R3 P3 D2 - Monday, May 10, 2010 =) 130.0

Saturday I think I lost my mind... I was already due for a steak day from the last day of P2, lol, and I ate like a pig. Nothing I wasn't supposed to have in P3, but I ate tons of it. And I ate pork rinds. I know from Round 1 P3 my body does NOT like pork rinds, but I was hungry, and it beat the alternative of cheating as I was in an environment with hot dogs, bbq, funnel cakes, etc. I stepped on the scale yesterday morning and was 6.2 lbs ABOVE LIW! Holy cow! =O I was going to wait until today (Monday) to do steak day, but decided I'd better go ahead & get my steak day on yesterday lol! I'm now 1.8 above LIW, so I'm glad I did. I'm not mad about my "highest" weekly weight being under 135. Before R3 my "highest" weight (on Monday mornings after the weekend) was on the average around 143. I was NOT okay with that. I'll just say, I LOVE my low weight, and I even LOVE 130. I can't tell you how many compliments I've gotten since the end of R3!!! Huge difference =)

R3 LIW.... drumroll......................................................................... 128.2!

That's goal enough for me! I'm a few days behind on posting... but I wanted to post this one first =)

R3 P2 VLCD 17 ... Wednesday, May 5, 2010 - 129.4 - UP .6

BOO!!!! Today WAS going to be "LIW".... cutting it short so I'll be in P4 for my anniversary. WELL... guess what? I wanted 128.0, and THAT I WILL HAVE! going P2 for another day baby! I'm pissed! LOL! Knowing all I had to eat yesterday was an omelet and that's NEVER caused me anything but loss! And I got out there and busted my ass (attempting to) playing tennis for two hours!!! WTH!!!! =O

All I can think is either (1) RANDOM... look at the pattern of the last four days. -1.6; + .4; -1.6; + .4 .... so tomorrow would have to be a loss... TOMORROW. LIW. Moved up because I said so lol!

R3 P2 VLCD 16 ... Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 128.8 - down -1.6 - 120's are BROKEN!!!

I'm excited and stunned at the same time! I NEVER thought I'd see the 120's again. Even after my divorce!

This was after a P2 steak day and walking 6 miles throughout the course of the day.

R3 P2 VLCD 15 ... Monday, May 3, 2010 - 130.4 - UP .4

Whatever... it happens. Lost 1.6 the day before, so there. Ha!

R3 P2 VLCD 14 ... Sunday, May 2, 2010 - 130.0 !!!!!! -1.6

This is after hosting a tupperware bridal shower at my house and being VERY risky eating a lot of homemade salsa with cucumbers, two meatballs, whipped cream and fruit salsa on cucumbers (hey at least I didn't touch a tortilla chip, the cheeseball, or choc cake), etc. ;)

R3 P2 VLCD 13 ... Saturday, May 1, 2010 - 131.6 !!!!!! -.8

Sorry.... yesterday I was down .8 as well and I'm not too sure how much, though smaller than .8 before =) Been too busy to update!

5 more days of drops, 8 of VLCD's and I want to see 128. Originally 125, but I now realize how incredibly slow the losses are when you get so close to goal and I know that isn't going to happen LOL! If my LIW were 128, 130 would be my "ceiling" - immediate caution - hello steak day lol!

Bound & determined!

R3 P2 VLCD 10... Wed. April 28, 2010 - 133.4!

Here we are... finally, a number I haven't seen on the scale in three years. Now... hoping to be down after a P2 steak day!!! 132... come on baby! SO CLOSE!

R3 P2 VLCD 9... Tuesday, April 27, 2010..... 134.4 - 2.6 down from yesterday

This one is tough..... I suppose since I don't have alot to lose and I'm far into the normal range but just "want" a few more lbs... hcg doesn't cooperate like it used to lol! Going for another 10 days on P2, so we'll see. If I see 120-ANYTHING on my scale, I will be HAPPY!!!!! Even 129. Middle number needs to read "2"... Everyone cheer me on! My not even 3 lb loss in this round is a tough pill to swallow... but I know I'm working on the last SERIOUSLY... few lbs. I look great in clothes. Super skinny. I'm putting on a bikini in 5 wks though for my beach trip, and I wanna be hawt!!!!!

R3 P2 VLCD 5 in da howse.... Friday April 23, 2010 - 135.0 - down - .2

BOO =P That is all I have to say about that.

