Day 13 - Hamburgers and Football

Weight: 137.5 pounds - Waist: 34 inches

Just finished watching some Redskins players making burgers for Spike from Top Chef's restaurant. It was pretty cool. Their burgers all looked gross to me though. Give me Five Guys or give me death. Obviously, I'm speaking figuratively here, because burgers are going to be a raaaaaare treat. Not that I've even been eating them for that long, so it shouldn't be too hard. I am, however, worried about when I am off of this diet. All of my favorite foods are so not cool. I mean, I'm Italian and Jewish. Those cultures don't exactly jive with healthy eating. Well, all that can be said is that I will figure it out!

So I'm down another 2 pounds today. Yipee! :) (Why am I watching Comast Sports Network???) Didn't make it to yoga though. The new supplement I take at night completely knocks me out, so getting up this morning was tough. I refused to even open my eyes until after 11:00. I could use the sleep though. Tonight Bobby and I may go out to eat, which will be a little challenging for me. Someone suggested I tell the waitor that I'm severely allergic to dairy, and ask them not to use anything but spices (minus salt) on my food. They won't want to screw it up, because then they would be liable. I don't know though. We may go somewhere like Fire and Ice or Hibatchi where I can watch them cook it. At Fire and Ice they don't use anything but water, so I know I would be okay there, and at Hibatchi I could just ask them not to use soy sauce and to hold the rice. They would probably both be okay. I'm also supposed to go out tomorrow with Bobby's mom and grandmother before we go see the Wizard of Oz. Oy vey.

Well, that's all for now folks.

Have a magnificent day!

Day 12 - Running Up That Hill

Well, today was an interesting day. It was my second day on the tyrosine, which, I think, is totally helping me. It could also be a combination of the B12 shot I did yesterday, though, too. I'm really hoping that the Tyrosine and the Calm PRT help level me out. Kathy told me that since my nor-epinephrine is off it could be contributing to my weight gain. I guess that people with low nor-epi tend to be heavier. Whatev, I'm breaking the mold! :)

Nothing I ate today was satisfying. I didn't feel hungry, but a little empty. Tomorrow I'm going to yoga with my mom in the morning, so the endorphins will hopefully help keep me positive. I'm SO happy today is Friday. I need a day or two to catch up on my sleep and mellow out. I know my thoughts are really random, but I'm having a hard time focusing right now.

It's been a little funny since I've been on the HCG. I just want to eat the same thing constantly. Not that I was much different before, but now I look forward to [insert craved food] all day long. Like the salsa, or the melba toast. I am seriously sick of chicken, but I can't eat beef that often, and fish is expensive. I think I'll just have to suck it up and deal. The doctor and I decided today that once my body has had enough of the diet, we'll take a break. I don't know how much more than the 23 days we had originally planned on I can do this. If you asked me that question about 6 hours ago, though, I probably would have answered differently.

I think I just completely crashed, so I'm going to end this one here.

Night night!

Day 12 - Quickie!

Weight: 139.5 pounds - Waist: 35 inches

Well, it's another early day at the office, so I don't have too much time to post. Down another .5 pound. Maybe this time I can stay in the 130's! :)

I read yesterday that I should be careful with the turkey, so I'm going to finish what I have probably, then nix it. The salsa is making me happy though. And popcorn.

Okay, I'll blog later. Really.

Have a short and sweet day! Happy Friday!!

Day 11 - I Can See Clearly Now

Well, today was definitely a learning day. I got to spend some time with one of our lab reps who is on her fourth round of HCG. Her way of telling her story was hysterical, but she says she's lost a LOT of weight. She also had a lot of great food ideas, (salsa was the best!) and really helped throw my lack of weight lost over the last four-or-so days. So did my pals on Happily Thinner After. I don't know what I would do without all of the support I have been getting. Between my mom, Bobby, Shelly, Kathy, and my pals on HTA I barely have to look up to find someone there to lift me up in those tough moments. I am truly, truly grateful.

Tonight I had another great meal. This afternoon I had a handful of plain popcorn for a snack after work. Then for dinner I made a burger that I sauteed with a tablespoon of salsa, and dill green beans. It was verrrrry tasty. I also found some great wheat crackers and had a few of those with some salsa as well. I forgot how much I love salsa. Don't worry though folks, I stayed at 500 calories. :)

Well, dishes to do, and Bobby will be here soon. My vote is for Madagascar 2 (he bought it for me yesterday - I like to move it, move it!), but we're probably going to watch the Darjeeling Limited.

Peace out, yo. :D

Day 11 - WTFFFFFFFFFFF??

