The Food! The surprise benefits.

No Sugar.   No Carbs.  No Fat.  Whats left?.  Fruits and Vegetables.  And limited at that.  What to do?   You too will get to the point where you'll actually enjoy your diet.  And as many of my family and friends are telling me, you will keep the recipes long after you've finished with the protocol.  Hey, I didn't believe it either...at first. With a few surprises along the way. Converted!

Lets start with sugar.  I'm a chocoholic.  Danishes, Brownies, Flan, on and on I love them ALL.  Ice Cream, I'm getting excited just thinking about it.  I cover it with strawberries that have been marinated in sugar with some lemon zest, topped with chocolate fudge then nuts. Now, Dr. Simeon says, ONLY Stevia or Saccharin (pink packets). Oh lord. To continue.  I use saccharin rather then Stevia, can't handle the after taste.  Fruits have replaced my beloved sweets and satisfied my sweet tooth.  Surprise. 

Carbs!  Longing, is what comes up for me.  Pasta!  Need I say more.  I live in New York City, restaurants abound.  Every cuisine.  Hello, the Food Network, Rachael Ray are headquartered in NYC.  Brunch!  Love the culinary arts, the history of recipes, where the food comes from, artistically plating.  I'm a Neuyorican (born in New York, Puerto Rican parents) rice, plantains, mofongo dishes touch my soul.
No Carbs!  The protocol replaces the emptiness with One bread stick (grissino-Italian) or One Melba toast. I wanted to laugh.  Bought them.  But, with all due respect to Dr. Simeon and his protocol., I have not been eating either.  Me!  On an absolutely No Carbs diet.  Geez, I wouldn't have believed that, just a few weeks ago,

Fats.  No Olive Oil.  My life without Olive Oil.  In the backdrop of my mind I heard, "Impossible."  Easy to give up my Cuban sandwich, roasted garlicky pork, (there I go again, salivating) pizza.  PIZZA! OM.  But Olive Oil.  For my health, my body, my well-being...YES!  I tried it. A must to replace fats is herbs and spices.  Get well acquainted with Seasonings and Spices. Life and cooking does go on without Olive Oil.  Surprise.

From Dr. Simeon's protocol : The juice of one lemon daily is allowed for all purposes. Salt, pepper, vinegar, mustard powder, garlic, sweet basil, parsley, thyme, majoram, etc., may be used for seasoning, but no oil, butter or dressing. 

Refreshing!

Drinks.  Thank you Dr. Simeon for allowing Coffee.  That would have been a huge breakdown. Coffee is  more then a drink for me.  It's tradition, nostalgia, its Bustelo. (a brand of coffee found in most Puerto Rican households.)  Gave up my Wyler's lemonade for cucumber water (good for the completion, too).  I also add lemon slices to my water pitcher with out sugar.  Both on the accepted list of  the diet. Very decorative, appealing to the eye and refreshing. 

Another surprise benefit was to my wallet.  Without buying all the sugar, carb and fat products my grocery bill is...less expensive. Just imagine your grocery cart without them, practically empty. Right?  Especially if you have kids.  So, Its recession prof, I'm enjoying the recipes and my abnormal reserve of fat is Melting Away .  Whats not to like?

For New York City, Washington / Hudson Heights readers;
Read more »

Lost 28 lbs in 3 weeks!

Measurements for week 3 of Phase 1, (using HCG drops) inches lost;

bust:  - 1/2
rib:    - 1
belly: - 1/2
hip:   - 1
butt:  - 1
thigh: L -1/2, R  -1/2
arm:  L -1/8, R  -1/8


Total number of inches lost, week 3 = 5 1/4 inches

Grand Total of inches lost within the 3 weeks = 17 1/2 inches

Grand total weight lost within the 3 weeks = 28 lbs

How do I know the number of pounds lost if I recently got my scale?

From Dr. Simeon's "Pounds to Inches Manuscript", section on , The Ratio of Pounds to Inches:

My Tools 

An interesting feature of the HCG method is that, regardless of how fat a patient is, the greatest circumference -- abdomen or hips as the case may be is reduced at a constant rate which is extraordinarily close to 1 cm. per kilogram of weight lost. At the beginning of treatment the change in measurements is somewhat greater than this, but at the end of a course it is almost invariably found that the girth is as many centimeters less as the number of kilograms by which the weight has been reduced. I have never seen this clear cut relationship in patients that try to reduce by dieting only.

