Hello my name is Gina and this is all new to me - forums - that is. Certainly not losing weight is new. I have tried a number of different forms of "diets" over the years, some with success, some not. A few years ago I got down to my goal weight through weight watchers and became a life time member which felt fantastic and so did I. Unfortunately though the last 18 months or so I have lost the plot and put all my weight back on and more! I am now at my heaviest I've ever been and feel fat, overweight, frumpy, not attractive, and down and out unhealthy to name just a few feelings. But this was then and this is now.......................

Thanks to an advertisement I heard on the radio months ago for a program called "Cohens" which I had never heard of, I am now about to start on a new and permanent journey to a new me!

I started on this journey yesterday 15/7/07. Day one wasn't too bad as I was attending an adult education craft class so my mind was otherwise occupied. Today day two has been a reasonably quiet day. I currently don't work on Mondays so I had a bit of a sleep in which ended up being quite a long sleep in which was great except that it mucked me up for the day in relation to time for my meals. Having breakfast late (11.00am) just isn't a good idea. Needless to say lunch was at 4pm. After having rung the Hobart office to inform them that I started the program yesterday, I queried the fact about waiting 5 hours between meals. I was informed that by rights I should wait but in this instance having the same protein for lunch and for dinner is the best option so that I'm not mixing proteins which is what I did and had dinner about 8.00pm.

Thankfully the Cohens office also informed me that I could take some headache tablets as yes, I felt washed out and had a booming headache.

Over the last couple of weeks I have been reading some of the journeys/diaries and it certainly is inspiring reading these. I congratulate you all for your success and sharing these with others like myself which is very encouraging.

I have never openly shared my thoughts or feelings with others, especially not on a forum like this, however I have decided to step outside my comfort zone and go for it in writing my own diary as I believe it will help me with my own personal journey. (Not sure if this is the right way that I am doing it, couldn't find any direct links to a diary so hope it works??)

It's amazing how the words just come out once you start. I'll sign off for now as it's getting late and I need to go to bed - work day tomorrow.

Thanks for reading and being a part of 'My Journey to a New Me'.

Cheers
Gina

Hi Gina,

Welcome to Cohen's!!! You'll have great success with the program, and will be looking fabulous in a very short time!

Looking forward to reading about your journey!

Crystal

Hi Gina, Good for you starting your diary! My diary was also a first for me & a big step outside my comfort zone. The more you type the more you want to type it seems. All the best & I'll keep in touch, cheers, Cate.

Hi Gina and welcome, I also heard the program advertised on the radio and live in Tassie too. Best place in the world I think even thought its cold this winter.
I have been on the program for 7 weeks tomorrow and have lost 15kgs in that time and 53 cms. I have faltered once but am back on track and cant wait to be skinny....
So hang in there and keep to the program and you will lose te weight
Cheers Genie

Chrystal: Thank you for your wishes. It looks like you've just joined (July) and have already lost 5.8kg. Congrats and keep up the great work.

Cate: Good to hear from you. You are doing so well.

Genie: Yes it certainly has been old here in Tassie. Wow what a great loss 15kgs and 53 cms. Congrats and keep up the great work too.

Day Three - Woke up feeling a bit better today. No headache thank god. Had breakfast at a reasonable time today so it wasn't an issue with waiting 5 hours between meals. I've had a few hunger pangs today but stuck to the program so I feel really pleased with myself.

One of the things that will challenge me apart from losing weight will be coming up with interesting meals as I don't particularly like cooking, don't have much imagination, creativity or ideas when it comes to cooking. I've been spoilt as my mother was a brilliant cook and could whip up a gourmet meal from nothing and then when I met my husband, our first date was him cooking dinner for me. He is also a brilliant cook and can also whip up some fantastic meals (hence great on the lips, not so good for the hips). My meals are normally very plain and basic so he has always done the majority of the cooking. He has gone overseas for three weeks to visit his brother so guess who will have to do the cooking - Yep - ME..... I've downloaded the receipes from the Cohen's website and printed them out so hopefully this will help me with my cooking challenges.

People always talk about setting short term goals rather than looking at the BIG picture. My first short term goal is to look slimmer and trimmer than I am now for when my husband comes home in August, as not having seen me for a number of weeks he certainly should notice a difference and what a nice surprise it will be for him and me too. My husband has just lost 12kgs and looks absolutely fabulous so this has also given me an added inspiration.

Just realised the time so I had better sign off now and get ready for my beauty sleep.......

Keep up the great work ladies.

Cheers
Gina

Hi Gigi
Welcome and congrats on joining the best program ever.
love your short term goal, hubby is gonna be very impressed with you come August.
Good luck with it all and don't forget to share your intersting recipes with us.

Annie Lusion

Annie: Thanks for your thoughts.

Initially my plans were to log onto the forum and write in my diary every day however that certainly hasn't happened this week due to one thing or another.

The good news is that week one is over and I have completely stuck to the program. Went to a meeting on Wednesday night where everyone brought a plate and yep there were some very yummy looking goodies. One in particular was a creme caramel slice which I absolutely LOVE and apparently this one was out of this world (according to someone else there) and I didn't go anywhere near any of the goodies. I took along a chicken salad for my dinner and ate it. I was absolutely so proud of myself as I could have been easily tempted but thought NO I'm not going to be.

Today is re-measure day and I must admit I was abit anxious prior to measuring incase I hadn't lost anything. Much to my surprise I have LOST 21.5cm all over in my first week which I'm absolutely thrilled about. Obviously my boring meals during the week were worth it........I was soooooooooooooo tempted to jump on the scales, but thought NO I'll wait the 4 weeks as suggested before I weigh myself and hopefully get a HUGE surprise!

I read somewhere about a Spaghetti Bol receipe made with Zucchini. If anyone has the receipe could you please let me know where I can locate it. Thanks. Going to try and be more creative with my meals this week. If you have any hints or tips on how to get organised for this, please let me know. Last week I weighed out the meat/poultry portions and froze them accordingly and did do up some vegies too but I need some other ideas.

Thanks for the support I have received so far.

Keep on slimming!

Just found the Spaghetti Bol receipe. Will try it this week.

You certainly have had a great week congratulations on the loss 21.5 cm thats HUGE.. welldone. I am sure your hubby will be in for a HUGE surprise too when he comes back.
Keep up the great work
Genie

Gina- WOW!! Well done & what a great start. Cohen's works so well it never ceases to amaze me! Congratulations!! Cheers, Cate.

Hi Genie and Cate, Its great to hear from you and thanks for your support. I certainly was excited about the cm loss. Had to measure myself a couple of times to believe it.

The day started with me planning my day over some tomato & egg on two Saladas for breakfast and reading a number of receipes to see what sort of meals I can have during this week. Came up with a few receipes, made a shopping list and thought prior to going grocery shopping I'll visit my mum who is in aged care with dementia.

Well that was the end to a planned day. I just walked in at the right time as mum was crying and quite distressed. The staff weren't sure what had caused this but thought it may have been the plumbers making alot of noise just outside her room. Took mum off to the dining room, made a cuppa and just sat with her (she was still upset). As it was a sunny day I thought I'd come back after lunch (which wasn't too far away) and take her out for the afternoon. Went and did some messages and went back about 1.30pm to pick mum up. Well it was the best thing. Got her in the car, went for a nice drive through the countryside, stopped at a lovely place to have some afternoon tea.

My dilemma now was that I hadn't had lunch yet, it was getting close to the time (2.30pm) when I should have lunch, didn't have anything prepared with me as I wasn't planning on being out all day. Mmmmm what to do?? Fortunately this cafe we stopped at were able to make me a plain salad with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red cabbage and some balsmic vinegar. I thought this probably was my best option even though it wasn't weighed to my proportion. I just guessed the amount to eat? I didn't have any protein so hopefully this won't muck me up too much. I didn't get too uptight about this as some things are just out of our control.

Talk about two opposites, me sitting there eating my plain salad while mum was eating her four stack pancakes with banana, maple syrup and ice-cream! The funny thing was that it didn't really bother me which surprised me. The only thing I probably would have liked was a skinny latte, but didn't, and stuck to a black earl grey tea. Once again, proud of myself. I think I'm in the zone as I'm pretty determined to conquer this even though it is early days.

Mum and I had a lovely time together and I was soooooo pleased that I did take her out as her persona became happy again. We laughed (don't know what about , just laughed ) and it made me happy to see her happy and enjoying the outing. So by the time we got back to the home it was late afternoon and I then went and did the grocery shopping.

After coming home and putting all the groceries away I thought I would attempt to make the Spag Bol. I think I added too much water with the tomato and blended it way too long. The meal wasn't too bad, at least it was different. (Still getting use to the little quanities one can have). I'll certainly will make it again.

So that was my day. Didn't get half the things done that I wanted to but what the heck, I had a great day with mum which is all that counts.
I can hear my bed calling so I'll say cherio and keep on keeping on!

Cheers
Gina

Gina, I think you have done really well to meet such a challenge so early & you do sound like you are in that zone. Once again, well done! Cheers, Cate.

I haven't been into the forum for over a week now for one reason or another and don't things change quickly. It is interesting and inspiring reading other diaries about their journey with Cohens.

