Day 125 - Meals Examples

I decided to take pictures of some of the animal protein I had on this vacation. Here they are: 

This was the first day meal: Chicken with tomato and onions. 

At first I was VERY scared because of the onions, but this was the only plate on the menu available for me, so I carefully and VERY patiently took all the chopped onions off each piece of chicken! It was good. 

                                                         

The next day, I had to have a BIFE, the Argentinian quality beef by choice: Bife de Chorizo, I don't know what part of the cow this is, but for me, it's THE BEST!. Always sided with lettuce and tomatoes. 

                                                         

This plate was specially complicated. ¿Who doesnt' likes the CRISPY EXTRA CRISPY Chicken skin? I mean.. it was hurtful leaving it on the plate beside the bones. But I could not do it, I just could not let myself eat that. I had some salad which was  starting to taste like plastic!

   

Some more "Bife de Chorizo"... Leaving the gresay parts behind (Which, as the chicken skin, is THE BEST PART of the meat)

Eating at a friends House: Of course, all my friends invited me to their homes, and made me special dinner. Besides a gorgeous fish (I couldn't take picture, I forgot) she made me one day, she cooked this incredible chicken breast with broiled peppers and salad. Tasted SO good!

Day 126 - Airports

Leaving or Arriving. 

The "control-yourself" test had begun. The duty free shops are FULL of chocolates, all the chocolates I used to ate when I traveled all the time. 

There's no bigger pleasure than traveling, and flying with a HUGE piece of Milka Chocolate on your hand, mouth, chin, cheeks, hair... (LOL.. just kidding! Not the hair...LOL!). 

I used to buy -and binge- on two/three MAXI BARS... and when I say "Maxi".. they're MAXI BARS!




I took a chocolate Maltshake to substitute the craving just in case I had one, but unfortunately, in Mexico´s airport, security has been enhanced to the extreme, so I could not go through security with that ammount of liquid. I had to drink it...in 8 minutes...in front of the police guard. 

I preferred doing that instead of throwing it away. And it actually helped! The craving stopped and I could go by all the chocolate stands with out trying to buy one. 

I had 10 hours of flight ahead of me. I went to my "happy place" to try to avoid the anxiety flying gives me and ignored the nice looking meal the guy next to me was eating... some kind of airplane chicken. I opened an Orange envelope and drank it. 

With two connections ahead, I was ready to face anything that came along for the next few vacation days.

...well.. almost everything: 

(Yes, he is Hugo from LOST!) LOL

Day 127 - Restrospective (read backwards from today until day 115)

I will be posting "BACKWARDS" from day 127 to day 115, meaning I'll be writing what went on during last weeks at vacation.

Day 128 - Weigh In

Got back from vacations!!

I can sincerely confess  I got up of bed with a bit of discouragement. Vacations were SUPER GREAT, and eventhough I did not succumbed to cravings of chocolates, pasta (all types) and bread, I had this sensation I ate too much meat. Of course, I was at the "Meat Country", so what could I expect?  Having -at least- ONE daily meat sweat!

I thought this excess meat eating (well, not a binge excess but there were days I ate two times a day meat instead of one) would make me gain weight. 

I got up on to the scale. I had not remembered what was my last record, so I stood up and calmly looked at the number and sat down to write it down. 
When i saw my last record, 

IT FELT GOOD! (suspiciously good)

It says here I lost 3.8 pounds. This diet keeps suprising me every week!
I guess maybe it was because all the walking I did. 

And the results for this week are: 

Februray 18 - 194.8

June 24 -  151.6

Total pounds lost in 128 days: 43.2 (19.595 kilos)  

Day 115 - Going away

I will be out for a couple of weeks, so I won't be posting at all. Only if I have the opportunity (or a PC near) I will. 

Have a great two weeks y'all. 

Day 114 - Weigh In

I got up of bed. 

Scared of the stupid scale. 

But I have no way out of this. I know I ate too much Rib eye and I am guessing I did not loose the weight I was supposed to loose this week. So let's do it.

And the results for this week are: 

Februray 18 - 194.8

June 10 -  155.4

Total pounds lost in 114 days:  I GAINED 1 POUND

So dissapointed. Starting with Damage control plan ASAP. 

Day 113 - Feeling....

Today I feel as if I haven't lost any weight this week, I have NOT broken the diet, still I have this horrible feeling I will not see any progress on the scale tomorrow. 

This makes me nervous. 

Day 110 - Constant craving

So I did this HUGE translation on an article I read from Doreen Virtue. AND IT GOT DELETED. 

I will NOT do it again. At least today. 

Here's the image of the book which it looks interesting. Click on the image to go to the Amazon.com link 

Grrrr.

Day 109 - Sometimes

Sometimes there's nothing relevant to say... like today.

Day 108 - Was it a Placebo?

So on past weeks, I felt this anxiety attack, making me eat a couple of extra envelopes. 

When I told the doctor, he gave me a new pill (Bio tone NTS, I explained on "The Melman Cocktail post" ) that would calm my anxiety and make me loose weigh (yes even more). 

The instructions (as prescribed by the Dr. AND on the bottle) are: Take 4 pills BEFORE going to sleep and THREE HOURS AFTER your last day meal. 

So. I have been doing this, but I am thinking is a "placebo", cause it makes me have my last meal at 9/10 pm and then I cannot eat anything else, so I can then wait three hours and take the 4 pills. 

It's tricky, I know, but at least it obliges me to stop eating early at night and not eating extra envelopes!!!

I havent felt the aniety anymore and if I'm hungry.. well, there's always water. 


Go figure!

Day 107 - Weigh In

I got up on the scale. Saw the numbers...got up again. I wasn't happy with what I saw and I was a bit frustrated. I thought I had gained 4 pounds.... BUT NO! I lost another 3!

Februray 18 - 194.8

June 03 -  154.4

Total pounds lost in 107 days:  40.4 pounds. (18.325 kilos)

Yippy YAY!!! 

I will be doing my own Dance of Joy: 

Day 106 - New products!

It seems pronokal Mexico has launched new products: 

MINTS

AROMAS

MINTS: Refreshing mint pills, an option to avoid bad breath (25u a bag)

AROMAS: Peach mint and orange aromas for your water to add flavor and aromas. (6u per box)

I did not learned more about them for I dont know if the aromas count as 1 meal. 

I have no bad breath, so I don't really need them right now. 

Day 105 - Fire Test (Or as I say it SELF CONTROL - Level 10)

Ok, I know, I know this will sound massochistic (yes, even more). I promised a friend I would help her do a special Horse figured cake for her nephew. I couldn't say no. 

I LOVE cakes, and making them even more!. 

But there's the factor where you lick everything.. the batter, the spatula, your fingers and then pinch the cake to check flavor and consistency. 

Not this time. 

I WILL make the cake -cupcakes specifically- and make them into a horse figure. 

As fast as I can Be, I will try to do it right and test myself. 
I'll have a chocolate maltshake at hand, just in case I have a meltdown!! LOL

Day 104 - Instant need of chocolate.

This week I have gone back to old "habits". 

As soon as I finished eating the meat meal, I have THE URGE to have a chocolate shake. But I mean URGE!. 

Just like before, as soon as I finished eating, I had to have chocolate. Lots. 

I don't know, if this is a habit I need to break, or a specific body request. 

I need to identify it ASAP to stop it. 

Day 103 - What about the exercise?

¿What about it?

I have been mind-battling with that idea. My friend insists that I have to do it, my mind just ignores it.

My body doesn't.

I know I have to excersise, but I never have done it and ¿I never will? I don't know. 

I am trying to convince myself to do it. And do it soon. 

Especially to avoid this: 

Day 102 - Kitchen Cabaret

It is difficult still to this day to go down to the kitchen and prepare a meal. I prefer to call the delivery service, it's fast and delicious. This week I did not hesitated on calling in for lettuce tacos. 

