Hello there!

[Sharma]

Just wanted to introduce myself, my name is Sharma and this is the end of my first week on the eating program.

I am hoping to meet some new people and get some ideas for fighting cravings and just getting general support.

I hope to hear from my new friends soon! :)

[Peeps]

Hello Sharma,

I started about 4 weeks ago.

My first advice is to try the zucchini hashbrowns in the recipe section. I've never cared for most veggies but this is now my favorite meal. I guess really that it's the only one I enjoy right now.

The third week was the hardest for me and I didn't see much change but I've put away the scale and just stuck to it.

Best of Luck

:hiding:

[rbride05]

Hi Sharma
Welcome to the plan and forum. I recommend reading some of the blogs from older members (those that have been doing this awhile, not old) and receipe section to get some ideas on what to make with your items on your meal plan. When I first saw the list of foods I said "Yikes, this is not going to be good." But after getting a few creative ideas on this site, I have to say its pretty good and what Ive been making tastes good (or Im just really really hungry) For example, tonight I sprayed a skillet with cooking spray and sauteed some garlic,shrimp and asparagus and used a little sprite zero, splenda and cinnamon on an apple and baked it for "dessert" and it was great tasting. Im on day 10 of the program and its going pretty good. Last I looked I was down 10lbs, but I have since put the scale away cause I dont want to get discouraged. Good luck with the plan, and as they told me, get your ticker posted so we can see your progress.

[SPDeRosa]

Hey Sharma,

I'm glad you're posting on the board - people on here are SOOOO helpful! Mrs. Peel SAVED me with her jalapeño pepper recommendation! (I like my food spicey).

Please keep in mind that the first two weeks are not the best. Life DOES get better. Somewhere I posted a photo from my very first 1PD meal --- if you can find it maybe you'll get a chuckle. I was SHOCKED at how LITTLE food there was on the plan. Now as I finish my 3 months, I'm totally satisfied with the portions although I still eat my fruit and crackers... usually 2 fruit a day out of the 3 I'm allowed.

Stay strong!!!! If I can switch from Olive Oil to cooking spray, ANYTHING is possible :)

Shawn

[Sharma]

How do I "post" my ticker? or do i have to copy and paste it into every message?

[Sharma]

I like spicy food as well. What was the Jalepeno recommendation? Anything to help take the monotony out of eating fish and chicken, chicken and fish would be great.

Tonight I sprayed some cooking spray into a pan and cooked a turkey burger with some salt. Simple but good, it was exactly what I needed and I'm full.

Also, if I don't eat everything at a meal like all the veggies and fish or whatever is that bad? Sometimes I get full real quick dont' finish everything.

Thanks!

[SPDeRosa]

I now add some jalapeno pepper to my morning omeltte/scrambled eggs. Usually I do 1/2 jalapeno pepper (seeds and all for that added kick) and it is just the right trick. Two supermarkets this week didn't have jalapenos so I'm going to try a green chili pepper instead -- although I read somewhere (one of Shasha's awesome posts - they're sooo helpful!!) that green chilis should only be used in moderations (perhaps 3 times a day). I'm not sure why .. maybe they have more sugar in them than other peppers?

Turkey burger sounds good! Glad it worked for you. Mrs. Peel had a great recipe for turkey burgers -- it's somewhere in the forum I believe. They too like spicey foods. Her and her husband have done such a great job on this program, it's amazing to see/hear their results! I'm a salt addict, and it goes in two of my three meals a day, but I do try to limit salt intake as salt makes your body retain more water.

My gut reaction to your not being able to finish all your meals at the start of the your diet program is: Is that even possible? You barely eat at all on this diet! But, I remember before I started the program that I would only eat one meal a day - I just wasn't hungry. So my recommendation is to eat all the food -- treat your full diet plan like a doctor's prescription. If you want the food to work as your fat-burning medicine, then in all must be eaten -- hungry or not! Eating "properly" should actually boost your metabolism. Who knows, maybe if you eat the entire portion you won't get as hungry in between meals, and maybe the chemical reactions in your body will get better and you won't get the shakes (low blood sugar perhaps?). Remember, Dr. Cohen prescribed you certain amounts/weights of food based upon your body and your blood -- this is why the program WILL WORK for you! But you have to give it a fair chance, by following it to the letter. Your body will need some time to adjust, and that's normal, but you can help mimize the adjustment time by sticking to your program. Dr. Cohen's food is medicine after all! As Pumbza would say, YOU CAN DO IT! :)

[SPDeRosa]

How do I "post" my ticker? or do i have to copy and paste it into every message?

When you log in you'll see a link to create a ticker under "Rules and Announcements" Create your ticker and when it's done you have to copy the special code that is generated in the bottom box (the one that says: "For a new BB Code and forum ticker, copy and paste this into your page: ") To copy, just highlight and either press CTRL+C or right click your mouse and select Copy.

