Sleeping it off...

Well, it's been a long while. Life happens...you know! So I've been working on this story awhile in my head. For some reason, it never seems to come out quite the way I planned it. But that's OK!

As many of you know, I finished my HCG Diet Round 1 in late May and embarked on my Maintenance Phase. I say Round 1 because I still have at least 40 more pounds to go to a weight that is healthy and comfortable for me. I say comfortable, because I do believe that the presence of the mind plays an important part in your health and well-being. You can do everything the doc tells you to do and be skinny as a rail, but not feel "yourself." YOU are your own BEST health advocate. What you think matters.

David and I at Sterling Vineyards. We had such a fun time!

So I went on vacation and I struggled to stay away from eating out at national chain restaurants. We had trouble eating the way we should. We tried. We really did. And it wasn't all that bad. We found local Sprouts and Trader Joe's in California where we were visiting family. So for many of our meals, we ate our usual fare.

It's like my naturopathic physician says ...if you hit your mark 80% of the time, you are still much healthier than if you did nothing. (You can find a naturopathic doc in your area here.)

So what's sleep got to do with it? Well, there's a lot of research out there to support the role of sleep and obesity... and many other disorders for that matter. When I returned from vacation and we resaddled the hoss, I began to see my HUGE slight increase (a little over 6 lbs to be exact) begin to decline as we embraced our healthier eating AND the Arizona Summer HEAT. We returned to temps blazing at the 114 to 115 marks, which are not the most exciting times of the year here in Arizona. At least they are short lived.

So one morning I was awakened by my precious dog, Sandy, who never seems to be able to "wait" until the family is up to go out for her business at the ripe hour of 6:30 am. Mind ya, I am NOT a morning person. Well, I can be ...just a couple hours after 8 am! So I did my usual routine of weighing in. I continued the weigh in part of the HCG Protocol as that was part of the instructions for maintenance phase by my doctor. I continued the measuring phase for my own retentive yearnings. And, it was helpful to see as I went through my "gain" just where the fat was coming back. It was interesting to see how it could creep up on you, and it's no wonder that we suddenly feel like our clothes no longer fit anymore. Because seriously, we hardly notice when our blouse becomes a little too tight (unless, it's in the arms for me ...). But...did I say BUTT ....let those pants get a little too tight and we go ballistic! Or at the very least, we beat ourselves up about our gain. I no longer do this as much, and I think it took the "gain" of vacation to teach me that. And, I have to honestly say, if I were still operating on the "old" thinking that the weight couldn't possibly come off ....I might still feel that way.

Me on my 10th Wedding Anniversary (June 25, 2011).
I had to buy a new dress to wear. I am now
TWO sizes smaller! 

HCG changed that thinking for me. I had struggled with weight loss all of my life. Now, I know I have a tool to help me return to a healthy state for my body.

Ok...I digressed...back to the sleep thing. What I observed, was that 1) I still "felt" tired at 6:30 that morning. So I weighed myself and skipped the measuring. I figured I would still be the same size when I awoke at a decent hour. I can always tell when I haven't properly rested my body. The first thing I notice is the bottoms of my feet hurt. It hurts to move. When you have rested your body properly, your body provides the energy it needs to move. That morning, I noticed. So when I awoke a couple of hours later, around 8ish, I went through my routine again. WHAT????? REALLY?!?!?!? I had lost a HALF POUND just by sleeping? I'm serious.

So I thought. Well, it's just one day. So I tracked this situation over the next several days. As usual, one of the dogs generally wanted to go out before we awoke. EVERY morning that I returned back to bed IF I did not feel rested, I LOST at least something. One day it was a FULL pound!. It has kind of trailed off to a steady decrease, about 0.2 pounds per day. Today, I lost nothing. But, I was relieved after all the carbs and beef I had put into my body over the last two days. Bottom line here ... SLEEP IS IMPORTANT! 

If you want to really address your health issues, including being overweight, make sure you get the proper amount of rest. Seriously, this doesn't mean "what's right for me" or the "I can get by on 5 hours" stuff. I mean REALLY REST YOUR BODY. The body needs anywhere from 8-10 hours of restful sleep to recharge (I would say +/- 2 hours is still healthy). Kevin Trudeau speaks to this in his book The Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You to Know About. Trudeau talks about the body systems going through a cleanse process between 11 pm and 2 am. If you aren't going to sleep until after that, your body cannot heal itself!

All in all, I do believe that my body has arrived at a new set point. The body constantly tries to keep itself to a homeostasis ... an even keel. So I'm good. I'm letting go of a lot of things I used to think about weight loss and eating. I now eat to give my body energy. Does that mean I forgo the occasional fare of chocolate? NO! Are you kidding ....that would be blasphemy!

To your health ...

'Til next time .... Just let go... Edna

Creeping .....

It happens. Creeping. Creep ...creep ...creep. And then WHAM!! How'd that happen?

Well, I can tell you EXACTLY  how it happens. You eat a little too much here. You eat the WRONG things there. You're off track. But...but...butt...yeah, it goes there too! I'm on vacation.

Excuses? I dunno. I have tried really hard to MAINTAIN while on vacation. The first couple of days ...eh....not very disciplined at all. There's something about a "road trip" that demands "road snacks." Or is there?

I've been trying to reconcile it all in my mind...trying to figure out the WHY behind my munching habits. I haven't really come up with anything beyond...it's a habit. And maybe, it's not a good habit. So how do we change this?

While traveling, it has been exponentially difficult to adhere to my Maintenance Plan outlined by my doctor. One of the reasons is that the restaurant industry in this nation serves up J U N K! Our food system is infiltrated with chemicals galore. It's difficult to eat out anywhere without having processed, chemically-laden food. It really is a very SAD ordeal (which also stands for the Standard American Diet). (For more info on this, see Kevin Trudeau's book, The Natural Cures THEY Don't Want You to Know About.)

And money ...We probably carved out this vacation a little too tightly without properly planning for the costs of food ...REAL food. And where we would get that REAL food. We've done alright. I was able to locate both Sprouts and Trader Joe's here in California. That was a HUGE bonus! The only snag was that the Trader Joe's in Monrovia did not have organic apples available. Seriously? No organic apples at TJ's? I ran into the same problem in Fremont. Luckily, my awesome sister-in-law asked the produce clerk who was restocking if there were more...and there were! YEAH!!

So, while on vacation, I watched the creeps. My weight would creep up ...and up ...and up ....Then I watched the inches creep up ...and up ...and up ... Not big creeps...not really. But enough that I know I will have to loose that weight again during Round 2.

