Cate's Diary

Dear Cate,
I know what you mean re the volumes on refeed, however this week since it is over I have been enjoying amounts that suit me, experimenting with food choices............... and I do love not weighing food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! or waiting the 2.5 or 5 hours before eating!!
I am a little worried about potential weight gain as I am sure other people do comming off such a regimented programe. But I plan to follow the post programe guigelines and now I am back to excercise levels not possible on the programe I feel I should be fine.
Good luck to you enjoy the wine
Nonna
 
Nonna- I am really looking forward to not weighing! I haven't got the maintenance guidelines yet but it should arrive tomorrow. What exercise are you doing or plan on doing? I'll have to start soon. Thanks for posting. It's always great to hear from you! xo, Cate.
Day 16 of re-feed. Weight 69kg.
Today I add 200g "new" protein & subtract 80g "old" protein; add 80g old veg & 120g "new" veg; add 2 bad fruit; may have 3 slices of bread with butter or marg on one; may have 50ml low-fat milk but must reduce "old" protein by 40g; add 50g carb & 1 plain biscuit(no filling or chocolate); may have alcohol but must reduce bread allowance.(200ml= 1 slice of bread)
Breakfast- Yoghurt & 18 cherries(2 bad fruit)
Snack during the day- meal 2 cheese portion with tomato & mostly celery on crackers.
Lunch- Meal 3 portion meat-Rare eye fillet steak with salad with a balsamic/mayo dressing, followed by an orange.
Dinner-
I messed up today! I miscalculated. I had to add 200g new protein & subtract 80g old protein but had already eaten my old protein. I decided to adjust & do what I thought should be ok & added 120g "new" protein. I roasted a chicken this afternoon. First I rubbed it all over inside & out with lemon, salt & pepper, stuffed the lemon halves, some whole, squashed garlic cloves & fresh ginger pieces, inside it & baked in the oven, with a little of my vegie stock in the bottom of the baking dish. Had 120g for dinner, without the skin, with broccolli, cauli & carrots. I really enjoy cooking now which is a surprise to everyone, including myself.
I'm saving the best until last..... About my glass of red wine........................
Mmm Mmmmmmm
It was a Step Rd Cabernet Sauvignon & was absolutely delicious!!!!!!!!
I've had it hidden in our wine rack waiting. Not only did I find it scrumptious but I also haven't had any reaction to it which is great. I used to often have asthma after drinking wine and/or get really itchy & flushed.
It's been really stormy here today so thought I should stay off the computer. It still is but thought I had better type in here & then head off to bed. I felt much better today. I won't be eating lamb again in a hurry!
I also didn't have any sweet biscuits in the house. I ate 2 Savoy crackers that my LH eats as I figured they have golden syrup in them. I used to love them but didn't enjoy them at all. I'm now a Salada lover. Who would have thought it?
I'll be back in the morning as I'm going shopping in the afternoon as my MIL wants me to take her shopping then. Whenever I offer to take her somewhere(Launceston next week) she always gets me to do something else when it suits her, not when it suits me. Oh well! She is very good at organising.Mmm
Better go as the tv is coming & going & I don't want to have the laptop zapped by lightning, 'night for now, Cate.
 
Day 17 of re-feed. Weight 69.5.
I won't detail what I am eating for the last 3 days of re-feed as it's a little bit more of this with a bit less of that......etc........Variations of what I have been eating for the last few days really.
I'm not suffering any after-effects from my glass of red wine except, maybe being a little bit snuffly. I am not going to drink much anymore so that's ok.
I know how much food I want (need) to eat & what types of foods agree with me which is great. Basically it's Cohen's food with additional quantities to the weight-loss part of the program. I am looking forward to reading the maintenance guidelines. They should arrive sometime this morning with the mailman.
Milk-I will try a cappuccino next week & if I still like it I will have one occasionally. If I don't, that's it for milk for me for life. It doesn't appeal at all.
Bread- Not too sure about bread. The rye I have eaten tasted just ok but I make a German 5 grain bread for my LH & he says it's delicious. I will try a slice with lunch or dinner one day next week when I'm not going to have a wine that night & see what happens. One slice of it is about 100g(the equivalent of 3 thin slices!) If I have 1 slice then that should probably be it for carb's for the day & no wine. Big decision!
Rich, fatty protein- The thought of eating salami, lamb, pork or any rich protein makes me feel a little nauseous!

