R6P2D16 of 29 - Love connection

January 28, 2013

Round 6 (R6), Phase 2 (P2) Very Low Calorie Day (VLCD) 16 of 29

Well, you asked for it.  Here's my "date" overview in 100 words or less.  I survived.  I didn't kvetch or hyperventilate on my way there.  He didn't have a machete.  Score!

I can't speak for him other than what he wrote to me afterwards and what he tried to do -- and was rebuffed by me -- as the 2 hour non-"date" in the middle of the day drew to its close.  But, I can say, for my part, I am very content to keep him as a minor part (if at all) in my life.  Was that diplomatic enough?  

I'm sure some of my readers are rolling their eyes, thinking I'm looking for some vapid movie-star look alike (I assure you, I am not), or that I want someone to make big bucks (again, nope), or be smart like Einstein (thank you, no, I'd like to be able to keep up intellectually).   I want someone who loves Jesus, has a compassionate heart, has some brains in his head, holds down a steady job (even if I make more money than him), can hold a conversation and has maybe 3 things he likes that I like (outside of Jesus and food, so we'll make that five things). 

Okay, enough of the love (dis)connection.

Back to food.  I had a good weekend of weight loss, and this morning, awoke to a 2 pound gain.  It's official, the full moon makes me gain (regardless of the Phase I'm in).  This is the 6th Round where I've seen it again and again.  So, I press on, joyfully.  I think I read that somewhere.  ;-) (It's in the Bible, just in case you didn't know).

That's about all I have to say today.  It seems like a good night for a book (Cranford), a cup of tea and a fire in the fireplace.  Maybe I'll paint my nails.  My old stand-by.

R6P2D13/29 - Disengaging my force fields

January 25, 2012

Round 6 (R6), Phase 2 (P2) Very Low Calorie Day (VLCD) 13/29

It's been a rather ho-hum sort of Round thus far.  I'm not saying that in a dramatic, "I hate this" sort of way.  More in a, "I don't have much to say about it" sort of way.  My weight loss is tracking with other Rounds.  It's not the worst, but it's certainly not the best.  I am still making up ground from R5 Phase 4 (eating what I want in moderation).  I realized after writing the last time, that not only do I blame myself (going a little nuts with movie theater popcorn and Christmas goodies) for gaining in R5P4, but the steroids I took for the first time in my life (thanks to my head cold) ... but also for the "sugar free" Halls cough drops I ate like they were the elixir of life.  Something tells me that 100 sugar free cough drops aren't so "sugar free" when eaten constantly for a week.  Duh, Julia!

So, on to the weekend everyone.  This weekend, I will be trying something that I haven't done for a while.  I'm going on a coffee "thing" with a guy tomorrow.  I'm not calling it a date.  In fact (I hope you're sitting down), I don't want to date.  I haven't since I started HCG.  My head is elsewhere.  But, after being asked by a couple of random guys in the last two months (I skillfully deflected them ... FB can bring out some doozies, let me tell you), there's this guy.  No, my heart strings aren't a-strumming.  But, why not try something new?  I did with HCG, and I'm at a place in my life I never thought I'd be.  So, maybe this guy will be like HCG in my life.  Or, maybe he'll be like Weight Watchers was -- NOT for me.  But, how will I know, unless I put down the excuse force field ("I'm tired after work."  "We have nothing in common."  "I work long hours."  "I don't like meeting new people."  "I don't want to be distracted from my weight-loss journey."  "He won't fit in with my life.") and just have coffee, like he suggested several times, and move on.

So, I accepted.  I'm not losing sleep over it, but I must admit, I'm not sure if that was the right decision.  But, nothing is forever.  Certainly spending a couple of hours at Starbucks talking to some guy my friend recommended is not forever.  One thing I've learned about myself (among the many) from doing HCG is, if I don't open myself up for new experiences, then I better like what I've got.  Yes, I love my life as it is.  Would it be enriched by the man God has for me?  Absolutely.  So, unless I expect for God to plop a man into my life, as he would drop a star from the sky, I better be open to meeting guys.  I feel so dirty even writing that.  Don't worry (Mom and Dad) ... I'm not joining a singles website, or club (do they even have those anymore).  I'm just going for coffee and then meeting up with friends afterwards.

So, here goes ... force fields disengaging.

It

feels

weird

out

here.

:-)

R6P2D4 - Yellow Fever Isn't Killing Me!

