It's been about 3 weeks and I am officially down 10.2lbs. Yay!
My jeans are getting a little loose. . . double yay!
I'm still going to the gym 4-5x/week (Curves). It's hard to drag myself out of bed at 5:00am to go (especially after only getting 4-5 hours of sleep. . . ) But I'm doing it and I feel better once I get up and get going.
Our diet is Paleo, with few exceptions now. We did have pizza yesterday (gluten free) but I'm limiting myself to one (two max) tiny gf slices (they are maybe 1/3 the size of a regular pizza slice).
Tonight we are having Paleo mock sushi. . . I'm using seaweed wrappers, with veggies, shrimp and avocado inside. For the kids who need some extra carbs & calories, they will get a side of soaked brown rice with plenty of butter and tamari. I made some cauliflower "rice" as well so I may try to put some of that inside the seaweed wraps.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Easter and Weight. . .
I cheated over Easter weekend. (Who didn't, right?). That said, my weight stayed steady so I'm not beating myself up (besides, what would be the point?).
I had a sugar shop mocha, but had no problem avoiding them today. I guess the habit really is broken. I had two small pieces of candy from inside the kids plastic eggs and a serving of cooked chocolate pudding with whip cream (I know).
And I was SICK. My body made a quick adjustment to this almost no grains/low carb world and those sugar filled treats made me feel horrid. I won't be doing that again!
I didn't eat enough veggies or drink enough water today. . . funny since I was so incredibly thirsty over the weekend (probably because of my cheat foods).
Sunday night, I took the kids to the play and pizza place where they have gluten free pizza. The girls loved their special treat, I was nauseated with one slice (and the slices are probably 1/3 of a normal pizza slice!). I consider this a major improvement! I don't want to eat garbage food and I like that my body is telling me not to.
I definitely have more energy, but am getting a mid afternoon slump following any sugar. Tomorrow I am going to try my morning coffee with pure cream and stevia (I'm still using some coffee mate). I'm hoping that removing the last vestige of sugar and crap will perk me up. I am getting up at 5am and going to Curves for a work out every weekday morning (and some Saturdays, although not at 5am). I'm also wearing a pedometer and moving as much as possible throughout the day. I need to start making sure I'm in bed by 9 (that's hard!).
I feel like my cortisol levels are already falling and I know this will help with the weight and with the infertility.
On another note, after a rest cycle (month off), I started back on the fertility drugs today. UGH. This could make the cravings more difficult to deal with.
I had a sugar shop mocha, but had no problem avoiding them today. I guess the habit really is broken. I had two small pieces of candy from inside the kids plastic eggs and a serving of cooked chocolate pudding with whip cream (I know).
And I was SICK. My body made a quick adjustment to this almost no grains/low carb world and those sugar filled treats made me feel horrid. I won't be doing that again!
I didn't eat enough veggies or drink enough water today. . . funny since I was so incredibly thirsty over the weekend (probably because of my cheat foods).
Sunday night, I took the kids to the play and pizza place where they have gluten free pizza. The girls loved their special treat, I was nauseated with one slice (and the slices are probably 1/3 of a normal pizza slice!). I consider this a major improvement! I don't want to eat garbage food and I like that my body is telling me not to.
I definitely have more energy, but am getting a mid afternoon slump following any sugar. Tomorrow I am going to try my morning coffee with pure cream and stevia (I'm still using some coffee mate). I'm hoping that removing the last vestige of sugar and crap will perk me up. I am getting up at 5am and going to Curves for a work out every weekday morning (and some Saturdays, although not at 5am). I'm also wearing a pedometer and moving as much as possible throughout the day. I need to start making sure I'm in bed by 9 (that's hard!).
I feel like my cortisol levels are already falling and I know this will help with the weight and with the infertility.
On another note, after a rest cycle (month off), I started back on the fertility drugs today. UGH. This could make the cravings more difficult to deal with.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Slow and Steady. . .
