Goodmorning cyber world of shrinking people!

How are you all? Well it is a lovely warm day in Brissie. Helps keep me motivated for the day I will adorn a swim suit! Welcome to all of you who have started the Cohen's lifestyle programme. You will get results. Stick to it - be kind to yourselves - and watch the kilos disappear. Life will never be the same.

Well I have been busy whilst hubby is away. Looking after the wee ones and keeping house - such stimulating days - YAWN! I am not complaining but I have found since I have lost the weight I have an urge to get out there and live life aside from going to the local park! You know what I mean - I wanna dance! In due course....Look out world!

It's amazing and very inspiring to see how well everyone is going. Tickers are moving fast! Congratulations.

To those of you having a struggle - just hang in there. We are all aware of the tough days but you can't let one day ruin a lifetime of positive changes. Don't be defeatist - grab onto this with both hands and see it through. Just the idea of completing something is enough motivation for me. I am sick and tired of my poor excuses - I'm too tired, who really cares what you look like, I don't have the time, people should accept me for who/what I am (a fat person) blah blah blah. ENOUGH! The truth of the matter was that I didn't like myself this way and so I have made the decision- for myself - to gain confidence, happiness and health. And in doing so a lot of people will benefit - so here's to us and our determination to make a difference to our lives. It can be easier said then done that's for sure but don't succumb to those lies we tell ourselves. We all know ourselves and what we are capable of. It's time to start replacing those negative thoughts with more achievable positive ones.

Ok, I'll stop blithereing now! But I would be so disappointed if someone dropped out - we can do this!

My husband has just called to say that one of his best mates is leaving his wife. This has made us both very sad. It seems to be happening everywhere. It has alerted me to the fragility of relationships and the pressures we put on ourselves and each other. We mustn't take things for granted. Hug those you love a little closer today and be happy that we are all able to take this journey together. More than ever it is important not to give up - on anything in life. After all we don't know where we will be tomorrow. Keep going girls! (and our friend lessfatty!)

Hope everyone has a great day - the slate has been wiped clean for another day. Good luck.

Lots of support,

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8-2 Much






Began Cohen's Friday 18th August

Hi everyone,
Great words of advice 8-2much!.
I am down another 1kg this morning which makes 2.5kgs in 2 days. I love the fact that in the beginning this diet is so fast and so encouraging which always helps to get me over the first few weeks. I am hoping I will be back into the 80s by the end of this week and then there is no way I am going to saboutage myself again. I intend to keep going down and down.
I usually say at this stage that I know it is only fluid I am losing, but I was thinking about that the other day, and if I was gaining weight this quickly (which I often have in the past) I wouldn't be saying "it's ok, it's only fluid". No I would be telling myself it was fat, so I'm going to tell myself that from now on I'm losing FAT, and every little bit that comes off is another bit of fat leaving my body for ever more.
Sorry to ramble. Have a great day everyone. Talk to you all soon.

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Jools 13KG!!!! WOWeee! thats fantastic!

Living it hang in there chick! you will get to a set of scales that work, and your jaw will drop!
I have always carried my weight well, and people are usually shocked when they find out what my weight is (they usually guess about 10kg lighter).

People are really starting to notice my loss (i think it's cause iv'e reached the 10kg mark).
I work with alot of guys and they have all come up to me and commented on my weight loss. they are great, follow me on my journey..... "have you reached 10kg loss yet??" and support me and my will power. (Yes there are gentlemen in the Motor Industry!)
My best friend came and visited me this morning before work and she was amazed.."Look at you, your pants are falling off!". (the only reason they are falling off is cause i don't have a tummy to attach them to any more!) My legs and hips haven't really changed in size much but i know they will so i'm not stressing.
Every one has problem areas, for some women it's their Bellies, and for others its Bottoms, and others it's Hips & Thighs. I'm a Bum, Hips & Thighs kinda girl, so when i started to get a belly i freaked out (iv'e ridden horses all my life and no matter what weight iv'e been i've always had a pancake flat tummy) and knew it really was time to do something about my weight.

Have a wonderful day every one, and fingers crossed we get lots of rain in brisbane!

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Started cohens 2nd Oct 2006. Goal weight 57-60kg

Hey again people

I have a few questions for those on current plans (my plan is about 2ish years old).

Crackers: are the new Paradise Lites Vive allowed?
Sugar: did someone mention sugarene is allowed now? What about Hermestas - is that still allowed?
Gem squash: Has anyone else have this on their list. At my vegie shop, it's a dark green black cannon ball type vegie - is that right? I seem to have avoided it not knowing what it is!

I have to admint, I was eating Cohen friendly for 2 weeks and instead of the natural yogurt, was having the no fat 60% less sugar french vanilla yogurt (which has less carbs than natural yogurt!) - and it wasn't slowing down the process (I've lost 3.5kg in under 2 weeks). But enough drivvle - I will stick to a la natural from now (I so hope I get used to it, as it grosses me out!)

Asy: your blog is great! You are doing so great and are such an inspiration.
rjm: a loss is a loss! And that's a considerable amount in 2 days. Keep it up! To make me feel better, I sometimes need to see what wieght looks like, so I'll find a 3kg bag of oranges at the shops - pick it up - eye it up - and realise that's a shite load of something that is no longer a part of my body!
8-2much: you are doing so well. Your words are so encouraging.
Brieziel: great loss to date! It's great people are commenting on your loss - having support like that is really valuable.'

I'm sticking to my old plan, as I can't afford to get a new one. I didn't get any support from my old clinic. When I dropped off the radar, I didn't get one email or one phone call. And I wasn't deviating - so I wasn't a lost cause. I found that to be very disappointing. But I didn't need a cold skinny consultant anyway - she was zero help. I'm doing this without the blood tests. Not quite sure what I'll do come refeed however. I'll cross that bridge 50 odd kg's down the track I guess.

Can anyone recommend some good bathroom scales? Mine fluctuate way too much - i can stand on it and it will be different 6 times!

Have a great day all!



Goal 1: I need think hard about my goals. So stay tuned!

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I will one day love my belly button.

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Hi everyone,
Brieziel & L-Jay, you guys are so lucky. I have never had a flat stomach Even when I was anorexic and weighed 6 stone (not sure what that is in kilos as we weighed in stone back then) my stomach was still pudgy (maybe that was in my mind though, and could possibly be the reason I ended up anorexic). Anyway, I would kill for a flat stomach.
People also underestimate what I used to weigh. I think because I put on weight very evenly over my whole body and must have carried it quite well, but it does loll you into a false sense of " I'm not really that fat", or "I don't look that bad". It took a photo to snap me out of that and realise that yes, I did look that bad.
dreamer, I'm also using my old program as I can't afford a new program at the moment, but I hope to get a new program at some stage. I have my previous refeed and have done this twice. I did it when I originally "finished", and again 3 months ago. The first time I did it, I was 15kg off my goal weight (had lost 35kg) and it stabilised my weight loss and for the next 3 months I kept the weight off without any problems, then I decided to do the program again to lose the last 15 kgs. I stuck to it for 1 week, changed my mind and decided it was too hard so I went off it and then I started to regain weight. Within about 2 and a half months I had regained 14kgs, so I went back on the program again for 6 weeks, lost 10.5 kgs, completed refeed again but then started to regain weight again, and in 3 months I have gained back another 15.5kgs. When I started this again (2 days ago) I weighed 19kgs more than when I finished the first time. This is why I think that the program is not working properly for me any more. I am losing weight even better than the first time I completed the program, but I don't seem to have the same ability to keep it off at the end. I am going to stick to this one until I can afford the new program and then switch over to that. I have enquired and they do have a payment plan, so I just have to come up with the deposit and I'll be back in business.
Anyway, to answer your questions, No the new paradise lights are not allowed someone previously posted this:
NEW CRISBREADS
Yes that’s right Dr Cohen has just finished testing some crispbreads and soft drink so you can have a little more variety. Please note that Paradise Lites have bought out a new range of crispbreads in replace of the ones you currently use and they are not allowed on the program. We have found that clients have been having trouble getting them in supermarkets, so if your supermarket still has stock of the old ones and you like them stock up on them.
Here are the new ones allowed…………..
Nabisco Premium 98% Fat free
Nabisco Premium Crispbread
Arnott’s Salada Light 97% Fat free
Arnott's Salada Original
PLEASE NOTE AT THIS STAGE THE WHOLEMEAL AND FIBRE IN THE ABOVE RANGE ARE NOT ALLOWED AND ALSO THAT 1 SANDWHICH SIZE CRISPBREAD = 2 CRISPBREADS
NEW SOFT DRINK
Yep new soft drink as well how exciting LOL, only people on the program will understand the excitement of new allowed food LOL LOL
P & N: Diet Pub Squash (max 350ml/daily)
Fanta Zero (max 350ml/daily)
Solo The Sub (max 350ml/daily)
Schweppes: Diet Dry Ginger Ale (max 350ml/daily)
The only Cola/Pepsi/Coke without Caffeine is Diet Coke – Caffeine free.Coles (Farmland) Diet Cola, Coke Zero, Pepsi Max and Pepsi Light all contains caffeine.
Dr Cohen has also said that if you don’t drink coffee then you can have diet coke with caffeine however you need to be very aware that too much caffeine will make you hungry and can also slow your weight loss
and this came through last week, but I forgot to post it
SWEETNERS & CONDIMENTS
I just wanted to let you know that Dr Cohen has now given us a limit of only 5sweetener tablets per day and no more than 1 teaspoon in total of Garlic, Chilli and ginger fresh or powered. If you go over this amount it will cause a deviation, plus could cause hunger.

Also, you are allowed hermesates (?), but not the hermesates gold, only the normal ones

Sorry for such a long post. Have a great day everyone.

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TA DA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(this is me dancing in my SIZE 14 black jeans)

Seriously, it happened overnight! I don't know if anyone remembers but when I started I had 'The pants goal' instead of weighing everyday I would determine success by fitting into my old pants, first sze 16, then 14, then 12, then the Sass and Bides (size 11), well I stopped that because I was sick of jumping up and down trying to pull the size 14s on over my gut (I even broke a lamp in the process one day) everyday. Anywya, today I wake up, I'm so sick of wearing the same pants (the 16s) everday to uni so I thought I was going to torture myself again, just for fun (because I'm not stressed enough already) and OH MY GOD!! I just couldn't beleive it! I still have a bit of a mushroom over the top, but it was only a week and a half ago the button at the top wouldn't even come 10 or so cms to the button hole!

anyway exciting stuff! I have SO MUCH work due in the next couple weeks, I haven't even been able to go to markets and have my weekly cooking day which I'm lost without because I am ssssoooo over tuna and salad! I had it for luch and I'm at work so I'm having it for dinner, ah well short term pain long term gain! anyway I seriously miss you guys, haven't had time to do anything cos of the dredded end of semester, I have to go to uni tonight after work a 11pm to edit my movie, so chances are I will get no sleep tonight- I know its bad but its better than a cream bun. Also I have found myself becoming addicted to black tea. When I started the program I swore off caffine forever (I only drank tea tho, I hate coffee) but I'm finding it wakes me up and releives stress greatly! I will come off it when uni is over

Anyway I am babbling again, especially about myself!- us uni students are usually self involved! (just jokes!) na, I think its all the caffine today, not used to it. I hope all you lovely people are well, and a BIG WELCOME to the newbies

Also, Jewls I hope ur feeling better, you are so awsome having lost 30+ kgs I know you can do it, as Chelsea once told me focus on whats behind you rather than whats in front of you. You have everyone here's love and support, my thoughts are with you

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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7th Aug 2006- Started the Cohen's Program!
Only changing ticker monthly!

We are building a house at the moment so most of my clothes are in storage...well it got to the point this morning when I looked in the mirror that I looked terrible....in my fat clothes! So off I went to where our boxes are stored in a mad hunt for long lost skinnyish clothes...it was quite fun...a bit like shopping but spending no $. Came home with a bundle of undies (never worn), a belt...to hold up inbetween size pants, some shirts for work, a pair of levis in a 33 that I've never fitted into (put them on when I got home and I reckon only 2 more kg and they'll fit...awesome!) and a pair of sexy black bootleg cords size 12 (nearly fit....great incentive!) I couldn't find what I was really looking for ...a whole box of size 12 stuff...will have to wait til jan/feb when we move into new house....don't know what's more exciting, the fact that I'll be approx 61-62kg or our new house!!

Love reading all of your posts...gives me so much incentive and motivation...

We can do it!

WAY TO GO MERMAID SISTER.. fantastic effort and I can only imagine how amzing you must feel.

I'm a little peeved at Cohens today cause the more people I talk to the more I realise our programs are all identical and so what are we paying for when we pay for our personalised programs!

Is it normal to not be able to sleep when you first start Cohen's? The last two nights I'm still wide awake about 5 hours past my normal bed time.


oh and edited to ask what's the longest anyones been on Cohens without deviation at all? with the loss I have to go I'm probably looking at 25 weeks give or take.

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

juz changed my ticker goal weight to 58 (refeeding weight) instead of the goal weight 56.... hope i can reach the BIG RF soon~

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Started:18th July 06(24 wks) B.M.I: 26.9
4th m.g: 66kg by end of jan~

What do you mean?

I've looked at about 5 programmes so far, and they're ALL different. TOTALLY different quantities of foods.

Yes, they're all the same FOOD LIST, but we knew that at the start. It's the quantities that differ.

I guarantee mine is different from yours.

asy

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how many people have 175g of yogurt ? for there allowance i know 3 people on this and they all have the same amount the only difference between our programs is 5 or 10 g in weights
and we all have 5 crackers
but it works thats all i care just have to stop deviating

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I don't think that any of our programs are identical (well, having said that, odds are - considering the number of people on this program - that there is someone out there who has the same makeup as you and therefore the same program). The food list is the same in most cases, but sometimes even this differs. I know that some people can have Philly Cheese (I couldn't ) and I was allowed to have a variety of vinegars, including white wine, red wine, apple cider and balsamic, whereas others are not. So there are subtle differences in what some of us can and can't have. Also, as mentioned, the quanties of food differ, as do the 'meal options'. Some people have a choice of 3 options in meal 1 (egg + veggie, cheese + veggies or yohgurt), while others might also have a fish or chicken option. This goes for all the meal options...also, some have 2 different chicken or fish options, while others only have 1...
Also the number of fruit varies. I was allowed 2, but another lady who has just finished her program was allowed 4 and yet another cohenette was allowed 3! The number of crackers also varies, but I haven't seen anyone be allowed any more than 6 in a day.
The most important thing to remember is that your program is for you and it will work. L-jay is spot-on - stay positive and believe!

I am pround to say I went for 6 months (24 weeks) without ANY deviations...I then allowed myself to deviate just once (with a slice of my Dad's 60th birthday cake) as a reward...

Have a great day eveyone!

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Sparkles, Stars & Smiles (and much, much less of me!)
Jody

Started Cohen's 14th March 2006
Finished Cohen's 16th October 2006!