Dayanira in the Whole WILD World!!!

[Dayanira]

Ok, all of the sudden I'm here :sadeyes: "off the hook", trying to figure out how to deal with "it". I'm free but scared. The programme was so reassuring, so clear, so simple to follow, I knew exactly what to do, what to eat. Now, I have to work it out! :thinking: The programme was my security blanket, now it has been taken away and I need to fend for myself. HELP!!!

So, these are the thinkgs that I'll never give up from this diet until I die:
1. Drink at least 2 litres of water, if not more.
2. Take multivitamins daily.
3. Keep a food diary

There are probably more to add to the list, but so far the above are the ones that I'm doing.

It has been 12 days since I finished Refeed and let me tell you has not been easy. I ended refeed at 113.7lb and today I'm 114.6lb. The weight has been high and low. The first day on maintenance was OK until dinner time. Every month we go to a monthly international dinner, normally there is a variety of healthy dishes, but not that night. There were mostly pasta and starchy dishes, except for my fresh spinach and strawberries salad and my minced beef cutlets, which by the time I went to serve myself they were all gone. Next day I tried to fix it by eating only Cohen food without weighing it.

The worst has been this past weekend, it was my oldest daughter's end of the soccer season lunch. It was pizza, pizza and more pizza! I lost it!! But I was surprised that next day I actually lost 1 pound! And yesterday was my best friend birthday and I baked her favourite cake: Orange cake with walnuts and served with orange syrup. I think I had 2 pieces! Amazingly, my weight has been steady.

I'm definitely cutting wheat, it makes me feel bloated and my stomach feels like I have swollen a rock!

I can't get rid off eating so much fruit! It's funny, before the diet I didn't eat much, in fact on the early days of the diet I was only eating 1 fruit a day.

I'm striving to eat Cohen foods from Monday to Thursday, avoiding all forms of extra carbs, if there is anything happening on the weekends I'll do my best to behave.

I will keep you post it on how I'm doing.

Have a wonderful fat melting week!
Dayanira

[KMac]

If anyone can figure this out you can- look what you have accomplished already.
:)

[Aqua Eyes]

Thanks Dayinara for checking in with us and letting us know the challenges you have had.

I have to agree with you, that Monday through Thursday I plan to follow Cohen re-feed program, measuring foods and being careful, and then just being careful over the weekend. I think that is the wisest way to go. I never want to go back to the way it was before. I think you are doing wonderful. Keep up the good work!

[Dayanira]

From Tuesday, I've started to incorporate some sort of exercise into my life. I've been walking between 4 to 5 Kms a day and it has been great! I don't think it has affected my weight so far since it has been up and down again - but not too much to be worried about.

Last week, I exchanged 2 swimming suits that I bought about 2 months ago, there were US size 10. When I tried them more than a week ago they were so baggy on my rear! So now I'm wearing US size 6!!!! I couldn't believe it! :party1: I can't wait to go swimming now. I love swimming but I haven't picked it up yet because I'm still feeling very cold in my shoulders and toes.

And today, this is not a joke: when I went to pick up my daughters from school, I was asked to be a model ... a fashion model... There is going to be a fund-raising fashion show at the school. One of best clothing stores in my town is going to lend all the clothing and whatever is sold a portion of it will be donated to the school. I didn't think it twice, I needed this kind of ratification after a "small" incident at a seminar that I attended today.:)

Food choices have been hard today. I'm doing a 2 day seminar and the food choices have been very limited. For tomorrow I'm planning to take my morning snack and come home for lunch.

I'm reading a book called "Curb the Carb" with a lot of very good and healthy recipes for maintenance and great rules to maintain the weight. It's divided into Nutrition, Diet (Low-carb lifestyle guidelines, Monitoring weight loss, Taking pills and supplements and 3 step programme) and The Plans (Fast track, Keep on tracking and No backtracking). The Keep on Tracking is similar to Refeed and the No Backtracking is how to maintain. I've read the first 2 parts and skipped the Fast track and Keep on tracking plans. I'll start posting some interesting facts from it, especially the recipes and guidelines to help me and the rest of the "maintainers" to keep us going. I feel that I need as much guidelines and knowledge as I can get hold on to until I get to know my new body.

Better go to bed now. I need to catch up with my sleep in order to stabilize my growth hormone. Night, night!

[Aqua Eyes]

Woo Hoo! A SIZE 6!!! I knew it! You looked like a Size 6 in the pictures! I know how hard it is to believe it! I mean I never wore a Size 6 before that I can remember. And to be asked to be a model... that's the highest complement ever to get!!!! How exciting!

I'm looking forward to hearing more from this book you got. Thanks Dayinara!

[Sharon]

Well done Dayanira, sound like you are well on the way to getting mainatenance all sorted, not like me having to take 9 months to sort myself out. don't know about you but its like once you finish Cohen its like it is one social event after another to rollercost through. congrats on the new modelling career, you go girl, excellent, looking forward to hear how you go.
TTFN
Sharon

[Dayanira]

I'm trying Sharon! I'm still tip toeing into maintenance and getting more knowledgeable on how my body reacts to certain foods and times of the month (you know what I mean!).

You're certainly right about all these social events and engagements that we have to rollercost now that we have "freedom". While on the diet, I didn't have any problem attending these sort of things, but now since it's me who is taking charge of what to eat and what not, it's very scary.

I'm going to find out more about the "modelling" thing next week. I haven't told my hubby yet, I know he and my daughters will be excited, too.

Well, here comes another weekend full of engagements: tomorrow, daughters' soccer club prize-given lunch, in the afternoon a birthday party and later, dinner at a friends' house. Sunday: our daughters' school gala, my husband and I are in charge of the cafe and cake stall. All of these engagements have food, food and more food attached to them. Grrrrr!

[PINKED]

OMGosh!!! Dayanira, you are doing so great in the big WILD WORLD! You are so smart and blazing such an incredible trail for me to follow....well lit with enlightenment and guidance. LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED the photos that you recently put up in your other thread. YOU LOOK ABSOLUTELY MARVELOUS!!! FABULOUS!!! BEAUTIFUL!!! You should be a model for this store!!! What a nice complimnet to you and your hard work.

[KMac]

Hi Daynira,
I was wondering about maintanence, does DC give you a plan to follow or fall back on?

[firecat]

I've been on maintence for a week now and this weekend I ate things I shouldn't have in amounts that are embarrasing. I too plan on folloing Mon-Thursday Choen regieme then be smart on the weekends.

You're right about going to social gatherings on the diet as being easy and not so easy now that I'm off it. As i write this my stomach feels bloated from what I ate today and honestly I can't wait to get back to the normal Choen foods tomorrow. lol now what's normal is choen not carbs!

[Dayanira]

Hi Kmac,
When you order refeed, at the end of the guide there are 2 1/2 pages of "Life After the Diet" rules/guidance that you have to keep in mind ALL the time.

Firecat, I've had a couple of incidents where I just can't stop eating crackers or cookies. On Saturday a friend from Florida called and while we talked for an hour I think I ate about 6 or 7 cookies and then at night we had dinner at some friends' house, I didn't eat that much, but the food was full of carbs that I ended up feeling so sick at the end of the evening. On Sunday morning I was 5 pounds up!!! It was our daughters' school gala, so I ate my 1 egg omelette with veggies and off the door. For lunch I had 3 little mince patties - which I've made and knew that they weighed - all together - no more than 100g, for dinner I had a fresh salad with feta and fish. TA RA RA...! on Monday 4 pounds down!! I was hoping that by tomorrow I would be down, but I doubt it. Today I had a meeting at 5pm and I just couldn't stop eating rice crackers with cheese!!!

Most definetely, I'm not eating bread or anything with wheat and yeast. It stretches my stomach to the point that I feel that I'm going to explode!!!

I'm still feeling hungry in the afternoons, especially from 3 to 6pm and another thing is that I can't cut on fruit. Sometimes I don't realize that I've eaten already 2 fruits when I'm ready to eat the 3rd one! I hope that my body and brain settle down soon so I can balance my food intake in a different way.

I'm not weighing my food and I'm eating Cohen foods most of the time.

Yes, it's a WILD world out there. We mainteners must always be mindful of not over indulging ourselves with food. We must find other things in life to satisfy us in a different and more fulfilling way.

[KMac]

Thanks Dayanira,
It seems a little overwhelming but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it :)
Good luck- like I wrote in an earlier post, if anyone can figure it out you can :)

[beelee]

Just thought I'd check in and see how things are going. I have 1 week until maintenance and I can't hardly wait. Any advice? Hope all is well and your doing great.

[Dayanira]

Hi Brenda,
I strongly believe that the last week in Refeed are crucial, because it's when you are adding carbs, more fat and mixing proteins. You must pay attention to your weight during that week, pay attention to the external factors, too(plus TOM, ovulating, you know women's stuff). On my last week of Refeed I actually was at my lowest weight, but I had to take my daughter to another city (10 hrs. driving in total!) and it make me go down somehow. Write down everything on your diary to recheck when you hit maintenance.

I was up 2 pounds from yesterday, which is not too bad nor too good (2 lb up from goal weight). I tend to put on weight right after TOM. Today, I've eaten Cohen's food so far but still don't know what I'm going to have for dinner. Took the dog for a long walk/jog (half and half), almost 5 km and I felt so good after that. I'm really enjoying these walks, I can only do it 4 days a week due to my work schedule, but I can't wait for summer longer hours so I can take the dog after dinner, too.

I went to the veggie shop near my house and I was so excited to see asparagus again! Yay! I love omelette with asparagus! And I may add some ricotta cheese too. Yum!

Thank you Brenda and Kmac for popping in my diary. You are doing so well!

[Chris68]

Does anyone know if pork and ham are part of new protein on the refeed? I have asked twice and have not gotten a response.

Chris

[Aqua Eyes]

Chris... my re-feed guide says any lean meat without fat under New Protien, so I think lean pork is probably allowed. Dayinara? Beelee? Will you confirm?

My consultants told me that I can't add cheese with egg during re-feed but that I can do that after re-feed. Bummer. I was looking forward to having a cheese omelette.

I feel so lucky to live here in California. I've gotten asparagus during the entire time I've been on this program. I think it is close to the end of the season though for it.

[Dayanira]

Hi Ladies,
Lean pork is aloud, but not ham. Ham is a processed meat, so wait until you are in the WILD!!! I've tried ham now and believe me it felt like it had soap all over it!!! Yeak!!!

[Sharon]

Dayinara is right in that processes is not on the menu until after you finish, and I must admit I only eat good quality ham now like off the bone, I don't like the processed sandwich ham that reminds me of 'plastic' sliced cheese, but porks ok in refeed - nice to use some apple to make an apple sauce, one thing I really enjoyed was having lamb after all the time on the program and I made my own Cohen style mint sauce to have with it - yum.
:sadeyes: about the omlette but hang on you will soon be there.

[Dayanira]

Hey Sharon,
I was thinking that we need a thread or sub-thread with recipes for maintenance only. What do you think! I've found several ones that are delicious and very healthy!
Love to hear about you Cohen style mint souce!

[Sharon]

No problem with the mint sauce
It is a mix of boiling water, vinegar (balamic, white or apple) equal to sweeten (the last 2 ingredients is to personal taste), pour onto fresh chopped mint, leave to cool. I suppose if I had to say amounts about 1/4 c liquid to 1/4 c chopped mint. Sorry I've never concidered proportions - just kind of threw it together 1 day as lamb with mint sauce is a must for me.
If you give it a go would love to know how you find it.
Recipes for maintenance - good idea. do the powers that roam these threads monitor the maintenance threads???? - I wonder - anybody out there????.
TTFN Sharon

[firecat]

I was told I couldn't eat pork on refeed. Honestly I don't miss it even now after 2 weeks on maintenance I still haven't had any pork.
Wow I thought I was the only one to go over board with cookies. I sat and ate 6 the other day. They were so good but I did feel bad about it afterwards. I've been pretty lucky to have maintained my goal weight despite sampleing new foods.

I've found that I prefer the Cohen food. I had a bit of hot dog tonight during the football game and it was disgusting! I started to think about fast food after that and decided it probably was just as bad as the hotdog and I'd rather not eat it ever again.

I've also discovered that I don't care for many Carbs now. I rarely eat the 3 slices of bread or the few carbs that were allowed on refeed. Eating Cohen food makes me feel much better.

[Aqua Eyes]

I gave up fast food places years ago and I gave up all processed foods when I got breast cancer in 2006. Doing this program was easy for me, where I know it is very difficult for many folks who eat nothing but processed foods or fast foods. I just needed to get off of the sugar and get control of my portion sizes.

