Carb Addict Extraordinaire :):)

Hey Wild at Heart,

Good luck on your business trip...and trust me, your goals can be done on a business trip! You've done all the right steps..planned ahead! I've found that the key for me is to make sure my exercise routine stays intact...if the hotel doesn't have a gym, then get up early and take the brisk walks in a safe, well lit part of town. In the evenings, when you are not part of an organized dinner, stop by the grocery store and get some fruit and other healthy stuff to eat in the room...it may not be the max of your expense report, but it sure does help on the scales afterwards! Also, remember to drink tons of water...flying really dehydrates me and I have to force it, but if I don't I suffer constipation afterwards..and trust me, you don't want that!


Good luck, and will love to see how it goes!


Sarah
 
Back from my business trip. I didn't Cohen for all of 9 daysssssss.....I know I know.....I was with colleagues and friends so it was just "impossible". But I must say that I did exercise portion control and one of my friend was commenting on how I'm eating like a think person now. haha. Couldn't possibly get away from the organized dinners so I tried to make as close choices to Cohen as possible. On the nights where there were no dinners, I was with friends. And some of these friends, I haven't seen in a while so they were all sooo floored to see me so "small".


I debated whether to weigh or not weigh myself when I came back but I decided to survey the damage. +3lbs. Not too bad. And I'm sure most of it is water or at least I'd like to think of it as such. I really needed that one week break from the diet as I am literally crying over my Cohen meals already.


I still have 20++ lbs to go to reach goal.....and I can't say I'm all too excited to continue. I mean, yes, it is gratifying to fit into an ASIAN MEDIUM now.....but still, just thinking of the daily grind makes me want to quit altogether. Or maybe I'm just having the 'crash' after my trip.


Hoping that tomorrow is a better day!
 
Ok, I have been deviating for the past 2 weeks and it's gotta stop. Seriously. This is what happens when I lose my focus. I cannot do things half-hearted, it's either I'm in or out. After coming back from my business trip I find myself relaxing Cohen rules - a lot. When I came back it was fashion week and I had to attend events and conferences and how could I possibly attend a conference without coffee???? I had coffee with full-fat milk Tue - Thur. And I found myself eating Cohen meals once the events were over but I'm still adding a little extra snack in between. Nothing too lethal but I'm not losing weight.


I'm currently 143lbs....and I have been for a week now. I made my lunch for the week last night so I am definitely back on track for the next work week. I also started today with a healthy breakfast of asparagus+egg+mango and crackers. Lunch is chicken+spinach+mushroom with mayo and crackers.


Once I started deviating, I find it SO DIFFICULT to get back on Cohen. It's like an addiction, I couldn't stop snacking. And I even toyed with the idea of pacing myself and just losing the next 24 lbs until December. BUT! NO WAY! I got over that and decided that I need to get down to 130lbs by the time my Cohen support ends by July and the last 10lbs I can pace until December.


Yesterday, I had to free up some space in my closet and I had to put away my size UK16 clothes :( It was so sad because I had beautiful clothes and it was so sad not being able to wear them anymore. But I know that I'm in such a better place now and that I can wear even nicer clothes. But it did take years to curate such a closet but oh well, it would be more thrilling to build another one on a smaller size. I still consider myself in a transition stage.....so I'm not really buying clothes yet. Well, that's not true. I have been shopping, it's one of those things I do to keep myself sane from the food deprivation. haha. I also bought new bras. My old ones were just not giving me the right support anymore and my girls are looking awfully flat. I still kept my cup size :):) but have gone done on the my back size.


Change, even when it's for the better, takes time getting used to.


Here's to a new week of focus and determination.
 
Sigh, it's the middle of the work day and I felt the need to come by and write! Today is not going very well. It's the first day of getting back on full Cohen mode and why is it damn hard? Since lunchtime I've been craving coffee with milk.....I need something sweet.....something.....something......I'm staying strong, no deviations for today but I have finished my cracker allowance and it's only 4pm. Need to stay strong but it's damn hard. GGGRRRRRRRRRRRR
 
2nd day of being on track with my eating plan. I must say I feel great! I feel great knowing that I'm doing the right thing and I'm headed towards the right direction. Looking back, I never regret the almost 3 weeks of deviations. I needed that. I was already going a bit insane with the Cohen meals and I couldn't down them anymore. I'd rather NOT EAT than eat my meals, I was at that point. I needed that 3 weeks to recharge and to give myself a break from all the diet. I needed some time to just 'be'.


Right now, I'm feeling strong. I'm appreciating my meals again and I must admit I did a bit of a revamp to make things new and exciting.



Breakfast - I usually eat yogurt and mango. But now, I alternate with tomato, cucumber, cottage cheese with crushed cracker. I make it like a small salad with cottage cheese as dressing.

Lunch - same as I take it to work.

Dinner - I usually eat tofu with veggies. Now, I eat rotisseries chicken with mayo+mustard dressing on fresh salad leaves. Prepared mustard is not allowed but if it helps me stay on the program, I decided to give myself that liberty. Also because, I don't like mayo too much.



Crossing fingers that I'm finally back on track and that I will stay committed and strong all the way until July :):)
 
Rachel I used to use a French, seeded mustard that had no sugar in it. They say not to use pre-prepared things as they usually have "hidden" ingredients like sugar & salt, which of course will have you losing slower. Cheers, xoxo Cate
 
AHey Wild at heart, sounds like your back on track! Thanks for stopping by my diary...you'll be dropping jaws before you know it! I'm not familiar with Cohens, but it sounds strict! I'll be keeping you in my thoughts, and may I suggest keeping some hot green tea when you just gotta have something...not sure why, but it really does help me keep the hunger pangs down. Good luck and thanks again for helping me!
 
Thanks Sarah & Cate for your pieces of advice.


Today is Friday - yay!! Still feeling strong and on track. Looking forward to the weekend xx
 
A140lbs this morning.......tried a US8 dress in the mall and it actually zipped up. Not a stretch dress but regular fabric. Overall, a good day!
 
Originally Posted by Wild at Heart

140lbs this morning.......tried a US8 dress in the mall and it actually zipped up. Not a stretch dress but regular fabric. Overall, a good day!
Click to expand...

Stick with it Rachel & there will be many more happy moments! xo Cate
 
AHey Rachael! Size 8 and 140... Wow, you're just below my goal weight! So proud of you! I agree with Cate, you keep on going and there will be many more happy moments! You are right what you said in your post on my diary...weightless affects your whole body and soul, and certainly mental and emotional components of life! Weightless is an inside job! So proud of you! Keep up the good work!
Sarah
 
Time of the month is not fun at all. It just makes it THAT much harder to stay on track. French fries much? + Butter Pecan ice cream. Major fail.
 
I had a little bit of ice cream last night and now I'm feeling a little blue. Since I got on the Cohen eating plan, my mood has improved significantly due to the balanced hormones and now that I'm eating non-Cohen food, I can feel it affecting my mood. Oooohh it was just a little bit, really!!!!! Can't wait for this day to be over......
 
AHey Rachael, good to see your positive post! Losing weight is 100% mental in the choices we make. Good choices lead to good well being..or is it the other way around? You are doing great girl, keep up the good work, and don't look at your choices as a "major fail", look at them as learning experiences and try to find out what led to the bad choice...easier said than done I know,,,most of us just want to forget the day and move on, and that's what I do most of the time too...but sometimes, these bad choices merit reflection, at least for me.
So I wish you good choices my friend!
Sarah
 
Hi Sarah - Good to have you back. I've been reading the forum diaries but haven't been updating my own. You're so awesome putting in 65mins on the elliptical. I can't do that :(:( I simply have no patience for exercise but I do know that I have to...I'm so jiggly all over and need to tone. And since my Lulu Lemon outfits have arrived, I will try Bikram Yoga.


I went shopping yesterday and was VERY PLEASED fitting into a Banana Republic size 8. I couldn't fit into a BCBG dress before and now I can fit into a MEDIUM. It's just so rewarding and I'm really reaping the fruits of my hard work. And out of all the benefits of losing weight, I must say the clothes are the most rewarding, esp for a fashionista like :) I can now legitimately call myself a fashionsta as I can now fit into the clothes haha. talk about credibility.
 
AHey Rachael, I'm right there with you on the clothes thing... I'm no where near your size now, and certainly not a fashionista, but I do enjoy the new clothes! Especially here in China where I can get them custom tailored for me!
For the exercise, I find that I can't really continue to lose weight withou it. I have several music playlists, podcasts and language lessons that keep me distracted and I don't focus on the time until the machine beeps! I certainly didn't start out at 60 min on the elliptical,,, it was more like 20 min on a flat treadmill walking slow, then gradually worked my way up to faster, longer and incline, then I switched it up to go to elliptical about 3 months into the journey and did the same work up, noe a year into my journey, I'm moving up to running, and switching back and forth between elliptical and treadmill. Gotta keep my body guessing!
Keep up the good work girl, and how about a pic in that size medium you are rockin?

Sarah
 
Hi Rachel,


I'm new to the forum and it's really interesting and inspiring to read your thread....it seems like you've done a great job in terms of getting close to achieving your goal. I can also relate to being in situations (for you its work trips, for me its often going to see friends at different universities!) where it is really hard to either exercise or keep up with a healthy diet! Good to see that you are succeeding anyway though.


Good luck!


Barry
 
Hi Rachel, Don't stress about the lack of exercise while you are doing Cohen's as the calories are very restricted. Let your hormones get back in balance by eating 100% on plan & ease into gentle exercise when you reach re-feed & start on maintenance. Then it will help you stay slim & tone you up & keep your metabolism kicking along. You will make your life much better if you can manage to stick with the plan, without any more deviations, as it will be much quicker & you will feel really good physically as well as mentally. "Nothing tastes as good as slim feels." Congrats on the smaller size & fitting into "normal" & fashionable clothes. This should be something you can get used to Rachel & will be your new reality. Stick with it sweetie. You can do it! xo Cate
 
Sarah - Thanks for being so supportive. I have a business trip next week and I'll be doing my trial class yoga after that.


Barry - Welcome to the forum and thanks for reading my musings on here.....I still have a good 20lbs to go but I'm very pleased with the results of my diet.


Cate - I have not been as good as I should be but I'm still hanging on until July.


Here are some photos....
 
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