Cohen's Lifestyle My Cohens Journey

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kimmy1

New member
Well I am pretty new to this forum, but after watching others keep a track diaries here I thought it may be a good idea to keep me motivated and - more to the point - honest!!!!:D
I have tried almost every diet on the planet with varying degrees of success. My downfall is emotional eating and my sweet tooth is a force to be reckoned with. But after almost 20 years of gradually getting fatter, my body has finally decided ENOUGH.
In November I had my second baby, a beautiful little sister to my 4 year old boy and at the end of the pregnancy I suffered from high blood pressure and excess fluid. After delivery I was readmitted into hospital with heart failure due to fluid overload. Although the situation wasnt caused by my weight only, all specialists have told me I have to lose weight to get my blood pressure regulated and that I am a candidate for diabetes as well.
I look at my darling little girls sleeping face and I am determined to get my health in order and to be an energetic and happy mother to both my kids.
Seeing some friends do really well on Cohens, plus all the success had by the strong people that post on the forum has inspired me to commit to this way of eating. I am proud to say I have lasted a week with no deviations (except that I made a mistake on the first day and used broccoli when its not on my list) and when I weighed myself yesterday I had lost 5 kilos!!! I found it really tough at first but when I really looked at it, I was more missing what I have done for 20 years which is grazing and just "popping things' in my mouth, not actual real stomach cramping hunger. As those compulsions are getting less I am feeling better and now I am in a good little routine. I am scared of the power of my sweet tooth, but I am going to fight that little bugger if its the last thing I do!!!!:)
Anyway thanks to everyone that has helped me reach the decision to start this journey and please cross your fingers for me!!!!!

Kim
 
Hello Kim,
Congratulations for getting through the first week - which I have been told is the hardest. I just started today, so am only a week behind you.
And like you, I have 2 darling little children that are inspirational.

Fantastic that you have lost 5kg already. That must be so motivating!!!!
Well done and good luck with your journey.

:)
Lily/Pumpkins
 
welcome!

hello kimmy!
i think you will be pleasantly surprised at just how supporting and inspirational everyone is on this forum!whenever you feel bad or even feel like something a little naughty feel free to come online and read all the amazing stories by everyone!im sure itll make you think twice about putting something non-cohen into your mouth.and if you didnt know..on average if you deviate once...it pretty much means you stuff up one week of losing weight...so would you rather have that miniscule piece of choccie??or would you rather be one step closer to becoming the brand new sexy you!
and CONGRATULATIONS on your 5 kilo loss!it just proves that cohens is no ordinary diet :) and with a little willpower and motivation im confiden you can DO IT!!and of course well be here every step of the way :D

once again welcome on the journey!

:)

i think i can i know i can I CAN!
 
Hello Kimmy
Congrats on your weightloss so far i started Cohens on the 11/12 and i weigh in on the 9 Jan, I haven't weighed and only measured once but i can already feel the difference. The only day I deviated was xmas. I am proud to say that I did not give into chocolate i have a nuerotic sweet tooth as well and their is choccie everywhere in house at the moment but i have not caved.
So all the best - Sam
 
Sam - WOW you are doing so well to not weigh yourself. I wonder if thats what I should try to do as I am a bit obsessive with the scales and weigh myself daily...You will get a nice huge surprise at your weigh in though!:)

Hi Fatcat (cute name!) - Thanks for the welcome and the reminder about deviating. It would have been quite tempting at times had I not known that as you are eating so little it seems like an extra cracker or two couldnt affect it.:rolleyes:

Hey Pumpkins - Good luck to you, how are you going with making the little ones meals? I have trouble remembering not to taste things.

Well I have had a good couple of days. I am still sticking to it 100% except tonight I didnt have any Cohen crackers and was starving so replaced with similar, hope its ok?

I went to the butchers and got some chicken breast minced and tonight I made a spicy rissole-y thing by adding in some of my vegie allowance onion and mushrooms, some paprika, tumeric and garlic powder. I rolled the combination into a flat round shape put it all on some foil with my allowance cauli and zuccini and baked it all together for about 10 mins. Very nice.

