Chicken Spinach Soup:

Weight loss update:

I lost another pound this morning... that's a total of 4 pounds in 7 days! I had a little pizza mishap on Football Sunday. That set me back a little but I am fully recovered today and back to watching that scale slide the correct way.... DOWN!

Last night I made Chicken Spinach soup for dinner:

Chicken Spinach Soup for Two

4 cups low sodium  organic chicken broth

1  organic chicken breast half

1/2 organic onion diced

2 cups fresh organic baby spinach

Herbamare (Organic season salt) or salt and pepper to taste

Gently boil chicken in broth and onion, till chicken breast is done. About 10 minutes.

Take out chicken breast and shred chicken with fork. Add back to broth and onion with Herbamare (Season salt) and the 2 cups of spinach. Simmer for 5 minutes and serve with 1 breadstick if desired. 

*You don't have to be on a diet to make this heart healthy soup nor do you have to use all organic.

*Here is what the Herbamare looks like: You can purchase this at Sprouts or most health food stores.

What a VLCD (very low calorie diet) looks like:

For Dinner tonight I made "Right-on Protocol"

 Chili for Two. 

You can add a grissni (Bread stick) to that if desired. I'm not eating the bread sticks or melba toast this round. But Hubby is.

200g lean protein (I used Elk, you can use beef, veil or chicken)

1/2 yellow onion Chopped

1 TAB. Extra Virgin Coconut oil

1 can diced tomatoes (14oz)

2 or more cloves garlic

1/2 tea chipotle chili powder 

1/2 tea cumin

1/8th tea unsweetened cocoa powder

2 TAB chopped cilantro 

1 green onion (optional) for garnish

In heavy bottom sauce pan or skillet melt coconut oil, cook onion. Add garlic.

Then meat and all spices and brown slowly. I ground up the tomatoes just a tad, then add them to the meat. I taste then add more chili powder to taste. Cook for at least a 1/2 hour then add the cilantro and cook another 10 minutes. Add chopped green onion for garnish.

Bon appetite! 

  

Weight Loss update:

Both hubby and I are down 1 more pound this morning! Getting up in the morning is like Christmas for me! I can't wait to get on the scale! That puts my total for this round at 4 pounds dropped since Dec. 24th! I am still taking those amino acids and walking 2 miles every morning, plus Fluidity on Tuesday and Thursday. I added the 10 Minute Solution Pilates spot work out to tone my arms on my days off from Fluidity... Yeah, gotta get rid of the bat wings! I got that work out DVD at CostCo ($9.99). They had a bunch of different ones but I liked this one cause, first of all its 10 minutes and second it really hits the spot! So on my off days from Fluidity I am doing a 10 minute spot work out. Its only 10 minutes outta my day. I am feeling great, even tho I am only taking in 500 calories my body is still burning 2000 calories of FAT! I have great energy and mentally I am just elated. That, I'm sure has to do with the amino acids I am taking. They raise and keep steady my serotonin levels. I am getting 100 oz. of water daily and getting 8 hours sleep every night. Good sleep too. With the help of some Valerian sometimes. 

If you want to view part of the DVD click below. 

The stretch alone is worth the price of the DVD its awesome!

Click here to view the stretch at Amazon.com

Other Stuff:

Sunday is my "Day of Rest" and I don't do a workout, but I do take the dog for a walk. But its a leisurely walk holding hands with hubby, stopping and talking to the neighbors. 

Happy Sunday!

Back on the weight loss slide!

Weight Loss Update!

Weighed in this morning and I am down 3 pounds since Dec.24th. Yeah! Hubby is down 2 pounds! Whoo hoo!

