Introducing myself

[Finally Free]

Hi everyone!

I'm Julie and I just completed 2 weeks on the diet and I've been "lurking" a little longer than that. ;) I'm 43, work from home, and have a very supportive husband and two great kids.

I've lost 12.5 pounds so far! I'm pretty happy about that. I've already been able to move down a jeans size. :applause: I have a long way to go - hopefully 100 pounds total, although Dr. Cohen has pegged it at 90-95 pounds for me.

I actually have been feeling pretty good right on through. No major problems. I need to be better about eating all my meals (I was skipping breakfast because I just wasn't in the mood for meat/vegetables and I don't like eggs.) and timing them better. I think I need to get more water down too. But I haven't cheated once in these two weeks. I think I'm as proud of that as I am the pounds gone.

What I miss the most? My coffee!!! I've been drinking it with skim milk and a bit of sugar for more than 30 years (yes, I started young.) I've been trying to drink it black (or with Splenda or Equal) and I just can't.

Anyway, just wanted to introduce myself. So many of you are my idols without even knowing it. Keep up the great work!

[Shasha]

{hi} there Julie

A very WARM WELCOME TO YOU! :bighug:

{congrats} on having lost 12.5 pounds in the last 2 weeks {goodjob}

Yes, please do make a special point of eating all your meals – if you skip meals your body will react by storing your food as fat and there is no way that we want that to happen! Even if you have yogurt only, that is better than not having breakfast. Your water is essential to flush the toxins from the fat breaking down out of your body so, drink up with a smile and flush that fat away!

To make Diet Cappuccino á la Shasha:

This one is perfect for Diet Buddies who give their diet one look and think: 'how am I ever going to drink black coffee?'' you can now use this recipe to make diet Cappuccino:

Place 1 1/2 tsp of coffee powder into a blender and add just a bit (50ml) or so of boiling water, put the lid on and hold down securely. (Hot water expands so be careful!) Start the blender on 1, then go to max. Carefully lift the smaller lid / lid and add more boiling water.

You will find the coffee turns brown because of all the air bubbles and it goes foamy :-)

Leave to blend for a good 30 seconds or so and perhaps add 1 or 2 ice cubes while blending. The foam will not last indefinitely and this is why I recommend the ice cubes, it helps to cool the coffee down so you can enjoy it while it still has plenty of bubbles...

Pour into your favorite mug and sprinkle with a touch of cinnamon and sweetener and ENJOY!!! and oh, you can sprinkle a bit of that cinnamon and sweetener onto a cracker and make a quick yet delicious diet cookie to go with that!!!


ENJOY!!!

[Hugentobler]

Julie- Welcome!!!! Congrats on your beginning weight loss. I truly understand the coffee thing. I uses to drink an extra large coffee with sugar and cream everyday for the last 16 years. It was so sad to say bye-bye to it. I almost didn't do the diet because of my morning coffee. (how sad would that have been) I also tried to drink it black with splenda. For me, it just wasn't worth it. I switched over to peppermint tea. I just looked at it as a move to the healthier me. Yes, I miss my coffee, but a healthier me is more important. So hang in there, you will get over that little hump.

Please!!! Please!!! eat all your meals. It will slow down your progress. I fell into this trap and paid the price with no weight loss for two weeks. Your body will hold onto that fat if you don't give it enough food. In your mind, it doesn't seem that bad to skip a meal, but your body will tell you otherwise.

Keep up the hard work!!!!!

[Bronwyn]

Hi Julie! Welcome to the board! So good to hear from you and that you are doing so well. The first week or two is the hardest but it sounds like you have found your mojo. Keep us posted on your progress! We'll look forward to hearing more from you on this forum.

[bitten]

congrats on your fantastic loss so far. amazing!
i am pleased that you are feeling well and positive....that is the most important aspect...being in THE ZONE of cohens.

i am 41, with 2 daughters and a wonderful, supportive, patient DH...and we have the same weight loss goals....it is great to have you on board:applause::applause::applause:!!!

thank you for your kind words in my thread the other day.

well done!
bitten

ps. sorry about the coffee...i too miss my fat free 1/2 & 1/2 or a latte....
but i am into black decaf and stevia at the mo'....it takes time, but it'll happen.
i like hazelnut or vanilla decaf, too! i am sure sasha will tell me that it is a NO NO!!!

[Finally Free]

Thanks Ladies!

I hear you on skipping the meals. That's usually my downfall - I get so bored or lazy it just seems easier NOT to eat. I don't like eggs and couldn't handle eating vegetables and meat for breakfast (unless it's BACON, but I'm pretty sure that's not allowed! :P) But my counselor reminded me of the yogurt option and I've been having that with Splenda and a dash of cinnamon and it's working okay. I still need to be better on the timing.

Bitten, if that's you in your avatar I would have guessed you're about 28!

Have a great weekend everyone!
Julie

[bitten]

oh julie....you are too kind.
yep, that is me...when i was 40 last year. i am about the same weight now...after 6 weeks on cohens!!!
i love the fage greek 0% yoghurt w/ a mango whipped in it. i use a magic bullet and it is devine! really rich and sweet and creamy. try it-

bitten

[SPDeRosa]

:hii: Hi Julie! Congratulations you're off to a great start!!! :applause:

I thought coffee would be impossible but I've been lucky in that after forcing myself to try freshly ground coffee (my machine grinds 'n brews) without cream and a Splenda, I'm able to actually deal with it. Now just after a month (going on 5 weeks ... and 25lbs gone!) I'm totally fine with the coffee. I did the same as Hugentobler and purchased some teas just in case - but I actually like the coffee now! I tried some pre-ground coffee at my sister's the other day and didn't like it. So for me it seems to be all about freshly ground.

For breakfast, are you able to do a cheese option? One of my friends on the program was able to make a veggie lasagna, and if you don't like eggs or don't want meat in the morning, I wonder if that might be an option instead of the yogurt. I can't do the yogurt because I just can't stand low-fat yogurt - especially plain (yuck).

Anyway, welcome aboard and again, congrats on an awesome start!

- Shawn

[GettinSkinny]

Hey Julie, welcome to the club!!! Sounds like you are doing great on the diet. I am 44 years old, also work from home, and have three kids (1 still at home), and three grandchildren. Sounds like we may have some stuff in common. :) The working from home part makes doing this diet a little easier, but of course, it also means that food is always readily accessible. Be sure and keep us posted on how you are doing.

[Hugentobler]

Finally Free- I too am not an egg fan. So I eat the yogurt option almost everyday. Like Bitten- I add different fruits to it with Splenda. My favorite is to cook apples in cinnamon and a dash of Sprite Zero until the apples are soft. I let it cool (usually refrig over night) and added it to the yogurt in the morning.

[Shasha]

{hi} there Shawn

{congrats} on having lost all of 25 pounds :clapping3: in only 5 weeks {goodjob}

[Finally Free]

Hi all--

Thanks for the words of support! AmyLynn and Bitten, I'll have to try the fruit in the yogurt. I even have a magic bullet!

Shawn, congrats on losing 25lbs! I think I'm on track for that.

I've been doing pretty well this week, although maybe a little crankier! Thursday is my big 4-week milestone and I'm hoping for an even 20 lbs. I still haven't cheated a single time! :party1:

[Shasha]

{hi} there Julie

{goodjob} I'm very proud of you for not having cheated once since starting your eating plan ~ I'm looking forward to seeing those results!!! {cheerleader}