I Lost 10 pounds in 3 Days on the hCG Diet

Imagine my surprise when I got on the scale this morning and saw that after 3 full days of dieting, I had lost 10 pounds!I had technically been on the diet for 5 days, but remember the first two days are fat loading days. You eat whatever you want, and don't weigh in. I started on Thanksgiving and ate anything I wanted for two days. Even though I wasn't supposed to weigh in, I did anyway. I wanted to see if I had gained anything over those two days. As it turned out, I didn't. As a side note, I wasn't too surprised about that. It seemed as though no matter what I did - unbridled feasting or severe fasting, I never gained or lost anything, even before this diet.

I've been in dire need of a head start. Some way to lose the weight quickly so that I can keep it off. I just can't stand being hungry. I have an emotional attachment to food. I literally get choked up emotionally if there is something that I want to eat and I can't have it. I can't explain it, that's just how I am.

In the past, I had used the original formula of Trim Spa with great success. The appetite suppressant curbed all of my cravings. The only problem is that the main ingredient in the formula was outlawed at the peak of my cycle, and the sudden interruption caused all of my weight to come back. That was probably 5 or 6 years ago and I have been heavy ever since.

I know I can keep the weight off, I just know it. I just need a little help getting to my goal weight so that I can manage it. The hCG diet has a very strict menu, but the success that I am having has motivated me to stay on track. I am still having an emotional reaction to food, but I am nurturing my own will power and I haven't cheated. I won't cheat.

I would do anything to lose 10 pounds in 3 days. I would lick the floor at the mall to lose 10 pounds in 3 days. If all I have to do is say no to cravings and take hCG drops, then I will do it. What I won't do is starve myself all day to lose 1 pound every week. I need to see results faster or I get discouraged. 10 pounds in 3 days! That puts me 25% of the way to my weight loss goal in less than 10% of the length of the diet.

I Lost 8lbs in 2 Days on the hCG Diet

Did you see that? Today I got on the scale first thing this morning, shut my eyes and said a prayer. I was hoping above hope to have lost at least 2 pounds. When I looked down at the scale, I saw that I had lost a FULL 3 pounds! That makes a total of 8 pounds over two days!

I am so terrified of not seeing results that I spent some time doing a mild work out. When I say mild, I mean it. I walked in place for about 30 minutes at a brisk pace, about 4.0 mph. So, I walked about 2 miles while I was doing my dishes and cleaning my kitchen. Hey, I can't ever seem to find the time to work out, so I have to get creative and multi task. If I don't work out while I am doing something else then it won't get done.

Today I had my regular skinless chicken breast for lunch. This time I cut it all up and put it over two cups of spinach with vinegar instead of dressing and some salt and pepper. It was nice to feel like I was eating a little salad for lunch. I'll probably do the same thing for dinner, and I think that I will most likely eat an apple in the evening.

As, far as working out, I did a little dancing while I was getting ready this morning. At first it wasn't meant to be working out, but then when I realized I was moving around, I decided to kick it up a notch. I know that diets usually start off strong and then plateau. I really don't want that to happen to me so I am going to do whatever it takes to get skinny FAST

I'm on The hCG Diet: Day 4

Holy cow, I lost 5 pounds in one day! I weighed myself after work last night and the scale said I had lost 2 lbs, but I shrugged it off as a fluke and crossed my fingers that the scale would read the same in the morning. When I got on the scale this morning it said I had lost 5 pounds! That's 3 extra pounds overnight! I think it may just be the initial shock response from my body at the start of a new diet.

Today was exactly the same as yesterday, except that it was my day off. I think that being home made it harder for me to stop thinking about food. I felt hungrier today and almost broke down and cheated - almost! I didn't cheat, I held fast. I had the same meals as yesterday, but today I ate 1 of my 2 allotted apples. I'll tell ya, an apple never tasted so good! I was starving, and that apple really hit the spot. I ate it right before getting into bed, and in 15 minutes I'll take my last set if drops.

I am sooooooo hoping that I will lose 2 pounds before I weigh myself tomorrow. I am supposed to lose at least one, but I am trying to set high goals for myself. I hope I don't get disappointed.

hCG Diet: Day 3

So, it's my 3rd day on the hCG diet. This is my first actual day that feels like dieting. I have been taking the drops for the last few days, but today is the day that the limitations come into play. Today for breakfast, I had a glass of water that made me want to puke. I don't know if that is because of the drops or if it was because it was earlier than I would normally consume anything other than coffee. After I had my water, I had about 8 oz of hot tea. That was pretty gross too, which was strange because I normally enjoy tea very much. Again, I'm not sure it was the hCG, it could have just been me.

