Day 19 (R1, P2)

Today's weight: 131.8
Yesterday: 132.0
Today's loss: .2
Start weight: 140.0
Total loss: 8.2 lbs

I know 100% that my loss would have been more
if I could have gotten more than 3 hours of sleep last night.
I worked all night and was in bed by 2:45am
only to wake up at 5:50am by my sweet baby boy.
You can't be mad when he smiles at you,
no matter how tired you are.
But I definitely woke up with that overly bloated feeling
you get from lack of sleep.

Hopefully I'll make up for it tomorrow.

Day 18 (R1, P2)

Today's Weight: 132.0
Yesterday: 132.0
Today's Loss: 0
Start: 140
Total Loss: 8 lbs

Hm. Well, I can't necessarily say that I'm surprised.
I don't know about everyone else, but I can pretty much guess before I go to bed how the scale is going to be the next morning.
I feel like I'm slimming down a LOT.
My jeans fall off now.
But I took a big risk using a teaspoon of a filipino seasoning packet
that contained a little bit of sugar.

You win some, you lose some.
I guess in this case, it was neither.

Tip: pay close attention to seasonings, even garlic powder.
I found my garlic powder contained partially hydrogenated vegetable oil!

Day 17 (R1, P2)

Today's Weight: 132.0
Yesterday's Weight: 133.2
Today's Loss: 1.2
Start: 140.0
Total Loss: 8 lbs

Yay!
Man, these holidays are tough. It takes everything within me to stay focused.
I don't wanna give TMI, but my long awaited BM early this morning really helped.
Constipation is definitely the one thing I absolutely HATE about this diet.
So I hope the Chinese Slimming Tea that I drank to help move things along won't have a negative effect on my weight loss.

Day 16 (R1, P2)

Today's weight: 133.2
Yesterday: 133.0
Today's Loss: +.2
Start weight: 140.0
Total loss: 6.8 lbs

Ugh. My first gain.
I'd better stop messing around.

Day 15 (R1, P2)

Today's weight: 133.0 lbs
Today's Loss: 0

I love July 4th!

only the problem is.. its definitely the HARDEST day to NOT cheat.
I came so close to eating sweet fry bread and ribs.. but I didn't.
I'm very PROUD that I stuck to my guns.
I ate 4 extra shrimp.

Strawberry Smoothie: another lifesaver

I guess I'm so used to eating in large quantities
so its my mission to discover ways to stretch my food.
I was never a fan of strawberries
until I was prego.

Simple simple simple...

Handful of strawberries
4 ice cubes
1 sweetener packet
3/4c water
blend, enjoy!

slows down your consumption, plus tastes much sweeter! very filling!

chicken chili/tomato soup VERY FILLING!

blanch/peel one tomato, put into food processor
in sauce pan, add one smashed clove garlic (coconut oil optional)
add tomato
add 2 cups water
season with garlic powder
onion powder
cumin
chili powder
salt
pepper
simmer/reduce until flavor has developed

if you want, you can add your sauteed chicken breast


this soup is a fantastic way to become full on just one serving of veggie!

Day 14 (R1, P2)

GOOD MORNING!!!

Current Weight: 133.4
Yesterday: 134.4
Start: 140
Today's loss: 1.0 lbs
Total: 6.6 lbs

Hooray! We're back on track, baby!
I'm thrilled to have lost an entire pound after losing less than .5 for the last week!

I admit, I haven't been following Simeon's Protocol as strictly as I should be..
I've been sticking to the 500 calories, but I've been experimenting with different interpretations of how to make up the 500 cals. I am by no means encouraging anyone to do the same. I was willing to take the chance of gaining or stalling, plus its very important for everyone to listen to your body. So in order to meet the 500 cals I've eating more than 100g of protein IF I'm having seafood. The other things I've experimented with are coconut oil and cocoa powder. To some, they are deal breakers, but to ME they are lifesavers.

Using a teeny, tiny bit of coconut oil to sear my
crushed melba toast encrusted tilapia
seasoned with a pinch of salt, garlic powder, pepper, red chili powder
is divine.

and to mix a tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder
with a sweetener packet
and a lil bit of hot water
spread onto foil, into the freezer
sure takes the edge off my chocolate additction.

today, i'm doing filipino bbq
100g lean eye of round roast, sliced thin
marinated in
2:1 low sodium soy sauce/water
a little sweetener, not too sweet
slpash of lemon juice
teeny splash of vineagar
red chili flakes
smashed clove garlic
skewered & bbq'd for a quick sear
deeLISH!

soy sauce, i realize, isn't on the approved protocol list. however, i've been experimented and find that a little bit doesn't hurt ME. to me, its just like adding salt. i made sure that my soy sauce doesn't contain sugar. plus.. when using as a marinade, barely any of it is actually soaking into the meat.

