Catchin' Up!

Lots to talk about…..

Not a lot of time!

LIFE is interrupting my blogging time! Does anyone else have that problem?

First of all, I need to bring you up to date about the hCG diet. Without taking time to look for my form thingie, I’ll just give you the facts, along with the pros and cons.



I started Saturday before Mothers’ Day (I think) and my weight was 248. I had hoped to drop 24 pounds by Memorial Day, which was a little unrealistic for me, even with hCG. I did drop to 234, for a 14 pound loss and I lost 10 ½ inches.


I felt great most of the time. There were two days, I thought my blood sugar was dropping too low, so I ate a little more….an extra apple, a little more lean meat. In doing so, I found that rather than sticking to two meals and keeping my calories near 500 a day, I did better, breaking it into three smaller meals and trying to keep the calories under 700.

This allowed me to add an extra “meal” about 4:00 pm, when I would feel like I was going to “crash” and it prevented me from over eating once dinner was ready.

So, I think like anything else, you have to tailor this for the individual.

I was never really hungry! I did have the munchies….old habits die hard. I did cheat a little. I mean, this covered the time between two holidays and one family birthday, equaling three major family cookouts. When I did cheat a little, I felt like I had eaten an elephant! I mean, it would be like eating two peanut M&Ms and feeling like you had stuffed the whole (economy size) bag in your mouth. I am still very conscious of what I eat, which is a new concept for me. LOL

I also noticed my hair and skin have a healthier appearance and my nails grew like crazy! So that is a plus. Another plus, doing without sugar and grains, I seemed to have starved out the yeast in my system. No yeast infection! Yea! I did a ionic foot cleanse last night and you should have seen the nasty stuff that came out of me. Yuck! I should have taking pictures....not that they would have been pleasant to look at.

Over all, I will most likely do this again. When I get close to my desired weight, I will try to stick to the protocol, since this also makes changes in how the body reacts to food, as well as helping you to lose weight.

On to other things…..lots going on! This past Sunday was the first day in over two weeks we didn’t have extra chillins! And I mean….extra! Instead of the normal 4, we have been running anywhere from 8 to 11 (when they are all here), plus distant cousins from the next farm over. Sunday and yesterday, I tried to blog, but I just “crashed” – sat in the garden, read and slept.

The garden is all planted for now and we are already picking radishes and eggplant. I have a little transplanting to do (mostly herbs), but other than that we are through with the planting until we start putting in fall crops.

Today, we are back to having three extra kiddos, plus we are babysitting DD#1’s two dogs. She and her husband will be cooking for church camps for the next two weeks.

On the agenda here….I am going to clean the a/c filter today and clean out the large deep freeze. Can you believe corn will be ready to start putting up in about three weeks?! Honey Hunk is talking about putting the pool up. I know the boys will be HAPPY! It will take a day or two, as we need to move things around and do some leveling ….but that will keep the guys busy!

For breakfast there is fresh cantaloupe, egg salad and beef smoked sausage, along with lots of coffee and apple cider! Help yourself, then come on out to the shop and help me unload the freezer!

I am going to try….definitely try….to post again this evening as well as visit some of you. I have missed you so much! I even dreamed about some of you and your families!

Besides, I love posting the “Daybook” post….it keeps me focused …..gotta try and get that done.

Have a beautiful, fruitful day!

Blessings,
Cheryl

Memorial Day Challenge ~ Week 3

This Memorial Day Challenge is brought to you by Sandy. You can visit Sandy at A Working Mom's Joy. Thank you, for doing this, Sandy. And I promise, no nagging this week.;-)

Memorial Day Challenge - Week 3

Weigh In Day: Saturday

Starting Weight: 248

Challenge Goal: Loose 24 lbs (I know, it is a lot in a short time. Keep reading!)

Week 1: May 8 - 248

Week 2: May 15 - 239 (Tada!)

Week 3: May 22 - 236

Week 4: May 29

Not as dramatic as last week, but (since I finally found my tape measure) I am happy to report I dropped 7 1/2 inches!

I know, I didn't drink as much water as I should have this past week. I am going to work on that.

I did exercise a little, which helped my over all mood.

