HCG Diet Update

Well, so far I've lost 11.5 pounds in 9 days. I'm excited, but at the same time discouraged because the weight loss has slowed down. I hope it speeds back up again. Either way, I'm sticking with it for 21 days! After the 21 day 500 calorie phase is over comes a phase that is in some ways more difficult which is called the Maintenance Phase. You are allowed to eat what you want when you want, minus sugars and starches, which will be about 1500 calories a day. This should feel like a lot of food after eating only 500 calories, but you have to be very intentional about this part of the diet because it "re-sets" your metabolism. The success or failure of this diet is dependant upon the Maintenance Phase.

I hear ya, you're thinking "Wow! This diet is strict!" It is, and it is not easy to follow through to the end, but let's face it, anyone who has struggled with weight at all knows that being overweight is worse than following a rigid diet for a month and a half. I believe with all my heart that this is the answer FOR ME. I've been wanting to lose the weight for so long. I know once it's off I will be diligent to keep it off.

I have only lost a half pound today. I lost a half pound yesterday. I know this is better than nothing, but last week I was losing close to 2 pounds a day! It feels like nothing at this point. I want more. I am determined. I am starting to see myself in a size 8 again. It is exciting. I've had extra weight on me since the birth of my last child almost 9 years ago! It's time!

I watched The Dr. Oz show yesterday which was all about the HCG Diet. He had positive things to say as well as negative things. I thought it was a balanced viewpoint. The one thing I thought was lacking that they didn't highlight was how this diet re-programs your mind to eat healthy and be very mindful of calories. It is a great thing for people who have not been conscious of how much they are eating! It is a great thing because it not only shrinks your stomach but it changes how you think about food altogether! I'm sure other diets do this same thing but in my opinion that is one of the best long term effects.

I will post before and after pics when all is said and done. Less than two weeks to go on the 500 calorie part! Yay! Looking forward to some variety in my diet. I am thankful that God is teaching me how to eat. I never gained anything when I was younger so this weight just snuck up on me! I was a little lost on how to deal with it. God is good! He cares about whatever we care about. It's not about vanity as much as it is about who I am supposed to be. I want my outsides to match who I am on the inside. I have always thought of myself as thin. Recently, that has changed. I've seen myself in the mirror for so long overweight that I started to "see myself" as being that way forever. That's when this diet came along. I'll keep you posted!

Excited. Thankful. Happy. : )

FOOD for thought!

I am doing a pretty strict and controversial diet right now called the HCG diet. I have lost 7 lbs in 5 days, so it's working! I have tried several different ways to lose weight over the years and was very skeptical of this one until I saw friends I know in choir drop 2-3 sizes in a matter of weeks right in front of me! That is when I did some homework! Now, I am totally committed to this thing!

Here are some things I am learning about my "relationship" with food. I have ALWAYS equated social occasions with food. I go out to lunch with friends, and still enjoy doing this. I've hosted parties where there is always food involved! I have just thought of food and social time as one in the same. I am also a very social person, so the more you go out with people, the more you eat, consequently!

I am learning that food has been a very comforting thing too. I unconciously went to the refrigerator when stuff just seemed...not right. Can anyone relate? I mean, I didn't gorge myself...EVER, I watched what I ate...somewhat. But it was always something that I could go to to feel better. It always made me "feel good".

Food has become something to Americans that it was never intended to be. Let's just look at the Garden of Eden. I mean, it was fruit and veggies. They didn't complain and ask if they could eat the cow nearby! They were in a perfect environment and the food they had to eat was perfect. Eve couldn't resist that apple! That just blows me away! That must have been SOME apple! Imagine if she had an apple crisp fresh from the oven with caramel sauce drizzled on top and ice cream on the side! Now that would've been a temptation!

Food is for nutrition. God intended for food to fuel us. Now, I hear what you're thinking; "But food is sooooo good!" Yes, I think a splurge meal will be in order every now and then, but my lifestyle is different. I will eat to live, not live to eat. But I do enjoy food very much so I don't intend to fast for the rest of my life either! I think it is a balancing act. Obviously, the way I was going about it on my own was NOT working for me. I needed a jump start like this. I intend to do things differently now!