So I've decided that I will ENJOY my vacation. That does NOT mean that I have to just let go and throw caution to the wind. I think that you can enjoy your food and indulge once in awhile without totally throwing in the towel. Just like I did last night when we visited Cold Stone Creamery for their wonderfully, delectable, smooth and creamy ice cream. Black Forest Dream never tasted sooooo GOOD!

I didn't let myself think for very long ...about all the JUNK in that ice cream. I just enjoyed the moment...ok...it was a loooooong moment since it was a LOVE it! Next time, I think I probably could change that to a LIKE it ...and ENJOY it ...just as much. So there are a few things you have to just let go of to create big changes ...and just maybe ....you can let go of the creeps too!

'Til next time...

Just let go ....Edna

And the cheat goes on ....

You know, once you cheat, it's so much easier to cheat again. It weakens your core energy I think. I am in the last week of my HCG journey... Round 1, anyway. I will do a second round after our vacation in the fall with my daughter, Susannah. The cheats began around Week 4. I keep thinking to myself.... what would have helped? I had a LOT of celebratory events during that time. How can you remain vigilant when you are in a social setting. I suppose that's what mindful eating is about.

Now my cheats weren't substantial. At least, I don't qualify them as so. However, yesterday, I found myself out at a restaurant again. Chili's. Again. And it seems they have altered their menu so that the only  grilled "seafood" available is shrimp or salmon. I was tired of shrimp. So I ordered the salmon. And ... it's not on the approved list.

In fact, salmon is a fatty fish. Granted, it's the good kind of Omega 3's that we all need more of. Just not during the HCG protocol. But I ate it anyway. ALL. OF. IT. So, I probably went over the 4 ounce limit as well. They served it in a strange cut. Long and thin. My brain had a hard time trying to decide just how much food that was. So I ate it all. Good rationalization? Probably not. I left the table feeling a little "too full," which probably means it was definitely over 4 ounces.

I went to the Chili's website to see if I could locate the nutritional info on the entree. The nutrition info was there, however, it was devoid of any proportion size. It stated "as served." What does that mean? And how do you know what the calorie count truly is if you don't have a "portion size" to tell you how much fish was on that plate? And... does that mean that someone else got more or less salmon for the same price? I'm beginning to think that there is true substance in this "big box" theory. People need to know what they are eating and what they are paying for. Exactly.


Well, I am going to commit to staying on that track the rest of the slide downhill to Wednesday. I don't have any parties to go to this week. I think when I do Round 2, I'm gonna make sure no one has anything to celebrate! :-D


What's the progress?


Even through the struggles noted above, the HCG protocol WORKS! I have lost weight and inches both that I thought I would never see leave. I didn't exercise as much as I did before the diet started. I need to get that back into place as I go into the Maintenance Phase this week. I do miss my Zumba class! During the protocol, you are not allowed to exercise beyond mild exercise such as walking for 30 minutes per day.

As of today, I have lost 20.2 pounds! I have lost 32 1/2 inches! I would say that this journey was definitely worth it. I am at a weight of 187.6, which I haven't seen the likes of since I married my husband  almost 10 years ago! It is a WONDERFUL feeling. I have had plenty of energy along the way. I am LOVING that NONE of my clothes fit anymore ...not even my "skinny" clothes! So I might want to go grab a few things before I head off to our vacation in a couple of weeks.


I highly recommend the HCG Diet and following Dr. Simeon's protocol. I would venture to say that most people who are struggling with their weight DO have an imbalance in their brain that needs to be righted in order to get healthy again. It's not good to carry the weight around over the years. It will eventually wear on every major system in your body. Don't wait until it's too late. Check with your doctor or weight loss clinic today. Make sure they are offering the real deal.


I'll be checking back in as I finish my round on Wednesday. I plan to continue the blog through maintenance... maybe the rest of time ....whenever that is ....


'Til next time .... Just Let Go ... Edna

Playing with fire?

Do bloggers do this every day? I have found it near impossible to get here every day. I do think about you all, and I'm sorry to have not updated this space for some time now! Wow, where has this month gone?

Edna (Me), Katie, Kenny (Katie's Dad)

Well, last week my oldest daughter, Katie, graduated from Arizona State University. I am so very proud of  her hard work and persistence to pursue higher education. She is a really smart cookie, and even received the honored cum laude recognition for maintaining a grade point average between  3.4 to 3.59!

We have also been preparing for our summer vacation. With gas prices, this is no simple feat! A great tool to use is Gas Buddy for up to date pricing anywhere in the US. They are also on Facebook! If you have a smartphone, you can also download a free app for your phone! What a convenient way to save some bucks while you are out there driving around!

Well, now that the fires are out, let's talk. Playing with fire is almost never a good idea. I have never been known to follow the rules....well, not exactly anyway! I'm a bit of a rebel. So then, when my doctor told me that I would have to follow the HCG rules exactly, what did I reply? Of course, I can do that!

Well, until you are in the throes of your situation, you never REALLY know what your actions might be. Like CHEATING. Yep, that's what I said. CHEATING. *Raising my hand ever so slowly* Yup. I. admit. it.

What has it cost me? Well, I don't know. I've see sawed. I've gained. (not much...but still). It's slowed down my progress. It's slowed my "elimination." Basically, I think it interferes with my whole process of the HCG weightloss.

Do I think I should throw in the towel? NO!!!! I have researched several sites on the web that do talk about cheating on the HCG Diet. I think there is some merit to what they say. BUT... I would NOT recommend intentionally cheating....OK....cheating IS intentional...it's not like we go ...oops...did NOT mean to pop that chip into my mouth! *GASP*

Katie's Graduation Cake

But this month I had several celebratory events to attend...one being my daughter's college graduation. We ordered a rum cake from Cathy's Rum Cake Caterers in Chandler, AZ. Cathy's cakes are to DIE for... or.  CHEAT. .... on your HCG diet. Mind you ...I didn't have the ENTIRE slice! Moderation is key! I tasted a small "bite" of my slice, and I promptly put it into the freezer when we got home from the party so that I can enjoy this scrumptiously delicious treat during my HCG phase that allows me to imbibe with such a delectable treat!