As for the effect of the hCG:

I am no longer having the headaches that I was plagued with the first few days. And I did start taking potassium, which has seemed to help in a number of ways - less muscle cramps (I was already taking magnesium), resting better at night. And the real plus is, I am not having any cravings. I went to town yesterday with DD#2. She was hungry, so we stopped and she ate a cheese burger, chips and pop and I was fine with water. Not even a chip!! Before, I would have at least eaten a couple of chips without thinking.

There were two days, I didn't watch what I ate as carefully as I should have. Not that I really over ate (for me anyway), we just had too much going on and lots of company. By the time I cooked for everyone else, I just grabbed a little of whatever. Notice, I said little.....no huge helpings or going back for more.

At this rate, I probably won' make my goal, but it was a little unrealistic to begin with. I will be in a better place than I was at the start. Overall, I am thrilled with the results of the hCG....and another thing, my hair and nails seem to be growing like crazy!

This week I am going to work very hard at drinking more water. I have restocked with lots of fresh fruit and lean meats. I think we will have a reduction in "busyness" now that school is out, which will make life much easier on me, thus reducing my stress and the temptation to just eat something, because I am too exhausted to care.;-)

I am going to work at adding more exercise.

I am going to focus on positive thoughts, rather than negitive.

I am going to choose LIFE.

Be blessed!
Cheryl

Memorial Day Challenge - Week 2

(sorry, this is all running together; blogspot is having one of its spells this morning.)

This Memorial Day Challenge is brought to you by Sandy. You can visit Sandy at A Working Mom's Joy.

Shabbat Shalom! And good morning to everyone! I am in a good mood, as it is NOT raining or STORMING this morning. It is cloudy, but I am thankful for a break in the weather.

Okay, here's the challenge statisics:

Memorial Day Challenge - Week 2

Weigh In Day: Saturday

Starting Weight: 248

Challenge Goal: Loose 24 lbs (I know, it is a lot in a short time. Keep reading!)

Week 1: May 8 - 248

Week 2: May 15 - 239 (Tada!)

Week 3: May 22

Week 4: May 29

I am excited! The hCG is working for me!

I finally found my tape measure, so later today I will take my measurements and I'll be able to actually note the loss in inches next week.

I promised I would do this in front of "everybody" and report my true feelings, in order that all of us could discover a little more about the hCG effect on the body. So here is a review of my week:

Obviously, last Saturday and Sunday were a snap. I was told to begin taking the hCG (6 drops, under the tongue, twice a day) and load up of food. You can tell from my weight, this was a concept I am quite familar with. Saturday evening we cooked hamburgers and Sunday we enjoyed fried chicken.

True to what I had heard, I was not hungry Monday. As a matter of fact, I had that ick feeling. HDifficult to describe, as I wasn't sick, I just didn't think I wanted anything. Tuesday was a little different. I wasn't hungry, but I "wanted" something! This lasted through Wednesday evening. I also experienced a slight headache both Tuesday and Wednesday, similar to when you go off caffeine. Since I was allowed coffee and tea, I think the headache may have been a combination of sugar "withdrawls" and lack of sleep (due to storms).

I talked to Pam and she suggested that I take potassium, she also suggested L - Glutamine.

I had potassium on hand, but I didn't have L-Glutamine.....other than I have a bottle of Bragg's Liquid Amino Acids. From all I've read, L-Glutamine is great for hunger cravings and it also helps break down fat so it can be burned by the body. Cinnamon will also deminish cravings.

By Thursday, the cravings left pretty much on their own. (I had experienced same the thing years ago on Atkins - the first three day were always the most difficult. And Thursday was my 4th day of eating only 500 calories.)

My energy level also picked up on Thursday and I felt wonderful! Yesterday, was also good, but I had to run errands all day and I didn't plan ahead for that. I was away from the house from one until after seven last night. The boys were with me, so of course they wanted to stop for something to drink, ice cream and something to eat. I bought them milk shakes at Sonic and I got a lime ice (I figured that was "safe").

The bad news was, Wal-Mart about did me in. It was our last stop and by the time we finished, I was dragging. I ate lunch before we left the house, probably about 11:30 and I didn't think to take an apple (or something similar) with me. Also, I should have grabbed at least one bottle of water somewhere along the way. Since I was dragging, we had the garlic chicken from the deli, along with salad for dinner last night. And I was ready for my serving of chicken! (I know it wasn't cooked according to the diet directions, but at that point I didn't care.)

Today, I feel great! I wish the sun was shinning, but nice weather will return soon!

