Back in action-

Monday morning bright and early. Started my day with a 6am workout. Quads and Abs! And started right back on my no sugar no starches. Sugar with drawl wasn't nearly as bad as I had expected it to be. In fact, I wasn't hungry much at all on Monday & Tuesday so that was good- usually I turn into a carb crazed psycho after a weekend of carb craziness! But not this time. We went to IHOP on Sunday with some friends and it was SO disgusting that I didn't even eat it- wasn't worth the calories! I was wishing I had stayed home and made my carb-quick pancakes & Jimmy Dean Turkey Sausage, SO MUCH BETTER!!!


I am still having some hormonal issues though. Ever since I had my baby (6 months ago) I've had a hard time with regular cycles and that's frustrating when you are trying to lose/maintain weight. I believe hormones are a big issue in weight loss! I am going to call my nurse today and discuss my recent "issues"... But I won't bore you with the details. I hope we can get this straightened out so I can continue STRONG with my diet/weight loss goals!

So I'm still just here... hanging out in maintenance. This morning my friend and I were talking about doing a popular workout program known as Px90 but I'm scared! Ha! I'll keep you posted on what we decide!

Keep HCGing it!

Sugar! Carbs! Starches! Sugar! Carbs! Starches!

Ok, I'm not going to lie. The last 24 hours have been filled with SUGAR, CARBS, & STARCHES! SUGAR, CARBS, & STARCHES!... But how often does a girl turn 30? Yep, yesterday was the big Birthday! It was fabulous!!! we had a great dinner party with about 12 couples and had some really good food! (including mashed potatoes that were so yumm!) Everything tasted really good and I didn't allow myself to feel guilty! I gave myself a 24 hour pass! And it was wonderful! And I will be back to business tomorrow! No sugar and no starches! The best part? Everyone told me how fantastic I looked! (that sounded really conceded) And what's better than that- I finally felt it too! (and that sounded even more conceded!- geezz!) I know I'm not as "skinny" as I was 2 weeks ago when I was on my last days of HCG but I have been lifting weights and working out and I can really tell that I'm toning up! I feel great and I feel strong! And even better- I'm not starving!

So now I need to come up with a new "plan of action!" I have been really happy with the no sugar/no starches thing and I think that's what I'll stick with! And I will continue to workout every morning with my BFF. I do need to come up with a short term goal/something to work towards. Whether it's fitness related like doing 5 unassisted pull ups or running a 7 minute mile? (although I really hate running.) I need to think of some things to work towards. What I REALLY need is a vacation to work for but I just don't think I'm ready to leave baby and if I took her it wouldn't be much of a vacation. Maybe I'll just buy me a sexy swimsuit for the summer and work my trash off so that I dare wear it to the neighborhood pool! Any other thoughts?

I better get in bed. I am so tired from my 24 hour carb crash! I kinda wanna barf- but I kinda wanna eat more cake! Ha! Carbs are so controlling!!!

Keep stopping by to witness the insanity!

More Questions!!!

Hi, I just came across your blog. I am having a super hard time on maintenance (well I am done with it now) but I have such a hard time staying away from carbs and sugars. I try to have them very little, but it seems like that is what I crave. Like you said up above, I am HUNGRY all the time. But you said you still don't eat sugar or carbs. Do you have any suggestions on things you do eat to not feel so "empty" about missing out on the carbs? I feel like my whole day is a battle in my head with what I should eat and not eat. Its so frustrating, especially when I have worked hard to get weight off and now its just this much harder.Sometimes I just want a doughnut or a peanut butter sandwich ya know! Any way, any helpful suggestions would be great. Like you, I have gone back to working out hard core. I have the energy for it and am right back up in my strength, but I still really struggle throughout the day with the carbs thing. I am nervous I am going to undo all my hard work :( Please e-mail me at (edited for privacy) or ust post on your blog because I will check again. Thanks so much :)