R3 P2 VLCD 4! Thursday, April 22, 2010 - 135.2 - down -1.6 lbs

Breakfast - 2 hardboiled eggs

Dinner - 2 servings of this protein shake: http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3711199&CAWELAID=390901572
(YUM)

Post dinner I'm going to die if I don't put something in my mouth SNACK... romaine lettuce with 2 wedges of laughing cow swiss spreadable cheese... breathtaking.

:) 10 lbs till goal!

R3 P2 VLCD 3! Wed., April 21, 2010 - 136.8 - down - 1.4 lbs

1.4 down, 1lb under my pre-load weight, still 1.8 lbs above last rounds LIW... had two hard boiled eggs this AM and tonight I'm going to have the Dynamatize Elite Whey Protein Shake - PB Chocolate flavor (with water) =) 250 calories for a double serving. So that's what I'm doing!

Crossing my fingers... the goal of 125 needs to happen!

R3P2 VLCD2 April 20, 2010 - 138.2 - Down 7.6 lbs!

You read THAT correctly! :) Down 7.6 lbs - so .4 more to go before I'm down my loading weight, and 3.2 to go before I'm at R2 LIW. =/ that's annoying... Anyhow! I did a P2 "steak day" and was seriously down 7.6 lbs. I swear by these steak days lol! Had hamburger patty on the GF (extra lean) with del's sauce, a laughing cow wedge, low sugar ketchup, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes and grilled fresh mushroom. :) Crossing my fingers for good loss!

R3 P2 VLCD1!!!! April 19, 2010 - Starting weight 137.8 - Post loading weight - 145.8 +8lbs =O

Yes, you read correctly. Apparently, that's how I roll! Every weekend in P4 for me has been a massive gain & I've brought it down every Monday with a Steak Day.

I'm doing an "off protocol" P2 steak day today because I KNOW they work... and ell... with 8 lbs I NEED it lol. My LIW last round was 135. SUCKS starting at 137.8 but whatever. I'm going to make it to 125 if it kills me!!!!! (holy crap that's 20 lbs from this morning's weight).... Stay tuned!

Last P4 day for awhile! April 16, 2010 -- 136.6 lbs (1.6 above R2 LIW)

Hope to be down some more in the morning for my first loading day!!!! =D Sushi anyone?

R3 - Here I come!!! =D April 15, 2010 -- 137.0 - 2lbs above LIW

Well, I decided to do a very short round ... didn't think I'd be doing it... but I REALLY want to reach my goal of 125-127 before I go to the beach. I've come this far, WHY NOT!? And I know it can be done because this diet is amazing! I'll be loading Sat. & Sun. & starting VLCD's on Monday. Yippee! What I'm doing is completely off protocol (13 day round) but if you want to try & talk me out of it... don't bother =) I've done plenty of risky type off-protocol stuff before and the only thing that has really caused me a problem was CHEATING my last round lol. It was a bad cheat... and I look at it this way - if I'd behaved that one night I wouldn't be doing another round now. I lost a week!!!

Let's get skinny!!! =D

R2P3 - Last week of P3! February 26, 2010 - 134.8

So .2 under LIW this morning -- which is a far cry from what the scale said just two days ago! It's much harder for some reason this round to keep the fluctuation under control! It can be done... been here before :) Off to eat my mug cake and drink my protein latte :)

How to mix sublingual HCG ordered from Alldaychemist.com =)

This is a video I made to show a friend of mine how to mix her HCG. It's not difficult at all, or I couldn't have done it ;) Ignore how I look in this video. I was sick, and my teenager thought it funny to interrupt with some kind of random comment on paper in the background. You get the gist though.



http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/0603/amyleigh/?action=view¤t=MVI_0984.flv

P3 YUMMY Treats! ***RECIPES in here!****

*GROWL* (that was my tummy) Do not read this if you are hungry! But it's fyi... :) New good recipes I've copied off the forum.

"Coco Crack:"

Coco crack is chocolate made with 2 TBSP virgin organic coconut oil, 2 TBSP unsweetened cocoa, and sweetener to taste. Blend together and pour on a paper plate and put in fridge. It will harden and then you can break it into pieces. Like a dark chocolate. Additionally, you can add crushed nuts or coconut when you can tolerate them. I use it to coat my other treats or fruit also. Very good.

