Weight Loss Journals - petecohen.tv

A grand day all round :~)

My tummy hurts - its better than it was but it feels like someone has been jumping on me. It hurts when I drink and when I eat - so I haven't been over doing it. - I can only eat a small amount at a time.
this is a good thing really - might help shrink it!! I thought it was the river water I swallowed on Sunday but my hub and son have it too so its nothing to do with the Tees

Went for a biike ride tonight - enjoyed going as fast as I could go. I had to stop going down the hill at 37 mph as I got a fly in my eye and my risk assessment was that I couldn't afford to get one in the other one. So I had to stop. Still trying to get over that 39mph barrier. I'll do it sometime it;s just a matter of finding the right hill!
We both managed to get up Farnley Lane hill in one go - I stopped three times on that about a month ago. Now we are actively looking for the next hill to conquer. and the next adventure race..

Hi folks, it's been a long while since I've blogged and will be a while again yet as I'm off on my travels again. I have got Pete's book and CDs with me though and have put in my start date ready for my return.

Take care everyone and Keep Going x x

Sorry I have not blogged in few weeks, just not had much to say

After reading cristina blog about starting a fresh – realised that's what I need to do too

I keep starting the 21days, I have it on while making lunch – my mind wanders

Soo tonight I am going to start from the beginning, the introduction, listen to each tool & resource section

I really want to master eating slowly

We go away in 20 days now, I was worried I am not the weight I wanted to be by now
But we will be doing soo much walking, I may lose weight in vegas!
Hubby wants to do a 5 hour walk at zion national park
Food wise, I am going to order kids portions

I watched day 2 today – makes more sense now my niece is trying to walk
Mainly she just cant be bothered, had loads of tests done, all seems fine.
Why do it when you can crawl faster.
Like Pete said you have too at some point
We just turn round sometimes & she is standing to get something

The weekend was not too bad food wise, I drank a lot of red wine

I went to the gym last night for the first time in 6 weeks. I have been doing my DVD's at home
A really good session – I jogged for a whole 1 minute – then nearly died!!
I ache today

I am going to try a Zumba class next week if I can talk a friend into coming with me
Not confident enough to go on my own to the first class

Forget the past & start again

I have not been able to log on to my computer in order to continue with the programme, so I am restarting today.

I am determined to finish this journey. I am now going to listen to my Day 1.

Carnival day was a blast. Ate really well, avoided wheat and sweet stuff very successfully. BUT managed to drink alcohol from 12 noon till midnight!!! Amazingly I didn't get massively drunk as I paced myself and drank loads of water and ate regularly. Didn't even have a hangover on Sunday, just tired.

Sunday was fabulous at the Folk Festival. Hubs and I chilled out but I felt very bloated all day and found myself eating when not hungry - obviously feeding that tired feeling! Was a lovely day nevertheless.

Monday hubs and I went to Bala Lake and had a glorious day lazing by the water. We took a 3 course lunch with us! Greek salad, chicken and ham salad pitta bread (wheat free) followed by strawberries and whipped cream. FAB-U-LOUS!! Tea time we treated ourselves to a small but amazing portion of fish, chips and mushy peas - YUM!!

Tuesday we had a day at home with the boys catching up with housework. Using fridge left overs I made a broccoli, stilton, mushroom and bacon bake and we had it with crusty garlic and tomato bread - delish!

Yesterday I had wheat overload - mainly because we were running out of food in the house. We had croissant for breakfast and decided to take the boys off to the seaside to enjoy the remnants of the summer. So we packed sandwiches and fell into the crisps and cake trap too! I ended up eating everything and predictably feel rubbish most of the afternoon! Last night we took a healthier option and went to the indian, there I was good and ate tandoori with a little rice and salad - too little too late though methinks!

AGain this morning due to no food ended up with two slices of toast for breakfast - REALLY must get to Tesco today. It's a pamper day for me though - pedicure at noon and hair this afternoon. Intend to have lunch out and I shall be having a salad!!!! Need to get a mountain of washing tackled today too before my visit to my best friend in Stockport tomorrow - my kids'll have no clean clothes to wear otherwise!!

TTFN xx

I have been out in the front garden tidying up and planting out pansies but had to come in as it is now dark at 20:10hrs. Before we know it it will be winter.
I haven't been overeating today.
I have saved an orange for after I have done some inside clearing up.
I have been to my Pilates class today.
In fact so far September has been great.

