Cate's Diary

That's great Val. I'm excited for you!! Since my MIL's cancer over a year ago we have put a longish holiday on hold but I have decided to spend my 60th (in 2013!) in Vietnam. I dream of going back to Vietnam- mostly when I'm awake-lol. I love watching Luke Nguyen's Vietnam cooking show, I look up places to stay, tours etc often & dream..... I will make it happen. I know it seems crazy to want to go back to the same place again & I have hardly seen any of the world but I think with my allergies Europe & cities might be better for me to read about in books or watch on tv. I'm happy so that's ok. I don't really feel limited. I try not to let it get to me.
If we get the chance to go before then we may. Have a ball Val. You'll get rid of your Xmas excess in no time xo Cate
 
I accidentally clicked on post quick reply! Whoops!
I haven't got back on Cohen's 100% yet as I was not prepared at all. I need to go shopping for chicken breasts, lean steak etc. We are doing a tidy up of our fridge & I will be right to start on Wednesday. I'll go into town tomorrow & shop. I'll weigh tomorrow & use that as my start weight & measure etc. It's silly, I know, but I'm nervous. If I could do Cohen's 100% for 28 weeks back in 2007, without a solitary deviation, why the heck am I nervous about probably only 4 weeks? Sheesh!
We will have the non-Cohen's food eaten today so I may start tomorrow & shop in the morning. I'll be right for breakfast- 1 egg, 1/2 tomato & some mushroom on crackers. I'll hopefully get used to the small portions quickly. I will realise quick smart how much my food intake has gone up I reckon when I go back to weighing everything. No wonder I have regained some weight.
I shouldn't have any headaches as I have hardly had a coffee for weeks. We ran out of our good coffee beans & I refuse to drink instant. I need to go to Launceston to buy the good stuff. I enjoy that 1 coffee in the morning & drink herbal for the rest of the day-lots!
Today I am going out to move more rocks while I can. It is hard work & I doubt I will have the energy(fuel intake) while on Cohen's to do it. I'll probably stick to walking then.
I'll go before I make myself even more nervous.
Bye for now, xo Cate

 
cate said:
It's nice to have visitors. It's funny that almost all of my visitors aren't actually on Cohen's, but then, neither am I really so I guess it's not so funny. we are all on the same quest.
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I know what you mean. I didn't post for the longest on people's journals doing Cohen's....guess I thought maybe it wouldn't be welcome like I was intruding. But you're so nice I saw you talk to alot of the same people as me so I did in yours. And like you said....we're all doing our own personal thing that works for us anyway.


cate said:
I accidentally clicked on post quick reply! Whoops!
I haven't got back on Cohen's 100% yet as I was not prepared at all. I need to go shopping for chicken breasts, lean steak etc. We are doing a tidy up of our fridge & I will be right to start on Wednesday. I'll go into town tomorrow & shop. I'll weigh tomorrow & use that as my start weight & measure etc. It's silly, I know, but I'm nervous. If I could do Cohen's 100% for 28 weeks back in 2007, without a solitary deviation, why the heck am I nervous about probably only 4 weeks? Sheesh!
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I get like that too whenever I'm getting restarted, but once I'm underway I'm good. Once you're a few days in I'll bet it'll pass.
 
douknowjello said:
I know what you mean. I didn't post for the longest on people's journals doing Cohen's....guess I thought maybe it wouldn't be welcome like I was intruding. But you're so nice I saw you talk to alot of the same people as me so I did in yours. And like you said....we're all doing our own personal thing that works for us anyway.


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Lisa when I came and found Cate's journal after reading her other lovely thread and thought that anybody that can daily find so many wonderful quotes is somebody worth knowing :) I'd never even heard of Cohens and didn't even notice that it wasn't in the usual diary part of the forums.
Good luck with the Cohens. You'll soon be back to feeling more fit and healthy.
 
Lisa & Val- Wow! You two have me blushing. How sweet of you both. I love the connections we make through this forum. I really feel that I have gained more than I give. Occasionally I almost give it up & get a bit down when I feel like I'm talking to myself but then I get feed-back like this that really makes it worthwhile. Looking up motivational sayings or quotes is very therapeutic & is so much a part of my day now. Since reading that some people check that thread every day I will keep it up. There is no point having regrets but I wish that I had done something like this decades ago. We all need motivation & encouragement.
Thank you very much to both of you :beating:
xoxo Cate

