My Name is Sal, and this is my journey from 118.7kg to 60kg. At my heaviest I was 125kg this was after the birth of my daughter.

I was in hospital for 4 mths while I was pregnant with my daughter and I was totally confined to bed for 3 or the 4mths. Not even allowed up to go to the toilet and once up I had to learn to walk all over again. What else is girl going to do to pass the time while stuck in bed scared of giving birth early and right next to lygon st, the Italian food capital on melb (my favourite type)... but... send my husband off to buy some yummy food to help comfort me, better than the god awful hospital stuff. I went from about a large 95kg when I got into hospital to a huge 125kg by the time i was out of there. Not to say I was ever a small girl, but that was just ridicules. How could have ever let that happen. I guess being stuck in bed and eating loads of yummy stuff didn't help matter much. I also lost a son Dylan with my first prg with the same problems I was having with my DD but when he was born he was just too small to survive. So with that playing on my mind at the same time I really did enjoy my comfort eating.

Now 2.5 years on after the birth of my DD, and I have tried loads of different diets and have been able to loose a few kgs and put a few back on over and over again, but never under 100kg since before I was prg. Just can't seem to stick to them.

Back in my single days when I was about 20 I lost just over 25kg from 85kg to 58kg. But this was not through being healthy, this was just from not eating enough and working hard and partying hard. I didn't like the feeling at 58kg (too skinny) but I loved it around 62-65kg. So this is what I hope to be by the time I am 30 at the end of November. "30 Year Old Yummy Mummy!!"

I have to have a back operation soon for a prolapsed disk and I really want to loose about 30kg before that, so that I hope this will help the recovery process with being much lighter. I am not sure when the op is at this stage as I am still waiting to get in with the specialist, but I have been is consistent strong pain everyday for the last 2 years and this is my final hope to help fix it, after trying everything else there was to try but to no avail. I will have to go off the program a week before and probably about 4wks after, but I will try to still maintain a good healthy eating regime during this period.

I have a few different goals I want to reach on my journey as follows:
99kg - 19kg (under 100...whoo hoo!!! that dreaded number)
88kg - 30kg (my weight when I got married. Also this is the goal I want before I have my back operation)
75kg - 44kg (weight when I was in high school)
60kg - 59kg (yummy mummy, I look forward to meeting this person)

I had the blood test today now I just have to wait till they contact me to get started... I am looking forward to getting this ball rolling.

Anyway that is enough rambling tonight. I hope this diary will help to keep me on track and motivated. And any feedback from others out there on the same life journey to battle to bulge will also be of great help to me.

Sal, thank you for sharing your story. I'm sure if you're determined to do this that Cohen's is the right way to go. Thanks for visiting my diary. I'll "talk" to you soon, cheers, Cate.

Hi Sal

Welcome and thank you for sharing your story! The program is amazing and works as long as you stick to it 100% but by reading your post I have all confidence that you will do that. You will be amazed at how much of a difference even the smallest amounts make, and will make to your back pain.

I look forward to reading your journal through your journey.

Take care.

Lauren

Hiya Sal,

Welcome and congrats on making the best decision ever !
This program is great and works so well. I love your goals, you will be there in no time. I look forward to following your journey.
Good luck

Annie Lusion

p.s your daughter is adorable!

I am still waiting patiently to get started. I am looking forward to getting rid of this whole extra person that I am carrying around.

However in the meantime I am being very very naughty. I am eating everything that I love and will probably never or next to never get to taste again. Last night I made carbonara and mum made me yummy pasties that she bought over today for lunch. I have sent my husband out tonight to get me a souvlaki and lasagna with some turkish bread to share on the side...mmmm!!! I think I might have to have pizza in the next few days too :drool5:. Pizza is my really bad food and the one I love the most. I am a very naughty girl aren't I. :reddevil: :reddevil:

Thanks for all your words of wisdom Annie & Lauren. I will be turning to you guys out there for lots of support one I get going.

But at the moment the is a party :party: in my mouth and all the naughty foods are invited for a last horah!! :cheers2:

Hi Sal!! Welcome to a New you! This is the best decision you have made .... TRUST ME... I have just today lost 40.2kgs... and still have 15kgs to go.. I started off at 117.2 (heaviest 141kgs)... If I can do this YOU CAN TOO!

I was actually coming here to encourage you that you dont have to wait for your program to arrive to start really. I started before mine arrived and I lost 3.5kgs that week and a friend of mine did the same and she lost like 4 or more...

This link is a great read in regards to preparing for Cohens. http://weight-loss.fitness.com/cohens-lifestyle/5676-prepare-cohens.html

I found that I went through my entire kitchen and got rid of anything that might become a stumbling block later on. I gave it away to my local church or threw it out if it was half eaten. I just knew that it was safer to not have it in the house. Its funny now... but I hardly ever use my Pantry it gets opened like once a week when I stock up my cracker container and thats it... everything else is fresh! I cant believe it of me.

Anyway... the people here have some great suggestions, advice and most of all are completely supportive and encouraging! Stick around and stick 100% to your plan and you too will see AWESOME results!

Blessya
Kannadew

Yes I was very bad last night. I am very excited about starting the program, but have always loved my food. Even though I am being bad, I have however cut my meals sizes in half over the past couple of weeks, just don't feel like as much anymore, which is very unlike me. It may have a bit to do with the medication that I am on for my back.

Kannadew thank you for the encouragement and advise about the pre-cohen training :) I will have to do that. I have no car today as my husband has had to go to Melb today for meetings and our other car is getting fixed, so tomorrow and I will go shopping and prepare for my Cohens Lifestyle. Today I will get started on a shopping list of what to get and maybe also write up a recipe and menu list of what I would like to eat using the allowed foods.

I have done the CSIRO thing before, so might use that as a bit of a reference for receipies aswell for Pre-Cohens and I have heard there is a recipe section in here so might look that up.

If anyone can help me out... could you please let me know all the types of vegetables and fruit are allowed on Cohens so I can put them on my shopping list and any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

I need to get my head in a better place and stop using food as a comforter but as medicine for a healthy mind and body.

Hi Sal

I understand what you're doing and the weekend before my plan actually came in, which so happened to be my birthday also, we went away for the weekend and took some amazing red wine and chocolate truffles and absolutely delighted in them. Now that is actually our Birthday tradition for my birthday and I look forward to a weekend away with glorious wine and chocolate truffle selection this year. Savouring for just the one time a year not only makes it good in the scheme of weight loss success but it also makes them taste better and be even more memorable. What I'm trying to say is dont tell yourself you will never have these things again. Dont deny yourself from these things either as it is a set up for failure. You will get a mindset that will mean all you think about is these things because you 'cant have them'. It will never work. This is now the time to start changing the way you feel about food. I love food, always have and always will and by making smart choices with my food I can have more of it - and 9 times out of 10 the food tastes better because it is made with fresh seasonal produce not jam-packed with preservatives and additives.

Another thing to realise is that over the time of the program and as you and your body become used to all the fresh food your tastes and what appeals to you will actually change. These foods, i.e. yoghurt for many of us but also fruit and veg, will be the foods you crave because all of a sudden your body starts to crave the flavours and nutrients not sugar and fat. You will be amazed a few weeks in, let alone at the end when you have reached your goal.

Once finished the loss part of the program you can have pizza again, just like I did two weeks ago, but instead of eating a whole on too myself after one and a half slices I was satisified, not too full, not still hungry and I was able to stop because I realised that. I still had my pizza and enjoyed it without guilt or frustration. I've always been addicted to ice cream. I still have it now once a week I love my ice cream treat but instead of keeping it in the freezer we pay a little extra by going to the ice cream palour and again because my tastes have changed and I now prefer frozen yoghurt I get 1 scoop of mixed berry and 1 scoop of passionfruit in my cup and enjoy it. No guilt, no extra temptation to finish the other 3 and a half litres sitting in the freezer etc etc etc.

It's not necessarily about what you eat, it's about how you eat it. Anything in moderation!

Good luck - Enjoy the journey!

Lauren

P.S. Also try now to stop referring to food as a behaviour. It's my current challenge to stop thinking good and bad and use the terms everyday foods and sometimes foods instead - it's all in the mind!

Thanks for the pep talk Lauren

This support and encouragement and advise is just what I need. It is great talking to people who have been through the program and also people who have struggle with food just like myself.

I can see myself certainly loosing the weight, but the hardest challenge of all will be in maintaining it once I get there and not slipping back into old habbits. I really want this to work so much and this diary will be a great way help give myself a backstop and a place to put my thoughts no matter how silly they are so I can look back and see where I have come from and how my thought patterns have changed.

I know that it is a change of lifestyle and I do certainly need to start looking at food differently than I have for the last 29 years for this to really work. But like you said it is certainly a challenge. I have heard the characters on sesame street refer to everyday foods and sometimes foods and this is also something I really want to teach my little daughter unlike when I was growing up with my grandparents and I was forced to sit at the table until the plate was empty and they would say "there are starving people if africa - so don't waste your food, you will sit there till it is all gone". Not only was it lots of food but lots of the wrongs types of food, my nan just loved to cook in dripping and make things in pastry.

I do have great support from my husband and he is willing to eat all the types of food I will be eating, just bulked up a bit and he will have a few more things in between meals. He wants to loose a little bit of weight, but it is just so much easier for him, well it seems blokes in general seem to loose is much quicker. Also his body is built well and even though he is carrying a little bit of extra weight he has never been an overweight person, great HGH I guess seeing how much he eats. He was raised in a very healthy family also, he lived with his mum and grandma and his grandma is a vegaterian and they always ate fresh healthy food is small portions and they are always watching what they eat, this is just they type of place I want to get too in my head watching what goes in my mouth rather than everything going in without thinking.

