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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

R5P2D22/23 - I made it!

October 30, 2012

Round 5, Very Low Calorie Day 22 of 23

This morning, I hit exactly 90 pounds off!  Now, keep you wig on, I stopped taking drops on Sunday, so this is the time when I have to keep eating P2, but the weight off doesn't count.  This weight is below my Last Dosage Weight (LDW) & it probably won't stay off long (this 1.2 pounds down from LDW) once I start eating P3 food.  My plan it to keep cheese and nuts out of my diet for at least a week more, so I should stabilize well.  Lord-willing!

My doc appointment went well on Friday.  He was very excited about my weight loss & talked about my fasting blood test labs from April (I'm scheduled to take another one in the middle of November, once these HCG drops are out of my system).  From October 2011 to April 2012, my cholesterol (which was just starting to creep up there) dropped 40 points in the bad and went up 20 in the good.  My triglycerides are completely in the normal range & my blood sugar dropped from 107 to 101.  Dr. Piers said he normally doesn't see changes in cholesterol like that unless the patient is on medication for it.  So, losing 90 pounds had been good for a lot of reasons!  My blood pressure, which was about 120-130 over 80-90 was 96/64.  My pulse, which used to be around 90 was 56.  I laughed out loud!   Dr. Piers called it (jokingly) "obscene" when he took it an hour after the nurse and my BP went up 95/64.  :-)

That's all for now.

Oh ... in case you wondered, I resisted the meatballs.   

Friday, October 26, 2012

R5P2D18/23 - Dreaming of meatballs

October 26, 2012

Round 5 (R5), Phase 2 (P2) Very Low Calorie Day (VLCD) 18/23

I smell meatballs.  At 1:25 on a Friday.  At work.  Meatballs.  I want meatballs.  I am resisting meatballs.  I still want meatballs.  But, I still resist meatballs.

That's what just went through my head.  Real time people, real time.

I have been SURROUNDED by food temptations today.  And, I have resisted.  Why?  Because what is the point of letting food and food cravings be my master?  But, as you can tell from my meatball-related thoughts above, I'm not much of a "need chocolate" kind of girl.  I am, however, a need meatballs kind of girl.

I am currently at exactly 88.5 pounds off, and I have 2 more weigh-ins until my Last Dosage Weight (LDW) day (Sunday).  I'll probably count Monday's weight as my LDW, since I'll take my last drops before bed on Sunday.  I'd love to ink out another 1.5 pounds to be at a "cool" 90 off.  But, 88.5 is within a chin hair of 90 pounds down.  So, who am I to be greedy?

This afternoon, I have a 6 month doctor appointment with my General Practitioner.  I'm not sure how we got on a 6 month cycle instead of the 1 year cycle to renew my prescriptions, but, there it is.  The only reason I'm mentioning this to you is because, I'm excited to go step on that scale and see the difference since the last time I was there in mid-April.  I think it's about 35-40 pounds difference.  Depending on the day I went, of course (which, I don't remember).  6 months ago, I was up to my eyeballs in the new job, freaking out, and R3P2.  This time, Dr. Piers is going to be very surprised at how much I've lost.  He actually told me when I saw him last that in about another 20 pounds, he wanted to take me off of my water retention pills (the only prescrip I can come off of ... the others are for allergies, asthma and my hormones after my hysterectomy ... and I'm not stopping those).  He thought I "had a good chance" to be 20 pounds lighter in 6 months.  Based on the day I went to the doctor last / what my weight was (and you can bet your bippy, I'm checking my chart), I do believe I am between 35-40 pounds lighter.  I think Dr. Piers will be pleased.  I know I am.

On Thursday, next week, I will officially start P3.  I plan on easing into P3 like an old man climbing into a lifeboat.  SLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWLLLLY.  But, one of my encouragements NOT to go overboard (what's up with all of these nautical references?) is that I will measure myself on Thursday morning.  I want to see how many inches I've lost.  I know it's a lot.  I just checked myself out in the full length mirror last night, and I think I see a difference.  So, that means it's going to be several inches total off.  I'll let you know.  

It still smells like meatballs. 

