For those of you using Dr Koo’s HCG diet management protocol, we have a new
delicious low calorie recipe for the summer for you!! After you have used the
HCG weight loss drops for at least 1 month then you can try this recipe. Count
the total calories depending on what you substitute for ingredients and apply
that number to your total calories for the day.

This is a delicious taste treat that will satisfy your need for some flavor without
piling on unnecessary calories.  If you are on maintenance for the HCG weight loss program, this will be a
delicious low calorie recipe you can modify and continue to use. 

This recipe has become a favorite on the weekends during the summer with a lovely refreshing
lemony flavor. Try it this coming weekend for the 4th of July and let us know how you like
it!!

                     Lemony Herbed Miracle Noodles with Tomatoes, Olives and Feta
 
2 bags of angel hair, fettuccini or orzo Miracle Noodles
3 tablespoons cold pressed extra-virgin olive oil
6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 medium-large ripe plum tomatoes (about 3/4 pound) cored, seeded and diced
1/4 pound drained feta,  crumbled
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onion
1/2 cup finely chopped flat leaf parsley
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons finely chopped tarragon
2 teaspoons finely chopped rosemary
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

1) Empty Miracle Noodles into colander, draining the water that the noodles
are packed in. Boil for one minute, drain, pat dry with a small hand towel
and set aside in a large bowl.
 
2) In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon
salt. Pour the dressing over the Miracle Noodles and toss well. Add the tomatoes,
olives, feta, green onions, parsley, mint, tarragon, rosemary, thyme and a generous
grinding of pepper. Toss well and serve within an hour or so of completion.
 
The herbs can be found very easily during the summer season and provide an
enormous flavor punch without the salt!
 
The above combination of herbs does wonders on just about anything.  Try
the fresh rosemary and thyme on chicken and get ready for the compliments.
Put that on a bed of Miracle Noodles and you have a great meal.
 
To a Healthy, Low Cal Summer!

 

If you’re among the millions of people who have ever tried to lose weight, you are probably asking yourself the exact same question of…”why can’t I lose any more weight when I eat healthy and stay active?”

If you’ve been starving yourself, your body is most likely in a calorie preservation mode and you won’t lose any more weight unless you kicked up your activity level significantly. Most of us can’t do that easily, no time, no energy, and no will power!

You need to change your body’s hunger set point, or what I term your hungerstat. HCG, human chorionic gonadotropin) can definitely change your hungerstat by working at the level of the hypothalamus (a region of your brain that regulates hunger and temperature, etc).

What does hcg, hypothalamus, and all that mean exactly? What that means is that your body and brain (your psyche) are used to eating to the point of feeling FULL, which for your level of activity may actually be way too many calories even though you think you’re not eating hardly anything at all or eating so healthy.

Weight loss is actually extremely simple. You must intake fewer calories than you burn. The hard part is how do you do that?? The answer: HCG drops or injections.

HCG will suppress your appetite and is NOT a stimulant or speed. It is a gonadotropin that is normally produced by the placenta during pregnancy. While you will see HCG advertised and available all over the internet, you do not know where it is from and how pure it is or if it is exactly as what is advertised.

I obtain the HCG from a US Pharmaceutical Company that manufactures the HCG and I have a CERTIFICATE OF PURIFICATION with the specifications of purity that is sent with the product. You can be sure that what you are receiving for weight loss is indeed what I say it is, pure HCG.

The HCG acts at the level of your hypothalamus to suppress your appetite while simultaneously increasing your metabolism to burn the “stubborn brown fat” of the internal and external abdomen, waist, hips, and inner and outer thighs. (more…)

If you’ve been following the HCG DIET by DR MICHELE KOO & you’re starting to come off the Phase I and moving into maintenance, try this recipe to add some zing and flavor without the calories. After your strict 500 calories you will love the taste variety.

This is a delicious recipe fro Stacy from Denver, Colorado who is a regular Miracle Noodle user and a real foodie so you know this recipe will be good AND VERY FEW CALORIES WITH ZERO CALORIES IN THE PASTA!!!

After perusing her June issue of Food and Wine magazine, she adapted the following recipe using MIRACLE NOODLES.

You can add your favorite protein: grilled shrimp, chicken, fish etc. or eat as is.

Chinese Coleslaw Recipe adapted from a recipe in the June issue of Food and Wine magazine.

