HCG Diet Has Come to an End...of Sorts

Drastic Measures

Final Report and Final Measurements

It's Day 40, the end of the diet period!  In fact, today was the first day of the stabilization period.    The next phase is harder because I will have many more choices of food, more tiny meals and more temptation to make food mistakes, and that is scary to me. And I wasn't good about making quality small meals today.

It's time to strip and do the final measurements, and I'm scared that they aren't going to be any different than the ones on day 29....... Look back to the post where I wrote in my measurements at the start of this diet.

Original Measurements                 Day 27 Measurements      
Bust 36"                                           Bust 35" (bummer)
Stomach (1.5" above)  32"            Stomach (1.5" above) 28"
Stomach (1.5" below)  35"             Stomach (1.5" below) 33"
Hip  38"                                            Hip 36"
Thigh 22"                                         Thigh left=21.5", right=22"
Arm   11"                                          Arm 11"
Ankle 8"                                            Ankle 8"

Day 40 Measurements
Bust 35"
Stomach (1.5" above) 27"
Stomach (1.5' below) 32"
Hip 34"
Thigh 20" (both!)
Arm 10'
Ankle 8"

That's pretty amazing stuff for an old, empty nest Mom, don't you think?!

The link to order, as I promised several readers is:

http://www.hcgprotocol.com/

http://www.drugdelivery.ca

Now. I have 3 weeks without any sugars or starches, but I can eat about 1500-1700 calories a day. I can tell this is going to be a harder time for me, because of the freedoms, but I'll try to do my best best.  Bathing suit season is just around the corner....   No pictures....I don't want to spoil your appetite!

Progress Report and Dreaded Measurements

It's Day 29, but who's counting?  I am, silly!  Seriously though, I really thinking I have only 11 days with the HCG injections to drop weight.  The next phase is harder because I will have many more choices of food, more tiny meals and more temptation to make food mistakes, and that is scary to me.

Two days ago I found my pink measuring tape and decided it was time to do a measurement update.  Look back to the post where I wrote in my measurements at the start of this diet. The results at this 'more than half way' position:

Original Measurements                 Day 27 Measurements       
Bust 36"                                           Bust 35" (bummer)
Stomach (1.5" above)  32"            Stomach (1.5" above) 28"
Stomach (1.5" below)  35"             Stomach (1.5" below) 33"
Hip  38"                                            Hip 36"
Thigh 22"                                         Thigh left=21.5", right=22"
Arm   11"                                          Arm 11"
Ankle 8"                                            Ankle 8"

So, here are my comments......
1) It seems if the weight and inches are coming off in a top-to-bottom fashion.  The hardest and worst areas come last, of course.

2) Feeling the weight off the stomach is very rewarding and helps you to stay focused on the end results.

3) I plan to start doing more stomach and arm strength training in these last 11 days as I am not getting stuck with these flabby arms. I refuse to accept my Buddha-like arms.

4) it's really all about portion control, and will be for the rest of my life and I teaching myself some very good habits in portion control by spending 40 days on this diet.

Time to fill up my 2 liter bottle of water for today.  This empty nest Mom is going to be successful!  Talk to you soon.....

Day Four Brings Deep Thoughts and Happiness

Just like this adorable little Panda bear, today I am deep in thought.  All the literature told me that during days 4, 5 and 6 of the HCG Diet, you feel somewhat euphoric.  (Being down one pound helps, too).  A kind of glaze is poured over these thoughts as I am getting used to the new routine.  I am not sleepy, but I feel refreshed in a hushed sort of way.  (No, I am not high!)

I am thinking about beauty and about how we all try to enhance the beauty God has given us with make-ups and hair products.  On this diet, you are not supposed to use any make-up (except a little powder and lipstick).  No lotions or gel for your hair.  Some people do not ever need these products because they have thick hair or their skin isn't dry.  But, I have found over the years that my skin gets so dry and flaky.  And my hair is flat and thinning.  Still, I have to say that there is a real, natural beauty when you don't use any make-up or hair mousse.  My eyes look tiny without mascara, but they seem to gleam a little more today.  They look childlike, which is interesting for a 52-year old empty nest Mom.  My hair, while not very full, is super soft and supple. This is a different kind of beauty that I think we all don't use or explore enough.  Have we been brainwashed by the makeup companies that we need to use their stuff or else we are not beautiful?

