Weight Loss Journals - petecohen.tv

I've just listened to the recap video and for the first time in the many times (over the last nearly 3 years!) I have got to day 10, I am thinking about giving myself a 10 out of 10 for effort. I have to say I have been doing really well this time- I seem to have gone up a gear or several.

All the tools I've been using work, as they have done in the past. It's just that I have managed to maintain my focus and concentrate on the programme this time much better. It's not even that I've had any more time than ususal- I've just found ways of making the programme more convenient. I've stopped giving myself a hard time if I don't watch the video first thing in the morning- because, lets face it, after nearly 3 years on this programme I know what I need to be doing- it's a case of just chuffing DOING IT! But I have watched the videos every day except one, and the one wobble didn't derail me.
So I'm trying to work out what is making the difference this time...and I think it is a combination of things, not all of which are part of the programme per se.

My imaginary identical twin Rose has been a fabulous idea- I know Pete tells us to visualise what we want and make it into a video we can play in our heads, brighter and brighter, but that way I only ever see short clips of what I want- it's quite difficult to do. But Rose is somehow more 3 dimensional- even if I can't always picture what she looks like, I alsways know how she would behave and what she would advise, and if I follow that advice, ta dah!

I've also been paying more attention to my thoughts, and I've realised that my duck doesn't often give me a hard time, unless I binge eat or drink. But what the sneaky devil does is pretend he's on my side when he's not really- encouraging me to make bad choices 'because I deserve it' eg the ice cream last night. Whereas Rose would say, 'Well you could have some chocolate ice cream that you made, but every bit you have takes you further from your goal- you have to factor that in to the equation. If it means so much, why don't you just have a tiny taste? That way, you'll still get to sample the results and see if the recipe works, but you won't needlessly sabotage your efforts on the programme, and you are doing fabulously.' Much more helpful. She's good, Rose- she has my best interests at heart all the time.

Shoana's 50 by 50 challenge has been pure genius, too. As Pete says in today's video, if you push yourself so far out of your normal zone, you'll never go back to your old habits. And knowing the goal was 50 pounds in 18 weeks (nearly 3lb per week!) is so much more challenging than anything I've dared to give myself before, it has really concentrated my mind and kept me up to the mark. I know I can't afford any lapses if I'm going to get anywhere near it, which means that my sneaky duck is less likely to get a look in with his persuasive 'just this once- it won't make any difference in the long run' wheedles. I know it is highly unlikely that I will lose 50 pounds in 18 weeks, but I don't hink I am going to beat myself up if I don't achieve exactly that, which is what would have stopped me setting a target like that before. It's just that if I aim for the stars, I stand a damn good chance of reaching the moon.. whereas if I aim for the moon, I might not ever escape the atmosphere...

Given that I do have a busy life, I have to say that the new phone has made a huge difference! Bizarre, but true. I'm keeping my food diary and exercise log on it, and becasue I always have my phone with me (unlike a notebook and pen or the computer), I can put things in as I eat them, and this has been really effective at keeping me on the straight and narrow. Also I've found a great to-do-list type app, and having this means I have constantly got in front of me little jobs that need doing and have needed doing for ages. Result- self-esteem and feelings of being in control of my life increase, I feel more capable of controlling my eating and drinking, and 'being as active as possible' just happens with no effort! I've never really tried to have a go at this tool particularly before- others seemed more of a priority to me. But its great to be routinely doing another one. Oh, and the phone gets me on the internet, so I can also look at the blogs wherever I am when I've got a spare minute- eg watching my son's tennis lesson. I can't log on to the videos as yet, because of the flash player (does anyone know if there is a way of doing this on the iphone?)

I'm eating when hungry, drinking 2 litres of water,eating natural foods and cutting down on sugar and stimulants now. The first three are habits now.
I'm working on the regular exercise one- still planning on dancing. I have opportunities to exercise on Monday an Friday and I'm just trying to build this into my life so it too becomes a habit again. I have also started jogging when I walk the dog, and I'm making my dog walks (which I do at least 4 times a week) into hour long ones if physically possible (ie sometimes not Wednesday because I have to squeeze it in between work in the morning and the school run). I've pushed myself to set a challenging target again- I used to love running, but got a recurrent injury (plantar fasciitis) and whenever I started again, the pain would come back. But I have decided that I am going to work up to it really slowly and give my feet a chance to adapt. Frustrating, because my heart gets fitter faster than my feet so I feel like I'm not pushing myself. But I know if I push my feet too far, i won't half feel it when I try and get out of bed the next morning. Anyway, so far so good- and just giving myself the possibility that I might one day be able to run regularly around the reservoir again is giving me a real buzz.
Relaxation is something I'm working on at the moment- I want to get back into meditating too.
In fact, I'm going to listen to the tape now, before I go to work.
All things considered, i'm really pleased with myself. And determined to keep at it, however long it takes.
Oh- and I couldn't resist the scales this morning because my bras are all doing up a hook tighter...and I'm 15st 3 lbs- I've lost 6 lbs since New Year! I am determinined not to weigh myself for another 3 weeks though, as not weighing myself is freeing me to measure my success by how well I'm sticking to the programme as Pete asked.
Oh- and I've managed to swap my on-call weekend so I can come to the vitality show- party party! Is everyone getting tickets for the Sat pm session? And where are people staying?

Sorry about the length of this one, people, but I'm quite excited in case you hadn't guessed!

Ros xx