So far I have had mild hunger pains. The instructions say to increase the number of drops you take each time if the hunger pains are persistent. I just waited a few minutes and they went away. For lunch I had a small piece of lean white meat and some cucumber slices with vinegar, salt and pepper. I drank 32 oz of unsweetened iced tea and I'm sure that played a big part in how full I felt after such a small meal.

I had the same thing for dinner after work. I've been using a George Foreman grill and it works really well for draining the grease. I'm not supposed to have any oil or grease because the hCG will burn that first before it consumes my stored fat. For that same reason, I can't even use lotions or make up with oil in them. It's pretty intense. If I cook lean ground beef, I have to rinse it under water after it's cooked to be sure that all of the grease is gone. I feel like it's just so much easier to stick chicken in the Foreman.

I'm feeling pretty hungry, so I've been taking the drops four times a day instead of only three. It seems to be helping me. I'm excited to weigh myself tomorrow. I'm supposed to be 1-2 pounds lighter!

I Started the hCG Diet

A few months ago I blogged about a new diet trend called the hCG diet. Even more recently I have decided to give it a try. I started this diet two days ago. That's right. I started this diet on Thanksgiving. The reason is because the first two days of this diet are "fat loading" days. A few hCG drops under the tongue before you eat, and for the first two days, you can eat whatever you want; the fattier, the better.

After two days of blissful fatty eating, the hard part begins. A "Very Low Calorie Diet" referred to as the acronym VLCD. I mean very low. As in 500 calories a day low. There are also some pretty strict rules on what you are allowed to eat on the VLCD. The rules that I am following were put in place by an obesity specialist named Dr. Simeon. Apparently it works miracles so I am going to follow it.

I should probably caution you as the pamphlet cautioned me, a VLCD of 500 calories per day would not be possible if you were not taking hCG. It would be very dangerous, I would assume eating disorder level of dangerous. You would lose muscle mass and be weak overall. 500 calories is not enough to sustain someone who lives a normal lifestyle at all.

hCG causes your body to use what Dr. Simeon refers to as "abnormal fat"; or, the fat that shouldn't be there. The spare tire, the back roll, the thunder thigh. Those things are going to Be the fuel that your body would normally get through consumed calories. Supposedly, I am going to lose 1-2 pounds per day over the next 44 days. That means in just over a month, I should be at my goal weight. With such small portions for each meal, I should also have a smaller stomach and so I will feel full on less food. That will help me keep the weight off. It's still going to be up to me to build the discipline that it takes to maintain my new weight.

So, according to this diet, by tomorrow I should be one lb lighter and on my way to getting skinny

Pier 1 For The Holidays

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pier 1 Imports. All opinions are 100% mine.

When I was a teenager, my best friend and I would window shop for hours in our local Pier 1 store. We had always planned to move in together when we grew up and we would walk the store selecting furniture and decorations for each room in our imaginary house. We would pick dishes and flatware, furniture and decorations.  We had different tastes, so of course our imaginary house had about 50 different rooms.

I still love Pier 1, and have even furnished my house with some cute nesting tables that I found on sale there. My tastes have changed over these many years but one thing remains the same, there is something for everyone at  Pier 1 . They have so many styles for the everyday, as well as some uber cute things for the holidays season as well.

Each year, I like to buy a special Christmas ornament. I get one for myself and one for Caleb also.  My goal is that he will have at least 18 very special ornaments by the time he moves out so that he will be able to decorate his first Christmas tree with them.  The goal for myself is to have a tree with personality that reminds me of each of the years that came before it.  Pier 1  has a great selection of original and fantastically priced ornaments.  From cutesy to elegant, as I said before, there is something for everyone.

Seasonal decorations, especially tableware, has got to be my biggest weakness.  I love candy dishes shaped like peppermints and mugs that look like chubby snowmen.  I love the cheery season and the bright colors that we decorate our homes with during Christmas.  My collection od decorations is growing and I am finally having to take down some of my year round decorations to make room for some very special Christmas pieces. My new favorite Pier 1 item, and next on my list of things to buy are the snowflake place mats that are available online.

