Need to Make a Decision

[Christal_zoub]

Hello Everyone!
Wow, what a fantastic forum this is!!!! First of all, wanting to congratulate you all for doing so incredibly well on your weight loss journeys! The results are truly amazing!
I just wanted to pop in and say hello, and also I am needing to start back on plan and get some weight off.
I actually did Sureslim back in 2004 and lost over 46kg; then slowly started putting on a bit of weight (after meeting my now hubby... and not really watching what I eat as well as what I was...), and in 2007 Jan, I went back to SS for another program to drop 10kg for my wedding in aug. So.. from that 2nd program, they had removed certain foods as my thyroid was on the higher side of normal, toward underactive.
Here I am today, have put on 50kg and need to lose it!!
I was diagnosed last year with an underactive thyroid, I am now taking meds every day; which has been a god send, because I felt like I was so sick before I was diagnosed. I knew something was wrong... my periods went out of whack and from a regular 28 day cycle to 77! I was dieting, exercising 6 days a week.... but not losing anything! Then I would get sick and would take over 6 weeks to recover, brain fog was horrible, i couldn't remember anything! And talk about being tired, I couldn't go out on weekends, spent most of it in bed resting, found it hard to stay awake at work. I just couldn't do anything. Then I decided to get to the Dr, and now its much better. Although I am back for another blood test on Fri morning as I'm starting to feel a bit tired again. I just did a naturopaths version of the HCG last month (eating lots of foods bad for the thyroid) so Im wondering if that has affected me.. plus only 500 calories a day is not good for me).
So.... I am now looking at needing to start something. Hopefully the good dr might increase my meds this week (as losing weight is so so hard) and then end of the month, I want to be ready to start.
My question to you all, is do any of you have an underactive thyroid and are still succeeding on this plan?
For those of you who have done sureslim, how do you find it works compared to it? Are the meal allowances the same grammages etc? (i could have 125g at lunch, 135g at dinner of protein etc).
And thats it!! lol
Really look forward to hearing from you, many thanks for taking the time to read my story,
Cheers,
Christal

[Christal_zoub]

Oh, and how much is the program for those of you who have joined recently? If I get a new SS plan, i was looking at doing the cheapest which is $495 (which is designed for those wanting to lose 10kg) - the one which I would need to do for 12 mths, costs $1797!!! I remember paying $750 back in 2004.
Thanks again

[Jewel48]

Hi Christal, I was newly diagnosed as hypo when I started this diet and have since been diagnosed with Hashimoto's. To date I have lost 24 kilos in 18 weeks and feel healthy and happy like I used to feel 10 years ago. This diet seems to follow similar guidelines that most thyroid books & sites talk about.

I'm on a low dose of thyroxin and still in the early stages of monitoring my TS & AB levels. I struggle with oedema but that's not new and am on diuretics to assist with getting rid of the excess fluid. So I would happily recommend doing it and if you follow it to the T and don't deviate, you are bound to see results. I don't think it's as fast as people with stable metabolisms but it definately works. I don't know anything about SS, but have done a myriad of other diets and whilst this one seems expensive because of upfront, it's not as much when I add up all the weekly WW visit fees and books etc. I paid $750 for 6 mth contract. I hope that this info helps you make your decision as to which way to proceed.

Good luck Christal!
Jewel

[Christal_zoub]

Thank you so much for replying Jewel! Had you had difficulty losing weight before starting on Cohens?
Wow - 24kg in 18wks is fab!! You must be so so happy & proud of yourself.
SS seems very similar to this plan, but I think this one is stricter. I know I wouldn't be able to eat broccoli, cabbage, peaches, pears, brussel sprouts etc, prob like yourself perhaps? Can you eat zucchini and green beans? I find that alot of the green veg are limited because of the thyroid problems, which doesn't leave too much left
Thanks again, def gives me something to think about!

[MaggieLyn]

Hi Chistal,
I have had an under active thyroid since my late 30's been on medication since then, had been fighting my weight gain all of that time too, I lost 58kgs on this programme 2010/2011, my medication was halved and even with my 20kg gain Im still on the lower dose. It took me 10 months to get to my goal weight of 67 kg.
I never thought it was possible for me to lose my weight, now I know different. Maybe my weight loss was a bit slower than some, I never deviated at all for the 10 months, I just put it down to being in my late 50's.
But yes I would certainly recommend this programme.
Regards Marg

[Christal_zoub]

Thats fantastic MaggieLyn! Not only to lose so much weight, but to decrease your meds is just amazing! Well done!!

[Collie]

Hey christal......I don't have underactive thyroid, but I remember something in the literature about Cohen's that it regulates insulin levels, promotes HGH, serotonin levels and also helps to regulate thyroid function.........

Yes it's $750 and contract is 6 months irrespective of how much you have to lose.

From what i've read, they guy who started sureslim used to originally work for Dr Cohen and then left the company and took a lot of his information and knowledge he has been taught and researched at Cohen's........

If you don't reach goal in the 6 month period, then you have the right to extend for 3 months, and then again if you need more time, but they can't be extended past 12 months.....each extension costs (I think) $200......that's here in Australia, other countries could differ though......