[Dayanira]

Sharon, thanks for the recipe. I tried it tonight it was delish!

Last few days have been full of wrong food and bad weather. My daughters and I are on the spring break. Last week at school was horrible, birthday's celebrations and end of term lunch plus drinks with the board of trustees. My oldest daughter had a soccer tournment from Sunday to Tuesday. Sunday's weather was Ok, but OMG Monday and Tuesday it was pouring! We got all drenched! Thank God we haven't got sick - so far!

Saturday, sure enough, my weight was up, did some damage control on Sunday and Monday and it's back on track, again.

I think that in maintenance we need to find our "niche", we need to find the weight that we feel happy with. I haven't found it yet. Somedays I want to go lower than my goal weight and other days I think that I will still look good with 4 or 5 extra pounds. But I get really scared when my weight goes up, I haven't given up the scales (to weigh myself), I weigh everyday and I would like to weigh once a week or maybe after I've had one or two days of indulgence. But while I'm still experimenting, re-introducing and sampling food I need to weigh myself everyday. I wish Refeed was longer to give us time to introduce all the food listed in it.

[Dayanira]

I forgot to mention that I've started to take a different multivitamin that helps to reduce sugar cravings. I'm still taking Centrum in the morning and then at lunch time I take this new one.

I went to a health shop last week and while taking to the employee about my weight loss, she asked if I had done some binge eating after finish dieting. She said that it was common on people who have had a rapid weight loss to crave for sweet stuff or things like nuts. I mentioned that most afternoons I felt like eating crackers, more fruit and it there were available I would eat cookies or anything sweet, unless I refocus and think of something else.

So, she recommended me these "Sugar Balance" multivitamins, the brand name in NZ is Blackmore and in the bottle it reads: helps reduce cravings for sweet foods that may develop due to dieting or low blood sugar. This formulation is specially designed to enhance chromium absorption and help balance blood sugar levels.

Features and Benefits:

One of the biggest challenges in sticking to weight-loss diets is not succumbing to sugar and carbohydrate cravings. These cravings may be the result of having low blood sugar due to dieting, leaving long intervals between meals, increasing exercise, eating refined and processed foods low in essential nutrients, or having a stressful lifestyle. Blackmores Sugar Balance has been formulated to help:

balance sugar levels in the body
balance the appetite and reduce tiredness due to low blood sugar
reduce cravings for sweet foods that can develop due to dieting
replace nutrients needed for energy production and appetite control that are lost due to increased exercise
support the production of energy from the metabolism of food

If you can find it in your respective countries, get it. It's working for me.

[Sharon]

Glad you liked the mint sauce.
Agree with the right balance for the individual, and I think you have a point with refeed, at the time it seems ages and all you want to do is finish but on hind sight a few more days or even week or so around the max certainly wouldn't hurt and may help with the transition to 'normal' diet.
Like the sound of the multivitamins, will have to look into I me thinks, sounds like it may be worth trying, especially as it is working for you. Talking about work - I had better sign off.
TTFN Sharon

[Aqua Eyes]

I've been taking the same multimineral vitamins all through the program that my PharmD recommended. They are called "Stop Aging Now Multi-Mineral Vitamins". They are pretty high potency vitamins. You can find them at the Stop Aging Now website. They are expensive though.

[Dayanira]

I'm back from a 3 day meeting out of town and I think that I did pretty well. I was a little bit anxious about not weighing myself everyday as I've been doing since I started Maintenance. I tried to be away from refined foods (which were always served at coffee breaks :( ) On Saturday night there was a buffet dinner which again I skipped most of the carbs and had a delicious slice of cheese cake with a brownie for dessert. I weighed today and I'm just 1 pound over my goal weight. Not too bad.

Needless to say, that at this meeting the first night when everybody was arriving all the atention was on me. The last time I attended this kind of meeting was last year in June, so they were very impressed and there I was telling them all about the diet.

My girls and I are on the second week of spring break, so it hasn't been easy trying to eat sensible. We went swimming on Monday, I swam free style for about an hour, then I jumped into the hot spa. It felt so good, but when I got home I was so hungry that I could literally eat a horse! (But I forgot to take the new sugar balance multivitamins that day) So, I dont know yet what kind of approach I should take if I want to start exercising. Due to my back problem, I don't have too many choices. Probably, if I go swimming I should do it an hour or so before a meal, so when I'm done I can eat more sensible.

I'll try to eat Refeed menus (without the 5 pieces of fruit and carbs, except for the crackers) in the next couple of days to dust off that extra pound.

I'll keep you posted...

[Aqua Eyes]

Good job Dayinara! I'm going to keep that in mind this weekend when I go to Monterey. Every restuarant has to have some good choices for healthy eating, I'm sure. I will forgo the dessert and try to choose fruit if they have it. I'm thinking of bringing my own fruit, actually. You are such an inspiration to me. You'll lose that extra pound with no trouble, I'm sure. :)

[Key]

It's good reading your posts, Dayanira... you show that you don't deprive yourself but you don't go off the deep end either. You're a great example of moderation. I think that's what maintenance is all about. Thanks for continuing to share your story!

[Sharon]

I bet they were impressed Dayanira, you have done so well, and you are managing the maintenance so well, better than I did initially that is for sure.
An hour in the pool? wow!!!. Excellent work, I'm one of those that swims flat out going nowhere in particular.
I'm more in danger if I don't exercise when it comes to hunger (my DOR) they seem to be my worst days, so I'm not to sure about what will work for you, how about a handy healthy snack for afterwards, or exercise before your meal, but you would probably have to have it reasonably pre-prepared so there is not to much of a delay from exercise to eat. If you eat then exercise you may want to eat again???

Day off tomorrow so must have a look for those new sugar balance you have been talking about, may be helpful on my DOR.

I have a fear of bread on a daily basis, but am keen to know how you will go on the last few days of refeed, just thinking - will you include the wine and the 'cookie'.

[kimmie]

Dayanira, what is this sugar balance vitamin your talking about? could you please tell me so I can see if we can buy it up here in Alaska. Thanks Oh and does it just balance out your sugar levels when your on maint. Kimmi

[Sharon]

Hi Kimmie
If you go onto the internet and type in
blackmores.com.au with the usual in the front (can't do links on these threads, may have already written too much) you should get an idea of what it is, I think it is a NZ Australia, Malasia, singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong product but you should be able to get something like it in Alaska. it is a vitamin suppliment, a real mix of the usuals plus a few more - easier for you to have a look.
Let me know how you go, if you can't get the info I'll give you more data.
TTFN Sharon

[Dayanira]

Hi Kimmie,
Sharon has given you the right information. I wouldn't take it during the diet, only because it has more than 5mg of Vitamin 6 per tablet, it has 8mg. The recommended dosage is 3 a day but I'm only taking 1 at lunch time. I still take the centrum for breakfast.

[kimmie]

Hey thank you so much I will look into that. Do you know if this sounds okay my husband who is on the program too. Has lost 14lbs in 5 days and has been having really bad muscle cramps. He does get those when he has been exercising alot. I asked the consultant and they said just use some magnisium. We use potasium and cal/mag but he still feels them any ideas. I asked them agian if this could be due to so much weight loss they havent answered me yet. Thanks for your input. kimi

[Aqua Eyes]

Hi Kimmie,

I don't think the muscle cramping is due to the weight loss. Is he drinking all of the water for the day? Magnesium is good to take, but I would also recommend quinine. There is a product I got from my local grocery store (Raley's) in the drug section called Hyland's Leg Cramps with Quinine. It really works well with cramping.

Is your husband exercising hard?

[Sharon]

It seems like alot of loss it a week - well done to him from me, a great start, but I gather there would be some impact on the body, even if it is just being tired or starving, - I don't know about muscle cramps, I've been trying to think what my Dr told me to take when pregnant - but it was so long ago he he, will be interesting to see what your consultant says, hope thet don't take too long to get back to you.
All the best.
TTFN
Sharon

[Dayanira]

Hi all,
I've catching up with some of other people's post tonight. I've been so busy last few days with work and with visitors. It's almost 11pm here and I need to go to bed. I'll update how I've bee doing lately tomorrow or maybe the day after. Not too good, I think. Need to re-focus and do some adjustments.

Keep posting people. Your experience, thoughts and support to each other are amazing! We are such a great family.

[Dayanira]

Up to last Monday I was getting more and more worried. My weight had started to go up for the last 2 weeks, slowly, creeping up little by little. I knew why or at least I thought I knew: No exercise, too many carbs - especially sweets - and PMS, then TOM arriving early.

Since the swim at the local pool I haven't been doing any kind of exercise. I guess I freaked out how hungry I was after the swim, but in retrospect I did 2 things wrong: first, it was TOO much! 1 hour swim after not doing it for more than 6 months was a killer, no wonder I was so hungry and second I was not prepared with food for afterwards. Next time I'll do less exercise and take a healthy snack with me.

I have taken 2 more Spanish students for private lessons at my house and that means 2 hrs. less to do my 4-5 km walk, plus we've been having a crappy weather in the last 3 weeks that I couldn't have gone for a walk anyway! It's spring time in NZ but I think we're gonna miss it all together! We're supposed to have showers occasionally but there have been snow, winds, rain and even thunder storms!

The following 2 weeks after the swim were full of sugar cravings, I couldn't figure it out why until I read again a post about all that sugar rush before TOM arrives. It didn't help that our visitors arrived last Thursday with a big box of sweet goodies or I must say baddies :( .

So Monday morning my weight was up to 54k/118.8lb, 4 pounds over my goal weight and since then I tried to go back on the original plan to get rid of them. Every morning I would start on it but then at around 3pm the usual hunger will start to kick in and I would end up eating more crackers than usual, 1 or 2 cookies, nuts (hmmm nuts, they are banned from my house now!), But yesterday something happened! I weighed myself and I was almost 3 pounds less and today another 1/2 less! :) So what is this? Any insights? Thoughts?

NUTS...My hubby loves hazelnuts, my daughters love cashew nuts and I love ANY kind of nuts. So after reading an article on Yahoo news called "8 Foods That Fight Fat", I decided to buy almonds for me. In the article says:
Almonds These yummy nuts are high in alpha-linolenic acid, which can accelerate your metabolism of fats. In fact, dieters who ate 3 ounces of almonds daily slashed their weight and body-mass index by 18 percent, while those who skipped the nuts reduced both numbers less— just 11 percent—a study in the International Journal of Obesity revealed. Chomp almonds à la carte (limit yourself to 12 per serving to keep calories in check). I get a pack at Starbucks and nibble throughout my day. Or sprinkle them into a recipe such as Black Bean–Almond Pesto Chicken. Go nuts! See, it clearly says "limit yourself to 12 per servings to keep calories in check", my problem is that I can't stop at 12 per servings, I've been eating lots and lots. But, have they helped to go back to my goal weight? I think so.

Now, B/M...There have been a lot of interesting and funny discussions around this topic lately and I think it is important to discuss it. While on plan I used to go once every 2 or 3 days, few times it happened once a week, but I didn't have to do anything about it, it all came out "normally" (if you know what I mean!). Now in Maintenance "things" are not that different, sometimes I'm "going" once every 2 days, other times twice a day.

Unfortunately, the fund-raising fashion show that I was going to be a model was cancelled because there were only 40 tickets sold. It was not cost effective for the shop. I was looking forward to it so I could take more pictures to post them in here. I guess I have to find another opportunity to do a photo shooting soon :party1:

Ok, that's me for now.

[KMac]

Hello Dayanira,
I'm sorry your having a tough time lately~ but I know if anyone can figure life after re-feed out it is you~ yoru very insightful. Limiting ourselves is a tough "nut to crack"--lol
I think that is why we need DC. Maybe if you bring out the scale and weigh the almonds- I don't mess w/ the scale- and maybe subconscious it will just click for you.
Swimming is a tough workout. When I trained for the triathlon the swimming was the most strenuous of all the workouts. I would feel lightheaded until I had my almond butter, banana & strawberry jelly sandwich. Maybe cuting your swimming time in half, or take a break and have some fruit and then go back in? Swimming works out every muscle in your body- thats why in triathalons they swim first, then the bike, then the running because swimming takes the most out of you, so don't be so hard on yourself.
You have always worked this diet to fit your needs & lifestyle you will do the same w/ maintenance :)

[Key]

Hi Dayanira! Nice to hear from you. I can totally relate to your almond story. I used to keep them in my office for a healthy snack... I'd count of 10 of them and place them in a horizontal line on a napkin and eat them one at a time. Then, I would pull out 10 more and do the same thing ... over and over again. Not so healthy! I don't know how I will deal with nuts once I'm on the other side... I won't keep away from them but I definitely won't have them for a "healthy snack".

You'll conquer your temporary gain... paying attention is important and you're right on it. It might be a constant battle, but now you know how to win.

[val2zap]

Hey Dayanira - the PMS and TOM probably were the culprits for more weight gain than normal. Have you been going to any other Cohen message boards and reading people's maintenance threads? They are very interesting and might help to give you some insight.

Glad to hear you are still doing well and I wouldn't freak out over the fluctuations.

[Sharon]

Ditto with the don't freak out, your weight is going to fluctuate from a day to day basis, and sometimes it doesn't seem to make much sence - "I've behaved myself - I weigh more, I've been indulgent - I weigh less - ?????" has this ever happened to you? Sometimes its water, sometimes its BM if you are regularly irregular, and sometimes its plain old fat. Just hang on in there and monitor your daily but its the keeping an eye on the overall trend. And remember when you start exercising more you start building muscle mass (which will also help with the weight regulation), so what are your clothes telling you?
Agree with the weather, here in NZ, what a pain, not very condusive to going walkies - but summer is on the way - yeah.
Big ditto with the nuts mmmmmmmmmmmm.

[Aqua Eyes]

Interesting that you mention the nuts. This morning on "Good Morning America" they had a piece on the value of eating a handful of nuts 5 days a week... Longevity! That's right folks... eating nuts will help you live longer. I LOVE Almonds, but I find it difficult to limit them so I really have to be careful if they are in my home. Maybe buying them pre-bagged and taking them to work (leaving them at work so I won't have them at home in the evenings to snack on) might be one possible solution. I know that Almonds have a lot of good things for your health in them. I have to be careful with these type of "trigger foods" that would make me gnosh unconciously on them.

Dayinara... it is TOUGH being out here in the Wild World. It isn't easy to find the right kind of balance of foods beyond our regulated program. I am still weighing everything. I'm adding more grams to my protien and veggie portions but not that much more... maybe like 30 gm per meal above the portion I was eating before. I've added different types of foods to see if I can get my body used to other foods without going into spasms on me and gaining weight. I'm being very careful of the sweets to the point of not having them at all.

I'm glad you got back close to your goal. I still haven't started working out yet, so you are doing much more than me. I need to make some time for it some how in my day.

[Dayanira]

OMG!!! I can't believe how fast time flies!!! It was October since the last time I posted and I was in the middle of organizing an 80th birthday party for a dear friend of my family.

Then, we started to plan our next year's overseas trip. We (husband & daughters) are going to Israel then to Turkey next year in March. My parents and 2 of my siblings are coming from Latin America to Israel to meet us, my husband's parents are coming but they'll meet us in Turkey and his sister is coming from California to Turkey, too. Got that!!! It's so exciting, for my girls will be the first time they will meet their paternal grandparents and aunty. The whole group appointed my husband and I to organize the accommodation for everybody. It has been hard to find a place in Israel to accommodate 8 people not to mention in Turkey for 11!!! At this stage we're just pending to find accommodation for one night in Jerusalem.

I've tried to read all posts but this forum has become so busy that it's hard...! I'm so proud of all of the old and new buddies. I kept saying this is the best programme in the whole world. Keep strong every body, one day we'll be called PIONEERS and others will look at us in admiration! Ok, that's probably too much but when I see others struggling with other diets or even having all those stomach staplings or whatever they are called I wonder if they've heard of "Saint" Cohen, I mean Dr. Cohen.

Anyway, what about me? I've been OK, from the last post I went down 1 kilo/2.2 lbs but now I'm up almost 2 kilos/4.4lbs from my goal weight. So I'm watching closely trying or maybe I should say struggling to keep on track. Most days I eat Plan 1 without weighing the food, other days I'm on Plan 2(refeed) without weighing either. But on bad days, especially from 3 in the afternoon I lose it all! I eat crackers, muesly bars, almonds, cookies, muffins. Mornings are the best no problems there. I've tried to eat lunch as late as I can, but then I succumb to the bad choices.

I want to go down to 50k/110lb before we go on our trip in March so I can try all the goodies! Clothes fit the same, in fact, I think I've shrank to size 4 in pants.

Exercise, hmmm.... I haven't incorporated it as a routine yet. But sure enough when I don't do anything for a week my weight goes up. It's either I stay in Plan 1 for the rest of my life with no exercise or go and enjoy food with exercise attached to it!!

Ok friends, that's enough from me. I'll be in touch more frequently as soon as the school year finishes here in NZ. It's crazy at the moment writing so many reports, especially when you work in 3 different programmes in 1 school.

Keep well everybody. Keep strong!
Dayanira

[KMac]

Thanks for coming back to say hi- I miss you! You sound wonderful and very busy.
Enjoy the travels it sounds exciting and exhausting at the same time-lol!
I was wondering about exercise but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it-
Stay happy & healthy! :)

[Key]

So nice to hear from you, Dayanira! I've thought of you often.

[Dayanira]

Hi Kmac and Key,
First of all let me tell you how proud I'm of you both!! You're hanging there till the end! You're going to enter Refeed in no time! But don't rush it take your time, too.

I'll be here more often. I've started to believe that being hooked to the forum is one way to keep your weight down. It keeps you focused. And the biggest PLUS is to keep in touch with all of you from so far away and yet feel so close to each other!

Keep going!!!

[Dayanira]

I've managed to get some exercising into my life this week. I've taken the dog for long walks and today I went swimming and did a few free style laps. This time I was prepared for the hunger afterwards. So, when I finished I had an almond muesli bar, a latte with lite milk and on the way home drank a litre of water.

We just came back from an evening picnic. Lots of people who haven't seen me for ages were so surprised when they saw me. The majority thought that I have been or was sick. But when I explained about Dr. Cohen's programme they were very interested and congratulated me. On the other hand, I think I did pretty well with what I ate. I made a chicken salad for my family and I had a roll of bread with it, some diet coke, a cookie and a tiny slice of pizza (that a friend offered me).

I was down by almost 2 pounds this morning and I hope it stays that way. Why is it that once you hit your goal weight you never get a plateau!

Take care everybody!
Dayanira

[Sharon]

Hi there Dayanira,
Well done on the exercise front, regular exercise at a level that is sustainable for life long habits may help you get into that "plateau" - (well that is what I've got my fingers crossed for, LOL).
Whether it is post exercise, on the program or what ever in life - Planning helps us win half the battle, excellent work.
Talking about planning, you all sorted for Christmas?

[Dayanira]

Ahem!! Christmas? Oh, no, no, no!!! We normally don't go overboard with gifts. We buy nice gifts to the girls for the end of the school year, so they're more meaningfull for them and some appreciation gifts to our closest friends. All our close and long distance relatives are overseas, so we only buy and send them nice gifts for their birthdays. But we do a lot of barbequeing at our home during this time and join others, too. So we need to have a lot of goodies in the kitchen, but the supermarkets are starting to be a nightmare!!! I finish work next Wednesday and I'm hoping to do my big shopping then.

At the moment a friend and I are organizing a latinamerican Christmas party which will be on Christmas eve. Around 40 people are expected to attend. I'm hiring a small hall (Thank God!). My phone and e-mails are starting to come with lots of queries and confirmation of attendance.

On Christmas eve, we always take it easy. We go tramping to Abel Tasman park and return home late, exhausted!

But the biggest sorting should be my brain!! So I can stay away from all those goodies at my house and at other people's homes. Grrrr!

How about you, Sharon?

[Sharon]

Good grief, surely not Tasman Bay Abel Tasman?? if it is, its on my door step so to speak in a global sense, went there for a 4 hr walk last Thursday, small world eh.
We have a small family meal on Xmas eve with my parents and any family coming from away, the next day it is more laid back affair with the extended family and friends, hubby cooks Spit roast lamb and we make salads, puddings are a variety of healthy and indulgent, and the "goodies"??? well they will still be there but I plan to balance them out with healthy options.
BBQ's are a great way also to get together with friends and we will be doing a bit of that over the summer too, Hubby and I don't have holidays, only the stats, which is probably a good thing as we are back to routine very quickly.
Haven't done my grocery Xmas shop yet, will leave it until end of the week, but have certainly noted all the tempting goodies on the shelf. Have to get my shopping list sorted in the next day or two to make sure I have every thing I need. As far as gifts go we don't get carried away and we set cost limits on extended family or don't give/ receive gifts at all from others.
The latinamerican evening sounds like great fun, are you catering it too? or is it a BAP (bring a plate) affair? A great way to burn off those extra cals and have a whole lot of fun in the process - what a great idea.

[Dayanira]

OMG Sharon! Are you in the South Island? If you do we need to go under "private message", 'cause it will become so personal!

I'm not that crazy to cater for the latinamerican party! I'm just organizing the venue, the music and the invitations. It's going to be a potluck.

I have been good up to Sunday. Yesterday and today I've given in to carbs, carbs and more carbs. Grrr! I'm planning to have 2 free carb days from tomorrow. Today I was almost 54kg. (2kg over my goal weight).

Tomorrow is mi girls' last day of school and I finish on Thursday. I'm really looking forward for the break. Always, last days of the school year are so hectic!

Slow down everybody...

[Sharon]

Don't you just have those 'carb' days where nothing else will do, its what you do after those days is the issue and you sound like you've got that sorted in telling us what you are going to do next. after all we are only human and we aren't prefect so if we are gonna have them, - enjoy, savor - (studies say you will eat less that way than if you feel guilty cos then you will eat fast and more - and plus you can't taste food in your stomach) then deal with it sooner rather than later.
Glad for you that you will be having a break soon, it can be such a busy time with the end of school, two long weekends coming up and of course the festive season, an important time to 'be Cohen prepared' I'm just looking forward to the weekend where I don't have to get up at 6 am LOL.
Pot luck is a great invention - you can always guarantee there is at least one dish you will like.

[Dayanira]

Alright, let's get real. Can you believe that damage was done on the last 3 days with my careless eating and socializing?

The Latin american party on Xmas eve was great, lots of food and dancing. I was almost at goal weight on Xmas day (52.5 kg), went for a long and hilly walk with my family and the dog and when we were back, we had dinner with some of the former refugees families in town. But then the kilos/pounds started to pile up. On Saturday we were so exhausted after the walk that we didn't move all day, we watched a couple of rented movies and eat, eat and eat. On Sunday we went salmon fishing got the salmon smoked and took it to visit some friends in the area, and of course eat, eat and eat. Monday took my girls to a birthday party and stayed there... guess what eat?, eat and eat.

So today was a day of reckoning! The scales read 55 kilos! In three days with no exercise = 3 kilos!!! :sadeyes: Oh no!!! So, I'm trying to go with no carbs for 3 days without weighing the food, Refeed food without the carbs and see what happens. You may say that they are only 3 kilos over my goal weight, but once you're in Maintenance few kilos/pounds really bother you! :( This is only to go back to goal weight before we go camping next week. After camping I'm planning to go lower than 52 kilos, I want to be at 50kg by March. We're going overseas for a month and I want to be able to eat safely all the good and healthy food from Turkey and Israel.

For New Year's Eve I'm hosting about 15 people for lunch at our house and in the evening four families are getting together for dinner. So I must be strict with myself if I want to be at goal by next Monday when we leave to camp. So, today it wasn't that bad at all, except for dinner a friend called in with vegetarian curry and white rice, I made some chicken for me and skipped the rice. The curry had lots of chickpeas and sweet potatoes, though. Later in the evening we took our girls to watch the chipmunks' movie and ate about 5 M&M with peanuts. :innocent4: Hopefully the scale will be nice to me tomorrow morning! :praying:

I'm looking forward to go camping, mainly because I don't have to prepare meals or cook, the children are well entertained by doing arts, crafts and sports. We get together with our religious community and pay a chef does the cooking for us. The down side is that although the food is healthy (it will be vegetarian) there will be a lot of starch foods, I'm sure I'll miss my protein. But I'm planning to take some low fat salami and turkey breast to add to my meals. We'll see.

Ok family, look after yourselves. If you deviated, don't look back. Put your seat belts on and don't get off the bus!

Have wonderful New Year celebrations! As Sharon said in her thread, let's open a bottle of water and offer a toast to Dr. Cohen! Cheers everybody!

Dayanira

[Sharon]

That sounds an awful like my Christmas blow out - 3 ks in 3 days, not where I want to be that is for sure but I've knocked one of them out of the ball park already. Like you I just have to keep going, we have a challenge ahead - lets get New Year out of the way and then bring it on.

[KMac]

If you deviated, don't look back. Put your seat belts on and don't get off the bus!
I'm stapped in & crazy glued myself to my seat- lets hit the road! :)

[Sharon]

Yeah with a 3 point harness, an armor plated bus and lets take this year as ours.
We can do this

[Dayanira]

Happy New Year everybody! This year must be full of happiness to all of us! With our new bodies, new eating habits and new set of mind!

I've been trying to avoid carbs and it has been hard. But I think I'm on the mend. Today I was 700g/1.5lb less. I want to be at goal weight by Tuesday :praying: Then from the 11th of January will go into plan A or B (refeed without the introduction of carbs) until I reach to 110lb/50kg. There won't be anything to distract me! I know that if it takes more than a week or 2, I must do the whole Refeed plan again.

I know I can do this. Although, still working on my new set of mind, I'm focused and determined! I'm really enjoying being thin, I dont want to go back being big :rolling2:

[Sharon]

Sounds like you have got a good plan sorted, mine will be similar with drop the carbs and hit the Cohen allowed foods. The difference you want to go lower, me - I just want to get back. Either way the challenge is on - for me this is great cos rather than an OMG its something I've got to do, having this challenge has made it more exciting and positive - and mentally achievable - thanks Dayanira.

[Dayanira]

Well, I really want it to work!

So today I was 1kg/2.2lb less! :party1: Only 2 more kilos to goal...

Yesterday, my husband made waffles for breakfast and a pouched egg for me and a salad. BUT after I finished my breakfast I had 1/2 of a waffle with few drops of maple syrup :innocent4: I enjoyed it of course, but that was the only carbs I had through the day. I didn't even have any fruit, just tons of water!

So far today, I've had Dr C breakfast and lunch, dinner will be the same.

I'm so exciting about this challenge. Anybody out there come and join us. If more join us we should open a new thread to score or losses! (It sounds so funny!!)

Got to run to pack and to add more things from "the book I'm reading".

Dayanira

[Ms. CrackerHead]

I am just ending my third day of Dr. Cohen--race-to-the-finish-line 2010 restart! So far, I am down 2 pounds (after regaining about 2 more pounds :innocent4:), so had 11 pounds to go when I restarted! Now I have 9 to reach the top number of DR. C goal of 136#. He said I could go as low as 130#. I will be happy to break into the 130's period!! :praying:

Let's do it ladies! :weights:

[Dayanira]

Great Ms C!!!
I'm down 1 pound today (1/2 Kg). Only 3.3lbs to goal. I'm going camping today with my family and I'm going to try really hard to be away from carbs. These 5 days of camping should be like a rehearsal (no scales!!) before we go overseas.

I'll be out for 5 days friends. So, keep focused!!!

Dayanira

[Dayanira]

Well friends,
I'm back with no good news but soooo happy to be here with you guys!!!

At camp I was a good girl, in spite of giving in on some fresh baking from our chef. On Saturday - a day before we left - I had to go to the nearest town for some groceries and weighed myself at the pharmacy and I hadn't gained any weight (still at 53.5kg/117lb). We left camp after breakfast next day and then on our way back our van span and went off the road onto a cliff and we rolled twice! We ended upside down! The van could have gone further down, but the density of the trees stopped the van! We all came out with minor scratches. A rescue helicopter was coming back from another mission and saw our van on the cliff and stopped to get us to the Hospital. We were all checked up, especially me who on the way there started to have really bad neck pain, but all X-rays came with nothing broken. Needless to say, we were all in a state of shock and disbelief!

So, the past week has been a time for thanking and praising God for getting us out of there intact and regrouping our family in a thanksgiving mood!

Needless to say my weight rocketed after the accident. On Monday, the next day, I was at 58kg/127lb!!! In 48 hrs. it has gone up 5 kilos!!! Unbelievable :( ! So, besides dealing with the accident aftermaths I had to start dealing with this weight gain. But then I realized that I hadn't drank much water nor the multi-vitamins, the bottle of vitamins was lost in the accident. My body was not asking for it, it was like it was shut down! It took me a short while to fix the problem and now I stand at 54.5kg/120lb. Another problem that I've noticed is the the b/m have become irregular or nothing at all :sadeyes:

I'm feeling very positive, though. I'll continue avoiding carbs all these days but as soon as my girls and I go back to school I'll probably go back to Dr. Cohen's diet until we go on our overseas trip.

So, I'm back on the challenge ladies :weights: Let's do it. We all know it's achievable!!!

Dayanira

[Aqua Eyes]

Dayinara! It's so good to see you here again, but gee whiz, girl... you have been through it! I read your post and was shocked to read about the van rollover. The first thought that went through my mind was were you all wearing your seat belts??? You must have been if you all just only suffered a few bruises and scratches. How very scarey indeed!!

I know you have more discipline than I do to get the weight off. I'm realizing that for me it is also emotional. If I'm not eating something, I'm thinking about having a smoke. :shocked: So... this tells me I have some issues I'm dealing with. I don't want to smoke.:noway:

So now I'm a frequent visitor here again to get some sense knocked into me! {pan}

[Sharon]

Tough time with the smoking to deal with too, how long is it since you gave up?
Wow you dealing with both at the same time, you can do that - YOU CAN DO ANYTHING.

[Aqua Eyes]

Hi Sharon,

It's been since 2002 that I gave it up, but I still crave it. They say cigarette smoking is the most addictive habit a person can have.

[Dayanira]

Ok, this is the 3rd time I'm writing this post...
Yesterday I was so close of having a series of panick atacks! When I tried to open the forum I though I had logged into another website or it has been highjacked! Then I realized they had upgraded it! But when I tried to log in it couldn't accept my password, I thought they had kicked me out!!! After several attempts it finally accepted it but to my peace of mind it said that they were upgrading the forum or something like that. Phew!!

Sharon and I finally met face to face last Wednesday. It was so nice, I really enjoyed meeting her (my girls, too!!). We want to keep seeing each other and go tramping (hiking) around our city to keep encouraging each other to lose those stubborn extra kilos!

As of today, I was at the same weight as I was when we went camping 2 weeks ago. Still 1.5 kilos to go back to goal and hopefully further lower before I go on my trip. I could have been lower this morning if it hadn't been for some cornchips (lots!!!) I had when some friends came over for dinner. Darn chips! I wonder where was my self-determination!!!

[Dayanira]

I'm so upset with myself! Those kilos are not coming off easily!!ARGGG!!! But I'm not doing the right thing, either!!! ARGGG!!! 2 nights ago, after eating Chicken and Nachos salad my dear husband made these wonderful pizzas. I hadn't had pizza since I started the diet last year in February and he has refrained from making them since then, too. So, it was a like a treat for me. Next day I had to face the consequences! 1 kilo UP!!! I have discovered that anything that has yeast in makes me go up at least 1 kilo in 24 hours! Bread does that to me, too. So bye, bye to bread and pizzas, unless I'm going to run a marathon!

Keeping with same plan as JoAnn until I go back to work in a week, then I'll go to the original plan to go below my goal weight in preparation to my trip. See how it goes!

I don't like this tiny font when you are typing a new post! :{

[Sharon]

Wow talk about a change in the forum
I too thought that we had suddenly been evicted from our beloved forum and ended up in another Cohen world (cos there has been some funny stuff happening over here where people have been blocked from joining Cohen as we know it and have to join a more 'local' group- so much for freedom of choice - eh)

It was great meeting you and your girls too Dayanira, will have to do it again soon, and you look fantastic, hang in there with those pesky last few pounds - they are the worst to get rid of I reacon.
Aren't those corn chips morish - I can appreciate the temptation.

[Key]

Dayanira - I don't know how I missed this post... I was so sorry to read about your accident! I'm glad you weren't hurt more - it seemed as if your guardian angel was watching out for you... talk about luck with a rescue helicopter circling over head! You're a smart and determined lady, I know you will get rid of your new padding quickly.

I for one think it's totally cool that you and Sharon met. Did you take pictures?

[KMac]

Dayanira,
I was reading your re-feed posts and I did not know we shouldn't eat bread in the morning:


added the extra slice of bread today, I had one for breakfast and one for lunch. "The Team" had recommended me not to start eating bread in the morning during Refeed in the same way Dr. Cohen recommends it in "Life after the diet" rules, I was complying with it. But today I thought since Refeed is sort of a "trial and error" process I should eat the bread in the morning as I will probably do it sometimes after refeed and see what happens. So far so good, I'll see tomorrow on the scales, though.

I thought eating it in the morning would be better so I could burn it off during the day.

[Dayanira]

Hi Key,
Thank you for your comments. We recovered very quickly from the physical bumps and bruises, spiritually we've become stronger than ever, it's the emotional/phsycological side that we're still working on. But that is going to take the longest, we know!

Kmac,This is exactly wheat the consultants said:

Dear Daynanira

We would not suggest that you have bread with breakfast even on the refeeding program.
Rather have 2 crackers and have the slice of bread later.
Hot peppers (chilies ) and the other red and yellow peppers contain sugar, so please keep that in mind when you have it after the refeeding and if you find that it makes you hungry, then cut back on the portion.

Regards
the 1PD Team


I had a toast once for breakfast during Refeed and I had a bitter taste in my mouth all day! I haven't had a toast since.

I've been trying very hard to keep away from carbs/starch. Yesterday was impossible! I got together with my latinamerican friends for afternoon tea. I didn't bring any food except for a 2lt of Sprite zero, but of course the rest of them brought their deicious snacks! So back to square one! I can't wait to go back to work next week, no temptations at home, no boredom, only focused in order to do the right thing!

Sharon, we should have taken a picture together! Key is right! Next time we meet we should do so.

[Sharon]

Agree about the pictures, I'd wear something better than my uniform though
Social events are so full of temptation, We are going Mexican tonight for my lads sweet 16th and Hubby has accepted evening meal at a friends tomorrow night , I don't think either are going to be Cohen friendly. Eisier to wrap your self up and stay at home - but where is the fun and enjoyment in life with that, these events are important in our lives and if we want to continue them, which we should I think, we have to learn how to add them into our life of maintenance.
You look fantastic Dayanira and you have 6 weeks yet so hang in there and you'll be back to routine very soon which hopefully should help, and soon we'll get out and march up a hill (yakking all the way of course) and burn some calories, (and take pics).

[KMac]

sounds like a great time, have fun :)

[Dayanira]

Ok, Back to work yesterday, back to the original plan withouth weighing the food. Yes, original plan. I think it's working. I dropped 400 g from yesterday. I'm using my eyes and 6 months experience from last year to calculate the portions. I'll do it for a week, if it doesn't I'll start weighing the food. I'm 2 kilos over the goal weight and planning to go down 2 kilos more. So 4 "muffins" to go. But, between my last post and yesterday I've been up 6 kilos (13lb!!!) from my goal weight. We spent last weekend with friends in another town, they are vegetarians and most of the time we were eating carbs and sweets. They've just come back from India and brought all these beautiful sweets and treats. Hmmm! :( And.... TOM was on his way and I was craving - for the first time in my life - CHOCOLATES!!! Thank God I didn't have any at home, but then I over indulged at our friends' house with the Indian sweets.

I've been walking or swimming at least 3 x a week, although is making me very hungry the only strategy that seems to work is to exercise an hour before a meal, like dinner. So when I finish I can have a full meal with lots of water or soda, 2 crackers and a piece of fruit.

Ok, that's from me. I've got to go to do my lesson plan for tomorrow!

[Sharon]

Hi there Dayanira
Back to work has its benefits for getting us back into our routine
Well done with the exercise x3 a week, I feel for you with regard to the hunger, I'm trying really hard to think about a tummy taming solution, what about a bulking agent like pysillium husks in a large glass of water after you finish your exercise - I know its out there but it will bulk the tummy and may trigger satisfaction, maybe not completely but sooner, and also if you have a sluggish system it may be benificial - just a thought.

[Dayanira]

Thank you Sharon,
I've taking Physillium Husks for about 4 weeks to regulate my B/M I was having trouble in that department since I hit maintenance, but your idea of having it after exercise is great! I'll try that next time.

Being back to work is good, has got me back to some sort of routine. But my stress levels have been so high! I'm coordinating a quarterly meeting for the Multicultural Council of our town (it's in 8 days) and I have been having a lot of meetings, writing dozens of e-mails, talking on the phone and going to bed very, very late. My weight has been up and down, the lowest 53.5 kg and the highest 55.5 kg! My poor body and hormones! On the other hand, the thought of finalizing the last details of our trip is stressing me out, too!

I'm so looking forward to get over this meeting and start focusing on our trip.

Take care everyone!

Dayanira

[KMac]

Hi Dayanira,
Your a busy, busy gal! After I read your post I thought if your feeling the stress now, can you imagine how unmanageable the stress would be if you were not eating right & taking care of yourself? Your doing a great job!

[Dayanira]

Hi friends,
It has been a while since the last time I posted. I was really busy up until last week. The quarterly meeting was a success thanks to the team I was working with. But my weight reached 58 kilos the day after the meeting was over {scream} . As today I'm 54.9kilos and I hope (cross fingers) that tomorrow will be less. During the meeting I didn't mess up that much, but the problem was that I kept misplacing my drinking bottle and I think that I drank less than a litre of water each day. :(


For the last 2 days I've been doing my religious fasting. I didn't do it last year due to the diet, but I was really looking forward to do it this year. It's not about losing weight, it's all about cleansing my body and spirit once a year. The fast lasts 19 days but I won't be able to finish it due to my trip, we're not supposed to do it while you're traveling, :) I've never lost weight while I'm doing it maybe because I was eating all the wrong foods. I'm allowed to eat before sunrise and after sunset, in past years for breakfast and dinner I was loading myself with lots of carbs and heaps of fruit. Now, I don't eat fruit or bread for breakfast, so I won't be hungry all day. This time around, I load myself with the right food, mostly Dr. Cohen's approved food. After dinner, I indulge myself with yogurt and fruit with a cup of tea and it tastes divine!

I've been trying to read most of your posts. It's great to see new buddies and old ones resurging. For the ones who are struggling out there, keep going, do NOT give up!!! I strongly believe that if you don't succeed with this programme it will be really, really hard to succeed in a different programme. This is the best so far!

I'm hoping to keep catching up with all of you soon!
Hugs to all!!!{grouphug2}
Dayanira

[Dayanira]

Yesterday, I was 54kg. I didn't weigh today because my scale needed a new battery.

My fasting is going well, not hungry at all during the day just a little bit sleepy late in the afternoons. Having a complete Cohen's breakfast in the morning has helped a lot. I'm doing almost double portions though and carbs are almost completely eliminated.

Friday we leave to Seul, then Tel Aviv. I will stop the fasting since we are not supposed to do it during traveling. I still need to help pack my oldest daughter her suitcase.

I hope to catch up with all of you before we leave.

Hugs,
Dayanira

[Dayanira]

I'm BACK!!!! We came back last Friday afternoon.
What a trip!!! It was so memorable! Words will be short to describe it. I'll probably make an album and post it in my profile.

I'm just doing a short posting 'cause I'm writing a report that is due for Tuesday night and I'm so behind!

My parents and siblings were in shock when they saw me at 4 am in the morning when they arrived in Jerusalem. I was in my PJ but each one of them after hugging me said to me "flaca!" (skinny!). Mum especially was very impressed. The 2 weeks in Israel was a lot of sightseeing, praying, eating and walking. I took my pedometer with me and somedays I did almost 20,000 steps! I was indulging in all kinds of food but I watched the portions and most of the time I chose Dr. Cohen's friendly food. I actually think that I lost 1 kilo or so. When I left New Zealand I was 53.5 kilos.

In Turkey was a different story. My in-laws arrived the day after we arrived and my mother-in-law (God bless her soul!) arrived with bags and bags of food! Nuts and seeds of all kinds, sweets, breads, cheese, etc., etc. She filled up the whole pantry and fridge! The whole 2 weeks the coffee table had 4 or 5 different bowls of nuts, seeds, chocolates, short bread, different kinds of backlavas, all soooo yummy! If one bowl was empty it was refill immediately! Tea was served all the time, the hot water jug was boiling all the time, too.

To cut the story short, I came back weighing almost 58 kilos! But as of today I weigh 55.5 kilos. I haven't done anything drastically. Getting off the sugar has been the hardest, but I think taking lots of naps to get rid of the jet lag has help a lot plus the arrival of Tom yesterday has made a difference. I'm going back to work next week, so I'll be back on Dr. Cohen food 100%. I was so good with my water intake in Turkey but as soon as I arrived I have hardly drinking water. But that changed from today. It's so funny to think that sleeping actually helps you to lose weight. :)

Ok, I've got to go.

Take care everyone, I need to catch up with all your posts! (Maybe tomorrow.)
Dayanira

[Aqua Eyes]

Welcome back Dayanira!! Looking forward to hearing more from you. The experience of all of that wonderful food in Turkey would have been disastrous for me! I think you did far better than I would have. It always feels good to get back to a normal routine, once back from a holiday, doesn't it? Looking forward to the pictures too.

[Dayanira]

Hi JoAnn!!
I have really missed coming to the Forum! If the forum is the key to keep me grounded I'll be here until the day I die! Not joking :)

I couldn't find the hard copy of my original plan today, so I re-printed it tonight and it's stuck on my fridge again. I lost 3 kilos on the 1st week after the trip but I think I've gained it back. Yesterday was my birthday and of course I had to have cake with my family and some friends and today some of my co-workers and I went out for lunch to this nice, little restaurant. All what I ate was sort of Cohen's food, except for the entree and the dessert. To seal the day, my husband made a pavlova (it's like a huge merengue) with cream and kiwi fruit on top and my youngest daughter baked Anzac bisquits so we could have afternoon tea with other friends and visitors at home. So, I'm here loaded with sugar in my body. Yeak!

But I'm so happy to re-start, get to my original goal again and not let this ever happen again!!!

[KMac]

Happy Birthday Dayanira!!!
Welcome home, we missed you.
I think you did great weight wise while on vacation- and all that walking - good for you
Good luck with your report ;D

[Key]

I'll second that - happy birthday, Dayanira!! Good to have you back. Can't wait to see pictures from the trip!

[Aqua Eyes]

Happy Belated Birthday wishes to you Dayanira!! O.k... now you have officially motivated me. I need to stay 100% again.

[Dayanira]

Why is it soooo difficult to re-set our minds? Well, as my last post says, I printed my original plan and stuck it on the fridge. I followed it most mornings and most days, but then the afternoon hits and start nibbling on anything! :sadeyes: By dinner time I've lost it and eat more than what I should and things that I shouldn't. I'm not upset with myself, I'm furious! I'm so disciplined with other aspects of my life, with my children, students, etc. but why I can't do it for myself?:crying:

My only excuse up to now is that I had to write another annual report which was due for yesterday. I belong to the Multicultural Council of our city and this report goes to all our funders. So it needed to have all the important statistics, details and photos to prove that we are doing the right thing. Everybody knows that the Council is doing a great job, but we needed to put it in paper. And I was depending on other people to send me a summary of their reports. It was very stressfull to chase people with their summaries, but finally it's over and I don't have another excuse except the socializing. :(

One motivating thing for me is that one of my best friends who lives in Switzerland is starting 1PD tomorrow and I've told her that I'll go alongside with her. Another one is that I want to buy some nice winter clothing and I don't want to do it with 5 kilos over my reached goal of 52kg. Most of my clothes still fit me, except my Levis jeans, which are not the strech kind (and I refuse to go back and buy strech pants!). The funny thing is that there are friends out there that when they see me they think that I'm still losing weight, like last night at this annual General meeting, after I presented the report people came up to me and said "stop losing weight Dayanira!". I thought to myself: "Oh no, these people are not helping! I need to get out of here!"

I need to regain control! So, as I said previously in one of my posts if the Forum is the key to keep me thin, I'll be here until the day I die or until they close the forum.

And by the way, Have you noticed that we don't have any Moderator's help in Maintenance? In the Australian Forum there are at least 3 helping people in Maintenance. Shasha does her best, but Hey! We need a lot of help here, too!!!

[mommabear]

Okay...here is just a thought....don't shoot me!

KMAC and Dayanira,

Could it be that you both had your goals too low and your body is struggling to maintain that weight? I know Phyllis decided that her ideal weight was 5 lbs heavier than her goal weight. I believe Chris discovered the same thing...

So I just wonder if you aren't both trying to maintain a weight that your body is not comfortable with. Just "food" for thought.

[Dayanira]

Hi Mommabear! thank you for your wise comment. No, I won't shoot you 'cause you might be right. See, for the last 2 weeks my weight has been almost steady around 57kg/125lb no matter what I eat. The problem is that those extra kilos go right around my waist but my frustration is mostly that I'm not following the maintenance rules at all and I'm scared that I'll keep piling up kilos up and up if I continue with this behaviour.

Before my trip I've made the decision that I'll stay around 54kg./118lb (4 pounds above my goal). At that weight, my face looks better and all my clothing fits perfectly. So in reality I want to lose only 8lbs.

Lately, I've been reading one by one almost all the threads in Maintenance and it has been an eye opening reading. The funny thing is that I read them way back when I was doing the 1st phase of the diet but I didn't make a note of them. I'll make a list of the "rules" that I haven't been following to tick them everyday.

On the a positive note, I've been better today not perfect, but better than yesterday. So, I'll go to bed tonight hoping that tomorrow it will be even a much better day! :)

[KMac]

Hi Girls,
If everyday we get better, we are stepping in the right direction.
Maybe my goal is to low, but I would definetly like to get into the 145'ish.. my husband kids me about maybe 140 is to low- I tell him weight is like money- you can't be to thin or too rich..lol
Have a great week everyone ;]

[Sharon]

hi there guys,
I agree it can be difficult to work out where your weight should sit, I had decided 2kg above my Cohen weight was my goal, and hubby agrees that my original was too low (not that he told me that when I was down there). Back from holiday I've got some work to do and like you Dayinara this thread has got to put up with me for the long haul.
Hang in there guys and keep up the good fight.

[Dayanira]

I'm here still fighting and not giving up. I've been down 1 kilo and then up 1 kilo the next day. If I'm at least 90% good for 2 days more than 1 kilo goes off, but then I get complacent and start eating far too many carbs.

Off I go to do it all over again tomorrow, 100%, 100%, 100%

[Sharon]

It can be so hard to step back into Cohen mode again, I'm just sitting at the moment, like you down one day up the next, like you I'm trying to stay away from the carbs, its been hard to turn my back on them again, over in Asia it is very carb dense with the rice,the bagettes and the little sugar sprinkled bread/ pastry treats you can buy from the hawkers on the streets. In one place we stayed for 4 days you were given a large half of a loaf of white bread cut into 1 1/2 inch slabs for breakfast with super sweet jam - crazy - they not only love their rice they also LOVE bread (how do they stay so tiny with such a carb dence diet)

[Dayanira]

Hi Sharon,
I wonder how these Asians keep their weight off, too!!! All my students are Asians and you should see the amount of yummy carbs they eat for morning tea. Their portions are lunch or even dinner sizes and 90% carbs. Then, when I see these ladies skinny bodies I only sigh!

From this week this is my strategy: to be carbs free for 2 days, without weighing the food and see what happens. Hopefully something good that will keep me motivated to be more strict for the rest of the week. So I keep repeating to myself "If I only can be carbs free for 2 days, 2 days, 2 days only!" :) I haven't been indulging in too many carbs, but I've been eating the wrong ones and I know that if I get my bum out of the house for regular walks, those carbs wouldn't do any damage on my weight. In my favour I can only say that I've been very busy with my work and other volunteering work I do plus my daughters' commitments (well more like a taxi driver for them).

Tomorrow I want to see the scale going under 57 kilos, it hasn't been lower than that far too long!

"Carbs free for 2 days, 2 days, 2 days only!"

[Aqua Eyes]

Good to hear from you too Dayinara! :D

I have been under a lot of emotional stress the last couple of weeks. Today I ate some carbs I'm not proud of but I think that is better than smoking (which I constantly fight off when I am under extreme emotional stress). You really get me thinking motivationally, though, Dayinara. I know I can stay carb free for 2 days. O.k... I can do this tomorrow and Thursday, since I have no social obligations lined up. I hope the news I'm waiting for tomorrow will be better than anticipated. Once I know the big picture of my situation I'm dealing with, I will share it with all of you. For now, just know it's a doozy and it's going to change my life as I know it currently... and not necessarily in a good way. But... This too shall pass. ;)

[Sharon]

Goodness I have written to you twice, I push submit and it disappears - frustrating
Third time lucky
Hope your two days went well, great to hear you being so motivated,
I find it ok at work but when I get home I hit the crackers - they may be low fat but I don't stop at one or two, I know an apple or some rice crackers would be better - know the answers but the actions are lagging.
Don't know about you but I'm finding hard to get my butt out the door to get some exercise - I don't like the cold - but I'm sure I would feel all the better for it if I made the effort.
Keep up the hard work and I will endeavor to follow in your footsteps

[Dayanira]

{scream} The same weigh ... 57 (and higher some days).
I said previously that I was going to be carbs free for two days and see from there. Well, I'm good 1 day and a half and then everything turns into custard! :( The lowest I've been it's 57.1 kilos then on the day I score that after lunch I turn into a carb monster :crying:

This morning I was 57.2 kg. But from around 2pm I've been eating far too many almonds. I'm ashamed of myself, I should be reporting some good news, but nah! Nothing to report. That's why I've been quiet, not even reading people's posts. But it looks that everybody is gone! Where are you!!!!!

Last week I joined a Zumba class at the community centre near my house to keep my body moving.

I just want to lose 3 kilos (around 6 pounds)!!!

[Aqua Eyes]

I hear that Zumba is a fun work out. I really, really need to start working out. My schedule is all over the map so I find it difficult to make the time. If you only want to lose just 6 pounds than you are doing far better than I am. You can do it... this I know! You inspire me Dayinara!

[ls_dreamer]

I LOVE Zumba! Shaking your booty is ALWAYS a good idea!!!!

You'll get there keep trying!

[Sharon]

Am tempted to give Zumba a go, looks like fun when I see it on TV, and I have always loved to dance
Mum has come back from the UK and Europe and wants to give Tia Chi a go so am going to look for an evening group somewhere, went to a few day classes quite a while ago and did enjoy it but the classes seldom fitted in with work, not as active by any stretch of the imagination but good for control - I certainly need some of that at the moment.
Good luck with the 6lb

[Dayanira]

I'm here ladies and friends. I'm here.... holding on.... fighting...
Most days I'm around 57 kg but some days I'm almost 59kg. I've given in for so many stupid excuses. No more....

I've been baking most of this winter and it's so damn tempting :(

I've done the unspeakable: not drinking enough water and not taking the multi-vitamins.

I'm going to catch up with all your posts and be back here more often.

Take care all you, keep fighting, we'll win this battle...

[Dayanira]

Well, 4 days ago I was so dissapointed with myself 'cause my weight was at the highest point since I finished the diet. 59 kg = 129.8lb, 15 pounds over my goal weight.

But today I've started to see a little light at the end of the tunnel. I weighed 57.5kg = 126.5lb, still 12lb over. Yes!!!

It's spring school break at the moment and it's being tough having my girls at home and asking for food or making something to eat all the time!

It's so clear I was not drinking enough water, since I've been running to the toilet much more than I've been in the last month! I need to work on the crackers, too. I've eating far too many!

Take care everyone!
Dayanira

[jaeden]

Thanks for sharing your life after re-feeding. It's very interesting to read through :) I was wondering if you exercise at all now? Or what Dr. Cohen says about exercise? In my mind, once I've lost all the weight and gone through re-feeding, I'll be able to eat what I want as long as I exercise a lot which I'm afraid to do now because of my weight. I don't know how reasonable that is but I'm staying hopeful!

[Dayanira]

Hi Jaeden,
Thank you for visiting me! I just quickly scanned your blogs at "secretlyanoptimist", I love your food pictures!!! They look so appealing! And I don't know if it's your camera but they look bigger than my portions! But of course Dr. Cohen doesn't give the same amount of food to eveyone, it all depends of age, hight, bone frame and foot size (!?).

To answer your question in regards of exercise. In maintenance you are allowed to exercise as much as you can, but as long as it doesn't make you more hungry than usual. And if you keep avoiding carbs you can get away of exercising.

In my case, a year or two before Cohen I used to be a gym junkie with no results. I kept going to different gyms thinking I would find the formula to lose weight, but I kept adding weight, the gym instructors all said I was building muscle. I love other kinds of exercises, like swimming and walking. In the summer I do a lot of that. I started maintenance in September last year, at the beginning of spring (I live in New Zealand) and it was fantastic! I was walking twice or three times a week and swimming at least once every 2 weeks. I have a back surgery that stops me from doing some sports and I'm originally from a very hot country in Latinamerica and when winter hits here, it just paralizes me!! I'm deffinetely not a winter person!!

Ok, to cut the story short, I went overseas for 1 month in March this year and came back with 3 kilos extra plus it was getting cold and that was it! As last week I was 6 kilos over my goal weigh! I've been so complacent, I think is because most of my clothes still fit me with the exeption of my dear size 27 Levi's jeans. But that is going to stop, I've been back to the plan for the last 5 days and I'm already seen some results. Last month I joined a Zumba class too and I've started to go for a walk too.

I hope I've given you and insight to what happens in Maintenance if we don't act quickly to remedy our wrong doings. Also, I strongly believe that visiting the forum is a key to keep us focus. We don't have to be posting all the time, but reading old and new post is so inspiring and important to work on our minds. As I've said it before, I'm here for the long run, I may disappear some times but I always come back.

Thanks again for "visiting" me, I hope it's not the last time!
Dayanira

[jaeden]

Thanks for sharing your experience! It's funny I grew up in a place with four seasons and now I'm in an extremely hot country so I'm the opposite! I miss winter sports and being able to work out outside without feeling like I'm dying of the heat.

I know what you mean about gaining wait but being complacent because your clothes still fit. That's basically what happened to me this last year. I haven't bought new clothes but I gained like 10 lbs. But I know once I'm down to my target weight, I will be sure to weigh myself all the time and measure myself so i don't let it get out of hand again.

I weigh myself once a week and unfortunately, I only lost 1 lb this week. I asked about exercise because I've always been the type who exercises really vigorously for 2-3 weeks. I get all motivated and I go to the gym 3-4 a week, swim and bike etc. Then work will creep up on me and I get tired so I'll stop for a month. It's kind of been like that since I started Cohen. The first 3 weeks I made no effort but I really missed sweating so I started working out and I'm not sure if that's what stopped me from losing any weight this week. What do you think?

Glad you like my food pictures. I need to think up more recipes that are Cohen friendly because I know it'll get repetitive soon. Thankfully, I like the food I eat about 95% of the time so I don't feel as bad about being on the diet.

If you don't mind me asking, how tall are you? I'm about 5'1 (my doctor sometimes says 5'2 but I think he's just trying to be nice). The target Cohen set for me is so low, I haven't weighed that much since I was probably 11 years old. I don't really know what a realistic goal is. Was the 115lbs the goal they set for you? I'm so impressed it's been a year!

[Dayanira]

Dear Jaeden,
In regards of excercising, I told Dr. Cohen and/or the consultants that I was walking at least twice a week and swimming sometimes and I was told to continue doing it as long as I didn't increase it and didn't get hungry after doing it. So when I felt that I needed to get out of the house and do something, I went for long walks with my water bottle just before my meal time. By the time I was back it was time to eat, in that way I was never hungry. And I still tend to do the same. When I go to Zumba class I have my dinner until I come back.

I'm the same height as you! (And my doctor tells me the same as yours!) And, Yes! 114/115lbs was the target Cohen set for me. I didn't remember when I last weighed that, I do remember when I was 110lbs and when I was 120lbs. So I thought 114lbs was not too bad plus I really, really wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. I did it, but I didn't like my face, people were asking me if I was OK instead of telling me that I looked good! That's why, this time I have decided to go down to 120lbs. My face looks better and ALL my clothes will fit me.
Keep going Jaeden, you're doing a tremendous job!

[jaeden]

Thanks for the encouraging words! So my target weight is 98 according to Cohen but I put 116 on the ticker because I think that's a lot more realistic. I'm not sure why we'd have different targets since we're the same height. Maybe it has to do with age and shoe size? I'm really not sure. They did say though that when I get nearer to my goal, I just have to listen to my body and see how hungry I get etc.

As for the exercise, I'm going to stop exercising totally to see if that has an affect. It's been 2 weeks since I've lost weight and I don't think that's normal. Unless my scale is broken, I'm not sure what else it could be. I follow all the rules to the T. The inches I've lost have been minimal. I'm just going to stick with it and hope for the best. I wish there was Zumba here. It looks like a lot of fun!

[Dayanira]

Wow 98 lbs!!! That's low! But as you said, it could be due to your shoe size, age and bone structure, too.

I remember that while I was waiting to reach my target weight so I could start refeed, I was so hungry that I could chew my arms! So that's another reason for increasing my target weight to 119/120lbs.

I've been good lately, except that TOM arrived today and I'm usually very hungry a couple of days before it arrives. And I think I over indulged with fruit and crackers (all cohen's food). So I haven't gained nor lost weight.

Jaeden, don't worry about not losing weight, keep drinking your water and eating the right food. It must be a plateau, it will soon pass.

I've noticed that my sleeping hours have not been that great in the last month. I go to bed too late and get up at normal hours to get my girls ready to school and myself ready to work. I must change that.

So, this is another week and I hope to get good results. My girls are back to school and I'm back to work after the spring break and things should get better.

[Sharon]

Hi there Dayanira
Thought I would pop in and see how you were managing with the "good battle", hope you are getting a better nights sleep, do you still have Fridays off?

And Hi Jaeden -98 seems awfully low, did you give them the right shoe size over here in NZ we have a variety of sizes depending on the company and the country of manufacture and I gave them the wrong ones I think cos when I rechecked it on the Cohen home page little calculator I came out at a higher weight as my ideal. Hope you have managed to get past your plateau - keep reminding yourself you are still burning and retaining water. All my best wishes for your continuing success.

[Dayanira]

Oh Sharon!!! Thanks so much to call in!
I was doing so well up to Diwalli celebration (5 Nov), I did so poorly! And since then it has been down hill. I don't know why I can't go below 57 kg. Should that be my "new" weight? I don't think so! My upper belly is getting big, I was so happy with myself when it was gone and some of my last year summer clothing feels so tight! Grrrrrr!

Last weekend was another failed test! It was my oldest daughter's b-day and had some visitors from Chch. On Monday morning I was almost 60 Kg!!! But thank God today I was 57.8 Kg. There is nothing coming up for at least 5 days, so I hope that I can go back to 57kg. We're going to an Indian wedding the first weekend of Dec (3 days celebration!!!) and I'm going to wear a Sari, but with this belly!!! So this is my motivation for the next 2 weeks.

Good sleeping?!!! It's almost 1:30 am I'm still here, I'm tired but not sleepy. But I must say that it's getting a little bit better.
I'm busy on Fridays now, but from the 29th Nov I'll be free most afternoons except Fridays. Time for coffee? Let me know.
Take care,

[Dayanira]

I´m just letting everybody know that nothing has changed, in fact it was terrible 2 weeks ago. I came back from the 3 1/2 days Indian wedding weighing more than 60Kg! It has taken me 2 weeks to lose 2-kg, it hasn´t been easy but I keep pushing. Everyday, every coffee break or every outing is a test. Some times I pass the test but not with an A+, I must say "barely" pass! :(

So between tomorrow and the day after I need to be steady, to be strong. We´re going to a wedding anniversary on Wednesday night and I want to be under 57 Kg again. "Insha-allah!"

[Sharon]

Hi there Dayanira,
No one said it would be easy - hang on - no one said anything!!! LOL we kinda went into maintenance blind didn't we.
Agree it is tough, I have the same battle, just hang in there and know you are still in a better place and you can still get down to 57, I have faith in you, and maintenance wise you have done so well. (P.S an Indian wedding would be so interesting, fun and yum - be hard not to gain a kg or 2 or 3 or 4 .....)


(Gonna try and pop in to see you one day after work, we are a bit nuts at the mo so don't wait around, saw you name on a translator form and crossed my fingers to see you but alas was not to be)

[Dayanira]

Awwn! Thanks Sharon for keeping your faith in me! That means a lot to me.

Had the wedding anniversary but I'm still on the 58's. You're so right Sharon we are left alone in Maintenance, not even a Moderator to send us a line or two. In fact, I think that even Shasha has gone somewhere and has left her daily quote on "auto-pilot"! :) And the whole Forum has gone so quiet, too. At the moment, there are less then 50 members participating in it. I think I've said it before that we need to enter into maintenance tip toeing. The rules for guidance are very wise but are not enough. Being in maintenance requires a greater degree of discipline, self-control and determination. So, it's just us, fellow maintainers, supporting and motivating each other. For that, I'm so grateful to have met you here in the forum, where would I be if it wasn't for you guys!!

It has been raining almost all day here and my daughters and I have been walking everywhere. Since the car accident we decided not to replace it, so we only have one car, but today my husband had to go out of town and had to take the car and I had to pick up my youngest daughter from school, then later take my other daughter to a doctor appointment, then take the other one to her gymnastic training. It was really good, I think we walked around 7 km. Not too bad for a rainy day.

Keep going everybody! We have the key, let's use it!

(Sharon, I was call from the hospital about 3 weeks ago to do some interpreting and I thought and wished to see you there, but not luck :( )

[Sharon]

Hi there Dayanira,
Tiptoeing is so right, I came out of refeed less that a week before Christmas 2 years ago - not a good foundation stone to maintenance, so mine was more like a rampaging bull, full on crash bang and potentially devistating.
And like you I am so pleased to have this forum and the support and comradery from wonderful people like youself, it does give you something to hold onto and bring yourself back to what is important, our health for ourselves and our families, and remind us to have faith in ourselves that we do have the inner strength to do this.

Good on you for the walking, you certainly are clocking up the k's - yes we have had rain for a few days now - bring out the sunshine.

[Dayanira]

Well I shouldn't have any expectation when I exercise. All that walking on that day make my weight go up by 300g next day!

Last Saturday we were invited for dinner by our Russian friends. All the food was sort of healthy, but I ate double of what I should have. Needless to say, next day I was 1Kg up. So since yesterday (Sunday here in NZ) I went back on the programme. Strictly weighing everything. I just had my dinner and I feel much better already. I'm hoping that by Friday night I'll be around 57kg, so I can have a little bit of freedom to eat some of my traditional Latin food at our Latinamerican Xmas Party. But then, next day back on the saddle!!!

Since Sunday I've been tellling myself: I know what I want but I know what I CAN have.

I want to be at 54kg by March next year. I learned today that I'm going to have a surgery probably in March and I want my weight right.

This is really the "silly" season for all Cohenians, but in spite of that I wish you all a joyfull Christmas, many happiness and blessings for the new year.

[Sharon]

Hi there Dayanira,
Hope you had a great Christmas with family and friends, your get togethers are so wonderfully international - no wonder you indulge in the food.
It is amazing how one day of indulging can have such an impact on our weight, we all wish it wasn't but it just is,
But at least we know how to deal with it - its just the doing it - as you said "I know what I want but I know what I CAN have".
Gonna get out my Cohen folder and give myself the Cohen reboot - AGAIN.
Like you 57 is my goal at this point - but it will take longer than Friday for me - sa la vie (forgive my spelling)
All the best for Friday - I'll be cheering you on.

[Dayanira]

Hi,
I'm here, I'm fighting back. I haven't been here for a while mainly for health reasons. But I'm here, hoping to be back on track. As we can't register on line in New Zealand, I'm going "solo". What I mean is with no consultant, no new blood test, no new menu. Just with the support of the forum.

I need to lose 18lb (8kg). Yes, I'm 18 pounds over my goal weight and if I don't do anything about it now I'm going to regret it for the rest of my life.

For the new ones in this forum, don't get discourage by me. If we follow the rules in maintenance we can sustain our new weight for life.

I'll keep you post it,
Dayanira

[LIVIERLC]

Well, you are definitely inspiring!!!
I think I am pretty much like you, well, I mean in terms of weight! Your staring weight is pretty much the same as mine when I started 3 weeks ago. Reading your posts has gave me a lot of hopes! I hope I can reach my goal like you did and congratulations for all your success!!!

Livier
http://www.1pdforum.com/tickers/image.php?id=8789

[Dayanira]

Thanks Livier!!!

I've been asking myself today, how did I get this far? Well it started like this:
March-April/2010 Left to Israel and Turkey, my weigh was around 53kg (116lb) and came back at 57 kg (125 lb).
Since then my weight has been from 59kg down to 57kg.
From December/2010 to March/11, I have had some health issues, but my weight has not changed, mainly around 58kg.
I had to have a surgery in mid March/11 and during the 6 weeks recovery I indulged in everything, especially sweet and creamy pastries!! Yummy!!!
I returned to work last Monday and I didn't have many nice clothes to choose from - no good :(
So I had it!!

And here I am...

[Sharon]

Hi there Friend,
Yes I know what you mean about the lack of clothes, I refuse to buy anymore until I get undercontrol, thankgoodness I wear a uniform at work - but that could be a bit looser.
Must get it touch on the ground and we could start a little support group, what do you think?

[PattyA]

Hi Dayanira!

So how are you doing now on your second time around? I've read most of you posts from before and would enjoy hearing how it's going for you. Have you been able to sort out what you had done right and where you went off track? That is something I'm hoping I can really work out for myself - what is okay for me and what isn't.

[Dayanira]

Hi Patty!!!
I'm here!!! Still fighting!. I had a surgery 3 months ago and it has been hard to keep on track. But I haven't gone up too much. As today I am 7kg above my goal weight.

What helps me is to get busy in the afternoons, when I'm mostly alone at home or when I start preparing dinner. I can't stop eating the blooming crackers!!! I over eat them! But sometimes I've been slack with the water and the multivitamins and we should never let that to happen.

Dayanira

[Aqua Eyes]

Gosh it is so good to see you post here Dayinara! It's been a long time for me as well, I know. You have done good not to go up too much. I am up 35 lbs from my goal weight! :( I still eat daily the Cohen way but of course there are additional carbs or I have strayed in one way or another. Every day I start out eating Cohen and with intention of staying on track, by the late afternoon to evening I'm off plan with something. I did start attending a Beach Body Boot Camp workout 3 times a week because I want to get firmed up and stronger. It's a tough class but if it wasn't for that, I wouldn't be doing any exercise at all. I had to buy clothes to fit me, I hate to admit. I learned I also need more surgery in the future. So, now I'm trying to be more diligent in watching what I eat and exercising so I can get my body healthier to have a quicker recovery time. I'm finally going to Belize. I had hope to drop at least 10 to 15 lbs before leaving but that never happened. Part of my problem is socializing, part of it is from lack of sleep and extra stress. When I was on Cohen strictly before I gave up a lot of socializing. I did go out on occasions but because of the strict guidelines of eating every 5 hours and having the specific food requirements it was difficult but I did it. I just don't want to live my life like that.... thus here I am. I am trying to figure out how I can live my life but lose weight and keep it off. Forgoing alcohol is one thing I'm learning.

Anyway... enough about me. I'm just so glad you are back here and that you are working at this again. I need to come back and visit more often. I'm leaving for Belize July 9th and won't be back until the 16th. I'll try to give you all an update how that went.

[Dayanira]

Yay!!! JoAnn,
Belize!! Take me in your suitcase, please!!!
As of today, I'm 14 pounds over my goal weight. Lost a couple of pounds in the last 3 days. But I feel miserable today...I just ate a scoop of ice cream. :( Grrrr! I hate it!

Hmmm maintenance plan. Yes you're right the guidelines are not enough, plus now I strongly believe that we should do one WHOLE month of the Refeed programme. We need to start taking short steps, very short!!


My sleeping pattern is horrible at the moment too, I'm only sleeping around 6 hrs the most. In regards of exercises, I suck! I'm only going to a Zumba class once a week and I try to do the Zumba DVD's at home sometimes. In my favour, it's winter down here and I hardly go out for walks or swimming.

My strategy when it comes to socializing is that if I know I have an evening engagement that involves food I have a late Cohen breakfast (around 10a.m.) and drink a lot of water and 2 fruit then attend the engagement and try not to eat carbs at all. Most of the times work, but sometimes the food at the evening engagements are only carbs!!!

Enjoy your time and I promise, I'll be here when you come back!
Dayanira

[Sharon]

Hi there,
Shame shame me Dayanira, I havent called you yet,
I too start the day off well - but those darstidly crackers are so scrummy and morish, especially with cheese - Opps, but after a hard day at the "office" it is so easy and satisfying, and hard to stop.
Good on you with the exercising you two,
Try to get some more sleep though.
I'm being shoved off the computor will be back on soon.

[Dayanira]

As it stands today, I've lost 1 lb in the last week. Something is working. I haven't been following the diet to the "t" but I tried to fix things as soon as I've messed it up.

Those damn crackers (and nachos)!

I'm thinking of opening a new thread with tips that are working (or might be working) and other tips that I bump into every other day.

[PattyA]

Hi Dayanira! That would be so great if you shared your tips on maintenance! I am thinking about maintenance a lot, even though I still have a little way to go still. My weight loss has slowed down quite a bit and I'm thinking that it might take about as long to lose the last 15 as it did to lose the previous 40! So I'm thinking about - really wondering about - how maintenance will go because I do not want to regain a lot.

[Dayanira]

Hi Patty,
I'm still working on the idea. The new thread will not only be about things that have worked for me but also about things that I read here and there and that are aligned with Dr. Cohen maintenance idea. We'll see...

First week of school winter break is almost gone and it hasn't passed without doing some damage. The weight has been steady 1kg up 1kg down. Far too many carbs around the house at the moment. :(

[Dayanira]

Well 2 weeks have passed since I've been back to work and I'm hoping that this time I've got it! I've been doing very well in the last 4 days. I'm hoping to be under 59kg(130lb) tomorrow morning. I've started to feel constipated and in this diet this is a "good" sign.

But, Oh God! Crackers are my weakness! I have to be very busy during the day in order to avoid them.

I have to bake an apple cake and some muffins tomorrow for an event and I hope I will only do that "bake" them!

[Aqua Eyes]

Hello Ladies,

Gee, Dayinara... I wish I was just a mere 14 lbs over my goal. I could handle that! I'm about 40 lbs over my goal!! :( I can relate to the crackers and cheese problem and I also can definitely relate to the belly... which I never had prior to this program!!! What happened?! How come I have this belly of fat now? I was wondering if this is the middle age spread or the punishment for going off of the plan. I am doing the Beach Body Boot Camp 3 times a week and I'm definitely getting stronger and I printed out some of the recipes to give to my trainer. I will start off the day doing great following the plan, but as soon as I'm home, I am too tired to cook or make anything complex and I want to just "snack" and end up doing melted cheese on crackers... too many of them. Also, honey in Fage yogurt has been another mistake. I also am not getting much sleep at night. I'm up way too late doing things and getting up to go work... so I'm only getting 5 to 6 hours per night. That causes me to want to snack during the day so I sneak the Dove Dark Chocolates. {blush2} I remember when I used to be able to forgo all of wrong stuff to eat and how motivated I was to get to goal. I want to find that motivation again. I need that switch to be turned on in me that finds it important to lose the weight again. I would like to implement the maintenance plan more because I know I could lose weight on the maintenance plan.

Anyway.... I need to be utilizing the support of this forum more often. Perhaps I will. You all motivate me so much and at least it is a good feeling to know I'm not alone with my new muffin top stomach, cheese & cracker problem, and getting little sleep.

By the way... my trip to Belize was AWESOME!!! I have a slide show with music that I created that I could email. I wonder if there is a way to upload it here. I'll have to check it out. There was a wild pod of dolphins that swam by me while I was scuba diving... a very rare treat!!
More Later!

[Sharon]

Hi there everyone,
Muffin top - oh my goodness yes, and whoever invented cheese and crackers ort to be ashamed of themselves, along with the inventers of pizza, chocolate, beer, wine - oh I could go on.
Dayanira you have managed so well with maintenance, I'm almost too embarrased to see you, but it would remind me of where I should be and need to get to again, I'm sure it wont take you long to loose that extra.
JoAnn great you are doing boot camp, and getting the benefits from it - keep up the great work, don't know how you do it on 5-6 hours, I need my 8 regularly otherwise my wheels get wobbly. Sound like you had a great time in Belize - so pleased to hear - my hubby is envious of your diving.
Catch up soon

[Dayanira]

Ladies, ladies!!
So glad to see you both posting here again! Welcome back JoAnn! I envy you, first because during your holiday you were so close to my place of birth and secondly ... dolphins!!! Wow! I would love to see your pictures or video!

Today I was under 59kg, 58.8 to be exact!! I've kept repeating during the day "58.8kg, 58.8kg don't mess it up, keep going!" But unfortunately I had to go to town during lunch time and didn't have time to go home for lunch before going back to work at 3pm. So I went to my friends' take away turkish kebab place and asked them to serve me chicken with lettuce and few onions in a small plate. And dinner was no difference neither, when I got home my husband has already made me chicken soup and he had put tons of carrots and it was not weighed either. :( Hoping for the best tomorrow!

I sort of survived the weekend after all that baking!! I made about 24 muffins, an apple cake and 1 apple crumble pie, they were for a fundraising activity, except for the apple crumble, that was for my family and I couldn't resist to have a tiny slice on Saturday. The scale didn't move on Sunday, thank God it did today!

Sleeping helps ladies! Friday night and Saturday night I went to bed around 10:30pm (that was extremely early compared to how late I've been going to bed in the last months!), didn't fall asleep right away but on Saturday I woke up at 6 (well, our dog always starts whinging at around 6a.m.) but got up at around 9 a.m. and on Sunday I slept in until around 10a.m. and I honestly think that has helped a lot!

For me in order to be away from the crackers is to be away of the kitchen. It was proven today, I was not home at lunch time I got home around 6:30pm and my husband had already made dinner. So after dinner I went to tidy up things around the house until I came to use the computer. I had an apple after dinner but I sent my daughter to get it for me from the kitchen. So today, I had only 2 crackers this morning and that's it.

Well, I'm so glad you are back here ladies. We need as much support as we can get.

Hugs,
Dayanira

[KMac]

Hi Dayanira- thank you for the encouraging works on my post, its nice to read.
My summer travels with the boys is over, so hello DC1!!!
Have a great day
KMac:)

[Aqua Eyes]

I am now OFF to Oregon for a family reunion. My intent is to get some good sleep and walking in every day while I am on this mini retreat. It is along the Oregon coast so there will be opportunity to go the beach. I'm looking at the pictures cycling above and it reminds m how well we did on this plan. I really want to lose the weight again but I am finding it difficult to stay committed. I have to find my reasons again for doing this. I am exercising which helps but it would be easier if I had the pounds off.

My girlfriends that I mailed my "fat clothes" to have both lost weight and can't wear the clothes I sent them anymore. In fact, one of the gals sent me her "fat clothes" that she can't wear anymore and a couple pairs of pants were ones that I sent to her!! I did make the promise to send her back her favorite pants if they didn't work for me. I turned around and sent her a few of my "skinny clothes". :(

I've just got to do this! When I get back from Oregon, I am going to get serious again! Thank you Dayinara for the boot in the rear about getting more sleep and how that is helping you. You know... I just can't make enough hours in the day to everything I need to do!

[KMac]

I can relate JoAnn- getting started again is hard, but we know you can do this! Enjoy your trip to Oregon, sounds great.
Dayanira, I will try sleeping more- anything to stay out of the kitchen, maybe we can induce a coma? LOL~ just kidding.
Since starting dc1 again, i started drinking chamomile tea again before bed. It really helps me sleep, plus keeps me away from the tempting kitchen.
Enjoy your day ladies,
:)

[Dayanira]

Hi ladies!! Thanks for popping in!! So happy to see your posts in my thread and your own! I feel energized and more motivated by just "seeing" you in the forum!

I had a very busy day yesterday that I didn't have time to stop for lunch. It was almost 3 pm and hadn't had lunch, I had to go to a meeting and there were mostly crackers with cheese, humus and other dips and fruit for snacking. So not too bad I thought! But I think I indulged too much on those crackers, at the beginning I thought I was in control but I don't even remember how many I ate and with what I ate them with. No wonder the scale was a little bit up this morning. I've done the right thing today, so I hope things will start looking better tomorrow.

We had some visitors today and they all said that I've been doing a great job maintaining! If they only knew that I'm almost 20 pounds over my goal weight!
Some good clothings are deceiving!! :)

[Sharon]

What is it about crackers that makes them sooooo good !!!!{scream}

[KMac]

Merry Christmas!! Hoping you and your family are enjoying the holidays.

[Dayanira]

Hi Kmac, Sharon and everybody,
I can't believe that my last post was in August last year. I have had my ups and downs but mostly keeping the weight down, except for the last 4 weeks. I've gained 5 kilos and I still have the other 3kg that I wanted to lose before. At the beginning of Dec. last year I was at 56kg feeling so gooood and proud but since my girls and myself started the school break it has been a disaster! I have been cooking all my favorite dishes from my country, such as corn tortillas, black and red beans, cakes, etc., etc. Plus going out for dinner or hosting dinner for friends. Well, all the excuses that you may think of.

But I had enough. Today I found a picture that was taken on the month I started 1PD in 2009 and I couldn't recognize myself. So now, I'm like in panic mode. These are my statistics:
Panic weight: 62kg
Desirable weight: 54kg
1pd goal weight: 52kg

So, my goal is to lose 8kg. 8kg!!! I have never been this high! But, here I come, hoping this time will be the last.
See you around!

[Sharon]

Hi there Dayanira,
Great to hear from you
Hope you and your family are having a restful school break.
You have done so well on maintenance, I know exactly how you feel about the added weight but I am sure you will be able deal to the extra and be down to your slim trim self soon, you have been so much stronger than I in keeping it off, so I know you will succeed in getting rid of that 8kg.

[Dayanira]

Well, I wish I could report some improvement, but I had a short slip yesterday and I can only report that I've lost only half a kilo (1.1lb) in the last week. I hope it's only water retention and tomorrow the scale will be kind to me.

What I've noticed this time around is that even a tiny deviation makes a huge impact in my body. So this time it's either 100% or nothing! I must remember that!

So, today was the start of my second week, wish me luck!

[Sharon]

Just remember being down is always better than up - any positive where you can get it I reacon, but I do also do believe what you slip up on makes a big difference to how hard it is for it to let go of your waistline - not in calorie content but the foods ability to cause the water retention - so I'm all in for it to be water retention, and I know you are gonna have a much better 2nd week. I'll be thinking of you - and know that I'm cheering you on - I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT.

[Dayanira]

Good old headaches! I welcome you!! Today, I have had this huge headache and I'm just hoping that it's related to some weight loss.

This morning I was smiling after I came off the scales, so I hope that steady, although SMALL drop in the scales keeps going!

You're right Sharon, down is better than up!

[Sharon]

Sorry about the headache, congrats about the drop.

[Dayanira]

Thanks Sharon,
The headaches are still there, but the scale didn't move today and I think I've follow the diet to the "t" but probably I must re-read the manual again to check that I'm doing everything right. The only thing I've not done is to write everything I put in my mouth, I should start doing that, it has really helped me in the past.
I can't wait to go back to work and have a "normal" routine.
I'm hoping for a big drop one of these days...!

[Sharon]

How frustrating!{scream}
But if you are doing everything right it should be there just waiting to show on your scales.
I think it is a good idea to have a journal of some sort, I still have my original which I treasure - sad I know,I don't write what I put in my mouth (did last time though) but I do tick off my meals, - weighed of course,fruit and snacks consumed, exercise, vitamins, water, green tea etc, I have funny little sections like graphs and comparison numbers, yeah I know STRANGE. for me this really helps me stay focused, and I'm like a kid with a tick chart for good behavior. I plan to carry on with a maintenance one when I finish which I didn't last time - I want this time to be different.

[Dayanira]

Well, it seems that my body wants to sit at 60ish kg, but I won't let it happen!! It doesn't feel nor look right. The headaches are more or less gone, but the problem now is the constipation :sadeyes: ! I know headaches and constipation are telling me that my body is getting a shock but I just want those number in the scale to go down!!!

Yesterday I was 60.2kg today I was 60.5kg :crying: ! What's up? I don't know! But at least I'm not longer 62kg.

I'm not giving up, I'm not!!

[Sharon]

For constipation, which is what happens on this diet as we are not having enough carb/ fibre in our diet (protien and the amount of veges and fruit often wont be effective enough) there is a few products on the market which will try to bulk things up, often great if you need just a little extra, but I don't find them effective personally, you can try Alpine Tea which you can get from the supermarket - but it does have senna leaf in it which may make you feel a bit crampy if you make a strong brew (cheapist option), or Movicol which you can get from the chemist - this stuff pulls fluid into the colon and helps move thing along, but on this diet there isn't alot to move along either, but you do want to keep moving, it is a great product and we use it alot with kids. either one will cause a temporary gain in weight due to water being pulled to the appropriate place.
A good reasurance that even though the scales are not moving but you are still burning fat is to get yourself some KETOSTIX which you can order from the chemist. When you burn fat you produce ketones and you excrete these ketones in your urine, these strips will measure the ketones and reassure you that you are burning fat regardless of the scales - (and that result will come) - use them on your first morning pee.
DON'T GIVE UP - I know you can do it

[Dayanira]

Hmm... :thinking: Tea with Senna... a friend gave me to try last year after a surgery I had, as you know the side effects of anesthesia is constipation, but holy molly guacamole!!! Although the results were fantastic, the cramps were incredible! I think I still have a little sachet somewhere in my cupboard. I'll use it as a last resort. Today "things" moved a little bit, I think it's because I ate 2 mangos yesterday instead of apples. And this morning for my breakfast I had yogurt with kiwi fruit plus psyllium husk so I'm hoping for the best.

I've heard about those Ketostix sticks before, but I didn't know you can get them here. I'll find out next time I go to the chemist. I didn't weight myself today, I'm going to take the relax approach of not checking every day. I was good the first time I did the diet, I checked once a week or even once a month, so I thought I will leave the weigh in until Friday.

Had a good day today and I'm very excited for tomorrow, too. Everything should go as planned.

Thank you Sharon for your wise advice and great support!

I'm not going to give up, be sure of that!

[Sexymama]

Dayanira, Keep up the good work. I don't ever remember having that problem when I was on. I remember just going very little. I bet the Kiwi will help too! Water, water, water. Once this passes you will probably have a good drop. Stick with it! Your doing great!

[Sharon]

I think it probably is a very individual thing really and its whatever that will work, if psyllium husk, mango and kiwi work for you - excellent, . Probably if you have no problem pre Cohen you probably wont have too much of a problem on Cohen, but if you have issues pre, ie sluggishmess it may exacerbate them.
Like you on original Cohen I only weighed myself once a month, I am afraid I have gotten into the habit of weighing every morning this time, but at the same time it doesn't worry me if I gain a 100g or 2 cos as long as I am on the program I know it is only fluid retention.
And it is great that you have had such a positive day and in that Friday is tomorrow I wish you the bestist results for your am weigh in.

[Dayanira]

It worked!! Well, at least for now.
I have tried so hard not to step on the scales for 2 days now. I'm hoping for good news tomorrow, I want to be at least under 60kg, even if it's 59.9kg I'll be doing the chicken dance!

[Dayanira]

59.9 kg!!! :party1: :party1: :party1: Finally!! Well, I'm not complaining. Last weekend we went south for 2 days, it was my husband inpromtu decision to go and see some friends, so I was not very prepared. I only took my good apples, mangos and zero Sprite and off we went. I was 60.1 on Saturday morning when we left and on Monday I was back to 61.7kg grrrrr! I tried to eat Cohen sensible but I gave in to nachos and other crisps on the last day. So this last 4 days, I grabbed the plan with my 2 hands, and the results this morning were very good! 1.8kg (almost 4 lbs!) in 4 days not too bad. It has helped that I'm back to work at the school and I have no pantry full of goodies to open, I've kept going just with my water and coffee during morning tea and my packed lunch. The bad news (in a way) is that, it's a long weekend in NZ this weekend and I'm really not looking forward to it!
Hope everyone is having a good week as me!!!!
Dayanira

[Sharon]

Hi there Dayanira
Well done with the 59.9kg,
I join you for your chicken dance celebration.,:chicken::dance::
I agree inpromtu trips away make it difficult to prepare yourself and boy can the weight go on easy. Great that you got rid of the extra so quickly though before it set up residence, and as long as you also had a good time, its getting that balance right - it can be so difficult, I'm nervous already about post refeed and I'm not even at refeed yet :hiding:.

[Sexymama]

Way to go Dayanira! I'm so proud of you and Sharon for being so disciplined! You both motivate me so much!! Keep up the good work you two!!!

[Dayanira]

Thanks Ladies!
I'm not going to step on the scales for at least another week, I need to concentrate in what I'm eating not what the scale is dictating to me!

Sharon, I'm getting nervous too about life after Refeed. I'm hoping this time we're wiser :)
Have a good trip up North!

Take every one!

[Sharon]

Good on you for waiting the week, and you are right, if you are eating right then it will be effective, regardless of the scales.
All the best for the week and I'll join you in the Friday Chicken dance :chicken: