I thought a yo-yo was a toy!

Ok, I remember looking in my stocking(fake stocking) on xmas morning and getting all these fun but wierd toys. But besides the coloring books and mad libs, the jack set, the chinese jumprope and the yo-yo was my favorite. I would spend all day playing with the yo-yo by trying to "walk the dog" or "around the world" moves. As much as I tried, I never perfected the game of yo-yo. Well that is how I feel about my body. For as long as I can remember, uhm, senior year in high school, I have struggled with my weight. I would like to say its because of some disease or medication that I was on, but it's not. It was because my body was introduced to something called SUGAR! I love sweets. Not all candy, but sweet rolls, Ding Dongs, cakes, pies, sopapillas and oh my gosh my favorite -BROWNIES! SO this has been a looooonnnnggg battle for me. I get really content with myself and think I am invincible with food. So on that note, my other weakness is grease! I loved anything fried. Why couldn't I eat it? I always ate that stuff and never gained a pound. Then age started to sink in and my metabolism hit the high road! I lived the last 11 years this way. Just like my fun toy from christmas, I was a human yo-yo...up and down, and up and down. I never perfected my weight and I knew something had to be done. Anyway, starting HcG, we are not by any means allowed to have sugar. We can't have stuff that pretends to be sugar. I had to train myself that sugar doesn't exist anymore and there was no way that I could ever find it....ANYWHERE! The same thing goes for fat. I am so glad to have done this diet because I wouldn't be where I am if I didn't have the "mind over matter" potion! Needless to say, I am still dealing with the yo-yo game....although I have not gained all the weight I lost (because I have managed to keep 23lbs of it off), I really have to work hard to maintain where I am now and where I want to be - and that is HIGH SCHOOL SKINNY! :)

Dieting SUCKS!

I just wanted to say dieting sucks! It really does and I think I will be doing this for the rest of my life because of the blessing that was passed down to me. Really, I need to break this curse!!! Anyway, that is all I have to say today about this.

Suggestions and my 2 Cents

So I have had so many people ask me questions about HcG. I also have had people tell me that it's too hard or they are STARVING. Really people...starving? We know that we can't be possibly be that hungry if we are contemplating this diet. I mean, like me, I had enough fat content to go around the state of Idaho for goodness sakes! So the reality is this. If you want a change in how you eat, how you feel and how you look then you should really try this diet and stay focused.

You all should know by now from my previous posts that this is not easy. It's simply mind over matter. So here are a few things that I wanted to let you know from some of the questions that I get asked. Now please note, I am not a Dr., however I read the manuscript from Dr. Simeon.

Do you really have to give up your personal hygeine products?
- NO. However, you do need to watch the things that come into contact with your skin that has lots of oils that are bad. It takes a few seconds to read labels. Some products that I continued using were my deodorant (degree), my shampoo Nexxus and Herbal Essence. I use Nexxus conditioner too! I use Dove body soap (the sensitive skin one) and since we can't have lotion, I use baby oil before I step out of the shower. I then blot my skin dry.

Can I survive off 500 calories?
- Yes! You must remember that the key component is the HCG hormone breaking down fat cells which releases fat, calories, vitamins, among other things store within these cells. According to research, your body releases around 2000 a day while on HCG. Thus, combined with your 500 caloric
intake, creates a total of 2500 average calories a day. Since you are getting a total of
2500 calories you are not hungry. You feel satisfied and function even better than if
you ate the calories.

What is the hypothalamus gland?
- They hypothalamus gland moderates the thyroid, adrenals, fat storage and most importantly, your metabolic rate.


If I can be of any assistance, please let me know. I would be more than willing to help where I can.

xoxo,

Amber aka Skinny Mini

Still Maintaining

Another week has gone by and I guess I am not another dollar richer. I am still another pound skinnier though. I will take that anytime. I must say, this is getting harder and harder by the minute. I have failed many times this past week. I hadn't been exercising as much as I anticipated. I think over the last week, I have managed to workout out about 4 days. I guess I shouldn't be so hard on myself. Anyway, the things that I am not suppose to eat, have somehow managed to get down my throat. I don't understand it. I mean, why did Halloween have to come around this year. That was the ultimate test. I guess I get a F for effort! I didnt even try.

Then I throw out some ridiculous excuse that goes a little something like this: "I hadn't had much time to cook or prepare my meals. The boys have me so busy."

Oh, this one was good: "Jason, this school work is stressing me out! I need a sandwhich on wheat bread. Oh and I need a side of toast with butter on it!" If I had another hand, I would have slapped myself...but the two hands I do have were too busy feeding my face!!

Anyway, my sister gave me some wise words after I confessed my horrible choices: It's a new day and a new week. Get back on track. - Jennifer Arvizu-Schaper (at least it went something like that!)

So this week has been a new week and I still feel good about myself as I did two weeks ago. Oh and did I say, I tried on a size 9 jeans and they actually fit. I mean, who doesn't have a little muffin top?! But I actually was standing up, zipping the jeans and the zipper didn't pinch my skin! I didn't have to fight a battle while lying on the bed to get them past my thighs let alone to button across my belly. So I get an A for this long task!! I am approaching 14 days on maintenance. Let's see how I do this weekend. I am hoping to measure in better than I did last weekend!

Until next time, take care!!

xoxo,
Amber aka Skinny Mini

Maintenance Day Day 6

I thought this was going to be easy now that I am off the drops. I mean, really, "go ahead and eat 1500 calories" or "Eat anytime you want" is what I am being told or at least what I read in the manuscript. Holy Hector! This is actually alot harder than I ever imagined. And not because I can only have 1500 calories, but getting my body to eat up to 1500 calories. Jeepers Creepers, I feel like a cow if I even get close.

I felt like giving up on Sunday because I read an article in the Arizona Republic about the "Dangers of HCG". Please, Please, Please.... it was likely the doctors and/or research analysts who have never even tried it, rambling thier jaws and making assumptions on something that has been around for some time now. Anyway, I chose to stay on a straight track and continue my weight loss journey. Who would of thought, me...Amber Renee...would actually finish something that I started!

So today, I feel great. I ate scrambled egg whites with green onion, an apple and papaya today and tons of water. Oh not to mention, the two cups of coffee that had me wired 'til noon! For dinner, I wanted breakfast...AGAIN! LOL So I made this wonderful concoction of crap. Not literally, but it had a bunch of stuff I wouldn't normally eat. And I must say, it was quite tasteful. I call it the HCiG...'Holy Crap, it's Good! I will post the recipe below for those of you who are interested.

2.8 oz of Firm Tofu

1/4 red Bell Pepper (sweetness)

About 4 oz of broccoli pieces

1 chopped green onion

1/4 c of egg whites

Spray bottom of pan with PAM olive oil. Saute veggies and tofu and when the tofu is lightly cooked, pour in egg whites and scramble together. And VOILA! You have HCG!

Anyway, 'til next time!

XOXO,

Amber aka Skinny Mini

Time to Maintain

Ok, so it has been a while since my last post. I went through some very difficult times and my mind was trying to get the best of me. I am now at the end of my VLCD and have managed to lose 22.4 pounds and 31.75 inches around my body! Although, I would have loved to see more weight drop, I blame my TOM for that and the two cheat days that I did! Anyway, I will be posting pictures later on of what I look like now. Here are the results of the last 28 days of my progress:
Starting Weight: 181.4 Current Weight: 159
Measurements (in inches):
Neck: 14.5 Current Neck:13.5
Rt. Arm: 13 Current Arm: 12
Upper Chest: 39.5 Current Upper Chest: 35
Chest: 40 Current Chest:38
Midriff: 43.5 Current Midriff: 38.75
Waist: 38 Current Waist: 33
Hips: 43.5 Current Hips: 38
Rt. Thigh: 24.75 Current Rt. Thigh: 21
Under Boobs: 38 Current Under Boobs: 33.5

I am so happy to also say that I don't have to shop for bigger clothes afterall. I refused to let this weight take over my life. I have been able to drop comfortably down from a size 13/14 (tight fitting) to a comfortable size 9 and 11 depending on the clothes! My self confidence is back and I feel really good about myself. I also don't mind the comments and compliments from my close friends and family who have noticed a change! :)

Take care,
Amber aka Skinny Mini

Mother Nature and Her Favorite Female Pal, Aunt Flo!

So it has been agony. Since my last post which was almost a week ago, I went through a hard time. PMS and me do not get along. I am sure I am not the only one. Anyhoo, as I prepare for my TOM (time of month), I tend to get cravings such as chocalate chip cookies and milk. I also get a huge craving for something greasy. I thought I was stronger than that (and I did NOT have the cookies and milk!) but I had a wonderful and tasteful TORTA! Ahhh, why did I do it! I was down on Friday 10/8 to a great 165 pounds! Well they say when you cheat, you will stall and gain a few pounds and have all this regret. I didn't regret eating the torta because I made that choice and...it was GOOD! But I was completely angry with my body for having such cravings and for Mother Nature to come in and do what she does! Ughhh, the bloatness would not leave my body for days!!

So I tried to figure out why this was happening and why I gained the two pounds that gained! So I took out the good 'ol manuscript and read that YOU SHOULD NOT START HCG UNTIL AFTER YOUR TOM!! So I started the diet almost two weeks before my TOM!!! WHAT A FOOL!

So I am back on track and as of today, I am almost down 20 pounds thanks to AUNT FLO and her luggage!

I will post my weekly stats of how many inches I am down in a bit. Until then, I am preparing to drop off Mother Nature and Aunt Flo in the gutter!!!

XOXO,
Skinny Mini

Starting Weight: 181.4
Current Weight: 163.0 - Day 17