MEI MEI's Re-feed

[Mei Mei]

Maybe Laren will contribute to this one also. I'm doing this because I was so riveted when Shawn gave us the information, I wanted to Play it forward, as Pumbza suggests :)

Your refeed as you probably know can be up to 30 days. Each day, what to add and amounts are written out in the refeed guide in a sort of chart form. You get an e-mail telling you which days you are to follow. I have days 4-8 and then 9 other days...first things first.

I had to add 30g of protein, and 40 g of veggies. So I decided to split the amounts up between lunch and dinner--Shawn and Sasha's suggestion! Instead of having my 1pd 100 g of chicken at lunch, I had 115, and 135 of veggies versus 115. It is really simple. I also got to have a piece of bread and take away 4 servings of crackers. The best part for me was the added good fruit--blueberries. I have been dying for them for the past 6 weeks and they are almost out of season!


What I am also doing is writing down on my refeed day what I am having, the amounts and types of protein.

The hard part for me is not figuring out the amounts but believing I will stay slim. Psychologically, I have so trained myself, that I feel like I am cheating. I felt guilty for eating so much. (Do't get me wrong, I love food, or I wouldn't be here in the first place!) I know I need to trust, since this amazing diet has gotten me this far. I had an excrutiating day yesterday--very sick daughter and the dreaded TOM--and should have really enjoyed my first day of refeed. I went to bed and woke up with a much brighter day.

Question for Sasha or anyone out there who has done refeed:
I got to add 60g of protein for lunch today. I really wanted cheese on bread--sort of like Shawn's bruschett I imagine. It was so decadent, better than pizza :pizza: even with non-fat cheese! Are we really allowed to have that much cheese!!! 90 g seems like sin on a piece of bread! I don't want to go backward, so if you think I should avoid cheese, I will...I'm very full right now. That cheese is probably a giant glob in my tummy. If I messed up, darn it, the rules just aren't clear enough.

Mary

[SPDeRosa]

Mary - how exciting that you're on Refeed!

Cheese (on Refeed) has to be your meal option. There's no using cheese in addition to or in place of meat. "New" and "Old" proteins are limited to meat, chicken or fish. So for my breakfast bruschetta I used my Meal 2 allowance of cheese and the veggies.

If you were to add 60g New Protein, it needs to be meat, chicken or fish, ideally a NEW type of meat, chicken or fish -- consider chicken thighs, pork or some "new protein" not on the original plan.

Can't wait to ready your daily posts!

~Shawn

[Mei Mei]

I'm confused. :thinking: If I was allowed to have cheese for lunch, Meal 2, can I add the old protein, more cheese, to it? I'm not at the new proteins yet. Did you read somewhere in the refeed guide that we aren't suposed to use cheese? I didn't eat any meat, just meal 2 allowance plus the added protein--more cheese. Hope I didn't blow it on my second day!!! I would have to go back to repeat a week!! I feel like I'm in detention! Guess the scale will tell me for sure tomorrow. If I do repeat, do I go back to my first refeed day, as today was my second?
Either way, I'm staying lite for dinner. fish. can't go worng with fish:)

Thanks for your help; I knew I could count on you!!
Mary

[Lauren]

No, Mary--you did it right. Shawn said you did it right too. He was just saying if you choose cheese as your protein for a meal, then that's your protein that you add to--you can't add chicken or another type of protein to that meal. Don't worry about "new" proteins until you get there--probably next week sometime. And don't feel guilty about eating so much! ENJOY IT! Now's your time to shine! And guess what! You're probably going to continue to lose weight on refeed! I am! I was 128.4 yesterday--a new low! Last time I lost almost 5lbs on refeed (below my goal weight), so just enjoy the ride. You're still on a diet, so you're going to keep losing until the end. I'm so happy someone else is on refeed with me! :)

[Mei Mei]

It's fun! I'm glad to have a sister on this diet. Will Bronwyn mind if I borrow you for a bit? (I actually have 4 sisters, trying to get one of them to do this diet!) By the way, how did that sis of your end up after her week back?
Mary

[UnspeakableJoy]

Congratulations Mary and Lauren! I am SO PROUD OF YOU!

Thank you Mary for sharing your refeed journey with us!

[Mei Mei]

Today is day three of refeed for me. Last night I finished up by going out to dinner! The whole family was together and kids wanted to go to Applebees. :cupid:It is a very family friendly restaurant, and Cohen friendly also! They have a shrimp and spinach salad that works very well. Last night I had steak.
For dinner I was to add 30 grams of protein to my 95 meat for meal 3. I figured 125 g was about 4 oz based on my Outback experience a while ago. Luckily, they have an 8 oz steak, so no trouble. Ordered it without seasoning with a double garden salad. When the salad came it was covered in bacon, cheese, grape tomatoes and croutons!!!Yikes, I apologized and sent it back to get a Cohen friendly version. I had an apple and crackers in my purse which I ate while the family chowed on my favortie appetizer, spinach artichoke dip. All went well, and I finished my day with Good fruit, more Kiwi.

Good news, down another half pound this morning. 119.5 I am ecstatic! I haven't been below 120 in at least twenty years. :party1: I went through my drawers and very fewpants/shorts fit me anymore. I will keep the biggest one to take an after pic. I put it on and showed my hubby the difference in waist. He was impressed, and he does not impress easily.

Again today I got to add 60 grams of protein and 80 grams of veggies. Wow. Seems like a lot of food compared to what we've done. So I broke it up between lunch and dinner.
For lunch I had melted cheese on a piece of bread with toms and onion. Man it is good. That is the problem. In my refeed guide it says that you may want to give up bread totally because it causes bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, and on and on. I agree. I want to give up bread. It makes my stomeach swell like you wouldn't believe. I might even be glutton intolerant. But I did it anywyay. I would like to get off that habit bofore I start it again. Let's see if I can do better tomorrow.
It's been a rough day though, and that is my comfort food. Even though I know I am not cheating, it sure feels like it. (I have two sick kids with fevers over 102 and just got in a fight with my middle son. {slapfight} He is barely passing English, and fights me every step I try to help him. He is up in his room sulking right now. AAARRRGGGHHH)

Other than that, things are going ok. I'm stir crazy being in the house all week with sick kids--you know what I am talking about--still have dinner time with two fruits to go. I'll let you know tomorrow if all that melted cheese is going to catch up to me. Inthe meantime, have to go to the store, running low on food. It goes faster during refeed!
Sorry if this is boring, I was just so fascinated reading Shawn's, I wanted to tell you more...If you have any questions, just ask!
Mary

[Lauren]

Yay Mary! Yes, I'll be your refeed sister! :) Bronwyn is my only sister, but she's the best. We're so lucky to have each other!

