update on my bros

My younger brother Nolan has finished doing hCG and the VLCD, and got down to 169.9 lbs, from 234.5 lbs in 4 1/2 months. It'll take about 3 weeks for his weight to stabilize, as his body adjusts to more calories, and as the hCG completely leaves his system. His body is also still absorbing extra skin and firming up. My older brother Tim has lost 15.6 lbs in 16 days, and is currently stalled. It'll break and he'll see a larger weight loss all at once, from what I understand. It is water retention. His max weight was 254.6 lbs, and he is down to 239.0 lbs. He has been trying cutting out caffeine and feels that didn't work, or is working against him. My brother-in-law Van started 23 days ago, and is down 15 lbs, and told me he is going to now cut out soda pop (sugar), and carbs (rice, potatos and pasta) and start endevouring to drink all the water you are supposed to drink. 15 lbs is pretty good for not following the diet protocol.

january 31, 2008 - day 15 (weight 244.0)

No weight loss, but with taking the medicine, I expected that . It'll come off all at once in a few days. No hunger today again. Lunch was Chicken and spinach, an apple and 2 grissini's. Dinner was Talapia and asparagus, and apple and 2 grissini's. Total calories, 479.3.

january 30, 2008 - day 14 (weight 244.0)

Yesterday I spent the day on my back and took advil and tylenol. I did drink more water than I ever have too. In addition, I went over on calories again, even though I didn't cheat. All that has conspired to make me gain instead of lose. I weighed 244.0 lbs this morning. Hunger is fine again so far and it is lunchtime as I post this portion of my blog. For lunch I had shrimp and spinach, and apple and 2 grissini breadsticks. (253.4 cal) For dinner I had chicken and asparagus, a tomatoe, and an apple and 2 grissini breadsticks. (237.9 cal) (Total calories for the day are 491.3 cal)

a word about water intake

In 2004 the daily amount of water needed was studied and 2 liters ruled inadequate. http://www.diet-blog.com/archives/2007/06/07/how_much_water_should_you_drink.php Also take a look at this calculator that calculates based on weight and environment and other factors. http://nutrition.about.com/library/blwatercalculator.htm

january 29, 2008 - day 13 (weight 243.0)

I cheated for the third day in a row yesterday and still lost a pound and a half overnight. I am down to 243.0 lbs. Maybe I should keep cheating? Hopefully today, which is the third day of the increased hCG dose, I will lose those cravings. It is past 10 and I am not hungry yet. If I can skip breakfast and eat the apple and grissini with lunch, then maybe I can beat this. Same for dinner. I had chicken, tomotoes, apple, and 2 grissini breadsticks for lunch (239.9 cal). I had Top Round Steak, cucumber, apple and 2 grissini breadsticks for dinner (303.45 cal). I was not hungry until 8 pm tonight and did not crave sweets or carbs at all and they are sitting on the counter. I think it is working better now. A couple more days ought to tell. (543.35 calories - oops). I have updated my spreadsheet so that it shows total weight loss as well. It can be accessed from the link column at left. I want to update my measurements and total weight loss today as well: In 13 days I have lost 13 lbs from my starting weight, and in 12 days, 15.5 lbs from my max weight. Measurements; Tummy (at belly button) = 45.0 in (down 2 1/2 inches!!) Chest (at nipples) = 48.0 in (down 1 inch) Neck = 17.0 in (down 1/2 inch) Hips = 44.5 in (down 1/2 inch) Upper Thigh (r) (at inseam) = 27.0 in (down 1 inch) Mid calf (r) = 16.5 in (same) Bicep (r) (arm outstretched to front) = 13.0 in (down 1/2) / (flexed) = 15.5 in (same) Wow!! 2 1/2 inches in the tummy!! And I was thinking that did not shrink as much as the chest and hips. Also very important to a guy, althoug I lost 1/2 inch in biceps not flexed I did not lose any when flexed!!

january 28, 2008 - day 12 (weight 244.5)

Even with the cheating, I am down to 244.5 lbs this morning. I am starting to see effects from the loss. My upper chest has thinned a bit and below my belt. My stomach has been sticking out farther than normal and hasn't thinned. This may either be normal and it will catch up, or it could be because of my back, which I aggravated again. The hunger was much better today. I expect to see that improve as the day goes on and then especially tomorrow, if upping my hCG is the driver. I had 9 strawberries and 2 breadsticks at breakfast time, but I could have waited. I had Tri-tip steak, with salad (1/2 head) and 2 small tomatoes for lunch. 277.025 cal so far. I had an apple and 2 breadsticks for snack. I had Talapia and salad for dinner. I then cheated again and had 2 candy bars and some tostito chips.

