Checking In...

Sorry so long since my last post. I was able to have a consultation with Sugar Free and go over my blood work. I have ordered the supplements I need to help get my numbers back in line, and am getting ready to leave for vacation. When I get back I should have everything I need to start getting my body back on track! I hope you all are having a great summer :) No one is posting anything so you must be busy. Talk to you when I get back....

What Do I Do Now??

I got my response back from SugarFree as follows:

"Well, the good news is that your fasting insulin and leptin are just
fine; no worries there. The bad news is that you have pretty severe
thyroid hormone resistance -- in other words, you are, despite your
low TSH (which is actually a pretty useless test since it doesn't
measure anything directly, but by inference), very hypothyroid. Worse:
until you get your ferritin and D levels *way* up, there's nothing you
can do about it, since any medication will not be properly absorbed or
used.

As for elevated RT3 in HCG patients, I'm not surprised -- but it's not
the HCG causing that problem; rather a different and even worse double
whammy. Here's what's happening:

1: The HCG turns adipose proto-fat cells into full fat cells, just
waiting to be filled. Not good.

2: The Simeons' protocol -- as written -- drives up fasting insulin,
sometimes into hyperinsulinemea, which drives fat storage over the
long haul, once you're no longer starving yourself. Really bad.

3: The sub-starvation level calories, according to every thyroid
medical textbook ever written, WILL, if done over an extended period
of time (more than 2 or 3 weeks), CAUSE thyroid hormone resistance in
the form of high RT3. The worst.

This is what women are doing to themselves (needlessly, as I've proven
in my blog in so many ways), and this is why I started my blog to
begin with. So that they could see, through Simeons' own words, logic,
and science, and a live experiment -- working so well! -- what HCG
doesn't do (open fat cells or help with weight loss in ANY way), and
what it and the protocol as written does do: trash the metabolism,
make insulin resistance worse, make more permanent fat cells, and
promote thyroid hormone resistance.

Then they wonder why they keep gaining back the weight -- and so
easily. It's a horrible downward spiral, and I am so happy that I have
apparently helped some folks to see the light and give this up
forever."

I was really discouraged after reading that, but have since spoken with her directly and we are going to work together to get this fixed. I have to bring up my Ferritin and Vit D levels before I can start the medication to fix my Reverse T3 issue. She said that even though it might take a little longer having to do it this way, it will be easier in some ways because once that is fixed, I don't have the insulin resistance or leptin resistance issues to conquer as well. I am happy that I have a way to fix my issues once and for all. It is going to take a little time, but it will be so worth it!

Back in town.....

Finally got back from Houston and was able to pick up my blood work. Everything was looking pretty good except my Reverse T3 was way too high (not good if you would like to burn any fat), and my Ferritin levels were extremely low. I also remembered that someone posted a comment back in 2010 that after HCG they had very high Rev T3 and her doctor told her that she was seeing this in over 60% of her HCG patients. I have submitted my results to SugarFree and am interested in hearing her suggestions on how to get my body working properly again. I will post as soon as I hear back :)

Just Checking In...

I have been in maintenance since Monday. I have not been weighing or measuring anything. I am just choosing meats, veggies, fats, and a little fruit or starch. I have lost .6 since Monday. My glucose numbers have gone up a little now that I am eating around double the food I was before. Fasting glucose is between 80-90 most days, and the highest number I have gotten in the first hour after eating is 103. I think that is pretty good. I am going in this morning and seeing if my doctor will do the blood tests for me. I finally get to see my husband for the first time in a month!! He is flying in today. The next week will be insane, so I am going to do the best I can (4 day road trip) and then get my blood work back when I return. Then at that point, I can get to work :)

This might help....

Hi guys, I created a sidebar gadget that has the individual links for each part of the HCG Diet Analysis. This makes it simple for you to read and get all the information without getting lost in the process. Also, Sugarfree herself commented on my last post and would like your input about some possible ways of getting the information out to the masses :) Be sure to weigh in, and let her know what you think would be helpful. She also mentions that a new thread will be added in the next day or so with more information. I will post that when it comes up. Hope you are having a great day :)

As for me I am just following the same basic principles of high sat fat, mod protein, and low carb. I am not eating any carbs if I eat before noon. I am just eating when I feel that I am hungry, and that is not often. Here is what I have had so far today:

9:00am

2 eggs

1 strip thick bacon

spinach

sprinkle of cheese

3:45pm

romaine lettuce

ground beef with chili powder

1/2 avocado

sprinkle of cheese

dressing of sf salsa mixed with sour cream

3/4 of a small apple diced and fried in coconut oil. Served with sliced almonds and a drizzle of heavy cream.

My fasting glucose was 75. After my lunch it was 90. Very pleased with that. Not sure what else I will have today. I will wait and see where my hunger leads me :)

1 Week Results of the Un-HCG Experiment....

I finished one week of the experiment and here are the results:

Weight lost: -2.4lbs

Lost -1.5 inches off waist

Lost -1.5 inches off hips

Lost -.25 inches off each thigh

(Those were the only locations I measured, but I know I lost inches in other places as well.)

Avg fasting glucose: 74

Avg lunch 1 hr pp: 74

Avg lunch 2 hr pp: 74

Avg dinner 1 hr pp: 84

Avg dinner 2hr pp: 85

Overall I would say that is pretty good. The scale was frustrating. Now I remember why I got rid of it :) I lost for 3 days in a row really well. Then it went nothing, up, down, nothing. But no hunger or cravings at all. Energy getting back to normal levels. I also have to consider that before I started this I had been bedridden for 6 weeks, so using the muscles finally could be skewing the weight loss a little as well.

I fought headaches that were pretty intense and realized that this pain was the beginning of the pain that had put me in bed! I remembered how I promised myself I was not going to create that stress again, and that nothing was worth the pain I had been in. I said I would not be a freak and would just be sensible, and no scale. Well here I am weighing, counting and measuring everything. Stressing every time the scale said something I did not like. You give me numbers to hit and I will hit them. I follow everything to perfection. And I wonder why the pain was coming back???

So here is what I took from this experiment. I don't believe that HCG has anything to do with actual weight loss. I believe it is the composition of the foods we eat (at any calorie level) that determines if we lose or not. I believe that how easily we lose, under the right composition if food, is then largely affected by our own person levels of insulin and leptin resistance. I believe that on HCG, even though I lost ok, the hunger I felt tells me that much of the losses I had were at the mercy of my lean muscle. I can read back over the posts when I finished rounds that said I felt "skinny fat". Knowing that the HCG adds fat cells to my body that can now be filled, really bothers me. I also can't think of anyone who has really kept it off completely without eventually having to do more rounds to keep it there. (Myself included) Their hypothalamus did not reset, they just changed their eating habits enough to keep the weight stable. Then, if they start eating badly again, the weight starts creeping back on regardless of the new "setpoint". And for those who are not being really careful, they just gain it all back and then some.

Am I sorry I did HCG? No. Other than the fact that I made new fat cells :(, the rest is just a placebo in my opinion. But, it taught me how to break the sugar habit, to learn immense self control, to realize I really could lose the weight if I wanted to, and most importantly to realize that at the end of the day it was the choices I made of what to put in my mouth that made the difference, not HCG. It gave me confidence in ME.

So now I want to take all of the lessons I have learned so far, and put them all together. I want to make good food choices everyday. I want to keep sugar and processed foods to a bare minimum. I want to keep carbohydrates at a level that is effective for allowing my body to lose fat. I want to enjoy the food I eat and not be hungry. I want to be relaxed in my approach to weight loss and be able to flow with the ups and downs as they come. I want to accept that life isn't perfect and neither am I . Slip-ups happen, but I can be smart about them and get right back on track with little damage. I want to exercise because I enjoy it, and how it makes me feel. NOT to lose weight. I want to become the healthiest, best me, possible.

I am going to enter maintenance for a month and try to practice these principles. I am going to get the blood work done to see exactly how my metabolism is functioning, and where it needs help. Then in about a month I will do this program again for a week or two, and so on :) I am turning 40 this year in December, and my goal is to find that balance and start really living my life. Oh yeah, the scale is going back. My tape measure works just fine :)

Day Five of the Un-HCG Experiment...

