Yes, I'm still here... I'll try to catch you up.

This is an atypical update, but I felt that I couldn't let any more time pass without posting something since it looks like I dropped off the edge of the earth.  I apologize for neglecting you, and for not having a list of my weigh-ins for the missed days.  I will try to get that done in the next update if I can.

I didn't keep detailed food diaries but I tried to weigh most days.  I will try my best to list everything I can right now relying on my feeble memory.  Sorry for the sketchiness, but it's the best I can do right now.  More on the reason for that later...

Thanksgiving update:  I didn't do too well and didn't follow my own advice.  I didn't eat much at Thanksgiving Lunch #1, but didn't load up on the raw veggies, either.  The best I did was some fresh blueberries, raspberries and strawberries brought by my sweet cousin, but I ate some of the starchy veggies too.  I tried to get the water and the ACV in, but I didn't drink nearly enough.  At Thanksgiving Lunch #2 (yes, we went to both sides of the family) I let myself get hungry and ate starches.  Not my mammoth serving sizes of the past, but definitely more than my teaspoonful "tastes."  Then, the cardinal sin -- I visited the dessert table.  Once I ate the starches I had this "What the Hell... It's Thanksgiving" kind of attitude and dived in.  Big mistake.  Along with my coffee, I ate no sugar added pumpkin pie and then chased it with a generous slice of lots of sugar added carrot cake. :(  Woke up to a significant gain that put me over my LIW+2 lb window.

Friday: I was a cleaning maniac, fueled by guilt from the scale climbing and the fact that I couldn't bear putting up my Christmas Tree/Decorations in my filthy dirty house.  Scrubbed floors, washed windows, dusted everything in sight, cleaned out the fridge...  I didn't eat much until afternoon and tried to stick to the "tried and true" eggs, cheese, and nuts.  Let myself get over-hungry and probably overdid it late in the day, but at least stuck to "legal" foods.  I felt better with the straightened up house, and I was proud that I stuck to "legal" foods, although it wouldn't really qualify as an official "steak" day.

Saturday:  Woke up to a small loss, but still outside the LIW+2lb window.  Continued with "Operation Clean," but also started experimenting with some Almond Flour creations from my new cookbook The Almond Flour Gluten Flour Cookbook by Elena Amsterdam.  After the Thanksgiving debacle, I wanted to try to make some creations that might pass for holiday hors d'ouvres and goodies. I was also hopeful that my family would also enjoy the goodies.  I ordered the ingredients from Amazon (be prepared to drop a pretty penny on that stuff -- Almond Flour costs as much as powdered gold) and decided to try to make the Cheese Crackers and the Spicy Crackers.  They turned out pretty good, and even the family liked them.  Next, I wanted to try the Sandwich Bread, but I didn't have all the ingredients.  Unfortunately, I did have the ingredients to make the Pecan Raisin Bread, and decided to give that a whirl.  It turned out very nicely, and although it didn't have any added sweetener (Elena uses Agave Nectar most of the time for that purpose) it DID have raisins, which certainly aren't Phase 3 friendly.  This was a treat, especially with the Organic Cream Cheese I spread on it.  I probably ended up scarfing down three slices.  Ugh.  Then, I completely blew it that evening.  It was the Georgia vs. Georgia Tech football game and we had some good friends over.  The snacks were easy for me to avoid (I was full of Pecan Raisin bread, remember???) but we had (gasp) Mulled Wine.  I was so chilly and it smelled so good that I had to try it.  Then, I had to have another mug.  And then, I had another mug.  It was pretty much like injecting straight sugar directly into my veins.  Worst mistake yet:  woke up to 1.3 lb gain. :(  Now I am WAY over my window and solidly in the lower 150's. :(

Sunday-Tuesday:  Did the best I could with the eggs/nuts/cheese combo, although the cost of the organic, raw cheese and nuts was becoming cost-prohibitive with me living off of them.  So, not all the nuts and cheese were organic and raw.  Hitting the ACV and Yogi Peach Detox Tea hard... Weight crept down in very small increments, but no where close to taking off what I gained.

