highPRF's (Mikes) diary

[Mette]

Congrats on leaving that bad weight range!!



Celebrate by buying some new clothes! It does wonders! I found that leaving the clothes shopping for too long just made me feel bigger than I really was.
You're gong great guns! Stay strong and keep smiling!

[Edengirl]

Hi Mike, it was great to meet you last night at the Sam Norton presentation...... I'm so glad that I sat down next to you!

You have done exceedingly well [understatement!!] with your weight loss in the past 12 weeks that you've been on the program, especially with your work commitments/food availability in-transit!

Hopefully you will be able to make it to the next Sydney Cohen's group meet-up in June, or if you wanted to meet-up some other time than that would be good too...maybe a coffee or a picnic lunch?

Take care,
Eve

[highPRF]

"Here's a little song I wrote, you might like to sing it note for note, don't worry, be happy " - Bobby McFerrin 1987.

Yep, who would have thought, I'm finally back in the 80's. I've been a bit busy with work lately, away quite a lot so haven't had much time to post and keep up with everyone. I have been reading some diaries, but there are so many new ones here !!

Jumped on the scales on Monday to discover I had just slipped under that 90s mark. When I updated the ticker I found I was 2/3rds of the way there, only another 13kgs to go....at the start I didn't think I would make it, now I have no problem seeing the end !

Not sure if anyone else has had this problem, I'm sure someone has, but I am still DF (as best I can be with international travel and hotel stays etc). The last 2 or 3 weeks I have just been "over" the food/lifestyle changes. When I first started out I was really keen and eager and had no problems staying DF, recently I have slipped into the role of deciding meal by meal to stay on program rather than day by day like the start. One of the harder things I have found is the convenience factor (especially overseas), I have almost got sick of asking for a green salad, no dressing and no additives to the meat (seasonings, spices etc), also it almost always means having to go in to a restaurant and sitting down and waiting. Anyway, that's life, not much to whinge about really.... I guess I need to sit down and have a look at some new recipes and see if I can mix it up a bit while I am home.

Hope all are well and DF.

Regards
Mike

[FlaMie]

Hello Mike,

Think you are doing great despite your busy schedule and heavy travelling. I can thoroughly understand your difficulties of sticking to Cohen with self prepared food. Even with people at home country, that can be quite a hassle less in your situation. Well, I think you really have very little left to go. Perhaps you just might want to just hang in there with the same manner and hopefully you will be all done in less than 2 months . All the best.

[Mette]

If you read the different diaries on the forum, I think you'll find that nearly everyone is 'over' it, when they reach that last third of their journey. You can see the goal, but you know that it will take time to get there, and the initial eagerness has worn off. What is it they say, 'motivation will get you going, but it is habit that will keep you there'? It gets a bit monotonous with the types of food we can eat on the program, and we start craving new flavours. It's not much longer though, and once you get to the end, you will look back and realise how fast it went!

Oh, and congrats on hitting the 80s!!

Stay strong and keep smiling!

[Kohinoor]

Hi Mike,

Well done, mate !! You are doing so well...

The last 2 or 3 weeks I have just been "over" the food/lifestyle changes.

I read of it often, Mike - the first third of the program is the "honeymoon period" - the initial huge losses, plus the advent of "the zone", the realisation that "some things really do work", and then your first drop in size (maybe two).... The ticker screams along...

Then the second "third" (is that trimester?) drones in, and it drones and drones - your body gets lighter, but it's almost "same old, same old" - the ticker seems to drag....

Fortunately, when one is about to throw the scales out the window, realisation steps in at the beginning of the third trimester. For some, it's when they have "less than 20 to go" - for others, it's getting into those Normal Sizes (where every ~6Kg means another Size down - for the ladies at least - I don't know how it goes for the men ) And then, the "final sculpting" kicks in - the face looks pretty damn good somewhere near the beginning of that final third, enthusiasm kicks in again, and the "Kgs to go" seem to drop a lot more quickly.

"Less than 10Kg to go" shows it face - and the adrenalin, seratonin, etc. seem to crank up again.....


In short, Mike, hang tough - you are about to enter that 3rd trimester !! Then hang on tight..... I've heard it's one helluva ride down to goal !! (and that's where you're headed)

Koh

[highPRF]

Flamie, thanks for dropping by, you are doing so well, all that self-doubt to start and now look at you go.

Mette and Koh, I think you have both described perfectly what I am feeling/going through, I know I am not alone in this. I think Shanara said it well in her diary, something along the lines of "I don't want to focus on food anymore". It seems that all I seem to do when I am away is try and work out what I can have and when I can have it.

I have just had a really stressful day at work with assessments being carried out. Pre-Cohen's I'm sure I would have stopped on the way home from work and gone to junk food shops or a bakery or such and had a big binge, but not this time ! My wife was really pleased that I was staying on programme, just quietly so was I !!!

Stay well all.

Mike

[Mette]

Good on you for not giving in to those old habits!
Your wife must be so proud of you!
Stay strong and keep smiling!

[Shanara]

HI Mike

Wow - look at your ticker. You are doing really well.

I really understand your frustration - yet don't forget I have been doing this for 7 months. Don't let me influence you into giving up - I am certainly not although I am walking this journey on my own way.

So wonderful that your way of dealing with a stressful day has changed. So glad your wife is so supportive. Yes, it feels good when we are 100%.

Keep up your good work
Shanara

[highPRF]

Shanara - Thanks for your comments. Don't worry I am not going to give up, I just have a very stressful and busy couple of weeks so I am just finding that I don't want to have to think about food too much on top of all the other stuff if you know what I mean? Good on you for sticking with it the way you have, keep it up and we will be in refeed in no time.

We had the twins 2nd birthday on the weekend and I got lots of surprised reactions from people who haven't seen me in a while, my own mother was so surprised at the changes just in the last month. All the comments were very reaffirming and helpful. I was tempted by the homemade chocolate birthday cake, but I was good and contented with just a smell !!!!

Anyway, work calls, the sooner the middle of June gets here the better for me !!!

Stay well and DF.
Mike

[highPRF]

Hi All,

Just a quick update to catch up and let you all know how I am going on the journey to a different me.

First of all, finally the stressful time at work is over so hopefully the weight loss might accelerate. I am very pleased with myself for how I have managed to stay on the program especially when old habits with stress were to eat (and not good food !) I replaced the food with the water bottle and had no problem meeting my 2-3 litres a day quota.

Well I went clothes shopping the other day as winter is here and all my jumpers/tracksuits and other warm clothes are too big. So I thought I would start out trying large sizes, no they were too big....hhmmm maybe try a medium.......hhmmm maybe I should try a small !!! (that can't be right, cohens must be affecting my eyesight). So I walk out of the shop in a mild state of shock with a mix of small and medium clothes. I thought I would sit down and look at my journey, 16 weeks and 32kgs gone only another 6kgs to the upper limit of my weight range. Size 46 inch pants now into a 34inch, 3XL/4XL shirts now down to small/medium. I luv ya Dr Cohen.

So I am very close to refeed now, reading with a lot of interest the refeed diaries. I am getting excited again about the end of the program. I am a little over the food as I mentioned above but the end is in sight. The hunger is starting to increase between meals, I have to find ways to distract myself mind you the kids help with that. I have had a sore back (really tight muscles and knots in muscles) for about two weeks now which I have read is a normal thing approaching refeed. Now I just hope I can find time to be at home for a 2 week period when refeed is due.

Wishing you all the bet on your journeys
Mike.

[FlaMie]

Wow nice job Mike! Gratz on wearing size S and M, you must be a sight to watch now!!!

Gratz on nearing refeed too. I still maintain that guys lose the weight way faster! All the best on your remaining journey.

[Kohinoor]

Hey champ,

Geez, you are going well, in spite of those overseas trips. Now, with time off, or stresses dropped, grab a few more early nights and really cream those last few Kgs.

Awesome about the Small/Medium sizes - who would have thought even 3 months ago ?? Mum must be thrilled, along with your wife, and Mr. #1 too. Why not? Helluva walk, Mike, and helluva gains to all aspects of your life. Not long to go now, mate. Go get 'em.....

The hunger is starting to increase between meals, I have to find ways to distract myself mind you the kids help with that.

Might be time to start moving the meals around, Mike - Meal2 or Meal3 in the morning to get you through to lunch. Or, if afternoons are the problem, perhaps save Meal3 for lunch. Leaves Meal1 for the evening, but you don't feel so hungry when asleep


Hey, game on, Mike - it's that last "big dipper" on the way to goal - I wonder, have you given much thought to how enjoyable the beaches will be this year for you ? And that Summer heat - NOT a problem to the slim trim version !!

Rock on, Mike - your smile will only get bigger in the next month or two,

Koh

[highPRF]

Thanks Flamie and Koh.

koh, you are right after an early night and no stress another 1kg disappears overnight !!! I was thinking the other day that perhaps it is time to mix up the meals a bit (I have when overseas due time zone differences and such, but not at home) and see if that helps for the last 5-6kgs.

I just realised that I have the lower weight of my goal range displayed, so upper weight is 79kg so only about 5kg to starting to be in the refeed zone!

Funny thing, I was renewing an Income protection Insurance policy and the underwriters were concerned that my weight loss was too rapid. I showed them what I ate and the restrictions etc, I think they have come around, still waiting to hear.

Have a good one
Mike

[highPRF]

Hi All,

Well finally back home from another trip overseas. I did fairly well except for one day which was out of my control, so i had to eat as best I could staying close to the Cohens's principles.

Before I started Cohen's my biggest concern about the program was how I would mange while overseas (basically home for a week and then overseas for a week). Well all I can say to others is that you can do this program while traveling. I have just finished week 17 and I have lost 34.4kg in that time, so an average of 2kg a week isn't too bad in my books. Imagine what my progress would have been like if I controlled all my food during that time!

So, I am eagerly looking forward to the next stage. Now I just have to try and find the time at home to complete refeed, which from looking at others diaries looks/sounds pretty fiddly or complex, depending on how you look at it. Hopefully it will be a shorter refeed rather than longer.

Any advice from anyone about when to order refeed ? I have 3.6 kgs to go to my upper limit and my lower limit is still 6.6kgs away. The hunger is starting to creep up on me between meals now (but still manageable) and my backache just won't go away (tight muscles and knots, anyone else have this ?)

Anyway, hope all are well.

Mike

[FlaMie]

Hey Mike,

Guess we are experiencing the same effects. I've got another about 5kg to go to order refeed if I count by 2kg above my goal weight (54 being the higher goal weight). OMG! I just realised it is even nearer!!!!! Something keeps telling me 7kg...aaaahhh I'm excited all over again.

I do get hungry sooner in between meals and the backache - gosh! sometimes they do become so unbearable. According to my clinic, this is due to the loss of fats around our backbone. What used to be weighing on the backbone is suddenly lifted and the backbone needs time to 'straighten' so MAKE SURE you straighten your body! I find that I was hunching a bit - could be due to the impact of the weight on my back. When I stand up tall...wow, love the new look.

Looks like we could be at refeed together. You might want to go and discuss it with your clinic. In any case, just push till you can't tolerate any more mate! All the BEST!

[highPRF]

Thanks Flamie, I was going to stick it out as long as I can. Us guys seem to have a higher bottom goal weight than you gals (BMI wise mine puts me at 24.0 something where as the girls are closer to 22 or 21) so I imagine you get the refeed symptoms worse than us. Keep going and I will see you in refeed.

Mike

[highPRF]

Well, it's been a while since I have posted. For those who have posted and supported my journey, thank you. I had my 20 week blood test today and weigh in to find myself "living in the 70's" (to quote a skyhooks song). Yep, the scales smiled at me today with a weight of 79.7kgs (700gms from the top of my goal range !)

I was worried about being able to complete refeed with my lifestyle (overseas for a week or two then home for 4-7days and repeat) but after speaking to my clinic I am now reasonably happy that I will be able to complete something very closely resembling refeed (sounds like my cohen's journey so far.)

So I will keep going as long as I can to try and get to the bottom of my goal range and just see where I end up. My clinic has given me a few ideas/suggestions on how to cope with timings for starting refeed, so I'm happy to keep going at this stage.

I have said it before, but for anyone who is struggling with the program, at the end of the day we are responsible for what we put in our mouths. I managed to lose 37+kgs while living on planes and in hotels overseas for at least half my time (37kgs in 20 weeks !!!!), so do not use lifestyle as an excuse !!!!

Hope everyone is well. I will try and catch up with you in refeed land.

Regards
Mike

[fornight]

Originally Posted by highPRF

I was worried about being able to complete refeed with my lifestyle (overseas for a week or two then home for 4-7days and repeat) but after speaking to my clinic I am now reasonably happy that I will be able to complete something very closely resembling refeed (sounds like my cohen's journey so far.)

This lifestyle sounds Reeeeally familiar to me.

Originally Posted by highPRF

I have said it before, but for anyone who is struggling with the program, at the end of the day we are responsible for what we put in our mouths. I managed to lose 37+kgs while living on planes and in hotels overseas for at least half my time (37kgs in 20 weeks !!!!), so do not use lifestyle as an excuse !!!!

I was a little worried about what will happen if I need to resume my old lifestyle before refeed. I was suspended from business trips due to back problems but there is no telling when they are going to send me out again since my back is getting better now. You definitely put me back to perspective!

[FlaMie]

Oh wow gratz Mike for hitting refeed so soon. Sigh, the beauty of being a guy - u guys lose it so much faster than we gals do. Anyway, I'm happy for you even though we can't be there together