HCG Diet: Then and Now

MY WEIGHT LOSS journey began with the HCG Diet guided by my personal physician, Dr. Justin Mager.  Not only did I successfully lose pounds and inches, I learned about my eating habits, emotions, and why past weight loss programs did not work for me.  That program prompted my first book ~ HCG Diet: A Shot At Weight Loss (pun intended, as the best way to get HCG is by injection).  I still refer to the entries I made to keep me on track and remind me of some valuable personal insights about myself.

I LEARNED THAT I needed to make time to be more active.  When I am passionate about my work, I can easily put in six-to-ten-hour stretches at my computer without interruption.   You know why?  Because I am passionate about what I do and time flies!  I feel good when I finish a project, get my spreadsheet to balance, write a great post, help someone launch their business — I have endless energy for work (mentally) but nothing left over for me (physically).

THE HCG DIET made me feel great about myself, because I could see I was successful, oftentimes, up to a pound lost every day.  I didn’t feel like a failure on the HCG diet, as I had on other weight loss attempts. It’s easy to stick with something when you see and feel the results of your efforts.

EVEN THOUGH I put on a few pounds, during my last year in grad school, after I had completed the HCG program, my four-month assignment living and working in England melted those pounds off again.  I was amazed that even though I indulged in one too many strawberry scones with clotted cream, I maintained my weight.  The difference?  I didn’t have a car and had to walk everywhere!  In one of my blogs, which I wrote while on assignment in England, being car-less meant burning calories and lovely walks through forests:  Car-less and Careless Free In England.

ANOTHER MAJOR ADJUSTMENT I realized in my personal weight loss and maintenance phase was that I needed to stop stressing about weight loss!  I told myself I was perfect just the way I was and helping myself to get healthier and happier everyday.

THESE ARE HUGE KEYS in improving the quality of your life and empowering yourself.  I have found that when I analyzed my stress patterns and learned to not let challenges control my living, my life (and the lives of the people around me) improved.  All the disjointed pieces of my life started to fall into place, including healthy weight loss.   I will be summarizing my experience with the HCG Diet and addressing some major players in improving one’s overall quality of living and health.

In my upcoming book, Life Works, you can expect to find topics that support you anywhere you are in your life:

Your personal best – you are perfect the way you are right now!

Smart eating without suffering from hunger pangs

Personalized movement programs (notice I didn’t say “exercise”)

Making use of technology as your personal trainer

Journaling your way through stress to peace and natural weight loss

THIS IS A BOOK that means a lot to me at this time in my life.  I just turned 59, and people say I don’t look my age.  [Even my spouse, who is on his own health and Life Works program, is extremely active and youthful.]  Why?  I have been on a mission to be my personal best in all I do ~ mind and body and spirit.  Did I fall off the horse at times?  Absolutely.  But I had a solid program to support me when I got back up again, which understood and allowed my human-ness (occasional candy cravings followed by salty treats).  You see, I learned one diet (one pill) does not fit all.  You are a unique human being that needs a personalized program.  Only you know what you need in your life, including your partner, work, volunteer options, lifestyle, hobbies, playtime, etc.  No one is like you!  You need your own Life Works.

I PRACTICE PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE.  This month, I met with my doctor/mentor, Dr. Mager, to monitor my health progress, build on my current program, and see what was working in my life and what needed to be adjusted — Life Works!  In my book, I will be writing about what I know;  I expect my reader to fill in the blanks with proven results that worked for them; and together, I believe we can create a dynamic quality of life with long-lasting health benefits.

WHILE I AM BUSY WRITING AWAY THIS YEAR, you can get to know me better.  My home website can be found at http://barbarabonardi.com.  And from my “home base,” you may want to read about Living Life On Purpose and/or self-publishing at BeePublished.com.

ANOTHER GREAT LINK to get to know “my authentic self” is throughout the pages of HCG Diet: A Shot At Weight Loss.  It is a painfully honest, sometimes embarrassing, account of my personal weight loss journey and what I learned about dieting, food, emotions, how stress plays a huge role in sabotaging your progress, and more!

FINALLY, IF YOU CAN’T WAIT and want to get started on your path to health and wellness right away, FANTASTIC!  Let me introduce you to Dr. Justin Mager via his e-book, MOVE to a Great Body. It’s the next best thing to a personal visit with Dr. Mager in his office.

Enjoy!

Barbara Bonardi

The HCG System Works

I realized that I have not posted in a while and want to take a few minutes to give you an update on my progress with the HCG Weight Loss Program.  The demands of grad school, my business, and taking care of my family temporarily nudged in front of all the fun things I like to do, including inspiring others to wake up and live their lives on purpose and sharing a life changing weight loss program that has worked for me!

After completing Phase II of the HCG Weight Loss Diet and series of shots, I am now in maintenance (Phase III) of the program.  In Phase III, I am no longer on the 500 calories per day menu that is supported by the physician prescribed injections, which makes the weight loss process SAFE.  I am on my own now.  Pretty much I can eat anything I want in Phase III of the HCG Diet besides carbs and sugar (no pasta, potatoes, pastries, etc.) and continue losing weight throughout the next phase.

I am hovering at 152 pounds on my 5’3” frame. For perspective, I weighed 150 pounds 29 years ago after giving birth to my first child, except today my stomach is flatter, and I am much more fit, thanks to the Bar Method exercises as well.  I am so happy at my current weight.  I look and feel healthy and have lots of energy.   I have not reached my initial goal of 144 pounds yet.  Realistically, I think I may be too skinny at that weight.  I don’t want to look like my daughters – I’m 56 and have had three children.  I like looking like a woman, complete with curves.

The HCG Diet has been an incredible journey of transformation not only physically but emotionally as well. Losing well over 30 pounds on the HCG Weight Loss Program under the guidance of Dr. Justin Mager at Clear Center of Health, reshaping my body through regular exercise at The Bar Method, and quitting my job to find meaningful work was part of that transformation.

I have not had any side effects from being on the HCG Diet, except healthy weight loss, an education in my personal eating habits, energy to start and maintain a core strengthening exercise program, and lots of attention from people who cannot believe how great I look.  Most people don’t recognize me and just stare.  I am sure they are thinking, “Do I know that person?”  I had some medical issues and many aches and pains in my body prior to being on the HCG Weight Loss Program, which have all disappeared.

I will write another post again, soon.  Right now, I have to jump to other tasks: homework and taxes.  In my next post, there are a few things I want to say about all the bad press that the HCG Diet is getting and emails from concerned friends. The HCG Weight Loss Program works!  It is safe, effective, and has helped to put be back in control of my life.

Barbara Bonardi

HCG Meets HBG

I pride myself in being a pretty good writer, which is highly supported by my personal experience, honesty, and integrity.  This is the criteria I have given myself to be able to say, “I am a writer!”  With that being said, I must embarrassingly share the following entry.  Not doing so would not be honest as to my experience on the HCG Weight Loss Program, and I would have to take myself out of the writer’s lineup.

It started Monday afternoon.  I was extremely low on energy, and I wasn’t really sure why.  I had worked all weekend, but my work was energizing and engaging.  I ate lunch and flipped on the television to watch a Sherlock Holmes rerun, while I checked my email.  I clicked on one of the MSN videos of the tsunami that hit Japan several days ago and watched intently.

The images replayed in my mind and throughout the evening.  I tried to focus on my upcoming class assignment; however, getting some homework done was out of the question, because it would only add fuel to the natural disaster that had occurred.  I am enrolled in the GreenMBA program (Sustainable Enterprise) at Dominican University of California.  In our last session, I sat through two, four-hour classes of the state of our world.  I came home wiped out and overwhelmed.

It was late at night.  I gave myself a shot of the HCG serum in my left thigh and jumped in bed with a hot cup of CALM, a great stress reducing drink while on the HCG Weight Loss Program that supplies my body with calcium and magnesium.  My stomach grumbled and my mind instantly traveled back to the kitchen to rummage through the shelves to look for comfort food.  I picked up the novel I had been reading for the past three nights, which was delivering exciting passages and a great distraction away from my evening food habits.  I also knew within a short period of time, the growling in my stomach would subside, and I would be sound asleep in bed and the novel slumbering on the floor.

I woke up depressed.  It took everything in me to drag myself to The Bar Method to workout.  After class, my instructor asked me if I was okay and if there was anything she could do to help.  I tried to hide my low point, but I guess I didn’t do a very good job of it.  I didn’t know what was wrong.  I had not been that low in a long, long time.  I usually caught myself before I fell too far, but my mood was slowing getting out of reach.

I called home to tell Frank I was running away to figure things out.  He understood.  Then my dear friend, Suzanna Stinnett, called to fill me in on her weight loss challenges.  We were both wading through some very thick, murky emotional energy.  Not only did she understand, Suzanna shared some insights that I had not thought about regarding the shift our planet experienced due to the earthquake(s), which were affecting everyone on earth whether they realized it or not.  The global disasters were psychically larger than we could handle.

I wanted to be alone and drove up to Healdsburg, about 60 miles North on 101.  No one knows me up there, and I would have me all to myself.  Healdsburg was home away from home for a long time throughout my undergraduate studies.  Today, it was going to provide me the comfort I needed while I journaled my way through my emotions that were collecting in my throat.

