Swish and Spit

HGC Day 12:  I don't want to talk about it!  I didn't lose an ounce.  We had steak two days in a row.  We might need to lay off it for a while.

We went on a hunt today for Oil Free body lotion.  Mom and I both look like alligators.  We peppered our lotion safari with fun things for the girls including a trip to Fezziwigs candy store and shopping at Dillard's.  We took pictures in a photo booth.  It only took us three out of four pictures to get all of us in the frame.

Last night when we were making chili I started craving tacos.  So we stopped by sprouts on the way home and picked up some meat.  Taco salad was on the menu tonight.  We found diet approved beef (grass fed, from hand raised cows who were pet regularly, brushed and walked, lol) but it was shaped into patties.  When we got home I set out to make our zero fat tacos but something was terribly wrong.  There were fat membranes running through the meat.  Yuck.  We can't eat that.  What was I thinking?  Chicken tacos are way better anyway.  I defrosted some chicken, rubbed it with chili powder, garlic, cumin  . . . all the good stuff, wrapped it in foil and baked it.

Meanwhile, we were planning leftovers and salad for the fat eaters.  But, with a pan full of high quality meat on the stove I decided to make tortilla soup.  This is one of the recipes I make a lot - normally I use chicken, but it should be good with beef - but again you've got to taste it over and over to ensure that the spice balance is just right.  Kate was my taster again tonight.  She gave a thumbs up after adding a bit of salt.  When Dad came in I requested his taste buds.  He accommodated, but said it was bland.  It didn't taste like anything.  Well Sh!t.  I can't taste it.  What the heck do we do now?

After moaning for a few minutes I asked mom "what if I just dab a bit on my tongue and then spit it out?"  I mean I can't serve under spiced soup.  Mom's reply: you can take a big sip and spit it out."  Of course, like a wine tasting!  Swish and spit!  I swished, yum, I spit (eeeew.) The soup was fantastic.  The fat eaters pigged out again.

Tomato Soup

HGC Day 11: .8 lbs down.  I feel great.  Both mom and I seem to get tired and a bit grumpy around feeding time.  Mom is a little grumpier than me.  It's okay, she's put up with enough of my attitude over the years.

Mom had to drive Tammy home today so while she was gone I made a yummy lunch surprise.  Tomato soup!  It was easy.  I stewed tomatos and drained the excess water.  Then I used the imersion blender and pureed them.  I added a smidge of the drained tomato water and some spices.  We had soup with steak.  It was great. I'm getting sick of sweet salads, this was a yummy savory meal.  We were both full and satisfied.  Yum!

After lunch we spent the afternoon with my nephew Nick at his new apartment. It's is birthday so we brought him lunch and hung out for a while.

It was a chilly day in the valley only 84 degrees - that's crazy for June, so that inspired Chili for dinner.  I made a big batch for the fat eaters.  Six year old Kate was my taster.  Another triumph.  I hope's those girls (and dad) feel like they are being fed good things; it's not easy to cook when you can't taste.

2.2 Pounds of fat and 2 Hungry Children

HCG Day10: 2.2 lbs gone!
It was a quiet day a the J-Resort today, other than my eye twitch which is still here. (We need to get to the store for the EmergenC that Dr. M. recommended.) The girls and I spent the day at home with my dad's cousin Tammy, who was the true HGC pioneer in our family. I had to work a bit and the girls wanted to swim so it was a good day to stay home. 

Mom had to go to the chiropractor this morning and she brought STEAK home for lunch. We had that with cucumber; it was soooooo good.

Last night when my oldest was talking to her dad on the phone I overheard:  "well, mom and Grannie are on a diet so we're never sure what there will be to eat."  I felt so bad.  Mom and I have been making a huge effort to make nice meals for dad and the girls.  Since I was home today I decided to make my famous lasagna for the "fat eaters."  Mom and I have been struggling to cook because we aren't measurers.  We cook by taste. I enlisted Tammy as my taster today.  The lasagna was perfect!  The girls ate and ate.  I hope I get a better report when she talks to daddy tonight.

Wink

HGC Day 9:  Down .6 pounds. 

I have two of the greatest parents on the planet!  They are sincere, honest people with impeccable integrity.  They would do anything for you (I suppose I get that from them) and they're always there to help someone in need.  So what I'm about to say, while it may seem snotty, is said with the utmost respect and love. 

Today I had to drive to Tucson to facilitate a training session for a client.  I was up late last night finalizing my slides and preparing diet food for my trip.  My dad, who is a retired engineer, asked me several times yesterday if  1.) I  knew where the rental car office was and 2.) wanted to take his GPS.  I assured him each time that do know where the rental car office is located and have been to this client site several times so I don't even need to consult Map Quest for directions.

I went to bed last night exhausted after working on my presentation much of the day.  As I tried to doze off my mind started to race.  I started to wonder if I actually did know where the rental office is located.  Then I stated to think "it's been a while since I've been down to Tucson what is the name of the exit, oh no it was under construction last time I was there.  What if it's changed?"  When I got up this morning I quickly pulled directions on my Blackberry. Whew, okay no stress.  But that was easier said than believed, my right eye was twitching.  Am I stressed or just tired? 

Looking like I have a nervous tick, my eye blinking every few minutes, I quietly packed my briefcase and lunch.  My dad came out dressed for his golf game.  He complimented my outfit and said "Now don't be nervous, you're prepared, you'll do fine."  I'm not nervous, I thought.  'But maybe I should be' crept into my mind.  Holy cow!!  How in the world did I survive growing up in this family?  Thank God, I had a two hour drive to the client site.  Mom has been grumpy and stressed for two days and now Dad was stressing me out.  Deep breath . . . two hours is plenty of time to clear my head and get into 'nerd mode.' 

My presentation went well.  I don't have to go onsite very much these days; most of my work is done via the web, even training, so it felt good to be around colleagues and be productive.  As I started my two hour drive home I realized my eye was still twitching.  This morning I chalked it up to stress (thanks Dad) but now I'm alone, relaxed and ready for a few days off.

These last few days I have felt terrific.  I have energy.  I'm happy and sassier than ever.  I dropped off the rental car, while I waited for dad to pick me up I was thinking about some advice Dr. M. gave us.  He said this diet is a good time to get rid of negative thinking.  Our brains are making all kinds of new connections during this diet and this is a great time to reprogram our brains with positive ideas.

I was feeling grateful for the wonderful parents I have.  Appreciating the values and tools they provided me to be successful in this this very big world.  I started to giggle at my dad coaching me (and asking me over an over if I'm prepared) and I remember that I'm a lot like my dad. I have my own rituals for being prepared.  I was smiling when dad pulled up mom's little white BMW with the top down.  As I stood up to gather my things, silly grin on my face, my eye began to twitch again.  Looking up complete with silly grin and twitchy eye the rental guy shot me a big smile.  He ran around the counter to hold the door for me.  As I walked out the door he winked at me and said "you come back and see me real soon."


P.S.  I emailed Dr. M. about the eye twitch.  He said I need some electrolites and recommended EmergenC, low surgar formula.  I'd better get some right away . . . before I give someone else the wrong impression.

Day 9: Fountains mountains and lunch with my mother-in-law

My daughter and partner in dieting had to take a day trip today and I am babysitting the kids. I thought this would be a good day to take the kids to the outdoor mall with the fountains and let them play there for a while. I called my mother in law (grandma) and invited her along. I haven't wanted to advertise that I am on the program but  she was going to know something was happening when I pulled out the lunch I brought along so I rehearsed what I was going to say on the way to pick her up. 

Some things you need to know about Grandma to help you understand my reaction are as follows. This woman is 87 years old but looks like she is 70 (which is only twelve years older than I am). She has always been one of those narturally thin eat-anything-you-want-and -never-gain-a -pound people. She eats candy and coke every day and  has never prepared a healthy vegetable in her life. In her mind if the food doesn't taste good it couldn't be good for you. So I wasn't crazy about sharing my "plight" of yet another "I'm trying to lose some weight again" events with her. So how to tell grandma?

I decided to break the news when we in line at our favorite lunch spot, Paradise Bakery. She said, "are we getting our turkey, cranberry on mollasses bread today? Half sandwich with no cookie or whole with a cookie?"  I decided to be straight up about it although I knew it would disappoint her because everyone in her entire family but her is always on some kind of a diet.

"Grandma, I'm on a diet again" I confessed.

"Oh I need to go on one too so I'll get a salad", she unexpectedly informed me. "Can you help me find a good pasta salad?

"Oh grandma you haven't got a clue", I thought to myself shocked at her idea of a diet lunch. To her I said "well grandma go to the counter and look at their choices."

She did and came back with her nose turned up and told me to order her a sandwich and a coke and forget the whole thing. Right then I was wishing my weight loss"mountain to climb" could be climbed as easily as changing my mind like grandma does.

I'm climbing my mountain alone today amist the fountains the food and the fun the kids are having. I miss my daughter. 

Day 8: Clutzy, Crabby and Ready to Crash

Okay, folks, this program is not for the half-way committed. It takes a conscious intentional effort. I haven't chopped, measured and prepared so much since the kids left home. I'm thinking of it as a learning curve and hoping I get used to all the fuss. I started the day out clutzy. I have been having trouble pulling the little orange cap off of the HCG needle without tearing up the whole needle and today I tore up the needle. Instead of holding the tube and giving the cap a tug, I grabbed the plunger part and pulled the orange cap. The plunger flew out and spilled HCG all over my counter. Thoughts running through my mind were............I wonder if I can just wipe it off or do I lick it up.............how do I get it back in the tube.............I wonder if doctor M. will believe me and let me have another one.........when in the world will I have time to get to his office??? Well the clutzy accident first thing in the morning gave me new things to stress about so that made me a little crabby. I am not too sure how much of all these negative feelings I want to share with my "losing more weight than I am" daughter. And I am secretly a little concerned that I am the only person on the planet who won't lose weight on 500 calories a day and HCG because I am losing less than a pound a day. Okay, the good doctor suggested I drink more water and that will kick up the weight loss. Shelley's cowboy hat idea may have its first buyer. Me!

Nightfall came and I was ready to crash! I was feeling saturated with water and ready to sleep and looking forward to the morning weighing session and maybe another pound "done gone"!

Blessed and getting blubberless in Scottsdale!

Mom

Drink While You Think!

We saw Dr. M. yesterday and found out we need to seriously crank up our water intake.  At least a gallon per day each.  All day mom and I have been chugging.  I'm having flashbacks to college.  Remember games like Anchor Man and A$$hole.  "Drink while you think."  We are drinking constantly.  So naturally, with my mind back on my college days, I came up with yet another of my truly brilliant ideas.  :-)  Break out the beer bong!

Almost everyone who went to high school in Northern Virginia in the early 90's also went to "Beach Week" in Ocean City, MD.  And if you went to beach week, you surely  know all about Beer Bongs. 

Well, just in case you don't, here's how it works.  You put the beer in the funnel and the end of the tube in your mouth.  When the funnel is raised above the end of the tube gravity takes over and the beer comes out of the tube into your mouth and you chug it down.  Frat boys find this really fun because their goal typically is to get as drunk as possible really fast.  Of course this is really, really dangerous because you can get too much alcohol too fast and end up with alcohol poisoning.  It happened at my college; a girl who I knew was already really drunk and had the great idea to "bong" vodka and she nearly died!!

I'm kidding about using the beer bong to get water down.  But this is evidence of just how good I am feeling.  I'm happy, I'm hyper and feeling silly.  So while the beer bong might not be such a great idea I have already come up with something better.  The beer hat.  I found this one online.  Hot pink cowboy style.  Obviously we'd replace the beer cans with water bottles.

HCG Day 8:  Only .4 lbs down.  But that's okay.  We cranked up the water and Dr. M. says it will take a couple of days for our bodies to adjust.  I feel great!!