Cohen's Lifestyle Cohens Lifestyle Support

[rjm]

Hi everyone,
asyoz, 17kg in a week, wouldn't that be lovely!!!
L-Jay, sounds like you are super focused again. Well done, you'll be there in no time at all.
Fornight, I always ate all my crackers. I didn't want to do anything to risk breaking the program, and getting too hungry would be something that would definately set me off, and I still lost 35kg in 4 months. I agree with L-Jay, the most important things are sticking to the program 100%, and drinking heaps of water, but if you feel that cutting out the crackers helps, go for it!
lizzi, my consultant told me that you are not allowed multigrain bread while on re-feed. Only white or wholemeal bread and only normal size slices (no Tip-Top Up for eg.) No info on re-introducing the other foods, but they do introduce fats on day 12 (margarine on 1 slice of bread), and on day 14 you get one plain biscuit (eg. milk arrowroot). The "Life After" program just says "Stay on low fat products, there is no need to go back to full fat products", and advises "if you get hungry in between meals for a 'snack',have a cracker with processed cheese (Mozarella, cheddar, Roquefort, brie, camambert,parmesan) This is the only mention of cheese. Salmon can be introduced in the re-feed ( but no mention of smoked salmon) I assume that salmon is salmon though and if you introduce pink or red salmon your body should be able to process smoked salmon. Another thing that I find strange is that during my re-feed they increase my fruit to 4 pieces a day, but then in my life after it says "If you were a severe obese person (which I was), Stay away from fruit, especially the "Bad fruit". Have only 1 fruit per day. Do not eat fruit before breakfast. Having fruit on an empty stomach will send sensitive insulin levels high. Always have fruit with protein (eg yoghurt).
As for avocado etc, I would just continue to increase and re-introduce different foods at a slow rate. This is what I did last time. One day try some avocado, the next day try something else different.
DeDe23, fresh bread with butter and vegemite, also one of my weaknesses. Vegemite is one of the things I miss most while on Cohens. Good advice given to you from your Mum, just pick yourself up and keep going, and remember never to shop while hungry again. Good luck, you're doing really well.
Well this morning I am down another kilo, which makes 2kg lost so far and I've only completed 6 days on re-feed. I am hoping it stays down tomorrow morning as my food quantities bump up quite a bit today. Last time I did re-feed I lost the most weight from this point on (2kg from day 7 to day 16), so I'm really hoping I might still have some more loss after today.
All is still going really well.
Have a great day, everyone.
Talk to you all soon.

 

[Reload72]

Am not feeling very well since saturday, and snap.

Ate some chocolate in the early evening, and when abt to sleep, ate another 2 biscuit which was allowed but wrong timing.

Not sure whether is it my hypertension or blood sugar... felt giddy the whole day and suddenly heart was racing/beating fast when i wanna sleep last nite. Only had abt 2hours sleep. Thought i was having a heart attack or something.

Ah shit, am coming to the end of my first month on 12July - my weight wont be going down i guess... so still 7kg.

 

[fornight]

Reload: It must be due to the sudden fluctuation of blood sugar (u ate some chocolates, right?). The sugar content in chocolate is very high due to the bitterness of cocoa powder.

L-Jay & Rjm: I am following the program. In my program book, it mention that after the first 10 days, I can min my crackers if I wish to in order to accelerate the weigh loss.

 

[Reload72]

Fornight : i made a wrong move on saturday morning, i subsitute fruits to juice(no sugar added - peel fresh). i guess that cost mi 1.5days of weird/unwell feeling. That late afternoon, after lunch also felt hungry, then had chocolate. Before going to bed, ate another 2 biscuits.

Sunday - after breakfast, feeling giddy the whole day. Did not try to eat any biscuits, but before dinner had some diet coke.
When going to bed, my heart starts racing for almost an hour and very giddy even wen sitting up.

 

[fornight]

Reload: You can’t substitute fruits with juice that way. How do you know you are not drinking more than allowed amt of fruit? Think about the money you spend on Cohen. If you ate too much sugar that is allowed, your body will need to reboot back to its fat loss mode and that means more time is needed.

 

[asyoz]

L-Jay, I did write quite a bit over the weekend, sorry I've got another in the pipelines for today, so check in a couple of hours and hopefully it'll be up!
Beck, Thanks heaps for your comment on the blog, makes things a little clearer now. I was hoping I could have an egg too, but alas

thanks

asy

 

[mumbine]

tickers???

I can't seem to update my ticker. It won't let me click on it as a link.
Anyway, I am now down to 112.3kg. That's 6.2kg in two weeks. YooHoo!