As far as bread goes, it says you should think about giving up bread, but I think that's for after the diet. During refeed, I think it's important to eat some bread, just to get your body used to those refined carbs. That's really the point of refeed--to introduce more carbs and such into your body that you've deprived yourself of these past couple months. That way your body will get used to processing it, etc. So if you plan to give up bread after the diet, that's fine (I'm not a big bread person anyway), but if you plan on having rice, potatoes, pasta, etc., then I think it will help your body get ready for that stuff after the diet. Just a thought...

I went into Bristol Farms today...MAN it's hard to go in there on this diet! Everything is so beautiful and appetizing looking. I'm counting down the days. I was up today! 131! I don't know if we're supposed to go back two days only if we gain two pounds overnight, or if we go up two pounds from our lowest weight, so I asked the consultants. Hopefully they'll get back to me soon. I don't like being up, but I know it will go back down. Lots of fluctuations on refeed while the body adjusts. Time for lunch!

I hope your kids get better soon! That sounds so miserable. How old are they?

[Lovinlife]

Hi Mary,

Sorry your kiddos are sick. It makes things so hard cause you have to wait on them hand and foot.

Thank you so much for taking the time to infrom us. I find it fascinating to see where I'm headed.

Oh, and congratulations on reaching goal! (I can't remember if I congratulated you yet, I've been MIA for awhile) I'm so impressed!

I pray your kids get well soon!

Nicole

[Mei Mei]

My kids are 14, 13, 6 and 4. (Our newest will be arriving hopefully the summer after next--adopting her from China) I'm happy to loose this weight and not have to gain it back during pregnancy!

I think I am just having weirdo psycho paranoia (TOM induced???) because I am so paranoid to gain wieght back. I keep looking at myself and bieng mean, thinking, you are such a wimp. I really should loose 10 more pounds. Look at how brave all these other people are...I'm afraid to start eating pasta potatoes etc. I know, I will reread the guide. I need to trust it, but it feels so strange after 7 weeks of being so good. I am very grouchy though. Why if I am not truly hungry? Doesn't make sense. I didn't used to be such a witch. :( (Should i rename this thread bouts of psycho???)

But back to the purpose of this thread...

Dinner was great. MahiMahi--150 grams. If that sounds like a lot to you,yes it was. (My original 120 for meal 3 plus 30 gs added.) Veggies, sauteed zucchini, onion, japaleno, and cauliflower and a salad of bib and baby lettuce. It was really good. I had a mango--my passion--for dessert. I always drink way more than my allotted water, so I was not hungry at all today. I feel kind of greedy eating all this food--every scrap of it--but, I am following Shawn's philosophy of eating it all to adjust. I just didn't understand it when He said he had to practically force himself to eat all his fruit!

I'm very anxious to weigh in tomorrow am.:thinking: my first day after I reached my goal it went up .7 then back down 1.5. The guide says if it is under 2 pounds it is probably water retention. If you gain over two pounds, go back and repeat two days to give your body time to adjust to the added food and bread!
I'm sincerely hoping to get some sleep tonight. kids have invaded my bed for the past week.5. maybe I'll take over theirs...except they always find me in the middle of the night! Homing mech for mommy:)

[SPDeRosa]

Mary,
It sounds like you're doing great on refeed! I hope everyone gets well soon.

A few things that you may already be doing, but I figure I'll mention them just in case:

If you have to add both protein and vegetables, remember they must be added proportionally. So if you get to the point where you want to split your protein between two meals (50% one meal, 50% the next) you must do the same with your vegetables.

I agree with Lauren. Enjoy the bread on refeed. I haven't had bread since I ended refeed --- although I did just today break one of the cardinal "life after 1PD" rules: I made pancakes for breakfast (I only had two small ones though). But carbs for breakfast is not recommended -- fortunately I wasn't hungry and didn't snack before lunch. But the point here is you want to try to bring all the foods Dr. Cohen allows you to eat back into your diet to help your body readjust. So take advantage of it ... and if you get the chance, try my breakfast bruschetta idea. I do have to say it was delicious ... I used my Meal 2 cheese meal as an option!

About the cheese - don't let it worry you. However, from my Refeed Thread you should be able to get some tips from Shasha about the cheese option. As I understand it, CHEESE IS NOT "OLD PROTEIN." Cheese is it's own separate food group -- as is yogurt and as is an egg. Please refer to your original Customer Guide - Page 13. Thus, you can eat a cheese meal, but it must be your original diet program allowance, along with the allowed vegetables for that meal option. You can't add more cheese to it, as cheese is not considered protein. "Old Protein" means: Red Meat, Poultry, or Fish.

When you do introduce "New Protein" and when you are able to start mixing proteins, you could have a cheese meal and then add to it the "refeed amount" of protein (new/old) and vegetables.

I'm sure if you re-read Shasha's posts about the cheese toward the start of my thread it will make more sense to you. She does a much better job than I at trying to be really clear at explaining the rules.

In any event, if you didn't go up two pounds overnight, then you were successful even if you mistakenly "cheated". That's the beauty of refeed -- it's not a big deal as long as you don't gain 2 lbs overnight!

Keep up the good work!
Shawn

[Lauren]

ARGH!!!!! Shawn--you are right! I've been wrong all along! And I think I did go up two pounds. SHOOT!!! Wow--I never even noticed cheese & yogurt weren't considered proteins in the new customer guide--they're considered dairy products. But because they act as proteins instead of meat in a meal, I always thought of them as "old proteins" on refeed! So I did refeed wrong last year and I'm off to a bad start this year! I was 128.4 Thursday and today I was 131! I had a bunch of feta cheese for lunch yesterday! SHOOT! I'm going to go back three days tomorrow, then, and do it right. DARN IT!!! Thanks for clearing that up. I'm glad you asked, Mary! Sorry I gave you incorrect advise! Ugh. I guess I've got two more weeks to go now. Boo hoo. Thanks again, Shawn. I really could have messed myself up there. Time to correct it and move on. Jeez! I asked the consultants today if that counts that I went up ALMOST two pounds over night, but it is more than two pounds from my lowest weight, but I hadn't heard back from them so I just kept going. I remembered having a similar question last year and I kept my correspondence, so I just looked it up. They say if you gain 2 lbs overnight or in a short period of time, like 2 days. Well, that's two days. Ugh. Oh well! What can you do? I had my family over for dinner tonight and served a decadent chocolate raspberry cake for dessert (it was my mom's husband's birthday so I had to serve cake), and I didn't touch a drop. It was hard, but I did it. Now this is my "reward". I had a grumpy day too. Oh well! Bronwyn looks great, by the way, for those of you who asked. I don't know how she feels, but she looks great. She said she felt chubby today, and tomorrow she's going on vacation for a week so I'm sure she'll have some fun but get back on track when she's back. I'll tell her you guys were asking about her. :)

