SHAWN's Re-feed [Archive] - 1st Personal Diet Forum

SPDeRosa

08-05-2008, 07:54 AM

Thank you to everyone on the list that has pushed me along, given me tips, and helped keep me on track. I'm a believer that by participating on the list, we're reaffirming our commitment to the diet and keeping ourselves and each other on track. (Some would say accountable, but that sounds too harsh). I know for me, encouraging others to stay on plan has helped me so much when I wanted to deviate. As a professor I always believe "To teach is to learn." And that most certainly holds true on this program.

So like Maya, I too will start a little blog if you will on my Refeed. Feel free to read along and comment if you'd like, but don't feel obligated. The purpose of this is two-fold: (1) to keep me accountable and on plan despite my desires to deviate every now and then, and (2) to help everyone else that will be going through Refeed soon enough see it first through someone else's experience. Hopefully this will be useful for you guys. I know how curious I was about refeed when I started, so maybe this will be helpful. I'll try to keep it brief on the daily updates too -- this first post is a little long :)

So here we go!!!!! For those that haven't read how Refeed works yet, basically it's a 30 day program. Depending upon your blood test results, Dr. Cohen may let you skip certain days. So as you can see for me below, I start the Refeed off on "Day 3" of the plan.

Shawn's Plan: Days 3 to 9 and then 11 , 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 27, 30

A couple other notes: "Old Protein" refers to the meat/fish/cheese already on the plan we're all following. "New Protein" means new food such as chicken thighs (darker, fattier than the breasts), pork, or some new seafood items like salmon. "Old vegetables" refers to the normal 1PD diet plan whereas "new vegetables" brings in some new things like carrots, eggplant and broccoli. Now that we have the basics, we're ready to go!
{bouncing}
Tuesday, August 5, 2008: Starting weight: 154.9 (I'm going to call it 155 because it will be so much easier to judge going up 2 lbs in whole numbers rather than in decimals ... cheating already, I know! LOL) For today I get to add 30g of "old protein" and 40g of "old vegetables" into my diet, along with one extra good fruit. So my plan is to add 20g of veggies to breakfast and dinner. The 30g of protein will be at dinner as well.

I'm not too concerned about eating a lot for dinner as the portion size is still really small. However, as I continue with refeed I'm going to want to try to make lunch my biggest meal of the day. When I lived in Madrid for a year I lost a lot of weight because I walked so much, but I think that it's the European food schedule that helped: Small breakfast, big lunch, small dinner. If anyone sees me starting to make dinner my biggest meal of the day later on (when I start adding in 120g of protein), please remind me to eat more at lunch not at dinner!

Ok, now that I have today's plan in place I'm going to head to my "new" kitchen sanctuary (finished it in February) to prepare breakfast and have my egg and veggies, and prep my salad for work. All my meat for the day is already weighed out and frozen, so the only thing I have to measure today are my veggies! :) This plan goes so much better if we're prepared in advance -- at least for me. See you all tomorrow!

Shasha

08-05-2008, 08:15 AM

{hi} there Shawn

Great thread!! And, once again: {goodjob} on reaching your goal and on coming this far…

I’m very proud of you :bighug:

:cop: Have spotted a little mistake or two… Old proteins does not include cheese as per your post above or FYI: cheese, egg or yogurt – do not increase during the Re-feeding Program. Please only increase: meat, chicken or fish and to the same meals add your veggies.

If you add proteins to 1 meal, you add your veggies to the same meal so that your meals remain balanced - not one high protein and the other high veggies. If you add proteins over 2 meals, (ie: half with lunch and half with dinner) you also split your veggies over 2 meals as well. If you split your proteins over 3 meals, it means dividing your veggies between 3 meals as well.

Adding proteins for Meal 1 will only work if you had fish as a Meal 1 option and you then choose fish and add onto this xx g of fish and xx g of veggies.

Hope that makes sense... ???

From day 16 onwards you may start mixing proteins, in this case you may choose the cheese or egg or yogurt and onto that add in the new goodies...

I hope I can catch you before you are off to your sanctuary... if not, at least you know for next time...

SPDeRosa

08-05-2008, 08:53 AM

Oh No!!!! Thank you Shasha for catching that! I've read the Refeed Guide like 10 times to try to not to make any mistakes, but it looks like I've already blundered. I added 20g of veggies to breakfast this morning with no extra protein because I had an egg. For some reason I thought it was ok to split veggies up throughout the day and proteins during meat/poultry/fish meals.

I've actually gone back and scanned the Refeeding Guide again to see where it talks about splitting amounts between meals, looking for the cautionary notes you mentioned, but didn't see them. I'm going to have to read it again because I want to follow the plan, but in the interim I'm just going to take your advice and try to only split portions between meals 2 and 3. I have to run to work, but I'll read the whole thing one more time at work today. I don't want to be off to a bad start!

A few questions: I know we're allowed one egg per day. So there's no adding eggs as protein. Same thing with yogurt - one per day as a meal. But if cheese is a meal choice (which it is for me for my Meal 1), can't I add cheese to a cheese meal as old protein? (Not mixing cheese AND another protein source yet).

I really ENJOYED my slightly larger breakfast this morning. I've been finding one egg and 85g of veggies is satisfying but leaves me wanting just a bit more. The extra 20g of veggies helped a lot. So if there's ANY chance I could allocate some veggies to my egg in the morning, I would LOVE to do that. However, if we have to keep things in balance as related to our original plan, then I understand I can't add the veggies. Of course, I am allowed an extra fruit, so I could use that instead !!! :)

Thanks again for catching all this!!!!!

Shasha

08-05-2008, 09:11 AM

{hi} there Shawn

From tomorrow onwards you can add a slice of bread to your breakfast ie: french toast... Bread for breakfast ONLY during Re-feeding, not afterwards... then after the Refeeding Program, how you could have egg, much more veggies, even a slice of cheese (preferably low fat) with that or egg and veggies and yoghurt if you like. Or egg, lean back bacon and veggies if you like... {wave} just no starch after Re-feeding for breakfast and I recommend you go with lean, low fat options...

Page 13 says:

Example: On Day 1, add 30 g of Old Protein. According to this example, you need to add 30 grams to the daily quantities of meat or poultry or fish that are on your personally prescribed diet program. These 30 grams may be split between two meals adding 15 grams per meal or alternatively, add the 30 grams to one meal.

Bell on page 14 between Day 1 and Day 2 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

So you are not allowed to increase yogurt, cheese or egg, but from Day 14 onwards, when you may start mixing your proteins, you may choose the cheese / egg / yogurt and onto this ADD the extra grams for the day.

If you decide to add the new allowance across two or three meals, you must divide the protein and the vegetables equally: therefore if you are adding half onto lunch and half onto supper – you would add 15 gram protein onto lunch and 15 gram protein onto dinner, and at the same time 20 gram veggies onto lunch and 20 gram veggies onto supper.

Hope this helps... {cheerleader}

pumbza

08-05-2008, 12:02 PM

Hi Shahsa and Shawn that is GREAT still a little confused because I don't have all the details but at least I can start reading the messages and getting aware a long TIME before I refeed its really intresting reading please KEEP up the GOOD work for all us NEWBIES!!!!It also gives me HOPE for the FUTURE that we will be going back to NORMAL FOOD although I am getting so use to the FOOD and LOSING weight I might JUST STAY ON THE DIET TILL I fade AWAY!!!Congrats on your new kitchen or Little Hide away or Sanctuary HOPE YOU HAVE MANY PLEASANT meals there (Healthy That is!!!)!!Have a GLORUIS DAY!!!!:innocent3:

SPDeRosa

08-05-2008, 07:45 PM

Shasha, Thank you for asking Dr. Cohen about the splitting the veggies up. I really liked being able to eat extra veggies with my egg in the morning, but I understand now that I can't do that.

After we both rechecked the Refeed Guide we're in agreement that nowhere does it mention that you can only allocate some of the additional veggies to a meal as long as you allocate the same proportion of protein to that meal. So technically, I followed what the Guide said by simply adding the additional amounts to the day. I didn't mix proteins or add more of something I wasn't allowed to have (like an extra egg).

However, your further explanation of the BALANCE is very helpful as this diet is a chemistry experiment where veggies and protein work together to get the job done. Having too much of one and too little of the other might be a bad thing. So thinking like that, I see how extra veggies with my egg in the morning was not the best choice.

So the rule is if you're going to add food to a meal, you have to add BOTH veggies and protein, not one or the other AND no mixing proteins until specifically allowed starting on Day 14 of the refeed plan.

We should request that your explanation be included in the refeed guide because it's VERY helpful. Let's see how I do at weigh-in tomorrow morning ... hopefully I won't gain two pounds and then be back on the plan! LOL

If you decide to add the new allowance across two or three meals, you must divide the protein and the vegetables equally: therefore if you are adding half onto lunch and half onto supper – you would add 15 gram protein onto lunch and 15 gram protein onto dinner, and at the same time 20 gram veggies onto lunch and 20 gram veggies onto supper.

Rachinnj

08-05-2008, 08:14 PM

Shawn
I just want you to know I am so proud of you. You really inspire me to do the best that I can on this program.

Rachel

Mei Mei

08-05-2008, 08:35 PM

Thanks for the information Shawn,
It is a lot to take in, isn't it? :sadeyes: :eyebrow:Best of luck. Glad you are there ahead of us to interpret and give us feedback and progress reports. It also gives us motivation :)
Mei Mei

pumbza

08-06-2008, 12:09 AM

Hi shawn I am not to sure about why your days are split up as they are could you explain this for me if you can and does your food GRAMMAGE increase as you GO on and how do you BUILD your refeed as you continue???Thnks in advance have a GOOD DAY!!!:innocent3:

Lauren

08-06-2008, 03:41 AM

Hey Shawn!

Congratulations on starting Refeed finally! Good for you!!! I'm so happy for you, and you look amazing! When I did the diet last time, part of what kept me on it was my intense curiosity of WHAT IS THE REFEED PROGRAM LIKE? So it's really cool you're informing people about it because it's really fun to look forward to--especially the cookie. I would eat it in the tiniest bites to make it last as long as possible. I need to do that with all treats in my future! We learn so many things like that on this diet--we just have to remember what we learned when we're done! That's why it's great to have this forum to stay in touch on so we can keep ourselves (and each other) in check!

SPDeRosa

08-07-2008, 08:31 AM

August 7, 2008: Weigh In: 153.0 (that's 1.6 lbs down from yesterday)

Good morning: As I start this post, a news report is right now on TV saying: "A new study says it's possible that every single American adult will be overweight in 40 years. The study also said that RIGHT NOW 2/3 of American adults are overweight." I hope more people start to learn about 1PD.

Thanks Hugentobler and Brownyn! BTW Bronwyn, I did try to undercook the meat and it seemed to work. I'm going to have to try the lower temperature trick ... I just hit "Sensor Reheat" on the microwave and let it do its thing. It cooked the steak a bit more, but not too much. Had I fully cooked the steak it would have been horrible.

Shasha - what a GREAT idea!! By the end of refeed I'm almost doubling my protein allowance (add 120g) AND we get to mix proteins! So having a 120g piece of meat and then turning a yogurt into a frozen yogurt mixed with one fruit serving... YUMMY!!! I'd have to think of what to do for breakfast then, which means I'll have to be creative with a chicken/meat dish for breakfast. My plan only has a cheese option for Meal 1 (which is where the yogurt option is). So if I use Meal one at the end of the day, I'm stuck with fish, poultry or meat for breakfast. I'll have to think about that one ... but the idea of frozen yogurt as a meal/dessert sounds GREAT!

Summary of Yesterday: Yesterday went well. The bread at breakfast filled me up. I had a fruit mid morning because I felt a little queezy (happens to me whenever I drink a lot of coffee without having much food).

I added all the protein and veggies to Meal 3 (which I usually have for dinner) which made that meal huge. Then I decided to swap Meals 2 and 3 around so that I could have the "smaller" meal for dinner and my "Refeed Meal" for lunch. (Note that Meal 2 is my standard lunch meal, which has 20g extra veggies than my standard Meal 3 -- so my lunches have always been slightly bigger than my dinners).

When it came time to eat dinner, I really didn't want to. I was still so full from lunch. But knowing that this diet is a chemistry experiment, I cooked up my chicken and veggies and had a nice dinner. Wen I started cooking dinner I realized that because I was eating the "lunch" meal for dinner, I was actually eating more at dinner time than I have been used to eating! I'm not sure if that makes any sense to anyone but me -- but suffice it to say, I ate a LOT more. I had more food at lunch because of the added refeed amounts and then I had more food than I normally do for dinner because I swapped the order of my meals around. After dinner I had a nectarine ... just because I could and if I don't eat all this fruit it's going to go bad. Probably bad thinking... but I've been trained throughout my life to never throw food away. So it's hard for me to buy a bunch of food and then watch it rot.

Plan for today: Add 60g Old Protein; Add 40g Old Veggies, Add 1 Good fruit, have 1 slice of bread + 2 diet crackers (4 Saltines). So today's menu requires 30g protein more than yesterday. I'm going to split up the protein and veggies 50% Lunch and 50% dinner and I'll add 2 Saltines (1 diet cracker) to each of those meals. I already had my standard breakfast with a slice of toast.

Lastly, like many mornings, I had NO DESIRE to eat breakfast. I still felt full from yesterday. However, as food is my medicine, I made breakfast. I know it's the most important meal of the day, and I'm seeing on this diet that sometimes it might be ok to eat even when you're not hungry. Before I used to think "Don't eat if you're not hungry" but I'm starting to see that this could lead to hormonal imbalances with peaks and valleys. Ok, so much for a "short" update. LOL Have a great day everyone!

pumbza

08-07-2008, 09:11 AM

Shawn GREAT work I don't understand it YET at all but I am sure as refeed approaches I will be reading these messages OVER AND OVER so don't DELETE them!!!Ha Ha!!!:innocent4:Yeah Shasha (Where have YOU been I have missed YOU!!!) french Bread sounds so NICE but only Shawn can eat that the Lucky DOG!!!Ha Ha!!I remember the "OH NO" meal I had just joined when I read that I nearly PASSED out I thought what am I getting myself into but as you say can you believe that it was nearly seven week's ago how time FLIES when YOU are having FUN!!!Ha Ha!!!The amounts of FOOD sound GLORUIS I look forward to the day FOOD is not a medicine for me BUT SOMETHING to enjoy!!!!Ha Ha!!Shawan thats why I want ALL THE DIET BUDDIES TO GET INTO THE "PAY IT FORWARD" thread because there is an EPIDEMIC raging out there of seriously OBESE PEOPLE which is very sad for the WORLD there families and other people around them!!!!Keep up the GOOD work I love reading this thread so write as much as YOU have to and have a GREAT DAY!!!!:innocent3:

Shasha

08-07-2008, 12:09 PM

{hi} there Shawn

Are you saying you don’t have cheese as an option in Meal 2? I wonder why…

Most people do have cheese in Meal 1 and Meal 2… but you can only pick cheese once a day – in this case it is nice to have Meal 2 Cheese for breakfast (the larger portion) and Meal 3 whatever for lunch… then have proteins of choice with yogurt desert for dinner… all meals with veggies of course!!!

{goodjob} on being down yet ANOTHER 1.6 pounds!! (M.E.N. !!!) But, that is a lot when you are already at your goal and it may be part of the reason why you felt a bit queezy…

I know the fruit are optional, but I want you to EAT THEM ALL…

Now, I know you are asking WHY?
Because the point of Re-feeding is TRAINING your body to cope with more food – in the case of the fruit, it’s not just about the fruit, it’s more sugar and variety… otherwise WHAT??? will happen if you eat a chocolate after Re-feeding… get my point??? That’s just my thinking… tell me if you disagree… I see fruit as the training ground for foods containing more sugars…

Sorry to say, but it does really not matter if you are hungry or not nor does it matter how full you feel – you MUST bring in more food – you must TRAIN your body back into normal eating patterns… especially because we don’t want your weight to keep dropping… remember, there is no more excess fat, so your body is not getting fat from two sources ie: stored fat and food. The fat is gone, so now you need to bring in more food – lots more of it… so, please do eat all your food…

And, I already know you’re thinking: it says IF 60 gram = enough… you are a young, healthy active man and it’s not enough and, if that were the case, your weight would NOT drop 1.6 pounds overnight... The last thing you want to do is eat too little during your meals and then fill up with starch snacks in-between… that’s a sure why to become a statistic…

Speaking of which, I found that really very interesting… and sad… and I ask myself WHY??? Of course it is all about the FOOD we eat, how much and how… which results in too much insulin... that’s why those rules at the back of your guide are so important… but more about that later…

Homework: Please eat all your fruit today…

I’m LOL… always hearing the Diet Buddies going:

:eek: OH NO! SO LITTLE FOOD
until Re-feeding when it becomes:
OH NO! SO MUCH FOOD!! :eek:

Shasha

08-07-2008, 12:12 PM

{hi} there Pumbza

:bighug: thanks for missing me!!! I missed you too!!! :bighug:

Sorry, my other hubby (the official one) needed some attention too… :flirt:

pumbza

08-07-2008, 12:46 PM

Shasha YES we missed YOU terribally and YES you must LOOK after OFFICAL HUBBY he is the BOSS and ignore the rest!!Ha Ha!!!:innocent4:Yeah Ditto Shasha I can't believe SHAWN moaning about eating when I get to refeed I will eat every scrap of FOOD because I will know my FAT is GONE and I wan't to find my FULL FOOD requirement and leaving out FOOD will make it confusing to work out what's what its like the excersise STORY I don't want to do excersise until I have completed the PROGRAM so I will know the weight I LOSE will be FAT only and no adding MUSCLE weight same story with FOOD at REFEED STAGE!!!Just one Question Shasha and that is I know on the customer document it says I can have coffee without Milk etc Now when I drink 100% coffee I get as High as a KITE ok I am overstating it but I feel very on edge like HYPER obviously its the caffine is that GOOD or BAD and I don't drink coffee often and when I do then I feel as I mentioned (Like RIGHT Now!!):innocent3:Ok thanks for the HELP have a GREAT DAY!!!!:innocent3:

Shasha

08-07-2008, 01:06 PM

{hi} there Pumbza-Lite

Some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others… especially if you haven’t had coffee for a while…

There was a time I remember not having coffee for about two months and when I suddenly had a cup, I too had that WHOooooHOOooo Feeling… :hypnotic:

Dr Cohen says to limit coffee intake because too much caffeine can cause water retention…

As for me, I enjoy my coffee… and find it gives me a bit of a lift… but that’s just me… I don’t typically drink coffee in the morning to wake up, no problems with that… but love to have some in the afternoon… or, if I feel tired due to low blood pressure I find it a sure pick me up… :jumping2:

About caffeine and sleeping… if you are sensitive to caffeine / prone to not sleeping rather avoid the coffee…

As for me, in winter I find a nice cup of warm (not too strong) coffee prior to going to bed really nice and then I sleep like a log… but that’s just me… maybe caffeine affects one differently in Cyberspace :party3: than it would on earth LOL…

I typically love Americano’s which are espresso’s with added boiling water – so you get a really nice taste but not too strong and then I add sweetener when I drink this type of coffee. In summer I can quiet quickly become addicted to iced-Americano’s… or, I make my own… which can become a little dangerous… coffee, blender, sweetener, crushed ice and cold water… which go down so great, I want another one...

