Using EFT to eliminate cravings

The holidays have been stressful for me.  Lots of good stuff, lots of....not so good stuff....that seems to be magnified by occurring in December.  My boyfriend went into the hospital the week before Thanksgiving, which stressed me almost to the limit.  Naturally, given my disposition, I don't show my emotion.  I stuff them.  Usually with a chocolate chaser.

That is NOT conducive to weight loss.  In fact (hangs head in shame) I gained back 18 pounds.

In 2 days, I've lost 4 of them.  I've started tapping to promote the weight loss.

If you don't know what tapping or EFT is, I invite you to check out the website http://www.eftuniverse.com/  There is information there on how to get started, and where to tap. 

The statements I used were:

(karate chop) Even though I am carrying this extra weight, I deeply and completely accept myself. 
(top of head) I don't need this weight.
(eyebrow) I can release this weight.
(under eye) It's safe for me to release this weight.
(under nose) I don't need this weight.
(sore spot) It's OK for me to release this weight.

The days I've used EFT, in conjunction with HCG and good nutrition, I've lost 2 pounds a day. You can use it to eliminate cravings, settle stress, stop smoking, and much more.   Let me know if you try it, and what your results were!

Indoor vs Outdoor Exercise

I just saw a tweet that said, "I do not trust treadmill numbers. Indoor workouts and outdoor workouts exist in different spaces and should not be compared."

Um.

All workouts are different.  That's why we cross train!  Well, that's why I cross-train.  I don't want my body to get used to just running, or just lifting, or just hiking.  I want to be lean and fit across the board.

I love weight training, and I can walk for miles (walked 10 miles yesterday to work off a good mad), and I can dance all night and then some, but sprinting makes me ache, mountain biking gets me winded pretty quick, and hiking will kill my knees if I'm not careful. 

But I want to live an active lifestyle. 

I'm not after just marathoning, or triathalons... I'm after fitness. 

Because of the broad range of activities I pursue, I have to say all workouts exist in different spaces. 

So - what are your workout/fitness goals?

Holiday Break

I am taking a break from active dieting.  I'm sitting at 155 right now.  My goal is to be about 135, so I still have about 20 pounds to go.  My boyfriend thinks I'm thin enough (although he said that 30 pounds ago, too, bless his heart!) and is actually concerned about my losing too much weight. 

I'm a size 4 jean according to the jeans I just bought at the thrift shop, a size 7 in designer (stretch denim).  Overall I'm very happy with my size.  I'm getting compliments all over the place. 

After the holidays (probably after my birthday in February) I plan to do another round to release the last little bit of weight.  Right now, I'm maintaining very happily.

Stress and weight loss

For several months, I've been concerned about a relationship, and very stressed out about it.  For over nine months - my weight loss has been stalled, I haven't been able to stick to the protocol, and I've been very stressed out.

Lo and behold, he comes back into my life with a commitment to make it work this time - and I've lost 7 pounds this week. 

Hooray!

Current weight: 150.4, goal weight 125, waist measurement 27.8 inches.

Making progress....

You know, it's interesting.  I've been stalled for months.  Cheating, emotional eating, just having trouble.  See, there's this man that I am crazy about, who hasn't talked to me in...months. 

He contacted me on Saturday, and I immediately dropped 5 pounds. Really.  Sunday morning I was down 5 pounds.

The point of the story?  Sometimes the energy just has to be right.  Stress has a huge impact on how and whether we hold onto body fat.  Anytime we can reduce stress, it will change the way we metabolize.

Now -- I've got to head to bed, because sleep is a huge factor as well....

Stalled!

I've been stuck at 155 for a week now.  Even after an apple day, it's not moving.  I dropped two pounds and gained it right back.  I'm wondering what to do to shift the weight a bit faster. 

Boot camp started back up today after a week off, so maybe the exercise will help move things along. 

I am so frustrated!  Argh.

And this time I can't say that it's because of a cheat.  I've been following the protocol perfectly!

Discovered a new favorite salad dressing!

Mmm.  Asian dressing.  I have eaten plates and plates of fresh homemade salad (NEVER buy bagged salad, it's nasty, and it always goes bad in my fridge) dressed with a little Asian dressing. 

And apples!  I've rediscovered apples.  Fresh, sweet, cold, juice apples.  Sometimes I forget how good real food is!

Water makes such a difference!

"Water, water, everywhere, and not a drop to drink." 

Seems that way at my house.  I'm not drinking nearly enough water! 

Water is an amazing substance.  My friend Michael, owner of Clear Water Solutions here in Utah, is constantly reminding me that "The solution to pollution is dilution!" And he's right.

Especially on a weight loss plan.  Water carries away waste products, and when we're actively losing releasing weight, we're also releasing extra waste products, or toxins.  When you don't drink enough water, your body holds on to it.  Drinking plenty of water helps release the water weight! 

Water also helps with those nagging aches and pains - lower back pain, PMS, headache, and general grouchiness, 

Most of us just don't drink enough water.  We substitute soda, coffee, or tea.  And that's not good enough

Nothing quite beats pure water.   Make sure you drink plenty of it.

Now, you don't want to try to drink all of your water at once,  That's as harmful as not drinking it at all!  You want to be drinking plenty of water throughout the day. 

Find a beautiful glass that you love drinking out of and keep it full.

I like my water ice cold (like cold enough to make my teeth hurt!), so I make sure I have plenty of ice.  Or I'll freeze a bottle of water (or several) and sip on it throughout the day.  It keeps my skin young looking, helps me avoid backaches, and helps me release both pounds and inches.

Yeah, you might need to go to the bathroom more often, but really - that's a good think.  I often visualize the extra weight going down the toilet! 

Did you drink your water today?

Working at Home - A Mixed Blessing

Yup, I'm back to my home office.  Hurray!  (I like change.)  And as I continue my journey to 125 pounds, I can see that this is a mixed blessing.

Up in Alpine, there were no close restaurants.  So at work, either I brought food from home, or I was stuck in the office with my Diet Coke and bottled water.  At home....well, the fridge is right there. 

On the other hand, it's stocked with healthy food choices.  I've got my leftovers from last night waiting for me.  I'm close to the grocery store - and it makes more sense for me to purchase there and choose better foods. 

All in all, I'm having better success (so far) at home, since all my cooking stuff is here, and with a little forethought, I can choose better lunches that I might have when I was in the office.

Finishing my break, back to the protocol

I'm going back on protocol again, and (since I use homeopathic) I'll stay on it until I've reached my goal weight.  I'm adding protein powder and vitamins this round, as I think I've depleted my nutrient stores pretty badly.  I'm also emphasizing drinking more water. 

So -- off we go!  35 pounds to go!

