In the beginning...

I never was the type to get into blogging. But once I began this "extreme" diet I decided it was time to start typing. I'm sure that the saying is true..."misery loves company" and so it begins...


A few weeks ago I was sitting in a hair styling chair getting my hair done. I noticed my hair stylist was periodically sniffing the air and making comments under her breath such as, "that smells good" and "God, I'm hungry". I took pity on her soul and let her know I was more than ok if she wanted to stop and get something to eat. She appeared surprised. I don't think she even knew she was talking out loud. "I'm on this new HCD diet" she said. "I can't eat anything but 500 calories a day" she said sadly. She must have noticed the look of total shock on my face and quickly followed it up with, "...but it's doctor approved and supervised diet, I take daily injections of this hormone..." She must have noticed the look of shock on my face was not wavering. Now, I should quickly mention here that I'm not from the USA and I come from a third world country. I'm a firm believer in if I can catch it I can eat it. People aren't vegetarians. Iguanas are vegetarians. And nobody, including iguanas, should be on a 500 calorie a day diet. "I've already lost 30 lbs in 1 month" she said proudly. Holly iguanas! I'd been wanting to lose some weight. I participate in a physical fitness boot camp 3x a week and derby for 2x a week but I always seem to gain weight when I exercise. Everyone in my house is under weight and we are very conscious of eating well (no additives, no hormone, happy cows and happy chicken eggs only). I only wanted to lose 15lbs, just a measly 15 pounds. I quickly calculated that in my head. 2 weeks. Just 2 weeks right? Of course, I knew better than this but my weight was really bothering me so I found a doctor and went on this crazy not for iguana diet.


Monday January 11th:
I arrive on time at my doctor's appointment. Dr. G explains the diet to me, goes over my medical history, and takes some blood. For those of you who are unaware it's a 500 calorie diet for the first 3 weeks in combination with daily injections of the pregnancy hormone HCG. I passed my physical but there were some concerns. I suffer from hypoglycemia due to poly cystic ovarian syndrome and take metaformin to control my blood sugar. He was concerned that with the amount of exercise that I do it might not be a good idea to continue the metaformin. The nurse warned me of the side effects including hunger and crazy mood swings. Focus on the 15 lbs I kept telling myself. Focus. Focus. Focus.


Tuesday, January 12th
Got my medication 
Injection #: 1
Phase 1
Initial Weight: 169
4pm: I went home and quickly drew up the medication and injected myself in my right thigh. I felt a bit light headed but I don't think that had anything to do with the medication I just get light headed when I see needles. The actual needle is so thin and I held the skin pretty taunt between my fingers that the shot itself did not hurt. Hurray!  I went to my physical fitness boot camp for 1 1/2 hours and didn't feel any different. I dreaded getting some sort of headache the most. I didn't get one. I was happy.


Phase one of the diet is the 'fun part'. You have to eat fatty food to "load" and prepare for the following weeks. I thought it was going to be funner than it was. I was only able to put down a few fried pickles and few chicken wings. I'm not use to eating that much fatty food but I sacrificed myself. ;)


Wednesday, January 13
Injection #: 2
Initial Weight: 169
Current Weight: 169
Daily Weight Loss: 0
Phase 1


I continued to eat fatty foods including a hamburger and fries. I felt miserable all day. I hate eating that badly 2 days in a row. I'm glad I didn't have boot camp that evening or I would have passed out for sure. I did put down a mighty pint of ice cream though!


The second injection hurt a bit more than the first. I self administered it on my left thigh. I think my skin was somewhat dry and I actually heard the needle make a scraping noise as it was going in. That made me feel woozy but I lived. 


Thursday, 1/14
Injection #: 3
Initial Weight: 169
Current Weight: 170.2 lb
Loss: none, actually gained 1lb
Phase 1, starting Phase 2


I was still fat loading during the day and after my third injection at night I began my diet. I went and bought a digital food weight at Target. I weighed out 3.5 oz of raw chicken breast and 3.5 oz of salad greens. I also had a big glass of tea. I cooked the chicken and ate it all up. Not too bad. I wasn't hungry afterwards. Geez, could this really not be THAT bad? The HCG is suppose to control your hungry and it seemed like it was working.


Friday, 1/15
Injection: #4
Weight in AM: 168.6
Loss: almost 2 lbs
Phase 2


During the morning I omitted breakfast as I was told. It wasn't too tough and I had a fruit snack, 1/2 grapefruit, at 10am. I ran some errands and came home a bit hungry but not too bad. I ate the 3.5 oz of meat and 3.5 oz of veggies. I was happy. It was 3:00pm and I wasn't near death. I didn't have a headache. I didn't feel overly odd. I felt a little bit light headed but most of the time I was overly concerned with the possibility that I might be hungry. 4 p.m rolled by and I was getting hungry. I could have 5 strawberries for the day so I ate one. By 5 p.m. it sucked. I was hungry. Iguanas are yummy you know. They make good soup. Ug! That's when I started blogging. 5 p.m. I ate strawberry number 2. 5:30pm I had to bust out the 3.5 oz of chicken. I put a lot of seasoning on it and ate it with the 3.5 oz of veggies (tomato and spinach- though I thought tomato was a fruit). Christ I was getting hungry. I was surprised I wasn't grouchy, moody, or had a headache. I have gotten "hot flashes" these last 2 days on and off. I ate my dinner very slowly. Cutting up the food in tiny morsels. I even licked my plate! Hey, don't hate. I'm from a third world country remember. I can do that. :)


I'm not as hungry now. In fact, I'm surprised how filling the food was. Blogging has helped. I highly recommend blogging or having a diary if you are contemplating this diet. I read a lot of information from other bloggers and they give you the nitty gritty. Grits? Anyone say grits?