I had to order the miracle noodles. The only place I could find them was on-line. On those days that you are really hungry, they can make a big difference. I have done the injections. The first round I did injections. Very expensive. $500 for 40 days. On my second round I got a discount for returning, still very expensive and they didn't seem to work that time. A woman I work with had ordered the drops on-line. I did that the next go around. They worked even better than the shots. Much more affordable. I am also interested in the maintenance phase. My body is very sensitive now to carbs, sugars. If I eat any, I will gain weight.

On another forum that I'm on many of us do the Leptin Reset for phase 3, and we stabilize like a rock or keep on losing very very slowly. It was designed by Dr. Jack Kurse (google him for his website) and you can read it online. Although, be warned, he's a doctor and there's a lot of science talk!

Basically the Leptin Reset goes something like this: for 6 to 8 weeks:
BAB = Big Ass Breakfast within 30 minutes of rising. Eat 50 to 75 protein grams for breakfast. That is a huge protein filled breakfast! Not easy to do!
Eat 30 to 50 grams of healthy carbs (no sugars, no grains, no lactose)
NO snacking at all between meals.
Eat 2 to 3 meals per day, spaced 4 to 5 hours apart. Last meal is finished minimum 3 hours before bed.
Sleep 8 to 10 hours per night.

What most of us are experiencing is that the BAB shuts off our hunger for the rest of the day. We eat a normal size dinner, some eat a light lunch, and we're just not hungry for more than that. It's amazing, because prior to doing this I fought the urge to snack at night. I don't even think about it when I start the day with BAB. About half of us trying it are losing 1 to 2 lbs per week without trying, the other half are stabilizing at LIW.

Started HCG Diet today
 

OK, so I know it's super controversial and not the "right way" to lose weight, but it is what it is. I am so committed to losing this that I am even going to stay sober on NYE tomorrow night, even though I spent a small fortune on a ticket out. I figured I would share my "journey" here...

I had to binge for the last 2 days and I took that pretty seriously as well. My weight this morning was 158.5 - higher than it's ever been, not counting after I had my 2 kids. I feel disgusting, puffy, fat, and thick.

Not looking forward to all the chicken breast in my future - the diet is pretty strict and only certain meats are allowed. Of them all, I only eat the chicken :(

I will keep updating you all. Please don't berate me for trying this...I gained 75 lbs with my 2nd pregnancy and lost it all by being healthy and exercising. I get it. I don't need a lecture. Thanks!! :)

I am doing the drops that I bought online..not injections. The bottle was $75 or something. My doctor has no pity for me and told me to follow a 1,400 cal/day diet; there was no way she was going to prescribe me anything other than common sense. Well, I will say that so far it's hard to tell - I drank a ton of wine last night as part of my last hurrah, which meant I slept terribly - so I just feel dragged out and tired still. I am going to be eating my lunch of salad greens, chicken breast, and squeezed lemon shortly :\

Mike, your post about your girlfriend makes me thrilled. I am still a bit skeptical, so hearing that it worked for a real person is awesome. I just want the weight gone FAST. I am probably a very solid size 10 now, and look a thousand times better in my size 4 jeans...that haven't fit right in 2 years. Fingers crossed!!!

One more thing - I only eat chicken breast. Can other proteins be used (beans, nuts, etc.?) The instructions say that the diet has to be followed religiously.

This is how it's down. My GF followed it to the "T".

I am going to be clucking in a few weeks then.

I don't have the diet in front of me but I remember steak being on it, maybe pork too.

HCG was something I was vaguely considering for a while but, being vegan, I was immediately turned off by it. I did some research and found alternate protocols for veg*ns to follow. They tend to suggest either protein shakes, tofu, or soy patties (low-calorie/low-carb, of course) as alternate protein sources.
I know you're not veg*n, but perhaps you could look into using chicken along with alternatives from the veg*n-friendly protocol. There's a decent amount of information on this--Google is your friend here.