Still walking. And Lola is loving her new routine. She just sits there in her jogger stroller and takes in the scenery, talks a little, snacks, drinks her water and that's it. I love spending time with her. When we get home it's already nap time and I get to cool down, shower and relax before she's up again. Today is day 4 of walking and I'm walking further and faster. It feels great. My weight is still up a bit but I'm still sore too and tom is in 4 days. It's expected with that combo. I figure I am walking a round trip total of 4-5 miles but I can't confirm that until I drive around where I'm walking. Unless someone knows of an app for Droid Incredible 2 that I can use. I was told there are apps to help me track my distance but no one knows what they are called.
By the way, my soreness is starting to get better. I'm thinking I'll be taking a nice hot detox bath tonight. We have a big day tomorrow so I may not be able to get my walk in, but since we'll be all over the zoo, I'll still get some exercise.
I made some peanut butter cookies last night that my husband just loved and quite frankly are even better then the almond cookies. I'll be sharing my version of the recipe next week when I compile a few of them. So next week will be recipe week. I probably won't be back here until Tuesday though since it's a holiday weekend, everyone is home and we are heading out. Going to the San Diego zoo tomorrow. Fun!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
So Sore
So yesterday was day 2 of my walk. We walked for 2 hours. I really need one of those things that counts how far you walk. I'd like to know how many miles I'm doing, maybe 1 or 2 I'm guessing, one way.
My weight is the same as yesterday, but I'm still extremely sore. I mean it hurts to move my feet. But also feeling bloated and tom is due in 5 days. I also had slight spotting already so I have 2 symptoms now that may be affecting my gain on the scale.
Again, I'm not worried about it. I didn't have any breads or starches yesterday. I really do think I have a sensitivity to breads.
So I'm thinking I'm not eating enough fats as of late. It's really hard trying to keep track of all the stuff we should be eating. For breakfast I'll have 2 eggs cooked in butter. Lunch will be the chicken feta spinach sausages or a protein style burger with cheese. I also make a fruit smoothie with blueberries, strawberries and pomegranate juice and lots of ice and goji berries. Dinner will be veggies, salmon, steak or chicken. For snacks I'll have almond cookies with chocolate hazelnut spread or whipped mousse I make with cocoa powder and erythritol. This is the only sweetener besides truvia that my stomach can tolerate.
So what do you think? Where can I add in some more fats or does it all look ok? My weight has been fine with the exception of my recent gain from walking and being sore and tom. Also, I did a steak day last week when I had added bread and I thought I was ok, only to get really bloated. Once I did the steak day I was back down.
P4 is just as hard as I thought it would be.
My weight is the same as yesterday, but I'm still extremely sore. I mean it hurts to move my feet. But also feeling bloated and tom is due in 5 days. I also had slight spotting already so I have 2 symptoms now that may be affecting my gain on the scale.
Again, I'm not worried about it. I didn't have any breads or starches yesterday. I really do think I have a sensitivity to breads.
So I'm thinking I'm not eating enough fats as of late. It's really hard trying to keep track of all the stuff we should be eating. For breakfast I'll have 2 eggs cooked in butter. Lunch will be the chicken feta spinach sausages or a protein style burger with cheese. I also make a fruit smoothie with blueberries, strawberries and pomegranate juice and lots of ice and goji berries. Dinner will be veggies, salmon, steak or chicken. For snacks I'll have almond cookies with chocolate hazelnut spread or whipped mousse I make with cocoa powder and erythritol. This is the only sweetener besides truvia that my stomach can tolerate.
So what do you think? Where can I add in some more fats or does it all look ok? My weight has been fine with the exception of my recent gain from walking and being sore and tom. Also, I did a steak day last week when I had added bread and I thought I was ok, only to get really bloated. Once I did the steak day I was back down.
P4 is just as hard as I thought it would be.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Bath & Body products & Essential Oils, can we use them
So I get asked time to time about what bath or body products are safe to use while on the hcg diet. I have researched and answered many emails about this.
I am working on an ebook that will be a list I've compiled of hcg safe bath & body products (not every single product out there, but it will have a lot). I hope to have this finished by July. It will also teach you how to understand ingredients and help you identify which of your bath& body products are considered oil free or not. Not only that, but help you decide which products you can use should your regular products contain oils. I will also be answering any questions you may have once you receive your copy of my ebook.
Essential oils are like fragrances, they do not have the same qualities as a carrier oil aka fatty acid such as olive oil. They are fine for the skin. The method to which they are extracted is different from the way say olive oil is extracted. It is not the same. Just remember, an essential oil should never be applied to the skin neat, but diluted in an oil, but since oil is not to be used during phase 2, it's best to find an oil free product that may be scented with essential oils.
Here's something you may find helpful.
Essential oils do not, as a group, have any specific chemical or pharmaceutical properties in common. Instead, they are defined by the fact that they convey characteristic fragrances. They can be metabolized by the body, but not in the same manner as fatty acids, such as olive oil.
So, essential oils are not the same as a fatty acid even though it is an oil, it is not a fatty acid like olive oil.
Here is another bit of info, in working with essential oils myself for nearly a decade in my bath & body products, no more then .5% should be used as part of the whole formula. So if I have an 8oz bottle of lotion, only .5% of the total should be used. Out of 100% worth of ingredients, that's a very small amount. Essential oils are very concentrated, so any given formula does not require anymore, nor should anymore be used due to the fact that sensitivity or skin irritations can occur. So rest assure, if you have an oil free lotion that contains essential oils, you can still use it.
This and much more will be in my ebook that will be available for purchase over the summer.