Just found out we are going to Fiji for a family holiday in mid-Feb. Although I am excited about having a break, I will not have finished the program then and I worried about what to do. We got a Villa with a full kitchen so hopefully I will be able to continue or at least maintain my weight...Also we dont have any choice about dates due to my hubbys work situation...

Hope you are all having a good Cohens day. Keep up the good work!

Kim
 
Today things are a little tougher for me:confused: I suppose I am a bit sleep deprived (up and down all night with the baby) and I always used to comfort eat when I was tired. It seems that my sense of smell has got more sensitive and even making my sons peanut butter sandwich made me feel like eating. Not really hungry, not really craving, just flat and wishing I could eat. Well I am not gonna do that, so better get my a into g and embrace a day of healthy eating:rolleyes:
Have to cook for my in-laws (a big roast dinner cause thats all my hubbys father will eat!) and hope that I can keep my mits off the roast potatoes...Yes I can, I know that I can do this!
 
Hey Kimmy,

If you find yourself wanting to take a bite of that peanut butter sandwich or those roast potatos, chew your gum allowance! I always find that when im feeling peckish and its not my meal time, that the gum can curb the feeling! And make sure you keep a bottle of water nearby too, drinking lots of water should help with that too. :)
 
Hi again Kim,
I can totally relate to what you are saying - it seems all I can do is think about the food that I am not allowed to have.

My hubby bought my girls a donut each yesterday - the plain cinnamon sprinkled variety - and boy did they smell good. But that's all I did - smell them. I'm trusting everyone on this forum that things get easier over time.
Day 3 for me - and I'm still hungry all the time. Mind you, the meals I am cooking myself are yummy, but just don't seem big enough. Especially dinner.

I'm trying to cook the family a similar meal to what I am having at dinner time, so that I am not tempted by what they are eating. And I am slowly getting through to them, to not offer me anything. Both my little cuties offered me a bite of their donuts - so sweet that they would share it - but not helping Mummy at all LOL.

And I agree with Lexie - I'm chewing on that gum like mad!

Good Luck Kim - We can do this!!!!!!!

:)
Lily/Pumpkins
 
Hi Pumpkins

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Slim People!

Remember that any chewing activity stimulates the production of saliva and thus, hunger!

You may be creating the hunger problem with all that mad chewing!

Just take it easy, the first week of any change is the hardest. By this time next week you may be doing without the chewing gum altogether.

Keep in mind that, apart from before protein in the morning, you can eat the fruit and crispbread at any time. No more than two crispbread, of course, and wait two & half hours between servings, but there is nothing to stop you from making a fruit salad of your fruit and having small amounts of that throughout the day.

I used to snap a vita wheat crispbread into six small 'crisps', and whenever I felt stale that would be twelve crunchy mouthfuls, plus some water, and I would be over the moment.

Even now, I carry a zip lock bag with half a dozen vita wheat, plus a bottle of water, around in the car with me.

The two crispbread come 'under the radar' and do not trigger an insulin response. Crafty, huh, tricking the body that you haven't eaten anything! hehehe!!

An important part of Cohen's is the creation of new habits. This also means the creation of new, non-sweetened tastes. If we sweeten everything we will go back to our old ways as soon as we are off the program.

By learning that everything is not about eating we can distance ourselves from the impulse to eat all the time. Chewing gum, to me, is a placebo and creates and reinforces the reliance on everything being about chewing / eating.

There was a thread some time back about smelling the food, and how taking a few deep breaths of the aromas can be all that we need. Coffee, after all, smells a whole lot better than it tastes, so does cinnamon and a lot of other fragrant foods. Getting used to smelling, really smelling, the food is a delightful experience. Once we start eating or drinking we can't smell the aromas. While I was on the program I used to love smelling the family meals, but now I don't really notice anymore - that sensation has faded away again.

Pumpkins, can you put up a ticker please - it is great to see how far everyone has to go, and later, how close to the goal.

I am still a Cohen's Groupie as I am still amazed at the success of this program - I'm hooked!

Have a great journey - this is the Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread!


