HCG Day One...

Well, I did it! I took the plunge (again) and began a "diet". Ugh! What a wretched word! Shall I say that I've "changed my eating habits"? How about that I'm "eating better"? "Making better food choices"? Yeaaaaah,...NO! Make no mistake folks, it's a diet, plain and simple! The upside is though, it doesn't "feel" like a diet so much. Oh, I did the customary logging of my starting weight and jotting down my measurements and before you even contemplate asking me for that information, let me just say these two words: HELL NO! LOL! I'll blog about my experience, but I do have some pride and won't completely humiliate myself! Sheeesh! However, should this prove successful and if I reach my weight goal of "not quite Tori Spelling but just shy of Jessica Biel", I will then gladly share all the ugly deets! Until then,...not a chance! ;D

So let me fill you in on my journey so far. It began two days ago on Friday, 2/4/11 in which I began to take the drops and had to start "loading". Loading is where I HAVE to force myself to eat as many fatty foods as I can in two days specifically chocolate, bacon, butter, basically any and everything we're told to either consume in moderation or avoid altogether. WOOHOOO!!! So I did it and you know what...not so fun. I got "permission" if you will, to eat all the craptacular foods that I wanted and I did and felt sick to my stomach, tired, and all around yucky! After an hour I just wanted some fruit but the directions are specific and strict and so I continued to "load". After two days, as expected, I gained 2lbs. (I was prepared for it as the instructions said this would occur).

Today began the 500 calorie extravaganza! I take 10 drops under my tongue 3 times a day and eat a 500 calorie diet. I anticipated that it wouldn't take long before I began to gnaw on my own fingers from hunger, however...no such thing happened. To the contrary, I have not felt hungry at all, in fact I rather enjoyed my meals.

For breakfast I had a cup of black coffee (Starbucks Pike Place, of course) with Stevia sweetner and 1 square of Melba toast - plain.

My mid-morning snack was 1 apple.

Lunch consisted of 100 grams (about 3.5 ozs) of chicken, (other options include extra lean ground beef, various fish, veal, etc.), and 1/2 a cabbage. (Only 1 vegetable choice is allowed per meal. Choices are 1 tomato, 2 cups of lettuce, an onion, 1/2 a cabbage, 5-6 celery stalks, spinach, or cucumber). I love cabbage so I adeptly crafted it into an "out of this world, beyond delicious" chicken and cabbage soup. I have to say, I even impressed me! And...I was full to boot.

Mid-afternoon snack was 1 orange.

Dinner was 100 grams of grilled chicken that I seasoned with some of Tony Chachere's Cajun seasoning, along with onion powder, garlic powder, celery salt, and pepper. My vegetable choice was 1 tomato which I sliced and seasoned as well. I am allowed another piece of Melba toast, which I will save for my before bed snack.

I feel very satisfied. I'll admit, it was hard not to lick the spoon while making fluffy, buttery, fresh mashed potatoes for my family, but I resisted. I brewed a second pot of Starbucks Verona as we are allowed as much black coffee, tea, water as we like. The only allowed sweetener is Stevia, which thank goodness tastes fine. I've drank more water today (nearly a gallon!!!) than I have in days combined! We are allowed to use lemon wedges in our water and it's been perfect for me.

So! The verdict is that 500 calories with HCG is definitely do-able and it (so far) doesn't make me feel like I'm starving at all!! The promise is 0.5 - 2.0 lbs per day! Time will tell. The hardest part? My mind!!!! I'm like a mental-sniper. My mind can kill my will without me even realizing what's happening. Am I hungry? Nope. Would I love to munch on some Lay's Potato Chips? Absolutely! Are they salty, light, crispy, and delicious? Heck yeah! Will just one really hinder my efforts? And so goes the mental warfare.

Then I remember two quotes that help to keep me on the right track. The first one is: "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels." Cliche? Sure! Cheesey? Yep! Accurate? Dead-on-the-money!! I love that because the simple fact is IT'S TRUE! Do we all have to look like Tori Spelling? I hope not, but I challenge anyone to say, "I feel better, more confident, and prettier when I've got saddlebags, a gut hanging, and my thighs rub together!" No, thin(ish) and healthy feels good!!

The second quote I love is from General George S. Patton who said, "Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one thing; you have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired in the morning, noon, and night, but the body is never tired if the mind is not tired." AMEN to that!!

And so, on this Superbowl Sunday when the world is feasting on all the deliciousness that get-togethers bring, cakes, finger-foods, chips/dips, etc...I am sticking to my guns and letting my mind run my body. I have faith in Gen. Patton, I'm trying to have faith in the diet, but mostly...I have faith in me. One day down...41 to go!!! =)