January 16, 2013

Round 6 (R6), Phase 2 (P2) Very Low Calorie Day (VLCD) 4 of 29

I still can't believe I'm typing 2013.  It's hard to believe when I started this blog (and HCG), it was the end of 2011.  As of tomorrow, I will have been following the HCG protocol for 15 months.  Crazy, with a capital CRAZY!

So, I got my final vaccination for my March Asia trip yesterday, and it didn't seem to upset my weight loss.  I was a little concerned, because the Yellow Fever vaccine (which was LIVE culture!) was incubated in egg.  I can't have egg right now.  But, I had to have the vaccine (and Hep A, Hep B, typhoid, TB).  Since none of those were "live," they didn't have to be incubated.  Yellow Fever did.  Well, I'm happy to say, I didn't gain, I still lost, and (perhaps I should have put this first), I didn't get Yellow Fever.  Although, as a Cat employee, I suppose I should have "Cat yellow" fever.  Not that I do.  :-)

So, I'm down 2.0 overnight.  I'm making up some ground.  I still have 12 pounds to go to my absolute lowest (when I was exactly 2 pounds below Last Dosage Weight).  I'm tracking along with my weight-loss in Round 5, so I will be slowing down any day now.  Each of my other 5 Rounds, my weight loss slowed down between days 5 - 9.  So, that's what I'm expecting to happen this time.  No surprises.  And, as you know, I hate surprises (they are almost always bad -- except for the 2 surprise parties I've received and the 4 I've been a part of in the last 3 years).  In weight-loss, it's generally not fun to be "surprised" because it's usually in the up direction.  But, sometimes not.  Today, actually, was a good surprise.  Of course, my scale went all wonky on me, and I had to get on and off about 5 times to finally land on the same weight twice.  That's the one I took.  It actually showed about 0.7 pounds less in one of the tries, but I'm not counting that, as it didn't "stick."  I think the battery might need to be replaced.  Either that, or it's just wonky.  But, I'm not switching scales now.  15 months, it's my friend.  And, you don't dump friends, regardless of how silly they are.  :-)

I'm hearing a BIG amen to that one -- all of you out there thinking how silly I am and you're not dumping me.  Thanks!

So, that's all for today.  No yellow fever.  Check.  Weight still going down on the sale.  Check.  Two blogs in two days.  Check.  Making up for lost time and gained weight.  Check.  Grateful for HCG.  Check.  Grateful for my friends and family.  SUPER check.  Signing off.  Check.

R6P2D3/29 -- "Roid" Rage

January 15, 2012

Round 6 (R6), Phase 2 (P2) Very Low Calorie Day (VLCD 2 of 29

No, you're not seeing things.  My progress scale went back from 91 (90.8 actually) to 68.  Whuh?!  Well, I blame myself and I blame "roid" rage.  What's that, you ask?  It's my pithy way of saying, for the first time ever, I was put on steroids (January 1 - 12) to get over a head cold.  What happened?  Well, besides eating off of plan, the "roids" helped me gain back my R5 weight.  WHAT?  You are right to be astounded.  I was.  Rather disappointed in myself, actually.  But, I'm glad I had the medication (to get over my cold) and that I had hHCG (homeopathic HCG) Round 6 to look forward to.  I got back on that wagon by loading January 10 - 12 (Happy Birthday, Jim Wallace on January 12!), while I was on my business trip.  And, boy, did I load.

Business trip food, coupled with steroids ... I was one uncomfortable camper.  Actually, I forgot, until today, that part of my gain was because of those.  But, let's be real.  After stabilizing like a champ (no correction days for me), I hit the mid-December mark, went to the Hobbit 12 times (yep) and ate enough movie theater popcorn to fill a small theater, but I didn't stop there.  I ate other stuff, like candy, and fast food.  What did I learn?  CONSTANT VIGILANCE.  Yep.  That's the name of the game.

So, I'm learning as I go, not beating myself up, and moving forward.

Today was my 2nd weigh in on P2.  I've lost 8.8 pounds in 2 days, which is my highest (by about 1/2 a pound) loss in all 6 Rounds.  I'll take it.  I have 12 pounds to go to recover my Last Dosage Weight (LDW) from Round 5 (October 28), but it's do-able. 

So, my next big adventure is preparing for my Asia (India, Singapore, Shanghai) trip from March 9 - 22.  I'll be safely ensconced in Phase 4 (eat what I want in MODERATION).  Since I can stabilize like a champ (at least, I proved THAT to myself), my next goal (or one of them) is to stay stabilized in P4.  That will be right when I travel.  Yikes!  But, I'm not giving into fear.  I'm going to do what I can to pack protein bars (I'll take suggestions on what ones are low carb too) and eat those.  So, buckle up.  I plan on zooming at jet speed back to my LDW, and hopefully, in 29 days of P2 (instead of the 23 days that I did last time), I'll be able to make up ground and deplete a few more pounds from my scale to boot.

