HCG Week 1 Done! Onto Week 2! And HCG P2 Chicken Chili Recipe!

Done with my first week of HCG!

Ready to tackle Week 2!

Today is day 8.
I've done 2 Loading days and 6 VLCD day's. My scale has gone down 7.2lbs! That's awesome! I can feel a difference in the way my pants fit through my hips and thighs. It's probably slight but it's enough that I can feel it.

On my first loading day I weighed in and did my measurements. Then loaded up on fatty foods. I did have some sweets in there but I really kept it low. On my second Loading day I kept it to foods that were fatty and high in protein.

For my first few VLCD days I noticed that I was craving sweet treats and feeling hungry. I figured it was time to load up on water and had extra salad with my lunches. By my 4th VLCD day I decided to try an adjustment with the amount of my injection. I went down to 0.15ml from 0.17ml which helped immensely! It definitely helped curb my hunger. With that tiny adjustment I seriously didn't get hungry and haven't felt hungry since.

What have I eaten lately?

Chicken for the first couple days.

Well, I did make my P2 Seafood with Tomato Saffron Sauce recipe for VLCD day 3. That was a delicious treat!

On VLCD 4 I made myself some delicious Simple Meringues for a protein. Those were OH SO Yummy!

VLCD 5 was Steak and Salad Night! That was an easy dinner night and when you cook enough steaks to have left overs they make easy to pack lunches for the next day.

VLCD 6  was P2 Chicken with Peanut Sauce (my recipe)

And yesterday, VLCD day 7,  I created a yummy Chili that fits right into P2 nicely!
**RECIPE ALERT!!!
It's created with fresh tomatoes cooked down with fresh garlic, onions and cracked pepper. Once that's cooked down and smells great I added a can of tomato paste and 6 c water, chicken breast cubed, chili powder, cilantro, cumin and sea salt. Stirred it up and cooked it all over medium low heat for about 40 min. OMG so delicious!!! Next time I make it I'll take photos for you. Yes, there will be a next time!
**RECIPE ALERT!!!

Tonight...What to cook for tonight? I'm not sure. The jury is still out on that one! I'll let you know. ;)

HCG P2 Tomato Saffron Sauce with Scallops and Cod Recipe

LOVE is in the Air!

I'm gearing up to start my next round of HCG and gathering all my favorite recipes to keep them close at hand! This recipe is one that I use even if I'm not doing a round of HCG. It's delicious! It helps that I live in an area where I have access to fresh seafood all year long too! This one can be made with any shell fish and any white fish. In fact when you're on P4 you can use any dark fish and several other ingredients to change it up a bit. It's a dreamy sauce worth the price of Saffron!

I'll get photos of this recipe posted later after I make it for dinner...maybe tomorrow since it's my birthday and it happens to be my favorite!

HCG P2 Tomato Saffron Sauce with Scallops and Cod

Ingredients:

Sauce~

1 Onion ( I like sweet onions but a yellow will work), chopped

3-4 Garlic Cloves, minced

1/2 tsp Saffron Threads, crumbled

1/4 tsp Fennel Seeds

Red Pepper Flakes to taste

1 can Diced Tomatoes (14.5 oz can)

4 cups Chicken Broth (fat free and low sodium) You can use vegetable broth if desired. 

Salt to taste

1/4 tsp Herb de Province (or more if you would like)

Seafood:

1lb white fish of your choice. I use cod, halibut or whatever is available at the market.

1-2 lbs Scallops (you can use large scallops or small) 

      Why the large gap in amount of scallops? Because I love them and I'm usually making dinner for the whole family. They're scallop lovers too. So it depends on how many are eating dinner at home that night. I also use the leftovers for lunch the next day. 

Since we're not using oil to saute the onions and garlic in, use a non stick pan or do what I do and use water when the onions start to stick. You can go rouge and use cocoanut oil for sautéing if you choose. But sticking to the no fat part of P2 I use the water. When you're in maintenance phase feel free to use a couple tablespoons olive oil. Cook over a medium low flame until the onions are soft. Add the crumbled saffron, fennel seeds and pepper flakes. Stir for a few minutes just to blend/meld them a bit. Then add tomatoes (juice and all) and broth. You can add some salt here if you desire. Simmer on low flame for about 20-30 minutes.

While that's going on we're going to prep our seafood. 

