The Cookie Diet

Hello. I am in Montreal. I started the program on Tuesday, September 26th, so today is my 4th day. I found the second day kind of tough, and the 3rd day I was feeling very fatigued. I called the clinic and they told me to drink Propel water. You are allowed up to 2 bottles a day. It really did make a difference. Thanks for the tip on spraying some butter substitute on the blueberry cookie. So far it's the only one I don't like. The chocolate cookie is pretty good with some Waldens Farms apricot spread on it.
I am glad to find other people on the program here. It always helps to get shared knowledge. I look forward to hearing about everyone's progress, and I will share my own.
By the way, does anyone have a good recipe for Tilapia?

Cherie.

Tova,
I am in Boca Raton, also, and I think I may have started a little earlier than you..
I gained a huge amount of weight in 4 years - from illness, stopping exercising, etc. I also had untreated thyroid disease. I am healthier now, and on thryoid medication, but had to lose so much weight.
I have lost 36 pounds so far.

Do you think the cookies are as helpful as the old Siegel cookies? Have you tried the old cookies? I do miss them - we can still get some but I suspect they won't be available for long. I wonder why Siegel terminated his agreement.

Tova,
I also hope you have a good Yom Kippur on Monday.

Molly

I am morbidly obese and weighed 304 lbs (5'4"-49 years old) on Sept. 26, when I started this diet. If I don't do something very quickly, I will need to start taking meds as my blood pressure and blood sugars (type II diabetes) are very high. I lost 124 lbs back in 2001, but after some bad surgery, I regained the weight.

I love the staff at my clinic. Very supportive, even calling me at home several times to see how I'm doing. They've acknowledged that I CAN lose weight, but that the maintenance program needs to be very intensive for me since I have a history of regaining.

That being said, I lost -0- day 1, 4 lbs. day 2, 4 lbs. day 3 and 2 lbs. day 4. That's 10 lbs in 3 days. I knew I'd probably lose 12 the first week, just because.. well, because I'm really really fat!

I also wanted to mention that my clinic gave me a 3 page printout of frozen dinners from the grocery store that I could use for dinner. It just needs to be 6 grams fat (or less, 40 grams carb (or less) and at least 20 grams of protein. Makes it alot easier to stick to the plan when you can have salisbury steak with mashed potatoes for dinner.

So glad I found this site, and hope to visit often!

Hi Cindy,

Good luck! Like you I have a lot of weight to lose. Lost 9lbs the first day. My center gave me the frozen food list too, but keep in mind they are high in sodium and not as filling as say a huge salad w/6oz of grilled chix on top. Much healther and much more filling. I spent my first week eating salads and today went out to eat. Just had grilled chix and steamed veggies, I was full when I left. This site is great as long as the people who post are in favor of this diet otherwise don't bother reading what they have to say.

Looking forward to hearing how your first week went.

Hi Cindy and Kim. I started the diet on September 26th and I weigh 415 pounds. Yes, I know. It is a shocking amount. I can't believe I got that high. It is the most I have ever weighed. I also have a history of losing and gaining. My first weigh in is on Tuesday, October 3rd. I am quite curious to see how much I have lost. Today is my fifth day on the program and it is going quite well. The clinic also gave me some appetite suppressing pills I could take if I needed them, but I haven't so far. I know I will have to be on this program for a long, long time, but I try not to think about that and just take it day by day.
The first four days of the diet I had chicken with salad and vegetables for my dinner. Tonight I had canned tuna, steamed broccoli and a tossed salad. The Walden Farms honey dijon salad dressing is quite good. However, I didn't find the tuna as filling as the chicken. This coming week I am going to try some tilapia. I have never been a big fan of fish but I think I will have to learn to like it because I can't foresee eating nothing but chicken for months on end. The clinic did tell me that I can buy Eggbeaters or other equivalent products and make scrambled eggs or an omelet. I think that should be quite good.
Do you think that those of us at a very high weight will lose more than the 12 to 15 pounds per month estimated?

Cherie.

