March 30th, 2010 Day 18 of VLCD

• Yahoo! Weight: 160

• Snack: grapefruit
  
• Lunch: Cincinnati Chili
  
• Snack: Fuji Apple
  
• Dinner: Taco Salad
  

March 29th, 2010 Day 17 of VLCD

• weight 161...12 pounds in 16 days as today is start of 17th.
  

• my son lost 16 pounds in 16 days! He's lost 2" off his waist.

• Snack: grapefruit
• Lunch: Tamari Fish
• Snack: Fuji apple
• Dinner: Lemon Pepper Chicken
  

Constipation

Constipation

An excess of water keeps the feces soft, and that is very important in the obese, who commonly suffer from constipation and a spastic colon. While a patient is under treatment we never permit the use of any kind of laxative taken by mouth. We explain that owing to the restricted diet it is perfectly satisfactory and normal to have an evacuation of the bowel only once every three to four days and that, provided plenty of fluids are taken, this never leads to any disturbance. Only in those patients who begin to fret after four days do we allow the use of a suppository. Patients who observe this rule find that after treatment they have a perfectly normal bowel action and this delights many of them almost as much as their loss of weight.

*This is from Dr. Simeon's "Pounds & Inches" pg. 9

**I was told if I didn't move my bowel everyday that I needed to use herbalax but when I took it I had diarrhea cramps for several hours and felt I only lost all of my last meal.

Pie Crust

6 oz pecan
2 oz walnuts
2-4 Tbsp. Butter
stevia to taste

I use a coffee grinder to grind the nuts into flour. Bake at 350 for 10 mins, until lightly browned. Cool completely before filling.

Cheese Taco Shells

shredded cheese

Place cheese in a thin layer on a piece of parchment paper.
Microwave for 1 min. at a time, until cheese is bubbly and starts to slightly brown.
While the cheese is still flexible, use the parchment paper to bend the cheese to give it a taco shape.
Let the cheese cool while in this shape, use a small wrapped medicine bottle tucked inside the 'shell' to help it keep its shape while cooling.

Banana Pancakes

1/2 banana
1 egg
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Blenderize & pour onto a pan to make 2 or 3 pancakes, cook over low heat, flip as needed.

Top with butter, stevia, or favorite fruit syrup.

Stuffed Mushrooms

8oz baby portabella mushrooms

Wash & pat dry, cut off stems and reserve for stuffing, then toss caps in a bowl w/1 Tbsp. olive oil, place cap down on a cookie sheet on roast in a 450 oven for 5-10 mins.

Stuffing:
stems
4oz feta cheese
4oz black olives, chopped
1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
1 tsp. Greek seasoning
1 Tbsp. olive oil
Blenderize and place into each cap. Roast 10-15 mins.

Greek Spices

2 tsp. oregano

1 1/2 tsp. onion powder
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. parsley
1/tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. thyme

March 26th, 2010 Day 14 of VLCD

• weight 162

Starting today to look at a menu plan for phase 3. I read other blogs, all females who still menstruate, the consensus is you either gain 2-3 pounds or maintain w/a little yo-yo effect. My plan is to stop HCG 3 days before I should start and quit for 4 weeks. I did a cleanse for 6 weeks but never did any colon therapy. Being older and eating non-organic for so many years I think it wise, plus having constipation for quite a while that the HCG phase 2 is slowing me further. Not a fun subject but necessary to talk about as you must have a bowel movement every day.
I couldn't start new labeling on side line so I'll do something like chicken phase 3, fruits phase 3...ect.
3 hours after posting this I read pg. 9 of Dr. Simeon's "Pounds & Inches" and he stated that it was fine if you had a bowel movement only every 3-4 days. Hmmmm, make me have to think.

• Snack: Fuji apple
  
• Lunch: Chicken Onion Soup
  
• Snack:
• Dinner
  

Quick Glance View of phase II, VLCD

I use only organic fruits & veggies, free range chicken, grass fed cows, and wild caught fish.

