Best thing ever!!!!

[Maya]

end

[Iisrias]

Hello Maya - :applause: Welcome! You've made a really great decision, both the diet and this board. It will get better - I had all the same issues as you did the first 3 weeks, and now at just past 8, I'm starting to get the energy and have lost the cravings. I can even cook 'goodies' for my family and not be too envious.:innocent4:

The rewards are so great - the weight just melts away, and extra bonus for you - hormone balance! So glad that you're already finding some relief.

Good to have you here!

[momof4]

Welcome Maya!:party8:

I am so glad this diet is working for you! It is for me too! I am passionate about sticking through this because of the results I have seen. You have been through so much! You writing about keeping yourself from social situations touched me. This is why I love this diet! It heals the outer, inner, and emotional side if needed. Keep staying focused! From your results thus far and positive attitude I know you can!:party3:

My sister is waiting for her blood test results to get her diet. Interesting, she has had similar hormone problems so you are not alone. I can't remember what the doctor's say she has, but issues nonetheless. Keep posting, I would love to hear more about these positive changes!

Consider yourself :bighug:

momof4

[Bronwyn]

Hi Maya and welcome!

I'm so very happy that you've discovered this diet and that it has already made such a difference in your life! What an ordeal for you to have to go through at only 30 years old!! The first week or so on this is definitely the hardest. I had a hard time around week 8 'cause I started getting bored with my food choices, but I stepped up the creativity, tried a few recipes I hadn't tried yet, and am back to enjoying the program quite a bit. My weight has been steadily going down. I had about one week of plateau at around week 9 but that passed. I've gone from a size 12 to a size 6 already and am curious to see if I'll end up a 4 or a 2. Either way, I don't think I've worn any of these sizes for a very, very, very long time.

So you were a professional dancer? I studied ballet, tap, and jazz from age 6 to age 21. I never danced professionally, but I did teach dancing and always performed in community theater, etc. Oh yeah - I studied a bit of modern in college and that was when I was in the best shape ever. I'm so excited to get my old body back (well at least weight-wise) and am thinking I should find some local dance classes to enjoy. That was such a huge part of my life and I haven't danced for years now.

Well, again, welcome! We'll look forward to hearing about your progress and to visiting with you on the boards!

[Scoobymom]

Hi Maya,

I am glad you started the diet and that it is going so well for you. Your hormones have obviously already started correcting, as your nights sweats have stopped.

Its amazing what happens when you find the right program - that works!!!!

I had the problem of no period for 60 - 70 days, and I am only 39. At first I thought it was early menopause, but then found out that it means I have low thyroid. A few months on this diet and my period is regular again.

Keep up the good work! You're doing great!

[Bronwyn]

Poor Maya dear... Do hang in there because your hunger/cravings will pass. How are you cooking your meals? Make sure you are including spices to flavor everything as much as possible. Also, make sure you're getting as much variety as you can out of our limited ingredients. I agree it can be boring, but you're in the beginning so I'm sorry to hear you're alredy bored with the choices. The longer you're on this the better you'll feel all the way around and the weight will truly come off.

You are very correct about the American sizing issue. There is no standard size chart so manufacturers can cut the clothing and call it whatever they want. I have heard that some of the more expensive shops do make larger clothing labeled smaller sizes to make the women feel better. Doesn't make it easy to shop. I always have to try clothes on and cannot catalog shop or shop online because of that.

All right cranky friend... Try to have a better day and again, it does get easier, especially when you can see it working.

P.S. Cool about the dancing, but not cool how you had to quit. Sorry to hear about your knee. Injuries are hard to get over, seems your body is never quite the same. Good for you for taking good care of yourself physically. Now you'll be taken care of physiologically too and the balance will be beautiful!

[Iisrias]

Hi Maya,

I feel for you! Your struggles are exactly the same as some I went through at the beginning. Try to look at your food as an experiment as well as they say, your 'medicine'. I still have fun trying to make up new recipes. Although I usually save the fruit/crackers for snacks - sometimes you need to add them to a meal if you're really hungry or know that you won't have time to eat them later.

A good sweet 'treat' is to sautee your apple until lightly brown, add a little cinnamon, some sweetener, and a little diet cola, simmer until liquid is thickened, then scoop it up with some crackers that you sprinkle a little cinnamon & sweetener on, and its a good little dessert.

I tried cutting out the crackers and fruit in an effort to lose more quickly, and it actually had the opposite effect. When it wasn't getting enough, my body complained. Once I added them back in, I started losing again. Make sure you drink all of your water, and extra if you can. You will feel more satisfied and flush out those nasty toxins.

