HCG Drops – Day 44 – Links

Well, I made it. Not to my goal. Nooo, that is a long way off. But I made it through the drops, and I’ve got to say, it wasn’t that bad. I liked only having a small list, kinda getting back to basics. Here are my stats:

• I’ve lost 26 lbs (I had hoped for 30, but I’m happy.)
• I’ve lost 7.5 inches

Note that the inches are only in three strategic places on my body, not the overall number. The next time I go to Curves, I’ll have them measure me and we’ll see how many inches I’ve lost. I know my ankles and legs are thinner.

But that pesky stomach thing. . . It is three inches smaller, but so is every other area, so it still looks large to me. My pants fit better, though, and I only have one more notch in my belt before I’ll have to get a new one. (I’ve been through two notches now. Yea!)

Here’s my latest pic:

I went off the drops for three days, (72 hours is recommended to get all the HCG out of your system,) and by the fourth, I was beginning to feel hunger. I’ve been adding in fats today by way of cream cheese and sour cream in a couple of scrambled eggs and Ranch dressing on steamed broccoli. According to protocol, you shouldn’t lose or gain more than two pounds after finishing the drops. This is to set your metabolism. I’ve known of people, however, who continue to lose during the last two phases. I hope their weight doesn’t spring back on them when they’re through.

Following are the links I’ve found most helpful. Some are the same ones I included in past posts, but I thought I’d include them here so they’ll all be in one place.

• Pounds & Inches – This is the original protocol by Dr. Simeons. It refers to the injections, but the food and time spent on the diet are all the same. It is advisable to read this whole thing before starting the diet.
• HCGDietJourney.com – This is a brief overview of Dr. Simeons protocol plus some FAQs.
• BuyHCGToday.com – This is where I got my drops. IMPORTANT: If you need to buy more than one bottle, then go to the picture that offers that many bottles. You get a special price doing it that way. If you go to the single bottle and ask for multiple quantities, you won’t get a discount. I ordered three at first, but they’re only good for a month and I went on the 42 day drops. So, I just ordered three more for a total of $99 + $9.99 shipping. ALSO IMPORTANT: You don’t need all the other bells and whistles on this site. Mediral HCG drops without vitamins and stuff is just fine. 
• hcgrecipes.com/HCG-ebook-preview.pdf – A really good cookbook for the VLCD (Very Low Calorie Diet of 500 calories.)

Recipes abound for free on the net, you just have to search for them. Always keep the protocol in mind, though, because some people like to stray from it. What works for them might not work for you.

I’ll be on low-carbs for three weeks, then I’ll get to add starches to my diet for three more weeks. Then, I’ll do this all over again.

If you’re confused about the different phases, here is what I’ve learned:

• P1 – Phase 1 in Dr. Simeons’ Day was the period where one is on the drops. But Kevin Troudeau had to come in and mess with it. He is an infomercial giant, but has gained notoriety with his book, The Weight Loss Cure (“They” Don’t Want You to Know About.) In it he recommends that you do detoxification with a colon cleanse before starting this diet. This has now become the new P1 making the very low calorie diet (VLCD) the new P2. In most of my research and among my friends doing this diet, the colon cleanse is not necessary.
• P2 – As a result of Trudeau’s meddling, this can now refer to either the VLCD  phase or the low carb phase.
• P3 – And now, this can be the “adding starches back in” phase or low carb phase.
• P4 – Non-existent in Dr. Simeons’ day, but with the Trudeau debacle is the starch phase.

No wonder I was confused! I now check the article or recipes carefully for clarification before assuming what phase they’re talking about.

Honestly, this is one of those diets that you simply have to research for yourself to see how simple it is. I hope I haven’t confused you while trying to relay what I’ve learned. If so, please disregard everything I’ve said and do your own searches. I promise, it is really easy once you get into the groove of this plan.

And With Butterflies Come Change

I’ve changed my blog template again. I did love the purple, but even I found it annoying after awhile. And the design, while cute, really didn’t reflect who I am.

After visiting Robbie Iobst’s Joyvotion blog , I noticed yet another cute design. Her’s comes from The Cutest Blog on the Block. When I changed my template before, I was actually searching for a butterfly, because that reflects who I am. A changed-from-my-old-self born-again Christian. But, I admit, the purple design caught my eye, although the bows didn’t do much for me.  

Hot Bliggity Blog didn’t have many butterflies, and I didn’t like the colors on the ones they did have. But when I found The Cutest Blog on the Block, and skimmed through all of the templates, three nominees leaped out. The one I’ve incorporated in this blog was the winner. I like the sophisticated, artsy feel of it. I hope you do too.

But more than just wanting a template that reflects me, I wanted my favorite symbol of hope, change, and new life on my blog. When I accepted Christ in the early ‘70s, the chrysalis surrounding me burst open, and I’ve been floating on God’s air ever since.

