Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Hello lovely hCGers. This interview is part of what is now a plethora of weight loss success stories with real everyday women (and men! There’s a few dude interviews in there) who have used either hCG injections or drops with the hCG diet protocol to lose between 20 and 150 lbs. You can see the current episodes available here.

CINDI’S BASIC STATS:

• Height: 5’5″
• Age: 44 years old
• Starting weight: 202 lbs
• Last round ending weight: 138.8
• Started at size 14-16 and now she’s a size 4
• Health Conditions:
  • She had a gallbladder surgery last June 2009.
  • She suffered from migraines for 2 or 3 years and she’s taking topiramate 200mg daily for the past 3 years 2014-current
  • She had an endometriosis surgery in June 2014 and July 1, 2014

• hCGChica’s Digital hCG Diet Workbook
• Flavorgod Everything Seasonings
• Air fryer
• Deviled eggs with celery
• hCGChica’s Coconut Oil on P2 article
• hCGChica’s Phase 2 Sanity Savers
• Hair loss article
• Interview with @culinaryhcg-Bella
• Why sleep is important on the hCG Diet
• hCGChica’s Phase 3 to Life Program – you can enroll anytime, but I recommend at least a week BEFORE P3 starts if at all possible so you have time to familiarize yourself with the program and plan ahead.

Cindi’s hCG Injection Weight Loss Story in Her Words:

Basics:

• • • 44 years old
    • She took Phentermine, 2x in 2002 165lbs (30 days), 2006, and September 2008 (6 months). Start weight 196 and end weight 138 with size 0-2
    • Gallbladder surgery, June 2009
    • Suffered from migraines for 1 ½ year: topiramate 200mg daily for the past 3 years 2014-current
    • Endometriosis surgery June 2014 and  July 1, 2014

How much weight you’ve lost with hCG/starting weight/ending weight/ clothing size change.  How many rounds did you do, how long was each round? stuff like that.

Start weight 202ish top weight 212 within the last month. I was having a lot of stomach bloating and bathroom issues. I would go days without going #2 so weight would go higher. I didn’t really weigh myself when I started. I actually didn’t realize the amount weight that I would so quickly.  I did 4 rounds to get my goal weight of 144lbs. I have done 3 more rounds to detox from sugar, to have extra wiggle room for summer break, or simply to see if I can hold a lower weight. I have had an LDW of 135.4 but I have settled with 141-143 during summer and extra activity months. At 200+lbs I was a size 14-16, today I wear a 4.

• • • R1 202-182.6=19.4lbs  long round Sept 2015
    • R2 181-167.4=13.6lbs  short round Nov 2015
    • R3 170.8-158.8=12lbs  short round after Cabo vacation Jan 2016
    • R4 161.6-142.4=19.2lbs  long round March 2016
    • R5 150.2-135.4=14.8 short round biggest load 8lbs May 2016 net loss 6.8lbs
    • R6 148.6-137.6=11lbs short round after holidays Jan 2017
    • R7 152.8-138.8=14lbs short round for summer may 2017

It seems I can always lose the weight and stay there (in the 130s) but as soon as I start exercising after P3 my body seems to settle in the low 140s.

I’m ok with that it just was a personal goal to be in the 130s. Not sure if I am going to try again, not that it is hard because P2 is actually not bad I like the way I feel, totally clean eating. But it sounds crazy round 8??

Cindi’s Lab Results:

How long have you currently been maintaining (or where are you currently at in your hCG journey)?

I hit goal weight 144lbs May 2016, today I am 141-143. I am technically P4 but most days I eat P3. I save P4 for weekends.

Tell us how you came to be overweight and your struggles with that?

I was “average” weight till my 3^rd child, age 24, (1997) at that time I was 145-150 size 7/8. Slowly in the next 5 years (2002) I was in the 160’s size 10-12. I figured this was “average”. I started my own business that year and had lost some weight with Phentermine, back to size 7/8.

