LOADING DAYS

Hey everyone!

Just a quick "hiya" as we are running around doing stuff this weekend. Vanessa wanted to make sure we posted pics of us from this morning (our official 21st day weigh-in). So, here are the pics for the end of Phase One in our first HCG cycle. Woo hoo!

S & V

UPDATE - Day 21

Woooooo Hooooo!

The first half of the cycle is over today. Hard to believe it's been 3 weeks already. Here are the numbers for us:


Vanessa 210.4 (-19.8 lbs)

Scott 276.8 (-21 lbs)


So, tomorrow and Sunday we are not taking the HCG and will be using them as loading days. Basically, our portions are not restricted only that the same ban on starches and sugars remains. We are gonna have cheese (hallelujah!) steak, eggs, butter, etc. Mixing a salad again will be like heaven. LOL. Naturally, the purpose of these loading days is to boost the ready fats in our system for the next 21 day phase. Our weights might bump a pound or two up, but should come off just as quickly given the nature of the program.

Yesterday, we went out to a comedy concert in OKC for Vanessa's pre-birthday celebration. Our George Foreman grill had gone kaput so we bought one while we were out. As we were already celebrating the evening, we decided to go to Applebees. This was a very good experience.

We ordered coffee to drink, the 7oz steak which we each cut in half to save for later, and ordered broccoli. We had specified with the waitress NO mashed potatoes. However, somehow that was not remembered and the plates came with them. But, we didn't really crave it and they sat untouched. It was SUCH a vindicating moment to be in the "den of temptation" and come through without suffering. For Vanessa, overcoming the desire to not waste food was tremendous - a real breakthrough. Great trick is to bring your Stevia (substitute sugar) with you at all times. Both for the meal, and after the show it helped to get coffee.

So, we will update again as we start the next phase (Monday) and let you know what the starting weights are. Thank you all for your wonderful support and prayers. :0)

S & V

p.s. Scott looked ROCKIN hot! And I felt so sexy now that my jeans aren't cutting off circulation. LOL

UPDATE - Day 18

Hey everyone!

Only a few more days until our mini-break for 2 loading days. These small goals are so very important because they keep the initiative engaged for both of us. Speaking of goals, here are our numbers for today:


Vanessa 212.4 (-17.8 lbs)

Scott 279.8 (-18 lbs)

Woo hoo!

S & V

UPDATE - Day 15

Good morning!

With little less than a week to go before our first 21 day cycle is over, it has been quite a ride. Yesterday represented one of the first really trying moments of self-control. The kiddos came over for the weekend, and we bought food for them separately from our menu items.

It was a learning moment for us. Having pizza in the house is not a good idea. Neither is pudding. Vanessa's resolve was seriously tested, but she held on. The emotions that came on were rage, tears, anger, frustration, and deep sadness. Partly due to the feeling of restriction, but on a deeper level the way she had come to rely on food over the years. And that it finally ended up requiring such a drastic action as this protocol. Scott had a moment where the cravings almost won out. And it wasn't a slow, insidious feeling but an intense shock. When cooking the pizza for the boys, and seeing a cold beer in the back of the fridge - autopilot almost went on. It was as though a cold wave of water hit him when he realized the depth to which the food and habit had grabbed him. -sigh-

It is very illuminating, and humbling, to experience such a keen pang regarding food. It had nothing to do with hunger, as we had both just eaten and felt full. How in the world do we let ourselves place food on such a high emotional pedestal? While we won the battle, the war continues on. We have had numerous talks and mini-moments where we take time to support each other and vent. Flash-points can hit either of us in the most unexpected ways and it is SO difficult to work through sometimes. This is truly a journey made up of moment to moment decisions with a longterm view in mind. Both of us are looking forward to next weekend - they're the loading days for the 2nd phase. It represents a mini-goal for us. Keeping on keepin on.

So, today's number are:

Vanessa 215.0 (-15.2 lbs)

Scott 282.4 (-15.4 lbs)

Love you all. :0)

S & V

UPDATE - Day 12

Hey there!

Okay, so we have been trucking along on the plan and keeping to the process. Both of us are feeling good physically, and the energy level we are experiencing is not diminished. Both of us have experienced the expected stalls in loss, as was explained in the program outline. Scott had it two days ago, Vanessa had hers this morning. This is why the outlook must always be on the longview - discouragement on fluctuations need not derail you. :0)

Okay, so here are our numbers as of this morning:


Vanessa 217.2 (-13 lbs)

Scott 284.4 (-13.4 lbs)

Yeah! Keeping on keepin on! See y'all in a couple days. :0)

Update - Day 9

Well, it is the continuing adventures of the HCG journey. Here are today's numbers:

Vanessa 218.6 (-11.6 lbs)

Scott 286.4 (-11.4 lbs)

UPDATE - 5 Days In

Hello everyone!

Well, it's early in the day and we wanted to post some numbers to keep you updated. We started the loading days on Feb 6 (Sat) and experienced the expect bump up in weight that the diet predicts. Scott went up 3 lbs, it was SuperBowl weekend afterall - LOL, and Vanessa went up 1.3 pounds. The actual VLCD (Very Low Calorie Diet) of 500 calories began on Feb 8. Regardless of the bump, the beginning weight will still be the marker from which we gauge our progress.

So, as of this morning our numbers are:

Vanessa 221.2 (-9 lbs)

Scott 289.8 (-8 lbs)

Woo hoo! :0)

Let's Get It Started!

Hello!

Well, we finally got everything together. All of our supplies and schedules are at last in sync. Vanessa came home from a long family trip and we were able to spend some time together mentally preparing for the first phase of the diet. Of course, since it was SuperBowl weekend (go Saints!) we timed our start-up in order to use Saturday and Sunday as the loading days. The first 2 doses of HCG were on those days, and now the 500 calorie diet is in effect. Both of us are feeling really great, though the injection sites on Vanessa's leg are a little sore (think normal injection tenderness). Nothing that would keep her from continuing or worrying about it. Found it really funny that we both had to force ourselves to eat on the loading days. It's been quite some time since I (Scott) have felt so "blah" about SuperBowl snacks. LOL

Each of us determined to use an appropriate dose for our body size. V is beginning the first phase on 150 I.U.'s per day, and S is using 175 I.U.'s of HCG. After the initial two days, this seems to have been a good gauge for us. V feels a little warmer, as though her metabolism has kicked in. Scott has felt that too, and both of us have noticed an intense craving for water. So remember to hydrate!!! Vanessa is a notorious snacker, and was very surprised to find that the cravings (physical and mental) were greatly diminished during the SuperBowl party. Brownies that sat on the counter were picked at, instead of scarfed by both of us. You have to realise how huge that is for us - snacking and sweets have been a constant. :0)

We decided to commit ourselves to this process fully, even though it is going to mean a lot of vulnerability and exposure. This is not a comfortable thing to do - showcasing your physical failings. However, for this to be as cathartic as it can be, we have decided to share everything in relation to the program. Our weight, struggles, photos, joys, pains, and triumphs.

So, with that being said, here are the starting pics of us and our stats:








We are very excited about this decision in our lives, and the positive direction it will lead us. Every couple of days we will post more thoughts and information, with the hope that it can be an encouragement to others. Words cannot convey the amount of hope and anticipation that fill us, along with a good dose of anxiety. No matter what, we are determined to be healthier, choose wiser, and live fuller lives as God intended for us. :0)

Off we go!

S & V