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.    

Good Guys Do Come In First!!



Great Guy, Great Teammate, and Great Player 

 What a great day for Dallas and Texas sports fans!  And what a great day for a really class act of an organization - The Dallas Mavericks.  I thought Carlisle put it perfectly last night when he said the Mavericks were "old school," and perhaps that is why they are so easy to root for.  They play as a team, even though they have a superstar.  Professional sports is loaded with individuals who are very very talented, but too many times they don't go about their business in a classy way, and it is so refreshing to see these veteran players get rewared.  The Dallas Mavericks are not the most talented team in the world, but they are the best team in the world and now, they have a Title to prove it.  For all of you life long Maverick fans, how awesome was it to have an emotional Donald Carter, the original owner who brought the Mavs to Dallas, to receive the trophy.  Say what you want about Mark Cuban and his style, that was a classy move - further evidence that he truly loves his team. 



I had the chance to do some research, reading and actually got to visit on the phone on Friday with the manufacturers of the HCG Drops I distribute.  Here are some of the highlights of what I have further discovered about the HCG Diet Protocol:

• Many people like want to work out while on Phase 2, but it is not recommended for a couple of reasons.  First, you will not get the benefit of the increased energy with strenuous excercise.  Secondly, when your muscles exert themselves during strenuous exercise, they will retain water, and of course, this will slow down or negate weight loss.  Light exercise such as walking, Yoga and stretching is fine while on Phase 2.  Once you are on Phase 3, you can begin a workout regiment.  However, if you insist on working out, you may want to increase your caloric intake to around 800 calories, but I would not recommend that.
• Everyone is concerned and frustrated with plateuas - but in fact, it is part of the protocol, so that should tell you that everything is going as planned when you hit those stall periods.  The weight loss during Phase 2, is stair-stepped with a consistent large drop (week 1) followed by a slight plateau for a few days.  The following came straight from Dr. Simeon's manuscript, Pounds and Inches:  "At least one significant plateau occurs in the second half of the protocol that often lasts between 4-6 days.  This is normal and will resolve itself in time."  So don't be alarmed when you stall.
• One of the reasons that you should alternate your proteins, vegetables, and fruits is because variety actually curbs your appetite and cravings. 
• Use Bragg's Liquid Aminos to replace traditional Soy Sauce while on the Phase 2.  This can be very helpful in flavoring your meats - you could actually put some stevia and ground ginger with the Bragg's and create a teriyake sauce. 
• Dilute the strong flavor of Apple Cider Vinegar by mixing it with Stevia or a few teaspoons of water or broth.  This could serve as a salad dressing.
• Take accurate measurements of chest, upper arms, waist, hips, buttocks, thighs, and calves before you start the program to help you track your progress.  Seeing a reduction in inches will make you feel much better when enduring the stalls.
• Cinnamon is a very helpful and nice addition to your foods and diet while on all phases of the diet for the following reasons:  boost brain function, assist with blood sugar control, antifungal properties, anticlotting properties, contains calcium, vitamins, and fiber, and aids in digestion.

Ok so, I really trying to find different ways to spice up your meals while on the HCG Protocol.  So I will try to add a couple of recipes frequently.  Remember, I am housing all of the recipes in the page entitled Jim's Recipes, so check there if you missed a post.  Here are today's suggestions:

Red Cabbage Salad
Ingredients:
2 cups red cabbage, chopped
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Bragg's liquid aminos
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon of onion powder
1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 clove of finely minced garlic
1 tablespoon of finely minced onion
Cayenne pepper to taste
Stevia to taste
Salt and black pepper to taste
Preparation
Combine spices with liquid ingredients;
coat cabbage thoroughly with dressing and marinate for 1-2 hours or overnight to blend flavors.
Makes 1-2 servings (1 vegetable)
60 calories

Teriyaki Sauce
Ingredients:
1/2 cup beef or chicken broth
3 tablespoons Bragg's liquid aminos
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Orange juice (juice from 4 segments)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon of onion, finely minced
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger or fresh ginger, grated
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
lemon and/or orange zest to taste
stevia to taste
Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil;
reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until liquid is reduced - the longer you simmer, the richer the flavors;
as the liquid reduces, deglaze the pan with a little water or broth to intensify the flavors.
Enjoy as a glaze or sauce with chicken or beef.
Makes 1-2 servings (1 fruit) - 20 calories

Sweet Strawberry Soup (served hot or cold)
Ingredients:
5 large strawberries
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
1 tablespoon of milk (try almond milk)
1/4 cup of water
Vanilla Stevia drops to taste
Dash of cinnamon
Preparation:
Puree strawberries with spices, lemon juice, water and milk;
heat the strawberry mixture in a small saucepan for 3-5 minutes;
serve hot or chilled with a garnish of mint.
Makes 1 serving (1 fruit) - 30 calories

Third Monday Trade Days of McKinney is fast approaching again, and I will be there again this month peddling the HCG Protocol.  I hope that you will stop by see me if you make a trip out there.  The dates are June 17-19, and I will again be on Henderson Street, Booth #8.  Also, I would really appreciate if you tell anyone that you know is interested in starting the diet where they can find me - so mention to them that they can talk with me in person about HCG next weekend. 