january 27, 2008 - day 11 (not weighed)

I did not weigh today, due to being in Orlando overnight. I am upping the amount of hCG, because I am craving sweets and carbs, and I think it means that I don't have quite enough hCG in my system. I did break down last night and ate a small muffin and 2 cookies. Today I ended up really breaking down, and had 1 1/2 candy bars, and 6 donettes. I did miss last night's hCG and took the first one for today very late (again due to Orlando and having forgotten it at home). In addition to the above, I had and apple for breakfast and 6 grissini's. I had 8 strawberries for a snack. For lunch I had chicken and cabbage. 319.7 cal so far, plus the junk for an after lunch snack. I skipped dinner. My calories were more than I can calculate today. I think that if I didn't skip the 7th day (as scheduled), and also miss yesterday evening, and this morning, I would have enough hCG in my system to barely make it without cheating, and I think if I up it a little I will be alright. I think the next batch I will go back to 250 IU, but not filter it this time. I bought and used a really fine syringe filter, and already know it removed all of the sodium bicarb, and maybe at least some of the hCG. The craving that won't go away, and then the way I shoved it down (which isn't normal for me), tells me I am short of energy, and my body is yelling for me to eat something with significant calories. I don't feel bad about it - I feel it is working, and I am getting it down to what I need to continue. I should see a difference in 2 days or so.

january 26, 2008 - day 10 (weight 246.0)

Not exactly sure how this works, but down to 246.0 lbs overnight, which is 1.5 lbs. For breakfast I had 10 medium strawberries. For lunch I had Top Round Steak again (yum). And then later as a snack I had all 4 grissini. Then later I had a cucumber and 10 more strawberries. For dinner I am having chicken and cabbage. I cheated late and had a small muffin and two cookies. Don't know the calories. I forgot my night time hCG mix and one for tomorrow morning. Think I'll just skip tonights and take one as soon as I get home tomorrow and then one late.

january 25, 2008 - day 9 (weight 247.5 )

Weight was only down a half pound again to 247.5 lbs. Hunger is fine today though. For breakfast I had an apple and 2 small grissini breadsticks. (84.4 cal) For lunch I am having chicken and cooked spinach. (127.5 cal) For snack, the apple and other two grissinis. (84.4 cal) And for dinner, Top Round Steak (Oh was is good. It was soo good), 1/3 cucumber and cabbage. (198.25 cal) Total 494.55 cal I went out to lunch today with my boss, but ate my lunch before I left, and just had decaf coffee and water. Didn't know how hard or awkward it would be, but it was fine. I enjoyed just being able to relax with a coffee and wasn't pressured and didn't feel awkward. We are spending the night in a hotel tomorrow since my daughter Natasha has a volleyball tournament at the Orlando COnvention Center. I'll have to pack 2 meals anyway and 4 apples and grissini. I just plan to have it all pre-cooked (my wife is such a darling, she cooks it all for me and does all the weighing, I just tell her how much veggies), and then pack it with plenty of ice in a cooler. We are staying at a resort hotel, so we'll have a kitchen, but it'll be easier this way.

january 24, 2008 - day 8 (weight 248.0 )

I weighed in at 248.0 lbs this morning. Hunger is fine, but energy is down. Could be I wrenched my back on Sunday and haven't been sleeping well. Eating an apple now, which should give an indication. I am going to try to drink plenty of water and eat my full calories the next few days, and see if I can stick with the 250 IU hCG a day. I'd like to get past the first full week of the VLCD before I decide. For breakfast I had an apple and grissini breadsticks (all of them for the day). For lunch I had chicken and cooked spinach. For dinner I had a 93/7 Lean Ground Beef patty, tomatoes and cooked spinach. Total for the day, 501.25 calories. I had lots of trouble saying no to sweets today, so that tells me I need to up my dose of hCG. I will try one more day at 250 IU a day and then decide.