I am in childcare and food is accessible all day, plus working 12 hour days, then coming home to be a mom and wife. I didn’t take care of myself. Sleep and eating was not a priority for me. That is when I sought out my Dr. in 2008 to ask him for Phentermine again. This time I wanted to get down to a goal weight and we talked about an exercise program.

He watched over me. Every 30 days I would go in for blood pressure and weigh-ins. I began by walking/jogging/running, Zumba classes at noon, and P90x. My workouts were 3x a day, 5-7 days a week. I was afraid if I wasn’t making progress he wouldn’t keep my Phentermine going. I had no specific meal plan, I just stayed away from what I thought was carbs, white bread, white rice. I ate fruit, veggies, lean meats. Lots of salads, calories around 900. This went on for over 6 months. When I went off Phentermine I kept up on with the exercise, the food, and the weight loss.

It was after about a year after my gallbladder surgery the weight started climbing back on. I had a difficult time eating whole food. Whole grains, nuts, even vegetables didn’t digest well at all. Actually, white bread products made it easier to digest foods and not running to the bathroom after every meal. Ugh, so bad eating habits slowly crept back into my life.

I have tried different weight loss programs like Weight Watchers, Advocare, Slimfast, Atkins, Southbeach diet. My husband has gotten me so many videos that promise bikini bodies LOL. Insanity, P90X, Jillian Michaels, Yoga, Pilates

What type of hCG did you use? If injections or prescription drops, what dose worked best for you?

I used TLC drops 1^st round, Miracle Skinny Drops all other rounds. ½ dropper 3x day

Have you ever used b12 and/or lipo shots, and if so, do you feel it was worth it and why?

Only B12 is dissolvable vitamin is that the same thing??? But I do take this every morning.

What would you say your experience was the first week of phase 2? Easy or hard? explain. Could also discuss how you loaded if you like. What parts of the protocol were easier for you and which parts were more challenging? How did you handle the challenging aspects?

My girlfriend knew the troubles I was having with my stomach so when we met and she talked to me about this “diet” I thought of this as a detox diet, my stomach was in such pain I really just wanted to feel better. Dr. said they couldn’t find anything wrong and gave no advice for me to feel better.

I am not the type that craves sugar but day 3 and 4 I wanted a Snickers bar so bad! That really sticks out in my head not that I was hungry but that I was craving sugar. The first round I did not know about the many support groups like FB, and the YouTube community. I was unable to really load in round 1 since I was not feeling good.

After 1 week on HCG my stomach went way down and I was going to the bathroom daily. I am the type that needs routine so after week 1, I was able to get meal ideas off the internet. I was only planning on doing a short round but when I saw how much weight was coming off I did a 40 day round.

I remember around day 28 I felt really alone, I am used to going to lunch or dinners with friends or family. I did miss my birthday and family members kept asking me when will we celebrate? It was getting difficult for me to keep explaining to everyone that this is not a diet I can cheat on. I was feeling better and to cheat was not even an option.

Short answer…Easy for me

What did you find yourself liking to eat during Phase 2/vlcd – how would you prepare your meals?

P2 Meals

• Buffalo chicken salad
• Romaine beef tacos
• Cabbage rolls
• Scrambled eggs with Pico (tomato, onion, cilantro, lemon juice)
• Ground beef patty with roasted radishes
• Fish and asparagus
• Air fryer: made chicken nugget, onion rings, fried radishes, baked fished
• Deviled eggs with celery

Loved Flavorgod Seasonings, lots without sugar

I made coffee every day with ice, chocolate delight, flavored stevia, 2T sugar-free vanilla creamer (rogue). I didn’t start this until round 3 but it has completely helped me through my rounds. I have used allowable milk in the past as well but this has kept my sanity and I feel that it has not affected my weight loss or long-term weight loss.

