Holiday Cravings...

Many of our patients are done with the hCG pills or drops and the 500 calorie plan. Now it's maintenance time.

Other patients are finding it hard to keep on the 500 diet during the holidays, despite still have a one or two weeks left. Here's what to do:

If you are off the strict 500 calorie diet, this is a great time to stay with the habits of the diet, but consume more calories. The diet starts us on a great regimen of eating protein, veggies, and fruit, and in small amounts. To up the calories, even a little bit during this time, can feel like a lot of food because the body was used to being on the 500 calorie diet. Upping the calories, but still being vigilant will ensure that you are satisfied and are able to control your weight.

If you are currently on hCG but have been cheating from time to time during the Holidays, just get right back on track. If you eat a few hundred calories extra one day, continue to take your hCG and then go back down to the 500 calorie diet.

If you are currently on hCG, but need a total break for the holidays, you may stop the pills and start again in January. Regardless, please keep us updated on your status.

In the maintenance phase, patients are asked to stay on a 1400-1600 calorie diet. During this holiday time, remember to be diligent about counting calories and weighing in. We suggest that you weigh daily, and if any weight gain occurs, make an adjustment. There are many ways to count those calories, including phone apps, internet websites, or the old fashioned food journal.

If you need a snack, eat it! Celery is great low-calorie snack. Grissini breadsticks are also low in calories (25 calories!) and meet the need when you have a carb craving. Snacking can fill the mouth's desire to be moving and will help with hunger and will help you maintain your weight this holiday season.

Whether you are still on the diet, or you have gone off the diet for the holidays, you may need help with hunger suppression. Dr. Crockett can prescribe to you a suppressant to help you through the holidays, or through the long-haul.

Most important of all: WE ARE HERE FOR YOU! If you are having trouble with your weight, let us know so we can help. Dr. Crockett is committed to helping patients reach their goal weights and is here to talk about your concerns.

Thank you! Happy Holidays!

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.

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.

Very Low Calorie Diet: Days 3-30

Days 3 through 30 are known as Very Low Calorie Diet Days, or VLCD days.

Breakfast: Any calorie free beverage
Lunch: 1 protein, 1 vegetable, 1 fruit, 1 grain
Dinner: 1 protein, 1 vegetable, 1 fruit, 1 grain

On days 3-30, take the oral hCG twice daily, 12 hours apart. Wait ten minutes until eating or drinking.

On these days, do not go over 500 calories per day! Strictly follow the list of allowed foods which is located here.

Our suggested meal plan is as follows. If you would like to break up meals to have "leftovers" for snacks, just remember not to go over 500 calories.

Be sure to measure and weigh all your food. :)

What can I eat while on hCG?

500 Calories per day...
Remember: don't eat anything that's not on this list!!

Remember to weigh and measure your food!

Beverages: Any non-calorie fluids in any amount
tea, coffee, mineral water, crystal light, diet soda (stick to two cans a day)
drink at least 2 liters of water per day
DO NOT drink alcohol
only one tablespoon of milk is allowed per day
artificial sweetener may be used

Proteins: 1 serving is 100 grams, using your food scale weigh raw after removing visible fat
beef: lean steak (187 calories)
extra lean ground beef (248 calories)
roast beef (267 calories)
veal (229 calories)
skinless and boneless chicken breast (195 calories)
white fish: halibut (110 calories)
cod (211 calories)
flounder (114 calories)
monkfish (76 calories)
perch (94 calories)
pike (129 calories)
pollock (92 calories)
snapper (100 calories)
sole
crab (97 calories)
lobster (97 calories)
shrimp (144 calories)
nonfat cottage cheese may be eaten once weekly (85 calories)
boiled or poached eggs may be eaten once weekly (one serving is 3 eggs whites plus 1 egg) (150 calories)

Vegetables: Do not mix vegetables. Do not eat more than one type of vegetable in the same sitting.
Lettuces of any kind (5-8 calories per cup depending on type)
Spinach, fresh (7 calories per cup)
Broccoli (25 calories per cup)
Beet greens (8 calories per cup)
Cauliflower (25 calories per cup)
Fennel (27 calories per 1 cup sliced)
Asparagus (27 calories per 1 cup)
Onions (50 calories per 1 cup)
Red Radishes
Cabbage
Zucchini
Swiss Chard
Tomatoes
Celery
Chicory Greens
Cucumbers

Fruits: Must be eaten at least 6 hours apart
Apple, medium (70 calories)
Orange, medium (65 calories)
Strawberries, 6 large (40 calories)
Grapefruit, 1/2 medium (41 calories)

Grains:
1 melba toast (approx. 1"x3" piece)
1 breadstick (grissini) (a type of breadstick available in Safeway brand as well as online, and at the dollar store)

Seasonings:
Nonstick spray
Juice of 1 lemon per day
garlic
salt and pepper
vinegar
mustard powder
basil
parsley
thyme
marjoram
hot sauce (brands without sugar such as Tabasco)

NO starch, sugar, fat, oil, butter, margarine, dressing.