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

Double and triple post WTH???

Lioness,

I have never completely been free of hunger at mealtimes. It is just not all-consuming, as long as I pace myself for what I eat and when, and don't skimp on the water and the green tea.

In your case, you know that you had TOM for the first time in months, which is consistent with the effects HCG can have, so there is probably nothing wrong w/your HCG. You said yourself you continued to feel energetic from the time you started the program. If you weren't using the real thing, you would have been weak from hunger due to the VLCD, so I say keep taking what you have been and wait for your next shipment.

(Besides, yours better be the real stuff because I ordered from the same place you did for my second shipment!!!!!:bigsmile: :bigsmile:

Barb

Better than sweet n low or other chemicals is stevia. I have been using it to make a frozen coffee which is totally free! Freeze some coffee in an ice cube tray. Place the coffee cubes, just enough water to get a nice smooth consistency and 1 /2 packet of stevia in a blender (I use a nina) and pulse until smooth.

I posted this on diet and nutrition, but I thought I'd post it here for you guys. I just looked at the label for Philips Special crab meat from BJs. It has only 40 calories, 10 grams of protein, 0 fat and 180mg of sodium for 2 ounces. If your looking for something quick to keep in the fridge for a quick meal, this is it!. You can probably even add it to broth and make a great soup!
I thought is was a nice way to stay on protocol, but have something a little different.

My taste buds think we've gone to gourmet heaven on this diet. Lobster, crab, scallops, grass fed organic beef, Pellegrino. I love it.

Yes, I know. That is the one thing I love about this plan (when I feel like being creative) and what I always loved about clean eating low carb eating...............It is luxurious!!!

After seeing the successes here, I started researching HCG. I'm a worrier, so I looked at the possible side effects and they are pretty scary! How do you guys justify using HCG with some of the possibilities? Eek.

wondering the same thing

And by eating right when I was pregnant (hcg running rampant through my body) I lost 20 pounds. Hence, it worked for me before. I was just not disciplined enough to keep the weight off.

I have noticed no side effects - except feeling better than I have in years, needing no motrin for the constant aches and pains I used to have, having tremendous energy, fitting into clothes that have not seen the light of day in 2 years, buying organic food more often...

Yes, you know, with these side effects it's really hard to "justify" using hcg.

Oh - and another side effect is seeing bone and muscle definition that I have not seen in a long time. I didn't know I still had hip bones :laugh:

Don't mean to be snarky, but before you ask us to justify something, think. You've read about it. We're doing it. I think personal experience trumps research. Of course, stick with what you feel comfortable doing. For me, no amount of calorie counting and exercise could get me out of my plateau. This has.

You HCG guys are very tempting! Scallops? Lobster? Did someone call my name?

Honestly, I've been a bit of a forum stalker. I've read pretty much every post in this thread! I've been stuck for going on three months at 218-223 pounds. Doesn't seem to matter what I do - one week I lose, the next week I gain.

After seeing the successes here, I started researching HCG. I'm a worrier, so I looked at the possible side effects and they are pretty scary! How do you guys justify using HCG with some of the possibilities? Eek.

I'm contemplating an HCG try ... but I think my mind would be sick with worry of what could happen to my body. I'm sure I'd lose weight ... but is it worth risking my health otherwise? Gah. I don't know. I've tried other supplements - Tonalin CLA, GNC beHOT, Acai Berry ... not sure why I have my brakes on so heavy about HCG ... lol

You have to run with whatever you're comfortable with. I was concerned about the 500 daily caloric intake, more than the HCG. But...I've done fertility treatments and they put me on HCG with that. So...I knew I didn't have any side effects. In regards to my concern for the caloric intake...completely unfounded. Totally NOT hungry until it was about time to eat, and even then I filled up so much faster on less than I had before starting.

If you're interested in trying it, I'd suggest the shots over the drops (but chime in folks...what's your opinion??) just because that's what I've done previously in my fertility round. I got mine from alldaychemist.com. You can get nearly everything from them or you can hit Ebay for everything except the HCG.

And by eating right when I was pregnant (hcg running rampant through my body) I lost 20 pounds. Hence, it worked for me before. I was just not disciplined enough to keep the weight off.

