Experiment Update

Update: I've lost 5 pounds since Day One...

With all the traveling we've been doing its been hard to stay on any kind of a routine. But being back home and starting this experiment I've been able to drop the 6 pound weight gain and am back to where I was at this darn plateau! This morning I weighted and I was down a half of a pound and officially on the downside of the scale. If I can keep this up... that means the plateau is shattered and I'll be losing pounds and inches one again. Of course the lesson here is consistency! You don't have that when you are traveling, especially when you are traveling by air. You really are at the mercy of the airlines, airport, times zones and flight times. At a later time I'll figure out how to stay consistent while traveling, but right now I'm focused on this little experiment while I'll be home for 21 days straight.

I'm very encouraged. I'm not hungry (and when I am I eat) and I am feeling great. A couple things I have noticed...

1. I know we've all heard this time and time again... DRINK MORE WATER! I've started chugging slightly chilled water, 6 oz (Juice glass size) every hour. Its actually been easy... I start around 9:00 and continue all through the day. Brining a water bottle everywhere I go. If I am home I just fill up my juice glass right from the fridge with filtered water. So far so easy.
2. When on the HCG its recommended that you don't do any strenuous exercise. But walking is good. So I walk... but I found its been better to walk in the evening rather than in the morning when I've not taken in a lot of calories during the night and the morning, with only coffee for breakfast with 2 tab. cream. So an afternoon walk it is! Feeling awesome!
3. Craving fruit or peanut butter. Not together but sometimes yes. Apple with 1 small tablespoon of peanut butter has been afternoon snack of choice. Sometime I do switch it up and have celery and peanut butter tho. I need to top eating the peanut butter every day tho.

Other than that its been pretty easy dropping those 5 pounds. Now lets see if I can keep those last 5, I call em "travel pounds" off for good and stay on the downhill of my weight loss.

One thing that I am doing differently... Because its hot here is blending my fruit in my NutrabulletRX. (No, Im not affiliated with NutrabulletRX, I just wanted to show you this amazing machine) So I peel an orange cut it up... pop it into a blender with 1 cup of water, about 6 ice cubes a couple of fresh or frozen strawberries and let the Nutrabullet do it things... YUM! A cold refreshing juice, totally healthy because I am using the whole fruit and filling because I'm getting the fiber, plus all those frothy bubbles that fill me up. I count that as one of my daily fruits. I have it before or after my walk. (Its too hot here in Arizona to walk outside now so I've been on the boring treadmill) Its really good too. (Sometimes I do put in some Truvia if the orange is particularly sour or I'm making this with a ruby red grapefruit.) Here's a photo of my orange strawberry drink I call the "naked pink lady". If you are not on the HCG diet you can add some protein powder or yogurt for a more nutritious drink, but then its a smoothie. 

 Here's a photo of yesterdays "Naked Pink Lady"
Smooth, frothy, filling and refreshing.

Here's the NutrabulletRX its pretty amazing! 

Ok I'll update soon...

Today is Day One...

Of our experiment.

Hubby and I have both been on Belveq for about 7 months and in that time (5 months) I have lost 21 pounds. But lately my weight loss has slowed to almost nothing. I'm still eating 1000 calories and walking a mile a day. Still nothing... I've taken a few vacations and have gained 5 to 8 pounds, quickly lost it once I got home tho. But both hubby and I have appeared to have hit a brick wall with this plateau.

Hubby and I have both used HCG in the past so we decided to try a combination of Belviq and HCG. Since we are only eating 800 to 1000 calories a day anyway, hopefully the combination will at least boost us off of this plateau. Belviq helps us NOT eat so much and be hungry. HCG uses the fat cells for energy. I need that. HCG shrinks the fat cells, the reason people gain the weight back after a round is because they go back to poor eating habits large proportions and sugar. Belviq is teaching us that we don't need those large proportions and so many carbs.

Here's the plan.

We'll do a 21 day round.

We've already "loaded" as best we can.

We'll continue to take the belviq 2 times a day.

We will take the natural HCG spray 2 times a day.

We'll continue our walking, at least one mile a day on the treadmill. More if we want. (We're working up to 10,000 steps a day, challenged by our lovely daughter-in-love using our FitBit Charge HR)

I'll post our progress and the food we eat here every evening.