I would love to have a fully decorated house so that I could do some holiday entertaining.  This is the first time that Shawn and I have lived in a house that is big enough to even have people over. Since Caleb's birthday is in December, we usually do have some people over, but it's not the same.  I want to have a full on Christmas party.  Finger foods, decorations, Christmas Carols and board games; the whole nine yards.  I love entertaining and I love the holidays, so I think it would be natural for me to love holiday entertaining especially.

Newegg Promo Codes

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and that means something very special for the shopper and the retail worker in me... black Friday is almost here. I have only once in my life woken before the sunrise and stood in line to get black Friday deals. It was exciting, I got a great deal on something I really wanted, and I would rate it overall as being worth it. However, I don't think I would do it again.

Why shop black Friday when you can shop my real favorite shopping day - Cyber Monday. Cyber Monday is the Monday after the Thanksgiving weekend when electronics websites typically offer their best deals.

When I am out and about in the retail stores doing my shopping, I always consult with my iPhone to be sure I am getting the best deal. I scan the bar code in one app to read reviews on the product, and another to see how much the same item is going for online. I'm able to make a decision in a few minutes, and I can avoid having to shop around.

Shopping on Cyber Monday is totally different. You don't have time to shop around even if you wanted to. You are competing on a limited supply of inventory with the entire World Wide Web. You have to act fast and trust you are getting the best deal before the product runs out. The benefit is that nearly every website has special promo codes either already in effect, or special for Cyber Monday.

If you're shopping for electronics, you're probably already planning on visiting Newegg.com. Whenever I shop online, I always check for Newegg promo codes before I go to check out. You can just click any of these links to look for Newegg coupons and be sure that you are getting the best deal on the web. Many times, you can get free shipping, and sometimes you can get a percentage off of a particular item. I'm a fan of asking my sales person what kind of deal they can get me, but with my Newegg promo code, I can just take care of the special discounts myself.

Zappos.com

I first discovered Zappos.com about 5 years ago when I was shopping for some super cute work shoes that i simply couldn't find in my size. I googled the name of the shoes and found them on Zappos.com for less than they were charging at the mall. That's all it takes for me, I was instantly sold. I remember being impressed with how quickly I received my new shoes, and since then I have been using Zappos.com pretty frequently.

A couple of years later, I was looking for a wallet to match a Roxy purse I purchased at the mall. Where did I find it? On my favorite shopping website, Zappos.com. The website had either grown into more than just shoes, or I had never noticed the name brand links on the page that lead to different items like bags and clothing. Zappos.com totally came through for me again and I won't soon forget it.

This year for Christmas, I am going to buy myself some presents. It might seem wrong, but I don't think that anyone else is going to get me anything, and there are a few things that I really want/need. All of the girls at work are sporting new handbags from the outlet malls. While I really want/need a new bag, I don't think that I want to fight the crowds on black Friday to get a deal. I'm browsing the selection at Zappos.com right now and they have great prices and an amazing selection. I like to think that all of my shoe purchases have helped them build their site into what it is today.

There are so many awesome name brands on this website! They have Adidas, Vera Wang, North Face, Teva - you name it! All different brands, styles, prices... there is everything you need here to get your Christmas shopping done in one swoop! Shopping online isn't just for therapy anymore! Now it is more productive and efficient than ever because of the success of Zappos.com - unofficially due in large part to my repeat business!

Birthday Party Planning

Party planning for Caleb's 3rd birthday has begun! I have booked his party at a local pizza place. I will release the information about the location after the party when I write my review of this place. Which, so far, is not so stellar. Not bad enough for me to pull the party, but nothing really impressive.

He has been saying for months now that he wants an alligator cake. Except for the last few days. Over the last few days he has been saying he wants a Star Wars cake. Except for today. Today he says that he wants "little cakes" (cupcakes) with alligators and Star Wars. I think I can accomplish that.

The nice thing about having his party at an establishment is that I don't have to do any planning. I don't have to worry about making food, or planning activities. We are eating pizza made by the part place, and we are playing on their bouncy house or whatever play structure they have over there... I'm not sure, I've never been there.

That's right, I have never been there. Caleb has gone with his grandparents and he loves it. It was no surprise to me that he wanted to have his party there. Every time he goes there for dinner, he talks about it for weeks afterwards. He is so excited about his party being there that he has been telling anyone who will listen that he is going to the pizza place to turn 3.

