[12dargernswearf]

I am 53 years old and about six months into menopause. I started this 40 day diet without expecting a miracle, but after reading about so many losing 30 or 40 pounds during that time, expected a little more than what I am experiencing.
I lost approximately 9 pounds the first 8 or 9 days (my scale was kind of messed up and I had to get a new one). Then I lost a pound and immediately gained it back. I stalled days 10 through 21. Then the stall broke and on days 22 through 24, I lost 4 pounds, which on Day 25 I immediately gained back!!!!! Day 26 (yesterday) I had lost those same 3 pounds again....and was the same this morning. I have 13 days of P2 left and at this rate, I do not expect my weight loss to be more than 20 pounds at most. If I've calculated correctly (math is not my forte), I have lost about 14 pounds in 27 days.
I know that may seem like a lot but this morning I got my notes out from the last couple of diets I did which involved counting calories. I daily ate anywhere from 800 to 1,000 calories of whatever I wanted and over six weeks on one I lost 17 pounds and the other I lost 15 pounds. How does it benefit me to be hungry on 500 calories a day, when I can eat 400 or 500 more calories a day and lose almost the same amount of weight??? I realize I didn't keep the weight off, but that can happen on any diet, including this one.
I'm taking hx pellets (250 mg) twice a day. I do NOT cheat or use products that are prohibited. Once I inadvertently ate some ground chicken that I later discovered had some dark meat in it.
I do not eat my fruit so I can eat a few more ounces of protein, and have never eaten a melba toast.
I drink a moderate amount of water but probably not what I'm supposed to drink.
When I began the diet my plan was to complete all phases and pursue a Round 2, but depending on what happens between now and day 40, I may or may not continue.
Maybe the beginning of menopause has something to do with it. Or maybe it's just not how my body wants to lose?

[CoiI8XIj]

I am 53 years old and about six months into menopause. I started this 40 day diet without expecting a miracle, but after reading about so many losing 30 or 40 pounds during that time, expected a little more than what I am experiencing.
I lost approximately 9 pounds the first 8 or 9 days (my scale was kind of messed up and I had to get a new one). Then I lost a pound and immediately gained it back. I stalled days 10 through 21. Then the stall broke and on days 22 through 24, I lost 4 pounds, which on Day 25 I immediately gained back!!!!! Day 26 (yesterday) I had lost those same 3 pounds again....and was the same this morning. I have 13 days of P2 left and at this rate, I do not expect my weight loss to be more than 20 pounds at most. If I've calculated correctly (math is not my forte), I have lost about 14 pounds in 27 days.
I know that may seem like a lot but this morning I got my notes out from the last couple of diets I did which involved counting calories. I daily ate anywhere from 800 to 1,000 calories of whatever I wanted and over six weeks on one I lost 17 pounds and the other I lost 15 pounds. How does it benefit me to be hungry on 500 calories a day, when I can eat 400 or 500 more calories a day and lose almost the same amount of weight??? I realize I didn't keep the weight off, but that can happen on any diet, including this one.
I'm taking hx pellets (250 mg) twice a day. I do NOT cheat or use products that are prohibited. Once I inadvertently ate some ground chicken that I later discovered had some dark meat in it.
I do not eat my fruit so I can eat a few more ounces of protein, and have never eaten a melba toast.
I drink a moderate amount of water but probably not what I'm supposed to drink.
When I began the diet my plan was to complete all phases and pursue a Round 2, but depending on what happens between now and day 40, I may or may not continue.
Maybe the beginning of menopause has something to do with it. Or maybe it's just not how my body wants to lose?

I am 59 and lost 18 in 21 days. Six days later, I am 18.8. It's been a hard six days. I will see it through 40 days and doubt I will be at my goal which is 37 lbs. But the 18 lbs. in 3 weeks was great and four inches in the waist - gone. After 40 days, I plan to sensibly eat high protein until the job is done. I do think, at our age, we metabolize more slowly.

