3 months later....

and I am still here.... and I am still following the Cohen's Lifestyle program.... and am feeling rough about not updating for sometime especially given that Lynda has just done an update on me on her blog and a few bloggers have commented how they were readers of my blog and that I hadn't updated for sometime!  Oooops!  Sorry people!  I guess I have lost the love of blogging and now update Facebook (private page) instead.

So for those that haven't read Lynda's update or read my Facebook page - yesterday I reached a very high milestone in my journey - it was day 205 of my journey and I reached a total loss of 50.1 kilos!!!  I have my good days and tough/rough days but hey I am doing it and I WILL reach my goal!!  The latest I can reach goal is 4th Feb but am really hoping that I will do it before then!  It would be nice to be there by Christmas time but that could be pushing it a bit to much... otherwise I will be happy to be there by my birthday (mid Jan).

Here are some latest photos to show off:

Will hopefully do more regular updates from now on - even if it is only monthly :)

Sorry

Shit, hadn't realised it had been so long since I last posted on here... wasn't until I got a friend on FB from someone who is a blog reader and wanted to know how I was doing and wanted to follow my personal FB page which of course I update regularly :)

So where am I now - well I am still definitely on the program 100%!  My loss this morning was 2 kilos which brings my total loss for 13 weeks to 27.8 kilos.  Oh I did my measurements last night - total centimetres lost = 56.5cm!  Pretty pleased with that!!!

Here is a graph that my friend Lynda created for me showing my losses:

And here is another picture that Lynda did up for me over the weekend, showing my weight loss in blocks of butter:

Both of these going by my former weigh in which was last Monday when I had lost 25.8 kilos.

I am hoping to get to the 30 kilo mark next week - would mean a loss of 2.2 kilos but in reality it will probably take me 2 weeks but only time will tell.  And of course I am now only 10.3 kilos away from being in the double digits club!!  I can still recall how good that felt last time I got there (approx Sept 2005) so I can't wait to feel that good again!!!

Right, I will try to update each week - though sometimes I just do forget and other times I just don't have the energy.....

*edited* I just reread one of the messages from my last update - and wwangel asked me what a typical days menu looked like for me. I will share that but not the quantities as that is part of the copyright as such and what works for me may actually harm others if they were to copy it.

Breakfast
1 egg omlete with mushroom, tomato and grated corgette

Lunch
Salad (lettuce, cucumber and tomato) with some protein - beef, chicken or fish.

Dinner
Panfried fish with steamed veggies (usually cabbage and cauliflower)
OR
Steak and veggies
OR
Pan seared prawns with salad

Snacks
Salada crackers
2 pieces of fruit.

NB Can incorporate the fruit into the meals - ie mango salad.  There are other proteins that I can eat like turkey, venison and ostrich.  Just waiting for Stephan to get a deer so I can some have fresh venison.  There are limited fruit and veggies that I am allowed - both in weight and what I am allowed to eat.

Hope this answers your question wwangel - please feel free to email me if you want to know more.

SECOND UPDATE
Just realised I hadn't shared my 20 kilo loss photos on here - so here they are:

Facebook...

Hi ya
Just a quick question to those that read my blog - I have two friend requests waiting (for the last wee while) on FB from people who I have no friends in common with so am wondering if they may be from people who read here and want to be my friend on FB - perhaps to follow my page there?

So if you're either Nicole or Cecily, please send me a message on FB identifying yourselves and I can then accept your friend requests.

Thanks :)

Week 8

Well, I definitely had a shock this morning when I jumped on the scales - week 8's loss = 2.9 kilos!!! This brings my total loss on the program to 19.4 kilos (in just 8 weeks)!!  Or as Lynda converted for me - that is 43 pounds of butter!!!

Tried on a pair of jeans this morning that used to fit comfortably - here is a photo of what they look like now.... 

And here is a photo of Miss Rachel (now 6) for those that haven't seen her for awhile.  This was taken last night after a day of Easter Eggs (for her) and she was finishing the day with a Ice Cream Pink Panther drink that I made her (which she said was to sweet for her).

I have survived the Easter break well - Stephan got 1 egg (from me) and then Rachel had her collection from the Easter Bunny, us and one of her Nana's.  Though on saying that, chocolate has never been a weak point for me (unless it is combined with mint/peppermint) - but Hot Cross Buns - a totally different story altogether!!!  I just drawl at the thought of them and survived Stephan eating 1/2 dozen of them but then 4 of them were eater while I was out of the house.  But the 2 he did have while I was home was murder for me!  But I did not deviate at all!!

