Making the leap to Cohen

[Nightingale]

Hi everyone - I am just a few steps away from beginning the Cohen journey. I lost 62kgs doing Sureslim 4 years ago. I found it really hard to get my head around food once I got to my goal and felt really confused and unsupported when it came time to stop losing and start maintaining. I became pregnant with twins soon after and gained 38kgs with the pregnancy. It really did my head in to have gained so much after finally being my own dream come true as a size 10. I've managed to get all the baby weight off except for the last 10 - 12kgs BUT, I'm thinking of doing this last bit the Cohen's way as I feel like the refeed is perhaps the missing link that Sureslim doesn't offer. I'd love to hear more about how the refeed is helpful to people. The cost of this programme is a lot considering I have such a small amount to lose this time, but something tells me the knowledge I will gain from the Cohen's plan and refeed will perhaps help me keep the weight off for good this time. (plus no more baby plans will help too hehehe)

It's a big financial commitment as I'm on my own with 5 kids, so I'm hoping to hear from others that it's worth the leap! I don't think of myself as weighing 82kg, I think of myself as weighing 130kg, which is what I did for most of my 20's. So although I don't have much to lose right now, I am acutely aware of how easily my body could go back to where it was without the right mindset, food plan and determination.

I know I have what it takes, and I'm wondering if Cohens will give me the right knowledge to get me where I want to go and keep me there...

[Mich]

this forum is AMAZING SUPPORT. you can do this... you will succeed and you will learn to love yoruself enough on the journey to keep the weight off, and work out your head as well as yoru body on the way through.... best of luck.. and remember you are worth it...

[Kohinoor]

Hi Nightingale,

Welcome aboard !! I note that you are "still looking", and that's OK too.

First thing you need to know, is that I am only an observer on here, but then, I've been around awhile (see my sig) and have learned a lot by observing others.

I'd love to hear more about how the refeed is helpful to people.

To me, the obvious benefit is the gradual re-introduction of different foods. And, with a new body so clear of the old fatty, sugary foods, any introduction of a food type that suddenly has you gain weight, or just feel crook, is "one to watch (or even avoid) into the future". Some find fats are OK, but carbs are not.... and vice versa. Some even find that "mixing proteins" may be something to be avoided (not many that I have seen, but a few).

And THOSE learnings are all worth their weight in gold.

See, while still overweight, eating might have you feeling bloated, lethargic, "windy", etc - but WHAT causes it? I read that this is just "normal life for an obese person", and life goes on.

But, having shed all of the excess, it seems that those symptoms just disappear (you might have found that on your previous journey too ).

Have a read of the Maintenance Diaries (specially the more current ones) as often, they are somewhat fresh into maintenance, thus have just completed Refeed, and their early posts in Maintenance (indeed, even posts in their Refeed Diaires) give a really good indication of their learnings during Refeed.

You'll read often on here that Refeed is the numero uno part of this whole process - so, I would think it might well be key to your future well-being too. I guess you won't know until you try - but have a read around first to see if it sounds like it will help you too. With you being just 10Kgs over, it is not likely your health is too much at risk, so you can afford a bit of time to "know" this is truly what you want to do....

Koh

[Nightingale]

Thanks - I am intending to join. Everything I am reading is making me feel like it's the right thing to do long term. I know how it feels to be in a body that is slim, healthy and free of the insanity of cravings and...well, food addiction. It's a massive investment for me as money is a major issue, but I know that I have no regrets about what I spent on sureslim as it lead to the journey of a lifetime from 129kg - 68kg. If Cohen's offers the missing link that will help me get back into my size 10 jeans and stay there, THAT is worth plenty. I am also loving this forum. There used to be a really great sureslim forum and I think that is what really was a key to keeping me on the plan and getting to my goal. It's kind of a ghost town over there now, so even being part of this community, I feel like that will make a great deal of difference too.

[h4l0]

Hey Nightingale.

The cost is considerable but is still on par or better than most programs. You have identified the key component of Cohens as Refeed. With six kilos to go, I am almost there and look forward to seeing what my body thinks about other foods.

You made an interesting comment,

"I think of myself as weighing 130kg."

In 2005 I lost about 30kg in six months counting points on another program and ended up at 78kg, my Cohen's goal weight. However, when I looked in the mirror, I was always surprised because I still saw myself as weighing over 100kg. And in the six years since then I put all of the weight on plus more. I had a nice surprise in the last week. Now when I look in the mirror what I see is exactly what I expect. Somehow, on this journey, my self image in my head has changed. I am a thin healthy person inside and out.

Cohens is worth the cost. I look at the price I was paying being overweight and the Cohens cost is insignificant when you consider diabetes, heart disease and all of the other weight related health issues.

