Wendy's Blog

On to the third phase with Unique U

Wed, 16 May 2012 22:12:00 GMT

Monday was the weekly visit to Unique U, including my latest weigh in. I had a number in mind that I wanted to be under...and I WAS (by one tenth of a pound!), so I let out a happy yelp before dismounting the scale. Twenty five pounds now gone!

I'm finished with the 5 week HCG phase and now on to the 5 week Ketosis phase, with very low (almost no) sugar which will cause a body to burn fat for energy instead of carbs or sugars from your diet. This concept is familiar territory with me from when I trained for a few marathons. Runners who run the long distances know about "hitting the wall" where your body runs out of the easily converted energy in your body and has to resort to burning fat for energy, which takes much longer to do, thus...the lag time in producing energy to run the race in the latter miles. So they refilled some of my vital supplements and off I went with my grocery list.

In this phase, I must keep my 3 meals a day under 2 grams of sugar per meal. Meats, even steak, are IN. But since I don't usually eat red meat, I'll still eat mostly chicken and fish. Also, green vegetables are key. This will be a bit more difficult for me (I will miss my fruit and Greek yogurt), but salad is agreeable for most (with low sugar dressing) and I love steamed broccoli. For snacks, I can enjoy string cheese, sugar-free Jell-o, even peanut butter.

Monday, I dug out some dress pants I hadn't worn in a long time...they were 2 sizes smaller than I was before starting with Unique U...but I put 'em on and zipped them right up! When I went in to work, I heard so many nice comments from my coworkers. It feels terrific...the compliments, the fact I can wear my skinny clothes again, the energy I have now...I'm overjoyed!

Thanks, Unique U! If you'd love to feel this good, check out one of their free orientations. They have those Wednesdays at 6pm and Saturdays at 10am. Call (513) 984-2700 to reserve your spot. Also, you can learn more by visiting www.UniqueU.com !

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Q&A with Wendy...topic - Unique U

Fri, 04 May 2012 23:08:00 GMT

Now a full 6 weeks into my experience with Unique U medical weight loss, I thought I'd answer a few of the common questions I get regarding the program. I'm currently in Phase 2, the HCG phase. I have a little over a week to go on this before I move on to the next: Ketosis phase. Let's address some questions:

Q: Wendy, don't you get hungry on a 600 calorie a day diet?

A: Mostly, no. Unique U has blended supplements that I take, like vitamins, 3 times a day. Also the HCG injections make it easier to get by with less food, too. Dr. Buchanan tells me that the HCG burns the abnormal fat once your body gets low on the regular "fuel" in your system. There are times when I'm out with my boyfriend and he orders a nice dinner and I choose to watch him eat it because I know I'd rather make my own meals so I get more "bang for the buck" as far as calories (since at home I use low fat, healthy options and most restaurants do not). Today I delivered the Ultimate Lunch Break to a Boone County School transportation and they graciously asked me to join them, but I declined. It didn't bother me to see plates of mac 'n cheese go by. But I WAS ready to go home and make something to eat!

Q: Do you ever cheat on the diet?

A: Nope! I'm proud to say I haven't cheated once. There were a couple of times I had to guess, both when I was at a restaurant and they didn't have nutritional information available, so I just did the best I could with what I've learned. That's a great thing about Unique U, though...you LEARN about your food quickly and can make better decisions in those instances.

Q: Where do you go for your check-ins?

A: Rather than being in some intimidating hospital or doctor's office, Unique U is located in a bright, beautiful office just off the Red Bank Expressway. They have a terrific, very friendly staff who double as your cheering squad!

Q: You mention injections...how often do you get those? Do you give them yourself?

A: In the first phase, you get a B-12 injection once a week during your check in at Unique U. It's administered by the staff. In phase two, you still get that weekly B-12 injection but you also add daily HCG injections which you give yourself at home. The staff at Unique U gives very detailed instruction on how to do that and the needles are so small you barely feel a thing. It's really no big deal at all!

Q: Having lost twenty pounds already, have you shopped for new clothes yet?

A: Not yet. For some unknown reason, I saved a bunch of cute clothes I bought back in 2008-09 that no longer fit. They do now...and I'm just having fun getting back into those for now. But I am looking forward to buying a few new things once I've graduated from Unique U. After all, I'm still losing lbs!

Any questions you'd like to ask about the program, fire away! wendy@wgrr.com

Check 'em out online at http://www.uniqueu.com/ and if you're curious, check out a free, no obligation orientation. They have 'em every Weds at 6pm or Saturday at 10am. Tell them Wendy sent you! (513) 984 - 2700

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A high-five kind of day at Unique U!

Tue, 01 May 2012 03:24:00 GMT

I wasn't sure if I'd lost much this week, but when Christina got me on the scale today at Unique U medical weight loss, it revealed that I'd lost another 6.2 pounds! Woot, woot! When Gayle came in to give me my B12 shot for the week, she also gave me a high-five. That's another thing that's great about the Unique U experience...the staff is wonderful...they are cheerleaders for you all the way.

So far, that brings me to twenty pounds gone! Dr. Buchanan noted that I was pretty close to my goal of losing 25 pounds, but if I felt like continuing to lose more than that, it's up to me. I say, "the more, the merrier!" Today I had so many people compliment me and it feels great to wear my smaller clothes again. I feel entirely different these days....energetic, optimistic, vivacious! I couldn't wipe the smile off my face while chatting with Dr. Buchanan today. He must really love this part of his job...making people feel so good and happy!

My boyfriend has been terrific through this. It's challenging to go out to dinner when I have to be so mindful of calories, but he'll whip out his smartphone and check calorieking.com to help me find out how many calories are in an entree. (www.calorielab.com is another great resource!) Usually, it's just much easier for me to keep track and get the most satisfaction out of the stuff I make for myself. But he's always eager to try the healty dishes I make and the other day he gave me a big hug and remarked that I felt so different he almost felt like he was cheating on me. He's a witty fella. He even punched in a new hole in my belt for me because my jeans were practically falling off while we were bowling.

If you feel you want or need to lose some body fat - whether a few pounds or a hundred or more - you can't go wrong by going to one of their free informational sessions. They have one every Saturday at 10am or Wednesday at 6pm at their offices off the Red Bank Exit. Give 'em a call, sit in on the orientation and see if you are ready to start feeling as fantastic as I do now. Tell 'em Wendy sent ya! Call 513-984-2700. And visit http://www.uniqueu.com/ for more success stories!

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It's like a closet full of long-lost friends...

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:54:00 GMT

Today I am wearing jeans and a sweater that were recently in my "to donate" pile because they no longer fit...too tight. That pile was getting bigger and bigger, but I'm glad that I didn't donate them just yet because thanks to losing almost 15 pounds already on Unique U's medical weight loss plan, they FIT again...easily. In fact, these jeans are roomy...I keep pulling 'em up. What a great feeling. It looks my pile of clothes to donate will grow again, only this time it will be because the clothes are too big!

I've been on Phase 2 of the program for 2 weeks now. It's 600 calories, which seems like very little. OK, it IS very little. But with the supplements and HCG injections ( the real, prescribed stuff, not the fake homeopathic stuff you find online or in bottles at some pharmacies), I don't feel hungry at all. I have plenty of energy to go dancing, go bowling, take long bike rides, etc. People chuckle sympathetically when they see how small my meals are, but I don't feel deprived one bit. It's not forever...just until I get to my goal weight.

One of my favorite things about this program so far (besides my clothes fitting again) - is that the guidelines and cookbooks given to me by Dr. Buchanan actually teach me to make healthy food that is delicious. Seriously. My boyfriend, Chris, likes to try what I cook up for my small 200 calorie meals. Almost always, he looks wide-eyed and asks "THIS is healthy?!? It's really good!" That's always nice because then he can eat the portion that I can't. lol

One of my best friends is going to the next orientation on Wednesday at 6pm. I told her I can't remember when I last felt this good and she's excited to get started right away. I'm excited for her because I know how great she's going to feel very soon. If you want to join her at the orientation, call Unique U at 984-2700. Sherry will mark ya down and you'll be on your way.