Preparation and Low Carb

Yes, low carbing can be done.  I used to think it was too hard - before my first round of HCG and having my eyes opened.  You know what?  When you know what you CAN eat, and how to cook it so it's tasty, low carbing is easy.

Restaurant out?  I always explain to the waitress that I'm on a low carb diet and would she please hold the rolls, croutons, and potatoes?  I've had the wonderful staff at Texas Road House bring me 2 side salads - because salad was the only side I could have, and i was entitled to 2 sides.  (I only asked for one.  Texas Road House in Lehi, UT.  The waitstaff there is awesome.) And grilled steak is fine, yum!

The tough times for me are when I am out with the kidlets - who are hungry - and I need a quick snack.  I want to avoid the drive through in any case - so I tend to bring apples, grapes, and raisins for the kids to snack on.  It really just takes a little forethought.

I also like Saving Dinner.  Leanne takes the thinking out of menu planning.  And she has a low-carb option - but all the options are healthy!  Again, just a little forethought - ordering the menus, going to the store once a week - and the payoffs are delicious meals and a slimmer, healthier you!

Not to mention more cash in your bank account from the money saved on junk snacks.

9/11

Exercise is Indispensable to Effective Weight Loss

I would love to be the one to tell you that you can achieve your ideal weight and keep it without exercise.  I'd love to lay on my couch all day, reading books and eating eclairs and always weight 125 pounds. 

But it ain't a'gonna happen. 

As important as diet is, exercise plays an important role in achieving and maintaining weight loss. 

For one thing, muscle is much denser than fat. That means that with weight training to build your muscles, you can gain pounds AND lose inches, ending up at a smaller clothing size but a heavier weight.  Over time, the more muscle you carry, the easier it is to release extra fat stores from the body. 

Fat doesn't burn calories, either.  It just hangs around, making the rest of your body work harder to live.  Muscle is active, and simply gaining muscle means that you are burning more calories by sitting on the couch than a fat person is.  Pretty snifty, huh?

Then there's the fact that working out daily has important after effects all day long.  A weight training session in the morning can help you burn more calories all day. Exercise relieves stress, too.  I've gone back to my habit of walking when I'm angry instead of inhaling bonbons.

I don't advise anyone to begin a strenuous exercise regimen on the HCG protocol.  During active dieting, start with a walk around the block, and ease into a more strenuous program after the maintenance portion is completed.  I recommend an interval approach, like that used by EXL Fitness.  (And if you're in Utah, come down to EXL Fitness for a 2 week free trial.  Tell Mat that Donna sent you.)

Car is broken down

One of the accidental fallouts of having no car over the weekend is that I've walked and walked and walked.  7 miles yesterday.  5 miles today.  Walking is a great form of exercise - more so when you're hauling little kids along, and lugging bottles of water!

It's hard to believe that last year I was struggling to walk a mile, and now I have hiked to the summit of Mt Timpanogos (about 9 miles to the summit, one way - about 17 miles round trip) on August 21 and after that,  a little jaunt into American Fork on flat roads is nothing.

So today, I ate whatever I wanted.  I don't foresee a gain in the morning.  But I do need to drink more water - I have a headache from dehydration.  And I'm sunburned.

It's been about 3 weeks since ending my last round.  I'm beginning to think about starting another.

Does Homeopathic HCG Really Work?

It forever amazes me that people are willing to post idiotic things on the internet.  Things like, "Homeopathic HCG cannot work, because there's no HCG in it."  "Homeopathic HCG cannot work because hCG is a hormone...."

And yet, it does.  How ironic.  How many people are being deprived of an excellent method of weight loss due to cost, when homeopathic is available at a fraction of the cost, all because a few people, with no knowledge of medicine (let alone homeopathics) are claiming this does not work - based on, what, ten minutes of research on the web?

Homeopathic medicine does work.  And it works very well.  I've had tremendous success with it - not only for weight loss, but for other things too. 

Dr. Kendra Pearsall routinely uses homeopathic HCG in her practices, and in this article discusses the effectiveness of it.

Addicted to Weight Loss?

HCG is amazing.  I've never lost weight so quickly, so easily, in my life.  But I've been thinking about eating disorders, and how quickly the HCG protocol (or any regimen for that matter) can turn to addictive behavior.

While on protocol, the daily weight loss  (up to a pound per day, sometimes more) and the rapid changes in the body are amazing.  However, the diet is stringent - only 500 calories a day - and that extremely low intake in and of itself can be addictive.

The body image may be distorted.  It's so easy to think, "Just a few more pounds, and I'll be happy."  It's easy to keep seeing yourself as fat when you're not.

During this, or any other diet, it's important to consider WHY you're on a diet.  I want to reach a specific goal - 125 pounds, 36-24-36 - and when I reach this, I will stop.  Period.  I am dieting, yes, partly because of appearance, but also because of health concerns.  I do NOT want to look underweight or emaciated.  I like my hips and my chest.

But oh, it is so addicting to see those numbers on the scales go down so much every day!

What does stress do for weight loss?

I'm asking because I'm curious.

My day has been strange all day - beginning with the power going out at my place this morning (it actually made for a peaceful morning), going to the Salt Lake Agile group this afternoon (very nice group, I like them), and ending up with car trouble along I-15.

Sometimes when I stress out, I gain - other times, the extra weight just slides right off. 

I've heard both theories - stress causes the secretion of cortizone which creates more belly fat, and stress causes you to lose your appetite so you end up losing weight.

I've almost decided that the correct answer is "We don't know, so we're going to make it up and get you to accept our authority." 

Surprise!

Yesterday was just generally stressful.  My day started at 6am, with a client appointment at 8am.  (I am NOT a morning person.)  I had an apple at the office, a Diet Coke, lots of water, and then spent the evening with Krista since the man I'm breaking up with was coming to my house to get the scooter he "gave" me - and I didn't want to see him.

I ended up having Wendy's for dinner instead of the dinner I had planned (grilled steak Parmesan with broccoli and a salad).  Ick.  Fast food is quickly losing its appeal.  Then I had a couple of glasses of water before bedtime, while I was reading to the kids.

I was down nearly 2 pounds over yesterday, though - and I'd braced myself for a gain. 

Losing weight is always a multi pronged approach.  I had a great workout this morning at EXL Fitness. And I followed that up with a delicious breakfast burrito - 2 eggs, cheddar cheese, and salsa wrapped in a flour tortilla.  Yum!  I'm drinking a ton of water at the office again today, and saving my Diet Coke for a treat or for the caffeine - too much sweet isn't good for you, even without calories.

And I'm looking forward to dinner with my kids tonight!  Family dinner will do wonders for me and for the kids.

