Back again and I'm sorry...

**Gastronomicfiend** · July 19th, 2021, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by mrsstrong

Hey Gastro! My round is going well despite having hurt my back two weeks ago and gotten a cold. Thanks for asking!

The great thing about this protocol is figuring out some patterns and habits, and it gives such a great tool to stabilize and correct upticks quickly. Hopefuly you'll be able to break the cycle. I have been fine for ten years, until Covid hit. It did a number on many of us but I hope to not be back for a long time after getting to goal!

Oh bugger! But so happy to hear you're good apart from that!

**mrsstrong** · July 19th, 2021, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by Gastronomicfiend

Alrighty, I've had the day off today and I've had a really good think about my issue. I followed a logical process and wrote down a list of a pros and cons of doing a PI. I assigned an importance level to each and took my decision making process from there. I won't go too much deeper, but I've decided to just keep pushing through.

Number 1, there will always be temptation and sometimes you just have to push through this. Plus, I feel very blessed that my friends are understanding and if I tell them I'm trying to improve my health they will respect me and my actions.

Number 2, I'm not trying to deny myself joy in anyway, but flexing my restraint muscle will not hurt at all. Previously I have been in the mind set that it was all or nothing. I am trying to adjust and modify this into a better version of it. For example, just because I'm at a gathering doesn't mean I need to eat from the cheese board or have chips and dip..I think the same concept applies here. Just because friends are in town doesn't mean I need to lose all self control.

Number 3, This diet is hard, it is my season of sacrifice. I am creating a healthier version of myself for the long term. I've already had a couple of slip ups and I don't want to repeat them.

I can't wait to be at a lower weight and as I'm sure everyone on this forum can relate too...being so close and never getting there really ****s with your mind. This is my year.

Sounds like a good plan!

**Gastronomicfiend** · July 20th, 2021, 02:32 PM

Day 23

Weight: 118.3kg/ 260.26lbs

Soo...up this morning, not entirely expected. Been struggling with a bit of water retention and BM factor. I also had a pilates class and went for a large walk so probably over did it to an extent. I am also on the tail end of my little indulgence with the wine.

Apart from the scales I am feeling very good. Even though my inches probably haven't moved as much I am feeling so much better in myself. My body seems tigher and I'm not getting as tired from general household tasks.

I'm still keeping my goal of 109kg in my target. I've got Friday night dinner all sorted and I sent a message to our friend group just explaining my predicament. Didn't add details, but I'll be fine...and 100% no wine. I've found alcohol seems to mess with my head a little and aside from enjoying a drink out side at a bar or restaurant I think for the time being it will be getting removed from the cupboard. I'm not saying that I am an alcoholic, but often activates my binge eating side and after a couple I feel like I could eat 2 whole pizza's in one sitting...its a dangerous game.

Anyway, as a side note...I'm currently 17 days away from finishing this includes my 3 days without HCG. I may finish a day or 2 earlier as I will be away early august seeing family for the weekend so I wouldn't mind getting a couple of days of P3 under my belt before I head off.

Onwards and upwards,

Roscoe.

**Gastronomicfiend** · July 21st, 2021, 02:31 PM

Day 24

Weight: 116.1kg/ 255.42lbs

Back to my weight I was a few days earlier, my body did not like that wine at all. In fact I was actually looked horific the morning after too.

I am excited to get under 115kg, I don't know about anyone else but I have these 'safe weights' points where I know if I can stay under that weight I'll be okay. These vary but I try to make them in 5kg blocks that way the next one is easier to get under.

I've started to think a bit more about what phase 3 looks like and what daily/ weekly things are going to be included...

From a daily perspective, I will continue to weigh myself regardless of the day. The best way I maintained my weight previously is hoping on the scales (I know some will disagree, but it works for me), Listening to my body - I've discovered I seem to suffer from rather intense bouts of hunger where I just feel like I could eat everything. In these moments I will stop, have a glass of water and wait 15 minutes. Often I've found the craving will disappear if I just stay put and breathe.

Weekly - I'm planning to have a small checklist to keep myself on track, so if I do have a bad weekend or a small slip up I can up my exercise or make sure I'm going back to basics.

Finally, After listening to almost all of HCG chicka's podcasts I have found a good tip and I'll be putting this place. KEEP FOOD SIMPLE. I think sometimes when I start creating a meal plan or a meal prepping I go a bit crazy and want to do all of these big recipes, and thats okay, but for long term development...I think sticking to chicken, vege/ salad and nuts etc..will be my best friend.

