View Full Version : Weight Loss Update - A Diet that Works
Dave Schwartz
10-19-2011, 12:59 PM
I know that there are plenty of healthy, physically fit 50-somethings and 60-somethings on this forum. But I also know that there are people like me as well.
This thread is for all of "us" with weight issues.
A little history
I am overweight. Obese, actually.
A couple of years ago I started a thread about my exercise and diet program. Like a lot of people I worked hard to get in better shape. I still work out regularly but the truth is that the weight just did not come off.
At this time last year Beth and I gave each other an early Christmas present: 3 months of 4 days per week with a personal trainer. The cost was around $3,000. At the end of the three-month long beatings, we were amazed at how much we could actually do, like going up and down 26 flights of stairs or pushing a 350-lb blocking sled for 400 yards. However, we lost no weight.
A month ago we started a very extreme diet: The HCG Diet.
It has worked so well that I want to share it with you here.
HCG Diet
From http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_hCG_Diet_Protocol
What is the hCG Diet Protocol?
Answer:
Dr Simeons HCG Protocol
Below are some of the key points from Dr Simeons "Pounds & Inches", which can be found free online...
In a nutshell, you take this female hormone which (apparently) accomplishes two things:
1. It causes you to not be hungry.
2. It causes you to lose fat rather than muscle.
The hormone can be administered via an injection (by a doctor or by self-injection) or by taking 10 drops of the hormone in liquid form three times per day "sub-lingually." (I now know that this means "absorbed under the tongue.)
The cost for having a doctor administer the shots I have heard is from $450-$1,200 per month, while the drops are about $50 per month.
We took the drops.
This is an extreme diet!
500 calories per day
Only lean meats, fish, poultry in 3.5oz portions
Very limited vegetable list (mostly green leafy)
NOCARBS
No sugar
Only 2 fruits
One diets for 23 days minimum, and must quit after 40 days or 34 pounds whichever comes latest.
After the "round" of dieting is over, one spends 6-weeks "re-feeding." This re-feeding process, known as "phase 3" in the vernacular (which may sound familiar to some pace handicappers), is supposed to reset the hypothalamus to a similar state that it was in when we were children. That is, when finished with phase 3, all the yo-yo dieting has been forgotten by our system. (We'll see how true this is.)
The entire process of a "round," then is about 6 weeks of diet followed by 6 weeks of re-feeding. You can start another round anytime after that. (I saw many people on the HCG forum who had done 4,5 or even 6 rounds.)
My doctor was THRILLED when I told him what I was doing. Not all doctors will be that supportive, because they do not know any better.
Before going on this diet I researched for negative side effects, scams, etc. What I found was a lot of negative material, but every single negative article was written/posted by someone who was promoting a different dietary approach.
The results you are about to read about seem, from the posts on the HCG forum by people of obesity, is that my weight loss was not exceptional. Rather it was average to, perhaps, a bit low.
http://hcgdietinfo.com/hcgdietforums/content/
My Results
First, when I heard this, I said there is "There is just no way I can possibly stay on 500 calories per day and a highly restricted menu as well."
Amazingly, I was never hungry. Sometimes I lacked gratification, but never hungry.
When I began this diet, I was at 282 pounds. This was just 12 pounds below my absolute maximum from a year ago when I began with the personal trainer.
I was also a Type II diabetic, taking oral medication 3 times per day. My typical sugar count in the morning was around 150 even with the medication.
Now, 30 days later, I am 26.5 pounds lighter, have lost 5+ inches around my waist and am no longer diabetic, having been completely off ALL medications for the last 10 days. (Note: I was on 2 meds - Metformin and Prilosec.)
BTW, the first two days on this diet you actually do not diet. In fact, you are supposed to pig out, consuming excessive amounts of fat. Thus, the days in my spreadsheet are short by 3 days. (the first 2 days were the high fat, no diet days, and the first diet day shown was "day 0.")
Here is the spreadsheet showing my 30 day history on this diet:
http://www.horsestreet.com/BBSImages/DietSpreadSheet-Day272.png
The important thing to notice is just how extreme the weight loss is.
The second most important thing is the "sugar" area. Note that 126 or above is diabetic. "DDay" stands for a diabetic day (marked with a "1".) As you can see, I have had very few of those.
So, the reason I am posting this here is that if you, or someone you care about is a Type II diabetic, there is an answer! And it is probably just DAYS away from being within their grasp.
You just have no idea how terrific it feels to know that I CAN beat a disease which, ultimately, would have destroyed me. Beat the races? That's easy compared to beating weight and diabetes.
This is important stuff and it could change someone's life. It certainly has mine.
If anyone has questions or comments, I welcome them, either publicly or privately.
Regards,
Dave Schwartz
500 calories a day!?
Yikes!
That stuff better be damned good at appetite suppression.
I'd be eating the bottle it comes in!
Dave Schwartz
10-19-2011, 01:33 PM
Tom,
That's what I said, yet it has been amazingly easy for me.
Dave
TJDave
10-19-2011, 03:25 PM
This diet so inspired my wife that she started a business promoting the diet and selling HCG products.
I can testify that if you follow the program and maintenance...it works.
mistergee
10-19-2011, 03:34 PM
happy it is working, wonder what happens when one comes off the 500cal and goes to some type of maintenance how quickly weight may come back
Dave Schwartz
10-19-2011, 03:36 PM
That is why phase 3 is so gradual.
We go up to about 800 calories, adding fat but no carbs the first week. Then it continues to go up over the 6 weeks.
Does it matter what brand of HCG yo use?
Dave Schwartz
10-19-2011, 03:58 PM
It does. There is some discussion of this on the HCG forum.
http://hcgdietinfo.com/hcgdietforums/content/
There are not only counterfeits but also some that require refrigeration (apparently they contain alcohol).
