Monday, July 18, 2011
VLCD Sample Menu
A friend of mine is interested in starting Hcg but wanted a sample menu before she ordered... I couldn't find one so instead...
Let me tell you what I have eaten over the last few days:
Lunch : Steak and grilled onions
Snack : Apple
Dinner : Shrimp scampi with asparagus
Snack : Strawberry Smoothie
Lunch : Chicken strips with spicy mustard and cucumbers
Snack : sliced fresh strawberries sprinkled with stevia
Dinner : a hamburger with mustard and sliced tomatoes
Snack : an orange
Lunch : chicken & spinach meatloaf
Snack : baked apple with stevia and cinnamon
Dinner : baked lemon pepper flounder with asapargus
Snack : strawberries dipped in chocolate (made from Hershey's cocoa and stevia)
Lunch : meatloaf and onion rings
Snack : orange
Dinner : taco soup (ground beef and tomato in chicken broth and taco seasoning
Snack : apple
A meal out at Runza : bed of lettuce with diced chicken and add my own orange on top to make a citrus dressing and then iced tea to drink.
You can also have 2 servings of melba toast per day, I usually don't unless I really have the munchies. I love using them in some of my recipes though - like the meatloaf and onion rings.
I drink lots of water and iced tea. A treat is to take Perrier water and add flavored stevia drops to make a soda pop - I like grape, rootbeer, vanilla creme, chocolate raspberry and peppermint!
The possibilities are endless on this diet. You just have to be dedicated and stick with it exactly as written. I am currently down 50.5 inches, 68.1 lbs and have gone from a size 16 to a size 4. I am 2 weeks away from being finished with my last round. The key to being successful with Hcg is getting the right product and the right support. Too many people are successful in the weight loss part of it but then they aren't told how to go through Maintenance correctly (or at all) and that is where they blow it because that is when your hypothalamus resets and your metabolism gets a jumpstart.
That is why I am such a huge advocate of http://myhcgplus.com/a/5920. Their customer support is second to none and they walk you through all the stages of Hcg weight loss, not just sending you a box with drops. The best part is that because of their referral program, if you are successful people will start asking you what you are doing and you can earn back every penney you pay in. So far I paid out $199 when I ordered (that got me through 2 full rounds and 60 lbs gone) and I have earned $530 in referrals. I also won one of their contests and got a $500 shopping spree for new clothes! I am way ahead right now :-)
Friday, July 15, 2011
Bumps in the road... finally smoothing out...
As of this morning I weighed in at 133.4. That is down 12.4 lbs from my weigh in last Saturday (6 days later). So much for the theory that I would lose weight lots slower this time since I'm so close to my goal weight. And that is 66.3 lbs total. I am 5.4 lbs from my high goal and 8.4 lbs from my low goal. So even if my weight loss slows down a lot I should still be fine since I have 14 days left. I also measured a couple days ago and I'm down a total of 50.5 inches right now since Jan. 10th - 50.5! Isn't that crazy?!? Who would've guessed? To top it off I am in a comfortable size 4 - down from the 16 I was wearing back in December. I don't really expect to go smaller than that (in fact I'm not sure I really want to), I'm already in a Small shirt and size 4 pants. You have to understand that for someone who has been buying L/XL shirts and 14/16 pants for as long as I can remember this is pretty unbelieveable. I feel like I'm living a fairytale right now. My husband said today, "I don't mean to fixate on it (the weight loss I've had)." And I said, "No, that's ok. Fixate away!" It is still so mind boggling to me that I need to pinch myself sometimes.
Anyone can do what I've done. I'm no one special. You just have to be focused and determined. Hcg definitely requires dedication, but if you are committed then you can see your life utterly changed forever! I can do this and so can you. I started with 75 lbs to lose and I am almost there... my goal is so close I can almost taste it (LOL). But just remember no daunting how far away your goal seems right now there is one first step for everyone - you have to start. You can't finish if you don't start. I should know - I put starting off for 2 years! My husband and I want to renew our vows next year for our anniversary and last year I said, "I'll never be able to wear my wedding dress!" Now I am telling my husband, "My wedding dress will be too big! I'll need a belt!" Anything is possible!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
VLCD Steak & Onion - Yummy!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
The Final Countdown!
