Once in a Blue Moon? I Should Have Called it Something Else!

It seemed like a good name at the time. Especially as it relates to how often I get married. Unfortunately, it also seems to be appropriate when describing how often I write in this blog. [sigh]

The HCG diet is going very well. I'm on Day 29 and I've lost 18.4# and 24.2 inches!

I'm seeing fat disappear noticeably in the mirror. YAY!

I just got an email from the HCG folks--they're running a special til the end of the month. It's a good deal--I may have to stock up on some more drops for my second round. Here is the link:

Free HCG

Been working in the garden a lot. (too much, maybe--on the diet you're not supposed to over exert yourself as it slows down the weight loss). There's so much to do for the wedding landscape-wise that I really must do SOMETHING daily.

I'll see if I can post some pictures. I took some great ones a couple of weeks ago, finally. All of my plants are crowded in pots in a deer-proof enclosure until we can finish getting the deer fence up.

The pics are of some of the plants in that enclosure.

More soon--

In Joy,
Sara

PS HEY, what does anybody know about Save the Date Announcements? I'm thinking we might need to get on that pretty soon?

Homeopathic HCG: A Diet That Works?

6-28-11 4pm Loaded!

Fat Loading? The idea is to saturate your body with fat (inside and out!) which will be burned off quickly once the Low Calorie portion of the diet is underway. By loading up on fat, as the HCG Drops begin to take effect, hunger is additionally minimized due to the burning up of the storehouse of fat accumulated during the two days of “fat loading”. By then, the “fat reserves” (those places that never seem to go away with “regular” dieting) have been “unlocked” and you begin to burn them for fuel. Sounds good, so far.

Two days of cramming as much fat and oil into my body (and smearing it on, too!) as I can? It sounds like a Blubber Bacchanal! A Fat Fiesta! I am excited to see how I do with a diet so rich in fat. I stay up late and make two batches of homemade ice cream using ALL heavy whipping cream. French Vanilla and Triple Chocolate. OK, I can do this! LOL

First Loading Day: When I read that some people may experience “flu-like” symptoms from all the fat they are eating, I thought, “Poppycock! I am the Fat Eater of All Fat Eaters! I am the Queen of Cream, the Duchess of Drippings, the Butter Babe! I LOVE fat! Two whole days when I get to eat all I want- YES! I’m sure I’ll feel FINE!”

Well….UGH. I just got up from a two hour nap. I have no energy and feel real sluggish and spaced out. I DEFINITELY don’t feel like eating! I’ve just taken my fourth round of drops and while they “settle” I need to figure out what I can convince my poor beleaguered body to eat next.

I have no shortage of options. Yesterday, I piled the shopping cart high with fat rich delights such as heavy whipping cream, butter, sour cream, cheese puffs, triskets, bologna, heavy whipping cream, mayonnaise, avocado, lard, full-cream ice cream, macadamia nuts, donuts, cheese pizza, salami and did I mention heavy whipping cream? Writing the list now makes me feel like I want to heave-

Slathering my freshly showered body with jojoba oil this morning was a rare (and slippery) treat. My thirsty skin drank it in. I ate two donuts with my coffee (and cream) followed by a hearty breakfast of butter-soaked pancakes and bacon. I skipped the eggs in favor of a couple of handfuls of macadamia nuts with my tea (and cream) a short while later. For a snack, I enjoyed(?) a mug of hot chocolate made with chocolate bars and my new best friend, heavy whipping cream. I did add a dash of milk so that I could actually drink it.

Subsequently, I began to burp a lot and feel a bit nauseous and a nap seemed be the next logical move. I retired as quickly as I could manage. Rolling around on my bed, I felt a bit like a beached whale that had overindulged in krill (and heavy whipping cream!). I focused my mind on the picture of all my fat cells getting dutifully saturated before the big assault on their population. I managed to sleep and thankfully, didn’t dream about fat laden foods!

Well, I don’t feel as feverish as I did. Perhaps the last dose of drops helped… I wonder if I can manage some cheese now, or one of those avocados with bacon? Shut up, I don’t even want to talk about the pizza!

Wedding Gown: Here I Come!

I'm serious about fitting into a wedding gown that is both elegant and delicious. I don't know what it looks like yet, but the wedding dress is an important element in my "dream wedding". And why shouldn't it be? This is the last wedding I'm ever going to have! So I want to be sure to do it right!

I've got 429 days or so till The Big Day so I think it is all do-able. (OK, I'm a bit nervous about all that we need to do around the house and grounds before inviting wedding guests to our humble abode but hey, we'll get there.)

So I'm trying out the HCG Diet. For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, it is a protocol that should "re-set" my hypothalamus gland (the Big Boss of hormones and fat storage decisions) back to what a "normal" (weight-wise, I make no claims about anyone's mental sate, least of all, mine!)person would have.

It involves homeopathic drops, two "fat-loading" days and a very low calorie lean protein and vegetable and fruit diet. The drops assist the body in burning stored fat so the actual caloric "burning" is not all that low and the weight is lost rapidly. (to the tune of averaging a pound a day.)

Now, I know that sounds extreme and frankly, only 60-70% of people who embark on this system are able to keep the weight off that they have lost. The "re-entry" to normal eating is an extremely crucial part of the program and apparently mismanaged by some people with unfortunate results.

I am following the YourHCG.com protocol because they are using the original 1954 method discovered by a Dr. Simeon and found to be extremely effective for many people.

I'm going to give it a 45-60 day shot and see how it is for me. I'll keep you posted!

Wedding Dress Body

I had my weigh-in after six months of winter hibernation and discovered that I've put back on 12 of my 65 pounds lost. [sigh] (see Wedding Dress Body )

I took my "before" picture. *yikes* The good news? It's all down hill from here!

I'm going to begin my journey toward my Wedding Dress Body with a little Spring Cleaning. I am starting a modified version of The Master Cleanse. (Drinking only a "lemonade" drink made with lemons, maple syrup, water and a dash of cayenne). It should give me the jump-start and motivation I need to get this ball rolling. I'm thinking of doing it for about two weeks.

My modifications:

1. Add powdered chlorella and spirulina to the "lemonade" for extra protein, etc. 
2. Start the day with a liver tonic (whole lemon with peel, olive oil, cayenne and water in blender, strain and drink)
3. Add supplements- fish oil, evening primrose oil, borage oil, milk thistle (and because I tend toward hypothyroid I also take an iodine/potassium supplement, a thyroid glandular and an adrenal supplement)
4. Drink a quart of my "Jammy Juice" (recipe below) each day
5. Don't go overboard with exercise just yet. (whew!) Half hour to 45 min. of sweating-either dancing or treadmill

I may make other adjustments as I go. I'll have to quit my coffee and tea drinking! I'll do that over several days as I am a wimp when it comes to the caffeine withdrawal headache. I'm just glad I'm already drinking mostly decaf coffee...

Jammy Juice: 5 Tbsp. whole chia seed 1/4-1/2 cup of Just Cranberry (unsweetened cranberry juice concentrate) 1 Tbsp. pomegranate powder 1 Tbsp. goji powder 1 Tbsp. acai powder 1tsp. beet root powder  2 tsp. agave syrup 1 qt. water (I make it in a one qt. canning jar with lid) This makes a yummy, thickish drink that looks like a jar of raspberry jam!

The Wedding Countdown Begins!

D and I first got together in the Spring of 1996 after our marriages (17 years each!) had broken up. So that means that this Spring, we will have been together for 15 years!

Not one to rush things, (LOL!) D proposed to me a couple of years ago while we were on a birthday trip to Scotland.

We were sprawled on the bed in the hotel room. I had just received a manicure and he was admiring my shiny red nails. “Let me see your ring for a second,” he said. Sliding the silver pentacle from my ring finger, he rolled it around in his hand and then casually slid it over the end of his middle finger. He seemed to be studying it as it sat wedged against his first knuckle. I had to wonder whether he was checking out the size of my ring. I dared not ask.

Over the years I have become reluctant to bring up the “M” word, as Marriage doesn’t seem to be part of D’s vocabulary...

Read more: http://www.romantic-ideas-online.com/my-true-romance.html#ixzz1FCIHh4IG

We have set the date for our wedding on August 31, 2012 at 7pm,  the first night of the next Blue Moon! (Blue Moon=the second full moon in the same month) We figured that was about how often we get married...Once in a Blue Moon!


I heard somewhere that "well-organized" types will start planning their wedding about 18 months before the event. Eager to experience what it must feel like to be "well-organized", I am leaping at the chance to get started! I've decided to begin this blog to track the next 550 days preceding Our Event.

As the Romance Goddess, encourager and creatrix of All Things Romantic, I thought it might be helpful (and interesting?) to document the adventure. My goal is to create the Most Romantic Wedding Adventure possible. Will you follow along?

Although this is my second wedding, and it may have some similarities to my first (garden wedding)...this should be a VERY different sort of event! My first wedding was a colorful backyard hippie wedding. I made my own floral wedding dress and arranged my own bridal bouquet and floral hairpiece after going to the San Francisco Flower Market to buy my flowers at 4am of my wedding day! Although we partied for three days, we never did get around to having a honeymoon.

D was married in Vegas with just close family attending,  no honeymoon either--Say no more!

We have more expansive plans for our Second Time around! Stay tuned for more details...