My Weight Loss Journey

Another 5 pounds gone!

2011-05-31T08:18:00.000-07:00

I've lost another 5 pounds toward my weight loss journey....

I'm doing it in increments of 10 now.

Its just easier to get in a mind set of losing 10 pounds. Its working...

I feel fabulous!

Tuna salad lettuce wrap

2011-05-27T08:34:00.000-07:00

High in protein, tuna packed in water is a good meal for anyway watching their weight.

1 Tablespoon of Miracle Whip (forbidden on HCG-use fresh lemon instead)

1 Can Tuna packed in water

1/4 cup diced onion

1/4 diced celery

Iceberg lettuce leaves

Eat slowly and enjoy your lunch!

Diet Friendly frothy chocolate shake

2011-05-25T09:01:00.001-07:00

What a way to start the day!
(See this post)

Chocolate Protein Shake

(Hcg Friendly too)

1 cup of ice

2 cups of water

1-1/2 scoops of Jay Robb Egg white protein powder

2 tab. Hershey's coco (Unsweetened)

1 tea Truvia

1 tea. Vanilla

Makes TWO servings

Whirl in the blender and enjoy!

HCG Friendly Strawberry Shake

2011-05-24T12:06:00.003-07:00

I HAVE to have breakfast in the morning... My morning is too busy. I have meds I NEED to take, and not on an empty stomach. Plus I have a walk and a work out. That makes it very important I have something in the morning.

I started using this shake and it works in the guidelines of the VLCD (Very Low Calorie Diet) days

HCG Friendly (Or any diet)
Strawberry Shake

1 Scoop of Jay Robb Egg White Protein (Vanilla Flavor)

1 cup of fresh (or frozen) strawberries

1 cup of water

1 cup of ice

1 cap full of vanilla
1/2 teaspoon (or to taste) of Truvia (Or other sweetener of your choice)

Blend till frothy and enjoy!

Makes TWO servings

Nine Pounds of fat

2011-02-18T08:26:00.001-07:00

Nine pounds of Fat are gone from my body. The loss has slowed down a bit but my scale keep moving down every day, so I can't complain. Tomorrow I take measurements. But I can already tell you my pants are a lot looser!

My morning routine is starting to shape up now and my goal is to do this routine everyday!

~Wake between 6:00 & 7:00am~

~Potty, weigh, brush teeth, wash face, dress in work out clothes~

~Have one cuppa coffee and record weight and take blood pressure

and blood sugar and take meds.

~Do T-Tapp work out~

~Eat an apple or 1/2 grapefruit~
(Or smoothie or breakfast if not on Hcg Protocol)

~Take Gadget for a short walk~

~Then I'm ready for the day~

(I'll be posting my meals later today)

Kicking it up a notch. ~Doggie's on a diet too!~

2011-02-17T09:29:00.003-07:00

Ok I woke up this morning and I have lost 8 1/2 pounds!

Its so encouraging!

I walked a mile yesterday with my dog. Who by the way is also on a diet if you missed my first post. She has lost almost a 1/2 a pound and I have noticed an incredible change in her energy level and her alertness and her coat is really shiny!
My Dog Gadget has been using the Science Diet Weight Loss System for small dogs: She has lost 1/2 pound in 9 days and that's a lot for a small dog! I'm very pleased with this product...
This program works!

And I have been using the Hcg Spray, which is amazing! (If you would like to purchase the spray you can do so on my side bar at the top where it says "Purchase HHcg Spray." I have used the injections, the drops under the tongue and they all work but the spray works the best in in my opinion.

Today I'm going to share a little about T-Tapp. Its a work out that you an do with the Hcg Protocol if you wish! AS you can see if you go back to my first posts of this round. You don't need to work out to lose weight using Hcg. However, I feel better when I move my body. I love to walk and swim and play Wii. Just everyday stuff so when I am not moving my body gets stiff and I get grouchy! Grrrrrr...
The first week on Hcg I always stop working out. Just to give my body a chance to adjust to the new calorie intake. (It was also to prove to some non-believers that you can lose weight without strenuous work outs using Hcg)

T-Tapp isn't tap dancing, it isn't dancing at all. Its a series of movements created by Teresa Tapp to lose inches, lower blood pressure, regulate blood sugar, and build muscle with out bulking up.

Try it here:
My T-Tapp Post

Why T-Tapp? It's the Workout that Works!

2011-02-17T09:17:00.004-07:00

Seven pounds in Nine days!

2011-02-16T12:44:00.002-07:00

Its official... I have lost a total of 7 pounds of fat in 9 days using Hcg Spray. (I took a body composition test at my Doctors office) I'm so happy and I feel really good. I have slowed down on the weight loss now but its averaging out to about 1/2 pound a day. I don't care... as long as I see the scale go down! Its go encouraging! This week I start the T-Tapp boot camp again. I stopped for the first week of Hcg so my body could adjust to the change in calories but I am ready to start up again. T-Tap is the perfect accompaniment to the Hcg Protocol. Its low impact and works your entire body. The T-Tapp will help whittle inches off my waist so I can fit into those jeans I need to wear on my trip to Alaska in a few weeks.

My Breakfast: A sliced Pacific Rose apple with cinnamon sprinkle.


Pacific Rose apple with a sprinkle of Organic cinnamon

Lunch: 3 oz. Tuna lettuce wrap with lots of celery and onion
(Celery and onion combined to 3 oz)


Tuna with Dijon Mustard, onion and celery wrapped in lettuce

Tuna isn't normally on the HCG protocol.

I use the albacore tuna in water once in a while and I still lose weight.

Dinner: 3 oz of Salad and 3 oz fish

Spinach Salad and crunchy Halibut

I used the allotted melba toast and crushed it up chunky with some Kirkland
"Sweet Mesquite Seasoning"

Then cooked it in a non stick skillet with a teaspoon of coconut oil.
Yes, I use coconut oil on the protocol and I still lose weight.
With the Tuna and the coconut oil try to see if it works for you.
Especially if you are on the 45 day protocol.
The biggest rules NOT to break on the Hcg Protocol are going over the 500 calories and eating sugar or oily fats.
For example: If I eat a beef steak or even a very lean ground beef steak I usually don't lose the next morning. However if I eat a Bison burger I'm fine and still lose the next day. Everyone is different and everyone responds diffefrent to food. That is why the list is very short for the protocol. That is why you need to be careful combining food too.
For example, I can combine onions with lettuce and also tomatoes and still lose. But if I combine other main veggies like say, asparagus and tomatoes, or cabbage and tomatoes I won't lose and sometimes I gain the next day!
So just either stay pure to the diet or experiment slowly. If you stick to the basic rules you WILL lose weight.
I guarantee it!

6.2 pounds shed... And I feel great!

2011-02-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

This morning my weight didn't change. It stayed the same. Sometimes that happens on HcG. That is why the original protocol, written by Doctor Simeons is called "Pounds and Inches". Some day's you don't lose pounds you lose inches. So I won't fret yet, my body is responding nicely to the HCG once again and I am losing pounds and inches and my clothes are getting loser and I have more energy and I feel great!

I had a 1/2 cup of applesauce for breakfast with my coffee this morning.

And yesterday I had:


Chinese Chicken salad for lunch

Dilled Cucumbers and chopped roasted chicken for dinner

And a beautiful Pacific Rose Apple cut up with cinnamon sprinkled on it for snack.

Did I mention an earlier bed time?

Sufficient sleep is important on the HcG protocol.

Getting to bed between 10:00pm and 11:00pm is crucual, because around 11:00pm - 3:00am in when your body goes into repair mode. Its busy cleaning your blood, reparing your muscles and moving toxins and waste, so you can eliminate then in the morning.

Go to bed...

Sweet Dreams...

I lost 5 pounds!

2011-02-11T08:49:00.001-07:00

No, not currency! Fat! I lost 5 pounds of fat that I don't want back!

That's 5 pounds in five days on the HCG protocol using the HCG Spray!

I have LOTS of energy (I also painted my living room) and I feel fantastic and I'm not hungry.

I eat enough to keep me full and its delicious clean healthy food.

Wanna lose too? Order your HCG Spray and see for yourself.
Click the link on the top right side.
Or

follow along with me for the next 23 days and watch me be a LOSER!

I'll be posting my food later today.

To see what I had all week scroll down.

Day 3 and 4

2011-02-10T20:39:00.000-07:00

I'm down almost 5 pounds today... The first week on HCG, if you do the protocol correctly, you lose fast. Then I'll slow down to about a 1/2 pound a day. I'm fine with that, but I have a goal and I really want to reach it! I know 20 pounds is aggressive but you have to reach for the stars!

Here is what I ate on day 3 and 4:
Breakfast I had a half of a grapefruit each morning.

For lunch day three:

Baked crab cakes on a bed of lightly dressed spring greens.

3 ounces Deli Chicken, 3 oz asparagus

For dinner day 3 and 4:

Bison burger "steak". Dilled cucumbers

3 oz grilled chicken and lightly dressed raw spinach

I had oranges, apples and strawberries for dessert each evening.
Plus lots of water and my regular herbal suppliments.
Gadget and I did cheat last night.
I waited too long to have dinner because I was painting my living room and I had some Ritz crackers and MY BAD I gave Gadget a Milk bone cause she looked at me and I felt SO guilty for having thumbs! She would have helped herself if she could. Here is my cheat!


Gadget and I cheated last night!

I guess we should go work it off and take a little walk.

Day two

2011-02-08T20:30:00.001-07:00

Breakfast:
Coffee with Truvia

Lunch:

3 oz spicy chicken breast and a tomato with sea salt and Worcestershire pepper!

Cara Cara Orange (I bought a huge back at Costco)


Bison burger and cucumbers/onion mixed with ONE tablespoon sour cream and 1 tab vinegar

If I'm hungry later I'll have a handful of strawberries and Truvia
I also drink one packet of Emergen-C (Raspberry flavor) every morning.

A round of HCG

2011-02-07T09:48:00.000-07:00

Its time to finish getting all this weight off!

So I've started another round of HCG

I'll be posting my progress and menu's and recipes.