I have noticed no side effects - except feeling better than I have in years, needing no motrin for the constant aches and pains I used to have, having tremendous energy, fitting into clothes that have not seen the light of day in 2 years, buying organic food more often...

Yes, you know, with these side effects it's really hard to "justify" using hcg.

Oh - and another side effect is seeing bone and muscle definition that I have not seen in a long time. I didn't know I still had hip bones :laugh:

Don't mean to be snarky, but before you ask us to justify something, think. You've read about it. We're doing it. I think personal experience trumps research. Of course, stick with what you feel comfortable doing. For me, no amount of calorie counting and exercise could get me out of my plateau. This has.

I understand. I just wanted to know what justified the possibility of side effects to each of you - personally. :flowerforyou: I'm glad things are going so well for you and for the others posting on this thread. If my post came out as "OMG this drug has so many side effects why the heck would you want to take it?!" - it TOTALLY did not mean to, lol

You HCG guys are very tempting! Scallops? Lobster? Did someone call my name?

Honestly, I've been a bit of a forum stalker. I've read pretty much every post in this thread! I've been stuck for going on three months at 218-223 pounds. Doesn't seem to matter what I do - one week I lose, the next week I gain.

After seeing the successes here, I started researching HCG. I'm a worrier, so I looked at the possible side effects and they are pretty scary! How do you guys justify using HCG with some of the possibilities? Eek.

I'm contemplating an HCG try ... but I think my mind would be sick with worry of what could happen to my body. I'm sure I'd lose weight ... but is it worth risking my health otherwise? Gah. I don't know. I've tried other supplements - Tonalin CLA, GNC beHOT, Acai Berry ... not sure why I have my brakes on so heavy about HCG ... lol

You have to run with whatever you're comfortable with. I was concerned about the 500 daily caloric intake, more than the HCG. But...I've done fertility treatments and they put me on HCG with that. So...I knew I didn't have any side effects. In regards to my concern for the caloric intake...completely unfounded. Totally NOT hungry until it was about time to eat, and even then I filled up so much faster on less than I had before starting.

If you're interested in trying it, I'd suggest the shots over the drops (but chime in folks...what's your opinion??) just because that's what I've done previously in my fertility round. I got mine from alldaychemist.com. You can get nearly everything from them or you can hit Ebay for everything except the HCG.

Thanks for the advice! I've got to visit my doctor this week, so I am going to ask his opinion and if he administers the shots. He's pretty "old school," so I'm not sure if this will be too out of the box for him or not.

:noway: ( administers the shots ) i am out ! :frown:

:noway: ( administers the shots ) i am out ! :frown:

LOL! Sorry, I'm not laughing at you...just your smileys! There are two options, you can do drops under your tongue or you can use shots. I self-administer the shots using a 29g needle (think tiny 1/2" insulin needle). You can get them even smaller (31g) but the 29g generally doesn't hurt.

Hey...that reminds me. Anyone else doing the shots? Do you get a STING every now & again? Something that makes you catch your breath & then makes you rub the injection site for a few seconds while it wears off? Or am I doing something wrong? It's not horrible (c'mon...if it stings but I lose 1-lbs + per day...it's TOTALLY manageable!) Just curious if anyone else has noticed this & if you figured out how to NOT experience it.

I rub my skin with alcohol pad first before injecting then LET IT DRY before inserting the needle- that reduces the sting. Also- the tighter you pinch your skin - the less it hurts. And Always pull it out straight and quickly- this should reduce the ouchie factor.
I did get the sting once - and it was I think, because the alcohol from the wipey was not dry yet.



Day 4 of VLCD - down 5 pounds! AND I feel remarkably great. Tummy growls periodically between the meals but I have been chugging water, coffee and tea and it really helps.

I didnt think I could REALLY consume so little food- but some how the HCG is workin' it's magic.

I was on a 1100 calorie a day diet for 2 months- and I was ALWAYS hungry- and fighting cravings but with the HCG and only 500 calories I am surprisingly - not struggling too much!

THEN I step on the scale and pounds are melting away, as promised. so I seriously shriek with joy and this morning I even did a little victory dance! (perhaps premature- I am still in the early stage of the diet)

question here when do you get off this hcg can you ever stop and keep weight off just wondering as i am always looking and reading pros and cons of whatever is new no judging just wondering as it took about a yr of reading , talking , watching ,utube ,post , blogs before trying it which i am in the 4th week 4 day today

I know several people that are maintaining their losses............

