Weight Loss Journals - petecohen.tv

This one is going to be a toughie I know, but will do the best I can - meals are usually grabbed when the opportunity arises but the baby is now 6 months old so getting better at entertaining herself and giving me the odd snatch of free time in the day - e.g. to eat! We're also in the early stages of weaning her, and have started sitting her at the table to eat together when we can as she went off her food when she got a cold and was point blank refusing to eat - I thought seeing us eat would encourage her and it seems to be working - so this morning's breakfast was certainly eaten slowly as I was trying to eat my own bowl of cereal while giving her spoonfuls of baby porridge!

Feeling v pleased also that I managed to fit in 15mins of my 'post natal rescue' dvd yesterday - feels like a big achievement! It wasn't particularly challenging so I'll do the 'stage 1' bit a few more times and move onto stage 2 quite quickly I think.

Even though I've been on pause on the programme, I've been mindful of the tools. Doing quite well on my daily pedometer steps (avg about 6-7000) and have been mostly avoiding alcohol in the evenings. Have lost 2.5lbs :-)

Review of Day 1 - well I drank my 2 litres of water and I did get out for a walk with the pram - not as far as I'd have liked though as the baby started fussing. I also had that healthy stir fry and snacked on an apple and a banana. Sadly the siren call of crisps and go-ahead bars (those yogurt coated ones!) was too strong and I gave in - grr!! But I did resist the lure of a glass of wine 'reward' at the end of the day. I remembered an old trick of cleaning my teeth in the early evening so I would think twice about picking on food or having a glass of wine, glad to say it worked :-)

I rejoined last month but it's taken me til now to proceed to the programme and get going. I realised I was putting it off and putting it off - there's always an excuse why this week is not a very good week to start! - but after standing on the scales yesterday morning I can't afford to put this off a minute longer!! I felt so disappointed (but not entirely surprised) to see I'd added another 4lbs since last month. I've got to get a grip and get some good habits going again as I seem to have completely lost the plot. I think this was brought home last week as we started weaning and I have been preparing healthy veg and fruit purees for the little one but piling rubbish into my own mouth - what sort of example is that to set her?! So it's stir-fry for dinner tonight and I bought strawberries and grapes yesterday to snack on. I will be ignoring the siren call of the crisps and go-ahead bars today and once they're gone my hubby is going to have to find something else to take in his lunchbox to work!!

As for what I want to acheive, I think I can tick 'all of the above' on Pete's list in today's video - i.e. lose weight, feel good about myself, get fit. I'd like to look like I wasn't 5 months pregnant!! I want to find my waist again! I want to wear lovely clothes and not baggy tops to hide my mummy tummy.

Today I'm going to drink my 2 litres of water and get out with the pram on a nice walk.

I must say, it's good to be back here. I have to say up front that I'll be taking this very slowly as time to myself is in short supply - e.g. I only get time to watch the videos when the baby is napping and there are always a million things that need to be done when she sleeps so I'm afraid I'm building up a bit of a backlog already of videos to watch and I haven't even activated part 2 yet! So I'm going to be realistic - I'll be taking this at my own sweet pace and it's going to be a challenge to do some of the tools perfectly such as eating only when hungry (for now the baby dictates when I get a moment to eat, rather than being able to listen to my body and only eat when genuinely hungry) or eating slowly - again, I've found that meals tend to be snatched when I can and rushed as she demands my attention, but as the baby is falling into a better routine and is content amusing herself for longer I should be able to improve this. I'm not making excuses, but realising that I'm going to have to take a pragmatic approach to the programme this time and not beat myself up if I don't follow it perfectly but give myself credit for what I *do* manage to achieve. So, I'm going to start with just being more self aware and trying to notice what my body is telling me - e.g. is this snack genuinely needed or am I just giving into a craving or feeling bored/frustrated/tired. It's good to be reminded that I'm not just a baby-care machine and that I need to look after myself too - worryingly I'd kind of lost sight of that!

P.S. Any other new mums on here?

Just a short note as I prepare to restart the programme after a 1 year absence - my last blog was almost exactly 1 year ago when I'd just found out I was pregnant. Well my gorgeous baby daughter was born at the end of January and she has just turned 4 months old. I didn't do too badly on the pregnancy weight gain - I was back to pre-pregnancy weight within 1 week - however, my pre-pregnancy weight was the heaviest I'd ever been and now 4 months on I've added almost another half stone to it through rushed meals and lots of sugary snacks. I know its' going to be a challenge to do this while caring full time for my new baby but I want to regain control of my body and my eating habits so there's no point waiting until things get a little easier but I'm going to bite the bullet now and get cracking.

So, I'm just in the prep stages right now and refamiliarising myself with the steps and tools ready to start again next week. Wish me luck!!