Makes 6 Servings

2-3 bags of Miracle Noodle pasta
3 Tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 Tablespoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cups packed mesclun (2 ounces or any mixed salad greens of your choice)
1 1/2 cups finely shredded red cabbage
1 1/2 cups finely shredded green cabbage
1 large celery rib, cut into 2-inch julienned strips
1 small carrot, cut into 2 inch julienned strips
1 scallion, cut into 2 inch julienned strips
One 2 ounce piece of jicama, peeled and cut into 2 inch julienned strips (1/2 cup)
1/3 seedless cucumber, peeled and cut into 2 inch julienned strips (1/2 cup)
1 Tablespoon chopped cilantro (chinese parsley)
2 Tablesppons thinly sliced basil leaves

Instructions

1. Empty Miracle Noodles into a colander draining the water that the noodles
are packed in and rinse in cool water. Boil for one minute, drain in colander and squeeze dry with a
small hand towel. Cut noodles into smaller pieces with a scissors
Set aside and let cool.

2. In a small bowl, whisk the hoisin sauce with the vinegar, lime juice,
sesame oil and sugar, stirring to dissolve the sugar.

3.  In a large bowl, toss the mesclun with the red and green cabbages, celery,
carrot, scallion, jicama, cucumber, snow peas, cilantro. Add the dressing and
Miracle Noodles and toss to coat. Garnish with fresh basil.

So you’ve had a few kids and now you’re 20-40 lbs heavier with breasts that are deflated, stretch marks all over your tummy, belly button & breasts. You have skin that hangs over your pubic area that prevent you from being able to tuck in any shirt or find clothes that fit nicely.

You try to eat well, exercise, and be healthy but all you see are your flat saggy breasts and hanging tummy skin. You get discouraged and depressed and you eat that extra piece of cheesecake because … what’s the use, nothing makes any difference!

Let me tell you, break the vicious cycle and take charge of your life. It is true, you will not be able to make the skin shrink or lift your breasts with diet and exercise but it will make you mentally feel better until you can get a MOMMY MAKEOVER!!

What is a MOMMY MAKEOVER? It can consist of a breast augmentation with a breast lift, tummy tuck with liposuction, and/or brachioplasty to reduce the skin of the arms. You can have all of these surgeries done at one time with one recovery depending on how much excess skin and fat will be taken off.

(more…)

Are you just sick and tired of not being able to lose weight? You’ve tried everything, you’ve lost a few pounds and yet you look absolutely no different or you just can’t seem to shed those last 10-20 lbs…

You’ve dieted all your life but you can’t keep those lbs off! The internal belly fat is still there. The thighs are still thick and so is the mid-section. The neck is thick and fat. Is there anything that you can do first to get the weight off and 2^nd to keep the weight off? Next can you lose the weight in the areas you hate the most.

The only effective way to mobilize that resistant fat that every body hangs onto is with HCG – HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN. (more…)

Remember, you can obtain you hCG from Dr Michele Koo’s office and she will manage your weight loss program. Don’t be fooled by the inexpensive hCG, you need medical supervision to do this safely and effectively. You also need to make sure that the HCG is pure and comes from a verified FDA regulated manufacturer.

3.     PHASE I: until end weight goal is reached or up to 2-4 months or when you decide you want to take a break (You must stay in touch with our office and STAY ON THE PROTOCOL FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS during this period).

EVERY MORNING AND EVENING:  TAKE .5 CC (1/2 OF THE MEDICINE DROPPER TO THE .5 MARK) OF THE LIQUID hCG.  PLACE THE .5 CC  LIQUID UNDER YOUR TONGUE, LEAVE IT FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES. THIS .5CC IS 165 IU WHICH IS YOUR DOSE 2X A DAY UNTIL WEIGHT GOAL IS REACHED or when you want to take a break.

Day 1 and 2: Gorge yourself on whatever you want to eat emphasizing fat rich foods, e.g., bacon, steak, eggs, cheesecake, burgers, salmon, ribs, etc. EAT HIGH FAT FOODS EVERY 2 HOURS & eat as much as you want.  You can eat sugars and carbohydrates as well but the emphasis in these 2 days is on consuming high fat foods. No matter what, you must keep eating and force yourself to eat for these 2 days. Do not worry if you gain weight, you will lose that once the 500 calorie limit begins. Your body and hypothalamus needs this replenishment to start.

The rest of the month up to 4 months as long as you are taking the hCG 2x/day
morning and night until goal weight is reached: you must stay on 500 cal/day!

Drinks and Seasonings

The juice of one lemon daily is allowed for all purposes.

Salt, pepper, vinegar, mustard powder, garlic, sweet basil, parsley, thyme, majoram, etc., may be used for seasoning, but no oil, butter or dressing.

Tea, coffee, plain water, or mineral water (2 liters of water per day is recommended) are the only drinks allowed, but they may be taken in any quantity and at all times.

The fruit or the breadstick may be eaten between meals instead of with lunch or dinner, but not more than than four items listed for lunch and dinner may be eaten at one meal.

No medicines or cosmetics other than lipstick, eyebrow pencil and powder may he used without special permission.

Portions and specially prepared unsweetened, low calorie foods

“In many countries specially prepared unsweetened and low Calorie foods are freely available, and some of these can be tentatively used… the total daily intake must not exceed 500 Calories if the best possible results are to be obtained, that the daily ration should contain 200 grams of fat-free protein and a very small amount of starch.”

• The 500 calorie limit must always be maintained.

• 2 small apples are not an acceptable exchange for “1 apple.”

• Very occasionally we allow egg - boiled, poached or raw - to patients who develop an aversion to meat, but in this case they must add the white of three eggs to the one they eat whole.

• Cottage cheese made from skimmed milk is available 100 grams may occasionally be used instead of the meat

for remainder of diet protocol for hcg weight loss, see next dr koo blog…www.drmichelekoo.com

Dr Michele Koo has the hCG available to you at her office. You need an initial consultation to determine the exact dosing and diet that is appropriate for you to begin your weight loss journey!

While hCG is available inexpensively on line, you need to be under the direct care of a physician to ensure its safety and proper use. You also need to know that the dosing for your is appropriate and that you do not have any conflicting medical issues. (more…)

An abdominoplasty or “tummy tuck” does require general anesthesia and can take up to several hours in the operating room. The length of time for the operation depends on the amount of skin that needs to be removed and how large a tummy you have.

If you are of “good health,” that is, if you do not have health problems with your heart and lungs, and have been cleared of any previous heart and lung problems, then you are a candidate for a tummy tuck or what I call a MOMMY MAKEOVER.

You also MUST be cigarette smoke free for at least 2 weeks before and for 2 weeks after the surgery. In fact, better results are had by those who don’t smoke at all in terms of better incision healing and fewer wound healing complications.

During a tummy tuck, I repair the rectus muscles that have become split as a result of pregnancy or perhaps were split even from birth. The result is a trimmer shape and waistline!

It is misleading to think that you will be able to sustain your new shape and size after plastic surgery if you are not willing to change your eating habit and/or exercise habits. While I will change your body absolutely remarkably in a way that you couldn’t have with diet and exercise alone, your shape will not be maintained if you don’t watch what you eat afterward.

My suggestion then is to get into the habit of at least walking 2-3 times a week to begin with for 10-15 minutes at a time. Once you get used to that level of activity then you should progress to at least 30 minutes 3 times a week then to everyday.

When I speak of changing eating and lifestyle habits, it can be as simple as portion control and giving up regular soda and skipping dessert 2-3 days a week and limiting the amount of carbohydrate intake without giving it up entirely.

A tummy tuck is an absolutely EXCELLENT way of getting rid of all your excess skin, stretch marks and fat that overhangs your midriff after children or weight fluctuations. In fact, it is the ONLY way to get rid of all that excess skin. You can lose the weight and tone up the abdomen with exercise and diet but  become extremely frustrated and discouraged when you see that torso has not changed one bit and in fact may look worse with the weight loss, when the skin looks even more saggy and flaccid.

Many of my patients such as yourself will come for a consultation when their weight loss or shape change plateaus with the exercise and diet and want to know what more can be done. This is an extremely important time not to “fall off the wagon, become discouraged” and bounce back to your previous  destructive eating binges and habits.

This is an ideal time to intervene with plastic surgery which can take you to the next level of a healthier lifestyle and new body. The tummy tuck is the “kick in the rear” that you need to stay on track and to maintain your healthier lifestyle.

When you can actually SEE the results of all your hard work with an incredible new body shape, you are much more willing and likely to maintain this new lifestyle permanently.

I hope this is encouraging and helpful and I will write more on the costs and recovery in my next MOMMY MAKEOVER BLOG.

Nutrition 101

Weight gain is caused by consuming more calories than the body uses.

• The average person uses as many as 2,500 calories daily, or 17,500 calories per week.
• If you eat the amount your body needs, you will maintain your weight. It takes 3,500 extra calories to gain 1 pound.
• To lose weight, you must consume fewer calories than your body uses. You must eat 3,500 calories less than you need, say 500 calories per day for 1 week, to lose 1 pound.

Calories count. It’s important to understand where calories come from and how to make the smartest food selections. Here are some basics:

• Foods are composed of the following 3 substances, in varying amounts:
  • Carbohydrates (4 Calories per gram) - Examples include grains, cereal, pasta, sugar, fruits, and vegetables
  • Protein (4 Calories per gram) - Examples include legumes (beans, dried peas, lentils), seafood, low-fat dairy, lean meats, and soy products such as tofu
  • Fats (9 Calories per gram) - Examples include whole-fat dairy products, butter, oils, and nuts

Alcohol is a separate fourth group (7 Calories per gram).

A calorie is the amount of energy (heat) needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius. A kilocalorie (or Calorie with a capital C) is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree Celsius.

• The energy contained in food is measured in kilocalories but is commonly referred to on food packages and elsewhere as calories.
• Most people underestimate the number of calories they consume by about 30%.
• Calculate the number of calories you should consume each day to keep your weight the same.
  • If you are moderately active, multiply your weight in pounds by 15.
  • If you are sedentary, multiply by 13 instead.
  • To lose weight, you need to eat less than this number.

Excess calories from any source (even fat-free foods) will turn into body fat.

• Any carbohydrate not immediately used for energy will be stored in the liver as glycogen for short-term use. The body has only a limited number of liver cells to store the glycogen. Whatever is left over will be converted to fat.
• Excess protein and fat in the diet are also stored as fat.

Fat cells are no longer thought to be responsible only for energy storage and release.

• They synthesize the hormone leptin, which travels to the hypothalamus in the brain and regulates appetite, body weight, and the storage of fat.
• Leptin was first discovered in 1994. The exact way it works is not yet fully understood.
• Disorders of leptin account for only a few cases of obesity, usually morbid (extreme) obesity.

Blog continued on HCG Diet and How to Maintain and Lose Weight

If you are sick and tired of being trapped by your saggy, lifeless, flat breasts and hanging skin with stretch marks after pregnancy and breast feeding there is something you can do about it.

Plastic surgery to remove all that excess skin and fat and lift your breasts to their original position with fullness on top can be achieved safely.

If you are looking for a MOMMY MAKEOVER, you have found the right person in Dr Michele Koo, MD, FACS, St Louis, MO, who is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. She will listen to exactly what you want and be able to get rid of that frustrating hanging large belly that has made you depressed for years with liposuction and a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). At the same time you can address your breasts which may have lost most of the nice sexy full volume and is now hanging on your abdomen. She will examine you and determine if you need a breast lift alone or a breast lift along with a breast implant (breast augmentation) to achieve that full, firm, sexy and lifted breast that you used to have.

MOMMY MAKEOVERS addressing the breasts and tummy in one operation is very safe and Dr Koo will let you know how much can be done at one time safely, and whether you can achieve what you are looking for with only a breast augmentation and liposuction or if you need more contouring by removing skin with a breast lift and tummy tuck.

One of the most important aspects in the success of any surgical procedure is the physical condition of the patient at the time of surgery. Even though liposuction, breast augmentation and a tummy tuck are elective procedures, Dr Koo assesses you using the same standards as those used for anyone who is undergoing any type of surgery. This is very important for your safety and well being. Dr Koo emphasizes your safety above all and ensures that you will have an excellent outcome safely.

Dr Koo specializes in contouring the body after pregnancy and weight loss. She obtains a thorough medical history from all patients who are to undergo a MOMMY MAKEOVER and a diligent physical examination is performed. Surgical history, including previous procedures is obtained for the YOUR safety.

Patients with comorbid conditions such as tobacco use, hypertension, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus are screened carefully. Patients with a history of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, or blood clotting disorders require added precautions, such as chemoprophylaxis and sequential compression devices.

Dr Koo uses sequential compression devices in the majority of liposuction, tummy tuck, and breast lift and breast augmentation procedures. Conditions that may increase the risk for deep venous thrombosis include chronic venous insufficiency, family history of thrombotic syndromes, obesity, trauma, severe infection, polycythemia, central nervous system disease, malignancy, homocystinemia, a history of pelvic or lower extremity radiation therapy, and use of birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy.

Medications that the patient may be taking is reviewed, as many common prescribed and over-the-counter medications may affect wound healing and blood clotting. Medications such as aspirin, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents, birth control pills, vitamin E, and herbal preparations such as St. John’s wort are recognized to interfere with the coagulation mechanism. Dr Koo recommends avoidance of such agents before surgery. Some medications may also interact with medications used during surgery.

MOMMY MAKEOVER BLOG continues on next Blog