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R5P2 Starting Weight 176.8
Yesterday - 168.0
Today - 168.4
0.4 lb GAIN Overnight
6.4 lb Over LIW of Round Four (162.0)
8.4 Lost Since Start of R5C1 (VLCD) 05/06/08
82.4 Total Lost Since Start of Protocol (VLCD) 06/26/07

Oops, it’s in the wrong direction - but as my title shows, Aunt Flo came a calling during the night and I woke up with a small gain. So that must be it, it couldn’t have been what I ate yesterday could it?

Ok, EweWho is gonna crack up at me, cause I told her last night, shhhhh, don’t tell anyone, but I deviated at a get together yesterday. And she says, Biz, I wont have to tell on you, you will tell on yourself. How much she knows me!

We had a function to go to after our services yesterday, it was something we were invited to last minute and my family wanted to go, so we went. When I got there, there was a SPREAD that you wouldn’t believe, and all things SOUTHERN. OMG - what was I gonna do? We were invited on Saturday to this function, so I had enough to plan, so I said to myself, I will take a nice large veggie tray, make a dip that was relatively P2 legal and I would have fun with that.

Yesterday morning, I should have just stayed in bed. In retrospect, it was Aunt Flo taking over the day, but yesterday morning I didn’t know that. I went to the store to buy the various veggies, and the power went out in the store while I was there, sign number ONE I should have stayed in bed. Sign number TWO was when I got home and tried to make TWO different veggie dips to take to this thing, and both of them turned out like super ICK. And I consider myself a pretty darn good cook, yet things were NOT coming together. So after our services, we stopped at a store to go ahead and buy a premade dip and take that.

As you can imagine, I was already with “ATTITUDE” when we got there, so when I saw all that NUMMY food, I was like, OMG - I am SO in trouble. Funny how when Aunt Flo is in the house, all will power is thrown on the window. Again, if I would have KNOWN that Aunt Flo was the culprit, I could have been better prepared MENTALLY. As it stands, I started wrestling with my thoughts. Hmm, look at this great week I just had, I can afford to eat some of this and some of that with no issues. Let me tell you the menu:

• Collards
• Cornbread (one of my weaknesses)
• Beans and Rice (another one of my weaknesses)
• Lasagna
• Waldorf Salad (no nuts, and with sweetener instead of sugar)
• Regular Salad
• Broccoli Chicken Salad (with bacon bits, craisons, sunflower kernels and a dressing)
• Fried Chicken
• Rotisserie Chicken
• Boiled Cabbage
• HOME MADE DESSERTS!

So what did I deviate with? When JPS heard what I ate, she was like, that wasn’t a deviation! LOL - but to me it was. I had like THREE servings of the Waldorf Salad (it had mayo, raisins, cabbage, apples, and sweetener), a few bites of the rotisserie chicken, some boiled cabbage (didn’t eat the ham in it, but could taste the salt) and a BITE of Beans and Rice - literally, just a BITE. But I left EVERYTHING else ALONE. So all in all, I did really well. The Waldorf Salad was SO good I didn’t feel deprived in anyway.

All in all, I probably didn’t have MORE than 500 calories yesterday anyway, because after this function I didn’t eat anything else, just drank my water.

So what does that mean for me today? I am gonna do a modified “egg day” - I bought some Egg Beaters (I know, I know, gross out) and I will have 500 calories worth of this today. I am bound and determined to reach my goal of 16.8 pounds this cycle, so I will do whatever it takes. Now that I know Aunt Flo is in town, I can work my mind correctly.

Just because I gained, does not mean I wont post my percentages. They still make me feel better. So, what are those percentages?

• Round 1 (4 completed days) - 3.35% of body weight lost
• Round 2 (4 completed days) - 3.54% of body weight lost
• Round 3 (4 completed days) - 4.97% of body weight lost
• Round 4 (4 completed days) - 5.64% of body weight lost
• Round 5 (4 completed days) - 4.75% of body weight lost

Ok, so, I am not doing so good this round as my 3rd and 4th round, but I can STILL turn it around!!! At least it’s better than my 1st and 2nd round! ROFL - oh how we justify things when Aunt Flo is in the midst. I will probably feel differently tomorrow. We shall see.

