Down .5 of a kg.
It's a very good start to my day when I haven't put any weight on but even better when I've lost a little. Now I'm not going to weigh myself until Monday & from now on I'm only weighing Monday & Friday. What I find is if I have put on a kg or 2 I am more inclined to eat things I shouldn't instead of eating less to lose it. I know it sounds crazy but good results on the scales result in me eating healthier. Mmmm
I played 3 games of 8-ball last night & lost them all. The 1st was atrocious, the other 2 not so bad. Our team was flogged so I didn't feel so bad. It wasn't just me. If I hadn't played they would have had to forfeit 3 games. At least I didn't feel self-conscious about leaning over the table playing shots. No fat a...e any more!!
I have been doing a bit more homework about reasons for over-eating etc and have worked out some strategies and some reasons why I am inclined to or have been putting on weight both before Cohen's & since.
I will put some more thought into it but I can identify that I am a stress eater and also reach for food as a habit, rather than through hunger. I also seem to have a fear of hunger.
I have not been following maintenance guidelines, in particular, the "no carb, no sweets" rule. Because I have really cut down or cut out carb vegies I have been having small sweets(4-6 squares dark choc) or a stick of licorice but have not been having any carbs with my dinner beforehand which is very important.
When you eat desserts, your insulin will trigger. It is recommended that desserts be eaten within 1 hour after finishing your meal. You eat both your carb's at the same time, eg if you have potato with your protein & veg meal, then you may have dessert after this meal, within 1 hour. This prevents the blood sugar from dropping & stops the starch from being converted into fat.
If you had no carbohydrate with the meal, then do not have dessert.
I need to read my maintenance guidelines at least once a week.
I have eaten so little sweets, including chocolate during maintenance but I have not been eating carbohydrate with my main meals!!
It looks like I will have to start eating pumpkin(quite like it), potato(boring), peas(yuk) or corn(yum-fresh only) or just have a little rice with my meals.
For the moment I'm not eating chocolate, nor am I drinking wine or any other alcohol and I am not eating any extra carb's than my crackers until I am down to my lowest weight or the 8-ball nationals have started.
I was also snacking on nuts(almonds mostly- but roasted- delicious!) but I realise now they were high in fat.
I am asking myself whenever I think about reaching for food-
"Are you hungry?" & the answer is usually "NO!" so I am then having a drink of water & doing something else.
I have been snacking & food was starting to become an obsession again. I had 3 lots of crackers planted for eg. 1 in my hand-bag, 2 in my back-pack (plus 2 lots of nuts!)
I have to keep reminding myself how great I feel being in control of my weight and feeling slim. I let myself have a 5kg buffer zone as my weight varies so much from day to day but when it creeps up to the top(or over occasionally) I freak out. The 5kg buffer zone has to go back down to the 3kg buffer zone recommended by Cohen's. I have 1 kg to go to get back in there.
It's an absolutely beautiful, Spring day here today. I have been for a walk & been doing some housework but it's time to get the vacuum cleaner out. My worst job. I loathe vacuuming. I've been breaking it down to sections as our house is so big. Today I have to do the bedrooms, bathrooms, hallway. At least we don't have carpet. Wise decision that! We have cork floors & they show every speck of dust but at least when you finish you know they're clean. Better go do it.
Cheers Cate.

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Lost 36kgs 2007(Cohen's),now maintaining.
"Nothing tastes as good as slim feels".Mmm?No!Not even French Champagne!!

It sounds like you had a ton of fun! You're more active tham I am!

It must be getting nice... feel like doing some yard work for me? Ha!

Our summer wasn't too bad, so all of my plants are WAY overgrown. I need to do something about it this weekend.

It starting to cool off now, only about 80 at night, so I have the windows open.

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Pre Cohen - 218lbs Cohen Start @ 202lbs - 4 weeks- 188 - 8 weeks 178

wow what a lot of postings...
i have had a hard time catching up....

I am glad to read you are in good health and spirits Cate. I dare say better spirits seeing the scale a going backwards.....
A big hello to CohenInAZ..
The both of you seem to live in such amazing areas.

life has been busy and i have had a hard time submitting even one post and truth be told a bit of guilt too.....

But back 100% and i have nearly got back to my posted weight... nearly another day and i should be right on target...

Does anyone else find that cohens alters your taste, there are just some things you dont even bother eating or if you do give in, you find it no longer appeals to your taste buds?

Cate, i think there may have been some people at 8 ball that were admiring your lovely svelt figure and self confidence..

