Hello all,

Well it's midnight here in NYC. I really should be asleep but I am too excited about the coming day and the new start I'll be undertaking. I am "pre-Cohen's" starting today. In fact, I'll start the day by having my blood test at a lab on the east side. But I have a fair idea of what's not allowed on Cohen's and will start today by cutting out all sugars and starches. That way when I officially start the diet (when my plan arrives), the adjustment won't make me suicidal!

So a bit about me. I am 33 and just desperate to change. I have been on a diet since I can remember; possibly since I was 9 or 10. Honestly, food has been an obsession since then. And I am just sick to death of it.

One good thing about all my failures is that the more failures you experience, the closer you must be to success... right? Well that's my philosophy. And to be truthful, I think I am closer to a breakthrough than I have ever been.

A lot has changed for me in the last year. I realized I am a workaholic and have given myself to my career as a way to avoid dealing with my insecurities in relationships. The illusion that work can satisfy me has been shattered and now I long to find the man who I can call my soul mate. It makes me ache with anxiety to think I might never meet him. And that is a lot of the reason why I binge eat. To deal with the angst of being alone.

Anyway, one thing's for sure, I'll never meet him when I'm this wrapped up in my love affair with food. Food is an addiction for me. It's an escape. I loathe how it makes me feel.

My approach this time around won't just be a dietary change. I have also started meditating and will attend OA (Overeaters Anon.) because clearly my problem runs deep. I am so committed to ending this once and for all, I'll do whatever it takes.

I also plan to continue with yoga while doing the plan. I know exercise isn't recommended so I will keep it to very low impact yoga. Truth be told, I need a strong spiritual influence in my life to sustain the change I am undertaking. So I think I need yoga and meditation... and OA.

So that's me in a nutshell. Oh, and my name... well, I chose '28WeeksAnd1Day' as that's the amount of time I have before returning home to Sydney for Christmas. I would love to be at my goal weight by then. A weight no one has ever seen me at! Wow.

My current weight is 220 (100 kilos) and I'd like to be 148 pounds (67 kilos) by the end of the year... so in other words, I want to lose 33 kilos in 28 weeks and one day.



Anyway, I am thrilled to be here. Thrilled at what's about to unfold. Looking forward to getting to know some or many of you!

I need your support and am more than happy to cheer you on if you need mine.

Good luck today. Let's take it one day at a time.

28+1... x

Well 28wks +1 day a very big welcome to you!!
There are so many ways I can relate to you. I'm not sure where to start.
Firstly thank you for sharing some of your story.It helps us all, especially yourself, to learn to articulate your feelings.
I wanted you to know that it took me 28 weeks to lose 36kgs so your goal is not out of reach. I think you have gotten off to a good start already by preparing yourself mentally. You sound determined & that's half the battle.
Lack of self-esteem I think is the main reason that we cover ourselves with a layer of fat & turn to food for 'comfort'. As you know this does not work & compounds the problem.
I am really looking forward to sharing your journey with you. Cheers for now, cate

it's just fabulous that you are the first to respond to my new diary... since hearing about Cohen's, your diary is the one that I chose to read (well about 30 pages of it so far) and your account of your journey is what convinced me to give this plan a try. i am so glad to hear from you and looking forward to sharing this journey with you.

ha! This feels a little bizarre. Writing to you like I know you. But I was truly touched by your honesty and your integrity... you have such a determined spirit!

Okay, good night from me. Enjoy your day!

28+1

Welcome 28!! You sound like you have a plan, and the determination to succeed, which is great.

And you are right - as Thomas Edison said - "Many of life’s failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up". I have dieted many times before but never stuck at it successfully long term before. But - thankfully I tried again, and found Cohen's. I've had a lot of "stuff" to deal with in recent years, but I am learning that whatever happens, it's worth taking time to care for yourself so you can be happy in your own skin. Trials aren't any easier to bear by being fat and unhealthy, so why not be healthy and as happy as possible?

Cohen's will teach you how to eat again so that you need never be troubled by food addiction, but it takes concentration and effort to win at the "head" game. Doing a pre-start cleanse is great because you may not have as many withdrawal headaches as some people get at the start otherwise.

Come on here whenever you need support, and best wishes for the first week.

28+1!!!!!!

You must be my long-lost half!!!! I have the same problem as you....working crazy in order to make up the insecurities in relationship. I am also hoping to find my soul mate. I have same food obession from young as you.

The scariest thing is ......WE HAVE THE SAME AGE!!!!! Just imagine that we both in each end of the world. I live in Singapore.

Welcome onboard Cohen!!!

Hello all,
Firstly, thank you to Niyah and Fornight for your messages.
Niyah - I will definitely post often so I look forward to getting to know you!
Fornight - wow! Our situations are very similar. Let's do this together... I am so ready for a big change in my life and it sounds like you are too. I hope I can support you through your change.
So this morning I had my blood tests and am now just waiting to receive the diet. I hope it comes through tomorrow or the next day. The lab will be faxing my results to Dr. Cohen this afternoon so that should expedite things.
I have also eaten only healthy today as I am considering the lifestyle change as starting from now! No more time to lose for me. I am ready for this.
I was planning on getting up this morning and meditating first thing for an hour. I do Holosync which is just AMAZING (check it out at centerpointe.com if you're interested in meditation that actually will change your life). But I woke up too late. After my blood test, I came home and had my first call with my new life coach. I told him all that I am hoping to achieve with Cohen's and he is ready to support me through this.
Then I fell back to sleep and woke up about an hour ago (12:30pm) and had lunch. I am feeling very lazy. It's okay though because I just moved back to NYC from London where I lived for the past year. And when I got back to NYC a month ago, I found work pretty much straight away and was working long hours while living on my friend's couch. Now all has settled down. I have finished the job I took on (it was just a temporary, although intense assignment) and I have found my own apartment.
This afternoon I am going to clean this place from top to toe. I took this apartment over from a guy who had to leave the city quite quickly so he gave it to me already furnished. That is great (since I had nothing of my own having just moved back) but it also means I will need to make an extra effort to make it feel like my own and not someone else's space. That is why I'll clean it like crazy this afternoon. Christen it! Then I am off to yoga at 4:30pm. I was tossing up whether to continue with yoga but I really do feel all the better for doing it and I want to be toned too. So I can't see why not.
Then tonight I have a seminar at Landmark Education. I'm doing the commitment series. It is wonderful. I missed last week's class but caught up with some group mates on the phone. Essentially the premise of the missed class was that life is just a game. You just need to decide what game you're playing and then play it with commitment (if you want to win, that is). So that's where I am at. Life is just a game and the game I am playing is to be sexy and feminine from here on in. They are ways of being I just haven't experienced enough. No worries, from now on it will be different.
So when I finish yoga tonight, I'll come home, jump in the shower, primp and preen, and then head to Landmark, with salad in hand!
I am motivated today. Still a little upset with myself for having gained so much weight recently. And still a little disillusioned with my bigger life purpose (which is a persistent condition that I've come to realize stops me engaging in life in this moment). Right now all is good and I'm going to go and be very productive.
Love to all!
Thanks for reading.
28+1 x

There shouldn't be a problem keeping up what you are already doing, specially low-intensity movement like yoga. But just keep an eye on it the first couple of weeks - they are the worst weeks to get through, and sometimes people feel washed out, tired and no-energy, so the need to rest up a bit is common.

However... after that... you should be in the "Cohen zone" here you start feeling absolutely great and like you can do anything!

Make sure you take a good multi-vitamin to keep your health in top shape during the diet.

28+1- I am absolutely thrilled with your comments. The thought that I can inspire someone is humbling. My typing away every day is not a waste of energy or time. It gives me purpose. We all need to feel needed & appreciated & I am no exception. Thank you very much.You have made my day.
Re: feeling upset with the weight you have put on recently-
Don't waste your energy on regrets.That's history now. You have made your decision to change the pattern of your life. What you do from now on is what counts. When you start to feel differently about yourself often others start feeling differently about you & looking at you in a different light. It can be hard to get used to the extra attention so that has to be learned as well. Some will be jealous.This can be very hurtful & I still don't understand it. Everyone deserves to love & to be loved. Your turn will come.
I think keeping up with yoga & meditation is a great idea & as Niyah says just take it easy in the first few weeks. They're are exercise for the soul! Nurture yourself, ensure you get lots of sleep, take a good quality multi-vitamin and when you get your plan prepare, prepare, prepare. Read it daily. It's amazing what you forget.
Well,I have just about filled up a page in your diary. I am such a chatterbox. Sometimes I start & forget to finish. What you see with me is how I am. I'm not good at deception. What you see is what you get. Subtlety is not my strong point. I don't thinkI have ever been more open than I am these days. Funny thing is it has taken me this long to like myself. I don't want others making that mistake! How can anyone love you if you don't even love yourself?xoxo Cate

Hello. I just wanted to say hi. I see your starting your journey to a new you. As I just started.
You and I are similar in our starting weight. Although I think I might be shorter then you lol
Well I wish you the best and I know you can do it
Good luck

As I eagerly await the arrival of my plan, I thought I'd write down all the reasons why I am going to follow this plan to the letter. Hopefully this can motivate me (and you!) to stick to a healthier lifestyle, even when the going gets tough!

I will follow Cohen's to the letter because...

- My eating habits are out-dated. I am eating like I did when I was 21 and full of insecurities. I ate for comfort then and I seem to eat only out of habit now. I no longer feel insecure and incapable like I did back then. I truly believe I have value and I'm deserving of more. It's time for new habits!

- Food has taken over my life. When I eat unhealthily (which is often), I become anti-social, depressive, focused on what's wrong in my life, rather than on what's right. I feel hopeless and I just want to hide. I stall progress and feel stuck. Junk food (and I include bread in the definition of junk) is as bad for my mind as it is for my body.

- Everyone deserves to feel good in their skin. I have stopped feeling good in mine. In fact, in my life so far, the negative voice in my head has been calling too many of the shots. As a consequence, I feel slovenly, unattractive and tired. I want out! It's time I shifted the balance of power and let my positive voice run the show!

- My focus in life has changed. I now no longer think I need to have a killer career to prove my worth. I'm sick of working like a dog and then only coming home to myself at night. I'd like to broaden my horizons. Find my soul mate. Marry him and start a new direction in life! In my mind, this will require me putting my best self forward. And my best self isn’t a woman whose life is run by food.

- I’d like to do something meaningful with my life. So far I have had a successful career but to be truthful, I've never really derived much pleasure from it. Next I’d like to put my energy towards something that is actually fun to do. Something that’s energising. So I am guessing I'll need to know what energising actually feels like to find this next thing. Again, food addiction, it's time you up and left.

- I had anticipated so much more joy in life. And my current formula for living ain’t delivering on the joy! I need to change. Everything is telling me I do.

Many good good reasons to give up old, out-dated habits. I cannot wait to start on Cohen's! Feel free to add your reasons to this list. That way, whenever you or I feel discouraged, we can be reminded of how important it is that we each take this journey on Cohen's right 'til the very end!

Thanks for reading,
28+1 x

Thank you both for your recent posts.
Cate - I am so glad to hear it made your day knowing you had made a contribution. I am going over to your diary shortly to continue reading about your journey. It's been very good reading so far!
yukiokudasai - great to meet you! i agree, we can make this change. how long have you been on Cohen's? how are you finding it?
28+1 x

Today makes it a week ... YAY lol first week down. I had a terrible headache at the start because I believe sugar withdrawals haha. But other then that fine. Not hungry although I will say I could have ate everything just because I knew I couldnt have it. And then on top of that started my cycle which has been weird I think because of the diet. I normally get really really sick. Just laying in the bed. This time I have no craps, nausea or anything however it has been a weird one for me so ehh lol. OTHER THEN THAT >.< Great. I found it pretty easy. The hard part was waiting for the meal plan. Some of the tips they give here would be wise to start before hand. Just to save your self the headache and dizzyness that might come with it.
So when are you planning on starting?? I started on a Saturday just because that is one of my bad days lol.
Well hope all is well and talk to you laters

28+1,Just a quick hi as I've got some catching up to do. Another great post! The more we articulate our thoughts the clearer & easier the journey becomes,xo Cate

Hello everybody,
I am impatiently waiting to start Cohen's. Still waiting for plan to arrive.
It's funny to think I am waiting for starvation, headaches and bad moods...
but I really am. I can't wait to start.
I'll be back over the weekend but thought I'd just say a quick hello.
28+1

28+1,That's funny but I totally understand! I didn't get bad headaches or feel really rotten but I had cut down on caffeine beforehand. Being hungry is really only until your body is used to it & is only temporary, whereas you are mentally preparing yourself for lifetime changes. You have the right attitude to succeed & are using whatever tools you can to do so & not dwelling on the negatives(??). Smart thinking! I'm about to write up some affirmation cards this afternoon. Your comment in the deviation thread is so very true.It's more a mind issue than a food issue. I deliberately experience hunger now just to say to myself that I won't die if I'm hungry. I used to joke(in very bad taste) that I must have been a starving African in a previous life as I used to really be afraid of being hungry. Now I experience it on purpose to remind myself that, for me, it is no big deal. Then I eat really healthily & slowly & enjoy every morsel. I am so very fortunate.
I look forward to watching you blitz this program 28+1, sharing your valuable thoughts with us & overcoming your prior obsession with food, that most of us can relate to, and then......who knows? Hopefully your true love is just waiting for you out there for you . At least you will giving yourself your best shot to being healthy and enjoying your life more. I'm not articulating myself very well today I'm sorry. Rather than delete I'll scoot & go do some more cooking, xo Cate