Isn't it amazing how you feel like you've changed so much, and no one notices? I was down 25 pounds and saw some co-workers that I hadn't seen since before starting the diet, and no one said a word...I was so depressed! But when you feel yourself changing and your old clothes no longer fit, use that as your inspiration. I think people are either so wrapped up in what they have going on that they don't pay that much attention, or they love you for who you are and not what you look like, so they just see you, not your size.

For the constipation - try cutting back on yogurt. I find if I have the yogurt option that I have more trouble with that. For breakfast, I make the mini quiche (its posted in the recipes section, erf's up) for a couple of days at a time, easy to grab and go, and it fills me up more than the yogurt did. (And yes Shasha, I make sure to keep the portions seperated...weighed and cooked in seperate pans...) (= I also recently cut out red meat as well and have been just eating fish, chicken, and turkey. It was never a problem before, but now seems to mess things up a bit. Maybe because it takes so much longer to digest?

Hang in there, your cravings will subside (and reappear from time to time, but not so severe). I believe that all of this hard work will pay off in how much healthier and better we'll feel when we reach goal. Then we can add things back in (in moderation of course) and be slim and happy to have just a taste.

Sorry for the long-windedness, hope something here is helpful to you.

Best of luck with your studies!

[Shasha]

{hi} there Maya

A very WARM WELCOME TO YOU!!! {grouphug1}

I'm thrilled to hear that the night sweats are gone! How about that!!! :party3: I wonder what your doctors would say?!?

I do believe that your feeling tired is linked to a drop in blood pressure, which may be diet related, but low blood pressure can also be as a result of bathing in too hot water, exercises, stress, not enough sleep etc. Please take good care of yourself - especially now and please try to get enough sleep.

Please take a second multi-vitamin each day at lunchtime - this should really help with cravings.

You may increase your salt in take a bit as well as this helps with low blood pressure.

If you ever feel dizzy or like fainting, please eat an extra apple on those days only.

My best advise would be to make the Yummy Apples as per Iisrias's post - it's a stunning sweet treat! If you are hungry, please EAT YOUR CRACKERS AND EAT YOUR FRUIT!

For the next two weeks please avoid the yogurt and the cheese options because these are the least filling meals - so you could end up feeling hungry later in the day.

Please remember that bowel movement twice a week is sufficient while you are on the Eating Plan. This is because you have reduced your food intake (particularly starch). Please do not assume that a change in bowel movement indicates constipation.

You may take a fibre supplement such as Duphalac, Linseed or Psyllium Husks while being on the program. It is always a good idea to drink more water when you increase your fibre intake.

Okay, I hope these tips help and I just want to say that I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR 4 WEEK PROGRESS!

DO THIS 100% FROM START TO FINISH AND MAKE THIS YOUR VERY LAST DIET EVER!!! {cheerleader}

[Bronwyn]

Hi Maya! Glad to hear you've gotten some good advice and that you're doing a bit better on this thing. I too, have the cheating dreams and am always so grateful when I wake up to realize that it was just a dream. I have actually grown to liking the dreams 'cause I feel like I got to cheat, but didn't really cheat. In fact, the last dream I had involved some VERY DELICIOUS homemade cookies and I can still taste them if I think about it. Instead of resenting that I cant' have them, I just appreciate how good they tasted and look forward to the day when I can once again have one once in a while (and I do mean once in a long while!!)

With regards to people not noticing, also please keep in mind that some people may not want to say anything because that's kind of admitting that you had weight to lose in the first place. I have noticed people actually hold back complimenting me and I'm sure that it's because they don't want to indicate that I looked bad before. Other people are just too self-absorbed to notice and I think some of my skinnier friends are starting to get jealous becuase I'm starting to look better than them.

I know my sister always had a hard time (as she put it "she suffered the whole time") with the cravings and wanting to eat other foods. I think that each of us will have our own issues while being on the program. The main thing to remember is that the program does work so all the suffering is worth it in the long run. Best thing is, we're here if you need us!

I do hope you find out about your trip soon and that your life becomes a bit less crazy. Extra stress certainly doesn't help. Hang in there!

[MrsPeel]

Hi, Maya!

I've been following your posts, and congrats on your losses after 3 weeks!

I have a couple of comments - I haven't noticed any moderators mentioning this, but you say you take zinc pills - you do know you must be very careful with those, right? Zinc is a heavy metal and does not easily leave the body. It is quite possible to build up toxic levels of it if it's taken regularly. I mention this because I have trouble with heavy metals - specifically mercury and thallium - and it's not easy to detoxify.

