My HCG Journal. Looks like I need to start one!

[verbqueen]

Cheryl, your food sounds DELICIOUS! And yes, it's the decongestants that monkey with the BP. I avoid those like the plague--they give me palpitations and keep me awake at night.

You're rocking the scale, girlie!

[CherylB]

Thanks, mamacita! How are you doing today on R3? Hope you're doing well. I'm making my way through the threads. I'll go check out your journal next. Love ya!

[Cruzcrzy]

Cheryl,

You are ROCK'in Atkins. Way to go with being in the 160's! So glad to hear you are feeling better.

I appreciate your support. I am not nervous at all today. I have a perfect peace about the surgery. Honestly, it still doesn't seem real to me, lol. I will check in just as soon as I am able even if it is just a few words. Thanks ALL for the well wishes!

[CherylB]

Yes! Any words at all will be perfect. Glad you have peace! It's going to be great. Can't wait to see the pics you'll be posting once you are healing up. You'll have some swelling for a while. Pics of cruise, too! When you have time...

[CherylB]

I have to tell you about the salad I just made and ate! I tend to go overboard when I make a salad, which is why I rarely make them. But I made enough for a couple of meals and this is what I did:

Baby Spinach (packaged.)
Mixed Romaine leaves (packaged.)
red onion, sliced thin then diced
fresh tomato, chopped
2 HB eggs
dark chicken meat, chopped
provalone cheese, cut in strips and then squares
pepperoni, cut in strips
grated parm/ramano cheese
real bacon bits

Spices:

parsley
chives
garlic powder
minced onion
cracked pepper
salt
dried cilantro

Dressing:

Hidden Valley Ranch, full fat and calorie

I put everything in a huge ziplock bag (except the HB eggs, salt and ranch) and gave it an intense shaking until everything was mixed well. Then I poured it out onto a full-sized plate and added the salt, HB eggs and ranch dressing. Then I topped it all off with some grated cheese (in green container.)

Now THAT's how to make a salad!

(When I want to repeat this salad, I'll remember how I made it!) The only thing that would have been good is to add some small walnut pieces and maybe a few blueberries.

[TerriMM]

Originally Posted by CherylB

I have to tell you about the salad I just made and ate! I tend to go overboard when I make a salad, which is why I rarely make them. But I made enough for a couple of meals and this is what I did:

Baby Spinach (packaged.)
Mixed Romaine leaves (packaged.)
red onion, sliced thin then diced
fresh tomato, chopped
2 HB eggs
dark chicken meat, chopped
provalone cheese, cut in strips and then squares
pepperoni, cut in strips
grated parm/ramano cheese
real bacon bits

Spices:

parsley
chives
garlic powder
minced onion
cracked pepper
salt
dried cilantro

Dressing:

Hidden Valley Ranch, full fat and calorie

I put everything in a huge ziplock bag (except the HB eggs, salt and ranch) and gave it an intense shaking until everything was mixed well. Then I poured it out onto a full-sized plate and added the salt, HB eggs and ranch dressing. Then I topped it all off with some grated cheese (in green container.)

Now THAT's how to make a salad!

(When I want to repeat this salad, I'll remember how I made it!) The only thing that would have been good is to add some small walnut pieces and maybe a few blueberries.

Sounds like a yummy P3 salad to me.

[CherylB]

Yep! P3=Atkins. So, one size fits all.

Down only 0.4 today but it's not going well in the bernice department. I am remedying that, though. I will then wait for the mail to be delivered and see if my coffee carafe has come. If not, back to Dunkin Donuts for another Box o' Joe. That is the best coffee! Especially when you bring it home and fix it the way you like it; the way you would if you just brewed it yourself.

I'm still the "snot-nosed kid." When that aspect of the cold resolves, I will be well again.

Marie, praying for you! All will go "textbook"! Dazy, also praying for Noah and his big treatment this weekend. Hoping it is much better than usual. Waving hello and sending hugs to everyone out there today!

Hope we get whooshes tomorrow if we didn't get one in the last few days. Marie will have the biggest whoosh of all, but she won't see it for a while with the swelling.

[CherylB]

Checking in. It's 5:30-ish and I am back from my Dunkin Donuts run. It's freakin COLD outside! Only in the upper 30's. I heard something about frozen precipitation expected tonight, but nothing significant.