You want to use the brand shown on the HCG forum page. Or maybe TJDave might chime in here and tell us more about that.
Here is another good link (if I didn't put it up already):
http://www.hcgcompletediet.com/
My personal Journal on the forum:
http://hcgdietinfo.com/hcgdietforums/f19/phase-2-my-journey-r1-daily-struggles-successes-41783/
Striker
10-19-2011, 04:03 PM
Are you still exercising on 500 calories a day? Or even 800 calories a day? This is very unsafe if you are.
Dave Schwartz
10-19-2011, 04:10 PM
No, exercise is out. They suggest you can do some light biking or walking but nothing like pumping iron.
They say it will cause your body to go into starvation mode.
lamboguy
10-19-2011, 04:31 PM
i have been drinking water with apple cider vinegar in it and it does suppress your appetite. it also helps balance out my system so i don't get any heartburn, my wife tells my my complexion looks alot better too. i have been working out harder and after i do my run in the morning i am not tired. i just bought a gallon of apple cider vinegar this morning, it cost under $4.00
wisconsin
10-19-2011, 05:35 PM
Dave,
What about cheating? Does it happen?
Bettowin
10-19-2011, 05:47 PM
Dave,
What about cheating? Does it happen?
The skinnier he gets the more the opportunity might present itself but it sounds like he loves his wife too much;)
Dave Schwartz
10-19-2011, 06:03 PM
Cheating... it does on MY version of the diet.
First, the strict protocol limits the veggie/fruit list.
Lettuce
Spinach
cabbage
asparagus
tomatoes
onions
celery
cucumbers (but not pickles)
radishes
apples
oranges and grapefruits
Fennel (though I have no clue where you'd get that)
Second, the strict protocol says that you cannot mix veggies! That is, you have onions OR cabbage at a meal but not both.
Our copy of the protocol was a little different and did not say that. We discovered this fact about 2 weeks (and 17 lbs) into the diet.
Notice what is missing: broccoli, cauliflower, any kind of peppers, squash, etc.
I treated most of these vegetables as "free," so if I was truly hungry, I ate some celery and/or radishes. Cabbage soup and stir-fries were staples that got me through the day.
You are allowed two fruits per day. An orange and/or a large apple. I switched up for three small apples instead of 2 large ones.
Protein is restricted to:
beef very lean (7% fat or less)
chicken breast
fish
shell fish
Notice that there is no pork and no eggs (not even egg whites).
Portions are supposed to be 3.5 oz. I changed that to read "200 calories" which allowed me to have about twice as much crab as I could have (say) beef or chicken. Crab and shrimp are VERY good for you on this diet.
BTW, eating out is absolutely impossible.
When you cook, you use ZERO fat. No Pam. You cook in chicken or beef broth, watching for added ingredients. No trace of sugar. The suggested sweetener is Stevia (Truvia).
Spices are allowed, but mustard must be of the powdered variety. You will find yourself spicing everything. Oddly, green/red peppers are not allowed but chili pepper is.
So, when you ask about "cheating," I would say "yes, I cheated non-stop" in that I bent the rules of the protocol but then followed MY rules to the letter. I would guess that I actually consumed more like 600-700 calories per day, every day, and it worked great.
Dave
Dave Schwartz
10-19-2011, 06:05 PM
LOL- Just saw the OTHER reference to cheating.
Yeah, if that happened I'd be singing castralto.
FantasticDan
10-19-2011, 06:55 PM
i have been drinking water with apple cider vinegar in it and it does suppress your appetite.BLEAH, that stuff is nasty! :blush: :D
Dave Schwartz
10-19-2011, 07:01 PM
LOL - It is also the only vinegar that is allowed on the diet.
Thus, it becomes the basis for any "dressing" you make.
Another staple is Bragg's Aminos (http://www.amazon.com/Bragg-Liquid-Aminos-16-liquid/dp/B0006Z7NNG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319065262&sr=8-1)
wisconsin
10-19-2011, 09:31 PM
What did you eat when you were at Saratoga for the week? Can you eat sf jello? Can you drink 0 cal fruity drinks (Vitamin water Zero)? What happens on Thanksgiving?
Trying to see how this would fit into my own lifestyle.
lamboguy
10-19-2011, 09:59 PM
What did you eat when you were at Saratoga for the week? Can you eat sf jello? Can you drink 0 cal fruity drinks (Vitamin water Zero)? What happens on Thanksgiving?
Trying to see how this would fit into my own lifestyle.
his diet didn't look to bad, i didn't see anything about drinking at least 8 glasses of 8 ounces of water every day. his weight loss program is using apple cider vinegar to suppress the appetite. also the amount of carbs are very small, but ok. he stays away from complex carbs.
as far as exercise goes, when you are starting any weight loss program you should not exercise until you have your eating habits down pat. that usually takes most people about 3 weeks.
lamboguy
10-19-2011, 10:01 PM
BLEAH, that stuff is nasty! :blush: :Dif you make it strong it has a bite to it. i like it and i don't need to lose any weight.
Dave Schwartz
10-19-2011, 10:15 PM
What did you eat when you were at Saratoga for the week? Can you eat sf jello? Can you drink 0 cal fruity drinks (Vitamin water Zero)? What happens on Thanksgiving?
This is day 30 of the diet for us. I was not on ANY diet while in Saratoga.
Vitamin water - if it has carbs or sugar, it is out.
0-cal drinks that are sweetened with Stevia (i.e. they do not exist but you can make your own).
On Thanksgiving we will be in about week 3 of the re-feeding phase. We will be able to have (I think) two different carbs in the same day but not at the same meal. Calories will be up to around 1,500-1,800 by then I think. However, it is clear that this will be a relatively low-calorie TG in comparison to other years.
I am not giving this lost weight back.
Dave
PS: About water - We're drinking about 120 oz. per day.
chickenhead
10-20-2011, 12:02 AM
Glad to hear you found something that is working for you Dave.
