LIW – 175.4 lbs (12/17/07)
Today’s Weight – 181.0 lbs
5.6 OVER LIW

Here is my menu for yesterday. This is what I had:

I didn’t stick to a Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner thing yesterday. I pretty much desired fresh, raw food so that is what I fed my body. I ate apples, bananas, oranges, grapes, cherries and walnuts all during the day, drinking also 2 cups of dandelion tea. Throw in a couple of scrambled eggs, and then I made a Blue Cheese Chopped Salad for dinner with a small bit of steak. That was all I wanted, so that is all I ate.

A total of around 1700 calories divided this way: 99 Fat, 169 Carbs, 60 Protein

After I posted yesterday, I actually did find myself a battery and weighed myself. It was not pretty. Keep in mind this was about 2 or so hours later than I usually weigh myself, and that I was working on hardly any sleep, so the numbers may be off, but I was up to 183.4 – wow. Amazing what eating junk will do to you.

Eating majority raw and fresh yesterday really helped me. I dropped 2.4 from that number and I am back down to a more reasonable overage (is that even a word?)

GO HERE AND SIGN UP FOR UPCOMING HCG NEWSLETTER!!! It’s coming honest! Just waiting on my partner to put the finishing touches on it!

Let’s not forget the HCG BOOK CLUB – join in on the fun! If you haven’t signed up for it yet, please do so now. eMail Address Form

Thanks Crystal for filling out the FAQ Survey! Anyone else? Please go here when you have a chance and fill it out!

Stalls, Gains and Cravings – What to do? P2 Experience Only

I received an email this morning, and I wrote such a novel back I decided that my answer to this person would qualify as a post for today. I have removed this person’s name from my answer to protect privacy.This person wanted me to know that they were having basically the same struggles as I have been experiencing over the last week or so and was curious on my thoughts as to why this has happening. HA! Don’t EVER ask me to theorize why something is happening on this protocol! Anyhoo, here was my answer to this person!

Not quite sure this time ******. I have my theories, but they are just my theories. I have been thinking a lot about this, especially yesterday. Let me explain.These insatiable cravings started for me just around the turn of the year. Following my blog, you know I didn’t spend one day coming off my R3P2 in true “P3″ fashion (error in judgment #1). The 28th of Dec (day 9 of R3P3) was the first day I was over my LIW by more than 2 pounds. And I decided (with regret I might add) that I was not going to bother with bringing it down, that it would come down by itself (error in judgment #2).

Starting that day, the closest I have been to my LIW was on the 4th of Jan, and still that was at 2.4 over. I should have listened to what the good doctor said and taken care of the situation AS IT HAPPENED (error in judgment #3) but I didn’t, so is that HIS issue or MINE?

The weekend of the 29th and 30th, I started noticing I was having some sweet cravings. Now ******, this is something that is NOT normal for me, even PRE HCG. My thing, my entire life, has NEVER been sweets, I have always been one to crave SALT. So, I rationalized in my mind that this was something new and that I needed just to go with it (error in judgment #4). I started baking cookies, among other things to satisfy the cravings. As it went on, day by day, I felt more of a need for sweets – it was becoming pretty overpowering. Quite a strange feeling, for me anyway.

Throw in there that this past weekend (the 5th and 6th), I was getting some pretty strange “emotional” feelings, now these in particular reminded me of pre-HCG – I would have these incredible HIGHS and LOWS of mood swings during “that time”. I was breaking out in tears for absolutely NO reason, confronting my husband about small issues which led to huge fights, and pretty much wanted total seclusion from the world. It reached a peak on Thursday, and I literally went nuts. I ate things so out of character for me. I blame part of that on the migraine I had, but there was just something inside me that totally flipped a switch.

