HCG Hormone Free Round 5 Progress Update

Today is day 17 on the HCG Hormone Free Drops from HCGDiet.com. I feel great! My energy levels are fantastic, I dont feel hungry. I havent had terrible cravings. Things are just so good!

Im down 11.8 pounds! Considering Ive had 4 different days of cheats, TOM, and an incredible amount of stress at work & school within the last two weeks, Im beyond satisfied with my results. I only have 13.6 pounds to go before I reach my go for this round!

Losing pounds is extremely motivating, but inches are even more motivating because I can see the difference when I wear clothes I havent been able to wear in a long time. Finally wearing my snug-fitting, size 12 skinnies! Wooohoo! I bought them super snug back in March and they are just now fitting the way I want them to.

This round hasnt been a complete breeze. The cheat days were a bit tough to recover from, but I knew going into this round I was going to eat whatever I wanted for my boyfriends birthday parties (per his request). Even after the parties were done, the temptation lingers, but I am trying my best to put my goal at the top of my priorities list. 

Last night I turned down chocolate covered macadamia nuts, pizza, and bread sticks. Im going strong right now, but even if I were to cheat I know that it will be OK just as soon as I get back on track. Im really trying to focus on that idea this round: moving on, not feeling guilty, and getting back on track. Ive grown to recognize that guilt is a trigger for my emotional eating. So no matter how badly I slip up, I brush it off and start fresh the next day. 

Life is good. Youre a strong individual who can only give their best. Stop spending time feeling guilty when you fall a bit short. Stop comparing yourself to others and wallowing in self-consciousness. Go out and do something amazing for yourself.

You can get the hormone free drops Im using for 40% off when you use coupon code MYHCGTRIUMPH. This is an exclusive code for my readers only! 26 day kits are less than $50! Get yours now! 

Read More..

10 Things Losing Weight Has Made Me Thankful For

The season of giving thanks has taken me over! I am completely full of thanks for such a wonderful life.

Here are 10 things Im thankful for! Share the images that relate to you. :)

1. My Health
Being overweight was always scary. Now that Ive lost weight, I have a greater appreciation for health. I am so thankful that I dont have to take medications or poke myself with needles. It truly is a blessing.

2. The People Who Make Me Feel Confident

 I am surrounded by friends and family who constantly help me feel my worth by recognizing my hard work. I have had to re-learn what it means to feel confident and I am so thankful for the people who strive to teach me.

3. A Place To Call Home

No matter how hard my day is, how down I feel about myself or how frustrated I am with not reaching a goal, I always have a place to call home. And the more I think about that, the more I realize how insignificant my other problems are compared to other things I could be going through. 

4. My Family

However dysfunctional and frustrating they may be. I love my family. They have supported me through this journey. They have dealt with my crankiness. They have been there to celebrate my triumphs. They are so dear to me. 

5. My Job 

I realize that the job market is tough, and I am so thankful to have a job and not have to be looking during the holiday season. It isnt the easiest job, but it teaches me a lot. It has helped me accomplish a lot of goals, and it pays my bills. 

6. My Car

I am so thankful to have a car that lets me drive up to the mountains to go hiking, drive down to the health food store, and take me anywhere else I need to go. 

7. My Body

Its a work in progress, but I am so thankful for the body that I have. Through improving it, I have learned to respect it. I am so thankful that its working, that its healthy and that its beautiful. 

8. Tomorrows

I am so thankful that no matter what happens, I always know that tomorrow is going to be a fresh start. No matter what the scale says, I can do better tomorrow. 

9. Endorphins

I am so thankful for the feeling that exercise gives me. I am so thankful that endorphins help me feel satisfied, accomplished and happy after I spend time challenging myself physically. 

10. Access to Healthy Food

I am so thankful that I have access to food, and not just food but healthy food. I have so many choices and so many ways to fuel my body. I recognize that having such an abundance of food is truly a blessing. 

What are you thankful for?

Read More..

