Paid the Piper +1.4

Okay now looking back on it - it was soooo not worth the cheat. It took me two days to lose that amount of weight. PLUS last night I tried on my size 14 jeans that I haven't fit into in 9 months and THEY FIT!!! They're a little snug but not unbearably so... Back on plan today - I think I need some more variety. I'm going to pick up some fish this weekend.

Gave In

Well - shoot I gave into a craving for Greek food today - hoping it won't be too bad but there were some carbs involved - 1/2 spanakopita w/ tzatziki and dolmathes - lamb kabob and salad with a little feta. I had cottage cheese and strawberries for dinner and I am still hungry! ARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGG... I haven't experienced any hunger with this protocol until now.... What's up with that! I need to go back and read and make sure that isn't one of the signals of immunity since I did that short round of 23 days and 6 days P3 before starting another round. If that's the case - I'll stop and start P3...

Any thoughts?

I also realized I didn't take my measurements this week - I'll wait until Tuesday since were almost through the week anyway.

Doggy Update

I took Abi into the Vet for the surgical consult. The vet looked at the x-rays, moved her elbow around and felt no crunching. He had the tech put her on the floor and she was bouncing around on her leg - walking a little funny but not really favoring it. He said, he thinks they over reached at the ER - but I believe it was all the prayers of everyone from my church and here that brought healing even to my little dog. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!!!

Recipe - Mock Strawberry Smoothie/Frozen Yogurt

I have a HomeTec blender so not sure if this would be as smooth in a regular blender.

Cottage Cheese Allotment
Strawberries Allotment
Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup (I only had SF Coconut Syrup)
Ice

Blend - you can either drink this as a smoothie or I was thinking it would be a great frozen treat for summer - in that case you would not need to add the ice...

It was delicious, sweet and filling...

New Decade - .6 @ 219.8

Yeah buddy... I've entered a new decade!!! I've lost a total of 78.8 lbs and 19 lbs have been on the Simeon Protocol!!! I probably would have lost a little more this morning but in making up the kids meals I may have gotten some grease on my hands... I was as careful as possible without having gloves but I am going to have to pick some up. I am so proud of myself that I've gotten back on track and am going down - down - down the scale! I believe it's possible to get to the upper end of the 190's if I keep to the program and of course don't have any stalls. Even if I get to the 200ish make I will be ecstatic.

Yesterday was a good day until my kid sat my dog down and she kept yipping. My miniature dachshund Abi (short for Abigail) and the family spent the evening in the vet emergency. She has a fractured and distended left elbow. Please pray for her she's in pain. We will need to consult with a surgeon and as you know I've been financially strapped and this is an added expense my family did not need at the moment - even with the new job. The doctor said it would be an estimated $2K, YIKES!

Love my Food Saver

I cannot tell you how much I love this little machine. I just bought one as I was tired of throwing out food - especially meat that had freezer burn. Today I am cooking my kids a pot roast - but because I cannot join them with this meal - I cut the pot roast into three sections, cooked one and bundled up two more entire meals in the food saver bag with seasoning and everything. So, the great thing about this is that I can take it out of the freezer the night before and put my stove on 225 degrees and let it cook all day or throw it in the crock pot. I'm very excited that now I can prepackage food and it won't go bad in the freezer. It's a huge time savings for me, it saves money (the machine will pay for itself easily) and any leftovers can be packaged up as a mini-meal too that my kids can throw in the microwave. Home cooked food that's easily reheated. My kids are going to love this as they've been upset that I haven't been really cooking over the past year. A lot of that has to do with just there's been so many things going on again with my mom's passing and healing from that plus getting rid of all the stuff out of the house.

I just cannot express how pleased I am with this machine - if you don't have one they are pretty reasonable at Costco - I bought mine with the economic stimulus check. And with the prices of food rising - I'm planning on packing my freezer with homemade prepackaged meals. Other convenience foods cannot touch homemade for taste and nutrition!

YIPPIE -1lb

I'm ectatic - I'm below LIW and ready to break into the next decade! How exciting... I cannot wait! I'm down to 220.4!

Can anyone else actually feel their body melting the fat? I know it may sound strange but I can feel the fat burning away especially around my waist.

Just a quick update and I'm back to cleaning...

