Living the Cohen Diet

[lessfatty]

General Conversation about being on and living with the Cohen Diet (and after)

Just say hello and/or post your feelings, help others, advice, community.

[lessfatty]

Well it is Sunday again, the year is drawing to a close. Spoke with my mum today for the first time about me losing weight. As background my mum, her mum, my dads mum, my sister all fat a fat family. My family says that it is in our genes to get fat, but of course it has little to do with our genes and everything to do with what we eat, my weight is under my control and I can control it by choosing what I put in my mouth, nobody has ever held me down and forced food in my mounth. Anyway like most people who have brought up on a diet of bread and potatoes and in which rice and pasta are consider foriegn foods, she could grasp the concept that we actually dont need to eat carbs (or as I told my mum starchy foods) to live and live well.

A list of exactly what a human needs to eat, essential nutrients can be found here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_nutrient

We need to proteins, we need to eat some fats; termed as essential fatty acids eg linoleic acid "Omega-3" fats, we need to eat vitamins and minerals (trace minerals), we need water of course. The lack of any essential nutrient will as sure as the sun rises tomorrow eventually results in disease. eg. Not enough Iron you get Anemia, Not enough thiamin (amino acids in protiens) you will get beriberi, not eough vitamin C you get Scurvy, not enough protiens in general Kwashior and so on However the absence of Carbohydrates in our diet results in no known diseases, our bodies will switch over and start burn fats and proteins if required to supply energy. A quick review of illnesses related to poor nutrition. Of course our bodies perfer to burn sugars (starches) but our bodies are perfectly able to heathly use fats and proteins to supply energy. Which is exactly what the Cohen diet switches on after a few (tough) days

The Old Food Pyramid

Note in this incorrect view of our diets; bread, rice, pasta cereals are the mainstay the foundation of our eating.

If we want fat cows we feed them grains not oils, if we want fat humans we also should be feed a diet of grains.

It is clear the the old food pyramid needs to be changed and it is good to see that this is slowly taking place. Here Harvard University school of health science has a new take on the educational food pyramid.

[lessfatty]

Well this thread isnt my diary, so please everyone dont hesitate to post.

I was thinking what would be the simplest way to explain Cohen to someone new, what is Cohen in a nutshell?

"You will be eating 3 small meals per day of carefully weighed foods from a clearly defined list of ingredients, lean meats, vegetables, fruit and crackers".

That's it that is Cohen diet, the diet is very very simple, the effects are magic, however it doesnt seem magic every day.

The difficulty sticking to Cohen is fighting old habits, others expectations, planning and "exercising" self control. The start was hardest and the more I have lost the easier it is.

[dreamer]

I know some vegies are better than others, but every now and again (usually when I'm not on auto pilot) I look down at that list of vegies and fruit we are allowed to eat... and wonder.

Why is our list so limited? What does Dr Cohen have against broccolli?
I don't even know what to do with Gem Squash! That's one veg I don't have a clue what to do with.
And how can an onion be included when you can only have such a small amount a day! It almost should be a condiment incorporated into the allowance.

Ok rant over and out.

[lessfatty]

Broccoli , my little daughter is always nagging me about why I cannot eat Brocolli but am allowed to drink diet coke. In a clear case of hyprocracy: my daughter is allowed/made to eat Brocolli but she not allowed to drink Coke. Actually Brocolli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts and all forms the same plant , so I have no idea why we cannot eat brussel sprouts and brocolli but can each Cauliflower and Cabbage.

Why Tomato's are OK, but mini-tomatos are not...also a great mistery, particular since a mini-tomato are idea size to add a Cohen meal.

I decided I would basically stick with the Cohen diet plan, even though deep down I know I am being a bit silly.

[dreamer]

I'm allowed brussel sprouts! What gives? Does your list not include it?!

[lessfatty]

On weight-loss fitness I could find this post by rjm with the "latest" from Paramatta Cohen clinic

BRUSSEL SPROUTS

Dr Cohen has now removed brussel sprouts from the program as he has found that they seem to be causing a slower weight loss, so we highly recommend that you stop eating them straight away.

