Pre-First Weigh in Hello!

[SurferGirl]

Hi Everyone,

This is my first post, but I've been reading all your fabulous insight and encouragement for weeks! I finally got my forum account activated (it took several days). I felt like a forum voyeur or something. I'm glad I get to join the discussion now!

I heard about 1PD from my mom. She has lost 70+ pounds and looks better than I have ever seen before. She is my inspiration:P (and of course all of you!).

I have been trying to lose weight steadily for probably the last year. I've tried a personal trainer, a trainer defined diet, WW, a nutritionist, running, it seems like the list goes on forever. None of these plans had the desired effect. And at the end of all that I thought there was no hope. :sadeyes:

Thanks to 1PD I know I can do this. This program does not allow for the little bit extras that inevitably crawl back in to non-strict diets. I know if I cheat it's going to cost me BIG. This really helps me keep things in perspective. And, oh ya, IT WORKS!! That really helps:applause:!!!

I have so many things in my life to be truly grateful for, but my weight has always held my back. I love being active! It's awful feeling like you want to be an athlete but you have a body that doesn't cooperate! I have pushed my (extra large) body around for years. Now, I am ready to become the :weights: I know is inside. Thank you all for being here right along with me on this oh so important journey.

I have my four week weigh in on Sunday and I can't wait to report my results.

Together, I know we can do this!
SurferGirl

[maradeth99]

Congrats on your first month coming up! And good for you joining. My first month was today and what a difference it does make :) I too tried everything.......and no results. I do not know what it is about this program.....but it keeps me focused and I feel like I am not missing out on much......just look forward to all the positive things that are part of it like how I feel, my health, etc. (and of course the looser pants help too)! :)
I am glad you have your Mom as an inspiration. Good for her and her 70lbs!
I am really excited for you! Good luck on Sunday. I am sure you will do awesome!
Have a great weekend,

Mary

[SurferGirl]

Hi Mary,

You are so sweet. Thanks for the warm welcome and support. I'm so glad we found something that works.

PS-Congrats on the looser pants! Time to go shopping{goodjob}

Talk to you soon!
SurferGirl

[bitten]

welcome surfer girl and mary-

it is great to have you here. i look forward to hearing more about your journeys towards health and weigh loss. i have been on the plan for just over 4 weeks and i feel so, so much better...and am starting to look better too, i hope!

be well-
bitten

[SurferGirl]

Hi Bitten,

With 23lbs down I'm sure you are looking amazing!

It's great to hear from you, I love your posts.

Thanks!
SurferGirl

[Katra]

Hi Surfer Girl!

Welcome to the board! :party1:

I am fairly new too, well actually only 3 weeks in! I look forward to reading about your journey to health and thinness. I also often feel like an athlete trapped in the wrong body, but I feel better than ever on this plan! I am looking forward to my running shoes!

Have a Great Day!

[Hugentobler]

Surfer Girl and Mary-
Welcome to the group! Congrats on doing such a great job so far. Keep it up!

[momof4]

Hello Marrry! I love your ticker! I am glad you decided to post a few! After a month on this life changing journey, there is a sense of freedom! How awesome for looser pants! Keep it up!! Momof 4:applause:

[SPDeRosa]

Hey SurferGirl, welcome aboard! I have a friend that lost over 70 lbs as well and she too is what convinced me that this diet really works, if you follow it. Congratulations on your first month!!!!
- Shawn

[Shasha]

{hi} there SurferGirl, Mary & Everyone

A very WARM WELCOME to both of you! {grouphug1}

:surf: your Mom's done really great! What a wonderful example she to you! I hope you spoilt her yesterday with Mother's Day and all...

Mary: {goodjob} - enjoy it while you can still wear those pants, soon they will be falling right off and you won't be wearing them anymore!! LOL

[SurferGirl]

HI Everyone,

THanks for the warm welcomes!

SPDeRosa, it's super inspirational to have someone in our everyday lives who has done this. It seems way more possible when there is an undeniable example of what can be accomplished when we stick to Cohen's:flying:! I'm glad your friend inspired you too! Wow, you are over half way already! Keep it up!

