Hair Loss

[Shanara]

I really hope no one reads this thread and gets turned off Cohens. In my experience if I have had a health issue or a query about my program I have found one of my consultants excellent. She has been so happy to spend tiome with me and talk through the options. I know all consultants are not as obliging so I would encourage people to keep asking questions until you get a consultant who suits you. The forum is great for support but for some things I find I need the accurate assistance of a consultant.

Side effects can be because something is not quite right with your programme or the way you are doing it. It is very easy to miss with seemingly small things that change the affect. I think taking good nutritional supplements are vital. They are part of the programme.

Please, if you are thinking of doing the programme don't let this thread put you off. There are so many, by far the majority that find the programme is an entry way to health, vitality and wellness.... not to mention a new body that expresses your inner beauty.

Try the precohens guidelines and see how your body responds in just a couple of days. Mine loved eating this way and it got even better when I started the real programme.

As for the expense of this programme, after experiencing the results so far and looking at my grocery bills nowdays I would say it is the best investment i have ever made. And a bargain at that. Don't tell the clinic I said that!

If this programme speaks to you at all then jump - you'll be glad you did.
Shanara

[fair rose_za]

Hi slimstar
I have increased my magnesium and happy to announce that the symptoms have subsided since supplementation.
I, too, agree with you Shanara, that ppl shouldn't be put off becos i think the overall result is excellent and it would seem that after maintenance all is well again.
However, i do believe that all potential Cohenites should be aware of the possible effects that can occur and what helps for those effects. Despite some of the effects, i think that most of us would still continue Cohen's and do so in the future to keep our weights in check.

[KitKat]

sometimes talking about a negative you can find someone's experience who can turn it into a positive. Thank you to Belinda who told me about Bio-oil for my dry skin - I have been using it for 48 hours and can notice a difference already.

[belinda]

kitkat I must admit I got the tip on Bio oil from AJ several months ago as I complained about the dry skin problem so thank you AJ

[KitKat]

A BIG Thank you AJ
Kath

[Annabelle Joy]

I also got it from someone else, Connie I think. So thanks, Connie, from us all.

AJ

[ConnieK..]

.... that's OK AJ what goes around comes around and I am sure we all got something off someone else and passed it on ... that's the sharing caring bunch we are

[Isabella]

Hi all,

I suppose that all of us being the unique individuals we are will respond differently to this programme. Just thought I'd share my experience which so far has only been positive!

I've been on Cohens since Sept 08 (17 weeks) and have lost 24 kilos. 4kgs now from low end goal weight. I can honestly say I feel fantastic. Since the beginning of the programme I have regularly consulted a holistic health practitioner (she specialises in multiple alternative therapies, including naturopathy) and so have taken a rather large amount of additional supplements in addition to the multivitamin recommended by my clinic. Supplements include: zinc, magnesium, vit c, vit e, silica compound, lipoec acid, fish oil, coq 10 and a liver supplement. My nails are stronger and healthier than ever as is my hair (no loss whatsoever). My skin is also in much better condition than when I started. A large chunk of my weight was carried around my middle (legacy of 6 pregnancies in 12 years, last one twins). I was concerned about excess skin, as prior to starting I had an rather unattractive apron around my caeser scar (had 4). Amazingly enough, today, my stomach is flat with no sign of excess skin. I have also used bio oil daily from week 1. I am truly amazed at my arm muscle definition (had none before) and no, I dont exercise as such, but do carry around 2 toddlers!!

I will definitely need to exercise to tone after the programme, but all in all, the results are amazing! Like others I have tried many different weight loss programmes and this is in my opinion the best.

I did experience a period (3 weeks ago) where I was unusually tired and had no energy. My consultant recommended an extra multivitamin at lunch time, which seems to have worked. She did mention that towards the end of the programme it is common to experience signs (which may be perceived negatively) as a sign that the body is requiring addtional nourishment.

Best of luck to all those on their journey to health, happiness and slimness, whatever path that may be!

