Cohen's Lifestyle Cohens Lifestyle Support - New

Prefix for Cohen's Lifestyle
I am a coffee freak. I probably drink way to much - sometimes alot more than 3 cups of caffineated coffee a day, other times nill. I LOVE LONG BLACKS!!!!
Oh well.
 
I/m back on the program 100%. Had an omelette for breakfast and feel great knowing that this time next week I'l lbe a kilo or two lighter IF I continue to stick to Cohens one meal at a time, that's all it takes.

So here I go, one meal at a time. A watchguard over my own mouth!
 
Have just done up my own Cohen's Recipe Book, decorated it and filled it with print out recipes from here and the lifestylecliinic website. I feel more empowered now, having tasty recipes on hand.
 
Hi everyone,

Thanks for your wisdom Chelsea on the coffee issue. I'll be ok, I did without it when i was pregnant and brestfeeding. The first week or so will be hard but then, i won't be able to stand even the smell of it. I think its my drug of choice at the moment because i become tired so quickly and it seems to give me that lift to the next hit. Anybody would think that i was a junky. That the one of the reasons that i have joined Chohens to help my body readjust it self.:eek:
You will do just great IChoiceLife With that mind set of taking it one meal at a time is great and I'm going to do that too. As they say slow and steady wins the race. I think they call it Consistency:D
 
Hi all! Just wondering if it's possible to have haloumi cheese. I was comparing the ingredients with feta at the supermarket and they are nearly identical. Haloumi cooks so much nicer on the BBQ! Any ideas? Also, I am a little confused with the choice of fish, there are so many different names for so many diff fish. I love Dory, but it's not on the list (I don't think it is, but maybe it's lurking under another name!) I like a boneless fillet for ease of cook and eat, but don't know what I can get off the list. HELP!!
 
Hi all! Just wondering if it's possible to have haloumi cheese. I was comparing the ingredients with feta at the supermarket and they are nearly identical. Haloumi cooks so much nicer on the BBQ! Any ideas? Also, I am a little confused with the choice of fish, there are so many different names for so many diff fish. I love Dory, but it's not on the list (I don't think it is, but maybe it's lurking under another name!) I like a boneless fillet for ease of cook and eat, but don't know what I can get off the list. HELP!!

Unfortunately Dory is not on my list, what about Tuna and Snapper both are allowed? Whilst both are bony fish you can remove the big bones before cooking; shark a boneless fish is on my list, but I think it is inferrior in taste and "fill factor" to Snapper and Tuna by a long margin.

Nor is Haloumi cheese, I know that Haloumi is like mozzeralla and also like feta and probably all things being equal probably and if Dr Cohen had full resources to test all foods it would be OK to eat, however it is not on the approved list, so honestly I would purchase the best tastest mozzeralla I can find, for me cheese meals leave me hungry after a couple of hours meaning 3 hours of hunger waiting for the next meal.

It all depends on how dedicated you want to be to the program, you can choose to follow the plan perfectly and absolutely, and you will be rewarded with the best possible most rapid weight loss; or you can choose to be a little bit loser following the program and choose to exchange some "like" foods for the program foods knowing that in all likelyhood your weight loss could be slower than optimal. If you do exchange foods take care to ensure the protein, carb and fat content are about the same, if you dont get enough protein in particular you will feel hungrier and in the worst case lose muscle mass. It would be my advise keep with the plan as best you can and to avoid exchanging foods unless you are away from home and cannot make perfect choices.
 
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Side effects?

Hi everybody!

Another newby to hit the forum:)

Firstly, I have to say I am delighted that this exists... already I have learnt so much by reading your previous posts!

I started the program about a week ago, and so far so good... but had a friend say today that she had heard that the Cohen programme is very dangerous and caused stomach problems with people she knew.

So I thought I had better look into this more closely!

In some of the posts I have read about this 'ketosis' process, and didnt know what it meant so I looked it up on an online health dictionary, and it is defined as the process where your body converts fats into energy, making comment that the process was triggered by high protein, low carb diets ... but that your body should not be in this state for extended lengths of time (it said more than 14 days) as it could cause liver and kidney damage due to the higher acidity of the blood.

Obviously most of the people here have been on the programme for more than 14 days... so what has happened with you? I did read one post where someone had to discontinue as her liver was not coping.

Do you know if you actually ENTER the ketosis phase, or just hover on the edge of it?

What light can anybody shed on this? Has anybody asked their consultant about dangerous side effects, and what we should be looking out for?

Thanks... and great to meet you all!
 
Hi everybody!