Boudreaux's Butt Paste Really Works

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

<p>Caleb’s potty training is going very well, thanks for asking.  He is still having trouble getting the poop in the potty, but his pees are at 100%!  Even though he is pretty much potty trained, I still keep a tube of Boudreaux's Butt Paste in his bathroom drawer.  Caleb has very sensitive skin; he always has.  It doesn’t take much to irritate his little bottom. 

<p>Last weekend, we drove to Seattle to visit with friends and check out the Harry Potter Exhibit at the Pacific Science Center.  In order to make the drive a little easier, we left early in the morning .  We were hoping to avoid traffic, and allow Caleb to sleep most of the way there.  Since he was asleep, I had him in his diaper for the car ride. 

<p>All of that time in the car and in the diaper was pretty rough on him. I was sure to bring along our tube of Butt Paste.  When we got to Seattle we met up with friends, and I changed him into his underwear.  I was also able to put the Butt Paste on him.  I wouldn’t have done this with other diaper creams.  The Butt Paste is easily cleaned off, and doesn’t stain clothing.  It also has a pleasant smell, unlike other diaper rash creams.  I did the same thing on the way home, and we were able to avoid any discomfort whatsoever. 

<p>My son’s comfort is so important to me.  Why would I want him to suffer at all?  My son’s comfort is important to Boudreaux's Butt Paste too.  It was recommended to me by our pediatric nurses when Caleb was born, and also by his doctor after we took him home.  It works quickly and effectively, and that’s what matters the most to me.  I want to know that when I am doing something to help keep my song clean, healthy, and happy, that those things are exactly what are going to be accomplished.

<p>If you’re not completely convinced, then you can try it yourself for free.  You can stop by the Boudreaux's Butt Paste website and claim your free sample today.  Or you could just invite me to your baby shower .  I always include a tube of Butt Paste with every baby shower gift that I give!

Earn Your MAT Degree Online

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of 2tor. All opinions are 100% mine.

<p>I’ve been considering going back to school and completing my degree.  I’ve mentioned it on this blog several times.   One of my friends from high school is my dentist and another is a geologist – that’s right, a scientist.  Still another is a middle school math teacher at the local school.  She will probably be my son’s math teacher.  It can be disheartening to look at the people around me and see the achievements they have made.  While I am excited to see them succeed, I am also a little sad that I feel I haven’t.  I know that I haven’t reached my full potential yet.

<p>The USC Rossier School of Education’s MAT at USC can change all of that.  Not just for me, but for anyone.  They are offering current educators and even aspiring teachers the opportunity to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree online.  If I ever did finish up my degree and then decide to go for a Masters of Arts in Teaching, I would have to learn online.  I would need the flexibility of an online or distance learning course in order to work while I complete my degree.

<p>Flexibility is a must, and the groundbreaking tuition reimbursement program is the icing on the cake. Another huge must is the ability to get it all done quickly.  With this accelerated program, you could have your Master of Arts in Teaching in as little as 12 months.  That is just one year until you can take the next step in your life. 

<p>Rossier and the MAT@USC were awarded by AACTE for innovative use of technology in education.  While the program does obviously use technology to get you in touch with your classmates and your instructors, they combine online learning with field-based experiences.  There is also a Technology video that introduces the interactivity of the program.  You can find more program information here.

<p>After you have completed the program, you will have your Master of Arts in Teaching from the prestigious USC, and be a part of the USC Trojan Family. So, you’ll be able to rock those fancy USC alumni license plate frames.  You’ll be a part of the proud history of this university whish has over 100 years of educating teachers to be agents of change.

Which Baby Formula is Best?

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

<p>When I was pregnant with Caleb, I had planned on breast feeding.  I had these lofty goals of exclusively breast feeding for the first year.  There were some women in my church who were doing it and it seemed to be going pretty well for them.  If motherhood has taught me anything,it's how to catch a curve ball. Caleb was born just a couple of weeks early, and he was only 5 lbs 6 oz.  his placenta had become detached from the uterine wall and he had not been receiving enough nutrients.  Therefore, he could not wait for my milk to come in, he needed to be supplemented with formula.  the hospital had some free Similac to give me and so that is what I used while I was there.  When I went home, I had the same brand of formula stashed in my closet pantry.  I had receive 4 full cans of it free in the mail. I continued to supplement Caleb with formula, but he mostly breast fed and sometimes went several weeks without formula supplement.  I thought we were doing just fine... then another curve ball.  

