Moving in maintenance

[Hayley23]

I don't know if it is really worth starting a new thread for this but I guess I am anyway...

I am probably moving to Australia (Melbourne) very soon and I have to admit, I am terrified. Terrified of losing the new and improved body I currently own. Now I don't want to appear to be negative at all, but I guess a certain amount of fear for losing what I have worked hard to achieve is normal right?

I have been living back at home for the past year and I get it pretty cushy here - which has been good in a way, with helping me to successfully complete the program. I find it very easy to ensure I eat well, take care of my health etc here at home, but I am a bit freaked out with having to adjust entirely to a new lifestyle. There will be a lot of stresses eg. finding a new job, having a new routine, not having everything I have here at arms reach, and even not having a car.

I really hope I can still sustain the healthy habbits I have adopted, even though I know I'm going to be so much busier, stressed out etc. Sure, I could stay here, where its comfy, but I always think that taking the easy road is not necessarily the right road and I know I need to push myself into such a move.

On the upside, I know supermarkets are better equipped with healthy food and there are even many more health options when eating out in Australia. I would love to hear from anyone that has perhaps experienced a big move and successfully maintained their good habbits, and any tips that anyone might have. I am a big scaredy cat!

Thanks everyone.

xx

[kit]

Hayley

Don't stress too much. You cannot put your life purely because of Cohens, you have to live your life. I have just moved over to the UK from Melbourne, and I have to say, I am missing Melbourne's foodie culture. You will find that you will be able to find a meal (or order something and pick certain ingredients out) at almost any restaurant (more than can be said of institutions over here!!!) There is also a fantastic market culture (Queen Vic, Prahan, Camberwell amongst many others) where you can buy fantastic cohens-friendly ingredients that create meals that are much more tasty than going out to restaurants. The one thing that I would say (experience from traveling for the last couple of months in Europe) is, as you are actually going to be living in Melbourne, don't heed to the pressure to try stuff just because the place is new and exciting. If you are moving, you will have plenty of time to go out and enjoy certain foods - you dont need to do it all at once.

In order to avoid stress, I would try and seek out shops / markets around where you live that stock really fresh foods so that you can get right into cohens frame of mind as soon as you arrive. That way, there will be no holiday / grace period. Also try and find some restaurants that you know you will be able to eat at, so that, if you find that you need to go out with little notice, you will have a store of places up your sleeve. There are so many melbournians on this forum that I am sure that, once you know where you are going to live, we will be able to give you some insight as to where good places are

good luck and enjoy. After traveling around Europe and living in the UK for the last couple of months I have to say that, while the rest of the world is amazing, Melbourne is a truly amazing city and you should thoroughly enjoy yourself!

kit

[Hayley23]

Hi kit,

Thank you so much for a lovely reply. I will be living one street away from Spencer street to start off with, on the outskirts of the city. I spent a few months in Melbourne last year and loved it - I find it a very liveable city.

I'm not sure whats around close by in the way of supermarkets or fresh food places but I do know that not having the luxury of jumping in my car and driving to the nearest one is something I'll have to get used to. Mind you, I am terrible with public transport but even I found it pretty easy to get around in Melbourne.

You are very right in saying I cannot put life on hold because i've had to adapt to a new way of eating. Hence why I am pushing myself into this. I'm not so worried about eating out at this stage, but more just about making sure I have enough time to prepare good meals etc. And that I can earn enough money to pay for all my healthy fare!

Melbourne is definately famous for its cuisine and being Lebanese myself, I have grown up on Eurpopean/Middle Eastern food - which is everywhere there! I'll be avoiding it like the plague a bit though as much of it is generally pretty high in carbs.

Thanks for your tips and reinforcing to me that I am doing the right thing!

xx

[kit]

Spencer Street is a great location, very central. All you need to do is catch a tram down to elizabeth street (or walk, its only a couple of blocks) then take a tram up to the queen vic markets - it would also be very walkable I imagine from where you are. these markets are AMAZING and really cheap (my 19 year old brother swears by fridays where most produce is about $1 a kilo - however, don't get meat at this price, really fatty (he is skin and bone so can pull it off). I think that there may be a supermarket in DFO on swanston (but don't hold me to this), otherwise, there are plenty around north melbourne which is close, I'm sure there is an IGA in the docklands, as well as a big safeway in QVB, on the corner of lonsdale and swanston (i think). but don't go past queen vic, i really miss it, it is fantastic!!!

