Weight Loss Journals - petecohen.tv

Since my last entry in April,one more inch and several more pounds have been added to my 66 year old (next week) body, almost a stone from my prized 50lb weight loss. I was pulled up by my boot straps yesterday after enjoying a delicious lunch with a friend in Henley, where, amongst other things, we were discussing a mutual friend's success with WW. I called into Tesco's on the way home to buy my husband a ready to eat curry and found myself leaving with a WW magazine, an arctic roll, 2 cream horns and 2 chocolate éclairs. I almost crashed the car trying to get into the éclairs and ate both in rapid succession. I was even contemplating throwing the box out of the window to conceal my guilty secret, but a car followed me down the lane I had marked out so I was forced to bring the offending box home.

These are the actions of a bygone era – the time before petecohen.tv – and it was shocking to see how far I have fallen and it is very, very scary to realise that I can and will fall a lot further if I don't get a grip NOW.

So today I shall set some goals get my head back in the loop. I know the programme works and I know I don't want to go down the points or green/red day route – so there is a beginning.

In my refrigerator I have:
avacado x 1
broccoli
butternut squash x 2
cabbage
carrots 750g
cauliflower
celery
cherry tomatoes
cooked beetroot 2 x 500g
courgette x 1
cucumber
lemons x 6
limes x 2
onions red
onions white
parsnips 500g
pepper green
pepper orange
pepper red
potatoes new
potatoes old
potatoes sweet
shallots, x 2
spinach - bag
swede
AND
gala apples
granny smith apples
grapes
pears
strawberries
tangerines
AND
chicken breasts x 2
eggs
feta cheese
Greek yogurt
ham - cooked & smoked
jamon serrano
lamb chops x 2
lambs liver 200g
pork ribs x 850g

Only two of us live in this house. Any suggestions on what to do with all this produce would be greatly appreciated.

Where am I? Weight: 175.7 lb. Waist 38, Hip 46. 7.5 lb up on my 168lb lowest weight since starting the programme Dec 2007 at 220.8lb. I think I have done well to have only gained 7lb considering the bad habits I've been getting into again. But today is another day, another chance for success. I love Day Ones, so full of promise. This time round I want to love Day 21 even more as I look back on the past weeks with a satisfied glow.

Goals for the 21 days then.

To lose 4 – 5lb
To find it EASY to choose the right foods and activities to achieve this, incorporating it into my life and not be overtaken and obsessive about it.
To enjoy preparing light, refreshing meals that I enjoy as much as the stodgy old family standbys and that become as automatic as shepherds pie.
To plan meals so that supermarket shopping isn't a grab the same old thing experience every week.
To start a personal research project on self-sabotage

The tools I shall use this week are one from each section:
Eat Slowly
Drink 2 litres of water a day
Move as much as possible

That'll do to be going on with

Good luck to everyone else starting Day One today

Poor little thing is probably still quacking its' way round Earls Court. I do hope that whoever found him reads the writing on him and signs up to one of Pete's courses. It could turn out to be the best day of her life. I was supposed to 'nick' one for Biscuit and Nicki but failed in that too! However, fabulous day spent with my darling daughter and it was truly exciting to meet up with everyone. I think Pete's arms had stretched by about a foot by the end of the show. He had them wrapped around a different female every time I glanced in his direction. Special man.

www.TappingWorldSummit.com. If you are interested in the idea of tapping you may be interested in the subject on today's agenda:
Freedom from Food! Releasing your cravings and compulsive eating habits to lose weight and feel great
Gloria Arenson

Gloria says: Desserts is 'Stressed' spelled backwards and tapping can take away stress. Interesting concept!

Reminder about tonight's programme on BBC1 at 10.35. Who Made you Fat. Brilliant!

It will only be available to watch for a few more hours before being replaced by the next day's topic.

There is a brilliant programme on BBC 1 tonight at 10.35pm. Presented by Becca Wilcox (Esther Ranzen's daugher). There so needs to be a revolution!

http://www.tappingworldsummit.com/

If anyone is interested in EFT or Tapping there is an online 'summit' going on for 10 days starting today, free of charge.

The review week has caught me on a bit of a low. I have a cold, which for me is never 'just' a cold, it always goes to my chest as I have bronchiectasis, and is always followed by sinusitis. I wish people with colds would keep themselves to themselves. Wishing I could hijack Biscuit's latest blog – so full of good things.

