Weight Loss Journals - petecohen.tv

I was listening to the R&T mp3 track this morning and i had a thought. I never wear beige clothes, so why should I eat beige food. According to a friend of mine, beige food is all the high fat low nutrition junk that we eat. Thinking about it, it's a good description of the crisps, chips, biscuits and processed food that creeps onto the plate. So my resoluttion for today is to only eat bright and cheerful coloured food.
I've been thinking a lot about procrastination as well. It's weird when you realise that's what you've been doing!
Drinking water has been easy, eating slowly is still a challenge. Excercisng I'm looking forward to, as I like going to the gym and plan to step up my programme this week.
Good luck!
PS thanks to Sue for her 3Rs - it's agreat reminder about eating good quality food.

Finding it easy to drink the water, a longstanding habit of mine. Though I did buy myself a new glass for work so i could measure more accuratly.
I'm still working away at the eating slowly habit. It is taking quite a bit of getting used to. I know it is one area that I need to really focus on the improve.
I keep reminding myself about the fist size meals as well.

Phew - what a month ... haven't blogged for ages what with one thing and another. I'm up for the exceptional challenge for the next nine weeks. What I will achieve is:
1. Understanding food as nutrition and fuel for my body then learning how to really enjoy it.
2. Making exercise an integral part of my life - thinking of my self as an athletic person.
3. Really making the mind body connections work for me for ever.
I think I am ready to make a big leap in my approach to my body, exercise, my mind and food.
A quick update
I'm back from my cruise which was good, though I did get a bit stir crazy half way through! Food was excellent, lots of fresh fruit, salads and healthy veggie meals - an Italian ship, so pasta every meal. There was lots of it, but it was easy to choose exactly what I wanted both in the buffet and at dinner. I came back feeling good about the choices I made. What I hadn't quite realised was how much walking is involved on a cruise ship, all of which helped!
I've also moved offices at work. Lots of walking involved with that, plus for the first time since I can remember we have somewhere to eat away from our desks. YIPPEE! The canteen has s salad bar and healthy choices on the menu so that will be good for the times when I need to buy lunch.
I guess the most significant thing is that I have been diagnosed with an under active thyroid. I had radioactive iodine treatment for a growth 8 years ago and until now my hormone levels have been within the normal range. Now it's slipped below, so I need to take medication to correct this. When I talked to my doctor about this it came as quite a relief that there was something medically wrong. For weeks I had been beating myself up because I thought that my eating habits and not exercising enough were causing me to feel tired and lethargic all the time.
Enough of that - time to revisit the eating slowly tool.
Good luck everyone.

Not that I'm complaining! Amazing the difference it makes in coping with the hot weather now that I'm a bit slimmer. I've been motivating myself by thinking how brilliant and easy it will be in this heat when I am the slim fit and healthy person I visualise.
Had a Greek salad tonight with lots of lovely crunch vegetables with a tasty feta cheese - yummy.
One of the things I'm working on this time around is comfort eating. I know I do it - most often when I get in from work. I was kidding myself that I'm hungry then - but I'm usually not. It's a weird emotional/comfort thing. I have a number of strategies for dealing with it now - including having a healthy snack if I really have to eat. It's a habit I really want to change. So, I'm learning everytime I have that wobble.

Stayed up late last night to watch Franz Ferdinand at Glasto. Brilliant performance, though I wished I was there! I did drink a few glassses of wine... and I was tired this morning. Funny how I've got used to getting a regular 8 hours.
Walked to the gym and did my resistance work out. It was quite hard work, partly becasue of the weather - hot and humid - plus I was tired. But I did it and felt okay afterwards.
For the next few days will focus on eating natural foods, I dodn't eat any fast food/pre prepared food and very little take away. Watched that vid today and it helped me think about food as nutrition and energy. So I am going to get maximum nutrition from what I eat.

A good day. Stuck to using my tools. Eating slowly is the habit I want to embrace this time around. I think I eat slowly, but sometimes I forget ....
About to watch day 4 in advance.

Decided that I like the aeroplane story, it reminds me to remain focussed on my destination. I know I shouldn't have had that cup cake this afternoon - but boy was it gorgeous. I really enjoyed it. It's interesting though, I started thinking about why I ate it. Well, I was with a friend who also loves her food and maybe next time when we meet up we do something we enjoy that is not heavily laden with fat and sugar.
Went for a run this morning. Now able to do 20 mins reasonably comfortably. Big pat on back.
Reminds me how far I have come and keeps me focussed on the destination.

Hi everyone - great to catch up on all your brilliant blogs! I've been using Pete's workbook for the last month and it is BRILLIANT! I decided to take a rest from petecohen.tv as I was having a hectic and potentially stressful time at work, so reducing my computer usage outside work has been one of my coping strategies. Hence the use of the workbook.
Now I'm through that phase I'm back on petecohen.tv and raring to go!
My aim for the next 21 days is to reinforce the good habits I've developed so that they are strong and natural before my holiday in July. I'll be on a cruise, my first time and want to make sure that I keep up the good things that I've learnt. I've also been having some medical tests done, so focussing in myself for the next 21 days will help cope with whatever the outcomes of that will be.
I've been revisiting the tool videos this morning. I think it was Sue who commented on them in a blog I've just read. They are a great motivator and reminder of the good things about this programme.
My tools for today:
- eating slowly (still a challenge for me)
- reducing stimulants - coffee and alcohol have crept back into my diet more than I'd like
- taking a walk along the beach as it's such a nice day
Now I'm off to the farmers market to stock up on lovely nutritious food.
Have a good day everyone ....