Selling my wares at the McKinney Trade Days - Come See Me!

I am also going to be conducting an HCG Seminar on Wednesday, June 22 at the Holiday Inn & Suites located at 3220 Craig Drive in McKinney.  The seminar will last from 6-7:30 and is for individuals who are curious about the HCG Diet and wanting to get some more information about it.  I will describe my personal journey on the diet and also explain the complete protocol.  Again, if you know someone who you think would benefit from the diet, or has indicated they are curious, let them know about the seminar.  I will have ads going out in Collin County newspapers starting next week, but I need help with idea about where to display flyers.  If any of you have good ideas where I can display flyers or if you have a business where you could post them, I would be so very grateful.  Contact me if you need some flyers and I will get those to you.  My biggest delimma is getting word out about the event, so I need some help from all my fellow HCGers - help me spread the word about this life-changing diet.


Ok, so this weekend, I had an opportunity to really test my metabolism, and see if it really would keep my wieght constant after eating some very risky foods.  So, on Saturday morning, I weighed 169.5 and ate the following foods throughout the day:
Breakfast
3 fried eggs/8oz. porkchop/1 bananna
Lunch
Cuban Sandwich Bowl (Which Wich)
Pineapple Milkshake (Which Wich)
Snacks
Apple
Package of Trail Mix with M&M's
Dinner
16oz. Prime Rib (Saltgrass) (BTW - Saltgrass is awesome!)
Dinner Salad -
1 cup of Tres Leches Cake Gellato 

So I easily took in over 3000 calories on Saturday and I weighed before going to bed at around midnight - I weighed 174lbs.  Amazingly, this morning at 9am, I weighed, you ready for this 169.5lbs!!! The reason I shared this with you is for an "Eye on the Prize" motivator.  For all of you who are doing your best to stay strong and not cheat, the reward is not only loss weight, but the being able to keep off the weight, even when on occasion, you go out and have whatever you want to eat.  The HCG protocol's ability to reset your metabolism is really the most important and most rewarding part. 

I hope everyone has a great week and enjoys living in our fair city as World Champions!  Now, if we can get the Rangers to the Series again - that would be really awesome to win another Championship in the Fall.  Keep the updates and questions coming - signing off as a happy and satisfied fan.  Queen said it best - "We Are the Champions!"

Mavs Nearly There, the D.A.P. Files and Battling the Phase 2 Blues

1 more game to go Baby!!

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 Excessive Emoticon User,
Do you really have to have an expression after every sentence in your email or text?  Is it really necessary that you "wink," "sigh," or "stick your tongue out" at me to drive your point home?  More importantly,  how much of your life have you wasted learning how to discover and save to permanant memory those key combinations?  Are you aware that the use of emoticoms falls under the category, "Innovations That Have Done Absolutey Nothing for the Advancement of Mankind?"  It falls right under Flatulence Perfume.  Please do all of us a favor, just stick to standard grammar when you get to the end of your sentences or train of thought and utilize periods, question marks, and exclamation marks and leave the smiley faces for the grade school teachers ; - )

The EEU is closely related to our next offender:

Dear Passive Aggressive Emoticon User,
Sorry, guys we will have to work on Saturday :)

Looks like we are going to have to start letting some of you go :p

So sorry neighbor, I ran over your dog and took out your mailbox backing out of the driveway this morning :o

Do you really think any of these statements would bring about any happiness or joy?  No they don't, in fact, they do the opposite?  This is something an EEU with Hannibal Lector tendancies would do.  Your words say you are sorry, but your freakin' emoticon says, your a horrible person who takes pleasure in other's miserably, specifically misery you deal out.  Well, we all have a little emoticon for you too, it is called "the bird" and doesn't require any technology. 

Dear Self-Important Blue Tooth Guy,
Are you a 9-1-1 dispatcher?  Are you an embarrassing tattoo removal technician?  If not, you don't need a sophisticated cyborg ear enhancement and you are not that important or in  that much of demand.  There is no way you are so busy and so important that you have to wear your techno-blue ray earring - your not fooling anyone.  Please remove the device so everyone will stop calling you a "tool."