My first 10 days have not seen as rapid of weight loss as my original success (2 years ago now!!!). But this is to be expected. I'm doing a few things different and have still lost 4.4lbs in 10days!
I am not recording my daily intake (in the past, I journaled every thing I consumed along with the calories and fat). I know what foods I need to be eating and what combinations keep me around my target calorie range. I have had carbs a couple times. . . 1 slice of GF pizza for lunch last week (it was Spring Break!). . . a GF bun on my burger and a portion of hasbrowns the other night with my eggs. Carbs are like glue on my body. Knowing this, I shouldn't have difficulty avoiding them.
Our family is moving toward Paleo eating. I'm not sure I will ever be 100% Paleo, as I find it hard to imagine giving up my GF Oats and Buckwheat or to completely remove dairy from our diets. Legumes? No problem. Pasta? No Problem. Bread? No Problem.
My biggest concern with moving Paleo is how to get full bellies and not out spend our budget. Our grocery budget is already generous at $1400/mo (for 8 of us + daycare which won't be Paleo due to USDA guidelines). I cannot afford to increase my grocery budget, so I have to figure out ways to reduce our carb fillers without breaking the bank (since much of our carbs are high cost gluten free items, this shouldn't be terribly difficult).
My biggest dietary change currently is the removal of refined sugar (for the last couple of years I haven't been a typical American sugar consumer, but I still had my addiction!). I gave up my sugar filled (and delicious) mocha's. It has been almost two weeks without my coffee shop fix. I'm not craving it any longer. . . so I'd guess I'm moving along fairly well on the detox. Sugar doesn't fit into the Paleo lifestyle so this is another positive move toward dino-eating for us.
Today I haven't done very well on eating like I should. . . so I won't share what I have (or haven't eaten). Here's yesterday's menu:
5:30am- Chocolate European Style Yogurt (8g protein, 16g carbs- pre gym carb fix).
7:30am- 1/2 cup (uncooked) gf oats, 1/2 cup frozen mixed berries, 1 Tbs real maple, 12-16 almonds crushed.
10:00am- Apple slices + 1 Tbs almond butter (if needed, I'm finding that a mid morning snack isn't necessary many days).
12:30pm- Lg garden salad w/ 1 Tbs ranch, 5 ounces chicken sauteed with 1/2 cup mushrooms
3:00pm- Cheesestick (if I feel like protein is needed) + cucumber slices
6:00pm- Grilled hamburger patty + garlic cheese + cauliflower + salad
9:00pm- Small snack if needed (olives, nuts, veggies, etc. . .) What I really want here is a bowl of cereal!).
My goal is to get at least 50% of my diet from vegetables and fruits, with 70% being optimum. I will probably have to incorporate a serving or two of fresh veggie and fruit juice each day in order to meet this goal.
On days that I skip meals. . . I feel it! Today is a feeling crummy day because I haven't fed myself properly.
Did I mention that I'm working out again? I rejoined Curves and am going five mornings a week. I'm also wearing a pedometer and clocking 14,000-16,000 steps per day. Yay!
I am not recording my daily intake (in the past, I journaled every thing I consumed along with the calories and fat). I know what foods I need to be eating and what combinations keep me around my target calorie range. I have had carbs a couple times. . . 1 slice of GF pizza for lunch last week (it was Spring Break!). . . a GF bun on my burger and a portion of hasbrowns the other night with my eggs. Carbs are like glue on my body. Knowing this, I shouldn't have difficulty avoiding them.
Our family is moving toward Paleo eating. I'm not sure I will ever be 100% Paleo, as I find it hard to imagine giving up my GF Oats and Buckwheat or to completely remove dairy from our diets. Legumes? No problem. Pasta? No Problem. Bread? No Problem.
My biggest concern with moving Paleo is how to get full bellies and not out spend our budget. Our grocery budget is already generous at $1400/mo (for 8 of us + daycare which won't be Paleo due to USDA guidelines). I cannot afford to increase my grocery budget, so I have to figure out ways to reduce our carb fillers without breaking the bank (since much of our carbs are high cost gluten free items, this shouldn't be terribly difficult).
