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R5P2C4 Starting Weight 150.6
Yesterday – 148.2
Today – 147.0
1.2 lb LOSS Overnight
1.2 lb UNDER LIW of Round Five Cycle 3 (148.2)
3.6 Lost Since Start of R5C4 (VLCD) 09/02/08
103.8 Total Lost Since Start of Protocol (VLCD) 06/26/07

Can you say “VIRGIN TERRITORY”???  Not too shabby!  Everything is GRAVY now!  And my goal is that much more close!

I got an interesting email yesterday.  I asked the writer if they had any issue with me posting their question and then my answer.  They said no, so here it is - her email:

No urgency whatsoever, obviously you’ve got plenty on your plate. But I’m curious about the menu you posted.  You just know from experience that blueberries work for you? It didn’t look like much food and no veggies. I struggle sometimes with getting my veggies in. I’m definitely not criticizing you in any way. Just want to learn a little more to understand the reasoning and you said you’d be happy to share.

My answer:

No problem, I am always reachable by email, much more so then my blog or the forums.  I am a WAHM and spend alot of time on my computer!

Anyhoo, the blueberries?  I found on my 4th round that I could do them with no issues.  My 4th round in fact was pretty much the first time I played around with the protocol whatsoever.  I had a huge loss really quick (2 weeks) and did my whole goal for that round in two weeks, so in the interest of “research” I started experimenting with different foods.  I tried green beans, cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini, yellow squash, not to mention some different crackers, even flat bread.  I tried peaches and blueberries.  I opted to try things I had seen other clinics use and see what the consequence was.  I found that if I stuck to pretty much the same “families” of veggies, that I was aok.  Any berry worked, and the peaches did to.  I would never go with any high glycemic stuff, asking for trouble there (grapes, watermelon, catalope).  The flatbread?  It was the only time I gained.  So that is a NO GO for me.

Every so often I go thru this thing with my mouth.  I develop sores in them - it’s usually around TOM and always focused in on one side (where my only filling is) and when this happens, it’s hard to eat much of anything.  So that is why I focused in on the eggs and cottage cheese/blueberries yesterday.  Today was the same thing, but I found I could add a bit of tuna so I subbed the one egg for the canned tuna.  When these sores go away, I will focus in on my veggies again, cause quite frankly, I love them, and would rather live on them.

I added this in a subsequent email:

Yeah, I worry about how things come across online also, and I have been called on the rug a few times for things I do, but I always say, when you have come as far as I have and been on this as long as I have, then we can talk. ROFL - For my first 4 rounds (well, 3 rounds and the first 2 weeks of my 4th round), I was the poster child for the HCG Protocol - and most of the stuff I have done has been in the interest of research. Lots of people doing lots of different things depending on what avenue they are taking (clinics and docs) and I wanted to find out why these clinics allowed what they did.

So there you have it people, that should explain why I go a little “against” the flow - I usually have my reasons, they are MY reasons, and they are MY consequence should I encounter issues with those decisions.

That being said?  Here is my menu for yesterday:

• Coffee with 2% Milk
• Cottage Cheese and Blueberries
• Tuna with 1 T Light Mayo, Mustard, SF Relish and Lettuce - Chopped hard boiled egg

Ok peeps - we are not out of the woods yet, those storms are still churning out there, we apprise the situation each morning as to whether or not we will be leaving, today it’s a NO GO - so stay tuned tomorrow!  Did I mention TOM was in the house?  UGH - maybe that explains my mood.

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R5P2C3 Starting Weight 160.4
Yesterday - 156.8
Today - 155.0
1.8 lb LOSS Overnight
2.0 lb OVER LIW of Round Five Cycle 2 (153.0)
5.4 Lost Since Start of R5C3 (VLCD) 07/14/08
95.8 Total Lost Since Start of Protocol (VLCD) 06/26/07

4.2 NEEDED TO LOSE TO REACH 100 POUNDS

Well there it is! Another good loss, but today, I am walking around like a zombie - I feel very weak today - it is the third day, the worse of the protocol on average, so I will just chalk it up to normal detox stuff and live it thru.

Not hungry whatsoever.  In fact, I had so much Mexican food this past week that I am not even desiring it, which is usually my craving for the first few days.  What I am feeling is that inkling that TOM is on it’s way.  And right on schedule I must say, if you can call it a schedule???  My TOM’s have been all over the place on this protocol, I am wondering if they are now gonna start coming right on time.

No matter, it is what it is.

