Cohen's Lifestyle Fornight - Health Journey

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fornight

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Hi, I did cohen back in mid 2006. Lost around 14kg I think (Goal was 20kg). Stopped and did not do the refeed program. I think I did it with the wrong reason then. I was so happy with all the compliments and started feeling cocky. I thought I could continue on my own with my own "diet plan". In the end, old eating habits creep back and I gained everything back within a few months.

Now the excess weight is seriously weighing me down in terms of health. I was diagnosed with cervical sypondysis (neck) last year but I managed the problem with a bit of stretching exercise and physiotherapy. That part of the neck is too risky for surgery. Recently I experience numbness and ache on my left leg. Did MRI and found out that now I have lumbar disc prolapse (lower back).

I am only 33yrs old for god sake. Single and with no child. How can I have all these "old age" problems. The doctor cannot tell me why. I did some research and it seems like there is no direct cause but some studies believe that excess weight might be one of the causes.

My doctor is offering surgery for my lumbar disc problem but I seriously do not want to go under the knife. I want to explore all possible "non-knife" options. surgery should be my last option. The surgery may relieve me from the pain but it does not remove the root of the problem. What if another disc prolapse again? That means another surgery!!!

I went to a Chirapractist today and tomorrow I will be receiving his examination of my condition. I tell myself I will go through all the necessary chirapractic treatments (lucky me - my insurance covers). In addition, I will need to lose some weight so that it will complement the treatments.

I also did my initial blood test for cohen today. I hope this blood test is better than the one I did the first round. Back in 2006, the test showed that my liver was not functioning very well. Therefore for the 1st month, I was under a "modified" cohen diet. Together with some liver supplements and the modified diet, my liver actually went back to healthy range. The modified diet was also working but the weight loss was slower.

Now I am anxiously waiting for my blood test results and my food plan in cohen. I pray that the test result is good and I will not be rejected by Dr Cohen.
 
I went to the shop to buy the multi vit / mineral that are recommended by Cohen Consultant today. The shop is located in the main shopping centre and it was filled with people.

the weather is so humid and hot that I had to stay and cool down in the AC indoor. I passed by a japanese food store while trying to cool down. right at that moment, I decided to have my last japanese curry rice set before i start cohen next week. I really enjoyed it.
 
Hope things go well this time around. Shedding a bit of weight certainly makes you feel a lot better, and I'm sure that even if it doesn't completely solve things, it will make the back problems a bit more bearable.

I'm on my second round too - I think sorting out the head issues after many years of comfort food eating takes a lot more determination and long-term planning than we realise! Still, doing the second time around, at least you know what to expect, you know it works, and can just relax and enjoy the ride!
 
Hi Fornight, I typed a welcome to you in the support thread before I saw yr diary so just thought I would say a quick Hi & welcome again in case you miss it,cheers, cate
 
Hi everyone. Thank you for the encouraging words.

It is going to be a long journey to recover from my back problem and it is also going to be a long journey to eliminate bad eating habits from my subconscious mind.

To tell you the truth, I did went through hypnotherapy for weight loss before. Although it did not help, it did help me to face some childhood sadness that I thought I had forgotten. I think deep inside my subconscious mind, bad eating habits are still not removed even though i completed the hypno course.
 
Fornight- I don't think we ever truly forget deep sadnesses. We just bury them down as far as possible. It's always best to deal with them, even many years later. I think most of us became overweight due to low self-esteem. This may stem from a comment made in jest sometime, a feeling of not being loved as a child, from being the non-pretty one in the family or group of friends, from rejection of some sort or from some other cause.
I have found one of the hardest things with my weight loss is accepting that I am allowed to look good & feel good & It is ok to love myself & look after yourself. Counselling and reading motivational books has helped me immensely. I have had to mentally adjust to my new body and it is one of the hardest aspects of the journey.
We all deserve to be loved and to love and it is important to love yourself. You are capable of doing this. If I did, you can. Take care & 'talk' soon, Cate
 
Hi Fornight

Hello and welcome to our little "cohen family" hehe

Good luck with your journey - we're all here to support, encourage, inspire and celebrate with you on this :D :D

Keep well,
Luvbug
xxx
 
:waving: Hi Fornight!

Welcome to the virtual groupie of the Cohen's family! We all are here with one goal in mind! We love meeting new people!

WELCOME BACK TO COHENS and congratulation on starting again!

Im sorry to hear about your health problems! Its a real stress in one's life!
I hope that the weight-loss will contribute to your improving health!

Looking forward to hearing about your progress! keep us up to date!

Greets
**
 
It is really heart-warming to feel so welcome here.