Wednesday:  Who shows up a FULL THIRTEEN DAYS EARLY??? You guessed it, there is TOM on my doorstep, grinning evilly. Had a small gain to add insult to injury.  Not a happy day.  Still tried to stick to the egg/nuts/cheese combo, but I'm starting to worry that I need to start throwing in some different foods.  I'm hoping against hope that my cholesterol/triglycerides are not going through the roof.

Thursday (today):  I wake up to an even bigger gain.  Can't remember exactly -- 0.7 lbs maybe?  Now I'm creeping ever so close to crossing from the "Normal" range back into the "Overweight" range on my Wii. Damn you TOM, sugars, starches, and my fragile willpower!  This is really getting me down and I'm starting to worry that I have really screwed up my Phase 3 and the gains are going to continue.  I was playing with fire eating the starches and sugars, and I sure don't seem to be successfully resetting my hypothalamus.  During Round 1, I was exceptionally good during Phase 3, and it paid off nicely for me during Phase 4.  I'm afraid that the rest of this round is going to be quite rocky, especially with all the Christmas opportunities to cheat and my numerous screw ups during this Phase 3.

So, I resolved to try to do a simulated steak day, even though I am probably too late.  Remember that Dr. Simeons is very specific that you do the steak day IMMEDIATELY when you go more than 2lbs over your LIW.  So, I get my day going and headed out the door to take my two puppies to be groomed.  Carried them outside for one last bathroom trip, and in my haste I bent over at the waist to set them on the ground.  Considering that I have a history of throwing my back out and the puppies are pushing about 15 lbs each, this was a huge mistake.  When I got them about 5 inches off the ground, POW!  Out goes my back.  Agony ensues, and since I was home alone I laid against my car in the garage for about an hour unable to move.  I finally was able to hobble inside and take some pain meds, and was able to make it until a family member could come provide aid.  So -- here I am.  Hopped up on pain meds and nothing to do but sit and type.  I've eaten mostly Ezekiel bread and cheese (needed something easy) to try to buffer my stomach from all the meds, so I'm sure that isn't going to help with the scale.  But, I'm just going to do what I have to do, and hope for the best.

Hopefully by tomorrow I'll be able to move around a little more and can record all the weights I missed off my Wii graph.  And, I'll work on having a more positive outlook.  Time for some more drugs... Night All.

Turkey Day minus one!

Start Weight at beginning of Round 2: 168 lbs
Weight After Loading for Round 2:    171.7 lbs
Last Injection Weight (LIW):   147.9 lbs

Total weight lost for Round 2:  23.8 lbs
R2P3D11: 149.0 lbs (LIW + 1.1 lbs)

As you might surmise, I am probably not going to be able to post every single day.  My days are getting very hectic, and that will continue through the holidays I am sure.  I will do the best that I can though -- I promise!  I'm still hanging pretty rock steady, even with eating a few starches and the occasional sugar here and there.  (Yes, I know I'm not supposed to do that yet! ;-)  My diet is still centered around eggs, nuts, and cheese, however.

On to the menu:

8a:  20oz water, lemon, Lemon Drop Stevia

9-11a:  Coffee, Hazelnut Stevia, Organic Skim Milk

3p:  Few slices of Smoked Gouda

3-5p:  40oz water, lemon, Lemon Drop Stevia, ACV

5p:  3 Organic Eggs topped with Smoked Gouda

5:30p:  Organic, raw almonds and cashews

6:30p:  Yogi Peach Detox Tea

8p:  20oz water, lemon, Lemon Drop Stevia, ACV

Can you tell that I made it to the store and picked up some smoked gouda?  LOL!  I love that stuff! :D

So, are you ready for the big day tomorrow???  Here's some last minute tips:

(1)  Drink a couple of big glasses of water BEFORE your Thanksgiving meal, preferably with some ACV if you can stomach it.  The ACV will help to curb your appetite.  Then, sip water or decaf tea along with your meal.