Another newby to hit the forum:)

Firstly, I have to say I am delighted that this exists... already I have learnt so much by reading your previous posts!

I started the program about a week ago, and so far so good... but had a friend say today that she had heard that the Cohen programme is very dangerous and caused stomach problems with people she knew.

So I thought I had better look into this more closely!

In some of the posts I have read about this 'ketosis' process, and didnt know what it meant so I looked it up on an online health dictionary, and it is defined as the process where your body converts fats into energy, making comment that the process was triggered by high protein, low carb diets ... but that your body should not be in this state for extended lengths of time (it said more than 14 days) as it could cause liver and kidney damage due to the higher acidity of the blood.

Obviously most of the people here have been on the programme for more than 14 days... so what has happened with you? I did read one post where someone had to discontinue as her liver was not coping.

Do you know if you actually ENTER the ketosis phase, or just hover on the edge of it?

What light can anybody shed on this? Has anybody asked their consultant about dangerous side effects, and what we should be looking out for?

Thanks... and great to meet you all!

From my understanding when you are on Cohen diet your body will be at the edge of Ketosis, but not in it, actually there seems ketosis is not black or white, in or out, but a the bodies gradual reliance on fats to create glucose which is needed by the nervous system (brain) and ketone bodies which are used in muscles. However to lose weight it goes without saying that you need to get your body burning fat, releasing energy for your body. Cohen is no miracle in this respect, it is no super secret that when you are on Cohen you dont get much to eat, "just enough". However unlike Atkins diet with a hard "full on" ketosis, most eat 25 ~ 36 grams of crackers and 2 or 3 servings of fruit eg medium sized apples/kiwi ( 300~500 grams/day) which is more than enough sugars/carbs to keep your nervous system running without your body needing significant Ketosis to supply gulcose (sugars).


Ketosis is triggered in healthy people only lack of consumption of sugars and starches, rather the high protein or high fat. Cohen diet as we generally consume crackers and fruit at each meal is not low carb, in a typical day I would eat 175 yogurt breaky, 130 grams chicken breast lunch and 140 grams fish (tuna) dinner, so hardly high protien enough to be out of balance and create acid crisis in my blood.

One reason for the blood test is for Dr Cohen to check you basic health status looking for problems. There are only 2 concerns I have about the Cohen diet as far as saftey, a) lack of critical diet oils, vitamins and trace minerals b) rapid weigh loss can cause problems with gallstones, and if like me you had gallstones before starting (and didnt know it) the diet may cause a big problem. The Dr Cohen package documents I have recommend taking supplements to avoid any problems with a), but I felt it could have been clearer particular with the need for critical oils/fats.

I would also remind your friend that being fat long term is a big health risk, not a matter of vanity but serious issue. I have not heard of any "stomach problems" for people on Cohen so I am guessing your friend is confusing this diet with other diets, I recommend you ignore everyone except your doctor and if you want to know more about Cohen this forum is a wonderful source of information.
 
Thanks LessFatty, that reassures me...

Now that I have started I certainly dont want to quit!

Its also reassuring to see that there are very few health alerts on this forum regarding the programme :)
 
One reason for the blood test is for Dr Cohen to check you basic health status looking for problems. There are only 2 concerns I have about the Cohen diet as far as saftey, a) lack of critical diet oils, vitamins and trace minerals b) rapid weigh loss can cause problems with gallstones, and if like me you had gallstones before starting (and didnt know it) the diet may cause a big problem. The Dr Cohen package documents I have recommend taking supplements to avoid any problems with a), but I felt it could have been clearer particular with the need for critical oils/fats.

I would also remind your friend that being fat long term is a big health risk, not a matter of vanity but serious issue. I have not heard of any "stomach problems" for people on Cohen so I am guessing your friend is confusing this diet with other diets, I recommend you ignore everyone except your doctor and if you want to know more about Cohen this forum is a wonderful source of information.

LESSFATTY - How interesting that you should inform us on this issue. Yesterday I woke up in terrible pain in my stomach and right thru to my back. Went to the Dr and he automatically tested me for Pancriatitis. (For those of you who arent sure what that is, it is caused by too much alcohol or a gall stone blocking the duct from the Gall Bladder to the Pancreas. Needless to say, the alcohol does not concern me as I dont drink much at the best of times and certainly none for the past 14 wks.) I do have 13 gall stones the size of grains of sand and have had a gall bladder attach twice in my life. It is similar, but the pain isnt quite as sharp. I had bloods taken and will find out the results this morning. Curious if it has anything to do with the diet or not as I have had niggling pain all week after I have eaten anything. Will keep you all posted on the results.

