Long Weekend

It's Friday January 27th and I have a 3 day weekend. Yay for me. I have lots to do. I'm up early and ready to go. The one thing I vow NOT to do is obsess over this HCG diet. I haven't gotten on the scale this morning. After yesterdays gain, I'm not real anxious about it.

My favorite little Blue Jay, who I've name "Blue", (I know, not very creative for the creative type like me), is sitting outside my bedroom window. As he does every morning. Sometimes he stares right in at me. Other times he shows off on the branch and turns to see if I'm watching. My little guardian bird. He gives me inspiration every day to keep moving along.

I need to run to the store, do a little housework and get some work done on the e-stores. I have been neglecting them horribly.

Now, as afar as the diet goes, I need to do some ab-work. Seems the only place that I am not losing is my waist (or lack of it). I also need to take in some jeans.

I can honestly say that the one thing that I don't like about the HCG Diet Protocol is the fact that you CAN"T work out. I know this seems odd. This would appear to be the perfect diet. Lose alot of weight and don't work out. But I am frustrated by not being able to work out. It really goes against the grain of years of dieting and research. Can't wait until Phase 4. I want to sweat!

Be back later for the menu and stats for the day.

Snack: apple, protein juice
Lunch: roast beed lettuce leaves, asparagus
Snack:
Dinner:

Why am I slowing down so much?

Day 17 of Phase 2 of the HCG diet and only down .6....grrrrrr. However, I did work out yesterday and historically, I gain the day after I work out. Could that be it? Am I slowing to a snails pace? It's very frustrating to restrict yourself so much that all you get is a .2 loss. I'm beginning to wonder if I will reach my goal. I still have 25 days to go. I'm sure that if I do another round, I will follow the 800cal program. I really think that 500 is too low for my body weight.

Yesterday I was not feeling well. I ended up leaving work early because I had a fever. I feel the same this morning. I may go ahead and take some more pictures of myself today.

I need to break out the sewing machine and take in some pants. I tried on smaller jeans. They fit in the belly, but swallowing me in the butt and legs. Just my body type I guess. I've never had hips. Sort of straight up and down, even when I was thinner.

There are 2 other girls at work that are starting the program today. I enjoy that forums and facebook pages I belong to, but it will be nice to have someone in the flesh to talk to and compare notes with.

I have a follow-up doctors appointment on the 31st. I would really love to be down 25 by then. I'm still obsessing about the diet a bit. I really need to back down and just go about my day.

It's very early so I don't have a clue about todays menu.

Menu for the day:
Snack: apple w/ cinnamon, protein juice
Lunch: Onion Crusted veal cube steak, cabbage
Snack: Orange
Dinner: Crab/shrimp ceviche over micro greens salad

I also decided to do a Detox bath. How? You assk?

Fill the tub with the hottest water you can stand.
1c epsom salt
1c sea salt
2c baking soda

Soak for at least 40 minutes and make sure to drink cool water while you are in the bath. You will sweat alot. I started with the water kind of low and kept addin hot water to keep the temp up.
Felt wonderful afterwards.

Phase 2 Day 15 and Ridin' The Rollercoaster

After a 1.3 lb loss yesterday, I am up .4 this morning. grrrrrrrr.

I did work out yesterday, probably harder than I should have. So I went back to all of my logs, weight, activity, foods. I did find an interesting correlation. On the mornings after the day I worked out, my loss was miniscule or I gained. So I went looking for answers. I found an interesting article on water retention in muscles after working out. Could this be the culprit? I reviewed my foods and everything was the same. I stayed within the calorie range and even left out one of my wasa allowances.

I'm not saying this is the reason, just assumptions is based on my own statistics. We'll see what happens in the morning.

I'm curious to see if I've lost inches, well, I know I've lost some, but how much? I will reserve that for when I go back to the doctors on the 28th of this month, my 3 week check-up.

Back to the store today for some of that yummy roast beef. I need lettuce, spinach, cabbage and lettuce too.

Back later for the menu.

Lunch:Roast beef lettuce wraps w/ horseradish mustard, radish chips, grissini
Snack: Orange, protein juice
Dinner: Curry shrimp and cabbage
Snack: Apple

Phase 2 Day 12 and I Gained

I'm not real happy this morning. I woke up this am hoping to be as close to a 20 pound total loss as possible. But when I stepped on the scale, I was UP .4. WHAT? There's just no way. I was POP (Perfectly on Protocol) and even burned some extra calories. I have a sad face on today. But I will not be discouraged. After reading tons of information, I keep seeing this Whoooosh Effect. What is that you say?
Well, apparently, when your body starts to burn the fat, the fat is released from the cells, leaviong them deflated. Until your body realizes that the fat is not coming back, it temporarily fills them with water. Then, when your body has decided that the fat really isn't coming back, it will all of a sudden release the water in the cells....giving you a big release of water, hence, the Whooosh!
This could be it, could be a stall, who knows. I have stayed on protocol and will just wait it out.

