R3P2D10 -.4 (-9.6 total)

Still shy of that magic first 10...oh well. Still focused and feeling great about this round.

I can not get over the difference eating clean and drinking gobs of water makes in relation to my hair, nails, skin...even sleep. Yes, this from the Ambien queen. Not to mention, dressing is a joy again...even with just 9.2lbs gone. Makes. A. Big. Difference.

Also, I noticed my focus is a bit better. Almost a case of "Look like a sloth? Feel like a sloth." "Look like a Goddess? Rule the world." Just sayin'.

Enjoying my Chicken Cacciatore with a 1cup shredded cabbage (sorta like spaghetti) for lunch today. I add it and a little extra water when I'm reheating my serving on the stove top. Key to do it there and not in the microwave...gets too mushy. The dish is quite good...I'll even eat it post-P2. The recipe is below.

Chicken Cacciatore (P2)
• Makes 6-1 cup servings (130 cals)

14oz Chicken breast, raw and trimmed of all visible fat
2 med. sized onions, chopped
Splash Red Wine vinegar
4-5 cloves garlic, minced
3 tsp. Italian Seasoning, separated (Morton & Bassett makes a great hCG friendly blend)
1 28oz can Whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hand (Red Pack is a good brand)
1 tbl. tomato paste (again, check label for no added sugar, etc.)
1/2 tsp. granulated garlic
1/2 tsp. granulated onion
Salt & pepper
Optional: pinch crushed red pepper flakes

Bring 2 cups water and 1 tsp Italian Seasoning to a boil. Add chicken breasts and simmer 10-15 minutes until done. Let cool, then shred to bite size pieces.

Bring 3 tbl. water to simmer, add chopped onions, 1 tsp Italian Seasoning, vinegar and pinch of salt. Cook until translucent, about 5 mins. Add garlic. Cook 1 minute.

Pour in hand-crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, 1 tsp Italian Seasoning, garlic and onion powder (optional: pinch of crushed red pepper flakes). Simmer for approximately 10 minutes, allowing flavors to meld. Add shredded chicken, salt & pepper to taste. Cook 5 minutes more.

Let cool and transfer to 1-cup plastic containers. Freezes well.

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Eat and be well,

Jane Doh!

R3P2D9 -.4 (-9.2 total)

Another day, another loss.

Very pleased with this round. I'm focused and just feel better...already. Particularly in relation to my hair and skin. I'm sure that's the increased water intake. I'd been slacking for awhile. I trained my body to expect it for the past two years, then...BAM!...I start easing up and simultaneously drying up! YIKES.

Made 6 servings of Chicken Cacciatore...I'll post the recipe tomorrow. Need to still get some work done. Sooooo....

Eat and be well,

Jane Doh!

R3P2D8 -2.2 (-8.8/-5" total)

It is a sad sign on the times when a diva needs to dye the hair on her head and bleach the hair over her lip! Ugh...getting old is not for sissies.

But hCG is...I'm loving this round. Feel great. Dropping "Pounds & Inches," a mere one week in. All. Good!

Been working and out of the house a lot...so eating on protocol, but also on-the-run. Today I'll be in Boston for a meeting most of the day. I've already packed 3.5oz lobster and a baggie of celery stix and radishes, plus I'll bring an apple. That should hold me until the evening's repast. It's all about preparation.

About the "mixing" of veg...purists will say, "You can't do that!" But, I'm still happy with my losses, so to heck with it. Not to mention, I don't do it EVERY meal, so there.

Need to also work in a run to the grocery store...low on fruit and veg. Otherwise, pretty well equipped to face week two of Round 3.

Eat and be well,

Jane Doh!

R3P2D6 -1.5 (-6.6 total)

Never did get to the blog yesterday...down 1.5lbs over the last two days. I'm pleased.

Of course, my honey has lost the same...and he is not near as diligent as I am, nor is he taking hCG...arrrggghhh, men and weight loss, the bane of being a woman. But then it's not all bad...my sweetie wants to go for lobsters today, a perfect P2 nosh. Count. Me. In.

Still trying to get back into the ACV with water habit...doesn't taste as good as I remember. I'm thinking another week of staying on protocol should completely cleanse my system of all the less-than-desirable tastes I re-acquired in the last year or so. I'll give it a shot then.

