Weight Loss Journals - petecohen.tv

Last night I had a 30min taster session of a body combat class. Tonight I tried a circuits class for 45 mins. I can't believe I could do them only 6 months after my hip replacement. I so enjoyed being part of a class and exercising at quite an intense level. I just had a go and I think the work I've done in the gym and pool is soooo helping me get fitter. It was so lovely to feel normal and not an old crock.
I've always thought the classes looked a bit intimidating but I just want to get fit and I want to try anyting that will get me there.
Just thought I'd share cause I'm sooo chuffed.
Love
Shoana xx

Hi Guys
This time in 2 weeks time some of us will be getting ready to go to see Pete in London. I can't wait and it'll be great to meet other Petettes face to face.
We are getting a nice little break organised with a show on the Friday night now booked.
This week has been a little hampered by the fact I managed to poke myself in the eye whilst snatching a bit of gardening on Wednesday night after work and before the light went. I've got a cut and abrasion to the right of my pupil in my right eye which now looks all bloodshot and gruesome!! Didn't think I should swim for a few days incase the chlorine got in or any infection. I also didn't think hanging upside down on a ball would do it much good either. However am back to exercising today.
Stayed the same on the scales this morning which in fairness I think I deserve. Less exercise and the odd bag of crisps or biscuit is creeping back in. so it's time to regrip the knickers as I can't afford to slow my weight loss down at all as it's not exactly flying off me but it was consistently coming down.
I'm still feeling soooo much better and I can see my body changing shape now with the exercise and wonderful eating I'm doing 90% of the time!!
Went out for lunch to the carvery yesterday and I haven't been able to resist it yet this year but yesterday I had a starter size of a chicken tikka salad instead. For me that was a major acheivement!!
So excited that spring is in the air and I can get back into the garden once again. I sell a few plants at work over the year and it funds the developments I like to try to do each year. This year at the side of the house I want to get a new shed, a sheltered seating area and behind the shed a specially designed compost area and general storage area where I can put all my outdoors pots etc.
I'm going to have a swim after writing this and then a wee trawl round the shops and then I'm going to sow a few sweet peas, sugar snap peas and dwarf runner beans. It's so funny how I always feel like I'm starting to wake up again at this time of year. I think I must have been a hibernating animal in a previous life.
I have stolen Ash's brilliant idea of writing a script for the next day of the things you want to do and then following that. I'm sure I get much more done this way.
Anyway I'm rambling now so off to get ready for a swim.
Love to all
Shoana xx

This struck a cord with me today even though I've heard it 10 times already.
From day 7 video
Successful people are focused on the destination. They're not blind to the challenges they're facing on the journey but they focus on what they want and not on what they don't want. In other words they're aiming at what they want and trusting themselves to make the adjustments necessary to get there.If you start thinking that you're going back to old ways then take a moment and ask yourself this question:What's in this for me if I continue to do this programme - what am I going to get out of this? That's how to make it really motivating. If I continue this what am I gonna get out if it? And if you stop and give up what are you gonna get out of that?
Just food for thought when you're flagging
Love
Shoana xx

Hi everyone
I'm still doing the do.
Lost 2lbs this week and another 1 1/2" which I was pleased about. I've had 2 luches out which were a bit testing. Made good food choices with the firat and not so go with the second as it was a Tapas menu and I choose healthy but had too much as it was sooooooooooooooo tasty.
However I do want a normal life and sometimes it lovely to just indulge. However back to reality this morning and I don't want derailed so back to my more sensible portions and choices.
I love that I am being more active and I can see my body shape starting to change.
I've set myself up for the week so I can concentrate on making sure I've time to exercise and eat well.
Am not bloging so much as am trying to spend more time being more active but I am checking in and listerning to the daily videos each morning. They really set me up for the day.
Also your blogs are great to read.
Anyway off now for some much needed down time!
Love
Shoana xx

