My HCG Diet Journey

Well, I decided to begin blogging and thought I would start with one about my HCG diet journey and experience so far.

I started the HCG diet on Sept. 11, 2009...with lots of hope and a little skepticism. It really sounded too good to be true and honestly I was a little worried about starting something that involved taking a hormone into my body. I had lots of questions (i.e., "If this diet is safe and really so great, why aren't we hearing more about it...especially from Hollywood?" ; "Why does my doc not recommend it?; "Will this be just another fad diet"; etc...)

I have now completed my 1st Phase 2 (P2) part of the diet and am just beginning my 6-week maintenance phase (P3). I have "released" 25 lbs and 27.75 inches and it was amazingly easy. I am extremely pleased and cannot wait to go onto my next "round" and continue toward my weight loss goal. I am only into Day 3 of my maintenance phase in which I am allowed to begin introducing all foods, except NO SUGAR/NO STARCHES.

The GOAL of P3 is to create a new weight set point, a weight that my body will automatically maintain...close to my last HCG date weight. It was very scary...going from a very specific diet, knowing exactly what I can eat and how much, while taking the HCG and never really experiencing hunger to not having the HCG and being REQUIRED to eat a minimum of 1500 calories per day, mostly protein. This is very important in order to accomplish the GOAL of P3.

The first two days I was supposed to begin adding back in all foods, except sugars/starches, I really had to force myself to eat...not really even being hungry, more than once a day. But, I did it. I think I did pretty well. Here is what I ate:

Sat. 10/24/09
Breakfask: 2-egg Omelet with turkey sausage, onions, tomatoes, 3T cheddar cheese and 2 cups of Chai tea (tea bags, not mix) with skim milk

Lunch: St. Louis Bread Co Greek Salad that I added 3 chicken tenderloins (from home) to it. Fresh squeezed Stevia sweetened lemonade to drink. Apple for dessert.

Snack: About 2 oz or less of mixed nuts

Dinner: Some leftover tuna fish salad with mayo, egg, pickle. I also had about 2 oz of Beef Jerky.

Sun 10/25/09

Brunch: 2-egg Omelet with turkey sausage, onions, tomatoes, 3T cheddar cheese and 2 cups of Chai tea (tea bags, not mix) with fat free half & half. 1 apple with 2 Tbls peanut butter

Snack: 1 apple and 1 oz mixed nuts

Lunch: Large salad w/ mushrooms, cucumbers and REAL blue cheese dressing

Dinner: South Beach High Protein Cereal Bar, 1 0z Beef Jerky, Chai Tea

Dessert: Chocolate/banana Pudding Shake (made with cottage cheese, 2 eggs, 1 cup milk, 3T half & half, unsweetened cocoa, chocolate stevia drops and vanilla creme drops..YUMMY!

So, I feel like I am eating a lot..but I have not counted calories, so I really don't know how I am doing. I also don't really know exactly how much protein I need each day, so I need to research that more. I did find something online that says you need 1 gram of protein for every 2.2 lbs. So, I did a quick calc of my intake on Sunday and it looks like I might have gotten about 70 grams give or take. If my calculations are correct, I probably needed more like 100 g, but at least I am over half way to where I should be.

Since I am currently going through Pounds and Inches Away, I am going to be calling in today to check in and see what they think. When I weighed in today I was 1 lb below my last HCG day...so that is good :)! We are not supposed to go 2 lbs +/- either way during P3.
So, it's early still, but so far, so good :-)
Take care,
JulieB