I found it! It only took two years but I found it!

Vegeta, that is. 

The seemingly elusive special ingredient that seems to be a staple in 90% of the recipes in the Bernstein recipe book.

I couldnt find it for the life of me over the past two years here in the National Capital Region.  Ive scoured every grocery store and specialty store trying to find the stuff.

Finally, whilst on my latest work travel jaunt to London, I found the creature.

As I picked up some staples for my hotel room, I found it tucked in the soup section.  Eureka!

I made my first vegetable soup with it from "the book" and it was good.  Of course, its a sodium salt lick, but Ive made a few of the soups in the book, and they are just too bland for words.  Stripping them recipe of Vegeta makes the Cheddar Cauliflower soup pretty gross.

Vegeta has saved the day - though will retain the water.

Ive used it in the big pot of homemade chicken soup though that Ive made for the family.  The kids are raving about the soup, so thats comforting.

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A recipe for disaster but I have to try

Well, since my last post, I was able to get to 160.  A very good result after 1 month being on the program.

Sure enough though, as my work travel increased, and the dreaded temptation of the hotel restaurant and post-negotiations tipple at the bar, I couldnt continue on strict.  I just couldnt bear packing a weeks worth of hard boiled eggs and protein shakes to sustain myself on the travels.

What a lame excuse though.  I was two blocks from a Loblaws, and three blocks from a Benstein clinic.  What was wrong with me!!

So here I am, two weeks before Christmas and going to enrol back on strict.  I still have one months prepaid credits sitting waiting to be used, and I crept back up 10 pounds.  I just cant seem to resist certain foods - but I have to drop this weight.  My skinny clothes were not just relegated to the far-end of my closet, but have now been returned to my daughters closet so I can get down the 4 sizes (yes, Im in 14 and need to get back to my size 8) before I can bear to have my skinny jeans in my presence.

I have to do this though.  I just dont like who am "fat."  Its just not me - the flabby inner thighs, cottage-cheese arms and fleshy-gut.  I remember just loving the zero-back-fat, slim, no double chin and sexy self at BMI.  Why cant I just be her full-time? 

How do I let red wine, peanut butter, carbs and sugar come between me and my size 8 JCrew skinny jeans and happiness?!!

If I cant do this during the season when I would risk increasing yet another 10 pounds, then Im doomed.

This is it - 2012 is going to my year - all year!

That is my gift to myself.  Plus, I bought myself (courtesy of my daughter) a gorgeous size 10 silk JCrew blouse that I get to unwrap on Christmas morning. Damn it, its going to flow off my slim frame by February if it kills me.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to me!

Heres to a happy and healthy holiday to you and yours. xo

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A little more than you need to know but for folks on the diet a helpful tip

CONSTIPATION

Because there is no fats in the diet, constipation does occur. Ive always had a lazy bowel to begin with, so I knew it was going to happen. I bought the Senokot.S laxative they recommend, and with after 2 tablets, you go. You then take 1 tablet daily (I just put it with my morning multi vit and potassium) and now Im regular like clockwork. Whew! ;-) The doctor recommended Wheat Bran; the nurses said Metamucil or Benefibre (no salt versions) but I just stuck with the Senokot.S. Works for me, and it does the job beautifully. The bran did nothing for me...

Image by mlhradio via Flickr

I just hit on something - a pattern that works for my body.

I noted that once a month, I would get a windfall 4 lb loss over the course of a couple of days. I wasnt quite sure how it happened, since I didnt seem to do anything special.

However, recall that I said that constipation is a problem on the diet? Well, I have found that by taking two (2) Senokot.S tablets before bed, certainly loosens things up.

Then I realized that by taking two tablets at night, and again another one with lunch, kept things very regular for me.

Well, Ive stumbled upon a little co-ing-ki-dink.

It seems that when I take the tablets, drink a good 64 oz of water (with lemon), go for my injections and check-up, my body does an amazing purge of water and solids. After about an hour, the b-complex injection really pushes through the system and causes a good half an hour of "quality time" with myself to evacuate all living things in my system. Not painfully or inconveniently, just efficiently.

Now, this is the third time this has occurred. Both times previously resulted in a total 8 lb loss. Likely the bulk being water and solids (hopefully the keytone fat released as well) but this helps achieve an amazing weekly additional loss.

I feel great, and keeps things moving, so for me, a regular daily evening dose and morning top-up of Senokot.S really works!

By the way - Im at 169 today. Even with my 2 lb jeans on. Yahoo!!!

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