Day 1 Phase 3 and Update! (169)

   So I'm sure you notice that I haven't updated for a bit. That is due to me really losing steam with sticking to the 500 calorie a day diet, although I have seen good results! In all, I lost 17 lbs in 3 weeks, not too shabby. Especially when for the past 2 weeks I have been eating more like 800 calories a day and cheating on the weekends. I was going to try for at least 4 weeks, but regular food has been calling my name (and I have been answering) too much lately. It seems a little pointless to continue taking the hcg if I'm not going to stay on protocol! So I have been off the drops for a few days now, and today is my first day on Phase 3.

   Phase 3 is basically introducing "real" food back into your diet at a slower pace so you don't gain all the weight back. I'm going to incorporate exercise during this phase too. Ive been rather "rogue" on this diet, I was never one to follow rules to a T. I found that I have gotten a LOT of slack over it too! On this particular eating plan, it seems everyone has criticism, no matter what the angle. Either it was dumb of me to start the hcg to begin with, or it is dumb for me to quit. Oh well, I have good results to show, so I don't regret going this far. I also have picked up some really good eating habits that Ive noticed since being off.

   If you are going to start the HCG diet, here is my overall words of advice. Go all in; Its not an easy diet by any means and you will have days where you will probably cheat, but just keep going. If you don't cheat, your numbers will be great. If you do cheat, they aren't that bad either! Do your research; Read Dr Simeon's book and look for other books about hcg that might interest you. Ignore all of the chatter, which is easier said than done. People are opinionated, and skeptical, but I'm here to tell you that hcg CAN work for you. Stick to protocol for the first couple of weeks. It will be worth it. If you feel like going off course a little after that, then look into online support groups labeled "rogue" groups and see what has and hasn't worked for them.

   Ill update every now and then about my progress with Phase 3, I'm hoping to start seeing my muscle tone come back! Thanks for following!

Day 12 VLCD (173.4)

   No loss today, but I'm not super surprised. It feels like I am retaining quite a bit of water. That might be due to my obsession with coffee and chili (not at the same time!) lately. And I have been told the second and third weeks are notorious for stalls. I guess its kind of a trade off. The first week I was pretty hungry (compared to what I am now) but I was losing quite a bit of weight. Now that I'm NOT hungry, my losses are small. Not sure which one I prefer!

  I have decided not to do a planned cheat day. I looked it up and its very hard for your body to "restart" its metabolism (a key thing to keeping the weight off) if you aren't pretty strict for at least 21 days, which I haven't been.

   I think the thing that sold me on this diet is how many people actually are keeping the weight off, after years and years! I would like to be one of those people. I grew up watching people that I loved struggle with their weight, some until the very day that they died. I really don't want to live my life obsessing about how much I weigh, or what clothes I would like to fit in. I know it will always have to be in the back of my mind since I have a history of eating disorders and a family history of obesity, but I don't want it to be my entire life! I also want to stop the cycle of "growing up fat" so to speak. I wasn't a fat child, but I was always well aware that it could happen, and when I gained some weight in high school I freaked out. Now my son has began to think that he is "getting fat" and he is only 7. Hes so far from fat, but I know why he thinks that. He sees his mom constantly beating herself up for how shes let herself go. This is good motivation for me though.

   My new favorite is Chai Coffee Latte's. Make a strong pot of coffee, pour a cup black. Put your vanilla chai tea bag and let set for about 5 minutes. Add some splenda to taste, and a tablespoon of fat free half and half! Perfect for the weather, and I'm guessing its really good iced too!

  Not sure what I'm going to do about food this weekend, I need to go to the store because I don't have much left here that is protocol.

Day 11 VLCD (173.4)

   Just a few more lbs till Im in the 160s! And I fit into a pair of jeans that wouldnt even begin to fit only 2 weeks ago! I am on cloud nine!!

   Not much going on though other than that. Still no hunger to speak of, making shrimp coctail tonight for dinner. Oh, I am going to Texas for the weekend though so I might plan a cheat day and skip my hcg tomorrow and Saturday, maybe. I have to research it more and really think about if it would be worth it or not! I guess we will see!!

Day 10 VLCD (175.3)

   Well, the scale is moving down, although a little at a time! I made chili last night, it was so good! I think I'm about to have it for lunch too. It is definitely chili weather, everything is frozen (even our water pipes, ugh). Still no hunger to really complain about. Every now and then I will get a smell of something I'm cooking for the boys or Chad and it will make me want to eat every bite, but a piece of gum or glass of tea knocks that out. I'm having to really work at drinking enough water. Not sure why though, I'm thirsty enough, just not in the mood I guess. I feel like I need to be exercising although Dr S's book recommends NOT to. I don't feel like I'm losing muscle, but I would like to be gaining some more. Maybe Ill just do some light strength training and see how that goes.

Day 9 VLCD (175.6)

   Alright, back on the losing track! Yesterday I basically did another chicken day due to my lack of vegetables in the house that I can eat. I'm having a hard time eating salads since I cant use dressing. Plain lettuce just isn't appealing to me, and the dressings that I have tried so far aren't my style. Today I'm going to try some shrimp cooked a few different ways, maybe look up some recipes online. Other than that, the weather is completely nasty outside so I will be staying in and doing a whole lot of nothing!

Day 8 VLCD (177.8)

   Well I expected a gain, so I'm not TOO disappointed, but it still stings! Saturday night I had a big daiquiri at a friends house and that is what did all the damage. That's WAY too much sugar! I'm trying not to kick myself too hard because I don't want to get discouraged and give up, especially since my hunger is almost non-existent at this point, and my energy level is higher than its been in a year at least!

   Yesterday I did the chicken day, but had 2 servings of chicken in the afternoon instead of just one. Today I have shrimp and chicken on the menu, not sure what veggies since I have to go into town and stock up again! I'm thinking some spiced apples for snacks. Hopefully tomorrow I will see the scale start to move down again!

Day 7 VLCD (NOT weighing!)

   I cheated BIG time last night... it was not good. I think I just undid a weeks worth of hard work. *Sigh* My plan is to do a mock steak day today with chicken since I'm out of steak. I wont eat anything today, just drink a LOT of green tea since my body is carrying so much excess water. Then tonight after my 2nd dose I will eat a serving of chicken and a tomato, and that's it. Tomorrow I will see how much damage I really did and hopefully wont be kicking myself really hard. I can tell such a difference in just one big cheat. I feel bloated, 2 times bigger, sluggish, my energy is down. It was NOT worth it! Ill check in tomorrow, hopefully feeling a little better!