I know I shouldn’t indulge in too much coffee and normally I don’t… but hey, it is much healthier than chocolates… and people have been drinking coffee for decades, not like diet soda, which is relatively new with chemicals etc… so I don't see the harm in a cup or two ~ yeah, yeah, I mean MUG... okay, okay, I mean BIG MUG!!!

LesKiya

08-07-2008, 05:45 PM

Heya all, just checking in with everyone and thought I'd put this here on Shawn's post since I know everyone will be watching his refeed. Shawn you are doing fantastic!!

I finished refeed on the 8th of July at 1.5 pounds below my goal weight!! I'm am so pleased with the diet results and myself now.

We left that same day for vacation and on the 11th of July went on a 7 day cruise to Alaska. I was concerned about what would happen with all the food on the cruise and paranoid that I'd wake up the next morning with all 56 pounds back!

On the cruise I was careful to drink at LEAST 3 litres of water a day along with a few diet cokes. There were a lot of delicious healthy choices of food to eat on the cruise (bowls of oranges at all times I'd have to grab) and I tried to keep my eating to those choices. Fried food of any kind doesn't appeal to me at all anymore and I tried to avoid overeating starch. We did eat in the dining room every night and I really didn't leave too much food on my plate! I also quickly decided that the deserts would have to be tried and so I tasted tons of stuff, slicing off small pieces rather then the normal portions. I made sure I had lots of water with anything I ate. I came home with some stellar ideas on sugar-free deserts and am experimenting with some of them at home now. I had in the evening on 5 of the 7 days a drink with our party in the bar.

Right after getting home from vacation (I was up 7 pounds), I immediately went back on the diet (the very next day). Within 3 days, 6 of the 7 pounds were gone and I eased back up my volume of food to end of refeed levels over the next few days. Right now, I am 1 pound over my goal weight and holding steady. I usually eat a Cohen salad once a day and I am very careful about the starches and carb food items. I have also begun working on toning my arms and abs a bit and that pound might even be muscle I'm adding.

I plan on doing the Cohen again beginning next week for a week as I would like to go for the lower end of the recommended goal weight now and this diet takes it off fast! At less then two weeks on the program, you can transition back off the diet without refeeding. Folks, when you all are done with this, I'd highly recommend keeping weight within a couple pounds of goal or hitting the program for a few days to fix it. None of us want to go back!

Next week I go for testing to get a bladder control problem corrected that I've had since my kids were born. I've had the problem for years and my doctor always said, "lose the weight and then we'll see if it needs fixing." I was in to see him last week and could definitely report that I've lost the weight and it is still an issue - in fact its worse now (maybe because its a clear shot!). But now he was able to better examine me and I can have it corrected ! Yay!

All of you hang in there and remember when you are tempted that "the food doesn't taste as good as skinny will feel." I promise.

LesKiya

08-07-2008, 05:46 PM

MIMI

08-07-2008, 10:17 PM

Shawn, your number one in my book!!! It' so very kind of you to share you re-feed with us. Keep it up, I don't quite understand all of it but i will. Thanks friend, :love1: MIMI

pumbza

08-08-2008, 12:39 AM

I am fascinated by your post LesKiya because this is the kind of thing I have been DREAMING about LIFE after DR COHEN and you have done it so well and exactly what I wan't to do I wan't after refeed to weigh myself every MONDAy and make a DIET MANAGEMENT Decision as what is to happen in relation to weight gained or lost and what to do about it I am so glad to hear YOU lost the weight so easily suppose we should remember that all the old fat has GONE and the new fat is easier to BURN off INDEED!!!One question did you go on the 48HR DIET which is suppose to stabilise your weight or did you go back on your ORIGINAL DR COHEN diet and then just go back to REFEED levels!!(hope that does not sound to confusing!!) And YES I wan't to excercise after DR COHEN and BUILD some muscle and I DREAM of getting a SIX PACK I am not sure that is achievable because I have NEVER had a SIX PACK but I could love to show my SON a Little OFF YOU know how FATHER's and SON's can COMPETE (In a NICE WAY!!) and it would impress him no end!!!I would presume that once I do Excercise MY weight would go up a bit from GOAL weight because of MUSCLE weight HOPEFULLY!!!Do you know what YOUR % fat content of your body is??? Have a GREAT day and thanks for a GREAT post it really helps when so one describes the AFTER DR COHEN DIET!!!:innocent3:Oh by the BY have you posted before and after photo's if YOU have forgive me still trying to find my way around the FORUM!!!!

pumbza

08-08-2008, 01:20 AM

Dear Uncle Shawn I have changed my TICKER to my NEW modified GOALS Upon your Immediate Refrence to MY UNREALISTIC GOALS!!Ha Ha!JUst KIDDING!!Ha Ha!!Its BETTER to reset the GOALS to more realistic ones and DOES not give the NEWBIES the WRONG IDEA's and I am nearly 7 WEEKS older so I should no better!!Ha Ha!!Have a SUPER DAY!!!

SPDeRosa

08-08-2008, 07:02 AM

August 8, 2008: Weigh In: 153.5 (UP 0.5 lbs from yesterday)

Mimi, thanks for your kind words! I think understanding the plan is hard if you don't have the Refeed Guide. I'm sure it'll make more sense when you get your Refeed program. :)

Leskiya, thanks for the encouragement and the AFTER THE DIET posting! I’m glad you had fun on your cruise and more importantly, I’m glad you were able to get the weight you gained on the trip back off. I think that will be the key to long-term success as you point out --- to get right back on the program and take the weight off before we get used to it again. I’m SO happy you, Bronwyn and Shasha are still here to share with us the “life after Cohen” perspective as I think we all fear that we might only balloon up again like so many of us have done on other diet programs. So THANK YOU so much for your post showing us we CAN enjoy life – even a cruise – and still make healthy choices and adjust our diets again to get the weight off.

Pumbza, very cool adjustment to your monthly "mini-goals" as I call them. There's nothing wrong with adjusting mini-goals as needed because they're totally made up and not based on actual evidence. I adjusted my weight loss goal downward at least 4 times.

Summary of Yesterday: Thursday (yesterday) went well. Although I wasn’t hungry most of the day, I took Shasha’s advice and not only ate all of my meals and “carbs” but I also ate all of my fruit. I had one apple, peach, and a nectarine as well as 120g of pineapple. The only thing I forgot was my vitamin which I had been putting into my cracker bag this past week as that seemed to work out well. But now that I didn’t have crackers with lunch I forgot the vitamin! Oops. I also took my salad out to a meeting with me that I knew would end up being a meeting and dinner. I was all prepared to eat my own food in a restaurant, but we ended up going to “Panera” which is basically a fancy cafeteria, so I ordered a diet pepsi and enjoyed my salad w/ chicken and an apple. Everyone I was with knew I was on the diet, so no one even questioned me about bringing my own food in … and I didn’t get any weird looks from other people eating at the café nor from workers. I don’t think anyone noticed, or if they did, they sure didn’t care. So I was totally able to stay 100% on plan even while going out to a “restaurant.”

Plan for Today: Add 60g Old Protein, Add 80g Old Veggies, Add 1 Good fruit, have 1 slice of bread + 2 diet crackers (4 Saltines). {{Clairification: The veggies and protein amounts are added to my original diet plan. The "Carbs" - in this case 1 slice of break and 4 Saltines - are IN PLACE of my standard allotment of crackers}}

So my plan for today is pretty much the same as yesterday but I get 80g of vegetables over and above my standard plan instead of the 40g extra I got yesterday. So I’ll again split up the additional meat and the vegetables 50/50 between Meals 2 and 3, and I’ll have my standard meal 1 egg and veggies along with the piece of toast. I’ll pack a vitamin and some fruit for work as well… and again I’ll gobble down all of my food, including the fruit.

I didn't like seeing the scale go UP for a weigh-in, but I understand that it really has to. I can't afford to get thinner -- not for a health reason (all the weight ranges have a lower weight limit of 147lbs as a healthy weight for my height and age), but rather because I'll look gaunt (thin from lack of nutrition). So with the extra food today I'm anticipating another increase at tomorrow's weigh-in.

Question for Refeeders/Shasha: What weight do we use as the basis for the "go back and repeat the last 2 days" rule? Would I use the original weigh in of 155 or my lowest weight so far of 153? If I'm interpreting the guide correctly, it says at ANY time if you gain two pounds ... so if I go back up to my original goal weight of 155 I should go backwards 2 days on the refeed plan, correct?

Thanks everyone, and have a great day!

Mei Mei

08-08-2008, 10:37 AM

Shawn,
Thanks again for all of the information. We are watching you and living it with you in eager anticipation of what the refeed will be like. Keep up the good work and the awesome posts.
Blessings to you,
Mei

Mei Mei

08-08-2008, 10:38 AM

LesKiya,
Wow. What a post. Thanks so much for all of the post refeed information. I have really been wondering what it will be like. I've gained and lost this weight so many times, it makes my head spin. I want it gone for good. I'm glad to hear you are sdoing so well.
Blessings,
Mei Mei

Shasha

08-08-2008, 11:55 AM

{hi} there Shawn

Please forget the 0.5 pound, it was weight that you lost too much in the first place… and reading your post, we both know what I mean by that…

As you increase the foods you will start to feel stronger again… :weights:

Please take your weight every day and if you go up 2 pounds in one day ie: 24 hours you go back 2 days… The weight of yesterday or when you started does not matter… it’s only it you are up 2 pounds from yesterday to this morning…

So, let’s see what the day of tomorrow brings...

YES, all foods are added ONTOP of your original diet, :munchies: except from Day 4 on the plan you leave your original amount of crackers and only have what is indicated with the bread… which eventually becomes three slices…

I’m very proud of you for your continued faithfulness at the restaurant… everyone can surely see your success and so you’re not likely to have comments, especially not from anyone who knew the Shawn from BC days… {goodjob}

carebear

08-08-2008, 02:08 PM

Good job on your re feed. I do have a few questions you can answer if you want. How tall are you it just seems like 155 for a male is nothing do you feel that way? What was there recommended weight for you I feel that what they want me at is unrealistic 114 to 120. 114 I weighted that freshmen year of high school. I do still want to look like a women. If I don't get to there low does that mean I have to much extra fat?? Sorry One more When your done with re feed how do you eat everyday to maintain your weight ? last day of refeed???(I got jalapeno in my eye last night wow that was not fun):crying:

pumbza

08-08-2008, 03:00 PM

Hey Shawn its like REALITY TV its great You could ask a consultant to explain this to YOU and it would be difficult but NOW that you are working through it with us we can get the GIST of whats happening and it will prepare us for REFEED!!!!:innocent4:I just can't wait to eat ALL that lots of lots of FOOD you are eating SHAWn enjoy it BIG time!!!Have a NICE day!!!!:innocent3:

SPDeRosa

08-08-2008, 11:42 PM

Carebear,

I'm 6' tall (2m). 155 lbs is THIN. The weight chart tables say this is still a healthy weight for a small frame, but I really want to be a bit heavier. Not being muscular I think I just look skinny. Hopefully after refeed I"ll be able to hit the gym and add some healthy muscle weight on and I hope to come up to maybe 165-170. In terms of energy - I have lots. I've been going to bed after the 11:00 PM news and waking up at 4AM (and forcing myself back to sleep until about 7am). Dr. Cohen's team originally recommended a goal weight of 184-190, but I was still pretty fat at that weight range. At 190 I think I was a 34 waist... I'm guessing I'm between a 30 and 31 right now (which is a good waist size in my opinion --- 29 is too small and 32 is probably the "max" for my height). In talking with the consultants, they were fine with me going down to 175 or lower. I wanted to burn as much fat off as I could before starting refeed as it talks about not starting refeed till all of your fat is gone, so I kept lowering my "goal weight" until much of the fat was gone. My scale still tells me I have between 15-16% body fat, and I can still pinch some here and there, but I think once I gain muscle mass some of the remaining fat will burn off and my weight will go up.

I've heard other women say that their goal weight was below what they were in high school or college. For me, I'm about at my college weight again -- it's hard for me to remember back then :) I think everyone has to decide what's right for them. I encourage people to try to get to Dr. Cohen's recommended weight because sometimes we just can't think of being that "small" because we've never BEEN that small. It doesn't mean we couldn't get there or that we shouldn't get there -- just that we've not done it yet.

I'm not sure 100% what the maintenance amounts of food should be. I believe that what you finish with on refeed should be about the size of your meals during maintenance. That, of course, will be my challenge as all my life I've been used to much bigger portions. I usually eat healthy foods - but just too much. My other problem was that I'd skip meals and eat only when hungry -- usually dinner. That, I think, KILLED my metabolism. So hopefully the changes implemented by strict adherence to this plan for going on four months will stick with me! Ok, time for bed. G'night!

SPDeRosa

08-09-2008, 07:00 AM

August 9, 2008: Weigh In: 153.4 (down 0.1 lbs from yesterday)

Shasha, you were right (as always!) I forgot to mention to you in an earlier post that I went back and checked my Meal 2 list and found that I DO have a cheese option. (Earlier I thought my only cheese option was Meal 1). I'm guessing it's because in my head I thought "I need meat to feel full". So now that I have another cheese option during the day, that opens up a veggie & cheese breakfast once I"m able to mix proteins so that I can have that Meal 1 yogurt as a dessert following my "added" protein.

Summary of Yesterday: Again, no problems. As always, I wasn't hungry at breakfast but made my egg/veggies anyway. I do seem to get a little hungry around 4 hours after breakfast, so I have a fruit to carry me over to lunch. Then again mid-day another fruit to carry me to dinner. Yesterday I had 2 fruits mid-day as Shasha wants me to eat all of my fruits. That left me one freshly ripened nectarine for dessert. I had no problems eating the extra food amounts during lunch & dinner and I didn't feel too "full" after the meals. And yes, I remembered my vitamin! :)

Plan for today: Same as yesterday PLUS an extra good fruit -- so FIVE fruits today! (Add 60g Old Protein, Add 80g Old Veggies, Add 2 Good fruits, have 1 slice of bread + 2 diet crackers (4 Saltines).

Today is "Family Fun Day" at work, so we'll have a temptation everywhere: cotton candy, popcorn, make-your-own cookies, hamburgers, hot dogs, soda ... pretty much nothing healthy. So I'm happy to have that extra fruit today so that if I get tempted I can eat an apple or something. :)

Ok, off to make breakfast! Have a good day everyone!

carebear

08-09-2008, 01:34 PM

Thankyou for taking the time to answer my questions. You're body fat % is ideal.GREAT JOB on refeed I love reading others experiences it gets me that much more excited to be perfect on this diet. I was at 130 before my last daughter was born and I did it through a different diet(500 calorie) that made me feel like I was losing lean muscle. This time my weight is coming off totally different. I like eating healthy to lose weight what a difference.

SPDeRosa

08-10-2008, 06:49 AM

August 10, 2008: Weigh In: 153.3 (down 0.1 lbs from yesterday)

Summary of Yesterday: I made it through the "carnival-like" festivities at work without a problem. MY staff had two boxes of chocolate chip cookies which they seem to always leave on my desk - but despite all the goodies, I stuck to the plan. The hamburgers tempted me --- and they were pretty nasty, greasy unhealthy looking burgers but the smelled SOO GOOD --- but I thought "When you get home, you're having steak!". I'm glad I brought the extra fruit to work as I used it up there rather than diving into popcorn, cookies, or worse.

Plan for today: Same exact meal plan as yesterday: Add 60g Old Protein, Add 80g Old Veggies, Add 2 Good fruits, have 1 slice of bread + 2 diet crackers (4 Saltines).

Other observations: At this point everyone notices the weight loss. I get lots of good comments and people asking me how I did it, so of course I give out the web address. I also had one guy yesterday who said "Good job losing all the weight, now put 10 lbs back on" I thought "Wow, he noticed -- and he's right!" The past few days (pretty much since starting Refeed) I notice I've been waking up really early despite going to bed around the same time every night. Not sure if it's extra energy or my body's internal clock getting me ready for September when I do have to get up this early for work anyway. If I were ambitious, I'd use the extra time to clean up around the house! :)

Ok, even though I'm not hungry and feel like there's still food in my tummy from 12 hours ago, I'm off to the kitchen to make breakfast -- and then relax with some coffee and the Sunday paper. Then off to work! Have a wonderful day everyone, and thanks for checking back in to see how I'm doing. Knowing that people actually read this keeps me honest and helps me through those moments when I think "Just have a cookie, it won't hurt!" I'd be so embarrassed to have to mention it on here, I just "step away from the coookie." :)

pumbza

08-10-2008, 10:38 AM

Shawn we all love reading your thread it gives us things to think about and takes our mind of our FOOD!!!Ha Ha!!:innocent4:You have nerves of STEEL ignoring all that JUNK FOOD but if we can keep YOU honest it worth it REALLY!!!Is YOUR fat PERCENTAGE not to LOW should it not be 18% or am I most probabally WRONG!!!Imagine you only have less than 30 days to GO enjoy it and let us know all the gory details have a NCIE DAY!!!:innocent3:

rbride05

08-10-2008, 12:12 PM

Shawn

You are doing superb on your ReFeed program. Thank you from all of us Newer plan members on posting your experience. It's kind of exciting to get to follow along with you on your journey through ReFeed and read about your success. Keep up the good work. P.S. Did you remodel your kitchen? Is that what the new "sanctuary" means?

