... thanks for your words of encouragement - it does make a difference

Welcome Scar - I'm sure you'll enjoy the support this forum provides ... you'll be slim in no time ...

Kind regards

Taffy

Thank you for welcoming me and for talking with me about this! Hopefully I will have my plan by Friday and will pop back in to say hello and see how you are all doing...

Thanks all for making me feel welcome, is nice to know there is somewhere to go to hopefully help make this a little easier. Losing weight is hard work, if only the eating differently was all we had to deal with though?
My biggest problem is me! I'm so used to being big, I have always been bigger, though what started of as a little chubby, got a hell of a lot worse. I think my initial relapse was a bit of self sabotage but am working through it all now.

Living it, have you checked out all the recipes on the cohen's website? there are some great alternatives on there. I've been alternating between a mango smoothie, egg & veggie sort of mini quiches, and yoghurt and stewed apples for breaky. all of which are quick to make up. And my new favourite thing are Thai Chicken rissoles. I swear it tastes like your eating a hamburger. and it only takes 5 min to prepare and have on the table. I've added the recipe on recipe thread if your interested.
Definately talk to Cohen's regarding the tofu, it is a choice, so they may be able to re-work it for you. A nice veggie bake with melted cheese on top is also a nice alternative to meat. If I don't feel like meat I just make some chiken and veggie soup, blend it all up, and though I'm still eating the chook, it somehow doesn't seem the same as a liquid.
You've done so well so far, and you know you can do it, you just have to convince yourself.

Scar

Hey guys,

I'm mid-way through my 4th day, and I seem to be hungry all the time. The first 2 days were fine, but now even drinking water doesn't help. Is this normal?

Also, is salada counted as 2 crispbread?

And does it matter if you eat the same things all the time? I'm not exactly a great cook and can't afford to waste food with experimenting.. Like I have a mango smoothie every morning, sometimes omelette, and then usually lean steak or chicken with either cabbage, cauliflower or salad...

I've been reading over the last few days but haven't really had time to post. Everyone is such a huge inspiration.. Don't know if I could do it without being able to read here!

Hi Kirby,

I'm only about 1 1/2 weeks in, and I was really hungry for the fist 5 or six days. Drinking water helped me, and also chweing chewy. Though it doesn't fill you, it gives your mouth something to do. Your allowed up to 5 peices of sugar free chewy a day, I had them all.

If you can manage to eat the same stuff all the time, it's fine, though you may get bored pretty quickly. I've been eating mostly the same stuff, pretty much the same as you actually, but make something new every now and then, like rissoles, snitzel, or some soup. But if somethings working for you, stick to it I say.

Oh, and 1 big square salada (4 small squares) is counted as 2 crispread.

Scar

Kirby: I find chewing gum makes me more hungry. The whole 'triggers saliva' thing also triggers your stomach that you are going to put food in it.
It's 11.30 and I'm hungry - it's been 5 hours since I had dinner - but I guess I wouldn't be hungry if I'd gone to bed nearly 2 hours ago. I might sound like a broken record, but sleep helps this program big time. I think eating the same things over and over could lead to you getting bored really quick. Let's face it, if we are eating off the same plan for however long, we are pretty much eating the same thing over and over. But your herbs and curry powder and combinations of food is what makes such a difference.
For example, tonight I made a mango curry. Chicken, capsicum, zuccini with diced mango, splash of sprite, shake of garlic powder cooked down all nice and sloppy with as little or as much curry powder as you like.

itsmytime: I lost 34kg first time around in about 4 months - I was 134kg. When I stopped, I put back on 20kg over about a year (I wouldn't ask). I sorta started again November - lost 8kg in the first month. Didn't really take it serious over Christmas, but here I am now (and very serious), and will weigh in on the 22nd of Feb.

kiwi:keep it up! There's not many 100%'s around here, you will def be an inspiration. Look forward to seeing the pics!

fatcat: you are doing so great!'

Did anyone see Oprah on TV tonight? Was pretty interesting. If anything I've learnt a few new things about myself and my brain tonight!
Well if I don't get to bed, I think my stomach will start eating itself. The quicker I fall asleep the better!

Hey all,

I just wanted to post up my thoughts before I start on my refeed tomorrow.

I'm pretty excited, nervous and doubtful about refeed. Let me explain why.... I'm excited because after working hard for 1 yr 2 months, I have lost a total of 59 kg and now, finally, I am starting on my refeed, the next phase of my program and a step closer to "normal eating".

My refeed program is 15 days... thank God for it! Honestly, it took me a while to type "normal eating" because after all, isn't what we are eating on Cohen normal eating?

Since tomorrow is Day 1 of refeed, I'll be weighing myself tomorrow and I'm really hoping that I'll be 66 kg, then, I will lose exactly 60 kg. Not that 66 kg really does matter, but it does look good to lose 60 kg, instead of 59 kg. =P

Either way... if I do lose 60 kg during the refeed program, I'll be happy. Not exactly contented because who doesn't want to lose more? Anyway, just to let you all know that though my target weight is 64 kg, I really hope to stop at 66 kg. It will be a miracle if I lose to 64 kg during refeed.

I'm nervous because I do not know how refeed is going to turn out... I look at my food and feel astounded at the larger and larger amounts of food I have to eat each day. Wow! Can you imagine eating 9 crackers = 18 meiji crackers a day?

I'm really nervous that the larger amounts of food will cause me to gain weight and that's the last thing I wish to have.

Now is the time for confession... I have slight deviations and I admit that my will wasn't strong enough... It wasn't a major deviation but it is still considered a deviation... Now, I really want refeed to be 100% zero deviation. I really want it but I'm really doubtful that I can pull it off.

I want refeed to be as complete and as successful as possible.

Thinking through things internally to myself, if I want refeed to be as complete and as successful as possible, it's actually up to me to make it possible. I have to make my will MUCH stronger and stop all those teeny weeny deviations.

Cohenites... wish me luck... I really wish I can just lose to 66 kg during the next 15 days of refeed. I'm willing to work hard but I'm doubtful as to whether I can pull it off without any deviations.

Please encourage me yah? I need all your support!

Yup yup... we, Cohenites, are from different parts of the world, but together, we will work hard for a better life!

I promise you all, and to myself, that I will do my best and zero deviations for Day 1 of refeed tomorrow!

Newlife,
FANTASTIC news!! Well done on being faithful to the program for such a long time!
I'm sure you'll do fantastic on your program. Speak positively to yourself every day - tell yourself you are doing a great job etc.
and post some pictures for us so we can see the transformation!
HL

Hi everyone

Just wanted to say welcome to all the new people and wish them well on the plan. I started 15/11/2006 and am 600g off half way..........

This is the only plan that I haven't cheated on - stick with it - IT WORKS

Cheers

I was wondering what had happened to you woman!!!!
Yes it is hard to get back on the wagon when you fall off, but darn it woman.....
GET BACK ON!!!!
We started at the same time, and by hook or by crook my dear, you need to finish this thing.

Remember you are eating to live, to provide your body the nutrients it needs, to stimulate those magic hormone combinations that will cause you body to burn and melt that additional 23 kg!!! you DO NOT need to live to eat. If your Cohen's food is bland then spice it up. get creative. Find a way.

I have 17 kg to lose, so i am now 5 kg in front. i lose on average 5-6kg every 4 weeks so i have roughly 11 weeks to go and i am at my goal weight!!!
Because you have been off cohens for a while when you start (and make sure you do it 100% from day dot!!) you will catch up really quickly.....
Bring it on!!!
(The gauntlet hath been thrown!)

Newlife,
Congrats getting to refeed you have done an amazing job already.
lol 2 weeks in I am striving for refeed yummmm just thinking about it
B

Hi newlife

Congrats on getting to your refeed - please share with us as much info as you can - I (and probably everyone else) would love to hear what the refeed is like and how it feels when going through that....

It is not tooo long - if you want to be 100% - stay strong and think of the amazing job you have already done.

Hi all,
Just popping in to say you inspire me, I am going for my blood test on Monday - woo hoo can't wait to start.
Have a great day.
Kel

NEWLIFE - woaaahhhhhh...the big R word hey hey! omgsh congratulations hun! i am so excited for you, let us know how you go and remember we are all here for you wow can you imagine that after the next 15 days you will be a successfull cohenite graduate!good luck!!

KIRBY - Hun! i was just thinking about you and was going to post yesterday asking if you were still around! its awesome to hear that youve signed onto the program - if you are really serious about losing this weight and feeling a whole lot better about yourself i would definately encourage you to be 100% cohenite - read the program booklet over and over so you know what you can and cant have - even write up little business type cards to store in your purse so if your out and want a treat (ie:sprite zero) you can check ur purse to make sure your allowed it!Whose your consultant at booragoon?? also with the hunger thing i found that the first week and a bit i was a hungry but its your body getting used to the amount of food you are now eating.i mean cmon if you compare to what we eat NOW to what we USED to -thats a WHOLE lot of food leftover!! if you feel safe eating the same things for now thats fine - when you start to get bored then i suggest changing the meal plans around (for my first whole month on cohens i had can tuna for lunch every day - now i cant even look at the stuff without wanting to gag!!!)
GOOD LUCK! and let us know how you go

TIMETODOIT - yay for getting your bloods done! may i suggest before you have your program you should start getting ready for cohens! ie:cutting out milk from your coffee / reducing your starchy carb intake (potato/bread/pasta/rice) ,cutting down on the sugar intake and increasing your water! if you do this now, it may reduce the detox symptoms in your first week!

only 8 more sleeps till my 12 week weigh in

Dear all,

I'm munching on my lunch as I type this out today. What I did this morning at my office table is to write a visible note: DAY 1 OF REDEED! AIM FOR ZERO DEVIATION!

I feel good cos when I saw my colleagues enjoying chocolates and nuts, I did not cave in to reach out for any of it. Small achievement but yayyy!

As for food... they have increased my food intake gradually. Like I'm having an extra of 30 g protein and 80 g of vege for my 2 meals today... i cant remember the exact figures but it seems like the food amount varies everyday.

Anyway, I have to weigh myself everyday too... This morning, I weighed myself and I'm 66.9 kg. Ha! 0.9 kg to 66 kg! It's really funny how prayer works. Last night, I prayed that for a good start to refeed and told God how nice it would be if I weigh below 67 kg today. And God is cute and good! My weighing scales read 66.9kg. Anyway, I told myself to do the best for myself. Last 14.5 days... what is this short number of days compared to the 1 yr and 2 months I had invested on myself already?

I'm going to work hard, girls!

And yes, it's so exciting to reach nearer and nearer to become a Cohen graduate! The Cohen clinic should give us a certificate of accomplishment for every successful Cohenite. =)