Melissa's Progress Pics

[MelissaE]

Hello,
I thought I'd put up some pictures of my progress so far. I've only been on the program 3 weeks but there's a big change in my appearance.

The first one & the last one are the "before" pictures from the beginning of April. I weighed about 174lbs.

The middle 3 photos are from this weekend (3 1/2 weeks of being on 1PD). I probably weigh around 158 now (guessing). The little girl in the photos with me is my daughter, 2 yrs old.

Only 27lbs to go!! I'll post more pictures around 8 weeks.

[PhyllisRis]

Cool...I can definitely see the difference....isn't that neat?!! Congrats and keep up the great work!
Phyllis

[Lizzy]

I think you are doing a awesome job!!! keep up the good work very nice pictures you look confident and happy! take care.

[Key]

Great job - you look fantastic!
Key

[Tania]

Awesome job :) you look great!! When you start seeing yourself in pictures you realize the payoff for the sacrifice, keep up the good work!!
Tania

[sdp126]

YAY Melissa!! I can totally see the difference ~ mainly in your face and your tiny waistline! Your daughter is cute. How lucky for her that she has a mom who "CAN-DO" what she sets her mind to.

Keep up the good work!

Suzanne

[Eager to Lose]

You look great!!! Keep it up!!

[Shasha]

{hi} there Melissa


{wave} WHAT A TRANSFORMTION IN ONLY 3 ½ WEEKS!!!
WOW!!! {wave}

Please do keep up the {goodjob}

Your daughter is really cute! What is her name?

[Layne5]

Oh my goodness, Melissa! I am about 3 1/2 weeks into it, started at 174 and am about 158 (i think)!!! YEA FOR YOU!!!! You could be my daughter however, age wise...:love2: You look fantastic!

[PINKED]

FABULOUS results and great work on your part, Meliss!!!! Congratulations!

[MelissaE]

Thanks Everyone!! I love how enthusiastic you all are. It keeps me pumped. :) The end of my 4th week is this Friday so I get to weigh myself and see how much progress I've made.

My brother's wedding is in August in FL & then 2 weeks to NJ to visit family....I'm really hoping I can reach my goal and finish my re-feed by then. Ahh it's cutting it close!

My daughter's name is Madison. I'm originally from NJ/NY so I chose the name from "Madison Avenue" in New York City.

[PhyllisRis]

Hi Melissa....welcome!! Just remember to stick to your plan 100% and don't cheat! I'm sure you'll be pleased with how well this diet works and makes you feel.
Good luck and I'm looking forward to watching you melt away!
I love your daughter's name!!!
Phyllis

[Shasha]

{hi} there Melissa

Well, little Madison is a very pretty young lady and so is her name!

About cutting it close and the wedding: you will never know if you don’t try!!!

And, while you are trying, you owe it to yourself to try wholeheartedly… I don’t want you getting to the time of your brother’s wedding and thinking: Oh, if only I didn’t did not eat this or deviate with that, I could have made it… that kind of regret is just so not worth it.

Even if you get to the time of the wedding and you are not yet done, you will still be looking and feeling as good as you possibly can and that’s worth every sacrifice you make to get there!
{wave} {wave} {wave}

[MelissaE]

Thanks for the encouragement Sasha! I actually couldn't sleep last night because I just kept thinking about how close it is and I felt kind of beaten...like it was an impossible target. You are right though, I need to try my hardest. There were a few goof ups in the beginning like using cayenne pepper & chili powder to season a few of my meals - I thought those were ok until my consultant said no. And then chewing too much gum. Other than that I haven't deviated at all.

I've decided to keep everything to a bare minimum - no apples, no crackers, no coffee or soda. Just water and my meat & veggie allowance. I have to lose about 20lbs in the next 4 weeks and I'll be my goal weight. Then that'll give me 4 weeks to do refeed. Definitely cutting it close but I'm staying optimistic. I have lost over 20lbs in a month before....so I can do it again.

I was exercising a lot the first 3 weeks - doing pilates in the morning, then going to the gym for an hour! But it was making me starving all the time so I ended up eating all 3 fruits & lots of crackers and I was still hungry so chewed lots of gum & drank diet coke. This past week I have just done pilates (since that's mainly stretch & strength, not strenuous like running) and I'm not as hungry. I have a big list of things I need to do before the wedding so hopefully that will keep me busy and my mind off food!

I've been popping on here throughout the day recently because it really keeps my head in the game and I have people I can connect with. Ok - I'm going for it!! Target attainment - I CAN do it!!

[Key]

Hi Melissa,

I had similar goofs when I started but you go on and stay 100%. You can do it. I find that working out makes me ravenous... so I stick with walking and simple yoga postures. Also - make sure you get all your water in.

Key

[MelissaE]

Thanks Key. I do very well drinking all my water, and most of the time more. I agree with working out and becoming ravenous! So I stopped going to the gym but will keep up pilates. Pilates doesn't effect my hungriness, and I'm becoming a lot more flexible. I can bend down and touch my toes without bending my knees. Yay! It's improving my posture a lot too.

[PhyllisRis]

I've been eating all my fruits and crackers each day! I figure that they're there for us so I wasn't going to deprive myself of those, too! I find that the apple refreshes me and I usually have one every day mid-morning (that reminds me....I need to take some more to work with me tomorrow to replenish my supply in my mini-fridge).
You know, if you aren't finished with your diet by the wedding it's NOT the end of the world! You can make that party special even if you bring your own 1PD food with you. And...don't worry about what other people tell you about dieting....stick to Dr. Cohen's prescription and orders! IT WORKS!
Be strong and of good courage!!!
phyllis

[MelissaE]

Well I wanted to finish before the wedding cause we'll be going to FL for a week and then I go up to NJ for 2 weeks and to Virginia for a few days. So most of August I'll be out of town. I know I'd be able to eat healthy and make good choices but I don't think it'd be possible to do weight allowances. If I'm in the maintainace phase then I can just use the guidelines but won't have to worry about weighing everything.
I'm trying an experiment with the apple & crackers to see if it does have an effect on my weight loss. If the weight loss is coming off at the same rate whether I eat the apple or not, I might as well eat it. :) I get to weigh myself tomorrow (end of 4 weeks) I'm so curious to see the change!

[Dayanira]

What great pictures! I can see the difference so clear! You must feel soooo happy!

It's too bad that your sister didn't complete the diet, but this is a great chance for you to prove to your family that when you do things right it DOES work!!

Gorgeous girl you have!

[MelissaE]

Thanks Dayanira! Well today was my week 4 weigh in! I am very happy with the results and I think I can easily reach my goal by the end of next month...I hoping. I know those last few lbs can be stubborn.

So my starting weight was 174lbs - April 31. Week 4 weigh in - 155lbs! 19lbs in 4 weeks, yay!

Ok- so that's an update on my progress. I have never lost weight THIS fast before. I always considered my fat & weight to be quite stubborn. I am really happy with this weigh-in. Yay!

Only 15lbs to go before I can order re-feed!!

[Tania]

Hi MelissaE,
Great to see how well your doing, keep up the good work :) I completed my 2weeks and I think my determination to be thin again has helped me so much! Its been mind over stomach..LOL Can't wait to see you at the finish line!!
Tania