(2)  Bring some raw, non-starchy veggies to the meal:  broccoli, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, and try to take up at least 1/4 of your plate with these.  They will give you some crunch and will be filling.

For Phase 3 folks:

(3)  If you have successfully introduced them already, bring some mixed tree nuts (preferably organic and raw) and some cubed/sliced cheese (again, preferably organic and raw) and snack on these before and during your meal.  They are very satisfying and go very nicely with the raw veggies.

(4)  This is SO not protocol, but it is my honest opinion:  give yourself a taste of some of those typical Thanksgiving foods if you so desire only IF (and this is a BIG IF) you know that you can control yourself. Just a taste -- a couple of teaspoons or so of each. But, try to make wise choices: sweet potato instead of white potato, broccoli casserole instead of mac n' cheese, spinach cranberry salad instead of potato salad, and avoid the stuffing and the rolls.

(5)  Avoid the dessert table if at all possible.  If you must, perhaps bring a "no sugar added" cheesecake or pie, and have a SLIVER.  Or go back to the salad area and grab some fruit.  And, sip some coffee and indulge in some cream.  Don't forget to bring your stevia with you.

(6)  Enjoy your time with your family and/or friends and remember to thank the Big Man Upstairs for all your blessings!

I wish everyone a safe, healthy and Happy Thanksgiving!  'Til next time -- later maintainers! :D

Oops! I didn't mean to leave you hanging!

Start Weight at beginning of Round 2: 168 lbs
Weight After Loading for Round 2:    171.7 lbs
Last Injection Weight (LIW):   147.9 lbs

Total weight lost for Round 2:  23.8 lbs
R2P3D9: 148.8 lbs (LIW + 0.9 lbs)

Sorry that I was gone for the entire weekend!  I was just running crazy from early 'til late both days, so I didn't even have time to weigh, much less blog.

The bad news:  I did not take my own advice about being prepared, and I was stuck in quite a few situations where I did not have Phase 3-compliant foods to eat.  In fact, I went to a family Thanksgiving feast on Sunday for lunch.  I'll admit, I ate starch.  I went through the line and took very small "tastes" (like a tablespoon or so) of each of the foods I wanted (fried okra, sweet potato souffle, and green beans to name a few).  By the time I was done, probably 3/4 of my plate was not Phase 3-compliant.  I also GREATLY neglected my water intake all weekend.  I probably only got in about 40oz of water each day, which is less than half what I usually drink.

The good news:  When I weighed this morning, I was only 0.2 lbs up. I guess that means that I am already starting to stabilize pretty well, and didn't eat anything over the weekend that I had a bad reaction to. This is wonderful news! I still don't advise that you do what I did, but if you have been on Phase 3 for a while and are stabilizing well, then you might be able to eat a few of your Thanksgiving favorites without getting burned. I will add that I stayed far away from the dessert table -- I didn't want to tempt fate that much! ;-)

On to the menu:

8a:       20oz water, lemon, and Lemon Drop Liquid Stevia

9-11a:  Coffee, hazelnut stevia, and organic half-n-half

12p:     Handful of mixed nuts

2:30p:  20oz water, lemon, Lemon Drop Stevia, ACV

3p:      Two organic eggs on one slice of toasted

           Ezekiel bread with mayo

The rest of my menu is sketchy.  I ate nuts several times

during the afternoon and evening.  Unfortunately, I was not

able to note the times I ate them.

Oh boy, I HAVE to get to the GROCERY STORE and start branching out my menu.  I am living on eggs, cheese and nuts.  I love them all, but I know that I've got to add in some more stuff.  Hopefully, I can do better tomorrow. 'Til then -- see ya!

Back up again...