As for my rockstart mom:coolfro:, she has lost another 10-15lbs after refeeding. It is so amazing! And she's been eating pasta again...Lucky...:drool:

[bitten]

wowowowow!

so your mom lost 70 lbs on this program? how long did it take her? and then 10-15 lbs more AFTER she has re-fed.
OMG.... that is HUGE, i mean tiny!!!!

and you are going great guns as well-
fantastic-
bitten

[SurferGirl]

Hi Bitten,

It took my mom about 5 1/2 months to lose the 70 lbs and she's been off the refeed for about 2 1/2 months now. She is tiny! She says her legs haven't been this small since she was a teenager! She is almost fitting in my 15 year old sister's clothes!

I hope to catch up with her but it's gonna be tough, she set the bar pretty darn high! I guess that's what makes a good mom though.

I'm really proud of her!

You are doing awesome on the program too! Thanks for the encouragement. We'll get there too:-)

SurferGirl

[bitten]

your mom sounds like a super lady.
i am so impressed. she is setting a great example for her daughters...that change is indeed possible!!
i feel so strongly about this as i have 2 little girls, and i hate being the 'fat mom' at school. i worry about having my disordered eating. so i want to regain my health and clarity to better parent them!

you are so right surfer girl, we will get there, too.

bitten

[SurferGirl]

Hi Bitten,

This is such a great motivation to change your life. You aren't only changing your future, but your kids' future too. I know that setting a good example will do great things for your kids. I'm married and out of the house and my mom's example has still had a huge effect on me.

I don't have any kids yet, but I know they are in my future. I too, want to make sure that I pass on to them the ability to keep their body healthy and make sure their weight doesn't hold them back.


SurferGirl

[SurferGirl]

Hi Diet Buddies,

I am coming to you once again for support and advice(thanks for always being there). My husband and I planned a finish 1PD celebration trip to Hawaii in February. Based upon my average loss of about 2lbs per week we figured this would give me enough time to do reefed and all. The trip is mostly for surfing. I’m very excited but also a bit torn on what to do. Here’s why.

My weight-loss has slowed to about 1.5 lbs per week which means I’m not going make it to my goal weight before the trip. On the trip we will be really active so I can’t continue to eat Cohen portions (this makes me a wreck). I have pretty much decided to do the reefed before I leave for Hawaii. Now the question I have is, how easy/ hard is it to lose a bit more weight after the re-feed? How does having a bit left to lose affect re-feed? Will I need to do re-feed all over again once a lose it all? Can I lose weight by adding in lots of exercise after re-feed and avoid having to go back on plan. I know everyone is different but perhaps I could get some idea.

I am also wondering if my weight loss has slowed down because my metabolism is in starvation mode. I wonder this because I seem to be cold constantly and any exercise makes me exhausted. My mom (who finished Cohen’s 9 months ago) lost a bunch of her weight after reefed and she wonders if her body simply needed a bit more food to turn the metabolism up. She has suggested that I start re-feed now and see how it affects the weight and if I have problems than to just go back on the plan for a while longer and try again. Please let me know what you guys are thinking, I’m having a really hard time with all this. I certainly don’t want to take any steps backward, I have worked way too hard for that.

You guys are the best!

SurferGirl

[PhyllisRis]

Hi Surfer.....
If I was you, I'd copy and paste your post to your Consultant. They should be able to advise you on the best course of action.
Good to hear that you're still losing....and I know how frustrating it is to have your weightloss slow down...mine has been doing that lately, too. I'm wondering if I'm getting enough sleep. I read recently that weightloss is hampered by lack of sleep. But, it seems that when I go to bed early I wake up that much earlier in the morning....like this morning I woke up at 4:30am ready to start the day.....I just didn't want to do that so I rolled over and snoozed a bit more. I DO find it easier to wake up and get out of bed every morning since losing all this weight!
Hang in there Surfer....things will work out ok.
Phyllis

[SurferGirl]

Hi Phyllis,

It's funny you say that. I did copy the message to my consultant as well. But their responses seem really generic sometimes, like canned text, and I just knew you guys and sasha would have some insight I may not have thought of yet. Like the sleep advice, that's a great start, and I love sleeping
:-) So maybe that will help. You are well on your way too, you must be so proud!