Wish us luck its day one.

Easy Healthy breakfast...

To start your busy day.

(Click photo to enlarge)

I don't very often buy processed/packaged foods but sometimes you just need a little help in the kitchen on busy days. So look for the most healthy helpers and go for it once in a while! 

I had a coupon to try this "Seeds of Change Seven Whole Grains rice" and hubby and I both loved it!

I grilled a Tri-Tip Steak, sliced a ripe red tomato and put this packet of Seven Whole Grains rice in a little cast iron skillet to warm it up. Its fully cooked! (You can warm it up in the microwave too, but I don't cook in the microwave)  It looked a little lonely so I quickly shredded a carrot into the skillet with the rice, then thought it needed some green so I julienned a handful of fresh spinach and tossed that in too. Heated it up adding 1/2 tablespoon of fresh butter to finish it off.
What a wonderful meal! I served hubby one cup and myself 1/2 cup and I had 1/2 cup left over.

So this morning, I popped it back into the skillet with 1/2 pat of butter and scrambled an egg. Quick, delicious and I'm ready for the day! 

Enjoy! 

Weight update

Its official, I've lost 21 pounds since Nov. 10 2014! And three inches off my hips! And that's even having the FLU all last week. I did eat less, but I wasn't able to work out or go for my walk. Its a slow process. Ive been shooting for a 2 pound a week weight loss. This slow pace insures a better chance of keeping off the weight and lets my skin catch up so i don't have so much loose skin. I also dry brush and use coconut oil on my skin everyday. I've been using Weight Watchers Points Plus too. I really like the program, its so easy to just watch my points rather than counting calories all the time. HOWEVER: I do stay aways for a lot of processed food with WW allows and too much fruit. Fruit and Veggies are 0 points on WW Plus. Basically I stay away from too much sugar and packages/processed foods. I have to with the Insulin Resistance.

Reached a Mini Goal!

I'm so excited to announce that I have reached a mini goal set for myself! I wanted to lose 18 pounds before I started the 60 T-Tapp Challenge for 2015! I DID IT! This morning at weigh in! In the nick of time too, as the Challenge starts Saturday January 10th!

I'm having a hard time articulating how good this really does feel. I've been trying to hard to lose weight. Its so devastating when you work really hard doing the right things and nothing, not a damn thing happens. Doctors blame you, you blame you. Your supporters wonder what you're doing wrong. Its frustrating and depressing.

I had such mixed emotions when I finally went to a specialty weight loss Doctor. When she told me I have PCOS and extreme insulin resistance, where type 2 diabetes is just waiting for you to make one wrong move before it takes over your body. I was an emotional wreck of good and bad feelings!
On one had I was so happy for finally find out why all my hard work wasn't paying off. On the other hand... why hadn't my 2 naturopaths and family doctors never figured this out! I had ALL the classic symptoms!!!! HELLO????

But with the proper mixture of medicine, pharmaceuticals and natural medications I have finally been ale to leave the dock and start my weight loss journey!

Since October 15th 2014 to January 9th I've lost a firm 18 pounds!

Its time to set a new goal.

I start the challenge tomorrow. My new goal is... 20 pounds! I know that sounds like a lot in 2 months, but I am eating a low calorie and more important low glycemic meals. So that kind of weight loss is do-able. I just lost 18 pounds during the last two months and that was with no workouts at all!
However I may convert this goal into inches. Because that's the way T-Tapp works... Inches not so much pounds...
The weight-loss in pounds is the icing on the cake with T-Tapp.

If your still with me on this journey Thanks!

ReallyRainey

15 pounds in 6 weeks!

Another 2 pounds! WHAT?

Moving right along... I've lost another 2 pounds since Nov. 12! 

I had a Doctors appt. yesterday. My weight loss Doc. I've officially lost 14 pounds in a little over a month. And 3 inches off of my waist! The combination of meds I'm on is working. Often times its a delicate balance each week when you are talking about hormones and insulin resistance. Because I'm taking the Belviq and Metformin I have to get a blood test every 6 weeks in the beginning, so I go next week for a blood draw and then another Doc appt.

