Pre-launching / Pre-starting Cohens

[divineparadise]

Hi all,

I was wondering if it is advisable to pre-start Cohens before going for my first blood test to get the program? Will it affect the blood test results in any way? What I plan to do is to have yogurt and fruit for breakfast every morning for this week and cook my own cohens lunch for work, or I may try lunching out and observe what options I have in the hawker centre near my office (Zion Road Hawker Centre).

[Faithy]

I'm sure you'll get different responses but if I was you I would continue as normal until after your blood test & then do a pre-cohen's type thing between your blood test & when you get your program..

[divineparadise]

Just to also share what I did this morning. Because I woke up late only at 8am *sighs*, I wolfed my XX cup yogurt and 1 green kiwi in 5 minutes at 845am. I managed to do the 1 tsp olive oil stir-fry of XXg chicken and mini portobello mushroom (abt XXXXg) seasoned with sea salt, paprika, pepper and rosemary. I packed it with XX g of japanses cucumber along with X pcs of Salada crackers, X to be eaten with this meal and another X for the rest of the afternoon. I think I had 1 Salada cracker too much?

I reached office at 930am and had 1 litre (2 x 500ml) water till about lunch time. Amazingly I wasn't hungry till around 1pm when I really heard my stomach growling. But I couldn't eat until 145pm? So I was really hungry at 145pm and of course the chicken and mushroom stirfry didn't last long. The meal didn't satisfy me at all!

Then I remembered my Saladas! I took two pieces and then realised that my XXg japanese cucumber still awaits me. I sliced the cucumber and then I felt more satisfied. I let the food settled awhile and went to make Long Jin Green Tea. I was wondering if it is allowed?

Now its 6.04pm and I don't feel hungry. But my stomach is growling? I wonder how am I going to manage this conflict between mind and body?

Is this a typical day?

[soon 2 b slim]

I dont think you can judge your hunger or compare a typical cohens day by what you ate today, I would wait until you get your program then you will have all your correct food weights etc suited to you and only you, the program also goes into great detail of what you can and CAN NOT have..Makes for good reading, my advise is to wait, but of course thats up to you.

Good luck and hope you enjoy it when you do get started.

[Kohinoor]

Hi DP,

Check my sig, so you know who's talking to you I just wanted to say that I have NEVER associated "stomach growling" with hunger.

Now its 6.04pm and I don't feel hungry. But my stomach is growling?

I suspect there is more to it than a simple "Oh, I must be hungry!" Maybe that is a natural reaction to the noise and the mind is calling the shots, not the body. Certainly, if my stomach growls, I don't need to "race to feed it" at all. Listen to your body....

The "conflict with mind and body" is one to work on, specially doing this Plan. Keep in mind that 90% of this journey is mind work, and only 10% body work (weight loss) !! Finding out what is TRUE is a big part of this journey, from what I see.

Koh

[divineparadise]

Hi soon2bslim, yes I am now wondering if I should wait for the program to come before I begin anything at all. But i think for this week what I want to do is to try and see if I am used to the preparation, weighing, cutting up ingredients habit. I just completed the preparation for tomorrow's breakfast, abt X cup yogurt & 1 kiwi again (Organic Kiwis were on sale), and XXg stir-fried chicken breast pieces with XXg green peppers. I also need to get used to the portions and of course, the waking up early... I need to wake up at 645am tomorrow, otherwise I will be late for my morning meeting. I believe I can do it tomorrow. I will attempt to sleep earlier tonight, after reading more on NY Forum.

Hi Koh,

Yes I know your background. You are just like my sister, never had a weight issue... lucky you.

I realised I don't mind the cooking at all. In fact, since I already enjoy cooking (its my hobby), I think the cooking part is the least of my problems but the portions, the choice of condiments (was soooo tempted to use cooking wine for seasoning... but not allowed), the discipline to reject the food people offer me...

I have decided to go for the blood test only after my KL Work trip next week. I will do the blood test on 16th January Saturday when I am back and can probably get my program the following week.

[Future Yummy Mummy]

I'd be a bit careful as the quantities you're using may be all wrong for you and might mess up your blood chemistry? There's a thread by SMS somewhere aboiut how to "pre-prepare" - you might be best to follow that.

[divineparadise]

oh no... is that so... but next week when I am in KL, i will definitely eat normally... do you think its still worth to eat "like cohens" now?

