Shopping for Skinnies

I have been trying so hard to avoid buying clothes while I am in the process of losing weight. It seems like such a waste when they look loose and frumpy just a couple weeks later. Yesterday I broke down and bought a pair of jeans. Mine were getting too saggy in the butt.

I pulled a couple pairs off the clothing racks at Forever 21. I was definitely nervous when I got into the dressing room. There is nothing more discouraging than thinking you are a certain size and finding out youre actually a size larger. With a bit of hesitation, I slid my legs into the denim. They felt pretty good, but the real test was the zipper and button.

With much relief, they fit!

I am pleased to report that I have gone from a size 24 to a 14. If I am being completely honest, I think this was the size I wore when I was a sophomore... in HIGH SCHOOL.

I was also able to buy boots that fit around my huge calves. It seems like the skinnier I get, the more winter-ready my wardrobe becomes.

I hope all of you have a great weekend. Stick to your diet and you will love the changes you see in your body!

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NUTRITIONAL KETOSIS WITH FASTING FOR INSULIN CONTROL

I have had an interesting past two weeks since my last post.  The week following my last post was a normal week of three meals a day.  The only unusual day was Saturday, when I went to my grandsons birthday party and tried very hard not to eat the picnic food that the party offered!  I did pretty good, but did have a little lemon bar and a little jello dessert.  But I did not have the cake and ice cream, so I am calling it a victory!

I tracked my food every day that week except for the party day, and here is what my macros of fat, protein and net carbs looked like, along with the averages:

(click to enlarge)

As you can see, I kept it pretty ketogenic, with lower protein and higher fat, and, of course, very low carb.  On Sunday, July 26, I ate pretty much the same way, and the same on Monday.  Any time I tested my blood glucose, it was right where I wanted it.  Thats when things got interesting...

Ive been reading the blog posts and watching the videos of a doctor from Canada that I found several weeks ago.  His name is Jason Fung, and his patients are diabetics that he treats with ketogenic diet and fasting.  Fasting!  The last time I fasted was a couple of years ago, and it was Alternate Day Fasting.  Dr. Fung also uses this kind of fasting, but sometimes uses longer periods with the purpose of lowering insulin levels and increasing insulin sensitivity.  I have been very much intrigued by his research and practice, and, about a week ago, I decided to give it a whirl.

By the way, I highly recommend that you read everything on Dr. Fungs website and watch all of his lectures.  He explains why fasting is important for insulin control, why calories in/calories out is a crock, and other topics that explain obesity and diabetes and why they happen.

Here is what the past week has looked like:

Tuesday, July 28 - I water fasted all day.  By that, I mean than I only drank water, coffee, tea and chicken broth all day.  It was a challenge, but it was not as hard as I imagined it would be.  Since the last meal I ate was Monday evening, by the time I went to bed, I had fasted for around 28 hours.

Wednesday, July 29 - I water fasted until dinner time, then ate a normal low carb, high fat dinner, so the total time that I fasted was around 44 hours.  Not bad for a first try!  During this fast, I checked my blood glucose a couple of times, and it was always in the low 70s.  So far, so good!

Thursday, July 30 - This day was a challenge.  After fat fasting by drinking a Bullet Proof Coffee for breakfast at work, I joined in the annual potluck that the Ladies League held at the golf course where I work.  I ate a couple of Italian sausages, a little bit of green salad, a couple of bites of cucumber salad (only a couple of bites, for it was very sweet and obviously contained sugar) and a little appetizer of tomato, fresh mozzarella cheese and basil leaves.  My downfall was a small square of cheesecake.  But, if you saw the piles and piles of sugary salads, gelatin desserts, cookies, cakes and candy that I did NOT eat, you would be proud of me!  For dinner after work, I just had a few small snacks of fat, like a fat bomb and a chunk of butter, etc.  By the time I went to bed, however, I was in big trouble!  As I got undressed for bed, I caught sight of my profile in the mirror, and my stomach was distended like a beachball!  I looked seven months pregnant!  I dont ever remember looking like that since I was, well, seven months pregnant.  I was in so much pain that I took a bicarb, which did not help.  I had a lot of trouble trying to sleep, and had a fitful night.

