The Beginning and an Explanation...

Welcome to my blog spot. My name is Kristin and I hope you find something helpful amidst my ramblings and kooky thoughts. Warning, this first blog is gonna be a long one.

First, I want to explain my blog page title. I chose to use a play on words because I'm clever like that lol. Anywho, so the "2 cents" would have been an obvious choice because I am doing just that here... giving my two cents. However, "2 sense" would not be so obvious because not everyone would think of all the different and pertinent definitions of "sense". I found the following online at Merriam-Webster dictionary:

1: a meaning conveyed or intended: import, signification; especially: one of a set of meanings a word or phrase may bear especially as segregated in a dictionary entry

2a: the faculty of perceiving by means of sense organs b: a specialized function or mechanism (as sight, hearing, smell, taste, or touch) by which an animal receives and responds to external or internal stimuli c: the sensory mechanisms constituting a unit distinct from other functions (as movement or thought)

3: conscious awareness or rationality- usually used in plural

4a: a particular sensation or kind of quality of sensation b: a definite but often vague awareness or impression c: a motivating awareness d: a discerning awareness and appreciation

5: consensus

6a: capacity for the effective application of the powers of the mind as a basis for the action or response: intelligence b: sound mental capacity and understanding typically marked by shrewdness and practicality; also: agreement with or satisfaction of such power

7: one of two opposite directions especially of motion (as a point, line, or surface)

Synonyms: sense, common sense, judgement, wisdom mean ability to reach intelligent conclusions. Sense implies a reliable ability to judge and decide with soundness, prudence, and intelligence. Common sense suggests an average degree of such ability without sophistication or special knowledge. Judgement implies sense tempered and refined by experience, training and maturity. Wisdom implies sense and judgement far above average.

Okay, so sorry about the long drawn out definition but I think it clears my title up. I am using all of my senses (not just two of them but you get the point.)

Now on to some HCG information. I am what you would call a "newbie" because this is my first round on HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin or Gonadotrophin hCG.) If you are just starting out your research on HCG your VERY FIRST READING must be "Pounds and Inches a New Approach to Obesity" by Dr. A.T.W. Simeons.

HCG is a glycoproteine hormone that is released during pregnancy. Long story short, this hormone basically keeps a pregnant mother and fetus from starving to death if there is lack of food. The hormone causes the body (with very low calorie intake) to release "abnormal fat" to be used as fuel. Abnormal fat is not normally available to our body to use for fuel. When we do a "normal" diet or even a starvation diet we only use and lose the normal fat which includes the fat we NEED. We don't ever have access to that abnormal fat (the ugly crap that looks like cottage cheese or makes men look preggers) so that is significant.

Now, it is important to state that HCG alone does not make one lose weight, it does not make one's metabolism speed up or change it in any way, nor does it take away hunger pangs. However, when combined with a very low calorie diet (Dr. Simeon's protocol VLCD), followed by the maintaining/stabilizing phases- abnormal fat is released, you lose weight, your body reshapes, and at the end of the protocol you have re-programmed your hypothalamus and your metabolism as well.

I am not a doctor- I just play one on T.V.. Sorry, couldn't help myself there (hence the "kooky".) Anywho, I am not a doctor. I am just following the Dr.'s protocol and going on my merry way. I joined a yahoo group online- hcgdieters. You should go check it out if you are thinking about doing this or have already started. They have a wealth of information. There are over 17,500 members and they range from the newest to the veterans. They have tips and useful information.

Okay so now some background information on me. I am 38 years old (bleck) and have been struggling with my weight for a very long time. I don't remember thinking I was fat in high school but I do remember thinking I could be thinner. I am not small boned, I'd say more medium. I am a muscular build as well. I was in gymnastics as a kid and was ran track and was a cheerleader in hs. I have never been a bean pole, at least not since I was 13 years old.

I am 5 feet 6 inches tall and my weight as an adult has ranged from 135 up to a whopping 182.4. I have done the ephedrine diet, the lemonade diet, the Atkins diet, the Zone diet, the wedding diet, the starve yourself to death diet and the workout until you barf diet... well, you get the idea. I am what they call a "Yo-Yo dieter".

So of course when my friend Jhen told me about the HCG diet I was ready to jump on board. And no, it didn't matter that it involved INJECTING MYSELF WITH SOME UNKNOWN LIQUID FROM OVERSEAS. Oh no, that didn't matter to me at all because that is how I roll.

I am not going to lie to you, I talked to my friend and when she told me that she lost 23 lbs in as many days I was DOWN FOR IT. When she told me that it can sometimes take up to a month to get here from over seas I ordered it that very night before even doing any research on it.

After ordering the HCG and the mixing kit needed (yeah all the needles I would be stabbing myself in the gut with) I started the research. I watched several YouTube videos on the protocol and was totally impressed by the info but mostly by the "before and after" effect from the first video to the person's latest- it was AWESOME to see. I too have several videos on there now as well- my name is kristinluvsmac (don't ask... I have a love hate relationship with MAC make-up).

I COULDN'T WAIT FOR MY HCG TO ARRIVE. Alas, I did have to wait... 20 looooong days.
It was okay though because in that time I read Pounds and Inches several times. I read the messages on the yahoo group for 2 solid weeks and wrote down tons of useful tips and helpful hints like certain supplements to take for certain issues that may arise.

I started my HCG journey on February 20th. I took my pre-measurements and my "before photos" in my bikini (you know the one I won't be able to wear in public until I get down to at least the 150's- low 150's) I just threw up a little in my mouth thinking about that. I of course weighed myself after I finished the 2 LOADING days (you load up on the most fatty foods you can find and eat as much as you can just shy of barfing for 2 or 3 days).

I purchased a HCG workbook that has tons of pages for inputting my measurements and weight and thoughts as well as menus for the days on protocol. I have since made my own for friends and future rounds I might be doing.

So they say you can lose 20-40 pounds in a long round of 40 injections. The average loss for women is .5lbs/day and for men its 1lb/day. YES, that is right, men do this diet too. They have no adverse side effects, they don't get pregnant (though I wish they could), they don't grow man-boobs (many already have them and its not something they can blame on HCG), and they don't get PMS.

My starting weight after loading was, you guessed it, the highest I have EVER weighed- 182.4lbs. It is important to have a scale that weighs in ounces and one that measures body fat is also great. I am currently on day 20 of the VLCD and weigh (drum roll please....) 166.2 lbs. I have lost 16.2 lbs in 20 days. As of last Sunday (because that is when I measure) I have lost 2 inches in my chest/back, 1 inch in my hips, 2.5 inches in my thighs, 1 inch in my calves, 2.5 inches in my belly and 1.5 inches in my booty. OH YEAH BABY I AM HAPPY!!! Oh yeah, and... IT TOTALLY WORKS.

So the cool thing is that I am not hungry (some mental hunger but I am working through that... did I mention I am an emotional eater?) I'm only eating 500 calories per day- it is insane on paper but I am not hungry because the released abnormal fat that is coursing through my body makes me feel like I have just eaten and are therefore not hungry! Bam- awesome.

I follow the protocol almost to a T but I vary off a slight bit and I will get into all that in my next blog entry. This one is wayyyyyyy too long but it was a necessary evil to get you up to speed and know who I am and what this is all about.

So please, follow my blog and tell your friends if you would like to follow a kooky girls HCG journey.

Take care.

Enjoy the ride and see ya on the other side...