Annabelle Joy's diary

[Soon2BSlim]

Yay for your consistent losses AJ 5kg in 5 weeks is good going and definitely not to be sniffed at. I would say you're probably almost ready to go down a size in clothing by now and definitely starting to feel more comfortable in your skin than you have in a while.

It's quite a commitment to be in the chamber for so long each day. What do you do in there? Is it like a room where you just "hang out" for a bit - I mean, can you just sit in there and read or do you get hooked up to machines? Lol, I have no idea how this works and find the concept quite fascinating

Louise

[Annabelle Joy]

Thanks Louise. A reply means someone is reading, even though I write more for myself than for readers. Another 200 gms gone this morning. DH is even more delighted than me. Gives him incentive to keep preparing my meals.

The hyperbaric chamber is more like a coffin, blows up to a long cylinder. I've tried reading but the light is not great. Mostly I just close my eyes and rest. At the moment I always feel like resting anyway. I find it cold, so get in with several blankets and rugs. An hour and a half stretches my bladder's endurance too. As soon as I'm out I head for the toilet. It's a half hour drive each way too, so getting to be a bit of a chore. I think we've paid for a couple more weeks, will then give it away unless there's some obvious improvement. I wear a plastic mask in the chamber which has the extra oxygen.

Time to go again.

AJ

[Soon2BSlim]

I know what you mean about a reply AJ and just so you know - I always read your posts, even when I don't reply!

So good that you're down another 200g!! Well done DH too

Wow! I didn't realise your time in the chamber was like it is! What happens if someone using it suffers from claustrophobia?? The treatments certainly take out a huge chunk of your day! What does your husband do while you are in there? It would be lovely if you found it helped with your fatigue. Are you able to listen to music or perhaps an audio book to make the time go quicker?

Louise

[Annabelle Joy]

Thanks for replying Louise. No loss this morning but I was a bit constipated and now I'm not so hopefully tomorrow.

Yes, the chamber does take most of each morning, including an hour of driving there and back. DH drives me as I'm often a bit unstable on my feet when I come out and maybe not fit for driving. He takes his laptop with him and uses that while I am in the chamber. I could listen to something while in it but usually quite happy just lying and resting. I have a phone in with me so if I need to get out I can call and they'll come and let me out. They did ask if I was claustrophobic before I went in the first time. It's made of white plastic which lets a bit of light in, so not black when closed in. Our payments are about to run out. My friend who organised it for me is going to ask for an extension at discounted rates. Personally, I'd be happy to stop, and having my mornings to myself again for a while.

AJ

[Soon2BSlim]

How are you finding being back on the eating plan AJ? I mean in terms of sleep patterns. I know you said you always feel fatigued now but I'm thinking along the lines of having a decent sleep at night. Personally, when I am doing Cohen's I go to sleep more easily at night and don't lie awake for hours and as a result I wake up earlier and more refreshed in the morning. Anyway, I was wondering if you find your sleep patterns change on Cohen's.

No loss for you today but hopefully there will be a good one tomorrow and perhaps in the meantime there is body shrinkage happening

Louise

[Winterboots]

I enjoy reading your posts Annabelle - they come across very calming and peaceful. It seems you have settled into a good routine - walking and cohens meals (what a fantastic husband you have) - I am sure you health can only but improve with all the care and attention you are giving it.

Well done on your reaching your first goal of 5kg, such a good idea to break it into smaller amounts.

Have a nice weekend
WB

[Annabelle Joy]

Thanks for your encouraging replies Louise and WB.

Louise, I feel I sleep like a log, just don't wake feeling refreshed. I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and need to make an appointment to get fitted with a CPAC machine but have been waiting while I try the hyperbaric chamber. Also, I'm hoping that being slimmer might solve that.

No loss again, but I am definitely am getting smaller. My watch is not so tight and I can do up jackets without having to pull them to make them reach. I saw my doctor yesterday and she commented that I had lost weight. She can always tell, comments when I have gained or lost a couple of kilos.

I keep thinking about how I looked when I reached goal last time, and how I'm going to look like that again. I used to walk along the street looking at my reflection in the shop windows and marveling at how slim I was. I posted up to the forum some photos of me in a body stocking but I can't find them now. Anyway, I'm looking forward to looking like that again. I still have all my 'slim' clothes, have always harboured a wish to be able to wear them again and so have kept them but I did accidentally throw out the body stocking.

Have a good day everyone.

AJ

[Soon2BSlim]

Lol, I'm not sure about the above post - there seems to be so much spam these days. I'm glad I found this forum way back when it was a vibrant, buzzing place but it's sad to see it so neglected these days.

I remember your pics in the body stocking AJ!! Totally amazing!! You'll get there again and in the grand scheme of things it won't take long. The weeks seem to fly by nowadays and with the support you are getting from your lovely husband you will be fine

It would be great if your weight loss helped get rid of the sleep apnea which I suppose could also help with the fatigue you're experiencing. Even though you feel like you sleep like a log your sleep must be disturbed which adds to the fatigue... nasty cycle.

I hope you have a lovely weekend with good sleep and big losses on the scales

Louise

[Winterboots]

And maybe the sleep apnea is a reason for the slower weight loss as well. I have a friend who also suffers from sleep apnea and it turned out that she was waking near 60 times an hour when she thought she was sleeping straight through.

I agree Louise regarding the quietness on the forum as it was the forum that kept me on the straight and narrow as well as being inspired by those who were several months in front of me. Seeing people reaching refeed and goal was so exciting and motivating.

WB

[Annabelle Joy]

Thanks for replies everyone. Would you believe, I forgot to weigh this morning. Not sure what that means, maybe that I'm no longer obsessing about losing weight. I know it's going to happen, and not overnight.

Cohens doesn't seem to be a popular as it was Louise. Less people doing it, less forum members. My local clinic closed and I think others have also. People think that it would be too difficult to weigh everything you eat. Once used to it, it becomes automatic, even easier if DH does it for you.

The moderators do seem to keep an eye on spammers and stop them. I think that Navina is a genuine forum member as s/he has been posting regularly. It's more difficult for those for whom English is not their first language.

Today is our pizza day. Home made (by me) pizza cooked in our pizza oven for DH, Cohen pizza, also cooked in the oven, for me. DH has a glass of good red wine from our cellar, I have Coke Zero. I like Cohen pizza but I must say that it doesn't compare favorably with real pizza.

Not great weather here today but I look out and there seem to be plenty of people out exercising, walking and jogging.

Time to go and get pizzas ready.

AJ

[Soon2BSlim]

That's got to be good news AJ! Not feeling the need to weigh regularly but just carrying on with your eating plan, knowing that you will reach goal eventually. I would think it helps with the lifestyle mindset that we are aiming for.

It's a pity that Cohen's isn't as popular as it used to be - it's the best diet around (in my opinion) and far healthier than some of the others! It's quicker weight loss too and in the long run I don't think it's any more expensive than a lot of those out there. Yes, there is a big $$ amount up front but I'm sure I spent more than that on WW and only lost 10kg in a year. Perhaps it's also less popular because there are no regular meetings like WW or pre cooked meals delivered like JC. I would certainly consider taking advantage of pre-cooked or delivered meals if it was an option for Cohen's.

I'm glad the clinic in Perth is still open - not that I go there any more, but being able to talk to someone face to face when I first started was good.

Nothing tastes quite like "real" pizza, especially home made, but at least Cohen's pizza is a kind of substitute

I hope the rest of your day was good.

L

[Annabelle Joy]

I posted yesterday and the post has disappeared. Never mind. I have difficulty logging on each day. I receive the welcome with my name, then it tells me I am a guest. Second attempt usually gets it right.

Finally my scales cooperated and I'm down another 300 gms. That's almost equal to the quantity of protein in a meal. At least I'm on the way down again.

Today is my last day in the hyperbaric chamber unless we pay more and extend. DH says he can notice improvements, not sure I can. I'd like to go on just doing the daily walks, which my GP says are probably the reason for the improvements, and maybe have some more sessions in the chamber if I notice any effects when I don't use it.

Yesterday my friend came fairly late, then took me on a long walk, about twice as far as usual. I certainly slept well last night, and maybe that is what persuaded those 300 gms to move.

We're going out for lunch today with friends. DH has weighed out steak and vegetables for me and will borrow a frying pan and cook my meal as usual. Our hostess will cook his meal.

Have a great day everyone.

AJ

[Soon2BSlim]

That's weird about your logging onto the site AJ. I haven't had any trouble.

Yay for cooperating scales and yay for a good night's sleep!! How was your lunch yesterday? I bet it was good to get out visiting and know that you didn't have to guesstimate portions or anything.

I suppose you feel like you have more time in the day now too as you're finished with the hyperbaric chamber and all the travelling and waiting around before you can go home again.

Till next time

Louise

[Annabelle Joy]

I couldn't log on at all yesterday. No difficulties at all today. Even my scales are cooperating, down another 300 gms today and total loss is now six kilos.

The lunch went well. DH took steak, mushrooms and asparagus for me and asked for a frying pan. I had an apple for dessert. I was able to eat with everyone else and join in the conversation. I ignored the dips and nuts at the beginning and the chocolates at the end. DH took some coke zero for me to drink while the others were drinking champagne and red wine.

Seeing the weight drop off is incentive not to eat anything DH hasn't given me.

AJ

[Annabelle Joy]

I visited my GP this morning. She is delighted with my loss and with my daily walks. She is talking of reducing some of my blood pressure medication. She does think the Cohen goal weight is much too low and difficult to maintain for me. My goal is to be able to again wear the clothes I had last time I reached goal. DH and I have talked about how I might maintain the weight and want to give it a go. I haven't done any walking today as it's been raining here all day. There are still people out walking along the cliff top despite the rain and cold. All going well.

AJ

[Annabelle Joy]

All going well, no loss this morning. I really don't like black coffee.

AJ

[Annabelle Joy]

A good loss today. All going well.

AJ

[Soon2BSlim]

Awesome news from your doctor AJ!! It will be interesting to see where you settle with your weight when you get closer to your goal. It definitely has to be sustainable or we do this whole cycle again.

I'm with you on the black coffee - really hate it so I choose not to drink coffee while I'm on plan. At least in summer we don't need the hot coffee to warm us up

Well done on your 6 kilo's + lost! It's a whole dress size!!

Louise

[Annabelle Joy]

Thanks, Louise, I think that the walks I'm doing are helping with the weight loss. I'm not walking far enough or fast enough to be drawing on fat reserves but I think the fact that I'm moving is helping. Today we went for a pleasant walk along the new rail trail path around a small local lake. It took about half an hour, not sure how far.

AJ

[Heidimama]

Congrats on your nice losses, AJ. You are doing really well! Enjoy the walks.