Just got an SMS that my program is ready to be picked up. I just called and made an appointment for 9am tomorrow to go through it and do measurements and talk about whatever else we need to do.

I am so pumped, I could have got it today, but I have no car, oh well!! So I will get it tomorrow morning :driving:, go shopping tomorrow arvo and then should be ready to go on Friday. :hurray:

Hi Sal

I am so excited for you. I can relate to your story about eating all those foods you love like their is no tomorrow. I was doing that before I got my plan its apparently called (The Last Supper Syndrome). I was actually going to start my plan after christmas in 2006 but I found I was just increasing my food intake......so I bit the bullet and started 2 weeks before.....it something I will never regret.
Goodluck Sal can't wait to read your next post and see how it all goes.
Isn't the advice from crew here amazing?? They are special lot here.

Sam:)

Hi Sal,

Thanks for your message in my diary. :waving: I must say its really cool to have someone else on the forum also looking forward to November :) I had to wait 2 weeks for my plan which was pure torture. I ate everything in sight for those 2 weeks. I didn't cook for one day, just had fast food and pizza and chocolate. :) Got on the scale this morning and I've already lost 2kg. My consultant actaully tells us not to weigh and only get on the scale every 4 weeks, but I was curious... Good luck and enjoy getting your program, this really is like nothing else I've tried before. My fiance's little sister is having a birthday dinner tonight at a nice restaurant and I'm actually going to have dinner before we go and just enjoy the company and have a cup of coffee. Will see what the family's reaction will be to that. I'm normally the starter, main course of a big steak and dessert kind of girl. Good luck on the shopping!

Oh on a last note, I've had the most interesting breakfast this morning. I had fat free bulgarian yogurt mixed with a teaspoon of coffee, a tablespoon of boiling water for the coffee and some sweetner. It was really nice, sorta like a coffee smoothie. Enjoy!

Sal, Lauren's post said perfectly what I would like to say. You will be amazed at how your attitude to food & your body will change. I think most of us love food. I have my chocolate treats & enjoy them, have pizza occasionally but am happy to have 2 slices & I am now a yoghurt addict. I used to live to eat!
One of the best sayings I saw early in the program which I used to think of often & it helped me was-
Nothing tastes as good as slim will feel.
It's absolutely right. I love your signature photo, by the way. Was that cute little kid you, is it a reli or just plucked from nowhere in particular? It is so cute. Love that grin! Cheers, Cate.

Hi Sal

Just wanted to drop by and see how you are. And like Cate I have been meaning to ask about the little girl as well - is she your lovely daughter you have mentioned in your earlier post's? She has an amazing smile.

Bye for now

Sam:)

Well today is Day 1, I had my little breakfast this morning of egg with vegies, was yummy. My husband saw it and said, is that all... lol He is actually eating what I am but I am doubling his amounts until he gets to his goal weight which is about 15-20kg less.

Feel pretty good at the moment, but the day has just begun, been trying to get all my housework done as early as possible in case I have a down turn this afternoon from hunger so I can just lay down and watch some TV with my girl.

Slurping on water, my daily amount at the moment is 4.5lts at the moment... oh my god I will be living on the toilet. I am just over half way though my first 1.25lt bottle.

I never got a chance to go shopping yesterday, so will be doing it today around 12 and then home for lunch by 2ish to eat.

I did all my measurements yesterday, and it was a little hard to take, but I will be looking forward to seeing the numbers go down. The most disappointing thing was that my thigh measurements were what I want my waist line to be (80cm). I measured my best friends waist and her waist (77cm) was less than my thighs... very sad I know.

I had my first black short black coffee today, just got half way through it, might have an espresso tomorrow just for a quick shot of caffeine so I can help keep the caffeine headache under control and slowly ween myself off it.

Cate - Love the saying... I will keep using that myself to keep me motivated.

Esthee - I might give the coffee & yogurt a go tomorrow morning for breaky, thanks for the tip.

Sam - Thanks for the visit, yes I am coping pretty good at the moment, I am so pumped and ready to shed this flab. BRING IT ON!!!

Cate & Sam - Thanks for the comment on my photo, it is of my beautiful daughter Shai she 2.5yrs old. She is such a cutie and has such a wonderful little spirit, but I think I am a little bias being that she is my daughter ... lol. She loves the camera and started to smile at it when you say "smile" since Xmas, makes me giggle everytime.

Every time I measure or weigh I am going to post my figures to see how I am going and keep me honest.

Day 1 - 25th Jan 07(STARTING FIGURES)

Weight - 119.1kg
Arm - 50cm
Bust - 120cm
Waist - 123cm
Hips - 141cm
Thigh - 80cm
Neck - 41cm
Upper Bust - 118cm
Under Bust - 112cm
Wrist - 20cm
Calf - 49cm
Belly Button - 120cm


They are very confronting figures, but I look forward to seeing them go down.

Hi Sal!

Your little girl is beautiful! I hope your first day went well and that the second one is good too. Cudos for posting your measurements, that must have taken a huge amount of courage. I'll join you and will post mine in a mo on my diary. Wow 4.5l of water is a lot. I only manage 2l per day. Enjoy today!

Sal

You are so brave and inspiring.....I can feel how motivated you are to succeed.
Those figures will reduce so quickly on this plan and you will look and feel amazing.

Your genreal health and well being will just flourish and your little girl will see a shrinking Mum but a healthier one in the end.

So excited for....

Sam:)

Thanks for encouragement ladies, it's lovely.

Well heading towards the end of the day, I am so hungry, dinner time is still about 2 hours away, as I was not home until 4pm to have lunch as we were out all day shopping and running errands.

I have just had a cracker to help get me through and topped up my water. Bring on dinner time.

I am having garlic prawns with zucchini, bok choy, asparagus & spinach wrapped in cabbage leaf with mayo/coke dressing. Sounds good, hope it is nice and my taste spuds expect.

Hi sal,

I look forward to seeing those cm's drop off you too, won't be long now till you see the first few drop off..that will give you a buzz and certainly keep you movitated.

You have a great attitude and know you will succeed.

Have a good day

Annie Lusion

Hi Sal!
How is day 4 going for you? Things should be starting to ease for you after today or tomorrow…. I hope so!! I didn’t really go through a detox in a big way because I started trying to eat according to the plan before MY plan arrived so I avoided some of that really icky feeling… whew…

You were very brave putting up your measurements… even I haven’t done that in my diary! I will do it at the end. I do publish how many cm’s I lose each week but that’s it. You will be AMAZED at the way the weight falls off on this program! It has truly changed my life forever! I will NOT ever go back to the way I was. You are starting about 2kgs heavier than I did on Cohens- (I was a 141kgs back in 2004, but lost the 24kgs through WW and just trying to be healthy…took AGES though!)… I have been slow on Cohens compared to others… but there is NO OTHER program I could have lost this amount of weight this quickly with minimal skin shrinkage and started to understand my emotional connection with food and also start to learn the principles of healthy eating! Truly Changed my life! (I feel like an evangelist!!) hehehe

You will have bad/hard days…. I think the key to those days is… if you just make a decision now… that no matter what you will NOT put anything in your mouth that is not allowed you will then have to not suffer the guilt and the pain of getting back on the program. So many people talk about the difficulties of deviating and how hard it is to start again after deviating a few times….

Anyway… enough of my babbling!

Blessya
Kannadew

Well yes today is day 4. I am feeling a bit tired and still hungry but I'm proud of myself as I have stuck to it 100%.

Yesterday we went out 4WDing with friends & their kids and also took my niece and nephew with us. Everyone was eating yummy bread rolls and chips for lunch and I ate my chicken salad that I cooked before we left. We were out for 12hours yesterday left at about 8am so I also took my crackers and some fruit for between time when everyone was snacking. And then on the way home I was getting very hungry and we got the kids McDonalds for dinner and the smell made me even more hungry....and there were left over burgers I was drooling from the smell but pushed on and didn't even have a little nibble (so unlike me).

When I ate dinner once we got home, I crawled into bed and crashed. I don't normally fall asleep very quickly but I was sooo buggered.

Today I am at home so it will be much easier cause everyone will be eating what I cook them. I am still very hungry, but I am hoping tomorrow will be better as I will be past the 4 day mark.

I have been so tempted to jump on the scales, but I will wait until Friday.

Thanks to everyone for the lovely words regarding putting my cm's up. I just want to give myself as many goals as I can and I thought putting them up would a great aim for me to work hard so everyone to see them coming down, as they are soooo embarrassing, I don't want anyone to see them go up. Also the more encouragement I get make me feel good about what I am doing. I hope I don't sound too silly.

Kannadew - wow :hurray: you have done so well, you must be so proud of yourself. I sure would be. Even though it has taken you a while, it has changed your outlook on food, and it is an everlasting change that is going to be with you for the rest of you life, so in the grand scheme of things you will have more years being healthy and at you goals weight that it ever took you too get there and you would have learnt so many important thing about yourself I bet along the way. I bet that you are still looking amazing even thought you are not quite at your goal as you have lost sooo much. I can't wait to be where you are and be able to buy clothes from the normal section of target, ect..., rather than having to go the "fat chicks" area where the selection of clothes in so small and not very nice most of the time. Again, good on you, your an inspiration in how far you have come, keep up the good work.