No work for me today. Hitting the grocery store for a few things. I have seen that Wasa crackers are allowed along with the melba toast and grissini breadsticks. I'm going to pick up some of them to have some variety. And I'm also going to pick up some boars head roast beef. Lean steak is tough and I have a hard time digesting it. So I figure roast beef is a good option and Boars Head has not msg, sugar, addtitives. There is another brand Dietz and Watson that is the same as Boars Head.

I went shopping and found this scale from Emerson. I already tried it and it's so much easier than the manual one. On the maual scale, you have to eyeball the line so I believe this will be more accurate.

Got the Wasa crasckers, 2 different types and the roast beef. I am in love with Winn-Dixie Brand horseradish brown mustard, O carbs, no oil and yummmmy. I also found a habanero mustard (also legal) very spicy. I bought a few other spices too. With only using 2 ingredients to cook with, I figue that is the best way to change the flavor.

I saw a recipe for roasted radish chips. Sliced thin, spiced and put in a low oven til crispy. Cant wait.

I am also making the apple cinnamon chips, sliced apple, cinnamon and 1 packet truvia. Slow low oven (kind of like dehydrating them)

Menu for the day:

Lunch: Roast beef lettuce wraps with horseradish mustard and radish chips

Snack: apple chips

Dinner: Shrimp, cabbage, wasa

Snack: strawberries  didn't fel like eating them

Thought I would share my lunch.

 I overcooked the radish chips a little, but they are still tasty!

That meal right there is only 175 calories!

Day 9 of Phase 2 Mini-Goal Hit

Yay! I hit a mini-goal. 15 pounds. Woke up this am to a .8 pound loss. My hands feel a little swollen so I don't know if I retained some water or not. But it's still a loss. Yippee. Total loss so far
15.4 lbs. 

I made the decision yesterday, that I was going to reward myself for every 15 pounds loss. But I wanted a reward that would keep growing and be a daily reminder of my successes and my goals.
I am going to buy myself a thin band type ring, for each 15 pounds I lose. My ultimate goal is 150 pounds, so in the end, I should have 7 bands. I will wear them everyday as a reminder. I found these and purchased 4, in different colors, but will only wear one band when I get it and put the others away until I reach each additional 15 pounds.

Today I am going to mow the yard. I had an ounce of protein juice and ate my apple so that I don't pass out..hahaha.

Lobster and chicken are todays protein, but not sure of the veggies, just had to get the meat out of the freezer. Off to mow the grass.

Well I mowed the yard and felt good. I played it safe and only did the back. Tomorrow I will do the front.
Menue for today:
Apple and protein juice prior to mowing the yard.
Lunch: Spicy lime, chile, cilantro with roasted tomatoes in a lettuce wrap.
Snack: orange, grissini
Dinner : Curry chicken cabbage soup

(side note: my fasting blood sugar has consistently gone down and has been under 100 for 5 days straight)

P2-Day 8

After the minimal loss yesterday, I was really hoping for a jump on the scale. With great trepidation, I stepped on the scale this am to a 1.2 pound loss. Bringing my total to 14.6. YAY! Big relief. I would really like to have at leat a .8 loss everyday. But I won't be too disappointed with less. A loss is a loss.
I do have an issue with one thing on this diet. I undestand that you can only have coffee or tea in the am, however, all other modern theories suggest and recommend to eat something in the morning in order to start your metabolism after resting all night. I'm going to experiment with eating something very low cal, no carbs in the mid-morning. I have read on forums and seen different variations of the HCG diet that allow something to be eaten in the am. Maybe I will have a boiled egg white (17 cal, 0 fat, 0 carb, 3.5g protein). I will try that tomorrow to see what happens.

Today I'm off to the grocery store for more veggies and some things for my son. I'm also going to do 20 min on the elliptical. I'm feeling really good on the diet overall. Sometimes I have trouble sleeping (last night) Other times I really really want to work out. I never thought I would have to fight the will to work out. Go figure.