Also, I'm not sleeping well...even after taking 5mg of Ambien last night. Not only are both not getting zzz's and the Ambien not good for me, but I know a lack of adequate sleep in general is not good for the diet. Water and sleep appear to be key to stellar results, ya know? Again, I'll give it another week or so and see where we are. I vaguely recall this occurring at the start of my first round back in 2009. I had so much energy, I just didn't know quite what to do with it! At least I'm not cranky like I was with the night sweats and hot flashes (hence why I started HRT and am now doing a third round to permanently lose these same 8lbs I keep gaining...over and over again).

Not sure I mentioned it, but hoping to drop 15-20lbs total this round. I've decided I want/need a "comfort" buffer. Hovering +/-2lbs of my goal weight is waaaaaayyyyy too stressful. I'd like to be 5lbs below...then focus on the +/- of that figure...always 3lbs below my goal...make sense? Well, in my addled little brain it does, so there! SMILE.

Eat and be well,

Jane Doh!

R3P2D4 -1.0 (-5.1 total)

Loving this. Feels good to be cleaning out the proverbial system, as well as dropping these lingering lbs.

St. Patty's Day is this Saturday...alas, no boiled dinner for me. Disappointing, I know, but beauty and fab-me-lous-ness has it's price. Besides, I want to look smokin' hot in my sweet new party dress for Sam & Dan's beach wedding at the end of June. A lovely, form fitting number that my current extra 8lbs. makes look dumpy...and Princess. Can. Not. Have. That!

Made a tasty Beef Chili today for lunch (plus one more serving for another day).

1 medium sized onion, chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
7oz 95% Hamburger
2 Cups whole peeled tomatoes (Red Pack is a good brand)
Salt & pepper to taste
2 tsp CMTaco Blend (see below)

Heat (med/high) two tbl. water in sauce pan. Add onion, salt, pepper and 1 tsp CMTaco Blend. Cook until soft, about 4-5 mins. Push onions to side and place garlic. Heat 1 minute, being careful not to burn. Mix all together.

Push onions/garlic to side. Add meat, breaking up with spoon. Cook until no longer pink.

Add tomatoes and 1 tsp. CMTaco Blend.

Lower heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.

Makes 3 cups. 1 1/2 cups per serving.

CMTaco Blend
3 tbl. chili powder
2 tbl. cayenne powder
1 tbl. cumin
2 tsp. granulated onion powder
1 tsp. granulated garlic powder
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. white or black pepper
1 tsp. dried cilantro
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

Mix together and store in air-tight jar.

Yummy...my friends couldn't believe this chili was so diet friendly (about 260 cals per serving). Even lower cals (230) if made with boiled, shredded chicken (boil 7oz chicken in water mixed with 1 more tsp of the CMTaco Blend, about 10 mins.).

Okay...back to work and drinking lots of water. I'm double fisted at the moment...24oz H2O on my left; 8oz Chai Black Tea (Stash brand) on my right.

Eat and be well,

Jane Doh!

R3P2D3 -3.1 (-4.1 total)

Nice loss this morning...very pleased.

Made a really yummy Chicken Chili for dinner last night.

Boil 7oz (for two servings) of trimmed chix in water, 1 tsp chili powder, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, splash of apple cider vinegar for about 10-12 minutes. Remove from liquid, cool, then shred.

Discard chicken liquid from pan.

Mix 1/2 can no-sugar added whole plum tomatoes (Red Pack is a good brand; store remaining tomatoes in glass jar for future use), 1/2 cup water, 1 tsp chili powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 3 cloves garlic (minced), salt & pepper to taste and a splash of apple cider vinegar. Cook down slowly, breaking up tomatoes with wooden spoon.

Add cooked, shredded chicken and heat through. Store 1/2 for another meal; enjoy remaining with a melba toast or 1/2 fresh chopped tomato on top.

Absolutely delicious and satisfying. Even my husband liked it...and he's a tough critic.

Had a few hunger pains overnight, but mainly because the storms passing through kept waking me...thunder, lightning and hail...in March! Really, Mother Nature? Here's hoping sleep does not elude me this evening...I'm truly exhausted.

Must get back to work!

Eat and be well,

Jane Doh!

R3P2D2 -1.0

Not much, but I'll take it. Not surprised...I barely got all my water in. Today, however, that is a different story.

Had a great lunch: chilled shrimp, chopped lettuce and cucumber with a raspberry vinegar mustard dressing. Quite lovely...dessert was a melba toast, natch. Looking forward to this afternoon's broiled 1/2 grapefruit with cinnamon...juciy and delish.

Must get to work.

Eat and be well,

Jane Doh!