17 Day Diet Cycle 1 Day 13

Weight - 138.8

Down 0.8 lbs.  I'm doing some clean days following the 17 Day Diet Cycle 1 for a few days.  As before I'm thinking it's a plan I could follow for an easy guide when I want to inch back down the scale.  After the comfort of a set menu with hcg Phase 2, it's easy to wander off track after moving to Phase 3 and Phase 4. 

Breakfast - (149 calories)
6 oz Fage 0% Greek Yogurt
70 g raspberries
splash of half & half in coffee 

Lunch - (365 calories)
200 g cooked chicken breast
115 g broccoli

Afternoon Snack - (24 calories)
80 g strawberries

Dinner - (323 calories)
160 g cooked chicken breast
190 g broccoli

Total Calories for the day 861
Daily Calorie Composition: 16% from carbs, 20% from fat and 64% from protein.

R4 Phase 4 Day 107

Weight - 139.6

The rebound weight is back off.  Nice.  Eating two meals and including some fat today to get my calories well above 1,000.  Then I'm thinking I'll do 2 or 2.5 days of the lean eating of the 17 Day Diet to try to drop a bit more before the weekend.  My daughter-in-law is loading for her third round this weekend.  She's made the request for a couple of restaurants.  Oh Joy.

Lunch - (681 calories)
3 large eggs
70 g mushrooms
60 g onion
1 tbsp butter
minced garlic
4 Jimmy Dean Turkey Sausage patties
2 tbsp Smuckers Sugar Free Syrup
4 tbsp half & half in several cups of coffee


Dinner - (413 calories)
200 g chicken breast
120 g romaine
80 g cucumber
80 g tomato
40 g onion
3 radishes
3 tbsp Maple Grove Farms Sugar Free White Italian Dressing

Total Calories for the day 1,094
Daily Calorie Composition: 13% from carbs, 51% from fat and 36% from protein.

R4 Phase 4 Day 106

Weight - 141.0

A 1.4 pound bump.. could be rebound, could be pie.  I had planned two meals today, but didn't get lunch at a decent time so I turned it into a steak and salad sort of day.  I know I didn't get in enough calories.

Half n Half in Coffee during the day

Dinner - (666 calories)
260 g NY Steak
100 g romaine
100 g cucumber
40 g onion
3 large radishes
3 tbsp Kraft Fat Free Italian Dressing

Total Calories for the day 736
Daily Calorie Composition: 10% from carbs, 58% from fat and 32% from protein.

R4 Phase 4 Day 105

Weight - 139.6

A nice 3.4 lb drop from my steak day.  Now I typically rebound a bit the next day so I'm eating a bit less today on purpose.  We revisited our Thanksgiving leftovers, but I manage to just have some turkey and a salad.  Well then there was the slice of Boston Creme Pie that I've been craving for two weeks.

Snacks while prepping - Veggie tray with some ranch dip
Glass of sweet white wine

Dinner - (636 calories)
3 oz turkey breast
1 dinner roll
garden salad with fat free Italian dressing
1 slice Boston Creme Pie

Total calories for the day 909
Daily Calorie Composition: 52% from carbs, 34% from fat and 14% from protein.

R4 Phase 4 Day 104

Weight - 143.0

Holy cow.  I dropped 2.6 lbs from yesterday.  I'm astounded.  Really have been retaining fluid that is finally leaving and I also managed some output overnight.

Steak day today then I'll see which way I want to go with things tomorrow.

Dinner - (1,258 calories)
450 g Rib eye steak
150 g roma tomato
garlic butter

Total calories for the day 1,258
Daily Calorie Composition: 3% from carbs, 66% from fat and 31% from protein.

R4 Phase 4 Thanksgiving Day After

Weight - 145.6

Only up .6 today?  I know what it means.  My body had retained a lot of fluid from what I ate on Wednesday.  During Thursday, some of that fluid left while I ate willynilly for Thanksgiving.  The net result was the .6 gain.

My plan was to eat one meal today with leftovers and do the steak day tomorrow.  Best laid plans.  With my recent cravings for Boston Creme Pie, I had purchased two cream filled donuts.  I ate them both today as well as a piece of pecan pie.  My reasoning behind it was "Get it all out of here now".  Yeah.. I know.. silly. 


