VLCD 25: Too Good To Last

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Today's Date: March 31, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 138 lbs
Today's Weight: 137.8 lbs
Loss: -0.2 lbs
Total Loss: -13.2 lbs

Today’s Menu
B: Coffee and orange
L: Beef with asparagus
D:Chicken with cabbage
Daily Calorie Intake: 450 calories

The past five days have been nothing but wonderful losses.. so I knew that this was coming! The inevitable slow down. The time when my body's inches are catching up with the pounds. It's funny how most of us really hang onto that number. Obviously visually you want to look fabulous, but that damn number.. the goal that your trying to reach is what your fighting for in the end. I think my hopes of hitting 130 lbs are coming to an end and now turning into at least 135 lbs by Saturday. That would bring me to 16 lbs lost this round averaging a little over 0.5 lbs/day for the past 30 days. I think that would be pretty sweet for someone who didn't have a lot to lose in the first place. Maybe I can tone the rest up with exercise (eventually) like I did to initially lose weight. Before I did this diet I lost 50 lbs on my own, but after that I was stuck. Thank goodness my friend told me about HCG! It has been the answer to my problems. Plus it's educating me on things I never knew (like MSG, cravings, ect.).

Today was definitely more active than normal. I had a doctors appointment in the morning. Then my husband and I drove around from lunch until around 6 pm looking at apartments. We are moving out of our current one on April 30th. So I am pretty tired after all that. I ran out of melba toast so it was just one fruit, two proteins, and two vegetables today. I need to down some water until bedtime since I didn't drink a lot while we were out. Grateful for the loss today, but hoping for a bigger loss tomorrow!

What A Bum

What does one do when they are not feeling well? Lurk online all day. What a sloth I am! Good thing this diet calls for no exercise or I would be in trouble. I am looking forward to having my energy back! I really don't know what's wrong with me? I did a bit of house cleaning this morning so I feel a small sense of accomplishment. My daughter finally got rid of her thrush so she is back in daycare. My husband is working most of the day. He has to go to this brief for soldiers who are out-processing from here. We won't be moving until August, but he didn't have anything better to do this afternoon. We are moving to Colorado! I am pretty giddy about it. I love skiing. Not five minutes after my last post I had a successful BM. My prayers were answered, haha. Hoping that it helps my loss tomorrow. I put some pictures of my yummy spinach chips from lunch on here (what can I say.. I am REALLY bored). Phase 3 isn't freaking me out as much anymore. Well.. still quite a lot. The countdown continues until I can eat different foods. Very curious to try making the Oopsies. Not the best cook, but I have faith I can manage. I started researching travel scales, but if anyone knows a good one PLEASE let me know. I will need to purchase one before my Florida trip. I am debating on whether or not to tan prior. Not a fan of having a sunburn on vacation. My husband and I are going to get our recreational scuba diving licenses for FREE. I love having connections! Okay I think I've said enough. Time to go lounge around.

VLCD 24: BM.. TOM.. Bueller?

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Today's Date: March 30, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 138.8 lbs
Today's Weight: 138 lbs
Loss: -0.8 lbs
Total Loss: -13 lbs

Today’s Menu
B: Coffee and strawberries
L: Steak with spinach and Melba
S: Melba
D: Chicken with asparagus
Daily Calorie Intake: 423 calories

I have the most random things to put on here sometimes that don't even really go together so if I seem like I am rambling.. it's because my mind is a very strange, complicated thing. I love the smell of coffee in the morning. Now brewed coffee smells wonderful, but my favorite is the actual beans. I could stick my head into the coffee tin and just breathe in the smell forever if I didn't have a life to get back to. My husband doesn't drink coffee at all. He always jokes that that's the one habit he didn't pick up being in the military. Well retirement isn't here for another 25 years plus. So trust me.. I will bring him to the "black" side. This diet has caused me to enjoy my coffee black. I was one of those sissy frappawhata cappawhoda people (yes I made those words up). More cream than coffee.. with about an eighth of raw sugar. Not anymore my friends! My detoxed body combined with simplified meal plan has somehow caused my taste buds to appreciate every flavor. For example, a few posts back I wrote about the most amazing damn apple I had ever tasted. Well every apple I have had since has been just as great! It could be the brand or type. Or maybe it's that I really truly value the things I eat. Not only that, but the natural organic things I eat. I am OBSESSED with fresh produce now. Trying to buy 100% organic is tough in America, but dammit I do my best! I am a little curious to try onions (being an onion hater) to see if my mind has changed. Maybe I will enjoy them now?

