In our post on the detox bath we discussed using baking soda and Epsom salt to help cleanse the skin and body of toxins.  This article covers a variety of ways that baking soda can be used for personal health and beauty, that can be used while on the diet:

Squeaky clean hair: Add a teaspoon of baking soda to your usual shampoo bottle to help remove buildup from conditioners, mousses, and sprays, and to improve manageability.

In emergencies, use baking soda as a dry shampoo on oily hair. Sprinkle on your hair and comb through, then fluff with a blow dryer.

Chlorine remover: Rinse hair with 1/2 teaspoon baking soda in 1 pint water to remove the dullness or discoloration caused by chlorinated pools.

Combs and brushes: Hair spray and oil buildup on combs and brushes can be removed by soaking them in a sink of warm water and adding 3 tablespoons baking soda and 3 tablespoons bleach.

Hands: Remove fish, onion, or garlic odor from hands with a solution of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water or liquid soap. Rub mixture in your hands, and rinse off.

Elbows: Rub a baking-soda paste onto your elbows to smooth away rough skin.

Feet: Soak tired feet in a basin of warm water with 3 tablespoons baking soda.

Add 4 tablespoons baking soda to 1 quart warm water, and soak feet for 10 minutes to relieve foot itch.

Smooth rough and hardened calluses and heels by massaging them with a paste of 3 parts baking soda per 1 part water.

Soothe minor mishaps: For sunburn pain, saturate a washcloth with a solution of 4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart water. Apply to affected area.

Ease windburn or poison ivy irritation with a paste of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. Do not use on broken skin.

Relaxing baths: Baking soda added to the bathwater has a softening effect on the skin. Add 1/2 cup to a full bath.

Make bubbling bath salts with 21/2 cups baking soda, 2 cups cream of tartar, and 1/2 cup cornstarch. Mix them together, and store in a covered container. Use 1/4 cup per bath.

Relieve itchy winter skin in a bath with 1 cup baking soda and 11/4 cups baby oil in the water.

Sponge bath: Freshen up with a washcloth dipped in a solution of 4 tablespoons baking soda to 1 quart water.

Deodorant: Apply cornstarch to your underarms with a powder puff first, then apply the baking soda.

Nail care: Clean fingernails and toenails by scrubbing them with a nailbrush dipped in baking soda. This also softens cuticles.

Toothpaste: Mix 3 parts baking soda with 1 part salt. Add 3 teaspoons of glycerin. Add 10 to 20 drops of flavoring (peppermint, wintergreen, anise, or cinnamon) and enough water to make a paste. Spoon into a small, refillable squeeze bottle.

Sprinkle baking soda into your palm, dip a damp toothbrush into it, and brush your teeth.

Refreshing mouthwash: To freshen breath, use 1 teaspoon baking soda in 1/2 glass of water, swish the solution through your teeth, and rinse.

Dentures and other dental appliances: Soak dentures in a solution of 2 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in warm water.

• Use baking soda to soak athletic mouth guards, retainers, or other oral appliances.
• Scrub dentures, mouth guards, and retainers with a toothbrush dipped in baking soda.
• Soak toothbrushes in a baking-soda solution overnight.

Facial Care

Baking soda can also do wonders for your face.

Exfoliating: Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, and use as a gentle, exfoliating facial scrub after washing with soap and water. Rinse your face clean.

Mix baking soda with oatmeal in your blender; it makes a great facial scrub.

Shaving: Men with sensitive skin may find that a solution of 1 tablespoon baking soda in 1 cup water makes a great preshave treatment or a soothing aftershave rinse.

For instant relief of razor burn, dab on a baking-soda solution.

The original article can be read here.

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Simeons protocol Phase 3 and Phase 4

1/2 C Ricotta Cheese
4 Tbsp. cream cheese, softened
2 Tbsp. minced onion
1/2 tsp. dill weed
1/4 C. Salsa (no added sugar)

Mix together and serve with veggies

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Lettuce Wraps

I have had many people ask me how I eat on P4 and I have to say its similar to P2 and P3.  I really just concentrate on eating healthy.  Do I spluge from time to time, yes!  I thought it would be helpful to just share for what I am eating and document any side effects from it.  I am a little more simple and just make stuff up as I go along.  I do not own a recipe book and do not research recipes,  I am however great at throwing things together.  Yesterday I shared my Taco Salad and today for lunch I went in and threw together these lettuce wraps.  I am sure there many different ways you can make lettuce wraps and make them work for any phase.

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Taco Salad

Phase 3 recipe

1 lb of lean ground beef

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Tangy Coleslaw

This recipe was highly recommended from a friend.  I have been eating this for 3 days and have lost 3 lbs.  I am on p4 so I thought I would adjust the original to what worked for me and keep both recipes in the recipe blog.  I am calling this the little magic potion and I really attribute that to the combination of the apple cider vinegar and cabbage combo.  All our recipes are Dr. Simeons protocol friendly and adjusted to be p2-p4 compliant.

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There are four phases to the Protocol.

Phase 1:

Phase one is preparing for the diet.  This is a preparatory phase that is very important but many skip.  We recommend at least reading Pounds and Inches and trying one of the detox methods as you await your shipment.  You can use this time to read Pounds and Inches, do your measurements( check out the myotape) and work on detoxing your body to prepare for the diet.  Try the Health Pro Detox Plan a week before starting. P2 is a detox itself. Detoxing before just helps with some of the symptoms the first week which may include hunger, cravings and some report headaches.

Phase 2:

When you start taking the drops or injections is the beginning of phase 2.  The first 3 days of phase 2 you will be eating a high fat diet known as loading days. On Day 4 you will begin your start of the VLCD (very low calorie diet).  Click here to visit the Phase 2 Guide.   There are two programs a 23 day plan and a 40 day plan. The minimum days on a round is 23 days. This is 3 days of loading, 20 days on vlcd. You will continue vlcd for 72 hours following your last dose.

Phase 3:

This phase begins the first day following your last dose and will continue for 21 consecutive days. This is one of the most important phases of the diet.  The goal here is maintenance.  You do not want to lose or gain more than +/-2 lbs during the 21 days. Dr. Simeons says in Pounds and Inches you are resetting your hypothalomus to this new weight so your body will remember it and it will keep you from gaining back weight in the future.  You do not want your weight do go above or below 2lbs. of your LDW (last dose weight).  During this phase you should set your maintenance calories using this calculator based on your personal information of age, weight and height. Click here to check the calculator. Make sure it is set to sedentary and maintenance is selected at the bottom. If you experience a gain during your stabilization period immediately do a Steak Day or Alternative Correction Day. If you go over from cheating then you will restart your 21 day reset cycle. Please ignore gains caused from hormones or external issues such as water retention from traveling. Click here to visit the Phase 3 category for tips and recipes.

Phase 4:

Once you achieve your goal weight you are ready for phase 4.  Phase 4 is the “forever” phase.   We do not ever want to return to our previous weight and will want to maintain and stay at our LDW.  Phase 4 is actually easy once you have stabilized correctly.  If you happen to have an off day the weight comes right back off easily with clean eating and you can continue this process.  In Phase 4 you can begin to add back in limited natural sugars and starches.  You will always want to monitor your weight so that if you have a serious gain you can correct it, but it is easier to have a treat in p4 and actually see no gain at all.  Click here for all your Phase 4 category information.

We hope this information was helpful.  We know the phases can be confusing.

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Faulty Dieting- Dr. Simeons Pounds and Inches

Few patients will take one’s word for it that the slightest deviation from the diet has disastrous results as far as the weight is concerned. This extreme sensitivity has the advantage that the smallest error is immediately detectable at the daily weighing but most patients have to make the experience before they will believe it…

Persons in high official positions such as embassy personnel, politicians, senior executives, etc., who are obliged to attend social functions to which they cannot bring their meager meal must be told beforehand that an official dinner will cost them the loss of about three days treatment, however careful they are and in spite of a friendly and would-be cooperative host. We generally advise them to avoid all around embarrassment, the almost inevitable turn of conversation to their weight problem and the outpouring of lay counsel from their table partners by not letting it be known that they are under treatment. They should take dainty servings of everything, bide what they can under the cutlery and book the gain which may take three days to get rid of as one of the sacrifices which their profession entails. Allowing three days for their correction, such incidents do not jeopardize the treatment, provided they do not occur all too frequently in which case treatment should be postponed to a socially more peaceful season.

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Mashed Cauliflower

1 head cauliflower — cut into florets
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp white pepper
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp onion powder

Divide a head of cauliflower into florets that are all roughly the same size.
Steam cauliflower pieces over boiling water (15 to 20 minutes), or until the cauliflower is tender. Drain the cauliflower and toss it in a bowl of ice water to bring the cooking process to a screeching halt.

When the cauliflower has cooled, put the florets in a food processor along with 1/2 cup of water. Puree the cauliflower on high speed until smooth, but with some very small pieces of cauliflower remaining in the mix for just a bit of texture.

Pour all of the pureed cauliflower into a medium sauce pan.

Add the cream, salt, white pepper, garlic powder and onion powder to the cauliflower and stir. Set the saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring often, for 5 to 10 minutes, or until thick.

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