500 calorie diet, otherwise called Very Low Calorie Diet or VLCD. Though it isn't just about counting calories there is a science to this diet. Certain foods interfere though low in calories such as mushrooms or artichokes.

Breakfast: Herbal tea as much as you like. Yerba Mate can help get you going in the morning. Coffee without sugar, only one Tbsp. milk

Lunch: 1) 100 grams of raw beef, chicken breast (only), white fish such as Chilean sea bass, cod, flounder, halibut, roughy, sole, tilapia. Lobster, crab or shrimp. All visible fat must be carefully removed before cooking. It must be boiled or grilled without any additional fat including no spray oils. You can use water, lemon juice or broth. NO salmon, ell, tuna, herring are allowed nor turkey breast or any other part of a chicken besides the breast.
2) One type of vegetable only (some people can have a couple and have no problems but others may find themselves on a plateau) includes the following: asparagus, beet greens, cabbage, celery, chard, cucumbers, lettuce (all in the family), onions (those in the family), radishes, spinach, tomatoes.
3) One fruit: an apple (only 1 but any size), grapefruit, orange, strawberries.
4) one breadstick of either grissino or Melba toast.

Dinner: Same as lunch.

Can use juice of 1 lemon per 24 hours to season food and/or all herbs, salt, pepper, vinegar. Garlic ok too but if you are taking homeopathic drops do not use as it will cause to be ineffective.

It is recommended that you drink 8-10 cups of water a day, drink green tea and herbal tea without sugar. You can use stevia and stevia in with flavor. Look for 100% Stevia, I bought some in a bottle that had inulin fiber as the number one ingredient and it tasted bitter. Then I learned I could buy in the bulk 100% though the price looks extremely high it works out to be so much less as you only need a 32nd of an 1/8 of a tsp. I had my husband make me a special mini spoon so I wouldn't over use.

Highly recommended: George Foreman Grill. It zaps any fat out but leaves on awesome flavor and only takes 3-5 mins. to cook meats.

Burritos

100 gr. fish or chicken
romaine or cabbage leaves

Cook the fish or chicken and place on a several leaves of Romaine or cabbage. To get the cabbage pliable to roll, first, cook 2-3 mins in steam water.

Taco Salad

100 gr. beef
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. chili seasoning

Put on bed of Romaine and top w/tomatoes

Tortilla Soup

3 Roma tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup chicken broth
4 Tbsp. cilantro, fresh & chopped
2 Tbsp. Braggs
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. coriander
1/4 tsp. red pepper
1/8 tsp. garlic powder

French Onion Soup

2 cups chicken broth
1 whole sweet onion

Simmer 1 hour

Coleslaw

Napa cabbage
orange, lime, lemon juiced
onion powder
garlic powder
braggs

Strawberry Vinaigrette

1 strawberry, minced
2 Tbsp. Balsamic vinegar
shake onion powder
shake garlic powder
water
shake dry mustard

Blenderize

Orange Ginger Chicken

100 gr. chicken
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 orange, juice & pulp
1/5 tsp. ginger, fresh & minced
4 Tbsp. Braggs
salt & pepper

Boneless Hot Wings

100 gr. chicken
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup water
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. chili powder

Spicy White Chili

100 gr. chicken
2 cup chicken broth
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp red pepper
1/8 tsp. cloves
Tabasco to taste

Bayou Shrimp Sauce

1 Tomato, diced small
1/4 tsp. celery salt
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. Worcester sauce, homemade see recipe
1/4 tsp.chili powder
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
pinch red pepper
pinch oregano
1 bay leaf
pinch pepper


Saute, add shrimp, scallops and/or roughy.

