[Muhabsssa]

I have been doing the protocol for about seven days (three load, this is my 5th VLCD). I have really havent' lost anything other than some of my load weight. Although I've quite good at following protocol in terms of food, and I think my dosage is OK because I'm not hungry.

But I just had a fight with my husband about doing HCG, which he thinks is excessive force to lose 15 to 20 pounds. (When I did the protocol in 2010 and it worked, we were both on it. He's kept his weight off, I haven't.)

So my husband is the wine business, and so drinking wine is a part of our life. I learned in my other round that for me, even a half glass of wine for me throws off weight loss (and I also worry it screws up the hormones involved with the process).

But here's what we argued about:

Last night, knowing that I can't drink or really eat out, I turned down going out with our friends when they went out. So I followed the protocol all day, lost a fun night out and yet gained half a pound. We are in Seattle for the summer, so people hike. This morning, I turned down doing a six-mile hike with a friend. Which I really, really wanted to do. I had to turn down going on a fun cycling trip because I can't exercise on protocol.

My husband's issue: If I just went and did all this exercise instead of doing HCG, I would be better off in terms of my overall health.

So even though I believe in the protocol and I *thought* I was ready to give up everything to do it, I'm thinking that this is not the right time.

But what happens if I quit early? I"ve never done that. Are there side effects?

I also wonder if I am turning to HCG for what is really not a huge weight loss. I am 25.4 BMI so not exactly obese and, really, if i lost 10 or 12 pounds, I would be happy.

Thoughts on this?

[jelena-nanana]

I think that if you stop now you will regain what you lost and possibly more. It is hard for most people to lose weight without hcg and men are just different. I am sorry this is going so rough!

Btw, it is not that you cannot exercise in P2. It is best to not pick up any exercising but you can maintain what you have been doing.

Good luck! I hope you can talk it out with your husband and gain his support!

[siklop]

As far side effect of quitting early, I’d ask Grammy. But this isn’t just some diet (which it isn’t even an actually diet) for obese people. This is a lifestyle change, do you want to keep living the way you have, then go ahead, quit. Not being able to go out, big deal, its only 40 days, who cares, so your husbands in the wine business, again, its 40 days. I have very good clients that always offer lunch, dinners, I just tell them thanks but not now, they don’t care. Why do you start something and then quit? Not the right time? Well obviously you thought it was a good enough time to start, just stick to your guns and finish what you started. By the way, I’m 5’9, didn’t need to lose a ton of weight, and I’m here….. Good luck with your decision and happy losses!

[electmobile]

I know that you can continue your level of exercise, but I can't add to it. I did a doctor-supervised round and they were very specific about it.

I have been walking, but adding in vigorous hikes or cycling which I haven't been doing will go beyond my normal daily caloric use, which is why I opted not to do it.

I guess the thing is that I have lost weight in the past without HCG. I don't know if its a fight so much as my husband was saying we're in Seattle for 60 days which includes about a dozen trips to wineries. We have friends whose primary social activities are hiking and cycling. So he was really questioning why I would choose this time to be unable to hike, go cycling, walks longer than a couple of miles, do yoga, etc. and I also can't have even a couple of sips of wine -- for 30 day.

Honestly, I was doing it because I have a high school reunion coming up in late July, so I wanted to look good. His question was whether I cared more about people I haven't seen in 25 years, or the life I have now?

I guess I was thinking that there's great food here and I can eat really well, but I didn't thinking beyond the goal - fitting into a specific dress for the reunion.

His point was that if I just committed to eating well and doing daily exercise for the next 30 days instead, I'd probably lose eight to 10 pounds AND I'd also tone up. I've lost a lot of tone because I had a medical issue that prevented me from exercising for a few months, which is the root of my weight gain.

My doctor has urged me not to do HCG because I have chronic thyroid problems. I kind of left that part out. That's part of his issue. He's afraid that i am doing long-term damage for the sake of quick weight gain.

[bunkalapa]

Many people with thyroid issues on hcg here!

It sounds like you should just stop, do what you enjoy and see where it leads you. It sounds like way too much fun to not participate with your friends while in Seattle! Just make sure you watch the scale for sensitivities when transitioning into P3. Your gain may have to do with that and these can occur all of a sudden where before they were no issue at all, like eggs, dairy and nuts.

[Cyclicymn]

Your H does have a bit of a point - that you could probably drop 10 pounds, exercise and tone a lot, and still enjoy the 60 days in Seattle.

If you DO go off, I would think about implementing Correction Days every 4-6 days. Figure out a day when it is workable, and do a Steak Day. I think there is a thread somewhere about how someone lost another 15 or so pounds doing a CD once a week while in P4. Keep up the hiking/biking, and add in some resistance training. I am not sure what your housing is, but if you are a long-term stay hotel, then there should be a small gym there. Or if you are in a corporate condo or something, then there should be a gym there, too. And you can always pick up some resistance bands/hand weights at Target and do those on your own.

