New World, New Possibilities

Happy Trails

2008-04-26T09:49:00.004-04:00

Friends,

It's been a remarkable journey!

Just five months ago, I was obese, in medical trouble, and looking at bad options all the way around. It seemed like the final 20 years of my life were to be consumed with a downward spiral of bad health and bad outcomes.

Now, 45 pounds lighter, things are much different. Gone are the worries about high blood pressure, deteriorating joints, and multiple prescriptions. I'm healthier, happier, and have many more options than I did just a few months ago.

Did the protocol work? Oh, yes, it did! I've lost inches and pounds, and feel so much better. I'm more active than I have been in years, and look forward to getting in even better shape.

There are many people to thank for this blessing, and you, dear reader, are at the top of my list. You've encouraged, counseled, and been there for me through the bad times and the good times. We've shared victories and frustrations, challenges and rewards. You have been a friend and guide. I can never thank you enough.

Now, as my emphasis changes from losing weight to keeping it off and getting back in shape, I find it's time to move on. The horizon is further away than ever, and daily measurements and reporting, although important, are now less pressing than the long-term goals I have in mind. In short, there is less to report on a daily basis, and therefore less need to write of these daily events.

So, my blog comes to a conclusion with this post. It's been a wonderful experience, made even better by taking it with a group of friends like you. I simply don't have the words to express my gratitude to each of you for the gifts you have given me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and wish you continued success on your journey!

Marshall

R3 Phase 3 Day 3

2008-04-12T08:52:00.003-04:00

Feeling Polluted

Well, yesterday I dumped a bunch of things into my body that it just did NOT want in there, and I'm sure feeling it.

Let's see...sugar, preservatives, fats, all sorts of things it hasn't had for a while. And this morning I'm up almost two pounds and feeling like crap.

Oh, well, back to reality...I'll focus on healthier eating today and drop a lot of that water overnight.

It never ceases to amaze me how my body responds to these bad food choices, and how the way I feel now was normal not very long ago. I do NOT want to feel this way day in and day out like I used to. So, obviously, I'm going to have to be more careful what I put into the system.

Overall, the first three days of P3 have been a bit disappointing, in that the things that I thought I would delight in (desserts) have been a resounding dud...I much prefer having a cold, crisp apple or a juicy, sweet orange. Even after I've had 3 or 4 cookies, I'm still longing for a fruit. How much of that is newly-built habit and how much is an actual preference for healthy food I cannot say, but the foods that used to please me before no longer do.

And that's a very good thing, since it was those foods that got me into trouble in the first place.

The ultimate test of this theory will start on Monday in Las Vegas, as each day will be spent eating at an all-you-can-eat buffet...and those of you who have been to Vegas know what kinds of food are available there! Staying plus-or-minus two pounds is going to be virtually impossible, but if I make fairly good choices I should not be too out of control by the time I get back. We shall see...

Off to mow the lawn...which is now 6" high due to a week of rain. Have a great Saturday!

R3 Phase 3 Day 1

2008-04-10T08:00:00.003-04:00

A surprise, a shock and a treat

Something weird happened last night. Usually, when I'm on Phase 2, I'm cold all the time in bed...just can't seem to get warm and stay warm. Last night, suddenly, I got WARM. And hungry! Very strange.

This morning, I woke up very hungry. I weighed myself and discovered I had lost 1.6 pounds overnight! Very, very weird.

Now, I'm indulging in a real treat: for the first time in weeks, I'm eating breakfast, and it is a good feeling!

So, Phase 3 begins with a nice weight loss putting me 1.6 below LIW--a great place to start.

My thanks to Becca and Biz for the encouraging words yesterday. I'll keep posting as I go through P3.

Have a good day!

R3 VLCD Day 32

2008-04-09T08:14:00.002-04:00

Let the Cheating Begin

...well, sort of. As the level of HcG goes down, I find that I'm hungrier than normal and the desires for FOOD become that much stronger. I indulged last night with extra carbs in the form of cantaloupe and Triscuits...probably an extra 300-400 calories' worth.

Fortunately, my weight was unchanged this morning, which was a pleasant surprise.

I'll probably do the same today, aiming for about 900 calories, and then up to 1200 calories tomorrow before starting P3.

On to my commenters:

Becca, thanks so much for your kind words yesterday. Yes, P3/P4 can be a challenge. I remember reading other people's messages on the HCG2 message board as they struggled to find the proper balance and maintain their weight. My plan is to increase physical activity to the point that I can pretty much eat anything and not gain weight. Spring and early summer are the perfect time to begin a physical program, and food choices are much better as well: lots of healthy produce at reasonable prices (well, we'll see about that).

If you read this blog, and want me to continue posting, please let me know. I enjoy writing and talking with each one of you, but will only continue if it makes sense for all of us and it brings value to your day.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

R3 VLCD Day 31

2008-04-08T07:54:00.004-04:00

That's It, I'm Done

I threw away the last of my HcG this morning. No big deal, there were only one or two doses left, but I'm done for this round. Three days of VLCD left, and then on to Phase 3 Friday morning.

My LIW will be my present weight, 181.4, which is five pounds above where I wanted to finish, but that's life, right? Only a ten-pound loss for this round of 30 days...not a good average, but I'll take it!

This really has been a difficult round. I found myself much, much hungrier than any other round I've done. I had good progress and momentum in the beginning, but I just wasn't able to keep myself strictly on protocol after the first two weeks, and once the cheating begins, well, that's pretty much it. I've just been fooling myself over the last week, although I have been blessed with a reduction in waist size, if not a weight loss.

Anyway, that's that, it's in the past, and I'm moving on.

I'm really looking forward to getting back to normal foods, getting my digestive system going and regular again, and resuming exercising. The emphasis in the next few months will be on rebuilding this body and getting fit. It will be a welcome change of pace.

So, on to new things and another chapter! Wooohooo!

BizAdventure asks:

So what does that mean for us? Are you gonna keep us updated with your maintenance?

Answer: That's up to you, my readers. If you wish, I'll continue posting and updating the blog through P3 and onto P4. If there is no interest, I'll either take a break until the next round, or wish everyone well and move on. Your call!

R3 VLCD Day 30

2008-04-07T09:55:00.002-04:00

Brief Update

Into work early this morning, so this will be a quick update. I gained 1.4 pounds overnight, due to a heavy workout in the back yard yesterday, along with extra fruit and protein---I just needed the extra food to keep my energy up for the four hours of work.

I checked my measurements this morning, and they are pretty much static, except the waist measurement, which continues to go down despite the weight gain. I'm hoping the weight gain resolves over the next few days, before I end this round on Friday or Saturday.

And I will end this round, not go on. Despite the hopes to continue after the trip to Vegas, I'm realizing that I just don't have the energy and drive to continue. I need a break, so I'll start P3 this weekend, and hope not to gain too much during the stay in Vegas. After I return, I'll concentrate on maintaining and building muscle for the next few weeks before deciding whether to try another round.

At least that's the way it looks this morning.

Have a good day, folks!

R3 VLCD Day 29

2008-04-06T09:09:00.004-04:00

That Wile E. Coyote Feeling...

No loss again today. That's an entire week now, during which my lovely wife has lost 8 pounds. Can I say.....GRRRRR?!?

Well, either my body is trying to tell me this is the destination or it will suddenly break with a big loss. Time will tell. I've lost another half-inch on my waist, which is good.

I've only got two or three injections left on my HcG, so everything will be coming to an end by Friday anyway, and then it's off to Vegas next week on a business trip. I shudder to think how much weight I will gain while in Vegas, given the type of eating I'll be doing--business dinners, all-you-can-eat buffets, lots and lots of sodium and fat. Who knows, maybe I will maintain, you never know.

Have a super Sunday!

R3 VLCD Day 28

2008-04-05T07:22:00.004-04:00

Vanishing Point

Well, my goal of 176 by the end of next week seems to be getting farther and farther away. Indeed, it now seems impossible.

Yesterday was a tough day--13 hours straight, with only one meal. By hour twelve, I was feeling faint, and had to resort to 'pulling the emergency cord'--eating a small packet of sugar because that's all I had. It worked, giving me another hour until the job was done. I called my loving wife, and she had a warm meal waiting for me when I walked in the door, desperate for food at 9:45pm. Surely, I thought, I'll show a major loss this morning.

Err...not so much.

Something different is definitely going on at this point. Weight loss has slowed to a crawl--less than one pound this week--but I'm still losing inches. How long will this continue? Will I hit a wall somewhere where my body basically says, "This far and no further"? Or is it just another plateau that will eventually break, leading to another period of normal losses?

This upcoming week should tell the tale.

R3 VLCD Day 27

2008-04-04T07:04:00.012-04:00

Wish I'd Thought Of That...

The really beautiful thing about the internet is the ability to share knowledge and wisdom, regardless of who you are or where you live. Case in point: my rant yesterday on not seeing the scale go down fast enough.

Today was another one of those days. No loss at all. I've lost only a half pound since last Saturday, six days ago. Frustration!!

Enter two women of wisdom, Biz and Becca.

Becca wrote:

...I would be thrilled in the latter part of my round to get those [small] daily losses...for most of us that would be a happy occurrence...

Biz wrote:

You know through research that the last days of the protocol will be the hardest, that weight might not be lost, but inches continue to disappear. Quickly I might add. Have you actually done some measurements, not just to see if your clothes fit better, but actually taken out the tape measure and measured those thighs, that waist, the biceps, anything that might give you a glimmer of hope that although the scale may not move the way you want it to, that indeed, your faith is not unfounded.

Could it be true? Oh, yes!

The tape measure tells the story (measurements in cm):

_______Weight__Neck__Chest__Waist__Abdomen__Thigh__Knee__Ankle
Day 20: 182.2___40.0__102.5___97.5___103.5____58.5___40.5___23.0
Day 27 : 180.2__ 40.0__100.0___95.0___102.0____58.0___40.0___23.0
1-wk loss:__2.0_____0____2.5____2.5_____1.5_____0.5___0.5______0

So, as you can see, despite only losing 2 pounds in one week, I've lost a full inch on the chest and waist, a half-inch on the abdomen, and small losses on the thigh and knee.

I would never have known the change in late-round losses if I had not had the benefit of the wisdom of my friends. I would have continued to go crazy, willing that *&^* scale to go down, oblivious to the changes taking place in my body.

Thanks to all of you who read and post comments on this blog...I am indebted to you each day for your kindness, humor and wisdom!

R2 VLCD Day 26

2008-04-03T07:52:00.005-04:00

Why Do We Care?

[Danger: philosophical rant ahead]

BizAdventure wrote:

Why are we all so set on the number on the scale?

Why, indeed?

Because it's quantifiable: it's something that's concrete, measurable, and true. It's useful for comparison between where you were, where you are, and where you want to be. It's scientific and it works.

But the real question is, why do we allow it to rule our minds and emotions more than other factors?

And here we go into the realm of psychology, where nothing really works in straight lines, where causes do not produce effects in a linear fashion. It's a lot like chess. Some pieces move directly, but others move in a more indirect path, like the Knight--to move forward, it must move to the side as well.

I want to feel better about myself. I can't do that directly, so I attack the causes of my feelings--I'm fat and out of shape, and I look bad to myself and others. So I need to get rid of the fat, get fitter, and maybe then I will look better and feel better. I can't just cut the fat off, so I need another indirect approach--eat less and do more. I do that, but how do I know if it's having a result?

We're remarkably adaptable as a species, and we have the ability to quickly adjust to changing reality, making almost anything "normal" within a few hours or days. We just don't have the ability to notice and hold on to small incremental changes. So we look for something that's quantifiable, something we can observe that tells us in detail what has changed. Enter the weight scale.

Could we do the same with pictures, measurements, and other methods? Of course, but those are imprecise and only show large changes. Nothing else matches the precision of the scale for small changes.

And there's the rub: what happens when you do the right thing, and the scale does not cooperate? Then, the beauty of measurement turns into a curse, and we feel like the laws of the universe are conspiring against us. Emotions turn ugly, the mind clouds, and the day is cold and gray.

Of course, we know that weight is just a combination of unseeable factors: water balance, time of month, metabolic changes and body composition. Fat loss is only one factor of many...but the number is real, concrete, and insistent. It does not lie.

Now, even the thing I depended on to tell me the truth (how much fat have I lost) cannot be trusted. It, too, does not tell the whole truth. So, how do I know what's real? My emotions and my mind demand an answer, and there is none readily available...only a trend, and imperfect, incomplete answers. The tools available only work indirectly, partially. We are not satisfied.

So, in the end, we must have faith that it works. We have some signs: looser clothing, the scale trends down, we feel and look better. But...the number on the scale is insistent, real. It's hard to argue with a number, even on a good day. And therein lies its power.

We can argue with others, we can argue with ourselves. But we cannot argue with a number. It just is, and we must deal with it on its own terms.

[rant concluded]

Have a terrific Thursday!

R3 VLCD Day 25

2008-04-02T08:00:00.003-04:00

Waiting For The Tide

It's been three days with little movement, and I'm growing impatient. Each time I come closer to my goal, it seems to slip away again. Only five pounds remain, and yet it seems like fifty.

This has been the most frustrating round so far: I've had four multi-day stalls during the last 25 days--a new record for me.

That being said, however, there are definite changes going on with my body composition, and although I'm not losing a lot of inches, things are definitely moving around. I can see changes in various areas; slight changes, but changes none the less. Perhaps this is a period of rearrangement...who knows?

Ten days left, and 4.8 pounds to go: is it doable? I'm certainly going to try!

R3 VLCD Day 24

2008-04-01T07:54:00.002-04:00

Gone Wingnut

...apparently.

Up again today, for the third day. Grrrr. And this is a serious deviation from flightpath, as you can see in the graph below. Not good.

It all began at Sam's Club on Saturday when I just had to sample a few of the goodies they were handing out. Nothing crazy, mind you, just a little of this and a little of that. I'd been craving food for the last few days, and I figured one little splurge wouldn't hurt me.

Ha. Of course it would.

So, the cravings have continued, getting pretty bad at points, and I've been overeating for the last three days. I'm peeing like crazy, but still gaining weight. Something's up, obviously.

Back on protocol today, and hopefully I'll see progress tomorrow.

