HCG diet SUPPORT thread

[mary3mama]

For those who are doing the hcg diet/protocol or who are seriously considering doing so.

Let's share our progress, our challenges, our strategies.

Let's answer questions of those considering.

Let's get healthier together.

(There is another thread 'hcg diet' for discussion of whether or not one should even try this...please take those types of comments over there. )

I'm Mary, 45 yo homeschooling mama to three lovelies.

I'm on Loading day #2, homeopathic hcg drops day #2 -- I start the very low calorie diet (VLCD) tomorrow.

First thing I'd say is if anyone is considering this protocol, read Pounds and Inches. It is PDF of the book that the creator of the diet Dr. Simeons wrote. It tells you everything about the protocol.

[mary3mama]

Here's a link to a free PDF of

POUNDS AND INCHES

[Panserbjorne]

Congratulations on your choice and I look forward to hearing all about your exciting journey.

[Dmitrizmom]

Thanks for starting this thread. I will be following along and cheering for you. .

Hope to start the protocol once dd2 is older.

[Sharlla]

went from a size 22 to a loose 16 since april 16. about 60 lbs gone. i'm cycling so i do 26 days vlcd then 10 days low carb then back on vlcd. i do this to avoid immunity and lengthy time between rounds. im just endng cycle 3 of vlcd and will start cycle 4 august 2. i do injections of 125ius
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[mary3mama]

Originally Posted by Sharlla

went from a size 22 to a loose 16 since april 16. about 60 lbs gone. i'm cycling so i do 26 days vlcd then 10 days low carb then back on vlcd. i do this to avoid immunity and lengthy time between rounds. im just endng cycle 3 of vlcd and will start cycle 4 august 2. i do injections of 125ius
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Awesome!!

I LOVE hearing how well it has worked for you!
The cycling sounds like a great idea.
Since I'm doing homeopathic drops it is unclear whether there is even the issue of hitting an immunity. But I've heard that some need to cycle to phase 3 for a while just because they need a mental break from the VLCD.

I'll just have to see how it goes for me.

Tomorrow I START the VLCD protocol.

[Sharlla]

yeah i really look forward to p3 although i love p2 a break is nice
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[Panserbjorne]

no immunity issues with the homeopathic. In fact, many suggest there are none with the other forms either since it's being produced with such high quality right now. IT was different back in Dr. S's day. However, since losses are always better in the beginning of the round, cycling is a great way to approach it.

[SuburbanHippie]

I'm starting loading today. Sadly, I loaded yesterday and then realized you were supposed to take the drops while you load. Whoops! I guess I skimmed past that part when I read P&I.

[mary3mama]

Originally Posted by Panserbjørne

no immunity issues with the homeopathic. In fact, many suggest there are none with the other forms either since it's being produced with such high quality right now. IT was different back in Dr. S's day. However, since losses are always better in the beginning of the round, cycling is a great way to approach it.

Thanks for posting that. I was wondering about the changes to the hcg since his time. I imagine that cycling is also helpful for planning around 'life stuff' like weddings and vacations. It is nice that way, IMHO, because this should be empowering not a jail sentence.

Originally Posted by SuburbanHippie

I'm starting loading today. Sadly, I loaded yesterday and then realized you were supposed to take the drops while you load. Whoops! I guess I skimmed past that part when I read P&I.

I missed that the first time I read P & I too! I was so surprised by it that the next time I read it I read that passage several times to make sure I had it right.

I finished my 2nd loading day and am now on my first day of the very low calorie diet -- 3rd day of drops. I'm using the EVOKE homeopathic and must say that I love it. I haven't tried any other forms of hcg before, so i cannot compare, but I can say that I know this is effective.

I feel it 'kick in' within a few minutes of taking and the strongest effect lasts for over an hour.

Of course many people are suspicious of homeopathy once they learn the way in which they are produced. But I've been studying and using remedies in my own family for years.

Ok, on to the numbers, after really stuffing myself almost to the point of vomiting for 2 days I gained only 2 pounds. As I well know from the last 2 months, a 2 pound gain is insignificant and can easily be water retention. But I know that I did stuff....I want to give myself the best chance of being successful with this protocol, so I am trying to follow everything to the letter.

I've taken measurements as well, as I have read that sometimes even if you aren't seeing big changes on the scale you can document the ways in which your body is redistributing the fat.

But it won't be until at least tomorrow that I can post anything about progress. Today it's all about getting into a new groove with the food.

[Panserbjorne]

if I could offer one word of advice it would be this: TAKE PICTURES. The scale doesn't adequately reflect what happens, nor do the measurements. You can't, after all, measure everything! You will be amazed at the shift that takes place. The fat not only mobilizes, it redistributes itself. It's something you can't imagine until you've seen it. PICTURES.

[greenmom4]

I'll join. After the original post, I did the research and have been doing injections for a week today. I've lost 3 lbs from my original weight, a little over 7 lbs from my post load weight. I'm doing injections (they're not so bad, really). To be honest, the diet has been tough for me. Not because I'm hungry, but because the food is just so...blah. I took measurements, too, not sure when I'll take them again. Maybe a month or so?

I was planning on doing the 40 day round, but I may look into cycling. I have about 50-60 pounds to lose.