"Coco Crack Mousse:"

My fave thing right now is a cocoa crack mousse. It's 2 parts heavy cream, 1 part cocoa, and sweetener to taste. I personally use truvia now that I'm in p3, couldn't wait to stop using stevia. Anyway, I use a hand beater and whip the mixture until it's fluffy and just a little bit thicker than whipped cream. Sometimes I add pecans to it to give it a little crunch. Omg, it's soooo good. Even my husband loves it.



"Strawberry cream cheese pie:"
(Note - I also made this recently and it's to DIE for!!!)

It was so good I think it would be unfair not to share with P3ers! This wasn't a real sweet treat but very creamy and flavorful with just a right amount of sweetness to make it great. (I don't care for art. sweeteners or sugar subs. so I did the best I could) But it turned out so good.
Here it is:

The crust

1 and 1/2 cups almond flour
1/4t seasalt
1/4t baking soda { Stir wet ingredients into dry until thoroughly combined.
1t cinnamon Press dough into 9" pie plate.
1/4 cup grapeseed oil (note - I used olive oil)
1 T sweetener of choice
1 t vanilla
Bake @ 350 for about 12-15 minutes until golden brown. Cool.


The filling

1 pkg cream cheese (check your labels some had not P3 friendly things)
1 Cup whipping cream (whip this up good and thick)
About 5-10 strawberries, chopped with 1 T sweetener of choice (I used frozen berries)
1 t vanilla
Whip cream cheese and strawberries together until its a pretty pink :)
Fold in the whipped cream to this mixture until mixed (don't over do it) then pour into
cooled crust. Refrigerate for a couple hours.


"1-minute Muffin Recipe:"

1/4 cup flax meal or almond flour
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 packet Splenda
1 teaspoon Cinamon
1 Egg
1-2 teaspoons Butter

1.5 Carbs

Mix the dry ingredients in a large coffee cup. Add egg and butter; mix well. Microwave for 50-seconds to 1-minute. Muffin pops right out.

"Cream Cheese Buttercream Icing:"
(I made this icing this weekend and it's HEAVENLY!!!)


Ingredients

* 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
* 1/2 cup Splenda
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 2 cups heavy cream

Directions

1. Combine the cream cheese, splenda, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Fit the mixer with the whisk attachment and mix on medium speed until smooth. While the mixture is still whipping, slowly pour in the heavy cream. Stop and scrape the bottom of the bowl a couple of times while you continue whipping until the cream can hold a stiff peak.


"Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:"


Substitute Splenda for the sugar (and reduced the amount by 2/3). I used the 3/4 cup of cocoa powder to make it very rich and chocolaty, and used a little extra whipped cream instead of the Cool Whip she mentioned on the side panel.


Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened (you can use margarine but the flavor will not be the same)
2 2/3 cups Splenda
1/3 cup half-and-half cream or milk (can use unwhipped whipping cream in place of half and half)
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted (for light)
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted (for medium)
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted (for dark rich)
Directions
1
Cream the butter in a small bowl.
2
Blend in the cocoa powder (the amount desired for a light, medium or dark flavor), vanilla, splenda, alternately with the cream.
3
Beat with an electric mixer, until the desired texture is achieved.
4
**NOTE** because of the additional cocoa powder more cream may have to be added in to reach desired consistency.


Also see recipe posted in R1 of P3 "Chocolate Mug Cake"... AMAZING and still one of my favorites!

If you need to know how to get Almond Flour, you can order it here:
(it's where I get mine, and it lasts FOREVER believe me!)
http://store.honeyvillegrain.com/blanchedalmondflour5lb.aspx

If you have a Trader Joe's (I don't) I heard that it's cheapest to get it that way. Whole Foods carries it, but it's super expensive, so for me, Honeyville is the way to go!

Enjoy!!!

R2P3D3 Wed. Feb. 15th, 2010 -- 135.0 - Stabilizing!

I think my body likes 135. Really. :)

I'm happy though I didn't reach my final goal. Bought two bikinis this weekend! :) On P3, Moe's is a GREAT place to eat. Just have them throw everything P3 friendly into a bowl and it's DELICIOUS!!!

This Round I've found alot of AMAZING P3 sweet recipes. I'll be sure to post them when I have time in the next couple of days.

