Hello lovely hCGers. This interview is part of what is now a plethora of weight loss success stories with real everyday women (and men! There’s a few dude interviews in there) who have used either hCG injections or drops with the hCG diet protocol to lose between 20 and 150 lbs. You can see the current episodes available here.

I frequently get asked about the use of hCG successfully for individuals who don’t have 50-100 lbs to lose but a smaller amount- more like 15-20 lbs. They want to know what the experience is like for someone in this circumstance – so we’ve got Lynette to share this with you today!

Lynette’s Basic Stats:

• Height: 5’7″
• Age: 46
• Day 1 VLCD: 160.6 lbs
• Day 22 of VLCD (LID): 143.4
• No medical issues

In her words from original email:

“I appreciate your blog and YouTube videos so much in fact I would have not had a successful round without your help, research, and support. I did a round on homeopathic drops about 5 years ago. I lost 15 pounds in 25 days but I was hungry, cranky, and had zero energy the whole time. I swore off HCG for forever at that point. I only had 15 to lose at the time anyway and I kept if off for the most part until I got pregnant….. in 9/2014 I had a baby last year at age 44 (6/2015). All natural, planned, and all. Well I gained 40 pounds and only lost 20 after having her. With my other 2 pregnancies I only gained 20 and lost it all in 2 weeks so I assumed it would be the same this time, NOT!!! I’m a very committed nurser so hcg was out of the question until weaning, which I don’t do until at least one year. A Couple of years ago a couple of friends did hcg with injections and said they were not hungry etc. But they did it through a clinic and paid big money. I was secretly planning on looking into that option but in the mean time through a late night google search I found you. So for about 6 months I was addicted to your blog and videos. I prepared for the big day when I could finally dive in and get this weight off. My baby did not want to wean but I finally did it so I could get the weight off before the holidays. I thinks it’s very important for success to get fully prepared before starting this protocol. It’s is a mentally tough way of life while you’re on it.”

Lynette’s hCG Injection Weight Loss Story in Her Words:

Basics:  (age, height, menopause? any medical details you feel are important- ie thyroid etc).

Age: Turned 46 on day 14 of VLCD
5’7″ — no major signs of menopause, yet. (surprisingly)
No medical issues

How much weight you’ve lost with hCG/starting weight/ending weight/ clothing size change.  How many rounds did you do, how long was each round? stuff like that.

Lost a total of 17.2 on hCG starting (load day 1) 159, gained 1.6 during 2 day load
Day 1 VLCD 160.6 Day 22 of VLCD (LID) 143.4
Started at a size 12 some 10’s fit tight with pretty good muffin top! Now I’m at a comfortable 10 with minimal muffin top
If I wear an 8 of course there’s a bit more hanging over.
I did one round for 22 (VLCD days) So 24 injections total and the 72 hours after no injections

How long have you currently been maintaining (or where are you currently at in your hCG journey)?  

Currently I’m on day 7 of P3 (10-5)
Weighed in this morning at 144.8 (up 1.4 from LID)
Ideally I want to be at 135, 140 at the very least but I was starting to break down mentally on VLCD and was afraid I was going to start cheating etc. So I decided to stop injections and get on with 72 hour & P3 while I still felt committed. Clothes were fitting nicely so I’m currently ok with where I’m at. I will probably do another round after Christmas. My main concern right now is maintaining throughout the holidays and starting up some kind of exercise program. (Not doing CrossFit) LOL way to intense for me. It’s all the rage here in our little town. Impressed with those who thrive with it though!

Tell us how you came to be overweight and your struggles with that?  

I’ve struggled with my weight since high school, gaining and losing the same 20 or more at a few times for years. As of the last 5 years I was doing ok in the 140’s until I got pregnant 2 years ago (at age 44) planned and natural. I had only gained 20 pounds with my first two (& lost it all within 2 weeks) so I at whatever I wanted this pregnancy but instead gained 40! I lost 20 right away and hung on to the other 20 until hCG a month ago.

