Sticking rigorously to protocol and NO weight loss in P2...?
 

Posting on behalf of someone else here... http://hcgdietinfo.com/hcgdietforums...lies/smile.png

P2 started on June 3. She is sticking VERY rigorously to the original protocol, with a single exception: she occasionally uses petroleum jelly for chapped lips. Research here suggests that shouldn't be a problem, though. She doesn't eat the breadsticks/melba toast and she knows she's in ketosis.

In ten days, she lost a grand total of two pounds (other than her loading days weight). She hasn't lost any inches, either; she's tried on clothing that was too tight for her and doesn't see a difference. She actually gained a pound this morning, but TOM is imminent. She is hugely frustrated and ready to quit, and I want her to succeed!

What can I do to advise her and help her? She does take eltroxin but it's a pretty low dosage. She's not feeling hungry, so the HCG has to be working, but she isn't losing weight. She's not using lotions or creams (other than the petroleum jelly), she's careful about handling anything oily or fatty, she's drinking enough water, she's weighing all her food and counting calories carefully.

She's taking subcu injections of about 185.

Any suggestions to help this woman make HCG a success for her?

What is her starting weight and height? Is she counting the weight she gained while loading or not?

TOM could be part of the issue if she typically retains water leading up to it.

She's 5"2 and started at 143.4. She's now down to 141.2, so no, that doesn't including her loading days. She accepts that TOM is the likely cause of this morning's weight gain, but that doesn't explain ten days with only two pounds weight loss!

Do you know how much she gained when loading? That weight should be taken into consideration as well.


Do you know if she has any underlying health issues, like thyroid, diabetes or the like?

Yes, she put on four pounds while loading. I've always thought you don't take the loading weight into account when you're determining how much you lost?

As I said, she takes eltroxin, so she does have thyroid problems. It's a pretty low dosage, though.

Honestly, the part she's looking forward to most is the reset of her hypothalmus - she's always on low/no carb diets and has a really hard time losing. But sticking to protocol without seeing any sign of success is really, really hard for her, and I'd hate to see her give up so she doesn't get the hypothalmus reset out of it.

BTW, since I didn't specify it in the original post, I know she has good quality HCG -- prescription-grade Pregnyl, dosage mixed accurately.

You do count the 4 lbs from loading. So 6 lbs in a week is not bad.

The thyroid issues can cause slower weight loss.

The reset is a wonderous thing. I could not believe how much i could eat and maintain after my first round where before I could eat under 700 calories, exercise like crazy and be lucky to lost a pound here and there.

Aha. Nice to know the loading weight counts, but... it's ten days, not a week, and she's understandably just about ready to quit. And I know other people on thyroid medication who didn't have this problem or little/no weight loss.

Is there anything she can do to help the weight loss get kickstarted here?

And yeah, I keep telling her that the ability eat NORMALLY and have her body working with her, and not against her, is the best part of the HCG diet. Losing the weight with the HCG is kinda cheating. http://hcgdietinfo.com/hcgdietforums...ilies/wink.png Keeping that weight off for months and years afterwards, without difficulty? That's the really fantastic part. And she believes me, but... it would be SO much better for her if I could come up with some advice or solution that could help her lose some more now.

For now, I would blame TOM - and definitely stick to it till after that. If she wants to tweak anything, I would try and do fish for one of the two meals, and up the protein a tad if she isn't eating the fruit/ grissini. But really, water retention around TOM sucks big time. http://hcgdietinfo.com/hcgdietforums...lies/smile.png

I thought she had started VLCD on Jun 3rd.

Every body is different as far as how they do with thyroid issues. I just threw that out as a possibility.

Average weight loss for a woman is .5 to .75 lbs per day.

She could try cutting out the melba and a fruit, going to the lower carb fruits and veggies.

Yep, VLCD started June 3rd. Today's the 12th... Ten days.

She's already dropped the melba from the beginning. You would suggest dropping one of the fruits as well? Would it be wise to maybe increase her protein intake a bit?

She's already eating fish regularly. And yeah, she's accepting of the TOM water retention problem.

If it makes her feel any better... I gained 4.5 lbs in one single day. TOM is the bane of my existence... http://hcgdietinfo.com/hcgdietforums...lies/smile.png

She can try adding some extra protein as well.

I'll suggest she add a bit more protein, then. How much is too much, though? Should she be eating 250 grams instead of 200, or more? Or less?

Thanks for the moral support, sweetiepie! There are always apple days if necessary... http://hcgdietinfo.com/hcgdietforums...lies/smile.png

But apple days only squeeze the waterout - and don't help a bit for actual weight loss. http://hcgdietinfo.com/hcgdietforums...lies/smile.png

I more or less doubled my protein, depending what I had that day - less for beef, double for fish. Just watch the calories, you want to get enough veggies in, yet stay below 500 calories.

My body does a LOT better with substantial extra protein, and almost no carbs.

Breakfast: Jay robb shake with 3-4 strawberries for breakfast (140 calories)
Lunch 4 oz chicken and about 4 oz of broccoli, asparagus, or zuchinni (about 140-150)
Dinner: 4.5 oz of fish (Mahi Mahi) or 4 oz. of lean sirloin with spinach (150-180 calories)

Always stay under 500 cals. Most days around 430-450, since I don't have beef every day and some days I'm too full to finish 4.5 oz of fish at dinner, so the dog gets the leftovers http://hcgdietinfo.com/hcgdietforums...lies/smile.png Also, I only use Mrs. Dash salt free seasoning, and lemon to season. Nothing else.

You said she is on 185 SubQ?? Her dose might be a bit high maybe??

How much sodium is she intaking? During R1 I stalled big time because I was eating too much fruit and sodium and not enough protein.

Just my experience. Good luck to your friend http://hcgdietinfo.com/hcgdietforums...lies/smile.png

What hcg is she using? If it's drops, have her check and make sure hcg is listed as an ingredient.

I had some similar plateaus. About the only thing that keeps us motivated are those exciting days on the scale. Tell your friend to hang in there! She really can't measure the success of her round until the end. I had some monumental plateaus, then all of a sudden, lost 3 pounds in 1 day! I am 3 weeks into Phase III today, & amazed at how the stabilization really works!

Her HCG is definitely good quality, Grammy - prescription Pregnyl from a reputable pharmacy. I'm not worried about that. And I wouldn't worry about stalls, either, except she's essentially stalled from day one, and that's very unusual in my experience. And frustrating!

I see a number of people here are recommending that she up her protein intake. She's been so good about sticking to protocol; would it be wise to play around like that?

Oh, and thanks to everyone who's chiming in with suggestions and encouragement. Especially Beth. http://hcgdietinfo.com/hcgdietforums...lies/smile.png

Hazel, I would suggest upping the protein to 150 g for a least one meal a day and see if it shakes things.

Also, did she take measurements before she started? I just finished a round and although I lost very little, my measurements have changed markedly compared to being at this same weight in a previous round. My waist is an inch smaller. I typically don't finish shaping until later in Phase 3 so there may be more to come.