R3 VLCD Day 23

2008-03-31T09:40:00.002-04:00

A Change of Perspective

As I've lost weight, I've enjoyed getting into smaller clothes, feeling better physically, and shedding some troubling medical issues that did not bode well for the future. It's been very gratifying, and I've received lots of very nice comments from people who have noticed the changes. This weekend, however, my thinking shifted suddenly to a entirely new goal: that of optimizing my body shape.

It's been coming for a few weeks, as those of you who ready my blog know. My body shape has really not changed that much, there's just a lot less of it. Now, as I look more closely, I notice the lumps, bumps and bulges are still there, even at a loss of 45 pounds. Suddenly, all the dissatisfaction with being obese has shifted to the new target: getting rid of the fat. All of it. I want it gone.

Of course, I know there is a limit as to what can be done. Genetically, I'm not going to change beyond what my body is designed to do, but I want to be the best me that I can be, body-wise. I know my body will push back when it no longer wants to shed any more fat, and I will heed and obey that signal.

For now, though, the decision is to keep pressing on. I have a trip to Las Vegas coming up in two weeks, and rather than treat that as the end of my round, and indeed, the end of my weight loss, I will consider it a five-day "planned interruption" and then get right back on protocol when I return.

At least, that's the thinking right now. Let's see how I feel in two weeks when the decision really needs to be made! Will diet fatigue set in, or will there be enough energy and will available to press on?

Have a great Monday!

R2 VLCD Day 22

2008-03-30T08:55:00.002-04:00

All Is Right With The World...

...well, at least in my little corner of it, anyway.

My wife is back, I'm back on track on the protocol, and it's the weekend, so it's a good day no matter how you look at it, even if it is cold, windy and rainy.

Nothing new to report on the weight loss front, so this will be a short post. I'm really looking forward to getting out of the 180s and down into the 170s. I've got two boxes of clothes waiting on the floor to try on when I get to my goal---a whole new wardrobe that hasn't seen the light of day for many years. It's really weird to get into one size of clothing, get it all set up in the closet, use it for two weeks, then notice that they're just not fitting well anymore, and you'll need to go down another size soon. What a happy dilemma!

Anyway, have a super Sunday and see you tomorrow!

R3 VLCD Day 21

2008-03-29T08:45:00.005-04:00

On The Road Again

It's good to be losing again after two five-day stalls this round. I can't tell you how I am looking forward to seeing the 170s! With two weeks left, I think I can make it to my goal of 176, which will make me quite happy.

The question then becomes, stop there and build muscle or push for the last 15 pounds? I've still got quite a bit of fat on my body, even at this weight level. I'd love to see it all gone before I start rebuilding, but that may not be practical, as I would probably need to go below 160 to do so, and that's really low for someone 6'1" tall.

And yet...I really, really want the fat gone, and this solution works! I know plenty of people who are quite muscular, but still carrying areas of fat that they just can't seem to work off no matter how hard they try. This protocol is the only way I have truly been able to take the fat off. I guess I'll know what to do when the round ends, and I have a chance to get used to the new weight level.

My wife comes in this evening, and I'm really looking forward to having her back home! It will be so good to be back together again!

Have a great weekend!

R3 VLCD Day 20

2008-03-28T07:53:00.003-04:00

Spring is here...yay!

At 6:30am it's already 68 degrees outside, on its way to 80 this afternoon. The flowering trees (Bradford Pears) and bushes (forsythia) are coming into full bloom and leaves are beginning to show on some trees. The grass has already grown about 2" and there are even mosquitoes flying around. Spring has arrived!

It never ceases to amaze me how decisively Nature snaps from winter into spring each year. The colors, textures and activity are just amazing. It'll be great until the pollen kicks in about two weeks from now, followed by suffocating humidity in about 8 weeks, searing heat in 12 weeks, followed by hurricanes in 16 weeks...and then fall arrives and things get really nice again. Welcome to the coastal mid-Atlantic. For now, though, it's just plain beautiful outside.

My wife called this morning from New England to tell me they've already got 2 inches of snow on the ground, and 4 inches more coming today. She is so ready to get back home tomorrow, and it will be good to have her back. She's only gained three pounds this week, so it should not be too difficult to get back on track.

After a thorough cleansing last night, I'm feeling much better and the numbers are looking better too. I've got two weeks left in this round, and we'll be doing some grocery shopping this weekend to make sure we have plenty of the correct foods to finish the round correctly, and hopefully make our goals. Come on, 170s!

Thanks to each of you for your generous and funny comments over the last few days--it's a real treat to hear from each of you!

Have a great day!

R3 VLCD Day 19

2008-03-27T07:29:00.003-04:00

Exasperation

Somehow I have managed to create a diet that allows you to eat 500-700 calories daily and still gain weight. Eureka!

This is no 'flash in the pan', mind you. I've been able to do this for five days now, so the success of this approach is repeatable and well documented.

To find out how to do this, just send $29.95 to the following address. If you order now, I'll throw in two special reports: "How To Slowly Lose Your Mind" and "How To Hate Your Body." That's right, you get this incredible weight-gaining diet plus these two special reports for only $29.95! Order now!

See you tomorrow...

R3 VLCD Day 18

2008-03-26T07:28:00.004-04:00

Kayaking...and cheating

Last night, I took my kayak out for a 2-hour paddle on the local river (large expanse of mud covered by 2.5 inches of water) and had a blast. It took me about an hour to find a place to get the boat to the water, as there are no public boat ramps near here (all private homes) but I finally found a spot and actually got out there. It was great!

The trouble began when I got back late, cold and wet, and needed supper in a hurry. I ate on protocol, but still found myself hungry. Well, I probably burned up a couple hundred calories, so some extra carbs couldn't hurt, could they? If I had stopped there, I would have been all right; but, no...

After dinner, I was just about to turn off the TV, but there on the screen was the Devil Incarnate: Bobby Flay on the Food Network showing off his Chocolate Angel Food Cheesecake. The slice had to be 7 inches high, and about 6 inches wide, and was being taste-tested by several people, positively gushing about how creamy, smooth and decadent it was.

A minor explosion went off in my head, and my will was incapacitated for about 20 minutes. I had to have something now. I pulled out about 3/4 cup of cottage cheese from the refrigerator, added Splenda and a drop of vanilla, and consumed with glee. It satisfied my cravings, but I knew I had sinned. I retreated in shame and guilt to bed...and awoke this morning to a weight gain rather than a loss.

I think this is the first time I have actually, willingly cheated in three rounds of the protocol. I don't know what to make of it.

Temporary insanity, your honor?

R3 VLCD Day 17

2008-03-25T07:32:00.003-04:00

Mental Difficulties

Becca made an apt comment yesterday:

I wonder why you're having trouble sticking to the plan. Are you feeling more hungry than usual?

Why, indeed, am I having trouble sticking to the plan?

Good question, and I think the answer lies in the brain and the heart, not the body. First, my wife is away on travel, and I've been alone for the last four days. She and I do not travel apart much, but when we do, it can be difficult for both of us. We've been married for almost 30 years now, and when one of us is absent, it's hard to take. I have keenly felt her absence since Friday, and I think that is impacting my ability to stay on protocol--I feel depressed and lonely (and bored), so I eat more than I should.

Note that this is the same behaviour that got me in trouble to begin with--eating for emotional reasons. This is not good. Granted, it's not eating a half gallon of ice cream, but it's still emotional eating. Obviously, I still have work to do.

Second, I'm having self-image problems. I don't know the person looking back at me in the mirror. Yes, I know it's me, but it's a different me, and I'm not yet comfortable with that. It's taking much longer than I thought to get used to the smaller me, and I'm surprised how difficult this is to get hold of emotionally and mentally.

Finally, I'm under a lot of stress at work (who isn't these days?) and that seems to come home with me and add to the emotional impact of the previous two factors.

So, last night, I went out and sought an antidote. No, not that, silly. I bought a kayak!

I've been wanting one for years, and searching for one for the last few months. I saw a little one (9.5 feet, just big enough to float) for $175 and decided to get it and have fun while I continue my search for a real sea kayak.

I can't wait to get back out on the water, where I feel free and one with nature. Surely, that will be a better remedy for my problems than eating!

R3 VLCD Day 16

2008-03-24T07:32:00.003-04:00

Going Nowhere, Rapidly

It's my own fault---I haven't been sticking very closely to the protocol the last two days. I haven't been eating bad things, just too much of the good things! An extra fruit here, and extra carbs there. Result: no losses the last two days. Ah, well, this too shall pass. Today will be better.

Got to go into work early today, so this will be a short post. Have a great day!

R3 VLCD Day 14

2008-03-22T09:12:00.003-04:00

Up and Down and...

Well, this round is proving to be quite a ride, as I move up and down by some pretty large amounts...up 1lb yesterday, down 2.2lb today. No doubt a large portion of those moves are water, but last night I felt cold and just could not warm up, despite wearing sweats and lots of blankets. Obviously, something is at work in my body.

This is getting interesting psychologically as well. The number on the scale this morning (183) provoked an interesting response---gratification mixed with unease. Gratification because I'm halfway to my goal, and unease because I'm now in uncharted waters...I haven't been in this weight range for more than 20 years. I don't know where the next set point is (it should be around 175 theoretically) but I feel adrift, not knowing with certainty where the next point of stability is. It's a bit like leaving the last, furthest-flung safe harbor, and setting out over the horizon with the expectation there will be another harbor somewhere in about two weeks' sailing time. You don't know where it is, what it's called, or what it will be like when you land there, but you know it must be there somewhere.

I must admit there is an element of fear here. Who am I turning into? People are reacting differently to me, and now I'm reacting differently to myself as well. I didn't anticipate this when I began this voyage...

Onward!

Have a great weekend!

R3 VLCD Day 13

2008-03-21T08:15:00.003-04:00

Oink!

I knew it as soon as I finished---I had just made a HUGE mistake.

I decided to have scrambled eggs last night for dinner. No problem there, it's an acceptable protein once in a while. Where I went wrong was....bacon!

Yes, bacon. I added bacon bits to the eggs. And not just a little, but about 1/4 cup of them.

Evil little bits, they were loaded with sodium and this morning I'm paying the penalty--up one full pound. Yikes!

Just got to keep thinking, "it's only water, it's only water, it's only water"!

Sigh. See you tomorrow.

R3 VLCD Day 12

2008-03-20T10:50:00.001-04:00

Grrrr...No Loss Today

Ok, I'll admit it, I'm spoiled. After a 2.5lb loss over the last two days, I wanted more.

Not to be. Oh, well, it's just one day. Back on the road again tomorrow.

Have a good day!

R3 VLCD Day 11

2008-03-19T08:16:00.004-04:00

Where did that come from?

I was shocked this morning to see a 1.4lb loss. I mean, I expected nothing as I had had a 1.2lb loss just yesterday. That's almost three pounds in two days!

I'm just going to savor the moment, as I know it won't last, but it sure is nice...

People at work are starting to ask serious questions now about the protocol, but no one has yet decided to take the plunge.

It's also interesting to note that some people are reacting differently to me now that I have lost weight. Not better or worse, just...different. I'm even beginning to notice how overweight so many people are, where I had never noticed it before, since I looked exactly the same. I guess my self-perception is changing. This is really, really weird...

My wife is still struggling a bit, having lost her momentum and had a couple of weeks of up-and-down covering the same ground over and over. She will be on vacation for a week, and then will probably go back to the clinic for a month to get back on track.

I'll be finishing this round in three weeks. I still can't believe it. I want to get as much fat off my body as I possibly can, as I know this is my best opportunity to do so. Then the goal becomes getting back in shape, adding strength and flexibility.

What a ride this has been!

Have a great day!

R3 VLCD Day 10

2008-03-18T08:11:00.005-04:00

Yes! Forty pounds lost!

Wheeeeee! What a great way to start the day!

After a four-day stall, it's good to be back on the road again. I knew something was up last night, and the scale confirmed it this morning--40 pounds from where I started late last year. It took longer than it should have, but I'm so very glad to be here.

What a difference the 40 pounds have made:

Hypertension (160/105)--gone! BP is now 115/78 routinely.
Out of breath while exercising--gone! No problem taking the stairs now.
Leg and ankle pain when walking--gone! Able to walk up to 6 miles now.
Limited clothing choices--no more! Now three sizes down, able to wear just about anything.
Muffin top (hanging over belt)--gone! Actually have a waist, and getting better all the time.

Overall, I'm feeling and looking better than I have in years. Sunshine and rainbows, indeed!

Have a great day!

R3 VLCD Day 9

2008-03-17T08:00:00.003-04:00

Stuck in the Mud....Day 4

Well, it's now day 4 of a classic set-point stall.

I knew there would be some amount of time to be paid at this classic set-point but, whoa Nellie, this is ridiculous! Four days at exactly the same weight, 187.4. The body really does have a memory.

This should be the last day, though, and then it's off to the races again.

I'm now solidly into 38s, and happy to put more clothes away into storage, and yet...I'm itching to get lower. My basic body shape has not really changed, there's just less of it. I know I'll need to get much lower to see the kind of changes I want.

The good news is that it's just a matter of time until that happens. Stay on protocol, and it will happen. Patience...

Thanks to Monica, "maybejustme", and Jennifer for the kind comments--it's great to be on this journey with you.

Enjoy the day!

R3 VLCD Day 6

2008-03-14T08:23:00.004-04:00

Just what I needed...

I'm doing quite well on this round, but found myself complaining to my wife yesterday that I'm already tired of the limited foods on the protocol, and losing steam mentally. This morning, I'm depressed that it's another day without eating anything until noon, feeling low and tired.

If you've ever felt the same way, you need to go look at the 'before and after" pictures here:

http://www.acouplesjourneywithhcg.blogspot.com/

Now that's why we do this! I can't think of a more perfect example of why we expend all this time and energy to lose weight. Wow!

Special thanks to 'Anonymous' for pointing out the obvious solution to the injection issue--sublingual use of HcG. Thanks!

R3 VLCD Day 5

2008-03-13T08:04:00.003-04:00

Being Noticed

OK, I knew this was going to happen, but I'm finding it difficult to deal with.

Yesterday, five people in my workplace separately asked me how I was losing weight and wanted more information.

All I've been saying so far is that I'm on a 500-calorie diet, which is true, but I've been leaving out the part about using an off-use hormone and the self-administered injections. This is not the type of information one wants getting around the workplace!