Put defrosted scallops in a bowl large enough to hold the fish with them.

Cut your white fish into cubes (bite size), add to scallops, sprinkle with a little salt and if you like some herb de province. Give them a gentle toss to spread the seasoning.

If you don't have any you can mix these ingredients to make it: 1 tsp thyme, 1 tsp sumer savory, 1/2 tsp lavender, 1/2 tsp rosemary, 1/2 tsp oregano or 1/2 tsp basil, 1/4 tsp sage. I use a seafood seasoning or I'll just use some oregano, basil, sage, thyme, and rosemary since they're usually handy. You choose. It's your meal after all. ;)

This is my favorite part! Taste the sauce! If you like it leave it. If you think it needs more salt or pepper flakes add it. Then add the fish and scallops. Cook until the fish is white and flaky. Then you're done!

Remember this recipe is for my whole family so I'll be feeding anywhere between 3-6 people depending on the day. So expect leftovers if it's just 2 or 3. Don't expect any if you have 4-6, unless you set aside a small portion for your lunch the next day. 

Ok, Nutritional Content!

Scallops: 6 large scallops .... 78 calories, .6g fat and 15g protein

Cod Fish: 3 oz .... 89 calories, .7g fat and 19.4g protein

Canned Tomatoes 1/2 C .... 32 calories, .3g fat and 1.6g protein

Chicken Broth 1 C .... 10 calories, .4g fat and 1g protein

Onion Medium Yellow .... 40 calories, 0g fat and 1g protein

Garlic Clove .... 5 calories, 0g fat and .5g protein

So if you add it up for the whole pot you'll have 

107 calories canned tomatoes

312 calories in approximately 1.5 lbs of scallops

474 calories in approximately 1 lb of Cod

40 calories in 4 c of broth

40 calories in onion

20 calories in 4 cloves of garlic

------------------------------------------

993 calories in the whole pot!

Divide that up into 6 portions and that makes it 165.5 calories per serving!

VIOLA!!!

See, eating while on HCG doesn't have to be boring or blah. You can have color and flavor and still stay on track! Awesome isn't it!!!

Have a great week!!!

HCG P2 Peanut Sauce Recipe! Nope! I'm not Joking!!!

I told you that I'd have a super duper awesome surprise for you!

P2 Peanut Sauce!!!

It happens to be one of my favorite things to make for Phase 2 because it's so much like the real thing!
Peanut Sauce! Yep the same stuff you pour over your chicken atop a bed of spinach. Yummy!!!
Ok, I'll admit that it's not quite the same but DANG it tastes close! AND it works for that "I need REAL food!" desire. No Joke!

Ok, you know how I rant and rave about Walden Farms products?

Well, I'm ranting again!

Get your rear over there and order some of their delicious sauces! Even Salad Dressings! OMG if you haven't done it yet you're missing out! Seriously! AND in order to make this recipe you need one key ingredient from them~ Duh duh Duuuuhhhh ~ Walden Farm Peanut Spread!

Run over there right now and order it! It's the main ingredient for my peanut sauce recipe so you're gonna need it and love me when you're done! BUT you can't blame me when you end up ordering some salad dressing, some marshmallow dip, or even chocolate sauce! Nope! Well, I take that back! If you order those things and are in HEAVEN when they arrive then by all means blame me! But if you spend more than you were planning~ bite your tongue. I can't be blamed for your shopping spree. I can only take the blame for mine...Because I go nuts there too! Just ask my husband! ;)

Here's the link:
http://waldenfarms.com/products/spread_peanut.html
You'll need 1 whole jar of this for the recipe.

Recipe Follows! Woot Woot!!!

P2 Peanut Sauce by Sabrina Koebel of Sunny or Money! 

1 Jar Walden Farms Peanut Sauce
1/2 tsp Garlic powder Or 4 cloves garlic minced
1 tsp Ginger powder or 1 tbs minced Ginger Root
Crushed Red Pepper to taste. Depends on how spicy you like it. I use about 1/2 tsp via my little grinder.
Pinch of Lemon Grass if desired. Sometimes I add it other times I don't.
2 TBS White Vinegar
2 TBS Soy Sauce
2-4 TBS Sweet Cooking Rice Seasoning Optional when on P3. Since this has 70 calories per 2 TBS
1 tsp Sesame Seeds Optional
4-6 pkts Stevia Powder (I use this in place of the Sweet Cooking Rice Seasoning while on P2.)
1/2 cup Water

Mix all this up in a pan on the stove.

