Monica's R4P2 Day 17 - Nakia's first P3 day

Monica - R4P2 Day 17
R4 Starting weight: 170.6
Yesterday: 159.6
Today: 159.2 -.4
R4 Total -11.4 6.7%

Nakia - R3P2 last VLCD
R3 Starting weight: 247.3
LIW 3/17/2009: 225.9
Yesterday: 224.0
Today: 222.0 -2.0
3.9 Below LIW

Yesterday's menu (Monica):
L: catfish creole & 1 grissini
S: TJs chunky applesauce
D: mustard chicken & cabbage
S: strawberry sorbet
Lots of tea & water

Yesterday's menu (Nakia)
B: TJs chunky applesauce
L: chicken & cabbage
D: 7% fat ground beef chili
water & 4C Totally Lite 2 Go

Nakia is starting his P3 out with a great head start! He's almost 4 lbs below his LIW already! I want what he's having... oh... I'm on what he's having... LOL. He's probably going to lose a little more too because he has decided to continue eating the same food I'm cooking for myself, but in larger quantities and mixing veggies. That worried me on his last round because Dr S warns about going more than 2 lbs under LIW, but what the hell... I feel weird about making him eat when he's not hungry.

I looked over our detailed stats for our previous rounds and this is our best round so far. We've both lost more in the same amount of days than we ever have. I know it's due to going back to basics. I don't need to experiment as much. I know what I like and what works for me & I just stick to that. I have absolutely no cravings & I don't feel deprived this time. On my last round I said it was the most stress free, but I have to say that this round is even easier. I have NEVER gone this long without eating something off plan & I think it's showing in my average losses. I haven't even needed to prepare any P2 desserts to appease some craving for chocolate... I just haven't had any... even during TOM! That's amazing to me. My goal for this round is 151, but I may be able to surpass that in 23 more days (Apr 11th).

I just joined a new gym and they offer a 6 week group training session that starts on April 28th. I'll be 15 days into P3 by then. It involves long distance running, which is something I used to do in highschool many moons ago. I know from experience that running is the best way to burn calories (besides hcg of course), & I want to get into the routine of doing it regularly. I think starting out with a group will give me the catalyst I need to get started.

Amie - oooh a bikini! Do we get to see pictures? I'm gonna post some of myself real soon... maybe over on HTA... not in a bikini though, at least not yet, but I just may be bikini ready by the time we go to Punta Cana.

Biz - I wish I knew how that happened cus I would make it happen every day! RE Truvia... you tried TOFU again! Of course you can give Truvia a try! LOL

Dawn - Thank you so much. It does feel good to see it so close. I've actually been closer than this before, but this time feels much different.

Angel - 1 lb days are hard for me to come by this late into P2 so I get so excited when I see them. Inspiration... that is why we're all here for each other. I get just as much inspiration from you as you probably get from me so just keep going. I can't wait to see you reach your goal.

WOO HOO! Love those 1 lbs days!

Monica - R4P2 Day 16
R4 Starting weight: 170.6
Yesterday: 160.6
Today: 159.6 -1.0
R4 Total -11 6.5%

Nakia - R3P2 last VLCD
R3 Starting weight: 247.3
LIW 3/17/2009: 225.9
Yesterday: 225.0
Today: 224.0 -1.0
1.9 Below LIW

Yesterday's menu (Monica):
B: 1/2 apple
L: catfish creole & 1 grissini
S: 1/2 apple
D: mustard chicken & cabbage
S: small mandarin orange
Lots of tea & water

Yesterday's menu (Nakia)
B: 1 apple
L: chicken
D: grilled steak and cabbage
water & 4C Totally Lite 2 Go

WOO HOO! 1 lb down! I had a feeling I was going to have a good loss today because I had a burst of energy last night. Whenever that happens I have a good loss the next day. After dinner I made a big batch of cabbage & 4 servings of chili with 7% fat ground beef and canned tomatoes with no salt added. I used to be able to find 4% fat ground beef, but the stores stopped carrying it after the price of meat started rising. I was just buzzing around doing stuff all evening & I woke up with more energy than normal this morning about an hour before I normally get up.... that was strange. So... I'm in the 150s again. I should be back down to my last round's LIW pretty soon now. I have 4.9 lbs to go & 22 days left... That'll be no problem. Anything after that is gravy!

