I love this oil set.  Perfect for rubbing on sore muscles or cramps. The smell divine!!!

Radha Beauty Aromatherapy Top 6 Essential Oils 100% Pure & Therapeutic grade - Basic Sampler Gift Set & Premium Kit - 6/10 Ml (Lavender, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, Orange, Peppermint)

Keto Healthy Low Carb Diet Starter/ Survival Gift Box

Maintaining the weight lost from HCG

I hit the 130's today for the first time since 2009.  This morning I weighted in at 139.2.  So exciting, HAPPY DANCE!
Wanted to make a post about what to do after HCG.  Tom and I have have already switched to the Keto diet full time in our house.  If you are unfamiliar, it is close to the Atkins diet full time, with no bread or sugar.  These are only for special occasions.  I lost 10 on it and Tom has lost more then 30.  This is one change that will stick with our household.
I was considering adding the 5:2 diet once I hit my goal after HCG, actually more of the modified version that is the 6:1.  It is a new diet that is huge in England right now.  It consists of 5 days normal (1200 for woman and 1500 for men) and 2 days that are 500 (600 for men) calories when you are trying to lose weight.  I was going to use the 6:1 protocol which is 6 days normal and 1 day at 500 when you are maintaining.  Here is the website. --->  http://thefastdiet.co.uk
There are several articles that suggest fasting does wonders for the body including giving the skin a youthful appearance. 

Lasagna - Phase 2

We are on VLCD#2. I had a one pound loss this morning. Here is a recipe for the dinner that we made tonight.


Lasagna.
1 can hunts fire roasted diced tomatoes, drained
Half a can of tomato paste
Half a can of tomato sauce
1 medium onion
Fresh parsley
Diced garlic
Tsp or more Thyme & oregano
Powdered stevia ( just a very light sprinkle)
Broth (beef) just to sautee. Or use a Demi glace cube
Lean beef or chicken or I used turkey
Pepper flakes
Zucchini will act as the noodles.

Cook together dry herbs, onion, parsley, salt/pepper, pepper flakes, tomatoes, tomato sauces and meat together. Simmer very low til meat is done. As it cooks, mash down the tomatoes a bit. I Lightly add a sprinkle of powdered stevia.
Simmer this to reduce out excess liquid on low heat.

While this is cooking/simmering start on the noodles. Cut zucchini or summer squash into long slices, I took off the skin too. Bake till slightly cooked, topped with salt, paprika and garlic.

Get a small baking pan, and add a little sauce to the bottom. Then layer zucchini, sauce, Zuccini and so on. Top with garlic Melba crumbles and bake about 30 minutes.

This makes alot: 1 can tomato and 1 Zuccini alone are 100 cals. Beef adds 160 or so. So this is excellent to make and have 2 meals out of it.

Mini Steak Day - Phase 2

We are back after our intermission.  I was at 150.6 this morning.  That is 3 pounds up from my lowest weight in from before the break.  Here is how I do a Mini Steak Day in Phase 2.  I did one last round to break a stall and lost 3 pounds.  I am going to be doing this every Sunday this round to speed up my loses.

Have nothing to eat all day.  Drink whatever you like, I sipped on coffee and tea all day.  At dinner we grill up a 6 oz serving of steak, trim all the fat.  I had a tomato with mine and Tom had an apple.  There are several variations online for a steak day, included how many oz to eat and how long to fast before eating.  I don't really think you can mess it up.  One post I saw while researching - ate a very large steak, probably 10oz, without trimming any fat and lost a pound.

I also cooked the steak with coconut oil.  This is something new that we have been using this round.  It has helped us both with our loses.  It helps to move the food through the digestive tract more quickly.  Plus it giving amazing flavor to the food.  We use it about 3 times a week.

Hope this helps and your scale has a big whooosh!

Before the break.

