Hi Cate,

My partner and I are starting the Cohen's program next week, my question to you is how is your weight now have you kept it off if so are you eating normally now or are you still watching everything you eat...

LisaIan- I finished Cohen's at 69kg & have maintained my weight within a range of 69-72kgs. I do watch what I eat but almost every day I watch myself eat a little dark chocolate & a glass of wine, occasional bread, occasional sweet & so on. I would maintain at 69kg if I didn't eat these things, but I feel I have a nice balance in my life. Anytime I like I can drop a kilo or 2 just by going back on to the original program briefly. If I go over 72 I will do just that. I drop 1kg in a day by not eating any carb's other than crackers! They do give you very sound maintenence guidelines & I think I would be a goose to ignore them. I would hate to be 105kg's again! Cheers Cate
My day-
A good day today. Took my client to the Physio & she was friendly & polite to me, unlike my first visit when she was an absolutely rude b...h. I had decided to say little & not try to get through to her as she had been so abnoxious to me before. She was pleasant, friendly, cheerful, used my name... I couldn't believe it was the same person really. It was such a relief as I will be seeing her almost every week.
My client really is progressing very well. I came out in goose-bumps today seeing how much better she is getting. The physio seemed quite excited too. She is one determined girl!
It was so hot today. I am pleased to be home in my cool house. I am working again tomorrow but then have Sunday, Mon & Tues off. I am going to just have a good break.
I will head now as it's time for dinner. I'm hungry early. We are going to have eye fillet steak with a fresh salad picked from our garden. Yum! We'll also have a chilled light red wine as it's too hot for room temp wine. Cheers, Cate

Have a wonderful break Cate - you deserve it. I will check back here on Monday.
I am off to my sisters for the weekend.

Bye

Sam

HI Cate... thought I would pop in and say G'day! It seems like things are continuing to shine for you! Pretty much all round it seems! That is so COOL! You TOTALLY DESERVE it!

Good to hear you found the wallet too! I bet that was a relief! I know I would hate that kind of situation! I hope you find a lovely new bag!

I will PM you once I know more details of my holidays! It looks like I might be over in Melbourne around the 26th April... but thats all I know... and thats not even confirmed yet... but I will let you know when I've booked things etc! Would love to meet you!

Anyway

Bless ya
Kannadew

Hi Sam & Kannadew, I am feeling pretty good at the moment & I am loving the activity in the forum. I think I was losing interest in the forum because of the seeming lack of interest. Now it's back to being fun! I can sit back a little more & enjoy!
Kannadew, I do hope we can meet. You would be very welcome to come stay with us. Let me know how you go when your plans are firmer. It would be nice!
I have had another busy day & am looking forward to my 3 days off. My client got the miseries for a while today but we ended up good. It is a very different & difficult job in that I spend 8 hours each day that I work with my client, mostly in her home, often with her family around, coming & going. It's a very tricky situation. I am feeling my way but so far, feel I'm doing fairly well & not being too invasive. I cannot stop myself from tidying up/cleaning but am trying not to offend.
RocKwiz is almost on so will head...
Before I go I simply must tell you what my LH did today. He spent the whole day cooking-
West African chicken; stuffed, baked chicken thighs; a huge vegetable soup; paw paw & rhubarb chutney; rice; a huge vegetable stir-fry; ginger snaps; jam drops; broccolli, carrots & corn (home grown, organic). I don't eat corn but our OS gave us most of the vegies.
I think he just made up for not cooking while I was on Cohens! Cheers, Cate
PS I forgot the stuffed & baked yellow gourd with Middle Eastern spices-delicious!

I have had a pleasant, relaxing day, doing some housework-washing, ironing, dishes, tidying & sweeping, but also a lot of reading. I love Saturday's Melbourne Age. It usually takes me until Wed to read all of the interesting bits!
It has been much cooler & I have been picking a bit. Nothing too serious but I know it's self-sabotage! The old, bad habits are hard to eradicate totally. It's good that I don't have rubbish(junk food) in the house in more ways than one. I am making myself weigh tomorrow morning & will take action if I am 72kg's or more! Off bush-walking Tuesday which is good.
It's lovely having Annie back & with a diary. I'm enjoying sitting back & observing. I'll check in most days to have a look now that there's more to look at, cheers, cate.

Thanks Cate, I am enjoying being back and on the program again. I feel so much better already and it's only been 5 days, it can only get better!

Hope the scales are good to you in the morning, have a great Monday

TTFN

Annie Lusion

Hi Cate

Just popping in to say hi and touch base. The activity is great at the moment I agree. You DH sounds quite the chef - I hope he wasn't cooking all of that for just the two of you!

I've been planning some of our accommodation today, we are going to stay at Wrest Point on the first night into Hobart. Would you recommend the Quality Hotel Gateway in Devonport? I am thinking of splashing out a bit since it will be our last night of creature comforts for a week!!!!

I hope you have had a good day.

Lauren

Hi Lauren, I wouldn't have thought of the Gateway as it's exterior looks unappealing. I looked at their web-site & WOW! They have spent a lot of money on the place & the rooms look great. It is also very central. Another option is Birchmore B&B. I have been there & it's very nice, lovely breakfast room, but is a B&B & they aren't to everyone's taste.
I have had a weird day really. I received a letter this morning that must make me re-think how I approach my job. We all got one but I realise that I have perhaps been a little over-enthusiastic. The idea is for my client to become independant & not dependant on me. I also am so used to working hard that I have trouble just sitting doing little but I must learn to do so. I took it personally at first but realise I must take it on board as it seems quite fair. I have been very touchy though. I knew I was doing too much in their home. Bugger! I rang the boss & had a good talk about the roster mostly but I did say that I will take it on board. She said it applied to all of us but I said I know that I have gone too far. It was a good talk & she has got to know me a bit more as well. She said she has had very good feed-back about me which is nice. Still I feel a little sensitive about it. It's not easy doing this job. I will keep trying.
We visited an old friend today who has cancer. He looks well & was very perky. I got out of the house early & spent most of the day pottering around the local shops. I got the hair-dresser to cut my hair shorter(very short), went through my camera & have ordered one squillion photos. I'm picking them up tomorrow after bush-walking.
I'm too crabby to chat too much tonight. Hopefully I'll get over it soon.
Bye for now(not cheers) Cate

Oh Cate

don't feel too down - I have worked in disabilities for many years and when I started it was all about doing things for the client and then it changed overnight and we were a bit bamboozled by all the government requirements to promote independence and so forth. I worked with severely disabled people and it was also a shock to them to be suddenly doing things they had never done before. At least you were advised in a letter and you spoke to your employer about it and remember it isn't that you are not doing your job properely it's all about promoting an independent lifestyle for your client. It's all about your client.....look at the positive side of the feedback.
Your personality from your posts sounds so suited to this job and if anything you were probably doing the mothering/caring thing which comes so readily to us women.

Cate sorry I haven't answered your question in my diary about advice on how to shift your extra 5kg....but I have been so out of sorts since returning from holidays...1 was to do with the neighbour ( which is sorted as you know) and 2 has been trying get back in the zone to lose my own unwanted kilos. I have been slowly trying to get my head around losing this weight......the problem isn't how i am going to do it - but when I will be ready. Since being back it has been hard to shake the holiday mode off. BUT I think I am getting there now. I layed in bed and realised my 40th is only 3 months away and I really want to reach this goal. I better not write to much here i'll have nothing to say in my diary.

Take care Cate and remember you are only human......but a great one.

Sam

Sam, A really big thank you for your thoughtful words. I don't think we realise how much we help one another. Your words have come at a really good time & have made me feel a lot better (& a little teary but in a nice way). Thank you, xo Cate.
My exhausting day!
OMG I have climbed to the top of the world today. Well I feel like I have! No-one told me today was a long walk or I may not have gone but it has done me the world of good getting out of the house & back into the bush-walking. I do love it & I really, really needed it today & needed the distraction.
We drove to Lake McKenzie & then walked in to the Blue Peaks. We had a large group today & it was slow to start off with. One woman was having trouble & another stopped with her. By the time we got to the summit of the peak our unofficial leader said we were not going to split up, according to the original plan(whoever felt up to the steep climb could go & the others just continue on to the next lake for lunch) but would all just walk to the lake. I had been hearing about the spectacular view from the peak & when someone else expressed their disappointment at not going up I went up to him & said I would love to go up if it was possible. The gist of it was that he took a group of us up to the top & the others continued on at the same level.
It was wonderful!! It was also very tiring but I did it & it was well worth it for the fantastic view. We could see the others about a km away, sitting by a lake. We could see distant mountains very clearly, including Cradle Mountain & the Acropolis. Oh it was beautiful. I drank 3&1/2 litres of water & a small thermos of peppermint tea. I am over the dread of squatting behind a bush now & did 4-5 times today. I was not drinking enough because of the dread & consequently now feel much better after a walk because I am properly hydrated.
I did not get home until 6pm. My LH was starting to worry I think.
Work tomorrow. I am going to try some different strategies tomorrow. I know that by continuing to do what I have been doing, not only would my client become too dependent on me, but also her mother. That's no good. I am going to start encouraging her to try to do more for herself. I know that will really be helping her more. I have no idea if she has any idea that we have been given this direction & I hope she won't think I've had a personality transplant since she last saw me. I do care & I hope she doesn't think I don't. Sam is right about the mothering. It is natural.
I work tomorrow, have an induction day Thursday & then work again Friday, Sat & Sun. I will have to make sure I do not get too many hours, especially now I am not sure how I am going to fill up my days. I'll end up with a fat backside again if I sit on it all day. I really don't like sitting around doing nothing. I'm going to seriously give this a lot of thought....
Very tired tonight but not miserable. By going bush-walking my brain is kicking into gear & I don't feel miserable. Cheers for today, Cate

Today was fine! I have stepped back, I realise that it hasn't come from the Mum that others have noticed what I have done & that I must step back so that my client does become self-sufficient. Enough for the moment. The day went well. At times I got paid just to sit & read or sit & chat. I suppose I'll get used to it.
I wasn't in the slightest bit stiff or tired after a solid night's sleep. Phew!
I have had a good Cohen's day. I only took a Cohen's size/style meal. I feel disgustingly healthy!
I am going to have my compulsory fruit & yoghurt. Is there a group for yoghurt addicts?
Cheers, cate.

Hi Cate

So glad you had a better day. You can count me into that yoghurt addicts group.
I love it and had a bowl with fresh peach this morning....Yummo!!!!

Sam

Sam- Mm mmm yoghurt!! I never go a day without yoghurt. My favourite(still Vaahlia) is in a non-recyclable container though. I really must email them soon!
OMG- Heaven forbid but I must be getting old. I'm exhausted! I have spent the day in Launceston at an induction day & I'm totally exhausted. It was hot & stuffy, I'm used to having frequent toilet visits(I do drink a lot) & it was full on. I think I have worked out I do not want to be doing what some of them do. I think, in retrospect that my work issues are quite different to most, but probably easier to sort. Mine are more OH&S & social ones which I think I can sort. A big thing from the day is that team meetings are meant to happen where we can get together on a regular basis(maybe only once every 2-3 months) & discuss things together. This will be great! The woman who ran the day was shocked that we did not have contact between one another. I didn't pass on the details of my "team" experiences as I think it has been passed on to my supervisor, without me having to. I have had hindrance rather than help.
I am working the next 3 days, unfortunately. I would love to have Sat or Sun off. Oh well. I do have 4 days off next week-YAY!!
My LH & I have not had a day at home together for a couple of weeks. Week-end after this next one we do have both days off. He'll probably play golf one day but we'll have the other one off together at least.
I think I'm too tired to make much sense today so may not write in any diaries, xo Cate

Not so tired today. Had a good night's sleep & woke, feeling like a new woman. Had a full-on day but don't have to start work until 9am tomorrow so can have a small sleep-in. Today was not stressful. My client had a great physio session-very positive! I also had her doing some stuff that she usually watches me do. I'll learn!
I am pottering about in ebay looking at golfing gear for my dearly beloved so am about if anyone wants to chat. I'll log in & then keep an eye out, cheers, Cate