Maybe good idea to check at your clinic...or if you dont eat Brussel Sprouts then I suppose it doenst matter.

[Sam]

Hi, I have been on Cohens since 1st june, and have lost 11kg. I lost that in the first 3 months, and for the last 3 months I have basically maintained (in other words,been great durin the week, and then come the weekend i lose it) and it is a vicous circle every week that i cant seem to overcome. So hence i did a bit of searching to see if there is anyone else out there that might be interested in being my mentor / buddy on the last leg of my weight loss journey.. It is very hard to find a friend /family member to offer support as they seem to think I am looking great and dont see why i need to keep going!! Which is probably why i have hit this rut!! Does anyone have any ideas how i can overcome being so dam weak and easily influenced / led off the track by those interfering friends and family that say they loe me??

[lessfatty]

Sam: I am a guy, so I would be a bit "brutish" and offer too much "tough love" to be a mentor.

However at the end of the day you need to take charge of what you put in your mouth, you need to plan ahead so you can choose to eat a Cohen meal.

I was fat for over 10 years so I can atest to being 1/2 on a diet and getting nowhere fast.

Cohen works/worked for me because:

[list=a][*] I was motivated to lose weight this time (but that was no different to before)[*] The diet had strict rules and weighs so portion control was clear [*] I could tell others I was on a medical diet for my weight related problems...ie dont try to tempt me to "try a bit of this and a bit of that"[*] I was hungry but not starving so I could keep with the program.[*] It works, I lost measurable amount of weight most days so maintaining my motivation to continue.[/list]

My suggestion you start a diary right here on this forum, each day write the following:

Todays Weight:
Breakfast:
Lunch:
Dinner:
Water:
Devations If Any:

[Sam]

Thanks for the response. That is a great idea, at least then, i will be accountable to those that read this forum.. I cant say I promise to do this every day, as I dont get a chance to get on the net every day, but i will do it as often as i get on the pc (at least every other day)

So have you even wavered a tiny bit from this diet at all??

[asy]

Hey Sam!

Welcome to the Forum.

Use the entire forum as a 'mentor', we're all on the same journey!

What LF said was a good idea, start your own diary in the diary section, and that way you'll have a permanent record and you'll be accountable. You'll know that, if you EAT that Mars Bar, you'll have to tell us all about it! :twisted:

asy

[asy]

Originally Posted by dreamer

I don't even know what to do with Gem Squash! That's one veg I don't have a clue what to do with.

A gem Squash is basically a funny-shaped Zucchini. Cook exactly as you would a Zucchini. You can boil, fry, bake etc.

Also, why in living daylights would ANYONE complain about not being able to eat Brussel Sprouts?! I would have thought that reason for celebration!!!

asy

[dreamer]

No brussel sprouts!?! Oh come on! That's just crazy. I lost 34kg no problem and I ate my brussels... not every day mind you. But enjoy them I did!

*SIGH* I'd love to know how they ended up on the list in the first place. Must be a well thought out list if things are being taken off! So when will his research discover things that can be added!

Boo.

Well on a lighter note, 2 more days until weigh in!

[dreamer]

I LOVE brussels!! Love em love em love em. If you don't like them, you simply haven't had them cooked right I have converted people!

[lessfatty]

Originally Posted by Sam

Thanks for the response. That is a great idea, at least then, i will be accountable to those that read this forum.. I cant say I promise to do this every day, as I dont get a chance to get on the net every day, but i will do it as often as i get on the pc (at least every other day)

So have you even wavered a tiny bit from this diet at all??

OK, as a taste of my own medicine I will write down what I eat and put it in the diary as much as I possibly can.