And I know I could do it at home... but I just dont want to. 

Day 101 - It's not easy handling everyday food (week 2 of phase 2-a)

Now that I'm able to eat animal protein, I have been going out to eat to reataurants. 

I wanted SO much a Hamburger, but when I saw it.. I wanted to cry. I made myself strong and slowly separated the bread. Then I saw it had caramelized onions -which are a no-no- and delicately took them away. I separated them with the FRIED DELICIOUS POTATOES (covered in the images with the bread!) and accomodated the lettuce. mushrooms and tomato slice. 

Then I proceeded to eat. This was Monday. 

I felt good, I felt strong, I felt I was satisfied...maybe full. Still can not recognize the sensation, for I used to eat only by emotion not necessity. 

THIS IS HOW I PREPARED MY PLATE

THIS IS HOW I COVERED THE POTATOES AND ONIONS BELOW THE BREAD

THIS IS HOW I LEFT MY PLATE (for the fisrt time EVER!!)

On Tuesday I had breakfast. Two sunny side eggs with tomato salsa, called HUEVOS RANCHEROS. They usually are served on top of a tortilla with refried beans and "nachos" also, I used to clean the plate with a loaf of toast bread and left my plate CLEAN.

Miss, could you please bring me an order of Huevos Rancheros, without tortilla, without bread, without beans AND without nachos. 

It was hard, but once again, I made it.   Instead of "cleaning" the plate with several loafs of toasted bread, I used a spoon.

THIS IS HOW IT CAME, TWO SUNNY SIDE EGGS WITH TOMATO SALSA

THIS IS HOW I LEFT IT.

Day 100 - Weigh In (The 100th day)

So, today is my 100th day!!
So I will weigh in. Lets see how the meat week did..

Februray 18 - 194.8

May 27 -  157.4

Total pounds lost in 100 days:  37.4 pounds. (16.964 kilos)

Yippy YAY!!! 

Today I will be eating a Hamburger  (no bread, no condiments...just the meat lettuce and tomato) and IN MY MIND.. I will be looking JUST like this in a few moths!!! -LOL- : 

Day 99 - Any given sunday

I am loosing the daily envelope count. I dont know wht but at mid afternoon I loose the count of how many envelopes I have eaten!!

I guess I'll have to write a diary again. 

Those "end of the day pills" are forcing me to stop eating at 9 pm. I guess it's good. It's calming my hungry impulses. 

Day 98 - Everybody has an opinion

So. I decided to "come out" with some friends about the diet. I have been keeping all a secret and avoiding human contact -except only when I absolutely need to do it- so no one sees me. 

BUT. 

I'm excited now. I want to tell the whole world, show pictures of me and let them know my achievements. 

Big Mistake. 

Everybody seems to have an opinion, and that's OK, I mean, they are entitled to it. But please, do not bring me down. 

I simply won't let you. 

I know, everybody has their own experience, and every body works in a different way. I am convinced this will be my last diet and I will not bounce back again. I will do anything in my power to keep all the 68 pounds off.

Still, everybody thinks they have the answer, and that´s not true. Ok, you can tell me your story and your experiences with diets, we have all been there, but don't tell me what I'm doing is wrong, dangerous and it wont work in long terms because you need to know all the story behind my diet. 

Don't get me wrong, she is a dearest friend who has also suffered with weigh problems, but still it made me -just a little mad- she didn't acknowledge my effort and diet.

AND SO. 

I told that same day another friend of mine just to take away the bitter taste. 
Her answer was "I'm scared of those things, be careful". 
No acknowledgement. 
Felt... I don't know, I guess I felt dissapointed I didn't get the results I was expecting by sharing this big huge important "secret". 

It's funny how you expect things from other people and all the cheering and congratulations I receive daily from the people surrounding me I just simply take it for granted. 

Memo to me: Be more selective to whom I tell things to AND be more grateful to the people that applauds me my effort and results. 

