I saw an article on the front page of the MSN site that pops up as my home page and it said something like “The Worst Diets to Follow.” I was curious so I clicked on it. Guess what was first on their list? Yep – the hCG diet. The headline screamed “FDA Finds hCG Diet Fraudulent” so I continued to click their links to see this mysterious article from the FDA.
I have to be honest with you – my heart did skip a beat because knowing my luck the article would say something like this diet has been known to make your arm fall off or your skin to turn purple. But, no, it actually stated that there was no “proof” that the diet actually worked. Um, okay. So I magically dropped 40+ pounds with no help from the diet? Yes, I know what you’re thinking – anyone who eats 500 calories a day will lose weight. Yes, you are accurate. But (a) they will be STARVING without the hCG and (b) it is scientifically proven that a person who is literally starving themselves (i.e. eating only 500 calories a day) will end up being bloated and weight loss will stall due to the body going into starvation mode. None of these things happened on hCG. I would also like to add that I lost weight all over my body and my body literally reshaped itself, which doesn’t happen with just any ole diet.
hCG is supposed to trigger your body to feed off of its own fat stores as you consume only 500 calories a day. This is a big part of the body re-shaping. My face looks different, my shoulders, my feet even shrank. It’s quite amazing if you see pictures of me less than a year ago and what I look like now. I feel and look great! So, while I do agree that the hCG diet probably isn’t best for everyone, it was certainly the best choice for me. The only downside I experienced was the slight muscle loss I had when I was on the low calorie plan and couldn’t exercise. But, once I got back to exercising and running my muscles got right back into gear. I can actually SEE my cut muscle now, so yay!
Therefore, for all of you out there who found this article after Googling the hCG diet to see if it is legitimate, I will tel lyou with all honestly that I had huge success with it. I’ve stabilized wonderfully at 133 pounds, I feel great, and I look great. I have had no adverse side effects nor was I starving the entire time I was dieting (I will admit the first two days are torture, but get past that and you’re fine!). Make sure you’re healthy if you do it and follow it EXACTLY for the best results. You won’t be disappointed . . . good luck!
Tags: FDA hCG, hCG, hCG diet, hCG diet scam
Okay, so it’s almost 5 p.m. and I have to head home. Then, I have to take my daughter somewhere. Then I have some work to do (actual work related stuff). Then I have some house chores to do. In the meantime, I’d really like to spend some time with my family. So . . . I begin the inner dialogue that goes something like this: “I really need to run and work out tonight.” “Yea, but you also need to do these other things – especially the work stuff because it has to be done by tomorrow.” “True, but the workout thing is important and I’m training for a 5K so I need to keep that up.” “Well, you are doing that cardio class tomorrow so you can skip tonight, right?” “I could, but I didn’t work out at all over the weekend, so . . .” “But your kids really want to spend time with you – you’re such a bad mom if you don’t carve out some time with them!” and on, and on, and on . . .
So what is the “priority?” Is it working or working out? Is it family or exercise? Over the weekend I chose my family. I had planned to run Friday, then got sidetracked with kid stuff telling myself I’d run on Saturday. I ended up getting sucked into playing Rock Band 3 with the family Saturday (it was like this amazing Rock Band marathon . . . I couldn’t say no!) so didn’t run then. Yesterday I worked a long day and was really tired so I napped after I got home from work and didn’t run. So . . . now it’s Monday. Do or die day. If I get back on track today, that may get my week reset – I could do Mon/Wed/Fri workout/runs and the cardio class tomorrow for four days of intense training. That would rock! Well, it would rock IF I actually do it. What’s the deal?
I hate my inner monologue sometimes. I really do.
Okay, I’ve found the biggest pitfall to the hCG diet . . . reintroducing carbs back into your diet. My tummy was a wreck last weekend! All I did was eat a hot dog with a bun and POW my stomach felt like it was in knots all day! It’s better now, but sheez! I think after 6 weeks of no carbs, my body just got acclimated to that. And, my choice of meals wasn’t the greatest. Perhaps if I had chosen something healthier, my tummy would not have punished me as bad. But, after going so long without the carbs, I needed them!
I’m back to running and all the way to where I was before the diet in the Couch to 5K program, so that’s good. I’ve been doing the treadmill because it’s so crazy hot outside. I have to use a 1-2 incline on the treadmill to replace the wind and inclines outdoors. It’s going pretty well, although tiring. I’m running tonight before we go see Captain America 
.
I’ll keep you posted on the tummy situation – hopefully it will resolve itself. In the meantime, I’m still a happy size 6
Okay, I figured I should post a pic of my new “do” and maybe my new look all together, so here is a pic of me and my new do sporting my Gamecock shirt (my Gamecocks had just won the college baseball world series for the second year in a row ):
I’m so excited – a gal in my church is hoping to lead a “Run for God” group at our church to train a group of us to run a 5K! I just love how God sends me the people I need to help me! She offered to coach me in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in October, which I plan to be my first 5K. I ran last night for the first time in weeks. I refused to go all the way back to “Week 1″ of the Couch to 5K program, so I started on Week 3 (I had gotten to week 6 before starting round 3 of the hCG). Week 3 is running for 1.5 minutes then running for 3 minutes then repeating with 1.5 minute walks in between. It was cake. The last 3 minute run was a little challenging and I could feel the fatigue setting in, but for the most part it was doable.
I was reading “Runners World” magazine last week and there was a great article on running in the heat. In a previous blog I think I mentioned how crazy hot and humid it was at the beach when I tried to run in the morning, and how it became incredibly difficult to breathe. This article was truly eye opening in that I realized how dangerous it can be to run in the heat and humidity we have outside right now (it’s 96 degrees with 100% humidity and a heat index of 106 degrees). Therefore, I’m hitting the treadmill to do my runs. The article confirmed what I already knew – treadmill running isn’t as challenging as outdoor running. So, the article suggested raising the treadmill to a 1 or 1.5 incline to make up for lack of outdoor incline and wind resistance. So, I did. I could tell a difference . . . especially on that last 3 minute run.