My biggest dietary change currently is the removal of refined sugar (for the last couple of years I haven't been a typical American sugar consumer, but I still had my addiction!). I gave up my sugar filled (and delicious) mocha's. It has been almost two weeks without my coffee shop fix. I'm not craving it any longer. . . so I'd guess I'm moving along fairly well on the detox. Sugar doesn't fit into the Paleo lifestyle so this is another positive move toward dino-eating for us.
Today I haven't done very well on eating like I should. . . so I won't share what I have (or haven't eaten). Here's yesterday's menu:
5:30am- Chocolate European Style Yogurt (8g protein, 16g carbs- pre gym carb fix).
7:30am- 1/2 cup (uncooked) gf oats, 1/2 cup frozen mixed berries, 1 Tbs real maple, 12-16 almonds crushed.
10:00am- Apple slices + 1 Tbs almond butter (if needed, I'm finding that a mid morning snack isn't necessary many days).
12:30pm- Lg garden salad w/ 1 Tbs ranch, 5 ounces chicken sauteed with 1/2 cup mushrooms
3:00pm- Cheesestick (if I feel like protein is needed) + cucumber slices
6:00pm- Grilled hamburger patty + garlic cheese + cauliflower + salad
9:00pm- Small snack if needed (olives, nuts, veggies, etc. . .) What I really want here is a bowl of cereal!).
My goal is to get at least 50% of my diet from vegetables and fruits, with 70% being optimum. I will probably have to incorporate a serving or two of fresh veggie and fruit juice each day in order to meet this goal.
On days that I skip meals. . . I feel it! Today is a feeling crummy day because I haven't fed myself properly.
Did I mention that I'm working out again? I rejoined Curves and am going five mornings a week. I'm also wearing a pedometer and clocking 14,000-16,000 steps per day. Yay!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The Catalyst. . .
Any person who has ever had a successful weight loss journey has a story that started it all. That moment when they woke up, broke down, wept. . .
I've spent my entire adult life 20-60lbs overweight. I was a thin teenager and a sickly thin child. Then I turned 20 and it was all down hill from there. Perhaps it was the undiagnosed Celiac disease or the PCOS or a metabolism shift. I tried a couple weight loss plans here and there. . . nothing ever stuck. I was definitely a social eater and a lover of all things carbs.
Then, one winter day in 2010 when my world was crumbling around me, I stood on the scale and realized I had reached a weight I swore I'd never see. It was more than I weighed nine months pregnant with any of my children. I had barely capped that weight, in fact on a different day or in different clothing, I may never have breached it. . . but the fact is, on that winter morning I did. And it set things in motion. I launched into a weight loss regime like I never had before. . . and the pounds came off. I lost nearly 40 pounds in less than four months and I was thrilled! I quit being careful and managed to maintain my weight loss for about nine months. Then I remarried. . .
I've gained back all but 14 pounds. Sigh. I know why. . . we've been eating too many gluten free carbs. Hubs and I enjoy date night dinners (including desserts) too often and I've been drinking snickers mocha's like a mad woman.
I'm back up to a size 14, but I was almost back to a size 8. I know that I can get there again. I've lived in a bit of apathy about losing weight this year. . . the infertility treatments made it easy for me to ignore the weight gain. But, I saw a photo of me squished down on a child size chair at my niece's birthday party and I was SHOCKED and DISGUSTED. I wept. Granted it was a very unflattering position to be in, all squished up. . . but still. How did I get so flabby????
I never want to see another photo like that again.
I'm on day two of clean eating. It's going well. I've had a headache behind my eyes. . . and I'm sleepy. All this is to be expected whenever you launch into a new dietary regime. I'm reading The Metabolism Miracle and have decided it's the way for me to go. It's obvious I have metabolism B, so I'm hopeful this will work well for me. I'll work my way toward the carb free first eight weeks after I finish up some of the healthy foods I purchased already (grapefruits, yogurt).
