P2 Rogue "Shepherds Pie" Recipe

Oh Man!!! This was a comfort food night!!!

P2 Rogue Shepherds Pie

Meat portion:
12 oz Leanest ground beef you can find (4 - 4oz servings)
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce (or substitution)
1 tablespoon soy sauce (or substitution)
1/2 cup beef broth (low sodium)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
1 medium zucchini grated

Topping:
1 large head cauliflower (approximately 6-8 inches across)
chives if desired
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425f.

Rice Cauliflower then whirl to fluffy mashed potato consistency. Microwave for 8 minutes let sit while you're cooking the meat.

Brown burger, rinse and drain. Add Seasonings and broth, stir. Add zucchini and cook until tender. Turn off heat and let sit while you season the mashed cauliflower topping.

In a 9X13 glass baking pan place the meat mixture evenly in the bottom of the pan. Top evenly with mashed cauliflower.

Bake in oven for about 20 minutes until boiling and starting to brown.

Serves 4
217 calories per serving

Let me tell you!!! This was so YUMMY!!! I honestly couldn't eat more than half a serving. It really is filling!!! Perfect for those cold rainy days. When you hit P3 and 4 you can add cheese!

Enjoy!!!
Sabrina

HCG P2 Portobello Mushrooms with Ground Turkey and Spinach Stffing

Dinner tonight!!! 

OMG!!! So Devine!!!
Sure wish I had taken a photo of them finished!

Today was a busy day!!! Thank heavens for quick inspiration at the local Trader Joe's!
I found these gorgeous Portobello mushrooms in the vegetable section waaaay up on the top shelf! I had to get help from my son to reach them.

I love how fast this is to whip up! took me 15 minutes to cook up the meat and another 20 to bake!

Portobello Mushrooms with Garlic Spinach Lean Turkey Stuffing!

Ingredients:
3-4 Portobello Mushroom Caps
1/2 lb leanest ground turkey you can find (this is 2 4oz servings)
1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
1/2 cup cauliflower riced
6 cloves garlic minced
2 table spoons tomato paste
1/4 onion chopped
1/4 cup water
Italian seasoning to taste
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Remove stems from mushroom caps and wipe the caps clean. Don't wash them to avoid them becoming soggy. ;) Pat dry.

This step you can do or not do it's up to you.
Broil the mushroom for 5 minutes on each side. This helps to release excess water and to cook them a bit.
I personally don't always do that unless it's a stuffing I don't need to cook through etc.
This time I just precooked the stuffing then baked extra long because I was being lazy. ;)

In a small frying pan cook minced garlic and onions until slightly browned/translucent. If you need oil use a small amount of coconut oil or water.

Add ground turkey and seasonings cook until done. Add tomato paste and water cook for another 5 or so minutes.

Toss in chopped spinach and cauliflower rice, mix well. Let cook for 1 more minute then set aside.

On a lined cookie sheet place your mushrooms with space between. Stuff (or top) with meat mixture. Since I didn't have cheese in this mix I pressed the meat mixture a little but not to mash it into the mushroom, more to make sure it doesn't crumble and fall off when I move the pan.

Bake in the oven for 15 minutes and then broil for 5-8 minutes until browned.

Total recipe is 402 calories for 3-4 mushrooms stuffed. If you've got 3 mushrooms stuffed they're 131 calories each. If you got 4 stuffed they're 100.5 calories each!

Enjoy!!!
Sabrina

P2 Rogue Recipe Greek Chicken with Cauliflower Rice and Greek Salad

I made some Witch Hats, Bats and Pumpkins!!!

I worked late last night on a tutorial for an online glass workers magazine and ended up working even later making beads! AND I just love halloween beads! 

I am known for my Day of the Dead Sugar Skull Focals and so I generally fill my late summer and early fall making those. But decided that it was time to break out the traditional Witchery for Halloween! 

So maybe my late night might be the reason for my lack of hunger today... I don't know but it sounds good. ;) 

I hadn't eaten until dinner with the exception of my tea. I keep my tea hot and full on rainy days like this. That might be part of the reason I'm not hungry. I did eat a couple slices of dried apples just because I thought I should eat something... But that's it. 

