Cohen's Lifestyle My Cohen's Diary

Prefix for Cohen's Lifestyle
Well, I've done it. I've reached my goal for February. My goal was to be at 215 by March 1st and I reached that this weekend. Now, I'm onto my next goal of 200 lbs by April 1st. That would make a huge difference in my life. I think at that point I would be able to fit into a size 16, which would be woooonderful. Right now, my clothes are just fitting me right. Pre Cohen's they were very tight. Their not loose but their fitting me, so thats a good thing.
As for my week, I completed my goal of not deviating. But it was a three day weekend with a lot of socializing. Boy was that tough!!! We went out to eat three days in a row. I'm getting very used to watching everyone eat and drink around me. It takes every ounce of strength to keep my fork from dipping into my husband's plate of rice and beans. I actually catch myself staring longingly at everyone's food. Pretty embarassing. LOL

After all this, I went and had some popcorn today. I guess a person can only take so much before they cave. We've been eating out constantly this week because of Valentine's and Memorial Day weekend, and I resisted all that time. I'm sure I'll pay for it on the scales. But I'm ready to move on and work on my goal of 200 by April 1st. I'm a little worried about my ability to stay on this program for a long period of time because the last time, I only went about three weeks before I threw in the towel. I hit 210 and then the scale didn't move, I got frustrated and just started eating. So now that I'm getting close to that weight/period of time, I'm going to have to start being on my p's and q's mentally. So, any advice/motivation is greatly appreciated.

Well, I'm going to set my next goal for 2 weeks without deviation. Baby steps.
 
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Hi there soon2b145
Go girl, don't focus on the daily ups and downs - life is full of them and always will be. Look at the big picture (and see yourself shrinking in it!). It's all about what you pay attention to. I had a few plateaus - 1 to 2 weeks where I lost nothing. Now I'm finished I can look back and see that I lost a heap of weight overall and those day to day things don't really matter. I wonder sometimes whether we should use the term 'deviation' at all. It's almost like it gives us permission to go off the diet. After all there's even a word for it. Maybe it might help to look at this way. Cohen's works because of the hormonal changes that certain types and quantities of food produce in our bodies. Unless we stick to those exact types and quantities of foods we are not on cohens. Every time we go off cohens we have to start again. That means detoxing again. Going off the program (even for a moment) cancels all the benefits of being on it. We start to feel hungry and to crave suger and carbs. We lose the feeling of wellbeing that the cohens food gives us. It's just too big a price to pay, don't you think?
So my advice, for what it's worth, is to ban the word 'deviation' and to look at this way - if your on Cohen's you're on it 100%. If you're not on it 100% you're not on it. Simple as that.
By the way, I lost 8 kg in the first month (about 20lb) and then lost nothing for nearly 2 weeks! I know how frustrating that can be! I stuck to it though, and everything sorted itself out. One thing I know for sure, if you stick to it it will work. You will be 145 in no time!
Warm regards
Kirsten
 
Hello to everyone,:D
as you might have noticed from my previous posts, I am in the middle of a battle of willpower.:( I'm still following Cohen's but its against my will right now. This is the TOM when I get crazy cravings,:eek: but I just have to ride it out. This is also a time in my weight loss when I give up because when I hit around 215 lbs, I feel like my body goes into overdrive, and doesn't want me to keep losing, so it revs up my cravings. I've yet to get past 210. I feel like once I push past that I'll be more in control.

I havent been in the mood to post lately because it hasnt been good news.:cool: I indulged myself a few times on Monday and Tuesday, but am back on track. It wasnt that bad but since I went off course I felt like I'd blown the whole diet. I guess thats one thing that I dont like about Cohens. The concept of one small carb and your back at square one. But the most important thing is to keep going. Anyways, I thought I'd be honest and make a point of posting my ups and my downs.

I'm hanging in there and determined to reach my goal weight by September. Wish me luck!!:p
 
Hey soon2b145,
I'm hoping you're OK. You can always go back on cohen's so there is no blowing it! This is a very demanding thing you are doing. Be gentle with yourself, after all no one is perfect. One thing I do know though. Unlike other diets, if you can conquer your demons and stick to it, it will work and it will work quickly and reasonably painlessly. Hang in there. Hope to see a post from you soon. I can't get on to the forum every day, but will be keeping my eye out to see how you are.
All the best till then.
 