This diet re-trains your brain as well as your stomach & taste buds! You eat barely anything for 21 or 40 days, depending upon how much you have to lose, so your stomach shrinks quite a bit! There is the biology. But during the low calorie portion of this experience you are eating protein, veggies, fruits and liquid basically. So you eventually start to desire those good things instead of all the fattening, processed stuff. I already eat a grapefruit like it's the most amazing thing on the planet! : )

I know this thing is not for everyone. I admit, it is REALLY strict. But it does yeild results! That much I know. I will keep you posted on my progress! I am so excited to finally lose this weight and feel good about myself physically again! I am thankful to all of the friends who have done this before me and cheered me on!

Just a little FOOD for thought...

It's Not About You

A little disclaimer may be necessary! Here it is:

The things I am writing about here are not about YOU. They are issues God is dealing with ME about. They are things I am passionate about because I am walking through them in MY life. I am writing because God specifically told me to and if I don't I think I will BURST! These are issues He is dealing with ME about, but if they speak to you, He may be dealing with you too. There is that possibility.

Anyway, on a lighter note, today is a BEAUTIFUL day in the Noesner house! The lion is sleeping with the lamb! I am speaking about my new Puppy Pepper and our "elderly" dog Zoe. They are actually sleeping together and at peace with each other which brings much joy to my heart! They didn't see eye to eye prior to this, so it's a pretty big deal. I can't underestimate how precious it is to see the two of them next to each other! So sweet!

Pepper is an adorable dog! She enjoys basking in the sunlight on our front hall rug in the morning. She sits and waits for it to come from the wall down onto the floor where she can lay in it. She will look at the sun on the wall and scratch the wall trying to get it to come down faster! She licks the wall, and pats it and wonders why there is a floppy eared shadow staring back at her. She moves and sees her shadow move and wonders "Who is that?"

Having a new puppy is a lot of work, but moments like this make it all worthwhile. Pepper is so querky and I think the flaws are the best part! We all love her so much! I'll post a pic if I can figure out how!

Have an amazing day everyone, and stay warm!

Tracey

Disposable People

I believe the "Church" is a family. I treat the people in my family a certain way. I love them, try to respect them and their individuality, I would do just about anything for them. Isn't that as it should be? If a family member is struggling or hurting I would offer help, support and love. I would under gird them in prayer. I would offer any type of tangible help I could.

What ever happened to the old fashioned, dare I say "Biblical" values we heard about years ago, with our grandparents? (Well, not MY grandparents...but you know!) What ever happened to loyalty? What ever happened to people who cared so much it showed in everything they said and did?

Much of what I see in today's culture is disposable. If we don't like it, we dispose of it. Gone. I don't have to deal with anyone I don't like or doesn't agree with my theology. If they make me uncomfortable, or if they say something I feel is inappropriate I will throw them out like yesterday's trash. I see something else in scripture that makes me want to aim higher.

For instance; the story of the good Samaritan. He saw a hurting man on the side of the road and assisted him. This dude went out of his way to help him. He used all of his resources, his time, his money and his love to make sure the hurt man recovered. The religious dudes didn't inconvenience themselves at all. This is not what God had in mind when He sent Jesus. As a matter of fact, the self-righteous attitudes of the Pharisees and religious leaders in Jesus day was a stink in the nostrils of God. He hates it! And God doesn't "hate" much. He IS LOVE!

My life's mission is to be the REAL DEAL. The Love that has saved me. The Love that doesn't walk away when things get hard. The Love that transforms lives and lifts us out of the dirt and slime we came out of! When things get hard and we persevere, we come out on the other end with something stronger and more difficult to break. God intends us to face problems, talk about issues, come to a resolution and move on. I believe these challenges are God's plan. They make us stronger in EVERY way if we deal with them head on and not run from them. If we allow the difficulties of life to stop us from growing in this way we've allowed the enemy to steal victory after victory in our lives. It is not God's plan for us to avoid difficulties or difficult people.

If you are my "friend"...you are a friend FOR LIFE. If you disappoint me, I'll live. If you hurt me, I will get over it. I don't walk away. I don't give up on people. You are not disposable to me.