[Mei Mei]

Shawn,
What would we do without you!!! I reread, and since they are kind of general, I assumed that cheese was an old protein. Thankfully, I haven't suffered the consequences. I'm at 119.4 down .1. Thanks for the clarification. I did learn from your refeed about splitting the protein and veggies equally. That's been easy.
Lauren,
Don't stress too bad. You will make it up. Honest mistake. They really are sort of vague in both guides in my opinion. But hey, this diet is amazing, so we can give em some slack eh??? That cake sounds yummy. I love chocolate and raspberry together. Good for your resisting that beautiful temptation.

Have a better day. I plan to. Last night I had both little ones in bed with me since they were so sick. All of a sudden John erupted and starting vomiting all over the place! He threw up six times, all in my big comfy beautiful bed. What a mess. The good side, he feels much better today. My dilema, how do I clean my mattress? I have special pads on the kids beds, but not on mine...Does that story help curb anyone's appetite?
Mary
Glad to hear Bronwyn is doing well.

[PhyllisRis]

Mei....guess I would use disinfectant and Lysol on the bed.....and if it's possible, lay it out in the hot sun to "bake" for a few hours...that's probably a huge job...but the sun can bleach things and kill germs.
Yeah....I'm glad I wasn't eating supper when I read your thread! grin!
I hope everyone in your family gets better soon...you've had a rough time! Yuck.... Remember to have everyone drink LOTS of fluids....don't want anyone getting dehydrated!
Take care of yourself....
Phyllis

[Lauren]

Hey Mary,

That's so sad about your kids being sick...really sick! Poor you having to clean up that mess! Just part of the package that goes along with motherhood, I suppose. I have no idea what to do with your mattress, but Phyllis's idea sounds good. Maybe you could rent one of those carpet steam cleaners and steam clean it?

I'm so glad you got the memo about the cheese! I checked first thing this morning or I was going to try to send you a personal note to make sure you heard. I felt bad telling you the wrong thing! Well, it didn't affect me last year when I increased my cheese portion, but I'm sure that's why I gained weight this time. I hated being two pounds up from my goal weight! I would hate to end the diet above my goal weight! Especially since last time I lost an extra 4.6lbs on refeed. That's kind of what I've been expecting to happen again, but I should just relax and not worry so much about the scale.

How are you doing on refeed? How many more days do you have to go? Thanks so much for all your kind words and support. You've really be great.

[Mei Mei]

ladies,
Thanks for the advice. i got it all cleaned up. I went on line and they gave the same suggestions. I could not drag our king size mattress into the sun, but we're all good.

A new day! After yesterday, I was a bit scared to get on the scale this morning. I mean I ate five fruits and a piece of bread yesterday! My dinner seemed way more food than I needed. Yes, I ate it anyway. that's the hardest part, we are trying to condition ourselves to eat less food, but to get our bodies used to life after cohen, we have to eat what they tell us to eat.

today's weight 120.2 (yesterday 119.4) I don't like that at all, but they say it is part of the body adjusting. So I am to continue with my refeed.
yesterday I split the amounts of protein and veggies that I was to add 60 protein and 80 veggies. So at lunch and dinner i split both of those equally. (Adding 30 protein at lunch and dinner; 40 veggies at lunch and dinner. That gave me so much food.

I grilled shrimp and veggies for dinner with a salad. I put mayo on my piece of toast, the alloted tsp, and put grilled tomoatoes and lettuce and ate the shrimp--fajita style with the salad. I had to close my eyes because I couldn't beleive how good the tomatoe toast was. It is crazy. :party1:I also added two good fruits--pineapple and kiwi and grilled the pineapple also. I have to tell you, that was one of the best meals I have ever had.:innocent3:

I culdn't finish my crackers(supposed to have two in addition to bread) because I jsut didn't want them.

I have enjoyed the piece of bread, but don't like the swelling in my stomach that acompanies it.
today mimics yesterday--one piece of bread, add two good fruits, 2 crackers and 60 grams of protein (not cheese!:hypnotic:) and 80 grams of veggies.

Lauren,
I sure hope you are having a better day. My little girl is back to school, and I pray my son will be back tomorrow.
Yesterday, to keep occupied--cause I am going stir crazy!-- I cleaned out a closet, put up a series of shelves and made it into an art supplies/scrapbook closet. It is a closet under the stairs, so it's very useful, but needed shelves up high to make use of the space. I'll do some more cleaning today.
I also have the urge to do a pilates tape or some exercise. My legs and tummy are very floppy. no muscle. it will take guts and determination to get my muscle back.
have a great day everyone!
mary:flirt:

[pumbza]

Hi there Mei Mei and the rest of the diet buddies this is GREAT I am reading avidly and I am really enjoying it as much as SHAWN's one Mei Mei so don't worry we all are different and have different styles and I am so enjoying it I missed SHAWN's one so much I think they should insist on a refeed journal daily from somebody and that someone is YOU and Lauren (Lauren tell BRONWYN I miss her very very much please!!)!Sorry about kids YOU are a real star Mei Mei I only had 3 kids and it was tough in the beginning YOU have 4 and one on the way what a SUPERSTAR you deserve a MEDAL!!!Don't get to disappointed with refeed YOU are showing US the ropes and I am enjoying the comments and the BLOOPS and the info its shear FUN carry on ladies and GENTLEMAN!!!Ha Ha!:innocent4:Have a REFEED DAY!!:innocent3:

[Sexymama]

Way to go Mary!!! I'm so proud of you! Thank you so much for sharing your refeed! It sounds interesting and confusing. I can't wait to get there but feel a little nervous.
Sorry the kids are still sick! You all have been in my prayers. We are all a lilttle sick here. We are trying to kick it hard before we leave on Friday!
Keep up the good work!
Julie

[MIMI]

Mei Mei, i am so glad your kids are getting better. I'm with Pumbza, you deserve a Medal for doing such a great job with your children. Please, continue your refeed, i'll be there soon and i really need all of your help. MIMI

[PosterGal]

Mei Mei - Wow - the joys of parenting - wouldn't trade it though, would you? I got a waterproof mattress pad for our bed when my son was young, but truly it was for me - terrible habit of drinking tea and reading in bed. Thankfully, I've never had a spill - mine or his! Guess it works like insurance.