Dear Overly Self-Righteous Vegan,
I truly do respect and somewhat admire your committment to making the most of eating styrofoam and corkboard, but stop trying to make me feel bad for enjoying the hearty and robust flavors of animal flesh and for paying attention to the message of the Lion King and accepting the circle of life.   When you drive by a pasture of cattle, you probably think to yourself, "awww, why do they have to be fenced up - why can't they roam free as they were meant to be?"  Well, when I see this scene, I sing that that little commercial tune, "Beef - it's what's for dinner!"  I don't even care if you are secretly thinking I am committing murder each time I devour warmed-up ribeye in the breakroom, just don't interrupt the crime scene with your whining and gasping.  Just move along or sit there and quietly munch on your fried kelp. 

More like "mug me."

Dear Jacked-Up Stud Who Walks Around Naked in the Lockeroom,
We get it, you are the perfectly formed male of the species, but obviously you need to be constantly reminded of that because you can't go 5 seconds without glancing at yourseslf in the mirror for reassurance.  Could it be too much trouble to put a towel around your waist?  If you are concerned about accurate weighing, simply deduct a pound from the scale.  We would all really appreciate it if you would forgo abusing  the loophole you have discovered in regards to exibitionism laws in our country.  It would be a win-win situation:  the rest of us would feel much more safe and you could focus on getting dressed and getting home so you can continue your love making session with yourself in private.

and from the same file . . .

Dear Couples that Work Out Together,
Living, eating, and sleeping together is plenty - do you really need more time together?  They don't call it "Quality Lifetime Fitness." 

Dear Clueless Husband of Pregnant Wife,
Stop telling everyone the "we are pregnant."  Will you be passing a life form the size of a bowling ball from one of your orfices in the near future?  Are your ankles swelling up to the size of hamhocks?  No.  Saying this would be the equivalent of you taking a Josh Hamilton line drive in the family jewels and your wife calling relatives and saying, "we're at the emergency room because we just got racked by a Josh Hamilton frozen rope."  Just to be clear, your not pregnant - she is;  you  just got her that way.  And even though ,in your warped thought process, you figured she would like you saying this - she doesn't, in fact she resents it.

Don't say it, even if you look it . . .

Dear Express Lane Violater,
The sign does not say, "Approximately 10 Items," or "10 Items Give or Take 15."  No, it says "10 Items or Less" for a reason.  These lanes are wonderful for those of us who are HCGers, becasue 10 items pretty much feeds us for the entire week, so why should we have to stick around and endure the social injustice that is Walmart any longer than necessary because you stroll up to the express lane and proceed to innocently purchase half a basket of groceries.  What's insult to injury is when you slaps remember you have to pick up a package or dewormer for your pit bull as the cashier is just about to ring up your 79th and final item.

Ok enough with the satire and now to some information you can really use.  More from the D.A.P files to come in the future.  I have come across some different recipes and food ideas for those of you on Phase 2.  I have had a few comments about needing variety or something to "jazz" up those meals.  Patsy, my wonderful, and non-stereotypical Mother-in-Law, downloaded a book on her kindle that really has some great stuff in there for HCG dieters. Here are a few:

Cold Curried Chicken Salad
Ingredients:
3.5 ounces of chicken, diced
1 apple, diced
1.5 cups celery, diced (optional)
1/4 cup of water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon finely minced onion
1 clove of garlic, crushed or minced
1/4 teaspoon of curry powder to taste
dashes of garlic and onion powder, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, turmeric and stevia

Preparation:
lightly saute chicken in lemon juice until lightly browned;
Add 1/4 cup of water and spices;
Stir well and simmer over low heat until liquid reduces to for sauce;
Add water as needed to create the consistency you want;
Chill, add chopped apple and celery and serve over a green salad.

Makes 1 serving (1 protien, 1 vegetable, 1 fruit):  260 calories
Chilled Garlic Refrigerator Pickles
Ingredients:
1 med. cucumber, sliced into rounds;
4 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced;
apple cider vinegar;
3 tablespoons of lemon juice
Sea Salt
Preparation:
Mix liquid ingredients together;
Salt cucumbers slices well;
Pack cucumber slices tightly into a small glass canning jar layering garlic slices in between layers;
Pour apple cider vinegar and lemon juice into container until liquid covers the slices;
Refrigerate overnight.  Pickles can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.
Makes 1-2 servings of vegetable - 50 calories

Melba Toast with Strawberry Jam
Ingredients:
1 Melba Toast;
5 large strawberries
Stevia to taste
Preparation:
Puree fresh strawberries with Stevia and serve on top of Melba toast or sprinkle crused Melba toast over strawberry puree.
Variations - add a little vanilla powder or cinnamon to the crushed melbal toast for additional flavor
Make 1 serving (1bread, 1 fruit) - 45 calories