So my appt. yesterday my blood pressure was pretty high. Doc's not sure why so she's put me on a diuretic to see if that helps. I have another appt. on Dec. 18 and well see if that med change worked. She also put me on a huge potassium pill! Then of course I needed my monthly refill for Belviq. As she handed me ALL those prescriptions I looked at her kind of sadly. She knows I don't like taking pharmaceuticals. She smiled and must have read my mind. Then told me "these aren't forever medications. At the rate of your improvement you'll be off all of these within a year, most likely even your blood pressure meds. Hang in there and trust me." She hasn't steered me wrong yet... And since I'm defiantly feeling better and losing weight the right way, I'm going to go on faith here and trust her.

So here's the plan: 

My goal per month is 10 pounds. Doc feels since I'm eating well (Low carb. Low GI) and working out its a very reasonable goal. I'd like to lose another 70 pounds. (Yes, I'm very overweight) So that's another 7 months on the Belviq. Then once I've reached my goal, to stay on the Belviq another 3 months to maintain and ween off the Belviq until I can maintain my new weight on my own. Along the way we will do blood work and re-adjust the other meds accordingly. 

Breaking it down. I'm going to take this one month at a time. I lost 10 pounds in November and 4 pounds in December! I'm not expecting to lose that much every month. Ten pounds a month is a good goal tho with the low carb meals and working out 7 days a week. So when you see the ticker at the bottom of my blog posts, its in the current month and reflecting my 10 pound goal not my overall goal. My over all goal ticker is at the top of my blog.

So now that we've covered the meds... lets get into to how and why I added a workout. The "how" you ask? Well I've been so out of shape. Plus being so heavy its hard on the body. So working out was painful and with the insulin resistance I would be SO tired after a workout that I would need a couple of days recovery time. So I turned to a workout called T-Tapp. T-Tapp is a mind body workout that works. Its aerobic but not crushing your bones aerobic. Its stretching and moving and everything you do has a purpose. It also helps balance hormones and blood sugar. Here is an example:

I've started doing this workout 3 times a week. I've added it to my bike riding which I do every day.

This workout is really been the boost I've been looking for. I've tried so many aerobic workouts and this is that only one that has worked for me. I'll never be a gym rat. Its just not my style. I feel this workout really fits my needs and you can do it in your living room as you don't need a lot of space for jumping around. In fact my hubby and I can do this work out side by side in the living room with no troubles.

YES, I CAN DO IT!

Progress!

Since my last post November 12th I've made some huge progress! I'm so excited that I've finally found the problem and have adjusted my eating and workouts accordingly. And I finally know that I will be able to reach my goals by this summer!

After a bumpy start with some side effects to the new meds. I persisted and have added exercise into my weekly routine. Walking, riding my bike and doing T-Tapp. Something everyday! I also use the Weight Watchers online program to keep track of my food and activity! Finally everything is coming together and working for me!

From November 11th to December 8th I've lost 12 pounds and 3 inches off of my waist in 4 and a 1/2 weeks!

Plus I am feeling so much better. I'm finally able to do a workout and not need 2 days recovery time. I'm able to stay awake all day if I need to... (But still like to take a little afternoon nap sometimes)

I've been eating Low Glycemic meals and its been SO EASY!

Here are some of the meals I've been having these past 4 weeks:

 Some of my breakfast meals

Watermelon Smoothie

1/2 cup vanilla yogurt and smashed strawberries with Truvia

Eggs florentine with 2 oz Spicy V8 juice

Here are some of my Lunches:

1 cup of cottage cheese with fresh diced tomato and green onion

Chicken salad and crackers

A large salad (with homemade Ranch) with a lean beef patty 

Tuna Salad stuffed tomatos 

Chicken Taco salad with homemade cilantro dressing

Here are some dinners I've been enjoying! 

Balsamic glazed lean pork chop and cut green beans with slivered almonds and dried cranberries

Sautéed chicken sausage with steamed carrots and cabbage

Sautéed pork chop with Dijon sauce and Fancy green beans

Lean beef stir fry with snow peas, carrots and water chestnuts

Roasted chicken breast with steamed and buttered broccoli and cauliflower.