I told two people who I can trust to keep it to themselves, but this is going to be a problem. Yesterday, I walked into a manager's meeting with my VP and seven other people, and the first item on the agenda was, "So, how much have you lost so far, and how are you doing it?" Yikes!

So, the question is: how have you been sharing the protocol with others? Do you tell them about the injections? If so, how do you broach the subject? Do you keep it out of the workplace?

Inquiring minds want to know...

R3 VLCD Day 4

2008-03-12T07:54:00.004-04:00

I'm...Normal?!?

Yes, Virginia, I am...according to my BMI. At 24.9, I now fall inside the "normal" weight range for a 6'1" man. Anyone who knows me, however, will tell you that I am definitely not normal...at least mentally :)

This is certainly a strange turn of events, and I'm having trouble getting my head around it every morning as I step on the scale. I'm no longer obese or even overweight. How abnormal!

I did overdo it last night on proteins and carbs. My wife made a nice meat and tomato sauce combination that I just had to sample...several times. And then there was the extra half orange and crackers before bed, so my weight loss was less than usual today. The headaches are gone, though, and I'm starting to get back in the VLCD 'groove' again. Now, if I can only remember to take my HcG shot every morning! It's too bad this protocol does nothing for your short-term memory...

Anyway, have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

R3 VLCD Day 3

2008-03-11T07:57:00.005-04:00

Oh Yeah, I Forgot About That...

Eeek! Headaches! I had forgotten about the the first few days of VLCD and the headaches they can bring.

Yesterday's was a doozy, lasting about 18 hours, even while asleep last night. Revenge of the Girl Scout cookies, I guess...

Hunger was an issue yesterday, too, as the HcG is just settling in, and I really didn't bring enough food to work to keep my tummy happy. Today, I'll bring extra celery and tomatoes for a mid-afternoon snack.

Nice loss this morning, though---2 pounds! Wow! It was great to wake up and see another decade on the scale---one I have not seen for many, many years. Actually, I think the last time I was in the 180s was when I was first married, about 25 years ago.

I've been looking for a used kayak to get out on the water, and since the ocean is so cold this time of year, I need a wetsuit. Now, the idea of getting a wetsuit when you're overweight or obese is a horror in itself, but I think I might actually look OK in one now. We shall see...I'll either feel pleased, horrified, or bust out laughing at the sight in the mirror!

My wife is still doing well, down another 0.8lb this morning, and looking forward to the 50-pound mark in the next two months. She's lost a total of 37 pounds so far.

It's a beautiful, sunny morning here in the Mid-Atlantic. The bulbs are flowering, and some of the early trees have started to flower as well. The grass is starting to grow again, and spring is in the air. It's a great time to be losing weight!

Have a great day!

R3 VLCD Day 2

2008-03-10T08:07:00.003-04:00

Going Down...

Ah, yes, it's good to see the numbers going down on the scale again. Not much today, but the direction is the most important part---down!

I've got added motivation this morning because my wife has not only caught up to me weight-loss-wise, but surpassed me: she's at 36 pounds to my 35. This simply will not do! (Yes, I am a bit competitive...)

So, today, it's back to the straight and narrow, no Girl Scout cookies for me! Hopefully, if I can do this right, I'll lose more than my usual 0.5 pounds per day and make my goal of 15-20 pounds for this final round. We'll see...

Have a marvelous Monday!

R3 VLCD Day 1

2008-03-09T10:08:00.003-04:00

And So It Begins...

It was strange, yet pleasing, to type in "VLCD Day 1" a moment ago. I am SO ready for this round. This is the one. This is where all the big changes are going to happen. This is where I change the way I look and regain a big part of my youth and energy. I'm psyched!

The last three days have been consumed with loading and trying to figure out what the heck is going on with my body. Help me out here: how can a person eat an entire box of Samoas (Girl Scout cookies) before going to bed (1200 calories) and still lose weight the next morning? After eating extra food all day, including toast with real butter, high-fat beef hamburgers, and peanut butter & jelly? It blows my mind to think I ate all this and still lost weight!

And, to top it off, I'm beginning this round at a great starting point---0.6 pounds below my LIW. Yes!!!

So, a new day and a new round begins---off to the races!

Have a super Sunday!

R3, Load Day 2

2008-03-07T07:54:00.004-05:00

Well, that's interesting...

For the longest time, I've been eating according to the protocol---you know, clean proteins, vegetables and fruits, with an occasional visit to the 'dark side' during Phase 3.

Yesterday, for loading, I decided to just eat "normally". I had a Chick-Fil-A chicken nuggets combo with fries and a Diet Coke, followed later that afternoon by a bag of peanut M&Ms. Last night, I had a can of Healthy Choice Chicken Rice soup, with Triscuits and PB&J for an evening snack.

No vegetables, no water, and no fruit all day. And, whoa Nellie, could I tell the difference.

Immediately after eating lunch, I started feeling depressed. Really! Maybe that was the reason for getting the M&Ms. After that, I really started feeling poorly, both agitated from the caffeine and sugar, and even more depressed that I was feeling that way. So, for supper I thought I would have soup, as it would be a lighter choice. No help there at all. I felt that I was pouring Death into my body.

This morning, I feel bloated, sluggish, and not myself. I do not look forward to two more days of this.

Actually, when you think about it, this is a great sign! When I was obese, I would have these feelings all the time, and try to 'fix' it with more junk food; but now, the fact that I could tell the difference after one meal tells me things have changed in my mind and body. Not only have I changed on the outside, I've changed on the inside!

So, good changes are afoot, and I'm looking forward to seeing the weight go down while I eat healthy, clean food again. Come on, Phase 2!

Have a fantastic Friday!

R3, Load Day 1

2008-03-06T10:25:00.003-05:00

Loading Day 1.....wheeeeeeee!

Well, this is interesting. I've been so careful to keep my weight stable over the last three weeks, I find myself struggling to get my head around the fact that I need to eat LOTS for the next three days. Now, THAT'S a change!

Mixing the HcG this morning was also weird; no matter how many times I go over the math, I still get nervous about it---am I doing this correctly? Don't make a mistake, this is the last vial! Eeeek!

All in all, though, I am glad to be starting another round. I'm looking forward to the changes another 15-20 pounds will bring.

My wife has now pulled even with me in weight loss, so we will be racing a bit for the next 4-6 weeks. She has decided to go back to the clinic to resume her B12/B6 injections in April, both for the accountability of weighing in three times a week, as well as determining if there is a real difference between the effectiveness of the injections vs. oral vitamins. I'm kinda curious myself. I still don't know how she does it without the HcG---I'd be going crazy. Well, more crazy....

Anyway, have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

R2 Phase 3, Day 21

2008-03-05T09:36:00.004-05:00

El Finito

Well, today is the last day of Phase 3 for me. It's been a good experience, much better than the last attempt at this. I've managed to keep my weight in the 'zone' and I'm ready to start a new round and lose more weight!

My heartfelt thanks to each of you for your encouragement and guidance during this period. It's good to be starting out right where I should be.

Tomorrow, I'll be starting my HcG injections again, and doing a bit of loading for three days. My goal is to stay under LIW+2 (194 lb) even with the loading.

My neighbor across the street still has 146 cases of Girl Scout cookies she hasn't distributed yet...maybe I should go over and say hello! Samoas, anyone?

Have a great day!

R2 Phase 3, Day 20

2008-03-04T08:30:00.003-05:00

Two Days To Go

Two more days on Phase 3, then it's back in the saddle for the final round.

I can hear the announcer in my head, with the reverb at full blast, going..."Thursday! Thursday!! Racing begins Thursday!!!" Sheesh...so melodramatic.

The timing couldn't be better, however, as my wife is beginning to get tired of the diet, and needs the support I can give by being on the diet with her. She's done so well, but I think seeing me eat so much more than her over the last few weeks has had a slow, but measurable impact on her determination to continue, especially with the plateau she had last week. So having everything back to 500 calories should help.

Gotta get to work, so see you tomorrow...have a terrific Tuesday!

R2 Phase 3, Day 19

2008-03-03T08:12:00.002-05:00

Right Back To LIW...Exactly!

Ha! Despite eating an entire box of Girl Scout cookies yesterday (I know, I know) I still managed to lose another 0.6 pounds to come exactly back to LIW. Sometimes it just works despite your best efforts to screw things up. I'll just have to remember this when I do everything right, and don't lose anything...

Two more days of Phase 3, and then it's back to 500-calorieville and morning injections. This will be the last round, so I've got to make this 4- to 6-week period really, really count.

Obviously, there will be no Girl Scout cookies in the immediate future!

R2 Phase 3, Day 18

2008-03-02T09:41:00.004-05:00

Fun In The Garden

I spent all day yesterday getting my Square Foot Garden boxes filled with soil mixture---one third peat moss, one third compost, and one third vermiculite. It was hard work, made more difficult by the high winds, but it's done and it came out well. Both boxes (one 2X3, one 4X6) are now full of loose, fertile mix, just ready for planting---if Nature cooperates.

A trip to the local seed store yielded seedlings of broccoli, cauliflower, various kinds of lettuce, and a blueberry bush. I even purchased something wild---two rhubarb root sets. Now these are weird-looking critters, like something out of a science fiction movie, with soft yet gnarled roots. Good thing they make such tasty food!

Phase 3 is coming to a close this week, and I'm looking forward to getting 'back in the saddle' for Round 3. Twenty more pounds will make me a very happy camper indeed!

My wife is doing well, too, with her non-HcG diet: she's lost 32 pounds in eight weeks! By the time I start Round 3, we'll be even at 34 pounds, and racing to see who can do the best over the next 4-6 weeks. It should be fun!

Have a super Sunday!

R2 Phase 3, Day 17

2008-03-01T08:59:00.003-05:00

Back In The Zone

Yes! Down another 1.2 pounds today, and feeling much better!

It's hard to believe I'm 5 days out from starting another round. I'm really looking forward to this round, as this one will make all the difference in the world to how I look and feel. Another 15 pounds will bring me down to 177, which is where I was when I started college in 1970...38 years ago! Eeeeek!

It's funny, though, when I look at myself in the mirror, it's obvious I could stand to lose much more than that---I would need to get down close to 160 to get rid of all the fat, but I don't think that's a good idea---much better to put on muscle to finish the job. Either way, lower will be better.

Special thanks to Jennifer & Ed, Monica and Becca for stopping by so often and leaving such nice comments----have a super Saturday!

R2 Phase 3, Day 16

2008-02-29T07:48:00.003-05:00

Happy Leap Year Day!

Down 1.2 today after a "steak day" yesterday. It was tough not eating yesterday---it's so not worth splurging and getting out of the 'zone'.

Six more days to the start of a new round, and I'm itching to get going and lose the final 15-20 pounds.

My wife is doing well, having lost 30 pounds so far, but she hasn't been losing as fast as when she was getting her B12/B6 injections at the clinic. She's been using a sublingual B12 for the last few weeks instead, and it does not seem to have the same effect as the injections. I marvel that she is able to do this without the HcG. I would go crazy with hunger without it.

When is Biz coming back on line? Like all of you, I check her blog every morning, only to find no changes---no 'sunshine and rainbows' again today---boooooo! Hope she is doing well in California.

Best wishes to all of you out there---have a fantastic Friday!

R2 Phase 3, Day 15

2008-02-28T06:52:00.003-05:00

The Horror, The Horror!

Up three and a half pounds in two days! Eeeek!

Two days of eating over-salted, over-sugared, over-priced Washington DC food have left their mark. I feel bloated and fat. Ugh.

Well, no worries--back on track today. According to protocol, I should skip breakfast and lunch, and have nothing but protein tonight. I really don't know if I can manage that today, as I am already starved and it's not even 7AM yet. I might concentrate on just eating proteins today, and see if that works.

Since I'm up early, the treadmill is also a possibility-----hmmmmm, that would be a good start to the day, get the metabolism running and burn off some of the junk I've put in my body.

On with the running shoes!

Have a terrific Thursday!

R2 Phase 3, Day 13

2008-02-26T09:16:00.006-05:00

"Negative Calorie Foods"

There's been a lot of talk on the Internet about foods that supposedly require more calories to metabolize than they provide--hence the name "negative calorie" foods.

Celery is one--it theoretically takes more calories to digest it than it provides, so eating it will help you to lose weight. Or so the theory goes. Here is a list of other so-called NCFs:

Whether there is any truth in the concept of NCFs, I did notice a that most, if not all, of the fruits and vegetables on our protocol are on this list.

Interesting, eh?

I wonder if this list would make for a good guide as to which vegetables and fruits could be used on the protocol and still work. For instance, I regularly use green beans, broccoli and cauliflower and have noticed no impact; however, my weight loss has not been as rapid as others who have stuck to the protocol religiously.

Perhaps some brave soul would be willing to do some experimentation on their next round to see if this would work. Of course, there's no real need to do this, as we have a protocol that works, and works well. Variety is lacking, however, and I wonder if some smart substitutions from the list above would allow us to continue losing weight and yet widen our choices of food from week to week...

Food for thought!

Have a terrific Tuesday!

R2 Phase 3, Day 12

2008-02-25T08:39:00.002-05:00

Still Here...

As usual, running late for work, but wanted to let you know I'm still in the 'zone' and doing fine. I'm back below LIW, and finding that I can use exercise as a corrective tool should I go too far overboard on any particular day. Yesterday, for instance, I ate too much sugar-free ice cream (a weekend treat). 50 minutes on the treadmill took care of that, and I showed a nice loss this morning. So, it can be done, and I hope to finish my Phase 3 well within the LIW zone, and begin my last round in about a week and a half.

There will be a challenge this week, as I spend two days in DC for a trade conference, and there will be required eating of bad (restaurant) food with others, so it will be interesting to see if I can pull that off and still stay in the zone.

Have a great Monday!

R2 Phase 3, Day 9

2008-02-22T08:26:00.004-05:00

Keep On Walking!

I found this image from a wall in Aruba and thought it was an apt description of what we're doing on this protocol.

We know where we're going, and we will not be deterred, deflected or denied.

Keep walking!

R2 Phase 3, Day 8

2008-02-21T08:35:00.003-05:00

Attack of the Carbs

Run for your lives! The carb cravings have returned!

