Introducing myself

[Mei Mei]

Hello everyone! Today is my day two on the diet. I had so much fun reading what you all had to say. It really kept me occupied! So far, very good. I didn't feel hungry, and resisted all temptations:party1:
It is funny, instead of thinking about and going to food every time I was bored, or had a minute, I organized. Man is my house going to be clean by the end of this diet:praying:
I hope this message gets through, I'm not the most technically minded person...Good luck and blessing to all,
Mei Mei

[Hugentobler]

Mei Mei- Welcome to the Cohen group. Sounds like you have had a great start. Keep it up. If you need another house to organize, feel free to start on mine. Good luck to you. Remember we are all here for you.

[Bronwyn]

Hi Mei Mei! Welcome aboard. Good for you! Keeping busy is a great way to curb those cravings. These first few days are the hardest and it gets a little easier every day that you're on plan 100%. We're here for you!!

[lfingers11]

Welcome and it looks like your message went through. I wish I had the desire to clean my house. It really needs it with my boys running around. Good luck.
Pam

[Mei Mei]

Hey Pam,
I know what you mean. I have three boys and a girl. But honestly, my husband is the biggest mess of all. I'm at it again, cleaning that is. I guess it is nervous energy, but a positive result.
:) Mei Mei

[Mei Mei]

I really appreciate the support. If I am sucessful--like you! My husband will try it also. He has a crazy schedule and is kind of picky with food. But...I think when he sees it working for me, he will want to try it.
Keep up your good work and encouragement of others!
Mei

[bitten]

welcome.

i hope you find that this is the place for you.

bitten

[PosterGal]

Welcome Mei Mei -

This is my second day on the diet too - nice to know someone is doing the same.

Hoping for the best!:party1:

[pumbza]

Welcome Mei Mei and POSTERGAL to the most FRIENDLY site in the world and if you get the need to something other than clean the house then partcipate in the FORUM its fun and addictive and it helps you on your diet you learn so much and there are the best DIET BUDDIES in the world and join the ROLLCALL to see where you come from I love the ROLL CALL idea its really COOOL!!!:innocent4:Have a MArvelous DAY the both of you when I was 2 days on the DIET 82 DAYS looked like a LONG way but its amazing how quick time goes when your having FUN!!!!:innocent3:

[Shasha]

{hi} there Mei Mei

A very Warm Welcome to you!!! :bighug:

Yes, we have lost of clean houses :laundry: & some very clean people too… {shower} cos it’s a really good idea to keep busy, especially in your first week…

Once your house is clean you will probably have plenty of time for new hobbies too...

I hope you really enjoy the Forum and look forward to seeing your progress – please do get a Ticker so we can watch as you go!

[Sharon]

Hi Mei Mei,
Thought I would pop over to your thread and say gidday :hii:after I saw that we were both on line about the same time. If you've got some energy to burn my house needs a clean up{lol}, I don't know about anyone else but I've found I am up and about more since being on the program, don't know if it is keeping myself busy or more feeling better since loosing some excess, either way can't be bad eh.
Hope you are having a great day,
TTFN
Sharon:love6:

[Mei Mei]

Sharon,
Unfortunately, some of the energy of house cleaning has worn off...I'm trying to organize the massive amounts of paper, mail, etc, and it seems impossible. :thinking: One day at a time, or one paper at a time, just like losing one pound at a time eh? I'll just keep plodding away at both. One minute I feel I can conquer the world, the next minute, I just have to sit down! With 4 kids and a very busy husband, there is always something to do. If you have any more evergy to burn, pass it over eh? Have a blessed day:praying:,
Mei Mei

[Shasha]

{hi} there Mei Mei

In that case please do take a second multi-vitamin each day at lunchtime for the next couple of days to see if this helps… :bighug:

[Sharon]

Hi Mei Mei
Oh no, I'll have to do my own cleaning, I've been putting it off waiting for you to come around.{lol}
Sounds like you have a busy household, it can take alot of time and energy to keep on top of things, don't know about you but every so often I slide down the side.
Remember to keep some time and energy for yourself, its not being selfish its a necessity, cos when mums on top then the family copes alot better (something I always tell the mums when I help them look after their sick chidren).
Hope the extra vitamin helps, and good luck with all that paper and mail.
Have a grest day.

[Mei Mei]

Sharon,
I love your accent! I wish I could hear you talk. :innocent3:Yes, you are correct, moms have to be on top or the whole ship goes down...Are you a nurse?--referring to the helping mums of sick kids.

My cleaning has backed off some. Still getting organized. School activities are starting to gear up. My son is in marching band, and they just started two a day practices. What fun! Another busy day tomorrow. I'm looking forward to school starting in that the routine will help me with the diet also. Take care,
Mei Mei

[Sharon]

Hi Mei Mei
Its me again, I see we are on line together and I'm chasing you around the threads.
You got it with the sinking ship, Yes I am a nurse and I work in Paediatrics, with an occasional fling into managing the hospital after hours. I'm on holiday at the moment and am suppose to be working on a university paper, but while I have breakfast and lunch I visit the forum and see who is about. I've just had ginger chicken stir fry with a ginger sprite.
I gather the marching band a big thing over in the states, is it part of the school program or is it extracurricular?
Hope your days not too hectic tomorrow.

[Sexymama]

Hi Mei! How was your day today? Mine was good! I'm hoping I didn't eat too much fruit! I have a apple for lunch and a orange for desert! Your going to laugh at me. I got up this morning and went straight for the bathroom scale!!! Oops!!! Not there! My husband was laughing!! Maybe I was sleep walking!! Heee Heee Heee! Hope you had a good day!
Julie

[Mei Mei]

Julie,
Yes, it is going well. I had a bit of a physcotic moment though. I was starting to get down on myself for eating all of my fruit. Then I backed off. I love fruit, it is God's candy, and I have to learn to trust that this diet will, and is, working for me. My clothes are starting to fit better, and I tried on some of my small shorts for motivation!
Tomorrow starts week3. Hey, have you heard from poster girl?
blessings,
Mei Mei

[Sexymama]

Hi Mei! I am beating myself up! I cheated today! Sitting at home on the weekends with the family - - makes me want to eat!! I do great at work! I snuck on my scale on Saturday morning and am down 13.5! I have been OP all weekend! Now I just blew that!!! Ohhhhhh Im so mad!!
Ok I am going to get over it and be 100% OP tomorrow and all next week!! I CAN DO IT!!!!
I have not heard form poster girl. Actually I haven't seen her on here in a while!
How great about the shorts! Dosn't it make you feel good! I usually eat a apple with my lunch and sometimes a orange for desert. We have a wonderful blueberry bush and my daughter keeps trying to give them to me!! (i pretend to eat them)
Have you tried any new recipes? Not me. I am pretty boring! Are we allowed to have season salt or garlic salt? I better go b ack and read!
Have a good 3rd week! Lets kick so butt!!!

[PosterGal]

Hey my fellow Diet Triplets - {band}Sexymama & Mei Mei
I am still here - just a crazy busy weekend. House guests, updating our bathroom, family dinner at in-laws (home made Italian stuff - of which I had NONE)

Yes, I've made it thru w/o cheating - I keep telling myself I am going to make it 12 weeks.

And even BIGGER news - I gave my DH my scale to day - told him to take it away until the 25th. As a scale addict I'm very impressed that I did that - although, I did step on it before I turned it over. :rolling: Ah well, atleast now it's gone - I think he took it to work. So, it'll be 2 weeks before I get it back.

Sexymama - don't beat yourself up - just get started again - can't change the past . . .{deadhorse}

Mei Mei - glad to hear about the shorts - I've got a pair of those - not there yet, but someday, soon hopefully. . .