Shopping List

Herbs, Spices and Seasonings:
Allspice
Apple Cider Vinegar, raw
Basil
Bay Leaf
Black Pepper
Cayenne Pepper
Celery Salt
Chili Powder
Cilantro
Cinnamon
Coriander
Cumin
Dill Seed
Dill Weed
Garlic powder
Ginger
Italian Seasoning
Nutmeg
Onion Powder
Oregano
Paprika
Parsley
Peppercorns
Porltry Seasoning
Rosemary
Sage
Sea Salt
Thyme
Turmeric
White Pepper

Vegetables:
Asparagus
Beet Greens
Cabbage
Celery
Chard
Cucumber
Fennel
Lettuce family
Onion family
Radishes
Spinach
Tomatoes family

Fruits:
Apples
Grapefruits
Lemons
Oranges
Strawberries

Breading:
Grissino
Melba Toast

Sweetner:
Stevia and the variety of flavored stevia

Beverages:
Water
Coffee
Herbal Tea
Milk, skim

Meat:
Beef 7% or less fat
Buffalo
Chicken Breast
Veal

Fish & Seafood:
Crab
Fish... Flounder, Chilean Sea Bass, Cod, Halibut, Red Snapper, Roughy, Tilapia
Lobster
Scallops
Shrimp

Buffalo Burgers

1 tsp. Braggs
shake garlic powder
shake onion powder
shake day mustard

Grill in a George Foreman Grill

*Buy buffalo at a meat market, it is cheaper than grass fed 7% extra lean beef

Peppercorn Rub

peppercorn
garlic powder
onion powder
dry mustard

Salsa

2 sm. tomatoes
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/8 tsp. celery salt
1/8 tsp. chili power
1 tsp. cilantro, chopped
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
pinch stevia
2 Tbsp. Vinaigrette Dressing

Sauted Kale

bunch kale
1/4 red onion, chopped
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1 cup water
splash Braggs
salt & pepper to taste

Chineese Five Spice

2 tablespoons anise seed
2 tablespoons fennel seed
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons whole cloves
2 tablespoons whole peppercorns

SouthWest Spice

2 Tbsp. chili powder
2 Tbsp. paprika
1 Tbsp. cumin
1 Tbsp. coriander
1 Tbsp. 0regano
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
1 Tbsp. sea salt
1 tsp. cayenne
1 tsp. red pepper
1 tsp. black pepper

March 25th, 2010 Day 13 of VLCD

• weight 163

• Snack: grapefruit
• Lunch: marinated cod w/romaine leave dressed w/apple cider vinegar
• Dinner: stuffed apple chicken
  

March 24th, 2010 Day 12 of VLCD

• weight 164

Happy to report that yesterday was an all day grocery shopping day and today 8 hr. job that requires being constantly on my feet and...very very little pain in my feet. In fact, I didn't even notice until I got home but very little pain. A bit of cramping when I sat for an hour for a movie and when I got up had a little pain otherwise I am doing well.

• Snack: grapefruit
• Lunch: chili...oops grabbed wrong bowl so I didn't get what my taste buds hoped for "spicy"
  
• Snack: Fuji apple soaked in lemon juice
• Dinner: marinated roughy...yum! (wild caught found at Costco)
  

The Diet

The Diet

The 500 Calorie diet is explained on the day of the second injection to those patients who will be preparing their own food, and it is most important that the person who will actually cook is present - the wife, the mother or the cook, as the case may be. Here in Italy patients are given the following diet sheet. Breakfast: Tea or coffee in any quantity without sugar. Only one tablespoonful of milk allowed in 24 hours. Saccharin or other sweeteners may be used. Lunch: 100 grams of veal, beef, chicken breast, fresh white fish, lobster, crab or shrimp. All visible fat must be carefully removed before cooking, and the meat must be weighed raw. It must be boiled or grilled without additional fat. Salmon, eel, tuna, herring, dried or pickled fish are not allowed. The chicken breast must be removed raw from the bird. One type of vegetable only to be chosen from the following: spinach, chard, chicory, beet-greens, green salad, tomatoes, celery, fennel, onions, red radishes, cucumbers, asparagus, cabbage. One breadstick (grissino) or one Melba toast. An apple or an orange or a handful of strawberries or one-half grapefruit. Dinner : The same four choices as lunch.

The juice of one lemon daily is allowed for all purposes. Salt, pepper, vinegar, mustard powder, garlic, sweet basil, parsley, thyme, majoram, etc., may be used for seasoning, but no oil, butter or dressing.