I wish I could think of more to say, but alas, I am not processing information well right now.  Tomorrow has to be a better day.

Let me go back to answering my commenters from yesterday:

Loretta - Thank you for such kind words.  I just write it as it happens.  Sometimes it’s good things, and sometimes, well it’s those times everyone finds out that I am human too.  Girl, 8 lbs isn’t so bad, try being 18!  LOL - oh gosh, I am so far removed from that now, how cool is that?  I miss you Loretta, thanks for being a loyal reader for all these months.

Jude - I already sent you an email but I wanted to say it here too - I don’t know where I would be without the support you gave to me in the beginning.  Really Jude, you were with me day in and day out thru my journey last summer - you were laying the foundation with me, we learned so much by chatting with each other so I thank you for that from the bottom of my heart.

Ok - that is all I can do for today - hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day.

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R5P2 Starting Weight 176.8
Yesterday - 166.2
Today - 166.4
0.2 lb GAIN Overnight
4.4 lb Over LIW of Round Four (162.0)
10.4 Lost Since Start of R5C1 (VLCD) 05/06/08
84.4 Total Lost Since Start of Protocol (VLCD) 06/26/07

TOM is still in the house, and was whipping my butt yesterday. A .2 gain is nothing for me to worry about - Dr Simeons said not to worry about anything up to .2 over. So that is what I am gonna do. Not worry. I didn’t end up doing an egg day yesterday, just felt like I wanted my cottage cheese and blueberries again - so my body asked for it, I gave it.

I am parched this morning, like I didn’t have enough water, so maybe I am a bit dehydrated? We shall see. Tom just needs to LEAVE already, I am SO over him.

Superfoods - Salmon

Today’s topic is on Salmon - the biggest benefit that Salmon gives to us the Omega 3 Fatty Acids - What is that anyway? According to Answers.com:

Any of several polyunsaturated fatty acids found in leafy green vegetables, vegetable oils, and fish such as salmon and mackerel, capable of reducing serum cholesterol levels and having anticoagulant properties.

So Omega 3 Fatty Acids are very important, especially for our “heart” health. It seems to not allow the gathering of cells in arteries that could cause blockage. Omega 3’s are something that our bodies cannot produce on it’s own, so we need to get these things from our food sources. What are some food sources that we can derive this essential fatty acid from:

• Plant sources include plant sources such as Flaxseeds, Flaxseed (linseed oils), Broccoli, and Brussels Sprouts
• Fish sources include Wild Salmon, Snapper, Whiting, King Crab, Mackeral, Herring, Sardines, Alaskan Halibut, Canned Albacore Tuna, Trout, Sea Bass, Oysters, and Clams

Wild Salmon is the number one source out there to provide you with these essential Omega 3 Fatty acids, but as you can see, there is other seafood that will give you the benefits of getting it also, just not the bang for the buck that Salmon provides.

So what is Salmon good for:

• Omega 3 Fatty Acids are an “Essential” fatty acids, which means we need to have this in our bodies because our bodies do not produce it on their own, and we get this from plant and animal sources
• Heart Health (Cholesterol lowering)
• It raises Heart Rate Variability - a measure of cardiac function
• As little as two servings a week can Lower Triglycerides
• Help prevent and control High Blood Pressure
• Protection against stroke
• Helps regulate insulin levels and prevent obesity
• Protection against Fatal Heart Arrhythmia

No wonder salmon is listed as a SUPERFOOD! When off of protocol, I am going to focus in on getting in as much salmon as I can, but at least two servings a week. If you want even more information about Salmon and it’s health benefits, read this article:

Salmon by the Worlds Most Healthiest Foods Organization

Just a thought on Farmed vs Wild salmon, I have made a personal choice to only eat “Wild” fish, not “Farmed” - this is a decision you have to make for yourself. Read this article to get a start on determining what is good for you:

Is there any nutritional difference between wild-caught and farm-raised fish? Is one type better for me than the other?

Interesting if you can’t find Wild Salmon in your grocery’s refrigerated section? Just go into the canned fish aisle, and if you see Alaskan Salmon be rest assured that all canned ALASKAN SALMON is wild caught. And what is even cooler about canned salmon? The canning process makes the bones in the salmon very soft and edible, and would provide you with an EXCELLENT source of calcium. Now, whoda thunk?

Superfood talk is dropped until Monday (the 19th) when I will be discussing “Spinach” - tomorrow my article will pertain to “Emotional Rebellion” in regards to our eating habits.