Sorry to say I continue to be flaky with the programme, motivated in short bursts but never quite managing to get the old fire back in my belly. The same few pounds coming and going.

Life in general is better for me. Last year I felt as though I was sleep-walking into my husband's life as he became more disabled with arthritis and I found myself doing his jobs as well as my own. I have, however, taken on some new things, just for me. I joined a choir that is so much fun and an indoor bowls club, plus line dancing and a local women's club, all resulting in more friends and you can never have enough of those.

This programme isn't just about weight loss, it also involves sorting your life out and, reading through many of the blogs, this is proving true for lots of us. I wonder what other good things there are to come in 2010..

I would like to lose two more stone, preferably this year. If I can get that fire back there is no reason it can't happen.

Day 8 Scientist. White coat on. On Sunday I was invited to lunch at my son's. Delicious dinner, ate consciously and only until full. Nice company, very happy. Came home and munched my way through the larder! This was after several days of finding it really easy to do the 'right' thing.

Reviewing the situation, I realise that this often happens if I have dinner at lunch time. No matter how lovely the meal or how satisfying, come the afternoon I want sugar in some form or another.

Finding out WHY that happens will require more time in the lab!

According to last night's news, economic recovery is likely to begin in Reading and it's starting with me, today. My daughter in law has asked me to work as a temp in her office for a couple of days putting stuff on excel and making labels – I can do that. Well, I could 10 years ago, hope I can still work out how to do it. The money will pay for a funky new hair-do.

Must go and make sure tippex hasn't dried up – oh no, that was 20 years ago!

Looking forward to seeing on-liners tonight.

The floor of a weight watchers clinic in Sweden collapsed beneath a group of people taking part in a weight loss programme. Skip related content
Related photos / videos
Floor collapses in Weight Watchers clinic .According to a report in Swedish English-language newspaper, The Local, the dieters were queueing up to see how many pounds they had lost in the past week.

One person reportedly told another newspaper that "there was a huge thud, before the floor collapsed along the walls in one corner of the room."

A Weight Watchers consultant told The Smalandsposten newspaper: "We're going to have to find replacement premises."

The cause of the collapse is still being investigated by local authorities, and none of the people involved were injured.

SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE TOLD THEM THAT SCALES ARE FOR FISH!

Day 4. Back patted. What did I do yesterday to take me nearer my goal:

• Purchased Rosemary Conley's new exercise dvd
• Made a healthy supper of sea bass fillet, shallots, spinach, homemade tomato sauce and 2 small potatoes
• Said 'No' to chocolate, purchased by husband
• Said 'No' to cappuchino in Morrisons, opting for tea
• Wrote down every scrap I ate (have done for last two days)
• Blogged
• Filled my shopping trolley with lots of vegetables and fruit
• Chose to eat 2 oatcakes and humous instead of home-made gingerbread

Blips
• Eating slice of said gingerbread later in the day

Outcomes for today
• Unwrap new exercise dvd – perhaps WATCH it! I know that's feeble, but baby steps!
• Throw said gingerbread to birds. Far too delicious, full of treacle and husband not keen on it
• Take some pride in my home by reintroducing housework. I WILL give the bathroom a jolly good bottoming.

So happy to see the snow going. Was really excited getting in the car and going to Lidl's and Morrison's. Once out of our still treacherous crescent the roads were clear. Totally appreciated being fit enough and able to do that. So many are house-bound all the time.

Day 3. This ties in nicely with the Ronnie O'Sullivan interview in some ways. The bit about not just going through the motions but standing back and NOTICING how working the programme affects me. What happens when I use a particular tool; is it easy? If not, why not? And what do I need to do differently.

Eg Eating Slowly. Cold food I can manage. Hot food is a different matter. If I am truly hungry and have a plate of something yummy in front of me I am almost trembling as I pick up my fighting irons and to chew each mouthful 21 times while the food goes cold and congeals on the plate feels like sacrilege. I'm wondering if serving dishes might be the answer here. I could have a much smaller plate and just serve myself small amounts, leaving the bulk of the meal in the hot, covered dish – I'm thinking as I'm writing here!

Hm. That's enough insight for today. I will get a dish out ready to try.

I haven't been out of my house since last Tuesday, 8 whole days, enforced imprisonment because of the snow and ice. I'm breaking out today, whatever. We're down to the last drop of long life milk, and a solitary leek in the veg box. It has been a valuable lesson in terms of how much waste I create by over shopping. I have been really inventive with meals, possibly eating better than normal. My husband has had to ration his sweets and that is a good thing. In future it's little and often and fresh for me.

