The End of Phase II

I know it's been a number of weeks since I have updated this blog. Heck, today is my final day of Phase II. I will post measurements soon. I am sure you're wondering...am I pleased with the results? Was it worth it? How did I deal with life and the diet? Something to think about --- it's not over yet. I still have Phase III to get through. After that, it's about a lifetime of change. However, let me get to the past 5 weeks.

My life has been completely crazy nuts. I am back in school, working full time, and have been involved in two theatrical productions. One just wrapped up last week Saturday. It was "The Wonderful Super Duper Delicious Variety Show" and it was a great time! However, I became an organizer on the show, an emcee and a performer. (Here is the link to the video of my belly dance! http://youtu.be/DqDg17NfT40) This week I have rehearsal for "The Vagina Monologues" for the next 4 nights from 6-10 (which is where I am right now writing this). I admit, I bit off way more than I should while on HCG and consuming only 500 calories a day for 41 days as the diet dictates. One should avoid as much stress as possible and get as much sleep as one can. I have retained water like crazy these last 5 weeks. I have had stalls in my weight loss that started about 2 weeks ago. These stalls had me crying and frustrated, even borderline depressed at times (but not clinically). My husband had to hold me for an hour when I gained back 1.3 pounds on Valentine's Day. I cried almost the entire time he held me. The day before I was 142.7, the next day I was 144. How could this happen to me? Was it really worth doing all the work to experience a set back when I had obeyed the rules? These were the thoughts running through my head. Turns out the gain was due to water retention and stress. When you belly dance like crazy for 3 nights in a row (even for just 5 min - granted it's a rigorous routine) and have an insane amount of stress - it doesn't matter if you obey the rules of the diet - you're body isn't going to like it. Previously in the same week I had stalled for 3 or 4 days. An "Apple Day" did nothing to remedy this. (For those who don't know - an "Apple Day" is used to break a stall of more than 3 days. You eat nothing but 5 apples for a day) I also had another Apple Day on Valentine's Day.

I learned a couple of things that I would like to impart on you:

1. There are some breadsticks that are approved on the diet. The brand recommended is "Grissini". However, there are two brands that use this name. One is alright. The other is the devil. I learned this the hard way via stalling. You want the long thin Italian ones. They are about 12 calories each, and they are a bitch to find in a grocery store. I remember my husband and I running around the grocery store back and forth, back and forth trying to find them. It was the end of the night, and we were both exhausted - I was at my wits end.

2. Melba Toast is no longer safe. They have added sugars and molasses to their recipes. BEWARE!

3. Squeeze your own damn lemon juice. Count the calories from it. With store bought lemon juices, there is a high chance of "Lemon Oil" being in the ingredients somewhere.

4. Have supportive people in your life. My husband has been amazing through this whole process. The day I had my crying fit with the weight gain was Valentine's Day. As stated above, I decided to do an "apple day". When I got to work I went to the Mass Comm office to check my mail, and there were people eating cupcakes. My boss, who has been sensitive to what I am going through, asked the secretarial assistant to put the cover back on the box - so I didn't have to smell/look at them due to my "diet". The man behind the desk said, "That's not my problem, it's yours," directing his comment to me. I left the office crying. Jon called me a couple hours into my work day to see how I was doing. I told him what happened. Later that day, when I was in the last half hour of my on-air shift, Jon surprised me with a heart shaped balloon bouquet of 14 balloons. On top of that he filled a heart shaped white plastic basket filled with little gifts with post-it notes attached to each item and how it pertained to me and the love he feels for me. Some examples of items in the basket: a "lipstick" shaped pen that said "Your great fashion sense". A deck of cards read, "Because you never stop using your talents" (I needed a deck for my monologue). A mini "build-a-bear" said "You're my best friend". It gets more and more loving with each item. I really needed that. He blew my mind. Jon managed to give me the best Valentine's Day ever! That evening we sat in the sauna together, and then went grocery shopping. I couldn't be happier. The next day I was back to 142.7. My gain diminished. The sauna, apple day, but mostly Jon's love and care for me are responsible for that. Oh, and he also bought me a gift certificate for a spa day! Ahhhhhhhhh!

