FlaMie's Diary - Read On!

[FlaMie]

Hey hey, how do you cook your chilli prawns? I mince my chilli padi with garlic (in the past I used to do it with bean paste as well) and then fry it with balsamic vingegar...yummy! Hmmm maybe I should that tonight as well...hahaha. Ok can't, have already thawed my fish so will be fishy Tuesday night keke

[FlaMie]

School is crazy today! I've got 2 staff down today so have to carry extra classes in their absence. Hence, I've got many lessons to teach...tiring. The entire afternoon was filled with management meeting - yes! 5 hours worth of it...so drained mentally and was getting a bit worried if I could rush home in time to cook. Good thing the fish for dinner was thawed the night before. Nonetheless, I only managed to get down to dinner at 8.20pm...and no surprises that I simply chomped down everything! It was a good 7 hours since lunch...gosh!

Dare I say that today is a hungry day...geez . Barely 3 hours after breakfast and I was hungry. Hence, I grabbed 1 biscuit and that pretty much managed to suppressed the hunger for a while till lunch. Gosh, lunch didn't last me another 3 hours and was hungry AGAIN! Damn...what's wrong with me today?! I suspect it is cos I'm nearing the period of the month...usually I do get very hungry a week before that. So, this week gonna be tough...GRIT MY TEETH! WILL NOT DEVIATE! Dinner was worse! I almost felt empty/hungry after the meal...gosh...nonetheless, I down the feeling with loads of water. I'm pretty sure I've drunk like 4L of water today...which is a good thing.

Anyone can kindly tell me whether feeling hungry in week 3 is normal?! How long more will I feel hunger...geez...My GREATEST fear is gastritis!

[maria1969yellow]

Good morning, hopefully the hunger has past by the time you read this.

I find where the day before I am looking for food the next day is completely different..
I usually find the hunger when I look inside me truly is cause I am tired, emotional, out of habit, or simply just plain hungry but what I tell myself is that I wont starve (plenty of fat to move yet) and trust that it will pass.

Stress or overworked Im sure doesnt help the factor neither does that time of the month for me so that is why I have chosen not to deviate this time around to work through it and just get to my goal..

Your doing it! Well done. Hope today isnt has busy for you (but being a teacher Im sure it will be.)
Make sure you take a few minutes for time out for you sometime soon.

Maria

[Kohinoor]

Dare I say that today is a hungry day...geez

And, if it's not brought on by "other things", many find it is heralding a BIG drop on the scales next day (for those that weight daily - I'm not sure if that is you....) I hope this is the case for you

You're going well, FlaMie - keep on, one day at a time - remember, the journey of 1000 Kms starts with one step !!

Keep on stepping - pretty soon, you'll look back and be astounded at how far you have come !!!

Koh

[FlaMie]

Hi maria, school had a learning fest for the entire 15-year olds. I'm the chairperson for the programme - lasting 3 days...TIRING big time. However, the day passed pretty smoothly, guess I was just too tired/busy to think about food. Managed to get home pretty early and had dinner by 8. Hence doing a little bit of work for tomorrow's briefing.

You are so right that teachers are so busy...we are really expected to be able to do SOOOO many things!

Oh yes! BRAVO that you've decided to stick through and not deviated. I'm trying REAL hard not to. Just wonder how long I can last though.

[FlaMie]

Originally Posted by Kohinoor

And, if it's not brought on by "other things", many find it is heralding a BIG drop on the scales next day

Hey Koh, thanks for dropping in again . Oh SAD...there wasn't a big drop today...only 100 grams from the day before. I believe it is the time of the month and my body gets water retention BIG TIME. For once I simply wish that the time of the month would just come and go quickly so that I can continue to enjoy more drops

[FlaMie]

There's a learning fest in the school for 3 days, starting today and I'm in charge of the programme. Gosh, there were a lot of running after the children ensuring that they are engaged in their learning. I felt rather exhausted of whatever little energy from breakfast - already had egg / lettuce...can't imagine if I had yogurt instead.

Lunch was good but the afternoon was stuck with planning for the 2nd day and I tried my best not to think of hunger. This gross 'time of the month' is really getting to me. I kinda feel bloated despite close to 4L of water... Of course needless to say the expected weight gain...hopefully my time of the month will arrive on time so that I can feel normal again.

I think I've mastered this wonderfully delicious spicy prawns which you guys might just want to give it a try.

Spicy Prawns:

Ingredients

1. Prawns (of course )
2. 1 small fresh chilli / chilli padi (as known in Singapore)
3. 1 small piece of garlic
4. Balsamic vinegar

Steps

1. Pound the chilli and garlic together till fine
2. Heat the frying pan and spray olive oil
3. Put in the pounded chilli and garlic and stir fry till smell emit (beware...you may get choked! haha)
4. Add in prawns and stir fry till prawns are just cooked.
5. Add in a pinch of salt and about a teaspoon of balsamic vinegar.
6. Add water to give it a little sauce base.