Lost 15 pounds in 25 days on the homeopathic drops 5 years ago– but was very cranky, hungry, and low energy!! It was awful and I swore I’d never do hCG again! However a couple of years ago some friends of mine who had also done homeopathic drops previously went to a clinic for injections and had a good experience. Their experience peaked my interest once again. While I was continuing to breast feed my baby and unable to do hCG I started looking into injection options. And a late night google search led me to HCGChica!!! From then on, for about 6-7 months I started reading and watching all the youtube videos. I must have watched the “how to mix” “how to inject” “how to get the right dose” etc. 10 times each!!! I was totally freaked out to inject myself but when it came down to it, it was very easy and did not hurt at all!!! By the time I weaned I was more than psyched to take on another round.

What type of hCG did you use? If injections or prescription drops, what dose worked best for you?

I ordered one round’s worth from “us hcg shots” through your blog because they had the best price the day I was ready to pull the trigger. I really wanted to order the B12 or other additives for potentially more aggressive weight loss or energy but I opted to not spend the extra money. In the end I was totally fine. I had plenty of energy with just drinking iced tea. I started at 150 iu’s and stayed there for all injections. Again it just seemed to work. I was never hungry and had plenty of energy. One negative side effect I did not have on homeopathic drops that I had this time though was the insomnia. It was not ideal. I was so thankful that when I looked for a vlog about sleep you had addressed the issue so I knew it was “normal”. Somehow I still had plenty of energy during the day to keep up with my daily life with 4 kids etc. But for the first 10-12 days I was only probably getting 4 hours of sleep. It got a little better toward the end and now that hormone is out of my system I’m back to sleeping great. I will always wonder if it affected my weight loss though.
I had a .8 daily average.
Week 1 lost 11 pounds
Week 2 lost 3.8
Week 3 lost 2.4 =17.2

What would you say your experience was the first week on phase 2? Easy or hard? explain. Could also discuss how you loaded if you like. What parts of the protocol were easier for you and which parts were more challenging? How did you handle the challenging aspects?  What did you find yourself liking to eat during Phase 2/vlcd – how would you prepare your meals?  

I loaded dirty! But I didn’t really load to an abundance of extra calories. I probably did not exceed 2500 per day. I just couldn’t eat that much and didn’t plan well enough to purposely eat butter or sour cream.
The first 2 weeks of VLCD were pretty easy. I made it through a couple of social events without eating just fine. I cooked normal for my family and even had to bake several times and did well. I did start to feel temptation pretty strong the last week.
I did not eat more than one fruit per day during P2.
A typical day for me was
Black coffee with stevia (I normally have a lot of creme in my coffee)
lunch– chicken lunch meat, chicken cubes cooked with vegetable, tuna (white albacore, water packed 2X’s & eggs 2X’s) usually ate cherry tomatoes (not full serving), pickles, or few slices of onion, broccoli or cauliflower (a couple of times) Toward the end I was tired of the vegetables so I omitted them or took lesser serving. A few times just had protein with 1/2 orange or 1/2 apple
dinner– pretty much had ground beef (96/4) and then drained with green beans or tomatoes every night. For some reason I did not get tired of the dinner, in fact looked forward to it. Sometimes half a fruit at night. But often times not at all. I tracked my calories and carbs. My calorie range was 423-197 and carb 9-30.6.
I bought ketone strips and tested almost daily. My body went into ketosis in 2 days.

