Things you've learned on Cohens (add yours)

[Liz20]

I've been on Cohens for almost 4 weeks now and I was thinking this morning how my mindset have changed and what I have learned.

• I am strong and I DO have self discipline
• I've learned that we can survive on a lot less food, the portion sizes really was an eye opener for me
• I don't have to eat when everyone else is eating and that it is ok to say no to food and it's ok to tell people you are on a diet, if they don't respect that, tough

So what are yours?

[goodlucktummy]

That I can say NO when and if I want to.

[RevampedTramp]

Well, Liz - you have said exactly what I would say - word perfect!
The other things I have learned is:

Hunger is NOT an emergency

Slim people are slim because they a) are naturally born that way and can eat whatever they want
or b) they actively chose better options and limit their food intake to remain slim

(it is not - as a lot of us overweight people believe a case of "its not fair everyone else can eat whatever they like" as a means to justify to ourselves why we gain weight. If you are unsure about this, ask some slim people the following:
"When you have eaten something you feel like you shouldn't, do you immediately cut back to make up for it or do you think "oh well, I might as well eat whatever I like, because I have already messed up")
As a generalisation, most overweight people have the all or nothing mentality
whilst slim people check themselves after an indulgence.
In reality, there are very few people who fit into the category of eating whatever they like...wow..didnt realise that before CD

[Kohinoor]

Hi Liz,

What a great idea for a thread !! Well done for kicking it off.

I've learned that we can survive on a lot less food, the portion sizes really was an eye opener for me

Hehe - there'll be a LOT more "eye-opening" for you by the time you finish - and you've introduced the perfect thread to document it.

At the end, you'll find you suddenly need a lot MORE food than the Plan amounts. All in good time.... once the extra fat is gone, your meals will need to sustain you (they aren't sustaining you on Plan, thus the body draws on its reserves - the fat - to keep you bubbling along)

And, to RT :-

In reality, there are very few people who fit into the category of eating whatever they like...wow..didnt realise that before CD

I only ever knew ONE person who was in that category. I worked with him - he was a young bloke, skinny as a rake, and was eating all day (anything and everything). Turns out he had an "over-active thyroid" which had his body burning energy madly.

I've heard (via a link on here) that most of us tend toward UNDER-active thyroids (I think I recall as many as 40% of the population are in that category - and they don't know it). Thus their bodies tend toward getting fat, rather than skinny.

Koh

[Noddy]

I have learnt a lot about myself on Cohens.
When I was at my heaviest, I didn't have much confidence - gladly this is changing!

I have learnt:
I can do this - if it is to be, then it's up to me!
I can say "no" and people don't mind
I can easily drink 3+L of water a day, and no-one cares I am not having a coffee
Sprite Zero is a great sweetner!
My kitchen scales are my best friend!
Salada Crackers are so versitile!

Hope you are all having a good weekend

[Embee]

Great thread Liz
I have learned:
- that, contrary to what I have always believed, I have a lot of will power when I choose to exercise it
- that I can sit through a buffet with a group of people and sip tea and none of them really mind that I am not gorging myself
- the difference between hunger and thirst
- that the scales will move when they want to move and no matter how many times a day/week/month i stand on them they are not going to move any faster
- that tummy grumbling sounds are not necessarily caused by hunger
- i was not really as happy being big and 'jolly' as I tried to make myself believe I was
- being overweight was due to choices I made and not because it is hereditary
- who are the people who really care and want to support me

Hope everyone is having a successful Cohen friendly weekend/week

[Wendym1221]

This is a brilliant thread.

I have learnt while on Cohens
- I can do anything I set my mind to and loosing weight is one of them
- I do not need to go back for 2nds and it does not mean I am being deprived
- Like a lot have already said I can say NO
- If I allow my self to think I would like something is alright without actually having it and the urge will pass.
- I was less confident in myself than I thought I was and I now have a lot more confidence.
- I have more will power than I thought I had
- I can look good in clothing that others look good in and never used to be able to find anything that I thought looked good.
- I need to monitor what my body is trying to tell me and to listen to it, so as to rectify anything before it gets out of hand.