Teresa

Well that's what all the books tell you is the average pregnancy weight gain. Yep, me and Lovely Chap are going to be parents come January :-) To say we're pleased is an understatement - when I left my unhappy marriage I thought the best of my child-bearing days were behind me and that I may never be a mum. After moving in with Lovely Chap in Feb we thought we'd better crack on with it as aged 38 it may take some time... and here I am 8 weeks pregnant and feeling truly blessed.

Now that I've started telling family & close friends I thought I'd let you guys on the blogs know too as I've been awol for a few weeks and thought I'd better explain myself (Mandie, don't worry, I'm not still on that run Forrest Gump stylee!).

So... I think I'm temporarily out of the petecohen.tv gang. Let's face it, there's only one direction my scales are going to be going over the next few months. Here's hoping for a healthy pregnancy. Take care you guys and I expect I'll be back in early 2010 to shift those post-bump pounds!

Teresa xxx

Ok, so I was too chicken to commit to this on the blog this morning, but secretly my desired outcome for the day is to notch up my first run in over a year. I've just finished work and am about to pull on my running gear which I carefully laid out on the bed earlier to guilt trip me into it, so I'm off now to get changed and RUN!!!!! Wish me luck! I'm wondering just how bright red my face will go :-)

T xx

I didn't get a chance to do more than watch the video yesterday, so here is my belated blog on Outcomes. A great idea those daily mini-goals, and I must admit I used to be very good at mentally running through my day when I woke up and working out what I needed to achieve - mostly work related though! That's what you get for being a project manager. Lists, lists and more flippin lists!! I realise though that with all that has been going on the last few months I think I've slipped a bit on this. So, time to get with it again, and this time for my own personal benefit and not just for work.

My outcomes for yesterday were:
1) Not to succumb to the tea/coffee/biscuits in the breaktime at my Welsh lesson
2) To stay alcohol-free

and I'm pleased to report success on both fronts. Took a fruity tea to class to enjoy instead, and eyed the biscuit tin with distaste. And in the evening I didn't give in to a quite strong urge for a glass of wine - there was none in the house but I needed to get some things from the supermarket and gave the alcohol aisle a wide berth. That's 5 alcohol-free days now, which I'm super pleased about. In the eve if I want to enjoy the 'wine' experience I am now sipping on flavoured sparkling waters with a slice of lime - mmmm!

Off to watch Day 17 video now.

Teresa xx

Am pleased to report an alcohol-free weekend, hoorah! Am also pleased that step count remains high (11,100 yesterday, 9850 Saturday) despite appalling weather - god bless waterproof clothing. And finally, am pleased to report over 2litres water consumed daily - this is the norm in the week but at weekends I tend to drop off a bit. I fill a 2L water each morning and try and empty it by bedtime (I think on Fri I drank nearer 3L though as I had a reflexology treatment and was drinking gallons for the rest of the day).

Displacement activities - have I really never blogged these before? Just had a quick look through my past postings and despite being round the block a few times on this programme, I'm wondering if I hit Day 15 more than just the first time round? And it looks like if I did record them, it was offline in the paper journal I kept back then. Ok, so let's think of 5 activities:
1. Drink a glass of water (and check in 10mins if still hungry)
2. Phone/email a friend
3. Check the blogs- always motivating/inspiring
4. Do some housework (if not working)
5. Close my eyes for 5 and do some deep breathing

Right, time for a quick 5min scan of the blogs before it's back to work for me. Hope everyone had a great weekend and here's to another fab week.

Take care
Teresa xx

Still struggle with this one - I've just got out of the habit of cardio exercise. A few weeks ago I bought a new sports bra and running gear in the size I am now (the other stuff made me looked like muffin man with all those rolls of flab poking out under the too small bra and too tight waistband), Have I used them yet? What do you think...! A big fat no. So, after listening to today's video I have a great idea. I need to remember how great I feel after I've done a run so I'm going to get a few copies of a photo I have of me proudly displaying a medal after my first (and only!) 10K run and pin it up in a few places round the house to motivate me. On the fridge, on the noticeboard next to my work desk, etc. Hopefully that should motivate me to move it!

Feeling good today. Was up and about early, so made the most of the extra time in the day and did an early morning shop. Lots of bright, healthy fruit and veg. And I got myself some sparkling water, a cranberry and lime drink and some fresh limes - I am declaring myself an alcohol free zone this weekend!

I also just wanted to add a big thank you to everyone's kind and helpful comments on my last post. My mum is right now receiving her 1st chemo treatment and so far has not had any adverse reaction (there were risks due to her recent heart attacks and the fact she has a replacement heart valve so she is having to have the treatment as an in-patient on a cardiology ward so they can monitor her). Thanks for your hugs and your prayers. Keep 'em coming, they're needed right now.

Teresa xx

Still plodding along. Bit of a blip yesterday. Mum's chemo treatment was meant to start on Monday, but for various complex reasons it now looks like it might be Friday at the earliest. We've had a totally frustrating few days and my mum is at her wit's end. I've completely lost faith in the system. About 3 weeks ago we got the dates for the chemo start, and even then I thought it seemed quite a long time to wait, so to me this delay is totally unacceptable. I thought after they'd realised the cancer had spread through the lymph system to liver and other places they'd start it almost immediately. If anyone else has experience of this, I'd love to hear about it as I have nothing to compare it with.

Anyway, I was upset and angry last night, and set off for a night in the local pub as I'd been drafted in to the local ladies skittles team to replace someone who'd broken her wrist. In my foul mood I had my drinking head on and sank 4 halves of cider, then at the end of the game tucked into the bread, cheese and pickles that was laid on. Did I feel better after that? NOOO!!! Never have all those lovely fresh fruit and veg in the background of today's Day 12 video looked so appealing. I need to get my fruit bowl stocked up, it's looking a little sad.

Right... deep breaths and on I go.

Teresa xx

Foods that I want to stop eating so my wobbly belly gets less wobbly: cheese, jaffa cakes, wine, crisps. I'm going to imagine that lot all mushed up in a stinky, disgusting mess all over my belly... yuk, not a good look. Wine, for me, is probably the worst of the lot, but that is a hard one to imagine on your body. I know though that after a couple of glasses of wine I normally get the nibbles and out comes some cheese or crisps, so I'm going to imagine them all mangled together instead.

Programme been on pause this weekend - not intentionally, but just not had time to sit and watch the videos so will pick up where I left off tomorrow. Had a lovely, relaxing weekend. Yesterday me and lovely chap and his dad went to a farmers market up in Frome and bought lots of lovely local produce - cheeses, bread, free-range eggs, fillet steak. We came back and had a bread and cheese lunch which was delish! Walked that off with the dogs yesterday afternoon and then in the eve griddled the fillet steak and had it with some salad with lots of cherry tomatoes and my new addiction - beetroot...mmm. Didn't think I liked it but a few weeks back got some chilli infused beetroot from Tesco and it was to die for.

Today we've been to visit his sis and her kids, then back via the garden centre and have been planting lots of bee-friendly flowers to try and get the little furry creatures to take residence in my beehouse. This eve I cooked up a gorgeous spinach and feta frittata and had that with some more beetroot topped salad... mmm. I found the recipe on Dietgirl's site and would thoroughly recommend it - check out http://tiny.cc/RpqYC - in fact, if you haven't heard of Dietgirl then take a look at her blog and/or her book. Someone else mentioned her on here some time ago and I started reading her blog from the start/ 2hrs later I ordered her book to read it offline and stop myself going square eyed - totally inspirational story of her journey to lose half her body weight from 25st down to 12.5 - she is so funny too, I love Dietgirl!!

Anyway, enough from me. Hope everyone else has been enjoying the fabulous weather.

Teresa xx

5/10 - Eating slowly - increasingly being conscious of what I am eating
4/10 - Eating only when hungry - tried a few times, still stuck in the 'mealtimes' mindset
3/10 - Relaxation - only listened to mp3 once, deep breathing a few times when walking
4/10 - Reducing sugar/stimulants - drank less alcohol (except for Sun!); still eating too many sweet snacks
5/10 - Eating natural foods - apart from sugary snacks, most meals healthy & veg based. need to cut down on bread
9/10 - Drinking 2 litres water daily - yep, second nature
10/10 - Walking 30mins day - have averaged over 10000 daily, really pleased
?/10 - Regular exercise/activity - does walking count? need to introduce some cardio/weights
7/10 - Active as poss - always confused by this one. have sedentary job but walk for 90mins day and think I am reasonably active

I know I haven't lost weight, I've had a shaky start. On the plus side, I'm more aware of eating slowly and am re-learning how to listen to my body. Am walking much more. Things to try: cutting down on bread (never ate it much but eat it much more now have moved in with G) and doing some 'proper' exercise - e.g. stepper for 20mins, weights, Davina DVD

Yesterday I had what could only be described as a binge. I've never done that before - overeat occasionally, yes; eat quickly, yes; eat when I'm not hungry, yes; make poor food choices, yes; but binge? no. I stuffed 2 packets of crisps down my neck followed by 4 jaffa cakes then an hour late ate a mammoth meal (lovely chap cooked and went a bit overboard on portion size - I'd intended to only eat half/three-quarters of it but instead I scoffed the lot), and later a slice of cake. What on earth was all that about?!? Yep, I was ravenous when I got home from my drive back from Wales (took an hour longer than usual as I there'd been an accident blocking my usual route) which kind of explains the rapid crisp consumption but what happened after that seemed to be a complete 'sod it' sort of reaction. I was cross with myself last night but today am trying not to be - instead I want to work out what triggered that. At least I didn't uncork the bottle of red in the wine rack that seemed to be whispering seductively last night, so I can give myself a little pat on the back for that.

Today, Day 9 is about relaxation. Boy, do I need that! Am exhausted. Roll on the weekend.

Have just caught up on a few blogs - glad to hear others are doing really well. It's keeping me motivated not to just give up.

Keep going ladies!!
Teresa xx