Well, as I said over on the 6WC thread, I basically lost zippo during the shake weeks, but when I transitioned to the meat weeks the weight began to fall off (9 pounds during the first 2-week meat weeks).

And while I love the Eades I *do* think this book is poorly written from a standpoint of being able to understand exactly what sort of macronutrient ratio they expect you to eat. It was close to impossible to determine what they wanted you to eat in the way of carbs, so I just began ignoring most of the carbs and eating primarily just meat and eggs. And I felt pretty good on it, and continued to lose weight - over 20 pounds since I started the 6WC meat weeks.

And while I'm a major sweetoholic those shakes the first couple weeks just about did me in. So after the two meat weeks I was unable to even think of going back to shake weeks (especially since I'd lost basically nothing on the shakes, but a lot on the meat). I did switch in an occasional shake here and there when I didn't feel like cooking, but stuck mostly to the meat - and I like it and am still losing.

I'm not an ultra-hardcore ZCer, just a "mostly" ZCer. I'll eat occasional veggies if I'm eating in public or at someone's home. I don't preclude the idea of having a protein shake. I still enjoy one occasionally. But I do credit he 6WC with getting me here, in a funny roundabout way! Those shakes were just unpleasant enough after two weeks of them that I found I was seriously craving meat! So starting out on the 6WC made it easier for me.

As for my username? Well years back I owned a little tricolor sheltie named Merlin. I've owned many dogs over the years, but Merlin was really special to me. I just loved him passionately and he loved me too. But he had this funny habit of grunting whenever I would pick him up for some reason. I used to say to him, "Merlin, you sound just like a little piggie whever I pick you up". So I began using Piggie as one of my nicknames for him, and than somehow mutated into Merpig. So when I had to pick a screen name "Merpig" was just something that popped into my head. I still miss Merlin every day, though he died of cancer in 2005. And now Bran, the collie rescue dog a I adopted after Merlin died has got cancer also.

I get that now. I am 48 and many people have told me (once they find out my true age) that I look like I am in my early to mid thirties.

I actually feel *refreshed* when I wake up from a sleep. It is a good feeling and I don't have to spend a half hour 'waking up' anymore. I can go, go, go right after I hit the bathroom.

That is *nothing*. I would have preferred the kittens. I was about to have sex with an anime character from one of my son's anime books (he leaves them in the bathroom to read) the other night before I woke up.

I need to get a boyfriend *sigh*.

LMAO! And I thought me dreaming of alternate universes last week was nuts.

Can you give us the recipe? How much extra fat per pound of meat? What spices in what amounts?

Pretty please?

And Merpig, thanks for the explanation! I'm very sorry to hear about both canine pals. So sad.

I have a totally different experience. I love zc eating, but I am still hungry for my three meals a day, and sometimes I wish I could have a snack, but something else than meat. I still have cravings for booze (but I don't indulge) And I can eat butter by the spoonful. Calories must be too high, because I have not been losing weight for at least one month. I don't know what to do anymore. Help?

I usually get 6 pounds of ground pork, and they add whatever scraps of fat they have lying around - probably another pound or two. Before I found out they would grind the raw fat for me, I would add about a cup of lard or bacon fat to the ground pork at home.

I'm afraid I don't measure anything, but it's something like this:

Grind in the blender or coffee maker:
2 tablespoons black peppercorns
1 teaspoon green peppercorns
2 teaspoons Szechuan peppercorns
1-2 cloves

Add:
1 tablespoon sage
3 tablespoons sea salt

Optional:
2 tablespoons lemon juice, sauerkraut juice or kimchi juice

Mix well and form patties.

Sometimes I vary the spices. If you can handle nightshades you can use half a teaspoon of dried chili flakes instead of Szechuan peppercorns. You can add marjoram or thyme if you like. Sometimes I use allspice.

Merpig - congrats being on the cusp of 100lbs lost! That is SO awesome. You must be on cloud nine.

AND, thanks for the story about how the name came about.

I have a similar story about my black lab when she was a baby -total pig. Would eat anything. Even at 10 weeks old she dug under the fence to the neighbors and ate a FULL GROWN rotweiller's food right out of his bowl. She was SO FAT she couldn't get back through the hole she dug. I had to go over there and ring the doorbell. Talk about embarrassing.

