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November 29, 2010
Holidays!
Happy Holidays! We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. :)
If you went a little overboard on the turkey, don't fret, just get right back on track. If you need extra help with your diet during this time, please give us a call. Dr. Crockett can help in a variety of ways, and we're here with new recipes and ideas to keep you on your weight loss path during the holidays.
If you have any ideas or questions, please let us know!
Remember, if you are on hCG you're eating 500 calories per day. If you've finished your Rx, slowly increase your calories until you are eating 1400-1600 calories daily.
If you went a little overboard on the turkey, don't fret, just get right back on track. If you need extra help with your diet during this time, please give us a call. Dr. Crockett can help in a variety of ways, and we're here with new recipes and ideas to keep you on your weight loss path during the holidays.
If you have any ideas or questions, please let us know!
Remember, if you are on hCG you're eating 500 calories per day. If you've finished your Rx, slowly increase your calories until you are eating 1400-1600 calories daily.
November 28, 2010
Spicy "Cajun" Shrimp & Grilled Asparagus
New Recipe from Diane
I use the precooked/cleaned medium frozen shrimp. You can get approximately 15 shrimp for 100 grams so it feels like you get to eat more than if you use larger ones or prawns. Just thaw them out and then weigh out your 100grams...I usually make a double batch, then I can use the other half to make a shrimp salad with fresh spinach leaves for the next day.I heat a non-stick pan, spray a little olive oil pam and add the shrimp. Then I use Mrs. Dash's Extra Spicy seasoning (0 calories) liberally...stir a few times and add more Mrs. Dash to taste. The shrimp is already pre-cooked so just cook long enough to warm them up and let the spices "soak" in. Mrs. Dash Garlic also tastes great if you don't like spicy!
I weigh out about 150grams of asparagus and heat our gas grill (or you can do instead on grill pan, or regular skillet if you like). Spray the asparagus with olive oil pam, and sprinkle all sides with sea salt. I prefer the larger grain sea salt over the smaller, I think it has better flavor. Then use a pepper mill and cover both sides with fresh cracked pepper. Grill both sides of the asparagus until done, maybe 3 minutes each side? Careful not to overcook...it can taste like charcoal! Even my son, who refuses to eat veggies loves it this way!
I use the precooked/cleaned medium frozen shrimp. You can get approximately 15 shrimp for 100 grams so it feels like you get to eat more than if you use larger ones or prawns. Just thaw them out and then weigh out your 100grams...I usually make a double batch, then I can use the other half to make a shrimp salad with fresh spinach leaves for the next day.I heat a non-stick pan, spray a little olive oil pam and add the shrimp. Then I use Mrs. Dash's Extra Spicy seasoning (0 calories) liberally...stir a few times and add more Mrs. Dash to taste. The shrimp is already pre-cooked so just cook long enough to warm them up and let the spices "soak" in. Mrs. Dash Garlic also tastes great if you don't like spicy!
I weigh out about 150grams of asparagus and heat our gas grill (or you can do instead on grill pan, or regular skillet if you like). Spray the asparagus with olive oil pam, and sprinkle all sides with sea salt. I prefer the larger grain sea salt over the smaller, I think it has better flavor. Then use a pepper mill and cover both sides with fresh cracked pepper. Grill both sides of the asparagus until done, maybe 3 minutes each side? Careful not to overcook...it can taste like charcoal! Even my son, who refuses to eat veggies loves it this way!
November 27, 2010
Dealing with a Plateau
A few of our patients experiencing plateaus. There are two ways to quickly deal with this interruption of weight loss:
1) do nothing -- continue diet until weight loss begins again
2) apple day
3) diuretic
Below is an excerpt from Dr. Simeon's book. It explains the procedure for the "apple day". If you would prefer a diuretic, please let us know, as we can schedule you for an appointment to order a prescription.
"The Plateau
The second type of interruption we call a "plateau". A plateau lasts 4-6 days and frequently occurs during the second half of a full course, particularly in patients that have been doing well and whose overall average of nearly a pound per effective injection has been maintained. Those who are losing more than the average all have a plateau sooner or later. A plateau always corrects, itself, but many patients who have become accustomed to a regular daily loss get unnecessarily worried and begin to fret. No amount of explanation convinces them that a plateau does not mean that they are no longer responding normally to treatment.
