Still on vacation! Will try to update again after we return home and when I start back on protocol after the 1st of April. Happy losing to everyone!

VLCD Day 16

Injection #16

Loss Today: <1.2>
Round 4 Loss: <14.4>
Loss Total: <72.4>


Oh, my poor sweet neglected blog. I don't know why I can't get into posting updates lately. I guess I'm really trying to limit my computer time and unfortunately that's where this falls.

Firstly, I have to say thank you for all your comments. I want you all to know I appreciate each one of you greatly, and I never meant to insinuate you didn't care. Only that I didn't know if it was worth checking my blog to only read numbers. I love and thank you all for your support.

OK, now let me try to give a bit more of a detailed update of how this round has gone. As you all know, I took an interruption of about 11 days. Company came to town, life was grand, and phase 3 was easy shmeasy. I ended up hovering right around 3 lbs+ LIW and I wasn't stressed over it. In fact, I find that that's where my body likes to sit while in P3. The 2 lb mark just doesn't work for me. That was going well until PMS started - the DAY BEFORE I was due to start P2 again. Lo & behold, this put me up another FIVE pounds. That's right, folks. So suddenly I was EIGHT pounds over LIW. In one day. And no, it had nothing to do with what I ate, it was all PMS, baby. Ugh. I was mortified, and felt like all was wasted, but in the end knew it would come off again. Let me also add here, that while on HCG, it's amazing how I continue to lose or stay the same while on menses. Because when off HCG, it's normal for me to gain 3-5 lbs. Another wonderful thing about our buddy, HCG.

Anyway, my losses this round have been slower than others. I figure PMS'ing with all that water bloat didn't help in the beginning when the big losses usually hit. Also, my menses started on about Day 6 or 7 so that slowed things down. And then, directly after my menses, I entered a period of about 3 days where I only lost .2 of a pound TOTAL. I didn't do an apple day or anything of the sort, I just let it run its course. I figure I'll be taking my last injection this coming Thursday and then be on P3 for at least the following 4 weeks. I probably won't start up again until around the 1st of April or so.

I've come to the conclusion, that for me anyway, it's really important to time my P2s to start at certain times of the month. I definitely think Dr S was on to something when he talks about this in the protocol:
In menstruating women, the best time to start treatment is immediately after a period. Treatment may also be started later, but it is advisable to have at least ten days in hand before the onset of the next period.

In order for us women (or, at least me) to maximize losses, I really do need to start at the appropriate time he designates. Now let's hope I can remember that when I start itching to start up P2 again. :)

I hope everyone is doing fantastically. Happy Friday!

VLCD Day 9

Injection #9

Loss Today: <1.4>
Round 4 Loss: <11.6>


Here's a quick update. To be honest, I haven't really felt like blogging as things have been incredibly busy and I just haven't been in a blogging mood. I do, however, try to stop by everyone else's blogs as often as I can. I wasn't sure if I should still update here with just my stats everyday, or if that's something nobody really cares about.

I'll try to give more details about this round in a later post. I am going ahead & calling this my round 4 since I took an 11 day break and it's just easier for me to track this way.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Friday and enjoys their weekend!

P3 Day 5

Well, so far so good. I'm hovering every day within the +/-2 LIW. I am, in fact, over my LIW today as I was really bad about my water yesterday. I find that while in P3, I have to force myself to remember to drink enough water. It's funny that while in P2, it's so natural to drink it, but then all of that goes out the window once I'm off VLCD. Bad, Renee, bad.

Some good news. While picking up the kiddos from a friend's birthday party, I went up to talk to the hosting mom as I hadn't seen her in a while and wanted to quickly catch up while the party was wrapping up. As I was walking up to her, she looked puzzled and then suddenly this look of shock traveled across her face. She then started screaming, "OMG! OMG! I didn't even know that was you. You look AMAZING!" I had to tell her she made my day as many people don't say a single word about weight loss. It really felt fantastic to have someone acknowledge my hard work. Combine that with the fact that this morning I tried on my super-comfy uber-fantastic 'ooooh, look at my rear in these!' most-favorite Patagonia size 12 cargo pants and they fit. Wow. We have another birthday party today and I'm going to wear them and yes- probably check myself out in the mirrors all day long.

I've been doing some thinking on when to start back on VLCD. I was going to start on Monday, but I just found out that the out-of-towners aren't leaving until Thursday. Now, I'm not going to wait until Thursday. But I would really like to partake in the luncheon on Monday as everyone is going out for sushi. That's something I don't want to miss. So it's looking like I'll start back on Tuesday and then continue for 21 injections, wrapping up on 2/25. I'm anxious to see how the losses go after this short break. Better? Same? We'll seeee.

Sorry for the delay in posting. Preparing for out-of-towners all the while my husband has been up in SD alllll week left things a little goofy around here. I apologize I haven't had the time to make the rounds on everyone's blogs. I hope to be able to do that soon. I miss you all!

