Lonniecee's Ongoing Journey-Bring on 2008

[Lonniecee]

Lunch with friends went well, though when I said bring dessert little did I know they'd bring a whole choc mud cake. Thank God for teenage boys, mine that is. I did freeze some for myself for a later (much later) date, I do like a piece of mud cake occasionally, not my dessert of choice but it is something of a rarity in our house that I thought it would be nice to have some set by.
Started yoga on Monday night, I could really feel the blood pumping, I didn't feel it was too much tho' there were a couple of positions that were a bit difficult to hold so I just did what I could without straining anything, never mind, it will all come together.
There are times thiese past few weeks where temptation has started to raise it's ugly little head. Whilst I haven't succumbed it is starting to become more frequent. It is a mind thing I'm sure (well obviously duh!) but because I'm at a weight that I've never been as an adult and am wearing smaller clothes, the mind is starting to play games. I'm also starting to get comments that "surely you don't want to lose much more", "you're face is getting so thin", you know the kind. Luckily I don't see these people too often so I can avoid that too much but deep down it has to have an effect. I do want to reach goal weight and I DO NOT ever want to be overweight again so to that end I will continue on my merry Cohens way. By far more of the comments have been positive than negative and this is certainly an ego boost.
Our new work uniforms have finally arrived, we had fittings in Sept, ordered in Oct for them to arrive in Nov, well, needless to say by now what I've ordered are far too big. Will have to send them back to exchange and have decided on size 12 in both shirt and pants. I did try on another girls size 12 pants the other day and managed to get them done up, albeit I did notice that they were a little tight in the crotch, am bordering on 12/14 now so by the time they arrive they should fit me nicely.
Hubby and I are off to see Pete Murray at 'A Day on the Green' down the Bellarine Peninsula today, staying at the Mercure overnight and out for lunch tomorrow for our 18th wedding anniversary. I'll have luch before we leave and take yoghurt for breakfast tomorrow. I've decided to buy my dinner this evening as I need to give myself the opportunity to make the right choices when I'm not doing the preparation etc. Whilst I won't indulge in the forbidden,ie wine etc , I do want to be able to kick back and relax for the afternoon/evening. As for tomorrow I have checked out the menu on the website of the restaurant and have made a couple of selections that I should be able to choose from. I just have a few questions to ask before ordering but I feel good knowing that they'll be able to cater to my needs, the restaurant is also vegetarian and coeliac friendly so it shouldn't be a problem.
Monday is official weigh in day, 24 weeks since I started. I can't believe I have lost so much in such a short time. I would really like to be finished by the end of March but at the rate I've been losing lately this doesn't look likely. My sons and I are off to Redcliffe near Brissie for a week to catch up with friends and I wanted to be able to not havwe to be so Cohens orientated, if you know what I mean. Ah well, que sera sera, it didn't go on in 30 weeks so I can't expect it to come off in that time too, I know I've done bloody well so far, I just need to keep the goal in sight and all will be well.
My goal range is 54-57kg. I'm aiming for 55 but have decided to order refeed at 60kg, just to have it on hand for the 'hunger' and so I can study it, that will be at least another 6-7 weeks away I guess.
Keep up the good work one and all, welcome to the newies, this has been the best decision I've ever made about looking after me, I'm sure you will feel the same down the track when you see those amazing results.
Lauren

[Lonniecee]

A great weekend had by hubby and I. Next time I'll not be so lazy or just better prepared. The range of food available at the concert was very limited and not too Cohen friendly, healthy food but not much choice re Cohens. Settled on a chicken wrap, only to find the chicken was crumbed lightly, picked off what I could and went without my evening cracker serves to compensate. Just picked the chicken lettuce and tomato out and threw the pita bread away, amounts were way out but I had fruit and plenty of water (38 degrees) so wasn't at all hungry.
Lunch yesterday was nice, had thai style calimari (entree serve) with a side salad. OMG the salad was huge, more than I'd eat in a week on Cohens, needless to say there were plenty of leftovers on my plate. Stuck to water and coffee while hubby had a beer or 3, a very relaxing time all in all. Hopped on the scales this morning and I'm 700gm down since Saturday morning so pleased with that result.
Had my 2nd yoga class tonight and am so ready for bed, but am waiting as long as I can post dinner. We shouldn't have a meal before class and we don't finish until 8.30pm so by the time I got home and cooked and ate dinner it was after 9.00pm. Extended myself a little more tonight so may be a little sore tomorrow which is good.........apparently.
Tomorrow is Mum's 70th birthday and we're all heading out for dinner on Friday night, so yet again another challenge ahead but they worry me less and less, I'm becoming sure of my choices and confident that post Cohen's will be a pleasure whilst still keeping an eye on what and how I eat.
Hope a good week is had by all
Lauren

[Lonniecee]

For some reason my weight went up 200gms mid week, probably fluid, not worried just peeved but onwards and downwards we go. Stayed at my parents for a couple of nights which means as you all know some preparation is well and truly needed. They are so supportive (Mum is jealous of my loss) and proud of my determination and success, Dad went and bought me some yoghurt and CF Diet Coke so I didn't have to transport that. When I work down Geelong, my co-ordinators try to give me 2 days in a row, saves them money and means I can stay at Mum and Dads overnight. I leave home at 7.00am, work from 8.30-4.00, so don't get to M & D's until 4.30/4.45, a long day to have foods in insulated cooler and on ice bricks.
Out for dinner Friday night (happy 70th birthday Mum) with my parents, 2 brothers and our partners, Dad had already spoken to the staff about my 'special needs' and they said to have a chat with the chef when I got there, so he could provide what I needed. I didn't take up the offer, and ordered steak and salad off the menu, guesstimated amounts and quite enjoyed myself. Everyone else had the Black forrest Birthday cake we bought along and I just enjoyed the look and smell, actually it was great to see Mum having a great time and enjoying the fuss.
So after 2 days of not weighing myself I jumped on this morning down the 200gms I'd 'put on' as well as a further 1.3kg, very nice surprise.
Went shopping for swimwear yesterday, thought I'd get a tankini and a pair of boardies to hide the saddle bags I'm carrying on my inner thighs but the cost of the tops alone were astronomical at the swimwear shop let alone buying the bottoms to match . Decided to give it a miss and went along to the Rivers outlet to get some clothes for hubby and they had some swimwear, not a large range but sooooooo cheap. Tried on a tankini top size 12, a bit neat but what really put me off was the excess skin from my boobs that was a bit overflowing, no size 14 in the top alone but they had one in the one peice so grabbed that, thay also had bordshorts, one style only, my problem is I seem to have a size 10 waist but the butt area is a 12 (did somebody say problem??), the 10's were not a good look so went with the 12's, will just put a stitch or 2 in the waist.
My wanderings at lunch on Friday took me past Sussan. Now I've not ventured in to a Sussan store for nearly 20 years (at least) and was waiting for the fat police to tap me on the shoulder and escort me off the premises. Not impressed with the prices but there was so much I would have loved to buy but not until I'm at goal. Kept wandering and came to another fashion store and popped in. Ended up buying a nice twin set (not quite like Nana wore ), and so sad they only had one size small left, and it fitted beautifully, was stunned, I've never ever bought myself a small anything. .
Will be catching up with a friend on the weekend, we are having a girls catch up weekend at Daylesford and last she saw me was in June, I've not said anything about my weight loss so it should be interesting. We've known each other since 1970 and she has always been petite, I know she will be shocked and thrilled for me. Can't wait.
25 weeks on Cohens tomorrow so another ticker update, so close to a 40kg loss overall. Can't wait.

[asy]

Originally Posted by Lonniecee

My wanderings at lunch on Friday took me past Sussan. Now I've not ventured in to a Sussan store for nearly 20 years (at least) and was waiting for the fat police to tap me on the shoulder and escort me off the premises.

I've never ever bought myself a small anything. .

I know how you feel!!!

I keep dragging size 14 stuff into the change rooms just to make sure I haven't exploded since I left home. I'm CONSTANTLY amazed and waiting for the ladies in the shops to grab me and say "Oi, don't try that on you'll split it!" But they never do. Then stuff fits. Then I can't stop grinning!!!

And I ain't finished yet!

asy

[Lonniecee]

Well, I lost the 200gm I 'put on' but have attributed it to my period so when I finally get on the scales again on Friday morning I'll have a decent idea of where I'm at. I'm really thrilled with the results I'm getting. I'm at my parents again for work and had to forgo yoga and the computer Monday night as I had so much preparation to do to get my food organized and getting home from work late didn't help matters either.
I'm noticing some serious saggy skin but the alternative wasn't much prettier so what the hell, I will just have to wait and see how things shape up 6 months down the track.
Tomorrow night will involve some more preparation for my weekend away. I'm heading off after work on Friday so will have a quick Cohen's meal before I leave and then will eat as close to Cohen's as I can with my crackers, fruit, yoghurt etc on tow.
I love reading about everyone's journey and it has certainly been inspirational to be travelling alongside you all. My sister-in-law in Brisbane is seriously considering Cohen's and has attended the info session and has her blood test request in hand. She is amazed at the amount I've lost (she isn't alone there!) and has a special dress she'd like to fit into by May. I really hope she takes the plunge and does it.
Lauren

[Kristine..]

On the subject of clothes ...

A whole wardrobe of monogrammed corporate uniform arrived for me today.

Classic 'shell' tops, tailored pants, fitted 3/4 sleeve collared shirts.

Neat N Trim - lovely stuff, all of it.

And none of it larger than size 10, the scoop necked knit tops in small.

Not a midrif bulge to be seen. If I say so myself, I don't look half bad.

When we wear shapeless, horrible stuff for so long, we forget what quality fabric feels like, what a good cut sits like, how the image we present changes so dramatically when clothes fit as they were designed to do.

'Clothes maketh the Man' yes, and the Woman, too.

As we shed the kilos, we change from a fat, shapeless caterpillar to a dainty butterfly, a thing of lightness and beauty.

We get to wear the Breakfast at Tiffany's classic designs and realise why these styles are classics. They look good.

And so do we.

Keep on keeping on. The rewards of reaching your Ideal Weight are profound.

Cheers

Kristine

PS 28th February, 8 months since completion. Still at 60 kilos. No worries!

[asy]

Originally Posted by Kristine..

When we wear shapeless, horrible stuff for so long, we forget what quality fabric feels like, what a good cut sits like, how the image we present changes so dramatically when clothes fit as they were designed to do.

How right you are!

I was standing at the sink this arvo doing dish washing, looking out onto the washing line where I'd just hung the day's washing...

My t-shirt was NORMAL size.

My shorts were NORMAL size.

LONG gone are the days where three pairs of my shorts filled a side of the line.

My shorts hung next to my 10yo daughter's shorts looked right in line with them, just a bit bigger. My T-shirt is roughly the same size as her school polo shirt (which is really floppy on her).

She's a seriously skinny kid, makes me feel goooooooood.

As for 'good clothes', well, long gone are the days where I'd sorta look to see if my t-shirt was clean before trundling off to Garden City (big shopping centre) now I see it as an excuse to get dressed up, put on my high heels and favourite chocolate coloured slacks (thanks Brie!) and a lovely LINEN (not Tee) shirt and go out looking goooooood.

I am getting seriously impatient to be finished the programme. I just want to go buying CLOTHES!!!

Only another 20kg to go! No time at all.

Oh, when I first started the programme, my daughter found a lovely hot pink sleeveless shirt in vinnies, really nice $3. She wanted me to buy it 'for when I got skinny'. I thought 'oh well, $3 isn't much to throw away, and she'll fit it in a few years', thinking there was NO way I'd ever get THAT skinny!

Well, yeah, ya know what's comin', don't ya?

That shirt is FAR too big now. Sloppy and loose. It's fabulous.

asy

[Lonniecee]

Yay Asy and Kristine, those skinny clothes are seriously cool. The clothes line at our house is looking very different too, now my t shirts are smaller than my 14 and 16 year old sons, it is so good to see these wee tops and bottoms and they are MINE!!

[Lonniecee]

Well I'm back from my girls weekend away with a girlfriend that I've known since grade three. some thirty...cough cough...something years lol.
I hadn't told her I was on Cohens and when she last saw me in June I was certainly at my largest so to see her face on Friday night was seriously wonderful.. Her mouth dropped so far.........at first she didn't think it was me and then when she realised well I don't think she has stopped smiling. She's not alone. Her parting words this afternoon were "whatever you are doing, keep on doing it because you are looking wonderful" , she even took a photo so she could show her Mum, I hope she is sitting when she sees it .
Went to a day spa on Saturday as part of our weekend package, access to spa bath and various saunas and plunge pool, so nice. I even wore my new bathers without the boardshorts to hide the saddle bags. It felt wonderful not being self-conscious about being fat, I was self-conscious but it was very different and not at all 'stressful' , I'm sure you know what I mean.
Wasn't 100% Cohen's but was as close as I could manage and I'm pleased with my efforts. Knocked back the antipasto and trifle at the set dinner last night and stuck to my chicken and green salad, didn't have any of the waldorf or bean salad or the other variety of deliciuos looking creamy salads and didn't feel at all that I was missing out. Not to say that I'm not looking forward to sampling these eventually. I was the only one at our table (of 10) not drinking either and sat there with my CF diet coke, it was a very pleasant evening and I'm finding a confidence in chatting with complete strangers that I've never had before. I feel worthwhile and that I am able to contribute to conversations without being judged for being the fat one, whether I was or not who knows but that is certainly how I felt at times.
This afternoon we went to the chocolate factory near Daylesford and whilst the choccies (top quality Belgian Choc locally made) were seriously scrummy looking, I had a lot of pleasure splurging on it as gifts for my hubby and boys. Chocolate has never been my downfall and if I had some in the past, it was usually 1 or 2 pieces, never a whole block. I am looking forward to returning there down the track and sampling some of their product, it was so well presented and the different fillings sounded divine.
Well back to the grindstone tomorrow and it will be interesting to jump on the scales after these few days away just to see how the weekend had affected things. Tomorrow also marks 26 weeks (6 months exactly) on this plan so a significant day to weigh and measure I feel.
Received and email from my S-I-Law in Qld and she received her plan Friday and started Saturday. I'm so pleased that she has chosen to do this and hope all goes well for her. So far, no hunger, managing 3 Lt of water per day and had a doozie of a headache this morning, but is feeling good over all. She was complaining cos she thought she had too much food, ie 6 crackers and 3 fruit, we've chatted about that and she's feeling better about it I think.
Well until I update my ticker and add my cm's tomorrow, I wish you all a good night and plenty of HGH production.
Lauren

[Lonniecee]

26 weeks into the program and I have hit the 40kg loss mark, I am so thrilled. So, my progress is:

05/03/2007

Weight: 64.7kg -40.1kg
Bust 99cm -27cm
Waist: 74cm -34cm
Hips: 96.5cm -34.5cm
Thigh: 53.5cm -21.5cm
Arm: 29cm -13cm


I only have 7.7kg until I reach the top weight goal as per Cohens' and 10.7 until I reach the lower goal, if that is where my body wants to be. I will be prepared to listen to what it has to say in that regard. I have always had the 54kg as my goal weight but it is a flexible goal. It is only 4.7kg until I order refeed. I am finding it all a little surreal at times and still think of myself as fat, the brain really has a lot of catching up to do .

[baloo]

Well done, Lonniecee. Another fantastic effort. There's certainly been some significant milestones hit around this forum in the last couple of week !

[asy]

Originally Posted by Lonniecee

I am finding it all a little surreal at times and still think of myself as fat, the brain really has a lot of catching up to do .

I'm finding the same thing.

I find it REALLY difficult to think of myself as not overweight. I'm a size 14 now, but I really have trouble not thinking I'm HUGE.

I suspect it'll catch up, like the skin shrinkage...

asy

[Kristine..]

Congratulations Lonniecee

As this is a marathon run in relays it is easy to overlook that as each person crosses a particular marker it is the first time that they have, so

:P [size=18px]wild cheering and shouting from the crowd!!![/size] :P

[size=12px][/size]You have done wonderfully well, and although there is still a little way to go, you know now that without a shadow of a doubt you will reach the goal.

Many best wishes

Kristine

[banana split]

Great effort and achievement. Well done.

BS

[Jo]

that's terrific Lonniecee,

what a fantastic achievement; congratulations to you!

[Lonniecee]

Thank you all for your comments. Knowing that others are on the same journey is what helps to make the road easier to travel.
Lauren

[Soon2bHotKitty]

hey lauren
just a quick question if you dont mind!
are you exercising whilst on your last leg of the cohens journey?
have you found this to help your weight loss/body shape/clothes size??

[Lonniecee]

Soon2bHotKitty The only exercise I'm doing at the moment is yoga one night a week. I started 3 weeks ago so can't say it has made any contribution as yet to my weight loss. To really get the benefit of it you should do it at least twice a week but I have had time and place constraints so haven't managed that. I really only started as a kicking off point and as a start to toning and developing some core strength. I'm thinking of looking into some water aerobic classes but haven't got around to that yet. Bought some size 10-12 undies today, woohoo.
Lauren

[Soon2bHotKitty]

i see i see
yeh i was thinking of rejoining my old 'curves' gym to start to get some shape into these flabby little gutlets and 'go slow' on the equipment until im over cohens...night have a talk with my consultant on friday and see what the go from her end is!

btw WOO HOO on the undies!! im still holding on to all my undies until im nearly finished but jeepers their all looking like potato sacks haha i might have to get some cheapies to alst me until i can get some sexy ones!!


happy losing xx

[Lonniecee]

Had a mini-splurge on clothes this week. One major thing I have noticed since I have lost so much weight is that I feel the cold more, I'm mean really feel the cold. I bought some new jeans (size 12) and a nice cardigan as well as a fleecy tracky jacket for casual and around the house. Just as well, the jeans came in very handy last night, we went to the footy at Telstra dome to watch Geelong lose . It was the first AFL match we had ever taken the boys (16yrsand 14yrs) to and my elder son really enjoyed it. I've already booked tickets for him and his Dad to go throughout the season. Having spent 11 years in Brisbane, Ash's attitude was 'it was a win-win for us either way' so he got a kick out of it.
Passed Cohen's info on again yesterday. I must get some cards or leaflets when I'm at the clinic to pick up refeed in April. I just love the look on peoples faces when I tell them I've lost 40kg in 6 months.
Lauren