Cohen's Lifestyle Starting Cohens -my journey

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Daleo

New member
I'm 44 and strangley have never been more happier in my life, but realize how much more fullfilling my life could be if I was'nt 44kg overweight! I have peaked at 113kg and gone past the point of concern - comments of people asking when my baby due (which normally would have spiralled me into a
depression eating session followed by some new fat diet.) don't seem to hurt me??? I have grown numb to all the negative chibs. Recently I started thinking that stomach stappling must be the only way that I will ever get to my real size and the thought really scares me. It is a risk, it is a risk with
the operation, with complictations and long term effects - not everyone has
postive stories with the stomach stapling - so I got thinking why not just stick to an eating plan that works and keep the weight off forwever. I did Cohens 4 years ago and lost 33kg (momentarily) and I did not do the maintence programme. I felt and looked brillant and I told myself that I could keep this weight off as it felt so good being so slim. However (as they tell you) if you don;t do the maintence part of the programme, you end up going past your starting point and adding an extra 10kg and true to form that happened.
This time I fully understand that loosing the weight is only half of the programme and is only half way!!! the mainteince is the 2nd half and is the most vital and important.
This time around I have really mentally started preparing myself. I have practice self talk senerios for when I meet challenges, I have defrosted all my fridges and cleaned the pantry. I only just had my first blood test and I am waiting to receive my diet plan. Like most of you, I don't want to tell anyone I am on the Cohens as there are too many knockers of the plan. It does work and I believe in it and I am so inspired by the success stories. I would just like to use this forum to share my experience and be proped up when any negative thought processes start. I have a vision of a slim healthy me and I would love any support to get me to my goal and likewise I would love to give others a pat on the back too.
 
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Welcome to the forum Daleo, you have come to the right place for support :) the ladies on this forum are such lovely people and have some great advice to share.

Well done for mentally preparing yourself for the program, it is one of the hardest parts! I am on maintenance but went a little bit full steam ahead into it and have picked up 3kgs, so as of tomorrow I am back on plan until I can loose these kgs so I'll be around to support and will need to support also!! It all helps so much :)

Take care and look forward to joining you on your cohens journey :)

Kristy
 
Daleo - welcome to the forums! :) You'd find a supportive group here. Looking forward to hearing your journey.
 
Hi Daleo & a big welcome to you. It sounds like you're in the right head-space to blitz this! You're well prepared & sound really determined & positive. Good for you! I just got back from a few days away & am tired, but will catch up again very soon. Cheers, Cate
 
Thanks for the support everyone!!
Day 4 on Cohen's and feeling like crap. I've had a few moments when I was going for the bread and peanut butter sandwich plus etc- and the fat me saying "I can start this again on Monday" but I reminded myself how I would feel after the binge and that it would be only harder the next time I tried to start. Nothing can taste as good as success and I so want to be healthy and active and not the low energy person I am.
So I am still detoxing - headache, nauous, grumpy!!! - but I have such a hectic life, I just have to focus what the task is infront of me and not look too far forward. Having difficultly planning meals - have got caught out already but just do the best I can and stay focused and try not to think too much about my diet.
 
Well done on resisting that sandwich and sticking to the program. The first week or so is hard to change your habits and mind sets but once your through this week you'll be feeling great and the little things that come along with cohens will be come second nature.

Keep up the great work. Just keep in mind that first weigh in!
 
Hey Daleo, sorry to hear that your first week isn't so pleasant but am sure that you know from your previous experience that it would get better. This time, you'd continue all the way to refeeding and successful maintenance! :)
 
By now Daleo hopefully you are starting to feel a little bit better as your body detoxes. Try to rest as often as you can and do something pleasant & relaxing like getting a massage if you can find the time. Cheers, cate.
 
Well week 1 over and its been a blurr, but I have stuck to it. I think the 1st week is the worst. I have'nt weighed myself (as much as I would love to) but they say only do at 4 weeks. I know I have lost weight as my belt has gone in 2 notches!! The size 22 long pants I only bought 3 weeks ago - fall down on me so had to put the belt on.
Still must be detoxing as still not feeling "in the zone" but getting better. Finding it hard with the blandness of the food - but its my medicine and this is what I want to do.
Thanks all. Motivation is still 10/10 !!!!
 