10 Ways to Boost Your Confidence

They say we are our toughest critics. Just another cliche youd seen plastered on a scenic stockphoto on Pinterest, right? Maybe, but cliches are usually true. I know that Im my toughest critic. I expect myself to be a certain weight, exercise 3 or more times a week, have awesome hair, get a 4.0 in school, be a rock star at work, not to mention be the best friend, daughter and girlfriend my loved ones could ask for. Writing it all down like that seems like a lot, and really it is because the truth is sometimes I go a week without running, sometimes I go 3 pounds over my target weight, sometimes my hair is frizzy, I might fail a test, and more frequently than Id like to admit, I drop the ball on a commitment with a friend. And sometimes when its all too much and I feel like a failure standing at the bottom of my mountain of expectations, I just need a little confidence boost.

Here are ten things that always seem to give me the confidence to keep meeting the expectations I have for myself:

1. Get Ready

Yup, its that simple ladies. Wake up, take a shower, do your hair and put your face on. Pick out a cute outfit and accessorize. And then... take a selfie and post it on Facebook or Instagram. Show the world that youre proud of who you are! Even though wearing yoga pants and putting your hair up in a sock
bun seems tempting, youll feel better if you spend more time on yourself. It completely sets the tone for your day.

2. Exercise

Ive blogged about this before, but basically Exercise = Endorphines, Endorphines = Happiness. Go for a walk, turn on some music and just go. You can jog, you can run, you can kick box, Zumba, or rock climb, it doesnt matter. Just go do something you enjoy even if its only for 30 minutes. Taking care of your body will always make you feel confident.

3. Make a To-Do List and do Everything on it

Theres something magical about a to-do list. I love writing a list of things to do around my apartment on Sunday mornings. Each task I cross off my lists makes me feel more and more accomplished. Its a good way to stay organized and get a lot of stuff done!

4. Paint Your Nails

This is my go to! I am constantly painting my nails. Its almost therapeutic for me. People seem to compliment my nails frequently and it makes me smile. Compliments are always appreciated. If youre not good at painting your nails yourself, go get a mani! Make yourself feel pampered. By taking the time to do something for yourself, youre reinforcing the idea that even though you have a million things going on, you deserve some time to relax and do something nice for yourself.

5. Make a Small Change

Cut your hair, form a new healthy habit, set a goal for work, color your hair, apologize to a friend. Make a small change that feels like a step forward. It doesnt have to be major, it just has to be a gesture of progress and commitment to your goal of being an awesome individual.

6. Do a Detox

Is it just me, or is it completely impossible to feel confident when you feel bloated? Sometimes your body just needs a little break from the toxins in artificial sweeteners and process food. I love the way I feel when Im doing a detox. I feel fresh and revitalized, but best of all I dont feel groggy and bloated. My favorite way to detox is by drinking Lemonade Diet and eating clean. Lemonade Diet is a cheap and effective way to detox, and all you do is drink it twice a day.

 7. Get a New Outfit

Sometimes a new pair of jeans and a cute top is the perfect way to boost your confidence. When Im on a tight budget, I like going to Forever 21. I can usually find a cute outfit on clearance and spend less than $40! Saving money and looking cute? Yeah, thats awesome and definitely worth smiling about.

8. Dish out Compliments to others

When we are able to recognize the good in others, its easier to see the good in ourselves. Try to find something you can compliment on for each person that you come in contact with (even if its with the girl in apartment #208 who steals your Victoria Secret Coupons). I am a firm believer in positive energy and that the more of it you put out, the more of it you will get in return. Think of this one as investing in your bank of confidence. You pay out a compliment and in return you will have more positivity in your life!

9. Do a Service Project

I feel good when I help other people. My favorite way to volunteer is serving breakfast at the homeless
shelter in my area. It only takes a couple hours, but its infinitely rewarding helping people who truly need it. Its a humbling experience that helps me recognize the blessings in my life. After I leave the shelter, it almost seems selfish to feel down on myself. After all, I have a job, warm place to stay and food on the table each night. Being too critical of myself is a waste of energy. That energy should be focused on helping others, not a pity party. There are hundreds of opportunities you can get involved with visit your city, church, or community center website for information.

10. Get out of the House

I know the weather is cooling off and all you want to do is curl up and watch the latest episode of New Girl by yourself with a pint of cookie dough ice cream, but this setting can make even the most popular person feel a bit lonely. I know how hard it can be to resist that temptation after a long day of work. But just try to get out of the house a couple times a week after you clock out. Go to an arcade with a friend, start your Christmas shopping early, go to the gym, go to a karaoke bar with your girls, go on a date! There are hundreds of options, just make sure you try to find a place where you can have fun, meet new people and enjoy new environments. Its a good reminder that theres life beyond television.

