Thread: Hcg 2.0 411 Information

To those that are doing 2.0 I'm a little confused... I got the book and the app. It says I get 634 calories from protein. So, is the goal to choose high (over 3) P/FC items, and not count carbs if it's meat or fish, but count carbs for dairy proteins? Then, keep my veggies carb count to 30? If I calculated correctly, it looks like I can have the following since my total calories are only 585 from protein and carbs are 5.7 carbs, then I just need to keep my remaining carbs from veggies to less than 25. Am I on track here or way off base?

110 cal, 1 gram carb Jay Robb Vanilla
170 cal, 3.7 gram carb ff cottage cheese, 200 grams
195 cal, chicken, 100 grams
110 cal, 1 gram carb Jay Robb Vanilla

Thanks for your help! I'd love to see your daily menu!

Grrrr I'm up a pound on my first Hcg 2.0 day! I had a Jay Robb shake, ff cottage cheese and tuna. Today is P2D7. I stayed under the recommended amount of calories. I had pickles and lettuce for veggies, Walden farms ranch and two Sparkling Ice drinks. Today I'll skip the drinks and see if that was the problem. Out of all these things, all are new this round except the cottage cheese and lettuce. I never tried tuna or pickles in past rounds, and I'm not sure about the drinks. I really hope it wasn't the tuna! I suppose it could be the sodium from the pickles, too.

spshell: I think you're doing it right. I'm a little sketchy on some details too. Are you eating full-fat cottage cheese? My issue with cottage cheese is that most--even the organic--contain guar gum and carrageen which cause inflammation. In fact, Carrageen is used in laboratories to induce inflammation on animals for studies to experiment on drugs that reduce inflammation. So I ended up buying 2% Daisy Cottage Cheese because it had no additives and they didn't carry a 0 fat version at that store late one night. And I had no issues--lost beautifully the next few days anyway. I'm using it as an ingredient in my beloved Creamy Ranch Dressing. I brought some in my purse to Red Lobster last night for my salad. I also ate Crab Legs & Lobster with lemon and 2 sides of Broccoli and was still down today.

Carry2010: I was here about 4-5 years ago. So, regarding MCS, I learned that it is a brain issue--the Amygdala which is in 2 parts--one on each side of the brain stem. This is the part of the brain that is also associated with PTSD. In fact, there is a long list of issues that have been linked to this part of the brain including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Thyroid Issues, Adrenal Fatigue, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and Insomnia as well as EMF Sensitivity, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Food Allergies/Sensitivities, Visual Disturbances, Orthostatic Intolerance, Compromised Detoxification, Alcohol Intolerance, Headaches & "Foggy" Head, Inability to Concentrate, Problems with Memory, Anxiety, Depression, Stress, Panic Attacks, OCD, and Inability to Feel Enjoyment.

MCS often begins with a strong emotion to (or at the same time as) an exposure to a chemical. Mine started with an over-exposure to a Glade Solid air freshener--actually 2 or 3 of them at the same time were fully opened in a bathroom. I could not get the stench out of my sinuses and became quite upset and emotional. Then after that, every similar petroleum-based chemical or fragrance or carpet solvent made me ill with a headache, neck pain from an old injury, and very anxious--holding my breath--and wanting to run the other way. My life was turned upside down. I barely left my home, had to use masks to go into any public bathroom or gas up my car but they didn't really work anyway. We didn't really use strong chemicals at our home because I have 2 friends with MCS so we had cleaned up our home and personal care products decades ago.

Then I researched and discovered "Brain Retraining" from a 2 different sources. One was a woman in Canada who had recovered from MCS after studying the brain. The other was a young man from the UK who had ended up with Chronic Fatigue while attending Cambridge. He also educated himself on the brain and recovered. Because he didn't use any hypnosis in his training course, I ordered his. I got thru 3 out of 6 DVD's and recovered.

In at nutshell, when you are traumatized at some point in your life, the Amygdala becomes hyper-vigilant to protect you from perceived dangers. I was well aware of how dangerous many common household chemicals are so I was especially panicked when I received an exposure that left me feeling very vulnerable and betrayed. My amygdala picked up on that and in its mission to protect me, it enhanced my ability to smell things that others don't even notice. The smells were real--you don't make them up--but your Amygdala can detect them even before you are conscience of them and that's why masks didn't really help. They were more of an emotional safety net for me. I also used a personal ionizer hanging around my neck as I ventured out because it made me feel safe whether it worked or not.

In one of the live, online seminars that were included in my DVD package (along with personal support I received when I emailed a question), he said something to the affect, "If you enter into a room and you are overwhelmed at the smell of fragrance, look around at the other people in the room. Are they laughing and enjoying themselves and oblivious to the smells that you feel are dangerous and overpowering? If so, then it's YOU. But if you look at others and they are also coughing and choking and struggling, then it's a Chemical problem! Get out!" It's rarely a dangerous chemical leak.

