VLCD 25: Too Good To Last

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Today's Date: March 31, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 138 lbs
Today's Weight: 137.8 lbs
Loss: -0.2 lbs
Total Loss: -13.2 lbs

Today’s Menu
B: Coffee and orange
L: Beef with asparagus
D:Chicken with cabbage
Daily Calorie Intake: 450 calories

The past five days have been nothing but wonderful losses.. so I knew that this was coming! The inevitable slow down. The time when my body's inches are catching up with the pounds. It's funny how most of us really hang onto that number. Obviously visually you want to look fabulous, but that damn number.. the goal that your trying to reach is what your fighting for in the end. I think my hopes of hitting 130 lbs are coming to an end and now turning into at least 135 lbs by Saturday. That would bring me to 16 lbs lost this round averaging a little over 0.5 lbs/day for the past 30 days. I think that would be pretty sweet for someone who didn't have a lot to lose in the first place. Maybe I can tone the rest up with exercise (eventually) like I did to initially lose weight. Before I did this diet I lost 50 lbs on my own, but after that I was stuck. Thank goodness my friend told me about HCG! It has been the answer to my problems. Plus it's educating me on things I never knew (like MSG, cravings, ect.).

Today was definitely more active than normal. I had a doctors appointment in the morning. Then my husband and I drove around from lunch until around 6 pm looking at apartments. We are moving out of our current one on April 30th. So I am pretty tired after all that. I ran out of melba toast so it was just one fruit, two proteins, and two vegetables today. I need to down some water until bedtime since I didn't drink a lot while we were out. Grateful for the loss today, but hoping for a bigger loss tomorrow!

What A Bum

What does one do when they are not feeling well? Lurk online all day. What a sloth I am! Good thing this diet calls for no exercise or I would be in trouble. I am looking forward to having my energy back! I really don't know what's wrong with me? I did a bit of house cleaning this morning so I feel a small sense of accomplishment. My daughter finally got rid of her thrush so she is back in daycare. My husband is working most of the day. He has to go to this brief for soldiers who are out-processing from here. We won't be moving until August, but he didn't have anything better to do this afternoon. We are moving to Colorado! I am pretty giddy about it. I love skiing. Not five minutes after my last post I had a successful BM. My prayers were answered, haha. Hoping that it helps my loss tomorrow. I put some pictures of my yummy spinach chips from lunch on here (what can I say.. I am REALLY bored). Phase 3 isn't freaking me out as much anymore. Well.. still quite a lot. The countdown continues until I can eat different foods. Very curious to try making the Oopsies. Not the best cook, but I have faith I can manage. I started researching travel scales, but if anyone knows a good one PLEASE let me know. I will need to purchase one before my Florida trip. I am debating on whether or not to tan prior. Not a fan of having a sunburn on vacation. My husband and I are going to get our recreational scuba diving licenses for FREE. I love having connections! Okay I think I've said enough. Time to go lounge around.

VLCD 24: BM.. TOM.. Bueller?

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Today's Date: March 30, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 138.8 lbs
Today's Weight: 138 lbs
Loss: -0.8 lbs
Total Loss: -13 lbs

Today’s Menu
B: Coffee and strawberries
L: Steak with spinach and Melba
S: Melba
D: Chicken with asparagus
Daily Calorie Intake: 423 calories

I have the most random things to put on here sometimes that don't even really go together so if I seem like I am rambling.. it's because my mind is a very strange, complicated thing. I love the smell of coffee in the morning. Now brewed coffee smells wonderful, but my favorite is the actual beans. I could stick my head into the coffee tin and just breathe in the smell forever if I didn't have a life to get back to. My husband doesn't drink coffee at all. He always jokes that that's the one habit he didn't pick up being in the military. Well retirement isn't here for another 25 years plus. So trust me.. I will bring him to the "black" side. This diet has caused me to enjoy my coffee black. I was one of those sissy frappawhata cappawhoda people (yes I made those words up). More cream than coffee.. with about an eighth of raw sugar. Not anymore my friends! My detoxed body combined with simplified meal plan has somehow caused my taste buds to appreciate every flavor. For example, a few posts back I wrote about the most amazing damn apple I had ever tasted. Well every apple I have had since has been just as great! It could be the brand or type. Or maybe it's that I really truly value the things I eat. Not only that, but the natural organic things I eat. I am OBSESSED with fresh produce now. Trying to buy 100% organic is tough in America, but dammit I do my best! I am a little curious to try onions (being an onion hater) to see if my mind has changed. Maybe I will enjoy them now?

