Flower Pin Overload

Confession. I have fallen in love with fabric flowers.  They are the first thing on my mind when I wake up, and the last thing I think about before I snooze for the night.  Well ok, maybe my adoration of fabric flowers isn't quite that unhealthy, but it definitely borders on obsession.  They are the perfect accessory (says the girl who doesn't know how to accessorize) for almost anything.  Have a bare bag? Pop on a bright wool rosette. Is your sweater a little boring?  Zhuzh it up with a hand embroidered flower trio. Thanks to some very helpful tutorials, I was able to make a few myself.

First, I came across the flower pin/brooch tutorial that guest blogger Elycia gave at She Breathes Deeply. So cute. I love the colors Elycia chose for her flower, and the patterned fabric reminded me of some flannel I bought last weekend. Here is the result of my first try. If you like it, go visit the tutorial and Elycia's blog.

I also made a couple of flower pins from this tutorial over at Jones Design Company. So fun, fast, and easy.

Time to go make more!

R1P2D24

It's the last day of VLCD (Very Low Calorie Diet)! As I've mentioned before, I am so excited that P3 allows a greater variety of foods, including nearly all fruits and veggies, fats (butter, EVOO, avocado), dairy (milk, cream, cheese), and extras like almonds. We are still not allowed any starch or sugar on P3, but everything else is fair game, so long as we are staying within a calorie range that meets our body's specific metabolic needs. My goal is to stay around 1600 calories each day, but Ross will likely need about 1800 calories to maintain his current weight loss. The goal of P3 will be to maintain our current weight within 2 lbs. for the next three weeks. Yes, losing more than 2 lbs. from our LDW (Last Dose Weight) could be just as detrimental to the stabilization process. This period of stabilization is absolutely critical as our hypothalamus resets and gets used to our new normal weight.

The stats from this morning...
Ross: 198.4 / -3.0 / -28.6 total (Congrats hubs!  You met your goal!!)
Kelly: 164.6 / -2.0 / -22.0 total (Whew!)

Today's Menu:

Lunch: 1 Whole Egg w/ 1/4 C Egg Whites, Tomatoes, Basil, Oranges

Dinner: Chicken, Broccoli, Baked Cinnamon Apples (not pictured)

R1P2D23

This morning's weigh-in sadly resulted in a couple of significant gains on the scale. Perhaps we indulged too liberally in the Chocolate Delight yesterday (probably only had 1-2 TB. each), or we are simply retaining water. Either way, we know we will have to get used to occasional fluctuations. I have to keep reminding myself that slight gains are completely normal and not necessarily a sign that we are doing anything wrong.

Here are the stats...
Ross: 201.4 / +1.2 / -25.6 total
Kelly: 166.6 / +0.8 / -20.0 total

Today's Menu:

Lunch: Leftover Chicken Curry with Tomato and Onion

Dinner: BBQ'd Shrimp with Marinated Spinach and Apples

R1P2D22

Happy November! Today was our first day off hCG, but we will continue on the 500 calories per day until November 4. Apparently it takes three days for all of the hCG to leave your body following the last dose, and it is essential to stay at 500 calories until then.

Here are today's numbers...

Ross: 200.2 / -1.0 / -26.8 total

Kelly: 165.8 / -1.0 / -20.8 total

Hmm... maybe there is some truth to the magical Chocolate Delight?

Today's Menu:

Lunch: 1 Whole Egg with 1/4 C Egg Whites, Salsa, Apple

Dinner:  Baja Ensalada (from Baja Fresh) with Romaine, Pico de Gallo and Charbroiled Chicken (no picture)

R1P2D21

Today's stats...

Ross: 201.2 / -1.0 / -25.8 total

Kelly: 166.8 / -0.4 / -19.8 total

Since tonight was Halloween, I decided to make an hCG protocol-friendly treat known as Chocolate Delight. I've waited until now to make this chocolate treat because I didn't want to compromise my weight loss in any way. Some hCGers eat Chocolate Delight every day throughout P2 and P3 without any gains... many of these people are convinced that the Chocolate Delight, which is made with coconut oil, actually helps you lose more weight. Still others hold fast to Dr. Simeons' recommendation to avoid all fats until P3. 

There are several Chocolate Delight recipes online, but this is what I did after tweaking the original recipe a bit.