As you can probably guess, I highly recommend Cohens. Good luck.

Nick

[Nightingale]

Thanks H410 - Here's a picture of me at my biggest

What I mean about feeling 130kgs is that I carry the awareness that I am a fat person in a thinner body. I have come to terms with my thinner body a lot better over the past few years, and so feel ready for my return to those size 10 jeans. But I don't ever want to forget the potential my body has to get as big as it got. SO while I am within a normal (or slightly over weight) range right now, I know where I've been and where I could get again if not careful.

Out of interest, this was me at my best



I am only 12-14 kgs away from that. It's within reach and I think Cohen's is going to get be back there to stay You are so right about how important it is to do the head work involved in this journey. I feel in a good space in that respect now...like I identify more with the size 10 me than the size 24+ me now, and I'm ready to get back to size 10 me

[kailey]

Hi Nightingale, Im Kat from the trademe message board! You won't regret taking this trip and yes it is a fair amount of money but what price do you put on your own health and wellbeing and to learn how to keep the weight off long term! I can't beleive you have 5 kids, you don't look old enough!! lol Ive got two Master is nearly 10 and Miss is 8, great age! I hope you decide to join up, it took me 6 months of lurking on here and humming and ahhing before I made the decision to change my life and Im super glad I have nearly got there!

Kat

[Nightingale]

Great to see you on here Kailey. I know how awesome you are feeling right now, I felt the same way when I was so close to my goal in 2008. What I am loving about this forum is there are so many people here who have lost big numbers like I have. It's really exciting to be around so many people who totally know what it's like to shift so much weight - the changes in mind and body that come with it. This is going to be a great place to get support when I've shed the kgs and begin 'the rest of my life'.

I don't want to hum and hah too long (Summer is coming fast lol) I got the paperwork today and have filled it all out. One thing I am worried about is that it doesn't ask me my goal weight, so I get the feeling it will be assigned to me. Problem with that is, although I am average in height, I am a heavy build. At 68kgs my size 10 jeans were getting loose and I was heading towards an 8 which wasn't feeling too healthy...I could see my ribs etc. If you don't get refeed till you are within 2kgs of your goal, I'm worried Cohen will make my goal in the low 60's and I'll be a skeleton, which isn't where I want to be. 67-68 is where I'd like to be, and no less. Do you reckon I should write a note on my forms somewhere about this?

Awesome work on your journey thus far Kat, I look forward to doing the happy dance with you when you get to your goal!

[kailey]

Have you gone into the actual cohens website and put in your current weight, shoe size, height etc that will give you an indication on what weight they will set, mines actually between 60 and 63 and like you I thot 60 was too skinny but I will just see how I feel when I'm getting close! Im loving the new shape my body is taking and like you I too felt I was heavy boned but is it bones or is it our actual fat that makes us think we are heavy boned? I don't weigh in at a clinic as there isn't one near me so I'm guessing I will decide when I am close to needing refeed so will you be the same? Looking at all the refeed diarys on here, your body starts to tell you your hungry so I think you just keep going till your body says thats enough your at the size you need to be! Whatever you choose it has to be right for you and you have done it before so I think you will have no probs this time either but like you I think that the REFEED is the most important part of the whole journey as that is that part that teaches us to keep the weight off forever!
Good Luck
Kat

[Nightingale]

Woah, I just did the online calculator and it is suggesting between 55 and 58kg. There is absolutely no way in the world I could healthily get that low. That's based on my experience of having done a massive weight loss journey before and experienced my body at the weight I want to make my goal. I am easily 10kgs heavier than a lot of my friends, even though to look at us, you'd think we were the same weight. It's just a me thing and now I'm worried I won't get my refeed when I get to 68...maybe I should put in a bigger shoe size!!! Hey Kohinoor, what's your advice on this one??? I don't want to sign up and be denied my refeed based on an inaccurate estimate of my healthy goal weight.

[mytimetoshine]

Hi nightingale, you look really good in that second pic. I think 55 - 58 is too small for your frame. When I completed my program first time round my goal weight was set at 61 - 64kg and I got to 74 kg and looked good so they ordered my refeed then, go into a clinic and talk to a consultant before you join.
Chez

[Nightingale]

Thanks Chez - yeah that photo is me at 68kg and I couldn't be happier. Apart from a little excess skin on my tummy (and thanks to twins, that won't be any better this time around) I felt like that was the perfect weight for me. Your post has me feeling a little less alarmed now. I'll have a chat to the clinic (I'm remote, so will have to phone rather than go in.)

