Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Loving Sweet Onions

Morning Folks!

I just have to say, I love sweet onions. I have been eating them ever since I made onion rings with them. They are so good! I am convinced this must have been what Mel Gibson ate in the Lethal Weapon movie where he took a bite of onion like it was an apple. Speaking of Mel... oh my he has saddened and disappointed me to no end! He needs help.

Anyway, I've been eating sweet onion on everything from a chicken wrap (in a romaine leaf) to tuna to my egg scramble in the morning. Love it!

I lost 0.4 today, and I'll take it. I did really well yesterday but did eat a handful of chips with my BLT. We made BLTs (with turkey bacon) and oh my were they ever good! I have had an aversion to all pork forever, but I do eat turkey sausage and now I've branched out to turkey bacon. It's really good and it crisps up really nice if you cook it right. I bake mine and then broil it for a bit. So I had some turkey bacon slices with mayo and tomato on a romaine leaf and it was so delicious! The honey dijon chips were good, too but definitely not Atkins friendly. ;-)

For desert we had sugar free jello topped with whipped cream. Super yummy!

I'd like to take a moment to respond to Scarlett's comment on yesterday's post.

I read about his HcG Diet. I have to say...it sounds very gimmicky to me.

Most of the research behind it is by people and organizations that benefit from you thinking taking HcG and eating only 500 calories is the miracle to weight loss. Non-biased, peer reviewed scientific research shows that between HcG and a placebo, there is no difference.


Also, small children eat approximately 500cals per day. It is also NOT ENOUGH CALORIES TO SUPPORT NORMAL BRAIN FUNCTION! Not acceptable for grown women.

Eating that little puts you into "starvation mode", where your body assumes you are in a phase of starvation and slows your metabolism and uses your muscles for energy. Your muscles burn calories! You don't want to lose them.

Therefore, when you start to eat reasonably again, you have a slower metabolism and less muscle mass. You will gain more weight and more fat faster than if you adopted a scientifically researches and proven plan of eating a balanced diet, exercising, and keeping stress levels low. It's simple and it works.

I bet if you went to a OB/GYN that is not related to the HcG diet fad, he/she would tell you that what you are doing is unhealthy and unreasonable. You might also get warned about a side effect called Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome.

If the OB/GYN knows best, she/he would tell you to see a Registered Dietician and a Personal Trainer.

I don't know about you, but I prefer to utilize proven, honest ways to improve my health.

Pills, Injections, and Scams are not needed to gain and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

I understand that the HCG diet isn't for everyone, and that's okay. I'm not here trying to convince anyone to do it. I researched it, I have personal friends who have done it successfully and I did check with my doctor regarding it. I am aware of OHS. I have completed 2 rounds successfully, and besides the slip up last Thur/Fri have not gained back any of the weight I have lost so far.

I am now doing Atkins (as recommended by Dr. Simeon, the founder of the HCG diet) which is high fat-it seems that if my body were in starvation mode it would hoard all the fat I'm now giving it and I would balloon in weight. This isn't happening however; I've lost weight each day instead.

I know HCG seems extreme, and in fact it is. It takes a lot of willpower to be able to stick to 500 calories a day and only eat from a very limited menu. But for me, it has been the key to success. I wasn't able to lose weight consistently before and this method has worked for me. I have 3 small children at home and can't always make it to the gym for the hours needed to burn enough calories to lose weight. Being able to stay home, take my drops, eat my food and lose weight has been a blessing.

I sincerely hope I'm not coming across as trying to force this diet on anyone else. I simply wanted to put my own personal experience out there, the good, the bad, even the ugly for anyone who might be interested in it to read. I don't believe the HCG diet is a scam, because I have seen it work for too many people, who have successfully kept the weight off.

I appreciate all the input I get from readers, and just wanted to clarify that this is my blog where I post about my experiences. Simple as that. :-D

Moving on...

This week is already crazy busy with me trying to bake and pack for the upcoming 2 week vacation we have planned. I have NO IDEA how we're going to fit everything in the car. We are bringing bedding for 5 people, all our clothes, towels, swimming gear, fans, food, my scale ;-) etc... No diapers, though, since Owen is fully trained now! YAY for the small victories!

So I'll be here on and off, and starting Fri it will be pretty scarce posting probably. I will do my best to check in on Monday with my weigh in.

Have a great day, everyone!

4 comments:

  1. Sweetie,
    No one can argue with your results! Yes, it is extreme and you have always said so. It was a tool for losing the weight and you know that you have to maintain, eating healthily and moderately. It's just like people who choose surgery - they still have to learn to right even though the extreme measure is helping them get the results quicker.

    You went into this knowing it was a tool - not the life answer. You have NEVER preached it. Not once, as I've struggled to move past an 83 pound lost, have you suggested I go on this diet.

    This is YOUR journey and you are free to write about it. If you were having binge fests regularly because of the deprivation, and then throwing up - I'd be writing something different. You seem to have used this tool effectively for YOUR situation and Dawnie is proud of you and your incredible will power!!!!

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  2. Oh my GOODNESS, Ruth Anne, are you serious??!! No more diapers??? I don't even know what that is like! It's a first for you too, in 5 years, right? Wow, so crazy how life just marches on, you think you'll have babies and little teeny people forever and then all of a sudden they're so big.

    Looking forward to seeing you at Macleay! We're in building 4 this time so we won't be with you guys in 5, but we'll see you around!

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  3. Hi again.

    My post was based out of concern, I hope it didn't come across any other way. I believe in research, and the research by the doctor you speak of is outdated and not proven in current medical journals. There are no longitudinal studies. The science just isn't there.

    HCG reminds me of Fen Phen, which was considered a weight loss miracle. Until people started to get sick and die. Then, too, people said the science was there, but it was science based on people who believed they were successful using Fen Phen and from those who made money off then taking it. I don't think the doctor promoting this diet is ethical.

    I just don't understand why seeing a Registered Dietician and certified Personal Trainer isn't utilized, when it is the healthiest and best approach. I have friends that are single Moms...and they find the time to take care of their own health. Gyms with daycare? Can your partner watch the children for an hour a day so you can exercise? Exercise videos at home?

    Point being, just because it works doesn't mean it's right. There are young women that say the same thing about cocaine...it keeps them thin and active. Yet, it's wrong and unhealthy.

    I believe you can be on this journey without tools that are not recommended by science. You can eat a healthy, balanced diet. You can make time for exercise. And you can see results.

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  4. Comment to Scarlett, the point of the HCG is to draw the rest of the calories you're not eating from your fat...that's how you lose the weight. Your body doesn't go into starvation mode, instead, happily burns the calories I've stored away in my middle (and butt and thighs and face!). I didn't read all of Ruth Anne's response to be honest, so she might have said that, but I just wanted to sneak that in there:)

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