Review of last 21 days
This is the first day of my 3rd trawl around the 21 days this year. I'm not interested in going to step 4 until I know I can do this consistently.
It's been a good three weeks with only one wobbly 3 days where I ate more than I should but it wasn't a proper binge as I would have had in the past.
My food portions are smaller, I am now eating much more slowly and healthily and am eating as many raw foods and natural foods as I can.
I am now drinking my water consistently and feel so much better as a result.
I am exercising on average 4 times a week and do feel as if I am getting fitter and can see small changes in my shape. I've lost 14" with at least 2" off tummies and hips so it's coming off in the right places.
I have been much more consistent this year so far and have not let anything knock me off course.
I've done 149 of the possible 189 tools over the 21 days.
Not managing to fit in the 30 min walk consistently yet but I think that will come once we get the lighter morning s and when it's not -5degrees!!
Still at a 6lb weight loss which in my eyes is less than startling but I do seem to struggle what with the sedentary job and steroids I have to take for my Rheuma toid Arthritis. Am very pleased with the inch loss however and that keeps me focused.
Have been able to double the lengths I can swim from 30 to 60 in a session and I am also able to do more in the gym and with greater resistence.
Have started to look at some mineral supplements to help with my immune system and I think they are helping.
Going to bed earlier and setting myself up for the next day during the evening so my kits packed and food is sorted. I find that really helps me.
My check list has also made a huge difference to what I achieve in a day.
Patience is still a bug bear, I just want to all to happen NOW!! but I am still on course for looking, feeling and being slimmer, fitter and healthier than I have for a long time.
Looking forward to London in 4 weeks which is the half way challenge for the 50 by 50 girls. Let me know girls if your still up for it and I'll set us a wee March challenge before London.
Anyway all in all I'm really pleased with how things are going. I've struggled all last year with keeping doing the do. I would either do 110% or not at all and I do feel I've turned a corner once and for all.
Just working towards getting the next Russian doll out of it's container!!
Your bloggs as always are brilliant. Ash and Sue thanks for your support, you make a lot of mornings happier. Ayesha - I can really identify with you at the moment and I think we're going through a lot of the same things.
Katfrin - thanks for making me laugh!! Ohhhh there are too many of you lovelies to mention but I think you're brilliant and can't wait to meet a few of you in London.
Off now to do some much neglected housework.
WE CAN AND WE WILL SUCCEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love
Shoana xx

Nearly at the end of my second 21 days this year. Put on a pound this week which was disappointing but went for a carvery lunch and a meal out at night the day before weigh day, so not unexpected. The inches are still coming off and now total 14" lost which is great.
I've found it much harder going the last three days and have been tempted by stuff really for the first time this year. I'm not to worried yet but if these little nibbles and treats creep back in then I'm on a slippery slope.
I will do a review after tomorrow, day 21 and try to re-focus. My trainer is doing an eight week weight management course starting tomorrow night so I thought I'd give that a go to keep my mind focused.
Still doing the swimming and gyming and am still really enjoying the exercise.
Really just doing the best I can each day.
I am pleased with the fact that I am being much more consistent than I used to be but my warning signals are flashing and I think I may need to do a course correction if I don't get back into my right head space tomorrow.
Lots of love
Shoana xx

I had my first wobbly moment today of this year. Managed to scoff a small apple pie and a small bag of wine gums. I had this voice in my head saying "you can have this, you're doing really well" and so I did. I enjoyed them and wasn't going to get upset about it as that doesn't help. Then on the way home I was sitting in the car in a traffic jam andt he voice came back "Just swap lanes and go home, you're knackared and your muscles are tired, just chill out" Luckily for me I decided to go and do my workout by the time it came to make my decision but it was touch and go for 10mins sitting in this queue. This year I haven't had a day like this and it took me a bit by surprise but I'm really glad as I sit here now that I did go to the gym. It would have been so easy not too. I felt so much better for going and it wasn't as hard this time.
I think it's these crunch decisions that you make when the voice is quacking in your head that make the difference between success and staying static.
So pat on the back for me for doing the exercise and a lessoned learned about the food.
I am keeping going. I want too and that's the difference this time.
Love to all
Shoana xx