Boiled shrimp and crab with 2 tab. catchup and horseradish and field green salad with fresh ginger dressing.

I'm not one bit nervous about the approaching holidays either! I lost those 12 pounds and 3 inches over Thanksgiving and a 10 day vacation in Newport Beach and Disneyland! 

I know I CAN do it!

Its been a while...

I am going to be honest here... I gave up for a while. I had been watching what I eat... Eating clean. Low carb, working out on the treadmill and doing the T-Tapp MORE workout. I tried HCG and lost a few pounds but they came right back with a vengeance. And NOTHING. I couldn't lose weight no matter what I tried. I was frustrated, unhappy and confused. Why can't I lose weight?

I went to my cardiologist because my my blood pressure was getting out of control, and even with meds its still hard to get down. I went to two naturopaths for a couple of years. One put me on HCG and the other just had me monitoring my calories. I kept telling my doctors "I'm so tired." They both checked my thyroid (because I've have had hypothyroid for 10 years and I'm on Naturthroid) And said my T3 and T4 is fine.

So I gave up.. deciding to embrace my "curvy" body and just accept the fact that I'm fat. I'm a Gramma after all... I need that cushy tummy for all my lap sitting grandkiddos. But alas... I wasn't happy. I was getting fatter too... My Daddy passed away from a heart attack a year ago and I gained 20 pounds! I really was sick and tired... Literally. I'd get on the floor with the kids and need help up. I'd go to Disneyland with the kids and rested more that I ran. I got winded doing my work out. Then I got scared. Then I was done "embracing my curvy body".

Through the help of my daughter in love I found a new doctor. Something was wrong and I needed to know what. It's not that I didn't want to be fat anymore but now I was getting sick from my weight. My knees hurt, my blood pressure was very high (even on meds) my lower back hurt and would occasionally spasm to the point that I needed bed rest. Yeah, I was DONE with being unfit and over weight.

My new doctor actually specializes in healthy hormones and weight loss. My first visit was brief, she weighed me (cringe) and we talked about symptoms... ALOT... Then she ordered a blood test and I made another appt. to go over the tests. When I went to the second appt. she told me that her suspicions were correct after my first visit. I have PCOS (Polycystic ovarian syndrome) and Insulin resistance. (Which usually go hand in hand.) My Insulin Resistance numbers were so high that she put me on a medication right away. Metformin. My free insulin was 47 and my total insulin was 61. She wants it down to 5 or 6!  She said no wonder you are so tired. The carbs you eat are not turning into energy! They are being stored in fat cells! Oh Jeeze... She also put me on a progesterone cream and a new drug called Belviq.

She also told me to get the book The GI diet for Dummies.

She dislikes the name of the book... but she said its to be my bible for the next part of my life. Understanding the Glycemic Index will help me not only lose weight but get to a more healthy place with my body.



Okay I'm in!

Sigh me up!

I've been on the Metformin, progesterone cream, and the Belviq faithfully for a week now and I have lost 7 pounds and 1 inch off my waist! However there are some disagreeable side effects to the Metformin and Belviq that I'm struggling with... None though that are going to make me quit taking it. Not with these results!

So join me on this continuing journey to be fit for the rest of my life! Especially if you are having trouble losing weight and are so terribly tired.
I'll be posting meals with low GI numbers and my progress with the PCOS and Insulin resistance. With blood tests and how I'm feeling. And inch and pounds lost. How my energy levels are and what work outs I've been able to do.

Let's 

Together!

Doing a round of HCG this month + Quick Microwave scrambled eggs

Just want to get into shape for the holidays so my body is more prepared for the busy stressful weeks ahead.

Here is my morning routine:

~Wake between 6:00 & 7:00am~
~Potty, weigh, brush teeth, wash face, dress in work out clothes~
~Have one cuppa coffee and record weight and take blood pressure~
~Eat an apple or 1/2 grapefruit~
(Or smoothie or egg)
~Take Gadget for a short walk~
~Then I'm ready for the day~

Quick breakfast or meal when on the HCG Protocol. I always eat something for breakfast within one hour of getting out of bed. I have meds I need to take in the morning with food. Plus I just feel better having a small meal before I work out.
Try this anytime when on HCG or just in a hurry!