Eating thoughtfully

One of my personal rules when deciding what to eat these days is simply this.  If I'm going to spend the calories on it, it had better be absolutely delicious.

Fortunately, I love to cook.  Last night my kids spend the night with their nephews, and I had Chicken Supreme (from Saving Dinner) and a large green salad.  I put the tablecloth on the table, set myself a place, and had a lovely dinner.

What a change from the days when I'd scarf down whatever is in sight.  Ok, I'm still doing that sometimes - but not as often, and I'm more aware of it.  And I'm still working on not eating "just to be eating" and the late night munchies.  I have to often ask myself if I'm hungry, or just want to eat.  If I just want to eat, maybe I can take that walk around the block.  If I'm hungry, am I really thirsty?  Get some water and see if that helps.  (Note to self - Water, not soda.)  What is it I want to eat?  Is that double cheeseburger really worth the calories?  Or can I find something else that will satisfy me and nourish me better?

Being thoughtful about what you eat can help you release the weight you're looking to get rid of.  It's the mindless munching that will get you!

A Little Preparation....

I've realized that part of the reason I'm backsliding like mad is that I'm not preparing my food for the day in advance.  I'm not taking lunch to the office, so then I munch on....foods I'm not supposed to eat.....instead of apple slices with cinnamon or cucumber with Tabasco sauce.  Little Debbie Snack Cakes and Hostess Donuts just don't do much for weight loss.

So I'm going to start planning in advance.  We have a fridge at work, and I keep it well stocked with Diet Coke and bottled water.  I have Crystal Light packets.  Now I need to bring lunch and/or a snack. Bringing apples and my apple slicer will do wonders.

I'm also using the low-carb Menu Mailer from Saving Dinner.  (I really should become an affiliate for this site - I absolutely cannot say enough good things about it.  But I don't earn any money from Leanne, so you know this really comes from my heart!)  I love love love not having to think about dinner - except for once a week, when I get my shopping list and look over the menus.  After that - no thinking required!  I love it!

When you plan things ahead, you are really making a commitment to yourself that you'll improve your diet.  It's easier to avoid the drive-thru when you've already got the makings for dinner at home, your lunch with you, and fruit for a snack.

Low Carb Diets - Are They Too Hard?

I've seen a few Tweets about this very idea lately - and I've been thinking a lot about it.  Following the HCG protocol is very low carb.  And here's what I've found.

Going low carb isn't hard at all. 

I really thought it would be.  I love bread, and rice, and pasta, and all that yummy stuff.  I also love sugar in all its glory.  But when it came time to low-carb it - I was able to easily drop all that.  And now carbs tend to make me ill. 

It's really not that hard to push away the bread basket at the table.  Even at a restaurant.  It's not a challenge to tell the waiter that you just want the meats and veggies, thanks.  They understand that.

It can be a challenge to wean yourself from french fries and sandwiches - but it's about learning new eating patterns anyway, isn't it?

One way to do it is to use Saving Dinner's Menu Mailer.  I love this concept.  You get your menus for the week in a PDF download, which includes Low Carb, Heart Healthy, and Regular.  (Regular is still freaking healthy, and they are all delicious.)  Just following the menus can help you re-learn how to eat. 

So far, I've lost released over 30 pounds.

And if I can do it, you can do it. 

On Stabilization

I am finished with my round.  There are some things I need to really work on before I begin a new round - and I am only one round away from my ideal weight.

I am going to begin using EFT to conquer emotional eating patterns.  Until I handle that, I will continue to justify breaking the protocol.  There are other ways for me to handle my emotions.  When Krista was a baby and I was in an abusive marriage, I would load her in her stroller and walk until I calmed down.  That could be miles. 

I'm also going to add more protein to my diet, starting now.  On my first round (when I lost 30 pounds), the hunger was killing me, until I added a protein shake.  It only took one for me to recover from the hunger.  The protocol is very protein deficient.  Perhaps the added shake will make a difference.

Even though I'm not on HCG at the moment, I lost 2 pounds yesterday.  I had raisin bran for breakfast, and chicken and a large salad for dinner.  I forgot lunch.

If you are interested in following the Pounds and Inches protocol for weight loss, I'm offering the HHCG drops for only $40 per 2oz bottle plus shipping.  Email donna@busybeevas.com for more information!

Homeopathic vs RX HCG

I have to get into this.  I'm angry and frustrated a lot of the time because of brilliant comments on the web - things like "Homeopathic can't work, it doesn't have HCG in it."

Well, it DOES work.  It works very well.  At a fraction of the price, and without needles.

Look. If you're one that gets off on the needles, or you want to pay more, or you're just convinced that you need Rx HCG, and it works well for you, fine.  Go for it. 

Personally, I didn't have an extra $300 or so just laying around that I was frantic to spend.  I did, however, have a friend in Dr. Tom, who gave me a couple of bottles of his HHCG product to try. 

No, there's no HCG in it.  It's a magnetic imprint.  The label says "water".  And I don't pretend to understand the science behind homeopathic medicine.  I'm a bookkeeper, not a doctor.  The truth is, even the scientists don't understand why it works, but they do understand that it does.  This is not a placebo effect.  You can read this article by an MD for more information.

But after starving myself for years - after working out like mad for years - after days and months and weeks of living on nothing but salad, with no results - after GIVING UP -

I released 35 pounds.

I'm struggling this round, but that has to do with ME and not the product.  I'd struggle if I was injecting.

There is no need to bash homeopathic.  Rx HCG works.  So does HHCG.  And the effectiveness is very similar.  Yes, your mileage may vary - some may do better on one than the other.  But they both work. 

Self Discipline

Self Discipline is remembering your goals and setting them higher than the immediate wants. 

Right now, I want a big, juicy cheeseburger with french fries.  And chocolate cake.   But I think I'd rather be skinny.  Still - it's hard to remember what my goals are when the cravings hit. 

Tomorrow I'm hiking to the summit of Mt Timpanogos with some friends.  And when I get back down, I'm ending a relationship.  (The guy is very condescending - and he's not Tim.  Men who think I'm slightly less bright than the village idiot annoy the crap out of me.)  That in itself ought to do wonders for the scales. 

It's been fun to put on pants that were snug at the end of the first round, impossible to fit into before beginning, and that are so loose now I need a belt. 

Time to take a break

I think it's time for me to take a break from HCG again.  I've been on for 6 weeks, and because I'm getting hungry, I think I'm going to immunity. 

Dinner tonight will be low carb, and I will continue with apple and steak days to keep my weight at 155.  In September I will be ready to start again. 

I'll be continuing the low carbs for quite some time - I may have to eat that way for a while.