Stayed the same today. I worked in the yard all day yesterday weeding and mowing. Must have gotten up and down a million times :) Very sore, so a little water retention is definitely a possibility! I still have the headaches here and there but less and less. I also am beginning to think they might be more related to my neck issues rather than any diet issues. What I really love so far, is that other than a period of hunger in the morning, I have no hunger what so ever. I mean none. On HCG even though I wasn't starving, I was always a little hungry or thinking about how long it was till the next meal. On this I don't feel anything. Also, I crave nothing. Weird. I know if I put a cookie in my mouth it would taste good, but I don't WANT to put it in my mouth, or spend anytime wishing I could. Now that is a first :) I found that by eating an ounce of protein or a TBSP of heavy cream in the morning helped the am hunger I was having. After that, I am good to go. I am absolutely loving the sunshine, FINALLY!

Day Four of the Un-HCG Experiment....

Somehow this post disappeared when Blogger went down! So, the basics were that I lost - 1.2lbs! That all of the losses have been during TOM :) Headaches have come and gone. Usually a period of morning hunger. Other than that no hunger.

Day three of my Un-HCG experiment...

Down .4 this morning. So that is a pound lost over the last 2 days eating fat and using lotions with the HCG still in my system. Interesting. HCG should be out of the system by today. I have been taking my glucose religiously in the morning and then for the 2 hours following my 2 meals. It is super stable and in fact it has never gone above 87 even in the first readings following my meals. I have been testing my urine for keytones. Every time I am at moderate or large. Most of the participants are only at a trace or small. I was hoping that would mean big losses, but who knows :) I had a headache and for the first two days, and finally don't today. I did not get the sugar withdrawl headache when I started HCG, and that surprised me given what I had been eating. I think the fruits gave me just enough to keep the headaches away, so once I took them out completely, I am guessing that is why the headaches. I have had some hunger at different times, but not bad. Mornings usually. No cravings or anything. Fat definitely tastes good :)

The How, What and Why's of HCG......

Hi guys! Sorry for the long hiatus. This last week has been an adventure.... in research that is :) For those of you who have been following my blog, you know that I am sort of a nutrition junkie. I always want to know the science of it all, and what is going on behind the scenes. Things need to make sense logically for me. Although "HCG" has been successful to me thus far many of the concepts just made no sense scientifically. But I liked the weight loss so I just ignored that :)

I was reading the HCG forums and was watching a "fight" back and forth while someone was trying to point out some issues they had with the science and why they felt it was wrong. Of course this peaked my attention. So I found their website and read it from top to bottom. For me this was the information I had been looking for. This is where all of the missing links finally made sense.

The website is: sugarfreegoodies.wordpress.com.

The website is a little difficult to navigate and find what you are looking for, but if you read HCG Diet Analysis part l,ll,lll, and lV you will have the basics and all of the science that surrounds it. Part lV can be found in the recent posts, but to find the first 3 parts you need to go to the archives for the last couple months. Then you can look around and find the threads of the participants that are testing out the solution theory of the websites author.

So after digesting all of this I have stopped the HCG as of yesterday. I am monitoring my blood glucose very carefully and being specific on which foods I am eating. I am going to get the required blood work done so I can really find out what is going on with me. I decided to get a scale because I wanted to see what if any effects this would have on weight loss or gain. This morning I lost .6 lbs and was able to use face and body lotion and eat 50gms of fat :) All while HCG is still in my system.

I am in no way discrediting any HCG followers. I think Simeon had parts of the picture, just not the whole picture. For me this makes sense. Finally. Take it or leave it. We all have to do what is right for us, and no matter what program we follow, I am glad we are in it together:)

I will post and let you know what I find out along the way :)

Day Six.... Happy to Meet New Friends!

It has been great to hear from all of my friends, plus so many new ones :) I am also glad that some of you are doing this right along with me. Be sure to keep me up to date on your progress.