In such cases we consider it permissible, for purely psychological reasons, to break up the plateau. This can be done in two ways. One is a so-called "apple day". An apple-day begins at lunch and continues until just before lunch of the following day. The patients are given six large apples and are told to eat one whenever they feel the desire though six apples is the maximum allowed. During an apple-day no other food or liquids except plain water are allowed and of water they may only drink just enough to quench an uncomfortable thirst if eating an apple still leaves them thirsty. Most patients feel no need for water and are quite happy with their six apples. Needless to say, an apple-day may never be given on the day on which there is no injection [or pill, or drops]. The apple-day produces a gratifying loss of weight on the following day, chiefly due to the elimination of water. This water is not regained when the patients resume their normal 500-Calorie diet at lunch, and on the following days they continue to lose weight
satisfactorily.
The other way to break up a plateau is by giving a non-mercurial diuretic for one day. This is simpler for the patient but we prefer the apple-day as we sometimes find that though the diuretic is very effective on the following day it may take two to three days before the normal daily reduction is resumed, throwing the patient into a new fit of despair. It is useless to give either an apple day or a diuretic unless the weight has been stationary for at least four days without any dietary error having been committed."
1) do nothing -- continue diet until weight loss begins again
2) apple day
3) diuretic
Below is an excerpt from Dr. Simeon's book. It explains the procedure for the "apple day". If you would prefer a diuretic, please let us know, as we can schedule you for an appointment to order a prescription.
"The Plateau
The second type of interruption we call a "plateau". A plateau lasts 4-6 days and frequently occurs during the second half of a full course, particularly in patients that have been doing well and whose overall average of nearly a pound per effective injection has been maintained. Those who are losing more than the average all have a plateau sooner or later. A plateau always corrects, itself, but many patients who have become accustomed to a regular daily loss get unnecessarily worried and begin to fret. No amount of explanation convinces them that a plateau does not mean that they are no longer responding normally to treatment.
In such cases we consider it permissible, for purely psychological reasons, to break up the plateau. This can be done in two ways. One is a so-called "apple day". An apple-day begins at lunch and continues until just before lunch of the following day. The patients are given six large apples and are told to eat one whenever they feel the desire though six apples is the maximum allowed. During an apple-day no other food or liquids except plain water are allowed and of water they may only drink just enough to quench an uncomfortable thirst if eating an apple still leaves them thirsty. Most patients feel no need for water and are quite happy with their six apples. Needless to say, an apple-day may never be given on the day on which there is no injection [or pill, or drops]. The apple-day produces a gratifying loss of weight on the following day, chiefly due to the elimination of water. This water is not regained when the patients resume their normal 500-Calorie diet at lunch, and on the following days they continue to lose weight
satisfactorily.
The other way to break up a plateau is by giving a non-mercurial diuretic for one day. This is simpler for the patient but we prefer the apple-day as we sometimes find that though the diuretic is very effective on the following day it may take two to three days before the normal daily reduction is resumed, throwing the patient into a new fit of despair. It is useless to give either an apple day or a diuretic unless the weight has been stationary for at least four days without any dietary error having been committed."
November 15, 2010
Foil Baked Fish
3 ½ oz fish
juice of ½ lemon
Salt, pepper and dill
Put fish in a piece of foil, large enough to wrap around fish. Drizzle with lemon juice and slice some of the rind and put it around the fish. Season with salt, pepper and dill. Seal the foil. Bake in oven at 350 till done.
Serve with fruit and salad.
Bake 2-4 pieces of fish at a time and put individual portions in baggies. This way the fish is ready to go.
juice of ½ lemon
Salt, pepper and dill
Put fish in a piece of foil, large enough to wrap around fish. Drizzle with lemon juice and slice some of the rind and put it around the fish. Season with salt, pepper and dill. Seal the foil. Bake in oven at 350 till done.
Serve with fruit and salad.
Bake 2-4 pieces of fish at a time and put individual portions in baggies. This way the fish is ready to go.
November 11, 2010
Egg Salad
Here is another salad recipe from Denise:
Since we can have one egg plus two egg whites per week, I hard-boil three eggs. I discard the yokes from two of them (actually my dogs love them), and then I chop all the two egg whites plus the entire third egg in a coffee cup. Then I spoon the entire mixture onto a bed of shredded mixed baby greens. I cut up an apple into tiny pieces and put that in, too, as well as a breadstick broken into about 12 small pieces. I throw in a few grape tomatoes (even though mixing veggies isn't allowed) for good measure and mix the whole salad well. Delicious and filling!!!
