Well-I was so tired out from work yesterday I did not even sit down at the computer!
Lauren- Thank you for your post & your damned good advice!! You're right I should give myself a break. I'm my own worst critic. It's really hard not to rabbit on about this program though! A problem I am also encountering is that people are a little nervous about mentioning my weight-loss but I spot them looking at me strangely! A few have told me that they were too scared to ask because they thought I might have cancer!! I have also had people say to me that they are too old to lose weight & they are all younger than me! I think I'm only 53. I guess I'm a glass half full person.
I took my mother-in-law for an appointment today & she wanted to do a little shopping & hey I had a look at some pants, grabbed a pair of size 16's, then another of 14's, on the off chance & the 14's fitted me. She (MIL) is really pleased for me & she even paid for them!
I cannot imagine getting into 12's or 10's but I think I am going to have to have a real good talk to myself(which this is!) & a re-think.
I will start by saying-
I am no longer a fat person!!
I will have to get that into my head & that's going to take a while.
I think I have worked out why I am feeling pretty flat. I have been on medication for high blood pressure for about 5 years & it may have dropped with the weight loss. I have made an ap't with a doctor but cannot get in until next week. I will halve my pill each day until then. My doctor has retired so have had to find a new one. Doctors are very scarce in Tasmania.
I'll probably come back later today & post again. God, I feel like a Nanna nap! xo Cate.

Didn't have that nap but did a fair bit of cooking. Got the next couple of days organised. I just couldn't be bothered supermarket shopping today so fruit tomorrow will be a bit limited. Oh well! Apple/mango/apple. Apples make me so hungry. I might have to get buy some fruit on my way to work. I really miss nectarines and I am really looking forward to eating any fruit. I don't like bananas much but love almost everything else. Isn't it funny that I am thinking about fruit....? Passionfruit-yum! Grapes, cherries. I couldn't care less about chocolate or wine. Even red wine! It's amazing what this program does to your brain. I don't crave anything that I thought I would.
I have a full-on day tomorrow so will get an early night. Electrician coming in the morning to do some jobs I want done, work after that & then meeting my husband out. I will eat at work before I leave & will save 2 crackers for when supper comes out afterwards. I have been doing this for a while.
You know I get a weird sort of satisfaction from watching others eat. It's almost like I experience it.
In Melbourne last week we had a drink (me mineral water, husband wine) at Toppolinos in St.Kilda. It was a little trip down memory lane.I really wanted him to have one of their wonderful pizzas but he wasn't hungry. I would have just enjoyed him eating it.
I think I will cherish things more from now on. A little of something will be good enough. A treat every now & then will be enjoyed. I will cherish good health and being slim. I can feel it. OMG I sound like some weirdo convert!! I probably am!
That's it. I must need sleep, good night from Cate.xo

Oh Cate, you're doing so well. Keep it up....I love reading your entries!!!

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Starting Date: 05/03/07

Thanks Minny-you too. Are you still singing-'double figures, double figures....."
I think I'm a raving lunatic sometimes. (often!) I look forward to your "half way, half way....".
Isn't it great sharing this with people who are doing the same thing. I just let myself ramble on in here & say what I feel which is not what we are used to doing. It's good for you I think.
The electricians have been and gone. Most of the work has been done. I love our house. I could happily give up work. While I can cope with it for now I will, but might toss it in soon & have another change of direction. Losing this weight is giving me so much confidence in what I am able to do. Now that I know I can do something, well...... what's next?
I have a lovely husband & I hopefully will grow old with him.
I live in a beautiful home & don't want to move.
He is just starting a new job (at 57) & can have as many hours as he likes.
Mmmmm.
For now though I had better get my (I nearly said fat little a...) off to work but will amend that to my size 14 bottom & me off to work as I will have to eat my lunch when I get there before I start & have to buy some fruit along the way. Have only got apples & apples in the house & frozen mango for emergencies.
For the last 3 nights I have fallen asleep in our new recliners & my husband has had to wake me up to go to bed. Whoops. They are just so comfortable!
Be back tomorrow during the day sometime, xo Cate
I am not going to check for typos anymore-I'm too fussy usually & it takes too long so please excuse me. Wrong I then went & edited!

Size 14.. how cool. Way to go Cate you're doing amazing. Your recliners sound amazing.

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Clothes are getting baggy, I'm not so daggy.
Same young me, only in a healthy body!

Yep, I'm still singing...and it won't stop until the song changes to 'Half way, Half way'...lol.

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Starting Date: 05/03/07

Sounds like a blessed life, Cate. I love your positive attitude.

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New start: 6/28/07

Hi Cate,

Just popping in to say hi, glad to hear that everything is going great for you.
I have been in Sydney for a few days with work, it was a testing time for me but I managed ok. Evenings were hard, ate out every night (stuck to cohens meals -steak/ chicken/fish salad) weighed myself this morning and havnt put on (thank god) but havnt lost either ...grrrr oh well sh*t happens !!
Gonna be a good girl now that im back get that little line on the scales moving again.
Size 14...woooo hoooooo...go Cate go!! You are doing so well!

Have a great day
Annie Lusion

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Minny-I'll sing with you when you get to half way. The Minny/Cate duet!
Misty-I try to remain positive. I am a lucky person & I do appreciate what I have.
Annie- I would find it really hard if I had to eat out often or travel with work. One night away is just so much organisation with meals. In Tas it is not easy to order anything that resembles Cohen's & I have found when you ask for salad without dressing or chicken/steak without sauce, it just seems too hard for them! I have put on hold eating out until I have reached goal. It's ok if you can do that but with your work you can't of course. Tough!
I have had an incredibly stressful day today! I am escaping into my diary for moral support. I know that I find it in here. I will not go into it all as I need to just chill out.
It's nothing to do with our relationship but to do with my mother-in-law. She is a real worry! I will not let her rude behaviour affect my fairly good strong relationship with her. I do not give up & will try to help her whether she thinks she needs it or not. SHE DOES!
Changing the subject quickly-
My size 14 pants are a little bit tight when I sit down so will wait a few weeks to wear them again. I am not disappointed as I really didn't think I was a 14 yet. I do know that they will fit me well soon.
Got lots of very nice comments from many people today. Took the M.I.L to the Anzac Day march & caught up with a lot of people that I hadn't seen for ages. My MIL is very encouraging regarding my weight-loss. I do think she is a little bit too image conscious (vain?). Being fat or thin does not equate with bad/good. I am still the same person as I always have been.
She returned a size 12 Country Road suit that I had passed on to her many years ago when I grew out of it. It used to be one of my favourites & I still love it. She thought it would be an extra incentive. I don't need it but it will be nice to be able to wear it again.
Being on this program is all the incentive I need. Of course the support in here is also a wonderful incentive. I might come back later as I feel a bit pooped. xo Cate

Cate(hug). Just thought you sounded like you needed one. You are doing so well, physically and mentally.
The size 14's will fit sooner than you think, try them on at least weekly is my advice if not more, I nearly missed out on a pair of shorts that I stashed away cos I forgot they were ther and by the time I could get into them I was nearly unable to wear them. Chin up.
Lauren

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Started Sept 4th 2006 Completed refeed May 2nd 2007

Lauren- Thank you for the hug. You're a good judge-I sure did need it! Not feeling quite so stressed now thank goodness. I will try hard not to let my MIL get to me. She is not used to needing other people & it will take her a while to adjust. Unlike her daughters, who I get on really well with & love, I don't get angry with her so I just keep on keeping on. I help her out even though she is not very appreciative. The more you do for her the more she expects.
I have just heard from a woman who I have known for years but not really known well. We know her husband really well & her kids. Sounds funny I know but..... She has been on Cohen's too. We did not know about the other until a recent chance encounter. We had a good chat last week on the phone & I was able to tell her a lot from reading posts in this forum. She emailed me today to tell me she has ordered her re-feed! She sounded so excited. I am really thrilled for her. She is looking great!
I'm feeling ok now & will post again tomorrow when I know that I will feel much better. Goodnight! xo Cate

Hey everyone. Hope everyone is having a great day. The time difference is funny -when you look at when people post. It is 2:15pm here now.

Just wanted to drop a note and wish everyone a good losing day!

Cate - I feel for you and understand where you are coming from, except it is my mother. I seem to get along and speek my mind more with my mother-in-law than my mother. Some of the problem is that I work with my family ( I mean my mom, dad and brother) so there is no seperation from work and home. Makes it hard at family functions. Anyway enough complaining from me.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Happy losing!
Kelly

P.S. Hey FatCat how is re-feed going?

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I will reach my goal this time!

Hi Kelly! I think you accidentally popped into my diary thinking it was where every-one has a chat. The thread I go to for that is the Sticky: Cohens Lifestyle Support (started by Lessfatty) It's a bit quiet in there at the moment for some reason. I usually look in there before I type in my diary notes each day. I am enjoying people coming into my diary & posting comments. It really is very encouraging. It is also a really good way of venting & getting out your feelings. If you decide to start a thread & post your own diary I would love to come & read it. I'm always surprised that so many others read my diary!
You know I actually get on really well with my MIL & care for her a lot. She has a lot of adjustments to make & hasn't yet. Hopefully she will. I will continue to do what I do even if she's rude to me. I will tell her what I think. She respects the fact that I do say what I think and follow through with what I say I am going to do. I think the fact that she is not my mother helps us to get along so well. I can achieve more than the family can! Plus I don't get angry with her any more.
Today I'm over it & feel pretty damned good actually. I might come back later & post as my husband has just arrived home from work & I will go get him a glass of wine & open a can of diet sprite! Cheers to any-one who's about! Cate

Family dynamics are so tricky, aren't they? Who, besides family, can inspire anger and love all at the same time?! Sounds like her rudeness is nothing personal, though... people are different. It's great that you have such a strong relationship with her. My MIL lives thousands of miles away... and she doesn't speak English! Wanna trade?

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New start: 6/28/07

Misty, You might just change your mind if we actually did swap. I didn't say she was easy to get on with! In fact she's very, very difficult to get on with. What nationality is your MIL? Where I live there are very few migrants & I lived in Melbourne, which is a large city in Australia (not by US standards!) & I miss the multi-culturalism of the city. I don't miss much else though.
It would probably be a good thing to try to cross the language barrier if at all possible. I would love to learn to speak Italian for example and learned a lot of laughable Vietnamese last year as we were going there for a holiday. It is amazing how people respond to your amusing, but well-meaning attempts to speak their language. It's a trying to meet half way thing I think.
I just thought I would stick my head in and have a quick look in the forum but I should be doing some house-work-dishes etc. I need to download lots of updates & where we live we can only get dial-up internet!! Downloads take forever & I thought when I got up this morning that my biggest download would have been completed but NO I have to start again!!
I'll be back later today after work.
A big hello to every Cohenite out there! Bought some new schmicko scales yesterday which I'll tuck away out of sight of my husband(& myself) so that when I am at re-feed I will be able to keep a better eye on the weight loss or gain (?!) Just like every thing else on the program I like to be prepared.
When I had a peek at the scales last I was 84.5kg. Now that is not weighing myself because, of course, I only do that once a month & then update my ticker. It's just that every now & then I have a little peek!
By the way I am starting to wonder if I have replaced an eating habit (disorder?) with a little addiction to this forum. It really, really helps me to stay on the program. I am not going to use the word diet again. Let me know if I slip up won't you.
I jumped out of bed this morning & cooked my husband a Cohen's omelette (double the quantity of mine + Mozzarella cheese & on home made German-grain toast, with olive oil spread) & served it to him with apple juice & an Italian plunger coffee. He said it was absolutely delicious! His new job is going to be a little bit too sedentary for his liking & lunch is provided, but with no choice & will often not suit him. He is very health conscious, without being excessive and does not like junk food, white bread, soft drink etc. He thinks that he will join me when I get to goal, eating the Cohen's way.
Better go! What was a quick look turned into gabble! See you later, Cate