asy's thoughts on Deviation...

[bitten]

hi debs-

i am starting TODAY!!!
so i am a wee bit nervous, but mostly just terribly chuffed, because I AM GOING TO DO THIS FOR THE LAST TIME!!!!!

hi lessfatty-

i am terribly impressed that you have completed your cohen's weight loss and i appreciate your ideas and perspective.
i just wory that perhaps another newbie, maybe some one more on the fence would think that ....."it's ok for me to not prepare properly each and everyday" i can eat a burger patty from mcdoanlds if i get stuck, etc. i know what you meant and I HEARD IT. but for some people just reading that you can deviate and be successful is a disaster waiting to happen. this is a tough program and you should be so pround that you are slim and healthy.

for me there cannot be deviations or lapses. am i being unrealistic? no, i am being committed to myself 100%, something i have NEVER before.
i am up for the challenge. i need it bad.
i will remember what you said, it's about commitment.plain and simple.
oh, but i do love soy sauce and sashimi.....who doesn't?
i had sushi as my last supper.
naughty, huh?

thanks for your insight-
bitten

[lessfatty]

To my thinking it is very hard to do Cohen in the real world and be perfect every single day for months. I really respect those who could do it like Asy, but for me it just didnt work out like that.

However there is one thing to have your daughter fall off the bookcase and split her head open, requiring hours in the emergency room of a hospital and end up eating an non-cohen meal in the cafeteria, yet trying to be as close as possible and another thing entirely to attend lets say the melbourne cup picnic and say "oh well it is just one special day, lets have a few gin-n-tonics, a glass of bubbly and a few cheesy nibbles..oh and a bit of chicken sandwich..."

Honestly tough love, but if you give yourself permission to deviate then you are asking for disaster. Yet the disaster is not in the food but in the psychology around why you ate it, it is an expression of a lack commitment. What will you do next time you have a domestic argument with a loved one, dry your eyes with a packet of tim-tams? You should have a plan for every meal for tomorrow, and I suggest a plan for the entire week ahead. You should have some frozen meals, ready to pull out if something sudden happens. Actually I took a frozen cohen meal to work and left it in there fridge at work, as I realized I was just fooling myself if I can never expect a midnight "work crisis" to happen on occasion.

[Didi]

Hi There everyone,

My name is Dianne and i started the program yesterday Monday 28th April. This thread is really interesting, obviously with differing views. I am wondering if someone can tell me what sort of stuff you can have when you finish the program or what some of the golden rules are after refeeding? i am a little confused as people were talking about cohens meals but i didn't know if that was within their program.

If anyone can help clarify this for me i would be grateful.

Day 2 for me and i took yesterday and today off work just to make sure i have everythign organised for the week, am feeling a little tired and BLAH today but i know from reading posts on here and talking to my consultant that that will pass so i look forward to that and i look forward to chatting with anyone who wants to

Dianne

[Debs]

HI Dianne

Nice to meet you!

Your best bet for refeeding foods is to have a look through the refeeding forum...

I'm not sure how much you have to lose but there are many great and helpful and yummy recipes that you can eat whilst you're on programme..

Try not to look too far ahead and just focus on where you are right now!

Refeed will come eventually

Debs

[Annabelle Joy]

Welcome, Dianne. I haven't checked if you have started a diary, but if not, please do so and we can all welcome you there, then follow your progress on this amazing journey to a new you.

AJ

[Ecogirl]

My thoughts on deviation - woman of few words coming up

For those who are deviating or are planning a deviation I have my story to share with you.

When I was younger (I'm only 32 :P) and I partied a lot (you have no idea how much I could drink - lets just say I could leave my husband under the table and get on the dance floor) I tried so many diets it wasn't funny and I could never stick to them because my focus was socialising and enjoying myself with friends at the clubs, pub, races etc. So instead of beat myself up for my inability to prioritise my health over socialising (cos that's what was really happening) I decided to concentrate on having a socail life and let the diet slide. I wasn't happy with my weight but since I couldn't do what I needed to do to get slim I needed to just accept it - which I did.

Fast forward 3 years to present day....It has taken me a long time to act like a proper adult

This is the 2nd time around on Cohens. The first time was last year - read my diary if you feel the need (but it isn't that interesting). My old diary is full of deviations which I seemed to be able to justify to myself - I read it the other day from beginning to end and I cried because it was the most heart wrenching thing I have ever tried to complete yet I could not stop myself from deviating. I chose to stop Cohens because it was absolutely doing my head in because of the cycle I started.