What tricks do you have up your sleeve to stay sane while on Phase 2?  What Lessons have you learned during Phase 3 – give us the good and the bad! What types of things did you discover when it came to maintenance that did and didn’t work

Staying sane in P2—– Sonic tea (usually twice a day, morning drink stop, happy hour), rapid success (sometimes at night I’d get weary, but when I woke up and weighed I would regain my motivation and focus), reading your blog and watching youtube, had gum a few times, and Zevia (grape) 6-8 times.
Finding it just as hard to stay sane on P3. I’m up more than I was thinking I would be. (1.4) I’ve had to go to all protein and no fruit. I eat eggs every morning now and prefer turkey over chicken lunch meat, and a little mayo in tuna and salad dressing on nice big salads— so it’s not at bad at P2 but it’s a miracle I haven’t eaten a loaf of bread or crackers or something!!!! I did have a couple bites of sugar and a higher carb salad a couple days ago at a restaurant and I’m pretty sure it took me out of ketosis and that’s why I’m up 1.4. As of day 7 I’m working at getting back into ketosis. I’m making it through P3 but it’s requiring more discipline and control than I imagined when I was on P2. I was just wanting cheese and nuts so badly on P2 that I thought once I could have those I’d be fine on P3. However what I really want are cookies and sandwiches and mashed potatoes and hamburgers and fries! But looking good in clothes is keeping me focused as well as realizing that instead of thinking I lost 17 pounds in 3 weeks it’s more like like losing 17 pounds in 6 weeks. Which is still far better than any other diet out there!!!!

In Phase 4: Can you tell us what types of foods you eat now in every day life? And how is this different from what you used to eat on a normal basis? 

Because of how tempted I feel to eat sugar and carbs I’m already thinking P4 I’m going to need to do some type of “program”— I’m a program girl!! I need to spend money and have a plan, accountability, and expectation in front of me. I’m likely going to do the “Arbonne” clean eating cleanse, 28 days. Something I’ve done in the past that I did well with. (I do not sell or promote any MLM!!!!) Just have a friend who does sell Arbonne and so I’ve bought her stuff to help her out in the past.
If I start the Arbonne thing on my first day of P4 I will end the 28 days a week before Thanksgiving which I think is good timing. And works for me mentally!! LOL

What have been your tools for maintaining your weight loss?  Do you have any memories of your life/body pre hCG that are totally different for you now?  

In the past few years (minus the pregnancy) I’ve been pretty lucky and able to eat a variety of pretty much whatever I want and stay in the 140’s. It will be interesting what I’m able to get away with as I get older! I really need to get into exercise again. Exercise is notsomething I enjoy although when I’m on a good fitness kick I do feel better. (of course)
143 was the weight I weighed in at at my first doctor appointment when I got pregnant. So I do feel like I’m back to “normal” although my body being so severely out of shape and a pretty sedentary lifestyle I have a lot of FAT for my weight and overall size. Therefore I’m pretty sure another round will be necessary in January just to attack the fat. Unless of course I take exercise on to a serious level and use muscle building to help with that issue! I’d love a personal trainer. LOL but unaffordable right now.

When you want a treat now, give us a couple examples of what you might eat? Also, are you ever able to indulge in a regular treat, like cake at a party, and still maintain?  

I’m hoping to be able to bake and indulge over the holidays without binge eating. I will have to watch and see. For now I’m just making sure P3 does what it’s supposed to do!!! Which is reset me here at about 143.

What factors have you noticed to play a role in people NOT succeeding on hCG? What do you feel are the most important keys to success on the hcg protocol? If someone said they want to have the same results you have, what would you tell them?    

I think the main thing with succeeding with hCG is fully understanding what you’re committing to. This is 100% in or else you gain weight!! Getting fully educated and mentally prepared is key! On Weight Watchers you can “cheat” and go work it off or just not lose that week. With hCG you get bomb results but you must be prepared to put your life on hold and do the protocol. If/when I tell people about it, which I don’t very often, I tell them that it’s required to throw out all past thinking of dieting/exercise to wrap your head around a new way of thinking. That the concept is very scientific and very precise. Honestly I find most people cannot think in a new way and are very critical to this fat/weight loss method. I have told a couple people lately about how I lost weight. One person was interested to learn more so I basically said read and watch from hCGChica and wrap your head around it! Another person (who is naturally tiny) said “oh it’s hard on your body.

The post hCG Diet Interviews – Episode 45 – Lynette appeared first on The HCG Diet Plan with HCGChica.