I've had a busy couple of days with an audit at work and shooting off up to Dundee to see my folks.
Weigh day was postponed until this morning.
I HAVE BROKEN THE 200LB MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now lost 12.25inches with 3 of those off my hips.
Big pat on the back for me.
Inches were a bit variable. I have lost in all the right places but my arms, thighs and calves have increased a little bit, no doubt because of all the hard work their doing just now. I don't mind though cause it's nice to think it's more muscle under there not fat!!
Still feeling really great and it's funny how my attitude to exercise has changed as I was dissapointed not to be able to do the gym on Friday night as I was going up north. Very odd feeling to actually be sad not to exercise.
Went for a lovely walk around my Mum's local park yesterday with her and it was a lovely sunny but cold day. We just wrapped up and got out there. She is doing really well since being really poorly with Pneumonia towards the end of last year. She managed 10 holes of golf x 2 and a swim this week - not bad for being 78!!
I'm really feeling in the groove just now and I feel my life is sooooo much better. I am more in the present instead of dwelling about the past or worrying about the future and again I think the check list helps with that. I feel happier when I wake up and I enjoy my day more. I am having more fun and wanting to have more fun. I was really in a rut of feeling old, tired and lethargic with a " I just can't be bothered anymore" feeling. This is a lovely change and I really feel I've got my life back again.
Still got 43lbs to go but the difference those 7lbs that I have lost have made is huge.
So onward and downward. Thanks guys for your blogs as they really help and a special mention to Sue from Coast who is just outstanding at the moment. Her enthusiasm and joy at what's happening to her is really contagious.
How are the plans coming on for London everyone. Who is still going?
We are going to stay at the Strand Palace and going to see Pete on the Saturday morning chat and then the party at night. It's so great to have this to look forward to.
Anyway enough from me except to say if you didn't quite get the result you were hoping for this week, just review honestly with yourself what you could do to improve for next week. If you did your best then it will be good enough and you will have made progress but just in a way you can't see. A lot of the stuff we are doing is happening on the inside. The fat around are organs is thinning. Our cells are becomming more healthy, Our skin, nails,bones,teeth, hair are all improving and getting stronger. Our heart and lungs are getting the exercise they need to work efficiently. Our liver and kidneys aren't having to process plastic food or too much booze and they are healing and feeling refreshed. These things are difficult to measure but if we let the scales throw us off course then all these little miracles will stop happening. So take it from someone who knows from bitter personal experience, the scales are to be used with a cast iron will of detachment of emotion. Just record the result and wait cause what you are looking for will happen, but maybe you'll have to wait just a little longer than you thought. As Pete says we didn't put on weight overnight and we can't expect it to disappear overnight.
Sorry to be a bit evangelical about it all but it's just how I feel about what's happening to me and I want everyone to share in this cause it's brilliant life changing stuff.
Happy Sunday all
Love
Shoana xxx

Gutted I missed last nights Superfan session. I don't quite know what happened but I didn't put it in the diary and I'm so focused on getting out at night to exercise I just forgot about it.
Went for my swim tonight and managed another 50 lengths with 20 mins exercise in the pool afterwards. I really enjoy doing it now which is such a turn around for me.
So day 10 review day. I think this is the best I've ever done the 21 days, this is the second cycle of the year so far and I am developing the consistency I craved.
I made myself a checklist at the beginning of the year and I find it's really helping me. It's got a list of 22 things I want to achieve each day including the 9 tools. It's also a food diary, an activity diary, and energy level hourly check and finally a colum for daily outcomes. It really helps keep me on track and motivated.
I manage most of the tools every day now that I'm in a routine. I've finally got my ass of the sofa and am managing 4 exercise sessions a week at quite high intensity. With my love for statistics I'm also charting my progess with that.
I know it all sounds a bit anal but I really want to do this and finally walk my talk and get the job done.
My mantra on the xtrainer has become"I'm a lean, mean fat burning machine"!!
I am finding that feeling that this is my way of life now is really helping. When you feel so much better doing the programme it's now too hard not to do it. Once that dawns on you then it is so much easier to accept and just get on with it.
So exercise and commitment to it - Tick
Food - Am eating smaller portions, chewing and eating more slowly, trying plant enzymes after I read that the body needs then with a hot meal as the enzymes you should have are destroyed by the heating process. They are supposed to aid digestion and extract much more goodness from your food.
My energy levels have gone throught the roof, I'm sleeping sooooo much better and just feel clean inside if that makes any sense.
Most of all for me I feel content, happy, I trust the process, some weeks I lose weight and some weeks I don't but I'm making progress every week and sculpting me into the person I want to be. I'm a little bit sad that I haven't done this sooner but I think my 50th going to be really special because I will have achieved the one thing that's been holding me back and making me sad for the last 25years.
I think I am finally making sense of all of the programme and it is just my way of life. I am more disciplined but I actually want to be so I can do all the things that help me. I am taking responsibility for me now.
Anyway I' pretty proud of how well I'm doing and I'm enjoying my life so much more now. So bring on the next chapter.........!!!!
Love
Shoana xx

I can't beliebe how much more energy I have at the moment!!
That's about it really, feeling great and just doing the do
Love
Shoana xx

A good week so far. Swam 50 lengths last night and did 20 mins of exercises in the water. Starting to see the same faces week after week and getting chatting to people which is nice. Tonight worked hard at the gym. No managing to do more which is great too. Am really enjoying the exercise.
Foodwise I am in a wee routine now and am still suprised at how few cravings I have now.
So just doing the do and trying to be consistent.
Hope it's going well with you all.
Love
Shoana xx

I haven't blogged as much this week as I'm trying to do more exercise and less sitting at the PC.
I've had a really good week. Did 4 exercise sessions, 2 swims and 2 gyms. Pushing hard and improving times, weights and reps and certainly starting to feel stronger, more flexible, my balance is improving and I have a glow I apparently didn't have before!!
It's great to be able to do physical things again after my hip op and the viral thing I had.
Food as been healthly, smaller portions, more raw food. All eaten slowly and chewed a squillion times.
All in all I've done evrything I could to do what it takes.
Weigh day Saturday and no weight loss and only a minimal inch loss. Hmmmm.... now I have in the past let the scales derail me and I'm not going to let this happen again.
I might not have had the results I wanted this week but I feel sooooooooo much better that it doesn't matter. My clothesd are looser, I have more energy, I am enjoying the process, I am looking after me and investing in ME. These are the important things I will hold on to until the scales reflect the changes I'm making now on a consistent basis.
I have read some brilliant blogs this week and you guys have helped keep me focused and determined to achieve my goals.
Anyway I hope you all had a great weekend. What are you going to do this week to move yourself forward?
Love
Shoana xx

A quick one tonight cause I'm spending less time at the PC and more time exercising.
Just thought the reviews from the online girls were just brilliant to read this morning.
All things going well. Gymed last night and swimming tomorrow. Really enjoying myself and feeling much better.
Have booked for the Strand Palace Friday and Saturday and for the Vitality show for the Saturday. Going to see Pete's talk in the morning and going to the party at night. How great will that be!!
Just grip those knickers girls and just do it!!!
Love
Shoana xx

Well I reached the 21 days and always feel much better for doing them with consistency and commitment.
Am going right back to day 1 tomorrow to keep up the momentum.
Good day at work. Got lots done, Went for a swim and beat my number of lengths from both sessions last week. Can now do 44 lengths in 30mins follwed by 15 mins of exercises to target all areas of the body.
The more supple and flexible I can get the better I feel, as the arthritis constantly makes me feel stiff and sore. It's funny but I have to get just the right balance to be able to keep going.
So food also been good today and am in a wee routine now. Variety could be better but I'll sort that a bit later down the line. Am feeling a bit time poor so need to think how to best manage my time.
Anyway am off to bed now cause I'm cream crackered!!
Love
Shoana xx

Thought I'd do a wee assessment on myself for January and see how I'm doing.
I am bearing in mind I was too ill to do anything much until the 18th.
Tools
I did 128/180 possible daily tools. Best tool was eating slowly. Worst was walking for 30mins. I do feel like the tools are becomming more like second nature now and I feel much more relaxed about using them as I actually enjoy the results they bring.

Weight
I lost 6lbs. 12% towards my target.
I am still obese but only just.
I am 200lbs and it will be great to break that barrier in February.

Measurements
101/2" lost from all over body
1/2" off right arm
3/4" off bust
1 1/2" off under bust
2 1/2 "off waist
1 1/2" off Top tummy
1/2" off round belly button
1 1/4" off hips
3/4" of right thigh
1/2" off left thigh
When you look at an inch on a tape measure and realise that you have removed a layer of fat that thick from your body it's a great feeling. The inches seem to be comming off from everywhere so that's good.

Exercise

It's taken most of this month to get over the flu etc that I had but I have got back to exercise slowly but with avengence and am building back up to where I was before Christmas. I am mainly walking, swimming and gyming it. 4-5 sessions a week.

Thoughts

I'm really pleased with how this month has gone and the results I'm getting. I don't think I could live any other way now and I have had a consciousness change finally.
I have had to be more organised and disciplined to fit everything into a day but I enjoy doing it now. If I have my lunch made and gym bag packed the night before I am much more likely to go.
Not being consistant has always been my downfall in the past but because I've got such a big thing to look forward to it's really kept me focused. I am going straight back to day 1 after tomorrow to keep the momentum going.
There isn't anything that hasn't gone well apart from not being well this month and I was pleased I didn't use that as an excuse to just give into it.
What has gone well is the exercise, being more disciplined, finding I am enjoying the process more, the huge support from you guys,being more relaxed about it all and just seeing it as another part of my life that is just as important as all the other bits.
Things that have helped me are - you guys, Pete, having a daily check list and food diary,keeping stats to chart the improvement and having lots of nice things to look forward too.
So all in all a good start to the 50 by 50 challenge.
In February
I want to break 200lbs.
Maintain 4-5 exercise sessions without injury
Aim for a weight loss of 2lbs a week
Try more new foods and pamper treats
Make a list of 50 things I want to do this year.
Get back to working with my personal trainer and develop different exercises.
Do at least 150 of the possible 189 tools during the next 21 days. By challenging myself to this it keeps them more at the forefront of my mind.

So that's about it for me. I know it all may seem a bit intense but I need to do this for me and this seems to be working so far. I need to take responsibility and accountability and just get this done. Then...... who knows.. what the future will bring..........
Hope you've all had a great weekend.
Love
Shoana xx