update on the gals

My friend and co-worker Jerri has been doing hCG and a diet protocol developed by Transformations Clinics. I will post her details on weight loss here when she sends it, so look for the update. She has decided to now buy and mix her own hCG while continuing to do shots. She is thinking of switching to the Dr. Simeons diet to see if it changes her weight loss. That will be interesting to see if her weight loss is consistent or more. I think that may be hard since the Transformations diet is a lot more liberal in what it allows one to eat and also they do 5 injections with 2 off. If she does try the more restrictive Simeons version and it makes no difference, I think that might be telling. I'd love to have banana for instance. She can, I can't. Also as a note, I think she is type 2 diabetic as well. My sister Karin, who is also type 2, has started as of yesterday. She has previously lost a lot of weight (between 75 and 100 lbs). She also makes the bigger meals earlier in the day, and eats more protein for lunch and dinner than carbs. She does not eat any closer than 2-3 hours before bed. Now that she plateaud with that at about 200 lbs, she is using hCG to go the rest of the way. She has started a blog too at http://myhcgblog.blogspot.com/. Also, Nolan's blog url is http://asimplemans2centsworth.blogspot.com/ which is different than the one I had posted previously. I have updated it everywhere now. (I know - he's not a gal, but this was as good a place as any to update the info).

january 23, 2008 - day 7 (weight 248.5 )

I weighed 248.5 this morning, which is a pretty good weight loss. I would imagine from what I've read and heard that the weight loss will settle down now to a more normal pound a day average.

I definitely seem to do better eating as close to the 500 cal as possible, maybe even going over a little. I wasn't hungry waking up and had some normal hunger at 9 am, which was satisfied with an apple.

Today is my skip day, so I don't take the sublingual mix. The residual hCG will carry me one day, and it helps stretch out how long I can do this before immunity (estimated at about day 60).

I ate an apple and gissini at breakfast time. Then chicken and spinach for lunch. For snack I had grissini and the apple. For dinner I had cod, asparagus and sliced cucumber. Total for today is 519.6 calories.

I created an excel spreadsheet to track my weight loss. I have posted it here.

Also, I reorganized the blog a little, putting info about my formulating and shopping in the link area

january 22, 2008 - day 6 (weight 251.0 )

What a difference a day makes. I am hungry upon wake up. I will try not eating so late, and also I think letting the mix warm up helped too, so I'll be doing that from now on. Weighed 251.0 lbs. I snacked on an apple and breadsticks for breakfast. For lunch I ate Sirloin Tip Side Steaks again and a salad with lemon juice for dressing and I ate my other apple. Now I am eating my other breadsticks. I have been hungry all day. For dinner I had chicken, celery and tomatoes. Total for the day is 516 cal. Also note: I update the day's blog throughout the day, and maybe first thing the next morning.

january 21, 2008 - day 5 (weight 252.0 )

Hallalujah!! No hunger!! Weighed 252.0 lbs this morning and didn't eat anything until 2pm. Did get a little hungry for lunch, but it was quickly satisfied. For lunch I ate Sirloin Tip Side Steaks again and cooked spinach. I snacked just before dinner on an apple and 4 breadsticks (they are small enough to have 2 per meal). Dinner was shrimp and salad with lemon juice for dressing. Total so far is 419.05 cal. Have room for that last apple, but it is 9 pm and I just ate and am plumply satisfied. This actually is a pretty good diet for me food wise. I am someone who would prefer to taste the meat or bread, and not the butter or sauce. Lemons and the allowed spices leaves it pretty perfect for me. And I haven't really eaten apples much since my move to Florida, and these crispy Granny Smith's are like a midnight trip to Mr. Warford's tree for some forbidden fruit. Remember that Nolan?

january 20, 2008 - day 4 (weight 255.0 )

I weighed 255.0 lbs this morning, and this will be the day I start my very low calorie diet (VLCD), which consists of;

1. No breakfast.
2. Lunch and Dinner consist of the following;

• 100 grams of veal, beef, chicken breast, fresh white fish, lobster, crab, or shrimp. It must be boiled or grilled.
• One type of vegetable only to be chosen from the following: spinach, chard, chicory, beet-greens, green salad, tomatoes, celery, fennel, onions, red radishes, cucumbers, asparagus, cabbage.
• One breadstick (grissini) or one Melba toast.
• An apple or an orange or a handful of strawberries or one-half grapefruit.

Note: I am SOOO hungry today. Maybe I didn't load enough, maybe my filter filtered out the hCG, so I bought a pregnancy test. I think I read that hCG will turn it. My test was positive and quick, so the hCG is good.

I guess I either need to up the amount I am taking a day, or suffer for a couple days.

Hmmm. Decisions, decisions.

Also, I didn't realize how much effort has to go into balancing the diet at 500 calories. Red meat has a lot of calories compared to the others.