757 flyer

08-10-2008, 02:55 PM

Shawn
Wow what a great job you've done. I wanted to thank you because I found your recommendations for a tasty stir-fry and tried it for lunch. It was great! I couldn't remember what site it was on so I thought I'd post the thank-you here. Who would have thought with a little vinegar a packet of splenda, garlic and ginger chicken and veggies could taste soo good. Thanks again keep up the awesome job.
757flyer

MIMI

08-10-2008, 08:10 PM

Shawn,SUPER JOB staying away from the bad stuff. Can't wait to see your next up date. MIMI

SPDeRosa

08-11-2008, 07:38 AM

August 11, 2008: Weigh In: 154 (UP 0.7 lbs from yesterday)

Good morning everyone! Thanks again for your feedback! Rbride05, yes my "sanctuary" is my new kitchen. I bought a "fixerupper" condo with limited storage space in Boston on a loud street. After a few years here I saved up enough (so I thought) to redo the kitchen. Thankfully my Uncle is a carpenter and basically did most of the work. My brother is an electrician and did all the electrical. I did the easy stuff -- drywalling, cleaning up after them, picking out the "style" and colors. I'll post some photos here for fun... I will say that before the makeover I HATED my kitchen. After the makeover (floors went in in early June -- about 2 weeks after starting 1PD), I now LOVE cooking my 1PD meals in there and sitting down and enjoying my meals at the table. It's small, but I call it "my Parisian Cafe" :) (Edit Note: The white coffee pot is the OLD coffee pot. I've since upgraded to a newer model of the Cuisinart Grind n Brew which does a much better job at brewing coffee ... so now I don't mind black coffee at all whereas before I couldn't even touch coffee if there wasn't enough cream in it!)

Summary of Yesterday: Another uneventful day yesterday. Last night I wasn't hungry following dinner, but just had the urge to snack on something, so I took a can of Sprite Zero, added some ice to a blender, tossed in a ripe peach and made a nice "frozen drink" .. the only thing missing was the alcohol! :) I tried to spread my fruits out throughout the day, having one before lunch, two between lunch and dinner, one in the frozen drink after dinner and one as an after-dinner snack.

Plan for today: Add 90g Old Protein, Add 80g Old Veggies, Add 2 Good fruits, have 2 slices of bread + 2 diet crackers (4 Saltines). This is 30g more protein than yesterday. Again I'll split the added protein and veggies between Meals 2 and 3, one slice of bread will go with my breakfast the other with lunch or dinner. Fruit again spread throughout the day between meals.

Refeed Note: The Refeed Guide now states "Protein: If you feel that the additional 60 g of fish/chicken/meat is enough, you don’t have to increase the quantity anymore. Just make sure you keep eating the indicated variety." So I guess I'll guage whether 90g extra today is too much .... although I can't imagine that it would be.

Rachinnj

08-11-2008, 07:44 AM

Ha Ha I was looking at the old pics thinking hmmm thats nice i guess. Then I scrolled down and realized those were the before. Your kitchen is GORGEOUS!!!!!

Rachel

pumbza

08-11-2008, 02:05 PM

Hi Shawn kitchen really looks GREAT and must have been a lot of work thats for sure YOU must have enjoyed creating YOUR kitchen and I BET it feels GOOD to sit at YOUR Parisian Cafe!!!Ha Ha!!!:innocent4:KEEP up the good work have a GREAT day!!!:innocent3:

rbride05

08-11-2008, 05:31 PM

SHAWN

My goodness, the kitchen is GORGEOUS. You have excellent taste and did a fantastic job putting it all together. No wonder you call it your little sanctuary. All us forum buddies will be wishing we lived nearby so we could drop in for a cuppa from that new fancy coffee maker. Enjoy enjoy enjoy. Just think, even though you said its small, your oh so much skinner now so you have plenty of room to move about, right?

Mei Mei

08-11-2008, 05:43 PM

Shawn,
I agree, the kitchen is beautiful. I love to watch HGTV, all things home imporvement. I felt like I viewed the fast version looking at your pics. Enjoy.
Mei Mei

MIMI

08-11-2008, 10:40 PM

Awesome job on your kitchen! It' so nice. Thanks, for all your updates. It gies us something to look forward to. :) MIMI

SPDeRosa

08-12-2008, 07:06 AM

August 12, 2008: Weigh In: 153.2 (Down 0.8 lbs from yesterday)

Good morning everyone! Thanks again for your feedback! Glad to hear you like the kitchen. I'll attach 2 more photos of the rest of the kitchen so you will see that I actually have a table! :) It was a lot more work than I ever expected, but again I was lucky to have an uncle and a brother who knew what they were doing to help me out. I could never have done it without their support. I don't think I would have been as successful on this diet without all of your support either. These boards really do help keep us focused and motivated, so thank you again.

Summary of Yesterday: Another uneventful day yesterday. Because it rained here in Boston, I didn't have to go in to work (I work at an outdoor swimming pool over the summer -- and we close for thunderstorms and often on rainy days because no one shows up anyway). Staying home all day allowed me to get some work done, but I realize that I have a tendency to think about food when I'm home much more than when I'm at work or running errands. So for me, controlling the urge to snack during the day at home is much harder. Thankfully I have a lot of fruit on the refeed so I have healthy snacking options - otherwise I might be going in for those nachos that Mei Mei made me think about last night :-) Soon enough, right? :)

Plan for today: I'm excited about today's changes to my refeed. Like yesterday, I get to add 90g Old Protein. However, today I get to add 120g Old Veggies (that's 40g more than yesterday). I get 2 diet crackers (4 saltines) and 2 slices of bread (sandwich perhaps?) ... and here's the cool part I get and 1 extra "Good" fruit and one "Bad Fruit!" I'm so excited for the Bad Fruit! Today's bad fruit is going to be a banana! Because I'm eating so many veggies, I might actually have to start having a small side salad with dinner. I'm thinking steak and asparagus for dinner along with a side salad. For lunch I might just stick with a really big salad with grilled chicken. Because breakfast is still small, I'm going to have once slice of bread with breakfast, leaving one for lunch as well. My mid-morning snack will be that banana! I can't wait! :)

Mini-Update: The banana was awesome, but not too filling. It was so good I had to come back online and edit my post to share. PLUS, for lunch I ended up toasting one slice of bread and using my tsp of low-fat mayo, some fresh basil and a slice of tomato from my veggie allowance to make a chicken sandwich to go along with a really big salad (the rest of the chicken went into the salad). Lunch was very filling ... can't wait for dinner!

I may even have to run to the supermarket to get more veggies since I'm starting to go through my standard "old veggies" really fast. I need more fruit anyway seeing as I'm eating 5 pieces a day now. I think today I might get some strawberries so on Thursday when I get to add 2 bad fruits I can have a mix of strawberries AND bananas! Sinful, I know! :) Ok, I'm off to enjoy a "cafe" in my "cafe" Have a great day!

Shasha

08-12-2008, 08:31 AM

{hi} there Shawn

I LOVE your "my Parisian Cafe" - I started typing my reply and asking where the table was… then came today’s post!!

Your health Café Kitchen is STUNNING!!! :clapping3: It’s completely out with the old and in with the new in more ways than one!!!

{goodjob} on the Re-feeding so far!!! You are doing really great!!! I don’t {noway} want you to stop adding proteins… you’re going to need them to build muscles so, bring them in… all of them – it won’t be too much for you, I'm sure... especially because you have an active lifestyle...
I have to smile about your mid morning snack!!! Hope you enjoy your OH YEAH !!!

lfingers11

08-12-2008, 12:32 PM

Shawn,
Thank you for all the awesome updates and questions that you throw out. I am looking forward to what I will be doing in a few months time. I also look forward to the day I get to eat that Banana!! I look forward more to the banana than the cookie!! Weird, huh!!
Awesome kitchen. It really helps with preparing your meals when you have such a wonderful place to work in. Keep the info coming and I can't wait to see how you incorporate your exercise into your new lifestyle. I already have a membership and can't wait till I loose all my weight so I can start working out.

Pam

GettinSkinny

08-12-2008, 01:16 PM

Hey Shawn, beautiful kitchen you have. Your own cheerful little place to prepare your Cohen meals. I am a little bit envious. :)

SPDeRosa

08-13-2008, 07:24 AM

August 13, 2008: Weigh In: 153.3 (Up 0.1 lbs from yesterday)

Good morning everyone! Today starts an exciting Refeed Day -- I get to MIX PROTEINS!!!! Yes, I'm having visions of Steak 'n Chicken Fajitas .... or of Shasha's dinner/dessert frozen yogurt idea. Decisions, decisions.

Note on Mixing Proteins: I re-read Shasha's recommendations and the Refeed Guide and I think I may have been a little premature in freezing all of my meals. I split up my extra proteins for the full refeed 1/2 chicken and 1/2 meat each day, weighed it all out, wrapped each meal and put it all into the freezer labeled by Refeed Plan Day (just in case I had to go back and repeat). The problem is that I'm now seeing that it's not just OK to mix proteins, it's almost REQUIRED. When I first read the material I saw that it was "ok to mix proteins" and thought, "Well wouldn't it just be easier to split the extra food 50/50 and just eat bigger potions?" So now I guess I have to defrost both meats and chop off 1/2 from each and swap them around ... so a little more weighing involved. I'd love to just eyeball it and slice the food down the middle but I do want to try to be exact, so I'll weight it out. I don't want an extra gram here or there to mess me up after all this work.

Summary of Yesterday: Breakfast 1PD egg/veggies with a slice of toast. Lunch: slice of toast w/ chicken and a salad. Dinner: steak, asparagus and mixed veggies (no salad because my lunch salad was so big I just wasn't in the mood for another). I had fruit between meals, using up all 5 fruits and my vitamin. A short while after dinner I started having pretty strong cramps in my stomach... like not just discomfort, but doubling over pains. I felt like the meat was just too much but I also wonder whether maybe I've been going a little overboard on the garlic. As I understand it, an excess of garlic can cause gas pains which I believe I may have had once before when I devoured some freshly made garlic hummus. Today I feel fine, still full as usual - I'm never hungry in the morning - but I'm going to cut back on the garlic for a few days to see what happens. Unfortunately it is my main spice -- Italian, right? :)

Plan for today: I'm excited about today's changes to my refeed. I get to add 120g Old Protein and 160g Old Veggies. That's about the equivalent (maybe more) of a full meal! Instead of crackers I get 3 slices of bread and I still get the one extra "Good" fruit and one "Bad Fruit!" Not sure what I'm going to do for lunch and dinner, but I'll start the day off with coffee, water, and my 1PD egg/veggies and a slice of toast.

Final Note for this Post: I'm still waking up really early. I did notice this morning that my Blackberry is receiving emails at all hours and beeps when emails are recieved. I hate that thing - in fact I had turned off the email feature so it's basically a cell phone. But I had to turn email back on because I've been waiting for some important messages to come through. I wonder if maybe that beep is waking me up or whether I just might have a lot of extra energy now that I'm thin (hard to hear myself saying that). I'll deactivate email notification today and see what happens tonight! Have a great day!

Rachinnj

08-13-2008, 09:12 AM

Good Job Shawn I can not wait till my Re- Feed
Garlic definitly does that. It's killer being that I am a garlic eater.
I am laughing reading this because I to just got a blackberry and I don't know how to shut off the email notification and I sware I am going to throw the thing against the wall. At night I leave it in the kitchen so I can not hear the email notification.
Ughh I hate that thing.

Rachel

Shasha

08-13-2008, 09:21 AM

{hi} there Shawn

Nice to see you doing so well… YES, during the Re-feeding Program it is important to weigh everything… stay strong, cos in just a few more days, the weighing of foods will be a thing of the past…
{wave}

Remember you can now have egg and steak if you like… or chicken and a Greek salad containing feta cheese or mushrooms with cheese and a steak! Remember, in this case you choose the egg or cheese option and onto this ADD the new extra grams of meat, chicken or fish – I don’t know if that will help, but, now you know in any case…

Remember that some veggies weigh heavier than others and now is a good time to have the heavier veggies so that you will have less bulk on your plate – ie: 100 g of lettuce vs 100 g of cauliflower etc.

ENJOY!!! :hii:

SPDeRosa

08-13-2008, 10:10 AM

Shasha,

Thanks for the tips! It's actually nice to be eating the heavier stuff rather than so much lettuce. I'll be shopping for my "Bad Fruits" and for my "New Veggies" later today (New veggies for me are limited to broccoli and carrots seeings as I don't really like any of the other ones listed).

Question: At the mixing protein stage we're allowed to substitute fish for chicken or chicken for meat etc. Pretty much even swaps, if I read the Refeed Guide correctly. Is it permissible, then, to add up all the proteins for the day (Original Plan + Refeed Amount) and then divide disproportionately among meals?

I'd love to be able to add a bit to my breakfast but I'm not sure I want to do a 1/3 split (Standard Egg & Veggies + 1/3 extra protein + 1/3 extra veggies). Adding 1/3 of my protein allowance would mean adding 40g of cheese to my egg/veggie breakfast, and that seems like a lot. If I were splitting up proportionally I'd have to also add 53.3g veggies --- and then there would be way too many veggies for the egg.

Perhaps I could take my egg and add just a little extra veggies or just a sprinkle of cheese (weighed out of course) rather than a full 1/3 of my protein allowance? Anything added to breakfast would be deducted from the Refeed Amounts for the other meals.

Does that make sense? I have a feeling it must be split evenly, although I'm not sure that's so important at this stage as the additions of food have not remained proportional. I'd really love to hear I can spread the extra refeed amounts throughout all three meals however I choose .. in other words, just be sure to eat the extra amounts at some point throughout the day. :)

Thanks!
Shawn

Shasha

08-13-2008, 11:01 AM

{hi} there Shawn

Carrots are great cos you can add them in raw or cooked!

Broccoli and cauliflower go nice together too! - especially with some melted cheese!!!

The way I understand the mixing of proteins is as follows you can take lunch as is and onto that ADD either all or ½ or 1/3 or your proteins and veggies. So you choose the cheese or you choose the steak and onto that you can ADD the chicken or fish or meat. You don’t swop the portions around mixing it all up… mixing proteins means adding in a different protein to the one you’ve chosen… ie: choose meat and add chicken or choose fish and add meat or choose cheese and add steak or choose egg and add steak etc.

You don’t mix or add up breakfast lunch and dinner and divide by three… You still have your original 3 diet meals and then add onto that. So, you can choose egg for breakfast and ONTO that ADD all or ½ or 1/3 of your proteins and, when you add proteins remember to add the same proportion of veggies ie: all or ½ or 1/3 of your extra allowance for the day.

Remember Shawn that you do not ADD egg or ADD cheese or ADD yogurt. You choose these options and ONTO them ADD meat / chicken / fish – this is because egg, cheese and yogurt amounts do not increase during the Re-feeding Program.

So you could on Re-feeding not have egg and cheese or cheese and yogurt… you could however have egg and meat / chicken / fish or cheese and meat / chicken / fish… or meat and chicken or chicken and fish or fish and meat etc.

Again, if you feel 1/3 of the veggies is too much, try adding something a little heavier ie: sliced tomato – let’s say you make a mushroom omelets – simply add a slice of fried tomato or two on the side and a bit of onion inside.

Does that make sense? Hope so… I know Re-feeding gets complicated… thankfully it’s just a couple more days…
:flirt: So, how was your first

SPDeRosa

08-13-2008, 04:08 PM

Shasha, I think I understand now ....

My big error was thinking that cheese could be added into a meal as a protein. I need to think of cheese as a separate food group all together!

The reason I can have Meal 1 Yogurt as a "dessert" is because there is no veggie option with the yogurt, so the yogurt is my meal onto which I'm adding the extra refeed amounts of protein/veggies .... I'm just eating the extras first :)

Thanks for helping me see the light! I couldn't do this without you! :)

I'll check back in on Thursday morning with my morning update .... but as a teaser: I'm SOOO FULL! I didn't even want to eat lunch or a fruit this afternoon but I forced myself to, much like I used to have to be forced as a kid to take my cough medicine. I'm not even looking forward to dinner yet because I feel stuffed. I know I need to eat it, so I'll force feed myself if necessary, but this is the first time now in almost 4 months that I've felt really full. Not sure I like that feeling :(

Thanks,
Shawn

Shasha

08-14-2008, 05:37 AM

{hi} there Shawn

I’m glad that our Diet Buddies can see from your post that the day will come when you actually get tired of eating soooo much food… {rofl}

:thinking: Remember, when you started, you didn’t like that hungry feeling either… but you did what you had to… well, it’s going to have to be the same now… you must eat more food cos we don’t want you losing any more weight… {noway}

About the cheese, just to double check that we are both on the same page and the same paragraph - you can have cheese as your meal (just like the yogurt) but in the case of cheese, it is cheese &veggies and onto this you ADD the extra proteins & veggies… You could also have egg & veggies and onto this add steak & more veggies. The yogurt gets eaten directly after you meal…

pumbza

08-14-2008, 06:24 AM

Hi Shawn and Shasha all I can say is bring on the food I have eaten it since I was a baby and it was a major part of my life and I can handle it!!!Ha Ha!The only diffrence is that I have a better Idea how to handle food and one can eat food as long as it is healthy when I hear about the new combo's I am just so HAPPY because I can live a NORMAL life but I will be aware of adding more vegtable's to my protein etc and it appears from this thread one can really eat well and healthy at the same time!!!I think one of the PROBLEMS we were naive about the way we ate and JUST got it all WRONG with the HELP of the Advertising on TV and radio and billboards etc!!Thanks for the insight YOU two please keep it UP and have a FULL DAY!!!:innocent3:

SPDeRosa

08-14-2008, 08:59 AM

August 14, 2008: Weigh In: 153.1 (Down 0.2 lbs from yesterday)

Good morning everyone! Today's a bit different as I'm typing AFTER breakfast and as I enjoy my first cup of coffee. :)

Summary of Yesterday: One word sums it up: STUFFED! I wasn't hungry at breakfast, but of course ate it anyway. I loved having my banana as a mid-morning snack, although I see that it's not that filling. By lunch time, I looked at my HUGE salad with steak and chicken mixed in and had NO desire to eat it - but I did. I forced myself to eat two additional fruits at work which I didn't want to eat, but felt I should. Actually when one of my coworkers brought in a huge bag of mixed mini-chocolates (snickers, milky way, twix, etc.) and dropped it on my desk, I was actually HAPPY I had a nectarine! I literally thought -- if Sharma can turn down a Mr. Goodbar I can walk away from the Snickers!!! I didn't really want dinner when I got home, so I delayed it until about 8:30 and had a mix of chicken/steak with some veggies. My fourth fruit was force fed after dinner, and I just couldn't bring myself to eat the 5th fruit.

This morning I again woke up early -- somewhere around 5AM (early for me). Forced myself back to sleep until 7AM. Cell phone was off, so I must be waking up for some other reason. I remember thinking as I was 1/2 asleep that I still felt full - as though undigested meat were still in my stomach. So waking up I felt full and as usual, no desire for breakfast. I also was dreaming about what meals I'd be making today - odd. I'm really focused on having that yogurt meal as a dessert so I was dreaming about what I could do with cheese as a breakfast option. And thankfully I stayed asleep long enough to come up with the breakfast bruschetta!