Havent decided the menu today.
Lunch: Tilapia, asparagus, protein juice
Snack: Apple
Dinner: Spicy shrimp and slaw lettuce wraps, grissini breadstick
Snack: 1/2 grapefruit

I found a horseradish mustard that is the bomb for dipping.
Feeling super tired today, not from the diet but from a bad nights sleep. Forget to eat my grissine, didn't feel like eating my post dinner grapefruit. Now it's too late. Hope the scale doesn't scold me tomorrow.
Nite~~Nite

Day 6 and Still Dropping

Well, I've done 6 full days on the HCG diet. Today starts day 7. I woke up this morning after a rough day yesterday and was rewarded with a 1.9 pound drop. How great is that? I kind of had a mini goal of 14lbs in 7 days. I'm only 1.2 pounds away, and I know I can hit it! Although, I am really not expecting these types of losses for the rest of the 42 days, I'm optimistic about the results.
I slept pretty well last night, but did have the help of some prescription sleeping pills. I read on a forum about a tea that help you sleep at night. (going to research that later) I would rather do that than take a perscription sleep aid. One of my goals for the year, is to rid myself of my medicatons.....all of them.
I need to get some baby oil or mineral oil. They say thats the best for moisturizing without affecting the HCG diet protocol. I have waterbased moisturizer, but I use it on my face and it's fairly expensive to be using all over my body.

I need to come up with some new recipes for these meals. When I say recipes, I mean, different seasonings. Because it's hard to make "recipes" using only 1 protein and 1 vegetable. Time to really get creative and look around the internet for some ideas.

It's early so I haven't quite decided the menu for today. But will be back later to share.
Decided to walk a bit today too.
Menu for the day
Lunch Veal (I hammered it out, makes it look like more) cucumber salad
Snack: orange
Dinner: crabcake, spinach, breadstick
Snack: protein juice
I made the crab cake with lump crab, minced onion, salt, peper, garlic, celery seed, crushed breadstick and 1 tsp of eggwhite as a binder (I know eggs arent allowed, but 0g fat, 0g carb so I figured what's the harm. The scale wll show tomorrow.

Today seemed like a long day. Kinda tired.
Til' tomorrow~~~~

P2-Day 3 It's going down!

It's going down!

Well, it's Wednesday (hump day). I've completed 2 full days on phase 2 of the VLCD. I'm not feeling bad, tired, but mostly becauseI had a hard time falling asleep.  I'm sure it wasn't the diet. I just couldn't stop my brain from thinking.

Day 3 begins..........
Here are this mornings stats and I'm happy about it.

Weight : 249.9
Fat % 43.1
Fat Weight 107
From yesterday down 3.4 lbs
Total: 6.1 lost   wooohoooo

I haven't really been doing a lot of activity other than working, mostly from obsessing about the HCG diet and reading through forums. Today I have things to do, so there will be more activity. Then I work this afternoon.

I'll be back to share my menu for the day after a while. I'm also going to start posting on some of the facts of the HCG diet. And if you get a chance, click HERE for some before and after photos of other HCG dieters for inspiration.

Alrighty, I have figured out my menu for the day and prepped the protein and veggies

Lunch: Chicken w/ garlic and dried pepper flakes, roasted fennel, melba toast
Snack: 1/2 grapefruit
Dinner: tilapia, chard w/ garlic, breadstick
Snack: Strawberries

I've never cooked chard or fennel, so I had to look up what to do with it. We'll see how it tastes. Okay. So I had the fennel for lunch. Not liking it so much. Forcing it down. Won't make tha again.

Home from work. Still not to much hunger. I did realize that I forgot to eat my melba toast for lunch and after adding up my calories for the day, realized I was way under 500. I read on a forum that you should be as close to 500 as possible.  I should have compensated with more veggies.

Tomorrow I am stopping my the doctors to ask a few questions I have about a couple of things.

Time for bed. Stay tuned for more.

P2-Day 2 Good Morning

Good Morning I am feeling less heavy from the load day finally. And now,  the moment of truth.

Weight  253.3 Yeah, down 2.7lbs.

I do know alot of that is from the drastic change from binging to the VLCD. I noticed that I retained a huge amount of water from the load day food, evident in my fatter than usual sausage fingers. The proof in the pudding will be how the pounds go from here on out.  I have decided on a song for my journey. Yes, I know it's extremely popular and has probably been used by a lot of folks, but it sums up my attitude right now. Enjoy and get inspired!

I want to start everyday with this attitude!