At breakfast I ate an apple and then a breadstick. After church and before lunch I ate the other breadstick and apple. For lunch I ate Sirloin Tip Side Steaks. Between lunch and dinner I ate 3 oz of raw spinach raw. I also broke and ate 4 more breadsticks. At dinner I ate a chicken breast and 15 small asparagus spears. 501.95 calories total

january 19, 2008 - day 3 (weight 257.0 )

Yes by golly I did pork out yesterday, and didn't gain any weight, I lost. 257.0 is what I weighed today. Measurements; Tummy (at belly button) = 47.5 in Chest (at nipples) = 49 Neck = 17.5 Hips = 45 Upper Thigh (r) (at inseam) = 28 Mid calf (r) = 16.5 Bicep (r) (arm outstretched to front) = 13.5 / (flexed) = 15.5 I wear a 38 in X 32 pant, but it is a big struggle to get buttoned. Probably should be in a 40 or 42. I wear a 37 in X 17.5 in shirt or an XL shirt. I weighed 162 lbs entering basic training in Sept. 1984. I weighed 151 lbs after basic training , 6 weeks later. I weighed 172 lbs after tech school in May 1985. I weighed 171 lbs when I got married in Nov. 1987. I weighed 178 lbs one month after getting married in Dec. 1987. I weighed 200 lbs when I moved to Florida in Nov. 1999. I weighed 230 lbs in 2003. I weighed 250 lbs in 2007.

update on my bros

My younger brother Nolan is the one who found this diet protocol and instigated the injection method for our family. He started September 10th, 2007 at 234.5 lbs and went through mid November before he developed immunity. At that point he had gotten down to 188.2 lbs, then waited 6 weeks to break the immunity (a 6 week phase to conclude the main phase, where you don't eat surags and starches, but can have as much of whatever else), and then restarted on round 2 of the main phase on December 14th. He did take a couple breaks for a few days, and recently for a week or so, and as of today is down to 174.2 lbs. He is officially normal according to insurance weight tables. His hCG blog is located here http://asimplemans2centsworth.blogspot.com/ He has also created a web site about the hCG diet and it is at http://nfoss.com/HCGStartPage.htm My brother-in-law Van was the next to start, and started a week and a half ago. After 4 days he was down 7 lbs. My older brother Tim has started and is down 6.6 lbs after 6 days. He is a type 2 diabetic and you can follow his progress at http://hesnotallthere.blogspot.com/ Being horrified of shots, I decided to try and see if I could get an oral method working. Others have done it, but I really wanted to stay as close to the tried and true methods of Dr. Simeons as possible. After all, 25 to 30 years of clinical experience, and success is pretty impressive. Dr. Simeon's "Pounds and Inches" manuscript can be found here. It has all the nitty gritty details. Other oral recipes I could find used vitamin B12 or colloidal silver or other items which are not allowed according to the strict Simeons method. I did find that Millennium Medical Spa came out with a version called Releana, and tried it over 3 to 4 years with much success. They follow Dr. Simeons' protocol pretty closely too. If I had access to them, I would likely not have ventured on my own. In their patent application they list an approximate recipe, and it is from this that I took clues to formulate my attempt.

january 18, 2008 - day 2 (weight 258.5)

I weighed 258.5 pounds this morning. I am still loading (day 2) (I decided to always make weight consistently after wake up and after peeing and before anything else). Note: Now halfway through day 2 of loading, and I am tired of eating. Not because of the hCG likely, but because my stomach is always bloated full. I am not a big eater normally, and a while ago started to consciously push away from the table before I was full. I stopped that practice in mid-November in anticipation of starting this protocol.

january 17, 2008 - day 1 (weight 256.0 )

I weighed 256.0 lbs this morning, my first morning - before loading, and before taking the oral formulation (always weigh after you get out of bed, and after you pee, and before anything else). My scale is only accurate to the 1/2 a pound, but using the law of averages the chart showing my weight loss will still show the same weight decline as if I had one accurate to .2 or .1 pounds. I have been eating anything, and everything for 2 months now in preparation for this diet, so that my fat stores would be topped off. 2 months ago I started weighing myself, and was 251.5 lbs. I did not measure yet. Couldn't find a seamstress tape. I plan to measure, though not every day, but maybe once a week. Supposedly you loose 1 inch circumference for every 5.5 lbs you lose. I'll post my measurements too. I am also taking a daily picture so that I can do a time lapse of my weight loss. That will be posted later when there is something to show, and then updated periodically. Also note: I update the day's blog throughout the day, and maybe first thing the next morning.