3rd week here we are - Great job you guys!:party8:

[Mei Mei]

Diet Triplets--

So glad to hear that you are here and ok! Starting week 3 ladies, how was it today so far? I'm really missing my scale...I even toyed with the idea of buying new batteries. Crazy! I hope I can get over my obsession and get over it to simply be satisfied with change in look of my body. This diet is great, but hard at times. I'm a stress and emotional eater. It is wonderful to have you guys for support!! Poster Gal, I have to ask, was your weight significant after two weeks? It might help me to know that your weight is moving. Truly none of my business though...:innocent4:



Julie,
I agree, don't beat yourself up. :weights:Get back on the diet wagon, and be proud of what you have accomplished so far!

I'm going to grill Talipia for dinner tonight on my Geoege Foreman grill. Man I love that little thing. No waste, good taste. I even grilled my hubby's chicken on it last night--it is a small one, not really meant for a family of 6--and he really liked it. Rats. I forgot mangos at the store.

Blessings to you:praying:,
Mei Mei

[PosterGal]

Mei Mei - Well, for me it was significant. For others popping off pounds, probably not. 9.4 lbs . . .and I'm a few days before TOM, so I'm sure I'm retaining. :(

I did want to weigh this morning, but no scale! It might be a long 2 weeks that way - or it might help me by not being able to weigh - overcome that addiction.

I love my little George Foreman grill -perfect for my meals. My DH got the BBQ one at Costco's and it's awesome for grilling for the fam. Best part, no charcoal or gas taste to the food.

Have a great day!!

[Mei Mei]

Poster gal,
That sounds awesome to me. I was telling someone else, I almost bought batteries at the store for my scale, but resisted that temptation also! I'm such a bratt sometimes. Instant gratification eh? We need to remember that it took time to put this weight on, so let's take some time, very short relatively, to take it off.
It is funny, my family is truly fascinated with the diet. My three year old doesn't quite understand why I can't have popsicles! My husband is benefitting because I have been cooking his chicken and fish like I cook mine, and he likes it! Of course his portions are bigger. :) My oldest son likes to watch me weigh food, especially when it is down to a few grams over or under. He says, "take that piece off," or "add that one." Like he really gets into it! It is really cute. They are all being supportive which is also nice. Going pretty well so far in week three. I really want the energy or courage to add a bit of exercise. I have some Pilates tapes, but I don't want to be exhausted! I think the gum, crackers and diet cokes in between meals were messing with me. I'm going to cut them out today to see if it helps.

Hope all is well with you--you too Julie!
Blessings:praying:,
Mei Mei

[PosterGal]

Thanks Mei Mei!

What do you mean the gum and diet Coke was messing with you? I'm curious - like draining energy, or making more cravings?

Hang in there!

[Mei Mei]

I'm not sure, just felt funky. Yes to wanting to snack, yes to tired. I managed to avoid all diet cokes. Broke through and ate my crackers, but I feel much better today. I weened myself off of aspartame at the beginning of summer. Stupid to allow myself diet cokes again. I am dying to weigh myself. I feel very bloated, and insecure like this isn't workingagin. Dumb, I know. I need to have faith!
Mei Mei

[Sexymama]

Hello Diet Triplets!!!
So glad to hear from you postergal! I am in the same situation!! I am PMS-ing soooo bad! I am trying so hard to not eat everything in site! Great job on the first 10lbs!! That's great!! Keep it up!!

Mei-- I am such a emotional and stress eater too! Good job on not getting those batteries!

Try writing on you calendar or make your own calendar of how may days till you can weigh! ex: 10, 9, 8 ect. Make it a count down! That is what I did and it seems to be going quite fast!

My husband made me some Talipia last nite. It was real good. My GF broke! Would love to get another!!

Well I better get to bed! We are almost there girls!! Less than 2wks!!

Ps
Mei== added my prayer! Thanks for putting that post!! That is so what I needed!!!

Julie

[Mei Mei]

:laughing:Triplets,
I love the idea of a countdown! My six year old would love to help me with that. She loves to cross off days on the calendar. I'm sure I am much better off without the scale. My girl time just ended, and I still feel bloated, and I bet the scale would reflect that!

I've had Tilapia the past two days for dinner. What a beautiful fish! After I weigh it, I marinate it in balsamic, ginger and garlic. Slap it on the grill, and what flavor!
Half way through week three! Can you beleive it? Let's keep in mind that relatively, this diet is a very short period in our lives, but will have lasting health affects for our entire lives! Keep up the good work girls!
Blessings:praying:,
Mei

[PosterGal]

Hi Ladies -

Great ideas - count down - It's amazing how addicted I've become to that little scale. And yes, hoping this is really working - esp. now that the hunger has subsided. We'll see together, I guess.

I'm going to have to try Tilapia - never had it. Wasn't much of a fish eater before, so it'll be interesting.

Have a great day!!

[Sexymama]

Hi Girls!! How are you? 10.5 more day till weigh in!!! WHOOOOOO!!! I am feeling so great and just can't wait to see the numbers! I asked PosterGal this on her thread and I wanted to put it here - - Tell me what your favorite meal has been. I just had some awesome Halibut tonite!!! Ummmmm! That and a salad!
Hope you both are good!!! We're almost there! GO GIRLS!!!!!
Julie

[Mei Mei]

Hey gals,
glad you are making it through the monitor process Julie. Nothing like getting your hair washed when you feel grungy :)

All these confessions today...I couldn't take it; I weighed myself today. I'm down 9.2 pounds. I wish it were a bit more, but... I felt so bloated and gross that I had to do it. I was feeling discouraged like nothing was happening. It has been a rough day. I want my hormones to level out. I'm moodier than all get out...

Wow, I just read that over. what a grouch!:hypnotic::hypnotic: Sorry. some days are just hard...
I'm glad ya'll are doing well.
Mei Mei

[Sexymama]

Mei!! Great job! Seeeee it is working!! I was feeling the same way the last few days. Thinking it was PMS! (I have yet to start) I know it was and is and did cheat! I am sooo over it though!! You stay focused!! Your doing great! Just wait till your honey comes home, WOW!!!!!

OK!!! Confession ---- I was feeling discouraged too and was at my mother in laws this afternoon! I had her hold my heart monitor and got on the darn scale!! It's good!!! Her's different than mine so I won't give a number but I am losing!! It's going in the right direction and that's wonderful!! I will now weigh myself on our scheduled day!!

Keep up the good work!!! I'm PROUD of you!!

Julie

[Rachinnj]

You all are so funny with the scale. I am the same way but I can not fight the demon I weigh everyday and it usually keeps me focused but today it did not budge so of course I am upset. I am really going to try not to weigh again till next week.

Rachel

[Mei Mei]

Julie,
I think my favorite meal is grilled shrimp. I marinate it, after weighing, in balsamic, garlic, and ginger. I grill it on my George Foreman with green peppers, onion, more garlic, jalapeno, mushrooms. I'm a huge fan of Mexican food, so anytime I can simulate fajitas, I will. My six year old tried shrimp for the first time and loved it! We are hiving this dish tonight to celebrate with the family. My hubby is leaving for trial for two weeks. It will be our second to last family meal together for a few weeks :(

I weighed again this am! I am down 11.1 pounds. I'm so exicted. I'm just about half way there. I might just have to change my ticker. I have to weigh myself!!! I can go without cheating, but I have to weigh myself.

Hey, question--for anyone out ther, Family want to go to a restauraunt, I feel selfish not going--Outback steak house-so good. Could I do a spin salad and steak? (Obviously would cut the portions by 2/3rds. I'm just not sure, ideas?
Mei Mei

[SPDeRosa]

Mei Mei,

You can most certainly do Outback --- just figure out how many ounces your meat allowance is and order the smallest steak and ask them to grill it with only pepper -- no special seasonings. My 135g of meat equates to 4.75 ounces. If you order a 10 ounce steak you could cut it in half, and bring half home for another day!
You could also ask them to weight out your veggies. Just be sure to know how many ounces your allowance is as sometimes they think in ounces not grams. Even better, write out a note for the server with your exact "prescription" and then there can be no mistakes!

