God Bless Soldiers, Byron Nelson, and Neighbors with Knifes



Take Time to Remember and Pay Homage

Hello all!  I hope everyone had a really good Memorial Day weekend.  I know mine was really awesome as I got to spend some time with my family and also watch the some of the best golfers in the world at the Byron Nelson Tournament in Las Colinas.  Of course we all really enjoy the extra day off work and usually really get to spend some quality time with friends and family during this weekend each year, but we have to be careful and not forget while we observe this weekend - the many men and women who have sacrificed and risked so much for our country.  One thing they did at the Nelson this weekend that I thought was really cool was to have an active soldier from one of the armed forces man the flag on hole #18.  The flag was in the design of the American flag and each time the golfers came to the hole, the soldier manned the flag.  It was a really neat gesture, and at the same time reminded everyone that we would not enjoy our wonderful freedoms and culture if it were not for our military personnel.  So to all those who fall under this huge umbrella, thanks so much for your service - I know I can never repay it.  God Bless America and brave men and women who have and will continue to protect her!

If you have never attended at professional golf tournament, you should really put it on your bucket list, even if you do not follow or play golf, because it is a really unique and fun environment.  Fortunately, the Metroplex has two great opportunities with the Colonial (which was last weekend), and the the Byron Nelson.  Byron Nelson is a golf legend, but is also legendary for all his contributions to the golf world and more importantly, children's charities.  He as a true gentlemen, and one of the most respected players ever.  In terms of his legacy, he is right there with Hogan, Nicholas, and Palmer in my opinion.  Anyway, we had a great time taking in the tournament.  The golfers are really generous and welcoming to kids - several golfers took time to say hello to Myles when they saw him and some even gave him a golf ball.  He ended up with 5 balls for the weekend and also nabbed an autograph from Dustin Johnson, who is his favorite golfer.  So, take my advice and get to one of these events if you have not, it is a really neat experience. 

Myles standing with the Legend - Mr. Nelson

Let me digress here just a bit while we are on the Nelson.  Now, because it is the Metroxplex, the weather was warm, and golf tournaments are very trendy, it is no surprise that there are some ladies that dress on a little bit on the skimpy side to be noticed.  Of course, I go for the golf, but as I stated earlier, this can be a rewarding event and well worth your time, even if you don't play golf.  However, that being said, for every female that is capable of pulling off the "halter-top/shorty-shorts/high heel" eye-candy montage," there seems to be at least two who simply, can not pull it off.  I mean there were some women present that had about as much business wearing the outfit (who knows how they jammed themselves into it) they adorned as I did in actually competing in the golf tournament.  There really should be some type of protocol or fashion law in place that restricts the purchase of certain clothing items to certain body types/ages.  Don't get me wrong now, I have nothing against folks who are not in their best shape, because Lord knows I am one.  But, your not going to catch me walking around the pool in a Speedo or wearing my cocked sideways either.  Hey if you got it and want to flaunt it - by all means flaunt away.  But, it you ain't got it, HIDE IT OR DESGUISE IT.   Men are just as bad - - I saw at least a handful of middle-aged men who had more hair in their ear than on their head wearing "skinny jeans!"  What the hell is going on?  It just seems that there are too many folks out there today who think they still have the body they did when they were teenagers or in their early twenties.  I know I'm not being politically correct, but who is on board with me? 

M'am, there is a reason they are named "petites."

Heck - every man needs a roof over his tool shed - right?  WRONG!!  This is soooo Wrong.

Ok, my neighbor Larry got everyone's attention on Lincoln street this evening when he killed a copperhead snake is his front yard, with a knife - Larry has a deathwish obviously.  It was pretty good size as well, which concerns me because the "young un's" maybe still out there somewhere.  We have an empty lot between our houses and Myles plays out there quite a bit, but after he witnessed Larry killing the snake, I believe he will be pretty danged careful where he is stepping for a while.  You know in West Texas we had to worry about rattlesnakes to some degree, but at least they warned you.   What makes these copperheads so darn scary is that they don't warn you at all, and they are just as poisonous.  Oh, by the way, did I mention - I HATE SNAKES! 

The head of a copperhead - freaky!!

OK, well not much HCG info in this entry.  I have heard from a couple of you this weekend regarding the diet and everyone seems to be doing really well.  Wayne has hit a plateau after about day 12, at 30lbs, and did an apple day in hopes of jump-starting his weight loss again.  I did want to make sure everyone knows the correct protocol to follow when going from the drops to maintenance.  It is very important that during the last 72 hours of low calorie dieting (Phase 2), you stop taking drops.  You will still eat only 500 calories, but without the drops.  The reason for this is that it takes 72 hours to get the HCG out of your system, and your body needs to be free of it as you begin the maintenance phase.  So make sure you do this.  Also, check the blog tomorrow for our first update on Richard Dennis as we get reports from him after his first full week on the drops.  Remember send me your questions and updates.  Everyone have a great week.  Until next time . . .

Great Success Story in the Making

Wayne on May 18th (290lbs)

Hello all and welcome back to this week's final entry.  I hope all is well in your HCG world.  Today, I would like to tell you about a fellow I met at the McKinney Trade Days.  His name is Wayne and I sold him a bottle of HCG drops and had a great conversation with him.  I could tell by talking with him that he was really wanting to drop some weight and that he was frustrated with how to go about doing it.  He was amazed at my transformation and I told him that weight just vanishes from guys with the protocol.  Anyway, fast forward to the present.  I received a text from Wayne this evening informing me that he had already lost 30lbs!!  And, get this - this is only his NINTH DAY on the Low Calorie Phase.  He started on May 18th.  This is yet another testament to the HCG Protocol and also Wayne's dedication.  He also stated to me that he has so much energy "that he can't hardly stay still." 

