My Horror Story

117.4 lbs.!!!!  That's this morning's horror story!  I never thought I'd weigh this much AC (after cohen).  My ideal weight range is 105 to 112 lbs.  My super, duper, absolute upper limit is 114 lbs.  I am 3.4 lbs over my upper limit.

The last time I was within my ideal weight range was around the first week of September, some two months ago.  After that, my weight has been slowly creeping upward.  I have been generally following the Cohen guidelines but I think I've been too complacent because people have been congratulating me on my weight loss and I've started eating out again.  Also, it's been difficult to resist dessert.

I'm really scared right now.  This is Halloween for me.  Imagine gaining back all the weight I have lost?  No way!  It cannot happen!  I'll have to reverse this starting with breakfast this morning!  But first, I'll have to analyze what I'm doing wrong and then re-program myself to get back into the Eating Plan (EP).

Eating Out

What have I been doing wrong?  First of all, I've been eating out a lot.  Manila is a food haven.  Anytime I have to entertain or whenever I set a meeting, I always think about where we should eat.  My default restaurant was Myron's in Greenbelt 5 because this restaurant understands Cohen meals.  I used to just give the waitress my meal allowances and they knew what to do (Disclaimer:  Please note that I don't know the owner of this restaurant personally and I don't get any special perks from this restaurant).  But the past couple of months, I've been exploring new restaurants or revisiting the old ones.  This is dangerous because I lose track of my food intake whenever I'm sharing a great meal with family and friends.  The chit-chat gets so animated that I forget I'm at a dining table and my hand can't stop reaching out for second, third and fourth servings!!!

When setting meetings, I have re-discovered the Makati Sports Club Dining Room.  The food isn't great but it is near my office and they serve a lunch buffet which is a great time saver.  When I dine here, I help myself to a generous serving of fresh salad greens.  I head back to my table and wait for my colleagues before I start eating.  After the usual exchange of pleasantries and after they're done with their first course, I invite them to get their main dish.  I lead them back to the buffet table and to encourage them to get food and not be shy, I end up setting the pace by helping myself generously!!!  Oh the travails of being a good host!

Dessert

When I began the Refeeding Plan (RF), I was in the US.  It was a great place and time to start RF because I had access to the fruits that were not readily available or too expensive in Manila such as blueberries, nectarines, strawberries.  To celebrate my graduation from RF, I bought myself a small bar of Godiva dark chocolate.  I knew I would be allowed to eat dark chocolate after RF and this was my reward for reaching the finish line.  Eighteen days later, I graduated with flying colors at 106 lbs!  I held my prized chocolate bar, looked hard and thought to myself, "should I?".  It  only took a few seconds.  I put the chocolate bar back in the pantry, ran to the refrigerator and pulled out a nectarine.  I had just lost 34 lbs after 3 months of controlled, measured eating and I wasn't going to blow away all that hard work!  That was then.  Just yesterday, after lunch at the Mall of Asia, I headed straight to Sebastian's and had a serving of their delicious Blue Cheese Ice Cream with Honey and Walnuts!  And since it was a long weekend and I was spending the afternoon with my parents, I felt like celebrating some more so I split a Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Dive Bar with my brother, Tonyboy.

Over Indulgence

When I dine out,  I veer away from too much carbohydrates.  I usually don't touch the bread basket and I never order rice.  I just order protein with vegetables.

One time, I wanted to dine in Yabu, Megamall.  My foodie friends, Bubut and Mike, were with me.  Yabu is known for their panko-coated Pork Kurobota Tonkatsu.  My friends were quick to order this dish.  I, however, was determined to stick to the Cohen guidelines so I ordered the less sinful version of this great dish.  I ordered the Chicken Katsu.  It came as a set meal with rice and unlimited cabbage salad.  I totally did not touch the rice but I must have had 6 refills of the cabbage salad.  That couldn't have been a Cohen veggie allowance even on RF!  But it just went perfectly well with the panko-crusted chicken!

