MY BEST LIFE NOW
It's 2010! I can't believe it it was ten years ago we were all freaking out about Y2K. This last year of the decade was life-changing for me. My weight has defeated me all my life. I thought I was doomed to struggle forever. Then a reader told me about a new weight loss program called the HCG Diet. I was skeptical but the more I read about it, the more intrigued I was. I decided to give it a try with my friend's help. I've tried every diet under the sun. But this one sounded different. When I read the Pounds and Inches
protocol, it made sense. And the thought that I would be resetting my metabolism was very seductive because I hardly HAVE a metabolism.
To say it was a success is an understatement. I've lost 55 pounds and I'm about to start my final round on Saturday. Here's how it works: you take a tiny amount of a natural hormone called hcg (yes the pregnancy hormone) and it rests your hypothalamus. You take it via an injection or a sublingual mixture. I prefer the injections myself. They're fast and easy and don't hurt. You then go on a very strict diet that lets you lose anywhere from 20-34 pounds in 40 days. Men lose on the higher end of that spectrum. I lost on the lower end because I was on my bioidentical hormone creams for my migraines and I wasn't about to go back to daily ones! But I was prepared for that and still thrilled at my weight loss! You're not hungry because the hcg is releasing abnormal fat, the kind that you usually only lose after months of starvation dieting. The hcg reshapes your body. I've always been a total pear but the protocol has me proportioned for the first time since I had a hysterectomy when I was 23. I fit in a size 12 jean and the waist AND the hips fit perfectly. No gaping at the waist because I had to buy a bigger jean to fit the hips!
This is a dream protocol. I tell everyone about it because it's the first thing I've ever done that actually works--and works so fast. You can do a 6 week round, then you go off for 6 weeks to stabilize before doing another round of 6 weeks. I started my first round in April and I'll finish up my journey in mid-Feb. So many of my friends and family have done it after seeing my results. There are clinics all over the country now but you can also do it yourself if you can't afford the clinic. You can buy the hcg from an overseas pharmacy and mix it yourself or you can do the homeopathic version. I realized I'd told tons of people about this but hadn't really shared it with my friends here. It's so easy, friends!
Just a few months ago, I gave away the smaller size clothing because I figured I'd never see it again. The last time I was in a 12 was when Dave and I got married! LOL Dave lost 32 pounds in one round by the way. Men are so lucky--they REALLY drop the weight fast. You feel really good while on the hcg. After the 6 weeks on the diet, you stop the hcg and continue the diet for 72 more hours. Then you can eat anything you want except starches and sugars. The key during this period is to eat enough calories. You really add in the fats and proteins. I eat 2000-3000 calories to reset the metabolism high. After that 3 weeks, you can add back starches and sugars, always watching your weight. If you go over 2 pounds above what you weighed the morning of your last dose of hcg, you do a "steak day" where you drink coffee, tea and water until dinnertime, then you eat the largest steak you can get down plus an apple or a tomato. It tells your body, "nope, the set point is down here." It works like a charm. :-)
So this is the first year in, oh about 37 years, that I haven't set a New Year's resolution to lose weight. I can run up and down the stairs with no pain in my feet and ankle from previous broken bones. I feel GREAT! And I'm going to get a cute bathing suit this summer, doggone it! I think I was 23 the last time I had one that didn't look like it was made for my grandmother. So in honor of not having to make a New Year's resolution this year, I'm giving away 5 copies of my new T
he Lightkeeper's Daughter which just shipped to stores. Comment on the blog and I'll put your name in the drawing. :-)
How about you? Any resolutions this year?
Delicious
55 Comments:
Congratulations on your weight loss! I had bariatric surgery (gastric band, not bypass...God made my plumbing this way for a reason. I'm not about to rearrange it!!) a year ago and wish I hadn't...it's not what it is cracked up to be and I generally feel worse than I did before surgery and was 50 pounds heavier! I'll be interested in how you maintain this weight loss over the next couple of years. Do you still have to take the HCG once you reach your goals to keep the weight off?
(P.S. I'm a first-time reader...found your blog through Angie Hunt's blog.)
One of my resolutions this year is to make an effort to read more books. (Long story short, my left eye doesn't function properly due to partial facial paralysis since brain surgery 2-1/2 years ago; so reading books for any length of time is a struggle.)
Other than the Bible, (which I read through in 2009) I've read one book since my surgery. I've bought many, but haven't read any...
Woohoo, C. You look great. :) Younger too.
I would be interested in the answer to Ruthie's question. What about after you've reached your goals? Do you still have to do maintenance?
Wow! Congrats Colleen, you look amazing!
I don't make new years resolutions.
Ruthie, two of my cousins had gastric band, lost weight then regained it and are doing the hcg diet now. They are both down over 50 pounds now. It's fabulous!
It resets your metabolism so you don't regain the weight. There is no actual "maintenance" other than the daily weighing in and then the steak day if you go up MORE than 2 pounds. But most of the time, your weight just stays right there. If it goes up a bit, it goes right back down. It makes a new set point.
