Well my Cohens journey has ended before it has even begun

[chaotic]

Over the last two weeks, from when I decided to go with the Cohens plan, my mind has been on little else. While waiting, first for the enrolment forms etc, then for the completed plan to be delivered, I've been thinking about what I'm going to need to make this endeavour successful, strategising how I was going to deal with situations and issues as they came up. Things like:
- the anti-social aspect of such a restricted eating plan
- dealing with my inherent aversion to any kind of regimentation or structure
- avoiding being influenced by negative comments, saboteurs and people with their own agendas
- overcoming the inevitable boredom with the very restricted range of foods premitted
- self image, mental/emotional adjustment and dealing with the fears that such a dramatic change to my appearance may bring on
Plus all the more obvious and immediate issues and the lots of other little things that I have read about on this board.

Anyway, none of these were going to deter me. I had even told already one relative that I was commmencing the plan and hinted at it to a couple of friends. Now you must realise this is something I never, never do. When I was on Weight Watchers many years ago, I only told one person. Five years ago, when I redid WW for a few months and was going to the gym and lost close to 20kg, I only told people about the gym - no mention of WW.

I have not been on many diets but this was going to be The One. I'm not a great believer in restricted diets and rapid weight loss, because I believe that slow and steady should be the way to go. However, this time I had something motivating me to do "whatever was needed". I have recently been diagnosed with "moderate to severe" arthritis in my knees. This means that when I get up in the morning or after having sat for a while, my knees are very stiff. It also means that my walking is hampered. This really bothers me, more than any other aspect of my weight problem. It's hard to be the untroubled, free spirit when you have trouble getting off a chair and you walk like Herman Munster.

My original plan was to lose about half my excess weight rapidly using Cohens. This would certainly help take the pressure of my joints and would give me so much more mobility. (There are also things happening later this year that require me to be more active than I have been lately. Again, losing a decent amount of weight fast would have helped that.) I thought that I would then try to maintain the weight for about a year to let my mind/emotions catch up with my body and deal with the changes. After all that had settled down I would then restart on Cohens - paying the enrolment fee again - that didn't bother me - and try to lose the rest although the speed of weight loss would be less of a concern at that stage. Well, that was the plan and I even spoke about it to the Cohens rep and she didn't say that I couldn't do it that way. Later on I found out (via this board I think) that it was all or nothing and that I would have to continue the plan to the end if I wanted to receive the refeeding plan. "OK", I thought, if that's what it takes then I'll do it that way. My real goal was to lose a substantial amount of weight so as to relieve the pressure on my knees and improve my overall well-being, and then keep it off. If the only guaranteed way to do that, fast, was to go the whole way the so be it.

So, I was ready to follow a strictly regimented and restricted plan and possibly carry it's basic premise through for the rest of my life, I was ready to give up bread, pasta, rice, milk, ice-cream, salmon (!), lentils, carrots, wine, etc. not to mention dark chocolate, for a year, if not forever, to achieve my goal. I was ready to follow all Cohen's instructions. I had ordered their preferred multi-vitamins even though I have a supply at home. I had bought a set of decent electronic bathroom scales since I was going to be responsible for my own weighing. Today I was set to empty my pantry of just about everything. I was waiting for the personalised plan and hoped it would be delivered today so that I could start right away (having a long weekend this weekend with nothing planned was going to be ideal if I was going to have to cope with the effects of detoxing).

Last night when I got home there was a message for me to call the Cohen's clinic. I rang this morning and found out that I was not going to get a plan because I had indicated on my enrolment form that I had a heart problem in the form of occassional bouts of pericarditis. For those that don't know - pericarditis is an inflammation of the lining of the heart and it's something that apparently a lot of athletes get (according to my physio). Now I had written about the pericarditis for the sake of total disclosure. I thought there MAY be further questions asked, and if so, I could tell them that I am being monitored by a cardiologist although I haven't had to see him for a couple of years as it's been that long since my last occurance (and it was only a small one anyway). I could tell them that I've twice had the full battery of tests done on my heart and it's been found to be strong, that there are no blockages, no muscle damage, no cholesterol problems even. I could tell them that my incidences of pericarditis are easily managed through non-steroid anti-inflammatories and rest. I could tell them that the possible causes of my pericarditis such as heart attack, cancer, infection, chest trauma, have been ruled out in my case and that the theory that it may be an auto-immune issue is the one that is being tested at the moment. I could have told them a lot of things if they had only asked for clarification. Instead, I just got a blanket statement that Dr Cohen won't write me a plan because I have a "heart condition".

To say I am bitterly dissapointed is somewhat of an understatement. It means that there are now only two options open to me: either a slow plan that will take ages to yield any results while my knees continue to deteriorate, or lap-band surgery which my doctor has suggested. I am opposed to any form of unnecessary surgery and I believe that if I indeed have a "heart condition" then surgery and the very restricted ensuing diet, would place a greater strain on it than Cohen's.

I'm still dealing with the shock of it. I thought that, being prepared by a doctor, there would be more of a diagnostical approach. I'm dissapointed that this supposedly personalised plan comes with such a tick-the-box mentality.

Anyway, it's been an interesting exercise, and this forum has been the best part of it. As I won't be able to share the Cohen's journey with you, I wish you all much success in your endeavours.



Now I think I'll go drown my sorrows in a nice cafe latte and a salmon steak.

[Jamanoha]

Hi Chaotic.
I am so sorry that you're unable to get your program... that sucks!
Have you called your clinic and explained the things you have mentioned on here? I am not sure if it would make a difference or not because I'm not sure of the health requirements for starting Cohens.
I wish you all the very best.
Lisa

[bitten]

i am so sorry that you cannot do the program.
i really do not know what else to say, except that it must be due to litigation and insurance. that it would be too risky to knowingly take you on,both for your health & the diets reputation.

i know none of this helps really.
i wish you wellness and a way forward with your plans-
bitten

[Jenniwren]

Hi Chaotic,
Sorry to hear that you can't commence this program
but and this is just a suggestion, why not stay a little
positive and do the pre-cohen's by cutting out the things
that are bad for us, and you might be surprise to lose some
of the weight that can ease up the arthritis, and get you a
little more mobile. I'm not sure who maybe ConnieK her husband
lost 20 kilo's in 15 weeks doing the pre-Cohen's I think that is
just great and it may help you out. I'm sure some-one can tell
you who's diary I read it in, and at least think about it.
Cheers Jenni

[Kohinoor]

Hi Chaotic,

So sorry to hear that - but hey, I'm with Jenniwren !! Go do the "pre-Cohens" anyway - can't hurt can it?

Even if you don't get the refeed, just losing that extra weight should be of some help eh? Give that arthritis a rest.... How you go from there, I'm not sure.

Someone else mentioned to talk again to your consultant - why not? Add that extra info that you shared - who knows, maybe a No could become a "Yes"......

Good luck with it, chaotic,

Hugs,

Koh

[Annabelle Joy]

So sorry to hear that, Chaotic, particularly when you were so well prepared mentally for the programme. However, I agree with Koh and others. First, talk with your consultant, tell them the facts of your case and ask them to pass them on to Dr Cohen. I would imagine that it is very difficult for him to provide more than a tick-box response normally, as he must have a huge number of new programme requests come in. However, if a clinic requests consideration of a particular client's issue I know he does respond to that as several on the forum have had specific responses from him.

Secondly, try pre-Cohen eating. Both Connie's and Butterfly Girl's husbands tried it successfully. I think that BFG's husband also was not accepted on the programme for medical reasons, but is hoping he might get on later as his health improves. You will still lose weight, and faster than on most other programmes.

Don't give up.

AJ

[chaotic]

Thank you to everyone for your replies. I do appreciate you taking the time to do so. And I appreciate your suggestions.

My initial reaction to yesterday's knockback was shock, but now I've had a bit of time to reflect on it all.

I've decided I'm going to have a chat with my GP to guage his views. I'm also going to talk to a friend who is a nutritionist. If they don't have an issue with the Cohen's program then I'll appeal to the clinic, otherwise I'll have to find some other method. I would just like to lose about 40kg as fast as possible so as to relieve the pressure on my knees. After that I'll be perfectly happy to slow-track it. What I don't want is to be forced to have something like lap-band surgery. Sure - if I was told I must have the surgery or I will die in a few months, then I would have it, but whilst there are alternatives I'd rather not go down that particular path.

In the meantime, I'm going to include some carbs in my diet in the form of 1 slice of good sourdough rye bread per day and all those carbs like lentils, beans, peas, carrots, pumpkin etc that the program does not allow. I'm not going to overload on them, just eat moderate amounts. I'll avoid pasta, rice, dumplings, pastries as much as possible. I'm also going to damn well eat salmon and sardines as I believe their good attributes outweigh whatever may be seen as "bad". And I'm going to have some milk, although I'll try to limit it to 1 litre of organic skim milk per week. I've decided there is no point going on pre-cohens and cutting out virtually ALL carbs and dairy if I don't have a program to follow and don't know what I can eat to compensate for the absence of the nutrients in those banned foods. It's all going to have to be about moderation.

And, of course, I'll be ensuring I drink lots of water.

[Annabelle Joy]

Chaotic, there are a couple of diets that I know of that run on somewhat similar lines to Cohen's. One is the South Beach Diet, and the other is the CSIRO Diet (I've not looked at CSIRO, understand it to be similar). I suggest that you buy one or other of the books and read it. Even some of the carbs you plan on including will be better out of your diet as they are high GI foods and will continue to upset your insulin levels. For a long time we were told that unrefined carbohydrates were good for us. However, more recently it has been recognised that some of them are not so good, and that for people with obesity syndrome very few carbs are good for us. Both the diets I mentioned above are balanced diets, but aim to reduce the high GI carbs.

AJ

[bitten]

hi there-

AJ has given you some fabulous advice...i could not agree with her more. any bread or starchy carbs will really hinder weight loss. beans, peas, carrots, and pumpkin are loaded with natural sugars, hi GI, and will make you hungrier if you eat them. they are not really advisable for QUICK weigh loss. fill up on greens and lean protein. have some melon and apple. you'll feel lighter and brighter in NO time.
i think it is great that you are trying to find a way to do lose naturally and safely-

bitten

[chaotic]

I have no problem with eating lean protein. I have to be careful with apples though, as they make me hungry. I like them - they are one of my favourite fruits, but they are not so good if I'm restricting my intake because they make me hungry. As for melons... aren't they laden with sugar?

[babytime]

Hi chaotic

so sorry to hear about your refusal to join the program, you have such a determined attitude it must be a real kick in the teeth to be told no. But hopefully you will be able to come to some arrangement in the long run.

re: melons. The allowed melon on Cohen's is honeydew melon (the green one).

cheers

[bitten]

hi again-

some people do get hungry with apples...so if that is the case. stay away.
all of us on cohens have a certain number of fruits that we can OPT to eat each day. you can opt out, but i doubt many, if any do. i do the internet US version and i can have cantaloupe or honeydew and i do NOT believe they are laden with natural fruit sugar at all. very watery and mild. i usually buy grapefruit, mango, peaches and nectarines. i also find apples work really well for me.
i hope some of these ideas help you toward your desired well being. i think it is wonderful that you continue to strive to find a way to lose the weight!!!
bitten
bitten

[Annabelle Joy]

Honeydews are very sweet, Chaotic, but are only about 6.5% carbohydrate. That's pretty low for fruit.

AJ

[sheree]

hi
have you thought of getting a letter from your doctor/specalist and sending to your clinic that may help just a thought any way
wish you all the very best sheree

[Shax]

Go back to the clinic and have it followed through they said that to my husband about his tests and he was crushed. I spoke to the clinic a few days later and they then said that it could be sent in again with more information and be re-seen and he will mostly get excepted with the new information!!

You have come so far jsut push through to see if they can look over it again. It will mean a new registration and repaying if they have refunded but give them all the information this time, and see if they will accept you based on the new information (or the information you have just given but didn't disclose)

[Sparkle]

I'm really sorry to read our story. Would it be possible for you to be able to write to Dr. Cohen and explain your circumstances? Perhaps he might be able to suggest a modified plan or something.

I've been on all the diet programmes around and really any one them will work if your stick with it. It's lifestyle that needs a tweek or two. I know that probably sounds a bit rich coming from me, who just started this programme last Tuesday, but hang in there.

Perhaps setting a goal to lose 10% of your weight at 0.5 to 1 Kg per week might get you started.

All the best. Don't give up.

Sparkle

[cellulite-baby]

So sorry to hear your story. I have also had nothing on my mind for months, since the day I heard about Cohen's. I have not started yet, not because I can not pass the medical aspect of it, but due to the fact that I simply can't afford it. I am saving like crazy, and I believe the hard work required to save the money to do this, is enough motivation to keep me on the plan. Try getting a medical certificate from you doctor or cardiologist along with as much information as you can regarding you condition and reapply. Don't give up, you have enough determination to do this and do it well to the end!! Loosing the weight will help with your arthritis and take some of the pressure off your heart, look forward to be thin cohen's diet buddies!!!

CELLULITE-BABY