Phase 3 Begins Monday!

Today was my LIW day...Grand Total for this round was 34 lbs!! That makes my overall net weight loss with HCG about 80 lbs. My cumulative weight loss would be about 134....if only I hadn't gained back that cursed 50! But I'm looking good again, feeling even better, and more importantly, I'm fitting in all of my clothes again! :)

In gearing up for Phase 3, I came across this great Phase 3 Primer. It had some great tips that I wanted to share!  Some of it was pretty basic, but it had a couple great tips that I hadn't seen before so it's definitely worth the 15 minutes to read.

I've also got some pretty great Phase 3 recipes that I can't wait to post too! I'm planning on making these in the next couple of days and taking some good pictures, so check back soon!

One week to go...

I have one more week of VLCD left to go! My last shot is on Friday. I am so ready to be done. I'm very glad I did this last round, but I am seriously tired of eating the same, same food. I have used all the yummy recipes on this blog and then some which has helped because I know it's not always just chicken and broccoli (actually one of my favorite meals, but you know what I mean!)

Going into Phase 3 is one of the hardest times for me. I always struggle when there are more choices and it's not so regimented. One of the things I am looking into is a way to help me in Phases 3 and 4 and beyond. I am reading a book called Why We Get Fat and What To Do About It by Gary Taubes. It has been very informative and I highly recommend it. It seems to go along with the protocol in that it puts the blame squarely on sugars and carbs, which is exactly what we need to avoid not only especially during P3 but also from now on, if the weight loss is to be permanent. This book doesn't necessarily tell you how to do that, but why it is important. So now I am interested in finding out more about the South Beach or Atkins philosophies to see if that can help with the day to day. I'd really love to hear if any of you have experience with either of these high protein/low carb diets..or any other tips you have. What helps you most in P3 and P4? I'll let you know what I come up with!

3 Weeks In...

Halfway done with shots and down 25 lbs! It's getting really hard to eat the same old things everyday, although I have tried a few new recipes and treats (posted below) which has been helping.

You know, I really don't understand why I can be so diligent about sticking to this diet when I'm on the shots, but when I'm in Maintenance I have no will power. Does anybody have any ideas? I truly feel like I CANNOT resist yummy foods when I'm off-protocol, but when I'm on and I see my temptation foods, I think it would be nice to have them but I can say no.

At any rate, I'm still impressed with how well this diet works for me! It is a hard diet to stick to, but I know if I do, I will see the pounds drop away! Gotta love that!

Tasty Way to Steam Veggies

The first time I tried steamed Asparagus Spears, I thought they were digusting. It was very unexpected because I remember liking them as a kid and it seemed unlikely that I would have lost such a sophisticated taste over the years. ;)

But then I discovered a great way to add flavor to my steamed spears...just use chicken broth!

I added about a 1/4 cup of an all-natural, fat free, low sodium chicken broth in with the veggies that I am cooking and voila! Tasty sidedish that doesn't go against the protocol!

I've tried this with asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, and green beans. Yum!

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Chicken Nuggets

3.5 oz. Chicken Breast
2 Melba rounds or Grissini bread
Garlic Salt (to taste)
Salt, Pepper (to taste)
Parsley Flakes (to taste) optional


Place rounds or bread and seasonings into a plastic bag. Crush with rolling pin and mix thoroughly. Cut breast into 1-inch chunks. Place moist chicken in bag and coat with breading mix. Place on a baking tray and bake for about 12-18 minutes at 400 degrees. 


Use Walden Farms BBQ sauce or Honey Dijon dressing for dipping. Serve with 3.5 oz of your allowed veggies. 


I eat this recipe all the time. My kids even beg to let me try them when I do! But I never share...how can I? :)

My New Favorite Thing

This gum is my new favorite! I went on a long road trip and in lieu of my usual "keep-awake" snacks, I bought some of this gum....and loved it!


I also enjoyed the Sweet Tropical flavor. It was very grapefruit-y/citrus-y...which I enjoyed! Hope you will too!



Here's are links to some of my other favorite HCG items which I've blogged about in the past.
My favorite Makeup! Revlon Colorstay Mineral Lipglaze
My favorite Recipe! Lemon Garlic Shrimp
My favorite Freebie! Sharps Container

Oh PIckles!

I was wondering if it's okay to eat pickles on the HCG diet so I Googled it and came across this good FAQ, which I thought I would share:

http://www.hcgdietfacts.com/HCG-FAQs.php

It turns out that Pickles (cucumbers in vinegar brine) are okay, but they contain high sodium which is not recommended because it can cause you to retain water and therefore weight.  Which you already know if you read the FAQ! :) So, I suppose you can choose to pickle or not!