New RUBY

[new_ruby]

Hi all,
Yes, you're all right there !!
After just 2 days back on the program, I've lost 900g already.
I think drinking 4 litres of water yesterday also helped the toxins to be flushed out. So def back on track now...

[new_ruby]

Am having a really rough time. I'm not doing so well now, and have been stuffing up for the last 2 weeks.
I WANT a dancing mango !!! - so am committing myself to this fortnight's challenge - I really want to do this.
What can I do to help myself now, as I was doing so well up til 2 weeks ago?
I feel really weak willed now, and very annoyed at my lack of self control & focus. I am sorry to have let myself and those who have had such faith in me, down down down...
R

[Kohinoor]

Hey Ruby,

Those D's have cost you - but you still CAN make your goals

What can I do to help myself now,

First, relax a bit.... Yep, they've happened, and you now feel LESS in control, and less happy !! Gotta get that back...

So, I reckon -

1. Re-read your diary - while doing that, RE-LIVE the feelings you had when starting, the motivation you had, the REASONS for doing this. You need to FEEL those things again

2. Visit your photo diary - you've made SO MUCH progress in so short a time. Do you want to go back to your "Day one" photo again? Your call..

3. Understand that every step away from the plan leads to 10 steps to get back again (because of the way your body chemistry gets "upset", you lose that happy feeling, may have to detox AGAIN, etc)

4. Draw that line, face the consequences, re-affirm your goals, re-find that initial motivation, and HOLD ON. Appreciate every day that "feels better" - and remember that it can all be taken away again (you can take it away again ) by relaxing your guard. So don't.....

Stressing over what has happened will HOLD YOU BACK !! So, accept it, forgive yourself for stuffing up, re-affirm those goals, and just stay light and happy as you retrace those steps again. Soon enough, you'll be back in the zone, and cruising to goal.... But don't look back (you'll be turned to salt )

Look forward, and just do it Ruby. You can, you know - as you have already shown that. Go get that prize - it's so close now...

Koh

[TwoZeds]

Hey Ruby, I just read *kate*'s diary from front to end, and it's pretty inspiring. She just chipped away at it 1/2 or 300gms at a time, and she's almost at her goal.

Good luck mate...you can do it. It's honestly best to get rid of the extra weight before you start on No2, I can definitely vouch for that.

[Justine]

Hey Ruby,

No, you can't have a crisis of confidence now.

One of the things that keeps me going is the thought of if I give up and then visit your diary again in a month's time and you are in the 50s and I am back in the 70s!!!!

Keep on going one step at a time.

J

[Cocopop]

Originally Posted by Justine

One of the things that keeps me going is the thought of if I give up and then visit your diary again in a month's time and you are in the 50s and I am back in the 70s!!!!

That is SO true! As embarrassing as this is, I will admit that I have stopped reading JennyC's diary because we started at the same weight and she has lost so much more than me, because I have been deviating along the way. I find it very demoralising and counter-productive so I just can't look anymore

She is in the back of my mind all the time though and I couldn't stand it if she reached her goal when I still had 20 or 30kg to go. Not that I would begrudge HER the fantastic results of her hard work, it's just that it makes me feel SO BAD about my own weakness!!!

Ruby, you will be fine if you never give up! Even if it takes you longer (or even a LOT longer) than it should, if you never give up you WILL eventually reach your goal. I hope my last message helps you stay on track a bit better....

I feel your pain because I've felt it myself many times - but onwards and upwards from here!!!

[new_ruby]

Thanks a million to everyone - Cocopop (Felicity), TwoZeds (Chailee), Justine, and even the big one - Koh !!!
I do feel better today - I don't know what hit me yesterday, or those days where I was losing my way...
I never wanted to give up, and never intended to stop doing Cohen's, but just had a minor 'crisis'; I think brought on after a couple of what I would call 'unavoidable' D meals.
It's so weird now, cause it was as though someone else was in control, not me. I dunno, may be we all need to learn to accept that success is possible ! I do believe that through doing Cohen's I WILL be at my goal weight by December - I know it's the only way.
I really don't know what happened in my head... am wondering if the negative ego decided that I was doing too well, too quickly, and I didn't 'deserve' to be there. I certainly didn't consciously 'decide' to D.
But, as many have said on here, the first one makes the second easier etc etc, especially when I continued to lose weight when I did deviate...?
I am in for the mango challenge this fortnight, so I am determined to get there D free.
Thanks again for all your kind words.
Felicity & Chailee - you guys are awesome - thanks for your help in my moment of crisis !! & Justine, you must know that more than letting myself down, I really hate letting others down - so your message really hit me between the eyes today *THANKS*

P.S. Here's my line !!!!!
and I am stating publicly that this will be the ONLY line that I will have to draw to get back on track...

_____________________________________________

from a refreshed, and looking to the brighter future Ruby

[new_ruby]

I think if I keep seeing this, in my face, then I'll stop thinking about feeding it !! What I wrote to myself as I was starting on 11th August:

WHY I WANT & NEED TO STICK TO THE COHEN PROGRAM 100% FROM MONDAY 11th AUGUST:

1. I have paid for a program, so I need to make it worthwhile

2. I want to lose 20 kg in 18 weeks, so I NEED to stick to it to do this

3. I want to be able to conceive safely in December, so I NEED to be at my goal weight by the start of December, in order to finish the re-feeding program by Christmas

4. It makes me feel better – no bloating, no lethargy, no stomach pain, no gas, lots more energy, better night sleeps, less mood swings

5. I WANT to be able to wear a nice dress at Christmas & New Year

6. I WANT to feel sexy again

7. I WANT to feel like I have succeeded at finishing this !!

8. Because it is IMPORTANT

9. Because no food or drink is AS IMPORTANT as the end goal

10. Because I WANT TO DO IT FOR ME

[Cocopop]

Originally Posted by new_ruby

P.S. Here's my line !!!!!
and I am stating publicly that this will be the ONLY line that I will have to draw to get back on track...

_____________________________________________

I wish I had the guts to say that!

I am so glad that you are refreshed and back to your old self - when you feel like that you can overcome ANYTHING!

Just remember that Christmas is soooooooo close - imagine how annoyed you'd be if you had to have a Cohens Christmas (like me )

[Kohinoor]

Hey Ruby,

You little winner !! That is SO good to hear !! Who's the bookie I can go to to bet on you - I'll be IN

Go get that mango, girl - woohoo....

Koh

[new_ruby]

HAHA Koh,
I don't know if there'd be a bookie who'd give you any odds - as it's a NO LOSE situation... so no chance of the odds being anything except ON !!!
Thanks again for stopping by,
Ruby

D free forever.......

[Mette]

Alrighty, we race together towards the next mango! And the one after that and the one after that and the one after that! We WILL succeed! I'm proud of you for drawing the line, and I have no doubts that you will come out of this a winner! GO RUBY

[TwoZeds]

OK, Mette and Ruby...let's get a dancing mango, I am all for it. If I can get through the next two weeks, then seriously I can do anything.

What's 2 weeks in the scheme of things??? Absolutely NUTHIN'!!!

Hey...I know what it is...it could be a tighter belt, or looser jeans, or better working ovaries or something. It could be 2kg loss!! And..we all know, it all adds up doesn't it.

[new_ruby]

Day 2 of the NEW NEW RUBY done and dusted... with 3.5 litres of water, 2 large glasses of soda water, 1 can CF diet coke, 2 herbal teas, and 2 black coffees down the hatch !!

I went out to a day spa today - a lovely gift from my husband who thinks I'm doing a good job at trying to make it to refeed asap. He's extremely supportive and always has the nicest things to say - it's me who says all the negative stuff. So it was really nice to have a 'day off' - something quite rare for a (still) newbie Mama!

So after the day spa, where I was pampered with a full body exfoliation, a 90 min deep tissue massage, followed by a clay mud wrap, and an aromatherapy facial, I took myself off shopping.

I managed to score some excellent bargains from what used to be my favourite clothing store, but pregnancy & then post baby weight has prevented me from bothering to buy anything decent for nearly 3 years (OMG I have missed out on so much!)

Anyway, great bargains were found, and so I purchased a pair of linen trousers, which were actually very firm on me, but I could still just manage to zip and button them up. Truthfully I think I could have chosen 2 sizes larger and been comfy... I still had a definite muffin top, and they will look a lot better when my thighs/stomach/behind are 10 kgs lighter (thankfully there was no camel toe to be seen ). But, my theory is now that I have these gorgeous (still too small in reality) pants, then I am going to get to refeed ASAP and try them on again when I get there...
What a nice reward, and incentive to get this DONE.
Ruby

2/14 days toward a dancing mango !!!

[new_ruby]

2 days back on the Cohen Express Train - and down 700g this am - so now at 65.6kg (start weight minus 10.5kg)... can't wait 'til Monday's official weigh in and measure day, as I think the cm's are still falling off. AND then I can adjust my ticker accordingly.
BTW - this also means I have not only met my 2nd goal, but exceeded it - one week ahead of schedule! Yippee!!
Off for a swim now.
Ruby

[Justine]

Good for you. So glad you are back - although more than a little intimidated by your success!

Have been meaning to say - don't do this because you feel you are letting me down - do this for your Ruby. You're not a Virgo by some chance are you? It is often a trap of new mothers, mothers of five year olds (!) and women in general to try to please everyone and then please themselves last. That's also part of the reason I am here.

Do this for you new new Ruby and no one else.

J

[newslimme]

Hi Ruby,

It is SOOOOO good to hear that you have exceeded your second goal ahead of schedule. Amazing work!

We all have ups and downs on this journey (not diet) - but you will do it. I know this forum has certainly helped me just to expell all those negative thoughts and someone out there comes up with the goods to make me feel better.

I am very pleased for you and ENJOY!

[Kohinoor]

Hi Ruby,

I suspect you will doing a LOT more of this:-

BTW - this also means I have not only met my 2nd goal, but exceeded it - one week ahead of schedule! Yippee!!

Keep on D-free and you've got it in the bag...

Koh

[Cocopop]

Hi Ruby, your partner in crime here

I am SO glad that both our days of being Bonnie and Clyde are behind us - you sound as pumped as I am and we have both already got fantastic results!!! We are so funny (not in a good way) - it's like you get into a rut that you can't find your way out of and then suddenly WHAM it all falls into place.

We have both publicly declared that we will never, ever have to "draw a line" again, so we are going to soar!!! Wooohoooo!!!!

Doesn't it feel great to feel like this?

I am so happy for you and glad you have come out the other side - what a great way to be! Keep up the great work Ruby and you will be finished your refeed BEFORE Christmas - OMG!!!!

YAY RUBY!!!!!

[TwoZeds]

Originally Posted by new_ruby

P.S. Here's my line !!!!!

_____________________________________________

from a refreshed, and looking to the brighter future Ruby

I like your line Ruby
Glad you are on track...I am too.