Wayne on May 26th - 260lbs

It simply amazes me how so-called "experts" in the medical industry and the FDA tell the consumer that the homeopathic version of the HCG does not work, when all you have to do is is talk to people who have tried it.  Check out this quote from Kevin Trudeau's book:

". . . how this miracle weight loss breakthrough has been hidden from the public so long that drug companies can make billions of dollars selling their expensive drug treatments (HCG injections) and surgical procedures for obesity.  You'll be amazed to know how the food manufacturers actually have a financial incentive to make you fat!  Amazingly and fraudently, this medical breakthrough has be debunked, discredited, and supressed by the American Medical Association, the Food and Drug Administration, and other medical establishments throughout the world." 

Here are a few tidbits of healthy things you can do on Phase 2 and 3 of the HCG Diet:

Phase 2

• drink organic green tea
• get twenty  minutes of sun per day
• use saunas as often as possible
• eat only organic food
• get a Thai massage once per week (hells yeah!)
• eat slowly and chew thoroughly
• sleep 8 hours each night
• play barogque classical music or other relaxing music at mealtime
• do not put lotions that aren't organic on the skin
• do not consume MSG
• no artificial sweetners such as Nutrasweet or Splenda (only Stevia)

Phase 3

• use organic coconut oil daily
• use raw organic apple cider vinegar daily
• eat six times a day
• finish dinner 3.5 hours before bed
• take digestive enzymes with food
• use stevia, organic agave nectar, organic raw honey, or organic raw sugar cane as your only sweetners
• eat a salad with lunch or dinner
• add cinnamon to your diet
• eat 100 grams of protein before be on occasion
• hadd hot peppers or hot salsa to food
• take vitamin E daily
• get massages often
• laugh often
• don't worry about calories, fat, carbs, or sodium
• do not eat sugar or starch

Obviously, you can't do all of these things each day, but take a look at the list and see if you can add some of these to your daily routine.  I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend.  I will have another post up on Tuesday.  I am taking in the Byron Nelson golf tournament this weekend, so I hope the weather stays great.  Signing off for now - Peace Out!

Some politically incorrect humor about being overweight - Hey if you can't laugh at yourself . . .

Yo mama's so fat, on Halloween she says "Trick or Meatloaf!"

 

Cherry Limeades, Mellencamp, and Redneckisms - You Gotta Love the South!

Hello HCGers!  I hope this entry finds you all well.  Can you believe the storms that are passing through North Texas.  What is up with the tornados and hail?  Every night, it seems they break into programming and show footage from some storm chaser that I swear came from the movie Twister.  I hope everyone is safe and has avoided damage. 

I am a Texan by the grace of God and of course, I love all things related to the South, and that includes our own unique way of expressing and commenting on certain situations.  Let's just say that Texans are remarkably creative and resourceful when it comes to analogies.  Here is a sampling of quotes overheard on the golf course this weekend in Sherman, Texas.  (Note - the names have changed to protect the guilty)

Billy Bob:  you fellers see how bad that ol' Cliff Lee made the Rangers look last night??
Donnie Earl:  your darn' right.  Them boy's didn't know whether they should take a *^%$ or wind their watch . . . and I didn't see a one of em' wearin' a watch!

Joe Bill:  hell-fire!  I talked myself out of that shot before I hit it. 
Tom Ed:  I tell ya Joe Bill, you looked as anxious as Cocker Spaniel crappin' razor blades standing over that the ball.

Gary Wayne:  tell ya' what boys' when the clouds leave, it gonna' get steamy.
Jim Charles:  yep!  Gonna' be hotter than two river rats doing the nasty inside a wool sock.

Ok, I felt kinda bad throwing out the Desperate Housewives Chocolate because looking back I suppose it was kinda like a "tease" to all those sweet tooths that are still on Phase 2.  So, to make up for insensitivity, I will introduce to you a refreshing Cherry Limeade that is allowable on all phases of the diet - and let me tell you, it is awesome.  Credit for this little jewel goes to my wonderful Mother-in-Law, who came to visit from Lubbock a couple of weeks ago and showed us how to make it.  Therefore I will call this livation, "the Sweet Mother-In-Law:"

Ingredients:
2 bottles of water
1 packet of Stevita Lime Crystals
1 packet of Stevita Cherry Crystals
Crushed or Cubed Ice (we stop by the Sonic and get a cup of their ice)
Directions
Mix lime packet in one bottle of water and shake well;
Mix cherry packet in other bottle of water and shake well;
Pour have of lime water and half of cherry water over ice;
Crank up some Mellencamp (preferably Jack and Diane) and enjoy!

*Marketstreet on Bethany is now carrying the packets.  But if you go to another location, ask them to order them for you.  They come is boxes of 10 packs. 

Ingredients

Aaahhh . . . the "Sweet Mother-in-Law"

I would like everyone to check out a new page I have created on this blog.  It is dedicated to Richard Dennis who is taking a second shot at the HCG diet.  He had early success the first round, but "fell off the wagon," but has dedicated himself to make it work this time.  He has  graciously allowed me to chronicle his journey on this blog.  I will be updated his page frequently with comments from Richard as well as his progress and foods eaten.  This will be a great tool for others on the diet, to follow along with.  So please, check out the new page - "The Richard Chronicles."

