Sam- Your MIL is right! Once you have children your focus is so different. You wonder how you managed before they came along, you have never experienced real love until you have a child & you will always worry about them. But it's great! Then along come the grand-kids & you fall in love with them just like your first real love. Funny old world this. Lucky we have all this love to share!Hapi_Girl- I love the fact that we do support one another. There are so many people eager to knock us down. It will not happen here & you know that you can count on us. We don't think we're perfect. We're in this together!Lauren- Do you take anti-histamines? I could not live without them at this time of year. I try my hardest to do without them but each year I suffer so....anti-histamines it is! Thank you for posting your photos. WOW!!!!
My day- has been all good! We slept in & pottered about doing housework(me) & cooking(LH) & at lunch-time our OS & DIL called in on their way to do some shopping & to drop something off. We offered to look after our GD (oh such sufference!-LOL) & off they went. The little devil was exhausted & we put her into the cot but after an hour we gave up & got her up. They rang to see how she was going, assuming she would be asleep, but we said she was fine & they stayed on.
When they got back my LH & OS had a game of snooker, my DIL got a bit crabby as she was tired & I said I would bath our GD. To cut a long story short(which is not like me I know!) we fed them, wined them & sent them home very happy. I will do almost anything to make life easier for our son who really is a very good husband & father.
I have really enjoyed myself today. Our grand-kids are just gorgeous!! I think I may have told you that about 25 times (or more!) I also got a call from one of my husband's cousins which was lovely. His extended family are very nice.
There is much to look at tonight. Wow Lauren! What about those photos!
I had better go as my LH is hinting at fruit salad. Sounds good! Cheers, Cate

Well I've had a busy/funny day. My LH went off to play golf & I decided after ringing a couple of friends & finding them otherwise occupied that I would go to the local market on my own. One of my friends who's husband died a few years ago has got a new fella!! WOW!! I think that's great! My other friend is obviously still in Victoria with her daughter. She is the partner of our old friend who died in the house fire. I'm pleased she is having a good break as she really did need & deserve it. I miss her.
I enjoyed the market & bought a few things for Christmas, including my bush-walking Kris Kringle & some seedlings etc.
I then went into Deloraine & called into Gigi's shop to say hi. She wasn't there but I bought a really smart pair of black pants & went for coffee at the local deli. Then I drove to Westbury to some garage sales & my car wouldn't start! A local couple who I get my eggs from pulled up & got me going with jumper leads (which I had still in my car from the other day!) & I then drove home & had lunch at 3pm. By putting off my lunch until then I ate too much as I felt absolutely ravenous! Not a good idea! I still ate only half of what I once would have eaten though. I had better make up for it & drink litres of water!
I bumped into at least 7 people who told me I look great today & honestly I am not exaggerating! What a difference. It is truly amazing now to think what I have done. Whilst I was on the program I was just doing it (in the zone) but now that I have finished & get such a reaction I realise the impact. Plus, more importantly, I feel more out-going & my self-esteem is being restored. It's nice to feel "normal"!
I am very tired now, probably because I ate too much. Time to sit down in a comfy chair after I bring in the washing. I am glad I don't live where the temp gets to 37oC for weeks on end. I wouldn't do anything!
Cheers folks, Cate

Cate i saw your before and after pic's, you look wonderful (and yes that smile certainly says it all!) - it was so nice to put a face to name.

Hapi_girl

Hapi_Girl- Thank you. I felt over the moon that day! I had just bought that top & it made me feel so happy! I was jumping out of my skin! I still feel really good in it & have a matching bag that is a real party bag. I'll take a photo of it sometime as well!
Today we slept in (again) & went to the races as my husband's horse was racing again. He is in a syndicate with a heap of others & it doesn't cost him much. It raced badly today. I think the jockey may have been a little timid with him as he is a very big, strong & strong-minded horse. He wasn't even sweating when he finished. I sensed he did not know how to handle him. We visited one of my SIL's on the way. She was very stressed out. It's a long story!
We came straight home after the race & I have already napped in my chair. My Lh has gone out to a golf committee meeting. I don't know why I am so tired at the moment. I haven't had a lot of energy since my interview. I feel that all that adrenaline tired me out. Christmas I find really tiring even without small children. It's not right that every-one is under so much extra pressure at this time of year. We have too many functions on & everyone wants to catch up all at once. Why can't we be more sociable for the rest of the year & then there wouldn't be so much pressure?
I'm just rabbiting on tonight so will head. I might go ring my YS at work. He rang earlier & wants me to ring him back tonight.
Cheers, Cate.

Hi folks! Had a pleasant busy day after a wild stormy night! It was spectacular. Thunder, lightning, loud rain!! I love storms! I had planted out some cos lettuce seedlings yesterday & they took a bit of a pounding but are ok I think. They sure got watered in.
We did some shopping this morning & picked up our wine which had gone astray. The post office had the wine but just didn't bother telling us. Visited the MIL & heard about 4stories for the 10th time. I know I will get like this & it's a bit scary.
We picked enough salad vegies for our lunch from our garden & have had a fairly physical day cleaning a drain(me) brush-cutting with our new brush-cutter(LH) & I have shovelled gravel. I made the mistake of putting gravel in a small yard near our house & it just is a pest, especially when we need to brush-cut! I have decided I put it there so I had better get rid of it.
It has rained on & off during the day & has been quite muggy in between. I haven't heard about my job interview but am not too worried. Que Sera, Sera..... Not much I can do about it.
I am really enjoying reading the input into the forum at the moment & love Lauren's diary. She makes me feel better as I am usually the gasbag! Only joking Lauren!! I love it!
I must weigh myself tomorrow as I have no idea what I weigh. A couple of days ago (or 3) I was 71.5kg. I have been eating ok so it should be ok but I must keep a diligant eye on it as it can just sneak back on so easily.
I have no idea if I'll be walking tomorrow. If it's raining in the morning they don't go.
I might come back a bit later, depending on tv, cheers for now, Cate

Life is a mix that's for sure. Today I'm exhausted(bush-walking), happy(bush-walking/great company), pissed off(negativity in the water thread), slightly disappointed(haven't heard about the job yet)... but mostly exhausted!
A big walk today(steep walk & a long walk-about 12km's) & I had a pain for half of it. I must have it checked out soon as I've had it before. Ovaries?? I avoided the leeches by keeping mobile even whilst eating lunch.
I have been put off the forum today by all the negativity. I hate hassles. I haven't weighed myself today either as I forgot (up too early). I will tomorrow. I might have a few days next week strictly Cohen's. It will be good. I'm actually looking forward to it! We have a couple of functions(dinners) this week.
I think it's time for our fruit salad & yoghurt. I have had a bath & feel faintly human again but ohhh, ouch, I am hurting a little. I can feel every year of my 54 years tonight! It's fruit salad & cuppa time.
Hi Sharon if you read this. I remember you of course! Having you back may mean bad news for you but good news for us! I know I will always have to be careful with my weight. It's not like we are "cured" overnight (I wish!) The reasons I put on my weight in the first place are always going to be lurking in the background but I must learn to control them. That's ok! Cheers, Cate.
P.S. I must go drink some more water as I love it!

Hi Cate

It is nice to hear you remember me.

I am glad to pop back in - it isn't bad news for me. I am still thin and just making sure that when I have the surgery I am at my optium - but I want to be fit for it and not just thin. Looks like nothing but good diet and exercise won't fix.

Hope your family are well.

Did anyone hear from Melly P??

S

Hi Losing, Melly P was just before my time in here I think. Getting fit is also my aim now & if I am still left with my little "muffin top" I won't worry too much about it. It's better than what was there before that's for sure! Cheers, Cate.
My news!!
Well I wanted to share my news with my Cohens buddies first!
Unofficially I have the job!! I haven't even rung my husband or my Mum yet (or either of my sons). I want to keep a lid on it until it's official. I am really excited & must think seriously about the number of hours that I want to work as I have been given a list of the available hours for 1 client in particular that would require very little travel for me. There is also another client who only needs someone for about 2 hours once a fortnight to take her to the doctor. I must ensure that who I am working for remains confidential so I'll be very careful in here as well.
I am really happy about getting the job. At the moment they are checking my references & ordering the police check. Most of my referees are on holidays so I was asked to supply a couple of extra names from my old job, which is when I asked how I went with the interview. Checking the referees is only a formality apparently!! WOW!!
I don't even feel uncertain about the job & feel quite confident that I will be able to do the work competently. I think I should like it also. I may have a re-think about week-end work as Sunday is only a shortish shift in the middle of the day but is double pay. I'll have a chat to my LH when he gets home tonight. He got called in to work today (thank goodness as we've been spending our savings). I may ring him shortly to let him know that I can't join him at an 8-ball/golf function late this afternoon as I now have to pick my grand-son up off the school bus as his parents have an ap't in Launceston(last one before the baby's due!! More excitement!)
I haven't read any other threads yet today as I didn't want my bubble burst before typing in my diary! I'll go have a look now. I must be a beggar for punishment. ()
I might be back tonight, depending on what I end up doing. May go out later. Cheers for now, soon-to-be-employed-again, Cate.

CONGRATULATIONS CATE!!!

I KNEW YOU WOULD DO REALLY WELL!! HOW COULD YOU NOT!!!!


I really am very happy for you! That is such great news! I look forward to hearing all about your new adventures! I am sure you will keep us all posted!

Blessya
Kannadew

[SIZE="4"]What a great xmas gift Cate.[/SIZE]

You must be over the moon with this outcome. I am so Happy for you.

Congratulations.

Sam

I am really new to the whole forum thing... and I have noooo Idea how to start a new thread so I can start my diary.. can anyone help me out please?

Hi ajwright

and welcome, first of all this is the Cohens weightloss forum are you doing this diet? If you are you need to open up the Cohens Lifestlye thread and at the top you will find a list for new thread click on this and you can introduce your own personel diary.......otherwise if you aren't doing Cohens you need to go to the main forum titled Weightloss Forum and they have a thread set up for the newbies.

Goodluck with you journey.

Sam

Kath & Sam- Thank you both so much for your continued support. I really am so excited & pleased that I have actually done it! I now have official confirmation that I have the job & they also want me to start early- on the 14th of December & I am to do a buddy shift before then so I know what is required. I have to go for a medical (which I know will be fine-thank you Cohen's!) & the police check will have been started but I know that's fine! I have a job. WOW!! One I want. Another WOW!! I would have made that second one bigger but it wouldn't work.
Got a phone call from an elderly friend to let us know her husband has cancer. It's sad in particular because he has not told her. She found out from one of their grown children. She has not rung him to ask how he is & does not expect him to. I rang him tonight & had to pretend that I did not know & when he said I don't know if J knows I suggested he ring her up & said she should hear it from him, not me. At that he said "well she should be ringing me". Their marriage has been like that for over 30 years. How sad is that?! He has stomach cancer & has no idea how bad it is. The doctor said that he would not like to operate as it would put too much pressure on his heart but I think our old friend will say "go for it". We had a good discussion about life in general & that we had really had good lives but that I think I would say the same thing. We never really know though until it's our turn. He's 82 & has had a very full, active life.
I can't wait to start this job. I rang my husband to tell him about it & he has been asked to work tomorrow, the next day & basically every day from now until the middle of February so I think we (I) can stop worrying about money & will be able to put some back into our account very soon.
I'll have a quick look around the diaries & be back tomorrow, cheers, Cate.

hey cate, good news re:the job
well done

rolypoly

RolyPoly- Thank you friend! I'm very happy!