R2 P2 D28.... PROGRESS PICTURES!

Up +.6 lbs. Not sure why. I have been running ragged and not drinking much water or eating much. I will try to get in tons of water today and SLOW down :)

On a brighter note, I took my progress photos today. I have lost 68 lbs since January 9, 2009! Since starting HCG I have lost 32.6 lbs! I thought long and hard about posting my starting photos with these. They are so utterly embarrassing. But the truth is what it is. That was me. And it only makes where I am now that much more amazing. So I apologize for the first photos! The second photos are when I started HCG, the third are after round one, and the last are today at end of round 2.

© Jennifer Payne, West Jordan, Ut. "All Rights Reserved"

© Jennifer Payne, West Jordan, Ut. "All Rights Reserved"

© Jennifer Payne, West Jordan, Ut. "All Rights Reserved"

I am very happy, and hope that P3 treats me nicely :)

Here is what I ate today:

grilled chicken breast, salad

rib eye steak, broccoli, mashed cauliflower, celery, 1 TBSP spinach artichoke dip

I had to eat out both meals today. So I did not eat any of my fruits or grissini. I start P3 in the morning so I figure I should be okay. I am a little nervous that the meats could have more sodium or marinating, that might cause a water retention gain. Oh well. We shall see :)

R2 P2 D27...

151.8 at LIW. 2nd day of no shot/500 calories. Trying to keep busy and not think about all the yummy stuff I want to eat on p3 :)

Here is what I ate today:

grissini

chicken, veggies, 1/2 apple

1/2 apple

grissini

protein shake with strawberries

One more day down, and one more to go until bacon, eggs, and cheese..... :)

R2 P2 D26...

Almost the same. Down -.2 lbs! So today will be the first day of no shot/500 calorie. I will use yesterday as my LIW of 151.8 lbs! I have lost 14.4 lbs this round and exceeded my goal by 4.0 lbs!! I am very happy with that. I will now take a long break and do a final round in Jan 2010. I am shooting for a final goal weight of 135-140. I am very excited for P3 on Friday morning :)

Here is what I ate today:

grissini

chicken, celery, baked apple

grissini

apple, 1 egg + 3 whites

Long day of shopping, but I feel like I might be getting the hang of it :)

R2 P2 D25...

Only down -.2 lbs!! So much for my mini steak day :) Last injection is tomorrow. Maybe I will squeak out one more pound tomorrow..... come on baby!!

I weighed really early this morning, so I decided to re-check at my normal time. Down -.6 lbs! 151.8! So this will be my weight today. If things are the same tomorrow then today will be my last injection day.

Here is what I ate today:

1/4 apple

celery, chicken, orange

1/3 protein shake, 2 lindor chocolate balls (don't ask)

I don't know what happened tonight but I think all of the stress and hard work, and emotions since starting HCG in August hit me today. I had an emotional breakdown, and don't really know why. I should be so excited and instead I was a wreck. I was irrational, and saying that I still looked fat. I have been shopping the past couple of days because I have no clothes that fit anymore. But shopping is so hard for me. I think our bodies sometimes don't know what to do when we lose so much so fast. The hormones can't keep up and mentally we still feel like the "fat" person we once were. Whatever it was, it was not fun. So I am going to bed, and hoping tomorrow is better.

R2 P2 D24...

Down -.6 lbs! TOM is gone now. Went walking yesterday. It was freezing, but beautiful and sunny. Well I think I am going to make Tuesday my final injection. I decided to follow the book and go 3 injections past TOM. I am considering doing a mini steak day today. I did that at the end of my last round when losses were zero every other day like they are now. I lost my last 2 lbs in the 2 days following my mini steak day. Go out with a bang, right! Thanksgiving will come on day 20 of P3 so that should be fine to start P4 a day early :)

Here is what I ate today:

200g chicken

1 baked apple

So there is my mini steak day. We will see if it gives me a little boost to end my round on. Crossing my fingers..... ;)

R2 P2 D23...

