Journey to a New Me

[Winterboots]

Hi ME

A word from experience, I find it so much harder to eat clean and exercise. I am two years into maintenance and still haven't found the right food/exercise formula for me. As I have set fitness goals, I find that I can't go back on original plan as the body goes into survival mode and I don't lose weight. The only time I have successfully lost weight easily since reaching maintenance is when I have stopped exercising to do plan but I have only done this the once as I want to keep my fitness levels up.

I can do 2 or 3 days then cravings sets in and I will binge. Sometimes I think I need carbs, other times it is fat or sugar.

So if I had the choice - stick at Cohens especially if you are a black and white person like I am.

All the best with your decisions
WB

[Scaling_Down]

Hi ME.... Its a tough choice, I would agree with you, and honestly only one that you can make for yourself.
If I were in your shoes, I would first and foremost try to do Cohens and the challenge at the same time, simply because (and I am speaking from experience here) if we follow our plan and DON'T refeed, the weight is going to come back QUICK and FAST! Its actually unbelievable how quickly one person can gain the weight back without even eating THAT badly, simply because our bodies aren't used to carbs and bad foods.
I read this post the other day, and thought I would share it with you, because it really hit home for me and made me rethink my usual "deviating ways"....

Originally Posted by Stumbling-Sammy

Hi all... Can I please put in my 2 cents worth?
And PLEASE know this is only my own experience. Perhaps if it can help anyone out there...
When I first started struggling to maintain, I would do a reset, which usually lasted 5 days (Monday to Friday) and then over the weekend I would eat "normal"... Now this worked well initially, but slowly but surely every time I tried to reset, I would miss goal by a few hundred grams... But it was ONLY a few hundred grams, so I didn't fret too much about it... Eventually those few hundred grams started adding up and, well, my ticker shows where I ended up. When I asked my consultant, she explained it to me this way:
When you reset for 48 hours, that is enough time for your body to get rid of any retained water, which is why the scale has gone up. 48 hours without carbs is no big deal for your body, so it doesn't think anything of the "missing" carbs...Now if you stick to 100% Cohen's for 72 hours, your body starts to rebalance your hormones... Which basically means, your body is now starting to once again become extremely sensitive to carbs. So say you keep going, you are simply making your body even MORE sensitive. Say you now get to goal and you start your maintenance eating again, the moment you add carbs, your body is going to grab on and hold on for dear life because it has no idea when the next reset/carb famine is coming...
So instead of doing this, she advised that we should rather up our water intake, cut carbs out for 48 hours and perhaps reduce our portions. See where you stand then. This is a "milder" reset and not a shock to the system. On day three have 25g of carbs, keep going with your water and smaller portions. Day 4 do the same as day 3. If you still not on goal, cut out those 25g of carbs again for 48 hours. This way you are keeping your body guessing.
Resets and jumping back on the programme should always be our LAST resort. Basically we need to learn how to "manage" our weight, gains and losses, through our maintenance food...
I really hope I explained this properly... My consultant obviously explained it to me SO much better!

Best of luck!

OH and before I forget, she advised me that if I am on plan for ANY amount of time longer than 7 days, that I should look at refeeding, even if I do a shortened version there of... So don't just jump back into how you were eating before the reset, but slowly bring things in again...

Please don't think that I am trying to tell you what to do, in any way, or that i am preaching to you! All I ask is that you think this through as much as you can, as I speak from experience regarding gaining weight back because I thought I knew better than the good old doctor! And trust me, you don;t want to be in the position that I find myself in again, where I am needing to restart my programme again after 3 years.... It NEVER becomes easier.

Best of luck with the soul searching that you need to do, and just know, that if you decide to leave this forum, you will be SORELY missed by all of us!
xxx

[Soleil]

I'm sitting here, thinking, what do I write....

Part of me doesn't want you to go, part of me thinks perhaps it is time to think other ways....

I'm using Cohen to get to get to goal and then will maintain with a good diet and exercise, I'm doing it like this because I want to use the quickest possible way to get rid of the fat as soon as possible. You will still get there with good food and exercise, which you love so much anyway.

It feels so strange, I only know you via this forum and your blog, and if you go I'll really miss you, like I really, truly will. Trying to write that in the most not strange way I possibly can hahaha.

What ever you choose to do, I just wish you the best of luck and happiness & health always. I just want to see you get there, which ever way you will. If you choose to continue with Cohens, then I think you will most certainly need a new plan, I think the problem is that current one must have expired and simply not working anymore..

Big, big, big hugs my friend!!!!