The Metabolism Miracle allows unlimited neutral foods (meat, nuts, cheese, certain veggies, etc. . . ) for the first eight weeks (think Atkins). After eight weeks, you move into phase two which adds carbs back in. . . eventually you move into phase three for maintenance.
I'm a firm believer in not excluding any food groups from a healthy diet. . . but, I can exclude carbs for two months. I eat minimal grains anyway (gf oats, brown rice, some gf pasta).
I'll be baking more again with almond and coconut flours in order to find foods that satisfy my carb longings without getting the carb overload. I'm thinking legal pancakes soon. . .
I've spent my entire adult life 20-60lbs overweight. I was a thin teenager and a sickly thin child. Then I turned 20 and it was all down hill from there. Perhaps it was the undiagnosed Celiac disease or the PCOS or a metabolism shift. I tried a couple weight loss plans here and there. . . nothing ever stuck. I was definitely a social eater and a lover of all things carbs.
Then, one winter day in 2010 when my world was crumbling around me, I stood on the scale and realized I had reached a weight I swore I'd never see. It was more than I weighed nine months pregnant with any of my children. I had barely capped that weight, in fact on a different day or in different clothing, I may never have breached it. . . but the fact is, on that winter morning I did. And it set things in motion. I launched into a weight loss regime like I never had before. . . and the pounds came off. I lost nearly 40 pounds in less than four months and I was thrilled! I quit being careful and managed to maintain my weight loss for about nine months. Then I remarried. . .
I've gained back all but 14 pounds. Sigh. I know why. . . we've been eating too many gluten free carbs. Hubs and I enjoy date night dinners (including desserts) too often and I've been drinking snickers mocha's like a mad woman.
I'm back up to a size 14, but I was almost back to a size 8. I know that I can get there again. I've lived in a bit of apathy about losing weight this year. . . the infertility treatments made it easy for me to ignore the weight gain. But, I saw a photo of me squished down on a child size chair at my niece's birthday party and I was SHOCKED and DISGUSTED. I wept. Granted it was a very unflattering position to be in, all squished up. . . but still. How did I get so flabby????
I never want to see another photo like that again.
I'm on day two of clean eating. It's going well. I've had a headache behind my eyes. . . and I'm sleepy. All this is to be expected whenever you launch into a new dietary regime. I'm reading The Metabolism Miracle and have decided it's the way for me to go. It's obvious I have metabolism B, so I'm hopeful this will work well for me. I'll work my way toward the carb free first eight weeks after I finish up some of the healthy foods I purchased already (grapefruits, yogurt).
The Metabolism Miracle allows unlimited neutral foods (meat, nuts, cheese, certain veggies, etc. . . ) for the first eight weeks (think Atkins). After eight weeks, you move into phase two which adds carbs back in. . . eventually you move into phase three for maintenance.
I'm a firm believer in not excluding any food groups from a healthy diet. . . but, I can exclude carbs for two months. I eat minimal grains anyway (gf oats, brown rice, some gf pasta).
I'll be baking more again with almond and coconut flours in order to find foods that satisfy my carb longings without getting the carb overload. I'm thinking legal pancakes soon. . .
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Where has Average Girl Been?
MIA. . .
Soooo much has happened over the last year and a half. I remarried in December of 2010. I started gaining weight because we eat out too much and I've gotten re-addicted to my sugar filled coffee shop coffees.
My guess is that I've regained most (if not all) of what I previously lost. . . and I know this is completely my fault for not sticking to what I know works. We shall blame it on the new marriage... and the fertility drugs. Oh, yeah... did I forget to mention that? We've spent the last 15 months actively pursuing pregnancy with ZERO luck. So, there is that.
Then there is the whole Celiac issue. . . I've been gluten free for a year now. . . and even though I can't grab a donut or a PBJ sandwich, I've continued to gain weight. My thought was that maybe I entered starvation mode when I took an entire food group out. Who knows, really.
