New Members, give yourself a boost !!

[Kohinoor]

Tonight, I just felt the need to post this Maybe I should've posted earlier..... I just witnessed - perhaps - the loss of another new chum..

I've noticed some "fold" by hanging out for their "4 week weigh-in". I know, it's part of the instructions - and, for those that can hold out, I'm sure it's all been good.

How about those that DON'T make it (because they were missing the "boost"). Let me explain it this way :-

Anything new is exciting, but it can also be scarey !! So, if that scareyness can be diminished, isn't that good?

For mine, I believe that any NEW journey needs EARLY affirmation of it's success. If only to ADD to the resolve of those taking their first tentative steps....

So, for you newer people, I reckon you should jump those scales early on - here's why :-

1. Seeing REAL results (good ones) can BOOST your resolve so much !!

2. It confirms that you are doing things RIGHT !! And, if not, you get to resolve the problem without losing a MONTH before you find out that you are doing something wrong !!

I ache for those who might've given up too early by "trying to stick to the rules" - harrumph, rules are meant to be broken, especially if they restrict YOU on your journey !! Break the SCALES rule rather than the food rules though - it might be ALL you need to hang in there.

The monthly weigh-in is desired IF you are the kind of person who needs to see losses DAILY to remain "up". Daily and even weekly losses are not guaranteed - over a month, though, things remain surprisingly stable.

Despite all that, an early affirmation that "This is working" can help new chums to hold fast against their own minds (and sometimes the rantings of others who are not overly supportive).

So, new people, jump those scales early on (5 to 10 days in) - and give yourselves a boost to your resolve

Koh

[April]

Thank you and well said!

I am 1 week in (officially) but have been applying the prinicples and been off all of the not allowed foods for 2 weeks. I was struggling a few days into the program proper and had to weigh myself. I was thrilled to see I had lost 4 kilos and it was just what I needed to remain positive and focused!

April

[zojoho]

Thank you so much for your post Koh. I agree with you that some of us, not All, but some, need that "boost" you speak of, to keep us going in the right direction.

I have been trying my darndest to adhere to the NO WEIGHING rule, but failed after Day 2 (weighed myself first thing on Day 3 morning) and jumped on the scales, only to find that in those 2 measly days, I had already loss 3 kgs..*shrugs* I couldn't help it, curiosity got the better of me.

Now that I have "permission" to do weigh-ins, I'll be jumping on them there scales first thing Saturday morning. Anything to keep me motivated and focussed.

[Denise]

Hi

Just on my second day of the program and so far, so good. Just taking it one minute at a time at the moment.

Thanks for all the useful comments and discussions in this forum.

Denise

[sundaymorningstaple]

For the ladies, it can also spell disaster when they start to gain weight instead of losing it due to TOM. Frankly, I'm inclined to go with Dr. C's recommendations of monthly if at all possible unless your head is firmly in the place it should be. I was and still am a chronic daily weigh-checker at the same time every morning almost without fail. But, I am also a very analytical person so the scales are only giving me data and not grief because I already know I'm going to lose the weight just by following the programme as it was designed to be done. I also know our bodies are cyclic. However, not everybody is like that, an often the first flat spot while your body is "integrating" will fluster and bum out the most hardcore IF they are not prepared for it. So I'm gonna have to disagree on the daily weighing even though I did it.

The best measure of things happening is your clothes feeling decidedly looser. That's the best uplift you can have. The numbers are immaterial. It's the size change you really need to look for.

[Laura77]

Today is my 11th day on cohens, Its my second time round, this time I am 100% determined to stick to it! I havent weighed myself.. I plan on doing that on Monday, so it will have been two weeks... I cant wait ive been looking forward to it for the last 11 days! I really want to loose big numbers within my first six weeks, but Im trying not get my hopes up too much, I know if i stick to it the weight will drop when its good and ready too!

[thenewvee]

Hi Koh!
I have to agree with your sentiments.
For me, seeing the results early are what keeps me motivated!
This is my second time around after having successfully completed my first time, however, emotionally I don't think I really accepted the new slimmer me, and so after having gained quite a bit of weight back, I'm here to complete the process!
I'm only on my second day, and the fact that I lost 1/2kg in the first day excites me and keeps me very motivated!

Vee

[amouage]

Originally Posted by thenewvee

Hi Koh!
I have to agree with your sentiments.
For me, seeing the results early are what keeps me motivated!
This is my second time around after having successfully completed my first time, however, emotionally I don't think I really accepted the new slimmer me, and so after having gained quite a bit of weight back, I'm here to complete the process!
I'm only on my second day, and the fact that I lost 1/2kg in the first day excites me and keeps me very motivated!

Vee

Hi
I am also on my second attempt. I just didn't really get it the first time. This time I will do it though. I had my blood test today and am hoping to be able to start on Monday 1 February 2010.

Wish me luck - and all the best to you too!

[baloo]

It's a double edged sword.

For everyone that's lost the focus because they didn't weigh often enough I reckon there is 5 that start to feel stressed out, a failure and a fear that the programme isn't working for them simply because they weigh too often.

A balance needs to be found that keeps you motivated without demotivating you at the same time.

Even I, who I think of as fairly analytic and rational, went through a bout of doubting the programme because I plateau'd. I became so determined (stressed) to work out exactly why I wasn't losing weight as fast as I perceived I should have that I was trying to 2nd guess the Doc.

So weigh enough to keep you focused but don't allow yourself to put phased by the scales.

I lost 50kg in 6 1/2 months. Looking back on my anxiety levels because I had a week or two of minimal loss is laughable now, but at the time it was all consuming.

[littlemiss]

I don't have scales - easy! No temptation to weigh myself daily. I am however very interested to find out how much weight I've lost. The last time I weighed myself was several weeks ago before I started the programme.

Guess I'd have to find out when I find a (non-public) scales sometime. By the way, why are there public scales? Who weighs themselves in public, and pays for that humiliating privilege? Oh wait, skinny people.

I have to admit that I'm glad that I don't have scales at home - I don't want to obsess about every kilo I've dropped (or not) every day. I don't know how much weight I've lost but I do feel that I've lost some weight.

I get my motivation from seeing how baggy my clothes are. I have a pair of trousers that I can pull up and down like sweatpants. Much too big now!

[thefullrose]

Hi All,
I am at day 5 today and thinking that the weekend will be my biggest challenge (it is ok at work when you are busy all day with customers in front of you and can only eat on your breaks - to not get hungry and also not be tempted by all the food around you at home/shops etc). Pommigal and I did relent and weighed ourselves at day 4. We needed the boost it has given us. The headaches and cranky day have been a bit hard, but hopefully we over that now?????
Thefullrose

[amouage]

Good luck!

[blupenomore]

Hi Everyone,
I'm just kicking off day 3 and have found it quite easy so far. I did have the challenge of an Australia Day morning tea at work yesterday (set up in my work area) but managed to get through it - cut up my apple and had that with everyone. I also looked at the food as being poison to my system so there was nothing that look appealing. I haven't felt hungry at all yet but did have headaches which sometimes got confused as hunger....luckily they have seemed to pass this morning. BIG challenge today with Australia Day celebrations but feel strong enough to get through.
Thanks to this site I made my decision to kick off Cohens so thank you all for your posts and diaries.

[amouage]

Hi Blupnomore
I am waiting for my program and have spent the day reading diaries. Try asi's diary, if you haven't already. She is so inspirational. I'm hoping to start on or around the 1st Feb, depending on when I get my plan.
Good luck - be strong like asi.

I'm hoping to feel much healthier at Easter than I did at Christmas.

We can do it.

Amouage

[Gem]

Hey Everyone,
It's great to read all about what people are doing.
I am at day 11, and enjoying the lifestyle change. Although Australia day was hard as the party was at my place! But got throught it and had my one week weigh in and am down 7.3
Will wait now untill week 4 but was happy with my first weeks efforts and it was a nice form of encouragement.
All the best to everyone else. Keep up the good work.

[Ann]

Originally Posted by amouage

Hi Blupnomore
I am waiting for my program and have spent the day reading diaries. Try asi's diary, if you haven't already. She is so inspirational. I'm hoping to start on or around the 1st Feb, depending on when I get my plan.
Good luck - be strong like asi.

I'm hoping to feel much healthier at Easter than I did at Christmas.

We can do it.

Amouage

Hi Amouage
Did you start your program today?? I did would lile to communicate with someone who is on the same time frame as me!

Ann

[giddyupgirl]

Hi all,
I am a chronic scale hopper, every morning I have to weigh myself, it is my version of an OCD. Thank goodness I have lost weight every day since starting the program 2 weeks ago. My weight loss journey actually started early in October and since that time I have lost 27kg but was starting to faulter. I started on the Cohen's program for the support that it could offered me. I was doing pretty good on my own, but I hope to do better with the extra help and encouragement that I have witnessed on this forum.
cheers
GUG

[Kaelshay]

Hi All

I need the scales to help motivate me, I know that weightloss goes in cycles and am fine with sorta platauing scale wise but still shrinking size wise (which has been the last week - or it could have been the too much onion I was eating lol)

Kael

[Kirsten]

Hi to all newbies. I started on the 1st of February. I have always been a chronic meal skipper so it has been good to be organised with my meals and to be eating regularly. I am wary of the scales as during the second week I decided to weigh myself halfway through and according to the scales I had lost a few kilos - cant remember how many - anyhow I was doing the happy dance but then at the end of my week when I usually weigh myself I did and I hadn'e lost as much weight as i had - infact think i thought I had lost almost 4kg and actually I had only lost 1.6. Still a great result and I am not complaining at all - just now know to stick to once a week if I am going to routinely check my weight so as to avoid disappointment. I am so pleased to have found this forum too - it is really inspiring so thankyou to you all and keep posting.

[jlou]

Hi Kirsten

It's good to work out early what works for you with the scales - different strokes for different folks.

Looks like you are doing well so far so keep up the great work! And don't be shy - why not start a diary in the New diaries section???

jlou