valleygirl123: Welcome! I started at QLP2 (219lbs) and when I started hovering around 190 and not moving they dropped me to the QLP1. I don't find it's too much food but I also find that I've NEVER hungry! I eat three meals and two snacks most days and it is working great for me. Everyone is different and if you're finding it too much food maybe consider going for the more dense foods. For example 1 Veg = 1 Cup broccoli or 1/2 Cup squash. 1 Dairy = 1/2 Cup Cottage Cheese (but it's only 1/2 a Protein if you use it as a P). What category do you find you're having the hardest time getting them all in for a day? We can probably all make suggestions to eat less and still fulfill your plan.

[Tamara[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the advice Tamara. I'm having the hardest time getting all my veggies and starch in. I've never been a great fan of veg so I have a very limited choice of veg that I enjoy eating (a girl can only eat so many salads before she turns green lol). I do enjoy root vegetables like sweet potato, yam, turnip and carrots so I will give your idea of using more dense vegetables a try. My favorite veg are red, green and yellow peppers so I try to add as much of those as I can into my pasta sauces, wraps or salads, grilled on the BBQ or raw as a snack or with hummus to use up a starch and a protein. The hardest is only having 1 dairy - mmm I love cheese and yogurt and it's hard to choose between the two.

My other problem is that I commute and my husband gets home much earlier than I do so he does the largest majority of the cooking. I'm having the hardest time getting him to discuss with me what he has planned for dinner so that I can plan my breakfast, lunch and snacks accordingly. It never fails that if I have cereal for breakfast and a wrap for lunch - he makes potatoes for supper. UGH! As a result I usually avoid starches all day and then I spend the evening trying to make them up "just in case".

Because I commute 3hrs/day, I use to keep snack bars in my purse for days I got stuck in traffic and needed something to hold me over until dinner. I find the HM bars taste like cardboard. Does anyone have any suggestions for portable snacks or bars that I can keep in the car for emergencies that are still on program?

valleygirl123: I almost always split my dairy into two.

3oz Yogurt
1 slice fat free cheese
1/2 oz shredded low fat block cheese
1/4 cup cottage cheese
4 oz Skim or 1% milk

all of those are only 1/2 dairy so I can take two a day. The dairy limitations are definately one of the harder things to adjust to. I can't wait for stabilization to get another dairy! LOL

I do all the cooking so I can plan sometimes an entire week in advance. I would ask your hubby if he's making potatoes with dinner to make you yams/sweet potatoes and then you can use them as a veg and make up the starch later with something yummy like popcorn or 1/2 bagel.

I really like the HM bars that count as 1 Protein. Maybe you can use just half of one? Also, it's amazing how 1/2 oz of Cashews or almonds can calm a girl's hunger and many of us are always trying to figure out how to get two fats in a day.

Just some suggestions...maybe others have some ideas!

Hello? (echoing) Is anyone else here? LOL

I had a great weigh in today and was down to 176.2. I won't make the 160's by the end of August but I will by my birthday for sure I hope!

Tamara

Sorry I haven't been around much, I have wedding on the brain! 7 days to go!

I was also wondering if anyone found a protein bar that is equivalent (or better than) the Herbal Magic ones. I like the taste of the Caramel Nut one and the Coconut one isn't bad either. But they are soooo expensive! Sometimes I don't have time to plan a meal and I like the option of grabbing a protein bar, but the Herbal Magic ones aren't very sensible.

Limiting my dairy intake was the hardest for me when I started as well, but I agree with splitting them. It feels like cheating.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Hello everyone. I had my wi today and I'm down 8lbs and 9" since starting 4 weeks ago. I feel great and people are starting to notice which feels wonderful.

I've taken your advice Tamara and starting snacking on 1/2 oz unsalted nuts. It's surprising how filling they are and they really help with nasty constipation I've had since starting the program. You would think that all the fibre in the veggies would keep things moving!?! I haven't had to use a softener since adding the nuts to my daily regime so it has been a great help.

Thanks again for all the great ideas.

Valley Girl

Good luck on you big day Stella. I just know you will look amazing.
Valley Girl

Sorry for not checking in for so long...busy girl am I!

Stella4: I hope your wedding was amazing and you're having a terrific time on your honeymoon!

Valley Girl: I'm glad to hear that the nuts helped moved things along...LOL I have nuts at least 5-7 times a week and find that they help alot to tide me over when I'm feeling hungry between meals and don't have a planned snack.

I'm stuck at 174.6! Haven't moved in a week! Oh well...still lost 1" at yesterday's WI so am down 62.5" which is awesome.

We bought a new truck and trailer on the 27th of August and took it camping that weekend. We're off again tomorrow afternoon for the long-weekend. Hope everyone has a nice three days off.

Tamara

Hi
I am hoping somebody will tell me about H Magic. I don't have one close to me so I was wanting some information about it before I make the trip.
What is the plan? Are you really limited to what you can eat?
Do you have weekly meetings?
What are F/B's and S/B's? and can you buy the chromagic in stores? Are they supplements to speed metabolism?
What makes this work? I see alot of success here

thanks,
salsa

Hello everyone....Where is everyone lately?

Had my wi in last night. Down 11lbs and 13" and got my magnet WooHoo Even better than that, I'm am now well below the obese category for my BMI. Doesn't overweight sound so much better than obese??lol

Salsa: I know it's frustrating when deciding if you want to sign up and you can't get the cost of the program out of anyone. The truth of the matter is everyone is different. Different goals, different health concerns different amounts to lose so as a reasult the cost is different for everyone. You really do have to go to a consultation (it's free) and have them review the program that suits your needs and tell you the cost. As for food limitations, you will hear that "it's not a diet - it's a lifestyle change" and that's the absolute truth. You eat your own store bought low sugar, low salt foods. They give you a very helpful book that explains how much protein, starch, fruit, vegetable, dairy, fat and free exchange (your treat) you should have each day. For the first couple of weeks you spend a lot of time weighing and measuring your food (ie 4 0z chicken = 1 protein, 1/2 c sweet potato = 1 veg, 1 small potato = 1 starch, 1 banana = 2 fruit). After a while it just becomes routine and you don't really think about it any more. I never feel deprived, I can even have a glass of wine on the weekend (my free exchange). In fact, I must have been starving myself before because I now eat more food than I ever have and am losing weight. I guess my metabolism needed the extra food to give it a kick in the butt.

Well I hope my rambling made sense to you Salsa. There are a lot of more experienced people on this blog that could give you more info than I can (My start date July 26) but I haven't heard much from them lately. Good luck and let us know how your consultation goes.
Valley Girl

Hello Ladies!

So long since my last post...things have been so hectic.

We're camping again this weekend...in the mountains, brrr! LOL

I hope everyone is doing great! I'm a slight 2lbs away from 60lbs! I'm really excited about it and have just purchased a weider home gym (on kijiji) and a bunch of exercise dvd's. I'm pretty sure I'm going to see a drastic difference once I get active. I've been talking about it for so long and have done really nothing about it. Now is the time! I just had my birthday last Saturday and had a not great food weekend, but still managed to maintain. It's amazing what HM does for a person's metabolism! I'm determined to hit the 160's by next Friday, despite camping this weekend.

My goal is December 22 and I'm determined that 2011 will be the first year in my adult life that my goal WON'T be to lose weight! I have lots going on over the next month but will try very hard to keep up with everyone on here!

valleygirl123: You're doing amazing! Let's hear how everyone else is doing as well.

Cheers, Tamara

I'm back!!!

Wedding was amazing! Everything went great and it was so much fun! We went to Cuba for our honeymoon and had a blast! Swam with dolphins, snorkeled, swam everyday... it was paradise.

Gained a little bit of weight while I was away, but it was so worth it. Finding it a little hard to get back on track, but I just have to adjust my mindset.

Hope everyone else is doing well! Congrats tamaraj on being so close to goal!

Im new here, My names Kelli, Im 24, Have a 2.5yr old son and I weighed 220lbs at the beginning of the week. I am now down to 211 so Ive lost the first 9lbs this week!! Yay me.

I joined Herbal Magic because I am a diabetic and I have PCOS. Weight loss even with exercise has been near impossible, but here I am finally losing!

I joined because I have 100lbs to lose and my friend Sarah lost 100lbs and has maintained it for over 2yrs now.

Im 5'5 and was recently in a car accident so exercise isnt even currently a real option... So far Im feeling positive

I only wish this was a private forum so we could share pictures.

Gosh I feel like I'm a deserter! Sorry I haven't been around...so much going on!

I'm still sitting at 170lbs (down 60lbs) but this morning my home scale weighed me at 169 so I'm excited to see what I'm at tomorrow at HM as their scale generally weighs me lower!

Stella4 So glad to hear that your wedding was great and you had a good time on your honeymoon!

BabeKins Welcome! Sounds like this may be just the plan that will work for you! You're doing amazing so far and I can't wait for an update from you to see how things are progressing.

I had a fabulous time in Mexico last month and then came home and had my back tattoo done (reward for losing 60lbs). If anyone wants to see it just look for me on Facebook (Tamara Jansen). BabeKins if you add me we can share photos there!

I've had my goal revised and my new goal date is April 6, but I'm determined to get there by mid-march (1 year anniversary at HM). I'll get back to bootcamp after the holidays and should be in good shape for summer this year!

How's everyone doing?

Cheers,
Tamara

Sadly my update is both Happy and sad...

After I posted the Green Tea supplement I was taking caused my Liver to start failing... Apparently I am Green Tea sensitive, which sounds ridiculous to me but the hospital trip after collapsing was very scary.

I took about a month off the lifestyle and then went into my Centre and spoke with my consultant. I had had phone conversations with them leading up to my return. They checked everything over for me and revised my plan.

I am now on QLP D4 and taking Vitamin B fat Blockers, Grape Seed and Chromium.

I am Blogging My experience, and it's helping me stay accountable to myself.
I have fallen off the wagon for days 2&3 but tomorrow is a new day and I look forward to it.

I failed to meal plan and so tomorrow Im going to ask for help doing so.

Im starting at 220 again but I know I'll get back down again

Tamara Jansen ... There are SOOOO Many people with your name! I have no idea how to find you.

Kelli O'Ceallaigh... Im probably easier to find.

Well... Happy New Year everyone. I'm here...I'm back...and the results aren't great.

I stopped HM in April 2010. I was very active until Feb 2010.
I torned ligaments in my hand and couldn't do kickboxing (which I was doing twice a week), stopped my yoga (couldn't use my hand for support),... I continued running for a while...until my mom moved at my house when my parents separated at the end of April.

My life became a turmoil...very emotional... unstable... and I turned to my best friend - food. Then came August and my grandma fell and was hospitalized for 1 month and had to be cared for for another 2 months at home. Again, I forgot myself and simply wanted to eat...

I had gained only 10 pounds...and then 15 pounds... but now, I fear... that I'm close to 30 pounds...

I can't beat myself up...but I can open my eyes and SEE...

It's been a hard year for me...but this year will be a year of new beginnings!