The key to maintaining once you stop the HCG is to adhere to Phase 3 and Phase 4 as it is written. Plain and simple. If you don't follow this plan EXACTLY as its written, your hypothalamus will not reset itself to the lower set point and you won't be able to stablize the weight.

Phase 3 is simply eat what you want, EXCEPT no sugar, no starch. That leaves ALL VEGGIES, FRUIT, NUTS, PROTEIN, FATS. All natural eating!!!

Phase 4 slowly starts re-introducing sugars and starches.

Hello Everyone--here is the latest on my progress
Day 18 and have lost 12 lbs. As of this morning, I weigh what I did the day I got married in August of 1990!! A weight I haven't seen since then. I still have at least another 50 lbs. to be at an ideal weight for my height, but at least the scale is finally moving again. :drinker: :drinker: Women usually lose less than men on this program--and every other one, it seems:ohwell: but an average of .6666 lbs. per day means I can expect to be down between 25 and 30 lbs. from where I started by the end of August. That is still much more than I could expect on a "normal" diet plan, so I 'll take it.

I lost my first 50 lbs. with calorie counting, fat and carb watching, and lots of walking, but after Christmas, I hit a weight I had held for several years, and couldn't seem to get any further. I initially read this thread and another one prior to it that rob1976 had posted on where he talked about the research he and his wife did before going on HCG. Somewhere along the line, I learned it could help with your body having a "setpoint" where you couldn't seem to get below that point. Since that seemed to be the problem, I decided to give it a try.

After the first week, I find the VLCD (very low calorie diet--for those new to the thread) not that difficult to follow. I confess to not being spot on with everything. I had a problem with binging on grissini late in the evening. Now that they are gone, that is no longer a problem. Regular melba toast, or Ak Mak crackers don't have that effect on me. I compared the nutritional values and ingredients of Ak Mak with melba toast, and there isn't much difference, BUT, Ak Mak don't have any artificial ingredients and all the melba's I could find did.

I also don't adhere to the don't eat after 6p rule, because on my schedule, I don't usually eat lunch until around 2 in the afternoon. I am not usually hungry right away when I get up, so waiting to eat is not a big deal. In the event I am hungry earlier, I will eat 1/2 a portion of the fruit that is allowed. I have also found I do better if I only have the cracker/toast component with my 1st meal and don't have any in the evening. It seems to keep me from wanting to nibble late in the evening.

I have changed my facial moisturizer to an oil-free product (Neutrogena), and although I due miss my Shea butter body wash, I can live without it until I am finished with the HCG. I continue to use the same shampoo and conditioner that I always have. My thought is that they are on and off the head so quickly that not much could be absorbed.

I am not weak or shaky as one would expect on a VLCD, so I feel like the HCG is having a positive effect. I can't relate personal experience about female hormone changes as I had a full hysterectomy early in 2009. I have continued to take a .5mg dosage of Estrogen since starting HCG. No changes I can see since starting it. By combining my foods carefully, I am able to get 60-70 grams of protein each day.

I also changed my food diary to monitor potassium instead of sodium. I figured sodium is taking care of itself because of the clean foods I am eating. Potassium is important to monitor on a VLCD to avoid any possible issues with heart function. I am taking a potassium supplement, in addition to a multi-vitamin and a resveratrol (anti-oxidant) supplement (since I am over 50), as well as my calcium, magnesium and zinc, and vitamin D. I did stop taking Vitamin E during this program as I read the fat in it can affect the success of the diet.

So, that is where things are. I am not quite halfway through my 1st course, and plan to carry on. I am even confident enough in what I am doing that I plan to visit our county fair--a giant foodfest--on Sunday with some friends. I plan to bring my own food and when my friends want to sit down and pig out, I plan to excuse myself and go find a quiet bench somewhere far away from the smell of curly fries and yakisoba noodles!!!

Good luck to everyone, and to the lurkers and skeptics, I can only say, I was hesitant, but decided there was only one way to find out if would work. For me, the proof is in the results.

The headache is normal for the first few days. Taking a few tylenol should help.