Week 7....

Yeap, we are up to week 7 already on the Cohen's program. 

Am pleased to report in with a better loss this week of 1.8 kilos which brings my total loss up to 16.5 kilos!   I also did my measurements and since starting the program on 4th Feb, I have lost a total of 39.5cms around various parts of my body.

Next lot of photos will be shared when I reach the 20 kilo mark which will hopefully be in the next 2/3 weeks.

I do wish I could get my blog back to be being the chatty blog that I had years ago... but I just struggle to do an update these days.  Time to change my back ground too I think.....

Sorry....

Just reaslised I hadn't updated last week at all - sorry about that.

Last week's loss was 1.9 kilos which I was very happy with and that took my total loss to 14.4 kilos.

I then got AF/TOM and a head cold at the same time - my coach warned me that I could have a very small loss this week due to my body fighting the bugs & germs.... well she was right - today's weigh in was only 300 grams!  I had been telling myself that by small - she meant oh about a kilo or so... so I was so excited to be reaching the 15 kilo mark!  But that wasn't to be - total loss now after 6 weeks = 14.7 kilos!

I was initally upset (as per my Facebook posts); however I have now accepted it and this week will be a new week!  I am so glad I took more photos last night, as I can now really see the difference that 6 weeks has made!!!  I will next share photos on here when I reach the 20 kilo mark so hopefully that won't be to far away.

I am getting more and more people commenting and I do learn how to accept compliments as I never know what to say really - ok I know I say "thank you" but sometimes that doesn't seem enough.

Right better get back to work - will try to update more frequently this week.

Week 4's result

Ooooops so sorry that it's been a whole week since I last updated.... have meant to do a couple of updates during the week but never quite made it obviously.

Today's weigh in totally blew me away with a fabulous loss of 2.7 kilos which brings my total loss down to 12.5 kilos!  I am extremely happy with that and am looking forward to the 2nd month on the program.  I have not deviated off the program at all so have worked bloody hard to get this loss!!

Believe me I have had some challenges and there have been a couple of days where Rachel has driven me to drink - well water it is for me!  But fark I came bloody close to alcohol on those days!

Oh here are my 4 week photos.  The one on the left is my beginning photo, the right hand one is 4 weeks later.

Sorry for the brief posts, having trouble blogging these days so keep it simple and straight to the point  :)  Hopefully I can get back to blogging like the old days where I used to be very chatty!

Week 3 result

As much as I really wanted to reach the 10 kilo mark today it wasn't meant to be!

This weeks loss was 1.6 kilos which means a total loss of 9.8 kilos in 3 weeks.

I was initially disappointed but then told myself that I have no reason to be disappointed given that I have not deviated off the program at all!  So have accepted the loss and roll on week 4 and the 10 kilo mark!

Am hanging out for Stephan to go and get me some venison so I can have something different on  my menu!   Also, am going to treat myself to some fresh tuna steaks to give me a break from tinned tuna!

Had a very stressful weekend due to a number of things and came very close to deviating but I was strong and stayed 100% on track!

Still going strong

Yeap, still here and plodding on day by day. 

Must remember not to forget to update here as there are still some people who prefer to read here than Facebook. 

Got a bit stressed yesterday morning when I got on the scales and was 100grams UP from the day before!  Totally threw me and initially made me upset but then realised that I had eaten dinner almost 2 hrs later than normal the night before (as I was out) and I hadn't stayed up the recommended 2.5hrs after finishing eating.  But rest assured I did not go off track or anything like that! I picked myself up and went on to have a great day. 

Then at work I had another curveball thrown at me when I an auto reminder popped up on my computer reminding me of a 2hr meeting in 15mins time... so I quickly ate my bread snack before heading upstairs.  Then got up there to find a HUGE morning tea put on for everyone - fresh bread, cheeses, salami, humus, dips, chippies etc!  I immediately retreated to the back corner of the room with my water bottle so I would avoid all temptations BUT it wasn't long before plates of food found themselves on the table down the back!  Many a time the thought of "just one won't hurt me" but I did NOT give in!!!  I resisted all and did not deviate at all!

Stephan has gone away for the weekend leaving Rachel and I to have a girly weekend - things are not going that well at the moment as her behaviour has been atrocious and unacceptable for a 6yr old!!  I'm just sipping on my water taking lots of deep breaths right now!  In the past when Stephan has been away, I have always had an indulgent night on the Saturday with bourbon & cokes, chips and dips once Rachel had gone to bed!  But this won't be happening for me tonight despite the fact that her behaviour makes me feel like drinking big time!