Waterlilly,
thanks for the encouragement. Just the idea that someone out there gave me a thought, even if only for a few seconds, keeps me hanging on. I had just about given up, until I read your message. I was down and out because I had stopped following the program. You know, the stench of diet failure, that I have experienced time and again. But, I'm back. Hanging on for dear life is my only focus right now. I'm not even thinking about how much I want to lose or anything like that, I'm just trying to get back on track. On the plus side, I'm the same weight as before my Cohen's intermission, so that makes me feel good.
Bye,for now.
 
Soon2be145, don't give up!! You CAN do this! You lost 15lbs so far you can keep going and reach your goal!
Just dust yourself off and get your focus back. Remember why you started this in the first place.. Remember how you felt pre cohen's? You KNOW that this works, but it can only make you a gorgeous slim sexy chick if you make the decision to stop deviating, to get excited about your life and the possibilties this program could bring you!
I know the weight is sometimes all too overwelming to deal with but you need to think - 'the time is going to pass anyway wouldn't you rather be skinny at the end of it instead of uncomfortable, self consious or disgusted in yourself?':eek: :( :eek: :mad:
It's coming up to summer over there, you can be slim for it and looking hot in the latest summer clothes, or you can choose to be heavy and sweaty and uncomfortable and wear clothes that you think cover you up but really don't.
Everyday you need to tell yourself - 'I can do this, I am worth this, I AM going to slim and sexy!'
Come on girl you can get your Cohen's Mojo back - you just need to lose the negative thoughts and get determined again - don't let the little devil on your shoulder tell you you can't and it's too hard!! Tell him to piss off...:mad:
You Can and You Will do it!

Take Care of You.:)

Mel
 
Great advice mellyP

Hey mellyP you should consider being a motivational speaker you are good!! soon2b145 don't give up that is why we are all here we need eachother for support!! Just take it day by day and you will get there. Read your cohen's information or just come on and read the posts we are all here in the same boat and it just may spark you on when you can see people can and are doing it. Look at MellyP she has done so well and she only started Cohens in November.... Wow she has done a great job!!! You too can do it. Just refocus and keep on keeping on.

Cheers and skinny thoughts
Jodee
 
My fellow American

Hi Soon2be,

I hear your pain and your doubts. I've been having that sort of week myself. Totatlly went balistic with a deviation this week. ate half a container of vanilla frosting. Boy, did I pay for it about 15 minutes later (literally 15 minutes!) with horrible stomach pains and bathroom visits!!:eek:

I was ready to give up to this week as the scale did not budge and I was not drinking enough water. But, something you will find if you stick with it most of the time is that if the scales don't move, something else will. I got up this morning and was in shock over how much "flatter" my stomach was! Flatter in the sense that I don't have a huge watermelon in my stomach, maybe just a basketball! I measured myself and I've lost 10.5 inches from bust to hips!

The same thing can happen for you. I know we are obsessed witht the number on the scales, but as everyone has told me, I will tell you - STOP LOOKIN AT THE SCALE!! Especially since you know you will give up at a certain weight.

I too have mental battles of will, as I am sure everyone here does. Most of us got fat because of mindless eating, emotional eating. When I get into that mode I literally say "get your butt out of the kitchen and go read a book!" Sometimes that means I have to isolate myself from the family for an hour, but it helps. Keep yourself occupied. Play a game, ask your family for help and you will get through this.

Don't give up and take one day at a time. Wake up today and say "today I will not deviate" and make that your goal. Do one day at a time, baby steps.

Good luck,
 
Hi everyone,

I haven't been around in a while because I've been too embarassed of my quitting Cohens. :( I'm pretty disgusted with myself, I went waaaay off track and gained back 10 lbs, but the intense hunger has passed. I've eaten till my hearts content and cant think of anything else to eat. Funny but sad. I've been contemplating Medifast, gastric bypass, weight watchers, because I feel like i'm ready to get back on the wagon. I decided to take a peak at my postings and everyones wonderful advice and encouragement and want to give this another try. The diets pretty simple, so I've got most of the food in my pantry and will be ready to start tomorrow. I know I can do this!! On a side note, I've been reading a book called "Beck diet solution" (something like that) and I'm learning things about myself. Mainly that I'm spoiled, and don't know how to deny myself. Also, that I feel like I'm the only one making sacrifices. Lastly, the negative self-talk is very sabotaging. Its been an interesting read and pretty much hit me on the nail. These are among the many reasons why I have failed at so many diets. Boy, do I need counseling. Also, I'm going back to my old ways of being very active, which feels sooo good. Its springtime in California and the weather is beautiful, so I've been riding my bike and skates, gardening, staying outdoors. Hopefully, this will be a better time of year to really follow Cohens, because during the winter when I'm cooped up in the house all day, for weeks on end because its so cold outside, I go mad with all the food in the house. Well, third time's a charm. I am going to go back to Weight Watchers though, while I'm on Cohens because being weighed in person and talking to a counselor motivates me, and I stopped doing WW and Cohens the last time, after a few weeks.
 