Today feels easy and simple and that feels pretty good, considering just how stressful our lives have been for the past three years.  I feel a kind of "letting go" emotion.  I sometimes feel this feeling after a really hard Flow Yoga class.  The diet is making me relax and not try to do too much, or else I might get tired or dehydrated.  

Finally, there is definitely an increase in sexual arousal and the desire for sexual activity, which I think is a fantastic side effect.  I wonder if that feeling occurs for men who are doing the HCG Diet?  And if both partners are doing the diet together, do they have a crazy 40 days of sex?!!

I have two hours before dinner and that seems pretty far away, so I will stick to the computer and get as much work done as I can and avoid the kitchen altogether!  Talk to you tomorrow....

Day Two and Three: Bruised But Ready To Go

Day Two was delicious!  I ate frozen Snickers bars, cheese and crackers a cheeseburger and then we went to a friends house for dinner.  She happens to be an amazing cook and I gorged on everything and had a few too many glasses of wine.

I did the shot in my right leg and I didn't feel anything and it didn't bleed or bruise!  I cannot same the same about my left leg.....there is a huge, dark-colored bruise to show from my first shot.  For anyone considering doing this diet, you'll love day two.

Bill and I woke up on the morning of Day Three feeling sick: dizzy, major headaches and upset stomachs.  I was kind of glad he was feeling the same way, though, otherwise I would have thought it had to do with the diet.  Basically, we lounged around watching college basketball and sleeping.  You weigh yourself and they call this amount your target starting weight; for me that 132.5 pounds.  I gave myself the shot at 10 am, as usual.  I tried the right leg again, and it has actually hurt a little bit all day.  No bruise...yet.

I had hot tea at breakfast time and then went to Whole Foods to get food.  I am going to try to eat only organic foods this month, which could be a little expensive.  Anyway, I walk up to the seafood counter to get some fresh sea bass and asked him for pieces that are 100 gram size.  He had no clue what a gram was, so I just bought a few pieces.  Then, I headed over for chicken breasts and asked the guy behind the counter the same question about 100 grams and he said that the scales they have cost about $11,000 each but they don't measure meats in grams.  He then proceeds to tell me that that kind of scale costs about $14,000.  WTF?  Hush, and give me my skinless, boneless chicken breasts!

Lunch was very satisfying: 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of grilled chicken breast, a whole cucumber a grissinni breadstick and a handful of strawberries.  I love these breadsticks....I could easily eat the whole box at one sitting.  But, not this month.

By 6:00 pm I felt starved, so I ate dinner.  I ate the other half of the grilled chicken breast, lettuce and tomatoes with fresh lemon juice, the breadstick and one large apple.  I made lemonade with Stevia, water and the lemon, but it tasted horrible.  It's because the Stevia has a vanilla taste to it.  Does anyone know if they made Stevia with no taste?

After 2 liters of water today, I must run to the bathroom for the 100th time.  I am looking forward to weighing myself in the morning.  Talk to you tomorrow.

My 2010 Diet Adventure

Today is the day before the actual HCG diet begins.  We were all ready to start today, but then we read that this diet is best started on any day except Thursday (due to the way they make you eat delicious fatty foods for two solid days...). 

So, instead, I have taken out my trusty pink measuring tape and measured all the parts of my body and weighed myself as "a starting point".

Weight: 132.5
Height: 5' 4 1/2"
Measurements:

• Bust: 36"
• Stomach (just above the belly button): 32"
• Stomach (about 1 1/2" below belly button): 35"
• Hip: 38"
• Thigh: 22"
• Ankle: 8"  (LOOKING GOOD!)
• Flabby Arm area: 11"

I'll admit that the freaky numbers to me were going from the top of the stomach to the hip!  No wonder I think of the Liberty Bell when I check myself out in the mirror!

I'll get around to measuring my body fat soon, too, but from the time in 2001 that I weighed 113 pounds to my heaviest at 135 pounds, it hovers in a normal and even somewhat low range for my age and weight.

Stay tuned.............................