R2P3 Day 8

Weight - 161.0

Hmmm.. not output overnight which is likely part of the reason for the rise on the scale.  I'm sure Saturday is likely to be a steak day with the way New Year's Eve went.  All the family over.  Made the snacky things they wanted including potato skins that they for some reason think are the bomb.  I had a couple of shots of tequila, a glass of champagne at midnight.  A bit or two of their appetizers which came late in the evening and then decided I deserved the dang Mrs Fields double fudge brownie sitting on the counter that had been bought for me over a week ago.  Hey..  I've been a pretty good girl.  It'll come back off. 

Happy New Year everyone!

Breakfast - (132 calories)
Coffee with 1 tbsp half & half
1 7oz container Fage 0% Greek Yogurt
50 g raspberries
chocolate stevia to taste

Lunch - (339 calories)
**Tuna salad & a icberg lettuce salad
6 5/8 oz Starkist tuna in water
40 g onion
40 g celery
3 tbsp dill relish
1 tbsp Duke's Mayonnaise
pepper and pickle juice
220 g iceberg lettuce
4 tbsp Maple Grove Farms Balsamic Vinaigrette


Dinner - (659 calories)
290 g chicken breast baked
1 slice Sargento Pepper Jack Cheese
2 tbsp Pace Chunky Salsa
1/2 potato skin
1 cheese & pepperoni bagel bit
4 pieces Farm Rich Mozzarella bites


Evening - (533 calories)
4 oz tequila
4 oz champagne
1 Mrs Fields Double Fudge Brownie

Total calories for the day 1,663
Daily Calorie Composition: 29% from carbs, 31% from fat and 40% from protein.

R2P3 Day 7

Weight - 159.6

One third of the way into Round 2 Phase 3 and I've yet to waiver outside of the two lb range.  Very very odd compared to round one.  Not that I want to be having to do steak days or anything.  Heck.. I love steak, but I like breakfast and lunch too.  In fact, I had a luscious steak for dinner tonight.  A client sent a care package from Omaha Steaks, and I decided to make the two 5 ounce sirloins tonight for dinner.

My younger son's girlfriend arrived for a two week visit.  She brought me one of my favorite Tequilas, Casa Noble Crystal.  I will definitely be testing the waters with the sugar alcohols tomorrow night.

Before HCG, I was a big time Crystal Light drinker.  Mostly drinking the iced tea and lemonade flavors.  At the end of round 1, I started drinking some ocassionally, but soon discovered that it was entirely two sweet for my after-hcg tastes.  I use the single serve packages and normally put 2 packets in a liter bottle.  I found that using one packet toned it down enough for me.   Well, I had forgotten this and made myself a 20 oz bottle today and about gagged from the sweetness.  Then it dawned on me..  water it down.. water it down.

Breakfast - (189 calories)
2 cups coffee with 1 tbsp half & half each
1 7 oz container Fage 2% greek yogurt
50 g raspberries
chocolate stevia to taste

Lunch - (281 calories)
**Spinach salad with chicken
84 g cooked weight Kirkland Grilled Chicken Breast Strips
100 g baby spinach
30 g onion
28 g gorgonzola cheese crumbles
4 tbsp Marie's Blue Cheese Yogurt Dressing

Dinner - (1,059 calories)  **Really?!  It's the oil and butter...
**Sirloin Steak with mushroom/onion/gorgonzola topper
10 oz Omaha Steak Sirloin Steaks
100 g onion
140 g mushrooms
50 g gorgonzola cheese
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp minced garlic

This dinner was to die for.  I preheated the broiler to 450 degrees F.  Placed an oven safe skillet on medium high heat on the stovetop.  Brushed the steak with olive oil and my favorite steak seasonings.  Placed the steaks in the skillet, browning for 2 minutes then turning and placing the skillet under the broiler until done to my liking (medium for me). Remove from the oven and let rest for several minutes.

While the steak was cooking, I heated the butter and garlic in a small saute pan until bubbling then added the mushrooms and onions.  Saute until softened and the onions are somewhat translucent.  Top the steak with mixture and sprinkle cheese over it.

Total Calories for the day - 1,529
Daily Calorie Composition: 10% from carbs, 59% from fat and 31% from protein.

R2P3 Day 6

Weight - 159.0

Right back at LDW today, but not much in the output department overnight which isn't usual.  Did some running around with my daughter-in-law and granddaughter to get things for New Years Eve and New Years Day.  The family will be having munchy, fingerfoods for New Years Eve as well as alcohol.  I'm not sure what I'll have.  Maybe I'll treat myself to a nice juicy steak, if tomorrow doesn't end up being a steak day (now I've probably jinxed myself).

Breakfast - (464 calories)
**Veggie Scramble with Turkey Sausage
1 large egg
1/2 c eggbeaters
60 g onion
60 g mushrooms
60 g green pepper
1 tbsp I Can't Believe It's Not Butter light
28 g gorgonzola cheese
2 tbsp pico de gallo
4 or 5 jalapeno slices
2 tbsp half & half (in two cups of coffee)

Lunch - (389 calories)
**Spinach salad with turkey
4 oz Jennie-O Oven Roasted Lean Turkey breast
100 g baby spinach
30 g onion
28 g feta cheese, reduced fat
3 tbsp Brianna's Real French Vinaigrette Dressing

Afternoon snack - (73 calories)
115 g mandarin oranges

Dinner - (492 calories)
**Salsa Jack Chicken and Green Beans
9 oz raw weight chicken breast
1 can Del Monte No Salt Added Green Beans
2 tbsp salsa
1 slice Sargento Pepper Jack Cheese
Montreal chicken seasoning to taste.

Baked chicken at 350degrees until done.  Melted cheese on top in broiler.

Evening Snack - (169 calories)
325 g cucumbers
2 tbsp Brianna's Real French Vinaigrette Dressing

Total Calories for the day 1,587
Daily Calorie Composition: 14% from carbs, 46% from fat and 40% from protein.

R2P3 Day 5

Weight 158.0

The teeter totter of P3 is in full swing.  Concentrated on mostly proteins yesterday and dropped 2.8 lbs overnight.  Decided to skip eggs today and have my old standby Fage Greek Yogurt for breakfast and a huge spinach salad for lunch.  Loved it all.  I feel like I'm cheating but I'm not.

Had a wonderfully relaxing 90 minute facial this afternoon complete with a good head, neck and shoulder massage.  Esthetician mentioned my skin was a bit dry, but I expected that after 50+ days of not using my normal products.  She also commented on the weight loss.  She sees me every 4 weeks said it really looked different this last time.  She weighs about a buck ninetyfive and was actually asking me about the diet.

Breakfast - (189 calories)
2 cups coffee with 1 tbsp half & half each
1 7 oz container Fage 2% Greek Yogurt
50 g raspberries
vanilla creme stevia to taste

Lunch - (555 calories)
** Spinach salad
100 g Kirkland Grilled Chicken Breast Strips
100 g baby spinach
200 g cucumber
45 g onion
35 g feta cheese
4 tbsp Brianna's Real French Vinaigrette 

Dinner - (592 calories)
**Veal Saute with Balsamic Onions and Zucchini Hash Browns
250 g Veal cut for scallopini
225 g sweet onion
1 tbsp olive oil
4 tbsp BoltHouse Farms Classic Balsamic Vinaigrette
pepper to taste

Saute veal in a pan with a small amount of water.  Heat another saute pan with the olive oil.  Saute onions until softened and add vinaigrette to heat.  Pour over veal. 

Total Calories for the day 1,336.
Daily Calorie Composition: 19% from carbs, 46% from fat and 35% from protein.

R2P3 Day 4

Weight - 160.8

Weird night for me and lack of 'output' brought my weight up a bit so I'm doing primarily protein today.

Breakfast - (18 calories)
coffee with half & half

Lunch - (213 calories)
**Scrambled eggs
1 large egg
3/4 c eggbeaters
1/5 tbsp butter


Dinner - (877 calories)
**Sirloin steak and tomato
1.2 lbs lean sirloin steak, sliced thin
1 tbsp extra light olive oil
2 tsp garlic powder
180 g roma tomato
2 tbsp vinegar
pepper to taste

Brush the steaks with olive oil and garlic powder.  Pan fry because they are thin.

Total calories for the day 1,108
Daily Calorie Composition: 4% from carbs, 41% from fat and 55% from protein.

R2P3 Day 3

Weight 158.8

Ahhhh Christmas is over and a got a decent night's sleep.  Today I have this almost hungover, rummy, lack of sleep kind of feeling.  Can't believe I managed three meals today.  Not monsterously hungry, but I don't want to mess things up by not eating what I should. 

As I cooked my dinner, I also cooked a couple of regular burgers for my son.  Partway through preparation, he hollers "Whatever you are making smells really good."  I replied that it was his dinner.  Haven't heard him whoop like that in a while.

Throughout the day (53 calories)
Coffee with half & half
1 Zevia Black Cherry soda

Breakfast - (401 calories)
**Veggie scramble and bacon
1 large egg
.5 c eggbeaters
50 g onion
50 g bell pepper
50 g mushrooms
1 tbsp pico de gallo
1 tbsp bacon grease (from bacon cooked)
1 oz Blue Cheese crumbles (reduced fat)
2 slices Hormel Black Label Low Sodium Bacon

Lunch - (305 calories)
**Garden salad with turkey
4 oz Jennie-O Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
180 g Fresh Express Sweet Butter lettuce
150 g cucumber
50 g onion
4 tbsp Marie's Yogurt Blue Cheese Dressing
shake of Johnny's Salad Elegance seasoning
 

Dinner - (657 calories)
**Turkey Burger Patties
2 Jennie-O All Natural Quarter Pound Turkey Patties
2 slices Sargento Pepper Jack Cheese
90 g roma tomato
2 small baby dill pickles
40 g onion
1 tbsp guacamole
1 tbsp Organicville Ketchup
1 tbsp mustard
1 tbsp Duke's Mayonnaise


Total Calories for the day 1,416
Daily Calorie Composition: 12% from carbs, 54% from fat and 34% from protein.

R2P3 Day 2

No weight this morning because I did not sleep at all and hit the road at 6 am.

Coffee throughout the day (70 calories)
4 tbsp half & half

Lunch - (685 calories)
**Christmas morning late breakfast
2 scrambled eggs
1 zucchini hash brown
2 daikon hash brown
2 sliced thick bacon
3 pieces Jimmy Dean sausage

Snacks - (325 calories)
50 g iceberg lettuce
2 tbsp Marie's Yogurt Blue Cheese dressing
2 Oscar Mayer Fat Free Turkey wieners
28 g colby jack cheese
50 g turkey breast

Dinner - (470 calories)
**Bunless burger
6 oz 96/4 ground beef
1 slice Tillamook pepperjack cheese
20 g dill pickle
85 g roma tomato
20 g onion
1 tbsp Duke's Mayonnaise
2 tsp ketchup
2 tsp mustard

Total calories for the day 1,551
Daily Calorie Composition: 9% from carbs, 61% from fat and 30% from protein.

R2P3 Day 1

Weight - 159.6

Whooohooo day 1 of phase 3.  Looking so forward to half and half in my coffee, etc.

Starting out  much like I did for Round 1's phase 3. My first meal was lunch because my last drops were about 10 am on Wednesday morning.

Had 3 cups of coffee throughout the day with 1 tbsp half & half in each cup.

Lunch - (311 calories)
**TunaFish salad
6 oz low sodium chunk light tuna, drained
50 g celery
50 g onion
3 tbsp dill relish
1 tbsp Duke's Mayonnaise
pickle juice for more moisture
pepper to taste


Afternoon Snack - (181 calories)
4 oz Jennie-O Oven Roasted Turkey Breast, extra lean
1 slice Sargento Muenster cheese

Dinner - (432 calories)
**Spinach/Artichoke Chicken with French Green Beans
9.25 oz chicken breast
3 tbsp Harry & David Spinach Artichoke Dip
1 pkg French Green beans, microwave pack from produce section
1 tbsp Brianna's Real French Vinaigrette

Spoon dip over chicken breast.  Bake at 375degreesF until done.

Evening Snack - (109 calories)
1 small Zucchini hash brown
1 small Daikon hash brown

I was looking for an alternative to hash brown potatoes for my Christmas morning breakfast.  I came up with hash browns made with zucchini or daikon radish.  I decided to make a small batch for now and see how they turned out.  Because of the shredded parmesan in them they turn a bit dark, but they aren't burnt.  They are essentially shredded zucchini (or daikon radish), eggbeaters, shredded parmesan, and pepper, cooked in a mix of olive oil and butter.

Total Calories for the day 1,068
Daily Calorie Composition: 11% from carbs, 35% from fat and 54% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 53

Weight - 159.8

Up .8 this morning, but I'm not surprised.  On top of getting very little sleep, I weighed earlier than usual because I had to get out into the rush of holiday shoppers and stock in groceries for P3 starting tomorrow.  My first P3 meal will be lunch on Friday because I took my last drops Wednesday morning.

I had to drag, not push, my 60 gallon wheeled garbage tote up the hill of the private drive where I live for trash day.  I can't push it anymore.  I guess it weighs more than I thought.  It used to be no problem.

I realized today that I have no seen my parents or brother since sometime in early October.  At that time, I weighed about 185 lbs.  I'm 25 lbs less than that now.  It's going to be a shock.  I've not been this weight except for a few weeks back in late 2006. 

I'm all stocked up on cheeses, salad dressings, and some of the veggies I've been missing the past 7.5 weeks.  Oh and half and half for my coffee....yumm..

Breakfast - what breakfast?  Didn't even have coffee untl 1 pm.

Lunch - (229 calories)
**Peppery beef & a salad
150 g 96/4 lean ground beef
20 g peperoncini
1 tbsp pico de gallo
2 tsp yellow mustard
several drops Tabasco Mild Jalapeno sauce (green kind)
170 g Fresh Express 5 lettuce mix
3 tbsp champagne vinegar
seasonings to taste

Dinner - (187 calories)
126 g Kirkland Grilled Chicken Breast strips (cooked weight)
2 tsp yellow mustard
2 tsp capers
125 g Fresh Express Sweet Tender Greens
3 tbsp white wine vinegar
Mrs Dash Tomato Basil & Garlic seasoning

Total Calories for the day 461
Daily Calorie Composition: 9% from carbs, 21% from fat and 70% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 52

Weight - 159.0

And that folks becomes my LDW (last drop weight).  It will be the weight I try to maintain for 21 days of Phase 3 maintenance.  Nice that the scale decided to give me an early Xmas present with the 15x and a nice even number to remember.

Took my last hcg drops mid-morning so P3 will officially start mid-morning on Friday (48 hours after the last dose).  Any weight lost between now and then is *ish* and breathing room.

Breakfast
Coffee


Lunch - (229 calories)
**Mustard piccata chicken & cucumber salad
126 g Kirkland Brand Grilled Chicken Breast strips (cooked weight)
2 tsp yellow mustard
2 tsp capers
440 g cucumbers
30 g onion
2 tbsp champagne vinegar
celtic sea salt and pepper to taste


Dinner - (219 calories)
** Turkey/spinach cacciatore
150 g Jennie-O 99% lean ground turkey breast
180 g baby spinach
25 g onion
1 tbsp tomato paste, no salt added
2 tsp minced garlic
water for cooking
pepper and Franks Redhot sauce to taste

Saute the onions and garlic in enough water to cook until softened.  Add ground chicken and brown slightly.  Add tomato paste and more water.  Stir to mix.  Add spinach and cover to allow it to wilt, adding more water as needed.

Total calories for the day 448
Daily Calorie Composition: 20% from carbs, 12% from fat and 68% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 51

Weight - 160.0

Teasing me..dang scale!  Tomorrow morning I'll take my lose dose of homeopathic hcg for this round.  Then I'll continue 48 hours on the VLCD until Friday morning when I'll enter Phase 3 once again.

Breakfast
Coffee


Lunch - (309 calories)
**Salsa Beef and a cucumber salad
215 g Laura's 96% lean ground beef
3 tbsp Pace Mild Salsa
180 g cucumber, diced
20 g onion, diced
2 tbsp champagne vinegar
Celtic Sea Salt and pepper

Dinner - (188 calories)
**Spicy Turkey and Spinach Soup
120 g Jennie-O 99% lean turkey breast, raw
185 g baby spinach
1 cup Pacific Natural Low Sodium Chicken broth
1 cup water
2 tsp Lizzie's Kitchen No Salt seasoning
Frank's Original Red Hot Sauce to taste

Total calories for the day 497
Daily Calorie Composition: 13% from carbs, 19% from fat and 68% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 50

Weight - 160.2

Haha.. I told ya.. after 4 days of good drops on the scale it was time for a bit of a bounce back.  Not much though, just 0.4 lb.  Continuing with my increase protein today.

And day 50?!  I'm not totally insane.. really I'm not.  Well maybe just a little.  One more full day of drops tomorrow then a dose Wednesday morning and that will be it for hcg this round.  Doesn't really seem like it's been 7 weeks.

Breakfast
Coffee with stevia

Lunch - (198 calories)
150 g lean sirloin tip steak, sauted in water

Dinner - (208 calories)
**Chicken with mustard/caper sauce & lemon pepper spinach
150 g chicken breast, baked (previously)
2 tsp yellow mustard
2 tsp capers
170 g baby spinach
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 tbsp water
Celtic Sea Salt and pepper to taste

Total calories for the day 406
Daily Calorie Composition: 7% from carbs, 18% from fat and 75% from protein. 

R2 VLCD Day 49

Weight - 159.8

umm...  now.. very quietly look at that number up there..  it's a 15x, not a 16x.  I'm not celebrating yet, because this is day 4 with a loss and I'm just waiting for the bounce back.  We shall see.

I'm eating similarly to what I did on Friday.  Extra protein (beef) for lunch and a protein shake with egg salad for dinner.  Here's hoping.

Breakfast and throughout the day
coffee and koolaid with stevia

Lunch - (280 calories)
**Beef mexi stir fry
150 g lean sirloin tip, sliced in bitesize pieces
130 g mushrooms
100 g onion
Water for cooking
2 tsp Simply Organic Mexican seasoning
shake of chipolte paprika
3 tbsp Pace Mild Salsa

Dinner - (192 calories)
**Protein shake & egg salad
1 serving Jay Robb Whey Protein shake - chocolate
1 hardboiled egg, diced
1 tsp dill relish
1.5 tsp capers
1 tsp mustard
15 g onion
pepper to taste

Total calories for the day 472
Daily Calorie Composition: 15% from carbs, 24% from fat and 61% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 48

Weight - 160.6

Holy moley... I think someone replaced my mean scale with a nicer one.  Losses three days in a row.. and not just teenie ones either.  Pushing my like to ask for another loss tomorrow.   I hate today similar to Thursday's menu.  Will likely eat Sunday like I did on Friday.

Tonight the entire family piled into the SUV to take my granddaughter to check out "Fantasy Lights", a big Xmas light display along a 2.5 mile section of a local park.  She had a blast.  Ordered Chinese food for them and picked it up on the way home.  I had to smell it in the car, but I can deal with that.  Just don't put it in front of my face!

Breakfast and throughout the day
Coffee and koolaid sweetened with stevia

Lunch - (277 calories)
**Turkey and Green Onion soup
200 g raw turkey, either diced or ground
150 g green onion, chopped
1 c Pacific Natural Organic Chicken broth, low sodium
1 c water
ground white pepper and poultry seasoning to taste

Dinner - (193 calories)
150 g chicken breast, baked
180 g cucumber, diced
25 g onion, sliced thin
2 tbsp champagne vinegar
sprinkle of onion sea salt

Total calories for the day 470
Daily Calorie Composition: 15% from carbs, 9% from fat and 76% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 47

Weight - 162.0

Finally.. a weight I haven't seen in a while.  Down 1.8 from yesterday.  Not sure if it was just time or was the mostly protein day I did yesterday.  We shall see.  The way it's been going I'll be up tomorrow.   I'm freezing today and that's usually a good sign when it comes to weight loss.

Trying extra protein at lunch and someone else's dinner trick.

Breakfast and throughout the day
Coffee and lemon-lime koolaid with stevia

Lunch - (248 calories)
**Beef Mexi Stirfry
150 g top sirloin
100 g onion
110 g mushroom
Simply Organics Mexican seasoning
3 tbsp Pace Salsa

Dinner - (191 calories)
**Protein shake and egg salad
1 Jay Robb Whey Protein Tropical Dreamsicle flavor
1 hard boiled egg
1 tbsp dill relish
10 g onion
pepper to taste

Total calories for the day 439
Daily Calorie Composition: 16% from carbs, 23% from fat and 61% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 46

Weight - 163.8

Down .8, but I've lost this .8 before.. more than once.  Doing double protein again today.  Maybe tomorrow I'll be down below the 163.0 I saw on Monday.  Come'on 162.something

Breakfast and throughout the day
Coffee and triple threat tea

Lunch - (209 calories)
195 g Jennie-O 99% fat free turkey breast, raw weight
Sauteed in a bit of water and spices

Dinner - (264 calories)
Tangy chicken with cucumber salad
200 g chicken breast, baked
50g zesty peperoncini
2 tsp mustard
175 g cucumber
20 g onion
2 tbsp champagne vinegar
1 tbsp capers

Total calories for the day 473
Daily Calorie Composition: 7% from carbs, 11% from fat and 82% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 45

Weight - 164.6

Hear that?  That's me screaming!  Up 1 pound today ...bleck.. again.
Doing all protein today to see of that's what my body is needing

Breakfast 
Starbucks Venti brewed coffee with stevia

Lunch - (225 calories)
168 g Kirkland brand Grilled Chicken breast strips (cooked weight)
2 tbsp zesty pepper rings with juice


Dinner - (245 calories)
245 g veal cut thin
1 clove garlic

Total Calories for the day 485
Daily Calorie Composition: 1% from carbs, 16% from fat and 83% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 44

Weight - 163.6

Up .6 after being down 2.6 yesterday for a net of 2 lbs after my mini-steak day.  Eating clean today and wondering what tomorrow will bring.

Breakfast and throughout the day
Coffee and koolaid with stevia

Lunch - (136 calories)
84 g (cooked weight) Kirkland Grilled Chicken Breast Strips
165 g cucumber, peeled
20 g onion
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
couple of shakes of dill weed
stevia to taste

Dinner - (210 calories)
**Asparagus soup with diced turkey
120 g Jennie-O 99% fat free turkey breast strips
350 g asparagus
1 c Pacific Natural Organic Chicken Broth, Low Sodium
1 c water
1 tbsp Old Bay Seasoning
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tbsp lemon juice

Break off woody ends of asparagus.  Chop in inch long pieces.  Place broth and water in a lidded pot, bring to a boil and add asparagus.  When asparagus is soft, puree all of it with either an imersion blender or regular blender, until smooth.  Return to pot, bring back to a simmer.  Add diced turkey and seasonings.  Simmer for additional three to 5 minutes.

Evening Snack - (46 calories)
150 g strawberries

Total Calories for the day 392.
Daily Calorie Composition: 30% from carbs, 10% from fat and 60% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 43

Weight - 163.0

Successful mini-steak day I'd say.  2.6 lbs from yesterday morning until this morning.  Brought the week 6 total to 3 lbs even instead of 0.4 and a total for this round so far of 23.8 lbs.

I am switching back to my hhcg drops today.  I am wondering if some of my sleeplessness at night and the slower loss could be due to the homeopathic pellets.  Although I love them for dosing and convenience,  I need to try this for the last days of this round and see if it makes the difference in getting down into the 150s.

My homeopathic buddies at HCGDietInfo.com Forums may shoot me, but after realizing this won't be the final round for me and talking to several people who have used both methods in different rounds, I've decided that my next round will be RX subq.  The people who have done both have said that they see better shaping from the RX.  If I only have one more round in me, I want optimize this.  After all, I finally have a waist.  I've almost always had a waist measurement larger than my hips.  Once I dropped weight, I was more like a cylinder.  Not anymore.  Even though I won't be due for round 3 until mid-February, I went ahead and ordered the supplies I will need.  Now the issue will be trying to do a complete P3 and P4 before rolling back for another round.  I know I will be tempted to do a quick turnaround.

Back to normal eating today.  Hopefully the scale doesn't rebound.

Breakfast & Throughout the day
Coffee and strawberry koolaid sweeted with stevia

Lunch - (178 calories)
100g sirloin steak (previously cooked)
125 g Fresh Express Sweet Tender Greens lettuce
P2 Protocol Dressing

Afternoon Snack - (41 calories)
135 g strawberries

Dinner - (217 calories)
**Lemon pepper veal and tangy spinach
120 g veal, thin sliced
250 g frozen chopped spinach
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp yellow mustard
pepper and Franks RedHot to taste.

I don't normally do frozen spinach, but since it's one of the lower carb choices for veggies I wanted spinach for dinner and that's all I had on hand.

Total Calories for the day 436.
Daily Calorie Composition: 22% from carbs, 18% from fat and 60% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 42

Weight - 165.6

Well.. here we go again.. a .6 drop which will likely me a .6 or more gain tomorrow.  In the last week, I've lost a grand total of .4 lbs..  not 4 lbs..  0.4.  Geezzz..   Trying a mini-steak day today.  Eating nothing all day until dinner time and then having 8 oz raw weight lean sirloin steak with a tomato.  Hoping for some decent sleep and that the scale cooperates in the morning and stays that way.  My steak was likely leaner than the calorie counter I used projected so my calories may have been less or made up of less fat.

Today as usually was Family Sunday.  Since it's been raining for a few days I decided to make my Creamy Chicken and Thyme soup for them with some good sourdough rolls.  They love this soup and it takes an hour to make...with a fair amount of leftovers.


Breakfast and throughout the day
coffee


Dinner - (350 calories)
8 oz raw weight sirloin steak, using no salt as seasoning
175 g roma tomato

Total calories for the day 350
Daily Calorie Composition: 8% from carbs, 30% from fat and 62% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 41

Weight - 166.2

Excuse me while I take a moment or two or three and pound my head against the wall.  This week so far has been a total wash.  The scale just doesn't want to cooperate.  I got out of the house for most of the afternoon so my liquid consumption today is not up to par.  I also decided to increase my protein today, do an egg/eggbeater scramble this morning and see if that makes a difference.  I've got 11 more days to get down 5 or 6 pounds.  Before that would seem like a no brainer.. this week, not so much.

I do have some happy news..   I decided to hit up a good sale and snag a few smaller casual tops.  I always tend to go on the baggy side because I detest my 'back fat' and it showing in something too fitting.  I've been wearing XL shirts mostly.  Heck, I've even been hanging on to my XXL Old Navy shirts.  Well today I grabbed a couple of styles in both a large and medium.  Opted on the mediums all the way around.  What I give up in showing on the back is made up for by how thin they look in the waist.  Can't wait to wear one of them tomorrow with the family around and see what they say.


*** Btw.. if you are looking for a quick chicken meal, at Costco in the cases with the cold cuts, etc they have Kirkland brand Grilled Chicken Breast Strips in two 16 ounce packages.  They are actually a Foster Farms product labeled for Costco.  84 grams cooked weight is 110 calories and I've found that usually when I bake 100 grams  of chicken (not too dry) the final cooked weight ends up right about that. The only deterrent to using them full time is the sodium content.  At 390 mg per serving, it's not as good as if you baked your own naked chicken.  But then who doesn't season their chicken with at least a bit of sodium and 1/4 tsp of salt is 500 mg.. so maybe they aren't all that bad after all.

Breakfast and throughout the day
Starbucks venti coffee with Sweet N Low
Green Mountain Vanilla Caramel K-cup - YUM

Lunch - (216 calories)
1 egg
3/4 c eggbeaters
100 g mushrooms
100 g onion
scant water to cook the mushrooms and onions in

Dinner - (269 calories)
200 g chicken breast, baked
85 g French green beans - fresh produce steamer bag.

