Mary will join us on Monday, April 29 – but you can read about her now.
Mary’s Introduction:
Hello everyone. I am 50 years old, 5′ 3″ and weigh 155 pounds. As a child and young adult, I was athletic and thin. It wasn’t until I entered my forties that weight became an issue and I became a yo-yo dieter, mostly with low carb, low-fat diets. Then I discovered HCG, and initially thought I had great success with it, since the scale went down – though of course it was because I was starving myself on only 500 calories a day for many weeks at a time. I believed I had found a lifelong solution to my fluctuating weight, and utilized it many times over the years.
However, over time it became less effective, and I just kept getting bigger and bigger. The more I tried to lose, the larger I became. A few weeks ago, I stumbled across a link to SugarFree’s blog on an HCG message board. I poured over all her threads and contacted her to learn more about Protocol. A discussion convinced me to throw out my HCG – and I am not looking back. I am eager to start Protocol.
My metabolic test results show that I am Hypothyroid, which I have known for sometime. I also learned that I am Insulin Resistant and that my metabolism is basically in a “black hole.” There were some bright spots as well. My lipid panel was, “not bad at all”, and my triglycerides were “excellent.” SugarFree told me that I’ve starved myself for so long my brain thinks I only weigh eighty pounds and “living on a desert island.” It is time for my brain to get a reality check as I start on this journey. I have much hope and confidence in SugarFree’s approach to restoring health. I am thrilled to be a part of the Protocol! Thank you, SugarFree!
Protocol Round 1, Week 1, Day 1 – 4/29
Weight: 154.8
Measurements:
Bust: 38″
Waist: 33.5″
Hips: 39″
Meal:
– 10 oz. chicken liver
– 1.5 T duck fat
– 9 oz. asparagus
– 1.5 T butter
– 8 oz. broccoli
– 1 oz. white potato
Fitday Stats:
Calories: 731
Fat: 51 grams (62%)
Protein: 54 grams (30%)
Carbs: 14 grams (8%)
Ketostix: trace to small
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 99
1-hour PP (after meal): 124
2-hour PP (after meal): 92
The first meal went pretty well. It was a lot of food, and chicken livers turned out to be quite a challenge for me. I managed to finish them, but it was not easy or pleasant. The veggies, however, were delicious. Looking forward to seeing how tomorrow goes!
[Note: Welcome, Mary! Yes, a tiny 700 calories may seem like a lot now, to a stomach that has shrunken from eating so little for so long, but it will grow back to a normal size within a month or two, and you’ll be able to eat three times that number of calories without a problem. 🙂 What is worrisome is your extremely high 1-hr PP, after eating a sliver of a potato – so best to keep all starch/sweet veggies off the menu for a few days, or until your 1-hr PP goes into the normal range.]
Protocol Round 1, Week 1, Day 2 – 4/30
Weight: 154.8 = no change
Meal:
– 9 oz. salmon
– 1.5T butter
– 12 oz. fennel bulb
– 1.5T duck fat
– 8 oz. broccoli
Fitday Stats:
Calories:740
Fat: 52 grams (62%)
Protein: 58 grams (33%)
Carbs: 10 grams (5%)
Ketostix: small
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 98
1-hour PP (after meal): 97
2-hour PP (after meal): 97
My meal tasted wonderful today. I haven’t had salmon for years, and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would! Feeling good and looking forward to tomorrow.
Protocol Round 1, Week 1, Day 3 – 5/1
Weight: 153.4 = down 1.4 pounds
Meal:
– 9 oz. chicken liver
– 9 oz. asparagus
– 8 oz. spinach
– 1T. duck fat
– 1.5 serving bacon
– 1.5 oz. heavy cream
Fitday Stats:
Calories: 719
Fat: 51 (62%)
Protein: 54 (31%)
Carbs: 11 (6%)
Ketostix: medium
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 88
1-hour PP (after meal): 97
2-hour PP (after meal): 94
I feel well, and surprisingly not too hungry. I am still not a big fan of liver, but I did eat it all. I have experienced a little brain fog, off and on, in the past couple of days. Hopefully that will subside as I move forward. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!
Protocol Round 1, Week 1, Day 4 – 5/2
Weight: 155.8 = up 2.4 pounds
Meal:
– 8 oz. steak
– 10 oz. chard
– 8 oz. spinach
– 1.5 T. duck fat
– 1 oz blue cheese
– 1 T. butter
Fitday stats:
Calories: 746
Fat: 54 grams (65%)
Protein: 54 grams (30%)
Carbs: 11 grams (5%)
Ketostix: trace to small
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 67
1-hour PP (after meal): 88
2-hour PP (after meal): 87
My meal was delicious today! I have been sleeping better since starting Protocol, and I feel so good about improving my health. My blood sugars are getting better, so I will celebrate that today!
Protocol Round 1, Week 1, Day 5 – 5/3
Weight: 150 = down 5.4 pounds
Meal:
– 2 T. butter
– 1.5T. duck fat
– 8 oz. spinach
– 5 oz. green string beans
– 8.5 oz. shrimp
– 1 oz sweet potato
Fitday Stats:
Calories: 694
Fat: 46 grams (59%)
Protein: 52 grams (31%)
Carbs: 18 grams (10%)
Ketostix: large
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 74
1-hour PP: 95
2-hour PP: 100
I loved my meal today. As tasty as that sweet potato was, I don’t think it did me any favors as far as my blood sugars go. Looking forward to a time when I will no longer have to think about such things!
[Note: Mary, your blood sugars were just fine – all within normal range. Sweet potato is now something you can have without having to ‘think about it’. :D]
Protocol Round 1, Week 1, Day 6 – 5/4
Weight: 148.8 = down 1.2 pounds
Meal:
– 8 oz steak
– 1 T. duck fat
– 8 oz. spinach
– 1oz. blue cheese
– 1 T. butter
– 6 oz. artichoke hearts
Fitday Stats
Calories: 746
Fat: 52 (61%)
Protein: 56 (31%)
Carbs: 14 (7%)
Ketostix: large
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 74
1-hour PP (after meal): NA
2-hour PP (after meal): NA
My meal was delicious today. I felt great all day and seem to have more energy. I was out of town all day, and unfortunately, when I opened my meter for my 1-hour PP, I realized I had left the test strips on the counter at home.
Protocol Round 1, Week 1, Day 7 – 5/5
Weight: 147 = down 1.8 pounds
Meal:
– 12 oz. chicken thigh
– 8 oz. asparagus
– 1 T. butter
– 1 T. duck fat
– 8 oz. mustard greens
Fitday Stats:
Calories: 781
Fat: 53 grams (61%)
Protein: 56 grams (29%)
Carbs: 20 grams (10%)
Ketostix: large
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 83
1-hour PP: 107
2-hour PP: 100
Today was a hard day. Sunday morning activities kept me away from home longer than I expected, and I couldn’t eat my meal until 2:30. I was so hungry that I started to feel kind of sick and by the time I could finally eat, I wasn’t hungry anymore. I did the best I could. I felt horrible for the rest of the day.
[Note: Mary, the reason you felt ‘kind of sick’ before you finally ate is because your blood sugar dropped too low, and if you had continued without food you would have become light-headed, nauseous and (in my case, usually) cranky. Given your level of activity and unpredictable timing, it might be best to eat your meal before leaving the house for the day. Also – and equally important – your elevated 1-hr PP indicates you may be coming down with something or trying to fight it off.]
Protocol Round 1, Week 2, Day 1 – 5/6
Weight: 148.2 = up 1.2 pounds
Measurements:
Bust: 36.5″ = down 1.5″
Waist: 32″ = 1.5″
Hips: 37 = down 1″
Meal:
– 8 oz pork shoulder
– .5 T. duck fat
– 1 T. butter
– 5 oz. string beans
– .8 oz. broccoli
Fitday Stats:
Calories: 685
Fat: 53 grams (70%)
Protein: 42 grams (25%)
Carbs: 10 grams (5%)
Ketostix: medium to large
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 110
1-hour PP: 116
2-hour PP: 90
I am happy to have made it through my first week of Protocol, and am thrilled with my measurements and my scale. I even broke out some clothes this weekend that have been too snug to wear in public, which is exciting! However, I am still feeling a bit off. I knew this morning my fasting numbers would be higher, because my stomach is upset. I had a hard time finishing my meal again. I don’t know if I have a bug or something. I hope it will pass very soon.
[Note: Always listen to your body – in this case, your stomach. It’s a bug. Never try to eat a Protocol meal when you’re not well; your body needs all its energy to fight it off instead of using it to digest food. Time to eat the Protocol Illness meal until you’re 100% better, which I hope will be soon! The good news? As I’ve said so many times before, it’s amazing that your blood sugars will tell you everything about what’s going on inside you. :)]
Protocol Round 1, Week 2, Day 2 – 5/7
Weight: 148.2 = no change
Meal:
– 2 medium eggs
– 2 oz. bacon
– 2T. butter
– .5 oz. whole wheat bread
Ketostix: medium
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 102
1-hour PP (after meal): 128
2-hour PP (after meal): 91
I am feeling a bit better today. This meal was much easier to eat than the ones the past few days. I will stick to this menu for one more day, and then hopefully I will feel well enough to jump back into Protocol!
[Note: Mary, I’m glad you’re feeling better, and that you’ll have the Protocol Illness menu (or most of it anyway) for another day. However, one of the goals of Protocol is learning to understand what your body is trying to tell you. So you learn to eat only when you’re truly hungry, for instance. And also, so you learn to read your meter and follow its lead. If you eat a food – even only half a slice of whole wheat bread (which, by the way, absolutely, positively has sugar in it, hidden or otherwise!) – and your 1-hr PP is 128, you do NOT repeat the experience. You throw that bread away, never to be eaten again, and you don’t eat any starch carbs at all for a few days to let your blood sugars return to normal.]
Protocol Round 1, Week 2, Day 3 – 5/8
Weight: 148.2 = no change
Meal:
– 2 medium eggs
– 2 oz. bacon
– 2 T. butter
Fitday Stats:
Calories: 600
Fat: 56 grams (84%)
Protein: 23 (16%)
Carbs: 1 (0%)
Ketostix: medium
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 83
1-hour PP (after meal): 99
2-hour PP (after meal): 98
Feeling good today. Ready to go back to Protocol and looking forward to seeing what tomorrow brings!
Protocol Round 1, Week 2, Day 4 – 5/9
Weight:146 = down 2.8 pounds
Meal:
– 9 oz. salmon filet
– 8 oz. spinach
– 2 T. butter
– 1T. duck fat
– 1 oz. blue cheese
– 5 oz. string beans
Fitday Stats:
Calories: 731
Fat: 51 grams (63%)
Protein: 58 grams (32%)
Carbs: 10 grams (5%)
Ketostix: medium to large
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 83
1-hour PP (after meal): 92
2-hour PP (after meal): 96
I’m feeling great today. I was able to eat all of my meal without feeling overstuffed. Feeling lots of energy and well rested.
[Note: Amazing what little more than a week will bring. Just eleven days ago you couldn’t even finish your meal, and now eating it is no problem. All while losing nine pounds in that same time. You go, girl. :D]
Protocol Round 1, Week 2, Day 5 – 5/10
Weight: 146 = no change
Meal:
– 8 oz. liver
– 1.5 oz. bacon
– 1 oz. onion
– 8 oz. broccoli
– 9 oz. asparagus
– 1 T. butter
– 1 T. duck fat
Fitday Stats:
Calories: 746
Fat: 53.6 grams (64%)
Protein: 53.4 grams (30%)
Carbs: 12.6 grams (7%)
Ketostix: medium
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 92
1-hour PP (after meal): 102
2-hour PP (after meal): 98
Today was again a great day. My meal was tasty, and I did not feel overly stuffed. I am happy to report that I have put away all of my “fat” clothes and am now shrinking out of my “medium size” clothes. It is so nice to be wearing pieces I thought I would never wear again, especially after only ten days. It’s practically a miracle!
Protocol Round 1, Week 2, Day 6 – 5/11
Weight: 146 = no change
Meal:
– 2 T. butter
– 9 oz. shrimp
– 1.75 oz. duck fat
– 8 oz. spinach
– .5 oz. green beans
– 1 oz. sweet potato
Fitday Stats:
Calories:743
Fat: 50 grams (60%)
Protein: 55.1 grams (31%)
Carbs: 18.1 grams (9%)
Ketostix: medium
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 100
1-hour PP (after meal): 108
2-hour PP (after meal): 102
My blood sugars are so high today. I didn’t feel great today, although my meal was tasty. Maybe I haven’t quite kicked the bug from last week.
Protocol Round 1, Week 2, Day 7 – 5/12
Weight: 146 = no change
Meal:
– 8 oz. rib eye steak
– 1.5 oz. blue cheese
– 8 oz. kale
– 9 oz asparagus
– 2 T. butter
– 1 T. duck fat
Fitday Stats:
Calories: 746
Fat: 55.4 grams (65%)
Protein: 51.8 grams (29%)
Carbs: 9.9 grams (5%)
Ketostix: medium
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 86
1-hour PP (after meal): 110
2-hour PP (after meal): NA
Happy Mother’s Day!! Lot’s of fun activities today. Meal was good, hard to finish today for some reason. Trying to figure out why my blood sugars continue to be high.
Maintenance Round 1, Week 1, Day 1 – 5/13
Weight: 144.8 = down 1.2 pounds
Measurements:
Bust: 35″ = down 1.5″
Waist: 30″ = down 2″
Hips: 36.5″ = down .5″
Ketostix: medium to large
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 108
1-hour PP (after meal): 138
2-hour PP (after meal): 84
I am thrilled to have lost so many inches in only two weeks! My first Maintenance meal was tasty but a challenge to finish. Looking forward to seeing what this phase of Protocol brings.
[Note: Mary, your fat loses have been wonderful. You should definitely be down a dress size now. 🙂 As for your elevated blood sugar readings, 138 can be caused by only one of two things and not stress as I earlier believed, because stress ‘readings’ are only five to ten points above normal. No, this number could only have been caused by either a bad batch of strips – or hidden sugar. You purchased some new spice ‘blends’ in which sugar could definitely be hidden, and have put them away for a week. If your numbers go back to normal, they are the likely culprit. If not, get a new batch of test strips and see if that fixes the problem. My money’s on the sugar.]
Maintenance Round 1, Week 1, Day 2 – 5/15
Weight: 144.8 = no change
Ketostix: medium
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 100
1-hour PP (after meal): 107
2-hour PP (after meal): 96
Feeling fine today. Heading out of town tomorrow so I will not be reporting again until Monday. It will be challenging to stick to maintenance outside of my kitchen, but I am definitely up to the challenge!
[Note: Mary, you’ll do great. Enjoy the trip!]
Maintenance Round 1, Week 2, Day 1 – 5/20
Weight: 143.4 = down 1.4 pounds
Measurements:
Bust: 34 = down 1″
Waist: 29.5 = down .5″
Hips: 34.5 = down 2″
Ketostix: medium
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 104
1-hour PP (after meal): 105
2-hour PP (after meal): 110
I am pleased about how I did while I was away. I was able to maintain my losses and keep losing inches. My blood sugars are high, but now that I am back and in a routine, I hope they will improve.
[Note: Mary, losing 3.5 inches while in Maintenance is fantastic! You’ve been on Protocol about three weeks, and you’ve brought your waist from 33.5 inches down to 29.5 inches, which is a very healthy waist size. And you’ve lost twelve pounds. Get your blood sugars under control again, and you should be ready “Lifetime Maintenance” in no time. :D]
Maintenance Round 1, Week 2, Day 2 – 5/21
Weight: 143 = down .4 pound
Ketostix: medium
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 93
1-hour PP (after meal): 126
2-hour PP (after meal): 93
The potato caused quite a spike today. It is frustrating, but I know that it took me a long time to get to this place, and it will take time to correct it. I’ll keep marching on.
[Note: Mary, a great attitude to have. If it was a stressful day, or there were other issues that could have affected your blood sugars, you will be able to try again and do better. That’s a promise. :)]
Maintenance Round 1, Week 2, Day 4 – 5/23
Weight: 141.6 = down 1.4 pounds
Fitday Stats:
Calories: 1796
Fat: 156.2 (78%)
Protein: 58.6 (13%)
Carbs: 38.9 (9%)
Ketostix: medium
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 107
1-hour PP (after meal): 104
2-hour PP (after meal): 102
I am battling a nasty case of poison ivy, and was awake much of the night again. I am not surprised by my blood sugar numbers, in fact, they are better than I thought they would be. I am hoping for a restful night tonight. Tomorrow starts our crazy, whirlwind of a holiday weekend, so I will not be reporting again until Tuesday. Enjoy the long weekend everyone!
[Note: You, too, Mary – and I hope the poison ivy disappears quickly!]
Maintenance Round 1, Week 3, Day 2 – 5/28
Weight: 141.2 = down .4 pound
Measurements:
Bust: 33″ = down 1″
Waist: 29″ = down .5″
Hips: 36″ = down
Ketostix: small
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 87
1-hour PP (after meal): 110
Feeling really good today, except for the poison ivy that is still raging. I finally broke down and got a prescription for it. My natural cures were not cutting it. My blood sugar is still so high, Maybe poison ivy is contributing to it.
[Note: It is, and for the same reason your blood sugars go up when you’re ill. In order to fight illness, infection, inflammation, etc. your cortisol rises, which depresses your insulin, which raises your blood sugars. I’m a believer in ‘natural cures’ to a point. And that point is 24 hours, after which I take the meds if the ‘cure’ hasn’t cured. 🙂 Your prescription will of course also elevate your blood sugars, but it will get rid of the problem, after which they’ll come down again. Feel better soon!]
Maintenance Round 1, Week 3, Day 3 – 5/29
Weight: 141.2 = no change
Ketostix: small
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 97
1-hour PP (after meal): 131
2-hour PP (after meal): 141
Well, SugarFree sure was right about my blood sugars; they are a disaster. I have only three more days of prednisone, and then will hopefully see some improvement. I am feeling really good and am so happy with my weight and measurements, otherwise I would be so frustrated! I’ll keep plugging along.
Maintenance Round 1, Week 3, Day 4 – 5/30
Weight: 142.2 = up 1 pound
Ketostix: trace
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 95
1-hour PP (after meal): 107
2-hour PP (after meal): 120
I will be happy to be done with prednisone. Two more days and then my blood sugars will hopefully stabilize.
Maintenance Round 1, Week 3, Day 5 – 5/31
Weight: 142.2 = no change
Ketostix: small
Blood Glucose:
Fasting: 94
1-hour PP (after meal): 107
2-hour PP (after meal): 112
Feeling great today. Poison ivy is finally clearing up, and I am hoping to get back to normal blood glucose readings by next week. I truly can see and feel my health improving. Unfortunately, this will also be my last post.
To SugarFree:
My schedule is changing drastically next week, and I will no longer be able to participate on Protocol. I will, however, continue to follow the rules and wait patiently for my blood sugars to stabilize. Yes, I have read other Participants’ blogs, and I know that those who venture out into the abyss are not always successful on their own. However, I have learned so much, and my thoughts about weight loss and health have turned a complete 180 degrees. I am hopeful and determined.
I appreciate you so much and all you have taught me. I know the road ahead of me is long, but at least I now know what has been wrong with me all of these years, and I know what it will take to heal. I so admire how you tirelessly research and set a straight and narrow path for so many. You are truly brilliant. Your patience and kindness have not gone unnoticed either. Thank you, SugarFree. You have changed my life.
Dear Mary, thank you so much for your generous thoughts and kind words. I understand that life sometimes throws us unexpected curves, as yours has done now – but I am sure you will rise to the occasion and thrive. You’ve done really well in a very short time – losing nearly 10% of your total body weight and many inches – and you didn’t have much to lose to begin with. If you continue on Protocol, alternating between Phase 1 and Phase 2 until you reach the ‘fat goal’ we set together in your first consultation, you’ll be able to go on Lifetime Maintenance and stay slim, trim and healthy. I know I speak for all my readers when I wish you the very best as you continue your journey. 🙂
SugarFree