[sundaymorningstaple]

The best thing to do is to cut back on eating sugars (use sweeteners if you must), caffeinated products, and cut back on your starches as much as possible (bread, pasts, rice & potatoes) this will go a long way to weaning yourself away from the carb dependency which causes the cravings. Also, cutting back or eliminating alcohol if possible is also a good idea. You can still eat reasonable quantities of food, but just cut back on the non-healthy one.

[divineparadise]

ok thats what I will do... perhaps what I will do is to increase the protein and wean myself out of rice... which is MY staple! I can eat 2 bowls of rice ... terrible right? And I love breads, pastas, basically I am a carbo-queen. I first learn of this diet 2 years ago but was in total self-denial until I was diagnosed with PCOS last month.

[sundaymorningstaple]

If you haven't already, do a search of this forum for PCOS to see the benefits quite a few of our members have had with gaining the edge over PCOS as a result of this programme.

One of our moderators, Connie, was a PCOS sufferer among others. Read her journal.

[divineparadise]

What I did for myself this morning was to eat X cup yogurt with kiwi at 8am. I made a vegetable and chicken stirfry which was XXg chicken breast meat, XXg capsicums and XXg green kale. Is XXg vegetables the usual portion for Cohens, or even lesser? I think today's portion was much more filling. I also brought xx servings Saladas and 1 pkt of Meiji which has 7 small squares of crackers.

It is now 4.30pm. I had my lunch at 12.30pm because there was a 1pm meeting so its 30 minutes earlier...

I have some cravings now and guess what... sighs I finished ALL the crackers... and I haven't even started the program proper... what happened!?

[Kohinoor]

Hi DP,

Hehe, you sound just a little eager !!

I have some cravings now and guess what... sighs I finished ALL the crackers... and I haven't even started the program proper... what happened!?

Umm, maybe you are trying to run before you have even got to your feet ??

The idea of "pre-Cohens" is a good way to EASE yourself onto the Plan without the huge shock that exhibits as headaches, tiredness, etc. in the first few days on Plan. But, as I understand it, it's NOT to try to "guess amounts" - better to just move away from the food that Cohens is saying "No" to. e.g. sugars, carbs, etc.

By guessing amounts to have, you could well be providing your body with TOO LITTLE sustenance, so it cries out for more.... Give it more, DP.

Once you get it, your Plan will tell you exact amounts to eat. For now, just be happy to wean yourself off from those "not-so-good" foods, but DON'T starve yourself, as that can be detrimental. Put the scales away for now - you'll get to use them in earnest soon enough And maybe practice getting in a good amount of water daily - that won't hurt....

Koh

[Shanara]

Divine Paradise,

Please stop guesstimating and weighing your food now. It is really important that you don't do this before your programme arrives. By all means read this thread and stop eating the foods that are not recommended but at this stage just allow your body to eat the quantities it wants of the Cohens foods.

http://newyouforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6031

Stop weighing as you have no idea of the weight ampounts you will be allowed. This could be causing damage to your body. STOP. Dr Cohen will give you the correct weights for your body and blood chemistry and everyone is different.

It is great that you are enthusiastic - this will serve you well to both prepare your body before hand and when you are on the programme. Just use the enthusiasm wisely. Do increase your water to 2 to 3 litres a day - a good strategy for anyone. Don't eat after 9pm at night and get good rest each night. You will feel great just from these changes. Let the good doctor work out your food weights.

Enjoy the journey,
Shanara

[divineparadise]

Hi Shanara, thanks for helping me make the necessary corrections.

[Shanara]

Hi Divine Paradise,

Love your enthusiasm and it will serve you well on the programme. Sounds like you are preparing yourself well. Reading this forum will give you lots of assistance and ideas. This forum is full of experience, wisdom and others who have undertaken this journey before you as well as those who are doing it with you now.

Feel free to start a diary in the new diary section but don't forget you need to get it approved by giving your Cohens number.

Enjoy your Cohens journey.
Shanara

[divineparadise]

Its been one week on pre-cohens for me.. guess what? I actually lost weight! on the normal bathroom scale I lost 1 kg. On the digital scale, its like 0.9kg. Amazing... and it wasn't even a 100% compliance and I haven't even begun my program.

But darn, I am boarding that flight in 5 hrs... I will still try to remain carb-free or low carb this trip.

[fornight]

That sounds great!!!

Enjoy your holidays!!

[divineparadise]

How I wish it was a holiday... unfortunately it is a business trip...

[fornight]

even better! All expenses paid!