[Ronky]

Hi all,

like Isabella I would also like to share the benefits that I have found to the program. Before starting i had really bad excema and nothing was helping. I had all sorts of creams and potions to help. My skin is completely clear now and only flares up around that time of the month. Apparently this is a normal thing for excema sufferers. Speaking of that time this has now become very regular and the pain that goes along with it is massively reduced. My hair skin and nails are healthy and the whites of my eyes are bright.

I have lost 22kgs since September 8th and havent felt better. I have a little bit of skin however I have also been overweight for 20 years so I dont expect this to shrink straight away. I am excited to almost be at the end and i can see it around the corner.

Everybody is different but I have been singing the praises of this program all over the country.

Good luck everyone.

[Betty_Spaghetti]

Thank you all for your replies. It is amazing to read to read how much Cohen's have changed the lives of many. To fair_rose Za, I really think that you understood what I am saying, so thank you.

I spoke to my consultant who contacted Dr. Cohen, he really offered no answers other than to suggest that my hair loss may be hereditary (NO!) & that I may be lacking in zinc & iron. The dietician was less than impressed & gave me a pamphlet on fad diets, she explained much of the difficulty I was having digesting breads & milk on the refeed. Apparently our bodies contain specific enzymes that are required to digest lactose & gluten, basically I had made them inactive over the time I was on Cohen's.

To Kohinoor, I have no hidden agenda. I just wished that I had been made aware of the side effects before I signed up. Cohen's claims that food is your medicine and like any medication, I wish there had been a list of side effects, either printed on the website or in the information pack I received before joining. Once I had paid my money & received my personalised plan there was a small note in the very back page that I should take a hair, skin & nails supplement. Not good enough I'm afraid.

Rather than this being seen as a "negative" thread, I would hope that this will provide insight for those who find themselves more sensitive to the side effects of the Cohen's diet. We are all different & I understand that Cohen's has been a godsend to some.

[clarityvsi]

Hi,
Just saw your post about nails, skin, and hair loss....

I had problems with my nails after removing the acrylics and problems with my hair after an operation (non-cohens related).

Nails - try Schuesslers tissue salts Comination K for Nails and hair (not actually salt - so it is ok). It is used by the connective tissues in the body. You can get it at a good health food store. they are tasteless little tablets that you suck on about 3 times a day. I had good results in 2 weeks, so didnt need to grow out. And the plus - only about $10 a bottle.

Hair - the tissue salts should be good for the hair also. But you could also try Joico K-Pak shampoo, conditioner and treatment. You can get it from some hairdressers or Price Attack at about $20 for each bottle - but will last a while. It is a hair treatment that puts the proteins back in your hair etc. My hair was very dry, brittle, breaking off etc - it worked very well for me.

Hope this helps
Karen

p.s the program is working fantastically for me - I feel great. The neway vitamins recommended work great. I have more energy than I have had in years. My skin, hair muscles etc are looking great - no flabby skin! I have come from 142.9kg down to 100kg - 40 lost another 35 to go.

[dmon]

Just wanted to add my 5 cents in.....
When I did Cohens the first time, I had no side effects- my hair never looked better, my skin was flawless, my nails were perfect....lucky me?
Now being back on Cohens, I am getting all the "good side effects" as before.

[Ms. Jiggles]

No falling out hair or weak nails for me!! My skin was just a bit dry, but nothing extra moisturizer could not help.

What I wish they had included in the booklet was:

1. Notice that your BMs are infrequent.

2. What to be careful of if you develop a cold, such as sugar in the meds!!

Ms. Jiggles

[Kohinoor]

Hi Betty,

To Kohinoor, I have no hidden agenda. I just wished that I had been made aware of the side effects before I signed up. Cohen's claims that food is your medicine and like any medication, I wish there had been a list of side effects, either printed on the website or in the information pack I received before joining. Once I had paid my money & received my personalised plan there was a small note in the very back page that I should take a hair, skin & nails supplement. Not good enough I'm afraid.

