Rach77's Diary

[Shazza/2]

Hi Rach
Thanks for dropping by my diary.

The old TOM thing seems very strange the first time. Mine went on for well over a week and was very odd compared to normal, I even spent one whole day in bed and that day was mega heavy. But the second time has just passed and it was all tickety boo and back to normal.

You are doing really well to have had such big challenges early on, but at least you know you can face anything that comes your way now.

Great for you to get under the 100 mark. That is a huge milestone and one I am very much looking forward to hopefully in the next few months.

Take care

[Rach77]

Hi all

Woke up feeling lighter today after yesterdays fat day. I have always stuck to weighing weekly but today I couldn't help myself. Thank goodness I was the same I had been on monday. A bit disappointing that there was no loss but I am even more excited that there was no gain. Must have just been having a bad day in my head! Hopefully that is all the whinging I will do for a while.
Here's to happy thoughts and happy days. And of course happy fat burning hormones!

Rach

[km64]

Hey Rach - thanks for dropping by my diary - just caught up on yours and have so much to say. Firstly, huge CONGRATULATIONS on getting below 100!!!! Woo hoo!!! This is such a cool program isn't it.

Also wanted to say I have a 4 and 1 year old too - finally getting weight under control after years of eating too much followed by chowing down on carbs plus to survive early kid days. You are going really well and good on you for joining cohens too - really makes a difference and figure probably you, like me, want to be a good role model for your kids and this is a prime way to do it. I love that my 1 yr old probably will never remember me as fat.

Also wanted to say re your hunger spates, you'll probably have seen from my diary that I've had some shcoking sets of days where I could have eaten my own arm. I got through them and stayed strong (the one real deviation I have had came surprisingly not on one of these days - go figure - it was just a calculated decision in a moment of utter clarity of mind, hmmm - a lesson to learn there). So hang in there as those days are hard but manageable.

I wish you well and look forward to chatting with you through your journey and mine.

Cheers - Kay.

[Rach77]

Hi all,

Today I am really struggling with not eating everything in sight! Iam not hungry, I know that. It's just wanting to eat something, anything. I am an ex smoker of 12 months. When I stopped smoking I started eating even more to stop the cravings. Now I am not eating as much I want to smoke. I have never been known for my willpower and now I am trying to fight two things at once. Arrrrgh. I know that alot of you would say that we don't need will power for cohens but I do. I have never really felt like I was "in the zone" so to speak. I read alot of people saying they don't want to eat the old food and that they feel on top of the world. Even though I haven't deviated my cravings haven't gone away and to be honest I feel like I'm half asleep all the time. Like I'm just getting through my day. Don't get me wrong though, I do love what this program has done for me so far. 16.4 kgs in 7 weeks. I do want to continue, I will continue but I don't know how long I can hold out. At the moment I think I would rather smoke and be skinny.

Help!!! I'm going crazy!!!

Rach

[Shazza/2]

Hi Rach
I'm sure your struggle is a common one. Are you ensuring you are taking enough of your vitamins etc, because the way I understand it, it is not really about willpower but about the hunger and cravings simply not being there, so that eventually willpower almost comes by default.

All I can suggest is to hang in there, take all of your vitamins, and eat your fruit and cracker allowance everyday until the happy hormones kick in, and of course drink heaps of water!

Perhaps your hormones are just taking longer to work, but I'm sure it will get easier!

Be kind to yourself in the meantime

[Imfef]

Hi Rach, I haven't lost the urges completely, but I'm so determined not to waste 4 weeks of good work. My consultant told me yesterday to up my multi-vitamins to 3 x per day, as I was also suffering from tiredness - I would be quite brain dead in the afternoon. I will do that when i'm in the office next week and see if it makes a difference.

You must hang in there, you are doing so brilliantly well. It's a test of character, a challenge I actually welcome because when you get to the finish line - you will not only look great, but you know you have the metal to cope with anything.

Good luck, be brave, be strong - you've already showed that you are, just keep it up!

