What Happened to Menu Monday?

I recently read an article in Woman's World by Dr. Oz talking about how he felt the HCG diet was safe.   I have a couple of friends that have done the HCG diet and had great success.  They lost weight and have been able to keep the weight off.  I have been thinking about trying it since April, but I was scared. How was I going to be able to handle 500 calories a day for 21 days.  It became a challenge for me and I decided to jump in head first. It was only 21 days and why couldn't I do it?  21 days out of your life is so small compared to the thousands of days you live.  I read Dr. Simeon's book about the HCG diet, joined a support group, ordered by drops, and made a plan when I would start. 

I decided I was going to start on July 5.  Enjoy the 4th of July BBQ and then hit it hardcore!  I was scared, but also so excited. The first 2 days you need to load on high fat foods.  PERFECT to start on July 3.  My goal was to lose between 15-20 pounds in 21 days.  I told very few people about my plans because I didn't want to hear any negativity!  I told a couple friends and my mom.  I asked Art if he wanted to join me.  Art said he wouldn't be joining me because one of us needed to be healthy to take the other to the hospital from malnutrition. lol!

In May I had started to watch my calories and track them on myfitnesspal.com.  June I was very strict on myself by watching calories and exercising.  In May & June I lost 10 pounds. July I started the HCG diet.  As of Sunday I have lost 16.5 pounds on the HCG diet in a matter of 13 days. The first week I saw 1-2 pounds per day gone.  Each morning I would wake up and weight myself.  I write down the date and the amount I weight.  I am currently a size smaller!!  I have another 8 days to go.  I am hoping to lose 3.5-6 pounds by the end. I would be happy with 3.5 pounds, but 6 pounds will take me to a new weight category!

There have been days that have been horribly hard and other days it was so easy.  I picked a time to do the diet when I knew I didn't have to travel, could avoid going out to eat and avoid pot lucks at work.  Well I forgot about 1 BBQ at work.  I hung in there strong and only ate what I was allowed.  My employees keep bringing me sweets & I have finally laid down the law NO SWEETS!  One of them brought me my favorite dessert and I had to turn it down.  Nothing tastes as good as seeing that scale drop!  My boss told me one day she wanted me to go to lunch with a potential new employee. I panicked!  What was I going to do?!?!?  I told her I would go, but we had to go to a place that I could get a salad.  Everyone must have thought I was nuts when I ordered.  I did it!  I ate out and stuck to protocol.  I even lost weight the next day.

I am sure there are people thinking this is not safe, why would you even do such a crazy thing?  I haven't had any health issues doing this diet.  For those that say it isn't healthy well it also isn't healthy to be over weight!  This diet works for hundreds of people.  In order for it to work you have to stick to the protocol and NOT cheat.  If you cheat you will see the scale go up!  The support group I joined also provides guidance on how to keep the weight off.  There are some foods you may never be able to eat again without seeing a weight gain.

Here is Dr. Simeon's Manuscript.

Menu Monday has gone away while I have been doing this diet, but will return in a couple weeks.  I am sure the menu will change going forward.  I have also went on strike in the kitchen.  I told Art ahead of time I would not be cooking anything that I couldn't eat.  I did make him a couple meals, but I didn't cheat!  I have never in my life stuck to a diet 100% like I have done with this one.  It has been so encouraging to have Art & my mom cheering me on every morning.  I text them after I get off the scale the total amount of weight gone!

Here is to another 8 days and a healthier ME!

     BEFORE                         AFTER - 26.5 pounds gone