If you do go over or under by an ounce it's not the end of the world. We like you to be precise, but the reality is that a gram over/under every now and then isn't really going to cause a big problem. If it's with every meal, that's a different story.

Enjoy!
Shawn

[Mei Mei]

Shawn,
Thanks so much! I really want to go, but didn't want to sabotage myself. I'm sure I would just sit there and drink tea while everyone else ate. thanks for the advice and encouragement. I think I will save the shrimp for tomorrow!
Mei

[Rachinnj]

Mei Mei
I agree with Shawn 95% LOL. If you are anything like me you mean to take an inch and you take a foot. Yes it will not be the end of the world but i would really try to get the measurments right. I think if you have a relaxed attitude a few extra grams on this and few extra on that in the end your following someone else program.


Just my opinion

[pumbza]

What I do Mei Mei is eat before going to the restraunt and rather have water or tea or Coffee while everyone is eating!!I Know I Know I am a PARTY pooper but I don't have the strength or the will power to cut steaks in half and to ask some one to weigh my vegtables the vegtable portion is to small I just don't think it will NOT work!Then one must say Aaah! don't worry its ok it's not such a problem but to me it is if I deviate one bit I will CRACK and go down hill and fall of the BUS!!Again this is my OPINION neither asked for but GIVEN I have tried to stay away from the resteraunt story because of the pitfalls maybe I am going a bit overboard but thats how I FEEL!!Now on a lighter MODE I love PRAWNS to and I curry them they are devine some days I have them three days in a ROW its just so tasty and NICE!!!Hope I did not UPSET to MANY DIET BUDDIES but this site is all about the TRUTH nd they say the TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE!!!Have a MARVELOUS DAY!!!:innocent3:

[SurferGirl]

Hi there,

When I eat out with my friends, I just take along my food. I ask the server for an extra plate. This has never been an issue, except at a restraunt in NY City where the server asked me to put away my tupperware so her manager wouldn't see. I simply can't handle sitting there while everyone else is eating, its so much easier when I have my own food. Pumbza, that is amazing that you can tolerate that. You get props from me!

[Shasha]

Hi there Everyone


So nice to see you all chatting along and encouraging each other {grouphug1}

:cop: Sharon: I’m not sure that ginger sprite is allowed, I saw it in one of your earlier posts… please do check with your consultant…

SexyMama: Please don’t use seasoning salt – read the label of garlic salt as long as it is ONLY garlic and salt, it should be fine.

Ladies: given the ups and downs and plateau’s to come, I really recommend that you think of this time as your official “scale holiday” – after the diet you may weight yourself EVERY DAY for the REST OF YOUR LIVES… but for now please give your scale a break – it can too easily become a reason to deviate – both ways ie: I’m doing so well, this is great, let’s celebrate / one little xyz won’t hurt… OR Oh no, this is not working, the scale is not moving, what is the point…

You’ve paid for Dr Cohen’s advise – why not take it?

Same comes to following your eating plan 100% - doing this will mean that you always get the best results you can, thus minimizing the length of time that you have to remain on diet… why stretch this out any longer than it has to be? Time is money! Remember, this is a 12 week program… and then you have to renew, so, if you waste time by eating “Off plan” you are actually wasting money as well and, I get the feeling non of you really want to be doing that now!!

SexyMama: {goodjob} with the counter idea – I just loved that!
...If only everyone would stick to it {wave}

[Mei Mei]

Thanks, Sasha,
I know myself, and my coocoo personality. The scale motivates me. I can deal with the scale not moving, and I decided at the start that I will not cheat, and I won't. I know evey person is different. I have a lot of help too--all of you and of course the strenght of God!

My clothes are starting to fit again. My problem was that I had a range of sizes, and kept trying to squeeze into my little clothes. I looked awful! And a friend who hadn't seen me since the beginning of the summer noticed that I had lost weight! What a great feeling:party1: I gave her the website address, and she is going to try it. My first convert!
It's all good, and you guys are great!
thanks for all the encouragement, advice, and fun!
Mary

[Sexymama]

Oh no Shasha!!
I have been using Lawreys Seasoning Salt when I cook my 4% hamburger and I have been using my Lemon Pepper on my fish and sometimes egg. How bad is this? Is it going to make my blood work come back bad? I read my Lemon pepper and it has some lemon oil! Ohhhhhh!!! I'm so mad! I have been doing this for 4 weeks now and it looks like I have "cheated every day!!!!" Now really, I don't use alot but I do use it!! What else can I do???
Julie
Ps --- I have been pretty good with the scale but today I was very down for some reason and hopped on my MIL's scale. Mid-day I'm down 20!!!!! 4 more days till weigh in!

[MIMI]

Guys, listen to Shasha. She know's what she's talking about. I cheated my 2nd 4 weeks with cheese (although it was not intentional) and now i'm paying for it. I just signed up for another 12 week program. It's so not worth it, besides the money that it will cost you. I'm just trying to be real here. PLEASE THINK BEFORE YOU DEVIATE!!!!! LOL I'm really trying to help you. I dont want you to have to go another 12 weeks like me unless you have to. MIMI :innocent3:

[Sharon]

Hi Mei Mei,:party1:
Great to hear about the clothes starting to fit again, isn't it great pulling out clothes that you 'outgrew', its like they are new again, and as for the wow you've lost weight statements don't they make you feel good, one of the young male Dr's noticed the other day, I'm no spring chicken so it was nice for it to be noticed by a nice young man, gave me a warm fuzzy.
I was a compulsive weigher, but unlike you I've had to put it away because I didn't like not seeing downward movement. I have to admit I cope alot better now, but I agree we are all different (otherwise we would be flamin boring).
How did you manage the meal out? I;m very interested to know. When I finish hubby is going to take me out which I'm really looking forward to (and definately menu selective, think it would be hard not to after all this don't ya think, my fish and chips with a lager may have to be drastically modified).

[Shasha]

{hi} there MeiMei

Nice that you know where all your extra help is coming from :flirt: A lot of people :praying: for help… then when it arrives they go and tell everyone how “lucky” there were…

The Forum is really providing a lot of encouragement to all our Diet Buddies… just knowing that you are not in this alone is a great help in itself! I always say, the more the merrier so it’s going to be wonderful to have your friend onboard! {goodjob} Just imagine if everyone around you were eating healthy foods – soooo much less temptation!!!

[Shasha]

{hi} there SexyMama

:cop: Please do stop using the Lemon Pepper at once.

You can rather use black pepper and a bit of real lemon. Remember if you squeeze the juice from lemon, you need to count this as your fruit. You probably won’t use a whole lemon, maybe only a 1/4 through the day, so all you do is give up ¼ of one of your other fruit for the day you want lemon. Lemon pepper will slow down your progress, especially in the long run… remember, you won’t be on diet for every so please don’t eat it now.

You are not allowed to buy ground beef / hamburgers – what you can do is select a lean cut of meat, ask your butcher to trim off all the fat and then to ground it for you.

I’m really pleased to see that you are down 21 pounds! {congrats} this is wonderful! :clapping3: Now remember that we want to maximize your ongoing success so please eliminate the lemon pepper and added fats… The first month most people lose really great, the second month is slower… and we don’t want anything to slow your results in the coming 4 weeks down…

[Shasha]

{hi} there Mimi

You’ve done very well to have lost 50 pounds :bighug: I’m so proud of you!!

