Well not much to blog about but I haven't been on in a while so I will at least give an update and some recipes.

Total on the HCG diet I lost 38 lbs. I have been off the shots and on maintenance for about two weeks and I have lost three more pounds. So 41 lbs. I feel a lot better and have more confidence in the way I look. I am not going to be adding carbs after the three weeks of maintenance. I am going to just try to eat no sugar, no starch for a long time. I like the way I feel. I never get full, just satisfied. I eat about 10 fruits and veggies combined each day with some protein and dairy in there as well. I say I am avoiding carbs, but I get plenty of natural good carbs in the foods I eat. I am just avoiding the bad carbs that are full of sugar like bread, chips, cereal, and pastries. Not to say I don't get cravings for these things because I do, for sure. But 41 lbs is better than bread.

As for exercising I am getting into it, but slowly. Chelsea gave me these awesome videos called "Turbo Fire". They are like P-90-x but cardio??? They kick my butt so hard. They are a great work out though. My face turns bright red, and I sweat like a pig. I also have been doing a hip hop dance cardio DVD. I probably look like a total idiot doing the moves, but it is at least fun. Some friends invited me to water aerobics on Thursday nights. It is pretty easy, but I am sore the next day. I like how you can talk with each other while working out, and I love to swim. Other than that I have been taking Lady on her usual walks if Josh doesn't have the time.

As for food and recipes, I have been trying out a few things. For breakfast I have bought Canadian bacon which is way lower in calories than regular bacon. I cut the circles into fourths and eat them on cucumber slices with light french onion flavored laughing cow cheese spread on top. Delicious, and a great way to eat a vegetable in the morning.

I bought large bags of mixed berries from Costco and I will eat a cup of those for breakfast with some nuts or a hard boiled egg. Grapefruit with squeeze of Agave nectar is amazing! I even invested in some grapefruit spoons from Smiths so that I can eat them more easily. Then there is always a good omelet in the morning if I want something more comfort food-ish.

Lunch is normally cherry tomatoes, a hard boiled egg, celery dipped in cottage cheese, or something quick and easy with some fruit like strawberries or plums. I pack my lunch so it is usually something I can just grab out of the fridge.

Dinner is more fun. I made portobello pizzas again, but this time combination style with Canadian bacon, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, olives, and shredded mozzarella. Yum... Ragu's traditional pizza sauce has no sugar or crazy stuff in it either which is great.

Another yummy dinner: Melt brie cheese with some torn up pieces of precooked bacon on parchment paper in an oven safe baking dish. Dip vegetables like cucumbers, mushrooms, peppers, cauliflower, and cherry tomatoes in it and it is pure divinity. Josh even liked this one. It is also great with apples.

Chelsea also showed me the instant sugar free fat free chocolate pudding mixes made by JELLO. Delicious. I especially love to dip strawberries in the chocolate fudge pudding as a desert.

Other yummies are carrots and cherry tomatoes dipped in hummus, mixed nuts, and broccoli and cauliflower with melted cheddar cheese. Sugar free candies and gum are a staple.

Eating out is not too bad either. I went to IHOP on friday and had a great omelet off of their "Simple and fit" menu along with a bowl of fresh fruit for dessert. It was amazing! I have been to Pita Pit twice and just gotten the pita as a salad instead. So good mmm. Then there are salads from Wendy's and Cafe Rio that have been great too. However it doesn't need to just be a salad whenever you go out either. I went to Texas Road House and got a delicious steak topped with mushrooms, onions and swiss cheese with a side of steamed veggies. They even bring peanuts to snack on til your food comes, which is perfect.

As for other news...

I got a sewing machine for christmas that I opened last month. I decided to try my hand at sewing some barbie clothes for Josh's sister Ashley. I thought maybe I was just a bit rusty and that was why it was so difficult. After discussing it with my Grandma Redd I felt better. She said I would be better off tailoring a suit than sewing barbie clothes. They are more difficult because they are so small. So I went to sewing Melanie some burp cloths. They weren't perfect, but they turned out pretty cute.

I sang in church for the first time in over a year this last Sunday. I prayed that I would have the spirit with me, and sing as great as I had practiced. I started crying in the middle of the song until the end and it probablly sounded so bad. Most of all it was just embarrassing because I wanted so badly to sing my best. I guess heavenly father wanted me to just cry and bear my testimony while sounding like a blubbering idiot. It is cool, but I am glad no one from church has brought it up. I have to teach Relief Society this Sunday, so that should be awkward getting up infront of everyone again.

Josh graduated with his Master's this Month so we are officially done with school. YEAH! I am so happy and it has been fun getting to spend our nights together instead of him studying and me being bored.

That is all for today. Life is good. I can't wait for the rain to stop. :)