Cohen's

[johjohjoh]

Yet again, this post serves solely as a way of motivating myself:

I started Cohen's Lifestyle Clinic (read 'weight-loss programme') on December 9th. I visit the clinic every two weeks to talk to my mentor and to assess my progress. If you're curious about what Cohen's entails...

Cohen's principles:

• The basic principle of Cohen's is that 'food becomes your medicine'. The foods you are prescribed serve to 'reset' your metabolism by stimulating the production of particular hormones.
• Based on the profile created from your height, weight, and blood test profile (Urea, Total Protein, Electrolytes, Insulin, etc.), Dr Cohen will prepare a personal weight loss plan (basically how much of what can you eat when) for your needs. Following the eating plan you will "trigger" the production of Human Growth Hormone and Seratonin which will create a rapid loss in weight.
• All foods are weighed to within 1gram before they are prepared. Frozen foods (eg. prawns) must be thawed before they are weighed. There is no room for estimation.
• Meals must be eaten five or more hours apart. This gives the cells of your body time to effectively use the protein you have eaten, whilst also allowing time for all of the appropriate hormones to be released in response to your rise in blood sugar (or something along those lines!)
• Do not eat after 9pm or at least two hours before you sleep.
• Low Carb: most carbs are in the fruits that are eaten during the day. Starches (wheat, potatos, beans, bread, donuts, rice, pasta ) are very strictly limited, zero except for two crackers per day
• Fruit: There is a maximum of 2 servings per day. There are specific fruits that can be eaten and others that must be avoided. The fruits I most commonly eat are mango, peach, kiwi and apples.
• Vegetables: Around a dozen non-starchy vegetables are able to be eaten as part of your programme. Spinach, Asparagus, Onion (max 1tbs per day), zucchini, mushrooms, tomato (max half per day), etc. These are eaten with each meal and weighed to within 1 gram.
• Spices: Specific herbs and spices are allowed, with salt kept to a minimum. There is a total allowance of 1 teaspoon of all dried herbs and spices (including salt) each day. Fresh herbs are weighed as part of your vegetable allowance.
• Fluids: No alcohol, juice, soft drinks, etc. At least three litres of water must be drunk every day (recommended for my height and weight).
• There is zero room for any alternative foods or even extra portions. You must eat the amounts that are specified and only from the list of acceptable foods. Naturally if you eat out you cannot make sure the proportions and food types are correct ie this is a deviation. For those who need to eat out frequently or socialise with friends or business partners, this is the biggest issue with following the diet.

What I would eat in a typical day -
There are variations, but I find myself pretty much coming back to these staples:

• Breakfast: 80g vegetables (usually mushrooms, zucchini and parsley) and one egg. I'm becoming a wizz at making great minimalistic omelettes!
• Lunch: 95g meat (lean beef) with 115g vegetables. I'm trying out san choy bow, 'mexican' beef with a tomato and capsicum salsa, etc.
• Dinner: 120g chicken stirfried (though you can't use soy!) with 100g of vegetables (fried without oil in a non-stick pan).
• Two Salada biscuits eaten at least 2.5 hours apart, and two pieces of fruit. I was desperate for these for the first week, but now I find I don't really need them unless I've got netball or volleyball

Yes, I've made it through Christmas and New Year without any major hiccups... which is quite an achievement! As of today, I'm 9.9kg down and 36cm less (after measuring arm, thigh, waist, hips and bust).