[JoSchmooze]

Originally Posted by Gemme

Okay, thanks. I wanted to make sure I was reading it right before I got too concerned.

Now, I can safely begin my concern.

Be safe, Jo, and if you feel lightheaded, EAT.

The food specified is at specific times
and specific foods....
I have the diet printed out if anyone would like to
take a look at it.
You eat certain fruits and certain veggies but the protein
is limited to lean beef, chicken and seafood
(lobster tails,crab, shrimp and "white" fish)...
Now, I am not a big fan of cauliflower or broccoli
(take that shit and throw itout the window!) but I can eat
steamed spinach, asparagus and some of the other veggies
that I would consider "extras" in a salad.
And the other important thing is to drink at least 2 litres of water
per day. Two litres!! No worries, that's just 4 regular size bottles
of water. Piece of cake for me!

Originally Posted by Gemme

I don't know if there will ever be a time when I might say that a calorie consumption of 500 is safe. Our bodies need a certain amount of caloric intake to process. Not for anything other than just being the organs they are and doing what each organ does. I'm a little over 5 feet tall and I have a moderate amount of movement per day. I know that, in order for my body to function....not to lose weight or gain weight or anything other than to keep chugging along....that I need to consume about 900-1000 calories per day. On days that I perform more physical output I need more. Besides the physical part of it, I could imagine that that strict of a caloric diet could trigger some folks.

So, I see the benefits of it on a short term basis, strictly physically speaking. Like you mentioned, it could be a very good kickstart for really stubborn bodies.

I'd be more interested in reading more about the 1000 calorie diet. That is something that I might consider for a short term kick or if I get to a plateau.

Thanks for the info!

Originally Posted by Gemme

I agree that we all could do with less dairy and sugar and simple carbs.

I'm glad your friend has had success with it, but I still can't see it as something more than a temporary thing. On the long term, I'd totally go postal.

I have not had any bread, sugar or dairy
in the past 24 days, but I do miss bread and butter....
I am also told that with the hCG diet, once you reach your goal weight they give you like a "maintenance" type diet.

Here's the deal with me.....
In the past 5 years I have had a total knee replacement,
arthroscopic surgery on the other knee,
broke my ankle trying to get my fat ass up over a 4 ft. wall
diagnosed with a bulging disc at L4-L5,
had blood clots in both lungs 2 years ago
and changed my working conditions.
I spend more time at this laptop or in my recliner
than anywhere else.
I have not eaten healthily (is that a word??) for a long,
long time. I have been used to traveling about 80%
of the time so I ate out a LOT! I have done this for the last 15
years. In less than a month I will be 60 yrs old.

Stress may be one of my triggers, but I know I used to
drink way too much. I have smoked for 40 of those 60 years and it's time to put a stop to that too!

Every one of the doctors I have seen in the past 2 years
(pulmonologist, orthopedic surgeon, neurologist,and my primary)
have all told me that 90% of my physical issues could be resolved if I lost all this extra weight. I agree with them as I am physically uncomfortable. Three weeks ago I could not even bend over to
tie my own damned shoes! But I have been caught in a kind of "Catch-22" situation....I need exercise to lose the weight,
but I can't exercise because everything hurts so much, but I need to exercise......see?? This initial weight loss will help me able to get my weight down so that I can exercise every day and will also help me modify the behavior of eating for flavor and not for substenance...

And........
now that I have someone I care about, who I truly enjoy being
with, I want to be able to spend a helluva lot more time with her.
And quite frankly, I am spending way too much money NOT
to succeed. I'm kinda stubborn that way.....

Sorry about the long post, just needed to get it out there.
Oh! BTW.....I have not taken any pain meds (I was on maintenance Vicodin) for the past 2 weeks! That's the longest I have been off
of that for probably the last 5 years.....
Finally, I wanted to share a website. For those of you who may be going sugarless, no calories, no fat and no glutens -
WaldenFarms.com has all kinds of salad dressings and veggie dips.
They even have some chocolate syrup!
I like their peanut spread slathered on celery sticks - I have done that for a veggie for lunch time....

Thank you Jo, Gemme, Novela, PinkieLee, Sylvie
and all the rest of you for your support....
If I had not seen this thread the other day, I would be boring Abby with all my triumphs or tragedies!

Hang in there all of you and keep strong!!