Battle Plan

Since I pleasurably sinned the past two months, I will now do my penance as follows:

1.  I'll stick to my EP for the next week or two until I can bring my weight back to within my ideal weight range.

2.  I will limit my dining out to twice a week.

3.  Dessert will be limited to weekends.

It's good I have this blog which I can share with my friends.  If they happen to read this, I won't have a hard time explaining to them why I'm carrying my baon again and why I'm hibernating at home.

Choose Not To Have a Big Tummy

After shedding 34 lbs. life definitely cannot be the same.  Before Cohen (BC), I never enjoyed getting dressed or shopping for clothes.  I dreaded parties that had a dress code.  Especially if the invite was a formal occassion!

Ready-to-wear clothes simply didn't look good on me.  One-size-fits-all was a lie!  I'd ask for the largest size available and it still didn't fit well.  I always had a big tummy.  I thought it was hereditary because my grandmother had a big tummy, and my mother has a big tummy.  Well, I just found out... it's all a lie!  I CAN CHOOSE not to have a BIG TUMMY!!!

I was hoping a black tshirt would hide my tummy.  This photo was taken October 2010

And then here I am 1MoAC (one month after cohen), June 2012

Don't believe when people tell you you're stuck with your big body because it's in the genes.  It ain't true!!!  You just need the determination to lose the weight.

Now, I love getting dressed!  I always find reason to get dressed.  I've purged my closet and got rid of most of my "fat clothes".  Some pieces I've had altered.  My pants and tops as well as my belts got "smallered".  Did you know that you can have your belts altered?  I brought mine to Shoecare, Pasong Tamo, Makati (tel. 8424646-8404040-8446211).

So shed the pounds and look great!

Six Months AC (After Cohen)

Hello, hello.  It's been so long!  I've passed the 6-month mark after Refeeding!!!  You must be wondering if I've gained back all the weight I lost and if I've started breaking all the Cohen rules.  Here's how life has been.

Exercise

Pre-Cohen I was exercising 5-6 times a week.  I would play tennis twice or thrice a week and jog or do yoga on the off days.  I was so fit (not slim) that I even won 2nd place the very first time I joined a fun run!!!  I remember that all that exercising did not help bring my weight down.  Here I am at 135 lbs.

When I enrolled in the Cohen program, I immediately asked my consultant if it was alright for me to continue exercising.  She told me that if I had already been exercising then it was fine to continue doing so but she suggested that I reduce the intensity of my routine until such time that I reach my goal weight.  So just to play safe, I decided not to exercise at all during the Eating Plan (EP) for fear that I might go hungry and start cheating.  This decision might have been correct because I started getting hungry only in the last 2 weeks of EP.

I have started exercising again.  This time I'm exercising to keep fit and not to lose weight.  My exercise routine is less strenuous.  I jog twice a week and plan to add Krav Maga  or yoga once a week.  I do wish I had my morning tennis buddies (Joel, Mike and Sharon).  Working out with friends is not work at all!  I miss you guys!!!

Eating Out

I've also rejoined the foodspotting crowd, but this time with Cohen rules.  When I go out to dinner, I still don't touch the breadbasket.  I also avoid rice or noodles unless I know I'm having dessert (which is most of the time), then I have a spoon or so of rice.  I also end up drinking water because most restaurants don't carry diet 7-Up.  Restaurants usually carry Coke Zero or Diet Coke, but I'm the un-cola type!

Weight Monitoring

I weigh myself every single day for monitoring.  My weight peaks during the weekend and then tapers back during the week.  I feel I don't want to be too harsh on myself so I tend to loosen up a bit during the weekends.  I still stay as close as possible to EP rules but I will try a bit of bagnet or a San Mig Light on weekends.

Eating at Home

Before Cohen (BC), I used to eat most meals in restaurants.  I did not care to learn how to cook so I just ate out for lunch and dinner.  After Cohen (AC), I try to eat at home as much as possible.  I noticed that whenever I eat at home, I am able to lose 3 lbs in a day or two without much effort.

