Hi everyone

Thanks for people's good wishes. I love reading about your individual journeys.

As part of this longer journey, I had to go to Melbourne for work last week. I was going so well until then - totally focused and really on track. I got on the plane and refused the plastic meal they give out now instead of real food. I then had a meeting that lasted all day, with lunch in the middle. Couldn't drink my water .... couldn't choose my meal ...... I tried to eat my allowable food but this was hard to do.

Next thing, met my friends for dinner. Food didn't come until 9.30pm and I ordered prawns and vegs. Was so not used to eating so late, I got to the hotel and threw it all up (this is really bad, but I was pleased that I threw it up - how awful .....)

Next day, I walked a fair bit while out shopping. Had some of the tea. I haven't put on !!!! Yippee !!!!! A new week begins, and I will focus once again.

And, as a new week begins, I wish you all minimum appetite and maximum results. All the best for a good week ahead.

SOS

Hey Girls,

Hope your all well & the kilo's are coming off...

Had a motivation burst this morning b'cos somehow I lost 1.2kg overnight! after only losing 800gm in total the past 6 days, it was a relief to finally see the scales move down to 103.2kg! (37.2kg to go & counting....!!) I was good with the water yesterday and had 4L, which is an improvement on what I've managed to drink most days during my first week back at work - its hard to get back into the swing of things.

Went shopping yesterday to look for something to wear to my engagement party, bought a nice top from "BeMe", but not sure yet if I'll wear it to the engagement, I've got another 2wks left to find something! The dress attire is just smart/casual, so nothing too la-di-dah if you get my drift. I hate shopping at the moment, because I know if I buy something I'll only get a 2 months wear out of it and thats about it until it becomes really baggy. The size 18 jeans I've got a heaps baggy in the butt now and look shocking, but I'll stick to wearing them until they fall right off just like my older ones.

After a weekly measure yesterday, I've now lost 60cm off my body. Of that, I've lost the most off my hips & butt. I did a big grocery shop yesterday, and before I packed it all away, I decided to clean the fridge and then re-pack the older items in the fridge along with the new, and by the time I got down to the bottom shelf I decided to sit on the floor and pack them away - however I noticed quickly that I felt quite uncomfortable as I sat on the tiled floor & gave my lower back a quick rub, only to feel by tail bone! LOL I know that probably might sound strange, but I've always had sooo much 'fat' padding there, that it wasn't noticeable before!

Anyways, what a week its been for me - I've been checking out a few wedding ceremony/reception venues over the past few weeks, comparing the aesthetic appearance along with value for money etc and finally decided on one.... Oatlands House (Have a squiz - http://www.oatlands-house.com.au/), I went there on Thursday with Michael & my parents to check the place out, they offered us a FREE smorgusboard lunch - blah blah, how could I say no? I had to check the food out, especially if we decided to have our Wedding here...! So I broke for the first time in AGES, but at least I didnt break because i felt the NEED to, it was just the circumstance I was in - does that make sense? I filled my plate with mostly salad & some turkey, smoked salmon, had a bite of Michaels bread roll, had a small chocolate moose - all delicious, but I felt seriously sick by late afternoon. Straight back to Cohen food that night & continuing..... after all, my physical, mental & emotinal need to lose weight is FAR GREATER than the need for a sugar hit.

Moving on...... today I tried the Chicken & Asparagus soup for lunch - delicious! Haven't had the green tea for nearly 5 straight days now. I find that although I don't get constipated as such on this program, I only go to the toilet like every 4 days?? I suppose this is normal because my body is using up every little bit of food I feed it ?? I've also found that if I have spinach every 2nd day that it keeps me 'regular' so to speak. Ok enough toilet talk lol

So, lets all toast to another week of WILL POWER & WEIGHT LOSS! It takes work & sacrifice to lose weight, if you find yourself confronted by even the thought of breaking, seize the moment, take firm a hold of the thought & chuck it out the window! Eating something bad will only give you immediate gratification with results you dont even want to think about later. There's no trick. You drink your water. You eat sensibly.

Its your CHOICE.

Well 'Fess Up time

This weekend a total blow out. My husband's father rang yesterday morning asking to come and visit. The big thing is, my darling husband hasn't seen his father in 8 years!!! Spoke to him 3 years ago very briefly. I had never met him. So we went out to dinner (also included my step daughters birthday), so there went saturday.

Today, my husband's family were all up here for the day. One sister is extremely picky and judgement and I know if I ate my food in front of them she would have a go at me so I decided just to eat what they ate. So I haven't got on the scales this weekend. I will get on the scales on tuesday after a full good day.