Yesterday was a day filled with the "can't get enough carbs and salt" woolies. Even lots of fruit and high-quality proteins didn't kill it---my body was taken over by an evil entity with plans for world domination, starting with me!

Thankfully, I'm still in the LIW Zone, but today will be a day of beating back the monster and staying on a VLCD-inspired protocol of protein, vegetables and fruit.

Actually, this is the way 'normal' people do it---you go crazy one day, you immediately get back on track and keep your weight within a narrow range. This, of course, is quite different from what I have done in the past, even as recently as R1 Phase 3. The rationale then was, "If I've already blown it, I might as well continue and deal with it later." The correct response should be, "Ooops! A little too much yesterday, I'll get right back on the bandwagon today so it will only be a one day event."

It's good to be able to learn, even at this age, that I don't have to repeat the same mistakes over and over. Old dogs can learn new tricks...

Have a great day!

R2 Phase 3, Day 7

2008-02-20T12:33:00.003-05:00

A Bad Night

I knew I forgot something last night.

Oh yeah---medication. This is not good: if I don't take my meds three hours before bedtime, no sleep. And when I don't take them at all, really no sleep at all...until 5AM.

Since getting up for work at 7AM seemed out of the question, and I couldn't put two sentences together to save my life, I decided to sleep in a bit this morning, and delay both work and blogging to a more civilized hour.

I'm back down below LIW this morning, and it's a good feeling. Despite all the craziness on the menu the last few days, if I keep my total calories down, I can keep my weight within range. Exercise helps, as well as staying on a VLCD-friendly diet with only a few excursions to the dark side. I'm going to feel very good in two weeks if I can start the next round of Phase 2 at this weight, and get that last twenty pounds off.

My wife went off the diet this weekend (a planned event) and gained four pounds---but she's right back on protocol this week, and dropping that gain pretty fast. She'll be right on track by the end of this week, looking for her next twenty pound loss before heading to New England for a one-week vacation. It's amazing to see how her clothes are starting to hang from her frame---by then, she'll need a whole new wardrobe. I've already warned her that she will be wearing some "very interesting" clothing when she loses more weight! She smiles and laughs, and it's good to see that twinkle coming back in her eyes.

Have a wicked good Wednesday (as we used to say in New Hampshire)!

R2 Phase 3, day 6

2008-02-19T08:33:00.003-05:00

A Little Stroll

Late last night, I found myself eating...crackers!

Bad! Bad! Bad! I didn't want to go out of bounds again, so I figured I'd better burn them off before going to bed. On with the trusty running shoes, and out the door at 8:30pm.

It was a warm night last night, in the upper 50s, so I figured I'd push it a little and see what I could do. Sure enough, I had speed and power to burn, and found myself zipping right along for the first mile---what a feeling to be able to walk without any sense of being tired or weighed down! The second mile was at more of a normal pace, and miles three and four were spent telling my body, "Just a little further!" until I got to my destination. Overall, a good walk, and at distances that I couldn't have conceived of last fall before beginning the protocol.

What a feeling, being able to exercise and feeling good about it! Rather than dreading it, as I have in the past, I now look forward to doing it again, because it's fun---and who would have expected this at age 55? Thanks, Doc!

R2 Phase 3, Day 5

2008-02-18T10:03:00.003-05:00

Safe!

Back under LIW today thanks to a steak day yesterday. When I went to bed last night, I was more than three pounds heavier than when I weighed in this morning! Dr. Simeons knew what he was doing when he said, "When these instructions are followed a stunned voice is heard to report that two pounds have vanished overnight..." and the problem has been resolved.

I'm afraid this will be a short post today, as I am running late for work this morning. If I can, I'll respond to my commenters (is that even a word?) later today at lunch.

Have a marvelous Monday!

R2 Phase 3, Day 4

2008-02-17T10:42:00.002-05:00

Steak Day

Yesterday I did a lot of heavy physical work outside, and figured I could get away with a few carbs such as baked beans and a few crackers.

How wrong I was.

Today I am up 3 pounds---in one day!

No doubt some of this is due to water retention, although I had plenty of high-quality protein yesterday, but it must be due to the complex carbs I ate. I feel lousy, I'm not peeing and I can physically see the difference in the mirror.

I'm having trouble believing anyone can gain three pounds in one day, but the scale does not lie.

So, today I'll follow protocol and skip breakfast and lunch, and have a steak and tomato tonight. I had to give my wife the bad news this morning that our Valentine's Day meal of grilled salmon and cheesecake was off---I can't tell you how guilty I felt. She was very understanding, but I still felt guilty. We'll have to postpone the meal to another day.

R2 Phase 3, Day 3

2008-02-16T11:40:00.002-05:00

Nothing much to report today, stayed pretty much on protocol yesterday, still under LIW.

Had the Insomnia From Hell last night, was awake until 4AM, so I'm pretty much messed up today....tomorrow will be better.

The 'OMG I Can't Believe I'm Eating This' dinner has been postponed until tomorrow. Grilled salmon and cheesecake will be on the menu! Can't wait!

Have a super Saturday!

R2 Phase 3 Day 2

2008-02-15T08:49:00.002-05:00

That's More Like It

It's amazing what your body will do when you do the right thing. Yesterday, I indulged in some off-protocol Phase 3 foods, and my friends reminded me that Wheat Thins and other carbs are definitely a no-no. So I ate carefully for lunch, and reread P&I before dinner.

Ah, that's what I forgot about Phase 3---no sugars and carbs! Think Atkins diet! OK, I can do this in my sleep....two fresh hamburgers with salad, a bit of dressing, and fresh fruit for dinner. Voila! Started peeing with a vengeance, and by this morning was down 0.8 pounds, placing me 0.6 under LIW. I can do this if I can avoid the clarion call of crackers, pasta, potatoes, etc. Time to take another look at the Atkins stuff, of course avoiding the high-fat craziness that can sometimes creep into that diet.

Took a two-mile walk last night, and it felt good to be exercising again. Of course, finishing my walk at 10pm was probably a really stupid idea, as I then could not sleep for the next three hours....

Going to start preparations for the garden this weekend, despite the cold weather. I'm going to try some Square Foot Gardening on the patio next to our porch. I usually do a traditional garden in the back yard, but I think this might be a better way to go for the smaller plants---it will certainly be more convenient to just step out of the house and have everything right there without having to worry about mud, weeds and compacting the soil. If you're interested, the technique is described here: http://www.squarefootgardening.com/

Hope you are doing well on protocol, and have a fantastic Friday!

Phase 3 Day 1

2008-02-14T08:25:00.002-05:00

And so, it begins...

Phase 3! I can't believe it!

I must admit I am a bit lost and nervous this morning. I've already come up more than half a pound overnight, and am about to start eating stuff I haven't been eating for a long time. That plus-or-minus two pounds looks like such a narrow window---can I hold my weight in that tight a range?

I'm sitting here eating a few Wheat Thins with peanut butter for breakfast---what a weird feeling. It's good to be eating breakfast again, but I don't think this is the best choice to keep my weight stabilized. I'm going to have to re-read P&I again to get my bearings.

My wife celebrated her first 25 pounds lost yesterday. She had a five-day stall and then lost more than two pounds overnight! She's very happy with her progress, and I'm very proud of her...especially given the fact that she's doing this without HcG.

Soup's on the menu for lunch today, a real treat for me. Then back to basics for dinner, and after that, a thorough review of P&I before I get too far off the beaten track.

Have a terrific Thursday!

VLCD Day 36

2008-02-12T21:37:00.005-05:00

The Tale of the Trail

In the November 2007 issue of National Geographic magazine, author Tim Cahill describes his visits to California's Death Valley. One of the more unique sights are the moving rocks that glide across the floor of the salt flat. No one has ever seen them move, but they do---often, for hundreds of feet:

At the south end of the Racetrack, where the playa abuts an 850-foot-high (259 meters) mountain face, rocks had tumbled from elevation out onto the playa. Some were the size of softballs, others suitcases. These rocks did not gather any moss. They were movers. Robert Sharp and Allen Glazner, in their book Geology Underfoot in Death Valley and Owens Valley, explain the process. The playa receives three to four inches (eight to ten centimeters) of rain a year during winter storms and summer cloudbursts. Parts of the Racetrack flood. Fine, intensely slippery clay settles, and the winds, which may reach 90 miles an hour (40 meters per second), must overcome the forces of friction for the rocks to break free. Once that happens, it takes only about half the wind power to keep the rocks moving.

There were levees a fraction of an inch high on either side of the tracks, and mud had piled up in front of the rocks. Looking at it all, I had no doubt that the rocks had sailed before the wind.

Some rocks made straight paths, some curved. Some traveled a hundred yards (90 meters) in one direction, stopped in a muddy muddle, apparently thought better of their direction, and made a 180-degree turn to ramble off in another direction. Some trails were wide for a while, narrow, then wide again. Occasionally, half a dozen rocks took off at once from the base of the mountain and seemed to race straight toward the Grandstand like horses at the derby. The tracks often crossed one another. I followed dozens of them, and when I found the rocks at the terminuses of the tracks, they seemed almost sentient. Why this made me laugh, I cannot say.

It was getting dark on the Racetrack, and I walked back to the car, about half a mile away (800 meters). A Park Service sign near the car read: "Please do not remove the rocks; they become essentially meaningless when moved out of place."

The rocks without their trails are just....rocks. It's the trails that make them special. They tell the story of hidden abilities and adventures that are far beyond what other rocks could even dream of. These are moving rocks, and you could not distinguish them from ordinary rocks without seeing where they've come from and what they have done.

In many ways, we are like these marvels of nature. We are ordinary people doing an extraordinary thing. We look like everyone else, but what a story we have to tell---just look at where we have come from, and what we have done!

Some of our trails are long, some short. Some go in straight lines, others take a more circuitous route. But we all move. We are all defying the odds. And we are all doing something remarkable.

Wherever you are in the protocol, whether just beginning or a multi-round veteran, celebrate the fact that you are moving, that you are making your own special trail, and that you will have an extraordinary story to tell when you finally come to rest in that new place that you could only dream of before.

VLCD Day 35

2008-02-12T08:05:00.000-05:00

Down again....hee hee!

Down 0.6 this morning and I must admit I'm tickled to see another loss.

Today will be the first day without HcG, and I'm wondering when the hunger will really return. It's been visiting from time to time over the last week or so, but I know it will come back with a vengeance soon.

No worries, though, as I have only three days to go on the 500-calorie protocol and then, on Saturday, my wife and I are going to enjoy a one-time, all-you-can-eat, metabolism-boosting blowout meal. Just one meal, with no calorie restrictions at all. Then back to keeping a close eye on things for another week. We both need to shock our bodies out of the 500-calorie rut we've been in for all these weeks. It should be fun to see what happens.

I'm also looking forward to getting back to exercising. It will be fun to be able to eat so much more and feel that energy kicking back in.

Last night, I was thinking about Phase 3 and the very thought that I don't need to struggle to lose anymore, just eat to maintain, was very liberating---like knowing you are going on a three-week vacation at the end of the week. Woooohoooo!

Of course, I must maintain my weight, not put on 7 pounds like I did last time, so I'll keep on posting my stats here each day in an effort to stay honest. I think dropping off the map over Christmas and not being accountable to you, my friends, is part of what got me in so much trouble during the last Phase 3.

Have a terrific Tuesday!

VLCD Day 34

2008-02-11T08:56:00.001-05:00

Last Injection Weight=192

Today is the final injection for Round 2.

Although I didn't make it to my goal of 189, the percentage of body weight lost during this round (8.2%) is greater than what I lost during Round 1 (7.5%)---very interesting!

It's important to qualify that number, however--these numbers measure percentage of weight lost from the starting weight at the beginning of each round. If I measure percentage lost from my original starting weight it works out almost exactly even--7.6% lost this round vs. 7.5% lost last round. Weird!

For those of you who are into the numbers, here are my stats for this round:

Weight lost during Round 2: 17.2 pounds

Inches lost: Neck 0.59, Chest 1.77, Waist 2.56, Abdomen 2.17, Thigh 0.59, Knee 0.39, Ankle 0.2; total inches lost=8.27

Total weight lost for Round 1 + Round 2: 34.2 pounds (15.1% of original body weight)

Inches lost for Round 1 + Round 2: Neck 1.57, Chest 3.15, Waist 4.92, Abdomen 3.94, Thigh 1.97, Knee 0.79, Ankle 0.39; total inches lost=16.73

This morning was spent trying to find a belt that would work on my smaller clothes. I ended up taking a hammer and nail to make a new hole on my existing belt---gotta go shopping!

Now the interesting part begins...keeping the weight off during Phase 3. More on that later this week.

Have a good day!

VLCD Day 33

2008-02-10T08:51:00.000-05:00

Bonus Day

Surprisingly, I will be able to get one more shot out of my HcG vial, so tomorrow will be the last day of Round 2. Cool! An opportunity to lose a bit more before entering Phase 3.

I definitely will not be able to make my goal of 189, but I'll end up with a 17lb loss for the round, and that ain't bad.

I pulled out some 38 jeans this morning, tried them on, and by golly, they fit! A little snug, but they fit. The 40s I'm wearing are just about falling off me. One more day on HcG, and then three days more of VLCD, and they should fit just fine. I can't believe how I've been losing inches over the last two weeks, regardless of what the scale says.

Today will be occupied by pulling out clothes that have been living in boxes marked "too small" and trying them on. It should be fun!

It's a beautiful morning here in the Mid-Atlantic, with clear blue skies, a bright sun and temps in the mid-50s. A great day to get outside!

Have a super Sunday!

VLCD Day 32

2008-02-09T13:06:00.000-05:00

End of the Line

Well, I was surprised this morning to find that I have but one injection left in the bottle after today...so tomorrow will be the end of Round 2.

I seriously doubt I'll make my goal of 189, which makes me a bit unhappy...but hey, it's just a number, right? Even though I've been losing very slowly lately, I am still losing inches, and that's what really matters--every day these jeans get looser, despite what the scale says.

I've lost 16 pounds on this round so far, and that's a full size for me, so I'm happy with that. The last 10 pounds have particularly made a difference in how I look in the mirror. So, overall, a successful round!

