R1P3D7

I am back down to 142.4, just one pound over my LIW. I am still feeling lousy from catching cold but am eating normal and last night I went to bed early. Today I am wearing my new size 8 jeans to work. Last week I had to wear size 12 because it was all I had. I feel pretty!

R1P3D6

I am please to tell you that I got through all of the recent events with minimal gain! This past week I have participated in a company picnic and my son's high school graduation, and had TOM and this morning I weigh 143.6. That is only 2.3 pound over LIW, which I think is remarkable. I don't feel deprived or hungry and the temptation to eat cake and cookies that are around at work is minimal enough to abstain!

I have determined that I do have a cold and not allergies and am hoping that it passes quickly. I don't get sick very often and it usually doesn't hang on for long. I don't take a bunch of OTC drugs to get over things either. I'm just taking some additional vitamin C right now and hoping that helps enough.

R1P3D5

This morning I am back to 2 pounds over LIW at 143.3 pounds. I have come down with a bug or something though because my throat is very sore. I hope it's just allergies and not a cold. Today is my oldest son's high school graduation and we have reservations at a nicer restaurant. It is a place that has a varied menu that includes ribs, steaks and fish. I shouldn't have any trouble choosing foods that fit well into the phase 3 part of this protocol. Everything is ordered ala carte so I order my vegetable and meat and skip the potato. Phase 3 has been very easy to stick to.

I noticed this morning that my abs are actually looking more like abs than blub for a change. The changes in my body are amazing. I never would have believed I could look like this again without spending a fortune on plastic surgery or something. This diet is actually very cost effective when you consider the change in grocery purchases. Real food is less expensive per serving than junk food and pre-packaged foods.

R1P3D4

This morning my weight remained the same as yesterday at 144.3. No surprise there, it will drop again after TOM. Today I had fish for lunch with asparagus and an apple. For dinner I had a grilled burger with some salsa and fresh guacamole on it. I wasn't hungry again and just ate because I am suppose to. I hope that isn't a problem. I have been eating normal meals and not eating after 7 pm.

I woke up with a sore throat this morning, which is unusual for me, I just don't get sick. I've been sneezing all day. It may be allergies, I hope it's not a cold.

R1P3D3

You know, it is hard to eat when you aren't hungry! I haven't been hungry at all but I eat just because I know if I don't I'll end up undoing all of my hard work. This morning I was a little disappointed with my weight. It was 144.3, up 3 from LIW. Then this afternoon I got TOM and it all fell into place for me. I guess I picked the perfect time to switch into phase 3 because I didn't have to work the VLCD and injections around this. I always gain a pound or two with TOM and that really put my mind at ease. No wonder my ring was a little tight last night, I thought I had swollen from salt or something.

Today I had eggs fried in butter for breakfast with some coffee cup bread.
For lunch I had a grilled hamburger with some salsa
For dinner I had Miracle Noodles with white sauce I made using cream, parmesan cheese, chicken broth and garlic. Not too bad, but not like going to a restaurant either!

It's been a busy day getting ready for company on Wednesday. I'm beat! It's only 5:30 and I'm ready for bed. Well, I better finish the work. Hope everyone had a nice weekend!

R1P3D2

Did I mention I love cheese? Ya, well, let me tell you! Cheese is a BINDER!!!! My only regret is that I didn't gradually accept cheese back into my diet. I weigh 143.3 at this moment and my gut is bound like cement. I think after I drink some salt water and let it work everything through I will be close to 141 again. So here is a tip, cheese in moderation, no matter how great your love! It's kind of funny because I knew that it would be a problem for me today, but I missed it so much that I didn't use my self control. I got my "cheese fix" now, so self control shouldn't be a problem any more. I think cheese was the one thing I really missed that can cause me problems like this.

I did enjoy some peanut butter and I tried a little almond butter with my apple slices. I am so thrilled that the market down the road offers 100% organic, fresh peanut butter and almond butter. You put the container under the nozzle, you flip a switch and viola! Freshly made butter, with chunks of the nuts. It comes out warm and it is so satisfying. There is no added salt or sugar, just 100% nuts. Even my kids like it better than the stuff in the jars from the store.

