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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Things I Wish

I just thought Id share a list of some things Ive been wishing had turned out differently, or will happen, or that I wish I had etc etc.  Nothing in particular order, I just didnt feel like writing a long drawn-out blog post about it.

• I wish Barry had been here to teach M how to tie a Tie, he had to go to the neighbors house and my girlfriends husband did it for him for his Harry Potter Costume.
• I wish I had more patience 
• I wish Athena would stop jumping up against the glass door to come inside
• I wish I was more self-sustainable, and had things like a garden, or the means to can more food.
• I wish I wasnt such a perfectionist
• I wish I didnt yell so much
• I wish I could handle being a single mom better than I currently am
• Tonight I wished it was A on her daddys shoulders while Trick or Treating instead of Charlies (whom I mentioned up above)
• I wish I had the courage to start my book, but I dont know how to start it. Or what angle to take.
• I wish I was back in Florida
• I wish I had a husband or something close to that
• I wish I didnt have to sleep alone each night.
• I wish I had more support
• I wish life was easier
• I wish Dish Network would get their shit together and fix their slow ass website and phone system
• I wish I was able to resist sweets and exercise more! I would have lost all the weight by now if I did. I want to lose 50-60lbs more
• I wish I could relax enough to read again. I have only read one whole book since Barry died. I used to read all the time before he did.
• Oh one more thing...I wish Dish Network didnt outsource.  What happened to good old Americans? Why do I have to talk to someone from a foreign country who calls me YO-ANNA.  My name is JOANNA for fucks sake.

Thats it for today. 

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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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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.

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The Little Things

At random times, I find little pieces of Barry around me.

There is no rhyme or reason to when they pop up, sometimes there are a lot, and sometimes there arent many at all.

Its when I notice my eyes glance to the clock, and it is always at 11:11 AM, the time he died. This happens quite often actually, and its quite painful for me.

Its walking through Target and finding the double pack of deodorant I would always buy for him. Degree. I kept the last stick he was using, I have it tucked away in his toiletry bag.

Its seeing a 12 pack of Pepsi Throwback, that he loved so very much. When he was alive, it was only out in the 20oz glass bottles, which we found at Safeway.

Its hearing a song, which isnt even meant to be sad, but has words like "How am I supposed to move on when Im still in love with you?", or another song that has words like "Im still alive but Im barely breathing...when a heart breaks no it dont break even....Im falling to pieces...what am I supposed to do when the best part of me was always you?". When I hear words like this, like yesterday, I sob to myself while I am driving home from errands. Words like this make me sad.

Its watching "Inglourious Basterds" for the first time since August, when we saw it in the theater on our last date. I watched it the other night, and I got through it ok, but I couldnt help but think of Barry the whole time and the time we spent in the theater watching it. He wanted us to sit at the very back, and there was the A/C fan above me and I was FREEZING. Seeing "The Jew Hunter" and knowing how much Barry loved him. Remembering that night we went to Cold Stone creamery and had ice cream together after the movie.

Its not being able to watch "Religulous" with Bill Mahr, because that was the movie we saw when he was home for Es birthday in October 2008. I had it at home for two months with Netflix and I was meaning to watch it, but I just couldnt, so I sent it back.

Its cleaning out the van and finding some bottles of his that were hidden under the seat, and not knowing they were there. Or going through my junk basket and finding an old can of Copenhagen that was his, and that I have now purposely left in there.

And its having his picture around to look at even when I get sad.

Barry is all around me, sometimes I wish I could escape him, but it seems impossible.

Barry, "how can I move on when Im still in love with you?"

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Stress

I dont know what to write.

Im busy being mom, mommy, mama, widow, Joanna, "wife" ?, and all else that entails who I am.

I havent noticed how it happened, but it seems stress has crept into my life again without my knowing.  Ive been having tension headaches in my jaw and facial area.  Quite honestly, I think I am clenching my teeth without realizing it. The headaches arent THAT bad, but there is tension in my jaws, my face and the back of my head. I probably do it when I am sleeping.  It happens at random times during the day too.

I did have all four of my wisdom teeth removed in March, so I am hoping it has nothing to do with that.  I dont think so, as the tension has just started happening in the last few weeks.

Obviously something is bothering me, and Im sure its just grief...as always.

I miss Barry, but I am so busy most of the time, I dont have time to think about him.

Actually, I FORGOT about the 10th.  Can you believe that? I didnt remember until it yesterday when it hit me that the anniversary date had actually passed.  Ive almost forgotten a couple of times, but have remembered during the day.  I am shocked at myself.  How could I forget that? I am not upset about it, just in awe that I could actually forget such an important day.

I really dont feel like writing at the moment. I need a hot shower, I need to get dressed, I need to get out of the house.

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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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Crossing Things Off My List

Last May I wrote a list of 20 things I want to do when Im skinny. 100 pounds and one year later, I am slowly starting to cross items off that list. Looking back at my journey, its incredible to see how far Ive come, and while its been hard, I feel incredibly blessed for all the challenges and struggles that have led me to this point.

1. Take a road trip to the beach
2. Go to a club and dance with a guy that I normally would think is out of my league
3. Wear shorts, it’s been over 5 years since I’ve worn shorts in public
4. Buy something from American Eagle other than a purse or shoes
5. Jump on a trampoline
6. Go bungee jumping
7. Try water skiing
8. Run a 5k
9. Take a hip-hop class
10. Buy a “little black dress” that’s actually little
11. Take a yoga class with my skinny best friend and feel just as pretty as her
12. Layout in my backyard in an itsy-bitsy bikini and tan.
13. Go swimming with a guy
14. Cartwheel across a football field
15. Join a gym.
16. Go to an amusement park and ride all of the roller coasters.
17. Go to my five year high school reunion and turn heads.
18. Buy something sexy from Victoria Secret.
19. Promise myself I’ll never go back my old weight.
20. Wear dresses and high heels 3 times a week.

Now, Ive blogged about buying something from American Eagle, joining a gym, buying something sexy from Victoria Secret, and vowing never to return to my old weight. But a I never posted about dancing at the club with a hot guy, or buying a little black dress, or swimming with a guy. :) And honestly, those have been some of my favorite memories from the past year! So since this is the one year anniversary of my 20 things list, I wanted to revisit those experiences.

Lets start with the night of dancing...

So the people who know me know that I am a huge nerd for the Utah Jazz. I grew up going to basketball games. And even though I have had several opportunities to meet players, almost every time I do I get SUPER nervous. Well, one night my roommate and I went with a group of friends to Club ONE in downtown Salt Lake City. It just so happened to be game night for the Jazz and they lost :(. You can imagine my surprise when Jazz guard Earl Watson walked into the club. Normally in this situation, I would have retreated to a corner, but for some reason I felt like my friends Janie, Jessica and I should go dance. As we moved through the crowd, we secured a spot near Watson. For some reason, I wasnt nervous. Janie and I danced and talked to Watson for quite awhile. He was a cool guy, and while Im sure he wouldnt remember who I am, thats one night I will never forget. The crazy thing is, that I know I wouldnt have done that at my previous weight, I didnt have the confidence to just stroll up to an NBA player and start up a conversation. But for some reason, when youre doing something as scary as transforming your body, everything else becomes far less intimidating. Next is the little black dress!

Last year I bought this dress.... It was black and adorable and I knew I wanted it to be my Little Black Dress. The only problem: it was pretty tight. So I stored it in my closet for months and months, trying it on periodically. Bit by bit it started to fit! Then finally, last month I put it on and felt completely satisfied with the dress. Awwww yeahhhhh... watch out world. Im coming for ya! Then theres swimming with a guy. 

Now, I am pretty self conscious about my legs and my arms. So it took a near miracle to put on a swimming suit and jump in a pool on a date. But I did it, and it was so much fun, and I never would have done that if it wasnt for taking charge of my life and realizing there was so much in this world I wasnt letting myself experience.

Losing weight is scary, I know. For a long time I convinced myself that all of the things I couldnt do because of my weight werent worth doing. I realize now I was just being stubborn and insecure in my thinking, but when it comes down to it my weight held me back, and I missed out on a lot of opportunities because of it. 

Im so happy that Ive already done 7 of the things on my list, and believe me when I say that there is no greater reward than the feeling of crossing something else off.
Whats on your list of 20 things to do when youre skinny?

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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? 

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How to Drink More Water to Lose More Weight

When I first decided to lose weight, my method of hydration consisted mostly of diet soda and milk. I wasnt getting in the the necessary water to help my body function well, even on a good day.  Fast forward a year later and one hundred pounds slimmer, water is a critical part of my day and my old habits of milk and diet soda are nearly non-existent.

Now, I know that we always hear that we should drink water to help us lose weight, but is there research behind it? The short answer is yes. A study from Dr. Brenda Davy, that was published in the Journal of the American Dietetic, showed that people who drink two glasses of water 20-30 minutes before each meal actually lost more weight in the beginning and a greater amount of weight overall than people who didnt drink the water. Read more about this research on CNN Health.

Heres my thinking, water helps us feel full because it occupies space in our stomach. If we drink it before a meal, when were ready to eat we dont have that starving feeling that triggers our brains to overeat. So when you are on a diet that restricts your calories, it only makes sense that you take full advantage of this system.

I lost all my weight using the HCG Diet. The HCG protocol requires you to drink at least a gallon of water each day but Ive noticed that drinking a bit more than a gallon more helps me lose more weight.

I know what youre thinking, "I know why we need to drink water, but it tastes so boring, Lowery!" Yup, I get it. Ive been there. Like I said, I mostly drank soda or milk. But now I rarely even want to drink anything besides water. So while it may be difficult to start drinking water, once that habit is formed, your body begins to crave water. To make the tasteless substance easier to get down in the beginning, I would add flavor by putting in lemons or mint leaves. Eventually it got to the point that I didnt need those things.

Heres how this drinking water thing is going to work for you:

Step One: Get a gallon jug. I picked mine up from a gas station for about a buck and I refill it every morning. By buying the jug, you arent refilling bottles up every hour and you can track how much you drink easily.

Step Two: Set reminder or alarms on your phone or write them on a jug to drink 1/4 of the water before breakfast, 1/4 of the jug after breakfast, 1/4 of the jug before lunch, 1/4 of the jug after lunch. Boom, a gallon. Then fill your gallon up a little more and sip on that through dinner time.

Step Three: Keep your jug next to you at all times. If you get thirsty drink from the jug (it makes it easier to track). You can drink more than 1/4 at a time if you want to, but it helps some people to space it out.

Step Four: I prefer to chug my water, but some people prefer to sip. Whichever way you do it just make sure you get the 1/4 in before you meals.

See! Its pretty straight forward. Ill be honest, the first couple weeks youll have to pee like crazy but after awhile your trips to the bathroom become less frequent. Plus, not only will the water help your appetite, but it help prevent breakouts and dry skin! Win-Win.

How do you make sure you stay hydrated?

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