[lfingers11]

Hi. First, try to talk to your consultant. Secondly, please don't start refeed now like your mom suggested. Not trying to disagree with your mom but 18 pounds is still pretty far away. Remember that refeed works best at your goal weight. My weight loss is always all over the place so hang in there until the last possible moment to start refeed. Also, it is great that your mom lost weight on refeed but a lot of people do not loose too. I am not counting on loosing anything on refeed so that is why I am making sure I am hit goal weight. before starting.

Sorry I can't help more especially how it will work if you do refeed before you hit goal. Also, I don't think they will send your refeed until you hit goal either which is no fun. Well, let us know what you figure out and have fun on your vacation.

Pam

[Zee]

Hey Surfer Girl,

CONGRATULATIONS on your amazing loss. You are sooooooo close.:jumping2:

Well done - you go girl!:party6:

Zee

[Bronwyn]

Hey Surfer Girl!

NOOOOOOO!!!!! You absolutely cannot do refeed until you have reached your goal weight. It will not work and you will slowly start gaining your weight back. You have come so far and have been so strong!!! Here is my suggestion:

Stay on plan... Stay on plan 100% until your vacation. You will be at or very near your goal weight by then. Stay on plan as best you can during your vacation. I understand about needing to eat more because of surfing, but keep to lean meats, healthy veggies, and healthy carbs (whole grains, etc.) Eating healthy is so easy to do in Hawaii with all the fresh veggies and fish. Don't worry about weighing, but try not to overdo it w/pizza and yucky food like that so that you won't have too much damage control to do when you get back.

Once you are back, depending on your weight, you will need at least two weeks of following the plan again 100% before starting refeed. This will reset your hormones so that the refeed with work properly.

I truly think this is your best and only way to go. You have come so far and I don't want to see you mess it up in the end. Lots of people will start giving you different advice. You are looking so good, they will tell you that you should finish and be done. You know how this plan works, they don't. Honestly, the only way to finish this is the right way. I had to postpone my refeed while I went on a business trip. All that happened was that I lost even more weight on my trip and when I came home I was able to finish. I know how frustrating it can be when you're so close, but please, please hang in there. I, for one, am so anxious to see you at the finish line.

Let me know if you have any questions on what I've said. You can do this!!

Bron

[SurferGirl]

Thanks Zee and Pam,

Yeah, after thinking it over I really don't want to stop until I either reach my goal or I have to because of time restraints. I'm not sure the Cohen goal of 140 is very realistic for my frame but I can certainly see that I still have some fat left to lose. THanks for encouraging me to stick it out a bit longer. I have been on the program since April so I guess it just seems like I "should" be done, ya know?
I really appreciate the advice.
SurferGirl

[SurferGirl]

Hi Bronwyn,

I know you are right but it is sooooo hard to imagine staying on this program that much longer. But I know I don't want to mess it up or set myself up for gaining NO WAY!!!!!! I guess I will see how I can do in the next few weeks, if I can get rid of my extra fat by then (like I said before, I don't know if 140 is a reasonable target, I might be a bit too skronny), maybe then I'd have time for refeed before Hawaii,

if not, I will have to really decide if I'm going to go ahead with refeed first or do it when I get home. If I wait till I get home, I will finish the diet after being on it for a whole year!!!!!! That's a really really long time. I do wonder what's worst: to go off plan in hawaii for two weeks or doing refeed a few lbs from goal?

In the mean time I will stick to my plan 100% and I have added a tiny bit of exercise to hopefully increase my matabolism a bit without turning me into a grumpy nasty you know what. Perhaps the weightloss will pick back up and I'll be able to get there after all.
Thanks for the kick in the pants!

[lfingers11]

I want to let you know that I thought my goal was unreachable for 120. Well, I am now 122.8 and see that I could actually go lower. Trying to decide if I want to make a new goal or not. If Dr. Cohen said you can get to 140 it probably is realistic.

Also, I love what Brownyn said. She always has the greatest advice and since she has done refeed I really trust her advice.