For breakfast this morning I had two slices of toast (such a luxury, I know) onto which I piled 1/2 tomato in slices, some chopped onion, yellow squash and zuccini. I sprinkled with just a little bit of garlic salt and piled on my fat free mozarella (all standard Meal 2 weights) and placed it in the broiler for a few minutes to melt and brown the cheese. I then picked some basil and chopped it up and sprinkled on top. TOTALLY DELICIOUS and NO OLIVE OIL ... not even spray! Surprisingly enough it was pretty filling too! When you guys can have bread for refeed I really recommend this bruschetta as a meal option ... I know it's been suggested as an option with crackers, but I'm sure the bread makes it much better!

Plan for today: Today is the same as yesterday but I get to add 2 BAD fruits to my standard 3 1PD fruits. Also, I'm staying away from fresh garlic for a day or so to hopefully avoid those cramps. :) So this morning I had Meal 2 for breakfast. I'll have a standard Meal 3 for lunch -- probably a salad with steak/chicken and a slice of bread to help make lunch a bit more filling. And for dinner I'll have ALL of the refeed amounts (120 Protein and 160 Veggies) PLUS immediately following Shasha's recommended yogurt "dessert" (Meal 1). The dessert will consist of the yogurt blended together with BOTH BAD FRUITS -- 1 banana and the appropriate amount of strawberries) and maybe some ice and if necessary a bit of Sprite Zero to make a frozen smoothie. I'll have the standard 3 1PD fruits spread out throughout the day: 1 mid-morning and then two between lunch and dinner.

Have a great day everyone!!!

Rachinnj

08-14-2008, 11:10 AM

Shawn are you doing really well. You so inspire me!!

Ok so as I said earlier I think I should mail you my scale but if your up at 5 am anyway I should throw Ben in the parcel also. LOL
I have no problem sleeping but he is up at 5 and raring to go. You two might be a good fit LOL.

Rachel

SPDeRosa

08-15-2008, 07:41 AM

August 15, 2008: Weigh In: 152.1 (Down 1.0 lb from yesterday)

Good morning, I'm up early again and enjoying my first cup of coffee on this rainy morning in Boston and thinking about my plan for the day. Today I don't feel full waking up -- and I think the extra proteins just took a little longer than normal to fully digest and get processed by the body before being evacuated. Not to be gross, but I had to visit the facilities 3 times yesterday rather than my standard morning visit. Once all of that was gone, I felt much better. Important to note was that there was no constipation -- everything was working fine -- it just took a little longer to make it's way through the system. So now I feel much better-- and I actually lost another pound! (Not quite Pumbza's 1kg .. but still significant LOL)

Summary of Yesterday: Delicious! The breakfast bruschetta was so good I might play with the recipe a bit and try it again this morning. I'm thinking I might sautee the veggies along with some garlic rather than just dumping them all raw onto the bread before broiling. Lunch was a boring salad (steak 'n chicken) and dinner was my refeed amounts immediately followed by a Strawberry & Banana Yogurt Smoothie! That smoothie was amazing -- it was my Meal 1 yogurt to which I added 150g strawberries and one banana along with ice and just a small bit of sprite (one gulp maybe) to help give it some liquidity to crush the ice and mix the smoothie up. No sweetener was added. It was soooooo good!!! This is why I want the cheese meal again -- because I want that smoothie again!

Plan for today: Today adds another minor twist: I get "new" meat. So I have my standard meals and I add in 80g Old Protein, 40g New Protein, and 200g vegetables. I still get 3 slices of bread and 2 bad fruits. Because I want that smoothie, I think I'll eat the same way as yesterday: Standard Cheese Meal 2 aka Breakfast Bruschetta; Standard Meal 3; Refeed Amounts+Meal 1 Yogurt+2bad fruits. I may split my refeed amounts between lunch and dinner because dinner, when combined with the yogurt and fruit seems huge (200g of veggies and 120g of meat- wow!)

Question for Refeeders: Looking ahead, I see I always have 2 bad fruits as my fruit plan. What happens to the "good fruits"? Do I just forget about them for now and stick with the original plan fruits plus the bad fruits? I was thinking I might split my strawberry portion in half and add 1/2 a portion of blueberries to the smoothie so as to make a banana/strawberry/blueberry/yogurt smoothie. From the Refeed Guide it would seem that I'm no longer allowed to eat the "good" fruits and I can't see anywhere where it says that the "good" fruits can be switched for the original fruits or for the bad fruits. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!!!!

Shasha

08-15-2008, 09:01 AM

{hi} there Shawn

{goodjob} with the breakfast bruschetta – it sounds so nice I must try it! MMmmmm :hungry: and I’m so glad you enjoyed your yummy healthy desert smoothie :party7:

About the good fruits… remember, you’re on a training schedule of only a couple of days in order to train your body to cope with more food, more sugar etc… bad fruit is higher in sugar and so Dr Cohen uses this to train your body. Following your Re-feeding Program, you can have good fruits again… and of course you can continue with your diet fruits – which are the best of them all…

For now and for the purposes of training /Re-feeding please stick with the bad fruit… After Re-feeding you can make that delicious combined smoothie for after dinner healthy desert as often as you like!

SPDeRosa

08-15-2008, 09:26 AM

Thanks Shasha! I should have read the rest of the days a little more carefully before buying the blueberries yesterday. Oh well, I can give them away or return them to the store and swap them out for some strawberries so I can have a smoothie every day! :)

Seriously that smoothie was awesome -- I could EASILY have that ANYTIME I was in the mood for ice cream. It's a much healthier choice and SO YUMMY! Thanks for the tip!

Shawn :icecream:

Shasha

08-15-2008, 09:40 AM

{hi} there Shawn

You could also freeze them and put them into your smoothies AFTER Re-feeding… only a few more days to go anyway… Berries are not only delicious, but they are really anti-aging too!!! Not that you need it! :flirt: but every little bit helps!

Yes, I like your thinking and now you need to determine to make these delicious HEALTHY treats a part of your new healthy lifestyle instead of empty sugar treats… :party7: and, after dinner is the perfect time to have a smoothie that contains ‘bad’ fruit… {goodjob}

Mei Mei

08-15-2008, 10:53 AM

Shawn,
Great job.:party1: Very intersting, though complex, reading. I'm impressed that you plan your day of food so well, so early in the am. It does seem like huge amounts of food after what we have been eating. It will be strnage, I'm sure. So is your refeed almost over? What is the length of refeed? Will you stay on and keep us posted with life/food after the diet? We are all very curious.:thinking:
Keep up the great work and posts...
Mei

pumbza

08-15-2008, 03:36 PM

Hi Shasha and Shawn thanks for the help YOU STARS are giving us a question I have is when YOU go to refeed YOU are trying to get YOUR body up to the RIGHT amount of FOOD CONSUMPTION to go with the ENERGY USED!!!What happens when YOU start doing EXCERCISE after refeed will you not need to extend the FOOD required to go with the additional ENERGY required with this if YOU don't do this won't you carry on losing weight because of the IMBALANCE!!OK OK it doesn't sound right but YOU know what I mean I think !!Ha Ha!!!:innocent4:HAVE a GREAT DAY!!:innocent3:

SPDeRosa

08-15-2008, 03:51 PM

Hi Pumbza, glad to see you're able to get online at the hotel! I hope your daughter's wisdom teeth removal goes well - she's lucky to have you there to support her. She must be so surprised at how LITTLE of you is now there! :)

What you say makes sense to me. However, I think that once we stop measuring foods out then there's a good chance that we'll likely automatically start eating more to stay "in balance". We also may squeeze in a few treats that aren't allowed on the diet -- like I know I want to try a bit of pizza, brownies, ice cream...all the things I can't have right now. (I just won't eat the WHOLE pizza, or ALL the brownies) Hopefully those little additions will be burned off with increased exercise. I guess I'll have to let you know in another week when I get to start exercising.

Shasha - great idea on the blueberries! They're already in the freezer!!!! Ok, off to the supermarket to buy some bread and yogurt!

Shawn

SPDeRosa

08-16-2008, 07:05 AM

August 16, 2008: Weigh In: 150.9 (Down 1.2 lbs from yesterday)

{hi} Everyone! I'm up early again -- getting to feel this will be standard for a while. Weighing in this morning I saw that my weight dropped again - as odd as this sounds, I don't want to see it go lower. It's probably partly my fault because I didn't eat all three diet fruits yesterday -- I only ate 2/3. I guess my body is just "in the zone" still. The good news is that I'm now officially one week from being done with my refeed -- which means you only have to suffer through 7 more of these posts! :)

Summary of Yesterday: Breakfast was the breakfast bruschetta again. I know most of you can only do it with crackers -- wait till you get to use bread! Lunch was chicken and veggies and then dinner was all of my Refeed "extras" plus that Strawberry & Banana Yogurt Smoothie! I know it's silly, but it's almost like I never had a smoothie before -- this smoothie is delicious! Perhaps the sweetness of the strawberries combined with the banana is heightened now that I don't have sugar in my system to dull the senses. I'm sure you guys notice that the fruits taste sweeter now that you're on the plan, no? Anyway, when you get to Refeed and can have the 2 bad fruits, you NEED to try this. It's renders almost one full blender of frozen delight!

Plan for today: Still adding in more food. Today I get to add 40g old protein, 80g new protein, 2 bad fruits, 3 slices of bread, 200g vegetables (that's a lot of veggies) AND 50g Carbs. The carbs are weighed cooked, not raw. I'm going to switch back to my egg/veggies this morning just for variety (which means no smoothie tonight, so I'll have to make a fruit salad of apple, strawberry, banana and maybe peach and portion that out for treats after my meals). I'll also likely divide up my refeed amounts between meals 2 and 3 so that I'm not eating a huge meal for dinner. For my 50g of carbs I'll either cook up some rice or pasta.

Question for Refeeders: Must the carbs be eaten during a meal or can, for example, the 50g of fat-free microwave popcorn be eaten as a snack between meals?

Thanks everyone, and have a good day!

Bronwyn

08-16-2008, 12:53 PM

Good morning Shawn,

I believe you can eat the carbs in between meals... I know I did...

You are doing such a great job! I can't believe how much your weight has dropped and I understand your not wanting it to go lower. I do think you'll find a nice balance once you can eat more normally and start the exercise. I haven't been able to post much lately but am lurking cheering you on and checking to see if you need me. You are all doing such a great job motivating and helping each other. YOU have become quite a star on this forum and I've had so much fun watching your progress. You have done an amazing job here and are such a supportive member. Keep it up buddy!

SPDeRosa

08-17-2008, 06:27 AM

August 17, 2008: Weigh In: 151.4 (Up 0.5 lbs from yesterday)

Good morning everyone! Bronwyn, so nice to see you on the boards! Thanks for the advice and encouragement. I'm going to have to run to the store to get some of that popcorn to add in as a carb snack for tomorrow! :popcorn:

Well I had a minor "cheat" yesterday. {oops} By the time I got home from work at 8:30 PM I was so focused on preparing my meal so I could eat before 9:00 that I totally forgot to make my 50g of carbs. So I didn't do yesterday's Refeed plan 100%. I can't believe I did that - {duh}

So I think today what I'm going to do is just keep moving ahead onto my next Refeed day and see what happens. Looking at the rest of the plan the 50g carbs remains constant each of the upcoming days, so I'm thinking that I might get away with not repeating the day. On top of that, Day 20 is similar to Day 19, the only change is bringing in 40g of "new" veggies and 160 old veggies (Yesterday, was just 200g old veggies). Let's see what happens!

Summary of Yesterday: Breakfast was my plan egg/veggies. I had two fruits before lunch. For lunch I had prepared my plan Meal 2 with 1/2 of the refeed amounts (20g old protein, 40g new protein) and veggies. Snacked on an apple as I was working late. Dinner had my Meal 3 with the other 1/2 of the refeed amounts. As you know I totally forgot the 50g cabs despite thinking about making pasta on the drive home from work. Then for dessert I had a "sorbet" of sorts.

Sorbet - A modification from the smoothie recipe I've been raving about. If you haven't read the "Drinks" section of the recipe, there are some good ideas there. So, here's what I did: Three handfuls of ice into the blender, along with one banana and 150g strawberries. Add in almost one full can of Sprite Zero, pulse blend to crush ice (stirring as needed with a spoon to help it along a bit). I expected a smoothie, but it came out so thick that I needed a spoon! So I decided not to add more Sprite (there was some in the can left over) and I ate it as my first "ice cream" of the summer. You can totally do this with your plan fruit - you just need a sweet, ripe fruit to add to the blender. It would probably work best with two fruits but I know it's hard to spare two fruits, especially if you're only allowed three and need them for between meal snacks. But, if you want a nice beverage which doubles as a snack, give it a try. You'll get almost 1 full blender of frozen beverage...and you get "hidden" water from the ice!

Plan for today: Forge on with Day 20. Eggs/Veggies for breakfast w/ 2 slices of toast. I'm going to cook a few ziti at breakfast so I can take the carbs to work with me so I don't forget them again. Meal 2 for lunch with 1/2 of the refeed amounts plus the carbs. Meal 3 with 1/2 of the refeed amounts. Fruit for snacks and then the sorbet for dessert.

Rachinnj

08-17-2008, 06:43 AM

Shawn
You forgot CARBS???? LOL Somehow I don't think I could forget that.
You are doing really good and I am going to try the sorbet tonight with my mango. It sounds really yummy.

Ok I have a very very important question. You are not leaving us in 6 days are you?????? :sadeyes:

MIMI

08-17-2008, 01:51 PM

Shawn, please don't leave us in 6 days!!!!:(:( MIMI

pumbza

08-17-2008, 04:53 PM

I don't believe SHAWN would not leave he is part and parcel of this forum and he will keep us up to date all the time else we will hunt him down and find him and make him a offer that he can't refuse (GODFATHER)!!I am reading your thread everyday and I will reread it the closer I get to REFEED so I will not make mistakes!!Carry on the GOOD work and have a GLORUIS date!!:innocent3:

Shasha

08-18-2008, 08:19 AM

{hi} there Pumbza / Shawn

During and after Re-feeding you will weigh yourself every day – how much you eat will depend on the reading of the scale…

Obviously you will know how much food your body can handle – ie: you learn during the Re-feeding Program and this will also help to guide you afterwards ie: eat a similar amount... if you start exercising and start loosing more weight, simply eat more food – in proportion of course. If you gain – you are probably having too much starch and sweets and need to slow down…

Following the Re-feeding Program you implement the rules at the back ie: starch once a day – this allows you to have pizza instead of bread etc. In your mind you can almost say I’m leaving off the bread to leave room for the pizza in my starch allowance… and, I recommend you mix the pizza with other foods ie: a Greek salad (proteins and veggies) etc. If you leave out some of the fruit you will be leaving room for desert… remember more starch less desert, less starch more desert and no starch, no desert – this applies to those chocolate brownies etc…

Shawn: you can eat the starch between meals ie: popcorn (which is a whole lot) or you can have it with a meal ie: potato etc – which is not a lot. After the Re-feeding Program when starch goes down to once a day, the idea is to swop some bread for more potato or pasta etc. again the leaving room thing…

{oops} about the Carbs… but, I had to LOL… {sorry}… but it’s the first time I ever hear of anyone forgetting the long awaited and much over anticipated Carbs… {rofl}

The best thing in case of a mistake is just to carry on from there as normal...

And to the Peanut Gallery (as Pumbza would say):

I’m sure Shawn is not going to be leaving!!!
Once he is finished with the Re-feeding Program, he has only just begun to live his new healthier lifestyle… and I just know he’s going to enjoy exploring this with all of us…

SPDeRosa

08-18-2008, 08:24 AM

August 18, 2008: Weigh In: 151.2 (Down 0.2 lbs from yesterday)

Welcome back to my 14th day (end of 2 full weeks of refeed). I honestly can't believe that two weeks has gone by so quickly! I seriously have felt more full over the past two weeks than I ever did on the diet program.

So refeed is not hard to follow at all. You just stick to what the plan says and don't try to get too fancy or creative. Hopefully some of the questions I've posted and Shasha and Bronwyn have so kindly answered will help other people out as they plan their own refeeds. Most everything you need to know is in the Refeed Guide -- you just can't try to out-think it. The hardest part about refeed is actually EATING all the food and fruits.

Summary of Yesterday: Breakfast was my plan egg/veggies. I had an apple before lunch as a snack. For lunch I made a pasta salad. I took just under 1/4 cup of elbow macaroni (50g cooked) and mixed in most of my veggie allowance (plus 1/2 refeed amounts), added 1 tsp fat-free mayo and some salad dressing (vinegar, water and spices) and voila - a pretty big pasta salad! I was full after eating that, but had to finish the chicken and pork along with zucchini and asparagus. Before dinner I had a nectarine. I had a late dinner (too late) which was steak and pork along with veggies (meal 3 plus 1/2 refeed amounts). Then I decided, even though it was very full, that I needed to get in my 2 bad fruits and 1 plan fruit for dessert, so I made a smoothie - it was meant to be a sorbet but I think I over blended.

I made an apple/banana/strawberry smoothie (no yogurt) because I needed to get my extra fruits in. However, I was so full from my late dinner that after 2 hours of sipping on the blender I could only finish about 90%. I also didn't eat dinner until 9:00 because of my work schedule, so I'm sure I was trying to cram in too much food at once. I'll try to avoid late night eating if I can - it really doesn't make me feel good, especially when I have to have fruits after. That made me feel really bloated to the point where I felt I would vomit if I drank any more. Thankfully I only have 6 meals to worry about :innocent4:

Plan for today: I wanted to have a yogurt smoothie for dinner, so I stared off this morning with the Meal 2 Cheese Meal, also known as my Breakfast Bruschetta. (If you eat this at lunch, just call it pizza) I forgot to put fresh basil on it, but it was still good and very filling. For lunch I'll do my standard Meal 3 and I'm debating about adding 1/2 of my refeed amounts. I'm afraid that if I eat all of my refeed amounts at dinner, I'll be too full to finish the smoothie -- which if it has yogurt in it will be my meal, not the "optional" fruits. So I need to be certain that I give myself enough space to finish the smoothie.

Today's plan includes 120g pork (new protein) and 160g Old veggies along with 40g new veggies. (You can see what I mean about having a 4th meal built in with refeed -- 200g veggies and 120g protein is a meal unto itself!) I also get 3 slices of bread and 50g carbs. I'm going to have to think of what to do with the carbs. Rice perhaps. The 2 bad fruits will be in the smoothie.

Ok, so much for trying to keep these short and to the point. I hope at least they're helpful.

Lastly, of course I'll stick around after refeed. I want to see how everyone progresses and how happy you are that you've reached your goals. Hopefully these posts help you along your path to a smaller you. You've all been so helpful and supportive that the least I can do is stick around and help you as much as you've helped me. I'm regaining confidence that I think had eroded a bit over the past two years. As I got bigger and bigger I felt worse and worse about my body image. I became the "chubby" guy... the wingman so to speak. (If you don't know who the wingman is, he's the guy that goes out with an attractive friend who needs a date. The wingman has to occupy "a target's" friend while the attractive guy tries to make a move on the target. The role of wingman is often 2nd class.) Now that the weight is GONE I feel like I can accomplish anything, and I sure as HECK am no wingman! :) I'm hopeful that by staying on the boards until you all are through refeed (and perhaps then some), I'll be helping keep myself "in check" and not reverting to bad eating habits. But the truth is I'm really just looking forward to hearing about YOUR transformations to healthy living, greater self confidence and overall happiness. Have a great day everyone!

- Shawn

Shasha

08-18-2008, 08:41 AM

{hi} there Shawn

I’m glad to hear that all is still going well…

Don’t you think it is absolutely wonderful how your body is reacting to all that extra food!!

Some Diet Buddies want to stop adding extra proteins after 60 grams – I think this can be due to fear of gaining weight again…

Clearly your body NEEDS more food once the excess fat is gone…

Enjoy your smoothie!!! :party7: Always remember that these kinds of deserts ie: fruit sorbet or fruit smoothie are a lot better for you because they contain vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, enzymes etc that your body needs…

Re-feeding food is what healthy food looks like!!! MMmmmmm :hungry: Yummmmy!!! {cheerleader}

Rachinnj

08-18-2008, 02:49 PM

Blondie4life

08-18-2008, 03:56 PM

Glad to hear that you'll be staying with us... I've only been able to catch your final stages of the program, but you are defiantly an inspiration for us all!{king} Maybe now it's time for you to have your own wingman!:P

:peace:

SPDeRosa

08-19-2008, 08:26 AM

August 19, 2008: Weigh In: 151.0 (Down 0.2 lbs from yesterday)

Good morning everyone! I'll be "brief' seeing as I have to run to work in a few minutes.

Summary of Yesterday: Breakfast was the breakfast bruschetta -- I forgot the fresh basil so it wasn't "perfect" but it was still yummy. For lunch I made a standard Cohen meal (chicken and veggies). Dinner was my refeed amounts of pork (stuffed with veggies - inspired by Rachel) and then more veggies plus 50g carbs. My carbs was white rice ... and while I got quite a bit of pasta for 50g the white rice was about two tablespoons! A little shocking, but it surprisingly went a long way. Then my yogurt/strawberry/banana smoothie - yummy! I used about 8oz of Sprite Zero and I did use two handfuls of ice. I didn't blend as much as the other day, so it still came out more like a sorbet but still liquidy like a smoothie, but I think I should just skip the ice so that it isn't as liquidy.

Plan for today: Started off with Breakfast Bruschetta and remembered the freshly picked basil. I added a few cups of coffee (as usual) BUT this time thanks to Mrs. Peel's recommendation, I included a cinnamon stick in the coffee filter before the beans were ground so that the coffee would have just a hint of cinnamon flavor. I'm not big on flavored coffees but I'm trying them for variety. This is good - give it a try! And because it's a stick and not ground, there's no mess in your cup after.

Lunch will be chicken and veggies and dinner will be refeed pork, carbs (rice again - I have so much of it now) and then of course a yogurt strawberry & banana smoothie!

Observation: As I'm now eating more foods, I'm noticing that my food bill is slowly creeping back up and that I'm making more frequent trips to the supermarket. So, I'm getting the feeling that the food savings are coming to an end. Of course this means that post diet I will have to shop carefully so as to stay on a budget. During the plan I treated myself to the more expensive and leaner cuts of meat because I was still saving money simply by eating less. Eat better, Spend less - why not?! However, I might have to be more frugal now that I'm eating more food otherwise my food bill could quickly escalate. Unfortunately the sad reality is the most affordable foods are also the worst for you (think of all the $1.00/meal Banquet frozen foods in the supermarket). You can do a lot with pasta and rice (cheap) but they also not the best for you. So with all my saved money going to new clothes, I'm going to have to shop the sales! :) Have a great day!

Rachinnj

08-19-2008, 08:36 AM

Shawn
Your best bet is to buy in bulk and freeze. Really only way to save money on quality meat.

Rachel

Shasha

08-19-2008, 10:08 AM

{hi} there Shawn

{goodjob} – I’m glad to hear that your Re-feeding is going so very well!

It's a good idea to make a decision that you will in the future rather spend your hard earned money on good healthy food than on fattening and unnecessary treats like sweets etc… and please always remember that investing in good health HAS it’s own set of rewards – think of all the money you will be saving if you do not end up with cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes etc because you are eating the healthiest foods you can…

About the rice… yes, rice and potato @ 50 gram cooked weight is NOT a lot!
…That is why I always recommend that during the Re-feeding Program you eat the 3 slices of bread – following this you can leave the bread out altogether but have more rice with dinner for example – ie: the bread left out makes room for more for a bit more of the other starches…

Enjoy these last few days and no matter what, please do stay determined that you will buy those nice new clothes – this will serve as extra motivation to stay slim and healthy in the future…
{cheerleader}

SPDeRosa

08-20-2008, 08:06 AM

August 20, 2008: Weigh In: 150.5 (Down 0.5 lbs from yesterday)

Good morning everyone! So this morning I stepped on the scale 10 times and got about 7 different numbers. How annoying! I averaged them together to get today's "official" weigh-in amount. I was nervous when I saw 149.9 show up a few times on the scale --that's too thin for someone who is 6' tall. Thankfully I'll be into my "maintenance" program (i.e. the rest of my life) as of Sunday morning and then I can fatten back up a bit..well, hopefully with muscle although that requires going to the gym. I think that's the place where people sweat and run on rotating rubber mats and lift metal objects..... I haven't been there in a while so it's hard to remember ;)

Summary of Yesterday: Breakfast bruschetta. Chicken and veggies for lunch. Pork and veggies for dinner (refeed amounts) with 50g rice along with the strawberry/banana smoothie (no ice) and 8oz of Sprite Zero. Fruits throughout the day as usual.

Plan for today: Today is a little odd. I have to DEDUCT 40g of old protein and ADD 160g of new protein. I add in 120g of old veggies and 80g of new veggies. This is going to take some thought because if I don't break up the refeed amounts, then one meal is going to be HUGE: 160g new protein + 95g of old protein + 220g old vegies + 80g new veggies. (That would be my Meal 3 as adjusted with the full refeed). I think I'd vomit from eating that much. I'm going to have to give this some thought as I don't really like eating meat for breakfast (at least chicken or steak, bacon sure!) so maybe I'll just split between lunch and dinner. I'll let you know tomorrow how it went.

Oh! Today I'm also allowed to put butter or margarine on ONE slice of bread. I really don't want to do that - I very rarely butter toast -- I use olive oil instead. But just for the sake of refeed, I'll slob some butter on there. Friday night I get my cookie and I'm able to swap out bread for alcohol. So I need to plan ahead. I'm not a red wine drinker (beer or vodka -- or mixed drinks usually), so I need some good red wine suggestions. I don't mind white wine, I guess I like the sweetness. So, any good reds for a red wine newbie? (I want to try to grow accustomed to red wine as it's one of the "healthier" wines).

Thanks! Have a great day everyone! ~ Shawn

Rachinnj

08-20-2008, 08:48 AM

Shawn
I went to a wine party the week before I started this and I purchased the yummiest merlot on the planet that is just staring at me waiting to be drank. This helps you in no way unless you want to drive to NJ for a drink, but you just made me think about it.
Rachel

Bronwyn

08-20-2008, 09:55 AM

Good morning Shawn,

I love a Pinot Noir myself. Merlot is a little too strong for me and the Pinot is a little sweeter for a red. That is my suggestion. Enjoy!

Bron

Bronwyn

08-20-2008, 09:59 AM

HI Bronwyn
It is great to see you back and posting. I was on the Cohen's main site and it says that you lost 220lbs is that true? Your ticker says otherwise so I thought I would ask.
I hope all is going well.

Rachel

Hi there Rachel!

Nope... My ticker is accurate for how much I lost on 1PD. I actually ended up losing 53 pounds total from Jan 2nd - July 3 when I finished Refeed as I had started "clean eating" after the first of the year to get ready for 1PD. Not sure who they are talking about on Cohen's main site... Perhaps there is another Bronwyn?? I looked but didn't see what you were refering to.

Rachinnj

08-20-2008, 02:04 PM

That is so strange. THe pics on the front page alternate and one sayd your name with 220 lbs. Strange same exact name. If I see it again I will try to copy and paste.

Rachel

Shasha

08-20-2008, 04:51 PM

{hi} there Shawn

Are your scale’s batteries maybe getting a bit flat??

It’s sure time for you to stop dropping!! (Imagine that ladies - what a problem to have!!!)

About those meals… yes, this is the bit where it becomes a little more difficult. Remember to minus the proteins equally between your two meals… thankfully you are almost done!!

I do believe you can swop your butter for olive oil – let’s say you would have 5 ml of butter (approximately) – I don’t see why you cannot have 5 ml of olive oil instead?? I’m sure that Dr Cohen would make this exception for people who do not eat butter… both would be training your body to cope with more fat…

Only 4 more days to go!!! :party5:
:party7: I think that a good Baron is quiet nice – it’s a combination of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvé not and a bit of Shiraz… :party7:

After your Re-feeding Program, try your red wine with a bit of blue cheese, it brings out the best of both! Always remember to have proteins 20 minutes prior to alcohol…

rbride05

08-21-2008, 12:33 AM

Shawn

Are you using a digital bathroom scale like I am? I was glad to read your post about the different numbers when weighing. I bought a brand new digital bathroom scale when starting this plan and on several occassions I have weighed in the morning, got one weight, then for the heck of it, stepped on again, and got a completely different weight. Unsure at this point what I really weighed, I would stepped off again and try again, then another different number, then tried again and was back to the original number and would get that again a couple times, so would go with whatever number came up the most times on the scale (that sounds kinda funny I know). I dont think its the batteries cause the scale is brand new. Anybody else out there on the forum have the same problem? :thinking:

SPDeRosa

08-21-2008, 08:00 AM

August 21, 2008: Weigh In: 151.3 (UP 0.8 lbs from yesterday)

Good morning everyone!

Thanks for the wine tips Bronwyn and Shasha. My sister said she likes Shiraz... and we hear a lot about Yellow Tail wines, so maybe I'll run to Trader Joe's and get some frozen mango and some wine! :)

rbride05, isn't it weird how scales do that? I bought a new "Weight Watchers" bathroom scale because my older digital scale was doing the same thing, always showing different numbers. The OLD scales with the "pointer" in them never did that. I chuckled cuz I usually go with whatever number shows up the most. But sometimes the weight can be off by well over a pound, and on refeed that can be the difference between moving forward or repeating two days. Oh well, for after refeed I'll probably not obsess over every pound and decimal point. :)

Summary of Yesterday: Eggs and veggies for breakfast with two pieces of toast, one with butter on it. (I didn't like the butter, and agreeing with Shasha I think olive oil would be ok to use instead - and much healthier). Lunch was a standard Cohen lunch (Chicken and Veggies). Dinner was my standard dinner plus all my refeed amounts. It was a FULL plate of food. Surprisingly I was able to eat it all. I again made a stuffed pork chop (using 4 crackers as part of my stuffing). I cooked it too long again, but it was still yummy. Fruit throughout the day and of course a Sprite Sherbert: Using almost one full can of Sprite Zero, I blended a frozen banana together with 150g frozen strawberries. This time it came out thick (not as thick as the first time - perhaps a bit too much Sprite) so I had to eat it with a spoon. It had just that hint of tanginess that a sherbert might have. DELICIOUS!

Plan for today: Today is the same as yesterday with the exception of my refeed veggies. I have to DEDUCT 40g of old protein and ADD 160g of new protein. I add in 80g of old veggies and 120g of new veggies. I'm either going to split up the meals or make lunch the bigger of the two because I really would prefer to eat larger meals at lunch than dinner. I'll let you know how it goes ...and tomorrow I get my cookie and wine! I'm thinking a freshly cooked peanut butter cookie. Does size matter? ;)

Have a great day!

Rachinnj

08-21-2008, 08:10 AM

Shawn
I have the best recipie for a good for you peanutbutter cookie that rocks. I will pm it to you.

Rachel

Rachinnj

08-21-2008, 08:11 AM

Ohhh and Yes SIZE ALWAYS MATTERS HEE HEE!!!!!

pumbza

08-21-2008, 10:38 AM

Hi all DIET BUDDIES and Naughty little rachel I had a good chuckle at that ONE !!!Ha Ha!:innocent4:I think you should post that peanutbutter cookie in the recipes only for REFEED mind YOU or PM it to all of us who will hopefully refeed one DAY!!!Have a sizeable DAY!!!Ha Ha!!!:innocent3:

Rachinnj

08-21-2008, 10:46 AM

Pumbza
Your naughty. I was only talking about cookies Heee Heee

Mei Mei

08-21-2008, 04:39 PM

Shawn,
We like a Sterling Merlot. It runs about 12.00 a bottle, but is worth it. My husband, who is the connosieur, suggest a merlot around 10 a bottle that is no more that 5 years old. That's a trick for newbies who don't know much. Like me. Cheaper wines have a funky sugar content, and give me aheadache--even just one glass. I also like a Pinot. good luck and cheers!
Mary

pumbza

08-21-2008, 05:56 PM

Ha Ha Rachel I was talking about COOKIES too!!Ha Ha!!:innocent3:

SPDeRosa

08-22-2008, 09:29 AM

August 22, 2008: Weigh In: 152.2 (UP 0.9 lbs from yesterday)

Good morning everyone!

Thanks again for the wine tips ~ I'll be heading to the store to get some wine today! I went up another 0.9 lbs ... which is still ok for me, but that's 1.7 lbs in 2 days ... the most I've seen since I've been on the diet OR refeed!

Summary of Yesterday: Eggs and veggies for breakfast with two pieces of toast. I used 1 tsp of olive oil in place of butter. Lunch was a standard Cohen lunch (Chicken and salad). Dinner was my standard dinner plus (and minus) all my refeed amounts. Fruit throughout the day and of course a Sprite Sherbert again. I used about 3/4 of a can of Sprite this time and it was thick but still smooth. I'm going to measure out the volume of Sprite tonight and try to get a more exact amount as I'm shooting for a certain consistency that I'm having trouble getting.

Plan for today: Today I'm dividing up my refeed amounts between meals 2 and 3. I noticed that my last two days with big dinners are also the only two days during this whole entire process where my weight jumped UP significantly. So maybe there's something to be said for a bigger lunch and a smaller dinner. So, this morning was egg and veggies w/ 2 slices of toast w/ olive oil. Lunch and dinner will be standard meat and veggies plus/minus the refeed amounts (too complicated to explain here but essentially add more New Protein, Take Off some Old Protein). Dessert will be a Strawberry/Banana Sorbet.

OH I ALMOST FORGOT! Ok, I didn't forget, I just wanted to tease all you diet buddies out there.... A glass of wine will replace my third slice of bread AND I'll be baking peanut butter cookies tonight - although I'm only allowed one tonight and one tomorrow. (The rest will have to wait until Sunday!) ;)

I'll let you know how the wine went --- it's not really a treat for me seeing as I don't like red wine, but I suppose I can grow accustomed to it. I'd rather have Vodka -- and to be honest, since there are no sugars and no carbs I'm not certain why we're not allowed vodka on the diet. Some of us can handle it "on the rocks" or maybe with some Sprite Zero. Maybe the lowering of the inhibitions will make us want to snack or go off plan? Perhaps someone can ask their consultant if they want an official answer (e.g. Rachel) for now I'll just have to deal with two more nights without vodka.

Have a great day!
Shawn

Bronwyn

08-22-2008, 11:13 AM

You're funny Shawn! Enjoy that cookie!!! I do know that Vodka is made from potatoes so maybe some left-over carb effect from that. I also can speak from personal experience lately that vodka does, in fact lower my inhibitions and makes me want to snack. I am having to watch that lately as work has been extra stressful and so have been having nightly cocktails which leads to late night snacking and that is NO GOOD for "after the diet" rules and success. Cheers!!

pumbza

08-22-2008, 12:26 PM

Shawn I know YOU are a busy GUY but you can't leave pieces out like the piece about the new and old protein we are all following this daily and hoping that when we start we will not slip UP!!Ha Ha!Just Kidding I am so wanting to be you with the PEANUT BUTTER cookie You lucky GUY and RED WINE haven't tasted that in a LONG TIME!!!Keep up the GOOD WORK and have a GREAT DAY!!!When do you actually finish refeed it feels forever!!!:innocent3:

Mei Mei

08-22-2008, 04:59 PM

Shawn,
I used to be a beer drinker, Miller Lite, (which some don't consider beer. ) Anyway. It made me very big bellied. I switched to red wine, plus my husband and I can enjoy it together, and you drink more slowly and savor the flavor. You may be surprised as your taste buds may have changed with this diet? Enjoy it, take it slow and relax :)
Cheers!
Mary

Shasha

08-22-2008, 11:25 PM

{hi} there Shawn

To tell you the truth: Phew! I’m relieved that you haven’t dropped weight again!!

I’ve got some GREAT news just for you: you may have spirits and a tot is roughly 2 fingers = 1 slice of bread…

Mind you, that’s two fingers together ie: index finger right next to middle finger, hand turned side ways and not two fingers apart ie: index finger, gap, gap and pinkie!!! – like the smilie is showing: :party6: - turned side ways - LOL

Hope you enjoy your little booze cruise!!! :party7:

And that on a Friday night! Mind you, you’ve probably passed out by now… :party4:

Bronwyn: I’m glad you posted that… remember to have your proteins 20 minutes prior to your alcohol – this helps with the insulin surge which is caused by alcohol – which leads to your blood sugar dropping too low too fast. When this happens your body cannot produce enough serotonin which controls the craving for food, especially starch and this is the exact reason why you said: “cocktails lead to late night snacking…” In such a case, remember to snack on something not starch ie: protein and veggies – this can be some cottage cheese and celery, a slice of chicken (breast is still best ie: low fat)… or a plain or apple will also do… Remember you are also leaving room for your cocktail by leaving off some starch ie: bread… hope this helps you my precious friend!

Maybe you, me, Shawn and Leskiya if we can find her should go out for drinks to celebrate!!! LOL – can you imagine what our other Diet Buddies would say to that!?! Just having a little fun with you all so ...relax…

pumbza

08-22-2008, 11:56 PM

YES SHASHA the DIET BUDDIES are watching YOU wanting to have DRINKS with out us suppose we could drink water while YOU all DRINK cocktails and the LIKE!!!Ha Ha!!!We are very JEALOUS DIET BUDDIES here WE ARE ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL!!!Ha Ha!!:innocent4:Yeah Shahsa before DR COHEn we use to poor drinks between thumb and small finger (Pinkie we call it here!!) and wide apart but no more of that we have become respectable PEOPLE now!!Have a BRILLIANT DAY!!!:innocent3:

Shasha

08-23-2008, 12:29 AM

{hi} there Pumbza-Lite

:flirt: Here's to you Handsome: :party7:

The way you are burning off them pounds... it's only a matter of days until you request your very OWN Re-feeding Program!!! {cheerleader}

SPDeRosa

08-23-2008, 08:20 AM

August 22, 2008: Weigh In: 154.4 (UP 2.2 lbs from yesterday)

{violin} Well, good morning everyone. I won't lie, I'm a little saddened by this morning's weigh in. Whether it's been the late night meals or larger portions or new foods, the bottom line is with 2.2 lbs of weight gain in one day what should have been my last day on Refeed is no longer :( I have to go back two days and repeat those two days. This isn't much help seeing as I gained weight those two days, so from my perspective it seems like the weight would just keep adding on. And at this point, there's not much difference in the refeed amounts. {sigh} Oh well, I'll just trust the Dr. and see what happens. Don't get me wrong, I think the extra weight is not a bad thing (in fact, I'm still BELOW my goal weight and BELOW the weight I started Refeed on. But it is odd how after watching the scale drop so much over the past 4 months that when it goes in the other direction it's pretty discouraging. Minor fluctuations I can handle, but almost 4lbs in 3 days? That's a lot!

Well rather than feel bad for myself, let me share a bit about yesterday's non-Refeed experience because yesterday was one of the best shopping days of my life. :party1: So I went to Neiman Marcus and saw all the expensive clothes that looked nice, but so not worth $400 a shirt quite yet. On a whim I decided to head over to Lord & Taylor which also has some upscale clothing. Knowing I'm on a budget and need to buy a full wardrobe I didn't plan on buying anything, but I wanted to see the latest styles so that when I went to Old Navy or something more affordable, I'd be able to buy something stylish. Well surprisingly there was a HUGE sale going on, so I just had to try some things on.

I normally buy larges, but now I found myself trying on SMALL shirts. Not knowing my exact waist size, I started at 32 (seeing as that's what I'm wearing now, even though they're a bit loose). Tried on a 31 ~ better fit but loose, and the 30s fit but were perhaps just a bit tight. So 31-32 it is taking into consideration that either may shrink. Ecstatic with the new sizes -- and perhaps more importantly simply being able to FIND clothes in my size that LOOKED GOOD -- I went a little crazy: Three pair of Ralph Lauren Polo Jeans, 7 Calvin Klein shirts, 1 CK jacket. Total before sale price $1210. (Way more than I should be spending). So what did I end up spending???? ....

{bouncing}

After the sale price, the 20% off discount coupon the store was offering, and then an additional 15% off for opening a store credit card (which I didn't want, but for 15% I figured I had better) my grand total $220... or as I like to think of it a savings of $990! Jeans that were $145 ... I was able to get for $24. I saved over $188 on the jacket alone! I never buy the expensive designer stuff because I'm too cost conscious - so to walk away with so many clothes and pay what I would have paid at Old Navy or Marshall's or something is incredible! I was BEAMING when I walked out of the store!

Ok, now I feel a little bit better about going up in weight and having to go back a few days ... so back to Refeed, and yes Pumbza I'll be more specific with weights although it'll all make sense when you get your Guide which appears to be around the corner for you!!

Summary of Yesterday: First big mistake: I didn't drink much water at all. Actually, the past 3 days I haven't drank much water, and I've done nothing but gain weight. So back to the water I go! Starting with my morning meal: Breakfast bruschetta. Peach for a snack. Chicken/Pork & Veggies/Rice for lunch (including 1/2 Refeed amounts). Apple and Nectarine for a snack. Then Chicken/Pork & Veggies (including 1/2 refeed amounts) for dinner. Upon your suggestions, I had a glass of Pinot Noir and it wasn't bad at all. I actually like it slightly chilled (which many say you're not supposed to do with red wine) but upon some research slightly chilled is considered acceptable as our "room temperature" is not the "wine cellar temperature". Oh, and added benefit of the weight loss: I'm now a cheap date. One glass of wine and I was already feeling it's effects ("buzzed" as we might say). After dinner I had a freshly made peanut butter cookie and a strawberry/banana smoothie (Sprite not yogurt).

Plan for Today: Seeing as I have to go back and repeat, I'm going to try to do things a little differently. So my plan is the same as Thursday, August 21, 2008 (Plan Day 25). For Pumbza: Add 160g New Protein and take off 40g Old Protein. Add 80g Old Vegetables and 120g New Vegetables, Add 2 Bad Fruits, 3 Slices of bread with butter/margarine on e ONE slice (I'll use a tsp of olive oil instead). NO WINE; NO COOKIE. I'm going to go back in this thread and see what I did on Thursday and do it a bit differently. If I just ate my entire Refeed at dinner, which I think I did, I'll divide it up differently -- perhaps over all three meals or most certainly over lunch/dinner. Wish me luck! I'd hate to have to step on the scale tomorrow and go back ANOTHER 2 days!

Signing off for now,
Shawn ~ the "Bargain Shopper"

After Breakfast Update: Rachel makes a good point. I should have drank more water. Today I will. I know that I don't lose weight when I don't drink the water -- I was just running around shopping yesterday and didn't do it. Dumb, I know. So this morning I ate a standard breakfast (egg + 85g veggies) plus 2 slices of toast (with the olive oil). This gives me options: either do "Day 30" of the Refeed or go back and do the past two days. I have to decide by lunch. I'm leaning toward going back and just doing what the doctor said to do.. but yet I do recognize that I'm still too thin and a few extra pounds might be good. HOWEVER, I don't want to mess this up this late in the game, so I think I should just suffer through the additional two days on Refeed and then see what happens. I've come too far to mess it up now, no? Also, in reviewing the last two days I wanted to do things differently and perhaps split up my refeed amounts among all three meals. However, that's hard to do when I can't subtract proteins in equal amounts, particularly by having an egg for breakfast. (How do I take 13g of an egg out? Recall: I have to deduct 40g old protein from my meals in equal amounts, so 40g / 3 meals = 13.3g. Also, Meal 2 cheese seems to prevent that as well as Shasha mentioned that cheese can't be added or subtracted as a protein (if it could have been subtracted, I would have deducted 13g of cheese from my 70g Meal 2 allotment and had a breakfast bruschetta). My other choice would have been to have had chicken or steak or fish for breakfast, and that's just not breakfast to me. So seeing as I have to deduct proteins from my standard meal in equal proportions, I think my only option is to eat an egg for breakfast and split the refeed amounts between lunch and dinner.

Ok, sorry for the REALLY long post - but it looks like it's going to be one of those days!

Rachinnj

08-23-2008, 08:48 AM

Shawn
You answered your own question to why you gained weight. You have not drank all your water and you drank wine which is pretty much sugar. IT also makes you retain water. I bet if you chugged water all day you would lose those 2 lbs by tomorrow.
It is impossible to gain 2 actual pounds of weight on what you ate yesterday. Your body is just holding onto stuff.

If i was you I would get off refeed like planned.
Then if you correct the above and are still gaining weight go back.

JMO

Rachel

Nightshift

08-23-2008, 10:35 AM

Chiming in on the wine temperature question; red wine continues to mature long after it is bottled and matures most effectively at 58°. I have a little wine refrigerator that holds 53 bottles where I store my reds in and it keeps my vino at exactly that temp. My wife and I enjoy the wine at 58°. I did not want to start giving drinking tips because every palette is different and the journey finding out what appeals to yours is the best part. Enjoy your wine; I know I can’t wait until I can again.

George

PhyllisRis

08-23-2008, 10:43 AM

Shawn....we want pictures of you in your new clothes!!!! I'm sure you're lookin' like a rock star!!
I can hardly wait to go clothes shopping again...I've been delaying any clothing purchases for months now in anticipation of this diet!
You totally ROCK!!!! (pictures, please....)
Phyllis

SPDeRosa

08-23-2008, 03:29 PM

Quick Update: It IS one of those days -- I just spent hours picking out a sofa and now it won't fit in my living room. So now I have to try to lug it back downstairs and get it back onto my roofracks and back to Ikea. {scream} You wouldn't think it was that bad, but I also brought back a loveseat and chaise this morning because although they fit into the condo, they just took up too much room in the living room making the room look too crowded. So now I have to try to return the sofa and maybe aim for just a loveseat. AND THOSE DARN PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES ARE SCREAMING AT ME!

I'll work on pics once I'm finished with Refeed - promise.

Ok, back to try to deal with the sofa!

Shawn :weights:

pumbza

08-23-2008, 03:39 PM

Hi SHAWN a quick question do YOU not own a tape measure YOU know measure the sofa first before lugging it Up and down and back to the shop when I just think of that I get Faint!!!Ha Ha!!Have a GREAT DAY don't strain YOURSELF to MUCh!!!

srwood

08-23-2008, 03:41 PM

So I'm curious. I love red wine. I can't wait to be able to enjoy a glass again. My question is, will I be able to without gaining weight. It sounds as if we just make sure to keep drinking our water our bodies will flush the excess away. Or is this just through the refeed?

Thank you!

Rachinnj

08-23-2008, 03:54 PM

LOL Pumbza
I didnt say but I sure was thinking it. I don't feel to bad for him he can eat peanut butter cookies.

Rachel

pumbza

08-23-2008, 05:10 PM

Shasha after my rugby team lost I was depressed with flu taking medicines which I hope is not going to affect my weight loss I am taking sugar free medicine but I have to take it at meals and during meals!!!Oh well things were going to WELL and then RACHEL cursed me!!!Ha Ha!:innocent4:Anyway to while away my depression I read Shawn's Refeed and I have some questions the bread portion is only for breakfast but I see SHAWN(AND I am not getting YOU in trouble but trying to get to grips with REFEED!!) has bread at LUNCh to just explain to me I am a BIT DENSE!!!Ha Ha!!ALso please explain the following:-
1) The "OLD" Protein goes to 120g but the change of "OLD" protein to "NEW" Protein is 200gms that means with the ORIGINAL DIET of say 130g in my case + 120g added for "OLD" protein and less "NEW" 200gms protein that means YOU are left with 50gms "OLD" protein and 200gms "NEW" protein so that means that say steak + more steak OR chicken Fillet + Chicken FILLET or Chicken LEG!!Ok Shasha this is very confusing I am trying to UNDERSTAND it so will be asking LOTS and LOTS of Questions SORRY ABOUT THAT I AM DENSE AFTERALL!!!Yeah RAchel I can taste the PEANUTBUTTER cookies never had them before but I am waiting for RACHEL's SPECIAL recipe for this!!Ha Ha MY MOM begged me to buy a new T-shirt I said in my stubborn way no way hose' ONLY when I have completed REFEED!!Ha Ha!!Have a GREAT DAY!!:innocent3:

PhyllisRis

08-23-2008, 09:12 PM

Shawn....just think of the sofa moving as Cohen exercise!!! Maybe peanut butter cookies addles the brain or makes things look smaller than they are when you're at Ikea??? That'll teach you......smile!!!
I have a swimming question. At the family party I attended today (which I did very well foodwise, btw...didn't deviate at all!! Resisted the 40th anniversary CAKE and the soft pretzels!!!)...anyhow..... the subject of Michael Phelps and olympic swimming came up. We noticed while watching the swimmers on tv that they swim with their fingers apart. We were always taught to put your fingers together and cup your hands. Can you provide any kind of explanation? OBVIOUSLY the fingers apart makes them faster....but, why??
Phyllis

SPDeRosa

08-23-2008, 09:38 PM

LOL You guys crack me up! Pumbza - of COURSE I used a measuring tape. The first two pieces fit in the room, but I thought they made the room too cramped. The second piece WOULD HAVE fit in the room, but because of a hallway coming into the unit, I couldn't get it in the door fully. That was a little unexpected as I thought I'd be able to make it, but it didn't work out. The loveseat fits fine so thankfully no more lugging furniture around for a while! And Rachel - I can't have peanut butter cookies for .. oh wait, I get one tomorrow :P

Pumbza, don't try to anticipate Refeed TOO much. Everything makes much more sense when you get the Refeeding Guide which has all the rules. It's pretty easy -- you just add the foods to your existing program (starting with simply just eating more diet foods and then eventually incorporating new foods) until almost the end when you start eating less "old protein" (so you take some food away from your original plan) and you end up with more "new protein". You still end up with about 200g of meat with each meal ... it's just how you add it up that changes.

Also, to answer your carbs question: Carbs on refeed are an exception to the "life after Cohen maintenance rules". Right now during Refeed I'm allowed to eat bread in place of my diet crackers (breakfast, lunch or dinner - doesn't matter, I get 3 slices to divide up as I see fit). I could choose to just eat the diet crackers instead of the bread, but I want to get my body used to the bread. So for purposes of Refeed only, think of bread as crackers. Carbs (for purposes of Refeed) are potatoes, rice, pasta, beans. After Refeed and during "Maintenance" bread magically turns back into carbs so I won't be able to have them at breakfast ... but at least for a few more days bread for me is simply in place of my crackers, and I LOVE toast in the morning.

I find it helpful to categorize the rules like this:
* Diet Rules
* Refeed Rules
* Maintenance Rules

* Diet Rule: No Carbs No bread
* Refeed Rules: Carbs/Bread in designated amounts at any meal.
* Maintenance: Carbs/Bread in moderation once per day (lunch or supper only - not breakfast)

Srwood: Yes, you'll be able to enjoy red wine again (in moderation). The Refeed rules allow you to swap out a slice of bread for a glass of wine after you reach a certain point (not immediately). After refeed wine is allowed, but like all alcohol we're told to remember that alcohol "causes major insulin discharge. Blood sugar drops immediately—causing hunger and cravings." We're told never to have alcohol on an empty stomach and to always have a protein before having alcohol.

Nightshift: Thanks for the wine temp tip! I've had discussions with other wine neophytes about the "chilling" of red wine.

Ok, time for me to consider what I'll be doing tomorrow, although perhaps that will change when I weigh in. Talk to you all in the morning!

pumbza

08-24-2008, 05:35 AM

Thanks for that break down SHAWN it is clearing things for me I am just QUIZZY and BUILDING the anticipation for the refeed !!Ha Ha!!:innocent4:Just kidding with the tape I know YOUR male YOU couldn't do what we accused YOU off because thats FOR FEMALE's ONLY!!Ha Ha!!Sorry Ladies Ha Ha!!SHAWN one more question in YOUR maintenance PEIOD what will be YOUR final quantities of CARBS because 2 Tablespoons sounds VERY VERY little so I was JUST trying to figure the CARBS life after DR COHEN if YOU are able to answer that question else maybe Shasha can answer that!!!Hi PhyllisRis I am no swimming expert but maybe the old cupped had way caused to much drag to get through the water quickly now with Partially open hand reduces the drag and allows you to bring your arm round for a faster recycle of your swim stroke and still get enough drag to move forward and thus making the stroke faster hope that makes sense if not forget it we are land locked we surf the SAND DUNES!!!Ha Ha!:innocent3:Here is a Photo YOU will all love LADIES I must admit he does have a GREAT SIX PACK (Wash Iron Board Stomach!!!)!Ha Ha !!

SPDeRosa

08-24-2008, 08:09 AM

August 24, 2008: Weigh In: 153.0 (Down 1.4 lbs from yesterday)

Good morning :) I'm happy to report somehow the scale dropped 1.4 lbs overnight so I'm taking that as a sign I can move forward with Refeed. I honestly think my weight went up in part because I wasn't drinking enough water. So yet again I'm reminded to drink plenty of water as it is truly PART of the "prescription".

Phyllis, I almost missed your Phelps question - sorry about that! I have no scientific explanation as to why some of the swimmers swim with fingers slightly apart. I would imagine that the rest of their strokes are so "perfect" (appropriate forces applied at the appropriate times and minimizing various types of drag) that things like not having your hands perfectly together aren't all that important. Perhaps (and again I'm guessing) that focusing on keeping the fingertips closed 100% of the time takes their minds away from other more effective components of their stroke. But you're right, from a pure hydrodynamic standpoint it's easier to move through the water with a cupped hand (closed fingers) than with open fingers ... much like you can cup water up with closed fingers but it drips out when they're open. I'll see if I can get an answer from Michael, although it might take a while now that he's a superstar. :)

Pumbza, you seem to be good with photos. Perhaps you can photo-edit my face onto Phelp's body? I would kill to have those abs...although I'm not sure I'd commit to any crunches or sit-ups. LOL The photo of him in a speedo is going to motivate me to work on becoming a sexy thin guy again! To go one step further with your carb inquiry, on Refeed carbs are limited to 50g. After refeed there's no clear rule how many carbs you can eat, but I think the clear message is to not eat many at all. In fact, they say if you want dessert, then cut back on the carbs. But you're right, with 50g (about 2 Tbsp of rice or 1/4 cup of pasta) that sure isn't much to cut back on! So again, I think it's everything in moderation. And as Bronwyn has suggested, exercising again becomes important. Active lifestyles are healthy lifestyles. So walking 10,000 steps a day (not even running) becomes important. I might even start using my pedometer to track my steps. I'll likely start doing 20 mins of cardio 3 times a week and add in some weight training as well. Hopefully this will help burn off some of the extra carbs that I know I'll be having.

Summary of Yesterday: Ok, because of my weight gain I had to go back two days, which means yesterday I repeated Refeed Plan Day 25 which I originally did on August 21st. On August 21st I ate a normal breakfast and lunch and then did all my refeed amounts at dinner along with my normal dinner. I also didn't drink enough water. So I needed to change that plan for yesterday. So instead, yesterday I had a normal breakfast (Egg & 85g veggies plus 2 slices of toast with olive oil in place of butter). I was stressed after my first trip back to Ikea (furniture store) with not being able to get the sofa in, so I inhaled a peach while preparing a late lunch, and because the cookies were in the kitchen I also ate an apple just to avoid diving into the cookies. This makes me think that I'm a stress eater. I get angry or stressed, I want food. Not a good thing at all. I wish I were a stress exerciser! So for lunch I did half my Refeed amounts plus a slice of bread plus my standard lunch. (Note that part of the refeed was taking away some protein from my standard lunch and in it's place adding extra "new" protein). I brought the sofa back to the store, came back with a loveseat, got it in no problem, and then had a late dinner (finishing just a few mins before 9pm) again with the other 1/2 of Refeed which included 50g of pasta (carbs). For dessert I had a strawberry/banana sorbet using 1/2 can of sprite -- it came out perfectly. And I had my third and final fruit of the day shortly thereafter.

Plan for Today: I get to repeat Friday's plan (Day 27 of Refeed). I'll note that today's weigh-in was down 1.4 lbs whereas Friday's weigh-in was up 0.9 lbs. So the water likely played a big role, but I also think that spreading the volume of food out throughout the day rather than one big dinner likely helped as well. This is just a guess, but I remain convinced that they European style of eating is better for our bodies. So, with details for Pubmza:

Add 200g New Protein, Take Off 80g Old Protein, Add 80g Old Veggies, Add 120g New Veggies, Add 2 Bad Fruits, Have 3 slices of bread with butter (olive oil for me) on ONE slice, Add 50g carbs. Add 1 plain cookie.

The rules allow me to have a glass of wine in place of a slice of bread today (Refeed Plan Day 27 -- Again), so I'll likely have another glass of wine at dinner. I'll again spread out my refeed amounts throughout the day, taking 40g of Old Protein off my standard lunch and dinner weights and then adding in 100g of New Protein to lunch and dinner. So for details:

Breafast: Egg, 2 slices of toast w/ 1tsp olive oil, 85g Veggies
Snack: Apple
Lunch: Chicken breast: 95g Old Protein (135 standard - 40g Refeed = 95);
100g New Protein; 160g Old Veggies, 60g New Veggies
Snack: Nectarine and/or Peach
Dinner: Steak: 95g Old Protein (135 standard - 40g Refeed = 95); 100g New Protien; 140g Old Veggies; 60g New Veggies, 50g carbs (rice or pasta), Glass of wine in place of the third slice of bread
Dessert: Strawberry/Banana sorbet

And just so that this makes sense, this is pretty much what my standard meal plan under the diet has been (I've left some options out such as the feta option)
Meal 1: Egg & 85g Veggies or Yogurt
Meal 2: 135g chicken & 120g veggies; 70g cheese & 120g veggies; 120g meat & 110 veggies; 120g fish & 90g veggies
Meal 3: 135g meat & 100g veggies; 135g fish & 105 veggies

I basically always have chicken for lunch and steak for dinner just to make things easy. I haven't been about variety while on the plan -- simply eating to get through the day and finish the plan as quickly as possible. So for purposes of the refeed and adding/subtracting proteins I base my amounts off 135g chicken from Meal 2 and 135g meat (steak) from Meal 3. It just so happens that the weights are the same -- so it helps me keep things simple when preparing the foods.

Ok, again I'm sorry for the long and detailed post, but hopefully this will help things be a little more clear. Trust me when I say when you get your Refeed it won't be half as complicated as trying to understand why I'm adding or subtracting foods to my plan. When you see it on paper in front of you it's very clear what you're supposed to do.

Have a great day!
Shawn

Rachinnj

08-24-2008, 08:21 AM

Shawn
I have been following your refeed and understood it. Now I am totally confused LOL..

Rach

Shiftergal

08-24-2008, 10:38 AM

Hey Shawn!
I know my post must seem totally random seeing as I hardly ever actually add to the forums, but I've been following your progress pretty much every day and I have a question for you (or anyone who reads this and can respond, really): My goal weight is 150 and I've reached 158. I know I'm supposed to get to 155 before asking for the refeed program, but my weight loss is pretty much at a standstill and I've been ravenously hungry lately. I used to never get hungry on this diet. I just ate breakfast and my stomach is already growling! Plus I'm not even sure if I have another eight pounds on me to lose! :) Maybe three or four but I can't imagine losing eight more! So do you think I should just accept 153 as my real goal weight and ask for refeed now or what? I want to because I seriously think my body needs more now, but at the same time I'm starting college as a freshman this wednesday and I don't know if I can handle the stress of a brand new environment AND complicated refeed. Should I just wait and tough it out for a few more weeks and see if I can drop those last three pounds? Thank you everybody on this forum for all your help and advice during this program! It's been awesome!

PhyllisRis

08-24-2008, 11:05 AM

No problem, Shawn.....I forgive you!!! smile.....
Whenever you come across a reason for the open fingers thing is fine....
I just have a curious mind and like to get answers to my curiosity whenever I can....it's one of my idiosynchosies!! (ONE of them, mind you.....grin)
Phyllis

pumbza

08-24-2008, 01:12 PM

Hi Shawn that was superb it is becoming clearer and clearer and clearer everytime I think I have a question YOU answer it thats really BRILLIANT!!!Ha Ha!!:innocent4:My picture of the end diet is forming in the MISTY folds of my MIND and its becoming clearer and LIKE a GOOD male YOU are Keeping it simple Just like I like it!!!When you mentioned PIZZA base before what sort of size can one get for 50g of thin PIZZA base I ask because I love PIZZA big time so just preparing for the FUTURE!!!When we get to the end of refeed will all protien be NEW protien?This is a piece of work a piece of art!!!
Breafast: Egg, 2 slices of toast w/ 1tsp olive oil, 85g Veggies
Snack: Apple
Lunch: Chicken breast: 95g Old Protein (135 standard - 40g Refeed = 95);
100g New Protein; 160g Old Veggies, 60g New Veggies
Snack: Nectarine and/or Peach
Dinner: Steak: 95g Old Protein (135 standard - 40g Refeed = 95); 100g New Protien; 140g Old Veggies; 60g New Veggies, 50g carbs (rice or pasta), Glass of wine in place of the third slice of bread
Dessert: Strawberry/Banana sorbet

And just so that this makes sense, this is pretty much what my standard meal plan under the diet has been (I've left some options out such as the feta option)
Meal 1: Egg & 85g Veggies or Yogurt
Meal 2: 135g chicken & 120g veggies; 70g cheese & 120g veggies; 120g meat & 110 veggies; 120g fish & 90g veggies
Meal 3: 135g meat & 100g veggies; 135g fish & 105 veggies

Is your 95gm old protien and 100g new protien lets say with chicken so thats 95gms chicken breast and 100g od say chicken thigh is that correct???Are YOU still eating crackers or does the BREAD replace that remember on original diet you had 6 or 7 crackers what happens to that???

So basically the way I see it and correct me if I am wrong but at the end we basically double our intake of food from what we started thats great but the question I have is will this all be enough for all of us some big some small so active some not active etc and for example YOU what happens when you get to the end but YOU still lose weight???(Just asking??) :innocent3:
Hi ShifterGal I nearly forgot YOUR question I think YOU should refeed and YOU will still lose weight as YOU refeed so YOU will easily shed the 3 Pounds and buy the time YOU arrive at the end YOU will know more what YOUR weight should be!!!

MIMI

08-24-2008, 01:52 PM

Shawn, thanks so much for taking the time to let us know about re feed. It is becoming more clear now. I really appreciate all the time and effort that you put into it. :love8: Pumbza, NICE picture, you knew i would like that did'nt you. Keep it up and it won't be long untill you will have that six pack. Shawn, i'll bet your hiding your six pack. Your picture is awesome. SOME GOODLOOKING GUYS is all i have to say. :love8: MIMI

pumbza

08-24-2008, 02:46 PM

Ha Ha MIMI YOU made my day I knew YOU would notice this and I took great pleasure in finding this for YOU I wish I could have a six pack like that ONE day but I will be happy with a nice FLAT belly!!!Ha Ha!!Enjoy the eye CANDY and have a GREAT DAY!!!:innocent3:

happytmo

08-24-2008, 03:05 PM

Shawn- I loved your shopping story. My mouth dropped when I saw the before sale amount. I was like "WOW" Then I read on. That is so awesome. I thought it was pretty cool though that you get to go to Neiman Marcus. I went out with some friends last night and we went into the "fat girl stores" I was chuckling to myself, because I plan on never shopping there again. I just hope to get as good as deals as you did when I get to go shopping.
CONGRATULATIONS on finishing refeed.

Rachinnj

08-24-2008, 04:05 PM

Happy
The best feeling in the world is walking into the "fat Girl store" and realizing nothing fits you because your to small.
When I lost my initial weight that was one of the happiest days of my life. When I was preg I went back to get some big shirts but I am happy to say still to small to fit into them now.
YEAY US

Rachel

SPDeRosa

08-24-2008, 09:11 PM

Good evening -- just getting home from work and catching up on posts from today - while enjoying a peanut butter cooking and trying to stay away from the other 10 cookies in the fridge!

Rachel: Not sure I can help clarify anything. Sorry. If you have specific questions, I'm happy to answer though.

Shiftergal: How exciting!! Freshman year is such a big change and such a growing experience. You've done amazingly well to get this far and I'm really happy for you that you took charge of your weight now and thinking ahead about how to work through refeed at school. Refeed isn't hard, but it does take some adjustments. If you don't have a kitchen, it's going to be difficult for you because as you know, you have to weigh everything and you alter what you eat. On the diet you can just get used to eating the same things for breakfast lunch and dinner, making it almost "routine". I always had a salad with chicken for lunch and a steak and veggies for dinner. It made it easy -- refeed requires a little more planning. If you'll be in a dorm, it's going to be difficult but not impossible. If you can't prepare all your own meals, you should check with the kitchen manager and talk about your special dietary needs. They're used to that sort of thing. If you make a menu with specific weights for the week, perhaps they can make a special meal for you.

I would try to stay on plan as long as you can to see if you can get to your goal weight and THEN worry about Refeed. This might be easier and may give you some time to prepare in advance your refeed menus while also figuring out how to go about doing all the modifications that are needed. I was getting SO hungry before Refeed started, eating all my crackers, fruit, diet soda etc., so if you're body is telling you that you need more food then chances are you're ready. However, I also think it's important to not start until you hit your goal weight. If you think you can stay on plan for a few weeks while you adjust to the new environment, that might be easier for you. However, if you're constantly hungry then you might need to start Refeed so that you're not tempted off plan. College will present itself with a lot of eating and drinking opportunities ... which is why they talk about the Freshman 15lbs. So you have to do what you feel is best, and take into consideration what you're body is telling you. Good luck, and let us know how you're doing!!

Happytmo - glad you liked the shopping story! I was so excited and what's even better, I have yet to buy "professional" clothes. So I get to go shopping again, although I don't know if I'll ever be able to get a deal like that again!

Mimi - I think my six pack is hiding under some loose skin at the moment. That's going to have to change --- I thought about taking the selenium but I hear it's also toxic at higher doses. Not sure I want to deal with that... perhaps exercise will work :)

Last but not least, Pumbza - I so look forward to your questions as it keeps me focused on my plan and they help everyone better understand the sometimes vague diet rules. To answer some of your questions, by the end of Refeed you will still be mixing new and old proteins to your diet. As you know from one of my prior posts, we're allowed a lot of protein under the standard diet rules, so adding "new" protein is a little challenging. For me, I've chosen to just eat pork as it's completely new. I could also, as you mention, use chicken thighs or any other "fatty" meat. But I like to keep things somewhat simple -- if it means eating chicken, steak and pork for a week, then so be it. So for my food choices today, I was allowed 95g of old protein and 100g of new protein at both lunch and dinner (remember that my Meal 2 and Meal 3 plans both start with 135g of protein and I had to take off a total of 80g today which I split 40 and 40 between lunch and dinner).

For lunch I ate 95g old protein which was chicken breast and 100g new protein which was pork. For dinner I ate 95g steak (old protein) and 100g pork (new protein).

Bread:During Refeed you are slowly reintroduced to bread and taken off crackers. You start by adding one slice of bread and you end with three slices. If you feel bloated or gassy and just don't want the bread, you are allowed to go back to the standard crackers instead. You can even swap days one day bread, another day crackers (provided bread is on the plan for the day). The type of bread is also dictated - it must be "processed" and thinly sliced, essentially store bought bread.

Pizza during refeed for me is just a way of thinking about a Meal 2 Cheese option when bread is also allowed. I've used 2 slices of bread to make my "breakfast bruschetta" which is essentially some tomato, zucchini, yellow squash, garlic, and my allowance of cheese. If you wanted, you could take the tomato, blend it together with some spices and make a tomato sauce which you could layer onto toast, top with cheese and broil for a few minutes. It's a lot like "English Muffin Pizza" that we make for kids but using toast instead. During maintenance I'll just eat pizza in moderation. :)

Quantity: I'm not sure I can answer whether the quantity will be enough for someone. I just ate dinner, had a glass of wine, a can of Sprite Zero and a peanut butter cookie. I'm very full. I have to still eat my sorbet so I can get in my 2 bad fruits, and I still have a 3rd diet fruit I should eat. I'm hovering around the same weight as when I started Refeed 20 days ago, going up and down usually in small increments. I started at 155 and this morning I was 153 lbs. I expect to be up maybe a pound tomorrow morning. So while I think it will be different for everyone, what will likely matter most is what I do once Refeed is over. If I exercise I'll probably have to eat more. If I lead a sedentary lifestyle then I will have to be very careful because I'll start to gain weight I would imagine. I'm biased in that I think everyone that commits to losing this weight and makes it through refeed shows enough self-discipline and control that they should easily be able to start a light exercise regimen - something as simple as walking 30 minutes a day, three days a week. I imagine I"ll always have to fight off my brain telling me I "want" more food and remind myself that food is fuel. I may "want" it, but I probably don't "need" it.

Ok, that's it for tonight. If I missed your question, I apologize. I'll check back in tomorrow morning before work and update you as to what happened today and what my plan for tomorrow will be. I'm hoping it will be my last day of refeed! ~ Shawn

drexel

08-24-2008, 09:41 PM

...and back to Ikea. {scream} You wouldn't think it was that bad...

ikea is ALWAYS that bad. well done on not killing people on your way out.

Shasha

08-24-2008, 09:55 PM

{hi} there Shawn

I was sooooo happy to hear about your fantastic shopping spree – man you deserve it!! Can’t wait to see your smart AFTER photo’s and the NEW YOU! :clapping3:

About the being up on the scale… you mentioned not drinking as much water on the previous 3 days – I believe this is a major key… WATER as you will continue to learn, is going to be your new best friend for life… So please remember that your body performs best when properly hydrated - especially for if you do go and eat out – foods like pizza etc. you will always do less “damage” with the water than you will without...

Carbs on Re-feeding is 50 grams + 3 slices of bread, in your case 5 fruit (fruit is high in sugar, especially bad fruit) and a cookie.

After Re-feeding you can only have carbs once a day - with dinner (or lunch) for example… bearing in mind that how much your body will tolerate will depend on the reading on the scale – if you are up – you are having too much carbs and need to slow down. (Dr Cohen is limiting how OFTEN your body produces too much insulin down to once a day only.)

Shawn, I think your body is changing in that you’ve almost completed Re-feeding, you are settling down and maybe your body may have reached (or is very close to) the maximum amount that you can eat, given your current activity levels etc. Also, your body is at the point where you will need to limit your starch intake to once a day only. (This means the end of that early morning toast insulin trigger...)

:flirt: Also wondering…. How BIG was that cookie??? :flirt:

Just kidding, I know you would not have gone overboard… but maybe learn a valuable lesson: cookies need to be limited… After the Re-feeding Program you will need to ‘allowed for’ treats like cookies etc – this simply means that you leave room for a cookie by having less of something else… this is where the more starch less desert, less starch more desert rule will come in…

Waiting in anticipation with you to see what the scale brings tomorrow morning… and please go drink another glass of - better yet, make that TWO!!

Shiftergal

08-24-2008, 10:44 PM

Thanks for the advice Shawn! I will have a kitchen, thank goodness, but I'm not sure how far out of my way I'll have to go for fresh produce... Anyways, I've made it through family dinners at Cheesecake *******, dessert cook-offs, birthday parties, baby showers, and working at a fruit stand all summer surrounded by "bad" fruits that I was never able to eat. Hopefully I'm tough enough now to resist during my first few weeks of college. :) I'm just gonna try and stick to my goal weight.

SPDeRosa

08-25-2008, 08:05 AM

August 25, 2008: Weigh In: 152.7 (Down 0.3 lbs from yesterday)

Well, today has arrived at last. The LAST day of Refeed - although I wonder if I gain 2 lbs when I weigh in tomorrow, do I go back and repeat the past two days again? Interesting question as we don't real move ahead on Refeed until the next morning's weigh-in. Well, I'll cross that bridge when it comes.

Shiftergal - How great is it that you'll have a kitchen?! That's going to make things so much easier for you. Also, the first few days of refeed really only start off by adding bigger quantities of diet food so again you'll be able to ease into the transition.

Shasha - Thanks again for the good reminders. I wish I enjoyed drinking water and that it wasn't such a chore for me. But I will most certainly be keeping my guard up as I see how much the body needs the water to wash the fat away. And, my cookie was a small pizza tray ;) Hahaha! I WISH! I actually thought about that too -- after all, it is just ONE cookie! The cookie was small and I used Splenda Brown Sugar instead of regular sugar, so it was a low carb low sugar cookie (if you can call a cookie low carb low sugar).

Desserts and treats are going to have be limited. I never really ate them anyway except for on random occasions. My big vices were skipping meals, having potato chips at lunch (when I'd eat lunch) and of course way too many carbs for dinner. So I'm going to have to be really careful about the carbs especially since there's no way I can get used to two tablespoons of rice or 1/4 cup of pasta at meal time. So I'll have to plan ahead and limit breads and maybe consider low carb veggies for the non-carb meals.

Summary of Yesterday: Not much to report other than drinking water all day :) My other meals have already been described in my post from last night. I think spreading the food out throughout the day instead of having a big meal at dinner was helpful. And obviously drinking at least 2L (8 glasses) of water remains important.

Plan for Today: Again I'll divide my refeed in half and distribute at lunch and dinner. Add 200g New Protein, Take off 80g from Old Protein; Add 200g New Vegetables; Add 2 Bad Fruits; Add 50g Carbs and one plain cookie. A glass of wine can substitute for a slice of bread.

Breakfast: Egg, 85g Veggies, 2 Slices of toast + Water
Snack: fruit + Water
Lunch: 95g Old Protein (Chicken) + 100g New Protein (Pork) + 120g Old Veggies + 100g New Veggies +1 Slice Bread + Water
Snack: fruit + Water
Dinner: 95g Old Protein (Steak) + 100g New Protein (Pork) + 100g Old Veggies + 100g New Veggies + 50g pasta + Water
Dessert: 1 cookie + strawberry/banana sorbet

Have a great day everyone!

pumbza

08-25-2008, 10:02 AM

Shawn just a quicky I will ask som questions later YOU asked US to remind YOU to have a BIG LUNCH and small supper a LONG TIME ago has that changed because of the inconvience of eating LUNCH at work because when I start definitely LUNCH will be BIG and supper a Steak and salad with fruit salad maybe???Have a GREAT DAY!!:innocent3:

SPDeRosa

08-25-2008, 10:17 AM

Pumbza, I still think a smaller supper is ideal. I'm noticing that at this point in my refeeding because I have to split the extra food between lunch and supper, I'm pretty much eating the same amount at both meals. At lunch I have extra veggies while at dinner I have a little extra carbs. (You'll note I also spread the carbs out for today: 2 slices of bread for breakfast; 1 slice at lunch; pasta at dinner). After today I'll have to combine all my carbs into one meal - perhaps at lunch. It is a little more challenging to eat a larger lunch at work, but it just takes extra planning and thinking of foods that can be rewarmed without losing too much quality. Steak doesn't work well for lunch because it will cook in the microwave, but chicken or fish might work. (Some people don't like to bring fish to work because it smells up the office). I like your idea of a light dinner though - sounds good to me.

