I can hardly believe the results of a diet I started 10 days ago… I have lost over 14 pounds.
This diet started in conjunction with the treatment my wife was receiving from McCullough Spinal Care in Hendersonville, Tennessee. They have had some success alleviating a bit of the chronic and super high pain levels that she deals with daily. Over the last 4 years, she’s had several surgeries on her back. These docs perform a type of chiropractic care called NUCCA, and have told Shelli that for the future of her back (and her life really) she needs to drop some weight.
The problem is that she can’t exercise. Sometimes doing dishes will cause her to be down for the night, and I can see the pain in her face when she does any physical labor (like a short walk or even cooking a meal). After discussing our options, they have suggested a diet that includes a homeopathic hormone called hCG. You take ten drops under your tongue 3 times a day and SERIOUSLY reduce your calorie intake. For the first month, it’s a 500 calorie a day diet that allows for fish, chicken, certain vegetables, some fruit and not much else. (I wouldn’t even consider it without a doctor and the drops. Dr. McCullough has been amazingly supportive and responsive to questions/concerns). In support of Shelli and my own health, I decided to join her on this plan.
We prepare meals at least a day ahead of time… Rationing out meat, veggies and snacks, and along with the hormone drops, here is what I’m eating every day:
500 Calories:
Breakfast: – 9:30 am
3.5 oz. of strawberries (about 5 large berries) or an apple.
Coffee (thank you God)
Water – LOTS of waterLunch: 11:30 am
3.5 oz. of chicken, fish (no tuna or salmon) or lean steak, stripped of all fat, cooked with cooking spray – no oil – and spiced with salt free seasoning
3.5 oz. of cucumber, broccoli, or asparagus
Water – Lots of waterSnack: 2:30 pm
Reasonable sized apple (3.5 oz.)
Coffee or tea – teaspoon of milk and some Splenda or stevia
Water – Lots of waterDinner: (as late as I can) 6:30 or 7:00
3.5 oz. of chicken (stripped of all fat, cooked with cooking spray – no oil – and spiced with salt free seasoning)
3.5 oz. of cucumber, broccoli, or asparagus
Water – Lots of water
The lifesavers for me have been coffee, sugar free mints and Tabasco Green Jalapeño Pepper Sauce, which is good on steak, great on chicken, excellent on cucumber and asparagus and can actually makes broccoli enjoyable. Five hundred calories is only for 1 month and there is some limited wiggle room if you feel super lethargic or cranky, which hasn’t been much of an issue. (This diet would not be possible for a diabetic).
The comments from some well meaning friends have been interesting:
“You can’t live on that.”
“You’ll gain all of your weight back right away.”
“500 calories is starving yourself and it won’t work.”
“That’s not healthy dude.”
I thought for a long time about that last statement. “Not Healthy”… I calculated what I ate a few Saturdays ago.
Breakfast: I made it… Pancakes and eggs. 750-1000 Calories
For lunch I had a Quizno’s Tuna Melt. I now know that the Quizno’s Tuna Melt has the highest calorie and fat totals of any of their sandwiches! The large Tuna Melt has over 2,000 calories and 175 grams of fat!! (The regular size has 1,420 calories and 118 grams of fat, the small 770 calories and 60 grams of fat!)
We ordered pizza for dinner, and I had 3 pieces at 350 calories apiece, and Shelli had made some brownies for desert. This day was a bit excessive, but it wasn’t all that unusual. The calorie count was around 4000 for the day. Wow. That certainly wasn’t healthy. I think it’s part of our culture to ignore excess in things but be very concerned about lack.
There is a level of desperation that Shelli and I both feel. She has been dealing with pain for YEARS, and we’re missing out on some things we enjoy. We used to have a large group of people weekly at our house for a bible study/fellowship time. These relationships were so important to us, but we couldn’t keep up with the house nor the prep that was required. That’s only one reason we’re motivated and dedicated to this new plan – and it’s working so far.
The second 30 days, we will add some additional calories into our eating and hopefully some exercise. Ultimately we are learning better eating habits, and understanding how to prepare and portion healthy food.
Surprisingly eating this food with the drops has been mostly satisfying. I haven’t been really hungry much, however I HAVE been in situation after situation where I’ve had to say ‘no’ to some delicious food that would normally give me temporary satisfaction. The will to say “no” has been very empowering, and has initiated some thoughts about long term health/eating and weight, and the power of our own minds and hearts. I’m looking at other areas of my life that may need an overhaul!
1 Corinthians 10:23 (New International Version)
23“Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive.
I appreciate your prayers as we tackle this change in our lives!
Love,
Jason
————————————————————
————————————————————
Through my Facebook Status Updates about this diet, a couple of you have asked for more information. You can contact McCullough here, and Dr. Jake is teaching an overview of this program this Thursday 5/27 at 6:00 pm.
View Larger Map
Be Our Friend on Facebook
Follow Us on Twitter
Be Our Friend on MySpace
Connect With Jason at Linked In
May 26th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
Awesome Jay & Shelli! Cheering for you & praying for returned health, activity, and a pain free future.
May 26th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
We’ve all got some weight to lose somewhere, and I don’t necessarily mean body weight. We could all use some self-discipline in some area of our lives.
If you’ll come to our breakfast tomorrow, I’ll join you by drinking just water and coffee.
May 26th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Usually the biggest stumbling block is our own mind. We seem to be able to talk ourselves out of doing what we know is right especially when it comes to food! You have already started the healing process in your mind when you told me that ‘there are worse things to deal with than being hungry’. Spending more time with the kids, helping your wife or working on the next Transparent Christian Magazine are great examples of ‘hunger distraction’! Keep at brother!
May 26th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Awesome Jason, praying for your minds and discipline as well as results!
May 26th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Thanks Linda, Mike, and Gene. I’ll see you tomorrow Jamey… That will be the true test, because ~breakfast~ is the most awesome food group on the planet.
May 26th, 2010 at 11:21 pm
Jason,
I admire your strength and stamina in seeing this through. Even if it is hard and tough on you two, you’re learning discipline with your eating habits.
Although I gasped myself at 500 calories, with a DOCTOR watching over, I took my gasp back and encouraged you both to see this through.
I think it all boils down to healthy eating habits and no you won’t gain the weight back, because you will now be empowered!
Many prayers for you and Shellie!
Can’t wait to see pics you two!
May 27th, 2010 at 1:15 am
That’s a pretty good article, Jason. It’s more like the “Breakfast of Champions”. I wouldn’t worry about the people that say, “Just 500 calories”. I think once you loose the weight you need to loose, you should have no problem keeping it off.
You’ll be mentally, emotionally and spiritually charged to be healthy so you can serve God more. As you gave me advice on the Jack LaLane juicer, you’ll have to show me the specific foods you get as I would like to eat healthier that way too.
June 2nd, 2010 at 7:35 am
I’m super proud of you brother. There’s no doubt that few of us have the determination to do that kind of diet. I know I’m not strong enough to do it. You’re both making it happen! Keep up the good work!
June 14th, 2010 at 8:02 am
Freaking love you man. So proud and so excited for this new chapter. Hugs, love and words can’t express brotherhood.
J
August 1st, 2010 at 1:31 pm
It’s easy to create your ain healthy and downlike homemade Denny’s pancakes with this easy-to-follow Denny’s flapjack recipe with healthy ingredients, such as Graham and Canola Oil, served with a dollop of cream cheese and arrant maple syrup or dearest , or create your own healthy flannel cake toppings.
October 1st, 2010 at 2:31 am
Excellent article. I especially appreciated where you mentioned that others are telling you this diet isn’t healthy. In the meantime, we can eat terribly, but if it is the norm it’s okay and accepted.
This article fits in with the blog I write. May I reference this article or put a link to it on my blog? The address is http://foodliesandtruth.blogspot.com/
Thanks, Barb
October 1st, 2010 at 7:40 am
For sure Barb, thanks for the comment. I’m glad that section resonated with you.
Feel free to link it!
Jason
March 27th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
I am about to start this diet my dr gave me the info on it, i ordered the drops have plans to start this diet with my friend.
but looking and teing to find all the foods that can and can not be in the diet. Like is there frozen meals you can buy and still be under 500 cal. a day? I don’t eat breakfast now and only eat one meal a day now so I know my cal. intake is low already. have lost 40 Ibs. in the last 2 years but also had 3 neck surgies and 2 other surgies. So what foods can you have and not have on this diet?
Catina
April 7th, 2011 at 7:09 am
I the efforts you have put in this, thanks for all the great blog posts.
April 14th, 2011 at 8:50 am
double dildolingerie sexhuge sex toysbuy sex toys onlineremote control sex toysbutterfly sex toysexy clothesanal beadssexy toyssex toys anal
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:20 am
Hi there, just changed into alert to your blog through Google, and found that it is truly informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I?ll appreciate for those who proceed this in future. A lot of folks might be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!
August 27th, 2011 at 8:37 am
Hello my loved one! I want to say that this post is awesome, nice written and come with approximately all vital infos. I?d like to look extra posts like this .