Good luck with what you decide.....

[Jewel48]

Christal, my belief is everything in moderation so whilst I don't eat cabbage etc, doesn't mean I won't ever have any of them. Trust me I'll be eating peaches when they come back into season, I just won't have one every day. I still eat tofu but again, not every day just a couple of times a week at most. I still find enough of a variety of fruits & veg to keep my palate amused.
Jewel

[Christal_zoub]

Thanks for the info Collie! That seems quite reasonable. Does that include a maintenance plan, or is that extra?
I'm just shocked at the price of SS at the moment. They have restructured now and are online. The cost for 6mths is $797 (so pretty comparable) but then you have to by the maintenance plan on top of that, and I think from memory its an extra $147/month. The 12mth plan is $1797 plus maint. I know it shouldn't be about the money, but in this day & age, every bit counts. Especially when I only paid $745 for 12 months including all consults and my maint plan, only 7 years ago....sigh... sorry for venting. But thats one big x against sureslim. I would be more likely to consider paying it if I could have personal weigh ins rather than online.
Do you any of you go to the Annerley Clinic in Brisbane? I must call them and see if they are open saturdays, because that would be a big factor for me.

Also, are you able to share roughly what protein & veg allowances you are allowed, or roughly how much your daily calorie intake would be? On SS it was around 1200/day. We had 125g for lunch, 135g for dinner. I have just come off the HCG diet which was only 100g and for me, that was a real struggle, compared to the 135g.

Plus another factor for Cohens is this wonderful site & support!!

[Collie]

No, we're not allowed to share actual quantities, and they don't count calories.....all by weight....

What mine would be would also be entirely different to your or anyones elses for that matter......every diet is personalised, so my quantities would be irrelevant to you even if we were allowed to share.......

It's not very much, when compared with the freedom of say weight watchers......

Refeed and maintenance are all included in your program. There's no extra purchases, but S&N will bill you separately for you blood tests, but that's got nothing to do with Cohen's themselves......QML tests are cheaper, but they've only left big bruises in my arms so i've always gone S&N.

Brisbane clinic is not at annerley. The wonderful ladies who operated that clinic finished last year and the lady who runs the Gold Coast clinic has taken over and amalgamated the 2 and now it's at springwood.

No, I've never even been to the clinic. I do it all by phone, email etc and I just weigh at home and report to them when I need to. New Brissy clinic is good, but I don't feel the need to have those weekly visits etc, I am motivated enough on my own, but I do contact them when I have questions or issues etc........

Good luck with your decision

[Christal_zoub]

Ours was all by qty's too on Sureslim, no calories. But I wondered how much less you eat on Cohens compared to Sureslim, and seeing as though you can't share the qtys, i thought you might have worked out a rough daily intake of calories lol, maybe thats just me
Thats great that the other phases are included.
Thanks heaps for your info Collie

[Kohinoor]

Hi CZ,

i thought you might have worked out a rough daily intake of calories

I'd like to make an analogy here, Chris - I recall that RollsRoyce (many years ago) would shy away from quoting the Horsepower of their cars' engines, opting to say that the Horsepower for each model was "sufficient".

Quite a psychological goal really - for a company to be SO confident of their product that they don't need to compete by comparing numbers...

In a similar way, I've heard from many (most?) on here that the amount of food is "sufficient" - often much to their surprise.

There is a thread in here titled something like "Sureslim vs Cohens" - do a Search for SS and I'm sure that thread will show up. Many of your concerns have likely been covered in that thread.

Oh, and welcome aboard,

Koh

[Christal_zoub]

Thanks heaps Kohinoor I'll have another look through for SS vs Cohens, i'm sure in the past i've read plenty of threads, but will see again

[Marmaduke]

hi christal,

my friend did ss but found it very difficult and is thriving on cohens. from what i gather ss was started by ex-cohens staffers (is this an urban legend? i don't know!) but you can move your snacks around in a day which I understand you can't on ss so you can have an apple or cracker between meals which makes a difference.

And for the record, I'd totally recommend it too!

M

[CharlieMia]

Hey Christal, it seems that you have made your decision and went with SS (read the news on another forum). Let us know how you go with it.

all the best
CM

[Christal_zoub]

Hi CM,
I haven't gone back to SS and haven't decided yet - I from today am going to start doing my old plan and see how that goes (obviously to save money for the moment, seeing as though it has worked before)
But have not gone with any as yet. I'm trying to think what other forum I have been on lol.
Will see how I go, plus waiting to see my dr this week about my thyroid, so really its all trial and error atm and seeing if my meds need increasing, will try on my old plan, otherwise from the sound of it, i'm more inclined to go cohens over paying anymore money to SS again! I'm only going my old plan cos of the $$ (its my 30th next month, lots of expenses with my pressies and a holiday, plus solar power installation, and we've just finally had blinds installed after building 3 years ago!! LOL). So really, $ is a big factor. So saying that, Cohens is much more cost effective as far as the plan goes, plus is inclusive.
Plus its something new too