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