Cohen's Lifestyle Anyone from Singapore?

Prefix for Cohen's Lifestyle
no deviations!

Hi iwant47

Was the consultant okay with you setting your own target weight? Am wondering if they will start to pressure us to commence refeeding once we have hit the Cohen-approved target.

I haven't started the programme yet, so I have no idea if restaurant-eating is possible. I have heard that it is very hard to eat in restaurants the first couple of months as we have to weigh everything, but my friend who was on the diet said that after a few months, she can guage how large the relevant portion is so she knows how to eat in a restaurant without her weighing scale.

As for your chocolate question, I think the answer is NO, unfortunately. One of the main tenets of Cohen is that you cannot deviate from the rules. I think you will still lose weight if you follow all his rules AND have a small piece of chocolate once a day; however, the rate of loss will be slowly.

For me, when I do start, I will aim to follow ALL the rules. The way I see it - it's for a limited period (say 3-4 months, hopefully!) - I'm prepared to invest that time to be strict with myself. That way, if I don't see results, I'll know that I tried my best!

By the way, do you know of any other Cohen chat forums? This one seems a bit dead - not many people replying etc.
 
iwant47 said:
Hi Francesca, 46 is not the target weight set by Cohen but it is my goal :) They set my target weight at 50 to 51. Btw, u still can eat things in restaurant? For me, I normally packed my food if I went out for shopping..

This wkend going to weight myself again, really scared if I gained weight..

I wonder if I follow Cohen meal plan but everyday I also eat one small piece of chocolate, what will it be? No progress or gain weight? My consultant sure said cannot :( I said this is because I really feel difficult without rewards myself with some sweet stuff after the whole day of working.
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You still don't get it do you.

If it's not on the program you cannot have it. That one piece of chocolate completely derails the entire program. Food it made for subsistence NOT rewards. It's the using of food as a reward that got you FAT in the first place. If you want to lose it, stop rewarding yourself with food. Instead, reward yourself with new smaller clothes! If you have one piece of chocolate you will take an extra week to finish the program. If you do that every day you will never finish the program because you will never lose all the weight. Unless you lose all the weight AND do the refeed program to completion, you will just become FAT again.

It's your choice.........Continue being a loser or start becoming a LOSER OF FAT!
 
Francesca said:
Hi iwant47

Was the consultant okay with you setting your own target weight? Am wondering if they will start to pressure us to commence refeeding once we have hit the Cohen-approved target.

I haven't started the programme yet, so I have no idea if restaurant-eating is possible. I have heard that it is very hard to eat in restaurants the first couple of months as we have to weigh everything, but my friend who was on the diet said that after a few months, she can guage how large the relevant portion is so she knows how to eat in a restaurant without her weighing scale.

As for your chocolate question, I think the answer is NO, unfortunately. One of the main tenets of Cohen is that you cannot deviate from the rules. I think you will still lose weight if you follow all his rules AND have a small piece of chocolate once a day; however, the rate of loss will be slowly.

For me, when I do start, I will aim to follow ALL the rules. The way I see it - it's for a limited period (say 3-4 months, hopefully!) - I'm prepared to invest that time to be strict with myself. That way, if I don't see results, I'll know that I tried my best!

By the way, do you know of any other Cohen chat forums? This one seems a bit dead - not many people replying etc.
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If you listen to your friend, don't bother starting the program. It's will be a waste of time and money. You friend is setting herself up for failure, and fail she will. Nobody is that good of a judge of weights and additionally, she doesn't know what the foods are prepared with which will, of course, be deviations thereby causing the program not to work. There are only three Cohen friendly restaurants here in Singapore. The clinic will give you the names and addresses of them (none are downtown), 1 is in Serangoon Gardens, and 2 are at the Railway Mall on Upper Bukit Timah. Your girlfriend is just wasting her money. If you listen to her you will be wasting your money as well. There are NO EASY WAYS TO DO THIS. You have got the right attitude at the moment. Remember, it's only for a little while in the greater scheme of things. If it's not in your program you cannot eat or drink it. If you do not follow the program 100% you will not be successful and I know that's not what you want. You can do this......

