Sharon's Life After Diet

[Sharon]

DAY 1(1st day of maintainance)
Have gained 100gm overnight
My last weigh for the program at 24 weeks is 52.5kg
Managed to come into maintainance at 500gm below goal
AIM
My original goal set by the good DR was 51-53 kg, I would like to sit around 52kg so I have a bit of margin to move up and down comfortably (not sure where the 51.9 came from 4 days ago - but that will be my aim)
But first there is christmas, and will be happy to just to maintain or recover quickly.

[Mama Lake]

Sharon,
You should be able to maintain pretty easily. I have been doing it on my own for a while now and feel pretty good, looking forward to getting back on plan, but doing well now.

Just focus on healthly foods, you know what your limits are and enjoy your family, all will be well.
Cindy

Merry Christmas.

[Zee]

Hi Sharon,

Congratulations!!!! you have made it to the end, I am so happy for you. Now you can truly enjoy your new skinniness and a couple of drinks over xmas.

Have a wonderful christmas and I look forward to hearing about your maintenance.

Zee

[lfingers11]

Sharon,
Inquiring minds, or maybe just me, wants to know what special thing did you have today????

Pam

[Sharon]

Not a special thing but things, My Cohen credit card is in deficite, not a good thing but, thats ok cos I expected it, as I mentioned earlier a girlfriend took me to lunch and I had a beautiful snapper and scallop pie (more like a chowder) in a bowl with a pastry top and a side salad, a vanilla brulee dessert and a couple of glasses of wine, then when I got home had some cheese and crackers with a dram of whiskey with hubby to celebrate with him - he had been refusing to open his bottle we gave him for fathers day until I finished, needless to say I had just veges and steak for tea, followed by lots of water. So the next few days will be putting me back into credit again, kept low carb today, this may be my pattern until the 26th when xmas will be done and dusted, but thats ok as long as I keep paying the bills as they come in. The rum and coke is sitting there for me but thought it best to wait and not have all my treats in one day.

What about you? did you indulge like me?

[Bronwyn]

Hi Sharon,

Congratulation on finsihing refeed and joining the "real world" again. Yes - it is easy to indulge after having been "deprived" for so long. Sounds like you've got an excellent plan of attack for maintaining through the holidays while enjoying yourself too. I'm so happy for you that you have completed this journey. All the best to you!!

[lfingers11]

Sharon,
I have had some pizza, cookies and a couple drinks. I find myself wanting more of these special treats but I think it is just the excitement of having so many new things. I decided for the next couple days I am doing no carb to get that refeed weight back off so I can enjoy xmas and xmas eve. Hope everything is going well.

Pam

[Sharon]

I had a bit of an indilgent time over the weekend and even though was not alot it did have an impact must admit, am keeping to the program for the build up to Xmas eve and Xmas day, but along with the goodies are lots of salads, then I have a feeling it will be damage control to get me back to where I want/ need to be.

[lfingers11]

Don't feel bad, the same thing happened here. I think most of mine was water retention because it all came off and then some!! Down to 121 this morning and will stay no carb for today so I can enjoy Wed/Thursday! Have a great holiday!

[Sharon]

Oh my goodness, my poor body over responded to Xmas in a major way, I thought I could have coped better with the weight off but no such luck, may not have helped that I was only JUST off the program, so I start the post xmas period with placing myself on strict Cohen and H2O +++ until I sort myself out. Any more and I would be applying for a blood test - Aagh, lets hope easy on - easy off, All the extended family have gone on their merry way and needless to say all the treats have been removed from the bench, (the boys know where they are so they can help themselves) and the scales are back in their place. So I will be hanging around for a while on the threads taking back control.
But I have to say - I cooked up a storm and did enjoy myself emensly (and am eternally thankful Xmas comes but once a year).

[lfingers11]

Sharon,
Sorry to hear of your struggles but I am right there with you. Wasn't it great to have all those yummy things. Remember that the majority of this weight gain is water weight and it will come off fast. I normally won't be eating this badly but due to all the parties this is the 2nd time I have done no carb. Both times I had 7-8 pounds to take back off. I think the biggest issue with the weight gain is that there was ham at both of these parties. Tons of salt from ham means tons of water retention. It took me two days to get to 120.8 and three days to get to 120.2. This time I lost 4.2 pounds the first day. I still use olive oil to cook with and once a day use a tiny amount of salad dressing. Remember that (if i am remembering right , or this is how I have doing it) you don't need to measure your foods. Enjoy the nice protions you are use too. I just make sure I have no carbs at all and it comes right off. I still have my diet crackers.

I don't think my body reacts nicely to carbs at all. It will be easier to maintain everything once new years eve and the 3rd are out of the way. The 3rd my hubby's parents are taking us shopping and then to a nice italian restaurant. Yummm.....

Let us know how long it takes you and remember that it will fall right back off as long as you stay away from those treats for a couple of days. take care,
Pam

[Sharon]

Yes, It has been great having those treats, and I certainly have felt bloated the last few days. I'm no Carbs today as we had a house warming for some friends yesterday, but back to work today which will mark my getting totally back on track. With regard to the scales, I am weighing my cheese and yoghurt at the moment, just until I get back to where I want to be, the quantities were quite adequate while on the program, having the increased veges though. Ham is going to be an issue as we have a lovely big ham in the fridge that was only started last night so there will be ham salads which may slow things down a bit, but I have added quite a bit of salt thoughout the plan because of my postural hypertension, so may be ok.
Heard back from the consultant about refeed, obviously you don't get one consultant issued to you, it is a team and not all consultants are created equal.

Dear Sharon

Thank you for your e-mail.

Gaining some weight during the re-feeding is normal. You can get some weight even by drinking a lot of water or eating salty foods, etc. Therefore, gaining anything less than 1 Kg can be ignored. However, if you gain more than 1 Kg you need to go back 2 days of your program. To ensure that there is no misunderstanding lets use an example: Suppose you started your RF at your target weight of 53 Kg. If at any day you check your weight you passed 54 Kg ? go back two days.

Hope this clarified the matter.

Best regards

1st Personal Diet Team

It is the third consultant quote - hopefully they have it right this time, it sounds more like it.

[Zee]

Hi Sharon,

Sorry to hear that you have gained a little during the xmas period. I have been a very naughty girl and cheated over xmas, I gained 2kgs, but have beaten it down to 0.5kgs in 2 days, so it has actually put be back a week...grrrr very upset with myself!

Once you are on maintenance and you gain some weight, do they advise you go go back to your re-feed for 2 days or the actual diet for 2 days?

I hope the weight just drops off for you.

Best Regards
Zee

[lfingers11]

Sounds like that one consultant needs a little more training, huh? Well at least that is clarified. Sounds like you will be back where you need to be in a couple days. Have a great week.

[Sharon]

Hi Zee, hope you had a great Christmas.
I expected to gain a bit over the holiday period with a house load of family and treats - but was a little more than expected.
Well done for dropping your festive excess so quickly - you will be back on track in no time.
With your refeed diet you also get a 'Life after diet' plan
For instances like this they say - When you have a food overindulgence and gain weight your first line of defence is to eliminate all carbs / starches for 48 hours. [Other than that I suppose it is what works for you and the foods that work for you, ie low fat cheese eliminating 'bad fruits' etc I suppose, I have gone 2 meals a day back to Cohen as far as protein goes cos my gain was so significant, if it was just a meal or two and a smaller gain I probabaly would be more conservative in my handling of it].
Never allow yourself to go gain more that 4 kg [and I was close -3.9 - ouch] if you do they recommend blood tests and have a new program.
I must admit I am really tired - mix of the busy time, and the type of foods consumed over that period I suppose. Am looking forward to my days off where I can relax. And start getting into a sustainable routine.

Pam
Agree with the extra training required,
For me to drop off the extra it may take more than a couple of days - will be interesting to see how long with the cutting out the carbs.
Will catch you later.

[Zee]

Hi Sharon,

Ouch indeed, I am sure that was a little unexpected!

I have no doubt that with a little 1pd & tlc you will loose the excess quickly.

Christmas was great, I really did overdo it hence the weight gain, kicking myself now, but enjoyed it at the time:innocent4:

Thank you for the info, most useful, routine is key I believe. I hope you have some days off soon to recharge your batteries.

Happy New Year!

Zee

[Sharon]

I feel like I had more energy on Cohen than I do now with more calories and more varied diet, go figure. I've got 4 off so see how I go as far as recharge goes, and hope I am all ready for the challenge on Monday.
As far as Xmas goes Zee as long as you enjoyed yourself, otherwise it is real stink, it will take a little longer but your nearly there.
Happy New Year.

[Sharon]

I have lost 900gm of the added xmas bonus, by eating breakfast and lunch on cohen and conservative approach with a treat or two thrown in in the evening. Throughout the day water water water.

[Mei Mei]

Hello ladies!
The good news is, yes it does come off. I don't ever let myself get too far out though. I kind of freak out when I go over two pounds, but with one day of Cohen, can lose three pounds. Sharon, your last bit of advice is what I generally do. Eat Cohen style for breakfast and lunch, then I can be "normal" at dinner with a treat. In the three months since I finished refeed, I have only had to go pure Cohen, diet amounts with no carbs two times, one day each. We are vacationing in florida again, and the seafood and rich food gets me, as does the two days drive. I do my best, then am real careful. It is also fun to watch my hubby go through this and learn as he goes. Glad to hear everyone is doing so well. Happy New Year, and let's get back on track shall we!!! (I wieghed in this am up .5, but tomorrow morning is going to be ugly, I can tell.) I don't feel very good when I eat ric foods, and look forward to the pure veggies, fruit, and lean meat after a day or two of indulgence. That's the good news!
Blessings to all,
Mary

[Sharon]

Hi Mary, glad to hear all is going well, as far as balance and holiday. After Cohen's I think you get more of an awareness thet rich foods can have quite an effect on you, I was so tired and sluggish after Xmas and I think that can make it even harder to refocus. But thankfully I have lost another 400 gm overnight with repeating the plan from the day before, I am determined to get back to where I was.
Hope tomorrow isn't too ugly.
Take care.

[SurferGirl]

Hi Ladies,

It sounds like you are all doing a great job of getting back on track after the holidays. I must admit that I am Relieved the holidays are over. It was simply brutal with forbidden foods everywhere! I like to sniff carb (as my family says), meaning I usually like to smell the foods I can't have. There were so many that even the glimpse of satisfaction I normally get from sniffing was gone. Overkill, I guess. I managed to stay on plan, I think mainly because I knew refeed couldn't start without two weeks no cheat before hand. It's very interesting to hear about how the "bad" foods effect you, Sharon, after refeed.
My mom noticed that she went a little cookie crazy over the holidays (she was able to hold her goal weight but couldn't get the cookies off her mind). She noticed that eating sugar = craving sugar = eating more sugar, and so on.
Anyways, nice job getting back on track.
SurferGirl

[Mei Mei]

Hey Gals,
Yes, Surfer girl, I know the difficlty of sugar x sugar = wanting more sugar. It is fascinating in a creepy kind of way. I can really tell the difference when I eat sugar in a day and when I don't. It sets off a crazy cycle of wanting more sgar then, salty jnk, then sgar. But, if I behave, I feel so, so mch better and don't crave. My hubby has noticed too. We just drove two days back from Fla and ate too mch over New Years. We will go no carb for a few days, and if that doesn't et the extra ponds off, back to the diet. I'm up 3. The wonderful thing is, we are in control, and won't let it go frther. He is p 4, bt yo know how fast guys loose. I was so good over Christmas, it was the post, and now the T football playoff game, that is killing me...

I'm so happy for you to be on refeed soon! and Bravo for keeping clean over the holidays! I can't wait to see your after pics. Sharon, How's it going for you?

[Sharon]

Talk about slow!!! but I'm getting there, the rule of thumb is don't do too much damage before action, keep on top, as you said Mary - keep control - can be easier said than done, but I think it comes off alot easier / quicker when the excess it is not left to mature so to speak. I definately feel so much better this week and the "sugar foods" aren't tempting me now that they are out of my system. It must be great to be with someone on the same program, you may indulge together but you would also be dealing with it afterwards together, you guys must be a great team.
Surfergirl, you have done so well sticking to your program over the holiday period, well done, the thought of the two week recovery post cheat is a real killer when you are so close to refeed, its just not worth it eh. Glad your mum survived the cookie craze.

[lfingers11]

I am so glad you are doing so well. I hope everything is well and things continue to be great on maintaining.

[Sharon]

Good to hear from you Pam, and hope so too, I am 1.1 kg from my goal weight, I have been steadily loosing since I started back at work on Monday, will have a few little treats over the weekend, ie a glass or two of wine, a choc or two or a bikkie or two then back to nil extras for the following week, when I'm back to my goal i'll be better able to see how much my body will accept, I'm hoping this will work for me now that I have the weekends off and can spend them with the family and some occassional entertaining.
Talking about entertaining, how did the shopping and the pasta go?

[Zee]

Hi Sharon,

Glad to see that you are bouncing back after all the christmas and new years festivities and treats.

I have only 2.7 kgs to go till I can order my refeed woohoo, very excited.

Well done on your loss/maintenance.

Zee

[Sharon]

Zee that is so exciting, you have done so well, look forward to cheering you on.

[lfingers11]

congrats. You will be there soon!

[Sharon]

That is the question, the answer to my 'what will work for me on maintainance?' will be on the result of this week.
The weekend was carb indulgent (more so than what I would do if home on the weekend - was away in Takaka), and was a little nasty, have found that laden carbs are not satisfying to me but triggers a very strong hunger for more:hungry:, more so than sugar laden treats; and I also found a
Black Strap Rum {pirates}that is devine with diet coke that was also a part of my indulgence.
So I have started the week 2.3kg up from my pre weekend weight, I am not concerned by this as I have always had a significant response to any indulgent time, (more on per gram than I have eaten like, so highly probable that fluid will be part of the equasion). So I am on no carb (except for a Cohen allocation of crackers) for at least 48 hours, then responsible eating for the rest of the week (still hoping to get down to 52kg as my base rate). As I am not leaving it to mellow it should come off relatively easily with the appropriate Cohen response (unlike Xmas which was more protracted and the weight had time to concider which part of my anatomy it was going to set up residence), in the past before Cohen this is how I responded (not as ofen as I should have must admit) and it worked for me, so stands to reason still should (fingers crossed) - watch this spot.

[Zee]

Hi Sharon,

How is your maintenance going? Have you managed to maintain your weight. I was curious to see if you have been adding things like

Avacados
Nuts
Lentils/beans

into your diet at all, and if so what response have you had.

I am not quite at refeed yet, but getting closer everyday, so I am jumping the gun a little, but was curious because all of the above foods have got very good oils and fats that I think our bodies need, obviously in small quantities.

Also, eating 3 protien meals on maintenance might get quite expensive, I used to love Dahl (curried lentils) with rice and a salad before cohens, and was hoping I could still have this as a meal in the future.

I would love to hear your thoughts and see if you have been adding any of these or other foods post re-feed.

Zee

[Sharon]

Hi Zee,
Funny you should ask
I have just starting adding chickpeas to my diet, last night I had lean mince with undressed coleslaw (saves me buying different types to give me variety and there is no waste) and tomato with spices, chichpeas (190gm without fluid) and a little parmesan cheese before serve. I found it satisfying, bulk up my meat and had made enough to take some to work for today. The scales this morning have me down 1 kg from yesterday, it is the second time I have added them to my meals and I appear to be tolerating them well. They have carb but in comparison to pasta, bread and root vege they are about 1/3 -1/4 of the load per 100gm I think from memory, and I have thm instead of. Have some lentils which I havent added at this point - sound very nice as a curry, I have a book at home with all the carb / protien / cals of diff foods, I will have to compare. But it should work well on mainetinance, but I'd watch the rice portion.
I have an avacado at home which I haven't added to my diet as yet, Nuts, well they were in my indulgent period but will start adding small amounts once I am down to below my goal weight - either as a small snack or in a salad.
With regard to expence - I still have my yoghurt in the am, and for lunch a salad with either cold meat or cheese, or believe it or not still have cauliflower with light mozarella for work. I agree three protein meals a day could be potentially quite expensive.

[Zee]

Hi Sharon,

Well done on shedding 1kg in a day! That is fab news. Sounds like you are coping very well with the maintenance.

Thank you for the info, always appreciated. Sounds like the only time beans, lentils & chickpeas might become problematic is if you would to eat too much starch with the meal as they are complex carbs.

I guess it will be a little bit of trial and error to get the balance right after refeed.

If you like the sound of dahl, there are loads of recipes online, you use the red split lentils when cooked they have a lovely creamy texture - good in soups too.

Another dish that I was partial to was chicken and veg stirfry with about 2 small handfuls of cashew nuts crushed and thrown into the dish. Gives it a lovely flavour. Again, I guess I would have less of the chicken to make up for the nuts.

Keep me posted of any other interesting additions to your eating plan.

Have a great day
Zee

[Sharon]

Ta for the great ideas Zee, I've bought myself some red split lentils, not completely sure what i am going to do with them as yet, to start will probably will involve tomatoes and spices, and will have it as my carbohydrate. It is sooo much fun to play in the kitchen to find healthy and tasty alternatives.
Would be interested to know your favourite way to your lentils - as a dahl? cooked that way would it replace the heavier carbs?

[Zee]

Hi Sharon,

I have never eaten daal/dahl (not too sure on the spelling) as a carb before, I always used to eat it as a main meal with some rice and a salad, but I don't see why you couldn't use it as your carb portion, perhaps with a chicken breast or maybe some lamb and a salad.

Here is a quick and easy recipe for daal:

2 to 3 closed handfuls of red split lentils
1 onion finely chopped
2 tsp of salt
1 & Half tsp tumeric
2 tsp garam masala
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground corriander seeds
chopped fresh garlic, ginger & fresh chilli (1 green chilli)
half a tin of chopped tomatos (you could use fresh toms if you prefer)
1 knob of butter or olive oil (for frying)
Fresh corriander (cilantro) for garnish

Fry your onions till glassy, add all your spices and garlic, ginger & chilli & fry for a couple of minutes to release the flavours.
Add your tin tomatoes and lentils, stir in.
Add about 1 & half cups to 2 cups of water, simmer for about 20mins, the lentils will slowly lose their shape and go mushy.

You might need to add more water or reduce depending on how you like your daal, I like it fairly stiff and not too watery, but you decide. Also if you prefer it spicier you can add a little chilli powder for heat.

Garnish liberally with fresh chopped corriander leaves.

Let me know how it goes and if you like it?

Lentils are also great in soups, like veg soup, just a handful as the red lentils expand, great as a thickener and for flavour.

Have fun in the kitchen.
Zee

[Sharon]

Zee,
Ta heaps for the recipe, I am very keen to try it{pot}, will let you know how I go.

[Sharon]

Once you are on maintainance you should be able to enjoy it again with your rice and salad, as it is your 'carb' meal of the day, where you can have more than one type of carbs, but only a loading of carbs once a day.
Something to look forward to.

[Zee]

Hi Sharon,

That really is good news, and yes I am looking forward to it especially as I ORDERED MY REFEED TODAY, Woohoo, I am totally excited.....:cloud9::rolling2:

[Shasha]

Hi there Sharon

:shocked:
… but only a loading of carbs once a day….

{oops} {sorry} but there is {noway} anyone should be doing a “loading of carbs” – UNLESS of course and only if YOU ARE RUNNING IN A MARATHON the next day…

Remember too much starch = weight gain… so: SLOWLY on the carbs please everyone….

[Shasha]

{hi} there ZEE

I’M SO HAPPY FOR THEE!!! {wave} :clapping3: :party3:

[SPDeRosa]

Hey Zee! Congrats on reaching refeed!!!!!

~Shawn

[Sharon]

Hi there Sharon

:shocked:

{oops} {sorry} but there is {noway} anyone should be doing a “loading of carbs” – UNLESS of course and only if YOU ARE RUNNING IN A MARATHON the next day…

Remember too much starch = weight gain… so: SLOWLY on the carbs please everyone….


Shasha, sorry again, I'm not choosing my words well at the moment, (I'll blame it on my present work load, my brain is slipping out of gear by this time of the day), I was not meaning 'loading in the preparing for a marathon sence of the word' but the carb meal of the day, should have used the word 'intake'.

[Sharon]

Zee,
That is soo great, well done, you will so enjoy the refeed.

{boing}{congrats}{boing}

[Mei Mei]

Great job Zee!
Hey Sharon, how is maintenance going for you?
Mary

[Sharon]

I'm doing ok, sat down today and reviewed the program, lost touch with the Cohen rules over and post Dec so after a few hiccups thought it best I refamiliarize myself. Not that I have been gaining and keeping it on, but I pobably haven't been making it as easy on myself as I could. I've got some full on entertaining weekends coming up with my parents 50th wedding aniversary, friends for a special tea, my husbands 50th and then his work get together, all of which I am hosting, after that my husband and I am going away for a couple of days over our 2 week leave from work - (I've got a surprize or two lined up for him) it is a potential minefield so I want to be on top, cos I don't want to keep doing damage control but still enjoy myself. Planning to do a womans triathlon in the next couple of months so will have to start training, which will also help in the fitness and determination stakes.

How are you and your DH doing? How is you tennis game going?A great way to keep fit but believe me when I say I am absolutely hopeless at hitting the ball, I'd frustrate the pants off my opponent.

[Sexymama]

Hi Zee! Congrats on reaching refeed! How's it going?

Sharon, how are you? Looks like you are going to be busy! How great that you are going to be doing a triathalon! Wow! I would love to do that someday! Im so glad to hear you are doing so good!

Hi Mei Mei!!! How are you doing? I miss you!! Thank you for keeping me inspired and motivated. The prayer group really keeps me going. How is maintainance going?

[Sharon]

Hi Sexymama
How are you going? Your ticker is looking good, that shoe is definately steppin in the right direction.
The triathlon is one of those kind open to all woman, not a athletes one, thankgoodness, I'm looking forward to the challenge to get me back into exercise, it is a 5km run (or 3km walk), a 14km cycle and a 133yd swim, so not too daunting, do you have such events to get people up and moving? It is very popular here but it will be my first time as I often worked weekends until lately.

[Sexymama]

Hi Sharon! I think we do have some around here but I have never really looked into it. Sounds like fun! The ocean water here is VERY cold, even in summer. Not like where I grew up in California! I still have a ways to go and am thinking of buying this Core Body Sculpt video. I have lots of flab that needs to be firmed up. I am just concerned it will slow my weight lost down. I am hoping to finish in this last 10 weeks but it will be very clost. I just hate the thought of having to do another round but if I have to I will.
Sorry to hear you have gained a few lbs! Sounds like you have been or will be very busy with parties! I know you will bust it right back off!!

Stay strong!!:weights2:

[Sharon]

Must admit have a few wobbily bigs myself that need a bit of attention, when I got to my goal weight I looked gaunt in the face and had a jelly belly and butt, lovely - not. A couple of my collegues have recently stated they wanted to put a tube down my nose to feed me cos they thought I was staving myself, (our uniform is far from flattering and doesn't come small enough, so it looks like a sack on me), now they say I look so much better having gained weight - dah, only a couple of pounds - the sack still hangs the same - as does the inches. But the reality is these bits my body seems to be sorting themselves out over time and finding there balance, hopefully will be the same for you.
Am down to only a couple of pound over at the moment so have been eating no carbs for the last 3 days cos I am determined to get back to goal before the family arrives, not only cos its where I should be but it will put me in alot better position to cope with these events.
For the triathalon, luckily we will swim in the local pool but 500 ladies trying to do 4 lengths - won't be much swimming done, more like a liquid obsticle course.

Your attitude is so positive so I am sure you will succeed, but just in case it may help I will have my fingers and toes and everything else crossed for you over the next 10 weeks, when do you have your next weigh in?
If you get the Core Body Sculpt video do you plan to start it before you finish or have it ready to go?

[Shasha]

{hi} there Sharon

Hope you’re doing well my precious Diet Buddy! :bighug:

When you see your thread… you will probably be thinking:

“Whatever happened to the first half :(”

:flirt:~ I hope you won’t mind, but I’ve left your posts regarding Re-feeding in that section, under the heading: HERE I AM in the Re-feeding Section and I’ve moved the posts starting from Day 1 on your Maintenance Program, to our new Life After Diet section and I’ve called it: SHARON’S LIFE AFTER DIET.

Hope to catch you in the threads soon!

[Sharon]

Hi Shasha
It has been so long since I have looked at this sight, time seems to be running away, to be perfectly honest I'm not the size 0 I was but I am still fitting my 'new' clothes. All the old ones are out of the house so they are not and never will be an option. I weigh myself every day, and endevour to eat the right foods, I think it was easier when you were on the program and strict with yourself, where options were limited. We have bought ourselves an eliptical trainer (as hubby kept hurting myself on my treadmill) I havent gotten into using it yet but he is doing really well on it. Work, study and home life in general is keeping me busy, sometime wish I was back on the graveyard shift, I seem to have more time to spare. Swine flu is keeping us steady in the health sector, more in preparedness rather than illness wise as we are coming into our respiratory illness season, how is it effecting you guys on the other side of the world?

[PhyllisRis]

Hi Sharon...
Glad to hear from you! Glad you're doing well on maintenance!! I'll be joining you soon...in a few days, actually!!!
Swine flu has reared it's ugly head with a HIGH incidence in the incoming cadets at both our United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO and at the United States Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut...a long way away from each other. I figure it's because these new cadets are going through basic training right now, living in very close proximity to each other, are getting tired out from all the activities they are going through and their tolerance for fighting off illness is weakened because of that. (I follow the Air Force Academy as that is where our daughter graduated from last May).
Hopefully we'll all stay healthy and this year's flu season won't be uncommonly bad!!
Phyllis

[Sharon]

Hi Phyllis
Great to hear from you and congrats +++ in getting to maintainance, you look soooo great in you pic, well done.
The pandemic will be an interesting time globally, is this your normal influenza time???, it certainly is ours and we are having a measles outbreak at the same time - oh darn, don't know if it is a great time to be in Paediatrics.
Congrats with your daughter graduating, where is she now stationed?

[Sharon]

Well I feel I don't deserve to be in maintainance, since I reached my goal weight on the 1st of December I have crept up up to wavering on and at times over the 4kg gain. It has been a slow incidious move. So although I am in the same clothes I am very conscious of it and the need to to something about it. this forum is great support and a great motivator that I decided I would return and do something about it before I have to go back on 'strict Cohen'. I have so enjoyed being back in the kitchen trying new recipes that I would prefer to modify Cohen as 'prescribed' in his guide to a workable plan.
Plan
Increase my water (has been slipping)
Decrease Carbs (has been increasing slowly)
Reduce my portions
Get on the eliptical trainer (at least 3 x a week)
It is so easy to fall into the same old traps you have had for years.
Cohen has been there but not strong enough so I have to bring him back into the forground - and this is my first step.

[PhyllisRis]

Good job Sharon in nipping those unwanted creeping pounds in the bud NOW!!! You're doing great.
I have a question....once finished with refeed Dr. Cohen says to limit fruit to once per day. How is it that now on refeed I can have 5 fruits in a day and not gain any weight but afterwards I should limit it to ONE per day??? Just curious... Do you limit it to one fruit/day or is this something I can kind of experiment with??
This is NOT our normal influenza time of year....that's about 4 months away. I hope it's not going to be unusually harsh this year.
My daughter is now an intelligence officer stationed at Creech AFB near Las Vegas, NV. I am very proud of my 2nd Lieutenant!!
Phyllis

[Sharon]

I know what you mean about the 5 to 1, to me the fruit seems the healthier option and up to three a day of good fruit seemed a sensible option, generally I only have one piece of fruit per day and have it at lunch or on my way home from work in the afternoon, occasionally I will have two if I am really peckish and I have always found apples to be a good satisfyer. Some of the others have discussed this in past threads have found they wanted extra fruit and it was important to them, and were wanting to work it in and manage it in their maintenance, I suppose it depends how much you want that extra fruit in there as part of your long term management. But certainly one per day is a good guideline to help you find and keep you balance, especially early on.
I try to stick to Cohen during my week days, but the evenings and weekends is where I do my slipping with portion size and carbs and where I need to focus.

[Sharon]

(You may have already read this but I cut and pasted this from another thread into my journey - as this is how it is for me.)
Hi Ms Crackehead,
I know exactly where you are coming from, and can relate to your daily struggle, I am 9 months off this diet, have gained some weight back - still in the same size clothes but they don't fit me as well, I try not to kick myself but talk to myself positively about what I need to do, but it is easy to be dissappointed in yourself. The diet was easy when on it, off it is harder, when on it you don't want all the 'bad' stuff, but afterwards its not so easy. You behave yourself all week, get a few of those extra pounds off, a little splurge on the weekend and - yoohoo we're back and we bought guests!!! On the diet my body adjusted very quickly to the reduced intake and it was painfully slow to loose the weight, the consultants were adamant that I was taking something that was slowing me down, my diet couldn't have been more basic for the last few months and frequently I wouldn't have any fruit or crackers to try and make a difference, so going back on strict would be a serious concideration for me to think about again. I'm having serious talks with myself about portion size and my evening carbs, and hope that will help. It definately is easier said than done, but it is great for me to know I'm not alone - not so great for you to be in the same boat.
Dispite my troubles - Cohen has been great, a god send for me, and so pleased I found it, and it is really worth starting and sticking to. otherwise I would still be where I was over a year ago, and that was not a healthy place.

[Mei Mei]

Sharon,
I know exactly what you are talking about. I've been feeling ashamed of myself because I have an ongoing fight with 3/4 pounds. My pattern, and hubby's, sound very similar to yours, good during the day, lose it, then it comes back on the weekends. We both realize that we don't feel nearly as good. Even three pounds makes a difference. I started back exercising, thinking that really helps me build muscle back and feel stronger. then the family got the flu, and bam, I'm back to square one. All kids will be back at school by Monday,leaving me no excuses. I miss the gym! I haven't visited the boards because I've felt kind of guilty. Stress is my big contirbutor to unhealthy eating. I've just got to dig deep!
good to hear from you!
Mary

[L-cat]

Hello ladies! I read this and I wonder how someone who has to lose 74lbs is going to survive. Are we going to be watching our diet the rest of our lives? I gained all this weight because I am not scale conscious ...:sadeyes: Can we ask/talk about other diets by name in this forum? Did you ever cheat like, big time, during the diet time? Today I did.:pizza: I think that the fact that the "team" didn't say anything about my second blood test had something to do with my decision to cheat {pan}{pan} ...they have had it since the 14th and today is the 18th. Did that happen to anyone?

[Maverick]

Hi everyone!

I haven't been around here lately, but thought I would pop-in and say hello. I've been on the maintenance for close to a month and I lost another 2 pounds. I now fluctuate between 137 and 139.

I am back exercising and need more carbs when I do. Otherwise, I get really hungry at night around 8:00.

For me, being a little hungry is the way I like it. Last Sunday, I ate my first serving of pasta and I was so sick the next day! The weight is fine but I woke up with a bad headache and all my aches and pains came back.

It took 2 days of no carbs to get back to feeling better. It is mostly likely an allergy to gluten, but I don't care - I'm staying away from pasta!

I think the whole "trick" is weighing yourself everyday and staying committed. I try to have a little bit of sugar and bread each day so that my body isn't shocked if I have a huge meal once in awhile.

For me, being on the maintenance didn't mean anything other than I had more choices in my food and larger portions. I think it is easy to think you are "done" with the program, but sometimes we have to smack our heads against a brick wall to learn. Well, at least I do! LOL

[Aqua Eyes]

Hi Sharon,

I have a tendency to have the very same habits when I'm not on a diet plan. This concerns me hugely as my goal weight approaches and I am facing refeed and maintenance afterwards. Being overweight and eating serves us in some way when we are stressed. I need to figure out how I can stop those feelings of need of food when I'm stressed and tired. I need to add more sleep to my daily routine, but I also want to fit in exercise. How to balance my day out will be a challenge, but if I can figure it out, perhaps I won't slip into my bad habits of eating carbs at night or over indulging on the weekends. When we have clear rules to follow with a goal in mind it makes it easier to stick with it, but when we are living from day to day, I guess we need to have some clear rules to follow to help us...right?

[Sharon]

Hey Mary,
Awesome to hear from you, maybe if we cancel weekends eh - nah - I kinda like them, we can't cancel food - we kinda need that (would solve the weight issue, and what to cook for tea, so the idea does have its merits), stress - well if we didn't have some in our lives we wouldn't move, too much though and we have a tendency to run around in little circles - then reach for high energy fuel, so what to do. I do feel better coming back on the threads and having a chat, I must admit I was a bit lax due to a bit of the guilts too.
L-cat,
I'm afraid so as far as the scales go, you do have to keep a track, especially of the impact of the slip ups, it is easy to fall back into old habits, it is a battle but worth the fight, and I'm sure the more we win the easier it will become in time, building a good foundation of healthier habits as the old ones slip away. You are doing fantastic and I have to admit I did have a cheat or two on the program, generally while away, as long as you have gotten yourself back on track - hang in there you have come a long way and I'm sure you are feeling better for it, sometimes the consultants can take a little while getting back to you hang in there. I am having and dealing with my slip ups now but I will never go back to the weight I was pre Cohen - plus all my old clothes are gone. As far as discussing other diets - well I suppose it all depends what you are gonna say, if unsure send a private message to someone if you want their thoughts.
Maverick,
Congratulations for completing the program and staying on track in maintenance, sometimes I think I would be able to say no so much easier to carbs if it made me sick - but alas I tolerate it well.
Aqua Eyes,
On the program others give us the rules to follow and those of us that have made it though seem to have most of the time been able to follow them, the ones I have made myself post diet can so easily be broken, I suppose that is why I have come back to the threads so I can get myself back on track by acknowledging my rules . How much sleep are you getting? you need 7-8 hours per night. For stress, activity ie a walk is a great stress reliever as it releases endorphins - the feel good stuff, plus some people feel less like eating after a bit of exertion, be careful while on the program that if you exercise it is not too much as it may trigger hunger, may be worth a note to you consulatant if you want to add robust exercise to your day. Stress mmm- have you thought of knitting. (any finger busy hobby actually that will divert and relax the mind, and keep the fingers busy)

[Sharon]

Most of us in maintenance I'm sure know the rules, backwards, forwards and some of us upside down its just so hard to stick to them at times, that is why its really great to have this maintenance thread. It is very common for the majority of those who have lost weight to gain weight back, so we just have to stay supportive so people feel confident enough to come back on and deal with it in a positive environment.
My status so far is:-
I have lost a couple of of those extra pounds but have a little way to go yet till I'll be happy, especially with summer coming on, and I don't like how that 6 pack of muffins is developing around my middle. I'm full of sinus congestion and a post nasal drip that affects by breathing at the moment, the new cross trainer (traded in the treadmill) is calling out to me but if I get on it at the moment I may bust a foofoo. I'm hoping tomorrow will be a good day to get back on.
I'm hoping that with me behaving myself and the exercise it will get rid of those few extra unwanted guests.

[PhyllisRis]

Yeah...I've gotta start using my treadmill!! But otherwise things are going well with maintaining my weight. After gaining 5 pounds while on vacation I've lost 4 of them!
Keep making all the right decisions!
Phyllis

[Sharon]

Well done Phyllis, that is excellent.
Have you done it by not having carbs at all?

[Dayanira]

Hi Sharon,
I'm so glad you're full on the forum again! I live in NZ too and when I finally found somebody else from here you had finished your Refeed and were out there. So, I missed you for a month, I think! But let me tell you, I've read your Refeed thread back and forth several times, not only now that I'm doing it but when I just started 1PD, too. Your recording of Refeed is so clear and simple. Thank you for doing that!

I suffered from sinus too before starting the diet but now it seems that it's all gone, but mind you I haven't started to add milk in my diet and who knows what is going to happen when I do so.

Thank you for all your post and advices. When I finish Refeed, I'll start to read this thread back and forth, too!!

Take care,
Dayanira

[Sharon]

Hi their fellow Kiwi
So pleased you have found my other threads of benefit, I'm dead chuffed to help someone.
I warn you though my maintanance thread may be a bit bumpy, easy to fall into old patterns so I've come back on to get my act together. But if it helps in that it keeps you off the same path and one more smooth - then its all good.
Great for you to have had relief from sinus problems - me - pollen - no escape - but wait for the Flixonase to kick in.
Again - my pleasure in any assistance I have given
TTFN
Sharon

[Sharon]

Well I've been behaving myself and am slowly loosing the weight, because I am weighing myself every day it seems almost painfully slow, once a month does have its benefits but because I am trying to get a balance its a necessity. And as I want to make a life long change of habits the slow method at this point is necessary for me.
I'm back up with my water intake - and don't sip - but drink a glass at a time, a german study states that if you drink a glass of water you can loose 20-50cal as you kick you metabolism into action to cope with it. If you sip, it has more of a trickle effect and the body doesn't have the same metabolic response - I found that info facinating and decided every little bit helps, so I added it in to my plan of attack.
I've been back on the cross trainer most days and gave myself a target of 250 cal burn as a minimum. (it is amazing how much work you need to do to burn off those little treats you may have - it kind of puts it into perspective and you think twice before it enters the mouth) the treadmill we had wasn't a very accurate guide and I could run for miles without much effort and told me I had burned masses of cals - with no effect on the waistline I was eating less than what it was telling me I was burning ?????, with the cross trainer its great with the resistance, you get a real work out and a more realistic Cal burn - it has been a great investment.
I've reduced my carb portion and my total portion, I have two carbs in my day as I am exercising, a collegue bought in some lovely scones today and I had 1/2 for morning tea - was lovely - but compensated immediately with lunch, (why wait until tomorrow) having only my cheese and good fruit.
When you come off the program and complete the refeed, you still have to find your balance and your boundaries for life long control to be at ease with your eating patterns and relaxed, otherwise the battle will be for life and a increases the chance of constant feeling of depravation, weight gain, guilt and sucumbing to old patterns, for me it was like the battle had only started and have spent the last 9 months responding to weight gains rather than finding my plateau to work from.
I know the recommendations are there, but in reality for some of us its easier said than done to follow them religiously and lifelong habits are hard to change.
BUT I"M DETERMINED

[Dayanira]

Hi Sharon,
I'm happy to read that finally you're getting positive results. As I'm approaching maintenance I'm getting a bit apprehensive on how to maitain the weight. I'm hoping to keep my "food diary" going as I read in the book "The Thin Commandments" that people who keep a food diary for life tend to keep their weight unchanged, too.

Long time ago I read the same German study about water. I've been doing what they say since I started 1PD and I noticed that when winter started it was very hard for me to drink the 2 litres of water, I was mostly sipping it and my weight slowed down a little bit. I'm hoping that this new "good" habit of drinking 2 litres of water get stuck in me forever!

I love your determination! Take care,
Dayanira

[jgiolas]

That's one of my concerns. With this diet you never know what you are going to get until the last minute. Does Dr. Cohen give the information you need to make the life time changes necessary to keep the weight off after refeed? They make the statement "you may never have to diet again''. What the heck does THAT mean?

[Maverick]

jgiolas,

Yes, when you get your re-feed, at the end there is a whole write-up from Dr. Cohen on what to do and what not to do from here on out.

Bottom line is, never let your weight get out of control again. It is completely within your power to maintain your weight.

You will always weigh yourself everyday and make adjustments as you go along.

He tells you how to eat sugar without starting the “fat factory” of the insulin spike, what deserts are OK to eat, how and when to drink alcohol, etc.

If you start to gain, slow down and knock-off the carbs!

I’ve been on the maintenance for almost 2 months and I have found that I cannot eat sugar without getting a headache for 2 days and being tired.

I cannot eat many carbs without my weight spiking 2 pounds overnight.

I am exercising and even though my weight is fine, I am still loosing inches as the HGH continues to work. When I finished the re-feed, I was at a size 8 jeans. Now, size 6 jeans are baggy on me.

I don’t weigh food anymore and continue to stick with the overall program, including the food added during the re-feed.

So, no, you never need to diet again. You need to continue to apply what you have learned. I am going out to dinner on Friday, so I already know my breakfast and lunch that day will be no carb so I can enjoy whatever I end up ordering for dinner. And I’ll eat like crazy and not gain an ounce! Yeah!

[Sharon]

Hi guys,
As always great to hear from you,
Cohen gives you a guideline to follow for maintenance, and if you stick to the guidelines, yes you will never have to 'diet' again but you do have to watch your diet. But like I said "I know the recommendations are there, but in reality for some of us its easier said than done to follow them religiously and lifelong habits are hard to change."
When I first came off the refeed it was Christmas and from there went from One social event to another, and I was hosting most of them - causing me to always be trying to "recover" from that extra I had, I didn't give myself the time to find the balance for my new self. A more negative place to work from than how I am doing it now, its a real mental shift as this is how I've spent most of my adult life with regard to my weight, its not enough for some of up to just loose the weight, and the past 2 weeks have been a real shift for me. And I now believe that if you don't make this shift sooner or later you risk surcumbing to old patterns. And this is what I want my thread to be all about, on how to stay on track mentally and for the long term, giving eachother support and encouragement.
I exercise pretty well every day generally mid to late afternoon, if I exercise I feel less like eating indescrimanantly, places me in a positive space mentally after my day at work and I can eat well, but realistically. I have a cross trainer and now burn 350-400 cal per day, I am watching my portion size and my carb size is also realistic, In the past 2 weeks I have lost 1.7kg, most importantly I feel 'at peace" rather than doing battle for the first time in the 9 months. I am sticking to the basic principles of Cohen maintainance without the feeling of depravation or sacrifise, because if I want something I can eat it - I either have a little and feel mentally satisfied i.e. a few nuts or raisins, instead of most of the packet and then kick myself, or decide I don't need it at this time and often don't bother eating it in the end, cos lets be honest, how much of our eating is out of true physical hunger. My exercise allows me to either burn my excess, or cope with any indiscretions quickly and effectively. And my exercise plan is sustainable because I enjoy it.
My plan - to stick to these changes and not derail myself
Again great to hear form you guys
Dayanira - I understand the apprehension and a food diary is a good thing to help keep yourself on track, and I found it really interesting about what you said with regard to the water, good toknow you concure with the study.
jgiolas - Agree - for some of us it is a 'concerning' time as you do wonder how you are going to cope when the food world opens up to you again. You should get the maintenance guidelines when you get your refeed and you'll have time to get your head around them as you start introducing some of those old foods back into your diet.

Ta for your messages and support guys
TTFN
Sharon

[KMac]

Hi Sharon- Your plan sounds good to me. I was wondering how exercise factors into things once DC1 is over~ thanks for sharing your experience.
Have a great day, :)

[Sharon]

Hi there Kmac,
Its my pleasure, especially if it helps. your tracker is looking relly good well done.
I have found the exercise is an important part of my management, over the past week I have managed to eat well but responsibly, I have managed to get through the last 2 weekends and the week inbetween at a plateau rather than trying to claw back those few pounds. So I am feeling really positive, but it does take the commitment to the exercise if you want to relax some the control on the food.
Ta for the support
TTFN Sharon

[Sharon]

Where has this month gone?????
I'm 1 pound up on when I last wrote, last few days I have sucumbed to some tasty treats and I havent balanced it out with exercise as I have not been on the cross trainer the last 3 days due to work commintments, tiredness and hubby got on it b4 me. poor excuses but I think that overall 1 pound is not to bad - could have been worse, day off today so healthy eating continues and a good workout after I finish this tread. I'm keeping a close eye on my scales and my clothes, sticking to my changes and staying on the rails.
Interested to know with any of you guys if you balance your weight with diet and exercise, or just with diet, and what kind of exercise???, we are all so different but with similar issues, be interesting to see what works for people so those heading for maintenance could see some working options - so would love to hear from you if you got the time to write.
Hang in there everyone, and take care of yourselves.

[Dayanira]

Hi Sharon,
Great to see that you are in control again! I've sucumbed to a lot of carbs in the last 2 days (end of school term lunch, drink and nibbles with the Board of Trustees, etc.) that today I've been carbs free and planning to do the same tomorrow, too.

I've just started walking/jogging for about 5km 4 days a week. It makes me feel great but the funny thing is that the next day after doing it my weight is up! I had a back surgery about 20yrs ago that inhibits me from doing strenous exercise. I can't wait for warmer days so I can go swimming (at the momment I'm still feeling really cold!). I need to get a customized bike so I can do some biking, but at the moment I'm taking it easy with my walks.

Keep posting in your journal Sharon, you're someone that anyone can relate easily with.

[Sharon]

hi Dayanira
Great to hear from you and ditto with the posting.

I know what you mean by the frustration with exercise and weight, I think its got something to do with fat burn, water retention and muscle development, I have a friend who is a personal trainer so I'll try and get some facts on that. I know a few years ago I did a 1/2 marathon that was a forestry road climb for half and then full on down for the end, a real work out, I was soooo annoyed that the next day I was heavier - but it certainly would not have been fat accumulation.

Sorry about your back, that must be a real frustration - but it is great you are looking at alternatives such as the bike and swimming, great to see you not going 'I can't' but ' I can', a real inspiration. Is your back finding it easier with your new body ???.

Those darstadly carbs - don't we just love and hate them.
TTFN Sharon

[Dayanira]

Hi Sharon!
How are you doing? Haven't heard from you for a while.
Keep us posted.

[Sharon]

Hi Dayanira, Thanks for your thoughts, I haven't gone far, don't know where the time has gone.
I'm doing well,
went away for the weekend and boy did I blow any control I had
.KFC on the way there for tea
.Wild pork pie with a Manuka honey beer for lunch the next day
.A lamb roast with ALL the trimmings (dessert too of coarse) for tea, followed by a couple of Rums
.A turkish sandwich with smoked chicken, camenbert and salad with a lager for lunch on the way home
.fresh whitebait and soft white bread for tea
Loved every morsel of my decadent weekend
With nervousness I hoped on the scales on Monday morn and I had gained 1.5 kg.
But I knew it was going to be a weight gain and was accepting of what was to come, already prepared to sort it out before I started.
Carbs free (except for portions of wheat free crackers) from Monday onwards, watched my portions, and have gone on the eliptical trainer for the last three nights for a full on 40 minutes with variable resistance, I have managed to loose 3 kg, (went into the weekend with a few extra guests on board)
Excellent results but I think as I said back in my thread I would not make a habit of it as it is a bit of a rollercoaster way to manage your weight and can be tiring on the body, not eating carbs and strenuous exercise I would not recommend as a regular practice. It is better to practice moderation as part of your maintainance plan. But really good to know if you do decide have a blow out, don't give it all up, remain positive and deal with it ASAP, its never too late.
Its Thursday and I'm tired for a variety of reasons so I'm forgoing exercise today and back into it tomorrow.

How are you going?
How is the incorporating of exercise into your diet going for you?
TTFN
Sharon

[Sharon]

What to do???
As I have stated before maintenance has not been an easy road for me, and lately I have been concentrating on trying to keep at an even state rather than the gradual trend upward which was happening. For the last 2 months I have managed to stop the trend and stay on an even path and found basically what works for me. The problem is what do I do now with the extra????? Its not a huge amount of weight, I can still wear those new clothes - but its there like a six pack -- of muffins and it shouldn't be coming along for the ride.
I could rejoin the program
But I will have to stop the level of exercise I do now, that means I will loose the fitness I have and the muscle mass which I feel has helped me stay on track.
I will be unable to go on the two bush treks I have organised, or break the program as it is too strenuous to do and stay on the Cohen program.
OR
I have two weeks leave coming up, use that time to give myself a short burst of Cohen and exercise and see what happens, see if I can change from a maintenance plan to a gradual weight loss with exercise plan, using Cohen as my guide.

What are your thoughts?

[Maverick]

I, too struggle with the whole exercise problem.

What I run into is after exercising (cardio & weights) about an hour after eating, I am starving! At first, I would just ignore it but after I started to put carbs back in for dinner, it helped.

I haven't had much struggle with it after that but I must watch it because I will then want more and more carbs the next day.

[val2zap]

Hi Sharon,

Somehow I missed this post. I'm no expert - still in phase one and struggling a bit - but I thought I remembered reading that you could do Cohen's for two weeks, then move back into refeed and then be done and back to mx. You could eat as much Phase 1 food now too, until your trips and see if that doesn't help and just cut back slightly on the exercise. Don't do anything vigorous. I've read where people do Cohen Phase 1 for a week and everything gets back to normal. But if you have to do it for 2 weeks or more, you need to do the refeed again.

I guess since you're done, you can't ask a consultant?

[Sharon]

You are right in what you say but I don't want to go on strict as with the exercise component it will be too much with the work I do and I don't want to loose my fitness and tone again - (What I have been doing has kept me in Maintenance) I may have to if I can't make this work and therefore will have to reduce my exercise further. I have already dropped my workout by 50% while I am dropping out carbs and keeping down my portion size, if I don't reduce my exercise I run the risk of a foggy brain for work - not a good idea, or like Maverick has discussed triggering the carb hunger. Am hoping this will do the trick, if I go on strict it will probabaly be back on the program, and if I do I'm going to have to work it around my treks and xmas, it will take longer but I will do it if this isn't effective. I haven't that much to drop but they are being stubborn, not really a surprize as on the program it was stubborn too, but important note is this program was more effective than anything else I have done.
Maverick - it is a real problem finding the exercise / diet balance as you have discovered, it can all take a bit of sorting eh, and excellent work in sorting it out.

Today I have made myself a batch of Chicken soup, high in protein low in carbs and filling cos its got alot of fluid, but importantly alot of flavour.
I use a 2kg bag of chicken pieces, cover with a generous amount of water, throw in a couple of onions and a couple of carrots, (a handful of parsley sprigs or other herbs would be good too), big chunks no problem, simmer with the lid on for 2+ hours (don't boil as the stock can do cloudy - just as fine to eat but not so attractive), remove all the chicken and take the meat off the bones, discard all bones and skin, strain the stock and discard the onion and carrot, return the meat to the stock. Leave the stock overnight in the fridge for the fat to rise to the surface the remove the fat. Add any cohen veges you want (I only add 2-3 stalks of celery ). I then have my lunch and /or tea which is filling and satisfying, I have found this great for maintenance after a weekend of a few treats when I want to remove all carbs from my diet for a period and I can freeze portions and take it to work, or have a meal close at hand.

Just thoughts I have read,
You don't have taste buds in your stomach, so if you are going to have a treat, don't feel guilty and bolt it down but sit back and savour every mouthful, you will find you will not only enjoy it more but you will probably eat less of it and feel more positive about the choices you make and help to develop a healthier approach to food.

Great to hear from you guys and thanks for your thoughts, always helpful.
TTFN Sharon

[Key]

Hi Sharon,

What a great tip about savouring the treat. You are absolutely right! If you absolutely can't live without eating something, at least enjoy it while you do it. Great advice.

[Maverick]

Hi Sharon,

Love the soup recipe and I’m going to try it. Here in the States, it’s fall, so cooler weather has started and that’s the best time to have soup!

The exercise I do is at a place called Curves, which is circuit training for women. It’s a ½ hour program and very effective. They weigh and measure you every month and check your BMI.

I am still at 135 (up and down 1-2 pounds a day) and I have lost more inches and body fat since exercising. I go in 2-4 times a week. Since last month, I lost ½ inch from my arms 1.5 inches from my hips and my BMI went from 26% to 21.8%. They said that was right where I needed to be, but I don’t know that much about it. When I started 1PD, my BMI was 33% and when I finished the diet and started the re-feed, my BMI was 28.6%.

It seems to me that the diet keeps working on maintenance, just at a slower pace. But I think the reduction in inches is from the exercise, so now what I am watching is maintaining the weight and loosing inches as I bring on more muscle.

And I have found out that I need lots of carbs on the days I exercise, so I am more focused on fruit rather than bread, but I still eat rice cakes with peanut butter and jelly. I think I am becoming a peanut butter addict! LOL I can now see that since my body is so healthy, I can keep my portions up without gaining weight.

They are now having me do lunges since my butt is now gone! It disappeared! Never thought that would happen!

Keep up the good work Sharon and keep us posted!

Susan

[Sharon]

I like the sound of peanut butter and jelly on rice cakes, how many would you have a day when exercising and not exercising? I usually have plain rice crackers (Cohen portion) when peckish but wonder if a bit of extra protein would help if I'm reducing my carbs.
Do you have bread, rice or pasta at all as your carbs?
We have the Curves, Devine Woman and Contours gyms here which alot of woman find great, but I love to get home after my day at work so not sure if I would stick at it the same. On my cross trainer I was doing 60-70minutes for 3-4 days burning 600 cal while on maintenance (balances out my weight if I indulge at all over the weekend), have reduced to 30+minutes and burn 300+cal and can still maintain, and I increase the resistance for the muscle work which I wasn't getting on the treadmill. Am going to throw in the weights too just to target some other areas. As I write this it seems funny to be discussing wanting to reduce the weight and having to reduce the exercise as I change my diet, doesn't seem right but i don't think I could do the same exercise while working without some carbs??? but if I use Cohen to reduce I don't see another way, I really want to get myself back to my target weight now that I have sorted maintenance. Your thoughts???
Your right about the disappearing bum, I felt like the saggy baggy elephant after the program, I lost alot of muscle tone on the program which I think made it painfully slow in the end to loose the last few kilo, but loosing that extra fat cabose was fantastic.

Love to know how you find the soup.
Thanks for all your support and ideas it really helps.

[Maverick]

Hi Sharon,

I have the rice cake with peanut butter and jelly on the days I work out because I am so hungry around 8:00 at night. I start foraging like crazy, which is why I don’t buy “bad” stuff like chips because I will eat them! My weakness is ice cream and I had some Saturday night and Sunday night and have the headache today. But, I weighed in at 135 pounds this morning!

I do have bread once in awhile. Can’t tolerate pasta as it makes me sick with a headache and muscle aches. Could be a problem with gluten too. I haven’t tried rice yet but think I might soon and see how I do on it. I would like to “mix up” the carbs a bit and see how my body reacts. But for sure I need carbs after working out and think one thing I will start doing is adding more fruit in with the meals and see if that helps.

I do weights for my arms because I just don’t want the skin flapping around when I wave at people! Love the analogy about the elephant and I KNOW just what you mean! My upper thighs and stomach need the toning more than anything right now.

My thoughts are if you do exercise, you must have carbs. I think that’s what carbs are for - quick energy after exercise. Probably going way back to when we had to hunt for food and would have bursts of activity and then have to replenish the adrenals or something like that. Our bodies are meant to do 2 things - make other bodies and burn energy and if the body can’t find the fat/energy it needs, it will pull it from the muscles and that might be why we get hungry after working out. So we have lost a lot of fat and our “reserves” are gone but the body needs the food and it will find it.

Another thing to remember when you are doing any type of cardio, you must be able to have a normal conversation while working out. If you are short of breathe, you are now burning muscles and not fat. Muscles need oxygen so make sure you can talk normally. If not, slow it down. You want to get into your target range for the heart and maintain that for 20 minutes and then slowly cool down.

It makes sense to tone down the exercise for now. I was really surprised to find out I lost 0.5 inches from my arms since last month. It has to be the exercise because my weight is very stable. I use my level of hunger as a gage on what I need to be eating.

I am more relaxed about my eating now that I am into my 3rd month of maintenance and it hasn’t spiked. I suspect it would take a lot of work on my part to gain back the weight, but there will always be a fat girl inside of me and that’s probably a good thing.

Susan

[Sharon]

Ta for the advice Susan, sometimes we get so caught up in or own thoughts it can get a bit tangled and its good to have some clarity. Sounds like pasta, bread and rice arn't part of your carbs as a general rule, more rice cakes; and fruit / vege.
With exercise - good thoughts, I do a mix of cardio and resistance work so I don't get "too puffy" but feel like I've had a good workout.
Love your note on the skin flapping wave - so attractive.

[Maverick]

Thanks Sharon! Yeah, something about my arms flapping in the breeze just doesn't quite do it for me. Hey, vanity can be a great motivator.

Thanks for the friend request. Hopefully I accepted it correctly!

That's good you knew about the cardio. Many people don't and I see them huffing and puffing on the machines and think "Too bad they are loosing all that muscle."

I am going to try rice this week and see how I do. In fact, I might do it tonight after my workout and see how I feel. I'll let you know because brown rice is very good for you and I'd rather that then bread.

[Sharon]

Hi there,
Not doing too bad at getting myself sorted, have lost 3 pound this week and gained back one on an overnight study trip down south. i went prepared with my rice cakes, peanut butter and low cal jam (thanks Susan) went to a supermarket to get myself some chicken for lunch and found some low cal jelly - excellent score. Went out for a curry that night (thats what my brother and I always do - yum) but went for a 40min run around a lovely park before I went out for tea (pushed a car of some no-speaka-da-english man out of a 4 lane into 6 lane intersection at 5pm when it broke down on the run back to where I was staying, so certainly did my resistance work as he keep failing to put the car into neutral-doh).
Back into my plan today and I feel really positive, especially as I only gained a small amount which could just be a normal fluctuation anyway.
But certainly the key is be prepared with some snacks, what your gonna do to get healthy food BEFORE you need it ie go to the supa and i had a little chilli bag to keep it safe to eat, and something to exercise in, even if it is just a walk around the block.
I enjoyed the run so much I'm concidering once or twice a week in a nice spot as a break from the cross trainer.
I'm on holiday, I feel good, life is good.

[Maverick]

Hi Sharon,

Glad you like the rice cake, peanut butter and jelly! It has worked well for me when I need carbs NOW!

I started eating brown rice and so far, it's been fine. I am up 2 pounds but probably because of TOM, so not worried at all. Big 80th birthday party for my Mom this weekend and plan on eating what I want, when I want it and then take a peek at the scale Monday morning.

It I'm still up, then it's just 2 days of no carbs and that should do it.

I really don't have the cravings for carbs unless I work out or don't enough for lunch or dinner. Sugar, on the other hand...LOL once I eat it, I crave it, so only do it once a week at the most.

[Ms. CrackerHead]

Nice to see you are doing so well Sharon! Your soup idea is something I will have to try when I get back to maintenance! And the rice cake thing....I like it with natural pb only...mmmm, was one of my fav. snacks....also pb with banana slices. I miss bananas :(

Also when I get back to maint., I will be able to contribute to the exercise/carb experimentation and let u know how that goes, too. Can't wait!

So far, feeling good on this redo diet...clothes are looser!

Keep up the great work on your maintenance journey! By the way, I have been meaning to ask you--- what do your letters stand for in your signature?

Ms. Crackerhead

[Sharon]

Hi Susan and Ms Crackerhead,
It so so great knowing that you are doing so well with maintenance Susan, it gives me the strength that I can and will do this, I have managed maintenance for 3 months ok but as I have said I need to loose the extra 6 pack of muffins I gained before I got myself sorted, and Mrs Crackerhead you give me the strength that if I have to go back on the program to succeed that is ok 2, (so pleased for you that your clothes are feeling looser). You are two great ladies and I thank you for your support.
The TTFN is from 'Winnie The Pooh' by AA Milne, it is a said as an abbreviation for 'Ta Ta For Now' - It is something Tigger says - and I have a soft spot for his character ( and Eeyore - the complete opposite of bouncy Tigger).

[Maverick]

Hi Sharon,

So glad I can help. I saw my cousin this weekend and she had lost 17 pounds in a month but because of so much going on in her life, she’s off the diet but still eating better.

She asked me “How did you do it?” and we both agreed that this diet changes your life forever, isn’t a quick fix, and that it isn’t always easy.

I was fortunate in that I only had 25 pounds to lose and it took a short time, so there was always that light at the end of the tunnel that wasn’t an oncoming train! But let me tell you, there have been nights when I just wanted to throw it all away, grab a beer and some chips and pull the blanket over my head and pout.

I think the most important thing is, and this is what I told my cousin, just do the best you can do. I told her just don’t worry about the weight, eat the foods that are on the program and never give up.

She does feel great, looks like she lost more than 17 pounds and she is healthier.

It took several tries for me to quit smoking, but I finally did it. I think the same is true for anything that you are trying to correct that has been a problem for a long time. It doesn’t always resolve right away, but just don’t quit. And if you feel like quitting, then quit for a day and start again.

Like Scarlett O’Hara said “After all, tomorrow is another day.” God I love that woman!

And I LOVE TIGGER! “T I double grrrrr R!”

Susan

[Sharon]

Here here Susan, , Great to hear that your cousin is doing so well, 17 pounds is awesome, and you are so right, totally agree with you, its not a quick fix (its not like we gained all our extra baggage overnight) and loosing weight is only half the battle, the thing is to stay positive, focused and work toward the long term healthy person you want to be. we are only human and we have slip ups, the thing is not to give up.
Good on you with knocking the smoking on the head too, I gave up (one give up to be encouraged) before I had kids and I know how hard it is, excellent work.

I'm being like Tigger and bouncing around the place, trying to balance my loosing weight and the exercise, I'v lost a couple more pounds and my 6 pack of muffins is looking more like a 4 pack. I'm not eating bread, pasta, or high carb veges, but am including pulses and beans in my diet to give me the added extra I need with all the exercise (and so I don't fall off the cross tainer).

[Maverick]

Hi Sharon,

Yes, I know just what you mean about going from a 6 muffin ab down to a 4! Great way of putting it.

Another friend of mine - male - has lost 30 pounds in 30 days! Another reason to male bash! LOL

Life has been so hectic and chaotic these last few weeks that I haven't been to Curves on a regular basis. Sometimes by the time I get home, I just want to eat and crash in front of the TV. Fortunately the weight is just fine, so I don't even have THAT incentive!

I had a beer last night with dinner - really needed it and it tasted so good and I'm not much of a beer drinker. The night before went to a birthday party at a restaurant, ate bread and salmon and salad and iced tea.

This morning I was back down to 135! Just in time for the holidays!

I think the main thing I need to go by is how tired I feel more than the weight because I obviously have a good handling on it now. I have lost some of my energy that I gained when I first started, so I am watching the carbs and sugar more and seeing how I feel during the day. Plus I have to drink more water and I know that helps with fatigue during the day.

Now I just need to work on my missing rear end! Yikes!

Keep up the good work!

Susan

[Sharon]

Hi there
30 in 30? - no fair!, no fair!, no fair! (LOL)
hubby has been taking salad to work, and on the cross trainer, other than that nothing else and it is just dropping off him -Grrrr.
So great to hear that your weight has stabilized - well done.
Getting the balance to prevent fatigue isn't so easy, that is what has concerned me with minimizing my diet and exercise and work, its hard if not impossible to keep on top of things if your brain has gone to smoosh.
As I have said prior, I have lost a couple of pounds and have been stabalizing for the last few days before I tackle the next 2 muffins - a two pack is in sight, Had a Meeting/ workshop day yesterday and there was a nice healthy lunch - managed to enjoy lunch and maintain myweight so I feel happy and positive that so far I'm on the right track.
Good luck with finding your rear end - I found mine - he came back - same time as those pesky muffins. (funny when reading back I called it a he - what doe that mean???)
Great to catch up.
Take care

[Maverick]

I know Sharon, it isn’t fair! Another reason to male bash!

Yeah, my weight bounces around 2 pounds up, 2 pounds down. Ate some Chinese food and it was fine. Just can’t do it every day even though I really want to.

The fatigue has been a bit better but you are right, not that easy. It is tough to juggle so much.

My rear-end is slowly starting to firm up, but I still carry fat around my stomach and hips so that’s what I target on my exercise. My size and shape is fine but I notice it when I sit down. You know, the outside of the thighs. Maybe if I never sit down again, it won’t bother me!

Mine has always been a “she” for unknown reasons.

Thanks for your update!

Susan

[Sharon]

Ditto with the sitting, it just exagerates all the lumpy bits, sounds like you are getting your 'lumpy bits sorted' -good work.
At the moment I'm trying to find the energy to jump on the cross trainer to help keep mine in check - its just the getting started can be hard after a day at work, hubby is on there at the moment, then it will be my turn.

2 up 2 down sounds like an acceptable swing to me, I think you have successfully achieved maintenance, and it is great to see you have done it without deprivation but sensibly too.

[Maverick]

So, Sharon, did you make it to the cross trainer yesterday? LOL

The holidays are here and I am looking forward to a few days off, seeing my family and getting some well deserved R&R.

Last Saturday I worked and I was so tired I could barely move. I had put in 6 days and a few nights and it had taken it's toll. I stopped by the store and loaded up on ribs, potatoes and ice cream. Dang, did I pay the price for that on Sunday! I was so sick from all the bad stuff I had eaten but I must confess - it was great at the time! The last thing I wanted to do was workout, but I did anyway. I weighed in at 135 after a night of pigging out!

I did crave sugar on Monday and just went back on my good foods and I'm feeling better. So the penalty I pay for misbehaving isn't weight gain. It's headaches and body aches and being tired.

Will I do it again? Absolutely! But not for a few weeks!

Keep up the good work!

Susan

[Sharon]

yea, I was a good girl and hopped on the trainer, actually got right into it and had an excellent workout to the album Ultimate Santana, sometimes I don't want to stop and it was one of those days. Unlike today - took the dog for a run and with the wind it was like doing resistance training - glad to get home.
Sounds like you had a good tuck in on Saturday, and the week prior sounds like it had been a long one. Sometimes you just can't help yourself but have a blowout cos its hard to be good ALL the time. The important thing is we are not having the blowouts all the time. To me one of the important parts of maintenance is being able to managing these times in a prompt, positive, effective way, total avoidance for some of us is unrealistic - even if the end result is unpleasent - LOL.
You have a great time with your family and take a well deserved rest.

[Sharon]

Well its now December and where has the year gone, last year I would have been on my day 4 of refeed, where am I today? well I've gained a few kilos, I'm still able to wear the same jeans but I had developed a 6 pack of muffins over the year, today I've managed to get down to a 4 pack and have been maintaining my weight for the last month. Over the last 4 weeks I've been on two overnight tramps up into local National Parks, and one day trip yesterday.
It hasn't been easy keeping to any real plan except ensuring I'm exercising regularly and trying to be as healthly as I can in the food choices I make - . (except when tramping, it can be a high energy activity and its a givin that its high energy food required and we sure burned some fat - I initailly gained 1.5 kg on return but its all water retention due to the fat burn - which generally goes in the next day or two - and did).
I freely admit I do slip up regularly, I tend to have an 'all in' or 'all out' sort of personality which I think has made it difficult to maintain as it sits somewhere in the middle.
I'm not an emotional eater or a craver for particular foods - My problem is I JUST LOVE FOOD that can tantilize my taste buds.
With xmas just around the corner I've told myself its time to take myself - I'd say to the next level but that sounds like I want to go up - so - down another peg. I've been up to the local supa and bought myself some lovely 'live' food (Defn - a clucking chicken is live yes but i'm meaning fresh fruit and veges and non processed and additive type foods) for my meals to make some lovely crisp salads.
April next year we are going as a family to Asia for a month (Mum Dad and two teenage boys - they are bigger than us - (which isnt hard - hubby and I have got ducks disease) so they can be our body guards LOL. I want to be even lighter when I go so I can try on some of there local fashion - they are so tiny there - and one size fits all???? hmmmm. I don't want to be a lump of a european around such a pettite race either, so its a real incentive to keep in check over xmas and a New Years resolution to sort out those muffins.

[Maverick]

Hi Sharon,

Yes, I know what you mean about really loving food! I had a great Thanksgiving, ate a lot and hit the gym as soon as I could.

The thing that drops out for me is drinking enough water. I know it's good for me, I know I should do it, but there are days when I don't drink much of it and I can really feel the difference in my energy level.

The cold weather has hit and drinking more water is more important now. As I type this, I am staring at a bottle of water on my desk...LOL

OK, I just stopped staring and drank some!

I figure with the holidays now upon us, I'll continue to eat well and stay away from the sugar. It makes me sick but geez my mind works this way - "Well, I don't eat much sugar and everyone else is eating pie and it's the holidays and it would taste really good..." You got it! Then I'm eating pie and the next day complaining about a headache!

Your trip to Asia sounds so exciting! I wanna go!

Susan

[Dayanira]

Hi Sharon,
It seems that we're going to be traveling next year almost at the same time and that both of us want to go a little bit down in our weight to be able to enjoy those different kinds of food while on holiday.

I'm like you, I LOVE FOOD, especially when it comes to asian, mediterranean, middle eastern and latin dishes!! I blew it today. We were invited to a Buddhist Temple, they were celebrating father's day. And oh Boy!! Everything smelled and looked so delicious!! I had to try everything, I skipped noodles and rice but the rest was so delicious.

Well, I know it's going to be hard during the Xmas season but we must persevere!

Take care,

[Sharon]

Hi Guys,
As always great to hear from you,
This time of year is so challenging, we haven't got the goodies in the house yet and I've promised myself that I wont go overboard like I usually do and end up having a month plus worth of goodies in the pantry, but some nice ones to have when friends and family are around to share them. My menu is going to be a mix of treats and healthy choices, Not only will it save my waist line but also my purse, especially with the trip next year.
Susan - agree - need to get into more water, I don't do well at work, tend to not look after myself very well, need to make a better effort and increase my trips to the kitchen. I've been keeping up with the exercise and trying to vary it to keep it interesting, it was such a lovely afternoon took the dog for a run on the reserve.
Good luck for the headache avoidance, hard when there is good pie.
Dayanira - the trip to the Buddhist temple sounds yummingly fascinating,
we will have to have a challenge to each other to be ready for our trips, where are you off to? I'm really really really looking forward to the Asian foods, there will be no scales for the month so I'll have to let my clothes do the talking.

[Maverick]

Hi Sharon,

Sounds like you know just what you need to do.

My weight went up to 139 and as soon as I start back on the water, it comes back down so I think it is really more of a bloat.

But here is the funny thing now - that little bit of bloat feels like 10 pounds! It's like everything gets tight overnight and it drives me nuts!

So, yeah, back on the water and staying on it. Like everything else, I have to learn the hard way!

Got back on my exercise. I was off for a few days because I had slightly twisted my ankle and I do feel better when I work out but I crave carbs afterwards, so I keep a supply of rice cakes around. It seems to work.

[Dayanira]

Sharon, I love the idea of the challenge. At the highest, I'm 2kg above my goal weight (52kg). I was almost 54kg today, and I've been above that. I would like to go down to 50kg before we go on our trip. We are going to Israel for a week and a half and 3 weeks to Turkey. We're leaving on the 14th of March. How about you?

Susan, Wow!! you're doing so well. It's amazing that now just a couple of pounds up makes us so upset or worried. I'm trying to follow your pattern of life... exercise, exercise. It's the key, isn't it?

Dayanira

[Maverick]

Hi Dayanira,

Yes, exercising and what we eat. I know, I never thought I would get so bothered about a couple of pounds! I’m still at 139 and I think it’s from not enough water every day because not much else has changed. I’ve added nuts to my diet once in awhile and a glass of wine here and there and I’ll see a bloat from the wine the next day.

So, back on the water!

Susan

[Mei Mei]

Hi Friend! How are you??? Life is good here, just trying to get it all back to skinny before the Christmas festivities start full blast! Hopeyou are well!

[Sharon]

Yeah Susan, I know what I NEED to do, I've just got to do it, our social calender isn't as full as last season, so I will endevour to do better. another difference this time is that I am also fitter and have muscle tone which I felt I lost a huge amount of on the program, and will try and keep up the exercise to help me cope. Like you - don't seem to pick the easy road.
As far as wine goes I have decided that gin and diet tonic are a better indulgence for me as a general rule when I have the odd tipple, with wine as an occasional ie people around for a BBQ or something of the like.
I'm into the rice cakes, they are great to have around, really enjoying them, prefer them to bread (exception is home made of course), and easy to take to work.
Hope your ankle is holding up.
Dayanira - great destinations for your trip, you will be going two weeks before us, we are leaving on the 29th of March. sounds like the challenge is on, but I wish it was only 2 kg for me, I need to loose closer to 5 - oh dear. But we have got a few months to get our selves slim trim and sorted for our trip.
Mary - so great to hear from you, happy to hear that life is good, all is well and as you may have read I've slipped up a bit with regard to keeping to Cohen, but I'm getting back there slowly, I may be a turtle but I feel I'm getting my maintenance sorted at the same time which I didn't do to well at a year ago.
Have a great festive time with family and friends if I don't chat with you sooner.

[Sharon]

Had a Christmas get together here at home last night with friends, went really well, the spit roast lamb and the chicken wings were cooked to perfection, 4 people chose to bring salads and did really well with a pasta, potato, rice, and a green salad (no pre-planning), and lovely desserts from others made with plenty of chocolate and cream, I balanced it out with raw veges to nibble on prior to tea that sat along side the usual goodies (they all disappeared and there were chocs and nuts left over at the end of the night - I think people appreciated having something healthy to nibble on too) I offered unsweetened fruit salad to have with all the sweet desserts. I had a little of most, a couple of glasses of wine, and had a lovely time catching up with everyone. Today its deal with it time and plan to do that over the next few days so I'm well and truly back down before Christmas Day. My aim to is ensure nothing gets out of hand this Christmas.

[KMac]

great job & good luck with the rest of the holiday's

[Sharon]

Kmac, thanks for your support, great to hear from you,
talk about doing well, your ticker looks fantastic,you are so close I'm sure you can touch it.
Awesome work.
Have a great Christmas and New Year with the new you.

[Sharon]

With relief the christmas silly season is over for another 12 months.
Damage has been done, I have had a great time and have paid a price for it. But it could have been alot worse, and there is no such thing as a point of no return. Not only is my incentive a trip overseas at the end of March but my more immediate goal will be on loosing so I can use the vouchers I was given by my 2 lads (certainly beats Chocolates) to a cloths shop I have often admired their clothing, but due to the cost and the size of the old me I never looked much past the beautifully dressed manakins in the window, and for that my muffins have just got to go.
And these dudes are what represents what has got to go.
{bouncing}

Break out the water and lets make a toast to Cohen and 2010

[Ms. CrackerHead]

Thanks for the visit into my diary! I do so hope to do as well as you when I get to maintenance again!

Ms. C :bighug:

[Dayanira]

Hi Sharon,
I must agree with you and repeat to myself: Xmas is over for another 12 months!

I've done damage on the last 3 days only. I was at goal weight on Christmas Day, but then I got complacent and start eating whatever was in front of me. Blah!

I've sent you a private message that you're going to laugh really hard!

Let's do this Sharon, those muffins must go before our trip! :weights:

Hope to "literally" see you soon!

Dayanira

[Sharon]

Ta heaps Ms C, I'm blushing at your entry
I wish I had done better at the beginning of my maintenance but In 2008 Christmas I gained and I should have come back to the threads to get myself on track earlier before I gain the muffins over the next 6 months. Now am doing much better, have stopped the upward drift and feeling more positive with regard to myself and my relationship with food - ie it will will still be there tomorrow Ha Ha. The one suggestion I would have is for maintainers to keep leaning on the threads for support and an anchor from which to work from while you get yourself balanced mentally and physically. It won't happen for me overnight, so I'll be here for a while - sorry about that guys LOL.


Dayanira - MUFFIN ATTACK!!!!

[KMac]

I'm glad you came back to the message boards.. your insight & advice is awesome!

[Sharon]

Thank you so much, :embarrassment:
{friendhug}

[Ms. CrackerHead]

Sharon,

I wanted to share with you what the consultant just wrote to me regarding how to use their maintenance rules while also implementing an exercise program. Basically you can't. She said that if you want to exercise you can consult another expert or company that specializes in eating right while exercising. This program is only for obese insulin resistant folks and for getting the weight off quickly and safely while regulating insulin.
So that's why there is no support for maintainers at all, besides the rules they give us in writing. And that's why nothing in that states how to use their rules if you exercise.:thinking: Darn it!

Where are you going to in March? Are you meeting D there, too? Fun, fun! You live in the land down under, don't you?

You can pm me if you don't want to state that on the boards. Take care!:)

[Dayanira]

Thanks Ms C for this post. It's really interesting and eye opening. :sadeyes:

We probably need to find the right amount of exercise and food intake, in order to keep our weight.

I was reading a book called "Curb the Carb - The Saver way to diet" by Amanda Cross. It's very similar to 1PD. The plan is divided in three parts, too: Fast track, Keep on tracking (like Refeed in 1PD) and No Backtracking. This programme is mostly for insulin resistant people, too. I must go back and finish reading it or even start all over again. It offers more support and guidance for maintainers than 1PD. In their Guidelines for life it does advice to do exercises (both aerobics and resistance training) at least 4 days per week.

I will probably open a new thread and start posting "tips" from this book to help maintainers, what do you think? Will the administrators allow us to do so?

Take care,
Dayanira

PS. Sharon and I are going to different countries but we just found out that we are from the same city!!! Just a couple of minutes away from each other. So, we're going to meet for coffee very soon! I can't wait!

[Ms. CrackerHead]

You're welcome! I just always was a little confused about that part of the diet and now I am more clear what the program is really for and why they expect us to navigate our own way if we want to add other things, such as exercise, when we get to maintenance.

As for posting tips from the other book...try it...I don't think they will mind because you are being helpful. Also don't put any links to their website. I look forward to reading your thread from this book! :)

That is amazing that you guys just figured out you live near each other! I wish I could join you! I don't have any fitness oriented or diet conscious "real world" friends. I think that everyone I know is really just not interested or too busy or plain fat and happy about being that way. Which is fine, but I wish I could meet more people that are like minded.

Take care! :party1:

[Sharon]

Hi there Guys, Ms Crackerhead, thanks heaps for your entry about maintainence and exercise, I ran out of time to drop a comment yesterday. I am not overly surprised and it may explain why we don't get any of the administrators over on this thread, they aren't sure how to advise us??.
It was a great surprise for Dayanira and i to find out about our trips overseas at approximately the same time, I'm going to Cambodia and Vietnam ( she leaves a week or two before me to somewhere hotter and dryer, Turkey and Israel is it Dayinera?) and have just found out we live in the same city (actually 1 street over from my hubbies and my first house, about less than 10 minutes drive away from where I live now). I'm really looking forward to meeting for coffee, and really do wish you were close enough to join us.
Dayanira, great idea to add bits from the book, only one way to find out if they have a problem with it. I'm off to read your new thread after this entry.
Ms Crackerhead As you may have noted Dayanira and I have made a challenge to drop some k's before we travel, feel free to jump on in, its certainly not exclusive, and as this forum has proved, more the merrier.

[Sharon]

Ok, Christmas is over and 2009 is history, all that is left is clean-up.
I didn't do too bad after Christmas and while away over the New Year, I lost three and gained one by steering away from the carbs, we stay with family and bread seems to go with every meal, but it is also salad season - Yahoo. My pre considered deviation was with some corn chips in the evening as I was having a couple of alcoholic beverages and if I was going to choose have some carbs it was going to be something I really wanted - not just a filler - or in this case a soaker (don't know about you guys, without carbs alcohol takes an express way to the brain - certainly makes a cheap date).

As far as my muffin attack I have now reduced my 8 bouncing dudes to

{grouphug1} a group hug.

[Dayanira]

Well done Sharon. Corn chips and bread were the killer for me at New Year's eve dinner party. But I'm glad that we are on the right set of mind from now on.

I was 1 kg/2.2lb less this morning!!! yahoo!!! For me, the extra kilos show more like a donut around my upper stomach. Grrrr!

Can't wait for tomorrow weigh in...

Take care,
Dayanira

[Sharon]

Dayanira - great to hear you dropped that extra, doesn't that one or two extra kg make a big difference to the muffin area, I certainly feel alot better not only in comfort but is general self without them. Will be interested to see if you managed to keep them at bay while away. I'm sure you will have done better than me.
Have just come home from 2 nights away due to a bereavement and gave in to temptation. weighed heaps more this morning but it is fluid ++ mainly.It never ceases to amaze me how eating the "wrong" foods causes me to retain literally litres of fluid. I just drink water / water / water and hardly piddle - (same happens to a lesser extent when tramping - but that is kind of handy - don't have to get out of my sleeping bag in the night he he) Spend the next couple of days making frequent visits. Do you guys get the same / similar ???

[Ms. CrackerHead]

Always Always retain the water when eating the wrong stuff! And the stomach always goes up in size and the rings get tight!!

Hate it and is just one more reminder why it is not good to do that very often.

And when I get back to eating right and drinking water I also get back to visiting the bathroom all the time!!!!!!:)

[Sharon]

Our bodies certainly know what is right and wrong for them - we just have to listen to what they are saying - imagine image of me shaking index finger at self with serious look on face.
I'm back down to my "group hug" and determined to be lower by the end of the week - if I don't get myself sorted, last night I threatened myself with going back on the Cohen program - I'm determined to get back to goal before I go away in 11 weeks - its not alot of weight to loose but if I can't motivate myself without the full plan then I'll go back on. Over the last 4 months I've managed to stop the upward trend and loose some weight and get maintenance sorted for myself, but now I have to step up the plan. For the next few weeks carbs are out the window (except for my cracker allocation when peckish) and step the exercise up.

Ms Crackerhead - your ticker is looking great - well done

[Sharon]

Thought it was time for a progress report, my group hug of 6 has now become a band with Elmo of 4
{band}{elmo}

I'm on track and being able to keep up the exercise which is great.
I'm keeping positive and focused with my mantra of
"I LOVE BEING A TINY MUM"
to my two teenage boys, it gives me the warmest fuzzies and it has really helped me with this leg of my Cohen journey, I wish I had thought about something like this MUCH sooner.
The exercise is helping me I'm sure with the speed of the progress and I should still have good muscle tone when I get to goal :praying:.
I'm staying to the Cohen fruit and veges to be my carbs, taking more of the meat and veges than in the plan as I know I need them with the level and frequency of exercise intensity I am doing, the fruit is my saviour when I get the shakes from being to low in energy - funny tho I have not been "hungery/tempted" away from my plan - long may it last, and I've been staying well away from all breads cereals, grains root veges etc even crackers. when I finish I will do a modified refeed - follow the reintroduction of these things over a period of time mirroring the original I was given and see how my body copes.
I'm off to make my healthy lunch for work than off to the land of nod.
Night night

[KMac]

sounds like a plan, I love a good plan
Enjoy your lunch & have a great day:)

[OrlandoOz]

Great will look for your thread on the exercise. While I am maintaining fine I wish to begin exercising in earnest and am a little worried about the results.

Happy New Year All.

Margaret

[Sharon]

Hi KMac and Margaret, great to hear from you guys.
I've been keeping to my plan except for social events (had one last weekend and have two this weekend) and it is working well
I was really hungry last night and shaky over night and this morning and no wonder I made a sudden loose of 900 gm and my body has been a bit shocked I think, I've had my yoghurt this morning but it hasn't hit the spot yet so I'll have an apple after this. Tonight we are going out to tea for my sons 16th and then to friends for tea tomorrow night, don't think will be Cohen friendly, but thats ok because I plan to be dietary Cohen the rest of the time as per my plan and afterwards so it may slow my progress down temporarily but it will give my body a bit of a rest from the low cals and exercise.
The exercise has been still manageable which has surprised me, some days it can be a real push to get through though but my goal is 18 + exercise sessions per month, Which varies between 4 -5 sessions per week, I vary it between a 30minute + run in a reserve nearby with the dog or 30+ minutes on the cross trainer on resistance of 8, I use to be able to spend over an hour on it and still could have carried on but I've learnt how to use it smarter, where I use to use alot of momentum therefore not alot of effort, now I stabilize my core and work those legs and butt muscles and boy what a difference, the sweat pours off me and I look forward to the cal burn / Km goal to be reached which is 300cals, and I really think it is correct with the effort I put in ,unlike when I was using momentum to do most of the work - I was only kidding myself if I had believed it. this is an activity where the saying work smarter not harder is not what I want, it needs to be smarter and harder. As far as making me hungry, it tends to do the opposite on me which I am so thankful for, I tend to crave on my inactive days.

I am down from the band and Elmo to
{pirates} I love thse guys, and well on the way to my next drop yahoo

"I LOVE BEING TINY MUM"

[Key]

"I've been keeping to my plan except for social events (had one last weekend and have two this weekend) and it is working well"

Hi Sharon,

One of the consultants told me it's what you do 90% of the time that matters. I think you're definitely a model of this!

[Sharon]

Hi there Key and thanks for your compliment, how are you going with your maintenance?
I agree with your consultant, cos 100% ??? - I know I'm not that good :devil: LOL
For now in my journey slowly but surely wins the race in the long run, I've sorted out for me how to stay in maintenance, and have dropped below that to loose the extra that i had gained when I lost the control. But my basic plan for lifelong management is still my foundation from which to work from.
The meal out last night was Mexican and very yummy- I enjoyed Nachos and a Sol. Up on the scales, but its Cohen for breakfast and lunch and come mid afternoon the elliptical trainer will be calling out to me, cos I understand it is home made burgers on the menu where we are going tonight - m.

[KMac]

Hi Girls,
I like the 90% thought- its livable & realistic

[Sharon]

Some of you have been wondering about bringing exercise into your maintenance plan, everyone is an individual, so all I can say is what is working for me

I still weigh myself everyday
But I have one day a week which I take a specific note of and for me that is friday, why - cos I can swing by up to 2kg (but normally not that significant that often) and so getting hung up on a specific days weight is counter productive and its the overall trends I'm looking for. One of the reasons I swing is my exercise, and the retention of water when you burn fat and get those muscles working.
I have picked friday as my main day because I exercise 4-5 times a week but have generally Wednesday and always Thursday as my days of rest and over that rest time I find that my body gets rid of all the accumulated fluid and any extra in my diet that I might have had over the prior weekend, so I feel the friday morning weigh is my most accurate (and my best).
As stated earlier in my thread my exercise is either a 32 minute run or a 32 minute cross train, depending on the weather and what I think my body needs, generally each at least 2 times a week. I find the level of effort, time involved and the frequency is do-able and realistic for long term management.

One thing I have kept up is a diary which I put in my weight, my exercise, my successes and goals, and any ideas I may have, it helps to keep me honest and focused
Don't know if this will help those of you who have asked but it works for me.

[Dayanira]

Oh God! You are so lucky Sharon when it comes to exercise and that it doesn't make you hungry. With me it's completely opposite. I don't know if it's psychological or it's real hunger! I'm incorporating exercise at least twice a week, either walking/running with the dog or swimming with my girls. But, OH BOY!!! I come home and start eating what I've left prepared for it: a fruit or 2 crackers with cream cheese or a diet coke. I sometimes combine the crackers with the soda. But MOST of the time I end up eating ALL that and more!!!

Congratulations on downsizing your "band" of muffins. I believe that you've found the key to unlock those muffins that were refusing to leave their home (your body)!

Dayanira

[Sharon]

I agree Dayanira, I am lucky with regard to exercise and hunger, I'm hungry at the moment and want to get on the cross trainer so I can deal with it but am waiting for my mother who is going to pop in this afternoon so I have to just hang in there. Water is being drunk ++ at the moment.
Murphy's Law with saying about the 2 kg weight fluctuation in my last entry - well all week I have been 2 kg over my goal weight that I had reached at the end of the week before ( I reset it every time I drop by 1kg - and then I start working on the next kg), and I could not budge it despite exercise and diet, thankfully this morning it disappeared - I knew it was retention with TOM also being a contributor but can still do your head in.

[Sharon]

Its slow progress but I'm getting there
My three pirates are now
{slapfight}
Its taken me 21 days for this drop, but I think when you get to this stage every little bit takes a bit longer but has more effect as there is less fat on the body to target
I've had birthdays and social get togethers - so its ok that it has taken this long because the trend was in the right direction, its the discovering of your successful balance of management and enjoyment of what we now regard as 'treats'
I have found that my weight / food / exercise diary has been invaluable for me to keep on track, stay motivated and be objective with what I do.

[Sharon]

This last week has been really effective, it has taken me 7 days to reach my new base and I have only this guy to go,
{chucks}
as you can see he is ready for a fight (I've TOM looming on the horizon again and two social gatherings this weekend) he wants some mates back to keep him company, but hes not going to win cos this guy has got to go.

[Key]

Tiny Mum is a fighter!

[Dayanira]

Hi Sharon,
As usual I've enjoyed catching up with your thread. Congratulations in fighting those "muffins"! We need to be tenacious!

I wish we can catch up before our trips, but it seems that we are running out of time. But we must get together when we come back.

Take care,
Dayanira

[Sharon]

:( , I missed catching up with Dayanira before she left, hope she has a fantastic tme catching up with her loved ones.
I have the feeling {chucks} fill be joining me on my adventure in less than 2 weeks (can't believe the time is almost here).
I have just had a "hen's weekend" and "chucks" found friends, but they will be evicted over the next few days, we had a great time with biking wine trails, house on the beach and wonderful platters of delicious food, I was the sober driver so wine wise I has a good girl, unlike my 4 passengers - 4 bottles of wine between them and a 6 shot cocktail each on the way home yesterday, not my idea of fun really, I just poured them out of the car safely at the end of the weekend, pleased not to have their heads this morning.
Before I went I had just dealt with the aftermath of TOM which I dealt to swiftly, after this weekend I'm 2 kg up and plan to do the same thing. Ive got a 50th birthday to go to this weekend then the wedding to host the day before we fly out so if "chucks" proves to be difficult I'll have to sort him out later.
Weight wish I must admit I am VERY nervous about our trip but also interested to see what happens with regard to how my body will cope / react, no scale for the month and I have promised my husband I will chill out and immerse myself in the diet and culture.
Whatever happens TINY MUM is totally committed to remaining so, knowing that she may just have to re-exert her authority once we get home.

[Key]

Hi Sharon,

Are you in New Zealand or Australia? I have had fantastic wines from both countries - I'm sure you had a blast biking wine trails.

You'll be okay on your trip - I believe a bit of trepidation is healthy to keep you in balance. Keep the "90% rule" close to your heart to keep you under control for the 10% of the time you want to go wild... you'll be just fine. If you have to lose a bit when you return well... you knew the job was dangerous when you took it. $: )

[Aqua Eyes]

Sharon...biking in the wine country and being on the beach are 2 of my favorite things to do! I admire that you were designated driver and didn't over indulge in the drink. Can't say I would do the same. ;) I think you are going to do fabulous on your trip with the eating. You'll be more concious about it and that will keep you in check.

Now that the weather is getting nicer here, I need to pump up the tires in my bike and do some riding myself. I want to hear all about your trip when you get back. If you can sneak in a quick post to us while you are gone that would be fun to read. Did you say you were going to be gone a whole month? Wish I could take a whole month of vacation.

I wish you a fun and safe trip. :D

[Sharon]

Hi there guys
Hoping my computer will allow me to drop a line before it freezes on me AGAIN - off to the computer Dr tomorrow.
Well I survived my trip to Cambodia and Vietnam, had a fantastic time, now that I am back it is like a dream, what isn't a dream is the weight I gained, I'm back to where I was at Christmas, but imagine where I would have been if i haden't lost all that weight before I went???? Aaaaagh
I'm not in the right frame to do something about it at the moment - came back to a very sick dog who had a bowel obstruction due to a rare tumor and is palliative - so I've limited time with my baby.
But the trip was great - loved the food and the experience, and really would like to go back especially to Siem Reap in Cambodia, with their temples, Dr Fish, the Khymer massage and the markets to name just as few things. Have to start saving my pennies, next time will be just Hubby and I which will make it easier on the pocket but my two boys were great travelling companions and will miss not having them with us - we were a great team.
Will sign off now and write again soon

[KMac]

welcome back, sounds like a great time.
I hope your dog is feeling better, that can be upsetting.
Good luck adjusting back to non-vacation mode :D

[Sharon]

Thanks Kmac, she has her good days and bad days - and today is not so good so we are off to the vets in about an hour, as she is not drinking and dribbling ++.
Diet wise tomorrow is action Day for me, Time to get serious and drop the extra pounds, yesterday I bought myself some new running shoes which were specialist fitted for me, they are US size 8, I had worked out my original Cohen on size 6.5 - the difficulty is we use a few different sizes in NZ depending on the country import them from (ie china I am size 7), and the company I guess makes a difference too - but either way it is a big difference, I recalculated with my height and the shoe size on the Cohen home page and it added 2 kg on my original Cohen recommended - interestingly the new weight is the same as I had decided earlier this year as my goal and hubby admits now he thought my original was too thin. I've just got to get down there now - on holiday the weight went to the 3 'B's and boy do I notice it. But concidering how I indulged its not surprizing. Increase in clothing size "IS NOT AN OPTION"

[Sharon]

Well the day has come and the scales have been bluntly honest with me - and I'm listening.
{bouncing}:jumping2:
The lads are back in town and the eviction notices have been sent out - (yet again)
Apples in the fridge and soup on the stove and time to clean house.

[Dayanira]

Hi Sharon!
Welcome home! So glad to see you here and getting ready to fight those visitors! It has been a little bit more than a month since we came back from our holiday and Oh Boy! I've been fighting those stubborns extra kilos that I gained during the trip. I don't regret eating all that delicious food, though. I just wish to gain back my determination.

How's your dog doing? I really hope that she is not in pain.
Take care and I hope we can catch up in person soon.
Dayanira

[Sharon]

Like you - no regrets, but there is a battle looming on the horizon, I've stayed basicaly static and am preparing myself to get to work, I don't know about you I find it hard just to dive in and get going, I have to prepare myself - I suppose regaining that 'determination' you spoke of.
Bella (dog) is holding her own at the moment, with good quality of life - as much food as she can eat, quiet exercise on the reserve, and lots of hugs and pats, we know its borrowed time as they normally don't last long past diagnosis but as long as she is enjoying life we will make the most of her company - thanks for asking
Yes we will have to get together - do you still have Fridays off???

[Sharon]

Well I didn't do well past eviction day, I haven't gained but I haven't lost either and those muffins arn't looking good.Also my exercise has taken a dive after our overseas trip, one thing I was so proud of was hubby's and my ability to do all that we did with treking and climbing and biking etc and being the oldest ones there and not having a problem. But since being home I haven't found getting back into it easy at all, it was so easy when just on Cohen. We have had a long weekend and have relaxed and indulged, so I've told myself AGAIN to get my c... together and get on with it, I know I can do it cos I've done it before so stop procrastinating. Had Pumpkin and Kumera soup for lunch, and roast Lamb with roast veges and a wine for tea tonight as my 'last meal'. Been up to the supermarket and bought my Cohen supplies so I'm all ready to go - so here goes.

[Sharon]

I've had a good start, yesterday went well, I've been weighing my breakfast and lunch and sticking to the Cohen menu, for tea I made a low fat main, I only ate the meat and 'Cohen' Veges, and kept it to a small portion. the car had a flat battery yesterday morning so hubby took me to work, I took my running gear and ran home, I think its about 6.5k and some hill work, it took me 45 minutes, so I've got the warm fuzzies today and motivation to carry on. For my birthday my mother gave me a few $, I so don't want to spend it on clothes at the moment because I'm not looking my best, so I've tucked it away for when I make my goal as my reward.
I know I am so much better on protein, I'm satisfied and can go for hours on a small amount, if I eat carbs only I am shaking with hunger in about an hour - I just store it, and as for wine its worse than chocolate, I feel like diabetes is back on my doorstep the way I was slipping back into my old ways - protein is my key and I just have to keep on unlocking that door, its so easy to fall back into old traps.
Catch ya later guys - keep up the good battle.

[Dayanira]

Hello, hello, hello!!!
I'm here reading, reading, reading old posts, especially the ones where adviced was given from Shasha, hoping that something will hit me hard!!!! Nothing happens.... :( No change, no change....

Dayanira

[Sharon]

A big hi there Dayanira
I know, a good hard kick is in order for me too.
I've been behaving myself over the week and have lost some of the extra but still have a way to go. A little too relaxed this weekend though but hope have not undone all of my good work - it is so easily done.
I've stepped up my exercise but its too windy and cold today to tempt me outside, how about you? how is the exercise going, still managing to get out for your walks?
Maybe we need to climb a hill eh?

[Dayanira]

Hi Sharon,
Climb a hill??!! Once winter hits I go into hibernation mode! I don't know what gets over me! I guess it's because I come from the tropics and my body doesn't know how to cope or it's my age. When I lived in the US I loved winter and used to embraced all winter sports. Now, I have to think it twice. But if you are kin to get together and climb any of our city hills, I'm up to it!

So, how are those muffins of yours? Are they still "attached" to you? Hope not! How many do you need to lose?

[Sharon]

I still have those muffins, I evicted them before asia but they are back and really do need to go - I'm just not working hard enough at the moment so I'm not going very far very fast, I take two steps forward and then two steps back - not very motivational at the moment I know.
The school holidays are apon us next week and they may put you out of action for hill climbing eh??? was thinking of Barnicott - a lovely view of Tasman from up there.
Have to sign off and get to bed as anearly start tomorrow - will strive for a good Cohen day tomorrow.

[KMac]

Good Luck on your Cohen Day!! You can do it- you are a force!

[Sharon]

Thanks Kmac,
As a nurse we help people to make healthy lifestyle choices, like healthy food, exercise, quit smoking etc and I was mulling over the thought that we are addicted to food but unlike cigarettes we cannot quit - ( an effective - but not a healthly option), we still have to feed that addiction - we just have so many choices to undermine us. I discussed this with a colleague that if you have never tried to quit the nicotine habit or fought the battle of the bulge I don't know if you can truly appreciate how difficult it can be, she disagreed (never smoked and not an ounce of excess on her tiny little frame).
For all those of you that have done battle and those of you that are - you are doing fantastic, the road is not always smooth but every ounce you loose makes you an absolute champion,
Hang in there and keep telling yourself how wonderful you are, that you deserve to win, and remember you are not alone.

[Sharon]

Well I'm back on my wobbly bike again (the bike analogy evokes interesting visions Kmac)
I might keep falling off at present but as long as I keep hoping back on and don't give up, I know I will reach my destination.
My canine companion is having less good days now and my thoughts are troubled in that when do I make the decision that the bad days out weigh the good, this isn't really helping me with my strength and determination.
So little is known about her tumor but she has done well, the vets thought 3 weeks she is coming up to 13 - she has still enjoyed short walks, food and family, and on good days you would never guess what is lurking inside. They call her their miracle.
Although I may wobble along for a little at present - like my girl having good days and bad - I'll hang in there and I wont give up

[ls_dreamer]

You will be great.

So sorry to hear about your dog that is a devastating process....hang in there!

[Sharon]

Thanks for your message, and welcome
It is a bit of an emotional roller-coaster that is for sure, but we both have had great days today, she has eaten plenty and I haven't ;-)

[KMac]

Hi Sharon,
I am so sorry to read about your difficult time with your dog, this must be a real heart breaker for you-
I'm sending good positive thoughts your way.
:D

[Sharon]

Thanks KMac,
It is tough, I could decide now but she still has good days and they still are more than the bad but the balance is shifting, I've told myself when we have two days bad together then we will go for that final drive, on those nights when its not been so good then I go to bed wondering if tomorrows the day, but in the morning - wheres the food, where is my attention and lets stir up the cats, the decision is not cut and dried, cos we can still give her effective comfort and quality.

With regard to Cohen - I'm doing well like you KMac - 3 days down and starting on number 4 - those muffins are moving in a positive way, I have gone down 2.1 kg in three days - but we all know the first lose can be big - but I'll take it.
For work lunches I made a really nice soup , not strict Cohen but not far off,
I love soup so I can turn the winter stodge that we tend to grab for on cold days into something more positive.
SHARON"S MAINTENANCE SOUP RECIPE
I got some beef soup bones which still had some good meat on them and they are good cos they have no fat
Gave them a quick fry
placed them into a pot of water and simmered then until the meat was tender and falling off the bone
removed the meat from the bones
Added leek (a refeed good vege)
Spinach (we can get handy frozen 100% spinach blocks)
Cabbage
A light simmer just to get it started but keep some substance in your veges
In serving size containers I throw in a bit of powdered stock then pour into the containers.

Not strict but close enough for maintenance I think - and its effective in this capacity.

TO THOSE ON THE PROGRAM - THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE MEAL

[Sharon]

Hi guys,
Well the good news is I have not fallen off the bike, its been a week now and I am 3 kg down, if only I could loose it all this quick.
The bad news is last Friday I took my girl up to the vets one last time,
[/ATTACH]
These are a couple of picks of me and my girl.

[monkeyface]

Hey Sharon,
Great for you...and blessings to your precious one....happy memories live forever....

[Sharon]

Thankyou Monkeyface, {friendhug}
I'm starting to smile when I think of her rather than cry which is making it easier.
Fell off the wagon and had some extra crackers last night when I should have had an apple, am going for a better day today.

[Aqua Eyes]

Hi Sharon,

It isn't easy losing a loved one. It doesn't matter whether it is human or not. Love is greater with our innocent friends because they are so at mercy for our care for them. Blessings to you that you had so many wonderful years with your loved one. Just know that your friend has gone over the Rainbow bridge and will be waiting for you there. I've been down this path. It is never easy. The survivors are the ones that pay and never the ones who pass. Big HUG to you for staying strong. It's o.k. to go off the bicycle during stressful sad times. You will get back to that place again where you will be strong again.

Allow yourself the grief. You gave your all to your beloved friend. I'm sending you healing energy.

[Sharon]

Thanks JoAnn for your wonderful thoughts and support
I'm having a break at the moment as I felt very tired and worn out end of last week, and need to give myself a bit of space as I am still trying to complete my studies, be effective in a reasonably demanding job, and be there for my family, so I need to look after myself with regard to stress, am getting back into running and on the elliptical trainer again which will help then re-look at my goals and my dietary plan of action. We are going out of town for the weekend which will be a good break.

[Sharon]

Well I'm sitting at maintenance yet again{duh}
I'm just trying to eat healthy at the moment rather than keep falling off the wagon, I'm not going upwards which is good, if anything I am slowly creeping down.
I was just too tired emotionally and physically to keep up 100% Cohen so I thought concentration on status quo was the best choice for the moment, and I'm not doing further damage.
We are looking at taking my brother in law to Asia next year so that will give me incentive to get moving soon, to ensure I am fit, trim and healthy.

[KMac]

Hello Sharon,
How are you? Hope all is well :)

[Sharon]

Hi there Kmac
Great to hear from you and sad to say I am a few pounds heavier than I should be, not all my clothes fit to my satisfactions - so I wont wear them cos I hate the muffin look, and I will not will not will not buy bigger clothes. I'm in limbo and I need to get myself moving - but as you can see I have not been doing very well. I see you have been writing your progress on your thread and I am cheering you on from the side lines but plan to join you soon, a trip to the supermarket is in order me thinks.

[Sharon]

Well I am day one down on being back on Cohen foods, start day two today, I feel better already - so I do keep asking myself why I stray. As we had guests in the weekend I let myself go on a bit of a none Cohen binge so yesterday had an immediate effect. Got all my food ready - back into the forward planning - makes such a difference.
Went to Tai Chi last night for the second lesson, was really good but plan to do something a bit more energetic tonight.
Off to work so catch you guys later.
TTFN

[KMac]

Welcome back Sharon,
you have a very good question... why do I stray? I think of that too,
but more important we are back and ready to take responsibility for our damage.
I too hate the muffin top, and that is were I seem to put the weight back on ;(
Good luck today, I know you can do this
:)

[Sharon]

Hi there KMac
I survived day two, and my belly feels better already, the muffin tops will take a little while to diminish, but they didn't arrive over night.
Went on the cross trainer after work for 30 minutes which was really great, plan to do the same after work today, my butt needs to tone up something wicked.
Keep up the great work KMac and all you Cohen buddies, we can do this.
Better get my lunch out of the fridge and get to work.
Catch you on the treads later

[Sharon]

Hi there all you Cohen buddies.
I'm well into day four, and hanging in there, went on the cross trainer yesterday but didn't after work today as I was catching up with my study supervisor after work. I've had tea, I am a comfortable full ( meat and vege) but feel like I need something else, I wish my brain would listen to my belly and shut those thoughts up, so I thought I would come on line,
catch up with you guys;
then go look at my skinny clothes that I have put on my dress makers manikin (lovely silks from Vietnam that I want to look good in for summer);
then make a cup of coffee;
then do some study;
then I'll have an apple;
and by THEN I hope by brain will have moved on.

Working an extra day tomorrow, but have booked in a therapeutic sports massage in the afternoon and I'm really looking forward to that. I consider it therapy as I have a tight spine which can cause my muscles to tighten and ache, then gives me migraines - and the added benefit is it is soooo nice.

[KMac]

Hi Sharon,
Your pictures were fantastic, you look great- you & your Bella, beauty's in everyway.
Hope you enjoyed your massage, sounds nice.
I like your to do list to avoid the avoidables..lol
I wish I did that lastnight.
I will make on the next time I need some help
Have a great day :)

[Sharon]

Thankyou Kmac about the photos and the complements, my girl certainly lived up to her name in many ways.
My massage was great, had a bit of a bummer day at work so was great relaxer afterwards.
Managed to stick to the program in spite of the day so I'm still on track.
I've also been 'Scumbling" (a free form knitting project) as a project for the Agriculture and Produce Show in November to keep my brain distracted which can also help.
Tomorrow is another day and I get a sleep in yahoo

[KMac]

maybe I should take up knitting to keep my hands busy and away from food ;)

[Dayanira]

Hi Sharon,
I'm so glad to find you here still fighting as me! And I'm sooo sorry about your beautiful dog! She was beautiful.

I've been stuck on 57 -58 kg, but lately I've been up to 59kgs. Not good! I blame it on our daughters' soccer pizza parties that we just had in the last two weekends. Wow! There was so much pizza and I completely deleted from my brain that pizza makes my weight go up to a kilo next day! Plus the baking I've been doing with my daughters!

Summer is almost here, so I'm hoping to kick the road more often and continue with the Zumba classes!

We need to meet for coffee sometime!

Dayanira

[Sharon]

Absolutely, coffee sound good Dayanira - great to catch you on the threads and you are doing better than me on the weight front, I'm on my butt studying at the moment for 2 weeks while on leave from work so its not doing me much good on the weight front but am getting out running every day to try and counter act it.
I've been so remiss about getting onto the threads,
But you guys I'm still here, but at the moment I'm focusing on study as I have a very big paper due for me to finish my Masters, so a lot of stuff has been pushed aside, but its the only way to get it done, as there is a lot to do to get it completed. So I may disappear for a couple of months but I'll be back soon.
Hang on in there guys and I'll be thinking of you all.

[Sharon]

Hi there guys,
Thought I would pop on as I eat my cauliflour and apple cheese for lunch, it is one of my favourites,
Have a week on sick leave so have a bit more time to study which is a positive. the negative is the program isn't doing much for my waistline as I am suppose to be feet up and resting, managed to put a large sharp garden fork through the side of my big toe, out the other side and into my next toe - not the best thing to do. As there is a high risk of infection I'm under Docs orders with antibugs and feet up for the week. So I feel like all the fitness I developed with exercising every day is wilting away, and my good work with keeping to Cohen is of little effect on the scales, but if I didn't keep to Cohen over this time I'd be doing even more damage.
I'm looking at my summer clothes really wanting to wear them in the next few months have limited my wardrobe as some of my stuff it to small or not a good look,
The program is so good, and so worth all the effort, I love how the weight loss made me look and feel, but I wish maintenance wasn't so tough.
Actually I would love to get back to my ideal weight and be ON maintenance.

[Sharon]

Was sitting on the couch last night with my feet up feeling like a couch potato thinking about the program and deciding on a piece of fruit, crackers or another cup of coffee. When I was thinking about how do I make it easier for myself as it is a mind set we have to do the things we do, that on maintenance when we get set loose from the program we tend to have periods where we tend to eat types of food like there is no more going to be ever made and they always are carbs and sweets, never lettuce or celery.
"Diet" or "the program" has a short term or maybe negative connotation to it even though we love it and know it works, and in the long term I need to eat sensibly, then I thought that the core of the program IS sensible eating, I know it is only words but if the right words can help me stick to this "sensible" way of eating for the long term and be able to stop at only having a little of the foods that aren't so sensible then I have taken another step on the right path to maintenance.

[Dayanira]

Hi Sharon,
Glad to see you here again! I've always liked your reflective posts!

Auch!!! Your poor foot!! I imagine it must have been painful and scary at the time it happened! I wish you a speedy recovery!

Well, you're taking about this "mind" of ours. How do we re-set that "mind set" that we need to be on track again. We need every single tool to assist us. I keep asking myself, "Why is it that we can be good one day and not the next day and the next?" But as you say, if we weren't doing Cohen over this time we were in a different and worse position.

We need to keep trying, no matter what...

[Sharon]

HI there Dayanira
thanks for the well wishing, back at work today, my foot is somewhat tender and complaining but it was good to get going again.
Happy that you like my "reflective posts", for me I hope it helps me grow to understand myself better, like you I frequently ask myself why I can be so good then fall off the rails and sometimes so spectacularly, like an addict, a little it never enough, then very hard to recover ourselves.
Yes we must keep trying, no matter what...
Even though the road is not so smooth for some of us, we must not loose hope or faith in ourselves.

[Sharon]

Well I'm back with my feet up again, went back to work for about 1 - 1/2 weeks, saw my Doc and back off again, my toe is still red and puffy, and is slow to heal and being on my feet all day is not encouraging to the healing process, a good thing is there no sign of infection, and in that I stopped my path to diabetes by loosing all my weight (Diabetes would compromise my healing further, and a good reason to get my weight back down and stop the upward trend).
Diet wise it is just as well I'm sticking to Cohen foods with all this inactivity.I've managed to reduce some of my muffinage and am certainly alot less bulky in my middle when I'm not eating wheat.
It certainly is slow progress but at least it is the right direction, my fitness is going to be very reduced by the time I can run again.
But all in all I feel really good at the moment in my relationship with food and positive in my ability to maintain this direction - long may it last - forever may it last.

[Sharon]

Well I'm still at home, had my feet up for another two days, back to work tomorrow, luckily it is only two days before I have my days off, my toe is still red and and puffy but has started to improve, will have to make sure I put my feet up in the evenings so it doesn't back slide - not ready for running yet, and I must admit with these antibiotics I would not want to be, as it is I'm not sure how I'm going to manage their side effects with work let alone pounding the pavement - could be nasty {oops}- and I'm only half way through the course.
As far as my Cohen 'sensible eating' is going - brilliant - I've managed to keep eating sensibly and have reduced more of my muffinage, sticking to Cohen food, I only weigh my morning yoghurt, as I probably would underportion myself there rather over, and definitely portion control myself on my crackers, as I certainly can fall off the rails with them - one of my biggest saboteurs{explode}.
Even though the road may be VERY bumpy for some of us and we do keep sabotaging ourselves. I ask myself where would I be with out this program and without this forum - easy - in big clothes and not in a very healthy space physically or mentally.
So if you are like me and having a more Cohen intrepid journey rather than the 5 star relax by the pool, hang in there, don't give up - cos where would you be if you did,you are to special to not look after yourself.

[Sharon]

Well I'm still chugging along, back on the exercise and hooray I finished my last antibiotic today - it has been a long 6 weeks.
Am enjoying getting back into the exercise - I must say I need it, gravity has prevailed - it is amazing how the clothes that fitted me at the same weight, are far from fitting me now. It has been a graphic example of the difference between fat and muscle, It is so scary and a great motivator for getting me moving.
Diet wise I've been pretty good, with my 'sensible ' eating becoming my mental and physical norm. Its taken me a while but I do feel like I'm getting somewhere. With Xmas around the corner my plan is to keep the exercise up and the food under control. And if I loose that will be fantastic, if I stay status quo I've got my balance right, - a gain .....{scream}

[Dayanira]

Hi!!!!
I´m not going to give up either!!! I haven´t been as strong as you in the last couple of week but I´m not going to give up EVER!!! Where will we be without this programme that we have at hand. I´m not doing much progress but I´m fighting, pushing and pressing.

I hope you´re feeling better and ready to hit the treadmill soon!

[Sharon]

I can't believe it is 2 years ago since I came out of refeed, it was not a good time to be let out into the big wide world of food - a week before Christmas - and here I am again, where has the time gone?
I do not buy all the 'treats' like I use to, still have them but enough for a couple of days - NOT A MONTH.
I'm am 10 kg heavier than what I was when I came out of refeed which I kick myself for regularly, and determined to get back down which I am working on now, but I hold onto the positives that I lost 27kg initially so maybe I'm not in the place I want to be, but I am still in a better place, and am determined to remain so, and to keep working on it - and maintenance is and will always be a work in progress.

Christmas will soon be apon us and I wish all of you a wonderful festive season with family and friends, have a great time and enjoy. {grouphug1}

Just hang on to something sturdy :christmas:

[Sharon]

I've come back on as I am annoyed,
Some may ask why I don't go back on the program as I have gained the weight, well its the $$$$$, along with my desire to go back to the consultants I had thru Africa and the USA, but when I try to get back I get blocked and redirected to our NZ branch, so I thought I would drop them a line and ask for the cost for the internet program. the answer is
NZ $995 ($735 US) for the new Zealand program
compared to NZ$337 ($249 US) (I managed to find if I went through Botswana I wouldn't get redirected to NZ and Australia, and is about what I paid initially).
I refuse to pay for a huge mark up, and not be allowed my freedom of choice, especially as I have already completed the program with this group and with you guys ( the NZ Aussie forum are different, and the program is a bit different, both my sister in laws have done the New Zealand program, one succeeded, one didn't)
If you guys have a look what $ comes up? I'd be interested to know

[Dayanira]

I'm with you Sharon. It's the $$$$!!! It's ridiculous expensive here in NZ!!! And I think they shouldln't stop us from doing it online. It's like living in China or Iran where you get re-directed to other sites when you want to find out more info. I hope those people who have bought the franchise come to their senses and realize that they are violating our rights!!! :( Or maybe Dr. Cohen gets the point the main goal is to make people healthy. I know of 2 people that have done it with the NZ branch and both have not succeeded at all and feel that they have been scammed!!

But Hey girl! We can do this on our own. I know it's the wrong time of the year to keep strong but we must be vigilant. If we deviate or indulge in other foods we must get back on the saddle right away. Think how we wouldl be if we don't do that, if we wait until the New Year as many people are planning to do, we'll be in a worse position.

[Sharon]

You are so right - we can do this - and the time of year is a challenge - but all the more reason to dig deep.
The last few days have had an impact on my waistline - and will need to be sorted sooner rather than later before they invite some more guests.
Was really good with my Christmas goodie shopping and limited them to a couple of days of festivity indulgence when we had our guests around- but the gifts of chocolates and sweets - oh dear - my boys have got the metabolism to deal with it so I'll try to remove myself from the temptation.
Weight wise I am still better off than I was a couple of months ago so that is the positive - and Lord only knows where I would be if I had given up on myself and had let the upward trend continue. At this point I still see and believe it is easily fixable, but if I had carried on with the extra and with the festive gain my head space may have had difficulty in remaining so positive.

My head and my heart still believe and I know I can do this,
I have gone through the program - I know what I need to do - and this forum may not be as good as keeping in contact with the consultants but knowing you guys are all out there it is the next best thing - I am so pleased it exists and you are part of it, I have been on the maintenance thread since its inception and sorry guys I will probably remain so till the end - there will be no getting rid of me, I am a work in progress.

If you have fallen off the Cohen perch with the festivities, be content that you had a great time with family and friends - have faith in yourself - brush yourself off and get back on - a new year with new beginning is just around the corner and it is waiting for us.

[Sharon]

I'm back on the program (unofficially) to give me structure and lean on these threads to give me an anchor.
It has been a week and I have lost 2.8kg - I wish it would all fall off this easily,
I have been having funny peculiar moments - every so often I think "IS THIS WORTH IT" (of course it is - we all know that), but when I stop to analyse what is going on when I that feel that way - its not that I want to eat anything uncohen - or actually anything at all. Maybe its just part of my journey!
I have managed to keep up with the exercise which is good - I lost very slowly when on the original which was somewhat frustrating - I had the consultants frequently saying -"are you sure there is nothing unallowed sneeking in", they even had me weighing my apples, I ended up with no fruit, no crackers, and such basic food for the last month - maybe that is why I am having those funny feelings, and maybe why I gain so easily when I do stray???
So am hoping I will cope with the exercise so I don't have to go soooo basic - I am lucky that if I do get hungry a bit of exercise can actually supress the "need to munch" feeling that can be so hard to ignor. I dreamt the other night I went into my friends home, into one of her spare rooms and ate yummy cakes that were sitting on a bedside cabinet - bizarre. - On the positive - a truely no guilt feast.

[Sharon]

Well I'm still here,
I've lost some of the extra but not as much as I planned, it all went down hill after a hubby's work BBQ, should have known better as it was at the workshop - all there was was sausages, meat patties, bread and beer, I was told there may be some lettuce leaves somewhere, never did find them, the only vege was the tomatoes in the tomato sauce. So bit of a down hill slide shame to say. stayed relatively on track then 30th birthday party this last weekend - all great fun and my weight went up a little - and still better than I was a couple of weeks ago but just not my planned reduction. Our holiday is in 6 weeks and was hoping to be down to my goal - I will keep working on it but I'm being realistic that I will loose some more but it may not be where I was planning to be - I have another get together this weekend.
When I was on strict Cohen it was winter and didn't go anywhere till near the end when the weather started to warm up.
Will go for a cross train this afternoon - was going to go to Tai Chi tonight, but I know come this evening I wont want to go out, I did a night shift last night due to the lack of available staff, so I go from being up all night and a couple of hours sleep to a 6am alarm tomorrow morning- so I know I'm gonna have to push myself to get some exercise in.
But my space is all good.

[KMac]

Hi Sharon-
How are you? I'm back to DC- the perch-- lol

[Sharon]

LOL back at ya,
Good to catch up with you - sorry to hear about the back slide - it is sooo easy, I'm the same, gain a bit, loose a bit - over and over again.
As I say - a work in progress - but never stop the work.
Look forward to hearing of your success, cause I'm sure you will be one.

[Sharon]

Well it is now 4 weeks today before we have our holiday and as you see I have not made any headway on my ticker, my exercise is going well and not having too much trouble with the arthritis my feet. Have just finished the temporary contract at work that has been going to over 2 years, so that will take alot of pressure off me and hopefully give me more energy and time. Am looking at a new piece of gym equipment called the Proform Ab Glider, thought it may be a good adjunct to the cross trainer and my running, and when I have trouble with my feet it will not aggravate my joints Further, but with us going away and trying to keep spending to a minimum I will have to think carefully - but the core muscle work out would be great. -more muscle = more fat burn.
Keep up the good work people.

[Aqua Eyes]

That's EXCELLENT Sharon that at least you are working out. Yes... the more muscle we have the more calories we burn. That's so awesome that you started to work out. I have no excuse excepting to find the time to do it consistantly. Firming up what you have will make you look smaller too. Keep up the excellent work!! I'm never sure where to start first... I need to do it all!

[Sharon]

Hi JoAnn,
Just bumped into you thread a minute ago, sounds like you have made a great start.
I SOOO much want to get the exercise machine to get those pesky abdo muscles pumping and sort out my muffins - this is the area I gain - I am the 'apple' shape rather than the 'pear' shape. Sit ups are a killer on my neck - I just don't want to go there.
The guy at the gym gear shop gave me a tip on the cross trainer which is to spend some time on resistance going backwards, so I've added about 5 minutes of that to tone up my butt - another little pesky problem area; I'm certainly not exercising every day and need to be more regular. My lad is after the computor before heading off to school - so keep up the great work and catch you on the threads soon.

[Sharon]

Well its now 2 weeks till we go away, I've managed to drop half a kilo and I'm doing well on my exercise getting out their about 4-5 times per week. so yes it is slow but in the right direction. I've been going backwards on the cross trainer on resistance, not sure if it is targeting those pesky little areas but I'll carry on carrying on - I'm sure its doing something. Hubby is off diving tomorrow so I hope he brings me back some tasty seafood to make a nice healthy salad and while he's away I'll get stuck into some exercise, and maybe go for a bike ride, the days a pretty warm but its great to be outside after being shut inside for work, around the corner is winter - yuck.

[Sharon]

Well I'm not sure what has happened overnight but I am a total of 1.3 kg down but I'm to scared to put it on my ticker in case that extra drop is all back tomorrow, but I do feel there is something gone from my waist /rib area, I'll celebrate it with a long bike ride as soon as I finish my coffee.

[SO SO HAPPY]

how do you change your ticker ????

[Sharon]

Hi There So So Happy, Sorry about the delay, you should be able to change it in the same place you created it on your forum page, just go into creat ticker, in saying that, have I noticed that your ticker has already moved - if so congratulations.

[Sharon]

Hi there Guys, I'm in Thailand having a fantastic time, don't think it is doing my waistline anygood but I'll just have to sort that out when I get home, the food is great and I'm sure is not unhealthy for you. Lots of fresh fruit and veges, so will be interesting to see what 3 weeks over here does to the scales. The meals arent big compared to what you would find back home, but certainly all you need, the beer may be a different story though.

[Sharon]

Back home, had an absolutely fantastic time in Thailand and would go back in a heartbeat, as far as the waistline mmm, I gained 3 kg - have I got some work to do, right now work is full on and its hard to get motivated, we have only been back for two weeks but it feels alot longer. Will have to start planning the next trip. Before that will have to do some major waistline work, will have to set a D-DAY date- right now I'm just too knackered to focus on it, maybe if I get two days off in a row? - goodness don't I sound energetic - HA. will have to sort out a photo or two to attatch

[Sharon]

Hi there guys,
Well my motivation button has been found and I have decided to go back on the program, unfortunately not formally as we are blocked here in NZ from going back on the internet program we originally started on and here it will cost me over 3 if not 4 times the price it I go NZ. So I will have to go consultant unsupported. I've picked my D-day to be tomorrow so today I am going to get my meat, vege and snacks sorted and weighed, it is a bit of a {scream} feeling, along with {duh} but mixed with :weights: after feeling like I have been {deadhorse} for quite a while.

[Layne5]

I'm back on the wagon officially today too! I'm not joining again, tho, so I too am consultant unsupported. I just don't feel like forking out the money right now, so I am just going to follow my previous plan....i hope it works!

[Sharon]

Hi there Layne,
My thoughts are if it worked before it should work again, this will be the first time I have committed myself to the full program since I completed refeed, weighing and only Cohen foods the works, I feel strangely reasured at the moment - long may it last. the other times I have modified it, it has been successful to some degree but never as good as the original plan and more prone to going off track.
Keep in touch and let me know how you go - would love to hear and may be great support for each other, good luck.

[Dayanira]

Hi Sharon!!!
Are you there? Knock, knock!!! I've been away far too long. I'm going back to the diet tomorrow and follow it to the "T". Are we together on this? I've lost your phone and private e-mail, do you mind send them on a private message?

It's hard to be alone doing this and I hope the rest our diet bodies turn up here sometime.
Take care,
Dayanira

[PattyA]

You're story has been such an inspiration Dayanira!!

For sure you did it once and can do it again. {cheerleader}

[Dayanira]

Thanks Patty!
First day done and gone!
Dayanira

[Sharon]

Hi there,
Agree it is hard on your own, a private message should have winged its way to your inbox already, it would be great to get together and have a chat over a black cup of coffee. My plan for today is to go off to the supermarket to do some sensible cohen shopping.

Hey Layne5 if you are out there checking the threads - am thinking of you - I know you can do it, and would love to hear how you are doing.

[Chris68]

Hi guys....I guess I will be joining you! I had such amazing results, but once I was done I have been DONE! So I am in week 3 and am down 11.5. So here we go again!

[Sharon]

Hi there Chris, what fantastic news.
{congrats}

By the sound of your message it was extra hard work?? if so,an extra hi 5 for you and I'm smilling from ear to ear just for you.:)

[Sharon]

We as you can see I have lost a little but came to a stand still, my exercise is going well but my running is still not as good as before I decided to skewer two of my toes with a garden fork. Diet wise I keep sabotaging myself and coming to a stand still.
I was sent an email from the Dole Nutrition Institute and saw this write up - I often say I'm sure there is such a thing as an addiction to food, but unlike alcohol and cigarettes you can't obstain completely - you'll loose more than weight and it wouldn't be pretty.
Brain Scans Similar for Alcoholics, Compulsive Eaters,
One recent study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology to show that brain scans of compulsive eaters react to images of a milkshake similarly to the way the alcohol addicted brain might react to the mention of a martini. Yale University researchers administered a questionnaire to 48 healthy young women. Of these women, 15 were classified as food addicted, exhibiting classic signs of dependency such as withdrawal, out-of-control consumption, interference with work, social life, etc. These women had markedly different neurological reactions upon viewing the milkshake -- triggering increased activity in specific, dopamine-regulated areas of the brain that are also shown to light up in drug and alcohol addicts.:thinking:
Sometimes a better understanding can give us more control, I hope so, and to all you hard working Cohen's out there -
WE KNOW WE CAN DO IT.:weights:

[Sharon]

Well its been a couple of weeks and I wonder where the time has gone, my ticker is heading in the right direction, as is my exercise, have been able to go that much further comfortably with my running, but it is getting the balance right between intake, output and my head still being able to function efficiently at work, I can't afford to have the wheels fall off. I have been trying to work a few degrees under maintenance so I am still losing weight but eating similar to what I should be when I am at my ideal so WHEN I get there I hope staying there will be easier, actually just stay there LOL.

[PattyA]

This is great to hear Sharon! I have been imagining what it will be like in Maintenance and thinking that you really have to find your own right balance. Thanks for sharing your insight!

[Sharon]

Hi Patty :hii:
Looks like you are doing really well on you weight loss, congratulations, you will soon be joining the maintenance threads.
I have found finding my balance quite difficult as you may have noticed {blush2} - I'm still here trying to sort it out and probably will be for a while yet :crying: .
I think you are right that you have to find your own balance, you have to be comfortable with what you are doing and it has got to work for you in the long term, otherwise you just can't stick to it.
I think it is really good you are thinking about maintenance and how it will work for you, for earlier Cohens like myself - it wasn't introduced till refeed, and I know I wasn't ready to be thrown back into 'general food population' - even with the maintenance plan.
Enjoyed the chat
Ta Sharon

[PattyA]

Hi Sharon! I definitely agree with you . . . each of us has to find our own way as our bodies are all somewhat different. Must've been challenging to go into maintenance without the benefit of all the great feedback on these threads! What kind of exercise are you into? How do you feel the exercise works best while you're re-adjusting your weight now?

I miss my exercise. I used to work out fairly strenuously and Dr. C has me mainly just walking.

I have a long-distance friend who told me about 1PD - She did this program a few years ago and I was very very impressed with the fact that I saw her earlier this year and after more than four years she had kept the weight off and looked really great. That is what made me decide to try this, in fact. I watched her eat for a few days (we were at a conference) and couldn't tell that she was doing anything special. But now I realize that she was probably making food choices that align with her maintenance. Starting to realize that the changes I've made while on the program would be good to keep doing. After reading a lot of the threads I think I can see that those who seem most successful in maintenance don't get done with the program and then go nuts with the pizza, sugar and desserts. I have decided that 16 weeks of no sugar and no white flour products (except a few saltines) is fairly miraculous and I don't plan to go back to them later.

Great "talking" to you! Looking forward to hearing more tidbits!

{bubblegum}[

[KMac]

Hi Sharon,
I am happy to be reading your posts, you inspire me. I have classified my days- good/bad & ugly. I will be good, all week and without proper planning, and get lost again Today is Monday morning, and I needed to read your posts-
Thank you
KMac

[Aqua Eyes]

Hi Sharon,

This is the very problem I am dealing with. I have to admit that I don't agree 100% with Cohen's maintenance plan. I think it would be healthier to add whole grains to your maintenance plan (which Cohen does try to do with 100% wheat bread.. but that isn't really the best whole grain). I am trying and have been trying since I completed the program, to find that balance for me. I know what I shouldn't have at all (which is what I did eat and now I'm paying for it!). I want to exercise but the Cohen plan alone doesn't allow us to exercise like I need and want to. The Cohen plan is far less calories than what our bodies need. It's good for rapid weight loss, which is what most of us want, but is extremely difficult to maintain the loss, unless I eat that way all the time.

So... I'm off to Belize. I love scuba diving vacations because I never gain any weight. I find it difficult to eat much while I'm diving and I tend to eat healthier because I can't stomach trashy food due to what it does to me underwater.

I'm so glad you are always here keeping us posted Sharon. You are truly an inspiration.

[Sharon]

Hi there Patty, KMAC and Aqua Eyes,
Exercise - Not doing too badly at the moment Patty, I enjoy running and the cross trainer, both my boys started working as kitchen hands as casual work starting at 6pm - its put a crimp in my exercise at the moment, as I want to ensure there is good food on the table for them before they go to work - so if I am late from work its all on getting tea ready as soon as I get home rather than go for my usual exercise, I really need to sort out my time management. With regard to the type I probably should be building more muscle alongside the cardio though, I do gear up the resistance on the cross trainer but probably need to do some lift and hols with my boys weight blocks - more muscle = more burn. I find I can not drop my diet too low if I exercise 4-5 times a week as my brain goes a bit smushy and I can't afford a smushy brain at work.
I find it so reasuring to hear of your friend keeping the weight off - BUT I WANT THAT TO BE ME!!!{scream}
As far as the weekends go - I do well all week and then the weekend becomes ugly too, why, why oh why do we do it to our selves - food is just soooo good. I'm not an emotional eater - I just love the taste - maybe I need to chew slower and savour:thinking:
Aqua Eyes - the dieting and maintenance delema - with regard to bread I must admit when I do have it I go for a high fibre white and it is a doorstep with all the good stuff I shove in it, I just have 2 slices for lunch and fill it with heaps of lettuce, cucumber, white radish, tomato some ham with a good dollop of strong mustard to give me a taste kick and if I get too carried away I clear out my sinuses at the same time LOL. I know I could balance if I was good all the time :innocent1: But the problem is - I'm not:devil: and Cohen 24/7 is just so hard to go back to.
Holiday in Belize - wonderful, have a fantastic time, and keep it touch.

[Dayanira]

Oh Sharon,
We all have a battle in common: WEEKENDS!! But now for me it's the school break. No routine! The only good thing about it is that at least I'm sleeping a little bit more. For at least one year my sleeping habits have been shocking! Going to bed sooo late when it's no need to. And during the winter months, I don't drink enough water, it's like my body shoots down in regards of needing water. Vitamins? hmmm forgotten that too. I've got a cold about 2 weeks ago and it has been so hard to get rid of, I think it's because I haven't been taking the multivitamins.

Nice to hear about your boys' jobs. I hope your routine and theirs are better now.

[plentyofkissing]

Hi! how much is that in POUNDS? :)

[plentyofkissing]

I love exercise too ALOT. I am a huge believer in Body For Life (after this program) I did body for life (you can find it online) and went from a size 12 to 6 in 3 mos..with eating 5 small healthy meals a day AND working out about 4 days a week. And there is one FREE or Cheat day where you can eat what you want...which is nice when there is a party or you just really want some pizza LOL :) In any case I am on my first week (2nd time I have done this...did it about 4 years ago)...and body for life is my plan after i finish this whole program :) I am just very impatient.... Anyway hope that helps. After your done of course. Oh and I am looking into yoga since it's not super active....:) while I am doing this program. More for stretching and stress relief.

[Sharon]

Hi there Dayanira and plentyofkissing,
Thanks for the tip on 'Body For Life' will have to check it out, not sure about the 1 day off though, that is enough to put me back to the weeks beginning which is massively frustrating, especially if you have been good all week, and its really nice to relax on the weekends but they can be a real trap. I went for a good run yesterday which made me feel really good, but I do find the winter hard as I tend to want to hibernate. I tried yoga once but I am stiff as a board, I did enjoy TaiChi, may go back when all settles down at work.
The job I am doing at the moment is absolutely knackering me, my boss is away for 8 weeks so I have stepped up into a Management position, I'm not normally a comfort eater but by Friday I am so tired mentally and physically :gurney:I grab for the nasty stuff. When I initially did Cohen I was on the lower stress back shifts and it seemed so easy, I had so much more time and energy to focus on myself, but since then I have been also in a coordinating role which is great - BUT.
Dayanira, hope you are over your cold and feeling better now - there have been some nasty bugs around this year. The kids will now be back at school so hope you are getting plenty of sleep - and water. Are you still carless and walking everywhere?
[PS 11kg is 24 pounds]

[Dayanira]

Hibernate during the winter? Yeah that's me too! I thought that it was because I'm from the tropics and although I've been living out of my country for more than 17 yrs. I still can't get used to the cold mornings, but most especially the nights. I love to go for a walk or even a run in the evenings but I don't like the winter night weather and dark evenings.
I'm still carless but with no walking! :) I should call you soon and get together for coffee.
Sleeping is getting a little bit better and I'm back in track with the water but I've been having a problem with my blader since late December that I would like to discuss with you.
Talk to you soon!

[Sharon]

I'll have to pop down after work one day soon, so long since I have seen you and yet I work mear minutes away.
I have been finishing work far too late, will try and get away on time and pop in what time do you generally get home?
I really need someone to give me a kick start, I feel I'm headed to the start line again, I just need that starters gun, I'm so sick of my extra weight, and keep looking at my lovely clothes in the wardrobe, they are calling out to me - I still refuse to buy any in a bigger size.
So many false starts - it's embarraing!

[CohenInAz]

Hi Sharon!

I have a lot of reading to do, but wanted to say Hi. I'm going to be starting again soon, and terrified. I am just not in the same mind set I was the first time, but I do know this worked. I loved reading your post when I was here before, and I look froward to it again!

[Sharon]

Hi there and great to hear from you,
For some of us this is the reality, and the important thing is to just hang in there and not give up.
We keep falling into the same old traps but we just have to climb back out.
I know what you mean about the mind set with getting back onto the program, we know it works but it does take commitment you have to be ready for.
At the moment I an just watching myself, I have a measured out portion of porridge (from scratch -not the package highly sweetened), this keeps me going from 6am to lunch time. If I have to eat I grab an apple, for lunch it is my good old favourite of cauliflower, apple and low fat mozzarella cheese, or an egg. I keep low cal / fat cup of soups at work (about 30-50 cal) if I feel peckish. then apple when I get home, Portion control my tea, The weekend I let loose a bit especially at the moment with work. This is holding me at maintanence, if anything I have lost a kg. At the moment I am holding my own until until I get back onto my usual work when I have some me time, at the moment it is a bit of a luxury, and I think this program is tough without it.
CohenInAz I think it is great that you have come back and showing the commitment to getting yourself back on track, as you say you know it works, you've done it before, and although terrified you also look forward to tackling it again - you are so awesome and I know you will do well and I look forward to hearing from you. Keep in touch.

[Sharon]

Hi there all, yes I'm still here, work still hasn't let loose, next week I hope, I'm running out of steam we have had a busy winter, not enough staff and I keep filling the gaps. For strength and inspiration I have been listening every night to a well know hypnotherapist from the US which is doing me alot of good. I have been reading stuff on the threads and I find you guys so inspirational, so great to know you guys are out there doing so well.

[Sharon]

I'm well aware of the positives of me being slim,
Diabetes provention
Heart Protection
Joint Protection
Arthritis management
To look good
To feel good
Have clothes to wear - because I refuse to buy the next size up

But what are the negatives - you may say none, there has to be a benefit to going back to how we were. I remember reading once that we will only change when its harder to carry on the way we are than to make a change. It was three years ago I finished on the program and I feel I have had an ongoing battle with myself since then, an ongoing war really, I have not lost but I have not won and the weight has been going on inch by inch. I have been having long discussions with myself that food will always be there, I don't need to "make the most of it", maybe I am fighting against an instinct, an inner drive, but it is a worthwhile fight and I am determined to win the war and find peace with myself, it has become easier to concider a change than carry on the way I have been going. My track book is out, I have a photo of 'Tiny Mum' to inspire me and I have just checked out my before and after photos to look at my before photo, I can see it clearly in my minds eye of where I don't want to be and why I don't want to be there and it motivates me.
:christmas:

[PattyA]

Great post, Sharon! So "real." I'm really new at maintenance and finished the diet right before Thanksgiving, put on a fast five pounds, was in shock and then did what Dr. C says to do and that worked great. It was then that I realized I really do want to remain slim - 3 weeks after finishing the diet!!!
We all need to find our motivation and so glad you found yours! Love the "Slim mum" picture idea!!

I do have some advice as a cooking teacher (I taught natural foods cooking for 25 years). And that is, continue to get variety in your diet. This goes a long, long way to ensure your body is getting the things it needs and won't need to crave bad foods. Especially get variety of veggies and have something green every single day. This is something that is helping me and may help you too.

Have a wonderful Christmas holiday!!!

- Patty

[Sharon]

Hi there,
Well the week has gone really great, I have stuck to the program 100% (except for 3 cherries from our tree), where as I have been modifying the program in the past which I have been unable to stick to. Having it strictly to the prescribed appears to suit me better for stickability, and because my role at work is now back to my usual role without all the added responsibilities and desicion making I feel more able to make those compromises that at times may be slightly at my neurological functions expence - I don't no about any of you but certainly at the beginning I feel very "wonky" at times :wacky:- am keen to know, I'm hoping it will all settle down and have put it down to induction and the initial big reduction that you get. One thing is for sure I am certainly fat burning - the ketostix are also a great motivator and reassurance for me.
Patty - thanks for your post and support, also your advice, much appreciated.
Keep up the good work guys - it is so worth it.
:christmas:

[Sharon]

Hi Again,
Well I'm now 2 weeks down and Christmas is just around the corner.
I have stuck to the program religiously and have lost 5.1 kg. Am really happy with my progress and well aware that it will slow down.
I'm on the graveyard shift until Christmas morning, will have a few hours sleep then be up to enjoy the festivities, this will be my one day off the program, and will be only half a day in reality. I am well aware it will set me back a week but it was a decision I made when I decided to go back on the program. I could have waited to start the program after Christmas but then I wouldn't be 5 kg down - probably weigh more actually with the run up to Christmas and all the goodies it brings, instead I will have one afternoon of goodies which will be savoured then back to business.
I often think I would have done so much better if I haden't finished the initial program ! week before Christmas, this time I feel it will be much better.
If I'm not back on before the Big Day
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY:christmas:

[PattyA]

Hi Sharon! Merry Christmas to you and to everyone and may we all Flourish and Prosper in the New Year! So great that you are sticking to your guns! Agree it is hard to finish the program right before the holidays. I finished just a couple weeks before Thanksgiving and haven't hardly had a "normal" week since. But with Christmas over I'm on no carbs for a while and see how that is for me. If it's not enough I'll just return to the program for a week or so. Gotta say I haven't done as much damage as in past years . . .



{wave}

[KMac]

Hi Sharon,
How are you? Congratulations on sticking to the plan, you are inspiring me for the New Year.
I hope you had a Merry Christmas and may 2012 bring you all you dream for.
;)

[Sharon]

Hi there PattyA,
All the best for the New Year - it is so easy this time of year to do 'damage' so pleased yours has not been so bad, definately worth nipping it in the bud beforethose pesky little fat cells invite friends over and start a party in ya mid section, the riot police are still trying to dampen down my party that got out of hand 3 years ago hehe:party5::gurney:.
I do hope you have had a great time showing off your new trim you in some wonderful little outfits at those Thanksgiving and Christmas get togethers.
Hi there KMac
Wonderful to hear from you, I had a great Christmas with family and really enjoyed my day. I have placed myself back on the program as per plan and things are settling back down again, my next concideration is my brother is due up from Christchurch after New Year, not sure if you have heard of it but it but they are having terrible trouble with earthquakes which is causing huge damage to the area and with frequent aftershocks is emotionally very draining, his home is livible at the moment but one side is dropping and with every major earthquake swarm it is dropping that little bit more. I thought I would throw him a special dinner. One good thing about being back on the program, I am unable to eat much before feeling ever so full and I actually only nibble at the goodies because I am not hungry. I have also found it easy to put myself straight back on the program which I am thankful for, and I still managed to loose 0.5 kg for the week.
I hope you and yours are all well, and wishing you both a wonderful 2012.

[Sharon]

Hi there,
Week four has gone well, I've chipped a bit more off and feel all the better for it, my brother doesn't arrive for a day or two yet for which I am pleased about in that I am right back into the program before I consider any further little breaks. I know its not suppose to be how you do it but I'm so pleased I didn't wait until after all this before starting back on the program. Once he has visited then there will not be the 'Cohen holidays', But right now I am wrapped with my 7.4kg drop - I don't feel like I have done too bad so far, I was running before I went back on the program, so I have continued but a shorter run and I think it has really helped me, I wouldn't have concidered it if I hadn't already been doing it, I would have considered a daily walk, but its a bit too sedate for me. I wish I haden't faffed around these last couple of years slowly regaining the weight and bit the Cohen bullet, but no good mourning over past decisions that didn't go down so well, just got to be positive, keep looking ahead, and start moving in the right direction.
Hope you all are doing well post Christmas and New Year, am thinking of you all in Cohen Land and thinking good thoughts for you :hug:.

[Dayanira]

What a great motivation to read your post today!!! I take my hat off!!! Wow! 7.4 kg drop in 4 weeks! The greatest achievement is to do it during the past festivities! I'm back on plan as today. And I'll be checking in more frequently!
Keep going Sharon! 8 more weeks and you'll probably will be crossing the Finish Line!

[Sharon]

Hi there Dayanira,
Thankyou for your positive words and support, as you can see I was well into the danger zone,actually I think I stepped into the mine field and was not feeling good about myself at all, the old "yuck" feelings had started to return and it didn't help with a very limited wardrobe selection. I hope to be down by 8 weeks time, and will start back on refeed, but this time there will be no Christmas rush and at this stage I'm looking at taking my time, maybe even repeating days, just to get myself sorted mentally. I'm looking at a way of life this time rather than a completion of the program, because the old ways just don't work, I think I was so unprepared for maintenance.
With you back on the program I am sure you will soon be back to your desirable weight in no time at all, look forward to catching up with you.

[Sharon]

Well its another week down, my brother and his daughter have been and gone and now I am trying to recover myself from my little Cohen holiday, I have started day 4 back on the program 100% but am still not back where I was pre weekend, it was only 2 evening meals (plus goodies) but the repercussions have been further reaching - although less goodies than Christmas, a bigger impact has been felt, I'm ok that I did it but it is bitter/ sweet and will make me think twice about any further excussions off Cohen. My body feels a bit 'off' for some reason but hope by the end of this week to be more my bouncy self and back to loosing my excess baggage.
Keep up the good work people.

[CohenInAz]

Great job! I'm finishing up the prep to get started!!

[Dayanira]

Oh no! Where is my post??!! I wrote something about 3 days ago and it's not here! Oh, well :(
Sharon,
It's amazing how we get to know our bodies with this diet. I know that "off" feeling. I rather have the headaches of detox than that feeling because the headaches are telling me that my body is getting clean.
My scale shows ups and downs. So I don't know what to report: weight loss or weight gain. The worst thing right now for me during the school holidays is not having a routine, especially spacing my meals.
I had a very short "Cohen holiday" yesterday with a group of friends, too, so no wonder the scale showed a slight higher number.
I'm hoping that we can do Refeed together this time, I just need to keep focused and strong!
Keep going Sharon!

[Sharon]

Hi there Dayinara and CohenInAz,
Great to hear from you , sounds although we have a few New Years resolutions to sort out.
Anyone who says maintenance is easy is very lucky indeed.
I know what you mean about focused and stay strong, my resolve was sorely tried this evening when hubby was eating potato chips. After having a big gain then not moving a gram on the scales for a couple of days, the last 4 days I lost 2.6 kg, so my body was complaining bitterly. But I didn't - I would have been so disappointed in myself if I had.
Keep strong ladies, and no I am thinking of you

[Sharon]

Six weeks down and my ticker arrow is gradually working its way to the finish line, I feel so much better, for the odd day I have been a bit off with what has been my sinuses causing "cotton wool" to feel like it has been stuffed into my head and migraines, otherwise I'm all good. These symptoms are non-Cohen, but when you do feel like c**p it can test your resolve as comfort food seems awfully tempting when you feel under the weather, but I have stayed strong and determined :weights:.

[Dayanira]

Excellent! I'm so happy Sharon for your results! Less than 6 kg to go!! Wow! Keep going, it's a non stop journey now!

[Sharon]

Thanks for the supportive words{bighug}.
I'm so pleased I 'bit the bullet' and got back on the program - "why did I muck about and make things worse???{duh}"
Note to self - remember that last statement
As I get closer to refeed thoughts of maintenance are creeping more into my mind, this time I want to be prepared.

[Sharon]

Another week has been and gone and some more muffin mass has disappeared. My smaller clothes are coming out from the back of the wardrobe, and have bought a couple more tops - although I don't really need anymore - but they were on sale afterall. Heading into another focused week, the couple of weeks following may get a bit hairy with one sons 18th birthday and taking the other son away to start his study out of town, but I'll figure out how I'm gonna cross that bridge when I get closer to it.
Hoping all of you out their in Cohen land are staying strong, staying focused, but most of all healthy and happy.

[Dayanira]

Hurray Sharon!!! I'm really, really happy for you!
Remember those 5 last kilos are sometimes the most stubborn, but with your new and fresh thinking you'll be OK.
Hopefully the next 2 events in your life won't make you lose your focus.
Keep going!