Read More..

10 Signs You Need a Fresh Start

When was the last time you took a few moments to do some a self-inventory. Not like a counting freckles, or hairs, but a nitty gritty introspection sesh? When was the last time you examined your habits and your moods and really thought about how youre doing. If its been a while, you may be missing the blatant evidence that its time for a fresh start. Sometimes when we are stuck in a bit of a rut, it can be pretty easy to miss the 10 signs that you need a fresh start. Let me break them down for you:

1. You would categorize or mood as kind of, "eh." You dont really find yourself passionate about anything.
2. You dont feel like your normal self. Youre not sure whats up, but you know that a couple weeks ago, we were not feeling like this.

You feel indifferent about most of the decisions you make.
3. You would rather sleep than spend time with loved ones. You and your bed are pals. When you get home you just want to lay in your bed and tell it about all of your problems.
4. Nothing makes you feel motivated anymore. You know you should workout, but you dont wanna. You know you should probably shower, but you dont wanna do that either. And laundry? Yeah... probably should... but no. All motivation = GONE.
5. The ones closest to you keep asking what is wrong. Your family thinks youre a little depressed. They keep asking you how you are and if everything is OK. Your response is usually, "Im fine. Just been tired."
6. Your confidence is in the toilet. You look in the mirror and you just arent feeling in. So, theres no point in getting ready, because that too is something youre just not feeling.
7. You feel insecure about your decisions. You put a lot of thought into choosing simple things like what to have for dinner and what to watch on Netflix, and then when you do make a choice you still arent sure if it was the right one.
8. You feel like running away from all of your problems. Your ideal situation would be a vacation for you and your friend Bed far, far away where no one can reach you. Preferably somewhere that doesnt require money, or bills, or other general life activities.
9. You realize youre not on track with your 5 year plan. This is not where you wanted to be with your life. You were supposed to have your dream job by now. Whats wrong with you? Your plan is totally ruined.
10. You feel like youve maxed out your potential. You cannot see yourself getting passed this. Youll be stuck here forever. All of your potential is maxed out and this is where you level off.

Even if only two of these apply to you... Its time for a fresh start. You need to re-vamp your life.

So how does one just start fresh? You cant just run away and sleep forever, and as good as that sounds it wont make any of your problems go away. Here are some suggestions to help you feel excited about life again and slowly start climbing out of the slump youve been camping in:

1. Start with gratitude.If you really stop and think about it you have a lot of amazing things around you. Set an alarm on your phone that will go over every day at the same time. Open up a memo app on your phone and write down 13 things you are grateful for and do this every single day. Seeing how awesome your life really is can be just the right push to get you living it to the fullest extent.

2. Watch this pep talk from Kid President. He is a pretty cool kid with some big ideas on getting out of a slump.

3. Make a list & reward yourself when everything on that list is done. Write down everything you need to do that day, and then write down what you get when its all done. So maybe when you shower, do laundry, and finish that report for work you get to take a break and watch a couple episodes of your favorite show. This will help you start getting things done so you dont get overwhelmed by tasks.

4. Do something for your body. Dropping a few pounds or even just doing a detox can help you regain some of the confidence youve been lacking for awhile. Try doing the Lemonade Detox. No need to change your diet, all you do is just drink the drink and reap the benefits.

5. Get outside. The weather is warming up and its time to spend less time inside and more time soaking up the sun. Go for a jog, go play a round of golf, or even go lay outside and read a book. You need some fresh air and some Vitamin D. You will feel better physically and mentally when you step away from the couch and when you step outside.

6. Reconnect with some friends. If youve been putting off hanging out with your friends, its time to reconnect with them and start surrounding yourself with people who make you laugh.

7. Cut down on naps, but still get your 8 hours. If you sleep too much, you actually feel more tired. If youre getting more than eight hours of sleep per day, its time to cut down on the naps. You are training your body to want sleep that it doesnt really need and in return it is making you more tired. Before you know it, your over-sleeping has got you caught in a cycle that makes it hard for you to get anything done.

8. Start dreaming & planning. If you arent where you want to be, change it. Simple as that. No one is going to change it for you, its up to you. Start dreaming again. Then start planning out way you can make that dream a reality. Sign up for a class at the local college, Read a book on investing. Whatever your dream is, start working toward it.

