180.6- Very long with lots of jargon

I started reading "Pounds and Inches" again last night (I've started it before, but never made it far, and I relied entirely on Rachel's email).

There are some things that I read that I didn't know, or that I used to know, but forgot... refresher courses are always good.

According to Dr. Simeons, 125 I.U. is the maximum dosage (.25 cc according to Simeons). Converted to Homeopathic HCG instead of injected HCG (Homeopathic reccommends .5 cc), this converts to about 36-45 drops per day. Link I usually take about 12-15 drops 3 times a day. I stopped counting my drops a long time ago. It's about 3/4 of a dropper full.

While reading, I found this (in a section about what someone's weight should be) and thought of Rachel. I laughed. I thought you might too. "In women it is often necessary to make an allowance for particularly large and heavy breasts."

"All patients must continue the 500 calorie diet for 3 days after the last [dose]." I've skipped that part in the past. It is the part that prevents you from gaining back weight (along with no starch or sugar for 3 weeks).

"When a patient has more than 15 pounds to lose the treatment takes longer but the maximum we give in a single course is 40 injections, nor do we as a rule allow patients to lose more than 34 lbs. (15 Kg.) at a time. The treatment is stopped when either 34 lbs. have been lost or 40 injections have been given. The only exception we make is in the case of grotesquely obese patients who may be allowed to lose an additional 5-6 lbs. if this occurs before the 40 injections are up." I used to be in that category, but I do not believe I am anymore. This leads me to believe that I can expect to lose no more than 34 lbs this round. I also used to think that the cycles were either 23 days or 40 days. This makes me believe that you can stop in between the 2 and not have adverse effects.

Also, I frequently feel hungry and stop losing weight around day 35. Per the book: "In those comparatively rare cases in which signs of immunity develop before the full course of 40 injections has been completed-say at the 35th injection- treatment must be stopped at once, because if it is continued the patients begin to look weary and drawn, feel weak and hungry and any further loss of weight achieved is then always at the expense of normal fat. This is not only undesirable, but normal fat is also instantly regained as soon as the patient is returned to a free diet." It goes on to say that you can skip a day a week to delay immunity.


"A protein-deficient diet makes the body retain water."

Specific Diet:


Breakfast: Tea or coffee in any quantity without sugar. Only one tablespoonful of milk allowed in 24 hours. Saccharin or Stevia may be used.

Lunch: 100 grams of veal, beef, chicken breast, fresh white fish, lobster, crab, or shrimp. All visible fat must be carefully removed before cooking, and the meat must be weighed raw. It must be boiled or grilled without additional fat. Salmon, eel, tuna, herring, dried or pickled fish are not allowed. The chicken breast must be removed from the bird. (There is no telling how many times I've unknowingly eaten other parts of the chicken) One type of vegetable only to be chosen from the following: spinach, chard, chicory, beet-greens, green salad, tomatoes, celery, fennel, onions, red radishes, cucumbers, asparagus, cabbage. (Green peppers? I eat them all the time on the diet.)
One bread stick (grissino) or one Melba toast. (Maybe it's because our toast is different in America, but this stuff makes you gain weight)
An apple or a handful of strawberries or one-half grapefruit.


The fruit or the bread stick may be eaten between meals instead of with lunch or
dinner, but not more than than four items listed for lunch and dinner may be eaten
at one meal.


Dinner : The same four choices as lunch.

"In fact, the patient should drink about 2 liters of these fluids per day."


"Every item in the list is gone over carefully, continually stressing the point that no variations other than those listed may be introduced. All things not listed are forbidden, and the patient is assured that nothing permissible has been left out. The 100 grams of meat must he scrupulously weighed raw after all visible fat has been removed. To do this accurately the patient must have a letter-scale, as kitchen scales are not sufficiently accurate and the butcher should certainly not be relied upon. Those not uncommon patients who feel that even so little food is too much for them, can omit anything they wish."




Unapproved fish are: all those species such as herring, mackerel, tuna, salmon, eel, etc., which have a high fat content, and all dried, smoked or pickled fish.


"When local conditions or the feeding habits of the population make changes necessary it must be borne in mind that the total daily intake must not exceed 500 calories if the best possible results are to be obtained, that the daily ration should contain 200 grams of fat-free protein and a very small amount of starch."


"Very occasionally we allow egg - boiled, poached or raw - to patients who develop an aversion to meat, but in this case they must add the white of three eggs to the one they eat whole. In countries where cottage cheese made from skimmed milk is available 100 grams may occasionally be used instead of the meat, but no other cheeses are allowed." EWWW- Raw eggs?

"After the fourth or fifth day of dieting the daily loss of weight begins to decrease to one pound or somewhat less per clay, and there is a smaller urinary output. Men often continue to lose regularly at that rate, but women are more irregular in spite of faultless dieting. There may be no drop at all for two or three days and then a sudden loss which reestablishes the normal average. These fluctuations are entirely due to variations in the retention and elimination of water, which are more marked in women than in men."

Six apples in one day while drinking a minimum amount of water can be used to break up a plateau of 4-6 days.

"Oral contraceptives may be used during treatment." I've been curious about this one.