Congratulations on refeed - that is SO GREAT!! Julie and I will be there soon - we'll just borrow from you experience.

Hang in there!
Gianna

[Debbie J]

Very informative thread Thanks! Mary, do , please keep the info forthcoming. It is VERY helpful... even though I'm MONTHS away from Refeed I feel it actually helps me focus on "the Mountain"... so thanks! SUPERMOM!!!

Best,
Deb J

[Mei Mei]

Today was my day 6 of refeed. It was the start of mixing proteins. I had to add 120 g of protein and 160 g of veggies. I split them equally between lunch and dinner. I also had to add one good fruit and one bad fruit and three peices of bread. As I sit here and type, I am stuffed:sadeyes:. I e-mailed my consultant and aked if I really need to eat all of that--bread and fruit.

I guess I am scared out of my wits that I will gain weight back. I won't say I didn't enjoy eating strawberries, pineapple and toast. I did. But I am so full and it was really weird mixing chicken and fish today. I will need to plan better tomorrow. I'm going to the store. I can definately have steak and shrimp combo, but today I had chicken and Mahi thawed. not a standard combo. they want us to do this to help adjust our bodies for life after diet. I also know that part of raising the amounts up is to get used to more food after the diet. The weird thing for me is why do you want to add a bunch more food when you aren't hungry. I have some basic questions like that that are bugging me. :thinking:We are trying to train ourselves not to obsess over food, and I am still doing it, but in the opposite direction!
We shall see what my consultant suggests.

I was down a pound today, to 119 which feels really good. I still look down and see a fat tummy; I guess the bread is really bloating me. Sorry to be so psychotic. I know how well this diet works, and that I should just continue to follow because Dr. Cohen really does know what he is doing!

I do have tennis tomorrow, and it will be much more enjoyable since I have enough food in my belly to sustain that execise.

tomorrow is much the same as today. I will let you know what happens with the poundage...
Mary

[lfingers11]

Mary,
Just remember you are doing great and your prescription from Dr. cohen is not over yet. For you to not gain weight you need to eat all these extra foods he is asking you to. I know we don't understand everything but look how it has worked for so many people and it will continue to work. After refeed you might not eat this much but realize you need to get your body ready for that occassional piece of pizza and small slice of cake.
BTW, Steak and shrimp sound fabulous. I will need to remember that for when I do refeed.
I do have one question. Is pineapple a good fruit or a bad. It was not on my list of approved fruits and see that you have called it a good fruit. Are we allowed to have it during our loosing process or am I just confused?
Thanks,
Pam

[Lauren]

Hi Pam -- Pineapple is a "good" fruit on refeed only--NOT on the original weightloss plan. On refeed, first you get to add "good" fruits, like blueberries, blackberries, plums, and pineapple; then you get to add "bad" fruits, like banana, strawberries, etc.

Hey Mary -- Pam is right--you should eat what is prescribed to you. The old fruits are optional so you don't HAVE to eat those, and you could always go back to crackers instead of bread, but personally I LOVE to eat and I LOVE it that I can eat so much now. My plate is looking normal again! :) And the fact that your weight was down again today is another indication that you're doing just fine. It's surprising how you can continue to lose when eating so much, but it does happen. Very exciting! Are you sure you can exercise on refeed? I was told we cannot because it can cause fluctuations in our weight and it's very important to carefully monitor how the amount of food we eat will affect our weight. Exercise causes water retention and/or muscle gain, which can make your weight go up and might make you finish the diet before you're really done with refeed. I just want to make sure you do it right. Tomorrow I'm back where I left off and my weight has gone back down, so I'm feeling better about the whole thing. Just taking one day at a time. Tomorrow I get two pieces of bread and a bad fruit. So I'm way behind you now! :) That's okay. When is your last day? Hope everyone in your house is healthy again.

[lfingers11]

Lauren,
Thank you for clearing that up. I knew I questioned it and didn't want myself or anyone else messing up. I am excited for the day I get pineapple, banannas and strawberries! I am looking forward to eating those foods more than anything else which I think is kind of funny. I was never like that before. I also enjoy eating my veg's now which cracks me up. Don't get me wrong, I still think of some on my favorite foods but I feel like I have so much more control (or maybe just control at the moment :party1: ) Have a great day everyone!
Pam

[Lauren]

That's the beauty of eating healthy--healthy foods start to sound good! We have to try to keep that going. It's when you eat nothing but junky foods that your body just craves that, and then healthy food doesn't sound good anymore, and up goes the weight. This diet is such a journey of a learning experience. We just have to remember what we learned and not let the dark side take over when we're done. :)

[Blondie4life]

I must admit my taste buds have changed a bit too during this diet... although I still get a hankering for some good old junk food (i.e. candy corn and coca cola gummies) but what I find strange is I crave foods that I never liked before. Today I am eating raw onions w/ my tuna & salad and the funny thing is I actually couldn't stand them raw before the diet! The smell alone would make me sick! Crazy Hormones!

[Lauren]

That is crazy! Yeah, for me, I still WANT the naughty stuff, but when I really think about actually putting it in my body...I'm afraid of that. I've accomplished so much. I don't want to undo anything, so I'm really going to be taking it slow after the diet. It's like a tightrope walk. Part of me will want to go crazy and eat everything I've been missing, and another part of me doesn't want to eat anything different at all so as not to risk it. I'll be finding a nice balance, I'm sure. I'm looking forward to the challenge, though, nonetheless! :)

[Mei Mei]

It will be a tightrope won't it? Lauren, thanks for clarifying for Pam. Sorry if I was confusing. It really isn't confusing when you have it in front of your face. (There are a few things that you want to clarify, but hopefully Shawn's thread and other refeed journals will help address those questions.)

Day 7 on refeed, I'm halfway done! up to 119.2. today Yesterday I worried about eating all of my food, today, I ate every bit. I played tennis today and burned 800 calories. I played really well (for me) for the first hour or so, then I started to fade. But my tennis girls have noticed the difference in how I play since my weight loss. Heck yeah! It is much easier to run with 24 pounds off!

I was up to 119.4 today. That's ok. Still within limits.

I did get some answers from my consultant:

I do not have to eat all of the fruit and crackers/bread, or any of it if I don't feel like it.
they want me to finish refeed, not wise to stop in the middle. Then, if I want to lose a few more, which I do, I can do the diet for another week. (Luckily, my hubby will be on it then, and that will help me ) If i do the diet for more than a week I have to repeat refeed. That answered a crucial question for me about life after diet.
I knew about the 48 hours no carb if we go up 2-3 pounds. I also knew about 6-9 pounds do your original diet plan for a week, now I have the missing piece. What happens after you redo for a week. I feel like we have some great tools now tohelp us stay on track.