Weight: 140 pounds - Waist: 35 inches

Well, this sucks. I'm up .5 pound. I can guess that my very strange food schedule yesterday is to blame. I barely ate at all yesterday at work, then came home and ate basically 350 calories. My f-up, but now that means I need to be extra cautious today, and listen to my body when it's hungry. I want to get way into the 130's by Sunday, so I need to be really strict. No more deviations. No more cause for "rewards." Straight as an arrow from now on. I have another 25 pounds to go, and I'm the only one in control. So why the eff am I screwing this up?? No more, I tell you. No more!

I'm going to bring some lean turkey breast to work for lunch today, with an apple and some cucumbers. Simple, easy. (On protocol, I might add) =) I also didn't drink all my water yesterday, so that may have been another contributing factor. (Am I obsessing??) So the list for today is: Water! Veggies! Protein! Eat at work! Listen to Shelly!

Oh yeah, I did make wonderful fish last night for dinner. I had broiled haddock that I DOUSED in this salt-free spice mix "It's a Dilly," which is dill, lemon, and pepper. It was so delicious. I also put a tablespoon of 1% milk with a little vinegar, and some fresh squeezed lemon as well for a bit more flavor. The fish was so light, that I got to eat a big piece and it was only 4 ounces. Much more satisfying than any meal I've had on protocol. But clearly, the whole combination of yesterday's diet did not agree with my tummy.

Well, as yesterday, I will do better today. I'm hoping for at least a 1 pound loss tomorrow. Woo hoo!

Have a straight-laced day!

Day 10 - Back in Action

Weight: 139.5 pounds - Waist: 35 inches

Aloha! 22.5 pounds to go! Woo hoo! Yesterday was a little trying at first, but ended up being a good day. Went out for Eddie's birthday to the China, which is uber rare, and had a great time. I did deviate off the diet a bit though; I had two shots. It was worth it though, I mean, it was his birthday, even if I forgot and thought we went out because his sister had her daughter yesterday. :D I'm a tool. I know this.

Regardless, I'm back on track today. No deviations. No modifications. Diet to the "T" today. I'm hoping when my dear friend "aunt flo" leaves that my weight loss might seem more significant. I could see it a bit yesterday, and people have been saying they can tell, which is always nice.

I'll probably have fish tonight for dinner, maybe do some yoga depending on when I get out work. I'll probably just take a nap though, cuz it's so effing early. I'd better get used to it though, since my schedule changed yesterday, and 8:30 is where its at. I guess. =/

Well, that's all for now folks.

"Catch ya on the flip siiiiide........." - Boondock Saints

Have a magnificent day!

Day 9 - Refocus and Attack

Weight: 140 pounds - Waist: 35 inches

Quick post. Feeling much better this morning. No time though, running late for work. Will write more tonight.

P.S. I think the little hamburger patty I made last night really helped, considering. :)

Have a productive day!

Day 8 - The Bell Jar

I feel very similar to last night. Work was tough today; very busy. Just hitting an awkward rut, which is probably because I have my period while being on the HCG. I've read that for some it makes their period terrible, others don't notice. The Dr. Simeons protocol says not to inject while you have it, but I don't want to stall the weight loss. The painful cramps I could deal with, but if this is only hormones it effing sucks. I really would love to see the results of my NeuroScience test to that maybe I wouldn't have to feel so up and down; especially as down as I've felt the past two days. I can't even tell that I've lost weight. I'm sure I will after aunt flo leaves town.

Bobby is here, and Eddie will be soon too. We're going to watch a movie. Maybe I'll feel better then.

Night night.

Day 8 - Back to Work

Weight: 140.5 pounds - Waist: 35 inches

Not much to say. Last night was a hard night. I was hungry for some reason, and felt really depressed. Bobby and I got talking on the state of things (not our relationship); not too pretty. Plus, I got my period yesterday, so I'm feeling a little bloated. I'm wondering if maybe that's why I only lost 1/2 pound yesterday.

I started reading Pounds and Inches last night. It's very interesting, and very informative. I learned a lot from the little reading I did. Hopefully I will finish it tonight, and can implement some of the suggestions. For example, I was not aware that I was supposed to have only 2 melba toast crackers per day. No one told me that! I was so disappointed. Oh well, just 17 days left of the VLCD, I think I can live without my melba toast. Besides, I have BEEF to look forward to tonight, then chicken tomorrow, and I think I'll have fish on Wednesday. I also forgot that I'm supposed to eat two servings of fruit, and learned that a tangerine is NOT an orange. So I'm sticking with apples. I'll eat one for a snack at work like I have been, and have one tonight after dinner.