Today is Nakia's last VLCD day. He has done really well this round.... losing 21.4 lbs in 21 days! He's lost over 30 lbs in all 3 of his rounds. He looks great & I'm so proud of him. He is really excited to get back into the gym and start lifting weights seriously on monday. His goal is still 215, but he plans to lose the next 10 lbs in the gym.

Biz - Yup... I couldn't do stevia either. I tried sweetleaf before & hated it, but that's why it's good to go through the protocol with someone new sometimes. My co-worker that just finished her first round of P2 gave me a few packets to try in my tea one day and I was VERY surprised. I think you will be too. My taste buds haven't changed either... I still don't like sweetleaf.
Nakia says "What's up F'er!!" LOL

False alarm.. Nakia's LIW was yesterday

Monica - R4P2 Day 16
R4 Starting weight: 170.6
Yesterday: 161.1
Today: 160.6 -.5
R4 Total -10 5.9%

Nakia - R3P2 VLCD 1
R3 Starting weight: 247.3
Yesterday: 225.9 LIW
Today: 225.0 -.9
R3 Total 22.3 9%

Yesterday's menu (Monica):
B: 1/2 apple with cinnamon & splenda
L: chicken, broccoli, grissini & 1/2 apple with cinnamon & splenda
S: 1 homemade strawberry ice pop (10 cals)
D: steamed lobster tail & broccoli, 1 melba toast with TJs strawberry spread
S: small homemade strawberry sorbet
Lots of tea & water

Yesterday's menu (Nakia)
B: TJs chunky applesauce
L: pot roast & string beans
D: steamed lobster tail & broccoli
water & 4C Totally Lite 2 Go

Oh well... false start. When I reminded Nakia that he would have to do 72 hours of VLCD after his last injection he decided to make yesterday his last day because he wants to go to his favorite watering hole on Friday after work... you guessed it... bonefish grille. He has told me that he still wants to eat the same food I've been making on P2, but he'll add more protein. I think he should add some healthy fats too, but he's a little afraid to do that. I'm gonna sneak some olive oil into his food tho... tee hee hee. Oh well, I've still got my friend from work and my neighbor to finish out this round with me.

BTW, My co-worker just joined HTA today. Her screen name is Supasweet. We're going to the Dominican Repulic together in June so we're trying to get our rounds done WAY before then so we can stabilize. I've had trouble with traveling while in the stabilization phase and it never works out for me.

So I finally had a decent loss! I was so happy to see that 1-6-0 something this morning. Now on to the 150s. I think I may have been over thinking my losses so far. After looking over my previous rounds, I am actually doing better than my last P2 by percentages & about on pace with my first P2 which was my best one. I've also gotten this far and haven't eaten anything off protocol once, besides my additions of broccoli, string beans & half & half. I used to get crazy cravings in the evenings that seemed to take over until I just HAD to have whatever it was that I was craving. Peanut butter, chocolate & nuts were my drugs of choice. That just doesn't happen anymore. There is definitely a change in me... now I hope this carries over into my non-hcg life.

Biz - Only the granulated box of splenda measures like sugar. The stuff in the packets concentrated so 1 packet is as sweet as 2 tsp of sugar. I did just find out, through a search that splenda actually has calories. LOOK HERE There are 4 calories in each packet! I had no idea. I've been putting that stuff in my tea like crazy! I'm not going to completely eliminate it, but I'm going start to transition to truvia brand stevia. It tastes much better than other stevias and I think it's better for the body than S&L.

It's nice to have company

Monica - R4P2 Day 15
R4 Starting weight: 170.6
Yesterday: 161.3
Today: 161.1 -.2
R4 Total -9.7 5.7%

Nakia - R3P2 Day 21
R3 Starting weight: 247.3
Yesterday: 226.8
Today: 225.9 -.9
R3 Total 21.4 8.7%

Yesterday's menu (Monica):
B: strawberries
L: pot roast & broccoli
S: 1 homemade strawberry ice pop
D: lemon pepper orange roughy & spinach
Lots of tea, water, & 4C Totally Lite 2 Go

Yesterday's menu (Nakia)
B: TJs chunky applesauce
L: pot roast & string beans
D: chicken & string beans
water & 4C Totally Lite 2 Go

I had to correct yesterday's weight. Nakia only gained .6 not .9... he had an excellent loss today so he's happy about that. This would have been his LIW but he's decided to go until friday. That's unheard of for him. Going past 21 days?! Who IS this guy?!

