Weight Loss Journals - petecohen.tv

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'm not a massive folk music fan - to be honest I don't know a lot about it - it's hubs who's been to Cambridge several times so I didn't know what to expect...

The day had been spent in a frenzy of activity shopping and preparing today's carnival food. The boys had been helpful and that really took the pressure off but I was pretty knackered when we set off. I have been REALLY working hard on stopping trying to control everything (especially with regard to my 14 year old eldest!) so I allowed them to go and get something to eat whilst hubs and I went to watch Ade. I didn't think I'd know any of the music but was surprised and delighted that he'd "folked up" old 80s songs by the clash, the jam, undertones etc and I REALLY enjoyed it! After about 20 minutes I really started to chill out.

By the end of the evening I really started to understand what it was all about. It's not te ending dashing from stage to stage and fighting for a front spot like the V Fest, it's more about just milling around, absorbing the music wherever it may be, eating GORGEOUS food and drinking lovely traditionally made ales and just generally being nice to each other and relaxed.

I was astounded to find that I ordered beautiful vegetarian food because that was what I wanted - I was sick of meat as I'd been preparing it all day! So glad I listened to my body and that there was actually the food I wanted available - looking forward to trying it again on Sunday.

My little one (the musician) was blown away by it all and even bought a ukelele and my eldest had to admit to enjoying the experience, and is looking forward to his first "proper" festival.

By midnight we were all SERIOUSLY laid back and ready to collapsed into bed full of lovely food, drink, music and fresh air. Fabulous!

Let's hope I can stay in this zone for the rest of today!

Fingers crossed for the weather...

Yesterday was great. Stuck to my eating plan no problem and only had 3 tiny glasses of wine over a 7 hour period and bags of water and tea. Lovely to see my bro and SIL and great to have Mum at the table too.

Today I'm shopping for tomorrow's buffet lunch - I'm doing a traditional English buffet for 14 people as it's Carnival tomorrow and then we're exploring the town and activities and back here for the night parade. It's great as we have an elevated patio and the parade goes past us at lunchtime and lit up again at night so it's lovely to sit up there and have the BEST view! Weather permitting of course.

So after shopping today I have a facial booked and then this evening we're taking the boys to the Shrewsbury Folk Festival where Ade Edmundson is headlining so very excited about that!

We're having four staying overnight tomorrow so it'll be cooked breakfast Sunday before hubs and I are back at the folk Festival for the day culminating in his favourite band - Afro Celt Sound System - Kat will be jealous!?

So it's going to be a hectic but fun weekend, and according to the website the festival have loads of salad bars and healthy options such as juices and smoothies and I'm in charge of tomorrow's food so all should be well.

Hope you all have a great bank holiday weekend and I'll catch up Monday...

M xx

Well I have two extra boys in the house this morning due to both my boys having friends to sleep over. I've taken a vow on the plane on the way back from Barcelona to stop trying to control my eldests every move! I have told him that I'm going to let him be himself and make his own decisions and that hopefully based on the last 15 years foundation laying he'll make the right ones and if not make his own mistakes. Life has been a LOT more peaceful since. I've realised that compared to ALL of his friends - he's fabulous! He just has a head stuffed with hormones and lots of things to work out too - bless him! But that's the point.... HE needs to work it out! And I need to trust him to do so...

This morning, despite making 5 bacon sandwiches I've side stepped the bread and had ryvita with organic peanut butter and we've all had a huge bowl of strawberries, blueberries topped with yoghurt - both visiting boys said it was amazing!!

I'm currently making a pavlova in preparation for my brother and sister in law's visit this evening. They're coming round for tea and I'm doing a buffet for all of us, including Mum. This will be the first time we've all been together in this house for over a year - since all the hassle started - so I'm determined to make it special. My bro and SIL don't eat carbs so that makes it HUGELY easy to cater so it's just salads, cold meats, procuitto and melon and I have token garlic bread for hubs and the boys.

Yesterday didn't go quite according to plan, didn't manage the bike ride as my best friend had a crisis and I was required on the phone for an hour! Got to the chinese and it was closed so we ended up in Nandos spending twice as much! Just had a quarter chicken, corn on the cob and ratatouille and a fresh apple juice. Had to have a small ben and jerry's frozen yoghurt in the cinema though - it was lovely and the film was very action packed - I was exhausted when we came out! lol!