Soleil xx

[mesmer_eyes]

@ WB: Thanks for the advise. This already crossed my mind. Since right now Im having such a tough time being on plan, what makes me think that I can incorporate both? kind of frustrating to think that this is an either / or situation.. and its kind of scary to think of adopting another eating plan if I want to workout, since this is the only program that delivered fast and visible results.

@SD: Thank you so much for your posts and feedback. I agree with you on trying to do the CD first and above the workout issue. Whilst on the plan, I did incorporate yoga 2-3 x a week and I was alright. As long as it doesnt interfere with the plan, I should do it.

I guess im just pretty scared right now.. of failing on both accounts.

I still havent really figured out how to go about this and what I feel about this. The simplest answer at the back of my mind is: to be on plan, and workout only to meet the minimum requirement of 24 gym visits in 2mos. And workouts will be light either yoga/pilates OR 30 mins HIIT on the treadmill (1:1 ratio)..

But with the CD, despite being it simple and clear cut, it is definitely not easy.

I've been searching the forum, for someone who is like me or someone who has been in the program while exercising regularly. I want to know what the effects would be, the challenges, etc.

Ive read somewhere, that the body can take a 'beating' when getting ready for an event (max of 5wks before the event). In the sense, having a low cal diet (as low as 800cal) + strength training. However, it was measured on the lean body mass maintained whilst on the low cal diet and not the weight- which is the main and sole factor that determines our success in CD.

Why is it such a big deal? I feel so vain, ungrateful, and fuzzy headed right now, that it makes me feel paralyzed

[Soleil]

Hah we wrote at the same time... Another thought I just had, remember a while back I said about reaching close to my goal and if it gets super hard then I just start refeed and deal with the rest with diet and exercise. Perhaps this is something you can do...Wasn't it about 62kg you got before, why not try to get there first, you know how quickly you could do it, and how amazing you felt. Just need to get there and then refeed. Learn the amounts and food you can have for the rest of your life. Keep doing your gentle exercise now, then attack with more. Reduce.......Rebuild.......Maintain........

[mesmer_eyes]

Hi Soleil!

I just missed your post! And Im really touched and its really sweet of you. Feels great that someone is going to miss me if I go.. which I dont want to. Despite not seeing each other, our community here is built with support that we wont get elsewhere and relatable issues that somehow formed our CD bond. and I will certainly miss you and all of the ladies here. phwew! Im sure I will still be lurking around if in case I take up a different eating plan.

I havent made up my mind yet, at anything! Frustrating eh? Plus I really wish my program hasnt expired yet!

Just thinking of giving this another go.. 15days and use that 15 days to determine what goal Im comfortable with or which is more important to me.. and what areas/stuff that I can let go to achieve that goal.

I guess I am at the point that I want to have it all!

I just want to get there too.

*hugsss*

[Soleil]

Would love to see you get past the two week mark and then decide, to get past the hardest part. When I restarted I just put my head down and said no to socialising. You need to do the same, eat your meals, go to work and go home. After the hard period is over, it is so easy to resist temptation, you know it . Don't put yourself into any situation in the first days where it will be hard. Remember my short holiday four days into my journey and what an epic fail that was...

[Scaling_Down]

Hey ME How are things going on your journey? Would love an update when you have the time

Happy losing!!

[mesmer_eyes]

Hi ladies!

I decided not to move on to FDays coz I usually consider my attempt as failed when it has been more than a week of being out of the program, so I still am in my E set.

So far so good Eday10-12 DV free..

TOM is just around the corner.. so feeling kinda low and tired..

Im off work for a week!

Laters girls!

[Soleil]

You got me onto these little boxing smilies right here .
So I'm now sending "kick some bottom, fighting it" boxing smilies your way! May they give you motivation, and inspiration and courage to battle the journey! Not long until you're in the zone!!!

[Scaling_Down]

Lets dooooo this ME!!!!

[mesmer_eyes]

Hi Soleil and SD!!! Thanks for still being here for me and not getting tired of me

EDay 13-14: So far..So Good..

So far.

Im not gonna say DV free coz on EDay 14, i cooked for the ppl in the bfs house. Its a dish from my home country and none of them have tried it. So i had to taste it, coz they wouldnt know if its right or wrong.

And i messed it up! Hahahaha i underestimated the power of the tomato paste so it was too thick. I tried it myself on half a teaspoon with a bit of white rice to see if will at least taste better. It was alright.

Luckily, it reminded them of the stuff that makes up bunny chow . They were gracious about it coz I never cooked for anyone before.. NEVER. so it was all good.

Best thing, i didnt eat. Just that taste... i ate cauliflower fried rice with minced beef.

The only thing missing are my vitamins. I keep forgetting to take them.

All meals taken on time. Fruits, crackers too. Ive been consuming 3 DCs per day though just to get by cravings.

[Scaling_Down]

Great job ME!
I also battle when cooking sometimes, especially if I haven't made the dish in a while, or if I am just throwing something together, but usually hubby is home before I finish cooking their dinner, so I make him taste it
Don't stress too much over the "deviation" it honestly isn't too bad and you remained strong and didn't give in and end up eating the meal yourself, so commend yourself for that achievement and carry on
Did you reset your ticker? When are you planning on officially doing a weigh in?

Happy losing!!

[Soleil]

POW POW
I keep a little black book for my weightloss and note down everything I eat. In that book I also have a box for each day and I need to tick that box once I've taken my vitamins

Soleil xx

[Soon2BSlim]

You're doing well ME! Hopefully the cravings will get less as time goes on. I also find it hard to cook for others and then not eat the yummy food I make but the rewards are well worth the sacrifice and I know it's only for a time that I won't be eating the same foods. I'm not talking junk food, just good healthy food that I can't have on Cohen's.

I hear you about the vitamins! Maybe we should set an alarm or something to remind us to take them!

Keep up the good work and you'll be done in no time

[Scaling_Down]

Ah damn! I just realised I forgot my vitamins this morning! OOPS! Going to have to also try the route of setting an alarm to remind me hee hee

Happy losing!!

[Chew chew]

Sounds like your doing great ME. Keep up the great work and it will pay off when you see the amazing results.

It's very hard for me to cook and not taste the food either, so now my fiancé does all his cooking. Much better for the both of us.

Keep focused and goal will be around the corner.

Chew Chew

[Scaling_Down]

Hello ME... How about an update of your diary? Hope that you are doing well and having a great day

Happy losing!!

[mesmer_eyes]

hello ladiessss!! thanks for constantly checking in on me!

Im back from my 11day local leave.. Did nothing really, was just nestled up in the middle of the desert so internet access was sucky, I decided to not even try.. couple of facebook checks though.. i found that liking something was ok to do.. posting is another story. I just bummed around literally... a few things though.. did some go karting.. movies.. went to Birds of Prey facility.. tookl foster cat to the vet.. and the rest was either in the desert.. watching cable TV.. tidying bf's room (boys! uff! I get stressed when I enter his room, so I couldnt take it anymore and tidy the room up!) Its not really dirty, its just everything is everywhere! I like my "****" to be strategically hidden... hahaha..

good news is Im still on plan.. although not 100% DF.. I had 1 day of being off plan.. this was the day when I decided to scrub my kitchen from floor to ceiling (almost!) took me 6hrs to clean EVERYTHING!! so I didnt cook.. and was so so so tired.. but my kitchen is now SPOTLESS *whooohoooo! fist pump!*.. I was so beat that I thought I deserved butter! hahaha sorry girls.. 6hrs of straight cleaning will do that to you..

but im am definitely more on plan.. except that day (4days ago).

went back to work yesterday and I just had the urge to workout. so after work.. drove to the gym and did body combat.. after 6monts without it.. I am more than willing to say I SUCK! seriously.. I am so weak.. I didnt like it. Went home.. cooked.. ate.. Deviation free

this morning.. since I saw how much I deteriorated with cardio.. I decided to do the early morning pump class.. I expected it to be very difficult.. so cut my load in half.. well.. not so bad.. until it came to the lunges and shoulders.. yikes.. have all my meals with me today.. Im ready.. but lets see.. my legs are gonna hurt like hell later on today and tomorrow.. and not in a good way! hahahaha..

I lost count of the days.. will have to reconcile..

As for the weigh in.. I will weigh in by end of Oct. Im just going to do this... or maybe after 10 more days if I cant help myself?

now off to catching up on a few diaries!

[Scaling_Down]

Fantastic to have an update from you!!!! Congrats on sticking to Cohen's as much as you could manage
I had to laugh regarding tidying up after your BF... I do the same with hubby! When he is on the golf course or at gym, I find myself constantly picking up his stuff and having to clean up his closet! He has this dreadful habit of folding things like a 10 year old... Its more like "rolling" it up and shoving it back in his closet! It drives me bonkers!!!!! Hee hee

I hope the scales will be extra kind to you when you do decide to take a peek at them again

Happy losing!!!