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To deal with the repeat pitfall of the holidays, each year is going to take some mental adjustment. One thing that surprised me about the HCG diet is how enjoyable the plain, meager meals could be. This was a revelation to me, but it only happened when I determined to cook everything fresh, and make the most of the allowed herbs and spices. The Foreman grill made the biggest difference for me. I would cook both protein and veggies on it and would wear out at least one of them each round. The airfrier is another excellent way to prepare fresh foods.
Even now, I dress my salads with what I've used in P2, because it is just so tasty. What happened gradually, as I worked my way through my rounds is that I found that I was happiest and most stable when eating real foods, and making sure I ate of them till satisfied whenever hungry. The end of restricting also brought the end of binging. Amazing to me was that my issue was not emotional eating, or boredom/celebration binging...it was a pattern of not getting enough nutrition when the body was needing it. After a time of this restorative eating, I found I no longer crave things or enjoy overeating. It doesn't happen quickly, but healthy choices build on each other over time, and stops the binge/purge cycle. I've come to believe that for most of us, this cycle is something created by periods of restriction (dieting or fasting), not by some weakness in character, will power or control of emotions.
My salad dressing for P2 was always: red wine vinegar, chopped fresh cilantro, pink salt and freshly cracked black pepper. If you are a sweet & sour girl, you can add a bit of stevia to sweeten it up, but for me, I found the sweetness of the red wine vinegar to be sweet enough. Brand matters, so find one that tastes good to you. I think Progresso is the best, but Pompeian is pretty good as well. The protocol allows vinegar but doesn't specify any particular type. My thinking is that in 1950's Italy, red wine vinegar would have been a common choice. But if you want to play it super safe, apple cider vinegar would be a fine substitute.
The protocol allows for 1 tablespoon of milk. This can be whole milk. There is nothing in the protocol that says it has to be fat-free milk. That one T. milk is pretty good in that first cup of morning coffee. Could it be that might work for you?
The four fruits allowed in P2 are apple, orange, handful of strawberries and half a grapefruit. I like to buy the softball sized pink grapefruits and eat the whole thing for my fruit. It is good broiled and warm, too. Basically the portion is about a cup of fruit. I sometimes used my T of milk with a T. cocoa powder, vanilla, sweetener and pink salt to make a dip for the strawberries.
Originally Posted by Ncnightowl
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