Did this work?

The HCG diet worked (for the month that I was on it).  I lost 10 pounds.  But I did not ultimately choose to stick with this diet.  I did not like the needles and I did not have enough support from the doctor's office.  I went with another one that did not require a VLCD and have lost 57 pounds.  It is the Ideal Protein diet. It cleared up my hypoglycemia. I had a coach I met with regularly.  It is a no sugar...and I mean NO SUGAR diet.  No carbs.  Not even the ones you think you can have (like carrots or tomatoes), but it worked.  And even when I took two months off and stuck to the diet halfway...I still lost two pounds and 5 inches.  Idealprotein.com  Find a provider in your area.  You will have to buy your own food...but you save at the grocery store.  PS: My husband also did the diet and lost 60 pounds.

Week 2

Daily Diary
Week 2
Wt.  190

Monday

Check in day at doctor.  I've lost 6 pounds!!  That's great even with my slip last week.  I got my vitamin B shot and I'll just keep carrying on keeping the diet plan.  This week definitely no soda, even the decaffeinated ones.  She wants me to try the green tea.

Week 1

Daily Diary
Week 1
Wt 196   BMI  38%

Day 1
Received:  B-12 injection, first HCG injection, supplements, printout with HCG protocol and diet.
Took the supplements, ate what I wanted, got a bit of a "hot flash" feeling in the afternoon, went shopping to prep for day 3.  Seemed like I went to the bathroom alot.  6 days caffeine free!  Yay!

Day 2
Took the HCG injection first thing in the morning.  Took a supplement.  Ate what I wanted.  Actually, I've approached these first two days of eating with a mental attitude of temporarily saying "goodbye" to some of my favorite foods.  There are some foods that I will not be able to eat for the next month and the three weeks following the final HCG injection.  At that point, I'll be re-introducing starches gradually.  But there are some foods that I will eat far less often.  I need to break the bread habit.  As a busy mother, there are a lot of meals prepared on-the-go, and after awhile you can find that your eating habits mirror the favorite foods of your kids because its hard to cook two different meals.  So I probably eat more pizza, PB&J, grilled cheese, hot dogs, tacos, mac 'n cheese, top ramen and bacon 'n'eggs, than I ever did when I was single.  There is a lot of starch in the favorite foods of most kids.  And though I don't eat their foods most of the time, the point is that the starchy stuff IS always around and a temptation.  That is going to have to change if I'm to keep the weight off.  7 days caffeine free.  I am feeling a little sluggish and tired today, but I didn't sleep well last night.  Went shopping and got the rest of the groceries that I'll need to complete the first week of the diet.

Day 3
Took the HCG injection first thing in the morning.  Started the 500 calorie/day diet.  Breakfast: 2 egg whites (42) Mid-morning 1/2 apple (36) Lunch:  100g chicken breast (110), 1 cup of sliced strawberries (49), 1 cup of celery strips (17)  Dinner: 100g chicken breast (110), 1/2 apple (36), 1 cup of celery strips (17). I'm only at 417 calories.  My doctor said I could snack on celery strips because they're practically free.  So I'll probably have some more before I go to bed tonight.  I also did prep work on the food.  I pre-cooked the portions of chicken breast and pre-measured the strawberries and celery slices and put the items in small snack containers.  That way if I get in a hurry, my food is ready. 30 minutes eliptical - 300 calories

Day 4
This was a hard day.  I woke up crabby and irritable.  I took my HCG injection.  I had my 2 egg whites.  At 9:00 I had an apple.  I was craving starch so bad it wasn't funny.  I went to the store to get some groceries and decided that I didn't care what my doctor said, the HCG diet said I could have Melba toast.  So I bought some and had some.  I stayed on target with the diet for the rest of the day; however, I was struggling with low blood sugar (I tend to be hypoglycemic at times).  Dr. Simeon had said 2 teaspons of sugar would be OK.  I had a glucose tablet instead.  I had dinner around 4:30.  I took another glucose tablet at 6:30 because it was my regularly scheduled workout with my personal trainer and I did not want to crash during the workout.  I was fine.  I came home and I wasn't hungry.
Day 5
I was not hungry when I woke up this morning. This was a first. I ate breakfast because I knew I could not skip a meal. With the hypoglycemia I usually have to eat something every three hours to manage my blood sugar. So I'm eating the fruit between the main meals. Eating 1/2 grapefruit at 10am. Grapefruit is an allowed fruit on the diet and a great choice because it is the best fruit for hypoglycemia. The sugar in grapefruit breaks down very slowly - so it lasts longer in your system and you're less likely to spike and crash. (Later) I wasn't hungry, but I felt irritable in the afternoon. I felt "achy".
Day 6
I felt crummy and fatigued. I stuck with the diet until about 2:00 in the afternoon. Then my craving for bread overtook me as my family and I were shopping and stopped at the food court. I never stood a chance with the pretzel bites. I had 7.
Day 7
Today I stuck to the diet meticulously. It was easier. I wasn't hungry, I didn't have cravings today, and I didn't feel "achy". I found and incorporated the grissini breadsticks into the diet plan today. Although my doctor didn't want me to have them until next week, I figure it was in Dr. Simeons plan even in the first week, and hopefully it will keep me from another cheating moment.

HCG Protocol for Injections

I saw my doctor today and this is the summary of the protocol that they gave me

Note: I am choosing the 4 week plan

They gave me a vitamin B-12 shot at the office and showed me how to do my first injection.  They sent me home with a week's supplies of HCG injections (to be kept in the refrigerator).  I go in once a week for a weigh-in, life coaching and vitamin B-12 shots.

Days 1 and 2:

• Take the Injections first thing in the morning
• Take the supplements**
• Drink plenty of water
• Eat whatever you want for these two days only
• Workout a minimum of 45 minutes any exercise I choose

Days 3-21

• Take the HCG Injections first thing in the morning
• Take the supplements**
• Drink plenty of water
• Follow the 500 calorie/day diet
• Exercise and try to include a weight program 45 minutes 3-4 days/week

I'll put the complete protocol given to me on a separate page

**Supplements:  My NMD recommended the following supplements for me while on this program:

Pancreatic Enzymes: Digestive enzymes which help break down the food (2 capsules daily with food)
EndorphiGen: Helps with temporary cravings for starches that occur on days 3-5.  Supports cheerful mood. Suppresses appetite.  Take 1 capsule 3 times/day on empty stomach.

Background

This is my blog about the HCG diet with injections

I've been working out with a trainer for about a year.  I've had some success, but not as much as I'd like.  My BMI is 37% and my weight is 196.  I've tried Weight Watchers (its a good program).  I've tried exercising, but I have to be careful because I have recurring knee and back pain.  Recently, I went to my chiropractor for an adjustment.  He told me that he just started offering the HCG injections at his clinic.  Well, I've decided to investigate it further.  The chiropractic office gave me a pamphlet and I decided to go online and research this a little bit more.  I had no idea how much research there was.  I'm spending the weekend gathering as much information as possible about this HCG diet so that when I go in for my appointment on Monday, I can have an informed discussion with the Naturopathic doctor who will be treating me.  

As a side note, I had also decided to give up my caffeine addiction.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that although giving up caffeine is not required for the HCG diet, it certainly seems recommended according to some sites.  Whether or not I do this diet, I know it's time to say goodbye to the Diet Coke.  I've been caffeine free for 4 days now.  I feel so much better without the caffeine in my system and am so proud of myself for being off caffeine for the first time in at least 17 years, that I feel more confident to address the diet changes with the HCG.  Next:  my basic research results