It's a daily chore! I have to make dinner not just for myself but for my husband and my boys. Even if I'm not hungry. But when I started cooking this! Oy vey! I found myself Hungry Hungry!!! The scents! The texture!!! What a great dinner! I'm glad I did get off my lazy tea drinking rear and made dinner tonight!!! 

This meal is almost Greek... I say almost because I have not included Kalamata Olives or Feta Cheese or even Olive oil. But the seasonings make up for that in a big way!!!

Try this recipe and let me know what you think!!!

Greek Chicken and Cauliflower Rice with Greek Salad/Salsa
Ingredients:

Chicken Ingredients ~
2 Chicken Breasts trimmed and sliced into lengthwise strips
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon greek seasonings
Ground pepper to taste
1/4 Onion sliced thinly

Cauliflower Rice ~
1 head of cauliflower ran through your food processor to rice consistency

Greek Salad/Salsa ~
1 Cucumber chopped into cubes
2 Tomatoes chopped into cubes
2 tablespoons Lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon greek seasonings
Salt and Pepper to Taste

Directions:

Cook chicken breast over medium low heat with all seasonings, lemon juice and onion until done. Remember to cover with a lid. You'll want the sauce to top your meat and "rice" with.
If you don't have greek seasonings you can improvise with italian seasonings and add rosemary, dill, cinnamon, nutmeg, marjoram, and garlic. Just season until it smells yummy to your nose. I add a little bit of the cinnamon and nutmeg...not a lot as they are very strong in small amounts.

While that's cooking rice your cauliflower and pop in the microwave until finished.

Then chop up your cucumber and tomatoes put in a bowl. Then add seasonings and mix.

When everything is done place meat over rice with a bit of sauce. You can either top it with your greek salad/salsa or put it on the plate as a side dish.
Makes 4 servings @ 178 calories each.

This was Delish!!! If you're in P3 or P4 add feta cheese and the kalamata olives!!! It makes this dish even better!!!

Happy Sunday!!!

Sabrina

The Rogue HCG Diet Support Group on Facebook!

Rainy, Lazy Day Lunch HCG P2 Rogue Recipe Zucchini Egg Skillet with Ground Turkey

Lunch is Served!!!

It's a Rainy day out and I need to get moving!!! It's after 12 pm and I haven't gone out to the shop to make beads yet because I was stuck in the world of Pinterest looking for dinner idea's. Oh how I love Pinterest!!!

Needless to say I started to get hungry and thought I should get my butt in gear and eat before I get so hungry that I eat those dang Oreo's that my husband is currently eating...and he's sitting next to me... AND They're Peanut butter!!! Ack!!!

Seriously! Ok, so now you see my dilemma... cook and eat healthy or dive bomb into those nasty cookies. I choose healthy. Even if I'd like to be naughty! I still choose healthy!

To gain the sense of rightness physically ~ to eat healthy and actually feel satisfied ~ I hit the refrigerator and stove!

Breakfast for Lunch on a Sluggish Day!!!
Looks so very naughty!
This recipe makes 2 servings at 186 calories each!

Quick Zucchini Egg Skillet with Ground Turkey

Ingredients:
4oz Leanest ground turkey
Poultry seasoning to taste (is similar to sausage seasonings)
Garlic to taste
1/4 small onion sliced thin
1 cup zucchini cubed
1 tbs tomato paste (no sugar added etc)
1/4 c water
2 eggs
Salt and Pepper to taste

Heat up a pan with a little dab of coconut oil (medium heat).
Add meat and onions stir then add seasonings.
Cook until done, then stir in zucchini. Add tomato paste and water, stir. Cover pot for 4 or 5 minutes. Then open pot and make two small wells/dents and crack your eggs into each well. Cover and let cook for another couple minutes until whites are done but yoke is still wiggly. Cook longer if you don't like liquid egg yokes.
Serve Hot!

If you are looking for a Facebook group for Support Join my group!
The Rogue HCG Support Group!
I'd love to see you there!!!

Ok, now I need to head out to make beads! Someone kick me in the butt now!!! ;)
Happy Saturday!
Sabrina

HCG Rogue! Recipe ~ HCG Slow Cooker Stuffed Bell Peppers

Well, it's come down to my going Rogue!!!
I'm not so good at being POP (that's Perfect on Protocol). The original protocol is very basic and frankly boring for my mind body and soul.

Food is supposed to be enjoyed EVEN if you're dieting!!! If you don't enjoy your food you will want to stray and find something else to eat that is not on your diet.

Yep! Even something as innocent as a lonely little chocolate bar or bag of chips that are there on the counter and nobody is looking or home so they won't know...

I've been there and done that! Heck I still do it. BUT I've figured out what I can and cannot do while I'm on HCG. I can have chocolate when it's in the form of ChocoDelight. I can have Chocolate Mock Cake and Oh Man Do I LOVE it!!! I can have crunchy chips...in the form of freeze dried foods, baked kale chips etc. Healthy decisions that are not POP but actually hit the spot and don't affect how my body looses weight while I'm on HCG. Not to mention allowing for me to take those foods with me beyond my HCG journey. It's how I maintain when I'm in P4.
......Unless it's Christmas...or my Birthday. Then I have some serious making up to do. I'm only human after all.

We all struggle. We all loose and then a few months, a year (me) or a couple years, those pounds tend to all of a sudden suck themselves right back on to your Ass! Or Gut! Or BOTH!!! Oh! Don't get me started on my Chicken Tenders!!! (Those are the flaps that hang over your bra in the back. So not my favorite!)

So, satisfaction and the desire to enjoy my life while on the HCG journey is what has forced me to go Rogue! I need to feel satisfied when I eat. My taste buds, my emotions, my physical being, all need to be satisfied. Since I'm a food junkie I might as well tend to that junkie in me while nurturing my body correctly to see the results I want to see.

Just incase you were wondering what the term Rogue means where the HCG diet is concerned it means that I'm eating outside of protocol. I'm allowing myself to eat foods that are not allowed in the original Dr. Simeons HCG Diet Protocol, Pounds and Inches.

Don't get me wrong. The original protocol does work that's how I got down into Onderland! (that's the 100's) But as I continue to move towards my ultimate weight goal I need to augment my foods to fit my world and to satisfy the food junkie that I am. I need to eat and I need to love what I'm eating!

Which brings me to my next subject... Support Groups for HCG users. No, not addicts! We're talking support for those on the HCG protocol diet. I've been a member of a couple HCG Support groups on Facebook. One of them is severely against anything that is not protocol. Which is fine. But not for me...and as I've noticed several other members in that group are having difficulties and doing Rogue eating. That group frowns on it. So in an effort to help and guide as well as to have that community that I need for my journey I've started a Facebook group for Rogues like me. It's called The Rogue HCG Support Group. You can search it up or click here to join.

Speaking of Rogue Foods!
Today's recipe is Super Duper Yummy!!!

HCG P2 Rogue Slow Cooker Stuffed Bell Peppers


Ingredients:
6-8 large bell peppers (I used red and yellow)
1.5 lbs leanest ground beef you can find
1/4 onion
5 cloves garlic
1 14oz can fire roasted tomatoes (make sure it's the kind without sugar)
1-2 tablespoon worcestershire sauce (to taste really) I use one only because it has sugar.
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 cup cherry tomatoes
1 small zucchini
1 cup shredded broccoli
2 egg whites

First clean and prep your peppers by removing the tops and cleaning out the insides. You want a pepper cup basically, so just remove the very tops of your peppers.  Set aside.

Cook ground beef in frying pan with salt and pepper. Drain and rinse to remove as much fat as you can. Sounds gross but it really isn't it's just extra work but worth it in the end.

In food processor mix cherry tomatoes, garlic, onion and worcestershire sauce. After blended add burger. Blend then add more salt and pepper if wanted. When finished mixing set aside in a large mixing bowl.

Shred zucchini in the food processor. Drain excess water. (I squish mine in the strainer so I can squeeze as much water out as possible. It will continue to weep as you go so don't freak.)

In large mixing bowl that contains the meat add your shredded zucchini and broccoli. Mix. Then add the 2 egg whites and fire roasted tomatoes (drained) Mix well! The eggs are the binding because we've already cooked our meat and removed the fats.

Make sure your crockpot is open and ready! One by one stuff the peppers. Really pack them full of the meat and veggie mix. I use a large spoon to pack the mixture in. You might see lots of juice while you're squishing the mix down. Go ahead and squeeze as much of that out as possible. (I do it over the sink and not into the bowl to avoid having to squeeze more and more as I go.) Once your pepper is full put in the crockpot and repeat with remaining peppers.

Put your crockpot on low for 3-4 hours. We're only trying to heat them through and cook the veggies inside because we've already cooked the meat. If you do this with raw meat you'll want to cook for 6 or more hours to make sure the meat is cooked through.

My crockpot is full at 7 peppers so calories per serving are 200/ea pepper!
If you do a 2 lb meat recipe your servings will be approximately 246 calories (this is the 7 pepper comparison).
A 1 lb meat recipe will yield a 155 calorie serving (again based on my 7 peppers).

Have fun cooking... But mostly Enjoy Eating Healthy!!!

xoxo
Sabrina

HCG Peach Meringue Cookie Recipe

Peach Meringue Cookie Recipe Altered to work for HCG Diet!
Yay!!!

As you know I already have posted a delicious recipe for Meringue Cookies prior to this. Well these are a recipe I found on Pinterest that I took inspiration from and created Peach Meringues!

They're light and airy with the sweet tang of peaches! The coloring is soft, peachy and inviting. This treat is a must have when you're feeling deprived and want to cheat. Why is that? Well BECAUSE the whole recipe only has 50 calories! 

That's approximately 12 cookies for 53 calories!!! No Joke! (I'll break down the calories for you later.)

I cannot stress to you enough how this diet is life altering for those on the journey. It's at times very frustrating and other times so joy filled and occasionally depression filled. Gotta be honest. 

If you had to go completely off your normal eating habits and were used to having what you wanted when you wanted it you'd feel very deprived of the joy's of eating. I know I did! 

And at times when I see my family consume ice cream or even kielbasa sausages hot off the grill I very much want to chuck that little bottle in the trash can with some words of hate and lob off a hunk of that yummy grease filled meat or grab a bowl of that creamy cold ice cream top it with chocolate sauce and nuts and dig in. But then I remember the feeling of being the sausage I was before I started this journey. Yep! Stuffed in a pair of jeans or shorts. Not so good a feeling. So I decided I'd start to think outside the HCG box and find ways to trick my mind into feeling like I am filled and emotionally fulfilled by the foods I eat and create so much so that I can get my family to join me at the table. 

So with the invention of the ever popular search engine that Pinterest is I am able to find things and augment or alter all together to make a meal or treat that fits into the HCG diet parameters or is only a bit Rogue but still fits the bill. Hell, it ain't lying, cheating or stealing until you get caught right? Or you stall... maybe gain. But that's how you learn how your body works and how you need to change things for you. Because that is what this diet is really about... Y O U. 

It's all about you. You're the center of the universe right now. The foods YOU eat, the number YOU see on that scale, the measurements YOU see on the ribbon, the injection, drops, tablets YOU give yourself to encourage YOUR body to do as YOU say. The compliments YOU receive or (and Please Do this Part it's VERY Important!!!) the Compliments YOU give YOURSELF! It is Truly ALL ABOUT YOU! :)

And after you're done and have reached your goal weight hopefully you'll still continue to focus on you. It's still important. You're still important. Even if you stop hearing "Wow! You've lost so much weight!" or "You look GREAT!" It's still about you. About how YOU Feel. How YOU eat. Etc. You still need to focus on eating healthy and taking all those great eating habits with you into the future for the You that YOU have become! The Healthier, Happier You. 

That's what this Journey is supposed to be about. Nurturing yourself and healing all the bad we've done to our bodies with the foods we've stuffed ourselves with without even thinking or sometimes even knowing the serious consequences of doing so. 

So this recipe is HEALTHY and can be used beyond HCG in Your New Eating Style created by you for you. 

Ingredients:

2 egg whites room temp (I use eggs from a local gal who has hens that give her those pretty green globes. Love them! So Yellow and untouched by chemicals. )

1/8 tsp Cream of Tartar

Stevia Powder to taste (Trader Joe's in the shaker without the added powdered milk.)

1tbs Peach Compote (recipe follows)

Peach compote:

1/3 Ripe Peach or 5-6 slices frozen

2 tbs Water

1/4 tsp Vanilla 

Stevia 1 small scoop (Trader Joe's comes with a tiny scoop in the shaker bottle. Use that as your measurement)

Toothpick Tipped Wilton's Red Frosting Dye (if wanted. Not Needed! It's only to add a bit of a pop of color)

First Things First! Heat that oven to 300f. This has to be done first!!! Trust me!

Separate your egg whites fro the yokes and set them in the mixer so they reach room temp, covered.

While those are sitting take your peach slices and place them in a small sauce pan with 2 tbs water. Cook your peaches down, chopping, stirring and breaking apart. You're making a quick jam otherwise known as a compote. When they're soft stir in the vanilla and a scoop of Stevia. USE the small scoop provided in the Trader Joe's shaker. If you're not using Trader Joe's stevia add 1/4 pkt plus or minus depending on the sweetness you want. 

Once peaches are done puree in your Magic Bullet. You will end up with approximately 2 tbs compote... We only need 1 for the recipe so save the rest for a frozen ice blendy treat!

Pour out onto a plate to cool. Take your toothpick with the tip dipped in red frosting dye and run through the compote until you're happy with the color. (AGAIN! You do NOT have to add food dye to your compote unless you want to. For me color is fun. I absolutely favor colorful foods.)

Set aside to finish cooling while you whip up your egg whites.

Now that your egg whites are room temperature add the cream of tartar and turn the mixer on medium/high (make sure you're using the wire whip). Watch your eggs go from liquid to frothy in a couple minutes. Whip until they get stiff and come to peaks. Gently fold in stevia. 

Then take 1/2 of the frothy egg whites and gently fold it in to the peach compote. Take that mixture back to the main bowl and gently fold into the rest of the whites. Doesn't have to be perfect here. Marbled is ok because it looks pretty. 

Spoon out your batter onto a parchment lined pan. I used a teaspoon as my scoop. This gave me approximately 13 cookies. 

Place in the oven and immediately turn it off! Set the timer for 1 hour. When the dinger goes off your meringues should be done. If they're still moist in the center you can leave them in for another 10-15 min. or until dry. 

That's it! :)

Caloric breakdown!

2 Egg Whites = 34 calories
1/8 tsp Cream of Tartar = 1 calorie
1/2 Peach = 30 calories ...cooks down to 2 tbs. We used only 1 tbs = 15 calories
1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract = 2.5 so lets make it 3 calories

Stevia = 0 Calories
Water = 0 Calories
Total Calories for the whole recipe = 53 Calories!!!
That's 4.4 calories per cookie!

Joy in Eating those Little Delights = Priceless!!!

Hope this makes your journey a bit more colorful and tasty!!!
Sabrina

HCG P2 Thai Chicken Cucumber Salad

Here's a salad where I took a recipe and augmented it to fit my taste buds. This is what I do for lunch or dinner with my leftover chicken breast. Make it into salads!
This recipe is for a family of 4 eating dinner in my house. You can lower the recipe to fit one meal by quartering the ingredients.
Hope you like it!

P2 Thai Chicken Cucumber Salad   With Dressing that can be used as a Sauce!

Ingredients:
2 Cooked Chicken Breasts Cubed
2 Cucumbers Cubed or Julienne like in the photo

Sauce/Dressing
1 Green Onion Chopped Small
3 tbs Chopped Cilantro
2 Large Basil Leaves Rolled and Cut Thin
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder (or 2 Garlic Cloves Mashed and Chopped Fine)
1/4 tsp Chille Pepper Paste or more to taste
1/4 tsp Lemmon Grass (dried)
2 - 4 tbs Braggs Liquid Amino's (it's salty so you might want less or to cut it with water)
2-4 tbs Lemon Juice
2 - 4 tbs Rice Vinegar (No Sugar)
Stevia to taste

Mix all Sauce/Dressing ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

Cut your chicken breast in to cubes and set aside. Slice/julienne your cucumbers and put on top of your chicken. Pour your dressing mix over the top and toss.

Remember I said that Braggs is a bit salty! This is where your tastebuds come into play here. If you're ok or craving salt go ahead with the 4 tbs. If you're not use less and substitute with water. ALSO if you make it with all the ingredients at full strength you can add water to lighten the salt. This can be a sweeter dressing if you'd like. Just add Stevia to match your mood!

I also will use this Dressing as a Sauce over chicken while it's baking or just cook it up to reduce it a bit and pour over my chicken after it's done.

Enjoy!!!

Results Already!

Yesterday was the first official day of the 500 calorie part of this diet.

