It is hard to believe that I am turning 40 in less than a week. I don't feel forty, at least not most days anyway. The closer I actually get to it the younger I feel. Life is just really good. My kids are amazing and funny and keep me on my toes.
I look better and feel better than I have in years( more to come about that). I am really looking forward to the big celebration on November 8. It is also my friend Amy's birthday the big 40 too. But she is a week older!!! We are going to barbecue, drink beer and possibly karoke. Could get verrrry interesting. For those who don't know, I can't sing worth a darn.
I am very excited because my sister Cathy is flying in on Nov. 5th for my birthday!! She has not been to visit me in Arizona since I got married 10 yrs ago!!! I can hardly wait, I haven't seen her since I went to Washington last sept for my 20th high school reunion. Also coming is my Step-brother David. He lives in NC and is one of the coolest people you will ever meet. When you combine him and my sister you know some fun is about to happen!! David arrives on the 7th just in time for the party!!! My parents are alsohere snow birding for the winter and it is going to be so nice to have so much of my family together to celebrate.
I have been on a bit of a journey this last month or so. I have been doing a very unusual diet plan called the HCG diet. For those of you who haven't heard of it I will outline how it works. For 6 weeks you give yourself a daily injection of HCG (a pregnancy hormone. low dose) and follow a very strict 500 calorie diet(VLCD very low calorie diet). The HCG releases abnormal fat in your body and uses it make up the difference in calories. For this reason you don't get hungry and you lose weight from all the places you want to.
The average weight loss is about a pound a day. I am in my last week of shots and have lost 25 1/2 pounds. And since April I have lost almost 40 lbs total, I had been trying to lose weight on my own prior to this diet. I wish I had done measurements before I started , because the inches I have lost is the most amazing thing. During this diet I really had great energy level, even a mood elevation. At times you do get bored with your food choices. But we all know how much I like veggies, it is probably easier for someone who likes them!! During the diet they actually discourage exercise, mostly aerobic. you can do light weights, or yoga. but it is not necessary for wt loss. My kinda weight loss!!
When you finish the injections you continue the VLCD for 3 more days until the HCG is out of your system at which point you begin what is called phase 3. Phase three lasts for 3 weeks during which time you eat a normal calorie intake of approx 2000 calories but continue to restrict sugar and starches. You increase your protein and can eat fats as long as you are good about staying away from the carbs.
This phase is important they say to lock in the weight loss. The diet is supposed to reset your metabolism and help you maintain. During phase 3 you continue to weight yourself daily. If at any time you go up by 2 or more pounds you immediately to what is called a "steak day" no breakfast or lunch then a large steak and an apple for dinner. and you should go back to normal the next morning. Once phase 3 has ended you slowly add starches back in watching to see which ones seem to cause wt gain for you. They report a 70% success rate for keeping it off.
I did this through a doctor but now that I know how things work I feel pretty comfortable with the diet. This diet works for men too!! If Travis can get past the injection part he is contemplating it. For those who have more weight to lose, the process can be repeated multiple times. You can build up a tolerance for the HCG so that is why they reccomend only 6 week duration.
I know it all sounds crazy, but it works. An OB I work with was the one who told me about this she did the diet in April and lost 25 lbs and has kept it off without a problem to this day. Also my friend Casey is just a week ahead of me and she has lost 30 lbs and Julie lost 23lbs. A midwife at work has lost 35 lbs!! and there are a bunch more starting it now. Of course the doctor we went to has discovered how great a $$$ maker he has and upped his prices way too high now.
I have not felt so good about my body in a long time. This process has really caused me to examine my relationship with food at a level I have never done before. I really have come to believe that saying eat to live not live to eat. I have really been aware of how my emotions play in to what kinds of foods I want and how boredom makes you want to eat. Because now if i am feeling hungry i drink some water or have some tea and usually that feeling just passes. I am hoping to create a better relationship with my body too. For the first time in my life I am thinking about exercise as something I want to do, not a necessary evil. I am planning to join the gym in town soon and go see if I can create some abs!!
Danielle