Start Weight at beginning of Round 2: 168 lbs
Weight After Loading for Round 2:    171.7 lbs
Last Injection Weight (LIW):   147.9 lbs

Total weight lost for Round 2:  23.8 lbs
R2P3D6: 148.6 lbs (LIW + 0.7 lbs)

1.1 lbs back up... such is life in Phase 3.  I'm still well within my window, so I'm not going to sweat it.  Possibly the two slices of Ezekiel bread (read: starch) was pushing the envelope a bit yesterday. Also, I really fell off the wagon on my water intake yesterday, along with skipping the Detox Tea. I'll try to do better in the water department today. Also, I need to start varying my menu. I HAVE to find time to get to the grocery store today. It is a must. Lastly, I weighed more than a full hour earlier than I have the past few mornings. I'm not so sure that accounts for a whole pound, but it might account for some.

Menu time...

8a:        20oz water with Lemond Drop Stevia and ACV

9a-12p:  Half-caf coffee with Hazelnut Stevia and

             Organic Half-n-Half

1p:        Two organic eggs with raw, organic white

             cheddar cheese on one toasted slice of

             Ezekiel bread with mayo

6p:        Lighted salted and roasted NOT ORGANIC :(

             Mixed Nuts (Cashews, Almonds, Macadamia,

             and Pecans)

7-10p:   20oz water with Lemon Drop Stevia and ACV

Oh dear... that is a sad menu.  At least I'm getting in a little protein, but I sure need to do better on the veggies...  I guess it is obvious that I didn't make it to the grocery store, huh?  Well, it was a crazy day, so food was difficult to come by.  Tomorrow will be the same, so it's going to be tough to get the food in again.  But -- it will be a fun day and I'm really looking forward to it.

By the way... I now know the reason for the 1.1 lb gain. Guess who showed up on my doorstep today??? Yep, none other than Mr. TOM. Oh well, what can you do??? I won't obsess over any gains for the next few days because I'll know where they are coming from.

Well, I've got to get to bed because it is a big day tomorrow. I don't even know if I'll have an opportunity to blog, but I'll try! See ya later, alligators!

Stable Mabel ;-)

Start Weight at beginning of Round 2: 168 lbs
Weight After Loading for Round 2:    171.7 lbs
Last Injection Weight (LIW):   147.9 lbs

Total weight lost for Round 2:  23.8 lbs
R2P3D5: 147.5 lbs (LIW - 0.4 lbs)

Another 0.2 lbs down from yesterday...  I am so pleased with this.  It hopefully indicates that yesterday's drop was not a fluke.  If I can stabilize right around my LIW, then that would be so wonderful.  I can probably start to broaden my menu a bit now.  I am starting to relax a little now.

Menu time!

9a:        20oz water with lemon and Lemon Drop Stevia

9-11a:  Half-caf coffee with Hazelnut Stevia and

             Organic half-n-half

12p:     Two Organic Eggs with 1 oz Organic, Raw

             White Cheddar Cheese on 1 Slice Toasted

             Ezekiel Bread with Mayo

3p:        20oz water

3:30p:  Organic Baby Spring Mix, Diced Avocado,

             Pink Grapefruit sections, Toasted Organic

             Pine Nuts

6:15p:  Heel (thin) slice Ezekiel Bread spread with

             Organic, Raw Almond Butter

6:30p:  One Apple, 1oz Organic, Raw White Cheddar,

             Organic, Raw Almonds and Cashews

9:30p:  2oz Organic, Raw White Cheddar

             Organic, Raw Almonds and Cashews

Reflection on the menu:  Oh well, I didn't change things up much today, did I?  It was mostly because this was what I had on hand.  But now I've run out of a bunch of stuff so I will have to make a grocery store trip tomorrow.  'Til then -- later guys!  :D

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.......... what a ride!