Anyone can make a mistake – the key is to learn from it and to move on, just like you have :clapping3:

Please see your next 12 weeks as your investment into your future good health and make every moment count!! You’ve only got 20 pounds to go!!! {wave}

[Shasha]

{hi} there Sharon

After Re-feeding, the occasional spurge in moderation should be fine, but after the program you may very well find that oily rich foods no longer have the same appeal {idk} they once did… so you may not want those chips after all – especially if they are greasy cos you may end up feeling a bit :sick:

The nice thing about the program is that it is training you to enjoy the healthy foods and the feeling of being healthy that comes from eating them {wave}

[Mei Mei]

Ditto to MiMi way to go!!!50 pounds. Wonderful, wonderful. I bet you feel awesome!

Thanks, Sharon. Yes it feels great to start fitting into my own clothes again! As far as eating out. Yes it went very well. We went to outback and I order the 7 oz fillet and had no spices put on it. I cut it in half, and really enjoyed it. I brought crackers and ate them while my family enjoyed spin dip--one of my favs. I also got the side salad and gave away my second side. The second side went to my 14 year old growing boy. He didn't mind at all. I also brought a piece of fruit.
Today we went out to lunch after church. I grabbed an apple as we walked out the door. We went to Applebees--my kids' favorite. I order the spin and shrimp salad-1/2 size with onion only on the spin and no spice on the salad. It seems like the veggies were a bit more--so I didn't eat all of the spin and the shrimp was a bit less-7 pieces. I was fine though and ate saltines with it and drank a few glasses of tea before the food came so I wasn't as hungry. It is way easier for me to stay home though. I used to love to go out to eat, mainly because someone else is cooking! How are you doing?

Thanks, Sasha,
and I have a Question. I Know the book says oreder refeed with about five pounds to go. I don't know if I should try to lose a bit more first. Do people usually continue to lose during refeed? I think I want to change my goal to 115. I'm just not sure yet. thanks for all of your help, advice, and love. This forum makes this diet!!I love all my new friends :)
Mary

[Sharon]

Hi Mei Mei
Glad you got thought the meal out, I totally agree it is alot easier to stay at home, you are a brave woman, You did great by the sound of it and you must have been really proud of yourself and if like me a tinge of missing out that soon diminishes when the offending food has been devoured out of sight by our families (can't teenage boys eat). Excuse my ignorance what is a spin, I gather it is a salad, is there anything special in it? I must admit I have hiberated to some degree. We like to entertain with spit roasts in summer / autumn, so hope to be all sorted by then, and I can come back out of my cave, only for the occassional splurge of course.
Hope all is going well.

[MIMI]

Mei Mei, yes i feel really good. I know i have 20 more lbs to go but i will make it. I look at myself in the mirror and i'm just amazed. I think?? Is that really me in that mirror??? It's so nice to get out of the bed every morning and be excited about putting on clothes now. I used to dread getting ready because i never felt comfortable in my fat clothes. I LOVE IT and i guess by the time i thru i'll be a size 6, this totally blows my mind. Isn't this diet great!!!! Mei Mei your going to be done with your re feed before you know it. Missy, what size are you now a 2????? Make sure you send us some pictures of your little itty bitty body. GO MEI MEI to your re feed and let us know how it's going. LOL :bighug: MIMI

[Mei Mei]

Hey Sharon,
spin referred first to spinach artichoke dip. I like it especially when it has a bit of spice in it--creamy dreamy delicious. the second time I mentioned spin yes, spinach salad. I love spinach so much that I eat it plain. At home I usually eat it two sometimes three times a day. It is funny because I also enjoy spin class which is a stationalry bike class that runs an hour and kicks your butt!!! :weights: I haven't done it in forever since I truly am saving my energy. I don't think I would have it in me right now as I usually burn 500-600 calories per class. I have to save some energy to take care of my family! I will play tennis tomorrow, and that will take a lot of energy, but I just love it!
Take care. Looks like your ticker is really moving in the right direction. Yeah!!!
Mary

[Bronwyn]

Mary - I'm so happy for you being so close to goal!! I've been reading your posts and watching your progress. I love that you and Lauren have been like diet twins on this thing starting and now getting to refeed at about the same time! Love it!!!

[UnspeakableJoy]

I'm so glad I just read this entire post! I've become such a night owl since starting 1PD, I decided to clean out my spice cabinet. I came across a bottle of garlic salt and thought to myself - hey, it's garlic and it's salt. I can use it. But after reading Sexymama's post and Shasha's reply, that little bottle went straight into the garbage! It was NOT just garlic and salt, it was also sugar, that hydrogenated oil thingy and a bunch of other things I can neither pronounce nor spell lol

In a way, I feel bad because someone else's mistake saved me from making one as well!

[Sharon]

Hi Mary,
Thanks for the explanation on spin:party3:, does sound yummy, must admit have never tried artichoke thou.
My ticker is moving down nicely as is my measurements but have just had a posting from my consultant re ARE YOU STICKING TO THE PLAN talk, my goodness if I stuck to it any more religiously I would be wearing a nun's habit, so I've asked what they thinking, I didn't think 12 kilograms in 8 weeks was too shabby. I'm still 100% with the program just a bit confused:confused:, a bit more clarification wouldn't go a miss, I wonder if they are getting pounds and kilos confused. Plus as it is a personal plan, it would be nice if your consulant had a name, enough of my whinging, sorry about that, I've actually got days off so I'm a happy wee camper:jumping2: .

[MIMI]

Sharon, I think your doing a GREAT job, maybe they are getting mixed up? I'd keep doing what i'm doing if i were you, you know if your staying true or not and i for one believe you. Keep it up!!!!! GO SHARON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!GO SHARON!!!!!!!!!!!! {cheerleader} MIMI

[Sharon]

Thanks Mimi, I really appreciate your post, {bighug}
Must say my note back to them was a bit short, whoops but I've had them clarify bit more, my bloods are OK but boarderline, as I am sticking to the plan, they think it is due to my shift work. I think I am as pure as I can be as far as removing any processed foods anyway:angel:, I don't promise that about the rest of me:devil:, but I'm gonna go through my diet with a fine tooth comb, see if something is sneeking in, the only thing it could be is crackers or curry, so I'm gonna throw them out and start again, pick thing with next to no ingredients. The shift work I can't do anything about, occupational hazard, fix what I can accept what I can't.
Again thanks for your support.
Its good to have someone to talk to who knows what your talking about.

[MIMI]

Sharon, you might be right about your shift work. I don't know if i could give up my crackers? Sometimes, that's the only thing that gets me thru the day. Just hang in there i think you are lowing just fine, everybody does not lose the same. As long as your losing that's all that matters. It won't be long till you'll be getting all them compliments about how good you look. I have had 5 people start this program because of my weight loss. I'm glad to be the reason people are trying to get healthy. Looking forward to seeing your progress. LOL :love8: MIMI

[Sharon]

No way gonna give up on my crackers{noway} know what you mean about getting you through, for me its about 3am, but have picked a really simple, minimal ingredient one. I've had all my hormones measured couple of years ago and they are not within normal limits, been checked out for tumors but am all clear (plus they would have had to have been there from puberty so wasn't really worried ) so if this diet can even them out I'll be wrapped and signing Cohen's praises from Mt Everest, but I accept it may take me a bit longer to get to the end result. They just needed to explain what they were thinking, which now they have, so me much happier :innocent3:.
I bet you are looking fantastic, 5 people hooked up to this program, that is a great statement to how well you are doing. {king}
Ta again for the support, much appreciated.

[Sharon]

Hi Mei mei,
See you are on line, so thought I would pop over to you and say gidday, hope you don't mind me conversing on your thread earlier. It seems a few messages back your explanation about spin, you are summer over where you are? if so lovely salads, and I'm envious. How did the tennis go? I find I'm feeling really great but higher physical exertion makes me a bit light headed and shaky, funny to think I use to run on less, I've decided it must be working then and I'm burning as I go {explode}instead of storing everything for a rainy day, as far as spin class goes I'd be falling off me bike.
How is everything going?

