Tuti take two

[Tuti]

Day 1 done & dusted.

Yoghurt & mango for breakfast, Fatija salad for lunch and Chicken Stir Fry for dinner.

Spent time yesterday weighing my chicken, fish and beef portions for freezing and will make some chicken and beef rissoles today. I like to have something that I can just grab out of the freezer to heat up in the microwave just in case.

I had some favourite recipes last time and will have to go back through my old diary to suss them out.

I am feeling a bit headachy and ordinary today. I think hay fever is the cause for some of that.

Cant wait to get through the next couple of days.

[Kohinoor]

Hi Tuti,
I caught sight of your Diary Request, and thanks for that. It's good that you have started your diary too. This will probably remain this way for the duration.

Way back when, we "moved you to Personal Diaries" after a time, but in reality, this "New Diary" works just as good, so we don't go into all the rigmarole of "moving you". Later on, you can start up a post in Refeed and Maintenance (or re-use your old ones - either way, your choice).
Good to see you back again, and here's to getting into the Zone really quickly !!

Koh

[Tuti]

Thanks Koh. I went back and had a read of my previous diaries. Had a read of the maintenance one this morning for a bit of motivation. I am so
glad that I regularly wrote in those diaries. It will definitely help me this time.

[Winterboots]

Welcome back Tuti . I know that seems strange as one may think that it shows that you need to come back however I think coming back shows that you are committed to make a lifestyle change and won't be defeated. Oh how wonderful life would be if once we lost the weight, it was never to return!!


I love my mango and yogurt for breakfast. It has become my staple for the past year.


I had a flick though some of my old diaries the other day and it is surprising how much you forget. I have never been one to keep a diary so this forum is the only place where I can go back and trigger old memories.



Wishing you a smooth journey
WB

[Tuti]

Thanks WB You know I actually forgot about Cohens and in the last couple of years I have half heartedly tried a few different "diets". Of course with no success. I was so sick of myself and just didn't know what to do..and then saw Cohens mentioned somewhere. Well it was like a light bulb going off in my head. I had continued to eat Cohens food for years after I finished my maintenance that I kinda forgot about the plan I know it works and now that I have started again I kick myself for not thinking about it earlier.

[Tuti]

Day 2.
Egg and veggies for brekky, Chicken Stir Fry for lunch and flake and veggies for dinner.
Had a rotten headache mid morning and had to have a couple of aspros. Felt a lot better in the afternoon.
I had a look through the recipes on this site and remember a few favourites from last time so will incorporate them into my menu..especially the Chicken nuggets

[Tuti]

Day 3. Yoghurt and mango for breakfast,
Flake and veggies for lunch and Fatija salad for dinner.

Sticking to a set menu this week and then hope to try a few different recipes.

Feeling a lot less bloated than before I started

[Tuti]

Days 4 & 5 - Egg and veggies for breakfast, Fatija salad & Chicken patties for lunch and Chicken patties and Salsa steak for dinner.

The last few days my legs have been aching so I have started taking magnesium. Must be my fat cells screaming out for sugar
Hoping that the serotonin kicks in soon. I was feeling pretty hungry and tired yesterday.
Apart from that ... all good!

[Kohinoor]

Hi Tuti,
For one mad moment there I thought you were mixing proteins :-

Fatija salad & Chicken patties for lunch and Chicken patties and Salsa steak for dinner.

... but of course, these were the lunches and dinners of two different days, right?

Whew !! Had me going there.....

Roll on the Seratonin Fairy !!
Koh

[Tuti]

Day 6 - B - Yoghurt and Mango, L- Chicken snitzel & Gravy D- Prawns and veggies
Day 7 - B - Egg and veggies, L- Prawn and veggies, D- Chicken snitzel and gravy.

Feeling good now. No more aching legs, tiredness or cravings.

I have decided I need something else to concentrate on besides Cohens. I find it becomes all consuming sometimes thinking about the next meal, shopping etc. So I have decided my garden is going to get a lot more attention.
For the first time I am endeavouring to grow some veggies and flowers from seed. I figure I can watch them grow and hopefully produce some veggies or flowers while I am on this journey. They are shooting already so thats a start.
We have quite a big garden which we have neglected a bit over the last year. With the energy levels good now, I have planted lots of flowers in pots and in the garden and we have cleaned up a huge area at the back of our house which I am thinking of planting with flowering ground cover.
I figure I will probably finish refeed in April 2019 so that takes me right through summer & autumn and my garden should be looking a picture of colour in that time.
Like Cohens I will take before, during and after photos to see how the garden has come along

[Tuti]

Glad the first week is done and dusted and I didn't give in to cravings.