I ordered Pete's workbook at the weekend and it arrived today - yippee!
I find this programme great and have gained so much from it, so I'm hoping a papaer version will be as helpful.
I have been through a very hectic and sometimes stressful few weeks at work, so made a decision to avoid spending time at the computer when I get home. It has been a good decision as I have been able to be in control, minimise stress and avaoid the eating and drinking traps.
One downsides though! I've not been able to log on/blog on petecohen.tv. I've missed the support but have really enjoyed the freedon of not having to switch the computer on. That's why I bought the book, as a regular reminder of the great stuff going on here. Then I can log on when I want to.
Great to catch up with all the blogs.

The combination of a bug, car problems and a busy work schedule have got to me this last week. I haven't done any exercise and not really thought about what I've been eating.
Went for a run this morning and boy was it tough. I got bad shin pains after a few minutes and walked home. What I should have done was shut the duck up and enjoyed my walk in the sun. Instead I beat myself up and then felt guilty for giving myself a hard time.
Now that I've had something to eat and calmed down a bit I can put it in perspective.
My actions for today? Stop pushing myself so hard, give myself some credit and revisit some of the tools again for the motivation they always give ... and enjoy the sunshine!

Reviewed my ffod diary this morning. For the past few days I have been recording everything I eat and drink.
The first thing that comes to mind is how on earth can I eat that much!! It is very interesting looking at what I eat. On the whole it is all good nutritious food - except for the high fat butter and cheese. I eat at least five portions of fruit and veg every day and complex carbs and good proteins. It's just a lot of it!
I am mostly eating when I'm at 5-6 on the hunger scale (really 5-6).
Next task, see what we can change about this over the next few days.

Haven't been online for a couple of days - manic time at work and a new gym schedule and a social life have taken up my time!
This morning though I watched/listened to days 12 and 13 - I'm saving day 11 for later. It's my favourite and I know exactly which food I am going to choose today (butter) so I want to savour the moment. It really works for me - I cannot remember the last time I ate chocolate or cake or come to think of it biscuits ... all of which have been my chosen food for the 'do you want to wear it' exercise.
Talking of exercise, went for a run first thing. It's raining and windy here, but I still did my 30 minute walk/run.
Looking forward to a relaxing weekend, hope you all have a good one too.

I had a book token for my birthday and was browsing on Friday to see what I can spend it on. I came across a book which offers loads of advice and tools for getting off the stressful hamster wheel. One of the things it said was eat a slow healthy breakfast ... I didn't buy it because it was full of just common sense stuff that I know all about I thought smugly to myslef.
This morning the realization came floating slowly into my brain (doh! how long has it taken??).
This programme is about lifelong lifestyle changes. I know, I know that I know this, but this morning it was such a eureka moment I felt I had to write it down. I have made loads of changes already around exercising and drinking water, but have really struggled with some of the other tools. I am a died in the wool comfort eater and wine drinker. I have noticed this time around that I kid myself that I'm 6-7 hungry when I'm more like 3-4. I also find it really difficult to do nothing else whilst eating. So, with the excitement of the eureka moment still buzzing in my head...
My outcome for the next few days is to record everything I eat and drink, the time I eat, the real hunger scale and what I'm doing. I hope that will help me stop and focus on my eating patterns and see if there is anything I can change.
This is for me, for ever. No point cheating. If I really want to change I must fully participate and enjoy it.

Eating slowly and reducing sugar and stimulants.
Eating slowly is taking some thought - all too easy to gulp down food. I really have to think about it. But that's good, as I am noticing what I need to change.
As for the sugar and stimulants? I'm finding that easier - no alcohol now for three days and I am not much of a sugar eater. I can't rememeber that last time I ate chocolate (thanks to day 11!).
I didn't manage to stop myself eating when I got in fro work. I wasn't hungry, but I still ate. Thing is I'm not hungry now when it's time for my evening meal. Needs more thinking about. It's just difficult when there are others in the house with different body clocks.
Talking of which.... Moving to BST has really messed up my body clock. I'm feeling really tired and everything is out of sync. I've noticed this before, but it's really obvious this year. Perhaps because I'm menopausal? Hence I was really interested in the interview with Christian Bates - especially the hormone and stress links. I plan to listen again as there was so much to take in.
PS Loved the butterfield diet - I remember doing somethink like that years ago - seriously. Be good all week and pig out on saturday. Obviously it didn't work. I seem to rememeber it involved lots of things with cottage cheese as well.... ummm

Didn't have time to listen to Pete this morning, so did it when I got in from work. Have just listened to tomorrow, so that I make sure I get it into my head.
My tools for tomorrow are:
- eating slowly
- reducing sugar and stimulants.
Thinking about habit changing ... why do I always have to have a snack when I get in from work? Sometimes it is becasue I am hungry, but mostly it is something else. Comfort? A reward? This is one big habit I want to change. I know I can, I just need to do some research into why I do it, so that I can find a healthier alternative. My mission for tomorrow.