HCG progress and updates - for people on it or thinking abou

I'm on day 3 of the VLCD and I've lost 3.8 pounds. I'm very excited. I'm not very hungry... The morning is the hardest, not having anything but coffee or tea and water is hard to get used to.

I gained 4 lbs loading and lost it in 2 days, its sooo worth loading right because the first few days are hard enough just getting used to only 500 cals but if you load right you really wont be hungry. I am on my 6th day of phase 3 and still within my last injection weight, I love HCG and how well it worked for me to lose my last 17 lbs ( in 21 days what other diet can say that!?)

I am on day 25 of the protocol. I've lost SO close to 20lbs so far. I am proceeding with the injections un-monitored by a doctor (I've used HCG previously for fertlity treatment so I know I have no adverse reactions...so no lectures please). My intention is to go the full 40 days with a projected loss to 129lbs. I'm so excited! I'll only be 9lbs from my END goal-weight at the end of the month!

So I have 2 reasons for posting:

1. I just wanted to see if anyone else is being as strict with themselves as I am. I contacted a center who supports the protocol & they pretty much told me that as long as the products I'm using do not have animal fat in them, they're ok to use. So I went totally Vegan with my shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion...you name it. Did everyone else do this or am I going over-board?

2. I wanted to warn anyone THINKING about cheating...DON'T! It's not worth it. I was at 15 days, 17lbs lost and I went to a bachelorette party. How can you leave a summer BBQ without eating pasta salad? Well...I couldn't. It was the first (and only) time I've strayed from the protocol & I regret it immensely. It set me back big time. I actually gained 2lbs and it took me an extra 3 days to start losing again.

Good luck everyone!!!

Thanks!! I am trying to be strict with it, where did you find a list of approved shampoos and soaps? That would be great! I will definately be using asprin I am prone to migraines, especially when I have to work in the ER lol!!!

Today is Day 1 of the hCG diet and I am tired of eating, one more day of eating before ay 3 and I start the 500cal/day part. I have about 60 lbs to lose and am looking forward to seeing results. It is nice to see other people succeeding on this diet.

So when I read the protocol it said that the skin is veiwed as an organ & that it does absorb fats readily. So I did a LOT of searching on Vegan websites to find products w/o animal by-products in them. I tried to find "normal" products that I wouldn't have to special order from like France or the moon. Here's what I've come up with so far:

Shampoo & Conditioner: Alba (Target, some Walmarts), White Rain (Walgreens), or L'Oreal's EverPure line (everywhere)

Styling Products: Giovanni (Target, Whole Foods)

Deodorant: Lady's Speed Stick (everywhere...sorry but I'm not using a freaky crystal rock thing!)

Toothpaste: Colgate

Lotion: St. Ive's Soothing with Oatmeal & Shea (everywhere)

Face Lotion: Alba (Target, some Walmarts)

Soap: White Rain (Walgreens), Dr. Bronners (Whole Foods, some grocery stores in Organic/Natural soap section)

Make-Up: Bare Escentuals/Bare Minerals (website, Ulta)

Facial Cleanser: St. Ive's Apricot Scrub (everywhere, but read on the back for the one that states NO ANIMAL PRODUCTS because there are 3 different Apricot Scrubs & 2 of them have animal in them)

Make-up Remover: G & W (Whole Foods was the only place I could find it)

Chapstick: Carmex

Now please note that this is MY list, it's not on the protocol & is subject to errors...meaning that some products MAY have some animal products in them. For example, Bare Minerals make-up isn't Vegan but it's better than most of the normal lines out there. Another example is that the deodorant & toothpaste are made by the same company & they sent a letter out to state that these are their vegan products, HOWEVER to be aware that their suppliers are always changing and they can't guarantee that they are ALWAYS vegan. Ummm, sure, Ok. lol

Just a fleeting thought. Even when I eat EVERYTHING that's permitted daily...I can't seem to reach 500 calories. I got really close once at 462, but have never been able to achieve 500. Has anyone else noticed this or am I doing something wrong?

Ditto on the 500 calories.

:flowerforyou: Hi Lioness and Everyone Else!!

Thanks to fivefatcats for starting this thread. The timing was perfect. I had run across rob1976 posting on another HCG thread, and all the info he put forth about his own research got me to thinking. Like the poster who said they had been on a plateau, I have not had much progress since January, and while I am enjoying the healthy eating style I now employ, I want things to move along. I am tired of having a limited wardrobe because I don't want a bunch of clothes that will be too big, and I have several things that are about 10 lbs. away from fitting comfortably because of my stall.

Anyway, I did my own bit of research and decided to bite the bullet and buy some drops, and they arrived on Friday, so I loaded yesterday and today is my second day. To anyone reading this who says, "oh this is a fad --you will gain everything back." I seriously doubt it. For one thing, I have been maintaining with no difficulty for the last six months, and it was very difficult to force myself to eat at the level needed for a successful load. I started Saturday with slice of Starbucks frosted lemon pound cake--(look THAT up in the MFP database--YIKES!!:laugh: :laugh: ) and a full fat mocha w/whipped cream( I always have a non-fat, so that was a change.)