No need to be embarassed soon2b145, it sounds like you really needed the break and to get a few things into perspective. All the best for day 1 on the plan, remember, you haven't failed at this, failing is when you give up. By starting back up, you have made a concious decision to succeed and finish. Good idea about getting out and about again, get those seratonin and endorphin hormones happening, that'll keep you positive.
Interesting your comment on 'feeling deprived', perhaps by turning it around to 'treasuring yourself by fueling up with good food to help healing (slimming)', you may be able to get a different perspective about the plan, afterall, it isn't forever. I told myself that 'wine ages, chocolate and chippies will always be in the shop, junk food is readily available, Christmas and Easter are annual events and all going well I get to celebrate another birthday and wedding anniversary next year :) . There are always going to be things we miss out on throughout life, Cohen's or not, so what if I'm putting myself out and denying myself these 'treats', I'm now down from size 22/24 to size 8/10, this is something I am so glad I haven't denied myself, there is truly nothing like it.
Okay, halo off, :) . Good luck with it all and as you said, "third time's a charm", so get to it.
Lauren
 
Welcome back

Welcome back soon2b145:D

You sound so positive;) you obviously needed to have a break and do some soul searching. Sometimes we forget that weightloss is so much more then just going on a diet, it has so many emotional attachments.

I have now successfully finished Cohens and have to admit it was tough going those last few weeks. As all of us know here, Cohen's is socially [very] restrictive, and a deviation can happen so easily if you are out of your "Cohen's" comfort zone, which is what happen to me when we moved house in the beginning of the year.......well you get lost, but luckily I managed to get back on track and completed refeed and reached my goal.

I honestly don't think I could have got through without this forum though, just knowing their are others going through what I am and understanding all the ups and downs of this programme has been such a bonus.

So don't ever feel bad to posts, remember we are here for you to listen and give advice whenever you need it.

Take care
Sam:)
 
You guys are so inspiring and should be extremely proud of yourselves. You know, I've only ever thought of how I have to deprive myself of food when I'm on a diet, I've never thought of how I'm depriving myself of good health. Hmmm. Interesting point of view. I appreciate all your input and support. Its a tremendous outlet for me and I am sooo impressed by everyone's results. Something to look forward to.
Bye for now.
 
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I want to give Cohens another try.:banghead: Everytime I do this and it doesnt work out, I feel like a failure. But I'm not a quitter. So I'm ready to give this another shot. I've got all my foods ready to go and will start tomorrow. Right now, the main thing for me is getting under 200 lbs. I feel like a ticking time bomb. But I want to keep a positive attitude. The sun is shining here in the Central Valley and I feel alive again, so I'm hoping that will give me a boost. The main problem I run into is not hunger, its craavings :drooling: Does anyone have any ideas on how to conquer this? It seems to be my downfall. :smash: Anyways, I'm going to try to push throught it, and hopefully success will be mine. Theres a goal weight calculator online that calculated how many pounds I would have to lose every week in my desired timeframe, and 2.3 lbs/week would get me there. That doesn't sound tooooo bad. We'll see.

Goal: 2.3 lbs/week
3/6/08: 2.3 lbs
 
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Gina- Hi & welcome back to the forum. I read your diary from the start to get a feel for your Cohen's experience to date. I really do think that 100% committal to the program is the only way, for many reasons. The main reason, I think, is that if you commit 100% & have nothing off the program & follow all the "rules" the cravings (physical) go away of their own accord. We have many reasons for becoming so over-weight in the first place. Following a program does not automatically make those things miraculously disappear. I wish! I had counselling last year, while on the program & it really helped me build my self-esteem & to work out why I was self-sabotaging. It may benefit you as well.
I hope you succeed this time around with the program. It's a wonderful feeling to set your mind to do something & then to follow it through. The end result is well worth the slog! All the best with it , cheers, Cate.
 
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Good luck darls! Just keep reminding yourself of what the results will feel like and once your weight starts dropping on the scales it should keep you motivated. ;) XXX
 
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