I leave you with a couple of pieces of HCG advice:

• When doing an apple day, do not drink a lot of water.  I was mistaken on this for quite sometime and did it wrong.  You are only supposed to drink enough water to quench your thirst and no more.  So, eat six apples, but don't consume your regular 2.5 liters of water - cut down on the water consumption on the apple day.
• Shake your drops well to active the ingredients before taking them.  This should be put on the bottles and I have spoken with the manufactuers regarding this.  But, it is important to do this.  This is another thing, that I did not do.  So make sure you are shaking those drops. 

I will be back with another blog on Friday.  Until then, have a great week.

The Desperate Housewives of HCG

Desperation can be a good thing . . .



  My own sexylicious wife (that's how you start a blog when you post a picture like the one above), who admittedly has a sweet tooth ,was told about a little concoction that has basically elevated her to a "nutritional euphoria" over the weekend.  If you remember back, I took credit for coining the phrase "nutritional nirvana"(see Thursday, April 14th entry), and now I add another term with "nutritional euphoria."  There is a distinct difference between the two, whereas nirvana is a more permanent state of contentment, but euphoria is a shorter, yet much more dynamic rush.  I know, I know - on with the what you really want - the recipe.  Alright, alright, already:

Ingredients:
Tablespoon of Cocoa Powder
Table Spoon of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
3-5 drops of Sweet Leaf Stevia Sweetner (English Toffee or Chocolate) OR 1 Packet of Sweet Leaf Powder Sweetner (these are sold at Sprouts)
Handful of slivered almonds (optional) - only on Week Three of Maintenance

Directions:
Melt the coconut oil in the microwave
Add the the cocoa powder and sweetner and mix together

Desperate Housewives Chocolate

Stacy has been playing with the recipe and suggest that using the Powder Packets is better than the drops and you can also put a few almond slices in the chocolate as well if that is "the way you roll."  I can certainly see taking your strawberries for a dip in this as well.  I call this creation "Desperate Housewives Chocolate" because there are so many ladies in our little community out in Melissa who are doing the HCG diet and have been "desperate for sweets."  They were all giddy and heated up just talking about this.  You would have thought they discovered a recipe for Matthew McConaughey.



Just add Sand and Water (I am a Equal Opportunity blogger when it comes to Eye Candy)

Remember now,  Desperate Housewives Chocolate is only for folks on Phase 3 - Maintenance.  You Phase 2 folks "step away from the coconut oil an put down the cocoa powder very slow and easy - nobody has to get hurt here."  Be strong and know this is waiting for you down the road.     

Let's talk about Phase 3.  The maintenance phase is the most vague, yet most important part of the whole diet protocol.  Sure, the drop phase is quite dynamic with the rapid weight loss, but we all want to keep the weight off.  The only way that you can keep that abnormal fat off for good, is to reset metabolism to a rate that maintains your weight.  That is sole purpose of the maintenance phase and being successful on this phase will allow you to do this.  Unfortunately, the directions or guidelines for the maintenance phase are much more general and vague than Phase 2.  By the time we have completed the drops and low calorie diet, we are accustomed to its restrictive nature and it kinda throws us for loop when we are told to simply increase y calorie intake to 1500-1800 and eat what you want except sugars and starches  I have found that many dieters are very confused and hesitant about what to eat on this phase and that is why I began putting all of my maintenance meals on the this blog daily when I started my second round of maintenance. Go back to the Tuesday, April 12th entry and you can go day-by-day and see what I ate.  Here are some common mistakes folks struggle with on maintenance:

1 - don't eat enough - that's right.  Many people find it difficult to eat 1500-1800 calories after being on a 500 calorie diet for so long.  I know I felt like I was eating way too much and too often.  But that is actually the key to developing a healthy and speedy metabolism - eating frequently with the right foods.   Make sure you eat three full meals a day and snacks between each meal as well.  It is recommended that women eat 1500 calories and men eat 1800 calories a day on maintenance.  Also, if you start working out or being more active, you will have to increase your intake as well.  So if you are a girly girl like Mrs. Hatcher up there, and start going to the gym when you start maintenance, then you may well have to go up to 1650 or 1700 calories to maintain your weight.  You will just have to play with the caloric intake based on your weigh ins each morning. 

2 - want to lose weight - it is not good to keep losing weight during this phase because you are trying to stabilize your weight and your set your metabolism according to this stabilized weight.  If you continue losing, you cannot do this.  It is just as harmful to lose weight during maintenance as it is to gain.  If you lose more than two pounds, then up your calorie count. 

3 - adding danger foods too early - don't just throw everything at your system the first week of maintenance.  There are some foods that are allowed on maintenance but are labeled caution foods that I will detail later.  Slowly add new foods selections to your diet.  For instance, I added eggs and pork the first week.  The second week, it was cheese and dairy, and finally I added good ol' bacon the last week of maintenance.

The following is a weekly plan that I think is good for maintenance:
Week 1 - no "caution" foods
Week 2 - one to two "caution foods" added if, only if, you have been stable in Week 1, that is you did not have to do a Steak Day.
Week 3 - two to three "caution" foods added.  Again only add these "caution" foods if you are remaining stable.  Your goal is to gradually add caution foods and stabilize while doing so.  That is what will allow you to eat basically everything in moderation in the Life Phase and not gain weight.