 

[*sunshine*1]

Hi Everyone!

Great to see everyone doing so well. Staying focused is really difficult but with the support we all receive from this forum, it makes it a little easier to keep on track.

Only a short post today.... I will post a longer one tonight with my updated ticker.

I just wanted to let everyone in Melbourne know about the "Irresistable Gluten Free, Wheat Free Food Show" happening at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre on 12 August 2006 between 9 - 5pm. (I am not affiliated with this show, just thought you might be interested).

As I'm sure you're all aware, those of us on Cohens are quite carbohydrate (wheat and sugar) sensitive, and maybe this show will help some of us gain the information we need to keep away from the bad carbs and stay slim forever! I've been looking up low carb recipes on the net and have found that a lot of them require products and ingredients that I haven't seen on the supermarket shelves - maybe this will point us in the right direction.

I don't know about you guys but i've been wondering how I'm going to manage my new self when I'm finished... hopefully this show takes some of the guess work out of it.

Cheers!

 

[Reload72]

Fornight : within the first month, am already off the track twice... so disappointed at myself. Kept on telling myself that after the program i can eat as the food will always to there.

I really really need to be on track. Fed Up! Going to stick by the program booklet.

Yes, i know i cant subtitube/guess the amt of juice to a whole fruit allowed. Was trying to experiment new flavour - yogurt blend with fruit.

1st try : blend some peach, yogurt and diet coke (cant find diet sprite/7up in sg) - taste : not so nice, sour, coke is not a good choice with yogurt (cant remember if i was hungry minutes before mealtime).

2nd try : blend some apple juice and yogurt - taste : sweeter and better... but A HUGE MISTAKE, also hungry on the last hour before lunch time.

Today 3rd try : blend whole apple and yogurt with some sweetener and abit of water - taste : still abit sour (better then peaches & coke) and mealtime, am still not hungry.

 

[tania2]

Bumping on and off wagon

Hi gorgeous Cohenettes

I am on here to update the slow movement in my ticker.

As per the title.... I am bumping on and off the wagon. Nothing drastic to talk about (no takeaway, or fatty foods, or breads etc), just not weighing things and know that I am exagerating with the amounts that I am having, but I do get very hungry.

And the ridiculous thing... if I stuck to it, I could be finished in four weeks.

I have a confession to make though... ever since my clinic closed down, I have been very half hearted about it all. I missed my first weigh in, first blood test, so I am just going via the original booklet that I received.

What a freakin waste of money.

Is there any hints on the refeed? Obviously I won't get one off Dr Cohen as he doesn't have my blood tests, so any hints would be great.

grumpy with the mitcham closure and grumpier at myself! But .... still losing (slowly). and I WILL Get there.

Cheers, tania

 

[mumbine]

Devil on my shoulder....

I can't believe i'm about to admit this....

I just had a bread binge

I'm so very annoyed with myself. It felt like a compulsion but i'm sure it's sabotage again cause i weighed myself thismorning. I can't believe i did that!!!

Total Idiot.....

Please don't feel the need to reply, i'm just venting my frustrations, i'm incredibly embarrassed.

 

[L-Jay]

mumbine I'm not replying because I have to, but because I want to. I just want to say, I commiserate with you. I can imagine how you must be feeling, been there done that plenty of times. This is not the easiest thing to stick to. Just concentrate on what you have achieved
Tania its so easy just to have a little bit extra. I do that sometimes. It doesnt feel as bad as having something not allowed, but the results are there. But you are right - you will get there. We all will.
sunshine that food show sounds very interesting
reload72 I think its good you are experimenting with different combinations. You need to find the ones that you like that you can stick to.
fornight you'll work out whats right for you. As long as the weight comes off.
asyoz dont apologise, I love your blog. I like your humour. You have a way with words and thoughts.
rjm so glad you are still losing on refeed.

I have drank probably not quite 2 lts of water, some to go yet. Had a call this morning from a young friend. Her sister collapsed at home, parents at work out of town. We went around and ended up calling the ambos. They took her to hospital, and we got in touch with the parents eventually. Turns out she had to be airlifted to Adelaide, they arent sure whats wrong, and shes really out of it. Suspecting brain haemorraging or meningitis. So its been pretty emotional day. I had a small glass of fruit juice and didnt have lunch until 2.15pm.

