Hi

[Sin74]

Hello all,

Hi My name is Sin, i am a sole parent of 2 kids, have a wonderful man in my life, but i am miserable with my body and health

I am thinking about joining Dr Cohen's program, like most the other posts i have read, i have also tried every other diet and program and even the fad diets, now my doctor is talking about gastric band surgery, but he mentioned i try this program first.

My first diet was when i was 12yo, now i am 35 i am afraid to say i am a bit of a skeptic now, i have spent thousands of dollars in the past including gyms, diet programs etc hoping to be the best i can be, always hearing the same phrase " This truly does work!!" etc etc etc

From being overweight my health has suffered considerably and i now have a medical history that would shock most.

My partner of 2 years and i have started talking marriage, and i would love to marry him, but i want to look great on our wedding day, i want him to see the real me, not the obese version of me we see everyday.

i am a sole parent of 2, so i was a bit taken back with the $750 cost of this program, i also know that good health and feeling good is priceless.

I guess i am looking for reassurance from the members of this forum, that it is true and possible, and i would also like know whether other people have kept thier strength up when doing the program by correspondence as i will have too??????????

[Sin74]

Oh by the way, i am 178cm tall, currently i am 125kgs approx ( Scales are the scariest thing in the world to me) and my goal weight is 68-71 kilos.

I would also love to know,, while i am on this program,,, does the skin around my problem areas etc under arms, and baby belly,, does that shrink too???????? Or will that require surgical removal???

[shuki]

Hey Sin,
the answers are yes and yes and yes. I have about 70 kg to lose and have been on this for almost 4 weeks and am yet to weigh in to see what i have lost but have already gone down a pant size i feel. When i add up what i spent on Weight Watchers I realised that the initial payment is not astronomical at all and as the portion sizes of food are so small your grocery bill will go down.
There are many others here doing this by correspondence and to be honest those of us linked to a clinic use this forum more for our support than the clinics - that is not to be negative about them but is a positive for how incredible this group of people are in cheering you through.
I also have 2 kids and since being on this programme have more energy and am far more positive emotionally which is great for them. Someone gave me an awesome statement when I was at the same place as you....I copy it in for you... Your family deserves to have you around for the full time that your lifetime has been allocated to you and them. I just found that so incredibly helpful in giving me the jump start I needed.
On this programme although the portions are small you are not hungry and have no cravings - amazing and something i have not experienced anywhere else.
I would absolutely advise you to try this before surgery. Give yourself to learn the mental lessons you need to about food, life and yourself which will only come with a gradual decrease in weight (not that this programme is gradual compared to every other programme - much quicker).
I am sure many others will jump on this and reply but here is a link to the answers I got when I posed a similar question...http://newyouforum.com/forum/showthr...ighlight=shuki
I hope it will help and I look forward to seeing you here again.....if you do it then plug in to this forum regularly - invaluable!!!!

[Laura77]

Hey Sin,
This is my second time on the cohens program, the first time was about 4 years ago, this time round Ive lost 14 kgs in 4 weeks, Im currently 5 and a half weeks in, havent weighed for a week and a half tho, and i can honestly say this diet is amazing, if you stick to it 100% you will be amazed at the results, and once you get into a routine and find things that work for you its not hard to stick to at all. This forum can be the greatest source of motivation and encouragement, as everyone on here knows what your going though and wants to see you succeed...
I know the $750 is alot to pay, but there is payment plans offered i think at all clinics, I know my clinic does, which can help ease the blow! Im 165cms and started at 113.4 and only 21, I understand the scary scales thing! But now im actually excited every week (or fortnight if i can help myself) to weigh because I know the results will be great!
Goodluck!
xo

[jlou]

Hi Sin74 (from a fellow 74 Mum!)

Well my first comment is - yay for your doctor recommending you try Cohens!

Second, there are a lot of really great threads in this forum which will help you - look for the "stickies" but for starters I will point a few out:

http://newyouforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4213 (will cohens work for me)

http://newyouforum.com/forum/view.php?pg=nyf_hof (Hall of fame - you can see how much others have lost and read their diaries).

You mentioned the cost - there is a thread about the cost of Cohens but of course I can't find that - perhaps someone else will be able to and post it here.

What I can say though is that you mentioned you have spent thousands in the past - can I tell you this - if you spend $750 now, follow the program and maintenance guidelines, you can keep this weight off for life. The main differences as I see it are:

1) Dr Cohen teaches you how to eat normal food again - I have never before been on a diet that did that - hence why I put it all back on again!
2) This forum will make you think about your life and why you are doing this so that you will end up committing to eating right for life - a lifestyle change, not another diet.

The people who succeed on this program seem to be the ones that at some point (usually after they have started so it doesn't matter if you aren't there yet) that it isn't a single event or goal they are doing this for, but for something "bigger" (eg: to be healthy and around for your children - that kind of thing). But sometimes it takes a looming event to kick start you so it is all good

I wonder if you are entitled to any assistance through Centrelink for the program? I don't know but might be worth asking? The government is apparently committed to reducing obesity.... I know my clinic has a pay over time option.

There are lots of people here doing it by correspondence with various clinics - Koh (you'll meet him soon!) will be better to give you a list but I know that littlemiss is so perhaps have a read of her diary.

As for keeping up strength - most of us don't actually spend much time going into the clinic. I have been in once to sign up and another time to get guidelines as I was travelling. The support and strength I get is from HERE! (Oh and a bit from inside myself too).

This forum is your best testimonial - we are all real people on the same journey so take a look around.

And if gastric banding is the only other alternative, I don't know what that costs, but I have a friend who had it who is unfortunately still morbidly obese I expect she will end up doing Cohens but she is currently trying to conceive. From what I have seen with her, it reduces how much you eat, but you don't learn what to eat. I am only speaking from what I have seen with her though so that's my disclaimer! I had actually contemplated it until I heard of Cohens and I am so glad I did this instead - much less painful!

Good luck on your journey - I hope you choose to join us

[jlou]

oh and from what I understand for those with a lot to lose - the skin does shrink with you but suggest reading the diaries in the hall of fame about that - I think some people used zinc to help?

Which clinic would you be going through?

[Laura77]

I use zinc to give the skin an extra kick along...

[Sin74]

Wow you guys sound so positive, and i am alot more positive about giving this program a go, alot of my concerns have eased from your replies.

I will be going through the Brisbane clinic, but all the info and blood tests will be sent.

Are you guys talking about Zinc cream or zinc suppliments????

Any other words of advice would be great,, Does anyone know roughly how much per fortnight the fees would be through the finance place, once i have paid the first initial $350?????

[shuki]

Laura do you rub it all over you? and are you talking about the sun block zinc or is there something i am missing?

[Laura77]

noo i take zinc tablets!!
Sin, start making your way through the forums, you will find thousands of posts full of great advice!! Also maybe start reading some of the diaries
I have no idea about the fees sorry

[Kohinoor]

Hi Sin74,

And welcome.... Jlou mentioned "a thread about the cost of Cohens" - I think she might've meant this one :-
Barb - Cohens is NOT expensive

As a start, do take note of all "stickies" (they are stuck up at the top of every page - so they can be easily found - lots of info in each).

Also, come check out "Koh's Classics" as I'm on a mission to make it easy to find really good (classic) posts and threads. (Shameless plug there )

THIS is the program that people should do FIRST - it would save a lot of time, money, and angst !! I'm glad your Doctor was so positive about it - that doesn't seem overly common, so you've probably got a GOOD one there - hang onto them !!

Koh

[jlou]

Originally Posted by Kohinoor

THIS is the program that people should do FIRST - it would save a lot of time, money, and angst !!

IF ONLY!!! And I am cranky because I was told about Cohens a year ago and would be at goal by now if I had listened then instead of doing some other silly "diet" which resulted in me getting to my highest weight ever!! Time for a protest rally perhaps???

Sin - zinc tablets (althought the cream will stop you getting skin cancer!) - they are also really good for your immune system (I have always taken them if I have a cold). Larysa (Bbrisbane clinic) will give you frank, honest answers to your questions (she is my consultant. I am sure Sue is lovely too!!!!)

[jlou]

Sin, in Koh's Classics - Important stuff there is a link to a thread about skin coming right

[bella10]

Hi sin74

I'm Bella10 & I'm on my 3rd week of cohens and am starting to see the results. I have been on the program before and lost 30kg & was a couple of kg's off my goal and we moved overseas. With the stresses and strains of moving the wheels came off. However we are back home now and I am determinded to loose the weight and do the refeeding program. I know for a fact this works if you stick to it & at this point of time I'm sticking to it like glue.

All the best Bell10

[Sin74]

Thanks for all your words of advice and wisdom.
i was not able to find the link about details of my skin retracting through this program, can someone please send me that link so i can read more information on that??
I will more than likely do this program but now it is just about finding the money i guess!

[emjay2010]

Sin,

There's nothing I can add that these wonderful Cohenite's haven't already said. I can tell you how my husband and I are doing. We've just done 5 weeks and I'm down 13.5 kg and he's down around 20 kgs in the same time. we've tried other diets but NONE have made us sit up and take notice of the results like Cohen's ... and .. BONUS ... we're really enjoying the food we're eating and looking forward to our meals.

The initial $750 investment sounds a lot, but think about what you're probably spending on junk every day. Scott (hubby), commented that he comes home on Friday night, with the same money in his wallet as when he left home on Monday morning (bar a few dollars for a can of diet coke each day). That's a big saving right there.

It's worth the investment in your life and I know my clinic (Surry Hills, Sydney) off payment plans if you need it

Good luck with your decision. If you do join, you will not regret it

[emjay2010]

Jlou, I had the gastric banding 8 years ago and initially lost about 20 kgs but that didn't last long. I put it all back on and quite a bit more. I couldn't keep any food down and threw up almost every meal except if I ate ice cream or cheezls. I have since worked out that even though I ate VERY little, my body was in starvation mode and kept putting on weight.

Since starting Cohen's, I am eating normal food, enjoying it and keeping every morsel down. It's not just what I was eating, or the quantities, I think it was the combination of foods that my stomach couldn't handle. I still have the band and will leave it there for now as I don't want to go under the knife again (way too much surgery over thast 25 years), but I do think once my weight is under control completely I will have it removed. it is totally empty now, so only a bit constricting. I doubt taking it out would change my appetetite anymore. Maybe mid to late next year. We'll see .
So if your friend is interested, by all means show her this post.

[jlou]

Sin

Here it is:
(this is Koh's post below, copied in cos I don't know how to do it a fancier way!!)

When losing weight, it is obvious that the skin won't need to be as "large" once the fat is lost. From what I read, it is the HGH that helps to restore things (everything?) while on the journey.

Today, I re-read the path of "the Goddess" (Asy) - and here's her comment as she was "taking stock" after finishing refeed.
http://newyouforum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=106498#post106498

Keep in mind, that this lady lost an astonishing amount of weight (88KGs) and completed that path, including refeed, in just on a year !!! A page or two earlier in her diary, she talked of how many cms she had lost. Imagine THAT change if the skin hadn't been "shrinking along the way".

She does say (always has) that the skin will continue to tighten for a year or more after completion of the journey. So, even if not "ideal" when she finished refeed, just imagine how it MIGHT have been if Asy hadn't been on this path? Read her words - and smile

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