Of all the days that I do not have time to write a long post!!!
I am so glad you are back Annie!!!! Once again you made me laugh. I'm trying not to take much notice but it is difficult when it's in here. A big welcome back to you, you little jet-setter! One day I'll tell you about where I worked. (Still do until next week) Similar type of work-place but obviously much different! Big LOL!
Misty- I have pm'd you (1st time I've done that) You can post anything in my diary any day!!!
Lukey- Thank you. We'll give you lots of help & support along the way. The friendships made in here take some beating.
Nonna- My hunger has died down a little thank goodness. Not long to go hopefully to re-feed. I am going to keep writing in my diary even when I am at goal. I know that I wish there were more threads about those who are at re-feed or at goal.
The more encouragement I get the more I want to give.

Thanks Cate, and thanks for missing me..it was nice to read that I was being missed....so very special !

Yes you will have to tell me one day....hopefully maybe one day over coffee!
Must be such a nice feeling not to work, good for you!
When are you in Melb? Dress warm, its soooooo cold and windy at the moment.

Better go, Wednesday night here, love my wed night tv, spicks and specks then the Chaser....I also really liked the Catherine Tate show but that has finished now. I think you mentioned you liked Spicks and Specks, do you watch chaser?

Stay happy!

ttfn
Annie Lusion

Hi Cate
I spoke with my clinic today who implied that I had broken the program and the HGH was not being triggered hence hunger...I replied that It's the hunger and extreme fatigue that would encourage a person to break not the other way around....Go figure..... I will keep being dilligent and hope it passes
Nonna

Ps Annie I love my Spicks n Specks too!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love Spicks & Specks, Chaser, & Rockwiz!!
Annie- You're welcome! I did miss you & it's great that you had a good trip. I'll be in Melbourne on Saturday only. The trip is a focus on our grandson as we used to have him on his own regularly before the baby arrived.We are taking him around Melbourne on the trams & then spending the day at the Zoo. My husband & I both love Melbourne Zoo & it will be great to see his reactions( & checking out the new elephant enclosure. I adore elephants.)
I would love to meet you sometime in the not too distant future for a coffee. My family (mother, younger sister & older brother) live in Victoria & we will have to visit later in the year. We may stay in Melb. & they can visit us there. We'll see what happens. I am looking forward to a shopping trip later in the year, including a trip to Prahran market.
Nonna- I would be really interested to know what a typical day of eating Cohen's is for you. I have had hunger problems along the way & have received very helpful advice from others as to spacing out when you eat what. I think my recent hunger was in reaction to reducing the amount of water I was drinking. Thankfully it seems to have abated. It really does depend on which choices I make. If I have red meat at night I am not usually hungry I know. If I have yoghurt for breakfast with stewed apple same. I usually don't eat my 1st lot of crackers until about an hour before lunch time (with a glass of water) & my fruit I pick at during the day & evening.
Whenever I eat fish I am really hungry before my next meal is due so I eat it at night if I can. When it has suited me to have tuna at lunch time I have eaten my crackers with the meal. I have experimented all along to see what works best for me & it is not necessarily what works for others. I often have the meal 2 portion at night & the meal 3 portion for lunch, so chicken soup in the evening (often!) & "chop suey"(minced beef) for lunch. Solid meat, rather than fish or seafood fills me up more & I digest mince better than a steak.

I saw my doctor again yesterday & told her that I am quitting work, that I feel like I don't need the medication & that I will still have the counselling when it is available. We chatted for quite some time & she thought my quitting work was a great idea. I told her that I felt much better within a week of seeing her last, after I had made the decision to quit. She agreed the meds would not have had a chance to kick in then. She asked if I had any side-effects & I told her about the sexual one & that it is important to me to have a healthy, sexual relationship with my husband. I am aware that down the track it may be necessary to take medication but while I feel that I am coping I will manage without. I also said that I feel counselling would still be of benefit to me to work my way through some issues that I have never dealt with.
She is so sweet this doctor. She said that the counsellor would love me & that she will delight in talking to someone who wants to deal with things & move forward. Apparently most of her patients just want to wallow in self pity & not make changes. I am looking forward to it. It will probably be a lot more beneficial now that I am able to see clearer.
It is so good feeling calm. It doesn't matter if I write or not. Giving up the "day job" was the biggest & best decision to help me think clearly. I shouldn't have to justify doing it, even to myself, but I guess I'm not the only one guilty of associating a job with what you are. It's just not so! OMG! I just realised I have reached the "finding myself" stage of life. Oh well. If I start saying too many corny sayings please let me know & I'll have to self-censor!
Seriously I'm feeling good about life. Rotten things happen in this world of ours, including to my friends, my family & to me. They always will. I am back to looking on the positive side again. Life is still more good than bad.
I'm a nurturer so will do what I do best. In the last week I have rung some friends & told them how I have been & had a few really good talks. I want to take more time for the things & people in my life that are important to me & try to get a balance back.
I don't think I'll read this back- what a chatterbox I am!! Cheers, Cate.

Fantastic!!! Well done Cate...wow! , a really great milestone!

Sue- You're sweet. That made me laugh!!! Your enthusiasm is infectious!!
It's freezing here in Tassie too. I know, I know, everyone thinks it's freezing here all the time. You can tell it's snowing up on the mountains as the wind is coming right off it. Brrr!! Today a flock of yellow-tailed black cockatoos flew over our home. That's always a sure sign that the weather is going to get even rougher. Surely Melbourne can't be even colder!
I need a new coat. My beautiful cashmere coat is now way too huge for me. It's a 24 & I'm now a 14!!! I'm not complaining but I'm absolutely going to freeze if I don't buy a new one soon!! Maybe not cashmere this time but it would be nice.
I cannot believe I'm 78.5kg, possibly less now. I'll weigh myself again on Monday morning. I'll be back tomorrow but won't post again until Sunday as I will be in Melbourne. Good night, Cate

Dear Cate,
There is a lot of stuff happening besides weightloss and we are getting into old fat here full of toxic chemicals and emotions
I think the shifts are on all levels....so looking forward to corny lines from you!!
Perhaps coffee post cohen could lead to interesting discussions??
An alternative treatment that you could discuss with your GP is Same a recognised treatment for low mood without the side effects of SSRI's especially loss of libido/weight gain which no-one needs.

In response to your question
A normal Cohens Day for me starts with 500 mls hot water on rising
7-730am yoghurt 5 days a week and frittata for 2
a further litre of water before leaving for work
1030am cracker or fruit serve & water
1pm lunch 3 days cheese and salad otherwise chicken or beef salad or soup if its cold, cracker if not had earlier peppermint tea & water
330pm crispbread & water
6-630pm fruit whie driving home from work /water
730 fish or beef stirfry for dinner (tending for beef since being so tired for the iron)warm water
830 Hot drink +/- remaining cracker
Am hoping to buy work tops this weekend looking a bit baggy and not as neat and professional as I like very good for the local op shop though.
What a rant!!!!Hope you have a great day
Nonna

Nonna- You're funny! You don't want to encourage me as I can be pretty silly. Corny lines- OMG! Your daily plan doesn't sound much different to mine. I think it will help me when I do get hungry to think about that TOXIC FAT that I just must shift!! It is much harder now that the end is in sight. Bring on re-feed I say!!
I have been running around getting ready to go to Melbourne this afternoon & I made myself dizzy, literally, so thought "cracker time!" I have sat down & eaten, slowing myself down & then thought that I would post in here. I am getting bursts of energy in the morning so that's when I get things done. In the afternoon I usually take it easy. I am looking forward to my short trip now that I am almost ready. I had better get my ironing done before I relax too much though.
The sun is shining after an icy frost this morning. There is hardly a cloud in the sky. I love our Tasmanian winter. The air is so crisp & clean.
My food for the trip is very simple-
Tonight- crackers, Mozzarella cheese & celery; fresh fruit, cut up.
Tomorrow-breakfast- 1 tub Vaalia yoghurt. Crackers late morning & fruit.
-lunch- Stir-fried chicken with a salad of shredded chinese cabbage, fresh coriander, spinach, tomato, spring onion, celery & balsamic dressing with 1 tspn of mayo. Fruit mid-late afternoon.
- tea- crackers, cheese & celery again.
- supper (b/f 9pm) crackers & fruit.
I have a container with cut up kiwi fruit, mandarin & orange & another with my crackers. Everything is in throw-away containers/bags so will get lighter & easier to carry as I go!
I'm really looking forward to seeing Melbourne again. I have a soft spot for Melbourne- it's where I spent my late teens & 20's, partied, met my husband ..... had my 2 boys. Most of that 15 years was fun & formative. I don't want to move back but do have the need to visit at least once a year.
Now for that ironing! Be back on Sunday folks. Take care all.Cheers fellow Cohenites & anyone else who has a look in my diary, xo Cate.
P.S. I forgot to mention but I rang some friends who have a young (9yr old) daughter, & said that we will be in Melb. for just for one day to take our GS to the zoo. They are going to meet us there. I'm thrilled as we haven't seen them for 10 years. We keep trying to catch up but we have all been so busy for so long. Our GS will still be the focus of our trip but we just get on so well with this couple I can't wait to see them. They are not a lot younger than us. She & I used to argue about politics, the state of the world.......... (mostly after too much alcohol!). I think we are very similar. I really like them both a lot. He is such a kind, lovely man. Their daughter, of course, we have never met. How exciting!
P.P.S. -only kidding! That's it! Cate

Hiya Cate,

Just wanted to wish you a good trip over and a great day at the zoo. I have not been to the zoo for so long, last time I went to the zoo was when a few of us wagged high school and walked over to the zoo (School was in Nth Carlton)
We walked around until we found some low fencing and jumped the fencing to get in. hehehe..I was a bit naughty in high school, that was 22 years ago...wow time flies!

Enjoy and chat when you get back !

Annie Lusion

p.s Bring on the corny lines!!

Annie!! You BAD GIRL you !!!
That is so funny!
I was having a heart to heart with my 15yr old 2 days ago, and I admitted to being suspended from school for smoking when I was her age!! (she fell of her chair laughing.....hates smoking thank heavens)Thats about as "bad" as I ever got..........my 17yr old says oh mum you are SOOOOOOO tragic!

I'm having a bad day with the blues....thought I'd check in here for a laugh.
Sometimes families and relationships are so complicated.......yerch!
I hope Melbourne throws a bit of sun at you Cate.......we're very proud of our zoo, so hope you have a ball!

I didn't get my prawn dinner.......another story.......
ah well . Skinny thoughts to all my fellow Cohenites. Small bums...skinny thighs....and may the sands of time run uphill to your boobs!!!

I'M BACK!!!!
Sue & Annie- I LOVE Melbourne!!
Well Melbourne put on a lovely day for us and we had a ball!! I have always loved Melb. Zoo. We met in Melb. when I was sweet 17 & lived there for 15 years. Before we even had kids we used to go there occasionally with friends. I lived in Parkville for a year, with my older sister, when I first moved to Melb. & love that area & Carlton. We then moved in together & lived in Sth Caulfield/ Elsternwick/Ripponlea & then Prahran, before moving to Tas at the end of 1985. Melb. has lots of lovely memories.
We were at the zoo, ready for opening time at 8.50am & didn't leave until 4.40pm!! Phew!! I was the most tired of the 3 of us! We caught up with our old friends at lunch-time & it was a delightful day. We also saw lots of people we know, both on the ship & at the zoo. We can't go anywhere without bumping into someone we know!
I am trying to get our house warm & better go get in front of the fire for a while as the fire had gone out of course & it's freezing. I can see snow on the mountains from where I'm sitting!
I'm ringing my boss tomorrow to let her know that I won't be coming back & to thank her for being so considerate towards me. I know that I will miss a lot of the women I have worked with but we rarely got a chance to talk anyway. I also didn't go to work functions as I live 40km away.
I woke at 2.30am this morning on the ship & tried to talk myself into staying in the job but it didn't work. The perks associated with it & the pay etc just aren't enough to keep me there. I really don't know what is next but it's ok. I will keep writing as it's something that I do anyway. I will keep my eyes & ears open & if something good just happens along I will consider it carefully.
I took my own food with me on the ship & managed fine. I had to eat before I got back on board the ship last night,as I had celery & fruit which you are not allowed to take onboard. I hadn't taken anything with me to eat this morning as I thought I would be asleep until the ship was almost at Devonport & I would be right until I got home. How was I to know that I would wake at 2.30am & not be able to get back to sleep. Aaarrggghhhh!!!
From 6pm last night to 8.30am this morning I had 2 mineral waters, 1 diet pepsi & 1 black coffee!!
The egg, 1/2 tomato & some mushroom I ate at 8.30 has made me feel semi-human again but it is not a good idea to go that long without food. I miscalculated my crackers ( I had taken some for this morning but gave them to my grandson yesterday, thinking I had extras!) & didn't have any for this morning. Now I have to defrost some chicken & get some soup happening for my lunch.
I really do have to come up with something that I can freeze that can just be taken out & quickly heated that I keep for emergencies. I shouldn't have too many of those to go hopefully. Hurry up re-feed!!!
I'll be back later when I have this house as warm as toast! (Why did I mention toast!!-Aaaarrrgggghhhhh again!!!!! )
xo Cate

Whoops- I meant to mention the boobs thing. mmm. Not good at 54- almost non-existent now & what is there..... well.........lets just say-
GRAVITY SUCKS!!!!
Because our friends had not seen us for 10 years they did not know that I had since grown very large & have lost most of it only recently, so I was told I hadn't changed at all!! That was really funny! I'll take it as a compliment. We instantly fell into comfortable, easy conversation & discussed the fact that old friendships cannot be replaced.
Sue- If your 17yr old thinks that you are tragic, imagine me, with a mother who tells everyone that I was a perfect child & never any trouble at all. I hated being in trouble (still do!)
NOW, THAT"S TRAGIC!!!!xo Cate

Today is a new day. I have rung my boss & officially resigned. I told her about waking up early on the ship & trying to talk myself into staying. This is only my 3rd job ever & I said to her that I'm not a quitter. She was so sweet & supportive & said that I'm not quitting. She said lots of lovely things actually. I am so pleased that I have been up-front with her all along. It is the best way. I am leaving on a really good note. I have sent her an email as well as she requested & I will get a call today I think regarding a farewell. I feel really good about all this. I am a little nervous but I do know that I am making the right decision. I will miss a lot of the people but I think I always knew that I wouldn't stay as I kept a little distance even with the ones I really liked. It will be nice just to bump into them & catch up. There are not many who actually enjoy the job itself.
I haven't weighed myself yet this morning. In fact I'm not even dressed as I slept in. I weaned myself off the medication (that I took for 2 weeks only) & am happy to report "things" are back to normal. When I was much younger the thought that this would have been important in your fifties probably would not have entered my head. Sorry if it's too much info for anyone. I personally think it's good to know that when you are older life is still just as enjoyable.
I can now really start planning what I will do with myself. I am not quite ready to start a class as I'm a little allergic to being pressured & don't want to jump into any other commitments. Already I have been asked to stand for the local Council! OMG-No thank you!! I also don't feel like having to go to something at the same time on the same day. Going with the flow I will have to learn. Perhaps just reading & writing will be my focus for the minute.
Even taking extra time for friends comes with it's own pressure. Almost everyone says let's go out for lunch or come for dinner.Mmmmm.
It's freezing here today but the sun is shining. I had better get on the move & get myself warm by bringing in more wood. We were supposed to have an extension done to our home that would have added a sheltered spot, facing North where we could sit on a sunny winter's day & also where we could stack lots of dry wood. Everyone is so busy building here in Tassie that It hasn't happened in time for our winter. Not to worry. It just means that you can only store a little bit of wood at a time. Sometimes I have to go out in the rain to get it!
I'll come back here later today with an up-date on my weight & measurements. It's funny but I am not so focussed on the actual food I am eating any more. Being prepared is by far the most important aspect of success with the program for me. I am always telling myself that I must pre-cook some meals & put them in the freezer but having Cohen's food handy to cook always seems to work for me anyway. It has become second nature now. When I look at what I've done I am really proud of myself but it doesn't stop me getting impatient & wishing I was at goal.
Brrrr, xo Cate.

Hi Cate

I have just read your posts from today and my goodness you have lost so much weight. Congratulations.
I have been absent for quite a while so have missed who has finished refeed and who has joined.

How have you coped with Cohen's so far? And how long till you reach refeed?

I have been doing okay since finishing Cohens I try not to over indulge which is not always easy to do especially now that the colder weather is upon us.
I think exercise is the key and staying on this forum, it's funny when I don't stay in tune with this forum I find I do cave and eat the wrong things.

I look forward to seeing how you and everyone else successfully finishes this programme.

Sam

Hi Cate,
Glad you enjoyed your day at the zoo.

You should be very proud of yourself Cate. You trully are inspirational and I probably speak for a lot of people who are following your progress (your cheerleaders). Losing weight, sticking to this and dealing with a whole lot of stuff deserves to be applauded. Good for you Cate. You ROCK !!



TTFN
Annie Lusion