Does the HCG Diet Work?

I have never personally been a fan of the HCG diet. The diet consists of taking a shot of the HCG hormone each day and following a 500 calorie diet. There is no long-term support or transition phase to this diet.

A recent study is showing that there may be no benefit to the program at all. In fact, according to this research, the weight loss may simply be due to the extremely low calorie intake and not the hormones at all.

My other concern with the program is the side effects I heard some people talk about experiencing, including the loss of their hair and other more severe problems. Read about the research through the Dr. Oz website and let me know your opinion.

Find a Workout

If you need a reason to hit the gym or pop in that exercise video, here’s another good one. Exercise makes you feel good emotionally. When we moderately exercise, our body releases feel good hormones.

According to Dr. Christine Northrup, exercise is better than taking an anti-depressant to deal with mild to moderate depression. to me, that is amazing. Why, as a society, do we put millions of people on Prozac or Zoloft when we can simply send them on a 30 minute walk a day?

If you aren’t depressed, you simply get to feel even better. You get the feeling of walking on cloud 9 or like you can tackle anything. I personally feel energized when I workout. So I finish my workout feeling ready to tackle more than when I started. I am also relaxed and happy!

As we exercise and improve our mind, our body improves and we lose weight too. This is a win-win situation. Are you ready to be a winner? Get out there and find a workout for you!

Cost vs. Reward

One of the biggest hold ups people have about starting a diet plan is the cost. Many clients I have coached hesitate to make an investment in a program. They never put into consideration cost vs. reward.

Yet, many of these people consider it a good deal to pay $15 for a steak dinner. If you are willing to pay that much for a single meal, then why hesitate at $10 for a days worth of meals?

Yes, the most expensive meal program we recommend cost a mere $300 for about 140 mini-meals. This is a bargain! You are getting nutrition, health, and weight loss all-in-one.

In addition, many clients quickly start saving money as doctors take them off medications. Yes, the financial cost is small compared to the reward of better health, reaching a weight loss goal, and the feeling of confidence that goes along with it.

Check out our success stories and see what others have to say about it.

Normal is Overrated

The statistics today are astounding. More than 60% of Americans are obese or near obesity level. This means that being obese is the norm for our society today.

To that, I say who wants to be normal? I think being in the small group of healthy, happy people is the place to be!

So step outside your comfort zone and actively seek better health, be more active, drink water instead of colas, and make better food choices. Before you know it, you can say just how abnormal you are with pride! You will have better health and a better self-image ahead, so go for it!

Moving It Around

Sometimes a client will see the scale isn’t really moving. Then when they measure, the results may be confusing. In some areas there may be a loss and in others a gain.

The simple recommendation for this is to drink more water. It is important to know that we are reaching our daily recommended amount of water. Without it, our bodies can not fully flush out the fat we are working hard to eliminate.

We are not making the progress we desire if we lose fat from one area only to deposit it in another. So be sure to measure and track your results. Plus, get in that water.

Tape Measure Time

free weight loss program, weight loss program, christian weight loss program, herbalifeIt’s that time again. Grab that tape measure and see how many inches have disappeared.

If this is your first time measuring your progress in inches lost, then please check out our previous article on How to Measure. It is important to be consistent with how and where we measure to get accurate results. Record your progress and note the changes you see.

When you are done, take a moment to reflect on the progress you have made and share with us!

Healthier One Day At a Time

Each day, every choice works together to determine our state of health. An occasional sweet treat or greasy meal may not present any long term ill effects. However, a bad choice every day, like a bowl of ice cream before bed, can have a negative in part of scales and our health.

So, weigh each decision and determine it’s value to:

  • Your Goal– Is it a help or a hindrance?
  • Your Weight– Will it take you in the right direction?
  • Your Health-Will it make you healthier or cause health problems down the road?
  • Your Happiness– Is the decision making you happy for a short moment or for long-term?
  • Your Spiritual Health– Is this decision getting you closer in your relationship to God or serving as a tower?

Yes, every bite, every drink is an important decision. Eat and drink for your health and for God’s glory.

Pay It Forward

People all over the world need support, so why not pay it forward and support someone else. You should not have to look to far to find someone to lend an ear or shoulder to. There are those online, a friend, a family member, a co-worker.

By helping someone else reach their goals, we are showing god’s love to His children. What a wonderful thing to do, spread a little light into a dark world. Give hope to those that need it. Let others know they are loved as God loves us.

When and Where to Excercise

When you think of exercise, what comes to mind? Is is a hundred sweaty people living at the gym working out most of the day? Of course, there are the professional athletes out there that earn a living by being in top physical condition.

Most of us, however only need about 45 min.- 1 hour 5-6 times per week to undo the damage we have done. This time does not even have to be in a gym.

We can workout in our own homes with a DVD routine and there are usually only a few small pieces of equipment needed to add great strength training to any routine.

We can also choose to walk at the park or even on the mall. There are lots of locations where we can fit exercise into our daily lives.

Even if you don’t have time in your schedule to set aside 45 minutes, look for small chunks of time, even just 5 or 10 minutes where you can walk. A small amount of time being more physically active is better than none at all and will help you get closer to your goal.

 

So share with us, where is your favorite place to exercise? How much time do you dedicate to your well being?

Protein Power

Protein has many vital roles in the functions of our body. These functions include carrying oxygen through the blood, rebuilding tissue that need repair and of course it is a major component of our muscles.

Another great benefit of protein is how it helps regulate hunger. Protein takes longer to digest and therefore leaves us feeling fuller longer. In addition, it keeps our blood sugar at a more constant level.

As we lose weight, we want to maintain or even gain muscle mass. In order to do this, we must make sure our protein intake is sufficient enough to meet the needs of our body.

Do you need to know your suggested protein levels? If so, I recommend a personal wellness coach through a program like The WAVES Take Shape Plan or My Herbal Plan. Both plans are designed to help you reach your goal weight while becoming healthier.