I have managed to end the week on a high note, having consistently run every morning (interval sprints, 6 rounds). If you know me, you know that I am not a runner - it's just not something I care for, probably because I always end up sounding like I'm about to have a heart attack at any moment.
I've also gone back to planning my meals better now that my round is over. See, with kids at home, I find it challenging to come up with healthy meals that are really conducive to weight loss. I just think that cooking good, homemade meals (as opposed to processed foods) is just better for you than junk foods.
So last week I sat down and came up with a menu for over a week. I created "planned over" meals (for example, planning a beef soup using the broth from a pot roast I made the previous day), and ended up with delicious meals for almost two weeks.
I really think that putting thought and planning - including planning dessert - into mealtimes will get you a lot further than doing things at the spur of the moment. We were having too many evenings where I would just grab a pizza because I could not face planning, shopping, cooking..... and then I'd have "just a slice" and there went my diet for the day.
Plan ahead - you'll eat better, feel better, and save money too! It makes it so much easier to stick to the protocol!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
Too Cold to Run
You gotta love Utah weather. We went from 75 degrees yesterday, to cold today. I am sensitive to cold, so I chose to postpone my run till tomorrow. (It should warm up.)
I'm also thinking that I should switch the time of my run to mornings rather than evenings. I get too tired and overwhelmed in the evening.
We'll see how it goes....
I'm also thinking that I should switch the time of my run to mornings rather than evenings. I get too tired and overwhelmed in the evening.
We'll see how it goes....
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Breaking Plateaus
Well, 23 days into a 40 day round and I've been on a plateau for a week and a half. I've lost 7 pounds overall, but the scale is now stubbornly refusing to budge. What to do, what to do?
1. I am going to add exercise back in, slowly and gently. I haven't been going to the gym because of mental and emotional overload, I'd prefer to work out outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine. So, now that the warm weather seems to be coming to stay, I plan to do interval walking/running for 30 minutes every evening before bed.
2. A more fun way to spike the metabolism is the cheat day. On HCG, we take our "cheats" at the beginning in the three load days. I have heard doctors and health professionals say that one "cheat" day a week helps boost the metabolism and break a plateau. I believe I can hold out and have a Saturday cheat day this week and see if that works. (And by "cheat," it will be a full-on eat-till-I-want-to-puke load day.) That's if I don't break the plateau before then. Sometimes, too, we just can't take dieting anymore. I'm hoping the "re-load" will help.
3. Add breakfast. Something as simple as a protein shake in the morning may help. A scoop of vanilla protein, a double handful of frozen strawberries, and water, and whirl in the blender. The nice thing is that it almost feels like a cheat in and of itself. Another good breakfast if you're in a hurry would be simply to hard-boil some eggs the night before and eat them in the morning. What you want in the morning is protein - it keeps the hungries away.
I can see some differences, however - jeans fitting a bit looser, tummy feeling a bit more toned - but not the differences I had expected this far into the round. Evidently I'm not doing what I need to do So....hopefully these tweaks will help me stay on protocol, and break the plateau. I'll keep ya posted!
1. I am going to add exercise back in, slowly and gently. I haven't been going to the gym because of mental and emotional overload, I'd prefer to work out outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine. So, now that the warm weather seems to be coming to stay, I plan to do interval walking/running for 30 minutes every evening before bed.
2. A more fun way to spike the metabolism is the cheat day. On HCG, we take our "cheats" at the beginning in the three load days. I have heard doctors and health professionals say that one "cheat" day a week helps boost the metabolism and break a plateau. I believe I can hold out and have a Saturday cheat day this week and see if that works. (And by "cheat," it will be a full-on eat-till-I-want-to-puke load day.) That's if I don't break the plateau before then. Sometimes, too, we just can't take dieting anymore. I'm hoping the "re-load" will help.
3. Add breakfast. Something as simple as a protein shake in the morning may help. A scoop of vanilla protein, a double handful of frozen strawberries, and water, and whirl in the blender. The nice thing is that it almost feels like a cheat in and of itself. Another good breakfast if you're in a hurry would be simply to hard-boil some eggs the night before and eat them in the morning. What you want in the morning is protein - it keeps the hungries away.