Marc

[Rach77]

Thanks Shazza and Marc for your encouragement. In the past 24 hours I have realised that I have got so stressed about easter and all the temptation that it brings that I have actually made myself sick. I have been so worried that I haven't slept properly. I am sure that it is a combination of these things that have caused the no weight loss this week. I therefore made a deal with myself that if I really couldn't resist I would allow myself one small choc egg. I know what most of you would say about this but since then I have relaxed so much. I have accepted that it won't make me a total failure and life will go on. Now I don't even know if I really do want it. I will wait and decide on sunday. So sorry about all the whinging but happy to report that things are on the up.

Rach

[Paula83]

Hi Rach,
Thanks for stopping by my diary.. looks like we have the same journey ahead of us! I've just caught up on your diary.
Firstly, The TOM does settle down.. my first one on the program lasted 2 weeks!! it totally sucked. Since then, the only difference is is that they are coming earlier, I spoke to my doc about it, and he thinks my body is too used to the pill... so we've changed brands.. see what happens!

Secondly, I also still get cravings, but its usually when i see the food.. like a hungry jacks burger on the TV!! and yesterday (good Fri) we went to my uncles for lunch (fish and salad) but dessert was chocolate mud cake... by me seeing it and smelling it.. it made me want it.. I didn't have it.. but you almost had to tie me down!!!

Also weird things trigger my cravings, like hot weather - makes me crave hot chips. And when we sit down to watch a movie... it kinda bugs me that I can't have a big bowl of chips, or a cheese platter, or just some kind of snack food.. But you know what, its worth missing out on these foods.. I know if I deviated when it could have been avoided, I would feel like crap, and be so disappointed in myself.
I think we just have to remember where we have come from, and no food is worth it!

Also Congrats for getting under 100kgs.. Its such an amazing achievement.. I know I felt on top of the world!
I hope you rewarded yourself somehow???

Keep up the good work matey, and thanks again for stopping by my diary!

PAULA

[Rach77]

Thanks for dropping by Paula. I know all about the cravings being a visual thing. Yesterday I sat and watched at my in-laws while everyone devoured fish and chips for lunch. I found it wasn't so much the look of the food but the smell. It was devine. yummmm. But when we got home I was still proud that I had stuck to my own lunch and knew that I would have been so down on myself if I had of pinched evn one chip. Can't wait for easter to be over!!

Still no loss so far this week but hoping that after easter is over and I am calm again that I will have a good week next week. It's not going to be a great start to the 6 week challenge. Maybe I will just have to turn it into a 5 week challenge!!

Rach

[missusb]

Hi Rach, thanks for visiting my diary. You are doing a marvellous job, good to see u under 100kg, its a lovely feeling hu!!!

I spent the afternoon with my family yesterday and watched them eating cheese, dips and of course fish and chips for dinner, did my head in, especially watching my skinny cousin devour a box of hot chips with tomato sauce. BUUUUT, guess what, unless potato's become extinct in the next few months, I recon we might be able to have chips again one day hehe

Stay positive and DF - its the only way to be

[Rach77]

Mmmm Sam I think you may be right. Might have to put chips on the "it will still be there when I am skinny list"LOL.

Had a much better day today but am still a bit worried about tomorrow. Keep telling myself that easter will be here again in a year and by then I will be looking gorgeous. Or at least slim.

Have a great day everyone.

Rach

[FlaMie]

Originally Posted by Rach77

Mmmm Sam I think you may be right. Might have to put chips on the "it will still be there when I am skinny list"LOL.

Had a much better day today but am still a bit worried about tomorrow. Keep telling myself that easter will be here again in a year and by then I will be looking gorgeous. Or at least slim.

Have a great day everyone.

Rach

Hey Rach, you'd be slim and gorgeous even before Christmas, I bet you on that. Given 8 months to lose about another 30 - 40 kg is definitely plausible. I had 33kg to lose at the beginning and 7 weeks down, I've got another 21kg to go...wow...how time flies. Hopefully the scale will be kind to be in the next 8 weeks...CRITICAL MOMENT for me!

[Edengirl]

YAY!YAY!YAY! I did it. This weeks loss was 2.7kgs. That takes me to a total of 16.4kgs for 7 weeks. And wait for it... I NOW WEIGH 99.6 KGS
Well done Rach!!!!
Fantastic effort!!!!!! ... I hopefully will be catching-up soonish.


I have a confession to make...
a naughty, naughty confession ... I ate Lindt chocolate Easter eggs yesterday
...I'm feeling guilty and apprehensive today, the magical 90's seem to be further and further from my grasp... especially when I doing something foolish like eat chocolate [the stupid thing is that I have never been a huge fan of chocolate, if anything I might crave it @ TOM every few months but hardly ever] I know I just need to move on and realise what a dumb irresponsible thing I've done by deviating and just work harder at staying stronger. I wish I had been as strong as you were at the family gathering and the hot chip's temptation..next time!?!

I hope you are having a wonderful Easter break

Eve

[km64]

Hey Rach - hope you've continued to survive Easter. You are going really well and can definitely add everything to the "it will still be there" list. Thanks for the reminder of that - I've been struggling a bit recently, but that's a great mantra.

Cheers - Kay.

[Mette]

Oh Rach, you're not the only one. I never got rid of my cravings either, and I was continually hungry through most of the program. I was stubborn all the way through though, refusing to deviate. But I forgot something along the way, and that was addressing the reasons for my past binging and cravings. So now that I'm off the program I've been struggling big time to not return to old habits. One of the things that has really helped me is the works of Geneen Roth, who helps address a lot of those issues. If you're interested in her works, this is her website:

http://www.geneenroth.com/

I think you might find some help there!
Stay strong and keep smiling!

[Rach77]

Ok confession time. I caved yesterday and had some chocolate. All I can say is that I am glad easter is over!! Now I am concentrating on the rest of my journey. I know I cost myself a loss. Even though it was going to be a small one anyway cos of the really bad week I had. I lost 100 grams this week. I know I have put myself back probably two weeks. So this week.... I will try to drink a bit more water than usual. I will up my multi vitamin till I get back in balance. I will remember why I am doing this.
So now my major goal is to finish the programme, finish refeed and be maintaining by christmas. Christmas lunch without the guilt. Don't know if that is a realistic time frame but it never hurts to have something to aim for.

[Rach77]

Well today i finally managed to relieve myself of one weighty problem so to speak. Hadn't had a bm for a week so on saturday night I took one coloxyl with senna tablet. Nothing yesterday so last night I took two more(it says you can have up to 4 at a time). OMG the instant relief when it finally happened this morning. I didn't realise how bloated and uncomfortable I had actually been feeling! Just out of curiosity I jumped back on the scales and I was 1.2 kgs down on this morning when I weighed.

Sorry about the subject but I just couldn't believe it. I definately won't let it get so far next time.

Rach.

[Mette]

That must have been a huge relief, Rach! Don't apologise, your diary is where you can say whatever you want, and I think you'll find a LOT of posts about BMs

With the chocolate - yes, draw a line and move on.
One thing though: for your own sake, and making it easier for you once you get to maintenance, examine why you felt the need to eat it. You said you had a bad week. It's an old and ingrained habit for a lot of us that food 'helps' when we feel crappy. It numbs the feelings and we feel like it's easier to deal with. But when you get tempted, please ask yourself 'will the (insert vice of choice here) really help?' Or will it just delay my having to deal with whatever it is that I'm feeling? And on top of then having to deal with the crappyness of the week, you also have to deal with the feeling of having eaten something you shouldn't. Does that make sense?
Sorry about the rant, it's just something that I've had to face since finishing the program. I wish that I had faced those demons and asked myself those questions and truly broken those old habits while I was still in the safety of the program itself...

[Rach77]

Hi all,

Thanks for the encouragement Mette. I thought about what you said and even though I had had a bad week I really think for me it is a case of out of sight out of mind. For the first seven and a half weeks I didn't have anything tempting in the house. Seeing the chocolate in front of me was too much. Sooo...today I packed up what was left of the kids eggs and took it to my parents place. They only live five minutes away so the kids can go there and have some every couple of days. I'm sure my dad will help out too! I feel so much better with it gone. I'm now looking forward to things getting back to normal. Need to get back to my happy place and let those happy hormones out again to do their fat burning!!

Rach

[Rach77]

Oh I forgot to put this in my last post. Eight weeks over.

16.5Kgs down and lost 40.5 cms Yay!!!