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

R5P2D14 of 23 - Another 1/2 Pound Bites The Dust

October 23, 2012

Round 5 (R5), Phase 2 (P2) Very Low Calorie Day (VLCD) 14 of 23

No, your eyes aren't crossing.  Last blog, I reported that I was in Round 6.  I'm not.  I'm in Round 5.  Not that ANY of you care, aside from me and my Rainman-like-obsession with numbers.

So, this week has been a pretty eventful one, as far as weight-loss is concerned.  The first week in Phase 2 (October 9 - 15), I lost 12 pounds.  The second week in Phase 2 (October 17 - 23), I lost 5 pounds.  That's my 2nd best Round in totals (right behind Round 1, which, for everyone following HCG, is the best).  I'm in completely new territory ... well, completely new in the sense that I haven't been here since the end of 1995 (at best).  I'm praying I can lose another 3-ish -- but 7.7 pounds would be the best, not because it's two primes (my head might explode from the fun of losing TWO primes -- but because I'd be in a new decade before Last Dosage Weight (LDW).  To refresh your memory, LDW is the weight I weigh the morning I stop my drops.  Us HCG-ers only take drops in P2 (when we eat the 500 calories of "wonky" food), and that's the only time we lose weight.  The rest of the time, we're supposed to maintain.  Which, honestly, feels like the hardest part.  So, I'm going to rise to the challenge and tackle this maintaining thing head on.  This is what I plan to do.

FIRST -- Keep Eating P2 Foods, Just More Of Them (aka: P2+)
Yes, I said it.  In fact, I did more than just say it.  It's in WRITING, so it's even more official.  I'm not going to run with reckless abandon into P3's open pantry that is filled with cheese and nuts and low sodium bacon and avocados and olives of all colors, shapes and sizes.  I'm going to fill up on mostly P2 foods like chicken, fish, lean beef/bison/veal (for meat), tomatoes, cucumbers, onions (for veggies).  I will add in things like colorful peppers and celery (maybe with a bit of peanut butter, if I can resist going hog wild).  I'm going to do that for another week or so of P3.  Since this is my shortest Round of P2 ever (23 days), I not only want to maintain my losses, but I feel like I've had more willpower in this Round, because I know it's "short."  Around D21-28, it's drudgery.  I can't say it any other way.  The losses slow way down, the food is NOT fun anymore, and it seems like the end is not in sight.  Now, with this little shorty, I feel I have the gumption to stick with this food (again, eating more of the protein and adding in veggies I can't have in P2) for at least another week, before introducing things like Brie (HEAVEN in the form of cheese) and bacon (could there BE a more perfect meat?). 

SECOND -- Continue Not Eating Carbs And Count My Calories (P3)
This is vital.  I've done the first part correctly every time.  No processed (bread, potato, rice, sugar, honey, agave, chemical sugars) carbs.  But, I have stunk it up like a shunk warding off an enemy when it comes to counting calories.  And, the problem isn't that I'm eating too much.  Bet you thought it was!  The problem is, I'm not eating enough.  I can get by on very little now-a-days.  But, our bodies weren't designed for that.  We need fuel.  Ironically, the HCG diet is about eating ENOUGH calories most of the time.  It's only when you take the drops that you eat so few.  Most of us who are or have followed this have found out that when we don't eat enough, we gain.  Yet, I find myself gaining by not eating enough, and what do I do?  Yep.  I eat less the next day.  Go ahead.  Call me a moron.  I agree.  So, counting calories should give me a good idea of how I CAN eat to maintain.  Am I kidding myself that I'm not eating enough?  The few times I've tracked in P3/P4 in the last year, every time, I wasn't eating enough.  Am I eating too much?  Tracking will show that to me too. 

THIRD -- Only Add Higher Fat Items When My Calories Are Too Low
I will keep cooking with butter.  I have for years, including this last year when I've lost 87.9 pounds.  But, I can still drink skim milk (I don't have to drink whole).  I can have 1/2 and 1/2 in the house for occasional use, but not every day.  I will eat eggs (they really are the perfect food) and maybe add avocado, if my calories are low.  But, not every day.  It's great to eat real, whole food.  Just not a ton, and not every day.  I know I should know that, but I don't.  It's either low fat (NO THANK YOU, that has just as many bad side effects, some of which is weight gain!), or high fat (only when I have to).