So anyway, that is my day for today. I am on day 7, 6 days complete, 8.4 lbs lost. Still, that ain’t so bad. Have a good one people!

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Saturday, March 29 Checkin

LIW +8.6
Overnight Loss 0.0

Here is my menu for the day before - this is what I ate:

Breakfast: Coffee with Half and Half, orange
Lunch: large green salad (spring mix, romaine, spinach) with feta and evoo/balsamic and an apple
Mid Afternoon Snack: Cottage cheese and banana (OMG–NUMMY)
Dinner: mostly protein, a piece of chicken and a couple of pieces of cubed steak
Dessert: Wine and Coconut Bark

A total of 2172 cals divided: 121 fat grams (49%), 93 carb grams (16%), 108 protein grams (20%), 14 alcohol grams (5%)

Discovered coconut bark on Friday. Thank goodness I only made four servings because I ended up eating the whole thing. You can tell TOM is lurking because chocolate craving is unusual. No gain, no loss.

Sunday, March 30 Checkin

LIW +8.6
Overnight Loss 0.0

Here is my menu for the day before - this is what I ate:

Breakfast: Leftover 1/2 of a grilled chicken breast, 2 hamburger patties with a slice of swiss cheese and mayo
Lunch: 2 eggs scrambled in EVO, bacon bits and cheese
Mid Afternoon Snack: Houston Dip
Dinner: Salad with blue cheese dressing, hot chicken wings and beer (2)

A total of 2590 cals divided: 178 fat grams (61%), 52 carb grams (8%), 151 protein grams (24%), 26 alcohol grams (7%)

Saturday was a VERY BAD DAY for me. I had one of those days that I couldn’t stop eating. Thank goodness I stuck with proteins and I didn’t attack the sugars or it would have been DISASTROUS. No gain, no loss.

Today’s Checkin

LIW +8.0
Overnight Loss 0.6

Here is my menu for the day before - this is what I ate:

Breakfast: Coffee with Half and Half, orange, 2 eggs scrambled in coconut oil with bacon bits and cheese
Mid Morning Snack: 1 slice whole wheat bread w/banana and pb and coconut oil
Mid Afternoon Snack: Tortilla chips and salsa
Dinner: My hubbies famous chili and a slice of cornbred
Dessert: Coconut Bark

A total of 1958 cals divided: 110 fat grams (50%), 165 carb grams (31%), 78 protein grams (16%)

Back on track today. TOM is STILL lurking, and I just wish he would hurry up and show his face because I am totally over him, and he isn’t even here yet. Yesterday was much more calm day for me, but I can’t tell that my emotions are still all over the place.

I am sorry I was MIA over the weekend. I think I had something similar to post traumatic stress syndrome or something. I pretty much needed a couple days to myself. After spending all that time in Cali and then coming home and going and going since I got here, I think I crashed. I literally stayed on my couch all day on Saturday, totally vegging until I had to pick up JPS from the airport at 5:30pm - then we went to Wild Wing and I actually started to feel a bit better. Maybe it was the beer

Whatever it was, I feel it slowly leaving my body. The only thing is, that since TOM is lurking, my thoughts are all garbled and I can’t seem to concentrate on any one thing. For example … I usually pick a title for my post before I write anything. That way it helps me keep focused and I have a general theme I write from. I am this far into this post and I have no title. Nothing that I can focus on.

I know I told you I would let you know my theories on weight loss after indulging on this protocol, but I haven’t been able to get my thoughts in any logical order to be able to publish anything, so again, I must ask you to wait. That being said, I guess this shall remain an update post, and I will strive on getting myself back on track. I need to, cause it’s seriously disrupting my routine.

By the way. I cannot be disappointed in losing 8 pounds since that Saturday when I stepped on that scale and I was 16 lbs over LIW - 8 lbs lost in 9 completed days. Not bad. Those are protocol averages, for a man at least!

On to my commenter’s - these are my responses to Friday’s comments:

Shelly - sorry sweetie, theories will have to wait. Gotta get my head into the game here. It’s taking all I have right now just to put those theories into practice.