Having a broken coffee maker has cost me $30 so far in DD boxed coffee (the brewed kind.) I need to just go without after this. Too expensive if repeated every couple of days. One plus to this is I've gotten a nice "party pack" to contribute at Thanksgiving. They give you a bag of creamers, cups with lids, stir sticks and an abundance of every imaginable packaged sweetener.

I haven't eaten anything yet today. When I'm having a milk of mag kind of day, I like to stick more toward liquids. I think a cleansing day is good for your system sometimes. I weighed during the day today and I was down another 0.8 but I won't count it until I see where I'm at in the morning.

Marie, we're thinking of you honey! Don't be shy. Use drugs! And get up and walk as soon as you are able. We love you!

Hope everyone is doing well tonight! Hugs to all.

[tay65]

hi cheryl ! Hope your carafe comes in soon! I should try DD coffee. I love eat n park's coffee! And this morning I stopped at the gas station on my way to the Dr and got a cup of coffee. I added 3 french vanilla creamers and it was sooo good!
My granddaughter is teething and getting loud and cranky at the moment! I told my dd to give her tylenol. I don't know what my dd would do without me! LOL I know.....I'd get tons of phone calls if she didn't live here!
well, gonna watch the Braxton's now. Have a good night!

[CherylB]

You too! (Don't those creamers have sugar in them? I know the big bottles of flavored creamers do...)

[tay65]

They probably do! But, heck! You only live once and I'm almost dead (I say that all the time here!)!!! I weighed tonight and was 193 point something, so should be darn close to 190!

[CherylB]

Well, today I feel the lovely effects of having an empty GI tract. Down 2.2 since yesterday morning! I hope to continue steady losses on Atkins but I know eventually you hit a wall and the stall comes to stay. Until then, I'm loving it!

Tammy, hope you have a good scale morning. Marie, check in the moment you can, okay? We are praying for you and sending you healing thoughts. Waving hello to everyone else! Ducking out now to catch up on the other threads.

[tay65]

ok cheryl....those creamers are a no-no! I'm up .7 today. I'll be extra careful today. I really didn't think of the sugar in the creamers.

[tay65]

Originally Posted by CherylB

Well, today I feel the lovely effects of having an empty GI tract. Down 2.2 since yesterday morning! I hope to continue steady losses on Atkins but I know eventually you hit a wall and the stall comes to stay. Until then, I'm loving it!

Tammy, hope you have a good scale morning. Marie, check in the moment you can, okay?

Good loss today! Thats great!
I 2nd it....Marie, hope you are doing ok.

[CherylB]

Sorry about the snag with the creamers, Tammy. We really have to become hawks about looking at labels and nutrition info on things before we consume them. I learned that habit doing Atkins back when I restarted it in October of 2009 (when I joined LCF.) It's a great habit to maintain, too. Better to be cautious. Don't worry, though. It's just all a learning process, as is all of life.

[CherylB]

Just an update on my day. I had about 3 cups of left over DD coffee and now I'm almost out again. The carafe didn't come. There's still tomorrow so we shall see. This is getting expensive. I'm going to have to switch to tea. I ate some left over salad that I made the other day and stored in a zip lock bag. (I added 2 HB eggs, dressing and grated cheese.) It was good still! Have a little left for tomorrow but it won't be good much longer than that.

I'm going horseback riding tomorrow! I have an appointment at 11 am at a local stable and I'm going on a one hour trail ride. They require helmets and they only let you walk the horses on the trail, but that's okay for now. They stay open all winter long!

My sister said she'd like to go riding the week after Thanksgiving but now she's not interested. She's not into it now that it's a different stable and they only let you walk the horses. To me, it's a lot better than waiting until May 1st to ride! Something now is a lot better than something better half a year from now.

I haven't ridden in 17 years! So, being that riding was something I had on my list of things I would do semi frequently when I lost my weight, I have waited long enough! I'm going and I'm thrilled! I will take some pics and post them tomorrow afternoon.

[TerriMM]

Originally Posted by CherylB

Just an update on my day. I had about 3 cups of left over DD coffee and now I'm almost out again. The carafe didn't come. There's still tomorrow so we shall see. This is getting expensive. I'm going to have to switch to tea. I ate some left over salad that I made the other day and stored in a zip lock bag. (I added 2 HB eggs, dressing and grated cheese.) It was good still! Have a little left for tomorrow but it won't be good much longer than that.