Strawberry Vinaigrette (for those who need some dressing)
Ingredients:
2 Strawberries
1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
Stevia to taste
Dash of salt, cayenne (optional)
Fresh black pepper to taste
Stevia to taste
Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in food processor;
Puree until smooth;
Pour over fresh green salad.
Garnish with fresh strawberries and freshly ground pepper. 
Variations - use as a marinade or sauce for chicken
Makes 1 serving (fruit) - 10 calories

Grapefriut Vinaigrette
Ingredients:
Juice of 3 segments of grapefruit
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (optional)
Stevia to taste
Preparation:
Combine juices and vinegar;
Add Stevia to taste;
Pour over mixed green salad and top with remaining grapefruit segments;
Use as a marinade for fish, shrimp or chicken. 
Add salt and fresh ground pepper

Hot Cajun Dressing/Dipping Sauce
Ingredients:
3 Ingredients apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Dashes of garlic powder, onion powder;
Cayenne Pepper to taste;
Salt and peper to taste
1/4 teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning mix (optional)
Stevia (optional)
Preparation:
Combine ingredients in a small bowl and pour over salad
Variations - you can also serve this as a dipping sauce or marinade for vegetables or fish
5 calories

I hope some of those recipes ideas can help you spice up your meals and give you more variety.  Again these recipes are not my original recipes, they came from a book downloaded on a Kindle.  The title is The HCG Diet Gourmet Cookbook by Tammy Skye.  Certainly, you may want to download or try to get the hard copy of the book, but I will start highlighting a few recipes from the book on each entry and also put them on the recipe page as well.  Also, if any of you out there have come up with your own great ideas for recipes on the diet, send them to me and I will include them as well. 

I hope all of you have a fabulous weekend.  My daughter Claire has her big dance recital this weekend, so I am anxious to see her perform and where our money has been going (talk about a racket - dance studios!).   Hopefully the next time I post, the Mavericks will be World Champions!!! A lot of you are starting to send me questions, clients and updates and that is awesome.  Please keep it up and also, I encourage you to become a follower of the blog by signing up for an account.  That way you can contribute to the polls and also comment on posts.  The sign up is free and only takes a few minutes.  Signing off from HCG land - I'm out.

Gadjets and Mother-in Laws

Ok, so in attempt to make my blog more dynamic and worth your while stopping by, I have given my blog a makeover and I have added a few new "gadgets" as blogger calls them to the bottom of the entries.  Here is what I have added:
1 - Links to my customers/blog followers business websites.  I would like to create a network of business links on here so we can all help each other out from time-to-time.  Please take time to look at these and if you are in market for something that they provide, please consider them, as they are all local and are really great folks.  Also, if you have a business, let me know and I will get your link on there as well.  I would like to really get this list very lengthy.  Also, if you have a business website, please consider pasting my website and blog on there as well.  My website is http://mckinney.hcgproviders.com/
Here are a list of websites/businesses that I have featured today:

Lindsey Abbott - Scentsy Wickless:  http://lindseyabbott.scentsy.us/

Brian & Hillary Wysong - photography services:  http://www.hillaryannephotography.com/#home/

Jeb Matulich - Art Work:  http://www.junkytrinkets.com/

Danny & Amy Cox - vetenarian services:  http://thepetvet.com/dallas.html
Mark Stephens - Home Inspections:  http://stephensinspections.com/

2 - Weekly Poll Question.  I thought this might be helpful for everyone to guage their personal experience with HCG.  I will keep them up for about a week and then put a new one up.  Also, if you have any ideas for future polls, let me know. 
3- My Favorites List - just another way to get to know me and have some fun at the same time. 

This week my Mother-in-Law, Patsy came from Lubbock (Get Your Guns Up!) to stay with us and help us as Stacy and I both have Professional Development meetings.  She has been a lifesaver because of course the kids are out of school, so having her here has been a blessing.  Now, I know all the stereotypes that go along with "mother-in-laws" but let me tell you my mother-in-law is awesome and I love having her around.  I understand why everyone thinks, and rightly so, that Stacy is one of the nicest people - she gets it from Patsy.  I have known some poor saps who had to deal with an "Endora" for a mother-in-law, and if you know who the Endora reference your aging yourself, so I feel very lucky not to have to be one of those guys.  But for all of you out there who are not as fortunate as I am or perhaps you are a mother-in-law that lives up to the stereotype, you might get a kick out of these:

"Conscience is a mother-in-law whose visit never ends." - H.L. Menken

"I saw six men kicking and punching the mother-in-law. My neighbour said 'Are you going to help?
I said 'No, six should be enough." - Les Dawson

"I told my mother-in-law that my house was her house, and she said, 'Get the hell off my property." - Joan Rivers

"My mother-in-law had a pain beneath her left breast. Turned out to be a trick knee." - Phyliss Diller

"Just got back from a pleasure trip: I took my mother-in-law to the airport." - Benny Youngman

No "bewitching" from my Mother-in-Law





Actually Patsy is an HCGer as well and has been quite resourceful.   It was Patsy who came up with the "Mother-in-Law" Cherry Limeade.  She is starting her second round of the protocol tomorrow so I fixed her some meals this evening.  I am going to have her take some pictures of her meals while here and I will post them as well as the calorie count on them for those of you who are on the drop phase as well.  Also, Patsy has come across some great recipe ideas for phase 2 and I will be putting a couple of those on the recipes page of this blog and will continue to do so periodically until I have a good collection on there.  I will let you know each time I update it. 

