Don't make my mistake!

[Hugentobler]

I just want to cry.:sadeyes: I had to e-mail my consultant with some questions. So I asked the one that has been in the back of my mind for several weeks. As I come to the end of my 8 weeks, I was still curious as to why I was never requested to get a follow up blood work at week 4. I was just told by the consultant that I was suppose too but the message was never sent. I received a computer generated e-mail at week 4 telling me it was time to let them know how I was doing. So the next day, I updated my progress report to let them know how I was doing. When I heard nothing, I assumed that I didn't need to do the blood work. (I even asked in the forum why some had to and why some didn't.) I now feel VERY cheated that I have been doing my part 100% and that I feel let down that 1PD didn't hold up their part. (For the cost, you would think a little attention would be appropriate.) So.....don't make the same mistake I did...Don't use the progress report on your page to report your results. Make sure you do it in the e-mail section. Make sure you always hear back from the consultant...and get that blood work at week 4....

[GettinSkinny]

Hugentobler, I know how very disappointed you must be and frustrated. A valuable lesson for the rest of us to not just let it go when we don't hear back from them. Take some heart though, it's possible that the bloodwork would not have made a difference. During my time on the plan last year, at my 4 week blood test, there were no changes needed. Hopefully that was your case too. I'm sure it won't make a huge difference in your results and it's very important that you have stuck to the plan these past 4 weeks. I dropped off the plan right around 8 weeks last year, and I received an email from them asking about my progress, to which I never responded, since I had dropped off the program. I always thought it was strange that they never followed up after that to see how I was doing or if I was still on the program. Guess they are too busy for that level of customer service, but you should be able to at least expect it while on the program!!!! They need them some of this:{slapfight}

[MrsPeel]

Amylynn, that must have been so very frustrating! It does seems as though the consultants have a dodgy messaging system, though - a friend of mine has been trying to register for the plan for quite a while, and only just got her first response.

However, you should know that not everyone needs a 4-week blood test update - I did, my husband didn't. A few other folks also did not need to - I would hate to have anyone spend the $$ for a test that wasn't yet required. I'm not sure what the criteria is, but I guess the consultants need to be clear with their instructions!

[Bronwyn]

Hi Amylynn,

So sorry you had that frustrating experience. Yes - always email the consultants as I don't think they can view our progress report. I did have to take the 4 week blood test, but no changes were made to my diet. From what I understand it is very rare for Dr. Cohen to make changes at that stage and the 4 week blood test is mostly for him to determine if we are following our diets completely, or if there may be some deviations. I got a letter back from them after he reviewed my blood test results which made me a little disappointed. He was "happy with my progress, but please make sure you're doing A, B, C, D, E". At fist I was frustrated because I felt I had been following the diet 100% but then I started to look at EVERYTHING. The week before my blood test I had two days where I had extra crackers (naughty, naughty) and I also reviewed some of the spices I had been using (i.e. my favorite garlic pepper) and in most cases sugar was the last ingredient on the list so I've cut those out now too. Shasha alerted me that my vitamins had a couple of ingredients that aren't allowed. It is so hard, I feel, to completely cut everything out, but I'm doing my best. I know you and I are having similar progress (the 2-3 lbs per week) and I don't feel it's quick enough.

Let me know what they tell you after they reveiw your blood test results. Hang in there!!! At least we're still big losers, huh???

[Hugentobler]

Thank you all. I have calmed down a lot in the last few hours. I know that I have been doing my very best and I will continue to do so. (I just hope without much consequences). love you all- I have been very spoiled by this support system. I will let you know what 1pd tells me to do now.

Mrs. Peel- Interesting comment about the 4 week blood result. I thought the same thing (some do/some don't) but this consultant told me everyone got one. But she didn't know about the butter cooking spray maybe I got someone new.

[Shasha]

Wooow Guys, talk about shooting :elmer: the Consultants... phew, in the defence of those who don't visit the Forum to defend themselves, I'd like to say that those guys are there to help you and I'm sure that they work very hard at it!

To set the record straight: Every person doing the 1st Personal Diet Program (e-mail problems have been sorted out since the start of the new system) is sent an e-mail / message enquiring about their progress after 1 week to find out how they are doing - in this e-mail they are told that if there are any questions the Consultants will try to answer these within 24 hours.