The hunger continues to increase, as well as the cravings. I switched over to IM about three weeks ago, and increased my dosage from 125IU to 150IU. It might not have been enough. I'm now on 175IU, but I think my HcG is losing potency, as I don't seem to have the same control I did in the beginning of the round. So, it seems to be a good time to move on to Phase 3.

Thanks again for your comments and advice, and I hope you have a fantastic Saturday!

VLCD Day 31

2008-02-08T08:18:00.000-05:00

Increasing Hunger

Hmmmmm....things are starting to get interesting. I'm waking up in the morning hungry, and getting hungry during the day. I'm craving salt like nobody's business, and starting to crave carbs as well. Could this be immunity? It's only been 30 days, which is a little early for immunity to kick in. I'm going to increase my dose to 175IU from the 125-150IU I've been injecting subcutaneously. It could be that my HcG is losing potency. Time will tell.

I had a small gain last night, no doubt from eating too much salt. I'll hit it with lots of water and switch to potassium chloride today and see if that does the trick. I want those last four pounds!

Have a great Friday!

VLCD Day 30

2008-02-07T07:45:00.000-05:00

Four pounds to goal!

A very nice 1.8-lb loss last night leaves me with 4.6 pounds remaining to reach my goal for this round. I'm going to go the full 40 days or until my HcG runs out, as I want to get to my 'set point' at 189. Hopefully this will make it easier to stabilize at that level for the next three weeks.

Inches are really starting to come off too. Not so much in the actual numbers (which are going down slowly) but more in the way clothes look on me. Shirts that previously fit snugly, then well, then loosely, are starting to look baggy and very oversized. Pants that were comfortable two or three weeks ago are getting dangerously loose, even with a belt. Speaking of belts, I needed to move one hole tighter yesterday, and discovered that that hole was the last one on the belt! That's an experience I haven't had in a long, long time!

There are still challenges to staying on the protocol, however. Last night, I caught myself in a bit of a rebellious binge, eating way too many breadsticks and crackers. I just wanted, needed, more. This is happening more often now, and I suspect I might be getting closer to HcG immunity. Hunger is starting to reappear, not serious hunger, but nagging hunger. The next ten days will be a bit of a dance, but all I need is 4 more pounds, and then back to P3, which is looking pretty good right now. (Of course, I know that one week into P3, I'll be yearning to get back on P2 again!)

My wife is still doing well on her Bernstein diet, having lost 23 pounds in five weeks. She has been struggling a bit more during the last week, and finds that she is a bit more hungry now that she is off the B12/B6 injections. She is very motivated, however, with the positive comments she is getting at her workplace. Small victories, like being able to button a jacket for the first time, keep her smiling. She is fearful, however, that she might not be able to keep it up for the time required to lose all the weight she needs to lose--another 150 pounds. That's a long, long time to be on a diet this strict. She is terrified she will just snap and gain it all back. Of course, I'm encouraging her as much as possible and celebrating every small victory with her.

Well, time to get ready for work...have a fantastic day, and thanks for stopping by! I do so appreciate your comments, suggestions, and encouragement!

VLCD Day 29

2008-02-06T07:59:00.000-05:00

...and Inches

No weight loss last night, which really surprised me because I stuck to protocol yesterday and worked until midnight---I figured the extra time awake would burn more calories than sleeping. It all goes to show me that the internal processes of weight loss can only loosely be grasped by the mind, and are only somewhat predictable. There are so many overlapping factors that total out to what the scale says!

I might not be losing weight, but I am losing inches. For instance, in the last three days, I've lost only 0.2 pounds, but I did lose a total of one inch between my chest and abdomen. So there is definitely something going on that is not showing on the scale.

I finally got my syringes last night, and they were the really skinny insulin types that only hold 1cc. They have very short needles for SQ (just over half an inch), and they are so fine that you can't even feel them going in. They are quite different from the IM syringes I had been using, but they should work out well and are certainly more comfortable to use.

Thanks to Lili for the B12 info, and Biz, Winston and Jennifer for the encouragement!

My wife's weight loss is slowing now, but we don't know if it is due to the lack of B12/B6 injections, an approaching TOM or some other factors. We'll see.

Today is supposed to be ridiculously warm for early February---over 80 degrees here---so I'm looking forward to sneaking outside for a few minutes in the sun today.

Hope you have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

VLCD Day 28

2008-02-05T08:16:00.000-05:00

Reality

Well, my body seems to have a speed limit this round--0.5 pounds per day. No matter what I do, that's what seems to happen. No worries, 'it is what it is'. I've adjusted my graph and goals to reflect the reality of the situation. No point in striving for something that isn't going to happen--better to be happy with accomplishing something that can actually be done, right?

Last injection this morning with a used syringe---yikes, that one was DULL! I hope to have the new ones this afternoon. Thanks to everyone for their comments yesterday. Lili, yes, I would like to see the links for injectable B12 and B6, as the sublingual just doesn't seem to be as effective for my wife. She's still doing well, 21 pounds in 4 1/2 weeks.

If I can stay the whole 40 days on this round, I should make it under 190, which would put me within a pound of an old set point. This could help me stabilize for this Phase 3--I've always felt that trying to hold +/- 2 pounds on P3 at any other place than a set point would be nigh on impossible, as your body WANTS to rest at a set point, and will fight you continuously to get there. And 189 is a good place to be for me, comfortably in the next clothing size down, so I'm looking forward to that.

Have a terrific Tuesday! (And, if you are in one of the Super Tuesday states, get out and vote! Never have the stakes been so high for the country's future---your vote is supremely important right now!)

VLCD Day 27

2008-02-04T08:18:00.000-05:00

Down a bit today, not great, but not bad...considering I cheated all day yesterday. My wife decided to cook a turkey in the oven, and I just couldn't help assisting her by getting rid of all those tiny juicy pieces of turkey in the bottom of the bowl. You know, it just wouldn't do to have those little pieces get mixed in with the bigger ones. Neatness is important!

I made a mistake last week and didn't notice that my syringes were running out. By the time I ordered replacements, I had only one left, and the new ones would not be arriving for a week. So, I've been reusing syringes, which is definitely NOT recommended. Now, before you get excited, I've been sterilizing them using 91% alcohol, inside and out, three times before use, and only (re)using a syringe once. And I've been giving myself double doses spaced two days apart to minimize the number of shots needed. The only difficulty so far seems to be the dull needles, which take a bit of effort to get through the skin. Next time, I'll order early.

By the way, I did look at syringe pricing at www.hcgsupplies.com and www.researchsupply.net and found a much better option: ordering syringes through Amazon. HcGSupplies was ridiculously expensive, and ResearchSupply's prices were much better...until you got to shipping, which was $30+ just for a box of syringes and alcohol prep pads. I could get the same syringes for less and the shipping charges were less than $10 on Amazon, so that's the best deal at this point. I'll let you know how they look when they come in today or tomorrow.

My wife is still doing well on her HcG-less diet. She's lost over 20 pounds in four weeks! She's doing better than I am, but she weighs more and has more to lose, so in percentages I guess we're doing about the same. She discontinued the clinic visits to save money, and has really noticed a difference in the way she feels (less energy, more hunger) now that she is not receiving the B12 and B6 injections. We're waiting to see if it affects the rate of weight loss. We did get her some sublingual B12 to see if we could duplicate the effectiveness of the injections, but so far they don't seem to be working as effectively.

Well, time to get out of here and get to work! Have a great day!

VLCD Day 26

2008-02-03T08:30:00.000-05:00

Boom, baby!

Down one full pound this morning! That's what I like to see! That six-mile walk definitely had an effect.

I noticed something yesterday, too. My measurements are definitely changing, even with the slow weight loss. A pair of jeans that I had fit into snugly last week are now getting loose, despite the loss of only a pound or two since then. So there is something definitely going on, regardless of what the scale says.

I've got another two weeks on this round, and I'm not even going to guess how much I'm going to lose. Even my conservative guess of 0.6 pounds per day has not been attainable this round, so I'll just do the two weeks and see what happens. If I can get down one more size I'll be happy, because that will put me in 38 jeans, which I have not been able to wear for a long, long time. Then three weeks on P3, not gaining weight, and back for Round 3 on March 10th. Hopefully, that will be the last round!

It's a beautiful, sunny morning here in coastal Virginia. Hope you have a great Sunday!

VLCD Day 25

2008-02-02T10:07:00.000-05:00

Stalled again....

No loss last night, but I'm not sweating it, because things are about to change in a big way.

First, I've finally finished the 10-day course of antibiotics, and I hope that my regular weight loss will accelerate once that's cleared out of my system.

Second, nothing's moving 'south of the equator', so once it does, I should see a nice loss.

Finally, I got up at 6am and headed out for a 3-mile walk to McDonalds for some tea and the morning paper. It was great being out before dawn and watching the world wake up. Darned cold, though--I had to wear three layers to stay warm. So three miles out and three miles back in the early morning sun made me a very happy camper--a new personal best! Hopefully that will help get the metabolism charged up for the day and reinvigorate the weight loss process.

I hope you have an equally cheery day and enjoy your Saturday!

VLCD Day 24

2008-02-01T07:52:00.000-05:00

Now, that's more like it!

Down one full pound this morning! And, despite working on the same two pounds for the last six days, I've lost inches: a half-inch on the neck, a full inch at the waist, and a half-inch on the abdomen and thigh.

Add a good night's sleep on top of that, and I'm feeling much better about the whole process.

Thanks to everyone for their encouragement and counsel over the last few days--it was a pretty rough go for a while.

Clothes are beginning to become too loose again...which is somewhat of a problem. Since men's shirts are graded by neck size, and that has not changed as much as my waist measurements, the shirts are getting way too loose in the midsection, but still fit at the neck. Dropping a size or two would fit in the torso, but not at the neck. The only solution is to go to more tapered shirts---and I can't believe I am even writing those words! Tapered shirts? Me?!? Yikes!

Same problem for pants--still fit at the waist, but other areas are getting too baggy. This means I'll need to drop the "relaxed fit" for "regular fit" which is a real hoot when I think about it.

Now that I am within 20 pounds of my target weight, any weight that comes off will really begin to reshape my body. For the longest time, it's just been less of the same awful shape. Now, it will start to actually sculpt the body and radically change my appearance.

This is just the opposite of what happens when we gain weight---after about 20-30 pounds, our original shape is gone, we look and feel bad, and any more weight really doesn't change our shape, it's just more layers piled on top of each other.

So this next 20 will be very interesting. Even five pounds lost will make a significant difference in the way I look and how clothes fit. I'm looking forward to it!

Have a fantastic Friday!

VLCD Day 23

2008-01-31T08:00:00.000-05:00

OK, fair warning, you really don't want to read today's post. You really don't.

I really don't want to write anything today because I'm cranky, tired, discouraged and depressed. I'm on a four-day stall and counting. I feel lousy, and I'm not sleeping well, if at all, despite trying every trick I know.

I'm tired of the protocol, I'm tired of weighing myself, I'm tired of not losing weight except in fits and starts. I'm just tired of the whole thing.

And yet, I know if I dropped a pound tomorrow, I'd be deliriously happy and ready for more. I'm tired of my emotions being ruled by a damned scale.

I'm tired of trying to divine which little deviation screwed me up yesterday, and what machinations I have to go through to make this protocol work again. I'm tired of trying to keep rigidly on the protocol and watching myself fail in so many little ways throughout the day. I'm tired of disappointment in the evening, and disappointment in the morning when I weigh in.

Did I mention I was tired?

In truth, I'm in the weeds here. I'm still on antibiotics, still not losing weight well, and losing my nerve. I know this won't last, but I hope the situation changes before I lose the will to resist the urges that are mounting to just chuck the whole thing and go do something else.

Will I give up? No, not yet. I've come too far to do that now. But I knew when I broke the 200 barrier that my body, or fate, or whatever, would want revenge and it appears that's where I am right now...stuck in the mud and weeds.

I know it won't last forever; all things change. I know it's just a matter of time, and patience is called for. Can I outlast this? Yes, of course...all I need to do is put one foot in front of the other until the situation changes. And it will, sooner or later.

Dear God, please make it sooner rather than later.

VLCD Day 22

2008-01-30T09:59:00.000-05:00

No time to write anything today due to demands at work...thanks for checking in, and I'll see you tomorrow morning!

VLCD Day 21

2008-01-29T07:38:00.000-05:00

Stalled...but I know why

No loss yesterday, and I'm bummed, but I know why...too many minor deviations from the protocol.

It all seemed so simple: turkey is like chicken, right? And Wheat Thins are like breadsticks, and calorie-free sodas are like water. But, they aren't! The turkey contains more fat and sodium than the chicken, the Wheat Thins contain more fat and sodium than the breadsticks, and the calorie-free sodas contain citric acid and phosphoric acid that water does not have.

End result: no weight loss.

Many of us make small "tweaks" to the protocol, mostly as a way of introducing more variety into the program. Some nights I feel like I need something different. Sometimes it works out OK, like broccoli or cauliflower, or green beans---but most times, it doesn't.

I'll bet the most successful 'losers' on this protocol are the ones who follow it exactly, day in and day out. It's a question of mental toughness, of discipline, and the realization that this is only for 26-40 days.

It's the never-ending, three-way battle between the mind, the emotions and the body...and which one has the upper hand at any given moment.

If I stick to the protocol, the emotions and body will eventually yield and be happy with the outcome; if I don't, the mind, body and emotions will all be disappointed with the outcome.

Gotta keep that in focus today...

Hope you're experiencing success, and have a terrific Tuesday!

VLCD Day 20

2008-01-27T20:39:00.000-05:00

Why Phase 3 Weight Control is Important

I'll be the first to admit I did not take my first Phase 3 period seriously. I mean, come on, it was Christmas! Who could have the discipline to not partake in holiday goodies? And when you're 600 miles from home, well, the weight issue just doesn't seem to be as important as relaxing and having a well-earned break from the strictness of Phase 2. So what if I gain a few pounds...I know I can lose it quickly on the next round, right?

So I thought. Boy, was I wrong.

Sure, I lost the weight I gained. It took me a week, and that's not too bad, right?

It wasn't until I put the graphs of my weight for Round 1 and Round 2 together that I really considered the whole of what I had done. And I was shocked at the results.

Take a look at the chart above (you can click on it for a much better view). The weight I gained over P3 wiped out all of my Round 1 losses from Day 11 through Day 27. That's 16 days lost!

That's over two weeks of staying on the protocol wiped out, with only 10 days of genuine, long-term weight loss over a 27-day period. Not good.

As they say in the commercials, "But wait, there's more!" I also paid for my lack of discipline on the front end of Round 2. Indeed, 8 days were wasted re-losing the gained weight, and even worse, re-losing the same weight I had originally lost in the last 16 days of Round 1.

So, taken as a whole, I lost 16 days out of Round 1 and 8 days out of Round 2 just paying for that mistake. The only profitable days were the first 10 of Round 1 and the last 10 of Round 2. Twenty-four days wasted, and only twenty days profitably losing weight.

In short, I paid coming and going for the mistake. If I had maintained my weight, all of that effort in Round 1 and Round 2 would have been worth it.

A tough lesson to learn. Granted, it's just time lost, but when you celebrate losing a half a pound a day, and work hard to meet that goal, it just doesn't make a lot of sense gaining 5 or 10 pounds over P3. I'll be much more careful in my next Phase 3 three weeks from now!

VLCD Day 19

2008-01-27T08:54:00.000-05:00

Keep on going...

Another 0.6 overnight, good progress considering I ate a bit too much yesterday, albeit mostly protein from a very nice turkey my wife pulled out of the oven last night.

She can have turkey on her protocol, and hey, turkey is chicken's kissing cousin, right? My, did it taste good!

She can also have Triscuits as her daily carb (as we can have Melba toast or a grissini), but only two. It's really sad, seeing those two little Triscuits on a plate, each about 1 1/4 inches square, and realize that we could have polished off an entire bowl of them months ago without batting an eye. How times have changed!

Yesterday, for a change, I tried having a carbonated drink instead of water. Now, I really liked these for years, and it was difficult for me to give them up during the protocol. I was amazed how sweet it was and how quickly I found myself guzzling the damn things. The next impulse, however, was interesting both in its strength and speed---I wanted something salty. This alternating between the sweet bite of the soda and the salty goodness of snacks is probably responsible for most of the weight I gained during the last few years. It's amazing how easy it is to fall into it, without realizing why. And that's why I will stick to my water and tea, thank you very much.

I have had to adjust my graph (below) from a nominal 0.7 lb/day loss to a more realistic 0.6 lb/day. This is closer to actual for me, and although the difference is small, over 40 days it really adds up.

I hope to have an interesting post tomorrow on the dangers of not holding weight steady during P3...as I did during rounds 1 and 2. It's amazing when you look at it---stay tuned!

VLCD Day 18

2008-01-26T09:11:00.001-05:00

YES!!!

Finally!

I couldn't believe it...

Got on the scale three times to be sure...sure enough, I'm below 200 for the first time in years and years!

A new century, a new zone, a new way of thinking about myself, and a new drive to get this done!

My heartfelt thanks to each of you who have walked through this with me, giving me great suggestions, encouragement and support. The last five days have been particularly difficult, and I could not have made it without you!

Wooooooohooooooooo!!!

VLCD Day 17

2008-01-25T06:58:00.000-05:00

You've got to laugh...

Stay on protocol...check!
Choose best proteins possible...check!
Take care of buildup "south of the border"...check!
Get a good night's sleep...check!
Drink plenty of water...check!
Get camera ready to take picture of scale..check!

Get up and eagerly step on scale...

wait for it...

and find I've gained weight again!

*&^@#*@)(@???!!!

My body seems to have mind of its own.

Am I discouraged? No, not really. The weight must come off on 500 calories a day. This back-and-forth business is merely games with water, possibly complicated by the medication I'm taking. Is it frustrating? You bet! In the end, it's just a matter of time. I will not yield, I will not give up, and I will achieve my goal. It's just a matter of time.

VLCD Day 16

2008-01-24T08:18:00.000-05:00

Denied!

Well, today is not going to be the day! No loss at all, despite sticking to protocol exactly.

It must be the antibiotics I'm taking...I can definitely feel the water retention and things are not moving 'south of the equator'. And I've got another 8 days to go on the prescription. There goes Round 2....oh well, I'll get there eventually!

A great big "Thank You" to each of my commenters yesterday for their kind words and encouragement...stay tuned, tomorrow might be the day!

VLCD Day 15

2008-01-23T07:05:00.000-05:00

So Close...

Only one pound away now, so close I can taste it! This seems to be taking forever, but I know when I look down and see that number beginning with a "1" it'll be a great feeling! I'm on antibiotics right now, so that might be messing up my rate of loss. Also, it's been a week since having a...you know! We have got to come up with a nice-sounding euphemism for a BM, something with some humor to it.

Hot Bodies...?!?

I just busted out laughing at Crystal's comment yesterday about our having "hot bodies":

Oh isn't that wonderful when people from the "medical community" come to you for advice! :) It rocks!

But that is wonderful that you can serve as a testimony to this program. That in itself makes it worth it. Of course the hot bodies we are all getting are a HUGE plus! HAHA! Can not wait till Summer!

You know, at 55, the concept of a "hot body" tends to inspire laughter rather than anything else. My first thought was of the commercial where the older guy walks out to the pool's diving board--he's tan, fit, and the women look on approvingly--until he misses his dive and does a belly flop amidst amusement from the ladies.

But Crystal has a point---we are all going to look better this summer than we have in a long, long time. This is our summer! I haven't been to the beach in about 15 years, and the thought of being able to do so and look good at the same time is just...amazing!

Comments

Monica said...

0.6 Gone and never to be seen again. I'm glad you had a good check up. Wow, your doctor was really interested?! I'd be afraid to tell my doctor what I'm doing.

Well, you're right Monica, I did not mention the HcG portion of the protocol, just the diet part. He's pretty conservative, and I just didn't want to get into that argument with him. "You're injecting yourself? With WHAT?!?" But you still can't argue with success, especially when the patient weighs less than the doctor telling him to lose weight...

Winston said...

You are doing great so stop worrying about stepping it up because your body is going to do what it wants. I will be there with you in the third round to get the final wait off. I only do the 3 week break and have been successful. I think most of us on do the 3 weeks and get back on P2. Keep up the good work and know I feel your pain. lol.

This was really comforting, knowing that the guy I look up to here is going for a third round and that six weeks is not necessary before starting again. Thanks, Winston!

Biz said...

Excellent! You are doing it Marshall. Remember that stress = cortisol = weight gain or stall. You are doing well not to worry.

We will still be around, no matter how many rounds you do.

Thanks, Biz! I can't tell you how important everyone's support and encouragement is to me!

Jennifer said:

Marshall, you weight right now is where Ed wants to be. I bet you are looking really good right now! You and Ed are the same height and another 14 lbs is going to be very noticeable...you can do it! You are very disciplined (a much better example than Ed). Oh wait I forgot about your "how to gain 7 lbs in 7 days"...we both thought that was so funny because during our first P3 Ed gained 4.5 lbs in ONE DAY-I think we did like 9 steak days in 4 weeks! Our R2P3 was a bit more under control.

Why doesn’t your wife want to do this protocol?

Thanks, Jennifer, and tell Ed that the 15 pounds between 220 and 205 made a HUGE difference in how I look and feel! I can't tell you how many comments I've received as I get closer to 200. From what I've read on your blog, Ed seems to have a kick-ass metabolism, and I'm sure he would "pull a Winston" and lose at least a pound a day if he was consistent on the protocol. He would probably drop that 15 pounds in less than two weeks! Ask him if he can send some of that metabolism my way, OK?

As to my wife, she is on at least five prescription medications, and did not want to add another, untried, medication on top of that. Actually, she is doing better than I am right now---she routinely loses TWICE what I do each day! Same diet, without HcG, although she is taking lots of potassium and receiving B12 and B6 injections. She will be doing it on her own this month, without the injections, so we will see what effect that has.

Becca said...

I love the reaction you got in the doctor's office. That's just priceless! And OMG look how close you are to breaking into the 190's! Any day now...

Me too! It was priceless! It all goes to show us how amazing and significant it is that we have a solution that WORKS! Rather than wishing, hoping, cursing, getting depressed, or making another futile attempt to lose a few pounds, we are DOING IT! Wooohooo indeed!

Have a great Wednesday, and stay on protocol!

VLCD Day 14

2008-01-22T08:05:00.000-05:00

Not So Much...

Down 0.6 pounds today, and beginning to realize that if I don't pick up the pace here, I'm consigned to a third round. Grrrrrr! I had hoped to get it done in two rounds, especially with the mandated six-week break before the next round. Six weeks!

OK, take a deep breath, now...it's not that bad. I've still got 26 days to go, and I can lose more than 14 pounds in that time, which would put me in a nice place to spend those six weeks. Besides, I do need to learn how to do P3 correctly, given my failure to do so over Christmas. So, as long as I am losing over the next 4 weeks, I'm doing fine.

By the way, I did see the doctor yesterday, and that was really fun. He was amazed, asked me about the program, and even said, "My patients tell me all the time 'I can't lose weight'...when they do, I'm going to tell them about you!" Now, he is overweight himself, maybe even obese, so I could tell this hit him where he lives. Even the office staff were talking about it. People are desperate for a solution to their weight problems, and we have a solution!

Hope you have a successful, on-protocol day!

VLCD Day 13

2008-01-21T08:20:00.000-05:00

No loss to report today, too much salt last night! Gotta get ready and get to work, more later today!

VLCD Day 12

2008-01-20T10:35:00.000-05:00

Down another 0.6 lbs today, and kinda surprised about that. My wife made two very spicy dishes this weekend as part of her diet, and I fully expected that all those spices would slow me down. I compensated by drinking more water and tea than normal and it seems to have done the trick.

Today, back to the focus on eating simple foods with just salt and pepper.

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm at the half-way mark: 24 pounds down, 24 to go to "ideal" weight. That was quite a realization, and in the back of my mind was a little voice saying, "Now, watch, you've been bragging about this all day, and you'll show a gain tomorrow!" I guess it all goes to show how I still have some negative self-talk going on upstairs, despite my success to date.

I'll be seeing my doctor for the first time since beginning the protocol tomorrow, and am looking forward to his reaction when he notices I've lost 25 pounds, have lowered my blood pressure, and am in better physical shape. That will be very nice.

Have a great Sunday!

VLCD Day 11

2008-01-19T09:02:00.000-05:00

An Incredible Shock

Another 0.6 pounds gone today, and I'm close to getting back on track for this round.

I did a bit of maintenance today on my database, where I keep track of my daily weight and measurements, and decided to insert a few columns like, total lost since starting the protocol, total lost by percentage of body weight, things like that.

Just on a lark, I wondered how far away I was from my ideal body weight. After doing a little research, I discovered the ideal weight for someone my height (73 inches) was 178 pounds. I wonder how far I am away from that?

Insert column, write formula, format cells...look at results...practically fall out of my chair!

As of today, I am halfway to my ideal weight!

Total shock. Can't believe it. Check the numbers, and they are right! Twenty-four pounds down, twenty-four to go. Suddenly this seems so much more doable!

I had another happy shock yesterday when I was preparing for a high-level meeting with my CEO. I don't normally wear a suit or tie for work, opting for business casual instead. In fact, it had been several months since I had worn a suit. So, I reached in my closet, pulled out my suit, put the pants on, and just about had a panic attack. The waist was 4 inches too large! I mean, there was no way to wear them! I had less than 45 minutes to get ready, and my suit did not fit! Aaaaaargh!

I found another suit in my closet, one I had not worn for about the last two years. This was two sizes smaller; surely, it would not fit. Sure enough, it fit, with room to spare! This put me in such a good mood I breezed through the meeting with the CEO and CFO. I felt confident and in control.

It's things like this that keep me on track and pushing forward!

Have a Super Saturday!

VLCD Day 10

2008-01-18T07:30:00.000-05:00

Yes, indeed!

Today is the first big loss this round----1.2 pounds! Woooohoooo!

Why? Who knows? There were many factors that could have contributed:

I've stopped exercising
I'm now getting a good night's sleep
I didn't eat all my food yesterday
I've eliminated Splenda and beef from my diet
I'm drinking more water and tea
All of the above?

I don't know, but am happy to see that number, and know that I am only three pounds from breaking the 200 barrier. You'll hear me whooping it up next week when that happens!

A sincere "thank you"...

to those of you who keep coming back to make this blog a part of your day. Knowing that you will be here keeps me committed and accountable, and gives me a sense of community. It's great to be traveling the road with you!

Have a great Friday!

VLCD Day 9

2008-01-17T06:39:00.000-05:00

Sleep Issues

Finally, a good night's sleep! My second night on "Sleep 'n Restore" proved this supplement has some merit. It's certainly not the same as Ambien, which puts you to sleep almost immediately, and solidly for the night. It took a while, but I did fall asleep and slept pretty well, aside from getting up multiple times during the night to pee (which is normal on this protocol). I woke up alert and ready to take on the day. If I had to characterize it, it would be as about half the strength of Ambien, but with a better start to the day. I recommend it if you are having sleep problems. I'll continue to test this and let you know if anything changes. You can find more information about this product at http://www.natrol.com/sleep-stress-mood/502-sleepnrestore/

Anticipation (is driving me crazy)

Like the old song by Carly Simon, anticipation is driving me crazy. I so want to get below 200, but it seems like it's taking forever. Many fellow HcG-ers have experienced the same thing: as you draw closer to a goal, things....just....slow....down. At the rate I am going (0.5 lbs/day) it will take me another nine days to get there from my present weight. I so envy some of my compatriots who are losing more than a pound a day. I may have to cut out all carbs and just do the protein and vegetable thing for a few days to pick up the pace.

The motivation here is not to compete with others on weight loss, but the realization that I only have a small window of time to lose weight (40 days). Each day is precious and there are a fixed number available to me. I cannot afford to waste a single day not getting closer to my goal.

Besides, I know I will lose days during Phase 2 to sickness, eating out or other activities that slow my progress, so in reality I only have 30 days to work with. Aggressively staying on protocol and avoiding hidden sugars, carbs, excess fats in foods (like beef) and sodium will mean I lose 25 pounds; taking a more relaxed approach means I will lose only 12 pounds during that period and have to come back for yet another round. The choice is mine, but I want to move fast!

Have a great Thursday, everyone!

VLCD Day 8

2008-01-16T07:56:00.000-05:00

Below LIW

Lost another 0.6 yesterday, so I'm finally below LIW and "off to the races" again! It took one week, but I'm back in the game and pushing to see the scale begin with a "1" for the first time in 20 years.

I've made some small tweaks that seem to be having an effect. First, I've eliminated all artificial sweeteners from my diet except Stevia. That should eliminate some of the sugars I've been unknowingly ingesting.

Second, I'm cutting down on spices, going back to simpler foods with salt and pepper. I sometimes think that adding many different spices to foods slows me down. This seems to be confirmed, as my wife (who is on the Bernstein diet) has been told NOT to use Mrs. Dash or other mixed spices.

Finally, I'm trying to eat more fish, rather than beef and chicken. I've been successful limiting my beef intake to once or twice a week, and that has helped, but I think fish is the very best protein I can eat on this protocol.

I've got lots of health challenges going on right now that have nothing to do with the protocol, so making things as simple as possible helps me keep my head above water emotionally and rationally.

Sleep Issues

Thanks so much to my commenters yesterday for their advice on sleep aids. I tried the "Sleep 'n Restore" last night, and it shows promise. Unfortunately, my RLS (Restless Legs Syndrome) decided to really outdo itself last night, keeping me up for hours while the sleep aid was trying to do its thing---resulting in me walking around the house in the dark like a drugged zombie for three hours. Although I am tired this morning, my head is pretty clear, so I'll be giving this another try tonight.

Speaking of RLS, I actually clicked through on one of the ads on Biz's site (I never click on ads) and found an essential oil that promises instant relief for this scourge. I have a free sample on the way, and will let you know how it works out.

Finally, my wife checked in at the Dr. Bernstein clinic this morning, and received the happy news she had lost her first 10 pounds. She is happy and re-invigorated for the next week. Biz and I had an interesting conversation about this, wondering if the results of a non-HcG 500-calorie diet will be the same as one using HcG. Will the fats be released from the same places, and will she have success keeping the weight off without a 'reset' hypothalmus? No one knows, but with more people using 500-calorie diets with and without HcG, we should soon know if Dr. Simeon was correct in his theory.

All I can say is, I'm losing weight and happy about it! WoooHoooo!

Have a great Wednesday, folks!

VLCD Day 7

2008-01-15T07:49:00.000-05:00

Back to LIW!

Finally, I'm back to LIW at 205.8---a very nice surprise this morning.

It's a good feeling matched by two people commenting yesterday at work, "Have you lost weight? Are you working out?" It's amazing what a difference a few days and about 1.5 pounds makes in how people see me and how I feel about myself. I smile to myself when I think, "this is the lowest I have weighed in about 20 years" and realize that the magic ONEderland is only 6 pounds away. What a day that will be!

Ambien to the Rescue

After trying Benadryl, Camomille tea, calcium and everything else I could think of, I finally caved and took Ambien last night and had a great night's sleep. After barking at my staff and various vendors yesterday, I knew I had to do something---they don't deserve a cranky boss. I'm much happier this morning and ready to face the day.

I stopped in at the local health food store and picked up a sleep aid called "Sleep 'n Restore". It boasts, "Promotes Normal Sleep Patterns with Melatonin and Valerian" and "Wake Up Refreshed with Powerful Antioxidants". It contains 3 mg of Melatonin, 100 mg of Valerian Root Extract, 800 mg of Glutamine, 25 mg of Grape Seed Extract, 30IU of Vitamin E and 72 mg of calcium. I'll let you know how it works.

Dr. Bernstein's Diet

I still intend to do a side-by-side comparison of this diet and our protocol, but it will have to wait until the weekend. There's a lot to research and write. My wife is struggling with a plateau at the moment; since she is going through menopause, she's wondering whether she is due for her TOM (which has a mind of its own) or doing something wrong on the diet. She hasn't lost anything for about 5 days now.

Aspartame, Splenda, and Trace Sugar

My wife commented that the folks at Dr. B's told her she could not have powdered NutraSweet (c) (aspartame) or Splenda (c) (sucralose). I've been using powdered Splenda throughout the protocol, but wanted to avoid NutraSweet due to doubts about it's toxicity. After checking both packages, by George, they may have something here. Both claim "maltodextrin" as their primary ingredient---which is sugar. So, if I'm eating more sugar than the no-cal sweetener...well, you get the point.

Is it a lot of sugar? No, of course not. But, I'm beginning to grow suspicious that small amounts of sugar in the protocol may be the poison that brings everything to a halt. If you read the various blogs of people on the protocol, the people who seem to do best avoid sugar like the plague, even in trace amounts. Are there exceptions? Sure, but I wonder if this is a general rule.

For instance, I enjoy tomatoes with my meals. This time of year, you're going to be paying about $1 for each tomato you buy at the store, and they taste like colored plastic. I decided to go with organic canned tomatoes, which taste FANTASTIC, but have a small amount of sugar in them. I wonder if that is stalling me out. When I ate fresh, raw tomatoes, I did not seem to have this problem. If I look carefully, how much other hidden sugar will I find?

Lots to look at and research. Maybe we need a poll on the HCG2 board to see what other people's experiences are. I'll talk to Biz about it.

Tuesday awaits. Have a great day!

VLCD Day 6

2008-01-14T08:57:00.000-05:00

Well and truly stalled

Just a quick note as I head out the door to work. Up again this morning, and the graph below) does not look good at all. Had a low-grade fever last night that appeared out of nowhere. I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow, seeing if something viral is going on.

It's really discouraging to have lost nothing for two or three days, not be feeling well, and not sleeping well either. Tried camomille tea last night with no success. Will try melatonin tonight.

Eventually, my body must yield to the low calorie count and start shedding weight again. It's just a matter of time and getting back in the zone.

Hopefully, happier times tomorrow.

VLCD Day 6

2008-01-13T07:27:00.000-05:00

Surprise!

Just as quickly as it came, the fever is gone, and I'm feeling fine. Weird! Was the fever caused by resuming the HcG, or was it a coincidence? There's certainly plenty of stuff going around lately. I'm just grateful to be feeling better, as I absolutely could not afford to be sick this week at work.

My weight is up this morning, and I notice I'm holding water. Has to be due to the physical exertion of the last two days and getting sick last night. I'm going to wait until tomorrow to get worried about it. OK, I'll worry a little right now. I'm kind of envious of Winston and some of the other men on the protocol who have dropped more than one pound a day consistently for weeks and weeks. Oh well...

On to comments and questions about sleep, or lack thereof:

tngrl80 said...

I so understsand what you mean. But I have one word for you.....CHAMOMILLE TEA!! Well that is two words but you get the point. Drink a cup about 30-45 minutes before bed and you will be out like a light.

I was able to drink half a cup of chamomille last night, and I think it did help a bit. I'll try it again tonight. It definitely has an unusual taste, sort of like grass. I woke this morning clear headed, which is very cool for sleep aids, so I will definitely try this again. Thanks!

maybejustme said...

Have you tried melatonin to help you get to sleep? Works wonders for me. I get one by "Natures Plus" at iherb.com that I find I like the best. Start yawning 30minutes after I take it!

Hmmm....I've heard of this before and will check it out. If I remember correctly, melatonin is the precursor of serotonin, which actually causes you to sleep. There are lots of choices in formulation at iherb.com and I will need to do more research on this. The time-released and sublingual versions look particularly interesting. Thanks!

bizadventure said...

The first week I am on the protocol I usually have issues sleeping. I don't even wait for it to start anymore, I just go ahead and start popping the benydryl around 8pm and then by the time I am up in the morning, most of that stuff has past.

It's good to know that others are having sleeping issues, too. I often wonder why this was never discussed by Dr. Simeon in his paper. Unfortunately, Benadryl and I do not get along well. Yes, it will knock me out like a light, but the effects seem to drag on into the following day. I feel groggy, foggy, and generally "messed up" for hours after waking. As they say, YMMV (your mileage may vary), and I know many people who do use Benadryl to get to sleep without the effects I have noted, so it may be worth giving it a try. Thanks, Biz!

Well, Sunday begins, and I need to have breakfast (half a protein and some veggies), so off to the kitchen! Hope you have a great day!

VLCD Day 4

2008-01-12T21:22:00.000-05:00

Well, This Was Unexpected

This has been an...unusual day. Last night, I decided that I wasn't going to let any VLCD diet push me around, I wanted to exercise. Fine, I get on the walking clothes and head out. It's a warm, windy night with showers. I get about 1.5 miles in, and notice my energy just...goes away. OK, that's to be expected, no carbs means no glycogen for the muscles, press on. Three miles, and I need to stop and rest for 20 minutes. This is going to be harder than I thought. Keep pushing, I want to explore that neighborhood. At four miles, I realize I'm whipped and better head home NOW. I get back in the house, and pretty much tell my wife I "did it again", I pushed too hard. Take a shower and fall into bed with some Aleve for the aches and pains and Benadryl to help me sleep.

Sleep eludes me until 2AM, and I wake up at 5:30 exhausted and unable to get to sleep. Not cool, dude. Get another hour of sleep between 8AM and 9AM. Get up feeling wiped out, achy and miserable.

I decide that action will clear my head. I proceed to do 7 hours of yard work until after dark. I come in for dinner absolutely knackered (love that word) and drag myself through the shower. My loving wife makes a meal for me that I am just too wiped out to eat. I eat half of it and develop the chills. Soon I am shaking from head to toe, I just can't get warm enough. Then I realize I forgot to take my HcG shot this morning. Could that be the cause of the chills? Couldn't be, that's silly.

Finally, my wife suggests I take my temperature; but I never get sick, why should I? Sure enough, I've got a temp of 101 and climbing. Suddenly I remember a number of people have commented on the board they got sick shortly after starting a new round.

So....I'm wondering if there is some connection. I seem to remember Biz was sick, and maybe Lynne. Anyone have a similar experience?

VLCD Day 3

2008-01-11T07:51:00.000-05:00

Ugh. Had another night where I could not get to sleep for love nor money. Finally got up and took some Benadryl, knowing I would pay for it this morning, and am I paying! I think I have about two neurons in my brain working right now, and one of them is complaining about it heartily.

I've always had a problem with sleeping, and going back on P2 just makes it worse. There just don't seem to be enough carbs in this protocol to make enough serotonin to allow me to sleep. I'm eating all my fruits and breadsticks, but it's just not enough. Does anyone else have this problem, and what solutions have you found that work well for you?

Becca had asked:

I'm very interested in how your wife's protocol goes. I don't see how they can advocate such a low calorie diet (or do they allow more?) without the HCG. And really Dr. Simeon's whole protocol is designed around the fact that the HCG is helping to release the stored abnormal fat. So more info on that will be most welcome!

From what I have observed so far, their diet seems very similar to ours, with the exception of a bit more carbs, and a fairly wide assortment of allowed foods. By wide I mean they provide lists of commonly available foods you can eat, specific to your local grocery store, by name of the product and serving size. The lists are quite helpful, as it removes any question of whether it is allowed or not, and you can easily match the foods on the list to ones on the shelf. Very little guesswork is required...simply follow the list, and don't eat anything that isn't on the list.

Another nice thing about this diet is that you don't have to wonder about a lot of the things that Dr. Simeon just didn't go into enough detail about. The staff and doctor guide you through the entire protocol, whether you are actively losing or on maintenance. And they have you do routine blood tests to make sure nothing is going awry.

This is one of the things I wish I could do--get ongoing medical support as I go through this protocol. Having the blood tests and professional help would be a great help, but I simply could not justify the costs involved. Not to mention getting up at 5:30 three times a week to weigh in at 6:15 in their offices!

I'll look into their diet a bit more over the coming days and try to give you more of a detailed comparison between the protocols.

Biz had asked a couple of weeks ago (I'm still catching up on reading blogs) about what we could look forward to doing in 2008 when we are no longer obese or overweight. That has got my mind percolating! There are so many things that I don't do anymore because I am overweight. It has been such a limiting factor. The amazing thing is how we slowly narrow and circumscribe our lives as we gain weight, having less and less fun year after year, sucking the zest and enjoyment out of our lives. And how we think this is normal! Doing a mind exercise like Biz has proposed is a sure-fire way to realign your thinking to the "new you" that is developing, and realizing what you have lost and are about to rediscover.

Speaking of exercise, I was able to get out and do a 2.75-mile walk last night without too much problem, although I noticed there was a lot less "spring in my step" now that I am back on a 500-calorie intake. I'll try it again this weekend to see if that is an anomaly or the new reality while on the protocol. Either way, I want and need to continue---it makes me feel more alive and adventurous.

Thanks for visiting and hope you have a great Friday!

VLCD Day 2

2008-01-10T06:42:00.000-05:00

Well, here I am, back for Round 2!

It is SO good to be back on the protocol again...it's a great feeling losing weight!

Although I enjoyed the unrestricted eating during the break between rounds, I found that I was chafing at the the three-week wait, and was just so over it by the middle of the break. By that point, the headaches began, and when they did not go away, I discovered my blood pressure was back up, and I was not able to get it back down without medication. Bummer! So, I have really been itching to get back on the protocol.

I'm going for the full 40 days on this round, as I need to make a serious effort to lose about 30 pounds. That should be two more clothing sizes and bring me back to where I was in my 30s...36 pants instead of 40s. Won't that be a hoot!

I've been enjoying walking between 2 and 4 miles every other day during the break, and I'm curious whether I will be able to continue on a 500-calorie intake. I do love my walks!

Hope you all have a great day!

P.S. My wife has started a diet program at a Dr. Bernstein clinic, and they use the Simeons protocol without HcG, and make a few modifications to the list of allowed foods. So far she has lost 8 pounds in her first week. When I reviewed the diet, I was amazed at how similar it was to mine, and sure enough, they acknowledge they based it on Dr. Simeon's work. Very interesting.

Still here....and still 7 pounds up

2008-01-05T15:03:00.000-05:00

Just a quick update...

Have not been successful in switching back to a P3 protocol, so I'm just keeping on with unrestricted eating, and holding my calorie intake to a level where I'm not gaining or losing. Strangely enough, I stabilized at my old 'set point' of 213, so my body definitely has a memory. I'm getting plenty of exercise, and just counting the days until I can get back into P2.

Three weeks is generally considered to be the minimum between HcG injections, and for me, that will be next Wednesday, January 9th. So I plan on resuming injections sometime around then. It will be good to get back "in the saddle" and resume losing weight again.

Of course, the penalty will be two weeks' time (one to lose what I gained, and one to catch up to where I would have been had I stayed on protocol), so that's a bummer, but what's done is done. What matters is direction and intent...and I am definitely intent on losing another size at least this round, if not two sizes.

I haven't been reading the board or any other blogs since Christmas, but I thank those who have left such nice comments here. I'll be back next week!

How to gain 7 pounds in 7 days

2007-12-28T13:58:00.000-05:00

Seriously!

Yep, managed to really do it...7 pounds in 7 days!

How, you may ask, does one manage this notable achievement?

1. Eat anything you want immediately after completing P2.
2. Be sure to eat lots of fast food with french fries and ketchup.
3. Eat LOTS of chocolate and other Christmas candies.
4. Repeat #2 and #3 every day (including between meals) for full effect.

OK, so I deviated slightly off the program...I know there was a P4 week somewhere in there...maybe it wasn't supposed to come at the beginning of P3? Eeek!

Now, back to our original programming...an all-protein day to get rid of the water and salts I have inundated myself with the last week. I don't know if I will be able to get down to LIW over the next week, but I'm sure going to try to get close. A breakfast of scrambled eggs this morning, and hamburger with cheese for lunch. Probably some sort of fish tonight, and hopefully two pounds of water will be gone by tomorrow.

I'm not too concerned about the scale at this point, because I know I have another round of P2 coming in three weeks, but this was most certainly not the way to transition off P2 into P3.

On the bright side, we had a fantastic week with my family in NH, complete with five-star dining and two feet of snow! We decided to bug out three days early, due to oncoming ice and snow storms this weekend. It took us 14 hours to get home to Virginia.

I did get out walking while we were home, and posted a personal best at 5.1 miles, in 28-degree weather, uphill most of the way. Woohoo! This exercise stuff is addicting!

Hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and managed to stay on protocol, unlike some people we know!

On the Road

2007-12-23T16:47:00.001-05:00

I've been on the road the last two days, and have arrived here in NH for the Holidays. I won't be posting for the next week, so I wish you and yours a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

See you in a week!

VLCD day 27: Last VLCD day

2007-12-20T07:23:00.001-05:00

We talk a lot about how the HcG minimizes hunger and enables your body to access fat stores for energy, and while you are in the midst of P2, you really don't appreciate that from day to day. When the HcG is gone, however, you suddenly realize how powerful HcG's actions are, and how insistent your body is when it can't access those stores as easily anymore.

In short, the hunger has returned! Is it manageable? Yes, but it's amazing how it locks itself front and center in your consciousness, demanding your respect and attention. Makes me appreciate the HcG just that much more! There is no way that I could do a 500-calorie diet without it!

I found myself cheating a bit last night--a few extra breadsticks, an extra fruit. Fortunately, I'm still at LIW, and I'll need to be more careful today.

I am so ready for P3 to begin on Friday. Just adding fats back into the mix will be great---my dry skin and rashes are warning me that I need to get some high-quality fats back into the system. My first dinner will undoubtedly be salmon, a favorite of mine, and all those nice omega-3 fats will do this body a world of good.

Picture day tomorrow. I can see the changes, and I'm sure they will show on the pictures. Will I be brave enough to post them? Probably not! [insert chicken sounds here]

Hope everyone has a great Thursday!

VLCD Day 26: Elvis has left the building!

2007-12-19T08:15:00.000-05:00

Down 0.4 pounds this morning, and I've decided to end my P2 round with yesterday's injection. This will make my Last Injection Weight (LIW) 205.8 pounds. I'll be on VLCD for two more days.

I must admit to being a little nervous about the next two days---will I get very hungry trying to maintain a 500-calorie intake without the HcG in my system?

And then, of course, there is the transition to P3---can I still control my eating without going hog wild, especially with the easy availability of sugars and starches?

This will certainly be interesting!

I am looking forward to adding more fats back into my diet, and expanding my choices of vegetables, fruits and meats. It will be great to have salmon, turkey, ham, green beans, carrots, grapes and other things again. The real danger will be bread and sweets, which I miss with a passion.

I'll just have to remember Cathy#1's words of wisdom:

Cheating is not an option.
This is only temporary.

Phase 3 is just as important a part of this protocol as Phase 2, and I need to keep my focus and discipline during this period as well.

So, three weeks of P3, one week of P4, and it's back in the saddle for another round of P2 in mid January!

WOOOHOOO!

Have a great day, everyone!

VLCD day 25: Finally! 20 pounds lost!!

2007-12-18T08:10:00.000-05:00

I swear, my body has a sense of humor.

With one day to go before discontinuing the HcG, now it decides to break the stall...with a 1.0-pound loss for a total of 20.4 pounds lost so far.

WOOOHOOO!

I really wanted that twenty pounds, and it feels good to finally make it.

It will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow morning. If I have another significant loss, I will be in a very curious position---do I continue until the next stall, or just pull the plug as scheduled? I'm greedy---I want to lose as much as I can while my body is "in the mood"!

This feels like the last episode cliffhanger of a TV program at the end of the season. Stay tuned!

VLCD day 24

2007-12-17T08:04:00.000-05:00

Ha! Back to 206.8 again! I've been within half a pound of this weight for the last five days now. Well, today is the day to move on, get past, and get clear of this sticking point. I've only got three injection days left, and I really want to make it to the 20-pound point.

Had my first really serious temptation yesterday, on a skip day. My wife and I were at the local mall to pick up some chocolate for her for Christmas. Good chocolate, mind you---Lindt truffles. If you've never had one---they are to die for!

They were even handling out samples..."Would you like a milk chocolate, raspberry, orange or dark chocolate truffle, sir?"

"I.........I.........aaaaargh.........I really want one, but I think I'll pass. Thanks anyway."

The woman looked at me like I came from another planet. What's wrong with this guy? Why is he so conflicted?

I was shocked how badly I wanted one, and how long it took me to get over it. But I stayed on protocol because I knew that if I folded for this, it was over. There would be no coming back, and I do NOT want to regain this weight in two weeks, which is exactly what would happen.

No, I am not going back, only forward. No chocolate tastes as good as thin feels.

But they sure did smell good....

Have a great Monday, folks!

VLCD day 23

2007-12-16T08:50:00.000-05:00

Up 0.6 pounds this morning due to water retention from saline enemas yesterday. No worries, it will all straighten out in the next two days.

It's obvious now I will not make 200 for Christmas, but I definitely do want to get to 20 pounds lost, so I'll keep on protocol this week. I'll probably do my last injection on Wednesday and continue on the VLCD until Saturday morning, when we will be driving to NH for the holidays. It will be good to have the P3 flexibility while traveling.

Then it's a question of whether to treat the holiday week as a "planned interruption" and get right back on P2 or continue for another two weeks in P3 mode, do one week of P4, and start another round of P2 in late January/early February.

Any suggestions?

VLCD day 22

2007-12-15T09:43:00.000-05:00

No loss again today...sigh. It's OK, though, as I had a great experience last night that has my spirits riding high today.

I hadn't done any walking since my blood pressure became a problem two months ago. The last time I did walk I was experiencing spasming in blood vessels at my temples, and came home and took my BP---it was 160/110! Yikes! That ended my exercising....until last night.

I could sense the difference immediately---walking was almost effortless. I was speeding along the road, feeling the power in my legs, not even getting warm halfway into the one-mile walk. My feet were looser in my shoes, and I felt great! By the time I came home, I knew something major had happened. Never had I felt this good while exercising. It was obvious that this protocol had preserved my muscle mass, only getting rid of fat and water.

After getting in and removing my coat, hat and gloves, I took my BP. Imagine my surprise when it read 135/78! I checked it twice in disbelief---it was correct. My pulse was only 88. Amazing!

I am in shock that a 20-pound loss can make this much of a difference. I'm starting to get comments from many people that I look better. My wife even told me I had great looking legs in my running tights and she was jealous (blush). At this point, I really don't care what the scale says this morning, I'm happy!

Imagine what the next 20 pounds will do! Wooohooo indeed!

VLCD day 21

2007-12-14T11:22:00.000-05:00

Well, an early start this morning prevented me from posting, so just the basics, OK?

Lost 0.4 pounds last night, and I could feel I was retaining water. I've been using a bit of salt the last few days and it is definitely having an effect. I'm not freaking out about it, as I know exactly what it is.

Winston had some great advice yesterday:

"Just keep focused and dont worry about how it works. As long as you are true to the protocol, it will be true to you."

Excellent way of looking at it! I'll just keep cranking along, and enjoy the process.

Biz also pointed out an important fact: no one except you can see the number on the scale---they can only judge by how you look, and how your clothes fit! Now, this is an important concept. I can tend to be happy or sad based on what the scale tells me every morning. To get around that, I keep a one-size-too-small pair of jeans in my closet, and after weighing, I put them on and marvel that each morning, they fit and look better. Now THAT makes me happy, as it is a great encouragement, and it more accurately reflects what others will think when they see me. A much better way of starting the morning, regardless of what the scale says!

Have a great day, everyone!

Boom, baby!

2007-12-13T08:20:00.000-05:00

A 1.2-pound loss to report today! WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!

Why? Heck if I know! The only thing I can surmise is that I pushed it way too hard physically yesterday, and that got the weight loss going again. I also stopped eating oranges, as another member of the board suggested.

So, today, I will pick up with the B-6, and stay on the straight and narrow, and see what tomorrow brings.

Thanks again to Biz, Crystal, Michaela, and Becca for the encouraging words yesterday, it really made a difference!

Have a great day!

VLCD day 19

2007-12-12T07:23:00.000-05:00

This will not be a "sunshine and rainbows" post, so if you don't want to listen to me rant a little, that's fine, come back tomorrow and things will most likely be better!

[rant]

I didn't post yesterday as I was home getting through some back pain and taking OTC pain meds--which stalled me out quite nicely. Grrrr!

This has been a frustrating week, with only three pounds lost. I've been seriously tempted to cheat or just give up. Fortunately, my will has won out, but it hasn't been a lot of fun. The phrase I keep reading in some people's board messages, "This is so easy!", really gets to me when the scale does not cooperate. This is most definitely NOT easy, and it's getting harder every day. The limitations of the diet are getting to me--the same three proteins, the same five vegetables, the same two fruits, every meal and every day. A body that seems to have a mind of its own, responding or not responding when it darn well feels like it. No sense of why I lose some days and not others. It's driving me a little (OK, a lot) crazy.

[/rant]

And yet...

If the weight loss suddenly resumed, I would be in heaven and saying, "It's so easy!"

I guess this goes to show me I am too invested in what the scale says, and need to step back a bit and count my blessings:

In less than three weeks, I have lost 18 pounds. Unbelievable!

When I get back from vacation, I can do it AGAIN.

By the time spring rolls around, I will be able to wear just about anything and look good in it, for the first time in over 20 years.

Surely this is worth celebrating, and it can only happen if I stick to the protocol.

But the boring food and lack of control in when I lose weight and when I don't is driving me crazy, and slowly undermining my will to continue.

I'm going to start adding some B-6 to my daily regime and see if that helps a bit. See you tomorrow!

=======================================================

My heart is filled with warmth and gratitude this evening for the following three reasons:

BizAdventure said...

Rant away my friend if it makes you feel better. I am sorry you are having a rough time of it. These are all things we must go thru. You are stronger than this, I know it, I have spoken to you.

Anytime you need to chat Marshall, you know where I am. I hear I am pretty good at motivating people (wink wink) - do you need some better recipes? I was thinking about making some videos on some of the recipes I make, what do you think?

Lack of variety has gotten to my son, but it's more his fault because he hates almost all the veggies, or is picky about how they are cooked. Good thing he is only on this for 21 days.

Let me know what I can do to help.

December 12, 2007 8:40 AM

TNgal80 said...

Hey hon I feel the exact same way (see my post today) LOL. But you can overcome this...we both can. Just think this is not for very long and you get your health back in the end....what is a greater reward than that?

Crystal

December 12, 2007 9:57 AM

Michaela said...

Marshall,
The first stall always seems to be the toughest. (Yes Biz, I know it's not a true stall as defined by Dr. S until it's 4 days or more.. we need a new word.)

My first round I was stuck at the same weight for 3 days and then boom 1.6 down the next. Hang in there.

Speaking of supplements, I found Acetyl L-Carnatine worked well for me there's a post about it one my blog if you want more info but it basically helps prep your fat cells for loss or something like that.

Hang in there!

December 12, 2007 1:54 PM

Having friends is a wonderful feeling---thank you, Biz, Crystal and Michaela, your advice and caring mean a lot to me!

VLCD day 17

2007-12-10T07:57:00.000-05:00

Only a 0.6 pound loss yesterday, despite sticking to the protocol to the letter, and eating only lettuce and celery for my vegetables. I had hoped for more. It's not looking likely that I can make my target of being under 200 for Christmas. Grrrr.

However, when I look at the losses from the rest of the P2 Thanksgiving Crew, I am not doing too badly--everyone has lost about 3-5 pounds this last week, except Jeanne who is dropping weight like a stone---WOW!

The only thing I can do at this point is keep on keepin' on, I guess, and maybe add a little walking back into the mix. It's getting warmer here in the Southeast, so getting out there is much more comfortable than last week, which was downright brutal.

I had a very enjoyable experience this weekend that is truthfully very insignificant but meant quite a bit to me. I sorted through all my clothes, putting away a fair portion as too big, including the jeans I have been wearing for the last 6 months. Now these jeans were the "relaxed fit" version, very comfortable, but very baggy as well. You know the kind, snug on the waist but ridiculously loose in the seat and thighs. They feel comfortable but look kind of ugly from the back and side.

I "traded up" to a regular fit one size smaller, and they fit perfectly! I noticed there was no "muffin top" hanging over the belt anywhere, too, a huge difference from just 4 weeks ago. I was surprised how much better I looked in the mirror with a good-fitting pair of jeans and a work shirt that went straight down to the belt line, not hanging over a couple of inches. And it felt great to be wearing a pair of jeans that were pleasantly snug and looked good, rather than tight and baggy at the same time.

So, small victories, but enjoyable ones. I could get used to this!