Now that I've wrapped up the 6 week HCG diet phase, what do I do now??
I had a moment of panic a couple of weeks ago when my doc handed me the Transition Plan. Whoa, whoa, WHOA. Wait a damn minute! Me? Dieting SOLO? ::deep breaths into a paper bag::
You get the idea.
It took me a couple of days to come to terms with the fact that my transition plan needs to be the base for how/what I eat for the rest of my life. That's huge. That is what "they" mean when "they" say it is all about lifestyle changes.
Basically, I need to continue focusing the majority of my meals on real food. Lean protein, lots of veggies, a couple fruit servings a day, and a small amount -especially for me- of good carbs (brown rice, quinoa, etc). Avoiding sugar and processed foods. Add in lots and lots of water (60-90oz) and regular exercise. It won't peel off nearly as fast as with the HCG diet, but I should be able to continue to lose on my own now that I got that little kick in the pants.
Here's what I ate today:
Breakfast: Fruit Smoothie -strawberry, blueberry, 1/2 serving protein powder
Lunch: Leftover Chili (YUMMMY chili made with lean ground beef, chili beans, dark kidney beans, green and red bell, onion, garlic, jalapenos, and no-salt-added tomato paste) - pretty healthy and tons of veggies!
Dinner: Pesto Chicken (ala my kick-ass gal pal, Susan) - chicken breast, pesto sauce, a sprinkling of cheese, and broccoli ...simple, yet soooo yummy...
Pretty balanced, normal stuff, right?
This weekend I allowed myself a night off and went out for drinks for a girlfriends birthday. I am such a cheap date! Besides my inability to manage more than a couple vodka tonics, there are a couple of foods that I found I jumped the gun a bit too quickly with - dairy and carbs. I had a tiny cup of clam chowder and it was bloat and stomach cramps for hours. No Bueno. I had a tiny pinch of cheese on my chili, and a bit of dressing on a salad at dinner, but otherwise have avoided it since. Probably not the worst habit to avoid, so I learned my lesson there!
I want to thank all of you for your well wishes, positive words, and support over the last couple of months. It hasn't been easy, but your words of encouragement have meant the world to me. There were a couple of moments I thought, 'I can't cheat or bend the rules, because I will be devastated if I have to report back that I gained.' So, thank you for being my conscience, and continuing to be my cheerleaders, as I slog through the remaining el-bees.
Whohoo!! Way to keep at it and transition into a healthy way of LIFE!
ReplyDeleteI think it's so great that you acheived this milestone. I need to do more research on the HCG diet, but I am kind of surprised that it was a doctor's recommendation. It seems really hard. And I am in love with dairy, so it would be really tough.
ReplyDeleteIs it expensive?
MissConception
Hey MC,
ReplyDeleteFirstly, thank you! I appreciate that.
I worked with my naturopath to do the hcg diet. It isn't easy, that's for certain! I chose it because I had been stuck for so long and nothing I tried would work. I would say it's pretty 'extreme' and not for the casual dieter. However, my doctor worked with me to modify the plan to better suit my lifestyle.
The original diet calls for 500 calories a day - I'm sorry, but that's crazy! I don't just sit around on my butt all day. I think I would have been a mess. As it was I ate about 800 calories a day. It's hard, but if you get on a good routine and plan ahead, it is totally doable. I didn't feel like I was starving either. Well, after the first few days were over.
My doc did require a full blood panel (I think any good doc would) to make sure that I was healthy otherwise.
It wasn't cheap, but I wouldn't say it is any more expensive than other diets out there. With weekly visits to the doctor, and protein shakes, it cost me about $500.
Do your homework and ask a lot of questions. You'll know if it's right for you.
Good luck and feel free to email me if you want to chat more.
Thanks!
You inspire me... being able to stick with a diet :) Looks like you're getting great results xo
ReplyDeleteStirrup Queens just wrote a post about this diet. You might want to comment with your experience
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christa. I did shared a bit.
ReplyDeleteI knew going in that this diet was controversial. Everyone has an opinion. The only time I get bothered is when people make judgments about topics they don't understand.
We're each forced to make tough decisions all the time, especially those of us with IF. If someone does their homework and make an informed decision, than who are we to judge them?
I said from the get go it isn't for everyone, but it kind of stinks to hear someone else use words like 'idiots' and blame me for the price and availability of their fertility meds. :/
I'm off my soapbox now, but thanks for the heads up!