I was on Cohens - I felt really emotional about something or I didn't plan meals properly or there was a social situation - then I deviated - at the start it was just Cohens foods but bigger portions - then the rot crept in and it became other things. I then beat myself up most severly, tried to muster all the willpower I have and started again - only to repeat the cycle.

I ended up fat, depressed and lost all hope that my dream of slimness was within reach. I felt like a failure and so ashamed that I couldn't control myself even though I knew what I was doing at the time - in those moments I just didn't care about the outcome.

I then tried to restart Cohens again after I got married - I thought I knew where I went wrong and I was so focussed, enthusiastic and determined.......but the cycle started again. I knew where that road was headed so I stopped Cohens within a very short period of time.

Why am I telling you all of this??? Some are saying get to the point already......

In my diary I glossed over why I deviated and justified it because I was too embarrassed and ashamed that I couldn't make a plan and stick to it (aka Cohens). But I wrote it in my diary because I guess I was looking for support - I was also trying to desparately understand myself and how to stop the cycle. What I didn't realise was that there was a reason I was unable to actually stick to Cohens and it had nothing to do with will power.

I knew that I couldn't do it on my own (my history proves that) so I sort out help through my life coach and through reading about people obssessed with food, body image and weight. I reached out because I so desparately want to succeed at this and so far I didn't have the tools to be able to handle my life and not use food/alcohol like normal people do. How could I possibly have expected myself to succeed if I didn't have the right tools - that's just masochistic!!!!!!

My message is this - if you are on Cohens and are unable to stick to the plan 100% (unless it's an emergency as mentioned above) you need to seek help in understanding why you deliberately sabotage yourself - because that's what it is - plain and simple - sabotage. I am learning what my sabotage strategies are so I can manage those and maximise my success strategies. Don't live in denial that you can do it on your own - it's not about will power and determination.

If you would like any help or need support about this please feel free to PM me and you can ring me to discuss it. There is no shame about needing support - you just need to have the courage to do it. I hope this can help some people in their quest for success and that you can learn from what I went through.

BTW I am 8 dys without deviating - my own personal best - I've only been on the program 8 days this time around!!! I am so proud of myself that I could shout it from the mountains!!!!

Amanda

[Kohinoor]

Ay, Ecogirl,

Them's good words to hear !! Go shout it from the mountains, mate

BTW I am 8 dys without deviating - my own personal best - I've only been on the program 8 days this time around!!! I am so proud of myself that I could shout it from the mountains!!!!

All the best for your journey girl - keep those "happy hormones" aligned, and I'm sure your PB will continue to climb,

hugs,

Koh

PS applause to you for a GREAT post too !!

[Debs]

Amanda

That was an amazing post.

Well said and people would take great advice to read it carefully!

Debs

What a fantastic thread!!!

I stumbled upon this a week or 2 ago during serious deviation and trying to muster up motivation.

Asy, your starting post is what smacked me behind the head. It felt like you were saying to me to "stop my cr*p" and get on with it. I really needed that and I thank you so much for it.

I can add nothing profound that has not allready been said in all above posts, but for me personally, I like and need the strictness of this program. 99% of us on this forum have dieted most our lives and are very adept at finding the loopholes hence the non-results. Bill Phillips ( Body for Life - yeah, I tried that as well ) said if you do not have time to excersize, you don't want it bad enough - that can be directly translated to Cohen's. If you are not willing to go it 100%, you do not want it bad enough. Obviously there are the times when it is nearly impossible, but it boils down to the decision between sticking that little block of choc in your mouth or not.

My mindset has def changed. As per my diary, I did a full 4 weeks with stunning results, and then threw it away for the next 4 weeks. I jumped back on the horse a week ago, and I feel as if I have grown up ( finally !!!!!!!!)

Ecogirl, sounds like you and I are 2 peas in a pod - your lifestyle story "echoes" (parden the pun ) mine to the tee!!!

Cheers
Annie

[bitten]

really brilliant stuff-

thank you ecogirl and annie-

what super posts to start the week off on the right foot.

there is no other way than 100%....if you are not 100% you are not doing dr. cohens program and you will NOT reap the life changing rewards!!!

bitten

[asy]

Great posts guys!!!

Ya know it's funny the responses that initial post of mine have had, everything from what you guys have said, through to nothing short of abuse telling me I 'have no idea how hard it is' or that I was having a go at people who can't stick to the programme...

anyway, I thought that was interesting...

You guys are doing SO well it's inspiring.

asy.

[Annabelle Joy]

I think this is a really useful thread, asy. There are a number of different views. I have referred several people who are struggling to it, as I think everyone will find some help in here with all the different views, but all saying essentially the same thing -- you can't deviate.

AJ

[bitten]

hello-

i posted here in my initial days....i come back and read my posts and the others when i feel a little rocky or if a struggle arises...this, IMHO, is the essence of cohens and WHY it works so well and swiftly.

thank you asy, this is a crucial thread-

bitten

[Time4Me]

Been on this forum for almost 2 months and only just found this thread through a link that AJ put in someone elses diary, thought I would give it a bump for all newbies and for those having a tough time. I have been 100% and the results are showing 20kgs in 6weeks. Its just not worth the deviations. After all its all in the mind set, tell yourself that piece of chocolate, piece of cake, meat pie, icecream it is all poison, would you really "crave" putting posion in your mouth?? Works for me~!!

Cheers Barb ~!

[Possum]

What a fabulous insight into how our body copes with the insults we can give it. Thanks Shell

[Soon2BSlim]

Hi All

I just thought I would add another persepective here. I found for myself (I've been on Cohen's 8 weeks) that if I read diaries and posts where people have said they deviated it's harder for me to find motivation to stick with it through the tough/tempting times. However, if I'm reading and looking for motivation as to why I should continue the, sometimes tough, journey and I read through posts where people have been in difficult situations but managed to stay deviation free then I think to myself, if they can do it, I can. This helps me to not give up on my weight loss dreams and of being the skinny chick but boosts my willpower and motivation and before I know it I'm through the temptation and happy with myself for not deviating.

Yes, while deviations may happen I think that it's more helpful to others and oneself to see it for what it is and not trivialise it. We are here because we want to lose weight and we don't really want to sabotage anyone on the journey, we need to be helping and motivating each other to get to the end.

Louise

[bunnyrose]

After going off the rails with "excuses of getting in the right headspace" and other "issues and reasons", I have decided to get back on track. I lost 30 kilos so quickly last year then just seemed to have given up just 8 kilos from my refeed weight - how insane is that. Now a year later I am ready to start and more importantly finish - of course now instead of 8 kilos to refeeding I have 16. Just reading about everyone's victories and deviations has been the inspiration I need to quit fooling myself and get back on track for a healthier lifestyle. When I was thinner I slept better, felt better, walked better, and most importantly was virtually pain free. yes the slim clothes are nice, and I'll just have to get used to being noticed instead of invisible, but the time is now. I refuse to buy bigger clothes again, and I gave all my big sizes away, so I have to do this. Now I notice the fat handles and apron so thank you "asy" for the kick in the butt - I needed that. Sorry can't figure out what I did wrong on the ticker - started at 95 kilos - got down to 65 and now back up temporarily to 76.

[Heffa]

Wow!! You have got no idea how reading that has given me a new lease of life to start a new week! I've been on the program now for 14 days and I find the weekends hard to get through! This is my second attempt and for me I know that I cannot deviate at all! One extra cracker last time means that I eat a whole packet (with vegemite) then the next morning I'm having toast for breakfast! This time, NO WAY, I feel so much more in charge, and with this forum it is going to make the world of difference! I have just registered and have not yet started my own diary, but after reading this it seems like the best thing I can do so I don't feel like I'm alone!! So hopefully will be talking to some of you soon!

[CL2026]

This is a fantastic thread and Im going to come back to it every time I feel like Im faltering.Thanks for your words of wisdom.

[shell]

To all the serial deviators and all who have excuse after excuse for not following their program- think of this:

If you had a "medical" condition like diabetes and had to take your medication at certain times to keep your condition under control and yourself healthy-you would do it, no questions at all.

Being over weight is a medical condition.
Start thinking of this program and the food you eat as your "medicine", as it pointed out in your program, by your doctor Cohen.


By having a little bit of this and a little bit of that because you think you "deserve" it, or you will just start again tomorrow, you are not getting your hormones stableised, and making it much harder for yourself!


You are only cheating yourself and making getting to your goal that much longer and harder.

YOU decided to do this program & YOU spent your $750 to do it.


So please stop making excuses and give it your best shot.

YOU ARE WORTH IT!