That's a good goal, Valerie!
Laughing about the not making New Year's resolutions, Suzanne. I used to not TRY to but in my heart I was always thinking, "I'm going to lose weight this year." :-)
Wow - I have never heard of this diet before. I am going to look into it. I am currently on Jenny Craig and have lost 11 pounds. My resolution is to drink more water! I am a dt coke addict.
Wow Congrats. 55bls is a huge accomplishment.
Diet coke is EVIL, Wendy! Water is your friend. :-)
I just love how easy this diet is and how you're not hungry. The best part is it works fast and resets your metabolism!
Okay so maybe in my heart there are some, but they are things that I resolve to do on a daily basis anyway. "I won't eat the cinnamon roll...." or "I will walk on the blasted treadmill today...." or "I will read my Bible today...." or "I won't gossip today...."
Wow I've never heard of this diet - and I thot I had tried them all! Going to check this out today. I've lost 35 lbs. in the last yr. by cutting my calories way low - but I still have 35 more to go . .
Congratulations, Colleen! Thank you for sharing your story--so wonderful to hear such a great success. I follow you on Twitter, and am a writer, too. My goal this year is to have a novel find a publ. home. Hope you have a fantastic 2010!
I've never heard of that weight-loss strategy before. It sounds great, and it's so wonderful to get that self-confidence back! Way to go!
Wow! You look absolutely amazing, Colleen! I am so happy for you.
Congratulations Colleen, I must check into this as I have had a problem with my metabolism for years due to my pituitary gland malfunctioning. If i can do something to reset it I would be in heaven. How do I find out more about this?
Email me if you want more info and I can give you some documents. colleen@colleencoble.com
Colleen, you look absolutely amazing. You were a beautiful person before your weight loss, but now...wow! Congratulations! So happy for you.
Wow! You look great Colleen. I did the HCG diet many years ago with great success. Then life happened and I need to revisit the program! Congratulations!
I would love to be entered in your drawing for "The Lightkeeper's Daughter".
Wow, Colleen -- you look fabulous. Congratulations on finally gaining control of this area of your life.
Happy New Year.
Congrats on your weight loss! I know how hard it can be.
I really want to read your new book! Thanks for the chance to win it.
pepsi324[at]yahoo[dot]com
Wow, your success is inspiring. I'm down 50 since January 2008, but need to lose another 40. It's a slow journey for me, but it feels lasting this way! My sister mentioned something about this HCG plan and I may delve into it a bit further. Congrats to you--you look great! I love your books... keep them coming! =)
I'm with you, Colleen. I can't wait to lose that 40 pounds.
Congratulations Colleen! You look fabulous!
I would love to be entered to win a copy of Lightkeeper's Daughter. I've been looking forward to this book coming out.
I am so glad that I found your blog Colleen! I am hoping to be one of the lucky ones that gets your book! I found you on the hcg yahoo group. You have been a great help. I appreciate you!
~Angel
Congratulations!! I've never heard of that diet before. You look great:)
My mom and I are really interested in this "diet." I will be emailing you for more info, if that's ok.
My mom asked me if you exercised. I said, "Mom, she's a writer; she excercises her fingers!"
Really, no kidding, did you do a lot of excercises on this diet? Fitness freaks, I mean instructors, will tell you that you can reset your metabolism with exercise, so I was just wondering about that.
By the way, I should win a book because, since I live here in Wabash, you wouldn't have to ship it! ;)
No exercise, Kellie! I have the most nimble of fingers but that's about it. LOL
Congrats on your success! My goal is to be more consistent with my devotions each day. We have 4 kids (I homeschool 3) and a puppy and I often don't find or make the time to have my quiet time.
Thanks for all your great books too! Reading is my one relaxing thing to do at the end of the day. I've really enjoyed all the ladies books at Girls Write Out.
Colleen, you look fantastic! I took your suggestion and emailed you for more information about the diet. I lost over 50 lbs on NutriSystem during 2008 but have now regained about 1/3 of it. Waaa. And I really like the part about NO EXERCISE. I always fail big time in that department.
Oh, I forgot - please enter me you your giveaway drawing for Lightkeeper's Daughter. Thanks!
I have been reading your advice on the hcg forum (thanks for your insights) but had no idea that you were this Colleen! Love your work. I'm starting round 2 next week and hope to look half as good as you when I am finished. Good luck on your final round.
zbernie, how cool you stumbled onto me! :-)
That is so wonderful and you look so great! Thanks for all your support in getting me started I went from 200 lbs to 162 lbs and feeling great! I can now wear a size 12/14 depends on how they are made. Can't weight I have now started toning up in my fitness center and can't wait for spring so I can start my hiking 6 to 8 miles per day....I will really tone up and even drop a few more pounds when this happens! It made me feel realy good when one of my fitness clients walked in (she hasn't seen me since I started the hcg)she said "what happened to you? you are half the size you were? where did you go?" That made me feel great! Looking forward t healthier new year!