Friday, July 31 - When I awoke on the day after the potluck, I found that I had gained over two and a half pounds and was still bloated and in mild pain in my abdomen.  Although it had not been my original plan to water fast again so soon, I made the decision to do just that.  I spent the day drinking water, coffee, tea and chicken broth.

Saturday, August 1 - Still weighing over a pound and a half over my weight before the potluck, I decided to water fast again for the day.  This was a little bit of a challenge, because I had company coming to spend the night.  They stopped and got gyros and brought them to eat at my house.  Man, they smelled good!  But I did not have any.  I made it through my second full day of water fasting without a hitch.

Sunday, August 2 - I broke my fast with a wonderful breakfast of baked eggs and kiszka with my houseguests.  The total time of my water fast was 62 hours!  When I weighed that morning, I had lost all the water weight from the potluck and then some, my stomach was flatter, and I felt much better!  I even got to eat a little bit of the leftover gyros meat around lunchtime, then fat fasted for dinner after my company left.

Monday, August 3 - I worked today and had a Bullet Proof coffee for breakfast, egg salad with lots of my homemade mayo for lunch, and a nice LCHF dinner of broiled steak with butter and an avocado cole slaw.  For dessert, I had a few Brazil nuts and a small amount of 85% dark chocolate.  Two hours after eating this meal, I tested my blood glucose and it was 91.  Very nice!

Here is where I started two and a half weeks ago:

July 15, 2015
Neck - 12"
Bust - 36"
Waist - 31.75"
Belly - 39.75"
Hips - 40.25"
Thigh - 22.5"
Calf - 14.25"
Scale weight - 146.2 pounds
Body fat - 52.7 pounds - 36%
Lean mass - 93.5 pounds - 64%

Here is where I am now:

August 2, 2015
Neck - 12"
Bust - 32.75"  (lost 1/4")
Waist - 31.125"  (lost 5/8")
Belly - 39"  (lost 3/4")
Hips - 39.75"  (lost 1/2")
Thigh - 22"  (lost 1/2")
Calf - 14"  (lost 1/4")
Scale weight - 142.2 pounds  (lost 4 pounds)
Body fat - 49.4 pounds - 34.7%  (lost 3.3 pounds)
Lean mass - 92.8 pounds - 65.3%  (lost 0.7 pounds)

As of yesterday, I need to lose 8.5 pounds of fat and gain 2.3 pounds of muscle to reach my goal of 136 pounds with 30% body fat.

Here are a few charts.  These charts actually go back to April, because that is when I started weighing and measuring and tracking my food again after a long break of keeping track.  So only the last two and a half weeks of that have to do with my recent posts.

In the coming week, I am going to mix it up by water fasting some days, fat fasting some days and eating regular LCHF the remaining days.

I am so close to my goal weight at this point, that I am tempted to just water fast for a few days and break on through.  Well see if I decide to do that.

Another change, and Ive forgotten if I have mentioned it recently, is that Bill and I started back at the gym.  We are doing Body By Science slow motion weight lifting.  We go once a week and each of us takes around 12 minutes to do the five different machines that compose The Big Five.  More about that later...

Ill keep you posted!  Thanks for reading!

  

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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?

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Low Carb Peanut Butter Cookies Second Attempt

I am a sucker for a chewy peanut butter cookie, and with fall on the way all I want to do is bake! Well... As much as I love baking delicious treats, my waistline doesnt. Instead of avoiding baking all together, Ive decided to try and make low carb alternatives to my favorite fall goodies. So, first up: Peanut Butter Cookies!

Just as a disclaimer, this is my second attempt at these cookies. The first one was using coconut flour and honey instead of flour and sugar. The cookies were wayyyy dry and had a very different texture.  I didnt do a blog on those because I felt like there had to be a better recipe, I just needed to figure it out. So,  the recipe Im sharing today is my second attempt. This one is flour-less and uses stevia as the sweetener (the only stevia I like is Trulicious. No gross after

taste and its blended with monk fruit!)

