Housewife on a Diet: HCG Progress

Ok....so I know I told y'all about experimenting with HCG a few weeks ago.  Well I have been on the protocol for over a month and I LOVE IT!!!!

I started the HCG drops portion, or "Phase 2" (P2) on November 11, 2011.  Yep...11/11/11 was my lucky day.  For two days you are to eat till you can not eat anymore.  These are called "loading days".

After the two loading days I went into the Very Low Calorie Days (VLCD).  I was to eat 500 calories of a specific food list.  I have to admit this was a bit hard....but only for the first few days.  I had a headache, I was very hungry...then the HCG kicked into high gear.  I had a burst of energy and was able to pretty much live on a little over 500 calories a day (I seemed to always go a bit over...).  Let me correct myself...I was NOT living on 500 cals a day as my body knew to get the rest of the calories from my stored abnormal fat.



I did this phase (P2) for 25 days.  I released 23 pounds.  I also released 38.25 inches , combined.  VINTAGE DRESSE HERE I COME!!!  WHOO HOO.

I am now on Phase 3 (P3) and have been for 5 days.  In this phase you are not to lose more weight, you are to use this time to reset your metabolism (I will believe that when it happens) and maintain what you have lost.  This is supposed to help you learn how to eat without gaining everything back.  Also, you can not stay on P2 with the HCG because you can become immune to it.

In the 5 days I have been on P3, I have maintained in the 2 pound window that is recommended.  Actually, the most I have been "up" is .4 lbs.  Yes, POINT FOUR.  Not even an entire pound.  This round is much harder, as maintaining always is.  It is stated in Dr. Simeons Pounds and Inches, that you can eat whatever you like but NO starches or sugar.  Well that is easier said than done...everyone is sensitive to one thing or another....and I am working to find what triggers my gains.

When I would do any other diet, in the last 10 PLUS years, I would start to gain if I ate a carb.  Well I am hopeful that this will help with that.

If you would like to read more please see Pounds and Inches by Dr. Simeons or The Weight Loss Cure by Kevin Trudeau.  The HCG Protocol has been around since the late 1950's / early 1960's (can't remember right off hand) but has never taken off in the US...until recently.  You can actually Google "Pounds and Inches" and read the book in PDF format for free.

I am doing VLOGS on YouTube as HCGHousewife to document my journey.  There are alot of people who do the same.  I found out about the great success others were having by finding this on YouTube and have found so much info, support, and friendship there.

I do plan to update here as well.  I wanted to make sure this was something I could do before blabbing about yet another weight loss plan.

I have learned alot over the past month....I can not wait to tell y'all ALL about it.

Tiffany

New Diet ....Again. But I think I found something good here in HCG

Ok...so the last time we "talked" I said I had started South Beach.  And I did...but as I was trying to stick to that plan I found something that caught my attention.... let me back up a bit.  I went on Youtube.com searching for some motivation of before and after photos of people doing the South Beach Plan.  I came across a young lady who was doing pretty good and watched a few of her vlogs.  As I watched she changed plans and started talking about HCG.  Her results were amazing so I searched for more...and everyone I saw had the same amazing results.  There were a few who did not do well but they all admitted to not following the protocol, so you can not really use that to judge the plan, right? 

So after lots more research and lots and lots more youtubing....I went looking for a source online to order.  I did not...and do not...want to spend a lot of money going to clinics and getting injections but that is ok because I found out that you can get homeopathic drops, that you put under your tounge, online and they work just as well.  So I ordered some and have been following Dr. Simeons protocol for the last 4 days (6 days counting the "loading" days).  I am not going to link to the info as most of the links I have are to sites where you can buy the drops and I do not want to suggest companies that I am not familiar with (other than reading some things / info).  I encourage you to search on your own to find the information.  I just wanted to post a quick update as I will be posting about this as the weeks go by, I am sure. 

So this is what I have been up to and because of spending my "online" time researching and getting my youtube chanel going for my vlogs (to document my progress) I have, yet again, neglected my blog.

Like I said, I am on day 4 (what we in the HCG community call VLCD, for very low calorie day) and have released 7.4 pounds.  That is amazing to me. 

Although I felt hungry and wanted all of my favorite foods the first for VLCDs, I am now getting to the point where I am no longer hungry and do not feel deprived.  I am also feeling a bit more energetic...and I hope this continues to improve because I was so ..... blaaaa feeling for so long.

I will continue to update and share some of my menu as I go along.

