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I heard about the HCG diet years ago.  After reaching just over 235 lbs, a friend (who happens to have a statuesque figure like Deborah Messing) told me she'd gone from 195 lbs to her slim 120 within a few months using the HCG Diet.  It had been over six years and she had never gained it back... that's what caught my interest.  A diet where you lose a lb a day and don't gain it back???  I was still skeptical but desperate.  I was on the diet for less than 2 months, and lost nearly 40 lbs! 

I was tempted to continue until I reached my goal size, but I was worried about regaining the weight I'd lost. I mean, going from the Simeons 500 calorie diet (VLCD/very low cal diet) back to eating "normally" would certainly have repercussions, right?    I decided to use the transition to my benefit.

I started reading.  Not so much about HCG, but about how the body works and its relationship with food.  I should mention, shortly before going on the HCG Diet, I attended an Anthony Robbins seminar and learned a great deal about behavior modification which blended well with what I was learning about health and food relationships.  I realized the HCG Diet had in fact implemented the "shock and awe" factor needed to change my behavior toward food.  I mean, injections (ouch) to lose weight and a body-jolting diet that results in massive and fast weight loss of 1 to 2 lbs a day- now that's drastic change that leads to behavior modification.

Specifically, my appetite was different.  I was no longer having extreme cravings.  More importantly, I was no longer eating until I was "full" - I was satisfied quickly and never felt deprived.  That enabled me to accomplish one vital weight loss goal- to be able to walk away from food without eating.  For 20 years of my life, I had been eating until I was full or even stuffed.  I constantly had something in my stomach.  Now, I could stand in front of the fridge, think, "eh, I'll come back when I know what I want for dinner" and walk away.  Better yet, I could have dinner, eat a few bites and realize I didn't want more.

Keeping on this route, I lost a total of 80 lbs.  This was in 2002, and I have not gained the weight back.  I have adopted a healthy lifestyle that includes eating right and exercising- and enjoying it.

After the hCG Diet

Now that my relationship with food has changed, I realize the importance of how I transitioned my diet from starting with hCG diet shots and the VLCD (very low calorie diet) to everyday life.  I didn't just swap back to my pre-HCG weight loss days.  Instead, I continued with the original Dr. Simeons protocol but added calories through vegetables and liquidy foods (think yogurt and sugar-free smoothies.) I learned the importance of keeping the body's ph balance alkaline and added related supplements to my diet, including vegetable teas (Supergreens supplements are in my water at all times- I recommend vegetable and alkalizing supplements for everyone) and the Limus seaweed drink (http://www.thelimucompany.com.) Also, I always make sure I get at least 30 grams of fiber daily, rather through high fiber raw foods or supplements.  My daily food intake includes "negative calorie foods" such as strawberries (it takes twice as much calories to burn these little guys than they actually have) and broccoli.  In fact, I try to add vegetables or fruit to every meal and eat at least one apple a day, whether I feel like it or not.

I also began to exercise.  In the past, I hated exercise.  It was something I HAD TO DO, rather than enjoyed.  Well, guess what?  Exercise as a thinner, healthier person, just doesn't feel like exercise-it actually feels really great to move and be active.  I also  stopped thinking, "I really need to go to the gym and stay on that treadmill for no less than an hour."  Instead, I started thinking about what feels good.  I just get on the treadmill and go- who cares about time!  If it's 10 minutes or 2 hours- whatever feels good!  It became soooo simple. 

I initially started with stretching and yoga, which turned to Pilates.  Pilates turned to the occasional stroll on the treadmill or around the block.  I am not joking, but within a few months, I became addicted to the gym and "moving."  Not because I had to, but because it felt good. 

I went to Puerto Vallarta 6 months later and hit the gym at my resort every time I was a bit bored and lost even more weight and felt just incredible.  It wasn't until I got home that I realized, "Who LOSES weight on vacation???"  It honestly never occurred to me that I was on a diet, or had to exercise-  I was just doing what felt good.   

I think I discovered the bottom line is just doing what feels good for your mind, your body and your emotional well-being:  Essentially, doing nothing, feels bad and keeps you feeling bad.  Doing something keeps you moving forward and feeling great.

My before and after pictures are posted in the photo gallery of the hCG Diet yahoo group: 

 http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/HCGDIET

I hope this story and these photos help to motivate and inspire others.  I've now lost over 80 lbs and kept the weight off for years.  I still love going to the gym, I still eat moderately and I rarely think of what I can and can't eat.  I can honestly say that hcg was what I needed to change my life- it was the gateway to my healthy lifestyle.

Jeni L.

Editor, hCGdietinfo.com

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"How I did it... Step by Step

1.  HCG Diet: Dr. Simeons 500 calorie diet with daily hCG injections of 200 units of hcg.

2.  Yoga and Pilates, walking- Anything to keep my heart pumping for a minimum of 15 minutes a day. (Felt great doing this a few times throughout the day!)

3.  Alkalized.  Added a glass of Supergreens diet supplement (30 lbs of vegetables in one alfalfa-scented, room temp tea- there is a banner in the side of this page- sorry I couldn't find a text link!) to my diet and Alkalizing drops to my water.  I find this has an incredible effect on my appetite, energy levels, and mood.  It also takes a few years off the skin!

4.  Increased calories through vegetables and negative calorie, organic, raw foods. Increased exercise to 30 minutes a day, sometimes twice a day.

5.  Exercised frequently.  Diet is high in fiber (30-35 grams daily) and alkalized.  At this point, I stopped thinking about what I can and can't eat- it just became second-nature to eat healthy.

6.  I went shopping- I needed an entire new wardrobe!

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