I also enjoyed fresh fruit, grilled chicken and tomato slices at the picnic. At home I enjoyed lamb, cauliflower mashed "potatos" and a little whole milk. I did pretty good. I wasn't hungry to begin with yesterday but I ate anyway. I think my appetite indicator has reset itself. Before this diet I could eat all day long in mass quantities and hunger was not my indicator of what or when to eat. I started out slow yesterday with a late breakfast of a strawberry smoothie before the picnic to help with the self control. I didn't know if I could handle making good choices in that setting. It ended up being much easier than I anticipated!

Now that I got my cheese craving out of my system I should be able to stop after a taste. It is nice not to weigh and count out every calorie right now. I am keeping track of my food choices in a diary so I can see what sets me back. The only difference between my phase 2 diet and yesterday was the dairy foods, protein quantity, cauliflower and nut butter. The cheese is the binder and the rest of my choices haven't caused me problems in the past so shouldn't cause me problems now.

I am going to continue using the natural beauty products that I have begun to use with this diet to take care of my skin and not introduce chemicals into my body that don't belong there. I also am going to continue buying as much organic foods as I am able to for my family. The kids don't seem to mind at all. We have been buying natural cereal in bulk at the market where we get our peanut butter and I have been choosing the organic vegies and meats as much as possible.

I thank God for the opportunity to be in this Challenge and learn new eating habits and get my body back to working the way He designed it too. My body is a temple, not a harmful chemical processor! I feel and look better than I have in years. I have found wonderful resources that I was not aware of. All these years I have known about chemicals in our food and cosmetics and the great harm they can do, yet I felt like we really don't have much of a choice. We do have a choice! And it's easier now than it has been in ages to make these choices. Many people are wising up and finding out that the old way of farming and production is a better way for the long term health of our families and many are making the choice to return to that style of living. Count me in!

R1P3D1

Today is the day I get to eat cheese! I weigh 141.1 this morning and I get to go to the company picnic today. It rained last night but the sun is out now to match the huge smile on my face. What a wonderful day!

CC got back to me regarding a short phase 3 and said it is not recommended. So today is the first day of 21 on P3 for me. It only changes my dates by one week so I am not disappointed. I would rather do this right and have the beautiful long-term results I see on my sister than try to get through this quickly and sabotage my hard work! Well, this really is not hard work!

One thing I am really excited to try is the virgin organic coconut oil and coconut cream I ordered. I have loved coconut all of my life but I didn't know it was so healthy and had so many benefits until I did some reading on it.

Yesterday I finally found some jeans that fit. I went to Marshall's (a discount department store) and got 3 pair that fit for $60. I really didn't want to spend a lot of money on a temporary size. I had tried jeans on at so many places I was going nuts. So I ended up with size 8 in Levi's, size 8 in Seven and jr. size 11 in Refuge. Not so happy about the size 11 but they have spandex and they fit great and that is what counts.

So, besides my picnic, I am going to go through my whole closet, wash all those bottoms that are too large and pack them away. If I don't need them in a year they will be sold or donated. Actually, if anyone needs them now, I will sell them sooner, just post to me. I have lots of size 12 and 14.

Ok, this next part requires a drum roll!

MEASUREMENTS

Chest - 41 / 38 / 38 / 38 / 37 / 36
Waist - 34 / 32.5 / 31 / 30.5 / 30 / 29.5
Tummy - 36 / 34 / 33 / 32.5 / 31.75 / 32
Hips - 41.75 / 40.5 / 40.5 / 40 / 39.5 / 39
L Thigh - 23.25 / 23 / 22.2 / 22.5 / 21.75 / 21.5
R Thigh - 23.5 / 23 / 22 / 22.5 / 21.75 / 21.75
L Arm - 1 2 / 12 / 11.5 / 11.5 / 11.5 / 11.5
R Arm - 12 / 12 / 11.5 / 11.5 / 11.5 / 11.5

Inches lost so far............ 20.7" lost but not missed!

VLCD #33

Yea! I went down another 0.4 last night for a weight of 140.6. My LIW was 141.3 and today is my last low-cal day! I slept through the whole night for the first time since I started because the HCG just makes me have to go to the bathroom a lot more in the night, it wasn't that I couldn't sleep. So today I am feeling a little bit like I might get hungry, I just heard my stomach growl, but I haven't had any tea or coffee yet. I'm so excited for......CHEESE!

