Cate's Diary

Oh my goodness! I had typed in here today & it seems to have disappeared. I think today is a whoops day!
I am so much better at giving compliments than receiving them.
I am much better at giving advice than receiving it.
Thank you so much luvbug, Geo & 28+!
Cate- :blush5:
I am a bit lost for words today. Unusual I know!
:D Sweet!
You are lovely people, xoxo Cate
 
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Folks I'm feeling really blue at the moment & am having trouble finding the words to explain Cohen's to Pomme, who I think is trying to be helpful. Please help me out. Hopefully a couple of days relaxing (or trying to) will help. Too much stress at the moment I think or maybe a reaction to the stress of my mum & my MIL combined. Other things happening too. Maybe I'm getting a bug or something. Who knows? I just don't feel well & have no energy at all. I wish I could hibernate for a month!
Sending you all lots of love, xo Cate
 
OK!
I woke up feeling a fair bit better. I had a good night's sleep & am putting a plan into action.
My plan-
Is my usual one. Healthy, low-carb "diet" plus daily exercise. I have gotten out of my routine & it's time to set myself new goals or renew my old ones.

Today-
Food-I have eaten wallaby soup(Chinese spices) for breakfast with one coffee. Beautiful soup-very lean. No crackers. Soup had some baby corn but not much so low-carb so far..
One apple.
Exercise(on maintenance)-
I got my LH to drop me off at the highway on his way to golf & I have walked home, picking up rubbish along the way. About a 3km walk uphill.
This made me feel really good!
I'm starting to get hungry but will wait until 12 to have anything. I am going to make myself get over the hunger thing. ie fear of hunger? Silly!

In one week's time- Sunday, we are flying to Cairns & I have been regretting booking it because of our mothers. Instead, today, I am choosing to look forward to it. Sometimes I wonder if my brain goes on holidays! It will be great fun! I must go do some homework on what we will do. I think see the Great Barrier Reef on my birthday & maybe snorkel, depending on how self-conscious I feel on the day. I will turn 57 & I like to do something memorable on my birthday if I can.

Diaries-
I guess I am suffering a little from depression as I am having lots of trouble getting the enthusiasm to write in diaries. I will see how I am in a couple of weeks & may reconsider medication for it. I know it goes in cycles so I try to fight it with my own strategies & will continue to do so. Please excuse my lack of input. I love the forum & love the people in it at the moment. You're a great lot!

Time to head off & do something else. I'm in my gardening gear and have the urge to get outside & get dirty! LOL. I had better do the dishes first in case someone visits.

Bye for now, xoxo to you all, Cate
 
hi

Hi Cate
Just letting you know I'm new to forums and weight loss. I have been searching the web for somewhere to find guidence and motivation. I am doing cohen's (this is day 5). When I was reading your diary entries I was so inspired. You have done an amazing job...I hope I can be as successful as you. I live in Geelong, Victoria and have never struggled with weight until my 30's and after children, I now weigh 120kg (yuk) and am 173cm tall. My goal weight is 70kg. I feel pretty good today and hove alot more energy than I have before. So I begin my journey........
 
Hi jojo, Thank you very much for offering me support when I needed a little lift. Here you are, brand new to the forum, & you are showing that you care about others. I really appreciated that & gave you rep. It does not show yet but will one day soon I'm sure. Congrat's for making the decision to lose your excess weight & for choosing Cohen's. I look forward to following your progress as you slip down the sizes. Don't think of yourself as "yuk" ever. To lose your weight & not put it back on you must love yourself. You were not "yuk' but you were lovable you, but with unhealthy excess weight. Now is the time to work on your self-esteem. Start preparing for your positive future. Be prepared to face any demons that there may be lurking in the background. Have a read of the Motivational sayings thread. We're here to help one another, as you have just done. All the best with it jojo, xo Cate

Yesterday-
I ended up out in the garden doing some more rock work for about 1.5 hours (maybe more). I decided to dig a bed to move a big plant into & had to move what looked like a small rock. It ended up massive but I got it out of the ground & moved,(it rolled down the bank in the end so then I had to find a new spot for it as I couldn't get it far!)I dug up some red hot pokers, ready for transplanting today into the area I have been working on for months. Soon one section will be complete & then I have another area to do. My Winter job! I love it! Last night I slept like a baby. No- better!
It's Mothers day here & we are about to go see my MIL for a while & do some shopping. Happy Mothers Day to all mothers out there & happy Sunday to everyone else.
 
Day 6

Hi there again,
Thanks Cate for you encouragement. I must say I am feeling pretty good at the moment, I had my first real test yesterday, I work at Woolworths, I thought it would be really difficult as the bakers come in at night and start cooking....yum bread...and it usually makes me want to eat bread when I get home at 12:30am but I didn't (super happy I resisted). I had a cup of herb tea and went to bed instead.

Today has been lovely so far, my kids made me breakfast - yes they weighed my vegies to have with my egg. I got some lovely pressies.

Hopefully the rest of my day will be just as good. Measuring day on Tuesday I can't wait...I might sneak a weigh in too.

Have a wonderful mothers day!!!!:grouphug:
Jojo
 
Hey cate, just caught up with your posts. I hope you're feeling better now. Anyways, just wanted to wish you a Happy Mothers Day! muacks!

geo
 
Hi jojo, I'm glad you had a lovely Mothers' Day. I did too, thank you. We don't fuss over MD but I love it when our sons ring. Our YS still hasn't but that is not unusual I'm afraid. There's no point getting upset over it as I know he loves me.
Well done getting through the late night baking smells. Every day that you get through without deviating from your plan give yourself credit. You're doing well. Cheers, Cate.

Geo-
Thanks sweets. I'm feeling a lot better thanks after much gardening therapy! My husband & I gardened all afternoon. It was great! Thanks for caring my friend, xo Cate.

Today-
We visited my MIL this morning and caught up with some family. We have eaten really healthily- mostly Vietnamese. Ahhhh....My idea of heavenly food. Pho Bo for lunch, rice paper rolls for dinner, followed by fresh fruit salad & yoghurt. YUM!
Lots of exercise, healthy food, company of my lovely husband. A good day.
Bye for now folks. I won't be back until tomorrow afternoon as I'm going into the hospital with my MIL in the morning. She has a long day- chemo( 2 down, 3 to go) & radiation(25 down, 7 to go).
xoxo Cate
 
Hiya Cate!!!!

First of all, Happy Mothers Day for yesterday :) Hope you had a lovely relaxing day, even if you guys dont make a fuss of it...its still a day to just have everything about you!!! hehe :)

You sound like you're doing well and still managing everything really well - good for you!!!

I hope everything is OK with your Mum and your MIL. I haven't managed to read everything thats going on but some of it does sound a little stressful. Take care of yourself Cate.

I'll do my best to visit the forums more often and catch up on what everyones up to, I have been slack lately..and it always makes me happy to talk to you all.

Take care and talk soon
K xo
 
Hi Kristy (& anyone else reading my diary.) It is stressful at the moment but I guess these sorts of problems are almost to be expected when our parents get to such a ripe age-85 & 86. I'm coping ok but am really glad that we have a break booked next week. It's good to share your news & I'm happy having you back :) xoxo Cate
Next week's break away-
We booked & paid for it on Boxing day. I like to get away for my birthday each year & took advantage of the Boxing day sales online. We thought "Why not go to Cairns?" as we have never been there. We'll do the scenic rail to Kuranda & the cable car back one day & go out to the Great Barrier Reef another. Our room looks great- got a $460 a night room for $125- KS bed, spa, balcony, very flash looking place!
I think I need to get away to be able to relax properly!

RocKwiz tickets! YAY!!
When I got home yesterday at 4.30pm, utterly exhausted, there was an envelope on the table wishing me happy birthday for next week. Inside were 2 tickets to the RocKwiz show that's touring around Australia. I didn't even know that it is coming to Tasmania & will be on in Launceston. Our OS organised it months ago. I was so excited! How thoughtful he is. I spoke to him & his wife & the grand-kids on the phone. I told my DIL that I had meant to ring her on Mothers Day to wish her a big Happy Mothers Day & to say I think she's a great mum & to thank her for giving us 3 grand-kids. Life has been a bit difficult lately but I must take the time to ring people when I think of it & make sure they know how I feel about them.

My mum-
Has an assessor coming this morning, hopefully to provide her with more care. Fingers & toes crossed! I hope mum copes ok with the visit & doesn't react against it.

Today-
Is chilly & overcast. There was a violent storm during the night which woke me up & kept me awake for quite a while. I'm in my work gear today & think I'll do some gardening therapy very soon.

Weight-
Has crept up 2 kilos again so am back to where I had stabilised for months & months. I have not been over-eating as much as not concentrating on the maintenance rules. They work if you follow them. I probably have eaten more sweet things though (like sultanas & sweet biscuits) than I had been for a year. I always was a stress eater. I may as well have eaten dark chocolate! Unfortunately I will feel a bit chubby for our trip but will get rid of it as soon as we're back. I won't pig out though any time as that is a thing of the past. Definitely!

Time to move. I'll ring my sister & see how she's going first. Bye for now, Cate
 
Yesterday-
I went for a walk to get the paper, had a tuna salad for lunch & then got out in the garden for a couple of hours. I transplanted some Winter-flowering red-hot pokers & dotted them around the garden. It's great to be able to get some Winter colour. It became really cold so I got a couple of loads of wood & came inside. I felt really bloated yesterday & quite uncomfortable. I'm not sure what has been disagreeing with me so will go back to basics again. I feel much better today. Yesterday I did not snack at all. My LH went out to 8-ball last night & I stayed home & watched tv & drank a pot of herbal tea & did not snack.
Snacking creeps up if you let it!

Today-
I am going to let my husband go with his mother for treatment without me. I had decided that I would go to Tai Chi & lunch after, as I haven't done so for about 4 weeks! I always feel that I have to do anything & everything & that is plain silly. I might even do some op-shop shopping as my no-personal-income-any-more retail therapy.

Cognitive Therapy-
I don't suppose anyone saw Insight on SBS last night? It was about anxiety & was very interesting. I do believe that cognitive therapy is very helpful for anxiety, weight issues, self-esteem & so many other things. I also believe that since I started my diary in here my self-esteem has grown immensely. Whether it's the fact that I am expressing how I feel & getting it out in the open or whether it was my losing weight combined with my diary I'm not sure. I think it's a combination of both. I know that I must continue to use tools such as motivational sayings and self-talk whenever I start to have doubts about myself. They really do work for me. Taking my mind off worries by doing something physical works. Staying slim is important but mostly it is feeling comfortable, rather than looking slim. I hate feeling bloated & uncomfortable. Sticking to the original Cohen's food suits my body. I don't even care about the science behind it. I know that I feel great when I eat fresh fruit, vegetables & lean protein. One thing I just thought of is that I have been drinking skinny cappuccinos more lately when I am out. They may be making me feel bloated. Who knows? We don't need milk.

I am going to head for now as I haven't had a shower yet. There is snow on the mountains today & it looks beautiful. Mind you, I just looked out & it's melting already so no photo today.
I'll pop back later. Cheers, Cate.

 
I would have liked to have watched the Insight program last night. Unfortunately I wasn't home. Anxiety is something that's going to be with me as a permanent fixture.
I can only eat tuna and salad sometimes. It gives me heartburn. I wish I liked fish more. But I really only like it cooked in butter, or crumbed. I make myself eat it though. You are doing great to reign in the snacking. RE milk, I know I'm better off not having it, so you may find it makes a difference. Just goes to show how finely tuned our bodies really are. We can abuse them for years and feel like we're getting away with it, but once we start living a better way, it wakens us up to so many things we didn't notice before.
Hope you have a nice relaxing time at Tai Chi. Sounds like a great decision.
 
Hi L-jay- I think snacking on cheese is a problem for me too. I don't see why you couldn't portion it & freeze some. I know it works for grated cheese so why not? I know that cheese retains fluid also so I need to cut it down. I think it's the snacking itself that's the trap. It just builds up.
Re: anxiety. They said it's about 50% genetic, which I found quite reassuring really, in some warped way. My mother, her mother......Check out your tv guide as Insight is repeated during the day on either ABC 1, 2 or 3. They mentioned it at the end of the show. It made me feel much better about mine.
I'm so looking forward to my Tai Chi. I'll get there early so that I am relaxed & will enjoy it thoroughly, xoxo Cate
 
Hi Cate
You are doing a fantastic job with your mum, I know how it feels, went through it a couple of years ago. My thoughts are with you....you are doing the right thing but always remember to take time out for you...I didn't and had a breakdown and had to go on medication (isn't hindsight a wonderful thing!!)

I weighed myself today....4.1kg down yay. I am very pleased with myself and feel pretty good.

Hope you have a great birthday, Rockwizz:party: YAY!!
Cheers
Jojo
 
Check out your tv guide as Insight is repeated during the day on either ABC 1, 2 or 3. They mentioned it at the end of the show.

Thanks for that tip Cate. I found it on the internet and watched it. Very interesting. I'll put my thoughts on it in my diary, so as not to hijack yours lol
 
Hi L-Jay, I'm glad you found it interesting & look forward to hearing your views. I found the suggestion that it's 50% genetic very interesting. Cognitive therapy helps me with almost everything I do these days. I find I can really change how I feel about things if I really try. The mind is a powerful thing. I thought the program was well balanced- Jenny Brockie is a great presenter. The online program mentioned sounds helpful. I don't know what it costs but it has had a 50% success rate. I'll catch up with you soon. I'll type in my diary later today I think. xoxo Cate

 
I have been side-tracked by our delightful grandsons. We had our OGS last night & I took him to Taekwondo & then he stayed the night as usual, except for last week when he was sick. We had a lovely time. He loves Costa's Garden Odyssey & we watch it together. Last night it was set all around where we live. We knew lots of people on the show. Our GS thinks we know everyone which is funny. He headed off to school this morning after a hearty breakfast of 2 eggs, 1 piece of lean bacon (grown on a local farm), our home-grown tomatoes & some mushrooms on a small slice of toast. This is his favourite & usual breakfast up here.
My LH has today off & he has been able to spend time with our YGS who arrived at 9.45am. He is gorgeous. They both are. Make that they all are. LOL- including my husband! We have gardened- I potted up some daffodils, cooked- my LH is making green tomato pickles, had lunch & now our GS is sound asleep in a double bed. he started to complain but then got the giggles when I said ok to him sleeping in the double bed. he giggled all the way through "The Hungry Caterpillar" & was still giggling when I walked out the door & shut it. I just went & peeked through the window & he is sound asleep in the bed. I hope that novelty doesn't wear off any time soon!
I no longer feel bloated & uncomfortable & am enjoying eating mostly Cohen's food again. I'll go back on the program when I get back from Cairns for a while I think. I am looking forward to eating fresh tropical fruit next week. Yum! Much better than desserts or cakes!

I might pop back later today but will go sit in my chair with a cup of herbal tea & today's newspaper. Cheers, xo Cate
 
Our trip to Cairns- is tomorrow!!
I'm packed- at last! We only take carry on baggage when we take short trips & I'm getting better at it but I agonise over what to take & change my mind all the time. I think I have finished! I bought a cotton shirt today as I really don't have many Summer clothes- certainly nothing for the tropics! I must buy some hiking sandals some time soon & then I'll have them for our next trip. They aren't attractive but necessary for doing lots of walking. I'm getting quite excited about it now. I won't be back in here until next Friday. I turn 57 on Tuesday, the 18th. I hope to be either snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef or going up to Kuranda on the day. Picture me up in Cairns, in a 5 star hotel (got the room for about 1/4 the normal rate) with a King-sized bed, spa & a balcony. It looks so good. I am going to swim as often as possible & they have a gym so I will do some weights at least once.
Food-
I have not snacked on anything today at all. Eggs for breakfast- Bubble & Squeak; tuna salad for lunch & beef rissoles & vegies for dinner. I have eaten 2 pieces of fruit & a little yoghurt with stewed apple after dinner. I'm looking forward to being back on Cohen's as I feel that I have gone up almost a size. Some of my clothes are tight. It can be fixed easily but will wait until I'm home. I will eat healthily in Cairns though.

I hope everyone has a good week. I will miss you all as typing in here every day has become an important part of my life. Take care of yourselves & give yourself credit for every day that you eat healthily. Sending you my love, xoxo Cate
 
Cate, I hope you have a fantastic holiday. We will miss you too. Make the most of the warm weather. Winter will be a bit shorter for you this year.
 
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