By the end of the day, I had exhausted myself by capturing thought after thought and filling up the blank pages of my journal trying not to leave any stone unturned.  I was able to work out several things that were weighing heavy on my shoulders.  I also realized that the tragedies that happen around the world were affecting me, and I was shutting down.  My global neighbors are going through hell.  To them, it must feel like the end of the world.  I had taken in the devastation, and all I could do was pray for all of Japan.

The anger dissipated; the dark cloud of depression that my instructor had seen surrounding me earlier this morning had lifted; and I was an hour away from home.  The pit of my stomach was empty – so empty, I knew the emergency apple in my purse was not going to satisfy the nausea that was stirring from not eating and drinking too much coffee.  I was hungry and only footsteps away from the gastronomical haven of Healdsburg.

It had been raining steady throughout the day, and as I ran to my car to put my computer and journal away, I decided to go for a walk around the Healdsburg Square and do some window shopping with my camera.  My attempt to distract my hunger didn’t work, and I made a conscious decision to go off the HCG diet for the day and eat something grounding.  I knew I was going to have to write about my experience or give up my plume.  I chalked my lack of resolve to “being human.”  In a way I was celebrating life, my mountain overcome, the fact that I had lost half of my desired weight so far on the HCG diet, and letting my body know that I could hear what she was telling me, “I came through for you, now nourish me,” and I did.

As I walked around from restaurant to restaurant reading the menus displayed outside their establishments, I thought about Dr. Mager.  I have to tell him I detoured off the HCG diet.  I didn’t want him to be disappointed in me.  I don’t know where that thought came from, because he has never been anything but supportive.  Dr. Mager has always honored the “human” side of me and treated my whole being – my mind, body, emotions, and spirituality.  I consoled myself by telling myself that he would probably say go ahead and feed myself then get back on track tomorrow.

I was soaking wet from my walk when I ventured into the HBG, the Healdsburg Bar & Grill, just off the Healdsburg Square.  This is where the HCG Diet met the HBG Menu displayed outside the front door.  Cozy inside, I ordered their Black Angus Natural Beef cheese burger with grilled onions, a bucket of fries, and a local draft beer.  I ate the burger with gusto, only scratched the surface of the fries, but polished off the beer, which turned out to be a local favorite:  Boont Amber Ale.  After a few hours and another cup of coffee, I did a little more window shopping with my camera until I felt it was safe to venture back home.

When I reached home, I went straight to bed and continued reading the novel where I left off the night before, fell asleep, and woke up briefly at 4:44 a.m. still full from dinner – and it felt good.

Barbara Bonardi

WINDOW SHOPPING with MY CAMERA

Late Night Eating ~ How To Break Habits

I had an interesting episode the other night.  This weekend my husband asked me if I wanted to join him for dinner at a local restaurant whose motto is, “This is a bad place for a diet.” I did not want to miss the opportunity to sit and chat with my husband, Frank.  We had both been like two ships passing in the night lately, due to our busy work schedules.  I said, “Yes,” even though I had eaten an early HCG dinner at home.  I decided before meeting him at the restaurant to only have a cup of coffee, while he ate his dinner.  [NOTE:  Frank lost 35 pounds on the HCG Weight Loss Program last fall with Dr. Mager’s guidance, has kept his excess weight off, and can now eat without restrictions.  More about Frank’s weight loss in the book, HGC Diet: A Shot At Weight Loss by Barbara Bonardi.] 

“You can order a salad – just put your own dressing on it,” he suggested, feeling a little guilty about what he was about to order.  I looked over the menu out of habit.  I really wanted the Crispy Potato Skins.

“Well, I could have the shrimp cocktail . . . without the cocktail.   That’s on the HCG Diet.  Oh, here’s another thing I can have, the French Onion Soup without the bread and cheese . . . . oh, wait, I’m sure they made the soup with oil or butter,” I rambled on, while earnestly looking for something that I could have eaten (for future reference), since I was already approaching my 500 calorie allotment for the day.

The remainder of the conversation stayed in my mind:  “Fresh Pear Salad? No, it has Danish Blue Cheese and walnuts.  Cheese Burger?  Without the cheese and bread and fries, of course – no . . . why eat?”  Then my mind skipped over to the dessert menu:  “Carrot Cake?  Barbara! What are you thinking?”

The waitress had been making regular visits to our table throughout my decision ordeal.  Mind you, I HAD ALREADY EATEN DINNER!  I was NOT hungry.  I was experiencing an old habit – eating even if I was not hungry.  I glanced over at a man who was bursting on both sides of his chair gobbling down a bacon and cheese burger with a mound of fries drenched in ketchup and a glass of beer.  I gulped and ordered water and a cup of coffee, even though it was 7:00pm, and encouraged Frank to order the Black Angus steak, potatoes, and salad that he was eyeing.

“Aren’t you hungry?” Frank asked.  I paused for a moment before answering him to check in with my body.  I was NOT hungry.  I was, actually, looking forward to returning home to my sliced apple with cinnamon treat tonight, and maybe even heating the apples in a pan with a little water and Truvia TM sweetener to make a mock apple pie dessert later that evening.  But right at the moment, I was not hungry.

The coffee came, and I decided that it was too late for caffeine, so I ordered a cup of hot water and stirred in a sample package of CALM, an anti-stress drink that contained Calcium and Magnesium, that was given to me at Dr. Mager’s office today at Clear Center of Health.  That was the ticket!  I was able to relax.  The sweetness of the CALM did not make me feel like I was depriving myself of food.  I was grateful I did not give into anything that was going to make me feel awful later.

This was a real learning opportunity.  Frank and I talked about the habits we have built around food – mostly, late night food.  During the day, we are busy and sometimes forget to eat, but late at night, when things wind down, we are looking for something to eat.  We know not to watch regular TV late at night, because a Sara Lee commercial will do us in every time.  Late night snacking is a tough habit to break.

I have come up with a strategy for breaking a habit – replace it with another habit. Here are some things I have learned that help me get over the weak moments I have been experiencing late at night.  These strategies can be used while on the HCG Weight Loss Program and anytime stress and overwhelm come into the equation:

1)      Have something hot to drink that is non-caffeinated, while reading a favorite book till you get sleepy.  Display the tea bags in a glass container alongside a beautiful cup and saucer as an inviting reminder.  MY FAVORTIE DRINK AND BOOK(s):  I really enjoy the CALM drinks, which come in several different flavors.  I have a pile of books next to my bed, including a dear friend’s book, Michael Phillips, on The Seven Laws of Money, Alexandra Stoddard’s newest book, Happiness for Two, and an autographed book that I bought at the Legion of Honor Museum after viewing the Pulp Fashion Exhibit by Isabelle De Borchgrave.  Borchgrave’s hand-painted paper costumes are “eye candy” and very satisfying.

2)      Drink a glass of water and then continue working on a project that you have set aside for just those times.  Keep it out where you can see it and work on it without having to look for supplies.  PROJECT: I am hand sewing a silk/rayon scarf for myself.  I saw one in a shop in Point Reyes and decided I could make it myself with fabric and beads I had in my craft container at home. 

3)      Drink a glass of water, get your bed ready by pulling back your covers and putting out a nightgown to slip into (if you wear one), set your alarm clock a half an hour earlier, then take an extra warm bath.  STRATEGY: I tell myself, if I am still “starving” by tomorrow morning, the extra half an hour will give me enough time to get something to eat at home before I start my day.

4)      Make yourself a cup of chamomile tea and work on your visual journal.  PROJECT: I keep a journal/scrapbook of outfits, accessories, etc., that I will be looking forward to wearing on my thinner body.  I also have a home journal, which is where I collect ideas from magazines, catalogs, or pictures that I have taken of great interior design ideas for my home.

I have been revisiting the above strategies nearly every evening to break the engrained habits around food consumption.  Happily, by the time I complete Phase III of the HCG Weight Loss Program, I expect to have finished the scarf, covering the dining room chairs, sewn four new pillows for the living room sofas, and be sleeping under the duvet cover I am making for my bed.

Barbara Bonardi

You Can Eat That …. Just Not Right Now

I have found a lovely place to write near my home and office:  Rulli’s Café in Larkspur.  The European ambiance, complete with soft Italian music in the background, stimulates some interesting ideas and creativity in me. I always travel with my personal journal to capture these thoughts onto paper.

Rulli’s Café does not have internet access, but I have found, if you sit way in the back of the café, away from the noise and pastries, you can borrow a little juice from the local bar next door.  This little piece of Heaven is becoming a popular place for local writers and journalists.  I have composed many of my blogs surrounded by my fellow writers, a variety of pricey Italian wines, and mounds of pungent coffee beans.

Oftentimes, I can walk past the sugary, plump pastries filled with various fruits or almond paste, but this morning, it’s challenging.  I am half way through Phase II of the HCG Weight Loss Program, and I miss the taste of an Italian pastry and a cappuccino dusted with chocolate.  I am grateful that there isn’t anyone in line ahead of me, so I can quickly order my Americano and get to work.  I have brought an Organic grapefruit (already sliced) with me this morning and ready to devour it for breakfast.

I found a lovely spot next to Doug, a charming, handsome man and one of our local celebrities, who is plugged into the hidden electrical socket we found behind the counter and pounding away on his keyboard — no doubt, writing about another Back Roads adventure.  The restaurant has several 24-inch round marble tables.  One is just large enough for my computer, my cup and saucer, a glass of water, my journal, and a set of colorful Staedtler pens.  The rest of my gear is living on the extra chair next to me and on the marble floor.  Within reach is my purse, my Kindle, a binder, art supplies, and HCG Diet food.  When I left the house in the morning, my husband teased me and said it looked like I was moving out of the house.

I finally settled down, took my first sip of hot, freshly roasted, Italian coffee, and sighed to myself, “You can eat pastries, just not right now.”  Giving myself permission to eat anything I want at a later date is comforting to me.  I think when I deny myself things, I want them the most – it’s that little girl inside demanding those pastries.  I know I have been here before, and I am wondering how I got through the tough times when I was on the HCG Diet several months ago and lost my initial 30 pounds.

The HCG Diet: A Shot At Weight Loss has been a great source of inspiration.  I know I wrote it, but I forgot a lot of things that I had written in my book.  For one, I had lost so much weight, I had to buy myself a new pair of jeans before I reached my weight loss goal.  My old jeans were getting so loose and did not show off the new figure that was emerging from the HCG Weight Loss Program and my workouts at The Bar Method.

Many times, people are hesitant to buy something that fits their slimming body NOW, because they have not reached their desired weight and don’t want to spend the money on something that may not fit them in the future.  However, that is not the right strategy. So what, if you grow out of the new jeans, the morale boost is worth more than the jeans, AND you can give them away when they become too loose on your body and make someone else very happy.

I remember that day – I bought myself a new pair of jeans in a size 10.  I had not seen size 10 in ages.  Then I bought an inexpensive tank top in a medium.  Wow, that was a shot in the arm, or the result of the shots in the arm.  That alone gave me strength to get over the temptations of foods not allowed on the HCG Diet.  The compliments from my friends and family were just an added bonus.

So, this afternoon, I am going to take my own advice and buy myself something new.  It doesn’t have to be expensive, but just a little gift to benchmark my current weight loss at eight pounds to date.  I have also started a list in the back of my journal entitled, “Things I Want To Eat When I Have Completed the HCG Weight Loss Program.”  I have a feeling when I can eat anything I want, I won’t crave those foods anymore, and I will revert back to a Pink Lady apple sprinkled with cinnamon, my favorite HCG food.

Barbara Bonardi

Truly . . . . A Shot A Day Melts the Fat Away

The holidays have come and gone and it has been two months since I completed the HCG Weight Loss Program.  My weight has been staying low and fluctuating between 153 and 157, within the HCG program’s promise.  I have never felt so healthy, happy, and balanced in my life.

Throughout the program, an excellent informational book that was given to me by my doctor, Dr. Justin Mager, at Clear Center of Health prior to starting the program, was the HCG Weight Loss Cure Guide by Linda Prinster.  The book has been one of the best supplemental guides to Dr. Simeons’s weight loss program, the founder of the HCG Weight Loss Diet.

I decided to blog my way through to my 20-pound weight loss success.  I thought it would be a good way to keep me on track and true to the diet, but I didn’t realize that the weight loss would also affect other parts of my body: heart, mind, and spirit.  Being true to my readers and myself, I shared those treasures as they surfaced.  Even after I lost the 20-pounds, I still found what I wrote to be too insightful to be lost in space and knew I had to capture my experiences into something a little more permanent — a book (an e-book).

The Book ~ HCG Diet: A Shot At Weight Loss

The last time I saw Dr. Mager was shortly after my last round of the HCG Diet.  I was so happy with my progress and wanted to tell the world.  I promised him that I would be publishing a book on my personal transformation in a hope to encourage others to take back control of their individual selves.

On February 22, 2011, my e-book was official published on Amazon/Kindle entitled, “HCG Diet: A Shot At Weight Loss – A Personal Journal of Transformation.” There are a lot of books on the subject, but what I felt was missing was the human element – a real person that could honestly share the emotional ups and downs of weight loss, the challenges; in other words, the real truth.

A Shot At Weight Loss: The Last 15-20 Pounds

With my doctor’s permission, I have chosen to go on the HCG Weight Loss Program to melt away the last 15-20 pounds.  I am starting at 157 pounds and expect to gain 5-7 pounds in the first stage of the diet, which is the “gorging” or “loading” stage (as one of my readers suggested).  This is Phase I of the program that lasts three days, while I start taking the HCG serum.  The HCG kit was ordered through my doctor’s office and includes everything I need to get started on my injections.

If I reach 164 lbs. by the end of Phase I, Day 3, my goal will be to lose 20 pounds, which will put me in the 144 lb. range.   I cannot remember the last time I was 144 lbs.  I think I was in my 30s!  And, although, this is my goal, if I start to look “too skinny,” I will adjust my goal.  Yes, there is such as thing as “too skinny.”  The focus is to maintain a healthy weight . . . and look my age.  More on that later.

Meanwhile, you can expect some open and honest, sometimes embarrassing tales of my progress, and other surprises.  I am going into the HCG Weight Loss Program with first-hand experience and completely trusting that “TRULY …. A Shot A Day Melts the Fat Away.”

Barbara Bonardi

Whatever Happened to the Writer Behind the Blog?

February14th, 2011

Whatever happened to the woman who was on the HCG Diet and lost 20 pounds?

Well, she lost another 7 pounds on the second round of the HCG Weight Loss Program, even though it was an absolutely challenging time to lose weight, because the diet was smack in the middle of Thanksgiving turkey, Christmas hors d’oeuvres and prime rib, and New Year’s cioppino!

My final weigh-in was 153 in November, and I have been hovering between 153 and 157 pounds throughout the holidays.  It all depends on what I eat, drink, exercise, and emotions, too, especially stress.  So, I watch my bread intake, try to drink water before I am thirsty, schedule exercise on my weekly calendar and stick to it, and as far as stress goes, I pick my battles:  stress caused weight gain for me, so I use strategy to avoid it!

I got a little nervous when the scale climbed up four pounds, but my HCG weight loss physician, Dr. Justin Mager, had informed me that it was normal to gain three to four pounds after the program.  I was also reminded that muscle weighs more than fat.  That would explain why my clothes kept getting looser even though the bathroom scale had shown an increase in weight.

I am not the same person I was on August 2, 2010, when I started the HCG Weight Loss Program — I have given away over half of my wardrobe; some people don’t recognize me anymore; but, I still indulge in candy — I just make sure it’s the best or nothing!

And I am going to contradict that last remark by saying, ” I am the same person I was when I started the diet., so why do people treat me differently now that I have lost nearly 30 pounds?”  [More on that in my upcoming blog.]

I have learned that losing weight is more than the physical weight loss that you can see.  There is an “unseen” loss of weight as well.  As I visually lost pounds and inches, invisible pent up emotions that were weighing heavy on my heart, mind, and spirit were released as well.  I believe some of the plateaus I experienced were rest stops that gave me one last opportunity to finally learn my lessons in life.  I discovered a chunk of unresolved anger, dug up a buried fear or two or three, finally disconnected an old relationship and regained my personal power, and even released some internal self-doubt messages that I no longer needed.

I melted away more than just bodily fat.  I took a thorough look at myself through the lens of the observer and did some internal house cleaning and external pruning of the dead branches that were weighing me down physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Does the HCG Weight Loss Program work? It did for me.  I lost the weight and kept it off.  For you guys out there . . . it has been six months, and Frank and Aaron both have kept their weight in check through eating right and exercising.  That doesn’t mean we are not enjoying food — we are still eating ice cream, just not the entire container.

If you are ready to give up 22-33-44 pounds or more, you have not missed the boat.  I would recommend that you get started with as much information about the HCG Weight Loss Program.  Dr. Simeon was the founder of the HCG weight loss program.  An excellent book that was given to me by my doctor, Dr. Justin Mager, at Clear Center of Health is the HCG Weight Loss Cure Guide by Linda Prinster.  It is one of the best supplemental guides to Dr. Simeons’ weight loss program.

As I have mentioned before, I chose to go through the HCG Diet guided by my practitioner.  I highly recommend that you consult with your doctor about the HCG Weight Loss Program to see if the HCG Diet is right for your weight loss needs.  Meanwhile . . . .

I am not saying goodbye . . . in fact, I am ready to launch my next personal HCG Weight Loss Program.  After the first three days of gorging (or “loading” as some of my readers have suggested), I expect to reach 160 lbs. then start my way down the scale to my ideal weight.  What is that?  I’m not sure …. but I will know when I reach it.  AND you get to follow along as I write my way through the ups and downs of losing the last bit of cushioning.  It will be interesting to see what surfaces for me — I’m sure the fat closest to the bone has been around for a long time and will reveal lots of challenging memories and emotions.

Phase I beings on Friday, February 18!  I know what to expect and am so excited about the next round of the HCG Diet.  I promise some interesting writing filled with surprises.

Contact Info:  BeePublished@gmail.com

Barbara Bonardi

Back to Americanos

I Can Eat Anything I Want, and I’m Scared

PHASE II – Last Day    WEIGHT:  161.0 lbs.    WORKOUT:  The Bar Method (1hr.)

UPDATE:  This morning’s scale read 161.0 lbs. for a total weight loss of 19.2 lbs. at the end of Phase II (42 days = average 0.457 pounds per day). 

Tomorrow morning is the first day of Phase III, which means, I can eat anything I want — except for sugar and starches — and I’m scared! 

When I was in Dr. Mager’s office at Clear Center of Health two days ago, he asked me if I had any questions or concerns.  I said, “Yes.  I’m afraid of eating.”  The last time I saw 161 lbs. on my scale or needed to drill another notch in my belt, or worse, wore pants without covering my behind with an oversized shirt to hide my excessive weight was approximately 23 years ago (after my third child).  I am thrilled to pieces to have found my figure under the layers of fat that melted away from August 2nd to September 12, and I am scared of gaining it all back. 

Apparently, most people who have been successful on the HCG Program have had the same concerns.   Talking openly with Dr. Mager was extremely comforting, and he reminded me that the key thing to remember is what I learned about myself in the process of losing weight on the HCG Diet.  The knowledge I gained will be my eating strategy for life.  Most important, I need to continue listening to my body — eat when I’m hungry, eat light to maximize my energy (more smaller meals versus huge meals), eat slowly and savor the taste and texture of fresh foods, continue my daily exercise, remember no sugar and starch for another three weeks, and relax and trust myself.

My Continued Goals:  I expect to continue reducing stored up fat (mostly around the mid-section) for another three weeks and that my continued weight loss may slow down or plateau at times over the next three weeks (6 weeks total), especially when I slowly introduce pasta and sugar back into my diet.  I am making homemade Italian Pasta Sauce for the momentus occasion.  I’ll be continuing The Bar Method, of course, and I am planning on adding 20-30 minutes of aerobics onto my workout schedule by taking advantage of the eliptical machine and bicycle that the kids have at home.  On those beautiful sunny or foggy days, a walk along the Bay is another alternative exercise. 

I will keep you posted and share some interesting insights with you that surface during the weight loss program!  This week I will be talking about how the HCG Diet has made me stop and think about the choices I made at 180 lbs. and whether they are still valid at my new weight.  These choices include a good look at work, school, and what is in the way of me pursuing my passions in life as my profession: writing, art, journaling.  Perhaps, another blog posting could be entitled, “I Can Be Anything I Want, and I’m Scared.” 

Where did THAT come from?  Hummmmm …… interesting.  Sometimes I surprise myself!  Definitely more to explore here, while continuing the HCG Weight Loss Program.

The Bounty of Phase III

Phase II – Day 36    WEIGHT:  163.2 lbs.

Phase II – Day 37    WEIGHT:  163.0 lbs.

Phase II – Day 38     WEIGHT:  162.4 lbs.

[Oh, yes, you noticed I have not worked out in over four days.  I caught a cold from one of my students and have had to take it easy until I felt better.]

Thursday was my/our last HCG shot; however, the serum will stay in my system for another three days.  On Friday, I had another appointment with Dr. Mager at Clear Center of Health to check on my progress, monitor my vitals, and to talk about what to expect in Phase III of the HCG Weight Loss Diet.  I wore an adorable, fitted, white dress to the appointment that showed off my new figure — yes, I had a figure under all the padding and no, I didn’t care that it was after Labor Day and I was wearing white.  [That rule does not apply in California.]

So far, I have painlessly melted away 17.6 pounds!  An extra bonus:  my long standing blood pressure in the high 150s dropped down to 131 after a stair climb.  I feel great and have not suffered from any side effects, except for missing pasta, but not for long.

Phase III lasts three weeks.  Even though I can eat anything I want except sugar and starches, I should be continuing to lose more weight as I continue to workout at The Bar Method, walks along the water, and other stress releasing exercises.   Meanwhile, I can’t wait to eat an artichoke, avocado, and arugula starting as early as tomorrow night.  After three weeks, I can reintroduce pasta, pizza, and pastries.  My eating style has completely changed and has been replaced with slowly savoring my meals, eating when I’m hungry, and stopping before I’m full.  My new habit will help me to maintain or continue melting pounds until I reach my desired weight.

A huge bonus with the HCG Diet was the education I received that heightened my awareness of hidden sugars and fats by reading food labels. I am focusing on reaching my goal weight of 144 lbs. (another 17.6 pounds), but I am open to stopping short of my goal weight if I start to look too skinny.  I still want to look like a woman; I like my curves.

Again, if I need a little boost to help me reach my goal of 144 lbs., I can safely start the HCG Weight Loss Program again on November 1st for another 23 days — just in time for the holidays.

So guys, I know you have been waiting to hear how much Frank has lost to date:  31 pounds!  He now weighs 182.2 — and tried on some old soccer jerseys that he has not been able to fit into for over 25 years.  They’re loose!  He also found his six pack.

Together we are looking forward to the Bounty of Phase III, including the fresh fruits and vegetables that are allowed in the HCG Diet.

Two Italian Girls

Phase II – Day 25   WEIGHT: 166.6 lbs.*   WORKOUT:  Walk on the Beach    (Not worried about the few extra ounces; they’ll be gone tomorrow.)

It’s Sunday morning, and I have a date with a very special friend who helped me to change my life forever in the Spring of 2007.  I had only known Maria for about a month.  We met at Peet’s Coffee and Tea in Corte Madera and were instantly drawn to each other.  Maria offered to be the bridge I needed to fulfill a dream — to study abroad in Florence, Italy, that summer.  I will never forget her generous gesture, and we always look forward to sharing magical stories with each other.

We sat in the very back section of Rulli’s Cafe in Larkspur where the wine lives.  Not only is it almost out of earshot from eavesdroppers, if you allow yourself to relax into the ambiance, you could be transported to a local cafe in Italy with that first sip of coffee.

Another unexpected bonus that I have noticed while being on the HCG Weight Loss Diet is that I have been making time to get together with friends.  I’m not sure why that’s so.  Hummmmm …… I just paused to reflect on that.  Maybe it’s because my closest friends have been so supportive in my transformation.  Maria, Pamela, Suzanna, and Victoria are all incredible women who have enhanced my life and live nearby.  Two other dear friends live further away, but I truly value their friendship and support as well.  Ingrid is my oldest friend who lives in Oregon at the moment, and Sandy is my newest friend who I met in Paris in the Spring and lives in Philadelphia.  I look forward to a group photo of us someday — perhaps, while vacationing in Hawaii or Paris — my treat!

Maria is my sexy Italian girlfriend.  Maria looks fabulous!  She is on a weight loss program as well — pure love.  Maria has reconnected with her soul mate after 33 years.  They are both ecstatic about their relationship and co-creating a beautiful life together.  Why does being in love melt the pounds off and help us lose weight at a rapid speed?  Do we eat less, because we are distracted, not depressed, stress free, and happy?  Because we feel loved and valued?  What chemical does our brain release that smooths the wrinkles on our face and emit an impenetrable glow around our being?  Strangers we pass by nod their heads, babies capture our glance and smile, and the barrista feels so moved by our exuberance, he offers us a cappuccino “on the house.”

I remember losing weight when I fell in love ~ I fell in love with Italy.  I lived in Florence in the Summer of 2007 studying Florentine Art and Culture and another class in Renaissance Art – daVinci.  I ate everything, drank wine, tried 15 different varieties of gelato, studied Masterpieces, toured museums, took mini trips to adjacent cities, and every chance I could, I sipped cappuccinos, ate the most amazingly delicious Italian pastries, spoke Italian to everyone I met ….. and lost weight.  I was doing what I loved ~ studying art and painting.

In my last blog “Tush, Tush ~ The Reemerging Pattern,” I wrote about the importance of keeping balance in my life.  Art is a huge piece that is missing right now.  I try to fit it in, but my priorities are not completely in alignment.  That’s why my blogging on the HCG Weight Loss Program is so important to me.  Currently, it is my creative outlet with an added bonus:  I hope to be educating, inspiring, and helping others by offering a weight loss program that has worked for me and may work for them.

I have learned that the key to any weight loss program is to follow your heart and be true to yourself.  I know when I am painting, creating, sewing, writing, and getting together with treasured friends, I’m not hungry.  I am happy with water, perhaps a cup of coffee, and a piece of fruit in my purse for a little bit of energy.

Motto: “Do what you love ~ the weight loss will follow”…… and if you need a little jump start like I did, I have found the HCG Weight Loss Program to be absolutely amazing.  The HCG Diet, under the medical guidance of our family doctor, Dr. Justin Mager at Clear Center of Health, combined with The Bar Method and my dearest friends (and Frank) have been a solid support system that is helping me to achieve my weight loss goals safely and in a relatively short period of time.   I highly recommend anyone who wants to lose at least 20 pounds to consult their physician and ask about the HCG Weight Loss Program.

Let Me Inspire Your Own Adventure:  BB Studying Abroad In Italy

Learning To Cook An Authentic Italian Dish

My Art Studio @ My Apartment on Ghiabellina

Cinque Terre ~ One of Five Incredible Beach Towns

My Morning Barrista in Florence