VLCD56 - Thinking of switching to low carb shakes

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

Meh. Shakes have been fine, however, in a munch attack last night, I ate about a dozen pickles and two apples on TOP of my meals.

Am down .4 today though. So I will take it! Hopefully the scale won't punish me tomorrow!

Well, I can understand that. You were only having shakes so you were dying for some actual food!

That certainly wasn't bad for having a munch attack! The scale is being good to you. Will keep my fingers crossed that it stays that way for tomorrow!

[LilacBruze]

Yes! The thing about the shakes is, they are very filling at the time, but I find that my stomach empties pretty fast and I am left hungry sooner than I usually am! Last night I was scrambling around the kitchen looking for something *safe* to eat and decided on the pickles because they were 0 calories, 0 fat, 0 carbs. I'm sure that was only for one though and not twelve!

[porkfatrules]

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

Thanks! I saw one of 4 gallons of milk posted on someone's blog and thought to myself... hey I've lost twice that... and a new siggy line was born!

Ms Porky, how is P3 treating you?

BTW, I don't think a grocery store would have enough pounds of butter to equal how much I've lost!

Definitely -- you would have needed a hand-truck to carry your butter! And, it would all have melted by the time you stacked it. You've done really, really well!

P3 is fine! I've been on the P3 thread a lot, so you haven't seen my reports -- I went up 4 pounds above my LDW, did a couple of corrections, figured out some stuff I ate that doesn't work for me, and am now happily 2.5 below LDW and eating like a horse! Well, a horse that likes chicken thighs and bacon, of course . . . Anyway, it's all good! Getting ready for vacation in a week, and will go to P4 for a few weeks, then try to decide when to do Round 2.

Enjoy those shakes!!!!

[lbecker28]

Originally Posted by ljspears

Lilac, I use protein shakes and have had great results.
I use them 2 different ways: either as a full meal replacement (110 cal/ 25 grams protein) along with my vegetable or with my strawberry slushie I add 1 tbs of the protein powder (about 30 cal/6 grams of protein).

I use the ones that are made with stevia:either Jay Robb or Genuine Health Proteins Plus Powder

Everytime I have used, I have lost 1-2 pounds.

Good to know! I have some of the Jay Robb protein powder in my cabinet. Now I know I can use it in a pinch or for a chocolate craving.

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

Yes! The thing about the shakes is, they are very filling at the time, but I find that my stomach empties pretty fast and I am left hungry sooner than I usually am! Last night I was scrambling around the kitchen looking for something *safe* to eat and decided on the pickles because they were 0 calories, 0 fat, 0 carbs. I'm sure that was only for one though and not twelve!

I did the veggie shakes for years as a lowcarber. One thing you could try is having half of your shake at first, since they are nice and big, and then wait 2 or 3 hours and have the rest. Hopefully that will help with the hunger control.

[RedsSkinnyJeans]

Hey Lilac,

Just stopping by to say hello. You're doing great!!!!

[LilacBruze]

Thank you! Today was easier as far as appetite. The urge to munch seems to have dissipated. I had a shake at about 11am and again at 5:30pm, iced coffee and water throughout the day. I have gotten used to plain, black iced coffee but I dream of being able to use HWC as well as Da Vinci flavored syrups. That reminds me, I need to place an order with netrition.com for several things, better hurry with P3 right around the corner!

2nd day of TOM and it is pretty light for me. I'm not complaining!

I'm hoping for a whoosh soon. This morning I was 206.6, no closer to ONEderland!

[Dreamchaser]

I adore iced coffee but it has to be loaded with cream and sweetener for me so I'm not drinking it right now.

I am sure in love with my mineral water with Stevia and Sweet Leaf chocolate raspberry drops though!

So glad your hunger with the shakes is better. It sounds like you'll be in P3 in no time!

[LilacBruze]

Blah. Up again today, to the tune of 1.4 lbs.

I just don't get it.

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

Blah. Up again today, to the tune of 1.4 lbs.

I just don't get it.

Oh crap! I'm sorry LB! I bet it is just stupid TOM reeking havoc with you again and it will be OK soon!

[LilacBruze]

Hubby gave me a lymphatic massage last night and I started peeing like crazy again. He said he could feel my glands were swollen so no doubt that caused some major water retention.

