Andy46

[hexi2]

Thanks for the words of wisdom in my recent time of need!

And wonderful news on your FABO weightloss...you must be getting pretty used to all the compliments and WOW factors over there in the outback!

Have many others in your town joined in the Cohens bandwagon?

[Debs]

Yeah Andy! Nice avatar!!!!


Chook

[Maisy]

Hi Andy,

Wow you have done sooo well

Keep up the great work.

Maisy

[Andy46]

Well its been a cool start to the week here that has turned to a hot day - very nice though and even better as I am back to 84.6 this morning so very happy with my results thus far. I have adjusted my goal weight down as my shoe size has drooped back 1 1/2 sizes but thats fine by me. I think its at this end that I am really pleased that I have not deviated over the weeks - it all helps just that little bit of extra effort.

I would be kicking myself if I still had months and months to go just because I needed to go out and eat and drink - I must admit I have considered it but the taste of goal weight is far far sweeter than feed or drink.

Thanks for all the nice comments that have been posted - I appreciate and need your support - its all tough from where ever we are on this road but the results and support drive me along just that little bit more.

Well will move along for a while again ....... to all the new people starting - stick at it don't be distracted by those that sabotage - they just don't have as much to gain in life as you..........so stay focused - get your head around it and go get the goals and dreams you are very capable of getting.

Have a great week and I hope you all achieve your dreams in what ever you do.

Have a good one

Andy

[Annabelle Joy]

You've achieved so much, Andy. Congratulations. One of the things that's kept me deviation free is that a deviation could set me back by up to a week. I don't want to add that to the time it will take me.

AJ

[FotoHijinx]

Hi Andy

Great new pic - very spunky!! Your loss is fantastic - I'm sure you've inspired lots of people out there to give it a go!!

cheers
Irene

[Andy46]

Well hello to everyone - how funny to go to page 5 to find my diary after a week - so many new diary's and so much activity on the site - which is so good to see - all go go go.

This morning I am putting my weekly post in from Cunnamulla. I have been working and have traveled 2750 kilometers since leaving home at 6.00 am on Friday morning. The first leg from Augathella to Glenden which s between Collinsville and Nebo over near the Central Qld coast - with 400 ks of dirt road through the well grassed country from recent rains - it was good to see. Then the night at Glenden then I turned around and head back via Barcaldine for Saturday night and ended at the Qld/NSW border at a dot on the map called Barringun which is half way between Bourke NSW and Cunnamulla Qld - so have had an interesting few days - and will be home by dark today.

The interesting thing for me has been the eating on the road which as I start my 33 rd week today I feel I have perfected to a easy task. I have saved heaps of money as well by not buying at roadhouses and pubs - or the traditional motel breakfast - and all the time my weight loss still going down with no problems.

I have a tucker box that is a insulated bag that I bought at k mart - 25 liter - in that I have some essentials such as salt and pepper, small set of digital scales, knife and smaller fork and a little pairing knife, a container of tea bags and a Tabasco sauce bottle of balsamic vinegar, a microwave bowl for salad (holds the lettuce and prawns or chicken meat and with the lid on - toss my salad) and cooking and two storage type containers that you buy in packs of three or four at the supermarket - two sizes - a smaller one that fits inside a larger one - and that my make my makeshift oven. I have found that if I put my food in the smaller container - then put the lid on the smaller container - and put that inside the larger container and fill the surrounds with boiling water - then as it floats I put the lid on and it holds it down - being careful of course of the overflow of boiling water - then whilst getting dressed or whatever - after a few minutes the food is hot. I also have a container of my biscuits and of course my cooked and frozen meals in my car fridge - so have survived very well with no hassles about what and how to eat - just watch my times and all is good as I go.

I found cocktail forks as well at a second hand shop that are small and fit in well - and a few chux to clean up - wipe the dishes out and take home to the cook to refill for next trip !!!

I also have a handful of cards for a couple of Cohen clinics - as I constantly get asked about how I have done the program - so hand a card out.

