Too Many Processed Carbohydrates

It is interesting to see how many reports have made the headlines recently about “the break-through” that was made in the studies on obesity; the fact that according to research, nearly 25% of women are insulin-intolerant and could benefit from a diet that is lower in refined carbohydrates and higher in protein. That maintaining a traditional low-fat, high carbohydrate diet, combined with a lack of exercise, can wreak havoc in the body, possibly resulting in among other problems, insulin-resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Even though the rest of the world seems to start understanding now that carbohydrates and especially refined carbohydrates, should not necessarily be part of your daily eating program, one cannot over emphasize the fact that one’s risk of becoming insulin-resistant increases with age. Due to high stress levels and our hectic schedules, most people tend to eat too many refined, processed carbohydrates, like bread, pasta and soft drinks.

Another interesting piece on obesity comes from a talk show where life strategist, Dr Phil McGraw, asked some people who are overweight, when they tend to overeat. Answers that came to the fore: “At night, when everyone else sleeps.”  “When I am under stress.”  “When I achieved something and feel that I can reward myself.”

Dr McGraw advised the audience to identify when their high risk times are and to work around these times.  His advice can so easily be adapted to Dr Cohen's Lifestyle Program.
We need to:

• Set a very specific goal (but not to make the goal just about food!)

• Work out a very specific strategy, such as making the kitchen safe, clear desk drawers of any food and get rid of all expandable clothes, by literally burning the bridge!

• Follow a realistic, healthy program with measurable steps

• Identify measurable steps

Simple...yet effective!

Source: Cohen's Lifestyle Clinic

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Lose Weight While You Sleep

How much sleep are you getting?

Many of us are burning the candle at both ends. We get up early to get the kids ready for school or fit in a walk around the block and then we stay up late to watch television or finish off a work project. Often our sleep takes the backseat and this is detrimental to our weight loss efforts. Sleep deprivation disrupts our body’s ability to process and control weight related hormones. This causes the imbalance that encourages cells to store excess fat and lowers the body’s fat burning ability.

Sleep deprivation may also make us feel hungry even if we are full. When we get a good night's sleep, our bodies produce the hormone leptin, which regulates our appetite. If we have enough leptin, we feel satisfied after a meal. With adequate sleep, our body regulates the hormone ghrelin, which increases appetite. Not having enough sleep means we will have less leptin and more ghrelin, so we feel less satisfied after eating and we will want to eat an increased amount of food more often.
It is also important that the quality of our sleep, that is, getting the right amount of "deep sleep", is just as important as the quantity of sleep. This is because the Human Growth Hormone is released at night, during the REM (deep) sleep cycle. To make sure you are getting the best sleep possible, here are some tips:

• Follow your Eating Plan 100% and you will not go to bed feeling hungry
• Make sure you eat your last meal at least 2 hours before going to bed
• If you exercise regularly, make sure it is done at least three hours before bedtime
• Avoid caffeine and nicotine in the late afternoon and evening
• If you have trouble sleeping at night, do not nap during the day
• Develop a relaxing pre sleep routine, such as a warm bath or a few minutes of reading
• Make your sleep environment pleasant. It must be dark and quiet
• If you cannot sleep, do not stay in bed worrying. After 25 minutes, go to another room and involve yourself in a relaxing activity until you do feel sleepy
• Establish a regular bedtime

So get organised earlier, forget about that television show, relax and make sure your body is getting enough quality sleep every night. You can then ensure you have boundless energy and continue to lose weight!

Source: Cohen's Lifestyle Clinic

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Margaret Homsy's Journey

You live on the verge of healthy. 

You start your 'diet' every other day.

You look at people like me and think - how do they do it and I could never be like that. The truth is getting healthy is easy and YOU CAN DO IT

Health is a mindset! Health is an attitude! Health is what you define it to be. 
There is no one size fits all plan.

You CAN be like me. In fact, you are just like me! 
I dislike getting up early in the morning and doing exercise and watching what I need to eat!
I used to be able to eat a family sized block of chocolate without blinking.
 And I definitely have tried many weird FAD diets too.

Stop looking from the outside and fearing failure.
 Step up.
 Make a decision.
 Create your healthy dream.


You are not alone.

This is part of my story.

I had trouble climbing the staircase and I started to avoid going out unless it was to work.  But I was always the "life of the party", the girl everyone wanted to be around; but was it real?

I was moody and it caused serious problems in my relationships (which would then see me binging). 

I didn't realise it at the time, but now I know I was morbidly obese. What is obese?

The World Health Organisation has termed obesity as a disease of epidemic proportions. "It is a slow creeping killer whose seriousness we refuse to accept. Obesity leads to hypertension, diabetes, heart ailments, joint problems and sleep disorders". In a nutshell, you live shorter and suffer more.