Chocolate Delight

1 cup coconut oil, melted

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

8 packets Stevia

Light sprinkle of salt (optional)

Flavored Liquid Stevia, to taste (optional)

Mix all ingredients until well combined.  Pour into a pie tin and place in freezer for 30-60 minutes.  Remove Chocolate Delight from freezer and break into smaller pieces, using a knife if necessary.  Store in the fridge in a sealed container.

Today's Menu:

Lunch: Outback Steak (leftovers), Steamed Broccoli, Apples

Dinner: Chicken Curry with Onion and Tomato

R1P2D20

Shrimp, chicken and egg whites have become our staple proteins lately.  Dr. Simeons recommends that beef be eaten sparingly (because it is higher in calories than chicken or fish), and we have tried to adhere to that as much as possible. However, sometimes beef just can't be avoided... Like when the folks invite you and hubby to dinner at Outback.  Yum, yum, steak here we come!

This morning's stats...
Ross: 202.2 / -0.0 / -24.8 total
Kelly: 167.2 / -0.8 / -19.4 total

Today's Menu:

Lunch: Chicken-Spinach Roll Ups

Dinner: Steak, Steamed Broccoli (half portion)

R1P2D19

Another day, and we are still experiencing successes, though smaller than at first.  With just a couple of days left on P2, Ross and I still hope to lose another couple of pounds each.  Ross would like to get below 200 lbs., and I would be ecstatic to break 20 lbs. lost.

Today's stats...
Ross: 202.2 / -0.4 / -24.8
Kelly: 168.0 / -0.2 / -18.6

Today's Menu:

Lunch: Egg Whites, Tomato, Apples

Dinner: Shrimp Lettuce Wraps with Salsa (kind of pathetic looking)

R1P2D18

It's less than a week until we "graduate" to P3 and I am beyond excited to move past the limited choices of P2. Even though I'm experimenting with new recipes, the predictability of it all can be somewhat yawn-inducing.  I'm very much looking forward to more variety!

This morning's numbers...
Ross: 202.6 / -1.0 / -24.4 total
Kelly: 168.2 / -0.6 / -18.4 total

Today's Menu:

Dinner: Baja Ensalada from Baja Fresh with Romaine, Pico de Gallo, and Shrimp (no picture)

R1P2D17

The stats...
Ross: 203.6 / -1.0 / -23.4 total
Kelly: 168.8 / -0.2 / -17.8 total

Today's Menu:

Lunch: Sauteed Shrimp and Broccoli, Oranges

Dinner: Chicken Lettuce Wraps (K), Beef Cabbage Rolls (R), Apples

R1P2D16

Day 16 and 40 lbs. gone between the two of us!

This morning's stats...
Ross: 204.6 / -0.8 / -22.4 total
Kelly: 169.0 / -0.8 / 17.6 total

Today's Menu:

Lunch: Chipotle Salad (K), Chicken and Tomatoes (R), Apples

Dinner: Beef Cabbage Rolls with Tomato Sauce

R1P2D15

Today, Ross and I stopped for lunch at Chipotle on our way home from LA. It was pretty funny because we stood in line for at least 5 minutes debating whether or not we should eat there since we weren't sure what fats or oils the food may have been cooked with. We wouldn't have given it a second thought merely two weeks ago. It just goes to show how the hCG protocol is altering our thought processes in regards to food. It is a much needed change for us.

Ross: 205.4 / +0.6 / -21.6 total
Kelly: 169.8 / -1.0 / -16.8 total

Today's Menu:

Lunch: Chipotle Salad with Romaine, Pico de Gallo Chicken (half)

Dinner: Egg White Scramble, Salsa, Strawberries

R1P2D14

Tonight, I'm blogging from a hotel room near Newport Beach. I get to meet up with dear friends tomorrow for a mini-reunion, so Ross and I decided to stay the night nearby so we wouldn't have to brave the LA traffic in the morning.  I was unsure if we'd be able to stay on the hCG protocol while staying away from home, but the hotel staff was more than accommodating of our needs and they provided us with a microwave in our room.  I also recently found out that egg whites are an acceptable protein while on P2, so we decided to have breakfast for dinner tonight.  Egg whites were a welcome change from the beefy meatballs we've been eating lately and they cooked up nicely in the microwave.