Oh...just one more thing.  This protocol TOTALLY goes with a midcentury lifestyle....Dr. Simeons came up with the plan in the 1950s!!!!  How cool is that?

Tiffany 

A little of this and that.....

So...I have been neglecting my blog, AGAIN.  I used the excuse of "it being summer" but now I really have no excuse other than I have been lazy and really have not had anything to post.  We have had things going on...family events, family visiting from out of town, birthdays, football games....oh and the little thing called THE WORLD SERIES...but we really should not talk much abou that other than to say that I am still proud that the Rangers were there and they gave us a few entertaining nights of baseball fun.

So much of that I could have blogged about but, again...I was lazy.

I am getting eBay back on track, not that I really ever let it slide...the sales were just down for awhile but things are back on track.

Also....I am, yet again, on a diet....I am doing South Beach this time.  I am only on day two so I will post more about that as it goes.  The one thing I am finding is I can eat from my well stocked pantry (thanks to coupons) and still follow this plan.  I can not have everything from my pantry but those things can just sit on the shelf for a bit.  Most of the things I can not have are very shelf stable.  I can have almost everything from my freezer except for the chicken nuggets.  They will not go to waste, David can have them for lunches on the weekends.  This will be a challenge, however, because finding coupons on meats and fresh veggies are few and far between....but with an OPEN EYE, you do see them every now and then.  If not, I think I am saving enough from things like health andf beauty aids, household goods, etc to off set the cost.  My health is worth it and what I will spend on fresh veggies and meats, I will save on a new wardrobe that I would most certainly have to buy if I continues on the path I was going...LOL.  Besides I love the clothes I have and was looking forward to wearin some of my cooler weather vintage dresses and sweaters.  I have a few cashmeir twin sets that I am really looking forward to unpacking.

I went on South Beach a few years ago....back before the Kimkins days.  I did well with it;.....not as well as with Kimkins but I am a bit scared of Kimkins and the fact once I go off of that I gain so fast.  I still am thankful for finding it because it got me away from a VERY large number on the scale....but for now I need something a little more liveable.  I think things that motivated me to stick to kimkins, back in the day, are THANKFULLY out of my life....I have new motivations and am tring something new to reach my goals.  My goal is NOT a number or a size...well except to be able to wear my clothes...  I just want to feel good again.

So that is what I have been up to....

Tiffany

6 myths about freezing food.

We are hoping to get an extra freezer in the future, my mom said we could have hers because she hardly ever uses it.  We just have to figure out WHERE we will put it and HOW we will get it here.  It just pains me to miss out on all the great meat sales and frozen veggie deals I see.  I have a few Green Giant Frozen Veggie coupons that are just wasting away in my binder.

When I powered up Yahoo! this morning, this helpful article caught my eye....  It is from the editors of Eating Well Magazine.

Myth: You can freeze all foods.
While it’s true most edibles freeze under the right conditions, there are some that should never see the inside of your freezer. Delicate vegetables like lettuce practically disintegrate when they’re frozen then thawed. Creamy sauces that are frozen separate and “break” or curdle when thawed. Even coffee shouldn’t be stored in the freezer—especially dark roasts. The oils that make them so special break down in freezing temperatures, allowing the coffee to readily absorb off- flavors. The USDA also advises not to freeze canned goods or eggs in their shell. (But you can freeze canned goods if they are removed from their original packaging, as well as eggs as long as they are removed from their shell.)

Myth: You can freeze food indefinitely.
This is true at least from a food-safety standpoint, but quality suffers the longer food is frozen. Here are some guidelines from the USDA as to how long to keep food in your freezer (at 0 degrees F) for optimal freshness:

• Soups, stews and casseroles: 2-3 months
• Cooked meat 2-3 months
• Uncooked steaks, roasts or chops: 4-12 months
• Cooked poultry: 4 months
• Uncooked poultry: 9-12 months

Of course how you store the item will lengthen or shorten its freezer life. Air coupled with moisture is the enemy of frozen food (think freezer burn), so if you can keep those two elements out you’ll give your frozen foods a longer life. That’s why I love the vacuum sealer. It sucks air out of the packaging so foods last longer than if they’re just stored in plastic bags or their original packaging.

Myth: Freezing kills bacteria.
Freezing foods renders bacteria inactive but doesn’t actually kill anything. That means if your food went into the freezer contaminated, once thawed it will still harbor the same harmful bacteria. Cooking it to the recommended temperature is the only way to ensure that your food is safe.

