Dieting

I quit the HCG diet last week.  While the results were intoxicating the side effects were frustrating and worrisome.  I lost 1.2 more pounds the next day.  However, I am now up 3 from there.  I'm glad to be off of HCG.  I hope I can put my mind to a true healthy diet and make the lifestyle changes I need to make.  Based on history the outlook is doubtful.  But, I only have to make the permanent life changes once, right?

HCG Diet: Day 8

I lost 2.8 more pounds in the last 2 days.  In the last week I've lost 9.2 pounds, 3.25 inches off my waist, 2.25 inches off of my upper chest, 1.25 inches off of my hips.  I've lost 10.5 inches off of my total body.  It is amazing to be able to feel and see changes so quickly.  So why am I not writing this with a million exclamation marks?

I'm really concerned that this might not be good for my body.  I'm having chest pains.  Yesterday I had a killer headache that wouldn't go away no matter what I did.  I'm worried that I might be ruining my metabolism or worse, my heart.  I'm going to talk to "the doctors" again today.  I'm seriously considering stopping, moving to the maintenance phase and perhaps joining weight watchers.

HCG Diet: Day 6

I'm trying to drink 3 liters of water a day.  I'm told that it will help with the fatigue, headache and hunger.  It's funny.  I drink water so that I'm less fatigued.  But, after drinking all of this water it's no surprise that I have to get up multiple times at night.  I am somewhat less hungry and fatigued.  The headache is mild and emotionality is evening out.  I wouldn't be able to do this if I didn't have Doug.  He is quietly filling in when I can't accomplish things. 

The vegetables are the hardest part of the diet for me (besides hunger and general snackiness).  I'm already tired of celery, tomatoes, and lettuce and don't like a lot of the vegetable choices.  I'm hoping I will be able to subsist on asparagus and cabbage.  I'm going to try spinach.  I'd just give up on the vegetables if I didn't know it was important.  Again, the results keep me going. 

Results:  4.6 lbs in the last 2 days.  My handy dandy scale says that is 3% body fat.  My tape measurer shows 2 inches off of my waist.  Pretty cool.

HCG Diet: Day 4

I don't know whether it was because I was at church, or the increase in HCG drops taken, but I was less hungry today.  Still very hungry - just less so.  It could also have been the drastic 3 lb drop on the scale this morning.  Funny how success can fan the flames of determination. 

Fatigue, lethargy, cold, and moodiness are still my companions.  I have to admit I'm still a little worried that this is going to backfire and damage my body somehow.  My mother-in-law had to have heart surgery because of phen-phen.  But, so far I like the results and the diet theory sounds solid.  I can only pray for divine guidance and the ability to keep up with the regimen.

Trusting

Most children, as I understand it, develop a certain fear of strangers around 9 months old.  Then the parents grapple with crying and separation anxiety for a period of time after that.  My little one turns 1 year old this week and is friendly to most everyone.  She waves at strangers in the store.  She claps and smiles for most anyone that pays attention to her.  That is, she is friendly to most everyone as long as she knows we approve and are around.  I know that I'm going to have to teach her to be more wary of strangers than she is today.  I know there will always be a worry that she'll be lured away by strangers at a park.  But, at this time in our lives it is pretty great.

Today I handed her to someone that she didn't know.  She didn't cry or fuss.  She "visited" this new friend for a few minutes and then happily returned to my lap.  I don't know if it is just Rachel's bubbly personality or why she is so comfortable but this little experience reminded me of a story Marvin J. Ashton told in General Conference many years ago.

"A beautiful little blind girl was sitting on the lap of her father in a crowded compartment in a train. A friend seated nearby said to the father, “Let me give you a little rest,” and he reached over and took the little girl on his lap.


A few moments later the father said to her, “Do you know who is holding you?”

“No,” she replied, “but you do.”

I wish I always trusted my Heavenly Father with unwavering peace like the girl in the story.  I hope that Rachel never loses her confidence when interacting with strangers.  At least those "strangers" of whom we approve.

HCG Diet: Day 3

By the end of day 2 I was so sick of eating I could hardly stand it.  Plus, the acid reflux day 1 gifted me kept me up a good part of the night.

Today is the first day of the actual diet.  So far I am hungry, hungry, hungry.  I'm also seriously cold and completely drained of energy.  I'm curious to see what measurements say tomorrow.  But, I'm not sure that I can keep this up.  When I visited the clinic the ladies said that if I was hungry that I was doing it wrong.  I hate that I can't talk to the doctors until Monday.

HCG Diet: Day 1

I've decided to go ahead and try the HCG diet.  I've had some friends and family do really well on it.  I am hoping that it will help me jump start into a healthier life. 

Day 1:  Gorge Day
I LOVE fattening food.  I love rich pasta sauces, pizza, cake, peanut butter cups, hamburgers, fries, chocolate milk, hostess, etc.  I have a really hard time leaving it alone.  It's amazing how being told to eat tons of fat food takes the fun out of it.  I've been diligently eating this stuff all day and I am sick.  I am feeling sooo gross.  I understand that it helps the body get using the HCG.  But, for me, I think I'll be glad to eat grilled chicken and tomatos.  I think by the end of the second gorge day I will be ready to not eat for a week.

Photo books

These photo books have changed my life.  I am going to make a book for Rachel's 1st year and a book commemorating Elizabeth.  Then I am going to take my blogs and transform them into books.  I love that this relieves me of the guilt I've carried for not getting my scrapbooking done.  I have bought a lot of scrapbooking supplies over the years.  But, I am not a scrapbooker.  I am a blogger.

This is the book I made about Doug and me (100 pages).  I used MyPublisher through Costco.  I am super happy with the quality of paper and the printing.  They have different sizes of books, styles and layouts.  And they often have great deals.  These books would normally cost about $92 each.  I payed about $140 for all 3 copies.  I love that if I want more I can just order another one any time I want.  Love it!

The Promise of the Resurrection (Moved)

This post was moved to http://dougandjessica.blogspot.com/2010/04/promise-of-resurrection.html.  Doug and I felt it belonged there.

Bog of Blogs

I'm mired in a bog of blogs.  Bloggers bog is completely different than it's cousin bloggers block.  It is not that I am without ideas.  It is that I have too many blog entry ideas.  I have too many pictures.  And I have too many stories.  Many of these entries are meaty and can't be posted lightly.  Some entries require stories that are long and involved. 

I keep a running list of topics and will get to them as soon as I can.  Meanwhile, Rachel is crying, hungry, needs a diaper change and her mother.  Her life and story is more important than them all.