Then go to the Control Panel (top left of your screen), choose "Edit Signature" and then paste the special code into your signature (CTRL+V or Right Click and choose Paste). Then remember to click the save button. When you're done, the ticker should appear in every message, and if you bookmarked the page (or added it to your favorites) you can go back and edit it very easily and it will automatically update whenever you enter in your much lower weight!

[MrsPeel]

Shawn, thanks so much for the kind words about MrPeel and myself and our progress! It is diet buddies like you who have made this journey a pleasure! I am so happy that I have made suggestions along the way that have helped you - and glad to see you passing them on.
Thanks also for stepping in with ticker help - I have't been as vigilant lately about helping newbies with that.

Sharma, Shawn is right - you need to follow the plan 100%, and that means eating all your food. Maybe if you have trouble finishing your meals you should cut back on your optional items? Try fewer crackers and fruit & maybe that will help. Or perhaps, if you're a sedentary person, bump up your physical activity a tiny bit (take a short walk) and I bet your appetite will increase.

[bitten]

hi sharma-

i cannot give you any better help than shawn has and the infamous madame peel.

they are true success stories and know their stuff.

you cannot alter your program or not eat all of your meal 1,2, & 3 portions.
you will not balance your hormones, stimulate HGH or lose well.

have you read and re-read your 1st personal manual?
it is essential that your really understand the concepts and rules to making this work for you...it will make it easier-i hope.

be well-
bitten

[Sharma]

I guess I should have said that the reason why I'm unable to eat the full portions sometimes is because I have had my stomach stapled and so I can only eat smaller portions. Most of the time I can eat everything but sometimes I can't, it depends on what my body will allow. I rejoice when I can eat the meat allowance because that is good protein and the hardest thing for me to eat.

So it's not that my appetite isnt' there because it is, I''m hungry a lot...mostly because I can't eat the full portions like others can as often. So I'm hungrier more often. But I do ok. I will work on eating slower to give my food more time to go through my pouch so I can eat the full serving.

Thanks so much you two I appreciate it!

[Sharma]

Spderosa,

Are we allowed to have jalepenos? It isn't on my diet plan but it is a spice so I'm assuming it's ok?

I bought some fresh ones from trader joes today and boy do they smell good! I can't wait to use them tonight in my fish dish.

[SPDeRosa]

Spderosa,

Are we allowed to have jalepenos? It isn't on my diet plan but it is a spice so I'm assuming it's ok?

I bought some fresh ones from trader joes today and boy do they smell good! I can't wait to use them tonight in my fish dish.

Uh oh, you're right! Jalapenos are not listed on the Customer Guide but I'm pretty sure that because they're green and they're peppers they're ok. I think it's the red or sweet ones you have to worry about. Maybe you could run that by your consultant to be sure. I'd have to search through the forums to see if Shasha has said anything about them before ... to be honest, I just trusted Mrs. Peel because I knew she wouldn't steer me wrong! :)

Your consultant might be able to help you with ideas on how to deal with the stomach stapling issue as well, as I'm not sure what you could do --- maybe eat 1/2 portion, wait 2 hours and eat another 1/2 portion? Don't trust me on that idea as I totally made that up, but maybe they can check with Dr. Cohen and modify your regimen a bit because of the medical issue. Again, I have no clue so I would most certainly run it by the consultant team.

- Shawn

[Sharma]

Shawn,

I used the Jalepenos tonight on my fish dish...ooohhh boy it was yummy.

So who is my consultant? I have no clue who it is, how do I find out?

[rbride05]

Hey SHARMA BeauTiFUL Ticker!! If you log into 1stPD using your ID they gave you. It should take you to the page that shows your start date, remaining days and lets you post in the box messages to your counselor. They will then respond in the message box and send the info to your email address your provided.

[MrsPeel]

From Shasha:

"Mrs Peel is 100% correct, once you have passed the initial first stage and you are no longer hungry, you may use green chillies, providing they do not trigger hunger for you. You may use them up to 3 times a week to flavour your food.

So you can warm them up and squeeze out the juice - sounds like a nice idea!

(Red or other colours are not allowed.)"

[Shasha]

{hi} there Sharma & Buddies


{grouphug1}

So nice seeing you all jump in there: You Guys and Gals are simply THE BEST ever!!!

Sharma: I don’t know if I’m just being paranoid, but in all honesty, I’m rather worried about your stomach stapling… because I do think this affects how your body absorbs food?

I may be wrong, please correct me if I am, but is this kind of procedure not suppose to be reversed after you have lost a certain number of kilo’s?

My recommendation is to write to your Consultant and to confirm that Dr Cohen knows that your staples are still in place, he may be under the impression that you no longer have the staples in.

For now, try to follow your eating plan 100%... until you hear back from your Consultant… usually within 24 hours...

Yes, the green chilies are fine… in moderation to flavor your food – about 3 times a week, providing the chilies do not trigger your hunger.