Daleo said:
Well week 1 over and its been a blurr, but I have stuck to it. I think the 1st week is the worst. I have'nt weighed myself (as much as I would love to) but they say only do at 4 weeks. I know I have lost weight as my belt has gone in 2 notches!! The size 22 long pants I only bought 3 weeks ago - fall down on me so had to put the belt on.
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Week 1 is by far the worst & it will get much better very soon. Well done on getting through it 100% with 10/10 motivation! When you are in the zone you will enjoy the ride. 2 notches already. WOW! Sounds like you were the size that I was. Well done also Daleo on not weighing because when you get to that first 4 weeks you will be jumping for joy!
Daleo said:
Still must be detoxing as still not feeling "in the zone" but getting better. Finding it hard with the blandness of the food - but its my medicine and this is what I want to do.
Thanks all. Motivation is still 10/10 !!!!
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When you feel that you are under control start experimenting with flavours, keeping within the guidelines of course. Parsley flakes & garlic salt are handy. Dried cumin, coriander & a little ginger add a nice flavour to soup or stir-fries. I used to use Balsamic as my flavouring in stir-fries & still do. I only buy a decent one as we don't eat much so it's worth eating well. Our steaks are so small that eye-fillet was my choice of steaks. Free-range chicken etc instead of caged, free-range eggs etc. Spoil yourself. You can justify the price when you see the portions.
Try to treat yourself along the way with a massage or a manicure or a pedicure. Buy few clothes as you go because almost as soon as you fit into one size you're shrinking out of it. Op shop shopping is a good alternative whilst on the program to buy temporary clothes. It's the ultimate in re-cycling.
Believe it will happen Daleo because it will if you follow Cohen's 100%. It felt like a miracle to me & still does. Happy losing, xo Cate
 
Hi Cate,
Thanks for your encouragement. You sound like someone that has really gained control.
How much weight did you loose and how long have you managed to keep it off? My goal is to reconzised that reaching my ideal weight is only half way -after all my life of yo yo dieting - the real goal is to establish a life long eating pattern that frees me from this terrible cycle I am in.
Today is day 10 and strange as it seems - I can see things clearer and starting to feel
alot better.
 
Hi Daleo. I lost 36kgs in 28 weeks early 2007 & have maintained my weight loss since then. I did settle up about 3kgs above my goal weight but I am happy with how I look. I exercise quite a bit these days & feel quite fit & active. I had a lifetime of yo-yo dieting but know that I will never be fat again! Doing Cohen's somehow changed how I look at food. I love food but I limit what I have & I eat well. The key is getting the balance & getting your head right. I have to constantly keep working on my self-esteem. I always will but that's ok too. We all deserve to be slim & healthy & happy, xo Cate
 
Thanks Cate - it would be great to get you to give me the boost/support I need at times. No-one knows I am doing this (including Husband has not noticed)

At the moment I am head down, bum up!
 
Daleo said:
Thanks Cate - it would be great to get you to give me the boost/support I need at times. No-one knows I am doing this (including Husband has not noticed)

At the moment I am head down, bum up!
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Husband has not noticed? I just sent him a mental kick up the bum! He'll be paying you more notice soon Daleo. More importantly you'll be paying yourself more notice. You are who is most important here. You will love it as you shed your excess weight as you drop down in sizes until you reach your Cohen's goal weight. Don't ever doubt that you can do it because you can. If I could anyone can! I'll be here for you Daleo. Work at boosting your self-esteem so that when the compliments come you will believe them. You will be slim Daleo, xo Cate
 
Day 16: Survived Easter with camping for 4 days surrounded by loads of BBQ's, pizza's, beer & wine etc - but I didnt go off the plan once! Next challenge - going away for weekend with 20 women to a dragon boat competition. I know I am not suppose to be doing heavy training, but I have been doing dragon boat racing for 6 months prior to Cohens. I will have to eat out one night - all I can do is guess the weights and stay focussed.
I have worked out my eating plan and how I can tackle the rest and I'm confident I can pull it off. People now starting to notice how much weight I have lost. Dying to weigh myself, but have resisted. Starting to feel more engerized and keeping active and not focusing on my diet.
 
Daleo= a woman up to a challenge & how! Well done on surviving Easter with camping & temptations galore. You are going to blitz this Daleo!
 
Hi Daleo.

Just reading through your diary. I must say congratulations on your control during Easter! It is always hard watching other people eat all of the yummy things. I have only just had my blood test today so I am waiting on my results and my plan, I can't wait!
I love reading everyones positive results. I had a slight set back today from the woman at the pathology clinic but I will put that behind me and focus on staying happy and positive.
Can't wait to read more about your journey. :)
 
3 weeks now!! Just got back from a trip away with 20 women and I stuck to my plan!
Had all my food in little esky and kept meat frozen in little motel room.
We went out for a pub meal - so I order steak and lots of salad and just guessed amounts (probably had more than suppose to - but at least I stuck to it). No-one noticed that I was on any sort of a diet. With the boat racing - I just made sure I had my fruit allowance in small more frequent amounts and I did'nt experience any loss of energy or hunger. Next week my blood test and weigh-in!
 
Funny you should mention the pathology lady - I too experienced something very negative. She had also done Cohens, but had not completed the re-feeding programme and had put all the weight back on and 30% (she was very large). She had lots of negative things to say. I just said - "well I can stay fat and not bother or I know Cohens works because I too have done it before - but like her I did'nt value the importance of doing the 2nd part of the programme - which is the re feeding/maintaince. To me she seemed a really unhappy person and lacked energy and positively. I just wished her a nice day and decided not to bother with her.
 
Congratulations Daleo on coping so well with all of your challenges. A trip away with 20 women & you stuck to Cohen's 100%! Well done. That augers so well for your future maintenance, xo Cate
 
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