5. Only do HCG if you can handle it. Pick a time when your life is not crazy.

So, am I happy with my Phase II results? Yes. This didn't hit me till Friday. I managed to drop 20.4 pounds as of today (Sunday). I weigh in at 140! I would have liked 138, but - I lost 20.4 pounds! I'll take it! We will see if I have lost more tomorrow when I step on the scale. This week I managed to go out and buy new jeans. Not because I wanted to, but because I NEEDED to. (Previous to starting the HCG injections,  I was wearing my size 10's as my 8's that I loved were getting uncomfortably tight.) The two new pairs of jeans I purchased: One is a size 6, and the other a size 4. Holding up the jeans, I could not believe how small the waist looked. This is the smallest I remember being ever. I really am in denial about the whole size 4 thing, but I am not going to question it. I am just going to enjoy it - and realize it's not about a number. It's about being healthy.

Tomorrow I start Phase III, and I'll admit - I am nervous. I am also excited about being able to start adding in calories. Over the next week I need to add in about 142 calories a day to reach 1500 by next Sunday. It's going to seem odd - like a lot of food to ingest. I have to weigh myself everyday and see how my body reacts to different foods. This way I will be able to tell if I have an adverse reaction to dairy, nuts, ect. You usually try one different thing a day, that way you can identify a problem food based off how what the scale tells you the next day. If I were to go over two pounds my lowest achieved weight, I need to do a "steak day". A "steak day" entails me eating nada all day till dinner, drinking water. Then I can eat the largest steak I desire with an apple OR a tomato (not both!). This will set my weight point back to "normal" (lowest weight achieved in Phase II). I have to obey this, for if I skip a "steak day" when I need it, I will have reset my new weight to this "new" weight I find myself at (somewhere 2+ lbs over my "normal" weight). I am still off of sugars and carbs for three more weeks during Phase III.

After Phase III, (referred to as Phase IV or "lifetime maintenance") I need to still check in on the scale and maintain with "steak days" when needed. It's about persistence, maintenance and having a healthy life style. It's about saying "no" to peer pressure food situations like holidays and parties (which I have turned down consistently throughout this diet). For example: Easter is approaching and Jon and I will be expected to attend a lunch and a dinner in the same day. We will eat probably at one, or just pack something to share that we can enjoy. Something healthy. It doesn't mean we can't practice moderation with goodies. It's just our families aren't really health conscious at these gatherings. People (and by that I mean "parents") are constantly pushing food on you. Trust me, "pushing" is not an understatement by any means. It literally feels that way - and I am not the only one who has commented on this. I felt ill, literally ill after Christmas this year. In fact, I was out sick for a week. I am sure that has more to due with stress than food - at the same time I am positive it's all related. After you have been on HCG and you "overindulge" you may feel sick. It's part of the whole "reset" your body goes through when reprogramming the hypothalamus gland which controls the metabolism.

Another thing - Jon's co-workers always like to go out where the food is insanely unhealthy. My game plan is to either not go, or if I do choose to go - get an idea of what is on the menu and go into the situation already knowing what to order. Then I have a game plan before I even set foot in the establishment. I know I can count on my loving hubby to hold me to it as well. This is a good plan to live by when going out to eat. It's usually a standard practice for Jon and I. We just got lazy during the holidays. Ordering in Chinese food once a week, not caring at family gatherings, drinking soda, frequenting restaurants. Another thought was "Well, heck. We'll be dieting anyway after the holidays". Our plan is to not let that happen again. There should be no need for a diet after the holidays. I was still exercising 3-4 times a week - but if you put crap in - it's hard to get out (or off!). Another misconception is "If I exercise a lot today, I can eat more tonight!" This is not a healthy mentality. I have been trapped by this on way more than one occasion!

Another question I have been asked, "Would you do it again?" My answer is I hope to never be in a position that I should have to. With work and school and all the other trouble I get myself into - it is not realistic that I would do it again. If I had to - sure. However, I think Jon has suffered enough. The other night he asked me, "Are you happy?" to which I said "Yes" and he was relieved. I say this has been a success! I am glad that I did it, but what makes me really happy - is that this roller coaster is now going up a much easier hill to climb than the first two! On to Phase III! This is going to be way easier!