Hello, "Grammy52"
You have been an inspiration to all of us on the HCG forum!
You look awesome!
I would love to win your new book.
Norma
It's so fun to see my buds from the forum here! We've been through thick and thin together--and getting thinner. :-)
Your story is nearly identical to mine. I have tried thousands of diets--some of them very successfully. However, I was always trying to get ten more pounds off because I was still unproportioned (the old waist bigger than the hips thing). But before I could lose the final pounds, I would snap inside and the weight would come back on. Then I'd be faced with the task of getting up enough grit inside of me to do it all again.
Over the years my metabolism got lower and lower, and now my body just hasn't wanted to release the fat. I managed to lose 18 pounds last year on Weight Watchers, but it came back on plus a few more. It was the old body not releasing the fat thing and it just gets tiring to work so hard for 1/2 pound a week (IF YOU ARE LUCKY).
I am 72 years old and just beginning my HCG journey, but for the first time in a very long time I believe it can happen for me.
Loved your story.
Warmly,
Gloria (AKA Thinster)
What a beautiful story from a beautiful lady. I jumped over from the HCG forum just to read your story. Without your daily guidance I don't think I could have made it to 50 lbs gone so far. Your patience in answering the SAME questions day in and day out has helped so many newbies and veterans alike.
I love to read romances and your book titles look so interesting. I hope to read them all.
Thank you for holding my hand along my journey!
Paulla (psjack on the forum)
Great blog, Colleen. I love your story. I'm going to share it with a few family and friends. Thanks for posting :-) God Bless
Gloria, you are in for the ride of your life!
I am 65, and could not get the wt. off, no matter what I tried!
As of today, I have lost 56# since Sept. I am about the same wt I was 22 years ago. I have about 25# left to lose. I would like to lose that in this round.
Good luck in your wt loss journey!
Norma
Gloria, you can do it! My mom is 78 and lost 20 pounds on her first round. An 80 year old friend from church has lost 40 so far. He wants to lose 100. This crazy thing WORKS!
Soo fun to see my buds from the forum here.
http://hcgdietinfo.com/hcgvanillaforum/discussions/
Wow, you look great! As for resolutions - I don't do them. Then I have no disappointment when I don't keep them!
cheryl
This is one I plan to stick with--because if I don't, my insurance will go up. As will my waistline, overall measurements, doctor bills....
Lookin' good! I don't generally make resolutions, but this year I did set a goal to finish my rough draft my second MS and take my polish edits as far as possible on my first. :) Holden' tight to the course so far! Thanks for the chance to win your latest book. I have heard some great things about it. :)
caseym(dot)writer(at)gmail(dot)com
Wow, Colleen, I don't know you, except for the HcG message boards, but I am so proud of you. You have inspired me. - Liz
I wish I could lose weight...
I wish I could win a free copy of THE LIGHTKEEPER'S DAUGHTER, too. :)
Wow - thanks for sharing and it is encouraging to hear your success! You look wonderful!
Congratulations! I've gone through my own weight loss journey this past year and have lost about 70 pounds. I've lost weight in the past, but this year I'm resolving to really keep this up. Thanks for sharing your story!
You look great, Colleen! I was telling some of my friends about this diet and only one of them had heard about it. She had a friend who got pregnant after using it!! Where do you get the products you use? Is there one place better than another?
I have never struggled with weight until the last few years and have found out my thyroid is off. However, even after a few months of trying to get it just right, I still am not having any success on getting the extra 25 lbs or so off.
Thanks for telling us about it!
OH -- Would love to be in your drawing for your book!! Always love your books, lol.
I'm glad you told everyone about how men lose more and have higher results than women :) Even though I KNOW this, I still am floored at their results. LOL.
You look GREAT and I'm so glad you found something that you can do that works. And YES, Diet Coke is an enemy--it actually makes you hungrier and eat more. It is also suspected in many autoimmune problems.
I am fascinated by diets and this one continues to intrigue me.
And my shape--I'm an inverted triangle! My pants are way smaller than my top...What do you think it would do for me? :)
Congratulations on your success! I have fairly stable weight most of my whole life except for while I was in college and lived on carbs in my dorm. But as I've grown older, I've had to be more careful, so I understand the "watching out." I had never heard about the hcg diet.
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congrats on the weight loss you look great! Just finished your last book Lonestar Homecoming. As usual loved it and sent it on to the others that I have got hooked on your books at my work. Thanks again for a book that I could not put down. Have the new one on my list from the libray on reserve. Can't wait to read it.
Hey Colleen congrats on the weight loss. You should be proud!! Just finished your last Lonestar book was as good as others could not put it down read it in one day. Have the new one on reserve at the library when it comes in. Keep on writing I love your books.
Colleen,
You look fabulous. Great job on your weight loss. I am going to pick up one of your books, you have been such an inspiration.
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