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.