In a small bowl, thoroughly combine all the spices. Remove giblets from chicken, clean the cavity well and pat dry with paper towels. Rub the spice mixture into the chicken, both inside and out, making sure it is evenly distributed and down deep into the skin. Place in a resealable plastic bag, seal and refrigerate overnight.

When ready to roast chicken, stuff cavity with onions, and place in a shallow baking pan. Roast, uncovered, at 250 degrees (F) for 5 hours. After the first hour, baste the chicken occasionally (every half hour or so) with pan juices. The pan juice will start to caramelize on the bottom of the pan and the chicken will turn golden brown. If the chicken contains a pop-up thermometer, ignore it. Let chicken rest about 10 minutes before carving.

Makes 4 servings.

*My Notes* – There are a few moderations to this recipe that I’ve done and enjoyed. 
1. I’ve used less cayenne pepper (1/2 tps) so that my kids will eat it. 
2. I’ve used a 4 1/2 pound chicken, and it’s still been cooked through.
3. I’ve pulled the skin away (gently) from the meat, put the seasoning in between them and cooked as ususal.  That way the seasoning gets into the meat and I can still enjoy skinless chicken.

“I have never really had to diet much or worry about dieting to lose a little weight. I maintained the same weight most of my adult life, which was in normal range for my height and build. I am very active; I run long and short marathons, walk, hike, golf, ski, cycling, etc. on a regular basis. However things changed. I have a very stressful career and know that stress had taken a toll on my body by contributing to my weight gain, as well as negatively impacted my general health the last 10 years. 5 years ago I had both my thyroid glands removed due to thyroid cancer. I gained about 15 lbs during that whole process. I could never get rid of the extra weight. I tried exercising like a maniac, used a personal trainer and such. I’d loss a few lbs, and then it would come back. Then 1 year ago had to have a full hysterectomy with both ovaries removed. I was thrown into surgical menopause and gained about 8-10 lbs overnight practically. Now I was pushing 20-25 lbs overweight.

I knew some friends who tried the HCG weight loss program and they were very successful. Through a professional contact I met Dr. Porter. I spoke with him about the HCG I-deal Weight Loss plan and decided to give it my all.

I am in the middle of my 10th week on the plan and have lost 24.5 lbs. to date. I hope to lose 30 lbs. total by week 12, but if not, I may do one small round of HCG again later this spring to get that little bit of weight off that’s left. I have now surpassed the lowest weight I have been in more than 12 years. This morning I checked my measurements against where I started at. I have lost 40.5 total inches in the 10.5 weeks. I lost ½” from each of my arms. Lost 4.5″ from my breast area. Lost 5” from my waist. Lost 2.5” from my hips. The biggest loss came from each of my thighs. I lost an amazing 14” off each upper thigh. I checked and double checked my numbers because I could hardly believe it myself. My mentor Lisa tells me that this is exactly what the scientists say the HCG will do for you. Even if you don’t see lots of weight loss, you should see inches gone. Anyway, I know it’s true that my legs and butt are this small because even my smallest pants and shorts in size 8 are baggy on my legs and butt area. I had to buy a pair of size 7 jeans yesterday so I had something to fit properly. I have started filling up a large computer box to go to donation of all my old clothing in size 10-13. I don’t plan on needing them again.

My mentor Lisa has been a huge part of the success of this program. I didn’t think I needed her. I didn’t think I needed anyone to help me along as I am very independent, but I was wrong. She was there for me everyday. She helped me keep my head down and focused on the goal, but I personally took on this program one day at a time and never thought further ahead than just the one day ahead of me when I woke up in the morning. When I get through week 12, I will send before and after pictures and update on my final progress.”

So, I’ve made a mini list of some places and products online that are “organic” and/or “oil/fat free” for those who want to order online rather than hunt in their local stores as well as some brands that I have checked the labels of.  Always be sure to check the labels to make sure that you’re following the protocol of your choice.