Also, maybe the moderators can shed more light on your fruit question, but in the mean time, it is beneficial for the body to get natural sugars. Unrefined sugar in natural sources is not a bad thing!

Keep up the great work - we're rooting for you!

[Bronwyn]

Ha ha ha!!! Your mama is funny and now I'm laughing too! Sorry you're still hungry and feeling a little blah from the rain. Where in Europe do you live? I'm in the LA area in California so we don't get much rain here. Sunny days will be coming soon and you'll have your beautiful slim body to show off when the good weather comes. I do believe that your body will balance out with the hunger. For some reason yours is just taking a bit longer to do so. Have you found out yet if you will have to travel?

[cyberella]

hey, maya!! :bighug:
here's babi, not bron- but i wanted 2 answer just in case u feel a bit lonely :hiding:.. till bron s back on..

i talked 2 a nutritionist few days ago, whom recommended 2 eat 5 times a day (in "normal" life- diet is always a different story, i think)-
i can only speak 4 myself and very often had my fruiz with the meals .. as a desert, so 2 say. :icecream:

and my weightloss didnt change if i had them inbtween or rite after the meals-

i lost 44 lbs in 12 weex which is not xtraordinary, but good average, i think..

so, eighter way- do as your body asx 4 it and dont deprive yourself more than necessary, otherwise it'll b harder 2 stay focussed and successfull!! :weights:
iz hard enough, i think!!

all the best 2 u!!

[cyberella]

maya- sorry 4 only communicating now and i hope u dont mind my being "the other way round"... {rofl} but i read your thread backwarz (from the end 2 the beginning)-
and there r million thinx i wanna tell u-

first of all, u didnt answer some1's question where in europe u live.. i wanna ask u since i started reading "u"..
where do they have applestrudel but no hamburgers? :laughing: - i'd love 2 know that!

about your digestion, i'd like 2 suggest that u drink up 2 2 liters of water in the morninx rite after getting up- b4 anything gez in2 your stomach--
that will work wonders!! u'll see.. and if u put some wheat-bran-husx and kiwi in your youghurt, nothinx gonna stop u from running!!!! {rofl} thaz a promise!!!

i can relate soooo very well 2 all your mooz and cravinx, desires and motivation!!

i also wanted 2 leave out fooz but then realized that the faster iz gone, the easier iz back- as u posted in the end of your last comment!!
and iiasrias put it very well: leaving fruiz leaves your body complaining and dropping less weight!
thaz one secret of this diet: give your-very wise and smart body the security 2 nourish it regularly and it will benefit by dropping weight!! (it doesnt have 2- we all know that our bodies can compensate and get used 2 any deprivation and hold on 2 EVERYTHING!!!)

i also went 2 bed early very often (one reason y i was absent from this board 4 so long!!) 2 b able 2 "eat sooner"...
the hunger killed me until startin with refeed (few days ago)!
and the cravinx didnt really go away eighter, but that was also mentally as i was very frustrated about my boobs-loss and lost a bit of my motivation then!! that instant the cravinx hit and "punished" me much harder!!!

i also had almost no energy until now- dizzy a lot, weak and grumpy at times... even drank water till i felt sick 2 my stomach (like when i do my 2 liter-morning-"flush"), which then didnt help -neighter in the hunger nor the blood-pressure-department!

but it is still all so worth it!! :weights:
i love this diet and dont know of any other program that worx as phenomenal!! (there is another program that worx as a metabolic diet with blood-screening, but the resulz r not quite the same).

gotta go- lunchtime!! ---

and as my fellow-countryman says: I'LL B BACK!

[cyberella]

hey, almost neighbour!
i live in vienna, in american terms: i live as far away from u as an average american would travel 2 work every day.. :eyebrow: (well, a bit of an exaturation..*g*)

about the meal frequency i agree 100% - rather let the pancreas sleep and only wake up every now and then..
makx more sense, eventhough i am way 2 hoggish 2 only have 3 meals later...

but every body has iz own tides and parameters!! and we have 2 find our own path- every single 1 of us...
it feels good 2 have frienz along the way, though!!
they make all the difference, rite, girls!!?!

your concern about your body "having had it and stopping 2 lose weight rite there" is not necessary- u will lose every bit u want as long as u r on the plan!! even during refeed it seems that weight loss is possible or at least doesnt come back on, if one is careful!!!

