Halloween Holiday Helps

Halloween is here! A dreaded day for dieters. Donuts, cider, cupcakes, chocolate and candy abound and can tempt even the most strong-willed people into straying. For those of us on the HCG diet, it may be even harder since the diet itself doesn't allow for any variance from the strict rules. Even one Tootsie Roll can put you off track! And once Halloween is behind us, that's just the beginning of the Holiday Season, where the goodies never seem to end.

But don't despair! There are some things you can do to make today and the next few months a little easier!

For those in P2 & P3-- There's not a lot you can do as far as the food is concerned, but you can find ways to take your mind off all those lurking treats. When the munchies strike, try one of these distractions:

• Read a good book! Lose yourself in a good mystery or romance. There's nothing like reading a compelling story to take your mind off your rumbling tummy.
• Go shopping! Take a stroll through your local mall and take a look at all those cute clothes that are going to fit you right off the rack very soon.  I love to go window shopping so I can keep my eye on those stylish fashions and snatch them up the moment they go on sale. Just stay away from the food court! Focus on shoes and bags!
• Get into nature! Take a day trip to the park or go on an easy hike! 500 calories a day doesn't make for a lot of extra energy, but just getting some fresh air into your lungs can help you to see the big picture and restore you for another day!
• Get Creative! No sugar or carbs allowed, but you can check the recipe sites on this blog or do a google search for lots of good recipes with alternative ingredients. I just posted a great Pumpkin Pie recipe and will be posting another for Apple Crisp soon. So yummy for the fall season!

For P4 maintenance dieters-- If you have followed the HCG protocol up til now, you have a few more choices as far as your food is concerned. You can eat almost anything you like, but that is the danger. Be sure that you are keeping track of the foods that help you to gain weight and avoid those when you can. Watch the scale and if it hits that 2 lb. mark, do your Steak Day! To help you stay on pointe, try these tips:

• Take advantage of sugar-free snacks! There are plenty of alternatives out there, Splenda, Nutrasweet, Truvia, and more. I have found that these snacks are tasting more and more like the real thing but they do not affect your weight level like sugar can. My favorites are Blue Bunny No Sugar Added Bunny Tracks Ice Cream, Jell-o Sugar-free Pudding and for fall, I am loving, Alpine Sugar-free Apple Cider and Swiss Miss Sugar-free Hot Cocoa mix. Warm and tasty!  
• Track your Treats! Don't let yourself have free reign. Set limits before you head to the holiday bash and stick to it. 
• Choose Wisely! Stay away from sweets if you know they do you in and go for the cheese ball and crackers instead. Find the veggie tray and leave the caramel popcorn alone! 

The holidays can be hard, but you can be strong! Remember that the treats you pass up today are helping you make permanent changes for the future! Help us all to do our best by sharing your best secrets to success here! We'd love to hear about any recipes, treats or ideas that are working for you! 

Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Pie

Here is a yummy recipe I found for the Phase 3 (no sugar, no starch phase) of the HCG diet. The perfect treat for fall!

PUMPKIN PIE

1 can pumpkin (be sure it's 100% pumpkin and not pie mix)

2 eggs

1 can evaporated milk

1 c zsweet

1 t cinnamon

1/2 t sea salt

1/2 t nutmeg

1/4 t ginger

1/4 t cloves

unbaked pie crust

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
   
2. Combine all ingredients and pour into crust.
   
3. Bake 15 mins.
   
4. Reduce heat to 350 & bake 45 mins.
   
5. Cool completely before serving.

TIP: You can make this pie completely crustless, by pouring into a PAM-sprayed pie dish and following the same cooking instructions.

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My First Steak Day

After 2 rounds of HCG, I finally had my first Steak Day. I weighed in the morning on the 15th of October and I was exactly 2 lbs over my Last Injection Weight (LIW). To tell the truth, I was kind of excited to try this out and see if it really works.

I fasted my first two meals of the day, drinking only water or Crystal Light, and at dinner time, I cooked myself a big old Petite Sirloin Steak, about 7 oz., and ate a HUGE apple. I almost didn't make it through the meal. The only hard thing about the day was that my school had a BBQ at lunch that I had to miss and we were celebrating someone's birthday at work too. That's what I get for overindulging in the days before. :(

The next morning I woke up and I was down 3 lbs!!! Back under my LIW and in the zone again! I've been eating pretty liberally since, but I have been trying to make sure that I am eating balanced meals. I think I get into trouble when I lighten up on the veggies...so Salads for me are a must!

I'm so glad that this worked! I feel like my body just needed to be reminded that it has a new weight now. I'm super glad that I can eat pretty normally and make adjustments as they come up.

I'd love to hear about your Steak Day experiences! Let me know if they are working for you and keep checking back for more tips and diet helps!

75 lbs and counting!!!

Here's the new me (so far)! I am so glad I found the HCG diet. Click here to see my before photos. (Proceed at your own risk!)

Artificial Sweeteners

Are you using Truvia as an artificial sweetener? If so, you may want to look at this article.  It talks about the different brands of rebiana-based sweeteners and how they may be affected by additional ingredients. It also speaks to some of the science and marketing behind the products The comments were especially interesting to me, but keep in mind that they are purely subjective.

I used Truvia in the 2nd round of my Phase 2 and I was extremely happy with the taste and texture. I didn't notice any adverse effects on the weight loss and it made a nice change of pace from Splenda & Nutrasweet, both of which have a bit of an aftertaste to me. I haven't noticed this with Truvia so far.

Remember, you can use artificial sweeteners at any time during the HCG protocol. It's the carbs you want to stay away from, so read your labels and if you see any carbs, put it back on the shelf.  Truvia can be found at most retail grocers, but if you are looking for the stevia extract itself, you may need to go to a whole foods or health food store.

ksl.com - KSL 5 News investigates Utah's HCG diet deals

So despite the sensationalized spin, I think this report got it pretty much right.  The details of the diet were right on...and their concerns about what people who order HCG online are really getting echoed my own.  I disagree that there is "no scientific evidence" as there have been several studies done, many supporting the HCG protocol. (See my previous post for more on this.)

I would hope that this report does not damage the availability of this protocol to those who really need it.  It's been an amazing solution to a lifelong struggle for me! I, too, encourage the involvement of a physician as yo begin and the cost of the overall diet has been a bargain compared to some boutique-type health clinics and online sellers that have offered the diet at outrageous prices.  If you do order your HCG online, you might want to verify that it is coming from an authorized physician or pharmacist.

There is a lot of information posted on the KSL website, including the complete report. Check it out and post your comments....tell us what you think!!

ksl.com - KSL 5 News investigates Utah's HCG diet deals

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KSL Investigative Report

Tonight, on KSL 5 at 10pm, there is going to be a story on the HCG diet. I'm interested to see what they have to say about it. The commercials make it seem very controversial, which they tend to do, but I really hope they give it a fair evaluation.  I am especially interested in the "drug dealing" aspect.  It appears from the ads that there is a person buying HCG online with serious consequences, and while I think the rules are fairly ambiguous about buying this stuff on the Internet, I'd like to hear more about what the rules are.

I've been concerned about where people get their HCG, and whether it is really safe. I never really felt comfortable beginning this diet without medical supervision. I always recommend seeing a doctor when you begin this protocol, so that you are sure about what you are doing and are not putting yourself at any unnecessary risks.  However, since the rules for this diet are so straightforward, it is something that can easily be followed without regular visits to the doctor's office. I guess you should weight the pros and cons before you decide. It will be interesting television tonight!  Tune in at 10pm to see it and check back here tomorrow for my review. I'd love to hear your comments as well!