe I am realizing that as I am changing my living habits I can change all of the living habits that cause me problems. Obviously, not all at once.... but developing a vision of how I want to structure my life, handle stress, provide balance, etc... seems to naturally all flow together.

So thus far: 307-288.6=18.4

VLCD 16 -290.6

2008-01-08T09:07:00.000-08:00

It feels so much better to see that whole pound drop :) The things I changed yesterday: eat every couple of hours, starting from within a half hour of rising; drank 3 liters of water; and added meditation and visualization. I read the Soul, Mind, Body Healing book and have added some of the healing meditations. I have worked in massage and with energy medicine in the past and it feels right to add it in. I am following these three additions today.

One thing I noticed as I follow protocol is that I am more expressive with my emotions. I am not "swallowing" them the way I normally do, and I don't mean by eating as much as by suppressing them. I think this might be part of the emotional side of healing my obese self. In eastern medicine, when you have feelings that you do not acknowledge it leads to imbalance and dis-ease within the body. I have recognized for some time that I take on the burdens of others without caring for myself. I cannot continue to live my life this way if I want to be nurtured and healthy. Perhaps that is one reason why my body believed it was starving, because it was energetically.

I also noticed as my ex-fiance let me down once more, that I coincidently have his exact body weight to lose... Talk about serendipity :) It seems like cleaning house on the physical, mental, and spiritual planes is part of this journey to health, at least for me.

VLCD 15 - 291.6

2008-01-07T14:02:00.000-08:00

Ok, last week was frustrating. I don't know if I had a false low at 290, but I went to bed and woke up 2 pounds heavier than my pre bedtime weight... So on Th I was suddenly 294. One of my marine friends who has done some extreme dieting to make his weight has said this has happened to him too. I decided that maybe I didn't get enough water in and made sure to have more than 2 liters on TH. My weight was back down to 292.8 on F and then 292.6 on Sat, and finally Sunday was 292.4. I was glad this morning when I was down to 291.6. I can think of three things that may have contributed to the bounce and slow loss. 1. Not enough water 2. This was a weight that I was at for a while and so it might be a set point 3. I had fast bowls early in the week and that may have triggered the need to hold water.

I also thought about a post I read on the yahoo group board by Lynne, and the benefit of breaking up the meals into small snacks throughout the day instead of having two "large" meals. I broke my food into snacks every two hours. I have felt SO much better today. I have been having gentle cravings for protein off and on during the protocol. Today I felt infinitely better and am waiting to see how I do tomorrow. If this groovy feeling continues... well let's just say then next four weeks will be a breeze.

Even with last week's stall, I still think that this is the most reasonable life change/diet that I have done. I am noticing a difference in how I perceive portions that I have never experiences before. That alone gives me hope. Oh, and apples and salad greens never tasted this good before.

Day 8 VLCD

2007-12-31T10:00:00.000-08:00

Okay..... today the 290.4... goddness I might make it below 290 to start the new year and that would be fantabulous!!!! I am so glad that I am rocking and rolling right now... I have to remind myself that I was obviously very water logged and so not to plan on seeing 17 pound drops every week :) I have been using a protein powder for some of my meals, but otherwise sticking to the Dr S meal plan, minus the melba toast/breadstick thing. My protein powder is MetRx chocolate, it mixes with water really well, is easily digestible and comes with 46 g of protein, 7 g of carbs, 2 g of fat and 220 calories. I get mine at Trader Joe's. It doesn't taste chemical like the Muscle Milk or EAS. I used to lift and have also used protein supplements on Atkins.

I've been taking fiber supplements, even though Dr. S didn't say we needed to, but I worked so hard to get regular I don't really want to let that go. Has anyone else kept their fiber supplements in? I am also keeping up with the Alive! multivitamin. I might alter the food to the NHWs options if I start to get bored with the protocol, but we will have to see.

I don't know if any of you have Panera near you, but that is the easiest place I have seen to follow protocol at. They have a classic salad to which you can add 100g of chicken and have a small apple as a side item... Just ask for the dressing and anything else to be left off since it is assembled as you order!

Happy New Year everyone!

Day 5 VLCD

2007-12-28T16:53:00.000-08:00

Ok... so I survived Xmas and a road trip :) I still have not received my dd.ca order, GHI's pharmacy was not returning my phone calls and were therefore useless... so last week I bit the bullet and I contacted NHW so that I could start immediately. They have been great. I am not sure that the scale that I was using in IN was accurate but according to it I went from 307 Monday morning down to 295 this am. I will recheck weight on my home scale which is the one that I did my preload weight on. It was surprisingly easy to follow the diet even being out of town. I took protein powder with me just in case I would need to eat while out. Other than giving myself a few bruises I am doing well with the program :)

You ladies weren't kidding about the ease of this life change. My whole family is curious now to see about trying it out.

Thanks for the words of encouragement, I look forward to losing with all of you!

First Injection

2007-12-21T16:11:00.000-08:00

The saga of waiting for my DD.ca delivery seems to be neverending, but thanks to NHW I am on my way with my first load day today! Yeah for painless injections and feeling like I am finally getting a chance to start making a difference in my health.