The most important factor now - stabilizing and maintaining under 137. NEVER again do I want to see anything above 137 on my scale! Abiding to steak & high protein days is UTTERLY important in maintaining your weight. I found out last round and got burned when I let go... so that's not going to be the case this time :)

R2P2 Wed. Feb. 10, 2010 "VLCD" 22 -- 135 12 lbs R2 total loss

Oh yeah. I do have to report a massive CHEAT on Friday evening! Look at my last post - VLCD 16, and look at my post today - VLCD 22 - notice I'm .2 UP from a WEEK ago!!! I gained three pounds in that cheat. It was a "social event" at my house... my son's 13th birthday party. Nice.... cookie cake, nachos, rotel dip... yep. I paid for it dearly. Up three pounds the next morning. I managed to get it all off, but for the past three days I have STAYED at 135!!! Took my last drops this morning...P3 starts Friday evening!

R2P2 Wed. Feb. 3, 2010 "VLCD" 16 -- 134.8 12.2 lbs R2 total loss

=O =O =O

Wow. I'm not sure if anyone reads this really, but I am STOKED!!!! Below 135! I'm really at "goal" and though a couple more pounds won't hurt I would like to stay here!!!!

:) Yaaaay for Carb Solutions protein shakes! (off protocol, but look at my loss)

R2P2 Tues. Feb. 2, 2010 "VLCD" 15 -- 137.2 9.8 lbs R2 total loss

WELL! I've been up and down... up and down... since Thursday... what can I say. I'm nearing the end of this round and I'm well into the normal weight range so I can't be thinking it works the same way when there is less abnormal fat to lose!
We shall see.... I can't wait to start working out. :)

R2P2 Friday. Jan.29, 2010 "VLCD" 11 -- 139 (up .2) 8 lbs R2 total loss

GRRRRRRR! Yeah no clue what caused the .2 gain, but BOO! =(
Probably eating late. Heck it could just be random. Whatever. I know it happens and had a feeling yesterday (though I didn't try anything new) I would be up this morning!

R2P2 Thurs. Jan. 28, 2010 "VLCD" 10 -- 138.8 (down 1.2) 8.2 lbs R2 total loss

Back into the 130's! And still 1.2 above last round's LIW =/ But it's okay. 11 lbs to go until GOAL! =)

Yesterday I didn't have lunch because I had to work through. I had "Linner" at about 6:00 -- omelet with spinach and cheese. Yup. Cheese. Just a tad. :)

Glass of wine (had to finish the unopened bottle before it spoiled lol), and this morning down again. Yaaaay!

R2P2 Wed. Jan. 27, 2010 "VLCD" 9 -- 140.0 (down 1.2) 7 lbs R2 total loss

Well, I checked and in R1 I was down a total of 7 lbs on VLCD 10 so I'm still a little ahead this round, meanwhile having diet cokes, my sugar-free redbulls, wine here and there, amongst mixing veggies which is NOT on protocol. =) My modified round is proving to be a success. Yaaay!

I had about 9 macadamia nuts last night because the girls on the forum are talking about a little "good" fat every now & then being a help to their loss, macadamia nuts specifically. So I did it. How can you really ENJOY 9 little macadamia nuts? LOL! I also had 2 glasses of chianti (red wine) off protocol. Huge burger (prob 6 oz) with sugar free ketchup and mustard, and a wedge of laughing cow cheese (I wouldn't use a REAL piece of cheese on P2) spread over the burger, along with 3 tomato slices - lunch/dinner because my chicken I took to work to put in my salad went bad =( But the burger was fantastic. Still lost 1.2! =D I sure can't wait to break back into the 130's again. I'll be where I'm supposed to have left off last time!

I'm going to tell whoever is reading this now.... DO NOT go back to your old eating habits at ANY point in P4! One week of not paying attention and eating what I wanted caused me to have to re-lose the weight from last round! Steak days (or high protein days) when you are up 2 lbs above your LIW are DETRIMENTAL.

R2P2 Tues. Jan. 26, 2010 "VLCD" 8 -- 141.2 (down 1.4) 5.8 lbs R2 total loss

Finally... moving again! I know better than to get discouraged when a stall or a gain happens, because it always evens back out. :)

R2P2 Monday, Jan. 25, 2010 "VLCD" 7 -- 142.4 (UP)

=( WELL! I had a .6 loss Sat. AM, and then a 1.4 gain Sunday AM. All I can figure I did was eat ground beef twice in one day...

OR...

If you look back in my first round, I had a gain right around VLCD 5 or 6! I'm wondering if this is just how my body handles hcg!