I'm now into week 3. Still haven't weighed myself - been tempted - but I am going to wait for the 4th week. Lost another 8.5cm on week 2 measure up which thrilled me. Tried on a skirt today which was very very tight on me weeks ago and bingo it fits again so I have worn it to work today.

I was alot more adventurous with my meals this last week and tried a few different recipes from the Cohen's website. Even cooked up a batch of chicken soup. Some meals were just OK (probably my cooking) and others were really nice. One in particular that I really enjoyed was a cauliflower, apple, crushed cracker and cheese - Yum. I even enjoyed it so much I made it again for breakfast the other morning. As I was preparing breakkie, I thought 'hmmm I'm actually having cauliflower for breakfast hmmm that's different'. It's funny how our minds get conditioned to what we should and shouldn't eat at certain times of the day - like say porridge or toast for breakkie (pre Cohens naturally). That is one thing I have noticed is that my mindset is certainly changing.

Mid last week I woke up one morning and thought boy I don't feel tired and sluggish. The head felt clear and very much awake. It's like a cloud has been lifted from my head. Also my sweet cravings have disappeared where before I was absolutely craving chocolate like there was no tomorrow and ate it like that too. Haven't even thought about it once until now. Also I haven't felt hungry which has surprised me. There has been the odd occasions but it was getting near the time for my next meal. I just filled up on water and was fine so it probably wasn't hunger in the first place. So far so great on my journey to slimness

There are a few challenges for me ahead (interstate travel), but I will get advice on how best to handle these when it gets closer to the time. No point stressing about it now so I'll just keep doing what I've set out to do!

10 days before hubby gets home so lets hope those cm's keep coming off before then. I just realised that it will be the day after he gets home that I will be due for my 4 week weigh in with my scales. Hopefully we'll be both surprised!

It's lunch time now so I'll catch ya real soon.

Cheers Gina

Hi Gina

4 days down since you wrote your last entry. 6 days til hubby's home!

Love reading your updates, its more the time I have to try and find to sit and read everyone's entries - it's well worth it because it makes you realise everyone is in the same boat - feeling very similar things!

You are doing so well.. I just started yesterday, already getting headaches today believe it or not! But I know that I'll wake up tomorrow feeling so fresh and that's what I'm looking forward to every day at the moment.

Keep posting. I doubt I'll get to post in mine everyday, and I'm going to try and hold back until the first full week is over until I have my first weigh-in at home..or maybe I should wait the 4 weeks......decisions decisions!

Keep up the good work. Glad to hear about the day with your mum ended up on a very positive note. You did well.

Hi PurpleOne - Thanks for your comments. The headaches will go away, in the meantime you are allowed to take a 'pill' like panadol to help those headaches.

I have been so busy lately doing loads of paperwork that needed to be entered into the computer as I have my own business (time of year! BAS statement and end of financial year) that I was 'computered out' at night so avoided it at all costs. I have a bookeeper helping me which has been great however I still needed to do alot of the work myself. It makes it harder when working with numbers is not your strength and on top of it using a system that you're not totally comfortable with (MYOB ) for those of you who do know it. For those that don't, it's an accounting software package that eventually should make things easier for me. Here's hoping!

Now into my 4th week, only 5 more sleeps until 'weigh in' and 4 more sleeps until my darling husband gets home. He has asked me "how am I going" and all that I have said is "good". The only thing I have told him is that I haven't weighed myself and am definitely waiting for the 4th week which is this Sunday 12th August. Haven't even told him about the cm loss. Speaking of that, end of week 3 lost another 11cm all over. (I think this is right, going from memory of a few days ago. Will check it when I get home).

I have been trying a few more receipes from the website, so thanks to all those Cohenites who have submitted receipes. It has made it alot easier coming up with different meals. I had a friend come around and stay the other night and she too had a Cohen's meal - Chicken & Asparagus soup. She just had bread with hers while I had a cracker. I even cooked them in separate pots so that I knew the quantities were correct (for me especially). Wow, I wouldn't have done that pre-Cohens!

Doing my grocery shopping the other night, I even went down the chocolate and lolly isle and I must admit, it didn't even bother me and there was no temptation at all at that point in time. I was really surprised and I felt great.

I have a hairdressers appointment tonight after work (before going to the bookeeper - more 'homework' probably??????) My hair is perfectly straight, layered and at the base of my neck long. I have decided to go for a different look altogether and am getting it permed! It's not the first time I've had a perm although it has been quite a number of years since I last had it done and my hair was alot longer then. I enjoy going to the hairdresser, I find it very relaxing so let's hope the end result will be just as enjoyable with no regrets.

I better go and do some more of that lovely paperwork that I still need to do before tonight so I'll say TTFN and have a great day.........