Fair comments all, Betty. I don't know what information you may (or may not) have been given, so I'll leave further comment to others who are "doing this".

BTW, my "hidden agenda" comment was not directed at ANYONE - it was intended more as an "eye-opener" to all members. A forum such as this can have anyone join up, including detractors, and even those promoting other programs (who might simply be here to "stir the pot" - it has happened before). Since we have no way to know just who they really are initially, or what their intentions might be, I thought it prudent to make that point, rather than have new readers taking everything said at face value. That was my sole intention for the "agenda" comment. My apologies if anyone took this as a personal affront .....


In your case, Betty, it seems things haven't been presented to you by Cohens to your satisfaction - and that may well be a valid point for many. So, thank you for it. If it is a problem for others too, it may well lead to change. Nothing wrong with constructive criticism !!

Koh

[Andy46]

I also lost almost 80 kg on Cohen's and my hair in fact got thicker and better and I never had the flue or any sign of illness for the 40 weeks that I did the program.

I can only say that anything is better than dying from a sudden heart attack because I was 80 kg overweight and my body was about to close down and today I can run 10 kilometres most days in an hour and then once a week push it out to 20 kilometres.

To all the new people starting or about to start its normal for your body to change as it undergoes a huge weight loss that it does whilst on Cohen's - and the eating plan is 48 % protein and 48 % carbohydrate and the rest is fat and water.

So don't put your life at risk by not doing the Program to the letter - you will be very very healthy at the end of it.

Andy

[Faithy]

I'm sorry to hear you're not happy with your Cohen's experience Betty.. It is definitely benificial to take all the recommended vitamins whilst doing this plan.

I lost 90 kilos & my skin did go a little bit drier & my hair did fall out, but it all righted itself once I started taking vitamins.. I actually was very naughty & didn't start taking them till about the 9th month mark. I also noticed my energy decreased a fair bit towards the end, but with the vitamin intake it improved 10 fold.. I also experienced some light headedness, but my consultant recommended that I add salt to my food & that helped heaps..

Perhaps this plan isn't for everyone but I know for me I am a hell of a lot healthier now than I was.. in fact whilst my doctor had concerns about how little food I did eat, he said after numerous blood test etc that I was incredibly healthy..

My hair, nails & skin are now better than ever & I have never in my whole life felt as energetic as I do today.. for me personally, I KNOW that this has saved my life & whilst there may have been some minor uncomfortable side affects along my journey they are nothing comapred to the discomfort of being so dangerously over weight..

To anyone who is thinking about Cohen's... ask HEAPS of questions before you start.. read the forum, talk to a consultant & get as informed as possible.. have regular check ups with your doctor along the way, especially if you have heaps to lose..

I'd also suggest that perhaps if you think you are suffering from some odd side affects that you get it confirmed from your doctor that it's not from something else.. some times (& I'm not saying this is the case here with Betty) we assume that it's from the diet when in actual case there's something else going on.

[Maya]

Betty I think we got the same problem - the lack of acid in stomach!

I am taking whole responsibility for my problems, because I sent them the wrong information about my height - I said I was 3 cm smaller than I really am, so the target weight was lower than what it was suppose to be and I even went lower than that, so I was literally 8 kg under the target weight... completely my fault.

After the refeed I had terrible stomach ache, burping, my hair was falling out terribly... then I found out I lost all the stomach acid - and all the symptoms were because of lack of the acid - indigestion, hearburn, hairloss, dryskin, sweating...

Please, read this article:


Low Stomach Acid (Hydrochloric Acid – HCL): The Risks, Symptoms, and Solutions - by BodyEcology.com
Contrary to popular belief, indigestion is usually caused by low stomach acid, and it affects up to half of our population. 1

Treatment that neutralizes stomach acid can make your digestion worse.

Why Stomach Acid is Good For You. Stomach acid or hydrochloric acid (HCL), is a very powerful digestive agent, and much more important than you realize.