Believe or not, I am happy on the 500 calories a day. I am thinking most likely, our ancestors came closer to eating 500 calories a day, than today's American diet. Also, while we have never used an over abundant amount of preprocessed food, I am glad I am movng away from so many preservatives and chemicals.

My daily routine goes something like this:

Upon getting up, take my first 6 drops of hCG

Put the coffee on

As soon as 15 minutes pass (from when I took the drops), I drink the juice of one lemon in a glass of water with a few grains of sea salt.

Then coffee (surprisingly, I am actually drinking less coffee)

Mid morning, I have either an apple or an orange

Lunch is 3 oz of lean beef or chicken (one day I had cottage cheese and strawberries)

Late afternoon, I have an apple and about an ounce of protein

Dinner, is 3 to 4 ounces of lean beef or chicken, along with celery, onions, cucumbers or sliced tomatoes. I can have mustard greens and lettuce, but just haven't yet.

Also, there is a soup recipe that is allowed, but I haven't made it as of yet. (Wish I had known of it during the first three days.)

Lots of water and 2 to 3 glasses of tea

It's pretty simple, I just have to make sure the boys don't eat all the apples. I try to hide 3 or 4, so I don't run out between trips to the store! *smile*

It goes without say, anyone is going to loose weight on 500 calories a day. HCG allows the body to accept only 500 calories more easily. It also helps the body to burn the calories stored in fat and resets the hypothalmus, so your metabolism works like it did when you were younger. This helps to keep the weight off. The percentage of people who keep the weight off, is much higher with those who lose using the hCG.

I know of two others who are currently on the hCG diet and it is working for both, as well.

So there you have it! My report for the last week.

Praying everyone has a wonderful weekend and a blessed week starting Monday!

Whether your Sabbath is today or tomorrow, rest and renew yourself in HIM.

Blessings,

Cheryl

Want To Get Healthier? Leaner, Meaner - JK on the last one

Memorial Day Challenge – Week 1

Weigh In Day: Saturday
Starting Weight: 248

Challenge Goal: Loose 24 lbs (I know, it is a lot in a short time. Keep reading!)

Week 1: May 8 -248

Week 2: May 15 -

Week 3: May 22 -

Week 4: May 29 -

I am joining Sandy from A Working Mom’s Joy in her Memorial Day Challenge. If you would like to take part, just go by Sandy’s and leave her a comment. It is wonderful when we can be an encouragement to one another.

My battle of the bulge is a long and boring story. I have never been accused of being skinny at anytime in my life. I once heard someone say, "If it wasn’t for dieting, they would be a mountain." Yeah, me too!

A few years ago, I lost 70 lbs. first on Atkins and then on the (no) white diet. Both diets are excellent, but for some reason (age?) this time around I have experienced a difficult time getting started and staying focus. I could explain all the reasons why or why not, but that isn’t what this post is about ~ may another time.

Anyway, today I am beginning a new journey. After much prayer and pondering, I started taking hCG this morning. As the days and weeks follow, I will record my journey here. There are many pros and cons to this method of dieting, but I truly feel that it is right for me.

HCG works by resetting your hypothalamus. Therefore, once the deed is done, there is a much better chance you will not regain the weight you work so hard to loose.

I have much to tell you and a lot of information to share, but it will have to be done over a period of time and in several posts. I am hoping to set up pages, so just one area of the blog can be devoted to health & weight issues. Once the pages are set up, I will post pictures and share any weight loss tips that I find work for me.

By the way, my final weigh in date for this phase is on hubby’s birthday. How cool is that?! He is always happy when I do something positive to enhance our over all health and my weight loss. ;)

If you have questions, just ask in the comment section and I will try to answer you as best I can. Whatever progress I make or do not make will be for all to see.

Blessings,
Cheryl

5/8 Got up at 6:30 and took the first dose of hCG. Today and tomorrow are “load up days” or “pig out days”. No kidding! Who starts a diet and then is forced to eat all they can the first two days? They say, if you do not do this, you will be extremely hungry the first week.

Okay, okay. You don’t have to twist my arm! This will make Mothers’ Day dinner a lot easier tomorrow! Ha!

It is now 2:00 p.m. and already I can tell a mild difference, in that I am not “wanting” everything I see, even though I am suppose to be eating like a pig. It is a little cool today, much makes drinking my water a little bit more difficult, but I am working on that.
~more later!