I wonder if because of this problem that I have experienced all week, it may reflect on why my weight loss being so bizzare. Id lose 1kg then gain 600gm, then lose another 400gm and then gain 1kg. I did not eat anything other than yougurt and a stewed apple yesterday as was advised to stay on easy digestable foods and fluids. Yet the weight is still the same. Hmmmmmm. More importantly is my health at the moment so will just ride with it till Im over this health issue.

And worse still, I leave for the USA in 18 days so hopefully will be well and truly over this bump.

Welcome to all the newcomers, and I wish you all a successful and quick journey.

To all the oldies that have returned to us, YIPPEEEEE, great to see you all back and on track again.

Hope everyone is doing well and feeling lighter.

Cheers,

Regina
 
Well, yesterday I managed to have my first day without a deviation since just before Christmas ! I'm very happy.
Its amazing how much better I felt both physically and emotionally. I have had a crappy week, very cranky and bad tempered. I felt the same way yesterday morning, and then by just after lunch the serotonin must have kicked in and I felt great again.
Those carbs are evil little things - causing peaks and troughs in blood sugar, and emotional rollercoasters!

I want to be well and truly under 80kg when I go to Europe in early Feb, so I need to have a couple of really good weeks. Then I can manage a couple of weeks where i'm unlikely to be able to eat according to plan.
HL
 
Hi Everyone,

Haven't been posting since xmas. Fall off the wagon big time during xmas and have been on-off after it. Seem like the last stretch is really the hardest part of this journey coz I seem to be encounting wat Hazel had been thru/still going thru. Just been convincing myself with all sort of excuses to deviate and deep down inside, I know I really wanted to. Dun really understand what on earth is wrong with me.

Think I will start posting more regularly to keep myself on track and hopefully stop all my self-sobotaging.
 
LESSFATTY - How interesting that you should inform us on this issue. Yesterday I woke up in terrible pain in my stomach and right thru to my back. Went to the Dr and he automatically tested me for Pancriatitis. (For those of you who arent sure what that is, it is caused by too much alcohol or a gall stone blocking the duct from the Gall Bladder to the Pancreas. Needless to say, the alcohol does not concern me as I dont drink much at the best of times and certainly none for the past 14 wks.) I do have 13 gall stones the size of grains of sand and have had a gall bladder attach twice in my life. It is similar, but the pain isnt quite as sharp. I had bloods taken and will find out the results this morning. Curious if it has anything to do with the diet or not as I have had niggling pain all week after I have eaten anything. Will keep you all posted on the results.

I wonder if because of this problem that I have experienced all week, it may reflect on why my weight loss being so bizzare. Id lose 1kg then gain 600gm, then lose another 400gm and then gain 1kg. I did not eat anything other than yougurt and a stewed apple yesterday as was advised to stay on easy digestable foods and fluids. Yet the weight is still the same. Hmmmmmm. More importantly is my health at the moment so will just ride with it till Im over this health issue.

And worse still, I leave for the USA in 18 days so hopefully will be well and truly over this bump.

Welcome to all the newcomers, and I wish you all a successful and quick journey.

To all the oldies that have returned to us, YIPPEEEEE, great to see you all back and on track again.

Hope everyone is doing well and feeling lighter.

Cheers,

Regina


In regard to gallstones/gallbladder there was a thread a while ago in regard to this issue http://weight-loss.fitness.com/cohens-lifestyle/6741-gall-bladder-removal.html?highlight=gall#post142413 It is not actually Cohen foods that causes gallstones, just rapid weight loss diets.

In regard to weight fluctuations may I ask if you have been "deviating" ? Particularly with starches, sugars, salt (salty foods), even little bits cause swings in daily weights or at least for me.

I had olive oil mixed with lemon juice to help when I had a gallbladder attack, the DR put me on tablets that help reduce the thickness (dilute) of the liquid gall. Worked well.
 
To Momiji

Hi Everyone,

Haven't been posting since xmas. Fall off the wagon big time during xmas and have been on-off after it. Seem like the last stretch is really the hardest part of this journey coz I seem to be encounting wat Hazel had been thru/still going thru. Just been convincing myself with all sort of excuses to deviate and deep down inside, I know I really wanted to. Dun really understand what on earth is wrong with me.

Think I will start posting more regularly to keep myself on track and hopefully stop all my self-sobotaging.