I had to go into an auto body shop to get something out of my car after I damaged it sliding into a ditch in January and I was so overwhelmed with the solvents used there that I was paralyzed standing there. And I remember being so amazed that there were men walking around the shop and I was seriously thinking, "They should all be DEAD!" I snapped out of it and ran out of the building. That's how my brain reacted when I smelled chemicals.

So in April, after starting my Amygdala Retraining, I opened my back door to an overpowering chemical smell. All I could see was the LP tank in the backyard and my brain immediately assumed it must be a gas leak! I frantically yelled for my hubby and when he got to the door I asked him if he could smell it. He said, "No." Turns out it was a concrete sealant the my son was using 100+ feet away on his neighboring driveway. So this is what I did: I took a deep breath (against everything that was logical and holy to my brain) and SMILED. This is KEY. Even a fake smile will engage the facial/neck muscles that will send a signal to your Amygdale that "ALL IS WELL" and it calms down the brain. Then I also started saying soothing, positive things as I continued my goofy smile such as, "My D-I-L will be SO happy when she gets home and there's new concrete so she won't ruin her cute heels in the dirt anymore"...etc. I immediately noticed that my neck didn't hurt. I could still smell the smell rather strongly but no pain at all.

A week later I opened a bag containing new blouses I had ordered. As I started trying one on, I realized it reeked of perfume. I started to get upset and was muttering something about, "Geez, were these hanging next to a perfume counter before they sent them so me?" and immediately my neck started to ache. Then I remembered to SMILE and started the soothing conversation with myself about "how pretty this blouse is and it's going to look so nice on me and I'm just going to hang it outside a bit to air out" and my neck actually stopped hurting. I knew this was starting to work!

Then I had one last exposure in a bathroom that had an air freshener aiming directly at me while I was on the loo. I SMILED and started the soothing talk..."I LOVE strawberry! If I was going to pick an air freshener for this skanky bathroom, that's the one I would choose!" I left that place and had no trouble driving home as I had previously after an exposure. I noticed a few days later that my sense of smell had normalized and I was basically back to normal. Actually, I think I'm doing better than I was even before the full-blown MCS because now every time I am exposed, I SMILE and think something positive to calm my brain. Previously, I would describe myself as being "sensitive" to chemicals. Yesterday I was attending a public event and my hubby mentioned how someone sitting near us was using really strong hand lotion that bothered him. I was able to tell him that I had smelled it too---SMILED--and it didn't bother me at all! I told him that he needs to SMILE next time that happens and think of something positive about the clueless person who is using something toxic we wouldn't use.

It's all about calming the brain and interrupting the negative feedback loop you are giving your brain. The Amygdala does basically does whatever you tell it to do! I had externalized everything at first--"If others would stop using these toxic chemicals, I could leave me house and everything would be fine. They aren't very loving to me." Now I understand it was MY BRAIN that was the problem and not necessarily everyone else (though it would be nice if many were smarter about chemical use in the first place!) We are wonderfully made and our bodies really can detox most of these chemicals with few short-term dangers. I knew a lot about chemical dangers so I was quick to have a intense emotional fear and anger reaction when exposed to them and that's how I ended up with MCS.

The DVD's I watched were much more involved and some may need more intense help so if you try this simple technique and it doesn't work, please consider more personal instruction. I have compared MCS to a mild version of PSTD. The process is basically the same though I do not mean to minimize PTSD or MCS. They're just similar in cause and effect. Both involve trauma, fear, anxiety, and a brain that reacts and makes us feel out of control of our minds and bodies. And both have external triggers--sound, sight or smell.

Also, there are 2 characteristics of those with MCS: 1) Critical thinking. ("People are so stupid and unkind to me. Why are they being so unloving to me?") 2) Protective Behaviors. ("They shouldn't stop using toxic chemicals just for me--they should do it for others too! Like for children with Asthma or pregnant women or those with cancer...this is crazy that they're still using these chemicals...they should know better!")

And, my coach mentioned that each time someone would recover and go to share it with others on their MCS forums, someone on the forum would say, "If you recovered, you didn't have MCS. You can't recover from what I have and I have MCS." Many have recovered from this once they understand the process. Even people with MCS for decades have recovered. It might take a little more time but it can be done in many cases.

My recovery took about a month once I applied the "Deep Breath, Smile and Soothe" technique. I hope this helps anyone dealing with chemical sensitivities or MCS!!

Back to 2.0! I've never done a long round before as I was practically dying to get to P3 previously. So I am wondering if ya'll get better results reloading after the hcg gets weak and you need a new batch OR if you just mix new hcg and keep going without reloading? I am emotionally prepared to do it either way this time.