9. Surround yourself with motivating things. Find a happy post, rummage through old pictures and find your favorites, or turn on some happy music. Surround yourself with things that remind you to be better and things that inspire you to stay positive.

10. Lighten up. Dont take everything so seriously. Life is good and its worth living. All you need to do is decide that as of this moment, this moment right now, you are going to start fresh.

Read More..

JULY 10 WEEK 121 RESULTS

I tracked my food five days this past week on Fitday.  Here are the averages of what I ate:

I take my full measurements every Sunday.  In the past week:

I lost a total of 1/2", which includes:
I lost 1/8" around my neck
I lost 1/8" around my bicep
I lost 0" around my bust
I lost  1/8" around my midriff

I lost 0" around my waist
I lost 0" around my navel
I lost 0" around my hips
I lost 0" around my thigh

I lost 0" around my calf

Lost 0.000 points onto my waist-to-height ratio

Lost 0.000 points onto my waist-to-hip ratio

 Gained 0.2 points onto my body fat percentage

Lost 0.2 points off my lean body mass percentage

Gained 0.7 lbs. of body fat

Gained 0.5 lbs. of lean mass
Gained 1.2 lbs. on the scale

Here is what I have lost so far, since starting to lose weight in February 2009:

A total of 35.875", which includes:
Neck - 13.75" to 12" - down 1.75"

Bicep - 12.5" to 10.75" - down 1.75"

Bust - 39.5" to 36.25" - down 3.25"

Midriff - 33.75" to 31" - down 2.75"

Waist - 35" to 31.875" - down 3.125"

Navel - 41.75" to 35.875" - down 5.875"

Hips - 45.5" to 39.625" - down 5.875"

Thigh - 25.75" to 22.375" - down 3.375"

Calf - 15" to 13.5" - down 1.5"

BODY COMPOSITION

TODAY

12" neck
31.875" waist
39.625" hips
0.506 waist-to-height ratio
0.804 waist-to-hip ratio
35.3% body fat


AT THE BEGINNING OF WEIGHT LOSS 2/22/09

13.75" neck
35" waist
45.5" hips
0.556 waist-to-height ratio
0.769 waist-to-hip ratio
44.8% body fat

Since my heaviest weight in February 2009, I have lost 1.75" around my neck, 3.125" around my waist and 5.875" around my hips.  I have lost 9.5 percentage points on my body fat. 

ONE YEAR AGO

12.5" neck
31.125" waist
40.5" hips
0.494 waist-to-height ratio
0.769 waist-to-hip ratio
34.8% body fat

In the past year, I have lost 0.5" around my neck, I gained 0.75" around my waist and I lost 0.875" around my hips.  I have gained 0.5 percentage point off my body fat.


ONE MONTH AGO

12" neck
30.75" waist
38.875" hips
0.488 waist-to-height ratio
0.791 waist-to-hip ratio
33% body fat

In the past month, I have gained 0" around my neck, 1.125" around my waist and 0.75" around my hips.  I have gained 2.3 percentage points on my body fat.

ONE WEEK AGO

12.125" neck
31.875" waist
39.625" hips
0.506 waist-to-height ratio
0.804 waist-to-hip ratio
35.1% body fat

In the past week, I have lost 0.125" around my neck, 0" around my waist and 0" around my hips.  I have gained 0.2 percentage points onto my body fat.


MY NEXT GOAL

12" neck
31.625" waist
39.625" hips
0.502 waist-to-height ratio
0.798 waist-to-hip ratio
35% body fat

To achieve this, I need to lose 0.25" around my waist.

MY ULTIMATE DREAM GOAL

11.875" neck
26.125" waist
37.25" hips
0.415 waist-to-height ratio
0.701 waist-to-hip ratio
25% body fat

To achieve this, I need to lose another 0.125" around my neck, another 5.75" around my waist and another 2.375" around my hips.

If I reach this goal, I will have lost 1.875" around my neck, 8.875" around my waist and 8.25" around my hips since February 22, 2009.

Read More..

THE MODIFIED VIRGIN DIET DAY 10

Yesterday, I completed Day 10 of The Virgin Diet.  Or is it really The Virgin Diet?  Read on...

