Embrace It.

So it's almost THAT time of year again. Yes, the dreaded "V" Day! Valentine's Day. There was a time that I boycotted this holiday. Truth be told, until I found my husband I had never had a boyfriend on Valentine's Day. I never planned it that way. It just so happened, which in retrospect seems a little odd or perhaps telling? Anyway, when this overrated, over-hyped, under-wanted holiday rolled around I had decided for many years that it was a day in which I would embrace those I truly loved...my friends.

We'd get together and hit the movie theaters. We'd indulge in chocolate in the form of candy bars, popcorn, and later enjoy each other's company for wine and dinner. Never was there a mention of the lack of a "significant other", "ex's", or "dating" in general. It was more about us and our bonds. It was everything Valentine's Day was supposed to be; lovely, relaxing, enjoyable, and mostly spent with those we loved. It was easy and uncomplicated. The fact that I didn't have my own "special Valentine" did not escape me. The difference was that it didn't matter. I was happy and didn't feel I was missing anything.

This will be my sixth Valentine's Day with my husband. And while it's true, there is a different meaning I suppose because I have a romantic love for him, it's really not that different. I don't wish for roses; they die too soon. I don't wish for chocolates; (well, I DO but for caloric reasons I wouldn't). I don't even need a $3.00 card which will get stowed away with all the othe cards. What do I want? Time. Time spent with the person I love. Before you all sit back and say, "Of course you don't hate it. You have someone." Let me stop you right there. Yes, I'm thankful to have someone to love, not just for this day, but everyday. That's a blessing. For Valentine's Day however, for me, it's about love in general. Friends, pets, it's all good.

I guess the point is that Valentine's Day doesn't have to be about "lovers". It can be whatever we want it to be about. So this holiday don't shun it, don't boycott it, don't hide from it or hate it...embrace it! Grab someone or something you love - a friend, a dog, go it alone if you choose, and do whatever you enjoy. It is a holiday about love and whether you're attached to someone or not, there's always someone or something to love. Find it and embrace it.

Such a Sick Loser!

The verdict is in and yes folks, I have it - full on bronchitis! Aaarrgh! So frustrating! I'm a mom, a wife, and a student and I just don't have the time or luxury of being sick. The kicker is that my doctor informed me that bronchitis is viral which means antibiotics don't do anything at all. In other words, "deal with it". She recommended Robitussin and said that the body will fight it off. If it becomes pneumonia then they will write a perscription for antibiotics. Really? You don't say.

Not only is being sick inconvenient but I'm on this HCG diet and it makes it extra tough because I can't have cough drops or most OTC medicines because of the sugar. The upside is that I've stuck to my diet, which I am very proud. I have not once felt hungry or tired (other than the fatigue brought on by being ill), and it's been 3 days and I've lost 11 lbs! Amazing and I have energy (even for being sick) and feel pretty darn great considering.

Today I received a card from my husband that was a "Way To Go" card and he congratulated me on my progress and said he was proud of me and the efforts and successes I'm making and having and he would do anything to help me. That was gold! I'll be high on that for a week! So I sit here drinking my 10th (12 oz) glass of distilled water with lemon, thinking about how far behind this week my bronchitis has put me and you know what? It's all good. Tomorrow I'll catch up as well as Friday and Saturday.

This has been a challenging week and I can't wait to be well again. I also can't wait to get up in the morning and weigh myself. How crazy is that?!!! It's true though. It's what keeps me going and such a high to see the scale point to a lower and lower number. I have a lonnnnnng way to go. Slow and steady wins the race. Until then, I'm happy being a "loser". =)

6 lbs In Two Days!!!! Yaaaaaaaay!

A few days ago I posted that I was starting the much talked about and highly controversial HCG Diet. It consists of homeopathic drops of the Human Chorionic Gondatropin hormone and a 500 calorie a day diet. The concept doesn't sound very appealing, I mean who wants to only eat 500 calories a day? Plus if you're a "foodie" like me and seriously enjoy cooking and eating food it seems like it would be very difficult. I started the drops on Friday which doesn't count (or Saturday) because those days were "loading" days. Sunday I weighed myself and got my starting weight and measurements. When I weighed myself again Monday morning (because we are supposed to weigh ourselves every morning), I was down 2 lbs. Okay not bad but it was "water weight" I was sure. Then this morning I weighed myself and I was down 4 more lbs! WOW! So, now I'm thinking perhaps this DOES work. Time will tell. Although I'm excited to have lost 6 lbs in 2 days, I have a long way to go. I anticipate that this is not the rate that will continue for the full six weeks. If I'm still losing 2 lbs a day by day 4, then I'll be really happy. With so many different brands and formulations of HCG out there it's tough to know what works. HCG 1234 by Creative Bioscience (as shown above) is the one I've been using. I purchased mine at my local Sunflower Markets grocery store. They are available there for $49.99 which is comparable to the best on-line prices. I'll be purchasing another bottle for sure. It's not hard to follow. I have not been hungry at all. So far there haven't been any "downsides". I'm thrilled that I decided to try it. Finally something that works! How long will it work? We'll see. Stay tuned. =)

HCG Day One...