Any questions you'd like to ask me about it: wendy@wgrr.com

And visit Unique U's website also!

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Unique U - a whole month already!

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 23:59:00 GMT

Time is flying by. I thought this would be more difficult, because usually diet and exercise IS difficult, which is why so many have trouble doing it. With Unique U, they monitor you every week and between visits they give you all the ammunition you need to pull this off. Plus the injections and supplements help keep me from feeling hungry, while giving me energy to put in some exercise, too.

I've been taking more bike rides...Saturday 8 miles with my boyfriend and today another 10 miles before work. Other days, I'll take a brisk walk. Admittedly, I probably should use the weight machine in the basement more, but it's been so pretty outside lately.

People often ask "What about when you're off this program and you return to eating the way you did before?" My easy and honest answer is that I won't go back to eating the way I did before. Even though I think I ate pretty well before, I also didn't give much thought to portion size or low-fat options. I never counted calories and a lot of that is eye-opening, indeed. Once we're all done with the program, Unique U has a way of letting me know how many calories it will take to maintain my new weight. All I have to do is be mindful of calories/portion sizes and get my exercise in (which is easier with every dropping pound, by the way).

I only lost a pound last week, but Dr. Buchanan says that's normal for the first week of Phase 2. My body just has to get used to the HCG injections and the diet tweak. Plus, I didn't have much time for exercise last week. But I've never "cheated" on the diet yet! Not one trip to the snack machine (except to buy some sugar-free gum)!

You can learn more at: http://www.uniqueu.com/ and consider going to a free orientation Wednesdays at 6pm and Saturdays at 10am. Call Sherry at 1-513-984-2700 to reserve a spot.

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Unique U - onto week 3!

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:00:00 GMT

My weigh in was Monday and I lost another 5.7 pounds! Add my four pounds from the previous week and we're almost at 10. Right on! Last Friday, I had my first person (who didn't know I was doing this diet) take notice of my slimmer frame. She said "Have you been losing weight? You look great!" I *feel* great, that's for sure! I'm now wearing sweaters that were a little too snug only 2 weeks ago.

Now Dr. Buchanan has me on Phase 2 : the HCG part of the program. Some of you may have heard something about HCG diets. It's important to note that this is the doctor prescribed injectable HCG...the real deal. That stuff you can find online or in tablet form in a drug store is NOT the real deal...it's a waste of money. Don't be fooled by the label. The doc tells me that HCG is a hormone that is made by pregnant women and when used in small doses on non-pregnant people, it's said to help the body burn the "abnormal fat" or that stubborn fat that you can't seem to lose no matter how hard you exercise or diet.

So Christina showed me how to administer the shots (easy) and Kelsie took my blood pressure. Doc Buchanan laid out the next phase and sent me home with a bag full of supplements, info and books to help with the diet.

Speaking of diet, that's changed for this phase, too. My calorie limit is lower than before, but the range of acceptable foods opened up. I'm looking forward to trying some of the recipes that are in this book they gave me: "Hungry GIrl 200 under 200" (recipies under calories, that is). Another handy book they set me up with is called "the Calorie King calorie fat & carbohydrate counter." For such a tiny book (which can fit in a purse), it's jam packed with very helpful info, even fast-food chain info.

If you have any questions for me, you can email: wendy@wgrr.com

Unique U has free orientations if you'd like to learn more from the doctors themselves. Wednesday at 6pm and Saturday at 10am. Call 513-984-2700 to reserve a spot. And be sure to visit: http://www.uniqueu.com/

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week 2 - Unique U

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:36:00 GMT

Off to a great start!

Monday I had my first weigh-in and I'm already down FOUR pounds! (happy dance) Dr. Buchanan told me that while many patients lose weight in the first phase, the main focus during this first round is cleansing the body of toxins by adhering to a low calorie "clean diet," drinking lots of water and taking fiber.

I can tell you after the first week and a half that I just feel lighter and my body just feels different...better. I am learning about portion sizes and finding foods that I really enjoy that are (gasp) healthful! Now, I wasn't a big snacker before this...and honestly, I don't think my diet was too bad before I started this. I opted for whole grains, soy products, low fat options, Greek yogurt, stuff like that. And I already took B12 vitamins every day. But I've found a new favorite salad dressing (light raspberry vinegrette) and learned that I like pineapple chunks in my Greek yogurt. And you know those canisters of protein powder? I thought those were just for muscle-heads. But if you put that in some water and have it as a pick-me-up, it's a nice treat.

I feel extra room in my jeans lately and have started a little fund for a clothes shopping spree once I've reached my goal - losing 25 pounds (or more)!

Next free orientation at Unique U medical weight loss is Saturday at 10am. Call 513-984-2700 to reserve a spot and learn more about the comprehensive program. They are located just off the Red Bank Road exit.

http://www.uniqueu.com/

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Unique U - week 1: getting started!

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 23:20:00 GMT

After feeling more and more squeezed into my clothes over the past couple of years and my refusal to buy a new wardrobe one size larger, I decided I'd take a wonderful opportunity to try Unique U medical weight loss to help me lose a few stubborn pounds and get me ready for the pool this summer!

The first step was a consultation with Dr. Buchanan and Dr. Lutz to learn more about this program and how it could help me achieve my goals. I was blown away by how comprehensive the program is...and completely customized to the individual. They have a multi-tiered approach to fighting fat while maintaning muscle...very important, since muscle helps you burn fat, too. It doesn't matter if you just want to lose a few stubborn pounds like I do..or if you have hundreds of pounds to lose....Unique U will map out a physician-guided plan just for you. And they offer support groups, too.

My first step is a "nutritional detox" phase that lasts 2 weeks. Gayle weighed me, took measurements, took blood pressure, ran an EKG test on my ticker and gave me a B-12 injection to give me energy and boost metabolism. Then Dr. Buchanan introduced me to the detox diet, including LOTS of water, fiber, fresh fruits & veggies and lean protein (fish & chicken), plus supplements. I'll admit, I was a bit hungry the first 2 days, but I'm getting used to the lower calorie intake now. Just 4 days in, I feel lighter already...and my skin feels extra soft & smooth. Bonus! Part of the program is weekly tracking, in-person. I look forward to my weigh-in on Monday! Feel free to email with questions along the way: wendy@wgrr.com

You can learn more at: http://www.uniqueu.com/ and consider going to a free orientation Wednesdays at 6pm and Saturdays at 10am. Call Sherry at 1-513-984-2700 to reserve a spot.

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Thanks for the laughs and great tunes, Davy...

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:44:00 GMT

The Monkees had broken up by the time I came into the world, but thanks to re-runs, I enjoyed them throughout my youth, even taping episodes off of MTV in the 80's. My next door neighbor and I put Monkees records on the Fischer Price record player and pretended they were performing for us and we had front row seats. I even had finger puppets of Davy & Mickey...still have 'em.

Before he joined the Monkees in 1965, he was successful on stage as the Artful Dodger in the musical Oliver! first in London, then taking it to Broadway. One night, Ed Sullivan invited the cast to perform on his show...it just happened to be the SAME show as the Beatles first E.S. appearance: February 9, 1964. Davy has been quoted as saying that he watched the Beatles perform as he stood on the side of the stage...saw how they made the girls crazy...and decided he wanted to be part of that world.

To enjoy a very young Davy Jones, as the Artful Dodger singing a popular song from Oliver, click here.

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The day the music died

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:16:00 GMT

We know that Don McLean's "American Pie" was inpired by the events that occurred on February 3, 1959 when 3 music icons went down in a plane crash in Clear Lake, Iowa...but what do all the words mean? Here's a website that tells you, verse by verse: understandingamericanpie.com/index.htm

In high school, I remember one of my teachers giving us the assignment of figuring out the references in this 8 and a half minute long song...and keep in mind this was before we had internet access. Looking at the meaning of it all on the screen before me, I wondered how this teacher expected 17 year old kids in the 80's to know about a Dinah Shore ad for Chevy in the 50s (as just one example)!!

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