Went to Tesco to shop fo the buffet last night and ran into an old friend so was away over an hour, then got back and found myself on the phone to my friends mother for another hour! it was 10.30pm and I hadn't eaten since 3! But I ate grapes, corn thins with cottage cheese and the hunger soon passed...

So that's it for today... See you tomorrow! M xx

Yup! We're taking advantage of the Orange Wednesday and going to see Salt this afternoon with the boys. HUGELY looking forward to this as the script was originally written for a man and Tom Cruise was lined up till a last minute rethink meant that Angelina was given the role - GIRL POWER! It will be good for my boys to see a woman in an action role.

Yesterday went very well. I got in my 30 minute walk and taught a Dance Party session yesterday morning. Didn't bother with the evening one as only one lady turned up and cancelled Thursday evening too as only 3 turned up last time and my brother's coming over this Thursday so it's not worth the inconvenience. Only to be expected in August which is exactly why the Zumba teacher is having this month off!

Food wise I had berries and yoghurt for breakfast, tuna with salad and ryvitas for lunch and for dinner I went out with my Cuz - her treat! I was very good, only had a couple of glasses of wine, drank gallons of water, decaf coffee, had a smoked salmon starter with salad and steak and veg for my main. Ate slowly and enjoy every mouthful - even left something on my plate!!

Today I'll have banana and nectarine for breakfast with corn thins topped with organic peanut butter. I've got jobs to do this morning, housework and errands etc, going to go on a mini bike ride - had my bike fixed weeks ago and still haven't used it! Mid afternoon we're off to a Chinese Buffet place where I shall eat healthily (no problem as I've done it before) before going to the film around 4pm. Tonight, we'll have omelette for supper with rocket and tomato salad.

Must remember to drink my water and eat slowly. Feeling MUCH better already and more like my old self. Still working on the visualisation thing and Ayesha you're SOOOOOOOOOOOOO right. I've said this before that Pete has made us so happy with ourselves we don't want to change!! I have to keep working on this though because I actually DO want to get smaller and FEEL like a slim person - maybe THATS what I need to focus on....

Ta ra for now! M xxx

I've just had a hugely beneficial hour! I decided to revisit the programme. Not the nutritional programme, the programme! Right from step 1 - in fact I realise that I've only listened to step 1 once!

Bottom line is that I've relistened to steps 1 to 3 and got all the answers I needed! How amazing that it's all been under my nose!? So I'm restarting the daily videos - yes, I know them all backwards but what do I have to lose except weight? And with four weeks to go before starting teaching again I have the time to listen and absorb every word.

Eating more slowly - well THAT'S not happening at the moment!
Eating when hungry - just starting to claw that back
Daily meditation - never lost this one
Avoiding sugar and stimulants - still pretty good at that one
Eating Natural foods - again, still pretty good at that on
Drinking 2 litres of water - Not been happening for a while
Walking for 30 mins a day - Needs to happen DAILY
Being as active as possible - Not really, definately could do better
2 exercise sessions a week - NO problem, easily achievable.

So I'm off. Will report tomorrow

Hi all! I'm back from Barcelona having had the furthest thing from a restful time possible! It was totally hectic but we managed to get to all the sights and my boys loved every moment - even my petulant teenager had gratifyingly jaw dropping moments so that was very satisfying!

I had a good think before I went and decided that the way forward was to stick to the nutritional plans directives and to not make any food forbidden. However I do have to avoid wheat wherever possible as it has a gradual build up in my system if I eat it constantly. Potatoes are also an issue and something that I can overindulge in.

I wrote myself a heart wrenching note in my phone to keep myself motivated whilst I was away with the intention of reading it every day. Guess what, I didn't read i once! I was determined that I was going to be "fat and happy" whilst away and not bring everyone else down. I did a really good job until the plane journey home when I was sitting with two massively swollen ankles and legs like tree trunks. As Pete's previous bideo blog says, reading Hello magazine REALLY didn't help!

But I've had three days off the wheat and am feeling MUCH better. My appetite has shrunk and I'm feeling and look more like myself - if a bit larger than usual! I'm still very low on motivation and I think fundementally this is because my goals are very unclear. I am totally unmotivated toward exercise although I am standing in for the zumba teacher twice today so that should help get me moving I guess.

