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
A Shot At Weight Loss 