Well, I'd better go get ready for work and make my lunch. I'll check in tonight to recap the day, after food shopping. Again.

Have a pleasant day!

Day 7 - Pounds and Inches

Going to go read Pounds and Inches by Dr. Simeons. It hopefully will answer a lot of my questions. I probably should have read it a while ago, but oh well. This is the book that outlines the HCG protocol, if anyone is interested. I've read bits and pieces of it for research when we were writing our own info packet at work, and it was very interesting.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

Today was just a chillaxing day. I spent a lot of time this morning playing around with the blog and on happilythinnerafter.com, which is a GREAT resource for support, recipes, and encouragement. Then watched Celebrity Rehab Sober House all afternoon. I think I'll go read and maybe watch a bit of a movie while I wait for Bobby. Beef is on the menu for tomorrow! So excited for some variety!! :o)

Nighty night!

Day 7 - Rest and Relaxation

Weight: 141 pounds - Waist: 35 inches

Ahhhhhh, Sunday. My day to rest and recouperate. Down another 2 pounds today! Yippee! I was hungry a little while ago, but it subsided. I think I've learned to ignore the little pangs of hunger and cravings that I normally would indulge. I should still probably eat lunch soon, though.

Yesterday was hard/fun. I injected right before we left for New Hampshire, and we stopped at the store so I could buy 2 liters of water. I ate my lunch (and by lunch I mean only my salad) on the way up, and snacked on an apple later during the ride. I was worried about my energy and hunger, so I took one of the appetite-suppressants that my doctor prescribed for me. We had a great afternoon skiing, then headed in for dinner. Whist everyone ate their pizzas and drank their beers, I happily munched on my green beans and chicken. Oh yeah, and, of course, my melba toast. I had a tiny sip of Bobby's black and tan as a reward for doing so well. It was yummy, but a taste was all I wanted. It was weird, the only thing on the table at dinner that I really wanted was the popcorn. As it is one of my favoritest foods, it was hard to ignore, but I persevered! :) :) I didn't finish even one serving of protein yesterday, though, or drink enough water. So today I must be much better.

I was very suprised that the appetite-suppressant didn't make me feel jumpy or "amped-up" at all. I was able to ski all afternoon and evening without a problem. I got tired at about 9:00-ish, but that was normal after 6 hours of skiing. I'm very tired and lethargic today, however. Not sure if they are related. Oh well, it's SUNDAY, so who cares.

Today is the end of Week #1!! That means that tomorrow I can add in white fish and lean beef. I think i'll make little melba toast burgers! Haha, I don't think that would work, but it's a lovely idea. I'll probably get some lean beef and grill it up with the garlic and herb spice mix I picked up. I'm out of green beans, and have had them every day since being on the VLCD, but I don't think I could get sick of them. :) I'm planning on having chicken and broccoli today for lunch, and maybe chicken and a salad for dinner. I'll use the melba for croutons! (It's all about the melba!) hehe.

Well, I will leave you all now. I think I'm going to go get my blood pumping with some WiiSports fitness training! Then probably a movie and some laundry. ::sigh:: Who doesn't love Sundays??

Have a peaceful day!

Day 6 - Woooosh!

Weight: 142 pounds - Waist: 35 inches

Good morning! I lost 4 lbs yesterday! I called my doc this morning, and she said not to worry, so.... Woo hoo!!! :) :)

No time again though. I have to go and make my lunch and dinner, because I'm going skiing this afternoon/evening. Tonight will be a little challenging with everyone eating burgers and drinking beers. I'm going to reward myself with a sip or two of beer, but that's it. I'll just be sitting and eating my green beans and chicken happily. You know what else I'll be eating?? MELBA TOAST! :) hehe.

I'm feeling much better this morning. I think yesterday was a combination of not enough water and the egg whites I ate. After I blogged last night I drank another 34 ounces of water, and I think that definitely made me feel a lot better.

Well, off to cook, shower, and SKI! Yay!

Have a rockin' day!

Day 5 - zzzzzZZZZZZZZ

Very tired today. Feeling very drained. I ate egg whites for lunch today, and it totally effed up my system. I'm not even hungry... I wonder if it is alright that I don't think I'll even get to 500 calories today. Oy vey...


Oh well, I'm going to clean up the kitchen, call Bobby, and go lie down. I may even just go to bed...

Goodnight all. Wish me better luck tomorrow!

Day 5 - Good Morning Sunshine!

