Hi All,

Moneypenny that is just not fair....I really feel for you and your husband. There is never a good time, but right before a long weekend, Easter - that is just a s@#* thing to happen.


Under the circumstances...2 glasses of wine - don't beat yourself up any more than you have already - you are ok, and I am quite sure that tea would have gotten rid of the evidence!

Drink heaps of water, and I hope something good comes of this situation real soon.

L

Thanks Lisa. Went into a panic when my regular eating schedule was threatened. Your advice gives me an idea on how to manage the eating on the trip.

When I have to eat at restaurants, I will call ahead and ask for the food to be prepared according to Cohen's and see what the chefs whip up. Could be a way to expand my food preparation techniques. Might be an extra charge, but I do want to stick to the food plan.

I am really happy with the progress to date. Will do my best to stay on the wagon.

Hi Everyone,

I have had 2 easter eggs sitting on my desk all day - right in front of me, mind you - and haven't touched them.

Yay!

Not sure what to do with them though? I guess I will be able to eat them eventually.....

Have a good day!

I had my first easter challenge presented to me this morning, there was mountains of hot cross buns put on for morning tea at work this morning.....and I sat there and avoided it all togetehr and ate my nectarine....yay for me!!! Having one never crossed my mind. My weekend away with the family will present simialr challenges, but I can do it....we all can.....

Stay positive and on track everyone!

Happy Easter!

Much has been written about willpower.

During this time of Easter, I am working to increase my won't power.

I won't:

- be tempted by chocolate bunnies, eggs or any other assorted animal
- pay attention to hot cross buns or any other treat
- deviate from my eating plan.

I will focus on eating what has worked for me these past 16 days. The eating plan works to reduce my weight and is what I choose to stick with.

Let's hear it for won't power.

Moneypenny - only two glasses of wine. I think you did very well. Don't worry about it you are so close to finishing that nothing is going to stop you now.

Lisa C - Are you allowed 100g of fish? When I first started, I asked my consultant if 100g was the can or the drained weight. She told me it had to be drained which means that I use the 200g tin which weighs out to the 100g. The cat enjoys the rest. I am interested to know if you have been told anything different. By the way, great advice to Hopeful1, it works for me, esp the bickies and coffee. Glad to hear that you enjoyed your coffee this morning, he he.

Hopeful1 - hope your trip is successful. If in strife just pick a meal that is close to what you have been eating. I once dined out on calamari with mango salsa and worked out that the fish and salad were covered, after I picked off all the carrot and other unforgivables. The mango was from my fruit allowance. There was a minute amount of crumbs on the calamari which was my two bickies. The proportions were probably not quite right but I figured that the amount of wrong stuff had to be small and this could be justified in the fruit and bickie proportions being a lot smaller. I am not saying do this all the time, but if you are in a situation that makes it difficult to deal with, without causing a fuss then give it a go. But a word of warning, don't let it be the trigger that gives you permission to stray. Congratulations on the skinny pants!!!

Frog - great to hear you are feeling so good. I who have been doing this forever, now do more exercise than I have ever done in my life. This weekend I will kayak every day. I will get tired but I think it's a bit like being a diabetic, I find that if I plan the bickies and fruit to be at two different times between meals and then do the activity between the eating times, then my blood sugar does not seem to drop too far and I am less tried. The snack after seems to give me the lift to get on with the rest of the day.

Miss Kath - great to hear how well you are doing esp after week 1. Don't expect too much from your body in the way of exercise, just enjoy not having to do any at all. What a good excuse - My program doesn't allow it! For me it's a little different because I have been doing it so long and have more energy than ever in my whole life so I need to get rid of it. The loo thing will be around for a while but eventually your body will get used to the water. Just think about all those fat cells you are sending to oblivion.

ridiculous - well done, maybe you should chuck them at someone and get a bit of enjoyment out of them!

I was reading the New Idea last night and found a recipe for my wish file. My advise - if you are a chocoloholic then don't read it! I did think about doing it for the family this weekend but decided that it was not fair to me. Will put it away 'til next Easter and hopefully by then I will be past it. I even considered making it for the girls at work how desperate is that.

I don't know how you lot can only write such concise amounts, I seem to get carried away.

Anyway everyone stay strong over the weekend, enjoy the break and a safe and happy Easter to you and your families. May drop in in the morning but otherwise see ya on Tuesday.

Lisa enjoy the coffee - I will have a giggle thinking about you poking your tongue out at ICIW every time I have one over the weekend.

Jude - I near peed my pants when I read this!!! LOL XX

Wow wee...reading through all the wonderful post's is a FULLTIME job!! I'm so proud of each & every one of you. Your all beautiful people!!

I think if we are going away anywhere it's just as simple as trying your very best...I mean, that's all we can do. Most places have salads & are accommodating (just ask for no dressing & put an emphasis on the vegies of your choice that go into it). Greek Salad -no dressing is a good one to order because of the Feta, then your protein is taken care of too.

Every hotel I have stayed at has Natural Yogurt in the Buffet / Breakfast Room Service Order sheet- so breaky has always been easier than the rest of the day!! - Talking of room service, you could always ask them to prepare a grilled chicken salad for you in the evening & put it in the fridge (in your room) ready for the next day - to take with you.

Tuna (in springwater) in a ring-pull can is easy to pop in your bag & take with you & grab a salad on the 'run'.

I always put my crisbread allowance in 'ziplock' bags in the right portion for the day & have in my bag. Apples are easy to pop in your bag as well, as they aren't so prone to bruising & squishing as peaches etc. - **MENTAL note.....must get a bigger bag!!

I AM FREEZING TODAY!!! Nothing as warmed me up, anyone else as cold as me???!!!!!!

I love reading everyone's posts! I really think that i can't get through a day without checking to see what everyone is up too! I love you all! I think you are my new chocolate!

I can't remember who, but a couple of pages back, someone mentioned how important water is to the success of this plan. I totally, 100% agree. But, I've also found that sleep is really, really important. I kid you not, I have gone to bed at 9pm a couple of nights this week to get the extra hour and a half and it makes a massive differrence to how hungry (or not) I feel during the day, how much water I can drink,and i guess I'll find out on Saturday if it has helped with my weight loss. I also find that I am much much more productive at work, because I don't run out of energy at about 4pm (that's what happened the first week or so). So ladies... no more late night posts - you should all be in bed! Ha ha!

Happy easter to you all. I'm not doing anything special this long weekend (part of my commitment to the plan), so I'll be around. Posting probably!

Oh... Do I need to fast for my 1 month blood test on Saturday?

Ta!

Bella

SO many posts! And so inspiring everyone. Thanks for sharing this part of your life, it is just so helpful and encouraging. A bit hard to comment on them all - I've been that extra bit busy so I've had time to read but not post. And we have reached 100 pages - can hardly believe that too. Hang in there all of you over the Easter season 'cos it's going to be worth it!!

And jude how amazing is your loss! Wow!

Thanks especially to L-Jay, the old me, and Miss Kath for your words of encouragement - much appreciated!

For me L-Jay there is a different kind of confidence. It has to do with the fact that people are able to look at me with different eyes and see what was masked before. That means a lot. And I get excited about all kinds of simple changes ... like being able to fold my arms under my bust! And being able to cross my legs. For the first time today in about 9 years, I wore panty hose. They were so much easier to put on than they were, and it was just good to be able to do it instead of knee-his. All those simple things can just paint a postitive picture. It feels good.

Peaches, so sorry to hear about your boyfriend - sounds tough for you. Just remember that this is something you can do for yourself in spite of what someone might do to you. It's no remedy for a broken heart but it sure feeds into your future.

And I really feel for you moneypenny. And your husband. Must be tough and so disheartening. I really hope that he finds alternative work. Sounds so unfair. You just do your best, you have been going so well. But remember that you are so close that giving in won't help - I am sure you know that already so just know we are thinking of you.

Great to hear about the "skinny" pants hopeful1 - feels good doesn't it? And all the best for the travelling.

So pleased to hear from you happymummy!! Glad you posted. I wonder about the others too. I hope we hear from them. How is it going for you now?

I'll look forward to those next posts,
lizzi

No ridiculous, you don't need to fast. Just needed to add that important info for you.
lizzi

Thanks everyone for your messages. I think that the point about exercise releasing endorphins is a good one, perhaps that is why I have been a bit down. Also, wonder what eating too much chocolate and exercising then going to a situation where I was not having any of either was doing to the chemicals in my brain. However feeling much better now, seem to have got through it.

Monday night I was so tired and sad I was just going to give it all up!

It all makes me wonder whether I was trying to 'self-medicate' through chocolate, I definitely ate it when down or stressed or whatever. And being in London is hard and lonely at times. All very interesting..If Cohen's can sort this all out for me I will be wrapped!

Good luck over Easter everyone!

Good Morning,

Just a quickie before I have my Black Coffee! I think of you everytime 'I Can I Will' - it is amazing how you have kept me on track!

Jude - you are right with regards to the tuna - I am meant to have 105 grams - but when I am travelling I take the 95 gram or 100 gram pull ring tuna in springwater to have for lunch with a small salad - just find it easy as I don't have scales.

Good tip on the 'won't power' - that will be my mantra all weekend!

Any tips on how to put a ticker on would be much appreciated!

Thanks again,

Lisa x

Hi Lisa, good to have you on board.
Just not sure that you understood what was being said about the tuna. It isn't just that it is 5 or 10 grams out, it's that once you take the water out you are probably only taking in about half because the water doesn't count when you weigh the tuna. I usse the ringtops too, but maybe you need to get a bigger sized one.
Hope this makes sense, and enjoy your Black Coffee!!
Have a good day everyone,
lizzi

Absolutely agree lizzi !! I'm allowed 115gms of tuna & I buy the 185gm tin - once the water has been taken out it leaves approx 118gm's which is the closest I have come across. Please Lisa don't 'under' do your allowance, it will make you feel yuk, tired & hungry. XX

Hi everyone

I have only been on cohens for 1 week, picked a great time to start with all this chocolate and hot cross buns around. Just wanted to say I find your posts really inspiring.

Have started at 90kg and aiming for 62-65kg..