I will be doing a 40 day round so I've got about 3 weeks to go after he's done. My co-worker is going to start her 2nd round of P2 on friday so I'll still have her and my next door neighbor with me on P2. It's nice to have company. My co-worker wanted to lose 25 lbs total and she lost 14 on her first 21 day round & she's ready to get rid of the last 11 lbs. She had no problem with P3 with absolutely no help from me. I think that's because she just put on her weight over the last year and caught it early. Her body is very comfortable at this weight so it wasn't hard for her to maintain... plus she was already in the habit of healthy eating. Her favorite snack is guacamole and baked tortilla chips... not too shabby.

Biz - I guess... I didn't really look up that particular ingredient, but it's definately off. Some experiments work and some don't & we just move on. I am going to examine my use of splenda though. I personally have been using more of it than I used too & my losses have been very low this week. It's still been going down so I'm not sure if I should change something or not... I guess I could go 2 days without splenda and see what happens, but it looks like Nakia is back to normal today.

Angel - Well, we both had a loss today. That's a very good thing. I just really want to get back into the 150s and it sure is taking it's time.

Two gains? It happens.

Monica - R4P2 Day 14
R4 Starting weight: 170.6
Yesterday: 161.1
Today: 161.3 +.2
R4 Total -9.5 5.6%

Nakia - R3P2 Day 20
R3 Starting weight: 247.3
Yesterday: 226.2
Today: 226.8 +.6
R3 Total 20.5 8.3%

Yesterday's menu (Monica):
B: warm apples with cinnamon, splenda & lemon juice. coffee with half & half
L: 2 egg & 2 egg whites scrambled over spinach
S: 2 homemade strawberry ice pops
D: broiled crab stuffed tomato slices
(crab stuffing: grissini soaked in milk, minced onion, minced garlic, cayenne, paprika, homemade old bay)
Lots of tea, water, & 4C Totally Lite 2 Go

Yesterday's menu (Nakia)
B: warm apples with cinnamon, splenda & lemon juice. coffee with half & half
L: chili
D: broiled crab stuffed tomato slices
(crab stuffing: grissini soaked in half & half, minced onion, minced garlic, cayenne, paprika, homemade old bay)
S: 1 whole fruit brand strawberry ice pop
water & 4C Totally Lite 2 Go

Ok... I don't know where Nakia's gain came from. The only thing he ate that was out of the ordinary was some half & half in the crab cake (He's never had any milk on P2) & the store bought fruit bar. The ingredients looked fine to me though. Here they are:
WATER, STRAWBERRIES, SORBITOL, MALTODEXTRIN, NATURAL FLAVOR, GUAR GUM AND CARRAGEENAN, RED BEET JUICE CONCENTRATE, CITRIC ACID, SUCRALOSE, AND ANNATO (FOR COLOR)
Well, I think his body didn't like something that was in the fruit bars so we're going to nix them until P3 & he'll just eat the one's I make from now on.

I had a gain too, but since it's only .2 I'm not gonna sweat it because Dr. S says not to. I did end up having 1/2 tablespoon of extra half & half because of what I put in the crab stuffing, but I didn't eat my 3rd egg white so I see it as a trade off. I'm pretty sure I'm retaining water right now because a few of my muscles are sore from my light workouts over the past few days. I'm not worried about it one bit.

Angel - I will certainly check out your other blog & hey, you should have your significant other check out Ed & Jenn's blog. They're not blogging right now, but Ed started at around 280 and he lost almost 70 lbs I think. They're link is on the right side of my blog.

Biz - Woo Hoo! So today should be on your first VLCD today. Let's do this thing together lady!

My husband is a loser again!

