Hello, readers! Hope you are having a fantastic Monday... you know it's my favorite day of the week, right?!
First things first... an update on my HCG weight loss journey. Last Monday was the first day of phase two, which is the 500 calorie phase of the diet. I am so HAPPY to report that I have lost 8 pounds since then, and I'm feeling great!! I am not really craving any breads, butter, fried food, oils, and my sugar cravings are FINALLY starting to dwindle a bit. When I do start to crave sugar, I take strawberries and ice to the blender, with a bit of vanilla stevia, and make a sort of slushie with it. Every night I've been having an apple with cinnamon, and placing it in the toaster oven for a few minutes. Also yummy! Day Four was the hardest for me. After the first few days I kept waiting for a day when I would be a little grumpy, have a harder time with the cravings, maybe have a withdrawal headache... and day four was the day! I am so glad my mom is doing this with me, as well as a girl I work with. It definitely makes it easier having a support system. I've gotten to the point that I'm not telling anyone else what I'm doing. Everyone loves to say "You'd lose weight anyway if you were only consuming 500 calories a day". Well, sure you would. But without the HCG, your body would immediately go and take muscle for energy instead of unhealthy, abnormal fat deposits. And you would feel weak. And you would gain all the weight back as soon as you increased your calorie intake.
I'm learning so much from doing this. I've had to prepare all my meals at home. It's amazing how much you can actually eat when your meals aren't fast food, or prepared with a ton of butter and oil. I'm to the point now where I actually crave fresh foods. The thought of anything fried actually turns my stomach.
Okay, moving on... I finally watched my first of twelve classic movies for the year... Gone With The Wind. I really kinda loved it. When I first saw how long it was, I thought "I'm never going to make it through that", but it didn't seem that long at all. Not sure what my next movie will be. I'm going to have to check out the lists over at AFI for inspiration.
Next up will probably be planting some flowers. I'm actually excited about this. It means the weather is warming up! I'm not looking forward to mowing my yard, though. Front yard, not so bad, but my backyard is going to be a bitch! Anyone have a favorite flower they like to plant? I could definitely use a little inspiration!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
It's a rainy day and a Monday...
but I'm not going to let it get me down!
It really would've been the perfect day to sleep in and snuggle with my dog... lounge around in my Pj's with a hot cup of coffee. That's usually the way Monday's go for me. But not today! I went to work on my day off. I really didn't mind at all, I'm not going to say no to making a little extra money!
But with the rain... and it being my first day on the low calorie part of my diet... and waking up at 7... and having to drive to Del City to get my taxes done... I just wanted to crawl back in bed.
Instead I'm going to focus on what I'm thankful for today!
I made some extra money that I can put back in my vacation fund...
I am actually getting a little bit of a refund this year with my federal taxes...
Being extremely organized with everything last year means that I spent less than half an hour at my CPA's office...
I discovered that loose leaf pomegranate tea with vanilla stevia is the best thing EVER...
This HCG diet might actually help me kick my sugar addiction once and for all!
I was finished with everything early enough that I can enjoy the rain from inside my house, and get caught up with the DVR...
Happy Monday, readers! Hope you had a good one!
It really would've been the perfect day to sleep in and snuggle with my dog... lounge around in my Pj's with a hot cup of coffee. That's usually the way Monday's go for me. But not today! I went to work on my day off. I really didn't mind at all, I'm not going to say no to making a little extra money!
But with the rain... and it being my first day on the low calorie part of my diet... and waking up at 7... and having to drive to Del City to get my taxes done... I just wanted to crawl back in bed.
Instead I'm going to focus on what I'm thankful for today!
I made some extra money that I can put back in my vacation fund...
I am actually getting a little bit of a refund this year with my federal taxes...
Being extremely organized with everything last year means that I spent less than half an hour at my CPA's office...
I discovered that loose leaf pomegranate tea with vanilla stevia is the best thing EVER...
This HCG diet might actually help me kick my sugar addiction once and for all!
I was finished with everything early enough that I can enjoy the rain from inside my house, and get caught up with the DVR...
Happy Monday, readers! Hope you had a good one!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
My crazy dream...
Okay, I never remember my dreams. And when I do remember, it doesn't last long before the memory of it starts slowly slipping out of my brain. I thought that since I actually remembered my dream last night, I'd share the weirdness with you. Not that it's that weird... my dreams are never psychedelic or trippy, they're normal situations that weave into each other resulting in something that makes absolutely no sense. Keep in mind, I knew I wouldn't have the chance to blog until later today, so I constantly had to replay it in my mind today. Here we go...
