Introducing...

[poetically-yours]

Hi, everyone.

I've been lurking on the board as well as the other Cohen board for about a month now. I officially started the program on April 1, 2008. I'm going into my 7th week and I've lost 20 lbs total, thus far. I've deviated a bit the last week and a half(guesstimating instead of measuring; had two small cookies on Sunday) and my weight loss has stalled. I'm 100% on plan today. However, I need to make sure I'm 100% for the remainder of the program. I've been a little down as I was hoping to lose more at this juncture. But, I know it didn't take me 2 months to put all of this weight on and it's going to take time to get it off. I have A LOT of weight to lose (Over 100 lbs). So, I know I'll have to order another plan (or 2) before my refeed. We're going on vacation to New Orleans in June. So my small goal is to lose 20 more lbs (for a total of 40 lbs) in the next month. Hopefully, I can come close.

I always come to the boards to get inspiration and I'm definitely in need of it this week as the scale hasn't moved (still at 277)! All of you are doing so well in this process!!

[Becki Taylor]

Hi there, I'm new too and been watching and learing about this great plan untill I could figure out how to get on and join in the fun! My hubby and I are on it together. :wedding: We are only on day 11. He had notched his belt up one already. :applause: But I won't let him weigh back in untill week 4. I too am a mom of 4 (hi to you momof4 out there. I went on this for perimenopausel reasons... (am I allowed to say that online?) :thinking I love the support and friendship that are devloping here! I'll share more later... gotta run!:flying:

[Shasha]

{hi} there Poetically-yours

A very WARM WELCOME to you :bighug:

{congrats} on having lost 20 pounds!

We are really very pleased that you have joined us. If you have deviated from the program it is especially important for you to do what it takes in order to help you to focus. You can do this and you can achieve your goals, but as you can see, the effort you put in is equal to what you are going to get out...

So, for maximum results, please follow your eating plan 100% and please drink all your water. To keep your mind focused please read my thread: HAVE YOU FALLEN OF THE BUS in the SUPPORT section on the second page. This can help you to understand how important it is to keep your hormones balanced.

You said that you were going on vacation to New Orleans in June and that it is your goal to lose 20 more pounds by then. I really believe YOU CAN DO IT! But I'm going to ask you please not to weigh yourself more often than once in 4 weeks as per Doctor Cohen's instructions in your New Customer Guide. The reason for this is that sometimes, when you have good progress in the beginning, you can think this is so easy, I can do it anytime, maybe just a little bit of XY & Z won't hurt and before you know it: BAM, you've unbalanced your hormones and your scale gets stuck on one spot.

Remember, it's not about the calories, this eating plan is about balancing your hormones.

{cheerleader} I look foward to seeing you do well and to your reaping the wonderful rewards of achieving your goals!!! Please come visit us DAILY and write to us, read up, get more and more motivated so that you can stay STRONG...

[Shasha]

{hi} there Becki

A very WARM WELCOME to you :bighug:

Yes, all our Diet Buddies are FABULOUS, let's give them a hand: :clapping3:

Its wonderful to see that you and your hubby are doing this together :love5:

Well done on doing 11 days so far - now that you are into it, please just keep on going... (and you should know up front that men do lose weight faster than woman do so you won't be disappointed and this is just a warning not take on any bets with him about who will lose the most weight the quickest

TIP: Try getting two different colored plates ie: pink for you and blue for him, that way, once you've pack the salad on each plate, you will know exactly where to put which steak...

For lots of cracker information, please look under the recipe thread in CRACKER IDEAS...

We hope to hear lots more about the two of you!!!

[poetically-yours]

Thanks for the support and inspiration!! I'm definitely on a mission now. Not even ONE extra cracker!!! You're right...I did take my success as a reason to forgive the cheat (minor cheating)...So, I'm sticking to it 100%!!!!

Welcome to you Becki! It's good that your husband it doing it with you. My significant other is quite thin though he eats like a HORSE. So, it's hard sometimes when I have to cook 2 different meals. He's been eating frozen meals more because it's too tempting to cook for him as you have to "taste" and I'm definitely not going to walk down that road! :-)

[Bronwyn]

Hi there Poetically Yours and Becki!

So glad you two have joined us. As you can see there is tremendous support here and we love to help each other through the thick and thin of it all. You are both off to a great start so keep it up!

Poetically Yours - Glad to see you recognized why you had your cheats and that you will stop that! Every cheat can set you back at least a week and it just isn't worth it.

Becki - Having your hubby on board is going to help so much! Mine isn't doing 1PD but he's eating a lot of the same foods as me and he's lost about 25 pounds or so just 'cause I'm on this diet. He has really embraced this way of eating as our new way of life which has been so helpful for me during this diet and will be wonderful for our whole family when I'm done.

[Finally Free]

Hi Poetically Yours and Becki!

Welcome! I'm new too (in my 3rd week) and have similar amounts of weight to lose. Glad you have joined in the discussion and keep up the great work!

[Shasha]

{hi} there Poetically Yours

Always remember you will be on diet for a limited time only ~ this is YOUR TIME to become slim and healthy and well again and right now nothing is more important than making a success of this.

Bottom line is that your hubby's meals are negotiable, yours are not. So, don't even feel bad about giving him easy meals. Another suggestion would be to decide what you are having and then make him something similar ie: if you have steak and salad, your hubby can have the same, but with the addition of another salad or two and perhaps some potato etc...

He can eat mushroom omelets for breakfast too... although you clearly won't be weighing his portions :flirt: If you make chicken stir-fry for you, you can do the same for him, but add brown rice to his meal...

GO FOR THIS 100% AND ONLY WEIGH YOURSELF ONCE A MONTH... Dr Cohen always has very good reasons for every instruction he does give. {cheerleader} I'm looking forward to seeing more photo's...