To hCG, or not to hCG?

The last time I blogged about what I was personally doing, I was attempting a week or so of the VLCD without actually taking hCG. Yea, that lasted a week! By the end of the week I was STARVING! I kept hoping it would go away, or I would just get used to it, but I never did. I was able to get down to 157.8, but again, it wasn't about weight. But once I started eating again, I obviously went up a little bit - back to my 159-160 range.

We finally got our hCG pellets and protein powder. I had a lot of people asking about the difference between drops and pellets, so I did decide to do a final round utilizing the pellets. I loaded the 4-6th and got up to 166.3. The day after I started the VLCD I got back down to 159.2 - I'm currently on day 12 and am at 154 - Almost to my lowest point ever.

While I'm excited to be losing, that was not my purpose. I wanted to see what differences I could find between taking drops or not, how pellets compared to drops, and experiment with different recipes with the protein powder. The biggest differences I found between hcg and no hcg were hunger, TOM, and weight fluctuations. As I mentioned previously, I kept getting hungrier without the drops. While on the drops, I found with in a couple of days the hunger started going away. By day 8, I was just fine, and still am. TOM - I have an IUD and don't have a regular period, if ever. I realized the other day that every time I have started a round of hCG, I've started spotting. When I did just the VLCD, nothing. (Sorry if TMI for my male readers;). When doing just VLCD, I lost consistently every day. I even put on my heavy BBW body cream, and still lost. While on hCG, I've fluctuated between losing and gaining. I tried putting on BBW body cream again, and had a stall. During my very first round of hCG, I put on BBW cream with out even thinking about it, and had a gain the very next day - my only gain during my first round. I've also observed on days that I had to wake early for training sessions, I didn't lose near as much as on days that I didn't. Sleep makes a huge difference! I've also been lifting heavy this round, and am enjoying that. I'm sore and it feels good. I've been keeping track of my body fat % with a hand held BIA, and have gone from 22.7 - 20.3%, so I am losing fat, and not muscle, which is very desirable. To me, there were definitely observable differences that leaves me very confident that the hCG is in my system and works! At the end of this round, I will take a ketosis test, and will also have my RMR tested to see where it is at. A month after that, I will repeat these test to see what changes occur.

As far as differences between pellets and drops - I haven't noticed anything too different other than convenience and shelf life. We had a stronger formula created after my last round of doing drops, so I don't know how they compare to that, but compared to my last formulation used, it feels about the same. If anything, I don't feel as tired as I was last time - even with my early hours.

Recipes - still working on that one. I've been adding 1 TBSP and a packet of stevia to plain, fat free Greek Yogurt, and have done well with that. Tastes good to! I plan on going the full 23 days or until my body doesn't want to let any more go. In that time frame, I will come up with some recipes. Extracts are safe to use - mint is my favorite :)

So that is what I have been up to the last couple of weeks. As soon as I am done, I plan on giving P90X my full dedication! I've stocked up on Shakeology and Results and Recover Formula! I'm excites to see what this will do for me and if it will get me where I finally want to be. If not, then I'll reconsider the "Final Phase Fat Loss".

Always a plan, and sticking to it - what's yours? Hope you are all doing well in your resolutions and know that I am here to help in any way I can. Don't hesitate to contact me. Happy Losing!

167.2, 167.7, 166.4, 164.8!!! DONE!

Whahoo! So, on day 32, I finally reached my goal of 165lbs! And surprisingly, I only gained .5lbs after my night at Carver's! I attribute that to working out in the yard all day before we went, and drinking lots of water, and having just an apple for lunch. Totally worth it! I have stopped taking the drops and am on my second day of no drops - 500 calories. Thursday, I can start eating again! So here are my before and after measurements:

Shoulders - d1 - 44 - d32 - 44 (same)
Chest - d1 - 38 - d32 - 37 (-1)
Bicep - d1 - 13.5 - d32 - 12.75 (-.75)
waist - d1 - 32.5 - d32 - 30.5 (-2)
abdomen - d1 - 38.5 - d32 - 36.5 (-2)
hips - d1 - 43 - d32 - 40.5 (-2.5)
thigh - d1 - 26 - d32 - 24 (-2)
calve - d1 - 15.25 - d32 - 14.75 (-.5)
BIA - 27.8% - 23.5% (-4.3%)
Weight - 184(preload) - 165 (-19lbs)