When having my meals at home, I stay as close to the Eating Plan as possible.  I still cut up my proteins (chicken, beef, fish) and put them in small containers following my EP weights.  But when I cook, I'm not too strict with the spice and vegetable allowances.  I kinda eyeball these items.

So how has it been?  Quite good!  December 2011, I weighed 140 lbs.  After Refeeding, I brought it down to 106 lbs.  My ideal weight is between 105 to 112 lbs.  On the average, it's been swinging between 112 to 114 lbs.  That means I've been bad the past couple of months.  But this very morning, it has been the highest since AC (After Cohen) at 116.4 lbs.  I feel bad I'm starting to gain weight but the wonderful thing is that my XS clothes still fit!!!  So really, it's been quite good!

Food log?

On the day I broke the weight barrier, I was so upset.  I spent all day agonizing until J told me that this shouldn't depress me because all I need to remember is how easy it was for me to lose the weight.  That's right!!!  I have the tools and the know-how to lose the weight.  Been there, done that!  All I have to do is get back on the Eating Plan (EP).

I read an article about the 3 habits we must adopt to lose weight:

1.  Maintain a food journal
2.  Don't skip meals
3.  Avoid eating out

These habits are very much in sync with the golden rules of Cohen.  Number 2 is easy to do.  Number 3 will be a bit of a challenge especially if you have a life partner who truly enjoys eating out.  Number 1 I can start doing.

A food journal?  J asked, "why does keeping a log make more of an impact than me telling you 'you're eating too much na.  You're eating like you used to eat'"?  The simple answer is because by writing down what I eat I have hard evidence that shows exactly how much I have consumed.  Also, there is effort involved in jotting down your food intake.  Hopefully, the need to list it down might dissuade me from putting it in my mouth.



To help me with this task, I discovered an iOS app called LifeTopix by lightArrow.  I will not so much discuss the many features of this app.  Rather, I will show you how I have tailor-fitted this app to the Cohen lifestyle.

Below is the Health+Activity tab where I keep tabs on my weight and food intake.  Every morning, before breakfast, I log in my weight.  See how my weight has been fluctuating.  I've been bad!  LifeTopix then prepares a line graph showing the daily ups and downs of my weight.

I also tweaked the Nutrition log so that I can keep track of the various food I take in every day.  I adjusted the food groups to the Cohen plan.  I have a tab to track my water intake as well as my yogurt intake.  To conform to Cohen, all the food intake is measured in grams instead of calories.  Water is measured in milliliters instead of cups.  Below is my cake intake.  It keeps tabs on how many servings of cake I have in a day.

The charts are very telling.  I've been misbehaving.  Gotta take back control!!!

Keeping tabs on weight and food in-take is a task.  But with the help of technology, it's easier and a little more fun :)

What I've Been Dreading Most

My greatest fear just happened.  I broke the weight barrier, the one number I'd never ever want to see on a weighing scale --- 114!

This is the SECOND TIME it's happened since being born-again into my new body.  The first time I broke the barrier, I did not punish myself because I was in Boracay with some very good friends visiting from New York.  AND the weight immediately disappeared after a trip to the toilet.  But this morning is all about losing discipline.  I have lost control of my cravings and I've been eating like I used to pre-Cohen.

What do I mean?  Ever since going on Maintenance, I have been indulging myself with dessert after every meal (lunch and dinner).  I would always have a slice (or slices) of cake and/or some chocolate after each meal.  It doesn't help that our refrigerator/freezer is well stocked with these yummies.

This cheesecake went on sale at S&R

A mix of the good (dark chocolate) and bad (peanut butter) chocolate

When eating out, I always ask for the dessert menu.  Two days ago, I helped myself to the Double Decker Cheesecake at the Village Tavern.  Then last night, I had some of the Red Velvet cake and Cookie Dough at Rocket Room.  