Another apple day tomorrow

My sister brought Starnes pit BBQ back from Kentucky.  This is heaven.  Of course, I have to eat it on a sandwich, toasted on my griddle (no butter though) and drenched with their BBQ sauce. 

I'm not sharing.  No.  I haven't gotten Starnes in a couple of years.  This is worth breaking the diet over. 

I'll do an apple day tomorrow to recover. 

Stalling due to emotions

So I was talking with my friend Daniel the other day about the struggles I've had with this diet.  Now, I absolutely know it works - it works when nothing else would.  In November I lost 30 pounds.

However, in January - in the same week in January - my friend Ken passed away, and my boyfriend, Tim, broke up with me.  Tim was by far the best support I've ever had on this.  He would ask me what I could eat on the diet and then he'd help me make decisions in restaurants based on what he knew I could have.  I loved being on the protocol with his support - he travels a lot, and when he was out of town, I'd be extra careful so I could report a solid loss every day.  I can't tell you how well he cheered me on.

I've been stalled ever since losing these two important men.

The guy I'm currently dating tries to get me to eat junk.  My weight is not that important to him. (Yes, that means I'm not that important to him either.) I'm still not settled emotionally, so the junk is a lot more appealing than it was in November.

Louise Hay teaches that overweight is usually a sign of insecurity. Anger is often an underlying cause. The extra padding is a form of protection. Now, I'm an oldest child of a large family, and I'm an Aquarius, so between the two, I'm pretty passive-aggressive.  I tend to give and give and give - then resent the fact that no one seems to care how much I've given, and go straight to martyr mode. 

And you know what?  I'm mad as hell at Ken for dying.  How dare he die? He was supposed to give me a ride on his Road King and teach me to ride a motorcycle and take me to the Melting Pot and take me shoe shopping for fun.  How could he die and leave me to deal with that? 

And how could Tim abandon me when I needed him?

Working through the anger issues is bound to help me as I release this weight.

Today's weight : 156.6 goal 125.0

Speeding along the journey!

I am always surprised when I manage to do well on weight loss even though I'm not following the protocol.  Yesterday I ate ice cream (but that was about it), and spent the day working, in meetings, and tooling around on the scooter.  No veggies, no fruit, no meat (but I do count ice cream as a protein, LOL).  Not nearly enough water. 

And I lost a pound. 

I went to the store looking for something to fix for dinner (my little ones are with their big sister, running through the sprinklers, going to the lake, and generally enjoying the last little bit of summer), but nothing really sounded good.  I was a bit stressed out and didn't feel like eating.

Kind of a nice change, there.

So I had a couple of ice cream sandwiches and called it good.

I'm now down to 154.4.  My goal is 125.0.  29.4 pounds to go!

Getting back into the swing of things

I think I'm finally mastering my desire to stuff myself.  Finally.  The past couple of days have been much better.  Perhaps posting about emotional eating has helped!  I've become more aware of what I was doing, and that helped drop the craving.

I've also been using EFT to help with cravings. 

I don't usually eat during the day, and I have a good meal for dinner (usually a low carb Menu Mailer offering from Saving Dinner - Leanne has saved me more times than I can count).  I've taken to stashing apples in my office fridge, along with plenty of Crystal Light, water bottles, and Diet Coke. 

I'm riding a scooter around while the weather is good, which means I can't eat and ride at the same time.  For some reason, riding takes a lot out of me and wears me out, so I'm less likely to eat after a long day.

I'm still bouncing around on my weight, but I'm determined to conquer the cravings and master myself.

Only 27 pounds to go!

What does emotional eating feel like?

I was thinking about this the other day.  When I am eating out of emotion, rather than to fuel my body or to enjoy the taste of my food, I eat fast, and I eat a lot.  It is literally like stuffing the empty spaces of my heart with food, so I don't have to feel the hurt any more. 

I wash down anger with chocolate.  (Incidentally, that sets you up for allergies... but that's another post.)  I wash down heartache with ice cream.  And I see a lot of us, especially women, doing the same thing. 

Or boredom.  Sometimes eating is just something to do.  Read a book, and eat eat eat. 

There are other ways to deal with low emotion.  No, I'm not going to recommend carrots as a comfort food.  Go out and take a walk around the block.  Go for a drive.  Talk to yourself in the mirror.  Go to sleep!  Anything but shovel the food in. 

Avoid the TV.  TV is an eating trigger for a lot of people. 

Make a commitment to yourself that the food you eat is going to be fantastic.  If you're going to spend the calories, oughtn't it be the best?  Learn to cook, and cook well.  My diet runs to grilled meats and salads, but the right rub makes all the difference in the meat. 

Apple Day

I made the mistake of going to a Mexican restaurant for dinner yesterday (I had a date - that's what he wanted).  I usually find something I can eat - nearly every restaurant has a grilled meat of some kind - but blew it last night.  So today, I'm doing an apple day to recover.  I gained back 1.6 pounds! 

What is an apple day?  Well, all ya get to eat is 6 apples.  And water.  Why it works, I don't know - but it does.  It breaks stalls and helps you recover from a cheat.

And I'm going to have to re-think dating this guy.  The first thing I want is someone who understands that my weight is important to me - and doesn't sabotage me.  I miss Tim like crazy, he was probably the only man I've dated who would ask me what I could eat on my diet and then choose the restaurant based on that.

Apple Day Tomorrow

I'm honestly disappointed in myself this round.  I've been on an emotional yo yo and I've reacted by eating.  I know this diet works, and it works fantastically.  The failure has been my failure to adhere to the protocol. 

So, I'm going to do what I always do at a time like this.  (No, not eat a half gallon of rocky road ice cream.)  I'm going to dust myself off, get myself grounded again, and do an apple day tomorrow.  I'm also going to increase my cardio, and follow the protocol strictly. 

The weight *is* coming off, it's just coming off slowly. 

Backslide

I'm really frustrated with myself today.  The emotional eating from yesterday cost me.  I seem to be sabotaging myself in a very big way.  I know I can reach my goals, but I seem to be sabotaging myself.  No one is forcing to eat things that cause me to hold this weight.  I can do better.

Today's weight 158.0.  Goal 125.0

I am really struggling this round!

It's not the diet, it's emotional troubles.  The ironic thing is that I'm not hungry, I'm just trying to fill an emotional hole.  Here's hoping awareness is half the cure! 

I have been sad and emotional all weekend, and although I stayed close to the diet, I did cheat some.  Tomorrow I'm being taken out for sushi, which of course has rice with it.  I am trying to at least stay low carb, even if I'm not following the protocol exactly.  Unfortunately, it will make maintenance more challenging.

I'm down to 156.4 today, and my goal is 125. 