Happy weekend, everyone.

VLCD Day 23

No Injection

Round 3 Loss: <22.6>
Loss Total: <66.2>


Things were insanely busy this weekend so I didn't have time to update this blog o' mine. I did want to say a big thank you to all of you who chimed in on my planned interruption. Your thoughts definitely helped me wrap my head around what I was going to do.

I did, in fact, stop injections on Saturday, Jan 26th. That was my 21st injection. I'll start VLCD + injections up again on Monday, Feb 4th. We'll see how this all works out.

I'm still tracking my weight, and I've stalled & been at the same weight since Friday. I think this might be due to the fact that I'm ovulating. I have to say, I'm glad I had already decided to take this break before the stall happened. My mind is definitely in a better spot and that 'stall' isn't fretting me one bit. Now, if I had been looking at another straight 20 days of VLCD, I might be more concerned.

One last quick bit of news. Yesterday, we all went out to see Cloverfield and as I was getting ready I saw the size 12 jeans I recently purchased calling my name and thought for a laugh I'd try them on and see how much farther I have to go to get into them. They totally fit and I wore those suckers right to the movies. I couldn't believe it. So much so that I caught myself checking out my rear end, legs, etc. at every window we passed, even the cars in the parking lot. I haven't tried on my favorite size 12 cargos yet, but I'll definitely have to pull those out of my 'skinny' storage over the next week or two.

I took my measurements for this short round and the most impressive numbers came from my waist and hips where I lost 3.5" and 3" respectively. In only 20 days. On my third round. Unbelievable.

I'll try to keep updating as I can during this break. Happy Monday to everyone.

VLCD Day 19

Injection #19
Loss Today: ?
Round 3 Loss: <21.2>
Loss Total: <64.8>


No update on my losses for today. I had an early meeting at school and had to leave a couple hours before my normal weigh-in time, so I really have no idea where I'm at today. It makes me a bit nervous only because I like to know where I'm at each day. I am very thirsty today which may have something to do with the fact that
apparently my menses is still hanging around. It mysteriously appeared out of the blue again today so I'm still having to put up with that. That silly thing just needs to go already. :)

I've been giving some thought to taking an interruption next week. We're going to have some people come in from out of state and we'll be celebrating three birthdays total (including mine from the beginning of Jan.) and the wine and martinis will be plenty. And the beer. And the gin & tonics. Ok, now Jennifer isn't the only one sounding like a lush. ;)

You all know me, so you know my decision on this will change 30 times before next week comes. However, this is one idea I've been tossing around. To stop this weekend after 22-23 injections, take the 72 hours, live life like a really, really short modified P3 over the rest of that week & the weekend. It would be about 4 days. Then that Monday start up injections/VLCD again which would give me 21 more injections before I'm wanting to stop around 2/24. However, I'm not sure what this would do. One concern I have is that I would gain 2-3 pounds (or more) and then my hard work over this entire past week (or longer) would be shot. I'm not really sure I'm willing to risk that. On the other hand, I'm thinking maybe taking a short break might kickstart losses again and it's a theory I've been wanting to test - especially since 225 is a set point for me and I just might need an extra boost to get past it. Since this was due to be a 50+ vlcd round for me, I'm wondering if this isn't the time to find out and maybe a short break isn't a bad thing when doing an extended round. I'm not sure what I'll end up doing since I am mentally/emotionally in a good place on this round and I don't really want to do anything to sabotage that, or my losses. Buuuuut, I'm curious. And obviously confused. Who knows, it might not affect anything and I'll continue to lose at the normal rate which would be just as wonderful. I probably won't make a decision until Sunday or Monday and see how my losses go up until then. So that's what has been bouncing around in this ol' head o' mine.

On to my menu for yesterday.
Again, my fruits were green apples. I have so many of those from the past fall and will probably be eating them for months. Luckily, I love them.
Lunch was Cinnamon Curry Chicken Soup.
Dinner was a veggie burger and sliced tomato.
Fluids included 2L water and 1L oolong.

I'll run around visiting everyone's blogs later tonight after I get home. I hope everyone's Thursday is a great one.

VLCD Day 18

Injection #18
Loss Today: <1.0>
Round 3 Loss: <21.2>
Loss Total: <64.8>


Whew. I am so glad yesterday is history. It was such a trying day emotionally. I love teaching, but there are times when the beaurocracy of it all could drive one completely bonkers.

On another note, I lost a pound! Woo! It's wonderful to see a big number once again. TOM is officially gone (see ya!) and now hopefully this extra bloating will go as well.

Not much time to post as I want to spend this short bit of time checking up on everyone else's blogs instead of posting on mine. ;)

Menu for yesterday:

Lunch was grilled steak & onion.
Dinner was tomato soup with shredded chicken.
Fruits were green apples.
Fluids included 2.5L water and 2 c coffee (with zsweet).