As for food, there are so many amazing places to eat out in and around the city. Pick up an AGE good food guide - or a cheap eats guide and look on the cafes websites. Good places near you are north melbourne (good for cafes and eateries), gertrude st in brunswick, brunswick st (you have to go to veggie bar, my all time favorite!!!). However, am not to fresh on which places are good to go post cohens as I moved 2 days into maintenance!

good luck

enjoy melbourne, it is a fantastic city. and really enjoy your location. When I was living in Parkville (really close to the university), I never appreciated how fantastic it was to live so close to the city so make the most of it!

also ... be careful of being alone on king street after dark, and the city is getting pretty nasty around flinder lane, in and around swanston and elizabeth late at night, especially on fri and saturday nights

enjoy the city while I am away!!!

kit

[Hayley23]

Hi Kit,

Thanks so much for all this helpful info. I was actually a little concerned about being able to afford enough decent food there, as at the moment my diet is very heavy in veg. Wonderful to hear about that market - $1 produce?? Geez we have absolutely NOTHING like that here. NZ is a pretty expensive place to live really.

I was also a little concerned about the temptation I may have to go out drinking while over there. The night life really blew me away last time and I really wore myself out. I consumed way too much alcohol had waaaay too many late nights. I actually went out on a bit of a bender last night and am feeling MUCH less then ideal today. I have only been out drinking twice now since finishing Cohen's and I really think I am losing a taste for it. It just doesnt seem worth it anymore. They day after is always a right off for me and I definately feel much worse for wear then I used to a year ago after drinking. I feel like i've changed a lot since doing Cohen's as i've been forced to take my health into my own hands. Things that I used to find fun - moderate binge drinking - Don't really seem fun anymore...

[Kohinoor]

Hi Hayley,

Your words had me reach for this post :-
http://newyouforum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=106718&postcount=2

Your new body is also far more sensitive than it was before.... It sounds like you have worked that out for yourself anyway (but I wanted to show that you aren't alone in that...)

You'll be sweet though, as it strikes me that you are LISTENING to your body. And, isn't Maintenance all about "trying things out" - to see what works, and what doesn't any more.... ?

So, well done you....

Koh

[Hayley23]

Hi Koh,

Thanks for bringing that post to my attention. It is interesting that certain foods I never felt affected me before, seem to noticably affect me now!

Arrrgggh I just hope I can still be strong enough to stay disiplined with my good food when I move - really, really don't want to slip up!

[Hayley23]

Ok so I have another valid concern about my big move next weekend...

I will be living with a lady who seems very lovely, although I have yet to meet/speak with her in person. What I am a little worried about is that if I am not eating bread/starch/carbs like 95% of the western world, what will she think?

So many people don't even know what PCOS is and I often feel myself omitting verbal diarhea about my condition and how I was insulin resistant, pre-diabetic etc to try and get them to understand what lead me to Cohen's. I almost feel sometimes I have to justify being skinny to some people. Its amazing how strange some people think you are for not having toast with your eggs or cereal with your yoghurt for breakky!

I hope that I am not judged, or that she doesnt think I have an eating disorder or something wacky like that! I may be jumping the gun indeed, but how have you people handled such situations?

Thanks x

[nicole]

Hey Missy

I live with two other people here in London and it is a very new experience to me as I have never lived with anyone other than family before. I have found that they are generally dis-interested in what I eat and we dont normally eat at the same time, if I see them at all. I understand that her being an "older" lady she will be home more often but I wouldn't be concerned what she thinks about your eating habbits. I have told the people that I live with the I am on a doctor's diet and they dont seem to bothered. I think generally as long as my eating habbits dont effect them then they dont really care. A lot of skinny people naturally dont eat breakfast or eat little and skip meals so if your eating yoghurt or smaller, less carb motivated meals I am sure she wont bat an eyelid. Dont stress about what this lady thinks in any case as you ae paying her to live there and I am sure she wont judge you.

If she does say anything then explain to her that you used to be above a healthy weight and now your body has normalised as you have said before. You never know if she is over-weight you may even inspire her to start living more healthily?

All I can say is dont worry about what anyone else say's as what's important is your journey and your health- not anyone elses opinion. When people comment how small I am eating, I comment on how you would be suprised how a small amount is enough for our bodies.

Take care and good-luck with the move! I am SO excited for you and I hope it goes well.
You are doing so well to have maintained already and I know that with the skills you have learnt whilst being on the program you've set your mind up to live differently.

xxx nicole