New to the forum - 4th week on the diet

[longwave]

Hi. I just finished my 4th week on the diet and am so pleased with the results. I've lost just over 8 kg!

I don't have a clinic - I joined online. I was sent a booklet explaining the diet and the rules, but interestingly, I see there are some differences between rules in the booklet and rules mentioned on the forum. Does anyone know what is best? So far, I have been sticking to the booklet.

I have just been told I have to do a follow-up blood test and I'm wondering if others have found that their programmes change after this?

I don't have that much more to lose, although I can imagine that the weight loss slows down so it may still take some time to reach my goal.

Looking forward to meeting everyone on here.

[Collie]

Hi longwave,

Welcome and congratulations on your losses so far.

There are no changes made to your plan after Dr Cohen writes it. With your subsequent blood tests, Dr Cohen collates and uses the results and information he seeks in them to write your refeed, and as fas as I know that's the primary reason for your blood tests.

I'm not familiar with the booklet and info that comes with the online program, so I would think if you have specific questions or discrepancies you have with the forum or the booklet, then why don't you pose them and I"m sure some of us would jump in if we know the answers!!!!!

Good luck with your program

[Busybee9]

Long wave, hi.
I've just finished week four too. I lost 5.4kg so. 8 is fantastic. Have to be happy with that. I'm on my second go after a pregnancy before I was able to finish last time.

Your booklet as you've called it is your programme and it is this that you should follow to the letter to get results...I'm not sure what discrepancies you might be talking about but follow the programme that you've been given...this is for you. We all have some differences with our programmes with the weights we are allowed and occasionally a food but that is due to individual blood chemistries....

So, first follow you programme, second ask questions re the fundamentals of your programme to the clinic you are attached to...either call them or email...thirdly gain information and knowledge about the general stuff from this forum.

Hope that helps...will look forward to following your progress.

Bee

[Rochy]

Welcome longwave 8kg is a great achievement!

I'd do as busybee says, programme first.
If in doubt always follow what the consultant says. eg. stevia, some people seem to be ok with that (I'd love to) but my consultant said no to me, so I'll save that for maintenance. It may not do any harm but if I didn't do what my consultant said whats the point in having one?

In saying that, I'd love to know what differences you've noticed! This is an outstanding forum with incredible support & people who 'just get it', but we can all put our own opinions in too, so that may be where you see the differences

[Busybee9]

Originally Posted by Rochy

Welcome longwave 8kg is a great achievement!

I'd do as busybee says, programme first.
If in doubt always follow what the consultant says. eg. stevia, some people seem to be ok with that (I'd love to) but my consultant said no to me, so I'll save that for maintenance. It may not do any harm but if I didn't do what my consultant said whats the point in having one.

interesting Rochy, my programme specifically mentions stevia as one of the sweeteners I CAN use...good thing too as its the only one I will use! won't touch chemical sweeteners. No exceptions.

[Collie]

You can buy stevia in absolute pure form at the health food shop, and as it comes directly from a plant, it's not considered as bad a sweetener as aspartame, saccharin etc, the stevia at woolies has a lot of additives to it, but the health food shop ones is 100% pure stevia.....but it comes at a cost......kind of like $35 for 500g or so.......

My clinic allows stevia too, up to 5 tablets a day.

[Rochy]

I really wish we could get some consistency here!

Previous to Cohens I used stevia & NEVER used artificial. Even now I don't sweeten anything to avoid using them there, but it is in the sprite zero I sometimes treat myself to. As soon as I finish I'll be using Stevia for sure, but can't figure out why some can & some (me!) can't?!?

[Rochy]

Know what, I'm gonna ring tomorrow & ask again!

Scratch that, it's Sunday, I'll ring Monday!

[Collie]

Well, both my clinic's as in the people who ran them (it changed between first and second time) both said yes and to treat it the same way as any other sweetener. It tastes much nicer, doesn't have any of that bitter aftertaste the chemical based ones do.

I'd re-check if I were you Rochy, I can't imagine why it'd be so inconsistent........good luck!!!

[longwave]

Thanks everyone for your replies!

I'll try to think of all the things I noticed were different... but the big one is that my diet guide (so the booklet with all the info, rather than the meal weights, etc.) does not allow chili and it seems on this forum that is no problem! There are so many delicious recipes with chili on here. Also, I don't have to weigh fresh herbs as part of my vegetable allowance, and it seems on here you do.

[Rochy]

Hmmm, have a careful read longwave, fresh herbs must be weighed with vege allowance, at least my program says that very clearly. I guess most others are the same & thats why we all say it

I think everyone is referring to dried chilli also. This is a single spice, I think we aren't allowed to use mixes? Not sure actually, will have to go read my program again!

[Rochy]

Just double checked & herbs (fresh) are under the vegetables part of my allowance so must be weighed.

Chilli powder is under the condiments & herbs section so seems they are ok for me at least

Hope this helps, it's extremely easy to notice something new months in

[longwave]

Hi again!

I don't usually use mixed spices so I actually did mean dried chili flakes, chili powder, or even fresh chili.

I checked with the online clinic in regards to chili and herbs and this was their reply:

"Please note that chilli is not allowed on the program.
However, the herbs, whether dried or fresh can be used without any weight/portions attached."

It's a real shame as I like my food very spicy!

[Rochy]

Oh wow! Thats definately different then!

I'm doing my program online also but through a physical clinic (about 3 hours driving time), do you mind me asking where you are? Maybe there is a country difference?

I'm not so keen on the spicy foods so it's a shame we couldn't swap!

[Collie]

I too am in a different country and also doing it by 'distance' even tough my clinic is only a 15 min drive from home.......

My program guide says same as Rochy........wow, it never ceases to amaze me what differences beween the clinics there are......makes it all a bit hard.

[Busybee9]

I'm doing mine in Aussie land as Collie, but I'm doing clinic is maybe a couple thousand km away...my programme is as Collie and Rochy's are.
Bee

[longwave]

I'm in the UK and am on the Internet programme: http://1stpersonaldiet.com/register_uk.php. THere is no clinic in this country, but I am sent the documents to get blood test from Dr. Cohen's office (which are sent back to SA) and I get information and can ask questions/get answers via the website.

[Collie]

Hi longwave........is there a 1st personal diet forum at all???? I know there are others dedicated to the cohens program, I'm pretty sure there's some that are US based. I know that's not your country either but maybe it's worth looking into to see if there are others that align more with your rules.

There seem to be a few differences hey........maybe you could open up a clinic in the UK???? LOL......

I would hate for our Aussie based forum to steer you in the wrong direction or give you the wrong advice. The people on here are wonderful, knowledgable and super supportive, and any advice or info we share is of course based on our rules and programs........

So, I hope we're not causing you too much confusion and angst at all......good luck with it all!!!

[Rochy]

Hi longwave, what Collie says has some merit, but if you feel you can hang out with us slightly different individuals without it affecting you, no worries! Last thing we want is to chase you away!!!

Program & consultants first, forum second. In your case you may need to ignore abit of the advice given here

[Collie]

Totally Rochy.....I think its great to have and be able to offer another perspective too......this place is great for your support, recipes and encouragement of others.......and for me thats outside what the paperwork states on my program.

There are plenty of discrepancies between the clinics in this part of the world too, it can get confusing at times, but it doesn't mean at all that we don't have the same goals and ideas......I hope you didn't take it that way at all, it certainly wasn't intended that way.......