Today is my first day of Round 3 (R3) in which I hope to lose 15-20 lbs in a 21 day round. After finally stabilizing during Maintenance in R2 and ending with really good success, it is a little hard to go back down to such limited options for my food. But here again I remind myself - it is only for a short period of time... after that it is back on Maintenance and then onto Life Phase feeling better than I have for 1/2 my life. I made a discovery this week, a very important discovery - possibly a life altering discovery! Since I knew I was getting ready to go back into VLCD and when I was done I would be entering Life Phase I decided that for the 4 days leading up to loading I would eat whatever I wanted. So I did. A Whopper and fries, French Dip Sliders, Boneless Buffalo Wings and Potato Twisters at Applebees, Spicy Jack burgers and onion rings at Runza, desserts... whatever sounded good. Ironically I discovered that when I was at Applebees I would have rather had a big steak with steamed veggies and a side salad. I told Matt that I honestly won't have trouble eating on Life Phase forever... I actually prefer to eat that way! I feel good when I eat lots of protein, veggies and fruit and I feel good about myself too. I look forward to counting down the days on VLCD and then attacking Maintenance with a vengence. I talked with a friend today that has also done two rounds and is ready to do one last round - she said, "Isn't Hcg a blessing from God?" And I was like, "YES!!! I agree completely!"
I know there is no diet for everyone, but this one is definitely for me!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
What Are You Worth?
Are you worth discovering what it was that led you to a place of being overweight in the first place?
Are you worth deciding that you are fed up with where you are and you are finally ready to take action?
Are you worth the dedication it takes to rediscover (or maybe discover for the first time) the best you?
Are you worth saying "No." to things that you like for a small time frame so that you can say "Yes." later and feel good about it and not feel guilty?
Are you worth a new wardrobe when you melt away the stored fat in you and nothing you own fits anymore?
Are you worth finally feeling proud of yourself when you look in a mirror instead of disgusted?
I know that once I figured out that "I am worth it!" It has changed my life. I have added years to my life and life to my years (cliched but so true). My family is proud of me, my kids are proud of me, my husband is proud of me and I am proud of me. This week I have been hearing over and over - "You look so great! And your pictures don't even do you justice!" I love it, but I worked hard to get here... and I am worth it!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Motivation
AS GOOD
AS SKINNY FEELS!
This saying gets me through lots of those cravings for chips and ice cream - it is so true! My size 4
skinny jeans are way better than a bowl of ice cream :-)
Do you have a favorite saying that keeps you going?
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Maintenance Ambrosia Salad Recipe!
When in Maintenance 1 it is very hard to get in all your calories so there are a few foods that will become your best friends... one of those is unsweetened coconut flakes! So this dish became a favorite the first time I went through Maintenance and now in my second time of Maintenance it is still a go-to dish for me and it is SO EASY!
This is a picture of my dinner - meatloaf with marinara sauce, fresh green beans with onion, deviled eggs with avocado instead of mayo and of course, my ambrosia!
M1 Ambrosia
1 can Mandarin oranges (natural juice not syrup)
1 can Pineapple chunks or tidbits (natural juice not syrup)
1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of unsweetened coconut flakes
Mix together in a bowl and enjoy!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
VLCD Main Dish Recipe - Chicken & Spinach Meatloaf
Salt and pepper to taste
14 oz ground chicken breast (buy chicken breasts and ask the meat department to grind it for you)
1/2 tsp of dry mustard
1 tsp of onion flakes
4 Melba Toast rounds, crushed up
1/4 cup basic chicken broth (no sugar!)
1 Tblsp Bragg's Liquid Amino Acids (find at a local health food store)
10 drops Stevia Apricot Nectar drops (or orange or mango or nothing :-)
1. In a nonstick skillet over medium high heat, cook the spinach and garlic with a little water until wilted. Season with salt and pepper and set aside to cool.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
3. Transfer the spinach mixture to a cutting board and chop coarsely. Place in a large mixing bowl with the ground chicken, mustard, onion flakes, and breadstick crumbs and mix well with your hands. In a small bowl combine the broth, liquid aminos and Stevia, add to the chicken mixture, stirring well to combine.
4. Transfer to a nonstick loaf pan and pat down firmly and evenly. Cover with foil and bake until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Makes 4 servings. Each serving has 130 calories
(1 protein, 1/2 vegetable, 1/2 breadstick)Friday, June 10, 2011
Chocolate Candy for Maintenance 1
1 cup of coconut oil melted
1 cup unsweetened cocoa (Hershey's is great)
Stevia to taste (I use 8 packets of the Sweetleaf granules and about 4 droppers of KAL liquid Stevia as well)
Flavor with a multitude of choices...
Melt the oil and mix with the cocoa. Add the stevia and mix. Add any flavorings you want. Pour into ice cube trays and freeze. After it sets, pop out and put in freezer bags to store. Enjoy!
The batch I made tonight I divided in half and added Peppermint Sweetleaf Stevia to half and Chocolate Raspberry Sweetleaf Stevia to the other half. I didn't skimp on the flavoring because I have made some and not added enough stevia and then it is pretty bitter (like really bitter dark chocolate). Much better to err on the side of too much than too little. I added 3 or 4 droppers of flavoring to each batch and it turned out fantastic! There is so much you can do with this too...