Tomorrow is my first day at home by myself with the babies for over a month. Even tho I miss my mum already, it will be nice to get back into my routine.

MEL - the place looks lovely for your wedding. It looks very old fashioned. And a cheat under those circumstances in my book are acceptable. This is after all your wedding you are planning!
I think I better go and clean my wagon out of punishment. Good luck to all for next week

Love Kim

Hi everyone,

This was day 6 for me and over the weekend I had a couple of extra pieces of fruit and two little pieces of french stick bread ...it was very irresistible but I am still on track otherwise. I will weigh myself tomorrow for Week 1, round 2.

Mel: You are not very far away from those DOUBLE digits!!!We can all smell and nearly touch them for you. What a wonderful feeling!!!! You better get a belt for those baggy jeans as I read somewhere, a lady's fell off her down to her knees in the shopping centre because hers had become too baggy!!! Very embarrassing...

Kim: The wagon has been renovated and you are on it again. Everything in it looks as good as it did before and there are no signs of the old decor. Enjoy and push it forward!!!!

SOS: Sis, you had an awful weekend foodwise. You really love THAT tea, it cancels all wrongdoings........yipeee...... Tommorrow is another day and beginning another week...

To everyone, have a good week and let's all be losers!!!!

I thought I was seeing things, thought my eyes were playing tricks on me until I re- read the post.

I have to lose Nat's entire body weight! I feel sick. Nat just out of interest, how much did you have to lose from when you started?

going away to sleep

Cryss- I started at 65kg, which for my height is overweight. Due to my couple of breaks over Christmas and my holidays I have been yoyo-ing between 57-59kg. (this morning 59kg after my foodie splurge with my friend) When I started the diet I thought I would be so happy just to get to 57kg, but now that I've got that far I realise that for my frame I am best to keep going for goal weight.
What I have also come to realise doing Cohens is that I am very glad I started when I did as I have some serious food issues and hopefully this experience will help me to conquer them. Just as you are all conquering yours.
Cryss- think how proud you will be when you can tell people that you lost an entire person! I will only be able to say I lost 13-15kg(which is still an achievement) but you will REALLY have something to boast about!!!
Nat

HI ladies,

Cryss- everyone's weight loss is different, I to have to loss that and more.... so you are not alone........ we are with you till the end.....

great feeling MEL isn't it...... I know I am still bigger , but I also can feel bones that I have not felt for a very long time......... I just can't belive that this is really happening...... I keep thinking that this is a big dream and That I am about to wake up.......

anway still that time of month.... and the weight loss has slowed down..... bum....

Hope every one is doing well with there weight loss....... hope you are all thinking of your next goal.........

talk to you all very soon...

My partner put his arms around me last night and said that it was so much easier, he keeps calling me the shrinking woman! it's a GREAT feeling!

Hi Everyone,
Just thought I would post these other soup recipes. I alternate between them and the chicken and asparagus soup.

Roasted Tomato & Cheese soup

½ Tomato Ricotta and Mozzarella Cheese (allowance)
½ clove Garlic (allowance) Herbs to taste (parsley/oregano/basil – allowance)
Chilli seeds/powder

Spray small oven dish and roast half tomato with chilli and garlic in low/moderate oven until carmelised. Remove from oven and cover with hot water and let sit for 10 minutes. Blend contents in small bowl, garnish with basil if desired.
Combine grated mozzarella with ricotta to form small dumplings and drop in soup.

Cauliflower & Chicken Soup
Chicken from allowance
Cauliflower 3/4 veg allowance
Onion 1/4 veg allowance (not to exceed 2 TSP)
Curry Powder (approx 1 tsp)or to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
approx 300 -350mls of water
Chop chicken into cubes,cauliflower into florets and onion into slices
combin in a saucepan with the water and bring to boil then simmer until chicken cooked thru and vegies are tender. Then blend but leaving a few chunks of vegies and chicken. Serve with crispbread allowance.

I am picking up my refeed tommorow, but have decided that I will start it !st February. I have been not as focused as I should be since last week and think I need another two weeks 'pulling my finger' out to shake these last couple of kilos. As I am not 'officially' at my goal weight just yet, I am scared if don't reach it before going on the refeed, I never will. I am also scared to death that once I start increasing my portions I will put on weight, so for that reason alone I want to be 59 when I start.

Bought myself a couple of size 8 jeans at the weekend. I am a bit of a muffin top in them, but I can zip them up without lying down Gotta hold my breath still though

Myshy

Good Morning everyone,

Thanks for the recipes, Myshy . I tried the Chicken and Asparagus yesterday and it was delightful and filling. Can't wait to try these others. The weather here is on the cool side right now, so the soups are a perfect option.

Linda

hi to all you girls it seems maybe since xmas getting back into the swing of this diet seems is harder once we break then we thought well it is for me.

But on a more positive note I am fully back on the diet and my medication have so much trouble taking my diuretics (fluid tablets) when I have to go out and with xmas parties and shopping have missed them for nearly 3 weeks so I spent the day at home took them which I should as they are part of my blood pressure treatment and also took the slimmers tea (boy was that a shock to my system ) and got up the next morning and weighed myself and the scales were 5 kilos down thats how much fluid I retained. So 2 days later have lost an extra kilo from being back on my diet.

Just was watching Sunrise and they had a professor on talking about diets and detoxing and what came up was the thing about how much water do you have to drink she said the correct amount is when u need a drink and you are thirsty drink it, no need for 1,2,3,4,5, litres of water you just drink what u need and when u are thirsty as all food contains water as well and it has been proven that drinking excessive amounts of water doesn't help with weightloss.

So what do you all think? It is my biggest problem is how much water to drink in a day just cant get through huge amounts 1-2 is my limit plus the odd glass of diet plus maybe a tea thats it any more and I feel so uncomfortable.

Anyway my ex has lost his 2 dogs so off to ring the pound and rspca hope they are there but after he spent $100 on grooming them the other day he isnt amused and is very anxious to get them back.

So will catch u all later Dianne

Hi everyone,

Rajah, thanks for the encouragement, your words reflected my sentiments….

Cryss, don’t get hooked in having to loose ‘a person’ when I first faced reality and decided I needed to do something, I worked out I had to loose 4+ x my daughters weight – that’s 4.2 6mth old babies – that was a reality check… now my daughters growing & I’m (hopefully) shrinking so I have to loose 3.5 7 mth olds….lol…

Divinemissnat, thanks for sharing your learning’s so far, like most on this site I can SO relate to the points you highlighted. Portion control for me is a big issue, though I didn’t think so until recently, and recognising when I’ve had enough from each food group. Previously I though I was doing really well having cereal for breakfast, salad sandwich or roll for lunch and stir-fry with rice or pasta etc for dinner, I now know WAY TOO MUCH CARBS!

I have been drinking an average 2.5 litres of water per day, sometimes more, somedays less, I have days when I can’t stand another glass….but I think the important thing is to keep the fluids up… helps in several ways, keeps up hydrated, helps to flush out toxins and sometimes when we think we’re hungry it’s actually thirst. Also is said that by the time we register thirst we are already dehydrating….
I do find if I have a bottle or glass on my desk I will drink all day, If I have to go to the kitchen to get it, I drink a lot less, guess when it’s in front of me I’m reminded.

Anyway have been pretty good, haven’t got on scales since visit to clinic… hoping for a pleasant surprise when I go again next week? I am still finding that I bloat daily, as in stomach is more prominent in afternoon than in morning, can put clothes on that feel and look fine in morning, by end of day they are tight and look bulgy… I’m sure it’s not my eyes playing tricks!!!

Have a great day

PerthMum

has anyone seen or heard from Perthmum?

ello, ello!
I'm pretty stoked today cuz i jumped on the scales this morning it said 83.7!! wooh hoo i'm finally off the 85 and on my way back down again!! Because i was at 75 about 2 months ago, i know i'm gonna get there! and even if my contract is up, i'm going to continue till i get to 65, hopefully get my refeed and do it! yesterday i was so good. at work, there's always yummies to eat. like donuts and i made everyone eat them. one girl felt so sick i made her eat 4 donuts so i didn't have to eat them!! and then we had a b-day so there was cake and i was making everyone finish that off so i didn't have to see it sitting there! i love making everyone else eat it, specially when they're all so skinny hehehe! when i'm that skinny, i'm gonna eat 4 donuts too!
water is going down well, still a night drinker. i get home from work at about 9.00pm and drink sometimes 2-3 litres . normally drink 1 litre before work, and 1 litre at work. so hope the weight is lower still tomorrow, i'll definitely let you know!!
lisa
CURRENT WEIGHT 83.7
MINI GOAL 80
GOAL WEIGHT 65

HI Guy's,

well I didn't think in my wildest dreams that I would ever be the weight I was when I got married 9 years ago...... But this moring I got an my new scales and they tell me that I weigh 109kg's........ next sep is my january goal only 4 kg's away...... after that its like mel under 100kg's ... can't wait.... people are starting to notice that I have lost weight......and I like the remarks....

only a short post tonight but I will talk to you again later.......

Keep up the great work everyone.....