Protein, Muscle, and Women

From talking to a lot of women, I've noticed that women are almost scared of protein.  It's like they're afraid of gaining muscle.  Guys love protein.  Ever notice that a man's favorite restaurant is invariably a steak house?  And then women go to a steak house and order -- a salad. 

I'm not knocking salad.  The ones at Texas Road House are delicious.  But don't knock red meat!  It's not evil, bad, or fattening.

Ladies, because of our monthly periods, we need extra iron in our diets.  The tendency to subsist on chicken and salad makes it more difficult for us to replace that iron.  And I don't know about you, but iron pills tend to make me sick to my stomach, my body doesn't absorb it, and they can be hazardous to kids and pets. 

Organ meats such as liver (especially liver) are a great source of iron, but it seems like no one eats them any more.  I love chicken liver, but by the time I bread and fry it (I'm a Southern gal, everything needs to be fried!) it's pretty fattening.  (I also like it tucked into a roasted bird - but it's summer here and I'm not turning on my oven.)  Besides, liver is hard to find in the supermarkets these days.

So I go on to one of my favorite diet meals - STEAK and a vegetable.  Ribeye by far is my favorite.  My iron levels remain good when I eat red meat once or twice a week. 

And today's accountability - weight 156.4 goal 125.0. 

What's for Dinner?

Just to show you can eat "real food" on this diet - I'm having kabobs for dinner, made with chicken breast meat, orange sections, and bell peppers.  Yum!  (Thanks to Saving Dinner's low carb Menu Mailer).  I've lost weight every day using her menus - the only problems I've had have been (as usual) eating stuff I'm really not supposed to, like Pop Tarts and Swiss Cake Rolls, LOL. 

Progress so far...

I started this round at 167.  I am currently 157.0.  That's 10 pounds in 10 days.  Not bad at all.  I'm branching out a bit more from grilled meat and salad this round, doing low-carb recipes, and seeing how my body reacts.  Truth be told, I'll be low-carb for a while, I'm sure. 

I'm still struggling with emotional, boredom, and late-night eating.  I'm making better food choices, though, and binging doesn't seem so attractive.  Except, of course, when it is.

It's a dramatic improvement overall.  I'm about 1/2 way through my round.  Very excited to see the changes in my body and appetite!

Today's weight - 157.0 goal 125.0

A little backslide

Not just on the weight, but on the blogging.  Yesterday I weighed in at 157.2,  and today I gained 2 pounds.  What went wrong? 

Well, a good chunk of it was the 2 bowls of raisin bran I ate at bedtime.  During the protocol, carbs are not allowed.  It might also have been lack of sleep. 

Hopefully, though, that 2 pounds is MUSCLE from all the boot camp training I've done for the past 9 months or so. 

The Public Humiliation diet

From Drew Magary over at Deadspin: The Public Humilation Diet


Actually, I don't see it as humiliation.  By posting his weight on Twitter, he held himself accountable - to himself and the rest of the cybersphere.

That's what I've been doing here.

Yes, weigh yourself every day.  Pounds sneak up on you and attack you when you're not looking.  Usually when you've got your nose in the Doritos bag wondering where they all went.  Every day.

Eating after 6 is a challenge for me.  Mostly because I don't eat during the day.  And it's usually after 6 by the time I get home, and nearly 8 by the time I get dinner on the table.  But the idea is just to not sit in bed and chow down on cookies and Doritos.

And I 100% agree with making sure everything you eat is awesome.  If you're going to spend the calories, why not eat the best?  The most delicious foods are made with simple ingredients.  Really!

Hiccup on the journey...

I'm struggling a little with hunger.  Not "starving to death" hunger, probably more emotional eating.  It's hard to go get an apple when what I want is Raisin Bran.  (Really.  I love Raisin Bran.)  And it's hard to prepare menus or review what we need for the kitchen when I can't eat anything.

I will get through it ok.  I just need to make sure I'm drinking enough water.  And getting enough sleep.



Today's weight: 159.2 Goal: 125.0

You'll Gain it Back!

Shortly after losing my 1st 20 pounds, I talked to a friend and told her what I was doing with HCG.  Her response?  "You'll gain it back!"

Well, yeah, if I start eating fast food three times a day and gorge on ice cream and Swiss Cake Rolls, I'm sure I will gain it back.  Resetting your metabolism doesn't overcome the bad habits we all got into to get into this mess!

However, being on the strict protocol for three weeks helps break the sugar addiction, break the carbs addiction (bread goes right to my hips), and creates new habits.  I was just reminded of how much I like oranges.  And cucumbers, sliced up with some salt on top.  Yum!

It's true, lettuce is never going to be a comfort food for me, but by sticking to the protocol for three weeks (and then following instructions for stabilizing - where I suspect a lot of people have trouble) I am able to find other means of comforting myself besides eating.

I start looking at food as FUEL for my body.  Not only that, but on only 500 calories a day, if I'm going to put something in my mouth, it had darn well better be so delicious it's worth every calorie.  And I want to savor every bite.  So not only do I start looking at food as fuel, I also start appreciating the sensuality of it even more.

(I mention that because I remember times when I would wolf down food and not even taste it.  Taking the time to taste your food helps slow down eating.)

Daily accountability - I went to the pool yesterday with my kids, so I didn't post.  I'm still worn out.  And boot camp this morning did me in!  Current weight 158.2 goal weight 125.0.  Total loss to date - 6.8 pounds.

Exercise on HCG

Pounds and Inches states that little exercise is needed, mostly "strolling" around the block.  However, I have worked out (off and on) for years. I don't feel right unless I work out.  And, now that I'm over 40, every little bit of calorie expenditure helps.

But 500 calories a day isn't enough for a hard, strenuous workout.  Really.

I listen to my body, and scale back if I feel like I need to.  It's frustrating in a lot of ways, since I've lifted heavy weight before and the weakness kinda catches me off guard.  At the same time, I don't want to get hurt.  I do want to  maintain muscle and lose fat.  HCG helps with that a great deal.  Exercise does a lot to help that as well. 

So what I personally tell people (for what it's worth), don't BEGIN a workout routine, other than easy walking, while on the protocol.

If you're already working out, CONTINUE your workouts by all means.  Be prepared to scale back.  Listen to your body.  Mine says "Get your butt up and get a wiggle on!" 

Oh, and work out with a trainer if you don't have one.  You want someone who will push you to, but not beyond, your limits, and will understand that your strength will change while you're on protocol.  I recommend Mat the Trainer at EXL Fitness in Orem, UT.  He's been putting up with me for months, so he knows what he's in for if your on HCG.

Daily accountability - Weight this morning 160.2 Goal weight 125.0. 

