Lulabelle, A big welcome to the forum. I'm excited for you. I'm sure that you are doing the right thing. You may find you want to shout it from the rooftops though after a while & may nolonger wish to keep it secret. Your boyfriends mother would probably feel proud that she has inspired you. I know I would. It's a wise move to wait until after your holiday so that you will not be tempted to deviate from the program. A good idea would be to cut down your caffeine to help prepare yourself. I'm looking forward to following your progress. I loved reading your post. I could just sense your excitement & feel how positive you are. Opening up & sharing your feelings will really help you. Most of us have issues behind our weight & learning to deal with those is half the battle. Have a lovely holiday, cheers, Cate

Thanks so much Cate I have loved reading through your posts on the forum! It's been amazing just reading through everyone's stories on here. It's all too easy sometimes for me to think I'm the only person in the world who has had a bit of a dysfunctional relationship with food/my weight in the past. It's amazing to hear so many people verbalising (or is that typing? *laughs*) things which I've done/thought and never shared with a single soul!!! Even more powerful than that though, is the inspiration I've gotten from seeing the determination and subsequent success so many of you have enjoyed!

Time for me to knuckle down and commit myself.

I WANTED to keep Cohen's a secret but i can't manage to do it!
I can pass off lunchboxes as an attempt to be more domestic, bad weather for not going out for lunch, or on a shoestring budget at the end of the month -
but no one believes when it becomes an everyday affair!
And when the times comes for social activities i have to make myself known that i cant eat what i used to!

But only to my very close friends do i elaborate on the detailed process of the whole program!

Hi Lulabelle and Wuzu,
Welcome to the forum. Its so lovely to have lots of new people in here. When I first went on the program I told everyone what i was doing as I felt so terrific and wanted to keep myself honest. They also gave me heaps of support. When I started again this time I told very few people. My 2 daughters and my mother and sisters. Everyone else I would tell I thought I had food allergies and had to cut out sugar, milk, bread etc for a few months to try to identify what the allergies were to. Most people accepted this without question and the only few people who have queried it have been asking what I am doing as I look so terrific and I think they want to do it too!!
I understand you wanting to get your hormone imbalances sorted out and Cohens is great. My younger sister, who doesn't have a weight problem but has dreadful cravings and binges would like to do the program just to sort out her hormones. I have suggested she contact them to find out if there is a program available just for hormone therapy as it really works.
Good luck with the program and I look forward to "seeing" you around.
Take care
Beck

Thanks so much for the welcome Beck

I have really enjoyed reading through your thread on here and all of your comments. You're really inspiring!