[healty-back]

Hi, I've been on HCG since February 20th. I've lost 8 lbs so far. I am a very picky eater, especially with vegetables.

My first question, I HATE tomatoes, but LOVE tomato soup. My boyfriend who is a professional chef and I have been looking for recipes and I think we have finally found one that works. http://hcgrecipes.blogspot.com/2007/09/tomato-soup.html
Am I able to substitute the soup for the actual tomato without messing up my weight loss program?

My second question, Apples. We have also found apple sauce recipes that follow the HCG rules, Can I sub the apple sauce for an apple without issues? http://besthcgweightloss.com/applesa...ght-loss-diet/ Also along with the apples, can I cook the apples in slices (microwave style) and then sprinkle some Stevia and cinnamon with the same positive outcome?

Third, Im confused on if I'm still in Stage 1 or have I moved to Stage 2?

Fourth, We are allowed to wear lipstick, I havent found any mention of Chapstick. Is it ok to use it and if so, what brand/styles/types are the best to use while on this diet?

Thank you in advance for any info you can provide me. I'm welcome to suggestions and other ideas.

Kat

[Txaizdxx]

First: You should be fine with that soup recipe. I do something similar fairly often.

Second: The apple sauce sounds fine (but, I'd leave the peel - fiber, ya know). I regularly slice my apples & sprinkle with cinnamon & a hint of Stevia.

Third: If you're on the low calorie days, you're in Phase 2. (Phase 1 is either the "detox" from Trudeau or the two days of gorging - depending on who you ask.)

Fouth: I use Chapstick & Blistex, both with no problems. I try to make sure there's no "food" oils (peppermint, coconut, avocado, etc) and just mineral based.

[VarenHokalos]

Ditto Stacy.

I make my tomato soup by just pureeing canned diced tomatoes, actually. Delish!

And am semi-addicted to nuked cinnamon apples at night.

[ttiokjbnhjjillp]

Ditto Stacy.

I make my tomato soup by just pureeing canned diced tomatoes, actually. Delish!

And am semi-addicted to nuked cinnamon apples at night.

Can you give me more info on your soup, do you add anything else to the diced tomatoes, do you use the plain ones or the ones with seasoning it them and do you heat them up? Sorry so many questions - I am on day 1 of loading and more than anything I want to do this right.

[TeemFilla]

Aren`t canned tomatoes super high in sodium tho? I thought we suppose to avoid sodium like the plague..well I do anyway cause of high blood pressure
as far as loading goes.. tomatoes dont have any fat in them.. you need a big fat steak lol

[GooogleGuy]

Don't worry right now I am focusing on all the high fat foods - funny cuz I am having to hunt for the bad stuff. I now tend to go for the good stuff first. Thanks.

[bawayTeen]

I use no-salt added tomatoes from Hunt's, or from Muir Glen or Trader Joe's. I really like the no-salt fire-roasted ones; they have a bit of heartiness to them that I like. I have used them with zero extra seasonings, or I have added garlic and basil. I have pretty simple tastes.

[Sakkola]

Thank you Stacy and BadKitty for your responses and helpful information. My next question is how do you measure portions. I know I can have a tomato that equals 2 cups, if I make the soup with more the one tomato at a time, how do i measure the amount then, 2 cups of soup? Same goes with the apple sauce, theres not a limit on how much just so that it equals a whole apple.

Thanks!
Kat

[GEAntonio]

If you want to get really precise (I actually did at the beginning - it helped me get my head in the game and figure out where my calories were going), then weigh your foods. It is easy to figure out what each food's nutritional value is per ounce or per gram. So I went into my food tracker at medhelp.org, and I entered the nutritional info for an ounce of apple, or for one grape tomato, or for one ounce of strawberries. Every time I added a new food, I added the nutritional info, and then I just measured my weight and entered it into my food log. I couldn't figure out how in the world to measure one cup of cucumber, or what was a "large" cucumber; this helped me realize that I could eat 3 decent size cucumbers and have taken in fewer calories than I burned driving to the grocery store, buy them, wash them and peel them. With cans of diced tomatoes, I just figured out how many grams were in a can (all info on back of label), and multiplied to get the entire can's worth.

When I made things in bulk (soup, chili) I measured each ingredient and wrote it down as I cooked. Then I divided it into however many servings.

[ELURNSERB]

Thank you for your help. Maybe one day, I can get the hang of all this!

Kat

[erroxiainsona]

Badkitty, how long do you nuke your apple, and do you do it whole, or sliced? Thanks, I've been wanting to try it like that.