Start Weight at beginning of Round 2: 168 lbs
Weight After Loading for Round 2:    171.7 lbs
Last Injection Weight (LIW):   147.9 lbs

Total weight lost for Round 2:  23.8 lbs
R2P3D4: 147.7 lbs (LIW - 0.2 lbs)

2.2 lbs of (most likely) water weight released!  Woo hoo!  Well, it appears that a high protein day with TONS of water works as well as a steak day, huh?  I was a bit worried that I had overdone it on the nuts. But on the other hand, I was hungry. When I was out and picked up that Smoked Gouda cheese from the grocery store yesterday evening, the hunger was overwhelming. And Dr. S says to eat until satisfied in Phase 3, and cautions about eating too little. I am relieved and somewhat surprised to be back under my LIW by a few ounces. It has really boosted my confidence and has allayed some of my fears about being able to stabilize within the LIW +/- 2 lb window. I would be very happy if I could stabilize right here.

Here's a list of what I was consciously doing to try to get down within my LIW +/- 2 lbs window:

- Eating mostly whole, organic, and when possible, raw, Phase 3-compliant foods

- Sticking with foods that I know don't cause me problems: eggs, nuts, cheese, cream

- Eating primarily high-protein foods all day

- Drinking at least 2-3 tablespoons of ACV a day diluted in water

- Drinking one Yogi Detox Tea a day

- Drinking a LOT of water -- 100+ ounces a day -- in addition to the decaf teas

- Eating whenever I was hungry

Here's a couple of things that just happened that may have contributed to my big loss this morning:

- My, er, uh, "plumbing" may have been a bit clogged, if you get my drift.  That seems to have improved greatly yesterday and today.  I'm thinking that may be due to all the water, the ACV, and/or the Detox Tea flushing out my system (pun intended :).

- I slept like a LOG last night.  I usually have to read or watch TV to lull myself to sleep, and last night come 10p or so I could not hold my eyes open.  It was like my body really needed sleep.  And I slept solidly for 8 hours, which I rarely do.  I believe that this may have contributed, too.  I don't know why that happened last night, but it did, and I am grateful!

Tip for the day:  During Phase 3, if you are going to be in a situation where you are out for 2+ hours, keep some raw, organic nuts in your car or desk or pocket/purse so that you do not get to a point where you are ravenous.  Having the HCG in your system during Phase 2 spoils you such that you could almost go all day with nothing to eat, so you kind of forget what it's like to be out somewhere and be assaulted by hunger pangs.  Don't let yourself feel the grip of intense hunger, because you are entering the danger zone then.  It is WAY too easy to grab something with sugar or starch when you are ravenous. DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN THAT SITUATION!  Try to squelch those temptations before they occur. Anticipate when they are probably going to happen and stay on top of it.

Speaking of temptations... Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching. Whether you are Phase 2 or Phase 3, you need to start planning NOW. Don't just try to wing it or you will be setting yourself up for failure. You need to have a plan. And another thing: Thanksgiving has been transformed into a time for food and football, but that is not the intended objective of this holiday. It is about giving thanks to God for all of our blessings, and my friends we have SO much for which to be thankful. We wouldn't be in the situation that we are in if we weren't blessed with an abundance of food to eat when there are so many who have no idea where their next meal is coming from. Change your focus from food to family and give thanks to God for everything he has given you.

On to the menu:

9a:        20oz water with lemon and Lemon Drop Liquid Stevia

9-11a:  Half-caf coffee sweetened with Hazelnut Stevia and

             Organic half-n-half (I still haven't located organic

             heavy whipping cream yet -- looking...)

10a:     Two Organic eggs with raw, organic cheddar cheese

12p:     20oz water with lemon, Lemon Drop Stevia and ACV

2p:       20oz water with lemon, Lemon Drop Stevia and ACV

3p:       Organic Baby Spring Mix, One diced Avocado, Pink

             Grapefruit slices, and Toasted Organic Pine Nuts

3p:       20oz water with lemon and Lemon Drop Liquid Stevia

4p:       Organic raw almonds and cashews

4:30p:  Yogi Peach Detox Tea

5p:       2oz organic, raw white cheddar cheese

6p:       Decaf Green Tea (leaving Detox tea bag in, too)

6:15p:  2oz organic, raw white cheddar cheese and

             organic, raw almonds and cashews

7:30p:  Organic raw almonds and cashews

9p:        20oz water with Lemon and Lemon Drop Liquid Stevia

Reflection on the menu:  I guess that this may look boring to some, but I didn't want to go crazy adding in new things too fast.  And, these things all taste REALLY good to me.  But on the flip side, I know that I need to switch things up and keep my body guessing, so I probably need to move on and try something else tomorrow.  'Til then -- later you guys!  :D

What a nail biter!