Meal prepping: I would cut up chicken into 3.5 oz pieces and put into baggies then freeze. Same with ground beef. Other than that I just had options of P2 veggies, and fruits on hand. I did use coconut oil that was refined, organic, and cold pressed. I hated it in the beginning, this was something I had to learn to adjust my flavor too. I made chocolate delight with coconut oil, Hershey’s chocolate, carbo powder, and flavored stevia. Some days this is what got me through.

I used vitamins:

• Calcium and magnesium helped with hunger
• MSM, skin tighten
• B12
• Women’s vitamin, Garden of life
• Probiotic, Garden of life
• Vitamin D 5,000IU
• Collagen and Biotin to help with hair, by 3 round I had lots of hair loss these 2 products helped, after 30 days I noticed my hair coming back and in better shape than before.

I still take these supplements every day.

What tricks do you have up your sleeve to stay sane while on Phase 2?

Treat this like a job, research. Since my 1^st round, I have reached out to support groups. I have learned so much about foods and how they work for MY body. I have listened to so many youtube videos and still do this is a lifelong journey.

P2 tricks: stick to a schedule, always be prepared, I would know my meals for the next 3-4 days lunches and dinners. I would drink detox tea every day, lemon water, and would go to bed and sleep 9-10 hours every night. I believe in the sleep.

I also had a small network of friends from FB that I would reach out to daily, we would check on each other on our weight loss, meal plans, and future HCG plans during our P2s. Currently, we still chat weekly to see how everyone is doing and share tips with each other. This is a short list of people or sites I would check into to keep me accountable.

• Patty Velenzuela -BFF from Miracle Skinny Drop FB page, talked to her almost daily
• Miracle Skinny drops facebook page, recipes, support, shared stories pictures
• HCGchica- personal videos and podcast
• MShcggirl Youtube
• Carol Ensminger, Miracle Skinny Drops, Youtube
• Socalplum Youtube
• Colin F Watson, YouTube and Snapchat
• Weight Loss Apocalypse, YouTube and Robin on FB
• Culinaryhcg, Instagram

And so many others I would listen to their journey every night during my P2/P3, it gave me such motivation to keep going, plan my days and how to be successful. I owe a lot of my success to their willingness to share their knowledge. I still listen to your podcast new and old and feel I get something new out of listening to the people tell their stories.

I feel social media has kept me on point these are what I am on:

• Instagram: cynthiahcg
• Snapchat: c1ndi
• Facebook: Cindi Miller Furney
• Twitter: @cfurney
• Myfitnesspal: cfurney

What Lessons have you learned during Phase 3 – give us the good and the bad! What types of things did you discover when it came to maintenance that did and didn’t work?

P3 I followed by the book.

• Breakfast: eggs, bacon and grilled veggies cooked in butter.
• Lunch: Protein, veggies and dinner protein cooked in healthy fat (butter, CO) veggie, no sugar no carbs.

I watched all ingredients and weighed every morning, if I ever went over 2lb I could do a steak day and then I would lose and move on steak days always worked for me. I did 4 rounds back to back and each P3 I stabilized just above LDW but not over till I loaded.

I did go to Cabo, MX during my 3^rd round of P3 I didn’t take my scale and I knew I was doing R4 in a couple weeks. I did a steak day the day we came from our trip and I weighed the day after and I was only 3 lbs above LDW. I was pretty happy about that. I did watch what I ate but I did eat/drink some things off P3. This is when I tested going out to eat.

My husband loves to go out to eat and I know that this is something that I need to figure out. Where can I go and what can I eat? I have found that local restaurants that make their own foods, dressings have been best for me. I have found 3-4 restaurants that make homemade ranch dressing with buttermilk. I have had successful meals with prime rib dinners, 5 chicken wings with salad from a local restaurant; tilapia topped with crab and grilled veggies. I can even have a glass of red wine with no gains. I still drink my coffee every morning and order a Starbucks Iced Americano with HWC and stevia. On days that I plan on eating out, I usually fast and don’t eat breakfast.