Over the past 10 days or so, I have had the opportunity to meet in person with some of my customers who were in need of some more drops.  I really like getting to do this because it allows me to get to know them better.  I don't want to embarrass anyone and I am taking liberties mentioning the following people by name, but PJ, Lindsey, Chuck, Amy, and Joan thanks for taking the time to visit with me - you are all great folks and I'm glad I got to get to know each of you better.  Truly one of the best things about selling the HCG drops has been getting to know some really hard working and genuinely nice people.  I feel that, in addition to building my business and customer base, I am also developing some great new friendships with people who seem to be just like Stacy and I - busy as can be trying to keep pace in the "rat race", and who also want to improve and take control of their health.  It has been very exciting to hear and know that so many are having success with the HCG and contact me daily for help and advice. My recent visit with these repeat customers made me realize how great this area is because of so many honest, down-to-earth people who make North Dallas their home.  

Ok, students get our your spirals . . .well acutally in classrooms today we ask them to get out their laptops, IPADS or smart phones.  A little more science of the HCG diet.  Let's talk about "fat."  We have 3 types of fat in our bodies:  structural, normal  and abnormal.  Structural surrounds organs and joints and it is important because it protects our organs and arteries.  It also keeps our skin smooth and tight, and it also provides cushioning under bones of the feet and other joints.  Normal fat reserves are located all over the body and are used as fuel when the body has a calorie or nutritional shortage.  Both of these types of fat are normal and needed for good health - they are in fact, good fats. But with many diet regiments, it is these fats and important muscle mass that is being lost. 

The third type of fat is what HCG is about - abnormal fat reserves.  This type of fat is also a reserve fuel, but it is stored in what we know as "problem areas" and not spread out all over the body like normal fat reserves.  For women, abnormal fat is generally stored in the hips, thighs, and buttocks.  For men, problem areas are the waist, upper chest and in neck region - ugh. . . I could have been a poster boy for abnormal fat areas.  What makes it as difficult as Chinese Algebra to get rid of this abnormal fat is that there are only two situations in which it is used by the body as fuel:  during an extreme nutritional emergency and when the body is nearing starvation; and during pregnancy to guarantee the survival of the fetus.  Persons who are overweight or obese have a large amount of abnormal reserves and it causes disfiguration in the problem areas and make the notion of losing weight virtually impossible by suscribing to diet plans and even excercise because the weight lost is from structural and normal fat and they feel very weak and hungry.  So they lose "good fats" but fail to lose the weight they really want to.  The HCG protocol allows participants to get rid of those abnormal fat reserves because the drops actually tricks the body, and specifically the hypothalamus gland, into thinking that it is pregnant, and thus allowing the release or mobilization of the abnormal fat.  So, while on the drops, dieters will either lose weight or reshape daily. 

A few words about stalling, which many of you are having issues with.  After considering the info above about fat reserves, I think that some of you who are doing the HCG soon after being on another diet plan such as weight watchers, LA, or the lemonade plan, may be stalling because your body is reshaping or replacing the "good fats" you may have lost during those plans.  Trudeau states in his book, that during most diet and exercise programs, overweight people lose "important structural fat covering their bones get less and less, and they often look unhealthy and older."  So, if you started HCG rebounding off of another diet plan, your frequent stalling may well be because your body is attempting to replace the structural fats that you lost with your abnormal fat.  Of course that is just a speculation, but most of you are saying that you know you are losing inches, so it must be replacing and reshaping.  I know that I had not been on a diet and excercise plan in well over 6 years prior to going on the HCG so I certainly did not have to replace any shortage of structural fat - I mean guys saw me - there was not shortage in fat anywhere.  Consequently, my abnormal fat were liquified more often and consistently because I did not have a shortage of the "good fats."  So don't fret the stall folks and embrace the reshaping that is taking place.  You just have to tell yourself on days that you do not see significant loss on the scales, that you are reshaping.  Besides, "reshaping" sounds more sexy and dynamic anyway. 

Well, I am calling it a night and will shove off now.  Next time, I will discuss the mystery of the hypothalamus gland and the huge roll it plays in our nutritional health and phase one and two of the HCG diet.  Everyone have a good rest of the week.  The Mavs took care of business tonight to even up the series, so a win on Thursday would make it a great week.  Keep the questions and the updates coming - stay strong and keep the faith! 