Here are the numbers from this morning...
Ross: 204.8 / -0.2 / -22.2 total
Kelly: 170.8 / +0.2 / -15.8 total

Today's Menu:

Dinner: Meatballs (again!), Spinach, Oranges

Dinner: Egg Whites, Tomatoes, Apples (no picture)

R1P2D13

In honor of today's leftover lunch, I'm posting the meatball recipe from last night. The meatballs were made with 1 lb. lean ground sirloin, two crushed Grissini, 2 TB. chopped onion, and generous sprinklings of basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. I mixed it all together and formed the meat into 0.9oz meatballs. The sauce is made from organic, low sugar tomato paste, water, and spices.

The stats...
Ross: 205.0 / -1.6 / -22.0 total
Kelly: 170.6 / -1.4 / -16.0 total

Today's Menu (I love leftovers):

Lunch: Meatballs, Marinated Tomatoes (our fruit), Broccoli

Dinner: Chicken with Pico de Gallo

R1P2D12

Just another day in hCG land.  I am really thankful that Ross and I are tackling this phase of the hCG protocol while being unemployed.  I have the luxury of cooking each meal right before we eat it, and I don't have to spend any additional time preparing meals that we can take with us to work.  Our environment is extremely controlled right now and we aren't having to contend with the yummy goodies that can often be found in a normal working environment.  All that to say, we are actively looking and interviewing for jobs, and we look forward to entering the workforce again someday soon.

The numbers from this morning...
Ross: 206.6 / -1.0 / -20.4 total
Kelly: 172.0 / -0.8 / -14.6 total

Today's Menu:

Lunch: Baked Chicken, Marinated Tomatoes, Apples

Dinner: Meatballs with Tomato Sauce, Strawberries, Grissini

R1P2D11

I think we've finally hit our stride with P2, and we are starting to get a little more creative with our meals. At least, we are starting to think about getting more creative with our meals. I see a big future with us and pico de gallo... it just goes with everything!

This morning's stats...
Ross: 207.6 / -1.4 / -19.4 total
Kelly: 172.8 / -0.8 / -13.8 total

Today's Menu:

Lunch: Baked Lemon Chicken, Apples

Dinner: Sauteed Shrimp with Pico de Gallo, Strawberries

R1P2D10

Ten days in and a combined 31.0 pounds lighter. We are loving this protocol. There have been no hunger pangs since day 5 and we still have tons of energy. Ross jumps on the treadmill for a few minutes everyday and says he feels great. Actually, starting a new fitness program while on the hCG diet isn't advised, because that working out requires a greater caloric intake and we are limited to 500 calories each day.  I haven't been working out and probably won't until we up our calories in the next phase.

The numbers...

Ross: 209.0 / -0.8 / -18.0 total

Kelly: 173.6 / -1.2 / -13.0 total

Today's Menu:

Lunch: BBQ'd Shrimp, Spinach Salad, Oranges

Dinner: Leftover Steak, Broccoli, Apples

R1P2D9

Another stall for me today.  It's ok, as I anticipated a few bumps in the road.  I know that this is just my body's way of getting used to the weight loss and it's trying to stabilize as best as possible.

The stats...
Ross: 209.8 / -0.4 / -17.2 total
Kelly: 174.8 / -0.0 / -11.8 total

Today's Menu:

Lunch: Baked Chicken, Marinated Cucumbers, Apples

Dinner: Steak (3oz), Steamed Broccoli

Yes, we went out to dinner tonight while on P2!  I was getting tired of preparing a different protein, veggie, and fruit for each meal (especially when the choices are so limited), and we really wanted a night out, so we went to Outback.  The plate contains a 6oz. steak and a double portion of steamed broccoli.  We just at half and took the rest home.  The broccoli and steak both have seasoning, but neither were cooked in any oil or butter.  Outback was so great at meeting our requests.  We also got to share our hCG story with the very curious waitress!

R1P2D8

One week of P2 down, and two more to go.

This morning's numbers...
Ross: 210.2 / -0.8 / -16.8 total
Kelly: 174.8 / -0.8 / -11.8 total

Today's Menu:

Lunch: Salsa Shrimp, Tomato Slices

Dinner: BBQ'd Chicken, Asparagus, Strawberries

R1P2D7

Meh, today we both experienced a small weight loss, but we are still averaging over a pound per day so I'm feeling good.

Today's stats...
Ross: 211.0 / -0.2 / -16.0 total
Kelly: 175.6 / -0.2 / -11.0 total

Tonight we went to a concert in the park, so we had to get creative with our dinner options. I made a fiesta chicken soup and we brought some oranges for dessert.  The soup was very basic... just some low sodium, fat free chicken broth, shredded chicken, and 1/2 cup of mild salsa.

Today's Menu:

Lunch: Baked Tilapia, Steamed Broccoli, Grissini

Dinner: Fiesta Chicken Soup (and Oranges)

R1P2D6

I'm back on track and will continue chugging water throughout the rest of this hCG round.  Really, it's a good habit to get into, so why not?

The stats...
Ross: 211.2 / -2.6 / -15.8 total
Kelly: 175.8 / -1.2 / -10.8 total

Today's Menu:

Lunch: Shrimp Curry with Spinach

Dinner: Grilled Chicken, Green Beans, Strawberries, Grissini

R1P2D5

We made it through Friday and are still standing :) No hunger today, and I hope it stays that way. This diet has been completely manageable thus far. Despite occasional hunger pains in the beginning of the week, we have had no fatigue, dizziness, or anything else one might associate with eating only 500 calories per day. Our energy level has been great!

Here are this morning's stats...
Ross: 213.8 / -0.8 / -13.2 total
Kelly: 177.0 / +0.4 / -9.6 total

Yep, I've hit my first official gain during the program. I'm attributing it to insufficient water intake, so I increased my H2O to 100oz. today and I hope to see a better result on the scale tomorrow.  Ross, as usual, is still losing like crazy.  Oh, to be a guy.  They lose excess pounds with so little effort, it's maddening!

Today's Menu:

Lunch: Veal (K), Tilapia (R), Spinach, Oranges

Dinner: Chicken Curry with Grissini

R1P2D4

Hmm... Ross and I have both been a little hungry off and on the last couple of days. We probably didn't load as well as we could have in the first couple of days. From my reading, it looks like a high fat load works best at warding off hunger. We definitely had fat, but we also "carbed" it up pretty well. Donuts, hamburger buns, fries, pizza, ice cream = high carb/sugar foods. This may explain the grumbles coming from bellies.

However, we are still losing at a consistent pace!

This morning's stats...
Ross: 214.6 / -2.6 / -12.4 total
Kelly: 176.6 / -2.2 / -10.0 total

Today's Menu:

Lunch: Baked Chicken, Steamed Broccoli, Strawberries

Dinner: Lobster Tail, Steamed Green Beans, Apples

R1P2D3

Still losing!

Stats from this morning's weigh in...
Ross: 217.2 / -3.8 / -9.8 total
Kelly: 178.8 / -2.0 / -7.8 total

Today's Menu:

Lunch: Baked Chicken, Steamed Broccoli, Apple

Dinner: Baked Tilapia, Tomatoes, Orange

R1P2D2

This morning's stats...

Ross: 221.0 / -2.4 / -6.0 total

Kelly: 180.8 / -3.2 / -5.8 total

Today's Menu:

Lunch: Baked Chicken, Cucumbers, Sliced Strawberries

Dinner: BBQ'd Shrimp, Asparagus, Apples

R1P2D1

Well, we awoke this morning from a sugar and fat induced coma feeling very excited about the first day of hCG phase 2 (also known as Round1, Phase 2, Day 1 or R1P2D1). After the junk we ate this past weekend, eating clean was about the only thing we wanted to do! Ross and I weighed in at 227.0 and 186.6 respectively at the end of our two loading days. Yikes! We certainly have packed it on in the last 19 months. However, starting today, we are walking away from an unhealthy lifestyle in pursuit of much better eating habits.

Here are the stats from our morning weigh in.  We are happy with this start!
Ross: 223.4 / -3.6 since yesterday
Kelly: 184.0 / -2.6 since yesterday

We are taking 10 drops sublingually, 3 times per day.  We are also drinking tons of water, as we've heard that it's essential while following the hCG protocol.  Hopefully we will have good results again tomorrow.

Today's Menu:

Lunch: Baked Tilapia, Green Beans, Apples

Dinner: Pan Fried Veal, Romaine Salad with Strawberries