I'm using the HCG called KetoMist. I've used the inject-able and the mist and I swear the mist works better. Give me 21 day's to prove it.

Its also time for my dog, Gadget to lose some weight with me. I choose to use the Science Diet Weight Loss System for Small breeds. (They offer a kit for large dogs too)
This kit makes it so easy!
She is on a VLCD also.
And she gets snacks too!

We have walked our mile today.

What I ate today:

Coffee black with Truvia

Blue Mountain Coffee


Just a spoonful of Truvia goes a long way

Beautiful Cara Cara Orange (2) one for morning snack and one for afternoon snack

Chinese Chicken lettuce wrap


Steamed Halibut with steamed Napa Cabbage

I cooked these together in my bamboo steamer for 15 minutes.

I used the HCG spray again at 9:00pm and got to bed by 10:00
Sleep is important on the HCG diet.
I woke up to a one pound loss!

Heres a great E-book

2010-10-25T21:43:00.000-07:00

And its FREE! (A downloaded PDF)
Its written by Leo Babauta
It’s about finding simplicity in this Age of Distraction.
I love this guys web site:
ZEN HABITS Smile, Breathe and Go Slowly.
So when I saw the book I grabbed it while he was offering it for FREE!
Its 27 chapters written in easy to read words that make you think and yearn for a simpler life!

Click: Focus for your FREE copy today!

Have a great day and thanks for joining me on my journey!
~Rainey~

Simple clean eating...

2010-10-11T13:25:00.000-07:00

Starting my morning on the patio, now that it has cooled off considerably, with a simple dish of fruit. This morning pink grapefruit and coffee.

Moving onto lunch with a delicious homemade chopped Capri salad.

Todays Challenge:

2010-09-04T09:20:00.000-07:00

Do this little work out 2 times today!

I think this little move might be saving my life.
Its a short little burst of cardio... but it also stimulates the lymphatic system and your glucose levels.

Its a challenge but I am going to try and do this TWO times today... Mid-Day and Evening...

Good Luck and have a safe and fun Labor day week end!

Day Threre Recipes

2010-08-17T21:45:00.000-07:00

Day Three of the SummaTime Challenge
We are going VERY lean today with lots of water... cause we are having pork for dinner.

Breakfast: Strawberry Energy Shake OR 1/2 Grapefruit

Strawberry High Energy Protein Shake

In a large blender, blend the following ingredients: 10 ounces of water, 10 strawberries, one cup of vanilla yogurt, one scoop of any flavor protein powder and three ice cubes. You can substitute the strawberries with any other type of fruit.

OR

1/2 grapefruit

Lunch:

Left over Chili or a large green salad with all the veggies you want with chopped chicken and your choice of 2 TAB. dressing...

Dinner:

Dijon Pork Tenderloin, Steamed brocoli/cauliflower mix

1 Pork Tenderloin roast

1/4 cup dijon mustard

1/8 cup water

1 tea dill

Spray a shallow baking dish with cooking spray and preheat oven to 350. Mix the Dijon, water and dill. (if you don't have dill use tarragon or parsley)

Place tenderloin in baking dish... cover with mustard sauce and bake for 1/2 an hour. While its cooking wash broccoli and cauliflower and steam in micro or on the stove...

Melt 1 TAB. butter in micro with 1/2 tea of minced garlic, pour over steamed veggies.

Day Two Recipes

2010-08-16T23:35:00.007-07:00

Day two of the SummaTime Challenge!

Breakfast:

Mini Egg Muffins & Vegi juice cocktail

10 eggs mixed well with a few drops hot sauce and 2 tab water

1 green onion

2 handfuls of baby spinach chopped (If desired)

2 or three chopped green onions I (If desired)

2 pieces of Canadian bacon cubed

2 string cheeses grated

sea salt and black pepper to taste

Line the muffin pan with 24 cupcake papers, 2 in each cup.

Spray with cooking spray.
Or use one of those silicone muffin pans...
I want one of those pans!

Fill each cup with some Canadian bacon, grated string cheese, spinach (of desired) and green onion (if desired.) OR any other veggie you like... use your imagination... mushrooms, grated zucchini, feta cheese, red or green sauteed peppers.

Then pour in evenly the egg mixture.

Preheat oven to 350 and bake for 20 to 25 minutes till egg is set in the middle.

Serving size is 2, save the rest in the freezer of fridge for another breakfast. Great for my on the go friends!

Here is how I make the Veggi Juice Cocktail:

Lunch:

Turkey Roll Ups...

Spread 1 tablespoons of softened cream cheese on 2 pieces of deli turkey add spinach (Or dark green lettuce) and chopped tomato if desired. Iused spinach in one and red leaf lettuce in the other...
Roll tightly... refrigerate before slicing then slice into bite size pieces, or just eat em whole.

Serving size is 2 whole rolls but have more if you are hungry...
I serve these with a little Dijon Mustard for dipping and some crunchy radishes.
I eat these on the go too...

Dinner:

Bison or Beef Chili

1 lb of ground bison or lean ground beef

1/2 onion chopped

1 large can or 2 small cans of fire roasted diced tomatoes (if you can't find fire roasted use regular)

cumin to taste I use 1 tea.

Chili powder to taste I use 1 teaspoon

My secret ingredient: 1 tea. Unsweetened cocoa powder

1 can of pinto beans of desired.

Brown bison or beef... add onion and cook till tender...

Add spices and cocoa powder and tomatoes to meat and onion. Add beans...

Let simmer for at least 1/2 hour, I let it simmer longer... but after its all incorporated its ready to eat. Let it simmer, on low heat, as long as you like stirring often.
Sometimes I add fresh chopped cilantro at the very end if I have some...
You either love it or you don't.

Day One Recipes

2010-08-16T08:30:00.002-07:00

Chile Relleno Omelet
&
6 0z Vegetable juice cocktail

One Anaheim, Slim Jim or poblano Chile Or a whole canned chili

2 eggs beaten with 2 Tab. milk

1 ounce chunk of string Cheese

1 ounce of Cheddar/Jack cheese, grated (or skip if you want less calories)

Fire Roast the Chile

/ Skip this step of using canned whole fire roasted chili /

I let my granddaughter roast this one on a bamboo skewer, but most of the time when I do this I just put the chile right on the burner, or grill. I use tongs to keep it turning and burning. After the skin is burned and popping all over, I put the chile in a brown lunch bag and let it sit for a few minutes.

Then open the bag and gently remove the skin...

It comes off easily at this point.

Make a slit and slip in the string cheese chunk

Pour the beaten eggs in a non stick skillet sprayed with a little Pam

and place the chile in the middle. Cook over Med. heat.

As soon as the eggs start to set start folding them over the Chile

At this point, lower heat, cover and let cook for about 2 or 3 minutes.

Then add the grated cheese and cover again till cheese is melted.

(Or skip this step for less calories)

LUNCH:

While you are cooking breakfast...
put 1 to 4 semi frozen chicken breasts in a shallow baking dish...
add water and YOUR favorite seasoning.
Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, or till done.

Move chicken to a plate and refrigerate till lunch.

I only did one because that is all I had left today... I"ll bake more later... They are so easy to do. I always have some on hand for a quick snack or salad topping.

One chicken breast is a serving... if cooking for two, 1 chicken breast each.

When cool, shread chicken with two forks...

Add 2 tablespoons of LOW fat (not NON fat) Mayo or Mircle whip
1 or 2 green onions
1 stalk chopped celery
1 TEA Dill

and shredded chicken to a bowl, stir well, chill.

Do this the night before if you have to go to work...
Enjoy!

DINNER:

Garlic Shrimp and a BIG salad!
Serving size is up to you... just don't pig out on shrimp.
Clean shrimp well... place on paper towels to dry.
cut up garlic, mince or chop or use already chopped in a jar.
In a shallow Skillet put 1/4 cup of water and sautee shrimp till pink and opaque. About 3 to 4 minutes.
At the very last minute... add 1 TABLESPOON of butter (yes I said butter) and the garlic and cook till garlic is tender and the butter has "finished" the shrimp.
"Finished" means the shrimp will look amazing...
You'll know!
(Do not cook the shrimp any longer than 5 minutes! Mine are lucky to get 4 minutes)

Serve with a big green salad with your choice of 2 tablespoons dressing. Homemade or store bought.

Choose from the meal plan menu for snacks today...

Enjoy! See you tomorrow!

Team SummaTime Challenge Starts Tomorrow!

2010-08-15T12:13:00.000-07:00

Are YOU ready?

Measure today:

Save and print: (or just use a piece of paper)

Copy and Print the menu and shopping list:

Team SummaTime Challenge Menu:

Monday
Breakfast: 6 Oz. Vegetable Juice Cocktail, string cheese/chili omelet with salsa (recipe follows)
Lunch: Baked Chicken Salad in a lettuce cup (recipe follows)
Dinner: Garlic shrimp, green salad with 2 TAB your choice dressing (careful)
Tuesday
Breakfast: 6 Oz. Vegetable Juice Cocktail, 2 Mini Egg cups (recipe follows)
Lunch: Turkey Roll ups
Dinner: Bison (or beef) Chili with or without beans
Wednesday
Breakfast: 6 Oz. Vegetable Juice Cocktail, 1/2 grapefruit OR Strawberry Yogurt energy shake
Lunch: Left over Chili or large salad with chopped chicken 2 TAB dressing
Dinner: Pork tenderloin with Dijon sauce, Steamed broccoli/cauliflower mix
Thursday
Breakfast: 6 Oz. Vegetable Juice Cocktail, Eggs Bennie (recipe follows)
Lunch: Left over Pork tenderloin salad with Honey Dijon dressing
Dinner: Chicken Roulade W/ cauliflower mash
Friday
Breakfast: 6 Oz. Vegetable Juice Cocktail, 2 mini Egg cups
Lunch: Cottage cheese salad with tomato and green onion
Dinner: Seared Scallops w/ coleslaw (recipe follows)
Saturday
Breakfast: 6 Oz. Vegetable Juice Cocktail, 1/2 grapefruit OR Strawberry Yogurt Shake
Lunch: warm diced chicken in a lettuce cup (recipe follows)
Dinner: Grilled white fish w/ tomato,cheese, basil salad
Sunday
Breakfast: 6 Oz. Vegetable Juice Cocktail, Greet the Sun Breakfast pizza (recipe follows)
Lunch: Veggie soup (recipe follows)
Dinner: Mushroom/spinach Stuffed bison burgers W/ sautéed green beans.

Snacks you can choose from:
1 Stalk Celery stuffed with 2 Tab low fat (NOT NONFAT) cream cheese
10 slices of cucumber stuffed with 2 Tab cream cheese
1 package string cheese
1 stalk celery with 1 tab peanut butter

Team SummaTime Challenge Shopping list:

Copy, paste and print:

Week ONE Shopping list:
Vegetable Juice cocktail (V-8 juice or tomato juice)
2 Doz eggs
1 package Canadian Bacon (I think you guys in Canada call it “back bacon”?)
2 packages of LOW-fat cream cheese
1 package of string cheese
1 carton of low fat cottage cheese
2 cartons Low fat vanilla yogurt (or more if several people are on the menu)
Butter (Yes, I said butter NO margarine) you can get low fat if you can find it.
2 packages ground Bison or LOWest fat beef
1 large bag boneless skinless chicken breasts (Costco)
1 bag of RAW shrimp
1 bag scallops
1 pork tenderloin (Small)
1 white fish filet (any kind)
1/2 pound Deli Turkey sliced thick (blade size- 4ish)
Mrs. Dash seasoning
1 jar Dijon Mustard
1 FIRM head iceberg lettuce
1 head romaine or red leaf lettuce
Small head red cabbage
Small head green cabbage
3 sweet onions
6 or more fresh tomatoes
1 carton cherry tomatoes
1 bunch green onions
2 Garlic heads or a jar of already chopped
Small broccoli head
Small cauliflower head
1 or 2 Anaheim (long mild) or poblano (hot) chilis
2 bags spinach OR 4 large bunches (or a big Costco bag)
1 pound or pre-sliced package Bella mushrooms
1 bunch celery
1 bunch or package fresh basil (or basil from your garden)
1 package frozen green beans
(Mayo, ketchup, horseradish. peanut butter if you don’t already have that)
Strawberries fresh or frozen
Grapefruit fresh or in the little cups cut up
1 carton (not can) or Chicken Stock
Your choice of salad dressing... NO NON fat... LOW fat Okay
1 large or 2 small cans Diced Fire Roasted tomatoes (or reg.)
1 jar of salsa or your own homemade salsa
1 can of pinto beans (if desired in your chili)

We start Monday August 16th:

I will post recipes here with photos

Team SummaTime- Order your HCG here!

2010-08-03T08:18:00.000-07:00

Order your HCG Spray here today!

Click on the link and scroll to the bottom of the info page to order.

This is the best place I have found to order homeopathic HCG!

ORDER HCG

For the Team SummaTime Challenge!

The Challenge Starts August 14th and you want to be ready!

Using the HCG on the Challenge you will double the weight you are going to lose!

Its safe.

You won't be hungry

You won't have sagging skin!

You WILL have lots of energy!

You WILL be amazed at the pound a day! (If you stick to the menu plan)

The challenge will last 23 days...

During that time I will have daily menu's and recipes

Tips, Hints and Reminders

A couple recipe video's

IF YOU HAVEN'T JOINED THE CHALLENGE YET AND WANT TO LOSE 10 TO 20 POUNDS IN 23 DAYS, COMMENT HERE ON THE BLOG AND ORDER YOUR HCG...

Team SummaTime- Join us?

2010-07-29T21:39:00.006-07:00

Are you interested in losing 10-20 pounds this summer? If so, join our Team SummaTime group on Facebook, or simply follow along on this blog!

As some of you know, I lost 28 pounds in April/May and have maintained that loss! My Daughter lost 12 pounds! But I have more weight to lose and lots of people have been asking me how I did it and if I could help them. So I decided to create the Team SummaTime Challenge!

There are two ways to lose!

1. If you looking to lose more than 10 pounds, you will need purchase the h HCG spray (available HERE for $77.00 + s&h) and use meal/workout plan #1. To get to the "Order Now" button please follow the link and scroll all the way to the bottom. If you are using the HCG you will be losing more weight than someone using plan #2 without HCG. On average if followed correctly, you can lose up to 1 lb. per day. SAFELY! You saw me lose 28 pounds last APRIL/MAY and I feel great! Lots of energy and no hunger!

2. If you are looking to lose 10 pounds or less, you can follow along with us using meal/workout plan #2. You will not be losing as much and as fast as someone using the HCG spray, and your meal portions will be larger. But you will lose at least 10 pounds and feel amazing!

If you are unfamiliar with how the HCG diet works, please feel free to review HERE.

Here is a basic overview of what we will be doing during our 23 day challenge.

Weekly meal plans and menu will be provided for you.
Exercise will only include walking 1 mile/5 days a week (more or less if you want) and optional 5 minute workout daily (link to follow).
A download-able chart will be available to track your progress.
For questions and support you can join our Facebook group, or if you have a yahoo account you can comment here on the blog.
A weekly download-able shopping list will be available.
Occasional cooking tutorials will be available here and on the Team SummaTime facebook page.

If you are up for the Team SummaTime Challenge sign up on facebook or leave a comment below! We will be starting the challenge on August 15th so please order your HCG spray HERE as soon as possible!

If after the 23 days you wish to continue you will have enough HCG spray to do a 40 day diet.
Just re-use the menu's and shopping lists.

*Disclaimer- These are my own opinions based on my experience on the HCG diet. Your results are up to you. I take no responsibility for YOUR personal results.

Foodie Friday! South Beach Snack

2010-06-24T21:26:00.004-07:00

Here is an easy snack perfect for the South Beach Diet and a hot afternoon!

Celery with goat cheese and a Virgin Mary!

This will fill you up and satisfy you all at the same time!
(See my cucumber goat cheese snack here.)

Enjoy!

I'm Linking up with

Miss "G's" Foodie Friday

To see more fun Foodie Friday posts click this link.

2 1/2 pounds are back...

2010-06-19T09:09:00.001-07:00

I'm not sure is they are muscle or fat or water (cause I am not seeing my Doc weekly now) either way... Not too good especially since I have been adding carbs back into my life! Ok take a breath, don't panic its only 2 and a half pounds (Yeah... right now...) I have a plan:

This week:

Back on South Beach Phase 1 (the strictest phase) No problem, its easy and I love the food!
Back to T-Tapp everyday (went to every other day to give my muscles a rest, guess they rested too much!
Aunt Flow just left too. Whew glad to see her gone... (That actually could be the whole gain problem, we'll see)
I had been getting my outside carido swimming but I do't think its enough... I hate to say this... but either I get up at O-Dark Thirty and walk or get on the treadmill. I mean that is why we bought it... for those summer daze when its 205 in the shade and too hot to walk out there. *Sigh*

Day 1
Breakfast:
6 oz V8
Han and cheese omelet with ham and cheese
Coffee
Morning snack: Large celery stalk with herbed goat cheese
Lunch: Large/ shredded parsley chicken & field green salad with seasme/ginger dressing
Afternoon Snack: Large celery stalk with herbed goat cheese
Dinner: Grilled steak and large homegrown sliced tomato and sweet onion salad with South Beach approved Ranch dressing.
No dessert today

Here's a little funny to start your week!

(I don't endorse or use Slimfast)

Enjoy your week I'll keep you posted!

~Rainey~

The Journey Continues...

2010-06-15T11:03:00.001-07:00

I'm still on my journey to getting fit and fabulous! I wasn't blogging about it for a week because I had three of my Grandkiddos at my house for a week, all under the age of 6! If you follow me on Facebook you know how busy was! So this week I have been reintroducing carbs back into my life... With the Strict HCG diet (55 days) and the strict first 2 weeks of the South Beach Diet done I'm able to start to eat more things now... And carefully add carbs... as to now gain back those 28 pounds of fat that are now gone!

Here is my breakfast this morning:

Coffee and a slice of my homemade Zucchini Bread, pineapple chunks and a strawberry.

I have also been using this book...

A self hypnosis (or meditation) CD before bed...

Its amazing how differently I look at food now...

nd how easily it is to KNOW when I am full and to stop eating!

The Author; Paul McKenna has an great outlook on life and living and I enjoy his voice as I drift off to sleep... My mind learning to apply these skills while I sleep. You can find the book by clicking on the Amazon link or at your public library...

I highly recommend checking it out!

Tonight I had homemade chicken and spinach cannelloni. Pasta really isn't on the South Beach Diet but when a neighbor brings you a few sheets of homemade pasta you say thank you very much and have it for dinner!

I had that and a glass of white wine
on the patio and I was very happy.

South Beach Diet meals today...

2010-06-02T09:23:00.001-07:00

These recipes are amazing...

I am really loving the South Beach Diet.

Mostly because I love to cook, also because it will be easy to turn eating like this into a way of life!

Yesterday we had:

Breakfast:

Scrambled Eggs (2 egg whites and one yoke) and a slice of Canadian bacon and 4 oz of V8 juice.

Lunch:

South Beach friendly broccoli/cheese soup and some crunchy radishes.

Dinner:

Soy/Ginger glazed grilled pork chops, steamed snow peas and cauliflower "rice".

Warning: Don't click on that pork chop photo if you are hungry!

I'm using this book right now...
Its amazing and there some new recipes in it that I am going to try first.

Slight Detour...

2010-06-01T10:20:00.001-07:00

On the way to the South Beach Diet... we took a little trip to Disneyland!

But that didn't mean we couldn't eat healthy and in fact made it a fun game to eat healthy at Disneyland! It was actually quite easy!

So we were able to eat healthy and get our walking in!

Five miles a day at least!

So we are back home and I'm going to cook my way through the

The South Beach Diet Taste of Summer Cookbook

By Dr. Agaston MD

Join me for some fun and tasty recipes and photos.

My First Day on The South Beach Diet

2010-05-26T21:33:00.008-07:00

Here is what we had today...
wow...
Its nice to have more calories and choices!
(Click on any photo to enlarge)

For breakfast:
Canadian Bacon/cheese and green onion eggs (2 eggs only one yoke)
& Mocktail Mary (V-8 and horseradish and celery, and fresh cracked pepper)
* * * * *

For lunch:
Bison patty with confetti coleslaw and homegrown tomato
* * * * *

For snack:
Cucumber/herbed goat cheese sandwiches - minus the bread.
* * * * *

For dinner:
Steamed Halibut with sauteed squash ribbons.
* * * * *

For dessert:

Chocolate Ricotta "Yuck"
(Yeah, we didn't like this at all! I think it was the texture. Someone said to get a different ricotta cheese and that makes a difference, but I think I'll pass altogether and skip dessert.)
No * 's

Its Official!

2010-05-25T18:13:00.010-07:00

28 pounds in about 2 months...

I am finished with this round and moving onto South Beach Phase 1 for the next 4 weeks.
I am not going to try and maintain.
I am going to keep losing while
on a short break from Hcg & VLCD.

I start South Beach Phase 1 tomorrow morning.
Today for Lunch I had:

Broccoli, egg & cheese casserole

Dinner was:

Herbed chicken medallions with a light Dijon sauce
and steamed Broccoli

I'm back to Lemon water because I am trying to keep my body alkaline instead of acidic.

I had my Crystal light Pure on the patio

On to the Work-out!

Walking 2 miles a day

Doing the Wii Fit challenge with my daughter and her friends.

Plus I do T-Tapp three days a week.

I know it sounds like a lot but it really isn't...
I walk 1 mile in the morning and 1 mile in the evening after dinner...

I do T-Tapp in the morning to energize my day. (T-Tapp only takes 20 minutes)

Then at night I play a round of Wii golf (Tiger Woods PGA 10) with Hubby and do some fun Wii Fit Plus games instead of watching TV.
See?
Do-able!

Healthy recipes to lose weight

2010-05-20T18:41:00.011-07:00

The last week and the last 5 pounds!

I'm going to make my goal of 30 pounds!

(I hope)

These last 5 pounds are hard to get off!

I have had some recipe requests.. so here they are:

Bison Chili ~ Serves two (Protocol serving size)

But you can double this recipe for more servings

7 oz ground bison

1 can fire Roasted diced tomatoes

1/2 Finely chopped onion

1/2 cup fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon cumin

1 TEAspoon garlic

1 TEAspoon chili powder (or to taste)

1/2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

Brown bison slowly then add onion and cook till tender.

I take a emulsion blender and make the tomatoes smaller and smoother but still chunky.

Add tomatoes, cilantro and spices and simmer for at least 1/2 hour. Longer if you have the time or can stand it.

The other request I had was for French onion soup:

(Serves Two apx. 1 cup Protocol Diet portions) or double for more servings.

1 carton beef broth (not stock)

1 large sweet onion sliced or diced (Its easier to eat diced)

1 tab coconut oil (or olive if not on no oil diet)

1/2 Celery salt

1/2 tea Mrs Dash

1/2 tea Braggs

1-2 cloves of already roasted garlic

Heat oil and add onions and cook very slowly to caramelize.

Heat broth and spices and Braggs in separate pot.

Add roasted garlic to onions once caramelized and brown!

Add the onions and garlic to the broth and simmer 10 minutes.

For my carb eating friends and family...

Grilled Fish OR Fish Tacos

If you aren't eating carbs enjoy as is!

If you are eating carbs, steam corn tortillas and serve with

cabbage (red or green) and cilantro dressed in a little salsa verde.

Marinate fresh or frozen fish (chicken or beef too) in any marinade you like.

For a healthy marinade use:

1 cup water

2 TABLESPOONS of your favorite Mrs. Dash blend

1 Tab. Braggs (or soy sauce)

1 Tab. Balsamic Vinegar

marinate fish in HALF the marinade

Put the other half in a small sauce pan and reduce by half and use as a topping for meat or fish.

Discard marinade fish (or meat) was in.

Bring to a boil then a low slow simmer watching carefully not to burn.

It should look like this:

Enjoy all the recipes on this blog anytime!

Its clean eating and healthy.
I've linked up with
Miss "G"s
Foodie Friday fun
Click here to see LOTS of fabulous food!

~Really Rainey~

5 more pounds to go!

2010-05-19T09:13:00.000-07:00

Lost: 24 and a half pounds

2010-05-16T08:27:00.016-07:00

If found

DO NOT RETURN!

Last week of Protocol ticker!
I gotta make my goal!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yesterday for lunch I had:

French Onion soup

Makes two servings:
Put one in the fridge for another day.

Last night for dinner I had:
3.5 oz. of grilled halibut with a reduction sauce and roasted garlic "fauxtatoes"

Early in the day roast a head of garlic then refrigerate.

Marinate the fish in:
1 cup of water
4 tablespoons of Mrs. Dash
1 tablespoon Braggs
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Use 1/2 cup to marinade the fish:

and 1/2 cup in a small pan for your reduction sauce.
Bring it to a boil then reduce heat and let it high simmer, stirring and watching it.

Grill your fish:

The reduction sauce should look like this when done:

For the "Fauxtatoes:
1 head of cauliflower steamed or microwaved till VERY tender
Some "Butter Buds" of desired
and all of your roasted garlic
Steam (or microwave) cauliflower

Put steamed cauliflower in food processor and add garlic and "Butter Buds" if desired.
process till smooth. Warm in the microwave before serving.

Drizzle fish with reduction sauce and serve!

(The fish looks like pie! It was as good as pie too!)

Speaking of Pie...
For desert we had baked apple sauce...
But you can eat them chunky too like in a previous post.

2 apples (serves two)
1 package Truvia (or other allowed sweetener)
Cinnamon to taste or nutmeg or both
For chunky apples I peel them, for applesauce I leave the skin on.
Core slice and place in a baking dish with a little water, the cinnamon and Truvia.
Bake at 350 for about 20 to 25 minutes.
Serve chunky or put in the food processor and process till smooth.
A VERY good dessert!
When off protocol add a little
no sugar whipped cream.
(I'll post that recipe when I am off protocol. Stay tuned)

Process for applesauce:

Serve hot or cold!

Enjoy!

Broke the "stall"

2010-05-15T08:33:00.004-07:00

Finally some progress!
But I must remember that sometimes its pounds and sometimes its inches.

So now that I am down to the last week I need to decide what kind of nutritional plan I will be following after the Hcg is out of my system. To reset my hypothalamus gland and for these last 45 days to be a success and so I don't gain ANY weight back I need to follow the strict rule of NO starch and NO sugar. But after that I can eat everything else. So I am looking at South Beach. That can easily become a lifestyle way to eat for us. Plus I love to cook. That nutritional plan was made for people like me! But I am also going to combine two programs, because I have a friend who was very successful on the "Flat Belly Diet".
So I will incorporate that plan in after my three weeks is up.
Then I will be able to maintain a while till I can one more round of Hcg.
So that's the plan.

If you exceed 500 calories

2010-05-14T16:50:00.007-07:00

I have a Clinic weigh in today!
Only 5 more day's on Protocol!
*I"ll update later*

Here is a great article written by Marianne Cooms from Green Valley Spa on what happens if you exceed 500 calories while taking the Hcg:

I got the article here.

Faulty Dieting

By MARIANNE COOMBS | Published: AUGUST 18, 2009

"Under the influence of hCG, the blood becomes saturated with calories from abnormal fat stores (approximately 1500-2000 calories/day). The blood volume adapts itself so that it can only accommodate an additional 500 calories/day. Caloric intake above 500 calories forces the body to increase its blood volume to sufficiently hold extra calories. The weight of what is eaten does not necessarily play a determining role — the amount of water which the body must retain to accommodate these calories does.

This can be illustrated by mentioning the case of salt. In order to hold one teaspoonful of salt, the body requires one liter of water — it cannot accommodate salt in any higher concentration. Thus, if a person eats one teaspoon of salt, weight will increase by more than two pounds while this salt is absorbed from the intestine.

Many patients on the hCG Protocol ask, “If eating only a few calories over the 500 calories causes me to gain weight during phase 2 of the diet, how can I maintain my lost weight when eating more calories in the maintenance phase?” It must be made clear that this only happens as long as they are receiving the hCG injections. When hCG is no longer present in the body, it can easily accommodate extra food without having to increase its volume."

I hope you enjoyed reading this article I thought it was interesting enough to post. I was never able to explain the reason to stay on a strict 500 calories.

22.6 pounds and...

2010-05-14T12:38:00.009-07:00

...the countdown has started!

I have 7 more injection days left and 7 more pounds to lose...
I don't usually lose a pound a day on this Protocol so my goal looks a million miles away!
All I can do is keep trying...

Today for breakfast I had:
Baked apple chunks with cinnamon and Truvia

For lunch I had:

1/2 cup of low fat Cottage cheese, green onion tops and tomato from my garden!

Al Fresco!

For dinner we had "simmered all afternoon Marinara" and Bison Meatballs.

I will post the recipe for this on Sunday!

21 Pounds are outta my way!

2010-05-11T19:42:00.006-07:00

Doc. weigh in went very well today... My weight loss has slowed in the way of pounds but the body comp. test shows I am losing fat and gaining lean muscle mass! And that is what we all want!

Here is what we had for lunch:

Shrimp Cocktail for TWO on the patio:

Mocktails on the patio this evening while we were waiting for our fish to bake:

ZERO calorie "Raspberry Mocktail"

Dinner was baked fish with steamed baby bok choy and my La Croix Cran-Raspberry seltzer water with a raspberry/mint spear.

Click on any photo for maximum enjoyment!
(But don't lick your computer screen)

Waving goodbye to 20 pounds!

2010-05-10T09:05:00.006-07:00

I did it!

I met my mini goal a day early!

That doesn't mean I can slack off tho...

I still have another goal to reach.

Another 10 pounds by May 25th!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today for lunch: 4 oz Grilled chicken salad with Boston lettuce leaves.

(Click on the photos to enlarge)

1 pre grilled chicken breast- diced

1 dill pickle-diced

1/8 red or sweet onion-diced

1/2 teaspoon Grey Poupon mustard

a few sprigs of fresh Lemon Thyme or Dill (or any dried herb you like)

Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Place chicken in mini food processor and process till small chunks

Add onion and pickle and Thyme, salt, pepper and mustard

Process till smooth or desired consistency.

No need for mayo

Roll up a spoon full of chicken salad in a soft lettuce leaf and enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For dinner we had:

Meat loaf (made with bison) and Mashed Fauxtatoes (made with cauliflower)

If anyone is interested I will post the recipes... Just ask :)

Have a great night...

And Keep Moving that body and feed it the good stuff!

~Rainey~

I'm gonna make it! I'm 19 pounds lighter!

2010-05-09T09:13:00.005-07:00

I have lost 19 pounds! I know I can lose ONE more pound before my Tuesday weigh in at the Doc's! Especially if I don't blow it tonight with Shish-ka-bobs on the grill for Mother's day... The whole family will be here playing in the pool and then we will grill.

My Mantra for the day:

I CAN LOSE ONE POUND BY TUESDAY
I CAN LOSE ONE POUND BY TUESDAY
I CAN LOSE ONE POUND BY TUESDAY

Many thanks to you all who follow my blog and encourage me!

Almost 19 pounds...

2010-05-08T08:46:00.009-07:00

The scales are teasing me this morning! I weigh every morning at the same time. I got on three times and it was the same every time! I am just under 19 pounds lost! Its aggravating me this morning! I HAVE to be at a 20 pounds weigh loss by my Tuesday weigh in!

Yesterday for Breakfast I had 1/2 pink grapefruit with Truvia.

For lunch I had Bison Chili and grissini.

And for dinner we had steamed broccoli and herb chicken breast with dijon sauce drizzle.

And of course lots of H20!

Plus my favorite. Sweet Tea!

Back on track!

2010-05-07T15:30:00.008-07:00

I lost about 1/2 pound yesterday just by having an apple day and taking it easy. I did end up having some broth for dinner and about 10 almonds last night before bed. But I woke refreshed and happy to be back on track. 12.2 more pounds to go to meet my goal!

I tried a new product this week and I really love it! I won't touch artificial sweeteners or colors so I was really happy to have found this new product from Kraft. It Crystal Lite's Pure Fitness water in On the Go packages!

Its not ZERO calories, but I would rather sip 15 calories of sugar cane that 0 calories of artificial anything! So its my treat... to sit out on the patio with a ice cold Crystal Light lemonade. Its delishious. I tried the grape and the Lemon lime and I prefer the lemon lime. I also only used 1/2 the package, I found it to be really strong tasting. One half the package with a twist of real lemon and lime and I am sipping something delightful like the rest of you!

CHEERS!

Spa/Apple day

2010-05-06T09:29:00.006-07:00

I was tired yesterday as I drove over to my son's house to watch my grandkids while they went to work... As the day wore on I felt funny, off, not myself. So I am going to do a spa day. I am eating only apples, taking it easy, reading in the shade by my fountain drinking iced lemonade or tea, going for an evening walk with my dog and going in the hot tub tonight after a dinner of broth. When I take a day like this when I feel sluggish, I always feel rejuvenated the next day and that feeling lasts for weeks!

My weight loss is steady, 1/2 pounds last night...

I'll update later...

Weigh in With Doc this morning!

2010-05-04T09:03:00.007-07:00

Weigh in and body composition test.

That machine doesn't lie!

It tells how much water I have been drinking

and if I have been working out or not!

I'll also get my B12 cocktail (she adds other goodies to it).

Wish me luck!

*UPDATE*

My visit to the Doc. went well! I lost 5 pounds of FAT this week and I gained 1 1/2 pounds in lean muscle! That's good cause the muscle burns FAT!

My water is great... Been drinking a 8 oz glass every hour in the hour. Just chugging it...

Did you know that one chug is about an ounce? It takes me 15 seconds to chug 8 OZ of water! EASY!

Inches...

2010-05-03T08:45:00.004-07:00

The Hcg Protocol is also called Pounds and Inches. Because you lose pounds AND inches. You lose fat in places that are hard for crunches to get to. Hopefully today I lost inches... The scale didn't move this morning. Tomorrow is my weekly Doc. appt, and weigh in. Also last night I had beef. And I tell ya... I'm thinking beef doesn't work for me on the Protocol. Even the most lean cut of beef. Last night we had a beef filet. And looking back at my log book, its starting to dawn on me that I can't eat beef! And I love a good steak.

So NO more beef while I am on Protocol!

(Only 15 more days!)

Yesterday for lunch we had:

Roasted Chicken nuggets (No breading) and tomato parsley salad.

(Yes, we ate the parsley, if was fresh from my garden.)

Last night for Dinner we had:

Grilled beef filet tenderloin and a large salad with ginger dressing.

We also had fresh strawberries for desert:

18 pounds!

2010-05-02T09:21:00.005-07:00

I am amazed! I even had 2 bites of my birthday cake last night and I still lost big! I"m so excited. I am working so hard to make my goal.

For lunch yesterday, we had:

Chicken/Spinach sausage (80 calories each, all natural ing.)

and Napa cabbage and radish salad.

For dinner last night: Apple/chilie shrimp and Green Beans (We aren't supposed to to have green beans on the Hcg protocol, but I need to go shopping and I had those frozen)

~See you tomorrow~

Goodbye to 17 pounds!

2010-05-01T08:58:00.008-07:00

I have lost 17 and hubby has lost 15!

Since April 5th 2010.

We have 18 more days on the strict calorie and specific food list Hcg diet.

Then we can up the calories and eat more of a variety.

But NO starch or sugar for three weeks.

I added the T-Tapp work out combined with the walking and the fat is melting away!

I still feel great with lots of energy.

I still take a half hour to an hour rest in the afternoon if I am home.

The better sleeps you get on this diet the better your weight loss.

I picked produce and canned peaches and made pickles Thursday. That took a lot of energy!

I may have over done it that day....

I was extremely exhausted.

But it was a satisfied tired.

I got in the hot tub and relaxed then went to bed at 9:00am.

It was an awesome day!

For lunch yesterday we had:

Grilled Bison Burger and cucumber salad

Last night for dinner we had:

Apple chili Mahi Mahi with sauteed asparagus.

15 and a half pounds!

2010-04-29T07:38:00.003-07:00

Painfully slow but moving non the less... I think I'll step up my work out another day and walk twice a day starting today. More water too... I was having a hard time getting 100 oz. in a day.

Slow progress...

2010-04-28T08:23:00.005-07:00

But Progress non the less! The scale isn't moving too fast, but I feel better and wear my clothes better and I can get up from the floor easier. I have great energy still and I can't complain about any of that!

I am going to cut out the Melba toast this week and see how I do. I really don't like the Melba Toast anyway, I just grind it up and use it for bread crumbs anyway. I am staying home for the next 7 days anyway, so I can really hide from the world and its tempting food choices.

This is the part of this diet that gets hard, the last 20 days. Because you are SO limited on food choices, after the first 21 days you are ready for a change! But if you keep saying to yourself "FOOD IS FUEL FOR MY BODY" and using this as your mantra you can make it through till the end. It really is your state of mind that is going to see you through the tough days.

So I'm moving with T-Tapp and walking, measuring and counting my calories and taking my supplements and using the Hcg. I have 21 more days on the protocol. Then I take a 12 week break. Those weeks are maintenance weeks. The first three weeks, no starch or sugar. Then ease back into a regular diet. Carefully monitoring my weight and any 2 pound change I will have a Steak day to keep my weight where it was when I finished the Hcg round. Then, if at the end of that 12 weeks I am not at the weight I want to be I will do one more 21 day round of Hcg!

I'm over at my Son's and Daughter in law's house babysitting the grand-kiddos, so I brought eggs and salsa for lunch...

And Apple for snack.

Funny thing is... when I eat the eggs with salsa and I eat the apples cup up like this; its what the kids want too... So they eat it with me!

Weigh in With Doc this morning!

2010-04-26T07:22:00.003-07:00

Half way point weigh in and I am a pound more than I should have been... No need getting upset about it... I'm just gonna move on and make progress. I still have another 15 pounds to lose. I think I can do it. I still have 21 Days to go. I know I can lost at least 15 pounds in 21 days.

15 pounds down 15 to go

2010-04-23T08:35:00.006-07:00

I have reached the half way point toward my goal for this round. I have another 27 days to go and I am positive I can lose at least another 15... if not 20 by adding the T-Tapp!

This week end will be a real challenge tho. We are leaving on a week end getaway to Tombstone Arizona with Mike's parents and Aunt and Uncle. Its always difficult to do this diet when traveling. But this trip is a special occasion and I'm sure we will manage if we are careful! Its a road trip so I will be bringing the scale to keep us accountable!

*Update* April 26- I gained a pound on my trip!*

I'm gonna get that off today and keep going!

This week is going fast!

2010-04-21T06:21:00.007-07:00

I lost perhaps a 1/2 a pound. I usually weigh in at 8:00am every morning but I have to go to my Son's house to babysit the kiddo's today and my daughter in law, who works at a hospital, leaves early, so I have to be there early. So my morning schedule is off a bit.

Doc. put me up to 180 units to inject today... just a little increase from last week. She is trying to get the dosage adjusted to where I am urning fat efficiently and not hungry at all... I have been ok tho. Not too hungry but now with the added exercise (T-Tapp) we bumped it up. We will see how I feel.

Tonight we are hosting my father in law's birthday dessert... Cake and Ice cream over here. Over here because my home can accommodate the entire family and all the kiddos at once.

No cake or ice cream for Mike or Me. Mike wants to at least try a bite... I asked him if he could stop there and he truthfully didn't know. I know I couldn't so I won't try. Besides last week when I was babysitting i had a bits of a a cookie and it was SO SWEET I didn't like it... I have been TOTALLY off sweets for 17 days, so when you do taste them they taste different. Almost too sweet if there is such a thing. I'll be fine... I hope hubs will. I don't miss sweets as much as I miss potatoes. They are my downfall. But you should see how good my blood pressure and my blood sugar is! Its amazing in just 17 days you can make such a difference in your health.

I would like to remind people that you CAN NOT be on a 500 calorie (VLCD) without the aid of Hcg. You own't make it folks... you will get faint, then your body will start using muscle for energy and you will get flabby and you will gain it back as soon as you stop... No if's and or big buts. The Hcg goes in and finds the fat reserves and burns them as energy.

These are what I use everyday:

I eat an apple everyday on this Protocol.

I inject myself with Hcg. every morning, the dosage depends on the Doc. No big deal... small needles and I don't even feel it...

You can also use the sublingual drops.

I use these spices in all my cooking:

And I drink these teas every day... (But now I also use Truvia) These teas are beneficial in weight control, detoxing antioxidants and appetite control. I have a cup hot in the morning... then sip my sweet iced tea all day (along with 100 oz of water). Then usually a cup of hot chamomile at night.

I'll post more later today...

Sayonara to 14 pounds!

2010-04-20T08:07:00.010-07:00

14 pounds on day 16!

My scale is still moving nicely I attribute that to the extra work out I am doing called T-Tapp and the fact that my thyroid is functioning better than last round. I still feel great... Except for a splitting headache yesterday afternoon. I went to the Chiropractor and he adjusted me but he said its most likely I'm a little toxic from my body burning off so much fat... MORE WATER!

I weigh in with the Doc. today and I won't be nervous to get on the scale...
I know I have been working hard for these results.

Last night for dinner we had

Sweet Chili Shrimp and cucumber salad.

Tonight we had

Sauteed Mahi Mahi on a bed of steamed Spinach

Successful Apple Day!

2010-04-19T08:09:00.006-07:00

I dropped another pound and a half yesterday doing an apple day... I am no longer carrying around 12 1/2 pounds of fat! Tomorrow morning weigh in will let me know if I broke the stall.

I start T-Tapp today after my morning walk. I'm excited to add T-Tapp to my diet routine. Its supposed to really enhance the Hcg Protocol. By toning muscle so when as the fat melts off toned muscles show. Also with Hcg and T-Tapp there will be NO sagging skin at all.

I have a personal 30 minute playlist on my iPod that I made for myself to keep me motivated and to keep my tempo. But a friend of mine suggested an iBook while walking... What a great idea! I think I will try that in the morning... for some reason my morning walk is a little boring... I LOVE my evening walk... there are other people out and about, kids playing at the park I walk past and other dogs to say hello to. It really is more of a social walk although I still keep my tempo when I am walking. Thanks for the suggestion Dave!

I think I will just get them from the library instead of you shipping them from the Virgin Islands Dave, and thank you so much for the suggestions and for being my cheering section!

I will be posting more later today...

Apple Day

2010-04-18T19:41:00.007-07:00

I haven't really "Stalled" but TOM was here. Its been four days since I have had any significant change, so I did a apple day today. When I do an apple day, I usually pick a Sunday when we have no family obligations and call it "Spa Day"

I slept in till 9:00am... Had tea on the patio with the Sunday paper, took a long shower, did my toe nails pretty, I even painted little flowers on my mamma toes ... Took a nap listening to the sound of a running stream. Read my book. Took an evening walk with my dog... And ate 3 (I'm supposed to eat 6) apples and sipped minted iced tea all day. That's it... That is all I ate. I am heading out to the hot tub now then going to be in bed at 9:00pm.

Apple days work really well for me when I do it this way.

Dinner last night and tonight...

2010-04-17T15:54:00.007-07:00

We love these dinners!

They are tasty and low calorie and easy to make.

Last night we had:

Baked Chicken Tenders...

6 Chicken tenders

4 Grisinni bread sticks finely ground (or 1/8 cup bread crumbs)

1 tea. Season All

In a ZipLoc add bread stick crumbs and Season All

Coat Chicken

bake for 20 minutes.

Serves with a veggie

Tonight we had:

Taco Bison Burger Salad!

My Weight Today...

2010-04-15T10:17:00.005-07:00

As of this morning I have lost 11 pounds! I still feel great, have lots of energy and haven't been starving and am losing Fat. I have been losing a little muscle. But that has slowed down now that my body is adjusting and learning to burn the fat stores, not what I am eating as energy!

My Lunch Today:

Shrimp WanTon Soup

My Dinner tonight:

Chicken spinach roulades

Today...

2010-04-14T06:53:00.004-07:00

I only lost 1/2 pound. Its ok tho... my scale is moving in the right direction! As long as its moving downward I will be happy. I am babysitting the Grands.... over at their house so I am on my way over there. I have packed my lunch and my dinner ingredients and I will prepare dinner over there and bring it home so Hubby and I don't have to eat at 7:00 tonight. I'll take photos!

Breakfast:

1/2 Ruby Red Grapefruit and a cuppa tea.

Drinking a togo cuppa tea till I get to the kids house...

10 POUNDS bye bye!

2010-04-13T08:06:00.006-07:00

For every 10 pounds I reward myself...

I was going to get a pedicure but I think I will get a massage instead...

I am confidant heading to my Doc. appt. this morning!

By doing the body composition test she will be able to tell me how much fat I lost and how much muscle I have built.

9 pounds GONE!

2010-04-12T08:09:00.008-07:00

I was amazed this morning when I got on the scale! I have lost 9 pounds from April 3rd to April 12th 2010. Part of it is water but most of it is fat, I know this because I see a Doctor every week and she does a body composition test on me. Also I am not losing muscle. I am starting to build muscle now. During the first week.... of NO carbs, my body realizes that it isn't getting quick carbs to burn as energy and it goes to the FAT stores. If I walk and do bands or yoga... my body knows I need muscle and won't eat muscle for energy! This isn't an easy diet, but it is a diet that works if you put in the effort. And it works and it works efficiently! I am burning close to 1200 calories of fat everyday as long as I keep moving.

Or as my Buddy Dave says "Move yer ass!"

Walking is what I do in the morning and evening... I walk my little doggie... I would like to walk with Hubby but he won't get off his chair... (note his weight change next to mine)

I just started T-Tapp... No its not tap dancing,I'm way too uncoordinated for that! Its a cross between yoga and Pilates but you need NO equipment. Just 3 times a week. You can even to T-Tapp sitting down!

Ahhhhh LUNCH! I was hungry this morning... and I'm not supposed to be hungry using the HCG! (Might need to get my dose adjusted) But I made it to lunch and we had grilled Bison Burgers with grilled onions, Boston Lettuce and Tomato.

The dieters version of a burger and a soda!

I wrapped up the Bison burger and onions and tomato around that beautiful buttery boston lettuce and ate it like a burger!

It was fantastic!

And my drink of choice with a meal is this Canada Dry Sparkling Seltzer Water!

Its NOT sweet. Its refreshing tho with just a hint of orange, then I add my own on the brim so I can smell it when I take a drink. I can't complain.

So... I have been really missing my Sweet Tea...

Although I am a Southern California Girl, Hubby is a southern boy and loves Sweet Tea.

So I got hooked on it.

What does a girl do that loves Sweet Tea but can't have sugar do?

Make NO calorie GREAT tasting Sweet Tea with Truvia!

See my Truvia Taste Test here.

Its hot today so I made Sweet Tea!

Now I feel better!

Wait till you see what's for dinner!

Yes, we can have crab!

4oz of fresh crab and 1/2 cup of cucumber salad

Doc. appt. tomorrow!

Weigh in and body composition!

Lunch and Dinner photos...

2010-04-11T19:57:00.003-07:00

I have lost 8 pounds since last Saturday...

I always lose pretty quickly the first week but now the slow and steady begins...

Today for lunch we had 1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese

and yellow and red tomato w/ green onions.

Today for dinner we had Bison Chili

Some delicious meals to share

2010-04-10T21:43:00.005-07:00

Dinner last night was 4 oz of "Fried" Chicken and steamed cabbage...

I used grissini ground to a fine powder and some Smoked Paprika to coat these lovely chicken tenderloins... Then baked them at 350 for 20 minutes.

My losses really slowed this week end... Tonight I just made soup...

I call this "Cozy Shrimp with asparagus" because the shrimp are cuddled up into a wanton.

Weekends are always really hard...

But a sensible balance is what I have to find.

Sometimes its Pounds Sometimes its Inches!

2010-04-10T06:07:00.003-07:00

No noticable loss this morning on the scale. Sometimes you lost pounds and sometimes you lose inches on the Protocol. I need to take my measurements today because I forgot to when I started the Protocol last Saturday.

I'll update this post with my food photos later today after our yard sale...

I feel great!

2010-04-08T08:35:00.016-07:00

I lost another couple pounds (7 and 1/2 pounds total) and I am starting to feel really good! I mean, lots of energy and better stamina... I have upped our walks to 2 miles... One mile in the morning and one mile in the evening... My cardiologist prefers that I break up my walks through out the day anyway. Rather than do all my miles for the day at one time. Yesterday I babysat at my Son's house all day and I was really busy... So I wasn't able to photograph lunch.

For the morning commute I had a travel mug of Yerba Mate Tea with a whole packet of Truvia! YUM! And I had brought some strawberries to snack on but didn't end up eating them cause after the Yerba mate tea I wasn't hungry. Yerba Mate tea is a great appetite suppressant.

I packed my lunch. It was just some deli chicken sliced thick. One piece is 4 0z. and a sliced tomato and lettuce. I made a roll up with it and it was fantastic!

When I got home I had Halibut unthawed in the fridge waiting for me... I fired up my Flip Grill and seasoned the heck outa my fish and plopped them on the grill, while I sliced cucumbers and some red onion and made a homemade dressing of ground ginger, rice vinegar, Bragg's liquid amino and a little Truvia. It took me all of 15 minutes to get dinner ready:

Dinner: Grilled Halibut with Dijon sauce and marinated ginger cucumbers.