So in 32 days time, I managed to lose 11.75 inches! It took me 3 months to lose that on BFL, but keep in mind, BFL is all about losing fat, and building muscle. While I definitely lost fat on HCG, I know I have lost muscle. According to my handheld BIA, I only lost 4.3% BF, which = only 8 lbs fat, and 11 lbs muscle... again, I don't put much faith in the BIA, but that is all I have to measure, until I can have someone else measure by calipers. The key now is stabilization, then maintenance. I'm curious to see what my body will do in the next couple of weeks. Will I put weight back on, by increasing muscle mass again - which I am sure I will, but will I be able to still continue to lose fat? We'll see. I'll definitely keep you all posted! For the next 30 days, I think I am going to try a cross between Jillian Michael's - 30 day shred - runnig outside, and the South Beach Diet. Still researching that though. And then I plan on giving p90x a try.

HCG has definitely been an adventure. It was awesome seeing the scale drops so fast, which is great for an impatient person such as myself :) But at the same time, I'm a little nervous as to the long term results... But I plan on continuing to eat smart and exercising, which shouldn't be a problem. I also plan on going to a gym in Ogden and having my RMR tested. This is an important number to know in case it is too slow, or very high. I'm hoping it errors on the side of high. :) Keep the feed back and questions coming, and know that I am here to help anyone that is in need! Best wishes!

179.7 - 179.4 - 178.7 - 177.6...! Day 12

Then 177.8? Say whaaa? So I was enjoying a loss everyday, and then today I stepped on the scale and was up a little bit, so I went through my food log, and was ok there, then got thinking... I shaved my legs yesterday, and then coated my arms and legs with bath & body works, body cream... checked the label - TONS of different types of oils in it! Geez! Definitely check your labels, even on body care! I also may be starting girl time, which I have read can effect loss, but its hard for me to tell, since I have an IUD, and am very irregular...(sorry if TMI:) The hunger has been a little better... I try to just drink a big glass of water, and they say you can use your fruit as a snack instead of with your meal, which I have been trying, and seems to have helped.

Starting to get compliments, and am noticing my own changes in the mirror. Our stake is having a clothing drive, and so I started going through my closet trying stuff on - almost none of my old pants fit! And on Friday, we went to the Park City Outlet mall, and I found some Nike yoga pants in a Large for $15, and a sweet new swim suit for $25 in a 10-12! Good day! Can't wait to see what 3-4 weeks and another round of working out will bring :) I definitely plan on working out again after this is over with - I sure miss it! Not sure what I will do... thinking p90x, or have heard the new one 'insanity', I'm open to any suggestions if any one has something they are curious about, I also think I may try the Mediterranean, or South Beach diet... again - open to suggestions :) I am planning on doing the full 43 days, or till I get to 165lbs, which ever comes first (I'm hoping 165!. So, 13 more lbs, and a little wiggle room wouldn't hurt. I just know that I plan on having at least 1 more kid, and do not EVER want to get back up to my 235-245 pregnancy weight, nor EVER see 200 again! NEVER AGAIN! :) I also measured my self, and had a decrease every where...

pre measurements - week 1

shoulders - 44 - 44
Chest - 38 - 37.5
Bicep - 13.5 - 13.25
Waist - 32.5 - 32
Abdomen - 38.5 - 38
Hips - 43 - 42.5
Upper Thigh - 26 - 25.5
Lower Thigh - 22.5 - 21.75 - I have this dimple in my lower thigh that I want gone!
Calve - 15.25 - 15

Weight - 184/192 - 177.6
Body Fat - 27.7% - 26.1%

Hopin for a better day tomorrow :) Keep the questions coming - you can email me at Iluvtnf@aol.com, or find me on facebook :)