No scale is so bizarre! I find I don't spend nearly the amount of time thinking about HCG. It is like I can forget about it during the day and just do what I need to get done. I don't lay in bed in the morning and wonder what the scale is going to say. I don't over analyze the previous days menu to death, wondering if there was a tad too much salt, or if something is affecting me because the loss is not as good as I had hoped for. Overall I am pretty relaxed. My energy so far is great. I am doing some exercise everyday, and that makes me happy because in the past I wanted to avoid it, in case it made me retain water, and I did not have a good loss. In general, it feels much more healthy and balanced :)

I will post what I ate, because I know people like to see what the diet is like when they are new to it.

Yesterday was:

Chicken, Romaine, Apple, Melba

Tilapia, Asparagus, Strawberries, Melba and Strawberry Lemonade

1 liter water, 1 liter yerba mate tea, 1 liter peppermint water

I am really missing my husband who is in Houston right now, but I am glad to be getting this over with while he is gone. So much easier without the temptation to go out with him :)

They Didn't Forget Me...... :)

I can't tell you how happy I was to see your responses. I thought for sure you had all written me off months ago :) Thank you so much for your kind words and for not kicking my butt for messing up. I think I have done that enough for you all :)

One thing I realized while spending 6 weeks in bed, was how bad I wanted my life back. Right before this started I was stressing so badly about my weight and I think it was one of the major causes of my issues. It was very humbling to come to the realization that nothing was worth what I was going thru. I don't care if I stayed the weight I am now, if it meant I could be me again and not be in pain. Why do women put themselves through absolute hell for a number??

Things are manageable now. I do my therapy everyday. I still feel it a little, and it gets worse if I am not vigilant. I know I need to keep my health and well being in the forefront now. I want to get some of this weight off, but I know I need to remain sane while doing it. I am actually really glad I don't have a scale. It takes away most of the mental aspect of things which is nice.

One interesting thing was that I thought I was so rock solid. I had conquered my emotional eating issues. I was in complete control. I loved the way I looked and loved my clothes.... All it took was the perfect storm of emotional and physical issues, combined with a little bit of cockiness on my part, and BAM! Right back to where I was. Wow. Lesson learned.

Emotional eating is EXACTLY like the alcoholic. Most recovering alcoholics simply can't drink anymore. No matter how long they have been sober, it comes right back if they let it. And sometimes it only takes just one drink, even after years of sobriety. I now know that I can't get lazy and convince myself that a little bit won't affect me, or I will make up for it next week, or I just need a little bit because things are so stressful right now, or use the holiday as an excuse for complete eating abandon :)

Sorry, this post is so long. Lots of emotions over the past 5 months. Feels weird not to be posting a number everyday, but happy not to be doing so :) I also notice that most of the usual suspects are not posting either!! So get to posting!! I miss you guys :)

What a Difference Five Months Makes.......

Where to begin???

Christmas was a nightmare and started gaining..... Tried to do HCG in Jan and was starving and miserable. Husband threw away my scale and said enough is enough. Quit after 10 days..... Gains continued.... Got sick and was bedridden for 6 weeks in EXTREME pain. Saw numerous doctors with no help. Took every medication possible: nothing. Ate for comfort and to ease the constant nausea. Gains soared.... Finally able to get out of bed, but devastated at how far I had fallen. Found out we might be moving to Houston, husband gone, and teenager pushing me to my limits.... gains out of control!!!

So, here I am today on day four of a new HCG round.

I have been all over the map emotionally. I have wanted to post, but was too embarrassed about the gains. So upset at myself for letting it get this far....

But then I remembered that this is where my friends are :) I have picked them up when they have gotten off track, and I know they will do the same.

I never replaced the scale my husband threw away. I did not like the control it had over me and my emotions. So I am doing this round with NO SCALE! Talk about freedom :) I know what to eat and not eat. I know what clothes I want to get into. So what is the purpose of determining my day based on what the scale says??

This will definitely be an adventure, and I am happy that I am back on track. I could keep beating myself up and self medicating with food, but it just isn't worth it. So here goes nothing.....