I can see some differences, however - jeans fitting a bit looser, tummy feeling a bit more toned - but not the differences I had expected this far into the round. Evidently I'm not doing what I need to do So....hopefully these tweaks will help me stay on protocol, and break the plateau. I'll keep ya posted!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Plateaus - and the Walmart HHCG
Well, first off, I need to adjust my review of WalMart's homeopathic HCG. It does work, but it tastes nasty, until you get used to it. (It's chocolate mint flavored. I didn't think anything could make me dislike chocolate mint. Eww.) Once you get used to it, it's not bad.
It does work. Did I mention that? Works just fine.
So, I've been plateaued for a week. It's been driving me crazy. Apple day helped some, but then I stalled again the next day. So I went back to that old standby that always helps me.
Exercise.
Now, Dr Simeons does not prescribe exercise in his protocol, but I suggest that you include it in your regimen if you are physically able to do so. Even if it's just a stroll around the block. Your body was designed to move, not to veg out in front of a screen. So start walking. Just gentle walking, you don't need to run or do power walks!
I would not suggest starting an Olympic training protocol while on the HCG protocol, but you do need to move.
My routine will be a run around the block. I do interval training - a 5 minute warm up, then 1 minute running and 2 minutes walking for six rounds, then a five minute cool down. However, I am used to training! I've been working out all my life on some level or another. I've worked with Olympic trainers and done boot camps, I've done a lot of weight training, and I will say this over and over.....
Listen to your body!
You may not be able to do what I do. Find something that is gentle enough for you to stick with, and then stick with it!
I'm kind of weird about working out these days, I'm so busy that I just can't stand to go to the gym and add another thing to my list. But I can manage a quick run around the block (and I do this just before bedtime, by the way). Somehow getting in the car to drive to the gym is just that one more thing I don't want to do.
So get out and move. There is so much to do!
Oh, and I dropped 2 pounds overnight after my first little run. It will work.
It does work. Did I mention that? Works just fine.
So, I've been plateaued for a week. It's been driving me crazy. Apple day helped some, but then I stalled again the next day. So I went back to that old standby that always helps me.
Exercise.
Now, Dr Simeons does not prescribe exercise in his protocol, but I suggest that you include it in your regimen if you are physically able to do so. Even if it's just a stroll around the block. Your body was designed to move, not to veg out in front of a screen. So start walking. Just gentle walking, you don't need to run or do power walks!
I would not suggest starting an Olympic training protocol while on the HCG protocol, but you do need to move.
My routine will be a run around the block. I do interval training - a 5 minute warm up, then 1 minute running and 2 minutes walking for six rounds, then a five minute cool down. However, I am used to training! I've been working out all my life on some level or another. I've worked with Olympic trainers and done boot camps, I've done a lot of weight training, and I will say this over and over.....
Listen to your body!
You may not be able to do what I do. Find something that is gentle enough for you to stick with, and then stick with it!
I'm kind of weird about working out these days, I'm so busy that I just can't stand to go to the gym and add another thing to my list. But I can manage a quick run around the block (and I do this just before bedtime, by the way). Somehow getting in the car to drive to the gym is just that one more thing I don't want to do.
So get out and move. There is so much to do!
Oh, and I dropped 2 pounds overnight after my first little run. It will work.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Apple Day
Pounds and Inches says that when you stall for a few days, you're to do an "apple day." Today, for this round, is that day.
For an apple day, you eat 6 apples. And that's it. Simeons says to cut back on fluids, too, but that's folly - I drink more liquids on an apple day to keep me from being hungry all day.
The interesting thing is that by eating just apples (even though it's the same calories!) I will drop about 2 pounds overnight.
The reason for my stall this time, is that lovely Aunt Flo has come to visit, and she has a habit of stalling things for me. So, ladies, be aware that this is a reason for a stall. (Sorry, guys, I know it's TMI, but it's also a fact of female life.)
This morning I had my water and Diet Coke. For the rest of the day, I will have my six apples. Tomorrow morning, I'll be back on the regular protocol.
Still stuck at 165.2. I'm looking forward to progress in the morning!
For an apple day, you eat 6 apples. And that's it. Simeons says to cut back on fluids, too, but that's folly - I drink more liquids on an apple day to keep me from being hungry all day.
The interesting thing is that by eating just apples (even though it's the same calories!) I will drop about 2 pounds overnight.
The reason for my stall this time, is that lovely Aunt Flo has come to visit, and she has a habit of stalling things for me. So, ladies, be aware that this is a reason for a stall. (Sorry, guys, I know it's TMI, but it's also a fact of female life.)