VLCD #32

141.0 is a nice round-ish number. That was this morning's weight. Tomorrow is my last VLCD day and then Round 1 Phase 3 begins. I was worried that I would be hungry today without injecting, but I felt just the same as any other day on this diet thus far. I wasn't ravenously hungry. Someone brought bagels and cream cheese to work and a patient brought home-made pumpkin bread. I did just fine with my beef, tomatoes and apple slices.

Hopefully tomorrow goes as well as today went!

VLCD #31

My morning weight is 141.3 today and today is my LIW day. I have some HCG left and I'm not dumping it quite yet. I will do VLCD tomorrow and Friday and slip into phase 3. I guess I am wondering how long/short I need to do phase 3. I'm considering 2 weeks and then back to phase 2 for the final (hopefully) 15 pounds. I don't know if that is a good idea or not though. I think I will have to read, read, read and confer with the experts on that!

If a short phase 3 and back to phase 2 is ill-advised, I will do the full 3 weeks of phase 3. Anyway, I sure hope the next two days go well and I can mark some more weight loss. I would love to take my break with a nice round number like 140!

VLCD #30

This morning I weigh 141.6 and am happy to be down 0.7 pounds over night. That makes me wish I was staying on it the full forty days. But the decision to end my injections for this first round has been made after serious contemplation to how this will turn out. If I keep going I am likely to cheat at the company picnic and at my son's graduation. I would be more likely to cheat with the really bad foods like cake if I keep this up. I am making tomorrow my last injection day. Thursday and Friday will be my 72 hours of 500 cals post injection and Saturday is the picnic. It will be easier for me to follow phase 3 rules than phase 2 rules at these events and I don't want to have a big setback due to lack of will power.

I can't believe my boy is graduating! Yesterday he said, after he got me up in the night to see a baby quail they found abandoned on our patio, that my underwear are too big and then he rephrased to "Your butt is too small for you old underwear, you should go shopping" , what a guy! He has been paying attention I guess.

VLCD #29

This really is an up and down game for me! This morning I weigh in at 142.3. That is up almost 1/2 pound from yesterday. Next weekend is my company picnic and the following Wednesday is my son's high school graduation so I think, since I am up and down so much, I will stop injections on Wednesday and start phase 3 on Saturday. That will make the celebrations a little easier to be involved in and not cheat. I need to go back and re-read the protocol to be sure exactly how many days to do phase 3 and phase 4 and then get back on phase 2 for a second round.

I am pleased with my results thus far, I just wish there was more "down" and less "up", but doesn't everybody?!

VLCD #28

Good morning! The sun is shining here and it is WARM! Today's morning weight is 141.9. At this rate I should hit the 30's in about 2 days. Yesterday I was low on calories and I walked miles at the outlet mall and regular mall trying to find jeans and t-shirts for my son. He's almost 17 and pickier about his clothes than anyone I have ever met in my life! I also went to Everything But the Water and bought a two-piece swim suit. I haven't owned a two-piece in about 10 years. It was expensive but I tried them on everywhere we went and finally bought one for laying in the sun this year. I'm hoping next year I can buy one a size smaller. But now I have a cute suit to post my new pictures in when I am done with this round. That economic stimulus package was great! ; )

VLCD #27

Good Morning! Today I have hit my 1/2 way mark to my goal weight. The scale said 142.4. I am really looking forward to hitting the 30's hopefully in the next few day. What really is so amazing, besides this weight loss, is the body reshaping itself so nicely. I look better than what the scale is telling me and I am amazed. My skin and hair are looking good and my body looks actually kind of toned!

MEASUREMENTS

Chest - 41 / 38 / 38 / 38 / 37 (down 4" in the back, not breast)
Waist - 34 / 32.5 / 31 / 30.5 / 30 (down 4")
Tummy - 36 / 34 / 33 / 32.5 / 31.75 (down 4.25")
Hips - 41.75 / 40.5 / 40.5 / 40 / 39.5 (down 2.25")
L Thigh - 23.25 / 23 / 22.2 / 22.5 / 21.75 (down 1.5")
R Thigh - 23.5 / 23 / 22 / 22.5 / 21.75 (down 1.75")
L Arm - 12 / 12 / 11.5 / 11.5 / 11.5 (down 0.5")
R Arm - 12 / 12 / 11.5 / 11.5 / 11.5 (down 0.5")

Inches lost so far............ 18.75

I find it quite curious, but I am not complaining that since last Saturday I have lost only 2.2 pounds, but my body has lost 4.25 inches! How can I explain that?!! But like I said, I am not complaining!