SMS
The "New" Stallion
Cohen Singapore Graduate
Class of June '08
 
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Francesca said:
Hi iwant47

Was the consultant okay with you setting your own target weight? Am wondering if they will start to pressure us to commence refeeding once we have hit the Cohen-approved target.

....

By the way, do you know of any other Cohen chat forums? This one seems a bit dead - not many people replying etc.
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Hi Francesca, dun think the consultant will pressure us to start refeeding programme if we didn't want to start first. It's up to u. They set the goal for me is 50 to 53, and I think I will inform them for refeeding programme when I am 51 or 52. While after my refeeding programme complete, I will follow what SundaymorningS practiced now...continue as what I can eat during Cohen period and eat some other foods once in a while to lose another few more kgs and hope can get below 50kg.

When u go outing, probably u can prepare and pack ur food out or else u can go to the 3 restaurants which Cohen allowed (Near bukit timah area).

U all r right :iagree:, I shall follow 100% on the programme else I am really wasting my time. Since I have about 2~3 more kgs to lose, I will follow strictly for the next few wks then I can call for refeed programme. [Have to always remind myself].

There are other Cohen web sites but seldom see friends from Singapore. Here is one of the web sites which quite popular.

s3.excoboard.com/exco/index.php?boardid=3480 (Just copy and paste, dun put www)
 
Btw, have u met Singapore Cohen consultant? I wonder why they looked fat, I thought they will follow Cohen diet before giving advices to the clients? Sometimes I really think to ask them this question, but at the end I still didn't la.. not polite :(

Hey SundayMorningS, thanks for all the strict but good comments. I hope I can graduate very soon too.. enjoy healthy life like what U did now..
 
Hi iwant47

Thanks for the link to the other forum.

Haha, I thought the exact same thing - that the Cohen marketing team in Singapore were not good ambassadors for the programme in view of their own physique! Oh well, guess it's just one of those things.

Yes, do stick to the programme and that will give you good results in the shortest amount of time! I'm definitely committed to seeing this through and sticking to the rules. I even went to the supermarket today (still haven't received my programme yet) and took photos of all the Hup Seng crackers so that I can check with the consultant WHICH EXACT type we can have on the diet.

Let's commit to being precise and to doing our very best ok? We can do this!

Hi SMS

I really respect and admire you for achieving your weight loss. It isn't easy to lose weight and you have done well to stick to the programme and achieve your goals - bravo!

That said, I have to say that the restarant-eating friend actually did achieve her target goal in about five months, despite having some other health issues and being about 50+ years old. She continues to eat out with us now and then and has maintained her weight. I am so happy for her because she is really like a whole different person and she is a fraction (size-wise!) of her old self.

I know you mean well with your strict and somewhat didactic tone, but I think it's also important to remember that people lead real lives; some may want to commit 110% to a particular programme and will certainly achieve results in the shortest possible period and with the most success. However, others may choose to/need to make slight adjustments along the way (eg: to be supportive to a spouse, to entertain business clients - not in one of the three restaurants at Serangoon Gdns or the Rail Mall! - etc) but as long as they stay diligent, they too can achieve their goals - but perhaps take longer.

I think there is room in Cohen's, within reason, for both categories of people. The Cohen consultant in Singapore also told me that eating out in a non-Cohen restaurant is possible, as long as we choose suitable options and watch the portion size.

For me, personally, I have decided that I will prepare ALL my own meals. I already have lunch/dinner appointments in the next month or so, but I will eat my own meal first and then join my friends for water and perhaps some black tea (I think that's allowed, right?). I contemplated bringing my prepared food to the restaurant and asking for permission to consume it there on the ground of "health reasons", but I think that would not be well-received by typical Singaporean service staff, so that is probably not an option for me.

I have no illusions about the fact that it's going to be a tough road. And I know I will feel really stretched at times during the upcoming months.

But I will be encouraged when I think of your success! As you say, I CAN DO THIS! We must do this - for our health and for ourselves.
 
I contemplated bringing my prepared food to the restaurant and asking for permission to consume it there on the ground of "health reasons", but I think that would not be well-received by typical Singaporean service staff, so that is probably not an option for me.
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Francesca,

I did the program in Singapore. I know all about the service standards there (or should I say non-existent service standards). I've lived there for 26 years. While on the program I went to 3 wedding dinners (two Chinese, one Malay), I went to restaurants with my family and best friends. I never had a problem with bringing my own food once I told them that I was under a doctors strict supervised & monitored diet but I didn't want my friends not to go to their restaurant just because of that - loss of business for them - you would be surprised how fast they change their tunes! Of course it helps to have supportive friends and relatives who will play along with that! :sifone:

Chicken Salad was my meal of choice when going to restaurants.

As far as my tone goes, I am not new to the Singaporeans and their thoughts generally process. I'm married to one! In two more weeks it will be 25 years! I know how they like to bend or disregard the rules and are always looking for quick fixes or magic bullets. If they didn't, the silly places like Mary Chia would not be able to stay in business. Anyway, you will do well as long as you follow the rules. Just because one doesn't follow the rules and gets away with it, doesn't mean all will. Also, deliberate deviating from the diet will generally eventually spiral out of control (it does with most) so it's better to not give it a chance in the beginning. As you have already posted on the other site, spend some time reading the diaries of those who DID deviate regularly and see what they have to say. That's really the best advice I can give you. The odds are definitely stacked against you........

Nothing tastes as good as thin feels

SMS
 
Hi SMS

What do you mean when you say the odds are definitely stacked against me? I hope you're not trying to be discouraging! :coolgleamA:

And thank you for sharing how you dealt with the restaurants. Some good tips there! I might just give that a try one day.
 
Thanks alot Francesca, on your advice on the weighing scale that i enquired a couple of pages back! I already have a digital scale but i think it is somewhat of inferior quality, maybe i bought too cheap a scale (at half the price u quoted) cos i thought that was it! (So much for being NON domestically-inclined!)

I totally agree on your take on eating out. Though i do also appreciate the valuable advice from successful Cohenites like SMS who do hope we can take this program seriously and not make excuses for ourselves. So many have been through this the right way, with obstacles more serious than our own, and there is no reason why we cannot do it!

Almost one month into the program, and I do have to eat out a number of times. And unfortunately a couple more times coming weeks cos of my upcoming birthday! My friends have been supportive and lets me pick the dining venue, order shared food suitable for me and not tempting me to indulge in illegal food. I've told them no birthday cakes this year, but not possibly no birthday dinners as well... Even my boss wanted to work around the company dinner venue so i can eat all together, and i feel really bad cos its going to affect so many colleagues. And unfortunately the 3 Cohen-friendly restaurants are not the most accessible places.

So my take so far is to eat only Cohen's food, in estimated portions, to the corresponding Meal option, and cooked in a healthy way. The Cohen consultant also understands our concerns with eating out and travelling, and she advised its ok as long we eat within what we are supposed to and do not take oily stuff of cos. Now i eat out only for special occasions like birthdays and reunions, but kept to the rightful food on other typical social dates for catching up with friends. So far weight loss in such weeks may or may not be slower than the 100%-Cohen's weeks, but at least I feel at ease that i am not depriving my friends of having a good time with me.

Francesca, i believe you are getting your program real soon, and wish you all the best in this journey! I can see you are very dedicated and serious towards this program with an open mind, and im sure you can do it! :)

iwant47, perhaps before you pop in any chocolate into your mouth. Just remember that this move is going to delay your approaching of the ideal weight, and your refeeding. Not like you can eat alot of chocolates when you finish the program, but at least have a small piece without feeling so guilty afterwards!
 
