R4 P3 D10... So much to catch up on!!

Wow, it has been awhile, and so much has happened this week! First off I have been enjoying food and staying within the 2# limit..... until today that is :) I am +2.6 today, so I am going to try a high protein day. Those usually do the trick for me instead of a steak day. It will be 2 eggs, tuna w/mayo and celery, steak and salad. I am not sure why exactly it is creeping up, but it may have something to do with my new found love affair of almond flour goodies made in a mug:) Even though we are not supposed to have to count calories, I did the calorie count on my choc mac mug cake and it was 500 without the big dollop of cream on top! And while I think you don't have to count calories in general, I am sure there is a point where it is going to start to matter:)

The next huge event for the week is that I am now unemployed! Yep, I got a phone message on Sunday morning that the store had been closed and that was that. No warning what so ever. They just said the store was not making enough money to keep it open. I know many of you have gone to the store by my referral and I am sorry for the abrupt closure. I also know that many of our current PIA clients read this blog, so to them I would like to say how fun it was working with you all, and I am so sorry that no warning was given. I know that many of you may have questions, comments, complaints or concerns regarding your programs. The only thing I can give you is the contact information for the owners other location. It is:

** This information has been removed. See Updated post.

If that doesn't get you what you need, you could try calling the Corporate Headquarters of Pounds and Inches Away at: 888-GET-HCG1.

That being said, you know you can always find me here, and I will be happy to try to help or answer any questions you have about HCG in general. If you do contact them, and get any other reason for the closure, or any derogatory comments made regarding the staff, please do be sure to come back here and let me know. There are a few legal issues that may need tending to:)

And lastly we finished the basement and the kitchen counters! Finally it is all done! Here are a few photos:

Kitchen Counters:

Basement:

R4 P3 D5....Chocolate Coconut Macadamia Mug Cake!

Still exactly at LIW! Loving that! I am also loving having dessert for breakfast :) Those of you who know me, know that I think coconut is one of the four food groups! So, this morning I took the choc mug cake and added coconut flakes and macadamias! Tis was pure heaven...... :) Here is the Choc Mug Cake recipe:

2-3 tbsp almond flour

1.5 tbsp xylitol (or sweetener of choice to taste)

1 egg

1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa

2 tbsp cream

1 tbsp butter

splash vanilla

1 large coffee mug!

** my substitution was 2 tbsp almond flour + 2 tbsp unsweetened fine shredded coconut flakes, and 3 crushed macadamias.

Just puree and pour into a coffee mug or ramekin. I use a ramekin and wipe it with a little coconut oil first. Microwave for 90 sec to 2 min. It will puff up, but don't worry it will come right back down :)

It is extremely moist and delicious! Eat it warm with a little real whip cream!

Today we are getting the tile backsplash done. One more thing off the list!

R4 P3 D4.....Pumpkin Pie Mug Cake!

Exactly at LIW! Who says you can't have pie for breakfast?? I just had healthy pumpkin pie/cheesecake for breakfast :) I have had the chocolate mug cake before, but have been craving pumpkin. So I decided to try and make one. It turned out great!

Pumpkin Pie Mug Cake

3 tbsp almond flour

1 tbsp plain pumpkin

.5 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or as much as you like)

1 egg

1.5 tbsp xylitol (or sweetener of your choice)

1 tbsp cream

1 tbsp cream cheese

.5 tbsp butter

3 drops vanilla stevia

*I think next time I will try to add 2-3 chopped pecan halves.

Put all into the blender or magic bullet and puree. Pour into a coffee mug or ramekin. Microwave for 90 seconds to 2 min. It will puff up, but will come back down. Invert onto a plate and top with a little real whip cream if you like! Yum! I will make again tomorrow and get a picture for you. It smelled so good I had to eat it before I could take a pic!

R4 P3 D3...