Today was the same as yesterday--add 120 g of protein, and 180 of veggies. (These are the same proteins and veggies we have been eating all along.) I split both between dinner and lunch.
I did have steak and shrimp for dinner. Yum! the only difference was that I go to have two bad fruits--my choice a pear and strawberries.

I guess the reason I am so paranoid about bread ([I didn't have any today) is that my untimate comfort food is a sandwhich. Plain, simple, but deadly for me. Just meat, cheese, mayo and bread and get into bed. I also loved to eat sandwhiches when I was pregnant. So I guess it was the associations that were bugging me, because the weight barely changed and I had three pieces of bread yesterday!
thanks for listening!
Mary

[Shasha]

{hi} there Mary

Well done on reaching your goal and starting your Re-feeding Program! I am so happy for you!

I don't have time to read throught the whole thread today, but there are a just a couple of points that I picked up in the first few posts of your thread that I wanted to comment on:

See page 8 of your Re-feeding Guide where it says:

The protein allowed on your diet program, including: red meat, poultry, and fish.

Page 14 says: For Day 1 of Re-feeding, all you do is simply add 30 grams of fish, chicken, or meat to your daily quantity of food. You may add this additional quantity to one meal or split it between meals.

All the days build onto each other and you should NOT increase egg, cheese, or yogurt, ONLY meat, chicken, fish or tofu. So Shawn was 100% right in his advise in post # 11 {goodjob} Shawn!
Also, you should not be eating out on Re-feeding, but be weighing your foods EXACTLY, gram for gram...

Remember page 7 of your Re-feeding Guide where it says:

This program will work for you ONLY if you take it VERY seriously, and go by the book. ANY deviation from the quantities or the instructions in this guide, and you might be wasting your time . . .

[lfingers11]

Mary,
When you are talking about going up two or three pounds and having to do no carb for 48 hours is that your goal weight or is that the weight that you accomplish after refeed? I see that most people loose a few more pounds on refeed. Is it a personnal choice? I guess I am more attentive now that I am slowly getting closer!!
Pam

[Shasha]

{hi} there Lauren

Just a quick reply:


I don't know if we're supposed to go back two days only if we gain two pounds overnight, or if we go up two pounds from our lowest weight, so I asked the consultants.

Yes, if in doubt of anything, always ask your personal consultant, that is what they are there for ie: to assist you personally on your program - especially the Re-feeding… but, it is also worth it to read and re-read your Re-feeding Guide a couple of times, as this will help you to understand the big picture and besides there is a lot of information right in there that you don’t want to miss out on ie:

Pages 6 and 7 says:

10. If you notice that you gained weight during Re-feeding:

a. If the weight you gained is less than 2 lbs (1 Kg), ignore it, because it is most likely temporary water retention. You need to remain with the program.
b. If you gained 2 lbs (1 Kg) or more, go back 2 days on your Re-feeding Program (your specific days), and carry on until the end. (Example: If on Day 16 you have gained 2 lbs (1 Kg) or more, go back to Day 14).

This weight gain is always from one day to the next day because you weigh yourself on a daily basis and weight gain will show that your body is not yet ready for that particular food quantity or type of food etc.

[Lauren]

Hey Pam!

If you lose weight during refeed, that means you had more weight to lose, so your lowest number becomes your new goal (like if you have to do the diet again like me). It certainly isn't a choice to lose the weight on refeed--it just happens magically. It's pretty cool. You're eating these seemingly huge portions, having naughty things like bananas, strawberries, and bread, and you still lose weight. I've gone down 1.4lbs past my goal weight!

Thanks, Shasha, for reminding me of that stuff. Once I found out about the HUGE mistake I made with increasing cheese, I went back three days and now my weight is WAY down and I'm not depressed anymore. Just moving forward and excited about finishing next week!

[pumbza]

Hi there all diet buddies hope all is well thanks Mary and Lauren and Shasha for all your input with refeed its becoming clearer and clearer as MUD!!!!Ha Ha!:innocent4:It makes for such interesting reading the only problem I have is if YOU have a GOAL weight one can go below this but this maybe becoming unhealthy surely once YOU get to goal weight one is meant to refeed to get your system use to not losing weight so quickly so hopefully as YOU eat ALL YOUR food your weight LOSS should slow or halt that is why WE are asked to start refeed 2lbs from GOAL weight???I mean when I get to GOAL weight I don't wan't to go below as it may not be unhealthy for me or do YOU disagree???Have a GREAT DAY!!!:innocent3:

[Lauren]

No, Pumbza. You REQUEST refeed 4lbs from your goal weight because it might take them a week or two to get it to you. You don't START refeed until you REACH your goal weight. And as I understand it, you wouldn't lose more weight on refeed if you didn't have more fat to burn. You're still eating really healthy foods, so the machine is still working to burn the fat. You probably wouldn't lose much more than 5 additional pounds on refeed, but it is possible. It happened to me! So that becomes your new goal...is how they explained it to me. You won't be unhealthy--don't worry. You'll be eating PLENTY of food on refeed--it will seem like a joke it's so much, after getting used to seeing tiny portions. But again, Dr. Cohen knows what he's doing. :)

[Mei Mei]

Well, I must admit, I'm a bit disappointed that I am not losing on refeed. I'm halfway done and now I weigh 119.5. Oh well. It sure seems to me that I have fat to lose still! Lauren, you are right. Seems like so much food to me, and yet, I eat it! I know we are training our bodies, but man, it's weird. Pam, when I was talking about going up or down 2,3 pounds I meant after the diet is over. My goal was 120, so I don't want to go past 123 without going no carb for 2 days. We shall see. I misread what my consultant told me. They said I can go for two weeks without doing refeed. if I choose to go back on the diet after I finish. I will write them back just to make sure.

I have felt tired and hungry today. probably residual from tennis yesterday. I'll be on my last day of refeed, hopefully for my next tennis time. It's funny, the next day is a women's luncheon at church. It is usually very light food, salad, and that will be my first meal after refeed. I want Mexican food! And a Margarita. I have to splurge at least once right?????
Mary

[Lauren]

Yeah, Mary, I think you're right. In the Life After the Diet thing, it says you only have to do refeed again if you're back on the diet for more than two weeks, so you should be fine. I think you may not be losing because you're exercising, but that's just my theory. Man, if I was going to be in Texas next weekend, we would HAVE to get together for our first Mexican food & margarita! (My favorite!) :)

[Mei Mei]

Lauren,
I would love to go get Margs and Mexican food with you, but we'd be dangerous, I'm sure!:party7: Maybe it is the exercise:weights2: that's holidng my weight on, but that's ok. I know how to lose it!

