Research about Dr Cohen's diets?

[Time4Me]

Originally Posted by FotoHijinx

For me its a no brainer - I'm buying just a eating plan from Joe Blow - if I choose to follow it to the letter I will get these amazing results - which I have - yay me. If I wasn't successful it isn't because he's not a doctor - its because I didn't follow the rules set out in the plan.

I think Joe Blow/Dr Cohen/ Santa/the tooth fairy/ easter bunny/ who ever it may be is better than anything else I have ever tried. WHOOOOOOO cares who writes the diet, I know that the health implications in 10 years time will be WAYYY worse if I continue to carry an extra 88.8kgs than if I take a chance and do this diet. I have gotten more results in one month on this program than I did under my Doctors "supervision" of many other things from reductil, to shakes. and monthly consulatations in his surgery ( yes fully registered in Australia as a DOCTOR).. also including many hours at the gym under the watchful eye of personal trainers. Does it work YES~!! Are you ready to loose the weight??? I personally dont think so, cause if you were you would stop wasting time looking for reasons not to do it.

Originally Posted by ConnieK

So conventional medicine would have me filled with synthetic hormones which cause reliance on an artificial compaund because they had no way to solve the underlying problem... I needed to lose weight ..... now I don't need the cocktail of drugs and I for one am ecstatic ..... personally ..... I don't care if Dr Cohen is actually a witch doctor and he wants to wave a dead chicken over my head and chant in swahili, or dance naked around a fire wearing nothing but a pith helmet.

** picks up soap box, puts under arm and wanders off **

Connie WELL SAID.. and that Soap Box looks much better with you on it rather than carrying it

Bottom line, either do it or dont, but dont be wasting your life looking for excuses to stay overweight.

Cheers Barb ~!

[baloo]

Originally Posted by ropemaha

you never know, he may not have marketed his product with full personal disclosure for another reason....he might be gay for example and not want the public scrutiny so he used a psuedonym....

Um, yeah, actually, he is gay, apparently.

[Trips]

I just wanted to say, that for me, it wasnt an easy road to start this program. Because of a pre-exsisting heart condition, someone - whether that be Dr Cohen himself, or a team of people, asked alot of questions of my consultant before they agreed to start me. It was/is my understanding that this happened with Dr Cohen himself, via email correspondance in South Africa. I was also required to provide documentation from my GP too. So someone, whether that be Dr Cohen or his team is monitoring and analyzing the data they receive from the clinic you sign up with. Personally, now this had occurred and I am 3 months into the program I can appreciate that the time was taken to check my situation out thoroughly, and I have to say it is confirmation for me that these people are serious about my well being. At the time, I was almost devastated because I really assumed I would not be accepted. I guess my point is, that IF this program was purely about making money, then why go to such lengths to check a person's health history. It would be much easier to get people to sign a no liability waver, but it appears to me, and many others, than the good Dr sticks by his word that this program works! Keep up with your search by all means, but dont jeopardize your future by seeing the glass half empty before you start!

Trips xxxxxxxx

[Andy46]

Karel - Whilst your concerns are justifiable and predictable is that the reason you wish to find the credentials of a person for a weight loss program ????

My previous consultant who at the time was the official custodian of the plan on my behalf with a clinic at Sunshine Coast, Bribie Island, Queensland showed me a photograph of Dr Cohen and herself whom she had personally met and she verified to me that he was a genuine doctor etc.. Bronwyn sat and assured my wife and I of the full credentials of the doctor and that she had personally met and confirmed this with him some years ago. My consultant proudly displayed a photograph of her and Doctor COHEN taken when he was in Australia ....... and I would be disappointed in her if she was lying to me.

However regardless of the qualifications of the doctor its the program that my consultant gave me and which I have used very successfully to date with absolutly no adverse effects - and I have completed it under the advise of my own doctor and and my I have also attended and discussed it with another proment Queensland doctor in detail. Each of them confirmed that the program worked and that I had no medical problems at all and that it was a program that was medically sound.

However if you have concerns - I can only say that you really must not do the program but find another that suits you - @ 55 and a male - you certainly need to be careful of what and how you look after your body - and at your point and experience in life you are the best to make those decisions - the whole plan is not about the qualifications of any particular person but about an eating food plan for YOU - individualised - just like any plan to your needs - you can and have every right to change and alter it as you wish to suit your needs and concerns - however it will ot be the plan nor the eating regime that you are purchasing. You do have freedom of choice and the right to do as you please with your body and depending on how much weight you have to loose - it may or may not suit your particular need - my Bribie Island consultant applied any misgivings to this regard for me so you would be best to consult with a representative from a clinic near you with your concerns and I am sure they will explain the basic terms and conditions of the product to you should you request it.