Weigh is due on Monday morning, so I will be back on Monday with results :)  Won't be doing measurements this week but will probably still do photos though but won't be sharing them as yet...

Plodding on

Yesterday was a real bad day.... I struggled continously all day between meals and snacks!  But the main thing is that I didn't deviate off the program at all!  I stayed on plan and survived the day!  A bit of chewing gum (allowed 5 pieces sugar & fruit free per day) definitely made things a bit easier.

For those that I don't have on FB, I have now set up a private group on FB for those to follow my journey on as a lot of people don't have time to read blogs these days or they just forget.... so if you would like to be part of the group - supporters only are welcome - losers need not apply.... just flick me an email - find me on FB (through one of our mutual friends) and let me know who you are and that you read my blog and we can go from there.

Today was a much better day, and I am feeling a lot more positive about it all. I must admit all the time spent in the kitchen can be a bit much... weighing every bit of food but if it means I will get to goal then I will do it for the time it takes me (approx 12mths).  I find when I get home, I get changed, do my vegetables organised for breakfast (omelet each day), get my vegetables and meat cooked for lunch the next day, and then finally prepare and cook dinner for me!    Thank god Stephan has usually prepared his and Rachel's meal by the time I get home.

Week 2 weigh in...

Well week 2 weigh in has been and gone.... and the result is a loss of 2.3 kilos bringing my total loss to 8.2 kilos in 2 weeks.

I was initially a bit down with that result and then after talking to my consultant, I realised how well I had done.  She advised me to expect a loss of between 1-2.5 kilos each week now bearing in mind that there may be weeks with less than 1 kilo and I may even get the occasional "amazing" week thrown in as well.

I got a couple of tips from her re some of the foods I have been eating so hopefully they will aid me along - I had been eating a bit to much of tomato and onion.

Measurements and photos - well they are going to be monthly from now on due to the frustration of not being able to get the same spot for the measurements and I was also getting down from looking at the photos.  So next lot will be in 2 weeks time and then monthly..... which also conicides with the "official" weigh in's as well.

I know I have recently given the link for my blog out to a few "new" readers so please don't be shy - leave a comment even if it's just saying "Hi" :)

Almost 2 weeks down..

2 down - 50 odd to go!  I know it's probably not the best way to look at it and in reality, even once I have reached goal and done my maintenance program this will be a way of living for me! No regular take aways, no daily soft drink, lollies, chocolate, chips etc...  These foods will indeed be VERY limited and will be a true and proper treat!  And even when I do have something (that is if I still like them which I don't think I will) it will only be a minimal amount that I eat.

Just did some baking for Rachel and Stephan's lunch boxes during the week.  Was supposed to be biscuits and cupcakes (Rachel's choice of course) however only had enough butter to do one or the other so biscuits it was.  Very tempting to lick the beaters and spatula but I resisted and feel so proud of myself in doing so!

I know I mentioned treats in Friday's post, one thing I forgot to mention was if I was to have a "treat"  and whether it be a glass of wine, some chippies, some chocolate or whatever - it would basically mean an extra week on the program for me!  So yes, one wee slip up could see my goal pushed out another week!  And is that worth it? No it's not! 

Bit slack in the water department today - decided to take Rachel to Mass this morning and that just totally threw me in my timing of drinking my water.  So will need to work around that one for Sunday mornings for when I take her.

Will be back tomorrow with an update on week 2 results - measurements and photos tonight - scales in the morning :)

Friday...

Still plodding on slowly..... struggling at times as I adjust to everything and keep thinking of the year ahead but I know I can do this as I am determined to reach my goal!  But every now and then, I am having cravings for some of my "old" favourite foods but just tell myself that eating those foods is how I got big in the 1st place! 

I haven't deviated/cheated at all and don't plan to but boy oh boy it is hard at times!  And unlike other weight loss programs - I don't have access to unlimited fruit and vegetables!  I am only allowed certain amounts of them and only allowed to eat at certain times - certain time frames between meals and snacks and not being allowed to eat a certain period of time before going to bed.  So I do need to be rather organised at all times as I am not a late night person so need to make sure I am eating my dinner no later than about 7.30pm.

My boss at work today bought a bag of jet planes (yum yum), and called out to me that there were some on his desk if I wanted one.  I replied "no thank you V, I am not allowed them". His response to that - "Surely won't one won't hurt you as a treat"!  He can't get his head around the strictness of it all (and I guess there are a few others in the same boat).  Yes, I could have had just one - but would I have been able to stop at one.... and why undo all the good work off the last 12 days?  It has now been 12 days since I had sugar, bread, diary products etc.... The more I think about it - this is very similar to the Paleo lifestyle that Lynda (and her family) now live.   Only of course, they don't have the strictness of times and the restriction of the amount allowed.  So am really wanting to be able to continue this lifestyle once I have reached goal and done the refeed program.

