VLCD # 5 - 8

Trying to adhere to my VLCD while I was in Georgia proved to be more difficult than I thought. The first two days I was not able to get to the grocery store, so I had to make do with what there. I ate apples and prepared salads from the VA deli.  There was no lemon juice or vinegar so I just choose what I thought would be the lowest calorie dressing (it turned out to be not).

The friends I was visiting had a closet stuffed with junk food, cereals, candy and different snack items that family and friends had sent in get well packages.  No matter how many times I explained that I could not have any carbs, no sugar, no oil and nothing fried. That for the next 40 days I can only have a green veggie, 100 grams of lean meat, an apple or orange and one Melba toast two times a day, my friends continued to encourage me to eat food that was not on my plan.  I know that they meant well, but for the first two days I was there I was miserable.  Besides dealing with food anxiety I could not weigh myself properly, so I had no idea how much I was really gaining or losing. 

On Monday the shuttle took us to the PX next door.  We discovered that the PX has no fresh food, only prepared fast food and it was closed on Mondays.   To make matters worse my friend got fried chicken and pizza to for her daughter. I understand they have to eat and should not suffer along with me, but the 15-minute ride back to the VA was nauseating torture. I honestly wanted to throw up I was so hungry from not eating all day.  She kept telling me, “I don’t see why you can’t get a piece of fried chicken breast and take the skin off. I mean, it’s not like the oil is down in the chicken.” I wonder if I’m the only one that finds that theory incorrect.

On Tuesday one of the girls who was staying in the house offered to take us to the grocery store. I got shrimp, onions and salad mix to eat. I also bought strawberries to change up my fruit. For a homemade dressing I got some Dijon horseradish mustard, lemons and white rice vinegar. It was a hit.  The next few days were easier as I was not starving and was much less irritable. 

The one thing that kept me going was to think about the reason I was there. My friends needed me and when it's all done and over with I will be glad that I went.