Another Milestone! :D

Start Weight: 168 lbs
Goal Weight: 138 lbs
Weight after two loading days:  171.7 lbs (3.7 lbs total gain)
R2P2D21Inj17: 155.2  (-16.5 lbs gross, -12.8 lbs net)

0.7 lbs down today... Not bad at all...  This morning was quite exciting! Pretty much from the very beginning of this journey, I have been using my Wii Fit Plus to weigh myself every morning. I love it because it keeps a record of my weight and BMI in a graphical format. It also allows me to set mini-goals every couple of weeks which is very motivating. The other motivating thing was watching my BMI slowly creep down from "Obese" into the "Overweight" category. Well, this morning, I crossed from "Overweight" into "Normal." I've never been so thrilled to be "Normal" at anything in my whole life!


Unfortunately, I have discovered that I am losing something else besides fat. I am experiencing some hair loss. I have very thick hair anyway, so I can afford to lose some. But, I want to nip this in the bud right away. I have researched this, and it appears that some people do experience hair loss while others have no problem at all. I didn't have an issue during Round 1. It has only reared its ugly head in the last week or so. I believe that the most likely cause is protein deficiency or perhaps a vitamin/mineral deficiency. I may consider increasing my protein intake by adding an extra serving of the Jay Robb Whey Protein powder, while carefully counting my calories to ensure that I don't go over 500 calories a day. I have also seen people suggest taking either Xymogen's Regenemax or Natrol's BioSil, along with the vitamin Biotin. I have ordered BioSil since I found it on Amazon. I could not readily see where to order the Regenemax, but BioSil appears to be the same thing so I went with that. I also was going to order Biotin, but all of the Biotin capsules that I found on the internet contain Rice Flour, which is a no-no during Phase 2 (or Phase 3, for that matter). However, it turns out that my clinic sells rice flour-free Biotin capsules, so I'm buying those! I'm going to bring out the big guns and attack this full force!

On to the menu!  (Gonna count the calories today...)

12p:  One scoop Jay Robb Vanilla Whey Protein Powder*
          stirred into 6 oz of water (110 cal, 25g protein)
1p:    ACV concoction
2p:    Yogi Detox & Decaf Green Tea mix
6p:    Five boiled egg whites* (75 cal, 15g protein)
9p:    1/2 Cup Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt*
          (60 cal, 10g protein) mixed with Lemon Drop
          Liquid Stevia and a squeeze of lemon wedge
10p:  Apple (80 cal, 0.5g protein)

Well gee... I ended up way undershooting my calories -- only 325 for the day.  I wonder how many I usually consume???  Maybe I'm always under 500.  Perhaps I should start counting for a while.  I couldn't find anything in "Pounds and Inches" that said that there is a problem with consuming less than 500, just that you can't consume MORE than 500.  (If anyone has a different interpretation of the protocol than this, then please comment below!  I want to know!)  I do know that you must eat the protein, since the VLCD portion of the protocol keeps you on the verge of protein deficiency.  I got 50.5g of protein in today. Hopefully that is enough.

* OFF PROTOCOL WARNING!!!
- Jay Robb Vanilla Whey Protein Powder, 1 scoop (110 cal, 0g Fat, 150mg Sodium, 390 Potassium, 0g Fiber, 0g Sugar, 25g Protein, 30mg Calcium) is not on protocol.  I am adding it to be sure that I am getting enough protein.
- I choose to do 5 egg whites instead of the protocol-prescribed 1 whole egg + 3 egg whites because I'm trying to squeeze in as much protein as possible without all the calories.
- Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt is not an approved food.  I have added it as an alternative vegetarian protein source.


Looking ahead... I've got a trip coming up.  In about a week, my family is going to visit The Mouse in sunny Orlando!  Ahhh.... temptations galore!  Since it will be very, very difficult to eat VLCD in the parks, I have decided to do what is typically called a planned interruption.  This is how Dr. S describes a planned interruption in the protocol:

"When a patient knows beforehand that he will have to travel and be absent for more than four days, it is always better to stop injections three days before he is due to leave so that he can have the three days of strict dieting which are necessary after the last injection at home. This saves him from the almost impossible task of having to arrange the 500 Calorie diet while en route, and he can thus enjoy a much greater dietary freedom from the day of his departure. Interruptions occurring before 20 effective injections have been given are most undesirable, because with less than that number of injections some weight is liable to be regained. After the 20th injection an unavoidable interruption is merely a loss of time."

So, here is my plan:  I will continue to take injections through Wednesday, October 20th.  On that day will be my 23rd actual injection, but my 20th EFFECTIVE injection.  The first three injections are not considered "effective" because it takes three injections to build up the HCG levels to the optimal level.  I will continue the VLCD for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, then begin a Phase 3 type diet for the duration of my trip.  Phase 3 is no sugars and no starches, but I will be able to add back in fats and increase my caloric intake, so that will make it a little easier on me.  I will strive to maintain within +/- 2 lbs of my LIW (Last Injection Weight, or in other words, my weight as of Wednesday morning) during my trip, and will start the injections back up on the day I return.  As Dr. S. puts it, hopefully it will just be a "loss of time." If you have a similar situation, hopefully I can be your guinea pig and will be able to help you through it.  I probably will not blog during my trip, but will be sure to fill you in when I get back!

Well, we'll see how adding the extra protein affects the scale tomorrow.  'Til then -- LATER LOSERS!  :D