Ok, so know your asking about those "caution" foods.  Here is a list "caution" foods for the maintenance phase:

Caution Meats:                  Caution Nuts:                         Caution Dairy
Bacon                                   Almonds                                   Cheese
Canadian Bacon                    Hazel                                        Cottage Cheese
Hot Dogs                              Macadamia                               Cream
Jerky                                    Peanuts                                      Cream Cheese
Sausage                                Peanut Butter (sugar free)          Half/Half
Deli Lunch Meats                 Pecans                                       Milk (Skim or 2%)
                                            Walnuts                                     Yogurt (1/2 cup plain only)

Caution Condiments (check for sugar in ingredients and use sparingly)
BBQ Sauce
Ketchup
Mayonnaise (1TBSP Light)
Salad Dressings
Steak Sauce (1 TBSP)
Tartar Sauce (1TBSP)

Caution Fats/Oils
Bacon Grease
Butter
Cooking Spray
Margarine (1 TBSP)

One thing that you will notice is that there is no caution fruits, which is really great.  You can start enjoying more fruits and they can really help go along way in helping you reach your calorie count.  For example, pineapples and bananas are pretty high in calories and can help you get your intake up if you eat these between meals. 

Here is an excerpt from Kevin Trudeau's book on the Maintenance Phase:
"Phase 3 last three weeks. . . This phase is designed to resest the hypothalamus and bodyweight set point.  This is an important phase that keeps off the weight permanently.  Successful execution and completion of this phase resets  your metabolism higher, resets your hunger lower, and resets your hypothalamus so that in the future it does not store fat in teh abnormal problem area secure fat reserves.  This phase helps guarantee that your body is corrected from the abnormal condition which caused the obesity" (75).

Other important things about Phase 3:

• weigh yourself every morning
• it takes approximately 3 weeks to stabilize your weight (so don't let fluctuations frustrate you)
• if your weight goes beyond two pounds heavier than your weight at the end of phase 2, you must do a steak day that very day

Steak Day - the same day you notice the increase, you must entirely skip all food until 6pm.  During this time, ou should drink as much water, up to one gallon, as you can.  You must drink a minimum of half a gallon of pure water.  In the evening, at 6pm, eat the biggest steak you can from grass fed organic beef.  The steak can be grilled or fried with oil and seasoned with pepper and herbs, but not salt.  You may have either a large oganic raw tomato or large organic raw apple. 

I hope all of this was helpful.  For those of you on maintenance, or about to begin.  I have several PDF's that contain some good info and charts for the phase.  Shoot me an email or text and I will send them to you to print out.  I would really like to get more of you posting comments so we can all network and share information.  I encourage you followers of this blog to get an account (it's free) and post your questions or comments on here.  I am looking at getting into Twitter as well and perhaps tweeting a HCG tip each day - how many of you follow Twitter?  Let me know, so I can determine if that would be worth it.  I'm also going to create a Facebook page dedicated to HCG when I have time and who knows when that will be.  As special shout out to all of those customers who have referred others to me.  I really appreciate it and it is exciting and rewarding to have so many people experiencing the great results this diet can bring about.  Everyone have a great week and stay strong and dedicated to the diet.  Keep those updates and questions coming and look for the next blog on Wednesday.   "Not Overweight and Out!"

Q&A and other HGG Tidbits

Helping you fight that fat!

It's been a few days and I apologize.  I have had a very busy and active week so far and unfortunately I have been getting home a little too late to post a blog.  Because I have so many new customers since last weekend and hopefully they are also following this blog, I am going to dedicate this session to answering questions that have come in from folks that have embarked on the HCG recently.   So, without further ado . . .

The following are actual questions I have received recently regarding the protocol and my best attempts to answer them as best as I can:

Q:  If you have extra points (calories) left, can you eat extra veggies?
A:  Yes, as long as you don't start mixing them.  You could also eat an additional fruit as well to get to your 500 calorie cap.  It really does not matter how you go about getting your 500 calories each day so you can spread out your meals as you wish.  The only thing I would warn against is eating a whole meal too late in the evening.  Try eat your dinner between 5-7pm if possible.  My wife and I chose different ways to get our 500 calories.  Below is a sample of how each of us consumed our alloted calories on Phase 2:

Jim

No Breakfast

Lunch around 12:30 - 1 meat; 1 veggie; 1 bread; 1 fruit

Dinner around 6pm - 1 meat; 1 veggie; 1 bread; 1 fruit

*Occasionally, I would have a hot cup of beef broth (15 calories) around bedtime for a snack

Stacy

Breakfast - half of an apple

Lunch around 12:30 - 1 meat; 1 veggie; 1 bread; 1/2 of apple left over from breakfast

Dinner around 6pm - 1 meat; 1 veggie, 1 bread; 1/2 grapefruit

Snack around bedtime:  1/2 grapefruit

Another note on mixing vegetables.  This issue seems to be quite vague in the guide.  The protocol directs the dieter to avoid mixing foods during meals or eating the same choice in consecutive meals.  For example if you have chicken breast for lunch, then dinner should consist of a different meat, such as talapia or sirloion steak.  The same is true with fruits and vegetables.  As far as mixing vegetables, I suppose we broke the rule at times because we often bought the organic tubs of Spring and Herb Mix from the grocery store and would eat those for our veggie serving.  So, we broke the "letter of law" I suppose when eating a mix salad.  However, what we would not do is eat a salad and broccoli at the same meal. 

Q:  Is it true you should shake your bottle before taking the drops?
A:  Yes, indeed it is true.  I was visiting with the manufactuerers in Boise yesterday and I asked them this and I was told that shake the drops just before a dosage activates the ingredients and makes them more effective.  So everyone be sure to do this before taking the drops.  This was a new one on me - I thought it was some kind of ubran legend.  My question for the manufactuerers was why not put that on your bottles??? 

Q:  Can you have a little splenda in your coffee?

A:  Absolutely not.  The only sweetner that is allowed on Phase 2 or 3 is Stevia.  All other sweetners such as Splenda are not the same - they are not all natural sweetners.  The stevia leaf is the only all natural sweetner.  My wife has quite the sweet tooth and so she has really taken advantage of stevia based products such as drops and powder packets to mix in water and coffee.  Also, the brand Zevia makes soft drinks from Stevia and they are allowed on the diet.  In fact, they are free foods and you can have as many as you like.  Of course, as you may have imagined, the drinks are a bit pricey, but well worth it if you ask most "sweet tooths."  You can purchase stevia products at Whole Foods, Marketstreet and Sprouts.  One word of warning.  Sprouts and Whole foods have started carrying a brand of drink called Blue Sky that claims to be the same as stevia based drinks, but they are not.  Blue Sky uses truvia and not stevia, and it is not the same at all.  I have attached a link to a website that explains the "conspiracy" between Stevia and Truvia and how, the consumer, like so often, is left in the dark when it comes to what is actually in products, and also how the FDA really is not concerned about consumers, but more about the "big money" and their lobbyist.    Short story - use only stevia based sweetners.

http://www.ktradionetwork.com/kevins-blog/the-truviastevia-fda-conspiracy/

Zevia - GOOD!!

Blue Sky - BAD!

Q:  Why are there some foods on your blog that are not in the Quick Start Guide?
A:  When Stacy and I started the diet protocol, we were working from two primary resources:  the Quick Start Guide that you have and also Kevin Trudeau's book The Weight Loss Cure "They" Don't Want You to Know About.  The book is very helpful if you are on the diet, because Trudeau explains the history, science and dynamics into the diet and also gives a lot of great advice for healthy eating and living.   He had some foods on there were allowed Dr. Simeon's original manuscript that for some reason were left of the Guide.  For example, zuchini is not in the guide, but suggested by Trudeau.  Stacy ate grilled zuchini quite frequently on the drops.  However, it is specified that squash is not allowed.  So when you see something on the blog that is not in the guide it is probably because you we discovered it in the book. 


Q:  How long do the headaches last?
A:  It has been my own experience and many other participants that headaches will occure the first two or three days after beginning the 500 calorie diet.  But take solace, because they will soon disapate and you will begin feeling increased energy.  The headaches are not from the drops, but simply your body reacting to not getting things, such as sugar, that it is used to. 

Q:  How much of a cucumber equals a serving?
A:  Cucumbers are very low in calories, and in fact, very low in nutritional value as well, but you can can eat a whole 8-inch cucumber for 1 serving of a vegetable.

Q:  Can constipation be an issue?  And if so, can you take over the counter medicines while on the drops?
A:  I did not experience constipation.  In fact, with all the fiber from apples I was eating I experienced the opposite effect for the time being.  Without getting to much into scatalogy, I will say that I have become much more regular in that department, especially after the intitial couple of weeks and certainly when I began maintenance.  As far as over the counter medicines, it should be just fine as long as they contain no sugars or syrup. 

Q:  I'm not much of a meat eater - what can I do about that?
A:  Protein plays such an important and vital role in creating a rapid metabolic rate, so it is very important that you get plenty.  My sister is a vegetarian and struggled with the same issue.  She ate plenty of the seafood on the list and also substituted skim and almond milk in place of meat for some meals to get her protein.  She was still able to lose 10-15lbs in 20 days.  You can also, purchase a Whey Protein Shake in powder form as long as it does not contain in sugar in it and have two servings of it to replace the meat serving for a meal.  This would be great for breakfast or lunch.  My sister makes a whey shake and she uses almond milk and instead of ice, she blends it with frozen, unsweatened strawberries and said it is delicious.

Q:  What if I show no weight loss for 2 consecutive days on Phase 2?
A:  Dr. Simeon warns and explains that dieters will experience plateaus and fluctuations in weight ususally in their second week on phase 2.  You may even go a couple of days without dropping any weight at all and then drop a significant amount of weight again.  Remember, it is all an average.  For some reason, that my wife detest, women experience these fluctations and plateaus more than men.  If you stay the same weight for 3 days in a row, don't freak out, because you could very well be losing inches and not pounds - your body is reshaping which still means that you are losing weight in your problem areas.  You are advised to do an apple day on the third day, which consist of eating nothing but six apples throughout the day.  Also, drink a small amount of water, just enough to quench your thirst when needed.  If you can find some corn silk tea, drink two cups of that as well.  You should see a drop of weight the next morning and get back on the track of losing.  But if you don't, you still should not fret.  Here is what Trudeau said about plateaus:
"It is important to note that because this protocol is synthesizing and releasing so much abnormal fat, the body may retain excess water in order to rid the system of this excess released fat and accompanying toxins.  This at times, results in no apparent weight loss on the scale, however, you must know that the body is still being reshaped, and massive fat loss is still occuring" (146).

Q:  Hey, Jim what is the best part about not being a fat arse anymore???
A:  For this question, I will have to refer to some comments made in earlier posts:

• I can now get comfortable in dress clothes.  My neck tie no longer feels like a noose.
• I can climb a flight of stairs without requiring a breathing treatment
• I can walk around an amusement park without getting road rash on the undercarriage
• I can find the energy to focus and enjoy their family after work
• can't get their fat arse off the couch to do needed things around the house
• I can get reasonable rates on life insurance
• I can overcome lower back and joint pain

Simple things like tying my shoe without fretting a hernia or asphyxiation; reaching and scratching behind my shoulders and not having to rub up against furniture like livestock; wearing a neck tie without borrowing the neighbor's wench to get the top button secured because my neck has more chins than a Chinese phonebook; eating a meal with the confidence that if I happen to lodge anything organic or low fat in my throat, someone nearby will actually be able to get their arms around me and hoist me up to perform the Heimlich Maneuver; and finally being able to actually rise out of bed or off the couch as opposed to, what I like to call the "beached whale," wherein I hoisted my fat arse off the edge and attempted to catch myself with one hand and foot - this proved to be a very unfortunate mishap when one of those supportive appendages had fallen asleep!

• and finally and most importantly, can't expect to be around long enough to see their kids and grandkids grow and prosper

Someone help fatty off the side of the mountain!!!  I can't believe I lived like this.

Well folks this entry was quite lengthy, but I feel like it was much needed.  I hope for all those new customers this helps.  And if you have a question please submit it to me by posting on here or shoot me an email or text and I will not only answer your question, but also post it on here so others can benefit.  I want all of you to have success and experience what I have and this can be a great forum for us to all help one another.  Next blog will deal with Phase 3 - Maintenance, the most important and misunderstood phase.  So you followers that are on or approaching that, look for that on Monday morning.  Just a note, chocolate lovers, I will have a recipe for a chocolate creation that is totally allowable on Phase 3!!!

I leave you with some actual quotes from text and emails from some of my newest customers, just to give you and idea how dynamic this program can be if followed.  Have a great Spring Weekend and stay strong and true to the game plan. 

"I purchased the HCG from you on Sunday.  I just wanted you to know I lost 6 pounds the first day." - Wayne

"Thank you............I am down 7 lbs since starting the regime on Saturday............It's working!"

-Linda

Make sure to send me updates about all of your progress.



Great Anniversary Date and My Trade Show Debut!

Beautiful Inside and Out - "I'm not Worthy!" - Happy Anniversary Babe!

Mother's Day weekend was indeed awesome, other than the sunburn to my knees (see last entry), so let's chalk it up to two great weekends in a row.  First and foremost, Stacy and I celebrated our 19th Wedding Anniversary this weekend.  Because I was selling at Trade Days this weekend, we didn't have the opportunity to go anywhere exotic, but we did have a fabulous time Saturday night.  We stayed at the Tartan and Thistle Bed and Breakfast in the downtown Mckinney district and had a wonderful evening.  The house is amazing and vintage - you are truly taken back to another time.  It was so peaceful and relaxing - we only wish we had more time to spend there.  We will certainly return.  We walked downtown to the Square and enjoyed some great live music as well.  A really awesome evening.  Thanks to my beautiful bride for a great evening and unbelievable 19 years!!! 



Tartan and Thistle B&B - Porch outside our Bedroom



Fireplace and Mantle in our room.

Our Bedroom - "Go Old School or Go Home!"

Trade Days was really a great experience.  I was really nervous about the whole thing because I had not done anything like that before and I was not sure how the HCG drops would be received in a forum like that.  I'm happy to report that the weekend was a success and I plan on going back next month.  I was happy for the most part with our booth - Claire, our Head of Marketing/Sales, did a great job helping me set up.  We had some wind issues with our signage on Friday, but we managed to overcome them.



Trade Days Booth - Seeing is believing - at least that is what I hoped!

  I met some really great people this weekend from the vendors to all the new customers from around the area I now have.  One thing is for sure - people are aware of the HCG protocol and the success it is having.  I can't tell you how many times people would comment that they have heard about this diet or they know someone who is doing it and having success.  Folks want to know about it and I was so happy to tell them my story and get them on board.  Most of the people I talked with are just like the rest of us - have some weight they would like to shed but have been frustrated with earlier attempts to get rid of it.  They either struggle to lose the wanted weight , or once they lost it, they put it back on in half the time.  That is truly what makes HCG so dynamic.  First, it allows and empowers you to lose a significant amount of weight in a short period while at the same time giving you increased energy.  But most importantly, the protocol includes the maintenance phase wherein you reset your metabolism - and that my friends is the key to keeping your weight constant - resetting and having a healtly metabolism.  But I digress. . . thanks to all the fine folks who came by and saw me at the booth.  It was really nice to finally meet up with some of my past customers and hear about and see their success.  It was awesome when Debbie Mazzer and Libby Sprinkel dropped by to say hello and able to give their live testimonials to the folks at my booth - thanks for the free advertising ladies!

One particular gentlemen I met and sold some drops to was P.J. Abbot.  Now when I saw PJ, I was thinking this guy doesn't need to lose weight at all.  But his story is quite interesting.  He has driven and owned may types of cars such as Indy, Nascar, Formula One, Grand Am, and SCCA. He was in an accident and had to stop racing for a while and put some extra weight on during his healing process and he needs to get back to his regular weight because he explained to me that at 200mph (holy jet engines Batman!!) " each pound is 1/10th of a second at 200 MPH and most races are won by less than 5/1000th with the top 5 usually separated by 7-8/10ths."  Now I don't even try to understand all of that physics talk - to me it is like "fuzzy math" - thank ya Dubya, but  it is obvious that PJ needs to lose those extra 15 or so pounds he put on to be successful when racing.  I am excited about blogging about his progress on HCG and updating it until he gets back behind the wheel.  Look for more on PJ down the road. . .

PJ Abbot - Indy Car Racer

PJ filming Transformers - how awesome is that!!

PJ behind the wheel where he belongs!

Again, a really great weekend - I am blessed and so excited about my new customers and their upcoming success.  Also, I ate out both Friday and Saturday night and I am anxious to report back to you after I weigh in tomorrow and let you know if that reset metabolism of mine kept me stable.  I feel the same, but we shall see.  I will give you the details of the awesome meals I had at Texas Roadhouse and Saltgrass (uh . . . I kinda like beef, if you didn't notice) in my next entry as well.  So I'm signing off now, but before I do so - thanks to all my old and new customers and espescially my wonderful wife Stacy for making it all worthwhile.  Over and out!

My best Aggie Joke:
Q-How did the Aggie break his leg on the golf course?
A - He fell off the ball washer!!

Burnt Knees and Trade Days are the Order of Business.

Peddling My Wares this Weekend - "Step up right up folks and be amazed!"

I hope everyone's week has gotten off to a great start.  I love the Spring in North Texas - great weather.  But you have to enjoy while you can because late June-Sept. is brutally hot and humid.  You know what they say (who are they btw?), "it's not the heat that kills you, it's the stupidity!" 

And while we are discussing stupidity as it relates to heat,  let me bring myself into the conversation.  Sunday at the baseball game, I sneered at and waved off the offer of applying a little sunscreen because ya' know,  I'm a tough guy and lathering up in public and in front of my kids might put into serious debate the legitimacy of my Man Card.  Never mind the fact that my skin tone is as pale as a nun's stationary and that I have a history of sunburn-stupidity episodes.  Nope, I'll just sit here and watch a full 9 innings of baseball under the clear, May skies of Texas and live to tell about it.  Well now, I'm telling you about it.  Check out the picture below:

Quoting the great Bill Engval - "Here's your sign!"

Yeppers, those are my two knees, not two traffic safety cones!  They are swollen, tight, and hot enough to fry eggs on.

When, I haven't been melting ice cubes on my knees, I have been getting ready for the big McKinney Trade Days that starts this Friday, where I am hoping to sell some of my drops and get more exposure for my new venture HCG Providers of Mckinney.  I am very excited and quite nervous about the whole thing, because I have never done anything like this before.  The Trade Days are a unique forum and seems to attract quite a crowd, so I'm optimistic that I can step up business a notch or two with my booth.  If you are in the area or happen to be coming to the Trade Days, come by my booth (#8) on Henderson Street and say hello.  I'll be the one with a ridiculous farmer's tan on his knees wearing a sign around his neck!  And of course, if you have friends that are considering getting on the diet, by all means, send them my way this weekend.  Tell them they heard about the drops and booth through this blog, and I will give them a discount.  I have had an active week getting signage and marketing material printed and ready for the show.  I will have Claire Bear there to help me.  She has already proved to be quite useful at Party City by color coordinating my table cloth and skirt.  She made sure I had Spring colors that are "in."   So, she too is fired up about this weekend and has promoted herself to "Head of Marketing and Corporate Image" - I'm quite sure I can't afford her.

I am maintaining my weight like clock work so far and I am very upbeat about that.  I am not counting calories anymore, but just eating my 3 meals and 3 snacks each day.  My portions are very similar to those on maintenance and I my hunger is quite satisfied after each meal.  There is no desire or temptation to go get extra servings.  But at the same time, I enjoy my food more than I ever have. But, I believe the keys to obtaining and maintaining a healthy metabolism is to eat more frequently, with smaller servings, and as healthy and organic as possible.

Big Portions = Big Face

Smaller Portions = Small Face (it's not rocket science, folks)



A friend of ours who is on the protocol brought a can of Blue Sky Free soda for me to look at and determine if it was "ok" to drink just like the Stevia brand soft drinks.  Blue Sky is made with Truvia with extracts from Stevia leafs.  Now it is my understanding that Stevia is the only allowed sweetner for the HCG protocol.  However, the can ingredients seem to be very similar to that of the Stevia brand drinks, which, can be purchased at Marketstreet, Whole Foods, and Sprouts.  So, I am going to do some research on the subject and ask around to find out if indeed, you can replace Stevia with Truvia, because the Blue Sky drinks are considerably cheaper than the Stevia drinks.  I will investigate and get back with you the next post.

The can in question . . .

stay tuned for "the rest of the story."

Observations from a Texas Spring Weekend

Mother's Day and Baseball - Made for a Great Weekend

Hello all!  I back from a short hiatus from the blog.  I had a great, fun-filled and busy weekend with many observations to mention.  But first let me just say that I am very happy to report that after 1 complete week on the Life Phase (no diet or drops) that I have maintained a weight range right around 170-172lbs and I certainly had some very good and sizable meals this week compared to the meals I had on maintenance.  And I even had my first junk food (ball park nachos) and taste of sugar in long while because I had to have one Claire's sugar cookies with icing.  So it is very nice to have some of those things again, but even better to eat them with the confidence that I will not gain weight and my metabolism will burn those extra calories off - or at least that is what I am expecting to happen.  I'll let you know soon enough I suppose.

My wonderful in-laws from Lubbock dropped by Friday night for a short visit and Patsy, my mother-in-law, introduced Stacy and I to the most wonderful Stevia product that is allowed on all phases of the HCG diet.  She found little packets, much like the Crystal Light packets, of Stevia flavored lime and cherry at the Drug Emporium in Lubbock.  She takes the pack and mixes both of them with 8oz of water and crushed ice, and waalaaa . . . you have a most refreshing and sweet Cherry Limeade.  Best of all, you can drink all of it you want because Stevia is absolutely allowed on the HCG diet.  Well, the problem is that the closest Drug Emporium is Denton, but Stacy inquired about it at Market Street (love that place!) and they did not have it, but were very interested in carrying the product and have ordered packets for Stacy, so there is a good chance they will start carrying that product.  If you are on the diet and have a sweet tooth, you have to pick up some of these babies. 

This was such an awesome weekend to report on I don't know where to start.  Well a good place is - "HOW ABOUT THEM MAVERICKS!!"   I thought they might have a chance to win the series, but I never saw that coming.  I have said it before and I will say it again, Dirk Nowitzki is the most under appreciated Dallas-Area athlete of all time.  And that is too bad.  History will look much more favorably at Dirk's accomplishments and rare ability more favorably than the city he played for has.  Hopefully, this shocking sweep of the two-time defending champs, the Lakers, will help Dirk get the credit his deserves.   

Of course Mother's Day is always a great thing.  I am so blessed with all the mom's in my life.  First of all my mother, Mary Miller, has been by my side supporting and loving me everyday of her life.  She has always put me my sisters first and done everything she could to make our lives better.  For that, I can't say it enough - Love You Mom! 

Always wonderful and still beautiful - My Mom, Mary Miller

 Then of course, is my wife Stacy, who is the most beautiful person inside and out.  When you Google "how the heck did that slap end up with her" the first link available will be our wedding picture for sure.  Yep, i'm certainly that slap, and Stacy is certainly the wife and mother everyone wishes for. My children will realize one day how fortunate they were to have Stacy as a mother and keep our house running efficiently and harmoniously.  Because without her, I hate to think where we would all be.  I truly believe that I have married the most caring and gentle soul possible and for that I am forever grateful to the big guy above.

 

Happy Mother's Day to my marvelous wife, Stacy!



  We celebrated Mother's Day at the Millers a little different this year.  The kids and I decided to give Stacy two of the things she loves the most:  spending time together as a family; and BASEBALL BABY!  That's right 4 lower-level seats to the Rangers-Yankees game.  Now, I know some of you out there will be thinking that Miller is just pulling a fast one and shamelessly using Mother's Day as an excuse to take in a ballgame, but that is not the case, because Stacy truly loves going to baseball games - just ask her.  Unfortunately the Rangers pitchers decided to throw batting practice so the Yankees hammered us, and we baked a little in the sun, but nonetheless is was a great time and a wonderful way to spend Mother's Day.

19 years this May - Can you believe she stayed around??





It appears that Bret Farve attended yesterday's game and ate his right hand.

Last but not least, this weekend, marked our backyard beast's 1st birthday.  Yep - Harley, about one-year ago this weekend, was born to a wild stray in downtown Dallas, and we rescued him and he became a 4-legged Miller. Now, he is a small-town hound that destroys backyards for a hobby.  Well you can bet Claire was not going to let his birthday go by unnoticed, so Sunday evening Stacy gathered some of the kid's friends from the neighborhood to join in on Harley's birthday party.  Claire prepared cookies and even had a bone with icing on it for Harley.



Birthday Boy!






 

Canine Craziness!!  (Harley really would like to eat Myles)


I often wonder if Harley ever takes time out from eating patio furniture and full grown trees to consider and appreciate how great his life is because of his family.  In that regard, me and Harley are the same - we have it so good because of our family.  So, after cooking and devouring a T-Bone Steak the size of a Josh Hamilton's baseball glove for dinner to cap off this great weekend, I tossed ol' Harley the bone as my birthday present to him.  He eagerly snatched the bone and took off  with it into the yard.  But then, he turned back, dropped the bone, looked at me with that tail wagging appreciatively for just a short moment before turning his attention back to his t-bone.  I sensed that he did indeed understand the good fortune we both shared and that it is only because of our blessed family, that Harley and I get to "have our steak and eat it too."

End of great steak - End of a Great Weekend!

Tricks of the Trade

Got to "Cowboy Up" for Apple Cider Vinegar Shots!

Hello all.  Today, since I am no longer boring you with my specific diet each day, I would like to throw out a couple of things you can do when your weight loss starts stalling or begins to plateau on the the 500 calorie/drop phase.  It seems that most HCG dieters experience this somewhere in during the 2nd week of the drop phase.  It is frustrating because you have come accustomed to getting on that scale each morning and seeing a significant drop in pounds.  However, slowing down of weight loss is normal and you should not worry unless you are indeed gaining significant weight.  If you show very little or no weight loss for 2 or more consecutive days you can do an "apple day," that should jump-start, if you will, weight loss again.  The plan for the "apple day" is really very simple - you eat nothing but apples, 6 in fact throughout the day.  You continue to drink at least 2.5 liters as water as well.  In most cases, this seems to foster the resumption of the daily weight loss.  I know that I did a couple of apple days during each round and it helped both times.  If fact, I did two apple days in three days my last go around because I wanted to drop as many pounds as possible before going on the maintenance plan.  It helped me lose 5lbs the last three days of the drops phase.

Another thing you can do daily, if you can bare it, is take a table spoon of Apple Cider Vinegar a couple times a day.  It is very good for your system and also speeds up your metabolic rate.  Now, your going to feel like Wyatt Earp saddling up to the bar for a shot of whiskey because it burns all the way down.  My wife does this frequently and I have done it a few times and probably need to do so more often - I'm just not as tough as her!  This is something you can do on any phase of the diet and also even if you are not dieting.  So belly up to the kitchen par, pardna' and get you a shot of Apple Cider Vinegar!


Jim Miller
(806) 787-0640
mckinneyhcgprovider@gmail.com
http://mckinney.hcgproviders.com/

10 Quotes in 10 Days from Dunder Mifflin Scranton Branch Office Manager himself (A Farewell Tribute to Michael Scott):
"Jim’s not a hard worker. I’ll spend all day on a project, and he’ll do it in half an hour." - Michael Scott