I weighed in this morning at 1/2 lb. below my last dosage weight (LDW), so woohoo! I haven't been keeping track of my calories 100% but I have been eating good fats, protein & veggies plus I don't eat unless I'm hungry. I was a little worried last night when I ended up eating soup instead of our planned chicken (which was still out in the smoker at 8pm when we sat down to eat). I was making the soup ahead for dinner for my family tonight since I knew I was going to be away all day but when we realized the chicken wasn't done, we ate the soup. It wasn't until I had eaten a bowl of it that I realized I should have read the ingredients labels on the organic beef broth and organic tomato soup that I used. So, when I did read them, I was admittedly worried. Both had a form of sugar and I think it was the tomato that had a form of starch (maybe corn starch?). Well, there was nothing I could do about it then, so I just waited to see how it would show up on the scale. Thankfully, it went well for me this morning.
Dr. Simeon's said that during Phase 3, patients may eat anything they please except starch or sugar as long as they observe 1 simple rule...they must weigh themselves daily and their weight must stay within 2 pounds of the weight that was reached on the last day of HCG. He goes on to tell what a patient must do if they go over or under that 2 lb. window.
Following the HCG Dieters Yahoo board, many people get anxious about starting Phase 3. I was totally looking forward to Phase 3! And though I am only a few days into it, I know what I'm eating is healthy and I don't have any cravings for things I shouldn't have. Today, for example, I am in the office where we celebrated a co-worker's birthday. There was Trefzger's cake. For any of you who don't live in the Peoria area, you may be thinking, "what is that?" Trefzger's Bakery is well-known in this area as the best bakery with the best cake! I watched everyone eat it and I didn't even care that I wasn't eating any. It didn't bother me in the least. I wasn't hungry & I wasn't thinking, "boy, I'd sure like to have a piece of that!" It didn't even occur to me until a little later that I really couldn't have cared less that I wasn't eating it. Amazing! I have always heard that if you quit eating sugar then you stop craving it, but I really didn't believe it. You can bet I believe it now!
What have I been eating? Cobb salad with olive oil (this has been my lunch every day so far). Who knew that I would love olive oil for a dressing? I have used olive oil and rice vinegar before, but I never knew that something so simple as olive oil alone would be so good! I try to have chicken on my salad, but I've had it without chicken too. I think it is best for me to eat protein with every meal. Tonight I will be eating smoked chicken leg/thigh with skin! :) For breakfast I've been eating eggs, scrambled in a little butter or fried in a bit of olive oil. For snacks I have eaten 1 oz. of raw cashews (they aren't as good tasting as regular cashews but they are much better for me!), half an avocado (I use half on my salad for lunch also), or 4 oz. of full fat Greek God's yogurt (to which I added Capella NY Cheesecake drops and some Stevia...WOW!!! That is really a dessert!) I am eating a wider variety of non-starchy vegetables.
I read through this web page several times before I started Phase 3, and I found it very helpful. I like the food list. I have read on the message boards that some people have trouble if they eat milk products (cheese & yogurt) or nuts right away, but I began eating them right away and haven't had any trouble. Mind you, I don't overdo them. I have eaten about 1 oz. of cheese a day. Yesterday I ate about 2 oz. of yogurt (today I'm going to try 4 oz. and see how it goes).
I finally tried my Chocolate Delight and my husband was right, the peanut butter cups are better! The regular ones leave too much of an after taste for me. I'm going to see if I can melt them and make them into peanut butter cups instead.
Last, but not least, I measured myself again yesterday. I am 23 inches smaller than I was before I started the Protocol! A lot of people say that although you don't lose weight during Phase 3, you generally lose inches, so I am going to measure myself again at the end of this 3 weeks. So, we'll see!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Chocolate Delight
(This was supposed to post on Tuesday, June 7th but I just realized today that it didn't!)
I've been as a busy bee since I got home from work today. I bought the fam take and bake pizza while I ate my 100 grams of boneless skinless chicken breast. Before dinner was ready though, I melted some coconut oil. And this wasn't just any coconut oil! This is certified organic virgin coconut oil!
The smell alone is to die for...like super delicious coconuts! I couldn't get over how good it smells!!! I have bought organic coconut oil before but it was expeller pressed and it does not smell like coconuts. I am going to have to invest more money in a larger quantity of this stuff!
Anyway, I melted the coconut oil (it is hard at room temperature) to begin the process of making Chocolate Delight! I bought a couple different kinds of molds. One is a small ice cube tray and another is the actual shape of little peanut butter cups.