Oh, I messaged a few of my friends on Facebook last night - friends that are similar height to me (short) and who I thought weighed roughly what my goal is (70kgs). All bar one came back to me with either their weight or weight range - gives me a good idea of sizes.  One of them is 1" taller than me (same age) and weighs 69 kilos so am going to print a photo of her to give me a visual idea of me being at goal.

The weight has been coming off a lot slower this week - slower than I was expecting.  I spoke to my niece yesterday and I have promised her that I would stay off the scales until Monday!  And she told me all about the water retention etc.... When she was doing the program she would have 2 fantastic weeks of weight loss and then 2 slow weeks and the pattern just repeated itself over while she was doing it.

Not a lot on this weekend which is good - nice to have a quiet one occasionally.  Though knowing us, we will end up doing a few bits and pieces.

Plodding along...

3 days done and dusted for week 2 and still going well.

Ended up having a big discussion about the program at work with my team who were rather interested in it all.... It started when G asked me if I had deviated from the program at all since starting and wouldn't believe me when I said no!  Then before I knew it, S & M were chatting away with us too.  Felt really good chatting about it all and answering their questions about it.  The boss just sat there listening with the odd smile :) 

There have been times when I have thought "Oh just one won't hurt" but it will!  Basically, any deviation from the program can add up to an extra week on the program... and I don't want that!  I want to get to goal quickly :)

I have been doing the daily weighing.... and the last 2 days I have been getting despondent with the scales as things have slowed down.  I emailed my niece today and asked her about things and her reply was it was all about the water retention and how everyone is different.  When she was doing it - she would have two great losses, then 2 very minimal weeks, and so and so on...

Am also hanging out for the moment when someone who knows nothing about what I am doing comments on my loss.... but been told that could take about 4 weeks so time will tell.  Also, am really hoping that this healthy eating will improve my sleep!  Sleeping like shit at the moment and have been since about early Dec.  All to do with the mugginess I think, but I tend to wake up and have what I call a "mini panic attack" with lots of shallow breathing.... so often it takes me a good couple of hours before I fall back asleep.

Week 1 completed!!!

Well for those of you who I don't have on Facebook - my first week's result on the Cohen's program is............................ 5.9 kilos lost!!!!  I am pretty happy with that to say the least!!  Also lost 17cm around various parts of my body though as Stephan is doing the measuring I wouldn't say that they are that accurate as it is hard to get the same place each time but hey it gives me a rough idea anyway!

I had a great chat with my niece/consultant this afternoon (our weekly catch up) and she is really proud of me and my efforts this week especially given that fact that my period had arrived on Friday (and it's pretty bad - sorry if TMI).

Am loving trying the new recipes in the Cohen's recipe book!  Some real yummy food in there! Tonight I had "crumbed " fish (crumbed with crushed salada biscuit - my bread allowance) and Zuchini "chips" - very delicious so will be having that again!  What I love about this book is that anyone can use at all and just use their own portion sizes of the meat and vegetables! 

A lady at work says her daughter did Sure Slim (very similar to Cohen's) some time ago and has kept the weight off (through 2 pregnancies as well) but has always said that those 6 months that she had to do it were the hardest 6mths of her life but so doesn't regret it one wee bit!  So am sure that will be in a year or so!

5 & 6 done and dusted

Yeap boring titles I know but am sure that they will change as the year goes on....

Right days 5 & 6 - all went ok especially given that I have got my period (sorry if to much info)!  Have recently come off the pill (and no it is NOT so I can get pregnant but for other reasons) and boy I haven't had a period like this for a long time!  Friday I was hanging out for chocolate or anything sweet but I worked my way through it and was very proud of myself!!! 

Saturday, had to face my first social outing as we had a family BBQ lunch in Masterton as my niece Alex was out from the UK.  I survived and did really well but boy oh boy sitting at the table with my wee salad and piece of steak (which I had taken with me but got it cooked on the BBQ) was real hard when there so many yummy foods on the table (sausages, chicken kebabs, scrumptious looking salads and fresh bread rolls) so after I had eaten mine, I excused myself and went & sat inside while the others finished their meals as I was getting tempted.... I know the others wouldn't have let me have anything but it was having them all sitting there in front of me and the smell etc!  I did treat myself to a diet coke to take over there but only had about a third of the bottle!