Myth: Frozen food has fewer nutrients than fresh.
Actually, the opposite can be true. Frozen fruits and vegetables may be even more healthful than some of the fresh produce sold in supermarkets because they tend to be processed at their peak ripeness, a time when, as a general rule, they are most nutrient-packed. If you’re worried about nutrient loss, eat your frozen fruits and veggies soon after purchase: over many months, nutrients in frozen vegetables do inevitably degrade. Finally, steam or microwave rather than boil your produce to minimize the loss of water-soluble vitamins.

Myth: Once thawed, food cannot be refrozen without cooking it first.
You can freeze and refreeze to your heart’s content as long as the food has not been left outside the fridge for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour in 90-degree heat). One point to be aware of is that refreezing anything uncooked, especially meat, will degrade the quality due to the loss of moisture in the thawing process. So although it is technically safe to eat, from a culinary standpoint, it’s best to avoid refreezing if at all possible.

Myth: You can store frozen food long-term anywhere in your freezer or anywhere that’s cold.
The door of the freezer is a handy place to store frozen items, but not necessarily the best place for long-term storage. The temperature near and on the door fluctuates every time the door is opened. Although the food may remain frozen, the freezing process could be slowed, opening up the possibility for larger ice crystals to form inside the food and destroy its integrity. To prevent this, store frozen foods toward the back of the freezer where a constant 0 degrees F is more likely to be achieved and use goods stored near the front or on the door sooner. And if the power goes out? Don’t open the freezer door! According to the USDA, a full freezer should remain frozen for 2 days. And if you’re tempted to store your freezer overflow in a snowbank—don’t. Even if the temperature is very cold, the sun can still heat up your frozen foods to dangerously warm temperatures. This is still an excellent way to store beer, though. So keep doing that.

Happy Homemaking,

Tiffany

Couponing for Two: Healthy Couponing

You hear comments over and over about how it is hard to eat healthy when shopping with coupons...or how the Extreme Couponing people on TLC are only buying junk.  It is true that there are ALOT of coupons out there for junk food but there are also coupons for good nutritional products, too.

I tried my hand at a video, using my phone (my actual camera took forEVER to upload). The quality is not all that great but I am including it anyway...

In the video I show that I used a coupon to get BANANAS on the cheap with a Market Street in-store coupon..  When you find coupons for fruit, it is usually in the form of a "combined" offer.  For example, I saw a peelie on a box of cereal a few weeks ago that offered a combined deal on the cereal AND fruit.  Another example, on a combined offer is how I used the coupon from Market Street for Fuze water and Bananas. You may also get a Catalina for fruit, I got one at Tom Thumb a few weeks back for 3.00 off the purchase of any fruit.  So if you keep your eyes out and use your creativity, you can find coupons on fruit.

There are also coupons out right now on veggies.  I found one to clip in a recent insert (RP 08/28/11) on canned Libby's veggies (there was one on fruit , as well).  And Dole puts out coupons quiet often.  I am not the biggest fan of canned veggies but I will pick them up to keep in my pantry for those times when I need them for home made soups and stews.

I am not going to list all of the current offers for fruit and veggies right now, you can go to coupons.com and see what you find.  Or you can go to the Hip2save Coupon Database to find links and info on just about every current coupon out RIGHT NOW!!!!

Other healthier items to keep your eye out for include vitamins.  I was able to snag a few bottles of a vitamin product I needed for under 3.00.  This was during CVS's BOGO sale on Sundown Vitamins.  I combined a CVS coupon and a Manufacture coupon on each of the bottles and after all was said and done, I got out of there with my vitamins and gum for under 3.00.  That was a major score for me.

Also, you can usually find coupons for high fiber snacks from Fiber One (cereal, too), Special K, and a few others.  The Who Knew Cookies had a couple of coupons out all summer.  I can not wait to try them and I will let you know what I think.  Just like the Fiber One commercials say...high fiber does not mean it tastes like cardboard anymore (I paraphrased).

Whole Foods have coupons, too...but I do not shop there.  They are too expensive and just because something comes from there does not mean it is better for you, in my opinion.

If you have any suggestions on using coupons to buy healthier foods, please tell us about it in the comments.

Happy Savings,

Tiffany

Couponing for Two: RIP Kroger Double and Triple Coupons

It is a sad day in DFW Couponing world...Kroger is putting an end to their Double and Triple Coupon program.  While this might not have a huge affect on MY grocery shopping, I have only just started this adventure and did not even know Kroger was STILL doing this until sometime in July...and then I was still not "on the ball" enough to take advantage of it fully.  It is however hurting a few pocket books...the social media, blogs, forums, etc are all a buzz at how this will hurt their budgets.  I personally will miss the free soap, pantyliners, and popsicles....as that is all I got for free.  I did, however, get some very good prices on lunch meat and ravioli with the doubles.

