Share Your Tips to "Help" - Anything That Might Work For Others on the Program

[Andy46]

I am starting this thread for any one and every one to add to as you go along - anything that you think might help others - be it a travel tip - a buying tip - a meal preparation tip - anything that might just keep us on the straight and narrow Cohen's road a little more easily and help someone else. Anything you think of really ….or do ….o keeps you 100% on track or to assist you. Don’t worry if it’s quirky or silly …..Just so log as it’s helpful for you and others.

Don't be restrictive - but keep it informative and helpful for others - and keep the recipes over in their post. As we get some ideas I will try and condense them into a format for a quick sort of reference for all.

So .......lets go .......you all find little things ........unique to this program .........share it here........... It all helps!!!!!!!

[losing]

I found that I needed to not question the plan but have faith in it. Don't look for loopholes - they are called deviations.

I needed to look at the food as my daily medicine - no more - no less.

I showed my kids why I was doing it by showing them how many dog cans I had lost and letting them pick it up (at first,,,,,)

I let my hubby cook for me when I didn't want to.

BUT MOST OF ALL FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE - I PUT ME FIRST - my daughter even had to hang on for a while for me to take her to the doctors when she had chicken pox so I could eat cohens before we went - lest I got caught out without my meal.

To do cohens you must be doing it for yourself. Everyone else gets the benefits - that's a bonus.

Keep your before photos handy - stops you from ever wanting to go back there.

Have fun with it too.

Sharon

[Andy46]

(1) Give the Plan a chance to work - at least 6 to 7 weeks before you decide.

(2) Believe in what you are doing and focus on what weight you want to be at the end - not what you weigh now.

(3) Get your mind right from day one - "you must think success to succeed."

(4) Read your plan with regulatory - it is tailored to "YOU" and you only. Dont be distratcetd by well maening but misinformed helpers.


(5) Always check before you eat it - rather than after - it could mean a week longer at the far end because you didn't and accidentally deviate unintentionally.

[hexi2]

View all non Cohens food as POISON...

Imagine your body as a steam train - you are fuelling its momento with Cohens food - all other food just slows you down...

Think 'yeh I can eat that food later' just at this point in time I can't...

:P

[bitten]

what a great thread andy-

thanks for starting it, us newbies need all the help we can get!!!

bitten

[Pudge]

Instead of saying
'I can't have that' Say I choose 'Not to have that'

When you get to the point that people are telling you 'No you can't lose anymore your too thin already'
Tell them 'It is Dr. appoved and you have to get to His goal for the end of the diet to work' It helps keep you from thinking deviation since you looking so well that people are noticing.

I keep a zip lock bag with crackers in it in my truck all the time. If I am going to town I take my water and a apple along just in case I am there longer than expected.

Don't think of this as a diet but as a program to help get you healthy.
pudge

[Andy46]

If going out to a function - plan - take a frozen meal and ask to use the microwave - don't be embarrassed - they will be more than willing to help you - its your body and you need to be in charge of what you eat and be proud of why you are doing it.

When in motels etc and traveling use two containers - place one inside the other and fill outside container with boiling water to heat the inner container with the food in it. Put the lid on to hold the inner container down in the hot water being very careful not to spill it out over yourself - give it a few minutes and its heated.

Use egg rings to make scrambled eggs for breakfast and freeze to take with you.

Measure and weigh yogurt allowance into small screw top container to take with you when traveling - add a little zero sugar diet Fanta to taste. Quick and easy on the move breakfast.

Make your own yogurt and instead of sugar add diet lemonade or no sugar and only flavor to taste when consuming.

Pack a small esky for emergency's with biscuits, knife and fork, salt and pepper and tea bags - a small bottle of balsamic and oil for dressing on salad from deli section if caught out past meal times. Test weigh two tins of drained crab meat or prawns - count your prawns - so you can purchase same to be as close to your allowance if need be in an emergency meal situation - plan and prepare - you never know and a estimated meal is better than no meal at all - or long periods without food that upset your metabolism.

[hexi2]

Yes never leave the house without at least one piece of fruit in your bag (mandarines or oranges are great) as well as crackers in a snack size zip lock bag (preferably the 'harder ones' that don't crush) NEVER get caught out being hungry...and of course the 750ml water bottle is attached to your hand!