I can't wait for your Before and After pics! You're going to be one of the Cohen advertisements for sure!

pumbza

08-25-2008, 10:31 AM

Ha Ha Ha SHAWN talk about the GIFT of the GAB Ha Ha thanks for being to nice!!ha Ha!:innocent4:Thanks very very MUCh for YOUR help I reckon YOU are going to be responsible FOR helping a lot of DIET BUDDIES completing there REFEED correctly and OOPS OH sorry Mini Me (Shasha !!) As well she has been and will always be a PILLAR of strength with all her GREAT ADVICE just fine TUNING and explaining and Explaining to US CRASH TEST DUMMIES (That's ME only By the WAY!!).Shawn after refeed YOU are not allowed to stop updating Us on YOUR life who knows maybe there is a book somewhere there ha ha I especially loved the comment on the WINGMAN for YOUR friend been there and done it and now YOU will be NUMBER ONE PILOT (Its tough being a GUY girls have it so easy WOMAN!!!Ha Ha!They just shot us down in flames at every OPPURTUNITY they can just have the PICK of the BUNCH!!!Ha Ha!!!)I drink a whole litre for breakfast it helps the tensy wensy BREAKFAST as YOU know I got a 1 litre BEER and I down it so its out of the way the same at lunch and at night if I am thirsty or have FAT burning pains I will drink on demand but I have come to accept no matter what water will be a WAY of my LIFE no matter what I can handle that JUSt must get USE to it LIKE MEDICINE!!Ha Ha!!Ha Ha I know TUNA smells terrible and if YOU are clumbsy like me it will be all over rather leave that for the HOTEL or for HOME I think!!!Ha Ha!:innocent4:I think the idea with starches is fill YOURSELF with other FOOD and then YOU won't really need starch's that MUCh and DITTO with the desert's I use to eat them as just because I had nothing else to do and that's what YOU did YOU ate desert but I think FRUIT salad will be a HEALTH CHANGE!!!Have a BRILLIANT DAY!!!:innocent3:Shawn YOU ASKED FOR A PHOTO here is a PICTURE with me and my ONE LITre BEER MUG (No BEER Unfortunately!!!)Ha Ha!!

MIMI

08-25-2008, 10:00 PM

Pumbza, nice pictures :):love8: MIMI

pumbza

08-26-2008, 12:35 AM

Hi LOVABLE MiMi YOU are so KIND BUT I thought I would put Shawn of his FOOD and encourage him to drink his water by showing him MY BEER MUG of WATER I drink!!Ha Ha!:innocent4:NOW he would definitely pay MORE attention if that was sexy LOVABLE MiMi posing and DRINKING the GLASS!!Ha Ha!Have a HEALTHY DAY!!:innocent3:

SPDeRosa

08-26-2008, 07:41 AM

August 26, 2008: Weigh In: 152.4 (Down 0.3 lbs from yesterday)

Pumbza, that's a GREAT beer mug! You know you have strength when you drink water instead of beer. I know at least one of my friends would like a beer stein that large :)

Well, I'm happy to report that yesterday was my last day of Refeed. This morning I weighed in a little less than yesterday so evidently I completed Re-Feeding!! :) Now the real work begins - keeping the weight off!

Summary of Yesterday: Yesterday was a little tough mentally in that I had (have) cookies tempting me all morning. I baked them the other night in preparation for my first cookie, and they've been sitting there ever since. How people with kids can constantly avoid all the temptations is amazing. I spread out my bread and carbs throughout the day and also split the refeed amounts between lunch and dinner. I drank all my water and I even tried TWO sorbets yesterday!

You already know how much I love the banana/strawberry sorbet allowed on Refeed when you get to add 2 bad fruits. I've talked about the mango smoothie / sorbet and have encouraged people to try other fruits. Well, yesterday I tried a NECTARINE SORBET! Two or three days ago I cut up a very ripe nectarine and put it in the freezer. Yesterday I took the frozen nectarine and placed it into the blender with about 1/4 can (4 oz) of Sprite Zero. After blending I sat back and was in heaven! Talk about a SWEET TREAT! I wasn't sure which I liked more - the nectarine sorbet or the strawberry/banana sorbet. If you have a sweet tooth and crave ice cream, THIS IS YOUR ANSWER. Once my mangos fully ripen I'll be freezing them as well. The key to the thick consistency is to stir frequently between blending pulses (the blades will eventually spin in place, so you'll have to stir by hand to help move the chunks down to the blades) and most importantly to NOT use too much sprite. No ice is needed if you freeze the fruit in advance!

Plan for Today: Who knows?! I've already reintroduced just a little bit of half & half to my coffee. I'm not impressed to be honest -- I might just go back to black for my next cup. I will be having TWO eggs for breakfast instead of one. Then for lunch I'm likely going to prepare chicken and veggies ... I have a lot of frozen chicken already prepped in 135g sizes (which was my plan's weight for chicken). I will keep my carbs to dinner (I'll likely have pizza -- sorry Pumbza -- to celebrate). And I'll drink extra water over the next few days as I'm going to have to sample some of the forbidden foods: brownies, ice cream, etc. In the interim, I'm going to go get another cup of coffee (black) and I'm going to re-read the rules for "Life After the Diet" so that it's fresh in my mind as I now have the freedom of choice / free will which as we know can lead to trouble if we're not careful. :)

Final Thoughts and Commentary:

Plan ahead. If you have your protein weights prepped in advance (marked by plan day and weight and then frozen) it will make preparing each meal much easier. The only things you will have to weigh are your vegetables.
Drink all your water.
Spread your Re-Feed amounts out between two or three meals rather than keeping the protein/veggies all to one meal.
Resist temptation. You've gotten this far, there's no reason to cave in and have the extra cookies at this point no matter how much weight you've lost. It's only a few days more - you CAN do it!
Keep a journal - either online like this or for yourself. It helps if you have to go back to see what you did a few days ago, and it also keeps you committed and accountable. Research is clear: those that take the time to write out their goals often achieve them. Much like businesses with a written business plan are more likely to succeed than those that just forge ahead without a plan, you too will succeed if you plan ahead and keep a "report" of your experience.

Lastly, I'd like to express my sincere thanks to each of you for your help, advice, humor and encouragement. I don't want to list names/screennames for fear of leaving someone out, but I think we all owe our Moderator Shasha a big THANK YOU for her gentle coaching, positive reinforcement, and for taking so much time to help us out as we struggle to achieve our goals. Shasha, your explanations as to why we're doing things at the different stages of the program are so helpful, particularly in light of the sometimes contradictory information we find online or we may get from the 1PD consultants (e.g. green chilis). I truly appreciate all of your reminders and explanations as they really helped me through my weight loss journey, which I'm sure you'll be quick to point out is now taking a new direction and not simply ending. :bighug:

Thank you again everyone, and I'll eventually start a new thread for my "Life After the Diet". I'll check back in from time to time to see how you're doing and to let you know how I'm doing as I transition to trying to come up with a menu that is healthy and that keeps the weight off. I've already registered at the mypyramid website (it's a ".gov") and would encourage you to read up about the new food pyramid once you're off the program. Trying to mix the Cohen "Life After" rules with generally accepted healthy eating advice is a little harder than I expected ... but I've got a lifetime to work on it!

Have a great day everyone -- and thanks again!

~ Shawn

Rachinnj

08-26-2008, 08:26 AM

Shawn
I am so happy for you!!!:party5: You better not leave us!!L

Ok I get experimenting but may I suggest not doing it all at one meal LOL

Kidding you will do great. When are you going to start working out? Get some muscles on that body and you will be a true hotty. :weights2:

Once again congratulations and thank you for being there for me everystep of my journey so far. Although your not getting rid of me that easy. I will keep bugging you .. LOL
{grouphug1}

Rach

lfingers11

08-26-2008, 10:44 AM

Congrats!!! I am so excited for you. But now I won't have your thread to look forward to reading everyday!!:( I love hearing the progress and struggles that you go thru daily. Well, keep us updated and know that we are always here for you.
Pam

Bronwyn

08-26-2008, 10:57 AM

Congratulations Shawn!!! You have been a true 1PD Superstar all the way!!! Your dedication to this diet was amazing and inspiring to watch and I am so very, very proud of you. I too, will miss your daily posts. You brought back so many memories for me of the refeed. Now I will look forward to reading of your Life After the Diet, although I'm sure you won't make a daily post of it... well maybe at first... It is so exciting!!! You have been such a pillar of support for all the dieters here. You have a great personality and now you are a hotty too. Your life is going to be so different now, and will be one that you have earned and deserve. Enjoy all the rewards of being fit, healthy, happy, and handsome!

pumbza

08-26-2008, 11:02 AM

Listen here Shawn MY LAD you are just beggining YOU don't have to write long messages like YOU have DONE but I wan't to know what YOU eat every day more or less JUST to get a IDEA of the OUTSIDE WORLD!!!Ha Ha!:innocent4:YOU have PREPARED us for REFEED and we will make it but YOU are now doing what all of us dread and fear the MOST keeping the WEIGHT OFF WHICH IS THE MOST DIFFICULT we need to know what YOU do and what the results where YOUR not getting of that lightly and we will KEEP you accountable as WELL!SO WHAT ABOUT it I got this from a FRIEND :-

VLCD (Have NO Idea what this stands for??) diets have a 95% rebound rate which means that 95% of people who've been on them gain all their weight back in 5 years time - and then some more because ALL diets (doesn't matter which one) lower one's Basal Metabolic Rate. (BMR), and increases the number of fat cells in the body unfortunately. (Does not make sense to me BUT I am DENSE!!!

I know jealousy makes them Nasty BUT all I KNOW IT MAKES ME more Determined to succeed and WE CAN DO IT thats why its important for YOU SHAWN(Toy Boy I figured a NICKNAME for YOU!!!Ha Ha!!) TO tell us about LIFE AFTER DR COHEN!!!!:innocent3:

Shasha

08-26-2008, 11:26 AM

Hi there Shawn

:clapping3: YOU’RE DONE!!! {goodjob}

I for one am very, very proud of you!!! {cheerleader} Thanks for that super big hug!!!

As are all your Diet Buddies who have been reading your thread!! To date there have been 1,745 views of your wonderful and very popular interesting thread!!!

We’ve all really enjoyed getting to know you through this thread especially, and I just know everyone is probably feeling a little bit like me – a bit of of OH NO what now...?? (LOL as your 1st ever post comes to mind), So please do start that Shawn’s AD (After Diet) thread… we’d love to know how you are doing and how your body reacts to different foods and of course some of us would love to keep an eye on you!! :flirt:

Recommendation: after Re-feeding, drop the bread and that will allow you to have more starch such as rice / pasta / potato in your starch meal – best way to do this is practice. Drop bread and add more – maybe double, then weigh the next morning – see how your body reacts: if up – too much = have less next time; if down - too little = have a bit more next time; if same, perfect!! And so you will learn what your body can cope with…

About all those goodies you want to try… not all at once PLEASE!!! Remember, it’s only food – don’t overdo, rather do over… if you gain, stop and take control immediately… 48 hour no starch should do the trick to balance those hormones again quickly...

You’ve gotten use to black coffee from your fancy machine – why not stay with it, fine if you want a special cappuccino when you go out, but for at home, black is best because it won’t trigger hunger… (Milk is high in lactose – milk sugar… so be careful if you have this in the morning it could trigger hunger by 10 am…)

Hoping to hear from you soon and on going-ly because as you already know:

YOU’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN!

Shasha

08-26-2008, 11:30 AM

{hi} there Pumbza-Lite

{goodjob} on the beer mug!!

{uhm} what a tease about the photo!!!
I’ve looked at it from every angle… :party3: I can see that your face defiantly looks a lot slimmer and that your beard is shorter… but what I was hoping to see was your TUMMY, or shall I say lack of tummy!!!

Oh well, just keep us in suspense... a little longer... we know you did that on purpose!!!

MrsPeel

08-26-2008, 11:52 AM

Hey, Shiftergal!

I just read your message under Shawn's re-feed thread, and I thought I'd reply. My goal is also 150, and I too stalled out before the re-feed goal. I was at 158-159 for a couple of weeks, and starving all the time! Then it changed a day or two ago and this morning I hit my 155 even. I know how you feel, as I am really hungry all the time and wasn't for the main part of the diet - and I also began to rethink my goal weight, particularly as my husband is saying I'm plenty thin enough!
I will tell you why I am still heading for 150 - at my age (52), I am really noticing the lack of appropriate fat, which disappeared along with the bad fat. I want to be able to incorporate healthy fats back into my post-diet life (such as avocado, nuts, milk, etc.) because I think my skin needs a little plumping. Also, I plan to begin exercising again on the re-feed, and I tend to add muscle weight quite quickly when I work out. So I am prepared to see my weight go up a bit and want to "leave room" for that.

Congrats on nearing your goal!!

Lauren

08-26-2008, 10:07 PM

Congratulations, Shawn!!!!!!! We're all so proud of you--you've been very meticulous through your weight loss journey, so coming up with a plan to follow for after the diet is a great idea. That's what I'm going to do as well, as obviously having no plan didn't work for me. :) Actually, I'll be honest--I did have a plan to keep it off last time, but I kept bypassing it, telling myself I'd make up for it "tomorrow", until I had such a huge "diet debt," I couldn't confront it, threw my whole post-diet plan out the window, blaming the holidays, and proceeded to gradually gain all the weight back. So if you're making rules for yourself, STICK WITH THEM AS RELIGIOUSLY AS YOU'VE DONE THIS DIET. Keep that mindset that you are still on this diet. If your weight ends up creeping up, say, eight pounds even, go back on 1PD for a couple days or a week--nip it in the bud before it's too late and you have to do it longer! Just keep it off--that's the key. Be responsible, like we all know you are. And ENJOY! One thing I'm going to do as well is to eat SLOWER and enjoy things more. I think that will help me feel satisfied with smaller portions as well, if it's not all gone in 30 seconds. :) How 'bout that feeling of freedom?! Nothing beats it. I'm really looking forward to that feeling again. It's priceless. Congratulations!!!

Mrs. Peel--I think this diet tends to leave people looking a bit gaunt by the time they're done because really we're getting down to our lowest healthy weight and we haven't been eating much for a while. And you're absolutely right--you will plump up a bit when you start eating regular foods. I saw it in myself and my sister. Your face will fill out more back to normal, so don't worry. Keep up the great work and you're ALMOST THERE!!! Amazing! You should be so proud!!!

MIMI

08-26-2008, 10:30 PM

Pumbza, I'm going to have my daughter in law help me post my after pictures when i reach my goal. You know i'm not a computer person so i'll have to have some help. I think your pictures are great. LOL :love8: MIMI

rbride05

08-26-2008, 11:07 PM

SHAWN

Just wanted to say thank you for all your informative postings, you really have created a wonderful resource for all of us dieters that will be continuing on our weight loss journey. Have a ball cooking in that new kitchen, while wearing your new clothes (quite a shopping trip you little bargin hunter) on your NEW BODY!! Thank you again Shawn, and I look forward to reading your AD postings too.

{congrats}

P.S. I havent had any cravings for quite some time, that is until you mentioned the peanut butter cookies. I have a plan already for when I reach refeed. Im going down the street to a wonderful bakery called Great Harvest (healthy breads,etc) and just buy one for my treat, cause I know if I baked a whole batch and had them sitting around theyd be calling my name all night long, and I have to get some sleep for heavens sake. In the meantime, enjoy that cookie for all of us.

Mei Mei

08-27-2008, 10:03 AM

:party1:Shawn,
Well done my friend! You have just been amazing. We really thank you for your advice, encouragement, and thorough posts. It helps us to see the end! You have really changed your life, keep it up, stay healthy, and keep us posted on life after diet.
Excellent work and congrats!!! :laughing:

Shasha

10-24-2008, 01:19 PM

{hi} there Shawn

I took the liberty to move your thread into the brand new Re-feed Thread...
Hope you don’t mind :flirt:

I didn't want all this info to get "lost" in the MY PROGRESS thread...

UnspeakableJoy

10-28-2008, 12:43 PM

Hi Shawn!

Just checking in to see how you're doing :) Have you made it to the gym yet?

:) Joy

SurferGirl

01-30-2009, 03:40 PM

Hi Shawn!

How were the holiday's for you? How has maintaining been going? We sure do miss you here. THere are some new guys on the forum and I'm sure they would love to hear from one of our veteran boys!

SurferGirl

CohenInAz

02-15-2009, 04:07 PM

Happy Birthday Shawn!

Its been a while since an update, hope you are doing great!

SPDeRosa

02-16-2009, 11:42 AM

Awww thanks everyone for checking in and for the birthday messages!

Things over here in Boston have been busy. With classes back in session I find myself preparing for classes and then grading (yuck) far too much. I really should switch to multiple choice exams - it would make my job as a p/t faculty member MUCH easier. But I really think college kids need more practice writing -- so I end up spending far too much time grading papers. My consulting business is going well, although given the economic environment out there, I'm predicting that training budgets will be cut, so I might not see my normal late-Spring training rush. So I decided to pick up a bartending job to be a little more proactive. Needless to say, my sleep schedule is messed up (I haven't stayed up till 3:30 or 4:00 am in YEARS) and I find myself barely having time to even get to email.

Also, I have in no way shape or form stuck to the rules for after the program. I do try to watch what I eat, but I've snacked and nibbled and "treated" myself up a few pounds. yesterday I had home fries at breakfast and then a hamburger and fries for lunch (at the bar) along with some birthday cake and ice cream. So as of this morning I'm back UP to 173lbs. I noticed that I can't see my ribcage anymore. So although this is still a good weight for my height (6 feet -- 2meters), I'm going to try to get back down to around 165 as my clothes fit much better there. It's amazing what a difference 6-10 lbs can make!

So today I started back on the plan with ONE egg (not my standard two eggs) and I actually weighed out my 85 grams of veggies. I'll have an apple before lunch, when I'll make my standard (plan-sized) salad with chicken, and then I'll have my plan-sized dinner. I'm hoping that if I drink all my water I can drop down 8 lbs within the next week or two. We'll see how that goes... I'm a little nervous about being hungry again -- those first few days were tough. But I know that once I'm back in the swing of things I'll be fine. Plus, I can try to make some time to come and filter through the boards and check out all the new people. :) I'm actually looking forward to seeing if Pumbza ever made it back and who may have made it to (or through) refeed! ... guess I'll find out in just a bit.

Best,
Shawn