Weight: 146 pounds - Waist: 36 inches

Good morning! So, I have some good news and some bad news. Which first? The good? Ok, well... I've lost 4 pounds!!! :) :) However, I also am heavier than I thought. The scale I was using was analog and very old. Yesterday I bought a digital scale, and I reconciled the info from both and realized I was four pounds off. So, in essence, this means that I'm exactly where I started (or where I thought I started). Either way, I know I have lost 4 lbs and feel great! I've also lowered my target weight, because 117 lbs is such a random number. My goal now is 115 lbs, but I may change that to 112 lbs. It all depends on whether I do a second course of injections. We'll see!

Little snafu today though, I don't have any more chicken... I'm going to check the stats on egg whites, just because I need the protein, but I don't know.

Well, I will check in later and let you know how it is going!

Have a blessed day!

Day 4 - Recap

Just making dinner now...

Today was much easier than yesterday. I was less hungry, and had a much more satiated feeling after lunch. I'm having a bit of a hard time with the water, but I'm getting better. I feel good today, probably because I'm only putting good things into my body. I know this is going to be great for me in the short and long run. I can't wait to get my neurotransmitter and nutritional profile back so that I can get started on any supplements I may need. I'm just so happy to be losing weight! I gazed down at the scale this morning and did a double take before accepting that I had lost another pound.

MELBA TOAST IS MY SAVING GRACE!! :) It's what I look forward to all day! MMMMMMM!!! :) :) :) :)

I went to Target tonight after work (Whole Foods just didn't happen) to grab a few things. Digital food scales are SO expensive! I ended up buying all-natural oil-free body wash and body lotion, but I'm not going to bother with the shampoo and conditioner. I have a lot left, and I really like what I use. Plus, I'll just be really careful not to get it on my body. I find it so hard to believe it really makes a difference in my weight loss, but people smarter than me came up with these rules. I also got a digital bathroom scale because it is a little too hard for me to read the numbers on the analog scale we have.

Well, I'm going to go finish munching on my yummy garlic green beans and melba toast!!

Goodnight!

Day 4 - A Cold and Rainy Day in New England

Weight: 148 pounds - Waist: 36 inches

Good morning! Another busy day at work, and no time to write. Down another pound, though! :) :) :)

I'm going to make my lunch (chicken, cucmbers, lettuce, and 2-calorie spray dressing, and maybe an apple for dessert) the it's off to the office!

Have a splendiferous day!

:)

Day 3 - Thank Goodness It's Over

Thank goodness today is at an end. It was a really hard day today. Very hungry, very tired, but I think alot of it was in my head. Shelly was great though, she pushed me to drink enough water, and reminded me that it takes 30 minutes for the brain to recognize you're full.

I was too tired tonight to go to Whole Foods with Shelly, but we'll go tomorrow.

Today for lunch I had spring mix lettuce with cucumbers, 1-calorie caesar dressing (the spray kind), and some chicken I sauteed with garlic and lemon. For dinner I had chicken steamed with garlic, rosemary, basil, and pepper with green beans and a few melba toast crackers. The melba toast is a great treat for the end of the day, since it's the only carbs I'm eating. I got the roasted garlic flavored kind, so they are really tasty too, maybe the most flavorful of my day. I'm also thinking of taking a fruit serving and blending it until its pulp, then freezing it into an ice pop. Maybe lemon and strawberry??

Well, I found a great website for support, happilythinnerafter.com, which Trudi suggested. It seems like it will be a great tool for keeping me on track. I need to spend a little bit of time on there to get acclimated.

I saw a fellow HCG-er today, and she's lost about 9 pounds in 11 or 12 days. Not too bad! I hope I can lose the weight I want. I really am committed, and scared that if I cheat I'll gain weight instead.

I will lose the weight. I will lose the weight. I will lose the weight.

A little positive affirmation never hurt anyone!

Tomorrow I think I'll make some mashed cauliflower with garlic and peppercorn. Maybe that will satiate me a little more than the food today. I did have an apple this afternoon that helped curb my hunger.

Oy vey, done for tonight. More tomorrow!

Day 3 - VLCD!!

Weight: 149 pounds - Waist: 36 inches

Short post this morning. Off to work, we'll see how today goes with basically no food! :) Nah, I made a good lunch. I spent too much time formatting the blog today, so I don't have time to post.

When I get home from the supermarket (Shelly is going to help me go shopping!) I'll post all about it and my VLCD cooking adventures!

Have a terrific day!

Day 2 - Rise and Shine!

