Gail's Road To Success

[GailStout]

I very much appreciate all of the support and advice from all of you.

My name is Gail, and I’m 47 years old.

I weighed 257 pounds in February 2007. Today I weigh 145.

I began the 1st Personal Diet on February 2, 2007, and finished with my re-feeding plan on September 6, 2007.

Simply, this program WORKS. Because it DOES work and you see INCREDIBLE results SO quickly, it's very easy to do…and the threat of “every cheat will cost you one week of weight loss” is true, and cheating becomes SO NOT WORTH IT!!!!

The diet so obviously makes such a visible and dramatic difference! The people around me who should have been "cranky" about my not coming over to taste their new recipe or not being able to go to a lunch for someone without bringing my own food were completely SILENT about my not being “normal” while I was doing this diet.

Most often, I heard "so, WHAT are you DOING? What diet?" -- Not "Aunt Gail, why don’t you taste my award winning torte?" (There are two (yes TWO) chefs in my family) :-)

I know that at least four people have started on the diet since they saw MY results, and the ladies who told me about the diet told me recently that between them, me, and the women in their office, we've lost nearly 1,000 pounds! (there are only 9 of us, by the way).

ON FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND SOCIAL STUFF:
I found it very interesting to go through this diet when I did. 2006 was a fairly turbulent year – my dad lost his battle with cancer, my daughter began her senior year of high school, my son did a summer internship in college and was away “for good”, we celebrated our 25th anniversary, and I was head fundraiser for a school trip to Europe for 125 people. By January of 2007, I was pretty burned out, feeling awful, and not doing well in any way.

When my doctor told me that my weight (257 pounds) meant that the amount of thyroid medication I needed to keep my Hashimoto’s Disease under control was actually an overdose which would kill me, I knew I needed something to change.

When I met up with a friend of ours who’d lost nearly 130 pounds on the 1st Personal Diet and had kept it off for nearly a year, I knew she might have found something that worked…she’d also had thyroid difficulties and was able to make the diet work for her.

What had to happen was that I had to educate my friends and family on how I was going to live “for the next 12 weeks” (I had no idea at that time that I’d be on it an additional 12 weeks). All were incredibly supportive.

[GailStout]

ON BUYING FOOD:
Grocery shopping! What an interesting thing while on the 1st Personal Diet! I actually figured out that I’d PAID FOR THE DIET IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS, simply by NOT buying the groceries I’d normally have purchased for myself.

We also found, much to our surprise, that once we figured out how to handle the deer which loved to eat our garden, that I was able to grow my own vegetables all summer long – picking my own yellow squash, herbs, and lettuces all summer! It wasn’t a HUGE garden, just enough for me, basically.

It’s quite fun to just go to the butcher, the green grocer, and the fruit stand and know that I’m eating healthy food that tastes great.

ON COOKING:
I’m a better cook. Period. I’ve had to figure out how to do things I’d never done before in order to make the diet work, and had to PLAN meals. I also needed to cook TWO different meals (one for my family and one for me), for even if we were eating the same foods, MINE needed to be measured out separately, so I had to invest in a couple of pots & pans to cook them separately and allow more time for clean up afterward. Again, not really much of an issue, but one which did need to be addressed at the start of the diet. As I got more used to cooking this way, it became absolutely normal and not an issue at all.

ON HAVING COLLEGE KIDS AS CHILDREN:
My daily life DID change on the diet – and so did THEIRS: No “let’s get Chinese” or “do you want pizza”; suddenly if they wanted that they’d have to do it on their own (and spend their own money)…my son started calling 1PD the “Nazi Endocrinology Diet”!
My daughter had a different problem: for the first time in her life, her mother was SMALLER than she was. This was a little difficult for a few weeks this past fall, but her recent decision to go on the diet herself at the end of the school year will fix that. We haven’t quite figured out how she could do the diet while eating in a dormitory cafeteria. (Any suggestions, guys?)

ON BEING SAVVY ABOUT WEIGHING YOUR FOOD:
Weighing your portions are a big change for most of us – and, of course, for most of us the 1st Personal Diet portion sizes are COMICAL at the beginning. What a surprise that “comical portion sizes” provide enough nutrition that I was NEVER, EVER hungry on the diet!

What I discovered, though, was that there is a difference between WEIGHT and VOLUME of your food: So, if you want MORE food, you have to choose foods which WEIGH LESS. A good comparison is romaine lettuce vs. baby spinach…90 g of baby spinach fills a salad bowl big enough to feed a family of four, while 90 g of romaine is a single portion of a salad. Adding tomato as your “veg” adds a lot of weight but not much volume to your portion size. Experimenting with allowed foods will give you many choices about how much you’re eating and what works for you.

The biggest thing I discovered was that I was NOT willing to give up my cracker & fruit snacks for use in dinner recipes (as in “use cracker from your allowance”) -- I WANTED my snacks separately from my meals. That’s a choice you must make yourself as to what works for you.

Because I’m allergic to fish and cheese made me hungry, my proteins were limited to lean beef and poultry – so while I can say that I was never EVER hungry on the diet, I did sometimes get bored (there are only so many ways to broil or grill steak or chicken!) :thinking:

ON DRINKING WATER:
That’s also a big change for most of us; drinking water is not something most of us do. After 24 weeks on the diet, I know that the most important part of the diet IS the water. POUND IT DOWN! DO NOT LEAVE OUT THE WATER DURING YOUR DAILY INTAKE OF FOOD! I demonstrated over and over that if I did NOT drink the right amount of water, I would not feel well and my weight loss slowed down.
Your water intake is what allows the fat to be flushed from your body – you MUST have an adequate amount of water intake for the fat to be disposed of by your body.
The trick: be willing to spend some more time in the bathroom – and know that every time you make a visit, you’re actually flushing out toxins and fat from your body! (Having a goodly supply of magazines nearby will help as well!)

ON EATING OUT:
My daily life DID change on the diet – no more going out to lunch or dinner with friends for the duration! I had to do a lot more cooking and packing of food, and found that though I didn’t really miss restaurant FOOD (and not buying it every single day eventually gave me nearly $2000 to spend on my new clothes when I was done!) I DID miss the social part of “going out to lunch”.