Cook over medium until it comes to a boil while stirring constantly.
Keep it from scorching. Let simmer for 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and Serve.

I serve mine over chicken that I've cut into cubes (for "rice") or sliced into thin strips (for spinach) and cooked with garlic and ginger either over a bed of Miracle Noodle Rice or a bed of Spinach. Depending on my mood.

Calories in the whole pot:
Peanut Spread = 0 calories!
Soy sauce 9 per TBS = 18calories
Stevia = 0 calories
Garlic (powder) 9 calories per tsp = 4.5 calories
Ginger (powder) 19 calories per TBS = 6.3 calories in our tsp.
Vinegar = 0 calories
Sesame Seeds per TBS 52 calories (Optional)
Sweet cooking seasoning per 2 TBS 70 calories (Optional)
-----------------------------------
Total without the optional seeds and sweet cooking seasoning = 28.8! That's in the WHOLE Pot guys!!! No Joke!!! The whole pot makes up approximately 3-4 cups of sauce depending on how much water and vinegar you put in. Like I said, you can augment this recipe to fit your tastes. If you like a runny sauce add more water. I love the bite of vinegar some days so I'll add more. And other days I want it sweeter with more soy sauce.  I'll adjust with stevia and keep track of my soy because that's where the calories are. But this is the best Guilt Free meal on earth while you're on P2!

By looking at the calories you can indeed add the optional sesame seeds and sweet cooking seasoning for a total of 160.8 calories in the whole pot for P3/P4. But because in the Sweet cooking seasoning there is sugar I would steer clear of it for now.

Now if you put this over chicken and Miracle Noodle Rice then you've got a filling meal for basically the calories in your chicken. Crazy! But true!

AND it refrigerates great!

I really need to take a good photo of the sauce over chicken so you can see how yummy it is! Feel free to email me your photos of your sauce! Let me know what you think!

******************

Review time...
What do I think of the Walden Farms Peanut Spread outside of my sauce? I really don't like it by itself. I do however add it to my chocolate "ice cream" recipe to change it up now and again. I'll add cocoa powder to it and make a quick dip for apples. But by itself it's not my favorite. That's why I came up with the recipe. I had ordered a case of the stuff and was stuck with it. So what do you do? Figure out how to use it. LOL I'm sure I'll come up with more ways to use this marvelous stuff soon. But for now my favorite is still peanut sauce! I will be using it from now on because it's so guilt free! No fat or calories? And tastes great? You Bet!!!

That's it for today!
Have Fun Eating Guilt Free!
Sabrina

HCG P2 Simple Meringue Cookie Recipe

As promised here is my recipe complete with photos for P2 friendly Simple Meringue Cookies!!!

Simple Meringue Cookie recipe for P2 by Sabrina Koebel of Sunny or Money!

3 Egg whites

1/8tsp Cream of Tartar

1/2tsp Vanilla Extract.

(This is where you can use your Vanilla flavored Stevia. Use it to taste...Don't eat raw eggs. But use your knowledge of your Stevia. For me I use vanilla and then powdered stevia from Trader Joes.)

4-6 packets Stevia (I use 6 because I like them sweet!)

*Now you can add your flavor:

*Lemon Zest

*Cocoa Powder

*Even Orange!

You could even use your flavored Stevia Drops in place of the Stevia and Vanilla.

The possibilities are endless for variety! 

Heat oven to 300

Whip egg whites and cream of tartar and Vanilla/Stevia until fluffy stiff peaks are formed. 

Soft Peaks (Yes, I'm hand whisking these babies!)

Yay!!! We have Stiff Peaks!

Then fold in your flavor if you chose to use cocoa powder, lemon zest, vanilla etc. 

Now if you use the powder stevia you will mix them in with the egg mix after they have formed soft peaks. Then whip until they have formed stiff peaks. Then fold in your flavor.

Use a teaspoon to drop little dollops onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.

These are Jumbo dollops! There are 12 on my small sheet. 

Now bake them for 25-30 minutes. Depending on how you like yours. I like mine crisp on the outside. They remind me of Marshmallows! Yummy! The kids say they're like eating sweet air. True but what a treat when you really need one! Guilt Free to boot!!!