It felt great, though. I have to admit, I’ve missed the feeling of running . . . the exhilaration of my heart racing and having sweat pour off of me. I love running!
Tags: exercise, hCG diet, Run for God, runner, Runners World Magazine, running, weight loss
I’m still at 133 – oh, and cheese never tasted so good . I haven’t gotten back into running yet, which is my next goal (looking at maybe running tonight, but will probably wait until Monday so I can get back on my “Couch to 5K” program). I feel pretty good! I got my hair cut (and I mean CUT), which I’m loving . . . especially in this crazy NC heat. It’s been great to wake up, throw on some size 6 clothes (yep, I’m a size 6 and a small now!), throw a brush through my hair, and leave the house. I’ve been at the pool a lot, so minimal make up has been applied. It’s just been fabulous!
Speaking of “fabulous at 40,” guess what? I’m the newest talent to sign a contract with Evolution Modeling and Talent here in Charlotte, NC! My son has been their client for three years and now they want me! Woo hoo! I fit the “soccer mom” and “corporate” looks they tend to need a lot. For instance, I took my son to a Food Lion commercial he was in yesterday and saw mom’s my age that were part of the commercial as well. I’m thinking to myself, “Oh yea, I can do this!” I’m so jazzed! I can’t wait!
I’ll keep you posted!
I’m at 133. Today is the first of two days of 500 calories and no drops. I’m doing fine, but my tummy isn’t feeling well. Actually, my tummy hasn’t been feeling well for a few days. I’m not sure if it’s some meat I ate or what, but it’s making my tummy bloated and I feel icky. The only benefit of that is that it’s helping me not be hungry. Regardless, I’ve got one more day (and I may go 1/2 day on Saturday to be on the safe side) to make sure the hCG is completely out of my system before I up my calorie and fat intake. And, just in time for July 4!
Oh I miss cheese . . .
I’m down to 134 now, so almost to my goal of 130. I’m having to do a lot of motivational pushing inside my head because I’m tempted to stop early. I’m not hungry, necessarily, just sick of eating the same thing every day. The lightheadedness is better, although I still have to watch how quickly I stand up. Last weekend was a true test for me as I took a LONG weekend motorcycle safety class that had me outside in 93 degree heat from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. The good news is that I passed and I survived. The bad news is that weight loss was slow over the weekend because I was so swollen from being in that heat. I think my body was hanging on to all the salt and water it could to preserve me. I drank over a gallon of water each day and urinated constantly. It was brutal in some ways, and well worth it in others. I’m taking the bike out for a spin all by myself tonight for the first time! I’m nervous, but excited! If you don’t hear from me, you’ll know it didn’t go well 
Friday is my last day of drops, and I’m hoping to hit 130 by then. Then I get to endure three days of no drops and still eat only 500 calories a day. This is to get all all of the hCG out of my body before I begin eating higher fat foods. Then I have three weeks of no sugar/no starch, unlimited calories (but within reason, of course). I miss cheese. I really, really do. I miss it a lot . . .
Hmmm – I’m not sure what to make of this round of hCG. I feel fine but I’ve been super lightheaded yesterday and this morning. My time of the month began back on Tuesday, so maybe that had something to do with it. I began drops on Sunday and loaded Sunday and Monday and began the low calorie diet on Tuesday. I’ve lost 4 pounds in two days, which is cool. I’m drinking a ton of water. I’m not really hungry, just light headed. I boiled some eggs yesterday so I can eat some boiled egg whites to try and get extra protein. We’ll see if this subsides. I was SUPER lightheaded last night . . . it was a little scary at times. Don’t worry, though, I’m keeping my eye on it!
So far so good otherwise. The first few days are the worst, if memory serves, so after today I should be home free. It’s so freeing to know that I can only eat a certain thing every day – no food obsessing, no choices to make. This is definitely the diet for me
I’ll keep you updated on the lightheadedness . . .
I don’t know what to say. It’s been almost 2 months since I last posted, which is awful. So sorry. I have no excuse other than my usual one, which is lack of time. And, I suppose since I’m not dieting anymore, I don’t have much to say. Well, that’s about to change as I begin my third and final round of hcg on Monday.
let me just give you a run down of where I am with weight. I’ve averaged 143 since I last posted, which is my last weigh in after the last round of hCG. I stabilized pretty well. Running has helped a lot. My legs look amazing . . . muscular and lean. It’s my stomach I’m still not happy with. And, I’ve learned through this hCG adventure that carbs are NOT my friend. My stomach immediately bloats out when I eat carbs. That’s kind of scary. Now I know why I was bloated all the time before. I’m in a size 8 or a medium. My goal is to lose another 15 pounds (I lost 17 the first go around then 19 the second) and be down to around 130. That would be more my ideal weight. I’m happy now, mind you. I’m thinner now than I was 15 years ago. But, I’m not where scales say I should be, which, for my height, is around 130 or less.
The only “bummer” part of this is that I’ll have to stop training for my 5K to do the diet. I was going to do the 5K in July, then do another round of hCG. But, after running at Edisto Beach in the heat, humidity, and ozone, I quickly realized that my first 5K should NOT be in July in the south! So, I’m going to do another round, then get back to training and aim for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K in October. That will be better weather and more time to train and condition. I’ll miss running – it’s become a big part of me (and my drug of choice when I’m stressed).
I promise to do a better job of posting. Now that I’m officially “dieting” again come Monday, you’ll hear from me more .
