Hair Loss

[ConnieK..]

Betty,

I also lost hair during the program, but then I was losing before that due to PCOS and also due to being on a VLCD (Very Low Calorie Diet) for many years.

Since being on maintenance, I have new hair growth underneath all over my scalp and my hair has never been healthier, my hairdresser is estatic about the quality of the new growth. My doctor is amazed at my blood tests and I have more energy than I have ever had in my life.

I am perpetually cold all the time and my doctor says this may last up to a year as my body reaclimatises ... I have a friend who took 4 years to lose 30kg on weight watchers and she had the same cold issues, but within a year was back to feeling cold when she should and hot when she should.

Maybe the reason they don't mention it is because not everyone has these side effects.

And sadly ...... being overweight has far more implications for most of us than losing the excess could ever create. I for one handed back my type2 diabetes card, my cervical cancer risk card and my life expectancy is increased.

I have had bone density tests since being on maintenance and all is fine as far as that goes for me anyway

Connie

[Betty_Spaghetti]

Hello Annabelle,

No, I don't think I am growing any new hair. It won't solve the problem for some time anyway because it will be so short. Reading previous hair loss posts, it seems no-one on the program has gone completely bald so far, so that is a relief.

My hair felt like straw the last couple of weeks so it must have been dying at the roots. Cohen's told me that my goal weight should be 10 kilos less than what I weigh now but there is no way I could go that low, my ribs can be seen on my chest and I was starting to get comments that I'd gone too far as it is.

Thanks for your advice, exercise seems to be helping with the cramps. I used to be a jogger until a snow skiing knee injury sidelined me for several months (and I put on lots of weight, hence the need for cohen's). I can't jog again but I have just started some brisk walking.

I also cannot eat bread anymore on the refeed, I get severe stomach pains if I do.

I'll see what the dietican says and I'm just going to do my own thing from now on and give the refeed plan a miss, just eat healthily & maintain exercise and hopefully grow some hair.

[Betty_Spaghetti]

Sorry Connie, I should have phrased it, "I have learnt that there is no quick fix and losing so much weight so quickly is just as bad for ME as being overweight. " I can certainly understand many people who are healthier for losing the weight with Coen's diet, especially those who are obese.

I had no health concerns or problems before I went on Cohens (apart from my knee) and now suddenly I have health issues. My blood pressure has always been excellent even through 3 pregnancies but now I get dizzy spells if I bend over. My breath stinks & I don't sleep as well. I had OK breasts and now I have flat pancakes. I also had a runny nose for most of the time I was on Cohen's, like a perpetual cold. The best I can say for Cohen's is that I am now a size 10 instead of a size 14 but at what cost?.

[fair rose_za]

Hi Betty
To some degree i actually agree with you. Cohen's works exceptionally well with regards to weight loss but i must agree that maybe, even though we ALL lose weight, there are some of us who may be more sensitive to the diet.

Sometimes i feel a bit chagrined when i hear abt all the energy others have and how well others are feeling on the diet and i think to myself..what am i doing wrong? I haven't had the hair loss...not yet at least*fingers crossed*, but like you...i seemed to have had more energy b4 the diet than now.
There is the possibility it may be becos we don't have that much to lose??
I have also experienced cramps which seemed to have subsided on Slow Mag and another recent symptom has been palpitations associated with a feeling of anxiety. It'svery feeting though which maybe lasts abt 10-30s... AND BELIEVE me i have had no such problems b4.
ANother 'side' effect has been my mood. I've become a bit short tempered with the kids and this i do not like at all!! So...it may seem to some that some of us keep moaning abt getting to refeed ASAP and some even think that we doomed for failure, but we are only hoping for the end because maybe some of us NEED more carbs Not refined obviously but just good ol carbs.

Don't get me wrong anyone..I love the program and i am very happy with the results ....all i am bringin to the fore is that everyone on the program has different experiences, not necessarily all good. Maybe we could have a sticky with a list of possible 'side' effects so that those of us who do experience it may be reassaured that it's just temporary?
Fairoez

[fair rose_za]

Interesting that u mentioned the breath issue cos my husband noticed the ketotic breath as well. Is it normal on Cohen's? I thought that our crackers and fruit was supposed to prevent that?
Is it possible that, for some of us who has these effects should be re evaluated for fine tuning of our programs? Just a thought...I am so close to the end so is it even worth it? I would think so even if it's just for research purposes....wouldn't want Cohen's to be banned by the FDA you know

[KitKat]

I clocked up 6 months last week and 36.7 kg loss - FANTASTIC and this has changed my life. However I also have been feeling anxious about my dry skin (nothing hydrates it) hair loss, loss of skin elasticity and wobbly bits - and after reading up on the side effects of VLCD's I was even contemplating stopping the program.
However I spoke to my Docter on the 1st and after talking through my situation he is encouraging me to continue with Cohens (and my exercise plan - see "Gym" thread). He is also wanting to monitor me monthly including reviewing my monthly blood test results as well as my exercise program. The side effects will be different for all - and some will not have any - however my advice would be to consult with your Doctor if you have concerns. For myself the weightloss is fantastic - however it has to be balanced by overall health and peace of mind.

[pandora]

Interesting topic. Here i am day 2 of my attempt to get back to my goal i was at one year ago - so i hve 11kg to lose.

This time last year, i was 50kg (i am 158cm so a shorty!) but my nails were in a terrible state and it took me around 3 months to begin to regrow nails. However, i see myself as the main culprit as i stopped taking multivits at refeed time and i never took a nails, hair, supplement until i was desperate.

Now, i am 62kg, none of my clothes fit, i feel fat, bloated, muffin top yuck, i feel very unhealthy and uncomfortable, even a tad "sick" and cant wait to get back to a slimmer, more healthy feeling me. So why do i tell you this?

Guess what, as an overweight me, my nails are growing like wildfire, better than i ever remember, my hair is glossy and my skin is very good. BUT, and this is the big but for me anyway, i'd rather be slim as in paragraph 2 above than have good nails and feel like a fat alien version of me (para 3 above). I was much happier slim (even tho nails etc suffered) and i am quite miserable and depressed now.

Thanks for the prompt tho, i will definately take my vits this time around and invest in a nails etc sup - any other vits i should take apart from nails etc, and multi? I do prefer "having it all". Pandora

[Scotty]

Hi Betty Spagetti

I too was concerned about the side effects and the near starvation of the diet. Check out this earlier post of mine about other comments.


I have recently researched the BodyTrim diet and started it 2 weeks ago and can honestly say it suits me so much better. The food restrictions are nowhere near as bad as Cohens and I think will be a much healthier way to lose the weight. The program itself can be followed for a lifetime whereas Cohen's is still a quick fix drastic reduction diet and once greater quantities or varieties of food are re-introduced then the problems return - you just need to check out the maintenance diaries to see the struggle most people have.

[ConnieK..]

Scotty,

As one who is on maintenance ( 6 months now ) and has not gained weight I can offer a perspective on that... you say .....

once greater quantities or varieties of food are re-introduced then the problems return

No the problems return because people go back to eating the way they did before and expect that they will not gain weight ............ if you eat like a fat person you will be a fat person ... simple!

I eat a wide and varied variety of foods, I concentrate on fresh green leafy vegies, I add lean meats and then I add some starchy vegetables. I do not eat processed carbs often, when I do I feel it. I have many thin friends and relatives and they are the same ... most days they eat whole grains, vegies and lean meat, an occasional indulgence in refined carbs and sweets and then back to the basic food groups.

My husband lost 25kg while I was on the program, simply by changing the types of foods he ate, not the quantities and has kept it off.

you just need to check out the maintenance diaries to see the struggle most people have.

yep and check out the preceding posts to the struggle ... the general consensus will be an overindulgence run ..... more than one and often more than one day in a row. Mostly alcohol, refined carbs and sweets or a few days of 'eating all day'. Or there is an emotional upheaval and the fix is comfort eating ....... because people have not learned to cope without using food to comfort.

if you started Cohens not beleiving it was a radical fix then you were a little naive. Most people here are here because many other diets failed, a lot have underlying insulin problems so Cohens is a way to get out from under that.

I am not perfect and I do not purport to be the example of all things Cohens. but I do know a couple of things.

Cohens worked for me when many other diets (including 800cal/day VLCD's, meal replacement options, diet pills, weight watchers, and an individual program from the metabolism and obesity clinic at RPA) had not. I am now at an acceptable weight, my PCOS is all but gone and I feel like I could wrestle 50 tigers on any given day.

I went into Cohens knowing there was no magic panacea that would allow me to eat anything I want and stay slim. I knew this was a change for me and I expected to have to work at staying slim ..... otherwise I would never have become fat. Even Dr C says that maintenance is an equation of calories in and out and regular exercise should be a part of any healthy lifestyle. No matter how you lose the weight you have to watch what you eat to stay slim ... end of story!

My sister was a size 12 when she joined the RAAF - she lost 30kg by running and eating fewer cals ... she is now a size 22 ... why??? cause she doesn't watch what she eats. My mum lost a lot of weight, had a tummy tuck and then gained the weight back ( in some weird places) why??? cause she went back to eating like a fat person. On the other hand my 3 kids are all slim ... they eat rubbish and stay slim .... because they eat them in moderation and not every day and are very active ..... seems like a common thread.

I came to cohens because I could not lose weight any other way .... and I tried a lot of different ways and a lot of different doctors, I never yoyo dieted, I did not lose a lot of weight and gain it back and I don't intend to start now.

Is cohens a radical diet ?- yep. Does it have side effects ?- yep. Does that mean it should not be done ?- not in my or my doctors opinion. Is it the answer for everybody? - probably not but only you can decide that. For me the benefits I gained by losing the weight far outweighed the side effects I experienced, and I would do it all again in a heartbeat, I only wish I had found it years ago and maybe saved my Dad from the obesity which ultimately killed him at age 64.

Connie

[KitKat]

surely after losing weight and following a well bananced diet and exercise program this would provide us the nutruients/essential oils etc our bodies need to be healthy and achieve the physical appearance we would like to present. Having it all is possible but transitioning from Cohens to 'normal life' will require equal effort, planning and possibly new learnings. The Cohens program is a "Very Low Calorie Diet' and so our bodies will require time and looking after to get back to an optimum state - this won't happen the first day of maitenance.

[belinda]

very interesting topic.... I have bitten my nails for as long as i can ever remember and can still taste that awful nail stop stuff mum use to apply...no that did not stop me from biting my nails....I was about to get my hair cut really short as I was sick and tired of all the long curly hair on all over the bathroom ini the sinks nad drains and thought my hair was unhealthy......BUT WAIT I then started Cohens and the hair loss has certainly minimised and would now be considered a normal amount of loss and as for the finger nails well yes I still bite them but much more often so therefore everyone is different and thus side effects are very varied and different too...

[tiina121]

Great thread! Excellent posts Connie, I agree wholeheartedly I was like Connie and nothing had worked to lose weight. I think some people are going to have side effects and some not so much, just like medications. Just like anything we have to weigh up what is good for US, based on our own personal circumstances, not comparing ourselves to others. Great topic though, thanks!

T

[Annabelle Joy]

Some interesting experience in this thread. It's good to hear the bad as well as the good, as we don't all have the same reactions to the diet. I've included some of my thoughts/experience below, following on from the comments of others.

My psychologist friend thinks that the first secret to successful weight loss is to find a method that suits you. As I think we all know, most people won't consider Cohen's as it's too strict for them. Most of us here think it is the best diet ever. I believe that I could not have reached my goal weight on any other diet, and I've been looking for one that works for me for forty years.

Physical changes have been discussed previously here: . There are a couple of changes mentioned in this thread that I don't remember reading in the other thread. If you have experienced something that's not in the other thread (bad as well as good), please include it there too.

My doctor was the person who suggested I try Cohen's. She was impressed by the success several of her patients had with Cohen's when they had not previously been able to complete a diet. While I didn't discuss others with her I would assume that none had significant problems while on or after Cohen's, and that their subsequent tests were normal.

As one of those on maintenance who might be seen as having problems, prior to Cohen's I had previously identified that high carb food caused me to put on weight and also created cravings. I've actually been surprised that since finishing, if I overindulge on high carb food I don't have cravings the next day, although I do have a rapid weight gain. I believe that is related to obesity syndrome, nothing to do with the diet I've been on. As I said, I had worked this out prior to starting Cohens. My favorite foods have always been sweet things, and still are. I do better now at controlling the urge to eat everything available now than I did pre-diet, even if not as well as I would like.

A lot of forum members going onto maintenance have no problems, and we hear very little from them. The ones who come back are more likely to be the ones who are having difficulties. The problem usually is that they go back to doing what they did pre-diet, and the result is the same -- the weight goes up. I agree with Connie, the reasons for people on maintenance not being able to maintain their goal weight are rooted in their past life, and have nothing to do with the diet they have been on.

Betty, I also finished a bit above my Cohen goal weight. I carry a lot of weight on my legs, the top of my body is as thin as I would want it to be, and I had several signals from my body telling me I should stop. A goal weight based on height and shoe size won't be ideal for all bodies. I do think that many people who tell me now I'm too thin are themselves too fat, and that influences their perception of how I should look. I'm happy with a BMI of around 23, and I think that somewhere in the normal BMI range is a realistic goal for everyone.

Rose, I didn't test myself for ketosis, but would be astounded (based on an earlier attempt with Atkins) if I was in ketosis. I was allowed three fruits and eight crispbreads each day, and ate all but a couple of CBs most days. However, others have mentioned that they have reached ketosis. Some reach it more easily than others. At times I do see reports in diaries that make me wonder if the writers would be better with a modification to their diets. However, I imagine that this would cost another substantial fee. Most people feel better on the diet, sleep well, but often need less sleep. However, it is a very low calorie diet, so it's not surprising if you don't have a lot of energy. I think people generally feel better because they are no longer eating junk. I had thought prior to Cohen's that I was mildly intolerant to wheat, and mostly avoided bread. However, on refeed I ate all the bread allowed with no adverse effects at all. I made my own bread and wondered if it might be the additives that had an adverse effect previously. I've eaten relatively little bread since commencing maintenance, but no reactions when I do.

Pandora, there's a list of vitamins in your plan. I took them all.

AJ

[kagiesen]

I finished Cohens more than a year ago and am 3 kilos above my lowest weight, but still below my bottom target weight. I eat meat and veg, cut out most of the rice (probably about 10 spoon fulls in the last year, same with pasta, I do have bread once in a while, I try to stick to the maintenance guidelines, and if I do that, I'm totally fine.

I hardly ever drink alcohol. I have changed my breakfast: I start with lean protein, followed by a small bowl of oats with berries, so there's some carbs. Then lunch and dinner usually are lots of veggies, and a piece of meat.

One of my friends went on Cohens after she saw what I ate about 6 months after finishing re-feed: she was impressed at how much and how 'normal' I could eat without putting on weight. Even then, though, I ate mostly protein, hardly any carbs (well, no, there a re quite a lot of carbs in veggies, but no refined carbs), no alcohol apart from the occasional glass of wine or two, very rare, though.

I still weight myself every morning. I drink 2 liters plus of water. I don't have cow milk, only soy milk. I cut down on cappuccinos and FW, but now have percolated coffee with a dash of soy milk, and the odd 'cap' when I am out.

I exercise moderately. I feel fit and healthy, and in control.

So: I would run around and tell everyone how great it is. I have always had a reasonably healthy diet, so maybe that's why maintenance is not difficult for me. I have never had cravings for Maccers (well, maybe once a year, and then I just go and have two, that sorts me out for another year). My vice is chocolate, but even that I mostly have in moderation. Sometimes in the last year, I have had a whole block of chocolate after a balanced dinner with 50 gr carbs, with no effect. But if I did that a few times a week, I'd put on weight.

My hair is fine and thicker than it used to be. My nails or good. I do take 4 fish oil capsules, one multi-vitamin, one calcium/magnesium combo per day. If I feel tired, I may add iron. If I have cravings, I have a chromium.

At the moment, I am trying not to have snacks in before lunch, and possibly also not before dinner, but rather a nice balanced evening snack of protein (30 gr cheese or meat), carbs (0.5 apple or cup of strawberries) and fat (1 tsp peanutbutter, or 3 almonds).

So I'd do it again, but thanks to maintenance working well, I don't think I'll ever have to do it again!

Katrin

[KitKat]

Hi again
AJ, Connie and Kagiesen great posts and agree 100 %. Cohens has totally changed my life and AJ you are right - everyone has to find the right program to suit them. I read an old Weight Watchers magazine over the New Year and there was plenty of women who had lost equal weight to what I have - but when I tried it didn't work - it gave me too much freedom to still include my 'problem foods' Having come so far, I am not worried that I won't finish and my thoughts are turning to the end and life after! This I believe is the key - having a good knowledge of food and how it affects our bodies (not just the calorie value) what we react to, trigger foods and understanding how mood, emotion and stress play in our habits, and not forgetting how important exercise will be also. I totally agree that you can not go back to life as it was and who would really want to? My Doctor was estatic with my losses to date and is happy for me to continue and is confident the side effects will go once I reach refeed/maitenence - however as we are all different we need to remember that we should all consider our heath based on our own situation/histories and not others, but be guided by their experiences and successes to help make a well informed decision. Have a great day - Kath

[hexi2]

Hmmmm interesting....I wonder if my recent tooth chipping has anything to do with being on Cohen's? Maybe maybe not but I would think if the calcium levels are too low it could possibly be a side effect....

STILL...Cohens is still the best diet ever it's the only thing that has worked for me

[slimstar]

I have to STRESS to those who feel jittery and anxious and having palpitations TAKE MAGNESIUM AND LOTS OF IT, it really should sort it out. I havent had any of these issues since being on the program but I have been taking magnesium twice a day. A few years ago I was overweight and was suffering palpitations, irregular heart beat, anxiety and more. After many visits to different health carers even though my doc said my blood levels of magnesium were in the normal range once my naturoapth put me on a good amount of magnesium all of the above disappeared. Which was good for me as it meant I avoided beta blocker heart meds the cardiologist wanted to try and the antianxiety med the gp wanted to try. I cant help but wonder if those with complaints are taking all the recommended suplements as recommended.

[vijion]

Wow. This is a fantastic way of scaring people like me from not paying a large portion of my monthly wage to lose 25kgs!

[Kohinoor]

Hi Vijion,

Sorry you struck THIS thread early on. How's about trying the link below for a more positive look at what has happened on Cohens.

If you stick around, and read a bunch more, you'll find 99% of threads are VERY supportive of Cohens (even some great answers in this thread from people who have nothing but praise for the plan). There will always be a few who "don't see things quite the same way" based on their experiences (perhaps they may even have another agenda - I don't know...) - in the end, it is up to you to sort the chaff from the wheat.

In the end, you'll decide. I hope it works out positively for you. I've seen MANY friends kick butt with this program after many other programs had let them down,

Koh

[Mette]

I think people have to be realistic about this. Yes, there will be some side effects for some people, but that's the case with most things. Like some people have allergic reactions to peanuts and others are fine. It's whatever works for you.

I also think that we need to be realistic that we can't go back to what we used to do. That wasn't exactly healthy either, and that's why a lot of us ended up here in the first place. Once we reach maintenance, we have to make smart choices. And again, it's individual what works for you.