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.

Read More..

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.

Read More..

Moving on to Phase 3

Well, I definitely didnt reach my weight loss goal for this round. I let myself get caught up in stress eating and as a result I experienced very slow losses, and at times gains. Its crazy because I never used to consider myself an emotional eater. Lately, Ive realized I may be more emotionally driven than I once thought.

If things in life are at a high, I am just fine with sticking to diet protocol. If things in my life are at a low, mashed potatoes here I come.

This is something Im going to need to work on before I can expect to have a successful Round 4. Because of that, Ill be researching ways to deal with emotional eating. I will be sure to keep all of you posted on what I find.

I didnt lose 30 pounds this round like I wanted. My hard work wasnt entirely in vain, though. Every pound I lose is a step closer to my ultimate goal weight of 160.

Because of the difficulties Ive been having, Ive decided to go into Phase 3 and give my body a bit of a break.

I really enjoy this Phase of the HCG Diet. I do really well eating low-carb. My body seems to have more energy and my mood is consistently better.

Ill be following the same basic menu program that I talked about last time. The only major difference with Phase 3 this time around is my workout plan.  Instead of doing my previous workout routine, I will be working with a trainer. This week I will meet with him to see what hell have me doing. Im nervous, but excited!  Im hoping that having a trainer will help keep me accountable and help speed up the results I see in the gym. Ive never had a trainer before, so I dont know what to expect. Something inside me says that its going to be hard, but worth it.

Have you ever worked with a personal trainer? Did it pay off?

Read More..

Fighting the 2 p m Snack Attack

One of the hardest parts about losing weight, or even maintaining weight, is avoiding snacking. For me, I eat really well for breakfast, and then even lunch, but as soon as 2 p.m. hits, I turn into a ravenous beast. I call this the 2 p.m. snack attack. The worst is when Im at work surrounded by food.

I always want ice cream, chocolate, or cake! Unfortunately I cant really eat these foods in moderation when Im mid-snack attack, so if I cave to the craving I eat too much and end up gaining weight (Im slowly learning moderation...slowly but surely).

Until Im better at controlling my portion sizes, Ive learned that its best to avoid these sugary foods all together. So I had to find a solution to my snack attack... Something sweet and filling, something healthy and low in sugar.

This is my 4 step strawberry chocolate milkshake. Its only 195 calories!

Step 1: Gather your ingredients:
1 scoop Vanilla Triumph Slim
1 scoop Chocolate Triumph Slim
6 Strawberries
1 cup Ice
Water to taste

Step 2: Add ingredients into a blender.
Step 3: Blend on pulse or liquefy until smooth.
Step 4: Pour into a cup and enjoy immediately.

You can learn more about Vanilla and Chocolate Triumph Slim here.

But what if sweets are your thing? What if you crave something salty and crunchy? Ive got you covered there, too! Check out my post on Kale chips for a healthy, satisfying snack!

Your 2 p.m. snack attack doesnt have to wreck your diet. There are snacks out there that will hit the spot without hitting your hips. Try this healthy recipe, and not only will you stick to your diet, you wont feel like youre depriving yourself.


What are your favorite healthy snacks?

Read More..

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?

Read More..

HCG Beach Body Project 2014

I dont know about you, but Im counting down to summer! And its coming up fast, especially when I realize I have less than 3 months to get swimsuit ready. I really want to help as many women as possible get ready for summer and regain their confidence. So, I am hosting a Count Down to Beach Body using the HCG Diet! 

Ive put together a timeline and some resources to help you lose up to 40 pounds by the first day of summer (June 21st, 2014). Thats right... up to 40 pounds!

Ive mapped everything out for you from your starting date, to your ending date, your maintenance phase, Ive even made a 40 day menu for your time on Phase 2! Whhhhatttt? Yeah girl, Ive got you covered.

Email me for your HCG Phase 2 40 day menu!

So heres how it works: In order to fit a round of HCG and a round of maintenance in before summer, you have to order your kit by April 2nd (domestic orders by April 7th at the latest) so you get it in time to start on April 15th. The menu covers the 40 days of food youll eat in Phase 2 using recipes from HCGDiet.coms digital recipe book and some of the meals are substituted for Gnarly Slim meal replacement shake. So make sure that you have your kit, your digital recipe book and your meal replacement shake ready to go by April 15th.

If you need to get your supplies, no worries, Ive negotiated a special deal to make sure you can get everything you need to start for an affordable price.

Get 35% off a 40 day HCG Kit, a digital recipe book and a Gnarly Slim Protein Shake when you apply the coupon code MYBEACHBODY at checkout. This is only for my readers and its a great discount to get you started! Then you can send me an email (lowery@hcgdiet.com) to get your 40 day menu, diet timeline, and my Phase 3 menu! :) Seriously, this is going to be awesome.

No excuses, ladies. Its time to get your beach body!

Read More..

How to Transition into Phase 3 of the HCG Diet

Ive written several blogs on Phase 3 of the  HCG Diet, probably one for each of my four rounds.Why so many? Well, Phase 3 is a MAJOR part of the HCG Diet. This is the phase that will solidify your weight loss.

I constantly get questions about Phase 3 from anxious HCG Dieters. Understandably, people are nervous to start adding in more calories after being restricted for so long. Today I want to provide you with a very basic, but thorough Phase 3 outline. These are my recommendations based upon my experiences. Sometimes what works for me may not work for you, but hopefully youll find the guidance I give helpful.

I get it, youve been eating hardly anything for 26 days or more. Youre excited to have more variety. Take a breath and slow yourself down. Im not trying to burst any bubbles here, but your Week 1 on Phase 3 is going to be pretty similar to Phase 2.

Here are a few things to remember during Phase 3 Week 1:
-Double the servings you ate in Phase 2
-Cut out Melba Toast, its not allowed in Phase 3
-NO DAIRY..yet
-Only add in a couple of fruits and veggies during this week
-Start exercising
-Aim for 950-1000 calories
-You can start adding regular cosmetics back into your routine
-Continue to drink 1/2 gallon - 1 gallon of water
-Keep a detailed food journal
-Avoid Carbohydrates unless they are coming from fresh fruit

Week 1 Phase 3 Sample Menu:
Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs - 140 calories
Snack: Apple - 85 calories
Lunch: 6 oz Chicken - 256, 1/2 c. cherry tomatoes - 45, 2 c. lettuce - 10, Pace salsa - 35
Snack: 1 scoop Triumph Slim - 80, 1 cucumber - 45
Dinner: 6 oz shrimp - 168, 1/2 c. broccoli - 30
Snack: 1/2 c. raspberries w/ Trulicious - 32
Total Calories: 926

Youll notice that the only additions were extra servings of food, broccoli, and raspberries. Its pretty straight forward. Youll also notice that there isnt Melba Toast added or diary. Now I know that this is rough because it isnt the added variety you were hoping for, but trust me when I say you dont want to rush into adding too many foods too quickly.

Moving on to Week 2 of Phase 3, you can try adding in a couple of dairy items and some more veggie options.

Things to remember for Week 2 Phase 3:
-Continue to keep a detailed food journal
-Dont purchase low-fat dairy products, they may have less calories, but they usually have more carbs
-Add dairy in one serving at a time
-Continue to drink 1/2 gallon - 1 gallon of water
-Aim for 1000-1100 calories
-Continue exercising

Week 2 Phase 3 Sample Menu:
Breakfast: Apple - 85 calories, Boiled egg - 70
Snack: 2 thin slices of Swiss cheese - 140
Lunch: 6 oz lean beef - 411, broccoli - 30
Snack: Triumph Slim - 80
Dinner: 6 oz chicken - 256, 2 c. lettuce, 1/2 c. - 10, cherry tomatoes - 45
Snack: 6 strawberries - 45
Total Calories: 1,127

Once again, youll notice that the addition was minimal. If your body responds well to this change you can slowly start to add a bit more.

As you progress toward Week 3 of Phase 3 you can start adding in various healthy fats like avocado and yogurt.

Here are some things to remember for Week 3 Phase 3:
-Continue to keep a detailed food journal
-Dont purchase products that are low-fat
-Add healthy fats in one at a time
-Continue to drink 1/2 gallon - 1 gallon of water
-Aim for 1100-1200 calories
-Continue exercising

Week 3 Phase 3 Sample Menu:
Breakfast: Greek yogurt w/ stevia - 146,
Snack: Apple - 85, 2 thing slices of Swiss cheese - 140
Lunch: 6 oz chicken - 256, 1 cucumber - 45, 1/2 avocado - 161
Snack: 1 scoop Triumph Slim - 80
Dinner: 6 oz shrimp - 168, zucchini - 120
Snack: orange - 70
Total Calories: 1271

So by this point youve made it to Week 4 of Phase 3. Your body should be stabilizing. You should be learning the foods you can and cant eat, and hopefully youve developed some good exercise habits.

Here are some things to remember for Week 4 Phase 3:
-Continue to keep a detailed food journal
-Experiment with condiments, just make sure there isnt added sugar
-You can start testing other fatty, healthy foods like peanut butter, squash, nuts, ect.
-Continue drinking 1/2 gallon - 1 gallon of water
-Aim for 1200-1300 calories
-Continue exercising

Week 4 Phase 3 Sample Menu:
Breakfast: Plain Greek yogurt w/stevia - 146, raspberries - 32, poached egg - 70
Snack: 2 thin slices of Swiss cheese - 140, 1/2 c. Cherry tomatoes - 45
Lunch: Chef salad w/ ranch - 502
Snack: Triumph Slim - 80
Dinner: 6 oz beef - 411, grilled peppers & onions - 62
Snack: Cottage cheese - 161, avocado - 81
Total Calories: 1360

I hope all this helps to clear up some of the confusion that surrounds Phase 3. If you have any questions, feel free to email me - lowery@hcgdiet.com.

For more resources on Phase 3, check out some of my other Phase 3 posts:
Eating out on Phase 3
Phase 3 Spaghetti
Alternatives to a Steak Day
Phase 3 Sample Menu
Best Phase 3 Pizza
Phase 3 Exercise Plan
3 Important Tips for Phase 3
Phase 3 of the HCG Diet

Read More..

5 Things You Need for Phase 3 of the HCG Diet

Today is my third day of Phase 3 of the HCG Diet and everything is going well. Even though this is my fourth round and Ive managed to maintain my ending weight through all of the rounds, I still get really nervous for this phase. It can be scary going from 500 calories to 1000 overnight. Of course I hope that I dont gain weight, but part of me always finds it hard to believe that I wont. My biggest piece of advice for Phase 3 is this: you prepare as much as possible, then jump in.

Speaking of preparations....

Ive found some fun items Im using to help me stay focused on long term healthy habits. Other than the Phase 3 Menu I wrote last week, I have rounded up some things that are an essential part of my plan. These are 5 things I recommend you also look into purchasing before you start Phase 3.

Appetite Control
Youve heard me talk about appetite control in this video. I used it on Phase 2 of the HCG Diet and saw come great results. Because it contains an appetite suppressant, its a great tool for Phase 3 of the diet as well. Some times transitioning to more food choices can be overwhelming. In order to keep your appetite in check and avoid eating too much to fast, I use Appetite Control caps. I take 2 per day, usually 2 in the morning, and they make a world of difference, especially the first week!

You can purchase appetite control here: http://www.hcgdiet.com/hcg-triumph-raspberry-ketones-appetite-control.html

Blender Bottle
I am still using Triumph Slim as a meal replacement shake even though Im no longer in Phase 2. It is the most convenient, not to mention the tastiest, way for me to get dinner in on the nights that I have class. Blender bottles have a unique wire ball in them to ensure that your powder mixes into the water well. I am also excited to use this for other protein drinks Im looking into for when I start Crossfit this summer!

You can purchase blender bottles here: http://www.blenderbottle.com/category

Gym Membership
Now, Im not saying you NEED a gym membership, but I am saying you NEED to exercise. For me, the gym environment is very motivating. I like the variety of machines, I like being able to go with friends, and I love being able to escape from the world for an hour and a half, five times a week. I am now a member of a gym for the first time in my life and Im loving it. I go to Planet Fitness and I get unlimited workouts, access to free personal trainers, unlimited tanning, unlimited red light therapy, and I can bring a guest... for only $20 a month. :) Each day in the gym is a unique challenge. Maybe the gym environment isnt for you, and thats OK. You will need to find another way to get up and get moving. Exercise will play a key role in maintaining your weight loss!

Find a Planet Fitness near you here: http://www.planetfitness.com/PlanetFitnessMap.aspx

Food Diary
I cant stress the importance of keeping a food journal. In Phase 3 of the HCG Diet, there are some weird things that will trigger weight gain, and these things vary person to person. Keeping a food journal will give you insight into what those things are. Youll be able to track trends in habits, and see whether or not youre hitting your calorie goals for the day. I use My Fitness Pal to add up my calories, but ultimately I have found writing everything by hand works a lot better for me, especially if Im writing in a cute notebook.

When it comes to the notebook Im using, a woman I go to school with, named Emily, gave me a fantastic little notebook for me to food journal in. The best part, its adorable and she made it herself! Its is small enough to fit in my purse but big enough to write all my food down on one page. Having a cute notebook gives me something to look forward to writing in, and the bold design helps me remember to take it with me wherever I go.

Emily is just getting ready to launch her business and I appreciate her gift. Shes looking for support for her amazing products. You can learn more about Emilys business and notebooks here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/emilydesigns/your-love-will-get-the-owl-collection-to-surtex-in

Personal Journal
I mentioned last week that part of my weight loss journey includes an emotional aspect. Through out Phase 3, I will be documenting areas of my life that usually lead me to emotional eating. By writing these situations down, Im hoping to gain more control over some of my eating triggers. I found this big notebook that matches my room and it sits there waiting for me to jot down any thoughts. Writing has always been an amazing release for me. Notebooks are great secret keepers, they dont judge and they dont mock, and they are always there when I need them. If you currently arent keeping a personal journal, I highly recommend it.
The one I purchased cost about $5 at Wal-Mart! The first night of Phase 3 I sat down and wrote a few pages. Instantly I felt more relaxed and in control of my life. I can already tell that keeping a personal journal will be a big part of my Phase 3 success.

What are some of the tools you use on Phase 3 to help you succeed? 

Read More..