0.0 lbs! TOM is pretty much gone. Today is supposed to be LIW but I think I will go until I make sure any TOM issues are out of the way. If losses are good then I might go a little longer, taking it day by day. But I don't want to go much more because I want to have low sugar on Thanksgiving a couple days early of p4 :)

Here is what I ate today:

1/4 apple

1/2 apple, celery, chicken

1/4 apple, grissini

protein shake with strawberries and cocoa

Went shopping today. Found lots of cute stuff. I feel like such a fashion geek. I don't know what to put together and feel out of place. Oh well, it should get easier right?

R2 P2 D22...

Down -1.0 lbs! TOM is already on its way out. Very short one this month :)

Here is what I ate today:

1/2 apple

apple pie protein shake

grissini

protein shake with cocoa, baked apple

I have not felt like cooking the last 2 days, hence the shakes :)

Picked up my husband from the airport, and showed off my new jeans. Let's just say he REALLY liked them alot :)

R2 P2 D21....

o.o lbs lost today :) Gotta love TOM! Last time TOM hit at the beginning of my round so I kept losing right on thru. This time in the last few days of my round... not so lucky :) Oh well, I am just waiting for it to be gone so I can be done. I am going to go pick up some of my P3 supplies today, like almond flour etc. I have found so many great recipes that I can't wait to try. I hope I drop a pound or two more when all is said and done.

Here is what I ate today:

1/2 apple

protein shake: 1/2 frozen apple, protein powder, 2 stevia packets, cinnamon and apple pie spice, and grissini. OMG!! SO GOOD!!

Protein shake: strawberries, cocoa, protein powder, 2 stevia packets, coconut extract.

grissini

Long day today. Very tired. But you must all try the apple pie protein shake I did today. It was so dang good!! I am definitely going to have that tomorrow :)

By the way, I went shopping at Buckle today for new jeans as my treat to myself. I have never shopped there ever. I grabbed a few pairs, thinking for sure that nothing in the store would fit. They were too big! She had to bring me 2 sizes smaller!! So I purchased my first pair of "designer" jeans in size 30!!! And they are "skinny" jeans, that I thought I could never wear. SWEET! Did have to choke down the cost, but who cares! They fit!! ;)

R2 P2 D20.....

Down -.6 lbs! TOM came in the middle of the night. I was fully prepared to accept my consequences this morning, and am relieved that I still had a loss :) As of today I am officially considered "NORMAL WEIGHT" by the U.S. Dept of Health! I am 154!!! Yipee!!

Here is what I ate today:

1/4 apple, grissini

protein shake with strawberries and spinach

grissini

tilapia, broccoli, baked apple

I was starving again until lunch, but better this afternoon and evening. I am also still freezing and dressing like an eskimo to go to bed :) We have had snow the last 2 days, so I am missing my walks. Guess it's time to turn on the treadmill.

R2 P2 D19....

Let the games begin! 0.0 lbs lost :) So now I get to just wait for TOM to hit. Please let it come today so I can get this over with! 29 days since last TOM.

So the day started out ok and then pretty much went to hell. I was very PMS'y. I was tired and did not feel well, and felt like if I did not have a treat I wanted to quit. I went and talked to my friend and she reminded me that we all have bad days and that I am sometimes a perfectionist, and that maybe I should just have a treat and get on with it. I thought about it and went home. I decided that if I was going to have one, I needed to enjoy it and it was not acceptable to have one and then freak out and do the whole "I am a failure routine".

So I made the decision and made a pumpkin chocolate chip pancake with sugar free syrup. I made sure the calories were exactly the same as what I would have had for my lunch. I ate it slowly and enjoyed every bite. I did not feel guilty and decided that whatever tomorrow brings, I will accept that.

Here is what I ate today:

1/4 apple, grissini

pumpkin chocolate chip pancake. 1/4 cup pancake mix, 12 choc chips, 1 tsp pumpkin, 1/8 c sf syrup.

chicken, romaine

So there you have my confessional. My one cheat since Aug. 19th, 2009. I thought I might fall apart and die, but you know what..... I am just fine ;)

R2 P2 D18....

Down -.8 lbs! Only .6 to go to be considered normal by the US Dept of Health :) I injected in the thigh again. I did a quick measurement and the thighs have lost an inch in the last week! Coincidence?? Who knows. Still freezing. I went to bed in big thick socks, long sweat pants and a sweatshirt. I NEVER do that. Last round both my friend and I had dreams almost every night where we were cheating and woke up in a panic, only to find out we were fine. That has not happened once this round, until last night. I guess making brownies for the family last night affected me more than I thought :)

Here is what I ate today:

1/4 apple

protein shake with strawberries and cocoa

1/4 apple

romaine, chicken, 1/2 baked apple, 2 saltines

TOM is due anytime between now and friday, so this week could be interesting. But I don't really care, other than the fact that I have to wait until a few days after it has started so that I can end my round. I don't want to wait any longer for p3 than I have to! :)

R2 P2 D17... GOAL ACHIEVED!

So funny! Down -.8 lbs!! It's official, history does repeat itself! :) I surpassed my goal for this round so everything from here on out is just icing on the cake. I am going to now make my next goal 154 lbs. Why you ask?? Because that is the weight I need to reach for my BMI to be considered "Normal Weight". According to their chart I have been considered "obese" for who knows how long. Well, not anymore baby!

Here is what I ate today:

Yerba Mate Tea hot

1/4 apple

1/2 apple, celery, chicken

1/4 apple, 1/2 grissini

vanilla shake with protein powder and cocoa, baked apple

Walked for about 40 minutes. Made french toast and brownies for the family today. Oh how I wanted some.... :)

R2 P2 D16...

Down -.4 lbs! SO CLOSE! Only .4 to my goal. My scale seems to have a .4 variance, so I always weigh several times until I get the same weight over and over. The sad thing was, it said I had reached my goal, but after several tries I got 156.2 the most :( BUMMER! So tomorrow should be the day! Another strange thing is that on round one day 15 I lost 1 lb, and then day 16 I lost .4, just the same as right now. So if history repeats itself, I would lose .8 lbs tomorrow...... :)

Here is what I ate today:

smooth move tea

1/4 apple

1/2 apple, chicken, celery

1/4 apple

chicken, romaine, orange

Left out the grissini today. I also tried injecting in the thigh today to see if my theory was right. Sure enough, starving until noon but then much better in the evenings. I think I like not feeling hungry at night better. I can drink tons of tea to combat being hungry in the morning. Walked for 1/2 hour today. Last 3-4 days I have been FREEZING. Family says I am nuts, but I am an icicle. Had that a little bit in round 1, but not this bad. Husband says its because I am too skinny and need to eat something :) I feel bad for him. Every other day he says, can't we go out to eat yet??? I WISH!!

R2 P2 D15...

Down -1.0 lbs! Yipee! Only .8 away from goal now, and I still have 8 injections left :) I tried leaving out both grissini yesterday to see if that might help. I think it might have. I also injected in my stomach today so I am hoping that helps the hunger issue.

It is freezing outside, and that makes me sad.... I want spring, summer, and fall, year round.... : )

Here is what I ate today:

Protein shake with strawberries, cocoa, cinnamon and coconut extract

grissini

1/4 apple

tilapia, asparagus, 1/2 baked apple

1/4 apple

Decided to do one grissini. Hunger went back to normal today. I swear it was switching the shot locations. I am normally not too hungry all day and have the hardest time later at night. When I switched the injection to my legs I was starving until after my noon meal and then good during the day with no hunger at night. Strange. I would really like to meet my goal tomorrow..... but I have had good losses along with a pound yesterday, so I know that might not happen. Here's to hoping....... ;)

R2 P2 D14...

Down -.6 lbs! Only 1.8 more to reach my goal!! Had to work at the candy store today. Not much else but cooking and homework.....BORING!

Here is what I ate today:

Yerba Mate tea hot

1/4 apple

1/2 apple, celery, chicken

1/4 apple

protein shake with strawberries and spinach

I was starving again before noon, then things got better. I have never been starving, let alone hungry on HCG. It has happened for the last 2 days. The only thing I did differently was inject in the thighs both days. I am going to switch back to my stomach and see if that solves the problem.

R2 P2 D13....