Teri

Full...Oh, Dear Lord...Sooooo Full...

I cannot possibly put another piece of food in my mouth. OK, I could, but I would feel dirty and sick. The HCG hormone already suppresses the appetite, so I just end up feeling like Jabba The Hut. I'd rather be in Leia's position. Awesome bod and a kick ass bikini. Working on it...

In case you have no idea what I am talking about, today was day 2 of Loading - Last Day of Phase One on the HCG Diet. I moseyed out of bed a little before 9am, administered my injection, showered, dressed and had breakfast. Breakfast consisted of a really thick peanut butter and jelly sandwich on wheat with a chocolate soy milk yogurt. This afternoon's delicacy was left over meat laden pizza slices from Rocco's and a Mountain Dew. At other times I drank large amounts of Crystal Light - the kind made with sugar. Not the artificial crap. I know this sounds strange coming from one who gorged the last two days, but Aspartame - that shit will kill you. No joke.

This evening Jon and I played the "where do YOU want to eat" game. We decided on Bub's which is a great bar with a damn good menu for what it is. (It's pronounced "Boobs") We went with the appetizer sampler. Jon had a reuben with onion rings. I chose a cajun burger with mozzarella, peppers, onions and guacamole. Jon entertained the idea of ice cream. It made me want to hurl. However, after a trip to the grocery store, we did manage to crack open the cookie dough and the two of us indulged while watching "The Daily Show". I finished the dough off. There is no possible way I could be more disgusted with myself then I feel right now. It's OK. It's over. Thank. God.

Tonight's trip to the grocery store was an in/out success. Since I have been on HCG before, (and the diet is the same for the injections as the drops for the most part) it was easy to fall back into habit, grabbing what I would need. The above picture illustrates it all. There is chicken thawing in the fridge that I have had for a while which is not in the shot. (My protein rotation will be fish, chicken, beef. Turkey is not allowed. Some people eat it, but then could stall in their weight loss.) The clear-like stick is crystal body deodorant which is to be used during HCG instead of other deodorants.

I managed to get my last run on the elliptical at the gym today. A whole hour on interval mode. Felt good! When on the elliptical I usually try to catch up on CSI. Not the crap CSI - the Las Vegas one. It never disappoints. Having that time to myself means a lot. With classes starting on Monday, and rehearsals for the Vagina Monologues beginning on Sunday, time to myself will soon become nil. To give you a taste of my upcoming weeks schedule - here's an example:

Saturday
Work on freelance stuff, and regular work duties. (I need to catch up due to last weeks illness)
Memorize monologue for The Vagina Monologues

Sunday
Work on memorization on monologue for The Vagina Monologues
2 PM - 3:30 Belly Dance Class
4 PM - 6 Vagina Monologues Rehearsal

Mondays
8 AM Work
12-12:50 Class
1 PM Work
2 PM Class
3 PM Work till I am done with tasks for the day

Tuesday
8 AM-4 PM Work

Wednesday
8 AM Work
12-12:50 Class
1 PM Work
2 PM Class
3 PM Work till I am done with tasks for the day
6 PM Winona Variety Show Meeting (I'm working with the committee and performing. Luckily there are only two rehearsals, and one performance.)

Thursday
8 AM - 10:50 LAB/Class
11 AM Work
2 PM Class
3 PM Work till I am done with tasks for the day

Friday
8 AM Work
2 PM Class
3 PM Work till I am done with tasks for the day

You might be wondering when I take lunch. I normally work through it since I have a mini fridge and microwave in my office. Since I will be packing all my meals, it actually makes the day easier. An 8 AM start will be a challenge for me. I usually get in between 9 and 10. Let's call it a "New Year's Resolution". It's a more practical start time since classes will be happening during my work shift. I want to be out of my office at a reasonable hour. It doesn't always work that way. Sometimes I have 12+ hour long days. It all depends on what is happening in the community. Somewhere in my schedule will be homework and blogging. The most important thing to me is maintaining a happy and healthy relationship with my husband through all of this. I love him so much, it's ridiculous! He is such a great support to me and all my endeavors. I am a lucky lady. While I am going through HCG, he is putting himself on a diet as well. Just not the same one.

Till tomorrow!