I have mentioned before that I am a member of a couple of yahoo hcg groups and I read the comments regularly. I read about Miracle Noodles and my twinny, Shelley Ann, has recommended them highly. I ordered some and had "spaghetti" yesterday after they arrived. It's funny, I don't normally crave noodles. I just so wanted something to spin around my fork. So, anyway, they arrived yesterday and I tried them. Not bad! I do recommend the dry roasting method so they aren't slimy, but really helped with the need to play with my food. Shelley also said that since they are 100% soluble fiber and no calories (yea! they don't count!) they are very helpful if there is an issue of regularity. So I was pleased with the product and will purchase them again when I run out. They arrived so quickly, like in 2 days!

I am so pleased with this weight loss protocol. You know, I was hoping for faster weight loss. But this slow, steady pace is fine. I haven't been hungry and my body is reshaping itself. I feel very good physically and top form mentally. Once again, I need to reiterate I could not have done this without HCG! I am very thankful to Drug Delivery, HCG Supplies, CC and her hard work putting the book together, Tammy's cookbook, Stevia, and my sister Shelley with all of her encouragement. Thank you all for being my team the wonderful support and products you provide.

VLCD #26

My weight this morning was 142.8. So now I'm on the down again! It really helps to encourage when the scale drops a little. I have someone who comments on my posts anonymously, yesterday I read that they don't think I should weigh every day. The protocol tells us to weigh every morning and I think doing that actually keeps me from going too far astray. I am less likely to cheat and if I have cheated it has been less than I would if I didn't have to face the scale daily and see those fluctuations daily. Weighing myself first thing every morning keep me conscious of every morsel I put in my mouth. I agree with Simeons that it is vital to weigh daily just for that purpose!

VLCD # 25

Wow, today was a busy day! I was at work by 6:30 and went through until 4:30 with 1/2 hour for lunch. Lunch was catered by a drug rep and I still ate my meat, cucumber and apple. I couldn't finish my apple.

My morning weight was disappointing with a little gain. It was 144.6 and I followed the diet to the letter yesterday and again today. Anyway, I am not discouraged because I know this happens. I feel good and I think I look pretty good too!

I used my economic stimulus as an opportunity to invest in the pure minerals makeup I've been wanting for some time now. I love it! It looks very natural and that's the look I like. Well, I'm going to pick up my son, eat a little dinner and hit the hay early tonight!

Back tomorrow!

VLCD #24

My morning weight today is 144.2. I didn't cheat with even one crumb yesterday and I didn't have any grissini. I will do the same today and see if it will cause a drop in weight. At least I know I can take smooth move tea on Friday and that should help on Saturday morning. I just don't like to do that during the week when I'm at work.

Well, I better go pack my lunch!

VLCD #23

The scale tells on me and I don't like it! My morning weight is 144.3 so in the last two days I've put on just shy of one pound. I'll tell you what, once you've cheated on this diet, it's hard to go back to not cheating, but that is exactly what I am doing starting today.

It was so easy to take Just One Bite yesterday, of another chocolate chip cookie and some honey roasted peanuts. That was just plain stupid of me and of course it was more than a bite! So today I am going back to what I was doing when I started this protocol. I am going to follow the rules to the letter and watch my weight go down again.

I am going for the 40 days because I know I won't hit the maximum weight loss in one round. I am hopeful that I will get down to my goal or within a few pounds of it if I am faithful to the diet for the remaining 18 days including today.

VLCD #22

My morning weight is 143.6. Up 0.2 from yesterday, not bad considering a had A single (yes, only one) chocolate chip cookie that my son made. It was my only cheat and it was late in the day. I figured I'd go up. Yes, I know, I should not have cheated, but it was served to me with a foot rub! How do you say no to that?! But hey, I bypassed the glass of milk for dunking.

Anyhow, this is another day and another opportunity to do this well. And I will.

Happy Monday!

VLCD #21

Happy Mother's Day to all of you Moms out there!