Week 2 - Day 1 B- Egg and veggies, L= Chicken Stir Fry, D- Fatija salad
Day 2 B- Yoghurt and mango L- Flake and veggies, D- Crispy Chicken fingers & veggies.

[jessy]

Good on you Tutie for staying strong... we know the pay off getting to the end...

[lessthan10]

Hi Tuti

Great going. I've also finished week 1 on Monday. Wasn't that difficult this time I must admit...I'm hoping that my heads finally in the right place and all the diaries I've been reading have been helping a lot.

Hoping to start a diary soon as well.

Take care

[Tuti]

Thanks Jessy.

lessthan10 I found reading through my old diary and some of the recent ones helpful too. Thats why I decided to start the diary. 10 years ago there was a lot more people on here and they were very friendly and helpful. The forum can be a great support. Good luck with you plan

W2 Day3 - B Egg & veggies L- Fatija salad and D- Chicken snitzel.


I am really surprised how well I am feeling in such a short time. It is quite incredible really.
Before I started I would wake up and my body was stiff and I just struggled to move freely. I think it
must be inflammation in the body as I have only lost a few kilos. Probably the effects of sugar.

[Tuti]

Starting Week 3 today!

My menu has been pretty much the same as the previous week.

Yesterday I woke up with a headache and felt pretty tired & hungry all day so I ended up going to bed early. I found last time when I had a "hungry" day I usually had a good drop in weight the next day.
And that was the case. I am 4.2kg down for the first two weeks. I would have been happy with that for the month!

I had mozzarella and veggies for the first time for brekky this morning...YUM...forgot how good it was

[Tuti]

Had a bit of a bounce on the scales this week..went from 75.2 to 75.6 and then back down to 75.1 this morning. However my scales seem to stutter around 400gms one way or the other.

Feeling fine since a hungry day on Monday.

I am heading away for a few days this weekend so am already thinking about meals to take away with me.
I have accèss to a small cooktop so will be able to cook some of my meals.

The hardest part will be explaining to friends why I am not eating with them or drinking. I hate having to explain.

[Tuti]

Four weeks down and I have lost 5.6kgs with another 10-13kgs to go.

I did not deviate while away for a few days but it was a bit of a mental struggle at times.

My weight loss has slowed down a bit however I am not surprised. I am still on track to lose a kilo a week and I am happy with that. My measurements have come down and I have moved from a high risk BMI to a med risk and am very happy with that. I have put a lot of weight on my waist the last 12 months so to lose eight cms in four weeks means I am feeling a lot more comfortable and all my jeans are loose.

This week I am going to try and change my meals up a bit. I have been having the same meals most days and am getting a bit bored with them.

[lessthan10]

Good day Tuti

That's a wonderful loss and congratulations for staying deviation free. I know the struggle too well.

I also don't have too much to go. Weighed in after three weeks and had lost about 4 kgs. 8 to go. So yes, just like you I don't have a lot to go.

I just read through your old dairies...maintenance and refeed as well. It's awesome that you maintained for so long. How did you manage to maintain for most of the time.

I am finding that the diaries are helping me to stay deviation free and also pass some time when I'm tempted to cheat.

Take care

[Kohinoor]

Hi Tuti,
Going well, you little champ!! And LessThan too !! Go you too

Tuti, LessThan's comment about you maintaining for quite some time had me thinking of this topic:-
Calling Maintainers - your views on how/if you are keeping the weight off

Would you mind putting a reply in there, to help others who are wondering if maintaining is even possible? I like to get fresh views from everyone who is a maintainer, as you all get to learn so much - and then share it.

One reply I just read in that topic said this - "A bit of chromium in the water staves off sugar cravings."

Who knew? I had all but forgotten about chromium picolinate !! It was a good reminder. Care to share your learnings too?

Rock on,
Koh

[Tuti]

Thanks LessThan10. You will fly through. I lost about the same as you the first time and it really didn't take that long.
Back then I did follow the maintenance rules for when I felt like chocolate or alcohol. I think that helped a lot as it didn't effect my weight. I also followed exercise programs to keep fit. I really like Michele Bridges programs.
It was only when I couldn't do any form of exercise because of Calcific tenditis in my shoulder that I really started to put the weight on. That coupled with coming into menopause.
I like reading the diaries when I have a chance too. It is motivating.

Koh, I bought some Chromium when I started Cohens this time because I thought I might really struggle with sugar cravings but I haven't needed it.

I have kept quite busy so haven't posted as often. It is so good to feel energetic and not like a sloth sitting on the couch all the time. And my garden is looking great
Down to 73.1kg so 6.5kg gone and gee it has made a difference.