Start Weight at beginning of Round 2: 168 lbs
Weight After Loading for Round 2:    171.7 lbs

Last Injection Weight (LIW):   147.9 lbs

Total weight lost for Round 2:  23.8 lbs
R2P3D3: 149.9 lbs (LIW + 2 lbs)

Oh man...  I'm still right on the edge.  No change this morning... this is better than a gain, of course, but I was really hoping to have a few ounces at least of cushion.  Oh well, it is what it is.  I am comforted to not see the scale go up for the first time in five days.  Hopefully that means that I have a prayer of stabilizing in this area.  I will probably try to stick to a menu similar to yesterday, with one exception.  I have a busy morning today, so I may try to skip a meal or two.  Perhaps kind of a halfway steak day (minus the steak)???  I can usually keep my appetite at bay by sipping coffee during the morning and continuing to push the water.  In the afternoon, I will make sure that I get in plenty of protein and plenty of water/decaf tea.

I realize that this is off-protocol (since I'm not technically OVER the LIW+2 lb mark) but I want to take some action to stabilize IN THE 140's!!!  I know that it is all mental, but I just can't bear to creep back into the 150's.  I can see myself really working during the holidays to keep myself in the 140's.  It is a good incentive for me.

On to the menu:

8:30a:    20oz water with lemon (Oh Lemon Drop Stevia...

               I miss you!!!  Hopefully I can get some today!)

9-11a:    Sipping half-caf coffee with Hazelnut Stevia and

               Organic Half-N-Half

11a-1p:  Sipping 30oz water with lemon, stevia, and ACV

1:45p:     Three eggs scrambled with cheese

3p:          1 cup Organic Raw Almonds and Cashews

3-4p:       Sipping 30oz water with lemon, Lemon Drop

                Liquid Stevia (Got it finally! :) and ACV

4:30p:     Yogi Peach Detox Tea

5:30p:     30oz water with lemon and Lemon Drop Stevia

7:30p:     4 slices Smoked Gouda (from grocery store...

                it tasted really bad to me but I was so hungry I

                ate it anyway)

9p:           Handful of Organic Raw Almonds and Cashews

10p:         2oz Organic Raw Sharp Cheddar Cheese

It's late and I have to hit the sack.  Good night!

Yikes! That was fast!

Start Weight at beginning of Round 2: 168 lbs
Weight After Loading for Round 2:       171.7 lbs

Last Injection Weight (LIW):   147.9 lbs

Total weight lost for Round 2:  23.8 lbs
R2P3D2: 149.9 lbs (LIW + 2 lbs)

Ugh.  I gained 1.7 lbs this morning, putting me right on the edge of the upper boundary.  This was my fear.  I suspected that the last four or five of pounds of weight I lost may have been normal (structural) fat. Technically, I am not supposed to take any action until I am MORE than 2 lbs over my LIW, so I'm going to continue a normal Phase 3 day today. Protocol says that if you go over your LIW plus 2 lbs, then you are supposed to do a "Steak Day." Here is Dr. S's prescription for the Steak Day:

"As long as their weight stays within two pounds of the weight reached on the day of the last injection, patients should take no notice of any increase but the moment the scale goes beyond two pounds, even if this is only a few ounces, they must on that same day entirely skip breakfast and lunch but take plenty to drink. In the evening they must eat a huge steak with only an apple or a raw tomato. Of course this rule applies only to the morning weight. Ex-obese patients should never check their weight during the day, as there may be wide fluctuations and these are merely alarming and confusing."