Must be warned however, next monday I am off to Paris, London and Brussels for my winter holiday...so deviation will be the rule not the exception, however I will be at Cohen goal weight by then (or at least very close to it). Anyway I wanted to go on this trip so I cannot be a food nazi and drive my family crazy. I will eat a Cohen breakfast and just avoid starches as much as I reasonable can. Then it is new years in Japan, so more sake, sashimi, crabs, sukiyaki etc. Anyway the aim is to get through to Jan 5 weighing 90KG the weight I plan to be Monday next week.


Wavered...not really! DEVIATED YES, actually frequently I have some Soy Sauce.

I had a glass of red wine with the family on Sunday with Sukiyaki - all be it with my steak and vegetables, but with Sukiyaki (sugar, soy, sake) sauce.

This week is my work end of year party, I will eat some sushi and have a few glasses of Sake.

Sorry I should be telling you all this should I :twisted: - not motivating is it?...

[asy]

Originally Posted by dreamer

I LOVE brussels!! Love em love em love em. If you don't like them, you simply haven't had them cooked right I have converted people!

I am unconvertable...

I won't even have them in the house.

They're vile, awful, disgusting things. I was force fed them as a child. I couldn't even eat them covered in sauce, they just hung in my throat. Ick.

My mum FINALLY stopped forcing me to eat them when I threw them up on her slippers one day... I was about 12. :twisted:

There's enough GOOD food in the world without resorting to these!

asy

PS: Is this starting to sound like a Holden/Ford arguement yet?

[Brieziel]

i agree. i cannot STAND brussell sprouts!!! i was force fed them too. sometimes there are things that just cannot be done!

[lessfatty]

This was sent to mistakenly by Frangipani to me, so I have posted it on her behalf.

HI THERE. I AM NEW TO THIS - BOTH COHENS (am contemplating joining up) AND BLOGS, SO I TRUST THIS MESSAGE GETS THROUGH.

I have an excellent resource book - Laugh with Health, by Manfred Urs Koch - my copy printed in 1981. The foreward says it has become a resource book for training naturopaths.

I note Dr. Cohen has now removed Brussell Sprouts - their calorie count is 45 per 100 gr.

Brussell Sprouts 45 cal/100 gr. Carbs. 8.3/100gr.
Broccoli 32 ca/100 gr Carbs 5.9/100gr.
Cabbage cooked 20/100 fr. Carbs 4.2/100 gr
Cauliflower 28/100gr Carbs 5.2/100gr.


Its most likely the carb figure that keeps it out. I highly recommend this book. It covers all aspects of health and nutrition For example. The listing of vegetables has 22 columns showing the content of all vitamins, minterals, iron, sodium zinc. folic acid mangnesium etc., for that vegetable

Frangipani... to post a reply scroll down to the bottom, then look for a button that says "PostReply" look at the bottom left of the screen

[Brieziel]

Hi sam, I'm a Samford person too! how cool!

Weighed myself again this morning, it seems that the "3rd" lot of 4 week time periods (i.e completed week 9 and heading into week 10) has really started melt down mode!
i haven't lost weight this rapidly since my first 2 weeks on Cohen's!
i have lost another 1/2 kilo overnight.
I'm now down to 85.3.......... so i have now lost 3 kilo in 8 days which is pretty quick! although i am waiting for it to stabilise again and slow right down.
When i am in NZ i won't weigh at all, and i plan on following Cohen's 100% so it will be interesting to see if i go into "stabilization" phase or stay in "melt mode"!
Have a great day everyone!

[8-2much!]

Hi all,

Just a quick question to get some feed back. I am in week 16 now and have only lost 3.5 kilos this month. I am quite disappointed really! I have started walking of a morning and I am thoroughly enjoying it. Is it just that I am nearing the end that the loss is so slow or am I building muscle? I keep hovering between 59-60kilos and I want to see it GO!

I am drinking all of my water and have been on the programme 80% this last month. (Sister in law in a coma so was babysitting in her home without scales or all my food until she recovered.) I would be amazed if this slight could cause such a slowing of weight loss???

Anyway, interesting to ponder!
Have a great day.
8-2Much!