Shanara's Diary

[Shanara]

Hi Everyone,

Have been lurking in this forum for around a month now, reading everything and working through whether this is for me or not. Have had my forms from the clinic sitting there for about two weeks ...waiting for me to come to a decision.

I have a lot of weight to loose so know I am in for the long haul. Made my first comment yesterday on AJ's Diary as she really touched my heart with her photos of her in her dress for her sons wedding. Well in true AJ style she sent me a message and has given me some really great reflections and things to think about.

Up shot is this morning I reached a decision - I am going to do this - blood tests Monday morning! And I've also given myself the perfect motivation for me - I am going to Antarctic! Yes - that is right - Antarctica!
I have wante to go there for so long now - travelling is my passion.

Antarctica! Captain would be worried about his ship - "there' a whale on board...lolol. However could not see myself moving around with all those clothes on - I would be like a ball. Lololol. Have visions of them having to roll me off the ship to get me to shore ...omg. Doubt I could bend over with all those clothes on. Need to be lean to be able to move in all that clothing ....so that is my motivation ....Antarctica!

Feels like I have been working through a lot as I come to my decision point. I have been having some energetic healing sessions as well to help move through issues that have arisen - very confronting and fantastic.

My first challenge to myself ...increase my water !

Thanks AJ for your words of wisdom yeaterday.
Looking forward to getting to know others on this forum.
Blessings
Shanara

Antarctica here I come!

[JennyC]

Good for you Shanara, Cohens is the best lifetsyle change you will ever need!!!! I thought I had a heap to lose when I started 60kg ARGHH!!! Now I have 26 to go.
You can do it.....Antartica sounds awesome!!!! Can't wait to here your story.

JennyC

[Annabelle Joy]

Welcome to the diaries, Shanara. I'm so pleased you decided to sign up. This really is the best diet, and it's also a new lifestyle. There's no doubt that it's strict, but that actually makes it easy if you can resist the early temptations. If you stick to the diet (actually, any diet) 100% you have to get to your goal.

Antarctica has always been the place I most wanted to visit. I'd given up all thoughts of doing so. Like you, I couldn't imagine myself clambering in and out of little boats the size I was. Must put it back on the agenda again, although first trip overseas will probably be to the US to visit DS and DIL sometime next year.

I use a HydraCoach (http://www.hydracoach.com.au/) for water, drink about 100 mls at a time and set quotas for different times of the day.

I look forward to following your journey -- the first one first, down through the kgs.

AJ

[Shanara]

Hey Jenny

Thanks for reading my first diary post.

Realise when I read it back it sounds like I have booked my ticket.
No ...not yet ...its my getting to goal motivator.

The exciting thing is that reading what others have managed to do I could actually go next summer - this time next year I could be booked and ready to go !!!!!! Yeah - what an incentive.

Wow - other times I have tried to loose weight it seemd such a long slow slog that I gave up. I am so impressed with your loss Jenny - almost 40 kg - since the end of June - that is incredible - congratulations. I hope you feel really proud of yourself - it must be so much easier to move around - my body feels big and cumbersome

I think I will have around 60 kgs as well to loose - probably a bit more. Before reading this forum I would have said years to get there at my past results. Your results are inspirational.

Thanks - today I have lost the feeling of dread around this and feel.....excited ...omg - a bit scary.

Thanks - all this is helping me get in the ZONE>
Blessings
Shanara.

[Manderella]

Hi Shanara,

I know the feeling of, "is this the diet for me, should I spend the money and give it a go..will it be another diet that I don't succeed on". I have thinking about joining Cohens for the last month and last week i finally took the plunge and got my blood test and sent my forms away. I am still awaiting my program, so we will be starting around the same time and we can help each other through the our journey's.

Your goal is to go to antartica so you can wear all the clothes, my goal is to wear the least amount of clothes on our Gold coast holiday in January..lol

Look forward to starting this fantastic life changing journey with you.

Manderella

[shrinkingTam]

Hi Shanara - welcome to the forum
I only restarted my program on Monday, and am incredibly motivated and determined to get to my goal weight.

The most important thing at the beginning, I believe, is to set yourself some short term goals and make yourself accountable. I am using my diary as an accountability tool so tey to post every day about what I am feeling etc... and I have insisted that I go to the clinic once a week for my first month at least. They say it takes about 6 weeks to develop a new habit, so I am thinking I am going to use (abuse...lol?) every single tool I have in this first 6 weeks at least to give myself every chance of succeeding.

Cohens will change your life! And you will be flitting around in beautiful Antarctica before you know it.

[Shanara]

Well ha ha ha - the jokes on me !

Yesterday decided to move towards pre Cohen principles. Was very pleased with myself at having no carbs for evening meal and then no snacking after it. Went to do my blood test this morning and realised I have fasted for more than 12 hours! Will have to do blood tests Tuesday instead.

Have read so many times on this forum to read it, read it, read it again as it is so easy to make a mis-take. Guess I have now learnt that lesson. Realised yesterday how much I have relied upon carbs like bread, rice and pasta to make quick, filling meals for my two boys and myself. Being a single since they were very young I have use carbs as a way to fill them up. Oh healthy meals - lots of veges, usually organic, but just way too much carbs.

Feel good with this decision - just have to stay in present and not worry too much about how long its going to take.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by my diary.

Jenny - you are an inspiration - think I will have 60 and a bit more to loose.

AJ - you have played a very large part in my decision to do this although you probably don't know it! Thanks for the tips and I will get the hydracoach.

Mandarella - looks like we are going to be travelling this road together. Way to go !

Tam - great idea about the short term goals - I am working on them.

If anyone has tips on strategies for staying on track whilst also feeding a family of two 6 foot teenage boys I would be very grateful.

Thanks for visiting.
Blessings
Sharna

[Shanara]

Wow - well today is a good day!

Firstly the scales have moved below that 130 mark - I am officially 129.7 so that makes 5 kilos lost already on precohens and first day of official programme. Not bad ! I didn't stick to precohens religiously and let myself quite consciously eat some of my favourite foods that I knew I would not be having for a long time. Funny snow peas and sugar snap peas were two of the ones I really had to say goodbye to.

So day one is over and I can say I didn't have any detox symptoms and it was very easy. Realised as I finished my dinner of yummy snapper and veges that I still had one fruit and three crackers to eat. Was so intent on saving my crackers in case I got hungry that then I had to work out how to eat them all! I had one with dinner and then two with mango as snack later although it meant I had to stay up late - oh well I guess timings of food and planning is something i will work out as I go along.

Went and bought three kinds of mushrooms - button, swiss brown and shitake along with beautiful fresh asparagus. have decided if I can only eat these its going to be best quality I can get. Off to the organic butcher soon.

My weekend in the bush was fantastic and I stuck to mainly protein and veges with a few treat foods thrown in for my last weekend - won't name them here. Just know I enjoyed and savoured every mouthful which is what I am doing as well on the programme. The bird chorus in the morning as the dawn came was magnificent as us tired drummers, dancers, singers went off to bed after our night of ceremony around the fire.

Thank oyu everyone for your kind words supporting my first day. Was really touching to read them yesterday - I was too tired to respond.

AJ - day was very easy except for son informing me at 4.15 there was a parent teacher night on at 4.30 to 8.30 and I knew nothing about it! And on Wednesdays I hold a meditation night at 7.30. Anyway with help from a friend who came early and set up for the meditation I managed to do everything and even prepare and eat a beautiful Cohens meal. So my day was great ....and no detox symptoms ...... so glad i prepared my body for the change. So far my friends have been fantastic ...so supportive. Notice i ma not telling my family ...except my mum who is great.

Lulabelle- I sure did have a happy day and a wonderful time away - thanks.

JennyC - You are doing so well - you are an inspiration to me - funny how i feel very connected to those who have similar amount to me to loose. This morning i had beautiful eggs benedict....Cohens style!
Poached egg over two crackers with asparagus and mushrooms (swiss brown and shitake) which had been given a quick hit in the microwave, with some balsamic vinegar, to soften them slightly.... with parsley. Soft egg yolk is the sauce ...lol. Very YUM

Mette - its funny how so many people think they know what is right for others from weight loss to everything else. Mostly it is their own projection.

Tam - just another 5 kilos sounds like a great answer. Will keep that one in mind.

Mandarella - Yes I am loving my asparagus and mushrooms in particular. Funny yesterday I could have eaten two crackers less easy. Didn't though as they say for first ten days eat everything.

Vee - my head feels in a really great space - feels like this is just unfolding perfectly and that I am totally supported by all creation to achieve this - can you remind me i said this if I get "stuck" .....lol

One beautiful thing that happened on the weekend. There was a young man at the gathering who came up to me and gave me a big bear hug and told me I was a beautiful, powerful women and he admired me very much. My heart was so touched and I felt very blessed that a young man could see that in me. I worked hard for many years to clear out my emotional and mental crap - now I am clearing out the physical crap. I am deliberately writing this in here so that if I go through challenging times on this plan I can reread this and remind myself that "this too will pass."

Thanks you for stopping by to all who read this. I wish you a great Cohens day.

Blessings
Shanara

[Lulabelle]

What a beautiful thing that man shared with your Shanara... I'm sure he's right, and I firmly believe sometimes certain people come into our lives or show us things at certain points in our lives for a reason. It sounds like a wonderful moment for you

I'm glad you're enjoying the program thus far... I'm sure you'll continue to do so. I also "spoil" myself with the best possible fresh fruit, vegies and meat I can buy. I think Cohen's has really helped me to appreciate healthy, fresh produce and the flavours of simple, healthy food. You'll be in Antarctica before you know it

[Mette]

That must have been a wonderful experience with that young man, Shanara! Funny how some people touch our hearts in unexpected ways.

Being in the right headspace is what it's all about. AJ has often said that you aren't ready to shed the protective wall of weight until you have come to terms with who you are and resolved the emotional issues behind the eating. It's wonderful to see that you are ready now! You will blitz this!

And congrats on getting below the 130 mark! Well done! I hope your second day is as good as the first!

[thenewvee]

Hi Shanara!

Congrats on getting through day 1 with relative ease! (Actually, sounds like you aced it!! ).
It's great to hear that doing the pre-cohens has helped such a great deal!
It was lovely what that young man did, as many may think something like that but never have the nerve to tell the person, and it's lovely that he did! It's true that a lot of people can see to the core of the soul, and that they do not see your weight (as I thought people did with me). That was an eye opener for me!!

Keep going well, sitting on the edge of my chair in anticipation for your great first week's results!!

Hugz

Vee

[Shanara]

Feeling very jubilant today - scales show 1.9 kgs down from yesterday - yes that's right - 6.9 all up. I do know where it went - I peed it out. OMG - I was in the toilet all day yesterday - even had a couple of small accidents - can't beleive it. OK here's a funny thing. I was drinking the same amount of water on the precohens and peeing a lot yet when i started the real programme it was like a tap turned on and it was just flowing through. All the puffiness from the legs is moving. Wow there really is something in the fine balance that Dr Cohen has that shifts our bodies - isn't that amazing. Thank you Dr Cohen - bowing down in gratitude.

Also measured myself and I am 11.3 cms less. I hope I am doing it right - arm. bust, chest, waist, hips, one thigh (although I have been taking both together just until I am sure - didn't include that one in measurements)..... add them all up and then take off previous measurements. Is that right? Will measure on Wednesdays from now on.

Thank you for the wonderful support everyone.

Vee - thanks - yes doing precohens, even in my version of it has helped a lot I feel, No bad detox symptoms so I am feeling really good. I am blessed that I have community around me who are willing to express positive things to each other. It's great. And taken me a long time to find that.

Mette - thanks - you are always so positive in here. yes I feel the head space is really a key issue.

Lulabelle - oh I so agree about the fresh produce. I go the organic markets on saturdays when i can.

One thing I forgot to share with you all. You know how I want to go to Antarctica - well someone at the gathering on the weekend goes a lot down there so had a good chat about the possabilities and saw lots of his photos. I have never met anyone who has been there before - how's that for the Universe supporting my dreams. lololol

Well have a wonderful Cohens day everyone.

Blessings
Shanara

[Ellabelle]

Hi Shanara

Glad to hear you are doing so well! Congrat's on your loss so far - wow!!

[Mette]

The universe has a habit of doing that It's good that you keep your eye on the prize!

And yes, you're doing the measurements right. At least if you're doing them in the same spot. I'm never sure I do mine in the same spot, so I mainly look at how my clothes fit.

And congrats on the loss!! That's amazing! Keep up the great work!

[Manderella]

What I wonderful thing to have someone do. It must have made you feel great inside and out.

Hope you have a fantastic week and well done on your first few days.

Manderella

[shrinkingTam]

Shanara

I love mushrooms it seems as much as you do!! I could eat them at every meal, and have found my favourite dish is chicken tenderloins sauteed with mushrooms and a bit of paprika...mmmmmmm

What a fantastic start you have made!! 7kgs down already!! What a wonderful achievement You should be so proud of yourself Keep up the good work.

Tam
xx

[JennyC]

Hi Shanara, Well done, your powering through your first week......good on you. I could feel the difference in my body fairly quickly aswell. Its such a good feeling to feel in control of what goes in your mouth, I think the overwelming thing is having to have control for the rest of our lives. I am feeling more & more confident as time goes on that I can do this and so will you Bring on Antartica

[Shanara]

Ah, what a beautiful day in Sydney.

I am down to 122.1 - another .5kg loss overnight. Can so feel the teens beckoning. Feeling very grateful for the quick losses I am having at the beginning - very motivating.

Late breakfast this morning as son was late so took him to bus stop - oh dear - going to make a late night. Timing is something I am still perfecting - makes so much difference sometimes.

Wow - living with just one teenager makes so much difference - so much calmer - as its his HSC certificate year now through to this time next year I will be able to better support him.

These jeans are getting very loose - will have to go shopping soon - can I get by on just one pair of jeans for each size?

Abbey - I am so pleased to have been an inspiration to you. I know I am grateful, and feel very blessed, for those on here who have inspired me. So glad to 'pass it on.' Abbey - it may not seem so now but you can do anything when you really commit to it. Keep in touch.

Joroma - hey fantastic - one KG overnight - Cohens is magic. Mango desert - your on !! How'd the cook up go. Good luck with 1st work Cohens day. I'm sure you will be great. Will get you some of that coffee.

Vee - Yes I am very blessed to have wonderful friends who are also living their life consciously so we are great support for each other. Has not always been the case for me so I really value them. Count you in as one of my friends as well . I am sure being 'normal' size is going to make travelling so much easier.

Well more work on my assessment today - oh happy day

Enjoy your Cohens day everyone
Shanara

[louise41]

congratuations on the 500gms overnight, thats great and on the jeans swishing on the ground. Isnt it funny how all our pants and skirts start to get longer!
I hope the assignment goes well

[Mette]

Hello sweet Shanara! Look at you going great guns! Won't be long before you're a teenager!!

Sounds like some time apart from the other teenager was a good thing though. Give everyone a chance to calm down and get back on track. Less stress for a while has to be a good thing!

Thank you so much for all your support, pretty lady! Have a great week!