[ropemaha]

my tips are ...

be organised...

dont beat yourself up if your not perfect...

if your stuggling emotionally, get counselling.....DONT ignore the warning signs cause they will bite you on yr shrinking bum if you let them....

penny

[Faithy]

AWESOME thread..

I would say this...

Be honest with yourself.. if you can't be honest with yourself about how you got to where you are or why you're not succeeding on the plan, you'll fail..

I've realised through my journey that we can make an excuse about anything.. we can ALL find excuses as to why we are over weight or why we can't stick to the program.. the point is we can stick to this & if we do, it works..

Be kind to yourself & learn to realise that you are SOOO worth the effort to do this program successfully..

Enjoy the road to healthiness.. to freedom.

[Andy46]

As with anything in life - you will have good days and bad days especially mood wise - learn to read your own signs - tell your partners and friends you are running low on food and that what your doing can make you a little testy or cranky - explain why and that its only while you do something for yourself - be honest and upfront with others - they will understand and support you especially as they see first hand your results as the weight comes off.

Plan your meal times and stick to them regardless - this is your program - not the boss's or the local schools or your partners or your friends - its yours and you own it - you owe it to yourself - and stick to your plan of meal times as it is your life savior and your chance to get GOLD more so than the boss's dollars - so tell others and do it for you - not them ............ plan your meal times and stick to them !!!!!

[meagain]

Keep your eyes on the prize.

Keep your before photo where you can see it.

Drink your water throughout the day.

Reward yourself with non food items.

Console yourself with non food items.

Reward yourself for reaching mini goals.

[Trips]

Success is not final,
Failure is not fatal:
It is the courage to continue that counts.
- Winston Churchill

This is my motto. Whatever the day brings, being able to face it and move forward is really what counts.

[Evave]

Love the thread

Here's my advice:
Stop finding excuses &reasons to deviate, use excuses to stay on the diet!!
i.e. i've paid too much for the program to turn back, or, i have an insulin problem so that chocolate will only do me more damage than good
it's those little things that helped me get though the program

if u do deviate: NO worries, there's always tomorrow for you to improve on

[shell]

My piece of advice would be to not think you wished this journey to be over quicker!

Try to be patient (I know it is VERY hard sometimes)

It sometimes takes a bit for your mind to catch up with your body, and be ready to drop more weight.
I think this program is a lot more to do with working through emotions and why we have the extra weight, as well as the the actual weight loss.

Also stop and think, when you want this to be all finished- how and what are you going to eat?

I came to the realisation that I will pretty much have to stick to this way of eating (bit bigger portions) for the rest of my life, with a few healthier food options as well.

When I realised this, I knew there was no need to be in such a big hurry to "get to the end"
There is no "end", this is just the beginning
Shell

[Debs]

I love this thread!

Good one ANdy

I guess my advice would be to find a friend and learn to discuss your feelings and sort out your own head...

Be aware that removing the food and losing the weight will be a catalyst to bring emotional problems to the fore ...

you need to look at them as hurdles and not roadblocks... but they need to be dealt with...

[Maya]

- GET BUSY
- IF YOU'RE TIRED IT MIGHT BE LOW BLOOD PRESSURE (figured that out after 5 weeks!!!!)
- try to find out what suits best - 3 meals only or crackers and fruit in between - I was hungry with all those snacks, works better for me to have 3 meals
- if you feel you wanna give up - come up here, this forum is THE BEST!
- drink lots of water
- don't take this as a diet... take it as a road to a better you, better relationship with food

[shell]

I cut my apples up into very thin wedges so it feels like you are eating more.
It also takes longer to eat.
Shell

[Maya]

Shell, that's so cute ... I cut apple in small cubes, so they dont get yellow too quick, then I take a toothpic and eat one by one with crackers ... And MMMMM coffee... Actually, this is exactly whats in front of me right now !!!!
LIFE IS GOOD !!!!!

[Kohinoor]

I just included a link to this in Classics, thus I figured it was good enough to need a "bump" too - why not? It's a classic - and we have a lot more around who may like to contribute (they'd have needed to go to page 14 to find it - but not now )

Koh