Onto my bodily concerns. I used to be so in tuned to my body. Not sure what to think anymore. HCG has made so many changes in my body that my mind is trying to grab the reins and get back control. I just want to understand what's going on! I guess if I had to chose between my old body and new one, then I will be patient in waiting for my mind to catch up. What I am talking about it hunger mentally and physically. Before there was just one hunger. Like the two had combined into this super human craving that my body couldn't differentiate. Now I am trying to educate my mind into which is what since they seem to be separated. Second of all TOM has not come yet. God bless the HCGDieters Group. I would be so lost without them! Yesterday I had to post my concerns because I was getting worried. I had TOM a few weeks prior to starting the diet. Nothing since! I have a Mirena IUD so basically that with the combination of HCG is making my body not have TOM. This would be awesome except that I am worried I will be sitting down out somewhere and POW here comes Aunt Flo. This is why I now carry supplies everywhere. Third is my BMs! Yes I am talking about constipation. I am so irregular lately it's hurting my tummy. I tried drinking Smooth Move last night to get things going, but this morning was not fun. That's all I am going to say about that. Fourth and finally is what I was talking about yesterday. Light headed, black spots, and low energy. The Potassium is helping a little. I also started taking some of my B12 for energy. I still am not where I was before. At the beginning I was feeling great! Now I am getting cravings and feel like poop. I don't know what else to do!

This lack of BM, TOM, and overall feeling like crap blows. While trying to eat my strawberries this morning I was just looking at them like.. yuck. They tasted delicious my my stomach doesn't want them. I was nibbling on them like a horse with hay. Hopefully the rest of the day isn't going to be this "bleh". Praying for a great BM today (never thought I would hear myself say that).

Comparing Pictures ( 200 lbs to 138 lbs)

VLCD 23: Hit 130s.. Phase 3 Nightmares!

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Today's Date: March 29, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 140 lbs
Today's Weight: 138.8 lbs
Loss: -1.2 lb
Total Loss: -12.2 lbs

Today’s Menu
B: Coffee and an apple
L: Steak with asparagus
S: Melba
D: Chicken cabbage soup
Daily Calorie Intake: 467 calories

Where to begin! I have a couple things I wanted to share on here mostly so that I can look back on it, but also so that other people may get something from it:

For the past week I have little to no energy. Whenever I stand up too fast I see black spots and get light headed. My whole body has felt overall like CRAP. I was pinpointing it to my oral surgery last Monday, but it has been long enough to know that something else is up. I am an avid reader of the HCGDieters Group on Yahoo. After a little bit of digging on the message boards I found that other people share these symptoms. Following advice on there, I went to Walmart yesterday and purchased some Potassium pills. They say take 99mg/3x daily. This morning I began taking them. I will let you know if it helps!

Phase 3 is seriously giving me nightmares! Now I know what others are talking about when they are afraid. Phase 2 is so simple to follow. I am sure that the limited foods bores some people, but there is really no room for error. With Phase 3 upon me I am filled with mixed emotions. Obviously I am overjoyed that I can once again have some of my favorite foods, but the majority of me is a second away from a panic attack! It is just scary knowing that all the time, money, and heart you put into dropping off the pounds can be gone if you accidentally eat something with hidden sugars or starches. I am no nutritionist, so I am definitely carrying around a list of alternative names for them. If any of you guys have a good list or a website please feel free to share (I think I finally solved my no commenting problems). Yesterday afternoon I spent hours on the internet finding recipes, tips, and tricks for Phase 3 (and 4). I am taking this diet very seriously. I know that the stabilization part is really key for lifelong results.  I hope to look back at this and laugh thinking how silly I was to worry.

Onto today's little blurbs.. I dropped another 1.2 lbs last night bringing me into the 130s. Only 8.8 lbs until my goal. The sad thing this is I have until Saturday (last dosage of HCG) to do it. Not really getting my hopes up to lose that large of an amount in a week, but not ruling it out either. All I can do is STICK TO PROTOCOL. I made a little calender up until Phase 4 so I can record my weight and count down the days. My daughter is still sick at home with me (ear infections and thrush). Husband is still on half days with Friday's off until his leave (vacation). The awesome thing about coming home from war is that they don't just throw you back in working full days. We need to start planning our trip  soon since we are driving. Map out the trail, haha.

I want to end this post with how I am feeling. This journey has been amazing. The first time my friend told me about HCG I was VERY hesitant. My emotions have been on a roller coaster, but once the ride is over I know I will end with the best emotion of all.. happiness:-)

VLCD 22: One More Week To Go

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Today's Date: March 28, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 141 lbs
Today's Weight: 140 lbs
Loss: -1 lb
Total Loss: -11 lbs

Today’s Menu
B: Coffee and an apple
L: Steak with asparagus
S: Melba
D: Shrimp with coleslaw
Daily Calorie Intake: 471 calories

Body Measurements (Week One/Two/Three/Four)
Neck: 13/12.5/ 12.5/ 12.5
Bicep: 13/13/ 12.75/ 12.5
Forearm: 10.5/10/ 9.75/ 9.75
Chest: 33/31/ 32.5/ 31
Bust: 37.5/36.5/ 36/ 36
Waist: 30/28/ 28/ 27
Hips: 39.5/39.5/ 38/ 36.5
Thigh: 24.5/23.5/ 23.5/ 22.5
Calf: 14.5/14.5/ 14.5/ 14
Overall Inches: -12.25 inches
This Weeks BMI: 24

New pictures are posted. I lost another pound today. The past couple days I have been seriously craving chocolate. It's almost unbearable! Mostly because my husband will eat it right next to me. Peanut butter is pretty tempting too. The smell makes me go nuts! Hahaha get it? I don't know why, but the apple I ate this morning was probably the best apple I have EVER tasted. I didn't even want to eat it all at once hunger-wise, but it just tasted too damn good to stop eating. I put some fudge brownie Capella drops and chocolate Stevia in my coffee in an attempt to aid my chocolate desires. It's just not the same as biting into a Snickers. Oh well.. only nine more days of VLCD eating left (not counting today). Then I can eat a different variety of things. I need to start researching Phase 3 in more detail. I have the basic idea of how it works, but in order to survive my Florida trip without gains is going to take some serious knowledge of acceptable foods. I need to purchase a travel scale also.