Tea, coffee, plain water, or mineral water are the only drinks allowed, but they may be taken in any quantity and at all times. In fact, the patient should drink about 2 liters of these fluids per day. Many patients are afraid to drink so much because they fear that this may make them retain more water. This is a wrong notion as the body is more inclined to store water when the intake falls below its normal requirements.

The fruit or the breadstick may be eaten between meals instead of with lunch or dinner, but not more than than four items listed for lunch and dinner may be eaten at one meal. No medicines or cosmetics other than lipstick, eyebrow pencil and powder may be used without special permission

Every item in the list is gone over carefully, continually stressing the point that no variations other than those listed may be introduced. All things not listed are forbidden, and the patient is assured that nothing permissible has been left out. The 100 grams of meat must he scrupulously weighed raw after all visible fat has been removed. To do this accurately the patient must have a letter-scale, as kitchen scales are not sufficiently accurate and the butcher should certainly not be relied upon. Those not uncommon patients who feel that even so little food is too much for them, can omit anything they wish.

There is no objection to breaking up the two meals. For instance having a breadstick and an apple for breakfast or an orange before going to bed, provided they are deducted from the regular meals. The whole daily ration of two breadsticks or two fruits may not be eaten at the same time, nor can any item saved from the previous day be added on the following day. In the beginning patients are advised to check every meal against their diet sheet before starting to eat and not to rely on their memory. It is also worth pointing out that any attempt to observe this diet without HCG will lead to trouble in two to three days. We have had cases in which patients have proudly flaunted their dieting powers in front of their friends without mentioning the fact that they are also receiving treatment with HCG. They let their friends try the same diet, and when this proves to be a failure - as it necessarily must - the patient starts raking in unmerited kudos for superhuman willpower.

It should also be mentioned that two small apples weighing as much as one large one nevertheless have a higher caloric value and are therefore not allowed, though there is no restriction on the size of one apple. Some people do not realize that a tangerine is not an orange and that chicken breast does not mean the breast of any other fowl, nor does it mean a wing or drumstick.

The most tiresome patients are those who start counting Calories and then come up with all manner of ingenious variations which they compile from their little books. When one has spent years of weary research trying to make a diet as attractive as possible without jeopardizing the loss of weight, culinary geniuses who are out to improve their unhappy lot are hard to take.

Making up the Calories

The diet used in conjunction with HCG must not exceed 500 Calories per day, and the way these Calories are made up is of utmost importance. For instance, if a patient drops the apple and eats an extra breadstick instead, he will not be getting more Calories but he will not lose weight. There are a number of foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, which have the same or even lower caloric values than those listed as permissible, and yet we find that they interfere with the regular loss of weight under HCG, presumably owing to the nature of their composition. Pimiento peppers, okra, artichokes and pears are examples of this.

While this diet works satisfactorily in Italy, certain modifications have to be made in other countries. For instance, American beef has almost double the caloric value of South Italian beef, which is not marbled with fat. This marbling is impossible to remove. In America, therefore, low-grade veal should be used for one meal and fish (excluding all those species such as herring, mackerel, tuna, salmon, eel, etc., which have a high fat content, and all dried, smoked or pickled fish), chicken breast, lobster, crawfish, prawns, shrimps, crabmeat or kidneys for the other meal. Where the Italian breadsticks, the so-called grissini, are not available, one Melba toast may be used instead, though they are psychologically less satisfying. A Melba toast has about the same weight as the very porous grissini which is much more to look at and to chew.

Stuffed Apple Chicken Breast

100 gr. chicken breast, pound flat
1 med. apple
1/2 cup red onion
1/2 cup water
1+ tsp. Braggs Amino Acids
1/2 tsp. tarragon
1/4 tsp. dill weed
1/8 tsp. garlic powder

Marinate the chicken breast in Braggs once pounded flat for 15 mins. Meanwhile, saute 1/2 of the red onions and 1/2 the apples in a skillet with 1/2 cup or more of water, enough to cover the bottom of skillet. Cook 5 mins. Get all the spices ready. Place cooked onions & apple on breast and roll up, place in skillet. Add more water, enough to cover the bottom. Put the rest on onions and apples in. Cover chicken with spices. Cook for 3-5 mins. until chicken is no longer pink.

