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My HCG Experience and

Recommendations - Phase 1 & 2

Today (9/1/11) is my final day of phase 2 and my last day on the HCG drops.  As of this morning I've lost a total of 11 pounds.  I'm very excited about my progress.  Over the past three weeks I've learned some things that I'd like to share with anyone who is ready to start the HCG diet process.  First, this diet is not easy.  It seems easy...just 10 drops under your tongue three times a day with a very low calorie diet...but there's a lot more to it.  The diet is VERY specific which appealed to me because I am a rule follower and I figure I can do anything for three weeks.  I suggest you choose a time period with limited "events" where you would be tempted by food and drink that is not allowed.  It's very difficult to go out to dinner and happy hour is out.  So, choose your three weeks and clear your social calendar.  Then print this chart and live by it for the next three weeks.  The results that you see so quickly will keep you motivated but a friend's support is even better. 

     Phase one is days one and two and is tougher than you would think.  Don't skip it! Start taking the drops three times a day but instead of the low calorie diet you LOAD.  Eat everything! Have fun with it.  Donuts, pastries, ice cream, chocolate...anything you might miss in the next three weeks, eat it! I can't stress enough how important these two days are.  I ate until I felt sick and I should have eaten more.  These two days are crucial to being successful on this diet.  The consumed fat on these two days sustains you for the next three weeks.  Don't worry about any weight gain.  It comes off very quickly.  You don't have enough fat on you already!! I've heard that one a thousand times.  Please eat or your energy levels will suffer.

     During these first two days is a good time to familiarize yourself with the eating chart and go to the grocery store.  Buy everything you think you will eat off the chart (Note: 100g=3.5oz not 2.5 like it says on the chart).  What veggies/fruits do you like? What proteins work for you? I was able to find everything I needed at King Sooper's and Costco.  Grissini is an Italian breadstick found in the spaghetti isle.  It's on the top shelf, by the noodles.  You will see the label in blue say Delallo and then a picture of the breadsticks.  It says traditional grissini on the very bottom of the package in small letters so don't look for that to catch your eye.  I really liked these.  I'll definitely be serving them to my family when we eat spaghetti as opposed to buttery garlic bread! Melba toast, not so much.  If you want a variety of bread, pick up one box of Melba Toast.  It's found in the fancy cracker section on the very bottom shelf.  I think the stuff is terrible but to each his own.  You need a food scale.  I bought the leanest ground beef I could find and cooked up 3.5 oz hamburger patties with salt and pepper.  I'm not much of a cook so these were great when I was on the go.  I'd eat them cold, running out the door if necessary.  I also found that cucumber spears with salt and pepper are a great snack.  At Costco I came across chicken cut into 4 oz strips individually wrapped (5-6 strips per pack) and ready to freeze.  One package (4-5 packs) got me through all three weeks.  (I ate 4 oz of chicken because I didn't figure out that 100g really is 3.5 oz until after a week!) Again, I'd cook the strips in advance with salt and pepper (you can use other seasonings, just make sure there is no sugar added) and either eat them on the go or cut them up onto green salad.  Costco also sells romaine hearts of lettuce in bulk.  They last surprising long if you leave them in the bag they come in.  I'd cut up two at a time and have salad at least once a day.  Strawberries saved me.  I bought them at Costco and just cut the tops off and left them in the fridge.  They are the perfect thing to fight off the sweet tooth.  I'll always have them in my fridge now.  There are a ton more ideas and recipes online.  This is just how I got through the 3 weeks.   

     In addition to the choices on your chart, I recommend picking up some Apple Cider Vinegar, Green Tea (no additives), and a 2.5 gallon dispensable jug of distilled water.  Use the vinegar as your salad dressing.  It's actually not bad.  I even dipped bites of hamburger patties in it.  I also soaked my celery sticks with it.  It turned out to be my go to condiment.  Write in the liquids you plan to drink every day on the bottom of the chart and make sure you do it.  Staying hydrated is very important.  You don't have to have distilled water but I found it tastes better and it's easy to dispense and drink at room temperature.  It also shows you how much water you're drinking.  I drank decaffeinated green tea every night.  It's now a part of my evening routine, I love it.  In fact, if you put it in a beautiful crystal wine glass it looks like chardonnay!   

     Phase 2 has been tough but not nearly as bad as I was expecting.  The first few days I felt a bit lethargic and a little spacey too.  Remember, this is a pregnancy hormone.  I may have been grouchy but no one noticed.  The one thing I wasn't was hungry.  I did notice that I was sleeping great! By the third day, I had dropped 5 pounds! I woke up on Sunday morning feeling energized and excited.  It was great not being hung-over and I felt ready to tackle the week.  At this point I was totally committed.  To see such quick results inspired me to stick it out.  I dropped about a pound a day for the next three days and then stalled.  I could feel a difference in my clothes so I remained optimistic.  After 3 days without losing any weight, I drank two vodka sodas at charitable function.  I guess it was a cheat but I still lost a pound the next day.  This part is not a recommendation, just a recollection! I started to recognize a pattern in my weight loss.  I would stall for three days and then lose a pound.  Then, I ate a steak! Wow, that worked great.  I lost a pound a day for three days straight after the steak day.  Now, on my last day of taking HCG, I'm down 11 pounds and I'm extremely pleased.  There is no doubt this diet works.  However, the test will be whether or not I can keep the weight off.  I do feel like I have a new, healthier way of life.  I don't miss my glass or three of chardonnay every night nearly as much as I thought I would.  I'm going to take phase 3 very seriously and see if this can be a sustainable weight for me.  I'll keep you updated!

     This is simply my experience on this particular diet and information I thought might be helpful.  If you decide to start the HCG 1234 diet please follow the instructions  on their website and certainly take advantage of their free support.  I'm not a doctor, scientist, or chemist and everyone responds differently to diets so do your research and talk to your doctor.  If you need a cheerleader, I'm your girl!!

Niki