Today was day 7 of refeed. (119.5 up .3) from yesterday.
Halfway through!!!
I got to add "new" proteins today. I added salmon. It was weird because I had steak shrimp and salmon for both lunch and dinner. This has been the hardest part of refeed, just because it so weird to mix proteins like that. (Don't get me wrong, I have no troble mixing meat and cheese--but that's not allowed!)
I also had two bad fruits--pear and strawberries, and only ate 2 pieces of the three allowed bread. It really makes my stomach bloat. I'm giving it up!
That's abot it. Larger amounts of things. I'm up to 200g of veggies!
Mary

[Shasha]

{hi} there Mei Mei & Lauren

Reading through your thread…

Just had to stop and say: Lauren please speak to Bronwyn urgently and tell her that Shasha says: feeling chubby is NOT a good sign! {noway} Ask her please not to overdo things on her holiday and to please come back and pull in the reigns as soon as she’s back from holiday…

You said she looks great, but the problem is that by the time you see the problem, it is usually too late – that means that fat has already started to stick. You don’t want it to stick and invite friends… because when this happens your hormones are all over the place again. It’s not just about how she is looking, but also about how she is feeling and if she is feeling chubby her body is trying to tell her something. The last thing you should do is ignore your own body. Ask Bronwyn to please make sure she is drinking at least 2 liters of water per day – everyday… and then please tell her we say: PS: WE MISS YOU!!

[Shasha]

{hi} there Mei Mei

:cop: TIP: When you get to the point of mixing proteins, you do not always have to mix meat and fish or chicken and meat etc. You can mix fish and mix chicken ie: tuna and salmon or chicken breast and chicken thigh…

From this time on you can again have your normal Meal 2 cheese as your meal and then + onto that your proteins ie: cheese and chicken. You could also have Meal 1 egg and veg and onto that ADD the new proteins and veggies.

As you find yourself becoming full, I recommend you swop your meals around and have Meal 1 for dinner + all the extra protein and veggies onto your yogurt allowance, then you can have the yogurt as a smoothie, like Shawn did... :P

[Shasha]

{hi} there Pam


Don't get me wrong, I still think of some on my favorite foods but I feel like I have so much more control (or maybe just control at the moment :party1: )

{goodjob} this means that your hormones are balanced... and that feeling of selfcontrol is in my book the number 1 reason why you should never deviate from your program. Anyone who has will tell you that it becomes way to easy to deviate again and again and again...

So, please keep up the good work!

[Shasha]

{hi} there Lauren


Part of me will want to go crazy and eat everything I've been missing, and another part of me doesn't want to eat anything different at all so as not to risk it. I'll be finding a nice balance, I'm sure.

All things in moderation… and 99% within the rules… cos you really don’t want to undo your hard work! Tomorrow is another day and you can finish the packet of goodies then… or the next day…

It's all about your new mind set! {cheerleader}

[Shasha]

{hi} there Pumbie


WE are asked to start refeed 2lbs from GOAL weight???I mean when I get to GOAL weight I don't wan't to go below as it may not be unhealthy for me or do YOU disagree???

YES & NO: you don’t start Re-feeding 2 kg above goal, you REQUEST your Re-feeding 2 kg above your goal and then you start Re-feeding when you reach your goal weight. The reason for the 2 kg is so that Dr Cohen has time to calculate your Re-feeding Program and some people may need to go for another blood test if their blood tests are not up to date etc.

There is no way of telling how your body will react, some may gain a bit, some may lose a bit, others gain, lose, gain, lose and end up about the same… 1.4 pounds is not a lot – not even 1 kg, so that’s nothing to be concerned about. Many people, like Shawn end up quiet a bit lower than Dr Cohen’s goal and still look and feel great.

[Shasha]

{hi} there Mei Mei

So to hear about the bread, try splitting it between more meals. It would be good to train your body to cope with more starch using the bread and like Shawn, you can toss the bread out afterwards again.

About your Margs and Mexican food: GO FOR IT!!!

If you study your maintenance guidelines you will find 20 minutes prior to alcohol have proteins, so have piece of cheese on a cracker 20 minutes before you start. Then make your Mexican your starch meal for the day, eat what you like for lunch but for dinner, ONLY have lean proteins and veggies ie: keeping to the starch once a day rule…

AGAIN: you can have meat and cheese when you can start mixing proteins ie: you choose your normal Meal 1 or Meal 2 cheese allowance and onto this you ADD the new additions of proteins ie: cheese and veggies + your protein and veggie grams = your new meal.

(... and yes I am sure!) :flirt:

[UnspeakableJoy]

Mary! You are doing so well!! I'm so proud of you!

[MrsPeel]

Hey, Shasha!

Can you clarify that?? I am at the mixing proteins stage, and was really puzzled by the concept. Can you add extra meat/poultry protein to the cheese meal? The cheese amount remains the same, right? I didn't think you could ever have cheese with another protein, so if this is okay, it really helps!

[Mei Mei]

Sasha,
Thank you so much! I am rearranging my whole day tomorrow! I vaguely remembered you telling Shawn about yogurt for dessert{bubblegum}, but thanks for the reminder!
Mary

[Lauren]

Hey Shasha,

I e-mailed Bronwyn your note, and here's what she wrote back:

Too funny! Thanks for sharing. I haven't been on the forum at all and that in itself if kind of weird. Shasha is exactly right and I DO know that. I have been doing pretty well on this vacation, not over-doing it with food and making good choices most of the time. (I'm still having some fun and some naughty food though and also cannot stop drinking!) I'll be back in full force this coming week because I hate this feeling chunky thing. Nice though, that feeling chunky these days means my 2's are tight. I will NEVER let myself go again like I did before. I don't know how I let that happen.