Saving Dinner

I'm  preparing to take better care of myself and my family by signing up for Saving Dinner.  After all, I still have to take care of younger children (who are NOT on a diet!) and some of her dishes turn out to be HCG friendly.  I want to eat good foods when I'm between rounds.

I used Saving Dinner for a couple of years back in '07 and '08, and then I kind of fell off the wagon.  They actually email you your shopping list and menus for the week.  Then all you have to do is follow instructions.  No thinking required.  It brought my grocery bill way down, kept me from filling my cart with "convenience" foods, and fooled my dad into thinking I was a great cook and homemaker.  (Seriously - she taught me to cook.

So I'm up for another round of her menus. I highly recommend them. 

And my accountability for today - weight 162.0, down 3 pounds from yesterday.  Goal 125.0. 

Day 1 Very Low Calories (VLCD)

That would be today.  It's a relief not to eat so much any more.  I'm drinking lots of water and (yes) Diet Coke, although I'm trying to lean more towards the water.  Dinner tonight will be salad with grilled chicken breast for me and hamburgers for the kids.

I also went to EXL Fitness for the next phase of boot camp. It felt sooo good to get my body moving after three weeks (!) of inactivity.  Our bodies are meant to be moved and used.  They're not for holding still.  I even made it almost all the way around the building without stopping to walk, and I got my 20 straight-legged situps in (with Mat cheering me on).  Thankfully he didn't make us do bear crawls!  I hate those (walking on  hands and feet with your butt up in the air).

I'm planning on a long walk tonight and tomorrow, and then boot camp again on Wednesday.  I'm pretty tied up emotionally - I feel like I'm holding myself together with baling wire and twine, all my emotions in a tight little knot in the pit of my stomach - so maybe the long walk will help.

Today's weight = 165.0, goal = 125.0

Loading Day 2 (yesterday)

I'm frustrated now.  Nothing to do with HCG, it's because I thought I posted something yesterday in this space and it didn't show up.  Grrr!

Can I drink on HCG?

Yes.

Be careful of 2 things though - what you mix your alcohol with, and the foods you're likely to be around if you're drinking.  I do not recommend beer - too many carbs. Bailey's Irish Cream or similar drinks are probably not a good idea. Spirits on the rocks or mixed with diet soda are probably ok.  A glass of wine with dinner is ok.  But not at every meal or every day - alcohol has calories.

Drink plenty of water if you're doing alcohol. 

HCG does tend to increase your sensitivity to alcohol, so be careful.

Also, since alcohol lowers your inhibitions, be very careful about any foods that you may be around.  Drinks are often served with fattening, off-protocol foods. 

If you like to drink, you can enjoy an occasional drink on the diet.  Just do it with caution. 

Loading day 1

I started loading today for this round.  I'm almost concerned that I won't be able to eat enough.  I've had Wendy's,, and a milkshake, so far today. 

When I'm loading, I eat fats.  Lots of fats.  Cream gravy, fatty meats, ice cream, sour cream, ice cream (did I mention ice cream), and those eclairs I love so much.  Butter, gravy (I'm a Southern girl, I like good sausage gravy - or any other kind, for that matter), fried foods.  I try to keep it to healthy fats, but I don't always manage to do it.

If you're a coffee drinker, load days are the time to get all those creamy cappuccinos at Starbucks for 500 calories a cup.

This is my time to get binging out of my system for three weeks.  It's a good time to eat all those otherwise-forbidden foods (and remember why I don't eat at McDonald's - it always makes me sick).  I sometimes wonder if it's a mental re-set.  I do know that by the time Monday gets here and I'm going on the very low calorie diet, it's a relief not to have to eat so damn much.

Weight today = 160.4.  Goal weight = 125.

Getting ready for another round....

Yes. I'm picking up some HHCG drops this afternoon.  I am planning to start loading on Sunday and begin the very low calorie diet on Wednesday, after 3 days of loading.  I'm so close to my goals, but I've been under emotional stress lately and stuffing emotions down with eclairs, pizza, and hamburgers.  Not really good food choices. 

I want to retrain myself to choose fruit and veggies over chocolate and carbs.  I think I'll find out if watermelon and cantaloupe will stall my weight loss. 

My little garden should have a bumper crop of tomatoes and cucumbers, so I'll have garden fresh food to eat!

It's "that time" of month....

And with it comes the bloat and weight gain.  At least I hope that's what this is.  It's pretty dreadful this month.  I've been nearly doubled over all day, and trying to hold still.

I did manage to make a lap around the block this afternoon, doing wind sprints.

I'm just glad this is just for a few days.

After!

This is me 10 pounds ago.  I'll get more "after" pictures up soon. 

Before Pictures

I have trouble finding some "before" pictures, because I don't like seeing them.  Here are a few:

My sister is the one in the red.  I'm in blue. 

Off the wagon a bit this week

I started out great, went to boot camp. Wednesday, no exercise. I had a doctor appointment. Today I couldn't drag myself out of bed.

Maybe I should write a post on the importance of sleep.

Current weight: 158.0 - so I'm losing again.

Women and Weight Training

Weigh training, or strength training, has been my exercise of choice for as long as I can remember. My dad lifted weights, and I loved the ability to see myself as a strong woman.

Because I do a lot of strength training, my scale weight is higher for my body size than most women. I am 155 pounds and wear a size 6.

2 things brought the importance of building muscle to my attention. One is a friend of mine who lost over 100 pounds on HCG. She is currenly 20 pounds lighter than I am, and wears a 12 - 14 instead of a 6.

The other was a conversation I had with a co-worker several years ago. She was a beautiful woman, but she was overweight and ashamed of her body. She always wore these long, flowing tents. One day she commented on how nice I looked in my tailored suit (I had recently lost 40 pounds at the time). I told her that one of my secrets was lifting weights, so I could weigh more, and eat more, and be smaller.

"I couldn't do that. I don't want to get big," she said.

I really had to bite my tongue to keep from saying, "But you already are!"

In order to gain muscle, it is necessary to produce testosterone. Ladies, this is the MALE sex hormone. We produce testosterone, but in very minute amounts. After all, we don't want to sing bass or put hair on our chests. We do want to be able to gain muscle.

Women gain muscle weight at a much slower rate than men. Our muscles aren't designed to get big. All the working out in the world will not put big huge muscles on us, unless we're supplementing. And even then it is difficult.

What we want is strength and definition. A beautifully toned body is incredibly sexy. We want strength and endurance, and curves where there are supposed to be curves. You know. Breasts, hips, and a little waist.

When we carry muscle, our metabolism increases. We're able to eat more. We get more out of our cardio, because muscle at rest burns calories - fat does not.

