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Nervous Refeeder.

Hi All.

You are all doing so well! Keep it up. I am following your progress with intrest.

Well, I have started my refeed today. Very excited and very nervous about life without Cohens.

Lizzy, would you mind giving me an overview of the guidelines you have for life after the diet. My consultant said I will have to do the 5 hour rule forever, which does not make sense. She is very strict and negative. I have read before that the 5 hour rule falls away at some stage, and I see you mention it as well. I would REALLY appreciate it!

Thank you Arowan for the info on life after... I really need some encouragement now, since I still have to believe that I can actually trust my body to not pick the weight up again. This is a very emotional time for me, and I have to face issues I thought was long gone.

Any other input from you guys that have finished will be much appreciated. Don't know if I can do 'NORMAL' after these 5 months, especially since I had 3 very bad deviations (I ate untill my stomach ached) the last 2 weeks. These were my only deviations during the diet, but they were devastating. I did so well, and then WHAM, I fell flat on my face!

Netski, I am thinking of you out there in the real world. How are you doing? No more rules to protect us hey?

All the best
Ingrid

PS. Here is a before and after photo of me.
 
Thanks for sharing deviation stories. I am going to the Grand Final on saturday and will have two drinks and something little to eat and on my birthday I will have one meal of whatever I want. In between I will be back to no deviation.
 
It's time for going to work almost, but wanted to post a couple of things.

feeling frumpy: thanks for the support - but I have to tell you I am not SKINNY - slim and small yes, but not skinny. In the top part of me around the neck and shoulders I have lost too much. I can feel my bones at the back even - but my waist and stomach are no where near where they need to be. part of it will redistribute. A lot of toning is required, and that's fine, I needed that before I started! But I am certain I still need to lose about 5 kilos, so in 3-6mths time I will come back to do that. But it has been too long and I need to stop now. ( for me that extra loss could easily take another 2 months!).

I could not be happier despite this. I feel fabulous. People are always stopping me to talk about my loss. Some are anxious that I may be ill because it seems so massive to them. There has been talk that maybe I have cancer or something. I just smile, and say No! Cohen's is wonderful isn't it? And I am happy with the loss - really happy.

As for the chook neck, I am trying Nivea Q10 and skin Doctors arctic cream. Hopefully they will assist. It is better than it was and improving all the time.

beebee: Thanks for your encouragement, and you hang in there - you are almost half way, you will make it.

Jewls: you are always so positive, and thanks for your kind words. As for being a consultant - I think I already am an unpaid one - people come to me all the time re weight issues.

I like the smelling idea. And if you have someone to buy for, there is no damage done in buying either. I get lots out of buying for others or watching others eat what I can't eat and enjoying it - vicarious pleasure I think it is called.

8-2 much! Thanks! Chelsea gave good advice about late meals and why. The program says never skip a meal even if it is late. Even shift workers eat at odd hours - not as good as when we get the timing correct, but eat even if you fall asleep straight after. Could I suggest if you know that is about to be an issue, then you might have your meal 1 in the evening eg. bowl of yoghurt so that it is quick and easy and feels light. As for the biscuits and fruit, there is no time restriction on them at all, so if you feel like them, eat them.

Interesting point about the 2 meals the same. I know that there are people who have had all chicken meals for instance for lunch and dinner and it didn't stop them. Not ideal, but not a big issue. The problem would be if you end up with too many cheese meals? OR a big one ... if you don't have a meal 1, 2 and 3 options. So you don't want a meal 3 and 2 meal 1 sizes. You need a meal from list 1, 2 and 3. I think that is far more important than if they are all chicken, etc. So for instance, on my program I would not be able to have 2 meals of yoghurt or egg, because it doesn't allow me too. You can still organize something quick and easy and portable though from the other options - I did it all the time. Hope this helps.

Chelsea: good advice, you are always on track it seems. I have to laugh about the land of milk and honey!!! I bought the honey last week, ready for family to come and visit. And MONDAY IS MILK DAY!!! Can't wait. I get 50mls which should be enough for 2 cups of tea or coffee. (no capachino's or lattes). I have to give up 40gms of protein for it, but that is fine with me. YUM on the milk. I was raised on milk, my father was a milkman and delivered milk and sometimes worked on the dairy farm. We always had milk and cream free so there was lots of it. I can't imagine not liking it again, although in recent years I would have low fat or no fat milk.

