Today is my third day of HCG + VLCD and I am down exactly 7lbs. Talk about FAST.
I feel like crap... week, shaky, tired, headaches... only one other person I know who has done this protocol has had the same experience. Everyone else is all "whaaaaaat, I feel fine!". Not so for me, I barely have the energy to climb the stairs in my house.
That said, my friend who experienced similar yucky feeling said it passed in about a week each time she did the protocol. I'm praying I don't have to do a second round... I'm not sure I could handle this part again!
By dinner time yesterday I was feeling pretty okay. Come this morning though, I was back to barely being able to drag myself out of bed. The weight loss is encouraging me to push through... but man, I really wanted a bowl of Cheerios this morning.
Today's 500 calorie plan:
Breakfast- 4 strawberries sliced and sprinkled with stevia, Melba Toast
Lunch- 1 egg + 2 egg whites (only a rare protein choice on HCG), cucumber w/ salt
PM Snack- sliced apple (if I'm feeling really crazy, I'll sprinkle it with stevia and cinnamon)
Dinner- 100g shrimp, cabbage, chicken broth, Melba Toast (The cabbage/chicken soup last night filled me up and I felt satisfied, so we will go with the same cooked with shrimp).
I could be shooting myself in the foot with the choice of eggs for protein at lunch. I haven't heard anyone who has had eggs, the protocol says they should be a rare choice if used due to the high fat content of the yolk.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Long Plateau & HCG Protocol
There has been so much going on in my crazy world, that weight loss took a backseat. The good news is, I managed to maintain my August weight over the last four months with no gain. I continued to weigh weekly to make sure I was within a pound of that weight.
Overall, I'm much less hungry and much more aware of portion sizes. I'm not snacking and I'm not eating junk. On the occasion that I want a treat, a very small portion does the trick. I have no doubt that if I had continued to eat only clean meals of lean protein + complex carb + veggies, I'd have lost quite a bit more weight over the last four months. That said, I've been enjoying my Dutch Bros mocha's a bit too much.
I decided drastic was called for in order to get my brain back into the full functioning/weight loss mode. So, I started the HCG Protocol. The first two days are known as "gorge days" and I tell you, I couldn't eat half of what was suggested (probably because I'm not used to high fat/junk foods). Day three was my first VLCD (500 calories) and I did okay. I'd been sick over the weekend (because of gorge + hcg start or flu, I don't know) so the first VLCD was pretty easy. However, today finds me starving... I'm thinking about food nonstop. It's physical hunger and a psychological battle over WANTING to eat.
My biggest fear (other than hunger) is boredom... on the HCG diet the following foods are avaliable with NO exceptions.
2 servings of 100 grams lean protein (one each at lunch and dinner)-chicken, fish, lean beef, shrimp
2 vegetables (not mixed, one each at lunch and dinner)- spinach, chard, chicory, beet-greens, green salad, tomatoes, celery, fennel, onions, red radishes, cucumbers, asparagus, cabbage.
2 fruits (one each at lunch and dinner, or if needed, have the lunch one at breakfast) apple, half grapefruit, orange, or handful of strawberries.
2 Melba Toasts (one each at lunch and dinner or use as snacks between).
1 Tbs milk
Stevia
Juice of one lemon
Pure spices (check for sugars, starches, etc...)
Black coffee
Tea (no fruits added)
Water
Today's 500 calorie line up:
Breakfast- cup of black chai tea + 1 Tbs milk + 1 stevia packet with a Melba Toast 45 cals
AM snack- I enjoyed four strawberries sliced, sprinkled with a bit of stevia 30 cals
Lunch- 100 grams tilapia cooked w/lemon slices, black pepper, salt, garlic + asparagus 125 cals
Dinner- 100 grams chicken + 1/2 cup chicken broth + 1/4 head cabbage seasoned with black pepper, garlic, + salt. Melba Toast and a sliced apple. 265 cals + 15 cals juice of one lemon
daily total= 480cals
In between meals, I've enjoyed 3 glasses of lemonade because my queasy tummy isn't liking plain water (1/3 of the lemon, squeezed, 1 packet stevia, iced water). I'm not a big tea fan, but found spiced tea to be palatable when I add stevia to it.
Here's to staying positive... and winning the mind battle over food.
*Side note* When I fully implement the Eat Clean Diet, I am NOT hungry and have no issues with portion control or cravings. This HCG diet is more of a test than anything, plus I'd love to see if it really does help target that belly fat I can't seem to get rid of!
*I've met my first weight loss goal, so I've updated my ticker to my final goal weight.
Overall, I'm much less hungry and much more aware of portion sizes. I'm not snacking and I'm not eating junk. On the occasion that I want a treat, a very small portion does the trick. I have no doubt that if I had continued to eat only clean meals of lean protein + complex carb + veggies, I'd have lost quite a bit more weight over the last four months. That said, I've been enjoying my Dutch Bros mocha's a bit too much.
I decided drastic was called for in order to get my brain back into the full functioning/weight loss mode. So, I started the HCG Protocol. The first two days are known as "gorge days" and I tell you, I couldn't eat half of what was suggested (probably because I'm not used to high fat/junk foods). Day three was my first VLCD (500 calories) and I did okay. I'd been sick over the weekend (because of gorge + hcg start or flu, I don't know) so the first VLCD was pretty easy. However, today finds me starving... I'm thinking about food nonstop. It's physical hunger and a psychological battle over WANTING to eat.
My biggest fear (other than hunger) is boredom... on the HCG diet the following foods are avaliable with NO exceptions.
2 servings of 100 grams lean protein (one each at lunch and dinner)-chicken, fish, lean beef, shrimp
2 vegetables (not mixed, one each at lunch and dinner)- spinach, chard, chicory, beet-greens, green salad, tomatoes, celery, fennel, onions, red radishes, cucumbers, asparagus, cabbage.
2 fruits (one each at lunch and dinner, or if needed, have the lunch one at breakfast) apple, half grapefruit, orange, or handful of strawberries.
2 Melba Toasts (one each at lunch and dinner or use as snacks between).
1 Tbs milk
Stevia
Juice of one lemon
Pure spices (check for sugars, starches, etc...)
Black coffee
Tea (no fruits added)
Water
Today's 500 calorie line up:
Breakfast- cup of black chai tea + 1 Tbs milk + 1 stevia packet with a Melba Toast 45 cals
AM snack- I enjoyed four strawberries sliced, sprinkled with a bit of stevia 30 cals
Lunch- 100 grams tilapia cooked w/lemon slices, black pepper, salt, garlic + asparagus 125 cals
Dinner- 100 grams chicken + 1/2 cup chicken broth + 1/4 head cabbage seasoned with black pepper, garlic, + salt. Melba Toast and a sliced apple. 265 cals + 15 cals juice of one lemon
daily total= 480cals
In between meals, I've enjoyed 3 glasses of lemonade because my queasy tummy isn't liking plain water (1/3 of the lemon, squeezed, 1 packet stevia, iced water). I'm not a big tea fan, but found spiced tea to be palatable when I add stevia to it.
Here's to staying positive... and winning the mind battle over food.
*Side note* When I fully implement the Eat Clean Diet, I am NOT hungry and have no issues with portion control or cravings. This HCG diet is more of a test than anything, plus I'd love to see if it really does help target that belly fat I can't seem to get rid of!
*I've met my first weight loss goal, so I've updated my ticker to my final goal weight.
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