Analyzing

[Hugentobler]

After only losing 2 lbs. this week, I have been analyzing everything I have eaten this week and trying to see if I've been making any mistakes..... so I have two questions...

1) I have been using butter flavored cooking spray instead of olive oil cooking spray. Is that okay? I like the flavor it gives my saluted veggies.

2) I know that you aren't suppose to use ground beef unless you have it ground yourself... but I found a "Laura Lean beef". It is 94% fat free which is better than the steak I have been eating. So I have been trying it this week. Could this be the problem?

3) I have not been getting my water in everyday. Yes! I know that is part of the problem and have committed to getting it in this week.

4) I could be just hitting a plateau and I need to just keep doing what I'm doing and I will get past it.

Any ideas?

[GettinSkinny]

Hugentobler, I'm certainly not a moderator but I'll take a stab at answering your questions based on my own experiences...

1) During my first run through the diet last year, which lasted approximately 6 weeks, I used butter flavored cooking spray - I thought any cooking spray was allowed - and I don't think I could live without my butter cooking spray on my sauted cauliflower and onions. :) I lost weight the entire time I was on the diet and I've been losing this week, while using butter cooking spray. Don't think that is your culprit.

2) I live in a small town and it is almost impossible to get fresh ground meat. I always used the pre-packaged 94% lean ground round, and again, never had a problem with losing weight.

3) I think you may have found one of your problems... I know the water is really, really important, to help flush out the fat stores that this diet helps rid you of. I was very adamant about the water during the diet last year and this past week, and I really believe it makes a difference.

4) I don't think I was on the diet long enough last year to hit a plateau, but I know alot of the Cohenites experience this. And, I know that from reading all the posts, it usually lasts for around 2 weeks. And I also remember reading that water, water, water helped alot of them overcome these plateaus. So, again, it must be super important.

I hope some of this helps and hopefully a real moderator will weigh in on your questions and make you feel better. Hang in there!!!! It will happen!!!!!

[Hugentobler]

Thanks! I've been drinking my water today. Hopefully that will jump start it.
<img src="http://www.1pdforum.com/tickers/image.php?id=86" />

[Bronwyn]

Mornin' Amylynn,

I agree with everything GettinSkinny said, except I'm not sure about the butter-flavored cooking spray, even though it worked (works) for her. My sister used butter spray while on the diet and she reached her goal very quickly (within 8 weeks). I, myself, have found that I've had slower weight loss than her and I have more to lose than she did so am not chancing using the butter spray. To me, if there is any chance it is slowing my progress I'm nixing it. In fact, I've taken to steaming more veggies and just having them with salt & pepper and/or a little vinegar dressing for flavor to see if that helps. I also found out that my vitamin has a couple of ingredients that might be slowing my progress (so frustrating!!!) so have ordered some better vitamins, but until they get here I'm continuing to take the ones I've been taking as at least I'm getting the supplements and so far I have been going down each week.

I also eat pre-packaged ground beef and get the leanest (I think it is 96% fat free/only 4% fat) and have not noticed that it affects my outcome each week. I do try to limit my red meat to once or twice a week.

Yes - water, water, water... I know you know this and am glad you're off to a good start today. Waht I do, is everytime I go to take a sip, I down a glass. Lots of trips to the potty but I just say "bye bye fat" every time I flush. (Can you tell I have 2 year old?)

And lastly, I do know that plateus are normal on this diet and sometimes, even though you aren't losing weight your body is losing more inches and is reshaping so pay attention also to your clothes and I'll be they continue to get loose even if the scale isn't going down, down, down... And all plateus must come to an end so hang in there.

I noticed some of you venting on another thread about getting bored with the meals, etc. etc. and I'm off to find that now to participate in that conversation as I'm finally experiencing a bit of grief in that dept. myself.

See you over there & I'm glad you're back on the boards! We missed you.

[Bailey]

Hugentobler, I don't post often. I am finished with the diet and refeed and am maintaining now. I just had to reply on this one. 2 lbs in a week is not a plateau. In fact that's great weight loss. A plateau is when you don't lose anything for I think 2 weeks or more. Relax, you're doing great.

[Bronwyn]

Yay Bailey!!! We know you don't post often, but good to hear from you!! You are a true inspriation to those of us still in the middle of our journeys as you are such a success!! Good point about the plateau. I missed that she was losing 2 lbs a week, and while she may feel that is slow (because I do -that's about what I've been losing too) it is still moving down and will stay OFF!!! That is the main thing. Thanks Bailey & great to hear from you!!!

[MrsPeel]

Guys, I just feel as though I have to post this little reality check: two pounds a week is a safe and effective weight loss rate!! We on the 1PD get spoiled because often the loss is more rapid than that, but if you work with a nutritionist or with many other diet plans out there, they will invariably tell you that two pounds a week is a good pace.
I worked with my nutritionist very successfully (before menopause) and she actually strove to keep my loss at that exact rate, because she believes that in order to keep weight off you must lose it gradually, just as you gained it.

You are all doing GREAT!!!!!!

[Bailey]

Thanks Bronwyn, that was such a nice post. I just have to say too that I had several weeks where I would have loved to lose 2lbs for the week:)
This weight loss thing (especially for women) is hard to figure out but this diet works if you just stick it out.

