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Just adding my signature thing- trying to work it all out. 1st weigh in on tuesday so.. wish me luck! I have been tempted to buy scales but im not sure...... scared i wil get down on myself if i dont see any changes!!

Im kinda obsessed with it- i drank 4x600ml water bottles in the last cple of hrs cos i havent drunk any for a cple of days :mad: Any tips for becoming waters best friend????

Enuf for now- sleep is beconing as its 2.30am and need to get up at 8.30am.

Next time.

Dee
 
Welcome to De De 23 and all other new people

DeDe23 welcome. I am a lot older than you but had a similar amount to lose when I started Cohens a few short months ago in February. I was mid 90s ( had been 100kg a few months earlier) too and wearing size 16 - 18 and extra larges, I couldn't even shop in normal shops any more and had to buy most of my tops in a "big girl's shop" You will get there, I remember it seeming like forever too and also wondered if the goal they had set for me of 62 kg was too low but now that I am getting closer to it it doesn't look like it will be. I reckon you'll find the same thing.

No saggy skin either and I am 44 and have had kids, so if its not an issue for me I seriously doubt that it will be for you.

Water drinking tips that I find useful.
I find the water is easier to drink if not icy cold, not warm but not chilled either, I usually try to drink at least 600 ml at each meal, usually before I eat if possible, I often drink at least 1 litre first thing in the morning just to get a good start and be hydrated during the day (also better than before bed as I have to keep getting up to go to loo) that makes it easy to drink my 2 litres in a day and I often drink a lot more. If you have to drink more than that each day, just try 800 ml at each meal and a little in between.

Other ideas :
Always finish every glass or bottle you have with you.
If you use a bottle buy a 600 or 800 ml so you can easily calculate how much you have.
Try to take a water bottle everywhere you go.
If you have a car, it is a good place to have a drink too
Drink water at your desk at work.
I always drink 1 or 2 glasses of water when on the forum too.

You'll be always in the toilet but it will get easier and I think most of us have found that after a while we actually miss our water if we don't have it. With the need to go to loo all the time, you just need to get smart about when to reduce the water for a few hours, ie if going on a long drive, or at a job where you can't always be running to loo. I used to be like a camel and hardly drank anything, now I have no problem as I am always wanting a drink.

You will be so thrilled to get back into trendy small clothes that that will be its own reward. Don't be tempted to cheat, as I have, it really slows you down. It doesn't have to stop you but it will make progress way slower.

Get someone you trust to take a before photo it doesn't have to be the bra and pants variety but it would certainly provide motivation!!! Then maybe take one every 5 or 10 kilos so that you can see you progress. You will be amazed.

Also set mini goals for yourself.

Although I am replying to DEDe23 I want to welcome all the other new people and I hope that these tips will be useful to you too. Good luck. I will watch your progress and read your posts with interest and you will find lots of great tips and support on this forum, I doubt I could have done it without these people.

Jen
 
There are so many people posting on this forum, which is a very encouraging thing. Welcome to all the new people. I really wish you well on your journey and can say that if you stay with this, you will find it to be life-changing.

Just lost a big post – so cheesed!! Will try to ‘rethink’ quickly! I am back from my days away and there was no pressure, it all went quite smoothly.

the old me: You are doing so well now – good for you. Your posts reflect your positivity and you sound so wise. About the water, I fully agree about using slightly warm water, especially in winter. When it seems difficult, I only take one sip at a time, but that all adds up. Ideally, we should all be taking a sip every 5 minutes or so throughout the day – not always practical, but certainly easier on some days. It is much better for us than gulping it down. I am smiling at your no deviation sticker and feeling pleased for you!!

L-Jay: It has been tough on you, hasn’t it? You can be so proud of yourself for your grit and really sticking to this in a hard time. So pleased that the scales are moving and you should be at your mini-goal in no time.
You can really be hold your head up high for the way you have approached this. You have dealt with the mind games and found such helpful ways to combat them – good for you! You have come a long way, and you must be seeing some differences that you can be excited about.

gayegel: You are getting so close now, good for you! You must be able to ‘smell’ the finishing line. What a determined person you are, and wow – you are nearly there. Sad that you haven’t had people saying how much you have lost. I have friends who had about 30kgs to lose, and no one made comment until the last 10. Sometimes it is political correctness, and sometimes it takes a little extra for them to get it – like a new piece of clothing or a change of hair colour. But when they do, and they should by now, they are going to be blown away with the results. Whatever, you can look in the mirror and reflect the change and be so proud of yourself! Don’t let them discourage you.

