Thursday, February 7, 2008

Oh Oh! Can You Say "NOODLEGATE"? - 02.07.08 - D17P2R4

R4P2 Starting Weight 184.4
Yesterday - 167.0
Today - 166.4
0.6 lb LOSS Overnight
9.0 lb UNDER LIW of Round Three (175.4)
18.0 Lost Since Start of R4 (VLCD) 01/22/08
84.4 Total Lost Since Start of Protocol (VLCD) 06/26/07

Here is my menu for yesterday. This is what I had:

I am going to discuss in detail what I ate yesterday further below, but for the interest of continuity, I am going to post it here as well. Cottage Cheese and Strawberries with Cinnamon for breakfast, lunch was Spaghetti Sauce (Ground Beef, Tomatoes and Seasonings) complete with Shirataki Noodles with just a smidgen of Parmesan Cheese, two snacks, one of a half a grapefruit and the other of a tablespoon of Cottage Cheese with Vanilla Cream Stevia and Cinnamon and then Dinner was just some steamed broccoli.

A total of around 448 calories divided this way: 8 Fat, 50 Carbs, 47 Protein

GO HERE AND SIGN UP FOR UPCOMING HCG NEWSLETTER!!! I actually have a date! Look for it on February 15th! WOO HOO!!!

Let's not forget the HCG BOOK CLUB - join in on the fun! If you haven't signed up for it yet, please do so now. eMail Address Form

Our FAQ Question this go round is the following, please spend some time if you can answering this survey:

Thanks goes to Lili, Page and Mariel for filling out the FAQ yesterday! I will leave this up for a week! This time we are going to focus in on Phase 3 - Please help out if you can!

Phase 3 - The Stabilizing Period

Noodlegate

For those of you that don't remember or maybe were not around, way back when (like sometime late September) there was a big ruckus over at the HCG Dieters Yahoo Group on the subject of noodles. It blew up pretty big, and that was pretty much the dividing factor for a lot of the old timer group that caused us to pretty much make HCG2 our home.

In the interest of full disclosure, I never once came out and said that eating noodles on Phase Two was wrong. What I felt was wrong was people coming on the boards, during their first ever week on the protocol and proclaiming that this was the answer to everyone's problem. A way to stay on protocol without going full blown "cheating". I most assuredly disagree with this.

I feel to this very moment that in order to maximize losses on the protocol you need to be faithful and true to the menu. I especially feel that your first round should be dedicated to doing things Dr Simeon's way. The menu not only guarantees you weight loss, but it teaches you some really FINE habits along the way. Habits that will NOT be learned if you do it any different.

That being said, over the months, I have come to some conclusions about the 'diet' portion of the protocol. Someone recently over at the HCG2 board asked about Protein Drinks. This was an old timer and she was wondering what the justification was for people now doing "protein drinks" on the Phase 2 portion. I wrote back my thoughts, and you can see them here:

Experimenting

These things all come down to something I wrote back in November here:

Purist

After we have completed one or two rounds of this protocol, I do believe we have gained the right to figure out what our bodies can and cannot do. I am certainly not giving myself carte blanche to go willy nilly and eat anything and everything. I know with my 'experimenting' that if there is just one day it doesn't work, I know that I can and WILL go right back to eating the pure Dr Simeon's menu without one iota of a thought. I am not that attached to the 'new' foods that I couldn't listen to reason and keep trying something that isn't working.

All of that being said? I have completed 19 total weeks (plus three days) on effective injections. That is a heck of a long time being true to the protocol. I have taken this opportunity to test things now because one, I made my goal for this round in record time, and two, because I have my theories and who better to test them but on myself.

Justification?

Does this smack of justification? Who knows? We all have our perceptions, and whatever they are, they are real to us. If I didn't have the success I have had this round, I would NOT be trying these different things. Nope, I think that makes me a true believer in the program. Follow as written and you will get results. But since I did have phenom success during my first two weeks of this round, then I feel, in the interest of research, that I have the ability to do what many of you out there WISH could be done.

I have said this time and time again, that we are all "self doctoring" - we are NOT asking any medical professional to help, all we can do is study ourselves and our associates on the program and come to our own conclusions.

THAT all being said ...

Shirataki Noodles

This marks the third time I have ventured into this product. The other two times it was on Phase 3 so it really doesn't count. Are they noodles? No, far from it. Are they a good sub? Sure. They will do in a pinch. Do I want them every day? Nope, they give me a bit of an upset stomach. (For those of you sensitive to Maltitol, that is the feeling I get when I eat them) If the rest of the family was having a luscious Italian meal and I didn't want to feel left out would this do? In a heart beat.

I do have to say that I ate them with homemade spaghetti sauce for lunch yesterday and I was flat out full the rest of the day. I didn't want to eat another thing. Seriously. Talk about satiation.

Would I recommend this every day? No, the things I am testing are for "treats" or "special occasions" - things you can do when something arises and you want to partake but not look out of place, or better yet, not experience a GAIN. That is what this is all about. For some of us, the craving for something is so strong it can cause us to go completely crazy and then we over do it. But if that feeling arrives and you say, oh geesh, let me fix such and such and it will fill that need for today, then it is there for you ya know? You would know you could indulge in this little bit of sin and it wouldn't mean the end of the world.

I am in a position to test things now. I wasn't before. I was TOO anxious to get most of this weight off of my poor body. But now? It's a research study of myself. I know alot of people read my blog. I know alot of people seem to want to eat what I eat to get the losses I get. But, I keep telling you, you have to figure out what is good for YOU. Your "body" is different than mine. What may work for me may NOT work for you.