I was down to 148.2 this morning and Tom is at 215.4.  Tom has been losing so well we have lowered his goal weight for this round.  I think he can make it to 190 after our break.  Our original guess was 205.  I want to get to 145 and Tom to 210 before we start our break in 6 days.  We have been enjoying turkey burgers with great success. They have them at Trader Joe's there are 4 and they cost $4.00.  They are only 180 calories and they are so YUMMY.  Tonight is chicken, green beans, orange juice and a breadstick. 

100 HCG Phase 3 Foods

I found this on http://www.healthyhcg.com/  and wanted to share this with everyone.  Phase 3 can be very confusing and you don't want to hurt all the hard work that you have done.  This article spells out very will what is allowed and what is not.  


Phase 3 of the HCG diet, which we call the stabilization phase, opens up all sorts of new food options. You're done with the 500-calorie phase and the HCG drops, and your calorie restrictions have been lifted. The only things you can't eat now are sugar and starch—but after the strict rules of the 500-calorie phase of the HCG diet, many people still worry about what exactly they can eat.

So here are 100 new foods you can eat during the stabilization phase of the HCG diet. A whole new world of food awaits on phase 3!

Meat
Meat lovers can finally let loose on phase 3 and enjoy some of their favorites again. Consider branching out to celebrate all your lost weight—try some liver, venison, or a rare sausage and see if you like it. Some of these items, like bacon and hot dogs, have a very high fat content, so be careful with those!

1. Bacon
2. Beef jerky
3. Beef roast
4. Breakfast sausage
5. Elk
6. Ground beef
7. Ham
8. Hot dogs
9. Lamb
10. Liver
11. Pork chops
12. Prosciutto
13. Venison
14. Vienna sausage

Fish
Fish fans already had the best variety during the 500-calorie phase of the HCG diet. Phase 3 gives them even more choices. The list could go on and on and on, but we've limited it to just a few representatives. Protein already takes up a whole third of this list. Don't be greedy. There are vegetables and fruits still to consider!

15. Anchovy
16. Bass
17. Catfish
18. Clams
19. Eel
20. Herring
21. Mackerel
22. Mahimahi
23. Mussels
24. Oysters
25. Salmon
26. Sardines
27. Squid or calamari
28. Trout
29. Tuna


Poultry
If you're not a fish fan you might have had a hard time on the HCG diet. If you feel you'll die at the thought of eating more chicken, you now have several more poultry options at your disposal on phase 3.

30. Duck
31. Goose
32. Pheasant
33. Turkey

Other Protein Sources
Your protein options aren't limited to just meat anymore! Nuts make an especially good snack food on phase 3. Unfortunately, beans are still off limits due to their high starch content, but vegetarians can try them with care.

34. Hummus (check ingredients)
35. Nuts of all types, including almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, peanuts, pine nuts, and pistachios for just a few examples
36. Soy
37. Tofu

Vegetables
There's an absolutely gigantic world of vegetables waiting to be explored during the stabilization phase of the HCG diet. Some popular options such as corn and potatoes have been left out due to high starch or carb content. You might still get away with them if you're very careful about it—eat them in small quantities and monitor your weight each day. But there are so many other choices during phase 3—why not try something new?

38. Bamboo shoots
39. Bean sprouts
40. Bok Choy
41. Broccoli
42. Brussels sprouts
43. Cauliflower
44. Eggplant
45. Green beans
46. Kohlrabi
47. Jalapeno peppers
48. Mushrooms
49. Okra
50. Pickles
51. Pumpkin
52. Radishes
53. Red chili pepper
54. Sauerkraut
55. Scallions
56. Snow peas (pods)
57. Spaghetti squash
58. Summer squash
59. Sweet bell peppers (green, red, or yellow)
60. Turnips
61. Watercress
62. Zucchini

Fruits
Now is the time to indulge in fruits. Like the vegetables, some fruits are still iffy for the stabilization phase. Dr. Simeons warns against very sweet fruits, so you won't find popular choices like bananas or grapes here. As with starchy veggies, you could still try sugary fruits while exercising restraint and care.