In a Hurry scrambled eggs

1 egg and 2 egg whites
A dash of water
A dash of hot sauce
Chopped chives
Whisk eggs and water
Pour into a lightly sprayed
mug. I used coconut oil. Pam will work.
Add chives, or anything else, like ham, cheese, spinach.
Microwave for 30 seconds... check... 30 more seconds if needed.
Quick healthy meal.
This has saved me many times from eating something bad when I was hungry and in a hurry to eat.
ENJOY!

Healthy and Homemade Cream of Asparagus Soup (HCG friendly)

Cream of Asparagus Soup 

2 cups of end pieces of Asparagus that you snap off when cooking Asparagus.

(Don't throw them away, save them in a freezer bag till you have two cups worth)

2 cups of water

1 tablespoon Mrs. Dash Lemon Pepper

1/4 lemon wedge

1 Tab sour cream or milk 

Place everything in a sauce pan, (except the tablespoon of sour cream or milk) and boil, stirring occasionally till tender.

When fork tender put in Vita-Mix, blender or use a emulsion blender, add sour cream or milk and blend till smooth. 

Makes two servings.

~Enjoy Life~

Sugarless Chocolate Candies

Homemade Sugarless Chocolate/Almond Candies

4 Tab. Organic Coconut oil

2 tab. Unsweetened Cocoa (I used Ghiradelli's)

2 Tea. Truvia (Dissolved in 1 Tab. HOT water)

1/2 Tea. Agave Nectar

6 whole or chopped almonds (or your favorite nut)

Put Coconut oil in small measuring cup. Gently melt in a pan of hot water or microwave till liquid.

Add disolved Truvia, agave. Stir well... add cocoa 1 Tab. at a time stirring well till very smooth.

Pour into silicon ice cube trays (or into a flat container to make bark) add whole nuts to each candy.

Freeze for an hour. Pop out and enjoy! Keep in fridge.

Without the nuts they are HCG Friendly!

Enjoy Life!

We're up and Running...

Or should I say walking... 

Putting some steps on the pedometer. 

Trying to stay above 5000 and reach 10,000 steps a day.

So lace up your walking shoes and go!

Tuna salad lettuce wrap

High in protein, tuna packed in water is a good meal for anyway watching their weight.

1 Tablespoon of Miracle Whip (forbidden on HCG-use fresh lemon instead)

1 Can Tuna packed in water

1/4 cup diced onion

1/4 diced celery

Iceberg lettuce leaves

Eat slowly and enjoy your lunch!

Diet Friendly frothy chocolate shake

What a way to start the day!
(See this post)

Chocolate Protein Shake

(Hcg Friendly too)

1 cup of ice

2 cups of water

1-1/2 scoops of Jay Robb Egg white protein powder

2 tab. Hershey's coco (Unsweetened)

1 tea Truvia

1 tea. Vanilla

Makes TWO servings

Whirl in the blender and enjoy!

HCG Friendly Strawberry Shake

I HAVE to have breakfast in the morning... My morning is too busy. I have meds I NEED to take, and not on an empty stomach. Plus I have a walk and a work out. That makes it very important I have something in the morning.

I started using this shake and it works in the guidelines of the VLCD (Very Low Calorie Diet) days

HCG Friendly (Or any diet)
Strawberry Shake

1 Scoop of Jay Robb Egg White Protein (Vanilla Flavor)

1 cup of fresh (or frozen) strawberries

1 cup of water

1 cup of ice

1 cap full of vanilla
1/2 teaspoon (or to taste) of Truvia (Or other sweetener of your choice)

Blend till frothy and enjoy!

Makes TWO servings

Nine Pounds of fat

Nine pounds of Fat are gone from my body. The loss has slowed down a bit but my scale keep moving down every day, so I can't complain. Tomorrow I take measurements. But I can already tell you my pants are a lot looser!

My morning routine is starting to shape up now and my goal is to do this routine everyday!

~Wake between 6:00 & 7:00am~

~Potty, weigh, brush teeth, wash face, dress in work out clothes~

~Have one cuppa coffee and record weight and take blood pressure

and blood sugar and take meds.