This means that any time during any part of your 12 week program the consultants try to reply to any message you send within a 24 hour time period.

A message is again sent at 4 weeks followed by another at 8 weeks and another at 12 weeks. These messages are sent with the expectancy that you, the Dieter actually REPLY to them. The 1st Personal Diet Program can only fully help those who actively partake in the program.

Let's look at the 4 week e-mail which is sent automatically enquiring about your progress and how you are doing, WHEN YOU REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL, a consultant will answer your reply and you will be asked to go for follow up blood tests. When you will need to go for the blood test will depend on what your reply to the consultants was and because of this, if consultants do not get your feedback, you will not automatically be sent for blood tests.

From the 1st Personal Diet Program's point: without your feed back how can you be sent for a follow up blood test? If you were ill in the last week and taking medication, all that will show up on your results is this medication. The Consultants cannot smell this kind of information and that is why you are asked for feedback.

The onus is on the Dieter to actually reply to e-mails enquiring about their progress. This is after all an INTERNET PROGRAM and the only way of communication with consultants is through e-mails / messages on your Personal Page. The consultants do not have access to the information given on your Personal Page, all you have to do is post them a reply.

If you asked a question and were not happy or did not understand the reply, write back and ask again. If a consultant is not sure, rather than giving a wrong answer they will find the correct answer and reply with that. Remember that you are dealing with real people.

Consultants usually deal with similar questions all the time and know the answers, however I have found that some Dieters read or somehow remember what they have read wrong...

I've had a friend arguing with me for over 10 minutes that Dr Cohen said that she is allowed to eat grapes on her diet - eventually I asked her to please bring me her program and show me... she adamantly went to the car and found her documents and then came stomping in to my house prove her point... In front of family and friends, she turned the pages and {oops}, NO GRAPES! Then she said: ''but I thought...'' Bottom line: she thought WRONG!

For this reason I always recommend everyone to read and re-read their New Customer Guide and even then, we find that clients do still make mistakes

So, from my side: :clapping3: all the Consultants out there, I think you are doing a {goodjob} !!!

[Shasha]

Hi there Amylynn

I'm sorry to hear that you missed going for your follow up blood test on 4 weeks because YOU DID NOT REPLY to the e-mail that was sent to you enquiring about your progress.

For the sake of everyone reading this: PLEASE NOTE THAT CONSULTANTS DO NOT RECEIVE MESSAGES OF WHAT YOU POST IN YOUR PERSONAL PROGRESS BOX, they only receive the actual posts or messages that you actually send to them.

Dieters cannot just be sent for blood tests without first knowing how they are doing. WHEN you will be asked to for your blood test will be determined by what you reply in your e-mail.

Do you remember the thread you started called BIG DAY! ???

Well, on 02-28-2008, 02:09 AM, I personally posted: Post 16, explaining the procedure and importance of answering the e-mail sent to you as follows:


{hi} there Amylynn

:thinking: After 4 weeks you will receive an e-mail enquiring about your progress. You need to answer this e-mail with your updated progress. Once you have replied by posting a message to your consultant on your Personal Page, you will be asked to go for your follow up blood test. (When posting your progress to the consultant, please remember that they cannot see your Personal Page so please send through your current weight.)

Once your consultant receives your update, you will be asked to go for a 4 week blood test. The 4 week blood test is for everyone on the program. When you are asked to go however will depend on how you have been doing on your program etc.

:flirt: Hope this helps {cheerleader}

- - - - - -

I'm not sure if you did not read this post, perhaps you forgot about reading it.

In either case, your consultant will let you know about your blood test and any other information you have asked them about. If you have any questions, remember to ask.

[Shasha]

{hi} there GettinSkinny

I hope you don't mind my saying that I think you are being a bit unreasonable when you say:

'I received an email from them asking about my progress, to which I never responded, since I had dropped off the program. I always thought it was strange that they never followed up after that to see how I was doing or if I was still on the program.'

My question is and I hope you don't mind my asking because I don't understand: if you never replied to the e-mail, why would you expect continued follow-up e-mails? Mails are sent by the system at 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks, standard, how many e-mails were you hoping to recieve enquring about your progress if you were not answering these e-mails?

If you had written to the consultants back then they would have tried to help you to get back onto your program again. If you had a medical condition, they would have written to Dr Cohen to obtain his advise concerning what to do about your diet program while you have this condition or if you need to have an operation etc.