To me it is a happy Mother's Day. I am down to 143.4 today, the sun is shining and it's going to be a wonderfully relaxing day! Wow, my stomach is as flat as it's ever been! It is true, you know, how the extra fat melts away and the structural fat keeps your body looking good. When my stomach was "flat" before, it was actually kind of caved in. And since I have stretch marks, my skin hung down. Very Gross! My stomach is actually pretty flat, nothing concave or convex about it right now and my stretch marks are not as noticeable as before.

Yesterday I went out and bought a pair of size 7 jrs. Levis. They don't fit...yet. I have a ways to go before my legs fit in them comfortably and I can zip them. I know I will get there because I use to be a size 4/6. Anyway, it is incentive to have them out where I can see them. It'll be a little while. But all of my 12's are fitting loosely and I don't have any other jeans at home. I'll have to break down and get a pair for in between these 12's and 7's, but not until I have an occasion for them.

VLCD #20

This morning's weight is 144.6. Just a little less than yesterday, but happy to see it.


MEASUREMENTS

Chest - 41 / 38 / 38 / 38
Waist - 34 / 32.5 / 31 / 30.5
Tummy - 36 / 34 / 33 / 32.5
Hips - 41.75 / 40.5 / 40.5 / 40
L Thigh - 23.25 / 23 / 22.2 / 22.5
R Thigh - 23.5 / 23 / 22 / 22.5
L Arm - 12 / 12 / 11.5 / 11.5
R Arm - 12 / 12 / 11.5 / 11.5

Inches lost so far............ 14.5

Just so you know. I am using a regular tape measure to do take my measurements. I am not absolutely accurate, but I am trying to do it exactly the same each time. I got a soft tape measure for clothes in the mail, but my measurements are different at the when I use it so I decided to continue with what I was using for the sake of consistency. When it is all said and done, I will post my retractable, metal tape measure numbers side-by-side with the cloth tape measures so the difference will be apparent and nothing will be lost in translation.

Yesterday, my oldest (18 year old boy) told me that I was looking really good. He said my jeans are fitting looser and that my arms aren't as "wingy looking". Then he explained my arms as having looked really skinny at the front of the biceps and hanging really loose at the back of the arm (triceps). All I can say is "Thanks for that, Dan". He makes me laugh. My boys are both being a real encouragement as I go through this. They aren't constantly asking me to cook stuff because they know I'm a taster. They tell me when they see a difference too. Which is a huge boost to the self-image. For mothers day, Dan said he will give me a foot massage with lotion. I have just the lotion for him to use! Made with water and mineral oil and fragrance and not much else. I'm looking forward to it!

Well, it's a beautiful day and Danny-boy is going with me to a swap meet to see what there is to see! I'm going to wear shorts for the first time in about 2 years. Yeah for me!

Happy Saturday : )

VLCD #19

It took two days to get back what I cheated on, but I did it! The scale says 144.9 this morning and that is a good feeling! I don't know if my measurements have changed since last week, but since it is my new Saturday morning ritual, I will post new measurements tomorrow. My arms appear smaller to me, but that could be just wishful thinking. I hope not! I am feeling so good physically and mentally right now. I am comfortable in my body for the first time in years. If I was forced to quit this diet early and be happy with my weight now, I honestly could do that because my shape has changed so drastically. I am glad I don't have to quit, because I plan to get my body down to the weight it wants to be at. My body will tell me when it is right by not losing any more. That is when I will know. But in the mean time, WOW! I look forward to buying some new clothes when it's all done.

VLCD #18

Well, I'm a couple of days behind where I should be, but I am back on track. My morning weight is 146.6. I wish I hadn't done the cheat, but I can assure you that it wasn't worth it and it won't happen again. As immediate as the results are to lose weight, they are even faster to gain on HCG during injections. I think this is a good thing. It allows my brain to be trained even faster because the results are so apparent! Well, another day to work it all out!

Have a good Thursday!

VLCD #17

Ya know what? I should really change this day to #16 and yesterday to VHCD #1. Yes, I cheated. I cheated myself by eating a slice of pizza. It tasted like cardboard, and it is normally my favorite kind. As long as I screwed that up, I decided to try that peanut butter, the freshly made from the store that my son and I ground the other day. Yup, cardboard, but I had to make sure. So this morning my scale is telling me that a slice of pizza and a slice of bread with organic 100% peanut butter with nothing added adds 2.7 pounds onto me. Yuck. It was so not worth it. I would say that the chances of my cheating again are darn near 0%. I am disappointed in myself and have relearned the lesson I already knew, my lips won't tell, but my hips will! Todays weight was 147.8.

VLCD #16

Today's loss was a modest one, but I'll take it! I am down to 145.1 and happy to be dropping! Yesterday was my first cheat. I had about 10 chocolate covered peanuts, one at a time throughout the day. I don't know why I did it, they were just sitting there like they had been for 3 days. Oh well, I'm surprised I lost any weight, so I'll just take that 0.4 and smile!

Today I am having a burger and tomato for lunch and an apple for a snack at work. I don't know about dinner yet. I have been eating less than the 500 calories but I haven't been leaving myself hungry. And I make sure to eat my meat and then the rest is allotted in. I have been enjoying a strawberry smoothie once a day for the past few days too. They help with the desire to eat something sweet (think ice cream) occasionally.

Well, I'm off to get ready for work. Have a lovely day!

A note on eating habits

"If we looked at eating as an activity to relish rather than as an invitation to gluttony, says Paul Rozin, PhD, we'd all be not only healthier but happier" Michelle Stacey, The Pleasure Teacher, O magazine May 2008

I just wanted to express something that I have noticed in the two weeks of doing the VLCD part of this protocol. My eating habits have changed. Partially, what I eat, but that I can attribute to the very limited choices in foods we are allowed to consume during this phase of the protocol. I don't mind that my choices are limited because I can use spices and herbs to change flavors and I love grilled foods. I really enjoy grilled asparagus. If you haven't tried it, you should! It is quite flavorful with a sprinkle of salt and garlic and maybe a hint of lemon juice. But beyond the limited menu, I have begun to savor my food. That is something that I have rarely done in the past. Sure, on occasion, when out at a fine restaurant I would take smaller bites and hold them in my mouth to let the juices flow over my tongue and just feel like the flavor enveloped me. But my daily eating habits were a far cry from savoring and enjoying the food. It was more like, shovel it in so you can eat as much as you want before it's gone and then be on my merry way to do the next thing, like dishes or going somewhere.

This morning I read an article in "O" magazine called "The Pleasure Teacher" written by Michelle Stacey in the May 2008 issue. The article discusses the psychology of food's role in pleasure according to Paul Rozin. He makes several good points and I think it is a must read for those of us who are shovelers, not savorers. He discusses comparing menus in various countries. The United States has a habit of wanting to provide something for everyone. We demand numerous choices and abundant portions. He also said that our way is if something is free, we must take it. That brings me to "samples" at the grocery stores. I often shop at Costco and Sam's. They have many, many samples out, especially on Saturdays when the majority of our society does it's shopping. People practically shove each other out of the way for a sample of cheese, or meat, or some frozen dinner that's been heated in a small oven by a little old lady! It's obscene! It's disgusting!

Well, I have noticed my habits changing, even during the time I was cleansing and preparing before the VLCD. I have been bypassing the free samples offered, every one of them! I have been taking smaller bites and chewing them slowly and for a longer time. I have been closing my eyes and concentrating on flavors and enjoying them much more than ever in my life. Sure, I look forward to that first donut on phase 4, I will admit that. But I won't be wolfing it down like it's my last scrap of food during a famine with a mob fighting me for it. That is truly an accurate description of how I would eat in the past. Sick, huh?

If you get an opportunity to read the article in "O", I urge you to do it. Whether you are dieting or not. Whether you need to lose weight or not. This article is very pointed and could do all of us with the American idea of more is better and faster is more efficient burned into our lifestyle. How about slowing down and enjoying life and every meal you get to share. Don't just eat it, enjoy it slowly. Remember what you ate today, tomorrow!

VLCD #15

This morning my scale told me I weigh 145.5, which is another loss of 0.7. I'm hoping to remain steady at this rate for awhile now. The next plateau, if I get stuck at a previous weight will be at about 135 or 138. I am still feeling good and have noticed that my clothes are fitting a lot more loosely. I don't want to buy new clothes because it gets too expensive if I'm going to keep shrinking down. I am sure thankful that we wear scrubs to work. My weight loss is a little less noticeable with them and they will keep fitting, just a little baggier.

VLCD #14

Hooray! Today I dropped 2.6 pounds on the scale for a nice 145.6. I feel better, of course! I slept in an hour longer than usual, which was really nice. My body needed it after a week like I had at work, but yesterday I had to get up early to drive my son to his job. He had to be all the way across the valley by 7 am.

I know that we are all going to hit those plateaus at previous weights. I also know that we will get past them if we just stick with the program and not get frustrated and cheat. But it isn't easy to be good when you aren't seeing results. Especially for someone like me who doesn't have a history of self control and sticking with diets. So, with that said, today's loss was a huge boost to my self-confidence and makes me want to stick tight to the protocol!

Yesterday, a friend whom I hadn't seen in a few months asked me if I'd lost weight. I told here yes, 15 pounds. She said I looked great and asked what I was doing. She works with DNA at the university here. She clones something for some kind of medicine. She's a micro-biologist. I told her what I was doing. You know what she said? "Great! Looks like it's working for you!" We were having a small party at her house for the guys and we ordered pizza and hot wings and had sodas on hand for all the boys. She and I each had a lettuce salad with crumbled fish we cooked on the stove top. I had told her no oils for me. She asked what I put on my salad I told her Garlic powder and salt. That's what I had, she had Newman's diet dressing on hers. But it was fun to share a meal with someone who ate mostly like me while those boys ate their pizza and wings!


MEASUREMENTS

Chest - 41 / 38 / 38
Waist - 34 / 32.5 / 31
Tummy - 36 / 34 / 33
Hips - 41.75 / 40.5 / 40.5
L Thigh - 23.25 / 23 / 22.2
R Thigh - 23.5 / 23 / 22
L Arm - 12 / 12 / 11.5
R Arm - 12 / 12 / 11.5

Inches lost so far............ 13.8

Well, I am going to try on a bathing suit! Hope you all have a nice Sunday!

VLCD #13

I don't know if I am officially stalled out and should do an apple day (not sounding so good to me) or if this is not a big deal. Once again my weight didn't drop much, only 1/10th again. This morning the scale is telling me 148.2. This kind of sucks, but it is what it is. I will wait until tomorrow's reading before I resort to apples. I like meat too much to give in that easily! Anyway, no worries! It'll all shake out sooner or later I guess.

VLCD #12

Well, this mornings loss was minimal. I lost 1/10th of a pound and am now at 148.2. I wasn't figuring on getting past the 148 marker quickly anyway because I was at that weight for a long enough time that it sticks in my memory. I am so happy it's Friday though. This week has been tiring for me at work. I've never seen it this busy, but that's called job-security I guess. Next week it will be busy again, but not quite as busy as this week was.

One thing I have noticed since starting HCG is that I am not sleeping through the night. I use to get up once a night to go to the bathroom. Now I get up once or twice and wake up a few other times too. What can I do to get back to once a night.

Regarding TOM

From reading posts in the yahoo hcg groups, I was concerned that my flow would be heavier and last longer than what I have been use to. I can verify to you that, in my case, this was not true. I am done and it was normal. How nice! I injected through both days and had no problems. My cravings were non-existent and my hunger remained at bay.

It is so nice to look back on my food choices at the end of the day and count the calories and think, "Wow, I am not hungry!" Today I had one temptation. Someone brought muffins, bagels & cream cheese, macadamia nut and toffee popcorn clusters, and juice to work today. There was one single bran muffin. That is my favorite. All the blueberry, banana, and whatever else muffins were gone, the popcorn was gone, the juice was gone. That one bran muffin sat there all day. I felt so bad for it. So unwanted and alone! The one person who wanted it and could have loved it like it deserved (me) shunned it all day long! Are you proud of me? I am! haha have a good night. ; )

VLCD #11

It's early and I have to be at work in a little bit. This morning I weigh 148.3 I wonder what this number would be if I could have slept for another hour! Anyway, I'll be cooking my lunch and heading out in a few minutes, I should be burning the calories today with all of the running we are doing! Maybe I should start the coffee now, I can't stop yawning. Saturday is looking REAL good to me right now! Have a nice Thursday!