I let the coconut oil (1 cup) sit to cool for a while after I melted it. I sifted the cocoa and then measured 3/4 cup (next time I may measure first and then sift) with 3 packets of Stevia. Then I added 2 dropperfuls of Chocolate Stevia and 1 dropperful of Vanilla Creme Stevia to the oil. Mixed that well with a fork and then added the cocoa mixture. I mixed that with a fork as well, then once the cocoa was incorporated into the oil, I used a whisk to be sure it was all mixed well.
I used a spoon to scoop the chocolate liquid mixture into the molds.
For the peanut butter cups, I filled the cups about half way with chocolate and I put that in the refrigerator to harden before adding my nut butter. I used Almond Butter (my first time ever buying Almond Butter) which consists of only almonds. I used about 1/2 of a cup of Almond butter, to which I added some salt and some liquid Stevia (so it would taste more like a Reese's pb cup). Mind you, I didn't taste even a nibble of any of this because I don't start Phase 3 until tomorrow. I just wanted to have it ready so that I could try it!
After adding about 1 tsp. of the peanut butter mixture to each cup, I put them in the microwave for very short periods of time just until the pb and chocolate began to melt together a bit (doesn't take long at all!) and then I put the remaining chocolate on top and refrigerated them.
Note: Next time I will use a little less chocolate and a little more peanut butter in each cup.
I sure hope they taste as good as they look! My husband was willing to try them for me, and I reminded him while he was eating the first one (without Almond Butter) that I haven't had anything like this in 6 weeks! He thought the ones without the Almond Butter were bitter...like dark chocolate, but not bad because he likes dark chocolate. He thought the ones with Almond Butter were definitely better.
This picture was totally unsolicited! :)
I've been as a busy bee since I got home from work today. I bought the fam take and bake pizza while I ate my 100 grams of boneless skinless chicken breast. Before dinner was ready though, I melted some coconut oil. And this wasn't just any coconut oil! This is certified organic virgin coconut oil!
The smell alone is to die for...like super delicious coconuts! I couldn't get over how good it smells!!! I have bought organic coconut oil before but it was expeller pressed and it does not smell like coconuts. I am going to have to invest more money in a larger quantity of this stuff!
Anyway, I melted the coconut oil (it is hard at room temperature) to begin the process of making Chocolate Delight! I bought a couple different kinds of molds. One is a small ice cube tray and another is the actual shape of little peanut butter cups.
I let the coconut oil (1 cup) sit to cool for a while after I melted it. I sifted the cocoa and then measured 3/4 cup (next time I may measure first and then sift) with 3 packets of Stevia. Then I added 2 dropperfuls of Chocolate Stevia and 1 dropperful of Vanilla Creme Stevia to the oil. Mixed that well with a fork and then added the cocoa mixture. I mixed that with a fork as well, then once the cocoa was incorporated into the oil, I used a whisk to be sure it was all mixed well.
I used a spoon to scoop the chocolate liquid mixture into the molds.
For the peanut butter cups, I filled the cups about half way with chocolate and I put that in the refrigerator to harden before adding my nut butter. I used Almond Butter (my first time ever buying Almond Butter) which consists of only almonds. I used about 1/2 of a cup of Almond butter, to which I added some salt and some liquid Stevia (so it would taste more like a Reese's pb cup). Mind you, I didn't taste even a nibble of any of this because I don't start Phase 3 until tomorrow. I just wanted to have it ready so that I could try it!
After adding about 1 tsp. of the peanut butter mixture to each cup, I put them in the microwave for very short periods of time just until the pb and chocolate began to melt together a bit (doesn't take long at all!) and then I put the remaining chocolate on top and refrigerated them.
Note: Next time I will use a little less chocolate and a little more peanut butter in each cup.
I sure hope they taste as good as they look! My husband was willing to try them for me, and I reminded him while he was eating the first one (without Almond Butter) that I haven't had anything like this in 6 weeks! He thought the ones without the Almond Butter were bitter...like dark chocolate, but not bad because he likes dark chocolate. He thought the ones with Almond Butter were definitely better.
I guess I will find out for myself tomorrow!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Finishing Up Round 1, Phase 2
Yesterday was my last day on the homeopathic HCG...I had to go a couple more days than I planned but I wanted to hit a certain number mark anyway! It was Day 36 (I hadn't been including the 2 load days previously but I should have been since I was on the hHCG then as well) and I have lost 27 pounds while on the hHCG, plus 3 pounds lost before starting hHCG, for a total loss of 30 pounds! I am loving it! And though I have much more to go, this is a great start and I am looking forward to continuing my journey!