I was down .4 this morning and I'd BETTER be down tomorrow morning. I'll pitch a dirty little fit!

R2P2 Thurs., Jan. 22, 2010 "VLCD" 4 -- 141.8 (down 2.4) 5.2 lbs R2 total loss

OMG. I heart this diet... and I heart extra lean ground beef!

I had extra lean ground beef on the GF last night - made a patty... with a tomato, along with sugar free ketchup and mustard and OMG IT WAS SOOOOOO GOOD.

Word to the wise (apparently I didn't get it the first round) ... don't go to the grocery store before you've had dinner! It about killed me last night lol!

I absolutely cannot BELIEVE I'm down 2.4... honestly, I know that patty had to be 5 ounces. Guess what I'll be having again tonight? LOL!

I think switching it up a bit may help!

R2P2 Thurs., Jan. 21, 2010 "VLCD" 3 -- 144.2 (down 1.4) 2.8 lbs R2 total loss

Last night was hard. I got hungry before I made it home from work, even though I'm trying to eat lunch at 1:00 or later, my tummy was still growling at 5:00. I wasn't hungry like this last round... I don't remember being anyway. I've been doing the same spring mix salad for lunch as I did round 1 but a tad different. This week I'm having grilled chicken and clementine in it, and I made a dressing with 1 cup of chicken broth, 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar, 3 tablespoons of splenda, celery salt & garlic powder. I put it in an empty salad dressing bottle & took it to work. It is much tastier than just using a cap full of apple cider vinegar.

Anyway, last night I came home & was starving... so after reading a post on the forum about someone trying 2 eggwhites, 1 egg, scrambling & putting spinach & salsa in, I did just that with about 2 oz of grilled chicken (to keep the protein high). I also had like half a gallon of Milo's Splenda Tea last night. It was soooo good... I'm steering clear of stevia this round. So far, I'm doing just fine & I've been very "risky" against protocol.

Example - the eggs, splenda tea (not stevia), been having a diet coke every evening (making sure I get my fluids in first), I had one sugar free redbull Tuesday and TWO sugar free redbulls on Wed. I lost 2.8 and 1.4.... so far so good!
I've also had broccoli, because I added it into my p2 round1 at the end and it had no ill effect.

I DO NOT encourage anyone doing the protocol for the first time to be a rebel like I am this time. You NEED to experience it the way it's supposed to be, get a feel for what your body is saying by experiences with gains and losses in P3 and P4, and then for the second round, experiment and "push" the protocol then if that's what you want to do. Some people say "why mess up a good thing when you KNOW it works?" Well, I feel okay personally with experimenting this round. I'm not "overweight" anymore though I'm not where I want to be, I've learned how to listen to my body, and it's my choice.

I learned in P3 that eggs, diet cokes, and red wine never made me gain. So the next thing I try off protocol - that's right - a glass of red wine. :) Someone on the forum told me that when your body is in ketosis it burns off alcohol first. This person has also experimented with red wine & still had a loss the next morning. Otherwise, I'll have to think about what I'm willing to experiment with. No sugars and starches for sure... I am not going to push it. :)

ROUND 2... Here we go! Wed., Jan. 20, 2010 "VLCD" 2 -- 145.6 (down 2.6) 1.4 R2 total loss

I know... it's depressing. I'll tell you what happened.

Round 1 P4 - did FABULOUS... UNTIL. (drummmrollllll) Christmas week. Yep. Stayed 137-140 until the week before Christmas. And I caved. Ate everything. Refused to pay attention & do "high protein" or steak days because there was something going on every day.... Was 144lbs. steady until (drummmmmrollllll) MY BIRTHDAY PARTY. Mexican. Margaritas. ALOT of margaritas. Tequila. So my "start weight" Sunday... a whoppin' 147 lbs. Guess what my LIW was? 137.6! GROWLLLLLLL!!!!!

So. I gained 1.4 lbs in loading (Sunday and Monday) and the first VLCD dropped 2.8.

I originally planned on a short round, just to get be into the 120's.... but the short round ain't happening this time lol!

LESSONS LEARNED: NEVER use a holiday as an excuse to pig out. You will be so mad at yourself for having to re-lose weight! ALSO. Never skip weigh-in. EVER. Never skip a protein or steak day when your scale says you are 2 lbs above LIW!

So, I can't believe it's time and I'm doing this again, but I think this time around will be easier, since I've done this before and know what to expect. :)