Bernice finally visited too, after a 4 day leave of absence. I'm sure it was due to having only the P2 shakes and not having any real solid food for days.

Having said that, I had a 3 lb whoosh and am weighing in at 205.0. FINALLY!!

Six more pounds, six more pounds. Six more pounds until P3 and cheeseburger time!!

[porkfatrules]

I KNEW you'd get a whoosh -- even just the hot weather makes us retain some water, sometimes . . . 3 pounds is amazing! You're really close . . .

[nmbnancy]

So glad your hubby has magic hands Congrats on the whoosh !

[LilacBruze]

Thanks Ms Porky! These last few weeks have been so unpredictable and a little discouraging. I totally understand the frustration others have when their losses are slow. In the past 14 days I have only lost 4.2 lbs.

My mind is determined to be more stubborn than my body though. I WILL hang in until ONEderland. Failure is not an option!

My goal was to be 210 by the 4th of July so I DID accomplish that.

MY first goal was to reach 226 (a new low for me) by Memorial Day and I did that too.

I'm VERY proud of myself for losing 67 lbs in 4 months. When I see my doc in 2 days, he won't recognize me. I am looking forward to telling him how I did it, too. When we last met on 4/4, he had not heard of hcg being used for weight loss and told me I could try it as long as everything went okay. I'd say everything went okay! I hope that my results open his eyes and I know he will respond with an open mind, just like he did when I proved to him that natural supplements can be used instead of medications to lower cholesterol.

My blood panel (sans cholesterol, that is taking a few days longer) came back totally normal and when the nurse was reading me the results over the phone yesterday, she made it a point to mention that the doc had written "EXCELLENT!!" by my A1C number - it had gone down DRAMATICALLY in the last 3 months.

I feel great - albeit mentally dying for some real food. It has been a LONG round of staying on protocol. VLCD61 for me here as of today. Loving my size 16 jeans and XL tops and dresses!! I love the new me!

61 days and I have lost 39.8 lbs thanks to hHCG!

[RedsSkinnyJeans]

WoooHoooo!!!!!!!

I love your attitude!!!!

[dazygyrl]

BIG congrats on your stamina, lilac! i can't to hear what your doc has to say.

this little tidbit caught my eye....would you mind sharing what supplements you used? our doc doesn't like dh's LDL. we are rechecking it in aug. i'm not convinced it's the bad LDL as he has LC'd for 2.5 years. i'm fairly certain it's fluffy LDL based on the rest of his cholesterol numbers, but doc says it's all bad cholesterol. sooooo, i would be grateful to hear what you used, if you don't mind sharing.

just like he did when I proved to him that natural supplements can be used instead of medications to lower cholesterol.

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

I had a 3 lb whoosh and am weighing in at 205.0. FINALLY!!

Six more pounds, six more pounds. Six more pounds until P3 and cheeseburger time!!

AWESOME NEWS! I also can't wait to hear what your doctor says after he sees you!!! He's going to flip out!

[LilacBruze]

Man, how does a huge container of cottage cheese from Sam's Club go SO fast?

Down .4 today. Only 4.8 lbs until ONEderland!

[LilacBruze]

I've coined a new phrase - "I'm starvin' as fast as I can" lol.

[dazygyrl]

Congrats, lilac! You'll be there in no time!

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

I've coined a new phrase - "I'm starvin' as fast as I can" lol.

Lilac, what exactly do you put in your shakes? Do you find that they are low in calories but high in protein?

[LilacBruze]

I make it per the recipe posted on another thread, 3oz spinach, 3oz lowfat cottage cheese, 5oz strawberries, 1 TB cocoa powder, stevia, 16oz water/ice, and then I add one scoop of protein powder. Made that way, each shake has 240 calories, 30g protein, 5g fat.

[Dreamchaser]

Oh, OK, gotcha. That's the one I posted in this thread from Viola.

[Dreamchaser]

I was thinking I might try switching it up a little and have the shake for breakfast without the spinach and then having the spinach later on for lunch with "honey mustard" dressing. Not sure if I'm going to do that but it's an idea.

[LilacBruze]

Originally Posted by Dreamchaser

Oh, OK, gotcha. That's the one I posted in this thread from Viola.

Ah yes, you had posted it here but she had originally posted it in another thread is what I meant.