This one is MUCH better than the coconut flour recipe, but if you want to try the coconut flour

recipe, just post a comment and Ill give it to ya. Im still working on perfecting my recipe, but this is a good start. :) They are kind of dry and crumbly, but the flavor is awesome!!!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups creamy peanut butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup Trulicious powdered stevia
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Mix ingredients together in a bowl. At first your dough is going to be runny, just keep mixing. Its going to stiffen right up. If youre not worried about eating a little bit of raw eggs, taste the batter to make sure it tastes sweet enough. If not, add a little more Trulicious. Roll the dough into melon baller sized balls and flatten with your fingers on the cookie sheet. I got about 24 cookies out of my batch. Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes. Let cool on cookie sheet.

Pro tips: Dont store cookies in a Ziplock bag, lay them flat in a container. :) These little guys crumble pretty easily. Also, try sprinkling additional Trulicious on top of the cookies before you put them in the oven.

Nutritional Info:
These are actually a healthy option when you need your peanut butter cookie fix. One cookie has 127 calories, 3 net carbs and nearly 6 grams of protein (this is based on a batch of about 24 cookies).

These cookies are much better than my first attempt, but hopefully next time I make them I can figure out a way to make them a little more moist (sorry for using the M word). If you have any suggestions on how I can do that, feel free to post them in the comment section! Happy baking everyone!

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Vacation Planning

Most everyone knows I am planning on taking the kids on a trip this October to help us pass the one year mark as easy as possible.  I know there are most definitely differing opinions, running from "Why are you wasting your money" to "It wont help make it any better for you all".  And I have heard ALL of them!  While I value every ones opinions, I dont really care, because in the end, Im going to do what Im going to do.

And Im taking the kids out of school for two weeks in October and were going to Florida.   Yep, two weeks.  I will be taking homework for them, as I think it will help mellow them out too when theyre too full of energy.  Im sure the teachers will appreciate it too.  Originally I had planned on only going for a week and a half, but figured if were going to do the whole Florida thing, wed do it right.  I havent booked anything yet, but will be doing so in the next couple weeks, as I am still doing research on everything.  My plan is to leave sometime between the 30th of September (on a red-eye) and the 6th, and stay for two whole weeks.  The only requirement I have is that were there for sure before the 8th, because that is Es 8th birthday!!   Well be doing the Disney World Resort theme parks for about a week or so, and then were headed to Universal Orlando for 4 days.  AND...to make it educational, lol, Ill be taking the kids to NASA aka Kennedy Space Center for a day.  I plan on skipping the beaches, because, I really dont care about that.  I havent worked out the entire details, but the bulk of our trip will be at Disney World (The Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot and Disneys Hollywood Studios).

I am super super excited to go to Universal Orlando because "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" will be open, and me being a huge Harry Potter fan, that will be the ULTIMATE vacation (besides Europe of course!).  Also, Harry Potter was Barrys favorite book series.  He loved it so much, it was even mentioned in his Obit and at the funeral.  I couldnt even tell you how often he read the books, more than I did for sure.  He was an avid Harry Potter Fan.  He and I were able to see the 6th movie together last summer!  As the kids and I were touring the Harry Potter attractions on the Universal website (check out the link I posted above!), I did get a little teary eyed.  It made me so sad that Barry wouldnt  be able to be there with us, because he would have loved it.  I know hell be there with us still in spirit, but how I wish he could see it in the flesh with us at his side.  So this is something else were going to do for him, and I am so excited!

Some of the stores they have open in the Hogsmeade village include Olivanders (Yes, I will get a wand for the kids! LOL), Zonkos and also Honeydukes among others.  There is even "Owl Post", which is a functioning post office, and mails items from there with a Hogsmeade postmark!  Can you tell I am excited? I am just over the moon about going.

If anyone has any tips on Disney World for me, or how to travel across the country with 4 kids on a plane, please let me know :) I welcome any advice that will help make it easier for me!  This is going to be a "once in a lifetime" thing, so I am going to make it the most memorable trip I possibly can.

Im looking forward to sharing details with you all!!

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7 Things to Be Happy About

Bad days happen, but when a bad day turns into a full on funk, something has to be done. Sometimes when we are caught up in worry and stress, we stop living in the moment and we focus on things in the past or things in the future that are out of our control. Theres a lot of uncertainty in the past and future, so when we stop living in the moment we have a hard time finding things to be happy about. We become so unsure of what we have done and what were going to do that we poison ourselves with negativity. If youre in a funk, if youve stopped living in the moment, this is your reminder that life is beautiful and here are 7 things you should be overwhelmingly happy about.