First of all- Thanks for stopping by! I'm always happy to have new followers! Yeah, carbs are the devil. No, just kidding- but they are a tricky little thing. For me, the key is to find "carb like items" that fill you up. Like the carbqick that I have mentioned before. There is a lot of fiber in that so it really sticks with you for a while. And only 2 net carbs. So as an example of my day I will start with 3-4 carbquick pancakes (made with egg whites & sugarfree hazelnut coffee mate) and turkey sausage. total carbs: about 5... Then for lunches I have been having cheese crisps using L/C torillas (Santa Fe makes a l/c flour tortilla that is to die for & only 4 net carbs!) with 2% cheese on top. You can add chicken, maybe some sour cream, salsa, whatever. It's so good! Sometimes I'll eat a salad or a "un-which" from Jimmy Johns (sandwich using lettuce leaves instead of bread!) And for dinners kind of the same things. I like to have turkey peperoni with 2% cheese (kinda like a pizza) and I have also found L/C bread. Most of the L/C items I have found have been online- although I did find the tortillas at the grocery store. Don't forget that you can have some fruits and veggies too. Jump online and google low carb fruits or veggies. I don't know what I did before "google!" Hang in there. And don't think of it as "being on a diet" but rather making lifestyle changes. It will get easier. Find a few little "sugar free treats" to get you through the rough spots! Like Jello w/whipped cream topping and s/f candies! Good luck! Keep up the great work!

Answers for you, Lisa Loo!

Lisa, You are doing great!!! I can't imagine 6 pregnancies! I've done this (gained/lost the weight) about 4 times in my life (3 pregnancies) and that is enough, huh!

I did NOT exercise while I was doing HCG other than doing Pilate's a couple times a week but nothing major- nothing compared to what I'm doing now. I didn't feel like I had the strength, you know? It's weird 'cause HCG gave me a lot of energy, but NOT strength- it's so hard to explain to people who are not on the diet! Especially because I felt really really good on the diet. And yes, I do feel like I lost muscle. Especially towards the end when I was down under my goal weight. But that was kind of my plan all along. Lose as MUCH weight as I can so that when I started working out and lifting weights again I wouldn't freak out about putting a few pounds back on (as long as it was lean muscle)! And even though I have only been back at it a couple weeks I can already tell that I'm toning up. My BFF who I workout with said she was really surprised at how fast I was able to get my strength back- I'm lifting what she's lifting now and she did a body building comp last fall so that's good. It does "come back!" And like I said, I'm not weighing now. Lifting weights and working out in the morning has put my metabolism into high gear and I am SO HUNGRY during the day so I am definitely eating more (still no sugars or starches) but really have not seen a difference in the way my clothes are fitting. Everything is still good.

I'll probably take my blog in a different direction now that I'm not doing HCG- and will probably not do it again anytime soon. Maybe turn it into a fitness/health/maintenance/strength training blog- that might be kinda fun!

Well, I'm off to the gym. Please let me know if you have any other questions! I love "helping" people on the HCG diet! And I totally relate to how you are feeling. After Cambria was born (6 months ago) I felt like a stranger in my own body and was obsessed with getting the weight off! Even though I didn't feel that way when I was pg- I was a psycho about it afterwards. I totally relate.

Hang in there, girl! You are ALMOST DONE!!! How has the weight loss been coming? Is it still consistent? Are you still losing? Let me know! I love to watch peoples progress! You'll be eating your own carbquick pancakes soon enough and the hunger will be a thing of the past! ; ) Good luck and keep me posted!

Can you say STRESS?

Oh my gosh. I am just so stressed out right now! I just sat through Pres. Obama's speech and I am stressed out! I just worry that the economy is going to get worse before it gets better and I fear for our business and employees. Anyway- because of that I keep finding myself lingering near the pantry. Don't worry, I am not eating anything that has sugar or starches but it's been one of those days where I know I've eaten too much.

My day did start out GREAT though. My baby daughter woke up at 5 (which sucks) but I ended up just getting up and going to work out with my BFF (who is a personal trainer) from 6:15-8! It was GREAT! I absolutely LOVE having my workout over with and done for the day by 8! The downfall? I've been so hungry all day! I think it's cause we hit the weights big time this morning and worked shoulders & quads (which is a major muscle group). But like I said, I didn't eat anything w/sugar or starches but probably too much none the less.

Yesterday I did a steak day. I was pretty hungry all day but was rewarded with a fat juicy steak from Texas Roadhouse. I plan on doing a steak day every Sunday as it's the only day that I don't workout. I did a steak day last Monday and thought i was going to DIE when I did my workout. Literally. Thought I was going to die so I won't do that again.

Gotta go- baby girl is so grumpy tonight!

Breakfast of Champions!

Ohhh... I just had to drop by and share my most delicious breakfast with you. Mmmm... I made the kids waffles & mama wanted one too. CARBQUICK to the rescue! I made me 2 carbquick waffles (w/sugar free syrup), scrambled egg whites and 3 links of turkey sausage. Oh! It was SOOOO GOOD! I almost took a picture of it, but I snarfed it way too fast to find the camera!

That breakfast will hopefully help me get through my workout that awaits me at the gym! Bi's/Tri's and CARDIO!

Have a great Saturday!

Measuring up-

Ok Ladies, Here's the before & after measurements that I promised you!

Starting date Round one: November 30th '08
Ending date Round two: February 3rd '09
(2 23 Day rounds)
Breasts: 39"................36" -3"
Chest/ribs: 36"...........32" -4"
Waist: 33".....................28" -5"
Hips: 38"........................35" -3"
Lt Thigh: 24".................21 1/2" -2.5"
Rt Thigh: 24".................21 1/2" -2.5"
Calf (rt & lt): 15".............14" -1" (each)
Arm (rt & lt) 12"..............11" -1" (each)

Total inches lost: 24
Total lbs lost: 25

I have to tell ya though- I'm not feeling all that confident in phase III today. I don't know why- I just feel "fat". I was SO hungry today and yesterday that I probably ate too much. I didn't eat sugar or starches but probably too much none the less. I just feel like my body is putting weight back on. No, I didn't weigh this AM, my muscles are SO SORE from working out & lifting weights that I KNOW that I'm up from water retention (remember, sore muscles indicate water retention in effort to heal themselves) so I just didn't need that frustration on top of everything. I guess all I can do is my best and hope that I don't put weight back on. I'll probably get the measuring tape out in the AM just to make sure things are staying the same. It's crazy 'cause it's like unless I am STARVING I don't feel thin. Weird, I know.

I've been trying to find more information/blogs from people who have successfully maintained their weight loss long term from the HCG diet but haven't had much luck which is scary- it seems like every ones' blogs just STOP out of the blue w/no long term updates. Sketchy.

OK well- Thanks for stopping by! Gonna go play with my tiny baby!

Scaling Back-

So I KNOW that you are "supposed to weigh every day" during P3 but lets face it, all my personalities can't handle the stress of daily weigh ins! i have been fluctuating about 1-2 lbs so I've made an executive decision that I am going to scale back on the weigh ins. Maybe once a week.

P3 is going well. I think. I am doing the low carb thing. Trying to stay under 30-40 carbs a day. This morning I made low carb pancakes with my CARBQUICK (like bisquick but like 12 times more expensive, yikes!) and they were SOOO GOOOD! My 4 yr old daughter snarfed them up too! W/a little butter and sugar free syrup (which btw gives me a stomach ache like 4 hours later) they are so yummers!

Another reason for scaling back on the weigh ins is the fact that I have started lifting weights again. And I KNOW that I haven't put on 2 lbs of muscle in 4 days but here's a fascinating fact that I was not aware of: Muscle retains water while it repairs itself from trauma (lifting weights/exercise) If your muscle is sore then that is a good indication that it is retaining water in effort to repair and build itself. Helloooo---- My muscles are SO SORE! I made the mistake of thinking I could pick up where I left off 3 months ago... I was wrong. And PS the HCG diet claims it 'only burns fat and you don't lose muscle'. I'm going to have to call BS on that. I have definitely lost some muscle. But I'll get it back. I'm trying not to get too frustrated at the gym but I am certainly not as strong as i was when i started the HCG diet.

I took all my "after" measurements today and was pleasantly surprised with the results. I'll post all the #s in the next day or 2.

Plan of action: continue livin' la vida low carb! Lifting weights/cardio 5 xs a week, keeping my skitso self off the scale for a few days and paying more attention to the measurements/way my clothes fit not so much the # on the scale.

It's true what they say-

It's true what they say- Food does NOT taste the same after the VLCD! Yesterday I woke up and ate my waffles, don't get me wrong, they were good but I had imagined them SO MUCH BETTER! I wasn't very hungry at all yesterday so I didn't eat much throughout the day. And then last night we went out with some friends to celebrate our anniversary. It was a lot of fun! And the food was good (again, not great, but I think it was me)...

So now I am trying to come up with a plan of action for the next month. I will be doing high protein/low carb but I have GOT TO GET MY CAN TO THE GYM!!! I am thinking that I will do another round of HCG most likely after I get another visit from AF (which btw found me yesterday with avengeance) I met with a nurse on Friday regarding my PMS and stuff. It was good. She thinks I most likely have a sluggish thyroid and possibly early signs of insulin resistance. She also thinks I may have some "leaky gut syndrome"- I'm still researching it and trying to figure out what that is exactly but she doesn't think I'm absorbing nutrients properly. SO- She gave me some stuff to help with all that. She gave me some B12 shots and progesterone cream to help with the moodiness too. Now that I won't have much to report regarding the HCG diet maybe I'll journal about the other issues I'm experiencing. We'll see. That could get Bo-Ring! ; )

PS My CHEESECAKE ROCKED!