Your posts are unclear as to what you are actually looking for and sound as if you are attacking the man and not your own eating disorder or lifestyle problems - and as such you may be on the wrong forum - but if in doubt - do not proceed - but lets move on and when you have completed your research - by all means post it and we can look at your results and decide if they need to be posted on this forum or delete them if we don't think it is appropriate to post your results as after all in all fairness to every one we do not know your qualifications or motives for your research into Doctor Cohen - you have not identified your self and you could very well be a dissatisfied customer with an axe to grind - and be using this forum for such - which is not what its about.

I wish you well in your personal research and every success in what ever program you choose to use - and there is plenty of weight loss programs to choose from ...... in the future.

Andy

[Jenniwren]

Hi there,
I sat back for 2-3 months wondering about this
Cohen's Lifestyle Program and thinking is this going
to be another waste of money and my time and get all
down on my-self for yet again failing. But you what
I thought I won't know what results I get, if I don't get
of my bum and try. I was to afraid of disappointing
my-self yet again so I just did it. Here I am Week 9 - Day 5
14.3 kg's lighter and happier, that I have finally found
some-thing that finally works not only for me but for
all the others that are so passionate about their new life,
and we can't fault the plan because it does work.
I wish you luck,in finding some-thing for you but if you go
ahead with cohen's you won't be sorry. Pay the money
to be slim for the rest of your life, because you deserve.
Cheers Jenni

[hexi2]

Just a bit of goss - my clinic told me that Dr Cohen actually lives in America now...apparently he wanted to come to Australia but immigration said no - can't remember the reason now but whatever it was mustn't have been too exciting!

I know my clinic log into a database 'online' and I guess thats what happens with all the correspondance...

Either way Dr Cohen MUST be a doctor - he wouldn't claim he was if he wasn't because then he could be sued....

But like what others have said - whats with Jenny Craig's credentials or weight watchers...we all know they don't work and look at how they poor money into marketing! I think its fab that the Cohens program is basically 'word of mouth' and I bet most of the people doing this program chose to do so because they know someone who it worked for...just like me! I think its wonderful that the program doesn't need marketing, adds on tv, in the papers because it speaks for itself...

And yeh it SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE! But it is true and you are another lucky person who has finally discovered the answer...this is it! Now all you need to do is choose that you are truelly ready to loose your weight and a whole hosts of other sad, drag you down issues OR choose to continue on the path you are already on...

too me there is no choice....you have a whole forum here telling you that THIS IS IT! You have found the answer...now reach out and take whats rightfully yours - YOUR LIFE BACK INTO YOUR HANDS!

[hexi2]

So yeh Karel - he wouldn't be registered in Australia as he lives in America. The clinics are sold under 'franchise' or something to that effect, they are businesses...and are able to get blood results legally as clinics. Well thats what my clinic told me...'we have the same access to blood results as Doctors do' - I guess from there they forward that info on to Doctor Cohen...and I do know when Doctor Cohen went on holidays for 2 weeks earlier in the year the clinics were not able to provide eating plans during that time...so there you go! If he didn't personally deal with the eating plans this wouldn't have happened they would have just had someone 'fill in'....maybe he actually is an honest person! Isn't it great to think that there are still honest people about?

[lessfatty]

If I look at it objectively I believe there is a Dr Cohen, and he and he alone does the programs and they dont take so long for him to do it...I bet he has a little excel spread sheet and plugs in our blood test results and out pops some numbers (our programs). The clinics pay a fee to Dr Cohen for this ... probably takes him 10 minutes to make your program...good money if you can get it!

Anyway it works, I was check by my Dr in Japan and he was amazed at the results! Being slim is 1000% better than being overweight for your health. The only risk factor I have seen is high rates of gallstone problems which is associated with all rapid loss diets.

The point is that it works! and more to the point it works for normal everday people, the young in there 20s , the old, the middleaged, men and women.

[Karel]

Thanks for everyone's responses, all much appreciated.

I really only want to verify that the doctor is a doctor - the AMA have been telling us for years to check on the credentials of doctors, "dont come crying to us if he's not a doctor","you should have checked", etc. etc. Blame the patient seems to be rife in the medical professions when something goes wrong and they dont check on qualifications - I dont WANT to a be a victim. I want to be able to say to myself "I did all the checking, he's legitimate, he's right for me, I TRUST HIM".

I KNOW the program works and that people lose weight very rapidly, I have no doubt about that. I'm less sure about the longer term and continued weight maintenance, hence my interest in the research.

For my own peace of mind I need (emotionally) to know if this man is a doctor and what his qualifications are, AND that his professional body confirm them. At the moment there is a brick wall, no one knows, its all supposition or advertising, no hard facts, no trust and no verifiable records that I can find - hence why I asked here for some help.

Most people dont buy a car on the say so of salesmen, they do some research, read press reviews and brochures, ask questions, test drive, talk to other owners.

Why cant I do the same about an even bigger investment - my health and future life?

BTW anyone know why this thread got bumped to another discussion board, I lost it yesterday and thought that it had been censored for some reason.

[ropemaha]

yknow karel, i couldnt agree more about checking up on drs...i had tumour a few years back and had it not been for my own persistence and indeed my own research, i may still have that tumour...or worse....

my chiropractor who is canadian, told me that he thinks aussies should do what the canadians do and insist on thier own copy of every test or procedure ever performed on them....kind of like your own medical record bank...as this is the only way to be sure any doctor has your full medical history....

i can tell you one thing for sure....a lot of doctors dont listen.

so i really appreciate where your coming from and i think your reference to dr patel is valid....obvious consequences for not being vigilant.

the thing for me is that when i read about the hormone targetting it made so much sense. having studied psychology it sat right with me straight away...the effects of hormones on almost every part of your life is well documented....there are reams of research about the diets of different cohorts the world over and the out come of said diets on health, birth defects, disabilities, morbidity, etc etc.

so for example, the okinawan people (an isolated japanese cohort) are the longest living people on the planet...average age of death is around 120 yrs, from memory. psychs have been monitoring them for years and believe it is there diet....they only, for generations, ate the veg they grew and fish, and had an extremely low calorie intake on a daily basis....much lower than what western society promotes....they discovered that there hormonal output was more consistent than any other recorded cohort....and their disease rate was almost non existant...

and to top it off, the last two generations of okinawan's, who have the availability of modern japanese culture and food....have some of the earliest rates of diabetes and kidney disease, not to mention their 'off the scale' representation on the obesity scale. just to much of an increase in calories over too short a time frame..

i believe every decision you make about what you put in your diet/body carries an inherent risk...often an unknown risk...particularly for people who believe marketing about a product, or believe a dr that says 'yep take this hrt, for example' it wont hurt you'....sometimes theyre wrong.

it comes down to your gut instincts in my mind, particularly in the world of the information super highway...and its my gut instinct that said yes...because i couldnt identify any part of the diet that i felt was a risk....no drugs, shakes, pills.

i think you are wise to pursue the evidence, but i also think it is important to take into account what your gut instinct tells you about the structure of this diet...no complete eradication of any food group....we still eat carbs and healthy fresh food every day.

btw, i saw my gp the other day and she said to me 'send me the link to this diet' cause she cannot believe the improvement in my own health.

cheers penny

[losing]

I agree with everything that has been said but I say -

Question away - what does it hurt-

However why not question while doing the "Preparing for Cohens" suggestions - eg no grog, low carbs and up the water. Surely that can't possibly hurt you in the long term.

My two cents worth is also that your skin doesn't necessarily retract as much as you might hope - for me in my tummy in particular. That is getting fixed shortly.

Would I change myself one year after refeed and perfect results from a very comprehensive blood test from the gp - NO
Will I regret it in 10 years time - I don't think so. How can I regret losing the label "pre diabetic"

I am a believer in freedom of infomation, your rights to question and be heard. You need to be in the right head space for the plan and if research gets you there - then well done.

I really hope you give it a go and jump right in. We are a supportive bunch here and will respect whatever decision you make -

THe Best things in life are worth taking a little risk for.

Have you talked it through with a partner or family? What are their thoughts.

Best of luck -

Sharon

[baloo]

Karal, Dr Cohen is (or possibly was) a registered medical practitioner in South Africa. If you need validation of his credentials before you can use his tool to improve your health and longevity, concentrate your search in South Africa.

Do note though that his specialisation wasn't weight management or HGH research, he was a gynaecologist So if you need validation that his official medical training and qualifications are suitable to have come out with this weight management programme, I don't think you are going to find it. But good luck in your search.

