Day 17 of VLCD Done!

Starting weight: 186.2
Yesterday: 173.0
Today: 174.0
+1 lb. GAIN Overnight
12.2 lb. Released Since Start of VLCD 1/14/2008
0.72 Avg Daily release

Well... there it is, my first gain with no deviations yesterday. I didn't get quite as much water as usual, but it was a good VLCD day for me. Oh yeah & I bought a new Weight Watchers scale yesterday. My scale is WAY off and I'm trying to decide what to do. I think I weigh about 4 lbs less than it's been showing. I'm trying to decide what to do about that. For now, I'll go by the old scale and record the new scale's readings as well then take the average and adjust my recorded weights. The new one says I'm 169.2 today... I sure do like that number, but I still gained a pound. Anyway, here's what I ate yesterday.

B: coffee with 1/2 & 1/2
L: Strawberries, grilled chicken over romaine with mustard dressing (thanks biz, good stuff)
D: Grilled chicken with boiled cabbage & an apple
about 1.5 liters of water plus 2 cups of tea and 2 cups of black coffee

I gained but nothing can steal my joy today. Yesterday was a roller coaster for me. I didn't get to read blogs in the morning because I needed to get to work earlier so I could leave and get DH to his post opp doctor's appointment. This is where we would find out if he should go back to work. We found out that he needs to stay out for another 2 weeks. Not really a big deal, but then we realized that if he can't go to work, we shouldn't go on our planned trip to Atlantic City next weekend. When I started this round, I planned a mini break for that weekend so I could eat at some really great restaurants while I was there, off of hcg. So yesterday I was trying to decide what to do about that & grappling with the realization that my birthday and superbowl party are this weekend. Those where originally going to be my load days, but I decided to start early. I figured that I could get through this weekend without deviating from the VLCD because I had next weekend to look forward to, but now that's not there as my "carrot on a stick" anymore. What to do?

Well, when I finally got back to my computer last night, I read an email from biz & I hope you don't mind that I post this, but here is part of that email:

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Remember my post on special occasions and working through them on the
protocol? Remember my point was better that you LOSE a week of losses by
going off for three days, having your special occasion, then going right back
INTO it, then to risk the deviation WHILE ON HCG.

Deviating while on HCG is disastrous. Going off, maintaining for a few days, is much easier then deviating and then stalling for a week, at least in my book.

I know you don't have 21 days under your belt, but girl, you are so close! I have now witnessed people have a "mini" break even before their 21 effective doses and have come out the other side with success. All they lost is around 4 - 7 days, depending on the amount of break they took.

PLEASE KNOW THIS, I am NOT encouraging you to go off plan. If you KNOW you can stay on plan during these two IMPORTANT occasions, then please do! More power to you (you are a stronger person than I) - but if there is just one iota that you might cave? Then stop injections tomorrow, do your three days, have fun at the Super Bowl Party and the B-Day gig, and go RIGHT BACK ON VLCD the next day. Don't eat sweets, keep to STRICT ATKINS stuff (I can even tell you how to make some KILLER sweets Atkins style) and all you have lost is about 5 days.

Again, PLEASE KNOW I want you to succeed, that is why I am being honest here. I have planned each and every one of my rounds around events, because I am just not willing to risk it. I feel strong, and I have had great success, but something this big and this special, well it deserves a closer look.

---

Thanks for that biz. I can not tell you how much it meant to me to see that email from you. To know that you were concerned enough about my success to take that time means alot. I actually got a little emotional over it. You're like a rock star on this protocol.

After that email I had decided to do a mini break this weekend. Then I talked to DH about it & all my concerns surrounding it. He has been my diet police on this plan so far. I mentioned that on a comment to biz's blog yesterday. He told me that this weekend doesn't have to be defined by food, and that we could just alter our plans.

Here's what we are going to do:

1. We're still having people over, but I'm not cooking anything. No hot wings or potato salad... nothing!
2. On saturday I'm going to get my hair and nails done at a salon for a little mini pampering session.
3. On sunday they are going to order pizza & I'll either order steamed chicken & broccolli from a chinese food place, or just make something for myself like I have been all football season. I have no problem resisiting pizza.
4. I'll still take my planned break NEXT weekend & we're going to celebrate my birthday by going to my favorite seafood restaurant and a movie with my best friend... buttered popcorn!

He actually called all his friends last night to let them know we weren't serving food. Ok... how great is it that my husband & life long Die Hard Giants fan is willing to forgo hot wings & artichoke dip on superbowl sunday for his wife.... HUH? I know... I know... dont't be jealous.... HAHAHA.

So... like I said, I gained a pound, but NOTHING can steal my joy today.

In response to yesterday's comments.
smacmo - You are so right! Thanks for pointing that out. It's nice to have someone with similar stuff going on. That's one of the reasons I was drawn to your blog. We're in a similar place right now. Good luck to you and I'm glad the scale is on the way back down now.

maryg911 - No more test... It's going to be like any other football season sunday now. I'm going to enjoy cutting loose with my friends and making a big deal out of company and not food.

ed & jennifer - Thanks girl. My spirits are just fine today. I feel like I have new wind in my sails. I certainly don't feel like I normally would after seeing a gain. I can't stop smiling!

becca - Yup...that's what I'm going to do. I've seen others go up and down and come out ok on the other side. It sure is good to know where to find information. I don't know what I'd do without all the blogs and the message boards. I couldn't do this alone. I understand why others that did got so frustrated and disappointed, but I know what to expect and how to handle it now. That's invaluable & BTW... OMG! your pics look amazing. I didn't get a chance to post yesterday, but WOW!

Have a great day everyone & thanks again for reading all my ramblings.