<p>My milk production was unable to keep up with Caleb's enormous appetite during a growth spurt when he was 6 months old.  I started feeding him rice cereal and without the constant nursing, my milk just stopped.  Caleb had formula for the next 6 months. I kept buying the Similac because it was the only thing I knew about. I wasn't prepared to buy formula. I didn't have a budget for it, or any knowledge about it and I felt like I was stuck. I bought the Similac at Costco so I could get a better deal, but between that and the diapers and the wipes, I was really breaking the bank.

<p>If I had only stopped to think.  Where did all of that free formula come from?  If every woman with a baby in the hospital was given as much free formula as i was, who paid for it?  Companies who give things away like that don't do it without expecting a return.  I was reading an article today about name brand vs.  store brand formula.  I had never thought about it before but all of those "free" samples drive up the costs of name brand formulas.  All formulas have to adhere to minimum nutrition standards, and so you aren't skimping on nutrition when you get a store brand formula.  That's not to say that all formulas are created equal, but it's wise to understand what you are paying for.

<p> Some estimate calculate your savings as high as $600 a year if you use a store brand rather than a name brand.  If you think that name brands are a high quality than store brands, you may want to think about this.  Many Simliac formulas, the very kind that I fed Caleb, were recalled last month.  There was apparently a chance that the affected packages contained a small beetle that could cause upset stomachs in little babies.  Now, an upset tummy may not sound like much, but no one wants to see their baby suffer unnecessarily.  On top of that, a tummy ache for a baby can mean a long and sleepless night for mom and dad.  And to add insult to injury you fed your baby a bug!

<p>I'm a believer that "the Breast is the Best", but I also believe that you should be educated on all of your options .  So, if you are pregnant or nursing, then I suggest you look into what kind of formula you would feed to your baby if the need should present itself.  

 

Wedit! Wedding Videos

I was kicking around the web today and I heard about a new way to do wedding videos. My wedding video was SO important to me, but we didn't have a lot of money to get it done. We ended up paying more than we wanted to for a video so terrible that it is practically useless. One of our relatives, who is known for not being able to control his children, did just that. He let his kids stand up in their chairs and fight with each other in front of our only cameraman. We couldn't afford to have the video edited and so we just bought the raw footage, which was horrible. The sound was bad, the video was bad, and we only had one point of view the entire night.

With Wedit, I wouldn't have had any of those problems. Wedit is a Do It Yourself type of Wedding video option. You contact Wedit and they send you 5 handheld High Definition video recorders. You choose which of your wedding guests are going to be your videographers, or let your guests pass around the cameras all night. With 5 cameras and countless points of view, you're bound to end up with hours upon hours of wedding footage.

The next step is to drop the cameras into a postage paid box and send it back to Wedit where they will upload all of your footage for you. You can then edit it all yourself, adding background music and special effects, or they will handle the details with your input. once the video is complete, you get 5 DVDs (I only got one!) and unlimited digital sharing online! You can post your Wedding Video to Facebook! Imagine the possibilities. If you're getting married anytime soon, you should check out Wedit to preserve your memories!

Sicky-Poo

I've got a terrible cold that is just kicking my rear! I am exhausted! Fortunately, Caleb is well... but that means that he has just as much energy as ever, and I am left feeling wiped out before the day even really starts. Oh what I wouldn't give to go bacjk to the days when he had two naps a day. And I am not even going to think about when he had 3 naps a day.

Don't get me wrong, Cal is a great kid. He is very obedient and caring and he wants to be good. He is pretty understanding of the fact that I don't feel well, but he still wants to play and wrestle. One thing that has been helping us get through this are his new love of board games. Shawn and I picked up Chutes and Ladders at Toys R Us, and my mom got him Candyland. We are able to sit and play the games pretty quietly. I am still interacting with him, but it's pretty mellow.

Right now I am trying to get him to take at least one nap today. I am in my bed wishing he would settle down. I am always afraid to sleep before him now that he is older. He has always been a little explorer, but now his exporations include the forbidden land of the kitchen counter, the inside of the fireplace, and the garage. The downside to having a smart kid is that he gets bored easily and he knows how to unlock doors.