Cohen's Lifestyle Clinic Australia

Name of the Diet/Weight Loss Program or Service: 

Cohen's Lifestyle Clinic Australia

When did you follow this diet/weight loss program?: 

2008 - 2010

Website/URL:: 

http://www.cohens.com.au/

My Review 

I have been hypothyroid for 23 years and found myself gradually putting on weight after my final pregnancy. By 2008, I had gained about 25 kilograms. I tried every diet known to man, to no avail. I put on weight with Weight Watchers! I decided to try Dr. Cohen's diet in 2008 and immediately started losing weight daily. I lost 7 kilograms in the first month and about one kilogram per week after that, while sticking to the diet religiously. It is a very restrictive diet but I found that worked well for me, as I did not have to make any decisions. After the first three days, I did not experience hunger pangs. Obviously I needed to restrict starchy carbs. No starchy carbs, no dairy (except low-fat plain yogurt) and no sugar. Over the nest few months I lost a total of 18 kilograms but in the end I waited for my maintenance program for over a month, as they forgot to order it for me. I lost the initiative and ended up putting on approx 8 kilograms in the following 18 months. I returned to a revised version of the diet with a slightly different focus. It involves my selection of foods plus I eat lunch for breakfast. My allocated amount of sizzle steak, mushrooms, tomatos and spinach for breakfast and veggie soup, boiled egg and two Vitawheat crackers, fruit or soup and two crackers, yogurt and fruit for lunch. Dinner includes protein and veggies or salad for dinner, in addition to two crackers and low sugar fruit for morning and evening tea. Once again I am losing weight with 2 kilograms the first week and one kilogram per week now. Every few days I do have a small amount of starchy carbs and find this actually stimulates weight loss if it is going too slowly or I am on a plateau. This time my aim is for gradual and sustained loss. Staying the same weight for a few days now means to me that I am reducing my set point and I don't get anxious. Once at my target weight I will alternate a normal yet basically low carb day with a revised Cohen's diet day until I stabilize for at least 12 months, which will allow me some of the foods I love. I now view low-carb eating as my body's preference for losing and maintaining weight, not as a diet. I have lost 5 kilograms in the first month which is slower but much easier. However I may not have lost the amount that I did had I not stuck to it as designated the first time. This time I have much less weight to lose.

Did you successfully lose weight on this diet? 

Yes

How much weight did you lose so far? 

11-25 lbs

Pros for Thyroid Patients? 

During the time I put on weight, I was going to the gym every day and doing some fairly strenuous exercise but eating very little. This is the first eating plan I tried that worked immediately and the weight loss continues. It may be that thyroid sufferers do not tolerate starchy carbs very well.

Cons for Thyroid Patients? 

There is no soy in this diet. The diet is very restricted, limited in fruit and veggies, but the sizzle steak (bacon-thin) has made a huge difference to my boredom level. This is a quite expensive program and paid up-front. After the first month you are basically on your own, although you can go in to weigh and discuss issues.

Would you recommend this to a friend? 

Yes