You Are Beautiful
Truly, I mean it. "But Lowery, you cant see me through a computer screen." Right, reader. I cant. But I do know a couple things about you.
1. You can smile.
2. You have talents and attributes unique to you.
Both of those things make you incredibly beautiful. If you can recognize these things, youre miles ahead of a lot of people in the world. Recognizing your beauty is simple, it just starts with smiling.

There Are People Out There Who Love You
Maybe they are far away, maybe you cant reach them right this minute. But there is someone somewhere who is so happy that you are who you are and that you exist. Know that. Remember that. Give yourself the same patience, love and understanding that they give you. Chances are there is someone you will encounter during your day who is willing to bend an ear or share a smile, and that is something to be happy about.

Hot Showers and Bubble Baths

Youve been freaking out lately over stuff you cant change. You need to relax. Take a bath or a hot shower and soak up the steam. Live in this moment. You are alone, and theres no one bothering you. All you need to worry about is not getting soap in your eye. While youre in there, feel free to belt out some Celine Dion. Trust me. Its therapeutic.

Progress
Celebrate the little victories. Maybe you got through a whole day without spilling food on your shirt. Maybe you woke up on time and made it to work five minutes early. Victories. If you are working on things that are getting you closer to a goal, like eating healthier to lose weight, or studying hard to get a 4.0, those are victories. And you deserve to celebrate and be happy for your progress.

No Matter Where You Are, It Could Always Be Worse
If you take a step back and examine the facts, youll realize that things arent so bad. Youre alive, for starters. I am willing to bet that you can easily name 100 things youre grateful for more quickly than you can name 100 things that are ruining your life. I can say that Im pretty blessed. I have a family who loves me, I have a job, I have transportation, I have a lot of modern conveniences. My life could be a helluvah lot worse, and because its not that is something to be happy about.

Tomorrow Can Always Be Better
You decide whether or not you have a good day or a bad day. Its not events that happen to you, and its not people you encounter. Its completely your attitude toward different life situations. So if you decide that tomorrow will be better, it will be better. You cant control what happens to you but you can control how you handle it. Instead of lashing out, put on your headphones and turn on Pharrell.

Possibilities
You know whats really amazing? You can pretty much do anything you set your freaking mind to. The possibilities are endless. Want to run a marathon? You can do it. You want to lose weight? You can do it. You want to become someone new? You can do it. The possibilities for you and your life are incredible. This moment youre in, this funk, its temporary. And if you want to be happy, its completely possible.

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Low Carb Zucchini Boat Recipe

I went to my parents house yesterday and they have so much zucchini from the garden, and the tomatoes are coming on too! I wanted to help use some of it up, so I made us these low carb zucchini boats. They are delicious and easy to make. Heres how:

Ingredients
2 medium zucchini, cut long ways in half
1 lb lean ground beef
2 tomatoes, diced
1 green bell pepper,  diced
2 cloves garlic, diced and separated in half
1/2 tablespoon dried onion
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
3/4 cup shredded cheese (optional), separated in half

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with tin foil and set aside.

Use a metal spoon to scrape the center pulp out of the zucchini halves. leave about a 1/4 of an inch worth of zucchini in the peel, dont scrape too far through! Set the boats and pulp aside, youll use them later.

In a pan, combine ground beef, tomato, green pepper, one clove of garlic, dried onion, oregano and Italian seasoning. Brown ground beef completely. Add half of the shredded cheese to your ground beef and combine.

In a blender or a food processor, blend zucchini pulp and garlic together until it is a smooth texture. Pour pulp into hamburger mixture and mix well.

Place boats on lined cookie sheet and spoon mixture into each one. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake for 30 minutes.

Each boat counts as one serving, this recipe makes four servings.

This recipes is low in carbohydrates. The sugars are primarily coming from your vegetables. If you are looking to cut down on the fat, eliminate the cheese and switch to ground lean chicken, turkey or your favorite vegetarian crumbles. 

Have you ever tried zucchini boats? What do you fill yours with? 