During Phase 3 of my first round, I never went over this 2 lb mark, although I butted up against it a couple of times.  So, if I do cross that boundary, it's going to be unchartered territory for me.  But, it puts me in a dilemma. Is my LIW truly where I CAN stabilize?  I was feeling hungry before then, so I wonder where my true LIW really is?  There is no way to know for certain.  I'm going to have to play it by ear.  If my weight goes up tomorrow, then I plan to take some kind of action.

* OFF PROTOCOL WARNING!!! *

Of course, as a vegetarian, I am not going to eat a steak.  One option I have seen for vegetarians is to do an "Egg Day" where you periodically eat a boiled egg during the day as you are hungry, perhaps up to 8 to 10 eggs stretched out over the day.  Another option that I have seen for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike is to do a "Protein Day" where you eat nothing but proteins all day.  I still don't know which of these I would do.  I guess the sensible thing is to do one of these options and see if I can get the weight back down to an acceptable level.  The Protein Day would certainly be less rigid.  At this point, I'm not sure which direction I would take.  I'll have to think about it.

On to the menu:

10a:      20oz water with lemon

10:15a: 2 Organic eggs with 1oz Organic Raw Cheddar Cheese

1:30p:   16oz water

2:30p:   24oz water with lemon and ACV

3p:        Organic Baby Spring Mix, Diced Avocado, Pink

             Grapefruit sections, Toasted Organic Pine Nuts

3:30p:  1oz Organic Raw Cheddar Cheese

             Handful of Raw Organic Almonds and Raw Organic

             Cashew pieces

4:15p:  Yogi Peach Detox Tea sweetened with pure stevia

5p:       One Organic hard-boiled egg

5:30p:  Decaf Green Tea sweetened with pure stevia

7p:        2 Organic eggs with 1oz Organic Raw Cheddar Cheese

8p:        Honey Vanille Chamomile Tea with pure stevia and

              Organic half-n-half

9p:        Handful of roasted, salted tree nuts (couldn't help myself,

              probably a BIG mistake eating those salt-laden nuts)

{Ugh... I feel bloated now... mistake, mistake, mistake...}

10:30p: Trader Joe's Bedtime Tea with pure stevia and Organic

               skim milk

Reflection on the menu:  I suspect you notice the recurrent theme of "organic" and "raw."  This is a purposeful move on my part.  I'm trying to eat as cleanly as I can, meaning eating whole, organic, and even raw foods as much as I possibly can.  This procedure was touted by Kevin Trudeau in his book about Dr. Simeon's HCG protocol, and while I'm not completely on board with Trudeau, this part made sense to me so I'm trying it.  I want to be very sure of every ingredient that is going into my mouth.  You may also notice me forcing down the Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) and drinking the Green and Detox Teas.  All of these things have been cited by people as helping to get the weight down in Phase 2 and Phase 3, so I'm going to try that too.  I figure that it couldn't hurt and it may even help, so I'm doing it.  And, I must say that the Peach-flavored Yogi Detox Tea is a lot more palatable than the regular Yogi Detox Tea, although I'm not going to describe it as "yummy."

Reflection on the day:  I have felt pretty great all day, except for a bloated feeling this morning (damn you, Waffle House omelet!!!) Actually, I'm only half joking... I actually felt a little nauseous last night after eating that so-called omelet, and the "yuck" feeling stuck with me into the morning. It didn't taste good to me and yet I ate it anyway because I was hungry. I should have listened to my body. Perhaps Waffle House was too far off the beaten path for me to venture so early in Phase 3. I do not recommend it to you. ;-)

So, tomorrow should be interesting.  I'm going to try not to stress out about it and just get a good night's sleep.  The scale will be what it's going to be tomorrow.  'Til then, later all you wonderful people!  You shouldn't be "losers" anymore now if you are in Phase 3!  And, "later all you wonderful maintainers" just doesn't have the same ring.  :D