Struggles in P4 has been exercise, my old ways of thinking now that I have lost weight I must need to exercise to keep this off. With my ways of eating I didn’t feel that I had enough energy to exercise every day. I sought out others with my same questions and some were able to increase their carb intake to give them more energy. So I paid for an IIFYM coach to set my macros according to my activity level. 161 carb, 92 protein, and 59 fat. No big changes in my body at first but after 90 days for 6-7 days a week, I started to notice the scale was going up a 1 or 2 some people within the networking groups said this sometimes happens and to keep going. But I am the type that takes pictures and even though it was just a few pounds and I was exercising 6-7 days a week and playing volleyball 3 nights a week I noticed my body was not reacting to this way of eating to my liking so I knew I had to make a change. I knew I need more than a correction day so I did R7, yes I may be able to lose it on my own through P3 eating and without the need of loading but summer was coming and I knew in 23 days I could have my body back. So I now know I cannot eat carbs like that no matter what my activity level is like. Carbs are not my friend.

In Phase 4: Can you tell us what types of foods you eat now in everyday life? And how is this different from what you used to eat on a normal basis?

No bread, rice, donuts, buns, no pop or sugary desserts. I have learned to do this 2x in my lifetime so I am perfectly fine with it. I absolutely crave protein most days and love vegetables. I can eat a whole bag of cauliflower; I mash it up put butter on it and almost always have a loss the next day (P4).

I rarely eat breakfast if I do it is eggs, bacon and a side of avocado and or grilled veggies (zucchini, mushrooms, onions, peppers, sprouts) I keep them in the fridge cut up and I can grill them anytime. I eat 2x a day and fast 1 to 2 times a week. I drink my coffee and get really busy at work, school, and children (grandkids).

If I cannot eat allowable foods then I will wait till I can. So some days I do not plan to fast it just works out that way. Or I will stop and pick up a salad with a good protein source. Chinese foods are absolutely out of the question, I have not found anything that hasn’t caused a gain, and this is one of my husband’s favorite foods. Then it takes 2 good days to work it out.  Seafood is a good option.

What have been your tools for maintaining your weight loss?

I use Myfitnesspal. For most rounds, I would log macros and calories. Now I feel like I can eyeball how much and watch the scale and clothes.

Do you have any memories of your life/body pre hCG that are totally different for you now?

I see pictures from the app timehop that show me what I used to look like in years past.

I play volleyball 2-3 times a week and I definitely play better weighing less than when I weighed 200lbs.

When you want a treat now, give us a couple examples of what you might eat? Also, are you ever able to indulge in a regular treat, like cake at a party, and still maintain?

My favorite treat is to make HWC whipped cream and mix it with Fage yogurt and add berries. I am not a snacker, I do love my coffee either at home or Starbucks. And teas, every night.

What factors have you noticed to play a role in people NOT succeeding on hCG?

People don’t take advantage of the correction days, then let days go by and have more “cheat” days and still never correct. HCG has given us the tools for us to learn how our bodies can lose weight and keep it off/correct the gains.

The people I have talked to or read about that have trouble seem to lack support. I would encourage anyone to find someone to bond with going at this alone is difficult. I did it my 1^st round with just 1 source but by R2 I had several.

I really wanted to make a YouTube channel to log my journey but I was shy and I couldn’t do it without my husbands help and I thought he would think I was silly. I really wished I had now that’s why created the Instagram account, for a history for me and so others could visit. I had a few people start asking me how I was doing so well and I could chat with them but also point them to that social media page.

I get this all the time but when people hear 500 calories they seem to walk away and forget Ill stay fat it isn’t that important to me. But it isn’t really about how to lose the weight, it’s the process and what you learn about your body in the other phases to how to keep it off.

People do not get how I can eat a prime rib dinner and stay a size 4 when they swear they diet and exercise and lose nothing. I try to explain that calorie restriction is not always the best way to lose weight but is not always a conversation people want to hear.

I may not be the best to explain this diet or way of eating but I am proof that the system works. I am happy to share my story what I have done, what has worked for me and what hasn’t.

Related posts: