Is there life after deviation?

[Francesca]

I've been a real idiot and went off Cohens while I was travelling this weekend. I actually brought pre-cooked Cohens meals with me, but in my mad rush to get away, I left behind my crackers and my travel cooker. That coupled with a sudden inexplicable weight gain the morning of my departure (I was deviation-free up to that point), being ill and needing to take non-Cohen-friendly lozenges (by the time I figured out that I should have just called my clinic to check - thanks sms by the way - they were closed for the weekend), plus a horrific lack of self-discipline, meant that I ended up eating plenty of things which I shouldn't have.

I know people are probably going to really lash out at me and I'm going to get plenty of criticism for what I did, but you can't beat me up any more than I'm beating myself up.

I really had no excuse. I'm past the 10 day mark so I could have just skipped the crackers and I probably could have tried to find a microwave each time I needed to have a Cohens meal.

So it's my own fault. And I paid the price for it with a big weight gain when I got on my home scales this morning. And there's probably even more gain to come since I keep reading that the full aftermath of deviations take some time to show up on the scales.

But I'm back now, and I want to do better.

Which brings me to the title of this thread. Have any of you bounced back from a bad deviation or from going off Cohens entirely for a period of time? Did the deviation completely wreck your inner balance such that Cohens stopped being effective for you?

Do you have any tips for moving forward? My self-confidence is really shot at the moment - I am generally a very determined person but food has always been my undoing, and it looks like nothing has changed.

CAN I STILL DO THIS?

I want to do this. And I feel that I can. I must learn from this terrible mistake. I'm not looking for people to make me feel better about my mistake - it was an unmitigated disaster, plain and simple - but I am looking for insights that may make me feel better about moving forward and getting back on track.

[katiefrank70]

Hi Francesca

Course there is coming back. Ya had a blowout but it doesn't have to mean the end of your diet. NO way!! Just take it in stride, and learn from the self defeat you feel, the guilt, and probably the yucky feeling ya got from all that NONO food. And move on.

If it helps, make a log of it in your diary so if this crops up again, go back and remember how ya felt this time. Just from feeling remorse, shows that ya want to get back on track.

Good luck, you can do it!!!

Katie

[Annabelle Joy]

Francesca, if you read through the diaries you will find that many successful Cohenites have done just as you did and deviated along the way. Yes, you can come back. You may find that you don't have a loss this week because the deviation is likely to upset your hormones by up to a week, but after that you will be back on track. It's unlikely that you've actually added any fat, just retained fluid. It will be gone in a day or two.

I think that no deviation is a disaster if you learn a lesson that helps you not deviate in future. You've learned your lesson. Now draw a line under the deviation and move on.

AJ

[sundaymorningstaple]

Fran,

Do you like the feeling? Didn't think so. Learned a lesson? Hope so. Now, we have a saying here. Draw a line under it, and move on. You have lost a week or maybe a little more. That is probably hard enough besides the self-loathing you are currently feeling. Wallowing in self-pity won't help except possibly give you a reason to continue to deviate.

__________________________________________________ _________________


There's a line. Grab it, put it under you deviation, and get back on track. Post the ordeal in your diary. Next time, if you forget something, remember this time and make do and not say aaahhhh, nevermind! She'll be right. She won't be right. Because each deviation becomes easier to do until you fall completely off the program. You can do this. You may well pay the penalty of having some detox headaches again as well as further punishment. Just remember this:

Nothing tastes as good as thin feels!

SMS

[shell]

Hi Fran,
Like the others said, draw a line and move on.

You have to decide that you want this more than anything else at the moment.
The most important person you have disappointed is you, and it sounds like you have learnt a valuable lesson.

Being prepared is one of the major parts of the program, if you think you will have trouble finding a microwave, take a cold meal.
I always used to cart around a 6 pack esky with an ice block in the bottom with my food in it, and I sometimes still do if I think I will not be able to eat a meal that I want.....it still is all about me! If I want to stay thin, it has to be.

Write some positive affirmations on a piece of paper and put them where you will read them several times a day.... you say things enough, you will believe them.

Most importantly, you are doing this for you, and you are worth it!

Have a great day
Shell

[newslimme]

Hi Fran,

When I signed on today - yours was the first post I saw. Ironic, as I am back form deviation also. I have been working lots and I have done the best I could food wise. Often taking my meals. Anyway last week I went off the wagon completely Thursday and Friday. It's terrible how quickly you can go back to the old ways. I even went out and bought a Freddo frog (large no less). After my body decided it wasn't a good thing and I had many trips to the toilet. I drew my own line under it and have kept going.

What I have realised with Cohens is that you just have to get back to eating correctly as soon as possible. That includes if the deviation happens at lunch that for dinner that very night you are right back on it. No waiting until the next daay or 'next Monday' - IMMEDIATELY.

I did stop loosing weight for a week, but at least I didn't put it back on, so that wasn't as bad as it could have been.

Fran, we are all human and life wouldn't be what it is without making mistakes. Learn from it and move on. Live in the future and not in the past.