[keishu]

Hey Karel,

I think you are missing the point of the program and taking the Doctor part way too literally. Take out the 'doctor' and focus on the 'LIFESTYLE' part of the program - Cohens Lifestyle Clinic. You don't need to know whether he is a doctor or not - he is NOT prescribing medicine, he is not performing surgery and he is not examining you so any and all references to Dr Patel, the AMA, and anyone else you've mentioned are not relevant.

This is an eating plan nothing else.

Follow the plan - lose weight.

End of discussion.

(now I'll pack up my soap box as well...)

[sundaymorningstaple]

Originally Posted by Karel

I really only want to verify that the doctor is a doctor - the AMA have been telling us for years to check on the credentials of doctors, "dont come crying to us if he's not a doctor","you should have checked", etc. etc. Blame the patient seems to be rife in the medical professions when something goes wrong and they dont check on qualifications - I dont WANT to a be a victim. I want to be able to say to myself "I did all the checking, he's legitimate, he's right for me, I TRUST HIM".

I KNOW the program works and that people lose weight very rapidly, I have no doubt about that. I'm less sure about the longer term and continued weight maintenance, hence my interest in the research.

Frankly, I think you are blowing up a tempest in a teacup. You claim you know this and know that and are fond of quoting stuff that is out of context or totally not relevant. If that be the case, then you also know that the program nor the Doctor dispensing any medical advice at all. So therefore your questioning of his "Medical" qualifications is somewhat of a joke. You are only kidding yourself. The program is based on eating healthy foods that any dietitian would recommend. The only thing the program promises is if you follow it, you will lose weight rapidly. Continued maintenance? The doctor cannot advise you on that, He has no control over what you put into your gob. He can give you guidelines only which is what ihe does. Any dietitian will do the same (and they are not doctors either). Additionally, the side effects that, while not guaranteed, are common knowledge across the industry. Reduction of HPB if you were overweight and have lost a substantial amount of weight, is a foregone conclusion that your personal physician will support. Eating healthy lean meats and fresh unprocessed foods will reduce cholesterol. Also as known factor which your own physician will acknowledge. I think your best bet is to find a different program giving you all the Tablets, Shakes, and other stuff which has known side effects (published) so at least you know your left leg will be shorter in 20 years rather than you being a naturally healthy person who only puts proper nutrition into their gob.

You are starting to sound like a scratched record.

[Bribie Jo]

Hi everyone,
The mind works in all kinds of ways and we make excuses constantly for not trying anything that concerns our best welfare/health and I think that Karel may be doing a sabotage before she evens starts the program.

All I can say seriously is YOU LOSE WEIGHT ON THE PROGRAM AND IT WORKS!

It deals with Behavior Modification of how we are use to eating and trains our minds to eat more responsible with healthy foods, no fad diet here this is plain discipline and making yourself responsible for your own actions, you are in control of your own destiny.

I am on Cohens for the 2nd go around and less than 6 months I have already lost 30 kilos and my health has improved 500%.

Since I have been back on Cohens I have done the following:

1- Been taken off one med that I took for high blood pressure and cut the tablet that I take now to 1/2 of my previous dose.

2- I take a cholesterol pill and a pill for Reflux and now I have to halve these pills before I take them.

3- Extended my life expectancy longer because I no longer suffer from pre-diabetic symptoms and of course lower blood pressure, When I was heavy I was walking around waiting for a stroke to happen.

4- With another 5 or so kilos off my surgeon is happy to repair multiple surgical hernias that I have because of a rogue surgeon in Wodonga, Vic who did a keyhole gall bladder surgery that I have had nothing but problems with since. Because of the badly done original surgery I have had to have a blocked gut emergency surgery and now on top of scar tissue from the original keyhole surgery I have more surgical scar tissue from that surgery which has complicated hernias from all the previous surgeries. My surgeon now declared when I first went to him that he would not do any repairs until I GOT THE WEIGHT OFF, this was back in December 2007. Now you want to have a day of reckoning when you are faced with an embarrassing confrontation like that ..... and now he is so impressed with all the weight I have lost that we are going for June or July for the surgical date to repair all these hernias that I have and they are life threatening too.

5- I can walk up a long flight of stairs now and not be huffing and puffing mid ways up & feeling like I am going to pass out.

6- I have a GP that I see monthly who is very very pleased with my progress on my weight loss.

7- I am so grateful for having the chance to find this diet and all the wonderful people that I have met in person who are real life Cohen success stories.

8- Now I have another chance to live longer so that I can see my 5 grandchildren grow up and enjoy time with them.

