Piece of Cake

Piece of Cake...this is by no means a description of this diet, rather it is what I am craving at the moment!! While I started the injections 9 days ago I have officially been on the 500 calorie diet for 1 week. I have currently lost (drum-roll, please) 6.8 pounds! This is just shy of the 1 pound per day that is possible with this diet. Keep in mind that the pharmacist does warn that women don't typically lose that much. While men can easily lose 40 lbs or even more on this diet women usually lose 20-30. My goal is 30 but I will be happy if I can lose at least 20.  If I can keep close to the pace I'm at now then that is a perfectly reasonable goal!

I didn't update sooner because honestly the first 4-5 days I really wasn't sure if I could continue this diet. I was only really hungry the first day of the VLCD. Unfortunately the cravings for sugar and sweets lasted well beyond that point. I finally feel like the cravings are under control. Not gone but manageable. I am much less tempted now.  I will admit that I have made some minor adjustments to the diet to make it work for me. These changes include, chewing sugar free gum, an occasional small spoonful of forbidden foods such as mashed potatoes, corn, etc. (so nothing too extravagant) and when the sugar cravings have been bad I have sucked on a life saver or jolly rancher. When researching the diet many people say minor things such as these can have devastating results...I've been willing to chance that. I also have not changed deodorant, conditioner, soaps, or lotions. Many of these products contain fats and oils that are also thought to affect weight loss with this diet. Again, I am willing to take this chance. I do try to limit the amount of lotion (I don't slather my whole body) and don't leave conditioner on quite as long. I still stand by my previous statement that the injections are painless. I do have some nasty bruises on my stomach from them though. I'm not quite sure what is causing the bruising...maybe it's just me?  It's certainly not my shot giving technique!! I pride myself on being a pretty darn good shot giver...LOL! I've certainly had plenty of practice on others!! : )

All in all I am really very happy with the results I am seeing. I am happy to say that Danielle has been equally successful with a healthy diet and exercise. She has currently lost 6 pounds. I am thrilled for her and I hope she continues to keep up with my loss and me with hers!  It is great motivation. I believe Lisa is still waiting for her appointment with her physician to discuss starting the injections. I wish her lots of success!! I will be there to motivate her when the going gets tough, especially the first week!!  I've also had another challenger, Travis. Last I heard he had given up soda and lost 7 pounds in 1 DAY!! Good for him!! Although, I think any woman would agree that men ALWAYS lose faster than women!  It is one of the most frustrating things!  If anyone has seen the commercial (I think it is for slim quick?) they show the stick husband and wife. They both start dieting and the man slims down but the woman just loses her boobs! Hilarious and TRUE!!!

Well here's to hoping for another 6+ pounds next week.......