When deviating from plan during my 2nd and 3rd breaks, I have striven to focus on “it has to be really worth it” for me to eat it. Thursday? It went out the window, I threw that puppy off the Empire State Building in fact. When we went out to dinner that night, I ate things that tasted quite frankly JUST AWFUL. I look back on it and say, OMG – what the HECK was I thinking??? It so wasn’t worth it.

Yesterday though? It seriously just STOPPED. The cravings disappeared. I’m not kidding, to show you how serious it was, I didn’t even want my coffee. Now THAT is strange! ROFL As quick as this sweet craving thing came on, it left. Today? As I start my morning, I feel NOTHING of what I have felt over the last 10 or so days. No desire for sweets, no emotional disturbance.

So to answer your question, quite frankly, I will say what I have said about this whole protocol, it’s nothing but a cr*p shoot. I don’t know really why this time I had sweet cravings when in the past I haven’t. I know I haven’t had a normal menses since I started this protocol. I also know that Dr S was very specific about his protocol, and the choices I have made go in direct conflict to his program, so I have paid the price. Like I said before, it’s not HIS fault these things happened. He told me what to expect, and I did my own thing, and this is where it got me.

Let me interject something here, you mentioned that you felt you were finally ‘cured’ of all your ailments, but now you really wonder. This protocol is an ongoing process ******. I have never looked at this protocol as a “cure” for my emotional attachment to food. I have always looked at this protocol as a “cure” for obesity. It is getting me to my GOAL of a certain weight. My relationship to food is still something I am going to have to work on, probably for the rest of my life. It has also been a tool in helping me become more aware of what I am doing to my body.

All I can do is move on. I am thinking this whole episode was something I had to experience. Another lesson I had to learn to help me in my journey. The BIGGEST lesson I am learning ******, is not to freak about it. I am learning to have a different relationship with food. For every two steps I take forward, I have to step back one just to see where I am.

I seriously don’t know if this answered your question. But let me tell you this. I don’t think this whole episode had anything to do with artificial sweeteners, and everything to do with hormones.

On to my commenter’s – these are my responses to yesterday’s comments:

CB – I will consider that CB in an upcoming post. Just FYI tho, I think that if Dr S would have seen a relationship with bad breaks and short rounds, he would have said something, but that is just my gut response right now. Thanks for being there my sweet, just knowing that your there is comforting.

Wendy – The first time I had fried pickles, I was in Mobile AL right after Katrina hit and I was doing some relief work there. It was at this country restaurant and I went GAGA over these things. Thursday night? They were NOT worth the 2nd bite, yet I kept eating, what was up with that??? When you going back on to P2 again???

Crystal – Your injecting daily? You doing a short round or what? I finally can’t WAIT to get back on P2! That feeling has finally come back! I am so ready!

Jennifer – Like I told CB I will attempt to cover that whole short round thing in a future post. I really don’t think the two relates ya know? But that is my GUT feeling. I had issues on my last break and that was after a 6 week P2 – so I don’t know. How is the blog coming???

Renee – Let me know your new addy ASAP I have some THINGS to discuss! ROFL! You are kicking butt girl, and taking names!

Lili - Ok girl, $21 for HOW MUCH??? You didn’t tell us the iu you can get it in. I need INFO! Oh, and I sent you my snail mail addy, but I got a auto response from your email, so hopefully you got it ok??? WOO HOO on your internet addiction! Now I don’t have to miss you ALL THAT MUCH! ROFL

B – Thanks girl, I did a bit of harm, but I am over it now, back to the basics ya know???

Another day! Make it a good one!

Biz

LIW – 175.4 lbs (12/17/07)
Today’s Weight – 179.2 lbs
3.8 OVER LIW

Here is my menu for yesterday. This is what I had:

Breakfast: Coffee and Cream – 1 Scrambled Egg in Butter
Mid Morning Snack: Leftover Chicken and Leftover Broccoli with Melted Cheese and a Dollop of Sour Cream
Lunch: Leftover Atkins Friendly Beef Stroganoff with Shiritaki Noodles
Mid Afternoon Snack: More of the Stroganoff and Noodles
Dinner: Nacho’s (just chips and cheese, with a bit of sour cream) and some Refried Beans
Dessert: Some Praline Pecans and one Chocolate Chip Cookie

A total of around 1800 calories divided this way: 116 Fat, 118 Carbs, 89 Protein – After all of that I was surprised to only gain a POUND! I think I may be overestimating my calories, I don’t know, but it doesn’t feel like I am eating as much as it says I am! ROFL Ok, I “officially” start P4 today!!!

GO HERE AND SIGN UP FOR UPCOMING HCG NEWSLETTER!!! It’s coming honest! Just waiting on my partner to put the finishing touches on it!

Let’s not forget the HCG BOOK CLUB – join in on the fun! If you haven’t signed up for it yet, please do so now. eMail Address Form

Thanks to Ann and Jeannette for filling out the new FAQ Survey! It’s a pretty hefty survey, so I might leave it up for awhile. Please go here when you have a chance and fill it out!

Stalls, Gains and Cravings – What to do? P2 Experience Only

Thank you to Pat and Jeannette for more interview questions! I would still like to get some MORE questions from my Sunday’s post about interviews, I know I said only until Wednesday, but it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind right??? If you didn’t see it could you go here and take a look, thanks!

Aspartame

I don’t think there is a more controversial subject to fly around any sort of weight loss forum than the subject of Artificial Sweeteners, I certainly found that out in doing some surfing on the web yesterday. Most often the question comes up, “What is ‘such and such’, will it stall me and is it safe?” When it comes down to the brass tacks, the decision to use any type or artificial sweetener is an individual one, because quite frankly the effects of using it will be as different and individual as we all are.

It’s interesting to read reports of scientific studies being done with various sweeteners on lab animals, and one would have to be a little skeptical of definitive conclusions being drawn from massive dosages of products for a particular size animal, especially when they associate the same conclusions, or the same amounts would do the same damages to a human who might use these sweeteners on occasion.

Be that as it may, I continue to read while surfing, and have experienced myself, adverse reactions to different artificial sweeteners. So, as I mentioned in the first paragraph, results from taking in these sweeteners will change from person to person, and each person must make that determination for themselves.

You could be one of the fortunate ones, you could slip right past ANY reaction to ANY sweetener. My hats off to you! But for MOST of us out there, there is some reaction. There is a range from ending up in the emergency room to just headaches. Even the mildest of symptoms could be a big red flag that your body SHOULDN’T be made to TRY to tolerate their use. These things would include things like a fuzzy head, stomach distress, unexplained cravings, stalls, and quite possibly weight gain.

Let’s talk about “stalls” for a moment using artificial sweeteners … in my research, the general conclusion is that stalls occur more from the ‘fillers’ used in granulated and powdered forms of sweeteners rather than the liquids. This makes perfect sense as most of the fillers that are used are ‘maltodextrin’ or ‘dextrose’ which are both simply ‘starches’. With the more research I do, I am finding that these ‘fillers’ might be the culprit to other adverse effects as well, this would be an interesting theory to test. I for one have only tried to use the powered versions of sweeteners and never the liquid, with the exception of the Stevia. Remember people, that some may not have any reaction whatsoever, either visibly or physically.

My eventual goal using this protocol is to eventually be able to eat “real raw sugar” (or my preference I am sure will be “local honey”) and not have to use any of this artificial crud anymore. I would think that would be ALL of our goals yes? So what must we do until that happens? Find the one thing that will do the least amount of damage until then. There are far too many things in this world that are not ‘pure’ anymore from our drinking water to the very air we breathe.

So then, let’s talk about Aspartame – in MY OPINION, one of the WORST artificial sweeteners we can use.

Small description:

Aspartame – better known as Equal and NutriSweet – Interesting that Wikipedia says this about Aspartame: “Aspartame is the methyl ester of the dipeptide of the natural amino acids L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine.”

Let’s define “methyl” – according to the medical dictionary methyl is “The alkyl group, often a univalent radical, CH3, derived from methane” – so in other words it’s methane, which we know is an explosive gas that is formed from decomposing organic matter.

Define “ester” – a compound formed from alcohol and acid.

Define “dipeptide” – this is a molecule consisting of two amino acids joined by a bond – so the two amino acids that are joined together are the L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine.

So in other words, if I am understanding this correctly, Aspartame is made up of two amino acids bonded together by methane and acid. Hmmmm….and I am EATING THIS???

Because I cannot possibly begin to give you the kind of information that has already been written, I am going to lead you to the research I have done on the subject of Aspartame, and you draw your own conclusions.

One of the first things I came across was an article written by the Aspartame Information Center – WOW! They surely do try to sugar coat it eh? ‘Scuse the pun!!!

Aspartame Information

Check this out: “Debunking the Aspartame Myth” – what I like about this site is that it gives alot of factual references for it’s conclusions – and pretty much refutes what the above article says:

Debunking the Aspartame Myth

If you haven’t watched this yet, it’s a MUST when it comes to Aspartame. It about an hour and a half so you have to have time to view it, but it’s worth the watch. I have ALWAYS had my feelings about Aspartame and it was ONE THING I made sure my kids NEVER touched, but this movie took it DEEPER, to the point that if I see someone giving their kids something with Aspartame, I say something immediately, I don’t care what they think of me. I feel that strongly about it.

Sweet Misery – A Poisoned World

Very comprehensive article written with many facts regarding Aspartame:

The Problem With Aspartame

Also, here is a discussion about Aspartame on a Bulletin Board dealing with “Conspiracy Theories” so read with caution, but it’s an interesting discussion none the less – there are four pages:

Why Is Aspartame Still On The Market?

So with all that information, what is your opinion?

Mary – I would think that everyone around you just needs to CALM their butt down if you decided you needed to do an egg day! Now if you can’t stand yourself, that is another story! ROFL – Thanks for the link you sent me! Lots of useful information there!

Crystal – Hey there STRANGER! Thanks for the visit, and any info you can give me on the sugar subs, I will gladly take it, all in the name of research ya know?

CB - I completely forgot about her knowledge, sad thing tho, she hasn’t updated in a while??? She is one of those that are MIA!!!

Becca – You start when you need to start, we are all overlapping at points anyway. It’s important to use the schedule that is good for your hubby! I wonder why your post never showed up, who knows about cyberspace sometimes. I am going to find out about cylamates also – it’s on my list.

B – Is there ANY non sugar sub your family member doctor recommends? YUP! The egg day worked!

Have a wonderful day peeps!

Biz

LIW – 175.4 lbs (12/17/07)
Today’s Weight – 178.2 lbs
2.8 OVER LIW

Here is my menu for yesterday. This is what I had:

Breakfast: 2 Scrambled Eggs with Coffee and Cream
Mid Morning Snack: Egg Salad (2 eggs with mayo, s&p)
Lunch: 2 Egg Omelet with a slice of Swiss Cheese
The Rest of the Day: 4 Deviled Eggs (made with mayo, mustard and SF Relish, s&p)

A total of around 1135 calories divided this way: 84 Fat, 17 Carbs, 72 Protein – I would call my “Egg Day” a success!!! WOO HOO FOR ME!

GO HERE AND SIGN UP FOR UPCOMING HCG NEWSLETTER!!! It’s coming honest! Just waiting on my partner to put the finishing touches on it!

Let’s not forget the HCG BOOK CLUB – join in on the fun! If you haven’t signed up for it yet, please do so now. eMail Address Form

Here is the NEW FAQ question for this week! It has to do with Stalls, Gains and Cravings. It’s a pretty hefty survey, so I might leave it up for awhile. Please go here when you have a chance and fill it out!

Stalls, Gains and Cravings – What to do? P2 Experience Only

Thank you to Marilyn and Anne for more interview questions! I would still like to get some MORE questions from my Sunday’s post about interviews. If you didn’t see it could you go here and take a look, thanks!

Artificial Sweeteners – Friend or Foe?

So what prompted this discussion? Doing a little bit of research yesterday, I felt it would be in the best interest of my readers to delve into this topic. Who am I kidding? I have been blind way too long on the effects of Artificial Sweeteners and it’s time I understood them better. What better way than to spend a few days on this topic. I am learning a lot, and I would feel remiss if I didn’t share it with you!Based on our P2 and P3 experience, and based on the fact that many have ‘sweet cravings’, I felt this an important topic to consider. I offer NO recommendation on which sweetener you should use, this is a decision you must make for yourself. I am just providing information, and probably some commentary on MY views, but they are to be taken as just that, MY VIEWS! I AM NOT A DOCTOR NOR AM I A SCIENTIST, just a run of the mill Mom trying to learn about stuff that I bring into this house for my family to eat. These views are MY OWN:

The one thing I have noticed is that there sure are a lot of “chemical” names for this stuff, names and words I don’t understand, so I chose to find explanations for these terms in a way that I can understand what is going on. And I figure if I break it down so that even “I” can understand it, it might prove helpful to others as well.

For the purpose of this series of articles, I am going to concentrate on true “Artificial Sweeteners” – in other words, those sugar substitutes that are not natural. In the future, I will provide a series on the “natural” sugar substitutes. I want to define different types of “Artificial Sweeteners” that are available now, or have been available in the past. The order I am placing these in are of no significance, it’s just how I stumbled on the information.

The first one I will concentrate on, to begin this series will be Aspartame. If any of you out there have any interesting links to information about Aspartame, please feel free to drop me a line and let me know. I must ask one thing tho, please do not send me anything from Dr Mercola’s site. I understand that a lot of you out there put extreme trust in this man and his views, but I don’t feel the same way. To me, he is too much of a doomsday operator, and I prefer to rest my conclusions on facts, and not just feelings.

There are many ways to contact me, either by using the TagBoard up on my left side bar, or the contact form on my right side bar, or leave a comment here – or use this new fangled thing I came up with! ROFL

Mary – You are too funny! Isn’t it interesting tho, even tho you have eaten pretty much as you pleased, you seem to be maintaining around 6 or 7 lbs above LIW – there is something to be said for that. In some of the clinics I have contacted and asked questions to, I have found that most of them say you should figure around a 5 – 7 pound range when you are at goal. That normal people usually experience those kinds of fluxes. Interesting eh? I need to look into that more.

EweWho – I am SO GLAD YOUR BACK! I sure have missed you! I almost wrote you the other day, because I made those AWFUL COOKIES that I gave you the recipe for, OMG – they were so AWFUL – I have to keep telling myself that so I don’t make them again! Believe me, I am DRIPPING SARCASM! I had to beg the kids to hurry up and finish them, I didn’t want them around anymore!

Misto – Yes, my “egg day” is my alternative to a steak day. I have only done one steak day, and it was a total bust, I didn’t lose an ounce. So I opted to try something I did while I was on Atkins to kick start weight loss, and as you can see it works like a charm every time! It’s so much easier for me to do this than the steak day. The steak day was about the hardest thing I have ever had to do while on this protocol, yes, even harder than 500 cals a day!

CB – Yup, my eye is always on the prize! I can’t wait to join you on P2!!! Yup, I am getting ready!

B – I will be on my way later this morning to visit your post, maybe you have given me some insight on the whole deviation experience. It’s funny B, I don’t have these kinds of cravings on the P2 portion, and it’s really only been this round that my sweet cravings have kicked in. Very weird.

Have a WONDERFUL DAY!

Biz