[Mei Mei]

Hi everyone!
Man, it has been a crazy here. Planning really does help with refeed. We had Adoption Training all weekend, amidst soccer games, football games, volnteer appreciation dinners, church and Sunday school teaching, and this was the more complicated part of refeed! I can't even tell you what day I'm on, but I finish on Wednesday.
Down in weight today to 118.5. That makes me happy:), and I suddenly feel mch smaller. Very few of my clothes fit, which has it's good and bad. (I cold really se Phyllis and Lauren's organization help right now!!! Have to go through my closet and get rid of so so much. Truthflly, I could use the help all around :hypnotic:)
Lauren posted that being organized helps. It really does help to plan out for refeed especially. I have been adding new proteins and fruits and bread and even butter on my toast! I've eaten salmon and pork as my "new" proteins. I fixed bbq pork for my family, and just cut some off the loin for me before I put it in the crock with bbq sauce. I also added new veggies. Broccoli! and today, carrots! Tomorrow I take away old protein. So, to make sure today was successful, I wrote it all out, menu and amounts.
This isn't hard math, but with such a busy hosehold, it is hard to concentrate on adding and sbtracting and calclating and measuring while trying to get everyone else's food on the table. I'm tired! Tomorrow is also cookie day I think. But Tuesday I can have a glass of wine. :) If I had it right now, I'd be sond asleep in ten minutes!
I'm really rambling cause I am so tired. But here's some other good news. My hsband signed up! So today when he deliberately grabbed a Snickers and ate it in front of me, he was asking for a payback, don't yo think? I'm so excited for him and his future health. This diet has been amazing. I look in the mirror, and still can't believe it.
My mom came over Friday and coldn't beleive it! I haven't seen her for a month, and she said I look like I did when I was 12. Not quite, but it was high school.

some things don't change on refeed. I still love my mango sprite sorbet. While they are in season, I will take that dessert over any other.

Thanks to all of you on the forum. It seems like I was jst posting for the first time. I had many days of struggling, many great days too, bt I always knew I cold comeher to get spport and encouragement. Yo guys are wonderful!

Mary (please pardon the typos, my 4 year old messed with or laptop and now the doesn't work unless you pound it!)

[SPDeRosa]

Mary,

Just checking in ... sorry I haven't been around a little more during your refeed, but you seem to be doing great! I just finished reading everyone's posts and it seems like you should be enjoying that wine and cookie today! Isn't it such a treat?

Congrats to your husband for joining too. I think a lot of guys don't join the diet or shy away from the boards because it's a "woman's thing". But I really do believe the boards help, and having some guys post helps convince other guys to give it a try.

So ... a few days more and then you're part of the "post-1PD" club! :)

Best,
Shawn

[UnspeakableJoy]

Hi Mary!

You're doing so well! It's going to be so much fun for you to give all your old clothes away ... I can't wait for the day to give mine away! I envision it'll be like that commercial where the shirts are falling from the sky? :)

Life is so crazy for me too, that's why I especially love 1PD because it's just about the only constant thing in my life right now. I know every single day I'll eat 3 meals and have 2 - 3 snacks (depending if I'm hungry after dinner). In the past, I would always be on the go and not eat anything until dinner and waaaay overdo it!

Keep up the great work, I can't wait to see photos!

[PhyllisRis]

Yea Mary, Yea Mary....rah, Rah, Rah!!!!
{cheerleader}{bouncing}{cheerleader}

[Mei Mei]

Well friends,
I'm done. today was my first free day. The last two days of refeed were abot the same, mixing pork and chicken, adding broccoli and more of the old vegetables. And I got to add a peant btter cookie and a glass of wine. The wine made me so sleepy! the cookie was good, but not better than my mango sorbet! I mean it.

Today I am at 119 pounds. It was so strange waking and knowing I didn't have to weigh my food. I ate my usual breakfast of egg and veggies. I really like this breakkfast, so I figure, why mess with what works?
I drank tons of water, I always do, and resisted all temptations to go insane. My training won't allow me. I've bbeen craving Mexican food as I've said. I had corn chips with melted fat free mozarella and hot sauce and a salad. I felt gilty doing it too.
Before lnch, I went to the store, and it felt like things were jmping out at me, candy bars, and other junk. I just kept walking. I did have a peanat butter bar after lunch, just because my kids have been eating them for weeks, and I really wanted to try one. It wasn't as good as I imagined. That was as bad as I got today. We'll see what if any effect it has.
I am having fajitas for dinner, but making them here so they will be healthier. My best treat? A mango margarita. I decided that a marg with the old Mango sorbet recipe would be pretty good, and healthier than traditional lime juice and cointreaux.

I'll let you know.

Weird. I felt very strange all day. I don't want to screw p all the hard work I have done in the past two months. I like healthy food (do margs count?) I stopped eating all the bread before the end of refeed. It was giving me cramps and bloating my stomach like a 5 month pregnancy. anyway. All is well. I'll try to catch p more later. My Dh starts the diet any day now. He took his blood test today. Maybe that's why I feel so reserved. I want to lose some more with him and don't want to get too far out of the swing of it, know what I mean?
Mary

[LiLNightShift]

I know I said it in Lauren's thread, but {congrats} seriously!! And what support you can offer Dh! Big hugs to you and yours Mei Mei!!

[lfingers11]

Mary,
That is so great you have finished refeed and lost a little weight. I know you are worried about gaining weight. Just make sure you follow the rules and enjoy the next few days. If you weigh yourself daily it will keep you in check and if you do go up you can loose the weight right away. Especially since you will start again with your husband try to enjoy the next week of freedom. It will be strict again in about a week so enjoy a little bit. You deserve it!! Keep us posted how you are doing!!
Pam

[PhyllisRis]

CONGRATULATIONS MEI MEI!!!! That is sooo cool that you are now "on the loose"!!!
You are a true inspiration for the rest of us still on plan.
Phyllis

[Mei Mei]

thanks, everyone! I hope I can inspire my hubby too! I will most likely join him for a week or so to get a bit lower. I did not loose weight on refeed. So everyone, don't count on it. It was very disappointing. I don't know why, bt it makes me think that I wasn't low enough, or I would have. Just don't nderstand it all, that's why I'm not the doc! I will keep you posted, there are many temptations out here, and they don't let up! tonight we go straight from soccer practice to football game and not home until 9:30. I should go pack something. It even harder for me now that I can eat what I want. It is really easy to say, I can! I've been healthy all day, bt for the cookie after lunch... Back at 120 today. Yo can see why I am nervous. Sorry, I am rambling...
Mary

[CohenInAz]

I'm sure we will all feel nervous, but you've got such great habits, I know you'll be able to enjoy your food and stay on track!

Congrats!

[Lovinlife]

Congratulations Mary!
You did it!!!! I understand your nervousness. I'm feeling stressed about life after Cohen and I'm not even there yet! Does he give you any guidelines on how to handle yourself after? I got the idea from Shawn's postings that you really don't get any guidelines and that kind of scares me. I always gain everything back and am determined not to have to do this again.....

Your doing a great job, being so cautious! Keep it up!