I am planning to meal prep while during the week while I have work so that way I am getting a good lunch and a solid dinner. I believe both of these are very important and should not be ignored, its where I often fall down. If I'm busy with work I previously would grab a pie or something from a bakery. Avoiding this is a good thing and will assist me in my long term weight control.

I will never be a big breakfast person, but I am planning to prep smoothies with protein powder to have as a mid morning snack around 10am.

Sorry to ramble once again...onwards and upwards.

Roscoe.

**mrsstrong** · July 21st, 2021, 09:49 PM

Dang I had a response written out and then chrome scrolling happened and poof, gone.

Anyway, in short, I like your thoughts. I too have a weight that I like sticking under (160lbs). And I keep meals simple too generally. I basically love grilled anything and veggies. Some nuts, wine, chocolate, and yogurt and I am pretty happy. Then I feel that I can eat out somewhere interesting every now and then and enjoy more complex foods and dishes. For breakfast I usually have yogurt. I cannot not ever be bored with yogurt LOL I made a smoothy this P@ every morning though and I may just keep that. So good. I mostly have eggs and bacon for lunch when I have that. Also so good!

**Gastronomicfiend** · July 22nd, 2021, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by mrsstrong

Dang I had a response written out and then chrome scrolling happened and poof, gone.

Anyway, in short, I like your thoughts. I too have a weight that I like sticking under (160lbs). And I keep meals simple too generally. I basically love grilled anything and veggies. Some nuts, wine, chocolate, and yogurt and I am pretty happy. Then I feel that I can eat out somewhere interesting every now and then and enjoy more complex foods and dishes. For breakfast I usually have yogurt. I cannot not ever be bored with yogurt LOL I made a smoothy this P@ every morning though and I may just keep that. So good. I mostly have eggs and bacon for lunch when I have that. Also so good!

I hate that too! Classic technology always making life harder haha! It comforts me knowing that you've included a bit of chocolate, wine and how could you forget yogurt. Have you made your own? I think your P3 sounds pretty solid. I forget, which day are you on right now?

**Gastronomicfiend** · July 22nd, 2021, 02:09 PM

Day 25

Weight: 115.4kg/ 253.88lbs

I noticed a big change in my body today. My stomach is smaller, love handles aren't as protruding as they used to be and everything just feels tigher. I am in awe of this diet every time you get to this point where your body begins that magical change. I am so thankful I have kept going past 24 days and beyond. My body seems to be responding well to it. I also feel amazing and I'm not getting as out of breathe as I used to.

Whoever may be interested, I've continued to eat pretty much the same foods everyday. This is how my day generally goes...

10am - 1 Green Apple
12pm - 100gm Chicken & 1 200gm Punnet of Cherry Tomatoes
4pm - 100gm Prawns & 5 Celery Sticks
9pm - 1 Grapefruit

I work during the evening so it was always challenging to eat on the go. So I tried to make sure I had my protein before work. The grapefruit wasn't something I had every night, it was more of a treat. Especially when I was feeling a bit deprived. I had the grissini the first 2 weeks but after some reflection and browsing through other forums I found it didn't really do much for me. I do keep a couple in the car though just in case I have an attack of low blood sugar or feel a bit faint and don't have access to anything else. I made a point to just boil all the protein and eat the tomatoes/ celery raw. I love flavour and I am honestly far better off avoiding any form of flavour because it seems to increase my cravings. The biggest concept I'll be bringing into P3 is "keep it simple, stupid" a throw back to my Year 13 english class!

Onwards and upwards,

Roscoe.

**Gastronomicfiend** · July 23rd, 2021, 02:45 PM

Day 26

Weight: 117.4kg/ 258.24lbs

+ 2kg after cheat

So the day arrived and I ended up going out for dinner with my lovely friends. It was a chinese buffet style restaurant, I actually felt pretty restrained and tried to stick to safe options like veggies and stay away from the buckets of sweet and sour they had all through out. Here's the clutch though...I did end up having a couple of wines and then a few more at the Hotel, and honestly I feel like chopped liver today. I did not realise how much my body had changed throughout this diet. The grease, oil, fat and carbs all just reacted with me, I should be completly honest and say I did end up vomiting as my stomach just couldn't process the food and I probably didn't realise how much it had shrunk as well. My body rejected everything.