Total calories for the day 485
Daily Calorie Composition: 22% from carbs, 16% from fat and 62% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 40

Weight - 165.2

Amazing that I'm at day 40.  At this point last round, I was winding it up and taking my last dose.  I'd also lost 30 lbs at that point.  This round I'm at 21.6 lbs.  Guess it's nothing to sneeze at.

Breakfast
Coffee - Green Mountain Gingerbread flavor

Throughout the day
Strawberry koolaid sweetened with stevia

Lunch - (135 calories)
**Bay shrimp and salad
100 g precooked bay shrimp
1 tbsp pico de gallo
1 tbsp salsa (no sugar added)
5 or 6 drops Franks RedHot Sauce
170 g Five Lettuce Mix (Fresh Express)
P2 Protocol dressing

Afternoon snack - (69 calories)
150 g strawberries
1 grissini

Dinner - (193 calories)
**Spicy Spinach Soup with Turkey
125 g Jennie-O 99% Fat Free Turkey strips (raw not cooked)
200 g baby spinach (Fresh Express)
1 cup Pacific Natural Foods Organic Low Sodium Chicken broth
1 cup water
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp Lizzie's Kitchen Oh So Garlic seasoning
Franks RedHot sauce to taste

Evening snack - (69 calories)
150 g strawberries
1 grissini

Total calories for the day 466
Daily Calorie Composition: 39% from carbs, 8% from fat and 53% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 39

Weight - 166.2

Arrggh dang scale is teasing me.  Down a bit, up, down a lot , up, down a bit..  I guess at least the trend is in the right direction.

Did a fair bit of grocery shopping this afternoon.  Hit Bed Bath and Beyond for some more of the Keurig K-Cup flavored coffees.  Green Mountain Butter Toffee and Green Mountain Gingerbread along with the Pumpkin Spice I've been drinking.

Also had to go buy a new belt.  I've been wearing a belt that has double holes all the way around it.  Well the end of it is halfway around my side almost to my back.  Finally went and got a new one that's the same style so I should be good to go.  Tried on some jeans since I've lost more weight after pulling my old 12s out.  I can get in a 10 just fine and probably almost in an 8 so I'm going to wait before I buy any.  I have some 10s here and an 8.  Just have to dig them out.

Breakfast
Coffee

Lunch - (139 calories)
**Baked chicken with a cucumber salad
100 g chicken breast, baked
190 g cucumber, diced
20 g onion
2 tbsp champagne vinegar
4 drops liquid stevia
salt and pepper to taste


Dinner - (208 calories)
**Lemon pepper veal with tangy tarragon spinich
120 g veal, thin sliced
.5 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp beef broth
200 g baby spinach (Fresh Express)
50 g onion
3 tbsp water
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp tarragon
.5 tbsp minced garlic
1/8 tsp pepper

For the veal, I pepper both sides, saute the garlic in a small skillet with lemon juice and beef broth, then add the veal.  Cover and cook for about 2 minutes.  Uncover, turn veal, continue cooking another 2 minutes.  Remove veal and reduce liquid to make a sauce.

For the spinach, I bring the water, vinegar, onion, tarragon, garlic and pepper to a slow boil.  Add the spinach and cover for a minute or so.  Stir and cook until spinach is wilted.  Plate spinach and continue cooking liquid until it is reduced down to a sauce

Evening snack - (114 calories)
175 g gala apple, diced
2 tbsp Bragg's Apple Cider vinegar
1 grissini

Total calories for the day 461
Daily Calorie Composition: 43% from carbs, 8% from fat and 49% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 38

Weight - 165.4

Down 1.2 today and almost halfway to the 150s... really!

Breakfast & throughout the day
Coffee, coffee, coffee today for some reason


Lunch - (208 calories)
**Fiesta Lime Cod with tomatoes
200 g cod filet
2 tsp Mrs Dash Fiesta Lime seasoning
185 g roma tomato, diced
20 g onion, sliced thin
2 tbsp champagne vinegar
sea salt and pepper

Dinner - (179 calories)
**Baked chicken and roasted asparagus
100 g chicken breast, batch cooked this week
350 g asparagus
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp minced garlic
pepper to taste

Evening snack - (68 calories)
140 g white grapefruit
1 grissini



Total calories for the day 455
Daily Calorie Composition: 33% from carbs, 6% from fat and 61% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 37

Weight - 166.6

Up .6 but this is about the norm after some loss

Breakfast
Coffee - Green Mountain Pumpkin Spice K-Cup in my Keurig Coffee Maker

Throughout the day
Triple Threat Tea

Lunch - (195 calories)
**Spicy Beef and Cabbage soup
110 g Tyson Thin Sliced Beef Steak
250 g Chinese cabbage
1 cup Pacific Natural Beef Broth
1 cup water
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 to 1/2 tsp tumeric
1 tbsp garlic wine vinegar
1/8 to 1/4 tsp Frank's Red Hot Sauce
salt and pepper to taste

Brown beef and garlic in 1/4 cup of beef broth.  Add remaining broth, water, vinegar, and Franks.  Bring to a boil.  When chopping the Chinese Cabbage separate the thicker pieces from the leafy pieces.  Add thicker pieces to boiling broth, reduce heat and simmer until tender.  Add leafy pieces, stir and remove from heat.  Salt and pepper to taste.