Strength training done right is nothing but beneficial for the ladies. Don't be afraid of it. Embrace your inner athlete and enjoy becoming a strong woman.

For top strength and cardio training in Utah, see Mat the Trainer at EXL Fitness in Orem.

Is HCG Safe?

Well, I chose this protocol after realizing that miscarriages would bring on a large drop in my weight. I've been pregnant about 7 times, and given birth 5 times. HCG is the same hormone released by a pregnant mother. It is what is tested for in pregnancy tests.

HCG is used in fertility treatments at far higher doses than are used for the protocol. Releasing weight doesn’t require nearly as high a dose. Using a homeopathic reduces the dose to the "magnetic fingerprint".

I'm often surprised at people who are afraid that this is bad for them somehow. All I can figure is that they are poorly informed. You see, HCG is nearly a cure for obesity. The medical establishment would like to keep that quiet - because the diet industry is a multi-billion dollar part of the economy. When that much money is involved, someone is going to come up with a bunch of specious arguments about the safety of this product and overlook the extant studies that proclaim its efficacy.

HCG, used properly, is very safe. Just follow the protocol. And yes, I recommend the homeopathic, since there's no mixing involved. It is every bit as effective as the injections

To purchase HHCG, please contact me. I can get you a screaming deal.

Loading Days

When you follow the HCG protocol, the first 2 - 3 days are spent doing something totally counter-intuitive. They are loading days.

The first 3 days of taking HCG, you load up on fats. Lots of fats. Literally - you gorge until you're sick, and then you gorge some more.

It seems bizarre to start a diet by gorging on high fat, high calorie foods, but there is a method to the madness. You are going to be eating NO fat at all for the rest of the round. You'll be living on lean meats, veggies, and small amounts of fruit and breads. And I do mean small.

Loading does 2 things. One is that it signals the body that it is OK to release bodyfat, as you're providing all the fat it can use. It prevents the body from going into starvation mode while the HCG is building up. Another is it curbs hunger, which will be vital the first few days of the protocol. If you don't load properly, you're going to have a terrible time with the round. (Ask me how I know. :/ )

You want as much good fat as you can possibly eat. Avocados, full-fat dairy, olive oil, butter, high fat nuts… I always took the opportunity to work through my fast food addiction by eating out as much as I could and eating things that would totally gross me out normally. I'd eat Wendy's and McDonald's till I thought I was going to be sick, and then go eat ice cream, and put sour cream on everything.

If you load properly, you'll REALLY look forward to the first day of the very low calorie diet (VLCD). It'll be a relief NOT to be eating.

I will be loading the weekend of July 4 to begin VLCD July 5.  Anyone want to join me?

Doing better

I weighed in this morning at 159.0, which means I lost .8 pounds since yesterday.  Sugar seems to be the culprit.  Well, carbs in general.  I have to be very careful with carbs.

It seems that french fries, bread, pasta, and sweets have found a home on my body.  Right on my midsection.  Ice cream doesn't seem to bother me, but perhaps that's because it's mostly fat, and less carbs.

I'm tickled that the out-of-control spiral seems to be stopping.

How to begin with HCG

The first thing to do is to get your supply in.  I can't help with ordering or mixing information - I thought it was too difficult, so I opted for the homeopathic route.  You can purchase HHCG from me for $40 per bottle.  One dose in the morning, one at night.

The next thing is to get your mind straight.  WHY do you want to lose weight?  Just for looks?  For your health?  Are you prepared to spend three weeks on a very strict protocol with no cheating?  (I'll discuss cheating later.)  I've tried to do rounds under great emotional pressure.  It does not work.  I do too much emotional eating!  That's not to say that crises won't happen while you're on protocol, but I think spending some time preparing yourself mentally and emotionally is beneficial.  In fact, I'd go so far as to say it is vital.

Read Pounds and Inches.  And then read it again.  And print off the page with the list of allowed foods.  Pounds and Inches is your guide to your journey.  It's your textbook, your roadmap.  If you ask me questions, I'll refer to it.  (I love answering questions.  It makes me feel important, LOL)

As you read P&I, keep in mind that it was written in the 50s.  Some of the information in it may be dated (it is no longer necessary to avoid personal grooming products or makeup, for instance).

Look for HCG friendly recipes.  Some that claim to be HCG friendly are not.  But you'll want to be able to shake things up a bit from time to time.

Ask questions!  I'm offering support through this blog for anyone on any fitness and nutrition program, especially HCG.  Comment, and ask, and get the answers you need for success!

Still gaining...(Emotional Eating)

And I'm not happy about it, either.  Not. Happy.

It's emotional eating.  I know exactly what it is.  It's anger washed down with Little Debbie Swiss Rolls and Bavarian Cream Eclairs.  Frustration garnished with Big Macs and french fries.

Emotional eating. 

When I'm on protocol, I become very, very aware of how much I stuff emotion with food.  One of my friends has pointed out to me that I do stuff my emotions.  It wasn't till I got in a fight with my (now ex) husband one night, and found myself at the Wal Mart check out ("Just give me the eclairs and no one gets hurt!") shoveling down those frozen treats and not tasting them that I really got it.

Some people suffer from depression due to anger turned inward.

Me?  It's obesity. 

M&Ms as medication.  Ice cream as antidepressant. 

Recognizing it is the first step.  The second step is holding yourself accountable.  That's what I'm hoping to do here.  It's going to be a personal and emotional challenge to continue to post my weight every day, along with both my triumphs and my defeats. 

Let's get through this together!

It's 'DIE' with a T on the end!

I never go on diets.  Really.  Hard to believe if you are aware that I've been using the HCG protocol to lose fat quickly, but it's true. 

I want to change my lifestyle. 

The term "diet" to me means some sort of harmful fad - the Cabbage Soup Diet, the Dolly Parton Diet, the Atkins Diet, the Diet Du Jour.

So what makes the difference for me?

The HCG protocol is done in short "rounds".  21 days is the minimum round. 40 days is the max. It is followed by another 21 days of stabilizing, and 21 days of maintenence.  Ideally (and I recommend) you use this time to shake the McDonald's and sugar addictions.  For 21 - 40 days you release weight, and then you replenish your body. 

The protocol is also supplemented with a hormone shown to be efficacious in helping the body release fat.  Ihad previously noticed that I lost a lot of weight immediately after a miscarriage - 60 pounds in a summer.  The grief from the miscarriage killed my appetite, I avoided McD's (fast food is one of my weaknesses), I walked around the block at lunchtime.  I'd been doing those things for a long time and didn't lose - when my body was flooded with HCG I did.

When I first heard about HCG, I thought, "I can do anything for 21 days!"

If you follow the protocol exactly, you'll release the weight quickly.  I believe it is vital to follow up with good health, fitness, and nutrition habits. 