I will probably come up with more later but that is all I can think of at the moment.

Cheers
Wendy

[Bree]

*that working towards being a yummy mummy is a reward in itself
*my biggest reward is yet to come
*deviation may/has happened - but get back on the bus
*I will have good and bad days
*dont eat when emotional, this is what got me here in the first place
*clothes fitting me rather than clinging to me is an awesome feeling
*I desevre this
*Dr Cohen is one very smart man!

Happy days people, happy days

[sasha002]

The things I've learnt while on Cohens are:
I need to take it easy on myself and need to reward myself periodically because I am worth it!
"perfection" is just a word - and it does not describe me! I make mistakes (deviate) because I'm human (get over it!).
I will have good days and not so good days but its nice to know where I can go to get support.
I've been given the best gift of all - a body that takes a lot from me and still works amazingly.
That for the most part there is no fat/big or thin/slim, only healthy and unhealthy - its up to me to decide what I want to be.
I can be mindful of what I eat regardless of where I am - a dinner party, lunch with friends or a snack at work.
I am strong and have the discipline and willpower - this I can transfer to any aspect of my life, not only my eating habits.

Thanks for starting this thread. It's made me take stock of all the good that has come out. I tend to focus on negatives (what I cannot do or have). Once I started writing, I realised there's a lot of positives I've gathered on my journey.

Good luck to all of us!

[Gemsta]

I can do this, and it works !
I can bake double choc rum muffins iced with chocolate ganache without eating any.
I can have a dinner party with friends without drinking wine or eating anything but my self catered Cohen's meal.
My happiness isn't linked to food

[jellybonesjess]

I have learned so far that Black Coffee is good! Milk is for baby cows!

[Gemsta]

Originally Posted by jellybonesjess

I have learned so far that Black Coffee is good! Milk is for baby cows!

LIKE!!

[Karol1]

I have learnt that the less I deviate the easier it gets.
You can make so many different meals with so little food!
You don't have to kill your self at the gym to lose weight

[linc]

I have learnt that I am a lot more disciplined and a lot stronger than I thought I was.

[Demonicgirl]

I have learned (in addition to what's already been written) that:

- it is possible to cook all sorts of things without oil!
- it is possible to get home from work after a very stressful day and not have wine!
- I can infact go (almost 11 weeks so far) without alcohol!!!
- it is quite easy to go without bread/rice/pasta/potatoes.
- that I can reward myself with things other than food!

Many other things too. All I can say is this diet rocks.

[coxycrew]

Originally Posted by jellybonesjess

I have learned so far that Black Coffee is good! Milk is for baby cows!

My mum always said this to us.... i didnt think anyone else said it.

I have learnt:
- when you do have a deviation (for a few weeks) you feel lousy. You thought you wanted all of the 'bad' stuff and it taste ok, but after - YUCKY tums and flat. I just have to train my brain to remember that.

[sweetykoi]

I have learned:
1. The hard ways will be easy in time.
2. to be more discipline.
3. to love myself.
5. to love my kitchen scale not like before i only used it for baking.
6. t0 say no to my favorite food before.
7. not to eat in a restaurant and fastfood

[samummy1]

Things i have learned:
*The world will not come to an end if i dont eat when my tummy says FEED ME!!
*I do have will power
*I have not had alcohol once in 7 weeks...omg, i rock...
*Most importantly i think is that i am important and i need to look after me.

There are lots of other things but these are my biggies....

[Liz20]

Coming back for the second time it's really great to re-read this and realise how absolutely empowering it is to be in charge of my body and my weight.

I have learnt that we are human, and even though we do fall we don't fail. There's no shame in coming back again for a second, third, fourth go at this!

[hodgje]

Things i have learned.
Cohens works and it is the only reliable way i can stay on track
The pleasure of eating a chocolate, a piece of bread or cake only lasts 15 seconds if i eat slowly.
The pleasure i get from staying healthy, looking good and taking pride in myself lasts a lifetime
I can do this with the support of the cohens community