Since we can have one egg plus two egg whites per week, I hard-boil three eggs. I discard the yokes from two of them (actually my dogs love them), and then I chop all the two egg whites plus the entire third egg in a coffee cup. Then I spoon the entire mixture onto a bed of shredded mixed baby greens. I cut up an apple into tiny pieces and put that in, too, as well as a breadstick broken into about 12 small pieces. I throw in a few grape tomatoes (even though mixing veggies isn't allowed) for good measure and mix the whole salad well. Delicious and filling!!!
November 10, 2010
New Chicken Salad
Our patient, Denise, has a great chicken salad recipe she shared with us. Tell us what you think! Here's what she says:
One of my favorite dinners is my chicken salad.
I take a plain chicken breast and microwave it for two minutes or until cooked thoroughly. Cool.
Cut into small pieces and put into a bed of shredded romaine lettuce and grape tomatoes (yes, I know mixing veggies isn't allowed), along with a breadstick cut into ten or so pieces, along with an orange, all sliced up into small pieces. Use the juice of the orange first to flavor the salad and add salt if desired. I do.
Thanks Denise!
One of my favorite dinners is my chicken salad.
I take a plain chicken breast and microwave it for two minutes or until cooked thoroughly. Cool.
Cut into small pieces and put into a bed of shredded romaine lettuce and grape tomatoes (yes, I know mixing veggies isn't allowed), along with a breadstick cut into ten or so pieces, along with an orange, all sliced up into small pieces. Use the juice of the orange first to flavor the salad and add salt if desired. I do.
Thanks Denise!
November 9, 2010
Dieter's Tip: Denise
Denise has been thinking up some great recipes and tips...here's her first:
I broil a small piece of fish, steam a bag of Steamers Broccoli, sprinkle lemon juice and have a terrific lunch.
Please check back in the next day or two for more from Denise. :)
I broil a small piece of fish, steam a bag of Steamers Broccoli, sprinkle lemon juice and have a terrific lunch.
Please check back in the next day or two for more from Denise. :)
November 8, 2010
Calories and Diet Tracking
Many of the calories for the food items you are eating the diet are listed here on the blog. To make it easy, the calories are calulated by probable portion size.
If you need to look up more calories on your own, my favorite website is fatsecret.com. You don't have to sign up, just use the "search" bar in the top right corner.
If you like, you can download the app at fatsecret to your blackberry or ipod to help you count your daily calories.
If you need to look up more calories on your own, my favorite website is fatsecret.com. You don't have to sign up, just use the "search" bar in the top right corner.
If you like, you can download the app at fatsecret to your blackberry or ipod to help you count your daily calories.
Daily Coffee Fix
For all of you who were addicted to those gourmet coffees, mochas, frappchinos, and other high-calorie, high priced drinks we all seem to love so much, here is a new recipe to try:
Flavored Coffee
8-12 oz hot water
1 heaping tsp instant coffee or Via packet (or Pero, Postum etc.)
1 flavored tea bag (mint, spice, raspberry, orange etc.)
1 packet calorie free natural sweetener (Stevia, Xylitol, Sweet n Low)
1 tbs milk (only 1 serving a day)
Place hot water in cup, steep tea bag for 3 minutes. Discard tea bag.
Stir in coffee. Add sweetener and milk. Savor the flavors and enjoy!
You might want to try liquid Stevia. It comes in many flavors: cinnamon, vanilla, lemon, cognac, peppermint, orange (plus more). It's great for adding to drinks. :)
Flavored Coffee
8-12 oz hot water
1 heaping tsp instant coffee or Via packet (or Pero, Postum etc.)
1 flavored tea bag (mint, spice, raspberry, orange etc.)
1 packet calorie free natural sweetener (Stevia, Xylitol, Sweet n Low)
1 tbs milk (only 1 serving a day)
Place hot water in cup, steep tea bag for 3 minutes. Discard tea bag.
Stir in coffee. Add sweetener and milk. Savor the flavors and enjoy!
You might want to try liquid Stevia. It comes in many flavors: cinnamon, vanilla, lemon, cognac, peppermint, orange (plus more). It's great for adding to drinks. :)
More on Makeup
One of our readers asked this question, and here's our answer:
Q: Hi - what about lip balm and mascara? I'm not terribly concerned about the mascara, but I have a pretty serious addiction to chapstick...Any ideas for alternatives?
A: Mascara is allowed. Be sure to use a water-based formula that doesn't require oil-based makeup remover. Basically, just steer clear of "waterproof". Same goes for eyeliner.
Chapstick can be tricky. Unlike oils, wax based chapsticks can't be absorbed by the skin, so stick with those. Lipsticks are wax-based so they are a great alternative (and they give some color).
Hope this helps!
Q: Hi - what about lip balm and mascara? I'm not terribly concerned about the mascara, but I have a pretty serious addiction to chapstick...Any ideas for alternatives?
A: Mascara is allowed. Be sure to use a water-based formula that doesn't require oil-based makeup remover. Basically, just steer clear of "waterproof". Same goes for eyeliner.
Chapstick can be tricky. Unlike oils, wax based chapsticks can't be absorbed by the skin, so stick with those. Lipsticks are wax-based so they are a great alternative (and they give some color).
Hope this helps!
November 3, 2010
Simple Calorie Free Salad Dressing
1-3 tbs of raw apple cider vinegar
Salt, Pepper
½ packet of natural sweetener (Stevia, Xylitol, Sweet n Low)
Mix ingredients in a small bowl
Drizzle over salad, spinach, vegetables, stir fry (no oil) etc.
Salt, Pepper
½ packet of natural sweetener (Stevia, Xylitol, Sweet n Low)
Mix ingredients in a small bowl
Drizzle over salad, spinach, vegetables, stir fry (no oil) etc.
November 2, 2010
Why no exercise?
Exercise on the diet is limited to about a mile of walking per day. Sounds great, right? Don't go to the gym and sweat it out, but feel free to take the stairs, clean the house, play with your kids, or do whatever it is you normally do during the day. The research for the diet was done or participants who didn't exercise. If you do exercise heavily, you body could be forced to use your muscle for extra fuel due to the restricted calorie intake.
After the course of hCG, exercise will be an important part of weight balance and a healthy lifestyle.
After the course of hCG, exercise will be an important part of weight balance and a healthy lifestyle.
November 1, 2010
New Recipe
Chicken Soup
Cut up 3 oz of chicken breast into small tidbit bites. Cut up a celery stalk or two if desired slices. Put two cups of water in a sauce pan and turn on heat. When the water is boiling add the chicken and celery and salt and pepper to taste. I also add broken bits about an inch long of the grissini breadstick into the bowl of soup as I am eating it. This provides the dumping feeling. (Do not add the breadstick too far in advance, they get too soggy.) This provides a nice large serving.
Cut up 3 oz of chicken breast into small tidbit bites. Cut up a celery stalk or two if desired slices. Put two cups of water in a sauce pan and turn on heat. When the water is boiling add the chicken and celery and salt and pepper to taste. I also add broken bits about an inch long of the grissini breadstick into the bowl of soup as I am eating it. This provides the dumping feeling. (Do not add the breadstick too far in advance, they get too soggy.) This provides a nice large serving.
Chicken Stir Fry
3 ½ oz chicken (skin removed, no visible fat)
3 ½ oz red, yellow or white onion
½ grapefruit peeled and cut into small pieces
Put salt, pepper, herbs and spices (if you would like to add any) in the bottom of a skillet. Add onions and 3 tbs of water or herb tea. Stir fry until onions are tender and transparent. Remove from pan and set aside.
Add chicken pieces, salt and pepper to pan and water if needed for steaming the chicken, simmer on medium heat till chicken is well cooked. (This works well with frozen chicken tenders, just put frozen meat in pan with smaller amount of water or tea and simmer till done).
Place onions, grapefruit and chicken with juice from pan in a bowl. Toss with salt, pepper, herbs and spices. Fresh basil is a wonderful choice. Enjoy! This works well with beef or fish too.
Lunch suggestion: 1 fruit, 1 vegetable, 1 meat, add 1 grain or eat later for a snack. Enjoy with a calorie free beverage.
3 ½ oz red, yellow or white onion
½ grapefruit peeled and cut into small pieces
Put salt, pepper, herbs and spices (if you would like to add any) in the bottom of a skillet. Add onions and 3 tbs of water or herb tea. Stir fry until onions are tender and transparent. Remove from pan and set aside.
Add chicken pieces, salt and pepper to pan and water if needed for steaming the chicken, simmer on medium heat till chicken is well cooked. (This works well with frozen chicken tenders, just put frozen meat in pan with smaller amount of water or tea and simmer till done).
Place onions, grapefruit and chicken with juice from pan in a bowl. Toss with salt, pepper, herbs and spices. Fresh basil is a wonderful choice. Enjoy! This works well with beef or fish too.
Lunch suggestion: 1 fruit, 1 vegetable, 1 meat, add 1 grain or eat later for a snack. Enjoy with a calorie free beverage.
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