I start off outside of a hospital, out in the ambulance bay, and I'm waxing Kelly Monaco's eyebrows. If you don't know who Kelly Monaco is, she is on General Hospital (which I haven't watched in years, but used to be addicted), and was on Dancing With The Stars (which I've never seen before because I think it's the dumbest show ever). So, got my wax trolley set up outside, waxing Kelly Monaco's eyebrows. Awesome. I finished one eyebrow, it looked perfect, and I spread wax on the other eyebrow, when suddenly, she has to be somewhere. She just darts off, and I'm trying to tell her I'm not done, and that there's still wax on her eyebrow, and she just says, "that's okay, I have to go". I stand in disbelief for a moment, and decide to go back in the hospital. Because apparently, our salon has relocated to a floor at the hospital.
As I'm strolling through the hospital, heading back to work, I decide to swing by and see my friend Reese, who works at the hospital (in real life and the dream). I see her, she's not busy, I wave and try to talk to her, but she completely blows me off. Says she's busy in a rather aloof manner, so I decide to keep going without saying anything else, even though my feelings are terribly hurt. As I turn and leave her station, I run into a girl who compliments my shoes and asks me where I got them. I look down at my shoes, they're Nike's... I tell her I designed them myself on the Nike website. (They're super cute, too... makes me want new tennis shoes). The weird thing is, as I'm telling her about my shoes, I look down and realize I'm wearing two different tennis shoes. They are similar, both are black, silver, and pink... but two completely different tennis shoes. I become terribly embarrassed, thank the girl, and dart off, hoping she didn't notice my mismatched shoes.
As I continue my stroll through the hospital, I decide I want to go by the nursery and check out the newborns. I get to the nursery, peer through the window, and notice it's dark. There aren't any babies, and I'm upset. And really disappointed.
I keep walking, and at this point, I don't even think I'm concerned about getting back to work. I just keep walking and checking out parts of the hospital... and I become very nervous when I realize I'm wearing my scrubs. I'm terrified that because I'm wearing scrubs in a hospital, someone will think I work there (which technically I do, since the salon has relocated), and they will think I'm qualified to handle an emergency. It's at this point, I get to the part of the hospital where emergency situations are handled. And I freeze. I'm terrified. I'm watching all this craziness around me, paramedics are carrying people on stretchers, and having to decide where to take them. I'm standing near the escalators, because yes... this hospital has escalators, and I see a boy and his dad go by on stretchers. I'm trying to figure out what's wrong with them, why they are there, and I'm frozen and wide eyed in shock.
And then I wake up.
The End.
I start off outside of a hospital, out in the ambulance bay, and I'm waxing Kelly Monaco's eyebrows. If you don't know who Kelly Monaco is, she is on General Hospital (which I haven't watched in years, but used to be addicted), and was on Dancing With The Stars (which I've never seen before because I think it's the dumbest show ever). So, got my wax trolley set up outside, waxing Kelly Monaco's eyebrows. Awesome. I finished one eyebrow, it looked perfect, and I spread wax on the other eyebrow, when suddenly, she has to be somewhere. She just darts off, and I'm trying to tell her I'm not done, and that there's still wax on her eyebrow, and she just says, "that's okay, I have to go". I stand in disbelief for a moment, and decide to go back in the hospital. Because apparently, our salon has relocated to a floor at the hospital.
As I'm strolling through the hospital, heading back to work, I decide to swing by and see my friend Reese, who works at the hospital (in real life and the dream). I see her, she's not busy, I wave and try to talk to her, but she completely blows me off. Says she's busy in a rather aloof manner, so I decide to keep going without saying anything else, even though my feelings are terribly hurt. As I turn and leave her station, I run into a girl who compliments my shoes and asks me where I got them. I look down at my shoes, they're Nike's... I tell her I designed them myself on the Nike website. (They're super cute, too... makes me want new tennis shoes). The weird thing is, as I'm telling her about my shoes, I look down and realize I'm wearing two different tennis shoes. They are similar, both are black, silver, and pink... but two completely different tennis shoes. I become terribly embarrassed, thank the girl, and dart off, hoping she didn't notice my mismatched shoes.
As I continue my stroll through the hospital, I decide I want to go by the nursery and check out the newborns. I get to the nursery, peer through the window, and notice it's dark. There aren't any babies, and I'm upset. And really disappointed.