Onto my bodily concerns. I used to be so in tuned to my body. Not sure what to think anymore. HCG has made so many changes in my body that my mind is trying to grab the reins and get back control. I just want to understand what's going on! I guess if I had to chose between my old body and new one, then I will be patient in waiting for my mind to catch up. What I am talking about it hunger mentally and physically. Before there was just one hunger. Like the two had combined into this super human craving that my body couldn't differentiate. Now I am trying to educate my mind into which is what since they seem to be separated. Second of all TOM has not come yet. God bless the HCGDieters Group. I would be so lost without them! Yesterday I had to post my concerns because I was getting worried. I had TOM a few weeks prior to starting the diet. Nothing since! I have a Mirena IUD so basically that with the combination of HCG is making my body not have TOM. This would be awesome except that I am worried I will be sitting down out somewhere and POW here comes Aunt Flo. This is why I now carry supplies everywhere. Third is my BMs! Yes I am talking about constipation. I am so irregular lately it's hurting my tummy. I tried drinking Smooth Move last night to get things going, but this morning was not fun. That's all I am going to say about that. Fourth and finally is what I was talking about yesterday. Light headed, black spots, and low energy. The Potassium is helping a little. I also started taking some of my B12 for energy. I still am not where I was before. At the beginning I was feeling great! Now I am getting cravings and feel like poop. I don't know what else to do!

This lack of BM, TOM, and overall feeling like crap blows. While trying to eat my strawberries this morning I was just looking at them like.. yuck. They tasted delicious my my stomach doesn't want them. I was nibbling on them like a horse with hay. Hopefully the rest of the day isn't going to be this "bleh". Praying for a great BM today (never thought I would hear myself say that).

Comparing Pictures ( 200 lbs to 138 lbs)

VLCD 23: Hit 130s.. Phase 3 Nightmares!

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Today's Date: March 29, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 140 lbs
Today's Weight: 138.8 lbs
Loss: -1.2 lb
Total Loss: -12.2 lbs

Today’s Menu
B: Coffee and an apple
L: Steak with asparagus
S: Melba
D: Chicken cabbage soup
Daily Calorie Intake: 467 calories

Where to begin! I have a couple things I wanted to share on here mostly so that I can look back on it, but also so that other people may get something from it:

For the past week I have little to no energy. Whenever I stand up too fast I see black spots and get light headed. My whole body has felt overall like CRAP. I was pinpointing it to my oral surgery last Monday, but it has been long enough to know that something else is up. I am an avid reader of the HCGDieters Group on Yahoo. After a little bit of digging on the message boards I found that other people share these symptoms. Following advice on there, I went to Walmart yesterday and purchased some Potassium pills. They say take 99mg/3x daily. This morning I began taking them. I will let you know if it helps!

Phase 3 is seriously giving me nightmares! Now I know what others are talking about when they are afraid. Phase 2 is so simple to follow. I am sure that the limited foods bores some people, but there is really no room for error. With Phase 3 upon me I am filled with mixed emotions. Obviously I am overjoyed that I can once again have some of my favorite foods, but the majority of me is a second away from a panic attack! It is just scary knowing that all the time, money, and heart you put into dropping off the pounds can be gone if you accidentally eat something with hidden sugars or starches. I am no nutritionist, so I am definitely carrying around a list of alternative names for them. If any of you guys have a good list or a website please feel free to share (I think I finally solved my no commenting problems). Yesterday afternoon I spent hours on the internet finding recipes, tips, and tricks for Phase 3 (and 4). I am taking this diet very seriously. I know that the stabilization part is really key for lifelong results.  I hope to look back at this and laugh thinking how silly I was to worry.

Onto today's little blurbs.. I dropped another 1.2 lbs last night bringing me into the 130s. Only 8.8 lbs until my goal. The sad thing this is I have until Saturday (last dosage of HCG) to do it. Not really getting my hopes up to lose that large of an amount in a week, but not ruling it out either. All I can do is STICK TO PROTOCOL. I made a little calender up until Phase 4 so I can record my weight and count down the days. My daughter is still sick at home with me (ear infections and thrush). Husband is still on half days with Friday's off until his leave (vacation). The awesome thing about coming home from war is that they don't just throw you back in working full days. We need to start planning our trip  soon since we are driving. Map out the trail, haha.

I want to end this post with how I am feeling. This journey has been amazing. The first time my friend told me about HCG I was VERY hesitant. My emotions have been on a roller coaster, but once the ride is over I know I will end with the best emotion of all.. happiness:-)