63. Apricots
64. Blackberries
65. Blueberries
66. Cantaloupe
67. Coconut (unsweetened)
68. Cranberries, fresh or dried
69. Figs, one large—careful of sugar content
70. Guava
71. Honeydew
72. Kiwi
73. Lemons
74. Limes
75. Nectarines
76. Olives
77. Papaya
78. Peaches
79. Pears
80. Pineapple
81. Plums
82. Raspberries
83. Watermelon

Dairy
Huzzah! Dairy of all kinds is finally allowed during phase 3 of the HCG diet. The main thing to beware of is added sugar. Of course, it's always a good idea to go for fat-free or reduced-fat options.

84. Butter (in moderation, of course)
85. Cheese, including both hard and soft cheeses like American, brie, cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan, provolone, string cheese, and Swiss
86. Cottage cheese
87. Cream cheese
88. Eggs—boiled, fried, poached, scrambled, deviled, etc.
89. Milk
90. Omelette
91. Yogurt (sugar-free)

Other
The stabilization phase unlocks a whole new world of food options. Here are a few odds and ends to really spice up your HCG diet on phase 3.

92. Alcoholic beverages in moderation—Dr. Simeons mentions a glass of wine with a meal, for example
93. Dried soy beans
94. Fruit juices with no added sugar, and watch portion sizes to limit sugar intake
95. Mayonnaise (check label for sugar)
96. Oils for cooking or baking
97. Pure peanut butter, other nut butters (sugar-free)
98. Sugar-free dressings and mustards
99. Taco salad, without the tortilla product
100. Veggie dip: combine plain non-fat yogurt with ranch or onion seasoning mix—check seasonings for sugar

25 Foods To Be Careful With
But wait, where are such healthy staples as carrots, peas, and grapes? Dr. Simeons says the following about the 3-week stabilization phase of the HCG diet:

"If no carbohydrates whatsoever are eaten, fats can be indulged in somewhat more liberally . . . but as soon as fat and starch are combined things are very liable to get out of hand."

"All foods allowed except starch and sugar in any form (careful with very sweet fruit)."

The following foods have a high starch or sugar content. While not forbidden per se, they may violate Dr. Simeons' rules, especially if you're increasing your fat content at all. Introduce these foods only in small quantities—if at all—with careful attention to your morning weighing.

Protein
1. Beans, including black, garbanzo, kidney, fava, lentils, lima, pinto, and white

Vegetables
2. Artichoke, medium
3. Avocado
4. Beets
5. Butternut squash
6. Carrots
7. Celeriac
8. Corn
9. Leeks
10. Parsnips
11. Peas
12. Plantains
13. Potato, one small
14. Sweet potatoes
15. Water chestnuts
16. Yams

Fruits
17. Banana, medium
18. Cherries
19. Date, one
20. Grapes
21. Mangos
22. Pomegranate
23. Prunes
24. Raisins (1.5 oz)
25. Tangerines

Planned Intermission From Phase 2

With the holidays quickly approaching I am getting antsy for some comfort foods.  I am planning on doing a planned break/intermission from Phase 2.  I had to do a lot of research on this and this is what I have gathered.

-Not to be done until at least 20 days into the Very Low Calorie Days.

-Stop taking HCG 48 hours before when on drops and 72 hours before when on injections.

-Continue eating VLCD for 48 hours or 72 hours after last dose of HCG.

-Eat only Phase 3 foods.  - I will post foods later.

-There are 2 ways to control weight gain.  You can either address the weight right away and have a steak day the day that you are 2 pounds over you lowest weight in.  Or you can wait and have a steak day the first day back on HCG.  Or you can skip this all together. 

-The planned break should be less then 2 weeks.  If it is less then 2 weeks then there is no need to reload.  Some people choose to eat a little more fatty foods before going back on HCG.  This would be a little more cheese, avocado, and carrots for instance.

Here is how mine will work.  I will be stopping my drops on the 20th, I will then eat VLCD on the 21 and the 22nd.  I will only eat Phase 3 foods for the break.  I will have a steak day if I am more then  pounds over my lowest weight in.  I will eat a few on the fatter phase 3 foods on the 1st.  I will resume my HCG and VLCD on the 2nd.