Will be doing measurements/photos tonight and then weighing in tomorrow!  Am pretty happy with the scales so far!  Officially they only like you to weigh in once a month, however they do realise that a lot of people that do the program are "serial dieters" so accept that some people do weigh daily/weekly.  I am still checking in daily but hoping to wean myself off that to weekly slowly.  I know I could put the scales away but no, I just need to trust myself!

Right off to work - bugger but that is life! 

Days 3 & 4 done and dusted...

Ooooops realised during the night that I had forgotten to update last night - did contemplate getting up to do an update but decided not to :)

How did yesterday and today go??  Really well thanks!!  Am really getting in to the hang of things now, probably need to be a bit more adventurous at times but baby steps for me...

Garlic has now become one of my favourite condiment/herbs and using it in both lunch and dinner each day :)  Oh well apart from the days I have tuna that is...  Am starting to experiment with other herbs as well which so far has gone well.

Work was totally shit today, and will be tomorrow too!  I worked late tonight, so it was a tough job calculating meal/snack times as with Cohen's you need to have set times between meals (protein) and then again between snacks.... Then I had to drop off eggs to my sister in law - got home to find Rachel still awake (and very over tired), and all I wanted to do is cook my dinner because not only was I hungry, I didn't want to stay up to late (not supposed to eat for 2/2.5hrs prior to going to bed) either.  And I also had to cook the beef for my salad tomorrow so it was all go.  Then trying to get Stephan to get the washing in (which he did but didn't fold it as he took it off the line as I do, so there is another job that needs doing at some stage) and for him to make Rachel's lunch!    I am going to have to be a lot more organised when working late which will be a few times this month - perhaps try to get a few of the dinners in the freezer so I can have them at work (or as soon as I walk in the door) without the stress!  In the past, I often decided that I would work late at the last minute but there will be no doing that for me this year!

I have my first real social challenge on Saturday when we head to Masterton for a family BBQ as my niece from the UK is out in NZ on holiday and is only in Wgtn for about 5 days so we are all catching up with her then.  I have told my sister that I will bring along my bits and pieces with me which I think she finds strange given that we are having a BBQ with salad but as everything needs to be weighed down to the last gram; I would rather play it safe :)  My consultant has also given me a wee dessert recipe I can have using my fruit/crispbread allowance so am keen to try that and to take it to Masterton with me as my treat.  I have also taken a liking to Soda Water so am having a small glass of that each dinner time so will take a small bottle of that with me over the hill on Saturday :)

Oh I asked my niece (my consultant) are the Nurofen VS Ibprofen situation - the reason that the Cohen's Lifestyle doesn't really allow Nurofen is the fact that Nurofen is almost always sugar coated where as Ibprofen is just a plain tablet.... 

Day 2 done and dusted....

Have now competed two days and am doing well! Have had a slight headache but thanks to some reading I did on a new forum I belong to, I remembered that Nurofen was a no go, so dug out my Ibprofen and after a couple of doses of that, the headache went.

Feel like I have done well today and am proud of it!  There have been a couple of close call's but I have stopped myself and said to myself "that is cheating Karen - that won't get you to 70 kilos"!!! 

I couldn't get over how fast everything added up when having my veggies on the scales but slowly adjusting to that.

And OMG to the number of toilet stops I am having to do!  It is at least 2 before leaving home in the morning, then about 7 times during the day at work, then I run (well fast walk) in the door after getting off the train and straight to the loo!  Then another couple before heading to bed... and last night there were 3 during the night!!  

Bit annoyed with Stephan right now - he is sitting beside me (well in the next chair) eating a large bag of chips (something I USED to do regularly) despite me asking him not to given that it is only Day 2 and I am still craving those things! I have tried talking to him but he is still eating them!!!  Bloody men!!!!

Day 1 done and dusted...

Well I have competed day 1 without to many hiccups.... only two wee mistakes - I had egg with my beef at lunch time which is mixing two different proteins and that is a no no on the program.  Oh well, I now know for future :)  The other wee mistake - well not really a mistake as such - was making Rachel's lunch and putting some grapes in her lunch box and 3 found their way in my mouth!  Something that I used to do all the time but as grapes are not on my "allowed" fruits list so must make sure I am more of aware of what goes in my mouth!

Lunch was devine (see photo in last nights post) so will definitely be having that again! Just wish I could have had more of it but that's all part of the program - limiting/reducing our food intake!  Tomorrows lunch is a beef salad so hopefully that will be just as nice! 

Got a slight headache but just taken something for that and will head to bed shortly as am really tired (after a crappy nights sleep last night).  Managed to drink 2.4 litres of water at work plus about another 500mls at home so all up I managed 2.5 litres so am pleased with that as they recommend 2-3 litres a day and the more the better as it flushes all the toxins out of the body!    I am actually allowed limited diet drinks but trying to avoid them as if I have any of those, I still need to drink the 2-3 litres water as well!  They will be my treat drink for any parties etc that we may go to.

Right - bring on day 2!!!

1 more sleep...

Yeap - tomorrow is the day where I start my new program!

I know I said in my last post that I was "preparing" myself this week by increasing water etc but unfortunately that turned to custard and I have in fact ended up just enjoying myself and having a few things that perhaps I shouldn't have. But oh well - never mind :)

Got all my meat, cut up, weighed and in the freezer for the week ahead.  Got the fridge fill of vegetables and fruit.  Got my multi vitamins and fish oil capsules all ready to go....

Just need to get Stephan to help me with the measurements later on, and then will photos tonight as well... they will all be shared either later tonight or tomorrow.

I am hoping to be blogging every day (or every 2nd day) while on this program so there will be lots of updates for me this year!  Will be nice to have all the support here and on the weight loss support FB group that I belong to!

Oh here are the "before" photos - I will put there here for now as I can't work out the photo's tab across the top of this page as yet...

Back view

Side on

Front view (excuse the water marks - had just finished the dishes)

All my meat, cut, measured and in freezer

My lunch for tomorrow - chicken with a bit of S&P, chilli powder and garlic rubbed in before being tossed in a minimum amount of pure olive oil.

Only 6 more sleeps to go....

Got the program, read it, re read it and re read it yet again (as per their advice)... had my first session (via phone) with my niece/consultant this morning.... and she explained even more things to me so am now ready to go!!!

I was initially shocked at their suggested goal weight (50 -53 kilos) and even my niece was a bit shocked at it.... so she has reviewed it for me and given me a new goal weight of 65-70 kilos which in my eyes is a lot more realistic!  Although, I checked that range on the BMI calculator; and it would still be in the overweight range so once I get down to that range, I may reconsider going a bit lower but hey if I can lose half of my weight and get down to 70 kilos I will be bloody happy!!! 

So will be starting the program on Monday 4th February.  I did contemplate starting it this week but instead I decided to enjoy my quality time with Rachel, and just up my water intake (oooops been a bit slack today though) and try to limit my food intake to get my body to slowly adjust to the big changes that will hit it next week.  If I can up my water intake, it will start the detox and start flushing out the toxins from my body.

So am back to work on Monday, and I am not looking forward to it - I really dislike it at the moment and February is going to be a bitch of a month!  We will be down one colleague for the whole month and he is the only other decent worker in the team!  So it's gonna be very full on and a few late nights!  I am over the shit that goes down in the team - my team leader is aware of how I am feeling but doesn't seem to be to concerned about it... even his boss seems to know as well and wants to do a team building session which in the past is when shit hits the fan so should be fun - not!

Will be back before starting the program!

Waiting...

And still waiting for my program to arrive..... sent my niece an email this morning to see how things were progressing.  Hoping to have it tomorrow or on Monday all going well :) 

Was going to start it and get the moodiness/grumpiness etc out of my system before going back to work on 4th Feb BUT a friend did point out that it wasn't fair on Rachel if I did that - last week of holidays with a grumpy mum!  So may end up waiting until 4th Feb but will see how things go once I get the program and how much I need to buy to make sure I have my food in the house :)

Decided that I should just quit work as I don't eat nearly half as much when I am at home compared to when I am at work and my bad habits I have there!  Since filling in the application form for Cohen's 2 weeks ago, I have lost almost 2 kilos!

Oh for those of you who didn't see on FB, I actually got into the local pool the other day with Rachel and we had such a great time! So will definitely be doing that  more often!

Can't believe that one week of my leave is up already and only have one week to go... and it's shaping up to be another busy one :(  As much as I love being out and about and catching up with friends that I don't normally see that often (they are stay at home mums and me working) - it would be nice to just do nothing at times!  Though that is hard sometimes with an only child as Rachel struggles to play by herself for extended periods of time.... but we are working on that slowly.

Hopefully next time that I update, I will have the program and will be taking the "before" photos and measurements!

Blood test done...

Yeap, had the blood test on Saturday morning - was a bloody mission as well as I have such narrow veins and it took them ages to find a vein big enough to get the blood from!  Not sure which part hurt the most - the drawing of the blood OR the cost of it! Had to pay for it as it was done for private use (i.e. not ordered by a Dr or specialist) - $78.50 later!  Have to have them every 4 weeks until 20 weeks (almost like being pregnant again LOL) and then 8 weekly after that.  Though at least the subsequent ones are only about $20 which is more affordable!

After leaving the lab, I text my niece to tell her it had been done and she said she should have the results today and get them sent off for my program to be written up so all going well this time next week, I will have completed Day 1 of the program!  I think it will be quite good getting the first few days out of my system while still on leave so hopefully any moodiness etc will be gone before heading back to work BUT then it will be poor Rachel who bears the brunt of it so will have to make sure we have things to do each day to get us out and about!

I have a lot of people on FB quite intrigued about my "adventure" for 2013 with a lot of them thinking that I am taking up some new sales adventure!  One even asked me if I was planning to leave Stephan! LOL So I think on Day 1 I will reveal all even though my mum said not to put it on FB just in case I didn't finish the program!  But with her saying that, it has made me even more determined!

I have been doing some more research on Cohen's and have found quite a bit of negative feedback but have taken it all with an open mind and am still moving forward with it.  One thing I did find was a forum where someone had shared their list of allowed foods - was really interesting and one that I could make work for me so hopefully my one is as friendly as that one was.

Am now on leave until school goes back on Monday 4th Feb so got lots on this week with Rachel but not so much the 2nd week at this stage.  Would love to be able to head to Auckland to see my great niece Eden (8mths old) but just can't afford it esp with the program costs now.  And of course while up there, I would want to see Chris, Kate & Lynda off the top of my head!  So I do need to plan something - perhaps it could be a reward for completing the program??? 

But for now.... it's one step at a time and I will do it!!!

Signed and sent off....

Yeap, the forms for Cohen's have been completed, signed and sent through to the office in Auckland.  Direct Debit form has been completed and returned.  Blood test happening on Saturday morning (gotta pay for that) and then within about 10 days I should be able to begin the program!

To make it just a wee bit easier for me, I should start making an effort to cut down on my sugar/dairy/wheat etc so it's not as bad for me when I officially start the program.    I am guessing that it should take me approx 10-12 months for me to lose the 70 odd kilos!

I am still very scared about it all as it is a lot of $$$ and I know I need to think positively about succeeding otherwise I won't get there!

I think I am going to make a few posters/signs to stick them up around the place... something along the lines of "2013 is MY year" or "There WILL be a NEW Karen by the end of 2013".

I need to have a play around in here to work out how to set up a tab/page for all my photos as I will be posting weekly photos on here once I start....Oooops got it sussed pretty quickly - no photos there as yet but they will be coming... watch this space :)

I'm gonna do it...

I have made up my mind that 2013 is going to be my year!  And I am going to be doing the Cohen's lifestyle programe!  I will do the no deposit but slightly higher repayments options - well providing I clear the credit check ok - nothing to hide there so can't see it being a problem!  Stephan has said he is right behind me - would be better if he ate veggies etc but I WILL do this! 

My incentives:
So I can grow old, watch Rachel grow up and be here for my grandchildren
So I can get out there and walk the streets again while Rachel rides her bike
So I can be active with Rachel before she grows up to much and doesn't want to go out with Mum
So I can keep up with Stephan when out and about - though the fact that he is 6ft 1" and I am only 5ft doesn't help as he will always have longer strides than me.
So I can fit clothes from every day stores rather than struggling to fit clothes at larger size boutiques.
So I can be healthier for me.

My mini rewards:
The pleasure of seeing my body shrinking.
New (or secondhand) smaller clothes
Massages
Manicures/pedicures

My major reward for reaching goal:
A ipad or tablet!

Yeap - I have been shopping around for a tablet or ipad for the last few weeks.... and decided today that I will only get one when I get to goal!  Stephan is 100% behind me on that one esp as we can't afford to do both the programe and pay for a luxury item like that!

So the next step..... wait for my last couple of questions to be answered my niece though only emailed her today so need to wait until tomorrow for an answer.... then complete the paperwork, get the blood test then wait for the results and my programe!

I am scared! Very scared!  What if I fail?? What if I can't do this?  I know my niece will be an amazing consultant/coach but fark this really scares me!!  It's a hell of a lot of money down the drain (in one lot) if I fail!!!  I know I have spent more than that over the last 24 yrs or so trying various plans etc but this one is the biggest and most drastic!  I am going to need support and I am counting on you all :)
 

Decisions...

Well I went along to the Information evening last night for the Miarculoss programe - it was very informative and a lot of what they said did in fact make sense... and I am keen to do it - however there is one thing stopping me right now and that is $$$$!!!  Okay, you can pay it off but you still need to come up with the deposit and as $$$ are tight right now we don't have the money sitting there to pay the deposit.

Today, I have done further research into the Cohen Lifestyle.... my 25 yr old niece lost 27 kilos doing their programe about 4yrs ago and has kept it all off and looks flaming fantastic!    And she is now working for them as well!  However, same issue with this one - $$$!  At least with Cohen, they do let you pay weekly payments with no deposit paid providing you pass the credit check.  I am tempted to do this one mainly for that reason; however as Stephan says - their price on the website says it's for 6 mths SO if I need to do it twice to lose the amount that I need to lose - he says I would need to pay all over again.  I have sent my niece an email so am waiting to hear back from her re this one but I think Stephan could be right (just for a change LOL).  The Cohen programe also seems to require less "extra's" compared to Miaraculoss although with Cohens you do need to pay for the blood tests but am happy with that. 

So I need to do some serious thinking about which direction I head in...  but I have decided that 2013 WILL be MY year!!!

Don't want to go back to work...

Yeap back to work tomorrow after 2 weeks off... and I don't want to go back :(  I am not enjoying my job at all these days so am trying to move on but obviously I need a job to go to (at the right salary) before I can leave.  I have applied for a role in Masterton over the break - applications close tomorrow so I am guessing I will hear sometime later this week.  We have both talked about making the move to over the hill as house prices (to buy or rent) is so much cheaper and my sister and her family are over there as well.  Sooooo if I was to get it and they offered me the same money I am on now (not likely but you never know); it would be a decision that we would have to make fairly quickly.

I have had a great 2 weeks off work; and am loving cold meats and salads.  And my new all time favourite drink is Schweps Soda Water with a twist of lemon - it is so damn refreshing on these hot days.  I have hardly touched any other soft drink at all.

I am still looking forward to going to the Miraculoss info evening on Wednesday - got a call from one of the directors today (missed the call) and she said they are basically full up for the meeting and that she will save me a seat which was really nice.  In response to ANON's comment - You may be right I can't answer it to be honest but I am more than confident that they would not be doing anything that would cause damage to people's bodies... I will do a more detailed update on Thursday all going well as once I get home on Wednesday, I will be heading to bed.  For those that haven't already googled it - here is the link to their site http://www.miraculoss.co.nz/ so feel free to have a read if you wish to.

Sorry that my updates are pretty slack and boring.... maybe once my weight starts dropping they will become more exciting :)

One week to go....

This time next week I will be sitting at a Intro night for the Miraculoss programme...  It all sounds rather interesting and think it can be something that MAY work for me.  One of the ladies in our FB support group has been doing it for the last 12 mths and has lost a great deal of weight so after chatting to her on the phone yesterday for about 30mins or so, I have decided that I will go along to the Introduction meeting and check it all out.  OK it is $7-$9 per day but when I add up my daily hot chocolate and other crap that I have been buying, we can afford it as I won't be buying any of that stuff!  I emailed the website and they estimate it should take approx 18mths or so going well for me to lose the 70 odd kilos that I need to lose! 

One thing you do on the programme is weigh daily (lots of info behind that) and our bathroom scales have been playing up for some time so we got new batteries for it but yesterday I got on them 4 times (while waiting for the shower to warm up) and I got 4 different results!!  Today, same result twice and a different result the third time!  So today, we went to Briscoes as they were having a sale (SHOCK HORROR BRISCOES HAVING A SALE - for those that don't know - Briscoes have sales on a daily/weekly basis) and they had 50% of bathroom scales.  I had seen a set of scales on their website but they didn't have any in store so we got another set and when I got on them this evening - full clothed, after 2 meals, a couple of drinks, nibbles etc I was 100 grams lighter than the old ones said this morning (and I was naked then)!  So hopefully these new scales will be my friend as I embark on 2013!

Also got some new sheets while at Briscoes (as they were on sale too shock horror) for our new bed that is due to arrive in a couple of weeks.  Our new bed has a much deeper mattress so we needed to ensure that the fitted sheet were deeper ones so they would fit the bed!  Then picked up a new duvet cover while there (also on sale) as I am so over the 3 we currently have.  So once I can get another new duvet cover, I will pack up the old ones and pass them on to the Sallies etc...

Right enough rambling from me - one day I might actually have a fun filled exciting blog to read! LOL