On that note i better log off and work towards my burst balloon look... ha ha ha..

Be good, be cohens and stay well watered....

Love and hugs
Chelle

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CohenInAz Sure! I'll pop over & get stuck into your yard! I think I would like Arizona. I am very active at the moment. It's the new me. The old me, of 2 years ago, would have been huffing & puffing walking up a set of stairs. These days I often sprint around, including up stairs. It's a different Cate, thank goodness. Today it's Nana Cate as I have my adorable granddaughter for the day. It was an impromptu thing & she's currently sound asleep, so is indeed perfect at the moment. I'm glad we're heading towards Summer, not out of it, cheers, Cate.
Chelle- That burst balloon will turn into a fitball in no time at all. I don't think any of the 8-ball players would have been admiring my figure but I sure as hell felt much better for not being fat! I still find it hard to say that I am slim. I'll get there. Just eating right makes me feel so much better.It's not just the scales thing. It can be too obsessive. If I am eating as per Cohen's maintenance guidelines or re-feed quantities & food types I physically feel really good. Tastes change a lot on Cohen's. I'm sure it's not just because you know certain things are not good for you it's more that the taste and appeal of the "bad" foods that you used to like or love diminishes and the temptation to eat them fades. Well it has for me anyway.
Dark chocolate and red wine will be my treats but I will ensure that I have them at the right time & after eating the right food. Cheers, Cate.
My day-
Spent since 9.30am this morning colouring in with crayons, playing skittles, playing with Matchbox cars,(I like to mix up the boy/girl games) playing with Sarah the doll dressing her, undressing her, dressing her, undressing her.......
My OS rang first thing this morning to borrow some gardening equipment & asked me if I would mind having our GD for a few hours. Delighted! She should be waking up soon & I will ring him to come pick her up. I gave him the spare car seat I bought as he didn't have one for his vehicle. I don't have any trouble getting her to have a nap at the moment & she's so sweet & cuddly at bed time.
They are doing such a good job of bringing these kids up. They are both very good parents & all 3 kids are absolutely sweet. I'm not biased of course!
Another good eating day. I thought about baking something and looked through some cook-books but that's enough to put me off.
Does anyone have a recipe for 100% Rye bread for the breadmaker please?
I am going to buy some Rye flour tomorrow as I want to try eating some rye bread, without any wheat flour in it at all & I think I will have to make it myself.
I am not ready to start selling at the market yet as I still have a lot to do. I found out today that there is a market tomorrow & then not another one until December. That's a long time for my ferns to be in pots. I might think about setting up a stall on the highway (probably illegal) for just one day. If I do that I'll make it the long week-end in November as there will be a lot of passing traffic going towards the Deloraine Craft Fair. I have another option of asking a business I know if I can set up in their carpark one week-end (any week-end). I'll see what my LH thinks of the idea.
My DIL is going to make some things to sell as well so I have to consider that as we cannot compete with what the business sells.
This is now a 2 hour sleep which augers well for a more peaceful evening for my son & DIL. I had better scoot & do some more work before she wakes or I might just get back on my E bike, cheers, Cate.

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Lost 36kgs 2007(Cohen's),now maintaining.
"Nothing tastes as good as slim feels".Mmm?No!Not even French Champagne!!

Had a very busy day. Slept in, went to the local market, bought seedlings & other plants and lots of vegies incl. pumpkin, sweet potato so that I can have a little with my dinners so that I can have a little choc. if I want to afterwards.
Spent a couple of hours playing with my new toy- my new mobile phone(aka cell phone). Have put all of my contacts in & downloaded some songs & photos. The text is so small & I am going to have to use my thumb-nails to text as the keys are so small. I wanted a light, small phone & that's what I have got but that means small keys.
I have been cooking vegies and the day just vanished. The market was very sociable and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I have got the details of another market that is held every Sunday and am considering that.
Time for a pot of herbal. I still haven't had any alcohol since that dreaded Saturday night 2 weeks ago. I must admit my LH's glass of red wine looked so inviting, especially with the venison sausages we had for dinner, but I didn't give in. Venison sausages(2) with a little mashed sweet potato, carrots, broccoli and a stir-fry of zucchini, onion, celery, mushroom, tomato, garlic, Sambal Oelek, some Vietnamese mint, salt & pepper. Followed by a small bowl of fruit salad & yoghurt. I'm full and am not going to have any chocolate!
Daylight savings starts tonight. Yay!!
Cheers, Cate.