There are people out there that cannot do onions (JPS is one) - she will GAIN if she has onions. No doubt. I can do onions and lose. Does that make eating onions wrong or right? Neither, it's right for me, wrong for JPS. So don't look at me and say, hey, this works for Biz it will work for ME - you can't do that. You need to do your OWN experimenting. See what works for YOU!

On to my commenter's - these are my responses to yesterday's comments:

Shelly - mmmm Nutmeg, OK, I MUST try it! LOL - I am loving life now with my cottage cheese, NUMMY!

Lili - Yes, friend, feeling better, everyone is doing better. I had parm cheese on my spaghetti! LOL - All because of YOU! LOL - so you better believe that if I gained I was gonna blame the parm cheese and then YOU! ROFL

EweWho - All in the interest of research, doncha know??? ROFL

Ed and Jenn - Well, I think I might try green beans today, I do love me some green beans, and I might just get brave enough to put some MOLLY MCBUTTER on them! ROFL - OMG, I crack myself up!

Wendy - So glad you are feeling better my friend! I wasn't really worried, I knew you would pull out of it! YOU GO GIRL! No, YOU'RE HOT!

Monica - You have been with me long enough to know that I have been BY THE BOOK more than not, and it's served me well. You can NEVER go wrong with being BY THE BOOK ya know?

Becca - Funny you should mention green beans. I told JPS last night that if I didn't gain, that green beans were next on the menu. LOL - I love me some green beans. So, I am again looking forward to another great day!
Have a good one Peeps!

Biz

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

An Experiment in Cottage Cheese - 02.06.08 - D16P2R4

R4P2 Starting Weight 184.4
Yesterday - 167.4
Today - 167.0
0.4 lb LOSS Overnight
8.4 lb UNDER LIW of Round Three (175.4)
17.4 Lost Since Start of R4 (VLCD) 01/22/08
83.8 Total Lost Since Start of Protocol (VLCD) 06/26/07

Here is my menu for yesterday. This is what I had:

I am going to discuss in detail what I ate yesterday further below, but for the interest of continuity, I am going to post it here as well. Cottage Cheese and Strawberries with Cinnamon for Lunch, a snack of Broccoli, Dinner was a Baked Italian Cottage Cheese, Broccoli and Tomato thing.

A total of around 353 calories divided this way: 1 Fat, 53 Carbs, 39 Protein

GO HERE AND SIGN UP FOR UPCOMING HCG NEWSLETTER!!! I actually have a date! Look for it on February 15th! WOO HOO!!!

Let's not forget the HCG BOOK CLUB - join in on the fun! If you haven't signed up for it yet, please do so now. eMail Address Form

Our FAQ Question this go round is the following, please spend some time if you can answering this survey:

Thanks goes to Anne, Jeanne, Rosie and Chris for filling out the FAQ yesterday! I will leave this up for a week! This time we are going to focus in on Phase 3 - Please help out if you can!

Phase 3 - The Stabilizing Period

An Experiment in Cottage Cheese

When I reached my goal yesterday for this round, I figured I was in a position to 'test the limits'. I know, every other normal person out there would stick to what works and keep letting it do it's job. Not me! In the interest of "research" I was wanting to broaden my menu.

Now keep in mind that what works for me, won't necessarily work for you, like I always say, YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary) - but, I am a pretty good test subject me thinks. Almost everything that can happen to a person while on this protocol has happened to either me or JPS and so I am in a pretty good position to do the testing. Anyhow, JPS let's me try everything first to see if it works! ROFL

Anyhow, I already knew before yesterday that if I got to my goal ahead of time, I was gonna try cottage cheese. It's one thing I truly TRULY miss while on protocol. So, I went ahead and got some Fat Free. Now in looking at the label, I find that the calorie content and the protein content are not high enough for my tastes - A typical piece of protein on this protocol is around 110 - 130 calories, with about 15 - 25 in protein grams - one serving of this cottage cheese (126 grams) is only 80 cals and 12 protein. So I felt very comfortable in rising the amount allowed to fill the gap of protein I felt I needed.

For lunch I had 6 ounces (108 cals and 16 protein) - I had this with 5 ounces of cut up strawberries. I sprinkled cinnamon and Sweet and Low all over it and I savored and enjoyed every single bite! I truly felt I was indulging, can you imagine??? I knew I needed to get my veggies in so I chomped on some Broccoli.

So during the afternoon as I was pondering over what to have for supper, I had an idea to look up some recipes that had cottage cheese and broccoli in them to see what might inspire me for supper. Viola - I came across this recipe:

Italian Broccoli Cheese Bake

I modified it to come up with my own! I layered broccoli, canned diced NO SALT tomatoes and cottage cheese in a little oven proof bowl (adding garlic powder, basil and oregano) and I baked it for an hour at 375 degrees.

IT WAS NUMMY!!!

Now, I would do it differently next time (oh yes Virginia, there will be a NEXT TIME) - I will precook my broccoli (I put it in frozen), and I will use FRESH tomatoes - the reason being that it turned out a bit too watery for my taste. It was good mind you, but I have already tweaked it in my head to be BETTER.

This is the issue I see with using cottage cheese as a protein. It certainly does not have enough cals or protein grams in it to be a substantial part of your meal. But I can tell you that when you are in the mood for something decadent, this is the way to go. It wouldn't be an all the time thing, because I do feel that adequate protein on this protocol is VERY important. But oh momma, I felt I was truly OFF protocol yesterday!

Hmmmm, what is my next plan of attack???

Let's Not Forget The Numbers!

I completely skipped the numbers yesterday, how silly is that???

Day 15 (Complete) - Round 4 = 9.44% Body Weight Loss
Day 15 (Complete) - Round 3 = 7.97% Body Weight Loss
Day 15 (Complete) - Round 2 = 6.72% Body Weight Loss
Day 15 (Complete) - Round 1 = 6.30% Body Weight Loss

Things are catching up with each other!

On to my commenter's - these are my responses to yesterday's comments:

Crystal - You know? I have to give myself a reminder to drink the Dandi tea daily - at first that stuff was ick, but I have actually grown to like it! But I have to remember to drink it! ROFL

Mary - Thanks!

Ed & Jenn - Well I already told you that I spewed my water when I read your comment! You are way too funny girlfriend! ROFL You know how I feel, we don't need to go into it here...

Wendy - Girlfriend, thanks for stopping by even tho you had a rough time of it, it happens ya know??? We are all here for support, each and every one of us has gone through at least something that will be able to say just the right words.

Mariel - HA! You and boyfriend are WAY TOO FUNNY! It is the smack tho isn't it??? When my son was on the protocol, I had to figure out things that TEENAGERS would like, do you know how hard that was??? When I came up with the mustard dressing, he said he could LIVE on it! ROFL

Becca - thank you for your thoughts. And WTG on a great GREAT post! I was LOVIN it! Keep on keepin on!
Have a nice one people!

Biz

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Aunt Flo Again??? - 02.05.08 - D15P2R4

R4P2 Starting Weight 184.4
Yesterday - 167.6
Today - 167.4
0.2 lb LOSS Overnight
8.0 lb UNDER LIW of Round Three (175.4)
17.0 Lost Since Start of R4 (VLCD) 01/22/08
83.4 Total Lost Since Start of Protocol (VLCD) 06/26/07

Here is my menu for yesterday. This is what I had:

My mainstay menu yesterday, Jenn said I didn't have to show it anymore that you folks would know what I was eating! LOL - Anyhoo, it was Ground Beef Patty with Lettuce Salad / Mustard Dressing / Apple thrown in, Grapefruit for snack, dinner was Creole Catfish

A total of around 427 calories divided this way: 9 Fat, 44 Carbs, 44 Protein

GO HERE AND SIGN UP FOR UPCOMING HCG NEWSLETTER!!! I actually have a date! Look for it on February 15th! WOO HOO!!!

Let's not forget the HCG BOOK CLUB - join in on the fun! If you haven't signed up for it yet, please do so now. eMail Address Form

Our FAQ Question this go round is the following, please spend some time if you can answering this survey:

Thanks goes to Dowan and Karen for filling out the FAQ yesterday! I will leave this up for a week! This time we are going to focus in on Phase 3 - Please help out if you can!

Phase 3 - The Stabilizing Period

Why Couldn't She Have At Least Called?

Yup, Aunt Flo is paying me a visit, absolutely no call ahead or nothing. Sure, the 'girls' were hurting a bit over the last few days, but that could gave been something else. But NOOOOO, it had to be Aunt Flo, well that just isn't right ya know?

I am sure that she just wanted to come by and knock the wind out of my sails, surely she is that sinister. Making me come down off my high horse of mega losses for two weeks, just to teach me a lesson. The .2 loss (I know, I know, ANY LOSS IS A GOOD LOSS) is directly a result of her visit. Well BE GONE AUNT FLO! Me thinks you are not welcomed here.

Shoot, I wish it was that easy. I wish I could just wave my hands and she be gone, but alas, I have to live with it.

Point is that she was JUST HERE, Jan 13th - 19th - why does she feel that she needed to pay me another visit this quickly??? Could it be cycles are struggling to get regulated - my body is really trying to get into a rhythm instead of the haphazardness that has been my life since giving birth? If so, I will take it. Being 'regular' will be a whole lot better than all over the map!!!

Anyhoo, so this is my day - me and Aunt Flo - send good thoughts.

I MADE MY GOAL!!!

I know, we have already chatted about that a few days ago, but today I made my goal, today is my two week anniversary of the 4th round, and I have made my goal. I am still going on, the rest is just GRAVY!!!

Thank You So Much!!!

I would like to send a collective thank you for everyone for their eMails and comments for the loss that was suffered over the weekend. I spent a few hours there yesterday just doing 'busy' work, and my husband took the widower out along with his best friend for some coffee and chit chat. Each day will be rough, but each day they make it through is one more day behind them and a chance to heal.

Thank you Lili, Shelly, Marshall, Ed & Jenn, Mary, CB, EweWho, Crystal, Monica and Mariel for your beautiful thoughts - you folks are all the mostest. Wow.

Biz

Monday, February 4, 2008

Savor This Moment in Time - 02.04.08 - D14P2R4

R4P2 Starting Weight 184.4
Yesterday - 168.2
Today - 167.6
0.6 lb LOSS Overnight
7.8 lb UNDER LIW of Round Three (175.4)
16.8 Lost Since Start of R4 (VLCD) 01/22/08
83.2 Total Lost Since Start of Protocol (VLCD) 06/26/07

Here is my menu for yesterday. This is what I had:

It was a double whammy yesterday for my menu. I spent the 2nd day in a row testing the limits, but this time with something ALLOWABLE by Dr Simeon's - eggs. So I had eggs with onions for breakfast, a grapefruit for a lunch snack, Beef and Broccoli for dinner with an apple for dessert.

A total of around 427 calories divided this way: 10 Fat, 42 Carbs, 45 Protein

GO HERE AND SIGN UP FOR UPCOMING HCG NEWSLETTER!!! I actually have a date! Look for it on February 15th! WOO HOO!!!

Let's not forget the HCG BOOK CLUB - join in on the fun! If you haven't signed up for it yet, please do so now. eMail Address Form

Our FAQ Question this go round is the following, please spend some time if you can answering this survey:

New FAQ Question today! I will leave this up for a week! This time we are going to focus in on Phase 3 - Please help out if you can!

Phase 3 - The Stabilizing Period

Spreading My Wings

I did eggs yesterday! It was a real treat! I did it the right way, with one egg, and 3 additional egg whites, but my hubby threw in some pan fried onions, and well, again I felt like I was cheating! And I do have to say, that my beef and broccoli turned out quite good!

A .6 loss is nothing to sneeze at, maintaining quite a comfortable average of 1.29 loss a day, so nothing to complain about whatsoever on day 14!!! Today however, I feel compelled to go back to the familiar so no broccoli or eggs for me today!

Here are the numbers if your tracking:

Day 13 (Complete) - Round 4 = 9.11% Body Weight Loss
Day 13 (Complete) - Round 3 = 7.25% Body Weight Loss
Day 13 (Complete) - Round 2 = 6.16% Body Weight Loss
Day 13 (Complete) - Round 1 = 5.90% Body Weight Loss

What is interesting is that things seem to be catching up - how cool it is to watch the numbers.

Savor This Moment In Time

You just never know, ya know? Each moment we have is precious, and in an instant, it can disappear. Are you making the most of each moment? Are you doing everything you can to make this moment count?

One moment everything seems to be just sailing through time and one can get quite caught up in the business of life, but sometimes we must remember that things can change in an instant.

I had a very dear friend pass yesterday morning. She was young, only 37 years old. She has left behind 3 children (she was also expecting their 4th - she was 3 months pregnant) and a husband, not to mention the huge family that is devastated by losing her. Most of the day yesterday was spent with the family and while there it really brings home how important it is to make sure you live every moment like it's your last.

Within 30 minutes, this darling woman was gone. In an instant. Gone.

I wont be around much today, they are dear friends and I will be doing what I can to help them through the first couple of days. They were well loved by so many people so they have ample help, but I just wouldn't feel right if I wasn't there to lend a hand, even if it's one to hold.

Please, to my community, please send good thoughts this way. My heart is heavy.

Life does go on...

On to my commenter's - these are my responses to yesterday's comments:

Ed & Jenn - Sorry about leaving you high and dry last night. I had phone calls to have to handle, and well, you know the rest of the story. I needed to get some good rest for today, it's gonna be a tough one.

Lili - Yeah, I spent my last load day on coloring my hair, I almost forgot, and that would have been nasty!

Shelly - I honestly can't remember where I learned that, but it has stuck in my head all these years, isn't that amazing how power it is???

Monica - It was even good a second time!!!

Mary - You are so funny! I can't take credit for the "Protocol Nazi's" comment, but I will use it! ROFL

Liz - Don't worry, it will make starting that much more sweeter. You will be here soon, and keep doing what your doing, keep reading, keep researching. Shoot, Monica prepared for like 3 or 4 months, and she is a PRO in just her 3rd week! Do the same!

Crystal - Good stuff! Excited for you to start!

Ewewho - hey girl, I will do better than share the recipe, I will VIDEO IT! ROFL - OMG - like I am the expert on the webcam! ROFL
Take care everyone, and make sure you make every moment count.

Biz

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Setting Realistic Goals - 02.03.08 - D13P2R4

R4P2 Starting Weight 184.4
Yesterday - 169.4
Today - 168.2
1.2 lb LOSS Overnight
7.2 lb UNDER LIW of Round Three (175.4)
16.2 Lost Since Start of R4 (VLCD) 01/22/08
82.6 Total Lost Since Start of Protocol (VLCD) 06/26/07

Here is my menu for yesterday. This is what I had:

Ok, I am so over yesterday with my on and off headache all day. I am going to chalk it up to some detox thing that was going on and call it a day! I had an apple for a morning snack, and then I decided to 'experiment' with broccoli so had some Chicken and Broccoli soup for lunch, my grapefruit for mid afternoon snack and then dinner was a Grilled Hamburger Patty with lettuce salad and mustard dressing. Oh yeah, yesterday was a good eating day. The broccoli did not affect my losses, so guess I will be doing THAT again. I do love my broccoli, it actually feels like I am cheating! ROFL

A total of around 450 calories divided this way: 8 Fat, 42 Carbs, 54 Protein

GO HERE AND SIGN UP FOR UPCOMING HCG NEWSLETTER!!! I actually have a date! Look for it on February 15th! WOO HOO!!!

Let's not forget the HCG BOOK CLUB - join in on the fun! If you haven't signed up for it yet, please do so now. eMail Address Form

Our FAQ Question this go round is the following, please spend some time if you can answering this survey:

One more day to leave it up!!! New question tomorrow! Any others willing to approach this subject?

Foods on Phase 2 - Do Some Work Better Than Others?

Experimentation: SUCCESS!

I had a little talk with myself yesterday morning and asked myself if I was willing to perform a little experiment with the trying of the broccoli - so since I have had this miraculous weight loss in just 12 days (as of yesterday) - I was like, what the heck, I can afford to stall for a few days in the interest of research! So that is what I did.

