The Book That Changed My Life -- Do The Clearing

Book Description, as posted on Amazon:

"Whether it was through luck, serendipity, or some sort of divine intervention, you’ve found yourself here. Where is here? Here is where you take the life you’ve been living and turn it into the one you really want. Do the Clearing is your restart. It’s your chance to make important changes, to make things right, even to reinvent yourself completely. In these pages, John guides you through the 7 steps he uses with his clients to finding, and then letting go of, what’s holding you back. He shows you how to use your surroundings to gain an advantage and how to take the events from your past that have been pushing you toward failure and give them new endings that will inspire you to succeed."

About The Author, John Benz: 
"John went to his first Weight Watchers meeting when he was five years old. Thirty years later, he discovered a process that helped people lose weight and live happier lives like nothing he'd experienced before, a process he would eventually detail in his book, Do the Clearing. Today, John is a triathlete and IDPA Marksman, devoted to his clients, his dogs, and finding the best greasy spoon in whatever town he’s in. He spends most of his time coaching, writing, speaking, and traveling the country helping people do the Clearing." -Amazon Page

I read this book several months ago and continue to have an increasing appreciation for the author's system as times goes on.



Before I dive into my review on this book, let me just say that you do not have to be a minimalist to adopt or appreciate or even utilize and adore the system John Benz tells us about in Do The Clearing.

...The author's approach is incredible. 


The way the book is written makes it feel almost like having a one-on-one coaching session with an expert who seems very genuine. A gimmick-free self-help book that has had a lasting impact on me in so many areas of my life that I find myself incorporating his powerful techniques in more and more new ways, even all these months later.

The author knows how to deliver his message and self-help techniques in a way that will stay with a person for a lifetime, and in many areas of life. I felt like Benz's method and way of getting his message through were extremely well-laid out, professional, and simple enough that anybody can follow and apply the techniques in their everyday life.

I have to admit, it took some time for the authors' teachings to really resonate with me on the level that was intended. That's because as a person who tends to have a lot of... stuff  -- because I *might* need this old, outdated remote for a TV that I don't even have, or plan to have, in the future -- part of me was resisting the strong message to get rid of so much of my belongings.

In fact, even after all these months, I'm still learning. I found myself really resonating with his message just a couple of weeks ago when I looked around my bedroom and felt such a dreadful, overwhelming feeling at all the stuff. I mean, a lot of my stuff I *need.* Basically living out of my bedroom, which is pretty much what I'm doing at the moment,  is hard, so it's been difficult to honestly figure out what items should be gotten rid of. As someone who's accumulated a lot of stuff that I keep because either 1. it's too useful to just throw out (but not so useful that I'm actually using it), and 2. it's something I can't just give away for various reasons. For example, a huge box of various supplements I've accumulated but never finished. You can't give an open bottle of weight-loss pills to away, you can't donate them to charity, but it feels so wasteful to throw them away.

That type of situation has been very typical for me in this lifetime journey of really figuring out if you need every item you've accumulated.

A couple of weeks ago, long after I'd read this book and even forgotten about it for a short while, the message hit me and resonated with me stronger than ever.

That's what I like about the author's awesome approach and technique here. For the rest of my life, I'll likely have these moments where the message comes back to me and reminds me that I have to do something about the items I accumulate over time.

It's so easy to stash random objects that are, like I said, useful enough that you don't want to toss them, but not so useful that you find yourself using them on a regular basis.

But there comes a point where the author's words are such pure truth that you look at your accumulated stashes and think "yep, it's time." I had a kind of realization where I asked myself 'why keep any of this stuff that I've never even touched since I first got it? It genuinely felt bad when I saw it cluttering up my space, so what excuse could possibly justify keeping anything that doesn't feel good?'

The overall message the author is so perfectly portraying is that what we surround ourselves with, especially the objects and "stuff" that lives alongside us does have an impact on us. Our happiness, even things you'd never even think of -- such as weight! Or feeling insecure, or not being able to lose weight, or over-eating, etc.  For the first time ever, we're learning (thanks to John Benz) that the things we spend the most of our time with do impact so many aspects of our lives, including parts that are holding us back or keeping us unhappy.

I have to give him credit for this genuis discovery because this never would've occurred to me, but I'm finding (although somewhat reluctantly at first,) that his words are true.

We need to declutter our lives and really get honest with ourselves about the types of emotional responses we're picking up over the things we live with.

I'll admit that at first, I found it tough to relate something like a mirror hanging on the wall to something like being obese.

Benz not only tells the reader how this whole thing works and how to improve your life by using techniques to create a space that actually gives you power and happiness, but also shows you real instances through examples and stories of other people who took on this journey.

You'll find dozens of useful accounts of different people who Benz coached, some who were open to the ideas and techniques and improved their lives immensely as well as some who completely walked out on him when he mentioned the "Do the Clearing" idea/technique, then ended up resonating with it in such a positive way that they went back to him to share their life-changes.

As other readers of this book have said, once you are able to do some "clearing" of the items in your household that you know are holding you back, or contain something negative about them, it is quite freeing and empowering.

The only tough thing about this is actually finding it within you to apply the "clearing." It can be hard. It can feel impossible. You can even think hell no, I'm not getting rid of anything I own. But you'll definitely find yourself giving it thought.

If you're anything like me, every time you look at any object in your house, you'll ask yourself 'how do I feel when I see that?'

Answering the question can be a little confusing. There will likely be some items (or if you're like me, many) that you'll need to ponder on for some time, and that's okay. I've learned for myself that if it feels bad to put it in the trash, then that's probably an important sign to pay attention to as well.

I've allowed myself to ponder. To get certain before making the decision to completely toss something that felt important or that didn't feel thrilling and good to get rid of.

A little technique I've been using that seems to be helping me along immensely is going through my objects (especially stuff I've got stuffed in the closet or under the bed), and when I come to one that I simply can't decide on, or it doesn't feel "right" to just toss it, I'll set the object(s) out on my dresser or counter for a week or so. I make sure to place it somewhere I'll have to look at it multiple times a day, and each time I see it, I pay attention to how I feel about it. Is it cramping up my space enough that it's just downright irritating at this point? Can I move it somewhere else and enjoy it? If both of those fail, then I feel comfortable in my decision to get rid of it.

That's just one small additional technique that has helped me to really decide on many items that I simply couldn't get an answer to when asking "does this dolphin lamp make me feel powerful?"

This is not something you'll complete in one night, or probably even one week unless you're a minimalist, then it'll be pretty easy probably.

This is something you'll likely use for the rest of your life. Every time you look at your junk drawer, or see the stash of old electronics hanging around under your bed (or wherever you keep them.)

If you're like me and tend to have to really be convinced that you're better off (and that it IS OKAY) to let it go, then you may even need to take time before you can really answer whether or not some items are worth keeping or are holding you back in any way.

Once that really kicked in for me, I found it so easy (and thrilling) to fill up an entire trash bag!

Disclaimer: I am not a specialist, expert, professional or doctor of any kind. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with any company mentioned on this site. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's. I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advice of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.

Using Eggshell Calcium for Osteoporosis and Depo Provera Patients

How and Why I'm Using Cheap Eggshell Calcium as a Depo-Provera Patient (who wants to improve and maintain healthy teeth and bones)

About every 3 months when it comes time for me to receive Depo-Provera injections, I become filled with concerns over my dental health. I've been on this medication for 9 years -- since I was 15 years old. Obviously, that possibly puts me at risk for bone loss and osteoporosis, which in turn affects dental health, so I've actively worked towards taking preventative measures over the years.

If you folks have been reading Ribbons and Pearls for long, you're likely aware of my struggles through severe, debilitating IBS, accompanied by endometriosis for most of my teenage life, and in the last 2-3 years, an onset of insane dental issues.

The two stomach related issues caused me even more trouble in the area of my health because 1. my weight got down to 70-something pounds. 2. I was unable to eat a single bite of anything without having severe gastrointestinal and stomach pain that would leave me in bed for days at a time. 

Being sick like that for so many years -- especially since this was occurring during all of my teenage years, the ones that are said to be the most important when it comes to building healthy bones -- left me depleted of vital nutrients, electrolytes, minerals, and deficient in virtually every single vitamin.

I couldn't eat, so I couldn't obtain the nutrients, vitamins, minerals, etc. necessary for good health, or to help fight what felt like a raging alien invading my entire abdominal area (and uterus).

"Just take a multi-vitamin every day,"

"Or drink those Ensure things! Even Pedialyte," people would suggest, on the odd occasion that I did see human life other than my amazing love and two parents. 

Others would say "Gosh, I so wish I could get sick and be skinny without having to do anything!"

Yea, let me tell you, I too wish you could do this and while you're at it, take the problem away from me please! 

You go ahead and take this life of virtual non-existent. Most of my teenage years spent going nowhere but from a bed to the bathroom. Yes, please. Do take this "easy" way to skinny-ness. By all means. Because it's totally worth it. To be so ill that you think you're going to die before you ever get to experience spending time outside the home with your spouse. Never getting to see friends. Often having to call off every event imaginable because heck, who wants to be stuck in a bathroom at someone's fun party, or during a vacation to the beach writhing in pain and having bouts of painful...

Okay!

Let me just stop myself right there.

 I forgot how bitter I could get when I thought back on the times when so many have "envied" my "luck."

I didn't intend to go there at all, so let's just move on. You get the picture -- I was pretty much deathly sick. 

  A few years after living with those problems, I, inevitably, began experiencing dental health issues, which started with a wisdom tooth that broke, then another tooth, which my dentist recommended implants for, but sadly, I ended up getting a root canal instead as the implants would've been completely unaffordable.

I spent an entire year researching, experimenting, and documenting everything I did to improve my dental health right here on Ribbons & Pearls. 

I tried various calcium supplements, herbs, multi-vitamins, expensive supplements that left me in sticker-shock. Just for a simple 1-2 month supply of friggin' calcium!

I finally burned out and simply couldn't afford all the demanding "you absolutely must take this expensive-as-heck cod liver oil, and buy expensive groceries to remineralize your teeth and never touch any conventional foods again..."

Talk about head-spinning.

And while I'm not by any means demeaning the works, suggestions, and recommendations from the many experts who have given such advice (I've seen several people who blog their experiences remineralizing teeth using those methods), as hard as I tried, I simply could not afford to take on such a diet. Or even obtain the cod liver oil, for that shamefully embarrassing matter!

I went in search for "alternatives" to these expensive options. I found out about "eggshell calcium" from other health-bloggers who know far more than I do in the world of nutrients, vitamins, etc. 

So, when my mom made potato salad for Christmas eve, the same week after learning about eggshell calcium, I quickly snatched up her remaining eggshells, dumped em' all in a blender (that was already broken in two places... Now three. Oops!), and went to town.

The blender did not do the job. 

So my perfect nephews and significant other took turns with me crushing them in a bowl using nothing but a spoon (and occasionally experimenting with rigged, materials.)

By late-night, we were so sick of crushing eggshells that none of us could stand to look at them anymore. 

I even placed them in a baggie and went to town hammering down on them to make them more tolerable... or shall I say swallow-able.

It's not that they tasted bad, or at all. It's that not having them blended into a fine powder feels a lot like swallowing tiny glass shards without anything to drink. 

I was certain at one point that the very tiny, but not finely-powdered shells were scraping gashes into my esophagus as I swallowed.

So long story slightly less long and painful: That was the last time I bothered with eggshell calcium. I simply didn't have the proper food processor to turn the suckers into a fine powder, so I gave up.

And then, I went back in for my Depo-Provera shot this week and was reminded of how long I've been on it -- 9 years. I quickly felt the panic re-occur, creeping back up into my mind telling me "you're going to break your bones! You'll have osteoporosis at a young age. F--k the hard work involved and start chowing down on those damn eggshells!"

So, here I am. A full circle I have made and I'm about to attempt this experiment one more time, and hopefully find a cheap way to powder those eggshells so that I can use this super cheap method of getting plenty of calcium everyday.

I know, I should "invest" in a "good food processor," but honestly, that won't be happening just yet. Other things on the list to-get-asap.

However, since I've diligently shared every piece of information -- from oil-pulling, which yes, I do still practice, to eggshell experiments -- regarding ways to improve various health challenges, I decided I'd have to share this too.

This is the study I came across just today, and decided that I'd waste no time getting those eggshells smashed.

To be quick about it, here's a snippet from that study that totally sold me on eggshell calcium for increasing, improving, and just maybe, arresting the bone-density loss that may have already occurred: 

"A positive effect was observed on bone density in animal models of postmenopausal osteoporosis in ovariectomized female rats. In vitro eggshell powder stimulates chondrocyte differentiation and cartilage growth. Clinical studies in postmenopausal women and women with senile osteoporosis showed that eggshell powder reduces pain and osteoresorption and increases mobility and bone density or arrests its loss. The bioavailability of calcium from this source, as tested in piglets, was similar or better than that of food grade purified calcium carbonate. Clinical and experimental studies showed that eggshell powder has positive effects on bone and cartilage and that it is suitable in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis."

Plus, just one spoon of the powder is said to contain from 800 - 1,000 milligrams of calcium!

*Some recommend taking magnesium with the shells because it may further improve tooth restoration.

*It's also important to try your best to get Vitamins D and C, at least. They go hand-in-hand with calcium, and are required for proper absorption.

If you too are interested in making your own eggshell calcium to consume, then I recommend seeing this informative tutorial-style post on how to do just that, and more on why you may want to.

^*Source: National Institute of Rheumatic Diseases, Piestany, Slovak Republic. Rovenský J¹, Stancíková M, Masaryk P, Svík K, Istok R.

Simple Ways You Can Improve Your Air Quality for Better Health

Image source: Allabouthealth.org

Being a pet owner, and someone who suffers from allergies like crazy, I've been learning how to tackle and combat allergens in the home for the last several months now. Some of you may recall when I posted my experience trying an air purifier that plugs into the wall a few months ago. 

Maintaining quality air inside your house is complicated enough what with things like nature throwing pollen at you every once and a while, and that pesky dust that floats around in the air. 

Add a few pets to those typical air quality-reducing factors and it gets even harder. 

It just so happens that having a house full of pets (a wiener dog, 2 lovely cats, and a turtle that smells like pure sewage every 3-5 days) takes a lot of work if you want to keep the smells, allergens, dander, dust, and other cruddy air problems under control. 

So on my journey to try and get my air quality (and allergies) back under control, I've been experimenting with several easy and simple things you can do that's supposed to improve the air. Below are a few things I've found helpful. 

Helpful enough that I'm not sneezing my head off everyday when I wake up, if that tells you anything. 
 


Use HEPA

From HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arresting) air purifiers -- something on my to-buy-soon list right now -- to HEPA vacuum filters, using HEPA technology can help cut down on everyday allergens and asthma symptoms. HEPA filters are able to catch the tiniest of particles that cause us to suffer so much. That's why they're so popular today. 


Add Activated Carbon to Your Air Purifiers
Combine activated carbon with HEPA and you get a filter that'll not only remove those tiny, allergy-causing particles, but also reduce the chemicals, gases and even odors that are harmful to breathe.

Vacuum The Bed
Vacuuming is something you already know to do,  and something that's likely not necessary to put on a list like this one (I do not want to insult your intelligence, dear reader,) but I have noticed a fairly drastic improvement in my sneezing and sinus issues when I began vacuuming my entire bedroom every single day, and that includes vacuuming my bed! 

Pillows, sheets, covers. I take the vacuum and run it over all of that, right after running it over my hard flooring. 

If you do not have pets who sleep in your bed, you may not require such an extensive daily vacuuming, but if you've not tried vacuuming your bedding on a very regular basis (like I do, daily), then this added tip might be useful to you to try.

Adopt House Plants
Many common house plants are effective in renewing air, and they're nature's natural toxin and pollutant filters. 

I know, I talk about aloe vera here at Healthy, Happy, Wholesome like it's the panacea, the cure-all to all of life's difficulties and problems and stresses... 

Well, it basically is.

When I discuss aloe vera (which is frequent, I know), I always make sure to mention the plant's awesome air-cleansing properties. However, there are a few more plants worthy of mentioning in this department.

• Aside from aloe, Philodendrons, Spider Plant and Devil's Ivy are all also capable of removing formaldehyde from the air indoors, although according to NASA, Philodendrons are best at removing high concentrations of it from indoor air, while aloe is best for removing it in lower concentrations.

• Chrysanthemum and Gerbera Daisies remove the carcinogen benzene from air.

Reduce Your Usage of Smell-Goods!
I know, it's one of the toughest things to cut for many folks. 

Putting a stop to using your chemical-laden perfumes and cleaners that work so well sounds like a life of hell, right?

I mean that Scrubbin' Bubbles (or Foamtastic) stuff works like magic, right? 

I know, but if you're suffering from migraines and allergies and you're using these chemical-filled products often, then you might  want to at least try cutting some of it out.

I love my easy cleaners as much as the next gal. I mean, nothing cleans the shower/tub out like Scrubbin' Bubbles! 

But, these migraines won't tolerate it. 

So, use the products you can't go without, but try to replace a few (especially the rip-off air "re-fresheners" that are basically just a bottle of synthetic fragrances (chemicals) that are sprayed into the air. They're useless. 

Instead, try essential oils, which are safe, natural and allergy-friendly. Peppermint will leave a truly lasting, clean scent. Vinegar will too, and it'll remove and prevent mold! 

Even lemon is a natural cleaner. Tea tree oil is an anti-microbial and anti-bacterial that has one heck of a strong, clean smell. 

Prevent and Remove Mildew
...Speaking of vinegar, use it to prevent and remove mildew, too. Mildew is a cause of wheezing and allergy symptoms. 

Add a de-humidifier into the mix (which will also reduce dust mites), and you should be just dandy. 

Clean it Like You Mean it
Don't forget to clean out small, odd spaces like the inside of your air conditioners, air purifiers, vacuums, heater vents, etc. These places are notorious for harboring dust and crud without you noticing it. Vacuum them up, wipe them down, and you'll be taking your allergy fight one step further. 

Give Your Duct-work a cleaning
While it's not something I've personally gotten around to doing at this point in my life, as an allergy sufferer, if you've already tried most of the solutions available to you like those listed in this article, you can take it one step further and have your duct-work cleaned. The accumulated debris within duct-work can unfortunately wreak havoc on your air quality, and allergies.

There are companies out there that do this cleaning for you, using their own duct-work cleaning tools like what AeroSeal Solutions offers, which has a camera attached to the tool to see everything within the duct-work (and make sure that all the built up debris and fuzz and nasties are cleaned out.)