"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." ~John 10:10b

Right Brain/Left Brain – Another Test

Thanks to author Angela Hunt, who posted this on her blog. I’ve just taken the Creativity Test to find out if I’m more Right Brained or Left Brained. I usually split close to the middle on these tests, and this was no exception. Today, the right brain is higher, which is no surprise because I’m having a hard time concentrating on organizing my office. My right brain wants to play, so it keeps squelching my left brain from being productive.

Here is my result:

Thank you for taking the Creativity Test. The results show your brain dominance as being:

Left Brain 45%
Right Brain 55%

You are more right-brained than left-brained. The right side of your brain controls the left side of your body. In addition to being known as right-brained, you are also known as a creative thinker who uses feeling and intuition to gather information. You retain this information through the use of images and patterns. You are able to visualize the "whole" picture first, and then work backwards to put the pieces together to create the "whole" picture. Your thought process can appear quite illogical and meandering. The problem-solving techniques that you use involve free association, which is often very innovative and creative. The routes taken to arrive at your conclusions are completely opposite to what a left-brained person would be accustomed. You probably find it easy to express yourself using art, dance, or music. Some occupations usually held by a right-brained person are forest ranger, athlete, beautician, actor/actress, craftsman, and artist.

It goes on to say that my predominant percentage on the left is “linear” at 48%. This is what they say about this:

Linear Processing

. . . In this process, the left brain takes pieces of information, lines them up, and proceeds to arrange them into an order from which it may draw a conclusion. The information is processed from parts to a whole in a straight, forward, and logical progression.

Your Linear Analysis

When processing information using this method, you will occasionally feel the need to see the "whole picture" before you are able to achieve results. At other times, you are able to piece all of the parts together in a straight and logical progression to form a whole, which then enables you to understand what you have processing. The information, your mood, and your level of comfortable are all factors that determine your response to a linear processing problem.

My Right Brain predominant percentage is “fantasy oriented.” Big surprise! Not! All my life I’ve been accused of living in my own little world.

Fantasy-oriented Processing

Fantasy-oriented processing is used by the right hemisphere as a method for processing information with creativity. It focuses much less on rules and regulations than the processing method of a left-brained person. Due to the fantasy-oriented processing mechanism of a right-brained person, they do not adjust well to change. Instead of adapting to the change in the environment, a right-brained person attempts to change it back to the way they liked it. But fantasy-oriented processing also provides the advantage of creativity to right-brained individuals, and since emotion is integral of the right side of the brain, anything a fantasy-oriented person becomes involved in emotionally will aid their ability to learn.

Your Fantasy-oriented Analysis

You have the ability to use both creativity and reality to process the information you receive. This is a unique gift that allows you to both focus on rules and regulations but to also act with creativity. You are able to adjusting to change, even though you might not like it, and you can become emotionally involved in your work if it interests you.

This test pleases me as a writer. I need the extra right brain boost to create my stories, but I need the left brain organization to keep me on task.

So, what’s my problem today? Could it be that the day is gorgeous and I’m in here trying to organize my office and taking silly tests?

To take this test, please go to Angela Hunt’s blog and use the link there.

 

HCG Drops – Day 28

I like this diet.

The hardest part is being prepared when I’m away from home. But I’ve been buying lean lunchmeat and scrupulously watching the ingredients. Some have sugar added. One hundred grams of lunchmeat and a tomato or other veggie, and I can join my family at restaurants. Okay, I don’t actually take it into restaurants other than McDonald’s or other fast-food places where I doubt they’d notice. Sometimes I eat it in the car on the way there. I do buy a drink wherever we dine, so I’m not being totally rude.

And now, the drum roll!

• I’ve lost 18 lbs
• I’ve lost 6 inches

Wahoo! My average is .5 lbs a day. I had a tiny setback the other day. Even though I’d lost a whopping 2.5 lbs in two days, I gained it right back. I’m thinking it was water weight. I drank some diet sodas over the weekend. But I lost 1.5 lbs of it today, so I’m almost back on track.

Speaking of sodas, here’s a great homemade variety that satisfies that bubbly feeling in my mouth and any candy cravings:

• Mix sparkling water with English Toffee Stevia and Chocolate Stevia. I use 4 drops each to 16 oz, then add a packet of Saccharin for added sweetness.

Now, even though my waist has finally started to get the clue that we’re dieting, my hips are another story. Here’s my latest pic:

Yes friends, if I keep losing in every area but my butt, this is what you have to look forward to seeing if you follow me anywhere.

I don’t know if I’ll reach my goal of 30 lbs lost by the end of the drops, but hopefully I’ll continue to lose in Phase 3.

I’ll update later!