[mary3mama]

Originally Posted by greenmom4

I'll join. After the original post, I did the research and have been doing injections for a week today. I've lost 3 lbs from my original weight, a little over 7 lbs from my post load weight. I'm doing injections (they're not so bad, really). To be honest, the diet has been tough for me. Not because I'm hungry, but because the food is just so...blah. I took measurements, too, not sure when I'll take them again. Maybe a month or so?

I was planning on doing the 40 day round, but I may look into cycling. I have about 50-60 pounds to lose.

Awesome progress!

As for the 'blah'-ness of the food, here's a resource. It's an HCG cookbook written by an HCG-dieter who happens to be a gourmet chef. If you go to the link you can download a sample ebook, which I did. Yesterday I tried out her recipe (included in the sample) for Strawberry Viniagrette dressing to go with my spinach salad and poached chicken breast. It was fantastic and only used a few simple ingredients allowed by the protocol.

Today I'm going to try her Chili recipe (also in the sample book and also using only allowed ingredients.)

I'm considering buying the whole book, which is something like $25.

HTH,

[mary3mama]

My update.

Yesterday was my first day on the very low calorie diet (VLCD) protocol.

During my two loading days I put on 2 lbs.

During my first day on the VLCD I shed 2.8 lbs.

Now, of course, it won't continue to come off at this rate...it is faster at the beginning of a round...but I'm still celebrating.

I was stuck at a setpoint for over a week before starting the hcg protocol. Now I am 1 pound under that setpoint and there's every reason to anticipate continued success.

For the curious and/or naysayers I just have to say, I am thrilled. I am amazed at the way that this protocol works. I am more hopeful than I've been about getting to a healthy weight and staying there than I've been in my entire adult life.

I am not starving. This is not about starvation or deprivation. I felt a 'fullness' all day yesterday. Yes I was hungry at times, usually while I was preparing a meal. But it was manageable. And I didn't have terrible munchie-cravings all day long.

[SuburbanHippie]

Great job ladies!

I'm on loading day 2. These drops make me so sleepy! I hope that once I stop stuffing my face that it won't do that anymore. I could barely stay up until my kids' bedtime last night. I have to do my grocery shopping today to prepare for tomorrow's meals. I also need to buy a food scale ASAP. I saw they have them on walmart.com. I'm praying they carry them in the store too!

[mary3mama]

Originally Posted by SuburbanHippie

Great job ladies!

I'm on loading day 2. These drops make me so sleepy! I hope that once I stop stuffing my face that it won't do that anymore. I could barely stay up until my kids' bedtime last night. I have to do my grocery shopping today to prepare for tomorrow's meals. I also need to buy a food scale ASAP. I saw they have them on walmart.com. I'm praying they carry them in the store too!

My drops don't make me sleepy...I've not read that as a side effect that anyone has noted. Wonder if it is common?

Loading up on all that fat did make me kinda dopey/groggy...wonder if it is that?

I feel awesome now that I'm on the VLCD days. Just made an awesome, awesome, awesome chili for lunch today. So good I'll make it like that even when I am not on this diet...just eat more of it. (recipe in the ebook cookbook-sampler linked in a post of mine above.)

[indianagrl]

Thanks for starting this thread; the other one was getting a little snarky.

I have lost about 10 lbs but am now having some trouble. I flew out to visit my husband (he travels for work) and thought staying on the protocal would be easy. The last time I stayed with him on the road, we grilled chicken or fish and veggies every night. This time, every company he does work for invites us over for dinner and we have been invited to several outings. None have had food that is okay for me, and I feel rude not eating when these wonderful people have invited us into their homes! Not sure what to do. Stopped taking my HCG last night and trying to get hold of my Dr. How do I handle this? Start back up next week after I return home?

[mary3mama]

Originally Posted by indianagrl

Thanks for starting this thread; the other one was getting a little snarky.

I have lost about 10 lbs but am now having some trouble. I flew out to visit my husband (he travels for work) and thought staying on the protocal would be easy. The last time I stayed with him on the road, we grilled chicken or fish and veggies every night. This time, every company he does work for invites us over for dinner and we have been invited to several outings. None have had food that is okay for me, and I feel rude not eating when these wonderful people have invited us into their homes! Not sure what to do. Stopped taking my HCG last night and trying to get hold of my Dr. How do I handle this? Start back up next week after I return home?

Snarky. Good word.

I don't have an answer for you. Maybe if you don't get any responses here, or even if you want more info, try the SkinnyMe forum? The ladies there seem to have a good bit of experience with the hcg protocol.

I *think* you'd be wanting to do a 'planned interruption' in that case. Maybe it would be alot like phase 3 where you add in the good fats but still steer clear of sugars and starches?

I was just thinking about what I'll do when the fam wants to eat out. The only thing I can imagine would work is to get salad greens without anything else and eat that and then have my protein when I get back home...

[mary3mama]

VLCD day 3

morning weigh-in: lost 2 lbs yesterday!

overall weight-loss this round (2 days): 4.8

[SuburbanHippie]

Rock on, Mary! Today is day one of VLCD for me. So far, so good. I'm really looking forward to losing!