That's what I can offer currently. Guess, it'll be my staple for a while. Didn't realise that I could have quite a fair bit of prawns...about 12 medium sized prawns! Delicious!

[Gorgeous one]

Yummo the prawns sound nice, might grab some for dinner tomorrow.
Looks like you are settling into the program very nicely. Keep up the good work.

Michele

[FlaMie]

Oh dear! I'm beginning to get worried that I'm going to give in very soon. So very often I've been thinking of non Cohen food . I attended a workshop today and I almost gave in to the finger food that was served at tea break and also my favourite cup of tea. Nonetheless, I did manage to say NNNNOOOO to myself but how long can I go on like this? I'm kinda feeling a little miserable sometimes while I see people enjoying those delicious food. The road ahead seems REAL long...where is the end? I've not even reached the beginning of the tunnel to see the light on the other side.

A couple of hundred grams down this week so far...that sounds rather bad although collectively up to today I've lost 7.5kg thus far. What if I don't go down any more? I think it is rather normal to think this way because whoever goes on Cohen really wants to lose those unsightly bulges and kilos huh?

It's good that weekend is round the corner. The school will be having a one week break - coincidentally week 4 of my Cohen programme. Guess that gives me some time to sail past this one week and then it'll be my first blood test and official weigh in...wish me luck!

[FlaMie]

Originally Posted by Gorgeous one

Yummo the prawns sound nice, might grab some for dinner tomorrow.
Looks like you are settling into the program very nicely. Keep up the good work.

Michele

Hello Michele, hahaha the prawns don't just sound nice...they were nice and delicious! I almost contemplated eating them tonight but thought I should delay gratification...part of the cohen training...hahahah.

Anyway, I really hope you would enjoy the prawn dish because it's an Asian dish and certainly hope that it'll suit your palette.

Settling into the programme? Hhhmmm, I don't know what's the frustration now that I seems to yearn to deviate! I think I'm actually feeling SAD that I can't enjoy meal out with my friends. I think I'm a real social eater and no food = no friends and eating out with them on my Cohen food is no fun at all.

[MelB]

Hi FlaMie,

You are doing very well in your first month and good on you for not giving into temptation. Your hunger pangs could be part of your hormonal cycle, take a note of it and see if it happens around the same time next month.

Stay strong, you can do it!
Melissa

[FlaMie]

Originally Posted by MelB

Hi FlaMie,

You are doing very well in your first month and good on you for not giving into temptation. Your hunger pangs could be part of your hormonal cycle, take a note of it and see if it happens around the same time next month.

Stay strong, you can do it!
Melissa

Thanks Melissa for dropping in. I think you're right that the hunger pangs should be linked to the period of the month. As far as I know and have read enough, usually people who go on the diet shouldn't feel very hungry after 2-3 weeks. I'm getting on the end of my 3rd week and heading for the 4th week, so hopefully it'll get better.

[FlaMie]

Hooray! It's the Friday and weekend is just round the corner. I reckon I shall be doing a bit of shopping this weekend...nope not for new clothes just yet but for a griller. YES, I need a griller to have a change and varies my cooking style. I'm kinda sick and tired of stir fries and steam...I'll let to try some decent grills...missing them quite a fair bit.

Today also signifies the end of a school term in Singapore. I'll be having 1 full week of school break...NICE! This will allow me to stay even more focused on Cohen and allow me to better control the cooking...can get fresh meal every day! Yipee...

HHhmmmm...I wonder how many of you out there are experiencing the same thing? I kinda notice that my hair is softer and seemingly finer. Wonder if it is just my own hallucination.

Also, I'm like a little confused, should I go for my blood test when I hit the 4th week or the start of the 5th week? HHmmm...3 days later I will be hitting the 4th week so I'm a little concerned if that should be the day I ought to be taking my first blood test after being on Cohen...any help?

[Imfef]

Hi FlaMie,

Which clinic do you go to? Mine said they would notify me for every blood test, so I didn't think we personaly had to worry about dates.

I've been reading your diary and you've done brilliantly on all fronts, not least the strength you've shown in the face of temptation.

I was at a clienty meeting this morning which ran over and so they ordered a load of pizzas for all the participants. I was fine, I'm pretty focused at the moment, even though they did look and smell good, not as good as the feeling I know I'll get when i reach my goal.

I know you were looking for a new recipe - quick and easy - It's not much different from the Chilli Prawan because at the end of the day we're pretty retsricted on similar types of food.

However, if you like Tuna, I bought a fresh piece of Tuna steak, cubed it, and skewered it alternating between various veg like zuchinni, muchroom, onion and those little chilli padi. Splash with balsamic and seasoning plus a bit of orgeano, throw under the grill and enjoy.

Good luck on the weekend, and many congratulations again on a very focused and successful journey so far!

Marc

[Edengirl]

Hi there FiaMie, thanks for you post in my diary.
My consultant said that the blood test must be a day either side of my month check-in date or on the actual day.. so only a 3 day window.... hope this helps!

Enjoy your school holiday break, sounds like you need the well deserved break! ....pampering perhaps?!

take care, Eve

[FlaMie]

Originally Posted by Edengirl

Hi there FiaMie, thanks for you post in my diary.
My consultant said that the blood test must be a day either side of my month check-in date or on the actual day.. so only a 3 day window.... hope this helps!

Enjoy your school holiday break, sounds like you need the well deserved break! ....pampering perhaps?!

take care, Eve

Thank you Eve for dropping in too . Oh yes, thanks for the advice on blood test. Looks like I will be going for my blood test 2 Mondays from now. Oh! So excited...I want to find out my actual weight loss for the month!

[FlaMie]

Originally Posted by Imfef

Hi FlaMie,

Which clinic do you go to? Mine said they would notify me for every blood test, so I didn't think we personaly had to worry about dates.

I've been reading your diary and you've done brilliantly on all fronts, not least the strength you've shown in the face of temptation.

Marc

Hey Marc, I thought there's like only 1 clinic in Singapore? That's the one at Novena? Well, seems that they didn't quite inform my colleague to take the blood test yet? She's due for blood test this coming Monday though.

Thanks for reading my diary...quite a nag right? hehehe but I'm really trying to stay focused and ensure that I'm doing everything right for myself for once. I've been on many diets before. Though I've lost weight on some of them, majority of them have failed because I've failed to make a significant lifestyle change. Hence, I've decided that I jolly well do a good job this time since it is almost an assured rapid weight loss programme without having to exercise! Of course, there are MANY times that I wished I had just deviated but seeing the weight loss so far, I keep telling myself...not worth it to give up...yea, that pretty much get me going.

Wishing you success on the journey ahead.

[FlaMie]

Woah, woah, woah...heading in to Week 4 REAL soon.

Love it! It's the weekend again. Planning to do some shopping this weekend for a couple of cooking utensils. Should be buying a new frying pan and a griller. I want to have a change in cooking style!

I hopped onto the scale this morning and it read 79.3kg! That's cool! Finally I think I've broken past the plateau and the scale is moving downwards again. Wait a minute, I'm weighing less even before I clear my bowel for the day! Hence, I believe, I'm actually weighing very much less than that now!

I'm beginning to have an inkling that when I take prawns for dinner, I can almost for sure see a drop the next day. However, if I were to take chicken for dinner, the weight likely not going to move. So, I'm trying to stick to prawns for a while and see what happens. Moreover, I actually had tomatoes yesterday for the first time and the weight continues to drop so I think it is the type of meat that makes the difference for me .

Nice feeling to be waking up so early for breakfast and realising that I've got so many hours ahead on a Saturday. I generally like Saturdays because I feel it is truly more of a weekend than Sunday. Should be catching a movie today or stuck playing PS3 at home as my hubby has just purchased a new game yesterday - my favourite : Resident Evil 5!!!! I've not started to explore the game yet, so I most likely would be doing that today. I do also want to catch the movie, Dragonball Revolution! Heard so much hype about it...yipee...fantastic weekend ahead!

Hmmm I've got another week to the end of week 4 before my official weigh in. I'm currently standing at 79.3kg. Certainly hope that I can be at 78kg at the end of next week. That'll mean I would have lost about 8kg in the first month. Oh dear, would that mean that my 2nd month would be lower than that? I was like hanging on to the little hope that I can lose most of my weight by June and re-feed in July. At the looks of it, don't think it'll be possible...sigh. My weight loss has kinda slowed down after the 2nd week. Think it is going through the 'normal' weight loss now. Well, we'll see...perhaps with more grilled food than stir fries, that'll make a hell lot difference to the weight loss.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Have you tried measuring yourself on a weekly basis? Those plateaus you are having are normal as the body generally doesn't shrink and lose weight at the same time. When you aren't losing weight, you are normally losing cm's.

This is the biggest problem that most face in their minds. You are on a weight loss program, but ideally, you are on a quest for a new body. That body may or may not be the weight that you have fixed in your mind. You body will determine that for you. Don't become fixated with kgs, be fixated with less and less cms!

Have a good DF weekend and try to ensure you get a good 8 hours sleep as often as possible. That when the HGH fat burning furnace is working at full tilt.
My weekends (Sundays) were always my best loss day every week because it was the only day I got more than 5 hours sleep.

Oh, there is only the one clinic in Singapore. Innira is alway pretty prompt about letting us know about the blood tests.

[zanne]

Hi Flamie

You are doing very well. we have around the same amount of weight to lose and you are dropping it quicker than me. maybe cause i keep eating out.

I think this 4 - 6 week time is the worst as some of the inital exciement has worn off as well as the Kg's.
Try some of the recipes on this forum. It helps with the food bordem.

keep it up

Zanne