Honest to goodness, I felt like I was "cheating" - now keep in mind, for me to even USE that word, this feeling had to be sinister and devious. It was like I was hoarding my bowl of soup, afraid of the "Protocol Nazi's" that might show up to remind me that broccoli was NOT on the Dr Simeon plan. I would look around, sneak a taste, and savor the wonderfulness of broccoli. OMG! I consider BROCCOLI A CHEAT! How extremely funny is that???

Suffice it to say it was delish, and I will be doing the broccoli thing again today. Do you even consider how much is open to me by using broccoli? OMG, the menu is limitless!!! I am gonna make some good ole fashioned "Beef and Broccoli" tonight for supper, I will let you know how it turns out, but you just know it will HAVE to be good!

So what is with the freaking 1.2 loss this morning??? I seriously DO NOT KNOW! Could it be all that shaking my body was doing when I was fearful of the "Protocol Nazi's"??? HA! Whatever it is, I will take it and not argue.

Here are the numbers:

Day 12 (Complete) - Round 4 = 8.79% Body Weight Loss
Day 12 (Complete) - Round 3 = 7.25% Body Weight Loss
Day 12 (Complete) - Round 2 = 6.16% Body Weight Loss
Day 12 (Complete) - Round 1 = 5.90% Body Weight Loss

Say it with me! WOO HOO FOR ME!!!

Goals

Ok, there are some of you out there that feel that my goal for this round was unrealistic. Let me tell you how I arrived at that goal, and then I want to discuss how I feel about goals, and what makes or breaks them with me.

Since I had planned on doing a 4 week round this time, minus one day that is, I decided to look at the two rounds I did that had more than 4 weeks in them to see what my average would be. Since I always look at body weight percentage loss instead of actual pounds lost, I use that number.

Round 1 - 4 week mark minus one day = 9.33%
Round 2 - 4 week mark minus one day = 9.98%

Add those together and divide by two to get an average, you get = 9.65%

In my mind, I could look at that number (9.65%) as what I could reasonably expect my body to lose based on past performance - so I took 9.65% of what my starting weight was on this round (184.4) and it came up with 17.79 lbs. This is how I arrived at the start of this round with the 17 lbs - At the start of this round, I seriously had NO IDEA that I was gonna be as far as I am, quite frankly, I thought it was gonna take me like at least a week to lose my numbers above LIW - little did I know that would happen and give me MORE within the first week.

But my goal was realistic. It was planned without any knowledge of the future, only what was based on past performance. There is so much that can happen in the future that can throw a monkey wench in it. When I look at past performance and base my goals on that, maybe a bit better, I work to get a little bit better each and every time. Do you see what I mean?

My goal of 17 lbs this round, I look at it now, sure, I am like .8 away from achieving it, but it was realistic, and I am gonna surpass it and that is going to make me feel WONDERFUL - not like I am striving after the wind! Gives me confidence instead of feeling like I am a loser at everything I do.

Setting SMART Goals

I learned this a really long time ago, and it has served me well. We need to set SMART Goals:

  • S - Specific
  • M - Measurable
  • A - Attainable
  • R - Realistic
  • T - Timely
Let's break them down:

Specific - Your goals need to be very specific, you need to break them down to the lowest common denominator - you can't just say, "I want to lose weight" that only gives us the what - you need to tell us why you want to lose weight and how you intend on losing it.

My experience in using this aspect of SMART GOALS
  • I wanted to lose weight
  • I was going to use the HCG Protocol by Dr Simeons
  • I wanted to lose this weight to become more healthy, regulate my hormones, live longer, look better, feel better
Measurable - You have to be able to chart progress, that is what this is all about, being able to see a day to day progression of things so that you can make changes along the way to meet your goal. There is a certain amount of satisfaction to watching a chart go down, down, down (in the example of weight loss) - being able to see your goal being reached because of the trend you taking gives you the confidence to keep moving forward.

My experience in using this aspect of SMART GOALS
  • My measuring takes place round by round - I had an ultimate beginning goal of 150 lbs - but I have always separated my goals by the rounds I do to get to the ULTIMATE goal of 150.
Attainable - This one is rough - kinda in line with what I talked about yesterday about our 'ideal' weight. Can we really reach our goal? It would have been silly to set a goal of 108 lbs (what I was when I was 18) - but a goal of 150 was very attainable. The thing about this aspect of setting goals is that this particular one needs to be just a bit of a stretch, enough that you can commit to it and take it seriously - instead of something so easy that you don't appreciate the process of getting there.

My experience in using this aspect of SMART GOALS
  • Each round I would set a specific goal. For my first round, I wasn't exactly SOLD on the "one pound a day" business, but based on the research I had done, I saw that losing a half a pound a day was pretty much par. So I set that as a goal. By the 2nd, 3rd and now the 4th round, I had back data I could use to set goals for myself. It's my body and it behaves in a certain way so I could use those numbers to set what I felt were attainable goals.
Realistic - Ok, this is super important - are your goals realistic? Sometimes we talk of this aspect of SMART Goals as "Baby Steps" - Realistic does not mean EASY - but definitely DOABLE - Set these goals high enough but not so high that you are doomed to failure, but also the opposite is true. Don't set them so low that you surpass them with no effort and pretty soon you might feel that is all your capable of doing.

My experience with using this aspect of SMART GOALS
  • This ties in nicely with the "attainable" portion - all of my goals have been realistic, with each and every round, because I base them on past performance, the only thing that is "real" - all expect for the first round that is. I had nothing but pure conjecture on that one!
Timely - Oh yeah, this is mondo important - give yourself a limit. What is really funny about this aspect? Time needs to be ATTAINABLE, REALISTIC AND MEASURABLE - how about that for wrapping things up??? Give yourself a deadline.

My experience with using this aspect of SMART GOALS
  • Again, I make my goals per round. This is kinda funny. Looking back on some of my early postings in the Yahoo Group I had this silly notion about making goal by winter - well, winter has come and is almost gone - yet I am not there. Going round by round is the way to go, at least in my book. But I set my goal at the beginning of the round, what my weight is on my first VLCD day and I know how long my round is going when I start it, and so I know the things necessary to make a goal.
Well my, my, that was a lot of writing! But I hope you can now understand why I set the goals that I do.

On to my commenter's - these are my responses to yesterday's comments:
Crystal - thanks my pal! I sure have been on this long enough to know that the HCG is the miracle DR S said it was, so I am just gonna let him do his thing!

Jenn - GEESH GIRL! You are so demanding! ROFL - You know I WUB U! There is something to the whole letting your food digest before you go to bed thing going on there. I think the number is 2 or 3 hours (someone help me here who knows the real number) and well, we all know that Miz Biz goes to bed early! The latest I ever go to bed is around 10pm - so I have a cut off of 7pm. I have found in my experience with this protocol that I have less success when I eat later. Yesterday I ate at 5pm and lookie there, 1.2 loss today! Something to be said for that!

Mary - Geesh girl! I read about your day, and I was like, OMG - you poor baby, I hope this weekend you get to recoop. Here are some hugs for you {{{{MARY}}}}

Mariel - Thank you friend for the kind words. Shoot, I cannot even believe I am chatting about less than 20 lbs to my goal, that is so UNREAL!

CB - Helps put things into perspective eh? Another thing we have to remember? Is that because of HCG we are at a different place at the same weight. So what you may have looked at 150 lbs without HCG can be completely different then you at 150 lbs with HCG! Blows the mind!

Liz - WELCOME to our little community! Just starting eh? Let me tell you that the people that are in this community will help you with your journey! We always love new people finding this protocol! Start a blog, even if all you do is post your stats. We need to get the word out!

Monica - WOO HOO!!! We are neck and neck! Loving life right now eh??? Always remember the sculpting. It's miraculous. Let the HCG do it's thing. I hate to think of life without coffee right now, but whatever, the migraine is worse.

Becca - oh geesh, another hubby out there that doesn't know what the heck he is talking about. Don't listen girl, do what you need to do to get where you want to go. We are women, hear us roar!!! WOO HOO FOR US HOT MOMMAS - what do the youngins have on us girlfriend???

Lili - Oh yeah girlfriend! I keep trying to remind people that losing on HCG is different than anything else they have ever done before. I had to laugh my friend, you and your purdy smile. You need me to start up the emergency fund for your jewelry store again???
Have a wonderful day!!! Full of sunshine and rainbows!

Biz

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Are You Attached to a Certain Number on the Scale? - 02.02.08 - D12P2R4

R4P2 Starting Weight 184.4
Yesterday - 170.0
Today - 169.4
0.6 lb LOSS Overnight
6.0 lb UNDER LIW of Round Three (175.4)
15.0 Lost Since Start of R4 (VLCD) 01/22/08
81.4 Total Lost Since Start of Protocol (VLCD) 06/26/07

Here is my menu for yesterday. This is what I had:

Well, yesterday I had every intent of changing up my menu because quite frankly I was getting bored. And things went well until after my afternoon snack! I had my coffee and half and half, a grapefruit half for morning, Thai Hot and Sour Soup for lunch, grapefruit for mid afternoon snack, and then I don't even want to go into what happened for supper. Suffice it to say that all I had for dinner was coffee and cream. Don't holler at me, it was a preponderance of things that lead to this decision, as I absolutely refuse to eat past 7pm ... the rest is history.

A total of around 310 calories divided this way: 6 Fat, 35 Carbs, 30 Protein

GO HERE AND SIGN UP FOR UPCOMING HCG NEWSLETTER!!! I actually have a date! Look for it on February 15th! WOO HOO!!!

Let's not forget the HCG BOOK CLUB - join in on the fun! If you haven't signed up for it yet, please do so now. eMail Address Form

Our FAQ Question this go round is the following, please spend some time if you can answering this survey:

Thanks goes to Rosie and Renee (BB) for answering the FAQ question yesterday! Any others willing to approach this subject?

Foods on Phase 2 - Do Some Work Better Than Others?

Do As I Say, Not As I Do!

Don't skip meals unless absolutely necessary - seriously. I didn't plan what happened last night, I wanted to eat my dinner, it is just circumstances prohibited it, and I was not going to take a chance of eating at 7pm - I just can't eat that late anymore. Just not gonna do it.

With everything else that happened last night, I ended up with a migraine. Now this is the 2nd migraine I have had in 4 weeks, and now I am going to have to assume it has something to do with the coffee. I hate it, but you don't have to hit me over the head with a baseball bat more than twice for me to get the picture. I am off of coffee.

I fully expect there to be some sort of bounce back or stall because of not eating yesterday, I will be sure to eat today my required meals. In any case, I am in the 160's today and all is good with the world. 169.4 - that just looks WRONG, but it isn't. What an amazing program. I am on this until the 17th of this month (LIW) and I do believe that my goal for this round might have been a little short sighted. I only have two more pounds to reach my goal, and I think I may get there some time next week!

Most excellent!

Here are the numbers for those of you following:

Day 11 (Complete) - Round 4 = 8.13% Body Weight Loss
Day 11 (Complete) - Round 3 = 6.73% Body Weight Loss
Day 11 (Complete) - Round 2 = 5.78% Body Weight Loss
Day 11 (Complete) - Round 1 = 4.94% Body Weight Loss

To me? That is simply incredible!