Thanks

[Kohinoor]

Hi Nightingale,
From your quote, two or three things come to mind :-

maybe I should put in a bigger shoe size!!! Hey Kohinoor, what's your advice on this one??? I don't want to sign up and be denied my refeed based on an inaccurate estimate of my healthy goal weight.

1. US and Australian shoe sizes are different anyway. If you didn't know that, it might have lead to a funny reading.... Why not try the Aussie one - here:-
http://www.cohens.com.au/

2. From what I've observed, a Caucasian girl around 1.72m in height will end up around 68Kgs. If you are 1.65m (or shorter), you will still be Overweight at 68Kgs..... Going by that door, you "might" be somewhere in between.... Care to share your height?

3. If you are going to trust in the Plan, then trust in the man !!

Re that last one, I read of MANY on here who have long thought they were "big boned", only to find "Whoa, I'm really not big boned at all!"

Also, the plan behind the Plan is to get your body into its natural EQUILIBRIUM - i.e. firing on all 8 cylinders, able to accommodate the odd Mars bar without starting up the fat factory. If you don't get to your equilibrium, then the fat factory can be restarted in a heartbeat....

By getting to equilibrium, your new, slim body is able to react instantly to "potential bad foods" and notify you accordingly. If you were still 10Kg over that ideal, what guarantees will you have that it will alert you?


Frankly, I believe you should "go for it", and let your body TELL YOU when the time is right to stop. That is the right time to commence refeed, so will do the very best for you, both short term and long term. Meanwhile, you will have more time to really "get to grips" with all of the information on here that will assist you to stay slim once completed.

Your clinic should be able to give you some good advice here, so do check with them too,

Koh

[Nightingale]

Hey Koh, I am 1.65 cms tall and and Aus size 9 shoe...sometimes 10. I take some of your points. But having been at 68/67kg, I know that there really isn't a great deal of fat left on me at that weight. i could see my hip bones and my ribs, I had no butt and my legs were straight (no curvey saddle bags...not even any cellulite). I wish I had more pics from back then to prove that at that weight I was just right lol!

I just spoke to my clinic and they said that if I am that far away from my goal weight, Cohen won't give me my refeed, but they will offer me tips to maintain at that weight. That's a problem for me because the reason why I am prepared to pay this money (I am a single mother of 5 so this is a huge deal for me financially) is for my re-feed. It may be possible to get to 65, but any less than that and I will look anorexic. I am not speaking out of speculation, but actual experience of how my body is at 67/68kg.

I do think it's worth going for, but I'm not having reservations about imagining myself ever getting that small...I have done this before, been on a huge weight loss journey and I know what my body is like at goal. Perhaps if I get to 65 and Cohen won't send me my refeed I'll send him pictures of myself in a bikini so he can see there's nothing left to lose lol!! I MUST GET MY REFEED, that's why i am doing this!!

I want to just trust the plan and the rules, but I do need Cohen to take ME specifically into account. That includes my body structure, not just my blood results. I so want to do this, but this one thing is holding me up at this point.

[kailey]

Hey nightinggale, Im 1.68cm and a size 9 shoe as well and my ideal weight is 60-63, Im sitting at 66.4 at the moment and I feel awesome but apart from a few odd days my body is not telling me to stop as it has had enough. I just did the weight calculator again and it had me at 59-62, you must be younger than me as that plays apart as well. I'm with Koh on this one I think you should let you body tell you when its had enough but the choice is always yours and it is a big commitment, financial and otherwise so only you can decide if Cohens is right for you.

Just checked out Weight Watchers weight range (pretty broad for both men and women) and they would have me being between 57 and 71 being a minimum and maximum range so I think the range that Cohens have for us is pretty much in the middle.

[Nightingale]

Thanks Kailey, I'm 32. Seeing your ideal weigh makes me wonder if the website is showing up lower than what Cohen will think. I hope so, but I am going to do this. I've just made the arrangements to get the bloods done tomorrow and will pay for my programme once I've come home from doing the bloods inthe morning.

One thing the woman at the clinic just said to me ws the importance of getting all the fat off and the toxens it is holding. So maybe there' is a bit more room to move than I think. 67-68 was good for me last time, but maybe I can go a little lower this time to get any last bits of fat off. I've been reading up on some of the signs that people are ready for refeed and I'm feeling more confidant now that if my body is crying out that it is finished, Cohen will listen to that perhaps more than what the scales say. So I will listen to those cues when I get down into the 60's and go from there. If I'm not getting the cues that my body is done, I'll keep going till it says stop lol!!

[kailey]

Good on you Nightingale, it will be the best decision made and I think because you have done similiar before you will rock this and your 18kgs will be off in no time!