Starting weight for the load days...302

And then there was the waiting...

2007-12-17T20:03:00.000-08:00

This has by far been the hardest finals week ever!!! I have had so much trouble concentrating and getting my papers done (Plenty of family melodrama to go along with it!)...

I'm still like a kid waiting for Christmas for my dd.ca delivery to arrive. I have been doing some workouts pretty consistently for the past couple years. I use swimming to focus my mind, especially when I am having writer's block. I prefer deep water running, because it is a lower impact in terms of cardio/pulmonary load (only about 80% of land) with light resistance coming from the water. When I lived in AZ I was able to run outside year round in a heated pool :) Water exercise like this can be meditative in nature.

I am so inspired by everyone's stories... I can't wait til I get to join in!!! I'm trying to convince my sister to help me with the before pics and measurements. So I've reviewed my directions for mixing my HCG and read and reread Dr. S's pounds and inches.... Funny how it is more compelling than my other homework :)

First installment

2007-12-12T12:16:00.000-08:00

So the HCG "kit" arrived today, ie the syringes and ampules and other mixing supplies. I am super excited to get these things... it makes me feel like I am getting closed to my first load day. I am trying to decide if I want to stay on my BC or go off of it. I know that Dr. Simeon says that it is fine to stay on it and mine means that I wouldn't have a TOM in the middle of the protocol since I am a seasonique user.

I am trying to imagine all of the changes that are possible between now and my birthday in March. I need to find out what exercises people have been doing while on protocol. I know KT recommends an hour walk daily. I'd like to swim because I don't want to forget how when my body isn't as buoyant.

Happy holidays everyone, and thanks for your support!

Finally a day of action!

2007-12-07T06:01:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a day of resolution and action. After looking into the option of ordering online as suggested by so many of the yahoo hcg2 group and reading all the negatives about going with GHI it seemed like a no brainer. Can you believe ALL of the supplies I will need for 4 cycles of hcg was less than going with GHI's pharmacy for one month. Unbelievable. I couldn't have done it without the guidance of the famous Biz. She was able to help me figure out everything I needed to order and sent me this awesome pdf that laid it all out.

Now I just have to wait for my shipment to arrive. With the free shipping coupon from the hcg2 posts it was no problem to go ahead and pay the extra few dollars for priority shipping. I am still glad that I went ahead and got the bloodwork done. When I went into the dr to get a pre weightloss physical she required an EKG. So at least I know that a quick check of my heart looks awesome and my bloodwork pretty darn good too. I still have what is termed as subclinical hypothyroid and am waiting to see what happens with that after this process. The advantage of doing the bloodwork through GHI first time around is that my insurance will only cover it once a year and so now my follow up bloodwork can be on them. I am guessing they will want to if I really lose 160 pounds before I go back :)

So today... I am down to my last week or so of waiting. I started journaling yesterday... Biz reminded me how important this is. I cam across a few things that are really bugging me. As a general statement, the men in my life are making me a little crazy. I am flattered that they all care as much as they do, but I don't know if any of them are the best fit. Perhaps that is a whole other blog of relationship angst. Professionally I am coming up on some major changes, I will take my comprehensive exams in the spring/early summer and propose my dissertation next fall if I stay on track.

The one thing that I am sure of is that now is the best time of my life to make these changes and let my body be its best, not just exist as a vessel to provide my brain with life support. I can't help but get excited about all the possibilities... like this time next year I might have run my first marathon and I will be buying clothes in the 5*7*9 store instead of Layne Bryant, who is great but SO expensive. And imagine I haven't been able to buy bras at Victoria's Secret since I went into 38 DDDs as a Freshman in college. I've never had much luck at Perlina or any of the nice undergarment places... It will be a whole new world. I can't wait til my body reflects me to not hides me from the world.

So I will be waiting for a couple more weeks...

2007-12-04T10:56:00.001-08:00

Well apparently all of the glowing recommendations on GHI are accurate... it will take a couple more weeks for them to get back to me and prescribe the Hcg. Not sure what I should do with the next two weeks... am considering doing a cleanse just to feel like I am doing something. I am also trying to mentally prepare for this weight loss adventure. Reading Biz's blog has really inspired me as have the posts on the yahoo hcg2 health group.

Everyone's joy and optimism has me looking forward to this life change, unlike the dread I normally experience before implementing a new diet and exercise regime.

Getting Ready....

2007-12-02T13:46:00.000-08:00

Well I have been doing my research online, have done my medical profile with GHI, and am waiting for my first supply of HCG. I decided to go the DR route to make sure that I was completely legal. I have licensure and certification issues for my professional life that require me to make sure I don't have legal issues ever. I didn't find anyone having legal problems, but I am a cautious person.

I find myself wondering what I will find as I progress towards my goal. I don't know exactly how much weight that I want to lose in total. I know that I will probably lose between 120-160 over the course of the protocol. Dr. Simeon's book suggests that this will be up to 4-5 rounds of HCG therapy.