Stabilization...Day 118

It is Friday...still lingering at 39.9 lbs. lost...will I ever pass 40?

Can't complain...I've enjoyed champagne almost each day this week, plus I made a sinful pulled pork on Weds. Didn't eat a lot of it, but still...considerably higher fat/cals than my usual "chicken and water!"

Despite my sweetie's desire for Chinese every weekend, I'm putting my foot down. "No!" The sodium and temptation is just too much for this dieting diva. Perhaps Thai will suffice? I'm cool with a Tom Yum soup and some Fresh Rolls...figure friendly and oh-so-yummy!

Not much to share today. Eat and be well,

Jane Doh!

Stabilization...Day 116

Down 39.9lbs. today! Wow! Go me!

I continue to avoid sugars and whites, tho not too militant about it. For example, I enjoyed 12 cheese tortellinis over the weekend...with little regain recourse. Tasted good, but sat very heavy in my tummy, so really not worth it. So, loving a rich Italian gravy as I do, it's back to eating it like soup.

Of what do I speak, you ask? Instead of serving sauce and a few meatballs over a huge plate of pasta, I now eat sauce and meats in a bowl, soup style. I get all the flavor without those evil carbs.

Suppose I should start my day.

Eat and be well,

Jane Doh!

Stabilization...Day 109

Just .2 lbs away from hitting a new decade...the 50s, no less. Haven't seen that era in over seven years! Wow!

Feeling a little out of sorts...almost like I'm hungover, but I know that is not it as I haven't been drinking...must be the weather pattern...high and low pressures can wreak havoc with me.

Short update today...when I hit the 50s, my blog will be the first place I come to celebrate.

Eat and be well,

Jane Doh!

Stabilization...Day 107

Boy...HCG...talk about pushing buttons!

Was roaming the web and found an interesting dialogue on Oprah.com...http://www.oprah.com/community/thread/76866...couldn't resist posting to it...here are my two cents...

I did it...once...using the homeopathic drops...started October 1, 2009...finished a 42-day protocol on Nov. 15...down an amazing 25.3 lbs.; 32.75" lost overall (7" in my waist alone). Since finishing, I've slowly and carefully worked in new foods; hang out around 1400 calories a day (as suggested per my BMR) and engage in moderate exercise...10,000 steps a day, minimum. As of today, March 1, 2010, I'm 107 days post HCG and I'm down a total of 34.9 lbs.; 47" overall (9" at the waist to a figure flattering 34.5").

With the exception of a little hand cramping (nothing a multivitamin with potassium or magnesium didn't take care of), I had no obvious side effects. I. Followed. The. Diet Without.

Fail. No cheats, no nothing. Buck up, it's for 42 days, no different than Lent, really (if you're Catholic, you know what I'm talking about).

My biggest realization has been that I. Can. Not. Eat. What. I. Want. Nope. So, I've cut out all whites (sugar, bread, pasta, ice cream, etc.) and I've significantly cut back on drinking...maybe a glass or two of champagne with my sweetie or an occasional martini (the real kind, not one with all sorts of mixers...wicked sugar content in those). Good news is, though, I don't crave the things I used to like...for example, I once loved a good red or white wine...no more. Doesn't even taste pleasant to me. And as for champagne, it must be exceptionally dry.

Here's the real key for me...HCG helped me drop a fair amount of weight quickly...and I needed that for motivation and such. It also helped me drop weight in my fattiest areas...waist (as I mentioned, 9" as of today), thighs (-3" each one), belly (-7.5")...thankfully though, not in my cup size (but I did lose 5.7" in my chest...mostly back flab). But most importantly, HCG has helped me to change my relationship with food.

I count every calorie (the iPhone has great apps for that), track my weight each morning, continue to drink in excess of 1 gallon of H2O everyday (yes, I keep track of every ounce) and I now always choose fresh fruit/veggies, protein or a small amount (5-10) of raw almonds/walnuts as the snack of choice.

Long way of saying, I've realized eating healthy and maintaining a safe weight is a day-to-day effort. So, I'm not saying "never" to foods I once loved, I just say "not today" and move on.