[pumbza]

Hi THERE all I have been off my CRACKERS and FRUIT for 7 weeks now and DON'T MISS them at all I don't have soda as WELL and don't miss that at all as WELL!I started doing this from week 4 and I have about 1 more week to GO before 12 Weeks are UP!!!I have DONE no excercise at all and can't weight till after REFEED to do GYMM!!!Ha Ha!!!:innocent4:Have a GREAT DAY:innocent3:

[Mei Mei]

Hey Sharon,
Yes, it is still summer here. 101 today and parched ground. But the veggies are good and fresh. I ate too many fresh jalapenos with dinner and my mouth was burning! I noticed a couple of posts on your bloodwork. How are you doing? Have the consultants replied any more? Your progress is wonderful, just keep plugging away.

I think we all kind of hit a wall after the first 'flush" of fat leaving us. then we have to be kind of more down to earth. I know that it is frustrating. My wieght went back up 1.5 pounds. Weird. I haven't done anything different. I don't get it. the only thing I can think of was I was sick last saturday, after a week long cold, so maybe the flushing of y body really lowered my weight and then it came back up. I'm a bit confused, but still see changes, so I'm not that worried.

anyway. tennis was great. I wasn't very hungry most of the day but by late afternoon I really wanted to eat, non stop. Today I mowed the lawn, push mower in that heat, very strenuous and was very hungry also. so, I think that strenuous exercise really makes the day harder. Hope you are doing ok.
Mary

[Bronwyn]

Mary - You're so close to refeed!!! SO EXCITING!!! Yes - exercise will make you hungry on this diet and also, the closer to refeed I got the more my hunger and cravings started to come back.

[SPDeRosa]

Mary - I was starving when I approached refeed as well. How amazing is it that your'e already within a few pounds of your goal weight! Great job!

[pumbza]

Hi there THE THREE MUSKETEERS Mary Bronwyn and Shawn (OOPS where do we FIT GORGEOUS LAUREN (MARY & BRONWYN YOU ARE GORGEOUS TOO - Shawn My METRO side is down today and I can't add YOU in this Comment!!Ha Ha)).MARY YOU must be stoked to be 4.5lbs away it could not happen to a BETTER person I wanna see PHOTO's of a Lucious MARY MARY quite CONTRARY!!Ha Ha!!:innocent4:I have a LONG way to go now after REDOING MY GAOL WEIGHT (:sick:) so I have spent the whole of YESTERDAY reading GI BOOKS and PLANNING my MAINTENNANCE DIET after DR COHEN refeed so that I can live on a realistic sustainable DIET so I don't GO MAD after the DIET and BLOW IT and GO BACK to being a PORK CHOP (Oops hope there are NO jewish PEOPLE here!!Ha Ha)I know its a BIT AHEAD of TIME but it keeps me occupied and THINKING and every now and then the OLD JUICES start to FLOW but I know thats JUST FAT BURNING PAINS!!!Ha Ha!HAVE A SPECTACULAR DAY!!!:innocent3:

[Mei Mei]

Hi all,
I'm pretty excited. I got my refeed today. I'm not ready to start yet, still hovering with those last few pounds. My scale hasn't budged, but that's ok because I can really see a difference in my body.

It is fascinating to actually have the refeed guide in my hands. Pumbza, I know you are very curious, so as I read I will tell you about it. You get an e-mail and it tells you what days of the refeed to do. It has an introductory section, then rules during refeed. It gives lists of foods that you can introduce. (It looks a lot like the personal diet handout we got.)
anyway, exciting time.

I do want to say that this forum has helped me immensely, and I don't know if I would have been as successful without it. I'm so proud of everyone and how well they are all doing. :party1:I know that we all have hard days, and I am truly impressed with those of you who have really stuck to it over time.

Good job accepting that you will have to tack on another leg .
Pumbza!!
Mary

[Lauren]

Hey Mary and everyone!

I just read this entire thread. Mary--we have the same taste: fajitas & spinach/artichoke dip. I LOVE Mexican food and those rich dips. Not necessarily together, though. :) Be careful doing a lot of strenuous work in the heat and stuff--always take an extra vitamin and eat an apple before or after. And get plenty of sleep!

Pumbza--you are adorable! I can't believe you aren't eating your fruit & crackers. I can't wait to find out how much you lost THIS month! Jeez! Have you gotten any new clothes yet?

Sharon: Make sure you're only eating one of the five kinds of crackers that are allowed on this diet. Maybe that's what's throwing you off, although I think you're doing great with weight loss! I just wanted to check on that because you said you were going to throw out your crackers and start over with something with less ingredients--they are very specific about which crackers are allowed, so just wanted to make sure you've got the right kinds.

This forum is so great--you guys are the best! It would be so much harder without getting to "talk" to people who UNDERSTAND. :)

[pumbza]

Well done Mary YOU really are a SHOOtiNG STAR now what I wan't YOU to do is SPILL the BEANS on the REFEED I want it all YOU KNOW HOW YOU LADIES love to spill the beans about who did what etc like DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES!!!Ha Ha!:innocent4:I want to know it all WHAT works what does not and YOUR RECIPES etc SPILL LADY SPILL ALL!!!START a NEW thread LIKE SHAWNS REFEED so we can all read what YOUR DOINGS daily and when YOU get on to the FORUM thats what YOU DO FIRST the rest will be LEASURE TIME messages!!Ha Ha!I do sound really BOSSY like YOU FEM FATALES Ha Ha!!!!But I am really proud that YOU Made it and it JUST motivates me BIG TIME so keep UP the GOOD WORK MARY MARY QUITE CONTRARY We will watch HOW YOUR GARDEN GROWS!!!HI THERE LOVELY LAUREN (LL Ha Ha!) weight has really SLOWED down I thing I had some PROBLEMS with COLD I still have a BIT of FLEM when I LIE DOWN BUT I AM WELL otherwise thanks for asking!!!SORRY NO NEW CLOTHS Till I have FINISHED REFEED and I know Where MY GOAL weight is and I am BACK to NORMAL I am LOOKING MORE like a RAGGAMUFFIN everyday but thats the NEW FASHION NOW DAYS and my PARTY TRICK is when people ask I UNBUCKLE MY BELT (Wow GIRLS hold on to YOUR CHAIRS HA Ha!!) and no not drop my pants but I show them HOW BIG my pants is for me and it never FAILS to astound the PEOPLE involved I am so enjoying this PARTY TRICK I may JUST not BUY NEW CLOTHS!!!Ha Ha!Just kidding I am GOING to BREAK the BANK BUYING ALL MY CLOTHS ONE TIME NEW IN ONE SHOP I am not a shop-a-holic like SHAWN I walk in walk out buy cloths return the ones that don't fit rebuy and its all done in ONE SHOP and then as the YEARS PASS BY I will wonder in to a STORE and I may top UP with things I see in PASSING I HATE SHOPPING!Ha Ha!NOW if YOU talk about buying cars computers or hifi and TV equipment I could shop all DAY I suppose different strokes for DIFFERENT FOLKS!!!:innocent3:

[Sharon]

Hi Mary,
Good on you with the tennis, lawn mowing etc etc, my goodness I'm exhausted just thinking about it, I'm a hopeless tennis player as I keep missing the ball, and have to do lots of running after it, I bet it would make you hungry, I'd be starving. My hubby has just converted your temp of 101 to celcius for me, (he's handy that way), thats a bit toastie to be pushing the mower{explode}.
My bloods are boarderline ok, if its my shift work causing the problems then I can't do alot about it and thats the way it is, and I'm ok with that, and they have improved from my initial, so they are going in the right direction. But have looked at the only 2 things that aren't a 'pure' food, curry which I was sure was and now guaranteed a mix of only spices, and the crackers. Lauren, the crackers I have chosen are VERY plain, am checking it out with the consultants, but what we have down under may be different to what you can get, so we go by as close as possible to their 'suggestions' in our program, I don't ever eat my daily allowance, and generally only 1 portion per day, often nil. Not sure when I will have to repeat my blood tests as they haven't gotten back to me on that, but I will be carrying on past 12 weeks anyway.
Thanks you guys for all your support, means heaps {bighug}

[Sexymama]

Mary!!! {congrats} on getting your re feed!!! That is wonderful!!! You have done so great!! I can't wait to hear all about Re feed! I agree with Pumbza. If you have the time we all would love to hear the day to day details!!
Keep up the good work!!
Julie

[PosterGal]

Mary - that's so great - refeed! Congratulations! So exciting, one of our original diet triplets is there! Yea for you!