During my 1st time with cohen, my initial blood test was bad in terms of my liver function. Then it recovered to healthy range after being on the diet as well as eating many supplements. Since I am off cohen for so long, I was really nervous over my current blood test. The consultant did promise me that they should be able to call me early this week to let me know my blood test result and my food program.

Today is Wednesday but I still did not receive any call from Cohen. I thought "doom.....my liver must be giving really bad results that they needs to work out something else for me....maybe Dr cohen decides to reject me". In the end, I called them myself just now. She told me she called me yesterday but she couldn't reach me. I was having some network problem for my cell yesterday - maybe she called during then.

She has to reassure me three times that the blood test shows that my liver is fine!!!!! YAY!!!!!!

I am going to pick up my food program later after my Chiropractic session.
 
Fornight- Good news!!! Welcome once again, well & truly. I felt confident for some reason that you would be right. Phew!! xox Cate
 
Today I am starting my 1st day in Cohen. I weighed myself and found myself 3kg lighter than when I weighed in Cohen office last Friday. It must be the water retention because my menses ended not too long ago when I visited Cohen's office last week.

I am glad that I choose a more "normal" day to start my 1st official weigh-in. I sure hope I can resist myself from weighing myself daily and focus on 4-weekly weigh-in.
 
Fornight, I'm really glad for you that you are able to do the program & that you are off to a flying start already. Steer clear of those scales or they might do your head in. If you do the program 100% you will lose the weight. Full stop. As you know weight fluctuates, depending on the time of the Month (TOM) & if one day you get on the scales & they have gone up due to TOM & get you down. Let your tape measure be your guide & measure same day every week. I wish I had done extra measurements including my ring fingers & wrists as they shrank a lot. I would love to know by how much but never measured them so can't.I still look down at my hands & think "Wow, their mine!" It's hard to believe sometimes. Well....I know their mine because they're pretty wrinkly(I'm 56) but you know what I mean. LOL.
Welcome to our part of the Cohen's world xo Cate
 
Well, I managed to survive the 3rd day on Cohen. I was actually worried about headaches. I always have headaches on the first few days when I start low cab diet. I think it is the water that saves me. I have been dunking water into my body all day long.

I was taking a nap this afternoon and had a dream of eating in a feast!!!! In my dream I was telling myself, oh dear!!! I fall off the wagon again!!! I got such a huge relief when I woke up and realised that it was only a dream!
 
a US colleague came to singapore today and she brought me a box of splenda. splenda is not available in Singapore, you see.

I look forward to use it in my yogurt tomorrow morning.
 
Great about the Splenda! If you can make Cohen's as bearable and enjoyable as you can, it's much easier to stick to.

Your liver is going to really thank you for turning your health around with this diet. I know mine is in the same boat. I was always getting slightly dodgy results, which I knew were just fat overload on the liver, and once you eat healthily for a while, it's great to know the liver function improves markedly.

You should be feeling much better in a day or two, just hang in there! The headaches will clear, and in a week or so, you'll be picking up and feeling great again.

I'm hanging in there on my second time around, and although I'm going to take longer this time, I'm absolutely determined that the changes I make this time around are going to be long-lasting! It takes a long time to sort out the head issues that go with carrying extra weight, and I'm gradually getting there!

Keep off the scales so you don't do your head in - just enjoy the inches disappearing and the clothes fitting better and better.

Take a good multi-vitamin too. I forgot this time around at the start and really noticed I needed it - go much better when I have them.
 
I am happy happy today. No, I did not try to weigh myself.

I just got back from my chiropractic session. the doctor said that my (spine) veterbral movement is getting better now. I am sooooooo happy. I only wish that the pain and numbness will go away completely soon.
 
Fornight- That's good news. Hopefully as you lose weight your pain will diminish with less stress on your spine. I know many of my aches & pains have gone. I used to suffer from a lot of lower back-aches & neck & shoulder pain & had various trips to chiropractors etc but these days, touch wood, I feel good & only get the odd twinge associated with being 56. Haha. I hope your headaches are gone now. The first few days are def. the worst & it sounds like you are starting to feel better. I hope so. Take care of yourself, Cate.
 
Cate: Yes. I finally get rid of the slight headache and the "heavy" feeling in the mind area. Thanks for encouragement. they are really helpful when I was in the worst stage having those headaches.

Today is my 7th day and i have officially completed 1 week on cohen. It was a busy week but I am proud that I manage to hold on.

My mum made me one of the most delicious cohen meal today. She bought tiny prawns and unshelled them. Stir-fried them with sliced cabbages. They are so yummy!!!
 
Great to have someone like a Mum on side helping you out!!! My hubby is a great help, even though terribly busy, and has made me yummy meals in an emergency.

A good friend has helped occasionally with almost spot on meals too.

Although you can do it without a "support team", it's so much nicer if you have one!!!
 
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