Day 15 Round 2

127.5 lbs. With all the happenings of late, I'm not surprised that I am still losing or maintaining my weight. I have cheated with popcorn (not one, but two bags) for two of the last three nights. The other night I forfeited an hCG dinner and drank an entire bottle of wine.

In life, one can be blind-sided by the people we care about and think we know. It is not up to us to judge them for their deeds, but to try and understand what it might feel like to walk in their moccassins. This week my regular rural carrier for whom I've been a substitute (cover days off and vacations) for the past 2+ years decided to check out of this life and move on to the next one. It was a double deal made with her husband. You could say that in their minds it was all about pain and love. Understandably, the situation is very rough for the rest of their family and friends. To say that no one saw this coming is a blatant understatement. Everything was well planned by them, including the distributing of their wills and letters via USPS to their children from previous marriages. I talked to her the night before when she called to give me a head's up that I would likely be working the next day and the day after. Her reasons for the absence were fabrications and I played right into her hand as would have been predictable. No clue, no suspicions.

What unfolded over the last two days has been tragic and difficult to pull off. I've had to step up and fill the shoes of one of the most caring, competent, diligent, knowledgeable and nurturing postal carriers I've ever known. While I miss her presence terribly, I trust in her actions and that God has taken her under His wing. She was an angel among us and now I feel she will be watching over us.

Today it is time to put my diet first again. No more cheating. It's time to shed the rest of this weight. There's so little to go, therefore I should be able to do it without any problems. Focus....

Day 11 Round 2

128 lbs. This time around I really want to cheat!! Yesterday I did have 3 extra grissini sticks and about 1/3 extra fresh apricot. I also took a brisk walk for about 40 minutes. Granted, it wasn't the worst cheat ever and I did still manage to lose 1 lb. I guess after being on phase 4 for so long and managing my weight so well, I feel it's hard not to eat just a little bit more of something that previously would not hurt me. I never thought this would be such a struggle because I was really looking forward to round 2 and taking off the last 10-15 lbs. It seems I have to watch myself more than in the last round. That's a big surprise.

Day 10 Round 2

130 lbs. Saturday I went to dinner and went off course pretty bad. The day went well, but the dinner (expensive) was another story. I had 1 spare rib for an appetizer. Dinner consisted of 2 shrimp, 3 scallops, and a very small lobster. Not bad, if you don't notice how they were all cooked and in what. Dessert, shared by four was coconut ice cream, pineapple upside down cake and drizzles of raspberry and two other sauces I can't remember. 2 glasses of wine were also consumed. With all that, I only gained a half lb. Unfortunately, that makes me think I can cheat more often. I really need to watch these last 10-15 lbs. and stay focused.

Next week I'm working a full schedule, so maybe there won't be time to think about cheating. I just have to get through this week.  

Day 6 Round 2

132 lbs. Man, I just blew through those first 8 lbs. in two days. This was better than round 1 where I dropped 6 lbs. in the first 3 days. Today, I did sort of cheat...already. On my 5 scallops for dinner I had about 1/3 cup of some mango salsa I had made from scratch. Nothing too extreme. Just mango, onions and jalapenos. It made the scallops taste delicious! After dinner I went out and mowed and edged the lawn, which was no small feat. Can't remember the last time I mowed since the grass was pretty high in spots. Just maybe, I worked off those extra calories. The scales will tell tomorrow.

Day 5 Round 2

135 lbs. I love how after the gorge days you just drop the extra pounds so quickly. It really makes the guilt disappear.

I'm Back for Round Two!!!

Today is Day 4 of Round 2. I started out this round at 140 lbs. It's not as bad as it sounds. I maintained 132 lbs. or less for most of the last couple of months. I gained 3 lbs. over Memorial Day weekend and knew that I would be starting the next round shortly. The other 5 lbs. came from the last three days of gorging!! I don't know if I ate enough, but the scales sure tipped, so that must be a clue.

I've mixed up 5000 of the hCG at about 150 IU. It took me forever to figure out the dosing! I swear that's the hardest part of all this. I knew I didn't want to run into the same lower abdomen (or ovarian) issues as before, so I mixed the dosage somewhere in the middle and expect about 28 injections this round. I can't imagine it will take that many more days to drop the last 15 lbs. I do (already) have a dinner engagement next Saturday and a birthday celebration coming up on the 23rd. I managed before, I can do it again.

I hope I can find some motivation to do some brisk walking. It has been so stifling hot around here lately. I'll be lucky to get the lawn mowed without a stroke. Speaking of strokes, my blood pressure has not been that great. If, after this round, my blood pressure does not significantly go down, I promise to go see a doctor and get back on some meds. I owe it to myself and my child.

It feels good to eat healthy again. Plus, I need to clear out the freezer! After all, it is hurricane season and one can't be stuck with a full freezer. I'm just saying.....

Day 118

133.5 lbs. Man, what a weekend! Eating, drinking, sunning and funning. It has been nearly 4 months since I began the hCG diet and I've been able to maintain my weight pretty easily. Phase 4 is really a piece of cake. When you take what you learn and actually apply it, the difficulty of getting back into the same old trap becomes more and more remote. Steak days can fix anything. Who can't stay committed for one day? If we can't, then we are truly weak and destined to fail. I really believe I am past all of my former thinking about food. Just about any slip up can be fixed in one or two days of eating properly. I'm enjoying life again. 

However, my blood pressure is still on the rather borderline high side. This really was to be expected....by me, at least. The book indicated that it might go down because of the weight loss, but that it might also return to previous levels. I've never felt like I might explode. Nonetheless, I need to keep a close check on this item. 

As I go past the six week mark since my last injection, I'm eagerly anticipating round two. Haven't really decided when it will start, but it may be as soon as this weekend. I'd like to be in phase 4 by the middle of August since we will be going to Montana for about ten days. To be on a diet at that time would certainly not be optimal!

I'd like to shed the last 15 lbs. This round I think it might be important to get more exercise. I don't want to look as though I've lost weight quickly and my skin is just hanging. That is the way I feel right now. Even though I can fit into a size 4 at 132 lbs. or so, I don't think of myself as thin. I still have a somewhat fat, flabby and poochy self image. Exercise is on the menu with this next round. I hope I can stick to it since it is so hot here in the southeast! 

Looking forward to gorge days!!!!