I keep walking, and at this point, I don't even think I'm concerned about getting back to work. I just keep walking and checking out parts of the hospital... and I become very nervous when I realize I'm wearing my scrubs. I'm terrified that because I'm wearing scrubs in a hospital, someone will think I work there (which technically I do, since the salon has relocated), and they will think I'm qualified to handle an emergency. It's at this point, I get to the part of the hospital where emergency situations are handled. And I freeze. I'm terrified. I'm watching all this craziness around me, paramedics are carrying people on stretchers, and having to decide where to take them. I'm standing near the escalators, because yes... this hospital has escalators, and I see a boy and his dad go by on stretchers. I'm trying to figure out what's wrong with them, why they are there, and I'm frozen and wide eyed in shock.
And then I wake up.
The End.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
HCG journey...
Today begins the first day of my HCG journey! And I'm super excited!
(Since I don't do a great job at explaining things, if you don't know anything about the HCG diet, or what it is, please Google for info.)
I have to say, I was quite skeptical when I first began hearing about this program. A few people I work with decided to do it at the end of '09, and I thought they were a little crazy. At the time, they were trying to get me on board, but I thought I'd wait and see what their experiences were like before I invested in hundreds of dollars in a weight loss miracle. And I thought they were crazy to inject their bellies with a needle every morning. Well, out of the three people who did this program, I saw three people with varying results. My conclusion was that it works if you actually stick to the guidelines, but... isn't that the case with most diets?
Well, I decided to do a little research on my own after that, and discovered that you can order the HCG online, for much, much less than what my work peeps paid from a nurse practitioner. Now, before you start freaking out, please know that I did my research and didn't just order from any 'ol company off the internet. I did some digging around, finding the most recommended and reputable companies out there. I also elected to do the homeopathic drops versus the injections. No needles for me,m thank you very much.
Sooooo... the first two days of this program include taking the drops while you eat everything in sight. The more fat the better. I have been looking forward to these days like you wouldn't believe!
Wish me luck and I'll keep you updated on my results!
(Since I don't do a great job at explaining things, if you don't know anything about the HCG diet, or what it is, please Google for info.)
I have to say, I was quite skeptical when I first began hearing about this program. A few people I work with decided to do it at the end of '09, and I thought they were a little crazy. At the time, they were trying to get me on board, but I thought I'd wait and see what their experiences were like before I invested in hundreds of dollars in a weight loss miracle. And I thought they were crazy to inject their bellies with a needle every morning. Well, out of the three people who did this program, I saw three people with varying results. My conclusion was that it works if you actually stick to the guidelines, but... isn't that the case with most diets?
Well, I decided to do a little research on my own after that, and discovered that you can order the HCG online, for much, much less than what my work peeps paid from a nurse practitioner. Now, before you start freaking out, please know that I did my research and didn't just order from any 'ol company off the internet. I did some digging around, finding the most recommended and reputable companies out there. I also elected to do the homeopathic drops versus the injections. No needles for me,m thank you very much.
Sooooo... the first two days of this program include taking the drops while you eat everything in sight. The more fat the better. I have been looking forward to these days like you wouldn't believe!
Wish me luck and I'll keep you updated on my results!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Another favorite things post...
What I love right now...
Coffee...I didn't realize how strong my love for coffee actually was until I ran out. I guess I am addicted. I heart my Keurig coffee maker!
If anyone has a favorite Keurig K-cup, let me know. I'm always up for trying new ones.
Food For Life sprouted breads... Yummy! Food For Life makes freshly sprouted, live grain breads. I get the burger buns and make veggie burgers with them. So healthy!!
The Raveonettes... one of my favorite bands for three years now. Can't get enough of them. They are a Danish duo who I've best heard described as a mix between The Jesus & Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine. Throw in a 50's rock influence and there you have it. Love them. LOVE them.
Cougar Town... I love this show! Courteney Cox is hilarious in this, and I'm really hoping it lasts a few seasons. If you haven't seen it, set your DVR, it's really funny!
Words With Friends... If you own an Iphone, I'm sure you are familiar with Words. My friend Theresa got me hooked, I got everyone at work hooked, and sometimes we all sit around and play each other when we're not busy. I never knew phone scrabble could be so addicting. It's really a great way to pass the time, though.
C.O. Bigelow Lip Gloss from Bath & Body Works... Okay, so to be honest, I've never really been a big Bath & Body Works kinda girl. Especially after working at The Body Shop, we stuck our noses up at our competition and pretty much bashed their products every chance we got. However, my sweet friend Lindy picked up a few extra lip glosses when they were on sale, and gave me the Hot Buttered Rum flavor. OMG. I am addicted to this stuff. She later gave me the hot Chocolate flavor, and I like it just as much. They are super shiny and have a little tingle to 'em. Yummy.
And this guy... (I refer to him as) my boyfriend... if you haven't seen (500)Days of Summer, log off your computer immediately, and rent it now. Or rent Mysterious Skin... for an outstanding (and depressing) performance. I heart you, JGL!
Coffee...I didn't realize how strong my love for coffee actually was until I ran out. I guess I am addicted. I heart my Keurig coffee maker!
If anyone has a favorite Keurig K-cup, let me know. I'm always up for trying new ones.
Food For Life sprouted breads... Yummy! Food For Life makes freshly sprouted, live grain breads. I get the burger buns and make veggie burgers with them. So healthy!!
The Raveonettes... one of my favorite bands for three years now. Can't get enough of them. They are a Danish duo who I've best heard described as a mix between The Jesus & Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine. Throw in a 50's rock influence and there you have it. Love them. LOVE them.
Cougar Town... I love this show! Courteney Cox is hilarious in this, and I'm really hoping it lasts a few seasons. If you haven't seen it, set your DVR, it's really funny!
Words With Friends... If you own an Iphone, I'm sure you are familiar with Words. My friend Theresa got me hooked, I got everyone at work hooked, and sometimes we all sit around and play each other when we're not busy. I never knew phone scrabble could be so addicting. It's really a great way to pass the time, though.
C.O. Bigelow Lip Gloss from Bath & Body Works... Okay, so to be honest, I've never really been a big Bath & Body Works kinda girl. Especially after working at The Body Shop, we stuck our noses up at our competition and pretty much bashed their products every chance we got. However, my sweet friend Lindy picked up a few extra lip glosses when they were on sale, and gave me the Hot Buttered Rum flavor. OMG. I am addicted to this stuff. She later gave me the hot Chocolate flavor, and I like it just as much. They are super shiny and have a little tingle to 'em. Yummy.
And this guy... (I refer to him as) my boyfriend... if you haven't seen (500)Days of Summer, log off your computer immediately, and rent it now. Or rent Mysterious Skin... for an outstanding (and depressing) performance. I heart you, JGL!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Aquarium Adventure
So... number 13 on my list was go to the aquarium... and I did that Monday! It just so happened to work out that three of my friends all ended up with Monday off, and we decided to hit the road, get out of town for the day, and have a little fun. We had such a blast checking out the fish, watching the sharks swim and eat, taking pictures, and touching starfish and crabs! The four of us even crowded in a tiny photo booth and attempted to get all our faces in a group photo! Afterwards, we took off in search of a place to eat and ended up at Los Cabos... YUMMY!! I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of photos my Iphone produced. I left my camera at home since the battery was low, but I really think my phone worked great. Here are some of my favorite things...
These beavers were enjoying a little lunch...
How cute are these frogs?!
And how cool are these little spotted jellyfish?
And now the big jellyfish... ever see Seven Pounds?
A pot bellied seahorse...
SHARKS!!
This picture didn't turn out well, but it is an otter. And I have decided that I would like a couple of pet otters. I could watch them swim around and play all day long. They are so CUTE!!
These fish only swim vertically. How weird is that?
The electric eel... this thing was crazy!
More cool stuff...
If you haven't been, I would recommend it as a fun day trip, especially if you have kiddos. It's not a real big aquarium, but I think it's just big enough not to get overwhelmed or worn out, since it doesn't take all day to get through and see everything!
These beavers were enjoying a little lunch...
How cute are these frogs?!
And how cool are these little spotted jellyfish?
And now the big jellyfish... ever see Seven Pounds?
A pot bellied seahorse...
SHARKS!!
This picture didn't turn out well, but it is an otter. And I have decided that I would like a couple of pet otters. I could watch them swim around and play all day long. They are so CUTE!!
These fish only swim vertically. How weird is that?
The electric eel... this thing was crazy!
More cool stuff...
If you haven't been, I would recommend it as a fun day trip, especially if you have kiddos. It's not a real big aquarium, but I think it's just big enough not to get overwhelmed or worn out, since it doesn't take all day to get through and see everything!
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