Well, I did it! I took the plunge (again) and began a "diet". Ugh! What a wretched word! Shall I say that I've "changed my eating habits"? How about that I'm "eating better"? "Making better food choices"? Yeaaaaah,...NO! Make no mistake folks, it's a diet, plain and simple! The upside is though, it doesn't "feel" like a diet so much. Oh, I did the customary logging of my starting weight and jotting down my measurements and before you even contemplate asking me for that information, let me just say these two words: HELL NO! LOL! I'll blog about my experience, but I do have some pride and won't completely humiliate myself! Sheeesh! However, should this prove successful and if I reach my weight goal of "not quite Tori Spelling but just shy of Jessica Biel", I will then gladly share all the ugly deets! Until then,...not a chance! ;D

So let me fill you in on my journey so far. It began two days ago on Friday, 2/4/11 in which I began to take the drops and had to start "loading". Loading is where I HAVE to force myself to eat as many fatty foods as I can in two days specifically chocolate, bacon, butter, basically any and everything we're told to either consume in moderation or avoid altogether. WOOHOOO!!! So I did it and you know what...not so fun. I got "permission" if you will, to eat all the craptacular foods that I wanted and I did and felt sick to my stomach, tired, and all around yucky! After an hour I just wanted some fruit but the directions are specific and strict and so I continued to "load". After two days, as expected, I gained 2lbs. (I was prepared for it as the instructions said this would occur).

Today began the 500 calorie extravaganza! I take 10 drops under my tongue 3 times a day and eat a 500 calorie diet. I anticipated that it wouldn't take long before I began to gnaw on my own fingers from hunger, however...no such thing happened. To the contrary, I have not felt hungry at all, in fact I rather enjoyed my meals.

For breakfast I had a cup of black coffee (Starbucks Pike Place, of course) with Stevia sweetner and 1 square of Melba toast - plain.

My mid-morning snack was 1 apple.

Lunch consisted of 100 grams (about 3.5 ozs) of chicken, (other options include extra lean ground beef, various fish, veal, etc.), and 1/2 a cabbage. (Only 1 vegetable choice is allowed per meal. Choices are 1 tomato, 2 cups of lettuce, an onion, 1/2 a cabbage, 5-6 celery stalks, spinach, or cucumber). I love cabbage so I adeptly crafted it into an "out of this world, beyond delicious" chicken and cabbage soup. I have to say, I even impressed me! And...I was full to boot.

Mid-afternoon snack was 1 orange.

Dinner was 100 grams of grilled chicken that I seasoned with some of Tony Chachere's Cajun seasoning, along with onion powder, garlic powder, celery salt, and pepper. My vegetable choice was 1 tomato which I sliced and seasoned as well. I am allowed another piece of Melba toast, which I will save for my before bed snack.

I feel very satisfied. I'll admit, it was hard not to lick the spoon while making fluffy, buttery, fresh mashed potatoes for my family, but I resisted. I brewed a second pot of Starbucks Verona as we are allowed as much black coffee, tea, water as we like. The only allowed sweetener is Stevia, which thank goodness tastes fine. I've drank more water today (nearly a gallon!!!) than I have in days combined! We are allowed to use lemon wedges in our water and it's been perfect for me.

So! The verdict is that 500 calories with HCG is definitely do-able and it (so far) doesn't make me feel like I'm starving at all!! The promise is 0.5 - 2.0 lbs per day! Time will tell. The hardest part? My mind!!!! I'm like a mental-sniper. My mind can kill my will without me even realizing what's happening. Am I hungry? Nope. Would I love to munch on some Lay's Potato Chips? Absolutely! Are they salty, light, crispy, and delicious? Heck yeah! Will just one really hinder my efforts? And so goes the mental warfare.

Then I remember two quotes that help to keep me on the right track. The first one is: "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels." Cliche? Sure! Cheesey? Yep! Accurate? Dead-on-the-money!! I love that because the simple fact is IT'S TRUE! Do we all have to look like Tori Spelling? I hope not, but I challenge anyone to say, "I feel better, more confident, and prettier when I've got saddlebags, a gut hanging, and my thighs rub together!" No, thin(ish) and healthy feels good!!

The second quote I love is from General George S. Patton who said, "Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one thing; you have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired in the morning, noon, and night, but the body is never tired if the mind is not tired." AMEN to that!!

And so, on this Superbowl Sunday when the world is feasting on all the deliciousness that get-togethers bring, cakes, finger-foods, chips/dips, etc...I am sticking to my guns and letting my mind run my body. I have faith in Gen. Patton, I'm trying to have faith in the diet, but mostly...I have faith in me. One day down...41 to go!!! =)