I made some salsa to last us the week. We love it on our grilled chicken! I make up a batch and keep it in a mason jar in the fridge!                                                                                                                   

Weight loss update:

The first day of the VLCD (very low calorie diet) we did very well. Along with the amino acids, we had our tea and apple for breakfast. We did a 2 mile walk. (brrrrrr it was cold tho) For lunch we had left over grilled London Broil-100g and salad with my mustard and apple cider vinager dressing. No snack for me or hubby... We just weren't  hungry at all. Then for dinner we had grilled halibut and baby bok choy. That was it. I am going to go off protocol tonight and we will each have the last of the Harry and David pears we got as a gift, for dessert. Going to drink another 16 oz of water tonight, get in the hot tub for 20 minutes and then call it a night so we get out 8 hours sleep. I am excited to get on the scale tomorrow.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Weight loss news:

I'm back on the Protocol! Phase 2 Round 2 for hubby and I. We started this morning. Today is "Load Day" so is tomorrow. It was the Doc's idea to start a week early and load on Christmas Eve and Day! So I took my injection and weighed. Later today Hubby and I will take pix and measure for this round.

At the Doc's yesterday she did a body comp. and I gained 2 pounds of lean muscle mass! That is since my LIW on the first round! I was SO happy about that! That's why I was able to maintain between the first round. Ok, so we load today and tomorrow then its onto the VLCD on the 26th and we start the melting. I haven't set any goals this round. I don't know if I will. I know I will have to do at least one more round after this one so I might just go with the flow this round... However I would like to lose at least 15 pounds.

This round we are using the amino acids with the hCG Protocol. I hope to be able to lose more because of how good I feel using the amino acids. Only time will tell. But I am ready for the scale to start sliding!

I just put a bow on my little bears,

 they look so cute I had to take their picture.

Weight loss Update:

I like busy but I also like to have time to sleep!

This is what I had for lunch today... Its just cottage cheese with avocado chunks, tomato and green onion. Perfect, filling and fast!

Looking forward to starting the hCG Protocol again, this time for 21 days. 

Round II

I am shooting for another 15 pounds this round. 

My load days are 24th & 25th.

Then on to the VLCD. I'm so ready, but glad for that 6 week break to nourish my body, cleanse and do some heavy workouts.

Other Stuff:

I've been busy over at the Project Table. Check it out...

Finishing up last minute things and getting ready for loads of company.

I will be shopping the Christmas sales this week end...

 Gotta check out those 70% off  Christmas treasures! 

Who knows what I'll find!

Welcome to my second Tablescape Tuesday!

 Hosted by Susan on her blog Between naps on the porch. My I present a "A Simple Asian Table setting." With all the hustle and bustle of the holidaze, sometimes its nice to sit down to a simple but elegant meal... 

Followed by a lovely cuppa flowering Jasmine tea and chocolate covered fortune cookies.

For more on Flowering tea see my other blog: 

The Project Table

Weight Loss Update:

Well Doc. Logan said "no" to only taking a 3 week break. But she isn't a totally unreasonable person, so after I told her it was like having the key to the treasure chest and not being allowed to open it. We compromised and I am starting on Christmas Eve Day and Christmas Day, they will be my load days. So that's about 1 week shy of 6 weeks. Hubby is going to start again too! So in 13 days we are back on the hCH Protocol! Yeah!

I have maintained only a 3 pound increase in 3 and a half weeks. That's over Thanksgiving and our one week trip to Disneyland! But Doc. wants to see that 3 lbs., at least, gone using the "high Performance" protocol. She thinks its totally doable by Christmas Eve. 

So there lies my challenge!

Three pounds on my own in 12 days... 

OMG! 

The twelve days of Christmas!

I CAN DO THIS!

Other Stuff:

My daughter had a 4D ultrasound today! 

Its so amazing to be able to see the baby inside the mother!

 Here is my grandson Preston:

Weight Loss update:

So we go to the Doc. tomorrow and I am going to tell her I am ready to get back to phase II. Its been three weeks now... or more and I am just ready to tackle this again and lose the weight. Now that I know how to do it... I want to get it done! I am going to try the three weeks on, three weeks off. We'll see what she says... I checked my original bottle of hCG with a kit and it said it was still good so I don't need to buy more. I think I have enough for 3 more weeks.

Hubby doesn't want to go back on the injections and the VLCD again till the new year. That's fine... I'm the cook and he will eat what I put in front of him anyway... hehehe... 

So far I am doing great on the Protocol that the Doc gave me... the Amino Acids work great! I feel full of energy and am NOT hungry. I eat for fuel for my body and not because I think I am hungry or for something to do... I am going to ask the Doc. tomorrow if I can take the amino acids while taking the hCG. I gained 4 pounds back from my original 20 pound loss at the end of round one on Phase II. But I lost two of those pounds already and I am holding my weight now for 4 days. 

Other Stuff: 

Got the tree almost done... There is a box way up in the rafters that I can't reach and I need to wait till hubby gets back. Its some flowers I put on the tree... to fill in the spots that are sparse.

I would like to start off my entry today with a prayer for a man named Dong Yun Yoon who lost his family on Monday in San Diego Ca. when a Marine jet crashed into his home. He lost his wife, two daughters and mother in law who was visiting from Korea to help care for the new baby. This story just really touched me ... Especially Mr. Yoon's forgiving attitude toward the pilot who was able to eject and parachute to safety. This candle is for Mr. Yoon's family.

My lunch was incredible today... 

I am decorating my tree... and got sooooo hungry so I made this quick lunch.

Garlic Shrimp with sautéed spinach.

Weight loss update:

Meals I ate today... I didn't take a pic of lunch, it was just turkey roll ups with spinach and cream cheese. Tasty tho... And I am actually under 1000 calories so I will have some fresh pineapple for desert.

Breakfast: Egg Beaters 1 egg omelet, 2 tab 2% milk, with 1/4 cup cheddar/jack cheese and 1/4 cup of my fresh homemade salsa. Around 2oo calories or less. 

Dinner: Elk Chili with beans and 2 tab crumbled  Mexican cheese.  Elk is low in calories and fat no cholesterol. Around 350 calories for one cup. 

 Pineapple for dessert?

Grilled Fresh Tuna with orange and cilantro marinade, and steamed asparagus with dill. 

Marinade recipe:

The juice of one fresh orange (Can also use lemon or lime)

A Teaspoon of zest

2 Tab. finely chopped cilantro 

I do baste the fish, you can use any firm white fish for grilling, with some coconut oil so it doesn't stick to the grill and it also leaves those wonderful grill marks. 

For you hCGers... That serving is MORE than 100g. Since I am in phase III I can have a larger serving size of protein. Also keep in mind that I use smaller plates.

Weight Loss Update: 

That's what I had for dinner last night because I am back on track with my weight loss. I was really full after I ate that... It was really good too. But that meal was loaded with protein and fiber. This morning the scale was leaning toward another pound gain and I am not going to let that happen! I will be posting my meals and adding pix if they look especially yummy and I am able to snap a pic before I gobble it down! I am on a mandatory break from the hCG Protocol. I will start up again the first week of January. 

So, I will carefully count calories today and stay on my 1000 cal. a day, Plus taking my amino acids twice a day and my 2 mile walks twice today. I have to admit to being REALLY ready to start back on the hCG! I loved seeing those amazing results!

I thought I was going to miss my coffee creamer when I went on the Protocol, and I did a little bit. But when I went into phase III I started using it again and it didn't taste as good as I had remembered. But I drank it anyway cause I only have 2 cups of coffee in the morning (Its the only vice I had left!). Then when we went on our Disneyland trip, we stayed at the Marriott on the concierge level. So in the morning I would put on my velours and get coffee every morning... they always have Star Bucks but they only had half and half creamer... so I used that and my "Sweet and Slender" sweetener and I really liked it! I have always known that the Nestles French Vanilla creamer is terrible for you... with its hydrogenated palm oils and other things I can't pronounce or spell. I was able to wean off that crap and now I enjoy my creamy morning coffee ALL natural. Organic French Roast coffee, Land-O-Lakes half and half and my new found friend Sweet And Slender sweetener. Its all natural, zero calories and tastes better than Stevia.

Its the baby steps people.... That get us to our goals safely!

Other Stuff:

I am also going to try and put up the Christmas tree today... 

SEE "The Project Table" blog tonight, for that little adventure.

Weight loss up date:

Yup, I still have that 4 pounds of extra baggage I

brought back from vacation! Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrg!

Other Stuff:

 

Cardinals beat Rams 

34-10! 

We can't be stopped!

Nuff said...

Weight loss update:

I gained back 4 pounds of the 20 I had lost... that's from Thanksgiving to today. So... its back to serious weight losing for me this week. Starring tomorrow I am back to 1000 calories, taking the proper amount of amino acids prescribed by my Doctor. Walking two miles twice a day and my work out (Fluidity) on Tuesday and Thursday. 

Other Stuff:

We had a magical time at Disneyland! Five days running around with the kids and grandkids... Losing 20 pounds and walking 2 to 4 miles a day really helped my stamina. I might have gained more if I hadn't been on my amino acids and all the walking we do in Disneyland... we estimated its a good 5 miles a day total!

I miss Disneyland already... But it was nice to sleep in my own bed last night.

Here is the pic I am using as our Christmas Card this year...

Here is a picture of me at Disneyland next to a rose called "Disneyland." It was cultivated by the Disney gardeners and now you can purchase it from 

Jackson Perkins.  (Just type Disneyland rose into their search engine) We planted it last year in our front yard and its doing wonderfully! Its really a magical rose too... it turns shades of yellow, orange and pink! 

Here is a pic of my "Disneyland" Rose from my yard:

I admit to being a major Disney geek! Our whole family is too and our grown kids are raising their kids to be Disney geeks too! Its in our blood!

Visit my new blog The Project Table and see what project I have going now....

We are back from 

I will post a full trip report tonight with pictures! 

We had so much fun!

The Happiest place on Earth!

Diet update: 

I don't wanna talk about it...

Other Stuff:

The Thanksgiving table. I set the table the day before. 

The Thanksgiving table before guests arrive.

Thanksgiving table with our guests and family.

Romantic Table

Today we pack for... 

As Promised to my Foodie Friends on 

the hCG support group.

 

More food pix... For all my hCG diet forum friends... 

Chicken spinach soup... Hubby LOVES it.

Then the ever popular shrimp... I toss the shrimp in fresh lemon juice and fresh chopped cilantro.

This dressing is just a little dijon mustard and apple cider vinegar. 

Its perfect for the tomatoes with a little sea salt and fresh cracked pepper.

If anyone needs a recipe just ask... But to be honest... everything is really basic. I believe that's the secret to this protocol. Is keeping to the simpleness of the food itself. The secret it to make it look yummy!

Another tip is I use smaller plates... actually salad plates to trick your eye into thinking you are eating a lot!

Weight loss update:
I lost another pound on the new protocol from my Doc. She said to expect to lose at least a pound a week. If not more. I upped my cardio to two 2 mile walks a day. Two miles in the morning and 2 miles in the evening. Plus I started Fluidity! WoW what a work out! I can FEEL it everywhere!  (No thats not me, perhaps someday) http://www.fluidity.com 

I am short, 5'4. And the thing I love about this workout is that it extends your muscles to make you look longer and leaner. So far all its done is made me sore! But I'll keep at it, because this is going to help sculpt my body. Doc. says that when I reach my goal weight she will do some lipo sculpting on spots that are going to be stubborn. I should be finished by May 2009. Thats my goal at least.

Other stuff...

I got the table ready and all the food prepped for Thanksgiving. I am spending tomorrow with my daughter because she will be at her inlaws for Thanksgiving... then tomorrow night I will bake pies. 

The day after Thanksgiving is hubby's and my 28th wedding anniversary! We are going to Disneyland to celebrate. We go every year and have been for the past 25 years. Can't wait! We love Disneyland, the sights, sounds, smells... It really is the happiest place on earth!

Weight Loss Update:

This is the first day of the "High Performance" Protocol from our Doctor. So far I haven't gained or lost. My weight stayed the same after my last injection of hCG. Today I can start on 900 calories, with the Amino acids. We'll see...  I'm not too sure what I can eat. I see the Doc. today and she will let me know. 900 calories doesn't seem that far away from 500 calories! But I have more choices now. With the hCG protocol I could only eat certain food. 