I've always been thin but over the years as I've aged and slowed down a bit a picked up an extra 30 lbs, getting as high as 235, more recently around 220. Being tall it didnt *look* fat, but 20 or 30 lbs of fat isn't going to do a body any good.
Starting in July I restricted my carbs and sugars -- pretty much anything else and as much as I wanted was fine, just no outright carbs or sugar.
Basically, a whole lot of beans, veggies, and meat, eggs and cheese. And water or iced tea or coffee. Except for Saturdays, Saturdays we pig out on anything and everything. Which I've found means I get all excited about having some toast for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and maybe some pasta at night. Woohoo! Living crazy.
I'm down to 195 which is a pretty good weight for me. Couldn't have been easier. Never paid attention to my blood pressure before, but its at 115/75, I'm sure it was higher earlier.
I think all it essentially boils down to is if you cut carbs, you cut out crap. And sugar. And high octane rocket fuel foods. And most of us don't need a whole bunch of high octane, calorie dense food -- we aren't digging ditches all day long to burn it off. It's pretty simple.
nijinski
10-20-2011, 01:34 AM
Dave i do wish you and your wife the best and hope that you keep the weight off. I have to say though that this diet starts you off with dangerously low calories .
My concern also is the female pregnancy hormones the HCG being injected into both men and women . I can't believe most physicians would be happy with this. Are these holistic doctors supplying you with the hormones?
thaskalos
10-20-2011, 02:06 AM
Glad to hear you found something that is working for you Dave.
I've always been thin but over the years as I've aged and slowed down a bit a picked up an extra 30 lbs, getting as high as 235, more recently around 220. Being tall it didnt *look* fat, but 20 or 30 lbs of fat isn't going to do a body any good.
Starting in July I restricted my carbs and sugars -- pretty much anything else and as much as I wanted was fine, just no outright carbs or sugar.
Basically, a whole lot of beans, veggies, and meat, eggs and cheese. And water or iced tea or coffee. Except for Saturdays, Saturdays we pig out on anything and everything. Which I've found means I get all excited about having some toast for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and maybe some pasta at night. Woohoo! Living crazy.
I'm down to 195 which is a pretty good weight for me. Couldn't have been easier. Never paid attention to my blood pressure before, but its at 115/75, I'm sure it was higher earlier.
I think all it essentially boils down to is if you cut carbs, you cut out crap. And sugar. And high octane rocket fuel foods. And most of us don't need a whole bunch of high octane, calorie dense food -- we aren't digging ditches all day long to burn it off. It's pretty simple.
I too have always been thin...but, as you say, getting older and slowing down caused my weight to slowly creep up to about 220 pounds...which is about 30 or 40 pounds more than I like to be.
The increased weight also brought along a particularly disconcerting side effect, which I didn't anticipate.
The heel of my right foot started hurting me so much, I could barely walk without my shoes on.
I decided to try a "no sugar or white flour" diet.
No pasta, no breads, no rice, and no sweets of any kind.
I also stopped eating after 8 o'clock at night.
I ate meats, eggs, cheese, and vegetables of all kinds (I have never been much of a fruit eater)...without any calorie counting at all.
I felt so much better right from the start, that it has been a breeze to stay with this diet for the last 7 months now; and I have never felt hungry at all.
My weight is 184 pounds - and has been so for about a month - and I feel better than I have felt in many years.
And my heel pain disappeared about 2 months ago.
I think the secret is to be aware enough and identify the foods that are hurting you the most.
In my case...it was the bread, the sweets, and the late-night eating.
I never thought I would be able to give up bread...but I haven't had a crumb during these entire 7 months.
Nor do I want to...
Dave Schwartz
10-20-2011, 02:06 AM
Some are.
We are not taking the shots. We are taking the drops. The dosage is (I understand) about 1/100 of the pure stuff.
As I said, my M.D. signed off on it, although he is not involved in the protocol.
BTW, we are taking a whole load of vitamins.
Dave
bigmack
10-20-2011, 04:13 AM
Mr. S., Hap to hear you've found something that is working. Being obese can be a tough ball & chain.
While most give in and become complacent, I strongly applaud you for taking action and seeing healthy results. :ThmbUp: :ThmbUp:
(FYI - It's castrato or castrati)
PaceAdvantage
10-20-2011, 04:29 AM
My concern also is the female pregnancy hormones the HCG being injected into both men and women . I can't believe most physicians would be happy with this. Are these holistic doctors supplying you with the hormones?Yeah, alarms start going off in my head when I read someone taking hormones that really weren't intended for such a thing.
If Dave shows up at the next Saratoga Getaway sporting a pink sundress, I think we'll both have our necessary evidence... :lol:
Canarsie
10-20-2011, 07:25 AM
Some are.
As I said, my M.D. signed off on it, although he is not involved in the protocol.
BTW, we are taking a whole load of vitamins.
I am not giving this lost weight back.
Dave
Congrats Dave very good job.
The biggest battle you are fighting and have won is this statement.
I am not giving this lost weight back.
Half the battle is won with a great attitude like this.
One thing I never understood is how family practitioners don't get involved at the early warning stages of weight gain. Aren't they strong enough in expressing the consequences? Or do they do what I just stated and the patient ignores them?
The reason I ask is when I first hurt my back my weight went up over 20 pounds from my last visit even though it didn't look like I gained a pound. He actually went "ballistic" on me and said "this is a sure way to die younger if you don't cut it out". I couldn't exercise like I once did so that was out. It turned out I was eating way too many Wendy's double burgers even though I skipped the cheese.
So right after figuring out where the pounds gained were coming from I gave up eating red meat except for a rare treat. I lost about 17 of the 20 pounds and have only fluctuated around 5 pounds since. A piece of cake maybe 1-2 times a week is a luxury but if I do have it I will try to walk or light exercise it off.
