HCG Diet ~ Phase 2
Helpful Charts, Tips, How I felt, Interesting Findings,  & Your Skin and HCG

I did it!  I completed Phase 2 of the HCG diet!
How did it go?  Did I like it?  Did I loose weight?  Do I feel better?
Answers:  Well, yes, yes, and yes!!

As discussed in an earlier post, I was sponsored to participate with the HCG diet by Creative Bioscience, but if I would have known how much better I would feel, I would have done it years ago...!! And, I would have gladly paid for it....! 

Along the way I learned a few things during Phase 2, which I will share with you now.  Keep in mind that everyone reacts to the HCG diet and hormone differently, so my findings may or may not respond with yours....

• Week 1:  I was hungry, took naps, and had weird dreams
  
• week 2:  I was cranky
• Week 3:  I felt GREAT and energetic!!

It was soooo all worth the first two weeks!!  :)

How do the HCG drops taste?
Fine.  Perhaps a tiny bit sweet, but the longer you hold them under your tongue, the less flavor or taste they have.  And really, you don't have taste-buds underneath your tongue anyway, so you really don't taste them much anyway....

Hunger-Craving Strategies

• ALWAYS have a lunch packed and never leave your home without it.  You never know when a ten-minute errand will turn into a three-hour excursion.  When you get hungry, or it is time to eat you HAVE to have your own food with you, because what is available out there for impulse buying in NOT very nutritious, and certainly does NOT fit in with the HCG diet.....

• Drink LOTS of water.  Drinking will give you a feeling of being full, and it keeps you busy.  ALWAYS carry around a large water-bottle too...  Keep hydrated.  I often carried around several.  
• Eat six times a day (rather than three). 
  
• Take the drops six times a day (rather than three).
  

HCG and Thyroid Issues
If you suffer from an under-active thyroid, the HCG diet can be quite beneficial, because the hypothalamus resets the thyroid.  However:  here is a word of caution:  when eating cabbage (one of the HCG approved vegetables) it should be cooked first. 
The goitronic chemical in cabbage (and other cruciferous vegetables) inhibits the body's ability to use iodine which is essential for the production of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4. Cooking cabbage disables virtually all of the harmful goitrogen. 
So remember: COOK YOUR CABBAGE.

Exercise and HCG
Exercising while on the HCG Diet comes highly recommended (by me).  I was already exercising 6 times a week before I  started the diet, and continued to do so (eliminating strenuous workouts).  There were a few times when I found an excuse to keep from going to the gym, and on those days I either did not loose any weight or lost very little.  Therefore I strongly encourage you to exercise as often as you can.

What is an Apple Day?
You may need an apple-day if you plateau on a certain weight for 4 days or more.  This is how to approach it: 

1. Eat only apples for one whole day, starting at lunch, resuming the regular HCG diet at lunch the following day.
2. Limit the number to six large apples
3. No liquids except a minimal amount of plain water, just enough to quench an uncomfortable thirst

Apple-Day* is NOT BAD!  I was really nervous to have an apple day, but it turned out to be just fine.  I was not hungry and could hardly finish the apples.  I felt SOOO full.... 

Can I Cheat?
DO NOT cheat!  You WILL regret it!  It will give you a setback that you will then have to recover from.

What do you do on days when you don't feel well?
There were a few days when I was under the weather while on Phase 2, and I did not cheat....!!!  I found that drinking hot herbal tea with a little bit of cayenne pepper and Stevia was quite soothing.

Because the HCG hormone uses the fat in your body as an energy source, it is advisable to wear makeup or lotion during phase 2.  (Stay clear from any topical oils, except mineral oil) 
However, I suffer from severely dry skin and the climate I love in (South-Eat Idaho) is extremely dry, so going without lotion is quite impossible for me, because it is miserable when my skin gets dry. 
Sooooo because of that I needed to find a lotion that would not introduce oil to my skin.

I used Renew Intensive Care Lotion by Melaleuca.  Renew does not contain any oil, not even mineral oil  (mineral oil does not give people like me relief, as it just is a surface solution, not penetrating and healing the skin from the inside).  As one of the last ingredients, Renew does list melaleuca-oil as an ingredient, but I assume this to be just a drop or two (maybe three), and only beneficial to the skin, rather than harmful.
I applied Renew to my entire body (even my face) once a day, and several times a day on my hands.
On my lips I used a mineral-oil-based lip balm.  The only lip product I could find that contained mineral oil and no other oils was Care Deeply by Avon

I did Phase 2 for 31 days.  Because the HCG hormone depletes the body of fats (and oils) the skin on my hands was beginning to be drained of any supple oil by day 29.   I do not advise going beyond day 29 if you have severely dry skin.  My hands started cracking and bleeding and hurting.  using these products while on Phase 2 my skin felt fine until that point. 
In short:  without Renew doing the HCG Diet would be virtually impossible for me personally.

Read about
Almond Nutella for HCG Phase 3
Before and After Photo's

Oh yes, and FYI: I lost 27 pounds, and it feeeeeeeels good!!

Partying with these bloggy friends.... & the Charm of Home, Coastal Charm, Savvy Southern Style, Today’s Creative Blog, Home Stories A 2 Z, The Shabby Nest, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Between Naps on the Porch

Soon to come: 
an HCG Diet Giveaway! 

Life after 40 is sooooo NOT for wimps!!

When I showed my husband this mixed media piece when it was done he didn't say much. 
I am not really used to that:  he usually will find something positive to say
about the things I make, so I asked, "You don't like it?" 
He, "I just don't like being over 40...."
Understandable....  :(
I should have thought of that!!

Rewind: 11 years ago.
After the birth of my youngest child, I was able to lose the extra weight quite easily.  I started "Body for Life" after she started sleeping a little better (six moths old), and in 6 weeks time I was at my target weight.
And I was able to maintain it for years....
Easy peezy.

I need some extra help!
Enter Creative Bioscience.

Creative Bioscience is sponsoring me to participate with a 90 day challenge.
Of the many supplements they carry I have chosen to take hCG 1234. 

• Why?

It will reset my metabolism and help my thyroid (one of my health issues).

• How?

The hCG 1234 supplement encourages the hypothalamus to release stored fat.
The hypothalamus gland moderates the thyroid, adrenals, fat storage, and more importantly, your metabolic rate.

• Will I be hungry?

The hCG 1234® diet consists of a 1200 caloric days.
That's not bad.  Plus the supplements curve my cravings.
A handy dandy diet guide will give me all kinds of food ideas and recipes.

• Will it be hard?

I am pretty motivated, so I think it will be OK,
plus I will also receive free unlimited live support (via the telephone and internet).

• Do I have to exercise hard?

Exercise is not a required component of the hCG diet, but since  already exercise I wish to continue, but will do so moderately.



I may finally get the results I am looking for.
Let's hope so.
I am super excited to give it a try.

Something cheerful and colorful this time of year to celebrate the lovey-dovey holiday in February: Valentines Day.
Using my favorite: mixed media

Nice bright colors
vintage finds:

• printed papers
• game-pieces
  
• sheet-music
• flashcards
• measuring tape

For Valentines Day I decided to focus on the love that exists at home between family members:  the safe haven for kids and adults alike.
Taking titles and phrases from kids songs that center around loving families,
I made three pieces:

• Love at Home
• Love is Spoken Here
• Home is Where the Heart Is
  

It was so fun to select three different types of vintage flashcards: 

• the traditional math flashcard: addition
• the "teaching shapes" flashcard: triangle
• the unusual ACT studying card: vocabulary

Making these pieces was like a happy mini-vacation for me in the middle of the cold-snowy month of January...
Boy has it been super cold around here this year...

So sock-monkey and I are excited....
Here's to a bright and shiny new year: full of promise to be a wonderful and happy.
Especially on Valentines Day!

Well, that's about it for new decoration for Valentines Day around here....
What fun new decor items have you come up with?

Linking to a number of these bloggy friends.... as well as to the Charm of Home, Coastal Charm, Savvy Southern Style, Today’s Creative Blog, Home Stories A 2 Z, The Shabby Nest, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Thrifty Decor Chick, Between Naps on the Porch

Jody is my inspiration.  She is the Angle Tree Angel here in this community.  She has put herself in charge of making sure that every child here in the Ucon, Idaho area has a gift to open on Christmas.  Jody works endless hours collecting names and information from local school officials and church leaders.  Then she sets up angel trees in the local churches.  All we have to do is pick a tag or two (or more) with the information of the child that we will be buying gifts for.  Often the tags are so humbling:  the child just asks for underwear and socks.  What a good reminder for us to count our many blessings.

Jody then collects the gifts, wraps them, and makes sure every family is well taken care of.  She is also in charge of the deliveries. 
Now, if you thought that this is the only thing going on in her life:  think again.  Jody has a busy family of 5 children, and she works as an LPN as well.  But she makes the time for this important work of the heart. 
Jody is my inspiration.

According to Jody, the greatest blessing is seeing how her own children now view Christmas.  They are so selfless in their desires and spend their time and energy worrying about these sweet children whose names are on the tags.  Their wishlists are just for them...!

Like I said:  Jody is an angel:  the Tree Angel!

I've been wanting to so something special for her,
so I decided to make her a little piece of mixed media art with her as the subject. 
"The Angel Tree Angel"
Hope she likes it.....

From THE FAMILY: A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD comes this quote:

I was asked to teach a class on the subject of families in church, so naturally, after studying the subject for a couple of weeks, my creative juices started flowing....

I got busy and upcycled a cheap-o canvas clearance "painting" I had purchased at Target for just a few dollars and re-painted my family on it.
As you can see, my hubby has gray hair....
And our oldest daughter is just a bit taller than I am, PLUS she has been blessed with voluminous hair....

We are a lucky family of five:  two parents, and three awesome kids....
We have been so blessed. 
They are all three great kids

In my first few sketches I had everyone holding arms around everyone else, but as I made the final product, only mom and dad kept their arms.  The kids felt a little left out, but I explained to them that it is not their responsibility to take care of the family:  that is ours as the parents.  Daddy is largely in charge of providing and protecting, while mommy is the nurturer.  The kids' responsibility is to grow up and become happy and independent, responsible adults.  And along the way we help each other as much as we can....  :)

Anyway, this is my first "large" mixed media attempt and though I am picking it apart in my head all the time, I am kinda happy with all the symbolism behind it...  :)

What mixed media projects have you made?

I link up to a number of these bloggy friends.... as well as to Today’s Creative Blog, Home Stories A 2 Z, Funky Junk Interiors, The Shabby Nest, My Repurposed Life, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Thrifty Decor Chick, Between Naps on the Porch