The point is that some clients do write and some clients don't - Consultants can only help those who do write... how else will they know if there is a problem if you don't write??

[Shasha]

{hi} there Mrs Peel

With all due respect, I'd like to recommend that your hubby (and friends) double check their e-mails or write to double check with his (their) consultants regarding the follow-up blood test. I do believe your hubby would have been asked to go for his 4 week blood test shortly after reporting his 4 week progress to the consultants especially because he was following his program 100%, just like you ;-).

Everyone needs follow up blood tests - how else will Dr Cohen be able to monitor progress, give feedback and calculate the Refeeding Program when the Dieter gets to goal...

I urge you, please double check...
1) All messages received from his consultant and
2) With the consultant...

[Shasha]

{hi} there Bronwyn

I find your post very NOTE WORTHY and found it very interesting to see how at first glance you felt frustrated when asked to double check a few points, but then on closer examination that very same e-mail helped you to discover some small mistakes that you had been making.

Small mistakes CAUSE SLOWER WEIGHT LOSS!!

That was clearly the point of the e-mail you received to identify those little mistakes so that you could eliminate them and ensure that that don't cause unnecessary setbacks on an ongoing basis.

Always remember you will be on diet for a limited time only - until you reach your goal. Dr Cohen and your consultants are doing the very best they can to help you to eliminate anything that can make you be on diet any longer than you have to be...

[Shasha]

{hi} there Amylynn

Regarding your comment: ''But she didn't know about the butter cooking spray maybe I got someone new.''

On instruction from Dr Cohen, the standard reply to anybody asking anything about something that is NOT SPECIFIALLY MENTIONED BY NAME in your New Customer Guide would be: if it's not mentioned by name in the Guide, it's not allowed on the program and that is the end of the story.

Your consultant knows this rule all too well. Sometimes a consultant can decide to go out of their way to try to find if extra information is available about a product - I think your consultant was probably going to be really nice to you by specially asking if it was allowed. That's like going the extra mile...

For your information the answer regarding butter spray is NO - clients may use plain cooking spray (ie: PAM) or olive oil spray.

[MrsPeel]

Shasha, I apologize. I was misinformed - my husband was indeed asked for a 4-week follow-up blood test but did not get one. I had heard from other friends that they were not asked but perhaps they are wrong, too. I was just trying to reply to Amylynn's post in a supportive way, but I had my facts wrong. I still don't think that anyone should just get a blood test without the consultants' specific request, as it is a waste of time & money if one is not required by the plan (as you mention, that is sometimes the case).

Sorry us dieters were such a frustrating bunch this morning! :angry:

[GettinSkinny]

...
I hope you don't mind my saying that I think you are being a bit unreasonable when you say:

'I received an email from them asking about my progress, to which I never responded, since I had dropped off the program. I always thought it was strange that they never followed up after that to see how I was doing or if I was still on the program.'
...



Hi Shasha, I made my own decision to drop from the program and wasn't trying to make it sound like it was the consultants fault or responsibility for my doing so. I have worked in business all my life and customer service has always been such an important part of business, that I just thought it was odd that when they have patients that drop from the program like that, suddenly and with no explanation, that there's never an email to ask why? I would think from a business perspective that 1st Personal Diet would be a little more aggressive about trying to retain their customers. I wasn't so much trying to lay blame as I was just trying to make Amylynn feel better by letting her know that I had experienced some disappointment at the hands of the consultants in my first attempt at 1PD... that's all. In their defense, and only because I have just begun to experience this in the past two days, the new system is working wonderfully. I have been receiving complete and adequate explanations to all my questions. So, I am more than happy to set the record straight that I am pleased with the new system. I think we should all just chalk this up to a learning experience and move on. Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to set the record straight.

[Shasha]

{hi} there MrsPeel

Thanks so much for your post about being a bit misinformed about your Hubby's blood test... that's no problem at all - anyone can make a mistake... or even say something when they don't have all the facts...


NO PROBLEM AT ALL!!! :bighug:

and NO, I'm NOT angry or cross, I'M JUST TRYING TO BE FARE...

There are loads of people reading the Forum in the background and the moderators must try to see that posts are correct so that people do not get the wrong ideas.

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH YOU that people should NOT JUST JUMP THE GUN and go for follow up blood tests without first discussing their progress with their consultant.

Now, that being said: PLEASE ASK MR PEEL TO GO FOR HIS FOLLOW UP BLOOD TEST so that Dr Cohen can give him Feedback regarding his program - this will certainly help you to know if there are any mistakes that will result in slower progress.

Blood tests are normally required on 4, 12, 16 and every 8 weeks following this...


I WISH YOU HAPPY & SUCCESSFUL SLIMMING :bighug: JUST LIKE AZKAT!!

[Shasha]

{hi} there GettinSkinny

I know you were not trying to blame the consultants for not completing your first program, I just want you to know that IF something happens to you or anyone reading this, you must write to your consultant... do not just go silent...

If someone goes for an operation for example, the consultant can obtain Dr Cohen's advise as to what to do about your diet during that time. If someone is travelling, they can give very handy useful travel advise etc, etc.

I was really pleased to hear you say: "the new system is working wonderfully. I have been receiving complete and adequate explanations to all my questions."

YES, indeed, the new system is working wonderfully!!! and everyone is happier!!!

FYI, I'm not going to just leave this... I will be taking these matters a little bit further - because I now that the 1st Personal Diet Team is always trying to improve!

I know that all suggested improvements do take some time and some of them are not always practical but I will certainly give them something to think about...

Hope you have a super dooper slimming day further!!! :bighug: and that you get really skinny really soon!!!

[MrsPeel]

Hi, Shasha!

I will talk to MrPeel (he's out of town right now), but he's so close to his goal weight that the consultants are reminding him about the refeeding blood test, so is there any point in getting the tardy 4-week one at this late date? I think he is 10 or 15 pounds from goal and around week 9 presently.

[Shasha]

{hi} there Mrs Peel

Here's a BIG HUG so you won't feel lonely Girl! :bighug:

At this point Mr Peel's Refeeding Blood test will replace his 4 week one - the test is the same.

You must both be so excited... just wishing you were almost done too! Just remember that bigger miracles require more work and a bit more time too!

I trust that Mr Peel will continue to eat healthy food so as to keep Mrs Peel on the straight and narrow {cheerleader}

[Hugentobler]

Sorry it took me so long to respond..(I have had the vomiting flu.).....I need a smile image with egg on its face....Sorry! 1) Obviously I didn't see the last post in "Big Day" or I never would have been in this place. I don't know how I missed it since I try to read every new post everyday. It was a HUGE oversight. 2) I posted this thread so people would not make the mistake I did. I stated that IT WAS MY FAULT for not posting in the e-mail part. I didn't want people to assume like I that "update progress" is where you put your information. I DO believe that a message should be posted on the page that consultants can't see that information. 3) The consultants have ALWAYS responded to my e-mails and have answered my questions 4) I still believe that a follow up e-mail should have been sent when they didn't hear from me of from future clients. 5) As for the butter spray questions, I DO expect a consultant "to GO THE EXTRA MILE" to answer my questions. For $300.00, I don't think it is a lot to ask. 6) I think my feelings of frustration were validate and I did feel cheated.... I have worked very hard for 8 weeks to follow this plan 100% and have not cheated once. I have now resolved my feelings and going to move on from here and complete my program. 7) I thank this program and this forum for helping me become a healthy person for me and my family.

[Bronwyn]

Hi Amylynn!

So sorry to hear you had the pukey flu. :sadeyes: That is a horrible thing to have. I'm very glad you are feeling better and that you are back with us! I think you made some very good points and I think that is also what this forum is for, to get to the bottom of those feelings. You're doing a great job so keep it up!!!

[baredw]

Wooow Guys, talk about shooting :elmer: the Consultants... phew, in the defence of those who don't visit the Forum to defend themselves, I'd like to say that those guys are there to help you and I'm sure that they work very hard at it!

To set the record straight: Every person doing the 1st Personal Diet Program (e-mail problems have been sorted out since the start of the new system) is sent an e-mail / message enquiring about their progress after 1 week to find out how they are doing - in this e-mail they are told that if there are any questions the Consultants will try to answer these within 24 hours.

This means that any time during any part of your 12 week program the consultants try to reply to any message you send within a 24 hour time period.

A message is again sent at 4 weeks followed by another at 8 weeks and another at 12 weeks. These messages are sent with the expectancy that you, the Dieter actually REPLY to them. The 1st Personal Diet Program can only fully help those who actively partake in the program.

Let's look at the 4 week e-mail which is sent automatically enquiring about your progress and how you are doing, WHEN YOU REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL, a consultant will answer your reply and you will be asked to go for follow up blood tests. When you will need to go for the blood test will depend on what your reply to the consultants was and because of this, if consultants do not get your feedback, you will not automatically be sent for blood tests.

From the 1st Personal Diet Program's point: without your feed back how can you be sent for a follow up blood test? If you were ill in the last week and taking medication, all that will show up on your results is this medication. The Consultants cannot smell this kind of information and that is why you are asked for feedback.

The onus is on the Dieter to actually reply to e-mails enquiring about their progress. This is after all an INTERNET PROGRAM and the only way of communication with consultants is through e-mails / messages on your Personal Page. The consultants do not have access to the information given on your Personal Page, all you have to do is post them a reply.

If you asked a question and were not happy or did not understand the reply, write back and ask again. If a consultant is not sure, rather than giving a wrong answer they will find the correct answer and reply with that. Remember that you are dealing with real people.

Consultants usually deal with similar questions all the time and know the answers, however I have found that some Dieters read or somehow remember what they have read wrong...

I've had a friend arguing with me for over 10 minutes that Dr Cohen said that she is allowed to eat grapes on her diet - eventually I asked her to please bring me her program and show me... she adamantly went to the car and found her documents and then came stomping in to my house prove her point... In front of family and friends, she turned the pages and {oops}, NO GRAPES! Then she said: ''but I thought...'' Bottom line: she thought WRONG!

For this reason I always recommend everyone to read and re-read their New Customer Guide and even then, we find that clients do still make mistakes

So, from my side: :clapping3: all the Consultants out there, I think you are doing a {goodjob} !!!
I agree with you about the consultants doing a good job. I am only 4 days on the diet, but I have had a lot of questions for the consultants and they have been very good at answering me. Right now I want to know what I am doing wrong as I am hungry around 9:00PM every night. Do you have any suggestions? Barb

[baredw]

Anyone out there got any suggestions as to how to stop hungries at 9:00PM every night?:sadeyes:

[baredw]

Mrs Peel, your weight lost is awesome. I am inspired. I hope I can do as well as you have.

[WorthyQueen]

I often save a cracker or two and a fruit for after dinner so that I don't ever have the munchies before bed (mostly because I wake ravenous when i go to bed hungry). You can't eat your meal after 9pm, but you can have a fruit or crackers. Hope that helps :party1:

[Shasha]

{hi} there Everyone, especially Amylynn



FYI, I'm not going to just leave this... I will be taking these matters a little bit further - because I now that the 1st Personal Diet Team is always trying to improve!

I know that all suggested improvements do take some time and some of them are not always practical but I will certainly give them something to think about... [/B]

As promised, the above was done and I'm very please to let you know that the Consultants Team are now receiving an e-mail notification when you update your MY PROGRESS report!

This still DOES NOT REPLACE YOUR NEED TO ACTUALLY WRITE to the Consultants, remember, they cannot smell what you've been up to :flirt:

Thank you ladies for your valued input - this just goes to show how well we are all growing together!!!

{grouphug1}

[Shasha]

{hi} there Barb

Thank you for your positive imput about your Consultants :flirt: it's always great to hear form a happy client!

:crying: I'm so sorry to hear that you are feeling hungry by 9 pm and recommend that following:

Please avoid the yogurt and the cheese options for now as these are the least filling meals, rather choose more filling meat or fish or chicken and veggies. Always choose the heaviest protein weight ie: if you have two chicken options choose the one with more grams of proteins and less veggies.

Please take a second multi-vitamin each day at lunchtime and remember to please insure that your daily multi-vitamin intake does not exceed 5 mg of Vitamin B6 as per your New Customer Guide. This will be of great help!

Try not to have your meals too early... and as per the advise of WorthyQueen, try to save a fruit and 2 cracker portions for the evening - these may even be eaten after 9 pm.

Hope the above helps!!! :bighug:

[Hugentobler]

Shasha -Thank you for taking the time to go a little bit further. I appreciate you making this program even better.:)