HCL's important functions include:

Breaking down proteins into the essential amino acids and nutrients your body needs in order to stay healthy.
Stimulating your pancreas and small intestines to produce the digestive enzymes and bile necessary to further breakdown the carbohydrates, proteins and fats you eat.
Preventing disease by killing pathogenic bacteria and yeast normally present in food.
As you age, your stomach acid tends to decrease. Add processed foods (and long-term medications) and you may find that both your digestive and immune system are weakened.

There are two main consequences of low stomach acid:

You become protein malnourished. When your stomach acid is low, you are not able to digest protein.
Improper digestion of protein creates toxins in your intestines that can set the stage for illness and disease.
Improper digestion of protein also creates acidic blood, since protein is by nature acidic.
You become mineral deficient. As your blood becomes more acidic, it will look for minerals from anywhere in your body, in order to get your blood to its more ideal alkaline state. Acidic blood robs your body of minerals, even taking minerals from your bones (which is important to know if you want to prevent osteoporosis).
Low stomach acid eventually creates a vicious cycle: low stomach acid = low minerals = acidic blood. Acidic blood creates a cycle of low minerals and low stomach acid.

Once this vicious cycle has started, there is a cascade of consequences:

You could eat plenty of protein and still be protein malnourished. This raises cortisol levels (stress or death hormone), thereby raising your blood glucose (blood sugar levels). Elevated cortisol adversely affects your behavior and temperment.
Eventually, your adrenals become depleted (adrenal fatigue) and DHEA, the youth hormone, is suppressed, leading to premature aging.
Low DHEA and high cortisol affect your brain and behavior. Plus, the vicious cycle of low stomach acid affects your inner ecosystem. Low stomach acid can lead to more pathogenic bacteria, candida and viruses, while healthy microflora decrease, lowering your immunity.

Symptoms and Disorders caused by Low Stomach Acid

Fatigue
Bloating, belching, and flatulence immediately after meals
Heartburn (often thought to be caused by too much stomach acid)
Indigestion, diarrhea, or constipation
Undigested food in stools
Acne
Rectal itching
Chronic candida
Hair loss in women
Multiple food allergies
Iron deficiency
Weak, peeling, or cracked fingernails
Chronic fatigue
Adrenal fatigue
Dry skin
Various autoimmune diseases, an ‘all-over’ vulnerability to disease
Increase Your Stomach Acid, Heal Your Digestion. Here are the 4 KEY ways to increase your stomach acid:

Reduce or eliminate sugar. Replace mineral-depleting sugar and sweeteners with Stevia.
Eliminate processed foods.
Add fermented foods and drinks to your diet. Fermented foods and drinks keep you looking and feeling healthy from the inside out. Some of our favorite fermented foods and drinks are:
Tempeh – the ony soy food that is approved for Metabolic Typing eaters. Being fermented it contains health-promoting pro-biotics.
Miso – another fermented soy product, a paste that makes a delicious and mineral loaded broth for soups. Miso is contained either in a tube or a tub and is light, tan, or dark brown according to taste.
o Organic plain Yogurt or Keifer – If you tolerate dairy well, these milk products are loaded with health pro-biotics.

4. Take HCL supplements – Most adults who eat primarily cooked food and rarely eat fermented foods must supplement their diet with Hydrochloric Acid. Usually 2-5 supplements per meal.

As you eat a healthy diet, you will find your digestion improving. You may notice that you experience heartburn relief, less indigestion and improved energy. Or perhaps, if you have had long-standing digestive problems, your journey to health may take a bit longer. Be patient as you go step by step towards true health.

There is no reason to suffer the vicious cycle of low stomach acid. So start by healing the root cause and watch your energy and vitality improve, naturally!

[princess_sunbeam]

I have been on Cohens for 7 months now, and have lost 42kgs. I have tried many weight loss programs on the past, lost some weight, but had cravings, lost interest, regained more..................