Are You Attached to a Certain Number on the Scale?

The closer we get to what we consider our 'ideal' weight we start to be very determined to reach a certain number on the scale. It could be a number that we were at in high school, a number that we were when we were married, a number we were at in college, but a certain number where we feel that we need to be in order to call this program a success.

I have posted this time and time again that my so called "goal" weight of 150 is so arbitrary because I really have no idea what HCG can do for this 45 year old body. It might stop me at 150, or it might continue to go down to 135, or some other ludicrous number, but it's not about the number on the scale with me. I am all about my body and what the HCG does to it.

I am seriously a completely different person than when I was married the first time in 1981, at 108 pounds. Do I think it's possible to get to that weight again? Um, NO, I don't even WANT it. I have had a child for goodness sake, my body has changed. I am completely content to letting the HCG dictate where I need to be. I have had enough experience with this program, and watching the successes of others to KNOW that it does indeed work, and work well.

I see more and more people out there becoming discouraged with the program the closer they get to their goal. What is simply amazing to me is that they have seen it work with the first 50 pounds they had to lose, but when it comes to the HCG doing the "SCULPTING" thing, they all of a sudden start to have doubts about the validity of the program. That blows my mind.

What that says to me is that they are looking at this protocol as only a weight loss thing, and not what it truly was designed for: FAT ON THE MOVE - Dr S made that plain. I am reminded time and time again of his story of "The Emaciated Lady". If you haven't refreshed your memory of this story, please allow me to do this for you.

The Emaciated Lady

I remember the case of a lady who was escorted into my consulting room while I was telephoning. She sat down in front of my desk, and when I looked up to greet her I saw the typical picture of advanced emaciation. Her dry skin hung loosely over the bones of her face, her neck was scrawny and collarbones and ribs stuck out from deep hollows. I immediately thought of cancer and decided to which of my colleagues at the hospital I would refer her. Indeed, I felt a little annoyed that my assistant had not explained to her that her case did not fall under my specialty. In answer to my query as to what I could do for her, she replied that she wanted to reduce. I tried to hide my surprise, but she must have noted a fleeting expression, for she smiled and said “I know that you think I'm mad, but just wait.” With that she rose and came round to my side of the desk. Jutting out from a tiny waist she had enormous hips and thighs.

By using a technique which will presently be described, the abnormal fat on her hips was transferred to the rest of her body which had been emaciated by months of very severe dieting. At the end of a treatment lasting five weeks, she, a small woman, had lost 8 inches round her hips, while her face looked fresh and florid, the ribs were no longer visible and her weight was the same to the ounce as it had been at the first consultation.

Notice what I highlighted. Good grief! Can you imagine being this woman??? 5 entire weeks on this protocol, and she was exactly the same weight as when she started. Can you imagine??? And I hear people getting disgruntled at two days at the same weight. What the heck???

The true MIRACLE of this protocol is the SCULPTING, and not the WEIGHT LOSS. Please, please, PLEASE remember that. Sure, massive weight loss happens in the beginning, but then you need to give the HCG time to SCULPT and MOLD your body.

Granted, this woman had a DOCTOR telling her all was well, that things were working like they were supposed to. And I am sure through Dr S's clinic that he was meticulous with measurements and pictures for his research. But us? Most of us have chosen the road of SELF DOCTORING and so we don't have that benefit of someone telling us all is well, just keep doing what your doing and it is working. We have to rely on ourselves, and quite frankly, we can let a little thing like no loss on the scale drive us down a dark and empty path of futility.

When you are close to goal, and you are having days without losses, what are you doing to prove to yourself that the HCG is still working?

  • Have you taken measurements?
  • Have you taken pictures? (CANNOT STRESS HOW IMPORTANT PICTURES ARE!)
  • Do you have a pair of jeans a size or two smaller than when you started that particular round and try them on every day to see if it feels different?
Dr S was very clear that the HCG would stop working when there was no more fat to move. He never said that once the weight loss stops your done. He said, once your RAVENOUSLY HUNGRY the HCG had stopped consuming abnormal fat.

Please stop thinking of this as a "DIET" - it's a PROTOCOL - MEDICALLY PROVEN - it's not just to LOSE weight, it's to get rid of abnormal fat. Remember that, PLEASE???

Do not get attached to what ever number you think is your IDEAL weight. Let the HCG determine that number. After all, I don't mind being 150 lbs if I am in a size 8!!! Are you FREAKIN' KIDDING ME???

Nuff said...

On to my commenter's - these are my responses to yesterday's comments:
Shelly - HA! Baby got back! Too funny!

Mary - I made it, I made it!!! WOO HOO FOR ME!!!

Monica - I really did give it a shot to like Stevia, but I can't do it. I have tried all different brands, and both the liquid and the powder, and it is just ick. I don't like sweet and low either because of the bad stuff, but while I am on protocol, that is what I use - the sweetness most resembles sugar to me. Maintaining positives is the way to go, especially on this protocol!

Crystal - it sure is good to have you back!!!

Lili - you crack me up! HA! Have success at your show! Save some of that money for the YOU KNOW WHAT!!!
Have a good day people!

Biz

Friday, February 1, 2008

Playing Mental Catchup - 02.01.08 - D11P2R4

R4P2 Starting Weight 184.4
Yesterday - 170.6
Today - 170.0
0.6 lb LOSS Overnight
5.4 lb UNDER LIW of Round Three (175.4)
14.4 Lost Since Start of R4 (VLCD) 01/22/08
80.8 Total Lost Since Start of Protocol (VLCD) 06/26/07

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Here is my menu for yesterday. This is what I had:

So I lied, I stuck with the exact same thing to see if I could see another BIG loss! Coffee and Half and Half, apple and a half a grapefruit. Lunch was Ground Beef Patty with Lettuce Salad / Mustard Dressing. Dinner was a Creole Catfish. The only thing different is that I used Stevia to sweeten my mustard dressing rather than the regular Sweet and Low because I was out.

A total of around 460 calories divided this way: 11 Fat, 48 Carbs, 45 Protein

GO HERE AND SIGN UP FOR UPCOMING HCG NEWSLETTER!!! I actually have a date! Look for it on February 15th! WOO HOO!!!

Let's not forget the HCG BOOK CLUB - join in on the fun! If you haven't signed up for it yet, please do so now. eMail Address Form

Our FAQ Question this go round is the following, please spend some time if you can answering this survey:

Gonna leave it up for the weekend, and then switch it on Monday, in fact, I will continue to add a new question every week until they are done on Mondays! I think that works! Any others willing to approach this subject?

Foods on Phase 2 - Do Some Work Better Than Others?

Any Loss is a Good Loss!

It was a REALLY good run! I am not even at my two weeks on yet, and I am maintaining a very nice average, so I am thrilled! I was kinda hoping to see a 1"6"something, but that will just make when it does come that much more sweeter! Just for the sake of numbers, my average loss per day is 1.44 - and here are the other numbers we have been keeping track of:

Day 10 (Complete) - Round 4 = 7.81% Body Weight Loss
Day 10 (Complete) - Round 3 = 6.31% Body Weight Loss
Day 10 (Complete) - Round 2 = 5.78% Body Weight Loss
Day 10 (Complete) - Round 1 = 4.55% Body Weight Loss

Playing Mental Catchup

I think this week has been a bit too prolific for me to come up with yet another profound post. I scoured the internet this morning for something that would tickle the muse inside of me, and yet nothing was so much as making her smile.

All of a sudden, I was typing a response to a friend over at the HCG2 Yahoo Group, and it hit me! Yes, I could see in my minds eye the huge grin on my muses face!

There are times when I write I seem to be on a roll, and then suddenly, I can't think of a single thing to share. I liken it to how there will be a few days of losses on the protocol, and then suddenly it stops. No rhyme or reason, just dead in it's tracks. We didn't do anything different, just following the program, yet it stops. We all KNOW that it's just a day of playing catchup.

Well, today is my day to play mental catchup. Regroup, refocus, really digest all that has happened over the last week. And when I stopped to do that things really do become more clear.

I have had some thoughtful posts:

I have reached a couple of milestones:
  • Total loss from start of 80.8 pounds
  • Fitting into Size 14 Pants
  • I am no longer OBESE, only OVERWEIGHT
I have found a new support buddy:
I have come to really know better a few fellow bloggers that have really brightened my day - in fact, I have a "date" with one of them to Fly together this morning!

These things are nothing to sneeze at, they are all just really wonderful things that have transpired this week. Focusing on them is not a problem. Being able to sit back and ponder over all the things that have been good this week is a great reward for a job well done.

So this is what I am going to do, sit back and bask in the good of the week.

I have already listed the good that has happened this week in my life, why don't you spend a bit of time doing the same on your blog or forum journal or shoot me an email but make sure I know you have done the same.

Playing Mental Catchup is a good thing.

On to my commenter's - these are my responses to yesterday's comments:
Lili - If you do go to FlyLady, do not get overwhelmed by the emails, they can be prolific. Just learn the principles. The biggest thing I have gotten out of her philosophy is that anyone can do anything for just 15 minutes. I plan my days like that. Especially with stuff I don't like to do. Yeah, 80 lbs is pretty amazing!!!

Mary - Thanks girl! My 'feeding' times are usually coffee throughout the morning (around 3 - 4 cups) and then I eat my fruit with my lunch around 12pm - 1pm, try to eat my fruit as a snack between 3pm and 4pm, and then I try to concentrate on dinner around 6pm. I know for me if I eat any later than 7pm, things just don't work right overnight. Slower losses or maybe even none. I am sure it has something to do with the whole digestion issue.

Jenn - HA! My husband always says "It's All Gooooood" - HA! Maybe they are more alike then we think eh??? Girl? I can't even go into here what I think of you, I would get all mushy gushy and that just wouldn't be right. ROFL

Wendy - MY CYBER SISTER - sorry to make you cry, I had my share that day, people NEED to join me!!! You girl are MY inspiration. I have done nothing but follow your skirt tails ever since we started, I am like, I wanna be Wendy when I grow up, you fine thing you!!!

Shelly - HA! I absolutely REFUSE to go into a store yet to buy clothes. Thank goodness I am bigger than JPS and she hands me down her stuff!!! And my sister too, bless their hearts! But isn't it nice to look??? And just KNOW you will be able to do it soon???

Regina - We have a date now, don't stand me up! I am wanting to FLY today!!! WOO HOO FOR US! And thank YOU for being who you are! I can't wait to meet you AND Stacey! WOO HOO FOR ALL OF US - shhhh, don't say that too loud Jenn will get all jealous...

Becca - oh shoot, I thought I was all cried out! Look at you bringing the flood gates again! Girl, it's so awesome to see all of us making this journey with SUCCESS!!! I am SO VERY THANKFUL for all of you out there - our community is positively the mostest!!!
Good day, eh!

Biz

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