Good luck.
Christine

[Cocopop]

Is there life after deviation?? Are you kidding me? I must be a cat with nine lives because I couldn't stop deviating for about two months. The most I could go would be a few days or a week tops and then it would suddenly become "all too hard" (which it's NOT, it's just an excuse I gave myself) and I would eat whatever I wanted to.

Apart from HATING what I was doing I did "draw a line under it" and start again. There is no point beating yourself up about it or you will psychologically ruin it for yourself.

To get through it I continually made "challenges" for myself to help me stay on track - some worked better than others. I have signed up for the 12 week challenge, the no deviation challenge, another 6 week challenge, PLUS have made personal challenges with my sister who is also on Cohens. I had to cancel the "no deviation" challenge because ironically it had an adverse effect on me but the other day I felt completely motivated and started a 6 week challenge on this forum.

So, regardless of all my deviating, I have lost 9kg in the 2 months since I first deviated (I should have lost twice that amount, but hey, that's the price I've paid for taking the "easy" way out) - IT IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH EASIER ON YOU TO NOT DEVIATE AT ALL!!!

I don't really know what it is that has made me cave in all those times - I just think I'm not used to denying myself and have always taken the easy road - but I WILL overcome this and I WILL get to my goal weight. I am doing everything I can in the process to help myself stay on track and that's what YOU have to do too. Don't beat yourself up, just help yourself.

If you want some support come and join our "New new new 10kg in 6 week challenge" and we can help each other stay on track! I have already found that "running" a challenge is the best way to keep on track - not good if the person running the challenge can't stick to it 100% - hehe.'

So, to answer your question: Yes, there IS life after deviation - a slimmer and happier one - you just need to stop whining and start dining

[ropemaha]

all you have to do is KEEP GOING....

the more you dwell on the deviation the more you are thinking about deviating....know what i mean?

try this.....'dont think about elephants'.....so what are you thinking about?

get my point...just KEEP GOING....thats it, problem solved.

pen

[Francesca]

Thanks so much, AJ, Katie, SMS, Shell, Christine, Cocopop and Ropemaha, for your posts and support! I've read and re-read each of the posts, and I'm definitely taking all you've said on board.

It's good to know I haven't messed this up forever, and that people have bounced back in the past.

I'm back.

Had a deviation-free day yesterday and I will continue to be d-free. What happened has happened and while I take responsibility for it, here's my line (thanks SMS):

[Cocopop]

I like that line - well done!!!

[new_ruby]

How did you go today Fran?
I've been thinking of you.
Hope things are back on track.
Ruby

[Francesca]

Hey Ruby

Yes, I'm back on track and happier than ever. I'm trying to add more variety to my meals - been visiting the Cohens site for recipes! - so that I'm less likely to get bored and be tempted to deviate. And it really feels good to be back on Cohens now.

Trying to put my weekend episode behind me and move forward!

[ceburoo]

Hey lady good that you got back on the horse. Like all have said it is in the past and cant be changed. Live for the future and you can change that. You were doing it, had a hiccup all done and dusted now and the future is looking bright.

I know my knees are not talking to me so much these days and that is what you should be aiming for also. Give your knees the respect they deserve and the rest of your body will reap the benefit. I know it is the way with me and I am over the moon about that.

Get focused on the future

[Annabelle Joy]

Good for you, Francesca. You don't have a lot more to lose. I'm sure you're strong enough to do the rest of it deviation free.

AJ

[tommi]

On the topic of deviation, does this throw your hormones out like your TOM?

[Francesca]

Thanks Ceb and AJ for your posts - they mean a lot to me!

Three days back on Cohens and I'm back to my all-time Cohens low weight (63.4kg) so I'm definitely feeling like I'm well and truly back. Of course there has been time lost (at least a week, if you take into account the losses I could have had during this period), but an important lesson has also been learnt and that is P R I C E L E S S!

Tommi: I do think deviating messes up your hormones. I went off Cohens for two days and had a skin breakout almost immediately afterwards. So not worth it!

[Annabelle Joy]

Yes, deviations usually disrupt the hormones, hence the slowdown for up to a week. Even worse, they can throw out the regulation of insulin, making getting back 100% much more difficult.

Well done on getting back on track so quickly, Francesca.

AJ

[new_ruby]

Just wondering, if anyone knows the answer... But is the "upset" caused to the hormones and insulin reduced if the 'off the program' food is eaten at the same time or shortly after the 'on program' food?
In regards to insulin release I was just curious to know. I am thinking that if someone ate a chocolate in between meals it would be worse than having it straight after a proper Cohen meal ...??
Anyone...?

[Annabelle Joy]

I'm no expert, but if the problem is that high carb food forces an insulin spike, eating it with a Cohen meal would reduce that spike, as the protein should slow down the rate at which it passes into the bloodstream. However, with regard to how it might affect other hormones and whether there is a reduced effect on what Dr Cohen is trying to achieve for us I have no idea.

AJ

[hexi2]

Well according to maintenance guidelines sweets including chocolate are only to be eaten after eating carbs with a protein meal...apparently stops the insulin spike and dark chocolate is recommended only 2 times per week HOWEVER while on the program I would STRONGLY advocate not even bothering trying this - the eating plan is about NO CHEATING and thats how you get results