I kept a blog about my efforts (with recipe ideas and such)...I still write in it, but not as frequently...feel free to take a look:

http://JaneDohAndMore.blogspot.com

Good luck, eat and be well!

Jane Doh!

Stabilization...Day 97

Alas, I've still not broken into a new "decade" yet...in fact, I'm up a pound or so from my lowest...34.2 lbs. lost (was down an additional 1.5 lbs. about ten days ago...of course, haven't been as militant as usual, but I digress).

Not eating bad stuff per se...just eating a smidge more than my allotted 1400 calories a day. Sadly, for me, it doesn't take much.

Which got me to thinking...how come when losing weight, pundits always spout, "You didn't gain the weight overnight, why should you think you should lose it overnight?"

Well, I can tell you...you do gain it overnight! One stinkin' slightly larger portion of low fat meatloaf/broiled chicken, etc., and I'm up a 1/4 pound the next day. And when I get right back on the diet bandwagon, it takes a good 2-3 days to lose that 1/4 pound...what is up wit dat?

Arrggghh...getting old sucks, Crash.

It's Friday...woo-hoo!

Eat and be well,

Jane Doh!

Stabilization...Day 90

Down another .2...soon to break into a whole new "decade" with my weight. Very exciting...I haven't been in the 50s in over 10 years!

To recap, I recently did one round (sublingually) of the hormone HCG (Oct to mid-Nov, 2009), dropping 25.3 lbs. & 36” overall (7” off my waist alone)...now, almost three months later and eating a 1400 calorie diet, coupled with moderate exercise (at least 10,000 steps a day), I’m down a total of 35.9 lbs. & 47” overall (9” at the waist).

I think the naysayers of this miss the whole point of the HCG protocol...it’s hard, but it’s for a finite amount of time (no more than 43 days) and it’s about resetting your relationship with food/booze, etc.

I had friends laying bets I’d never last...but with the results I saw each day...and continue to see, I can not complain. And, truth be told, I have changed...my alcohol consumption is considerably less (still like to toast a glass of bubbly (sometimes 1/2 bottle) with my honey)...but red and white wine are out.

I’m not saying forever, but, quite frankly, neither tastes that good to me anymore. Champagne is still yummy, but again, a little bit goes a long way! Also, I’ve completely cut out the “whites” (potatoes, pasta, rice, bread, etc.) and with the exception of 1 or 2 peanut M&Ms as an occasional treat (and, yes, I’m content with just one or two), no sugars, either. Certainly no cakes, cookies, candy, etc.

I track every calorie I eat (peanut M&M: 10.3 calories); exceed one gallon of water consumed each day; and weigh-in every morning.

Have successfully worked in a nice variety of what I consider my “new” idea of a treat: all natural peanut butter (1 tbl. w/granny smith apple (96 & 95 cals, respectively)), tiny box of raisins (45 cals), 5 dried apricot halves (110 cals), 10 pistachios (40 cals), 5 macademia nuts pcs. (35 cals) , etc...so I don’t feel deprived.

Anyway...I feel great...have kept the initial weight off and continue to lose...and I've had no side effects to speak of...okay, I was having some issues with my hands cramping if I picked up something heavy. And considering the woeful amount of potassium I consumed during the 43-day protocol...I'm not surprised. But now I take magnesium each day (along with a couple of fish oils and a multivitamin) and I've not had the problem since.

My take? If you are serious about making a life change, try this. Make no mistake, it's hard...but not impossible.

Eat and be well,

Jane Doh!

Stabilization...Day 88

Hunkering down for a Nor'easter here in the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts. Happily, we on the Northshore should dodge a snowy bullet, but alas, it is never over until the fat lady sings...and that would have been me, but given my extraordinary weight loss...well, that is up for debate!

Whipped up a leftover veggie-chicken-cheesy delight last night. Need to tweak original recipe (give it a lower-cal, protein-packed Jane Doh! punch), but will post when perfected.

A plateful of this sin weighs in at only 150 calories per 1/2 cup serving. Me. Likey.

Eat and be well,

Jane Doh!