Down -.6 lbs! Yeah! I am very happy I did not cheat yesterday. I know I just have to keep my head down and keep going. Only 10 more injections. Only 2.4 more lbs to reach my goal for this round. Who wants to cheat when they are 2.4 lbs from their goal??? I mean really :)

I did some reading and some people say that they are losing more where they inject at. My top can't not lose any more! I have always injected in my stomach. So today I am changing to the thighs where I need it the most. We will see what happens. If it works I will be really ticked that I did not do that from the start!! :)

My round ends Oct. 31st. BUT, my period is due any day from 26th to the 30th. So I might have to go a little longer since Dr. S says you have to inject 3 more times after the period if ending a round. That sucks, but I also don't want to have issues stabilizing. I also gain about 3 lbs in the 3 days before my period starts. Last round I did not lose on the first day of TOM, but continued losing thru out TOM. Hopefully that is the cast this round. So basically the next 10 days could be interesting :) I am praying that I lose those 2.4 lbs quickly before the chaos starts!

Here is what I ate today:

Yerba Mate Tea hot

1/4 apple, grissini

protein shake with strawberries, no veg

1/4 apple, grissini

romaine, chicken, 1/2 baked apple

Boring day, not much to report! :)

R2 P2 D12...

Down -1.0 lbs! That's much better :)

Here is what I ate today:

grissini, 1/4 apple

romaine, chicken, tomato, 2 saltines

1/4 apple

tilapia, broccoli, 1/2 baked apple

I did deviate today with the 2 saltines and the broccoli. Both are on the protocol that one of my friends uses from the clinic she goes to. Had to have a different vegetable today or I was going to freak out :)

Today was a hard day mentally. Even with the loss this morning. My friend who is doing this with me, is having the same problem even worse. She is considering cheating or maybe even stopping. I don't know why but all of a sudden I just really want cookies and cake. I haven't really had any sugar of any kind since August. I had a little on my load days, but not much. I think I should have had more sugar to alleviate my want for it. I don't really crave it, I just mentally REALLY want it :) Either way, I was all over the map today. Should I have a cheat?? But by the end of the night I decided that I have come to far, to cheat now. I like my new body and nothing is worth messing up my losses for this round. It still sucks but I am more than half way thru now. SUCK IT UP JEN, and stick to the program!!

R2 P2 D11...

After yesterday I should have know this would happen :) -0.0! The big goose egg. I guess I cannot complain. I have done great so far. I got a little further into my last round before seeing some zeros, but from everything I have read, round 2 starts earlier. Maybe losing these next four pounds over the next 12 days will be harder than I think :) I need to average -.3 lbs per day to reach my goal of 155.8. It is definitely mentally harder on days you don't see any losses. If it is really going to slow then I might consider weighing every other day or every third day, so that I am always seeing a good loss. I will decide after tomorrows weigh in.

Here is what I ate today:

smooth move, grissini

1/2 protien shake

1/2 protien shake

grissini

tilapia, asparagus, baked apple

Tired today.... going to bed :)

R2 P2 D10...

Do I need to say more??? Today is a VERY good day!! Only 4 lbs to reach my goal for this round! Looks like I might be able to surpass that one and shoot for closer to 150!!

Here is what I ate today:

1/4 apple, grissini

diced chicken lettuce wraps, 1/2 baked apple

1/4 apple, grissini

diced chicken, celery, 1/2 apple, dressing

1/2 apple

Walked for 45 minutes this morning. Walked on clouds the rest of the day.... :) Quality time with the hubby. Good Day.

R2 P2 D9...

Okay, I knew I could not handle the not knowing! :) Down -.8 lbs this morning. So happy considering all that went wrong with yesterday. If I can lose .8 today, I will officially enter the 150's AND will have lost 60lbs since Jan. 9th 2009!!

Here is what I ate today:

1/4 apple, grissini

diced celery, chicken, 1/2 apple with spinach salad dressing

1/4 apple, grissini

tilapia, asparagus, orange

Work was nuts again, but I was off at 2pm. I am really slamming the water and praying for a miracle in the morning......you know, the 150's miracle ;)