~Do T-Tapp work out~

~Eat an apple or 1/2 grapefruit~
(Or smoothie or breakfast if not on Hcg Protocol)

~Take Gadget for a short walk~

~Then I'm ready for the day~

(I'll be posting my meals later today)

Kicking it up a notch. ~Doggie's on a diet too!~

 Ok I woke up this morning and I have lost 8 1/2 pounds!

Its so encouraging! 

I walked a mile yesterday with my dog. Who by the way is also on a diet if you missed my first post. She has lost almost a 1/2 a pound and I have noticed an incredible change in her energy level and her alertness and her coat is really shiny!
My Dog Gadget has been using the Science Diet Weight Loss System for small dogs: She has lost 1/2 pound in 9 days and that's a lot for a small dog! I'm very pleased with this product...
This program works!

And I have been using the Hcg Spray, which is amazing! (If you would like to purchase the spray I'm using just send me an email and I'll send you the information.) I have used the injections, the drops under the tongue and they all work but the spray works the best in in my opinion.

Today I'm going to share a little about T-Tapp. Its a work out that you an do with the Hcg Protocol if you wish! AS you can see if you go back to my first posts of this round. You don't need to work out to lose weight using Hcg. However, I feel better when I move my body. I love to walk and swim and play Wii. Just everyday stuff so when I am not moving my body gets stiff and I get grouchy! Grrrrrr...
The first week on Hcg I always stop working out. Just to give my body a chance to adjust to the new calorie intake. (It was also to prove to some non-believers that you can lose weight without strenuous work outs using Hcg)

T-Tapp isn't tap dancing, it isn't dancing at all. Its a series of movements created by Teresa Tapp to lose inches, lower blood pressure, regulate blood sugar, and build muscle with out bulking up.

Try it here:
My T-Tapp Post

Why T-Tapp? It's the Workout that Works!

Seven pounds in Nine days!

Its official... I have lost a total of 7 pounds of fat in 9 days using Hcg Spray. (I took a body composition test at my Doctors office) I'm so happy and I feel really good. I have slowed down on the weight loss now but its averaging out to about 1/2 pound a day. I don't care... as long as I see the scale go down! Its go encouraging! This week I start the T-Tapp boot camp again. I stopped for the first week of Hcg so my body could adjust to the change in calories but I am ready to start up again. T-Tap is the perfect accompaniment to the Hcg Protocol. Its low impact and works your entire body. The T-Tapp will help whittle inches off my waist so I can fit into those jeans I need to wear on my trip to Alaska in a few weeks.

My Breakfast: A sliced Pacific Rose apple with cinnamon sprinkle.

Pacific Rose apple with a sprinkle of Organic cinnamon

 Lunch: 3 oz. Tuna lettuce wrap with lots of celery and onion
(Celery and onion combined to 3 oz)

Tuna with Dijon Mustard, onion and celery wrapped in lettuce

 Tuna isn't normally on the HCG protocol. 

I use the albacore tuna in water once in a while and I still lose weight. 

Dinner: 3 oz of Salad and 3 oz fish

Spinach Salad and crunchy Halibut

I used the allotted melba toast and crushed it up chunky with some Kirkland
"Sweet Mesquite Seasoning"

Then cooked it in a non stick skillet with a teaspoon of coconut oil.
Yes, I use coconut oil on the protocol and I still lose weight.
With the Tuna and the coconut oil try to see if it works for you.
Especially if you are on the 45 day protocol.
The biggest rules NOT to break on the Hcg Protocol are going over the 500 calories and eating sugar or oily fats.
For example: If I eat a beef steak or even a very lean ground beef steak I usually don't lose the next morning. However if I eat a Bison burger I'm fine and still lose the next day. Everyone is different and everyone responds diffefrent to food. That is why the list is very short for the protocol. That is why you need to be careful combining food too.
For example, I can combine onions with lettuce and also tomatoes and still lose. But if I combine other main veggies like say,  asparagus and tomatoes, or cabbage and tomatoes I won't lose and sometimes I gain the next day!
So just either stay pure to the diet or experiment slowly. If you stick to the basic rules you WILL lose weight.
I guarantee it!