Right at LIW! :) I am so loving food right now :) I think I might have a slight obsession with raspberries... last p3 it was In-n-Out burgers, so I am making progress right?? I had tons of great food yesterday. This morning my jeans were even looser than a few days ago. Yesterday I took 1/2 a small apple, 1/2 small peach, and some raspberries and put them in a ramekin with several drops of vanilla stevia. I then mixed 2 tbsp almond flour with 1 1/2 tbsp xylitol and cinnamon. Drizzled coconut oil until it made the mixture crumbly, and put over the top of the fruit. Then baked at 350 till bubbly. That with a dollop of real whip cream was heaven! This round feels so much better than my last one. I am going to try to go pick up the tile for the backsplash today so we can get it done this weekend!

R4 P3 D2...

Down -0.8 lbs today! That was very nice to see this morning. I had my first glorious day of P3 yesterday! It was so nice to eat some new food! Can I just say how much I love Fage Total..... :) Here is what the food for my first day was:

8 oz roast beef

1 apple

1 7oz container of total fage greek yogurt

2 string cheese

5oz raspberries

2 tbsp coconut oil

sprinke of coconut flakes.sliced almonds

2 tbsp cocoa

2 eggs

1/2 oz cheddar

2 slices bacon

1 sf caramel pecan

2 liters of water, 8oz perrier, 8oz tea

We are just getting all the finishing touches on the basement and kitchen. I will post photos as soon as we are done :)

R4 P3 D1....

Final day! I will have some dinner tonight! I took pics this morning and there is really no difference from the ending pics of my last round. Like I said the body just wants to stay. Maybe it is time to just really focus on body shaping from here on out. I am ok with that. A little bummed but still pretty happy :) Here are the pics from this morning. The first one on the left is from the end of round 3. The next 2 are from this morning in a couple different suits.

My husband and I took a drive up the canyon this weekend and here are a few pics in clothes :)

R4 P2 D25...

Today: 145.0! It's official, Saturday was my LDW at 145.2. This is day 7 of the same weight. I have gotten a couple 145.0's but if I get back on the scale it varies between the two. Husband says it's time to be done, he wants his wife back :) I really wanted to get another 5-7 lbs, but the body doesn't want to budge. I am hoping that one positive thing about this would be that the weight really wants to sit here and that stabilization will be good. I have been having definite periods of hunger that get pretty intense and then it will go away. I will be at the 72 hour mark tomorrow morning. I usually wait a full 3 days, but I will see how the hunger goes today. Hunger is usually the indicator that the HCG is gone from the system and it is ok to begin maintenance. Right now I have no counters or kitchen sink! They should be arriving around 3:30 today. Almost done with all of the chaos! Here is what I am having today:

113g cottage cheese 100.0

215g apple 111.8

4oz chicken 146.6

175g cabbage 44

115g straw 36.8

5g cocoa 10.0

*miracle noodles

Total Calories: 449.2

R4 P2 D24....

145.2 for the sixth time in a row! Absolutely nothing is working. I tried double protein, changing proteins, exact protocol etc. Today is the day I normally skip my HCG, so I am going to see if it changes tomorrow. If it is the same then I will just go with Sat as my LDW and consider today as my first day with no HCG. If it changes then I will take it a day at a time to decide. So frustrating! Today we have to rip out the counters to be ready for the new ones tomorrow. I sure hope I like them. So hard to tell from a sample. Here is what I am having today:

4oz chicken 146.6

150g celery 24.0

215g apple 111.8

40g jay robb 146.6

115g straw 36.8

Total Calories: 465.8

R4 P2 D23...

Up +0.4 lbs, back to where I have been the past week! I knew yesterday was just restroom and not real weight loss! I tried doing beef to change things up and still nothing. Right now my plan is to go until Weds and then be done. In other news the basement is done and the carpet looks great. The counters arrive on Monday, so the tear out will be tomorrow! Then we have to tile the backsplash and it will all finally be over! Here is what I am having today:

84g chicken 110.0

250g tomato 45.0

115g apple 111.8

100g beef 137.0

125g cabbage 31.5

115g straw 36.8

Total Calories 472.1

R4 P2 D22....