My solution: We now go out for coffee either in the mid morning or the mid afternoon. Every one of my friends was able to make that work in their schedules and all have found that they’ve ALL dropped some weight because of not eating out every day. The economy here in Michigan is, shall we say, interesting at the moment, and not a few of my friends have been laid off and changed jobs over the past year – so spending less money was also a win for everyone!

ON TRAVELING ON THE DIET:
The 1st Personal Diet and 5-star restaurants! What a funny story my trip to Florida is! The hotel with its 5-star restaurant was actually incredibly nice about my request for help during my stay while on the diet; in fact, I was able to meet with the chef upon our arrival at the hotel and gave him my list of foods and my diet; he prepared EXACTLY what was required for me to continue to succeed for my dinners each night, and I made sure he knew that if he did it wrong, I’d be VERY unhappy :)

The rest of the time, I made food in the kitchen in our suite. I’d made my husband get us a suite with a kitchen in case the chef WASN'T accommodating -- I suppose that's the "determination" that happens magically while you’re losing weight on the 1st Personal Diet. Again, because I WASN’T eating out in the restaurants every single meal, we saved enough of that bill to cover the cost of getting a suite with a kitchen.

I also brought my scale with me (not ON the plane, but in my checked bag – I wasn’t sure that the digital scale’s electronics would make it through security). I was even able to ask the hotel front desk to get groceries for me (the suite’s fridge was magically filled whenever I ran out of something)! I think, perhaps, that the fact it WAS a five-star restaurant made my success there possible. It's hard for me to think that a lesser kitchen would have been more accommodating.

That week (about week 15 on the diet; so week 3 of my second round) I was even able to go to a MAJOR awards event in Tampa with the "caterer to HRH Queen Elizabeth II" as the event chef -- he also was able to prepare beef tenderloin, asparagus, and a spinach salad for me that looked enough like the meals the others were getting that I didn't feel out of place. They even made an spiced apple/cracker dessert for me! ;-)

[GailStout]

ON BEING HEALTHY AFTER LOSING 112 POUNDS:
1) I'm no longer being treated for asthma. No asthma medications, no inhalers, and most importantly, NO ATTACKS. The doctor says my asthma is GONE – and was completely weight-related. I’m no longer an asthma patient.

2) I'm no longer being treated weekly by a chiropractor, as my back pain is completely gone. Again, it was completely weight-related.

3) I no longer am being treated for "falling arches" in my feet, as the condition is gone -- completely weight-related.

4) My six-month checkup thyroid blood work on my Hashimoto's Disease returned, and my doctor said my numbers are "best ever"! I am now taking only a multi-vitamin and my single dose of Armour thryo medication every day, down from 12 medications and supplements at the beginning of the diet.

5) This is the best of all: While on the re-feed, you re-introduce previously forbidden foods in graduated amounts. While in the middle of my re-feeding program, I went to see my ophthalmologist for my yearly checkup.

I have had, since I was about 14, a chronic infection in my right eye called “uveitis”. The medications I’ve been taking for 33(!) years actually gave me a cataract in that eye which was removed about 17 years ago, so I’ve had no real sight in that eye for nearly 20 years. I am not a candidate for an artificial lens implant because the infection is still in my eye.
You need to understand that I’ve had this infection pretty much my whole life. My annual appointments always went exactly like this: I see my doctor (who was a resident in 1974 when I first became his patient; he’s now the chair of the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center and nearing retirement) once per year. I go in, he checks my eye, and says, basically, “condition is the same, medication is the same, see you next year.” I’ve done this every year for nearly 34 years!

Well, THIS year, I went in for my appointment. The doctor came in, did a double-take, and said “you look great!” and then sat down and started my exam. Then, abruptly, he got up and said “be right back”…and about half an hour later (!) he came back in with a large group of doctors. Now, this is not unusual, because my condition has some interesting “non-normal” facets – it’s supposed to affect both eyes, and I only have one with the problem, it’s supposed to be only for old people, and I got it when I was 13, etc. etc. The doctor often showed up with newly minted young doctors to teach them about ABNORMAL presentation of the disease (that’d be me ;-). This time, however, the doctor came back with OLD guys….basically a “who’s who” of the UM Eye Center. Each of them looked at my eye, and then they all went out in the hall. My doctor remained and I said “that’s it! I need to know what’s going on!” He looked at me and said “your infection is gone”.

Well, that was interesting!

He then said, “I know you’ve lost weight – but what have you been eating? What foods have you been avoiding”? I told him the basics of the diet, and that because of my reactions to it that the one food that had been completely eliminated was dairy; every time I had tried cheese on the diet it made me hungry, so I stopped eating it in February 2007.

Well, it was September 2007 and I had no eye infection. I told him about the re-feeding process and mentioned that the NEXT day was the day that I was supposed to add 1 oz of milk to my diet. He said “would you mind trying that today while you’re here? I have a theory.” So he called the front desk and asked them to bring back a carton of fat free milk. We measured off an ounce, and I drank it.

Wonder of wonders: my tongue swelled up! He said “congratulations, you have a full-blown milk allergy.”

Apparently the little bacteria causing the eye infection REALLY REALLY like milk and milk products. Until the 1st Personal Diet, I’d had dairy products every single day of my life: “Drink your milk! It’s good for you!”!

The better news? If at NEXT year’s exam I still don’t have any infection, they might consider me for an artificial lens, and I might get the sight back in my right eye. So, “Do the diet, regain your sight” is true for me!

ON REFEEDING
The whole refeeding process was interesting, as it is quite different than the regular diet in that you weigh yourself daily and your portion sizes and types of foods change daily – there’s a bit more involved in feeding yourself after 12 weeks (or in my case, 24 weeks) of doing the regular diet. As I began the refeeding process, I needed to determine my work schedule, and on some days I wasn’t able to cook for myself at lunchtime and dinnertime if I said 'yes' to a couple of meetings and events on my schedule. So, to remain "in the groove" of doing my own cooking, I had to arrange my schedule. However, the re-feeding process was less than two weeks, and scheduling wasn’t much of an issue.

