Martin Köpp

So Lisa and I (the friend I have a bet with regarding our progress on the HCG diet) have been reading up online about the HCG diet. And there are a few issues that we've decided we're going to have some trouble with. The different postings sometimes agree on hcg diet protocol and sometimes they totally disagree so we've agreed not to stress it until our packages arrive with the hcg diet protocol actually printed in the instruction booklet.

So Lisa and I (the friend I have a bet with regarding our progress on the HCG diet) have been reading up online about the HCG diet. And there are a few issues that we've decided we're going to have some trouble with. The different postings sometimes agree on hcg diet protocol and sometimes they totally disagree so we've agreed not to stress it until our packages arrive with the hcg diet protocol actually printed in the instruction booklet.

But I decided that it would be easier for me to stick to the rules if I went ahead and documented what I think of as a few of the "big issues": Diet Soda, Crystal Light, Berries, Ground meat and substitutions.

I'll start by bemoaning the potential lack of Diet Soda and Crystal Light. WHAT? Really no diet soda or Crystal Light? That's what I heard, anyway. Some of the blogs I read back in the day pointed to their "twice daily diet soda" and their constant consumption of Crystal Light as their salvation while they abstained from sugar and ate very limited fruit. And I absolutely saw how that would be me. If I can't have chocolate cake dripping with delightfully light and tasty glaze....I figured I could at least keep my hands busy wrapped around a Diet Soda! I'm going to stop considering the dreadful prospect now. It hasn't yet been confirmed.

Next I need to bemoan the removal of berries from the hcg diet protocol. I thought they were included, but we've found several comments from dieters online that suggest the only berry allowed is the strawberry. Could that be correct? There are so many wonderful berries out there to choose from and we're to stick strictly to the strawberry? I'm very disappointed in this possibility. (I'm still kind of hoping that it's not quite true...just give me my pipe dreams. They'll be blown out of the water soon enough).

I also heard tell of ground meat being a definite "no-no." That makes sense so I'm pretty sure it's right. I'm just going to have a hard time breaking the news to my little brother the next time he hosts one of his regular grilling nights for the entire family. He's a hunter and he's so proud of the fact that the ground meat he uses for his burgers actually comes from his own endeavors. He's got a freezer full of the stuff and it's really, really good. I guess I'll have to bring my own tiny steak or something. And he'll just have to forgive me!

The last thing I find myself worried about is the fact that some of the forums were discussing the fact that you aren't supposed to "substitute." For instance, I figured that if I didn't eat my fruit during lunch and dinner I could have it for a late night snack or always keep a bit of fruit portion set aside for breakfast. But I read a few reprimands from other dieters regarding this particular theory.

So now that you are all feeling as if I'm a very sad and mopey character that has spent a good amount of your time whining I'm going to let you go. I'm letting you go until tomorrow, that is. Because regardless of whether you'll admit it or not I know you're intrigued by the diet. You want to see how it goes and you want to see if I'll be able to do it. Well, I'm being honest with you...I do, too!