Hi Everyone,
LMR & RJM - you are my diet gurus! Congratulations and best wishes. RJM - having a habit of planning the day before is not a bad habit! This will probably be a major factor in you keeping the weight off for 'life'.
SuqieQ - hi and welcome.

I broke last night and weighed myself

I am going to have to take notice of my own advice and get my partner to hide my scales. I can't be trusted.

I have noticed that a lot of my clothes look terrible on now. My pant crutch is hanging down and I am looking a bit like Krusty the clown in them. I'll hold off for another couple of weeks yet before I buy some new stuff though.

Hope you all have a great day,

Myshy

Missy mum – today is a new day.. I find like you if I stuff my breakfast up the whole day turns out bad

Congrats to you friend in WA. She is doing fantastically

RJM – CONGRATULATIONS on graduating from Dr Cohen’s. You have every right to feel proud of yourself. I hope I can continue to do as well as you do.

I fear I may turn into a shopaholic too.

Myshy – get someone to hide the scales. It is hard for the first couple of days but I can’t wait to see the result when I jump on them in a weeks time. I think that is worth the effort.

I have another friend who has just completed her refeed and apparently she went 8 weeks without losing any weight on the scales but lost a lot of inches in that time because her body was reshaping. She got on the scales everyday and got depressed about it and then in the end, she lost a huge amount of weight in one swoop.

My goal is be at 90kgs by Christmas time. I know it is achievable if I don’t break. If I reach 90 by Christmas I am going to buy myself a new outfit to wear to the family Christmas lunch on boxing day with my husband’s family. They haven’t seen me since going on the programme and don’t even know I’m on it so they will be shocked. It will be 16kgs lost by that time if I get there. I know I will.

For the ladies that live in Canberra and want to get together, please send me an email at kimpietrini@bigpond.com and let me know what day/time suits you and I will try my best to work everyone in. Even if we have to do an evening one night (and the husbands can babysit).

So far so good today except that I forgot to have breakfast this morning as I usually have it before I leave for work and today I didn’t. I remembered at 10.50 so I won’t be eating dinner until 9pm tonight. That is the hardest thing I find. Remembering to eat!

Also – a thought to people that celebrate Christmas. Do we want to organise a secret santa??
have a great day

Hi Everyone,

I've only recently found this forum and have been looking at it every few days... I've found it really refreshing that there are other people out there like me!

I've nearly completed my 6th week on the program (will have my 6 week weigh-in next week, can't wait!), and so far have had the following results:
Starting Weight - 118.9
2 week weigh-in - lost 6.16kg
4 week weigh-in - lost 3.3kg
Total loss = 9.46kg.

I also was really hesitant to start the program as I have tried every weight-loss program and diet under the sun. I've also read so many books, I would just about call myself a "weight-loss guru", however I've never managed to lose more than about 10kgs on anything. Before joining, I didn't need anyone else to talk me out of spending the money (whilst I did have lots of people telling me "ANOTHER diet???!!!??" "That's a lot of money for something you could do yourself!") because I guess I was my own biggest party-pooper. I would tell myself that I've been on that many programs, this is just another one to fail and put under my belt. I also initially decided not to tell anyone because I didn't want to have to face everyone when I slipped up or gave up. Then I thought that I should do something different... use all the negative comments, thoughts and feelings to motivate me. I told everyone I knew that I was on the program because I knew that I would be embarrassed to slip up infront of anyone. I would also feel really ashamed when everyone asked me how much I had lost and I had to admit that I had gained weight. But on the other hand, I am using their curiousness (they want to know if I've failed or given up) as support. After each weigh-in, I text everyone I know with my result. And believe it or not, my biggest critic besides myself... my mother, actually now admits that I'm doing really well to have stuck to it for so long. However, she wont tell me I look any different and actually asked me the other day if I was doing it properly because I don't look like I've lost any weight. I just replied that the scales and my clothes think I've lost weight.

