Updates

Some of you have asked me how my percale sheets ended up being.
Answer: A big pile of sheet. First of all, I cheaped out. I didn't end up buying the ones recommended by the article I read. I wasn't ready to shell out $100-200. Instead I found some $59 ones to try first that said 100% cotton percale and sang their own praises of smoothness and crispness. HOWEVER.... They were crisp, yes, but not smooth. They felt like sandpaper. So I returned them. However, I did keep the extra set of pillowcases I ordered with them. I've been washing them over and over, and yesterday I noticed that they are getting softer. Perhaps there is hope for them after all. I'll let you know in another 5 or 10 washes.

Some of you have asked me how my weight has been since going off the HCG diet. (It's been three months since I ended the maintenance phase).
Answer: I've stayed within 2 lbs of my last HCG day weight. So I've been able to maintain pretty well. My husband, who lost 12 lbs on that diet, is within 1/2 lb of his last HCG weight, and he didn't even do maintenance. I will say, however, that I did NOT go back to normal eating. "Normal" eating means drinking full-sugar pop, eating treats 3x a day, and having restaurant food 3-4 times a week. That would surely have made me gain it all back. Instead I went back to my pre-HCG semi-diet: mostly diet pop, only one treat each day, occasional restaurant food (trying to make good choices there) and intense exercise 3-4x a week. For me, that is a true maintanance diet. It's a way I can live for the rest of my life. It isn't very indulgent. But it also isn't extreme. I feel super healthy, am more toned than I've ever been, and I haven't gained back any weight. Woohoo! (In fact, I am doing a more restrictive diet this week to try to lose my last 3-4 lbs and so far so I'm one lb lower than my last HCG weight.) So the final synopsis after doing HCG is: 1)It was hard, but totally worth it. 10 lbs in 3 weeks? Um, yes! 2)It doesn't seem to have ruined my metabolism. (Although I did notice a massive increase in carb cravings after going off it). 3)I haven't gained it all back as everyone told me I would. 4) I still had to stay within reason and exercise after HCG to keep from gaining it back. 5)I would do it again if I had a lot of weight to lose.

3) Some people have asked me if I ever finished my quarter collection. Ok, no one has. But I thought I'd let you all know anyway that I did indeed complete my state quarter collection, thanks to several of my readers who sent me missing quarters, most especially JJ, who sent me a bunch and even HAND DELIVERED my final missing quarter. WHAT A MAN! (And having a man reader is a reward in itself. I feel truly honored just to register on his radar.) I had intended to do a give-away with it once I had it all collected, but now I'm thinking maybe we should have a blog luncheon and I'll buy all the apps or something. Seems more fun that than just giving it away. Of course, then I have to give the quarter collection to the idiots at Appleby's, so maybe not.

Anything else you're dying to know about me and my scintilating life that I haven't followed up on?


p.s. Someone asked me anonymously, way back when I was doing HCG, where I got my HCG from and evidently I didn't answer. So here is your answer now: I got it from an online pharmacy called alldaychemist.com. It was a good price and made in Switzerland, though the pharmacy was in India.