What’s With the Headache?

Man I can’t remember having a headache for so many days in a row.  I think I must have seasonal allergies here or something.  Oh well.  It’s a bit maddening, but plenty of people endure far worse.   

I started on my HCG diet again today.  I got a nice little panini grill to help me grill up my meals easily.  I’m going to stay on it for two weeks.  Then we leave for Rosemary Beach.  During that trip Ill just do the phase 2 eating.  I’m down a little less than 10 now from when I originally went on it.  I skipped the phasing out and am realizing I probably shouldn’t have done that since that is what makes it so you don’t gain back  I really just want to get back into my clothes and another 10 or so should do that.  I can SSSQQQQUUUEEEEEZZEEEEEEE into some of my old jeans, but it is NOT comfortable.

As far as My I ADMIT I ADMIT post, I just want to say a few things.

1. That was me processing and being honest about something that has been very difficult for me to accept.  I was really not addressing any of my friends that had a hard time knowing how to vote but landed on Obama because they agreed with him outside of his pro-abortion agenda.  I was addressing those friends that have been acting like their savior has come back.  

2.  I love my friends…. period…

Kathy Ireland and Her PR Tour

When I first saw Kathy Ireland taking on a PR tour I listened to what she had to say.  Of course her message of mother overwhelmed struck a chord with me.  At the same time it didn’t seem like a super unique message.  I mean, how many of us have the same story?  Sure it is encouraging to see this gorgeous woman was able to let herself go from supermodel body to 30 lbs overweight because of her hagged schedule.  We can relate right?  But it also seemed like a pretty normal non-unique message… though I appreciated her humble nature to be so transparent with the public.  Still despite the fact that her story wasn’t uncommon I was drawn to her in every interview I saw.  Her demeanor is simply beautiful.  It wasn’t till this interview however that I realized why I was so drawn to her.  She is not only beautiful and a great mom who also runs a successful company, but she is bright, intelligent, thinks for herself.  She is a sister and she cherishes life.  Please take the 7 minutes or so to hear more of her story and catch the beauty that is not only outside her, but truly inside as well.

Tripping Up

We ventured up to Jeff’s sisters to see his side of the family Tuesday.  It was impossible to stick to the diet on the road so I just did the best I could.  Yesterday I was so tired of it I gave up.  I decided 10.5 lbs gone was enough for now and that I could go back on after vacation.  By night-time I decided to get back on.  It isn’t easy being on something like this during vacation.  I have one week left though so I figure I should stick it out.

My Diet Confession

Okay, so I have been Twittering and Facebooking about my rapid weightloss.  I know I know I know some of you will be quite against this.  But this method has really worked for my Sister in Law and she has kept it off, is feeling better than ever.  It has completely changed her attitude and emotional need for food as well.  When she first started it I was so skeptical.  This is a girl that runs half marathons (in her 40s) and does bootcamp and xc90.  She is fitter than I come close to.  But she just could not lose weight.  So she started this thing called the HCG diet.  You can find more out about it at www.diyhcg.com.  

All your weight-loss is contained in the first 3 week phase of the diet.  It is rapid… rapid then most often recommended for losing weight.  But the caveat is that the next 2 3-week phases you gradually add things in your diet and maintain your weight.  You don’t gain, you don’t lose more.  This helps a person learn how to maintain their weight while eating normally. 

I thought at first when she described it to me that she would be tired and cranky and unable to complete her tasks of being a homeschooling mother of five and super-mom that she is.  Instead she would tell me how great she was feeling!  So I decided to give it a whirl.

You have to take the hcg hormone 3 times a day.  The first two days of the diet you front load on fat… basically you eat a lot of fatty foods.  This is suppose to help curb cravings in the beginning.  Then after that you maintain 2 basic meals that add up to around 500 calories a day (gasp).  I know, 500 sounds crazy… but truthfully once the hormone really gets in your system you don’t feel hungry.  Supposedly the hormone takes up to 1500 calories from your fat stores to provide energy. 

The first lo-cal day for me was okay.  The second was a killer.  I had a TERRIBLE headache.  I think it was withdraw from all the white sugar and white flour.  Every once and awhile the next couple days I had a very dull ache in my head.  Other than that I felt great.  Now I feel amazing.  It used to be that by afternoon I felt like I needed a nap and since I couldn’t take one I would end up laying out the couch half out of it while my kids played.  Now I actually have the energy to clean and get all that I need to get done, done.  

I know I sound like a freaking infomercial but it has really made me realize how addicted to those processed things I was.  I’m not saying I’ll never have any again (at all) but I’m going to be very cautious about these things in the future.  

Anyway, I have lost 5.5 lbs in 6 days of the Lo calorie phase.  I’ll be on 21 days total of Lo calorie then will be in my maintenance phase.  My meals are limited, but even more limited by my palette because I’m so picky.  For lunch I have 2 hormone free chicken tenderloins, spinach or asparagus, a handful of strawberries and one piece of melba toast.  For dinner I have 100 grams of steak, asparagus an apple, and a piece of melba toast.  Then I drink a ton during the day but nothing but water, tea, or coffee (that can only be sweetened with Stevia (my favorite brand of that is Truvia).  

So I’m not saying all this to get you on board.  I’m telling you because I have confessed my need to lose post pregnancy weight before on this blog.  I wanted to explain the diet a little more because some of my friends expressed concern.  My Sister in Law’s friend was actually put on this by her doctor.  Anyway,  I’ll blog a little more about it (at least I’ll twitter) to keep you updated on my status.  I’ll be totally honest about how I’m feeling and if I cheat.  The one cheat I have done is I had a small diet coke one day and that same day I had some oil on my asparagus.  That was the only day that I did not lose.

Also if you do decide to do something like this… please buy the book they sell so you are fully informed on how it works and really understand the guidelines.  It isn’t easy… but you’ll feel great.

Getting Ready To Leave

My inlaws come in this morning and the house is still far from perfection.  Thanks to lovely friends I did get the upstairs a much needed pick up.  I can’t believe it can take me an hour to get my childrens’ clothing put away!  Seriously.  No wonder I never do it- Ha.  Tell me does anyone else dress their children out of the laundry basket routinely?  Tell me I’m not the only one.  

Anyway fortunately I already warned my inlaws that with the construction going on and with how overwhelmed I have been with my new projects/parenting/cleaning house/avoiding cooking… the place will not be pristine.  They are kind and understanding so I’m sure it will be okay.

I’m going to miss Avery terribly when I go to vegas.  To leave my almost 8 month old for 2.5 days seems unbearable, but I know I have to do it.  I know she is in good hands with my inlaws… but I’ll miss her sweet face every morning.  It will be nice to have the time with Jeff though.  I have always wanted to spend more time in vegas with him.  I have been on that trip so many times on my own that it will be nice to share it this time.  In all the times I have been there I have never gone to a show.  This time I think we are going to try to catch the Beatles Cirque De Soliel.  

I only hit boot camp 2 times this week but am about to go at least hit the gym since I didn’t get there this morning.  One of these days my body has to kick in right?  Lord knows I’m working at it.

Update in General and DMLI? Contests.

Well, I didn’t go to weigh in this week but it seems I down a pound by my scale.  I’m still doing bootcamp 3-4 times a week and it is getting a little easier.  It is great to feel endurance and strength building and things are fitting me a bit better.  My trainer says that I won’t really start losing significantly probably for a few weeks.  He said in the beginning It is harder because I’m gaining so much more muscle.  That being said I probably won’t even come close to winning the biggest loser in 2 weeks  Next week I’m in Vegas so I will miss that weigh in too.  

Not much other news.  Owen is sick with a cough.  I’m sad he has to miss his school Valentines party.  Jeff and I are going to a dinner/dance at our church with friends tomorrow night and I found a cute boutique that had all dresses at 75% off!  I got a Nicole Miller for just a little over $100!   That was nice  It will be nice to feel like I look all right even though I’m not at my desired weight.  

On Does Mommy Love It? we have some contests (as always) go enter if you are interested!

Simply Fabowlous Ends February 13th, Midnight. 

Ecover Cleansing Products Ends February 18th, Midnight. 

Wonderful Pistachios Ends February 20th, Midnight. 

Petite Palate Gourmet Baby Food Ends February 25th, Midnight. 

Readeez DVDs Ends March 1st, Midnight. 

Baby Sleep Bags Merino Kids Baby Sleep BagEnds Febuary 23rd, Midnight. 

Mommystars Tee Ends March 5th, Midnight.

Biggest Loser Westhaven Style Week 3 (and other randomness)

Well I can’t say I have great weight loss news.  HOWEVER, boot camp is changing my body already.  Clothing is a little looser and people “say” I am looking thinner.  BUT I gained .2 lbs this week.  I’m assuming this is muscle as it weighs more than fat.  Still I’m going to watch my eating even MORE this week.  The problem is boot camp makes me hungry.  I just need to be really conscious that I’m putting the right things in my body.  Gosh this weight loss journey is so weird for me.  I guess I always took for granted that I never really had to lose weight like this.  

In other insignificant random news.  We just put built-ins in our mud room.  Bead board for the walls, a place for hooks/coats at the top.  a bench with cubbies down below, some for shoes and some for baskets.  Also two bins in the bench for winter and summer random things like hats, gloves and swim trunks.

Next week we start work on our bonus room that is unfinished.  I’m pretty excited to have the extra space to work and have the kids play.  I’m also excited because I have found a lot of deals for it!  I bought $1000 dollars worth of brand new in box sink/toilet/plumbing on craigslist for $400 cash.  I found a great mirror at TJ Maxx home goods, and it looks like the carpet I love a friend of mine has excess of and will sell it too me at a cheap price.  Not to mention Home Expo center is going out of business (which makes me sad) but the upside is that they are liquidating and we got our tile pretty cheap.  Next week I’m going there to get our lights and a ceiling fan.  I just love designer at a discount

A lot of random opportunities have been coming up lately.  It is sometimes so hard to know what things to take and what to say no too.  Especially when the all sound good.  It is hard to know whether it is fear or reason holding me back from things I’m afraid I won’t be able to accomplish well.  If it is fear then I know I need to step out in faith, but if it is reason… then I need to say no.  I know this is a random rant, but if you knew all the contexts it would actually make sense.

One thing I said “yes” to I can’t go into fully.  But it’s a work opportunity/ project I’m really excited about.  It has me off to Vegas in a few weeks to find more sourcing and so on… BUT for some reason Jeff was afraid to let me go by myself (which I used to do all the time).  I would be offended if it weren’t for the fact that it made him decide to go with me.  So while I’ll be hitting the pavement during the day… I’ll have my best friend with me to play with at night.  It will be hard to be away from the kids for those few days.  Avery seem so young to do that.  But I know this is a good opportunity and they will be in good hands with my in laws.

The Biggest Loser- Westhaven Style

So I have been a slacker blogger.  I tend to be an obsessive person and I have been obsessing on a project I’m working on lately, craigslist, and then there is always the fact that I’m crazy busy with 3 little ones.  I haven’t even spent the time I want to lately on Does Mommy Love It?  But thanks to my wonderful partner we have been able to keep up the posts.  Somehow I need to figure out how to get my time better organized.  I basically wake up, have coffee, work out (haven’t even been getting into quiet time like I need to), Take the oldest to school then fill up my day with “needs to get done” or playdates with friends, or BOTH.  But I need to fit in more writing time, say no to more playdates, etc.  Basically be responsible.

Part of being responsible has been losing weight.  According to RealAge.com my weight is fine at 150- 155.  But to be honest.  I have always weighed less than what the charts say a 5′8″ person should weigh.  It never takes into account the fact that I have a small frame.  I’m tired (as I have talked about before) of all my really great jeans not fitting.  I don’t feel like myself.   The holidays made losing weight and getting to the gym difficult.  

I’m back in the swing now and even joined my neighborhood’s BIGGEST LOSER CONTEST.  It runs for 6 weeks and today was our second weigh in.  I lost 1.2 pounds which makes me happy… but next week I would really like to lose more.  Maybe 3?  Not sure if that is possible but I’m doing my best.  You pay $25 to pay and if you ever gain, you pay $5 per pound.  At the end the BIGGEST LOSER wins the pot. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to win, but either way it is great incentive!  I would love the money but I doubt I will lose the most.  

In addition to this my friend who has celiac disease and is therefore gluten free, dared me to go gluten free for a few weeks.  He promised that if I tried that I would lose weight.  Going gluten free means I avoid all wheat flour products.  It naturally nixes a lot of not so good carbs.  So my carbs will be coming mostly from vegetables.  

I’ll take you all on this little journey with me.  Let’s see if I can really get rid of 3 pounds in one week!

I’ll try to blog more too.  In the meanwhile you can always catch me from time to time at DOES MOMMY LOVE IT?

By the Weigh Side

Oh high metabolism, where art thou? You stuck with me most of my 30+ years and now you have just disappeared!

Yes, I have been in denial. I thought my new brisk walking regimen would allow me to eat what I wanted. My proportions aren’t out of control… but I love chicken fingers and french fries and the occasional dessert, and apparently that is just not working for me. I’m back up to 152. So this week I’m back to no snacking and eating tiny meals that aren’t bad for me. I’m cooking in most the week as well. There was a time when it didn’t really matter what I ate, I still kept off weight, but this time has obviously come to an end, at least for now.

On the positive side. Walking has me feeling better. It has been great to start my day off with my friend Peggy walking in the brisk fall air. Our talks are quality and we even get to praying sometimes.

I’ll let you know next week how the combo of walking and moderating my diet goes.

Have a great Tuesday!