[GailStout]

REGARDING CLOTHES:
One of my friends who finished the 1PD about a year ago said she continued to lose weight after refeeding, and that her body changed shape and size even after she was completely off the diet after refeeding. That was true for me as well.

While I was losing weight I literally HAD NO CLOTHES :-) -- but I didn’t want to do real shopping until I was sure my body was somewhere close to a final size! So, what to do?

I spent a lot of time in thrift shops. As I was losing weight I’d often go through a size or two in a week….or stay at the same size for a month or so. I’d drop off my big clothes at the back of the thrift shop (doing that is important, more on this later!) and go around to the front of the shop and buy what I needed for the next couple of weeks, spending probably $15 USD at the most at any one time.

I bought nothing that wasn’t “designer”…and why spend $100 on a pair of pants you’ll wear for ten days if you can get them for $3?

There are a few tips & tricks to Thrift Shopping:
1) If you’re hesitant about “used” clothing: Think of it as the ULTIMATE in green living! Recycling R Us! You rotate clothes through like one would borrow a book at the public library, donating your larger size clothing and having use of the next size for a few weeks. The donations you make are tax-deductible, and the money you spend at the shop goes to a good cause.
2) Finding “nice” clothes at the Thrift Shop: go to a thrift shop near a larger city with a population of professional women (I live in a university town with lots of professors, doctors, lawyers, etc.). Many of these women must, necessarily, replace their wardrobes on an annual or semi-annual basis and are world-conscious enough to donate their clothing to good causes. What this means for you is that you have well-made, basically new designer label clothing available to you and at bargain prices!
3) ALWAYS GET RID OF YOUR “BIG” clothes – no matter how special they are or how important “oh, I wore that on that wonderful trip to…” – having larger sizes in your closet makes it SAFE for you to go off your diet. This is NOT a good thing. If you only have size 12 in your closet, it’s not as easy to eat your way back into a size 16!
NOTE: Always keep the one BIGGEST pair of pants you owned – it’s quite fun to be able to take the “here I am with both legs fitting into one leg of my size 22 jeans” photo!

MORE ON CLOTHES:
The other thing I had to do before I began the 1st Personal Diet was to make sure my husband understood that a major weight loss would equal a COMPLETE WARDROBE REPLACEMENT. Actually, since it worked out that I had to do the program for 24 weeks to lose all of the weight required to succeed on the plan, I had nearly 24 weeks to save money to replace my wardrobe (which I did by not going out to eat, not buying as many groceries, and in general not spending money to get fat ;-)

The biggest surprise – even my FEET changed size! I had to replace everything from underpinnings to socks to nighties to coats and jackets to expensive cocktail dresses to snow boots!

Having me look the way I do now made my husband quite willing to buy the new wardrobe for me…in fact, he surprised me on our anniversary with a shopping trip in August where he picked out clothes for me which HE liked; something which he’d NEVER been able to do in 26 years of marriage (but had always wanted to do for me!). Shopping, at 257 pounds, is not fun, so we’d never done that before! HOW COOL to have a husband who likes to buy me clothes! I hadn't known I had one of those!

One of the best parts of that shopping trip was buying a leather jacket in a small leather goods shop. For the first time in my life, a saleswoman looked at me and said “you’re a size small, right?”. She didn’t quite understand why both my husband and I started giggling.

EVEN MORE ON CLOTHES:
If you do nothing else at the end of your weight loss, GET FITTED FOR THE PERFECT BRA! Go to a lingerie store where they know what they’re doing, and get fitted for the right size. I went from a size 42DD to a size 34D. HOWEVER, before I got fitted after re-feeding I’d chosen my own bras from the discount store (I never bought USED underwear at the thrift shop – that’s just too gross!)…but I was wearing 36Bs, not 34Ds – they worked, but were not particularly comfortable. When I finally got fitted and was wearing the correct bra size, I felt SO much better – I could even stand up straighter!

[GailStout]

ON YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER:
A couple of very interesting things happened to my husband and me while I was on this diet. Firstly, my husband became “The Vicarious Dieter”. There were several foods which I couldn’t keep in the house “safely” while I was actively on the diet because they made me too hungry even if I didn’t eat them: bacon, cheese, and bread topped that list. My husband was quite understanding about it, especially as he noticed that HE was losing weight as well – he actually lost nearly 40 pounds simply because he wasn’t eating the foods I wasn’t allowed to have! (It will be interesting to see if he keeps it off; so far he has done so!).

Another interesting part of the diet happened at the beginning. My husband was on a long term out of town assignment for nearly the first ten weeks of my diet. He left on February 15th, 2007, and I didn’t see him again until April 2nd. In that time, I’d dropped nearly 60 pounds. You should have SEEN his face when he saw me! (on the phone, he’d say “how’s it going” and I’d say “pretty well” ;-)

For about the next four weeks (remember I had to do the program two times) every time he saw me he’d just GIGGLE. I hadn’t realized how happy MY health and the way I looked would make him. I’ve NEVER seen him look at me like that before.

I’m now, officially, “my trophy wife.” Not a bad label at 47 years of age!

ON BEING “UNDERCOVER”
Because my job involves the school year and I did the most “amazing” part of my weight loss during the summer months, many people who knew me through school flat out did NOT RECOGNIZE ME in September when school started again. That was absolutely WEIRD – to have conversations with people who did NOT KNOW WHO I WAS, and whom I’d known, literally, for decades.

ON HELPING OTHERS
I keep thinking about the woman in my area who got on this diet FIRST – she’s now been off for about a year and a half, and has kept the weight off. There are probably 100s of people in Michigan who are now healthier because she happened to have a friend from Australia who’d done the diet! That’s what I love about the new website – that there is online, constant support available!

[mama]

Thank you so much for these inspiring posts!!!!

[GailStout]

My pleasure -- am awaiting YOURS :-)

[1pdadmin]

GAIL,

Thank you so much for your very inpiring posts and nice photos.

