Donzie's Diary

[allie_82]

Hi Donzie!

So glad to hear you are feeling much better. What an ordeal you have been through

I have been reading your diary since you started and I cannot believe it has been 13 weeks - time sure does fly!! 20 kilos down and you are over halfway there... you will get there in no time!!

Hope you are having a good week and that the itchyness goes away soon

Allie

[Donzie]

Week 14 finished = 82.2kgs (-1.8 kg loss) total lost 21.8 kgs (17.2 kg left to go).

Yes FINALLY a good loss this morning! When I jumped on the scale yesterday it said 82.9/83kg, I had been struggling to get under 83kg all week but finally this morning the scales shifted - I love that.

I have a birthday coming up this month (the 26th) and I would really, really, really, love, love, love to have hit the 70s by then. Lets see I would need to loose 2.2kg in 13 days (lets call it 2 weeks) I reckon that is doable. And what a birthday present it would be! Had you told me in August or September last year that I'd be in the 70s for my next birthday I'd have told you "Your dreaming". Yet here I am with this being a very real possibility. Isn't life grand?

So this week has been the first week I've been back in action doing the school runs (I was locked away from sight with the dreaded mushroom rash prior) which means seeing a lot of people I haven't seen since before Xmas. It's been a very interesting week indeed. Lots of comments on how well I am looking, a couple of people have asked if I have lost weight. One mum tapped me on the shoulder and said "Am I going mad or are you suddenly half your size?" "Yes, I've lost 21kgs" I replied and watched her eyes bulge (I'm really enjoying the shocked expressions...he he).

I have super thick, course, curly hair which has always been the bane of my life. For years and years I have managed it by keeping it relatively short and flat ironing it straight. While being pent up with the dreaded mushroom rash I found myself watching a lot of youTube videos on going "Natural". There is a big trend amongst curly/afro hair types to 'go natural' and 'embrace your curls' - who knew? This usually means giving up heat like blow dryers and flat ironing and chemical relaxants, opting for sulphate free shampoos (that reduce frizz) and committing to weekly deep conditioning and hot oil treatments (to increase hydration). The result is quite incredible. Dry, damaged hair (in time) is replaced with gorgeous curly tresses, with endless tutorials on how to style and maintain their natural hair. In short, I'm in hair heaven!

This week I unplugged the hair dryer and flat iron. Bought myself some 'natural curly hair' shampoo and conditioner (there are actual websites dedicated to natural curly hair products - amazing) and released the curl BIGTIME! Interestingly, the BIG HAIR is taking the focus off the weight loss. People keep commenting on how 'well I am looking' but mostly talk about my hair. I love it!

So, that's this week. Work has been crazy busy. I even had an urgent job come in Saturday morning with a Monday lunchtime deadline...urgh there goes my weekend. But I'm not complaining, the extra money will buy all sorts of new hair conditioners ....ha ha.

I did find time to pop up to one of the local Op shops. I bought three pairs of jeans, a size 13 (which fits now), a size 12, and a size 11. All three pairs of jeans were a designer brand, barely used and cost me $5 each. It blows me away that people throw out such good stuff. But, I'm happy to benefit from it.

So my dear Cohenites, again I have rambled and rambled on. Better go and do some work.
Take Care and I hope you all have a wonderful week. XX

[blondetastic]

Yes!! 2.2kgs is so doable in that time frame!! 70's - how exciting. And those jeans sizes fabulous. I love hydrated healthy curls. My hair is dead straight lol. So yeah embrace them girl!! Way to go!!

[Soon2BSlim]

I'm so pleased you had a big loss Donzie - what a nice feeling to wake up to that! Love your ramblings too - embrace the big hair and rock those jeans!! What a great find! Op shopping is like going treasure hunting - never know what you'll find and at those prices you don't mind buying a few things for your shrinking bod

I hope your week continues like this.

[Donzie]

Week 15 finished = 80.6kgs (-1.6 kg loss) total lost 23.4 kgs (15.6 kg left to go).

It's been a good week this week except I've been drowning in work, which means my house looks like a pigsty, the kids have eaten too many sugary things ("here have that chocolate biscuit but you have to let Mummy do some work now") and I feel like from the moment I awake it's go go go not a second to spare.

The project I've been involved in gets presented on Thursday, so hopefully I'll get at least a weeks reprieve before things heat up again for the second presentation. I hope so anyway.

Last year work slowed down a lot and I went for many many months without anything much coming in. While the break was nice, I could focus purely on kids and housewifery, I was a little concerned about it (no work) and lack of extra money did mean tightening the purse strings.

This year the work has flowed in abundantly, so much so I'm finding it hard to juggle everything successfully. But I do love the feeling of being part of the professional world, creating my own money and the pride from knowing I did that and they paid me for it. But finding the balance is always so difficult.

I'm ashamed to say the stress of everything has resulted in some pretty ordinary parenting moments on my behalf. I completely lost it with my 6yo when he refused to do his homework when I wanted him too this week. My husband intervened and took him out for a walk while I cooled off. I however could not shake the guilt for days afterwards - my explosive behaviour was completely unacceptable and I still see the image of his little tear streaked face pressed upon the glass sliding doors (he ran outside to avoid me) - not my finest moment.

Through the turmoil of the week my EP has remained true and steady though. I like that my meals are simple and quick to prepare. In the past, stressful times were always dealt with by consuming something sweet, of course the problem was often not being able to stop at one. However even at my worst this time the desire to devour something sweet isn’t there, I find this quite extraordinary.

So, here is to a new and better week ahead. Where the workload is actually achievable and I have the patience to enjoy all those special (and sometimes trying) moments with my kids. In the end they are the real reason for wanting to be as healthy as possible.

Take Care everyone XX.

[Soon2BSlim]

Absolutely brilliant loss this week Donzie! Well done and good on you for sticking to your eating plan through a difficult time. While you are not proud of some parenting hiccups it just shows you are human and yes, we all make mistakes when raising our children. The good thing is that we can make things right and children are amazingly resilient and forgiving if given half a chance. I'm sure you're a great parent and that things will be okay.

Here's to another fantastic week in Donzie land <3

[Donzie]

Thanks Louise, your such a wonderful Cohenite, always there with words of encouragement and support. I really appreciate that you take the time to pop into my diary. And I'm so glad to hear you are going so well too, I know you are finding your own way rather than strictly adhering to the letter on everything - with maintenance being your main focus. You will do amazing. X

[blondetastic]

You will be in the 70's soon, how awesome!! Well done on your weightloss. As far as the parenting thing goes, I think we have all been there at some point. My daughter seems relatively well adjusted in spite of my meltdowns. I had a difficult situation growing up and I get pretty hard on myself when I don't handle things well but when children know we are genuinely sorry and it's out of character for us and it's not them but either their behaviour at the time or something completely unrelated, as Louise said - yep, they are pretty resilient. I'm sure everyone in your family knows they are loved. Hope you are having a good week!!

[Fuzzy]

Wow Donzie, you are blazing through the kgs. Some brilliant losses.
I don't know how you guys do it with kids, I guess it's added motivation to stay healthy for them.
Good luck for the week ahead and make sure you take time out for you too.

[allie_82]

You are doing such an amazing job Donzie!! Over 23 kilos GONE!! You must be incredibly proud of yourself.

Try not to worry too much about the mummy meltdown, like the other have said we all have them (I had one over the weekend - also not my finest moment) but we all move on and the kids love us regardless as we love them unconditionally!!

I am a working mum of 2 boys and I too find it hard to spend quality time with the kids - finding that balance in insanely hard but we all do the best we can... hang in there! And like you said, the kids are the main reason for doing this to be healthy and set a good example for them (my main motivator also )

Keep up the incredible work Donzie!! You will be at goal in no time!

Allie

[Donzie]

NEWS FLASH! NEWS FLASH! NEWS FLASH!

79.7kg this morning! I'm a 70's girl!!

This day ROCKS!!

XXXXXXX for everyone today!!!

[Booboo9498]

Congratulations, awesome achievement.
You are a great inspiration!

[allie_82]

CONGRATULATIONS DONZIE!!!!!!! Best feeling ever to reach one of those major goals!!

[blondetastic]

70's sounds oh so good. Congrats Donzie. Awesome feeling when you see the number you've been waiting for come up on the scale. You are on the downhill stretch now!! Well done.

[skinnytobe]

Congrats!!!! Its the best feeling ever

[Fuzzy]

AWESOME!!!!

On the way down!

[Kaz28]

Fantastic Donzie

The most brilliant feeling isn't it??

Well done - you are doing so well.

[Wendym1221]

Awesome job Donzie

[Soon2BSlim]

Absolutely fantastic news!! Well done!!

[Donzie]

Week 16 finished = 79.1kgs (-1.5 kg loss) total lost 24.9 kgs (14.1 kg left to go).

Thankyou everyone for your amazing words of encouragement, it really is so wonderful to have a space filled with like minded individuals who understand and champion our journey.

What a terrific week I've had this week. We had the big work presentation which went really well. I had a birthday which saw me entering the 70s (weight NOT age!) - first time in 10 years I reckon. On Saturday (yesterday) we hosted my MIL's 80th birthday party which was a spectacular success. So this week was about seeing the weeks and weeks of preparation finally come to fruition.

Friday was my actual birthday and while I was busy preparing for my MIL's party I did take time out to go and have a relaxation massage. Hubby bought me this treat for Xmas I had been waiting for the right time to use it - being my birthday and hitting the 70s definitely felt like the right time to cash it in and it was wonderful.

So, all in all a good week. I've been really happy with my weekly weight losses lately. Getting back to doing the school runs (on foot) does appear to be helping things along on the scales. I just hope it continues.

Have a great week everyone. I look forward to catching up on your diaries. X