Dinner - (159 calories)
**Chicken in mustard caper sauce with balsamic roasted asparagus
100g chicken breast, baked
1 tbsp yellow mustard
1 tbsp capers
250 g asparagus, woody ends removed
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
25 g onion thin sliced
salt and pepper to taste

Easy dinner.  I placed the asparagus in a baking dish, tossed with the vinegar and onion, added salt and pepper and baked in the NuWave Oven for 12 minutes.   The chicken breast was batch cooked yesterday.  I diced it, mixed with the mustard and capers and heated it.

Evening Snack - (76 calories)
165 g Florida White Grapefruit
1 grissini stick

Total calories for the day 430
Daily Calorie Composition: 29% from carbs, 18% from fat and 53% from protein.

Supplements during P2

Someone asked me what supplements I've been taking so I thought I'd do a post dedicated just to that


Life Extension Optimized Irvingia with Phase 3 Calorie Control (two capsules twice a day)
Vitamin Shoppe Green Tea Extract, 75% Polyphenols (one capsule twice a day)
ReNew Life DigestMore Ultra (one capsule with each meal)
Country Life Vitamin D 5000iu (one softgel daily)
Sundown Naturals B100 Complex (one caplet daily)
Natural Calm Magnesium Citrate (350 mg per 2 tsp)
Pharmassure Biotin 5000 mcg (one capsule daily)
Twinlabs Mega B-12 Dots (one tablet sublingual occasionally)

With that list, I wonder why I'm not stuffed on pills alone.  I've seen worse.

The first two items are things I took for a while when trying to lose weight before HCG.  The Green Tea extract helps with hunger and the irvingia is African Mango extract which aids leptin usage in the body.  Since I had the LEF on hand I'm using it up before I start on one that is just the Irgingia alone without all the extras.

Yet another thing I will take from this diet for the rest of my life is the use of a good digestive enzyme.  I have found the DigestMore Ultra to contain a broad variety of appropriate enzymes for protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber and sugar digestion.

Vitamin D has been found to lower leptin levels which in turn should reduce hunger levels.  I chose the Country Life softgel because the contents are in MCT oil which is not digested in the intestines.

The magnesium citrate I take daily to keep things moving.  After all input needs output.

The Biotin is for hair.  The B100 complex aids in digestion and metabolism.  The B12 is kind of a pick me up for mornings when I might be dragging.

When I mention Triple Threat Tea in my daily posts, I am referring to 32 oz of tea I make daily anbd contains:

Guayaki Yerba Mate
Yogi Green Tea Energy
Traditional Medicinals Dandelion Root

Yerba Mate and green tea help with hunger and energy.  Green tea as well as dandelion root are natural diuretics.

Well that's the 'skinny' on the supplements.

R2 VLCD Day 36

Weight - 166.0

Since starting the hcg diet the end of June I have lost 50.4 lbs.  I can remember saying to myself on day one "If I can lose 20 lbs from this I'll consider myself successful."  Who would have dreamed!?

Breakfast
Coffee

Throughout the day
Triple threat tea

Lunch - (269 calories)
**Orange beef stirfry
110 g Tyson Thin Sliced Beef Steak
250 c celery, diced
160 g navel orange, juiced and diced
1/4 c beef broth or water
1/2 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp ground white pepper

Heat broth or water in skillet with seasonings.  Add celery and cover to steam cook.  When celery is somewhat tender, stir in juice from the orange and beef.  Continue cooking until beef is near done.  Add diced orange and heat thoroughly.

I'm finally out of precooked proteins so I'll be making a batch of chicken in my new NuWave oven this even.  Should be interesting to see how it turns out.

I batch cooked 900 grams of chicken breast in the NuWave.  Took about 13 minutes.  I usually pull chicken out just as it gets done and let it set so it doesn't dry out.  Wasn't too bad.  

Dinner - (167 calories)
100 g chicken breast, baked
150 g Fresh Express Tender Ruby Reds lettuce mix
P2 Protocol Dressing
1 grissini stick

Total calories for the day 436
Daily Calorie Composition: 34% from carbs, 17% from fat and 49% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 35

Weight - 167.0

Long Sunday filled with spectator sports (football) and a movie, Burlesque.  Great movie by the way.  It was nice to get away for a couple of hours.  Family wanted to 'save' me from having to cook Sunday dinner so they wanted Pizza Hut.  I don't/won't eat take out pizza, ever.  I'm a pizza snob.  Heck..  this diet has turned me into a food princess.  I decided long ago that if I was going to eat smaller amounts and healthier foods that I was worth the little extra cash for the better cuts of meat and fish that I like.

Breakfast 
Coffee

Throughout the day
Triple threat tea
Stash Tea Pumpkin Spice Decaf

Lunch - (181 calories)
**Fiesta Shrimp with a cucumber salad
150 g shrimp, raw, peeled and deveined
1 tbsp lime, for cooking
Mrs Dash Fiesta Lime Seasoning
180 g cucumber
2 tbsp Rice Wine Vinegar (light)
pinch of onion sea salt
pepper to taste

Dinner - (231 calories)
**Beef stir fry
115 g Tyson Thin Sliced Beef Steak
150 g onion
115 g mushroom
water for cooking
1 tbsp Silver Spring jalapeno mustard

Total calories for the day 412
Daily Calorie Composition: 20% from carbs, 20% from fat and 60% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 34

Weight - 166.8

Another day another pound.  Did I mention how much I love week 4 of this diet?  Well I do.  Week two and three are always slow and finally in week four things start picking up again.

Breakfast 
Coffee with vanilla cream liquid stevia

Throughout the day
Triple threat tea

Lunch - (208 calories)
**Chicken and green onion soup
120 g chicken breast, raw weight, baked (batch cooked)
210 g green onion, chopped
1 c low sodium chicken broth
1 c water
1/4 tsp ground white pepper
1/4 tsp ground mustard
1/4 tsp ginger
sea salt to taste

Dinner - (191 calories)
**Steak in mustard caper sauce with a salad
130 g beef bottom round, thin sliced
2 tsp yellow mustard
1 tbsp capers with liquid
130 g Fresh Express Tender Ruby Red lettuce mix
P2 Protocol Dressing

Not sure if I'm going to have some strawberries or not this evening.

Total calories for the day 399
20% from carbs, 13% from fat and 67% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 33

Weight - 167.8

(Rolling up my sleeves)  Okay I can really do this.  I can really be in the 150s before Christmas.  I'm in the zone right now so instead of stopping at 40 days on December 10th, I'm going until Dec 22nd and be in P3 for Christmas morning.  I can skip the biscuits and hashbrowns for one Xmas breakfast, but I'll be able to have eggs, bacon, and sausage with no problems, as well as my famous prime rib for New Years Eve.


Breakfast
Coffee with vanilla cream liquid stevia

Throughout the day
Triple threat tea


Lunch - (164 calories)
**Breaded scallops with a celery salad
120 g sea scallops
1 grissini stick, crushed
a few shakes of - tumeric, paprika, black pepper and garlic powder
215 g celery, diced
2 tbsp Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tsp dill weed
1/2 tsp garlic salt

Preheat oven to 375 degreesF. Combine crushed bread crumbs and seasonings in a baggie.  Moisten scallops and shake in the baggie to coat.  Place scallops and leftover coating in oven save baking dish.  Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until scallops start to crack open a bit.

I have to say for not being a scallop eater, these are the bomb!  I haven't been eating my grissini, but I decided I wanted something more than just seasonings.  Also I'll be danged if I'm going to leave any of the crumbs for the garbage troll.  I'm gonna eat those too!

Dinner - (233 calories)
**Baked breaded shrimp & roasted radishes
150g shrimp, uncooked, peeled and deveined
1 tbsp eggbeaters or 1 egg white
1 grissini stick, crushed
2 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
250 g red radishes, quartered
1 tbsp Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tsp dill weed
1 tsp Mrs Dash Tomato Basil, Garlic seasoning

Preheat oven to 400 degreesF.  Toss quartered radishes with vinegar, dill, and Mrs Dash.  Place in oven safe dish and back until fork tender (about 20 minutes).

While radishes are cooking, mix crushed grissini with Old Bay Seasoning.  Toss shrimp in tablespoon of eggbeaters or egg white and then into breading.  Place in oven safe dish and bake until pinkish, about 10 minutes.

Total calories for the day 397.
Daily Calorie Composition: 29% from carbs, 10% from fat and 61% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 32

Weight - 168.2

Another earlier than normal weigh in.  It will be interesting to see tomorrow's weight back at the normal time.

Got my NuWave oven that I ordered from Kohls.  I cooked my asparagus in it for dinner and then made 4 thick frozen angus burger patties for my son and his friend.  They liked the burgers.  I still have a day or so of already cooked protein so it will be a bit before I try chicken or steak in it.

Breakfast 
Starbucks Venti brewed coffee with sweet n low (I need to put stevia drops in my car)

Lunch - (205 calories)
**Sauteed fiesta shrimp with a cucumber salad
150 g raw weight Key West shrimp, peeled and deviened
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp Mrs Dash Fiesta Lime seasoning
300 g cucumber, diced
1 tbsp onion
2 tbsp champagne vinegar
salt and pepper to taste


Dinner - (199 calories)
120 g chicken breast, baked
1 tsp Mrs Dash Tomato Basil seasoning
300 g asparagus
1 tbsp mince garlic
salt and pepper

Total calories for the day 404
Daily Calorie Composition: 21% from carbs, 10% from fat and 69% from protein.

R2 VLCD Day 31

Weight - 169.2

Finally after paying for my little cheats for 4 days I'm back to where I was on Saturday.  It took a couple of days for them to catch up to me on the scale and even longer for me to get rid of them.

Squeezed in a trip to Whole Foods in Seattle today.  Since I had asparagus last night which was a bit thicker on the ends than I like (too much goes to waste), I was searching for nice thin spears and found them.  Also snagges some nice looking shrimp that I'll probably cook tomorrow.

No trip to the University District in Seattle would be complete without a stop at Dick's Drive In.  Of course, I didn't eat any and got to smell it all the way home.  No worries though.  Thin is better than a burger and hand cut fries anyday.

My lunch today was scallops.  Not something I've eaten before but I had never eaten veal before this diet either and I love it now.  I wasn't majorly impressed with them though.

Breakfast
Starbucks Venti brewed coffee with 3 Sweet N Low

Lunch - (146 calories)
** Sauted Sea Scallops with marinated tomatoes
110 g raw weight Sea Scallops, drained and patted dry
1 tsp Mrs Dash Fiesta Lime seasoning
1 tbsp organic lime juice
1 tbsp Lounsbury Seafood Cocktail Sauce
310 g tomato, diced
3 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tbsp zesty pepper rings, diced
salt and pepper to taste

Toss dried scallops in seasoning.  Add lime juice to a heated skillet.  When it starts to bubble, add the scallops.  Saute until scallops open a bit and are no longer opaque.  Be careful, they cook very fast.

Dinner - (220 calories)
**A redeux of last night's Thin sliced round steak in caper pan sauce with roasted asparagus

130 g beef bottom round steak (raw weight) thin sliced
Mrs Dash Steak Seasoning
1/4 c Pacific Natural Beef Broth
1 tbsp capers
310 g white asparagus
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp minced garlic
sea salt and pepper to taste

 


Total Calories for the day 366
Daily Calorie Composition: 24% from carbs, 14% from fat and 62% from protein.