FOURTH -- Eat Clean Instead Of Correcting
I think one of my problems has been that I use Correction Days a little too freely in P3.  Yes, you are supposed to correct the day after you go 2.1 pounds over LDW.  That, I've nailed.  BUT, if you keep going up and down, there's a problem.  That's my problem.  I correct like a champion.  The next day, I eat P3 again, and, boom.  The scale goes up a few ounces or a pound.  Wrong-o.  Why?  Because what I should be doing is eating "clean" (P2+) the next few days to solidify the weight the Correction Day has lost.  AND, as a side note, once I do a Correction Day, I'm supposed to maintain that weight for 21 days.  So, all of this P3 correcting, but being done in 21 days (from the start, not from the last Correction Day)?  I've been doing it wrong.  So, since I'm on a schedule (you know how I love my schedules!), I'm not correcting more than 1 time in the beginning (it happens to the HCG champions that a CD has to happen in the first week).  But, after that, I'm just eating clean.  It might take 4 days for the weight to come off, but it'll come off.  I know it.  I've experienced it first hand.

FIFTH -- Assess My Round Length In R6 (January)
If I have the stamina to stabilize well this time, it's because I had a short Round.  I'm planning on doing a doozy of a Round (30 days) in January, so I might rethink that, if I stabilize well.  If I (I should say WHEN I) stabilize well this time, I'll be within spitting distance of a MAJOR goal for me, so if it takes me another 2 Rounds to get to goal, who cares?  A shorter Round that is successful (meaning, I don't gain back 1/2 of what I've lost) vs. a longer Round where I hang on by white-knuckling the last week, and run with reckless abandon into P3 food at the end will mean I gain back part of what I lose.  And, I'm not willing to do that.

So, in short, I'm learning to be flexible in rigidity.  Huh?  Yep.  I'm having to be rigid about some things (the plan), but flexible in how long I do it.  So, here I am ... the HCG equivalent of Mr. flexible, Gumby.

Friday, October 19, 2012

R6P2D12/23 -- Anniversary!

October 19, 2012

Round 6 (R6), Phase 2 (P2) Very Low Calorie Day (VLCD) 12 of 23

Hi!  Remember me?  It's been a long time.  Perhaps I should reintroduce myself.  I'm your annoying friend who always talks about weight loss.  Oh, I see the memories flooding back into your brain now.

I'm a little belated in saying this -- and I hope I don't sound conceited, but -- HAPPY HCG ANNIVERSARY to me (and to you for sticking with me for a year!).  Well, 2 days ago, happy anniversary.  10/17/11 is when I started this journey.  On my year anniversary, I had lost 84.9 pounds.  Which is wshere I'm at today.  Ding dong!

So, I'm right in the middle of Round 6, and it's going well.  Attitude wise, I'm happily moving along.  I've lost all that I gained in P3 / P4 / P1 (by the time I was done loading for my birthday -- and I loaded like the best of them -- I had gained 14 pounds from LDW).  I still have 12 days to go (I'm ending this P2 Round on Halloween).  I'm praying I could lose another 6.4 pounds to get me to a very easy number to remember on the scale.  I'll tell you what it is if I get there.  It's NOT what you think it is, but yes, I might just reveal my true weight to the "world" at the end of this Round.  See?  I've lost my mind.  At the weight I'm hoping to get to, I will be 90.5 pounds off.  Mmmm yummy -- I like the sound of that.

This will be my last Round this year.  I plan on going into 2013 loading (like I did last year) and starting Round 7 P2 on January 2.  As a side note, I don't know why I didn't plan on doing 7 Rounds before now.  I love the number 7.  Are you surprised?  I can hear you yawning with a, "No, Julia."  I mean, hello?!  It's a prime number (and I am in my "prime" year -- 41).  , it's God's perfect number, it's odd AND it's my birthdate!).  But, I digress.

I'm going to do Round 7 in January and, if I have to, Round 8 (EEEEK, not prime) in mid-April.  Then, after that, wherever I land, I will only use HCG as a maintenance plan.  If I start seeing "the creep" (of weight loss ... I don't mean I'll start dating a jerk), then I'll do another Round.

So, happy October.  Happy anniversary.  Happy Halloween.  Happy happy, joy joy.