MY SYMPTOMS

• Acne -Yes - One new zit
• Chronic mucus/stuffy nose - Yes, but improving
• Constipation and/or diarrhea - Yes, but only right after my breakfast shake
• Fatigue - No
• Food cravings - No
• Gas and bloating - No
• Headaches - No
• High blood glucose - No - In the low to mid 80s all day, even after eating
• Inability to lose weight - No - Starting weight 147.8 - Current weight 145.2 - Goal weight 136 - To get back to goal, need to lose 9.2 more pounds.  Can still button "measurement shorts" with a slight "muffin top".  Lost 0.6 pounds yesterday for a total of 2.6 pounds in 10 days.
• Insomnia - Yes - Woke up in the night one time and had trouble going back to sleep
• Joint pain - Yes, but somewhat improved
• Limp, lackluster hair - Yes
• Muscle pain  - No
• Nausea - No
• Swollen fingers - Yes - Having trouble getting my rings off in the morning

WHAT I AM EATING

Yesterday, I ate like this, which was right on target:

133g fat (78%)
57g protein
28g carbs

For breakfast at 5:00 am, I had a shake that was comprised of coconut milk, water, non-dairy protein powder, raw greens, frozen berries, a few drops of Stevia and 2 tsp. of cod liver oil.  I cut out the flax seed.

For lunch at 11:30 am, I had my Sunrise Cocktail, which was comprised of MCT oil, olive oil, lemon juice and a few drops of Stevia.

For afternoon snack at 4:00 pm, I had a couple of thick slices of cooked bacon and a bit of Bubbies sauerkraut.

For dinner at 7:00 pm, I had pan-crumbled-fried lean ground beef, mushrooms and onions with coconut oil, bacon grease and sea salt.  For dessert, I had a little bit of canned pumpkin with cinnamon and Stevia.

I drank 72 oz. of water, but never within an hour before eating or an hour after eating, in order to not dilute my stomach acid.

IS IT STILL THE VIRGIN DIET IF I DONT FOLLOW THE RULES?

I started out wanting to do the diet exactly as written, but a couple of things made me change my mind.

The first thing is that the shakes were giving me diarrhea.  Within a few minutes of drinking a shake in the morning and at midday, I would be running to the bathroom.  And even though I ate a "real food" dinner, I would still be in trouble after that, multiple times per day.  Cutting down to only one shake per day helped, but I was still having an attack every morning.

One of the things that The Virgin Diet is supposed to do is to get you back to normal so that you can tell if you start having symptoms again after trying the foods that you had eliminated for three weeks.  Well, its been ten days, and I am still running to the bathroom.  How will I know if eggs, for instance, are giving me the trots if I already have them from the shakes?

This morning, I tried a shake without the greens to see if it made a difference.  It did not.  Within 30 minutes of eating, I made my usual dash to the can.

The second thing that made me change my mind about doing the plan to the letter was the fact that the amount of protein and carbs I was eating was elevating my blood glucose.  My normal BG, fasting or postprandial, is in the low to mid 80s.  Not too long after starting The Virgin Diet as written, with higher protein and carbs than I am used to, it started creeping up until it was in the high 90s.  There was one time it was in the low 100s, if memory serves.

So I decided to continue the elimination part of the diet, but changed my fat, protein and carbs back to the way I was eating when I was in Nutritional Ketosis.

One of the reasons I wanted to try it as written was that the book says that the real reason people cant lose weight is food intolerences.  I thought it might be possible that, if I got rid of any intolerences I had, I might be able to eat a little more protein and carbs without gaining weight again.  Eating more is always good, in my book!  But I stopped eating the high FI foods, and still did not really lose weight until I cut back on the protein and carbs.  In all fairness, I did lose the first couple if days, but it came right back a few days later.

MY MODIFICATIONS TO THE VIRGIN DIET

1. I am going to ditch the shakes altogether.  I am going to JERF (Just Eat Real Food) for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Yes, it will be more labor intensive than throwing together a shake, but I will make up for it by not spending a good portion of my time each day in the bathroom.  The downside of this decision is that I spent around $30 for the protein powder and only used half of it.  Sigh.

2. I am going to eat for Nutritional Ketosis, just like I used to the last time I was doing well and maintaining my goal weight.  I will eat high fat, moderate protein and very low carb.