Here is a snip-it from the Fort Worth Star Telegram, "Kroger says it will stop doubling and tripling certain coupons at North Texas stores, effective Wednesday.

 
The grocery stores will continue to accept manufacturer coupons at face value, but the company wants to re-channel the expense into lowering prices, said Gary Huddleston, director of consumer affairs for Kroger's Southwest division.
 
"We have lowered a number of prices over the last six months," Huddleston said.

Kroger eliminated the practice in Houston this year. For example, a customer using a 40-cents-off coupon on a bottle of orange juice might have received 80 cents off with double coupons. Now she receives just the 40-cent discount.

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/09/08/3348708/kroger-to-stop-doubling-tripling.html#ixzz1XqqNv1jb "

 

I have not noticed the lower prices...but then I really have not looked.  I have shopped at Wal Mart for my groceries and then Market Street (United) for a few certain items...that I would not know if Kroger has started lowering pries.  I do know, however, that Kroger is way over priced with or without their "lowered" pricing.  While using coupons, I enjoyed the savings...and will not shop there without the savings.  If the higher value coupons I have bring their prices low enough, I will shop there...if not...no biggie.  I will price match the few good deals at Walmart.  I need to think of my gas tank, too, afterall.

 

Here's the thing....I have not found all that many coupons that double or triple, for things I need.  Proctor and Gamble have VERY low value coupons and without doubling or tripling them...I will not buy them.  There are too many other options to waste money on a company that will not put out a decent coupon.  Gain has a 2.00 coupon out right now...Tide?  .25 cents!!!!  I mean, COME ON!!!! Gain is a better smelling product so I would rather have that, anyway.  .25 Cents is not enough of a savings to matter to me.  I am not extreme enough, I guess.

 

I am irritated that Kroger discontinued this program in our rotten economy and high rate of unemployment.  That shows a lack of compassion.  They are reimbursed for the coupons face value...and I SERIOUSLY do not think they were loosing money while doubling and tripling all these years.  If they were loosing money, they would have stopped this long ago.  This is corporate greed. 

 

Albertson's, Tom Thumb (with strict limits), and Brookshires still Double and Triple... I will keep this in my mind as I plan my shopping trips.

 

You can voice your opinion on BringBackDoubles.com

 

And for sure call Mr Gary Huddleston, director of consumer affairs for Kroger's Southwest division.

"If everyone wants to voice their opinion to Kroger, contact Gary Huddleston directly. He is the Director of Consumer Affairs and is quoted in the story. His direct line is 972-785-6004 and his cell number is 972-670-6814. His email address is gary.huddleston@kroger.com. This is all public information that I got off a PR news release website. Everyone call him today!" Read more: http://blogs.star-telegram.com/dfwjobs/2011/09/kroger-ending-double-and-triple-coupons-in-north-texas.html#ixzz1XqvRc7HG

 

"Let's go Krogering"  NOT SO MUCH.

 

Tiffany

 

Couponing for Two: Videos for the Beginner

I love watching short videos to help me learn.  I have a rather short attention span so these little 5 to 10 minute videos are just perfect.  I mention "Collin" from Hip2Save a lot and she has some of the best videos to help you learn the ins and outs of couponing.  She, recently, put out a series for the beginning couponer.  It is a 3 part series and is very informative. 



Please go to her site for part 2 and part 3.

Krazy Coupon Lady has quiet a few, as well. They also have a radio show that goes over various couponing topics.

To get really inspired about what you can get cheap and possibly FREE with coupons, go watch ShadyLane2121 on Youtube. Her website is Cut, Clip, Save, you can also access her videos from there.  I mentioned on another post that I really enjoy watching her videos showing her grocery shopping "hauls".  She is very down to earth and her husband, Clay, is a trip.  She was on Extreme Couponers last Spring and her episode re-runs often during TLC's Extreme Couponing Marathons.

Coupon Divas has a great video series on finding non-food items on the cheap.  She has some great videos on back to school shopping and shopping for the holidays.  Not just food and groceries with this Diva.

There are so many out there, just about every person featured on Extreme Coupining has a website and tutorial videos.  I am sure you will find one you "click" with and enjoy.  If you know of a good one, please share with us in the comments.

Happy Savings,

Tiffany