Updated Pictures

Alright so here is me after losing 10 lbs on this diet. It is SO scary putting yourself out there on the internet for all to see. I definitely have a lot of respect for those who have done it before. I am not brave enough to give my real name or have my face shown. I know most of you will understand that many people in your life don't understand HCG or think it's unhealthy. The only people that I have told are my husband and one close friend.

I would like to point out one positive and negative thing about my body that I see. It's not fair to just pick out all the flaws. I need to have a positive outlook also:
Negative: Them juicy thighs! Darn genetics are fighting against me.
Positive:  My tummy is looking good. Once I get back to exercising I can tighten it up even more.

VLCD 21: Ten Pound Goal

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Today's Date: March 27, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 142.4 lbs
Today's Weight: 141 lbs
Loss: -1.4 lbs
Total Loss: -10 lbs

Today’s Menu
B: Coffee and half an orange
L: Steak with turnip greens
S: Melba
D: Shrimp with asparagus
Daily Calorie Intake: 468 calories

This girl lost ten pounds! That is AMAZING news. I never in my life imagined losing ten pounds in less than a month. Thank you HCG! Even if I somehow don't lose any more weight this is something I am very proud of myself for doing. I only have a week left on Phase 2 so I am trying to be one hundred percent in this. No cheating (my head has been whispering thoughts of cupcakes and chocolate all week)! I could go another 15 days extra, but we are going to Florida for vacation. I really do not want to be hassling with Phase 2 foods while I am away for a week and half in close quarters with family. My main drive for this diet was to look bikini ready by our trip. I am definitely well on my way to that goal! I just realized I never posted better pictures. Well I will have my husband take some tonight and post them tomorrow. I will be ten pounds lighter than my beginning pictures, but oh well!

VLCD 20: Finally

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Today's Date: March 26, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 144.6 lbs
Today's Weight: 142.4 lbs
Loss: -2.2 lbs
Total Loss: -8.6 lbs

Today’s Menu
B: Half an orange and coffee
L: Chicken with turnip greens
D: Chicken with turnip greens
S: Strawberries and iced tea
Daily Calorie Intake: 500 calories

Finally lost all that cheating weight plus lost at extra 1.4 lbs bringing me to my lowest weight yet on this diet of 142.4 lbs! Talk about doing a happy dance, haha. Spent the day out at the outlet mall with my family. We were out a little longer than expected so we ended up eating out at the Cracker Barrel. Luckily they have a low carb menu. I ordered grilled chicken and turnip greens. I just ate one portion for lunch and saved the second half for dinner. I was VERY tempted to go for the Friday fish fry, but I was a good girl. I know that there were some bad things in the meal like butter and ham. I am just overlooking it because it was either eat it or pass out while shopping. My daughter had just gotten over a double ear infection a few weeks ago. She seemed ill again today so we took her to the ER tonight only to find out she has another double ear infection and thrush. UGH! Poor girl:-( We will see if the Cracker Barrel hurts my weight tomorrow. Now it's time to snuggle up with the husband and watch the movies we rented. Nighty night!

VLCD 19: Frustrated

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Today's Date: March 25, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 144.6 lbs
Today's Weight: 144.6 lbs
Loss: --
Total Loss: -6.4 lbs


Today’s Menu
B: Coffee and half an orange
S: --
L: Beef, spinach, and Melba
S: Melba
D: Shrimp with tomato
Daily Calorie Intake: 426 calories

Nothing on the scale this morning. SO annoyed, but my wonderful supporting husband said "don't fret!" He calmed me down enough to remember that there are inches to lose too. So I measured myself and sure enough I had lost several inches since the last time I measured. Okay, so that made me feel a tiny bit better. I know that I did it to myself by cheating, but it is taking FOREVER to get back to normal losses. I just need to keep on trucking.

VLCD 18

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Today's Date: March 24, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 147 lbs
Today's Weight: 144.6 lbs
Loss: -2.4
Total Loss: -6.4 lbs

Today’s Menu
B: Coffee with Vanilla Creme Stevia and Vanilla Custard Capella drops (my new fav)
S: Half an orange
L: Beef cabbage soup
S: --
D: Beef cabbage soup
Daily Calorie Intake: 495 calories

For the record my cheating lasted four days and cost me over a week of losses to get back on track. Now with that said and done, lets focus on the now. I got my wisdom teeth pulled on Monday so I am assuming the slight gain yesterday was due to water retention from taking pain killers. I had been on a stall two days prior so I did an apple day yesterday (homemade apple sauce with my mouth being in pain). It paid off with a loss of 2.4 lbs bringing me 0.8 lbs away from my lowest weight on this diet (143.8 lbs). Today was a tough eating day because my mouth was still hurting. I made a big pot of beef cabbage soup for both meals. I had to cut everything really small so I could get it down, but the broth was lovely to sip on throughout the day. Having my husband back has been a burden and blessing. Obviously his return caused the initial cheating, but he is great support now. Yesterday I nearly quit due to being heavily medicated. I was just plain upset and miserable. I desperately wanted to eat mashed potatoes, pudding, and ice cream like a regular patient recovering from a tooth extraction. He really helped me push through the pain and stick to the diet. I know I can do this!