Other Stuff:

Thanksgiving is coming up on us really fast. Then its the Holidaze. I am going to help hubby put the lights up on the house today. We will wait to do the inside till we get back from Disneyland next week.

Here is a pic of Cinderella's Castle I took last year. I hope they decorate it like this again this year. Actually this picture doesn't do the castle justice. It really takes your  breath away when you see it up-close.

Its been 30 days and we are off the hCG injections. I have lost 19 pounds and Mike has lost 15! We are now doing what our Naturopath Doctor calls the "High Performance" part of weight loss. I am VERY happy with the results of the hCG Protocol. We followed the "Pounds and Inches" Protocol and I have to tell you. I have tried for a year to shed 10 pounds and I was able to get rid of almost 20 pounds of FAT with this protocol in a month! I know it was FAT because my doc. did a body composition on both of us. We lost NO muscle or water... only FAT!  We are both pretty happy with the results. So now we have to get through the Holidaze, then start another round in January 2009. 

I'm happy to be going to DisneyLand next week 20 pounds lighter!

This is our annual family trip. We go just when Disneyland gets up their Christmas decorations. It really puts the whole family in the mood for Christmas.

Thanksgiving is at our house again so I have already been making preparations . I'll post pix!

We were in Colorado last week. We stayed with my brother Kevin, and Kimmie and our nephews Mitch, Jake, Garrett and Chad. I had a blast with the boys. They took Auntie 4 wheeling... but it scared the crap outta me when they went off the road and heading for a pile of rocks... I though they were trying to scare ole Auntie so I played along and DARN if my nephew Chad didn't drive up and over a pile of rocks! *Huge sigh* Boys will be boys...

Auntie had to get out and take pix...

It was really fun spending time with the boyz. One day they took me to gather eggs. Oh my gosh those eggs are wonderful, I brought home a couple doz. Although we stayed busy there is something about being out in the country. The quiet, the darkness of the night... the whiney of the horses... It was fun and I can't wait to visit again.

 Kevin and Kimmies horses... 

Here are some pictures

 of the meals we are eating on the hCG VLCD. You get to eat 2 of these meals a day plus two fruits, your choice of an apple, orange or grapefruit. Plus 2 pieces of Melba toast daily.

                  #1) 100 grams of Grilled chicken with a mustard sauce drizzle and steamed asparagus.

 

#2) 100g Steamed Lemon Pepper Shrimp tossed with fresh cilantro 

and 100g of Apple cider baby cucumbers.

#3) 100g grilled Red Hot Chicken with steamed lemon pepper spinach. 

#4)  Grilled glazed Salmon with fresh spinach salad.

#5) 100g Grilled Streak with cucumber/red onion salad.

I will be posting more pictures of the VLCD (very low calorie diet) food.

As of Oct. 26, 2008, Mike and I both have lost 

7 pounds each in 7 days!

A little more about the hCG diet.

There are some strict rules, like the VLCD (Very Low Calorie Diet) but if you follow them you can lose on average 1/2 pound a day! With out losing muscle or water! There are certain foods you can eat, and teas you can drink and spices you can use. And of course you are always loading up on water... No need for a "BIGGEST LOSER" work out... Just a little walk everyday to get your body moving! A little ab work or free weights to maintain muscle 3 times a week is recommended. Click on the link below for the whole diet. Its free.

 I am also going to be posting some recipes and photos of the food that stay within the guidelines of this diet that I personally made up. Here are the spices I use to cook everyday:

I'm a chef, I love to cook. I try to cook healthy, but we all need to learn healthy portions and habits. On this diet you may also drink coffe and tea. I chose to stop drinking coffee for 21 days and stick to tea... these teas and others were chosen to help you on this diet. Here is what we drink and use to give the tea a bit of sweetness: 

 The  original hCG Diet by Dr. A.T.W. Simeons

The complete manuscript can be found here: 

http://www.hcgdietinfo.com/HCG-Diet-Protocol.htm

Check it out for yourself

YOU CAN'T JUST BE ON A VERY LOW CALORIE DIET DIET WITHOUT THE hCG INJECTIONS!

This is what we are using to help sculpt our bodies along with the strict VLCD