One thing that's horrible for weight gain is to eat a meal and then go to sleep.
Dave Schwartz
10-20-2011, 11:00 AM
One thing I never understood is how family practitioners don't get involved at the early warning stages of weight gain.
I was obese before I got to him but he dropped the ball with diabetes. Every time I would get tests run, he would say, "Your sugar is a little high." I heard this for years. Truthfully, I did not know what it meant.
No suggestion of steps, no explanation, nothing. Then, one day he says, "Well, you're diabetic!"
Granted, it IS my responsibility but he is the doctor.
Dave
PS: I knew it was "castrati." Read a book about them once.
Canarsie
10-20-2011, 11:09 AM
I was obese before I got to him but he dropped the ball with diabetes. Every time I would get tests run, he would say, "Your sugar is a little high." I heard this for years. Truthfully, I did not know what it meant.
No suggestion of steps, no explanation, nothing. Then, one day he says, "Well, you're diabetic!"
Granted, it IS my responsibility but he is the doctor.
Dave
PS: I knew it was "castrati." Read a book about them once.
We agree to disagree in my opinion its the doctors fault. At bare minimum he should have tested you again two weeks later or sent you to an endocrinologist.
Bottom line is your doing much better now that's all that counts.
Dave Schwartz
10-20-2011, 11:25 AM
I don't think we are disagreeing, but than you for the congrats.
wisconsin
10-20-2011, 01:12 PM
Thanks for the answers and great job!!!
witchdoctor
10-20-2011, 08:58 PM
Dave
Have you looked at the Alpo challenge.
http://www.tonygentilcore.com/blog/the-alpo-experiment/
http://www.tonygentilcore.com/blog/the-alpo-experiment-revisted-and-with-video/
Dave Schwartz
10-20-2011, 10:00 PM
LOL - Would not be my plan of attack.
crestridge
10-21-2011, 12:46 AM
I would offer a book, "Good Calories, Bad Calories"--my labs were all bad, liver enzymes, fatty livers disease, cardiac lipids, glucose, all abnormal, actually diagnosed with "dyslipidemia", bad news, most people in the ICU's have these issues. I was going to die from basically "bad food". I don't drink, smoke, etc., but I would eat anything, anytime, and as much as I desired or could afford. My "doc" told me I could read the book or just stay away from "STARCHES & SUGARS" and I would be ok.
I followed his advice; within six months I lost 64 lbs, my labs were all normal except the "exercise lipids". What does it mean to stay away from "starches and sugars", it means eating mainly vegetables, fruits and meat, nuts/grains to snack on. It's not a diet, it's a way of living, to stay healthy, not only for yourself, but for your family.
If you go to the grocery store what do you see, mostly "packaged" products, what we really need is simple, mostly produce/proteins, only very small amts of starches/carbs.
Also leaving the dinner table a little hungry, can be healthful. A full and overstuffed stomach, causes certain genes to because inactive, (active genes) which can be helpful for anit-aging, when we leave the dinner table with less than a full stomach, these genes become active and produce extra mitochondria, which increases the efficiency of the entire body. Hence, the anti-aging process begins!
This book, "Good Calories/Bad Calories" isn't a fad book, it's research and strong science!!
Another sure-fire diet - the duct tape diet.
Dave Schwartz
10-21-2011, 10:39 AM
Day 29: Lost 1lb total=28 Sugar at 98.
Yesterday was the last day of the medication. Sunday is the last day of "Very Low Calories."
We have entered "Phase 3," a 6-week re-feeding phase. No hormones for 3 days, but same calorie intake. Then
Week1: 800-1000 caloroies, increasing protiein portions, adding fat.
Week2: 1200-1500 calories, increasing protiein portions, adding fat.
Week3: Regular calorie level: (body weight x 12)
Week4: Add one carb per day. Rotate carbs. (Example: Only bread on day 1, only rice on day 2, etc.)
Week5: 2 carbs per day (i.e. can mix on a day but not at a meal.)
Week6: 2 carbs, same meal allowed.
redshift1
10-21-2011, 01:58 PM
Day 29: Lost 1lb total=28 Sugar at 98.
Yesterday was the last day of the medication. Sunday is the last day of "Very Low Calories."
We have entered "Phase 3," a 6-week re-feeding phase. No hormones for 3 days, but same calorie intake. Then
Week1: 800-1000 caloroies, increasing protiein portions, adding fat.
Week2: 1200-1500 calories, increasing protiein portions, adding fat.
Week3: Regular calorie level: (body weight x 12)
Week4: Add one carb per day. Rotate carbs. (Example: Only bread on day 1, only rice on day 2, etc.)
Week5: 2 carbs per day (i.e. can mix on a day but not at a meal.)
Week6: 2 carbs, same meal allowed.
Are you exercising as well.
Dave Schwartz
10-21-2011, 02:18 PM
We will be but not until the calories go back up - Week3
redshift1
10-21-2011, 02:58 PM
We will be but not until the calories go back up - Week3
If you plan a workout regimen there are some great machines that minimize high impact stress while allowing cardiovascular pushing. Any workout gyms in your area?
Dave Schwartz
10-21-2011, 03:06 PM
I am pretty well pleased with out gym and workout arrangements. The 3 months we spent with the personal trainer DID raise the bar for us.
Below are pictures of our home gym. Not very pretty but highly functional and pretty good quality equipment. That Body Solid gym was really a good choice.
http://www.horsestreet.com/BBSImages/Our%20Gym/BodySolid.jpg
http://www.horsestreet.com/BBSImages/Our%20Gym/Crunchy.jpg
http://www.horsestreet.com/BBSImages/Our%20Gym/Treadmill.jpg
Good move...blow drying the sneakers! :eek:
redshift1
10-21-2011, 03:52 PM
Looks like you're set to go.