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8 Valentines Day Gifts for the Fitness Fanatic you Fancy

Got a fitness junkie in your life, whom you love and want to spoil this Valentines Day, or are you the beloved fitness junkie (if so, pass this along to your lover for a subtle hint)?

Chocolates arent the best idea for the runner, the lifter, and the lover of clean eating... Here are some gift ideas that are so awesome they are better than chocolates, and dare I say roses?

The Aqua Zinger Flavored Water Maker

Aqua Zinger

Water is the center of a fitness junkies world. Adding mint, lemons, and raspberries adds a myriad of health benefits, but choking on seeds is never fun. This bottle mixes the juices in to the water but holds the pulp in a separate little grinder. They go for around $20 and you can find them at Brookstone.

Salad Dressing Portion Control Lids

As someone who is watching my weight, I am constantly counting calories. One of my biggest pet peeves is measuring out every little thing. Im all for gadgets that make measuring easier, and this is one of them. This Portion Control Lid fits different bottle sizes and when you squeeze the bottle, the chamber fills with 2 Tbsps of the dressing, one serving size, and its ready to pour. This handy gadget is about $20 at Brookstone.

Gnarly Workout Tank

Gnarly Workout Tanks

Every Fit Female needs an awesome workout Tank. Gnarly Nutrition has a great line of neon acid worn tank tops. They have multiple colors and sizes range from small to large. You can find them at GoGnarly.com for only $19.

Food Huggers

Fitness addicts need fuel. Fresh fruits and veggies are usually a major part of a healthy, balanced, diet but a lot of times they go to waste because the left overs dont keep well. The frugal fitness geek will LOVE this Food Huggers. Cut a tomato, use whats need, then put a Food Hugger around the rest. It stays fresher than using a Ziplock bag! A set of four multi-sized Food Huggers is only $19!

Zip Tunes Earphones

Food Huggers

Tangled earphones can mess up momentum on runs, bike rides, kickboxing and more. Zip Tunes Earphones get rid of the hastle with a tangle free design, plus they have a built in handsfree microphone component. Find these on Boxwave.com for under $30.00.

Isobag Lunch Cooler

If your fitty is constantly packing lunches and planning ahead for meals on the go, this Isobag is a perfect way to help them stay organized. This lunch cooler can hold multiple meals (containers included) and has compartments for protein shaker bottles and utensils. No more packing multiple bags for multiple meals, this cooler lets you easily do it all in one. The three meal bag is only $54.99 on IsolatorFitness.com. 

FT4 Cross Training Heart Rate Monitor

FT4 Heart Rate Monitor

The price tag on this item is a little steeper than the others, but it is definitely worth it. The FT4 tracks heart rate, calories burned and shows when youre improving your fitness based on heart rate zones. It has button free operation to keep the focus on working out, and is made with comfortable, water resistant material. There are four different colors available. You can find this nifty gadget for $99 on Polar.com.

Bodum Tea For One Tea Strainer

Sometimes your valentine doesnt have time to make tea for two, and if thats the case, this Bodum Tea Strainer is perfect. Its strains a single serving of tea in a very portable container. It comes in multiple colors and is available for $18 at Bodum.com.

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A TALE OF TWO MEALS BACON OR BAGEL FOR BREAKFAST MASSIVE HEALTH

I just found this on Massive Health.  So much good info in so little space!

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High Protein Treats for Phase 3 of the HCG Diet

Im always talking about how awesome Triumph Slim is. Its the best protein shake I have ever tasted and it has been key to my success on the HCG Diet, and its still a key part of my diet now that  Im working to maintain my weight loss.

Last night I finished running and was rummaging through the cupboards for something delicious. Ive been craving chocolate all week, but knew that wouldnt get me the protein I needed to recover from my run....or would it?

Here are three tasty, high protein sweet treats, perfect for post-workout recovery on Phase 3 of the HCG Diet.

Protein Sundae
I had this last night. It was a spur of the moment creation that kicked my chocolate craving in the butt.
1/2 cup plain or honey Greek yogurt (I used honey Greek)
1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder
A Pinch sliced almonds
Mix all the ingredients together and enjoy right after your workout. This snack has about 12 grams of protein and about 200 calories.

Banana Chocolate Shake
This is my FAVORITE thing to have post run. Its incredible. It does require a blender, but it only takes a few minutes to mix up.