I keep saying I'm going to take the pounds back off. . . then Dutch Bros sneaks back in with a delicious sugary mocha. . . (and 400+calories/day!). I tried Medifast. . . that lasted four days. I was SICK. It is obvious to me, with these low low calorie plans, I get too ill to continue. I need enough calories of the right foods to sustain me.
So. . . I'm back on my 1200-1600 calorie plan starting with my first meal in the morning (it's almost bedtime now). I will journal every morsel that goes in my mouth and I will only consume calorie free beverages (with the exception of fresh juice made at home, once a day). I will avoid Dutch Bros like the plague. I will not give in to my chocolate cravings (which have returned since I'm eating sugar again). And the big clincher is. . . I will eat every 2-3 hours throughout the day. These meals will be a combination of clean foods and a good combination of lean proteins, healthy fats, & complex carbs in addition to lots of fresh veggies (and fruits).
If I discover that this fertility cycle has failed (meaning the monthly visitor), then I will start back on Alli for two weeks (until ovulation) to help kick start things. I find that I cannot take Alli for more than a couple weeks anyway or I get side effects even on the proper diet.
Guess I better update the weight loss clicker. . . sigh. . . I loved watching it tick away.
Soooo much has happened over the last year and a half. I remarried in December of 2010. I started gaining weight because we eat out too much and I've gotten re-addicted to my sugar filled coffee shop coffees.
My guess is that I've regained most (if not all) of what I previously lost. . . and I know this is completely my fault for not sticking to what I know works. We shall blame it on the new marriage... and the fertility drugs. Oh, yeah... did I forget to mention that? We've spent the last 15 months actively pursuing pregnancy with ZERO luck. So, there is that.
Then there is the whole Celiac issue. . . I've been gluten free for a year now. . . and even though I can't grab a donut or a PBJ sandwich, I've continued to gain weight. My thought was that maybe I entered starvation mode when I took an entire food group out. Who knows, really.
I keep saying I'm going to take the pounds back off. . . then Dutch Bros sneaks back in with a delicious sugary mocha. . . (and 400+calories/day!). I tried Medifast. . . that lasted four days. I was SICK. It is obvious to me, with these low low calorie plans, I get too ill to continue. I need enough calories of the right foods to sustain me.
So. . . I'm back on my 1200-1600 calorie plan starting with my first meal in the morning (it's almost bedtime now). I will journal every morsel that goes in my mouth and I will only consume calorie free beverages (with the exception of fresh juice made at home, once a day). I will avoid Dutch Bros like the plague. I will not give in to my chocolate cravings (which have returned since I'm eating sugar again). And the big clincher is. . . I will eat every 2-3 hours throughout the day. These meals will be a combination of clean foods and a good combination of lean proteins, healthy fats, & complex carbs in addition to lots of fresh veggies (and fruits).
If I discover that this fertility cycle has failed (meaning the monthly visitor), then I will start back on Alli for two weeks (until ovulation) to help kick start things. I find that I cannot take Alli for more than a couple weeks anyway or I get side effects even on the proper diet.
Guess I better update the weight loss clicker. . . sigh. . . I loved watching it tick away.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
3 Days and 7 lbs
Today is my third day of HCG + VLCD and I am down exactly 7lbs. Talk about FAST.
I feel like crap... week, shaky, tired, headaches... only one other person I know who has done this protocol has had the same experience. Everyone else is all "whaaaaaat, I feel fine!". Not so for me, I barely have the energy to climb the stairs in my house.
That said, my friend who experienced similar yucky feeling said it passed in about a week each time she did the protocol. I'm praying I don't have to do a second round... I'm not sure I could handle this part again!
By dinner time yesterday I was feeling pretty okay. Come this morning though, I was back to barely being able to drag myself out of bed. The weight loss is encouraging me to push through... but man, I really wanted a bowl of Cheerios this morning.