Down -0.4 lbs! Not much from the double protein. I was also able to go to the restroom finally, so I would tend to think it was that rather than real weight. I don't know what to think. Last round I ended at 144.4 and people said I looked sickly in my face and upper body. I was very hungry and miserable last round. When I started eating the weight did not want to hold well either. Now I am basically at the same weight and I am not losing, and I woke up with a headache and real hunger for the first time. I am beginning to wonder if my "normal" fat stores are just my trouble spots in the hips, butt and thighs. Every time I lose I get very thin everywhere else, and some on the lower half, but definitely not skinny on the bottom. Seems like this is where my body wants to get and then sit there. I am fine with where I am today if it will hold. I would tend to think it will since I felt so much better this round. The photo is from this morning. I just don't have anything else to lose on top. I guess I will see what tomorrow does. If it is still not moving and the hunger starts increasing then I will consider that maybe it is time to end things and be done. Oh yeah! Carpet arrives this morning! :) Here is what I am having today:

100g beef 137.0

250g tomato 45.0

115g apple 60.0

4oz chicken 146.6

150g celery 24.0

*1/2 pkg miracle noodles 0.0

Total Calories: 412.6

R4 P2 D21...

Well this is my third day of 145.2 and my second day in a row of -0.0! So annoying. It makes it very hard to keep going when I know I could end this in 2 days. The real kicker is that I have no appetite and have to remind myself to eat. Why is it that when I am having such an easy time, there are no losses??? I will try the double protein day again today, since my last two losses were following my last one. I said I was going to go 30 days, which would be a week from Saturday. I have half a mind to not weigh at all next week and just surprise myself at the end, because I am not hungry and doing great, until I get on the scale and see no movement! :) Here is what I will have today:

30g jay robb 110.00

2.5g cocoa 5.0

168g chicken 220.0

100g romaine 17.0

84g chicken 110.0

100g celery 16.0

Total Calories: 478.0

R4 P2 D20....

Another -0.0 lbs! Seems to be the trend. A day of no loss for every day of loss. Still doing good hunger wise. Bored of the food :) I did have 2 decent losses in a row after the double protein day, so I will see how tomorrow goes and maybe do another one if it is a zero again. I am only .8 away from my LIW last round. The bummer is I am right between sizes. I now can wear my smallest pants comfortably, but I need it to get me to the next size all together. We are almost finished with trim and should be cleaning up and doing final touch up tomorrow. It is looking really good.

One strange thing is that I have dry mouth all the time and it is driving me nuts! On every other round I was freezing to death, but so far nothing. That's about it. Off to work! Here is what I am having today:

4oz chicken 146.6

200g celery 32.0

215g apple 111.8

4oz tilapia 110.0

150g asparagus 30.0

100g orange 47.0

Total Calories: 477.4

R4 P2 D19...

Down -0.8 lbs! I will take that! Yesterday morning when I got up I kept getting the cold sweats and having to put my head between my legs so I would not pass out. I think I had definitely over done it the previous 2 days by working non stop on the basement. I went to work, then came home an laid low for the rest of the day. I had absolutely no energy. Then I took a muscle relaxer and went to bed and actually slept all the way till morning. I know I posted at the beginning of the round how I was so happy for the improved sleep, but about a week ago I started waking up at 4:30. Wide awake and not able to go back to sleep. It was a nice change and I think the body appreciated it :) Today I have to work and then will take it easy. The basement is all painted, and the trim is going up today. That is all that is left before the carpet comes Friday morning! Here is what I am having today:

4oz chicken 146.6

100g romaine 17.0

150g apple 77

1 breadstick 10.0

40g jay robb 146.6

184g orange 86.0

2.5g cocoa 5.0

Total Calories: 488.20

R4 P2 D18...

