This page is dedicated to a good friend and collegue of mine, Richard Dennis. I got great feedback from followers of this blog when I chronicled my progress on the diet. Because I am off any phases of the diet, Richard has agreed to open up his life to us all for a few months as he tackles his weight issues and attempts to take advantage of the HCG Diet Protocol for the second time. Let's all welcome, thank, and support Dennis on this journey to change his life:
The Subject: Richard Dennis
Age:
Occupation: High School English Teacher
Personal: Wife - Jody
Kids (4) -
Hobbies: Movie and Stage
Food Cravings: Starbucks Coffee
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| Richard: Before Phase 2 (5/24/11) |
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| Richard: Before Phase (5/24/11) |
So, here’s my “fat” tail…err, tale.
I was, admittedly, a pretty big kid when I was in my pre-teen and teenage years. Okay, really big. Huge. I started out a “normal”, healthy size when I was a child, and then laziness, video games and too much pizza on Friday nights took their toll on me. I should also mention that was an only child and belonged to a set of fairly doting parents, meaning I got pretty much anything I wanted growing up…whether it was a new toy, or a double cheeseburger. Over the years as I got older…I got bigger and bigger. Until, eventually, somewhere around 15 years old, I had ballooned to over 250 pounds, meaning size 40 jeans and XXL shirts…and a sophomore in high school. Luckily for me, two big things happened to me my sophomore year…I joined the Theatre department (around 1990), and I met a girl.
Joining the Theatre department meant I wasn’t getting home until 7:00pm-8:00pm at night, due to after school Tech, after school rehearsals, etc. At that point I would just grab a snack, do my homework, and fall in bed. Before I knew it, I realized that was I losing weight. 10 pounds, 20 pounds…at that age, it tended to fall off pretty quickly with minimal effort. I was getting thinner, and people were noticing.
Oh yes, that brings us to the girl. A petite, eccentric cutie who hung outside the band hall reading books and writing in her journal (and who eventually became my girlfriend of 3 ½ years) was all it took to get me to tackle the weight loss with a huge amount of gusto. I worked out, I ate light, and I took care of myself in a way I never had before. By my senior year (1992), I had lost over 100 pounds. I graduated and walked across my high school stage weighing in at no more than 155.
Happy ending, right? Wait, fast forward about 15 years…
I’m now a devoted dad, a high school English teacher, and a loving husband with a hottie wife and four (yes…four) beautiful kids. While I remained fairly thin throughout my 20’s, in my 30’s I ballooned back to 250 pounds, give or take, and have been there for years; sometimes as high as 299 (in 2004)…and then sometimes back down (thanks to a ridiculous Jamba Juice diet) to around 230 pounds (2008).
So that brings us to HCG. Good ole’ HCG.
I tried HCG for the first time at the beginning of the year (2011), and promptly lost 16 pounds before giving in to the lack of calories and the onslaught of all those special occasions that demand food: birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Before I knew it, I gained nearly every bit of it right back. I had also gotten spooked by all of the horror stories you can read about HCG online (but then again, you can find horror stories about most anything).
However, after some encouragement from my friend Jim Miller; after seeing his success and the success of other friends and co-workers; and after some encouraging advice from my doctor (who I did contact and ask blessings of before beginning), I have decided to tackle the HCG once more.
As of this writing, I weigh 256 pounds. Huge. Stifling. I hate it. I hate it enough that I’ve made a deal with myself that this is it. THIS is the push. I owe it to my kids; I owe it to my wife. I owe it to myself to not break into a sweat by walking down the street. I hope you guys stick with me, and read these posts as I start this huge and sometimes frustrating process. Not process…life change. Your encouragement will help me. And I need all the help I can get.
P.S. Today marks the end of my two “loading” days. God, I feel like a bloated seal. I’m actually looking forward to tomorrow’s 500 calories.
Richard
June 3rd:
Week Two – Rockin’ and Rollin’
Okay, HCG…I’m starting to like you again. I’m now 10 days into my 2nd round of the HCG protocol and I’m remembering now why this diet can be so addictive (emotionally, not physically, of course). My starting weight was on the high end of 255 and now, 10 days later, I find myself sitting comfortably at 245 pounds. My clothes already feel different, there’s a spring in my step, and I have the confidence to keep going.
The cons? Oh, yeah, there are cons. I’m already craving a cheeseburger or a simple serving of chips and salsa like nobody’s business. Carbs…now there’s the real addiction. And I don’t seem to lose the weight as fast as most guys do…my weight loss functions more like the results that women who go on the HCG plan get. But you know what? That’s okay. I’m still losing, and I’m a guy who feels like it’s okay to be in touch with your feminine side anyway. J HCG and Musical Theatre. Who’s up for some So You Think You Can Dance? J
I’ll list my 10 days of meals here for your viewing pleasure. I just found out through trial and error that blueberries and ground turkey are no-go’s while on the drops. You live and learn.