I wasn't hungry. I was busy so that might have helped.

I woke up this morning down 2.6 lbs already. My scale actually said one weight the first time I stepped onto it and then when I was eager to look at it again it said a different weight .3lbs more than what it was before. Then again 15 minutes later it reflected the first weight. But I decided to stick with the higher weight because I think it will make tomorrows weigh in even better. ;) Besides if the scale can't make up it's mind I feel it's better to go with the higher weight just incase.

Today I have noticed I didn't get hungry until about 1pm -ish. It was an all of a sudden OMG I'm Starving! moment. That made for a quick grab of some chicken slices and mustard so I could calm down. After eating a couple bites I was fine. I got distracted and forgot to finish eating. Oh Well. I suppose I can make up for that with steak dinner! Yay!!!

Other than that my day has been busy and good. No longterm hunger pains. No headaches. No griping and complaining. Although I did put on my sweatshirt because I did get really cold. It was only 65 at the time so I'm blaming it on actually being cold and not the HCG.

Want to see why I was so busy yesterday? Here's a photo! 

Remember when I said I made beads? This is the batch that I made yesterday. I pulled them out of the kiln this morning. There are a couple sets and singles that I think I need to re-create for myself.

Here We Go!!! VLCD1

Day 1

It's that simple. Day 1. Today.

Today I start Phase 2. The actual weight loss part of the diet.

This is the first of several VLCD's (Very Low Calorie Diet/Day). I haven't yet finished my tea. Probably should do that because I am feeling hungry. But it's only 8 in the morning! Once my day gets rolling and I'm busy all should be good.

I finished off my last loading day with some ham cheese and mustard and one last episode of Revenge. Ooo! It was Yummy!!! I figured I'd wake up and see a 2 pound gain because I'm loading and I ate lots of fatty foods. Nope! I lost. So my 1.9 gain is now a 1.4. Easy enough to take off. I'm just hoping that it will not affect the first week of my VLCD.

The fat gained in the Loading Phase is supposed to help minimize hunger and assist your body in switching from phase 1 to phase 2 easier. I read that somewhere. I think it's all theory really.

I can theorize the loss as being water loss caused from the HCG. I can also theorize that my loss and low weight gain was caused by not having taken HCG for so long. It has been just over 9 months since my last attempted round that lasted only 2 weeks. I can also theorize that my minimal loss is a direct cause of my body being used to eating like crap already. ;) It's probably a combination of all those factors. At any rate I'm ok with it. I think my body will function the way it should on this round.

My mind is in a very different place and my body is definitely there as well. This is for more than just loosing weight to look good in a pair of jeans or no clothes at all.

I've noticed that since my weight gain I have more aches and pains in my knee's, hips, back and really just all over. It's not just my shoulder injury that hurts any longer. It's my whole body. If my muscles and joints hurt can you imagine what the inside of my body is feeling? My heart? My liver and kidneys? Not to mention my intestines!

I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease 8 years ago. I totally didn't believe that they were correct on the diagnosis. After all I was FAT! Really FAT! But from that time I learned that my body, joints especially, cannot handle wheat. It literally hurts my body. Weird huh. You grow up with mac and cheese and all those delicious cookies and cakes and then all of a sudden you're thrown into this world of not being able to have it unless you're willing to suffer the consequences. That's what started my weight loss journey way back in the day.

Did you know that Crohn's Disease is a disease of Industrialized Countries? It is. What do all these countries have in common? Processed Foods!!! When my gastrointestinal doctor told me that little snip-it I was floored! We lived on box foods because they VERY were affordable. By buying products that were marketed as being wholesome and affordable I was killing my body...And I was feeding my children that crap too!!!

Since that discovery I've personally cut back on purchasing any boxed foods. The kids now see mac and cheese as a treat that they get to have once in a blue moon... maybe once a year. We cook meats and veggies. But we're still stuck in the sweet's part of the mess. I'm working on that with them now. They're not happy but they will be when they grow up. We can still have sweet treats. It just won't be processed sweet treats. It will be fresh or made here where we know what's in it.

I think that's a good trade off for a healthy body and healthy children. Don't you?

Back to today! I've got a day to plan and live. I'm thinking chicken for dinner...
xoxo

Once Upon A Time in a Land Not So Far Away...

Once Upon A Time in a Land Not So Far Away...

There lived this woman who did HCG and Loved her results! She got to one of her goal weights and was feeling so good about herself! Then she quit her job to pursue her home based business/art. This was an Awesome Decision and one she would never regret! But there comes a time in a girls life when she's not paying attention to her physical being as much as she's paying attention to her business.

One day she looks in the mirror and see's that she's let the view become distorted. She's gained 15 pounds of that hard earned weight loss back. So she thinks to herself. I've got this. But in all reality she doesn't. She had forgotten the way of the clean eating lifestyle and set herself up for disappointment when she gained another 5 pounds back. And then a pound here and a pound there. Finally ending up way back where she started.

Yep! That woman is me. I did that to myself. I was all gung-ho about getting back into my next round that when I started and failed I just gave up.

The second round started off with a great 7 pound loss and ended up with my being hungry all the time and only thinking about food. Food Food FOOD! Not apples, chicken or steak. But Whipped Cream and Cookies! I was dreaming and daydreaming about that crap!!! Anyway, one cookie lead to another and BAM! No more HCG round. But I was ok with that because lets face it. I couldn't control my mind what makes me think I could control my mouth. Not to mention I was at a comfortable weight.

That was before the Christmas From Hell!!! I kid you not. It was absolute hell and we're not going to go there. ;) Let's leave the past in the past and move on.

Well, needless to say the Christmas Hell brought me full circle back to my old habits and straight into my old pants. Not a good feeling when I've already taken all of them to the secondhand shops. Yep. I had to break down and buy larger shirts and pants.

This is what happens when you don't follow P3 or P4 properly OR when you ignore those couple pounds. Don't skip those stages just because you're at your goal weight. The weight WILL come back! AND with a FATTY VENGEANCE!!! I kid you not! Look at my before and after photos. They're friggen backwards. It's supposed to be fat to skinny not skinny to fat.

 

You know, I do have to say that HCG does work! It works if you follow the protocol all the way through to the end of P4. I did it before! That's how I stayed under 200 for over 4 years. Just so you know after that first round I got under the 200 mark and was happy. Very happy. I kept it off and ate what I wanted. Moderation was definitely the key. But I could have cookies and ice cream and not think twice. It was the subsequent round where I wanted to drop from 190 to a much slimmer me. The me that I know is in there. When I didn't follow the protocol after failing my third round that's what messed everything up. I went back to my old habits with a jacked up system that didn't know that it wasn't supposed to hold onto the fats etc. 

So here I sit today with a much larger ass-pect on this process. ;) Pun fully intended here. 

I'm currently on my second day of loading (R3P1D2 ~ Yes, I'm officially calling this round three even though I did a round three in October of last year that only lasted 2 weeks. I think I can consider that a Non-Round round. Don't you agree?) 

I'm doing injections that I purchased through NuImageMecical. I weighed in at 189.1 on D1 and this morning I'm at 190.0 so I've gained 0.9 pounds so far. It's not a large gain because frankly I was nauseous all day yesterday. Might be the HCG. I did eat and drink...just not that well. 

Today I started off with my morning dose of HCG followed by my daily drink of MSM and Powder C. Now I'm sitting down with my morning cup of tea. I drink tea every morning now that I quit drinking coffee. I drink a mock london fog. I drink Earl Grey with Vanilla Stevia and some Almond Milk. Truly I love it with soy as well. But definitely not with milk any longer. It's not a lactose thing, I just don't like the taste of milk anymore. Haven't for years. As far as my MSM and Powder C drink goes, I just mix a scoop of Powder C in a small wine glass with water then add a heaping spoon of MSM and stir until it looks good enough to drink. Sometimes it dissolves easily other times it doesn't. I have to be honest! This is the most bitter drink evah! Glech! But the bitter goes away quite quickly once it's down. 

Ok so here are today's photos. No makeup, no softening of the skin via editing. It's the Real Deal Baby!!!

 

 

Ok, so several comments. Notice my bulgy sides and belly? That was gone before. And look at my thighs. That bulge at the apex? That was gone too. My arms were much slimmer as well. 

Oh! But! Hey!!! My hair is longer!!! :) 

Ok, enough for today. I've got to hit the torch! Those beads don't make themselves!

~ xoxo ~

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

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