Yes, please give us the scoop - we're curious too! :)

[Mei Mei]

Hi everyone! Thanks for all the support. I'm ready to refeed! But, still holding on to those last few pounds. I look like myself again, actually, even better! My friends are calling me skinny! My energy is still low, but with 4 kids and a very hectic schedule, that's expected. I can't seem to sleep either. Woke up at 3:30 yikes!
I played tennis again yesterday. 660 calories burned. :weights2: I was exhausted. Shawn mentioned being hungry the closer he got to refeed. I'm there. I was so grouchy yesterday. I love to play tennis, but man, the rest of the day is shot. It is only one day a week right now though.
Thanks again for all your support, you will be there soon! I will gladly tell you all about it as I go through it :)
Mary

[lfingers11]

I'm glad you are so close to goal. But heck, with you burning that many calories wonder why you don't have any energy. The day you play tennis you are barely getting any calories for yourself:) You must be starving on those days. I do understand that you need to play though. It is probably your fun activity and gets rid of all your stress. Have a great week and hopefully you will be starting refeed anyday.

[Lauren]

Hey Mary,

I really wonder if tennis is too strenuous an exercise for this diet. Keep in mind you're eating hardly any calories to spare--just enough to survive, really. And now that you don't have much more fat to burn off, of course that's going to make you feel fatigued. You know you won't be able to exercise at all on refeed, right? Because that can affect your weigh-ins each day. So maybe you should just stop exercising until you're done so you can catch up on sleep and not feel so crabby and exhausted. That's no fun! You want to feel good in your new body, and you'll have plenty of time to play tennis for the rest of your life (and that will really help you not gain the weight back too)! Anyway, that's just my suggestion. I just want you to feel good and happy. :) The only exercise I've done this time around is walking and yoga--one or the other each day--and even that has made me feel fatigued at times, so then I'd take a day or two off. I can't imagine playing tennis on so few calories! You must be really tough! :)

[PhyllisRis]

Not one who's ever been big into exercise I LOVE the fact that we don't HAVE to work out on this diet!!!! :party1:
However, once I'm a lot lighter I plan to start riding horses again....either renting one at a stable or taking some riding lessons! I've been so heavy these last 10 years, or so, that I didn't want to break the back of some poor, unsuspecting whinny machine!!! I grew up with a horse as my best friend and every once in a while I need to at least pet one and get my "horse fix" as I call it!!! But....soon I'll be able to ride into the sunset again!!!! YEA!
(hmmm...tried to find a horse icon but there is none....a sheep or duck isn't the same....can we have more animal icons??? Please??)
Phyllis

[Mei Mei]

Yeah, it has been. But I love it so much! I might consider skipping next week. Plus the heat here is pretty draining also. I haven't done any other exercise. I knew I couldn't do it all. I love to exercise, so it has been weird. I've felt pretty lazy, but hey, this diet is working so well, so fast, I'll get it back with a much improved bod. Congrats to you. You will start your refeed any day! I love your dh's metaphors. I taught English, so am alwaysentertained by play on/with words. I've never done a marathon, but did do a mini-tri, and it's a great analogy.
Mary
Keep it up.

[Mei Mei]

Well. I makde it. :party1:The scale says 120 so I can start refeed. I'm not sure I will today. I think I want to see if I can go until next week to lose a few more pounds. The one thing that is pulling me away from a new goal is blueberries...
Everyone is noticing and asking me about my weight. That feels great! Oh,my other dilema, all of my clothes are going to be too big!! My smallest jeans now have room. When all this is over I will have to go shopping.

One more thing. My dishwasher broke down. :sadeyes: In a family of six, no time for that nonsense...What's the best dishwasher out there?
Blessings to all,
Mary

[Soon2BSlim]

I'm just starting out too. Today is day 4, and I've heard that the first 4 are tough, but, so far so good. "You can do anything if you keep at it long enough" - Helen Keller

[CaliSunshine]

Hello!

I just recently started, it was 6 days ago to be exact. The week before I started I just mentally prepared myself and now it's all about planning so I'm happy with results as of today :). I don't have children to tend to so I really give kudos to those of you out there who have a family to prepare meals for and dealing with the hectic schedule that comes with a family and still being able to take care of you, I know it's challenging for me so I can only imagine. I haven't figured out the tickers and all the fun stuff but I'll be working on it. Best to all of you!!

[Mei Mei]

:)Good job so far soon 2b. And Welcome Cali! You've both got a great head start and attitude; that's what it takes:weights2:

Well, my good intentionsof losing more are fading fast. It is my TOM, and I could have a piece of bread. I think I have done all I can do, such a flake!!! I will start refeed with lunch. I'm already feeling better.
How exciting!!! I will let you know how it goes.
Mary

[lfingers11]

Mary,
See it didn't take long to get off those extra stubborn pounds. Good for you. Also, you might drop a couple of pounds after your TOM ends. I gain and loose 5 pounds with mine!! Well, let us know how everything goes. Yummy, bread and blueberries!!
Pam

[Mei Mei]

Thanks Pam,
Relatively, I guess not. :)Hopefully a few more will budge after TOM. I feel like such a wimp! I had such resolve this am. two sick kids and TOM later, I went ahead. Well, the blueberries were good, I ate them with salad. But the bread was a disappointment. I think I will leave that off. The refeed says you change your cracker allotments with the added bread, or you can avoid bread altogether. I've really cut back on it these past few years, because my tummy doesn't like it.

I feel very full, and I split my add ins evenly for lunch and dinner. I feel pretty bloated. I don't know if I gain weight if I have to go back or what! Anyway, I'm rambling probalby food overload. :sadeyes:Feels weird.
I can't beleive I could eat that much--and I ate too fast. Better learn some lessons before my next meal!
Mary

[CaliSunshine]

Thank you for the welcome Mei Mei....looking forward to the challenge!!

[Lauren]

Yay Mary! You're not a flake. You're just DONE and I don't blame you one bit! You can always go back and lose those few extra pounds when your husband starts the diet. They'll come right off. I'm so proud of you for reaching your goal! Congratulations!!!

I just read this (ironically) as I ate my toast with stewed blueberries. I can't tell you how delicious that is. The blueberries were rather messy and slopped all over my plate, so...I licked the plate. hahaha! I felt like a little kid, but I needed every last drop! :) It's like eating blueberry pie! Highly recommended... I think you could probably heat up just about any fruit and put it on toast and it would be amazing. I think I'll do it with my plum tomorrow and give that a try.

Well, my sister-in-law talked me into going to the family BBQ this Sunday. She did a similar diet to this one two years ago (although it was where she checked in with a strict cardiologist once a week who would give her hell if she deviated at all, and I don't know what kind of after diet plan he gave her), but she gained all the weight back and more and has been miserable with herself ever since. So she wants to make a deal with me that if I go this Sunday, we'll keep away from the potluck food people are bringing and she'll make us something special that's on our diets. I think I'm inspiring her, which is good, so I'm just going to go to help her out. That's going to be hard, though! People always bring the best stuff to potlucks--eggplant parmesan, enchiladas... Oh well. It will be nice to see everyone again. It's been a while.

Welcome, CaliSunshine and soon2bslim! For me, the hardest was that first weekend because that's when I like to party it up a bit and allow myself treats. So I got depressed that first Friday night/Saturday, but of course I got over it...and look at me now! You two will be there too, before you know it! What part of Cali are you in, Sunshine? Slim, you've got about the same amount as I had to lose. FYI: It's going to be 10 1/2 weeks total before I'm done, just to give you a ballpark of what to expect. Of course, everyone is different, but it helped me this time, knowing about how long it would take. I thought it would take 10 weeks this time, because last time it took me 8 weeks total and I only wanted to lose 18lbs. So I was pretty darn close! :) Have a great day, everyone!

[CaliSunshine]

Hi Lauren

Look at it as a challenge for you. I started my diet last Friday (I was a little bummed that I could not have my final weekend horrah) but I just prepared myself mentally the days leading up to it and I was honestly fine. Then not realizing I was going to be on my diet, we had already committed to having my family over for my Dad and Sis's bday as well as to watch the USC game but I was fine - actually had no desire to cheat.... to be honest I just made myself so busy being the host that I didn't even think about it. My boyfriend is an EXCELLENT cook hence the reason why I'm here so I think this has been more of a challenge for him....hee hee I even went to a dinner commitment I could not get out of on Tuesday and at the end of the dinner the restaurant Manager brought us these 2 awesome desserts but I didn't cheat. Everyone could not believe it, trust me I wanted to try a sliver but I didn't. I'm just trying to send you good wishes and good thoughts because if I can do it then I know you can ....it's all in your mindset and look how far you've come :) That's so great, congratulations!

I'm in Orange County CA....are you familiar with the area, do you live in CA?

So let me ask you, I thought my diet was going to be 12 weeks but I guess it could be shorter??? Does that mean 12 weeks and I don't have to look at these meal plans again? Just trying to prepare myself for the holidays - YIKES! Were you able to complete the diet the last time? I haven't been able to catch up on all the message boards - sorry. If you don't mind me asking what learning experiences can I take from you that will prevent me from coming back here?

Well if I don't hear back from you before the weekend I'll be sure to send my good wish angels your way :) Have a great week!!!

[Lauren]

Hi Cali!

Yeah, I live in Hollywood. We're "neighbors"! :)

YES! You'll be done long before 12 weeks, my friend! 12 weeks is just what you have to sign up for, minimum, but you can certainly finish early. I predict you'll be done in 8 weeks. I did the diet a year ago and did complete it in 8 weeks. Then I BINGED and binged and binged and binged for the past year...pretty much. I consistently gained about ten pounds per month back, so by the end of the year, I was miserable with myself again. Then I tried to lose it just by eating smaller portions & exercising, which worked for a few months...until my suppressive girlfriend came for a visit and put ice cream in my house, and that started another binge which brought my weight back up until I couldn't take it anymore and just got this diet done again. My recommendation for not letting that happen to you is: when you finish this diet, don't see it as something you can put behind you that you did in your past. This diet is very mental and you will have different cognitions about your eating habits along your journey here. Keep those realizations in mind in your daily life AFTER the diet. Essentially, I plan to see myself as living on this diet for life. Of course, I'll be lucky when I'm done because I'll have my freedom back, but I'll weigh myself meticulously every day to watch for the first sign of gain, and nip it before it gets out of hand. I never want to have to do this again, so I'm going to be really careful to monitor myself. It's too easy to get into the habit of eating bad foods, then craving bad foods, and then healthy food doesn't sound good anymore...which is TERRIBLE! And that's when it's hard to nip it and fix the problem in the beginning. So I'm hoping that if I just keep my mindset as it is now, on the diet, maybe I won't slip into that binge mode. Fingers crossed! :)

Thanks for your good wish angels! I've been through a lot with this, so I know I can do it. I've just been trying to avoid social occasions lately because I don't want people to feel sorry for me or make a big deal out of me losing the weight again, because I got a lot of praise for it last year and then I gained it back, so it's embarrassing. Anyway, it will be fine. I think I'll have fun. :)

[Sexymama]

Hi CaliSunshine and Lauren and Mei Mei!!

Mei- Way to go!! You just go for it. I know you will do great on refeed! I don't know if you read on my progress but our 8 week weigh in is Monday! How great that you reached your goal in 8 weeks!!! I'm so proud of you!!! I am hoping when I weigh in on Monday I will be about 35lbs! I hope the kidos are feeling better! You all have been in my prayers! I just got over some stomach thing and now both of my kids are getting colds with runny noses!! Let's pray for no ear aches as we are leaving next Friday for Hawaii!!

CaliSunshine- Welcome to the best diet EVER!!! You will love this diet and will get to your goal fast! Good luck and keep us posted!! I was born and raised in Huntington Beach! Where in O.C. are you from? I moved to Oregon 16 years ago and love it here but sometimes I really miss H.B!!

Lauren the blueberries on toast sound scrumptious!!! Keep up the good work! Your right this diet is so mental and it definatly sounds like you are prepaired for Life After!! Sometimes I get frustrated and want to eat but I just have to get my head back in the game and realize I'm almost half way there and I CAN DO IT!!!
You all have a great nite!!
Julie

[Lauren]

That's right, Julie! You CAN do it! I hope you and your family don't get sick before Hawaii! Or if they do, hopefully they'll get over it before then so you can all be happy & healthy on your journey! What fun! I'm jealous! Anyway, I can't wait to find out how much you lost on Monday! Keep up the great work!! :)

[Mei Mei]

Julie,
Give the kids some of that fresh juice and fruit of Hawaii! That ought to cure them! Hopefully they wil be well by then. You are oging to be stylin' on the beach with your awesome weight loss.:)

Isn't our start date the 28th? So you mean that we start week 8 next week? Seem like it would be the following Monday that't the official end of week 8. Sorry if I am being dense!:thinking:

Lauren, I went ahead and had another piece of bread today. It was much better because I melted cheese all over it!! I do have a question about that though. That sure seemed like a lot of cheese. :hypnotic: Not complaining, I'm a fan of cheese--even non-fat mozarella. My original amount was 60g and I took half of the refed amount so 90 g of cheese. I guess I will know tomorrow if that was a mistake!
Mary

[Lauren]

That's right! That's a lot of cheese! I LOVE IT! :) When you get to a certain point in refeed, you can start mixing proteins, so you can melt cheese on your chicken or whatever. YUMMY! I can't wait for that! But you did the right thing. I LOVE CHEESE! :)

[Mei Mei]

Meeeee toooo! Too bad there's not a drippy cheese smily guy!That may have been part of my problem with adding wieght though. I like queso and guacamole. I laughed about that as I was eating lunch today. It felt like so much cheese and only 7 weeks ago I would have polished off a small soup bowl of queso. Perspective eh???
Thanks for the clarification. What day are you on? How's it going???
Mary

[Lauren]

I'm on day 7 in the refeed program, but it's my 5th day on refeed. (That sounds like refeed code talk) :) Only 11 days to go after today! Whooppee!! I'm doing alright, although I've been feeling hungry again and a little weak. I went basically two nights without sleep, though, so I'm sure that's the problem. Yesterday was an emotionally stressful day (on top of being exhausted), so I had major cravings and felt really weird and weak. I slept really good last night and feel better today, though still a little funny. I'm really enjoying the "normal"-looking portion sizes in my meals, though!