You are awesome !!! :flower:

GAIL'S PHOTOS - Before and after - what a girl !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[GailStout]

Thanks! :-) G

[Megsy]

MY HERO!!:dance:

Hi Gail - That has got to be THE most inspiring account on the success of this diet. Thankyou so much Gail for the detail of your journey, I picked up many tips and it also brought to my attention some things I hadn't even considered. Being near the end of my first week - my journey has just begun.
Reading your story (which I know I'll do over and over again...) signifies the multitude of aspects of your life that change - and all for the better!
I appreciate the time and effort you put into your post. Thankyou again and congratulations!
Megsy

[GailStout]

Thank you -- it was absolutely my pleasure -- and, actually, it is my responsibility to help you! Ask those questions!

[Hugentobler]

Thank you for sharing! I have printed off your story and am going to use it along my journey for inspiration. Your Before and after are amazing. It makes me want to take a picture of me now at the start of this diet (I don't have any fat pictures...I never let anyone take a picture.) so I can also see the amazing results at the end! Congrats!!!:)

[GailStout]

TAKE THOSE PHOTOS -- it's actually quite incredible by the end. I could NOT confront, however, MEASURING myself when I began. My daughter, the imp that she is, figured out that she could establish "before" and "after" measurements using a size chart from a clothing manufacturer with whom I'd owned "before" and "after" clothes.

The amount of inches lost is astonishing: 21 inches from my hips, 14 inches from my waist, and 14 inches from my chest (at least, according to the Land's End size chart)...

KEEP GOING!!! It's WORTH IT!

[flwrgrlie]

Gail,
You are amazing and your posts were really helpful to me. I'm on day 10 and feeling great! I can't wait to post my picture next to yours. Thank you for sharing your journey and success.

[GailStout]

Just keep going one day at a time!!! It gets easier every single day! Can't wait to see your AFTER photo!

[Shasha]

{hi} there GailStout

Dear Gail

When I read your very first post, I knew in a moment that you were a very special lady and that you had A STORY TO SHARE... and now you have gone and blown all of us over by doing just that!!!


WOOO00000OWW!!!!

Your Story is indeed nothing short of being 100%
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!!
Absolutely Awesome!!!

You are indeed a
Superincredimagnififantastigorgeoulistic
WOMAN!
(and, YES, I have just invented a new word in your honour!!)

By sharing your Story, you have shown all of us that MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN... but, often times, the answer lies in our very own hands... and what those hands place into our mouths...

I am so excited, because I know that YOUR STORY is going to CHANGE LIVES... YOUR STORY is going to bring HOPE... INSPIRATION and DETERMINATION to MANY, MANY, MANY PEOPLE!!!

I want to THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART for sharing your 1st Personal road to VICTORY with all of us - your post is only a day old and already 91 people have read it! I believe thousands more will still be inspired...

Most people do not realise how being overweight can be a severe handicap - until they break free from the problem and begin to walk in the solution... but that road to victory is not always easy and it can be difficult to maintain focus along the way. I see YOUR STORY bringing FOCUS and HOPE to many people who are on the road to VICTORY. People who may be wondering: will this work? Can I do it? These will find strenght in knowing that people like you have gone before... and been successful!!!

I rejoice especially with your health improvements and pray that you be able to receive a lens and regain the sight in your right eye :praying:

About your photo's:
You look so much younger, so much more beautiful, so much more lovely and so very radiant... not to mention your man - he just looks LIKE HE IS ON HONEYMOON AGAIN!!!

Well done 2 you, and to your family who stood by you!


YOU ARE OUR VERY OWN ON LINE HERO!!!

GailStout you are truly a BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE!!!
:bighug: GAILSTOUT :bighug:
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR SUCCESS WITH US!!
PS: Thank you DR COHEN for making this possible!
YOU have helped so very many people to transform their lives :-) we appreciate you!!!

[Shasha]

{congrats}
ON HAVING LOST 112 POUNDS !!!

{congrats}
ON HAVING GONE FROM A SIZE 22 TO A SIZE 6 !!!

{congrats}
ON KEEPING UP THE EXCELLENT PROGRESS
FOR ALMOST 6 MONTHS !!!


{king}
ALL OF US AT THE 1ST PERSONAL DIET TEAM
SOLUTE YOUR PROGRESS AND
SAY A HUGE BIG WELL DONE !!!!

[cyberella]

same here, dear gail!!!!
wwwoooooooooooooooooowww!!!
(i bow b4 u!!) :flower:

and thank u 4 sharing your story and 4 your time and effort!! {goodjob}
u're a star!! {king}

[GailStout]

:)Wow, I'm honored!

I don't know if this is going to sound real to anyone, but it's the absolute truth:
THIS WASN'T THAT HARD. It certainly took some organization, but it works so quickly and you have such dramatic results that "doing the diet" is EASY.

Just do what it tells you to do.

Don't do something ELSE.

The most important thing for everyone to remember is that your path is CLEARLY MARKED. Dr. Cohen has made it simple for anyone to do this and do well.

One Day At A Time.

Your Food Is Your Medicine, Take It As Prescribed.

And, The Gail Axiom: "EATING ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT IS PRESCRIBED IS LIKE EATING PLASTIC FRUIT -- AND HAS SIMILAR BENEFITS AS EATING PLASTIC FRUIT: ZERO! JUST SAY NO!!!!"

[jaynestart]

Wow! What an incredibale journey. You are truly an inspiration and if your story wasnt enough, the before and after photos sure are! Congratulations on your success. I hope to be able to share my (similar) story with you by the end of the year!
Jayne

[GailStout]

:flying:Thank you -- and I'm CERTAIN you will have a similar story when you're done! KEEP GOING! Gail:clapping3:

[queenmom]

WOW! I can definitely see why no one recognized you....you "changed" so much....I'm soooo proud of you!! I've lost 30 in my quest, and basically have 15 more to go.....it's truly "easy", and I'm telling everyone I know about it!!!!

[GailStout]

Good for you, Queenmom!!! It IS easy, isn't it??? I will say that the last 15 pounds for me took longer than the first 75 :-)...but they did COME OFF!!!!

KEEP GOING, and let's see YOUR photos! :-) G

[Tccfld]

Hi Gail- your story is so inspiring, thank you for sharing it. I am on my 3rd week on cohen and im loving it. I do feel a difference and did weigh myself (couldnt resist) and in 2 weeks I lost 11 lbs. not bad for someone who always has hard time loosing weight. Seeing your pictures and your progress modivates me more to stick and not cheat. Thank you. :)

[GailStout]

Hi there Tccfld! WELL DONE (and you're welcome)! If the only "cheating" you do is standing on the scale when you're not supposed to, you'll be fine! I did that as well at the end of the 2nd week, and then decided that if I started doing things that were NOT allowed I could end up doing things which would slow me down. It is WONDERFUL, however, to see those numbers go down on that scale!

Just wait til your "official" 4 week weigh in! You WON'T believe your eyes (I had to stand on the scale 15 times to make myself believe what I saw -- nearly 45 pounds lost!) :-)

KEEP GOING!!!

[GailStout]

Hi everyone! I'm officially at 6 months post-refeeding, and I wanted you all to know that the weight DOES stay off (with a little intention, and a lot of following "Life After the Diet" guidelines.)

Here I am at a college function at the end of February (my kids' college; a national service fraternity made me an honorary member!)

[GettinSkinny]

W-O-W!!!
{bouncing}


Gail, you look FABULOUS, just FABULOUS!! Congratulations on getting it off and keeping it off. You just look sooooooo great!!! I know from reading some of your other posts that the "afterlife" was a struggle for you in the beginning, but now your posts sound like you have settled into a lifestyle you can live with. I hope that's true for you anyway. Obviously, we'll never be able to eat like we used to, but I hope you have found a happy medium for yourself. Again, congratulations on your continued success!!!!

[GailStout]

Thanks! Yes it was, and continues to be, frustrating that I "can't eat what I want"...but that's not quite true...I CAN eat what I want, just not necessarily WHEN I WANT IT! (and that is where the intention comes in!)

The hardest part of refeeding for me was going from 5 fruits a day to one, as recommended in the "Life After The Diet" rules...the sweet reward of the taste of fruit was what I had used all through my six months on the diet as the replacement for anything "bad" (you know, brownies, chocolate chip cookies, etc.) I continue to have trouble replacing fruit, and I don't really like using artificial sweeteners to do it (diet pop, diet "cookies" with stevia and cinnamon, etc.)... So, that continues to be hard.

But otherwise, I like how I feel, and I like how I look, and I like how others communicate with me without a fat body inserting itself into every conversation.

And, by the way, the photo above was taken at my absolute heaviest since the re-feed...up 6 pounds at the time. Those are my FAT clothes! Gotta love that.

Thanks again! Gail

[mama]

W O W !!! Gail - You look like a college graduate ...

[WorthyQueen]

Wow Gail! You are so a trophy wife!!! How wonderful! You truly look fabulous!! Thank you so much for keeping us posted, it is really inspiring and a perfect reminder to ensure that I keep my intention in while on this program (even when I don't always feel like it), after all, that is what it comes down to. Thanks, so much!

[GailStout]

Thanks WorthyQueen!

Now it's YOUR turn to be the trophy!!! You've already lost 15 pounds! VERY Well done! Try to keep to the 5 hour schedule and DRINK THAT WATER (it makes every difference in how quickly the weight comes off!!!!). You can do this! (If I did it, ANYONE can do it!)

[Shasha]

:clapping3: WELL DONE GAIL :clapping3:

[Sarah Leigh]

Gail - I'm crying because I'm so moved & so inspired by what you've shared. Just thanks!!!!!

I have an idea for your daughter at college. does she have access to any kitchen facilities at all? when I was in college (22 years ago! How did that happen?) I did a different diet program - one of the ones that requires you to eat their food. I went to the head of the dining services & showed them what I was doing & got a credit for the board that had been paid for. I had an electric skillet in my room & a fridge & I just handled it all. So, if you're daughter has a fridge & access to some kitchen facilites & is willing to weigh & plan, she could totally do this! (and might even get some of the money back since she won't be availing herself of the dining hall).

Best of everything to her & to everyone! :dance:

[Hugentobler]

Gail- You continue to amaze me at how good you look. After a week at the same weight, I know that I can stick with this to the end and I might look as good as you! I have loved following your story. Your post on your "lessons" on the diet was one of the first post I read when I joined this diet. One I often reread...Thanks!

[GailStout]

Hi there Sarah Leigh! Thanks for the info for my daughter...there is a kitchen in her dorm, but she's not allowed to have anything other than an electric teapot/coffeepot and a microwave in her room. She says that it takes so long to "check out" appliances for the kitchen that it would never work in her schedule. She's only got a month left in this school year and will be in a different dorm next year, so maybe it will be easier. She's planning to do the diet during the summer (if she can find 12 weeks plus refeeding IN her summer break -- it might be too short for her to complete the diet before she goes back to school!) I know that she'll eat well if she's home this summer! She's not got that much to lose -- probably 30 pounds or so -- so dieting will be easier for her than it was for many of us.

I think that her willingness to go on the program at all at age 18 is another win for Dr. Cohen! My daughter KNOWS that HER body has the potential of doing what mine did if she's not careful about her diet; that Dr. Cohen has mapped out an easy way for an 18 year old to NEVER EVER become obese is awesome, as she knows to make changes NOW. I was 46 before I figured that out!

[GailStout]

Hi there Hugentobler -- I'm glad my posts have been helping!

I think it's really important for those of you still on the diet to keep in close contact with your consultants and ask questions if there are things about 1PD which you don't understand, are not working for you, are confusing, or are just not possible in your lives...and that's also where the forum comes in. I wrote that first post because those were all things about which I could find out NOTHING as there WAS NO FORUM when I did the diet! So, I'm glad the Forum is here for you and I'm glad it's useful for you.

I KNOW you can stick to this "until the end" -- but be warned that "the end" never really comes -- you have to follow Life After The Diet rules in order for the weight to STAY off! So you get to continue to create your amazing body every single day (that's NOT a bad thing!) and you KNOW you will succeed, because Dr. Cohen has made it easy to do. I really feel so much better and healthy that LOOKING better is still not really very important. (I can't lie and say I don't enjoy it -- or buying size 4 clothes -- but it's not as important as being healthy and UNMEDICATED!)

We've had lots of family events in the last several weeks, and the photos are beginning to be circulated -- I couldn't find myself in most of them. I think that's the NEXT phase of "1PD" for me: getting used to what I am NOW rather than keeping old pictures of myself in my head. The bottom line is that you're still YOU after the diet - you just have a new body (and, after all, a body is just a body -- YOU are the being whom your family and friends love!).

SO KEEP GOING! You're doing great!
Gail

[Maya]

SIMPLY - INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!{elmo}

[GailStout]

Thanks! Let us know how YOU'RE doing!!!

[CalamityJ]

Dear Gail,

Thank you for taking the time to write such a wonderful account of your journey!! It made me laugh and got me teary eyed multiple times throughout reading it. I'm sitting here still amazing emotional. I too am beginning my journey at the same point you did, 257 lbs.. I can't believe I let it get so far out of control. I injured my foot so I was unable to walk accept for short distances during the last eight months and lost my best friend to Cancer. We would have been celebrating our 43rd birthdays this week.
I just started 1PD seven days ago and have lost 16.6 lbs. so far.. So I am very excited. Reading your blog has been and inspiration, You look absolutely fabulous!! btw... Thanks again for leaving this for those of us just beginning our journey...

[GailStout]

Hi there "Calamity Jane"! THANK YOU, and VERY VERY WELL DONE to you for getting through an incredibly difficult time with an attitude that obviously is a MAJOR FACTOR in how well you'll do -- 16.6 lbs in 7 days (!(! :-) WOW! Keep going!

[MIMI]

Gail, you are a super woman, your story brought tears to my eyes. :crying: I am so proud of you and i know one day soon i will be right there with you. Thanks for sharing your amazing
story.:applause: MIMI

[GailStout]

NO CRYING! This is supposed to be FUN! :-) (And believe me, I AM having LOTS of fun!) You're more than welcome! G

[MIMI]

Tears of JOY for you and your success, not tears of sadness. Waiting to get where your at. MIMI

[GailStout]

Okay, then...and I can't wait either! :-) Come join the fun! G

[PhyllisRis]

GAIL....YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, THAT YOU ARE MY HERO, TOO!!! If it wasn't for that fateful dress rehearsal where I mentioned to you that "I need to lose weight" and how frustrated I was with my weight, I would still be "gettin' fat"!! I've lost 26 pounds since that night in late February 2008!!! I continue to thank God for bringing you to our trumpet section and into my life!!!

[GailStout]

Hey there diet buddy! :weights2:VERY VERY VERY WELL DONE! :innocent3:
26 pounds in just a month (you started in mid-July, right)?
:applause:That's AWESOME!

Keep it up, darlin, and I'll lend you my size 6 concert dress for your 'coming out' concert! Love, Gail

[Mei Mei]

Gail,
Awesome story. Thank you so much for sharing your lfie with all of us. What a blessing that your health changed so drastically! Really amazing.
Mary
PS Go Blue!

[GailStout]

My pleasure -- and congratulations to YOU for doing what I did NOT -- realizing that 23 pounds overweight is too much for a body to handle, and doing something about it NOW before it gets to the situation in which I found myself. Believe me -- that 23 pounds gone will make a difference in how you feel and how you live. GOOD FOR YOU! (And GO BLUE right back to you!) :-)

[PhyllisRis]

Well....it happened!!! I'm so excited!!! The secretaries in the office at school today noticed that I was slimming down and wanted to know how I was doing it!!!! smile!!
The one secretary was very interested cuz her husband needs to lose weight or she's afraid he'll have another heart attack!! I told her all about it and gave her the website. I hope he joins!
This whole journey is kinda scary.....I hope I can stick this out! And my skeptical scientific mind still wants to doubt that this is gonna work! I keep trying to shove those weird thoughts out of my mind....but it's hard.
Phyllis

[MyMiaBody]

Oh my gosh! How AMAZING!!!!! Wow!~ I am speechless!

[GailStout]

Phyllis & MyMia -- you CAN do this. My absolute favorite day in the first few weeks of the diet was the one where I was late getting up, late eating, behind in the shower, late for work...and I rushed to put on my pants and they fell to the floor AFTER I buttoned them. I hope you experience that SOON!...I know that if it's noticeable already you're doing GREAT.

Remember "YOUR FOOD IS YOUR MEDICINE. TAKE IT AS PRESCRIBED". That was my mantra through this whole process -- that I had to eat what was prescribed or I would, simply, die (sooner or later). 112 pounds later here I am.

GO GO GO!!!

[MyMiaBody]

Gail,I can only hope to be as successful as you!

[pumbza]

Hi there Gailstout I read your thread when I started and was so amazed at what YOU had done but the one most important thing I took away was the Mantra about food being my medicine and it has helped I have cut food out as something that I enjoy but rather as what I need or else I will die and that is literally as well!!I do miss the social side of food and I have always enjoyed food so a big chunk has been cut out of my life for this 12 weeks but hopefully things will get back to normally after DR COHEN!!!!YOU looked just so stunning and all the things YOU had to go through was amazing I am now nearing my hopefully last 4 weeks we will see I am still nervous about life after DR COHEN but we will cross that bridge when we get there!!Ha Ha!Have a GREAT DAY!!!:innocent3:Sorry just another question how did you get the photo on YOUR signature if that is not to much of a inconvience!!!

[Miss Chris]

Hi Gail,

I just read your story and It was so amazing and inspirational. I have double the amount of weight to lose. I am very determined and hope to be close to my goal by next year at this time. Thank you for sharing your journey.

Christine

[UnspeakableJoy]

Hello Gail! Your transformation is simply incredible! Congratulations on your success - you look stunning!

[GailStout]

Hi there Unspeakable Joy! I'm hoping that you're DOING VERY VERY WELL -- it looks like you're almost there!

[GailStout]

Keep going, MissChris -- you're doing so well!

[MrEd]

Gail is my Hero!!!!!

[GailStout]

Hi there! Phyllis says you're doing great! And from your ticker it looks like you're doing REALLY well! My first month I lost 40 pounds, so I'll bet your diet will go like mine! Just do what you're told, and don't do something ELSE! It's been almost a year since my last photo was published, and I'm the same weight. I've been to restaurants, on trips, to weddings, etc. etc. and I've kept it off. It's easy, it works, and I'm HEALTHY!!!! Keep it up!

[Shasha]

{hi} there Gail


It's been almost a year since my last photo was published, and I'm the same weight. I've been to restaurants, on trips, to weddings, etc. etc. and I've kept it off. It's easy, it works, and I'm HEALTHY!!!! Keep it up!


:clapping3: Excellent!! :clapping3: GREAT GOING!!

I am so very happy for you!!! :bighug:

[GailStout]

Thanks VERY much -- wouldn't have been able to do it without you and all the folks on the forum!

[alabama]

I will just have to chime in and say WOW! You are such an inspiration. I finally read your story a few days ago and was in tears over your triumph. It is amazing for us still on the journey to know that it IS possible and you CAN keep it off while living a normal, wonderful life. Thank you thank you sooooooo much for sharing this and for coming back to encourage those on the road to health.

God bless you!!
Bonnie

[GailStout]

Look at how well you're doing (I LOVE the tickers -- they didn't exist when I was doing the diet in early 2007) ! You're most welcome. I can only repeat, over and over, that being HEALTHY, not having to take drugs every day to stay alive, and being able to carry a load of laundry up two flights of stairs without wheezing is MY win.

I can't deny that I like being able to wear a size 6 and that I still get double takes from people whom I haven't seen in a year, but the bottom line is that I'm HEALTHY.

DO WELL!

[PINKED]

I love how detailed you have shared your story. I'm just starting my journey to THIN with 1PD as today is my first 'official' day.

I loved how you shared how you saved money....the grocery bill, eating out, rotating clothes. I'm so glad that those who have walked the path ahead of me are so willing to share their inside knowledge and tips.

YOU LOOK FANTASTIC!!!! 12-weeks from now, SO WILL I!!!

Thank you, Gail, for being such an inspiration!

[GailStout]

Of course you will! Shhh...the secret is that this is pretty easy; I mean, how hard is it to do what you're told, right? :-) Do well!

[Ann Anderson]

Thank you for taking time to post and be an encouragement to all of us. My name is Ann and I have done the program for 4 weeks and have lost 17 pounds, I have about 25 more to go. I also live in Michigan. We are in Pinckney, what second hand store do you use in Ann Arbor. Love your story and am blessed that you care to share it with us and motivate us with your success. Congrats!!!!!!!

[GailStout]

Hi Ann! Well done! There are quite a few of us here in sunny, springlike Ann Arbor! :-)

I usually go to the Salvation Army Thrift Shop in Ann Arbor, as it's the largest and seems to get the most turnover in donations. Within a block (on South Industrial) is the PTO Thrift Shop which sometimes has what you need but is much smaller. The other place I've been is Value World in Maple Village near the intersection of Maple and Dexter-Ann Arbor. That one is definitely for "work on projects at home" clothes. I've never ventured to any other stores, but I think there's another consignment shop on or near South Industrial which has more business-oriented workwear (but it's more expensive).

[PhyllisRis]

Hey Ann....you and Gail and I will have to get together for a 1PD Lunch sometime!!! We all live nearby!!! I'm in Dexter!!
And I've been a "regular" at the Salvation Army store in Ann Arbor, too.... I have yet to do the Value World thing as I've heard there are no dressing rooms and people tend to try on stuff in the aisles...kind of freaks me out....but maybe one day I'll venture there!
Phyllis

[Ann Anderson]

Hi Phyllis, Yes we do live very close to one another, I will be on your road in the morning on my way to church at Ann Arbor Baptist. Wow your ticker progress was amazing to see you have done well. I have not ate out on this plan yet other than bringing my own food and pulling out my own food at the restaurant. I am very concerned about not deviating, I had to go get my blood draw for the 4 weeks yesterday. I am going nuts trying to figure out how my ticker can be displayed. I feel so foolish and not computer savy, I have never cut pasted or copied anything. Yikes! By the way how did you hear about 1PD?

[Ann Anderson]

Hi Gail, Thanks for the used clothes tips. I can not imagine how quickly you shrunk into smaller sizes. By the way did you have any soup recipes that you really like I could use an alternative to the cohen chili. Thanks

[PhyllisRis]

Hi Ann....I found out about 1PD through Gail!! She is a member of my trumpet section in the Dexter Community Band and a year ago this month I sat down next to her, set up all my trumpet "stuff" and sighed deeply and said, "I have GOT to do something about my weight!" I was totally exhausted and everything on my body hurt! Gail heard me and said, "I know exactly what you mean!"....and I thought, yeah, sure, here's this skinny thing telling me she knows all about being so overweight! Then she proceeded to tell me that she lost 112 pounds! That's what saved my life! She told me about 1PD and then the next day I researched the website! It sounded very scientific and PROMISING!!! From that point on Gail has been my mentor! I had several major things happening in my life over the next few months (my daughter's graduation week at the Air Force Academy, traveling for a week to CA to visit our son and daughter-in-law, remodeling our kitchen, throwing an open house for our daughter back here in Michigan, etc.) all of which would have made being on the diet very difficult. So I postponed starting until July. Meanwhile I started being more careful about what I was eating and lost 10 pounds prior to starting 1PD....so all told, I've really lost 98 pounds since Feb. 2008!!!
LIFE IS GOOD NOW!!!! And....I'm making progress!!!! YEA!!
How did YOU hear about 1PD??

Phyllis

[GailStout]

And Phyllis is gettin' to be a skinny thing too!

[PhyllisRis]

THAT'S scary!!! The other day a teacher stuck her head in my office on her way home and told me that I was getting pretty sexy!!! NOW THAT'S SCARY TOO!!! I've NEVER considered myself sexy!!!
Phyllis

[GailStout]

When you start grumbling about how you keep waking up at night because your knee bones are sharp and rubbing together ALONG with being cold all the time...that's pretty much a daily definition of 'sexy' for me :-)

[MrEd]

THAT'S scary!!! The other day a teacher stuck her head in my office on her way home and told me that I was getting pretty sexy!!! NOW THAT'S SCARY TOO!!! I've NEVER considered myself sexy!!!
Phyllis

No more slinky clothes at school for you ;P

[Shasha]

{hi} there Phyllis

OoooH! I’m sure that you’re becoming a REAL HOTTIE!!! :flirt:

Can’t wait to see your AFTER photo’s!!! :rolling2:

[GailStout]

Phyllis has become unrecognizable except for the dimples...and it's a good look for her.