I have been fighting a migraine for the last three days so I've got up early as too much sleep doesn't help. I'm hoping the exercise will see it on it's way permanently.

I've been thinking it is actually four weeks before I return to teaching so I could make a difference in that time. But what do I want? Do I want to be a size 12? Or was I totally happy being an unbloated size 16? Do I want massive fitness levels again or does that just become something else I have to keep up? Or is it an area where I never feel I actually achieve? Always when you're exercising there's more that can be done! I never feel that I'm finished or that I'm maintaining a level - always I feel it's only enough to keep pushing yourself, after a while this becomes a pressure, and if it's not maintained failure is quick to loom. I I know some love this but I also get sick of the constant muscle aching and how I need regular massage to release them all - somehow it doesn't make sense to have my body feeling constantly stressed and in recovery. I just want to feel energised, strong and fit and to maintain that feeling without stress or pressure. I guess that's achievable though I'm aware it probably won't help with the weight loss.

I seem to be in permenant state of maintaining a healthy lifestyle whilst I'm still overweight and I have no motivation to shift this extra two stone because of the perceived "work and pressure" that this puts me under - I'm simply not miserable enough! However I DO want to be slimmer!

What a conundrum!!!

O

I really must change this photo - it doesn't look at all like me anymore!

I sitting here after nearly two weeks of indulgence. Hubs and I took a week off to ourselves last week and toured all of the gastro capital of Shropshire and ate ourselves stupid. Some of the most gorgeous and healthy food I've ever eaten but FAR too much of it and hardly any exercise.

This week I've replaced the Zumba teacher three times and felt like a large gym ball rolling around and I'm sure the ladies must have thought the same! The calves are killing me and tuesday night I overindulged in alcohol and today I've eaten myself stupid again all with the "I'm on my holidays" mentality! I know that I'm looking bigger, feeling bloated and my face is puffed up I can feel a second chin developing. By the time I get back to school I'm going to be back where I was 18 months ago!

I'm so brassed off that I'd vowed (after reading my last blog) 6 weeks ago to live a carbless life and return to school in september a shadow of my former self! Now it seems I'll be the same size as me AND my shadow!

Hurrumph...... :-(

I REALLY want to get slimmer now! No, I mean REALLY! But not in a "going for the burn, I've got a work at it way" - just calmly releasing a new slimmer me from within this overweight body that I keep carting about!

I don't understand why I have to bring all this baggage along! I'm fit and healthy and eat the right foods most of the time but I'm obviously eating too much of it! Especially recently in times of stress.

From now on I'm determined to walk, dance and eat my way into a carbless lifestyle that will produce a slimmer, energised, calm and happier me.

I have two weeks to go before the primary productions but they're nowhere near as stressful as the secondary ones and so there should be no excuse to not start the new regime NOW! Starting today...

Again, I have been EXHAUSTED today and can only pu it down to overindulging in both booze, food and especially carbs yesterday - annoying as I had a really good start.

But today I've had berries, granola and smoothy for breakfast, a gorgeous prawn, pineapple and sweet chilli salad for lunch some cherries for a snack and dinner will be roast chicken with sweetcorn and peas. I'm now off to drink gallons of water and then hoping that the sun comes out then I can get out for a walk with hubs later.

Just got really crabby with him because he was watching Tour De France and I wanted to watch T4 on the Beach - would've been so lovely to watch a gig LIVE for the first time this Summer. Still got all of Glasto recorded but it's just not the same...

Anyway, best go before I trip over my bottom lip!

What a chaotic couple of weeks! Well the secondary productions are over and I'm totally knackered!

Both of them went well and hubs did an amazing job with the lighting and there's lots of excitment about my ideas for September - Britains Got Talent - The Movie! The idea being that we can film workshop stuff rather than pressurising them into a stage performance and they can play lots of roles and then have a film premier night where they just watch the result with their parents!

It's been huge fun but exhausting. The actual dress rehearsal and performances were great fun, doing the final details like face painting ghouls, vampires and werewolves, watching their excitment and them rise to the challenge was massively rewarding - seeing the parents faces and the tears of pride and amazement when they see their children transformed was, as always fantastic. The older children did a very disturbing sci fi and it was wonderful to see the audience reaction - because we've been working on it for 6 months we'd all become desensitised to the theme and it was wonderful to be reminded of the power of GOOD acting (these were 14 and 15 year olds), music and lighting - my husband was a genius with this.