I actually had dessert tonight... Just strawberries with Truvia.

And of course the ever present lemon water.

But I am switching to Lime water. For a change.

Doesn't that look refreshing?

And I am making some Iced Sweet Tea with Truvia. I can drink that all day long its so good!

I am also getting ready for a two day yard sale... my Son and daughter and mother in law and us! A huge 4 family yard sale! So I am going to be really busy... Good thing my body is dipping into that stored fat to use as energy! I MUST drink all of my water today!

Also I have a Doc. Appt. Its Weigh in Day! She is going to be pretty happy with my results this week! I know I am! *UPDATE* Doc's scale says I lost 9 pounds, but i'm going with my scale while I do this diet. I only have another 41 days to go!

FRIDAY= Yard sale Day:

Lunch:

I call these "Scorpion shrimp in the grass" cause they look like scorpions when you "butterfly" them and grill them like that and because I put a dash of Cholula Sauce on them just before serving to give them that "sting". Served on a bed of julienne spinach with lemon dressing.

We are having "Fried" chicken and steamed cabbage for dinner:

Will update later... Yard sale went well... doing it again in the morning... Going out to work in the garden for a while...

Great day!

2010-04-06T12:06:00.012-07:00

Its like Christmas for us here... we get up and do our morning bathroom ritual then

hit the scale!

I lost 2.6 and Hubby lost 2.2 yesterday!

What a great start!

YES!

This kind of loss is typical of the first couple of days, then I usually settle down to 1/2 pound a day.

For breakfast today we had an orange and a cuppa tea and a couple of fiber capsules.

For Lunch: 4oz Bison Burger with caramelized onions on a bed of Boston lettuce and half tomato each. I used the lettuce as "buns" and loaded the Bison burger, onions and tomato in the leaves, wrapped it up tightly and Oh my Gosh was it good!

Dinner is going to be Scallops: 4 oz. Seared sea scallops and steamed Broccolini with lemon

Only enlarge this photo if you love sea scallops!

Kelly (my lovely daughter) is heading over and she is helping me cook/package for the coming week. I am always more successful when I cook for a week, that way I just look at my menu, grab, warm it up and eat!

Our Hcg Journey

2010-04-05T08:05:00.013-07:00

Today is the first day of the "Very Low Calorie Diet"

Day One and day Two:

Inject with 130 units of HCG. Then eat foods high in fat content- the purpose of this is to insure that it is clear to the body to use fat as energy.

The first two days of this diet you inject with Hcg and you eat calories with fat. Some people like to gorge but that gives me a tummy ache so I just try to eat food with butter and natural fat and stay away from sugar... course I do try to eat things that I will miss while on this strict diet too. So I did have some cheesecake! But when you eat too many calories you can gain up to an extra three pounds and who wants to do that?

For the next 38 days we are injecting with HCG and we are going to only consume 500 calories.

I am journaling all the food and activities.

The "we" is Hubby and I.

The rules are simple:

Consume 500 calories from a very restrictive list.

Walk a mile

Drink 100 oz of water

We have doen this diet before... its called phases... and I lost 26 pounds... This phase, I would like to lost 30 pounds and Hubby wants to lose 30 also. We have 62 days to do that. Because you can only inject for 40 days. Then you MUST take a break. The other day's are going back to over 1000 calories but (NO STARCH OR SUGAR). After the 64 days are up you slowly add starch back into your diet.

I will once again photograph what we eat each day and our activities. I will also post how much we each lost that day.

Once a week we measure and I have been taking a photo of my face everyday.

So I will add to this post tonight...

The first week of VLCD is so hard! I have energy but my tummy feels empty... It helps having water with lemon or lime... if I get too hungry I will take a fiber capsule...

Here was our breakfast: 5 strawberries with Truvia and tea, I had Oolong and Hubby had spice.

Here was our lunch: Low Fat Cottage cheese with tomato and green onion.

This was our dinner: Grilled chicken with grilled asparagus and a grilled onion.

If we get hungry tonight I will take another fiber capsule and start slacking off on the water.

We are off for our one mile walk with our Doggie Gadget... Then a hot tub...

Then early bed... I can't wait to see how much I lost in the morning!

Good night!

50 ways to cut 500 calories a day!

2009-12-28T09:42:00.015-07:00

Some of these are just plain silly or common sense, yet the article is still useful as a reminder of things we already know... and amusing...

Lets move more and make better choices about what and how we eat. How we work and how we use our leisure time.

To use this blog better use the blog search engine to find the recipes and meal ideas. I have photographed lots of ideas... for those times you are really hungry yet diet food doesn't sound good... Check out my blog for meal ideas. Just type in a food in the search engine.

I'm starting again on my weight loss journey... 2010 has to be my year for getting healthy and fit! I have 50 pounds to lose. And I have joined a fun group to help with the accountability part of making this commitment.

If you would also like to join all the information is here...

This article was take from Health.com

The most basic way to lose weight is to slash calories. That’s Diet 101. But how many do you really have to cut or burn to see results? It’s simple: You can drop a pound a week by trimming 500 calories each day. (Calories burned are based on a 150-pound woman.)

In fact, do a couple of swaps a day and you can drop 10 pounds in five weeks! So try these 50 easy tweaks—and get the slim body you want in no time.

1. Shake your groove thing. Dance for just two hours and torch 500 calories. (A little air guitar will burn a few extra calories, too.)

2. Get enough sleep. A lack of shut-eye can make you snack, new research from the University of Chicago shows. People who got only 5 1/2 hours of sleep noshed more during the day. Snooze more and save about 1,087 calories.

3. Don’t eat in front of the TV. You’ll eat up to 288 calories more, according to research from the University of Massachusetts. Instead, eat at the table, and trade one hour of TV for a casual walk. Together, that’s 527 calories burned.

4. Get in tune with your tummy. Pay attention to how full you feel, and put down your fork when you’re satisfied. Listen to your body’s cues—instead of looking at whether the plate is clean—and save up to 500 calories a day.

5. Limit dinner guests. Eating with seven or more other guests can make you eat 96 percent more food, says Brian Wansink, Ph.D., author of Mindless Eating. That’s like doubling your dinner! Dine with fewer guests to save 500 or more calories.

6. Simple tricks to fill up (with less!). For breakfast, eat two boiled or poached eggs. (You’ll feel fullerand eat about 416 fewer calories the rest of the day.) Before lunch and dinner, enjoy 1 cup low-cal soup. (You’ll eat about 134 calories less at each meal.) And save a total of 684 calories for the day.

7. Limit salad toppings. A big salad might seem healthy, but all those goodies on top can make it more calorie-laden than lasagna or fettuccine Alfredo. Cheese crumbles, caramelized nuts, bacon, avocado, dried fruit, croutons and vinaigrettes can add lots of calories. Save 500 or more calories by having just one topping, adding flavorful but lower-cal veggies (roasted bell peppers, grilled onions, or mushrooms) and using half the dressing.

8. Don’t clean your plate. Leave 25 percent of your food on the plate at every meal, says weight-loss expert James O. Hill, Ph.D., author of The Step Diet. If you normally eat 2,000 calories or more each day, you’ll cut 500 calories.

9. Use smaller plates. Swap your 12-inch plate for a 10-inch one. You’ll eat 20 to 25 percent less—and save up to 500 calories. You won’t feel any less full, either, researchers say.

10. Serve and sit. Family-style meals, with platters and bowls of food on the table, invite people to go back for seconds and thirds. Cut hundreds of calories by filling plates before bringing them to the table; leave serving dishes in the kitchen, too.

11. Make a swap. Use 1 cup plain fat-free yogurt instead of 1 cup heavy cream in a favorite baking recipe. Save 684 calories.

12. Make mine a mini. Check out menus for small versions of great desserts, so you can dodge calo ries and end your meal on a sweet note. P.F. Chang’s Great Wall of Chocolate (designed for one diner!) is 1,440 calories. The Mini Great Wall? A chocolatey yet svelte 150 calories. You’ll save 1,290-calories.

13. Ditch that buttered movie popcorn. Yes, the large popcorn at the concession stand weighs in at a whopping 1,005 calories. Smuggle in your own (microwave-popped, 94 percent fat-free, of course) and save more than 700 calories.

14. Count your chips (and crackers). No, you can’t eat your snacks from a large bag or box because it’s waaaay too tempting to eat until the bag is empty. (Remember Oprah’s blue corn–tortilla chip confession?) A chip-bender to the bottom of a 9-ounce bag is 1,260 calories sans the dip. So stick to one serving, about 15 chips—that’s 140 calories—or pick up some 100-calorie snack packs and save 1,120 calories.

15. Step away from the nuts, especially if they’re in a big bowl. The bigger the serving bowl, the more you’ll eat, Cornell University researchers say. Nuts have heart-healthy fats, but they’re also high in calories: One handful (about 1 ounce) of oil-roasted mixed nuts has 175 calories; three handfuls have 525. Cut out nuts altogether and save more than 500 calories. Can’t resist ’em? Eat pistachios: Two handfuls are just 159 calories, and the shelling will slow down your munching.

16. Skip the whip—or at least size it down. Dessert-like coffee creations can contain as many as 670 calories, with large sizes and options like whipped cream, whole milk and syrups. Craving whipped cream? Try it on a shot of espresso for a total of just 30 calories. You save 640 calories!

17. Kick the soda habit. A 12-ounce soft drink has about 150 to 180 calories. If you down two or three a day, you’re getting lots of extra calories. Quench your thirst with water and save as many as 540 calories.

18. Drink sugar-free. A 20-ounce tea with added fruit juices can have 400-plus calories. And Southern-style sweet tea isn’t much better than soda: a 16-ounce bottle of syrupy sweet tea has 180 calories; three of those are 540 calories. Choose sugar-free sips and save more than 400 calories.

19. Skinny up cocktails. Syrups, sour mix, sugary fruit juices and creamy additions turn drinks into desserts: an indulgent Mudslide can have more than 800 calories. Order drinks mixed with club soda, tonic water, cranberry juice or a squeeze of citrus; or try distilled liquors on the rocks. You’ll save up to 800 calories.

