Weight Loss Journals - petecohen.tv

It makes such a difference to my mood. I LOVE the sunshine.

Yesterday I ate well until tea. Went to a cupcake judging competition (when was that ever going to be a good idea?). It was great - cupcakes and tea for dinner, but OMG did we get a sugar rush. I felt sick and drunk. It taught me that cupcakes and tea are not a good dinner choice & I think I've had enough sugar fo last me a lifetime.

Today I'm eating short grain brown rice to make my tummy smile again.

You can see what the competition was like here:
http://thecakedcrusader.blogspot.com/search/label/iron%20cupcake

I am in a real doing mood today - watching Biggest Loser Aus Couples and doing chores at the same time.

Day 7 and still going strong (except for the cupcake sugar avalanche)

Sezza

I'm up to day 6 and I feel much better. The sun is out and the sky is a vast blue expanse with not a cloud in sight. I just love the sun!

I've been really focusing on eating slowly, and after the initial anger at filling up before I've finished my plate (yes seriously, I felt short changed) I am now learning to listen to my stomach instead of my head.

I've got 2 more days off work and have been off since last Weds. This is a lovely relaxing break and I've been getting out in the fresh air each day. I'm tidying up today as I've lost my pedometer and I want to get my steps up to 10,000 a day.

Planning on cooking with lots of short grain brown rice this week as I've discovered just how much I love it.

Hope you're all well

Sezza

I've decided to restart the 21 days (in time fro the Vitality Show!)

Have booked myself in at 8:00 every day for the next 21 days for a theraputiic listen and reflect.

Day one today and I'm packing for my journey:
rice/porridge cooker
cookbooks
organic deliveries
attitude

I will NOT be packing the duck (sorry duck, you've been all over me lately!)
or the chocolate & alcohol

Will try and blog daily too

Sezza

Hope you're all well.

I've decided to blog again, with mixed feelings. The trouble is, the more I focus on something, the more it is on my mind constantly. I can blog that I've had a brill day/week/month but then get sideblinded by the wrong food and it just takes me ages to recover.

Over the last 4 months I've learnt that sugar is like crack, white wheat & simple carbs wipe me out and alcohol just doesn't agree with me.

During the month of Jan, we always give up alcohol. This year was the same, except, I haven't gone back to it as I had a glass of red one eveing in Feb and it just didn't agree with me.

Wheat is the same, I had cut it out to try and cure my long-standing water retention. It really worked and 6 days of no wheat, dairy or alcohol and I'd lost 5cm off my waist and 1cm off each ankle. One Sunday, about a fortnight after cutting all this out, I was a bit short of ideas for dinner so decided to open a pack of fajita's to cook with some chicken & veg. All healthy stuff and a few flour fajitas couldn't possibly hurt could they?

Well the next day I finally woke up feeling like I had been drugged. I was aching all over and had flulike symptoms - stuffy, snotty nose. I had a horrid taste in my mouth (one that I link with candida overgrowth) and literally struggled into work 15 mins late. I very nearly called in sick, but how can I be sick when it is food related? It was self-induced and I had to struggle into work.

All day I felt down and flat. I was wading in treacle and just looked forward to getting the day over with. It was such an extreme reaction, probably brought on by the fact that I had completely cut out all wheat products for 16 days.

I'm learning slowly what suits my body and my next mission is to learn to respect my body more than others' feelings when I am invited out. This is particularly a problem at my Boyf's family. They cook rich food and I invariably spend the next day on the loo. They also do not take an of my 'latest fads' seriously. At Chirstmas his sisiter said 'you'd better not be on a diet' before I'd even taken my coat off. The result? I got pissed, ate too much cheese and had chronic IBS the next day.

Sorry my first blog after 4 months is a rant. But I fell a little trapped in my body and I'm dreading dealing with other people.

Oh and for those of you who remember me from last year, you may fall off your chairs when I tell you that I haven't had a curry or bottle of wine for 6 weeks! hehe

Hope you are all well, I'll be reading some blogs to catch up with you all and see how you are getting on since Christmas (I can proudly say I am 7lbs lighter!)

Here's hoping that blogging my discoveries and successes doesn't send me into a downward spiral!!

Sezza

I must have paid thousands in my lifetime for diet & fitness. I suppose I'm feeling a bit sensiti ve about money at the moment as I am trying to cut my debts down. Managed to clear my £1000 o/d with halifax last month so I'm very happy as that was bout to cost me £35 per month. I'm now tacking a credit card till March. I suppose I have brought a lot of debt on by myself (well most of it actually!). I really needed the health spa to chill out and I don't regret it, but of course it has to be paid for,
I can pay a class to help me get fit or I can walk to work and use the money for foods that slim. I can pay for a gym membership and not go or I can get up early and do some exercise DVDs or my Wii fit. I can pay to be part of a community that supports me in my weightloss quest or I can journal and speak to my friends who are foing the same.

I'll miss you all but I know that you ar ein good hands. I have to do this for myself and also imcorporate my new fitter healther lifestyle with a fitter bank balance.

So cheerio, I'm so sorry to leave but I can't afford the new prices that are coming.

Life is bout choices and empowerment and I feel like I am going to deal with debts and weight in 2010. And be a success.

Sezza

Thanks for the comments on my last blog everyone.I am still feeling good and my food and mood is continuing to improve still with only one minor blip - netball last night.

We usually have ball skills for the first 30 mins and then a game. It's usually quite relaxed, fair and fun.

Last night we had a new trainer and she was 10 mins late so we started warming up and then organised a game. There was a new girl there too that seemed to be very good at netball and knew all the other ladies who were good.

I got all the positions that the 'good' people didn't want, spent the whole 50 mins running around like a loonie (centre), making mistakes and having these ladies roll their eyes at me and tutt. At one point it was my throw in and someone else grabbed the ball and threw it to 'new super netball chick' and said 'you'd better take this throw in'!

I left feeling shite. I usually feel energetic and bouncy after sme endorphins. Really wanted Boyf to take me for a curry & wine (my crutch) as I felt so bad.

Instead cooked home-made burgers and chips and decided to pack it in and do another Rosemary Coney class instead on a Tues (which I LOVE)

I wonder if these ladies don't have a proper netball team of their own and use this BEGINNERS NETBALL SKILLS course to take their frustrations out on. I may complain to the tutor, but I don't want to be singled out as the unfit one who needs some chances!

I'm brighter today and glad I got that off my chest. I hate competitive sports, I was bullied out the school netball team for being short and I really though this would be more mature.

On a positive I've been walking to and from work all this week so far and taking my own lunches.

Have a good day all.

Yesterday was a great 1st day back at work after my illness and leavve. Everyone was pleased to see me and my line manager is going to assess the work I deal with as he said he was so busy while I was away.
!

I took a homemade lunch of quinoa, pesto, olives & sweet pepper and a pear for mid afternoon. said no to the chocolate biscuits that were being passed around and went to go to aerobics. I took my kit to work and walked to the school hall, only to find a bunch of kids doing karate. The class must have been moved for half term.

So today it's keep-fit part II and, again I have my kit ready for Netball tonight.

I have so much energy. I think the good food, multi-vits and 5-htp are really staring to make a difference.

Hope everyne has a good day - I'm off to find an brolly for the walk into work.

Sezza

I'm broke (too many treats), no good with alcohol (can't stop when I start) and I get into work at 10:00 (because I have flexi and I can). So this month's intentions are:

Leave home between 7:45 and 8 to walk to work

No spend (I have a freezer of food that could last till christmas)

Alcohol Free

Take my multi-vits religiously!

Thought I'd share that you can buy a pack of plasters from paperchase and it comes with a free toy - a rubber duck with horns that fits on top of your pen!

They are called devil ducks bandaids - I couldn't get a link to show you the picture unfortunately.

I'm calling this day 7 as I have been detoxing since last week!

Thought I'd better blog as I was in danger of a 5,000 work essay on Sue's blog comments.

As I said, I am much better at recognising that full feeling. Since the spa break I feel like I have a stomach the size of a walnut. It's no bad thing, but last night I did leave a lot of food on my plate and it looked like I hadn't touched it!

I've been rediscovering my love of soups. Normaly I make either curried veg soup or carrot & coriander, but lately I've been experimenting with different blends.

Yesterday I made for the freezer:
Chestnut mushroom soup
Fennel, broccoli & romenesca soup

I'm off out now to stock up on veg so I can make:
curried parsnip soup
Butternut Squash, carrot & rosemary soup
White onion soup

Soup is magic stuff and I can't believe how filling it is if you chuck some shredded chicken in for a main meal.

Stews are also on the radar and tonight is the lovely moroccan lamb tagine ( a newly discovered fave SW recipe thanks to Joolz)

I decided to moderate my alcohol intale this weekend, but after reading Sue's blog I'm actually going to avoid it altogether for the rest of the weekend and feel proud of myself on Monday.

Have a great weekend

Sezza

Hello all

I've just returned from a fabulous 3 night detox break at Grayshott Manor and I can tell you it was the most perfect relaxing, invigorating break alone I have ever been on. I met some wonderfull, interesting people. I forced myself to socialise at the 6pm pre dinner canapes and alcohol free drinks that they lay on fir single guests.

The best bit is that I lost, wait for it.....1/2lb overall!! hehe. I was weighed in and out and I have drank so much water and eaten so many whole and fibrous foods, that I think I'm a bit backed up!

My skin is glowing - the treatments are dreamy - and my eyes are sparkling once again. Several of the guests I met said I looked much brighter on departure.

I'm back to an empty flat so I'm washing and putting away all the goodies. The only 'extra; I purchased was a grayshott diet plate. It has 3 different subtle coloured sections - 50% for veg/salad, 25% for carbs and 25% for protein" meats pulses, lentils and vege alternatives. It doesn't scream 'special plate' , although it is rectangular. Currenlty it is on the worktop as a fruit bowl.

Got 8 episodes of Biggest Loser and I'm off to aerobics tonight....Long may my energy continue.

Hope you all behaved yourselves. I'm off to mooch the blogs now.

Sezza

I'm feeling so much better each day now and I really don't want nasties in my bod anymore. I've just had a hot water & lemon in the caff, instead of my usual coffee!

Already I've been for a bracing walk in the woods with the Boy, taken the tree trimmings to the dump and made a soup.

I've got lots of veg that I need to process or freeze, as I'll be away for 4 days and I can't rely on Boyf to embrace the 3 brocollis & other veg we have in the fridge!

I'm paking for the spa trip as I go along today, as we have few more errands to run (when Boyf gets back from unblocking someone's drains).The washing basket is empty, the ironing is done & away and I feel a bit lost with one whole weekend day left and no domestic chores to do!

I have got all the ingredients in for a lovely chicken roast for dinner as well. I can also pretend that I thought of leaving the leftovers for a few dinners while I'm away!

Hope everyone is enjoying the blustery weekend

If I don't get back on here before I go (chances are I will!) then I'll see you all on Thursday evening when I'll be positively chilled and hopefully lighter, if not in weight then in mental torment...

Sezza

I've woken up full of energy and I've just arranged a 5k walk wiith a friend at 9!

Last night I cooked a delicous chickpea, butternut squash and spinach tagine with some rose harissa. What a delicious spice. I finally found it in Sainsbury's. My friend who came over loved it, especially with the carrot & coriander soup to start.

We were looking online for New Year hols - log cabin for 3 people with fishing and biking. Now I'm looking forward to New Year.

Anyway, best get my pedometer on and ready to start the walking!

Thanks for all your advice over the last few days. I finally feel like the fug is clearing

Sezza

It has just licked, reading Pointos blog, that I may be feeling achy and flu-ie because I've cut out caffeine, egg and milk (the latter 2 a blood food test showed I was intolerant to). My joints ache, my limbs are heavy and I feel fuggy headed.

I always feel like I sould have a full tank of energy and any lull in that causes me to become very introspective. That's why I took a food test to address my energy levels. But since avoiding the culprits, I've felt worse. This must be a witdrawal of caffeine and perhaps not eating the suspect foods (egg is in a LOT of products!)

Ironically I've been eating a lot of meat-free products and they all contain egg. I'm now a bit of a meat & 2 veg kind of eater, which suits my Boyf better. I'm making lots of stews & soups etc.

I'm taking next week off work to go to a healthspa for a bit of pampering and detox. I return on Thursday, so hope that my withdrawals will be over by then for when I return to work the folloing Monday.

Sorry to waffle, but I was in danger of thinking I had something else wrong with me!! Nice to know it's just good old fashioned bad stuff leaving my body!

This morning I could not face work, I ached all over & couldn't get out of bed. I think it was in my head as I managed to shower and travel up to see Joolze.

I've been feeling a little maudlin and introspective lately and I think my foot has slightly depressed me as I haven't been able to even walk.

Anyway Joolze put me on the straight and narrow, gave me a few big squashes from her allottment and some delicious wintry comforty healthy recipes.

I'm feeling more motivated now (even though I sucummbed to a pizza for tea as I defrosted steak chunks instead of mince so I couldn't make burgers!). What a pathetic excuse.

My foot feels much better now after yesterdays laser treatment, and the podiatrist said it didn't need strapping up. So from tomorrow the pedometer goes on and I start walking to work and back. I NEED to get into fitness again.

I've booked myself int o Greyshott Manor Health Spa for 4 days in Halth Term on my own and I am going to so throught Pete's Sort Your Life Out book, detox and exorcise some demons.

Thanks Joolze for todays chat, I hope you are also feeling better for it.


Sezza