Annabelle Joy's diary

[Annabelle Joy]

Thanks, Louise. Weekend has been going well. I've had Cohen pizza again while DH had a pizza cooked in our pizza oven. We had guests for morning tea who brought neenish tarts, DH put out tim tams and Cooka biscuits and I ignored everything, had just a mug of black coffee. I'm exactly two kilos down on the scales this morning; not a lot for the beginning of the diet but I'm pleased with it. It's very peaceful sitting here and looking at the bay through the new windows.

AJ

[Soon2BSlim]

It sounds like you've done well this weekend AJ! Nice loss too! Well done.

[Annabelle Joy]

Thanks, Soon. Two weeks in and I forgot to weigh this morning. I'll go with 2 kgs for weeks 1 and 2. Not great for the first two weeks but at least it's a start. Terrible weather here too, lots of rain and grey skies.

AJ

[Soon2BSlim]

You're right AJ - it's a start and 2kg isn't bad at all. It's 2kg less than you were and you're on the right track. I tend to lose slower than others, it seems, and even on my first attempt with Cohens all those years ago I 'only' lost 6.5kg the first month despite being 100% DF. That said, it's still way way faster than with WW and with fewer cravings or hunger. I like to remind myself that it's not a race but a lifestyle which means there really is no 'end' in sight. Of course, it doesn't always work which is why I'm back here, but it's still what I keep telling myself

Hope you have a great week.

Louise

[Annabelle Joy]

A very good friend came to see me today with a proposal to help me with the constant fatigue I've been suffering since I had the stroke. She has organised daily sessions in a hyperbaric chamber, and is going to have me do a daily walk with her or someone else if she can't do it. The owner of the hyperbaric chamber is wanting to use it to help stroke victims and needs someone who has had success with it who can give a testamonial. I'm very excited about this. I'm not expecting it to result in extra weight loss except that if I feel better I will likely move more.

AJ

[Soon2BSlim]

This sounds very interesting AJ! I would love to hear how it works out for you. If you don't mind me asking ... how long ago did you have the stroke?

Louise

[Annabelle Joy]

The stroke was 15 months ago Louise. I was fortunate not to suffer speech or movement losses, although I am a bit less steady on my feet than I used to be.
Are you the Louise who used to be posting very regularly when I was last on the forum?

AJ

[Soon2BSlim]

It's good that you haven't suffered speech or movement loss as a result of your stroke AJ but it's not a nice thing to have happened at all.

I suspect that you are thinking of the other Louise - Louise41 - who was a prolific poster back then. There were 2 of us Louises on the forum at that time - along with Hexi, Penny, Shell, Andy and SMS ... I wonder how they are all doing now and whether they have managed to keep the weight off.

Louise

[StrongerThanSheKnows]

Great job AJ!

Keep at it! The losses will catch up with your efforts. We know Cohen's works. If the weight drop isn't today, it will be soon!

[Annabelle Joy]

Thanks Soon and Stronger. Happy days, I've lost another 600 gm, hadn't weighed for a couple of days. I've changed my ticker and setting my goal to just 5 kg, will keep aiming for lots of 5 kg until I lose the lot.

Yes, Louise, I was thinking of Louise41. She disappeared very suddenly and I always wondered if she found the weight wasn't staying off or if some disaster befell her. I did have a communication with shell a while back. She had moved down to the coast and was still doing fine. She'd joined the moderating team.

Today I'm getting my eyes tested, not that I'm aware of anything wrong with them. DH has just had his tested for cataracts and macular degeneration at the suggestion of his accountant so is taking me so mine can be done.

Have a great day everyone.

AJ

[Soon2BSlim]

Yay for another 600g loss Setting your ticker to reflect 5kg losses is a great idea - I think I may do it myself. It makes the small goals seem more achievable than the large amount we have to lose.... and you're half way to your first mini goal!! Well done!

Hope all goes well with your eye test. I recently had mine tested and now have to wear reading glasses - the joys of aging I suppose.

Louise

[Annabelle Joy]

Thanks Louise. Another 200 gm gone this morning. Losses may speed up next week when my friend takes me walking each day and I start using the hyperbaric chamber. I go walking with DH but I set the pace, which is a slow amble. The idea is to keep the joints moving rather than for the exercise and even that has me ready to collapse on my bed when I arrive home. DH is delighted with my success to date. If I think of giving up I think how disappointed he would be if I did, which is enough to keep me going. I hope everyone is doing well.

AJ

[Donzie]

Good work AJ,

Hopefully your energy will pick up a little with each kilo you loose. I'm sure it can only help.

You definitely sound like you are off to a good start.

Take Care.

[Soon2BSlim]

Another nice daily loss AJ!! And it's weekend again! My, how time flies! I'm sure you will be feeling much more in control this weekend than last and knowing how well you managed last weekend should give you the courage to face another weekend head on and in typical AJ style!

Keep up the good work <3

Louise

[Annabelle Joy]

Thanks Soon and Donzie. Another 200 gm today so it's definitely happening although I don't think I can notice it yet. Certainly, no one else has commented. But then they don't until my shape starts to threaten them. I realised talking with my doctor yesterday that the hyperbaric chamber experiment will be contaminated by the daily walk that my friend is going to make me do. All the specialists I have been seeing have been telling me I need to exercise. I have been going for a gentle walk most days but I rather think that my friend's idea of a walk won't be gentle. Any improvements I have therefore could be the chamber or simply the extra walking. Anyway, I don't care as long as I can get rid of this constant fatigue. Have a great day everyone.

AJ

[Annabelle Joy]

Another 200 gms this morning. At the moment it seems to be dropping away at a steady 200 gms a day. Tomorrow morning my friend is going to start me walking with her. I think she might expect more speed than DH expects. Anyway, we'll get it sorted.

AJ

[Soon2BSlim]

It sounds as if it's all going well with your constant losses and today you began walking with your friend. How did that go? Did you manage okay? I would be interested to see if the possibly faster pace will make a difference to your weight loss. How far do you walk?

The constant fatigue must be awful, it would be great if that disappears too.

Louise

[Annabelle Joy]

You're right Soon, the fatigue is awful. My friend, who leads a very busy life, didn't arrive this morning (couldn'[t get away) so I went for a walk on my own, 200 gm lighter than yesterday. After that I went for my first session in the hyperbaric chamber. I was warned not to expect changes immediately, but I did leave feeling better than when I'd arrived. My friend is coming for a short walk this evening and I go back for my second session in the hyperbaric chamber tomorrow morning. I asked if it might help with weight loss but was told it wouldn't. It puts more oxygen in the blood and I thought it might improve metabolism.

Losses have been occurring at a steady 200 gms a day. I have to say, I'm getting a bit tired of diet food, keep dreaming of fluffy white bread, chicken parma, and other similar, non-Cohen food.

AJ
AJ

[StrongerThanSheKnows]

Hey AJ,
It sounds like you are super focused on your health. That's awesome. It's great to hear that you are feeling better as well. I can totally relate to the day dreaming about forbidden foods. It takes so long for our minds to accept these changes. Much longer than our bodies. I just try to really savor and enjoy my cohen meals and then come on the forum and vent. That seems to help me. All the best to you!
STSK

[Soon2BSlim]

Hi AJ

How are things going? Well done on going for a walk by yourself when your friend couldn't make it That shows real motivation! I'm interested to see how the hyperbaric chamber helps you and excited that you felt better after your session.

I read this true story a while back of a man who had unwittingly been exposed to carbon monoxide poisoning in his home and he nearly died. It took a while for them to figure out what caused his illness but even after they found out what was causing it, he still had some awful side effects including brain and body issues. He was an invalid in a wheelchair. Doctors decided to try a hyperbaric chamber and to cut a long story short, he made a full recovery.

Anyway, I hope things are going well for you and you're not finding diet food so boring any more. I sometimes think that if another person was to prepare all our meals it would be so much nicer and easier to stick to the plan It's not that it takes long to make Cohen's meals but it's the planning and measuring and if you're like me, similar meals every day.

Personally, when I get tired of the weighing and measuring of all the food I have a couple of meals where I guesstimate quantities. I'm pretty accurate after all this time but just the feeling of being able to throw a few things together and make a meal make me feel like I have a little freedom in the process.

I look forward to reading your next update!

Louise