This diet has been lifechanging for me. I am confident I will reach the end and it has been easy. I have used bio oil and taken all recommended supplements religiously from day 1- Flaxseed oil (fish oil) multivitamin, cal/mag supplement, chromium, zinc, and have not had any problems whatsoever. I feel healthier than I have done in years. My hair, skin and mails are all fantastic. I dont have cravings or hunger and the weight is falling off me. I do have a little bit of loose skin, but would be naive to think that after carrying so much weight around, that the skin would just go back to how it was 15 years ago. I am sure over the next 18 months, that my skin will shrink more.

I cannot sing the praises of Cohens highly enough! I need the structure and restrictions of this program- you are either on it on not. I was a member of Weight Watchers for approx 18 months and in that time lost 19kgs. The problem there was that I was allowed to eat ANYTHING, so could justify eating all the bad stuff. I did Tony Ferguson, but got constant cravings, was constantly hungry and got sick of the fact that I could only eat one (rather restricted) meal per day. I did Jenny Craig, food was nice, but became boring over the long term, and I didnt learn how to eat to keep the weight off because all my meals came prepackaged.

This program works and is simple to follow. I believe some people see the $750 to do the program as expensive, then cut corners by not taking all the recommended vitamins. I think this is where all the hair loss, skin, nail problems come from. I have long hair and have always had issues with hair falling out. I can honesty say that I have less hair falling out now then I have had for many years, and I believe this is due to the supplements. If you are looking to do this program, do yourself a favour and buy all recommended vitamins. Your general grocery bill will be cheap, so use the saved money for your supplements.

I am sleeping better now than I have done in many years. When I was 115kgs, I had sleep apnea (diagnosed and was using a CPAP machine) I had difficulty getting to sleep and staying asleep. Now I drop off easily and sleep like a baby all night. I had black bags around my eyes (a combination of lack of sleep, but also heriditary) which are now almost gone.

This program, like all others, probably isnt for everyone. I am sure WW, Jenny Craig and Tony Ferguson and all the other weight loss programs out there all have success stories, who feel as strongly about their progam as many of us do about Cohens. It is just a matter of finding which program works for you.

[Mette]

You know, everyone keeps talking about the 750$ being really expensive and so on... But... I've done some calculations. I used to spend about 100$ on crap every week. Like take away, lollies, bad food, you name it. Now, I spend about 50$ on groceries. I've been on the program for 24 weeks now, making the total I've saved on food 1200$.

So by my calculations - mind you, I'm bad at maths - I'm 450$ ahead. And I've got my health and my self confidence back, which cannot be measured in money. I haven't had problems with hair loss, only a bit of dry skin, but that's been fixed with moisturiser.

And on top of that, I've learned new habits that will see me through and help me maintain the weight in future. For me, Cohens has been a true blessing.

[Betty_Spaghetti]

Hi All,

I'm back with what I think are the answers for my hair loss. None of this information came from Cohen's BTW. After some blood tests I (& several Doctors) believe my hair loss was due to an increase in my hormone levels (oestrogen) whilst I was on the diet. Cohen talks a lot about HGH levels so the diet does alter hormone levels. So whilst on the diet my body actually grew more hair than usual due to the increased hormone levels so that is why many on this diet report that they have fantastic hair whilst following the plan (I found this to be the case too). This is similar to when you become pregnant as well.

Once you reach your goal weight and change to the re-feed & maintenance diet your hormone levels drop & your hair falls out in abnormal amounts. (This is similar to post partum hair loss, so once you are no longer pregnant, the hormone levels drop and hair your hair falls out).

So my hair is still falling out but I have been told this will right itself after 3-6months (it has been 2 months so far since I finished cohen's). No expensive potions, pills or lotions is going to improve this situation so I just have to wait & hope.

I'm just wondering though if anyone was on the contraceptive pill whilst on Cohen's and does this affect your hormone levels and therefore you didn't lose hair?

I wonder also if men avoid hair loss because they don't have the same hormones?