Water retention can be caused by a sunburn, a common cold, or overexertion.

Some things I noticed while reviewing the original email that got me started:
"Make sure you drink 1/2 to 1 gallon of water every day." That's only 2 bottles of water. That sounds much more attainable than the 8 that I had thought before. Obviously, water is muy importante, but I think being sure to drink some is easier than trying to force yourself to drink a ton.

Signs of obesity: "Common clinical symptoms which are indicative only in their association and in the
frame of the whole clinical picture are: frequent headaches, rheumatic pains
without detectable bony abnormality; a feeling of laziness and lethargy, often both
physical and mental and frequently associated with insomnia, the patients saying
that all they want is to rest; the frightening feeling of being famished and
sometimes weak with hunger two to three hours after a hearty meal and an
irresistible yearning for sweets and starchy food which often overcomes the patient
quite suddenly and is sometimes substituted by a desire for alcohol; constipation and a spastic or irritable colon are unusually common among the obese, and so are menstrual disorders."

"Great Value Crushed Tomatoes do not have sugar, and are acceptable on the diet."


This was supposed to be an optimistic post, but I tried to eat my dinner.

For lunch- I made chicken soup with green peppers, tomato, onion, and water. I added seasonings, and it was mediocre, but edible. I made the same meal for dinner, except it had hamburger meat in it instead of chicken. Half of the bowl of soup is still sitting beside me. I can't eat it. I just can't. Every time I swallow, I get nauseous. I moved it out of my sight. I ate an apple after lunch and before diner.

I weighed 184.8 this morning... after Thanksgiving and stuff.
I've drank 2 bottles of water since I got to work.

I'm pulling a bunch of overtime at work this week (for Amazon), and I'm already feeling the pessimism setting in. I'm nowhere close to giving up, but I probably won't finish that soup.

Motivation

Fallback

My lowest weight: 169.4 lbs

My weight this morning: 180 lbs

Lets talk about mistakes. I'm not perfect, nobody is. Sometimes, I choose not to dwell on mistakes. I choose to move on, and just start fresh. That will not work right now. There are mistakes I made on my last round that I do not want to make again. I need to point out those mistakes. 

Preparation: When I first started this, I used to prepare my meals ahead of time. I would pre-measure chicken/beef and put it in the freezer to cook later. I did not do that on my last round. I tried (too frequently) to cook my meal when I cooked Rob's. Way too often, that ended up with a little oil in my skillet, or some vegetable that isn't on my list on my plate. I also wasn't entirely prepared to deal with my diet/work schedule.

Motivation: I started off motivated, but at some point, I forgot why I was doing it. I didn't have anything set in place to prevent my motivation from slacking.

Help: I did not have an accountability partner. I wrote my weight on the calendar every day, but that is not enough. On days when I was irritated with my weight, I would not write it down, and some days, I did not even step on the scale. 

Commitment: At some point (when my motivation fell), I started thinking about all of the reasons that the diet wasn't working. I started pointing out flaws in the formula, flaws in the diet plan, and I started doubting my own personal need for the diet. I started adjusting the formula just enough to appease my wants.

Follow up: I stopped blogging about my journey. When I had a bad day, I kept it to myself. When I had a good day, I didn't share it enough. 

I became content. I got to the point where my clothes fit fine. People told me how good I looked. I felt good. It was all enough for me. I was happy with my success. 

Oh... and diet sodas. This is a journey to getting healthy, not a journey to getting skinny. Diet sodas are not healthy (nor are they permitted on HCG). 

Finishing Strong: Prevention

My weight this morning: 180 lbs

My goal weight: 140 lbs

Preparation: I will purchase and pre-measure portions for meals. I will not cook my food in the same skillet as Rob's. I may have Rob feed himself for a month. I will create a schedule (similar to the one I did way back when) to figure out when I will eat, sleep, go to class, and work. I will reread the email that got me started, so I will remember (and abide by) all of the rules that may have slipped my mind.

Motivation: I will make a list on a poster and hang it on the fridge. I will hang another above the scale in the bathroom. I will also post that list on this blog. 

Help: I will text my weight (and the daily change) to Rachel every morning. I will talk to someone when I am struggling. I will not bring Rachel down, and I will not allow her to bring me down. We will lift each other's spirits when needed.

Commitment: I will make the decision in advance to complete this round. I will not tolerate negative behavior from others, or from myself. I will remember that what this diet has done for me, and that it has worked, and therefore, it does work. 

Follow up: I will blog at least once a week including weight and experiences. I will be sure to write when I have ups and when I'm experiencing downs. 

I will not give up. I will not be satisfied with anything less than healthy (140). I will remember that obesity assists in causing heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and many more health issues. I will do everything in my power to live as long as I can, and make those years as valuable as possible- for my family, for my friends, and for myself. I will set a positive example for my niece, for my nephews, and for any future children I may have. I will strive to have a healthy body, so when I am ready for a child, my body is ready to provide a safe home for that baby during pregnancy. 

I will drink plenty of water. I will not drink diet sodas or anything else that is prohibited on the diet. I will follow the rules. I will watch HCG work. I will finish this. 

Sunday, November 25th will be the first day of the second to last round of HCG I will be doing. No holding back. I've got this.

I did something silly

First let me tell you why:

My shoulder is seriously jacked up. I have done the whole "rigorous exercises" with my arms- lifting weights, doing push ups, etc- and have had to stop a few weeks in after my shoulder starts hurting. My arms are now saggy with the extra skin/fat that has fallen down since I have started losing weight.

Now I will tell you what:

I bought this- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001VC16LS/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00

The reviews on this and similar products are very high. My hopes are high.





Also, I did a body wrap today, which may or may not have dissociated some of my celulite.

Current weight. 169.2. I didn't lose any weight on my final 2 weeks of HCG. I guess I'm getting to that point.

Warning: Long Post Ahead

I know that I said I would bask in my success today, and that I would wait to set my final goal, but I'm a little gung hoe right now.

See, I basked in my weight loss all day today. I woke up this morning, and saw the scale (YAY!)

Then I went to work to do my final weigh in for the biggest loser contest. Even the scale at work said 169.4. I lost 12.14% of my body fat, and I won. Then I went to school, where my first class was let out an hour early, and my second was let out 45 minutes early.

I went straight from school to go find a good nail salon that could do my nails on such short notice. When I found one, I decided to go ahead and get a pedicure as well. I've never had one before. It was fun, and the lady made them purple to match my nails. So, now my toes do not look that funky chipped away red color that they are in the picture.

I went online and bought more HCG (because I'm almost out). I bought it from http://www.hcgdropsreal.com - They claim to have the real stuff. I guess we'll see. I'm pretty sure it's illegal to have the real stuff, but I kind of hope they're breaking the law. Link 

I also bought some sandals (that aren't flip flops, so I can wear them to work) online. I'm pretty sure I'm done now... except I think my mom owes me a new outfit... Pretty sure she said she'd buy me one when I first started these shenanigans.

If you remember, when I started the biggest loser contest, my co-worker Joe and I decided to have a little side contest. So, I would have won that today as well, and I could have just gotten $25 from him, but I made him a little wager.

I have always said I would reevaluate myself at 170. I knew it wasn't a healthy weight either, but it was so unfathomable for me when I was 270, that I needed to have that mile marker. I guess this is where I'll tell you my new goal. I will be healthy at 140lbs. It's a perfectly healthy weight for a 5'3" woman. That's 30 pounds left to lose. I could use a little extra motivation for that (even though I'm in the middle of a round of HCG). That brings me back to the wager with Joe- He is heavier than I am, so a "biggest loser" type of contest would give me an advantage. It would be percentages, and I wouldn't have to lose as much weight as he would to lose the larger percentage.

Basically, the rules go like this:

• Double or nothing. Now the loser pays the winner $50.
• Pound for pound. No percentages this time. If we did percentages, I could lose 10lbs and win. I don't want to win just from losing 10lbs.
• Weigh in once a week. This is more about motivation than it is about competition. We'll lose our motivation if we aren't constantly reminded.
• Starting tomorrow and going to October 8th. That's 3 months to lose 30lbs.
• If I lose 30lbs, and he loses 30+lbs, then we tie. Game over. Nobody pays. I have no reason to lose more than 30lbs, so I think that's fair, and I want to help motivate him to at least start getting healthy.

That's pretty much that. Moving on:

I am doing a cellophane wrap in a couple of weeks. I think it's on the 26th, but I've got to call to make sure. It's whenever my round of HCG is over. Basically, it claims that it is a detox process that will help me lose 1-4". I'm not so concerned about the inches, and I definitely don't expect to lose weight from it, but I would like for my fat to be reshaped... if that's possible. I'm expecting it to loosen up my cellulite clumps, so I can lose them more evenly. At the very least, it's going to be fun and girly.

According to the HCG I'm using now, I could do this round for more than 40 days, but the cellophane people won't let me get wrapped while I'm on HCG, so I may just take off for a few days to do the wrap, and jump right back on. The HCG I'm switching to is supposedly pure, so I would become immune to it after 40 days, but I'm not starting it until next week sometime.

A couple of things that I would like to point out at this time:

• My thighs still rub together a little. Not a lot, but some.
• I still have a fat roll that hangs down from my stomach. It's much smaller, and much flatter, but it's still there.
• My arms are very dangly. They are not so full of fat, but they are flabby.
• Pretty much all of my skin is stretchy. Except for my arms and my stomach, my skin doesn't hang down, but it's pretty stretchy everywhere.
• My bum is still very voluptuous. It is still very bubbly, and very... umm... out there.
• I've been wearing the jeans from the back of my closet that never fit.
• I can see my collar bone very clearly.
• I'm pretty sure my ring size has gone from a 10 to a 8. My size 9 ring is too big. I'm not sure what size my previous rings were, but I think they were a 10.

Here we go.

Finish Strong. 

169.4

I could cry right now... seriously... It's a good day. At some point in the not too distant future, I'll reset my goals, but right now, I'm going to bask in this.

I've lost a hundred pounds. Officially.


And final weigh in for the biggest loser contest is this morning. Wish me luck!

174.4

I got this. That is all.