I am struggling not starting to but I know I still have more to loose. It stinks that I have had refeed in my hands for 2 weeks and I am still not there. We just need to keep on saying that it will happen!!!! Hang in there!!

Pam

[CohenInAz]

I agree with everyone else, but can see your point. If you think 140 is too low, talk to your regular doctor as you need to look at your body fat percentage.

You are really athletic and active, so you might have a lot of lean muscle mass, like me. Dr. Cohen can't take that into consideration unless we tell him.

I'm playing mine by ear and my regular doctor is tracking my body fat and lean muscle mass. I'm sitting around an estimated 120-125 lbs of lean muscle mass, so right now my goal is too low. As even with a Body Fat percentage of 20% I can only weigh 150 lbs, which is 20 lbs over my current goal weight. Plus my target body fat is around 24%

So.. I either need to go down on lean muscle mass or change my goal weight. Thats not going to be decided until I get closer to the right body fat percentage, which is still a way off, as I am in the 40s.

However, as that drops, I am going to have to contact the Cohen Team and change my goal weight appropriately. They say they will work with you on that.

Body Type Women Men

Essential fat 10-12% 2-4%
Athletes 14-20% 6-13%
Fitness 21-24% 14-17%
Acceptable 25-31% 18-25%
Obese 32% plus 26% plus

[SurferGirl]

WOW Pam, you know my perdicament better than I do! You are soo very close.

Boy you guys are good. I just got the response from the 1PD consultans, here's what they said(pretty similar to what you guys said):
***************************
You may decided to change your goal weight to a higher goal if you wish, but we do encourage you to please try to achieve the goal weight that Dr Cohen has recommended for you because body will cope better after the program if you no longer carry excess fat.

Have you ever noticed how you gain weight faster the more overweight you become? This reason for this is that if you still carry excess fat your body will be prone to storing fat.

We encourage you to try to loose all the extra fat because we would like to see you successful in the long term, not just in loosing the weight, but in keeping it off as well.

Re-feeding is the name of the final stage in Dr. Cohen?s program and may only be requested when you are 5 pounds away from your goal weight. Taking the Re-feeding before you have reached your target weight will cause weight gain because of the gradual introduction of large food quantities as part of the Re-feeding process.

Re-feeding is there to train your body to cope with more food in a controlled manner when you have lost the excess fat.

We do not recommend that anyone start Re-feeding prior to having reached their goal weight.

Once again, please note that we cannot request your Re-feeding Program at this time. We can only request your Re-feeding Program when you are 5 pounds away from goal ? according to our records your ideal goal weight is 140 pounds, you may decide to change your goal to 150 pounds, even so, if you do this, you may only request your Re-feeding Program from us at 155 pounds.

Our best recommendation would be that you cut out cheese completely at this time, cheese is higher in salt and can lead to water retention and slower weight loss. Fruit and crackers are optional and you may decide to leave some of these out if you are not hungry.

The above may speed up your weight loss slightly.

The success of the program is not related to exercise. If however you deviate because the exercise you are doing stimulates your appetite you will end up loosing weight slower. We do not recommend that you exercise at this time.

Yes, without the extra insulation you will be getting cold, but with time your body will adjust. In the meantime, please do everything you can to keep warm, socks; warm water bottles, heaters, even drinking warm or hot water can help fight the cold.

*********************
Much of that text I have recieved before. The cheese thing is new but seeing as I'm on a dairy free version of the plan, it's not really applicable.

Cohen in AZ I think you are right on the money, I will go get a body fat test to help me decide on my goal weight. I'll let you know when I get it all figured out.

ML
SurferGirl

[Bronwyn]

Hey SurferGirl!

Glad you got such a good response from the Cohen team. I'm with Pam and many others who did not think they could reach their goal weights. I was given a range of 114-120 so I chose 120 thinking I wouldn't even reach that. I ended at 115 and honestly could have stood to lose probably another 3-5 pounds. Cohen in AZ is right though, everybody has a different body type and there is no way for Dr. Cohen or his team to know exactly what we should weigh. The body fat test is probably a good idea to help you to determine what is reasonable.

