A New Ten

Day 13

Weight: 159.6

Finally out of the 160s! Been a while since I've seen that number.

Eight days left on P2. I can see the light! I'm not losing as much as I had hoped to. But any loss is progress, and I'm accepting that a little more than I was earlier this week. The second week is notorious for being a slump, I'm hoping things pick back up next week. 

Other than my weight dropping, I'm noticing a few other changes about my body that I'm liking.

my double chin is gone {!}

my belt has gone down one hole, I can even tighten it to the next one smaller

my pants are definitely looser, even out of the dryer

my shirts are hanging slightly looser and flatter

i am gaining my flexibility back 

{that may or may not all be in my head}

my ribs and hip bones are more noticeable 

I still miss food, of course. Nothing will ever replace the glory that is cheese. But I'm learning some new recipes that aren't too bad. Tonight's dinner was tuna "cakes." They fell apart the second I took them out of the tin, but they tasted good nonetheless. I tried some butternut squash soup today for lunch {that I totally love, just not on protocol}. Keeping my fingers crossed that it didn't mess me up too badly.

I'm pondering the idea of doing a second round. After a break of course. It would be nice to get down to my high school size again. I keep pictures around just to remind myself. It serves as motivation.

On another note {I can't believe I'm about to say this} I can't wait to start working out again. It was a nice routine that I got into. I'm not the most active girl, but this sedentary thing isn't going well for me. Its been drilled into me that exercise = weight loss. It'll be nice to work out again and gain some more muscle. It's one thing to be skinny, it's another to be toned.

Ups and Downs

After losing so much, its a big hit to the ego when you gain. Even if it's only

half a pound.

It still hurts.

Last week I lost a total of 5 pounds. Pretty neat. 

Mother's Day was Sunday. Fams went to MacCool's. I did so good (so I thought). I ordered a beet salad, left the walnuts out, six cups of water, denied candy offered, and sucked down watermelon for dinner.

I guess you can overdo it on something as simple as watermelon.

So today I made certain I was right on target. Salads for lunch and dinner. Fruit "soup" for dessert. 

Add chopped strawberries and pineapples and one packet of stevia to a food processor. Add just enough water to make the fruit move. Blend until desired consistency.

I'm going to freeze it overnight and have it as a sort of sorbet tomorrow night.

I've noticed that I'm not eating as much as I should be. Sometimes I don't even reach the 500 calorie limit. I still feel some hunger pangs at times, but they subside quickly. 

Here's to hoping tomorrow morning is a better day.

Four Days Down

So it's been four days on the Hcg diet. I've lost 1.8 pounds. Not as much as I expected, but it is that time of the month. Loss won't be as high for that week. Hopefully next week will show better results.

Some things I've noticed:

~my "smaller" button on my belt isn't as painful~

~I'm feeling full sooner~

~I'm drinking more water~

Unfortunately I'm also more tired and feel hungry sometimes. I also learned working out is not recommended. I don't want to break my habit I'm trying to create by sleeping in and forgoing exercise, so I'm slowing it down. Only 20 minutes of walking. 

And my cravings for {bad} food are insane.

Tonight's dinner was spectacular. I could have eaten the whole pan.

shrimp. frozen spinach. onion. celery. veggie broth. garlic. old bay.

.yum.

I hope next time there will be a bigger loss to report.

what i ate : July17

the problem with this meal is that it was sooooo good j and i couldn't even take a picture before indulging. i got it in my food network magazine this month.

Orzo Salad with Shrimp and Feta

8 oz orzo pasta

1/2 pound large shrimp (peeled, deveined, etc), coarsly chopped

1/3 c plus 1 T olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

zest and juice from a lemon

4 scallions, sliced

1/2 c chopped fresh mint

1/2 c chopped fresh dill

1 c diced english cuke

4 oz crumbled feta

3 T chopped kalamata olives

cook pasta in boiling water until al dente

toss shrimp with 1 T oil and minced garlic

broil coated shrimp until pink and opaque, turning once

mix all ingredients together and enjoy

{or devour like we did}

what i ate : July12

I did awesome this week and planned a menu! Its worked out wonderfully and I haven't gone to the supermarket once. Last night's dinner was dee-lish-us.

 

Potato-Cheddar Quesadillas with Apple-Chipotle Salsa

for the quesadillas:


2 T oil


1 c sliced onion


1 large carrot, chopped fine or shredded


1 large garlic clove, minced


3 cooked medium new potatoes, sliced into 1/4 in rounds


2 flour tortillas, 8 - 10 inch (i used 4 tortillas because mine are quite small)


4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded or thinly sliced

saute the onions and carrot in the oil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, for about five minutes
reduce heat to medium-low


add garlic and potatoes, saute an additional five minutes, stirring occasionally


build tortillas onto a griddle or pan as follows:


.tortilla.cheese.potato mixture.cheese.tortilla.


cook until cheese is melted and tortilla is slightly brown. flip. repeat.


presto! cut into wedges and serve with....

Apple-Chipotle Salsa


3 sweet apples (such as Fuji, Golden Delicious, whatever's on sale, Gala worked fine for me), cored and chopped


1 c minced red onion


2 green bell peppers, seeded and chopped

2 chipotles, chopped (if dried, soaked in hot water, otherwise use canned in adobo sauce)


1/2 small garlic clove (yeah right, go for the full one)


1/4 c lime juice


1 T apple cider vinegar


1 T olive oil


2 T chopped cilantro


s&p

combine apples, onion, and green peppers in large bowl.


mix remaining ingredients in smaller bowl.


add small bowl ingredients to large bowl ingredients and mix (i covered and shook mine)



and there ya go. super simple. and super yummy.