iz so sweet 2 say: u dont want your food 2 b fixed all 2 good, as u r sad when iz gone (2 soon)...
:innocent3: y dont u stahaiaay just a little bit longer?
please please please, sahay uhu will, sayhay uhu will...

i felt the same and didnt put all that much effort in preparing my dishes!! :innocent4:


brushing your skin is veeeeery very healthy and so beneficial 4 your system!! {goodjob}

about zinc i obviously have different info's than my lovely diet-buddy madam peel..
iz the only trace-element with no antagonist that u weaken/spoil when taking it, it is an antioxidant and helps fight toxines (esp. from amlagam-fillinx) and it made my hair grow after nothing helped 4 about 20 years!!
just make sure that the molecule-structure is "chelated"- not 2 big 2 b used in the body and there4 not deposited somewhere in the tissue, as mrs.peel addressed!!

life after the diet wont b life of junk food, believe me!!
i used 2 looove bread and since i have my 3rd day with one slice of bread i wonder what this is all about:
not that i want 2 give it up straight away, but i realize that the "warning" of the cohen-cops was no xaturation!!! (as i guessed earlier!)
it is NOT!!!
i have stomach-pain, burping and flatulence as if i was a steam engine!!!

dont worry about depending on junk food after refeed!!
u wont keep up the cravinx as we bcome even more sensitive 2 whaz good 4 us and what not!!
and we also dont want 2 spoil the successes 4 worked 4 so very hard, rite!!?!

[cyberella]

..the water-
i almost 4got!!!
i think iz better drinking xess water twice a week -as dr.shasha prescribed: u need 2 "relieve yourself" at least that often!!!
than storing these toxines in your intestines and having them mayb b reabsorbed in2 your bloodstream-
get it out, get it out and drink!!!!
u dont have 2 do that so often and about the water-quantities there r also different opinions circulating-
just like with the food-intervals everyone has 2 do what they have 2 do, i think!! :thinking:
(just another opinion of another person.. u can take it or ignore it-
like anything in life!!
thaz always good news, isnt it!?!)

[Iisrias]

Hi Maya - I recently e-mailed my consultant re: water intake, and was told that for the program's purposes 2L per day was enough, but if I wanted to drink more it would not be a 'deviation' and would not affect the amount lost. I actually drink 3-4L per day and have found that drinking more doesn't have a negative effect at all. In fact, I think it may help a little.

[bitten]

hi all-

i know for me that i drink 3.5 to 4 liters a day. it keeps me full and helps flush everything. i know from past experience that the more i drank, the more i lost.
so i will keep it up!

best to all-
bitten

[Bronwyn]

Hi there!

Shasha also had suggested to someone to take an extra vitamin if you're drinking a lot more water to ensure that you're retaining the vitamins and minerals and not flushing them all away.

Babi & Maya - so glad you two are writing as you remind me a bit of each other. Mostly in that you both are questioning everything and I LOVE it!!! You both seem very health conscious and very into alternative thinking with regards to modern ways (i.e. microwaves, aspartame, etc.) I love reading both of your posts so just enjoyed your dialogue back and forth. Then to find out you're neighbors!! Small world indeed.

Oh Maya - I agree with Cyberella. You should eat your fruit and crackers as you see fit and as your body asks for them. That is the beauty of them being optional and your being able to eat them whenever - with or between meals. I prefer mine in between because otherwise the 5 hours kills me (unless I'm very busy and forget to eat them). But if it works better for you to have them with the meals then that's what you should do. You're doing a great job and I'm glad to hear your hunger is subsiding a bit.

[cyberella]

well, maya from the neighbourhood...
.. u dont have 2 tell me about austrian bread and bakery-
what d'ya think got me fat in the first place? :(

since i'm vegetarian -15 years now- i decreased my protein-intake such as poultry, beef and turkey and increased the carb-stuff--
bread, pastry, noodles, rice & co...
one thing my sister in california misses the most is "austrian lifestye" or "lifequality" which is a bit related 2 decent bread and our fabulous cakes, pies and pastries..:innocent4:
no wonder people get fat here! :thinking:but on the other hand: those food-stuff we had 4 centuries on the menue- people were only a little pourer and couldnt afford as much.

but since junk food has made iz way across the big water, girls and boys by the age of 7(!!!!!!!!!!!) start developing cellulitis!!!
even boys!!! i was watching closely the last couple of years in the public bath in summer!!! :eyebrow:
i only had my first cellu-denz by the age of 35! (in the size of the palm of my hand, not all over like those kiddos)..

thaz something 2 think about i'm sure!

i hold thumbs 4 good marx on your study-work!!

