Day 15...effective

Down only .1 lbs. And with the exception of two extra ounces of protein, I followed the diet exactly, further proving, there is absolutely no room for variation.

Not digging the slow down - in regards to actual weight loss - but I am liking the overall results, so I'll press on.

It is the weekend...always a challenge. More out of boredom and a desire to play like everyone else. But for the duration, no can do. I have a goal - to look and feel better - and I just plain need to make these life changes. As I've stated before, I'm an adult for godssakes! Well, most of the time. Okay, on occasion, but now is as good a time as any to start.

Today's goal: stay on target.

Be and eat well,

Jane Doh!

Day 14...effective

Two full weeks in and I'm down 13.1 lbs. and 13.75" overall.

Not bad. Surprised, and not in a good way, at the inches lost. Some area's went up (huh?)...not sure if this is my faulty measuring technique...yet, on the positive side, my big-fat-fatty-fat-belly is minus 3.5"...no wonder my pants fit better!

Apple day was beyond boring...and tho I'm back over the pound-or-more loss target (1.1 lbs. this a.m.), I'm still a little frustrated. Not sure why, really...just am. And yet, I soldier on. In a way, I get a perverse kick out of sticking to the diet so well. Dare I say, I have this internal sense of superiority. Between the not drinking and eating like a flippin' bird, I just suck back my 100+ ounces of water and think to myself, "Oh, yeah. I'm all that...hold the bag of chips."

And so you get a glimpse into my warped little psyche.

Good news is, I get to eat again at lunch today...thank god. 3.5 oz. of protein and vegetable are looking like heaven-right-here-on-earth about now.

Not much to say for now.

Eat and be well,

Jane Doh!

Day 13...effective...bring on Apple Day!

Down just .1 lbs. Since I'm obviously at a plateau, an apple day is in order. Sticking to the diet and losing virtually nothing is not what I signed up for. Argghh...my kingdom for a 1/2 pound loss.

Interesting though, despite the snail's pace in relation to losing, my dedication to this protocol is not waning. Of course my honey wants to know when I can start drinking again. ANSWER: November 11. But I use that term loosely...a glass of wine, on occasion, is hardly the party mode he's looking for...oh well, it's all about life changes. And cutting back on the ol' vino is never a bad thing...weight wise and other.

Still can't get over how great clothes I haven't worn in ages are fitting...yet more motivation, from my standpoint.

Okay, must start my day. 10:00 a.m. meeting and lots of other stuff to do.

Be and eat well...I'm in apple mode!

Jane Doh!

Day 12 effective update...guess who fit into her fabulous LBD tonight? Comfortably? Yes, me. And my favorite black velvet dress suit from Nordstroms is looking pretty amazing too. And that's just 12 days in and 11.8 lbs. down. Very excited and very motivated.

Day 12...effective, back on HCG

Lost the .2 and another .2...I believe I might be at a plateau. All the materials speak of hitting one when you touch on a weight you held consistent for more than 6 months...sadly, 185 is that disturbing figure.

I'm considering doing an "apple" day if tomorrow's weigh-in is more of the same. What, you ask, is that? Well, between lunch of one day to lunch of the next day, you take your usual HCG dosage and consume a mere 6 large apples (less is okay, but no more) and consume minimal H2O...as you can guess, any bloat in the system (as well as anything else in the proverbial pipeline, so to speak) are flushed out. Supposedly, you are back on track the next day.

UPDATE: 7:30 p.m. EST

Almost forgot to post this. More info to follow tomorrow.

Be and eat well,

Jane Doh!

Day 11...effective

Alas...my first setback. When I stepped on the scale this morning, I was up .2 lbs. since yesterday. And I did not cheat...haven't since I started the diet, in fact.

However, I'm not totally surprised. Though not required, I am in the habit of tracking my food intake everyday. I use this very cool iPhone app called "Edibles." The only pain in the butt is that you have to get the calorie count (I use www.calorieking.com) and type in each thing that you eat (only once)...but, after you get all your typical foods in, you are good-to-go. This app also tracks your weight (including calculation of your BMI...I just dipped below 30...woo-hoo!) and credits you calories for any exercise.

As I was saying, I keep a count all day and, again, I did not cheat, but my total calorie intake for the day was (in relation to this protocol) a staggering 635 calories...I've been averaging 490-525. Still a low number, but between not taking the HCG because of my period, some not-so-great choices for my two proteins (chix and beef...I usually do one of those and a fish or shrimp), plus only 72 oz. of H2O...I'm guessing this wacky misalignment of the diet stars can easily be attributed to the minor gain.

Happily, I'm back on the HCG today and I will drink my customary 100 oz. plus of water. I am confident tomorrow will be a banner weigh-in day.

Ordinarily, a setback...even this wee...would put me into a tailspin. My mind would scream, "Why flippin' bother? Eating virtually nothing and...I. Still. Gained. Weight? That's it. I need bread (toasted and buttered...heavily), bacon and peanut butter...STAT!"

You get the idea. And yet...I'm still as committed as ever. Go figure.

As for food...I purchased the veal, but did not prep it last night...I'll let you know how yesterday's meal idea pans out.