I do have a slight issue that I need to wrap my brain around. They say you really shouldn't exercise, however, like coffee and donuts, diet and exercise should go together. I actually want to work out. But I know that with the limited calories, that I shouldn't. But would it hurt. If I feel good and don't get tired or lightheaded...can I? I must do some research.

I have figured out my menu for the day and prepped everything.

Lunch: Curry shrimp on a bed of stirfried shredded cabbage with garlic salt and dried onion, melba    toast

Snack: apple

Dinner: veal with minced dried onion, garlic salt and pepper, steamed asparagus with lemon pepper, grissini breadstick

Snack: orange

I have just gone through all the pants in my closet. If they were the slightest bit loose, I tossed them. That's the plan as I go along my journey. I don't ever want to go back....ever.

Today was long and work was busy so I didn't really feel hungry unless I thought about it. I guess the hunger will subside. I'm tired but excited to see what the scale says to me tomorrow.
Nite~Nite

Phase 2, Day 1 VLCD

It's 520 in the am. I didn't sleep very well. Most likely because of all the food I ate yesterday. Horrible heartburn this am. Perhaps, in part, from excitement. Either way, too early to be up.
Weight 256 (so only up 1 pound post load)
HCG, meds, and supplements
Coffee w/ 1 packet Truvia.
Have to call the doctor today to get a replacement perscription for the one I lost, GNC for a multivitamin. The liquid vitamins I have contain sugar. The superfood powdered vitamins only taste good in juice (which we cant have). That's the goal for today. I start back work from my little birthday mini-vacation.
This will be a real test. There is always some kind of yummy in the breakroom so I guess I just need to go to another breakroom.
Be back later with more.
Menu for the day:
Lunch     Chicken with asparagus and lemon pepper, grissini breadstick
Snack     Apple
Dinner    Spinach salad with shrimp and 2 strawberries, melba toast (broken up for "croutons"
               special vinegar dressing mix.
Snack     The other 4 strawberries

I made up a small pitcher of tea using 5 green tea bags and 3 yerba mate. I will split this between home and work.
I work from 230pm to 1030pm so I will be back to talk about how the day went. It's 1130am and I will eat around noon.

Well, the day went pretty good. Still pretty full from all the crap I ate yesterday.
But my coworker wanted my salad. It was very yummy. have a look.

Part of me wants to jump on the scale, but I will force myself not to. It's been a long day so I'm signing off until tomorrow.

Baby Steps..................

I have a confession........

Okay......I know that some of you can probably relate to this. Being heavy my entire life, and yes I mean entire, I have often been the object of teasing, bullying, snide remarks and stares. I've always had mostly male friends, who adored me, but just as friends. I have been taken advantage of by men, who apparently thought that, because I was fat, I was desparate and would do anything to have them pay attention to me.
I had an experience once. I had lost a bunch of weight, again. Not thin, but much thinner and healthy. In my line of work, you talk to a coworkers on the phone. I started talking to this guy, we talked for hours, for days and weeks on end. We finally took it to the next step and met for breakfast. I was feeling good about myself, walking with a bounce in my step and a smile on my face.

We sat down and shared a few of the obligatory hey, how you doing, nice to meet you's and ordered our food. After that,  he looks at me and says, (and this will forever be burned into my memory). "You are not really visually what I had in mind for someone to date" WTF was that. The guy was okay looking, but I'm not shallow.
To his credit, his next statement was. "I guess I'm pretty shallow and should talk to someone about that" Ya think? I politely told him that it was a real shame that he would never get to experience all the wonderful things about me. His loss.
Needless to say, I didn't finish my breakfast,  I dropped a twenty on the table and walked out of the restaurant with my head held high.  But you know (and you've been there) that inside, I was crushed. I'd worked so hard, and what did it matter? I have, in the past, always been conflicted with my weight issues. I have a very rebellious streak. Part of me wanted to be thin. The other part said "screw you all, if you don't like me the way I am, F*&k Off!. But the reality is, society has painted a picture of the perfect woman (unfortunately, they are very few and very far between) Because of this, men feel that, in order to be successful at relationships, you must conform to what society says is best.

Anyway, this brings me to a little fantasy of mine. I have thought about  this for 30 years. In 1973 a movie came out called "The Girl Most Likely To" starring Stockard Channing. The film is about an unattractive young woman who gets in an accident and remakes herself. She then takes comically deadly revenge on her former enemies, tormentors, teasers, dissers and others.

Revenge is sweet and Karma rocks. Stockard Channings character in this film is my hero and I have secretly longed to get thin and well, you know.

Anyway, that's another little motivator I have in the back of my head.