I'm going horseback riding tomorrow! I have an appointment at 11 am at a local stable and I'm going on a one hour trail ride. They require helmets and they only let you walk the horses on the trail, but that's okay for now. They stay open all winter long!

My sister said she'd like to go riding the week after Thanksgiving but now she's not interested. She's not into it now that it's a different stable and they only let you walk the horses. To me, it's a lot better than waiting until May 1st to ride! Something now is a lot better than something better half a year from now.

I haven't ridden in 17 years! So, being that riding was something I had on my list of things I would do semi frequently when I lost my weight, I have waited long enough! I'm going and I'm thrilled! I will take some pics and post them tomorrow afternoon.

Have a great time Cheryl. I love horseback riding, haven't gone in years. Something I think I need to think about as well. Congrads on the great lose You're doin awsome!!

[CherylB]

Thanks, Terri! I have 0.2 more to add to my total losses, as soon as I get around to updating my siggy for today.

I just got back home from riding and OH BOY do I have stiff hips. I just took 800 mg of Advil and I'm in my PJ's, relaxing. It was embarrassing when I went to mount the horse because I got my left foot in the stirrup and then couldn't swing my right leg over without some help! I asked the girl to give my leg a little push and then I was in the saddle.

I would have expected them to give me a horse that size back before I lost all this weight. This horse could have handled me back around 234 lbs! This was over-kill to be sure. He was a big boy. But even if they had given me a smaller horse, I lack flexibility; especially in my hips. I've always had very tight tendons. I could never even approach anything that looked like a split when I was a teenager.

So, after that, my hips began to loosen up some and I felt like all would be fine. There were four others that were supposed to be riding during that hour and I was the only one who showed. So it was just me and Lori. The temps were in the mid 40's but there was a definite "breeze" which made it feel more like upper 30's. I was fine except for my cheeks during the ride.

The stable itself is very nice and the people are very nice but I'm less than thrilled for a couple of reasons. First, where they take you for a trail ride needs to be gotten to by walking the horses along two roads first. There are two road crossings and then you hang a left to get into the "park" which really wasn't scenic at all.

So, after you get off the large rut that you walk the horses in along the roads, you then take a very rocky (large rocks) wide path (full of ruts from water run-off) up a hill and then it levels out and becomes more sandy. I attempted to get my horse (Merc, named after some guy) to ride beside Lori because with the wind it was difficult to have a conversation. He was more comfortable in the fall-back position with his head practically joined to Lori's horse's buttocks.

So, we got to a certain place and she turned the horses back around and we did the entire thing again. It would have been much nicer if it was a loop trail so that you see different things the entire ride. And it would be great if we rode up into the woods that adjoins their property so there were no roads to cross and ride beside.

Other than that, it was great! It was a good first-ride to break me in after 17 long years of not riding. They have the trail riding, lessons, they board horses and they even offer a "leasing" program. I was asking about that. I was given the phone number to a woman who could fill me in on the details. Basically, you are paying for riding lessons, but you also get to come and ride your leased horse once (or whatever you are paying for in your plan) another time during the week. You get to brush it, saddle it and everything!

Only problem with that is you have to then ride him in the ring outside. I guess once the trainer sees what you are capable of doing, they "loosen the reigns" on you. It is fun to walk a horse, but sometimes you just have to break into a trot or cantor. It takes no skin to sit and steer a horse left and right and get them to stop. And you gain no experience that way either.

But for now, until B&R stables open back up in May, I will ride at Lee's. I'm going to see what it costs for the leasing deal. That would be very cool and it would be something I've never experienced (saddling, etc.)

I will post a couple pics now but they are nothing great.

[paulabob]

How fun! I think it's been 20 years since I've ridden, never did it much but LOVED it. Could never handle a trot though...

[CherylB]

Paula, I was not a good rider either. But now I will try and get better. Maybe a couple lessons will help me get past where I'm at and have been all my life. I want to ride "well", not just ride. I wish I had more money...

I don't want to blow any HCG'ers mind, but I have to tell you what I just made! I've always thought that, for me to be a truly good cook, I'd have to be able to come up with my own recipes from thin-air. Well, I just did!

I made a cream sauce and I poured it over steamed broccoli florets. The broccoli was already in the steamer bag when I bought it so it was no prep at all. But the cream sauce goes like this: (I didn't measure anything.)

Cream cheese (guessing it was 2-3 oz)
Shredded Mexican blend Cheddar cheese (maybe 4 oz)
LWC (again, just estimated.)
Butter (about 3 T.)
Jarred Garlic (a fork-full)
Salt and fresh pepper

I put everything in a deep soup bowl and covered it with a paper plate to keep it from splattering everywhere. I microwaved it for 4 minutes on 6% power. When it was done I took my stick blender and whipped it all up.

At first it was too thick so I added some water and remixed. Then it was too thin so I added more cheddar and hit it in the micro again for 2 minutes. Rewhipped and it was YUMMY!

There's no thickener in it at all, so no nasty pseudo starch or flour (like that thick'n thin stuff or guar gum. That stuff makes things slimy.) It was thick, creamy, rich and fabulous!

I used about half the sauce on half the bag of broccoli. I have no idea the calorie or carb count, but it was amazing. I will use that on many things in the future. You can bet on it! It will be fun to play around with the flavors, too. Maybe leave out the garlic or add fresh lemon or lime? Maybe leave in the garlic and add those things! Wooohooo!

As you can see, I'm loving Atkins right now. Life is good.

Marie, how are you?????

[paulabob]

Originally Posted by CherylB

Cream cheese (guessing it was 2-3 oz)
Shredded Mexican blend Cheddar cheese (maybe 4 oz)
LWC (again, just estimated.)
Butter (about 3 T.)
Jarred Garlic (a fork-full)
Salt and fresh pepper

That sounds so yummy! I know there's a quick alfredo recipe I use that sounds a bit similar - I love it on salmon or any meat really!

Have to agree...atkins just rocks for flavor and food choices! Sure doesn't look like diet food either!

[CherylB]

I know it. I'm going to be putting that stuff on everything. With just a little tweaking for each dish to skew it for the meal, I'll bet that could be very versatile. Good thing I can get away with a good amount of dairy on LC. Otherwise something like that on top of drinking cup after cup of coffee with LWC would push me over the edge.

I'd love to see your Alfredo sauce recipe, Paula! When you have time...

[Cruzcrzy]

Cheryl, please keep praying. I am in the hospital!!! The surgery went well, but, I developed a fever, so came in to er, checked out okay, no infection, no blood clots, but having problems with oxygen levels due to my lungs being compressed. I am going through breathing treatments. Hope to be able to go home tomorrow. It is what is, but, don't think I will be recommeding this to others. I am thankful no pneumonia. I am not sure if I will be on later, but, wanted to update you. Much love to you all.

[CherylB]

I prayed the moment I read your post, Marie. Whatever is causing your low oxygen level and "lung compression" (is that how they are describing this to you?), you will be healed of it. It's only a bump in the road and you will look back and decide that it was worth doing. Have faith and also have peace about this. It will be fine.

I was so excited to see you posted but that quickly turned to concern! I will continue to pray, you continue to being open for healing from our Father. Trust, honey. It will all pass and you'll have that tiny tummy to show for it.

Please post again as soon as you can. We love you!

[paulabob]

Originally Posted by Cruzcrzy

Cheryl, please keep praying. I am in the hospital!!! The surgery went well, but, I developed a fever, so came in to er, checked out okay, no infection, no blood clots, but having problems with oxygen levels due to my lungs being compressed. I am going through breathing treatments. Hope to be able to go home tomorrow. It is what is, but, don't think I will be recommeding this to others. I am thankful no pneumonia. I am not sure if I will be on later, but, wanted to update you. Much love to you all.

Sending prayers out to you. Hope you are recovered 100% very quickly.

[tay65]

Marie, sending prayers out to you. Hope you are well soon!
Cheryl, I'm at my 1st goal....190.3!!! I started P3 at 1:00 today. Taking things verrryyyy slowww! Just had 1 cup of 1% cottage cheese. Going to have a salad with a couple hb eggs in it. NO cheese yet! I'm staying away from cheese for a while.
TOM started yesterday so that was the culprit for the small gain afterall. Dropped a couple pounds over night!
I still don't feel like eating much though. I'm sure that will change soon!
The riding sounded "interesting". I would have been bored out of my mind though! LOL
Have a nice day!
Steelers aren't playing today, but watching the Baltimore game & praying they lose! Then we'll be #1 IN OUR DIVISION!!!

