"The Plan" basics

http://www.intermountainhcg.com/ 

This really is just a journal for me, and my doctor. So, not really hoping too many people read this. Thinking the drastic measures could bring out negative thinking. My doctor is on board with this, and I will be seeing her every few days to weeks. Labs were done before I started, and will be done periodically. Also will be seeing her to manage medications.

I am doing the HCG diet. It is drops that are the hormone, and increase the production in my body. It releases fat while I eat 500 calories a day for 6 weeks. It is SPECIFIC foods..... at specific times:

• An apple, orange or strawberries. 1 Serving eaten 6 hours apart. (Half a grapefruit too, but I hate grapefruit)
• 3 1/2 ounces of ONE vegetable twice a day. The ones I will choose from are cabbage, green beans, lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, broccoli and cauliflower.. can't remember what else... 
• 3 1/2 ounces of VERY lean meat twice a day. My choices are chicken breast, 95% ground sirloin, for now sirloin steak because the tenderloin didn't come in yet. When it comes in, it will be the tenderloin.
• Water, tea, coffee, two diet sodas a day (probably not do that) and juice of one lemon. 
• Also 1 T skim milk a day in coffee if desired. 
• CAN substitute fat free cottage cheese for the protein. I also hate cottage cheese, but think I might try blending it up with strawberries and some stevia and possibly apple cider vinegar to make a "dressing" for my lettuce or cabbage. 
• They say you aren't hungry on this because of the fat released by the hormone and something else in the drops. I have two friends doing it now, and one of them has done it before and has a tiny bit to lose. Her mom has done it too. They say it is actually HARD sometimes to even eat the little bit you HAVE to eat.
• You do that for 6 weeks, then do the maintenance phase for 6 weeks, and can then do it again.

The first two days on the drops are "fat loading" days... to stave off hunger in the first few days. I have been doing that. Monday, the 21st is day 3 of drops, day one of restricted eating. Believe it or not, I'm looking forward to it. Tomorrow I am having strawberries, cucumbers, burger during the day. Cauliflower, steak and orange in evening. Lots of tea and water.

I do plan to do it for at least 2 times, and then switch over to the "Wheat Belly" diet. But might do more times than that depending on how it goes.

You CAN'T exercise during the phase WITH the drops, but MUST exercise during the maintenance phase without the drops.

Maintenance is this:

• First week, same foods but in increased amount
• Second week you can eat all meat, vegetables and fruit.
• Third week you add eggs, nuts and dairy.
• Fourth week you can add back sugar, flour, etc. (Memory right now.)
• If at any point during this phase you GAIN weight, you go back to the previous weeks diet.

I don't want to add flour because of the wheat, but I'll do according to Wheat Belly. I am also using Melaluca vitamins so they are great quality and easily absorbed and utilized by my body. Doc will stay on top of any changes in my body and any missing things that I will need.