Down -0.6 lbs! I really thought it was going to be a pound or more :( I was even able to finally go to the restroom!! But I am also even more sore today than yesterday, so that could be part of it. I think this week I am going to weigh M, W, Sat. Maybe that will ease the morning frustration :)

Off to work this morning! Here is what I am having today:

4oz chicken 146.6

250g tomato 45

115g straw 36.8

40g jay robb 146.6

115g straw 36.8

5g cocoa 10.0

Total Calories: 421.8

R4 P2 D17....

Down -0.0lbs! That really ticks me off. I was wondering if I was going to have a problem this morning. We painted all day yesterday. My job is where the ceiling and walls come together so I must have done the equivalent of a million high step ups and I am sore. Also, I did not even think about it until the end of the day, but my hands were covered in paint. I have no idea if there are any oils in there or things that might affect me. Oh well, today I will wear gloves, but I still have to finish the bedroom. We got the main room painted, and just have to finish the hall and bedroom today. Then we will start the trim. The paint color turned out beautiful. Hard to believe this area has been a pile of junk for the past five years :) I was reading over on the forum about double protein days. One of the "experts" over there does these in the middle of her rounds when things get slow. I think I will try that today. It goes like this:

Breakfast: 100g protein

Lunch: 200g protein, veggie

Dinner: 100g protein, veggie

You must stay under the 500 calories, so you will most likely need to stick with chicken and fish. Then fill in with veggies to stay under the 500 cals. Here is my plan..

Breakfast: 6 egg whites 96

Lunch: 226g tilapia 220

150g asparagus 30

Dinner: 84g chicken 110

100g romaine 17

Total Calories: 473.0

R4 P2 D16...

Down -1.0 lbs! I am now just 2.3 lbs away from truly official virgin territory. My last round ended at 144.4, but I never stayed there, since I went right up to the 149.8 after adding exercise right out of the gate. Exciting stuff! Today we will start painting as soon as the contractor drops off the paint. We have to have all the paint and trim done before the carpet arrives on Friday morning. Then Saturday morning we have to rip off the counters, so the new ones can be installed Saturday afternoon! This is going to be a very busy week! And just think, on next Saturday it will be day 23! Then it is time to make decisions on how long I want to go. Gotta get to work! Here is what I am having today:

4oz chicken 146.6

200g celery 32.0

215g apple 111.8

40g jay robb 146.6

115g straw 36.8

Total Calories: 473.8

R4 P2 D15...

Down -0.0 lbs :( My first day of no loss..... I knew they would come, but I still hate to see it. I am wondering if cabbage could be a problem for me, or the braggs aminos. I only lost .4 the last time I ate it and that was right at the beginning when I lose big numbers no matter what. I had it again yesterday with only a splash of the aminos and even skipped the evening fruit?? Not sure. I will try a few days of no cabbage, aminos, or miracle noodles and see how that does. I could just be the fact that this is the beginning of all the ups and downs. I will weigh for the next 2 days and then maybe just weigh 3 times next week to avoid the frustration :) Have a list a mile long of stuff to get done today. Then painting for the weekend :) Here is what I am having today:

40g Jay Robb 146.6

115g Strawberries 36.8

4oz chicken 146.6

250g Tomato 45.0

215g Apple 111.8

Total Calories: 486.8

R4 P2 D14...

Down -0.8 lbs! Happy to see that this morning :) The weather definitely made a turn for the worse today. Clouds and rain. Not much going on today. Just work, and more mudding and sanding in the basement. I guess I should enjoy this now, because there is a whole lot of painting coming up, before the carpet arrives a week from tomorrow! I cannot tell you how relatively easy this round has been. Hunger is pretty much non existent and I have that great sense of well being that HCG tends to give. On all of my rounds in the past, the second I go on HCG the sex drive goes out the window. This one, it has gone up! Go figure. Needless to say, the husband is not complaining :) Here is what I am having today:

4oz chicken 146.6

200g celery 32.0

215g apple 111.8

4oz chicken 146.6

125g cabbage 31.5

*miracle noodles

Total Calories: 468.5

R4 P2 D13...