The Smith Family (Katie not present) with
our peach tree at Schnepf Farms

I would be remiss without retelling on myself about the PEACH. No really, the peach. Not just any peach. A beautiful, juicy, delectable peach from OUR FAMILY TREE at Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek, AZ. We leased a peach tree this year from the Schenpf Family. I did not know then that I would be in the midst of my HCG journey. So here we are in May, and the peaches are ready. We go out for our first picking of the season. The peaches are DIVINE. I had it set in my mind that I would just wait. I can have peaches once I go into my maintenance phase. But let me tell you .... they are irresistable! So, just as Eve enticed Adam ...I succumbed also to the wonderful, peachy scent and feeling the soft, cuddly skin....ok...it really IS an emotional and spiritual experience! (for me anyway... ;-)) If you have not ever considered leasing a tree from Schepf Farms, I royally recommend it! They give you the VIP treatment like no other peach picker and you won't regret it!


We also celebrated my best friend's youngest son's first birthday. And, I had a going away party for a dear sweet friend from my homeschooling group. So yeah, there was a lot of EMOTION going on this month. And yup... I am an emotional eater! I have learned that more and more about why I eat as I've gone through this process over the past 5 weeks. 


Wow...just over 1 week to go before I hit maintenance. Maintenance is a critical period of 3 weeks after your HCG protocol. This period will make or break your weight loss. I can assure you, my CHEATS will be few and far between!


So what are the stats? Well, I'm very excited!! I have lost almost 20 pounds and just over 30 inches! And, I still have a week to go!


My lowest weight so far has been 188.4. I was really excited to see that number as I can't recall the last time I saw that number in reference to my weight!! Mind ya...I'm up a pound to 189.4 today. Yep, those CHEATS will bite you somewhere! Today, I'm pretty sure it was my THIGHS as I gained a half inch there!

This is me about 1 week BEFORE I started the HCG Protocol

Me and the kids picking peaches. Not quite an
AFTER shot yet, but pretty good for Week 4 1//2!
Those ARE my "skinny" shorts which were previously
too tight to wear! WOOHOOO!

But all in all...this process works! I should be home today and can adhere to my diet "rules" in a more behaved manner.

It's been a process to just let go ... of the weight ....of the emotional junk that binds me to eating ...of a lot of things.... but it is possible. When you keep your eyes set on the goal and you know that you are absolutely doing the RIGHT thing for your health, it gets you through the tough times. After all, MY reasons for doing this are BIG. If I'm healthy, I set a better example for my kids to follow, and I can be around here a lot longer to enjoy my family and friends!

'Til next time.... Just Let Go ... Edna

Where's the beef?

Writing is an art, and when you are just not feeling it  ... I can't see the point. So I apologize for my delay in getting another snippet out to you all, but the last few days have just left me in bad spots off and on, and I'm not about spreading the negativity!

So onward with a positive note! It's Day 29, and I'm still losing weight! Yeah baby! Down to 191.6 today! I have lost a total of 16.2 pounds and 27.25 inches! I had gotten kind of stuck in a seesaw phase for three days where I'd lose it, put it back on....felt like a yoyo! That kind of threw my psyche for a loop (think walk the dog here...). However, I'm pretty sure that I know what happened.

I got myself in a pickle when I didn't keep up with my organization. This resulted in my having BEEF THREE meals in a row. Not a good thing and it goes against the protocol guidelines. In addition to it violating the protocol, I also know that according to the Blood Type Diet by the D'Adamo's, beef is not my friend being an A blood type. I didn't see these types of results when I minimized beef, and I followed the protocol strictly.

I have to openly admit that this last week has wreaked havoc on me mentally. Now, that's not necessarily attributable to the HCG protocol, and more to life's stresses at the moment. However, I have found that the stress has undermined my best intentions to stay organized and keep my meals planned. The stress has knocked off my sleep patterns, which in turn has moved me away from my "usual" time of administering my dosage of HCG. I don't know if these things are directly correlated with my having in-between hunger or not. But it was a force to reckon with this week. I've also seen myself make "tiny" cheats. 


I'm not going to say that cheating was OK... BUT...I did manage those cheats, knowing that if I really just let myself go, I would undo EVERYTHING I've worked so hard to commit to during the last 30 days. Wow, 30 days! I had hardly thought about the length here until just now. So we are two-thirds down the journey here for this first segment.

Oh back to those cheats....it started with SIX little french fries...ok...they were the longer ones in the bunch, but you know! I found myself out to a meal with my family, and I was unprepared. I hadn't taken my HCG with me, stress was high, and I found myself incredibly hungry! And....I wasn't going to be back at home in order to rectify either of those situations within an hour. And...we were at In and Out Burgers. Not exactly a healthy fare, but I think their french fries are probably a bit healthier than some other fast food restaurants!

Most of the time if I know we will be out during a meal, I would have taken my meal with me or I plan to go to a location that I know I can modify something on their menu. For example, yesterday I chose to go to Wendy's because I know I can get a chicken salad there. Now, I had to skip out on most of the ingredients in the salad (and again, have to be honest injun here ....I did nibble on the blue cheese and dried cranberries ...just a little....and again....I only lost 0.6 pounds since yesterday...so that nibbling may have just been to my detriment of not seeing a healthier downward trend...just sayin!).

Speaking of seesaws, I think that my trend has been just that with the loss of inches. It seems that my body has redistributed the fat in a very seesaw-like manner. Much of that from early on I suspect was due to my adding in additional measurements in order to calculate my body fat and lean muscle mass percentages. But even still towards the end of that graph above, you can clearly see the same type of pattern. I'm just hoping the swing is up tomorrow!

And with that....I had better get that menu planned for this week! Where's the beef? Somewhere between Monday and Saturday ....just not three days in a row!

'Til next time ...Just letting go .....Edna

It's been awhile since I was able to sit down and tap out anything reasonable to read. I mean, there's been progress, but life has just been soooo busy lately! So please forgive me for dropping the blog ball! Today is no different as we get ready to head out to our homeschool park day. I really enjoy getting to connect with all the other families in our group and the kids get to spend time with their friends outdoors. It's starting to heat up here in Arizona, so we start earlier in the day. That's not an easy feat for someone like me who is a night owl!

My Mom and I in the Julian Mountains near San Diego - 1989

Speaking of being a night owl... I was up 'til midnight last night as I was on a mission to get some pictures of my Mom scanned so I could upload them for the Mother's Day celebration on Facebook. It has been a bittersweet journey to discover I even had pictures of my Mom with me. I lost my mom last year. It will be a year on May 27. The last time I recall talking to my Mom was on Mother's Day. So it's a pretty special moment for me. And she had called me, which was unusual as I usually beat her to the punch! I miss talking to her, but I'm glad she's not suffering any longer. My Mom has been the inspiration for my putting so much effort into getting myself to a healthier place and teaching my children to be healthy too. She was very unhealthy when she passed away. I treasure the time she had here with me, but I so wish I could have reached her with the important information I was learning.

During my doctor's visit yesterday, I shared my recurring leg cramps. The doc asked, "Are you taking the Emergen-C?" I replied that I hadn't been. I had not realized that I should be taking this daily, and I hadn't been able to find the "lite" version as she prescribed. So off I went to Trader Joe's after to pick some up. Well, mind you ... life got in the way once again, and I found myself going to bed at midnight and not having had the time to do the Emergen-C. The thought of having the leg cramps once again was enough to make me stay up all night. Instead, I drank the Emergen-C. Midnight (or any other bedtime) is probably NOT the best time to take this! I tossed and I tossed...and turned a few times too! It seems like it took me a couple of hours to finally go to sleep. It's is definitely not a bedtime tottie! BUT ...I also only had a very mild leg cramp last night!

My doctor explained that the leg cramps were most likely due to my losing too many electrolytes during exercise. I'm not exercising a lot, but I was pretty active before HCG. It's been a challenge to stay less active now. Prior to starting HCG, I LOVED going to Zumba at the YMCA. And, I have my garden. I have continued to garden as you all know. But recently, my two youngest have taken a liking to tennis. Now mind you, I'm not out there playing a full set of tennis ...in fact, I'm not sure I could ever do that! LOL Mostly, I chase tennis balls! But with this protocol, you do have to be careful about exercise. I'm going to have to look it up again to see if the concern is over building too much muscle through exercise or if it is due to breaking down your muscle and structural fat. The latter would certainly result in weight loss, but it wouldn't be good for your body.

Update on Stats
Since my last posting, I had actually lost another pound. However, since yesterday, I gained half of that back. So I'm sitting at 193.6, which is still less than I weighed before I became pregnant with my last child. So I'm still pretty happy about that. I'm not so grateful for the half pound gain. I think it had a lot to do with what I ate this week.

It's very important to follow the protocol diet very carefully. Now I didn't run out and have ice cream or pizza, though that has been tempting at times! What I did do is get myself in a pickle with  my menu planning. I had let it slack and ended up having beef for three meals in a row and twice on one day! Not supposed to do that! Of course, I did not realize my error until I was serving up the beef on my plate for that third meal!

Given that beef is not supposed to be good for my A blood type anyway, I suspect my body has become overloaded. According to the Blood Type Diet theory, A types do not digest beef well at all. I suspect, it lodged on my hips in the half-inch gain I saw there this morning! So take care to plan your meals. Your body will thank you ...or not.

The good news is overall, I'm still losing weight and inches. If my clothes get any looser, I might just get arrested! Even my wedding ring is beginning to become too loose as it slides around my finger now when I type. It's amazing that only a few short weeks ago, I could not even wear my wedding ring because my hands were fatter and swollen with fluid all the time.

I'm on Day 25 of the diet, and I've lost almost 15 pounds and edging up to the loss of 26 inches overall! I'm excited about the inches part ...that's the part that makes you feel good! (well...me anyway :-D) I am feeling great through this process. I have plenty of energy to do the things I need to do and want to do. This is a plus... cuz if I had to just lay around, I would not be happy!

I'll try to keep up with blogging a little better so you can have it blow by blow ....but the pounds and inches are just literally melting away! I am so thankful to my doctor and Dr. Simeon's work with HCG.

'Til next time ... Edna

Life has wrinkles ...

I have had well intentions over the last couple of days to sit down and write this blog with the updates that I had promised. Well....life has wrinkles. It seems like either one thing or another would get in the way. I would end up having "time" at the end of the day when I least felt like writing. So I didn't.

I had a couple of days in there that really sent me reeling through the universe. Luckily, I seemed to have landed on my feet. (I usually do.)

My HCG journey had some AHA... moments along the way. I learned first-hand that STRESS has a HUGE impact on your body! Not that I didn't know this already. I've read about it, wrote about it...researched it...I KNOW that stress is not a good team player.

It was an interesting thing however to see the direct impact of stress. I expected the GAIN to come the next day, but it didn't. In fact, I surprisingly lost weight the next day. Now we aren't just talking everyday stress here. On Tuesday of this past week, my son who is PDD-NOS (a fancy string of letters to identify high functioning autism), attempted/threatened suicide. If that isn't something to send your body's cortisol levels through the roof, I don't know what is.

Fortunately, my son is okay. We've started his Prozac again. I hate the pharmaceutical industry. And I hope we find a natural method to treat his depression and anxiety soon. But for now, Prozac is a lifeboat!

So I fully expected to see the cortisol rush totally annulify my progress. Well, it didn't come immediately as I said. It was a full day later. I gained 1.2 pounds. But worse...in my eyes anyway ... I gained back 3 inches! WOW....that was HUGE to me. I was then depressed the rest of the day. Of course, I have to be honest. I doubt the gain of pounds and inches was the ONLY reason I was feeling depressed. I had certainly had my fill of life's wrinkles this week. It didn't help that my husband's attempts to "support" me was to say "well, everyone gains a couple of pounds every now and then..." Ummmmm.....yeah, not what I needed to hear! He tries...he really does. I have a good husband....we just have a few wrinkles to work through!

It's funny. No, it really is. Life has wrinkles. And I was inspired this morning to change my title from "Life happens..." to "Life has wrinkles..." because my youngest came in this morning with her "treasure" from the allowance run at Walmart last night. She had bought a whoopie cushion, and has delighted in all the blurping flurping noises she could make from this since she got it unwrapped in the car.

This morning she comes in while I'm writing this blog and says, "Mom, can you stand up." My first instinct was ...ughghghgh...I'm trying to write! But I didn't say that out loud to her. Because I knew that the joy of a child is to be treasured. So of course, I stood up. I commented ...oh I really need to stretch!

So as I "stretched," Carolanne slipped the cushion in my chair. Mind you...and you well know...she thinks that I am not aware of what she is doing. And so...I plop back down in my chair and let the wind out. PFLUuuuuPPPPP. Her HUGE cackle of laughter was well worth the price of stopping what I was doing.

Her observation of the event,  "Well you did wrinkle it!" as she picked up the whoopie cushion from the chair became the reminder for me that ....life has WRINKLES ...and sometimes...you just have to find that laughter to  help you just let go...

HCG Stats

Okay ...So I haven't posted my stats in a few days. I can tell you that weight loss is not a linear function. This chart is from a couple of days ago. So it's changed since then. All in all I have lost 13 pounds and almost 25 inches since beginning the HCG Protocol. Now mind you, the inches and weight tend to fluctuate so those numbers could change. But by and large, the trend is in a negative slope!

When I saw my doctor this week, I had taken my HCG along with me as I would be at her office at my dosage time. So I had asked her about how I was taking the HCG. I had noted that there were times when it didn't seem like the pump worked. She told me that I needed to make sure that I got a "good pump" each time I dosed the spray. This would really help explain why I might have been having breakthrough hunger pangs.  So far in the time since I saw her on Thursday, I have not had the breakthrough hunger signs at all.

A welcomed drop in my stress level came this morning as I was inputting my stats to my spreadsheet that tracks this journey. My Waist-to-Hip ratio has dropped to .848. This number is just squeaking enough under the mark of .85 which marks a high risk for many processes like cardiovascular disease and stroke. My body ration now resides in the Moderate Risk zone. I still have a ways to go as you need to be at .80 or below to have a low risk ... but inch by inch....it's making it's way to the end zone.

I try to keep in perspective that this is a journey. Life has wrinkles...


'Til next time....Edna 

Day of 5's ...

I'm not sure the end of the day is my most creative time! I had this wonderful blog post all figured out in my head ...ummm...about 10 hours ago. And alas, now words escape me!

Today was a pretty easy going day. I met another person who is also doing the HCG protocol. It's inspiring to connect with others who are going through the same struggles you are.

I've now finished Day 16 on the protocol.While I was sure that my body would revolt after yesterday's EXTREME stress day, I was totally fooled with the results this morning. Stress does a real doozy on your body. It is a silent killer. Therefore, take time out each day for yourself and destress. Some people like to pray or meditate. For me, I like to work in my garden or go fishing. Whatever it is that recharges your batteries...make sure you take the time for YOU.

Day 16
I almost made it down to another pound. Down to 195.8. I dropped back that inch I seemed to "gain" yesterday. I do think though that this was due to bloating, which thankfully passed.

I'm calling this my Day of 5's--almost all my measurements seemed to end in a 5 today. Inches are coming off in places I did not expect. I finally broke the stretch of a 40-inch waist and dropped down to a 39.5! And my bust size is coming in at a 36.5....hips down to 45.5. 5's are good....

'Til next time....Edna

Just the facts ...

Kinda short and sweet today. My day has been rearranged for me--so time is on short ration today! Downward trends continue! I'm losing my neck!! Wahooo...why is it every woman ... I ...HATE my neck size! I have always struggled with this "double chin" effect, even as a child I think. Well, I've finally begun to lose some of the inches in this area, having lost a half inch in my neck. I'll take what I can get, but I sure hope it goes down further. It's always been a bit embarrassing for me to have to buy "longer" chains or get extenders so I can wear certain jewelry items.

I'm on Day 14 of the HCG protocol. You notice, I don't look at this as a "diet." For me, the HCG protocol is a tool to help my body return to a balanced state in order for me to achieve a healthier body. Diets don't work. You have to make REAL lifestyle changes. And so too with HCG. If you don't make the necessary changes in your exercise habits and what you put into your body as fuel, you will not achieve success.

The STATS


Down to 196.6 -- Have lost 11.2 pounds!
Inches ....16 and 1/2 inches so far!!

BMI down to 32.7; Body Fat and Muscle steady at 27.5% and 72.5%, respectively.

Waist to Hip Ratio - 0.88-- this has been an interesting statistic to track. This measurement gives you an "at risk" profile based on your body shape. It's been well documented that "apple" shapes (such as me) have a much higher risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Interestingly, my waist is not coming off as fast as I would like it (isn't that the usual case?). So without the same rate of loss in my waist as my hips, my WHR tends to go up, then down, then back up again.

Still losing those hips though! Down to 45 baby!!

I am noticing that I am hungry first thing in the mornings. I am seriously missing my breakfast! But if I stay busy and drink lots of water, I usually get through to lunch. I also had another round of leg/foot cramps during the night (well, actually, early morning....4:30 am to be exact!). I plan to ask the doctor about this modality. They simply could be part of perimenopausal symptoms, rather than being related to the HCG protocol.

Well...that's all for today...scooting off to my next project...trying to get homeschool done for the day. The gist is ...the weight and inches ARE COMING OFF! I'm happy about that and excited to see what the next days have in store for me.

'Til next time....Edna

Chasing Perfection ...

Just letting go means a lot of different things to different people. For me this morning, perhaps it means letting go of being so critical of myself....those expectations that keep us locked into the perfection zone. Do you worry about "measuring up"? I know that I do.

Today, my measurements did not meet my expectations. Now they weren't extreme increases. But nonetheless, my brain is trying to take over this activity and pour vinegar on my results. It's just one day...but when you want something so badly with all your heart... sometimes the brain goes beyond reason.

So it's time to take my focus off of this mornings results (which I will do when I'm done writing this blog) and focus on the things that are really important in my life. My family. My hobbies--my garden, fishing, reading. The beauty that Nature gives us everyday if we will just seek it with an open heart.

HCG Results
I didn't post yesterday's results as I felt like I was hen-pecking. But maybe it had more to do with sharing them today. Today's results resulted in a ever, so slight weight gain. And to my horror....a gain back on my HIPS! Now mind ya....they weren't BIG gains. But the brain is a funny thing. It can either psych you out or calm you ...but your Spirit is always in control. Sometimes, you just have to let your brain know that!

Day 10
Down to 198.2--the doctor said that the weight would probably come off at a slower rate after the first week. So I'm prepared for this.

Lost another quarter inch for a total of 12 inches. I've added a couple of measurements into my formula to track more in alignment of what my doctor records. I'm taking more measurements because of the calculations I do for Percent Body Fat and Percent Muscle. My BMI has dropped to an even 33.

Day 11
Holy crap Batman! What happened? Ok ...ok...OKKKKKK...I gained ONLY .4 pounds...yup...that's right POINT FOUR POUNDS. That really isn't significant. But I was really LIKING that feeling of seeing the numbers go DOWN for heaven's sake. Another reason I generally don't advocate stepping on the scale everyday. Weight will fluctuate. But for the purposes of this protocol, I have to weigh myself everyday.

The real kicker for me today (like teeth jarring kick) was that I added inches back to my HIPS. *GASP* That one really hurt!

Interestingly, I'm feeling a bit bloated today. At first I thought it was something I ate, like beef (which I'm technically supposed to avoid according to my blood type). But it isn't that. Maybe it's hormonal? Could be. I am also looking at a long string of days with subdued elimination. It could be that my body is exhibiting inflammation due to this. I will definitely need to follow up with my doc about this on Wednesday as well as eat some greens today. I mean REAL greens, such as beet greens, collard greens, spinach. Dark leafy greens.

Another interesting point is that my BMI did not increase, and my body fat and muscle percentages actually decreased. You know what they say about statistics!

Well, tomorrow is another day. Today, we let go of perfection. Tomorrow....let's hope for the hips!

Chasing the elusive '00

It's been sooooo long since I was below that elusive '00 ....but I shot the sheriff and won! I can officially say I'm in the 'hundreds' now! Wahooo! I might have celebrated this before with a piece of cake or a trip to the ice cream store.... a little counteractive to my goal, wouldn't ya say? ;-) Well, I won't be doing that today. If I choose to do that in the future, you can rest assured it will be a much smaller piece of cake!

That's one message I have taken from studying the philosophy of my friend, Dr. Michelle May. Her book Am I Hungry (first edition) made me stop and think about the reasons I eat. And oh are there many! So I eat more mindfully now. I still would like to read her newest book Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat, which replaces her first book. Click on the link above here and you can read the first chapter for free.

While I haven't read her newest book yet, I agree with Dr. May's advice--you have to be more mindful of what you eat and why. Becoming more mindful and aware of what and why you eat includes becoming an informed eater. That's a very important step. It's not about counting calories. From my perspective, it's also knowing what is going into your body. Pesticides? Antibiotics? Chemicals? It's important to identify those elements when you are on your journey to creating a healthier you! The old adage, "If your grandmother wouldn't eat it, you probably shouldn't either!" is a powerful statement. Our food supply has become so infiltrated with elements that will downright kill you. Maybe not tomorrow... but the long term effects certainly can and do.

Carolanne and I having some fun in the garden!

So make sure you are getting the freshest food possible. Start a garden. It doesn't have to be a large spot...can even be a single pot! Buy organic when you can. I know. I know. I've heard the ... "but it's so expensive ..." I used to be one who said this regularly! But you know... I found a way. Where there's a will, there's a way to a healthier you! Your motivation just has to kick in. It's like the drug addict or the alcoholic hitting their "rock bottom." Everyone has their own rock bottom. Change is hard at first, but taking that first step will save your life and add years to your journey!

My first step was to step away from processed foods. There is so much junk in those foods, it is unreal! When I can't pronounce what is on the label and I don't have a clue what that ingredient means--I SHOULD NOT EAT IT! Also, if the label has more than five ingredients? Probably not a good choice. I have become an avid label reader.

And, now I CHOOSE to spend my money on good things that will fuel my body and give it sustaining life. Will I live forever? Probably not. I'm not sure I would want to. However, I can reasonably say that I have changed the course of my 'inherited future' to live a longer and healthier life than my parents. And, if I don't get the chance to live longer (because you know....we don't really control that), I will be able to ENJOY my life more because of better health. I remember when my youngest was a toddler that it was a challenge for me to get on the floor to play with her... all because I was too heavy! Make a change for a better you today.

Talking about HCG
A lot of people have asked me, "What do you eat?" So I thought I would talk a little about that today. It is a drastic cut in calories from the diets of most people. But I don't COUNT the calories ...or the points... I just put good food in my body. My doctor has a handout that tells me what foods will serve the purpose of my HCG weight loss journey. You can also find them in Kevin Trudeau's book, The Weight Loss Cure.

For example, today's lunch will consist of:  Tilapia, Lettuce, Blueberry Vinaigrette, and a Grissini breadstick. The food choices are very specific. There's a reason for this. Dr. Simeon found that a 500-calorie diet worked best for this protocol along with the HCG in order to reset the hypothalamus and burn the unwanted fat from the body. A body needs a certain amount of "good fat" to sustain itself during times of poverty. However, in this day and age, we don't need to worry to much about that.

I would highly recommend reading Trudeau's book. It will absolutely give you some food for thought. It's important to begin educating yourself about health and nutrition. Start where you are. It doesn't matter if you are 50, 32, 22 or 8. It's important to know what is good for your body. I wish I had heeded these messages from well-meaning educators a long time ago.

Onward for the Stats!
Ok... so here are the stats.

Day 10
Down another 1.6 pounds to ... *drum roll* (yes, I'm publicly going to publish my weight on the Internet...oh my... *gasp*) ......*longer drum roll and cymbal crash* .....  199!!!

I cannot tell you how this makes me feel. I have not been below 200 since my youngest daughter was born almost 9 years ago. Yesterday when I stepped on the scale and it reflected 200.6... I was like....COME ON! But today is a new story, and one that has definitely boosted my image of myself. (That's another blog!)

Weight loss is not a linear function. Body weight will fluctuate throughout the day, whether you are on a weight loss journey such as I am or not. I would recommend weighing at the same time of the day (or week) without clothing. I was amazed at how much difference a piece of clothing can make! And I'm not talking about jeans or sneakers neither! ;-)

I think that's about all for today. If you have questions, feel free to post them! You won't always see your posts right away because they come to me for moderation first. Yeah, I'm a chicken... still waiting to just let go of that one!

'til next time ... Edna

Another day ...

Fire at Possum Kingdom in Texas
Photo by Sandra McKee Harris

Well, today here for me was just like any other day. For my fellow Texans, not so much. The state of Texas seems to be completely on fire! Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as firefighters, who are mainly volunteer firefighting departments, work to contain these fires. Hopefully, the rains will come soon and cool things off a bit. Friends there have said the temperature is hovering around 100. Seems like the weather has switched positions as we will be in the 90s this week.

Planting carrots...

I worked in the garden today pulling weeds and getting some more planting done. I planted carrots, lettuce, and beets. I was excited when I checked my seed package on the lettuce and found that I can plant this variety through May! I was desperately trying to figure out how I was going to find my "greens" come summer time--of course, I could always buy them, but fresh from the garden can't be beat!

I missed posting yesterday, so I will combine the HCG stats for Days 7 and 8 in today's post.

Day 7


Dropped another pound! But added back a quarter inch? What? Well, that was a little disheartening. BUT...the good news is the weight is continuing a downward trend along with everything else!

Day 8


Well today, I only dropped another half pound. BUT, dropped 2 inches!! So I'm trying to keep in perspective, that many things are not linear, and weight loss appears to apply here as well. I have now lost TEN inches overall ...man, I can't tell you how good that feels! It is an amazing feeling to see the changes in my body, not to mention how it feels. My tummy is slimming down, and I don't have as much of a "hangover" when I roll over in bed. I can finally bend down to the floor from a seated position and not have to do that "spread" just to pick up my pen!

Overall, I'm feeling pretty good. I worked really hard today in the garden as well as doing the dreaded laundry. So I'm pretty pooped out. One thing that happened out of the ordinary was that I screwed up and put an appointment on another day. Preggo brain? That's what my friend Jenn teased me with. But, I just think I have a pretty full plate right now....well, come to think of it ...it's always full.

I'm not hungry at all. In fact, I had to force myself to eat my dinner tonight. I had baked cod and zucchini ...all jazzed up of course, with my FAVORITE spice garlic, some sea salt and fresh ground pepper. I have found that sometimes I need to eat my fruit as a snack in the afternoon, and just recalled that I still need to have that breadstick.

I have noticed that I don't eliminate as often since starting the HCG diet. I see my doctor tomorrow afternoon, and I plan to discuss this with her.

It's a great feeling to see the numbers dropping steadily. I had  hoped to post an image of the chart showing my Waist-to-Hip ratio. The Waist-to-Hip ratio is an indicator for health risks, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, etc. My ratio has dropped to 0.875, which is close to placing me in the "Moderate Risk" category. When I first started the diet, my WH ratio was a whopping 0.955! I am excited to see this number plummet as it indicates that my body will have a much better chance at being healthy once I maintain the weight loss.


Til next time.....just let go ... Edna

Road tripping ...

Today we decided to do a "road trip." It really ended up not being much of a road trip as it was much more like an outing. But nonetheless, it had the "feel" of a road trip.... You know, scurrying around trying to pack everything up to take. Make sure you have those HAVE TO HAVE snacks for the road.


Except today was different for me as I scurried to get my special lunch made before we left, as well as, making sure I had dinner to take just in case we didn't get back to the house before nightfall. I also was tasked with making sure I had a cooler to take my HCG along with me as we might be gone for awhile.


Luckily, with the HCG, I don't feel hungry in between meals. I get the feeling of "hunger", but so far with the exception of the other morning, it's been pretty easy to satisfy that hunger in a healthy way! It is tempting though as you drive down the road looking at all those goodies riding in the snack bag waving back at ya!

The other challenge I have found is my activity level. Now I haven't had a decrease in energy, but I do notice there's a difference in how much I can "push" myself. And it seems like the sweat just POURS out of me now, which didn't happen prior to this diet. I'm assuming it has a lot to do with the increased water intake. So as we trekked back up to the van from the river bed, I knew I would have to sit down a bit and catch my breath before going anywhere else! Luckily, I had my breadsticks along and I used that as a "salt" source to help replenish my body after the exercise.



It really is a good feeling to wake up every morning excited about the changes you are making. I even stood 'sideways' on purpose for a camera shot this morning while watering the garden. I haven't volunteered to do that in a LONG time!


Day 6


I was so anxious to get up this morning to take my measurements, especially after not losing any weight between Days 4 and 5. So I get up and go through my usual routine, step on the scale....and ....*drum roll* ...I had dropped another 1.6 pounds!! I was so excited! So I've lost a total of 5.2 pounds. Not too bad for 6 days. I kind of wish I was seeing more "significant" results that I've read about, but that's okay. My body is doing what it needs to do. In addition, I've lost over 8 inches from my body. Every morning I see myself in the mirror, and I'm thinking....I think I've lost weight. It's either the weight or the inches or both, but it's coming off baby! I didn't have any leg cramps last night. That was a blessing! In fact, I slept extremely well. I'm learning to be very creative with my veges these days. Tonight I enjoyed rib steak and cucumbers. I ate them both cold. I spiced up the cucumbers with some garlic (my FAVORITE spice), fresh ground pepper, sea salt, dill, and a splash or two of apple cider vinegar. It was very yummy! I had my orange for dessert, and now I'm set. I feel full and content. It's much nicer than feeling so full and overstuffed you need a wheel barrow to leave the table! Trust me...I've been there!

I just keep in mind the reasons that I am doing this. I mean I'm doing it for me too, but it's my kids that I am hoping this benefits the most. They deserve to have a Mom who is committed to living healthy and doing what it takes to set that example. Sometimes, we just need a little help. This time, that was HCG for me. I've learned to let go of a lot of preconceived notions that I've had about health and learned to trust my inner instincts. Sometimes, you just have to let go...


See ya next time! Edna

Telling it like it is ...

I awoke this morning around 7am--fairly unusual for me. I had set the alarm early for 8 as I plan to trek out to the Gilbert Farmer's Market this morning to see what they have that I don't! Thanks to Kelly Saxer of Desert Roots Farms for that nudge on Facebook yesterday!

I have to admit that I have been inclined to "omit" my comments on my HCG diet as I didn't want to shed any negative light on the process. HOWEVER, that would be biased. So, we are just gonna tell it like it is ...every nitty gritty detail. I'll try to find polite ways to word my descriptions as to not be labeled TMI! LOL

So... Day 5


When I got on the scale this morning, I was so SHOCKED! I had GAINED weight!! I'm like ... how could this be? So I felt the wind knocked out of me a little. My brain just wasn't wrapping around this. As I stripped to do my measurements, it dawned on me. I had weighed with my clothes on! AHA! *wiping the sweat from my brow*

So, stepped back onto the scale again to 'reverify.' The scale told a different story this time. However, I did not lose any weight. I'm wondering if I hit a plateau ... After all, it's only Day 5. My measurements dropped a little. I lost another quarter-inch in my wrist and another half inch in my hips. But my waist JUMPED a half inch! How did that happen? Well, I surmise it has a lot to do with the fact that my elimination seems to be interrupted. No doubt, I'm peeing like a racehorse. You can't drink 64-80 ounces of water a day and NOT! So I will check with my doc about this on Monday. I'm doing everything to the letter of the law on this protocol. So I'll let you know...

Some of the physical things I have been feeling since I started the diet are hard to discern whether they are from the diet or menopausal symptoms. I have been having more aches in my hip joints and waking very HOT at night. Just before waking this morning, I had awful leg and foot cramps that caused me to have to get up and stand by the side of the bed to alleviate them. I guess that's another reason why I couldn't go back to sleep!

I've had some mild muscle soreness while on the diet. Mind you, I'm not exercising--except housework and gardening ...well, they could be considered exercise, however, they have to be done! Mostly I notice the soreness in my arms after I've hung a load of laundry out to dry (yes, people still do this--in fact, I just recently returned to doing this in an effort to save $$ on our energy bill as well as contribute to a global effort to reduce!).

And the real kicker, this morning, I awoke slightly hungry. Which is unusual for me. I am not usually hungry in the mornings upon waking. I'm having my lemon water now, and generally that feeling will subside. Also, I have not had my first morning HCG dose either. Usually, after the dose, I am NOT hungry at all. Maybe it's that I'm just more AWARE of my body's need for fuel. I learned a lot of good things from a friend of mine, Dr. Michelle May who developed the program Am I Hungry?. It's important to understand WHY you are hungry or not. Michelle's work is phenomenal and I invite you to check out her program.

Again, all of the above are reasons to work closely with a doctor while doing this diet protocol (I don't see this as a 'diet' but more of a medical intervention). They are trained to be alert for any signs that something is amiss in your body. And remember, all these things are but tools and teaching for you--but really YOUR body is your best teacher. It's important to be proactive in your health and know how your body functions, both well and unwell.

So I'm still losing inches overall. That's a good sign. I'm not going to hit the emergency discourage button yet! My BMI is lower, and my Waist-to-Hip ratio is dropping. That's an important step as my body is showing me that it is getting closer to healthy. I think we just have to get things moving again...tell my body to ...Just let go ...

Short Today ...

Photo by Nancy Dyer

Hope your day is going super special! Today's post is pretty short. Just gonna cover my HCG progress and ask for prayers and thoughts for my hometown of San Angelo, TX. They are being hit hard by hot and dry weather. Wild grassfires have broken out across the state. My hometown is being threatened as I type. I can't recall there ever being a threat like this while I was growing up in San Angelo. I am hoping my family there is safe. My stepdad lives near Hwy 2105. I believe they have started evacuating north of where he lives.

HCG Progress: Day 4


All is going well on the diet. The pounds are continuing to come off as well as the inches. With any luck, I'll need to make a shopping trip next week to buy new pants! :-D Here's the stats:

Down 3.6 lbs and lost 6.5 inches. BMI is down as well as the Waist to Hip Ratio is steadily dropping. Again, I'm not starving on this diet. I feel hungry at appropriate times, but I am not feeling overwhelmed with hunger. I am drinking my 64-80 ounces of water per day and sticking to the diet protocol religiously! I feel pretty good.

I'm excited about being able to take off the weight. It's an amazing journey. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I will always share what I know. And if I don't know it, I will try my best to help you find the answer!

Hanging on.... Edna

Just Let Go!

Holy Cow! Here we go ...hang on ....

Who would have thunk that it would take so much energy just to name a blog! I am so thankful for some very creative friends who helped me to get the rope unraveling!

WELCOME! I started thinking about a blog awhile back ...and then I thought... but everyone has a blog. So I put it on the back burner. Then I began a new journey that I wanted to share with other people... so I started thinking about it again. And well, with some nudging ... I just let go...

Today's post will cover mostly the nudging part that bumped me into this realm--my HCG diet. Now hold on a minute ...stay with me....no matter what you may have heard ....hang on....don't let go just yet ....

Ok...still with me ? GREAT! Well, I embarked on this journey beginning two days ago to 'just let go' of a few ok ...several pounds. I picked up a book in my doctor's office by Kevin Trudeau entitled The Weight Loss Cure (you can order this book here at Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Weight-Loss-Cure-They-About/dp/B001U0OGCM/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302844106&sr=1-4). I was intrigued by the title. I have struggled with my weight, among other things, all of my life.

My journey truly began last year when I was asked to let go of my mom. Well, I guess I wasn't really asked... but sometimes life throws you a curve that is meant to swing you over to a new experience... a better way of life.

There's something about losing your mom that just doesn't jive too well with Just Let Go... But maybe it's what she would have said too. I think she would want us to continue living and to live life to the fullest extent possible. So that's what I've decided to do.

So, last year when I had to let go, I decided to change my way of life. I wanted to live healthier, love healthier, be healthier! Many of these journeys I had already begun. Each new day was a stepping stone leading me to where I am now.

I asked my doctor about that book, and we began a conversation... one that would take my heart on a new journey in search of a healthier body. There are many reasons why I chose the HCG diet. I just couldn't lose weight any other way. I had worked hard over the past year to change my lifestyle and my diet. I had given up sodas, sugar... ok not pizza ....but I began to go to the gym and do Zumba for heaven's sake ....and I'm no couch potato ...I fish, I garden, I homeschool my kids (ok...that's brain work, but sometimes not!) ...but it just wasn't happening!

My hubby took off the pounds over the last year. But there I was. STUCK! Hanging on to that last thread ....

I guess a little background info on what HCG stands for is in order. HCG is Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin. You can read more about Dr. Simeon and his work with HCG here http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/yhst-18602524177663/Dr-Simeons-and-Companion-Guide.pdf. I read the books (which are REQUIRED reading through my doctor), and I thought...hmmmm....this seems to align with a lot of the thinking I had already begun to acquire during my work as a research assistant in college. HCG is a hormone released by pregnant women. And as I said, the whole story is above ...check it out for yourself. The basis is that the HCG helps to reset your hypothalamus. Your hypothalamus is located in your forebrain and is one of the oldest structures in the brain. It controls a lot of things, but specifically to my course now.... whether I feel full after eating... or not.

So here we are ...Day 3 ...I'm not hungry on this diet. I've lost 4.5 inches (though, this is a little skewed at this point because I'm not sure my measuring was consistent in the beginning). I am using the nose spray four times a day. And I eat a very restricted diet. BUT I'M NOT HUNGRY! In fact, I feel great! I have the same amount of energy as I had prior to the start of my diet. It's a radical change no doubt--and one journey I would not advise to take without the care and supervision of your healthcare provider.

Some will say this "diet" is a hoax. Well, come along with me and we'll see. Many people have used this protocol under my doctor's care--her words, "The results are phenomenol!"

Again...I invite you to just let go....let go of what you may already think....hang on to the strand and let's see where it takes us!

'Til next time... Edna