The first day ( yesterday) was okay although I was very tired. I remembered to eat ony when hungry and even started to put a snack to my mouth, stopped about two inches away and then put it back on the plate because I realised that I was not hungry. Realised that I am seldom really hungry

Today I ate slowly but I had to really consiously think about it or I would rush. Honestly I have not exercised yet as I am so tired and have a bit of a headache to say the least. Food wise I feel very pleased with myself as normally eat lots of chocoate, cake etc

Day 4
Another beautiful sunny day! Had my walk and got home feeling really good about life. Do you ever get those days that seem to 'sparkle'? Well today is one of those!!Going to do some strength training when I finish this and then get ready to go out for a meal with friends. I just know I will make good food choices -- but that old saying, 'pride goes before a fall'!! Keep grounded!

Yesterday was another great day!

Last night's run was a short 2-miler. Whereas a few months ago, 2 miles was a struggle, these runs are now opportunities to recover and stretch out muscles, and for a bit of a natter with my running bud. We set out as usual, intending just a gentle jog, but quickly realised we were running more quickly than usual - ok, it was hardly fast but 12'09/mile is about the pace we generally finish in (we have a tendency to get faster). The second mile was even faster - average 11'20/mile - and it felt really good...more like running than our usual jogging. I was a bit more puffed than usual but still capable of holding a conversation. Anyway, the upshot was a best time so far for our 2 mile run of just over 23 minutes. Later this week, our training programme starts us on tempo runs (1 mile jog, 3 miles tempo - around 11'20 pace - 1mile cool down jog) and then next week some 5 minute mile intervals! Yikes, a bit scarey but I'm feeling fitter than ever and welcoming the challenge.

...and now to the duck .

Thanks to this programme, for many months now my confidence and self esteem have been pretty good. I like who I am, love where I'm going and generally am ok with what I see in the mirror these days. But still, when I look in the mirror I see someone who is overweight (well actually still technically obese with a BMI of 30.9 but people would never know as I carry a fair bit of muscle these days and am a pretty broad build) but nevertheless reasonably attractive. Running has contributed hugely to my increase in self esteem recently, as I feel fit and strong these days and have so much more energy. Then there's my lovely fella constantly telling me how gorgeous I am ,which helps - obviously! But despite accepting his compliments graciously, sometimes I do find it hard to believe.

Last night the duck started quacking - what does a gorgeous guy like that see in you - you know the story! And I looked in the mirror....and for the first time in years I didn't see fat, I didn't see overweight......I just saw an attractive women with stylish newly cut and coloured hair, nice brown eyes and a big smile. I have to say that it was a huge surprise to me....and it stopped the duck right in its tracks, I can tell you. It just goes to prove what Pete always says - that if you are told something enough (or tell yourself), then eventually you'll believe it. I've been accepting myself for some time now, but have obviously still been thinking of myself as fat and so that's what I have seen. Now I'm being told 'gorgeous' and for the first time I've seen it for myself...and it feels amazing....so you can be sure that from now on I'll be reaffirming that gorgeousness in my head!

RIP Duckzilla. I AM gorgeous!!! :-)
(oops...better stop now whilst I can still get my head out of the door!).

Hope all of you gorgeous people (because you ARE all gorgeous too) are having a great day.

Bx

Its been a lovely weekend, spent time with my family, who are all now preparing to go off to 6th form college, and uni, and returning to school, and spent some lovely time with my 'young man'....... I did actually end this relationship about a month ago as i thought the differences we had were just two much to get around, chalk and cheese literally, but it was awful...... we both missed each other so much, that we done a lot of talking and decided what we had was worth saving and so we have spent some lovely times together and I know a lot of it was down to my insecurities about my size and age, he was married for 35 years to someone who was very tiny, and never had the food issues or self confidence issues that goes with years of weight problems, and he is 7 years younger so that didnt help much.... but we are having some lovely times again now and I am starting to believe he really does want to be with me, so when he is out doing his thing and i am here doing my thing with my family i am not paranoid anymore, we are starting to meet each others families now, slowly slowly, and the difference in our financial status property etc, dosnt even enter his head as he is as happy as larry in his own world and not even the slightest interested in buying a house again so some of his ' laid backness' is really helping me , so maybe chalk and cheese but i have calmed him right down for still thinking he is a 'lad about town ' ha ha , and he is helping me enjoy the simpler things in life much more, we dont have to go out for fancy meals etc, he loves cooking for me and does amazing healthy meals, last night he cooked a gorgeous roast topside, and served it with spinach, brocoli carrots and peas, he had roasties too, and i think that was another thing for me, to accept someone really wants to look after me and spoil me like that, he wont even let me wash up, it was hard after so many many years of me doing for everyone else...... so we are back on track, i was so so shocked at just how upset I felt when I drove away from him, so maybe this 25 year singleton has a heart that is melting a bit when it comes to the male species, and that is a day I never thought I would see either , petecohen.tv has a lot to answer for !!!! but for now I am enjoying myself too much to worry about what might happen next week, i am keeping it in the day, and today all is great.
I went to the gym today, felt really really good and next week i am going up to 3 days a week, all day I have been so full of energy this is the first time I have sat down and sat still....... oh my word what a difference a year makes, this time last year i couldnt get out of the chair, now i cant sit still in it !!!!!
I am enjoying listening to the daily videos again, its really helping me refocus.
Todays food was a banana and apricots before gym, lunch was gorgeous ham and poached egg with tomatoe, and dinner tonight is pork steak with spinach cauliflower brocoli and carrots followed by strawberrys........AND I FEEL SO GOOD !!!!!!!!!
I hope you all had a great bank holiday weekend and a fantastic start to your week, remember keep it in the day, forget them damn scales, and my trainer at the gym today told me to stop wearing such baggy clothes, my tee shirt shoulder was half way down my arm...... she said throw them away and wear smaller ones, stop hiding, and I reckon she is right , I have put my scales away again, and taking it on how my clothes feel and to be honest they are hanging off me, my skirts are tripping me up as i always wear long flowy at the bottom skirts and they are hanging so low i am nearly going flying !!!!!! Maybe time to buy calf length skirts instead of to my ankles to cover me !!!!!!
So lots to think about to take me forward to a slimmer fitter and healthier future, I have got to start thinking more like a 'just a bit bigger than normal' person rather than a morbidly grossly obese person that i was!!!!!!
Thanks everyone for all your continued support, you are all wonderful , I am now going out for a half hour walk around the village, i have so much energy how brilliant is that feeling !!!

Sue xx

Day 3
Lovely sunny day. A friend was staying over last night and she is a very early riser. We were out walking just after 6.30. She came with me to let the chucks out and then we had a lovely long walk.( I do get to keep the eggs Sandi but they seem to have gone off lay!!! ) I enjoyed the walk so much I think early rising is on the cards from now on.
I find with eating my food slowly that I am enjoying it much more. Pete says somewhere about an 'orgasmic experience' and he is right!! I will have to watch the portion sizes though -- using a much smaller plate might help.
I am definitely feeling more positive about life and about making right decisions so roll on a fit, slim, contented woman!!
x

I had a good weekend. The camping barn feels like a real find – It was in the back of beyond at the edge the North York moors ( but in reality was about 20 minutes from the race) – had tremendous views and I think I will go back. In total there were 7 'adults' and 4 kids. It cost £7 a person per night we drank spring water and walked to another building for the showers and toilets. The Farmer was a really nice chap. I ought to do things like that more often.

I managed to get around the entire course – we jogged most of the way around rather than go for it – My friend hadn't really run since she retired at the age of 16. She was the Leeds XCountry champ for two years but reckons her knees are dodgy. They and she more than coped. The ankle and leg complain a bit if I go fast and on uneven ground but i think I can afford to start to run again and try to regain some of the loss of fitness that I think is inevitable. I won't be climbing again until mid October as I really want to get around the Woodland Challenge but really I can't wait to boulder !!

Anyway the race. It was pretty cold and windy which perversely I think may have helped with coping with the repeated dunkings as the blood had already retreated far below my skin by the time the first one came around! The first obstacle was a bouncy castle hurdle – then a wade across a canal - Then a scramble over a wall towards the ship where I walked the plank. It was made worse by having to stand at the end of the plank whilst we waited to go – I'd have preferred to walk along and in rather than making a conscious decision to go. I went in far deeper than I thought as it went completely black and I took a couple of seconds to swim to the surface. Swimming around the ship to the slipway took far too long and I wished I didn't have the buoyancy aid on!

We made up some time in the kayak section, both of us were paddlers in the past and we overtook three couples. The rest of the wet loop was fairly uneventful – we swam across the deep water at the water sports centre and took another dunking down an inflatable near the lock at the barrage. By that time we were half way around and only had another 3 miles to go. Losing the buoyancy meant that we felt colder than before but we were ok as we were moving. The dry loop was fairly uneventful – the up and down some mounds which had the most unbelievable sloe bushes on – more sloes than leaves – and then onto the Newport bridge climb where we climbed over the top of the bridge using the inspection walkways. All pretty safe but we did get cold waiting for the ascent and descent. All of that was timed out so it didn't affect the time. We ran back up the river bank – spotting a seal playing in the water – then a run through some rather dry marshes back to the slippery slope at the finish.

I don't know what our official time was as we didn't account for the time outs - but the total duration was just about 2 hours

We got changed into dry gear and headed to the pub for food – I'd had breakfast, porridge with apricot jam two hours before hand and a torq gel and a SIS bar on the way round and after the cupcake my daughter bought me ( green with a flower) a snickers and a coffee I didn't want anything I ended up having a starter of whitebait and some water. Our supporters had been looking after the kids in the cold wind and rain. Really all I wanted was copious amounts of green tea and the Sunday papers!. I still wasn't hungry later at night - had too much gin and tonic and a cherry beer. I was much more tired than I thought I would be on Monday.

I'm glad I did it – it was less fun than the 9 to 5 half of the Rat Race –( Babsybabes: I'm up for the Edinburgh leg next year if you fancy it !) as it involved more physical stuff and getting soaked a lot. My friend enjoyed it ttoo and was already blabbing on aboutt he next challenge - she asked me about the London Marathon - and I said no because it doesn't seem like fun , just a long slog. Now something with a view like an off road marathon would be something of a challenge and more fun but it's not in my immediate plans.

I'd do it again but not this week. My tummy is dodgy and I've cancelled my place in the bootcamp tonight - I'm going to be gentle with myself.

...can't remember the last time I had such a lovely weekend.

Friday night out for dinner with my lovely new fella - ate healthily and slowly (although in truth that was more because by the time we ate I had much less interest in the food than I had in the red wine I was drinking!)....but also drank lots of water.

Saturday morning went for a walk with my friend and our two dogs. Grocery shopping and had a nap in the afternoon. In the evening went for a run with my running bud - we were both v. tired (and I just a tiny bit hungover...not used to drinking these days!) and didn't think we'd manage the full 5 miles the training plan was telling us to do, so we agreed we'd do just 2 or 3 - however once moving we both soon picked up and eventually ran a comfortable 5 miles. We were both really chuffed as we felt as if we could have gone on.

Sunday did some shopping in the morning and then spent the afternoon out walking with fella and dog on the beach - stunning sceneray and a beautiful afternoon.

Monday pottered in the morning. In the afternoon ran the 2.4 miles down to the beach, played with the dog for half an hour, then ran the 1.8 miles back to the park where I sat in the park and enjoyed the sunshine, chucked a bit more ball and then walked home to cook a lovely malaysian chicken curry.

It was a lovely, sunny and happy long weekend. What strikes me most about it (well, ok, apart from the presence of my gorgeous guy) is how active it was. It's such a natural part of who I am these days and I just love it!

Food, interestingly ,didn't play more than a tiny supporting role in the weekend - yes, of course I ate, but as is so often the case these days I didn't give it a great deal of thought...when I was hungry I thought about what I wanted to eat, then ate it and got on with life. 'Simples' as they say. Of course, I know it's not simple - if it was, then none of us would be here....but it is just amazing that it really is becoming increasingly that way for me.

Anyway, that's enough gushing from me.....but if anyone is struggling with things right now, please do take heart, because you absolutely will get there if you stick with it.

Oh, and am definitely seeing a small downshift of the scales as well as a tightening up of 'assets' so the plateau seems to be a thing of the past. Good riddance too.

Hope everyone is having a lovely sunny day.
Bx

Yesterday was Bank Holiday Monday and what a difference from the last time I had a bank holiday day off!

I went for a really fab walk along the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal. It was only supposed to be for an hour, but it was such a fantastic day and the buzz I was getting from the exercise was *so* good, that I carried on going for three and a half hours! I walked almost eight miles in total and felt completely reinvigorated and happy.

The last Bank Holiday I had was before I joined this programme and I spent the day moping around the house, feeling depressed and fat, berating myself for being useless at changing the things I had started to hate about myself. I was embarrassed to set foot outside, thinking that passers-by would be horrified at the large lady walking towards them. What a difference a few months has made!

I love that my first instinct yesterday wasn't to lie-in or eat rubbish food watching rubbish TV, but to get outside in the sunshine and enjoy some exercise. This is a massive sea-change in the way I view not only exercise but, crucially, my ability to be successful in being more active. Gone is the 'but what's the point?' excuse - now I have a 'go on - you can do it!' voice in my head and accomplishing a long walk feels like the biggest achievement.

Although I'm back at work in my day job today (feeling the benefits of the walk in my achey legs!), I'm still buzzing incredibly from yesterday and it's shown me, once again, that I'm making permanent changes in my life. There's no way I'm going back to the old me again - this feels so much better than anything I experienced before.

Feeling very chuffed with myself! :o)