I think that by making these two modifications, I will still be following the "spirit" of the diet and find out if I have any food intolerances.  So, off I go.  Tomorrow morning, I will not be having a shake.

If you are interested in getting a short synopsis of how this plan works, you can click on the link at the beginning of this post or you can listen to Jimmy Moore interviewing JJ Virgin by clicking here.

Read More..

6 Reasons Why Your Last Diet Didnt Work

If youre at the end of your rope with trying diets and eating programs that arent working, it might be time to face the music. You might be falling into diet sabotage without even realizing it. Diet sabotage can happen to anyone, and usually we dont realize how harmful simple ideas or words can be to our day to day actions until its too late. Here are 6 reasons why your last diet didnt work, and of course, some tips to help avoid these in the future.

You Went In Expecting to Fail

If you go into a diet program feeling skeptical of it, or feeling insecure in your ability to do it, youre setting yourself up to fail. With each new opportunity you approach, you need to feel 100% confident in the process and in your ability to stick to it.

• The wrong mindset: "Ive failed at everything else Ive tried, Im sure this will be no different. But Ill give it a try."
• The right mindset: "This time its going to work because Im going to make it work."

Your Goal Wasnt Realistic

While confidence is crucial to success, over-confidence is not. Going into a diet with the idea that its going to fix all your problems and help you lose half your body weight with a few weeks of better eating is just plain unrealistic. Its also worth mentioning that if your goal involves dropping below a healthy weight, its not realistic. Be sure to check out your BMI while you set your goal, then create a realistic timeline to help you reach your healthy weight. There will be good days and bad days, its all a process and its important to acknowledge the process when defining your goals.

• The wrong mindset: "Im going to lose 30 pounds this month and finally get down to 110." 

• The right mindset: "My goal is to lose 2 pounds per week and get out of the overweight category on the BMI chart by end of the year."

You Didnt Ask For Help

At times you might feel like youre all alone in your weight loss battle, and when youre struggling, that can be hard to deal with. The truth is, youre not alone. Even if none of your friends and your family support you, there are forums and Facebook Groups out there dedicated to supporting people who are trying to lose weight. You can always find encouragement and get answers to your questions when youre struggling. All you have to do is reach out and ask for help.

• The wrong mindset: "No one understands what Im going through."
• The right mindset: "I am going to look for people who can help support me."

You Failed to Plan

If you know you have a huge party coming up or if youre planning around a vacation, you might not want to start a diet until those events are completed. Starting a diet and having to take a break mid-way through and start up again can be really difficult. Its not impossible to navigate events, but it does require planning, including taking lunches or setting a timeline for getting back on track after the event is over.

• The wrong mindset: "Oh, I forgot I have a wedding coming up. I guess Ill just quit my diet now since Ill be eating cake."
• The right mindset: "I know I have a wedding coming up, I need to make sure I eat before I go and avoid the cake table so I can stick to my diet."

You Werent Committed

Commitment issues arent just for relationships. Committing to a diet can be just as tough as finding a lover you can settle down with. Commitment means staying focused on what you want long-term and giving up what you want in the moment. Being committed to your diet means avoiding the doughnut shop on Friday mornings and hitting the gym instead. Just like you wouldnt cheat on your partner, you shouldnt cheat on your diet. If you cant commit to that idea, then you shouldnt start a diet until you can.

• The wrong mindset: "One little cheat wont hurt."
• The right mindset: "I know I want this treat now, but I want to fit into my size 7 jeans even more."

You Werent in it for the Long Game

Its so important to remember that dieting is not a permanent fix. If you go back to how you were eating before you started the diet, youll most likely gain the weight back. Remember that once you finish your diet program, youll still need to make healthy, balanced choices. While it may only take a month or two to reach your goal weight, its going to a much longer commitment to smart choices in order to maintain your weight loss.

• The wrong mindset: "Once I finish this diet, Im going to eat a large pizza all by myself."
• The right mindset: "Once I finish this diet, Im going to make sure I plan healthy meals so I dont go back to eating fast food every night."

Have you done any of these? Remember that you can lose weight. Dont sabotage your own success and always make sure youre mentally prepared before you start. Being involved 100% in your desire to get healthy is critical for success. When you prepare mentally, youll see success physically!

Read More..