Dave Schwartz
12-22-2011, 02:14 PM
I went to the doctor today for my quarterly visit. The doctor congratulated me for several things from my visit last December:
1. Lost 42 pounds
2. No longer diabetic - completely off medication and my A1c from this week puts me at 6%, down from 8% a year ago.
3. Blood pressure down to "below normal" range.
4. All other signs normal.
I credit these results to healthy eating, a really good diet program (lost 30 pounds in 30 days and kept it off).
Oh, and I almost never eat carbs any more.
BTW, this is the first holiday season EVER where I have not gained anything from Thanksgiving to the end of the year.
If anyone has an interest, email me and I'll send you whatever details you need.
Dave
Dave Schwartz
01-27-2012, 12:39 AM
Update: We are back on the low-calorie diet again. This is day 18 for us.
I am down 21 lbs and Beth is down 22.
Pretty amazing.
highnote
01-27-2012, 02:54 AM
Great job!
I've found that losing weight is easy. The hard part is keeping it off.
The diet that worked amazingly well for me was the Dean Ornish diet. He's also the doctor that helped Steve Jobs battle cancer.
Ornish wrote a book called, "Reversing Heart Disease -- the only scientifically proven method to reverse heart disease without drugs or surgery".
The best part is that you can eat all the food you want -- as long as you cut out caffeine, sugar, fat, meat and dairy. That leaves you with fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains and some other stuff.
The weight falls right off you, but you have to eat at least 5 meals per day.
You know how you get a side salad at a restaurant? ... well, you'll need about 10 of those to fill you up ... and no dressing allowed.
You have to bake your own bread because it's nearly impossible to find whole grain bread made without some kind of fat.
I did this diet for about 9 months and could see my ribs for the first time in years. My biceps actually started to get that "cut" look.
It's not easy, though. It's actually a lifestyle change as well as a diet. Exercise is part of the plan -- walking an hour per day or running 20 minutes. Relaxation is required -- yoga or meditation. And of course, you have to give up smoking and drinking. You can still gamble, though!
After 6 months, a client brought Dunkin' Donuts to work. I took one bite and had to spit it out because of the taste of lard on my tongue. It was disgusting. Funny thing is, now that I'm back to the regular shitty American diet Dunkin Donuts taste much better. :D
Dave Schwartz
01-27-2012, 10:14 AM
The hard part is keeping it off.
You are, of course, right. However, we've turned this into the easier part.
The secret is to weigh every day, and if you go up 2 pounds or so, you immediately put in what we call a "VLCD" followed by an "LCD." That is, a very low-calorie day followed by a low-calorie day.
VLCD= under 1,000 calories
LCD= under 2,000 calories
The claim of the HCG diet we have been on is that it resets your hypothalamus to back when you were a child. That is, you can eat more and not gain weight. After my last round I was at 250 lbs. This allowed me to stabilize my weight at around 2,700 calories per day. They said I should be able to do 3,000 at that weight but I found I gained a little.
That is the goal: to push your caloric intake UP as high as you can without gaining. At that level, a VLCD and an LCD will cause me to drop like 1.5 lbs., bringing me back into range.
Another thing that this diet accomplished was that it weaned me off of carbs. It seems much easier to maintain when you don't eat any/many carbs.
We eat the occasional pile of french fries, onion rings or popcorn but probably not more than once a week. The idea that every meal comes with rice, potatoes or pasta has ended.
Long story short, we've whipped this game.
Dave
Trying the new diet patch.
So far, it works pretty good.
lamboguy
01-27-2012, 10:33 AM
Trying the new diet patch.
So far, it works pretty good.
great one!
one tip i can offer is try not to eat anything after 4 hours you plan to go to bed, and try to put in a half hour walk after dinner.
highnote
01-27-2012, 12:19 PM
The Dean Ornish diet is very hard to stick with. The only people who would stick with it are people like Steve Jobs whose life depends on it or people who have clogged arteries and want to reverse their heart disease or else have to have bypass surgery. So you need a big stick to motivate you.
Your diet sounds like its working really well for you. That is the most important thing -- finding something that works and is not too painful. Afterall, it's no wonder going on a diet is hard.... just look at the first three letters of the word "diet". :D
You are, of course, right. However, we've turned this into the easier part.
The secret is to weigh every day, and if you go up 2 pounds or so, you immediately put in what we call a "VLCD" followed by an "LCD." That is, a very low-calorie day followed by a low-calorie day.
VLCD= under 1,000 calories
LCD= under 2,000 calories
The claim of the HCG diet we have been on is that it resets your hypothalamus to back when you were a child. That is, you can eat more and not gain weight. After my last round I was at 250 lbs. This allowed me to stabilize my weight at around 2,700 calories per day. They said I should be able to do 3,000 at that weight but I found I gained a little.
That is the goal: to push your caloric intake UP as high as you can without gaining. At that level, a VLCD and an LCD will cause me to drop like 1.5 lbs., bringing me back into range.
Another thing that this diet accomplished was that it weaned me off of carbs. It seems much easier to maintain when you don't eat any/many carbs.
We eat the occasional pile of french fries, onion rings or popcorn but probably not more than once a week. The idea that every meal comes with rice, potatoes or pasta has ended.
Long story short, we've whipped this game.
Dave
johnhannibalsmith
01-27-2012, 12:22 PM
...The best part is that you can eat all the food you want -- as long as you cut out caffeine, sugar,...
THOSE ARE ALL THE FOODS I WANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:D
Dave Schwartz
01-27-2012, 12:29 PM
Trying the new diet patch.
So far, it works pretty good.
Tommy Boy, you have outdone yourself this time. :lol:
pandy
01-27-2012, 07:55 PM
I don't believe in any fad diets. They all work short term but not long term.
I lost 28 pounds in 2011 eating 4 times a day, three meals, one snack, and 1600 calories a day with moderate exercise, mostly weight training. I ate whatever I wanted including high fat foods, meats, pasta, bread, fruits and veggies, eggs, milk, desserts, etc. but didn't pig out. I got the idea from the 400 calorie diet book but it really isn't a diet, there are no food restrictions, just portion control.
Eating low fat, low carbs, extremely low calorie, and all that crazy stuff doesn't work because you end up gaining the weight back and screwing up your system. Most people in this country simply eat too much food. If I eat a steak for dinner I'll have a 4 to 6 oz piece of steak, a small potato with a tab of butter and a little steamed broccoli, totally satisfying, no need for more.
Dave Schwartz
01-30-2012, 11:01 AM
We completed the first phase of the diet today. In this round, 22 days, I lost 24 pounds and Beth lost 23.
After two more days of 500 calories per day (but without medication), we will move on to the next phase. That phase is the re-feeding phase. Gradually, over the next 3 weeks, we will increase our calories. 800 calories for a week, then 1,500, then 2,600 for me. (The formula is supposed to be 12 times your weight, but I find I can maintain my weight at 11 times.)
As of today, I am down 56 pounds since I saw you guys at Saratoga.
JBmadera
01-30-2012, 11:05 AM
We completed the first phase of the diet today. In this round, 22 days, I lost 24 pounds and Beth lost 23.
After two more days of 500 calories per day (but without medication), we will move on to the next phase. That phase is the re-feeding phase. Gradually, over the next 3 weeks, we will increase our calories. 800 calories for a week, then 1,500, then 2,600 for me. (The formula is supposed to be 12 times your weight, but I find I can maintain my weight at 11 times.)
As of today, I am down 56 pounds since I saw you guys at Saratoga.
WOW, that's awesome Dave. Congratulations... :ThmbUp: :ThmbUp:
lamboguy
01-30-2012, 11:06 AM
good for both DAVE and BETH, your post here might inspire someone else to follow your good work. that is really what life is all about, and you might save someone's here. healthy options are key to one's general health. good eating habits are the very first step.
thanks DAVE
Dave Schwartz
01-30-2012, 11:27 AM
Thanks, guys.
Also, I forgot to mention that there are zero carbs until week 4 of the re-feeding phase, and then only 1 carb per day. Then in week 5, you can add a 2nd carb, but not at the same meal. Finally, in week 6 you get all your carbs back.
We have learned that life without carbs is far better than a life with carbs. It is so difficult to eat carbs every day and not gain weight.
I'd bet that since we began this program back in September, I've not had carbs more than 15-20 times. I mean, almost no potatoes, pasta, rice, cereal, etc. There are entire weeks that go by with only a single helping of (say) potatoes or popcorn. (Boy, do I miss the popcorn!)
This has been quite a journey. When I started I weighed 294. Now I am at 238. When I think about the impact of 2 more rounds - maybe getting under 200 pounds, man, do I get excited.
I encourage everyone who is obese to do this diet. And don't forget - when I started in September I was on a max dosage of Metformin for Diabetes. Three weeks later I let go of the Metformin and have never looked back.
This has become a bit of a cause for me because it has changed my life. Anyone who wishes private discussion on this topic should email me.
Kind Regards,
Dave Schwartz
Greyfox
01-30-2012, 11:40 AM
This has been quite a journey. When I started I weighed 294. Now I am at 238. When I think about the impact of 2 more rounds - maybe getting under 200 pounds, man, do I get excited.
Kind Regards,
Dave Schwartz
Well done. :ThmbUp:
The question crosses my mind though, "What is your source of protein?"
Dave Schwartz
01-30-2012, 12:02 PM
During the "VLCD" (very low calorie diet) it is lean beef, seafood, and chicken.
Specifically, filet mignon, chicken breast, white fish (i.e. no salmon or fish with color as it has more calories). We also added egg whites during the last week, as well as pastrami and some roast beef. Did you know that low-fat pastrami has less calories than fillet mignon? (50 vs 41 per oz.)
What's missing is pork. No pork permitted. Next round I am going to consider Canadian bacon, which is very low-fat.
After VLCD, there are no restrictions.
thaskalos
01-30-2012, 01:35 PM
Thanks, guys.
Also, I forgot to mention that there are zero carbs until week 4 of the re-feeding phase, and then only 1 carb per day. Then in week 5, you can add a 2nd carb, but not at the same meal. Finally, in week 6 you get all your carbs back.
We have learned that life without carbs is far better than a life with carbs. It is so difficult to eat carbs every day and not gain weight.
I'd bet that since we began this program back in September, I've not had carbs more than 15-20 times. I mean, almost no potatoes, pasta, rice, cereal, etc. There are entire weeks that go by with only a single helping of (say) potatoes or popcorn. (Boy, do I miss the popcorn!)
This has been quite a journey. When I started I weighed 294. Now I am at 238. When I think about the impact of 2 more rounds - maybe getting under 200 pounds, man, do I get excited.
I encourage everyone who is obese to do this diet. And don't forget - when I started in September I was on a max dosage of Metformin for Diabetes. Three weeks later I let go of the Metformin and have never looked back.
This has become a bit of a cause for me because it has changed my life. Anyone who wishes private discussion on this topic should email me.
Kind Regards,
Dave Schwartz
Dave...
It has been widely reported that carbs are vital to us, for the proper functioning of our brain.
Have you experienced any bankroll-eroding side effects...as a result of your no-carb diet so far? :)
Dave Schwartz
01-30-2012, 01:45 PM
Well, there are carbs in the sense that veggies have carbs.
And once off the VLCD, we eat the occasional nuts, etc. But believe me when I say that removing the "big carbs" - the ones that are used to fatten up cows and poor people - we have simply felt better without those.
thaskalos
01-30-2012, 01:54 PM
Well, there are carbs in the sense that veggies have carbs.