I'm not dribbling on all of this for no apparent reason, I just want the people who are considering joining (there are so many of you, I can't remember everyone's names) to realise that most of us have doubts and unsupportive people around us. I just take every day one day at a time, and congratulate myself every time I get through a day without slipping up. And I can say that I have only been naughty once so far... after my 4 week weigh-in I decided to treat myself and have one meal off, and eat whatever I felt like. I initially wanted Chinese, but decided against it and went for calamari and the salad bar (we went to a pub). Then I had an evening meeting and didn't have time to prepare my dinner so I had a chicken & lettuce yiros on the way. I felt so guilty afterwards and had headaches for three days. I have got two dinners next week and one the week after and I am really nervous about them. I'm frightened that I'll go off the program for one or two meals and put my 10kgs back on! Does anyone else ever feel like this? And what are the likely ramifications of three dinners in a fortnight off the program? I wont be silly and eat a loaf of bread, but I guess I'm just worried that whatever I chose isn't going to be exactly what I'm meant to have.

Anyway, I've probably dribbled enough. Do the newbies normally do an introduction thing??? Well, if so here is my brief bio:
Live in Adelaide, 29 years old, married, have a 2/12 yr son named Alex and a 5yr old Golden Retriever called Yogi (my first baby). Was a career woman in superannuation until going on maternity leave to have my son. Went back part-time for a while then decided I was bored and wanted to do something more appropriate. Decided to start up an electrical company with my husband (he does the work, I do all business side) which is expanding in leaps and bounds and we now have a growing fleet.

Motivations for losing weight...
1. Have had two miscarriages in a row trying to conceive #2 and my health was suffereing.
2. Our business is expanding and I'm required to go to lots of meetings, etc and we are slowing starting to get publicity about being a woman in a man's domain... I'm embarassed of how I look and am finding that my confidence is really suffering because of it. I feel guilty that my husband does his part well, and I'm letting the team down because of my own insecurities.
3. Sick of shopping at 16-26 and BIB. I love clothes but hate them on me. However, I bought a pair of size 20 black pants before going on the program and was hesitant to wear them because I was sure I was going to split them (they were that tight!). I've got a function tomorrow night so I tried my pants on and they look ridiculous. Went to 16-26 and bought a pair of size 16 black pants! Yay! Might have to start shopping at normal shops soon. I never thought I'd see the day when I could go to a normal store and find something to fit!

Well, I've probably successfully bored you all. I find all of your stories very motivational and look forward to interacting with you all more!

Sam.

P.S. I read in one of the posts something about using sweet chilli sauce. I rushed out and bought a bottle, then had some and thought to myself "mmmm, this tastes too good. Surely we can't have this!" I looked through my program and didn't see anything saying we can have it. I felt so guilty for having it, but did love the taste. Are we allowed to have it? Or is this something which you cleverly make from what we can have?

OMG! I just saw how long my post is.... sorry everyone!

One more question... What sort of results has everyone had in the first couple of months? I don't know whether I'm going really well or just average. Also, what sort of loss can I expect each fortnight now?

Hi everyone - and hi Sammy, I just loved your post!
I am 102 kgs and miserable. I am going to the Cohen seminar tonight. I know a couple of people who have done this program (one of them going from a size 18 to an 8 - it's incredible) so I thought I'd check it out.

I had a baby earlier this year and can not lose any of the weight that I gained. I was 80kgs when I first got pregnant but before that I was normally around the 65 - 70 mark. I'm 6 feet tall but I can no longer "wear the fat well".

I love this website and would love to compare my notes with everyone.

The one thing I'm scared about is Christmas and all the parties & fucntions that are happening in the next few weeks. I'm tempted to just honestly cancel everything and stay house bound!!

I'm visiting family in Noosa in Feb and I would love to be able to wear bathers in public without someone calling greenpeace to "put the whale back out to sea".

I hope to post again soon - and congrats to everyone who is making this work, you are a true inspiration!

Minxy xx.

Hi Sammy & Minxy - welcome!

I'll just do a quick post now, I have dinner on for my kids.

Sammy - the 'sweet chilli sauce' that is spoken about is made up from your allowance. You are allowed to have 2 tablespoons of mayonaise a day and you can make it into sweet chilli by using some dried chilli flakes from the supermarket. Sprinkle lightly though, it can be overpowering and you can always add a little more.

I eat this a lot with my chicken that has been crumbed in my crisbreads. Its my favourite meal.

Minxy - the Cohens diet is really easy. I also do a lot of functions for my business and my partners, but I have managed to work around it very easily so far.

oooohhh..guess what...I bought a Bettina Liano pair of jeans and a Bettina Liano jacket today. Size 10. Bargain price of $15 for both.
Going to wear them to a chrissy function.

Myshy

hi Everyone Welcome To The Newbies! Just A Quick Post I Dont Know About Anyone Else But My Mayonaise Allowance Is One Level Teaspoon. Also Checkout The New Idea For A Inspirational Story On A Cohens Dieter Who Shed 70kg So Proof It Can Be Done. It Can Be A Tough Road Ahead But I Gets Easier. Cya

Kaseysmum,
OMG.you are right. I've been having a squirt of far more than I was allowed. That will teach me for not looking back at that page of the diet book. You know, thats really put a dampener on my evening meal now
LOL...and I've been eating that meal every night!
Might actually explain why my weight loss hasn't been that good.

Grrr @ myself.

Michelle

Crap - I was sooo vibed to go to the seminar tonight but i just ended up driving aound for 40 minutes looking for a carpark! I would have been 20 minutes late by that time so I just drove home.
I'm so mad that I could eat 50 hamburgers.
But I wont!!

I'll ring them tomorrow morning and find out when the next one is.

Minxy.

Michelle:dont be too hard on yourself you know now so thats the main thing I remember not reading my plan often enough and eating cheese allowance twice in one day once and then reading it oneday and realised that was a no no. So a bit of extra mayo wouldnt do too much harm. Minxy dont be mad.seriously sometimes things dont go to plan so forget and move on and reschedule like you said just make sure you give yourself plenty of time I know how painful it can be to find a carpark sometimes its a real pain its like everyone wants to park at the door. I realise this and now park a bit further away and always seem to get a park. So I hope you dont let this get you down cos tomorrows a new day. What state do you live in? If you live in Canberra come and join our get together group. take care and keep smilin

Welcome to Sammy and Minxy.

Don't worry about missing the seminar. You can always go to the next one. I know in Canberra they hold them nearly every other day.

I want to say that today I haven't broken. Yah for me.. I feel soooooooo proud of myself. Sorry for boasting but I have been breaking so often lately it feels good to go a day without breaking.

Again, does anyone want to do a secret santa?

Hi Everyone

Big welcome to all our Newbies!

Sammy- I really identified with your post. We could be sisters by the sound of it. My Mum is also my biggest critic and I have had that exact situation you described. I only see my mum couple of times a year now as I have moved interstate so luckily I dont have to face that situation too often anymore. Your answer to your mum's comment was excellent. The scales dont lie.

I am feeling very jealous of all you Canberrians... I think its great that you're planning a get together. Enjoy and tell us all about it!


Hugs to all
Nat

Kim- I see that you didnt break today! You go girl!
About the secret santa - what exaactly did you have in mind? Is this idea only for the canberrians?

Nat

Rajah, if you would like to meet up with us, please send me an email at kimpietrini@bigpond.com

Hi everyone. Well I thought I'd let you know how I went my first day off re-feed. Not Well. I thought I was doing ok. I had crackers for lunch as I wanted spag bol for dinner. I planned to only have a little pasta and mainly meat and a big bowl of salad, but I ended up having lots of pasta, and too much meat, and garlic bread and salad, and guess what? Yes, obviously my body was not ready for this much of an increase (der) and this morning I have gained 1kg, so today I have gone back to basics and plenty of water, and hopefully the kg will drop off again soon.
This is probably really good for me, because if I had eaten like that, and not gained any weight, I would probably have kept increasing what I ate until, hey presto, I was back where I started (110kg). This has given me a wake up call. I can never again eat like I used to eat. I will have to monitor everything I eat for the rest of my life if I want to remain fit and healthy and slim. I think I have a bit of an addictive pesonality. I gave up smoking about 5 years ago, and know I can never again touch a cigarette or I will start again. I think food is going to be the same for me. I have just got to learn to get a healthy balance, where I allow myself some treats SOMETIMES, not all the time. I knew that this was a work in progress, and must keep progressing to give myself a healthy fat free life.
How's the re-feed going, Lisa. Are you enjoying it?
Welcome to all the newcomers. Great to have so many people on here now. I need to go and start packing as we're off to The Gold Coast on Saturday, Yay!!! Have a great day all, talk to you soon.