5-6 ice cubes
1/2 c. - 1 c. water
2 scoops chocolate protein powder
1/2 c. spinach
1 frozen banana
2 tbs peanut butter

Add the ice, then the water, the protein powder, spinach, banana, and peanut butter blend until smooth. Drink immediately. I swear you cant taste the spinach. :) This has a lot more calories than the first recipe, and it should be noted that I use this one as a meal more than a snack. It has 25 grams of protein and about 460 calories.

Berry Pudding
1/2 cup plain or honey Greek yogurt
1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
1/2 cup fresh berries
A pinch of sliced almonds (optional)

Mix all ingredients together and enjoy! This has about 12 grams of protein in it and 220 calories in it.

A not about protein powders: not all protein powders are created equal. I prefer a low calorie, natural protein powder like Triumph Slim. Its the best tasting protein powder Ive ever had. I strongly recommend looking in to getting some. It has made my weight loss journey phenomenally better.

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Lily Chocolate Bar Review

I love chocolate. Its something I constantly crave! If I was granted one wish by the imaginary diet genie that lives in my head, it would be to take all the carbs and calories out of chocolate but leave the taste. And then all the women in the world would love me. :)

Too bad theres no real diet genie. And too bad chocolate still has calories and carbs.

 We all know what too much chocolate does. For some women it goes to their hips, some to their butt, for me it goes straight to my belly. After losing 100 pounds, putting weight back on  is the last thing I want to do. In order to maintain my weight loss I try to stick to a low-sugar diet.... that means my chocolate craving usually goes unfed.

And let me tell you, thats rough. When I started Phase 3 of the HCG Diet, I was almost immediately overcome by chocolate cravings. With all the freedom of more healthy food choices in Phase 3 came all the temptations of unhealthy choices. But instead of giving into my craving for an entire bag of Dove dark chocolate, I did a bit of research and found Lilys Dark Chocolate, a sugar-free chocolate bar.

The Healthier Chocolate Solution

Lilys Dark Chocolate is all-natural. There are no genetically modified ingredients and its sweetened with stevia. Thats right... chocolate sweetened with STEVIA! As if that wasnt awesome enough, they have 25% fewer calories than a regular chocolate bar.

Lilys Dark Chocolate comes in 4 flavors: Original, Coconut, Crispy Rice, and Almond.

I ordered one of each flavor and anxiously awaited their arrival. Each bar is about $4.50. I know this price seems steep, but its worth it because these are non-GMO, sweetened with stevia, and part of the proceeds go to charity. Lilys Sweets is dedicated to creating products that are good for your body and the earth!

These chocolate bars are only available in stores at select locations, but they are available online. I ordered mine online and as soon as the bars arrived, you better believe I didnt waste anytime trying them out.

Are They Good?

The bars are quite big and they were SO GOOD. All of the varieties had a rich flavor and tasted great. My favorite was the coconut bar! It has a softer texture in comparison to the other bars and its better than a Mounds bar!

I also really like that Lilys bars were easy on my stomach. A lot of sugar free chocolates contain malitol. Malitol is a sugar alcohol that cant be digested by the body and as a result it acts as a laxative  Lilys bars dont contain any malitol and they had no negative effect on my digestive system.

One bar goes a long way, too! I would only eat a few squares at a time so they lasted me about 3 weeks. The chocolate is so rich that it satisfied my craving, and 6 little squares was under 100 calories

I had a couple of my office buddies who arent dieting try these and they even loved them. It definitely does not taste like diet chocolate. I highly recommend trying these out. Even if you arent on a diet. Overall, Lilys is a healthier choice. It tastes good and the company is one thats worth supporting.

Things Worth Noting

• When I ate 6 pieces per day, I did not see any gains the next day while using these on Phase 3 of the HCG Diet. 
• These are not recommended for Phase 2.
• Just like regular chocolate, you should still eat Lilys chocolate in moderation. 

Get Your Chocolate Today
You can order Lilys Dark Chocolate online if you click here:

http://www.amazon.com/Lilys-Dark-Chocolate-Stevia-Almond/dp/B0082H1SOA

You can also find where Lilys Chocolate is sold by using the location finder on Lilys website by clicking here:
http://www.lilyssweets.com/store-locator/west

Have you tried Lilys chocolate? What did you think?