My greatest circumference is my butt.  I use the total inches lost, 5 and the tool sub menu, Converter, on my cell phone.    Selecting Length,1st Unit, Inch 5,2nd  Unit cm.  Instantly the cm will show up.  In this case it is

12.700013.  Going back to the Convecter  Menu, select Weight.    1st Unit = Kg.  key in 12,70. Now you need to convert kg to pounds, select 2nd Unit = lb and voila, total pounds appears on the screen.  In this case, 27.998322.  Forgive me if I round out to 28 lbs. I deserve it.

Much easier method, BUY A SCALE!  lol 

Lost 1 lb since yesterday's stall.  Current weight, 151 lbs and continuing to melt the fat away.

Decision Day!

My scale arrived.  Today is the second day of weighing myself and comparing data.  The numbers startled me.  Thinking back, I have not weighed this much since pregnant.  No doubt I've lost lots a weight in the last 20 days and I am now weighing, 152.  Geez, I weighed 180.   To add to the downer, I weighed the same as yesterday. 

Accustomed to the continuous weight loss, it threw me off some.  Returning to Dr. A.T.W. Simeon's manuscript, Pounds and Inches the section on Interuptions of Weight Loss, he states that "'weight stays stationary for a day or two, and this occurs, particularly toward the end of the course, in almost every case."

I'm normal.  lol

So with all of these factors in mind, I have decided to stay on Phase 2, the HCG phase, for no more then 20 days, or until I reach 135lbs.

Market Day; grocery list

 Since, I started the protocol I've slept deeply. Last night I tossed and turned, got up and channel surfed until 4  a.m. when sleep forced me back to bed.  I believe it was because I skipped a meal, vitamins and an HCG dose. Got up at 7:30 a.m. sleepy but determined not to repeat yesterday.  Before the plumber, super and whom ever management sent came knocking at my door, I organized my meals. Must admit I was sleepy all day, but my energy returned after eating lunch and taking my multi-vitamin, B12 and calcium.



Todays groceries for HCG protocol phase 1



My Grocery List:  The 500 Calorie Daily Intake Diet

Breakfast:	Tea or coffee in any quantity without sugar. Only one tablespoonful of milk allowed in 24 hours. Saccharin or Stevia may be used.
Lunch:	1.    100 grams / 4 ozs of veal, beef, chicken breast, fresh white fish, lobster, crab, or shrimp. All visible fat must be carefully removed before cooking, and the meat must be weighed raw. It must be boiled or grilled without additional fat. Salmon, eel, tuna, herring, dried or pickled fish are not allowed. The chicken breast must be removed from the bird. 2.    2 cups of one type of vegetable only to be chosen from the following: spinach, chard, chicory, beet-greens, green salad, tomatoes, celery, fennel, onions, red radishes, cucumbers, asparagus, cabbage. 3.    One breadstick (grissino) or one Melba toast. 4.    An apple, orange, or a handful of strawberries or one-half grapefruit.
Dinner :	The same four choices as lunch (above.)

3 X's a day, 15 minutes before meals I place 5 drops under my tongue. Which contains amino acids, a protein, which improves blood flow, increases burning fat and supports muscle growth.

I know that 500 calories seems so little, but I have not gotten hungry.  The first week I day dreamed about breads.  The second, I kept getting mental images of brownies.  Not just one, a tray full.  I love chocolate.
Yesterday, when I went to the deli to buy my expresso, I stood before a counter of some of my favorites but no interest.  Until I saw a plate of  'sweet plantains'.  I seemed to flow towards them.  Nothing else existed, like a long lost lover I stood, looking. longing.  Then I noticed the greasy oily bed they were on and it was over. Ugh. Snapped out of it.

Tomorrow, I have to decide whether to move on to Phase 3, or to continue on phase 2 for another 20 days.
Must not take the HCG drops longer then 40 days.

Bump in the road

Super knocked on my door, greeting me with, "What are you doing?  There is a leak coming from your apt."  Nothing at that moment, but I had just finished washing my breakfast dishes.  Both of us stared at my dry kitchen floor.  "The leak is coming from a pipe inside the wall."  ugh.  He calls the office to report the situation and request assistance.





Awaiting Specialist



Management sent several men from maintenance to assist.  I have a monstrous cast iron sink that must be as old as the building, 100+ yrs. Got boxes so I could easily move everything from the cabinet under the sink. The plumber disconnected the pipes, and the huffing and puffing began as they removed the cast iron monster.. Then of course it was followed by, the busting of the wall.  Flash light out, the assessment begins.  All their faces turn grim. They  found the problem.  A cracked pipe along the floor line.  Dramatic pause  follows.  "I can not touch that", the super laments.  "We have to call a plumber".  He's a plumber, I was thinking, but flash,  he means to say, they need a specialist.  The cracked pipe is directly above the electrical box for the entire building.  Wow!  Deep Breath,  I am blessed.  Major crisis avoided. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!.