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iwant47 said:
Btw, have u met Singapore Cohen consultant? I wonder why they looked fat, I thought they will follow Cohen diet before giving advices to the clients? Sometimes I really think to ask them this question, but at the end I still didn't la.. not polite :(
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Francesca said:
Hi iwant47Haha, I thought the exact same thing - that the Cohen marketing team in Singapore were not good ambassadors for the programme in view of their own physique! Oh well, guess it's just one of those things..........

........The Cohen consultant in Singapore also told me that eating out in a non-Cohen restaurant is possible, as long as we choose suitable options and watch the portion size.

.....What do you mean when you say the odds are definitely stacked against me? I hope you're not trying to be discouraging!
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If you have read enough of these threads here and on the other board, they would tend to back up what I have been saying. Even the consultants re: the comments by iwant47 and yourself in the same post are a good example of what can happen if you do not follow the program. While you two are wondering about the consultants weights, did you also wonder about the advice given that is in direct opposition to your programs? Do you suppose their weight gain or there failure to complete to program successfully could have been also because they didn't follow the rules? (the really big guy was my consultant and he's been on the program for almost 2 years. He has deviated constantly and that's why he still looks the same way. He hasn't changed since I saw him in November of 2007 when I paid for my course but he claims he's still on the program.

Anyway, what I meant is the odds are against you if you listen to those who tell you it's okay NOT to follow the program as it is written (Like the eating in restaurants and only eyeballing the foods - If you don't do that, your chances are much better. Remember, this is only for a little while in the greater scheme of life. The results are well worth the little bit of short term inconvenience. Nothing more sinister than that. :Angel_anim:
 
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SMS

Oh no! What you said about the consultant being a deviater makes a lot of sense. And he is BIG. My husband noticed him at the shop and said, "erm, did you see that big guy? kinda makes you wonder!"

Does that mean that we can't trust the local consultants to give proper advice on Cohen questions? That really defeats the whole purpose of having them in the first place!

My consultant told me that I could have black tea and up to 1l of diet coke a day. But I've been reading that we're not supposed to take caffeine. Does that mean I should stick to decaf black tea? Do you know if they sell non-caffeineted diet coke in Singapore? I've seen it in the US but not here. Please advise!

Another question is whether it's okay to take raw food on the diet? For example I think tuna is allowed. Can I have tuna sashimi then?

Wuzu

Good to hear from you! Actually, I just went out today and bought a digital but skinny scale. It fits into my handbag and I will bring it with me to use at work in case I need to measure out food. I've decided that NOTHING is going into my mouth unless it's been weighed!

You've done a week? WELL DONE! Are you weighing in every week? How much have you lost? All the best to you.
 
Francesca said:
SMS

Oh no! What you said about the consultant being a deviater makes a lot of sense. And he is BIG. My husband noticed him at the shop and said, "erm, did you see that big guy? kinda makes you wonder!"

Does that mean that we can't trust the local consultants to give proper advice on Cohen questions? That really defeats the whole purpose of having them in the first place!

Let's put it this way, There are often interpretational differences between consultants in different countries. For that matter even different clinics in the same country. Read enough of the threads at the other site to see what I mean. While their interpretation might be okay, it might not be as well. The best thing to rely on is your program. This is direct from Dr. Cohen, all they do it print it out from the email they receive from him. I didn't use the consultants at all during the entire phase one of the program. I saw them when I picked up my program and I saw them when I picked up my refeed program. That's it. I used common sense and several months of reading the threads on the other forum before ever signing on the dotted line. The one thing that I learned that is the most fundamental rule of the entire program is that we don't deviate. We will still lose weight, fair enough. But our losses will be slower and quite possibly we will not be allowed to get our refeed programs unless our blood tests are clear (they may well not be if someone deviates regularly).

My consultant told me that I could have black tea and up to 1l of diet coke a day. But I've been reading that we're not supposed to take caffeine. Does that mean I should stick to decaf black tea? Do you know if they sell non-caffeineted diet coke in Singapore? I've seen it in the US but not here. Please advise!

I think, but again, interpretational differences, we are allowed to have up to three caffinated drinks a day. If you don't drink coffee, then you can have 3 diet sugarfree fizzy drinks a day but that is also part of your 1 litre diet drink allowance. I didn't look into it too much as I drank some Coke Zero but as I'm not a coffee drinker at all it wasn't an issue for me. As far as black tea is concerned I drank it black before coming to Singers. It was my habit of eating at hawker stalls and ordering tea instead of teh-O that got me used to drinking tea with milk & sugar. That and being married to a local Indian Singaporean - alway had a big kettle of tea with the works on the stove! I rarely even drank the Coke Zero, I found it hard enough trying to drink 2 to 3 litres of water daily.

Another question is whether it's okay to take raw food on the diet? For example I think tuna is allowed. Can I have tuna sashimi then?

Sure, that's no problem. They don't tell you how to cook it. Only if you can eat it. Tuna sashimi no problem. But you can't have the rice! Or the seaweed.

I eat my steaks medium-rare to rare and just love Steak Tartar!

Wuzu

Good to hear from you! Actually, I just went out today and bought a digital but skinny scale. It fits into my handbag and I will bring it with me to use at work in case I need to measure out food. I've decided that NOTHING is going into my mouth unless it's been weighed!

Even though you will be weighing things, make sure you know what they are cooking it in or that they are not using processed sauces in the preparations.

You've done a week? WELL DONE! Are you weighing in every week? How much have you lost? All the best to you.
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SMS
The "New" Stallion
 
Francesca said:
Wuzu

Good to hear from you! Actually, I just went out today and bought a digital but skinny scale. It fits into my handbag and I will bring it with me to use at work in case I need to measure out food. I've decided that NOTHING is going into my mouth unless it's been weighed!

You've done a week? WELL DONE! Are you weighing in every week? How much have you lost? All the best to you.
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I'm one month into the program, in fact going for the first Cohen blood test this week. I weigh weekly instead of daily and my weight loss on the ticker!
But most of these were lost in the first 2 weeks, and im experiencing a plateau for the past 2 weeks.
A little demoralised cos these 2 weeks are in fact my strictest zero eat-outs weeks!
But I will continue to work harder... Anyway we are supposed to weigh only every 4 weeks, arent we?! :smilielol5:
 
Have been confused almost a week ... Read many threads from this forum. I wonder if Cohen really correlated to HGH (human growth hormone). There are ppls who completed the programme and finished refeeding, but they didn't maintain and after that gain back all the weights. If Cohen really helped on the HGH, can the weights gain back so fast?

B4 knowing Cohen, my personal trainer always mentioned to me about HGH, he told me the way he trained me is to improve my HGH. But I am doubt on how it works.. Now I feel so confused if I shall follow strictly on Cohen programme just to lose weights fast or to really improve the HGH? If it was only to lose weight fast, it doesn't really matter on the food weight accuracy.

Can anyone help to clear my doubts? I have been deviated and eat all the junk foods for past few days.. I gained almost 1kg for this week, feel so upset. I not sure if I can use my own plan + cohen programme for my weight loss target so that I wont feel want craving for junk foods.
 
iwant47 said:
Have been confused almost a week ... Read many threads from this forum. I wonder if Cohen really correlated to HGH (human growth hormone). There are ppls who completed the programme and finished refeeding, but they didn't maintain and after that gain back all the weights. If Cohen really helped on the HGH, can the weights gain back so fast?

B4 knowing Cohen, my personal trainer always mentioned to me about HGH, he told me the way he trained me is to improve my HGH. But I am doubt on how it works.. Now I feel so confused if I shall follow strictly on Cohen programme just to lose weights fast or to really improve the HGH? If it was only to lose weight fast, it doesn't really matter on the food weight accuracy.

Can anyone help to clear my doubts? I have been deviated and eat all the junk foods for past few days.. I gained almost 1kg for this week, feel so upset. I not sure if I can use my own plan + cohen programme for my weight loss target so that I wont feel want craving for junk foods.
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It sounds to me like you are using anything and everything as an excuse just to deviate. Last week it was somebody else who caused you to deviate and this week you are using a former PT. If he is a PT in Singapore then I would seriously doubt he even knows what he is talking about. Just because someone told you that, you have decided to deviate? Give us all a break here. We are trying to help you, you on the other hand are looking for ways to not do the program as it is written.

You can reprogramme your HGH if you follow this diet and lifestyle change properly (there is no other way). Anything less will just result in you losing weight and then when you go back to eating like you were before you will naturally just get FAT AGAIN! Your way of eating before is NOT NORMAL - If it was you wouldn't have needed a diet in the first place.

I suggest that you make up your mind whether you really want to lose the weight or not. If your PT was so good why are you here? You should be a lean mean fighting machine. If he didn't do that for you, then why are you listening to him now? Obviously either he wasn't any good, or you refuse to listen to common sense.

Next week you will have another excuse..... :banghead:
 
SMS... You mentioned that you did not do any consultation in between your program with the Singapore office. But did you go for the blood tests at the stipulated weeks?

I went for my 4th week blood test last week, and I've to say I have to take my own initiative to arrange for one. There is supposed to be a consultation after that, but i've yet to receive any arrangements. But honestly, i dont really think there is a need for one, unless my blood test shows any oddity!

I'm not anywhere near it yet, but for refeed, do you just call in to order then? How long will it take to be ready? Any last blood test required for the refeed program? I read about refeeds online but I thought I just want to get myself clear on the proceedings of the Singapore office first.

iwant47, since you are now on Cohen's, I'd think you should just follow Cohen's? I'm Greek to the technicalities of HGH but be your personal trainer be right or wrong, you are now on Dr Cohen's program and it makes sense to follow his instructions? If food weight accuracy is not important, then we will not need to pay the amount of money to get a personalised program. Your weight loss required is pretty small, so why not persever and you will be done in no time!
 
hello!

hi am new to this forum. started cohen's 3 weeks ago and lost 5 kg so far. is that considered slow?
i am supposed to lose about 15 kg to meet my target weight of 50-53 before i start refeeding.
anyway am glad to find this forum, hope to find timeto check on here more often. good luck everyone!
 
Hi Pingu and welcome to the forum. 5kg in 3 weeks, with only 15 in total to lose, sounds like a good loss to me. Stick to the program 100% & you'll be at goal weight in no time at all! The only luck that comes into it is hearing about Cohen's in the first place, cheers, Cate
 
I just found about Cohen and was thinking to join the programme.

I already lost 15KG+ by myself excercising and eating right. 10 KG loss was since July. Cause the other 5KG lost was since March but I wasnt discipline enought then and not focussed.

Since July, I had focus myself into losing weight and had successfuly shed almost 10 KG as of today.

My question is, how much will I have to pay for the proggrame. I hope its not in the thousands.

And, any of you guys who are as heavy as myself and had successfully loose a lot on this programme.

I started at 132KG in JULY and am 122.6 KG today
 
WUZU,

I did all my bloodtests as and when they were required. I emailed Innira and she fixed an appointment and emailed me back the date. I also never went to the clinic from the time I picked up my program until I went in to pick up my refeed program. The consultations in the office are for your benefit if you need them. It's not a requirement that you go in unless you are having problems with the program. I also submitted all my weights & measurements via email as well.

I think you need to have your last bloodtests within two weeks of ordering refeed but as I'm not at home at the moment I cannot check my docs for confirmation of that.

sms
 
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