One more day of very low calories then I move into Phase 3, which is a maintenance phase. No starches, no sugars...basically low carb. I can't gain more than 2 pounds or lose more than 2 pounds. If I lose more, I have to eat fruit to bring it back up. If I gain more than 2 pounds I have to do a correction day to bring it back down. The point of this 3 week phase is to reset the hypothalamus gland to recognize this new weight as my body's regular weight. After 3 weeks of Phase 3, then I move into Phase 4 for 3 weeks. This is the final maintenance phase in which you slowly introduce starches/sugars into your diet and see how your body reacts. After those 3 weeks, you may begin a second round of the Protocol. I plan to start my 2nd round of Phase 2 in August.
I am ready to move into Phase 3! I have been feeling weak the past few mornings. Occasionally, I feel light-headed if I make a quick move (stand up quickly or if I am heading one direction and make an abrupt turn to do something else). Other than that, I haven't had any other symptoms from the hHCG. I have been surprised by the fact that I am rarely ever hungry considering the very low calorie intake. I have been sleeping remarkably well and I have been overall in a great mood since I started...hopefully none of these change now that I am going off the hHCG. :) Oh, and my skin looks really good too!
Things I am looking forward to eating in Phase 3: eggs, avocados, Chocolate Delight (watch it on YouTube!), more meat, more veggies, butter on my veggies, heavy whipping cream in my coffee, EVOO, coconut oil & cheese. Yes, I am hungry, but it is lunch time, so there you go!
One more day of very low calories then I move into Phase 3, which is a maintenance phase. No starches, no sugars...basically low carb. I can't gain more than 2 pounds or lose more than 2 pounds. If I lose more, I have to eat fruit to bring it back up. If I gain more than 2 pounds I have to do a correction day to bring it back down. The point of this 3 week phase is to reset the hypothalamus gland to recognize this new weight as my body's regular weight. After 3 weeks of Phase 3, then I move into Phase 4 for 3 weeks. This is the final maintenance phase in which you slowly introduce starches/sugars into your diet and see how your body reacts. After those 3 weeks, you may begin a second round of the Protocol. I plan to start my 2nd round of Phase 2 in August.
I am ready to move into Phase 3! I have been feeling weak the past few mornings. Occasionally, I feel light-headed if I make a quick move (stand up quickly or if I am heading one direction and make an abrupt turn to do something else). Other than that, I haven't had any other symptoms from the hHCG. I have been surprised by the fact that I am rarely ever hungry considering the very low calorie intake. I have been sleeping remarkably well and I have been overall in a great mood since I started...hopefully none of these change now that I am going off the hHCG. :) Oh, and my skin looks really good too!
Things I am looking forward to eating in Phase 3: eggs, avocados, Chocolate Delight (watch it on YouTube!), more meat, more veggies, butter on my veggies, heavy whipping cream in my coffee, EVOO, coconut oil & cheese. Yes, I am hungry, but it is lunch time, so there you go!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
My Favorite Things
Today I am singing, "...these are a few of my favorite things" as I prepare to write this blog. :)
I took a couple of pictures and wanted to share some of my favorite things that have helped me in Phase 2 of my journey, and will help me as I continue on as well.
First and foremost my Theramax Thermos (AKA: water bottle) and my Thermos Soft Cooler.
The Thermos is double wall insulated stainless steel, which makes it highly durable and keeps your drinks hot or cold for 12 hours. I have had mine for more than a year and it is the best water bottle I have ever had, hands down! It holds 18 oz. I bought mine at my local Walgreens for $19.99, but you can also buy them online here for the same price (plus shipping).
I just bought the Thermos Soft Cooler at my local Kroger last week for $12.99. It's larger than I need for a days worth of food but I bought it because I knew it would be great to travel with. It looks like a purse, so I could easily take food with me on a plane or anywhere else for that matter. I don't fly a lot, but hey, you never know!
Next up on my list of favorite things...spice grinders!
I got these on sale at the Fresh Market a couple weeks ago 2 for $7. The Herbed Sea Salt blend has Sea Salt, Thyme, Rosemary and Basil. The Poultry Blend has Sea Salt, Coriander, Garlic, Whole Cumin, Basil, Whole Black Peppercorns, Sage, Mustard Seeds and Red Chili Flakes. It isn't spicy at all. I alternate these on my chicken depending on my mood. They are both very good.
Last, but certainly not least, on my list of favorite things are Stevia! I didn't take a picture of the bottle of Pure Stevia Extract by Kal but it is the best pure Stevia I have had and I have heard several other people say the same. You can buy it in liquid or powder form. I like the liquid best but the powder form travels better (that 2 oz. glass bottle weighs me down!) I bought mine at my local health food store for $10.99 but you can also buy it from Amazon. A little goes a long way!
Now, for the flavored Stevia's. These are SweetLeaf brand. I bought the Chocolate at my local Hy-Vee and I found the Vanilla Creme at Kroger ($9.99 each, I think). I only used the Chocolate once on some sliced strawberries. It was good, but I could definitely taste the alcohol in it...at least that is what I think it was. I am anxious to try these in my coffee but I'm going to wait until Phase 3 because I want to use real cream in it also. One of the recipes for Chocolate Delight calls for 2 droppers of Chocolate and 1 dropper of Vanilla Creme in addition to a few packets of Stevia mixed with the cocoa powder. Yeah, I am anxious to try that! Here's a link to a good YouTube video about Chocolate Delight (but there are many others too): http://youtu.be/ikSvXOzmVtI
I took a couple of pictures and wanted to share some of my favorite things that have helped me in Phase 2 of my journey, and will help me as I continue on as well.
First and foremost my Theramax Thermos (AKA: water bottle) and my Thermos Soft Cooler.
The Thermos is double wall insulated stainless steel, which makes it highly durable and keeps your drinks hot or cold for 12 hours. I have had mine for more than a year and it is the best water bottle I have ever had, hands down! It holds 18 oz. I bought mine at my local Walgreens for $19.99, but you can also buy them online here for the same price (plus shipping).
I just bought the Thermos Soft Cooler at my local Kroger last week for $12.99. It's larger than I need for a days worth of food but I bought it because I knew it would be great to travel with. It looks like a purse, so I could easily take food with me on a plane or anywhere else for that matter. I don't fly a lot, but hey, you never know!
Next up on my list of favorite things...spice grinders!
I got these on sale at the Fresh Market a couple weeks ago 2 for $7. The Herbed Sea Salt blend has Sea Salt, Thyme, Rosemary and Basil. The Poultry Blend has Sea Salt, Coriander, Garlic, Whole Cumin, Basil, Whole Black Peppercorns, Sage, Mustard Seeds and Red Chili Flakes. It isn't spicy at all. I alternate these on my chicken depending on my mood. They are both very good.
Last, but certainly not least, on my list of favorite things are Stevia! I didn't take a picture of the bottle of Pure Stevia Extract by Kal but it is the best pure Stevia I have had and I have heard several other people say the same. You can buy it in liquid or powder form. I like the liquid best but the powder form travels better (that 2 oz. glass bottle weighs me down!) I bought mine at my local health food store for $10.99 but you can also buy it from Amazon. A little goes a long way!
Now, for the flavored Stevia's. These are SweetLeaf brand. I bought the Chocolate at my local Hy-Vee and I found the Vanilla Creme at Kroger ($9.99 each, I think). I only used the Chocolate once on some sliced strawberries. It was good, but I could definitely taste the alcohol in it...at least that is what I think it was. I am anxious to try these in my coffee but I'm going to wait until Phase 3 because I want to use real cream in it also. One of the recipes for Chocolate Delight calls for 2 droppers of Chocolate and 1 dropper of Vanilla Creme in addition to a few packets of Stevia mixed with the cocoa powder. Yeah, I am anxious to try that! Here's a link to a good YouTube video about Chocolate Delight (but there are many others too): http://youtu.be/ikSvXOzmVtI
Day 31
Well, today was going to be the last day on the drops and then 2 more days of VLCD, so I would begin Phase 3 on Sunday. However, things don't always work out as we plan (can I get an Amen?!) TOM has hung around longer than expected and I forgot that I need to be finished with TOM then do an additional couple days of drops before discontinuing. So, today is the end of TOM. Saturday will be the last day on drops, then 2 more days of VLCD and we will begin Phase 2 on Tuesday. My friend, Amy, decided she will wait to start Phase 3 with me. I love that I have a friend who is doing this right along with me! We keep each other in check and we are seeing the results in each other and that is so encouraging!
28 pounds gone altogether. 25 on hcg in 31 days! It just doesn't get any better than that in my books! It would be nice to hit the 30 pounds lost mark by Saturday but we'll see!
28 pounds gone altogether. 25 on hcg in 31 days! It just doesn't get any better than that in my books! It would be nice to hit the 30 pounds lost mark by Saturday but we'll see!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Grilled Asparagus
Earlier this week I broke down and paid $2.99 per pound for asparagus...one of the best decisions I have made! I grilled it on the George Foreman (no oil, of course) and it was WONDERFUL!!! I really needed a new veggie to eat at that point, and since I love asparagus, it made perfect sense. I had to buy several pounds because my family loves asparagus too. It was so worth it! :)
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