 And now a parting shot for the dangers of mixing vegetables . . .

From the Mouths of HCGers, Richard's "No-Go's" and a Little "Q & A"

Hello HCGers!  I hope you all had a great weekend.  Several of you have sent me a text or email letting me know about your progress, and I really appreciate that and encourage everyone to keep me updated on your progress.  Below are some of the messages I have received lately from folks on the HCG Journey.

Debbie from Frisco:
"29 days - 16.7lbs, -14.75 total inches.  YES YES YES - 2 more weeks on phase 2  . . . then maintenance."  -May 21st  (text message)

"40 days, 20 pounds!! Maintenance here I come!!!  - June 1st (email)

"Ok this getting to 1500 calories is freaking me out."  June 4th (text message)

Linda from Plano:
"Thank you............I am down 7 lbs since starting the regime on Saturday............It's working!" - May 17th (email)

"Hi, Jim.  Just a quick update....I have lost 18 lbs. since starting the diet after meeting you at the McKinney Trade Days!!! I have lots of energy and my family can see a difference.....too bad it took 18 lbs to even show! I started on my second bottle of drops.  When I need more, do I email you?  I did measure and should do an update of the measure to see the differences and will let you know the new numbers.......Women do loose slower and it is the pits!  I continue to marvel at this weight loss and will keep up, even if it stalls! Thank you!"  - June 3rd (email)

Jason from Childress:
"Hey bud just wanted to let you know that we got them in yesterday.. Thanks.. and my wife bought a bikini .. first one in over 6 years. !!!!  thanks bud" - June 1st (Email)

Debbie, Linda and Jason thanks so much for the comments and updates.  We can all learn a lot from each other on this protocol.  Debbie is exactly right - when you switch over to the maintenance phase, it is very difficult to eat enough and get 1500 calories down.  In fact, that is the most common mistake made during phase 3 - not eating enough.  You will feel like you are eating way too much and all the time, but that is a real key to resetting your metabolism, so make sure you are doing all you can to eat enough on this critical stage.  Everyone should take Linda's advice and measure as well as weigh each day.  This can really provide you some contentment when you hit one of those inevitable stall periods.  If you see that you are indeed losing inches daily even though you aren't losing pounds it is very encouraging.  Remember your body will indeed reshaps itself during Phase 2.  Coach Botos, what can I say?  Only a baseball coach from Indiana would find such benefits in this diet.  I'm very happy to hear about the bikini, but inquiring minds want to know if you return the favor and sport the Speedo???

Everyone remember Richard?  Go check out his own personal page on this blog - "The Chronicles of Richard."  Richard has generously offered to give us all updates as takes a second shot and reaching his goal on the HCG protocol.  Here is his first update after week one:

Week Two – Rockin’ and Rollin’

Okay, HCG…I’m starting to like you again. I’m now 10 days into my 2nd round of the HCG protocol and I’m remembering now why this diet can be so addictive (emotionally, not physically, of course). My starting weight was on the high end of 255 and now, 10 days later, I find myself sitting comfortably at 245 pounds. My clothes already feel different, there’s a spring in my step, and I have the confidence to keep going.

The cons? Oh, yeah, there are cons. I’m already craving a cheeseburger or a simple serving of chips and salsa like nobody’s business. Carbs…now there’s the real addiction. And I don’t seem to lose the weight as fast as most guys do…my weight loss functions more like the results that women who go on the HCG plan get. But you know what? That’s okay. I’m still losing, and I’m a guy who feels like it’s okay to be in touch with your feminine side anyway. J HCG and Musical Theatre. Who’s up for some So You Think You Can Dance? J
I’ll list my 10 days of meals here for your viewing pleasure. I just found out through trial and error that blueberries and ground turkey are no-go’s while on the drops. You live and learn.

I have posted Richard's day-by-day meals and calorie count on the Chronicles of Richard, so please check that out.  Ok Richard, as your friend and HCG Coach, I gotta tell you that I am proud of your new found determination and resolve to finish the deal this time.  I am also excited that you have your wonderful wife, Jodi, doing it with you this time.  There is power in numbers.  Now, let me give you some good simple advice - please read the manual, so you don't keep eating "no-go's."  C'mon, Richard, women and children don't come with manuals, but the HCG does. 

Ok now for a couple of questions that came through this week that I thought I might share because some of you may be wondering the same things. 

Q:  Is gum allowed?  Is there any gum made with Stevia?
A:  Gum is not allowed during phase 2 or 3.  I'll admit that I cheated and started chewing Extra Sugar Free (Chocolate Mint, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Key Lime) during the maintenance phase even though it really is not allowed.   Now the good news - I just found out today that there is indeed gum made from Stevia that you should be just fine on all phases.  I don't know the brand name, however, most health food stores and Sprouts carry it.  If any of you find it, let me know the brand name or even shoot a picture of it and send it to me and I will post it on here.

Q:  What's the deal with lemon juice?
A:  Lemons and lemon juice is fine to use in your tea or as flavoring. 

Q:  How do I know what a serving of a vegetable is?
A:  This can be confusing, because it is hard to determine exactly what a serving is of a vegetable, especially if it is raw and not packaged.  What many HCGers do is take the total of their calorie count from their protein, fruit and bread and subtract it from 500.  The sum is the amount they can eat in vegetables.  To determine calorie count I had two resources.  The first was a free App that I downloaded on my phone called "My Fitness Pal."  It is very good and lets you track your calories for each meal daily.  It also helps you determine calorie count with all foods.  The second device is a digital food scale made by Thompson that I purchased at Target for about $30.  It has the ability to enter the type of food being weighed and it will calculate the calorie count.  With these two aids, I was able to pretty much get a pretty good estimation on my meals.  After a while, you get to be a pretty good "eye-baller" and just have a sense of how much a serving is - kinda like when Paula Dean just uses a "few pinches" of seasoning.  Speaking of Paula Dean, I don't think she is HCG aware because I saw her coat a pineapple in butter!!! 

Q:  Are using spray liquid aminos on your food ok?
A:  I have found nothing stating that this would be harmful. 

Q:  Does it matter when I the drops during the day?
A:  No, as long as you get three doses a day and you don't take them 30 minutes before or after eating or drinking anything.  I always took my drops right after waking up and weighing, 30 minutes after lunch, and 30 minutes after dinner.  As a note, don't freak out if you forget to take your drops or you get caught somewhere without them.  The HCG stays in your system for about 72 hours, so if you will be "ok" if you forget them occasionally. 

Q:  Will you be at McKinney Trade Days next month?
A:  Yes I will!  I will be at the same location on Henderson Street and would love to see any of you if you happen to be out.  Please stop by and say hello!  Also, tell all your friends who are freaking out on your weight loss to "drop by for the drops!"

Q:  Boxers or Briefs?
A:  Which ever seems to be the cleanest or has the fewest holes in it.  Hey, if anything, I'm flexible.

I will close this entry with what I thought was some very intresting information regarding weight loss and fat from Trudeau's Book, "The Weight Loss Cure They Don't Want You to Know About."  But of course you do know about it now - anyway, some good stuff, I thought.

These are the common denominators that virtually all fat people have:
1. Their body metabolism is low.  What this 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 neve been a treatment that truly addressed this particular problem.  This is one of the reasons why when a person goes on a weight-loss program and actually loses some of the 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.  THIS IS WHY PHASE 3 IS SO IMPORTANT

2. High hunger. Thin people can never understand this.  A fat person is physically hungry more often and at a higher intensity than a naturally thin person.  Thin people always say that fat people don't have enough self-control to stop eating.  This is not true.  The thin person cannot comprehend the physiological, intense, and almost constant hunger that the fat person has to deal with.  It has nothing to do with self-control.  This is a real, gnawing, tortuous, intense physical hunger.  This is one of the reasons why naturally thin people and exercise gurus have no right to author a book on how to lose weight.  They have never really had to deal with the real issues that overweight people deal with.  AMEN BROTHER!

3.  Eating when you're not hungry.  Overweight people also have a problem with "emotional eating" or cravings.  Certain food cravings fall into the above hunger category as they are physiological in nature.  Other food cravings or emotional eating occur when you are physically not hungry, but you are "hungry" to fill an emotional need.  

I will continue with more really intersting stuff from the book on the next entry.  Trudeau goes on to explain the different types of fat our body has and why the fat in our problem areas is so difficult to get rid of (until HCG, of course).  Also interesting is a comparison of Americans and other countries - why is America so darn fat?  Trudeau has some very interesting ideas about this that seem to make a lot of sense. 

I hope everyone has a great week.  One thing that would make it great is if the Mavericks could win the next two games as home, as we kinda lost all that momentum after tonight's loss.  It is about time the Lone Star State get another champion.  I will leave you this evening with some weight-loss humor - enjoy. 
Disclaimer - This is WEIGHT LOSS HUMOR. Please so not take it personally. If you do... you need to LIGHTEN UP!! (Get it?) 

The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then, your body and your fat are really good friends.

I gave up jogging for my health reasons. My thighs kept rubbing together and setting my pantyhose on fire.