Nicole

PS I like seeing your picture! Your beautiful! I know it's been up for a while but I seldom get days like this where I can post alot..... Just trying to catch up

[Shasha]

Hey, Shasha!

Can you clarify that?? I am at the mixing proteins stage, and was really puzzled by the concept. Can you add extra meat/poultry protein to the cheese meal? The cheese amount remains the same, right? I didn't think you could ever have cheese with another protein, so if this is okay, it really helps!

{hi} there Mrs Peel

Only saw your post now… sorry, Forum is very busy these days…

From Day 16 onwards you CAN mix proteins – in this case you choose the yogurt, egg or cheese and onto that ADD your allowance of meat, chicken or fish. (You do not add the cheese, yogurt or egg - these quantities stay as per your original diet.) Shawn did this all the time, that’s why he ended up with fruit smoothie desert ie: Meal 1 yogurt for dinner + full extra proteins and veggies…

You could also mix by having fish and chicken or meat and fish etc…


Glad to hear that you are RE-FEEDING!!! {wave}

WAY TO GO Mrs Peel!!! {cheerleader}

[Shasha]

{hi} there MeiMei


{congrats} on finishing your Re-feeding!!
I’m so happy for you!!! {wave}

GREAT! that you have inspired your hubby to be more healthy too!! That is wonderful news!! It is definitely easier to stay slim when two of you are focusing on the same thing!

About not losing weight on Re-feeding: Please see your Re-feeding Guide page 3 where it says: The time to start the Re-feeding Program is when you reach your target weight.

Some Diet Buddies continue to lose weight on Re-feeding, others may not – it all depends… this is why you should only begin Re-feeding when you are at your goal weight.

The reason you request your Re-feeding 5 pounds from goal is to allow for the time it takes Dr Cohen to calculate your Re-feeding Program and perhaps for you to go for a blood test if necessary… The rule is to start Re-feeding at goal…

[Shasha]

{hi} there Nicole

At the end of your Re-feeding Guide pages 24 to 27 deal with Life After the Diet…

Although you are not told to now eat 200 grams of chicken breast, you will clearly see learn from the foods on your Re-feeding Program what your new quantities should look like.

You are also given very specific rules ie: starch is limited to once a day only. Never have alcohol on an empty stomach etc. the onus is then obviously on you to study and implement these rules on a daily basis and your success will be determined by how well you follow your new healthier lifestyle…

One cannot go back to eating the way you did and expect that you will not end up where that previously took you… New healthy guidelines must be followed ie: low fat, limit sweets etc…

For now, focus on following your eating plan 100% {cheerleader} one step at a time...

[Mei Mei]

Sasha,
thank you. I did get to my goal weight, but was hoping to lose a bit more on refeed. Now that I am done, I'm going to start again with my hubby. He has just under twenty to lose. Hopefully, I will have the willpower to do it. It is a lot harder now that I am off...I have to weigh and measure and cook all his food, so I might as well eh?
Mary

[Mama Lake]

I think you can do it if you put your mind to it. Like you said, you are weighing and cooking his meal, so just do yours right along with it. My boyfriend was here for dinner tonight, and said he would have what I was having. So, I made his too, and the only comment he had was that it did not seem like enough food. After we ate, I did the dishes, and we finished cleaning up around the house and moving the furniture. I asked him if he was hungry, and he said no. I think he was surprised.

I wish your husband luck and with you by his side, he will do well on this plan. Men like to eat, and if they have something else to do, they forget to eat. At least this has been my experience.

Cindy

[Mei Mei]

Thanks, Mama.
I'm back at 120 today which makes me very happy. It proves that if, once finished, we go a bit crazy--concession food at the football game and Mexican food the next day--we can correct by eating sensibly and following the life after diet rules. Still have temptation everywhere that we have to make a concerted effort to resist. We can do it!
Mary

[LiLNightShift]

Yay Mary!! You are such an inspiration, I'm so blessed for people like you -- that have been through refeed to still be here. I'm also excited that when I am completely done, I can still go out every once in a while.

[Mei Mei]

Mandy,
Yes, you can. I think this diet, in addition to having s lose this weight! gives s sch an awareness of food, habits, and our weaknesses that we are changed, both outside appearance, bt inside or heads too. I never want to get heavy again. I love my body like this, I'm so mch more comfortable in it, if you know what I mean. When i finsihded, I was really nervous, but following the post diet rules really works! Smart man! You can do it. You are doing really well so far! Keep it up, your goal is closer than yo think!
Mary

[Lauren]

Hey guys!

I'm B-A-C-K! I missed everyone! We just got back from our anniversary vacation and I was VERY naughty, but I'm going back on the diet tomorrow (I don't know how much damage was done yet, as I haven't weighed myself, but I will in the morning). I feel big, although I can still fit in my small clothes fine, so I'm obviously not that bad. I'm so happy to be home and to be getting my food rules back in. I just had a little party for myself on the trip, and tomorrow I'll exercise (a lot) and do 1PD foods (weighing everything and all), so I'll get it in check QUICK! Anyway, I've got lots of catching up to do...with work AND the forum, so I'll be around... I'm going to Bronwyn's friend's funeral service tomorrow so I'll be gone most of the day, but I'll be in touch.

[Mei Mei]

Hey Lauren,
glad to have you back, and I am so glad you had a wonderful time:love5:

I'm not sure you have to go back on the diet full fledged. What I have been doing is eating two meals cohen style and then just a bit more for one of them. If I know something will be happening at lunch or dinner, I just plan for that. You will be fine, I just know it.

I'm truly enjoying this new me, and knowing that if I indulge I have the formula to keep it in check, is just awesome. My dh started yesterday, and he is hilarious. He keeps teasing, are jelly donuts on this diet? What type of ice cream can I have?
He already lost 3 pounds in one day. Just sick how men loose!

We leave for the ultimate Cohen friendly vacation tomorrow early: I will bring my scale, it is our house so we can cook, and we will both be on it. I dropped a half a pound yesterday just eating 2 out of 3 Cohen meals. Normally when we go to Fla I gain because we eat all that rich vacation/seafood. Not this time! No kids either! Wow. It will be so quiet I won't know what to do with myself! I'll see if I can get him to take a pic of me on the beach, where th other one came from...It woudl be a cool contrast as I look totally different. Can't wait to hear how you are doing post diet!
Mary

[lfingers11]

Mary,
Great on keeping yourself in check. Also, I hope you hubby have a great time. It must be so nice nice to spend alone time together and it is great that you will be eating healthy together! Keep up the great work!!
Pam