Goal Round….Shedding Those Last 10 Pounds!
Author: Stacy Bundy

As we begin what we believe to be our last round with excitement and joy, knowing that soon we will be at that “ideal” weight we have been longing for since beginning our hCG journey, frustration is usually not far behind.  Personally, it took me just over 30 days to lose 8 pounds. In the last round we have many ups and downs, not only on the scale, but also mentally and physically. Here are some helpful tips and things to keep in mind when you get to this point in your journey.

Stay on protocol. Remember that these foods are meant to work together and just because one person can eat broccoli or just because you could eat it your last round does not mean your body will react the same. When in doubt always refer back to the Original Protocol  that we know works.

If you get bored, get creative with your recipes. Most importantly, do NOT CHEAT.  It can set you back up for a week and all you are doing is sabotaging your weight loss. Remember, stalls happen more often in this round and last longer. Make sure you count your calories and continue to write down everything you eat and also document your supplements and skin care. This can be even more important during this time when you may have a small gain.  If you need help request help.  We can usually pinpoint a source of a stall.

Tips I found useful:
-Take detox baths http://miracleskinnydrops.com/2010/01/my-results-from-the-detox-bath-on-the-hcg-diet/
-Drink detox tea (I like Yogi brand and Triple Leaf)
-Increase your water intake
-Drink a warm cup of lemon water in the AM
-Increase your intake of green leafy vegetables (spinach is amazing and does great things for losses) raw is best but it’s a lot to eat so try it lightly sauteed if you need to.
-Cali kickers (although I did not do them because I could not handle them, they have helped a lot of people)
-Keep your food as clean and whole as possible. When it comes to broths and canned tomatoes there is no room for error like in previous rounds and your body will not be as forgiving.
-Move, take short walks and be a little more active

You may need to increase your protein toward the end as you may suffer from protein deficiency. Hunger and weakness, even after altering dosage, tend to be the two biggest signals of needing to increase protein when your on your goal round. Sirloin steak and ACV shots were very helpful for me during my last round.

Also remember to be sure to watch your supplements for hidden sugars. You don’t need to be taking anything more then MSM, Biotin and Kelp.  All others are more on an as needed basis.

Body lotions are another big thing to watch. Many people say they continue to use their regular  products and still have losses, but keep in mind that you will never know your true losing potential while still using  lotions. Coconut oil, Corn Huskers and mineral oil are all approved products.  A quick note about coconut oil: some can use it with no issues, while others do better without it.  I personally could not use it in my cooking in P2 but I used it just fine on my skin.

Last but not least, relax. Know that this is not going to be easy and go into it with the mentality that you will be in P2 for a while.  The less you stress and know that it’s all part of the journey, the easier this will be on you mentally and physically.  Support is key, so if you have a problem or questions make sure you ask one of us for help. Let the process work with you, have patience and ENJOY reaching your GOAL!

The winner of the testimonial contest is “Suek357″ and she will be taking home a free Bundle Pack!  Here is her motivating story:

“Ah the joys of getting older were catching up with me. Try as I might, and I mean TRY, I kept gaining slowly but surely and didn’t recognize myself anymore. I tried WW, slim4life, LAweightloss, lifetime fitness, P90X, Scarsdale you name it, was not coming off. I had so messed up my body that it wouldn’t release any weight.

Then I heard about HCG….whoa, cold this really work? My BFF and I tried it and BAM…the first major release in years! Since my first round, I’ve cleaned the fat, super fat and OMG fat clothes out of my closet (ok, you know you have those fat pants in the back of othe closet you pull out to fool yourself-we all had em) and the local thrift shop is making a mint- and I am feeling like a million bucks. Still more to go, but what an amazing journey- and so well worth the change in lifestyle.”

Thank you for everyone who submitted their wonderful stories which can be found in the comment section of this post (click here).