Last night I did prepare a yummy concoction. Grilled chicken (a little salt and pepper on both sides), served atop fennel, shallot and tomatoes that I baked in the oven for 25 mins. @ 350ºF. Slice the first two ingredients wafer thin, lightly salt (to draw out moisture) and top with 10 grape tomatoes. Wrapped tightly in a tinfoil packet and placed in over (lower rack) until steamed to a nice al dente, about 20-25 mins. Top with cooked chicken (sliced), then added a few dashes of vinegar. Lovely.

It's a rainy, generally icky day here in New England...triggering a migraine for me. Fortunately, I've excellent drugs to manage same, but definitely not firing on all cylinders. Yet, I'll soldier on*.

Eat and be well,

Jane Doh!

* see previous "plucky Irish" reference in earlier post.

Day 10...effective

Down .9 lbs. again...11.6 lbs. total.

Feeling it around my mid-section most (I was, after all, minus 2.75" in that measurement last Friday). Wish my face (and multiple chins) would begin to show it, but all in good time...all...in...good...time.

Still without my supplemental HCG...getting easier on day three...maybe I stopped it too early? All documentation says to discontinue drops on your "heaviest" flow days...thought I did...oh well, live and learn.

As for food...need to think about mixing it up a bit. Perhaps it's time to work in some lobster and lump crab. Dare I say, I'm getting a little bored with shrimp, chix and lean beef. And that is not a good thing. Thinking that veal (which is allowed) is also in my future. Tho, never having enjoyed it other than lightly breaded and smothered in a beurre blanc or, perhaps, marinara sauce, my stellar cooking abilities and this protocol's limited cooking options, do present a challenge to said protein's preparation.

I'm thinking a naked grill for the veal, finished with roasted tomatoes and fennel might do the trick (place toms and sliced fennel in tinfoil; sprinkle with Italian seasoning (make sure there's no sugar in the mix) and place in 350º F oven for 20-25 mins.). I'll report on this concoction a smidge later.

Here's a cool observation...my nails are growing long, strong and oh-so-pretty! Naturally. Who knew? Actually, I guess I did...vaguely recall noticing women who are preggers always sporting nice digits. And hair...their hair, rarely styled or even clean for chrissakes...is often more lustrous and just plain fabulous. Hoping it is only the hair on my head that enjoys a sudden fullness and such...I do not relish the thought of increased tweezing or giant bushes under the ol' arms and elsewhere. Ewwwww.

That's it for today...eat and be well,

Jane Doh!

Day 9...natural-forming HCG not-so-effective

Not feeling the love surviving on my body's ability (inability?) to supplement HCG during my period. This is the first time that I have truly struggled not to eat...but I'm committed to this diet protocol and failure, quite frankly, is not an option.

On the plus side, I'm down another .9 lbs., bringing me into the double digits for a total loss of 10.7 lbs. and a very clear downward trend on my tracking graph.

An interesting thing happened yesterday. I met up with a couple of gal pals for lunch...at Agave in Newburyport, where the chef graciously prepared a lunch of naked grilled chicken, served on a bed of lettuce with chopped tomatoes and sliced cukes. Topped with a little lime juice and vinegar...I was quite happy.

Anyway, back to my pals. So, both noticed my just-shy-of-10-lbs. loss and were kind enough to comment, "You look great!" "Keep-doing-that-voo-doo-that-your-doing" type stuff. I'm all blushy and proud of myself, of course. Who wouldn't be? Yet, on my walk home, I couldn't help thinking, "Did/do I really look that bad?" And the answer is...drum roll please...YES!

Thing is, I've always fancied myself to be "all that and a bag of chips." Sad part is, the chips (a super-sized economy bag) have been living, unopened in my belly (you know, that fatty, icky area between your enormous hips and somewhat discernible waist) for god-knows-how-long.

So as the weight literally melts away (and I assure you, it is), I need to reassess my image of myself.

Fact: I've never been a slender person. Weight has been an issue for me since I had to wear "bloomers" in gym class.

Fact: I'm petite...diminutive...short. And even one pound looks like five.

Fact: I love food...and I'm a pretty darn good cook, too.

Fact: I have a pretty face...quick to smile...nice teeth...the only thing my Alzheimer ridden mother ever consistently remembers..."Oh, look, it's that girl with the nice teeth come to visit!"

Reality: I'll never be slender...too Rubenesque, but I'm cool with that.

Reality: I'll never be taller.

Reality: I'll always love food.

Reality: I do, in fact, have nice teeth.

And that leaves me here, on this crazy 500-calorie-a-day protocol, taking HCG drops like they are crack and positively giddy at how easy the pounds are dropping.

Causing most, no doubt, to pontificate, "They'll come right back once you start eating again." But, I realize that with the exception of increasing portions and rounding out the whole allowed vegetables/protein aspect, I am eating normally now.

In fact, I'm eating the way I should have been eating all along...and I know this. I'm friggin'-48-years-old for chrissakes. This isn't rocket science.

Fact: No one needs to eat McDonald's.

Fact: Deep fried foods are not good for you.

Fact: Cake is not a food group.

Fact: Now that I've gone a good week without these things, I don't miss them and I'm not graving them.

My goal, is to use this HCG protocol to drop some quick weight and rewire my mindset when it comes to food and food choices. Long way of saying...I'm thinking this could be the life change I needed.

Happily, today is Sunday. Baseball (ALDS series) and football (who doesn't love football?) to entertain me.

Be and eat well,

Jane Doh!