Opportunity knocks!
This is my big chance at changing the way I eat forever!
After enjoying my food & the way I have felt for the last 6 months, why would I go back to my old bad habits? I'm a tad crazy but not that crazy!
I am going to gradually try out different foods, one by one, to guage my body's reactions to them.
I will keep the water up (3 litres a day- 1 litre for every25kg,) start exercising slowly & gradually increase it, drink alcohol occasionally, keep the caffeine down to 2-3 per day maximum, only rarely drink gassy drinks & never sweetened ones, no juice in the mornings, no carb's for breakfast etc.
I can do this! What a great feeling. I don't want to rush out and gorge myself on anything. Chocolate I am very wary about! :eek: One night next week I might try one square of dark chocolate & see if it makes me want lots more. I will only have one!
Had better get on the move. I think I'll do all of my shopping before I meet my MIL. It will make it much easier taking her around because she's a bustling, bossy, little dynamo! I will call in on all 3 Cohenites if I can to say hi. Cheers for now, Cate.
 
Hi Cate
Glad you enjoyed the wine I loved mine!
As for exercise my weekly standard is a daily walk, yoga & pilates . I've been at curves for a little while now as its quite gentle but have started back at the gym with weights/cardio as per my personal trainer's programe.
I've gone from an 18 to a 10/12 there's a bit of tonning to do and I like the energy lean muscle gives you.
Cheers
Nonna
 
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Hi Cate,

I loved your last post that is such a great thing to be aware of where you are right "now" and were you have been in the "past". It is such a wonderful thing to have read about your journey so far and for someone like me it gives me the confidence I need to believe I will continue (for life, like you said). You have such a wonderful way of expressing this journey in words.

Thank You
 
Nonna- Lean muscle...energy....sounds good. I'll have to get off my derriere! I had one more glass of that delicious wine tonight with my LH. I won't drink every day but it was so nice I thought I would help him finish the bottle! I feel fairly full after my extra food today. C'mon Monday, 1st day of apres Cohen's.
Suzie- Thank you. It's taken me a while to come to this realisation but better late than never! I do feel happy with where I am. I'm looking forward to becoming more active & getting fit now. I need some of your energy. Hopefully sunshine, when it re-appears, will be the catalyst. Cheers, Cate.
Day 17 of re-feed. Weight 69.5kg.
Fairly much like the last couple of days but more of this, less of that but basically extra 120g protein, 200g vegies. I ate a sweet biscuit at my MIL's (because I could!) didn't have any bread today(had 1 glass of red wine) & have eaten crackers. It's hard eating all that I am meant to!
I didn't drink enough water today & had to catch up when I got home. I felt really tired & realised I had forgotten to drink! How silly was that? I drank 2 litres in an hour, have re-hydrated & now feel much better. Der.
I'm turning back into a hibernating bear for the week-end. The weather is horrible. On tonight's ABC news they put out almost every weather warning known to man(& woman). Sheep graziers alert, bush-walkers alert, flood alerts, gale force winds, storm warnings etc.(you get my drift!) A very good day to stay at home in front of the fire with a good book. I picked up lots from the library today. My lovely, but obviously insane husband, has a golf game planned for tomorrow!:eek: The man is mad!
Got to dash.....the water's doing it's job, cheers, Cate.
 
I thought I had changed my Taz to my yahoo avatar so am posting this just to see what happens...
It told me that the file wouldn't up-load & then I see it has. I think I prefer Taz. My avatar is with a travel bag & in Paris & I can't get it looking my age or very much like me. I'll change when I find a wedge-tailed eagle to put in it's place!
Done-found a bird forum, found my new avatar. Love it!
 
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Day 18 of 19 day re-feed. Weight 69kg!

Amazing what wedge-tailed eagles can do!! Ta da-
:D Sunshine!:D
I have brought in enough wood for a few days, LH is off playing golf & I'm about to head off for a walk through the bush. I will start with our 50acre block, walking with my back-pack & hiking boots and work my way up to heading off with the "Wacky Walkers" very soon. Our block is quite steep & has an abundance of wild-life. We only have to brush-cut near our house twice a year because the pademelons, wallabies & wombats eat the grass down for us. We only plant shrubs, trees & bulbs that they don't like to eat out in the garden & keep our herbs inside a fenced off dog-proof(they can't get out & the wild-life can't get in) yard & on our decking in pots. It's trial & error but we are learning. I love living so close to nature!
Ok, enough "talk." I had better "walk the walk!" Cheers, Cate.
PS Tell me which you prefer "Taz" or the wedge-tailed eagle please? It's a pity all of our posts change instead of just the new ones. That way people could follow weight-losses by looking at old posts & also it would be more interesting seeing the stages we go through, without having to wade through all this typing (especially with a gasbag like me!). Shame really. OK, I'm away.
 
Well.... I didn't go anywhere. I had a quick look at the bird forum, took 2 phone calls, prepared vegies, fruit salad & soup for dinner, prepared & ate lunch, washed the dishes, hung out the washing, prepared my back pack by filling the water bladder(wow!) etc & my LH arrived home from golf & the day was past it's prime.
Tomorrow we are going to our OS's home & cutting him some wood for his fire as he has been too busy with his job to do it. Hopefully the day will be as nice as today was. It will be good exercise.
I feel very full eating the extra food on re-feed. I have eaten most of my allowed food but not quite all of it. I have been studying the maintenance guidelines & they are interesting. I will go over them sometime soon & share the basics.
I might come back later & see if anyone's about. Cheers for now, Cate.
 
Hi Cate

I've been reading more of your recent posts and have a couple of questions.. thank you for your post on my diary, I will try to keep up the carbs (crackers allowance). I had two different ladies helping me at the clinic and I am sure one of them said I didn't have to. However in your experience I will go for majority rather than none at all. Thank you. (Sorry this is a bit of a long post.)

Firstly, I am sorry to hear of your YS and his friends getting in to a fight, with such a large group against them. Recently I have had work colleagues in the same situation, it is the most horrendous feeling I have had in a while. I am a manager of a team of 6, and there are hours that they have to work, some a little later than others. Unfortunately the one who was on the latest shift was on his way home from work and arrived at a train station well-known for thugs. He does it every day, but this time, his car was parked a little away from the station, and the police guard inside the station only which is silly. His car was parked in an ally way, not well lit. He is only a small guy and put his keys in the door of his car to open it where he was suddenly strangled from behind, around his neck. There were two of them, and they took his bag and mobile and wallet. He phoned me the following day and explained and I felt so terrible for him. He was really shaken up. From then on I found alternate ways instead of someone staying late for the shift and he is doing really well.
Only a couple of months earlier, another colleague of mine was also attacked on a weekend, he was with 3 mates, and he was attacked by a group of guys just looking for a fight - and it was the same train station.

cate said:
I keep hearing & reading about those who have finished the program & jump straight back into eating whatever & put weight back on that I am absolutely determined to not do this myself.
Click to expand...

I haven't read very much of this, but have a close friend who's mother was a victim of exactly this. I feel she was not serious about it once she'd finished - but also that once you get back in to your bad habits, even if you see the scales go up, you just can't bring yourself to get back to the straight and narrow.
I am scared this will happen to me, but reading your posts is getting me prepared. However thank you for sharing your inner thoughts on the matter (eg, when you said you had a decision to make etc, and that you were only going to try one thing at a time)

cate said:
It's 8.20pm & I still have my chop suey, 3 crackers & 2 pieces of fruit to eat yet. Help!!
I cannot believe I am wishing this to end so I can eat less.
Click to expand...

I gather from the refeed, you HAVE to eat the amounts given regardless of how full you feel? This is a little scary to think about. Did you ever feel actually sick? Also, did you eat dinner early so as to let it settle before you fell asleep?
I can imagine our tummies will be so much more smaller once we get to your stage Cate, that forcing the food in is going to be difficult. Would you say it encourages over-eating or because it is just for around 20 days it's not that major...?
 
purpleone- After the first 10 days you don't have to eat all of your crackers. My daily allowance was 6. The days I didn't eat all of them I found I would get hungry in the evening & this is when I would be half-tempted to deviate. By eating all of my allowed foods I think it helped me stick to the plan.
Re-feed is a gradual addition only. I think the lamb was the killer for me. It just did not agree with me at all & threw me out a bit. I started eating the extra food mainly in the middle of the day & found that much easier to digest. I also then did eat dinner much earlier. I think it felt like I was eating way too much, but really it was just that I had been eating so little for the last 6 months. By the time re-feed was due I was getting very hungry. When I look back at what I used to eat before I started it's not so much. It's so much more about what we eat rather than just how much we eat.
What is really good to see on day 19 of re-feed (LAST DAY!!) is that, even eating this amount of healthy, good food, my body is now trained to not gain weight. Now it's up to me to keep up the good work & stay that way.
Last day of re-feed!! Weight 69kg!! Goal weight achieved!!
Because I have followed such a regimented eating program for 6 &1/2 months I think I will have to keep tabs on everything I eat & monitor my reactions to everything for quite a while. Rather than confuse someone new who might read my diary & think I am on the weight-loss part of the program I won't put too much detail about actual food that I eat.
Today- My LH & I went to our OS's place & cut up & gathered enough wood to last him a couple of weeks. It is really good exercise as his block is even steeper than ours. My DIL is looking delightfully pregnant! :hug2: I love being a grandma!!
Tomorrow I am getting out the cook books & will start studying them. I will cook for the two of us, most of the time, whilst I am not working. My LH loves to cook but I don't quite trust him or anyone else with cooking for me. I know that he loves to use bacon, tomato paste etc. & I'm a little nervous.
I love being 69kg!! I want to stay on it for a while at least. 69-72 will be my margin for error. Getting a bit below would be a better safety valve. I'll just see. I'll be back tomorrow & will have some photos taken soon, cheers, Cate.
 
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tks for the feedback cate.. and

CONGRATULATIONS!

Well done well done well done... :)

You deserve it all! How crazy would it feel to go back to the beginning of your threads and read them now!! Would love to see pics if you can share!
 
hello

Hi Cate
you deserve a medal, for getting through refeed...i been watching your postings and it looks sooooooooooo complicated. I dont know how i will get through it.
But anyway welldone(just doesnt seem quite enough) and congratulations on your achievement I hope you keep on posting your progress. I bet your hubby is stoked at what you have achieved as I know you are as we all are.
WELLDONE
Genie
 
purpleone- Thanks for your congrat's. I will post some photos soon, I promise. I have to get someone to take them first & still have to find some befores.
Genie- Re-feed was challenging that's for sure. It's also really hard because you just want to be finished. I loved your photos-good for you!
I have had a busy day today & my mind is blank. I'll come back tomorrow & report on day 1 of the rest of my life. Cheers, Cate.
 
Finished re-feed!!

I confess I'm feeling very tentative today. The bold, wedge-tailed eagle has turned into a lady beetle over night.
I think I need to formulate an eating plan. I learned to like being so organised with my food. Now that I don't have to weigh everything & wait 5 hours & follow all of the rules strictly I feel like my anchor has gone & I am adrift.
I thought I had it sorted out in my head what I would do from now on but now that the day has arrived I feel very nervous & uncertain.
Just typing this makes me realise what I must do. I will write down the amounts that I ate in the last few days of re-feed & formulate a healthy eating plan. I will keep weighing all food for a couple of weeks & record everything that happens. I feel bloated this morning & a bit blah (no BM again.) I wish I could get my system going without resorting to drastic measures. I am going to Launc sometime soon & will ask a naturopath who works in a pharmacy there what she recommends. I will call her today as she is expecting me tomorrow. My MIL wants to leave it until next week. I might still go later in the week I think (or Wed)
I probably should just delete all this & come back later or I'll make you feel miserable. I have become used to sharing my feelings so won't. I think a lot of how I'm feeling is connected to being constipated. When I was a kid an ad used to be on tv with very grumpy kids who turned into cheerful, energetic kids after taking Laxettes. "When nature forgets, remember Laxettes." I think that's my problem. Having Psyllium husks on my yoghurt, eating an apple every day, taking 2 Metamucil capsules morning & night & drinking 3 litres of water don't work. I have to resort to Senna after a few days & I know this is really bad for you. I think a trip to the naturopath is very important. I'll bump that up the list!
My laptop is doing weird & wonderful things & posted this before I said goodbye. I'll finish up for now & come back later, hopefully when I feel better. Bye for now, Cate.
 
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Congratulations Cate!!!!!!!!!!!!

You've done it. Just think of all those you have inspired and kept on track through this weight loss journey. Your post have been so entertaining and informative.

I hope things go well for you post Cohen's.

Sam
 
Hi Sam & thank you! How is post-Cohen's for you? Do you have any special strategies or tips? It's fun playing Annie's game isn't it! I love it too.
My day-
Improved no end by sticking to mostly the original Cohen's food (extra quantities,) drinking extra water & distracting myself. I got a lot of housework done, like the ironing, cutting up vegies, made a chicken soup for tomorrow, a salmon/tuna mix to go on crackers as a protein snack, re-potted some herbs, etc.
Tonight I feel really good but was a little bit hungry at times during the day. I will see what I weigh in the morning & adjust accordingly. I think I will have to be very careful with carb's, especially bread. I also tried milk yesterday & thought it disgusting. Ugh! I had a cup of tea with low-fat milk. I'll stick with my 1 or 2 black plunger coffees in the morning & herbal tea, usually peppermint, for the rest of the day. We often have a pot of herbal tea, late afternoon & I love that. It is a varied mix of spearmint or peppermint; chamomile;oolong; senna pods & echinacea. I drink organic tea, whenever possible & prefer not to use teabags so that there's less waste.
I read this today, elsewhere & thought it would be good for me for a while-
"In between goals is a thing called life that has to be lived and enjoyed."
I like it. When on the Cohen's weight-loss part of the program I couldn't keep my mind off my goal for fear I wouldn't get there. Now I must learn to juggle my goals in life, with enjoying my life. I must find a balance.
To those who have followed my journey I hope I have given some hope that achieving a healthy weight is possible, no matter what age you are or how much you have to lose. I never really thought it was possible but have proved it is. I will stay in here to record how I cope with maintaining a healthy weight & the ups & downs I'm sure are ahead of me.
I will say good night for now, folks. Cheers, Cate
 
Hello Cate,

Well my friend... you have done it!!! :D You have completed refeed, reached your goal, inspired and entertained. You are truly a wonderful person and I am glad that I found this wed site and you. Reading the past posts convinced me that I could do this and I have... but you were (and still are) a great inspiration for me. Congratulations Cate, you deserve it.

I had to catch up after my vacation; I wanted to tell you it was wonderful that your YS won the 8 ball championship. Then I read about the attack :O
He is very lucky... it could have been much worse, I am glad they were not seriously hurt. Yes...our kids certainly like to keep us on our toes. That's why hair color was invented! my peferance...red.

OK , I had a great vacation. We (and another family) went to New Hampshire, and had a lovely time. It's funny how a vacation can be spent being as busy as ever but the kids never seem to get tired. I am exhausted. I was not able to continue with refeed and decided I will do that after I get back from Las Vegas. It is to complicated to do right at the moment... when I return from vacation the kids will be going back to school and I will have so much more prep time. However, I did very well on vacation, I did not gain any weight as a matter of fact I lost 1 pound. I am fluctuating 2- 3 pounds under goal. I did have some snacks but mostly made good choices, plus did a lot of walking. I also climbed a rock wall and made it all the way to the top, my daughter was very impressed (but I asked for the "easiest" wall) so she shouldn't be to impressed.
I am in the middle of cleaning out my closet, and that is a project! but I did find a couple of my favorite "skinny" pants that I had been saving.
I will be leaving on Sunday for my vacation to Las Vegas, it will be my husband and I with 2 other couples, I can't wait. Maggie will be on a camping trip with friends, and I am hoping she does well (if not, she will call my mom or aunt). Anyway, I hope to check in again before I leave Sunday.
Much Love
 
Lori- You are so sweet! I couldn't have done this without all the support I get in here! I am settling into apres Cohen's a little bit better today. I weighed myself this morning & I was 69.5kg so that made me feel a lot better. Thank you for popping into my diary. I hope you have a lovely vacation(holiday in Aus.) with your husband & friends. It sounds great. My LH would love to go to Las Vegas. We might have to fit that in on the WT(world trip.) I'll catch up with you when you get back home. Wise decision to wait for re-feed until your return! xo Cate.
Today-Weight 69.5kg.
I have had a really good day. I met a friend for coffee at the local bakery/cafe & received a lovely compliment from one of the owners. I like it when people quietly compliment you. I don't like loud fuss- it's embarrassing.
My friend & I had a great chat & I had a long black coffee as I decided against cappuccino( but I ate the tiny sweet biscuit with it) & got home to my pre-cooked lunch. I made many calls after lunch that I had been putting off.
I organised tickets to see Paul Kelly in Launceston in a few weeks, booked myself in for a mammogram, rang the vein specialist as I hadn't received my paper-work yet, paid some bills & the day has almost gone. I am dressed up, ready to go out tonight with my LH to his 8-ball comp. I really do need to buy some clothes before I go to Melb. in Oct. so will have to pay our lovely, local clothing store a visit very shortly. I only have a few things that actually fit me well & I have them on now! Black slim-look, slacks, black boots, black ribbed polo jumper & a red, woollen, cropped sleeveless vest. I have a black jacket in the same material as the vest. It's a bit like felt & they are as warm as toast.
When the weather warms up & I hope it does soon, I will not have anything to wear. I don't think I had better become a naturalist.:eek:
I am going to go into town in the morning & hope to catch up with my Cohen's "buddies" & stock up with free-range chicken & more veggies (because I can!) I have to really think about what I am going to eat now. It won't kill me I know but after everything being so black & white for so long I will have to do some serious planning. I know lamb is out for me. I think I'll be eating along similar lines forever, with variations of course.
Anyhow, gotta go, cheers for now, xo Cate.
 
Hi Cate

You sound focused after completing refeed good on you.
For me since completing Cohen's.......well I won't lie it is a daily challenge some Days/ weeks are better then others but it is still a constant battle not to fall into bad habits again. I have had to go back onto the Cohens plan when I have noticed my clothes tightening up and the plan has worked so I don't know why they say you have to have another blood test and pay for another plan. (Money that's why).

Anyway winter has been difficult and everytime i have scheduled in exercise either myself or the kids have got sick, I'm talking like the flu now which I have had twice this year. So I am actually hanging out for summer, which is not like me at all being I live in Brissie and all.

So to answer you question staying slim is going to be a constant battle for me every day for the rest of my life. I think vanity is a necessity to keep motivated and keep tabs on your weight, so I would encourage people to try on daring outfits, look in the mirror, make sure you shop for clothes regularly and do your hair and makeup. I found the minute I don't do these things i get lazy with myself and that's when the weight gain cycle begins.
Well that is my spin on things and I am not by any means a vanity inclined persons but all things have it's positives.

Anyway Cate congrat's once again and goodluck with keeping the weight off you sound motivated enough to do this and also pull the rest of us along with you (hopefully).

Sam:)
 
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