I am working on an ebook that will be a list I've compiled of hcg safe bath & body products (not every single product out there, but it will have a lot). I hope to have this finished by July. It will also teach you how to understand ingredients and help you identify which of your bath& body products are considered oil free or not. Not only that, but help you decide which products you can use should your regular products contain oils. I will also be answering any questions you may have once you receive your copy of my ebook.
Essential oils are like fragrances, they do not have the same qualities as a carrier oil aka fatty acid such as olive oil. They are fine for the skin. The method to which they are extracted is different from the way say olive oil is extracted. It is not the same. Just remember, an essential oil should never be applied to the skin neat, but diluted in an oil, but since oil is not to be used during phase 2, it's best to find an oil free product that may be scented with essential oils.
Here's something you may find helpful.
Essential oils do not, as a group, have any specific chemical or pharmaceutical properties in common. Instead, they are defined by the fact that they convey characteristic fragrances. They can be metabolized by the body, but not in the same manner as fatty acids, such as olive oil.
So, essential oils are not the same as a fatty acid even though it is an oil, it is not a fatty acid like olive oil.
Here is another bit of info, in working with essential oils myself for nearly a decade in my bath & body products, no more then .5% should be used as part of the whole formula. So if I have an 8oz bottle of lotion, only .5% of the total should be used. Out of 100% worth of ingredients, that's a very small amount. Essential oils are very concentrated, so any given formula does not require anymore, nor should anymore be used due to the fact that sensitivity or skin irritations can occur. So rest assure, if you have an oil free lotion that contains essential oils, you can still use it.
This and much more will be in my ebook that will be available for purchase over the summer.
Gain, oh no
So Lola and I went for another walk today. Today was for 2 hours as opposed to yesterday being 90 minutes. I really like going for these walks. I feel so great afterwards and not tired at all. Going up my street is like climbing on a stair master, on the full incline, lol. I live on a hill and a lot of streets around me are hill-y.
I also woke up extremely sore in the legs and showing a gain, today I woke up to 133lbs when I average anywhere from 129.2-130.6. Ugh, I know it's because I am sore/swollen from from my walk. I'm trying not to panic, lol.
I also noticed yesterday by lunch time I felt like I was starving. So I had a protein style burger. Today nearly the same, but not as bad as yesterday. But I had a Jay Robb protein shake made with whole organic milk. Those are so nasty to me. I like Isopure so much better. The Jay Robb shakes have that stevia after taste. I used it though because I am out of Isopure and I use the Jay Robb ones for my french toast and almond cookies as well as many other recipes.
I'm also noticing anytime I have bread, of any sort, I get bloated. I think it's something I may just have to learn to live without. I don't ever recall feeling this way in the past, bu then again, I never really paid much attention like I do now. Ever since this diet I have learned I cannot tolerate too much stevia (it gives me really bad headaches), I learned I'm allergic to penicillium (through allergy testing I had last summer) and which I learned the hard way, lol, it's in blue cheese, or any other cheese that has marbled blue and green in it and that sugar makes my stomach hurt.
I also have tom in less then a week so I figure I'll be experiencing some bloating soon from that as well.
Today I had 2 scrambled eggs for breakfast and a Jay Robb shake made with whole organic milk. For lunch I had chicken sausages. Here's a pic of what the package looks like and I get them from Safeway/Vons.
For dinner I am making stuffed mushrooms with parmesan cheese and ground turkey. Mixed veggies cooked with garlic and olive oil.
I am making a nice dessert tonight, a chocolate cake made with almond flour.
I'll be sharing some recipes next week. So check back daily!
I also woke up extremely sore in the legs and showing a gain, today I woke up to 133lbs when I average anywhere from 129.2-130.6. Ugh, I know it's because I am sore/swollen from from my walk. I'm trying not to panic, lol.
I also noticed yesterday by lunch time I felt like I was starving. So I had a protein style burger. Today nearly the same, but not as bad as yesterday. But I had a Jay Robb protein shake made with whole organic milk. Those are so nasty to me. I like Isopure so much better. The Jay Robb shakes have that stevia after taste. I used it though because I am out of Isopure and I use the Jay Robb ones for my french toast and almond cookies as well as many other recipes.
I'm also noticing anytime I have bread, of any sort, I get bloated. I think it's something I may just have to learn to live without. I don't ever recall feeling this way in the past, bu then again, I never really paid much attention like I do now. Ever since this diet I have learned I cannot tolerate too much stevia (it gives me really bad headaches), I learned I'm allergic to penicillium (through allergy testing I had last summer) and which I learned the hard way, lol, it's in blue cheese, or any other cheese that has marbled blue and green in it and that sugar makes my stomach hurt.
I also have tom in less then a week so I figure I'll be experiencing some bloating soon from that as well.
Today I had 2 scrambled eggs for breakfast and a Jay Robb shake made with whole organic milk. For lunch I had chicken sausages. Here's a pic of what the package looks like and I get them from Safeway/Vons.
For dinner I am making stuffed mushrooms with parmesan cheese and ground turkey. Mixed veggies cooked with garlic and olive oil.
I am making a nice dessert tonight, a chocolate cake made with almond flour.
I'll be sharing some recipes next week. So check back daily!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Goji Berries
I have been adding in my juice smoothies again. I started doing this around week 2 of P3. Previously I was making them with organic pomegranate juice, ice, blueberries and strawberries (from my local farmers market), but I recently received an order of Goji berries and started adding those in. They are so good and make the juice taste even better.
Plus Goji berries have a lot of Vitamin Cd, more antioxidants then blueberries and pomegranates. Here's some info from http://gojiberry.com/ where I get mine from:
* Protects the liver — less fatigue
* Helps eyesight – supports kidney function
* Increases metabolic activity — burns fat and aids digestion
* Boosts immune function – Lymphocytes, Interleukin 2, Immunoglobulin
* Improves circulation — supports distribution of nutrients and quality energy levels
* Improves sexual function and fertility — boosts libido and energy
* Promotes longevity — brings life support to the blood and all internal organs
* Rich in phytonutrients, antioxidants, particularly carotenoids such as beta-carotene and zeaxanthin.
* Test studies are showing that Goji berries may prevent the growth of cancer cells, reduce blood glucose, and lower cholesterol levels.
* Goji has unique bioactive polysaccharides (LBP) — key markers for building immune response
I've also ordered the seeds bc I'd really like to grow my own. I bought a 1 pound bag and I'm already down to half. I make the juices not just for me, but my entire family. The kids love them and I know they are getting a healthy boost.
Not only that, but on top of the awesome supplements I have been taking, it too increases metabolic activity. How awesome is that?
Plus Goji berries have a lot of Vitamin Cd, more antioxidants then blueberries and pomegranates. Here's some info from http://gojiberry.com/ where I get mine from:
* Protects the liver — less fatigue
* Helps eyesight – supports kidney function
* Increases metabolic activity — burns fat and aids digestion
* Boosts immune function – Lymphocytes, Interleukin 2, Immunoglobulin
* Improves circulation — supports distribution of nutrients and quality energy levels
* Improves sexual function and fertility — boosts libido and energy
* Promotes longevity — brings life support to the blood and all internal organs
* Rich in phytonutrients, antioxidants, particularly carotenoids such as beta-carotene and zeaxanthin.
* Test studies are showing that Goji berries may prevent the growth of cancer cells, reduce blood glucose, and lower cholesterol levels.
* Goji has unique bioactive polysaccharides (LBP) — key markers for building immune response
I've also ordered the seeds bc I'd really like to grow my own. I bought a 1 pound bag and I'm already down to half. I make the juices not just for me, but my entire family. The kids love them and I know they are getting a healthy boost.
Not only that, but on top of the awesome supplements I have been taking, it too increases metabolic activity. How awesome is that?
Protein, Carbs & Fat It's So Complicated
So I'm officially in p4 now for 6 days, although I have not added much. I am pretty much sticking to p3. For one I love it, 2 it's my security blanket.
Today I am .6 over liw again. Not bad considering all week long I have added one thing here and there in small amounts that are considered p4. Like some corn in my chicken tortilla soup the other day, or a garlic dinner roll with my dinner another night. And I got my first full body massage in like 2 years last night. Boy was I in haven. I followed it with a detox bath.
I've been doing some research on protein, which of course lead me to other things as well. I've been reading more and more how we as women (sorry guys but I wasn't looking that one up...yet) should be consuming our weight in grams, meaning since I weigh 129 I should be consuming 129 grams of protein a day. This is some new information that recently came out. I'm trying to find the article I read it in and when I do, I will definitely post it here.
Oh and if you want to lose weight then you should consume that much, example, if I wanted to get to 120, then eat 120g of protein.
So this brought up another question, how in the world do I know how much protein I'm getting in and how in the world do I get in that much protein?
Here's an example of protein rich foods:
Meat (red meat like beef has the highest amount of protein out there)
Info I found on protein foods:
Beef
* Hamburger patty, 4 oz – 28 grams protein
* Steak, 6 oz – 42 grams
* Most cuts of beef – 7 grams of protein per ounce
Chicken
* Chicken breast, 3.5 oz - 30 grams protein
* Chicken thigh – 10 grams (for average size)
* Drumstick – 11 grams
* Wing – 6 grams
* Chicken meat, cooked, 4 oz – 35 grams
Fish
* Most fish fillets or steaks are about 22 grams of protein for 3 ½ oz (100 grams) of cooked fish, or 6 grams per ounce
* Tuna, 6 oz can - 40 grams of protein
Pork
* Pork chop, average - 22 grams protein
* Pork loin or tenderloin, 4 oz – 29 grams
* Ham, 3 oz serving – 19 grams
* Ground pork, 1 oz raw – 5 grams; 3 oz cooked – 22 grams
* Bacon, 1 slice – 3 grams
* Canadian-style bacon (back bacon), slice – 5 – 6 grams
Eggs and Dairy
* Egg, large - 6 grams protein
* Milk, 1 cup - 8 grams
* Cottage cheese, ½ cup - 15 grams
* Yogurt, 1 cup – usually 8-12 grams, check label
* Soft cheeses (Mozzarella, Brie, Camembert) – 6 grams per oz
* Medium cheeses (Cheddar, Swiss) – 7 or 8 grams per oz
* Hard cheeses (Parmesan) – 10 grams per oz
Beans (including soy)
* Tofu, ½ cup 20 grams protein
* Tofu, 1 oz, 2.3 grams
* Soy milk, 1 cup - 6 -10 grams
* Most beans (black, pinto, lentils, etc) about 7-10 grams protein per half cup of cooked beans
* Soy beans, ½ cup cooked – 14 grams protein
* Split peas, ½ cup cooked – 8 grams
Nuts and Seeds
* Peanut butter, 2 Tablespoons - 8 grams protein
* Almonds, ¼ cup – 8 grams
* Peanuts, ¼ cup – 9 grams
* Cashews, ¼ cup – 5 grams
* Pecans, ¼ cup – 2.5 grams
* Sunflower seeds, ¼ cup – 6 grams
* Pumpkin seeds, ¼ cup – 8 grams
* Flax seeds – ¼ cup – 8 grams
Ok, but then there's the old version that says to take your weight times .37. So that would be roughly 48 grams of protein a day I would need.
So which is it? There's so many confusing things out there that I haven't a clue what to do anymore. But I will tell you what's been working for me. Anytime I eat more than 48 grams of protein a day, I do better as far as maintaining my weight.
But I also make sure I get in all the good fat my body needs. This protein/carb/fat thing can get pretty confusing and I am not one to weigh or measure out my food (except during p2).
I also have read that we need carbs and in the right amounts with the right carbs. I know processed foods are a no no and I avoid sugars.
Here's a site with info on good carbs:
http://www. goodcarbs. org/
(remove the spaces)
Carbs help keep your metabolism at optimal levels. It helps keep your body in an anabolic state as opposed to a catabolic state.
After doing my research, it lead me to Leptin, but I will leave that for another day. There is a lot of info on leptin that would take me too much time today to post about.
So now I am in the stages of trying to figure out which balance my body needs. How much protein, how many carbs and fat to maintain my weight.
I will officially begin that venture next week and post my results from it. Last year I didn't give it any thought and still ate, but now that I look back on it, I didn't think about anything. Just ate better, no processed foods, very minimal sugar, etc and it worked. This time around I'm a lot more cautious of the foods I eat and serve my family.
Oh and here is a link on eating more protein, not the one I read last week though, still looking for that one:
http ://aminogenblog. typepad. com/aminogen/2011/04/increased-ratio-of-dietary-carbohydrate-to-protein-shifts-the-focus-of-metabolic-signaling-from-skeletal- muscle-to-adipose-h.html
(as usual, remove the spaces)
Ah! I found something that seems to support what I read the other day:
http :// nutritiondiva.quickanddirtytips. com/protein-and-weight-loss.aspx
(no spaces)
Quoted from their site:
To get a third of your calories from protein, eat approximately one gram of protein for every pound you weigh.
Today I am .6 over liw again. Not bad considering all week long I have added one thing here and there in small amounts that are considered p4. Like some corn in my chicken tortilla soup the other day, or a garlic dinner roll with my dinner another night. And I got my first full body massage in like 2 years last night. Boy was I in haven. I followed it with a detox bath.
I've been doing some research on protein, which of course lead me to other things as well. I've been reading more and more how we as women (sorry guys but I wasn't looking that one up...yet) should be consuming our weight in grams, meaning since I weigh 129 I should be consuming 129 grams of protein a day. This is some new information that recently came out. I'm trying to find the article I read it in and when I do, I will definitely post it here.
Oh and if you want to lose weight then you should consume that much, example, if I wanted to get to 120, then eat 120g of protein.
So this brought up another question, how in the world do I know how much protein I'm getting in and how in the world do I get in that much protein?
Here's an example of protein rich foods:
Meat (red meat like beef has the highest amount of protein out there)
Info I found on protein foods:
Beef
* Hamburger patty, 4 oz – 28 grams protein
* Steak, 6 oz – 42 grams
* Most cuts of beef – 7 grams of protein per ounce
Chicken
* Chicken breast, 3.5 oz - 30 grams protein
* Chicken thigh – 10 grams (for average size)
* Drumstick – 11 grams
* Wing – 6 grams
* Chicken meat, cooked, 4 oz – 35 grams
Fish
* Most fish fillets or steaks are about 22 grams of protein for 3 ½ oz (100 grams) of cooked fish, or 6 grams per ounce
* Tuna, 6 oz can - 40 grams of protein
Pork
* Pork chop, average - 22 grams protein
* Pork loin or tenderloin, 4 oz – 29 grams
* Ham, 3 oz serving – 19 grams
* Ground pork, 1 oz raw – 5 grams; 3 oz cooked – 22 grams
* Bacon, 1 slice – 3 grams
* Canadian-style bacon (back bacon), slice – 5 – 6 grams
Eggs and Dairy
* Egg, large - 6 grams protein
* Milk, 1 cup - 8 grams
* Cottage cheese, ½ cup - 15 grams
* Yogurt, 1 cup – usually 8-12 grams, check label
* Soft cheeses (Mozzarella, Brie, Camembert) – 6 grams per oz
* Medium cheeses (Cheddar, Swiss) – 7 or 8 grams per oz
* Hard cheeses (Parmesan) – 10 grams per oz
Beans (including soy)
* Tofu, ½ cup 20 grams protein
* Tofu, 1 oz, 2.3 grams
* Soy milk, 1 cup - 6 -10 grams
* Most beans (black, pinto, lentils, etc) about 7-10 grams protein per half cup of cooked beans
* Soy beans, ½ cup cooked – 14 grams protein
* Split peas, ½ cup cooked – 8 grams
Nuts and Seeds
* Peanut butter, 2 Tablespoons - 8 grams protein
* Almonds, ¼ cup – 8 grams
* Peanuts, ¼ cup – 9 grams
* Cashews, ¼ cup – 5 grams
* Pecans, ¼ cup – 2.5 grams
* Sunflower seeds, ¼ cup – 6 grams
* Pumpkin seeds, ¼ cup – 8 grams
* Flax seeds – ¼ cup – 8 grams
Ok, but then there's the old version that says to take your weight times .37. So that would be roughly 48 grams of protein a day I would need.
So which is it? There's so many confusing things out there that I haven't a clue what to do anymore. But I will tell you what's been working for me. Anytime I eat more than 48 grams of protein a day, I do better as far as maintaining my weight.
But I also make sure I get in all the good fat my body needs. This protein/carb/fat thing can get pretty confusing and I am not one to weigh or measure out my food (except during p2).
I also have read that we need carbs and in the right amounts with the right carbs. I know processed foods are a no no and I avoid sugars.
Here's a site with info on good carbs:
http://www. goodcarbs. org/
(remove the spaces)
Carbs help keep your metabolism at optimal levels. It helps keep your body in an anabolic state as opposed to a catabolic state.
After doing my research, it lead me to Leptin, but I will leave that for another day. There is a lot of info on leptin that would take me too much time today to post about.
So now I am in the stages of trying to figure out which balance my body needs. How much protein, how many carbs and fat to maintain my weight.
I will officially begin that venture next week and post my results from it. Last year I didn't give it any thought and still ate, but now that I look back on it, I didn't think about anything. Just ate better, no processed foods, very minimal sugar, etc and it worked. This time around I'm a lot more cautious of the foods I eat and serve my family.
Oh and here is a link on eating more protein, not the one I read last week though, still looking for that one:
http ://aminogenblog. typepad. com/aminogen/2011/04/increased-ratio-of-dietary-carbohydrate-to-protein-shifts-the-focus-of-metabolic-signaling-from-skeletal- muscle-to-adipose-h.html
(as usual, remove the spaces)
Ah! I found something that seems to support what I read the other day:
http :// nutritiondiva.quickanddirtytips. com/protein-and-weight-loss.aspx
(no spaces)
Quoted from their site:
To get a third of your calories from protein, eat approximately one gram of protein for every pound you weigh.
Today is the day to start walking
Today Lola and I went for a 90 minute walk this morning. This is a major feat for me, I live on a hill and there are hill-y streets all around.
Sometimes it's hard for me to go and do things having a 16 month old. We have a schedule, the same thing every day and when we change something, Lola does not like it.
I want to make these daily walks a part of her schedule while the weather is warm and before it's gets horribly hot here, which will be very very soon.
We started off with a nice breakfast. I had a bowl of shredded wheat (no salt no sugar Post brand, I figure since I am now in P4 it's time to start adding some of these things in and get my fiber too) and added whole organic milk and a bit of Just Like Sugar sweetener. And then had 2 scrambled eggs. I also took my supplements as always.
So we walked over to the store and this then over to the pet store. Lola loved going to the pet store. She saw yellow canaries, finches and all kinds of different fish. Something she's never seen before. She was so happy.
So was I. I did something that was great for both of us. This will help keep me in great shape, keep my weight down and get my hdl (good cholesterol) up to where it should be as well as help lower my ldl (bad cholesterol).
And now I can go take my nice hot shower while Lola takes her morning nap before I prepare lunch for us.
Sometimes it's hard for me to go and do things having a 16 month old. We have a schedule, the same thing every day and when we change something, Lola does not like it.
I want to make these daily walks a part of her schedule while the weather is warm and before it's gets horribly hot here, which will be very very soon.
We started off with a nice breakfast. I had a bowl of shredded wheat (no salt no sugar Post brand, I figure since I am now in P4 it's time to start adding some of these things in and get my fiber too) and added whole organic milk and a bit of Just Like Sugar sweetener. And then had 2 scrambled eggs. I also took my supplements as always.
So we walked over to the store and this then over to the pet store. Lola loved going to the pet store. She saw yellow canaries, finches and all kinds of different fish. Something she's never seen before. She was so happy.
So was I. I did something that was great for both of us. This will help keep me in great shape, keep my weight down and get my hdl (good cholesterol) up to where it should be as well as help lower my ldl (bad cholesterol).
And now I can go take my nice hot shower while Lola takes her morning nap before I prepare lunch for us.
Monday, May 23, 2011
The beginnings of a new me. My story
I just started this blog here so I thought I'd give some info on me and my blog.
My name is Johanna, I'm 36 and I'm a mother to 4 lovely children, ages 17, 9, 8 and 16 months. And married to a very supportive husband for over 10 years. He has supported me through every venture you can imagine from selling Mary Kay, soap, going to college, to wanting a 4th child and being on bed rest for the entire 9 months and finally going through the hcg diet. Not to mention doing a round with me, in which he lost 35lbs. Woohoo!
I came up with The Domestic Wife's Lighter Side after being a part of a wonderful hcg diet forum. There are so many wonderful people there that offer the greatest support you could ever ask for. As far as the name goes, those that really know me know that I am a domestic wife, I take care of everyone in every way. I'm just that kind of person. I love entertaining at family events, holidays, cooking, reading, learning, spending time with my family, traveling, photography (I do amateur photography such as newborn, family, portrait and landscape) arts & crafts, home decor, making bath & body products, sewing, you name it, I pretty much do it and love it.
Growing up I was a skinny child that everyone always thought was sick, I was teased for it, or told I didn't eat enough or I ate like a bird. Well, when 30 hit that all changed, lol. In October 2006, after returning from a week long vacation in New England with my husband, I ended up with pneumonia and placed steroids. I easily gained 10lbs right there. In Sept 2007 I was in a bad car accident. I was t boned by an uninsured unlicensed teenager. I suffered neck and shoulder injuries. 3 weeks later I ended up in the hospital for an emergency appendectomy (and it was 6 days before my birthday:-(). After my surgery I was back in physical therapy and also seeing a chiropractor.
8 months after my car accident I had rotator cuff surgery. If you have ever had this surgery, you know first hand how painful it is. The recovery alone is horrendous. Well, naturally, I gained another 10lbs. Then I started college and gained the freshmen 5 they call it.
Then a year later hubby and I decided we wanted one more child and of course after I gave birth to her (she was 3 days old) I came down with an extremely dangerous case of pneumonia. By the time I finally decided to start the hcg diet, I was 11lbs heavier. So here I was at 169lbs and I'm 5'4.5" and feeling horrible.
When you are heavier you feel it, in your stomach, your neck, everywhere. You're hotter then everyone else bc you are carrying around that extra weight. I felt so uncomfortable in my own body.
Before I got pregnant I began to read into the hcg protocol by Dr Simeons. I figured I'd try it out after the baby was born.
I started the diet when she was 4 months old and I was done nursing. It was also during the time when we decided to completely remodel our home by making it larger for our new larger family. It was hard no lie, and I did not fully prepare myself. But in the end I lost my first 18lbs, I was so proud.
I decided to try again in Sept in hopes of having a new me by my 36th birthday! But I ended up finding out I was pregnant yet again, only to miscarry at 7 weeks (in no way related to the diet, I am high risk and have had 2 miscarriages earlier in my life and 2 preemies with my last one being an extremely difficult pregnancy and labor and delivery).
So I decided to wait until New years, to start a new year with a new me and be pass the pumpkin pies, ham and green bean casseroles.
And I did, I started on January 1st, with 3 days of loading. I had noticed on R1 with 2 days of loading I was hungry for the first 2 weeks and more then likely did not load properly. I wasn't going to make that mistake twice.
I began as doing another 23 day round, but when 23 days hit I realized I was 7lbs away from my then goal and thought heck why not go on. But I didn't have anymore hcg. So I ordered it and did what is considered as a 2 week interruption by eating p3 style only. NO breads, no starches, no carbs no sugars.
I started right back on at 14 days and did a light load day of heavy p3 foods. Did 15 days and lost it all.
Did a 3 week round of p3 before deciding I wanted to lose about 7lbs more. I did what is considered cycling, this is not protocol and I do not recommend this for anyone. Not only that, if you do decided to do this, you must first complete a full round (3 weeks each of p2, p3 and p4).
What I learned worked best for me on p2 was eating cod every day for lunch with an apple or freeze dried strawberries and about 5 radishes. Dinner was a chicken breast with the same fruit/veggie. I would lose .5-1.5lbs daily.
When I hit 131 (my goal was actually 128), I had a very hard time not losing anymore. When I made it to 131lbs, I realized I was thin, it finally sank in and I wanted to stop. But I was only a week in to my round. So I spent the rest of my 2 weeks (I did a 23 day round) eating more and more of p2 foods until the scale didn't move anymore. My last injection weight was 129.2.
Once I came into p3, I started immediately on the following supplements that I read on and hcg diet forum:
L Carnitine
Digestive Enzymes
Acidophllius
Biotin
MSM
Cholestoff (my cholesterol is a little high)
Omega 3,6,9 (for my cholesterol)
Co Q-10
Potassium/Magnesium
Folic Acid
B12
A few weeks ago I got everything tested. My doctor was amazed at how well everything came out and how well the diet worked for me and recommended I continue my supplements and by also adding in the Folic Acid.
I feel these have helped me tremendously in keeping my weight stabilized, even during tom! Previous rounds left me over liw by 2-3lbs. I have been below, at or just above this time. Amazing!
This time around has been truly amazing. So now here I am working on keeping my new figure.
I am slowly adding in exercise. I have just completed 1 week of p4, which is the forever phase as they say.
So there you have it.
This blog I am going to use for pretty much everything. But mostly for my journey after doing the hcg diet. I'll post recipes, info and updates on my progress as well as many other things that might interest you like they do me.
My name is Johanna, I'm 36 and I'm a mother to 4 lovely children, ages 17, 9, 8 and 16 months. And married to a very supportive husband for over 10 years. He has supported me through every venture you can imagine from selling Mary Kay, soap, going to college, to wanting a 4th child and being on bed rest for the entire 9 months and finally going through the hcg diet. Not to mention doing a round with me, in which he lost 35lbs. Woohoo!
I came up with The Domestic Wife's Lighter Side after being a part of a wonderful hcg diet forum. There are so many wonderful people there that offer the greatest support you could ever ask for. As far as the name goes, those that really know me know that I am a domestic wife, I take care of everyone in every way. I'm just that kind of person. I love entertaining at family events, holidays, cooking, reading, learning, spending time with my family, traveling, photography (I do amateur photography such as newborn, family, portrait and landscape) arts & crafts, home decor, making bath & body products, sewing, you name it, I pretty much do it and love it.
Growing up I was a skinny child that everyone always thought was sick, I was teased for it, or told I didn't eat enough or I ate like a bird. Well, when 30 hit that all changed, lol. In October 2006, after returning from a week long vacation in New England with my husband, I ended up with pneumonia and placed steroids. I easily gained 10lbs right there. In Sept 2007 I was in a bad car accident. I was t boned by an uninsured unlicensed teenager. I suffered neck and shoulder injuries. 3 weeks later I ended up in the hospital for an emergency appendectomy (and it was 6 days before my birthday:-(). After my surgery I was back in physical therapy and also seeing a chiropractor.
8 months after my car accident I had rotator cuff surgery. If you have ever had this surgery, you know first hand how painful it is. The recovery alone is horrendous. Well, naturally, I gained another 10lbs. Then I started college and gained the freshmen 5 they call it.
Then a year later hubby and I decided we wanted one more child and of course after I gave birth to her (she was 3 days old) I came down with an extremely dangerous case of pneumonia. By the time I finally decided to start the hcg diet, I was 11lbs heavier. So here I was at 169lbs and I'm 5'4.5" and feeling horrible.
When you are heavier you feel it, in your stomach, your neck, everywhere. You're hotter then everyone else bc you are carrying around that extra weight. I felt so uncomfortable in my own body.
Before I got pregnant I began to read into the hcg protocol by Dr Simeons. I figured I'd try it out after the baby was born.
I started the diet when she was 4 months old and I was done nursing. It was also during the time when we decided to completely remodel our home by making it larger for our new larger family. It was hard no lie, and I did not fully prepare myself. But in the end I lost my first 18lbs, I was so proud.
I decided to try again in Sept in hopes of having a new me by my 36th birthday! But I ended up finding out I was pregnant yet again, only to miscarry at 7 weeks (in no way related to the diet, I am high risk and have had 2 miscarriages earlier in my life and 2 preemies with my last one being an extremely difficult pregnancy and labor and delivery).
So I decided to wait until New years, to start a new year with a new me and be pass the pumpkin pies, ham and green bean casseroles.
And I did, I started on January 1st, with 3 days of loading. I had noticed on R1 with 2 days of loading I was hungry for the first 2 weeks and more then likely did not load properly. I wasn't going to make that mistake twice.
I began as doing another 23 day round, but when 23 days hit I realized I was 7lbs away from my then goal and thought heck why not go on. But I didn't have anymore hcg. So I ordered it and did what is considered as a 2 week interruption by eating p3 style only. NO breads, no starches, no carbs no sugars.
I started right back on at 14 days and did a light load day of heavy p3 foods. Did 15 days and lost it all.
Did a 3 week round of p3 before deciding I wanted to lose about 7lbs more. I did what is considered cycling, this is not protocol and I do not recommend this for anyone. Not only that, if you do decided to do this, you must first complete a full round (3 weeks each of p2, p3 and p4).
What I learned worked best for me on p2 was eating cod every day for lunch with an apple or freeze dried strawberries and about 5 radishes. Dinner was a chicken breast with the same fruit/veggie. I would lose .5-1.5lbs daily.
When I hit 131 (my goal was actually 128), I had a very hard time not losing anymore. When I made it to 131lbs, I realized I was thin, it finally sank in and I wanted to stop. But I was only a week in to my round. So I spent the rest of my 2 weeks (I did a 23 day round) eating more and more of p2 foods until the scale didn't move anymore. My last injection weight was 129.2.
Once I came into p3, I started immediately on the following supplements that I read on and hcg diet forum:
L Carnitine
Digestive Enzymes
Acidophllius
Biotin
MSM
Cholestoff (my cholesterol is a little high)
Omega 3,6,9 (for my cholesterol)
Co Q-10
Potassium/Magnesium
Folic Acid
B12
A few weeks ago I got everything tested. My doctor was amazed at how well everything came out and how well the diet worked for me and recommended I continue my supplements and by also adding in the Folic Acid.
I feel these have helped me tremendously in keeping my weight stabilized, even during tom! Previous rounds left me over liw by 2-3lbs. I have been below, at or just above this time. Amazing!
This time around has been truly amazing. So now here I am working on keeping my new figure.
I am slowly adding in exercise. I have just completed 1 week of p4, which is the forever phase as they say.
So there you have it.
This blog I am going to use for pretty much everything. But mostly for my journey after doing the hcg diet. I'll post recipes, info and updates on my progress as well as many other things that might interest you like they do me.
B12, B6 & Folic Acid
I'm still doing mostly p3 foods.
My weight is slightly up today, but within 2lbs so I'm not worried about it. I had a long weekend to Vegas to see family so I am thinking it's from that. The drive is 5 hours for us.
So the other day I went to my dr to get an actual copy of my lab results. Something just told me to look at it myself. I'm a control freak I guess.
Looking at it under hematology, my RDW was high (with a big H next to it), but my MCV was normal, on the low normal side, this usually means a deficiency in B12, B6 or Folic Acid and can also be the beginning stages of anemia.
When I got my lab results done I was 1 week into p3. And 1 week into taking my b12.
So I called the dr and asked him about it. He said to continue taking my b12, take the folic acid (which I usually take when I'm pregnant) and eat more b6 rich foods. He said not to worry about the anemia since I am not, but that it's more than likely folic acid. We'll test again in 6 months.
After doing some research, b6 is in many things, a big variety of foods.
Here's a link to a site with info on B6 foods:
http:// www. fitday. com/fitness-articles /nutrition/vitamins-minerals/9-foods-rich-in-vitamin -b6.html
(remove spaces)
Or you can read it here:
Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is a water-soluble vitamin that is part of the vitamin-B complex group and is also one of the most important and industrious nutrients in the human body. Vitamin B6 is an essential nutrient for a number of reasons. It plays a vital role in many of the chemical reactions that take place in the body, it helps in the formation of heme in red blood cells which carry oxygen around the body and it is essential to metabolize foods into energy.
This vitamin also helps to lower stress, decrease symptoms of PMS, treat depression, lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of dental cavities. It also aids in the maintenance of nerve health and brain function. By not consuming a sufficient amount of B6 in your diet, you could be at risk of vitamin B6 deficiency, which manifests in symptoms such as tongue inflammation, irritability, fatigue, weakness and scale-like formations on the skin and mouth. It can also lead to depression and seizures.
To avoid vitamin B6 deficiency, you should attempt to include the following Vitamin B6-rich foods in your diet.
Meat
Vitamin B6 can be found in many common and versatile meats. Chicken, turkey, beef, and pork are all excellent sources of the nutrient. One serving of roasted chicken breast contains as much as 0.64mg of B6 and the same amount of turkey contains 0.54mg. Because meats are easy to incorporate into your diet through simple recipes and even snacks such as sandwiches, increasing your B6 intake by the consumption of meats is simple and effective.
Fish
As with meats, certain fish are rich in vitamin B6. Cod, salmon, halibut, trout, tuna and snapper are just some examples of fish which contain high levels of B6 and can form part of a healthy, balanced diet. Yellowfin tuna is one of the best dietary sources of vitamin B6 with 1.8mg found in a single serving. In addition to this, it is one of the healthiest sources of the nutrient. A serving of baked snapper or salmon contains 0.52mg and halibut contains 0.45mg.
Vegetables
Most vegetables typically contain reasonable levels of vitamin B6, but there are some vegetable powerhouses that are B6-rich. Bell peppers, spinach, baked potatoes (skin included), green peas, yams, broccoli, asparagus and turnip greens are all excellent sources of vitamin B6. These vegetables are also, for the most part, low in fat and contain other vitamins and nutrients that are essential for good health.
Nuts and Seeds
Peanuts, sunflower seeds, cashews and hazelnuts, which contain 0.6mg of 6 per serving – are all good sources of vitamin B6 and can be eaten as snacks or added to popular recipes.
Wholegrains and Bran
Whole-wheat bread, cereals, bran and other wholegrains are rich in vitamin B6 and are probably already part of your daily diet. Wheat germ contains 3mg of vitamin B6 per 100g, making it one of the most valuable sources of the nutrient.
Beans and Legumes
Chickpeas, lentils and soybeans are just some examples of vitamin B6-rich beans and legumes. Kidney beans are another good source of the nutrient. By including a single serving of any of these foods with your meals, you can maintain your intake of vitamin B6 and lower the risk of experiencing B6 deficiency.
My weight is slightly up today, but within 2lbs so I'm not worried about it. I had a long weekend to Vegas to see family so I am thinking it's from that. The drive is 5 hours for us.
So the other day I went to my dr to get an actual copy of my lab results. Something just told me to look at it myself. I'm a control freak I guess.
Looking at it under hematology, my RDW was high (with a big H next to it), but my MCV was normal, on the low normal side, this usually means a deficiency in B12, B6 or Folic Acid and can also be the beginning stages of anemia.
When I got my lab results done I was 1 week into p3. And 1 week into taking my b12.
So I called the dr and asked him about it. He said to continue taking my b12, take the folic acid (which I usually take when I'm pregnant) and eat more b6 rich foods. He said not to worry about the anemia since I am not, but that it's more than likely folic acid. We'll test again in 6 months.
After doing some research, b6 is in many things, a big variety of foods.
Here's a link to a site with info on B6 foods:
http:// www. fitday. com/fitness-articles /nutrition/vitamins-minerals/9-foods-rich-in-vitamin -b6.html
(remove spaces)
Or you can read it here:
Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is a water-soluble vitamin that is part of the vitamin-B complex group and is also one of the most important and industrious nutrients in the human body. Vitamin B6 is an essential nutrient for a number of reasons. It plays a vital role in many of the chemical reactions that take place in the body, it helps in the formation of heme in red blood cells which carry oxygen around the body and it is essential to metabolize foods into energy.
This vitamin also helps to lower stress, decrease symptoms of PMS, treat depression, lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of dental cavities. It also aids in the maintenance of nerve health and brain function. By not consuming a sufficient amount of B6 in your diet, you could be at risk of vitamin B6 deficiency, which manifests in symptoms such as tongue inflammation, irritability, fatigue, weakness and scale-like formations on the skin and mouth. It can also lead to depression and seizures.
To avoid vitamin B6 deficiency, you should attempt to include the following Vitamin B6-rich foods in your diet.
Meat
Vitamin B6 can be found in many common and versatile meats. Chicken, turkey, beef, and pork are all excellent sources of the nutrient. One serving of roasted chicken breast contains as much as 0.64mg of B6 and the same amount of turkey contains 0.54mg. Because meats are easy to incorporate into your diet through simple recipes and even snacks such as sandwiches, increasing your B6 intake by the consumption of meats is simple and effective.
Fish
As with meats, certain fish are rich in vitamin B6. Cod, salmon, halibut, trout, tuna and snapper are just some examples of fish which contain high levels of B6 and can form part of a healthy, balanced diet. Yellowfin tuna is one of the best dietary sources of vitamin B6 with 1.8mg found in a single serving. In addition to this, it is one of the healthiest sources of the nutrient. A serving of baked snapper or salmon contains 0.52mg and halibut contains 0.45mg.
Vegetables
Most vegetables typically contain reasonable levels of vitamin B6, but there are some vegetable powerhouses that are B6-rich. Bell peppers, spinach, baked potatoes (skin included), green peas, yams, broccoli, asparagus and turnip greens are all excellent sources of vitamin B6. These vegetables are also, for the most part, low in fat and contain other vitamins and nutrients that are essential for good health.
Nuts and Seeds
Peanuts, sunflower seeds, cashews and hazelnuts, which contain 0.6mg of 6 per serving – are all good sources of vitamin B6 and can be eaten as snacks or added to popular recipes.
Wholegrains and Bran
Whole-wheat bread, cereals, bran and other wholegrains are rich in vitamin B6 and are probably already part of your daily diet. Wheat germ contains 3mg of vitamin B6 per 100g, making it one of the most valuable sources of the nutrient.
Beans and Legumes
Chickpeas, lentils and soybeans are just some examples of vitamin B6-rich beans and legumes. Kidney beans are another good source of the nutrient. By including a single serving of any of these foods with your meals, you can maintain your intake of vitamin B6 and lower the risk of experiencing B6 deficiency.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)