The 8th day started out motivationally with another TWO pounds GONE in one day. That's eleven pounds in eight days. Yesterday was another psychological battle thinking of all the none starch foods my taste buds were craving, smelling the chicken Mike was smoking on the grill, and thinking of how fun it will be to finally eat as much as I want of fruits, veggies and protein. I was also brainstorming and anticipating what my healthy Thanksgiving feast is going to look like. If I'm not going to consume potatoes, what would be a tastefully healthy substitute? There are cauliflower and celery root that can be boiled and run through the food processor....and smothered in a coconut based turkey gravy. Oh, the torture while sticking to the restrictive 500 calories/day!!
I read a lot of Dr. Simeon's 43 page manuscript [which today I found a better 24 page version of on the Hcg Miracle Weightloss website]. It answered a lot of my speculations and questions that'd been dancing in my mind that are not fully addressed in Kevin Trudeau's book. That's fine, since I realize his purpose was not to photocopy Dr. Simeon's book.
Women are more prone to plateau-ing than men are during the protocol. Dr. Simeon doesn't seem to be too concerned, but to provide answers for the stressed client, he does have several approaches to addressing the issue. One of them being the six apples on the 3rd or 4th plateau day with nothing else to eat. But basically, what happens to cause a plateau is water retention. The six apples releases water, the client drops 3-4 pounds the following morning and is back on the average one pound/day drop.
In another section of the book he confirms that weight gain is [more often than not] a result of water retention any other time [generally] caused by not drinking enough water. Soda pop addicts hardly drink water and consume a lot of soda. Sugar is only one of many issues developed in soda consumption. The caffeine and carbonated water, to only name a few, cause dietary issues. Those who take their doctor's dietary advise to lay off soda generally drop 20lbs.
With unlimited tea drinking allowed on the protocol I can see how water retention can become a problem. However, women generally drink more tea than men....which could be why men on the protocol do not deal with water retention as often the women do. All teas have the dietary characteristic and approach to the body....most especially the ones highly suggested and allowed on the protocol. For every cup of tea, it is vital that 16oz. of water is consumed so that whatever toxin[s] the tea is trying to pull out of the body...it is allowed to do so thoroughly with plenty of water. If the body is not consuming enough water to assist the tea, water retention logically becomes an issue. The tea needs water to work. Thus, the reason why I've limited my daily tea intake to one cup.
Caffeinated coffee also leads to water retention. So, if women are drinking coffee and unlimited amounts of tea it is even more easy to see how water retention becomes an issue and contributes to women plateau-ing more than once during the protocol. The protocol does not address caffeine, so clients are most likely consuming caffeinated coffee [which allows clients to get their caffeine fix in the morning] and unlimited caffeinated tea. Is this why [with the exception of Thursday] I've successfully lost 2lb/day by limiting my tea consumption to only one cup and no coffee? Hard to know at this point Even though it was at least 1/2 gallon of water, I did drink less water Wednesday. That might explain the one day plateau.
If Hcg-ers are going out of the bounds of the protocol AT ALL, a 3-4 day plateau will not be addressed by the six apples. However, they will eventually start dropping the average one pound a day once they go back to the restrictive food allowances.
In another section of the book he confirms that weight gain is [more often than not] a result of water retention any other time [generally] caused by not drinking enough water. Soda pop addicts hardly drink water and consume a lot of soda. Sugar is only one of many issues developed in soda consumption. The caffeine and carbonated water, to only name a few, cause dietary issues. Those who take their doctor's dietary advise to lay off soda generally drop 20lbs.
With unlimited tea drinking allowed on the protocol I can see how water retention can become a problem. However, women generally drink more tea than men....which could be why men on the protocol do not deal with water retention as often the women do. All teas have the dietary characteristic and approach to the body....most especially the ones highly suggested and allowed on the protocol. For every cup of tea, it is vital that 16oz. of water is consumed so that whatever toxin[s] the tea is trying to pull out of the body...it is allowed to do so thoroughly with plenty of water. If the body is not consuming enough water to assist the tea, water retention logically becomes an issue. The tea needs water to work. Thus, the reason why I've limited my daily tea intake to one cup.
Caffeinated coffee also leads to water retention. So, if women are drinking coffee and unlimited amounts of tea it is even more easy to see how water retention becomes an issue and contributes to women plateau-ing more than once during the protocol. The protocol does not address caffeine, so clients are most likely consuming caffeinated coffee [which allows clients to get their caffeine fix in the morning] and unlimited caffeinated tea. Is this why [with the exception of Thursday] I've successfully lost 2lb/day by limiting my tea consumption to only one cup and no coffee? Hard to know at this point Even though it was at least 1/2 gallon of water, I did drink less water Wednesday. That might explain the one day plateau.
If Hcg-ers are going out of the bounds of the protocol AT ALL, a 3-4 day plateau will not be addressed by the six apples. However, they will eventually start dropping the average one pound a day once they go back to the restrictive food allowances.
Days 9-11....THAT was the first plateau. Fortunately, it was not water retention or cheating to blame. It was most likely due to the stubborn-ness of secured fats, that I've carried for over ten years, which Dr. Simeon talks about. By the third day of the plateau, the psyche automatically dropped the self-inflicted stress over it knowing full well, it wasn't worth it. I'd already committed to the 45 day protocol, and no plateau was going to get me off it. Quite possibly, the restrictive [and freeing] consistency contributed to that...knowing full well, eventually more would have to come off. BTW....The water retention fix of six apples [on the 3rd day] would not have made any difference because I've already been drinking a gallon a day
Day 12....
A 'las! the El cheap-O hangs on and reveals an additional FOUR pound drop equaling my successful efforts to a nice 15lb....GONE. Hard work always pays off, yah? Phew! Looking even more forward to finally getting into one pant size down. The goal is to get two pant sizes down by the time the 45 days/six weeks are over and another one during the 21day/three week maintenance. It's a very realistic and do-able goal. Will I get back to dropping 2lb/day? Hard to know. However, one pound a day is really nothing to sniff at either. Yeah, me! ............Yeah, Dr. Simeon!!When I had reached the 9lb-11lb. mark, I was remembering how much my boys weighed at birth....and how much Victoria weighed in comparison. The boys were around 7lb. Victoria was NINE pounds...and I can still feel how heavy her nine pounds felt in my arms. Not that I want to [ever again], but if I could hold the nine pounds of fat in my arms again it really does put it all into perspective. Anyone else reading this could easily imagine what that would be to carry nine pounds. When you pick a bag of produce at the grocery store, in the USA, you weigh it by the pound on the scale for calculating within your budget. Carrying that bag should help you calculate in your mind what a couple pounds off a person's body is like.
In the meantime, Mike finally made phone contact with Chuck last night...who is all the way over in Thailand....basking in the beautiful Thai culture. All six of his kids attended Faith Academy when they were in Manila [for I don't know how long]. How neat. We look forward to meeting them soon!
Wow, Kim! I am so proud of you for sticking to this plan. 15 pounds in 12 days is remarkable. If you keep it up, you could be down 60 pounds before the 45 days are up! Keep everyone informed. I love your blog. I would also love to know where you got the HCG.
ReplyDeleteKelley