Today's 500 calorie plan:
Breakfast- 4 strawberries sliced and sprinkled with stevia, Melba Toast
Lunch- 1 egg + 2 egg whites (only a rare protein choice on HCG), cucumber w/ salt
PM Snack- sliced apple (if I'm feeling really crazy, I'll sprinkle it with stevia and cinnamon)
Dinner- 100g shrimp, cabbage, chicken broth, Melba Toast (The cabbage/chicken soup last night filled me up and I felt satisfied, so we will go with the same cooked with shrimp).
I could be shooting myself in the foot with the choice of eggs for protein at lunch. I haven't heard anyone who has had eggs, the protocol says they should be a rare choice if used due to the high fat content of the yolk.
I feel like crap... week, shaky, tired, headaches... only one other person I know who has done this protocol has had the same experience. Everyone else is all "whaaaaaat, I feel fine!". Not so for me, I barely have the energy to climb the stairs in my house.
That said, my friend who experienced similar yucky feeling said it passed in about a week each time she did the protocol. I'm praying I don't have to do a second round... I'm not sure I could handle this part again!
By dinner time yesterday I was feeling pretty okay. Come this morning though, I was back to barely being able to drag myself out of bed. The weight loss is encouraging me to push through... but man, I really wanted a bowl of Cheerios this morning.
Today's 500 calorie plan:
Breakfast- 4 strawberries sliced and sprinkled with stevia, Melba Toast
Lunch- 1 egg + 2 egg whites (only a rare protein choice on HCG), cucumber w/ salt
PM Snack- sliced apple (if I'm feeling really crazy, I'll sprinkle it with stevia and cinnamon)
Dinner- 100g shrimp, cabbage, chicken broth, Melba Toast (The cabbage/chicken soup last night filled me up and I felt satisfied, so we will go with the same cooked with shrimp).
I could be shooting myself in the foot with the choice of eggs for protein at lunch. I haven't heard anyone who has had eggs, the protocol says they should be a rare choice if used due to the high fat content of the yolk.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Long Plateau & HCG Protocol
There has been so much going on in my crazy world, that weight loss took a backseat. The good news is, I managed to maintain my August weight over the last four months with no gain. I continued to weigh weekly to make sure I was within a pound of that weight.
Overall, I'm much less hungry and much more aware of portion sizes. I'm not snacking and I'm not eating junk. On the occasion that I want a treat, a very small portion does the trick. I have no doubt that if I had continued to eat only clean meals of lean protein + complex carb + veggies, I'd have lost quite a bit more weight over the last four months. That said, I've been enjoying my Dutch Bros mocha's a bit too much.
I decided drastic was called for in order to get my brain back into the full functioning/weight loss mode. So, I started the HCG Protocol. The first two days are known as "gorge days" and I tell you, I couldn't eat half of what was suggested (probably because I'm not used to high fat/junk foods). Day three was my first VLCD (500 calories) and I did okay. I'd been sick over the weekend (because of gorge + hcg start or flu, I don't know) so the first VLCD was pretty easy. However, today finds me starving... I'm thinking about food nonstop. It's physical hunger and a psychological battle over WANTING to eat.
My biggest fear (other than hunger) is boredom... on the HCG diet the following foods are avaliable with NO exceptions.
2 servings of 100 grams lean protein (one each at lunch and dinner)-chicken, fish, lean beef, shrimp
2 vegetables (not mixed, one each at lunch and dinner)- spinach, chard, chicory, beet-greens, green salad, tomatoes, celery, fennel, onions, red radishes, cucumbers, asparagus, cabbage.
2 fruits (one each at lunch and dinner, or if needed, have the lunch one at breakfast) apple, half grapefruit, orange, or handful of strawberries.
2 Melba Toasts (one each at lunch and dinner or use as snacks between).
1 Tbs milk
Stevia
Juice of one lemon
Pure spices (check for sugars, starches, etc...)