However, the week before was hell on earth and extremely stressful. Apparently I feel like this every year according to hubs but it doesn't make it any easier to deal with.

But now I'm having a LEEEETLE rest before the rev up next week for the primary performances the week after. These will be much less stressful as they're far more focussed and there's much less to go wrong technically. I will, however be delighted when I finish on the 14th July.

I'm hoping NOT to have to do Summer workshops this year but we'll see how I manage financially - if I do it'll be the last two weeks of the holidays in order for me to get a proper break from children! Bless them!

Programme wise it's not too bad. I'm eating pretty normally although not being obsessive about the nutritional programme any more. I've reintroduced bread with little ill effects and my digestion seems to have settled down competely. I have a feeling i'll have to eliminate it if I chose to lose anymore weight.

Looks wise I'm still a size 16 though I suspect I've gained a few pounds in the recent chaos. I've finished my gym subscription but hubs and I have taken to walking every day which has been a joy in the sunshine, is giving us quality time together to appreciate our gorgeous lakes and canals and doing us BOTH good. I'm still going to Zumba and have agreed to take the classes in August whilst the teacher is away. I've had my hair done again and am delighted with it's lower key colour and how long it is! For the first time in my life I have "swingy" hair!!!! :-)

I'm loving the sunshine and have virtually lived on the patio this last 3 weeks, I've got a fettish for plants and got very fond of a neighbours visiting cat and two collared doves that live on the roof. Life is VERY good! We have eaten every meal out there and it's been fabulous - I really hope this weather stays for some time to come...

I do want to lose some more weight I think. I've been recently inspired by my old WW leader. Nothing she said regarding WW but just being around her and her very tiny figure reminded me how this used to inspire me to "work" towards my first 6 stone weight loss. I would REALLY like to spend the Summer focusing on this again and return to work considerably lighter and smaller in September.... Oh and with longer "swingy" hair too!

The kids wouldn't recognise me!!

Hi guys!

Just thought I'd check in to connect again. Loving the sunshine at the moment and pleased to say seem to be keeping myself in check with the food. The alcohol is a distant memory and rarely do I drink more than half a glass at any one time.

I've ditched the gym but as yet haven't replaced it with anything! I'm currently enjoying the time off as things seem to have gotten very pressured with all the stuff I have to fit in. I reckon if I'm teaching 6 dance and drama workshops 3 days a week I'm doing more than most activity wise. Also I'm still doing my two Zumba sessions and will start interval training after my productions next month when things are less hectic.

Only two weeks till the two secondary school productions and frankly I can't wait for them to be over. Creatively I feel spent and I'm more than a little "childrened out" - especially secondary with the hormones etc!!!

Two weeks later it's the 3 primary school productions but comparatively they're a walk in the park as there's no lighting, back stage management etc etc PLUS the kids are a lot less challenging!

I think I'm just tired.

I keep thinking about planning a summer workshop but can't find the enthusiasm. I could really use the money but the thought of having students in my home again this year really doesn't appeal. Perhaps I'm just tired - I'll see how I feel in a fortnight but if I'm going to do it I need to make a decision soon in order to promote it.

Health wise my digestion has settled down properly thanks to the nutrition programme and the supplements. Pretty sure I haven't lost anymore weight or inches this month but I'm not stressed about that. I seem to have found a level. A set of clothes that suit me and that I feel good in and a fitness level that suits.

The dance is REALLY becoming a passion, I've even signed up for a Hip Hop workshop this summer at our local theatre. Pretty sure I'll be the only 46 year old there!!! I could listen to the duck and tell myself not to be ridiculous but I'm trying not to!

So that's all from me at the moment folks... Hugs, M xx

Right well i'm back in the groove this week so all systems go! Had a short space of time where I almost cancelled my direct debit to the gym as I've hardly been for the last couple of weeks. I've been doing a bit but I'm enormously BORED with resistance training after nearly 18 months of going to the same place 3 times a week and doing variations of the same thing. The only exercise I can get excited about at the moment is Zumba. Been wondering whether to try something different involving outdoors, walking, cycling etc but it's not resistance is it??

Am going to go to the gym for bums and tums in the morning and see if I feel differently. There's no doubt I feel better when I go but I don't enjoy strict routine and being strapped to times so I think I need to shake things up a bit.

This next half term is my "silly season" - 5 productions in the pipeline and a load of choreography to do for my dance class tomorrow. I've spent the last two days working solidly on the workshops and tomorrow will be more of the same - and that's before I go and teach! Not complaining though as I love it, can just feel the pressure building though and looking forward to it being over. It's that time where I need to focus the kids more and so have to get naggy which I don't enjoy particularly - however they are all responding well and line and lyric learning is taking place...

With regard to food - too many magnums have passed my lips but I've just had the joyeous discovery of Del Monte orange juice lollies - fabulous and one of your five a day! :-)

Having sworn off wheat I've been good this last couple of days until today! Had banana and smoothy for breakfast, then zumba, then melted goats cheese on a bed of shredded beetroot, carrot and watercress, spinach and rocket in balsamic dressing and all drizzled in honey and chopped walnuts. Tonight after 3 exhausting workshops we had fish finger and letttuce butties!!! lol! FABULOUS!

A lady told me this morning that I looked slimmer despite feeling huge after the last couple of weeks of lethagy! Take it where you can, that's what I say...

So I'm desperately trying to get back on the wagon but I need a new way of staying there - the old routine isn't working so need to shake things up.

Any suggestions very welcome

Hugs, M xx

Well this break's been chilled but very busy. Seem to have had all sorts of different appointments. I've managed to kit out both boys with new summer clothes, had a long BH weekend with them for a change (rather than with their Dad),my little one's had the all clear on his back from the physio and my back specialist so he's back on form, they've both had their hair cut and we've had the loft insulated so had a massive clear out.

I've just commented on Pete's last video blog that it was lovely for the ex and I to revisit our marriage without sadness and literally box it all off as momentoes for our boys. Had a big clear out too and even managed to tackle the shed, get the bins in there too so we don't have to keep looking at them - a huge relief!

Also done my hanging baskets, and today I'm about to buy a half barrel and a cart wheel to go outside the front door. Really looking forward to seeing the results of this. Also I want a green plastic patio set - sick of the white one and everything else is green - even the fencing!

With regard to food and exercise it's not been good. Drank too much last Saturday and it took till Wednesday to recover hence too much wheat and no exercise. Forced myself to zumba last night and could barely lift a leg - felt VERY heavy. Resolved to get back off the wheat from today. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SICK of keep having this conversation with myself. Hopefully it will become as easy as the alcohol is and only happen once in a while if at all - must be the holidays - I guess we all need a break from routine - I'll just have to find ANOTHER routine that's healthy for me as well!

That all folks...

Just updated my nutritional questionaire and here are the results.

I'm now at 83.2% over healthscore!! I was aiming for 85% as I think that's reasonable at 46 and in just three months...

I've lost another 6 inches all over but only 1kg in weight.

So - total scores...

3kg weight loss

63% to 83% healthscore - improvement of 20% in two months!

2.5 inches off my bust.

6 inches off my waist

3 inches off my hips.

2 inches each off my thighs

Totalling 15.5 inches! Concrete evidence that the scales don't matter methinks...

I shall continue with what I'm doing and strive for better next month but that's a big ask. I feel better and happier than I've done for years. This nutritional programme really has been the icing on the cake and I'm hoping that as I continue to get my body in balance the weight will start to come off.

Never would I have realised that the food that we eat determines SO many things. Ridges on nails, moods, energy, digestion etc etc. Never would i have realised that all these tiny things improved make the BIGGEST difference to how you view life.

I really have NEVER felt so good - so good weight loss is just a bonus - life can't possibly get much better for me...

Hi guys

Just dropping you a line to let you know that I'm going to be taking a break from blogging at the moment. I'm still with the programme, my ankle is better and I'll be uping the exercise from next week.

However, I'm about to have a couple of weeks off work and the last couple of times the blogging has dominated my time off and I want to do other things plus I think I'm actually running out of things to say!

No doubt I'll be back soon and in the meantime take care of yourselves...

I may see you on the online course next Tuesday though! :-) Hugs, M xx