Awesome! Gourmet like in a restaurant. So many variations with stuffed chicken breast...I must investigate a little here. Can stuff with asparagus, spinach...can use curry or cinnamon and pumpkin pie spices. If you try something you like please do let us know, thanks.

March 21st, 2010 Day 9 of VLCD

• weigh 165 ... that's 8 pounds in 8 days!
  

Yes, water is allowing that 1 pound a day again!

• Snack: Fuji apple
• Lunch: hamburger w/lettuce as the bun w/BBQ sauce and 1/2 a steak tomato
• Dinner: stuffed apple chicken breast
  

PS. Taught Sunday School today = standing and still no foot pain! :) :) :)

Plantar Fasciitis

I must state how happy I am! I have had plantar fasciitis for 1 1/2 years, upon waking in the morning the feet are just tightly cramped up and oh so painful; any standing for long periods brings on excruciating pain. I did finally find TROPRICIN, a herbal formula for muscles aches-they have a special one just for feet, this cream is awesome! I finally arrived at a point that I only had to use a dime size amount in the morning upon rising and at night before bed and anytime I planned to stand during the day including shopping and my job which is only 1 day a week. Well, you cannot use cream on Simeon's Protocol...so, now what? Pain? During the 7th day of using HCG I worked 8 hours on my feet, by 4pm some pain but livable. I went home and mostly sat the night out but usually I'll have to ice without cream but NO! Not too much pain. Usually the next day would include pain but just a little cramping in the am and none by afternoon. Today-the 10th day on HCG or 8th day of VLCD, I shopped and had no pain!!!
Simeon is right! The fat redistributes! I didn't know if it would include my situation as not heel only as I have it in the fascia... but it is working!!! Look "fascia" up on Wikipedia.

March 20th, 2010 Day 8 of VLCD

• weight 166

I must state how happy I am! I have had plantar fasciitis for 1 1/2 years, upon waking in the morning the feet are just tightly cramped up and oh so painful; any standing for long periods brings on excruciating pain. I did finally find TROPRICIN, a herbal formula for muscles aches-they have a special one just for feet, this cream is awesome! I finally arrived at a point that I only had to use a dime size amount morning upon rising and night before bed and anytime I planned to stand during the day including shopping and my job which is only 1 day a week. Well, you cannot use cream on this diet...so, no what? Pain? During the 7th day of using HCG I worked 8 hours on my feet, by 4pm some pain but livable. I went home and mostly sat the night out but usually I'll have to ice without cream but NO! Not too much pain. Usually the next includes pain but just a little cramping in the am and none by afternoon. Today-the 10th day on HCG or 8th day of VLCD, I shopped and had no pain!!!


I had have a little upset stomach today due to too much herbal laxative pills. I use to have constipation before the cleanse so now with little going in...little is coming out. I wanted to make sure I don't hold waste as not healthy plus means more weight! BTW, I use three different types of laxatives: 1) Smooth Move Tea by Traditional Medicinals 2) Cascara Sagrada Bark 3) Herbalax, I purchase through my naturopath.

• Snack: Fuji apple
• Lunch: Hamburger w/BBQ sauce, cucumbers w/vinaigrette
  
• Snack: Fuji apple
  
• Dinner: Cod fish marinated in Tamari, asparagus

Worchester Sauce

1/2 cup raw apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp. Tamari (buy only organic as GMO's in all non-organic soybeans)
2 Tbsp. water
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. chili pepper
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. pepper

Mix all together.