It's amazing how much stuff goes on when you are trying to sort yourself out. Each and everything thats happened lately (and it seems to be one thing after another at the moment, and all quite emotional stuff), I've actually managed to be strong about, and not blown my diet.I'm saying this because I used to think "Oh well its exceptional circumstances, cant help it." So if I can improve with this and beat emotional eating (& drinking, all you determined girls can too)

While you are sorting things out, you have to keep putting your needs first, otherwise it leaves you another set of things to deal with - extra weight, guilt etc. This is the most amazing journey, which we will all learn so much from to share with others here, and help us for the rest of our lives

 

[lizzi1]

Just the quickest post before I go out again ...

mumbine: Don't be embarassed or so hard on yourself. The journey is just as important as the result. I think that is what L-Jay has really been sharing with us. You will get there!

L-Jay: Sounds like your day was difficult. You did well in the circumstances. Stick close to the program and you will keep moving through this. Sometimes things do keep piling up, and it seems you have more than your share of opportunities to test out new strategies under tension! I hope your friend's sister is alright. And I hope your life is a bit smoother in the next few weeks.

tania: Maybe your clinic has closed, but what happens here is up to you. The blood tests are vital for refeed - so ring the clinic and have them straight away - then each four weeks after that. If you have the dates wrong now then check it. You have numbers to do that with and you should have forms for pathology. Maybe you don't have the personal support, but email and phone still work. You have everything you need to succeed. Don't let the closure be the reason to toss it in. That is not an answer that will give you a good result. Many of us don't have a clinic simply because we are in rural Australia, and it hasn't been the cause of anyone not succeeding. Maybe you have to choose what is important. Sorry if this seems tough, but you are important and so is your health. You can do this! Many of us have never had an official weigh in and I assure you the program still works. So go for it, and I look forward to your results - you will be so pleased if you do

lizzi

 

[asyoz]

I've had a long chat with my Cohens Consultant about the closure of the MEL Clinics, and what's going on, as initially I was worried that if she closed I'd lose my support.

She assured me that there was no way she was closing, and the closure of the other clinics was intrinsic to them, and didn't affect clinics at large so long as they were maintaining their franchise commitments appropriately.

Also, there are new clinics just about ready to open up in Melbourne, which, I think, anyone who was a Melbourne client (currently looked after by Geelong) will be able to transfer to.

Tania, as Lizzi said, don't let the closure of your clinic be a barrier to your success. There's light at the end of the tunnel, put up with the distance and work via email and phone for the moment, the new clinics ARE COMING.

Also, even if you missed your 4 week blood test, you can still have one at 8 weeks instead (not ideal, but better than nothing), and keep on schedule from there, you'll still be able to get your refeed at the end. Using someone else's re-feed won't work, as the order and amounts of food that are introduced are dependant on your blood sugar levels (amongst other things) and how the tests have progressed through the programme. Again, don't jeapordise your success!

hope this helps

asy

 

[Momiji]

Hi everyone,
seem like a deviation week for all, I had my 2nd deviation since I started today. The place where I was having my course doesn't have a place for me to eat(and I can't eat inside the room either) so end up I have to eat out at the foodcourt(which doesn't allow outside food). Had fish soup(which I hope is not so bad but think its much below my allowance coz I am feeling so hungry right now, couldn't eat my biscuit coz I used them in my dinner(which was supposed to be my lunch). Sighz... and this is going to continue for 2 more days, feeling so tempted to just deviate with some foods that I have craving for(since I already had to deviate =p). So really hope I wun end up doing that.
For those of you guys, just stay strong k? and find something to keep your attention on so u wun be thinking of food all day.

 

[DeDe23]

Im back on track

I bort a set of digital scales and when i stood on them i was like a kid in a candy store- i lost 2kg in 6 days and that is with not 100% being faithful! I am still getting used to actually weighing everything and the whole 5hrs thing. And the water- for crying out loud!! Give me a cple more weeks and i think i will have it down pat!!! I dont cheat as such, but i tend to skip breakfast (cos i sleep in) and water isnt really in my vocab yet but im trying. I live by myself so i dont have someone banging on the door to tell me to get up! I am a night shift worker (permenant) but despite being off work for over 12mths with major knee (ACL recon and more) and back injury from work , i still am in the habbit of sleeping long mornings and awake at night (til 2-3am) but im trying hard. Any suggestions? Cos i only HAVE to get up for rehab sessions i dont have reason to get up.....need to get a reason to get up apart from having breakfast.

L-Jay : I hope ur friends sister is ok and i am sure she will get the best care in the big hospitals in the city (being an agency nurse i work amongst many and they r gd). Alot of smaller rural hospitals just dont have the required equipment/facilities to make further investigations so hopefully its not serious. If it is then she is in the best place for recovery. I will be thinking of u and ur friend and hope she can come home soon- it always aides recovery when home. Nothing better then ur own bed and family/friends around u to support u.

I am kinda getting addicted to the Robert Timms coffee bags i mentioned a cple of days ago. Someone asked yesterday about whether it tastes like filtered coffee; honestly, i have no idea! Filter coffee tends to be strong but this is rather mild compared so if u like ur coffee it might not be up ur alley. It tastes better then instant in my book (milk wld help it taste better but i know its a bad idea). I could drink it all day but im only having 3- usually after lunch til bed (will prob have 4 by end of today tho). I have been having normal sugar too - bad move! Only one but i do need to go buy some sweetner replacement things. This will prob decrease the amount of coffee i have but not a bad thing i guess.

Just had tea so my final meal since i missed breakfast will be 11pm and then stay up for a few hours and then go to bed... is that still ok to do??

Well, i hope all are doing well and being strong! PS: my official weigh in is tomorrow so i will let u know how i go. Should i not drink much before i go??

Talk soon

 

[lizzi1]

Last night I was out with someone who had finished Cohen's. It was so nice to talk to them about how they were doing, to watch them eat normally, including cheesecake for desert! Also to see though, how much her taste had changed, and how comfortably she left what she didn't want on the plate, like three quarters of the huge potato and most of the cream that came and a part of the crust that came with the cheesecake. I know from my past attempts at losing weights on restricted carbs just how it can change the way you think about food, and I realize that after a year on this program, I won't really know what I will enjoy, but there will be even more changes to my eating. It was great to see her so comfortable and looking so good.

Also it was my first evening 'eat-out at a restaurant' experience in a year. I went prepared. I had a meal in my bag, along with fruit and biscuits. But I was fully prepared not to be able to eat accurately, so just to drink my way through the night with water, diet coke, peppermint tea, or coffee! BUT when I asked the waitress she complied so helpfully. They weighed out the entree grilled chicken, and a simple salad with lettuce tomato and cucumber.
The first time I have let someone weigh my food in almost a year, but it looked accurate and I felt normal. It was a great touch of NORMAL!!! I can't wait to get to the end of this.

Also, this friend made a comment about my trousers 'nearly falling off' which took me by surprise, and it wasn't until I got home and took a closer look, that I realized how much difference the last couple of weeks had made to the way these pants looked. I'm stoked!

Just wanted to share that with you. Have a good day, I got to go to the dentist before work this morning - oh no!!! No pain, just long overdue work, and it will be more than one trip ... here goes.

Began 9th July 2005 … To end 20th October, 2006​

Lizzi . . . 110 days to go! … 15 weeks 5 days​

 

[L-Jay]

Lizzi that sounds like just what you needed to do to keep appreciating what you've accomplished and how worthwhile it is to see this through to the end. And how fantastic about the trousers. Its helpful to see how people are managing after cohens. It reinforces what we've been told about not putting the weight back on.

As far as my friend is going, there has been no improvement. An mri late last night showed some bleeding. Its so stressful. Shes only 16, and it all happened so fast. They still dont know exactly what theyre dealing with. But have ruled out menigicoccal.

Got up this morning and my daughter has gastro. So hoping she recovers quickly and we dont get it.

Anyway, weight is still stable. I actually ate some pork last night. But didnt have any vegies. I dont think it was a huge amount. Drank plenty of water yesterday. I feel as though I've lost more weight, and it will show up on the scales soon. Being a compulsive weigher, I hopped on the scales before I went to bed, and the last few nights I've been 85 and in the morning 83. Last night I was 84.5 and was expecting to see 82.5 this morning. But I can see a big difference the mirror. The thing is, the smaller you get, the more obvious even the smaller losses are.

I need to cut back on Pepsi Max. I feel stressed enough already at the moment, and all that caffeine is making me worse.

I know I'm rambling. I just cant get my head around whats happened in the last 24hrs. I want my friend to be okay. We saw her on the weekend and she was fine. And now shes in ICU. I cant distract myself from it all, and am having a major pity party here. What I really need to do is focus on something positive. I'm fine, but I'm like the expectant father who paces up and down in the waiting room while his wife gives birth in the old sitcoms. And a lot of its just nervous exhaustion. I'm dreaming of being able to go away for a week and sleep, preferably where its warm and sunny lol. Thanks everyone for listening to me spill my guts on here. Different friends have said come around for a coffee today, because we are all worried and upset, but I cant, because my daughter is sick. And I dont want to be on the phone because my ther girls mum is going to ring this morning with an update. At least here I dont have to worry about spreading germs and blocking the phone line. I'm fine really, but not in the mood for house work or a dvd.

Sorry for raving on. Just hanging out for some good news. Okay I'm going to go now and occupy myself with something mundane like folding washing.

 

[ColWedd]

Hi gorgeous Cohenettes

I am on here to update the slow movement in my ticker.

As per the title.... I am bumping on and off the wagon. Nothing drastic to talk about (no takeaway, or fatty foods, or breads etc), just not weighing things and know that I am exagerating with the amounts that I am having, but I do get very hungry.

And the ridiculous thing... if I stuck to it, I could be finished in four weeks.

I have a confession to make though... ever since my clinic closed down, I have been very half hearted about it all. I missed my first weigh in, first blood test, so I am just going via the original booklet that I received.

What a freakin waste of money.

Is there any hints on the refeed? Obviously I won't get one off Dr Cohen as he doesn't have my blood tests, so any hints would be great.

grumpy with the mitcham closure and grumpier at myself! But .... still losing (slowly). and I WILL Get there.

Cheers, tania

Ring the Clinic in Geelong they will give you the support you might want. Dr Cohen does have your blood test results... if you have them! So stick to it and you will get your promised program delivered in full.

 

[mumbine]

I feel Blah...

L-Jay: You, your friend and her family are sincerely in my prayers. I hope all goes well and you have the peace you need. Thanks also for your support. You are amazing how you keep on powering on! You have had so much happen and you are honestly an inspiration with what you continue to achieve. Well Done!

DeDe23: No! No sugar....aaaahhhh. Having any type of 'real' sugar will hurt your chances of long term success. Definitely go out and buy some artificial sugar now....Sounds like you really need to read your book again. Even though it's just one teaspoon of sugar, you'll prevent your body going into fat burning mode. As for breakfast, just count your first meal of the day as breakfast and count five hours from there. Make sure you have your three meals. You're probably thinking, mmmmm, this woman just had a big binge. Yes I did, but when i follow the program i try my hardest to do with 100% accuracy and i have witnessed fantastic results. Also, if your deviations are continual, you'll end up having inaccurate bloods which will make it harder for Dr Cohen to do your refeed. My suggestion is to read your book again and resolve to make the commitment to follow it properly. Sorry if it's not what you want to hear, but that's what we're all here for. To help each other succeed! Congrats on taking the first step, now promise yourself that you won't cheat yourself of the success you deserve! This is all said kindly by the way, k?

Momiji: I can really relate to how you're feeling. You feel as if you haven't followed the program properly so you may as well just take the opportunity to 'get it out of your system'. Don't cheat yourself! It really sets you back a bit. when i've done this it's added a couple of kilos and then it takes a few more days to get back to where i started before. I do have a suggestion: My scales are quite compact and i take them with me if i'm going places. You can buy a salad/cheese separately and weigh while you're out! You'll obviously have to get over the inital embarrasment but it will be worth it for the feeling of pride you'll have in yourself for honouring your body! I find that no other meal satisfies quite like a Cohen meal! Good luck...

asyoz: I was also told that there would be new clinic opening in Melbourne. It was only after calling them though. It would be really nice to receive an email or something just as a matter of courtesy. I know they're doing their best down in WA, but they could just send a bulk email to the melbournites to keep us happy....If anyone else hears any news, please tell us, it's the only way that we find out.

Lizzi: You're amazing! I feel so ashamed taking comfort from you when you have been such a ROCK! I really wish i had your determination. You have achieved so much and every time i see your ticker i just shake my head in disbelief. You're such an inspiration. Thankyou.

Tania: It really would be worth speaking to your consultant. You are soooo close to your goal. Maybe your body is ready for the refeed, would be worth doing a blood test right away. Sorry if i've missed something... I haven't looked back on your other posts yet. It would definitely be worth calling one of the other clinics to get their advice.

Sunshine: Might see you at that show. My sister is Coeliac and we'll probably go together. I'll keep an eye out for you. I'll look forward to seeing the further differences since your photo post. Though, i probably won't recognise you cause it was a back shot. Anyway, have fun there.

Reload72: Good luck with your renewed commitment to your book. I'm going back to it myself today. there's so much you tend to forget or miss.

*** MagicLea:*** Where are you, we miss your smile....and funny posts.

Here we go again:
I'm on the wagon again. There's a big difference here. Usually i would throw it all in and say to myself i stuffed up and there's no use trying. But, I know that this diet will get me there. I've taken a couple of steps back, but i've also moved forward. In the right direction. I'll get there in the end and i'm always turning to God to lead me in the right path. Definitely led me here. You guys are my Rock....Thanks for your support.

By the way. I feel disgusting, bloated, airy and tight in my belly. Not good. Serves me right!