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!

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.