Stats. Catch up to Day 13.

Since today was Day 13, I need to catch you up!

Age: 29
Height: 5'0
Starting weight: 140 lbs
Goal/Ideal weight: 108 lbs
I'd settle for: 120-125 lbs
Need to lose: 15-32 lbs

I was 125 lbs when I got pregnant last year. At the time I was trying to lose a few pounds, but I was comfortable, still happy in a bikini.

108 lbs is what I weighed in 2006, it was the skinniest I had been in my adult life. I honestly don't think its a realistic goal, but one can wish. I'd be perfectly happy going back to my pre-prego weight 120-125 lbs.

Mind you, right before I gave birth I was 155 lbs. 145 lbs after birth. For the last few months I've been doing crazy crash diets and exercising, and got myself down to 140. Yes, months of hard work and awful dieting and every kind of diet pill you can think of, and only 5 lbs lost. Sound familiar?? So I started this diet desperate but i admit.. doubtful.

HCG Injections Start day June 20

Day 1: 140 lbs (load)
Day 2: 141.8 lbs (load)
Day 3: 142.2 lbs
Day 4: 139.4
Day 5: 137.6
Day 6: 136.8
Day 7: 136.0
Day 8: 135.6
Day 9: 135.1
Day 10: 134.6
Day 11: ? (took an early flight)
Day 12: 134.2
Day 13: 134.2 (waaaaaaaay too much salt the night before)

So, to date:
-5.8 lbs from start
-8 lbs after loading

My thoughts? I lost more weight in 8 days than I did in 5 months. BUT I'm not losing as quickly as my sister who has lost 11 lbs. Granted, she has at least 60 lbs to lose. The last few days I've been stressing because I'm losing at a rate of about .5 lb a day. Most people are losing at least 1 lb a day. But I'm reading more and more that the less you need to lose, the slower it comes off. I'm just curious to hear other experiences like mine. I will say, however, I am losing inches. It was a mistake that I didn't measure before, nor did I take a before photo. I'll do it tomorrow!

Like I said, I was skeptical about this diet. I wasn't sure if I should go through with it even though I'm not insanely obese. But it seems to be working, slowly but surely. Let's see if it continues to work from this point forward.

My weight didn't change this morning, and I blame my salt intake the night before. I didn't realize that my shrimp was stored in a salt solution. It was borderline inedible, but I was so hungry I ate it anyway. I had nothing else in my house to eat. BAD DECISION. I woke up with swollen hands, swollen everything. It was no surprise that the scale didn't change.

Soooooo, yes I am happy. So far, this diet seems to be working. And its 100% true, you're not hungry on the VLCD. I'm not saying its easy, but honestly if I can do it -if my sister can do it- YOU can do it. We are the two most emotional eaters out there. We are big foodies, watch Food Network 24/7, constantly cooking/baking/eating. So, even though we crave often, we aren't actually feeling hunger pains. Its quite incredible, actually. Yes, the loading days were difficult. We were STOKED to load, but an hour after our first shots we were not hungry. And the 2 inch long syringes don't hurt (unless you hit a blood vessel).

So if you are considering this diet but afraid of the 500 cal diet, don't let that be the reason you don't do it. I think the most important is the scheduling. Consider vacations and holidays. This diet is pretty awesome.. I just hope it continues to work. I will say, I do miss working out.

WELCOME...

to my HCG Diet Diary!

I regret hesitating to start a blog, for those contemplating doing the same.. DO IT!
It doesn't matter how odd or boring you may thing your story is, there will be somebody out there who will find your story useful. The reason I am starting mine is because I'm having a hard time finding support out there from people who are in similar situations as mine.

My story is simple.

I'm 29.
I'm 5'0.
I just had a baby
I'm an HCG Diet skeptic

I'm not insanely obese, never have been. I'm just a girl who is experiencing the changes that come with having a child. I once used to eat right and work out and within weeks I could be whatever weight I wanted.. but that's no longer the case. My baby fat won't go away, no matter what I do!

The HCG Diet sounded like the WORST idea to me.
Dangerous, scary, risky, too good to be true..
but I found myself desperate (and impulsive) one day and just jumped right in and started the diet with my sister, just to see what happens.

Thank you for joining me in this journey.