No loss today which was a bit disappointing because a) I am sitting here with a grumbling stomach and it's only 6am and b) my highly anticipated doc visit is today and I was really hoping to be down a little more for my "official" weigh-in.

Seriously. These last few pounds have been such an extreme challenge for me. I really had planned on being in P3 as of this weekend. In fact, I had made plans to go out to eat with my husband and daughter so I could have a cheeseburger (no bun or ketchup of course) and now they will be SO disappointed to hear, "Maybe next week." I don't mind going out with them and pushing some lettuce around my plate but both of them have said they would rather wait and see me actually ENJOY food than just sitting there watching them eat. Still. I'm disappointed. I was really looking forward to that cheeseburger!

Since my results for this ending week weigh in are similar to last week's, I can't blame the shakes I have been drinking. Last week I weighed in with a 3.6 lb loss, and after a week of shakes, I weighed in this morning with a 3.8 lb loss for the week. I guess it's still the average of half a lb a day.

I just bought more cottage cheese and frozen strawberries so I am committing to the shakes for one more week.

[Bejewelme]

Lilac-
I never did HCG, but I am so in awe of you girls that can do it and stick with it!
I like to read about it because I too am creeping, dragging, ever so slowly now to onederland, a place I never thought I would see, all the working out is building muscle so the scale is a bummer!

I wanted to tell you about a shake I drink pre or post workout, it is Syntax brand Nectar, I drink the one that tastes like a pina colada, but all the flavors are delicious! It is whey protein,100 calories, 23 grams of protein, 0 fat 0 carbs, you can mix it with water, it can be found at the local vitamin store! I think additional protein is always a good idea especially when you are so low calorie. When I find a good shake I like to share, LOL I have spent so much money on totally crappy whey drinks!

You are so inspiring, I cant wait to see your onederland post!!!!!! You should be so proud of yourself!!!!!And indeed the blood work is the most success, you are not only improving your looks but your longevity!

I'll be waiting!

Amber

[LilacBruze]

Thank you!

Sometimes I think that ONEderland is just some mythical creature, like the unicorn. The last time I weighed under 200 lbs was 1992.

I will keep that shake brand in mind, but I have a surplus of a brand I purchased online that I am really happy with and at $21 a can, with about 5 cans in my pantry, I won't be buying a new one any time soon.

Congrats on your amazing loss! That is awesome! You've lost a whole person! Well, a whole skinny person lol.

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

I make it per the recipe posted on another thread, 3oz spinach, 3oz lowfat cottage cheese, 5oz strawberries, 1 TB cocoa powder, stevia, 16oz water/ice, and then I add one scoop of protein powder. Made that way, each shake has 240 calories, 30g protein, 5g fat.

Well, I tried adjusting my shake ingredient amounts to the same as in this recipe with my brand of cottage cheese (Horizon organic) and my brand of protein powder (Jay Robb) and I get 270 calories, 39g protein and 3.1 grams of fat.

The amounts are a little better when I leave out the cocoa powder (I haven't used the cocoa powder yet but still might try it) 250 calories, 2.6 grams of fat, but still 38.1 grams of protein.

I can't help but wonder if the protein amount I'm getting is too much!

Lilac, how many grams of protein is in a scoop of your protein powder?

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by LilacBruze

No loss today which was a bit disappointing because a) I am sitting here with a grumbling stomach and it's only 6am and b) my highly anticipated doc visit is today and I was really hoping to be down a little more for my "official" weigh-in.

Girl, stop being so hard on yourself! I know your disappointed because the scale didn't move today but, OMG, you have been soooooo incredibly overall and you are just gonna knock the socks off of your doc!

You want to talk about FRUSTRATING and extremely challenging, just look at my annoying rate of loss! I would be thrilled to death to have lost as much as you have in that amount of time!!!

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by Bejewelme

Lilac-
I think additional protein is always a good idea especially when you are so low calorie.

Hmmm, really?! If I did 2 of my shakes (with cocoa powder added) that would be 78.2 grams of protein for the day! Do you think that's too high? I do know that it's much higher than my protocol days.

I know when doing low carb, I had always heard that too much protein is not good and can make you gain but I don't know anything about the protein amounts when doing a low fat diet and if that changes things.