If guns kill people, a spoon made Rosie O’Donnell fat.  (One for all us Tea Party folks)



Alice Cooper, Dirk Nowitzki, and Why it's Good to be a Guy

Alice Cooper is really a diverse individual.  This legendary dark rocker definitely has some shock factor, but he is also a scratch golfer and apparently very clever.  I mean how genius was it to come up with "School's Out for Summer?"  He had to know that this song would become the montra for all teenagers and teachers during the last days of school.  I wonder how many times this song will be played over the radio and downloaded the next few days as we bust free from the halls of education.  I know at Liberty it will be piped in tomorrow as that final bell rings.  So here's to Alice Cooper and summer vacation  - Rock On and Bring it On!

How awesome of a victory was tonight's game for the little Mavericks?  Once again, I considered them done midway through the 4th quarter when they were down by 15, and once again, they shocked me, the basketball world, and more importantly the Miami Heat.  What a great comeback and hopefully, it will prove to be the turning point of the series.  I am so happy for Dirk, because as I have stated before, I feel like he is one of the most under appreciated players in sports.  So finally, he is getting his "just desserts" for his incredible play.  Dirk is one of the really good guys in professional sports and hopefully he will indeed finish first this year.  At the very least, he has done everything possible to see that it happens - the final 9 points tonight was truly a superstar performance. 
http://youtu.be/QEECwgdigZY

Okay, I guess I have always known it, but my journey on the HCG Diet, has made me more aware of the notion that there are some distinct advantages to being a "guy."  I know, I know ladies, you are tired of hearing that guys lose weight more easily and quicker than their counterparts.  This fact really frustrated Stacy and in talking to other couples who did the diet together, this seemed to be a common theme.  So, ladies I'm sorry for this biological fact.  Let me also apologize for the following list Guyisms, which point out other great advantages of being a guy:

1)  3 words - Monday Night Football;
2)  Not be bothered to state your weight or age.  We lie about golf scores and how many touchdowns we scored in high school;
3) Not stressing out about the house "being a disaster" the week before having company;
4) If someone forgets to send you an invitation to something, you can still be friends with them;
5) If another guy shows up at a party with the same clothes on, you may well become life-long buddies;
6) You understand the what is so darned funny about The Three Stooges, and can also find the humor in Terms of Endearment;
7) You can open all your own jars;
8) You don't have to worry about your best friend's love life;
9) Our bathroom lines are 80% shorter;
10) Our butts are not a factor in job interviews;
11) Movie nudity is nearly always female;
12) You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness (flowers seemingly have supernatural powers);
13) You don't have to shave below your neck;
14) You can write your name in the snow or the world is your urinal;
15) All your orgasms are real;
16) Chocolate is just another snack;
17) You can quietly enjoy a ride in the passesnger seat;
18) 3 pair of shoes is more than enough;
19) Old friends don't give care if you have gained or lost weight;
and finally,
20) You can be showered and ready to go in ten minutes!

Al Bundy knows how good it is to be a guy.

A few words about HCG before I leave.  Today let's talk about stalling or reaching a plateau in your weight loss.  I have not talked to one participant that has not experienced this.  Usually, the first week on the drops is when we lose the most weight and then around days 10-12 weight loss slows down considerably or even stops for a few days.  This is normal and you must remind yourself of two things:  1) you have to look at end result or finish line and look for the average; and 2) just because you are not losing pounds does not mean your are not losing fat in your problem areas - you are still probably losing inches.  That is why it is a good idea to measure yourself as well.  I did not, and I wish that I had.  I think many of you will find that your inches are still shrinking even if you are not losing weight.  Two things happen to your abnormal fat during Phase 2 - it is liquified or mobilized.  The latter is where reshaping occurs as your body knows what to do with the extra fat.  It may determine that it needs to be used provide protection for an organ or joint, but most importantly, it is leaving your problem areas. 

Ok, so now that you won't be so stressed out about that inevitable stall period, how do you get yourself back to losing.  If you go three days without a loss, do an apple day.  Also, start taking a couple of tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar each day.  But, if you are doing this diet with your husband or boyfriend, please refrain from asking about his progress during your stall, because your probably just going to get more peeved and frustrated when he gleams about the 3.5 pounds he lost, and you will spend the rest of the day resenting him and searching for your self-esteem at the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box.

Before I close I want to remind all of you to shoot me a message or give me a call as you are about to go on maintenance.  I have some good literature that I can send you that I think is very good to read.  Also, if you just want to visit with me as you prepare, do so, because this phase is so very important as it is the key to keeping the weight you lost off.  I feel like too many people relax and let up their guard after the drop phase, but actually the maintenance phase requires more attention and discipline if you ask me.  So let me know when you are crossing over from phase 2 to 3. 



Easy there girl . . .


I hope everyone has a great weekend and great start to summer vacation.  Stay strong and keep shedding those pounds!!  Until next week.  Go Mavs!