Day 97 - Meet the supplements: "The Melman Cocktail"

"MELMAN COCKTAIL"

Now that I am taking "A Melman Cocktail" I decided to post all the supplements and medicines I am ingesting daily. 

Remember: not everybody needs to take the same supplements and not everybody needs to take the same ammount, it totally depends on your doctor's personal and individual prescription, this is just MY case which I'm sharing. 

1.- Victoza (Liraglutide) Medicine for diabetes II control - 1.2 Injected.
2.- Dabex XR (Metphormine) - Medicine for diabetes II control - 1 Pill.
3.- Zyloprim - Medicine to lower Uric Acid - 1 Pill.
4.- Omega III - 1 Pill.
5.- Vitamins - 1 Pill.
6.- Sodium - 2 Pills.
7.- Calcium - 1 Pill.
8.- Magnesium - 3 Pills.
9.- Corpotasin (Potasium) - 1 Pill.
10.- Bio Tone NTS - 4 Pills before going to bed.
11.- Nexium Mups - 1 pill (this is only for the next 14 days to avoid gastrits...¿ya think?)

These are my daily dosages. 

** Please do not auto prescribe yourself, always ask your doctor and NEVER take medicines without medical supervision!!!. 

Day 96 - Meat acceptance

So. I have been eating meat for two days. These are the feelings once I finish eating: 

• I am chewing slower... a LOT more slower than I used to.

• Right after eating, I get this mild stomach ache, like my body is assimilating the animal in me (LOL).

• I feel full instantly. 

• I have a saciety feeling all through the day.

• After my meal, I do not feel the need to eat desperatly like last week. 

I just remembered, the doctor told me to always eat first the salad before the meat, so I could be more full, but serioulsy, I haven't had the need to do that. Besides, I HATE salad!.. Except Ceasar Salad and the Morton's Ice Berg Salad! 

Also, I have realized I havent gobbled up my nopales as I used to last week. I can leave some on the plate for dinner. That's a good thing for me, cause I always devoured my food... everything..eventhough I wasn't hungry anymore. 

- Doctor, what can I do if I get another anxiety attack?

- Eat a cucumber with lemon. 

I'll keep that in mind. 

Day 95 - Phase 2-A

So finally. I have entered the Phase 2-A. 
(according to the Dr.this phase has a duration of 28 days in which I can loose up to 12-16 pounds!... INSANE!)

Since yesterday I've been able to eat meat. only 100-150 grams. 

So I started with beef, the one that comes in tacos, obviously, without the tortilla. I did not weight it because my scale had no battery, but I asked for three small tacos and OBVIOUSLY, my nopales. 

I will only eat the restaurant take-out this week, for it is very expensive and I cannot keep spending on restaurants AND pronokal envelopes. I simply cannot afford it, so I will make a promise to go to the supermarket and buy the vegetables for me to eat. Also the animal protein.

What can I eat? 

Besides the envelopes, I can only have ONE meal that includes meat. My envlope ration has been cut from 6 to 5 because one has been replaced with the animal protein. 

Let me remind you I am eating 6 envelopes (which is NOT normal) because  I have diabetes II and it was an exception doctors made for me. The usual average envelopes allowed are 5. 

Well, they gave me several lists of foods AND brands I am ONLY allowed to eat, these are the lists: 

RED MEATS: All red meat EXCEPT the greasy cuts (Sirloin, T-Bone, Rib Eye etc). .. Awww I LOVE RIB EYE!! -Snifff-.

WHITE MEATS: Chicken breast or grinded chicken breast & Pork EXCEPT: Pork chops, Pork Ribs etc.

TUNA: Only SOME canned tuna is allowed (Mexican brands specified) NOT RED TUNA, the one from the sushi. The list also contains the brands that are NOT allowed, because of it's high percentage of carbohydrates. Brands may vary from country to country.

FISH: Most of the white fish, and white crustaceans like shrimp, lobster Octopus, squid and oysters NOT SALMON or RED TUNA.