Monica - R4P2 Day 13
R4 Starting weight: 170.6
Yesterday: 161.3
Today: 161.1-.2
R4 Total -9.7 5.7%

Nakia - R3P2 Day 19
R3 Starting weight: 247.3
Yesterday: 227.5
Today: 226.2 -1.3
R3 Total 21.1 8.5%

Yesterday's menu (Monica):
B: 2 homemade strawberry ice pops
L: teriyaki beef and cabbage w 1 melba toast with TJs strawberry spread
D: crab cakes with string beans
Lots of tea, water, & 4C Totally Lite 2 Go

Yesterday's menu (Nakia)
B: TJs chunky applesauce
L: teriyaki beef and cabbage w 1 melba toast with TJs strawberry spread
D: crab cakes with string beans
S: homemade lemon ice pop
water & 4C Totally Lite 2 Go

Yup... Nakia's back on the losing train. Cool.... he was belly aching about gaining and I gave him a big "WHATEVA!" lol. Just kidding... So, he has sworn off of going to bonefish (his favorite spot for drinks) until P3 cus he lost 2 days over it. Hey, we all have to learn & some of us learn the hard way.

As for me, I'm steadily going down... slowly, but down nontheless.

Amie - Yup... he has bounced right out of it & he's definately losing inches. He already looked pretty young for his age, but now it just looks like I'm TOTALLY robbing the cradle here! He has lost alot in his face & none of his slacks fit.

Biz - LOL... that sugar free dressing is left over from when he freaked out on his last P2 and I was looking for stuff that seemed pretty safe. He actually does ok eating it so I just let him continue.... I'm not touching the stuff though! I meant to mention that in my post yesterday. Thanks for reminding me.

Angel - It's so nice to see my sister in locs drop by! Yup... I have locs too. I got them started in September of last year. I had natural hair in braids until then. Thanks for your words of encouragement. It means alot to us.

Workin out on my Wii Fit

Monica - R4P2 Day 12
R4 Starting weight: 170.6
Yesterday: 161.7
Today: 161.3 -.4
R4 Total -9.5 5.6%

Nakia - R3P2 Day 18
R3 Starting weight: 247.3
Yesterday: 227
Today: 227.5 +.5
R3 Total 19.8 8%

Yesterday's menu (Monica):
B: TJs Chunky applesauce
L: chicken & broccoli, 1 grissini
D: lemon pepper orange roughy & steamed garlic spinach
frozen mocha: 1 C coffee, 1 T half & half, 1 T cocoa powder, splena, & ice
Lots of tea, water, & 4C Totally Lite 2 Go

Yesterday's menu (Nakia)
B: TJs chunky applesauce
S: chicken w/ mustard
L: romaine lettuce salad with sugar free raspberry dressing (use at your own risk)
D: chili
water, & 4C Totally Lite 2 Go

Hmmm.... another .5 gain for nakia. I hope he has a loss tomorrow. I think he will.

I'm just coasting right now. I did 45 minutes on my Wii Fit this morning & broke some of my records in yoga & aerobics. WOO HOO! I just didn't feel like getting stuff together to go to the gym. The Wii gives me a nice light workout... although that hula hoop thing doesn't seem very light.

I took some measurements too:

	Day 1	Day 12	CHANGE
NECK	14.5	14	-0.50
BUST	39.5	37	-2.50
UNDER BUST	35	34	-1.00
WAIST	36	34	-2.00
HIPS	39	38	-1.00
THIGH	23	22.5	-0.50
KNEE	14.5	14.5	0
CALF	15	15	0
BICEP	13	13	0
INCHES LOST			-7.50

I'm really liking the change in my waist.On to another day of VLCD!

Amie - I read the same thing myself! But you know what... it really IS great to have someone with you that's supportive and totally on board. I'm so glad you have that now too Amie. oooh... and it looks like we will all meet in Vegas in July! I can't wait! Nakia took me to vegas for my birthday in february. This'll be the first time we've ever gone twice in one year & it'll be tough for us to go right after our DR trip, but we just have to be there. I can't miss this!

Biz - Hey sunshine! Isn't that amazin! Remember he had such a hard time last round. I nearly jumped out of my chair when he decided to start all of a sudden. I think he had a moment.... you know that moment. LOL. I'm proud of him too. It's so nice to be back in the swing of things though. Thanks for checkin on us :)

Angel - HI! Thanks for stopping by. We really are a great team & I'm so happy for his weight loss. He does work hard for it. I know how hard this is for him so I just try to be as supportive as I can.