This morning I had my water and Diet Coke. For the rest of the day, I will have my six apples. Tomorrow morning, I'll be back on the regular protocol.
Still stuck at 165.2. I'm looking forward to progress in the morning!
Monday, March 5, 2012
Weekends....
Weekends are hard for me when I'm dieting. See, I'm single. So I date a little. Which means....restaurants.
I very seldom eat at restaurants in any case... I like my own cooking. But, it's so hard to resist all those extras when someone else is cooking! However, I stuck to grilled chicken breast, salads with dressing on the side, vegetables, and steaks.
This weekend, I am up about a pound and a half. Not too bad, really, and I'm satisfied that I can get right back on track and start releasing again.
Stats: 165.8, down 4.2 overall.
I very seldom eat at restaurants in any case... I like my own cooking. But, it's so hard to resist all those extras when someone else is cooking! However, I stuck to grilled chicken breast, salads with dressing on the side, vegetables, and steaks.
This weekend, I am up about a pound and a half. Not too bad, really, and I'm satisfied that I can get right back on track and start releasing again.
Stats: 165.8, down 4.2 overall.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Thoughts
Just some random things I was thinking of this morning:
I keep being told that if I go on a crash diet/HCG/whatever I'm going to gain the weight back. Well, DUH. If I start eating junk, I'm going to gain weight. On the other hand, I don't want to live on nothing but salad and grilled chicken for the rest of my life. How boring would it be without delicious food and dessert? Can I really never have spaghetti again? Do I even want to live like that? I don't think so. I think I should be able to have my favorite foods, being careful not to overdo it.
I love cooking. I love dessert, and feasts, and baking, pies, cheese, ice cream, Popcicles. Let's face it. Food is the center of our celebrations. I do not want to sit out of feasts. That feels like sitting out of life.
Why do so many people think they can tell me what to eat? Why is it that as soon as someone makes an innocent statement ("I like Diet Coke better than regular Coke") there are dozens of people shrieking "OMG that will make you fat!" Really? Who can tell with all the hype and nonsense? How on earth can anyone figure anything out any more between the crap that the food companies put out and the crap that the hysterical average person puts out?
It happens that I really do prefer Diet Coke to regular Coke, or even Coke Zero. I also like to drink a lot of water.
Oh, and generally, when I post here, or on Facebook, it is to offer support and tell people what I am doing that works for me. It's not a plea for help. I've paid for help before, and figured out that the so-called experts really don't know any more than I do.
So I am now following my body, doing what I know from experience works well for me, and even though I sometimes have "forbidden" foods, I am much happier and healthier than I would be trying to follow someone else's regimen. I think you have to find what works for you.
Eat mindfully, and ignore everyone else. Your body knows what it needs.
I keep being told that if I go on a crash diet/HCG/whatever I'm going to gain the weight back. Well, DUH. If I start eating junk, I'm going to gain weight. On the other hand, I don't want to live on nothing but salad and grilled chicken for the rest of my life. How boring would it be without delicious food and dessert? Can I really never have spaghetti again? Do I even want to live like that? I don't think so. I think I should be able to have my favorite foods, being careful not to overdo it.
I love cooking. I love dessert, and feasts, and baking, pies, cheese, ice cream, Popcicles. Let's face it. Food is the center of our celebrations. I do not want to sit out of feasts. That feels like sitting out of life.
Why do so many people think they can tell me what to eat? Why is it that as soon as someone makes an innocent statement ("I like Diet Coke better than regular Coke") there are dozens of people shrieking "OMG that will make you fat!" Really? Who can tell with all the hype and nonsense? How on earth can anyone figure anything out any more between the crap that the food companies put out and the crap that the hysterical average person puts out?
It happens that I really do prefer Diet Coke to regular Coke, or even Coke Zero. I also like to drink a lot of water.
Oh, and generally, when I post here, or on Facebook, it is to offer support and tell people what I am doing that works for me. It's not a plea for help. I've paid for help before, and figured out that the so-called experts really don't know any more than I do.
So I am now following my body, doing what I know from experience works well for me, and even though I sometimes have "forbidden" foods, I am much happier and healthier than I would be trying to follow someone else's regimen. I think you have to find what works for you.
Eat mindfully, and ignore everyone else. Your body knows what it needs.
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