Sorry about the radio silence in December and 1/2 of January.  Not sure where the time went, but it wasn't spent blogging, that's for sure.  I'll try to be better about staying plugged in and accountable.

R5P4D5/48 -- I shall overcome!

November 26, 2012

Round 5 (R5), Phase 4 (P4) Eating What I Want In Moderation, Day 5 (D5) of 48

Well, for someone who Stabilized like a pro (I didn't have 1 correction day in P3), P4 Day 1-3 killed that record-breaking NO correction day.  Yes, it was Thanksgiving and the day after, and the day after that.  Actually, I'm pretty proud that I'm "only" up 5 pounds from LDW after 3 days of Carbo-load.  I think I probably gained 10 pounds before HCG.  The great thing is, I am over-coming.  I lost 2 pounds on Sunday morning, but lack of willpower (eating with reckless abandon, in my life, will make me want to keep eating that way) meant that I ate onion rings AND a Hardees chocolate chip ice cream sandwich AND 2 Lara Bars yesterday.  Yes, I found those 2 pounds again.  AND, I jumped headlong into a vat of fat.  So, I'm correcting today.

Why am I encouraged?  Because I did an about face and am stopping the crazy food frenzy.  I never would have done that before.  I happily (actually, unhappily, because it was so defeating) threw in the (food) towel and kept binge eating.  Lord-willing, NO MORE!  I have stopped myself time and time again, with the Lord's mercy, and, even though I am not 88.8 pounds off today (that's my Last Dosage Weight), or the 90.8 pounds off that I stayed at for a while in P3, I'm still 83.7 pounds off.  And, that's better than a sharp stick in the eye.

Tonight, after a hectic and VERY productive day at work, I plan on going home and eating my correction meal of a T bone steak and a tomato.  Of course, as I type this, I realize, while I cooked it yesterday (knowing I'd have to bite the bullet and correct today), I put it in the freezer.  Yep.  It's frozen.  Well, I'll thaw it out somehow!  And, that's dinner.  Lord-willing, I'll be 3 pounds down tomorrow, and then I'll eat clean (NO carbs, except maybe some fruit), and that other 2.1 pounds will come off within the next week. 

That's the whole point of this.  We all have indulgent days with food.  Some (me), more than others in my life.  But, I don't have to be a slave to that sin in my life anymore.  When I have a "bad food day" -- like I did yesterday, I have the power (thank you Lord, for giving it to me!) to stand up and brush off my dirty, skinned up knees and say, "Today's a new day."  And, it is.  For about 7 more hours.  Then, it will be an old day, because tomorrow will be here.

Okay.  I better stop writing.  Lack of food, lots of water, and a whole heap of work stress have made me batty.

Oh, but before I go.  Here's the whole reason I wrote today.  I got my fasting blood test results back.  Here they are ... for those of you who scoff that this whole thing works, here are my numbers (I'm not bragging, just encouraged).  I hope you aren't color-blind, or you won't be able to see these:

Glucose (between 70-99)
December 2011 (right after Round 1): 107
June 2012 (right after Round 4): 102
November 2012 (right after Round 5): 91

Cholesterol (<200)
December 2011 (right after Round 1): 199
June 2012 (right after Round 4): 194
November 2012 (right after Round 5): 176
Triglycerides (<150)
December 2011 (right after Round 1): 148
June 2012 (right after Round 4): 88
November 2012 (right after Round 5): 56
HDL (>40)
December 2011 (right after Round 1): 57
June 2012 (right after Round 4): 62
November 2012 (right after Round 5): 65
LDL (<130)
December 2011 (right after Round 1): 112
June 2012 (right after Round 4): 114
November 2012 (right after Round 5): 100
VLDL (10-50)
December 2011 (right after Round 1): 30
June 2012 (right after Round 4): 18
November 2012 (right after Round 5): 11
Cholesterol/HDL Ratio (0-4.4)
December 2011 (right after Round 1): 3.5
June 2012 (right after Round 4): 3.1
November 2012 (right after Round 5): 2.7
And, those numbers (even the December 2011) are better than before I started HCG.  Awesome!

R5P3D15/21 -- Steady as she blows!