Cheers

Chelsea
 
Hi Kimmy I'm with Lexie and Pumpkins I chew gum I actually count that as morning tea & supper and drink my water constantly. I am very much into a routine & zone with my cohens. During this holiday we have been out and about with kids nearly every day and I have packed my meals and taken it with me, the only difficulty is the water ........ toilet breaks etc. But I make sure I have my 3+litres a day.
Cohens is all about planning. I wouldn't worry about your holidays interrupting your diet if you have kitchen etc take your scales and just do the same as you would at home you will probably be pretty active in fiji so enjoy and lose.
Take care
Sam
 
Hi everyone,

Thanks for the suggestion about the gum, I chewed it while preparing the meal and while taking it out of the oven and it really helped me stop popping little bits in my mouth! I am not a fan of chewey but it did the job!:)

Chelsea, You are an inspiration, and its great that you have stayed around to help us 'newbies", thanks for the tips...

Well I did really well, I didnt not stray AT ALL and in fact no one really noticed that I wasnt eating because they were all so busy tucking in and then I had my fruit with them when I served up dessert. It went suprisingly smoothly although when I was putting stuff away some of the really tempting stuff I covered with al-foil.

I have found out that our place in Fiji has a cooktop, not an oven, has anyone got any good ideas for things I could bring that are easy for dinner? I figure that I will get yoghurt & fruit for brekkie, tuna and salad for lunch any other ideas?

Hope that everyone is having a great long weekend...
Kim
 
Thanks Chelsea, for the welcome and all your wonderful advice.
It is so nice of you to stay around to help out all us newbies.

I have a similar amount, as what you did, to lose. I thought I might start a thread with my progress, similar to some of the others around, once I get through the first week - so I'll suss out the ticker thing then.

The gum chewing, like Kim, stops me picking when I am preparing dinner - both my own, and for my family. Though today (day 4 for me) it was a lot easier - the hunger hasn't entirely gone, but I didn't notice it at all in the morning. In fact, I was loaded with energy, started tidying up the kids toys from Christmas, and keep finding new areas to clean. I spent all day cleaning - and still feel energic now, into the evening. And tonight when preparing dinner, I just drank water - didn't need the chewing gum. So things are looking more positive today.

And as an added bonus, I served my two childen, aged 2 and 6, the same dinner as me - chicken breast, flattened and rolled around zucchini and asparagus, then baked in the oven. Surprise - both my little ones liked the asparagus!! I hadn't tried them on it before, assuming they would turn up their noses. They both ate all their dinner!! (this is a big thing if you knew how fussy my 2 year old is with her greens).

Thanks again, for your advice/support.

:)
Lily/Pumpkins
 
kimmy1 said:
Hi everyone,

I have found out that our place in Fiji has a cooktop, not an oven, has anyone got any good ideas for things I could bring that are easy for dinner? I figure that I will get yoghurt & fruit for brekkie, tuna and salad for lunch any other ideas?

Hope that everyone is having a great long weekend...
Kim
Click to expand...

Hi Kim,
Are you staying on the main island in Fiji? I stayed there in a self contained apartment a couple of years ago, and found some surprises in terms of food, which may be helpful for you to know in your planning..
I was extremely surprised about the lack of fresh fruit and veges. Essentially, we could get coconuts easily, and some veges, but there wasnt a lot of fruit around. most of the veges were starchy veges - potato, kumera, carrots etc.
We were staying on the Coral Coast, and we had to drive to Suva to be able to get meat, which was all pre-frozen -no fresh meat to be found anywhere.
Not sure about getting tuna and other seafoods.
But I do remember it being very hard to get fresh food - most ended up being tinned or frozen. So, keep that in mind in your planning. But you will have a great time I'm sure! and I'm sure you'll have some creative solutions.
HL
 
Happy New Year:D !!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Lily Great to hear about the kids eating your meal, what a bonus...At the moment my son is an absolute pasta freak, so I just give him what I am having with some added pasta. Sounds like you are going really well, I too love the new found energy, my house is really tidy too (for about 5 mins):)

Hi HL! Thanks for the tip about Fiji. I have been there before but had completely forgotten about the lack of fresh veggies and fruit. I was going to take alot of the things I will need, but I cant take f&v. Mmm, dont know...will have to speak to my consultant.

Well I dont know what happened yesterday but a series of events happened that I didnt stick 100% Cohens. Firstly we went out for the day and tho I packed salad, I asked my son to put the can of tuna into the pram and of course it ended up in his toy box and silly me didnt check before we left. So I only had salad for lunch. Then we didnt get back til really late so I ate about 10 vita wheats...I had one then couldnt stop til I threw them out!:( I am really disappointed in myself but am taking it as an opportunity to learn a good lesson about organisation! MUST be organised. Sorry to whinge but to top it all off, now my fridge is on the blink and I have to defrost it for 2 days (to get the ice out of the motor). CRAZY!!! The good news is I havent succumbed to any sweet temptations and my need gets less everyday.
I am looking so much better already and some smaller clothes are starting to fit. I have also lost another 2 kgs! Yayyyyy!!!!!!
Heres to a great year, with us all reaching our goal weights and having a much different holiday period next year!!!!!
 
PS: HL your acheivement is amazing, you are inspiring!
Lily, you are welcome to keep posting here, it would be great to have the motivation of losing with someone who is in the same boat as me!
 
Hey there kimmy

Great to see you have a diary, i think it really helps. :)

I generally cook everything on a electric frypan cause we share a house with some friends and they have upstairs and were downstairs, and even though we can use the kitchen upstairs I find it just as easy to use the electric frypan, so maybe if your palce in fiji has one you could whip up some delicious dishes.

How old is your baby, I have an 8 month old daughter.. :p
Your doing a fabulous job so far, keep up that spectacular work and I'll chat to you soon.
dianne
 
Thanks for the great suggestion Di, I am sure that they would have an electric frypan, I will e-mail them. If not I will take one, everything but the kitchen sink eh?!!!he he...
My bubba is 8 weeks old:) She is a pretty easy go lucky girl but of course is still settling in. Is your daughter sleeping through yet? I love babies around that age, they are so smiley and interactive. Are you still breastfeeding? I couldnt breastfeed cause of the heart medication which is why I can start Cohens so early. I thought it would be hard with a new baby, but in fact I feel calmer without all the sugar running through my veins!!! My hubby comes to Brissie alot on business and we used in live in Red Hill. My mum still lives in Paddo, whereabouts are you? Thanks for the encouraging words, we will get there!!!!
I am so happy to update my ticker today to 7 kilos lost!!!!!:D I am proud of myself for sticking to it so well (with the exception of some small errors). This result has motivated me to keep it up and hopefully I will be looking a hell of a lot better for the holiday in 6 weeks!!!
 
Thanks Kim for the offer. I might start my own thread - to try and keep myself on track. I blew it last night, and it's was only day 6!!! Had a taste of my daughters pasta, then just lost the plot and kept eating. I'm really p'ed off with myself, but I have jumped straight back onto the horse today. I will certainly be checking out your progress and cheering you on.

Well done with another 2kg loss. That is so awesome!!! Keep up the great work.

:)
Lily
 
Oh no...

I fell off the wagon and spectacuarly!!!:mad: I am so upset with myself...Despite it being that time of the month, my bubby being extra grizzly after her immunisation shots today and my fridge breaking down a coupla days ago I have been so good and sticking to Cohens 100%. Tonight I wasnt even hungry or craving food but my hubby went to bed (he has been at work since 4am and is knackered) and left me with a bawling baby and a relentless 4 year old who was hassling me for chips and I gave in and let him have a packet. The next thing I was helping myself to the packet, saying to myself "Oh well, I have nothing Cohens to eat in the morning as the fridge is stuffed, I might as well give up, I am stressed" THEN I ate Jellybeans and Avocado on toast...:eek: I just dont understand how it could all fall apart so quickley. I feel bad for letting my son eat junk just cause I am tired and I am so pi$$ed off at myself for not putting up any kind of resistance either. I am telling myself to move on and just get up in the morning, walk and get some yoghurt and fruit for brekkie. If I can get through tomorrow, the new fridge arrives on Friday. Please let tomorrow be a better day....
 
So depressed, have put on a kilo overnight. How can this be? I have been so good up until the jellybean episode last night, but I wouldnt have thought that would put so much on? Having really negetive thoughts about giving up until another day when I have a fridge and Cohens friendly foods. Am scared that I wont be able to get back on track.
 
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