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My Advice for Gym Beginners

Me lifting as much weight as I lost. Its hard to believe
 I was carrying all this around. 

Let me start by saying that Ive never been one to enjoy exercising. Other than being in dance through junior high, I really didnt care to exercise. Its no surprised that this contributed to me weighing 285 pounds by the age of 21! But as Ive lost weight, Ive tried to develop an interest in the vital habit. I know that without exercise, I will not be able to maintain my weight loss.

 Its taken a few weeks, but Im happy to say that Im addicted to the gym. :)

Yup, who would have thought. Certainly not my family and friends.

I guess I assumed, like most probably do, is that if youre meant to love exercise it will happen instantaneously. Like youll step on the treadmill and think, "This is meant for me. Im a runner." But as Ive started going to the gym consistently for the last two weeks I realize that learning to love exercise isnt instantaneous. My love for exercising increases each time I do it. It changes as I challenge myself in different ways. Im not the fastest, the strongest, or the most knowledgeable when it comes to training, but I walk through the doors and give it my all, and the feeling of accomplishment associated with that is whats addicting.

Ive come to understand that my competitive nature thrives on the treadmill. When Im doing cardio, I do best on the treadmill. I challenge myself in way I wouldnt on the elliptical or bike. Honestly, I love my time on the  treadmill. Im sure that this sentiment isnt shared by everyone, so I think its important to find a type of exercise that motivates you to push yourself in new ways. 

Beyond cardio Im doing some weight lifting. Right now I dont have a trainer, I feel more comfortable using machines than I do free weights. I feel like theres more guidance and as a result less chance of injury. Im currently focusing on legs, arms, and abs. As far as my weight goes, I know that the gym has helped me tremendously when it comes to maintaining. 

Often I find myself going in with the intention of a quick half hour workout, but I end up coming out two hours later. Going to the gym has turned in to Lowery Time. Im able to process the day, sort through the chaos of life, and find peace of mind. 

Now Im no personal trainer, but I would like to offer some advice to beginning gym-goers:
-Leave your cell phone in the car
-Develop a schedule
-Take time to stretch
-Set goals
-Listen to music

I dont go to the gym to tweet, take pictures, or text people. I go to workout. Having my cellphone with me is a total distraction. I leave it in the car so its not even an issue.

My schedule is simple. I go to the gym 5-6 days a week, in the evening 2 hours after I eat dinner. I do cardio first and weights second. My workouts are at least 1 hour. If I am consistent with the time I go to the gym, Im able to work other obligations into my schedule without having to cancel workouts. 

I do some simple stretches before I begin running, but for the most part, I save the stretching for the end of my workout. It takes about 20 minutes for me to stretch out, but its time well spent. It helps prevent soreness and is incredibly relaxing. 

I set day by day goals as well as long term ones. Each day I go into a workout with the intention of running a faster mile than I did the day before. Ultimately my goal is to run a 10 minute mile (I am a super slow runner) by the end of April, and run a 45 minute 5K by the end of June. These goals give me somethings to work toward. Each day is progress. 

I cant tell you how many times I am close to giving up on a workout when the perfect song comes on and helps push me beyond my mental limits. Create a playlist of upbeat song and title it your "Workout Playlist." I use noise cancelling headphones, too. It helps me drown out any distractions.

What are some things you do to help stay motivated in the gym? 

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I miss Barry

I was sitting here tonight on my new couch, in my new living room, watching TV on my new TV, when everything kind of hit me again.

Things have settled down somewhat here in our new home. Were basically unpacked, save for a few boxes in my room and one in the living room, and all the pictures need to be hung yet, as well as the garage (which is a complete mess). The house is awesome and I love it, and I am finally starting to realize that its my house.

But something is missing.

Its Barry.

Tonight while I was sitting here, I just started to cry because it all hit me again. I have been so busy the last few weeks with moving and unpacking, and our vacation, that I had no time to think. And now that things have calmed down a bit, my brain starts wandering and thoughts creep into my head that Ive tried so hard to avoid. I cant even think straight right now and feel like my writing is all jumbled.

I was thinking about him and had a hard time again realizing that he was dead. Like maybe, just maybe, he was just working and not at home as per usual. Because you know, husbands and daddies dont die suddenly without warning. They dont leave behind a wife of 10 years and four young children. They just dont die, because that never happens...thats not real life. Husbands dont die, they just dont.

Unfortunately, thats not true. They do die without warning. And their death changes your life forever.

Apart from still needing to accept Barrys death, I still havent fully accepted this new life. I dont like being thrust from one life into a brand new one, being forced to accept everything against my will. Some people have exhibited jealousy towards me, jealous that I have new furniture, a new house, etc etc, but Id give it all back if I could. I really honestly would give it up just to have him back. I want my old life back, I want my old routines, I want my husband, I want my daily phone calls and text messages. I just want my old life back. I look around my house and think to myself, "how is this my life?"

Ive had to go from one life with all these plans, to a new life full of uncertainty. Now instead of Barry and I and the kids, its just Me and the kids. I have to figure out the future for us, without him. It scares me. Eventually I will have to get a job, or go back to school and figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life. Honestly, I feel like Ive just graduated high school again, and have to figure out where my life is taking me, except now I have 4 kids, a dog and two cats, and a mortgage and a mini van. What 18 year old has that? wait, Im not 18...Im 29 and have all that.

The kids and I are proof that life can change in a heartbeat. Just over 6 months ago we were a happy family of 6, with plans to move to PA this summer, and a husband that was getting 4.0 gpa and on the Deans list at his University. Then literally, with one heartbeat...that life is gone. Barrys heart beat one last time, it came to a shuddering halt, and then our lives ended. A new life was born, and we have had to accept it as best as we can, and just keep on keepin on. Weve had no choice BUT to move forward. .

This post is a hot mess, and Im sorry if it was hard to read. I felt like I had a million thoughts going through my head tonight as I wrote it.

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7 Unique Incentives for Your Weight Loss

So youve set a goal  to lose weight, and youve found a program that works for you. But how can you stay motivated during your weight loss journey? I faced this same problem. While the thought of a hot new body is motivating, it can often seem too far away and the thought alone doesnt offer the instant gratification that we so often crave.

Heres a little tip that really helped me when I was doing the HCG Diet: successful weight loss comes from having a an incentive program set up that rewards your progress start to finish. Ive written about how to set up your incentive program in the past, so today is dedicated to sharing some unique incentive ideas to implement into your weight loss journey. 

When youre setting up incentives, dont make them food related. Try to pick other stuff. A lot of people use clothes as an incentive, but that can get pricey. Try some of these suggestions: 

Massage - Losing weight can be stressful, then on top of that theres work, family and friends. So take some you time to reward your efforts with a nice massage. If youre trying to stick to a budget, try looking for a massage school in your area. They usually provide pretty good massages at a discounted price!

Night of Dancing - What better way to show off your weight loss than heading to the dance floor! Take your significant other or the girls and enjoy the music and the atmosphere. Its a great way to celebrate that doesnt involve food.

New Panties - Theres just something about cute underwear that makes me feel confident. Plus, you can usually buy several cute pairs for cheaper than a pair of jeans! Even if though no one sees, wearing cute panties always makes me feel pampered.

Nail Polishes - Treat yourself to an at home manicure. Buy a new color and spend the night in with some girlfriends painting your nails. For me, building up my nail polish collection is one of my favorite rewards.

A Nap - Maybe this is just me, but I always feel guilty when I take a nap. Heaven knows there are a million other things I could be doing instead of sleeping. The older I get the more sleep becomes a luxury. If youre like me, if you go a week without cheating on your diet, reward yourself with a good, long nap. Seriously, try it. Its amazing.

Candle Lit Bath - Baths are another one of those relaxing things we seldom take time to do. Unwinding in the tub surrounded by candles gives you some time to reflect on how far youve come in a comfortable atmosphere.



Tickets to a Show - One of my favorite incentives for reaching a goal is tickets to my favorite sports team or to a play Ive been wanting to see. Most plays or sporting events give you the option to choose your price range, too. Skip the concessions stand and grab your seats to enjoy a well-deserved evening. 

What are some of the incentives you give yourself to stay motivated to lose weight? 

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