Plateaus

I have hit a plateau for three days, which means I have not lost an ounce.  It is a depressing way to start the day, and I broke down and had a Macchiato at Peet’s Coffee & Tea this morning, espresso with steamed milk.  The steamed milk is only about a half a cup, but is not allowed on the HCG Weight Loss Diet.

At the café, I journaled my way through this low point and reviewed the prior three days while on the HCG Diet and the choices I had made:

SKINCARE SESSION

Four days ago, I had a facial appointment with Karla at Marilyn Jaeger Skincare Studio in San Francisco.  I had made the appointment last month and forgot about it until the day before my session.  Creams and lotions are not allowed on the HCG Weight Loss Diet for the duration of the program, and I had to make a decision.

I did not want to cancel at the last minute, and since I cannot wear anything on my face throughout the diet, I felt that it would be a great boost to my complexion, even though I knew I may plateau, not lose any weight, for a few days.  Men are lucky, because they can shave every morning, which is a great exfoliator.  I have always thought that men always look more youthful, because they are constantly shedding the top layer of skin several times a week if not daily.

The minute I stepped into Marilyn Jaeger’s Skincare Studio, I was so glad I didn’t cancel.  I stepped out of my busy world and into a world of pampering.  Karla, my dear friend and skincare specialist, greeted me with a warm smile and a hug; and for the next hour, my face and neck were cleaned, scrubbed, massaged, exfoliated, cleansed again, and prepared with sunscreen for the unexpected City sunshine.  My skin looked and felt outstanding!

So was that worth the three day plateau?  Yes.

SUNDAY NIGHT BREAKDOWN

Here’s one of those habits that is hard to break, especially if one person is on the HCG Diet and the other person can eat anything they want.  I don’t have a problem if someone is eating ice cream in front of me, because I cannot smell what they are eating.  The taste of ice cream is only a memory; however, the smell of freshly popped popcorn is intoxicating.

I was just about to fall asleep when the aroma entered the room and rendered me with absolutely no will power.  I was wide awake and struggling with my body.  “You’re not hungry, you’re not hungry,” I kept chanting to myself, but that wasn’t working.  Then I reminded myself, if I give into the popcorn, I will have to disclose it to my readers.  You would think that would have been the one motivating factor, but it wasn’t.  I even started writing the blog in my mind as to how I was going to tell you that I “fell off the HCG wagon.”  I was miserable.  Popcorn is one of those comfort foods that trigger happy feelings, and I wanted “happy!”   I got out of bed, drank a huge glass of water while waiting for the popcorn to pop, and then I ate it!

The popcorn was a microwave product that declared it only had 100 calories per pouch, but it was not as great as the homemade popcorn I usually make.  The portion was so small, by the time I decided to stop eating, it was already consumed . . . and it didn’t make me happy.  I finally fell asleep and woke up with a stomach ache in the morning.

So was that worth the three day plateau?  No.

EXERCISING AT THE BAR

If you are exercising throughout the HCG Weight Loss Program, which you should be in order to maximize the benefits, your scale won’t go down as fast:  muscle weighs more than fat.  In fact, the morning readings on your bathroom scale will require restraint as you may be tempted to fling it out the window.  The scale teases you with readings that fluctuate up and down from day to day – it’s frustrating.  What you need to focus on is how much better you feel and how much looser your clothes look and feel on your body.

I had just increased my workouts at The Bar Method.  What is great about The Bar Method is the one hour that is completely dedicated to me ~ no phones, no computer, nothing.  I don’t have to take care of anyone but myself.  Why is it so hard for many of us to give ourselves one hour to maintain our personal universe?

When I walk into The Bar Method studio, I not only exercise my physical body, I “work-out” anything that is clinging on my mind, emotionally upsetting me, and reconnect with spirit (my higher self).  When I leave the studio, I am completely energized.  Is it hard to get to the studio?  Yes, because I can think of lots of other things I can do instead: homework, writing, laundry, preparing dinner for the family, paying bills, scrub the bathroom, etc.  But you know what, when I spend the hour with myself, all of these chores get done anyway – I just get to do them with a little more gusto, because I took care of myself first.