[cyberella]

hey, amylynn and all my beautiful ladies!! :innocent3:
as mrs. peel said: thaz xactly the pace one should go!!! :party1:
i even asked the consuls if they could work out a program 4 me, where i'd lose not so drastically fast, as this weight will b harder 2 maintain (fast lose, fast win kind of)!!

and iz not a plateau!!! lez talk plateau here:
i am standing on grand canyon since over 10 days-
but guess what?
2 hours ago i had 2 go 2 the supermarket and put on my panz which i wore 2 weex ago (about the same weight than 2day (mayb +/- half a 1lbs.) and they fell off me -
i could have almost taken a subtenant in... :party6:
pulled them off without opening them and took the same pair one size smaller (one of those pieces i have 2 sizes from). :innocent4:

[cyberella]

hi, bailey!! :flower:
iz so good 2 hearing from u! :rolling2:
in another thread i posted that i was missing u...
how r u doing?! how is maintanance coming along?
r u content? is it harder or easier than u had xpected?
tell us a bit, please, please, please!!! :applause::applause:

[Hugentobler]

First- Please know that I was not complaining about 2 lbs. I am thrilled with any weight loss I have. I probably misspoke when I said plateau. I should have said that I was experiencing the normal slow down in weight loss. I was just trying to figure out if I was doing anything wrong that would unintentionally slow it down. I am working too hard to screw this up because of a stupid spray.

Thank you to all for the feedback on the spray and meat!

Bronwyn- I am with you. I have looked at my vitamins and have only been using the cooking spray on my veggies. I try not to eat the crackers. I don't want this to last any longer than it needs too.

One final thought- I know that a good weight loss rate is 2 lbs a week. I've been there before on another weight loss program. I understood and was okay with that rate of loss. I don't think the 1PD is a normal weight loss program . It was promoted as a fast weight loss. When I was losing 1-2 lbs a week on the other weight loss program, I was eating more...had more options and variety..and wasn't as limited... Now that I got that off my chest... I will take the "baby steps" (as Jadehawk would say) on this journey to a new and healthy me. I will appreciate any weight loss. I will complete this program and I will keep this weight off.

[Bailey]

Thanks Cyberella! Surprisingly maintaining has been easy. I never dreamed I'd say that. Of course it's still early. After the weight has stayed off for a year or so then I'll rejoice. I can't tell you how many times I have lost and gained the weight back but this time feels different. I'm not sure if it's the diet or something finally clicked in my head. I read alot of books on emotional eating while I was on the diet so maybe that helped. I think the number one thing for me is I like being thin. I haven't been this thin in 20 years. In the last few years when I lost weight I always got to 145, this time I got to 130 (low end of Dr. Cohen's goal) and it just feels good and it makes me more determined to stay here. I keep telling myself it is in MY control. No one else can control what I put in my mouth but me. In the past I always felt like I was out of control with food or the food was controlling me. Now I realize that I am in control. Only time will tell I guess but for now I feel pretty good about it.

[MrsPeel]

Hey, Amylynn!

My "reality check" post was not meant to be admonitory - sorry if it came off that way. I just noticed that many of the folks on the forum have lately been bemoaning the 2-lb-per-week pace, and I wanted to remind them that they are AWESOME :flirt:

But - once again - it seems to me that the 1PD is indeed a fast weight loss program, provided you look at overall results and not a day by day or even week by week weight check. I seem to be losing at a slower rate than most of the rest of you ladies (probably due to my age), and yet, at the end of my first 12 weeks, 2-lbs-per-week would have meant a loss of 24 lbs., and I have lost over 43 lbs.! So I think the speed shows up in the final analysis.

I know you are determined to succeed, and therefore, you WILL!!!

[Bronwyn]

Hi Ladies,

Mrs. Peel, you are so sweet. I don't think we took your words as admonishment and I know you what you said is absolutely true. I also agree with Amylynn that I have been on other programs before where 2-3 lbs a week was achieved and yes we got to have a lot more food choices and portions so I'm with her in that is where our frustration is coming from. Of course, those other programs did not work out so well for us in the long run and I'm sure we're both in this one for the long haul and will achieve and maintain our goals weights. I think it's also hard when you see of other people losing at a faster rate even though I know (and I've given the advice to others) that you cannot compare to anyone else as our bodies are all so physically and physiologically different.

Bailey - Again, you are an inspiration and I think it's a combo of this diet, what it teaches us, and how good it feels to be thin that will assist us all in maintaining our new, healthy weights. You are doing wonderfully and we need to hear of your progress as it helps to keep us going too!!! Thanks again for sharing.

[cyberella]

hey, bailey!!
iz so good 2 hear that! :jumping2:
i am really happy 4 u and cant wait 2 come 2 this point myself soon!!
i wish u the best of luck 4 your future in your new shape!!!!

oh, amylynn! :love7:
hope i wasnt rude or seemed critical!
just tried 2 cheer u up a bit!! :party1:
hopefully that came across!!:kiss:

[Bailey]

Thanks Ladies!

[Hugentobler]

Bailey- I loved your comment...MY CONTROL...I have added it to my quotes that I put on my bathroom mirror. I read every morning.

Bronwyn- How do you know us so well and communicate what we are trying to say so well? Thanks!

Cyberella- You are the best cheerleader. Thanks!

Mrs.Peel- It is sorry hard to communicate without hearing the tone of my voice. I was just trying to clarify what a communicated so poorly the first time. I need to start using "smiley" face to communicate my thoughts. I love that you are all here for me and take the time to respond back to me.:)