Today-
I watched the cricket but also hopped on my exercise bike & then did 2 sets of weights (240 reps) & am getting myself into my new years resolution of getting healthy & fit in 2011. I'm feeling much more positive about it this afternoon. I am one of those people who prefer to have a plan that's black & white so that is why I am going back on my Cohen's plan 100%. If I get down about being over-weight I am much more likely to over-eat but if I have 'flipped the switch' as my sister puts it & am "dieting" then I can really focus & do it. I need to get back to my lowest weight asap.
After that I feel confident that, this time, I will be able to just be careful & watch what I eat & exercise regularly & I will be able to maintain to within 3kgs of my lowest weight. It's all a learning process & habits that have taken a lifetime to learn don't just disappear overnight.
I am stronger these days & more determined to be slim & healthy.
OK I had better stop rabbiting on. It was nice to read the last 2 posts & I was lost for words. Ha ha. That didn't last long.
Love to you all, xoxo Cate
 
Hey Cate, I'm curious what you eat on Cohen's. If I remember right is that the one where they do bloodwork and then give you your own special diet? I don't think we have that here.
 
Hi Lisa, Cohen's is available in the US but only online. Their home page will give you a brief outline- 1st Personal Diet
It is the one you're thinking about I reckon. It does work but it is very strict. I need that strictness I think. Tomorrow is my D day! I shouldn't have to be on it long this time Thanks for visiting my dairy sweets xo Cate.
Today-
I have a thumping head-ache so won't hang around. I had our grand-son for the night last night & we both slept in & subsequently I was running late for Tai Chi, forgot to take my vitamins/medication, rushed around like a lunatic & have ended up with a whopping head-ache! I'm glad I decided to wait until tomorrow to start. It was mainly because my LH cooked up a meal last night & also plated up a meal for tonight (non-Cohen's) that I didn't start today. Thank goodness. I'm going to quickly post a saying, take some Paracetamol & have a "Nana Nap".
Bye for now, xoxo Cate
 
Thanks Val- I am thank goodness. I had that nana nap & still had a headache, but it receded as the night went on & I went to bed early (for me-10.30?) I had a strong allergic reaction I think to the musk oil that my Tai Chi teacher wore. She doesn't wear any perfume when we have classes in the hall but wore it yesterday as we had class in the park, near the river. I thought the strong smell was coming from a plant & rushed to use my puffer, gasping. My teacher was about 5 metres away from me & apologised, saying it was her. Musk Oil is just about the worst fragrance of them all! I struggled for breath for the rest of the day & am still suffering. My headache is a sinus one & paracetamol doesn't seem to work with them. I'll do my usual trick of staying home for a few days. It must be almost time for you to go to the UK Val. How exciting!! Hope you have a ball xo Cate

Started Cohen's 100% today!
That's it. I'm on it. The light switch is on & I feel committed. Phew! I got on the scales & I had gained .5kg so my weight was on the up & up. Strange how that happens. At least I will be stopping that & then reversing the trend. I now have to really concentrate. It has been a long while since I was strict. I should not have waited so long but there's no point beating myself up about that. This time I know I am sticking to the plan until I shift at least 5.5kg. Then I'll try not to tell my LH that I have lost the 5.5kg & aim for a few more ;) to give myself a little leeway.
Wish me luck! I shouldn't say that I need luck as luck only comes into the genetics of it all. I have to bring my own luck (determination & commitment) to this little project.
We're off to do some work around the block. I should still have food(fuel) from yesterday in my system but will be careful not to overdo it. I am going to do 30 mins of gentle exercise each day as my body is used to more than that & see how I go with hunger or dizziness. I'll cut it down instantly if I suffer any dizziness.
Bye for now, xoxo Cate
 
Day 1 back on Cohen's-
I am really happy to say that I feel the best I have felt for ages! I had forgotten how good I feel when I am eating so purely (& so little I must say.) I have ached at the end of the day for ages, my ankles have been swelling & throbbing, my stomach has been really distended & uncomfortable.....Tonight I feel great!! I have survived day 1 without feeling ravenous as well. I have now eaten all of my fruit & cracker allowance, drunk about 3 litres of water & am ready for a reasonably early night I think. I feel bright eyed & bushy tailed!

Money-
Is unimportant but handy. Lately I have been a bit worried as our bank balance has dwindled over the year & is perilously low. Yesterday my Tai Chi teacher said that 2011 is going to be an abundant year. I laughed out loud as I was wondering how the heck that could happen. I have been contemplating selling on eBay but that is a little daunting & I get so much conflicting advice.
Today I got a cheque for $1,000 from my mum. My Mum is so generous. When she gets "too much money" she sends my sister, brother & I some. Thank you Mum! I rang her to thank her & also mentioned the card she sent me for Xmas, saying what a great daughter I am. I told her she was flattering me but she said "No, you've always been a good daughter." Nice.

Tomorrow-
I am having the 3 grand-kids for most of the day so their parents can go out for lunch & do some shopping in peace. I may get a chance before they get here to post but if I don't I will tomorrow night.
Love to all, xoxo Cate.
Feeling more in control. YES!!
 
I'm so glad you're feeling better and the headache is gone. I had one the last couple days on and off too, not sure why. I don't have allergies as bad as you but I am sensitive to perfumes as well. There's very few scents I can wear without it making me sick to my stomach and I really can't stand cucumber melon. Gratz for getting restarted and I'll keep comin by to see how you're doin :)
 
Hi Lisa, There are so many fragrances, especially chemicals, out there that we are all breathing in a toxic overload & building up insensitivities, without knowing it. It does not auger well for any of us. I used to wear perfume daily (back in another life) & didn't feel right without it(Hermes, Caleche- I loved it!) It made my mother feel ill one day many years ago so I stopped wearing it. I use everything fragrance-free these days but even living in the country it's very hard to avoid fragrance unless I become a hermit & that's unlikely. I'm too sociable.

Today-
The kids should be arriving in about an hour. I slept in so decided to eat some yoghurt with a kiwi fruit. I'll have mozzarella cheese on crackers for lunch when they have lunch so that I don't mix my proteins :)
Dropped 1kg. I know it's fluid, but still :D & I feel so much better. I woke up ravenous though. I did about 90 mins of wood gathering etc yesterday but won't be making a habit of that for a while as-
a) it is getting too hot & therefore snake weather,
b) I'm not eating enough to sustain excessive energy output,
c) it's now fire permit time so we can't burn off without a fire permit &
d) it's getting too hot out there to work in the sun. The UV is very high again today. It is easy to get sun-burned in Tasmania, even though the temperature does not get very hot.
Alert-
Thank goodness I checked last night but 2 of my vitamins are def. no-no's on Cohen's-
My Vitamin D3 has lactose & gluten in it & my Vitamin C has Lactose & sucrose!! My brain is starting to click back in to the rules thank goodness. Only one day & I am back to doing what I did 4 years ago.
I am a person who needs direction in life so I have to make my own boundaries & purpose. 2011 is going to see me taking steps to shape my life & to give myself a clear path. We all need something to work towards & I have been drifting for over a year now & it's time to give myself purpose. I'll give it some clear thought in the next few weeks. Perhaps an online course? Making money would be a good side effect but not essential. I have a disability pension now so have a little more stability. That gives me a base at least. Mmmm....thinking cap on (again-lol)

I had better get ready for the grand-kids! I do my housework before they get here so we can PLAY!! :D

Love to you all, xoxoxo Cate
 
Had a great day with the kids & their parents had a great day too! :D

Oh boy, am I hungry though. Tough eating my small dinner while my LH, & our 2 grand-son's ate their home-made pizza. I am ravenous & hopefully tomorrow that will fade. I won't break it though but it will be better when the hunger fades. It makes me realise how much my food portions have increased over the last few years. No wonder I have regained some weight. I'm looking forward to seeing those scales register going down, down, down....I hope my program still works for me. It shouldn't make as much difference when you no longer have hormones in play.
OK- I'll be back tomorrow,
xoxo Cate
 
Hi Cate, well done on getting back into Cohens. I'm off on holiday tomorrow so probably won't be able to check in until I get back. Talk to you soon xxxxx
 
Hi Val & thanks for popping in to say good-bye. Bon Voyage! Look forward to hearing all about it in your diary, when you return, xoxo Cate

Hunger-
Has subsided this morning. Ate yoghurt again with a zapped apple. Ugh. It's merely food- not nice. I am going shopping today & even if mangoes are almost $5 I think I'll buy a couple. I need more yummy fruit & also need to do the things I did 4 years ago. It's all coming back to me. Cook up 10 eating apples & stew them, then divide into 5 containers, freeze 4 & then have 1/2 with my yoghurt for breakfast. It takes a while to get used to unsweetened, natural, low-fat yoghurt again. Shudder. It will be good to slap my taste buds back into shape!

I didn't weigh as I was scared to, just in case it hadn't dropped. I feel lighter & less bloated & will wait until Monday.
I'm heading soon so will go post a quote & skedaddle,
xoxo Cate
 
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Gee , I had a lovely day today. It was hot & Summer has arrived to Tasmania at last! I went to our local town, had a sociable morning, bought some clothes for our YGS this time & a cool shirt for me (Op Shops) , did some shopping & went to the library where I bumped into a woman who had gone to Tai Chi for a while. I asked her how her health is as she has serious problems & I thought the warmer weather would help. She told me that she hates the heat, but she feels physically better but is suffering because she has been under lots of stress since October. She then told me that is when her husband of over 30 years told her that he wanted to separate. He is still living in the house with her but they now have to sell the house & she will have to take out a mortgage on her own. I told her that money doesn't matter & just to do it. It was an incredible conversation to have in the middle of the library. I suggested she come along again to Tai Chi as it may help her cope.
Conversations similar to this happen on a reasonably regular basis. I think it's because I do take the time to talk to people & I do really care. It has happened all my life & I'm happy to be a friendly ear. While it should have made me feel sad, it didn't. I felt that I had been able to provide some moral support when it was needed.
I went to the supermarket (& yes, I bought 2 beautiful mangoes) did my shopping, then visited my MIL, had a peppermint tea with her & came home to have my small lunch- at 2pm as it turned out! Our OS had taken my rubbish to the tip for me which was a lovely surprise. I knew he had 2 trips to do, just for them & had asked to borrow his ute to do ours, sometime in the next week. My DIL suggested that he wouldn't mind doing mine as well & I had said "No way" but he did anyway. That was 3 x 22km return trips. Thank you, lovely son of mine :D

An hour after I ate lunch I was ravenous & then realised I had not eaten any crackers at all for the day. No wonder I was hungry! Doh! I have eaten yoghurt/apple for breakfast; chicken breast, cauli, mushroom & celery; crackers at 3pm(1/3 of my allowance); fish & salad for dinner with another serve of crackers; had my fruit allowance for the day & as of right now I can eat another cracker allowance, which I will do in a sec.
Happy that the hunger has receded. I think I'll weigh tomorrow..... I'm feeling good!!
'Night folks, xoxo Cate

 
Scales & Fluid-
I know it's probably all fluid but I couldn't help myself & hopped on the scales this morning. 2.5kgs down in 3 days. YES!!! I feel so much better in myself for not having this fluid. Phew!

Have been giving the woman I met yesterday lots of thought. My LH said they were visiting my MIL together last week. How hard it must be for her to have to go along with the pretence of being a happy couple. I will make a point of keeping an eye out for her.

Today-
I have the urge to get out in the garden but know that I should take it easy & it's also going to be another fairly warm day :D I may tidy up my garage instead (stay out of the sun) and get it ready for a trip to the tip. I'll swap cars with my LH one day this week as the rubbish I have left is clean rubbish- all re-cycling & gifts to the Tip Shop. We have a really organised, re-cycling tip. It's great. I need to find a suitable container for putting water in for stock as, hopefully soon we may borrow some sheep. Our grass is very long & a bit scary, coming into the fire season :(

OK- time to get my a... into gear.
Bye for now, xoxo Cate
 
Hi Cate,
Glad to see it's going well. Here is Victoria it was really hot the day before yesterday which helps with the resting I know. I think there is a relationship between weight loss and sorting things out at home. I too have gone through clothes and books, visiting op shops and the tip. It's like a metaphor for getting rid of the rubbish I used to put into my body!
I am impressed that you have been able to forget the crackers!
eloise
 
Hi Eloise, I laughed when I read that as I'm not so lucky today! 2 hours after lunch...I have had 2 serves of crackers & am hungry! Oh well, I won't die from hunger I know, & it will get better. I know that other people get hungry when they have yoghurt for breakfast but I'm not one of them so tomorrow it's yoghurt & mango for me :D I'll get it ready tonight so I can just eat it when I get up. I came on the forum to distract myself & to firm my resolve. Mind you, 2.5kg down this morning in 3 days sure firmed my resolve :D :D I have been fairly lazy today & am reading a book. I did some cleaning up & sorting. I think you may be right about the sorting out stuff & getting rid of it. That's what we are doing with our lives. Getting rid of excess! Thanks for visiting my diary sweets. Hope you are doing well with your program & also coping with the heat. Just think how much better we'll cope with next Summer!
xo Cate
 
I have had such a good day! I went to Launceston(120km return trip) & did some tedious shopping, ended up buying 2 pairs of lovely sandals @ 1/2 price that are so comfortable & nice. I love them! I'm a size 11 (42) so it's difficult usually but today I had a choice between 4 pairs that I really liked. I had a haircut- short! :D I bought some gluten-free Vit D3 & some sunscreen for my face (fragrance free) & got 20% off :), got a card for a Naturopath who I will go see sometime in the next few months, a lovely calendar, picked up trophies for my husband for the golf club, bought a laundry trolley & basket(boring but essential- I'm getting sick of lugging a heavy basket to the clothes line. I don't use a dryer), some new gardening gear & managed to keep all that under $300. Not too bad really. Also some seafood mix that is allowed on Cohen's :D :D :D for only $10.45 a kg. Happy about that!
All in all I have had a really good day.
I'll pop back later as my LH has just arrived home & I love to meet him :beating:
xoxo Cate
 
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