Today's food in no particular order -

2 Creme Filled Donuts
1 piece of pecan pie
2 white chocolate macadamia nut cookies
2 dinner rolls
1 sandwich on whole wheat white bread with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mayo

Total Calories for the day 1,883
Daily Calorie Composition: 51% from carbs, 36% from fat and 13% from protein.

R4 Phase 4 Thanksgiving

Weight - 145.0

Wow.  So no more eating cheesy tortillas and cereal at midnight before Thanksgiving.  Total ouch.  Well the plan is to eat today and Friday, do a steak day on Saturday, then reassess.   Originally we were to go to my parents' on the coast for today's meal and having a traditional Thanksgiving meal at home on Friday.  Instead we had to stay home and I did our Friday meal today. 

And I ate.  Boy did I eat.  As we started out of town everyone wanted Burger King Breakfast.  We stopped for that and then plans changed and we came back to the house for pain meds for my son.  We decided to wait a while and see how he was doing.  Then went to IHop for a bite because I'd been raving about the pumpkin pancakes.   After we got home the kids were talking about turkey so I ended up throwing dinner together and we ate that around 7.

Here's a list and a guesstimate on the calories.

Burger King Sausage Crossanwich (before we found out where weren't making the 2 hour drive).

Ihop Eggnog Pumpkin Pancakes, with 3 scrambled eggs (before we decided to have the turkey Thursday and not Friday)

Turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, hash brown casserole, broccoli rice au gratin, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce, and a Boston Creme cupcake.

Total Calories for the day 2,178 estimated
Daily Calorie Composition: 43% from carbs, 44% from fat and 13% from protein.

17 Day Diet Cycle 1 Day 12

Weight - 140.0

Sad when I eat pretty clean and gain a pound.  Maybe the calories were too low.  Who knows.  Eating more calories today and we shall see.  I'm going to eat pretty much typical Thanksgiving meals on Thursday and Friday and then plan a steak day on Saturday.

Breakfast - (129 calories)
6 oz Fage 0% Greek yogurt
60 g raspberries

Lunch - (483 calories)
280 g chicken breast
1 tbsp olive oil
100 g romaine
80 g tomato
3 tbsp Kraft Fat Free Italian dressing

Afternoon Snack - (232 calories)
6 oz Fage 0% Greek Yogurt
28 g Nature's Path FlaxPlus Pumpkin Granola


Dinner - (256 calories)
228 g veal, sliced thin
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp capers
100 g romaine
30 g fat free balsamic dressing

Total Calories for the day 1,100
Daily Calorie Composition: 20% from carbs, 27% from fat and 53% from protein.

17 Day Diet Cycle 1 Day 11

Weight - 139.0

Down another 0.8 lbs.  Lazy day for the most part.  It is very rainy and windy here.  I did hit a sale at Macy's to use a coupon for a couple of cashmere sweaters.  I'm sadly had to part with all mine from previous years because they are way too big.

Breakfast - (147 calories)
6 oz Fage 0% Greek Yogurt
60 g raspberries
splash of half & half in coffee 

Lunch - (220 calories)
Can of Select Harvest Beef Barley Vegetable Soup
5 saltine crackers

Afternoon snack - (60 calories)
1 piece Hickory Farms Turkey Summer Sausage (mall sample)

Dinner - (415 calories)
**Chicken Egg Drop Soup with Veggies
200 g chicken breast
2 large eggs
85 c broccoli slaw
60 g green onion
1 c mushroom broth
1 c water

Total Calories for the Day 842
Daily Calorie Composition: 31% from carbs, 24% from fat and 45% from protein.

17 Day Diet Cycle 1 Off Day

Weight - 139.8

A drop of 1.8 lbs.  Nice.  We were out shopping this afternoon and ended up at Red Robin.  I did okay there, but later in the evening ate a small Dairy Queen Blizzard.  Hopefully the combination doesn't blow up on me.

Dinner - (1004 estimated)
**Red Robin
Shared appetizers - fried mushrooms & cheese sticks
Prime Chophouse burger, double patty
side salad with balsamic 

Evening - (464 calories)
Most of a small banana cream pie blizzard

Total Calories for the day 1,468
Daily Calorie Composition: 25% from carbs, 52% from fat and 23% from protein.