Testimonies help others.  It encourages, makes them relate and not feel alone.  It can really make a difference in the life of a dieter.  So What is Your Testimony?  I will share a few that have came in recently and receive them all the time and it is nice when we share.  All comments sharing your testimony below will be added into a drawing for this Sunday for the New Bundle Pack.  The Bundle Pack special has two bottles of hcg, the complete Gourmet Spice Collection, MSM Caps and MSM Rejuvenating Cream.  Don’t miss out this is a 160.00 value.

Testimony #1
“I want to remain anonymous, but wanted to say that using the drops has been the most transformational experience ever. My body absolutely loves my new way of eating! I have lost over 40# and kept it off for over a year without much difficulty at all.
I just wanted to say that when I hear or read about those who struggle, on phase 3 and 4, I would advise only this: 1) Eat more. Whenever I am gaining, I try this first and it usually helps. 2) When I am in a situation that requires me to eat more carbs than usual, I actually ADD protein bars or concentrated protein sources and, despite the additional calories, my body responds very little to the weekend of lasagna or enchiladas, etc at a an out of town visit to friends, 3) WEIGH YOURSELF EVERYDAY. Its not about being a slave to the scale, its about preventing being a slave to obesity. I do not typically have to do a strict steak day for 2# + weight gains, just a strong carb cutback and a bunch of apples and Im good to go by the next day. I listen to nutritionists talk about starvation and minimum caloric intake and all I can say is, while I understand their reasoning, the ability to lose weight quickly makes the loss so much more likely to occur! Ultimately, I LOVE eating veggies and protein and I LOVE cheese! (Oh, and Dave’s killer bread-good seed light!- every morning with an egg and cheese.) I am finally in food heaven and am healthy being there. This stuff is miraculous! PS I am the smallest (but definitely not the lightest!) I have been in my whole adult life and I am now 49. I learned to let go of my ideas of what a certain weight should look like and instead just enjoy my smaller waist and body and use weight only as a measure to help me maintain my current size. Keep up the good work!”

Testimony #2
“Shawna its been a long time!!! Well i just want to thank you for your help during my hcg days.. Well i lost a total of 15 kgs in just 1 short round… I was amazed!!! I even lost more during the maintenance phase all because i was jogging 1-2 kms a day… Well if it wasnt for you and the support group i wont be healthier now.. Looking forward for another round of hcg soon!!!! Thanks!”

Like the messages above we all have a testimony about our hcg journey or a testimony about how the support team has helped you.  Share below your results and stories and be an encouragement to others.  All entries will be put in a random drawing.  Good Luck!

Come Join our Support Team on Facebook (Click Here)

In Pounds and Inches there is an outline in the last chapter about customization and each person must be evaluated individually when they “don’t fit in the box.”  This is a section we need to discuss more often and take a closer look.  Whether you are injecting at 125 iu, 150, 175 or even 200 iu compared to drops at 60, 75, 80 or even 96 drops, we are all different.  The goal should be that you always feel good on hCG and you should not be hungry except at meal times.  Here are some signs that your dose may need adjusted:

1.  Tired and low energy- sometimes you will experience this week one during the detox phase which is normal and not a red flag, but should it continue, we need to look at vitamins, dosing and your menu.
2.  Continuously hungry-this can mean too much or too little hCG and we will need to look at the whole picture to be able to make suggestions.
3.  Weight loss is slow and muscles are weak- This can be a clear indication that dosing is off.  We are not talking about a normal stall that typically happens sometime between day 14-23 (this is different for everyone but usually falls in this range.)  Outside of these normal stalls, it is often a sign that the dosage needs to be increased.

The recommended dose for most is 60-80 drops per day, meaning 20 drops, three to four times a day or 125-150 iu if injecting rx for injections.  This is where the majority fall.  If you are not experiencing optimal results use the help form and ask.  Stacy and I will review your hcg, dose, menu and supplements and see if there is something that needs changed.

Read the articles below they will all help you:

hCG Deficiency

Tips for Hunger when everything else looks good.

Avoiding Hormone Free

Stalls Happen

Count Your Calories

Remember if you need help one of the best sources is join the Support Group on Facebook.

Use this link or message me or Stacy on Facebook for help with any of the above Help Support Form

If you don’t fit in the box, no worries we will help you get the perfect balance.

Stay Tuned!  Tomorrow I will share some great testimonies that have came in recently and also announce a contest to win the Bundle Pack.

-Shawna Culp

The silent pounds are the pounds we gain when we eat unhealthy over a period of time, and this can just be a matter of days. At first it looks like our bodies can handle it without a negative result. Then all of the sudden we are up 5 lbs. Many fall off on the weekends. I want to encourage you if this is you to make sure on Monday you immediately correct this and eat clean for several days. It can take a gain three days to show up on the scale and the creep begins to happen and its too late to catch it. This is really for all 3 phases but happens most frequently in p3 and p4 when we are less disciplined. If you know you have had some trouble foods or too much alcohol and wake up but scale is relatively the same do not be fooled. The creep of the scale and fat will show up down the road. If you consistently eat processed foods or sugars or even drink alcohol on a regular basis it has a way of sneaking up on you. Before you know it you are up 5-10 lbs from LDW. I see this often when lifestyle does not match goal weight.

You have to chose. You can adjust your weight to fit your lifestyle and allow the extra 5-10 to be there or you can correct it asap and eat clean for several days. What is eating clean? I consider eating clean as a high protein vegetable day. I cut out all fruits, all dairy, all fiber and anything else I have added into my menu like Greek Yogurt, nuts, beans or other starchy foods. If I have had an off protocol weekend my menu first thing Monday will look like this.

Breakfast:
3-4 Eggs
3 Slices of Turkey Bacon

Lunch:
Tuna Salad
Bed of Greens
Onion
Tomato

Dinner:
Egg Salad or
Steak and Eggs
Bowl of sauteed spinach

Then the next day I will mix in new proteins and veggies but will still avoid any dairy and or starches for up to 3 days. This will give you a good cleanse and correction. In the past when I have been on vacation for a week or more I usually come back +5 lbs and this can be attributed to the consistent eating and drinking of things I do not normally have in my diet.

Consistency is the key to success. Consistency can work for you or against you. If you consistently make good choices you will consistently have good results, but if you consistently make bad choices it will show up on the scale even if it is not immediate. We all want to take it off but you need to keep it off by making smart choices and knowing how to correct when you are off your normal eating pattern.

The only fats I consume on this day would be from oils for cooking and butter.  I do not intake any other fats.

Beef & Cabbage – P2

100 grams of lean beef or buffalo
2 cups green cabbage
4 tsp. LCM Signature Blend Seasoning
1 garlic clove, chopped
2 tsp. MCT oil (or water)

Slice beef or buffalo and sprinkle with half of the seasoning. In a medium skillet, add 1 teaspoon oil and cook meat on low to medium heat for about 3-5 minutes. Add cabbage, remaining oil and seasoning blending well. Cook for about 2 minutes or until cabbage is to desired consistency. I like mine more raw, and like a stir fry with a few sprays of Liquid Aminos. Some are effected by Liquid Aminos due to the salt content, but most do very well with it and it adds a nice stir fry flavor.

Variation: Beef & Cabbage Soup – Add 1-2 cups beef or chicken broth. Cook longer so cabbage is more cooked.

Like most things in life consistency is the key to success.  As we begin this New Year, make it a goal to stay mentally focused on all your goals.  Health and weight loss top the list of most New Years Goals.  Here are some tips for staying plugged in to things that will help you achieve long term success.

Consistency is the key to success or failure.  If you consistently make healthy choices, you will yield healthy results.  If you consistently make bad choices then you will yield bad results.  Let’s look at this in respect to food choices.   As we are on the hcg journey we may stray from time to time.  As we pull further and further away from our focus of making healthy choices the easier it is to fall back into old habits of unhealthy eating.  The things you do daily will help you be successful or fail at anything in life.  Where do you spend your time?  I am often asked how I maintain and keep my weight off.  My answer is always holding myself accountable to staying plugged in and positioned to make healthy choices.  Here are keys of accountability.

Where do you spend your down time?  What are you watching?  What are you reading?  One thing you can do to greatly increase your success in any area is to engage and study it continuously,  whether it is knowledge for your spiritual, physical or financial being.  The more time you spend learning and developing in these areas the higher rate of return/success.  On the flip side the less time you are focused on your weight, eating habits, development in any area, the more likely you are to see negative results.  It is a simple skill development that will propel you into a lifestyle of success.  Spend your time developing in areas where you have lack.  Have you ever been on a good cycle of exercising, lets say 20 days straight you have gone for a 30 minute walk everyday,  then one day something distracts you and you miss your daily walk.  If you do not get back up and immediately identify this error and get back on track it will get easier and easier for you to skip the next time and the next time.  It holds true with eating.  If we fall off and do not immediately address the issue, we think oh its just one hamburger and fries, but then you find 2-3 or days later you are seeing things slip back in and it gets easier to cheat and make excuses.  If you do not stop yourself and renew your mind and get back on track you will fall back into old habits very quickly.  We then get depressed and disappointed in ourselves and sabotage the great gains and successes we have had.  When you get off track remember you can always plug yourself back in.

1.  Get a friend of a buddy someone to do this with you.  Stay engaged in conversations regarding healthy choices.
2.  Read healthy magazines and watch cooking shows always looking to improve your healthy choices at home and when out.
3.  Join the support group.  Every day staying connected and involved in the support group is likely the #1 reason I have kept my weight off.  When you are engaging in constant conversation regarding healthy food choices you will always be renewing your mind to make healthier choices.  It will also be a place you can run to when you do get off track and know there is a room full of others right there to lift you up and help you get back on track.
4.  Find something you love to wear, jeans, pants, dress.., no matter where you are towards goal and try it on several days a week.  In P4 I use a perfect fitting pair of jeans this will help you stay accountable to the look and fit of them.
5.  Help others!  Helping others as you learn yourself is very rewarding and will help you continue to make the right choices you are teaching to others for yourself.  This protocol always has new people at all stages.. Share your story and experiences it will help those new to the program and the benefit helps you as well.
6.  Make it a point to limit distractions that will pull you away from your goal.  Schedule time for it daily even if your time is limited make sure and take the time you need for you.  Sign up for blog updates that will help further your knowledge of making healthy choices, read articles on healthy recipes and increase your knowledge on the benefits of making healthy choices.  It cannot only be about the scale.  Your goal should be overall health and wellness so that you can feel great and look great too.

Carol posted this on Little Choices Matter site a few days after Christmas but though this would be a good New Year post here as well.  If you got off track whether p2, p3 or even p4.  The best thing to do it make a plan and correct ASAP.  Email using the help form if you need help.  Click Here

Did you overdo it during the Christmas holiday season? Are you feeling bloated and tired? Despite our best intentions to stick to a healthy routine during the holidays, most of us end up eating and drinking too much which leaves us to feel sluggish and heavy! We also skip exercising and sleep less which can contribute to a weight gain as well as bloated and sluggish feelings.

Here are a few little choices that can help you get back on the healthy track.

Eat clean – Keep your diet clean of all foods that can effect you. Obviously, you need to put down the cookie and step away from the pie. But you also need to watch foods that can cause gains is over consumed. For some it’s dairy as dairy is very clogging to our system. For others eating a high amount of nuts can cause a gain, so if you love nuts and think you can eat them all day, think again. I can be effected if I eat too much fruit, so on my clean days, I omit fruit. Also, stay away from all starchy foods, including vegetables.

Drink lemon water – lemon water can help detox our bodies and jump start our metabolism! Here is a great quick video on this powerful beverage.

Drink detox teas – My favorites are Triple Leaf and Yogi.

Drink cranberry water – Cranberries help detox the body, flush away fat cells and helps fight cellulite! Watch this quick video on drinking cranberry water. ( P3/P4 only)

Eat Dark Green Vegetables – Their high fiber content helps the body eliminate toxins and helps you loose weight. Eat at least 4 cups of dark green leafy vegetables. Raw is best, so have a nice big salad and have some spinach, If you are cooking your vegetables, count it cooked.

