A Mentor Passes, Bringing It with P90X, Sample Meals, and the D.A.P.

Hello HCG world.  It has been too long since my last post as my summer has gotten much busier and shorter than I expected upon returning to vacation.  My master plan was to take the remaining month to just unwind, be a homebody, maybe play a little golf before getting back into the swing of things with school.  But, then life stepped in and messed all of that up and consequently I have been doing too much driving and scrambling around the state.  So I apologize for the tardiness of this entry and hope to resume twice-a-week entries.

One thing that happened unexpectedly was indeed a tragedy as a lifelong friend, mentor, and second father for me and so many other classmates passed away suddenly on July 21st.  Audis Dowell, the father of my best friend suffered a fatal and massive heart attack as he was walking late one afternoon near his home in Ransom Canyon (just East of Lubbock).  Audis was a larger than life personality who loved kids more than anything, which is why it was not out of the ordinary to find 15 teenagers at his house at anytime back in the 80's.  Audis gave me my love for basketball and taught me importance of team and certainly I don't think I would have ever enjoyed playing or coaching basketball if our paths had never crossed.    Thanks for everything Audis - R.I.P.  For those interesed I started a Facebook Page entitled "Friends of Audis Dowell" for those who knew and loved Audis to tell their favorite memories about Audis.  The outpouring and sentiments were astounding and speaks loudly to how many lives he impacted so positively.  Check it out if you like at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Friends-of-Audis-Dowell/121945561233423

Audis Dowell (1941 - 1970)

So, now that I have reached my goal weight and been able to successfully keep it off for quite sometime, I have recently purchased and have began the P90X training program from Beachbody.  While in Colorado visiting my sister and her husband, I did a few of the workouts with them and they really kicked my backside, but I was impressed with the science and thought that was put into the program.  I think it is a very good option for those of you on maintenance and feel like you have lost enough weight to begin working out regularly.  I certainly know that there is no way I could have done the workouts at my former weight, but once I lost my abnormal fat, my body was capable and my mind was right to begin working out again.  The P90X is pretty extreme and admittedly I can't complete all the reps right now, but I feel confident that by the time I have finished the 90 day program, I will be able to complete all of it and see a big difference primarily in the toning and shaping of my body as well as having better cardio.  Obviously, you would not be able to do the program while on the drop phase, but for those of you now on maintenance or getting off the protocol altogether, I would certainly recommend looking at the products offered by Beachbody.  The have other programs such as P90 that are not as extreme or long - it is only a 30 minute workout as opposed to an hour.  If you are interested in looking close at these program from Beachbody, email me or call me and I can get you more information and even get the products to you for less than you can purchase them online or in retail stores.  I have started a new page on the blog dedicated to my experiences with P90X, so check that out when you can.

I have had several folks just starting the protocol and many that are now on maintenance that still need some ideas about meals or ways to get some variety.  I went back and found some pics that I took while on different phases of the protocol and will share a day's menu from both the drop and maintenance phase.  The first two pictures below are a sample menu for my lunch and dinner while on the drops.  Both meals are approximately 250 calories:

Grilled Chicken Breast; Red Leaf Lettuce; WASA Crisp Bread w/homeade salsa; Granny Smith Apple

96/4 Beef Patty; baby spinach; melbal toast w/salsa; 1/2 grapefruit

The next three pictures show a sample day on the maintenance phase.  Obviously, I enjoyed this phase more as it was plenty to eat with a lot more variety:

3 Fried Eggs; 6oz. grilled porkchop; 1 plum

8oz. of grilled chicken thighs (Beyonce Thighs); red leaf lettuce; WASA bread; peach; Stevia soft drink

12oz T-Bone; Mixed Salad; melba toast, pickle, grilled mango

I tell people all the time that I eat now just like I was on maintenance and after looking at these pictures it is easy to understand why.  It is a lot of food and it is very good as well.  I truly believe I eat better (and I mean taste and enjoyment) than I did when I was 225 lbs.  But anyway, that hopefully gives you a good visual representation of what your daily meals should look like on each phase. 

Now for some good ol' sarcasm and hopefully what you consider humor as we crack open the D.A.P. Files (Dear Annoying Personality) and take a look at some folks that I recognized lately that do indeed need to be ridiculed.  Let us begin . . .

Dear Barbed Wire Tattoo Guy:
With all due respect, dude, your tattoo is sending us mixed signals.  Certainly the brashness and boldness the image of jutting and dangerous metal wrapped around your bicep says, "I'm one tough and hardened hombre, even though I may drive a Prius."  But the fact that the tattoo stops before encircling your entire arm tells us another thing altogether.  All tattoo experts will tell you that the most tender and painful part of the body to get "inked" is the skin under the arm, and your telling all of the world "I'm not quite tough enough to see this thing through."   The irony is rich and comical at your expense.  Perhaps you were able to fool your psyche and vulnerable self-esteem purchasing "toughness," but your not fooling anyone else so please, Rambo, cover up that oxymoron-of-a-tattoo the next time you saunter into Starbucks for a latte and a fruit cup. 

Dear Oblivious Parents of Monster Children:
This is a restaurant - a place where others like to go and have a pleasant meal and good conversation with family and friends; that is why it is called a dining experience.  Unfortunately your gang of pre-adolescence bandits are creating an atmosphere that would make Willy Wonka want to jump off a 20- story building.  What's even more amazing than the fact that this band of reckless trouser-sniffers are emitting shrieks and screams that have drowned all the other patrons conversations out, tripped up two of the wait staff, and hurled more food around the restaurant than a college food fight is that you, the life-givers of these "goonies" are seemingly unaware of it all.  The occasional, "now kids, if you can't sit there and wait for your food without, blowing spit bubbles, we may have to have a time-out."  Timeout?  Timeout?  What these hellians needs is a knockout.  So please do the rest of us a favor and take your liberal parenting ideas and books, along with your lil' monsters to the closest Chucky Cheese and let the rest of us who, incidently, locked our heathens in the car, enjoy our overpriced dinner.  

Dear Facebook Whipped Husband:
We get it - you love your wife; she is awesome, she "completes you."  We figured you thought all of these things when we attended your nuptuals years ago.  But do we really need you to recite vows to her daily on Facebook.  I mean, honestly, they were the worst part of your wedding ceremony, and now  your "friends" have to endure and relive the sappiness several times each day.  Are you truly amazed about the way your wife looks in the morning, her gentle approach to parenting, her green thumb, or her to-die-for lasagna?  Are you really so considerate of her to have to "check with the boss," or "get a hall pass" to go watch a Rangers game or play a round of golf?  Or could it be that you are simply whipped and afraid that your better half may beat you to a pulp if she discovers your old flame from college who just had a face lift and boob job recently "friended" you?  Do you post each night with her standing over her shoulder with wooden spoon clutched and ready?  Please realize Facebook is a social network, that can be potentially dangerous for all involved, and not your personal Hallmark card for everyone to see.  So unless you posting pics of your wifey in her new bikini or doing yoga, lets hear more about grilling, fishing, or that old college friend with the overhaul!       

Until next time, try to stay cool and keep dropping those pounds.  I'm out!

Colorful Colorado, Streaking Rangers, and Doing the HCG in the HOTDAL . . .

 View just outside our camper - Rocky Mountain High!

Hello and welcome back HCGers!  It has been a while - too long in fact - since the last update.  I apologize for taking so long to update the blog, but as most of you know, we packed up the family sedan Clark Griswold style and headed to Colorado for a family vacation at the beginning of July.  We had a great time.  We enjoyed some nice cool, comfortable weather, saw some really great attractions and also got to spend some really good time with our extended family.  Plus, as a bonus, there were no trips to the emergency room or auto garage - so that alone makes the Miller Summer Vacation 2011 a great success.  How awesome is Colorado in the Summer?  Man, when you leave the sweltering heat of Texas it seems like heaven.  We started our trip camping out with Stacy's family at Fun Valley just outside South Fork and had a really nice time.  We brought in the 4th just hanging out by the Rio Grande River.  The kids loved it because they were able to ride their bikes and float the river.  While there we also took an excursion over to Creede Colorado and that is a very unique town indeed.  After about a week there, we went to stay with my sister Donna and her husband in their unbelievable log home in the mountains.  They were such great host!  We spent a couple of days in Colorado Springs as we visited the Royal Gorge and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.  If you ever get the chance - the Zoo is a must!  We are back home and trying to figure out just why we left as we sit and watch Texas dry up and burn!

Gotta take your kids to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo!

Grizzlies at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - what a show they put on!



Hey, how about those Rangers?  The only thing hotter than this club is perhaps the Texas afternoons.  Win streak is getting ridiculous now and they are starting to put some real distance between themselves and the Angels.  A series win against the Angels this week could really put them in a good position heading down the stretch.  It has been pretty fun to be a Dallas sports fan the past year with the Rangers run last year, the Mav's winning it all, and now it seems the Rangers are gearing up for another playoff run.  Uh . . . let's see what's missing here??  Oh I know - where are Jerry and the boys???  Hopefully the Cowboys are taking good notes the past year and get themselves back on top.  We shall see . . .

Ok, how is the HCG protocol going?  I have realized a couple of things since the last post regarding the diet.  First, make sure that you are not leaving those drops outside in your car during the heat.  Doing so would certainly make the hormones inactive and it would not take very long to do so.  If you are having to travel with your drops, you may want to take a small cooler to place them in to keep them at room temprature.  Another thing, always slap the bottom of the bottle a few times to active the hormones before each dosage.  Next, it is very hard to maintain the protocol, especially phase 2, when traveling.  It is possible, but it requires a lot of planning and preparation to do so.  So, if you are out of town, and get caught in a situation where you have to eat something that is not allowed, don't beat yourself up too bad.  Just get back on the path as soon as possible, but don't just stop with the phase - just pick it back up when you can. 

I have a great new recipe for you maintenance phase folks that is really great, especially if you like eggs.  This recipe comes from my awesome sister Donna, who was our gracious host in Colorado.  Her nickname is "Shorty," therefore I will coin this recipe "Shorty's Baked Eggs:"
INGREDIENTS:
Organic Raw Eggs
Raw Spinach
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Diced Onions (optional)
Crumbled Bacon (optional)
PREPARATION:
preheat oven to 350 degrees
spray a muffin pan with non-stick spray
line muffin pan with raw spinach
crack eggs and empty into lined muffin pan
sprinkle cheddar cheese, onions and bacon on top of egg
cook for 10 minutes at 350 degrees
*if you like your eggs over easy 10 minutes is just right, but if you like them a little more firm, you may want to leave them in longer
**you can do a scrambled egg version as well by simply scrambling the eggs prior to putting them in the muffin pan and cooking them for 20 minutes

Lined and filled muffin pan . . .

after baking 10 minutes at 350 . . .

Final product - great maintenance breakfast!

Before I go, I have to say a special congratulations to my mom, Mary Miller.  Last evening in Midland, Plains Marketing, honored her for 30 years of service with a great appreciation dinner.  I was only 13 years old when she began working for the oil transport company.  We are so very proud of her and she has provided an excellent example of loyalty and work ethic for myself and my kids.  Thanks and congrats Mom!  Next blog will be in a couple days and I will introduce everyone to some new HCGers from the last Trade Days at McKinney and also unveil my upcoming exercise project. Now that I have lost significant weight, I hope I am able to begin a intense workout regiment once again - we shall see. I believe I will also spotlight the newest suspects from the D.A.P. (Dear Annoying Personality) files to share with you.  It is indeed amazing the strange things you can see and witness on a two week vacation.  Everyone drop some pounds and try to stay cool - see the pic below - Case and Point!


When Carnies fall in love - the weird streets of Creede Colo.





 Scenes from a Family Vacation - Strike up "Holiday Road" please . . .

Road Warrior!!



Claire's Wild-West Stalker . . .

Someone please shoot me - put me out of my misery!

Christy Brinkley who????

Clark Griswold, Escaping the Heat and Beyonce's Delicious Thighs!!

Chevy and the Vacation Movie - Comic Genius!!

Hot enough for you?  Man, I have lived in Texas my whole life and you would think I would get used to the heat of July and August - but the opposite seems true.  It gets tougher to handle each year!!  Well, thankfully tomorrow the Miller clan is escaping the heat of Texas for the cool mountains of Colorado on our Summer Vacation.  I really love the mountains and Colorado is one of my favorite vacation spots.  We will be camping out with Stacy's family in South Fork for several days and then going to visit my sister who lives just outside La Veta.  I look forward to relaxing, slowing down the pace a bit, not sweating continuously, and enjoying family.

Now, vacations are awesome  -I think we can all agree they create some lifelong memories.  But I gotta tell ya folks, planning, packing and getting there and back can be a beatdown of epic proportions.  We are always telling the kids that they spend too much time in front of the television and playing video games, and now as we embark on 12 hours of driving, we are constantly reminding them to have all there electronics charged!!  If I had a dollar for everytime I will hear "dad, Myles is touching me," or "dad, Claire kicked me," or "Jim, roll down the window before you do that please," I could most assuredly pay for the fuel this little road trip is gonna require.  Thankfully my wife does an outstanding job of planning and taking care of all those little details that I am oblivious to.  As for me - I might as well be Clark Griswold of the classic Vacation Movies.  It is an absolute guarantee that on multiple occasions during this two-week little jaunt across two states that I will have several moments and episodes that only Chevy himself could appreciate.  Hopefully none will involve the law, wreckers and some will include Christy Brinkley and a swimming pool.  Here's to you Clark and all the other dad's who dare go on a family vacation in the car!!

Ok, now let's move to a much more juicier and important matter - Beyonce's Sweet and Moist Thighs!  Everyone get your mind out of the gutter please - I'm referring to my recipe for marinated and grilled chicken thighs for Phase 3 of the HCG Diet.  I named them this because according some fellow coaches who claim to be experts on such matters, Beyonce's thighs are outstanding (I wouldn't know anything about that).  Well, I have been told these chicken thighs are also outstanding, thus the moniker.  So here is the recipe:
Beyonce Thighs
INGREDIENTS:
8-10 Skinless/Bonless Chicken Thighs
Marinade:
2 Cups of Low Sodium Kikoman Soy Sauce
1/4 Cup of Worchershire Steak Sauce
1/4 Cup of Cooking Sherry
1/4 cup of organic honey or aguave nectar
2 tablespoons cup of Stevia
2 tablespoons of ground ginger
1 tablespoon of Cavenders Greek Spice
1 tablespoon of onion powder
1 tablespoon of garlic powder
1 tablespoon of ground pepper
1/2 cup of green onions
1/2 cup of red onions
1/4 cup of ground parsley
PREPARATION
Mix all the ingredients to the marinade together and pour into a ziplock bag
Take a knife and cut a couple of slits in the meatiest part of each chicken thigh and put the thighs in the bag with the marinade;
put in refrigerator for at least 12 hours;
remove chicken from marinade and save reserve;
grill thighs at 400 degrees laid flat out for about 3 minutes on each side;
take reserve and put in a sauce pan and bring to a boil and use to baste thighs after pulling off the grill.
Thighs are great to eat right off grill or awesome chopped up and put onto a salad.
This marinade is also great for chicken legs as well.

I hope you enjoy the thighs!

I would like to draw everyone's attention to two new HCGers who also own and operate local businesses.  Katrina Lindsey LMT can take care of your sore muscles and Dr. Danny Cox, DVM can take care of your pets at his clinic/hospital.  I am proud to have these two fine folks on board as HCGers and certainly want to let everyone know about their services.  Please keep these folks and the others listed in this blog in mind.  And remember if you have your own business or would like the business you work for to be added to this blog, just let me know. 

Because I will be on the road, I don't think I will be able to update the blog frequently as I would like.  I'm not sure what type of connection I will have in the mountains, so I will not have another entry until I return in about two weeks.  But, I hope to have some good stories and observations then.  In the meantime, please continue to update and send me your questions.  I will be checking my email daily and will get back with you.  Also, if you run out of drops or know someone who needs the drops, let me know.  I am taking my bottles and shipping supplies with me and I can certainly have them to you or new customers within two days using UPS.  I hope all of have a great couple of weeks and continue to have success with the diet.  I look forward to hearing from many of you.  Until later . . . I'm on the "Holiday Road." 

   

Great Kiddos from McKinney North, The Vet Pet, and Some More Recipe Ideas

A nervous Harley Miller pays the Vet Pet a visit.





Hello HCGers - I hope you all had a great weekend and a good start to this week.  I apologize for being a little late with this entry, but I was gone all weekend and playing catch up the past couple of days.  I had the unique opportunity to coach a dear friend and rival coach's basketball team this weekend at the Texas A&M Team Basketball Camp.  Coach Craft is the fine basketball coach at McKinney North High School and he and I have been doing battle with each other for the past several years.  We decided to coach each other's teams during the summer since the UIL does not allow coaches to coach their players out of season.  What a great experience it was.  The young men from McKinney North are not only really good basketball players, they are mannered, respectful, and give me great hope about our future generation.  I got to know 10 really great young men over the weekend and I have even more respect for Coach Craft and the Bulldogs than I did before.  Thanks Bulldogs. 
I have another big thank you to hand out.  This time it goes out to some fellow HCGers - Danny and Amy Cox of McKinney.  Danny owns and runs the Vet Pet in Frisco.  His animal hospital and clinic is located in the Petco located at the North Dallas Tollway/Eldorado.  Amy also does grooming as well.  Well ol' Harley (you remember the Shepherd that has devoured our backyard) turned a year old recently and it was time for him to get a check-up and his shots updated.  So me and the kiddos loaded him up and went to see the Vet Pet himself.  What a great crew Danny has as they took great care of Harley and made the whole process really painless (of course I wasn't on the receiving end of that fecal check either) and were genuinely concerned and interested in his health and well-being.  If you have some veternarian services, please consider Dr. Cox and the Vet Pet.  If Frisco is too far, Danny told me that there are plans to open additional Vet Pets in the Petco stores in Allen and Addison as well.  I will let you all know when those hospitals are open.  Funny thing about dogs - they can sense things so well.  Harley usually loves to "go" and getting in the car is met with much enthusiasm and delight by our four-legged son.  However, today he wasn't nearly as excited - it was as if he sensed that this was not a field trip to the park or a joy ride to the post office.  And certainly when we arrived at the Vet Pet, his fears were confirmed and that tail that is usually a lethal weapon from wagging back-in-forth with such gusto, was tucked tightly between his legs.  Those perky ears, slicked back like he knew this was not going be good - and for him, I'm sure it was not.  Amazing how dogs pick up on stuff like that.  Well, he survived the visit, got a great report and crashed on the way home with Myles in the backseat.  I gave him half a ribeye tonight for his drama and he gobbled that up happily.  I wonder if he will pick up that we are leaving for vacation for 2 weeks without him??  Somehow, I bet he will.

I knew this was no joy ride - not getting in the car ever again!

Ok here are a few recipes that you can have on Phase Two of the protocol.  Many of you are looking for variety, so try these and give me your reviews.
Baked Stuffed Tomatoes
INGREDIENTS:
3.5 oz of lean ground beef
2 medium sized tomatoes
1 serving of melba toast crumbs
1tablespoon of onion, finely minced
1 clove garlic, crushed and minced
teaspoon of garlic powder
teaspoon of onion powder
cayenne pepper to taste
salt and pepper to taste
PREPARATION:
Hollow out tomatoes and sprinkle with salt and turn upside down to drain for 10 minutes;
Brown ground beef adding onion, garlic and spices;
Pack ground beef mixture into tomatoes and add small amount of water to bottom of dish;
Top with melba crumbs and salt;
Bake at 350 for 20 minutes;
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve.
Makes 1 serving of protein, vegetable and bread:  215 calories

Phase 3 Variation - add string cheese and also cream cheese to mixture and wrap with bacon. 

Cabbage Rolls
INGREDIENTS:
3.5 oz of lean ground beef for each serving
4 large cabbage leaves
1 cup of 99% Fat Free Beef Broth
1 tablespoon of onion, chopped
1 clove of garlic, crushed and minced
dash of garlic powder and onion powder (What exactly is a dash anyway???)
PREPARATION
Preheat oven to 375;
Lightly blanch large cabbage leaves and set aside;
Brown ground beef with onion, garlic and spices;
Spoon ground beef mixture into cabbage leaves, tuck in ends and roll up (burrito style);
Put cabbage rolls in a baking dish and add broth to the bottom;
Brush lightly with beef broth and bake in oven for 20-30 minutes;
Spoon sauce over cabbage rolls periodically to keep moist.
Make multiple servings at one time for best results.
167 calories each

Strawberry Sorbet/Pops
INGREDIENTS:
4-6 medium strawberries
Approx. 3 cubes of ice
Any powdered or flavored Stevia to taste
1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder or cocoa (optional)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup of water
PREPARATION:
Blend ingredients together until smooth;
Pour into a dish or Popsicle molds and freeze until firm.
Makes 1 serving of fruit - 35 calories

Warm Strawberry Compote
INGREDIENTS:
5 large fresh sliced strawberries
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
dash of cinnamon
dash of nutmeg
dash of cayenne
dash of salt
Vanilla or dark chocolate Stevia to taste
PREPARATION
In a small saucepan, combine ingredients and stir thoroughly;
Saute on medium heat until warm and bubbly and a sauce develops;
Serve warm in a bowl and garnish with mint;
Top with cinnamon Melba Croutons
Makes 1 fruit serving - 35 calories

Next entry I will divulge the secrets of my highly requested "Jalepeno Sausage Bombs" and also my "Beyonce Thighs" for our folks on the maintenance phase.  Until then, I hope everyone has a great rest of the week. Look for the next entry on Friday! 
     

Stong out of the Gate, Enemy Territory, Metabolism, and D.A.P Files Revisited

Good evening HCGers.  I hope you have had a great week and are looking forward to a nice weekend.  I have had a really, really busy and crazy week and tomorrow I am heading across enemy lines  - College Station and A&M University.  Yep, this Red Raider will be in the midst of the Ags as I am heading down to coach at at Team Camp.  Which brings me to the best Aggie joke I have ever heard - "How did the Aggie break his leg on the golf course???  He fell off the ball washer!!!  All kidding aside, this is the second year we have taken teams down to the camp and it is ran top notch and the campus is really very nice and impressive.  I wanted to get an entry out before hitting the road early tomorrow and it will probably be Tuesday before I get the next entry posted.

Who has Yell Leaders instead of Cheerleaders?   I'll tell you who - Freakin' Aggies

The first thing I want to do is give the new HCGers some tips to starting out on the protocol so that they are able to maximize their weight loss.  Remember, Phase 2 (drops and low calorie) has two purposes only:  1) losing as much weight as rapidly as possible; and 2) reshaping your body by mobilizing abnormal fat to other areas in your body where it is needed.  Bottom line is that with both scenarios, you will be losing the unwanted fat in your problem areas.  You are not concerned about resetting your metabolism or anything like that on this phase - just losing abnormal fat.  Here are some other things to make sure you are aware of:

• make sure on your load days that you consume as many calories/fatty food as possible - but try to get them from non-sugar fats.  Foods like pizza, pasta, mashed potatoes and breads are very good for this.  The load days are important and don't start the drop phase without doing this.
• try to prepare your meals in advance for the week
• buy a good scale and weigh your foods before cooking.  At Target I picked up a great scale that is digital and also calculates the actual calories based on the weight.  The brand is Taylor.
• remember to drink plenty of water.  A good formula to use is to take your weight, divide by 2, and drink that many ounces of water each day.  Drinking plenty of water also helps with curbing your appetite and reduces cravings
• spicy foods also reduce your appetite, so if you enjoy spicy foods, eat them.  Make sure you are reading ingredients on spices to make sure they don't contain sugars
• watch your lotions and bubble bath - many of these products contain sugar and calories can indeed be absorbed through the skin.  There is a brand named Jason that has an organic aloe vera lotion that will work.  You can begin using your Cinnamon Bun Flavor Lotion from Bath and Body works on the maintenance phase.  My wife loves that place, sometimes when she walks by after lathering up, I get hungry!!
• get plenty of sleep.  Try to get at least 8 hours.  It is proven to help in weight loss.  In fact, your body burns a lot of calories during sleep because it is working so hard to keep up your body temp while your heart rate is low.  It is interesting that between the hours of 11pm - 2am the body loses the most calories during sleep.  So watch the news and a little bit of Leno, then go to sleep and dream about strutting around the pool in a skimpy bikini, speedo, or even less if that's how you will roll after losing all this weight.
• stick to the foods on the protocol. Don't eat foods that are not on the list, even if you have been told that they are healthy and good for you.  They may be, but for some reason Dr. Simeon doesn't want you eating those right now.  So, step away from the Salmon sir, and the Turkey ma'm and nobody will gets hurt!
• Make sure you are weighing in the mornings and also measuring.  Make sure you weigh after using the restroom and yes, you are supposed to weigh in the buff.  But measuring is important as well, especially down the road when you hit stalls in weight loss - you will still be encouraged because you will find that you are still losing inches.  Yes, you can and will lose inches and not pounds.
• avoid situations that will be tempting.  If your neighbor is grilling brats in Shiner, don't go over and visit with him after mowing the yard.  You will soon realize how much of our culture revolves around food and eating.  Be prepared so you don't get yourself in a tough situation.
• Weekends can be tough, so be prepared mentally and keep as busy as possible.
• Don't worry about constipation or the opposite during the first few weeks of the drops phase.  This is normal as you are not getting as much fiber and protein as normal.  Make sure you are drinking plenty of water and also check GNC for supplements that can keep you regular if you would like

Ok, let's talk metabolism.  In his book, Kevin Trudeau points out the the number one thing that all overweight people share is a low metabolism.  "What that means is when a fat person eats food their body does not burn the food as fuel at a very high rate.  People, who are naturally thin burn food and calories quickly.  Up until now there has never been a treatment that truly addresses this particular problem.   This is one of the reasons why when a person goes on a weight-loss program and actually loses some weight, they gain all the weight back very quickly.  If you don't correct low metabolism then you are destined to be fat your whole life" (4).
The last sentence is harsh, but so true.  The good news is that Phase 3 does this - it resets or corrects your metabolism.  There are several factors that go into why our metabolism becomes bogged down and runs at a slower rate.  Aging, illnesses, medications, less active lifestyle are all factors and sometimes we can't control or help these.  However, the major reason that so many Americans have a slow metabolism and overweight is because of the ingredients and additives that are in our food.  And you can control this.  The really cool thing about this plan is that while you are working so hard to stay true to the protocol, you don't even realize that you are dramatically changing your eating habits and nutritional health.  After you have completed the protocol you will realize that you don't want to eat the way you used to and because of that you will be able to maintain a healthier metabolism.  That is an awesome feeling folks - life changing.  The days of eating foods and feeling guilty about them are over.  Instead, you will eat that piece of cheesecake with no guilt, but instead confidence - confidence that your metabolism will take care of you because you take care of it with your nutritional choices and consistency.  Trudeau goes on to state that, "The most common myth is that to lose weight and keep it off you must eat less and exercise more.  This is even the U.S. Government's "law" in relation to selling weight loss products.  Fat people are told they have no willpower or self-control.   This is untrue in most circumstances" (18).  Basically, Trudeau places a lot of blame on the government and the food and medical industry for not addressing the problem with metabolism and consequently wanting to keep America fat.  I'm not saying everything Trudeau says is correct, but when I choose who to believe - an individual or the government and big business, it really isn't that hard of a choice for me.  I love this quote by Thomas Jefferson that I think could be attributed to what is going on today with the government:  "If people let the government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in a sorry state as are the souls who live under tyranny."  Something to think about . . .

Ok now for some D.A.P files.  For those new to the blog, this is an acronym for "Dear Annoying Personality" and this is the second installment.  Please see the June 10th blog for the first installment.  Again, I will repeat my disclaimer in regards to this little attempt at humor and satire:

Ok, you have heard it said that "if you can't laugh at yourself . . ." - right?  Well this entry will probably ridicule and satirize most everyone that is part of this blog (including myself) or at the very least, someone we know well.  Hopefully the majority of the "jabs," all made in good fun of course, will target someone very close to you, such as a spouse, sibling, or co-worker so you can have something to rib them about in the days to come.  With that being said, fellas, I am not responsible for any cold treatment, running up of credit cards, or couch-sleeping that may be a result of you blurting out "hey honey, the drops guy is talking about you in the blog today."   Ok, so now that with have the legaleze out of the way, let us now procede to what I like to call the D.A.P Files, which stands for "Dear Annoying Personality."  And away we go - hang on, and check your feelings in at the door.

Dear 15 Handicapper who Plays the Back Tees:
For the love of God, who are you trying to fool teeing up back there where the club champions play from?  There is a reason that the golf course has given you several different options of where you can tee up from - so you can actually have a chance to par a hole or two today.  It is obvious that your purchase of an over-sized, gaudy golf bag, top-rated equipment, and attire that would put a dent in, even, Freddy Couples wallet has not improved your game one stroke, or fooled the golf gods nor the rest of us who have to wait for you to retrieve your Pro V's from the creek that runs only 173 yards from the BACK TEES.  Do us all a favor and leave your vanity and in the trunk of you car along with your Knickers and tee it up at the blue tees with the rest of us hackers.



If you show up looking like this, you had better be able to play!


Dear Left Lane Speed Limit Driver:
Do you ever wonder why people are flying by you on the passenger side of your Imported Hybrid with expressions of shock, awe, and often foaming at the mouth?  Do you get tired of getting the bird from fellow motorist?  It's great and even admirable that your observe speed limits to the letter of the law and that you have no particular place or time that you have to be anywhere.  We all wish we had had nothing to do but spend the afternoon at Michaels and Borders checking out Oprah's latest recommendations.  Please glance in the rear view mirror, consider the epic traffic jam and impending road rage you have created, turn your blinker on, and get in the right lane so the rest of us can break the law.

Dear Parent who Dresses Like Their Teenager:
The fact that your daughter and/or son are struggling with identity issues and are seeking validation and acceptance with their sagging pants, skinny jeans, tattoos, and shrapnel lodged all over their face and who knows where else, is disturbing enough. But, your sharing their fashion choices is indeed quite pathetic.  Hey Dad, did you know there is an unwritten law that after you are over the age of 25 you are not allowed to wear a sports jersey unless you are actually attending a game, playing in a game, washing the car, or using it for luck in a poker game?  So please stop showing up to Meet the Teacher Night with your son wearing matching Kobe Bryant jerseys.  And oh mom, do you know how difficult it is for school officials to impress upon your daughter the importance of the school's dress code when you show up to bring her Starbucks wearing skinny jeans that have "pink" emblazened on the backside that most certainly required some type of pulley system to squeeze into and a spaghetti strap blouse that would make Lady Ga Ga blush?  Your insecure kiddos and their friends do not think you are hip or cool, and in fact, they find it quite embarassing that they keep bumping into you at Abercrombie and the Wet Seal.  So shop with the rest of us at Dillards and Pennys.

A pant suit or will do just fine Mom. 

Dear Shoulder Rubbing Friends:
I enjoy having you over for brats and beer.  I look forward to playing 18 with you or taking in a ballgame.  However, I do not enjoy it when you rub my shoulders.  I don't know if it is a cousin to the awkward man-hug, but there is no place for it in our friendship.  Ok the fact that it actually feels good  and you have very strong hands has no bearing at all and you should never do this again.  I'm quite positive this is your misguided attempt to let me know how awesome of a buddy you think I am or how good the steaks on the grill look, but the very miniscule notion that it might mean something else makes this truly unenjoyable for me and everyone else around.   A simple knuckle bump or high-fiver will do just fine. Please know also, if my suspicions that you are also secretly smelling my hair are confirmed, I can no longer be your "bro."

No Bro!!!!!!!!

Well I hope I have not offended too many of you, but I have made each of you smile just a bit.  I am signing off and will be on my way shortly to Aggie Land.  I will have my phone with me, so I am on call as far as HCG emergencies or questions, so do not hesitate.  Again, have a great weekend and continue losing weight one drop at a time. 

New Customers + Loyal Customers + Old Friends = 1 Great Weekend!!

Knocking out fat one drop at a time!!

Hello HCG Nation - yep, I'm going to start calling it that because we are growing like crazy.  I am so humbled and yet excited about the how many hits my blog is now getting as well as how big our HCG community is getting.  This weekend at Trade Days was brutally hot and kept many folks away, but nonetheless, I was able to reunite with past customers as well as get many new customers on board and on the way to conquering their weight loss issues.  It is so rewarding to visit with those of you who purchased from me and see the obvious pride, satisfaction and excitement you have about yourself and the progress you have made in such a short period of time.  And I'm just as equally stoked about getting folks started on the journey as well.  Thanks to all of you who came out to see me - new and old customers.  I have added a new page to the blog entitled "My Awesome Customers."  Check out the pictures and see for yourself the wonderful local folks who stopped by to see me this weekend - they all look awesome because of their dedication to the HCG Protocol. 

It was a very busy weekend for me.  So much so, that I must apologize for being a little tardy on a blog entry.  I have been a bit distracted.  I had so much going on so fast that it was hard to keep up with everything.  But I'm not complaining because it was a GREAT WEEK.  Besides Trade Days, I had old coaching buddies from Lubbock come in for a golf tournament and Rangers game yesterday.  These guys, along with their wives are some of the best people you can come across - salt of the earth.  Coach Grimes, Ledbetter, and Pasley are such instrumental people in my life.  I miss working with them each day, and I look forward to seeing them when possible.  Thanks for everything fellas. By the way, Dallas Grimes, or Tiger-Pride as our players liked to call him, is a barrell-chested fellow, who I used to give such as hard time for eating healthy.  Boy, am I getting it back for all of those jabs I made to him back in the day.  Anyway, Dallas, is taking HCG for a test drive as well.  He wants to lose about 15 pounds around the middle.  However, he is very reluctant about forgoing weight lifting while on Phase 2, but has agreed to in order to meet his goal.  I am anxious to hear his thoughts and reactions after being on the plan for a week or two.  He has promised to keep us updated.  I told him he would lose his 15lbs in two weeks - we shall see.  Dallas is a great example of someone who is not grossly overweight, but can still benefit from the HCG protocol to finally get rid of those problem areas that are full of abnormal fat.  Dallas - we expect to see pics of that six pack that will match the gun show!!

That is a good segway into a topic that is being brought up often by HCGers - working out while on the drops - why can't you do it?   Here's the deal, if you workout strenously, will you not lose any weight?  No, you will still lose weight; however, you will not lose as much as you possibly could and you may well lose the benefit of increased energy.  When you exert your muscles during exercising, such as weight lifting or running, they require require water retention to repair themselves.  We all know that water retention can hamper weight loss - just ask all of the female of the species in the audience.  So, if you want to maximize weight loss on Phase 2, you will drop the barbell and pick up a remote control.  Of course, you may still walk, do yoga, golf, and stretch because that is not considered strenuous.

There has been some talk on the news and of course the internet about possible side effects of the HCG protocol.  Now, keep in mind, that most of these discussions are related to the injections of pure HCG that you would receive from a doctor.  The great thing about the Homeopathic Drops is that they are not as expensive or potent as the pure HCG injections, but proving to be just as effective.  Nonetheless, I wanted to address those here as well to set the record straight as I know it to be.  Below are the possible side effects from the protocol:

Headaches - the first few days on the drops and low calorie diet, most people struggle with headaches.  This is normal and is not a results of the drops, but your body being in shock from the deprivation of certain substances it is used to such as sugar, carbonation, and starches.  Usually, after 3 or 4 days have passed the headaches cease and participants start to feel really good with increased energy.  It is certainly fine to take pain reliever for the headaches such as Tylenol, Advil, or Aleve.  I used to have frequent headaches and I approximate that after one week into the HCG protocol, I have had maybe three headaches. 

Digestive Issues - many people may experience some constipation or the opposite while on the phases of HCG.  Not to give you too much information, I have experienced both, and both passed in time.  I figure all the salad and apples I was eating, combined with large amounts of water pretty much assured that I would have some issues.  Again, it passed and was a result more of the diet and not the drops themselves.

Hair Loss - When Dr. Oz had his episode on the HCG diet, he had people testifying about their postiive results from the protocol.  He also had a lady on there that suffered some hair loss.  I have been reading as much as I can about this particular issue and have discovered the hair loss can be a side effect for certain individuals who experience rapid weight loss of any kind.  It is not attributed to the HCG dieter specificaly, but people who experience sudden and rapid weight loss.  Again, it does not effect everyone, or even most people, just some.  I have experienced nothing of the sort - in fact I'm can't control the hair in my ears and nose.  Of course, that isn't the HCG either - that is just becoming an old fart.  But, I digress - so to repeat, hair loss can be a side effect of sudden and rapid weight loss, but not the HCG hormone.  The good news here is that, it is a temporary condition, not permanent, and the hair can be expected to return. 

I would like to share with you all an analogy that I think best explains your body's metabolism and how important of a process it is.  I call it the "Cruise Control Dynamic" and it goes like this.  When you are on the interstate traveling and you set your crusise to "70" (well some of us - just go with it) it maintains that speed for you.  Now lets say you are on I 20 between Eastland an Abilene - you are going to have to go up the steep Ranger Hill.  What happens to keep your speed at "70" going up Ranger Hill?  The vehicle will automatically excelerate to keep the speed at "70."  This is the equivalent of you taking in an unusually large amount of calories once your metabolism is set - instead of eating 1800 calories, you take in 3000 one day.  To compensate your metabolism will exclerate to keep you at your "cruise" weight.  Consequently, going down the hill is like taking in fewer calories than normal, so your "excelerator" will slow down so you don't lose weight beyond your "cruise" weight.  This is an awesome thing and I am still amazed to witness my body do this for over two months now.  And it is exactly why Phase 3 is so very important.  You must take as much care and attention to the maintenance phase as you did during the drop phase.  Too many HCGers feel the "work" is over after the drops, and are not as diligent during the maintenance phase and unfortunately, have trouble resetting the metabolism. Resetting the metabolism is the key to getting you off dieting forever. 

For all of our new HCGers, I would like to clarify the purpose of each phase:
Phase 1 - Loading:  You load the first two days you start taking the drops for two reasons.  First, you are storing up some energy that you will utilize down the road as you are about to embark on a very low calorie diet for a significant amount of time - your storing up energy for the long haul.  Don't worry if you gain a few pounds during this period - it will be gone soon enough.  Secondly, you are showing the HCG where you store your abnormal fat.  I know, I know, everyone can tell by looking at us, but to my knowledge, HCG drops are incapable of seeing or hearing, so we load, and leave out some bread crumbs to our problem areas.  It takes approximately 48 hours for calories to settle, so this gives the HCG time to target those areas.  Remember, to weigh yourself each day even while you are loading. 

Phase 2 - Drops/Low Calories:  Simply put, the objective here is to lose a lot of weight as rapidly as possible.  And yes, it is safe, because the fat that will be leaving your body is abnormal fat, not structural or normal reserve fat.  Don't worry about metabolism or any of that on this phase - concentrate solely on staying loyal to the diet restrictions, weighing, and losing fat.  Phase two can last from 24 to 45 days depending on how much weight you would like to lose.  At 45 days, you need to begin Phase 3 because it is at about this point that your body could start becoming immune to the effects of the HCG, so you need to take a break from it for a time period before introducing it to your system again.

Phase 3 - Resetting your Metabolism:  You ojective here is to maintain your weight at the end of Phase 2.  It takes 21 days, or three weeks to reset your metabolism.  Weigh each morning and make sure that you stay with in two pounds of that weight plus or minus.  That is, you don't want to lose more than two pounds either because your body needs to stay within this four pound window for a significant amount of time so it knows the weight you are supposed to be.  If one morning, you are 3 pounds over the number, you must immediately to a "Steak Day" to get your weight back down.  If you lose 3 pounds, you need to increase our calorie intake for the day.  Don't hold back on the steak day either - eat a large steak - at least 12 ounces.  Please note that your weight will fluctuate, especially during the beginning of this phase and you will have to play with the calorie count to figure our where your body weight stays consistent.  I have not known anyone who went through maintenance and did not have to do at least one steak day.  I believe I had to do two and my poor wife has done several.  Sorry ladies, again, your bodies for some reason have more trouble with consistency than ours.  That makes sense however, because I don't know how you dames expect us to understand you, when your own body can't figure itself out.  I guess you ladies are just far more complex than we simpleton males. 

Tomorrow night I have my first, and hopefully, not the last free Weight Loss Seminar for people wanting to get some more information about the HCG diet.  So, if you have friends that have been asking you about the diet and considering starting it, please let them know that I will be at the Holiday Inn & Suites at 3220 Craig Drive in McKinney tomorrow night from 6-7:30pm telling my about my personal journey with the protcol and explaining the phases of the diet.  I would like to have these seminars monthly.  Also, if you have a group of individuals that you would like me to talk to, please let me know and we can set that up easily. 

Before I go, I am going to make a plea of the followers of this blog.  Please sign in and get an account so you can reply to posts and make comments to help others.  Also, I would like to do surveys and also get my customers to try out some new products that I am looking at distributing, but I want people I trust to give them a test drive first.  To encourage folks to become a "follower," I am going to put all the followers names in drawing at the end of June to win products from Scentsy as well couple of Kevin Trudeau books.  So please take the time and become a follower of the blog - it doesn't cost a thing, and I'm not going to give your name out to telemarketers.   

The next blog entry will be Friday.  I will talk specifically about why our metabolism gets slowed down and also have some more recipes available.  Also, brace yourself for some more D.A.P (Dear Annoying Personality) Files.  I have come across a few new letters that need to be written since our last visit into that file. Until then, I hope the rain keeps up and your weight keeps going down. 






Massages, the Best of Billy and Phil, and Trade Days!!



Brillance from Years Gone By

 Hello HCG world and welcome back.  It has been a very busy, eventful, and EPIC week for me and that is why I only have two entries - my apologies.  I have been getting ready for my second weekend of Third Monday Trade Days at McKinney in hopes of getting new customers on board.  Last month's Trade Days were awesome as I was able to meet so many great folks and follow their success and optimism with the diet.  I am anxious to start this process over again.  I know that many of you will be coming out to see me again this weekend and I look forward to seeing you.  I'm especially ready to see Wayne who has now lost 48lbs since starting the diet the week after May Trade Days.  You can bet I will be shooting some pics with my new and improved customers.  I'm all about pictures now - I have receive some amazing ones this week!  Please do come by and say "hi" if you brave the heat. 

I have had the kiddos all week long as Stacy has had training during the day, and I am quite sure about two things:  1) I have seen a Mom's job and I don't want it - where do they get the patience and energy to keep everything together with kids?  - I believe that if every Mom in the country went to training the same week, the Dads would set our society back three decades easily; 2) Harley (the dog) has loved this week as he has eaten his weight in crumbs and spills around the house.  Who needs a diswasher when you have a long, wet-tongued Shepherd?  At least I can say I'm going green. 

It has been Epic because Dallas got to bask in the spotlight as World Champions as we celebrated the Dallas Mavericks accomplishments.  It has been since 1993 since Dallas has been able to say that - a long drought that was ended in dramatic fashion. It really is awesome when you know Dirk has wanted and thought about that moment for five years since the last finals appearance.  How sweet it is to finally pertake of something you dream of having.   Now if we can get the Rangers to playing well again - wow, they are lucky everyone is focusing on the Mavs right now, because as Crash Davis said in the movie Bull Durham - they "couldn't hit water if the fell out of a (BLEEP INSERTED HERE) boat!"

Photoshop can be so fun . . .

One of the good things you can do for your overall health and specifically your metabolism is getting regular massages.  Not bad huh?  But of course there are not many of us who can afford to shuffle down to the salon/spa several times a week and layout 40-50 bucks in the name of toxin relief - right?   Well, I have obtained some discounts cards for my customers exlusively from a registered therapists at Total Body Health located at 101 E. Lamar St. in McKinney.  How does $19 sound for a one hour massage?  Just get in touch with me and I can get a card out to you.  Of course I have a limited quantity of these, so get em' while they lasts.  I will have them with me at my booth this weekend as well.

Ok, a friend of mine posed the question to me the other day - "what is your favorite Billy Joel song."  First of all, what a blast from the past - if you grew up in the 80's, Billy Joel was certainly part of your pop culture.  I mean the guy married Christy Brinkley and played live at Yankee Stadium - that right there gives him legendary status in my book.  Sidebar please - "your honor, if there is anyone reading this that does not like Billy Joel, please remove them from the room."  Secondly, when you get to thinking about all the great songs that he has, it is very, very hard to pick one.  As soon as you think you have it, you are reminded of another one.  So, the best I can do is my top five:
5.  We Didn't Start the Fire - I'm a school teacher, it has to be on the list
4.  It's Still Rock n Roll to Me - great tune - can't help but feel good listening to this song
3.  Only the Good Die Young - fun tune, even if it pokes fun at Catholic girls
2.  You May be Right  - fun song with worthwhile message
1.  Piano Man - his anthem to himself.  Who doesn't love a piano bar??

One of my favorite shows on television this Modern Family and one of my favorite characters is Phil Dumphy.  In fact, I think his character ranks up there with some of my favorite sit com characters of all time.  It don't know if he is come close to the glorified air of Michael Scott, but he will be if he keeps coming up with great one-liners in the seasons to come.  I mean this guy is guaranteed to screw up any situation in his own perfectly hilarious way.  If you are familiar with the show, you know exactly what I'm talking about.  If not, check out the first two seasons of the show.  Here are some of Phil's better lines:

Phil [about Desiree]: "Am I attracted to her? Yes. Would I ever act on it? No, no way. Not while my wife is still alive."

Phil: Claire likes to say "You can be part of the problem, or part of the solution." But I happen to believe you can be both.

 Claire: Getting everybody out of the house in the morning can be really tough. Especially the first day of school.
Phil: From the moment we get up at seven until we drop them off at school it is: go go go.
Claire: I get up at six.
Phil [mocking]: I get up at five.
Claire: Seriously, I get up at six.
Phil: That's you? I thought we had a racoon

Check out youtube scene below - Phil at his hilarious best . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_CmBsi17_0

I know there is not much on today's blog to help you out on your protocol. But sometimes, I figure the best consultation that is needed is some fun and laughter.  I mean we can't all be all work and no play - right.  So today is mostly play.  Besides, the next three days I will be talking HCG until I get lock-jaw (at least I hope I am), so I needed to take a little break from the diet talk as well.   I can tell you, however, that I was excited to see where Dr. Oz, whom I'm not that familiar with because I don't do Oprah (don't go there), has come out in "Women's Health Magazine" and endorsed the HCG Diet Protocol.  The article states, "Controversy surrounds the HCG diet and its drastic methods - but according to America's best-loved doctor, research into HCG may uncover the weight-loss solutions that millions of us have been waiting for."  Everytime I see "controversial", I have to laugh because the only folks who think it is controversial is doctors who are upset that patients are no longer paying hundreds of dollars a month to get the same treatment, and of course, the FDA.  I have an acronym for the FDA - Freakin' Dumb Arses.  Tell me, what government run program or agency do you think is ran well, truthful and has it's citizen's best interest in mind?  Heck, the FDA hasn't gotten around to approving aspirin yet.  And you know what, I hope they never approve HCG because if they do, the prices will go up significantly because of all the taxes that will be placed on them.  In Australia, where it has been approved by their government, the drops are selling for $200 an ounce.  Anyway off my soapbox about our government -that's an entire different blog.  If you are a Dr. Oz fan, then you should take some solace in the fact that he sees the benefit of this program. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend and stays cool.  It seems really hard to cool down at all lately.  It seems I'm always overheated these days.  All we need is Kathleen Turner and William Hurt and we could be on the set of Body Heat (overlooked Classic movie).  Make sure to notice any new businesses that are associated with the blog and when you can, patronize them - and tell em Jim sent you.  I have a couple of new features as well on the sidebars, so check those out when you have time.  Over and out.