17 Day Diet Cycle 1 Off Day

Weight - 141.6

Well interestingly enough even after a midnight right for pumpkin pancakes, I'm only up .6 today.  Because were are going out for dinner tonight, I am eating one meal.

Dinner - (911 calories estimated)
**BJ's Brewhouse
Shared appetizer - Spinach & Artichoke Dip
Crispy Fried Artichokes
Black & Bleu Burger, bunless
side salad with Italian

Total Calories for the day 911
Daily Calorie Composition: 23% from carbs, 51% from fat and 26% from protein.

17 Day Diet Cycle 1 Off Day

Weight - 141.0

Down 1 lb of my gain.  Today and tomorrow are planned off days.  I don't want my body getting used to 1,000 calories a day.  So 2 days out of the week I'm trying to eat more normal.   Today was also hair day.  Went to the salon with my daughter-in-law and granddaughter.  Afterward we hit a local Indian restaurant for a late lunch/early dinner.

Breakfast - (256 calories)
.75 c Life Cereal
.25 c 2% milk
114 g banana

Lunch - (875 calories estimated)
2 pieces naan bread
1 bowl mulligatawny soup
1/2 portion Chicken Tikka Masala
1/4 portion Vegetable Korma
1/4 c basmati rice

Total Calories for the day 1,131
Daily Calorie Composition: 67% from carbs, 18% from fat and 15% from protein.

17 Day Diet Cycle 1 Day 10

Weight - 142.0

Paying for the cheeseburger.  I'm not likely to do that again anytime soon.  Loads of better things I could have gone off plan with.  I am very very puffy and tight feeling today.  Hopefully all that fluid will whoosh away soon.

Breakfast - (204 calories)
6 oz Fage 0% Greek Yogurt
200 g apple

Lunch - (302 calories)
**Chicken and Celery Soup
200 g chicken breast
160 g celery
1 c chicken stock
1 c water
Mrs Dash Tomato, Basil Garlic Seasoning
50 g grapes

Afternoon Snack - (124 calories)
6 oz Fage 0% Greek Yogurt
100 g romaine
2 tbsp Fat Free Balsamic Vinaigrette

Dinner - (266 calories)
200 g chicken breast
160 g broccoli

Total Calories for the day 896
Daily Calorie Composition: 32% from carbs, 6% from fat and 62% from protein.

17 Day Diet Cycle 1 Day 9

Weight - 140.2

Well at least I'm the same weight today.  My head is not in this.  I'm admitting here now that I ate a fricking cheeseburger today.  There, I did it.  I'll pay for it.  What's new eh?  It's life, things happen.  It's maneuvering through the minefield that's important.

Breakfast - (124 calories)
6 oz Fage 0% Greek yogurt
50 g raspberries

Lunch - (437 calories)
**Chicken & Veggie Scramble
180 g chicken breast
1 egg
2 egg whites
60 g mushrooms
60 g onion
140 g mandarin orange (snack)

Afternoon Snack - (400 calories)
Yeah yeah.. a Cheeseburger

Dinner - (253 calories)
180 g chicken breast
300 g cucumber
2 tbsp Kraft Fat Free Italian Dressing

Total Calories for the day 1,214
Daily Calorie Composition: 31% from carbs, 21% from fat and 48% from protein.

17 Day Diet Cycle 1 Day 8

Weight - 140.2

Well I'm wondering if the calories being too low can cause some gain.  I know I didn't sleep well last night.

I was good all day until my son's GF decided to make chocolate chip cookies.  I just couldn't pass up a warm ooey gooey cookie.

Breakfast - (118 calories)
6 oz Fage 0% Greek Yogurt
60 g strawberries

Lunch - (342 calories)
**Chicken & Cabbage Soup
200 g chicken breast
150 g savoy cabbage
50 g onion
1 c Kirkland Chicken stock
1 cup water
1 tsp mexican spices
160 g strawberries

Afternoon Snack - (100 calories)
6 oz Fage 0% Greek yogurt
pumpkin pie spice

Dinner - (328 calories)
**Curry Chicken Soup
200 c chicken breast
150 g onion
50 g mushrooms
1 c chicken stock
1 c water
1 tsp curry
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Evening Snack - (120 calories)
Chocolate Chip Cookie

Total Calories for the day 1,008
Daily Calorie Composition: 31% from carbs, 11% from fat and 58% from protein.

17 Day Diet Cycle 1 Day 7

Weight - 139.2

Back to the lower calories and low fat today.  I'm feeling a bit puffy though.  Perhaps my next off day I won't do white starches.  

Put the studded tires on the car today.  They are forecasting cold and possible lowland snow later this week.  Hopefully it's not going to be like last year's Thanksgiving next week.  Last year we got iced in and didn't do the drive out to my parents' for the day.  I ended up having to cook and entire meal at the last minute and I was in P2.

Breakfast - (129 calories)
6 oz Fage 0% Greek Yogurt
60 g raspberries

Lunch - (314 calories)
**Tuna Salad
2 pouches Starkist Low Sodium Chunk Light Tuna
70 g celery
50 g onion
45 g dill relish
3 tbsp Kraft Fat Free Mayo
180 g apple

Afternoon Snack - (132 calories)
6 oz Fage 0% Greek yogurt
Walden Farms Strawberry Jam
75 g romaine lettuce
2 tbsp Fat Free Balsamic Vinaigrette

Dinner - (300 calories)
240 g Kirkland Tilapia Loins
300 g asparagus spears

Total Calories for the day 875
Daily Calorie Composition: 35% from carbs, 7% from fat and 58% from protein.

17 Day Diet Cycle 1 Day 6 - steak day

Weight - 139.8

Of course I jumped up, I ate carbs.  Steak day today, then back to clean eating on Tuesday.  I'm really thinking that I can roll like this long term.  I do want to explore some of the other cycles of the 17 Day Diet though.

Dinner - (1,110 calories)
475 g ribeye steak
150 g roma tomato

Total calories for the day 1,110
Daily Calorie Composition: 2% from carbs, 61% from fat and 37% from protein.

17 Day Diet Cycle 1 Day 5

Weight - 137.8

Well I don't know if I should call this day 5 or not.  I don't want my body to get used to 1,000 to 1,100 calories a day so I'm eating more calories today and off plan.  Shake things up.  Of course, that meant I gave myself permission to eat something I don't have often - pizza.  Yeah yeah I know.  Tomorrow I will do a regular old P3 style steak day and then go back to Cycle 1 on Tuesday.

Breakfast - (159 calories)
6 oz Fage 0% Greek yogurt
150 g red grapes

Lunch - (369 calories)
**Chicken Veggie Scramble
170 g chicken breast
1 egg
2 egg whites
60 g mushrooms
50 g onion
28 g fat free feta cheese

Afternoon snack - (78 calories)
150 g apple

Dinner - (860 calories estimated)
10 inch pizza
2 cheesy bread sticks

Total Calories for the day 1,466
Daily Calorie Composition: 55% from carbs, 16% from fat and 29% from protein.

17 Day Diet Cycle 1 Day 4

Weight 137.4

Well persistence pays off.  4.6 lbs after 3 days.  I'm back somewhere I've not seen in almost a month.  Today was a lazy sort of Saturday.  Finally managed to sit down and watch Water for Elephants.  I liked it.

Breakfast - (146 calories)
6 oz Fage 0% Greek Yogurt
150 g strawberries

Morning Snack - (78 calories)
150 g cameo apple

Lunch - (219 calories)
**Tuna Salad
2 pouches Starkist Low Sodium Chunk Light Tuna
50 g celery
50 g onion
50 g dill pickle
3 tbsp Kraft Fat Free Mayo

Afternoon Snack - (125 calories)
6 oz Fage 0% Greek Yogurt
1 slice Kraft Fat Free Cheddar

Dinner - (337 calories)
**Mexi StirFry
220 g chicken breast
220 g frozen stirfry veggies
100 g fajita blend peppers
3 tbsp salsa

Total Calories for the day 905
Daily Calorie Composition: 36% from carbs, 4% from fat and 60% from protein. 

Fat  4 g; Fiber 14 g; Carb 80 g; Sodium 1,890 mg; Protein 134 g   

17 Day Diet Cycle 1 Day 3

Weight - 139.8

Down 2 pounds today.  Amazed after the .2 yesterday.  Well, plugging onward.