[PhyllisRis]

I do not have dimples....at least not where you can see them!!!!
:)

People stop me in the halls and tell me how good I'm looking....sometimes I feel like a show pony!!! Sometimes it's exciting...sometimes it's annoying!
Phyllis

[GailStout]

You really DON'T know how cute you look right now, do you? YES YOU DO, sweetie :-)

And make sure you USE that admiration-al (:-) energy! That stuff helps when you go through all those food holidays -- especially THIS month!

[Shasha]

{hi} there Phyllis

Try to “eat” and “enjoy” each compliment – you have worked very hard for them!! {cheerleader}

Gail: you’re the best!! :bighug:

[PINKED]

People stop me in the halls and tell me how good I'm looking....sometimes I feel like a show pony!!! Sometimes it's exciting...sometimes it's annoying!
Phyllis[/QUOTE]

Phyllis - I'm sure you are INSPIRING others to be healthy! That's a GREAT THING!

[angkitty]

WOW Gail, you look absolutely amazing. Thanks so much for the detailed information. I'm just starting out this week. I especially find your traveling tips helpful. Ironically I'll be traveling the opposite then the trip you discribed. I'm living in Tampa but will be in Michigan, where I'm from, for a weekend to attend my bridal shower. The trips in a month and I think I'll be great everyday by bringing my scale and preparing in advance. I'm just worried about the Saturday of the shower. I don't want to offend my family who's throwing the event by not eating the food. I believe I'll try to do what you suggested and call ahead to see if they'll prepare something special for the bride-to-be! Then after that my girlfirends want to take me to dinner that night and out to the bars for a bacholerette party. I know people will think it's one day and I should just cheat. Also, I think it would be harder getting them to prepare something for me so maybe I'll just have to eat before hand and drink lots of water while everyone else eats their dinner. I think I'd get even a harder time on the alcohol issue so I'm not even going to mention it and I'll just drink my usual club soda with a lime minus the vodka. :)

[GailStout]

VERY well done on doing this with such determination during such an incredibly busy time of your life! I don't know that I'd be so brave. You will definitely be FINE keeping to your plan.

Some pieces of advice on your trip to Michigan:

- EVERYONE on this planet knows that Brides To Be can be stressed, demanding, overwhelmed, and emotional. It's part of the deal. HOWEVER, when you speak next to those family members who are throwing the shower, tell them EXACTLY what you're doing to fit into that gorgeous dress and that you need THEIR help. If the shower is at a restaurant, tell them what foods you need available to you. If it's at a home, tell them what foods you need available to you. There is absolutely NO reason that everyone should not be HELPING you -- you're the BRIDE! Make them part of the "conspiracy to look fabulous" and they'll TRIP over themselves to make the day perfect for you.

- For the bachlorette party & dinner, do NOT cheat -- you'll feel HORRIBLE the next day (remember "One cheat equals ONE WEEK of diet slow down!"). If THEY wan't to go out to dinner, that's fine. The same thought applies from above: Your bridesmaids are there to SUPPORT you! Make sure they DO that!

Make sure you've eaten before you go with them to a restaurant. One note: being at a restaurant was INCREDIBLY difficult for me while I was on the diet -- sitting at a table filled with all these foods I LOVED that everyone ELSE was eating is not fun. You're the Bride -- ask them to go to a place where you KNOW you wouldn't LOVE the food, so it will be easier for you to sit at the table with them while THEY eat! Either that, or think of them eating plastic food and getting fat ;-).

When I was on the diet and went to a party, I asked the bartender to make me an incredibly PRETTY diet soda -- umbrellas, lights, you name it to make it special! I PAID for a mixed drink and tipped as if it were a mixed drink, I got a diet soda, and you can too and be celebrated like a BRIDE!

And, if you're anywhere near Ann Arbor, let me know -- we can have crackers and club soda together! Do well!

[vbrodie]

THAT'S scary!!! The other day a teacher stuck her head in my office on her way home and told me that I was getting pretty sexy!!! NOW THAT'S SCARY TOO!!! I've NEVER considered myself sexy!!!
Phyllis

Wooohoooo! Now that is something to celebrate!! {wave}
You have done an amazing job and I am sure are an inspiration to all of those around you!

When I hit 98lbs down, I will absolutely be showing it off. Of course, with the utmost taste!! ;)

Are there photos posted? I would love to see the before and after..

Well done!!

Victoria

[PhyllisRis]

Hi AngKitty!!! Congrats on making the committment to a healthy and happy YOU!!! Tell those people who might tempt you with "it's only one day...so cheat" that you've made a COMMITTMENT to this diet much the same way as you will be making the committment to your husband that you will not cheat on HIM!!! Ask them if they would tempt you with cheating on your husband??? If they say "no" then tell them NOT to tempt you to cheat on your diet either!!! If they are truly your friends they will support you on your road to health and happiness!!! :)
Congrats and stay TOUGH!!! Glad to have you on the 1PD Bus!!!
Phyllis

[Ann Anderson]

Hi everyone, Reading these posts makes me laugh. Phyllis the show pony, I hope the complements keep coming your way, your awesome. People have noriced my weight loss just in the past couple weeks. I am a hair stylist so my customers have not seen me in a month so they really notice. Also I do hair a couple days a week at an assisted living and a couple of the residents noticed and asked if I have lost weight. My weight now is 161.4 so my mind is focusing now on getting into the 150's . I bought myself a coach bag for my 20 pound loss. I have been on program with out cheating now for 5 weeks. I really have to stay focused to try and make refeed at 12 weeks. I had my blood test last week but have not heard anything as of yet. Keep up the decication wveryone and have a good weekend. Ann

[Shasha]

Hi there Ann Anderson

{congrats} on having lost over 20 pounds :clapping3: I’m so very happy for you!!!

{goodjob} on not cheating once in 5 weeks!!!


WAY TO GO GIRL!! Please keep up the good work! {cheerleader}