Increase your protein – Protein takes longer to digest, so you’ll feel full longer and decrease the likelihood of cravings. Have protein at least 4 times during the day. Have a few eggs for breakfast and make sure you get in some protein for lunch and dinner. For a snack have a nice big healthy protein shake, and add in some spinach. Here is my Peppermint Shake recipe.

Increase your fiber – Dietary fiber is probably best known for its ability to prevent or relieve constipation, but it also keeps us fuller longer which aids in weight loss. Fibrous foods provide bulk and stimulate the release of appetite-suppressing hormones. Some researchers have calculated that if Americans doubled their intake of fiber, they could cut about 100 calories from their daily diet – which could shave off 10 pounds of yearly weight gain. (WebMD.com) Try and load up with fiber in the morning as it helps you stay full throughout the day. Read more on fiber here.

Take a walk – Try and get in 20-30 minutes ever day. We recommend light exercise to start such as walking or yoga. Rebounding and similar exercising such as jumping jacks, etc. help break up stored fat cells so they can be released!

Get good sleep – Researchers say that how much you sleep and quite possibility the quality of your sleep may have an effect on our hormonal activity tied to the appetite. If you don’t get good quality sleep, your body struggles to keep up and can effect weight loss.

Everyday we will be giving away great gifts and prizes. Winners will announced the following day for each contest day.

We know historically the 12 Days of Christmas begin on Christmas day but we wanted to have some fun before Christmas.. this is the season for giving. We will also cover the meanings of the song the “12 Days of Christmas” each day with you.

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

Twelve Drummers Drumming

FREE SHIPPING FOR EVERYONE THROUGH JANUARY 6TH!

Use coupon code “freeship” at checkout. 

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas season and starts off 2012 with a New attitude for a successful 2012!

Everyday we will be giving away great gifts and prizes. Winners will announced the following day for each contest day.

We know historically the 12 Days of Christmas begin on Christmas day but we wanted to have some fun before Christmas.. this is the season for giving. We will also cover the meanings of the song the “12 Days of Christmas” each day with you.

On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

Eleven Pipers Piping

CONTEST:
In the comments below please tell us A Christmas Miracle story you have heard?  Winner will win two bottles of Miracle Skinny Drops

I will share my story below:

We came up a hill and there stands Rudolph’s daddy. He was huge took up both lanes and was so tall I could see his massive body and his neck but not even his head. He was a prize winner for sure. Massive and I will remember him forever.  they had just had a snow storm and I guess they like to lick salt off road..but sides of the road were still full of snow and icy.. so I swerve to right and hit ice which then caused the spin and correction of left to right etc.. once we hit the ditch we started to flip. The cop said we flipped 5 times. and took out a pine tree. We landed upside down. While in the spin is was like we were in a bubble everything was flying around but nothing hit any of us. When we landed I knew we were all okay I said boys are you okay and they said yes and we then went to figure out how to get out. The dog was with us she jumped in my lap as we were sitting on the ceiling which was very disorienting. A driver behind came and busted out side window so we could climb out. Jesse was still preaching away the whole time. I would like to report. “He will give His angels Charge over us us to keep us in all our ways.” Hebrews 1:14 says that Angels are ministering spirits sent to the heirs of salvation.

Praise the Lord we are all in perfect health and it was a Christmas miracle for sure! When Brandon cleaned out the car right in center of the car was a coin just laying there it was the Prayer of Jabez coin. I found it at the hotel and said Where did this come from.. they thought it was mine but I did not have one in my car. It is a token from the wreck that even in the worst of storms the Lord will protect you.

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.” So God granted him what he requested.

I Chronicles 4:10 NKJV

Everyone have a blessed and wonderful Christmas

The winner will be chosen by a random drawing.  Good Luck!

The winner will receive TWO bottles of Miracle Skinny drops!

Each day we will offer different gifts and prizes and one mystery prize!  Stay tuned…

Merry Christmas!