[CherylB]

Hi, Tammy. I hope you enjoy your football game and get the desired results! It must be a nice change to be in P3 now but I'm glad you are going cautiously into it.

Nice whoosh! I didn't experience a return to hunger in P3. It was like my stomach had shrunken or something. I did do a tremendously long P2 so that probably was the reason. Also, eating LC is a natural appetite suppressant.

I'd much rather ride a horse that's just walking along than watch a sporting event on TV! To each his/her own. It was great to be back on a horse again but it showed me how much stretching and preparing I need to do before I go again. I noticed today on my mega shopping spree that my left hip is still not entirely recovered. I have a "hitch in my giddy up."

(Marie, I am hoping you are feeling so much better right now. Please do post when you have the time and ability.)

I decided to go and do my shopping errands even though it's Sunday and I feared mega madness on the streets and in the stores. At first it seemed too good to be true! It was as if I was out and about at a time when everyone was at work or asleep or something. Then as time went on and it got later in the afternoon, everyone and his brother was shopping.

1- CVS to p/u one script: $16.23.
2- Filled the gas tank: $40.
3- Stopped at the pet store for Cisco's favorite flippities (rawhide chips): $23.78
4- Stopped at Goodwill just for fun. $23.37
(All those were on the right side of the road. On the way back, I hit the stores on the right side again.)
5- Ocean State Job Lot for an assortment of nuts, bird seed and a coffee maker: $83.32
6- Price Chopper (grocery store): $51.32

Grand Total: $$ Too damn much $$

I got home and inhaled half of a rotisserie chicken that I bought at the last stop. MAN I'm diggin those lately!

I'm pretty sure I won't be buying more: Bird seed and DD Coffee!

Going to chill a while now. BBL. Blessings to all of you!

[Cruzcrzy]

Thanks, gals, for the prayers. They are working! I am doing so well that they have reduced my breathing treatments from every 4 hours to 3 times per day. My last one will be at around 7, and then it should finally be a night of rest except for constantly getting up for the commode. Dh will stay and help for that. He's been an absolute jewel. My mom will arrive on Thursday, and he can finally get some rest. My post op appointment is on Tuesday, but, I am pretty sure I will be home before then. I have not seen my surgeon which is a bit disappointing. He came personally recommended from a friend that has had several things done within the last 4-5 years. She's also recommended many people to him. I do not blame him AT ALL, and think he does excellent word, don't know for sure since I haven't really seen mine, lol, but, do believe a pop in with a work of encouragement would have been a "nice gesture". I am sure he thinks the hospital has everything under control, and they do, but, they don't deal with anything involving the surgery like my compression garments. I could have taken a shower today, but, they were not willing to help with my compression garments which I DO understand on some level. I'll just be stinky for my post op appointment and they can help with it all. Enough rambling. Really appreciate the prayer support, more than words can express. There will be no more elective surgery for me. It's not worth the risk. You never think it can happen to you, but, it can.

[paulabob]

Originally Posted by Cruzcrzy

There will be no more elective surgery for me. It's not worth the risk. You never think it can happen to you, but, it can.

I'm just so glad you're doing okay, and on the mend.

Surgeon SHOULD check you. When my friend had a bowel resection last year...I even met him, and he checked on her every day and made sure she met the doctor who would be there while he was on his days off. He even spoke with me and was encouraging. And she had fabulous nurses too.

All I can say is I'm not a hospital fan - quality can really vary from place to place. After my first and only hospital experience I decided a home birth would be safer with my second child. I don't regret that, but ouch!

[Cruzcrzy]

I agree Paula. All I was expecting was a hello, sorry this happened, glad you are doing well. He comes with glowing reviews from many in the community, but, he definitey falls short is this arena. He may think I blame him, but, I do not. I do realize things happen. My friend feels horrible, and she should not, and it is really bugging her that he has not made some sort of appearance. Dh went home for a bit so maybe there is something on the machine, but, I doubt it. I know that they know I am here, but, we called again this afternoon to confirm they did indeed check me in, so they can not say we didn't tell them.
We also realized we didn't get a "follow up" call from the Surgicare Center where I stayed either like they said they would be doing in our outpatient paperwork. Oh well, I am choosing to dwell on the positive, and there is much, but, do feel I must be completely honest about the WHOLE situation.