Vanessa's Diary

[vanessa]

My name is Vanessa and I started the program 3 weeks ago. Today I should weigh in at the clinic. But I want to wait until next week now. Cause all my clothes are getting loose and everyone is starting to realise that I'm losing weight. The thing is last week I dindn't lose any kg and it was very disappointing, so now I want to keep what I'm doing and I will see next week.
I never thought that I could do any diet. But this one is working. One of the reasons is that I love meat. And I can eat heaps, wich is alsome. Also I loved the recipes book. If you have no idea what to cook go to the book and discover something very nice. I LOVE all my meals, never liked junk food anyway, my first big mac was here in new zealand 3 years ago, so I always had healthy food, now I just need to control the portions.
I have one question acctually I have a few questions... But I would love if you guys could help me with some of them.
How do you stop eating chocolate???
What is the average kg loss/week? ( I know it depends of each person, but in the first week we should lose between 5-7kg and I lost onle 2.1kg Is that part of the process?)
Sometimes I feel that I'm gonna die if I don't eat that litlle, delicious, piece of chocolate. So most of the times...I eat , Now I'm getting better and controling more my cravings. But what is the secret? Thanks guys I spend a lot of time in the forum now. But I'm still learning how to find things here.

[jlou]

Hi Vanessa and welcome

This is a good place for you to start:


As for chocolate - you can have it in maintenance, just not now. Once you get into the Zone you really won't crave it - you just have to stay 100% on plan for a few more days until you get there - but you will.

Also you need to think about WHY you crave chocolate? It isn't hunger... what need is it fulfilling that you can perhaps satisfy another way?

If you get a craving, give yourself a manicure - that will keep you busy - and your nails wet - for at least half an hour, by which time the craving should have passed. Chromium also helps with cravings for sweet things.

jlou

[kenga]

Hi Vanessa! Welcome!

DO NOT keep chocolate in the house!

DO NOT BUY chocolate.

I LOOOOOVE my chocolate as well - rich and dark, but I'm doing Cohen's and chocolate is NOT included in the plan - simple. If I'm craving something sweet I have a Coke Zero, gum, or a piece of fruit.

All the best!

[vanessa]

Thank you Kenga and Jlou,
I am behaving myself and treating chocolate as a drug, that I need to live without. one day at a time.
Today I was wearing one of my jeans pants and looking some photos of me last year. Same pants, but it was really tight last year and I wasn't using it for a while because it didn't fit. Today (3 weeks after the diet) the pants is too big for me. Took some photos and started to look the ones 3 weeks agor and the ones from today. After that it feels like my life has already changed. and is still so much to go... I can't explain how excited I am. And now more then ever I want to keep it up, think slim and be strong!!!!! I also didn't buy my minerals and vitamins yet, wich is really bad, and I believe is the stronggest reason for my cravings for sweet and other stuff.
Thank you and is awsome to be able to come home and "talk" to people who are doing exactly what you are and understands our needs. Happy happy happy

[jlou]

You really really really need to get you multi vitamins AND some chromium asap. Remember this is a Prescription and you need to follow the whole thing.

[louise41]

Congratuations on the loose jeans, there is no greating feeling than when the clothes dont fit for all the right reasons!

[Dragonfli Spirit]

Hi Vanessa,

I know what you mean about the chocolate - but resist!
I had a bad week and for a couple of days all I wanted was chocolate, but resisted, and the scales paid off.

I know that if I start even on one itty little bit, the whole family block will be gone in 5 minutes!
Will it be worth it? NO. I'll feel lovely, for all of about 2 seconds after I've swallowed that last bite, then the guilt will creep in... I'll jump on the scales and potentially undo all my hard work - just for one itty little bit. So NOT worth it!!

You hang in there - you CAN do it and you are already seeing the great results - well done by the way!!

[km64]

Hi Vanessa - welcome to the forum. I agree with jlou - multiitamins, chromium (I had shocking cravings for the first while and it really decreased when I started taking chromium), and thinking about what need the chocolate fills for you (because even a block, if you're anything like me, doesn't really fill you up - wanting it is about something else and its good to identify what it is - for me its usually boredom or anger or frustration - and hence chocolate and other foods = comfort from those feelings - chocky is great at masking other things that are going on).

Anyway - I also agree after a week or two the cravings should also lessen if you stay absolutely DF because your taste starts to change.

So hang in there - and keep up the great work (2kgs in first week is not toally unusual - depends on your body, what you were eating in the weeks before and all sorts of things).

Cheers - Kay.

[vanessa]

Hi Everyone, I'm really really happy.
My weigh in was yesterday and I lost another 4 kgs... feels good!!!! But I would like to talk about feelings and diet.
My problem now is not the diet or the food anymore. Is the society and my family...I went to 3 different parties in the last month and I behave myself didn't eat o drink anything that I couldn't except for my auntie party.
She kept coming all the time to tell me how boring I was if I wasn't drinking. every 5 min. then I got really upset and said "do you want to see me drunk?" OK... and drank a whole glass of whiskey which I hate, and got really really really drunk. I haven't drink in so long...I think it was really hard on my body, I said a lot of thing that I regret and I didn't have fun at all. I was feeling guilty and I knew I was doing something that I use to do but it's not part of me anymore. Saying that I also had one guy in the party that I met 3 years ago who didn't recognize me and he never talked to me before...this time he came and asked what have I done, and told me how beautiful I was and how surprised he was. I was honestly deeply offended. The thing is...I never saw Vanessa as fat or slim me...was always me!! now that I'm losing weight I keep going back on my memories from when I was a kid and always had bbq in my grandmothers house or any other random stuff that we always did involved beer, heaps of beer and a lot of food.
If you watch the tv everything is about weight loss or how to exercise at home. But the society still don't really accept that you can go out and have fun just being you. It's fine to go to burguer king, Mc donald's and eat as much as you can but it's not normal to eat vegetables and meat every day. How to stay strong and ignore everything you have learnt since you were a kid? how am I going back to brazil one day and have fun with my family? I believe now more then ever I need a psychologist instead of a nutritionist.
My dad use to call me "the elephant"from the shell ( the petrol station) they used to have an advertisement 20, 18 years ago and my dad always called me that. And I never understood the really meaning. I never saw myself as a fat person, but at the same time I remember when I was a teenager men use to look at my mum as a piece of meat ( my mum is really beautiful and was skinny her whole life) and I remember at that point I didn't want to be the same as her. I always wanted men to come to me for what I really am..intelligent, independent...whatever anything but not just because I'm hot.
Again... it's not about food is it? I know I need to keep doing this because this is what I want. No one else...just me...and I want to see myself as beautiful as I can, another thing from my family is that everyone is overweight. One uncle and one auntie already did a stomachs reduction and I didn't want to get married ...then pregnant then get to 113kg and never come back to my shape. My marriage helped me a lot with the decision of starting the Cohen's diet and I'm really happy now.
Have you ever felt the same? or is just me? Being the center of attention is also really hard explaining to everyone that I'm not sick is pissing me off... I live in queenstown Nz which is a very small town and everyone thinks that I'm with AIDS or something which I don't care always tell them it's true...but all this attention to me and the jealousy from some friends is making me think a lottttttttt...
In My point of view I was fat and like me or not I was happy. All the friends I had was because they knew me... or at least I thought they did, but what about when friends start to get away from you because now you're "back in the competition"? is that what they think?
I'm sorry guys it's a lot happening in my mind and body at the moment I think I needed to "talk" about this with people who probably experienced the same as me...
And just to resume ...you know what? They don't really care...I have to do this for myself...because I AM beautiful, and intelligent and much more...and I'm gonna keep doing this not for my mum...or my dad...or anyone. But me! I want to show everyone that Yes I CAN!!!!!! and thank you so much for having this forum.

[Kohinoor]

Hi Vanessa,

Wow, you have REALLY thought about this, and I reckon you reached the right conclusion here :-

And just to resume ...you know what? They don't really care...I have to do this for myself...because I AM beautiful, and intelligent and much more...and I'm gonna keep doing this not for my mum...or my dad...or anyone. But me!

Got it in one, Vanessa !!

That bit about your auntie harping at you told me a lot ....

1. That she is coming from the WRONG direction - drinking doesn't make people attractive, nor even "non-boring". Sorry, Vanessa, but I suspect she was deliberately trying to "de-rail" you from your "diet" - and I'm sad that she succeeded, and even more sad that she would want to TRY!! (but she won't succeed next time, eh? )

2. That you were not helping yourself by giving your power to her !! But you won't do that again, either, eh?

Keep your power for yourself, Vanessa - and be true to you, not to the "trouble-making whim" of someone who SHOULD be supporting you to "be you". Sorry, Auntie, but you really should KNOW BETTER than that !!! Ever heard of love for your kin?

Hugs,

Koh

[C-JAYE]

Hmmmmm Vanessa, it's struggle - do you stay true to yourself and stick to your guns or do you give others what they want or expect? It can be hard when people push your buttons, especially when the only person who really gets hurt is you.

Be your own best friend and take care.

[vanessa]

Felling like I can breath again...In peace with myself...

[bonjovi]

Hi vanessa, you are doing so well. Keep up the great work and you will be fine. There are alot of great people on this forum that can help with any of your questions. Take care
Bonnie