6 week cure. I HATE these shakes!

[bigglesworth]

But I've only got a few day left! When I started drinking thse shakes, they filled me up so much, that I didn't want to eat for a very long time. Now, they only last an hour or so before I'm hungry. Very hungry. I often crave salt. Either in a slab of steak or some baked chicken or even potato chips! No sugar cravings, though (except for the potato chips). Sometimes, I just lick sea salt off my hand to get some salt. I haven't caved in, but I really want to. I haven't followed the recipes to the letter because I don't have the money to go buy a ton of ingredients for the various menu choices. I usually just cook a piece of steak and have some cauliflower purée. Nothing else. Sometimes I'll make some fried/scrambled eggs and some bacon. Nothing else. I wonder if I'm doing something wrong or what. but these shakes are not pleasing and I'm tired of being hungry. there's no 6 Week Cure forum, so I can't ask questions there. Any suggestions?

Dave
from Maine
Dave's Losin' It! blog (http://davecandage.com/losinit)

[gitfiddle]

Here's a link for the 6WC blog (http://proteinpower.com/6weekcure/), Dave. There's only one entry and I'm not sure if it's a line of communication to Dr. Mike. There is also a very long thread (http://drseades.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7401) on our forum that might have answers for you.

What kind of protein powder are you using? Maybe it isn't compatible with your system. I was very sick of the shakes by the end of the two weeks, but I wasn't getting hungry. Just craving meat!

[kelsey]

Make sure you are taking the potassium supplements, if you aren't it is probably the reason you are craving salt.
I made soups and chili. I portioned them out into serving sizes and froze them. For that two weeks I didn't really have to think about eating most days, as I just took out a container and nuked it.

[bigglesworth]

I haven't missed a day of potassium. I season the steak with salt and pepper. That's what I liked about the cauliflower puree. It made enough for a few days. Of course, I just destroyed my food processor (see my blog (http://davecandage.com/losinit) about that), so I can't even make that anymore.

Dave
from Maine

[gitfiddle]

My sympathies on the processor. My shake machine died a week or two ago and the substitute just isn't good enough, so I just ordered a new one.

You could just mash the cooked cauli and get a similar effect, right?

[bigglesworth]

I could (and probably will), but it will throw off all my timing (which sucks already. :)

[gitfiddle]

Dave, you sound like you might be a perfectionist....just a little, mind you. ;) Don't worry, we'll help you get over it. :D

[bigglesworth]

Well, when it comes to cooking, my timing is usually so bad, that one dish is cold by the time the other is done. I don't do it enough to get good at it. The recipes are pretty good, but actually making them is a challenge.

[Gaelen]

LOL - both of you, what you need is a good immersion blender. I started PP in February 2002 and my Braun Multi-quick (http://www.amazon.com/Braun-MR430HC-Multiquick-Blender-Chopper/dp/B00004S9GX) stick blender's been going strong (with daily use) since I bought it in March, 2002 - eight years! Alas, they don't make it anymore, but you might be able to find one on eBay. The Kitchen-Aid version is very highly rated, and the Bamik is the Rolls Royce of stick blenders, the one that the Food Network pros use.

And, btw, it makes lovely mashed cauliflower, or let it go a minute longer for a true puree. ;) I don't even own a traditional blender any more.

[mcsblues]

LOL - both of you, what you need is a good immersion blender.

Absolutely - a traditional blender won't do cauliflower mash anywhere near as well.

I started PP in February 2002 and my Braun Multi-quick (http://www.amazon.com/Braun-MR430HC-Multiquick-Blender-Chopper/dp/B00004S9GX) stick blender's been going strong (with daily use) since I bought it in March, 2002 - eight years! Alas, they don't make it anymore,They do here (http://www.braun.com/au/hand-blenders.html) - or Taiwan or wherever we get them from:rolleyes:
... the Bamik is the Rolls Royce of stick blenders, the one that the Food Network pros use.
I have a Bamix, and while I use it a lot and have had a good 10 years from it, if I had my time again I'd get the Braun - more powerful and better value for money.

And, btw, it makes lovely mashed cauliflower, or let it go a minute longer for a true puree. ;)Disagree a bit there - if you are ending up with a puree, you have too much water left in the cauli - I steam it and then wrap and carefully press it in a clean tea towel (carefully because steam burns are nasty!) Then it needs to be whipped until light and fluffy - usually with some form of cheese (blue is good) and a fair bit of freshly ground pepper.


I don't even own a traditional blender any more.There is no need is there - and what we (as usual poetically:o) call a stick blender - is much easier to clean as well.

[bigglesworth]

Actually, now that you mention it, we have a Braun stick blender. We've had it forever, but haven't used it for so long, I had forgotten about it. The cauliflower puree in the 6 Week Cure book calls for half a Boursin cheese with garlic and herbs. Very awesome. Recipe calls for a food processor and nuking the cauliflower, not steaming. Don't know what the difference would be.
BUT!!!! Today is the last day of shakes!!! Real food starts tomorrow!!! I actually started the program 2 weeks ago on Monday (which is tomorrow), so I don't know if tomorrow should technically be the last day or not, but I ran out of protein powder and I'm not going to go get a new jug just for one day!
I feel free :)

Dave
from Maine

[mcsblues]

Nuking is fine, but it will be MUCH better if you get rid of some of the water, trust me!:)

[newaaem]

Dave, I am in the middle of week two of the 6WC (day 10- 5 pounds lost) and I found adding the teaspoon of olive oil to each shake has helped me be less hungry. I tried that day on day four. I also added started adding two scoops of protein powder for ~44 grm of protein in each shake. For dinner I have had various types of meat and small portions of broccoli or tomato and avocado. After day four I was no longer hungry between shakes. Do get hunbgry for dinner. But hungry is what we really should be for a good meal.

I am using "Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standard" protein powder that I bought at GNC. About the end of week one I ran out of the powder and bought a huge bag of EAS Whey protein powder at COSCTO and quickly discovered that I do not react well to sucralose (I get a very queasy). The 100% Optimum Nutrition brand whey powder has none. I have wondered about using sucralose before discovering this plan. Previously when I ate any kind of protein bars or any of the new diet products that have Splenda in them, I always felt quite queasy too. Now I know. I will just live without the sugar taste, I've decided.

Today I switched to coconut creme instead of whipping cream in the shakes just to be different, and so far I feel just fine. It is a bit sweeter.

I have make shakes using:
- Decaf coffee and pumpkin pie spice to get a spiced latte effect
- A big teaspoon of 70% cocoa powder to make a a choco shake.
- Frozen berries
- The sugar free caramel syrup as sugested the book (but it made me queasy)

I chose to only buy the vanilla powder so I would have more freedom to make flavors.

I am 5' 6" 195 pounds. Started at about 201. I would like to get 155 but I am actually going to be having IVF in a few weeks so once I am pregnant I will just do the regular Protein Power plan to make sure I am getting for healthy babies.

Good Luck!

[S Bear]

Ah, but whey isn't just for shakes.

One of my favorite things for breakfast is:

2 tbsp butter
2 eggs
2 scoops vanilla whey
4 tbsp ground flaxseed
1 tsp baking powder

Melt the butter and whip the two eggs into it.

In a separate bowl, mix together the whey, flaxseed, and baking powder. Add the egg/butter mixture and whip together with a fork until you have a dough. (At this point, you have the option of tossing in a handful of, say, blueberries.)

Put in a lightly oiled 9-inch glass pie pan and microwave for 2 min. Check to see if the center is still wet. Continue to heat in 30 sec increments until the center is no longer gummy. Eat like a pancake (I share mine between two people). Ton of protein and fiber, plsu a good dose of fat.

But the point was--there's other uses for whey protein than just shakes, and it's less tiresome in some other forms.

[maxlharris]

Disclaimer: I don't do 6W. My experience is limited to a more traditional PP lifestyle.

While above suggestions are good, I look at my AM whey/casein shake like a vitamin. Call it Vitamin Breakfast-on-the-Go. I don't really look at it as food. Really. It's something to take to get me from dinner on Sunday to lunch on Monday. It's protein full, so it's something I am taking for my health. And I actually get a host of vitamin/mineral type stuff in my shake, so this is entirely consistent.

Now, is that going to get you through 2 weeks of shake-shake-shake-meal? I dunno. It's all about your internal monologue and how well you can frame things for yourself. Really, a lot of any habit change is about that.