By far one of my favorite meals on the HCG Protocol is steak.  It seems to fill me up and the feeling lasts longer than when I eat fish.  And this is my favorite way to make it!

As Dr. Simeons insists, be sure to have a scale and weigh everything before you cook it.  It should weigh 100 grams.  I keep the little pieces that I have to cut off in the process of getting “exactly” 100 grams and then weight them as well.  I put them in a ziplock bag and put their weight in grams as well.  Then when I have enough to equal 100 grams, I cook them inside on the stove in a pan with the same spices.

For this meal, you’ll need:

beef tenderloin filets

2 of my favorite spices…

Aunt Cora’s Soulful Seasoning

granulated garlic.

I first discovered Aunt Cora’s Seasoning when it was being sampled on steak in my area Publix Store.  It smells heavenly when it is heated and can be used on just about anything.  My favorite brand of granulated garlic is Bella.  My local Publix Grocery Store carries it as well.

To prepare the meat, I just weigh it then put a healthy coating of garlic and Aunt Cora’s Seasoning.  Then pre-heat the grill to 375-400 degrees and cook to your desired done-ness.  My mouth waters just thinking of the flavor.

* Fun Fact:  As you know, on the HCG Protocol you can’t use oil of any kind.  I have found that by coating things (whether meat, chicken or fish) generously with spices it doesn’t stick much at all when grilling it.

Oils, oils everywhere!!

One very important aspect to consider when you are on the HCG Protocol is the need to avoid oil and fats of any kind.  Dr. Simeon’s was VERY clear on that.  The following is directly from his “Pound & Inches” manuscript:

Cosmetics

When no dietary error is elicited we turn to cosmetics. Most women find it hard to believe that fats, oils, creams and ointments applied to the skin are absorbed and interfere with weight reduction by HCG just as if they had been eaten. This almost incredible sensitivity to even such very minor increases in nutritional intake is a peculiar feature of the HCG method. For instance, we find that persons who habitually handle organic fats, such as workers in beauty parlors, masseurs, butchers, etc. never show what we consider a satisfactory loss of weight unless they can avoid fat coming into contact with their skin.

The point is so important that I will illustrate it with two cases. A lady who was cooperating perfectly suddenly increased half a pound. Careful questioning brought nothing to light. She had certainly made no dietary error nor had she used any kind of face cream, and she was already in the menopause. As we felt that we could trust her implicitly, we left the question suspended. Yet just as she was about to leave the consulting room she suddenly stopped, turned and snapped her fingers. “I’ve got it,” she said. This is what had happened : She had bought herself a new set of make-up pots and bottles and, using her fingers, had transferred her large assortment of cosmetics to the new containers in anticipation of the day she would be able to use them again after her treatment.

fascinating, huh?????  Well, I can now tell you from personal experience that putting something on your skin definitely messes up the protocol!  You see, it happened this week.  I was feeling really good and spunky having lost so much weight and wanted to go check out the new line that Victoria’s Secret had.  So I wandered in and started looking around.  It was so fun being able to look at these beautiful, sexy things and actually wantto try some on again.  It has been many years since that was something I actually wanted to do.  And I thought my eternally patient Hubby would appreciate a little something “spicy” too!

Anyway, as I was browsing I saw their new scent called “Tease.”  Oooowwwwwwww, I like the sound of that!  It just fit my mood perfectly.  So I approached the display hoping that I would love the way it smelled on me.  You see, I have odd skin chemistry.  I smell perfumes on women and LOVE the way it smells.  Then I go to the cosmetics counter, spray some on and can’t wait to get a whiff of the wonderful smell I remember and…ughhhh!!  It often smells awful!!  I think, “Is this the right one??   I must have picked up the wrong bottle?  I was sure she said it was this one???”  It has happened so many times that now I brace myself before smelling a perfume on me!

But back to the story.  So I spray a little “Tease” on my wrist.  Take a cautious little sniff and think, “OH MY GOSH!!  I LOVE THIS STUFF!!!”  So I spray some more on.  I think to myself, “This is my new scent for fall!  I’ll never tire of this!  Oooooohhhhhh, and they have bath wash and lotion too!!  I bet the lotion smells great too!! ”  At this point, I am in olfactory heaven and pick up the lotion and rub some on my hands and upper arms.  ”Aaahhhhhh, it feels so smooth and moisturizing.  My skin has needed this, and it smells sooooooooo  gooooooooddd!!”

**** Pause, as my brain starts to register what I just did****

“HOLY CRAP!!!!  I JUST PUT LOTION ON!!  WHAT DID I JUST DO?????”   I practically ran out of there to the nearest bathroom and started washing and scrubbing my arms and hands with soap and water.  “Crap, crap, crap!!  If I just messed up my protocol I’m going to be so mad at myself. What was I thinking??? I have been so careful to follow Dr. Simeon’s to a T.”

Then I waited.  Until the next morning.  And guess what?   It messed it up.  In fact, I gained 1.5 pounds.  ONE & A HALF  POUNDS!!!  From one little mistake! Geeeezzzzz!!!!  But, I had brought it on myself.  So I’m telling you this to try to save you the disappointment.  When Dr. Simeon’s says no oils or fats in cosmetics…he means it.  Don’t test it.  Stay sharp, stay focused, and don’t get lost in olfactory heaven because……oils are everywhere…even Victoria’s Secret!!

plateau |plaˈtō|noun

an area of relatively level high ground.• figurative a state of little or no change following a period of activity or progress

verb ( -teaus, -teaued, -teauing) [ intrans. ]reach a state of little or no change after a time of activity or progress :the industry’s problems have plateaued out.

Yep, that definition pretty much describes exactly where I am.  It’s happened…I’ve hit a weight loss plateau.  For 4 days I’ve been vacillating between 141.5 pounds and 140.5 pounds.  Up one day, down the next, then up again… it is beyond frustrating.  In the past (like every time I’ve ever been on a mission to get myself in shape), I’ve given in to the plateau.  I’ve let it get me down.    Then because I’m so frustrated and feeling like it’s never going to pass I do what I’ve always done …  get some of my favorite food to make me feel better. I’ve come to understand and accept that I have always used food to deal with my emotion difficulties.  It’s usually my good ole’ stand-by of Pepperoni’s Tavern pizza and wine or swirl pound cake and coffee… or both!!  I would wallow in my self-pity and curl up on the couch for an afternoon of movies (or Oprah shows that I’d Tivo’d) and eat till my heart’s content.  And you know what?  I felt better while I was eating.  The taste of the perfectly melted cheese combining with the grease from the spicy pepperoni, all on top of perfectly cooked crust basted with melted butter combined with fresh herbs… it was heaven on earth.  Or so I thought.  But then that’s what all addicts say.  The temporary emotional high falls prey to the inevitable.  You have to come down.  For me, that’s the part where I wake up from the food induced nap and feel like a total failure.  Which makes me sad, and disappointed, at which point I usually gave up and went back to my old unhealthy habits and told myself I’d start again next week.

The whole crazy unending cycle sounds so pathetic!  So immature!  So….childish!  Like a little girl who doesn’t get something she wants so she sulks off to have a pity party for herself!  You want to look at that little girl and say “SNAP OUT OF IT!    GROW UP!!”

Plateaus test this in you.  Are you going to be the little girl who puts on the sad face, curls down her lower lip and gives up. Hoping that if you find a way to make yourself feel better this time, next time you’ll find a way to get what you want.  Or are you going to act like the grown women that you are now.  Face the fact that plateaus are going to happen.  It’s part of the journey.  It’s on the plateau that you have to reach deep down inside yourself and connect with the strength in your soul.  Re-dedicate yourself to your goal of being healthy.  Tell yourself what you know to be true… that “this too shall pass.”

In fact, you can even make a game of it.  That’s what I’m doing.  I’m not getting mad…I’m getting even!  I’m staying the course.  I’m going to work a little harder today and burn some extra calories.  I’m refusing to let this get me down.  I’m going to show some self-love!  Like when your child comes to you with a scraped knee and you give them a big hug and a kiss and make it all better.  We all need some self love.  We need to treat ourselves like we treat others that we love.   And you know what?  I feel empowered.  I feel like I’m in control of my destiny.  This time I’m not letting my old child-like “food issues” overcome the self-aware and sensible woman I’ve become.  I’m getting my exercise stuff on and heading out to burn some calories and look forward to the sense of well-being that it brings.  I’m going to “stick with the continuous effort” the quote above refers to so this time I can reach my potential!

Have you ever had a plateau?  How did you deal with it?  Please leave a comment and share your story.  I’d love to hear it!

P.S.–  Pepperoni’s Tavern really does have the BEST pizza!  I am a pizza LOVER and it’s tied for first place in my book.  And I will enjoy it again someday.  Just not right now.  If you are at a place in your journey where you can enjoy a treat, check them out.  You won’t be disappointed, I promise.

So today I stepped on the scale with great anticipation.  You see, yesterday I only lost .5 pounds after not losing anything the day before.  That has only happened once before and it was early in my protocol, between days 9 & 10.  It didn’t go over so well with me back then.  I was new to the HCG Protocol and my body was still adjusting to the 500 calories a day so I wasn’t feeling bad, just not good.  It was kind of like a cross between being mad and panicked that this wasn’t going to work for me.  But I stepped off the scales that day and said just keep at it.  It has been proven to work.

Today however (I’m between days 20 & 21), when I stepped on the scales I expected to see a loss.  I had only lost a 1/5 pound yesterday after not losing any the day before.  So you can see how I’d expect to lose a pound today (or at least a 1/2 pound) right???    I’m mad!  So bear with me while I vent a little.  It’s difficult enough to be on this restricted diet, but it’s downright discouraging and maddening when you do everything you are supposed to do and you DON’T show a loss on the scale!  My Hubby has been out-of-town for 2 days and all I wanted to do was break into the 130′s before he got back.  Now when he asks how it went I can say, “oh, great.  I did everything I was supposed to do and guess what???  I GAINED a 1/2 pound!”  I feel betrayed by my scale!  I had my suspicions when I stepped on him (it) a couple of days ago.  He totally hesitated when he gave me his first answer.  Then the next day, he completely changed his story on me when I stepped on him and asked him to repeat the story to me.  I just feel like I can’t trust him any more internet…you know what I mean???  Every time I walk up to him and think about asking him to tell me the truth, I wonder if it really is the truth.  Once your trust is lost what else is there????  So that’s it… I’m breaking up with my scale…he’s gotta go.

I’m taking my 20% off coupon for Bed Bath & Beyond and getting a new scale!  He’s going to be everything I ever wanted in a scale.  Handsome to look at (cause we all want our homes to look great), honest (I don’t want this 1/2 pound rounding anymore!  I want to know exactly where I stand with him), trustworthy (no changing your story if I ask you to repeat it!) and he has to be there for me no matter what. Through good times and difficult times.  When I’m doing my happy dance all over the bathroom or just needing to sulk for a minute and have a little pity party.  I want him to just listen to me…don’t try and solve my problem…just listen.

Whew!  I feel better.  Thanks for listening my friends.  Sometimes you just have to let the emotion out.  I’d love to hear about sometime you just needed to vent.  I’m here for you girlfriend, so leave a comment for me and let’s do this together!

I know… it’s been a while, a week to be exact.  But I had a good excuse.  I felt AWFUL!!  Not the whole time, but for a good three days.  I’ll explain more later.  But the good news is, the protocol is working!!!  Here are my stats for the week:

Day 9:  Weight 146.5  (down 7 pounds) Exercise burn 540 calories

Day 10: Weight 146.5 (still down 7 pounds) Exercise burn 884 calories

Day 11: Weight 146 (down 7.5 pounds)

Day 12: Weight 145.5 (down 8 pounds) No drops this day, will skip every Sunday per my doctor so I don’t develop a tolerance to the drops

Day 13: Weight 145.5 (still down 8 pounds)

Day 14: Weight 144.5 (down 9 pounds)  Whoo Hoo!!!!

First I cleaned the shrimp.  Then I sprinkled one of my favorite Penzy’s Spices, Trinidad on top.

Then I cut up a tomato for my vegetable serving. I found the best certified organic Balsamic Vinegar made by Spectrum when starting this diet.  I drizzled some over the tomatoes, then sprinkled with salt and fresh ground pepper.  A wonderful pepper that I recently discovered at Whole Foods isFrontier Smoked Black Peppercorns.  It tastes amazing and I use it on everything now.  It is certified organic too!

Heat your grill 350 degrees.  Using a grill basket for the shrimp, cook the shrimp till it is no long pink.  About 10 minutes.  I like my shrimp well done so I always give it a couple of minutes on the grill even after they first look done.

Then add a sprig of fresh basil and enjoy!!

“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” — Beverly Sills

I think my body is slowly adjusting to the diet.  Today I felt almost no hunger at all.  I didn’t even feel like finishing my fish at dinner.  It continues to blow my mind that on 500 calories you can not feel hungry.  The HCG really does work.  I exercised today and burned 623 calories.  I know there are conflicting reports about exercise during the protocol, but I want to do everything I can to lose weight while on it as well as get started on my exercise program so it’s more of a habit when I’m through the protocol.  Also, my doctor does recommend it and I trust his opinion.

To me, this so applies to the The HCG Diet Protocol.  We have to start by doing what is necessary…we must start the protocol.  It’s not easy sometimes, but we have to stick with it.  Then somewhere between the beginning and the end we see what is possible for us.  That finally something is actually going to work, and we don’t have to feel awful and hungry and irritable.  Then suddenly we find ourselves succeeding and accomplishing what seemed impossible not long ago.  What an incredible journey this is.

Day 7  Weight 148  (down 5.5 pounds)

Wow, what a powerful statement.  And how true!  All we have to do is decide what we want for ourselves.  We have to want it more than the bagel with cream cheese (or whatever your food weakness is).  We have to love ourselves and decide that we are going to change for the better and take control of our lives.  Doing the HCG Protocol is one way of working toward that goal.  So let’s do this together.

Day 6  Weight 149.5 (down 4 pounds) Exercise burn 456 calories

Oh my gosh…today I got on the scale, looked down at my weight and was completely in shock.  I then proceeded to step off in disbelief.  I couldn’t believe that I had finally gotten below 150 lbs!!  Do you know how long it has been since I’ve been below 150????  About 10 years or so… pretty much since I had my second child!  I’m still trying to lose that “baby fat”.  The only problem is my “baby” is now 16 years old!  And then almost instantly I started worrying.  Did I want that so bad that I had leaned on the scale a little to the side and not gotten the true reading???  Was I really at 149.5??  Should I get back on the scale and confirm the digital read-out saying 149.5?? But that would mean I risk not being below 150… CRAP!!  A lot of self-talk going on as you can see.  So I decided I wanted to know for sure.  When I stepped on the scale again I was very apprehensive.  More self talk…”no matter what it says, you are going forward with this protocol.”  And when the digital read out said 149.5 again… I did a happy dance all over my bathroom!!  Luckily, no one was home.  So I just let go and danced all over the room!!  Yea, I’m sure it wasn’t pretty but I didn’t care.  I finally broke the 150 barrier!!!!

Have any of you ever felt like this?  Post a comment and share!

So, for this meal I started with 100 grams of tilapia and rubbed it down with Penzeys Trinidad Spice. They describe it as an Authentic Southern Caribbean seasoning for grilled or broiled poultry and fish. Lemon-garlic blend with a hint of clove and ginger.  I describe it as So-Yummy!!

There is no oil allowed during the protocol so just pat it on both sides of the fish as best you can.  It actually sticks pretty well.  Then grill it for approximately 5-10 minutes on a grill that is about 350 degrees, turning it about half way through.  The fish is done when it turns white all the way through.

Meanwhile, or just prior to cooking the fish, I prepared the asparagus.  I have always started by drizzling the asparagus with olive oil, but again there is no oil allowed on the protocol so I just dampened the asparagus with water.  My hopes were that the water would help the Penzey’s Lemon Pepper Spice stick to the asparagus.  And guess what?  It worked!

Then I grilled it at the same temperature as the fish (350 degrees) for about 10 minutes, turning once.

I have to be honest and tell you that I was quite concerned about not being able to use olive oil on the asparagus.  I seriously doubted that it would taste as good. But to my delight, I loved it!  I did sprinkle a little more lemon pepper on it after I took it off the grill.  But just look at it…doesn’t it look So-Yummy!!

Preparing this really takes no time at all.  The weather today was one of the first beautiful days that whisper the start of fall is coming.  I made my plate and sat on the deck …I felt like I was having a special occasion meal.  Try it and let me know what you think!