Cohen's Lifestyle Ground Zero :)

[*Starfish*]

SO today was 4 weeks weigh-in day!

Im fatisfied! 8kg down in weeks and Im feeling great! I cant believe that I have lost so much in one month! It strangely doesnt even feel like it! Well, I mean, I can see it and feel it in my clothes but it doesnt 'feel' like Ive lost!

I am not about to get discouraged and I am predicting that the second month will probably go a little slower! Im just aiming to loose OVER 10kg now! I'll be STOCKED!

Im in the swing of things and keeping on track 100% I have consulted my consultant about my cracker spree's and she said that I shouldnt be to worried and in fact a few more cracker wont do much at all! PHEW! Im relieved! Well, today I feel like im being spread all over the place and my head is so mush from my work load! aaahhhhh!

Im back at gym after the flue! Im planning to do good workouts this month and try and firm up a bit here and there!

I hope you all are well and doing well! Keep up the good work ladies and gents(few) Its honestly the truth that it gest better and that before you know it its a lifestyle! YAY!

Much love
**

 

[Cate]

SO today was 4 weeks weigh-in day!
Im fatisfied!

Not any more you're not!
Starfish- I still felt the same even when I had lost 36kgs. It took months before I started feeling like a slim person or feeling that I now looked like one. It seems to take the brain a lot longer to catch up with the body!
The first month is always the biggest loss by far but, as you say, it is now a lifestyle and you are looking at life long strategies. You know now that you are going to get there. Enjoy the journey, xo Cate. PS Look at yourself in the mirror naked before you hop in the shower each day. That's an eye-opener. I can't argue with the mirror any more. I still can't believe it's really me. I look at myself sometimes & feel I might have died & come back in another body, until I see the wrinkles & silver hair!!

 

[*Starfish*]

Hi Cate! Thank you for your post!

Yes its a rather strange feeling, like it hasnt realy happened--- like im still the podgy person before! I can realy say that I do enjoy the fact that I have SO MUCH MORE TO WEAR now and I like the fact that everything fits! I am enjoying my slimming journey---Its like such a comforting though to know that by sticking to Cohen's, every day, every meal is working for me!

I havnt weighed below 75kg since 2006-- Its great! Im just so happy that now with Cohen's I will be able to reach my goals and have a tool for the rest of my life that I can apply when nessecary! I vowed to never let myself go as much as I have in the past and to focus on long term good choices rather than short term satisfaction!

Yesterday the follow up blood test showed a deviation -- my consultant said that its is because of the antibiotics I took for that week that I was sick! Id like now to soth that out! I want it to be ok!

I also stopped counting the weeks! It seems just to fly by and before I know it it will be 6 weeks! When I look now at 6 weeks -- Im not intimidated anymore-- I CAN DO THIS! IM CONVINCED OF IT! I am so posting my before and afters! YAY!

Its crunch time at work and early in and late out-

I hope all of you are doing well! Keep up the fantastic work!
Hope you hear from all of ya!

mwah!
**

 

[Luvbug]

Hi Starfish!

Whoooo hoooo, girl!!! 8kg's in 4 weeks is super-duper fantastic!!! You must feel awesome!
Congratulations!!!

The blood test shows deviations? Strange..hehe
I haven't received my results back yet

But wow, I must agree with you and Cate -- the weightloss hasn't really sunk in yet. People can see it, but I can't. Sooo funny! I guess my brain will catch-up with it soon haha

I'm so happy that all of us have lost weight so fantastically!!! I'm so proud of us!! hooray!!!

WE CAN DO THIS TO THE END!

Have a stunning day, Starfish!


All the best,
Luvbug xxx mwahh!

 

[Niyah 01]

If you know you're sticking to all the rules, then don't worry too much about the "deviation" result. It only really matters when you want to order re-feed, and you can't, but at this stage, it's no real worry.

Well done for your determination in sticking to it, despite the temptation not to! When we give in, we don't enjoy the feeling afterwards. Making good decisions not to deviate makes us feel so much more in control, and we get the enjoyable results we deserve for our weeks of trying!

 

[Cate]

Hi Starfish- Don't think a deviation with a blood test is a rap on the knuckles for you. It just means that you are not losing weight at the optimum level. It's not a criticism. If you were not getting enough sleep or were drinking too much water it might show as a deviation. You would probably have lost more without the anti-biotics, but then, hey, you would have been sick! No choice. It's not an issue- don't worry about it. If you were deliberately deviating then that would be a different matter. You're not.
I'm really enjoying the friendships & the support everyone is giving one another at the moment. It helps us all. Keep up the good work, xo Cate

 

[*Starfish*]

HI all! HI Luvbug and Cate!