Hang in there! I can't imagine having to do this diet for a whole year!!! You are an inspiration!!

[SurferGirl]

Hi Guys,

I took Cohen in AZ's advice (thank you that really helped) and I had my body fat percentage analyzed. They did the 7 point pincher test, which she said was as accurate as they could get(at least without a water tank thing :) ) I was shocked to learn that my body fat % is currently 22% (already with the healthy "normal range"). The lady I was working with is a personal trainer and the manager of my gym, so I trust her(and she worked with me before the diet too). She suggested 20% BF is the healthy % I should strive for. To get to 20% I need to lose only 4 more lbs!!! She also suggested that going below 150 might be hard on my body. My current plan is to reset my goal weight to 150 and then to play it by ear. If I get to 150 and still have a little pudge, I'll probably keep going a bit longer. I thought it was exciting when I reached the overweight (no longer obese) body fat catagory, it feels FANTASTIC to be "normal"!
I hope everyone has a great Turkey Day and that it isn't too hard to be around all the temptations. I plan to do A LOT OF SMELLING today!!! LOL.
Thanks for all the support, as always!
SurferGirl

[CohenInAz]

WOO HOO!!!

22%
Thats crazy! Congratulations!!!!

You're going to be in the "Athlete" classification of Body Fat!!!

How amazing is that? I am SO Happy for you!

Did you ever have the Body Fat done before you started? it would be cool to see the change!

Can't wait to hear about the rest of your journey. I know I just talked with my consultant yesterday about this and let her know where I currently am. I should lose a little more lean mass as I go, so hopefully I can get near the goal they picked.

I might switch docotrs and see if I can get a DEXA scan. Its 100% accurate and shows you where all your fat is, bone density and everything else. Not sure insurance will approved or not, but it might be worth the $$.

Once again congrats!!!! I can't wait to hear more!

[SurferGirl]

Hi Cohen in AZ,

I just went and looked at the test I did before I started the plan. My BF% was 32.7%, now down to 22.7%. My BMI was 37.4 now down to 24.7. I'm very excited to have such great results. Thanks for encouraging me to check this out. It really helps to know how my bone structure and muscles might change my goal weight. What has your conusltant been saying?

SurferGirl

[CohenInAz]

Oh I am still a way off from figuring it out. But I had it done a few weeks ago (at the gym, but only 5 point) so its not as accurate and he said I was about 35-40%.

My home scale started me at 49% (which isn't totally accurate) but has me down to 45%. I have a LONG way to go... but I'm also a fatty person. The last time I was 'dunked' was in college when I was 120lbs and I was 32% body fat. I need to get dunked or have a DEXA scan to get an accurate picture.

My consultant said they would work with me, but I'm not even going to worry about it until I get to the low 30%s to look at my goal weight.

Have you worked out your new goal weight? I think its great to play it by what you look like, but still be open to going lower if needed.

[SurferGirl]

My new goal is 150. But I will see once I get there if the belly pudge is all gone, if not I'll go a bit lower. I'll order my refeeding once I get to 155. Right now I've hit a plateau for about the last 10 days so we'll see how long it takes me to get there.

[CohenInAz]

Very cool!

I'm sure you will be there really soon!

[PhyllisRis]

good job girls!

And, hey, AZ...you fit into your coat!!!! WhaHoo!

[lfingers11]

I saw on another post that you changed your goal. That is great since you are working out and have so much muscle mass. That is good that Dr. Cohen is working with you on that. Keep up the great work and hopefully you will join us soon on refeed!!

Pam

[SurferGirl]

THanks for the support. I'm really excited to do the refeed but it will probably be a few weeks yet. My weight has plateaued for the past 10-12 days and actually went up a couple days ago. I think it's TOM that's messing me up. I just keep on chugging along, it'll catch up eventually.

[flwrgrlie]

SurferGirl,
Congratulations on having lost 94 lbs!!! That is amazing!! I was rereading all of my Dr Cohen information and he said that pleateau's are normal but you'll notice you won't be going to the bathroom as often as you used to but your body will eventually work through it and you'll start dropping again. WAY TO GO on your weight loss! You are truely an inspiration!! Have you posted any photos yet?