Becca - I think we got everything working out with the forum for you? Why don’t you post an introduction or something? You will love it there.

Jan - oh yes, the egg day, I am doing another one tomorrow - they are truly a blessing.

B - master? HA! I don’t think so, just plowing thru the journey like all of you, finding what works and what doesn’t along the way. Looking forward to your updates.

Misto - thanks! It’s good to have you back as well. I hope things settle for you. I think it’s time for spring to get here, everyone is ready for it ya know?

Crystal - wow, look who showed up! MY GOODNESS! Out of the woodwork. Thanks for the link - I had actually already found that one, and am gonna study it over the next few days. I like their mission statement.

CB - HA! Close to doing fruits. It’s all part of the raw, fresh thing ya know?

Liz - well kudos to you to do what you can to make sure the word gets out there. It’s a struggle, but one worth the effort.

Until later folks!

R4P2 Starting Weight 184.4
Yesterday - 163.4
Today - 162.4
1.0 lb LOSS Overnight
13.0 lb UNDER LIW of Round Three (175.4)
22.0 Lost Since Start of R4 (VLCD) 01/22/08

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Here is my menu for yesterday. This is what I had:

I will explain below.

A total of around 466 calories divided this way: 17 Fat, 0 Carbs, 73 Protein

GO HERE AND SIGN UP FOR UPCOMING HCG NEWSLETTER!!! People, bear with us, we are not looking at Tuesday.

Let’s not forget the HCG BOOK CLUB - join in on the fun! If you haven’t signed up for it yet, please do so now. eMail Address Form

Our FAQ Question this go round is the following, please spend some time if you can answering this survey:

Since we are on Phase 3 - let’s discuss those people out there that actually have a difficult time keeping weight ON during the Phase 3 portion of the Protocol. Yes, there are some out there with this problem. Remember that Dr Simeon’s said that it was just as important to keep the weight on as it was to keep it off! So please help out if you can!

Phase 3 - What If You’re Still Losing???

Listening To Your Body

I preach, and I preach, and I preach - one of the biggest lessons learned on this protocol is that your body consistently speaks to you. Over and over again, we just get to the point in our lives were we tune out what it is saying to us because we think we know better.

One of the things I am finally getting down pat is this listening thing.

Yesterday, I woke up with this really strong sensation of wanting protein. I thought about it all morning, and what came to mind was the ending of my 2nd round. I had the same sensation but didn’t do anything about it and it got worse and worse and pretty much made my last week on the protocol very excruciating. Yesterday, I said to myself I will not let this happen again.

I quickly went to my FitDay and figured how much ground beef I could have without going over 500 calories. With the ground beef I had I could eat 12 ounces. So around noon I pan fried some ground beef and then I munched on that the rest of the day. No veggies, no fruits, just the ground beef with a little bit of Ono Hawaiian Seasoning.

By 5pm last night, the protein craving was gone. I was completely satiated for the day, and this morning I am up, no craving and one pound lighter. Is there something to listening to your body?

I really feel like your body gives you the right signals for healthy eating. I think our “mind” takes over and tries to decide what is best, and sometimes that doesn’t work. I think sometimes we let the emotional attachment to foods dictate what we think our body is trying to tell us. I believe our body wants to run efficiently but we sometimes fall prey to the emotional attachment we have formed to certain foods. I know it’s been a slow process, but I am starting to figure it all out.

JPS and I have had some really deep conversations this week. I am really trying to wrap my head around this weight and she is truly trying to help me. Some of you already know this, but I will say it to the rest of you. It’s like I am just going thru the motions. I get up, I weigh, I input the numbers, but in my head they are not ‘mine’ - I don’t own this weight yet. I am mechanically going thru the routine of the day, but not really realizing this is me I am talking about.

This break I am about to take will probably be the most important break I will be taking in this protocol. I was telling JPS yesterday, that this time, this break feels different. This break is like a mission for me. The last two breaks I was on were ‘play’ breaks. They were the ‘testing the limits’ breaks. This upcoming break I feel like I did when I came off my first round. I want to be BY THE BOOK and make sure there is no ‘play’.

I want to ‘own’ this weight until the next round. I want it to be MINE - I want to see in the mirror what a 162.4 lb person looks like. I want to look into the mirror and the person that looks back at me is ME and I KNOW it. I need time for that. What a great time for a break.

On to my commenter’s - these are my responses to yesterday’s comments:

Shelly - HA! Thanks for the nice words for my sister! And I will by all means show off this body!

Lili - Always a pleasure talking to you Ms Lili!

CB - Thanks girlfriend, I have your email ready!

EweWho - A very wise woman once said to me, “What’s the Worse That Can Happen?” - well, I kept repeating that yesterday. If I don’t get everything done, what is the worst? LOL - My boys would have to do it! ROFL

Mary - Good stuff that Vitamin C!

Ed & Jenn - HA! Yeah, look at me today? What is up with that??? What do I need to try next? ROFL

Crystal - So true, so true - and it’s California, how wrong can I get. It’s just the whole on separate coasts that is playing with my mind! ROFL

Becca - My sister’s biggest apprehension was going thru the recovery process like the last time. That was min 18 months recovery. This ‘new’ surgery, we are talking weeks. Something they pulled on her as she was checking in the day of the surgery … she had to sign a piece of paper that said basically that if they got in there, discovered that the ‘new’ surgery wouldn’t work, they would have to continue with the ‘old’ surgery - there was no ‘turning back’ - she said she about died. She didn’t want to go thru with it. But she stayed strong, had faith and viola came out a winner. I will have to get my sister and your friend together! My sister has been like the poster child for this process!

Vitamin C flush is basically this. When you feel the ‘yucks’ coming on? Start taking 1000 mg of Vitamin C every hour. Do not use the chewables, get ones with no fillers. You take until you reach ‘bowel tolerance’ - what that means is that you take it until your bowels become runny which means you have had enough. Do this again the next day. Do it until you start to feel better. It’s worked for me twice now. And isn’t it amazing that Dr S said we could do Vitamin C???

Ann-Marie - Interesting concept. I am really focusing on staying true to P3 protocol this break. And if that means every other day becomes a protein day for me, well then, that is what it means! I am finally understanding how incredibly important protein is! Hit my head with a baseball bat eh?

Monica - HA! Thanks girlfriend! My family hasn’t seen me here. I was 108 when I got married the first time. Two years later I was close to 200 lbs. That is when they saw me next. HA! Yeah, I would think they are gonna flip! ROFL

Later gaters!

Biz

LIW - 175.4 lbs (12/17/07)
Today’s Weight - 181.0 lbs
5.6 OVER LIW

Here is my menu for yesterday. This is what I had:

I didn’t stick to a Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner thing yesterday. I pretty much desired fresh, raw food so that is what I fed my body. I ate apples, bananas, oranges, grapes, cherries and walnuts all during the day, drinking also 2 cups of dandelion tea. Throw in a couple of scrambled eggs, and then I made a Blue Cheese Chopped Salad for dinner with a small bit of steak. That was all I wanted, so that is all I ate.

A total of around 1700 calories divided this way: 99 Fat, 169 Carbs, 60 Protein

After I posted yesterday, I actually did find myself a battery and weighed myself. It was not pretty. Keep in mind this was about 2 or so hours later than I usually weigh myself, and that I was working on hardly any sleep, so the numbers may be off, but I was up to 183.4 - wow. Amazing what eating junk will do to you.

Eating majority raw and fresh yesterday really helped me. I dropped 2.4 from that number and I am back down to a more reasonable overage (is that even a word?)

GO HERE AND SIGN UP FOR UPCOMING HCG NEWSLETTER!!! It’s coming honest! Just waiting on my partner to put the finishing touches on it!

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Thanks Crystal for filling out the FAQ Survey! Anyone else? Please go here when you have a chance and fill it out!

Stalls, Gains and Cravings - What to do? P2 Experience Only

I received an email this morning, and I wrote such a novel back I decided that my answer to this person would qualify as a post for today. I have removed this person’s name from my answer to protect privacy.This person wanted me to know that they were having basically the same struggles as I have been experiencing over the last week or so and was curious on my thoughts as to why this has happening. HA! Don’t EVER ask me to theorize why something is happening on this protocol! Anyhoo, here was my answer to this person!

Not quite sure this time ******. I have my theories, but they are just my theories. I have been thinking a lot about this, especially yesterday. Let me explain.These insatiable cravings started for me just around the turn of the year. Following my blog, you know I didn’t spend one day coming off my R3P2 in true “P3″ fashion (error in judgment #1). The 28th of Dec (day 9 of R3P3) was the first day I was over my LIW by more than 2 pounds. And I decided (with regret I might add) that I was not going to bother with bringing it down, that it would come down by itself (error in judgment #2).

Starting that day, the closest I have been to my LIW was on the 4th of Jan, and still that was at 2.4 over. I should have listened to what the good doctor said and taken care of the situation AS IT HAPPENED (error in judgment #3) but I didn’t, so is that HIS issue or MINE?

The weekend of the 29th and 30th, I started noticing I was having some sweet cravings. Now ******, this is something that is NOT normal for me, even PRE HCG. My thing, my entire life, has NEVER been sweets, I have always been one to crave SALT. So, I rationalized in my mind that this was something new and that I needed just to go with it (error in judgment #4). I started baking cookies, among other things to satisfy the cravings. As it went on, day by day, I felt more of a need for sweets - it was becoming pretty overpowering. Quite a strange feeling, for me anyway.

Throw in there that this past weekend (the 5th and 6th), I was getting some pretty strange “emotional” feelings, now these in particular reminded me of pre-HCG - I would have these incredible HIGHS and LOWS of mood swings during “that time”. I was breaking out in tears for absolutely NO reason, confronting my husband about small issues which led to huge fights, and pretty much wanted total seclusion from the world. It reached a peak on Thursday, and I literally went nuts. I ate things so out of character for me. I blame part of that on the migraine I had, but there was just something inside me that totally flipped a switch.

When deviating from plan during my 2nd and 3rd breaks, I have striven to focus on “it has to be really worth it” for me to eat it. Thursday? It went out the window, I threw that puppy off the Empire State Building in fact. When we went out to dinner that night, I ate things that tasted quite frankly JUST AWFUL. I look back on it and say, OMG - what the HECK was I thinking??? It so wasn’t worth it.

Yesterday though? It seriously just STOPPED. The cravings disappeared. I’m not kidding, to show you how serious it was, I didn’t even want my coffee. Now THAT is strange! ROFL As quick as this sweet craving thing came on, it left. Today? As I start my morning, I feel NOTHING of what I have felt over the last 10 or so days. No desire for sweets, no emotional disturbance.

So to answer your question, quite frankly, I will say what I have said about this whole protocol, it’s nothing but a cr*p shoot. I don’t know really why this time I had sweet cravings when in the past I haven’t. I know I haven’t had a normal menses since I started this protocol. I also know that Dr S was very specific about his protocol, and the choices I have made go in direct conflict to his program, so I have paid the price. Like I said before, it’s not HIS fault these things happened. He told me what to expect, and I did my own thing, and this is where it got me.

Let me interject something here, you mentioned that you felt you were finally ‘cured’ of all your ailments, but now you really wonder. This protocol is an ongoing process ******. I have never looked at this protocol as a “cure” for my emotional attachment to food. I have always looked at this protocol as a “cure” for obesity. It is getting me to my GOAL of a certain weight. My relationship to food is still something I am going to have to work on, probably for the rest of my life. It has also been a tool in helping me become more aware of what I am doing to my body.

All I can do is move on. I am thinking this whole episode was something I had to experience. Another lesson I had to learn to help me in my journey. The BIGGEST lesson I am learning ******, is not to freak about it. I am learning to have a different relationship with food. For every two steps I take forward, I have to step back one just to see where I am.

I seriously don’t know if this answered your question. But let me tell you this. I don’t think this whole episode had anything to do with artificial sweeteners, and everything to do with hormones.

On to my commenter’s - these are my responses to yesterday’s comments:

CB - I will consider that CB in an upcoming post. Just FYI tho, I think that if Dr S would have seen a relationship with bad breaks and short rounds, he would have said something, but that is just my gut response right now. Thanks for being there my sweet, just knowing that your there is comforting.

Wendy - The first time I had fried pickles, I was in Mobile AL right after Katrina hit and I was doing some relief work there. It was at this country restaurant and I went GAGA over these things. Thursday night? They were NOT worth the 2nd bite, yet I kept eating, what was up with that??? When you going back on to P2 again???

Crystal - Your injecting daily? You doing a short round or what? I finally can’t WAIT to get back on P2! That feeling has finally come back! I am so ready!

Jennifer - Like I told CB I will attempt to cover that whole short round thing in a future post. I really don’t think the two relates ya know? But that is my GUT feeling. I had issues on my last break and that was after a 6 week P2 - so I don’t know. How is the blog coming???

Renee - Let me know your new addy ASAP I have some THINGS to discuss! ROFL! You are kicking butt girl, and taking names!

Lili - Ok girl, $21 for HOW MUCH??? You didn’t tell us the iu you can get it in. I need INFO! Oh, and I sent you my snail mail addy, but I got a auto response from your email, so hopefully you got it ok??? WOO HOO on your internet addiction! Now I don’t have to miss you ALL THAT MUCH! ROFL

B - Thanks girl, I did a bit of harm, but I am over it now, back to the basics ya know???

Another day! Make it a good one!

Biz

LIW - 175.4 lbs (12/17/07)
Today’s Weight - 179.2 lbs
3.8 OVER LIW

Here is my menu for yesterday. This is what I had:

Breakfast: Coffee and Cream - 1 Scrambled Egg in Butter
Mid Morning Snack: Leftover Chicken and Leftover Broccoli with Melted Cheese and a Dollop of Sour Cream
Lunch: Leftover Atkins Friendly Beef Stroganoff with Shiritaki Noodles
Mid Afternoon Snack: More of the Stroganoff and Noodles
Dinner: Nacho’s (just chips and cheese, with a bit of sour cream) and some Refried Beans
Dessert: Some Praline Pecans and one Chocolate Chip Cookie

A total of around 1800 calories divided this way: 116 Fat, 118 Carbs, 89 Protein - After all of that I was surprised to only gain a POUND! I think I may be overestimating my calories, I don’t know, but it doesn’t feel like I am eating as much as it says I am! ROFL Ok, I “officially” start P4 today!!!

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Thanks to Ann and Jeannette for filling out the new FAQ Survey! It’s a pretty hefty survey, so I might leave it up for awhile. Please go here when you have a chance and fill it out!

Stalls, Gains and Cravings - What to do? P2 Experience Only

Thank you to Pat and Jeannette for more interview questions! I would still like to get some MORE questions from my Sunday’s post about interviews, I know I said only until Wednesday, but it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind right??? If you didn’t see it could you go here and take a look, thanks!

Aspartame

I don’t think there is a more controversial subject to fly around any sort of weight loss forum than the subject of Artificial Sweeteners, I certainly found that out in doing some surfing on the web yesterday. Most often the question comes up, “What is ’such and such’, will it stall me and is it safe?” When it comes down to the brass tacks, the decision to use any type or artificial sweetener is an individual one, because quite frankly the effects of using it will be as different and individual as we all are.

It’s interesting to read reports of scientific studies being done with various sweeteners on lab animals, and one would have to be a little skeptical of definitive conclusions being drawn from massive dosages of products for a particular size animal, especially when they associate the same conclusions, or the same amounts would do the same damages to a human who might use these sweeteners on occasion.

Be that as it may, I continue to read while surfing, and have experienced myself, adverse reactions to different artificial sweeteners. So, as I mentioned in the first paragraph, results from taking in these sweeteners will change from person to person, and each person must make that determination for themselves.

You could be one of the fortunate ones, you could slip right past ANY reaction to ANY sweetener. My hats off to you! But for MOST of us out there, there is some reaction. There is a range from ending up in the emergency room to just headaches. Even the mildest of symptoms could be a big red flag that your body SHOULDN’T be made to TRY to tolerate their use. These things would include things like a fuzzy head, stomach distress, unexplained cravings, stalls, and quite possibly weight gain.