So was that worth the three day plateau?  Absolutely!

Tomorrow morning, I may not even weigh myself and trust that the HGC system in working within me.  Besides, I have proof – my own past successes and over 30 pounds thinner due to the HCG Weight Loss Program.  You can follow my 30-pound weight loss transformation in my e-book available on Amazon.com:  HCG Diet: A Shot At Weight Loss ~ A Journal of Transformation.

Barbara Bonardi

Chocolate In Phase III

PHASE III – Days 4-7   WEIGHT:  160.6 lbs. WORKOUT: The Bar Method

I have been living for a week at 160 lbs. with a few ounces sprinkled here and there.  This is an adjustment time for my body as I introduce a variety of new foods and flavors.

One flavor I had been looking forward to is the olive oil and vinegar from We Olive.  The extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar goes well not only on salads but with nearly every vegetable, chicken, and makes a great marinade for tri-tip when you add crushed garlic, sliced onion, rosemary, and salt and pepper.

I’m enjoying my new weight and certainly don’t want to revert back to 180 lbs., but I was concerned about eating enough food, because my calorie intake is still low.  I didn’t want my body to think I was starving and hoard fat instead.  It has taken me this first week in Phase III to clam down and just listen to my body.  Last night my body said, “I’m full,” and I left food on my plate.  This morning, I ate last night’s asparagus that I couldn’t finish for breakfast with two pouched eggs.

Earlier this week, I ordered my first macchiato since August 4th.  Melvin is an amazing barista at Peet’s Coffee & Tea in the City.  I wanted Melvin to make my Macchiato the way I like it (espresso with a little steamed milk), because I have noticed that he puts his heart and soul into brewing or pulling the perfect espresso. 

My Macchiatto was absolutely amazing — the espresso smooth, the milk was not over-boiled.  I added a packet of Truvia (TM) sweetener and took a sip — a tear welled up in the corner of my eye.  I had missed my morning Macchiato so much!

Remember sugar and starches are not allowed in Phase III, so I am always looking for alternatives for dessert.  I made my own sugar-free chocolate the other day to drizzle over strawberries, which tasted amazing.

Strawberries with Sugar-Free Dutch Chocolate

OR Hot Cocoa

4 T. Peet’s Dutch Cocoa ;  2 pkgs. of Turvia (TM)  ;  little bit of milk

Combine dry ingredients in a saucepan and heat over a low flame while slowly adding a tablespoon of milk at a time until you reach the consistency you want to drizzle on fruit (strawberries, apples, pears).                                                                                                           FOR HOT COCOA:  Keep adding low fat milk.

And for those of you who don’t want to make your own edible chocolate treats, you might want to try Vosges, a fabulous sugar-free chocolate bar.

I my search for a “delicious” sugar-free milk chocolate bar, I finally found something:  Vosges Haut-Chocolat (TM), 3 oz.  Frank and I shared a bar of Sugar-Free Barcelona with hickory smoked almonds, sea salt, and deep milk chocolate last night.  Vosges Haut-Chocolat is sweetened with maltitol which is a sugar alcohol.  My daughter was familiar with the product and said on the bonus side, maltitol prevents cavities,  but cautioned, in excess, it works as a laxative.  Benefits re maltitol (click here).   Concerns re maltitol (click here).

Diets seem a little easier to stick with when I make things flavorful and line up some “legitimate cheat treats” to take the edge off during those crucial times.  Mind you, I’m not hungry, I JUST WANT A PIECE OF CHOCOLATE once in a while.  After all, we all know chocolate is a cure all for most ailments and according to the WIKIA website, “serves as a powerful and excellent antidote for the chilling, cold effect produced by contact with Dementors.”

I’m sure chocolate is all I need to nurse my right shoulder back to health and might even make me smarter:  I have learned that when I’m water skiing for the first time in 25 years, and I holler “HIT IT,” I better mean it!