Hi All,

I am new to this site, and i am looking into doing the diet. I have registered with the site and am now just waiting to pay them. Being in the UK its all done online!

Any way if i wish to get down to a regular size i need to loose 154lbs........ OMG......... Is this possible???

Any one else here lost this much or need to loose as much as i do? It would be great to hear from you!

Jim

It's perfectly possible to lose that amount of weight. Some people around here have lost even more than that. If you are determined, and willing to work at it, you can achieve pretty much everything!

Personally, I wanted to lose 168 lbs at least....and I'm ever so slowly getting there....

One thing though...not sure which diet you signed up for....but usually, if you lose that much weight on any kind of 'diet', you run the risk of putting the weight back on as soon as you stop following the diet. Unless you can eat like that for the rest of your life, I would reconsider switching from an expensive and restrictive 'diet' to simply eating less, healthier, and exercising.

If you can't lose weight, rather than thinking it's anything to do with your body makeup, consider that it's all to do with your habits. Maybe you eat too much. Maybe you eat the wrong kinds of food. Maybe you don't exercise. Maybe you're too erratic with your food regimen, maybe you need to adopt the habits of a slim person.

I think if you can get clear in your head as to why you've put weight on in the first place, then you can lose weight once and for all.

Good luck my friend

28+1 x

Jim, you can do it if you want it badly enough.

But... here are some tips.

1. Start when you have a bit of a "breather". If you have REALLY BIG projects going on in your life, wait until a week when your life is quieter.

2. Get ready before you start. Cut down on carbs, go through your cupboards and ELIMINATE all junk and anything that might tempt you once you do start. Throwing food out is NOT A WASTE OF MONEY. It may save your life. That was a big mind-set for me to change. If it is full of fat and calories, get rid of it.

3. Try and go shopping with someone else for support whenever you can. Steer clear of aisles in supermarkets which are tempting. I couldn't look at certain things for weeks until my mind and body stabilised and I found them no longer tempting.

4. Once you do start a serious diet, keep life very simple, get LOTS OF REST, and don't pick up big and stressful projects for a little while.

5. Beware of social invitations for the first little while. For about 3 weeks, unless it would cause enormous offence to someone you care about, avoid social occasions. After that, MAKE YOUR OWN FOOD or TAKE YOUR OWN DRINK before going. It takes me about a month to be comfortable around other people who are eating things I like, or drinking stuff I like. You will find your own ways and tricks of getting through those "must do" social occasions.

6. Ignore other people's well meaning attempts to tell you you are doing the wrong thing, or should be doing it differently. Tell them you are under medical advice or whatever it takes. You don't have to explain yourself or justify yourself to others if you want to change your life. Once they see the results, they will back off - eventually. So many people want to "do your life for you" and it gets very wearying!!!! Believe in yourself and be your own best friend.

7. If you have a friend, buddy or partner who can help you along the way - great. Make sure it is someone you have confidence in, and you can spill your guts to them along the way. Everyone else - it's not their business!!!!!!

8. If you have parents or close rellies around, beware as they often think that feeding up their child/nephew is a way of showing love, or will get offended if you don't eat their super cooking. Bring out your "medical supervision" explanation, and assure them you love their stuff but it's not for you right now.

9. Hang in for the long haul and don't let the numbers on the scales do you in. They will go all over the place for a while - don't weigh more than once per week if you can manage it, less is better. On a daily basis, we retain fluid, lose it, and the numbers can be scary. This is a long term project to get your life in order - if you follow the plan, it will happen for you!

10. You can definitely lose whatever number of pounds you need to. Just don't be in a huge rush, follow the rules and believe in yourself.

Hi Niyah,

Thanks for this!! These tips will come in handy!
As for people around me trying to tempt me, i have had this in the past with other diets!! I have a very good friend that is also very big (not as big as me!) and i was dieting and got very close to being smaller than her... she didnt like and tried every thing!! She would make me a coffee and i would taste the sugar... she would say "Oh i forgot you dont have sugar now!" and we used to argue a lot! As soon as i put the weight back on she was fine!!!

But there isnt a person in the world that can ruin this for me now - - except me!!!

Thanks again for the support you have shown! It means a lot, and i just know i am going to try my hardest to do this and change my life!!!!

Jim

28+1

Every thing you said was true.... I eat TOO much of the wrong things at the wrong times!!!! So i know a big part of this for me is to break these habits and think about food in a different light!!

I need to EAT TO LIVE, not LIVE TO EAT!!!!

Really, really well said 28+1 and Niyah!! That's some timeless advice for sure! We could write a book collectively :-)

ha ha ha Jim in your other post I wrote the same thing you just said before I read this post- "You need to eat to live, not live to eat". Must be a sign.

I hate people who try to sabortage you, it is just jealousy and your going to have to deal with them once you start the program as the weight is going to come of quickly and they are going to feel like you are leaving them behind. I recommend reading Dr Phil's book "The ultimate weight-loss solution" as it shows you how to deal with these type of people. Pretty much what Niyah said is from the book 100% GO Niyah.

Take care Jim
Nicole

Hi Nicole,

How funny we have written the same saying! Must be a London thing.... or like you said a sign! lol
I know i will have to deal with the negative people. My family will be no problem, they will be 100% supportive with the weight loss... But it is a few friends that have the problem. I think the problem is, they think that if i get really thin then i will change!! Also i am the "Fat One" and i think that makes them feel better about themselves. Well i need to think about myself and make my self happy!!

I cant wait to pay for this and make a start! As soon as i start i am going to keep a diary on here. Also i am going to keep a hand written one with photos and the print out of the weighing machine. I think this will help me. Just looking at the changes that are occurring with my body and mind!!!

WillbeslimJim- Keeping a diary is a great idea. It's great to put down all of your feelings as it helps clarify them in your mind. It can open the floodgates though be warned. Only kidding. It's all good & if you are like most men I know then that will be good for you anyway. Don't be afraid to share your innermost thoughts with us. We don't know you & we will not judge you. Putting your thoughts out there will help you bring out into the open the reasons why you have put on your weight & by doing that will help you find ways to deal with them. Most people I know who have done Cohen's & successfully lost weight ( as all have done that followed it 100%) have found they needed to tackle the underlying issues. I saw a counsellor for the first time in my life to help me overcome my fears of being slim. Sounds crazy doesn't it but I was hiding behind my fat. Most over-weight people have low self-esteem & just losing weight will not miraculously change that. I think that is one of the most important things that we need to tackle. Cohen's will help you achieve your weight-loss goals but you must find ways of building your self-esteem. We all deserve to be slim & healthy and we are all worthy of love & happiness. Tell yourself that every day.
Reading your posts about how you will go about getting enough support (ie extra time) to get to your goal. Have you asked them for a price for the time they think it will take you? It's worth asking & also asking to pay in installments if possible. Nothing ventured, nothing gained (or lost in this instance!)
May I suggest that you call your diary something really positive. Start it any time you like. You don't have to wait for your plan. (eg. WillbeslimJim's Diary? BigJim26-Willbeslim27?) I am not going to call you BIGJim26 as that may be the case now but you have made a choice to change it & to become healthy & slim Jim... WillbeslimJim26 is a great affirmation. Start believing that you can do it Jim. It's hard at the start to think that you can but I know it is so.
Cheers, Cate

Hey Cate!

WillbeslimJim sounds like the perfect name! lol - And my maintenance diary can be Slim Jim.....
The diary will work for me as i think its a great visual aid, that will show me the difference that the diet is making! I am not a great "Feelings" man and i think i would find it hard to put what i feel on to paper (or screen in this case) which is probably one of the reasons i have gotten so big.
I dont believe that any one that is 100% happy with them self’s with high self esteem would be overweight.... I really think it is connected to our emotions. Its just our job to work out WHY we over eat and how we can stop these old patterns from returning!

I am sure i will learn a lot about myself while on this diet, and i am sure some of it i wont like, but if i want to life live like a normal thin person then it is some thing i need to face, which i am sure most people here have faced and are facing right now!!

Thanks for your encouragement Cate!!!

WillbeslimJim!

Hey Jim - How are ya?
I have no doubt that you can do it! My ultimate goal is to lose 160 lbs. so I will probably be around here for a long, long time!! Remember that big 40 thing we discussed earlier? Well I figured it out and if I lose an average of 2 lbs. a week I can be at my goal weight by the time I reach that Momentus Occasion!!! That is my motivation right now, knowing that I don't have to do anything crazy or drastic to drop a ton of weight in a hurry. If I just make small positive changes and slowly continue to add new positive habits as I go along I am convinced that I can meet those small weekly goals which will add up to me being able to actually be proud of myself when I do turn 40. I have faith in both of us - WE CAN DO IT!!!

Sallybean

Hey Sallybean,

I am pleased to have some one around that has as much as i do to loose! It seems scary when i look at the amount i have to loose! But will keep my positive mental attitude!! lol

Wow so our Journeys will mirror each other to a certain degree, starting around the same time with around the same amount to loose!!! I assume you are doing the Cohens diet?? Are you??

Looking forward to loosing weight with you Sallybean!!!!

Jim

Jim - I'm not doing any program or special diet in particular right now. I'm just changing my eating habits and beginning to exercise every day. I have a tendency to be an 'all or nothing' type of person and I'm looking to change that about myself - not only with weight loss and health issues! I'm really trying to take it slow and make small changes that I feel I can continue to follow for the rest of my life. If I can't see myself doing it long term I'm trying not to do it now - if that makes sense. I'm not saying I will not try a particular diet or program in the future, but for now I'm really trying to ease into the water instead of diving into the deep end off the high board. I hope we can really support each other since we have a lot of the same goals it seems!!!

Later,
Sallybean

Hi Sallybean,

You sound like you have a great plan in place and i am sure you will do it. We all know how hard it is to diet and we have a lot of weight to loose!!!

It will be great to have some one that has the same goals as me for support!!

Here's to brighter and thinner future!!!!

Any news Jim?