A big thank you to Shoana and Pete. Jointly you have woken me up to what has been keeping me 'stuck'. I have been forced to look inside and I now recognise the destructive thoughts and feelings that were holding me back. Armed with this knowledge I am on the march again.

Like Ronnie, Paul McKenna once said to think of someone who truly inspired you. I had recently been to see March of the Penguins at the cinema and I was amazed at the courage and determination of those little creatures to ensure the survival of their species in such a harsh environment. I named them as my heroes. Marching on!

Online meeting 12th January 2010

What do I want to achieve in the 10 weeks?

Shed 14lb fat, and reach 11st 7lb.
Reduce bust, waist and hips by 2 inches each
Research and cook two new recipes a week
Have one meat-free day each week

What difference will this make to me?

I will feel more comfortable in my new grey bowling trousers
I will feel a sense of pride in my achievement
I will have learned that having a positive outlook works
I will incite remarks such as 'you don't want to lose any more, you'll look haggard' (and smile)
I will move more easily
I will breathe more easily
I may buy a dress or a skirt for spring (one size smaller)
I will be looking forward to meeting up with Pete and the Girls, pleased that I haven't let the side down
I shall buy a new jacket to mark the occasion

How will I make it happen?

I will be faithful in little things
I will act like the person I want to be
I'll cancel my membership to the 'I can't be arsed' club
I have got my woods and joined the indoor bowls club and will make more visits in order to practice and, eventually take part in matches
I shall maintain weekly visits to aquafit and line dancing
I shall walk purposefully at least once a week
I shall bring more fun into my life by meeting up with friends and seeing my kids as often as possible
For one week I will keep a food diary

How do I feel about where I am right now?

When Pete asked the question I felt stuck, unsettled and uncommitted. Today I am optimistic.

Luke 16:10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities.”

'I've been having a Think'. These words always remind me of Pete (1), my first inspirational guru, my boss for thirteen wonderful years working in a counselling agency. When I heard those words, I knew that he'd had a 'light bulb' moment which would inevitably create lots of work for me, always interesting and usually fun. This man saw me through some dark times. How lucky am I to have had two Petes in my life?

Anyway, back to my 'Think' in relation to my 'stuckness' and Luke 16:10.

I've been stuck for over a year, why? That is the question but not sure what the answer is, hence the navel gazing. I steamed away for the first 10 months, going from 220lb to 170lb. During last year I went down a couple more but then gradually crept up to 175lb.

Basically, I've been mucking about, playing with the tools but cheating, being 'dishonest in little things'. What did we used to say in the playground: 'Cheats never prosper'? True.

Shoana has forced me to think. Her 50 by 50 list made me realise that I have no real focus. For days I've been trying to formulate my own list but keep drawing a blank. If I can't think of good reasons to become slimmer, fitter and healthier then I'm on a hiding for nothing. However, recognising that something isn't right is always the first step. Now I have something to work on, a starting point. I want to join the 50 by 50 girls, (well 25 by 50 would be good) but not quite ready to commit. YET!

"What you need is to find your hope again by seeing real change. The kind of change you're looking for in your body begins in your mind. It begins with a conviction to care. Care for your health. Care for your self-esteem. Care for your future. When you care, you can stay true to yourself in the moment and make better choices.

By: Michelle Fiordaliso, MSW, CNC - Clinical Director, Shrink Yourself

It's nice to be actually IN 2010 with things getting back to some normality. I know It's a welcome break for people in secular employment but for retirees the shutting down of facilities for 2, 3, 4 weeks in some cases, means that by now one is in an advanced state of stagnation and raring to get cracking again. So this morning sees the re-opening of Bowls Coaching. I've got my nice new Christmas presents, a new set of lovely, shiny woods and smart bag to carry them and proper shoes in and will be off into the frosty morning in a few minutes. 8.30am start is a bit tough.

The last couple of days have been glorious and spent in the garden with a chain saw – well I have been assisting by shouting t-i m-b-e-r at the appropriate moment, not actually wielding the thing. We are almost ready for the fence to be put up now. Putting the 'horse before the cart' we found a local garden centre selling off plants at hugely reduced prices and decided to spend my husbands Christmas Garden Vouchers on loads of woodland/shade loving plants, as recommended by my very clever horticulturally trained, friend. They are now sitting, huddled together in a corner, protected from the frost, just willing us to get their new bed ready.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!