9- Not only do I feel good physically but my mental attitude is so much sunnier these days. ( I have to restrain myself from going up to heavy set people now and telling them my Cohen's secret, because everyone has to make that decision for themself to gain control of their life and lose weight)

10- I love the fact that I am now in size 14 to 16 clothing and shrinking every day. It is a very positive feeling after being in a Size 26 and always being embarrassed when I had to go shopping for Omar the tent maker clothes, Now it is a joy because I am normal.

11- I am eating healthier than I have eaten in my life and for once I am in CONTROL of my own destiny.

These are only a few of the positives that I have listed that has happened to me and I can go on and on here, but I don't think you want to read a book, but this post is turning into one anyway.

You have a chance to grab on to a diet that works and I mean really works. I have been on every conceivable diet you can think of and none of them ever worked for me like this one. I have spent a lifetime of yo-yo dieting and fighting all the demons that come with them, now I know what I must do to live my life to the utimate and Cohens has worked for me.

Just remember we are all human and have all experienced pretty much the same feelings in our fight to gain control of our life, so I say don't give up because you are only making excuses not to do the diet, it is safe and it works!

By the way this is my second time around on Cohens, the first time I started @110kilos and lost 25kilos and made excuses because I am an emotional eater, especially when under stress.

Good luck on whatever decision you make,

But I say you will miss out on one heck of a diet plan to gain control of your life, if you don't.

All the best,
Bribie Jo

p.s. I have the same consultant that Andy has and I owe an awful lot to her because she did not give up on me and was there all the way for me during my stress crisis with my family. She gave me encouragement and believed in me, but it was my decision to get back on the boat to the healthy way of eating. I owe alot to her for sure!

[Nat]

Hi Karel,

I tried doing some research on Dr Cohen before I started as well and wasnt able to fine much at all.

I questioned my clinic about this and was told that Dr Cohen is a very private person. However, he is real. My consultants have had telephone conferences with him and some of the other consultants have met him. He answers emails daily about questions that clients have that the consultants arent able to answer but apparently his answers are always short and very to the point. Yes, he does live in the US.

He has taken his privacy to the next level because he used to have a whole team working for/with him but unfortunately, a few individuals stole his secret "formula" and from this, another supposedly leading diet program took shape - one that also claims that every program is designed by a Dr and they give you a (supposedly) personalised eating plan (which, for some strange reason, many people share) from a blood test but theres no refeed progam and quite vague maintenance guidelines. But, unlike Cohens, this program that I am talking about, does not work and many GPs will second this as my own has done!

After this occured, Dr Cohen let go almost all his staff and how only has a few trusted people working for/with him that help him provide the services that he does.

Hope this helps,

Nat

[lucylou]

I'd like to thank Karel for starting this thread because of all the inspiring responses. I'm new to the Cohens program, only week two for me, already lost 4 kgs and to be quite honest struggling sometimes with the very strict discipline that's required of us. But I come to this forum and I get hope, I get support and I get advice. That's better than any prescription.

Karel this program works but only if you work it, and it isn't easy. When you're ready it will still be here, take your time, gain some more weight, that's OK. Once you realise that we're here to help you and that the program can help you, it won't matter whether you know Dr Cohen's inside leg measurement or not.

x

Loulou

[losing]

While we are all passionate Cohens supporters, I think we shouldn't be too harsh on someone just because they are tying to make an educated decision. Everyone arrives at the right time in their lives to start the plan, (if it is right for them) otherwise there would simply be no obese people in the world. Eveyone has a right to question a big decision in their lives, and deserves support.

Please don't be put off by the passionate replies - it just means we REALLY know it works.

Cheers
Sharon

[ropemaha]

yep nice one sharon...i agree completely....doesnt matter how you get here...

good luck karel

pen

[Aloha]

Hi karel.....I just started a week ago and have had great results....and I intend staying on the program.

I never really thought about Dr Cohen, I just assumed he was a doctor in South Africa, and he had world wide clinics.

We all know the program works, but it would be interesting to find out about the man behind the program so if you do find any valuable information please post it up in here.

I did read somewhere about people trying to rip of his program, but he could introduce himself without advertising his program, i'm with you it would be nice to put a face to the name. I've seen his face but that could be anyone.

The program does work. it just seems a bit funny that there is no information on the man behind the program except for the standard on every page you look at.

I don't believe the test goes direct to him. I believe he has trained several people in each country. I was thinking the same as you, and I still do think about this man who has this amazing program.

So if you find anything other than what's listed on the website could you please post up in here.

Thanks