Then, she was SO FAT after that I couldn't even bare to be around to watch her either explode, or throw up, so I left for two hours. Came home and she was fine and back to normal (wha?).

Anyway, even though her name was Sophie, I called her piggy, then (I was 18) she became such an eat-o-holic of all things edible and NOT edible, it turned to "f-ing piggy".

One day I couldn't get her name out fast enough and it came out "Fuggy". So for a long time after that she was just plain ol' fuggy.

Finally at 10 years old, she calmed down and got her REAL name back... amongst a trillion other nicknames, but still.

Back to ZC - for those of you using coconut oil and not liking the taste of it - you know they make refined coconut oil, right? Doesn't taste like anything. Oil is oil to me. UNrefined coconut oil is just plain gross. I don't like coconut at ALL.

Fauve - I had the same problem with eating as much as I wanted with protein and fat. Turns out the fat wasn't as satiating to me as most others. I can sit and eat an oil drum worth of bacon or other fatty meat and NEVER feel full.

Now, if I eat lean protein with a little bit of fat added, or just a leaner cut of beef with fat still in it, I can't eat a TON of it.

Protein is WAY MORE SATIATING to me than the fat is, so I've upped the protein and cut back on the fat.

That is NOT TO SAY that I'm doing "low fat" ZC - I still get around 100 grams of fat a day, I'm just saying that my food isn't swimming in it.

Like yesterday, I had a grilled chicken breast and 10 pieces of bacon. Ate the chicken breast first, then the bacon. Wasn't hungry for SEVEN HOURS.

If I would have eaten JUST BACON until I was "full", I could have eaten two pounds to myself and would have been hungry two hours later knowing damn well I just had about 2K cals.

Anyway, just tellin' *my* experience.

Y'all go on with your bad selves!

lol. I had another dream the other night that was bizarrely sexual (heavy emphasis on really, really bizarre) and I won't repeat for the fine folks here. But, yeah..I woke up and went "WTbleep was THAT all about?" I usually dream about TV characters and weird things. A sexual dream about David Boreanaz would be welcome. Even a bizarre one. lol. But this was just strange enough to give me the willies.

How long have you been doing this?

Maybe you need to up your protein a bit. Protein and fat kind of go hand-in-hand, I think, and will help you feel full and stay full. YMMV. And I find that Fitday is a very good way to see where your calories are at, keep track of your protein and fat to make sure you're hitting where you want to be, and to make sure that no hidden carbs are creeping into your diet. Each of us is different and our bodies react differently to different variables. Maybe give us a description of your average day's menu and we can help? (Like I'm an expert or something; I've only been doing this since Nov 2. lol)

I don't crave booze. But today I had 2 shots of Arak (like Sambuca, but no sugar). It was a &$!& of a day. But then I drank a ton of water right after. lol.

It's frustrating to stall. I'm at 218 and have been for the last 3 days. My loss so far has spoiled me into thinking that I should be losing 7 pounds per week, which isn't realistic. I know 2-3 pounds is healthy and better for maintaining the loss.

i was diagnosed manic depressed in 85.
diagnosed as bi polar in 2006.
on medication, on anxiety meds, tried everything for the PMDD.
was hospitalized in 2006 for breakdown.
been off meds since 2007.
have absolutely no mood swings, PMS symptoms, no suicidal thoughts, nothing..
life is good, everyday.

Hooray!!!!

wow, this is so interesting! Ghoulia and Mmiller, you both recommend increasing the protein. A while back, I did follow Dr. K's recommendations to lower protein and increase fat. Now that I follow a zero carb approach, I did not think of increasing the protein back again. This might be the problem, you are so right. I am very excited about this. Will correct right away. Thanks a million!


Lynne, this is awesome! So happy for you!
Debbie, well done! Congrats!

Sure!

Yeah, I was on the high fat thread about 1.5 years ago and all it *DID* was make me fat-er. Tee hee!

For me, calories DO COUNT, so I count 'em... and eat more protein than fat cuz I know it'll keep me fuller longer.