 While the drama had been unfolding I ran to the deli to get coffee. The employees there greeted me with what has become the usual, "You look great, lost weight, ha?".  They had not seen me since before starting the protocol.  After a shower of compliments, they accuse me of having liposuction. "Impossible to lose so much weight in such a short period of time", they echoed all in agreement. Initially, I thought they were kidding, but the smirks said different.  Brushing them off, I stepped out into the cold sunny New York Day.  The magnificent George Washington Bridge in the back drop, my coffee in hand. ..Life is Good! 



Cast Iron Monster



Yes, the days drama impacted my protocol routine.  Stove is connected.  Cast Iron Monster on the floor.  Under the sink cabinet is in the living room. Managed to cook one full meal at about 7 p.m..  In between, fruits.  Not a good idea to miss a meal.  The caloric intake is so low already, 500 a day. 250 - 300 was about all I had today.  And, I am not hungry.

It is what it is.  I'll do better...tomorrow.









Taking my HCG drops

My nightstand

Today, I woke up and I did not see the little bottle with the dropper on my nightstand.  I had forgotten to bring it to my bed room last night.  A habit I have incorporated into my routine after forgetting to take the drops before my 'expresso'.  Bustelo, 'black', served in a demitasse cup, little spoon and all. (I've collected several sets of demitasse cups).

Recommended usage for the Homeopathic Weight Loss HCG drops is; 3 times a day, place 5-10 drops under your tongue letting it dissolve for 10-15 minutes before eating or drinking.   By the way the drops taste...ok, perhaps a faint alcohol taste in the background.  Should be no problem, doable. Except that the recipes on this protocol are so easy to make that they don't take 15 minutes.  It takes me 5 minutes (my meals are organized. I'll write about that soon.) So, to get around it, at least for breakfast, I take the little bottle every night to the bedroom.  Upon waking, I take the 5 drops, leave them under my tongue and start my day.  By the time I brew my expresso and let it cool off enough to drink, the 15 minutes are up...COFFEE!

That takes care of morning, for the rest of the day, I leave the bottle in the kitchen.  In a dark area, but visible to me.

Off to take my drops.

OMG, meats were frozen.  18th day and major "oops".  Blame it on the Oscars. A royal evening!
Ran out of drops from 1st  1 oz. bottle.  Opened up a 2nd before dinner.  Glad I bought 2 bottles before starting my journey.

Belly Fat; a warning sign

Dr. Oz has been a great influence on my decision to get off my butt and do something about my weight.  His visual demonstrations make it interesting and easier to grasp the internal workings of the body.  The greatest eye opener for me, was his segment regarding the 'OMENTUM'.  Dr. Oz explains below.    

Dr. Oz. holding a large omentum, Oprah Winfrey holding a normal one for an adult. 

 Dr. Mehmet Oz Your omentum is the pouch that contains your belly fat. The extra weight you are carrying on your omentum begins to squeeze your kidneys. Your blood pressure rises and your liver fattens; the accumulation of this fat characterizes nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This added weight leaves your liver unable to process toxins. Over time, your liver hardens, and scar tissue begins to build up to replace liver cells. This scarring is called cirrhosis, which leaves you feeling tired and groggy.

 Up until then, I felt a bit cocky about my health.  After all, I had survived a near death experience, my numbers; cholesteral level, insulin, blood pressure were very good.  Longevity is high on all sides of my family tree.  So why worry.  Belly Fat!  Right under my nose, so to speak, was screaming out, Warning, Warning, Warning!!!

'Belly Fat' is the greatest indicator of toxins in your body.  Dangerous warning signs is measurements greater then; for a Woman = 35 inches, a Man 40 inches.  It is normal to pinch your belly and have 1 inch belly fat.

Two weeks ago, I measured and had a 35  1/2 inch waist.  Now there are no excuses. I know that the 'omentum' sends out toxic streams of chemicals through out my body.  Why, wait for a crisis?  Da. Prevention is the course I chose to take.

Up until I went on Dr. Simeon's HCG Homeopathic Weight Loss Protocol, everything I did seemed to be in vain (read post titled; Why this Weight Loss Program),  Now, I measure a 32 inch waist.  My 'Omentum' is "Melting Away !".

On my way to a Healthier ME!