[cyberella]

>>Well, I am in Croatia now, near the ocean, but as we're so small, I travel a lot, Italy is half hour away, Austria another half, we bake applestrudl as weekend desert, and yes, its hard to get a good burger here. You get a good horseburger:sadeyes:, but not hamburger.<<

maya, dont b sad!!
i am quite positive that horses taste better than people from hamburg..
so dont u mind!!! :innocent4::laughing:{rofl}
(eventhough i feel pretty sorry 4 them- i mean the horses!!)

[cyberella]

i found cohen just down the street..
my neighbour (the one who lives a bit closer than u) had lost 63!!!kg -
whaz left of her is only 48kg.... :hypnotic:.
so i asked and found my way 2 "the place" where tons and tons of fat r shifted--
but sometimes i ask myself where it goes... :thinking:
no energy in the universe goes "away"..
so, might b that some other pour people put our "melt-off's" on2 them..
just a stupid thought-
energy is not related 2 a texture... i know :flirt:

[cyberella]

my answers come bit by bit, 2day..
am a bit slow it seems.

i have a plan where i had 2 start eating (poor) fish! :sadeyes:
havent eaten something with eyes that could look at me in 15 years!

4 some years i didnt even eat anything cooked- "sun-food" they call that here.
then i did "trennkost", where u seperate carbs and protein as they r digested differently and the fluiz in the stomach r in the way of each other..
many years i had no eggs, no milk and cheese- but then i started 2 4get vital thinx about myself or stopped in mid-sentence, not knowing what the hell i was talking about.. :thinking:
even wondered when someone gave me an answer 2 a question i obviously put but couldnt recall.. ups! (i thought these people were weird- hahaha!)
my dad was so concerned and talked me in2 at least having eggs and cheese again.
(well, nothing much changed 4 the better in my brain... or has it? *g*)

btw: what do u do half the year in the states? and where r u then?
what do u study and y... :confused::laughing:
loz a thinx i wanna know, i know!!

[cyberella]

yeah! i quit the raw food department after eating like that 4 2 years (of which i didnt spend a single winter-day in europe but on palm-tree beaches somewhere south most times)-
then got back and couldnt stop freezing as we had quite a hard winter that year-
i sometimes wore as much as 3 thick self-knitted pullovers on top of each other, a couple of panty-hoses, 3 pairs of sox and woolen panz or jeans-
i still was freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezing.

ok, then i had it! only boild veggie-soups after that-
and slowly by slowly the nonsense-food found iz way back in2 my daily menue... (again- sigh!)..

well, i sure hope that i can keep my awareness and "reduced-ness" 4 very long, if not even 4 good!!
i try my very best, as i think the price otherwise is 2 high-
u know one of my goals in life: (besides hiking around the globe) is 2 not need a walking-cane and someone 2 change my diapers when i'm sixty-four- haha! i mean 164- my parenz r 69 this year, look like youngsters and go windsurfing and stuff-
so i have a goal here!!!

-the other day my mom was brought in2 the clinic as she fell on her head when doing a figure in ice-dancing and bled terribly.
in hospital they told her, she couldnt put her age in the section where the year of birth is supposed 2 b written-
she said, "no, i am not 39- i was born then!"

after that invasions of clinic-personel came 2 look at her- i think thaz funny- :party1:
but iz a challenge 4 a daughter as well- :eyebrow:
mom is better in almost everything she does...
my opinion- she wouldnt agree, i'm sure!!!

i'm sorry 2 hear about your teeth!!!
how r they now?
what did your mom do about them?
do u take enough minerals and trace elemenz?

i've never heared of a problem with teeth when being on raw fooz!! do u know how that happened? i'd really like 2 find that out... :thinking:

[cyberella]

:eek : i knew about not brushing teeth 2 soon after food- eps. acidic stuff!!
but didnt know it could b that severe!! :shocked:
sorry 2 hear that! i hope they can recover-
u know: iz all about FOCUS!!!
talk 2 them and cheerlead them through!! praising is also very good!!
treat them like they r your little diamonz!!

(iz actually the first time that i see an advantage in being a bit lazy and taking some time till i go brushing my teeth after a meal! - always thought that that was a bad attitude of mine, but it seems my "inner doc" knows his stuff!!)

i cant travel as much anymore as i have a school-kid since 10 years- and as he has a slight "brain-problem", i gave up the idea of carrying on traveling and teaching him myself-
besides that, i found a nice job here; that made it easier 2 stay in one place! :eyebrow:

hey, u owe me some answers:
<< btw: what do u do half the year in the states?
and where r u then?
what do u study and y...
loz a thinx i wanna know, i know!!>>

[Bronwyn]

Mornin' Maya,

Sorry I haven't been posting much lately, but I'm REALLY enjoying your back and forth w/CyberBabi. I think your results are wonderful and you're crazy if you don't let yourself be happy!! GOOD JOB GIRL!!! You are doing so very, very well and I'm so proud of you for working through this. Keep it up and the rest will come off too!

[Bronwyn]

Hi Sweet girl!

Yes - work and home have me busier than a one-legged soccer player so I've mostly been logging on and reading when I can and haven't had a lot of time to post. I'm always in your corner though. Yes - your stubborn fat is melting and will soon be gone for good. I'm about 6 or 7 pounds away from requesting my refeed so am getting very excited about that.

One thing to remember is that during plateaus your body is still continuing to break down the fat and is readjusting to the fat you've already lost. I'm just reiterating that because I just got over another one week plateau and I had to focus on the good aspect of not seeing the #'s go down. I also was thinking another good thing about plateau is for your body/skin to adjust now and then so you don't have a lot of sagging skin left at the end.

Yes - I had to choose that Avatar as that is the body I once had and hopefully will have again!

Keep up the good work and I promise I'm here, albeit sometimes silent!!

[cyberella]

hey, girl-
i'll come round and give u a little smack, esp. if u dont start 2 treat maya, my croatian buddy, better!!
just hold still 4 a sec and look at your progress:

your measuremenz, just 2 make u aware:

90-67-93 {wave}

thaz model-"equivocal"!!! :flirt:

u lost the most on hips
u lost a lot in the waist-area
and only 5 cm on your chest...
(i had it the other way round) *sigh* )o:
--> u lost xactly the same overall weight like i did!
and i sure did well, or dont u agree {chucks}-- hugh?! c'mon... {bat}

so, dearest:
i'd suggest - if not: "prescribe" an overdosis PATIENCE every day-
take a load 4 breakfast, 1 4 lunch and esp. 1 4 dinner 2 have a good rest and recovery from your self-hatred!!! or am i wrong?
(u know: it takx 1 2 know 1 - and u cannot tell me, i'm all that wrong in this respect.. hmmmh?)

the master and commander on "board" of u tend 2 force u a lot!! shshsh--
b a bit more patient with my good friend maya, will ya?

[cyberella]

hey, sweety!

as i said b4: the faster-the worse!!
we dont need another crash-diet, as we self-contempting folx always think: punish me-punish me-punish me!!! :hypnotic:

we need a good and healthy pace, so our entire system can do iz job and keep on functioning!!

u dont wanna rush in2 another weightgain and the next crash-diet, rite?!

and as this 1 is gonna b your last diet anyway- y not b a little more patient and give your body the time it neez and that amount of time YOUR BODY CHOSE 2 GIVE ITSELF 2 REFRAME?!!!

[cyberella]

oh, i 4got:
your lillies (bittens diction) will reframe when your 'ladies'-hormones :flirt: get more fat 2 function better again- am not talking about insuline and human growth hormones.. they get "readjusted" or: "reset" at the program. :)

mine r recovering as well, now that i get more food-
i just dont know how much they will reshape.

in the meanwile take a cotton top (the ones that cover just the bossom and we use xercising) instead of a bra- thaz even better! -if i got u rite u got those anyway.. :thinking:

so, we'll b fine- dont worry! :innocent3:

[cyberella]

:kiss: :love7: :kiss:

:bighug:

[cyberella]

wwooooooww---
fasten seat-belz, ladies and genz!!
here comes the true maya!!! :plane:

(we just put her on "medication" -remember: "your food is your medicine"
2 slow her down, so we can get used 2 her speed!!! {rofl})

is this world ready 4 her? :praying:
will we all b able 2 handle whaz going 2 await us... :hypnotic:

we will see and find answers in the coming up sequel
x.x.x.

[Shasha]

{hi} there Skinny Girls!

I can’t always get to writing everywhere, but I just had pop in to say I’m so glad to hear that you, MAYA are doing so GREAT! {goodjob} !!!

And, Cyberella, I’m so glad you are STILL HERE! When your little man was sick, and you started Re-feeding, the forum was NOT {noway} the same without YOU!!! {grouphug1}

[cyberella]

hey, sweet good brave baby... :comfort:
let me give u an endlessly big and intense hug!!!!!!
{bighug}{friendhug}
i am with u...
i was there, 2...
i know what u r going through...
also close 2 tears, desperate and
depressed almost..
i understand and reach out 2 u rite now-->
i hope u can feel that!!!!

dont 4get though: IT'LL GO BY...
IZ NOT 4EVER!!! :party8:
AND U WILL LOVE THE REWARD U'LL GET!!

I PROMISE!

feel hugged and kissed!!!

[cyberella]

{hi} there Skinny Girls!

And, Cyberella, I’m so glad you are STILL HERE! When your little man was sick, and you started Re-feeding, the forum was NOT {noway} the same without YOU!!! {grouphug1}


thank u sweetness!!
makx me so very happy and even almost a little proud :embarrassment: 2 "hear" that

[cyberella]

lovie, it was truly my pleasure!!!
thank u 4 this lovely reply!!! u made my day, 2...
evening i must say!

please always remember that u dont have very far 2 go-- u r "close 2 home", there4 hungry a lot!
eat some xtra fruit, as they told u!!
i deviated on fruiz also ("unknowingly" somehow, as i didnt weigh and just guessed my fruit after a while-
now at refeed, having 5 fruiz allowed, -where btw u'll b soon, 2,- i measure again and realize how small that actually is :innocent4:)
see, and i also lost 20kg!!! so dont b 2 hard on yourself!!!!

if u think iz 2 much sugar, take the cracker..

hug ya!! again and again!!! :bighug:{friendhug}{bighug}

btw: b4 period, i got furious when my big boy or the father of my little one peed me off!! i was in a terrible state of not being able 2 take any sh**!!! so dont mind being not as u r in a "full" state of mind...

[Bronwyn]

Hi Maya dear!! So sorry to hear you had such a hard time. Those parties and outings can be so hard to get through. You did the right thing sticking to it and leaving though and just focus on the fact that this is not forever, but for right now and so that you will feel good about yourself forever after this. The strength you showed is amazing and inspiring and I'm so very, very proud of you!!! You can do this. And of course it is normal to feel so upset and sad that you cannot participate like all your other friends, but again, this is temporary and what we need to do.

I can't wait to hear your weigh-in #'s so do share as soon as you can, okay??

[bitten]

hello miss maya-

sending you giant hugs from NY.
oh, sweetie- it is so hard when things do not continue the way they started.
it is like a love affair that starts off so intensely and then ebbs and flows. quite, quite normal, but we want that initial intensity back, don't we.
we want that 5 kilos a week....or at least 2. UGGGG!
you are so close lovely maya bee-
bee brave, it will happen.
bitten

[Bronwyn]

Hey sweet girl,

Where is your ticker??? I want to see how much you've got left to lose. I'm feeling your pain my dear. I just had to sign up for another 12 weeks even though I'm only about 10 pounds from goal weight. It has definitely slowed down this last week or so and I'm a bit frustrated too. I'm sure it's because this is the weight I've had on the longest (more than 15 years!!!) so why do I think it should come off fast??? I'm trying to focus on the fact that it will come off and to try to think of the "when". I do think that the closer we get to our goal weight the slower it's gonna go 'cause it's the last stubborn pounds that are so attached to our lovely selves. We can do this together! You have shown amazing strength and I know you've got it in you.

Your Brownie...

[bitten]

sweet maya bee-

i feel what you are saying, honey-
this sucks for you. you are on plateau island and you need to GET OFF!
some people say to switch your meals up. dinner for brekkie, and brekkie for dinner.
also to squeeze the juice of a whole lemon (from fruit allowance) into 2 lts of water and chug it down in the morning.
but who knows really?
continue to do what works (or WORKED) and it will start moving again...it has too.
if not and you are STARVING, perhaps you are at your re-feed weight?

i wish i had a magic wand and i could whoosh your kilos down the drain....

bitten

[SPDeRosa]

Hi Maya, I'm with you on the "WHY" issue. It seems that the diet isn't really explained on the web or in the materials. You're told WHAT to eat, WHEN to eat it (5 hrs between meals) but not WHY you're doing it in what combinations. I'm with you, if I understand more about the program, I'm more likely to be successful.

I myself thought garlic was considered a condiment and in the "free" list -- i.e. use as much as you want -- as it's on the Condiments list in the Customer Guide.

I don't think the Customer Guide explains why you can't mix proteins either - like if I want to split 1/2 portion of chicken and 1/2 portion of meat from my Meal 2 list, why can't I? It's still 1/2 portion of each, making one full portion. I know I'm not allowed to because I read it here in the forums, but it doesn't really explain the why. I assume it's because the body processed the proteins differently. I'll have to go back and re-read the Customer Guide just to be sure I didn't miss it, but I'm with you in that there really needs to be more of the WHY explaining the science behind the diet. I wonder if the "Why" isn't published because then it would be attacked by other scientists? Think about all the critiques of any other diet program, like Atkins, South Beach, etc. Some love them and swear by them, while other doctors and the health community rip the diets to shreds for various reasons. In any event, more info is always a good thing.

My recommendations is for Dr. Cohen's staff to compile a companion guide to accompany the new customer guide. The companion guide would contain more of the WHY issues. I also think all the really cool recipes people have posted in the forums should be included into the recepe book that way we don't have to sort through message after message to try to find something really tasty :)

[Sarah Leigh]

:party8:Hi all!

Welcome Maya!
It's been quite awhile since I posted anything - I'm still doing great & it's the end of week 6. I agree with Maya - this is the best thing that ever happened to me. Or, more powerfully said I'm so proud of myself for doing the program!!!

I really can feel the weight melting off of me. I still want to go to Dunkin Donuts for coffee & a treat on Friday mornings as that was a habit for me for about 7 years!!! But I no longer feel sad about not doing that. I just have a thought like "that would be nice" and then I eat my yogurt. It feels sooooo good to be doing something that is consistently working.

I also agree that checking in on the message board is inspiring & fun!

Love to all - off to work!
AND - I've created a ticker, I'm just challenged in the area of getting it added to my signature. next breakthrough coming up!

[Shasha]

{hi} there Everyone

I saw these posts just as I have to go off to see someone, sorry, didn't have time to read every post thoroughly but glanced at enough to say one or two things quickly:

There are many crooks out there who would ABSOLUTELY ABUSE the situation if Dr Cohen gave them access to more information and by this I mean blatantly stealing his ideas and work and trying to copy his formula's. Using his medical research done over 20 years ago to promote their own books and information's.

I've tried to explain more about the hormones in "Have you fallen off the bus" at the beginning of 2008 - I hope this helps.

Please know that Dr Cohen is exceptionally busy compiling eating plans for everyone. He is a Doctor and like most Doctors does not give in depth explanations of everything to their clients. That is just not how most Doctors I know operate in any case. Their mind is focused on making you better not giving you a medical degree.

I once asked Dr Cohen why some countries can have Diet Coke and others only Tab, I too thought this was unfair. Dr Cohen simply replied to me: I have my reasons. (That was the end of the discussion.)

Later did I found out that it was because clients in the US only get Diet Coke in most restaurants - there is no Tab. Clients in other countries can get Tab - which is sugar free, caffeine free diet cola soda readily available all the time.

Obviously caffeine free is better. Clients who have access to this should use it because caffeine can lead to water retention which may lead to slower weight loss. However, clients who live in areas where there is no TAB may use the Diet Coke.

DIFFERENT Countries do not all have the same foods and as such their will be differences. The world is a small planet, but, there are still differences and we need to respect Dr Cohen's judgment - he understand the program best.

Dr Cohen says only to weigh once a month this is his rule and that is why your Consultant is giving you this advise. Some ladies loose weight faster between ovulating and periods and almost stand still for two weeks between periods and ovulating. Other ladies retain water prior to periods.

The point is if you only weigh once a month you won't be upset. If you weigh more often, discouragement can set in.

Oh, about the feeling tired: tiredness is linked to LOW BLOOD PRESSURE, there is no way of knowing that you will experience low blood pressure on the program, some clients may, some clients may not. Usually taking a second vitamin each day at lunchtime helps.

Okay, guys and girls, sorry, but I need to go. Hope this helped? Maybe even a little...


{grouphug1}

[SPDeRosa]

I agree that all the info doesn't need to be out there, but some does. Like the Customer Guide says unlimited coffee, but if you have more than I think 8 cups a day, switch to decaf. Well, now I'm hearing that caffeine may hold water -- I don't want that! So that means likely only decaf coffee should be used. It's these little things that Shasha and others have learned that I think would help us. It's not necessarily anything secretive, but who just blindly trusts a doctor? In my mind, that's foolish. Understanding some of the basics about what you're being asked to do is critical. In this country, patients are expected to ask doctors all these things before agreeing to undergo any medical intervention. We want to understand why we can or can't do certain things. We don't need full chemical analyses or a peer-reviewed publication, but just real basic answers to some simple questions. It's not being critical or non supportive of the program, but rather pushing to improve for everyone's sake. As long as it works with no adverse health effects, I'll be a happy camper. :)