Week Three Body Measurements

Body Measurements (Week One/Week Two/Week Three)
Neck: 13/12.5/ 12.5
Bicep: 13/13/ 12.75
Forearm: 10.5/10/ 9.75
Chest: 33/31/ 32.5
Bust: 37.5/36.5/ 36
Waist: 30/28/ 28
Hips: 39.5/39.5/ 38
Thigh: 24.5/23.5/ 23.5
Calf: 14.5/14.5/ 14.5
Overall Inches: -8.5 inches
This Weeks BMI: 25.1

I forgot to post my measurements yesterday. Since my cheating I gained back 2.4 lbs, but I have lost 1.5 more inches. I guess that's why it's called Pounds AND Inches, haha. Well that lifted my spirits a little.

VLCD 16: Stall

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Today's Date: March 22, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 146.2 lbs
Today's Weight: 146.2 lbs
Loss: --
Total Loss: -4.8 lbs

Today’s Menu
B: Steak, spinach, and apple
S: --
L: --
S: --
D: Chicken and cabbage soup with melba
Daily Calorie Intake: 411 calories

Since my husband's been home I haven't been focused on the diet. I have been true to my word by sticking to protocol since my cheating fiasco. Obviously my body is playing catch up. I have been stalled for several days now stuck at 146.2 lbs. My fault entirely, but if I the scale doesn't move tomorrow I am highly considering doing an apple day. It is pretty pathetic that I have only lost 5 lbs in 18 days on the HCG diet. Luckily I am doing sublingual so I can continue on this round until my supply is up (another 27 days). It is super important to STICK TO PROTOCOL. Hopefully people can read this and see the consequences of cheating. Mine was by choice, but it came with a price. Today I am getting my wisdom teeth pulled.. EEK! I ate a huge breakfast since I cannot eat or drink 6 hours prior to surgery. I also made some soup for dinner since my mouth with be hurting.

VLCD 14: Quickie

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Today's Date: March 20, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 146.4 lbs
Today's weight: 146.2 lbs
Overnight Loss: -0.2 lbs
Total Loss: -6.8 lbs

Quick post today. Lost 0.2 lbs since yesterday. Things are going to be slow since my cheats. No worries though. Had a good day at the mall. Bought some panties at Victoria's Secret. Gotta love it!

VLCD 13: Catching Up

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Today's Date: March 19, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
March 15th's Weight: 143.8 lbs
March 16th's Weight: 144.6 lbs
March 17th's Weight: 146.6 lbs
March 18th's Weight: 146.2 lbs
Today's weight: 146.4 lbs
Loss: +2.6
Total Loss: -4.6 lbs

Today’s Menu
B: Coffee and strawberries
S: --
L: Chilean Seabass with cabbage salad
S: Melba
D: Chicken with asparagus
Daily Calorie Intake: 430 calories

Well hello strangers! I've been a very bad dieter, haha. Honestly I am not going to beat myself up about it. I see a lot of people on the message boards upset over taking a bite out of a pop tart or just going crazy in the pantry stuffing everything in sight down their throats. This is not what happened on my four day "cheating extravaganza" as I like to call it. For those who didn't read in my previous posts, my husband has been in Iraq for 10 months. I wasn't sure when he was getting back. I tried to carefully plan this diet so that I could hold strong for the month. Hopefully changing my body and mind's outlook on food. Well he came home early! It was a possibility I have been planning for, but my hopes were not high. They had changed his arrival date several times before.

Since I got that call to pick him up at 3 AM my mind has not had to mental capacity to focus on the diet. I also had family staying at my house (6 extra people). I really just took a few moments to think about what I could do so that my mind didn't explode from everything going on around me. I decided that I was going to enjoy this special time with my family and friends. Try to stick to healthy and reasonable eating habits while all the madness was going on. Here is a summary of what I ate during my "cheating extravaganza" (for my personal record):
March 15th: Regular HCG meals until dinner because we went out to eat. I had a Mexican salad with lettuce, chicken, black beans, Spanish rice, guacamole, salsa, and cheese. Also a piece of Godiva chocolate cheesecake (worth every bite) for dessert.
March 16th: Apples for breakfast, leftover Mexican salad from the night before for lunch, and a hamburger for dinner (eating out at Cheesecake Factory again).
March 17th: Regular HCG meals, but I had a cupcake from my husbands "Welcome Home" cake.
March 18th:Regular HCG meals until dinner we went to a bbq with all of my husbands friends. I had a piece grilled chicken, sausage, and baked beans.

Whats done is done and all I can do is push forward. I mixed a new sublingual batch last night. It was almost signifying a new start to me. Like "Okay here we go again.. lets stay on track from now on!". Anyways.. it wasn't hard to jump back into full HCG eating mode today. I enjoy the foods on the plan. My poor husband caught whatever my daughter had on Sunday so he was throwing up all night. Today he has been stuck in bed trying to rest. I am SO glad it is Friday. It is nice to have all the extra company gone so our little family can spend this weekend lounging and relaxing. I am VERY curious to see what the scale reads tomorrow. Until then:-)

VLCD 8: Healthy BMI

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Today's Date: March 14, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 145.2 lbs
Today's weight: 144.8 lbs
Overnight Loss: -.4 lbs
Total Loss: -7.8 lbs

Body Measurements (Week One/Week Two)
Neck: 13/12.5
Bicep: 13/13
Forearm: 10.5/10
Chest: 33/31
Bust: 37.5/36.5
Waist: 30/28
Hips: 39.5/39.5
Thigh: 24.5/23.5
Calf: 14.5/14.5
Overall Inches: -7 inches
This Weeks BMI:24.9

Today’s Menu
B: Green tea and melba
S: Strawberries
L: Chilean sea bass with coleslaw
S: Yerba Mate and melba
D: Shrimp with asparagus
Daily Calorie Intake: 466 calories

Mixed emotions today. Disappointed because I only lost .4 lbs this morning. This is the third day in a row I have lost less than half a pound. Ugh, talk about frustrating! I was thrilled to see the scale below 145 lbs (bringing me at the high end of a healthy BMI). It has been a week since I started the VLCD. I cannot believe how fast the time has gone by after the first couple days. I was SO hungry all I could think about was cheating. Now there is only the occasional passing thought of dark chocolate or salt and vinegar potato chips.

I was planning on going to church today so I woke up early to get ready. When I went into my daughter's room I found out that she threw up everywhere. So I had to scramble to bathe her, get her bedding in the wash, and finish getting ready for church. Luckily we made it in time. I grabbed a melba and bottle of green tea on the way out the door. After church I came home and ate some strawberries. Tried to put my daughter down for a nap, but she wasn't having it! So she ate some lunch and played for awhile.

For lunch I tried a new recipe* for the chilean sea bass I purchased at Whole Foods this week. I am IN LOVE. This recipe seriously made me want to do a happy dance. For the vegetable I spread cabbage on my plate, sprinkled on salt and pepper, squirted some lemon and ACV, and mixed it together (sort of a mock coleslaw). Once the fish was done I added one serving on top of my cabbage. I also spooned on some of the juices from the foil pack..YUM. For snack I plan on having a melba and some Yerba Mate. Dinner I am going to pan fry some shrimp and asparagus. I am off the go clean my house in preparation of my husbands return to the states. Have a good Sunday:-)

*Chilean Sea Bass
4-3.5 ounces of sea bass fillets
1 T. garlic, minced
1⁄2 of lemon
1⁄2 t. sea salt
1/2 t. pepper
1⁄2 t. paprika
Arrange sea bass fillets in a single layer on foil-lined pan. Spread garlic on and around fish. Squeeze lemon juice on fillets, sprinkle salt and pepper to taste, and add paprika for color. Cover with foil and crimp edges to form a seal.
Bake at 450 for 20 minutes.

VLCD 7: Back On Track

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 145.4 lbs
Today's weight: 145.2 lbs
Overnight Loss: -.2 lbs
Total Loss: -7.4 lbs

Today’s Menu
B: Coffee, strawberries, and melba
S: ACV cocktail
L: Chili chicken soup
S: Yerba Mate tea, half an orange, and melba
D: Beef with spinach chips
Daily Calorie Intake: 487 calories
Water Intake: 3+ liters

My goal today is to get back on track. This surgery and minor cheating business is really slowing down my losses! Not eating after my cheat paid off by helping me lose another .2 lbs, but now I feel like CRAP. I am in a lot less pain so I am going to nix the pain medicine today. I still have two more antibiotics to take. This morning I felt nauseous, shaky, and low on energy. Ate some strawberries and a melba for breakfast. That melba helped settle my tummy. Thank goodness.

My daughter and I went to a party supply store because my husband is coming home this week. PARTY! I will take pictures after we have decorated. I ordered a cupcake cake in the shape of a yellow ribbon. Unfortunately I won't be able to eat the cake, but I was thinking of freezing one or two for later. We went to Whole Foods Market to pick up some Chilean Seabass, shrimp, and groceries for my little girl. I have started to transition her foods to organic. I was looking at the ingredients for her regular foods and there was so much junk in there! Luckily most of the time she eats at daycare. They feed her well.

Once shopping was done, she went down for a nap. I checked mail to find my Capella drops were in. Woohoo! Now I can make flavored coffee in the morning. I had my chili chicken soup for lunch. I put a little too much cayenne pepper so it was very spicy. I decorated the house for most of the afternoon. Around 4 PM I had half an orange, a melba, and some Yerba Mate tea. For dinner I stuck to simple seasoned ground beef and spinach chips. I swear I can feel TOM coming, but still nothing! I am praying for a big loss tomorrow.

VLCD 6: Cheater

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 145.6 lbs
Today's weight: 145.4 lbs
Overnight Loss: -.2 lbs
Total Loss: -7.2 lbs

Today’s Menu
B: Coffee and half an orange
S: --
L: Grilled shrimp with mixed vegetables
S: --
D: --
Daily Calorie Intake: ??? calories
Water Intake: 3+ liters

I predicted correctly yesterday. Only a .2 lb loss. Boooo! When I woke up I tried to listen to my body as usual. I almost felt a gain coming, but thank goodness the scale was my friend today. Here are my theory's on why the little to no loss:
a) TOM may be coming soon. I have an IUD so my periods are very weird. I never know when they are coming.
b) Pain killers caused me to retain water.
c) Yesterday I switched meat's around to beef then chicken as opposed to chicken then beef. I know it sounds petty, but you never know.
d) Two fruits and a tomato in one day. I have heard of people having difficulty with that.
e) Not enough rest.
f) All of the above

After dropping my daughter off at daycare I went over to the single soldier barracks. Several of us in the FRG got together to clean the rooms and leave little care packages by the bed. They brought treats like cinnamon rolls and buttered tortilla, but I had no desire to eat them. My friend invited me to lunch. We had been working hard for over two hours walking up and down three flights of stairs. I was STARVING. So I agreed.

I was really nervous. I did not want to cheat. I knew that it was basically unavoidable when trying to eat out. She wanted to eat at a Japanese restaurant. It was one of those places where they cook them in front of you. All the meals come with soup or salad, protein, mixed vegetables, and fried rice. I ordered the salad (picked everything off so it was plain lettuce). It was very refreshing. I haven't had lettuce on this diet yet. I picked shrimp for my protein and said I did not want rice. I wasn't sure what to expect since this kind of place was new to me. I watched in fear as he squired some kind of sauce on my shrimp and veggies as they grilled. The portion was reasonable. The vegetables were mushrooms, zucchini, and broccoli (I picked out the onion and pepper). All of these are OFF PROTOCOL. So I cheated by mixing vegetables, eating vegetables off protocol, and eating some mystery sauce (that tasted like heaven by the way).

On top of feeling bad about eating that, I am still in a lot of pain so I started taking my pain killers again. Now I am tired and cranky. I have a billion things going on in my life starting Monday so I am stressed out. Maybe TOM is coming, haha. I decided not to eat anything else after my lunch. Just drank some tea and water. I am going to bed really early since I am so sick. Hoping tomorrow brings a better day. Good night!

VLCD 5: Less Hunger FINALLY

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 146.6 lbs
Today's weight: 145.6 lbs
Overnight Loss: -1 lbs
Total Loss: -7 lbs

Today’s Menu
B: Half an apple and coffee
S: Half an apple
L: Steak and tomato
S: Strawberries
D: ACV cocktail and chili chicken soup
Daily Calorie Intake: 495 calories
Water Intake: 3+ liters

I felt like crap today. Not because of the diet. It's because of my damn surgery. I am in a lot of pain. I was prescribed Vicodin. Since my calorie intake is so low and I had to drive today I could only take one pill when I woke up. This morning I was so shaky after taking my pills. My blood sugar was very low. I had to sit down, drink water, and eat an apple. The funny thing was that I wanted to eat the whole apple in my head, but my body was full after half. So I tossed what I couldn't eat back in the fridge for later. Took a travel cup of coffee with me to our WIC appointment. I was pleased to find they were giving free H1N1 shots. I have already received mine, but my daughter hasn't so she got one. Dropped her off at daycare after. Coffee was extra tasty today. Not sure why. Maybe my sense of taste is changing since my diet is a lot more pure? Kind of exciting if you think about it. Went to Walmart to pick up some Ketone Sticks. I have read good and bad things about how helpful they are. My reading was "moderate".

I HAD to take another pill because the pain was unbearable around 10:30 AM. Since I was taking another pill I decided to finish my apple with it. I didn't want it for hunger. Speaking of hunger.. where did it go? Haha. I obviously have been hungry, but it's less times during the day and once I start eating I have to force myself to finish the portions. Ate grilled steak and a sliced tomato with salt for lunch.

I slept almost all afternoon. This medication and pain is kicking my butt! Ate strawberries for a snack even though I wasn't very hungry. I mainly want to keep something in my stomach so the pain killers don't make me sick. For dinner I tried making a chili chicken soup. Basically I precooked my chicken, cut up some cabbage, and threw it in a pot of boiling water that had been mixed with chili powder, fresh garlic, salt, pepper, and Stevia. It was nice to have a "broth" to drink while I feel yucky. I am a fan of this now because it was very filling. It was sweet and spicy too.

Honestly I am not expecting a large loss tomorrow. I ate as many calories as I could, drank a ton of water, and after being on pain killers for two days I am assuming I will retain a little water. We will see tomorrow!

VLCD 4: French Fry Challenge

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 147.8 lbs
Today's weight: 146.6 lbs
Overnight Loss: -1.2 lbs
Total Loss: -6 lbs

Today’s Menu
B: Coffee with chocolate Stevia and half an apple
S: Half an apple and melba
L: ACV cocktail, seasoned chicken, and cucumber salad
S: None
D: Ground beef with spinach chips and melba
Daily Calorie Intake: 457 calories
Water Intake: 2.5+ liters

This morning I woke up feeling the same as yesterday minus the headache. I wasn't sure if I had lost any weight. Scale read 146.6 lbs with a loss of 1.2 lbs from yesterday. Secretly I was hoping it at least read 145.8 lbs. I haven't seen 145 lbs in years! But I need to be grateful for my awesome loss today. I need to keep fighting my cravings and stick to protocol so that each day is just as rewarding.

Today my stomach is growling less. I also haven't had a headache since last night. Finally broke them after two days straight! I felt full after half an apple and 8 ounces of coffee. This is abnormal from previous days. About two hours later, I polished off the rest of the apple, a melba, and 8 more ounces of coffee. For lunch I had an ACV cocktail and chicken with cucumber salad. I realize each day I have a fairly similar menu, but I am trying to slowly introduce things. Like change a vegetable, but make sure everything else is something I have made before. This way I am not going crazy eating whatever I think is right. It helps me experiment without regrets, since I know at least one meal will be something I enjoy. I put on some mineral makeup today for the first time so I am curious to see if it affects my loss tomorrow.

I had my minor surgery in the afternoon. I totally forgot to bring water, tea, or my fruit so I went four hours straight without anything! Luckily it didn't really bother me until the end. Mostly because my blood sugar was low. I tested myself on the way home after picking my daughter up from daycare. I went to Wendy's to get her a kids meal since I wasn't up to cooking her dinner. I ALMOST ate a fry. That was the hardest thing I have had to do on this diet yet. Not eat that fry, haha. If I ate that fry I would have turned into a monster. I'm proud of myself:-)

For dinner I had ground beef, spinach chips, and melba. I tried to eat both my melbas today because I am now on pain killers and antibiotics. I also tried to drink as much water possible. Hopefully I won't get too silly! Overall improvement today with no headaches and less hunger. The ACV cocktails are okay in moderation (kind of make my tummy hurt if I drink to much) to kill hunger.

VLCD 3: Headaches

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 149.4 lbs
Today's weight: 147.8 lbs
Overnight Loss: -1.6 lbs
Total Loss: -4.8 lbs

Today’s Menu
B: Coffee with chocolate Stevia and half an orange
S: Half an orange
L: Seasoned chicken with asparagus and ACV cocktail
S: Strawberries and green tea
D: Steak with spinach chips
Daily Calorie Intake: 468 calories
Water Intake: 2.5 liters

Hunger has decreased slightly, but MAJOR headaches throughout the day yesterday. Last night was the worst! It kept me up until at least midnight if not later. I have read that this common in other dieters. The bad thing is I cannot take an aspirin since I am having a minor medical procedure done tomorrow. I just have to push through the pain, just like the cravings. Speaking of cravings, they are getting less and less as the days go by (still fairly strong). This is a good sign! Stepped on the scale today to see another 1.6 lbs gone. I was so happy to see this. It's funny because in the past I have always been able to sort of feel if I have lost weight. Maybe because it was just water weight? I don't know, but I cannot rely on my eyes or feelings anymore. The scale and measurements are the only sure way to know.

I inhaled my half an orange this morning. I got caught up at an appointment so I didn't get home until almost 10 AM. Next time I will plan better and bring my breakfast with me. Tried making an ACV Cocktail* before lunch. Had the same thing (chicken with asparagus). I actually felt full after lunch. This is a new experience since my "loading" days. Around 3-4 PM I got hungry (just like yesterday) so I snacked on some strawberries. Last night I made a big batch of green tea (sweetened with a little Stevia) to put in the fridge so it's quick to get some on the go. Came in handy when I was sitting in traffic. Ate dinner around 6:30 PM. Made steak again, but this time I tried a spinach chip recipe** I found. This is my new favorite vegetable dish.. it tastes so yummy! Thinking of drinking some of my Smooth Move tea before bed. The sleepy tea I drank last night was very good. I saved one strawberry for dessert later:)

*Apple Cider Vinegar Cocktail: 2 tablespoons ACV, 16 ounces of water, and 4 drops of Stevia. ACV is supposed to help break down fat, control blood sugar levels, and help stabilize appetite. I found information on ACV here.
**Spinach Chip recipe

Stevia and Yerba Mate Review

Thought I would give you my opinion on the products I bought from evitaminstore.com. I purchased the vanilla creme and dark chocolate flavored Stevia drops. I actually found some Stevia drops in my local Whole Foods Market, but they were $15! I only paid $10 on the website with free shipping. Overall I like the Sweet Leaf Stevia product. The big draw to that specific brand is no additives, chemicals, or alcohol. Just be careful on how much you put in your drinks because it can be a little too bitter or overpowering if you accidentally drop in too much. I am a huge tea drinker so I love the Yerba Mate tea. The health benefits are very appealing also. Here is a website on Yerba Mate tea if your interested in finding out: More Info. There should be a large selection of different brands at your local health food store.