I will weigh at some stage during the week - tomorrow morning and update my ticker and suspect it will slide down another kilo or two.

I also have found that for the 33 weeks just gone by I have not so much as had a sniffle let alone any other health complaints like the dreaded cold and flue - so good and healthy and I am feeing like a million dollars and booming along - so good to feel so well - and as well have not taken one single panadol for a headache or anything - and prior to weight loss was most likely eating a packet of panadol type things a week for aches and pains and headaches - so just goes to show how good the weight loss and lifestyle change can be.

Well best get on the road to home and will add more later.

Andy

[shell]

Well done Andy,
It is amazing what we can do when we put our mind to this 100%!!
No, "it's too hard" from you, you sound like you have a great system sorted out
Anything IS possible!!
Shell

[SassyK]

Wow Andy! You're so organised!!! Good on you for letting nothing stand in your way of getting to goal.

The smaller container in the larger one to warm up food is a great idea. I hadn't thought of that. I'm going to try it out next time I'm travelling for work.

Keep going, you champ!!

[Annabelle Joy]

I'm amazed at your travel ingenuity, Andy.

AJ

[Andy46]

Thanks - it is hard and again its worth the effort - to stay true to the program - how easy it is to go out and just because you are out at an engagement eat what ever you like or use that as an excuse to "go off the program" - I really think that it just makes me more persistent to get my mental attitude right for the rest of my life - like learning all new skills - eating to save our lives as best we can takes a little bit of self discipline and learning - and of course being true to yourself.

its so easy to take the easy path and thats why we are overweight and doing this program - but I think as hard as the program is - no matter how big the challenge - you can and will do it - some just want it more than others - and winners are grinner's - and there is no prize for the looser - except an experience of frustration and disappointment and of course the old "blame every one else but myself trip" which leads to its own problems. The effort and pain is worth the gain - and don't worry - the same cravings and wants are always there - but being smart enough and brave enough to take them on is the true challenge I think for me.

So to all that are struggling - don't think of the easy road every time - stop and give yourself the courage and commitment - about 30 seconds of thought to re commit to your true goals - its hard but worth it and of course - Bruce and the Spider http://www.poetry-archive.com/b/bruc...he_spider.html - never never never give up ...... if you want it bad enough you will get it sure enough !!!!

Well must move along - have had a big few days on the road with over 2700 ks in three days of work.

Bed sounds good tonight !!!!!

All the best - and remember - winners are grinner's !!!!!

Andy

[Butterfly_girl]

Hi Andy,

Just been catching up and wow - you're really just steaming. You're so right - persistance and discipline are learnt behaviours, and if we're serious about changing the way we live, and "unlearning" all the lousy habits that've contributed to getting us overweight and unhappy, we can't give up at the first uncomfortable or difficult hurdle. You're doing a brilliant job and are incredibly inspiring.

Take care.

[Pudge]

Good for you Andy I was wondering how you did managed it on the road. I don't go to that much trouble. I just carry cheese sticks, crackers, apple,celery, and water with me in my truck. Then keep the other things I need in the trailer ****. so when we stop for the night or the weekend I can eat that.
It works for me and when the daughter wants to eat at a restuarant I just usually have a grilled chicken salad without dressing or with the vin. only of the vin. and oil. Or I will have the smallest good steak they have. Which I am sure has some stuff on it not allowed. But in doing that I am still able to lose for the weekend but sometimes have just stayed the same.

Staying tuff, staying deviation free, getting into the zone is what it is all about to get the best results or any results. The more we say no to something the prouder of ourselves we are. So all I can say is good for you for being so 'perfect' with no excuses, it shows in your results.
pudge

Hey Andy,

i was chatting to a friend the other day who is also on Cohens - she got me started. However she the kinda gal that when the chips are down will indulge in a bottle of wine and some comforting chinese.
While talking to her she was asking have you had a drink yet? as we used to drink together all the time, also asking have you eaten anything you shouldnt have ect and in a way i felt like she was trying to justify the beer and chips she was eating while i was having my water and apple.
Given she has been on the program a lot longer than me and has more to lose than i and i cant say i will be perfect in 6 months time although i want to be finished in less than 6 months time.
And that there is the thing, i want to be done with this, i have spent too many years wishing my weight away. Avoiding things and places and people due to my weight. I keep reading these posts here from people that explain everything so perfectly for me to understand- how you need to be deviation free for this program to work.

You need to get your body in a place where it can do what you are asking it to.

There are days when i would kill for a wine or some pasta etc but then i think this is the hardest thing i have ever done or decided to do.
I want this over so why delay my progress? I'm not going to give in to something that will make me happy for a few minutes but sabotage my success so far. I'm not trying to blow my own trumpet or anything its only been 2 weeks

But i wanted to tell you that i get a lot from your posts and i know "i do want it more" Its the prize for me its the gold medal the lotto you know. It means more than possibly anything right now.
Didnt mean to take over your diary, i actually feel pretty good after saying all that...sheesh if only i could get that deep in my own diary

Thanks Andy
Talk soon
Sum

[Trips]

Loved the poem reference... especially these lines...

That Perseverance gains its meed,
And Patience wins the race.

From now one when I'm feeling a little vulnerable I'm gonna think about that spider...

Cheers Andy! And well done to you too

You have a wonderful outlook and an unstoppable will power.

Much Love,

Trips xxxxxxxx

[jeannie77]

Andy your doing so well. Thanks for the travel tips. I may need them for my road trip planned in july.

You are always so inspirational with your words. We have to be true to ourselves. We have to focus on what we want more - to deviate or to succeed. I know that I want to succeed.

Hope to meet you at the next brisbane meeting.

[Annabelle Joy]

Well, I think the easy road is to prepare my food myself, Andy, rather than gamble with someone else putting onto my plate only Cohen food I agree with you, we need to apply discipline now to prepare for life after refeed.

Drive carefully over the next few days, and try to stay clear of all the idiots who don't.

AJ

[Pudge]

Heeelllloooo Andy where are you........Hope your safe and all that.
Check in a little more eh........
pudge

[Andy46]

Pudge - I try - try - and try again - but as i have slid down the weight ticker slide - my life has stepped up many gears - I have been completely reinvigorated - refreshed and I am fully committed back towards my public life............. community work etc.

Last nigh I traveled to a Masonic dinner at Mitchell about 250 kilometers away - it was a great night and some of the other members where astounded and amazed at my new appearance. The people at this dinner also commented that I had not been to their town or meeting for many years (15) - and I started to think --- as I put on weight and changed size I started to not go out as much - not publicly - my coat no longer fitted - my trousers were tight and then they didn't fit and then my black bow tie would not fit around my ever increasing neck and I was becoming conscious of the fact I could no longer button the fourth new black suit coat - so I stopped going - in complete denial of the truth - I always gave some lame excuse - like to busy or the kids were home for the weekend or I had to work ............ but the truth is I was "TO BIG" ............. and I didn't want to be seen in public.

So after a while I almost stopped doing anything................... so now ............. I have to make up!!!!!!!!!!!

So I have been busy and I am back out and doing many things that had stopped but gave me enjoyment and satisfaction.

Yes Pudge ......... something has to suffer ........so I have maybe dropped back a bit in my own diary but have spent much more time ....... good and bad reading in others who are just starting...... and maybe needed a hand ....... hopefully to help others get started and on track to a new life with their dedication to to the plan ...... so have let my diary slip maybe ......... hopefully I can help someone just starting out ........struggling ....but honestly trying ...get the go enough to get over the hump.

And so thats where I am at.

All the best to all .........and yes Pudge I will stay safe ......and happy.......and check in a bit more often............

Hold on I am on holidays again now for a few days break away from the west ------ heading to the east on Thursday ------- but will check in with my trusted laptop.

And weigh in tomorrow for me - so will update that side of things then as well.

Andy

Andy

[Kohinoor]

Hi Andy,

You're a champ, mate - make sure you enjoy those holidays.

Koh