Cate's Diary

Hi Cate

Just popping in to say hello. I am glad to see you are enjoying your days off.
By the way I have an elliptical machine, I have tried the bikes and treadmills but the elliptical is the one that I clicked with. I hired with the option buy and that is what I did.

Take care.

Sam:)
 
Hi Cate,

I'm also glad you are enjoying your pottering days :) I've also got an elliptical machine and I love it. We've got a treadmill as well, but I much prefer using the elliptical. Its nice and gentle on your knees and it doesn't feel so tiring (spelling?) Enjoy your day!
 
Hi Sam & Esthee- and thanks for that. I'll check them out.
My day- It's funny how in one day things can change so much. For quite some time I have had a painful left arm. It varies in intensity but over the last few weeks has extended to my neck & left shoulder. Overnight it was unbearable. Before I went to bed I realised that I probably wouldn't be going bush-walking.
Instead I rang a Bowen therapist & managed to get in this afternoon at 3pm. It all stems form my back. My hips are out & I had so much tension in my muscles & knots everywhere. The gist of all of this is she thinks it has been caused by my carrying a back-pack. She sees people all the time with back injuries from walking with back-packs & is fairly sure that is the problem. She asked me how long I have been going walking as she thought it had been gradually getting worse over the last few months. She's right, I just know. I have had problems since I started. I bought a great new pack & have got it as light as I can but most weeks it ends up hurting me. I have kept quiet about this to everyone as I wanted to continue with it.
The therapist says I should concentrate on building up my strength & has shown me some exercises I could do with light weights. She also thinks Tai Chi would be very beneficial. I agree. Mmm. Unfortunately. I'll just mull all this over for a while I think. I have vein appointments the next 2 bush-walking days anyway so that delays any decisions.
Apparently our local Primary School has built a new pool & they will be hiring it out by the hour. I must investigate that! There is also going to be a new meditation class locally. I might just have to have a re-think.AGAIN!!
My mum is coming over to visit in about a month. She has never been particularly keen on babies but has the urge to come see the new great-grandson. I think it's because our OS & DIL named him after my late Dad. Mum has probably been flashing the photo around of me with the 3 great-grandkids & she is having to say that she hasn't seen him yet. Last time she was here when our gd was a baby my DIL asked her if she would like to hold the baby & she said "no thanks!" It will be nice having her but she's funny as the last time she visited(last Nov) she told me it would probably be her last trip to Tas as she was probably getting too old to fly over. She is 83. I knew she'd be back. I could talk her into going to the US if I went with her!
I'm aching like crazy! It takes about 5 days to come right. Hopefully I won't need any more treatment. I'll go again next week if it's still hurting. I didn't want to tell anyone about it as I was loving bush-walking. No more sooking, promise. Now, about this elliptical thingy.... Google search required, cheers, Cate.
 
My back feels quite a bit better today & I had a good night's sleep. I felt exhausted! I worked today & the day really dragged. One great thing though. I had tried finding an interest for my client last week & it worked! I took in my beading kit & showed her & she made something (with help) & has not taken it off since. I was chuffed about that! Next is a present for her mum.
Today I got her to "help" me with the crossword. I told her I am trying to stave off Alzheimers & that it's good for my brain. It was being a bit sneaky but it worked. I have found there are ways to suggest things that don't seem too bossy or like school & so far we have had quite a few successes. I do feel that we are slowly moving forward.
I am trying to work out what exercise I am going to do if I don't go bush-walking but so far have not come up with many ideas.
I'm feeling tired tonight but mainly sinusy. After 5 days off the cats have played havoc with my sinuses today. I'll be back tomorrow, cheers, cate
 
Hi Cate

sorry to hear about your aches and pains. I was wondering if you've heard about the vibrogym????
It is great for improving bone density. It's maybe something you could look into. I do a 20 minute session once a week. It is great not only for toning and weight loss but also just for a massage.
Glad to hear work is working out for you too. Shame about the cat allergies, I love cats but I also suffer from them. I had a cat for about 13 years but I was very strickt with where he sat and ate.....hubby also suffers badly and he doesn't want anymore cats but I am considering it.
Take care.
Sam:)
 
Hi Sam, No, I hadn't heard of vibrogym but just checked it out.
The aches & pains aren't as bad as realising it was probably the bush-walking that caused them!
I am really craving sweet things today for some reason. I just gave in & ate some dried cranberries & oil-free sultanas. I'll take some Blackmores sugar balance pills for a few days I think & see if the cravings go away. Once you start eating sweet stuff it's hard to stop. That's why I'm in here typing away. By saying it "out loud" I am acknowledging my cravings & attempting to deal with them! A lot of it is frustration about the bush-walking. I'll get over it. I just have to find something else that's fun, good exercise, easy & convenient to do & that won't hurt my back. I might have to go back to the Tai Chi idea I think. Actually I have a phone number that the Bowen therapist gave me. I'll ring up shortly.
I'll go drink a huge glass of water & won't have any more sweet stuff. All of a sudden my mouth feels gluggy. Yuck. Too sweet!
Nothing much to say today so cheers, Cate.
 
Hi Cate!

Its been ages since I popped in... Life has been incredibly hectic for me ...with no sign of slowing down! I feel like its all one big whirl with my holidays the culmination of it all... and thats like 2 months away!! OMG! How will I get through it all!??

I am so sorry to hear that you are having to give up something that you have really enjoyed! Is there no way to still go on the short walks and therefore not need a backpack? or at least a lighter pack? what a shame! I am sure you will find something else that really strikes a chord with you though!

I am sooo looking forward to catching up with you ... in 58 days! hehehe.... at least you KNOW that I am definitely coming... since it is all booked and paid for! woohooo!

Blessya mate
Kannadew
 
Hi Kath, I am going to sort this out one way or another. I don't have to give up walking, I'm sure. I just need to work out how to do it without hurting my back. I think I should see my doctor & maybe see a physiotherapist & work this out. I need to maybe find a group of like-minded over 50's & find out how to get fit without damaging myself. I've made a start.
I'm booked in to my first Tai Chi class on Wednesday week & Monday I will ring my doctor & make an ap't. I have vein ap'ts the next 2 Tuesdays so that's bush-walking day usually.
I had a really good day today at work, after a baddish one yesterday. My job's a bit like that. Today was great. Yesterday I was in tears after being spoken to very curtly by my client's physio. I found it a little embarrassing but spoke to my client about it today. I told her I was feeling very fragile yesterday as I was in pain with my back & neck. I had just asked her for some advice, thinking that she would not mind answering one simple question & she was very rude to me. Obviously she would prefer I come to her as a paying client rather than ask her a question when I am with a paying client.
Before we left I apologised to her for being un-professional & asking her a question about me & she seemed to soften & answered me civilly. This was as we were leaving & I battled with tears for a while.
I do sometimes think I am going through menopause as my emotions are always so close to the surface.
I am really happy with the work I do with my client as I feel we are really moving forward. I can get through to her & get her to try new challenges. Most of them would sound simple to others but to her they are huge. The things she did today were just great. I will keep going with this until either things change & I stop enjoying it or feel I can make a difference or they try to change me too much.
I am going to weigh myself tomorrow. I feel really fat. I ate bread last night at a barbie as there was only meat & bread. We were told not to take anything else & I assumed there would be salads. I drank water all evening as I was the designated driver (as usual.) I have been eating Cohen's during the day & then a healthy meal at night but with some rice often. I just feel like I have put on weight. I look in the mirror & think I look ok but I do feel fat. I'm not just saying it to be silly.
My LH is keen to go wash the dishes so I had better go grab a tea-towel as there are lots. Cheers for now, Cate.
 
That's great about Thai Chi - have fun! XXX

I am guessing from the things you talk about you work in the disability field? My mum works as a supervisor at a sheltered workshop and has worked in the field her whole life. She is passionate about it. I can image it must be very gratifying to see results when you work so hard. Thats great.

I hope the walking thing gets sorted out for you soon. XXX Take care.
 
Hi Jen, I work as a Disability Support Worker. It is very challenging but can also be very rewarding. I wanted to have a job that made a difference now that I at an age where I can afford to choose. I have only been doing this since mid December '07. I will sort out the back problems/exercise issue as I'm very stubborn & determined. I also need to develop a thick skin. I have trouble coping with rudeness. I am not rude to people & do not cope too well with it when I people are rude to me.
I had better get a good night's sleep tonight. We had a late night last night, I worked all day & am back for another 8hr session tomorrow. I have a cooking lesson happening tomorrow as "we" are entertaining another support worker & a client, my client was with in a high-care establishment after her accident. It's funny as I had to ask my husband for some cooking tips first as he's the cook in our household. I'll let you know how the day goes!
Cheers for now....cup of peppermint tea time, then bed, xo Cate
 
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Well I was right. I weighed 74kg.:banghead:
So I'm knuckling down & am going back to original Cohens, no grog, no dark chocolate, original fruit etc until I am back to 70kgs. I won't weigh my food though. I'll see what happens first.
I have felt bloated & my system has not been working too well for a while so will try to get things back in balance. I got such a shock seeing 74kg! I had put on 2kg in 2 days. It must be fluid :)confused:) but it feels revolting.
I am so afraid of putting this weight back on. I have not been pigging out but I think I have been having too much fruit. Fruit does not seem bad but maybe with me it is downright fattening. I haven't been having bread, except for the barbie, or milk. It's not like I'm eating icecream, crisps, pizzas etc, probably just too much fruit.
Aaaaarrrgggghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:rant:
I've just been over to "visit" Kannadew. What an inspiration! She is well aware that it's a minefield. I'm sure the losing is far easier than after Cohen's!
I haven't even felt like I've been over-eating or eating the wrong things.
Enough moaning from me. :svengo: I'm def. knuckling down!!
Cheers, with water, :cheers2:xo Cate
 
OH Cate... You are so sweet!! Thanks so much for always stopping by my diary... have not had many visitors lately and have really felt a little isolated at times.... I have been trying so hard to be supportive and encouraging to people...but there are so many people... I am finding it quite exhausting in some ways... Bit over it to be honest!

Am looking forward to MY HOLIDAY!!

I can understand your dilemma about your increase! I know that I too would have a bit of a panic too! What about actually weighing your portions and getting it right down to your goal weight... I reckon if you went to weighted portions you would probably drop 3 kgs in a week or so!

Anyway.... Hope you have a great week!
Blessya
Kannadew
 
Oh Cate

I feel your anguish because I've been there so many times. I think what Kannadew suggested might be the way to go. It's all so very individual the weight loss/gain procedure.
And yes you are so right losing the weight is the easy part, it's the keeping it off.
I'd like to give you some suggestions but I am struggling too, as you know.

Take care
Sam:)
 
Sorry about the gain Cate :( but I am sure you will figure what exactly is causing it out and get back soon. It sounds so hard the "after" sometimes I am terrified I wont be able to manage! I was just planning on a healthy 1500 cal diet for the rest of my life! lol Obviously not.
 
Kannadew- Sweet? That's nice. I'll take that any time! I think you are right about me re-committing to the original plan, measurements & all . I have really known what I needed to do but........ I need to bite the bullet & do it. Easier said than done. I weighed 73kg this morning & have felt much better. I went back to the Bowen therapist today. I suffer a lot from allergies & inflammation & am going to try some of her herbal remedies, cut down my anti-histamines & vitamins & give it a go. I am determined to get healthy & fit! I don't even try to keep up with the other forum. I usually only read your diary & occasionally the refeed posts. Deb seems lovely. You provide so much support to the others. They don't know how lucky they are!! I am really looking forward to meeting you. I know we'll get on well. I'm asking for those few days off. xo Cate
Sam- It's hard isn't it?! I know that if I go back to Cohen's strictly the kilos would melt off me. It's just so hard to re-commit. Once you think you have those freedoms they are hard to let go of. I'll get there. Luckily I'm very stubborn so won't ever let myself get fat again. Hopefully the herbalist will be able help me as well. She seems to think my constipation etc stems from allergies & seems confident that she can help. I'm determined to get my health on track. sometimes I think I take a silly amount of vitamins & medications & I really want to eliminate them if I can. xo Cate
Jen- Thanks for your comments. You are participating really well in the forum. I'm sure I'm not the only one who welcomes your input. I think we all think the losing is hard but the after is such an unknown thing. It's no longer black & white. It's up to us. By the same token, if I had followed all the maintenence guidelines given to me by my consultants I would not be going through this. I am still in the forum, being honest with everyone, not to frighten anyone hopefully, but just to keep myself aware, accountable and on the way, hopefully to be able to help others. I guess the main thing is knowing that we have to be careful with what we eat forever!!
I think I must be like an alcoholic & know that I will have this "illness" for the rest of my life. It's nothing to be ashamed of. I was obese. I will always have the tendency to become obese again if I am not ever vigilant. I don't think that means I have to be scared of food or feel bad about myself. I don't. If I can lose 36kgs I can do this. I've proved it! I'll do it.
I got a text message today saying not to worry about the buddy shift with the new client because some of the time off I've requested clashes with the days they need me. I don't mind at all. I wasn't really looking forward to it. Sometimes I kid myself that I'm looking forward to some challenges but I'm not really. I like to be in a relative comfort zone.I'm also not spending enough time doing the things I love to do, like spending time with the grand-kids. I haven't even seen them for a couple of weeks. We have friends from interstate staying Wed night. They were meant to arrive Thursday morning when we both had the day off but are coming a day early when I work. My LH is going to spend the day with them & their daughter & then i'll come home to spend the evening with them. We have seen them twice in the last year, after not seeing them for about 10 years. We*spent the day with them at melb zoo when we took our gs over for the day last year & visited them when we were over for the Aust 8-ball comp in Oct last year. It doesn't matter much that I have to work but would have been nicer if I hadn't. I rang today & asked to knock off a bit early & was told that was fine. I think they are finding me fairly reliable so I didn't think it would be a problem.
I'm off to launceston for more vein treatment tomorrow. Catch up with you after, cheers all, Cate.
 
Hi Cate

I am finding the forum status really frustrating at the moment....it is so difficult to read are you finding this or is it just me. I just wanted to apoligise for not reading your post due to this. Where are the modertors??????
Sorry for venting but it's been going on for awhile now.
Take care and I promise to read your diary once there is no page adjusting needed.
Sam:)
 
Hi Cate

Sorry I have not been in for a while, just had a bit going on around here and have not been feeling the best. I love coming in here as I find you very inspirational.

Sorry to hear of the weight gain, but I know that you will not let it get the better of you, you sound very strong minded and determined to keep up what you have already acheived.

I am a little scared of the end, and I hope that I can keep my weight off once I am there. As I have such a love for all the wrong foods, and I hope that I will be able to keep away from them and only have them in moderation. So ofen I don;t feel like cooking and I say to my husband I don't wanna cook, let just get pizza, and he just smiles at me knowing I am joking!!! and says don't be silly. I am so glad he is so supportive, because if he said o.k maybe just tonight, I might find it hard to say no!

Good luck with the 3kg. I know you will do well.
 
Hi Sam & Sal, I thought it was my computer! It's been driving me crazy!! I also am getting booted off the internet regularly & it's so slow. It took me ages last night to post my diary entry & I almost gave up. If I hadn't typed somuch I would have.
Been to Launceston, had my veins checked, bought some cute pj's & knickers, a new winter coat- black with grey trim-nice, had a delicious Thai beef salad- very healthy & delicious; got back to Deloraine, picked up my 2 little dogs who had been washed & shaved & am home drinking a pot of peppermint tea. Phew! I feel good though. I also bought 2x 2kg hand weights as recommended by the Bowen therapist to build up my upper body strength.
Our friends from Melb are arriving in the morning so I have also been shopping for a few extra salad items. My LH is going to make lasagne for their dinner tomorrow night & we will have fresh salad from our garden, fruit salad & some melting moments that I bought in town from the place I had lunch(just 1 each.) They make their own.
I have to be quick as I need to call them shortly to give them directions as they have not been to our house before. I hope to come back later, cheers, cate
 
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Hi Cate,

Just wanted to pop in and say hi! I cant wait to also be able to buy new clothes! Hope your day is going well. Cheers Esthee
 
Hi cate

I have sent an email to the forum advising them of this annoyance. I hope they fix it quickly, I look forward to coming here in the evenings it seems to relax me after a busy day like today and at the moment it is achieving the opposite.

Take care and hope things go back to normal soon.

Sam:)
 
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