I just returned from the Doctor-- Suffering from a very bad bladder infection and back on Anti-biotics Suffering a bit -- so thats not great! I was hoping that It will just go away but ya, Im rather glad that I went and canget some relief finaly! Im a bit worried about the deviation status and now Im back on meds which is not great at all! I did ask my consultant whether the diet couldve had an influence-- she said no!

I have been going to gym and feeling great otherwise! Dropped a few more grams and no very close to 73kg!!! YAY! im so stocked! Im on a misson to get to the 6 series (lol-- that means in the 60's kg range) Anything with a 6 will do!

Hope all of you are having a good day!

Greets!
**

 

[Niyah 01]

Pity about the bladder infection. I've been plagued with them through my life. Various antibiotics stop working and you end up having to move on to the next.

Hope yours clears up soon enough.

I've actually been a bit better so far on this diet - hope it stays this way!!!!!!! They sure are unpleasant.

 

[Cate]

I used to get bladder infections a lot until a female doctor gave me some good, simple advice. She said when I think I have finished urinating, stand up, give myself a bit of a jiggle, sit back down & then to try again. Almost always you will find you can wee just a little bit more. Apparently our bladders can get little "pockets" where urine can collect & then may cause an infection. I did it for years & never got another bladder infection. That was about 25 years ago. I still often do this. Also I think you should empty your bladder when you need to & not hang on & hang on. Worth a try. As I said it worked for me, xo Cate

 

[Luvbug]

Hi Starfish!

Awww girl, I'm sorry to hear that you're a bit sick.
I've never had bladder infection *touch wood*, but I can only imagine the discomfort in having it.
I hope you feel better soon!! * the bugs!*

Don't worry about the antibiotics - I'm sure it won't hinder your weightloss efforts! And you really need the antibiotics as well.. You can't sit with the infection forever hehe

Ahh that's so cool! You'll be in the 6 series in no time! hehehe!
Then we can party like crazy! Deal??

Hope u feel better soon!!
*lotsa hugs *

mwahhH!! xxx

 

[*Starfish*]

uUUuuuUUUHHHH im realy suffering today! Not great! Thanks Cate and Niyah-- I tell you the joys of being female are endless sometime LOL btw Im being completely sarcastic!
Ye, I think it started over the weekend and yesterday our office block had no water which means we had no sanitaion the WHOLE day and we had to drive to get a loo! It was very painful and aggrivating-- I think it made it so much worse! Ye your bladder becomes quite stuborn when you keep it for to long and it doesnt realy ever get better! Im going to use your advise Cate, thank you-- I have nothing to loose -- Im realy up for any advise at the moment!

The bad thing is, my job requires me to spend allot of time in the car and most of the time there is no propper or decent tiolets for ladies in far out places-- It makes it so horrible and somedays I have to keep it in for 4-6 hours before I can find a decent loo! I know it sounds crazy but it happens more often that what id like to admit! I have spoken out about it but there is not much to do -- the work has to be done!!!! I realy dont like it!

Well, I hope to get relief from the meds for now! I have also asked my gp for like over the counter meds that I can get when it happens!

Thank you all for your support!
Much appreciated!
Greets
**

 

[Niyah 01]

My bladder infections are pretty solely related to YKW. I've tried absolutely everything - peeing, then sitting some, leaning around and peeing more to make sure it's ABSOLUTELY empty, peeing after YKW, taking cranberry tablets and juice etc etc etc. Nevertheless, I continued to get them, increasingly in number and severity.

Nowadays I am on a preventative antibiotic - have to take one within half an hour of YKW (you should see what the chemists dutifully type on the label - aaaaggggh!!!!). It keeps them away, although I have to live with the antibiotic's effect, and I'm on a pretty potent one. I've had ultrasounds of bladder, been to a Urologist, and this is just how it is.

Never mind, hope you don't get to that stage!!!!! The cranberry tablets are somewhat effective - read some studies recently that they find a good result, and the more people take of them the better the result in trial groups - and doesn't matter if juice or tablet form - so if you have long trips and no toilet, take some beforehand??? Stops the bacteria being able to adhere to the bladder wall so well. Presume you have Ural Sachets or something like that to take the sting away too??? Don't have them for days on end, but first day is fine.

My problem is post-baby - too many traumas down there. Had some repair work done but have to live with the result. Yes, the many joys of womanhood!!! I think losing weight will take a bit of downwards pressure off the bladder and urethra - found that last time, and it was slightly better. Any improvement at all is better!

 

[*Starfish*]

:waving:----------Hi all------------ Hi Niyah!

Wow Niyah, I would say that u have it bad! Outchy! I feel for you lady-- It probably one of the most uncomfortable things to have! I think its like if you get it once-- you are most certainly going to get it again!!! I feel better today and the meds seems to be kicking in! I have read about the cranberry juice and also my GP said that it works-- I just didnt know where to get the tablet form-- we cannot have the juice, can we, whilst on Cohens?

When I got onto the scale this morning-- 72KG hehehehehheh Im not going to get to excited yet-- only like after 5 days if the scale says the same--- I BELIEVE IT!!! but if thats true-- Im on the -10kg mark!!! MAN I cant believe! LOL! No realy! LIKE I LOOOOOOOOOVVVVVEEEE COHENS! LOL!

I am so looking forward to the next 10kg!!! NOTHING has made me feel this great in a LOOOONG TIME! it feels like Im getting my convidence back! YAY!

Im sooooo glad it friday!! Im overworked and underpaid! LOL! But in today's financial crisis we just have to stay put and make the best of what we have-- what else!?????

Oh well complaining gets no one no where!

Well if thing keep on going like this-- BRING ON SUMMER MAN! Im so going to the beach and strutting my new bod! SO WATCH THIS SPACE!
LOOKING FORWARD TO READING SOME POSTS!

Much love
**

 

[Niyah 01]

Don't know about SA but in Australia you can get cranberry tablets either from a chemist, or else from "heath shop" which sells health products, vitamins and so on. Maybe you have something similar? Most of the juices are mixed with other things and also sugar because cranberry is quite dry tasting, so can't have whilst on Cohen's.

It seems 9 out of 10 infections (or even more) are just E Coli, which obviously get on the skin from the bowel. Most people cope with it, and they tell you all the stuff like wipe front to back, blah blah, but even after all that, I STILL get infections. So did lots more reading of medical literature, and seems some people's skin E Coli has a better affinity for, so they have a higher disposition towards getting them no matter what they do. In other words, the bacteria can stay on the skin of some people much more easily than others. I guess I'm one. And doesn't help when everything's a bit sad down there after several children. Sigh!

I only once had an UTI infection caused by anything else, and boy was I very sick!!!! E Coli infections are very uncomfortable and miserable, but not as serious.

Anyway, right now I have them under control - last year was a bit mis, but at the moment it's good.

Fantastic about the weight!!!! I'm plodding along, and as long as the numbers keep going down I'm happy.

 

[Luvbug]

Hi Starfish!!!

Shame girl, how's the infection coming along?

When I got onto the scale this morning-- 72KG hehehehehheh

CONGRATS on the 10kg's!! omw that is like flippen amazing whooooooo hooo!!!!

.....LIKE I LOOOOOOOOOVVVVVEEEE COHENS! LOL!
.....NOTHING has made me feel this great in a LOOOONG TIME! it feels like Im getting my convidence back! YAY!:

I TOTALLY with this!!! OMW!!! Im in love with Cohen's hehe
I'm so glad that we discovered it, hey girl?

I'll join you on the beach -- we'll rock it!!

Mwahhhhhhhhh!
enjoy your Friday!!!
xxx

 

[Cate]

Hi Starfish- Just did a quick bit of homework on where to buy cranberry tablets in SA & checked the ingredients of one brand. The price was R 182.28 which is about $29 Aus so is probably reasonable as they are quite strong. The brand I found was Health Aid Cranberry tablets 5000 mg's & I think you would be able to buy them online from many places but the one I found was Shopmania. I would check with your Cohen's consultant as I think the filler used (anti-caking?) may not be allowed. These are the ones in this brand-
"Ingredients
Bulking agent (Di-Calcium Phosphate, Microcrystalline Cellulose), Cranberry Berry Extract, Anti-caking Agent (Veg Stearic Acid & Magnesium Stearate, Silicon Dioxide. In a special powder base of Kelp, Ascorbic Acid, Beta-Carotene and Rosemary."
Some of it doesn't sound too healthy does it? LOL, xo Cate

 

[*Starfish*]

!Hi Cate Hi Luvbug Hi Niyah!

Cate-- You such a sweety! Thank you so much for your trouble looking up the Cranberry tabs! I did some investigating also on the weekend and found a stockist! Yay! SO in future I will be able to find it-- (Im praying that I dont have too) eeeek! Thanks again!

Niyah-- for both of us-- hell I hope we dont get it again soon !!! Im going to try and take every precaution now-- its not something I want to relive again!

Luvbug-- you little rascal! How are you? Still spreading the happiness all round I hope!??? You always make me smile! hehehe Man we are doing fantastic! Did you have a weigh with your consultant over the weekend-- what did it say? GIVE SOME DETAILS!?

Well, I am a bit frustated with myself and irritated with my cracker habits!!! EEEKKKK i ate to many like on saturday and sunday-- Im afraid that I over did it and now I will have to carry the consequences! SO much that I am not goint to have any crackers today or tomorrow! I have to kill the habit before it runs away from me! eeeeeek! I was at gym 4 times last week and happy with that! This week im trying for 5 times! If I can only get below the 70kg line!!!!! grrrrrrrr! Yesterday, for mothers day, I had lunch at the in-laws-- I took my foodies with..... Strange-- M-in-L wont offer me lunch (she knows) but when pudding comes round she'll offer-- huh? No man-- makes NO sense! I ate a apple instead lol! I also quickly noticed the hostile atmosphere when I was asked how much Ive lost-- eeeek I just kept quiet! Im not about to compete with no one and I realy dont care about jelous people! All I know is that Im happy doing what Im doing and (*screw*) the rest! (Excuse my dutch!) lol

I will be on the road from tomorrow -- so wont be so quick on the posting I am not realy looking forward to all the driving and it means that I have to do extremely good meal planning in order for me not to be caught of guard! It usually means that I eat yogurt for lunch- bleehh not to great! It leaves me hungry by 3pm!

I happy to say that we are on way to week 7( 3 days) Luvbug you rockstar!

sending huggs to all and esp to all the lovely mothers out there-- Happy belated Motherday to all! YOU ARE ALL SO SPECIAL!

Lotsahugs!
**

 

[Niyah 01]

Don't worry, the green-eyed monster comes out in lots of people when they ask how much you've lost... they seem to almost take it as a criticism of themselves, even though that's not our focus at all!!!

One way of controlling the crackers is not to start too early in the day - have the first 2 in the afternoon, then you've still got a few to look forward to. I find that a protein breakfast will keep me happy all morning, and I don't really need the crackers then (until last couple of days of the month!!). If you keep the morning under control and can manage to have a satisfying lunch (hard when you're travelling!!!), then the rest of the day is a bit more to look forward to.

Eating on the run is very hard. But if you just eat yoghurt for lunch, you are going to struggle with feeling cheated and wanting some more nibbles later. If you have time to think in the morning, you could organise maybe a cold pack and nice salad and cheese lunch or something. I find feta pretty satisfying, but there are other choices too like canned fish that can go with a nice salad. Otherwise you could take the time to chop a bit of allowable fruit into the yoghurt - that way it's a little more satisfying.

Anyway, you sound like you are still going great with a busy life, so just hang in there and keep it up. We become ingenious at managing our circumstances, don't we??

 

[Luvbug]

Week 7, Day 7

HI Starfish!!

How are you???

Hehehe - wow, I've been BUSY the last couple of days! ON campus whole day without internet..sucky!

I'm sorry to hear about the cracker thing! I can imagine how irritating it must be... I guess that's what they meant by saying, the first time you deviate, it's difficult to go back!!! So we just shouldn't go there in the first place..
I KNOW that you can kick the habit - good luck girl!!!!


Ah yes, the jealousy sounds TOO familiar! Don't let it get to you...
Some girls in my residence just stare me out and others ask me how I've lost weight (duh). One girl even asked me when did I start to smoke.. LOL!!!
Smoking is their way of losing weight - so sad.
When someone is jealous, just smile on the inside..you deserve it!
And if you don't want to say how much you've lost, just say a "a lot of bad eating habits"

I was at my consultant and her reaction was amazing.. She gasped and said that I look great! (dunno whether she does that to all her clients haha)
I weighed and I've lost 6kgs!!! *very happy Luvbug*
She was kinda shocked with the great loss for the amount of weight that I need to lose - but so was I! She is very happy for me. She commented on my skin, aura and how I've changed.. And that I should be on a Magazine cover.. LOL!! Whatever
But I must admit - I feel AMAZING! My confidence is so much better and I feel so healthy.. It's truly an awesome feeling

Whooooooooo hoooooooo for Week 6, day 7! Tomorrow is the start to week 7!
WE RAWK girl!!

*massive hugs*
mwah!

 

[Luvbug]

Happy 1st Day to Week 7!!!!

Whoop whoop!!

mwahh!!
xxx