Add coconut
Add nuts (as they are allowed)
Add peanut butter (obviously sugar-free)
Add cinnamon
I actually mixed some greek yogurt with stevia and coconut to make a filling like for a Mounds bar - pour a little chocolate and set, add the filling and set and then add a little more chocolate to top it off - yummy! Make the peanut butter ones with the same layered effect.
Have fun with it and enjoy!
Hcg Journey - Part 3
I have just finished my 2nd Round with Hcg and am in the process of going through Maintenance to stabilize. I started out at 199.7 lbs when I began on January 10th, I am currently working on stabilizing at 138.4 lbs. I have gone from a size 16 to a size 4 in 5 months. The Hcg diet has been the best thing that has happened to me in a very long time.
Let me re-state that the Hcg diet is not for the faint of heart - it takes will power and determination, but when followed correctly it is the most freeing diet I have ever done (and the most effective!)
Round 2 was easier in one aspect because I already knew what I was doing, having learned the ins and outs of the protocol while completing Round 1. So I didn't have to think as hard but it still took about a week to get back in the swing of things. I was concerned that the weight wouldn't come off as quickly on Round 2 but looking back on the completed Round I lost 30 lbs in the same time frame as the first round... about 40 days. I have trouble finding fault with those results. I plan on doing one last round when I finish up with this round of Maintenance in the middle of July. I have the last 12-15 lbs to lose and I figure at this point I am too close to my end goal to not reach it.
One thing I have learned during this round is that while it is vital to follow the VLCD protocol to a "T", it is equally important to follow the Maintenance exactly as specified. I made the mistake of going on a long awaited vacation with my husband (the vacation was not a mistake, but the timing certainly was) while still in the first week of Maintenance. I was not as structured on doing what I was supposed as I should have been and thus I have been having a heckuva time stabilizing. I have had more steak days than I ever thought possible and I am still not out of week 1 of Maintenance. I told my mom yesterday that when I finish my last round and enter Maintenance for the last time I will not be leaving the house for the first 2 weeks of it in order to make sure that I don't have this trouble next time. The vacation was fantastic, but I do regret not being more diligent while out of town. I am hoping that I can still rectify the situation but I have a funny feeling that the only way to do that will be to go to "clean eating" for 3 or 4 days in a row (clean eating is protein and veggies only - I will have to give up my fruits and I will miss them terribly) and then at that point I should be stable (fingers crossed). In order to do so I will make a trip to the store to stock up on veggies and meat.
I say all this to say, everyone makes mistakes and messes up at some point but the Hcg diet is not to blame. The only reason I am having issues right now is my own weakness while on vacation. The end result is that I am still at 138-140 lbs and I look great in a size 4 (smaller than I was when I got married almost 16 years ago). My 14 1/2 year old daughter wears a size 2 and I wear a size 4...really??? Isn't that crazy? My secret weapon is still and will remain the website that I ordered my product from and their customer support system. Check them out at
http://www.myhcgplus.com/a/5920 or click on the picture below to go straight there.
THE HCG DIET (Part 2) - LOADING TIME FOR ROUND 2
My Weight Loss Journey Part 1
I am currently on my 4th week of Maintenence and will start a 2nd round of the Hcg protocol after my 6 weeks of Maintenence is up. I might hit my goal weight in my 2nd round and then I'll go through Maintenence one more time and be ready to move into Life Phase which means that I should never have to struggle with my weight again as long as I follow the Life Phase protocol. Basically, make smart choices, don't deprive yourself but don't get more than 2-5 pounds above your goal weight again. That is one of the reasons I picked this diet, I never want weight to be a struggle for me again.
The hardest thing for me is that some people have a preconceived notion about this diet and they make a judgement on it as soon as they hear that is what I'm doing... "I know someone that did that diet and it didn't work for them." "I heard that is dangerous!" "Why would you want to do a diet that puts hormones in your body???" "Have you been having side effects?"
If someone does the diet and doesn't get results, they probably aren't doing it properly and don't have the right support system and info. When done properly it isn't dangerous at all - in my small town I know of two different doctors that administer the diet through their offices and another doctor that recommends it. What I use is homeopathic heat imprinted and is not the actual hormone, it just gets the results. When done properly there are no side effects except feeling better, having more energy and looking fantastic!
I plan on posting more info with hints and suggestions and following my 2nd round as I move towards my goal weight. In my first round I lost 29.5 lbs in 32 days and without trying I have lost a little more in Maintenence (not the goal, but my body seems to like having my metabolism jumpstarted again after all these years!). I am down 38.2 lbs for a total of 19.13%. I will post a couple pictures, but stay tuned for more as things progress over the next couple months! (The first picture is when I started at 199.7 and the second picture is when I finished the first round at 173.6 - I am 161.5 right now.)
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN WHERE I ORDER MY HCG PRODUCTS FROM YOU CAN CLICK ON THE MEASURING TAPE ABOVE MY PICTURE OR CHECK OUT THIS LINK.