A hard realization after a year of trying

[Former_Member]

last march i signed up for an hcg diet called Zola, which is now called Plan Z Works. the plan is to take the homeopathic spray 4 times a day and lower cals to about 800 a day. the spray releases fat from inside your body, which adds up to about 4000 cals in all. so you aren't starving, and you can lose up to 30 lbs in 40 days. you go on and off the diet, taking breaks in between to replenish healthy fats after the 40 days of cleansing.

i did end up losing about 30 lbs in all within 6 months, however, every time i went on the losing phase i went into a deep depression. i was weak, tired, sad that i couldnt enjoy food at all (the dinners are meat driven, and i dont like meat much) and there 40 days is a lonnnng time.

my dad and a few other friends lost all of their weight, and they look and feel amazing. however in the past few wks as i was 2 wks into the cleanse, my body shut down. i got a nasty horrible flu and could barely walk with the lack of nutrients going in. my chinese dr said that my kidneys were dangerously weak and that i needed to get much more food in. that my body had to fight the virus and not be worrying about losing weight at such an extreme degree.

my conclusion is that the diet is right for some people, but not me. a year later i am left frustrated and a little let down. however i am glad i did lose some of the bulk weight and have learned ALOT about healthy habits. that's one thing the diet really helped me learn. how bad sugar and wheat are. especially for me because I am borderline insulin resistant.

once i get better from this sickness and health breakdown i will be eating a balanced amount of cals coupled with lots of water and a diet of veggies, fruit and lean protein and exercise. I will be cutting out sugar and wheat with but a treat every 10 days. this has worked for the rest of the world. it is hard hard work, but i have faith and hope in myself that i can do it. i would like to sign up for a dance class and also invest in a great pilates dvd. we will be moving to california in a few months. when we do i want to go on nature walks, since it will be temperate weather. i can't wait for that (living in florida and sweating all day is NOT motivating!)

there is my little explanation for all of you :)

[AJBcreations]

I am sorry you got sick Blueberry, but I am glad you are figuring out what works for YOU. I am glad you found out what was making you sick and stopped taking that stuff! My sister in law did it, and it worked for her. I thought about trying it, but with all my off the wall medical issues I decided against it. I know you'll do great losing the weight YOUR way! =)

[Former_Member]

thanks for the really kind words! every body is different and once we embrace that we can figure out what works best for us. i am intrigued with blood type and how that sets the tone for the right foods for us. im gonna look into it

[Former_Member]

This sounds so much like something I did about a year ago. I went to a crazy doctor who put me on such a restricted diet I lost 15 pounds in a month. She put me on these crazy diet pills that made me so moody and edgy all the time. I thought I knew all there was to know about health but in reality I knew nothing. After a few months I couldn't take it anymore and gained all the weight back plus a little more.

Now I feel like I finally understand the way my body processes food. I am also slightly insulin resistant because I have pcos. I don't do well with sugar or processed wheat, so my diet is based mostly on fruits, veggies, meats and low fat dairy products. It's hard but I finally feel like I won't fall off the wagon and it's something i can live with for the rest of my life.

I hit the 30 pound mark this morning and I hope to lose about 40 more by my 20th birthday in august.

I'm so proud of all of us working hard at being healthy! Keep up the good work everyone.

Jess

[Former_Member]

i have found that the hcg diets work really great for men, and its much harder for women. men are robust, strong, and less emotionally attached to food in the ways women are. i by no means am bashing the diet because it DOES work and from what i've heard i'm the first in my circle whom it wasn't good for.

it is quite extreme and for some people that works. especially obese types who have lots of weight to lose, as opposed to under 50 lbs. i tried weight watchers about 2 yrs ago and didn't budge my weight. however i was eating their foods and still eating wheat and sugar. i think i will sort of follow their regiment but do the no wheat and sugar thing and pass on their treats. i'd be happy with a lb a week. ANY loss is a plus in my books.

[Former_Member]

ps congrats on the 30 lb mark Virtue!

[AJBcreations]

30 pounds, congratulations! =)
I have had some small success recently, about 15 pounds since Christmas. I have quite a lot of weight to lose, but if I could lose a pound a week, in a year I would be one happy camper!!

[Former_Member]

congrats!!!! any loss is amazing, as i said!!
i'd be happy with a lb a week!!

[AJBcreations]

Thanks! :)

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the congratulations! I agree with you about HCG working for some people better than others. My mom was on that diet for a while with a friend and her friend did swimmingly and my mom ended up getting Pneumonia and having to stop. To each his own :D