[bubbachew14]

Hello! I don't check this board very often any more, but as promised, I am returning with a six month update; but it's actually closer to five and a half, but I've had some changes that I thought might help people so I am posting now and I will post again maybe at 9 months and then at a year.

I did two rounds this year and finished my last some time in June. Total, I lost almost 50lbs. I did an underwater body composition test and found that 40% of my losses were fat and 60% from lean mass. I was very disappointed, but still not upset I did HCG.

I never found a period where I stabilized. I was very careful with my diet and did P3 for months, because I was afraid of gaining and also because I think low carb is the way to go. But over that P3 into P4 period, the scale kept creeping up, although as promised, I didn't really feel the extra weight on me.

In July I started a weight lifting program called Super Slow, lifting weights intensely but only for 20 minutes in a 7-14 day period. This put back on 11lbs of lean mass and I look and am doing great. My lean mass is now 75% the highest it's ever been in my life. Some days I can't believe it's me, I look so good and I still have more improvements to go.

If I had not started Super Slow, I can't tell you what would have happened. A loss like that in my lean mass was not good. I talked to the body composition guy and he says any diet the typical loss is 50/50; so if you're doing better than that on HCG, then you are doing well.

If I had it to do it all over again, here's how I'd do it. I'd get the lean mass test done for sure before I started--that way I would have exact figures. I'd either do underwater or body pod or the breathing one. I would not go off a scale.

I would not drop my calories down to 500. I wouldn't go below 1200 or so but I would eat the Dr. Simeon's foods. I would also keep up a weight lifting program. The gal that had her body comp test before me (who I didn't know) was in college, not doing weight lifting and was ice skating and she did put on lean mass doing cardio, but knowing my body at least, I would not advise it. Then after that first round, I'd have my body comp done again and go from there.

HCG is a commitment in time, money and thinking power. You have to have a plan, you have to read the book, you have to know what the protocol is about and be aware what it can do to and for you and what it can't. There's a guy who was heavier than me (also younger), and he posted pictures and he had amazing results. I don't think he lost as much lean mass as I did. So everyone's different.

I don't plan on doing another round of HCG. I also don't have to. Another thing HCG gave me, and I'm not kidding about this, is a real break in my cravings for sweet foods. Six months later, I still don't eat anything sweeter than a raisin or a bannana--and I don't want to. I really believe HCG re-wired something in my brain's cravings for sweets and now, also with these results so quickly, looking and feeling this comfortable in my body, I don't want to mess it up. It's not worth it. I can eat quite a bit in moderation; meaning, there are days I can have a burger and fries, but if I do that too much, then I feel it right away. Then I cut back and a week or two later, I'm okay. But if it wasn't for the change in my desire in these foods, which I don't know if HCG does that for everyone, it would be much harder to do. My naturopath says that she's heard this about HCG.

I don't check this board very often. If anyone has a question or wants to get in touch with me they can reach me at and I will tell them what I know.

Again, I just want to say thanks for everyone for sharing their experiences and for being there. This board is a real gem and I hope it continues to help people get healthy way into the future. I'll post again in a few months and with an annual update. The one gal that did that was awesome.

[Styparty]

Thank you so much for posting your experience, particularly your body composition change once you did the diet.

I may try to do some light weight bearing exercises in the mornings and see how that works. I did one round where I botched P3 and I really regretted not being more active. I was so excited to read that I shouldn't start a new workout program that I took it as a license to do nothing. So far I have been walking 30 minutes a day and then I also did yoga one day.

Thanks again for sharing your experience...it is really helpful!