*GMO- if you don't know about this please read article at...
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/10/17/Everything-You-HAVE-TO-KNOW-about-Dangerous-Genetically-Modified-Foods.aspx

also, look up on Wikipedia the name Monsanto

BBQ Sauce

1/4 cup tomato paste
1/4 cup water
4 tsp. Worcester sauce (homemade)
1 Tbsp. raw apple cider vinegar
1/4 tsp. liquid smoke
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. celery seeds
pinch stevia
salt & pepper to taste

Mix together. Best if used after refrigerating 24 hours.

Ketchup

1/4 cup tomato paste
1/4 cup raw apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup water
2 Tbsp. fish sauce (make sure no sugar in ingredients)
4 tsp. Worcester sauce (homemade as store bought contains high fruitous corn sugar)
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
pinch stevia

Mix together. Best if let refrigerate overnight before using.

Teriyaki Sauce

2 Tbsp. Tamari
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ginger, freshly grated
pinch stevia

Mix together. Allow 1-2 hours to marinate your meat.
Most delicious!

Lemon Pepper Chicken

100 grams chicken breast
1/4 lemon, juiced
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
salt & pepper to taste

Soak chicken 5 mins. in lemon juice. Sprinkle on seasonings and grill 3-5 mins. (already cooked chicken, raw chicken probably 6-8 mins.)

*For more flavor you might want to use more garlic and cayenne pepper.

March 19th, 2010 Day 7 of VLCD

• weight 167

The last three days I seemed to be at a 1/2 of a pound loss each day though over this 1st week it has averaged out to 1 pound a day. I wonder if having less than 1/2 a gallon of water a day has anything to do with it? Also, I just noticed on my vitamin powder container that it contains 1 gram of sugar and 4 grams of carbs., I only take 1/4 the amount but maybe enough to make a difference?

• Snack: Fuji apple
• Lunch: lemon pepper chicken and romaine leaves w/vinaigrette
• Dinner: Steak marinate in teriyaki sauce and romaine leaves w/vinaigrette
• Snack: Fuji apple
• water: 8 cups plus 1 cup yerba mate, 1 cup orange w/cinnamon tea plus 3 cup green tea.
  

Yesterday, I had a two hour drive up to Portland OHSU for some dental work which took three hours then another 2 hour drive home so dinner ended up being at 7:30 but I lost a pound. I didn't drink all the water I should as didn't want many restroom breaks.

Beef Cincinnati Chili

100 grams ground hamburger
1 beef steak tomato, cut into chunks
1 cup beef broth, make sure sugar free (I used "Imagine" brand that comes in a 32oz carton)
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. allspice
1/8 tsp. cloves
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 bay leaf

Cook hamburger, transfer to a pan with the rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil then simmer for 15-20 mins.

Beef Chili

100 grams ground beef
1 beef steak tomato, cut into chunks
1 cup beef broth, make sure sugar free (I used "Imagine" brand that comes in a 32oz carton)
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. basil
1/4 tsp. thyme
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
salt & pepper to taste

Cook hamburger then place in pan with the rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil then simmer 15-20.

March 17th, 2010 Day 5 of VLCD

• weight 168

• Snack: grapefruit
• Lunch: beef chili
• Snack: 1/2 large Fuji apple
  
• Dinner: grilled fish & asparagus
  

Vinaigrette Dressing

1/2 cup water
4 Tbsp. raw apple cider
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped fine
1 tsp. fresh basil, chopped fine
1 tsp. fresh oregano, chopped fine
1 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped fine
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
pinch stevia

Put in a curel. Mix well before serving.

Halibut

3.5 oz Halibut
1 Tbsp. Bragg's Amino Acids
sprinkle salt, paprika and garlic powder

Cook on George Foreman Grill for 6 mins.

March 16, 2010 Day 4 of VLCD

• weight 168.5 Yes! This is too amazing!

• I'm really looking for the correct good fat around my bones and organs. I have plantar fasciitis and hoping for this protocol to cure it. Tomorrow is a work day, I tend to stand most of the day which sets off a lot of pain. It might take another week for the fat to redistribute as Dr. Simeon said that many overweight individuals had pain in their heels that went away after the 15th day of the protocol. Mine isn't exactly heel pain but in the fascia that is along the whole middle of the foot.
  