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Lost 36kgs 2007(Cohen's),now maintaining.
"Nothing tastes as good as slim feels".Mmm?No!Not even French Champagne!!

Your Dinner sounds delic-i-ous, Mashed sweet potato, Venison sausages, Stir Fry Yum yum yum..
Scared my self silly tonight as my scales failed and i had to make a quick dash to the supermarket at 8.30 tonight (i dont like to support the longer hour shops but..) i had to give in .. i weighed my veg and then i went to weigh my yummy steak and Nothing..ARGHH!!!!! I miss my wine too, we live close to a little winery called jadrans, yum yum and when we went away down south we were surrounded by them and even stayed at one..oh so yummy ... Its a new thing for me though the last two years i think i have enjoyed wines before that i wasnt really that taken i stuck to spirits and liquers on the odd occassion i drunk.

I wish my day around our big shopping complex was as social and friendly as your day seemed to be cate, parking at our closest westfield shopping complex was painful and then the stores were packed but we still managed to do a little clothing safari and was pleased with the sizes i was able to try on... not terribly pleased with the reflection but its improving....

New technology i can sympathise i got a nokia 6220 this week and the buttons are flat and smaller, i was terribly comfortable with my old mobile but apparently dribble, dropping and water arent exactly the best regime for upkeep.. but my new mobile has benefits it is great at photos and i can hear people clearly and it stays in one piece so that is a really big bonus..

Well tomorrow i am off to Toodyay (too-jay) its about an hour and a half north east of where i live in the wheatbelt/canola/sheep district.. Bridesmaid duties beckon and the kids love it, that small country town feel , so no postings tomorrow as my broadband is only good in the metro area.

Daylight savings arghh arghh arghh, i hope you enjoy your daylight savings ours is to start soon too and i cant wait until next year when we all vote it out.. we have a lot of sun over here and we really dont need it here.... But i hear that it gets dark very quick over that side of oz. So a big "happy day light savings day" for tomorrow.

I best be off still many things to do before bed... Especially if i want to get to toodyay before lunch..

Take care cate,
Thanks for listening
Have a great sunday

Chelle

fat be cohens cohens gone...

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Boy you two are productive!

I have to admit, I am way too lazy. I mean I walk a lot and exercise, but my house and yard are a wreck.... not my front yard too much, but my backyard is horrid!

In Arizona, we are one of only two states that doesn't follow Day Light Savings time, so it is always a bit confussing as to when the change takes place. Just everyone else 'falls back an hour" in Fall and 'springs forward' in Spring.

Now today it's 11:44am for me on 10/4/08. Its already 10/5 with you guys right? Or are you behind... now that I think about it, I am thinking you're behind me...

My ex lives in London and he is always ahead... so you must be behind. I know I could easily check... but just thinking out loud.

Well anyway, have a great day!

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Pre Cohen - 218lbs Cohen Start @ 202lbs - 4 weeks- 188 - 8 weeks 178

Chelle- I do love our daylight savings and we don't really have to worry about the heat as it doesn't really get too hot here in Tassie. I have only been to WA once and I loved it. We visited a friend who lived at Capel, down between Bunbury & Busselton. In Perth we stayed just below Kings Park and I thought Perth was a beautiful city but couldn't imagine working there. It was about 40oC every day that we were there. Phew! I must visit WA again though as I would love to catch up with Kannadew again one day. Hope you have a great time at the wedding. That fat will be gone before you know it! Occasions will be even more fun then, cheers, Cate
CohenInAz- I lose track with your daylight savings & ours but the US is behind in time. When you posted at 11.46am on the 4th it was 5.46am on the 5th here. My mum always uses the US saying "Spring forward & Fall back" & that's how I always remember which way the clocks should go.
There are so many differences between our 2 countries in language & spelling especially. Your Fall is our Autumn though & very few people would connect with the expression.
Here in Aus today's date is 5/10/08, but of course, in the US it's 10/5/08. That can be very confusing.
I just got a call from one of my S'sIL asking me the time & I told her about the expression to help her remember how it goes. I also told her there were much quicker ways of finding out the time but she said not as enjoyable. I love both my husband's sisters a lot.
I don't ever feel that I do a lot & when you say I seem to have lots of energy I think back to how I used to be and am then inclined to agree.
I loved my visits to the US, even under the circumstances, and picked up a lot of the words used which I then had to un-learn when I got back home. Some of the locals really disliked me using certain words like trash, instead of rubbish and "going to the bathroom" instead of "going to the loo". I still use the word trash occasionally. My sister thought it funny that I used the US words whenever I visited her and asked me why. I think because of tv most of us are aware of what they are so I just thought it polite to use them. I also think I'm inclined to be a sponge. One thing I loved over there was the way people reacted to my accent in such a dreamy way. I would constantly be asked where I was from and when I said Australia almost everyone would say "Oh Australia(Oorrrstraliaaa), I've always wanted to go there", which of course made me feel pretty damned good! Cheers Cate
I feel a little bit lazy today and quite hungry. I think it's because I had some carb's with my dinner last night or it could just be that I haven't eaten much today. I am so much more on the lookout for my body's reaction to different foods that I forget hunger pangs can be just from an empty stomach!!
I have only eaten a small bowl of yoghurt & fresh fruit salad for breakfast. I haven't had any crackers at all & it's after 1pm. Lunch-time! I have been trying to eat only when I am hungry. My stomach just complained that I was torturing it.
Cheers for now, Cate.

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Lost 36kgs 2007(Cohen's),now maintaining.
"Nothing tastes as good as slim feels".Mmm?No!Not even French Champagne!!

I know from experience that if I let myself get too hungry then I think of nothing else but food for the rest of the day. I haven't snacked but have had a smallsweet after lunch & dinner.
Mid-afternoon an elderly friend called up to visit and to tell us some bad news. One of his grandsons was killed in an accident up near the Gulf Of Carpentaria. He was on a 4WD motorbike mustering. He was only 19. This old friend's OS was killed in a car accident a long time ago when he was only very young. My LH was at work unfortunately as I think he would have preferred to talk to him. His wife is away in Sydney and he is home on his own. I talked to him for about an hour & a half. Poor guy.
I rang my YS not long after just to say hello and to hear his voice. It's every mother's fear to lose a child even when they are no longer children. My poor mother has lost 2.
This morning I had talked to my SIL about letting your children grow up & trying not to worry about them,let them make their own mistakes , try not to offer to lend them money all the time etc. I rang her back this afternoon & told her about the death as she was really good friends with the boy's mother at High School & especially after our conversation. I had told her how much I will worry when he is overseas and that I was going to have a chat to him about drinking to excess as it affects your judgement.
Hearing about the Aussie girl missing in Croatia makes me think that would be even worse. How do people cope with loved ones that are missing. The not knowing I think would be much worse.
I will have to keep in contact with him by email regularly while he's away and try not to worry too much about him. I'll be doing his banking while he's away, like I did for our OS. He will also be able to ring us for free whenever he wants. He's almost 26 and should be getting better with his choices and judgements.
I think I'll go get on my bike as I have been too lazy today & it will stop me thinking about having sweets. I must take some Chromium pills tomorrow!
Cheers, Cate.

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Lost 36kgs 2007(Cohen's),now maintaining.
"Nothing tastes as good as slim feels".Mmm?No!Not even French Champagne!!

Had a good active day again. My LH has the day off. We gardened-planted out some plants I bought at the local market. I bought 3 different Grevilleas. The wallabies don't like them & I do. We the got a load of wood & did some more burning off.
We decided to have a barbecue lunch & sat outside & ate it in the sunshine. I had bought some lamb chops as I want to see if I get the same reaction I did last time. I realise that when I added lamb during re-feed I was also adding bread. So far, so good.
I had gall stones when I started the program & fatty food aggravated them. I have no idea if I still have them(I assume so) or if they have grown. I love lamb & it is meant to be good for my blood group. My sister swears by the blood group diet & she thinks it has really helped with her allergies. I am only trying to make some minor changes at the moment but still sticking to the Cohen's guidelines.
I ate a few things yesterday that I should not have but I figure that is part of life, after Cohen's. I knew they were cravings & I was able to stop after a few sweet things. The scales showed them up though & back up a kilo. I had bought some shortbread & a ginger cake at the market & have frozen the biscuits. My LH can eat the cake as I don't absolutely love it, which is my new criteria for eating any cake or dessert.
We are having roast kid tonight as someone at my LH's work gave him a goat leg. OMG it smells heavenly.
I am so missing a glass of wine at the end of the day which makes me realise that I had become mentally dependant on it or that it had indeed become a habit. Red wine would go so nicely with baked goat.......but no I won't!
I will never drink spirits again and I am starting to become very anti excessive /binge drinking. To some being able to drink excessive amounts of alcohol is like a badge of honour & something to be proud of. I can drink lots of alcohol. It's nothing to be proud of.
We have a good night on tv tonight & my LH has passed on going somewhere with some male friends so I thought I would type in here now & not come back later.
I'm feeling really good about myself at the moment. Life's all about making mistakes & learning by them. It's about caring for your friends & family. Life's good mostly. Speaking of "Life's Good"(Lauren- if you're out there- a big hi to you!)
Cheers for now, Cate

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Lost 36kgs 2007(Cohen's),now maintaining.
"Nothing tastes as good as slim feels".Mmm?No!Not even French Champagne!!

And you should! You see like a great person!

You have such a fun way of approaching things.

Don't be too worried about your son... I'm 30 and I still get things told to me from my mom all the time, she is 63.

We do appreciate what you have to say, even if we're like ARG! But don;t worry too much, we know what were doing and sometimes we just have to get ourselves into trouble so we can dig ourselves out!

But trust me, even though we act like we may not be listening we are

Where is your son travelling to?

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Pre Cohen - 218lbs Cohen Start @ 202lbs - 4 weeks- 188 - 8 weeks 178

OMG goat!

I think my tatse buds are living vicariously through your postings cate.. Goat, you must tell us what it was like. I am all ears...

Gall stones:You may have silent gall stones but if you are at all concerned or curious your gp can organise an ultrasound. i had attacks (with hindsight a few which increased in severity over the years) and didnt realise what they were until after aisling was born. 2 weeks after giving birth a trip to emergency revealed what was wrong.. I now have no gall bladder and 99% of the time if i eat three meals and dont skip i dont suffer any side effect but that 1% and when i do happen to skip breakfast, lunch or both (pre cohens), my tummy cramps and i must locate a toilet post haste.. ha ha ha ha ha.

Sad News: I am saddened by your news and feel deeply for your friend. I hope they find some comfort within their belief and with their friends and family.

Just like AZ said we children do listen even if we pretend we arent.. I am a mother of four and still get told off by my mother ha ha ha ha..My son said he cant wait to be an adult so then i cant boss him around, i replied im so sorry son but i will always be your mother and i will always care, there will be no escape....
im sure the best thing for your son is having you as a mother, i wouldnt trade mine in for the world, she's honest, caring and supportive, even when she tells me things i dont want to hear.... its amazing what a little bit of time away from the familiar can do, it may be a real eye opener for your son.

Re Wine: Remember cate you always want what you have told yourself you can not have....

Sorry this has turned into a marathon posting.

Heres to another beautiful day, we are alive, we have our family and we are loved.

Chelle

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CohenInAz- I guess we just can't help being mothers. My son always rings me if he's down and often asks for my advice. I wish he would ring me more often when he's feeling great but when I don't hear from him I know he's enjoying life. I'm looking forward to the day that he finds the "love of his life" and has someone who loves him to share everything with. He's gorgeous and lovable and also very full-on & exhausting. She'll be someone very special. I can't wait! He's heading off next May, going firstly to New Zealand, then the US. I'm not sure what he has planned in the US other than starting in Miami. He'll be away for a year.Thanks for your nice words about me. I sometimes think I'm a little bit crazy so when someone says something like "you seem like a great person" or "you have a fun way of approaching things" my first reaction is "who me?" but then "how nice" so thank you! Cheers, Cate.
Chelle-Hear, hear, re your parting words. Here's to another beautiful day. We are alive, we have our family & we are loved.
What could be better?
The goat- was not a "nanny goat" but a great, great, grandma goat I reckon. It was very tough. My LH had made it edible with his cooking & especially the garlic embedded in it but we had to cut it very thinly & eat some of it it cold tonight. Oh well!
The gallstones-were there when I started Cohen's so I guess they still are. If I have any pain at all from them I'll go to my doctor, I promise.
Our son- This trip will do him a lot of good I know. I try not to give him advice, even when he asks for it but I just want to ask him to be careful when he is absolutely on his own. I have always told our sons that they should look out for their friends and one another. If you go out drinking or partying with someone you should keep an eye on them. I would feel much more comfortable if he was travelling with a friend but I am proud of him for having the courage to do it on his own. He has a great personality. He's very gregarious and has a wonderful sense of humour.
The wine- no, it looks delicious! When I make a rule I must stick to it. I'm trying to prove to myself that I can do it and by going without that glass of red wine at the end of the day I'm going to savour it more after that month is up. I don't want it to be an everyday thing or to drink to excess. I'm putting it into it's place in my life. A small part.
Thanks to the two of you for your input into my diary. It's a 2 way street always for me.
Cheers, Cate.
My day-
I have had a very sociable d