Broke the barrier -2.4

Okay yesterday I went up to 224 - today I am down 221.4. I've finally broke past the barrier I am .8 below my LIW. YIPPIE!!! I've made it!

THANK YOU LORD

Here is my fantastic news - I have accepted a position that will significantly increase my income to the point where I will be able to get out of the credit card debt and put away a nest egg. I begin my new position in June. I am very excited for the new opportunity and I am so grateful to the Lord for opening the door to this new venture in my life. This will allow me, a single mom, to adequately supply for my family. We have struggled so much this past year with the death of my mom. My mom and I shared the bills. With her passing not only was she gone, but the extra income was gone and the bills went up. I've had to rob Peter to pay Paul on many occasions over the past year. I PRAISE JESUS - that He has once again provided abundantly for my family. He has provided some many blessings over and over again from unexpected avenues... I am blessed beyond measure, not only financially but with my beautiful children.

I've Overcome -2.2 lbs

Yes! I'm .2 lbs away from my LIW... Not a lot to report other than that! I may have some fantastic news to post later today but for now my biggest news is I'm down to 222.4 lbs!!! AWESOME... So very close to the next decade I can almost touch it!!!

Quilt of Holes

I was sent this today by a friend and it touched me so much I wanted to share...

As I faced my Maker at the last Judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with the other souls.

Before each of us laid our lives, like the squares of a quilt, in many piles. An angel sat before each of us sewing quilt squares together into tapestries that represented our lives.

As my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life. I saw hardships that I had endured, which were the largest holes of all. I glanced around me. No one else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and bright hues of worldly fortune.

I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty.

Finally, the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light. . . the scrutiny of truth. The others arose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been!

My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to arise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had had love in my life, and laughter.

But there had also been trials of illness and death, and false accusations that took from me my world as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again.

I had spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully; each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the critical gaze of those who unfairly judged me.

And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it had been. I arose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with eyes wide. Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image. The face of Christ. Our Lord then stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, "Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.

May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through.

Author Unknown

Not as bad as I thought

Well I actually stepped on the scale today - yes, I have been in avoidance. I'm 3.8 lbs over LIW. So, to get back on track I am doing an apple day today - not because I'm having a stall but to get myself back into the right modes/mindset. Does that make sense? I've been out of control for the past week - so I was glad to see the scale had not moved up too much. So, let's begin the games again and get it moving in the right direction...

Susan was very kind to me if you read her comment on my Stark Raving Mad post - she right we are all on this journey together and we're going to conquer this fat and it will be gone forever!!! Well at least until I expire and go to be with the Lord :D

Stark Raving Mad

I think I have completely lost me mind. I've gone stark raving mad - actually I just call it self-sabotage. I have not at all been on protocol - I've been shoving food in my face and I don't even know why!!! I'm somewhat disappointed in myself - and frustrated with myself. Not sure if it is all the YOU LOOK GREATS or what my problem is. Please don't take this as whining because that is not what it is - I am required to blog as part of this protocol. So, here I am confessing my fat sin on public blog. How's that for public humiliation :P~~~

Well, I've got it out of my system - I'm not having to start completely over from scratch - but as I haven't gained it all back. But since I've been completely out of my mind STUPID - I will be doing the 43 days. I've missed two shots in a row this week but I don't consider this a loss - I'll begin my shots again this evening and skip next Saturday. BLAH BLAH BLAH - I've had my "Fun" or insanity moment - now it's time to get my butt in gear and back on plan. I just wish there were a magic pill I could take for moments of insanity - moments of weakness - moments of PURE STUPIDITY!!!! So - here we go again... KNOCK IT OFF AND GET OFF YOUR BUTT AND GET BACK TO THE PROGRAM!!!

I'm done being stupid - as a matter of fact - I said I was going to write down my motivators and my reason for doing this protocol and carry them with me. So, as soon as I'm done confessing and writing this blog - I'm getting a shower - I stink from working in my house all day long today. I'm so grateful - my friend came to help me today. I got one of my desks setup with the speakers. Both the desk and the speakers have not been setup for over two years. Basically from depression and not being motivated. But the sun the last two days have done a miraculous boost in my energy and my attitude. I wish it were staying - I'm bummed that it is going back to the cold weather. I am so tired of rain and cold I could just spit! But now that I've gotten a little more cleaned up and out of my house with the help of my wonderful friend - I'm hoping that will help with the depression and unmotivated slump I've been in. It has been very hard to get motivated to get rid of all the stuff that is in my house. Not quiet sure if it's because of depression or if it's some weird way of holding onto my mother. My mom was a packrat and I have a lot - and I am not kidding a lot of stuff to go through and get rid of out of my house. I'm making baby steps - and it's taken me a year to get this far - but I can actually see my kitchen counters (most days) - I have a dining room table to eat dinner at but I had to clear space in my dining room in order to bring my table up from storage. So, now that I've confessed and blogged some pretty strange things - I'm off to "unstinkify" myself...

Have a blessed evening and day tomorrow!!!

Down -1.6

This morning I'm quiet pleased that the scale is down another 1.6 lbs. I have another 2.6 lbs to go to be at my LIW. I've had a little bit of a difficult time getting going this round. I'm not sure if I'm good with the short rounds or not at this point. My question comes in with having to load again so shortly after at what I consider a great cost of adding 4.6 lbs of the 17.4 I'd lost. So, I am still undecided. I will be going a little longer this round. I also think that I will stop shots during TOM this time to see how I do.

That's it for now!

Back On Track -.4

Not back down to my LIW yet but at least I am now going back down. Still not feeling well today - achy and cold. So, I'm expecting a fairly large loss tomorrow as all I've been able to do today was initially go to work, have my morning americano, an orange. Came home and slept for a few hours, drank some water and ate a whole bunch of celery - just not feeling well enough to make anything. Maybe I'll feel a bit better this evening and be able to make some chicken broth?

I really don't like not feeling well - and I really shouldn't be cold it's finally starting to warm up out here. So, hopefully tomorrow will bring about feeling better for one and two a huge loss.

Issues

I don't know what my issues are this round - I think it's been the immense amount of stress from the past few days (personal). But I have not been able to jump start myself back into this - I will try again tomorrow! ARRRRRGGGG!!!

Ewwwwww - Not Feeling Well

Not sure how today will go - I am very cold and achy... I updated my measurements and everything seems to have shifted again with no loss in inches but no gain either just a shift... Gonna sleep now and see if it helps with the chills and aches... I'll post tomorrow...

R2 - Load Day 3

Okay it wasn't my intent to do 3 days of loading - but I did the field trip with my daughter today and it was just not at all practical to pack food and carry it around - plus in all honesty - I didn't prepare any last night.

So, tomorrow I will start the VLCD. I may go a little longer than the 23 days this round - this will completely depend on how the weight loss is going through out this round. I'll also need to see how much I put on during the loading days! But, lets just say I'm not at all concerned now that I've done my first round!!! I learned a lot from trial and error.

Things I like
Shampoo Alternatives: I'm alternating between the baking soda and http://www.incrediblearth.com/ clay shampoo - although with as fine as my hair is the clay works better on about every third time or so since it tends to make my hair greasy - or I haven't figured out how to use it yet. Rinse with 1:3 ACV:Water
Moisturizer: Alba Oil Free Moisturizer (I REALLY LOVE THIS); Corn Huskers
Lips: Burt's Bee's or Aquaphor
Makeup: Mineral Makeup
Deodorant: www.realpurity.com

R2 - Load Day 2

Okay - my co-worker's brownies were the BOMB!!! I ate three of them for breakfast and mid-morning snack with a 20 oz. breve black and white mocha. YUMMMMMMYYYYYY!!!! Had a second cup of coffee with creamer. Lunch was small bag of potato chips, 1/2 avocado, hummus, cucumber and tomato sandwich, a cookie and a blended coffee drink - by this point I am so full... Now this evening although I am full - I am having pot roast with potatoes, onions (we'll see if this is the culprit) and garlic cloves for dinner. Thus I think I am done loading - feel like a stuffed pig but I think I have adequately loaded for this round. Tomorrow starts the second round of VLCD... Although the diet is boring I am excited to get started again - and down - down - down the scale I go... YIPPIE!!! I am so happy to read everyone's progress and LORI is just about at goal!!! GREAT JOB LORI... And everyone else is doing really well on the challenge too!!! GREAT JOB EVERYONE YOU KEEP ME ENCOURAGED!!!

Not sure how I am going to do the VLCD tomorrow as I am chaperoning 7 kids tomorrow for a field trip?!?!?!?! Trying to figure out how I can do it and stay on the plan... Maybe I will pack some cottage cheese and an apple for lunch - I can put some ice in with it to keep it cold and toss the containers...

TTFN

Round 2 - Let's Get Started

I took my shot last night and weighed this morning and was 2.2 lbs over LIW because I did have things which would consider load but it was not my official load day. Today I started loading for Mother's Day - took my second shot tonight.

P3 - Insight and Learning Opportunity

Okay - so I haven't been paying too much attention to P3 eating - still been having quite a bit of stress but making it through. One of my teens is being quiet mouthy at the moment and getting her to do chores has been a challenge. Any way - I've been having a hard time with incorporating the food properly - my stomach and body have been complaining back to me in more ways than one - terrible stomach pains and watery BM. I emailed Cindy and she cautioned about being strick on the P3 and asked what I'd been eating and that it could be a food allergy. But like I said, I have not paid too close attention nor journal what I've had on the P3 phase.

Here's the learning and insight part - next time I will really have to take note of what I am adding in - I think onions could be a problem for me - I had quiet a bit with my mongolian grill today. And my stomach felt like it was on fire - it's past 9 PM here and it still feels icky and the watery BM followed. So, we'll have to test that in the next P3 round. But for now I'm cutting short the P3 by 1 day. Not only do I want to get back on protocol but I want to be able to use Mother's Day as my first load day. And my co-worker is making me brownies w/walnuts - bless her. So, I will have brownies to load with on my second day :))))))

So, yesterday I panicked a bit - I didn't crawl on the scale on 5/7 as that was the anniversary of my mother's death and I was just not with it on that day - ran out the door before I remembered 1/2 way to work that I forgot to weigh in. So, on 5/8 I woke up to the scale of 2.6 lbs over LIW. Wholly smokes batman! I did panic a bit - but not enough to do a steak day. I started out with that idea in mind but was so hungry for lunch I had a salad with steak and pico de gallo (come to think of that my stomach was upset after than and it has onions -hhhhhmmmmm may have found the culprit???) Anyway, by evening time I was really hungry so I went for more protein - eggs w/ cheese and turkey bacon were my fare for the evening. This morning I woke up to a 2 lbs loss - even. And let me tell you I drank a lot and I mean a lot of liquid yesterday and today.

So, 1 more day and I start loading again!!! I'm really excited - even to get back to the very bland food - at least I don't have to think - not really during this protocol. That kind of helps with the stress levels too. I also, miss that I was getting more energy towards the end - I haven't been sleeping too well these past couple weeks and I believe it is catching up to me tremendously!!!

I have a massage in the morning - very excited for this as I think with the food allergy possibility - my body has also been hurting quiet a bit since I stopped taking the HCG.

So, one more day my peeps... And the rest of the belly and chin are on their way out the door. That is if my body doesn't go for another area this time round...

Until L8R!!!

A Little Down

Today is the one year anniversary of my mother's passing. I held it together all day up until I was ready to leave - and I lost it a bit. My friend Mandy - bless her heart said go home, have a glass of wine and have a good cry while she gave me a great big hug. I really miss my mom - the way she'd make me laugh, her quirky sense of humor - sometimes it would tick me off - but overall my mom was a GREAT lady!!! And I miss her very very much...

Photo Update

My daughter was taking my update photos so the first two are for fun - just can't help myself - but really after reading my blog for awhile or if you know me personally... Would you have expected any less - HAHAHAHAH :D






The update photos are taken in the exact same outfit... And oh my goodness - it is so exciting to see the updated photo's. Quite honestly I was going to wait until the second round but - am so glad I didn't. Can we say bye-bye to double chin!!! Bye-bye almost to second belly!!! Buy-bye sorry everyone but the only thing I can thing to call it is the third breast syndrome - ladies you know what I am talking about here - where no matter what bra you buy you don't fit all the way in and you get that extra breast right in the middle... Sorry ya'll just callin' it like I see it!!! I could see it in my face in the mirror but really can see it in photos - I have my dimple back YIPPIE!!! My face was so round before you couldn't see it!!!

Weirdness

So, I took my measurements today - and I'm down 17.5" but the places changed. Weirdness - so the fat must be on the move a bit since I stopped the shots. I'm up 1 lbs from my last injection weight today. Nothing else to report...

Uh-Oh -.6 this morning

Okay - now here is were I need some veteran's advice. I'm on day 1 of 3 for the VLCD w/o injection and I dropped .6 this morning and OMG it's almost the -20 lbs mark on this protocol... Loving it!!!! And it's 77 lbs total for me on my weight loss journey! Now as I understand it as long as I don't drop a full 2 lbs from my LIW I'm okay and not going into normal fat. Is that right? But here's a question. How concerned do I need to be with that if I'm doing another 2 load days in 10 days to load back up the normal fat???? Not that my intention is to continue losing over the next 10 days but what if?

I went to see my chiropractor yesterday and two things - hadn't see them in a month and they could really see the weight loss and I got the pat on the back and keep going. My chiropractor's awesome - best one I've had ever and it truly a partner in my overall health!!! Secondly, I got released to go back and start my training sessions again with my trainer YIPPIE!!! I think it's God's timing too since I wasn't in a place where I was really committed to losing my weight and only giving it a half hearted effort. Now I'm there - dropping the weight and committed to this protocol, our sponsors DD.ca, hcgsupplies.com and Cindy Cook author of "Guide to Implementing The Weight Loss Protocol".

I've always heard to surround yourselves with a team of people who will support you in your effort - whether that is friends, family or professionals in the area you want to succeed. So, I finally have my support system - how on earth could I fail? For me there is one more element that I've left out in the past and that is God - not that I didn't pray about it but quite honestly I didn't really believe that God would be that concerned with such a minor thing with all the famine and wars and just plain world problems. Why on earth would He be concerned about my little weight problem. But you know what - He is concerned because He loves me and I am one of His children. So, I know in keeping Him involved and asking for His help when I am tempted that it really does work. There are times during this process that I didn't ask and those are the time I ended up cheating on the protocol. So, in typing this it's really a reminder to myself to involve God in the small stuff and He'll take care of it. Everything to my finances, to my health, to my children.

I am so very proud of my children - they are in middle school and they are taking on the effort with some of their friends to start a Bible study at school during lunch. I'm amazed at how they are progressing in their spiritual life. Proverbs 22:6 "Train a child up in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it." I'm not saying it's been easy all these years but you know what - the seeds that were planted and watered are starting to BURST forth their fruits. And I cannot thank GOD enough!!!

There's my 2 cents for the day :D

WOW -16.6 lbs for LIW

That's so cool - I lost another 1.6 from my anticipated 15 lbs for the round!!! I'm EXCITED!!! Although my stomach is feeling "isshy" since last night I'm excited on the inside. Don't know if the stomach thing is from running so hard this past week and now most of the stress is past or if it is from my daughter passing me what she's had for the past 4 days (100+ fever)?!?!?!?!

I have a closet full of 14 pants and wouldn't you know - NONE of them fit yet! ARRRRRGGGGGG!!! So, I had to go buy a pair of black slacks since I keep wearing the same two pair of pants to work and it doesn't look like the thigh weight is going to budge for a while and that is where the pants don't fit! So, I went on a pants hunt - and I don't believe in paying full price for the same thing you can get at one of the discount stores. So I found a brand new pair of Jones New York wide legged pants - the tag from the department store read $89 and I got those puppies for $15.99 +tax. Uhhhh WINNER!!! I did have to hem them, which I hate doing but it was necessary and they look fabulous! They too are a 14 - American sizing just kills me - oh, depending on the cut depends on whether I am buying a 14-16 and sometimes 18. My jeans from Old Navy are the Sweethearts style which is a fuller seat and thigh cut - size 16.

Anyway... 3 days of VLCD to follow then into protein phase...

Intense Week

I've been going-going-going... GONE!!! I think my brain is mush... But all in all it's been a successful week. Tonight is my last shot for this round - I will take my weight tomorrow morning as my LIW. I'm quite pleased with the loss for the round!!! Anyway gotta run - drinking my first Yerba Mate in a very- very long time!