Organic Products (may contain oils/fats)
choicenutritionals.com
jksoulsalts.com
evo.com

Individual Products or Brands Not Containing Oils/Fats
TRESemme
Pantene
Ivory Soap
Baking Soda (can be used as deodorant, toothpaste…even shampoo! – Mix in a little water, paste it up, massage it in, & rinse)
Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream (drugstore.com)

Beware of great products that can fool you.  For instance, Burts’ Bees chapstick is wonderful, but it contains lanolin.  Also, be aware that the gum that’s currently in your car or purse probably contains sugar.

You don’t have to have a high IQ or a college degree to be wealthy, and you don’t have to have “good genetics” to be slender.  If that was the case, everyone with a college degree would be rich but statically most of them end up in the same financial situation as 95% of the population.  And no one would be slender, because most of us do have an “Uncle Ugly” somewhere in our family tree, and that same genetic code is carried in us.

Remember to make your goals realistic and obtainable.  When you begin to define what your goals are, make them specific.  A vague idea of a goal such as “I want to keep off the weight I just lost.” probably won’t get you the results you would like.  Sure that can be the overall general idea of your goal – your goal in a nutshell, but something like “I want to maintain the same weight for 1 year.” or, “I want to stay a size 8 for 1 year.” gives you the ability to monitor yourself on a monthly, weekly, or daily basis.

Setting up mini goals on your way to your master goal is a great way to check your progress and learn from your recent mistakes.  Re-evaluation is always necessary no matter what your goal. 

Stay positive and remember that everyone has setbacks!  Our brain cannot entertain both positive and negative thoughts at the same time.  Staying positive and finding solutions to your obstacles will make you stronger.  Be watchful for people who may unintentionally sabotage your goal.  They’re the friend that says “Oh, go ahead and have another cookies, you exercised today!”  Keep your eye on the prize!

We wish you good health and happiness!

Consumer Reports recently surveyed over 21,000 readers about their lifetime weight history and their eating, dieting, and exercising habits.  Two of their categories were “surprisingly” alike in their habits; those who had always been slim, and those who had successfully lost weight and kept it off.  So how have they kept it off?  The article gave 6 “secrets” that really are just common sense type of things that you already know…the challenge is continuing to do them.  They are:

· They control their portions.
· They limit their fat intake.
· They eat fruit and veggies every day.
· They chose whole grain over white.
· They eat at home more often than not.
· They exercise regularly.

So basically take everything that you’ve learned through your I-Deal Essentials journey and keep doing it!  That’s the key to living a healthy lifestyle. 

To view the full article from Consumer Reports, click here.

We wish you good health and happiness!

So, let’s say that if you use hCG for the 28 day cycle, if you use the injection method of only 125 units per day, and if you don’t break protocol (meaning you stay on your 500 calorie diet, and eat only the amounts and things you’re allowed). You should lose roughly 1 pound per day average.

That’s average, mind you. When I did my first cycle of hCG, there were 3 or 4 days where I wouldn’t lose anything, then I’d drop 7 pounds overnight. That happened quite a few times actually.

Another scenario would be if you use hCG for the 28 day cycle, if you use sublingual (held under the tongue) from I-DealWeightLoss at a dose of .25 ml, and if you don’t break protocol (meaning you stay on your 500 calorie diet, and eat only the amounts and things you’re allowed). You should lose slightly less than 1 pound per day average on this diet.

Just for comparison’s sake, if you lose 30 pounds in a 28 day cycle with the injections, you’ll lose 27 pounds using the sublingual method during that same cycle. So the difference is negligible.

Hope this helps!

We wish you good heath and happiness!

When your mind is stressed it takes it out on your body. Tension headaches, sore muscles, poor sleep add up quickly and it’s not long before they affect nearly every aspect of your life.

I have kids. And I now realize what my mother meant when I was a kid and she said that “Sometimes ‘Mom’ should be considered a four-letter word!”. My husband is responsible for the work of over 20 employees at this company. We both have stress, just different kinds. Stress can be found everywhere, everyday. And we’ve all heard that long term stress can result in a poor immune system. Anyone want to be sick? Nah, I didn’t think so.

Of course, you can’t take a bubble bath while waiting outside the door to your child’s dance class. And meditating in a cublicle with people surrounding you might prove a little difficult. But there are moments; in an elevator, at the stop light, on your lunch break that I’m sure you could find a few minutes for yourself. Close your eyes, take a deep breath and relax for a few. You and your health are worth it!

We wish you good heath and happiness!

It gave me a 5 week long week-by-week baby steps plan to clean out my pantry and kitchen of refined foods and replace them with whole and organic foods. It made the transition to eating better before I started hCG a lot easier.

As a matter of fact, those 5 weeks of “trying” to eat better and taking supplements were so great, I lost 16 pounds before I even started my hCG round.

And my taste buds have not only acclimated to eating this way, they now want to! One of my “naughty” treats that I’d eat beforehand was peanut butter with chocolate chips. After I had completed the program, I was having one of those stressful days that had me just aching for a chocolate and peanut butter fix. I gave in. I pulled out some baking chocolate chips and the peanut butter I kept for my kids (before my hCG cycle I had been converted to almond butter, but the nostalgic memory of this “fix” demanded peanut butter). After a few bites I realized how much I am not a fan of peanut butter now, it’s definitely not my almond butter.

Taking small steps and giving yourself time to adjust is what I think is one of the key components to changing your lifestyle to be a healthier happier you. That’s why the program at www.i-dealweightloss.com was so great for me, it showed me how to change my eating habits so that I not only keep off all of the weight I just lost, but I’m able to keep my body feeling “clean” and healthy.

We wish you good heath and happiness.

Honey Cilantro Shrimp Soft Tacos
1 tsp. canola oil
1 large onion, sliced into strips
2 bell peppers, sliced into strips
3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 jalapeno (remove seeds if you don’t like it hot.)
1 1/2 lb. precooked cocktail shrimp, tails removed
4 tbsp. honey
3 tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tsp. coriander
2 tsp. cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
Whole Wheat Tortillas

Warm oil in skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, bell peppers, and jalapeno. Cook until onions are transparent, about 5-10 minutes. Add shrimp and cook only until warmed through. (The longer they cook, the more they lose water and shrink.)

If you see a lot of water at the bottom of the pan after cooking the shrimp, drain mixture in a colander, return to skillet and stove. Lower the temperature of the stovetop to low. Add cumin and coriander, salt and pepper to taste.
In a small bowl, combine honey and chopped cilantro. Place shrimp mixture in tortilla and top with a spoonful of the honey mixture. You can top with salsa or sour cream if you wish. Enjoy!

*My Notes:
I use pre-cooked shrimp for ease, but if you prefer to use raw, cook them with the onions.

These tacos can be pretty messy, so you may prefer to eat them with a fork and knife.

Do not add more honey than the recipe calls for, once tacos are assembled, the warm shrimp mixture melts the honey, so a little goes a long way!

Nutritional Info - 4 Servings

Nutritional Info - 6 Servings

The answer: Nothing out of the ordinary.

The following was taken from Dr. Simeon’s “Pounds and Inches”. This weight loss method is so effective, that even after 4 decades of new knowledge and research, very few changes have been made.

“It cannot he sufficiently emphasized that hCG is not sex-hormone, that its action is identical in men, women, children and in those cases in which the sex-glands no longer function owing to old age or their surgical removal…it never virilizes a woman or feminizes a man. It neither makes men grow breasts nor does it interfere with their virility, though where this was deficient it may improve it. It never makes women grow a beard or develop a gruff voice. I have stressed this point only for the sake of my lay readers, because, it is our daily experience that when patients hear the word hormone they immediately jump to the conclusion that this must have something to do with the sex- sphere. They are not accustomed as we are, to think thyroid, insulin, cortisone, adrenalin etc, as hormones.”

We wish you good health and happiness.