Let’s talk about “stalls” for a moment using artificial sweeteners … in my research, the general conclusion is that stalls occur more from the ‘fillers’ used in granulated and powdered forms of sweeteners rather than the liquids. This makes perfect sense as most of the fillers that are used are ‘maltodextrin’ or ‘dextrose’ which are both simply ’starches’. With the more research I do, I am finding that these ‘fillers’ might be the culprit to other adverse effects as well, this would be an interesting theory to test. I for one have only tried to use the powered versions of sweeteners and never the liquid, with the exception of the Stevia. Remember people, that some may not have any reaction whatsoever, either visibly or physically.

My eventual goal using this protocol is to eventually be able to eat “real raw sugar” (or my preference I am sure will be “local honey”) and not have to use any of this artificial crud anymore. I would think that would be ALL of our goals yes? So what must we do until that happens? Find the one thing that will do the least amount of damage until then. There are far too many things in this world that are not ‘pure’ anymore from our drinking water to the very air we breathe.

So then, let’s talk about Aspartame - in MY OPINION, one of the WORST artificial sweeteners we can use.

Small description:

Aspartame - better known as Equal and NutriSweet - Interesting that Wikipedia says this about Aspartame: “Aspartame is the methyl ester of the dipeptide of the natural amino acids L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine.”

Let’s define “methyl” - according to the medical dictionary methyl is “The alkyl group, often a univalent radical, CH3, derived from methane” - so in other words it’s methane, which we know is an explosive gas that is formed from decomposing organic matter.

Define “ester” - a compound formed from alcohol and acid.

Define “dipeptide” - this is a molecule consisting of two amino acids joined by a bond - so the two amino acids that are joined together are the L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine.

So in other words, if I am understanding this correctly, Aspartame is made up of two amino acids bonded together by methane and acid. Hmmmm….and I am EATING THIS???

Because I cannot possibly begin to give you the kind of information that has already been written, I am going to lead you to the research I have done on the subject of Aspartame, and you draw your own conclusions.

One of the first things I came across was an article written by the Aspartame Information Center - WOW! They surely do try to sugar coat it eh? ‘Scuse the pun!!!

Aspartame Information

Check this out: “Debunking the Aspartame Myth” - what I like about this site is that it gives alot of factual references for it’s conclusions - and pretty much refutes what the above article says:

Debunking the Aspartame Myth

If you haven’t watched this yet, it’s a MUST when it comes to Aspartame. It about an hour and a half so you have to have time to view it, but it’s worth the watch. I have ALWAYS had my feelings about Aspartame and it was ONE THING I made sure my kids NEVER touched, but this movie took it DEEPER, to the point that if I see someone giving their kids something with Aspartame, I say something immediately, I don’t care what they think of me. I feel that strongly about it.

Sweet Misery - A Poisoned World

Very comprehensive article written with many facts regarding Aspartame:

The Problem With Aspartame

Also, here is a discussion about Aspartame on a Bulletin Board dealing with “Conspiracy Theories” so read with caution, but it’s an interesting discussion none the less - there are four pages:

Why Is Aspartame Still On The Market?

So with all that information, what is your opinion?

Mary - I would think that everyone around you just needs to CALM their butt down if you decided you needed to do an egg day! Now if you can’t stand yourself, that is another story! ROFL - Thanks for the link you sent me! Lots of useful information there!

Crystal - Hey there STRANGER! Thanks for the visit, and any info you can give me on the sugar subs, I will gladly take it, all in the name of research ya know?

CB - I completely forgot about her knowledge, sad thing tho, she hasn’t updated in a while??? She is one of those that are MIA!!!

Becca - You start when you need to start, we are all overlapping at points anyway. It’s important to use the schedule that is good for your hubby! I wonder why your post never showed up, who knows about cyberspace sometimes. I am going to find out about cylamates also - it’s on my list.

B - Is there ANY non sugar sub your family member doctor recommends? YUP! The egg day worked!

Have a wonderful day peeps!

Biz