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Thursday, July 31, 2014

HCA Weight Loss Journal- Why I'm doing it

I have been working hard for 2.5-3 years to finally once and for get down to a healthier weight and feel better.  I started by running and juicing almost 3 years ago.  I managed to lose weight that way but never kept it off.  I would typically take months to lose the weight and then gain it back while on a business trip or during the holidays.  Britt and I have slowly evolved our eating so that our body craves healthier foods.

I started training for a 5k in March 2014.  I had a very busy work schedule so even though I was running regularly I gained weight from about 246lbs to 266lbs from March-June 1st.  After my 5k I had an opportunity to stay home for a few months so I rededicated myself to healthier living and found a workout partner, Josh, who was as motivated as I was to get in better shape.  We started doing a mix of long runs, short runs, body weight exercises (push-ups, squats, burpees, sit-ups, etc.), and CrossFit inspired weight training.  Josh and I averaged working out 5-6 times per week in June and he lost about 10lbs and I lost about 5lbs.  I don't want to discredit josh, but I had been working out before we started and he was just starting so he seemed to be able to lose weight quicker even though we were doing the same workouts and eating similar foods.  Josh and I continued this through July and I lost an additional 5 lbs or so and Josh lost an additional 3-5lbs or so.  So, July 30th 2014 I was at 257lbs.  5 lbs per month, not bad.

However, I started getting frustrated because it felt like I was hitting a plateau.  So, I decided to do some research to find if I could find a "natural" supplement that has very low or "no" risk but can help accelerate fat loss without sacrificing muscle.  I was specifically looking for something that was clinically tested and approved as a natural weight loss supplement.  I ran across an article on the Forbes website (see below) that described HCA as a natural supplement to help burn fat and suppress your appetite.  It is made from a plant grown in Southern Asia.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/melaniehaiken/2012/10/01/7-new-weight-loss-supplements-that-really-work/

It is never good to rely on just one blog post since anyone can write it, but Forbes seems like a reliable source so I decided to research it further.  I read about the clinical study and found that it is legit.  I then ran across the Dr. Oz recommendation for "Garcinia Cambogia" and I thought it was probably worth a try.

Please note: I have never done anything like this.  The only supplements I have ever taken are vitamin C, B12, and a pill for joint movement.  I typically don't take any medicine and I am generally very healthy.  I probably take a handful of Tylenol a year, and that is it.  Needless to say, I was skeptical but I felt safe trying it since the risk seems almost non-existent.

So, I plan on posting as much as possible to provide a record on my results.  As I said, I have been focusing on losing weight long enough that I have a really good gauge on my body.  I spent 2 months straight of working out 5-6 days per week and an escalated diet regimen prior to starting this experiment.   I started at 257lbs (I gained a lbs while on a recent business trip) and will record my daily loss or gain so others can determine if they would like to invest in this supplement.  My diet will include daily natural juice that we make out of fruits and vegetables.  In general, I will keep a very similar diet to what I have done over the last two months so I can gauge the success or failure of the supplement as accurately as possible.  I will post my first day results in a separate blog post.

Cheers to better health!

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