Black coffee
Tea (no fruits added)
Water
Today's 500 calorie line up:
Breakfast- cup of black chai tea + 1 Tbs milk + 1 stevia packet with a Melba Toast 45 cals
AM snack- I enjoyed four strawberries sliced, sprinkled with a bit of stevia 30 cals
Lunch- 100 grams tilapia cooked w/lemon slices, black pepper, salt, garlic + asparagus 125 cals
Dinner- 100 grams chicken + 1/2 cup chicken broth + 1/4 head cabbage seasoned with black pepper, garlic, + salt. Melba Toast and a sliced apple. 265 cals + 15 cals juice of one lemon
daily total= 480cals
In between meals, I've enjoyed 3 glasses of lemonade because my queasy tummy isn't liking plain water (1/3 of the lemon, squeezed, 1 packet stevia, iced water). I'm not a big tea fan, but found spiced tea to be palatable when I add stevia to it.
Here's to staying positive... and winning the mind battle over food.
*Side note* When I fully implement the Eat Clean Diet, I am NOT hungry and have no issues with portion control or cravings. This HCG diet is more of a test than anything, plus I'd love to see if it really does help target that belly fat I can't seem to get rid of!
*I've met my first weight loss goal, so I've updated my ticker to my final goal weight.
Overall, I'm much less hungry and much more aware of portion sizes. I'm not snacking and I'm not eating junk. On the occasion that I want a treat, a very small portion does the trick. I have no doubt that if I had continued to eat only clean meals of lean protein + complex carb + veggies, I'd have lost quite a bit more weight over the last four months. That said, I've been enjoying my Dutch Bros mocha's a bit too much.
I decided drastic was called for in order to get my brain back into the full functioning/weight loss mode. So, I started the HCG Protocol. The first two days are known as "gorge days" and I tell you, I couldn't eat half of what was suggested (probably because I'm not used to high fat/junk foods). Day three was my first VLCD (500 calories) and I did okay. I'd been sick over the weekend (because of gorge + hcg start or flu, I don't know) so the first VLCD was pretty easy. However, today finds me starving... I'm thinking about food nonstop. It's physical hunger and a psychological battle over WANTING to eat.
My biggest fear (other than hunger) is boredom... on the HCG diet the following foods are avaliable with NO exceptions.
2 servings of 100 grams lean protein (one each at lunch and dinner)-chicken, fish, lean beef, shrimp
2 vegetables (not mixed, one each at lunch and dinner)- spinach, chard, chicory, beet-greens, green salad, tomatoes, celery, fennel, onions, red radishes, cucumbers, asparagus, cabbage.
2 fruits (one each at lunch and dinner, or if needed, have the lunch one at breakfast) apple, half grapefruit, orange, or handful of strawberries.
2 Melba Toasts (one each at lunch and dinner or use as snacks between).
1 Tbs milk
Stevia
Juice of one lemon
Pure spices (check for sugars, starches, etc...)
Black coffee
Tea (no fruits added)
Water
Today's 500 calorie line up:
Breakfast- cup of black chai tea + 1 Tbs milk + 1 stevia packet with a Melba Toast 45 cals
AM snack- I enjoyed four strawberries sliced, sprinkled with a bit of stevia 30 cals
Lunch- 100 grams tilapia cooked w/lemon slices, black pepper, salt, garlic + asparagus 125 cals
Dinner- 100 grams chicken + 1/2 cup chicken broth + 1/4 head cabbage seasoned with black pepper, garlic, + salt. Melba Toast and a sliced apple. 265 cals + 15 cals juice of one lemon
daily total= 480cals
In between meals, I've enjoyed 3 glasses of lemonade because my queasy tummy isn't liking plain water (1/3 of the lemon, squeezed, 1 packet stevia, iced water). I'm not a big tea fan, but found spiced tea to be palatable when I add stevia to it.
Here's to staying positive... and winning the mind battle over food.
*Side note* When I fully implement the Eat Clean Diet, I am NOT hungry and have no issues with portion control or cravings. This HCG diet is more of a test than anything, plus I'd love to see if it really does help target that belly fat I can't seem to get rid of!
*I've met my first weight loss goal, so I've updated my ticker to my final goal weight.
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