Well - It's all over. We did 6 weeks of phase 2, and 3 weeks of phase 3. We are now well into phase 4 and the news is good. We both lost faster and better than we have ever done, and we are both maintaining really well. We are convinced that including the phentermine with the diet made a huge difference. Also, we were better prepared this time and better informed on what we should do. I am back down to my previous weight [18 lbs down] and Jill lost 20.

Jill was able to pass the 100 lb mark for her efforts over the past 3 years. She looks fabulous!

My 2nd daughter began her HCG journey the end of May. She is so excited and happy. She honestly did not think it would work, but because it had worked for Jill and I, she decided to try it anyway.

She gained her weight due to a medical error 16 years ago, and has never been able to take it off. She even had surgery to lose weight and while that worked up to a point, she has been frustrated and unhappy. She spends at least 2 hours a day in the gym and just was not seeing results.

She was able to lose 25 lbs. in 6 weeks and she is looking great, but the best part is how happy she is. She is now on phase 3 and can't wait to do this again [probably in January].

Now I need to get some updated pictures of everyone!

Lane's brother and his family came for dinner last Wednesday night. We didn't have a lot of notice and they said we could either go out, or eat in. We decided to 'eat in'.

We bought a couple of Tri-Tip roasts, chicken, and some fresh fruits and veggies. We did grilled steaks and chicken, fresh green salad and a fruit bowl w/ cantaloupe, grapes, apples and pineapple chunks. I was able to eat everything and no-one had any idea I was on a 'diet'. The meal was delicious and I served them dessert of ice cream and brownies while I ate my chia pudding with some stevia sweetened whipped cream on top.

Very successful dinner!

Tomorrow begins my final week of maintenance. Doing this session with Jill has been such a blessing. We have accomplished the journey together, and it has been a joy. I recommend always doing this with a buddy.

We were in Duchesne yesterday and went to town for lunch. Lane chose a Chinese restaurant and I panicked inside. How could you eat chinese and stay 'legal'? Jill said "No Worries, this will be easy!" We chose a shrimp stir fry with veggies, skipped the rice and soup, and it WAS fine. Jill ate the won-tons, but I just couldn't do it. My weight today was actually down from yesterday. Yay.

The greatest discovery of this maintenace phase is when Jill discovered CHIA SEEDS. WE LOVE THEM! they are now a daily part of our menus. Just adding the fiber would have been worth it, but they also supply energy from protein, calcium, and so many other nutrients. I add them to my morning shake, make chia 'pudding' every day and eat some with both lunch and dinner.

CHIA CHOCOLATE PUDDING
2 C ALMOND MILK
2 TLB COCOA POWDER [Regular or Special Dark]
1 Tsp VANILLA
1 Tsp ALMOND EXTRACT
5 packets SPLENDA [or Stevia]
6 TLB CHIA SEEDS

Put cocoa powder in bowl, add almond milk and whip until incorporated.
Add vanilla and almond ext.
Add chia seeds and stir.
Stir about every 10 minutes for 30 minutes or so, until thick.
I like to pour it into three 1-cup containers so it is already portioned out.
I also like to add blueberries or fresh strawberries. That will increase the portions to 4 1-cup containers. Refrigerate and ENJOY!

Well, I have finished the 6 weeks of Phase 2 and it was VERY successful. My lowest weight was 18 pounds down. I am sitting most days at 16 - 16 1/2 pounds down. The biggest difference this time was that because of taking phentermine with the diet, I had plenty of energy, didn't feel hungry all the time, was able to do mild exercise, and the weight came off easier. It has to be the 37.5 mg. dose. Have you heard of the MD Diet? That's what they do. HCG with Phentermine. Well - I think it's magic! Jill lost close to 20 pounds this time and just surpassed 100 lb lost since her journey began 3 years ago! I am so proud of her, and she looks amazing! I am back to the weight I was when my profile pic was taken. I'm happy and now doing Phase 3. AND - Jill discovered CHIA and we are loving it!! I will post some recipes soon.

I'm B-a-a-a-k

First day of doing this again.  It's been a year and a half and I'm so ready to lose these unwelcome, returning pounds.     Stay tuned!