And once off the VLCD, we eat the occasional nuts, etc. But believe me when I say that removing the "big carbs" - the ones that are used to fatten up cows and poor people - we have simply felt better without those.
I believe you.
The great American myth has been that "eating fat will make you fat"...
In fact...some of the biggest weight-gaining foods out there have little or no fat at all.
Dave Schwartz
01-30-2012, 01:59 PM
LOL - Bankroll eroding, huh?
Fat DOES make you fat. Or at least EXCESSIVE fat makes you fat.
But like a friend of mine - a farmer in the mid-west said to me: "Do you know what we give cattle to make them fat? Grain. Lots of it."
So, we eat lots of complex carbs but avoid the starchy ones.
delayjf
01-30-2012, 09:14 PM
Long story short, we've whipped this game.
Congrats Dave,
The only thing that I'm a bit skeptical about that the HCG drops had much to do with you weight loss. Can you tell me more about these drops, like what's in them?
Obviously the biggest factor is you calorie intake. At 500 calories a day, you are creating a calorie deficient of around 2500 a day which translates to about 2/3 of a pound a day.
Interesting that you have a 6 week phase 2, the Lindora plans calls for a 2 week phase at maintenance calories to reset your metabolism.
whodoyoulike
01-30-2012, 09:50 PM
After three months, how do you feel? Has your energy level improved and any vision change? I'm curious has your doctor okayed discontinuing taking the metformin medication?
Dave Schwartz
01-30-2012, 09:53 PM
The only thing that I'm a bit skeptical about that the HCG drops had much to do with you weight loss. Can you tell me more about these drops, like what's in them?
I agree with you.
IMHO, the real HCG may have merit but I do not actually believe that the homeopathic solution has any value.
Dave Schwartz
01-30-2012, 10:05 PM
My Doctor was thrilled and could not wait for me to get off my meds. Of course, he immediately had me do an A1c. The previous one was 7.8 and then the one in December came back at 6.0.
I will do another in February.
He was very supportive of this diet all along, although I admit I did not ask him for his opinion until I was 2 weeks into round 1 and already down 18 pounds.
In addition to the no-diabetes diagnosis that he issued in December, I also am free of Prilosec, the only other medication I have taken. My blood pressure is coming back down - last visit I was 118 over 80. Not the 112/78 of my youth, but hey, I AM 60 years old.
You might enjoy this...
http://www.horsestreet.com/BBSImages/WeightTools/R2Day23.png
Notice the green column. That is my morning glucose after an 8-hr fast. Of course, I am eating a very low glycemic diet right now. The truth is probably about 7-10 points higher. And some things really spike my sugar.
As for energy, I am (as many people would agree) full of it.
Actually, we quit this round a few days early. We learned last time that after about 25-27 days of the VLCD we do begin to feel a little fatigued. I also had trouble sleeping during the last week of the last round. (That round we did 32 days; this time we will do 24 days.)
Dave Schwartz
04-13-2012, 10:06 PM
I thought I would give you guys another update with how we are doing. It is now 7 months since we began the HCG diet. We have completed 3 "rounds" and are now back in the "re-feeding phase" of round 3.
We began the first round back in September, although we changed our health plans almost 18 months ago.
As of today, I have lost 66 pounds. I have gone from 294 to 228.
Beth has lost (in the last 15 months) 93 pounds!
This means, that between us we have lost like 1.5 jockeys.
My morning glucose has gone from 205 to 92 without any medication. I am truly no longer diabetic. I also no longer need Prilosec. I have gone from a 52" waist to a 40" waist. Even my shoe size is smaller. :lol: Seriously.
So, why am I posting this? Just to brag? Think again.
This has changed my life.
If you are obese and you want or need guidance or encouragement on this topic, I am your guy! I will be happy to spend some time pointing you in the right direction. Understand that the diet I am does not come with any significant costs. You don't have to pay for shots or special foods or anything like that. In fact, you will find that you will save so much money on this diet that you can afford filet mignon and lobster way more often than before. (But without the butter. :( )
Please know that I have nothing to sell you, nobody to refer you to who will sell you something, no agenda whatsoever.
Furthermore, be aware that I am not a doctor, that I have no medical training whatsoever. I am not dispensing medical advice. Final say should come from your doctor.
But if you need a little help, if you need a shove in the right direction, send me an email and we can hook up and talk about this for a few minutes.
Regards to all,
Dave Schwartz
lsbets
04-13-2012, 10:12 PM
This means, that between us we have lost like 1.5 jockeys.
That is really funny.
Congrats. Its a major accomplishment. My wife is doing a 90 day challenge that ends Sunday to get rid of baby weight. She's dropped 20 pounds. Its hard work, but worth it.
NJ Stinks
04-13-2012, 11:25 PM
Great to hear it turned out so well, Dave! :ThmbUp: :ThmbUp:
And for your wife too, Isbets! :ThmbUp: :ThmbUp:
wisconsin
04-14-2012, 02:57 PM
Dave, you have made me a very jealous man, and I have only myself to blame.
Dave Schwartz
04-24-2012, 12:26 PM
I have decided to build one of these:
Treadmill Desk (http://www.lifespanfitness.com/treadmill-desk.asp)
Actually, mine will be more like this because I want the $39-version:
$39 Treadmill Desk (http://www.treadmill-desk.com/2007/12/49-treadmill-desk.html)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jVQScp4k-Hw/ToG6QVsbSBI/AAAAAAAAAjk/SRXY-PJjPYs/s1600/Jay+Buster+02.JPG
thaskalos
04-24-2012, 12:38 PM
I have decided to build one of these:
Treadmill Desk (http://www.lifespanfitness.com/treadmill-desk.asp)
Actually, mine will be more like this because I want the $39-version:
$39 Treadmill Desk (http://www.treadmill-desk.com/2007/12/49-treadmill-desk.html)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jVQScp4k-Hw/ToG6QVsbSBI/AAAAAAAAAjk/SRXY-PJjPYs/s1600/Jay+Buster+02.JPG
Hey, Dave...