Enjoy the wineries - I am jealous!

[KixdricyArrip]

There's people with less than 15 pounds and are doing this protocol.
This is not just a diet, is more than that. This is a protocol that teaches you how to eat, to know thing about your body. You should've thought it twice before starting it, because obviously, you're not prepared to do it, you're more focused on the things you can not do with others (which will only be 40 days, or less if you only do 23 days). We all have to stop doing things we like and we just prepare mentally, because this is not just a matter of losing weight, it is a health question too. And as Mrs. said, theres many people with thyroid issues on hcg here!

I think you sould just stop these protocol, and do what you think you should. You just need to be carefull with what you eat, or you will gain some weight.

And wish you the best no matter what you choose!!
Best of lucks!!

[cymnPrayerm]

Sigh, MEN! I just want to smack them sometimes. Oh just exercise and you can drop off those 10 pounds. Well NO WE CAN'T!!! At least most of us can't. I can't. I I wanted to lose 15 pounds for a class reunion, by golly I'd do hcg in a heartbeat. This is for YOU. For what you want. For being the hottest chick at the class reunion. Obviously all that hiking and whatever didn't help you keep the weight off, did it? Guys don't get it. They really don't. They can drop that little bit of weight in a heartbeat. Sigh. If only it were that easy for us.

I would stick to the diet and commit to figuring out why you regained. It's probably something hormonal like progesterone being low or being hypothyroid. I'd get your free T3 and free T4 checked and I'd investigate a paleo lifestyle and figure out how to keep it off.

But you need to remember that losing weight is very personal. Our husbands or friends might not understand but if it makes you happy and content, then do it. If it doesn't, then stop. It's likely early enough that you shouldn't regain any weight but if you haven't even lost your load weight, then I wouldn't stop now because you'll just be stuck there. Good luck!

[pataagusata]

I don't know, honey. I had only 20 pounds to lose (and succeeded) and quite honestly, if I'd been able to do it without the assistance of hcg, then I would have done so already. It doesn't really sound as though your head is in the game for a round right now, do you think it's due to not having lost quickly enough for your liking? I get the feeling if you'd dumped a couple more pounds you may not be having this internal struggle. I wouldn't recommend just stopping, I think you'd regret it on several levels, just solider on, I say. I spent a month saying no to every invitation imaginable, I felt completely bitter about it the first few times then it actually became somewhat empowering knowing that the pay off was going to far outweigh the short-lived pleasure of one evening. I just kept telling myself I could do anything for 30 days...and did. The end result? Two nights out in a row this weekend, in pants I hadn't even been able to bring myself to look at for the past couple of years, almost no desire to consume sugar or carbs and most importantly, regaining control of my eating habits and looking in the mirror and feeling an immense sense of pride. Do what is right for YOU. Good luck!

[XGoFivk7]

I have been doing the protocol for about seven days (three load, this is my 5th VLCD). I have really havent' lost anything other than some of my load weight. Although I've quite good at following protocol in terms of food, and I think my dosage is OK because I'm not hungry.

But I just had a fight with my husband about doing HCG, which he thinks is excessive force to lose 15 to 20 pounds. (When I did the protocol in 2010 and it worked, we were both on it. He's kept his weight off, I haven't.)

So my husband is the wine business, and so drinking wine is a part of our life. I learned in my other round that for me, even a half glass of wine for me throws off weight loss (and I also worry it screws up the hormones involved with the process).

But here's what we argued about:

Last night, knowing that I can't drink or really eat out, I turned down going out with our friends when they went out. So I followed the protocol all day, lost a fun night out and yet gained half a pound. We are in Seattle for the summer, so people hike. This morning, I turned down doing a six-mile hike with a friend. Which I really, really wanted to do. I had to turn down going on a fun cycling trip because I can't exercise on protocol.

My husband's issue: If I just went and did all this exercise instead of doing HCG, I would be better off in terms of my overall health.

So even though I believe in the protocol and I *thought* I was ready to give up everything to do it, I'm thinking that this is not the right time.

But what happens if I quit early? I"ve never done that. Are there side effects?

I also wonder if I am turning to HCG for what is really not a huge weight loss. I am 25.4 BMI so not exactly obese and, really, if i lost 10 or 12 pounds, I would be happy.

Thoughts on this?

"Is it worth it?" I think you are asking us a question that only you can answer. It iS kind of like going into hiding for a while. Or at least I had to. But a 19 pound loss in 40 days was TOTALLY worth it to me. Good luck with your decision!

mEoW