UP AND DOWN,
UP AND DOWN


I haven’t written anything on this blog for a long time. I did the cleanse phase of FIT shortly before going on the cruise. I gained a couple of pounds on the cruise, but not bad. I think I did well because I took my fiber and took it every night before going to bed.


I had decided to do another round of HCG when I got home from the cruise but I haven’t started it yet. Lane wanted to wait until the first of March, but he didn’t pick up the stuff last week, so I did another round of the cleanse. I am traveling for business next week and that concerns me with the HCG. I would have to leave the meds at home and just skip a day. That might not be a bad thing though.


I am having trouble staying under 150. I have put on 7 pounds since my last injection of HCG a few months ago and I don’t like it! My lowest weight was 143 and that was fabuloso! I knew that I might not stay that low, but I never wanted to see the 150’s again. That is the biggest reason I want to do another round of HCG. I want to get back solidly into the 140’s [or lower].


I started the cleanse phase again today because I have a weigh-in on Thursday. I need to show at least a 5 pound loss and a body % loss from the last time I weighed in. If I had to weigh in today, I’d be in trouble.


AND - - I want to just S-C-H-M-A-A-K Lane these days. He has re-gained all the weight he lost on the last round of HCG. He seems to have just thrown everything he learned out the window and given up! He worked so hard to achieve his success, and now he is not trying at all. Frustrating!

TNI FIT - ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS



Jill, Carl and I are finished with the cleanse. I lost a total of 4 pounds. I haven’t checked in with Jill and Carl yet. That is the ‘ENDINGS’ reference in the title. The ‘BEGINNINGS’ refers to the fact that Lane starts his cleanse today.


I emailed him some support materials to get him started. He has a full week of sample menus, and a daily guide to know what to eat when. I expect some whining this week, but true to form, he will decide on his own that he is ‘just going to do it’.


Jill and I found a couple of good ‘free’ calorie counting sites. We were both using myfooddiary.com but they charge $9 per month, and we both decided to see if we could find a free site that offered the same things. I found www.caloriecount.about.com and Jill found http://www.everydayhealth.com/



They both offer daily calorie counts, activity reports, charting, blogs, etc. Both sites allow you to enter your own items, such as TNI Fiber, RESET, REDUCE, etc. so you can really customize your day. They are both good resources for tracking daily stats.

One of the biggest issues for all of us is that we know what to expect from HCG, but we are just learning about TNI FIT. It is definitely a learning process as we try this new program. However, focusing more on 'fitness' via exercise will be so good for all of us. Jill put it really well when she said, "I lost weight with HCG, but I was not fit. I weighed less, but I was still 'flabby'" Well said. I agree that the 'fitness' piece was missing from HCG. TNI FIT is a complete program that focuses on nutrition and exercise together.

TNI FIT - DAY 4




Down another ½ pound today. I think it might have been more if I had been better about drinking my water yesterday. I usually try to get three 24 oz bottles during the day, but yesterday I didn’t do it. I had only one 24 oz bottle of water, and two 16 oz bottles w/ fiber.


They took pictures at work today for the FIT Challenge. I was actually glad they didn’t have to capture my photo from last May. I was Fat , fat, fat; not Fit fit fit. They asked us to be in our exercise clothes, so I brought them to work and changed for the picture. I couldn’t even get that shirt on 8 months ago.


I signed up for a free website that keeps track of your weight, calories, activity, etc. The site includes access to their blog, and they had a good article today. We all KNOW we should be eating right, but sometimes we don’t know WHAT to eat. Here is a list of foods put together by leading nutritionists listing the 30 healthiest foods to include in our diets. It’s a good list. Now, some things might be good for me, but I wouldn’t touch a sardine under threat of death!


The 30 Healthiest Foods
Mushrooms
Barley
Quinoa
Walnuts
Whole grain pasta
Peanut and Almond Butters
Oatmeal [old fashioned or steel cut]
Skim Milk
Almonds
Lentils
Blueberries
Bulgur
Eggs
Sardines
Spinach
Kiwi
Wild Salmon
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Chicken Breasts
Kale
Avocados
Kidney Beans
Chard
Sweet Potatoes
Edamame
Pumpkin
Oranges
Greek Yogurt
Broccoli
Black Beans


I have been hungry the past two nights, but in looking at the final calorie count of my days, I may not have been getting enough. I have been around 1,200 before the exercise, so with the exercise, I think I have needed more food. Last night I grabbed a handful of almonds to help ‘kill the hunger’. HOWEVER - - Jill just reminded me that we are supposed to be 300 calories under during the cleanse.


Well – stay tuned. Jill is discouraged today because she was up ½ pound. She is contemplating going back on HCG. I asked her to stick it out a while longer. She likes the old fiber better than the new one, not for the taste, but for its effectiveness. I don’t have the new fiber yet, so I’m still using the old one. Carl is still struggling with the 'side effects' of taking fiber.

TNI FIT – DAY 2


I stepped on the scales this morning and was really HAPPY! After one day on the program I am DOWN 3 pounds. I was starting to inch up on my weight and had put several pounds back on [I’m embarrassed to say how many]. SO - - - today was a happy day.


My product did not come in yesterday, so this morning I told Lane that he was SHARING! I can get by with my regular fiber and soy protein shake, but he has to share the RESTORE probiotic and the RESET cleanse formula with me until I get mine. He didn’t want to start the program until Monday anyway, so I said we’d get more before then.


Here is my ‘DAY 1’ menu:

BREAKFAST: Protein shake w/ 1 C frozen berries and 1 C 1% milk
10:00 a.m.: Fiber with 16 oz water
SNACK: 8 Almonds
LUNCH: 3 oz. lean meat / baby carrots / 2 stalks celery
SNACK: RESET cleanse formula
DINNER: Steak / Cauliflower / Green Beans
SNACK: Fiber with 16 oz water


Jill and Carl were impressed that with all the products working together, they felt full all day and not ‘snacky’ at all. Carl is having problems with ‘gas’. He did not include ANY fiber in his diet before, even an apple, so this is interesting for him. He liked all the products except for the noni bioactive. He has never been willing to drink it before, so this was a major step for him. Jill said that he is committed to doing this! JILL IS DOWN 3 POUNDS TODAY, TOO. She made TACO SOUP for dinner and said it was a huge hit. I’ll post a couple of good recipes tomorrow.

DAY 1 – TNI FIT


Kick off day for me - - Lane wants to start tomorrow because he has a heavy work schedule today. Jill and Carl kicked off today, too.


Jill called me this afternoon with two really good pieces of information.

1) When followed correctly, this program gives you the same amount of fiber as taking two servings of the old fiber. [20 gr vs. 18 gr]

That is really important for us because we have all come to know how much better we feel when we take the fiber products every day. Jill was in a bit of a panic when she found out the new fiber had only 5 gr of fiber compared to 10 gr on the original one. She studied the program last night and discovered that the new program supplies 18 gr fiber, so she is only missing 2 gr, and that can be easily made up with other foods.


2) Jill and Carl tried the new protein shakes this morning, and they LOVED THEM!

Now, you have to understand that while Jill was open to a new product, Carl was totally expecting to HATE it. He didn’t like the previous soy protein, so he was expecting to hate this one too. SURPRISE - - - He likes it! [He also loves the new RESIST snack bars, but who wouldn’t? Chocolate Caramel Nut, and Chocolate Covered Chocolate Chip!]


Jill and Carl took a 2 mile walk together this morning. WOW – that normally would not happen. Getting FIT is a good thing!


I still don’t have my product yet. I had one container of RESET cleanse formula, and I took one of Lane’s RESTORE probiotics this morning. [It’s 4:30 p.m. and no mention of getting the products today, so I may NOT be off to a running start!]

GET READY - - - GET SET - -

Okay – we are going to start this new journey tomorrow – Tuesday, January 25th [because we won’t have the products until then]


Here is what a typical day on the cleanse looks like.
-During the first 6 days, in addition to the other products, drink one bottle of Fit RESET each day. If you are trying to lose body fat then reduce your calorie goal by 300 calories and avoid simple carbs such as white breads, rice, pastas, and refined sugars. Calculate your calorie goal at www.tni.com/fit

--Be sure to drink water throughout the day, AND DON'T FORGET YOUR NONI!!!!


(THIS MENU IS FOR 1200 CALORIES. To see what it would be for other options, log onto www.fit.tni.com and view menu options]


BREAKFAST:
BIOACTIVE BEVERAGE [NONI]
MULTIVITAMIN
RESTORE – PROBIOTIC
REBUILD SHAKE – W/ 1 C SKIM MILK

SNACK:
8 ALMONDS
1 C CHERRY TOMATOES W/ LIGHT DRESSING

LUNCH:
3 OZ. TURKEY BURGER ON WHOLE WHEAT BUN
2 C ROMAINE LETTUCE
1 TSP OLIVE OIL, BALSAMIC VINEGAR
¼ AVOCADO
3/4 C PINEAPPLE CHUNKS

SNACK:
RESET CLEANSE BEVERAGE


DINNER:
3 OZ PORK ROAST
1 C STEAMED VEGGIES
½ C MASHED RED POTATOES W/ SKIN


SNACK:
REDUCE – FAT FLUSHING FORMULA


So-o-o - - Very doable, right? Some of these things are not what I would typically eat on a ‘diet’, so that was a nice surprise. I can’t remember the last time I ate a potato without feeling tons of guilt.

TNI FIT


This blog was created to talk about HCG weight loss. It has been a blessing to me to be able to talk about the journey and share it with others - - - - - - - -


Well - - there’s something new on the horizon and I am going to give it a test run. My company just came out with a new program for weight management and body composition called TNI FIT. I am able to try the new products soon, as they want my department to become part of the ‘FIT Challenge’.


There are 6 new products in the FIT line.
RESET - Cleanse Formula
RESTORE – Probiotic
REDUCE - Fat Flushing Formula
REBUILD – Protein Shakes
REPLENISH - Multivitamin
RESIST - Snack Bars


Here’s how it works: The cleanse formula, taken once a day for 6 days, uses natural bioactives to gently cleanse and detoxify your body. It infuses the body with prebiotics that create an ideal environment for healthy bacteria and it jumpstarts your metabolism, helping to break through diet plateaus. The RESTORE probiotic promotes optimal digestive balance and helps relieve the constipation, discomfort, and cramping associated with biotic imbalance. Restores good bacterial balance to your body. It provides up to 10 times more active bacteria than many other brands, including Bacillus coagulans, a bacteria that survives your stomach acid and activates in the small intestine. The RESET cleanse prepares your body for the RESTORE probiotic.


The shakes and the multivitamin are self-explanatory. However, our scientists have formulated a blend of proteins for the shakes that is revolutionary in how it is accepted by the body. It is a combination of Soy, Whey, and Casien proteins. [I will continue to take the NatureBorn vitamins instead of the Replenish because they are all natural and are an amazing supplement].


Now let me tell you about the REDUCE fat flushing formula. It comes in two flavors and l love the orange. Instead of mixing it with 8 oz of water, I put it into a water bottle and mix it with 16 oz. of water. This is a patented product that flushes fat out of your system!!! Take it one to two hours before or after a meal. [When you take fiber with other foods, or vitamins, the fiber grabs hold of the proteins and nutrients and carries them right out of the body]


I used to put my fiber in my morning protein shake. I no longer do that. I had no idea I was just flushing the protein out of my system by doing that. I would also take my NatureBorn vitamins and omegas just before drinking my shake. I now wait until an hour or so after drinking my shake to take the fiber.


The RESIST bars taste absolutely fabulous. There is a chocolate covered chocolate chip, and a chocolate covered caramel nut. This is not a meal replacement bar or a protein bar [although it has 6 gr protein and 2 gr fiber]. It is a snack bar. If you are going to reach for an unhealthy snack, then this is a much better alternative.


The RESET and the REDUCE are sweetened with stevia. Yay. The bars are sweetened with organic brown rice syrup.


I am going to do this. Lane is going to do it. Jill and her husband are also going to do it. All 4 of us were set to start HCG this month, but we are all going to be doing TNI FIT instead. I’ll keep this website updated on how it’s going. I gained 5 pounds over the holidays and I want it OFF!!! Jill gained 4, and she is freaking out. Lane was naughty and gained most of his 30 pounds back. Carl needs to shed some serious weight, too, so stay tuned for updates.

UPDATE: JILL DID 2 STEAK DAYS AND LOST 6 POUNDS. SHE IS SMILLING. I HAVE BEEN USING THE NEW REDUCE FIBER ONCE OR TWICE A DAY THIS WEEK [we have some in the office] AND I AM DOWN 2 1/2 POUNDS SINCE MONDAY. [this is Thursday]

PHASE 4



BIGGEST LOSER COMPARISON

I was watching The Biggest Loser this week and all the contestants were getting ready to go home for a week or so. They were all stressing out about going back to their ‘real’ lives and keeping the weight off. Bob and Jillian sat all the contestants down and had a discussion about what it was going to be like in the ‘real’ world.

I can totally relate. Phase 4 is like being thrust back into the real world. There was comfort and safety in Phase 2 and Phase 3 because we were regimented, and knew exactly what we could and could not have. I could plan ahead and was basically in control of my eating. Whoa! Has that ever changed! I find that when I let life just happen around me, it is next to impossible to control my circumstances.

When we were on protocol, we always had grilled steak or chicken in the fridge so I could pack the meat and some veggies for lunch every day. Now, because we have not been doing that, I search the fridge every morning wondering what I’m going to do for lunch. I’m still trying not to eat bread or pasta, so that limits my choices. I have had a couple of sandwiches [3] since I started Phase 4.

Lunches provided by the office, family staying with us for a few days [kidlings included], holiday meals and leftovers, lack of meal planning; these have been some of my challenges this week. I am up two pounds. I need to do a steak and apple day(s), but have not been able to do it yet. Hopefully tomorrow will be my window of opportunity.

PHASE 4 - NOV 23
2 WEEKS IN


We started Phase 4 two weeks ago, but it feels longer. I handled Phase 3 better because the rules were very defined and I knew exactly what I COULD have and what I COULDN’T have.


Phase 4 has been much harder for me. I know I can add back sugar and starch, but I’m hesitant to do so. There was a company activity on Friday where they served lunch. Sandwiches, chips, cookies [you get the idea]. I nearly panicked. I found a sandwich on whole wheat, and I did eat most of it. I had a few chips, and of course I ate the cookie! No weight gain.


We went to dinner last night for our anniversary, and I ate fried coconut shrimp, and ate one piece of bread, and enjoyed the sweet potato. Up a couple of ounces. [however, I ate some peanuts and some pudding before going to bed, so it could have been that!]


I guess the point I’m trying to make is that I need to relax and allow myself to eat normally. I don’t mean I'd go crazy with sugar, but I shouldn’t be so squirrely about eating it sometimes. Thanksgiving is coming up this week and I will be making several pies. There will be rolls, potatoes, etc, etc. I plan to enjoy the day and not stress over ‘food’. I can always hit a few Zumba classes to get rid of Turkey Day blues.

Even with the weight loss, my cholesterol is still over 200 [203], so I am taking the fiber twice a day, the omega’s 3 times a day, the vitamins twice a day, and upping my noni. I need to get that number under 200! I probably also need to cut down on the peanuts and whipping cream!

PHASE 4 - -
HERE WE GO AGAIN


Today begins the first day of Phase 4. Phase 4 is the 'back to normal' phase, where we can begin introducing sugar and starch back into our daily routine.

We had company for dinner yesterday and it was the first time in several months that I have cooked for a crowd. It went well. I cooked a turkey breast, had 3 veggies, and a quinoa salad. Lori brought mashed potatoes [because I do not have them at the house any more], and they also brought dessert.

Lane and I ate the turkey and the green beans, and I had some of the quinoa salad. We chose to make our own dessert instead of eating the brownies. We made some chocolate pudding and covered it in whipped cream. Yum.

We are still maintaining well.

I ended up in a video that was posted on a national website this week. I may not have been totally happy with being filmed, but at least I was not stressing about my weight!

I LOVE HCG.

PHASE 3 - WK 3


I haven't written anything for a while, and actually there are some fun things to share. In Phase 3, we can eat whatever we want, with the exception of sugars and starches. Fats are fine, and we don't count calories.

All three of us have stabilized really well. We are all staying within a pound or two of our 'last injection day' weight. This phase is the most critical because it sets and stabilizes your metabolism.


'Mr. HCG' in my office recently shared some of his favorite things about Phase 3 with me, and wouldn't you know it, they have become some of my favorite things too! He asked me what desserts I was eating. DESSERTS????? I told him I couldn't have dessert, and he said, "Of course you can!"

The most exciting thing he shared with me was that we could have banana cream pudding, whipping cream and all! [recipe to follow] We LOVE it! He showed me a 'cream charger' and I decided to go right out and buy one. We love that too! You put a cup of cream in the container, attach a CO2 charger, and in literally 3 seconds you have fully whipped cream that does not separate. These little machines are AWESOME!
I add 1 dropper of Vanilla Cream Stevia before whipping and it flavors the whipping cream perfectly! I buy the stevia at the health food store. [and yes, you can use the heavy whipping cream]









Here are more fun things you can do on Phase 3:


Carl's Jr. - Low Carb Burger or Gilled chicken [wrapped in lettuce]
In&Out Burger - Protein Style burger [wrapped in lettuce]
Costco Chicken Salad
Rotissery Chicken - Make your own chicken salad!
Sugar Free Ice Cream - YUM [can't believe it's legal!]
Any fruit, coverd with whipped cream!
AND I ALMOST FORGOT - - Italian Place, Steak and Everything SALAD!!


And now (Drum Roll) - - - Banana [or chocolate, or butterscotch] Pudding:
1 pkg. sugar free pudding mix
1 banana
Whipped cream
cinnamon

Whisk pudding into 2 cups cold milk for 2 minutes. Set in fridge [5 min].
Slice 1/2 banana into bottom of cereal bowl
Spoon set pudding over sliced bananas
Slice 1/2 banana on top of pudding
Cover with whipped cream
Sprinkle with cinnamon
ENJOY!

PHASE 2 – PART DEUX

LIVES TRANSFORMED

I am finished with my protocol. I took my last injection on Thursday. My 72 hours of letting the HCG leave my system began Friday. Today I get to have my protein shake for breakfast, and I can eat nuts! Yum.

Jill has decided to continue for 1 more week. Because she skipped Sunday’s, she can do an additional 6 days. Jilly wants to see if she can get closer to losing 30 pounds. Lane wanted to get into the LOW 220’s but because his weight stabilized this past week, he ended his protocol on Friday. Today is his last day of his 72 hour cleanse.

Today I’m posting ‘before and after’ pictures. When I went searching for which pics to use, we were all pretty shocked to see some of the ‘befores’. The first pic is one that shows Lane and Jill in 2007 at their heaviest, and me from one year ago. We had all tried to lose weight over the past couple of years, but we were only marginally successful. Lane and I did Nutrisystem, '10 Day', etc, but nothing was ever as successful as HCG.
















My ‘Before’ picture was taken just exactly one year ago. Two people whose accounts I look after visited the corporate office and we had our picture taken together. I cropped out the other two for this posting. I decided to use this one because, at the time, I was really pleased with this picture. A co-worker recently saw the picture and was shocked at how different my face looks now. I must admit, the pic from a year ago definitely shows a ‘fuller face’. I was actually really surprised by my ‘after’ picture. I look good!! You don’t really notice all the small changes as they are happening, but a picture is worth - - - - - -. I didn’t have a lot a photos to choose from because I always make sure I’m the one behind the camera.
















Jill’s ‘Before’ picS were taken in 2007 at her heaviest, and then just this past March in Arizona. The ‘After’ pic was taken this past Wednesday as she was rushing around trying to get the car packed to go back to Moab. Wow. I am so proud of her. She is so excited to see her weight makeover. This is her first experience with HCG, and she is planning on doing a 2nd round in January. She will need a ‘buddy’ to do it with. Any takers??















Lane’s transformation is certainly the most dramatic. When I see what he used to look like, I hardly recognize him. He said he stopped weighing when he hit 350, but these pictures tell me he was well beyond that. His tailor told him that for every 10 pound loss, it is a belt size. His belts have gone from a 56 to a 42. His weight loss journey officially started in 2009. He dropped 70 pounds that year using the ’10-DAY’ diet. After that, he just couldn’t seem to lose more, and the pounds slowly began to creep back on. When I decided to start HCG in May, he was NOT going to do it. He was very leery of the 500 calories, and of being hungry all the time. I finally ‘nagged’ him into it, and we started our journey together. He WAS hungry the first couple of days, then just made up his mind to push forward. By June 15th he had lost 35 pounds, and blew past his 100 pound mark. This time, he has lost another 35 pounds which makes his total weight loss since 2009 around 140 pounds.














Wow, and Wow again!!!!! Doesn’t he look great??????????











This journey officially began May 1st, 2010 and has been one of the best things we’ve ever done together. I do think it is important to do it with a ‘buddy’. Son Mark tried to do it on his own and said it was very difficult not to have a ‘buddy’ support system. I think it would be easy to get distracted by outside forces if you were doing it alone. Jill joined us for our 2nd round, and it was great that she had someone to bounce ideas off, and she could share the journey with people who were going through the same things.

Lane wanted me to mention a couple of things: He said we have learned so much during this journey. We have learned some important details that will remain with us now that we are done.

1) There needs to be a time break between diets. Even if you are doing another program, the body needs a chance to stabilize before continuing. We waited 8 weeks between protocols. Jill will need to wait 8 weeks before she does phase 2 again.

2) Lane feels that the 2 loading days are really important. We didn't do it right. You need to load on fattening foods like lasange, pastas with cream sauces, ets. We loaded on sweets and sugars, but we should have loaded on high fat foods. It helps to make you less hungry the first 3 days. [Go get the tastiest, high fat foods you can find during that time. Also, you have to eat all the time during those 2 days, not enough to be ill, but enough so that you are full all the time.

3) You need to make sure you have a really good supplement while dieting. It helps with energy, and not being hungry. Tahitian Noni NatureBorn vitamins were wonderful. They are all natural, no synthetics.

4) Drink a LOT of water, and take fiber. Not stupid fiber like metamusil, but an all natural fiber complex. Talk to Annette if you want a really good one.

5) Don't drink diet soda while dieting. It still triggers an insulin response in the body, and you can gain weight by drinking it.

6) Phase 3 is very important. It allows the body to stabilize and set a stable weight. Adding sugars and starches too soon after dieting will not allow the body to re-set the metabolism.

7) Exercise!!! It does make a difference. It burns calories.



I begin my 2nd round of Phase 3 today. BRING ON THE PEANUTS!! [and the string cheese, and the milk, and the watermelon, and the almonds, and the salmon, and the parmesan crusted tilapia, etc, etc, etc]

PHASE 2 – PART DEUX
DAY 36


THE GOAL IS IN SIGHT!!!!!!


What a weekend!! Busy, busy, busy. Jill and the girls are in town for Lizzy’s baby blessing yesterday, and Kaden’s B-day party last night. She came in on Friday, and thank goodness we are all doing the same eating protocols. It made the chaos more manageable.


SATURDAY: Lane and I were both down. He is now is the 220’s. Lane and Jill went walking at the mall at 7:00 a.m. I had a song rehearsal at 8:30. I made a strawberry / fiber shake and grabbed it as I bolted out the door at 8:20. I got home at 10:00 a.m. and by 10:30 was ready for a ‘snack’. We were all pretty hungry at noon so I made a stir-fry and used up the last of the cooked chicken and steak. Jill and I then took off for an afternoon of shopping.


When we got home, Lori and family were there. I told them I could make enough cabbage chili for everyone, but they didn’t think that sounded very good. SIL went to the store and bought fixins’ for sandwiches, so they all did that. I made a big pot of cabbage chili and Jill thought I was making too much. Nope. Between the 3 of us, we managed to eat it all.


SUNDAY: Crazy day. 7 of us were out the door before 8:30 a.m. for the baby blessing. I made Jill and I a strawberry / fiber shake and cut up and apple for Lane to eat in the car. After the meeting, we all went back to Mark’s home for brunch. Among the foods served were rolled deli meats and a green salad, so we were able to do our snack there and fit in with the crowd.


Lunch was leftover steak and an apple. We skipped our afternoon snack. Then in the afternoon we were off to Kaden’s birthday party dinner. Jill and I had Lane grill us a steak before we left so we could take it with us, and we brought a large green salad to share. Everyone else indulged in a baked potato bar while we ate our steak and salad.


MONDAY: Lane and I were both down again today. I’m almost to the point where I want to stop. Another pound and I think I’m good to go this time. Lane actually bought a new pair of levis on Saturday because Jill made such a big deal about how baggy his pants were. He bought a size 40. That’s down from a tight 54 in 2009!


I’ve been able to pass my good jeans to Jill, and boy did she need them! Her pants were looking hobo-ville loose. She was shocked that she could get into my 12’s. She looks great! We both bought a couple of shirts on Saturday and I’m so excited to fit into a Medium. I tried on a large just to make sure, and it was TOO BIG!! That felt good.


I’m going to take my last shot on Thursday. That will give me 72 hours over the weekend to stay on phase 2, then on Monday morning I will begin phase 3. [I’m excited to do my breakfast shakes again]

PHASE 2 – PART DEUX
DAY 29

OKAY - - IT’S OFFICIAL; I’M NOT ON A PLATEAU! I’m down three pounds over the weekend. That feels remarkably good!

I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary this weekend, in fact I was rather sedentary. I did a lot of painting and listening to conference. We did eat a lot of steak and apples, and that is always good for the waistline. We had the cabbage chili for lunch instead of dinner and maybe that helped as well.

Lane is down into the 230’s. He weighed in at 231.5 after walking, but he put 232 as the real weight today, so he’s almost into the 220’s!! His face looked so thin this morning. He is doing great!

Update on Jill: she had an ‘oops’ today because she played conference bingo with the kids yesterday and she said ‘I cheated bad!’. She was up a pound today. Her total so far is 18 pounds down. She said she’ll have that naughty pound off today.

This is our last two weeks on phase 2. One thing that has really helped me lately is the small protein snack at 10:00 a.m. I was getting physically ill around 10:00 each day, but just pushed through it. SIL said it’s okay to eat 1 oz. of protein to help me make it to lunch. I’ve lost 1 pound per day since I started doing that. Lane puts his protein on a piece of melba toast.

Stay tuned for more good news to come.


DAY 29 - P.S. Jill called today to say she is down 2 pounds thanks to a steak and apple day yesterday. She said she doesn't think cheating was worth it!

PHASE 2 – PART DEUX
DAY 26 [closing out week 4]


UGGGGGGGG - - - up and down, up and down, up and down. I think the pattern is supposed to be down, down, down! Lane and I are both fluctuating a lot. I’m beginning to wonder if I have plateaued.


I had just begun to trust the cabbage chili again, when, BAM! Up ½ pound today. I actually ate less of it last night than I usually do.


I need to go back and look at my history to see what I was doing on the 4th week before. I know I went up and down a lot, but when you’re working at it every day, it seems like it should just come off!


We had our department lunch today, and I told them I would just bring my own, but they wouldn’t have it, so because I was talking with one of my co-workers yesterday and he mentioned that he was going on a business trip but was not worried because they had lots of In-N-Out Burgers in California. [he’s doing phase 2 also] I knew I could have the ‘protein’ style burger with tomato, onion and mustard. SO - - that’s what I ordered for today’s lunch. It was VERY tasty! [and I usually hate raw onions on burgers]


Lane is down into the 230’s. [I’m so proud of him] He started this journey over a year and a half ago at around 350. Now, THAT is an accomplishment!!


We have a rather thin mattress on our bed at the trailer. We used to hate it because we both would wake up with sore hips and backs. Lane put another mattress on top of that one this year, and even though we were both sleeping better, I hated it because it was so tall in the room and the ceiling is low. Making the bed was a nightmare because Lane would push the mattress and bedding down every time he would get up during the night. By morning I would have to make the bed from the mattress up and it was such a pain. I finally had him haul it out and we went back to the thin mattress. Amazingly we both slept fine. It has to be that we are putting less weight on our hips and backs now.


Okay - - - - I CAN find some positive things to say today. I need to focus on the positive, and not the ½ pound gain. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can - - - - - - -