Hi Momiji,

Saw your message and decided to post it up here. Yeah... the last part of the journey is usually the hardest... a lot of frustrations, especially if the weight doesn't come off and in the meantime, you also sucummb to temptations. You have about 8 kgs left so I would advise you to try to get back to Cohen 100%. Reduce on coffee and tea intake cos I suspect the caffeine may stimulate more hunger pangs and cravings. Instead, go on green tea. Sleep as much as you can. When school started last week, I had a lack of sleep and discovered that I needed to eat more. So I think if you sleep more than usual, you will find it easier to keep to Cohen. Lastly, if you find it hard to keep to Cohen, be a hermit. Go to work and come home straight. If you need to work late, eat subway salad. Go for the roast beef salad. Ironically, chicken breast salad has more calories and fat than the roast beef salad.

Go for a variety of fruits and food. NTUC now sells good nectarines which I'm crazy about now. They also sell peaches too! Go for kiwi and a variety of fruits. Go for a variety of food too. Try different dishes and different meats/ fishes. Try different vegetables. While it helps to break the montony of the usual food, perhaps your body will respond to the fact that you are eating different types of food? I love the fruits now, especially since Australia is having its summer season of fruits like mangoes, nectarines, apricots, etc... So go and try them...


One of the major problems I had while losing the remaining kgs is constipation. Once I can't move my bowels, I will not lose weight at all. So how I deal with that is to increase my fruit intake. So increasing my fruit intake helps me to lose weight. The very last lap of the journey like losing your last 4 or 5 kgs, you will feel hungrier than usual. According to the consultants, this is normal as your body is using up more energy than usual. But try not to cheat though sometimes, I agree, it's so hard to cheat when you are SO hungry. So, eat fruits.

Stagger your crackers. I used to eat my crackers like 3 hours after my breakfast and end up with none in the evening. So now, I will eat my first batch of crackers in the afternoon after my lunch so that I will have enough for dinner. That helps too because in the afternoon, the tendency to snack is there so, it's good to have crackers as standby.

Lastly, don't think too much. First things first, go back to Cohen, be in control and when you are in control, you will feel good.

Let's support each other on this journey. It ain't easy cos I have been on this program for 1 year and almost 2 months, losing an incredible going-to-be-60 kg. But you know what, even though your weight loss is slow, your body is taking its shape.

When I went back to school, everyone commented that I looked really good and slimmer than they saw me two months ago. And I only lost 9 kg during the 2 months. But guess what? my body is slowly revealing its curves and all that. So keep going...

When I call for refeed at 66 kg, I'm going to make a big announcement here! But sighs, I'm having my period now.. so I really hope this doesn't delay my weight loss...

Anyway, the fact that you posted something up here shows that you want to do something about it. So just do it! You can!
 
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Hey everyone!

I hope you are all enjoying your new year! I certainly am! I am so proud to tell all of you that I have been cohening it 100%! I never thought I would get the motivation back but just like magic it happened! I am a bit worried however, lately I have been having some strange seeping from the belly button which I have been told is connected to gall bladder problems, I am off to the doc tomorrow but if anyone has any thoughts on the matter I would like to hear about it

anyway I hope everyone is well and has lived through the holiday chaos alright

xx bek
 
For Chelsea

Hi Chelsea

"Many years ago I studied iridology for a while, and apparently there is no such thing as green eyes. The green is caused by a film of yellow fat overlaying the iris. Does this mean I shall, like Venus, emerge from this experience not only 25 kilos lighter but with blue eyes instead of green?"

I have just read through your Somersoft site and was curious to know if your eyes did ever change colour?

Dizzy
 
Well day two and not one deviation and can you believe I've lost 2.1kg .. yes I'm one of those serial weighers cause it keeps me mentally on track seeing the digits decrease each day.

I've done up a recipe book filled with amazing brekkys, lunches and dinners. Im remotivated and already feeling so much better.
 
Hi Everyone!

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to this forum and will be starting the Cohen's programme sometime this week. Cohen's was recommended to me by a friend who also suffers from PCOS. Apparently Cohen's is excellent for those with PCOS, so finger's crossed it works for me.

I love reading everyone's posts and have been deeply motivated by all of you and believe I am ready for the first time to loose the extra weight...for MYSELF. I've tried each and everything to loose weight but always put it back on after I stop the "diets and plans".

I have one question to ask....how does the Cohen's programme fit in with people who are shift-workers?? I work odd hours and my roster changes every 2 weeks and am afraid I might fail....any advice??

Thanks and good luck to everyone!! :D :D :D
 
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Welcome NX6 .. .the program works around you, so if you customise it to suit you which makes it much more doable. My advice is to plan, plan and then plan some more, because it seems when you're not prepared is when deviations sneak in.
 
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