For my recipe I used Vanilla extract and 4 packets Powdered Stevia from Trader Joe's.

Nutritional Facts:

Egg Whites from Large Eggs ......... 16 calories each totaling  48 calories

Cream of Tartar................... 1/8 tsp totals 2.5 calories

Vanilla Extract .....................1 tsp equals 12 calories

Stevia via Trader Joe's...........0 calories

Total calories in the whole recipe: 62.5 Calories 

Total Calories per cookie: 5.208 calories per cookie! 

With total protein per cookie .9g 

Total protein for the whole batch is 10.8g

So eat and enjoy! :)

Sabrina

Follow Me! Follow Me!!! I know where I'm going... I think...

So this blogger thing is a new thing for me of sorts. It's been a long time since I did the blogging thing and prior to this I did it for my digital scrapbook hobby. Now I do it for my life choices and things that I want to talk about. But since it's been years since I've done it things have changed around and it's a bit of a confusing mess for me so far. I'm sure I'll figure it out like I did before and then I'll be just fine.

I really really have wanted to add a follow me button. I had one on my old blog and it was simple to do. I just had to tick the box next to what I wanted and bam! There it was on my blog. These things were called widgets. Guess what? They're still called widgets! LOL So I suppose not much has changed there.

Today I figured out how to add a widget again! Yay me!!!

Now you can follow me via google+. You'll figure out my real name...
(insert  dramatic noise here) "Bum Bum Bummmmm!"

The cat is out of the bag! My name is Sabrina Koebel and I'm a bead addict. Yes, if you google my name you'll find that I am indeed a glass bead artist and that I create jewelry and odds and ends. I sell my creations via my website, ebay and a few other online places. I also do some art shows. But the best part is that you will see that I am a real person! Yep! Just like you! I eat and diet, I shop, I work at a real job and I am a wife and mother. I sometimes even do the dishes!

So feel free to follow me and definitely leave me some comments so I know I'm not just talking to myself. ;)
Have a Great Wednesday!
Sabrina

Busy Hands...Do they really Work? And a P2 "Cookie" Recipe!

Have you ever heard of keeping your hands busy so you stay away from the cookie jar? Or just anything you can get said hands onto?

I think I found a flaw... No I'm serious! I think it only works when you don't have children and a husband around to ask for and make oatmeal craisin cookies with white chocolate chips piled high! So even though my hands were seriously busy making various creations of Awesomeness I kept finding myself grabbing cookies on my way from heaven only knows where up to my studio. Then again when I was on my way out to my glass shop I looked down and wouldn't you know it! Hands full of cookies again! FLAW! I was so totally busy today and yesterday. But apparently I was also totally busy eating every stinking cookie in sight too! LOL

"Queen Bee" Vintage Glass Shadowbox Stained Glass Pendant 

Proof that I was indeed busy making things not just eating cookies!

BACK to my theory. I think that if we have busy hands that the other hands in the house cannot be busy making delicious cookies at the same time. That needs to go down in the Rule Book. Don't you think? 

So how does this work for HCG? Not so good. No Cookies while on HCG. It's very important! 

This poses a question for P2 HCG and Treats...

Is a meringue cookie ok on P2?

If you're allowed to have eggs occasionally on P2 then it would be easy to assume you could have meringues. Right? RIGHT! If you're needing a quick cookie fix the meringue might be your go to treat now and again. 

Egg whites are about 15 calories each. With the yolk they are 80 calories. Remember that if you eat a whole egg that there is fat in those yellow beauties! That's why it's suggested in Pounds and Inches to only eat them occasionally. (It also says to add the whites of 3 eggs to make a protein.)

There are 8 calories in cream of tartar & 1.8 carbs.

So have cookies...of sorts...Meringue Cookies! 

Meringue recipe for P2

3 Egg whites

1/8tsp Cream of Tartar

1/2tsp Vanilla Extract.

(This is where you can use your Vanilla flavored Stevia. Use it to taste...Don't eat raw eggs. But use your knowledge of your Stevia. For me I use vanilla and then powdered stevia from Trader Joes.)

4-6 packets Stevia (I use 6 because I like them sweet!)

*Now you can add your flavor:

*Lemon Zest

*Cocoa Powder

*Even Orange!

You could even use your flavored Stevia Drops in place of the Stevia and Vanilla.

The possibilities are endless for variety! 

Heat oven to 300

Whip egg whites and cream of tartar and Vanilla/Stevia until fluffy stiff peaks are formed. Then fold in your flavor if you chose to use cocoa powder, lemon zest etc. 

Now if you use the powder stevia you will mix them in with the egg mix after they have formed soft peaks. Then whip until they have formed stiff peaks. Then fold in your flavor.

Use a teaspoon to drop little dollops onto a parchment lined cookie sheet and then back for 25-30 min. 

That's It! :) Enjoy!

I'll have to take a photo of my Meringues to share with you! Recipes are great but they're even better when you can see what you're making. ;) Let me know how you like your meringues!

Man I wish February would hurry and get here! I can't wait to start my next round of HCG. We decided that it might be better to wait until after our Birthday to start. You know, Birthday Cake...I don't know why I love the stuff but I do! 

Have a Great Week Guys! I've got something good to share with you next week!

Sabrina

HCG P2 (phase 2) Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe

Happy Sunday Guys!

(that's me and Stevie Ray watching Rise of the Guardians today)

Finally took down all the Christmas decorations. Sigh... I love Christmas and all the decorations that come with it! 
Here's part of what was tucked away until next Christmas...

  

The Mantle

Here's a Closeup for you. Those are Bottle Brush Trees I decorated and a Waterless Snowglobe I created for my etsy shop, The VintiqueBoutique. It's hard to see the definition of the trees and globe but they really did add that special charm to the mantle this year. The rest of the garland is decorated with vintage silver tinsel garland, lots of mercury glass ornaments, a couple of glass church ornaments and some clip on bird ornaments. There's lots more than I've listed but I'm sure you're really thinking, "Why is she going on and on about this?! Weirdo!" I told you I love Christmas and most of all the Decorations that go with it. I really really do! LOL

Here's the entryway decoration. Again, some bottle brush trees that I made this year, a silver platter behind an old photo of my mom when she was little. In front of that is a cute little metal case with a silver rattle, silver spoon and a miniature mason jar ornament. In front of that is another silver plate with a cool turquoise plate topped with a doily and a bird. 

 ~ A Much Needed Break ~

So after the decorations were sorted and almost packaged I decided it was time for a break!
I ran to meet a friend of mine at one of our local coffee shops for a fun visit and to give her a chance to go through some of the jewelry I have created from my beads so she could pick out a few gifts and a present for herself. 

~ Oh Yeah! Coffee My Friend! ~

The best thing about the coffee shop is that it's totally on my HCG diet protocol! Seriously!!! I always order a 16oz Americano with room for cream. Today I added some sugar free White Chocolate that made the total calories of that drink under 90.

~ Sugar free doesn't mean Calorie Free! ~

How do I know this you ask? Well, I read their bottle way back in my first round. I had always thought of sugar free as being no or very low calories. Not so true. Most sugar free syrups still have calories. In fact they have the almost if not the same amount of calories as the good stuff.

Click the photo to see the nutritional facts for Torani SF White Chocolate Sauce. 

This isn't the only SF sauce/syrup on the market. But it is the most used at the coffee shops...at least around here. This is why when I'm doing a round of HCG I stay away from those syrups. I have however found a replacement! Nope! Not joking!

~I can have Chocolate Sauce without the Guilt and Calories?!~

Ever hear of Walden Farms? This is a Seriously Awesome company with some super treats with no guilt what so ever!!! What does this have to do with coffee? Want a Mocha? You can have it while you're in Phase 2! No, really!!! I'm truly not joking at all!

Don't believe me? Here! Look! :) You're going to love me forever!!! I just know it!!!

Walden Farms

Ok so this doesn't taste like the real stuff BUT it's good! And it really is Chocolate! This delicious treat is made from plant cellulose and that's why it's fat and calorie free just like shirataki noodles. Add some to your next coffee and enjoy!

If you're seriously jonesing for Chocolate Ice Cream here's what I do to create some Calorie free Chocolate Ice Cream that's perfect for P2!

~ P2 Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe ~

You'll need a magic bullet to blend this up in. 

Get the medium blendy cup and fill it 3/4 full of ice (crushed)

Now pour water in there about 1/3 full

Add some Walden Farms Calorie Free Chocolate Syrup 

Blend, shake, blend again until it's smooth and creamy!

If you haven't used your milk/cream for your coffee for the day yet you can use it here to make it creamy. 

I've done this in my food processor as well but the bullet makes it smoother. This is something you can do on every phase! Yummy!

Ok, that's it for tonight!

Sabrina

Happy 2014! Time to do another round of HCG!

Hi all!!!
It's hard to believe it's already a new year and we survived Christmas! PHEW!

With the new year everyone always makes the resolution to loose weight, change some habit or some crazy thing. I've never done the new year resolutions myself. I take that back! I used to do it way back in the day and thought for sure I'd have to follow through because it's a new year therefore I'd have more resolve and even more sticking power! Untold amounts of determination and willpower would be mine because it was a new year and a resolution dang it! Nope...no go. So I decided it wasn't in my stars if you will to do resolutions, therefore resolutions are out the window along with each old year and I look forward to the new year with the same excitement as I did the last! So much better for the self confidence! So very much better!

What do I do you ask? Well, I make goals. Nothing new is it. People around the world for years upon years have been making goals since the beginning of time. And they make them all year long. Yep! Me too!

I think the trick to making goals is that you have to be reasonable with yourself when you make them. If you have a HUGE goal then break it down into smaller attainable goals so you can build yourself up with the feeling of accomplishment and see yourself standing taller with each and every goal you've met!

My ultimate goal with my weight change is to reach a zone. By this I mean when I reach an area between 120 and 135 I've accomplished my ultimate goal. I've broken that one up over the years and have met each goal eventually. Not without struggle at first. But let me tell you it's been so much easier since I've added HCG to my goal party!

When I started out working on my Ultimate goal with all my little goals I actually was only looking at it as "Oh! If I could only loose 20 pounds I'd be so happy with myself!" Well, that worked and it didn't.

At my heaviest I was 224...but I'm definitely sure I was more because when I hit that number I stopped weighing myself and it had been a few months after that when all hell broke loose in my happy little digestive tract. I ended up in the hospital for several days while they tried to figure out what was wrong with me. Trying to figure out why I was in so much pain when I even drank a tiny bit of water. They did a few tests, blood work, MRI's, CT scans etc. to come to the conclusion that I had Crohn's Disease.

That was a day I'd never forget! First of all I had only heard of that through my friend who's mom had it and she was in and out of the hospital having her guts cut out all the time! No way did I want that. And I seriously wanted out of the hospital before they even thought of cutting out any of my guts. Gag!

From there I lost a bunch of weight because I couldn't eat but the joy of the weight loss was totally not there because I hadn't weighed myself since I saw the scale at 224 and I told the hospital staff that I didn't want to know what it was. Not to mention it was in a way not really weight loss that I worked at. I couldn't eat. That doesn't count. At least it didn't until I changed the way I was eating...not by choice mind you but by necessity. I noticed that certain foods hurt to eat so I stayed away from them. I was after all trying to cure myself from Crohn's Disease.

In and out of the doctor's office arguing with him and telling him that I didn't need the meds that I didn't have this disease etc. Him telling me that eventually I'd have to suck it up and realize that I did. Back and forth, back and forth. Finally he agreed to send me into have a tube stuck down my throat and one up my rear to see if he could find more evidence that I did have Crohn's. Wham Bam Thank You Mam and I was out with the great news that all was clear and that I am considered in remission (that was 5 years ago and I'm still clear!)

The long and short of it~ During that transition I went from way over that 224 mark down to 197. Super cool huh! Once I saw it on the scale it was. Then you all know what happened next, right?! I gained some weight back. That's how it goes...loose, gain...scream and cry about it then drown yourself in more food and start the cycle all over again once you've come to your senses.

Finally I cut that crap out. I discovered HCG. This was back when Costco was selling the real stuff in drops. My first round ever I went from 209 to 187. This was AWESOME! I was so excited I ended up ordering more drops and trying another round. Not so good the next round. I ended up not loosing a thing and cheating my way through that round. But I did discover a little thing that made me feel better. The drops that I ordered were the NEW drops that didn't have the hormone in them. So that made me feel much better. But I didn't do another round...I take that back. I'd buy the drops and try. They really didn't work so it was more of a struggle and seriously painful to my psyche. No more drops.

Then when my pants were getting tight I thought it might be a good idea to ask my doctor about getting some help. I was back up into my 190's maybe cresting that 200 mark here and there. But my doctor said I should just look at how I ate and work it out. She didn't believe in medicinal weightloss aids. "What?! But you'd prescribe someone a gastric bypass?!" Her answer was that it was a totally different thing and that I wasn't an ideal candidate. Well DUH!

So I chewed on that for a while and one night while searching the internet trying to find "real HCG" I stumbled on some! Yay Me!!! I was so excited!!! Still am! Now I have my HCG source and I'm flying high!

I ordered some and when it arrived I did my first round of injections and dropped 24lbs! Not only in weight did I change but I went from a size 14 (super tight) but to a 10! and even an 8 in some jeans! HOLEY MOLEY!!! Seriously Awesome! My first round was so much easier with the injections than with the initial drops I had purchased. You would not believe the inches that disappeared off my waist and legs! OMG! Amazing!

That made me thrilled to do another round!

Got the shots. Did the loading! Yes!

This was what I was soooo looking forward to when I was on my first round! All the chocolate frosting, cakes, sugar! you name it I was so planning on eating it! If it was sugary sweet it had my name on it. Then started round 2.

Ugg...round 2 sucked! I lost only 8 lbs of which I've gained all of it back. So sad! Christmas gave me even more reason to eat those sugary confections! It's a bit depressing when I look at that scale and it no longer says 153 but 162. Oh hey! That's 1 lb more than I started my second round at! DAMN! Why did this happen?! I think I know why. Or I have a theory about it...

I think that when I gave myself permission to eat breads and sugars I put my brain back into the eat it all mode. I released the Kracken! That Sugary Chocolate Cakey and Pizza Eating Kracken! I'm thinking I'm a junk food addict... And that by allowing myself access to my drug of choice I opened up the flood gates to hell and dove in willingly.

I've been doing a lot of research on the HCG diet. There are some that do what's called a "Clean" loading as opposed to the regular loading we've all come to call the "gorging on everything you want" phase. This "Clean" loading consists of fats and carbs by other means than pastries and ice cream.  You'd instead load on a fatty meat and eat your sides with lots of buttery goodness. Staying away from those trigger foods, like cookies (my favorites!) and cakes. So this round now that I've seen what an almost 10 pound gain looks like on my legs and gut, I'll be loading "clean"! I've started the process already by cutting out masses of cookies and junk like that....I say this while I pop one of those chocolate covered cherries in my mouth. This is after I've eaten my dinner of a delicious sausage link (think brat! Delicious and juicy filled with fatty goodness. This is the real deal baby!) on a bun. Really...I need to get myself under control. I'm good all day until I get home. AND it's way too late to be eating. Sheesh!

But really. I've eaten better this past week than I was. So I'm on the path to goodness. I swear!

(Did I tell you how that gain feels? I have to wear a uniform for work. The new uniform I have is smaller because I shrank a bunch! It was loose and oh so comfortable...not so much now. I feel like a stuffed sausage! I had to wear my belt on the next hole out. My shirt is tight. I have big boobs as it is but this is like popping the buttons tight. Seriously! Watch your eyes when you're around me. I could possibly blow one of those babies off my shirt at any moment without warning! AND! I can see pudge on my sides and back hanging over my belt!!! Time to remedy that.)

So for my first goal of 2014 I will be experiencing my first Clean loading phase for my third round of HCG. I'll be spending the next couple weeks ridding my body and home of breads and all the other yummy trigger foods that are just sitting there saying "You know you want a bite!" and "It's only one..." Or! "If nobody sees you eat me it doesn't count." Yes! Food does talk like that! I swear it! Stop and listen to it once in a while. ;) You'll be amaaaazed! LOL

I will get beginning weight and measurements so you can see where I am at and how it's going. Hopefully I'll have time daily to enter it on here along with a rundown of my meals for the day. I'll post a beginning photo too.  Those are always fun to use for comparison. And I'll add a few recipes to help spice things up. I do have a "peanut" sauce that is totally To Die For! It's great on chicken and spinach! Yes, that kind of peanut sauce! BUT this one is a guilt free version. And I'm not kidding. It's totally absolutely 100% guilt free! This one is a phase 1 sauce! No joke! :)

Anyone else out there doing a round of HCG right now or planning on starting one soon? Let me know! I'd love to hear from you!
Sabrina