I've been sick the past few days.  I have the sinus headache from hell.  It's not been fun.

Breakfast - (129 calories)
6 oz Fage 0% Greek Yogurt
60 g raspberries

Lunch - (380 calories)
**Chicken & Vegetable Egg Drop Soup
175 g chicken breast
1 large egg
2 egg whites
60 g onion
60 g mushrooms
60 g celery
1.5 c Kirkland Chicken stock
1.5 c water
ginger, white pepper, garlic powder, poultry seasoning

Afternoon Snack - (219 calories)
6 oz Fage 0% Greek Yogurt
1 tbsp Simply Fruit Strawberry
180 g apple
1 slice Fat Free Kraft Cheddar

Dinner - (340 calories)
**Chicken Veggie Italian Saute
220 g chicken breast
200 g frozen stir fry veggies
3 tbsp Italian dressing

Total Calories for the day 1,068
Daily Calorie Composition: 31% from carbs, 9% from fat and 60% from protein. 

Fat  11 g; Fiber 13 g; Carb 80 g; Sodium 2,083 mg; Protein 156 g    

17 Day Diet Cycle 1 Day 2

Weight - 141.8

Only down .2, but I had pretty much no output overnight.  If I can get the output going with all this input, I may be in business.

Breakfast - (124 calories)
6 oz Fage 0% Greek Yogurt
50 g raspberries

Lunch - (402 calories)
**Egg Drop Soup & An Apple
2 large eggs
60 g leftover chicken broth
1.5 c Kirkland Chicken Stock
1 c water
80 g celery
80 g green onion
white pepper, ginger, garlic powder
180 g apple

Afternoon Snack - (145 calories)
6 oz Fage 0% Greek Yogurt
1.5 tsp Simply Fruit Orange Marmalade
1 slice Kraft Fat Free Cheddar

Dinner - (341 calories)
168 g roasted turkey breast
200 g broccoli
28 g Fat Free Feta

Total Calories for the day 1,012
Daily Calorie Composition: 30% from carbs, 17% from fat and 53% from protein.

Fat  19 g; Fiber 16 g; Carb 74 g; Sodium 1,586 mg; Protein 134 g  

17 Day Diet Cycle 1 Day 1

Weight - 142.0

Here I am again.  Above 140.  Couldn't tell you what my drop was from the steak day, but I'm still feeling very puffy.  I've had two days of very early mornings with some of the carpet getting done in the basement.  I'm sure that's part of why my weight it still up.

I'm trying a big of an experiment for a few days.  I'm going to start Cycle 1 of the 17 Day Diet by Dr Mike Moreno.  Honestly the Cycle 1 food list reads like HCG phase 2 with a broader vegetable and fruit list.  It's also not calorie controlled.  If I can get a bit of a drop from these type days, it will be a tool in my maintenance arsenal.

So.. a bit of info on the daily menu for Cycle 1.  As much as you want of specific proteins and cleansing vegetables.  Supplement these foods with 2 low sugar fruits daily (eaten before 2pm); 2 servings of probiotic foods;  and 1 to 2 tablespoons of friendly fat.  There's not really calorie tracking, etc, but I'm doing so for my mentality.. LoL

Breakfast - (328 calories)
**Veggie scramble & an apple
1 large egg
2 egg whites
35 g each of onion, mushrooms, bell pepper
 2 tsp coconut oil
1 large apple
1 cup green tea

Morning Snack - (76 calories)
2 mandarin oranges

Lunch - (336 calories)
**Turkey breast & Salad
180 g roasted turkey breast
100 g romaine
80 g grape tomatoes
3 tbsp fat free italian dressing
1 cup green tea

Afternoon Snack - (120 calories)
1 small container Fage 0% Greek Yogurt
1 tsp Simply Fruit Boysenberry


Dinner - (305 calories)
180 g baked chicken breast
150 g broccoli, steamed

Total calories for the day 1,165
Daily Calorie Composition: 30% from carbs, 20% from fat and 50% from protein. 

Fat  25 g; Fiber 14 g; Carb 86 g; Sodium 1,363 mg; Protein 143 g   

R4 Phase 4 Day 84

Steak day today and family Sunday.  Did not do much of anything this afternoon other than watch football and Nascar.  Retaining some water from yesterday's food, some hopefully with some good output and sleep I'll be down some tomorrow.  Then we'll see what I can come up with for the week.

Dinner - (1,005 calories)
400 g New York Steak
180 g cameo apple

Total calories for the day 1,005
Daily Calorie Composition: 10% from carbs, 57% from fat and 33% from protein.

R4 Phase 4 Day 83

Did not even both weighing in this morning.  I've decided Saturdays are going to be official days off for a while. I'll do damage control Sunday to Friday, but that's it.  We hit IHop late night once again and then I did not eat again until late afternoon.  We did some shopping.  I've been on the look out for some decor items now that kitchen, dining, etc are done.  I finished one small area on top of a cupboard and am still working on the 12 foot expanse on one wall and then something to carry over from there above my kitchen windows and bay windows.

My calories overall for the day aren't really bad, but I'm not going to guess at all on the total carbs.  Pumpkin pancakes and some eggs, then a thin thin crust pizza with feta, spinach, sausage and roasted garlic.  Sunday will be a steak day and then Monday clean and we'll go from there.

R4 Phase 4 Day 82

Weight - 139.8

Well boo.  As I figured, some rebound.  I'm doing a nut day today.  Maybe alternating clean days, correction days, and a few splurges will at least get things to settle at some point.  Had to take two bearded dragons and my African Grey for check ups today.  That was sure interesting.

I spaced out several ounces of various nuts throughout the day.

In total I had
1.5 oz macadamia nuts
2 oz pecan halves
2 oz walnut halves
4 tbsp half & half in two mugs coffee

Total calories for the day 1,141
Daily Calorie Composition: 7% from carbs, 90% from fat and 3% from protein.

R4 Phase 4 Day 81

Weight - 138.6

Down 2.2 from steak day.  I'm sure there will be some sort of a rebound tomorrow.   I'm sick.. sore throat, tonsils are swollen, body aches, and a headache that won't quit.  Not fun for eating.  I just want comfort food.

Lunch - (577 calories)
3 large eggs
1 Al Fresco Garlic Chicken Sausage link
50 g onion
50 go mushroom
50 g bell pepper
20 g provolone cheese
1 tbsp diced green chilies
2 tbsp enchilada sauce
2 tbsp half & half in two mugs coffee

Dinner - (530 calories)
Campbells Select Garden Vegetable Soup
130 g 96/4 ground beef
8 saltines
1 slice Oroweat Fiber and Flax bread

Total calories for the day 1,107
Daily Calorie Composition: 30% from carbs, 39% from fat and 31% from protein.

R4 Phase 4 Day 80

Weight - 140.8

Down 0.4 lbs.  Doing a steak day today.  I finally managed to go get a pedicure after, hmmm.. 3 months?  I had talons, not toenails.  I'm also getting sick. I've got a sore throat, body aches, and a low grade fever.  I had to reschedule my massage appointment because I know it's not a good idea to do a massage when your sick. 

Dinner - (901 calories)
13.7 oz beef eye of round steak
6.7 oz New York steak

Total calories for the day 901
Daily Calorie Composition: 0% from carbs, 43% from fat and 57% from protein.

R4 Phase 4 Day 79

Weight - 141.2

Stayed the same.  Eating clean today and then tomorrow I will do a steak days because it's been a bit.  I'm sure glad Halloween is over and people are slowly eating the remaining candy in the house.

Lunch - (742 calories)
**Cheesy Bacon Ranch Chicken & a Salad
160 g chicken breast, cooked weight
1 slice provolone cheese
1 slice bacon
1 tbsp Marie's Ranch Dressing
100 g lettuce
100 g cucumber
80 g grape tomatoes
40 g onion
3 tbsp LiteHouse Bleu Cheese Dressing
2 tbsp half & half in 2 mugs coffee

Dinner - (433 calories)
140 g chicken breast, cooked weight
1 slice provolone cheese
1 slice bacon
1 servings Green Giant frozen veggies

Total Calories for the day 1,175
Daily Calorie Composition: 10% from carbs, 49% from fat and 41% from protein.