Cherie, I expect to lose more the first month at least and you may lose more due to the amount you need to lose. I have a girlfriend you lost 30-40 her first month on atkins, so I know it is possible for girls to lose fast too. You may have to "shake things up" and incorporate exercise, but I'm certain you'll do well. I haven't used the suppressants either, because I had a stressful week at work and my pulse was already racing. We'll see as time goes on how I do.

Kim, as far as eating "real" food instead of the dinners, this is better for me. I'm always hungry, no amount of plain chicken/fish and salad is going to fill me up. I can eat a whole supreme pizza and still be hungry. Bloated, but still hungry. The key for me will be sticking to it, and at this stage I won't stick with a boring dinner. The frozen dinners give me the chance to feel like I'm not dieting by eating fun foods that taste really good. As far as them being less healthy, whatever I can stick to to take the weight off quickly and reduce my BS&BP is best for me. Later I can change my routine, but for now, the simplicity of it as well as the tastiness is key in keeping me on program.

Thanks for everyone's well wishes!

Cindy and Cherie good luck to you..
They told us to limit the frozen dinners to no more than 2 a week.. did they tell you that also? And no exercise the first month as it would slow your weight loss down..

My question? does everyone eat all 6 cookies a day.. I am thinking of just eating 3 or so a day and see how that works.. what do you think?

They didn't tell me that, and it's not on the pamphlet they gave me. I'm not too concerned about it now, but if I ever reach the stall point, I'll switch things up.

You should definitely eat all cookies a day, so you get in your fiber and protein. Calories are extremely restricted as is, so you don't want to cut back any futher.

I'm down another pound today, so that's 11 since Wednesday. My weight when I started was where I'd been for a while, so this I'm not just losing weight I'd "just" gained.

Have a super Sunday!

Cindy, thanks so much for your encouragement. I am in Canada, and I didn't get the list of allowable frozen dinners. If you have a chance would you list a few of them on this blog? Are there any Lean Cuisine on the list?
Nancy, I was told you have to eat all six cookies because if you go below the 800 calories a day your body's metabolism will go into starvation mode and you won't lose weight. Ironically you must keep the calories up to 800 a day in order to lose weight.
These first few weeks I am sticking close to home and not eating out at all. Next Friday I have an evening business meeting that I must attend. Dinner is ordered in for everybody, usually pizza or Chinese food. I figure I will bring my dinner with me. A container of cut-up cooked chicken, some steamed vegetables that taste good cold, and a salad. I will add the Walden Farms dressing just before I eat, and then eat my own dinner along with everyone else. I live alone, and so that will be my first big challenge, being around all that other food. I will try to play it down at the meeting, because I find as soon as people find out you are on a weight-loss program you start getting tons of questions. Especially if you are as big as me, you get a lot of backhanded comments about keeling over from a heart attack, et cetera. It's always open season on fat people.
Cherie.

Cherie, would you please email me @ cindy.dobie@ncmc.com? Maybe I can fax the pages to you. There are three, and there are Lean Cuisine, Smart Choice, etc..

Since we started the same day, it may be fun to stay in closer contact.

I'm flying to Wisconsin on Thursday for a wedding and won't get home until Saturday night. I'm not sure how this is going to work, but I'll probably have a protein shake for my dinner on Thursday, and I'll just pick at the wedding dinner. I'm sure it's not going to kill me!

I'm taking the appetite suppressant today, and I actually think it's helping. I took 1/2 pill when I got up and another at noon so I don't get too jittery. That freaks me out.

That email address is work, but I'll get it tomorrow where my fax machine is. I'll give you my home email address when I hear from you.

Nice chatting!

Hi everyone,

I'm from Pennsylvania (Philadelphia suburbs). I started on the diet on September 15 and so far have lost 8 1/2 lbs as of last weigh in (6 lbs 1st week, 2 1/2 the next week). Not alot but alot more than I ever lost this quickly on any of the many other programs I've been on. The doc at my center told me that I could keep on exercising since I was going to Curves already. He said if I hadn't started months ago he would tell me to hold off for the first month, but since my body was used to going 3 times a week, I could keep going (just had to go at a slower pace than I was used to and was told not to break a sweat). Don't know if that's why I only lost 2 1/2 the 2nd week or not. I've also been told that weight loss fluctuates, that's why they go by monthly weight lost. One week I lose 2 1/2, but next week could lose 5 or 6. Who knows. Just taking it 1 day at a time.