• :) I fit in my old size 12 jeans!!! I must add... they are comfortable too!

• Snack: 10:30 grapefruit
• Lunch: Halibut and romaine w/vinaigrette dressing
• Dinner: Cincinnati Chili
  

• I have to plan for tomorrow's lunch as it's a work day. The plan is to make a second serving of Beef Chili that I made for my son.
  

Cucumber Salad

1 cucumber
1 Tbsp. raw apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. dill weed
pinch stevia
salt & pepper to taste

March 15, 2010 Day 3 of VLCD

• weight 170...one more pound gone for total of 3#'s. My son lost 5#'s overnight, total of 7#'s.

• Breakfast, I decided to go for a 10-10:30 snack instead of breakfast since my son lost more.
• Snack: 5 large strawberries
• Lunch: Grilled Halibut marinated in Bragg's Amino Acids and cucumber soaked in 1 Tbsp. of raw apple cider vinegar, pinch of stevia, 1 tsp. of dill weed, salt & pepper to taste.
• Snack: large Fuji apple
  
• Dinner: Chicken Onion Soup (my son loved this and asked if I'd make it again)

• water: 5 cups
• tea: 4 cups with stevia
  

Chicken Onion Soup

Chicken Onion Soup
1/2 cup chicken broth from previous baking
1/4 cup diced onion
1 green onion diced, only white part sauteed
2 sprigs of fresh thyme
2 sprigs of fresh parsley
1 Tbsp. of fresh oregano
1 tsp. marjoram
Sauteed above then add:
1 cup of water
3 oz. cooked chicken
green part on green onions
1/4 fresh chives.

March 14, 2010 - Day 2 of VLCD

• weight 171, 1 pound down from yesterday though I gained 2 during 2 day prep.

• Made pot of Yerba Mate tea
• Breakfast: grapefruit
• Lunch: Chicken Soup

Recipe for Chicken Soup: 1/2 cup chicken broth from previous baking
1/4 cup diced onion
1 green onion diced, only white part sauteed
2 sprigs of fresh thyme
2 sprigs of fresh parsley
1 Tbsp. of fresh oregano
1 tsp. marjoram
Sauteed above then added 1 cup of water, 3 oz. cooked chicken, green part on green onions and 1/4 fresh chives.
Wow! Delicious!

• Snack: Fuji apple
• Dinner: Beef Rib, used a rub found on another blog but didn't care for it nor my son. Will try a sauce next time.
  

March 13, 2010 "Day 1 of VLCD"

• weight 173
  

I will call this day 1 as the first two days are only prepping for the next 40. VLCD=Very Low Calorie Diet.

• First thing to weigh myself...2 pounds gained.

• Take 15 HCG drops 15 minutes before drinking anything.

• Made a large pot of Yerba Mate tea.

Use 100% pure stevia...just need a pinch within an 1/8 of a teaspoon (wish I had something smaller to measure more accurately as it is easy to use too much)

• Breakfast: grapefruit

I know it is stated not to eat until lunch but the handouts I received from the other naturopath said to eat the fruit for breakfast as when the body thinks it is starving it will hold onto fat, I know this to be true for me. I didn't use to eat breakfast when I was in my young 20's then I gained 80 extra pounds of weight when I was pregnant with first child, had gestational diabetes (diabetes only when pregnant). I started eating breakfast and lost weight! So, I'm personally trying it this way!

• Lunch: 3.5oz raw extra lean hamb. using George Foreman Grill, grilled 7 mins. Sliced 2 slices of tomato and wrapped in a iceberg lettuce leaf.
• Snack: Fuji apple
  
• Dinner: 3.5oz Halibut (soaked in Bragg's liquid Amino Acid for 15 mins., grilled 5.5 mins. (next time only 5 mins.). Steamed 10 asparagus spears.

My stomach did growl a little before lunch but it only took water to ease it.
I'll admit it feels strange knowing that you should be eating more but you don't feel hungry.

March 11th & 12th - 2 days of "Fattening up" Prep before VLCD

• start weight 171
  

Yes, anyone can do this diet! When you've been on a cleanse that has shrunk your stomach it is a little much but ... Oh! So good!
Day 1
Breakfast: potatoes, eggs and cheese
tea with honey
Snack: rice chips
Lunch: cream of broccoli soup (used 1/2 & 1/2)
Snack: mint chip ice cream
Dinner: dark chicken and cheese quesadilla's - used George Foreman Grill

Day 2

• weight 172
  

Breakfast: poached eggs in oil
Snack: rice chips
Lunch: cream of broccoli soup
Snack: GF chocolate chip cookie
Dinner: Super Grande 3 meat Mexican Burrito

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

My son and I went to the naturopath's office today. She gave me info she downloaded from another naturopath. And I purchased several bottles of HCG homeopathic drops. She recommended that I purchase a George Foreman Grill so I did.
Earlier we figured out how much meat we would need. I get 10% off at the Co-Op once a month and it just so happened to be that day to shop. We are allowed 100 grams = 3.5 oz. of raw extra lean beef, chicken breast or white fish. You are not to have the same meal twice in a day so I just wrote across a week's calendar: beef, chicken, fish, beef, chicken, fish, beef for lunch and below lunch I wrote for dinner chicken, fish, beef, chicken, fish, beef, chicken. Now to figure out how much we would need for the month of beef and chicken as I want to use only grass fed. Since I've been on the cleanse and ate grass fed and organics for the first time in my life I found the health benefits and the cost though more you eat less as your body receives more nutrients and feels full on less. The fish I get at Costco as they sell wild caught Cod, Halibut, Tilapia, Orange Roughy.
It was cheaper to buy a whole chicken than just the breast so I bought 4 chickens and cooked them altogether. I use 1/2 of onion in each cavity so gives a good broth. We ate the dark meat on days 1 & 2 of the HCG and froze the rest. We cut up the breast to 3oz cooked and placed in baggies to freeze. We bought several pounds of ground beef and separated into 3.5oz raw and placed into baggies. We also, bought beef ribs.
Also, purchased organic oranges, grapefruits, apples, strawberries, celery, romaine hearts, onions and green onions, herbs and spices.
Put away all from almond cans...I love to snack on almonds and have placed them in areas around the house and in the car. For the next 9 weeks they must get put away!

The start of the Journey with HCG

March 2, 2012, a friend lent me her book titled "Natural cures "they" don't want you to know about" by Kevin Trudeau, reading the table of contents I saw chapter 7 "Why are People Fat" & chapter 8 "How to Lose Weight Effortlessly and Keep it Off Forever". I read these two chapters in which he states he will write a book soon concerning just as the title states. Seeing that he wrote the book several years earlier I figured the library would have that new book, yes, I love my library as they have so many books that I want to read, and yes, they had it so I checked it out. I agreed with what he said but he drove me up the wall with going in circles, stating the same thing over and over again. I read half way through and thought "this just sounds too good to be true" so I emailed my naturopath. I figured she would give me much flack for even considering such a thing as HCG. But to my amazement she emails back stating she has been using HCG for 12 days and has lost 14#'s. Wow! she researches everything well, infact, she only sells homeopathic drops and such that she has personally visited the manufacturing facility. So, upon reading the email I got very excited, so much so I lost a pound the next day and three pounds the day before I started the first day of HCG.
Oh! I've been (my son also joined me) on the liver cleanse by Dr. Sandra Cabot. I started January 3rd, 2012. I actually did more of a the 28-Day Cleanse by Scott Ohlgren only longer which was stricter than Dr. Cabot. I did Dr. Cabot's for the first week then 6 weeks fo Ohlgren's cleanse then was going to continue to do Dr. Cabot's until I lost all the weight I needed to. I was in week ten when I saw my natropath. The day after I lost 3#'s. That is before starting HCG. I had only lost 8#'s total and been in a plateau for 3-4 weeks.