Weight: 149 pounds - Waist: 36 inches

Off to visit my friend Harold, who I haven't seen in two or three years. Very excited! :) Today is my second loading day, then tomorrow I start the VLCD. Yikes! I'm sure I'll be fine though. I found two of those dressing sprays that have either one or two calories per spray (by Wishbone), and they look pretty yummy. Tonight I will probably go to the supermarket after work to pick up some lean meat and salad fixings to get myself started. I'm also going to try and find some melba toast, which I actually like. Just not sure what to eat with them. I think I need to review my diet sheet before I go shopping.

I wonder if I can make popsicles?? Maybe out of Crystal Light (even though I know how bad that is for you... yucky aspartame, but desperate times call for desperate measures). Oh well, off to meet Hardel and then work.

Have a glorious day!

Day 1 - Recap

So it's the end of Day 1! I'm soooo full, since today and tomorrow are "loading days." I ate a decent amount today, but I should probably eat a little bit more tomorrow. I know that if I don't eat enough during the "loading days" I might get headaches and feel hungry during the first few days of the VLCD (very low calorie diet). Yuck! Shelly (my coworker/boss lady) will be great support for me, since she promised to "shove the food down my throat" tomorrow! :)

I injected myself this afternoon, and it was a lot easier than I expected. The needle is so small, I could barely feel it! Today I used a larger syringe, so there was less to push in. Starting on Wednesday, though, it will be a smaller syringe, so it may take a little longer to inject. No big deal! I can handle it! :)

I feel like I'm ready for this, since I've known I was going to be taking the HCG and doing the VLCD. Tomorrow I will go shopping after work and load up on yummy veggies and may treat myself to a nice water bottle to make drinking the whole 68 ounces I'll need per day a little more fun. I'm also going to get some pre-cut lean chicken breasts, so I can weigh them out and cook them in advance. I'm still wondering how I won't be hungry when I can only eat 500 calories per day, but I trust my doctor, so I know I'll be fine.

For your reading pleasure, here is a history of the HCG diet, found on americanchronicle.com:

Weight Loss: A History of the HCG Diet

Marion Goldsmith

January 18, 2008

Although the HCG diet has been receiving a great deal of attention lately, it actually is not a new concept. In fact, the use of HCG as a diet aid was first discussed in a report that Dr. A.T.W. Simeons published in 1954. The report did gain some attention at that time, but it took several years before the use of HCG with dieting really started to catch on. Today, an increasing number of dieters are turning to HCG to help them lose those unwanted pounds.

About Dr. Simeons

Dr. Simeons, who was a British physician, is credited with having first discovered the use of HCG for weight loss. While practicing medicine in Rome, he devoted many years to the study of obesity and ultimately published his report extolling the benefits of HCG in 1954.

Dr. Simeons was mostly impressed by HCG because it could be paired with a low calorie diet without causing the same side effects commonly associated with low calorie diets. For example, Dr. Simeons noticed that his patients could drastically reduce their caloric intake without experiencing irritability, hunger pains, headaches, or weakness while also taking HCG.

As Dr. Simeons continued is research, he found that an HCG injection did more than just help his patients lose weight. In fact, he found that the injections also helped to naturally reshape his patient´s bodies even if they did not engage in exercise while on the diet. Dr. Simeons concluded that this was because the patients lost their fat tissue from adipose tissue accumulations, which made changes in the body shape more visible.

HCG Today

Today, HCG is still recognized by many weight loss clinics for its abilities to help patients lose dramatic amounts of weight. Although HCG is still not recognized by the FDA as a weight loss treatment, the FDA has determined that it is a safe drug to use. The basic concept behind using HCG to aid in weight loss remains much the same as it was with Dr. Simeons´s initial studies, but it was recently taken to a whole new level with Kevin Trudeau´s best selling book entitled "The Weight Loss Cures ´They´ Don´t Want You to Know About." According to Trudeau, the effectiveness of HCG can be further enhanced by eating a diet that consists of 100% organic foods. Trudeau´s plan also calls for implementing herbal supplements as well as vitamins to help improve the overall health of the body.

Although HCG has been around as a weight loss aid for over 50 years, it took Trudeau´s book to help spark new interest in its use. A great deal of controversy still surrounds HCG and whether or not it is effective at helping people lose weight. Nonetheless, there are many anecdotal records from people claiming that the injection changed their lives.

Have a great night!

Day 1 - Here I Come

Weight: 150 pounds - Waist: 36 inches

Today I begin my HCG weight loss journey. I'll inject myself at about 11:00 am. I'm really excited to get this started. I've wanted to lose this weight for so long! :) I'll keep a detailed journal here of how I'm feeling, how much I'm losing, and how hungry I am. I'll also include recipes, if I manage to find any good ones!

Off to work now, but I'll post again later today. Wish me luck!