20. Eat less pasta. One cup of pasta is just 220 calories. But typical dinner portions at restaurants can be as much as 480 percent larger than that 1 cup, according to New York University research. That’s 1,056 calories. Even if you eat 2 whole cups of noodles, you’ll still save 616 calories.

21. Get out your knitting needles. An afternoon of knitting can burn more than 500 calories (at a rate of about 100 an hour).

22. Clean house. Tidy up for 2 1/2 hours and burn 510 calories.

23. Check the number of servings in a dish. The calorie count on the menu for shrimp fried rice may say 350 calories per serving, but what’s set in front of you may actually contain four servings. Split it with three friends, and save 1,050 calories.

24. Beware the healthy-food trap. People let their guard down when the menu is full of healthy fare, underestimating calories by as much as 35 perecnt, research by the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab shows. You’re also more likely to order drinks, sides and desserts with up to 131 percent more calories when you have a healthy entrée. Skip caloric sides—a cookie, chips—to save 500-plus calories.

25. Build a lean burrito—and you’ll save 630 calories. Here's how:

Instead of a flour tortilla, order lettuce.
Instead of cheese, order guacamole.
Instead of ground beef, shredded pork.
Instead of black beans, order pinto beans.
Instead of rice, order corn salsa
Instead of salsa, order pico de gallo

The reduced calorie options add up to 490 calories—down from 1,120.

26. Think small at the ice cream shop. Even if you indulge in your favorite full-fat flavor, you’ll save as many as 550 calories with a 5-ounce size instead of a 12-ounce.

27. Think thin when it comes to pizza. Eat two slices of a medium thin-crust veggie pizza (360 calories) instead of two slices of a large, meaty deep-dish pizza (940 calories) and save 580 calories.

28. Beware hidden oils. Ask to have your food cooked with a little stock instead of oil, or order steamed or poached entrées: you’ll save 124 calories per tablespoon of oil. Also, have the kitchen skip oils added at the last minute like basil oil or chive oil, and save another 40 calories per teaspoon.

29. Order spaghetti with meat sauce instead of spaghetti with Italian sausage and save 560 calories. Even better: Order mushroom ravioli (670 calories) or pasta marinara (430 calories).

30. Nix that smoothie a day. A large 32-ounce smoothie can have 800 or more calories. That really adds up if you’re having on-the-go breakfast several times a week. Instead, try a filling lower-calorie starter of oatmeal with brown sugar and banana slices, and a cup of black coffee. You’ll save 518 calories.

31. Help a friend move. You’ll burn more than 600 calories in one hour of carrying boxes and furniture up and down the stairs.

32. Shovel snow. Clearing the driveway and sidewalks for one hour and 15 minutes will torch 510 calories.

33. Ice-skate for one hour and five minutes and burn 516 calories. (Or go inline skating and slash 562.)

34. Tap your foot. Your skinnier friends are probably fidgeters, who burn up to 350 calories a day just by tapping their feet or being restless. Try it for a few days. Walk around while you’re on the phone, or tap out a tune with your hands or feet (in the privacy of your own office, of course).

35. Be the hostess with the mostest. Go grocery shopping for one hour, put away your groceries, spend two hours cooking a fabulous holiday feast, set the table and serve. Then toast yourself for the awesome 640 calorie-burn. (A glass of champagne is only about 106 calories, so you’re still ahead.)

36. Go window-shopping. Whether you buy anything or not, an afternoon of walking around and trying on clothes can torch 548 calories.

37. Hit the pool. Do one hour of laps or 55 minutes of jogging in the water to burn 500 calories.

38. Stroll your way slim. Spend an afternoon pushing junior from the giraffes to the sea lions at the zoo (or around the aquarium or museum) and burn 523 calories.

39. Head to a county fair or amusement park. You’ll slash 612 calories in three hours from the casual walking and standing in lines. (Subtract 105 calories if you have cotton candy.)

40. Play a game of touch football or basketball with your kids for one hour and burn 500 calories.

41. Head for the nearest hill. Go sledding with the kiddos for one hour and five minutes. You’ll burn 500-plus calories.

42. Do an hour of circuit training and you’ll burn 544 calories.

43. Tackle the garage. Clearing out junk for 1 hour and 30 minutes will burn 510 calories.

44. Rake the leaves. Do yard work for 1 hour and 45 minutes and burn 512 calories. (Jumping in the leaf pile won’t hurt, either.)

45. Kickbox. Sign up for kickboxing and burn 510 calories in a 45-minute class.

46. Go cross-country skiing for one hour and five minutes and sizzle off 516 calories.

47. Exercise at home. Pop in a one-hour aerobics DVD, and finish with 20 minutes of yoga—500 calories, gone.

48. Walk or run a 10K and you’ll burn up to 680 calories.

49. Go hiking. Just one hour and 15 minutes will burn 510 calories.

50. Cut down your own Christmas tree. Hike out, find the perfect tree, cut it, and take it home. Put it up and decorate it for 1 hour to burn 519 calories.

Finally My back is back!

2009-11-17T17:36:00.007-07:00

But months of sitting around on my backside have made any progress of losing weight null and void. So its back to the drawing board for me again.

I start my plan soon

Watch for updates.

Still recovering from a back injury...

2009-10-15T21:10:00.003-07:00

So I haven't been on my diet as I am still recovering from my back injury... Its been a long recovery time and I'm still not myself. I am doing a lot better than I was tho. I don't know when I can get back to my HCG weight loss tho. I am seeing three doctors right now and each one says not yet. *Sigh* a huge setback for me. I am trying not to be depressed. I am trying to say upbeat and focused on recovery. Its just so hard sometimes... Sometimes I just want to scream!

Please visit my other blog The Project Table for updates for a while...

My new Grandson...

2009-08-30T08:10:00.003-07:00

Is finally here!

Baby Corbin

9.8 pounds 22 1/2 inches

Day 14

2009-08-25T00:52:00.005-07:00

This is a drive-by posting!I was in a huge hurry today to do my Posts...

Enjoy!

Lunch:

Shrimp Cocktail with homemade cocktail sauce:

Dinner:

Cilantro/lime grilled Ahi with steamed asparagus:

Dessert:

Sliced Strawberries with Chocolate/coconut bark:

LOST... 10 POUNDS...

2009-08-22T10:06:00.010-07:00

And I don't want it back!

Whooo Hoooo!

Day 11

2009-08-21T18:38:00.007-07:00

Yesterday was a long day, I at what Kelly and I had made but had two stressful Doctors appointments. So I didn't photo my food yesterday...

Today for breakfast I had an apple and a cuppa tea.

(Click on any photo to enlarge)

Lunch:

Egg white frittata with sautéed asparagus, green onions and a scoop of my homemade salsa.

Snack was another apple...

Dinner:

3 oz Baked Sea Bass with ground melba toast and Season-All and cucumber/red onion salad with basil/vinegar dressing.

Desert is Orange Sorbet with sliced homemade sugarfree chocolate bark.

Day 9

2009-08-19T16:35:00.004-07:00

Yeah... I missed posting on day 7 and day 8. My daughter Kelly and I shop and cook for the week every 6 days, then vacuum seal and mark everything. It makes it so much easier and we have been more successful this way.

(click on any photo to enlarge)

No breakfast today...

Just wasn't hungry this morning...

Lunch:

3 ounces of baked chicken breast and 3 ounces of Aspargus steamed with some thai basil, fresh from my garden, in the steamer. It gives the asparagus a wonderful flavor! (You can use any fresh herb you like)

Snack:

A med. orange

Dinner:

Chili with NO beans

Most likely I'll have an apple tonight for dessert if I get hungry.

Tomorrow is weigh in day with the Doctor.

She is supervising my weight loss. I see her every week for a weigh in and a body composition scan, which tell us if I am losing, fat, water or muscle.

I'll check in tomorrow!

Day 6

2009-08-16T11:12:00.018-07:00

Down another pound today! That's 7 pounds total since August 11th 2009! The first week the weight comes off fast.. then it slows down a bit... that's ok. This is the best diet ever! You see results and that keeps you SO motivated!

(Click on a photo to enlarge)

Breakfast:

I once again had my 1/2 grapefruit and Kelly had an apple and of course our

Yerba Mate or Oolong teas.

Lunch:

French Onion soup with 2 ounces of lean ground steak & 2 Melba Rounds

I switched to water with Lime today for a change.

Dinner:

Grilled steak burger with lettuce, onion and tomato

For dessert/snack

I had left over Strawberry sorbet from last night

If anyone wants recipes contact me by e-mail.

The address is on my profile.

What we ate today... Day 5

2009-08-15T17:21:00.011-07:00

Saturday: August 15th day 5 continued

Breakfast: I had 1/2 grapefruit again and Kelly had an apple.

And Oolong Tea, at lease 2 cups a day, it helps with hungries.

(Click on any photo to enlarge)

Delicious Pink Grapefruit with 1/2 pack Truvia

Crunchy Granny Smith Apple

Of course the ever present Lemon water

Lunch:

Green onion chicken soup

It was so good I didn't even miss the noodles.

And 2 thin breadsticks

Did I mention I am drinking a LOT of lemon water?

Dinner:

Chicken and herb patties with a drizzle of Dijon/dill sauce & Broccoli

Dessert:

I put my last fruit serving, strawberries, in the Vita Mix with a packet of Truvia and some vanilla and made a sorbet.

A closer look at delicious!

Today hasn't been too bad...

I wasn't as hungry as I was yesterday.

Next week we add in a couple of workouts and early morning walks.

Day 5

2009-08-15T10:21:00.010-07:00

5 pounds gone for good!

Day 4!

2009-08-14T18:01:00.000-07:00

I lost THREE pounds and so did my daughter Kelly!

Whoo Hoo!

(Click on any image to enlarge)

Breakfast:

1/2 Pink Grapefruit with Truvia

Lunch:

3 Ounces boiled shrimp with Lemon and a sliced tomato

Snack:

Dinner:

1 1/2 cups of chili with NO beans and two thin breadsticks.