Molly - If you look at the post from Jenny from Tampa on Sept. 25 (page 8 of this blog), she tells the story of why Dr. Siegel's involvement was terminated. Something about the centers wanting to offer more choices and wanting to publish the ingredients on the packaging and Dr. Siegel didn't want to do those things.

Cindy - My center tells me that the appetite suppresants are just apple cider vinegar and chromium picolinate. Nothing to make you jittery. Check with your center to see if they use the same stuff.

Cherie - Stick to your guns. You can do it. Last night I went to a b-day party for my brother and nephew and they had pizza. Lots of it. One of my favorites. I went to the party armed with my little dinner container of chicken, broc., and grean beans and kept reminding myself the whole time I was eating them (while my family and my brother's in-laws (about 30 people total) sat all around me eating yummy pizza) that I was doing the right thing and that if I broke for the pizza, it would take me longer to get the weight off and getting rid of the fat rolls on my body was more important than a slice or 2 of pizza. It was hard, but I had to do it for myself. Another idea is that you can have the chinese. You can order chicken and broc. and get it steamed with no sauce and no rice. They steam everything (not as good without the sauce, but it does the trick). You get chicken, broc. and sometimes a few carrots. All on the program. It works in a pinch.

I found this blog before I started the program and it has been so helpful. It helped me decide that I would keep my appointment to start the program. I check it just about evey day. It was encouraging before I started and even more encouraging now. It helps to talk to people who are on the same program and to see what different people are hearing from their different centers. Looking forward to seeing all of your posts and chatting with you. Keep up the good work. You all can do it.

Hi Christine. Thanks for writing in. I am very relieved to hear what the appetite suppresants contain. I was afraid to take them before. Any suggestions on the best times to take them?

Cherie.

Cherie & Christine,

My appetite suppressants are Phentermine, which definitely can raise your heart rate. Apple cider vinegar and chromium picolinate are both touted to aid in weight loss (chromium is supposed to help insulin levels), but I've never heard of either one being credited with suppressing appetite. All of my supplements say what they are right on the bottle, and with the exception of the Phentermine, the others are multi vitamin, calcium, B6 and laxitive/stool softener (if needed).

Down 12 lbs in 5 days, and tomorrow is weigh-in. I'll be back to post my weekly total at that time.

Do any of you weight yourself daily? I am on my 7th day and my official first weight in this afternoon- I think I have only lost 1 pound. Over the week at best, I was down 3 pounds- but it seems to fluctuate and I have been strict. Does one's menstrual cycle play into the weight equation?

Christine, the appetite suppressants I got were not what you received. I suggest each individual check their supplements to confirm what they've received. I'd hate for anyone to assume they received the same thing you did. Mine is an actual medication and definitely raises your pulse.

I hate to admit that I'm a scale hopper and weigh myself several times a day. Bad, bad girl!

Hi Lynnboston. Your menstrual cycle definitely plays a factor in what the scale will show. Most of us retain water during that time. Your clinic is used to that and will take it into account, so don't be discouraged. As for weighing myself every day, I don't have a scale at home because I know I would drive myself crazy with it.

Cindi, thanks for the heads up on the appetite suppressants. I will check with my clinic to find out exactly what they gave me.

Hi Cherie.

Haven't had to take the appetite suppressants (yet). They were out of them when I saw the doc on my first day so he said to let them know if I needed them later. So far, so good. My weigh in is Thursday and I don't have to see the doc until next week (when I'll be finished my first 28 day month) so we'll see what he has to say. The staff at my center tell me to call if I have any questions and I call here and there. Maybe you can give them a call and they might have some suggestions. Wish I could help.

Lynnboston - I do hop on my scale every day, but it's a bad habit I need to break. It gets frustrating when you go for a couple of days and see no drop. Then 3 or 4 days later you drop a lb. plus. My scale never matches theirs on the same day. They tell me they give me 2 lbs. for clothes. Sometimes the next morning when I'm just in a light nightshirt it actually matches what they told me the night before and sometimes a little more. I suppose your mentrual cycle can play a part. Mine always did on former diets. I would lose nothing (or gain a lb.) from the day before until the day after it was all over. Then I'd drop 2 lbs. the next weight in. I figure I was holding a lb. or so of water. This time I had my period on my first weigh in and lost 6 lbs. Thought I would see a difference the next week but only lost 2 1/2 so I don't think that was the problem. I guess since the sodium intake is so much less than what I used to take in that I'm not retaining much. I know the first week was a lot of fluid retention that I was getting rid of. I just take it 1 day at a time. I've been very strict too (too afraid to deviate because I'm afraid I'll gain and the sooner I'm finished the program the better - save me some $$). Good luck on your weigh in tonight. You probably lost more than you think you did. Let us know tomorrow how you did.

Has anyone else tried the Egg Beaters? I saw a few pages ago that someone had mentioned we could have them so I asked at my center. They told me to have the whole box because that was the amount of calories and protein I needed for my dinner. I had it with some peppers and onions and a little cheese. Way too much food for me. Took up the whole plate. Think I'll cut down on the Egg Beaters and up the cheese next time.

Hi folks, this is an awesome discussion on the cookie diet - but soon I'm going to have to close the thread.

The huge number of comments (over 330) is beginning to slow down the web-site. I hate being a party-pooper but you will need to look at using a dedicated forum/message board website - such as DietTalk.com.

There is a Cookie Diet group that just formed on Yahoo Groups. The url is cookiediet-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

There are only two of us in the group right now, but if some of you would like to join it would be great. It is absolutely free and we will be able to post as much as we like. Just a suggestion.

Hi all, I have been very moved by the notes I am reading from Tova and Christine and Lynn and Cherie and Kim and everyone else who is on the diet. As a result of your words, I thought I would tell you my story of success on this program... Hopefully it will help you!

I met Dr siegel in 2005 and have basically been on the cookie diet (or a form of it) ever since. When I first met the DR, my blood tests were totally messed up and, of course, I was overweight. The cookie diet/the doctor/the whole program was my savior!! The doctor regulated my thyroid, got me to give up those evil carbs and pay closer attention to what mattered most - my health!!

I have always worked out, but now I can do it without covering every inch of my body in long, wide t-shirts and leggings so that no one would see what I look like underneath. I feel great and I am happy. and by the way, I now wear a size 8 - sometimes, even a 6!

I encourage all of you who are starting out, or any of you who have been at it for a while and have more to lose. This program works!! You can and will do it as long as you put your mind to it - and you can even cheat once a month. We are all human and need to do that every once and awhile. Don't beat yourself up - just know what you are doing. You will stop - just remember what you looked like and felt like on day one and how far you have come. That always works for me.

And, if you don't exercise, start walking today - the fall is a wonderful time to begin. You will feel so great once you do. And keep the carbs out of your life - no bread, no pasta, no potatoes, no sugar, etc - that's the biggest problem with our culture. Nutritionists tout low fat as the answer - when, in fact, that is what made us the fattest society on earth!!

I still have a little bit more to lose - but as I near my goal, I know that I will soon be in the best shape I have EVER been in - because I have a great plan - I am in great health and have a great attitude - thanks to Dr Siegel!! (and from reading all of the inspirational notes that you folks have posted)

and for all of the people who are trashing this program and discouraging the good folks who are working hard at losing - go sell your goods elsewhere. Start your own blog and preach to those who haven't found something that really works - But don't tell any one of us that what we are doing is wrong - because you don't know what you are talking about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good work Cherie. The URL for the Cookie Diet group is:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cookiediet/

Just go there and click "Join This Group".

Good luck to all. Comments now closed.