Hi Sal,

Just wanted to let you know that I'm following your progress :) Wow for making the 4 day mark!! Thanks for the messages on my diary. This is really going to be our year! Enjoy you holiday and you've just made it through the hardest part. I also can't wait to be able to just walk into a shop en buy clothes... I love shopping for clothes, but looking at me you would never have guest it :) Hadn't been able to indulge myself with clothes in years.

:waving:

Well today is Day 5 and I feeling so much better today. I had breakfast this morning and I was not hungry until about 45mins before lunch, so I just topped up on water to get me through. This is great... see how I go between now and dinner. Steak with mango salad for dinner tonight. yummo!!

I got a dryer for Xmas and it was finally all hooked up yesterday so I have been doing washing all day. It is fantastic, it senses the dampness and stops when they are dry, it actually dried a load of towels quicker than a the load of washing took. It is a massive dryer takes 8.5kg and it is a top loader, easier on my back. Now i don;t have to rely on my husband as I use to have to wait for him to hang the washing out because of my back, and the amount of times I use to have rewash clothes cause they never went out and started smelling was such a pest. Now I can do the lot my self from washing, drying and folding. I have not seen the floor in my laundry for months, such a good feeling.

Anyway have to go, my daughter is hanging off me wanting my attention and it is real hard to type, will be back later tonight to catch up with everyone.

Skinny thoughts to everyone :-)

Day 6 - No deviation so far, just had warm feta salad for lunch, got the receipe from the CSIRO book.

Stirfry Tomota, zuchini and red onion, once soft crumbled feta and toss through with some basil or mixed herbs. I really like this salad use to make it all the time when I wasn't on cohen's but thought that it would work well on this and very yummy. and very quick.

Feeling pretty good and quite satisfied and the small amount of food now.

Well my house is mess, I have done all the clutter cleaning, but my housekeeper rang last night to advise that she will no longer be able to work for me due to family commitments. I understand where she was coming from, but it is just annoying as I cannot get another housekeeper till next week. Due to my back problem, I really rely on her. It took my ages to agree to get a housekeeper as my mum, husband, friends and the inlaws kept trying to make me get one, to help as I tend to do too much and everyone keeps telling me to take it easy, but it is just so hard when you have a messy household, how can I relax. I have always looked after my own house and felt a little guilty getting one, but after much pressure from everyone I caved and decided to do it. Now I have her I find it so much easier, and now she is not here this week it is so hard to sit here when the floors need mopping and vacuuming and the shower needs a clean and so on. I know i am supposed to leave it and look after myself and my back, but it is hard. I have to wait till Wed next week for the new one to start, I don't think I can last that long. Might sneak a few things in while my husband is out of the house and cannot tell me off, as he usually works from home but is in Melbourne today for meetings.

Hi Sal

Glad the diet is going well and the hunger has reduce. I have one question though do cohens now include fetta in their menu? I only had mozzerralla cheese!!!! it would be interesting to know for us oldies how much Cohens plan has changed over a year.

Sorry to hear about your housekeeper....I have no excuses for not cleaning at the moment even though the boys rooms need it desperately. But I promised myself this week I would just take it easy and then get back into next week.
What problems do you have with your back (if you don't mine me asking).
I have lower back pain which occurred after child birth and it's never been the same since but it is not chronic or debilitating.
So don't push yourself Sal - remember you have that gorgeous little daughter to look after...it's not worth doing an injury over.

Take care
Sam:)

Hi Sam

Yes feta is allow 1 meal once a week. My program allows me to have 65g of feta with 115g of vegies and to limit cheese to 3 times a week.

No I don't mind you asking about my back. I had a sore back on and off for many many years going back to when I in high school but I have had a sore back with consistent pain since Nov 05 so over 2 years now. In the past 2 years, I tries chiropractic treatment, osteopath, acupuncture, exercise and rest after no avail I saw my GP who sent me to physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and final after no luck and it is getting worse he booked me in for a CT scan and telling me that they will do a epidural type needle with quartazone shot to help with the pain and maybe bring any inflamtion down, but when in the CT scan they decided not to do anything and told me to go back to my GP. My GP told me that once they saw my back they decided against the needle as it would not help as I have a server prolapsed disk, and not just a small one he kept say that is very very large and the only way to treat it as it is so bad would be to operate. I was so trying to avoid this, but the dr. said that it is quite rare that it gets this bad only in 5% of people and there is no other way. I have very strong shooting pains all the was down my left leg that never goes away and on and off bad pins and needles all day long, I am on extremely strong pain meds at the moments, but they don't help, might aswell be having smarties :-) So after trying to avoid an operation, now I just can;t wait to get rid of the pain. It will be a long recovery, but anything is better than how I am at the moment. I hope that didn't sound to whingy, as I hate to whing, I don't tell too many people about my back just family and close friends and I don;t want to come of as an attention seeker who is always sooking about their pain (if you know what I mean). I have one in my family and so don't want to be like him. And it is not as though anyone really want to sit there and listen to my problems, everyone has enough of their own :-) Anyway it not worth getting myself upset about, there are worse people out there in the world with much worse problems. I have my up and down day, but try to not let it get to me.

I guess I also deal a bit better than most because I also have a condition called fibromyaligia syndrome which is a chronic pain illness in my muscles that I have has since I was a kid, but only got diagnosed in 2001, so I have always had to learn to deal with pain on an everyday basis anyway, this is just much stronger, but still bearable (just).

Anyway I am still waiting to attend an appointment with the specialist to talk about what is next and that is not until the end of Feb, has take nearly 3 mths to get in with him, so not sure when the op will be yet. We don't have private health cover either, so that is a little daunting. Not going to worry to much until I get all the facts from the specialist so I know where I stand.

So anyway that is my little problem in a nutshell.

Today is Day 6 and I went and saw my consultant today to discuss how I am going and weigh myself. My update day is tomorrow for measurement so I will post tomorrow with all the new stats but.....

I have lost 3.9kg !!!!
:party:

WOW!!!! Congratulations!!!

I'm sooooo happy for you Sal!! That is amazing. I've been good and haven't gotten on the scale, so hearing you are doing really well has made my day. I take it you are over the moon at the moment. Nicely done!

:party:

Oowah Sal, You don't sound like a sook, quite the contrary. You must be so strong & resilient. I've only ever had temporary back pain & it's almost impossible to ignore. I hope you are able to have an op that will correct it & that it doesn't cost you too much. It sounds essential though. I also hope you find a new housekeeper quick smart. You must look after yourself & take care.
Well done on your 3.9kg loss. That's great!! Cheers, Cate.

OMG SAL:jump:

How long have you been on program????????

What a result you must feel so good about this.
Well if you had any doubts about Cohens...... I am sure this has quickly disappeared by your outcome.

I bet you feel like:party:

Sam:)

Thanks Esthee, Cate and Sam for your lovely comments, yes I feel great about what I have acheived. Yesterday was my offical weigh in day for 1 week and I have officially lost 4.6kg for the first week. I am so wrapped.

Now normally if I acheive something great I usually like to go out for dinner, but not this time.

I have not been very well since Thursday afternoon, I ran out of pain meds for my back and had a shocking headache all arvo Thursday and all day yesterday, could hardly open my eyes, spent most of the time in my dark bed room. Went to my Dr. yesterday afternoon and he said sound like a bit of withdrawal from the drugs. He has also put me on even stronger meds as the other ones were not helping very much at all. I asked him what happens when I don't need them anymore will it be hard to come off them, he said once I am in no more pain it won't be hard to stop, I might have a few average day when I do stop, be he said that it will be nothing in comparison to what I am dealing with now with the amount of pain I am in, so not to worry about it. Still feel a bit sore in the head this morning, but not as bad a the past few days.

Anyway I will get my stats together for the week and post them soon. This will make me feel better :party:

End of Week 1 - 1st Feb2008

Weight Start - 119.1kg
Wk 1 - 114.5kg
Wkly Loss - 4.6kg
Total Loss - 4.6kg

Arm Start - 50cm
Wk 1 - 50cm
Wkly Loss - 0cm
Total Loss - 0cm

Bust Start - 120cm
Wk 1 - 119cm
Wkly Loss - 1cm
Total Loss - 1cm

Waist Start - 123cm
Wk 1 - 119cm
Wkly Loss - 4cm
Total Loss - 4cm

Hips Start - 141cm
Wk 1 - 141cm
Wkly Loss - 0cm
Total Loss - 0cm

Thigh Start - 80cm
Wk 1 - 79.5cm
Wkly Loss - 0.5cm
Total Loss - 0.5cm

Neck Start - 41cm
Wk 1 - 40.5cm
Wkly Loss - 0.5cm
Total Loss - 0.5cm

Upper Bust Start - 118cm
Wk 1 - 115.5cm
Wkly Loss - 2.5cm
Total Loss - 2.5cm

Under Bust Start - 112cm
Wk 1 - 110cm
Wkly Loss - 2cm
Total Loss - 2cm

Wrist Start- 20cm
Wk 1 - 20cm
Wkly Loss - 0cm
Total Loss - 0cm

Calf Start- 49cm
Wk 1 - 49cm
Wkly Loss - 0cm
Total Loss - 0cm

Belly Button Start - 120cm
Wk 1 - 116cm
Wkly Loss - 4cm
Total Loss - 4cm

Total Start cm's - 974
Wk 1 - 959.5cm
Wkly Loss - 14.5cm
Total Loss - 14.5cm

:party:

Sal- Congratulations!! Cohen's makes it easier for us to commit to it by working straight away. When you can instantly see the results you know you can do it. You're now on the path to becoming the slim you. I hope your back pain lessens for you as you go. It must be so hard for you! All the best, Cate.

wow Sal

4.6 in a week?????

That's so awesome, congratulations, what a gret result!!

Sorry to hear that you have not been feeling well, I hope you are much better now!

TTFN
Annie Lusion

Congratulations Sal!!
4.6 is Awesome!! OMG!!! Just remember that things will soon start to slow down but generally remain consistent throughout the whole of the program! That’s what I love about Cohens… Is that if you stick to it… the weight has nowhere else to go but OFF!!

Your Cm loss is fantastic!!! Congratulations!

You sound really focussed and in the right brain space! That’s the way to be! Don’t let anything get in your way to a healthier, happier you! No parties or special occasions or anything really! (cos they will all come around again!)

I am really looking forward to following your journey mate!!

Blessya
Kannadew

Hi Sal

The others have said it all. You are doing so well inspite of all your health issues....you are a real trouper, when I read you posts I know you are determined to reach your weight loss goal and you will.
Keep up the amazing work.

Sam:)

Hi Sal,

You've been very silent recently? Just writing a note to say hello and I hope you are doing well? Time sure does fly, were almost on the 3 week mark.

Hi everyone,

I have been a bit quiet lately, just had a hard week. Lots of pain so been spending most of my time resting in between running my business from home. It has been a little emotionally testing over the last week just the new medication that I am on is really knocking me for 6 as it is heaps stronger so I'm getting very tired and for the first few days I was quite ill just couldn't really focus on much so just layed in bed for a few days feeling very stoned, but the meds are getting easier as I am slowly getting use to them, but I am still 100% on cohens, no deviations, even with quite a few temptations of late.

On Wednesday night we had a couple over for dinner, and I made creamy scallop potato and pumpkin with bacon and garlic, fillet minion, and warm feta salad and brushetta's for entree. And icecream with custard and berry crumble for desert. All looked lovely, and smelt great, but I actually surprised myself and I was quiet content to sit there and have my little piece of eye fillet and salad. I was surprised that I didn't even get a watering mouth over the scallop potato and pumpkin which I normally just love and would have 3 or 4 helpings of. I told my best friend and she was so proud of me, made me feel great.

And I am so pleased with my stats this week, I lost another 3.2kg for the week so a total of 7.1kg for 2 weeks. Will post the rest of my stats soon. My measurements look great, I was so surprised. Especially when I held the measuring tape at the old lengths to compare where I have come from and there is a huge difference already. I have updated my ticker very cool :party:

End of Week 2 - 8th Feb 2008

Weight Start - 119.1kg
Wk 1 - 114.5kg
Wk 2 - 112.0kg
Wkly Loss - 4.6kg
Total Loss - 7.1kg

Arm Start - 50cm
Wk 1 - 50cm
Wk 2 - 49cm
Wkly Loss - 1cm
Total Loss - 1cm

Bust Start - 120cm
Wk 1 - 119cm
Wk 2 - 119cm
Wkly Loss - 0cm
Total Loss - 1cm

Waist Start - 123cm
Wk 1 - 119cm
Wk 2 - 114cm
Wkly Loss - 5cm
Total Loss - 9cm

Hips Start - 141cm
Wk 1 - 141cm
Wk 2 - 139cm
Wkly Loss - 2cm
Total Loss - 2cm

Thigh Start - 80cm
Wk 1 - 79.5cm
Wk 2 - 76cm
Wkly Loss - 3.5cm
Total Loss - 4cm

Neck Start - 41cm
Wk 1 - 40.5cm
Wk 2 - 40cm
Wkly Loss - 0.5cm
Total Loss - 1cm

Upper Bust Start - 118cm
Wk 1 - 115.5cm
Wk 2 - 115cm
Wkly Loss - 0.5cm
Total Loss - 3cm

Under Bust Start - 112cm
Wk 1 - 110cm
Wk 2 - 106cm
Wkly Loss - 4cm
Total Loss - 6cm

Wrist Start- 20cm
Wk 1 - 20cm
Wk 2 - 19.5cm
Wkly Loss - 0.5cm
Total Loss - 0.5cm

Calf Start- 49cm
Wk 1 - 49cm
Wk 2 - 15.5cm
Wkly Loss - 3.5cm
Total Loss - 3.5cm

Belly Button Start - 120cm
Wk 1 - 116cm
Wk 2 - 115cm
Wkly Loss - 1cm
Total Loss - 5cm

Total Start cm's - 974
Wk 1 - 959.5cm
Wk 2 - 938cm
Wkly Loss - 21.5cm
Total Loss - 36cm

:party:

Hi Sal,

Wow - look at you!!!

Your loss both cm's and kilos is absolutely fantastic after two weeks.

So sorry to hear that you have not been well.

Re: Not feeling it yet (comment made in Esthee's diary ) You will start to feel it in your clothes very soon, I remember when I first started at my heaviest at 108 kilos, it took at least 10-15 kilos before I was getting comments and actually started to feel it in my clothes. Give it another fortnight or so. Once you do start feeling it and seeing it (actually seeing it is something I struggled with - I could never see it, others could, I couldn't, very strange.)

Your dinner party sounded lovely, good for you for not being tempted, it's great when that switch flicks on and you are totally in the zone huh?

Have a great weekend Sal.

TTFN

Annie Lusion

Sal... you are doing so well! Congrats on the great results!

I really empathise with your back issues. I too struggle and have for years. Now that I have pretty much lost all the weight, I am booking into see the surgeon next month and I am gonna get it sorted out.

It is Amazing to think that I could be THIN and PAIN FREE by the end of the year!! I cant tell you what the sense of excitement is like!

Remember to keep taking your Vitamins too cos that can make us really tired if we dont!

Blessya
Kannadew

Hi Sal

Thanks for your support in my dairy (and everyone else). Sal you are amazing and I can see so focused....posting your measurements means "serious business" to me.
Having a dinner party and making all the scrumptious meals and not even having a taste is very brave.
I like Annie even after the weightloss still didn't see it...but that is probably because we have been a certain weight for so long that our whole mental outlook needs adjusting to the new you. I mean we all still get those so called "fat days" and for me that is near TOM. But when you do feel those clothes loosening that really is the life changing moment...for me that happened after 2 weeks as you know I had 15kg to lose so it is all relative to how much you have to lose.......Esthee said she and others can tell the difference and her clothes are getting looser on her as well. So don't panic as long as those scales are heading in the right direction and so are your measurements so will the rest. It sounds like you have alot on your plate with your health so give yourself time and don't put to much pressure to do too much...Cohens is a very mentally challenging diet but it is all worth it in the end. YOU WILL SEE.

I have posted the Jennifer Marnell story with photo's so go into the general cohens forum for the web link. It shows change can occurr with effort and perserverence.

Sam:)

Sal, You are an inspiration to everyone! Be proud of yourself. You are going to hear those comments very soon. It took about 4-6 wks for many to notice the difference with me but I could feel myself shrinking which was the main thing. You are the important one. Good for you not tasting any of your delicious sounding dinner. You're "in the zone!" Cheers, cate

Hi Sal!

So sorry to hear that you aren't feeling well. :( But I am SO glad to hear that you are able to stick to your diet eventhough some comfort food would probably be welcome :) The two of us will definitely keep walking this road together :)

Your measurements and weight loss up to date is AWESOME! I'm really proud of you and if I could I would be giving you a huge bunch of pretty flowers. :)

Good luck for the coming week. And I hope you start feeling better.

Esthee

Hi Everyone

Well it has has been a very busy and exhausting week. Still struggling with the pain, but also very busy with my business and trying to get the sales back up again. I took about a mth and a half off just before xmas and into the new year, and closed my online store down, so it has taken a bit of time to get the sales back up and get all my stock relisted again.

I am also expecting on my easter chocolate moulds in next week, which is going to be a massive job trying to get them all photographed, detailed and listed in time for Easter sales. I order very late as I didn't realise that Easter was a few weeks early this year, so I don't sales this time round will be as good as I would like, but next year should be much better as I will already have the stock.

I have also been in negations with a new supplier for the Jamie Oliver cookware, and I am having a meeting tonight over the phone to hopefully get an agreement arranged for pricing and shipping finalised.

On the Cohen front, I have stuck to it again 100%, but I have to say I have been very tempted to stray.

Tues my husband went to melb for metting and usually when he gets home on those nights we get pizza, and my brain was very tempted, but my husband held my hand and got me through.

On Wednesday night we had a meeting with our 4WD club and we usually go out for dinner before hand, but I packed up chicken patties and stopped and my parents for a chat and ate them.

Thur was Valentines day, and what is better than going out for a romantic dinner, but we stayed at home and I made steak and veg. And dreamed of Scollops and prawns in mornay sauce.

Friday we had a social night at our 4WD club and they searve baked spuds with all the trimmings. I had to feed Shai and it was so hard not to have a taste. I packed myself some chicken patties and snuck off to the car and gobbled them down, because I still have not told anyone that I am on a diet.

Tonight Shai is going to her aunties for the night, so it will be a nice relaxing night resting with hubby, but not food treats for me :angelsad2:

I must say I am finding a bit hard mentally at the moment to stick to it, but still at 100% no deviations. It is just so strick, :reddevil:I would be nice just 1 night a mth to have a nice dinner out or get pizza, not be stupid about it, still small and healthy or with pizza instead of eating a whole pizza maybe have 1 slice, I know that it will slow me down, and i will probably regret it afterwards, it is such a mind game. And I am trying to be as mentally strong as I can. As i know that the reward will be great. I will look forward to when I start to feel the difference for what I am doing and when people start to notice. It is feeling alot harder now tho than when I first started especially when there are so many temptation and reason to deviate just for 1 meal:willy_nilly:

Thanks Esthee, Cate, Kannadew , Sam & Annie for all you wonderful comments and support, I really love coming here and seeing a message in my diary from you all, it keeps me motivated knowing I am not alone.

Kannadew back problems are so draining arn't they. Pain free is a dream, however I will never get that as I have fibromyalgia syndrome is which is a chronic pain illness, but to get rid of the pinching nerve pain that constantly runs down my leg and pins and needles will be fantastic, I can deal with all the other stuff as I have done since a was in primary school, but the back prolapsed disk it just so intense 24/7. Oh here I go again complaining about my pain, sorry about that, I hate that.

Esthee you are doing so well, congratulations, we are sure on our way now.

Anyway better get Shai's stuff organised as I am about to head out to drop her off for the night, only the 3rd time she has ever been away for the night and I will be able to sleep in tomorrow, I am looking forward to that.

I will be back later to post my stats for the week.

End of Week 3 - 15th Feb 2008

Weight Start - 119.1kg
Wk 1 - 114.5kg
Wk 2 - 112.0kg
Wk 3 - 110.2kg
Wkly Loss - 1.8kg
Total Loss - 8.9kg

Arm Start - 50cm
Wk 1 - 50cm
Wk 2 - 49cm
Wk 3 - 48cm
Wkly Loss - 1cm
Total Loss - 2cm

Bust Start - 120cm
Wk 1 - 119cm
Wk 2 - 119cm
Wk 3 - 119cm
Wkly Loss - 0cm
Total Loss - 1cm

Waist Start - 123cm
Wk 1 - 119cm
Wk 2 - 114cm
Wk 3 - 113.5cm
Wkly Loss - 5cm
Total Loss - 10cm

Hips Start - 141cm
Wk 1 - 141cm
Wk 2 - 139cm
Wk 3 - 138cm
Wkly Loss - 1cm
Total Loss - 3cm

Thigh Start - 80cm
Wk 1 - 79.5cm
Wk 2 - 76cm
Wk 3 - 75.5cm
Wkly Loss - 3.5cm
Total Loss - 4.5cm

Neck Start - 41cm
Wk 1 - 40.5cm
Wk 2 - 40cm
Wk 3 - 39cm
Wkly Loss - 0.5cm
Total Loss - 2cm

Upper Bust Start - 118cm
Wk 1 - 115.5cm
Wk 2 - 115cm
Wk 3 - 112cm
Wkly Loss - 0.5cm
Total Loss - 6cm

Under Bust Start - 112cm
Wk 1 - 110cm
Wk 2 - 106cm
Wk 3 - 106cm
Wkly Loss - 0cm
Total Loss - 6cm

Wrist Start- 20cm
Wk 1 - 20cm
Wk 2 - 19.5cm
Wk 3 - 19.5cm
Wkly Loss - 0cm
Total Loss - 0.5cm

Calf Start- 49cm
Wk 1 - 49cm
Wk 2 - 45.5cm
Wk 3 - 45.5cm
Wkly Loss - 0cm
Total Loss - 3.5cm

Belly Button Start - 120cm
Wk 1 - 116cm
Wk 2 - 115cm
Wk 3 - 113cm
Wkly Loss - 2cm
Total Loss - 7cm

Total Start cm's - 974
Wk 1 - 959.5cm
Wk 2 - 938cm
Wk 3 - 929cm
Wkly Loss - 9cm
Total Loss - 45cm

:party:

Sal, Thanks for your post in my diary. It was nice. If I could help you be strong I would be very happy. Cohen's does seem strict but personally I think that is one of the main reasons it works so well. We must stop thinking of food as a "treat." Food is fuel. We need it to keep alive & to be healthy. Sweetie, you have the rest of your life to have those things you are missing the most. Ignore the temptations. If you give in to the temptation of "a little bit of this won't hurt" you will have so much trouble sticking with the plan & losing the weight you want to lose.
When I first started I spent hours in here reading squillions of posts. Everywhere I read of people lamenting having deviated from the program, how hard it was to get back "in the zone" etc. It was good for me because I had seen how hard it made it so I just did not go there.
Trust me. You will feel so much better about yourself if you can be so strong as to stick with the plan until you get to goal weight. Imagine how proud of yourself you will feel. You can do it!! By the way is your signature photo your daughter? If it is she is just so cute!! Cheers, Cate.

Well today I thought that I would help my husband out in the yard with a little bit of gardening before my back stopped me, as I use to love getting out in the garden with him at our old house, and new house need so much work. It was quite a warm day here in geelong and it was a couple of hours before I was due for lunch. I found that I must have done just a bit too much and drank heaps of water cause I was so hot, but then started feeling very light headed and a bit shaky and hungry, so I went and had a lie down, and was feeling very ordinary. I though I might try a nectarine but could only get in a couple of bits then Next thing I know the nauseous feeling was so over whelming and I just threw up about 1.5lts of water and the fruit. I was massive, my husband made me some steak and salad for lunch, but could only get the steak in and couple of bits of cucumber and then I fell asleep for a couple of hours. Not completely sure if it was because I did too much with not enough food, or maybe a little to do with the pain killers I'm on for my back.

I still am not feeling very good, but better than I was this afternoon. Just a bit drained. So I would recommend not to much exercise in the future for me, even though most people would consider what I did to not be much, but I have not much due to my back and with the heat today that would not have helped matters either.

Anyway looking forward to dinner. Making chicken and vegies in iceburg lettuce wraps for dinner. I love using the iceburg lettuce to make wraps, I can put so many different things in it. Very Tasty!

Hi Sal

So sorry you ended up not feeling well. Like you said it could have been a number of reasons but I hope you are feeling better by tomorrow.
Even though you had a rotten day you still have the enthusiasm to make sure you are eating right. You give the rest of us the encouragement (especially me) to keep at it - and not cave into the dark side.

Hope you have a restful night and get well soon.

Sam:)

Hi Sal!

I've been very busy this past week and I'm catching up on everyone's diaries etc. I've been feeling somewhat alone lately, which is my own fault as I've not been here as often as I should have been. :) Just wanted to say that I feel EXACTLY like you do about the 'one night' thing. I would really love to be able to just go out to dinner, even eating healthy, a salad or something. It being Valentines on Thursday didn't help either :) he he Me and the WF have a tradition of going to a very nice restaurant on Valentines and this year, we spent it at home. The WF did give me some lovely earrings. I told him this week that I would sell my body for a pizza that would not hinder my diet. :D only joking but I would really like some pizza :d

But we're going to be strong and by November the two of us will look back at this craving for food and we'll be comfortable in our own skins and it will be soooooooo worth NOT having the pizza :) Or so I keep telling myself anyway He he he

I'm sorry to hear that you didn't feel too well today. I hope you feel better tomorrow.

Good luck for the week :jump:

Feeling better today just a little tired. Today was a very hungry day for some reason. I have felt so hungry most of the day, at least 2-2.5hrs before I was due to eat. Had plenty of water and all my fruit and biscuits, but still wanting more. I hope that it passes by tomorrow.

Tonight I made the first receipe from this website Diet Meals Never Looked So Good..! (http://forums.chef2chef.net/showflat.php?Cat=1&Number=394174&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1) - Spinach Chicken Roll but I added garlic to it. Was very hummy tasted a little like a mini roast. Hubby liked it to. I did cook some up for my daughter but she ended up having dinner with the neighbors kids over the road so the dogs will get hers.

Esthee I hope you start feeling better soon. You know you always have a friend and support here with me. I too would sell my body just for a couple of bites of my favourite pizza... lol...joking:willy_nilly:, but i know where you are coming from.

Sam, thankyou for those lovely words made me feel quite proud of myself as usually if I am having a bad I do resort to food, but not this time, stuck to plan :hurray:

It has been a very hot day here in Geelong and my hisband is now out helping one of our neighbours fix up his frount yard and my daughter is still playing with the neighbours kids and making a mess through the house, might start to organise her for bed and send them home.

Will be a warm night tonight and hot again tomorrow, I don't do well in the heat, so I will be inside all day tomorrow with the aircon on. And I don't have a car tomorrow and hubby is in melb for meeting and the other car is in getting fixed (and that is just another long story)

Have a lovely night to everyone and I will try and catch you all tomorrow.

Sal, You have got over one of those big hurdles that get put in our way. You've done it. Next summer you won't struggle so much, if at all, with the heat. You'll be able to tackle the garden without feeling sick & exhausted. It will all be so much easier & more enjoyable. Well done on getting through the last few days successfully. It's not easy! You did it!! Cheers, Cate

Thanks Cate for the wonderful words of encouragement. Made me realise what I have done and that I did actually stick to it even while unwell, which is normally when I would resort to food.

Well today is another stinker in Geelong, Still 37deg out the back so my thermometer is telling me, not sure how hot is actually got to. I have not been outside all day. Only answered to do to talk to my neighbour and give a coffee mug to a customer who came to pick it up. And both times were dreadful with the heat.

Been working on few design jobs and a DVD cover and CD for 4WD TV. I had nearly finished the DVD cover and my stupid computer crashed and corrupted the file, so I lost all my hard work and had to start all over again. I hate that. My computer is in such a bad state at the moment, really desparately needs a format. Lucky I am married to a computer genius, the only thing is I have to be without my computer for him to format it, as it is so hard with running my businesses and I am just so addicted. But it really is less than a day. It would save alot of headaches and yelling at the stupid thing. Felt like just giving it a bit of a kick today tho or maybe thought that it might like to see what it was like to fly. :ack2: lol

On the Cohens front, I am finding that I am hungry after breakfast the yogurt just isn't doing it for me. I tried thinking very positive about eggs so that I could have something different, and cooked them up this morning, but I started gaging and threw some up when I tried to eat them:puke:. I use to like an occasional egg, until that was all I had for breaky for the first 2 weeks and now for some reason just can't handle them:ack2:. It is starting to get a bit that way with the yogurt and mango smoothie in the morning too. And I am really not into the cheeses that you are allowed on Cohen's either. All the other meals are fine, I am just really really struggling with breaky. Any suggestions would be really helpful. I just wish that I could have a piece of Toast and Vegemite every morning or even vegemite on a craker, I would never get sick of that. I lived on it for my entire childhood and I just love it. I kissed my daughter yesterday morning with her Vegemite lips and had a small taste....mmm made me smile and I started drooling, my husband just laughed at me. I just keep telling myself that this breaky thing is not forever, however when I can stop this breaky thing and have something I actually like will be fantastic, it is just far away. I hope I can make it.

Anyway other than that, I am heading to the end of my for 4wks this friday, so very excited to see what the first mth's work as done for me. Bring it on!!!

Hi Sal,

I'm glad to hear that its going well on your program. :) I understand your frustration with the breakfast completely. Why not try and have some meat and veggies instead? Something else is to eat the egg with balsalmic vinegar over it, that helps for me. But then, in the past I was on a diet where I had to eat tuna for lunch everyday. In the beginning it was fine, but I did this for 2 years :willy_nilly: and now I can't touch it. I hate tuna now. No amount of mayo can make me eat it. So you'll just have to see how bad the eggs are? I eat a different meal each time. One morning I'll have yogurt mixed with coffee (I love this :) ) and one morning I'll have mushrooms with melted mozarella cheese over it. That is really yummy too. Otherwise I'll have some imitation crab sticks with stirfried veggies and some mayo lite with that.

Good luck with the 4 week mark. I went for my bloodtests yesterday and I've got an appointment with my consultant Thursday.

Take care

Hi Sal

You are doing so well. I am so proud of you. With regards to your breakfast I have to admit I was one of the lucky ones who didn't get sick of yoghurt. I did have the occassional egg to add variety. Esthee just mentioned mozzerralla melted over mushrooms. Well this was one of my favourites I would grill tomatoe, mushroom and melt the cheese over it and have it on a cracker allowance a sprinke of herbs....viola!!!! I loved this dish and probably ate too much of this dish...I say this due to my weightloss slowing down.
Cohens is restrictive in so many ways......but it really is worth it in the end. Would you be able to handle prawns or chicken in the morning???? cause if you can maybe you should have that for brekkie.
Hope you work it Sal.

Sam:)

Well today is 1 mth since I started on Cohens and
I have lost ....9.6kg for the mth
I am pretty happy with that.

The last 2 weeks has been pretty slow however last week was a loss of only 1.8kg and this week a very tiny 0.7kg. Not sure why this might be. Maybe not enough water? I was also sick last week a little so didn't eat much. Who knows, but it is a loss non the less. I was hoping for a nice round 10kg for the mth, but 9.6kg is close enough.

Thanks to Sam and Esthee for the advise on Breaky. However I don't like balsamic vinegar, mozzarella, mushrooms. This is the problem that I am having with breaky I really don't like any of it. I am finding it hard to swallow the yogurt, but it is only thing I can get down, just. Eggs are a no go, I tried them again this week and just brought them up and I was trying to think so positivly about them before I started eating telling myself how yummy they were going to be, until they hit my mouth and I just could not swallow. I might try having meal 2 or 3 in the morning with meat and veg, however I still need to eat meal 1 sometime throughout the day, and I am stuck with mango in yogurt. This is going to be a really struggle as I have such a long way to go. I am not sure what I am going to do :-( I wish I was like my husband, he can eat anything at all and there is not 1 thing that I have found that he cannot or will not eat. I would so love to be like that.

Anyway got a busy day will try to catch up on everyone diaries and update my stats later on today.

Well today is 1 mth since I started on Cohens and I have lost ....9.6kg for the mth
I am pretty happy with that.The last 2 weeks has been pretty slow however last week was a loss of only 1.8kg and this week a very tiny 0.7kg.
9.6kgs in a month-fantastic!!
Included in that 9.6kgs was a 2 week loss of 2.5kg, meaning an average loss of
2.4kg per week -WOW!!
Congratulations Sal!!
:party::party::party:
You're a star!!
To quote (accurately I hope) an old song...
"You've got to accentuate the positive,Eliminate the negative......................."

Try your yoghurt, but with different fruit later in the day. I still often have fruit & yoghurt for lunch. I used to make a fruit salad out of my fruit allowance. I would often mix honey dew, mango,kiwi fruit & orange. I would always weigh my fruit so might be 1/2 mango allowance etc but would = my fruit allowance for the day. It makes it easier to keep tabs as well.Cheers, Cate.

What an amazing result Sal. How do you feel?????
You have shown alot of strength and resilience through this month and WOW!!!!! hasn't it paid off.
And your slow down in weight was mostly due to you not feeling well and not consuming all your meals.....but do not dwell on the negatives, you have reached your first month loss....... so give yourself a great big hug.

Have a wonderful day.

Sam:)

GREAT JOB SAL!!! WHERE IN GEELONG ARE YOU? i AM A GEELONG-ITE TOO! HOW BIZARRE!

I reckon that's an awesome result. Be proud of yourself! :hurray:

That must be hard with breakfast, I have no ideas cos I am loving the smoothies at the moment but it's only been two weeks... good luck!

I have to go cook my ravinous children dinner but I'll be back later... we should meet for a herbal tea sometime! :cheers2:

Hi Sal!

Congratulations!!!!!! Woooo Hoooo you've made it through the first month!!

I'm so glad you're still here with me :) And wow what amazing results??? When I'm in Melbourne, I'll definitely meet you for some coffee :)

:party: I hope you are really really really proud of yourself... I am :)

Have a wonderful weekend...

Looking forward to seeing your measurements, you are an inspiration. xxx

Oh and those chicken roll thing's sound yum! I have to go peek at that site. Thanks! :)

End of Week 4 - 22nd Feb 2008

Weight Start - 119.1kg
Wk 1 - 114.5kg
Wk 2 - 112.0kg
Wk 3 - 110.2kg
Wk 4 - 109.5kg
Wkly Loss - 0.7kg
Total Loss - 9.6kg

Arm Start - 50cm
Wk 1 - 50cm
Wk 2 - 49cm
Wk 3 - 48cm
Wk 4 - 47.5cm
Wkly Loss - 0.5cm
Total Loss - 2.5cm

Bust Start - 120cm
Wk 1 - 119cm
Wk 2 - 119cm
Wk 3 - 119cm
Wk 4 - 118.5cm
Wkly Loss - 0.5cm
Total Loss - 1.5cm

Waist Start - 123cm
Wk 1 - 119cm
Wk 2 - 114cm
Wk 3 - 113.5cm
Wk 4 - 113cm
Wkly Loss - 0.5cm
Total Loss - 10.5cm

Hips Start - 141cm
Wk 1 - 141cm
Wk 2 - 139cm
Wk 3 - 138cm
Wk 4 - 138cm
Wkly Loss - 0cm
Total Loss - 3cm

Thigh Start - 80cm
Wk 1 - 79.5cm
Wk 2 - 76cm
Wk 3 - 75.5cm
Wk 4 - 74.5cm
Wkly Loss - 1cm
Total Loss - 5.5cm

Neck Start - 41cm
Wk 1 - 40.5cm
Wk 2 - 40cm
Wk 3 - 39cm
Wk 4 - 39cm
Wkly Loss - 0cm
Total Loss - 2cm

Upper Bust Start - 118cm
Wk 1 - 115.5cm
Wk 2 - 115cm
Wk 3 - 112cm
Wk 4 - 112cm
Wkly Loss - 0cm
Total Loss - 6cm

Under Bust Start - 112cm
Wk 1 - 110cm
Wk 2 - 106cm
Wk 3 - 106cm
Wk 4 - 106cm
Wkly Loss - 0cm
Total Loss - 6cm

Wrist Start- 20cm
Wk 1 - 20cm
Wk 2 - 19.5cm
Wk 3 - 19.5cm
Wk 4 - 19.5cm
Wkly Loss - 0cm
Total Loss - 0.5cm

Calf Start- 49cm
Wk 1 - 49cm
Wk 2 - 45.5cm
Wk 3 - 45.5cm
Wk 4 - 44.5cm
Wkly Loss - 1cm
Total Loss - 4.5cm

Belly Button Start - 120cm
Wk 1 - 116cm
Wk 2 - 115cm
Wk 3 - 113cm
Wk 4 - 112cm
Wkly Loss - 1cm
Total Loss - 8cm

Total Start cm's - 974
Wk 1 - 959.5cm
Wk 2 - 938cm
Wk 3 - 929cm
Wk 4 - 925cm
Wkly Loss - 4cm
Total Loss - 49cm

Not a very good week weight or measurement wise, it was quite upsetting, but still it was a loss even though it was small. I hope for a better week next week.

Well I am having a very relaxing day today. Not too much work on today, so have been relaxing around the house with my little girl and watching a few of her kid shows and reading a few books. My husband is not home today, he is in Melb for meeting.

I have another new house keeper stating again tomorrow, the last one only lasted 2 weeks and then she just stopped turning up and she would not answer my calls. It is so annoying, I don't have one for just any reason, it is because I just can't do my housework because of my back and really need the help. I go through an agency and I get the next clean for free with the new housekeeper, so I just hope she does and good job and is reliable.

Tomorrow is a day I have been waiting for since the start of Dec. I go to see the specialist (neurosurgeon) about my back, finally. It has been such a long wait to get into see him. I will them know where abouts I stand and what need to be done, and how much money and the waiting period if an operation is required. It is all a bit daunting, but it will be nice to know exactly what has to be done rather than just thinking about it all the time.

On the Cohens front, I am still doing really well, drinking more water and eating closer to the 5hr mark, as last week I was sometimes eating at the 6-7hr mark. I hope this might bring the weight loss up this week. Well here's hoping anyway.

Thanks Sam, Cate Esthee and Jen for all your wonderful words of encouragement. Yes I am feeling good. I am actually starting to feeling it in a couple of items of clothing now which is very encouraging.

Esthee would love to get together and meet when you come to Melb, we will both looking great by then, maybe we could do a bit of clothes shopping together :coolgleamA:. I hope you had a wonderful birthday the other day.

Jen I am in Lara, where abouts are you? Yes the chicken roll things are great. You can put whatever you want in them, I try different things in them all the time. The tomato helps to keep them a bit more moist i think. Sometimes i don't use the rosemary, but garlic instead they also taste nice.

Anyway I have to go, my little girl is annoying me and wants some more attention and I am finding it hard to type with her hanging off my arm.

Take care everyone and I will be back later to catch up on everyone's diaries.

Oh also does anyone know how to change the name of the thread. I never even noticed, but my husband said to me the other day that my thread name say's " Sal's Dairy - My Journey" how funny, I am not a dairy farmer, I don't own any cows!!! :smilielol5:So need to change it to Diary, I think that would be much better, what do you think??

Sal- That made me laugh. I noticed it said Dairy as well but decided not to tell you as I don't think you can change it yourself. If it bothers you contact them at the forum & they may be able to change it for you. You're doing well with the program so don't lose heart. The weight will go, don't worry, cheers for now, Cate.

LOL at the dairy. I didn't notice.

I am in Newcomb but we just listed to sell and will probably buy or rent in Hern Hill/Manifold heights or Hamlyn Heights cos Zeke's enrolled in 4 yo kinder over there! Things will be crazy here for about a month but maybe after Easter we can get together for a cuppa?

Your measurements look awesome to me. I reckon your doing so well. I have no clue about the eating times either, but it's worth a try to see if it makes a difference! Good girl for drinking more water. I am still running to the loo every ten seconds here... does that ever stop? lol

OH well. Keep smiling darls. XXX Jen

Hi Everyone

I have been so busy I have hardly had a chance to pop in for a visit.

I have had problems with the new housekeeper, she was a shocker, missed so much, didn;t even clean the kitchen or dust any where, and so much more, but can't be bothered to list. So i rang the cleaning company and they were trying to find someone else, and now they tell me that no one will come out my way to clean. I now have to try and find someone else myself. It is such a hassel. I just need some help, I just can't do it myself. I wish I could as I would do such a better job.

I have also been a little upset this week. I finally after 3 mths got into see the specialist and he was no help what so ever, just made me feel like a number. He only did his job, asked me a few questions and when I was not totally sure of exactly where some of the pain was, like my pins and needles just an approx location.. he said to me "you have had 2 years to know!!" I didn;t have them while i was sitting there so couldn't say exactly, and I don;t like to focus on the pain too much, I know I have it all the time, but I am not sitting there thinking OH! it hurts exactly here and here!! I just know it bloody hurts. As soon as we left and I was walking down the corridor I got the pins and needles and I could have told him then. Also I never got to ask all the questions I wanted, he just gave my a flyer to read and sent me on my way. It felt so rushed and after paying $180 I thought I would have got more answers. I had a cry when I left and then when I got home gave my mum a call and had another cry with her. I do however have to go up to Melbourne for a MRI in another week or so and then another 3 weeks to get back into the specialist. I am hoping that next time I get in to see him, I will get more answers that I need. I was just so upsetting especially after waiting so long to get in with him and how much money it cost for 15mins.

Anyway there is my little rant...

I have had a better week this week with weight loss I lost 2.5kg that is a total of 12.1kg in 5 weeks. I did not however measure myself this week. I thought I might do that 1 a mth from now on.

Anyway I am really busy with easter orders, better get some work done. I will try to get in and ready everyones diaries over the next day or so. I hope everyone is well.

Hi Sal!

Congrats on your 12kg!! It really is amazing how we're able to lose so much weight in such a short amount of time. Yeah for us :D :hurray:

I know how cool it is to look at clothes you'll be able to wear once we're skinny :) My laptop is full of wedding dresses at the moment. I cant wait :)

Have a wonderful day!

Sal, You poor thing! Specialists, in particular can be such pigs & have no bed-side manner. Whenever you feel the pain or have the pins & needles write it down & when you see him next be prepared. I don't think it hurts to tell these people when they are rude or inconsiderate. It helps to write down what you would like to say before you go in to see him. I often find that when I am prepared to really tell them how I feel they all of a sudden are so sweet & nice & helpful!!
I think it's a much better idea to measure yourself once a week & weigh only once a month. There would only very rarely not be a loss of cm's but sometimes there is not a weight-loss & that can be off-putting. It's the recommended thing to do & is a safer option. You are going great guns still, cheers, Cate.

Well today has been so busy.

My daughter started day care today for thurs, she usally goes on Mondays but has been loving it, so we decided to put her in onother day a week. She is such a busy little girl and has a full social calender for a 2.5yr old.

Shai's Week (My daughter)
Monday - Day Care
Tues - Day off (we call this pjammie party day - hubby is in Melbourne for meeting and we get get to spend the day at home together with no plans.)
Wed - Music Classes - Shai & Mum's special activity.
Thur - Day Care
Fri - Swimming lessons - Shai & Dad's special activity.

Last night I was a little naughty, I wanted a cracker and I spread a very thin amount of vegemite on it, I just miss it so much, so it was my little treat. I savored every bit, was very yummy, but a bit naughty at the same time.

My husband is going 4wding tomorrow night. Him and a few friends are doing a night run. Might be fun, I have the opportunity to leave shai with the neighbor as she doesn't want to go and her husband is, but I am contemplating just staying home relaxing by myself for the night. When they go on a night run 4wd, they are usually not home till early morning like somewhere between 3-5am. Might be nice to sprawl out in the bed and watch some movies. Will see how I feel tomorrow.

Anyway I better go get Shai's pj's ready, her and WH are in the spa flooding the bathroom, but sounds like fun, lots of giggling. Might go jump in with them for 5mins before I have to get her ready for bed.

Tomorrow is weigh in day for the end of week 6.... wonder where I am now???

We I am at home, WH has gone out driving with his friend for the night up near wombat state forest. They should enjoy that. I don't expect him to be home until somewhere between 4-6am. And then he will want to sleep all day.

I am here with Shai, she is not very well at all. She has that dreadful barking cough happening at the moment, I have rugged her up in bed with a vaporiser on with some vicks. I hope to break all the gunk up on her chest so the poor little darling can breath better.

Today was weigh in day for and I have now lost a total of 14.3kg after 6 weeks. Not bad if I do say so myself.

My mum sent over some cold case tv series to watch, so I am going to curl up in bed and watch some tv and have some me time. I was hoping for a spa, but it is down Shai's end of the house and I don't want to disturb her so might leave that one. Will try and get some rest, but I have a feeling it is going to be a long night with my little girl so sick.

Will post my weekly stats and then have a shower and jump into bed.

End of Week 6 - 7th Mar 2008

Weight Start - 119.1kg
Wk 1 - 114.5kg - 3.9kg
Wk 2 - 112.0kg - 3.2kg
Wk 3 - 110.2kg - 1.8kg
Wk 4 - 109.5kg - 0.7kg
Wk 5 - 107.0kg - 2.5kg
Wk 6 - 104.8kg - 2.2kg
Total Loss - 14.3kg

Arm Start - 50cm
Wk 1 - 50cm - 0cm
Wk 2 - 49cm - 1cm
Wk 3 - 48cm - 1cm
Wk 4 - 47.5cm - .5cm
Wk 5 - missed
Wk 6 - 46.5cm - 1cm
Total Loss - 3.5cm

Bust Start - 120cm
Wk 1 - 119cm - 1cm
Wk 2 - 119cm - 0cm
Wk 3 - 119cm - 0cm
Wk 4 - 118.5cm - .5cm
Wk 5 - missed
Wk 6 - 116cm - 1.5cm
Total Loss - 3cm

Waist Start - 123cm
Wk 1 - 119cm - 4cm
Wk 2 - 114cm - 5cm
Wk 3 - 113.5cm - .5cm
Wk 4 - 113cm - .5cm
Wk 5 - missed
Wk 6 - 112cm - 1cm
Total Loss - 11.5cm

Hips Start - 141cm
Wk 1 - 141cm - 0cm
Wk 2 - 139cm - 2cm
Wk 3 - 138cm - 1cm
Wk 4 - 138cm - 0cm
Wk 5 - missed
Wk 6 - 135cm - 3cm
Total Loss - 6cm

Thigh Start - 80cm
Wk 1 - 79.5cm - .5cm
Wk 2 - 76cm - 2.5cm
Wk 3 - 75.5cm - .5cm
Wk 4 - 74.5cm - 1cm
Wk 5 - missed
Wk 6 - 74.5 - 0cm
Total Loss - 5.5cm

Neck Start - 41cm
Wk 1 - 40.5cm - .5cm
Wk 2 - 40cm - .5cm
Wk 3 - 39cm - 1cm
Wk 4 - 39cm - 0cm
Wk 5 - missed
Wk 6 - 39cm - 0 cm
Total Loss - 2cm

Upper Bust Start - 118cm
Wk 1 - 115.5cm - 2.5cm
Wk 2 - 115cm - .5cm
Wk 3 - 112cm - 3cm
Wk 4 - 112cm - 0cm
Wk 5 - missed
Wk 6 - 110.5cm - 1.5cm
Total Loss - 7.5cm

Under Bust Start - 112cm
Wk 1 - 110cm
Wk 2 - 106cm
Wk 3 - 106cm
Wk 4 - 106cm
Wk 5 - missed
Wk 6 - 104.5cm - 1.5cm
Total Loss - 6cm

Wrist Start- 20cm
Wk 1 - 20cm - 0cm
Wk 2 - 19.5cm - .5cm
Wk 3 - 19.5cm - .0cm
Wk 4 - 19.5cm - 0cm
Wk 5 - missed
Wk 6 - 19.5 - 0cm
Total Loss - 0.5cm

Calf Start- 49cm
Wk 1 - 49cm - 0cm
Wk 2 - 45.5cm - 3.5cm
Wk 3 - 45.5cm - 0cm
Wk 4 - 44.5cm - 1cm
Wk 5 - missed
Wk 6 - 44.5 - 0cm
Total Loss - 4.5cm

Belly Button Start - 120cm
Wk 1 - 116cm - 4cm
Wk 2 - 115cm - 1cm
Wk 3 - 113cm - 2cm
Wk 4 - 112cm - 1cm
Wk 5 - missed
Wk 6 - 109cm - 3cm
Total Loss - 11cm

Total Start cm's - 974
Wk 1 - 959.5cm - 14.5cm
Wk 2 - 938cm - 21.5
Wk 3 - 929cm - 9cm
Wk 4 - 925cm - 4cm
Wk 5 - missed
Wk 6 - 912cm - 13cm
Total Loss - 49cm

Hi Sal

Sorry to hear about your little one, nothing worse then a sick child, I used to do exactly the same thing as you with my two treating them with vicks and a vaporiser especially when we lived in Melbourne.

And congratulations again on your loss of 14.3kg in 6 weeks WOW!!!!!!!!
How are you feeling? Silly question......you must look and feel estatic.

Enjoy your night in and hope you get a bit of rest.

Sam:)

Sal, congratulations on 14.3kgs weight loss and OMG look at your measurements...That's awsome.
You have a housekeeper??? I wish.....
I too have had a gut full of specialist in my time. Where do you have the pins and needles?
I'm in Newcomb.
X
Ez

congratulations on the weight loss, i am right at the same weight as you right now, and I hope to lose the rest of my weight by the end of the year

Hi Sal!

Wow I'm jealous ;) You have now officially overtaken me ;) I'll have to make sure to up my game a bit he he he. Congratulations!!!! :sifone: you must really be feeling amazing right now.

Hope this week is a good one

Esthee

Hi Sal

Just checking to see how your going. Hope everything is okay.

And congratulations BBubbles21 on your amazing 67lb lost that converted to kilos is over 30kg.
I would love to read your journey have you got a diary on this forum????? if not it would be worth it for you and us. Well done again.
SaM:)

Hi Everyone,

I have had a really busy week this week with easter on the way, I have been flat out with chocolate mould orders, so when I get a chance to get on the computer it has only been for work.

We have had a few hot days here, which I hate casue I am not a hot weather girl, I get a bit moody when it is too hot and I cannot cool down.

On Thursday I finally had my MRI scan for my back. The people at the MRI place in the Melbourne hospital lost my records and appointment as I was supposed to go on Wednesday, and I told them I was not very happy as I had an appointment with the specialist on the 26th and it take forever to get in with him, so if I don;t get the MRI scan in time for the results to get to him, that was going to be a big pain. So they put me in for 8pm on Thur night. When I got there there was no one there and the place was locked up and I had to ring to get it, but there was no waiting as they were waiting for me, so straight in and 30 mins later it was all over. I had an MRI scan when I was in primary school, so very young, and the tube they put you in felt so much bigger back then. I didn't think it would bother me, but when they first started sliding me inside I could feel my heart rate going up, and I told myself don't be silly sally, just calm down, so I closed my eyes and did some deep breathing and after a couple of mins I was fine. Must be the old age creeping up on me and the thought of laying in a coffin. lol Anyway that is finally over now just the wait to get in with the neosurgon again. I hope he is better this time and not such a rude *#&* again.

I have a couple of confessions to make aswell.

Last Sunday night we had some friend come over for dinner and we had a BBQ. I still made myself a cohens dinner while they had the yummy BBQ, but I did put half a shot of rum in a can of diet coke, but only drank 1/4 of the can and gave the rest to WH.

On Tues my husband and I went to Melb to pick up some ink for our printer and I was feeling good about my weightloss and we left just before my lunch time, so I told my husband that I would really like a small treat. So we stopped as Subway and got a roll. I did however make a healthy choice. I only got a 6" sub with chicken and salad, no sauce or cheese. I was actully proud of myself for choosing the healthy option and not caving to the temptions.

I was quite interested to see what my results for weight loss would then be for the week on Friday, as I did deviate a little. I would have been very annoyed if I didn't loose anything as I still choose the healthy option at subway and only a very small amount of rum. Because if they scales didn't go down after that small amount, what would I do when I finally reach my goal, would I have to never touch anything but cohens food forever. I know it was silly thinking, but it was my first deviation and I was nto sure what the results would be.

Anyho... I lost 2.1kg for the week. So a grand total of 16.4kg for 7wks.

Then last night we had a social gathering with our 4WD club at a pub for dinner. I did buy and not take my food. I order from the menu a 250g eye fillet with vegies only, no potato and no gravy. I only ate half the eye fillet, however there was a bit of butter or something on the veggies. I also had one glass of diet coke with half a shot of rum. I gave the rest of my steak and some of the vegies to my WH and daughter.

So we will see what the end of this week brings.

I also have to go out for dinner tomorrow for a friends birthday, not sure if I am going to buy from the menu, probably just meat and steamed vegies again, or if I will take something. It is just there is going to be some many people there that I don't know and I don't want to look silly sitting there with my home made salad. Not sure yet what I am going to do.

I will try and get in to read everyone diaries now and catch up as I have not been in for a little while. I hope everyone is well.

bbubbles21 thanks for the lovely comments. and OMG what a great effort you have made, what a fantastic number to loose. Congratulation on where you have gotten so far and good luck for the future, you are going to do great if you have already made it this far.
Yes I have a house keeper, only because I need one one due to a serious back problem I cannot do it myself. It took me ages to give into all my friend and family telling me to get one, because I was struggling so much with it. And it is so hard to take it easy when the house is a mess and I would over do it with my back and end up worse because of trying to keep a clean house. She is only here 3hrs once a week.

Esthee you are still doing great, you may end up catching with me again with the deviation I have had recently. How many deviations have you had? I am glad we have the same goals together

Hi Sam, thanks for popping in, yes I am am doing o.k weigh wise, not so good with my back and keeping up with running my business and being a stay at home mum. It is just very full on at the moment. but I will get there in the end, no need to complain to much, there are worse people out there with worse problems than mine. And I am on the way to fixing the back stuff. Well that is what I keep telling myself to try to keep positive.

I will be back later to do my weekly stats.

Hi Everyone,

bbubbles21 thanks for the lovely comments. and OMG what a great effort you have made, what a fantastic number to loose. Congratulation on where you have gotten so far and good luck for the future, you are going to do great if you have already made it this far.




Thank you for your encouraging works, I just found this forum a few weeks ago, people on here are so nice, I just can't wait to lose my next four pounds because then I will be half way to my ultimate goal

Hello Sal,

I hope you don't mind me popping in. It is inspiring to see that you have already lost so much weight.

Hope you have had a better time these past few days and there has been less deviations.

All of the best,

:seeya:

Hi Sal,

Just wanted to pop in and say happy easter! I haven't deviated much, but I must admit I'm experimenting at the moment. I had a whiskey last night and it doesn't look like it is actually affecting me negatively. It's the only thing I really miss. There's nothing like a good whiskey when its freezing outside.

Hope you are doing well! I broke the 100kg mark this week. Whoo hooooo :)

Esthee

Hi Sal

Where are you? Is everything okay with you and the family?
I've noticed your absence for awhile now. Let us know if you are alright.

Sam:)

Hi Sal,

how are you doing?

Hope you, the back and Cohens are all going ok. Let us know, we miss you!

Annie Lusion
p.s starting a challenge on Monday if you are interested.