I love guacamole and queso too...wow. That sounds so delicious! :)

[Debbie J]

Hi Everybody! It looks like I finally figured out how to post and can start participating in the forum as an active member! Yea! :-) I'm Debbie and have been on the program officially since Aug 25, but unofficially about 4 weeks before that; using my old diet program from the year before! Anyway, I've been browsing the forum on and off for several weeks, then once I signed up again, had technical problems posting, then 2 weeks vacation (fun! from LA, California up to Canada thru British Columbia down to Montana across to Idaho back to Washington, down thru Oregon and back to LA! It was gorgeous and I'm proud of myself because I kept to my program pretty much those 2 vacation weeks! We were mostly camping so I could control my food prep more easily than having to dine out! So, just wanted to say Hi to all the active participants, I've loved reading your successes, inspirational stories, problems, help , etc. and I look forward to being able to contribute to the group starting NOW! Some quick vitals on me: I'm 50, mom of 2 kids (20 and 14), working with my fiance in our business (contracting), I'm a trained counselor and have been a teacher in the past. I'd like to (and WILL this time!) get my body down to a comfortable weight around 125 pounds! I believe I've lost close to 20-25 from my unofficial start weight (estimated at 215). I love cooking and look forward to sharing some of my favorite recipes and just being part of this lovely nurturing group! Thanks all for listening! Sincerely, Debbie J

[PhyllisRis]

Welcome Debbie J!!! You'll love this diet. I've been battling my weight for...forever! And this diet is the one that's finally getting my body all straightened around! I feel sooo much healthier and it's only been 8 weeks (2 months)!! Sometimes I feel like the Wicked Witch of the West who's had water thrown on her.....I'm MELTING!!! YEA....
Welcome aboard!
Phyllis

[Lauren]

Welcome, Debbie!!! When you said "using your old diet program from the year before," does that mean you did the diet last year like I did? And what happened? Just curious if you're like me. If so, I think it's so important for people like us to educate others about how important it is to keep your food in check post-diet. My mindset is completely different this year than it was last year, and I'm ready for the challenge of actually keeping the weight off this time! I didn't even try last year! I actually laughed when I started gaining weight because I knew I could lose it again. I've never taken weight gain seriously because I've always lost it easily and I know how to lose it. But I'm tired of dieting like this and I never want to have to do it again! For the first time in my life, I'm ready to live a lifestyle where I maintain a healthy weight and don't do the yo-yo thing. Anyway, I'm very happy to meet you and am glad you joined our group! I look forward to seeing your progress! You're going to do GREAT!

[Debbie J]

Hi Phyllis and Lauren (and all) and thanks for the "Welcomes"! and instant encouragement!

Lauren, to clarify: I've never completed this diet successfully. I've paid twice in the past, once around July of last year; and once earlier maybe 1 year or so before that. Both times, I went into it about a month, hit some stuff, maybe diet related, maybe not, hit a barrier with some insomnia and then decided to switch off this plan, thinking it too restrictive for what I was handling with my body... Not to disparage this program, because I don't actually claim it was the diet causing my problem, just that I got off the program to handle my insomnia and other stuff in my life. But I too have been a big wild and woolly yo-yoer gaining and losing 30-40 pounds or more each year for the last god knows how many years and over the decades the ups going upper and the downs not so downer! :-) BUT: I've been surrounded by many people/friends and folks at my church who have done this program with GREAT results and a friend from my Toastmasters group lost over 100 lbs!!!! So after I decided once again to get a permanent grip on my weight I decided to go for blood and do Cohen again, as even doing it unofficially: i.e. following the previous years' program, I started to lose weight... and...because I wanted to participate on the forum and because I thought I should get every advantage with new blood work, I paid for the program yet again this past Aug and have started officially Aug 25 I think and unofficially (this time) started 4 weeks before on my "old" program.

Hope that fills you in with tooout much unnecessary info! And I am willing to buddy up with any of you who need help/support in any area.. and YES! ITS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE MINDSET CHANGES AND LONG-TERM POLICIES FOR MAINTAINING THESE SUCCESSES!!!

How may I help you?

Sincerely,
Deb J

[pumbza]

Hi all diet buddies hope YOU are well DON"T worry Debbie J YOU CAN DO IT especially on this site its GREAT to have YOU on the FORUM is excellent we are here for YOU!!!Lauren PLEASE oh PLEASE I wan't to know what YOU eating what YOU doing for the REFEED if YOU could do the same as SHAWn and have a REFEED thread so we can all follow it PLEASE!!Lauren a QUESTION you are on day five and YET you finish in 11 days why is that I thought refeed is 30 days sorry if I sound's like a dense question but I am trying to visualise this refeed story as I have a MONTH or two to GO!!!:innocent3:

[Mei Mei]

Pumbza,
Your refeed days are based on your blood test results. So like the specifics of the diet, everyone's refeed is slightly different. I have 14 days total--days 4-8, then 9 other days. It is very interesting and exciting to be on refeed, after long hard work. Keep it up buddy, you will be there before you know it! :)


I told my husband about you wearing the same pants with a belt, and he cracked up! I cam out with a skirt that I had worn the Saturday before I started. (None of my other clothes would even fit me anymore I had gotten so out of control. ) I showed him that there was a huge gap between my waist and the skirt and his eyes grew wide. That's wehn I told him of your wieght loss and story!!! :rolling2:He will be starting the first of Oct. Yeah!!! He has some cholesterol problems that I hope will sort out through weight loss. My bro in law dropped his cholesterol about 200 points!!! That will drop insurance rates eh?
Have a great day1
Mary

[Mei Mei]

Ok. here was my first attempt to put a picture in. Didn't go so well. I will keep trying. I love seeing everyone's faces! Problem is, I'm usually the one taking the pictures. I found one of me mostly fat, but I added about 15 pounds at my heaviset. I don't have any pictures of me at my top weight. Still, you will be able to see the difference when I am done :) I sure can.
Hope everyone is having a great day!:)
Mary

[pumbza]

Hi Mary it will be great when YOUR husband JOINS it will UP the male population on this FORUM not that there's anything WRONG with YOU GORGEOUS FEMALES but with all these TOM's etc I feel like a SPARE wheel it will be cool us discussing the HARD lives we LEAD!!!Ha Ha!(Thought that would get YOU going!!Ha Ha!):innocent4:Your hubbies cholestrol will surely DROP big time and it will be cool for YOU people to SUPPORT each other what do they say LOVE is supporting each other ON DR COHENS DIET (OK OK I made that UP?)You look so good with that photo of YOU on the avatar YOUR husband is a LUCKY guy does he REALISE that MARY and I can't wait to see YOUR before and AFTER photo's!!!Have a WONDERFUL DAY hope KIDS are well!!:innocent3:

[PosterGal]

Debbie - welcome! We're glad you came back - there's a few of you who have returned - which is a great thing - extremely encouraging to the rest of us!

Pumbza - you crack me up - I'm sure between us and your daughters you're tired of girl talk, but you always are so encouraging - thanks! And congratulations on your weight loss - wow - 100lbs - that's just awesome!! We all can wait to see YOUR before and after pictures - some in the same pair of pants and some in a new-fitting pair! LOL!

Looking forward to hearing your success!

[Debbie J]

Hi Poster Gal! : Thanks!

Pumbza: I support what Poster Gal said: can't wait to see b4 and afters of you, Papa Bear!

General Question re: crackers: do you know any reference to how much time between cracker portions we have to wait? I know we can't have more than 2 crackers at a time (11.85 grams-- at least on my program) but... I'm not sure how much wiggle room there is in separating out some crackers with a meal and my next serving of crackers as a snack. Any help? Thanks!

[pumbza]

Hi there Postergal & Debbie J Hey Postergal I have missed YOU a LOT under which stone have YOU being HIDING or have I just missed YOU with all these threads buzzing around!!!Ha Ha!:innocent4:Debbie J I use to eat my crackers with my meals as one or they said You can have them as snacks as long as YOU keep them at 2 per meal time and I presume 2 at snack time I am sure You could have 1 as a snack and 1 at meal time as long as it falls with in the meals times I presume!!!Hope that HELPS Hey where's OLD SHASHA she's the EXPERT (EX being a "has been" and a SPURT "a drop of water under pressure"!!!)Ha Ha!Have a SNACKING TIME!!!:innocent3: