Journey to a New Me

[mesmer_eyes]

Havent been here for 3 days and for reasons I couldnt avoid. To make things really short I was detained by the CID from the evening of 37th day and I just came home this morning at 4am. I was on plan on the 37th day but the next days I was eating the food that was made available for me. I tried to eat healthy as i can (they gave set meals) ie. Didnt have the bread or rice or the boxed juices but I was in no way on plan.

Woke up at 12noon today so my last meal will be around 1030pm. I weighed and I gained 700grams.

@koh - i will have to hold the clothes fitting for now but my old clothes are taking up space win my wardrobe and are ready to be worn as soon as my body is ready..

Day 37 - deviation free
Day 38 - 40 - off plan

A bit more about my 72 hour ordeal here.

[Soon2BSlim]

Yikes ME! Sounds like an unpleasant ordeal! Hopefully things are sorting themselves out now.

Well done for managing as well as you did with the food offered. I'm sure you will lose the gained weight quickly now that you are back on track.

Louise

[mesmer_eyes]

Thanks Loiuse.. im trying to sort it out soon...

Glad to share that I've shed the gains I had recently. Back at the dame weight before the incident i had last week.. whew..

[mesmer_eyes]

Struggling a bit here... any reference materials will help! WHY AM I CRAVING and what PMS have to do with it?!

Woke up great yesterday, the scale moved down a bit. However, I was feeling hungry quicker in the day and I was craving. Well, I was already craving the night before for some nuts. I really exerted an extra effort to stop myself from grabbing a handful.

Late afternoon came, a friend of mine from PH who is now based in NL messaged me that she is in AE and will be flying out in the morning and wants to meet. I didnt plan to have my dinner with me then and I couldnt pass up the chance to meet her, its been 10years since I've seen her! And the likelihood of seeing her again soon, well is 0, Im not travelling soon and if I am, it wont be to NL.

So I went, I had it in my mind that I wont eat anything even if that meant I will eat so late at home. I even told her. But at the time that I told her, I was really hungry (7pm-ish, was supposed to have my next meal at 8:30). She was understanding and didnt ask many questions.

Tried to reason with myself that its just cravings. I recalled all the stuff I've read about insulin etc etc etc. None worked. I was just... ready to eat.

And so I caved. I just really want to eat, anything. I started mindfully, ate half a cucumber first, the hummus came, I didnt touch it. Had a chicken kebab, then it snowballed from there, had the hummus, kuboos and a few teaspoons of muhalabiya (btw, as much as I like hummus, I think Im not good with it, I always feel a tad bloated when I eat it). Out of the plan, I dont think I ate terribly. But, in Cohen world, khalas. Off the damn bus.

Feeling bad as I drove home, Im trying to figure out why I was so hungry and craving - there is a reason for everything, this cant be out of nowhere! Then it hit me, 7days to be exact til my TOM (light bulb moment). FFsake. It didnt even cross my mind that I could be PMSing.

I mean what else could it be?

- I wasnt even aware that I'm a week away from TOM (I dont really track)
- I have been deviation free for about 5 days
- I've eaten 2 of my meals on time with vitamins, plus crackers, fruits and soda

PMSing is real . Previously, (at the back of my mind) I always thought PMS is an excuse. Because we think about it, it happens to us based from what we have read, heard, and seen. I somewhat refuse to believe that we (women) can be victims of this, even though I've had it for years. I kept thinking, there's something that I am doing, that's why I'm getting this.

Anyway, today I woke feeling like crap - lethargic, heavy and sleepy. AND craving sweets. :'(

[Greeni]

So sorry to hear that ME
I remember when I did Cohens the last time I remember I had that too once
Further down the track ... but it was weird as I usually don’t have PM munchies/cravings

were you able to get right back on the bus??
Now TOM should be past ...

I think there is a thread about PMsing and cravings
Will try to find it

How are you feeling?

[Soon2BSlim]

Hi ME, how are you doing? I can totally understand the struggle - it's very real! Hope you're struggling less now and cruising happily along

Louise

[mesmer_eyes]

HI Greeni and S2BS, thanks for dropping by.

Im still here, although way derailed. My legal battle just finished and short to say I was detained during that time and off plan. I didnt even weigh yet. Im tired but glad the worst is over. Back on the plan today... and i know its going to be tough + period coming soon..

argh!

[Greeni]

ME
Well done though - you got through it!!
Now you can focus on yourself and your health
We’re here and cheer for you!!!!

[mesmer_eyes]

Thanks for the encouragement Greeni!

Its tough to start again... I was off plan for about 4wks... my cravings are back.. and I weighed +4kgs yesterday.. waw..

I've discussed this with my online consultant. I can still use the plan but i need an extension (3mos)..

[Greeni]

Oh ME
I know it’s hard to get back on the bus but we can do it
To help myself I put all the photos I took after I lost all the weight in an album called motivation ... so when I look at them I know I can do it and I want to get there again!! I also can imagine myself there again and that has always helped me to stay on track

+4 kg?? Well, that’s manageable ... it’s not 10kgs more or worse
When you start back again now you’ll have that down in 2 weeks ...

We can do this ! You can do this - you’ve done it before ...
It’s only the first week you have to push through your cravings ... then it becomes second nature again and the cravings disappear and the feeling of achievement and confidence and wellbeing take over

We’re here for you!
YOU CAN DO THIS

[mesmer_eyes]

Heya, hows everyone? looks awfully quiet here... krrr.. krrr...

just decided to look into the forum... been on plan for the past 10 days.. so far so good.. ive ballooned up to my heaviest of all time.. lived on food delivery during the lock down last year and continued doing so.. and we have a new colleague who just likes to eat.. good food, bad food, any food as long as it tastes good!

im not blaming her because i do enjoy a good home cooked dish and will definitely have a more than healthy appetite for it. I wouldnt even feel sorry about it if it made me feel like i such a tasty meal, it was worth it.. #foodforthesoul

so hello 97.4 kgs on the scale.. and also, i turned 40 last march!

Yesterday, was my 10th day, been good all day.. but been craving for fried garlic (of all things! but I really do love crunchy garlic, i can snack on garlic chips and wont mind that taste when you uve had more than you should). Evening came, not yet time for dinner but was already hungry+craving. Ate my cracker portions.. fine.. still wanted that crunchy garlic.. so i cut up a full bulb of garlic into thin slices and stir fried them and ate it all! ate crackers with it too just to get rid of that too much garlick-y taste.. dangerously veering off plan here...

I was still determined to eat my 3rd meal of the day as per plan, but I just really wanted to eat eggs and a tomato (which is not in my plan esp. the portions, I wanted 2 eggs and a full tomato). I just wanted to eat eggs and so I did. After that meal, I still wanted to eat something salty.. we had chips in the house.. but i decided against it. I did have a teaspoon-ful of that home made fish paste (bagoong) with the crackers, and I was then ok... I drank a laxative tea to get rid of all what was in my tummy the next day.. So Day 10, not DV free.

just want to share my thoughts...

i've always thought of Cohen to be the most effective diet i have ever been on.. its difficult to do and yet it isnt.. its difficult in the sense that you have to measure every single thing and cook separately plus its so restrictive that is not easy to comprehend - say, if a friend aims to take food from your plate you swat her fork and say no! and u look like crazy.. (cue: "Joey doesnt share fooood!) that small piece that you dont get to eat will not only either whack your groove but also show up on the scale the next day...

but its easy because it takes out the guess work.. u follow the plan, u lose the weight..simple

however, every attempt i have done since 2014, all seemed to fail. Why? Why is it so difficult to complete the whole Cohen's journey? Maybe there's some great truth about moderation and exercise?

When the clinic first started in the PH, it was the buzz all over town, amazing results.. and now, I dont even hear about Cohen diet anymore.. the clinic has closed down. Is no one taking up the plan anymore? Why? Is it just lack of marketing? Or its really not just reasonable to keep the results after you are finished with the plan, like setting yourself up to fail in the future?

Will I get the same results say if I do The Zone diet for example. It follows the concept of 30-40-30. Or keto + IF ? becoming vegan? I mean.. which is the best way to go about this? seriously?

As I e-ramble on, the thought of the benefits that I reaped on the plan kept coming to the surface - overall wellness, esp. with my mood and clarity - I dont think I've ever felt soo... light, well and sharp. I think this is why i keep coming back to this diet over and over and over again (well of course plus the proven weight loss). Makes me think if I can get this with other meal plans? I felt good too when I was exercising regularly and eating ok (circa 2012-2014) but that "in the zone" feeling whilst on EP was something I havent experienced before and hasnt experienced since eating like what I assume is normal.

Is self deprivation the price for that? I mean lets not sugarcoat this, it is really restrictive. One will argue that what's in my plan is exactly what I need to be satiated. How about hormonal swings esp for the ladies? This is not something we are imagining - the salt or sweet cravings close to the TOM. We then have to rely on self discipline, tough-love sh*t? Then isnt that self deprivation?

With the recent posts of honoring your body or being kind to yourself and mental health exploding on social media right now, I ask myself is being on Cohen the right thing? krrr... krrr....

I dont know.. i just know Im tired of being overweight.. i am also tired of failing.. because it means i cant overcome my cravings.. like i cant get myself in line.. no ducks in a row... each failed attempt changes the I can do this! to Maybe i can do this? or I can do this? or what are you doing???

PS. after 10 days OP, I lost about 5kgs, which i believe is mostly the water bloat.. been peeing buckets.. belly significantly less protruding.. feeling good.. all good..

PPS: going to go through diaries and posts in here.. so many good reads..

[carrieanne_c]

Hi Mesmer,
I totally agree with you when you say it´s easy and difficult at the same time and that people who havent lived it don´t get it. Now with the Pandem, people shouldnt be stealing food off of any ones plate. I have done this program a couple times and for 12 years have stayed pretty much in control not buying a size up of clothes but I have gained 7 to 10k but I have jumped back on and have been able to stay under control for most of the years.

The Forum is soooo quiet now, I used to live on here. I am just using my maintenance diary now but I also did a personal and a refeed back in the day. Even though we are on different parts of the planet maybe we can cheer each other on. I am on day 8 with 2.7k loss. I hope you can stop by my diary. Onward and downward. Stay tough!

[mesmer_eyes]

Hi carrieanne_c! thanks for dropping by, I actually read your unchonkify thread before coz I want to see who's still here.. will check out maintenance diary

12 years! being able to maintain for that long is wow.. and Im sure the 6kg will go quickly...

[mesmer_eyes]

Oh wow.. I just updated my ticker… 40 kgs to lose… *cringe* what happened?!?!?

Long story, not gonna bore you, but if you are up for it -> here

In March, I reached that point. I cant eat this way anymore. Im tired of stuffing my face. We are near the end of the season and I plan to use the off season to take care of myself – my mind, body and soul (?). I don’t read books anymore… no walks.. nada.. My leave was approved starting late June (50 days) and I’ve decided not to travel out of the country. I’m going to slow down and just do everything that is good for me. Maybe I’ll garden..

I started back on the plan at the start of Ramadan, my partner as well was back on his Banting diet and we are making good progress. We have a long way to go. He cant go on vacation this year, but I do hope he gets some break.
I cant wait, Im at the last of my juice and I don’t want to work anymore for now. I know I want to sleep and sleep and sleep...

2021, Day 11-12, deviation free
BF: egg + veggies + CBs
SN: Diet Coke
LU: beef + veggies + CBs
SN: Fruit
DI: chicken + veggies + CBs

[carrieanne_c]

Hey woman!
Good to see you! 40 is better than 45. Take it easy. I also had got to the point, I have to watch out for myself or I wont be able to help everyone else around me. We just have to hang in there it will go. Onward and downward. I will check your link later in a big rush.

[carrieanne_c]

Thanks for popping into my di! Keep to the path, see you tomorrow.

[mesmer_eyes]

two weeks done and dusted... whew.. experiencing some changes already which is good esp. my mood and clarity.. but TOMs really.. ugh.. ladies u know what am talking about right?

anyhoo.. nothing much.. cohen clean and truckin' on..

[carrieanne_c]

Hello sweet Mesm, thanks for stopping by. Congrats so we are both at two weeks yey fun diet twins woohooo, Ok calm down Tina. Back in the olden days we some of us old timers on the forum would speak of the legend of the Golden Week which was the week after TOM, was normally a higher loss week. You can check it out in Fornight and Flamie and my diaries probably more girls, it was funny times, I alas no longer experience golden weeks or cotton pony rides.

Ok my little Mesmer, I will check on you later. Stay steady!!!Thanks for your visits

[mesmer_eyes]

i didnt know about this Golden Week.. I hope I get to experience that! I so want those beautiful losses! Im on the 5th day and I feel less bloated.. planning to weigh in tomorrow morning.I 've decided not to weigh myself everyday., just twice a week so these numbers dont get into my head.

The Power of "No, Thank You"

I've written about this on my first round in 2014 and it does wonders of sticking to the plan. Somehow verbalizing your conviction to stay OP helps you to actually do it.

I attended an Iftar yesterday hosted by one of our corporate partners and Im proud to say that I didnt eat anything and stuck to the plan. They kept asking me to eat but I responded "No, thank you. Im good." and drank water and a diet soda. I ate my meal a tad late (around 9:20, coz i reached home late). Our neighbour also hosted a hotpot with braai session.. so I dodged a lot of bullets yesterday evening.

Small human wave to me! whooohoo! #smallwins

Oh, I did have a deviation dream last night I was hanging out with some friends having braai and ate whatever was usually there - chips, potato salad, salads, soda, and some good tasting meat" I knew I was dreaming and I keep telling that woman (aka. me) to stop eating those as she is ruining her efforts of being cohen clean and she's going to be sorry for it! but she kept eating..

thank goodness it was only a dream!

[carrieanne_c]

You are a superstar, I am also closing the mouth and dodging food offerings. What is Iftar and is a braii a barbecue? These are new words for me. Your job sounds so interesting.

I think that it s a good idea to not weigh, I wish that I could be more like you.
Anyhoo I am glad that you stop by my diary, you and Koh, such a change from how it used to be in here. Anyway quality readers, are just as important and helpful. I have read our blog very interesting as well. Ok forum friendy, I wish you great success for today.