Down -.2 lbs! Well I knew the huge losses couldn't last forever.... :)

I actually got further this round before they started dropping so I guess I

can't complain. I am working this morning and they are continuing the

sanding and mudding today.

Here is what I am having today:

4oz Tuna 100

100g Romaine 17

215g Apple 111.8

4oz Chicken 146.6

250g Tomato 45

115g Straw 36.8

5g Cocoa 10

*Miracle Noodles

Total Calories: 467.20

R4 P2 D12....

Down -1.4 lbs!! So excited to see that. I am now officially -1.2 into new territory! I am especially happy to see that after having to turn down everything at the family Labor Day barbeque. That was pretty hard. I also had miracle noodles yesterday to make sure I would be full, and there obviously was no issue. I also think there was an added boost with TOM leaving. Now I am off to work! Here is what I am having today:

40g Jay Robb 146.6

115g Straw 36.8

5g cocoa 10.0

4oz Tilapia 110.0

60g asparagus 15.0

215g apple 111.8

Total Calories: 430.2

R4 P2 D11....

Well, I wanted to hit 149.8 this morning and I hit 150.0! Down -1.0 lbs!! Only .2 off, but that is just fine with me :) It is official all of my load and vacation weight is gone! I lost -10.4 pounds in 7 effective injections. Even though I ended my last round at 145, I added the exercise too soon and jumped to 149.8 instantly and stayed there. So, anything below this that I can stay at, will be virgin territory for me. Yesterday we spent the day in Park City touring the showcase of homes. Beautiful!! It was a nice day and a lot of fun. It was a little harder being out and about. My husband wanted Burger King for lunch, so I sat across from him eating my bowl of chopped chicken, apple, and celery and sipped my "rootbeer":) All the while chanting my mantra in my head....."I can do anything for 30 days, I can do anything for 30 days..." One funny thing I have started doing is closing my eyes during all of the food commercials :) The second they come on I do this and focus on something else. Sounds crazy, but it really works. I just don't let my mind go there. The crew will be here this morning to start mudding the basement. Very happy that I am busy this round. Makes it go by faster :) Here is what I am having today:

30g Jay Robb 110

115g Straw 36.8

5g Cocoa 10.0

4oz Chicken 146.6

250g Tomato 37.5

215g Apple 111.8

Miracle Noodles 0

Total Calories: 452.7

R4 P2 D10.....

Down -0.4 lbs! Not what I was hoping for but I will take it :) I am going to cross all my fingers and toes and (take some smooth move) and hope for -1.2 tomorrow to reach my first goal! Very happy so far with this round. I feel great, and hunger is in check. I did try miracle noodles yesterday at lunch. They were excellent with chicken and cabbage. I also used some braggs aminos. Those together made it just like chinese. I have used miracle noodles before and did not have an issue. I have not used the braggs before and did not realize how strong they are. It was pretty salty, so that could be why the loss was not quite as good today. I will test again in a few days and not use so much. I hope it works well because that felt like cheating. The miracle noodles were so filling and kept you feeling full for a long time. I could cut both of my fruits and just add miracle noodles to my meals and be just fine :) After reviewing my last 3 rounds I always lose 1+ pounds a day for about 10 days, and then from there I get the sporadic numbers from there on out. I am thinking I will weigh tomorrow and then weigh on Mon, Weds, and Sat. That way there should always be a nice loss, and I don't have to get frustrated on the .2 and .4 days. Unless I really stall. If I do 30 effective injections, and can average -.6, then I can end my round on Sept. 28th and will have reached my goal of 137. I have averaged .52 to .68 on my previous rounds so I really hope I can do it! Here is what I am having today:

4oz Chicken 146.6

250g Tomato 45.0

4oz Chicken 146.6

215g Apple 111.8

200g Celery 32

Total Calories: 482.0

Basement is sheet rocked and ready for mud on Monday! Then paint, trim

and doors, followed by carpet arriving on the 17th and we are finished!!

R4 P2 D9...

Down -1.0 lbs! I was a little worried that with TOM showing up unexpectedly yesterday I might have my first morning of no loss, but thank goodness that was not the case :) Now I just need -1.6 more to get to virgin territory :) The basement will be fully sheet rocked and ready for mud by the end of the day. He said we should be able to start paint and carpet by Thurs next week. I am happy for the distractions :) Still feel great. No horrible cravings or mental battles so far. No real hunger issues either other than maybe 20-30 minutes in the morning or late eve. Here is what I am having today:

4 oz chicken 146.6

215g apple 111.8

125g cabbage 31.25

4oz tilapia 110.0

150g asparagus 37.5

*115g straw 36.8

*5g cocoa 10.0

Total Calories: 437.15

* Did not eat. Had some miracle noodles with my lunch. Too full to have my other 1/2 of apple at lunch, so I just had it at dinner and skipped the second fruit. The miracles noodles with cabbage, chicken, and a little braggs aminos was just like chinese!

I have not done any exercising since I have been so busy other than 30 minutes of walking on the first VLCD.

R2 P2 D8...

Down -1.0 lbs! Only -2.6 to go to reach my first goal of 149.8. That would take off all load and the 5 lbs I gained on vacation :) 149.8 is where I have been since last round, so from there it would be new territory :) I hope to reach 149.8 by Monday's weigh in. I have felt really good so far. The hunger has been great. I did not even eat my second fruit last night. I really feel like the little extra bit of protein is making a difference. My waist measurement is already back to where my last round ended at 27.5 as of this morning. Obviously any weight I have gained went right on the hips and thighs as usual :) My friend who has done every round with me so far, including this one, called me yesterday and said she quit!! So, from here on out it's just me and you guys :) The basement was completely demo'd yesterday. They should be starting sheetrock today. The big decision for today is which color to do for the countertops. They will be doing those as well. Here is what I am planning on eating today:

40g Jay Robb 146.6

115g Strawberries 36.8

5g cocoa 10.0

4oz chicken 146.6

250g Tomato 45.0

215g Apple 111.8

Total Calories: 496.8

*Update: totally weird but TOM showed up this afternoon unexpectedly! Should not have been for about 4-5 more days. A pound loss and TOM.... I will take it :)

R4 P2 D7...

Down -1.4 lbs! Yesterday was really good. I had tons of energy and was never hungry. Not bad at all. I did have the 4oz of protein at each meal, and that was not before cooking. I have been using the Costco pre cooked chicken strips that are just chicken and water. The fish is weighed at 4oz before cooking. I tried the rootbeer stevia in perrier yesterday....SO GOOD :) We got the basement all cleaned out so the contractors can start the demo today. I can't believe we had so much crap down there. I definitely see a garage sale in the future :) I hope today is as good as yesterday. Off to work! Here is what I am having today:

4oz chicken 146.6

200g celery 32.0

215g apple 111.8

4oz tilapia 110.0

150g cabbage 37.5

*115g straw 0.0

*5g cocoa 0.0

Total Calories: 437.9

** I ate dinner late and never ended up having my smoothie :(

R4 P2 D6.....

Down -2.2lbs! So I lost all the load weight plus -0.6 below start weight! Gotta love that. Yesterday was pretty good. I made an apple pie shake, and a choc straw shake out of my lunch protein and split them up thru out the day. We went to the John Mayer concert last night. He was amazing! So good live. It was really fun, but a little hard when people are eating popcorn, glazed nuts, and nachos all around you! I was hungry during that, but the rest of the day was good. I am going to work and then have to get the basement cleaned out because we are having it finished starting this weekend! At least it will keep me busy :) Here is what I am having today:

4oz Chicken 146.6

200g Tomato 36.0

215g apple 111.8

4oz tilapia 110.0

100g asparagus 25.0

115g strawberry 36.8

5g cocoa 10.0

Total Calories: 476.2