Is this the new YOU?
You look a lot lighter than 228 pounds...and not a day over 45!
This is not a "change"...
As a Greek would say...this is a metamorphosis!
Dave Schwartz
04-24-2012, 12:43 PM
Yeah... not exactly.
But I DO have more hair than him.
Track Collector
04-24-2012, 04:24 PM
Hey, Dave...
Is this the new YOU?
You look a lot lighter than 228 pounds...and not a day over 45!
This is not a "change"...
As a Greek would say...this is a metamorphosis!
If this was Dave, both monitors would be showing RTN!. :)
Dave Schwartz
04-24-2012, 04:51 PM
Exactly right!
Dave Schwartz
04-25-2012, 05:31 PM
My first session at the "Walking Desk was interesting. I spent most of the time setting up my laptop to access things across the network. I spent a little over 90 minutes walking at a blistering .7 mph. (That is actually the recommended speed.)
My plan is to organize things so that I can exploit my new "office." Currently, I work a "focus block" of either 25 or 50 minutes and then break. When I break, I check email, PA, Skype, etc. for things that demand responses.
The plan is that I will take those "breaks" at the walking desk for about 20 minutes about 6 times each day. It doesn't sound like much but at that rate I would walk about 30 miles per month.
We'll see how this goes.
Dave
Dave Schwartz
04-30-2012, 12:09 AM
A short update on my "walking desk" endeavor.
I really only got started with it yesterday and today. What I have done is taken all of the tasks that can easily be done while walking slowly on the treadmill and move them to this computer. Specifically, using Skype, responding to e-mails, reading (I love the Kindle PC- reader), watching videos, etc.
Even though today was a Sunday, I walked 2 miles!
I have increased the speed to 1 mph. In addition to the exercise I gain from the using the treadmill, by removing the activities I have assigned to the treadmill desk, I hope to increase my productivity.
Every time I wanted to check e-mail today I got on the treadmill. 15 min. here, 10 min. there, 30 min. another time, and by the end of the day two hours total. It is like "free lunch."
Stay tuned for more updates.
Regards,
Dave Schwartz
Dave Schwartz
05-04-2012, 12:22 PM
This marks the end of my first week of using the Treadmill Desk.
I learned several things this week:
1. I spend way too much time on emails, Skype and browsing - almost 2.5 hrs per day.
2. Even at 1 mph my body complained by Friday.
3. The walking desk was a great idea!
All in all, it was a great idea but it is causing some habit changes. For example, no more walking around in house slippers. LOL - They just don't work well on the treadmill.
By Wednesday I was trying to spend less time waling & talking and more time working.
Still, I walked 9 miles Monday-Thursday.
Dave Schwartz
07-23-2012, 11:58 AM
In May we traveled to Portland for our son's graduation. Did you know that in Portland every meal you eat is high calories? (Seriously, it seemed that way.)
In June, Beth went to her 40th reunion. (All-girls' school; no husbands allowed.) I was left alone. That meant lots of eating out.
The week after Beth returned, I went to southern California to visit my old friend Dick Schmidt for a few days.
When all was said and done, I had gained 20 pounds! I was shocked and more than a little disappointed in myself. Beth experienced something similar, but I will leave her numbers out of this.
We are determined to not go back to where/what we were, so we started another round of the HCG diet. This is day 19 for us. I am down 20.5 pounds and Beth is down 23. We're Back!
It is a shame that we had to (essentially) waste an entire round of weight loss but... live and learn.
BTW, the walking desk is still part of my life, although with the hot weather, I have not been out there much in the last three weeks or so. I spend about 2 hours per day on email, web surfing and Skype, and all that time I am walking at 1 mph. Net result is about 10-12 miles per week; 50 miles per month.
We're an aging group here. I encourage any of you who have a weight issue to look at the HCG diet and a treadmill desk. In the scheme of things, the treadmill desk is like "free lunch," maybe the only real example of it.
I mean, you can spend an hour in the evening walking slowly - just putting one foot in front of the other, really - while you surf the web, listen to music or perhaps something from the self-improvement genre.
Hey, just because we're 60-ish (or older) doesn't mean we cannot be healthier than we were before.
If anyone needs a leg up on this kind of stuff, give me a call. I am your guy. (And less anyone needs to ask: No, I do not sell anything related to diet or exercise.)
Dave
PS: Still diabetes-free since last September - three weeks into my first round of dieting!
FiveWide
07-23-2012, 09:33 PM
Dave,
Do you handicap while you're walking? Just curious. Sometimes I'll get tired of sitting and so with pp's in hand, will walk around the house handicapping.
-Five
Dave Schwartz
07-23-2012, 09:56 PM
No. Remember, my handicapping is done (literally) in like 15 seconds.
My laptop is just not much fun to play on and that is the machine I use on the treadmill.
delayjf
07-24-2012, 01:21 AM
I had gained 20 pounds! I was shocked and more than a little disappointed in myself
Don't be so hard on yourself probably 10 pounds of the weight gain was water and glycogen going back into your muscles due to the increase in carbs.
lamboguy
07-24-2012, 09:00 AM
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hcg-diet/AN02091
i don't know what this means, more than likely they haven't been paid off by this company so they are knocking the plan.
i have no personal opinion on it, what i do know is that losing weight and changing your eating habits and lifestyle changes are very important towards achieving great health.
Dave Schwartz
07-24-2012, 10:08 AM
Every single negative article I have read always has a link to some other diet that is being touted.
I can tell you that MY doctor signed off on it. As I have said before, we used the homeopathic solution, which is pure placebo. In other words, it isn't the HCG solution that has worked for us but the diet plan itself.
I highly recommend it.
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