[Falik]

Many of us who are older (I'm 59) are slower losers then the spring chickens we see on the forum. But we still get there. I usually lost about 20 pounds in 40 days. But you know what? I got there. I'm down 75 pounds and holding.

[Geetiill]

You can try switching to injections. That is the way the diet was designed. These alterations in the delivery of hcg -I really believe- aren't nearly as effective.

[Janny2006]

I'd love to do the injections, but I literally almost pass out at the sight of needles and I live alone so I wouldn't have anyone else to do them for me. I'm not a wimp either...I've suffered migraines for 30 plus years, given birth to two children, and have rheumatoid arthritis....but needles still get me every time.

[sandyphoebetvmaa]

I thought I read somewhere in Pounds & Inches he mentions something about the effects are not as good for women who are within 1 year of their last menstruation? I am 53, and did my first round 3 years into my menopause, I lost 26 lbs that round, averaged out to be .6 lb per day which was great for me.

[Erawise]

Lisa...If I'm not mistaken, I THINK he said that women within their first year of menopause could lose the weight fairly comparable to others but they have a way higher relapse rate and tend to gain the weight lost back faster than others.

[DonnyKong]

I'd love to do the injections, but I literally almost pass out at the sight of needles and I live alone so I wouldn't have anyone else to do them for me. I'm not a wimp either...I've suffered migraines for 30 plus years, given birth to two children, and have rheumatoid arthritis....but needles still get me every time.

oh I'm sorry! Sometimes I forget that there are folks who can't handle needles. I know it's not a wimp thing it's just a needle thing. Lots of people are like that.

[byncnombmub]

Many of us who are older (I'm 59) are slower losers then the spring chickens we see on the forum. But we still get there. I usually lost about 20 pounds in 40 days. But you know what? I got there. I'm down 75 pounds and holding.

that is so awesome congrats...............i sure would like to follow your foot steps :-)

[themsrsdude]

How does it benefit me to be hungry on 500 calories a day, when I can eat 400 or 500 more calories a day and lose almost the same amount of weight??? I realize I didn't keep the weight off, but that can happen on any diet, including this one.

I think this is where the HCG diet is different. If you follow all of the phases in the protocol then your metabolism resets and you stand a much better chance of keeping the weight off.

It's frustrating when the weight isn't coming off as quickly as you'd like but you've still lost 0.5lbs a day on average which I think is fantastic
Do you measure yourself? I find that when my weight stops I lose inches and that can help keep me motivated.

If you can I would up the water intake too. That and sleep seem to have the biggest impact on how much I lose, not enough and I hit a stall...

Wishing you a nice surprise on the scale in the morning!

[PekHyvac]

I'm 46 but surgical menopause 10 years ago. Quit taking HRT about 4 years ago. My loss so far is a little over 20 pounds in about 32 days. So not as fast as others but I will take any loss I can get. The more I do this, the longer I want to do this. If it takes me a year and several rounds to get at least close to where I want to be, I'm doing it. No other plan I've tried has worked like this one. Not only in the loss but where the weight has come off.
Yea, the food can get boring but it is so worth it for me. I'm losing and feeling strong most days which is great!

[alicewong]

Hi Zoey,
I am 50 and have just completed phase 2 of round 3 as you can see by my below chart it has been slow going for each round BUT so worth it......I had 10 day stalls in Rounds 1 & 2 and none in round 3...go figure??...I am also menopausal after Chemo treatment last year caused it to happen (whether I was ready or not)...I have found this diet has completely reshaped my body, as of this morning I have lost 15.5cm (6 inches) off my waist & 19cm(7.5 inches) off my hips....I have NEVER reshaped like this on any of the numerous diets I have been on over the years....with the 500 calories you need to remember that the hCG is releasing stored abnormal fat which counts as calories (can't remember the number of calories that Dr Simeon's quotes in "Pounds & Inches)... I just think it is slower when we are older...after 3 rounds I have lost 22.3Kg (49 pounds)...
Hang in there...be patient....Take care...Kym