Unfortunately, I FORGOT to tell the barista to make it a decaf and so, since I am very caffeine-sensitive, I NEVER went to bed on Saturday night--just never got sleepy.:noway: I did catnap in my chair about 7a, but then I went out and met a friend for breakfast about 10a. Came home and took a three hour nap around 1p, and feel pretty good.

My big problem now is I have to have a substantial dinner and I don't really feel hungry:laugh: --the drops, I assume. There was a time when the prospect of going to Olive Garden or Spaghetti Factory and eating something high in fat (AKA just about their entire menu:laugh:) would have had me racing out the door, but now I feel more like the kid who is stuck at the dinner table staring at the brussel sprouts and hoping the dog will come by so he can sneak them off his plate!!:laugh: :laugh: :ohwell:

Ephay, Thanks for posting that list of personal care products. I ran across an oil-free moisturizer for sensitive skin, made by Neutrogena that I am going to try. Bought it at Target, but have seen it other places. They have an oil-free with SPF 15, but since it didn't say "for sensitive" didn't want to take a chance. Besides the coconut oil that was mentioned by another poster, I understand mineral oil is ok for topical use as well. And I was glad to see that White Rain was on your list, as that is the body wash I came up with that didn't have oil in it. You have to read the label, though because some of them do have fatty products--like if it says "Shea Butter"--obviously, not fat free.

My big problem is finding a multiple vitamin that doesn't' upset my digestion. I have been taking Gummy Vites for adults, and I LOVE them, but they have sucrose in them, so I knew I couldn't continue to use them. I found Nature Made Complete for Women on sale and decided to get a bottle--HUGE mistake. Two out of the three days I have taken them, I have had VERY unpleasant after-effects. Not to give TMI, but if anyone has ever seen a description of one of the potential effects that an Alli-user will get if they eat fat after taking that product--'nuff said. Anyway, I am going to hit Trader Joe's or Whole Foods tonight and see what I can find, but if anyone has any recommendations, I would love to hear. I prefer a smooth capsule as opposed to a big chalky pill--and a chewable would be better yet, but I am not holding my breath.

One thing I will mention, if anyone is having trouble finding sublingual B-12. I found it at Walgreen's and Walmart, but surprisingly, the Nutrition Center in my Kroger-owned, Fred Meyer didn't have any. FYI, the "Natures Bounty" brand of supplements available at Walgreen's is exactly the same product as "Spring Valley" brand at Walmart. Read the label, the mfg is same. If you are taking B-12, I understand it MUST be in liquid or sublingual(dissolving) tabs. They say B-12 can't be digested through your intestinal tract, so taking in pill form, even timed-release, is a wasted effort.

Lioness, I know you research things very thoroughly before taking any steps, so if you have decided to jump on this bandwagon, it just confirms for me further that I am on the right track.

If any of my MFP "pals" run across this post, they may be surprised I am moving in this direction, as I have not mentioned it previously, but I think it is the right thing for me now. I hope to lose 30 lbs. by the end of September, for a family event, and it isn't going to happen if I don't take drastic action. I also like the idea that every report I have seen is that one doesn't have the saggy skin problems with this program that can happen as a result of weight loss. I haven't really had that issue, but I don't WANT to have it either!!

Well, I have to go and find my dinner and suffer through my last loading meal, and then hit the grocery to prepare for tomorrow.

Good luck to all, and keep posting. It helps everyone!!!

weaklink: we are on the same schedule. I have loaded for 2 days. Yuck! and today I begin my adventure. I can't wait for my clothes to get loose. I hope I have problems getting the 500 calories in as well. I'm so afraid that I'm going to be starving and screw up. But, I have read and read and read and it is so important to not cheat and it's important to do the 3 days of eating 500 calories after the drops are done and the 21 days of maintainence afterwards to make sure the weight stays off. That's a long haul, but I'm going for it!

Can someone let me know where to buy these? I see them all the time but never know a good, safe brand...

Hi There! I started the HCG diet on 7/12/10 at 4'8" and 108lbs. I want to lose the 13 pounds (of pure fat!) I've gained over the last few years. I'm super excited about my weight loss thus far (4 pounds!) because it has been so hard for me to lose weight through moderate diet and exercise. I guess I just need fast results to stay motivated.

My mom is doing the diet as well and says she never feels hungry and actually feels almost euphoric. I feel quite the opposite. I'm very shakey and get super hungry at night. Do you think this has something to do with my lower start weight or is it purely psychological.

I'm basing my diet on the guidelines in the Pounds and Inches book.

Any suggestions?

Are you taking B-12 (liquid or sublingual) ? What other supplements are you taking?

Can someone let me know where to buy these? I see them all the time but never know a good, safe brand...

Check your private messages. I don't want to post websites in the public forum.

Thanks Rob. Yeah, I don't want to do anything to inhibit my weight loss. I'm using the sublingual drops that I mixed myself from the pharmaceutical HCG I purchased. It wasn't super cheap...do you think I got ok stuff?

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