This isn't a "quick fix" or a "magic bullet."  It's simple, but not easy.  But in conjunction with all the other things I'm sure you've been doing to lose weight, it can certainly seem like the answer to a prayer.

Not doing so well this weekend....

I fell off the wagon a little this weekend - weighed in this morning at 159.0 pounds!  I've got to get my head straight or I'm going to have an awful time getting this weight off.

I am convinced that a lot of weight gain is emotional.  It's so easy to do a lot of emotional eating when you're not really hungry, and that's where I've been the past week or so.  Time to straighten myself out!

Water! Do you drink enough?

Most people don't.  In fact, water is one of the most important nutrients we can consume!  It's so easy for me to drink copious amounts of Diet Coke and forget all about water.

Our bodies are about 70% water.  We can survive for quite some time without food, but only a day or so without water.  Water lubricates our joints, keeps our skin soft and youthful, and carries waste products out of our bodies.  Like, you know, extra fat.

Some people dislike drinking water because they don't want the "water weight."  If you haven't been drinking enough water, some annoying side effects will develop, like the need to pee every few minutes and some water retention or bloat.  The great thing, though, is that as your body realizes it's finally getting - and staying - hydrated, those side effects go away.

If you like coffee, tea, or sodas, water becomes more important. Caffeine is a diuretic, so the water you lose to drinking caffeinated drinks must be replaced.  If you enjoy alcoholic beverages, you can avoid a hangover by drinking plenty of water with them (as well as after your binge).

So sip on water throughout the day.  If you really hate your water plain, float some lemon slices in it.

Your body will thank you.

Accountability and Weight Loss

My first round on HCG, I did lose an average of a pound a day.  My boyfriend, Tim Boone, was a huge support at that time.  He'd ask me what I was permitted on the protocol and took me to restaurants that would cater to my needs.  He travels a lot for work, so I'd text him every morning with my loss of the day. 

Accountability is important for any venture.  If I don't show up for boot camp, Mat texts me to let me know that he noticed, and he checks with me to see if I've done my cardio. 

That's really part of the reason for this blog.  I need to hold myself accountable - to the entire Internet, if need be! - so that this next round will be as successful as the first one was. 

I actually *want* to run!

This is exciting to me!

I've hated running since I hit puberty.  Loved it as a kid - I remember running all over the playground in elementary school, enjoying my body.

Then puberty hit.  Running started to hurt.  (No sports bras in the early 80s.  No good ones for women who need them in the 21st century, for that matter.)  And it became a job.

You know, once something becomes an obligation, the fun runs right out of it.

Well, since I've been working out regularly, Mat makes us do some running.  Not a lot.  Not distance.  But some.

I started doing wind sprints with my kids.  I run as hard as I can from my driveway to the next one, and then walk to the next one, then run, etc.

You know what?

It's fun!

It feels good to use my body again!

It feels good to outrun my kids - regularly!  Except Jared.  He's 7.  He cheats by running back and forth in front of me so I can't pass him. We end up laughing so hard, that's a workout all by itself.

Trouble stabilizing

I came off my last round about 2 1/2 weeks ago, and I'm having trouble stabilizing my weight.  I think a lot of it is due to extra stress plus failure to work out, plus emotional eating.  I'm doing a steak day today, but I also desperately want sweets.  Even straight sugar would fix the craving.  I keep telling myself that all I have to do is get to bedtime.  

I've gained back about 5 pounds since ending my round, which is disappointing.  I plan to begin loading for a new round on the 4th of July, This past shot I cheated all the time - a Pop Tart here, a cookie there - and I'm finding that it does make things much harder to stabilize now.  Hopefully holding myself accountable will help.

Where I Started in My Weightloss Journey

I started working with EXL Fitness back in August of 2009.  At that time, I was pushing 200 pounds. Not quite there, but close enough to make me nervous.  My size 14 clothes were getting to small.  I didn't have the idea that I was grossly overweight - but I also knew my health was on the line.

That first boot camp work out kicked butt - mostly mine.  I worked with Pam Gover, and was startled to see how weak I had become over the 8 years of my now-ended marriage.

When I was single, I worked out all the time, sometimes twice a day, every day, and was very active and athletic.  With 2 kids born during my 30s, I didn't have the stamina to do what I had done in my 20s.  I was unhappy in my marriage, and ended up sleeping all the time, dragging around the house, and choking down my misery with Bavarian creme eclairs.

After working out a couple of months, I was getting stronger, but I didn't feel like I was losing pounds like I wanted to.  So on October 24, I began using a homeopathic HCG.

When I started the drops, I was 190 pounds, size 14, and had a waist measurement of 34" (and that was with my gut sucked in as hard as I could manage).  I remember being just devestated when I took my measurements because when I was younger, my CHEST measured 34", not my waist!  I knew I had a tummy, but I kept excusing myself saying it was from having kids (I have 5, 4 by c-section).

As of today, my waist measures 28", and I am 155.  I'm so excited about my success (yes, I still have 20 - 30 pounds to go) that I want to share it with you....what I did, what I'm doing, and how you can achieve the same thing. 

It's entirely doable.  It isn't an easy fix.  But if I can do it, you can too.

Calories in, Calories Out - Is It True?

I was reviewing some sites about HCG, and came across the same (stupid) statement over and over.

"If you just eat less and exercise more, the weight will come off."

"Anyone will lose weight on 500 calories a day."

No, and no, not necessarily.

The human body is far more complex than that.  I can - and have - eaten less than 500 calories a day, and GAINED weight. 

I work out three days a week, and live an active lifestyle.  I eat right (for the most part) and exercise.  You'd think I'd be rail thin!  But I'm not - I'm still 30 pounds overweight. 

We hold on to fat for safety and security.  We hold onto fat because of hormonal changes in the body.  We hold on to fat for a lot of reasons that may not be related to what we eat! Stress will cause us to hold fat.  Louise Hay said in her book "You Can Heal Your Life" that fat is a layer of protection against the outside world.  It can be resentment and anger held in the body.  As you work through the issues involved, the weight will come off.

Thyroid problems can cause us to hold on to fat - regardless of our calorie intake.  Menopause - every woman knows that the older she gets, the harder it is to lose weight!  - causes women to hold fat due to hormonal changes. 

The kind of calories may matter.  I have consumed 500 protein calories and lost weight, and then 500 carb calories and gained.  A high protein, low carb diet tends to work for me.  It may not work for others. 

And .... I cannot stay on a 500 calorie a day diet without HCG, not for more than a few days. 

But, as always - your mileage may vary.  If you're rail thin and that comes easily to you, don't hate those who have such a hard time releasing fat.