November 15, 2012

Round 5 (R5), Phase 3 (P3) Proteins, Day (D) 15 of 21

This Round has been a fairly "easy" Round for me, compared with R3 and R4.  I realize now that my personal life (work) stress made it much harder.  At this point, I am settling into this job (thank you for your prayers and support) and taking it for what it is.  And, it's paying off in the weight-loss front.  I am on Day 15 of the Stabilization P3 (proteins only) and, I have not had ONE correction day yet.  I have broken my record (in R1, it was on D12).  In fact, I came off of P2 (of the Very Low Calorie Days) exactly 2 pounds below (yes, BELOW) Last Dosage Weight (LDW).  I was 90.8 pounds down.  In the 15 days on P3, I have vacilated between 2 pounds under LDW -- which in this phase, is as low as I should go -- and 1.5 above.  That's it!  1.5 above.  Wow!  If you remember (and you might not, but forgive me if I'm recapping too much if you do remember), in this 21 days, I'm supposed to stay within 2 pounds (above or below) LDW (that's the weight I weighed the last day I took drops, on October 28) so my body will recognize this weight as my new "high" so if I do eat off of protocol (aka: junk) for a meal or two, my body won't freak out and gain 5 pounds (which is what happens on most other diets).  If you have to correct (like I have in past Rounds), then, you have to start the whole 21 day cycle of P3 from that date ... keeping at 2 pounds above or below for 21 days.  Well, Praise the Lord, I haven't had to correct yet.  As of today, I'm 1.2 above LDW.  And, I'm not frustrated.  I view that as a victory!  The last two Rounds, I was fighting for every ounce to stay off.  This time, because I slowly went into P3, it's been easier to keep it exactly in that 2 pound window.  Amazing.  Following directions works.  Hear that people?  Why do we all make things worse by trying it our own way?

So, I think I'm starting R6 with my loading days being December 30, 31, and January 1.  But, just today, I was informed that I might be traveling on the Corporate Jet (yes, you read that right) with my VP, Group President (he reports to Cat's CEO) and a handful of other people, to 2 facility openings on January 10 - 11.  Well, if I'm traveling on those days, I will use those days (and probably the 9th) to load, and start in P2 the day I get back (Saturday, January 12 -- Jim W's birthday -- hi, Jim & Abbie!).  That means, I'll do a short 21 day Round 6, instead of 30 days.  But, you know what?  This Round seemed easier to handle, and I think it's because I did a 23 day Round.  A short Round is easier to come off of slow and steady, because 21 days is the minimum you must do, and you haven't done it long enough to be batty sick about the food.  So, it's easier to keep eating it, rather than going hog (or I should say, BACON) wild about P3 food.  Which keeps the weight steady.  Which makes me happy.

P4 is right around the corner.  I start it on Thanksgiving, and have already decided I'm going to eat whatever Thanksgiving food I want this year (I had just started my first P3 last year, and didn't eat it).  I'm planning that day of a "break."  Then, I'll be right back on the next few days, and the weight will come off.  I'm bound and determined that, whenever I start R6 (be it January 2 or January 12), I will be in the 2 pound window.  I'd REALLY like to be at the 2 pounds below LDW.  And, this time, I think I can do it! 

2013 is right around the corner.  I will be traveling to Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia, and Singapore (Singapore) and Shanghai, China for 2 weeks in March, so I better be safely in P4 at that point.  It also looks like I'll be traveling to Grimbergen (outside of Brussels), Belgium, and Peterborough and London, England, in August -- all for work, so this coming year, it will be criticial for me not to chase numbers on a scale and see how low I can get, but to MAINTAIN MY LOSSES in P3 and P4.  Yes, that's in caps because I'm yelling that at my cravings that are to come.  That's the key phrase in 2013.  I'm denying myself now so I can keep on losing and keeping it off.  I feel SO much better than I did 13 months ago (come this Saturday), and I'm LOVING doing things like crossing my legs, wearing Cuddle Dud pjs (which I never could fit into before) and wearing fleece, a jacket and a scarf and NOT sweating.  And, although I'll never look like a model (I'm a bit too funny looking for that with my ears that stick out, big schnoz and gummy smile), it is fun to see myself emerging out of some of this fat, and see what God designed me to look like.  He didn't design me to be 140 pounds overweight, that's for sure.  He didn't design me to be 50 pounds overweight (like I am now), so I know I haven't "arrived" at the finish line.

So, in case I don't write again, HAPPY THANKSGIVING (I'm yelling that, because some of you live very far away and I want you to hear me)!  We're about to enter my favoritemakesmesohappyIcouldburstwithjoy season -- Christmas!  Don't tell anyone, but I'm already listening to Christmas music.

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.