And was it you who mentioned the small apples? I have a book that tells me the average size of fruit, I think I posted the details some pages back. An average sized apple is 150gms, so if they are small or large I simply cut them accordingly.

rmj: Well, refeed is going so well for you – shame about the bread, but great about the loss. It hasn’t been easy for you going back on it, but I am sure you are going to relax and enjoy in only a couple of weeks.

I so long for that ‘normality’. I miss the simple things like brocoli, and rhubarb. It is about not having to weigh food, and about adding in the little extra bits. It isn’t about bingeing or having really unhealthy foods, but just being free to adjust things to your pleasure, and to meet with other people and fitting in with them. O yea, and just a smal bit of milk in my tea or coffee! I can’t wait!

fornight: You and your Mum seem really close, and it can be difficult when things go wrong. Operations can be scary things, but it sounds like it is one that should have a good outcome – and your Mum should benefit from it. So it is worth looking on the bright side and anticipating how this will help her in the long run. When you get to the hospital, find the chaplain, because they can be people who just support you and you don’t have to be any particular faith, or religious – they might just be able to encourage and help you while you are in hospital.

To all the people I haven’t mentioned, sorry, but it is a time thing. You are all appreciated, so keep on keeping on!

I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and really looking forward to October. This week was one of my good weeks at 0.9kgs (my average is 0.6). In 3 weeks I have made 2.0 and my minimum for each 4 weeks is 2.4kgs. I really need it to be a bit faster to finish in time, so the extra 0.3 this week is appreciated. Sounds so minimal but every little bit helps!

Anyway, I changed my ticker design because I won’t have time to mess around during the week. (I am so in to change at the moment). And I have added my new count-down signature.

Have a good day everyone!
 
OHHH!!!
It wouldn't let me do what I was planning. Seems I can't use word art in this - what a shame.
Well here is the simpler version same words, less design!

Began 9th July 2005 … To end 20th October, 2006​
Lizzi . . . 111 days to go! … 15 weeks 6 days​
 
good morning everyone!

Well today makes 4 weeks for me.... and 8.5kg gone forever! :D

Had a slight mishap last night...went out with friends for dinner (had to go, was a good friends birthday), and had planned on ordering like fish and a salad or something like that...well I got the fish part right...grilled, but it came with mushroom risotto! I only ate half the risotto, but I still feel really bad about it :( Got home and drank an extra 500ml water...wasn't much else I could do. But at least I didnt put on anything...still managed to loose 0.2kg.
 
Ready to end!

Well I have done it -I reached the top of the weight range (60kg) and this week for the first time in 18 years I fit into a size 10 - you can imagine how good that felt!!!!
I've lost a total of 16.3 kg on cohens in 11 1/2 weeks plus 1 kg before - 17.3 kg total!!!

I got my refeed and after programs late last week. It is
is a bit complicated to map out as the amounts vary each day. I decided I'd work out the protein amounts for each day, freeze and label them together.

My freezer looks really worrying with lots of little plastic containers with numbers on them!!!! It took a few hours to plan out some menus, but I figured that would work better than trying to work it out on the spot.

While I am so pleased with being slim again, I am probably more proud of how resolved and focused I have been over the last 3 months. I intellectually "knew" I could do it - but you tend to lose your confidence in your own ability to change things when it's not worked in the past.

I want to thank those of you who've posted on this site, it has been a big help to me to be able to log on and know that other people are working in the same direction and supporting each other. I didn't feel alone.

I wish you the success you all clearly deserve.

Therese
 
Arowan

:D Arowan: I have big smiles! Isn't it funny how happy you can be for someone you don't know? It is absolutely FANTASTIC that you have reached your goal and you must feel so utterly incredible! Congratulations.

Welcome to all the new newcomers. Coming hard and fast. To look forward to: I have lost 5kg in my first two weeks! I have yet to weigh myself as my weekly weigh in is tomorrow morning but i'm feeling so positive. By the way. WATER IS SO IMPORTANT. Remember every time you do a loo dash you are losing FAT! It's the only way to eliminate fat. For those of you struggling with it, remember that you are losing weight each time you sit on the toilet..

Jewls: Great news that you're doing so well. I'm really glad to hear it! Look forward to hearing of your amazing results.

No doubt you'll all hear from me tomorrow when i get my 'official' at home results. There's no way i could wait four weeks to weigh. I need it for motivation. If it slows down that's okay cause i'll expect it.

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend.

God Bless...;)
 
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A big THANK YOU to everyone's concern and wishes!!!! I feel so much better now. We have fixed another doctor's appointment so that I can ask him as well as to fix a date for operation. I have already make plans to give my mum "tonics" for her recovery.

Today I am really cranky and irritable. I think it was due to my lack of sleep. I stayed up too late last night. I have been cutting crackers out of my meals for days and I think it has a huge impact on my weigh loss. I am very satisfied with the loss. Its end of my 3rd week and I have lost 7.4kg. But today, due to my crankiness, I think I better eat a couple of crackers or else I might snap someone's head off.

Yesterday I went to the mall and saw a shop having sale on their T-shirts and blouses. I couldn't help it but went in to take a look. to my surprise, I can wear XL now!!!! Usually I can only wear XXL or XXXL only. My jeans and pants are now quite loose so I bought a belt to "tighten" them up. I want to save as much $ as I can so that I can go wild on shopping spree when I reach target weight. I am already planning the clothes to buy. Clothes that I never dare to wear because they will reveal my layers of fat to outsider. In the past, I usually walk past fashion boutique shops since they will never have my size. I eliminate them out from my visions but now I take some time and admire them in display and imagine myself wearing them when I reach my target weight.

I think the amazing thing is when you lose the fat on cohen's diet, it just melt off proportionately. My arms and back are the most difficult place to slim down but now I can see my love handles getting smaller now. I hope I have the guts to wear Bikini when I am slim!!!! I am already putting on cream so that I don't add on the stretch marks that are already there.
 
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HI Lizzie, nice to have you back and thanks for the words of encouragement. I am pleased to hear that this weeks loss was slightly better than usual. It must be a real frustration to lose so slowly but wow what a lot you have lost regardless. Well done and you have my admiration for your commitment and your outstanding weight loss journey. Can't wait till you get there and I know you will one way or another! Jenny
 
Thanks Mumbine - is appreciated and congratualtions on the 5kg. Size 10 is just that much closer!!!
 
Too Cool Therese!

Thanks for letting us all know!

Will be interested to hear how you go on/after the refeed, please keep in touch!

asy :D
 
Hi everyone,
I have now completed 6 days on re-feed and tomorrow I have to eat an extra 120g of protein and an extra 120g of veges (for the day). I am pleased to let you know that I tried bread again yesterday (wholemeal this time), and didn't have any reaction this time. It may have been the white bread, or I could have had a slight bug, but I was really pleased as tomorrow I get 3 slices of bread (in place of my crackers), so I can have a sandwich!!! Also I will get milk again in 2 more days, so I will be able to have a cup of coffee again. I can't wait. I can't drink black coffe, so while on Cohens I only drink tea.The only other new things is 2 extra pieces of fruit, and tomorrow I no longer have to wait 5 hours in between meals. I am quite full most of the time, but I know it is very important to continue increasing the amounts as my body needs to adjust for "life After".
It's great to have you back Lizzi . You are getting so close to your goal and will feel a HUGE sense of satisfaction when you do. I also can't wait to just eat normal food again. Some carrots and vegemite YUM.
Sorry, not much time to post today. I have a uni assignment due on Wednesday.
Have a great night everyone. Talk to you all soon.
 
Hi

Wow, so many newbies!!!

All of you, good luck with your journey - it is so worth it!!!

I'm almost done.... SO HOPING to be ordering my re-feed by the end of another two months ( fingers crossed!! ) .

Just had to post cos I forgot to change my ticker last week. Hopefully I'll be able to move it again on Tuesday.

Keep up the great work everyone!!! :D
 
Hi everyone, sounds like we have all had a great weekend.

Lizzi It has been hard at times, but mainly because of my own doing. I'm so glad I've found constructive ways to overcome mental stumbling blocks (finally) and these will help me for the rest of my life, I'm sure. I like your new ticker.

Pink Virgo congrats on coming so far. Your tenacity for wanting answers and not settling for anything less than sastifying ones has paid off. You will always be remembered for doing your homework

rjm yay for being able to eat wholemeal bread. What a relief.

arowan well done and all the best with refeed

fornight isnt it the best feeling when your clothes go down in size. Fantastic motivation to see this through to the end.

mumbine 5kgs in 2 weeks is excellent. Great job.

the old me my partner in crime - good to hear you're still going strong. The 60's are calling.

she bear thats right!! Those kilos are gone forever, and more will be joining them.

DeDe23 welcome. You have definitely made the right decision. Water will become your friend - believe it or not!!!

Tonight for tea I had the beef and cabbage "spaghetti" off the cohens site recipes. It was yum. A good change from what I usually have. I've found the last couple of days, I have tended to drink a lot of my water all at once, instead of spread out over the day. I do what the old me does, and start the day with 1lt. The days I dont do that, I find it harder to drink my quota.
 
Blunder big time!

Thanks 'the old me'! You certainly made it sound a little easier with all the tips. Much appreciated :D I kinda had a crappy day (no sleep til 8am from noisy neighbour) and had to replentish food stocks and fell off the wagon slightly. I slept all day so missed breakfast and lunch then decided to go shop on empty stomach and wondered around amlessly when i couldnt find what i needed and stood stareing at damm chocolate- I NEVER EAT IT so i was a little confused. I then stared at the bread bagettes and bort a small one. I got home and added a little bit of margarine and vegemite (minimal amount). It seemed to rid me of my unruley feeling i had. I also had 2 eggs not one for dinner but the right amount of vegies.

I rang my mum and confessed my sin and she was like 'Its ok, restart in the morning and keep that will power going- ur still learning the process hun'. My 30yr old bro (who is 6ft and like 60kg :mad: ) was like 'MM u want some chocolate dee??' in the back ground. It doesnt bother me at all- kinda find it funny cos im not a sweet tooth.

I think i have done really well as i have given up full strength coke for which i was addicted to- 2lt or more a day!! No wonder i have mild renal impairment!!!! I was killing myself slowly. My diet consisted of pure sugar and one meal of tuna pasta bake a day. ABsolutely no healthy factors in it at all- no water at all. I think if i had ceased coke and just ate more healthy foods i coulda lost the weight but i guess this just makes sure i do!!!!!!!!

I do drink diet coke (i am still having caffine- i dont norm drink coffe or tea) but only a couple of cans a day (i started with 4 and gone to 2). I found a great coffee that actually tastes nice black 'Robert Timms- Royal SPecial Coffee Bags' - add sweetner if required. Ingredients are not listed but presume its ok. I will switch to caffine free coke now due to this new found love!!!!! Are my taste buds changing thru this process of elimination?????

Im a nurse so u wld think i would know this stuff but u know what- we dont.
Its amazing how many in this field of work actually neglect their body and even though deep inside our minds we know its wrong, we still do it!!

BUt, enuf of my wingeing- i plan to get an early night or at least by midnight and get up early in the morn and restart this program with a new light upon it. P.S-- that water thing, i did manage 4x600 before i went to bed from 11 to 2.30am. It is easier by the bottle rather then the glass!!!!!!!!!!!

Night and happy watering!!!!! (promise to write less next time)

Dee
 
PinkVirgo: Nice to hear from you. SO close now, good for you! I am glad it is working out so well for you. There must be a very noticeable difference now. It won't be long and you will be having fun in the Life After Cohen's! Keep us posted.

DeDe23: Hi there! O well, a rocky start. You have however learnt rule number 1 - don't skip meals and No. 2: Don't shop on an empty stomach, cos we carry our food where we need to go and in between there are fruit and biscuits to keep you going. You can do this I'm sure once you get the hang of it.

L-Jay: The beef and cabbage spaghetti sounds good, I must try it that way. I often cook cabbage in the non-stick pan, it is great shredded and stirfried with whatever herbs I want to toss in. Then a sprinkle of vinegar and sugar substitute. I have a little bowl that I use for chinese - so I put my protein stirfry on top and eat it with chopsticks - sort of like chow mein style. I like it - and it feels normal. You are getting closer every day.

rmj: I am glad the wholemeal bread went down well - are you allowed to have multi-grain? Another question I wanted to ask about refeed: all those foods not on it like avocado, rhubarb, rasberries, and smoked salmon, what does it say about having those? And other cheeses? And I know refeed says ' no need to return to fats' but do they give you any other advice about fats?

fornight: It is not worth cutting out all the crackers all the time. Some people have big losses even with them, and others it makes very little difference on the scales, so don't be afraid of them and check it out.

mumbine: Looking forward to your official weigh in!! Let us know.

Arowan: Congrats on reaching refeed. Sounds like you are very organized. It seems like just yesterday you were starting. Well done!

Stay strong today.

Began 9th July 2005 … To end 20th October, 2006​
Lizzi . . . 110 days to go! … 15 weeks 5 days​
 
lizzi Well, I had 3 crackers yesterday and there is no loss today. Usually there are a few grams loss. I know I am impatient but I think I am better off without crackers. I am reserving them for really emergency situations.
 
DeDe23 You're mum sounds very wise and supportive. its great you have her to encourage you. As a nurse do you have to do shift work? Sometimes when I do the shopping, if my period is due, or started, I am hopeless. I do what you do. I'm not capable of writing a shopping list when I'm like that. It happened the other weekend, we were having friends for lunch. The day before, I could not decide what to make, so I went to the shops, no list, and decided to make it up as I went along. About midnight that night, I woke up and realized I had bought 6 chicken drumsticks and 6 bake at home rolls to feed 4 adults and 3 children. Who does that? Luckily I had some stuff in the fridge to make a casserole as well. There have been times when I have come home after shopping when I've had my period and my hubbys like "wheres the food?" Because the all I bought was things I was craving eg. chocolate, etc etc. When we lived in the city, and I drove to work at that time of the month I'd always drive through at least 1 red light. (just as it changed from orange usually). I cant believe my hormones have such a huge impact on me. I'm not implying thats whats happening with you. I just thought you'd get a laugh out of my experience.

Lizzi your stir fry recipe sounds yummy. I'm going to widen out a bit in my meals, and try some different recipes. I know variety is good to kick start through plateaus, but also so as not to get bored. You are getting close too.

fornight I agree with lizzi about the crackers. My scales only weigh in 1/2 kg increments, so I dont know wheter the crackers have impact on my day to day loss, but I do know they dont over a week. The most important things are not deviating, and drinking the water.

Having said that, my plan today is to drink 4lts of water. I want to get off to a good start for the week. I've downed one already, so only 3 to go. My weight is the same and I'm happy with that. After my blow out last weekend, I was 85.5. I had got to 84, so I lost that 1.5kg plus another kg in 6 days. My aim is to get to 81 this week. So I'm really going to make a huge effort with the water.

Do the robert timms coffees bags taste like filtered coffee? I actually like instant coffee black, but am not so keen on filtered. I prefer that in the form of a latte. Hanging out to be able to go out and have one of them again. If we go out for coffee, I usually only have a black earl grey tea. Wish I did like black filtered cofee. A couple of people have mentioned the robert timms coffee bags, so they may be worth me having a try.

the old me you've gotta be in the 72's soon surely?
 
Well, I weighed myself this morning, just for fun, and my scales tell me I'm 7kg lighter than when I started 2 days ago.

This tells me I need new scales :(

They also tell me that I'm 17kg lighter than at the clinic last week.

Definately need new ones.

asy :D
 
asyoz has it really only been 2 days? Thats a bummer about the scales. Shame its not for real, now that would be outstanding results. Its a good thing you did decide to weigh now rather than later. Now you can get some accurate ones. But be assured, there would be some loss alreay, even though its only be a couple of days.;)
By the way, I see I have a lot of catching up to do in your blog.
 
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