Double Decker Cheesecake

I'm sure I can't blame the weight gain on just my dessert intake because right after I finished the Refeeding Program, I was cautiously eating dessert and noticed that my weight was still maintained in spite of the indulgence.  What I'm pointing out is the loss of control.  After realizing the minimal effect on my weight from having dessert, I became daring and began increasing my sweet intake until it went out of control.  It's pretty much like drugs and alcohol, isn't it?  You start with just taking a little bit and before you know it, you're having a lot of it and can no longer control yourself.

I now admit, "I am a chocoholic."  I resolve to mend my ways beginning today!

I am officially at war with my Chocoholism.  I resolve to limit my cake and sweets to just 3 times a week.  Pretty much like to rule on cheese.  I also resolve that beginning today, I will maintain a food blog.

A food blog?  Yes!  This morning I read a weight loss article.  It said that there are 3 habits we must adopt to lose weight:


1.  Keep track of your food intake in a journal
2.  Don't skip meals
3.  Avoid eating out

I've found an iOS app to help me with step number 1 called LifeTopix by lightArrow.  This app has practically ruled/organized my life. 

With this app I not only keep track of my appointments and tasks, I log my daily weight and can even keep tabs on my food intake.  This is one app to manage the many facets of my life.


I've been using this app for a week now to keep track of my weight but starting this day, everything I eat, I will also log.  Checkout my weight log and the graph

What a roller coaster!  Hopefully with my new resolve, this graph will reverse and plateau at a more manageble 107 to 109 lbs.  Fingers crossed :)

No Way, I Can't Be Pregnant!

I think that title caught your attention, didn't it?!  Tsismosa!  Actually, this would make my mom ecstatic!  Hahaha.

I've been hearing about Cohenites complaining about the side effects of this weight-loss wonder diet.  My cousin experienced headaches.  I think this usually happens in the first couple of days into the program.  I'm guessing these headaches are just the same as those regular hunger headaches.  Not much to be concerned about because your body will adjust to the food portions in a couple of days.

Many experience hair loss.  At the clinic, the consultants recommend a daily intake of Biotin.  This should solve the problem but it takes a while for the effects of Biotin to manifest.

I experienced dry skin.  So I simply applied lotion in the morning after a shower and at night before bedtime.  This seemed to work quite well.  The dry skin spell lasted a couple of days and is now gone.

The most concerning side effect was losing my period.  Since the age of 12 I've gotten my period every single month, no fail.  Then on my Refeeding month, I missed my period.  This was really worrisome especially since I can guarantee that I am not pregnant.

Having been delayed for 3 weeks, I visited the doctor last Monday morning.  I told her my concern and also mentioned that I had lost a drastic amount of weight in the last 3 months.  She asked how I did it and I told her about Cohen.  I told her that I started at 141 lbs last January and I'm now 107 lbs.  She was amazed and said that she's about 141 lbs too.  I won' be surprised if she'd be calling the Cohen clinic anytime soon :).

Back to my period... The Og-Gyn said that kind of weight loss would surely cause some hormonal imbalance just like exercise and stress.  It was not unusual.  She gave me a prescription for some pills to take for 5 days.  She said that in 2 weeks, I should get my period; and if not, I'd have to see her again.  I meant to buy those pill right after my doctor's visit but because of the traffic, I decided to do it in the afternoon instead.  Well, that was a pretty good decision because when I got home that same day, I got my period.  I guess my ovaries just needed a little scare from the doctor :).

I think we shouldn't be too concerned about the side effects of this diet.  I've had worse side effects with the other diets.  Have you tried the Atkins Diet?  That diet gave you bad breath.  How about Xenical?  That pill's effect was filthy!  Imagine men buying sanitary napkins because they're taking Xenical. Bangkok Pills?  There were some packs that did wonders for me.  I actually didn't mind the palpitations and the increased energy but there was this final batch that gave me headaches.  That was the end of those pills for me!  I'd say Cohen is the healthiest, most sustainable eating lifestyle thus far.  Their motto is simple:  "Let food be your medicine".  And this diet has given me the best side effect:  a 25-inch waistline!

Weekend Challenge

Weekends are the best.  This is the time when I can walk around in my pajamas all day.  But best of all, this is the time I can hang with my good friends.

My weekend starts on Friday night.  Usually my good friend Bubut would send this text message in the late afternoon:  "Let me know if you have dinner plans later".  Most times J and I don't really have dinner plans but when this message arrives in my phone, we get all excited and we make plans for dinner.

All Cohenites must agree that eating out is always a challenge.  For those on the Eating Plan or Refeeding, the challenge is explaining to the restaurant your food allowances and method of cooking.  Most times you don't want to deal with this hassle so you just BYOB (bring your own baon).  For those on Maintenance, like me, the challenge lies in choosing the right food from the array of deep fried, sugar-rich, cream-laden dishes on offer.  For me, I will always order a salad and then a steak or some seafood.  I try to veer from dishes that I know are swimming in rich sauce.  I noticed that this ordering method jacks up my food bill but I realized that ever since Cohen, I have been eating out less often and thus justifies ordering a premium dish whenever I'm out.  When my credit bill arrives, I still notice the big savings I've had since I've began cooking at home.  Thank you again, Dr. Cohen for teaching me to cook :).

Now the scary part.  Since we're all excited catching up on kwentos about the past week, dessert becomes the justification to extend the night.  Immediately, we decide to drive to Slice, that deadly delicious cake shop that just opened at the Bonifacio High Street.  Like a true Cohenite, ever since Maintenance, I always order the cheesecake.  (Maybe I can start comparing cheesecakes in my next post).  Anyway, Slice has one of the best cheesecakes in Manila.

Ever since we've discovered this cake shop, we've been here every single week.  It's like going to mass on Sundays.  We go to Slice on Fridays.

Of course by the end of the night, my tummy feels really full.  This is a feeling I used to get ALL THE TIME during my pre-Cohen days.  Now it just happens on weekends :).

Come Saturday morning, the previous night's delights register 0.80 lbs!  Ok lang, I tell myself.  That was worth it.  I just have to cut down today.

And then comes Sunday lunch.  My Sunday lunches are always at my Mom's place.  Mom is a great cook but given her age, she only likes to cook on Sundays.  And she cooks a feast.  Since I go to her place after Sunday Mass, I usually arrive at around 1 pm for lunch.


Mom knows that I have replaced rice with vegetables so she makes sure to prepare a vegetable dish.  She even knows which vegetables are Cohen approved so she will have asparagus, broccoli, zucchini.

I have cousins and friends who arrive for lunch at 2 pm.  So I get to sit in the dining table munching with every new kwento until about 3 pm. Imagine extending your munching to two hours.  So obviously, I'd have to help myself with dessert.  So as the Cohen plan says, I must eat carbohydrates before dessert.  So I eye-ball about 50 grams of rice, a tiny serving of vegetable and protein; and then get a serving of cake :).  Yes, there is always some cake during Sunday lunch.  This is usually brought by my Tita Patsie because her kids and grand kids love dessert.  Maybe I should tell Tita Patsie to bring some cheesecake next time :).

And just as I'm done with lunch, the dishes are replaced with merienda:  suman, ginataan, bibingka, tsokolate, cheese platter.  Again, I subscribe to the Cohen plan so I choose the cheese platter.  My brother, Popit, is always in charge of this platter.  He sits by the table with his sharp knife and a block of cheese and just slices away.  Ang sarap!  So Sunday lunch is actually an eating marathon that stretches from 1 pm to 5 pm.  Four hours of munching.  We only realize it's time to end the meal when "The Buzz" comes on air because Mom immediately tunes us out and concentrates on the latest show biz gossip.  This is our signal that the eating marathon has ended.

I've learned to mitigate the effects of this fat-inducing marathon by consciously making "smart" choices but it's really difficult to resist good food when there is good conversation!!!

For that entire weekend of feasting, this is what greets me on a Monday morning

 
 5 lbs. for a typical weekend!  Imagine how much I'd gain if this were a long weekend?  Oh well, thank God for weekdays!