Birthday Plans?

[rnrjay]

I need some help - it is my birthday in a few weeks time and I am not sure what I do about cohen's etc. My darling husband and teenage children will want to cook me breaky in bed, take me out to dinner and give me a birthday cake.

What do others do in this situation?

Thanks

[cathbug]

Give them a challenge to replace each birthday food treats with something non-food.
A massage as you eat your cohen friendly breakfast. A dessert from the cohen's recipe book. Gee, I'd love someone to weigh and bag up a couple of weeks worth of meat portions - that would be priceless.

Maybe you're like me and using food as my treat/reward got me here in the first place. Match your new lifestyle with new birthday traditions.

[kenga]

Hi Rachel! I haven't had a BD whilst on Cohen's but Mother's Day was not long ago.

I'd just stick to 100% Cohen's food - breakfast in bed could be eggs in a festive plate + flowers, dinner could be Cohen's friendly and ordered in advance --fish/steak/chicken + salad [dressing on the side], baked apple could be turned into luscious b/day treat with candles and other non-food decorations.

You will have many, many more b/days in the years to come when you'll be able to have other food.

Celebrations are about more than food - I'm sure your fabulous family will be happy to organise a Cohen's friendly BD for you.

The thing is, I have the feeling that if you give yourself permission to deviate it will make you feel bad/guilty + it will most likely slow down your progress. Why do it?

Good luck and Happy Birthday [in advance]!

[forfreddie]

Hi Rachel

Congrats on your decision to embark on this programme. I am new too so by no means and expert but I have been thinking about a few of the issues you raise in your post.

This journey is not just about weight loss but about addressing the many factors that have contributed to us being where we are. Can I suggest that, like me, you have used food to mark every success, celebration, reward and also failure and this is now what your family see as the norm and think will please you.

Maybe you can tell them that food is not going to be the focus of your celebration this year but they could treat you in other ways - foot massage, doing some household chores, going for a family outing somewhere or whatever you think you might enjoy that contains no calories.

There will be plenty more years in the future when you can have your cake and it eat it - literally.

Hope you find some ways to enjoy this year and be Cohen friendly at the same time.

ff

[mcpsych]

Mine was yesterday
I was very clear leading in that it was a normal day
my students wanted to get me a cake but I advised them of the restrictions and they opted for a card
ultimately, it is how much you want this
they might be disappointed for one day but think of all the other days you willbe giving them in exchange

[Shanara]

Hi Rachel,

Somewhere in this forum is a very well written post by, i think, SMS.
In it he says there is always a reason; a birthday, someone's wedding, an engagement, great aunt freddie's bahmitzvah, the list goes on and on.

Ultimately it is about how much it means to you, your health that is.

Somehow we have equated celebration with food. Throw down the challenge to your family - how creative can they be to celebrate in ways other than food. OH, cake - so predictable! What can they come up with - it might surprise both you and them.

Shanara

[louise41]

My bf is always very pleased with himself when he comes home from shopping with cohen friendly food for me. The only problem I have is can go a bit overboard with the quantities. He will present me with a cut up orange with as must pomp and ceremony as if it was a chocolate cake. Maybe tell them what it is that would mean the most to it! You know how hard it is to come up with a gift or surprise that someone will really appreciate - so give them some very unsublte clues.

[Gremlin]

If they do want to make you food, just make sure they know your definition of 'special' food has changed. I'd be wrapped with a piece of sirloin cooked nicely and steamed gem squash for my bday dinner! Or maybe they can source you your favourite har to find fruit (for me...mango!)....

Or maybe you're a prawn cocktail kinda gal....eitherway, there are some cohen friendly stuff that is delicious but not practical enough that you eat everyyy daayyyyyy which they can use to spoil you without you ending up feeling guilty!

[mcpsych]

diamonds darling
works for my wife everytime

[jlou]

they might be disappointed for one day but think of all the other days you will be giving them in exchange

And this is about you - it is your birthday not theirs. You are giving yourself the gift of good health and a good life.

If they are upset about you not wanting a cake, please have them read this thread (or if you are tempted to still have one, have a read yourself )

http://newyouforum.com/forum/showpos...83&postcount=2

[shuki]

I would use it as an excuse to get more non food presents - play the sympathy card Hee Hee....that's what I will be doing in Sept.

[WSM]

Originally Posted by mcpsych

diamonds darling
works for my wife everytime

Bahaha! Divine Husband bought me a new set of knives and step-sons bought me cookbooks! Instead of going out to dinner, we stayed in and made it more about spending time together. Believe me, for me it's alllll about food, but we just switched the focus to 'things I can do with food'. I love the idea of diamonds though Mark!!!

Pardon me if I'm reading into this too much but it sounds like the the birthday 'actions' were about pleasing you, and they were all focused around food. I agree with others that this is your birthday, not theirs and that you need to re-focus their attention on what you want (not them, after all, they are just beautiful children and they only know what they know). How impressed would you be in they actually delivered you a Cohen's meal? Plus, it's setting a presedence for next time... Train them into different habits!!! Oh, and I think it was Kenga who had the incredible 'mothers day apple' - I think (whole) peeled, sprinkled with cinnamon and then into the microwave for a little while. Being fruit, you can have a dessert.

Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!