So what do you do to keep your air quality up and allergies down?

My Journey With Garcinia Cambogia (Summit Nutritions' Review)

With all the hype that has surrounded the ubiquitous appetite suppressant and fat-blocker Garcinia Cambogia -- and all the scrutiny, for that matter -- within the last year, my interest in this natural weight loss supplement has only increased over time. So, what better way to start off this new year (2015) than to try it myself?

To introduce you briefly, the Garcinia Cambogia supplement from Summit Nutritions' is natural, pure product that is "water extracted," so it's free of harsh solvents. It's also free of artificial ingredients, GMOs, soya, gluten, fillers, binders, milk, and sugar. Its ingredients and capsules are kosher certified. I love that I can expect actual purity, and know  that the manufacturer went above and beyond to produce a pure product, and leave out all those harmful ingredients. There are so many of them that are commonly found in supplements and even are food, so it's super nice to know that it isn't in this, at least.

All Summit Nutritions' products are "thoroughly and professionally formulated by a team of licensed Pharmacists and pharmaceutical chemists."

To further quote the label on the supplement's box, "only after exacting primary research of possible nutrient combinations, do we select the purest active ingredients and additives. Clinically effective dosages are determined and our unique formula is designed, based on the most up-to-date available clinical studies."

On one hand, I've been extremely hesitant about trying Garcinia Cambogia, mostly because 2014 featured constant news about the ever-growing scams by manufacturers and companies who caught wind of this new product on the market and wanted to make a quick buck off of the masses... by targeting their appearance, no less. We humans are constantly proving that the best way to take our money, no questions asked is to make huge claims that your product -- no matter how unrealistic it might seem --  can enhance our appearance in any way. But we're always holding onto the hope that perhaps it is possible, right?

Special thanks to Summit Nutritions' for allowing me the opportunity to put all my questions and fears to rest, and try Garcinia Cambogia myself!

With the promise of a safe, natural, quality product, manufactured in a cGMP facility, I was able to squelch some of the fears embedded into my subconscious by those horror stories that have been running rampant on the internet  regarding the use of Garcinia Cambogia.

With all that said, Summit Nutritions' products, including the Garcinia Cambogia sure sounds promising, and I'm so excited to have the opportunity to share my journey with a product that everyone seems to have questions about, right here on Ribbons & Pearls. So follow along while I start off by sharing the specifications such as what Garcinia Cambogia is, details on the specific brand I'm using and an on-going timeline documenting everything about my actual experience.

Note:

Keep in mind, using any supplement typically takes time to really get any ideas on what the results, effects and side-effects will be, so this will be a review that I'll update as I go. Updates on longer term reviews are posted under the title "update" at the bottom of the page. That is where I update with any new information regarding my experience with a product.

So, let's jump right in!

First, I'd like to elaborate on some important aspects of the Garcinia Cambogia supplement:

What is Garcinia Cambogia and How's it Supposed to "work?"

To put it briefly, Garcinia Cambogia is a tropical plant that blocks fat production, suppress appetite and even increase serotonin, which may help improve mood for some folks. It is primarily used for its huge weight loss properties.

The HCA is the active ingredient that blocks fat, keeping it from forming on your body while serotonin levels are increased, helping suppress appetite for some people, especially "emotional eaters."

Garcinia Cambogia not only "blocks" fat, but also "forces the body to burn existing fat to get energy." - Summit Nutritions, informational pamphlet on Garcinia Cambogia.

Another very interesting excerpt about how Garcinia Cambogia works:

"As you eat less, the body senses this and it releases stored fat from the fat cells, thus reducing fat from the body and resulting in weight loss."  - Summit Nutritions, informational pamphlet on Garcinia Cambogia.

Sounds like pretty intelligent stuff, this Garcinia Cambogia! Like they say, God really has put everything we could ever possibly need right here on earth. I never thought he took the need for weight loss into consideration, though, until now. That guy upstairs... I tell you, he never seizes to amaze me.

Why does this "HCA" matter?

HCA (HydroxyCitric Acid) is a derivative if citric acid that's found in plants like Garcinia Cambogia where it's extracted from the rind of the Garcinia Cambogia plant. It's the active ingredient, the ingredient that prevents fat from forming.

HCA modulates lipid metabolism. 

You may have noticed that Summit Nutritions' Garcinia Cambogia supplement says "85% HCA, enhanced formula, maximum strength" on box's the label. 

*Note: On this products' Amazon page, the HCA content is listed at 72%. I'm not exactly sure what to make of this... Perhaps the bottle I received is a newer formula or something since on the label, it says "enhanced formula, maximum strength," and the 72% listed on the Amazon page is referring to an older version? 

The HCA percentage (which should always be listed on the bottle. If not, then that's a huge red flag to NOT purchase the supplement.) basically stands for potency, to put it simply.

According to Consumer Survey.org  

and Consumer Review.org,

"an effective Garcinia Cambogia supplement should contain between 1,500-1,600 mg, with at least 60% HCA, and potassium to help with absorption-- and nothing else."

The Summit Nutritions' brand comes in at 1,500 milligrams of Garcinia Cambogia extract (daily amount, which is 2 capsules.)

At 85% HCA, the Summit Nutritions' brand exceeds the "at least 60% HCA" requirement laid out by the two sites above who thoroughly researched the many Garcinia Cambogia supplements on the market. So, in order for this stuff to actually meet its full potential (and actually give us results) it needs to fit those two criteria -- contain at least 60% HCA and 1,500-1,600 milligrams Garcinia Cambogia extract.

Note: Some recommend the daily minimum of 1,600 milligrams Garcinia Cambogia daily for maximum results. That means, one could take 3 capsules of the Summit Nutritions' Garcinia Cambogia without reaching the 3,000 milligrams, which the label warns against exceeding daily. So, I suppose this is something that may require playing around with for proper, individual dosage, although it should be done in extreme caution and carefulness. I will see how the suggested 2 caps a day go before upping  it to 3. 

So far, I really don't feel like I will need to go any higher than the 2 caps a day. For folks like me who do not require extreme amounts of weight loss, but only somewhere between 5-30, I would suggest just staying with the 2 capsules a day (1,500 mg) for at least a couple of months and only upping if necessary.

In one study, evaluating the safety and efficacy of HCA, participants used  between 1,500 and 4,667 milligrams per day and said "no adverse events were attributable to the intake of G. Cambogia." 

Source: Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of hydroxycitric acid or Garcinia cambogia extracts in humans. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2012;52:585-594

Note #2:  The Consumer Survey.org article states that an effective Garcinia Cambogia should contain nothing but the active ingredient and potassium. Potassium does not appear on the Summit Nutritions' Garcinia Cambogia supplement label, so it wouldn't hurt to make sure you're getting plenty of it elsewhere, whether it's through a multi-vitamin, diet or other supplement.

The article also mentioned that "recent studies have shown that it's possible calcium can work against absorption" of Garcinia Cambogia, and this one does contain calcium since it occurs naturally in the plant.Upon researching this myself, here's what I've found:

"Salts of (-)-hydroxycitric acid have been used in dietary supplements because thismodification may increase the stability of (-)-hydroxycitric acid and prevent it from being converted into its lactone form. However, the calcium and magnesium salts of (-)- hydroxycitric acid are slightly soluble in aqueous media and, therefore, poorly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract" (Clouatre & Dunn, 2002).

"The peak plasma level of (-)-hydroxycitric acid was 8.4:g/ml at two hours after the oral administration of 2 g of Garcinia cambogia extract (Super Citrimax™) to normal subjects, suggesting a limited efficiency of (-)-hydroxycitric acid absorption. (-)-Hydroxycitric acid was also detected in the urine." (Loeet al., 2001).

 That said, this particular supplement does in fact contain calcium. The label says it contains "naturally occurring calcium, from the Garcinia Cambogia fruit rind."

Product Specs:

Bottle came with 60 servings.

Active Ingredients :

Contains 85% Garcinia extract (Garcinia Cambogia) (fruit rind) [standardized to 70% hydroxycitric acid (HCA) = 750 milligrams.

Close-Up of the Capsules

Another Close-Up. What can I say, images are great and wonderful, and you can't ever have enough.

HCA stably bound to calcium and potassium salt: 525 milligrams.

Natural calcium from Garcinia Cambogia plant (fruit rind): 45 milligrams.

Sodium salt: 75 milligrams.

Other ingredients: Water Extracted, Traditional Ayurveda methods (no harsh chemical solvents used in processing).

Manufactured in a cGMP facility (Current Good Manufacturing Practice)

"Traditional Ayurveda method."

Quality tested against standardization of USP/NF. 

Pure, 100% natural

85 HCA Complex, "extra strength," as per the label.

Pure, natural, water extracted (no harsh solvents)

Made in the USA "with pride"

100% satisfaction guaranteed 

Kosher certified ingredients and capsules

No artificial ingredients, binders, fillers, sugar, gluten, milk or soy. 

Non-GMO

A natural source of calcium

How to Use Garcinia Cambogia

The label says to take one capsule two times daily with 6 ounces of water and 30 minutes before meals.

Health Benefits of Garcinia Cambogia

Aside from being an aid to help you meet your weight goals, Garcinia Cambogia also has its own health benefits.

A natural source of Calcium, naturally occurring in the plant.

Has been used in the treatment of various health ailments including rheumatism, toxin removal, menstrual issues, stomach disorders and intestinal ones such as parasites.  In Indian medicine, it has been used in the treatment of "dyspepsia,

tumors, ulcers, hemorrhoids,  diarrhea, dysentery, fever, open sores, and parasites. 

 It has been reported to be indicated for constipation, rheumatism, obesity, and high levels of triglycerides and cholesterol"

 
Source: (Duke et al., 2002; Mahendran & Shyamala Devi, 2001;

Springwater Beverages Ltd, 2003; Tru Health, 2003).

Thanks to a study done on rats, which was intended to monitor the appetite side of Garcinia Cambogia's effects, the results also suggested that it may  benefit folks with insomnia, migraines, depression, and serotonin-deficiencies. 

*I personally have suffered with migraines for as far back as I can remember. Even my childhood was filled with them, so I'll keep an eye out where that's concerned.

Some people have said that taking Garcinia Cambogia has provided them with relief from IBS-C (constipation.) One thorough example that was laid out by a man sharing his personal experience as an IBS-C sufferer who found relief through Garcinia Cambogia can be read here.

Possible side-effects:

Countless reputable sources report that so far, Garcinia Cambogia has not been shown to have any negative effects what-so-ever. Of course you'll want to take into account your own personal health state, pregnancies, and medications before diving into any new supplement.

However, according to Wikipedia, people who take supplements containing HCA can experience "gastrointestinal adverse effects." This is something I have to be very careful about, as someone who's battled through hell and back (and then back again a few times) with IBS/Candidiasis. 

On the other hand, Garcinia Cambogia has actually been used to help with many intestinal issues and stomach disorders including parasites, and even in the treatment of rheumatism in Hindu medicine. So, we'll see how the whole stomach thing goes & as always, I'll report back with whatever turns out for me.

Further Studies:

Study with rats given Garcinia Cambogia showed appetite control. (Source: PubMed.) 

For those of you interested in following my journey as I go, you can subscribe (only if you want) via e-mail to my blog or just keep an eye out for updates to this page. All updates on my personal experience and comments I might want to add regarding how I feel as I continue to use Garcinia Cambogia, and anything else that occurs including any changes in appetite, diet, weight, etc. will be posted here.

Also for those who will be following closely my journey, I wanted to include my goals and what I hope to accomplish by using Garcinia Cambogia. This way, you guys can better see where I get results and learn more about what you might be able to expect if your goals or desired results match my own or the results that I end up with. 

For an extensive list of even more studies, you can view this page.

My Goals/Why I'm Using Garcinia Cambogia and What I hope to Accomplish:

At the time of writing, my goal is to lose 5 pounds, for starters, off my lower abdomen area. This is the area I find tends to hold the most fat for me. Since I already follow a very great abdomen exercise routine daily, yet haven't exactly been able to fully flatten out that lower abdomen fat, I'm hoping and pretty confident that the Garcinia Cambogia supplement I'm taking will help me to accomplish that.

2. I tend to be a late-night snacker, and I have a hellish cravings for sweets that's almost uncontrollable at times. In fact, I have come to the conclusion that the fat I do have is most likely coming from the sugar snacking I can't seem to stop doing.

I hope that since Garcinia Cambogia is an appetite suppressant, I will benefit from this aspect and hopefully be able to gain more control over my sweet snacking habits. My realistic goal is to at least cut down half or close to half of this junk food snacking I do every night.

3. Additional hopes, things I hope that will also come as added benefits to using Garcinia Cambogia include: mood improvements, more energy and perhaps even more muscle mass or a more toned body. Some people have said that taking Garcinia Cambogia seems like it caused them to not only lose weight, but to also build more muscle. I'm not sure how factual this is, but people do claim to have experienced this as an additional result. That would be delicious icing on the cake for me if I could improve there and have more toned muscles. 

 My Results:

I'm still very new to this journey I've begun, so I don't have too much to report on the results side of things just yet. However, I can say that so far, I've completed day 1 and had a slight decrease in hunger, soon after dumping the powder of one capsule into my mouth (for the simple purpose of know what the powder itself tasted like.)

As Summit Nutritions' recommended, I took it with water, drinking about half a bottle of water as soon as I took the supplement. I was hungry, very hungry in fact as I'd only eaten 5 saltine crackers since 11 AM and it is now 2 AM, so hunger was almost uncontrollable and I did not expect to be able to quell this kind of hunger. I figured being so hungry, it wouldn't do anything to stop me from wanting to eat, but my desire to eat went from about 8 to 5. We'll see when the hunger returns before I eat.

Update: 1/18/2015

It's been a couple of weeks now since I started using Garcinia Cambogia, and so far, I have not noticed much in the way of any appetite changes. The very first time, I thought it seemed like I was significantly less hungry, and I was able to hold off on eating for hours. To be totally transparent with you guys, that may or may not have been some kind of placebo effect. 

As it stands, I haven't had some magical change in appetite or hunger, and I have not noticed a decrease in  cravings. I've also not seen any changes in my portion sizes. In other words, I'm still eating the same amounts I did before taking the supplement. I still get hungry all the same, and I still have cravings. My body doesn't seem to be requiring any less food, either. 

That said, it's still quite early in the journey, so those things could very well change. I might also want to take into account that the last week has been the time each month when I eat and crave foods the most. So, it's possible that in a few days, my appetite could very well start changing in some ways.

Don't worry. I'll be documenting the entire process, so stay tuned!

 Disclaimer: I was provided with samples by the company mentioned in my review, as a means to 'test' the product for myself.
 I am not a specialist, expert, professional or doctor of any kind. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with any company mentioned on this site. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's. I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advice of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.

Odd, but Awesome Gifts to Give This year

It's Christmas Eve, folks!

 

And since it's Christmas eve, I thought I'd share some of my favorite gift ideas. Being someone who enjoys giving the somewhat odd, but totally useful gift, I think some of you will appreciate some of these odd, but awesome gifts yourself, especially if you're frantically searching for a last-minute gift right now, like me.

 

1.  Give the gift of invention!

Do you know someone who always has new, invention-worthy ideas? The idea to gift someone their own patent for their own invention came from my dad and his creative inventions. Last year, my dad came to me with a very incredible invention idea he's had, and I have to say, it's genius. So the first thing I did was research how to go about patenting a product idea. I went through loads and loads of scams, but absolutely loved the idea of being able to give my dad the gift of a patent to his very own invention. 

Throughout my extensive searching, I found 2 Innovative.net who, to my surprise, has been working with inventors for over 20 years and they had a whole impressive list of the many things they help you with, including invention development, patenting, patent searches, patent applications and patent pending, licensing negotiations , prototyping, manufacturing, publicity and marketing among many other things involved in the tedious process of inventions. 

 

Compared to the dozens of other invention "services" I'd looked into, 2 Innovative.net seems to offer far more services. Since they not only help with the patenting and other first steps necessary, but they also help all the way up to the marketing process and even idea development, these folks seemed to me the perfect option.

 

I feel like I might be able to give a pretty extravagant gift to my dad without having to worry about his ideas and inventions not being taken seriously. I feel like 2Innovative.net will walk him through the process without leaving him hanging, or pulling a scam. It also helps to know they have 20 years of experience. 

 

So far, this will have been the best gift idea I've yet to come up with! 

 

2.  A Goat & 2 Chickens.

No, that's not a joke or a metaphor. 

 

It's literal. You can actually give a goat and 2 chickens as a gift. 

 

In fact, you can purchase virtually any farm animal, including a cow for $650. 

The kicker, or what makes this "gift" unique is how it works: you actually pay $100 for the goat & chickens and they go to a family in need. This is one of those charity gifts where you spend the money on charity and the loved on who was going to be the recipient of your gift gets honored by the charity. Sometimes you get a photo of the person/family who received the gift you purchased in the name of your loved one, other times you just get a certificate. Either way, charity options can allow you to really get creative while also giving to those in need, all in the name of someone you love! 

This would be a nice, heart-warming gift to the big hearted person in your life who's always wanting to help others in need.

If I were going to give a gift like this, I would include it as a "side" gift, not the only gift. I'd probably like to be sure I included a special, sentimental gift just for the recipient too, and let the charity gift be like an appetizer, a side dish.

3. A Telescope or Microscope

 

If like me, you have someone on your "to-get-for list" who aspires to be a scientist, or just loves to study the stars, moon, I can't begin to tell you how perfect of a gift a telescope makes. That is what I got for my love last year for Christmas, a telescope. I searched high and low, read everything I could on the subject of what makes a telescope "good."  I ended up being able to get him the telescope that had the best ratings of all of them, and I had no idea how many awesome sights (and nights!) that gift would provide the both of us. 

 

In fact, I never had a use in a telescope. Didn't think I'd care to look at the moon or stars up close. I've been looking at them from this far away for all my life, so why would they be any more interesting up close? That's what I thought until I got behind the lens. 

 

Turned out we both have had amazing moments with his telescope, and it's one of the best gifts I've ever given him. 

 

I, on the other hand, have had a little interest in using a microscope for a long time now. It's not a must-have and I'm certainly no scientist, but there have been several times that I've caught myself saying "man, I wish I could look at this through a microscope!" 

 

I actually saw a kit that came with both a telescope and microscope tonight while out doing some last-minute Christmas shopping and thought how perfect that would be for someone who was interested in both! 

What are the best, or most unique gifts you have ever given or received?