Day 1 (Load Day)
Breakfast – Cheerios, 2% Milk
Lunch - Turkey Sandwich w/ Cheddar
Dinner – Pizza (Five Slices), Diet Dr. Pepper
= 1717 Calories
Day 2 (Load Day)
Breakfast – Breakfast Burrito, Cinnamon Scone, Coffee w/ Cream
Lunch – Slim Fast Shake (Don’t Ask)
Dinner – Chicken Enchiladas. Rice, Beans
= 2055 Calories
Day 3 (1st Day of the 500)
Breakfast – Black Coffee, Orange
Lunch - Sliced Chicken Breast, Broccoli
Dinner - Sliced Chicken Breast, Broccoli
= 430 Calories
Day 4
Breakfast - Black Coffee, Orange
Lunch – Green Beans, Celery
Dinner – Ground Turkey, Egg Beaters, Green Peppers, Red Onion
= 479 Calories
Day 5
Breakfast - Black Coffee, Orange
Lunch -1 can Tuna, Lettuce, Salsa
Dinner- 4oz. Haddock w/ Salsa
= 486 Calories
Day 6
Breakfast- Black Coffee, Orange
Lunch – Chicken Breast, Side Salad
Dinner - Egg Beaters, Green Peppers, Red Onion
= 422 Calories
Day 7
Breakfast- Black Coffee, Apple
Lunch – Blueberries, Cucumber Salad
Dinner - 4oz. Haddock w/ Salsa, Broccoli
= 502 Calories
Day 8
Breakfast - Black Coffee, Orange
Lunch – 1 Can Tuna, Celery Sticks, Grape Tomatoes
Dinner – Veggie Stir Fry, Iced Tea
= 502 Calories
Day 9
Breakfast- Black Coffee, Apple
Lunch - None
Dinner - Egg Beaters, Green Peppers, Red Onion
= 402 Calories
Day 10
Breakfast- Black Coffee, Orange
Lunch – Sliced Chicken Breast, Grape Tomatoes, Lettuce
Dinner – Chicken Breast, Green Beans
= 496 Calories
June 3rd:
Week Two – Rockin’ and Rollin’
Okay, HCG…I’m starting to like you again. I’m now 10 days into my 2nd round of the HCG protocol and I’m remembering now why this diet can be so addictive (emotionally, not physically, of course). My starting weight was on the high end of 255 and now, 10 days later, I find myself sitting comfortably at 245 pounds. My clothes already feel different, there’s a spring in my step, and I have the confidence to keep going.
The cons? Oh, yeah, there are cons. I’m already craving a cheeseburger or a simple serving of chips and salsa like nobody’s business. Carbs…now there’s the real addiction. And I don’t seem to lose the weight as fast as most guys do…my weight loss functions more like the results that women who go on the HCG plan get. But you know what? That’s okay. I’m still losing, and I’m a guy who feels like it’s okay to be in touch with your feminine side anyway. J HCG and Musical Theatre. Who’s up for some So You Think You Can Dance? J
I’ll list my 10 days of meals here for your viewing pleasure. I just found out through trial and error that blueberries and ground turkey are no-go’s while on the drops. You live and learn.
Day 1 (Load Day)
Breakfast – Cheerios, 2% Milk
Lunch - Turkey Sandwich w/ Cheddar
Dinner – Pizza (Five Slices), Diet Dr. Pepper
= 1717 Calories
Day 2 (Load Day)
Breakfast – Breakfast Burrito, Cinnamon Scone, Coffee w/ Cream
Lunch – Slim Fast Shake (Don’t Ask)
Dinner – Chicken Enchiladas. Rice, Beans
= 2055 Calories
Day 3 (1st Day of the 500)
Breakfast – Black Coffee, Orange
Lunch - Sliced Chicken Breast, Broccoli
Dinner - Sliced Chicken Breast, Broccoli
= 430 Calories
Day 4
Breakfast - Black Coffee, Orange
Lunch – Green Beans, Celery
Dinner – Ground Turkey, Egg Beaters, Green Peppers, Red Onion
= 479 Calories
Day 5
Breakfast - Black Coffee, Orange
Lunch -1 can Tuna, Lettuce, Salsa
Dinner- 4oz. Haddock w/ Salsa
= 486 Calories
Day 6
Breakfast- Black Coffee, Orange
Lunch – Chicken Breast, Side Salad
Dinner - Egg Beaters, Green Peppers, Red Onion
= 422 Calories
Day 7
Breakfast- Black Coffee, Apple
Lunch – Blueberries, Cucumber Salad
Dinner - 4oz. Haddock w/ Salsa, Broccoli
= 502 Calories
Day 8
Breakfast - Black Coffee, Orange
Lunch – 1 Can Tuna, Celery Sticks, Grape Tomatoes
Dinner – Veggie Stir Fry, Iced Tea
= 502 Calories
Day 9
Breakfast- Black Coffee, Apple
Lunch - None
Dinner - Egg Beaters, Green Peppers, Red Onion
= 402 Calories
Day 10
Breakfast- Black Coffee, Orange
Lunch – Sliced Chicken Breast, Grape Tomatoes, Lettuce
Dinner – Chicken Breast, Green Beans
= 496 Calories