Whole Foods Run

If I haven't said it yet.. I love Whole Foods Market! It kind of sucks going in there right now.. seeing (and smelling) all of the yummy foods I cannot eat yet, but I am in love with their tea selection. Plus I am just now diving into their beauty and vitamin isles. Wow do they have a lot of great products. I tried brushing my teeth with baking soda this morning. Nasty! So I bought some Tom's toothpaste. Needed some new body wash since I ran out yesterday. Thought I would try Jason's brand since I read somewhere that it is supposed to be protocol friendly. As I said before, their tea selection is amazing! I purchased Traditional Medicinals Organic Smooth Move for when I feel a little constipated (you probably didn't want to know that). Also am going to try The Republic of Tea's brand Get Clean (detox) and Get Some Zzz's (before bed). I will post on here how I like these products once I use them. I love getting feedback from other bloggers so I am going to do the same for you!

VLCD 2: Mind Over Matter

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 152.6 lbs
Today's weight: 149.4 lbs
Overnight Loss: -3.2 lbs
Total Loss: -3.2 lbs

Today’s Menu
B: Coffee with chocolate Stevia and half an orange
S: Half an orange
L: Seasoned chicken with asparagus
S: Melba toast and Yerba Mate tea
D: Steak with cucumber salad
Daily Calorie Intake: 440 calories
Water Intake: 2.5 liters

When I woke up this morning I tried to listen to my body. I didn't really feel like I had lost any weight. I also felt a little pang of hunger, but nothing too unbearable. Stepped on the scale.. boy was I surprised! I lost the 1.6 lbs from loading plus an additional 1.6 lbs. Maybe this diet works after all, haha. I do want to note that yesterday I went to the bathroom constantly from my increased intake of water. I felt like I was pregnant again (ironic seeing as I am taking HCG). Not cheating is really rewarding. The thoughts ran in the back of my mind that maybe I should add another loading day whenever my tummy rumbled. I stuck to my guns though! Definitely paid off. I hope with each day that it gets easier to resist. It is silly, but even words trigger the hunger. Like on the radio they said the word "fiesta" and it automatically sent my mind sailing to fiesta burgers, tacos, and margaritas. NO! I will not let my hunger get the best of me. P2 is only a short amount of time. Eventually I will be able to slowly reintroduce what I miss into my diet. Or maybe I will not even want to. This is the exciting part about the diet for me. I am reprogramming my brain and testing self control.

For breakfast I had a cup of coffee with Stevia. I tried to go without coffee yesterday, but I missed it too much. I love the smell. It really wakes me up and brings a smile to my face. I tried to eat my fruit slower this morning, really enjoying it. Went on a short shopping trip to Walmart and Whole Foods for supplies. Came home and ate the second half of my orange. For lunch I had chicken and asparagus again. Around 3-4 PM I started getting hungry so I ate a melba and drank some tea. For dinner I tried making a cucumber salad with apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and Stevia. I loved it.. very refreshing! I also pan grilled some round steak with a little seasoning. That was also very tasty. Surprisingly, I didn't feel the need for my second fruit or melba. Maybe this means I am adjusting? I am ending the night with a cup of my new sleepy tea. I'll let you know how it worked tomorrow:)

VLCD 1: Stay Strong!

Start Date R1: March 5, 2010
Start weight: 151 lbs
Goal: 130 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 151 lbs
Today's weight: 152.6 lbs
Overnight Loss: +1.6 lbs
Total Loss: +1.6 lbs

Body Measurements (Week One)
Neck: 13
Bicep: 13
Forearm: 10.5
Chest: 33
Bust: 37.5
Waist: 30
Hips: 39.5
Thigh: 24.5
Calf: 14.5
Overall Inches: --
This Weeks BMI:25.9


Today’s Menu
B: Yerba Mate tea with vanilla creme Stevia and half an apple
S: Half an apple
L: Seasoned chicken, asparagus, and melba toast
S: Strawberries and Yerba Mate tea plain
D: Ground beef, tomato, and melba toast
Daily Calorie Intake: 494 calories
Water Intake: 2 liters

This morning I reread Dr. Simeons Pounds and Inches. For some reason I am slightly anxious and nervous. The diet is pretty simple (in it's own way), but I feel like I have this self-induced pressure not to mess it up. I told my husband about it this morning and he was confused. I explained that I do so many thing unconsciously that it is easy to slip up. For instance, this morning while feeding my daughter her breakfast, I almost popped a piece of her banana in my mouth.

I gained 1.6 lbs after my second loading day. This doesn't worry me in the least bit. I was surprised I didn't gain more. Started the morning with some Yerba Mate tea with Stevia and half of an apple. The second half I ate about an hour and half later for a snack. Lunch was chicken and asparagus seasoned with a little lemon, garlic, chili powder, salt, and pepper baked in the oven. I also ate a piece of melba toast. Had some strawberries around 3 PM. For dinner I'm going to simmer some ground beef lightly seasoned with a tomato and melba toast on the side.

I noticed an underlying hunger all day. It may have been more psychological than physical. I tried to drink water constantly to get at least 2 liters in. Also had a slight headache. This first week is going to be tough, but I need to be strong!