Eendjie: The 5 hour rule - TOMORROW!!! I no longer have to worry about it. It will be day 8 on my refeed. I can't wait!! My guidelines haven't come yet, but everyone else I have spoken to have definitely finished with the 5 hour rule, so I would be asking your consultant where they are coming from. Something not right there.

Today I am having 90gms extra protein and 120gms extra vegetable. I get 2 pieces of bread and 2 crispbreads, and 5 pieces of fruit - 2 of them from the good list and today that will mean pineapple and rockmelon for me. Sounds like a good day to me.

Hang in there everyone, and stay with it. There has been some good advice in the last week, so everyone keep supporting each other, and congrats to all you who are doing so well.

One last thing, Sure I did not intentionally deviate - I made mistakes though - week 3 on the program, and would you believe only about a month ago, after my last blood test, I bought the wrong yoghurt and couldn't work out why it was tasting different. I thought I put too much sugar substitute on it - it turned out to be french vanilla and I was furious with myself, it cost me a week of weight loss. But let's be real - what is that in the scheme of things. I am not certain I always got the little things right,like a sprinkle of garlic powder, or wondered about too much spice, etc, (especially towards the end), but I never deviated on the meals or quantities, and weighed to the gram. Even weighed my fruit to make sure I never went over what I saw as an average sized piece. It was worth it.

In these last few weeks I have been struggling with water - I have to force it down, but I think that is because I just need it to be summer!

lizzi
 
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Thank you everyone for your advice regarding meal times etc. You have eased my mind. I would hate to think that I am jeapordising my weight loss. So, no meals will be missed and I will opt for a 'lighter' meal option if it does happen to be just before bed time. Thanks again.

Well, domestic duties call...bum!

Hope you all have a wonderful day! I love this forum. I have bubbles of love bursting from me thanks to you all!!!

Bye!
 
Ah! Good Morning, lessfatty!

The happy pig was hiding the word. It's not 'Feels' it's 'Tastes'!!

Yep, I'll agree with that.

Nothaing tastes as good as being thin feels!

You have made great progress if the pig is now disclosing the cryptic measure previously hidden beneath his/her bulk!

Well, I'm off to paint ceilings! Climbing the ladder, twisting and turning to get the edges right, it's all much easier now that there isn't one third of another person between me and the job.

Cheers

Chelsea
 
Hold your head high BAM

:) Hey BAM, don't beat yourself up, you are only human.

Now that you are getting close to your goal weight the loss would slow down, for us super sizers the weight loss is faster so don't be discouraged.

You have been so focussed and need to be applauded not frowned upon, you are such an inspiration to us all.

Who knows, maybe the deviation is just what your body needs to get a jolly good kick start again. You haven't ruined your week by any means, just drink heaps of water and you will be fine.

Besides, you need to realise that your beauty is not judged by a pair of Calvin Kleins... it is determined by who you are and how you feel about yourself.

You are truly special, I can see that without you fitting into the jeans :D

Leanne
 
Just testing my ticker!
Looking forward to starting on monday..... (can't start yet as have a cocktail party to go to tomorrow night, and i'll be darned if i'm gonna miss that one!!!)
One big Blow out (no more for the next 5 months!) and i'm off and racing.
have a fantastic weekend every one
 
Ummm....this is a bit awkward and personal. But I am very nervous as my 'cycle' is now 10 days late. Did anyone else have any changes? I have always been 'text book' when it came to this area - never any problems...only when I've been PREGNANT! Ahhhhh! I am certain it is just the diet would love to know if anyone else has experienced change. Thank you.

**Hope I haven't offended anyone. And I know you're a 'grown-up' lessfatty but I hope I'm not making you too uncomfortable!**
 
8-2Much I got a warning by my tutor that this diet will increase your fertility...... but cycles can be late due to stress or malnourishment, however I'd be taking myself down to the chemist and getting a test....
 
Hello - Im a newbie

Hi everyone,

I have just spent like nearly my whole day off reading this mass thread. I have been on the Cohens program for 9 weeks. I am 23yo and I tipped the scales at 96kg and am now on 82kg which is amazing, and I sort of didnt beleive it would happen that quickly even though they explain this to you in the info sessions ect. I have 23kg to go before I refeed and my goal weight (says cohens) is between 55 and 58kg...which i feel is very light, but....when I get there I dont think i will be complaining!

Hey just a question...earlier on some people mentioned a herbal lax type tea that they drank at night...anyone know what this is? Im interested in keeping regular if you know what I mean.

Anyone from Geelong on here?
Im looking forward to sharing the journey with you all!
 
Hi everyone hope ur all having a nice start to the weekend! I have just completed my first week on cohens with temptation slapping me in the face left right and centre and survived! I haven't weighed myself and I don't want to because I really feel like I haven't lost anything and I have a weigh in next week... I'm petrified! I did the unthinkable last night and tried on some pants in size 16 and they didn't fit which made me quite depressed- I know I shouldn't expect miracles but it would've been cool if I could've even got them over my thighs! nevermind I am being silly but honestly I am very scared of being disappointed next week!
 
Starting Refeed Tomorrow (and other matters)!

Hello to all out there and a BIG welcome to all the newbies (so many new names popping up!). This is a great place for support, inspiration, motivation, information, sympathy and (when you need it) a good swift kick up the !*#@!

Well, I picked up my "stabilisation" program today (I am refusing to use the term 'refeed' - it reminds me of birds regurgitating food for their chicks - ewhhh! yuck!) and I start tomorrow! I am soooooooo excited! On my first day I have to add an extra 30g of protein and an extra 40g of veggies to my allowances (not allowed to add the extra protein to yoghurt, cheese or egg) and 1 slice of bread. The bread doesn't really impress me as I was never a big bread eater, but I thought perhaps I could make 'milkless' French toast for breakfast...not sure about having a big chunk of carbohydrate first thing in the morning though...maybe I'll have a nice juicy rare steak on it for dinner...(sorry everyone - just thinking - err typing - out loud - sort of out loud, although typing is not really what I call loud...here I go again!). But the best thing of all is that I get to add 1 piece of what is called 'good fruit'. I am having BLUEBERRIES with my yoghurt tomorrow - I brought them this afternoon and they cost a fortune, but they will be worth it I'm sure! I'm going to HAVE to have them for breakfast. See - there was no need for me to even consider French toast for breakfast...Blueberries and yoghurt it is! YUM! I will endeavour to keep you all up to date on my progress through the 'stabilisation' program as I go through it.

Professor Lessfatty - I have a question you might be able to help me with. I am not allowed to add any 'new proteins' until Day 13, so this is a while off for me, but I am curious if you know anything about the fat content of (sorry in advance if this makes anyone feel ill :cool: ) offal. I really like liver (calves, chicken, lambs fry) and kidney, and I am wondering if you could tell me if they are classified as lean meat. The stabilisation programs' definition of new protein is: "Any meat with no fat (no processed meat such as ham or polony). It also says that for poultry, we can eat any part of a chicken or turkey, but not the skin. What do you think?

~BAM~ - Chin up girl...you can do this! Don't stress out over yesterday and don't worry about tomorrow. Just live today! Take one day at a time and you will get there in the end!

heavenlylamb - my one and only, intentional, carefully thought-out and heavily considered deviation for the whole time I have been on the program was a piece/slither of a very rich, very yummy, flourless chocolate cake with a small spoon of vanilla ice cream and a small dollop of cream. It was in fact, the very last piece of my Dad's 60th Birthday cake. Before actually eating it, I debated with myself for a few days if I should have some of it or not. In the end, I decided that 6 months on the program and a loss of 47.4kg, I deserved it. I don't feel guilty and I'm not ever likely too!

MellyP & feeling frumpy - Thanks for the inspiring quotes! It is always great to read such positive thoughts!

Chelsea & Jewls - I completely agree with you two about the 'smelling for satisfaction' thing. I love to smell the wonderful aromas of nice food being cooked. Case in point - While I was on my recent holiday in Tassie, my family and I all went on a tour of the Cadbury factory. The smell was unbelievable! So intense and all encompassing! After the tour, I felt like I had eaten a whole 10kg gram of the best tasting chocolate in the world (which I will argue with anyone, is made by Lindt - not Cadbury - but that is beside the point!) without even having a lick of a freddo frog! Smelling food most definitely gives me a sense of satisfaction. The senses are linked...sight and smell come before taste, so if you are craving something and you have access to it, try having a big whiff or two (or three or four...). You never know, it just might do the trick and stop you from deviating!

Eendjie - The 5 hour rule...this is what I understand of it. On Day 7 of my program, it specifically states: "You may now mix proteins - refer to page 5." Then on page 5, under the 'rules' for mixing proteins, it says: "...Also, there is no need to wait 5 hours between meals anymore." Look through your stabilisation program to where it says you can start mixing proteins and the part about the rules of mixing proteins...it should be there! Hope that helps! And thanks for sharing the photos...what a difference! Congratulations! :)

Mermaid sister - don't worry about not fitting into those size 16's yet..."yet"...there has been some recent discussion of this word. You WILL fit into them soon...just keep up your chin! You have just made it through the hardest part...it gets easier from here on in. Those pants will fit in no time. And then, in even less time, they will be too big! Stay Strong! :D

OK...well, that would have to be a record post for me...it is past midnight and my bed is calling me! Sweet 'blueberry' dreams await me! :)
Good Night All and to all a Good Night! [/COLOR][/COLOR]
 
Hi Mermaid Sister

Whoa! You're standing too close to the glass! Your're fogging up the view!!!

Stand back a bit - just a few millimetres - let the fog clear. There, that's better. When you look in the mirror, what can you see?

Not what 'do' you see, but what 'can' you see? Sure you can see yourself, well your reflection, but you can also see the wall behind you as well as the mirror in front of you.

Cool, huh?

When we stand by ourselves, we can only see what's literally in front of our face. What's in front of yours? Jeans hanging on the back of the door. Are the jeans a goal or a taunt?

When we look in the mirror, we can only see as far forward as the mirror itself, but we can see either side and also behind us, but not our behind (unless there is another mirror).

If we stand too close to the mirror, our own breath will fog the image. Is your breath fogging yours?

Mermaid, whether it is jeans or someone else's approval (boyfriend, wife, grandparents) we are going to be setting our goals externally. We are going to try for the gold medal before we have even put on our training shoes.

We need to look in the mirror, really look. We need to see ourselves and what we are trying to do in context. It is not about jeans or approval. We are not doing it for them, we are doing it for us.

Whether you have lost any weight in one week, who knows? Does it matter? What does matter is that you have started on your road to recovery and on your road to a new life. The day you started - no, the day you made the decision to commit - is the day your new life started.

If there was a magic wand and suddenly, hey presto! you weighed 60 kilos and fitted into the smallest pair of jeans in your wardrobe, what else would have changed? One very important aspect of change is that the slower the change, the more durable the change is.

Instant change, instant unchange.

You have made a decision to change your life. This takes courage, it takes guts and determination. You can do this. You will do this. But you have to take a step back, get it into perspective, and nurture yourself along the way.

Setting yourself impossible tasks is setting yourself up for failure, not success.

A little trick I used when I had a shop and was constantly interrupted by customers (how dare they?) was, instead of writing a list of 'things to do' at the start of each day, was to write a list of 'things I did' at the end of each day.

That way, I always had a list full of ticks, and when I locked the door each evening I went home well satisfied with each day's work.

What have you done today? Write it down, and tick each item. Smile. Be pleased. You have had a great week, you have made a positive change and you are on your way. If you were flying to London you would have cleared the airport and be banking North. Watch yourself on those little navigation screens in the back of the seats. You have had lift off! You are flying! Woo-Hoo, Mermaid Sister, you are on your way!!!!

Cheers

Chelsea
 
5 Days Completed

Chelsea - I was just reading over your post to Mermaid Sister. You are spot on! You paint the picture so beautifully, and get my mind on track. I'm only a couple of days behind her in my journey. Thanks for the inspiration.
Sometimes I feel as if I want it all to happen right now, I keep checking my face and tummy and see if I notice any difference... I wont weigh myself until I have to weigh in though.
Keep it up everyone, your all doing such great work and it is so wonderful to read everyones stories.:)


"The difference between try and triumph is just a little umph!"
 
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Thank you Lizzi and Jody

Hi all.

Thank you very much for the replies about the 5 hour rule Lizzi and Jody. I do appreciate it. The problem is that I don't have a booklet. I live in South Africa and the consultant gave me some typed out pages and the 5 hour rule was not explained like you said. I just wanted to compare notes, so thanks again.

If you have any other important things you pick up ito life after Cohens, please send them through.

Kind regards
Ingrid
 
Hi Ya'll!

I've been very busy being "Mommy" the last few days. After asking the question about weighing to everyone and getting everyone's responses, I had decided I was going to weigh after all. For me, no matter what the scale said I would continue forward. I am a very strong-willed person and wasn't worried about what the scale said as much as for having a guide to mentally prepare for how long the process might take - sooooo - I was all ready to weigh in and it took three days to get down to town (I live out in the country) to the scale. But ....... big drum roll ............ I got there today and after 11 days on the program ..... I am down an AMAZING 9 KG !!! I was not expecting that! It was way cool!! I don't know if the same thing will happen in the next 11 days - but I'll take it if it does!!

I was so excited!! All I could think about was getting home and MOVING THAT TICKER TAPE!!!:D

Momma Pajama
 
Momma Pajama said:
Hi Ya'll!

I've been very busy being "Mommy" the last few days. After asking the question about weighing to everyone and getting everyone's responses, I had decided I was going to weigh after all. For me, no matter what the scale said I would continue forward. I am a very strong-willed person and wasn't worried about what the scale said as much as for having a guide to mentally prepare for how long the process might take - sooooo - I was all ready to weigh in and it took three days to get down to town (I live out in the country) to the scale. But ....... big drum roll ............ I got there today and after 11 days on the program ..... I am down an AMAZING 9 KG !!! I was not expecting that! It was way cool!! I don't know if the same thing will happen in the next 11 days - but I'll take it if it does!!

I was so excited!! All I could think about was getting home and MOVING THAT TICKER TAPE!!!:D

Momma Pajama
Click to expand...


Wow, 9KG in 11 days. That's excellent news, and congratulations.

I was interested to know, what inspired you to start Cohens? I know that in USA there are 227,000,000 tips on diets, million of books etc, and that Cohens (1stpersonaldiet) is fairly small and low key. So how/why did you think to yourself this program is for me? Chelsea in another forum/"virtual self" was my inspiration, to be honest I wouldnt have picked Cohens out of the "diet white noise", I would probably choosen the diet.

However almost certainly the first 2 weeks are not indicative of the future rate of weight loss. Simply in the first 2 weeks we lose much more than fat, after the first few weeks we losing fat only. Some of the ladies on this forum who started big probably can give tell of there experiences.
 
Stating Cohens Program on Monday

Hi Everyone, I'm new to the Cohens program but over the past couple of weeks I've been reading the posting, and you should be all CONGRATULATED on your AMAZING successes on the program. I suppose I should start with a bit about me, I've got (what seems an astranomical amount of weight to loose) 70 kgs and it's amazing how that amouint of weight has kept me in hidding for the last couple of years, I've kept my self sheltered from any sort of amazing life that I could have had because of my ballooning weight, I've chosen to stay in the background in almost any social functions (the ones that I dragged myself to, whatching everyone else have a great time...but I guess yo know how that feels). My weight started pouring on when I lost my baby and my relationship pretty much was over after that, so I sought comfort in the only thing that In knew that wouldn't judge me and was always there ....yep food and the couch. After reading all your postings and seeing your progress I had to join the program and I did....hopefully I can enjoy the same success as the rest of you and hopefully you'll all support and enjoy my success in weight loss also.

(your postings really do inspire other people reading them and even though they might be in the background just reading them they DO MOTIVATE others to do something about their weight)

I will get my life back, I will be healthy, happy and IN LOVE with my NEW life.:)
 
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