This weeks menu: 

MONDAY: Beef from tacos (without tortilla) and grilled nopales

Tuesday: Chicken breast grilled -like in tacos- (without tortilla) and grilled nopales. 

Wednesday: Chicken breast - Beef - Pork grilled -like in tacos- (without tortilla) and grilled nopales. 

Thursday: Broiled white fish with chili. Nevermind the rice. I left it on the plate. YES, I ate the tomato. 

Friday: TACO BLISS!!. So I was getting a little fed up of the taco-meat, but then, as I was reading the menu I received the other day from the restaurant, I read: You can change your taco with LETTUCE instead of tortilla. OH MY LORD! That extra crunch the lettuse gave to the meat combination was absolutely DELICIOUS! I'm so happy. The nopales are always implied with the tacos.

Saturday and Sunday : The same menu as yesterday. I need to change the menu. I am getting tired of the same taco flavors.

Day 94 - Measurements.

So Today I will share weight AND measurements:

Here are the facts after 90 days: 

* Weight is specified in KILOS
** Measurements in centimeters

*** Here's a converter if you need: http://www.onlineconversion.com/weight_common.htm

Date:	18-Feb	27-Feb	20-Mar	20-May	TOTAL LOST 90 Dys
Weight	86.4	83	79.2	71	15.4
Waist	119	103	95	91	28
Arm	36	34	35	34	2
Hip	114	111	110	104	10
Abdomen	119	103	95	91	28
Chest	112	110	105	103	9
Thigh	61	60	59	54	7

Day 93 - Doctors appointment (Including nutritional psychologist)

So.... Today was a great day! I went to the diet Dr. and talked to the psychologist. I told her: 

- I've been so anxious I had to eat more envelopes, I just couldn't help it!

- And why didn't you break the diet...let's say with a hamburger?

- I don't know. I guess I didn't wanted to break the ketosis

- Yes, but the ketosis is not a policeman that stands infront of you taking the food away... you have to give yourself credit for not breaking it. OK, maybe you ate more envelopes, which are not allowed, but still you had the strengh not to go into a Burger King and binge. 

- I know.. still.. I feel awful. 

- Well don't. You need to learn how to recognize those feelings and to acknowledge yourself for having so much control on the diet. 

So. I felt better. She was right. I could handle this diet. 

Then. I went to the Dr's office. He wasn't happy when I told him I had an "envelope binge"... he immediately made me a Ketosis test. "You're in the verge of breaking the Ketosis". 

I was disspointed at myself. But somehow I knew I was in trouble. But it was time for damage control and I was ready to embrace it. 

He added some more supplements that -he said- it would help my ketosis stay in "the zone" and now in Phase 2-A.

Here comes the meat!

Day 92 - Weigh In (EARLY Weigh in)

Februray 18 - 194.8

May 18 - 160.0

Total pounds lost in 90 days:  34.8 pounds. (15.785 kilos)

I'm SO paranoid I had to weigh in a day earlier. 
So compared to last week, I lost 1.4 pounds, but compared to 2 weeks ago, I lost 0.4 pounds. 

This feels so strange. I want to believe it's because I have been feeling anxious and NOT because I broke ketosis in ANY way. 

The Dr. told me he would make me a Ketosis test next appointment. That would be next tuesday. I am SEROIUSLY HOPING the nopales are not guilty on this, for I have been still eating them. 

I was going to start con cauliflower last wednesday, I bought 10 to have a weeks stock... but the vegetable had inner life. Yes, it had green maggots. I almost fainted and of course, I am disgusted to even think of buying it again, so I'm stuck with the nopales for now. 

It feels dissapointing not loosing weigh continously, I feel impotence in front of the food and I feel I am being manipulated by it not having ANY strengh in self control.

Just a few hours ago, at 1 am, I felt this DESPERATE need to eat, but I mean, It almost hurted!, so I had an extra soup and an extra maltshake. 

I'll talk to the Dr on tuesday and see what's going on with me.