I will take a lot from this experience and it is a good marker of where I once was and what used to put my body through when I would binge. I think I also have some deeper issues to work through that will take a lot longer to heal, and I'll need help. At my gym, there's a Nutrionist who is an expert of eating disorders, and I've often though it couldn't do any harm to meet for a couple of sessions. Especially to work on my relationship with food and appropriate portion sizes, and not so much healthy eating but understanding hunger and your bodies signals...more to come on this.

So my takeaways from this experience:

1. My body has clearly changed a great deal and the food that I used to fuel it with doesn't do anything for me. So it's time to put premium in and fuel the engine with good food.
2. Alcohol just doesn't seem agree with me, even one or two glasses.
3. My stomach has strunk signifcantly and I need to reassess, learn how much food I actually need to feel satisfied.
4. I am just amazed at how much this particular round of HCG has done for me...the issues I'm working through and confronting are creating me into a much better person. Not that I wasn't good before, but I was drifting and I don't believe I realised how much more I could get out of life when being a lighter and healthier person.

Much love.
Onwards and upwards,

Roscoe.

**mrsstrong** · July 23rd, 2021, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by Gastronomicfiend

I hate that too! Classic technology always making life harder haha! It comforts me knowing that you've included a bit of chocolate, wine and how could you forget yogurt. Have you made your own? I think your P3 sounds pretty solid. I forget, which day are you on right now?

I am actually on my second no drop day to start a planned interruption tomorrow because I go camping all of next week. Back to two more weeks of P2 as of 8/2.

**mrsstrong** · July 23rd, 2021, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by Gastronomicfiend

Day 26

Weight: 117.4kg/ 258.24lbs

+ 2kg after cheat

So the day arrived and I ended up going out for dinner with my lovely friends. It was a chinese buffet style restaurant, I actually felt pretty restrained and tried to stick to safe options like veggies and stay away from the buckets of sweet and sour they had all through out. Here's the clutch though...I did end up having a couple of wines and then a few more at the Hotel, and honestly I feel like chopped liver today. I did not realise how much my body had changed throughout this diet. The grease, oil, fat and carbs all just reacted with me, I should be completly honest and say I did end up vomiting as my stomach just couldn't process the food and I probably didn't realise how much it had shrunk as well. My body rejected everything.

I will take a lot from this experience and it is a good marker of where I once was and what used to put my body through when I would binge. I think I also have some deeper issues to work through that will take a lot longer to heal, and I'll need help. At my gym, there's a Nutrionist who is an expert of eating disorders, and I've often though it couldn't do any harm to meet for a couple of sessions. Especially to work on my relationship with food and appropriate portion sizes, and not so much healthy eating but understanding hunger and your bodies signals...more to come on this.

So my takeaways from this experience:

1. My body has clearly changed a great deal and the food that I used to fuel it with doesn't do anything for me. So it's time to put premium in and fuel the engine with good food.
2. Alcohol just doesn't seem agree with me, even one or two glasses.
3. My stomach has strunk signifcantly and I need to reassess, learn how much food I actually need to feel satisfied.
4. I am just amazed at how much this particular round of HCG has done for me...the issues I'm working through and confronting are creating me into a much better person. Not that I wasn't good before, but I was drifting and I don't believe I realised how much more I could get out of life when being a lighter and healthier person.

Much love.
Onwards and upwards,

Roscoe.

Oof hard lesson but it sounds like you are taking away positive things for yourself so that makes it a good lesson too, huh?
Fwiw, I can only have a very small amount of wine, like 2-4oz at most. You may be sensitive to sulfites. I know I am. Low sulfite wines are typically more expensive that I often opt for that when out and savor it.

**Gastronomicfiend** · July 24th, 2021, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by mrsstrong

Oof hard lesson but it sounds like you are taking away positive things for yourself so that makes it a good lesson too, huh?
Fwiw, I can only have a very small amount of wine, like 2-4oz at most. You may be sensitive to sulfites. I know I am. Low sulfite wines are typically more expensive that I often opt for that when out and savor it.

Yes definitely a very hard lesson. There are positives of everything but I wasn’t still happy about the large gain, but my choice. Oh that’s an interesting point, I’ll do a bit of research on that and see where it takes me. Sulphites are unique and I’ve not done heard a lot about them.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Gastronomicfiend** · July 24th, 2021, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by mrsstrong

I am actually on my second no drop day to start a planned interruption tomorrow because I go camping all of next week. Back to two more weeks of P2 as of 8/2.

Oh awesome! Enjoy your camping ⛺️ and good luck with your PI I hope it all goes smooth for you