I kept hearing words like you will develop diabetes. You will have a heart attack.  The oddest thing about all those things and to make myself feel better, I would go to the Doctor who would do all the physical tests, like blood pressure, blood tests, and you know what all came back normal.  Who would have thought someone who was breaking the scales at 161kg could be “healthy” according to laboratory statistics.  But in saying that, I was diagnosed with Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome and I was told to take “pills” that are given to diabetics.  I never took the pills!  I was insulin resistant!  So in theory whatever I put into my mouth would end up as stored fat in any case!  Well so I thought….. 

All my life I was a yo yo dieter, could never stick to anything and always blamed someone else for my problem.  I could not even go shopping without breaking a sweat and again to hide the pain and make myself feel better, I would purchase what ‘fit” me, SHOES!

I did the same with food!  I would use it not to fuel my body but to hide the void, cover up those emotions and make myself feel better for a short period of time!

I got to the point in my life where something had happened!  Was it the warnings I was always told about?  YES!  It was that point in my life at my heaviest where I was told: “If you don’t lose weight, you will not be able to have children”.   

The Doctor’s words have haunted me for many years!  It wasn’t enough though as I would lose then, gain, as I would not stick to any type of program long enough to see it through!  In this tornado part of my journey, I had shed 40kg, through everything and anything possible.  I wanted the easy way out; but it was not sustainable!

In 2011, I saw a photograph of myself and realised at that point that I was huge.  I weighed in at 121kg and I HAD ENOUGH.  It didn’t help when our local homeless man had yelled out to me as I rushed home to catch the bus.  They say “honesty is the best policy”, but did he have to say it so loud.  He yelled out: “Hey you, you are so fat, you should go on the biggest loser”.  As I held my head down in shame, I pretended I did not hear him and I had a bucket of tears rolling down my face.  Did this man save my life?  Did he give me the freedom I always wanted?  YES and I am grateful for his honesty!  This wasn’t the first time someone had taunted me about my weight, it happened most of my life, but it is the first time that I actually believed it!

I started seriously researching different programs and speaking with various Doctors about a controlled diet that would fix my insulin resistance. Most suggested I go under the knife and do lap banding, or continue to take the “diabex” (which I never took) but I am a chicken and don’t like prescription pills so I could never do that to my body.

I came across Cohen’s Lifestyle Clinic and by 23 January 2012 I signed up and started my plan!  The first few days were hard as my body was detoxing, but after that I felt the weight fall off.  I felt no more heart burn, I had energy, my skin was glowing, my relationships were getting better and I felt incredible.  I lost 55kg on Cohen’s in 10 months and I have kept it off!!!  I shrunk in height by 4cm so my goal weight has shifted into the 50’s.  So I am on plan to lose a few more to get to that goal!  My god, have I ever been that weight?  

When I tell people I have lost 95kg, I don't know if they are shocked or proud.  I'm still shocked!  The funniest thing is when I tell them I still have a bit more to go!!! Priceless!

I am so passionate about this eating plan that I opened my own clinic in Sydney to help others on this rough journey!  I wish the whole world knew about Cohen’s.  It has helped thousands of people all around the world to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle!

So when you do look at me and think "how did she do it", know that I have had a similar journey and you too can feel as incredible as I do...... 

Stay tuned as my journey continues… 

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What is the Cohen's Program

The Cohen diet is a great option for everyone who is trying to lose weight and to introduce lifestyle changes. This is one of the easiest and most pleasant nutritional programs to follow. Just like any other diet, this diet comes with its pros and cons that need to be examined before you make up your mind about it.

Who is Dr Cohen?

Dr R Cohen MD. F.C.O.G. (Wits) S.A. started his medical career in South Africa in the field of Cardiology, and later specialised in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (particularly infertility). He led the internationally recognised Wits Medical School's first Test-Tube Program (in vitro fertilization) for four years and brought happiness to many infertile couples by giving them the joy of becoming parents.

While conducting this work Dr Cohen encountered the impact of obesity and its related problems. This led him to undertake over three years of international research into nutrition and obesity and has resulted in his world-famous 'Cohen Diet' with thousands of successful clients from all over the world, many of whom are well-known celebrities. For several years Dr Cohen was involved in preparing international candidates for the 'Miss Universe' beauty pageant. Cohen clinics are spread over Australia, Asia, Europe and South Africa and he is currently promoting the weight loss diet successfully in the USA. Dr Cohen personally assesses each client and oversees their healthy eating plan.

Obesity Research

The research conducted by Dr Cohen and his partners isolated the hormones involved in obesity and overweight people and led the scientists to the conclusion that obesity is a disease. It has nothing to do with lack of self-discipline, but is a metabolic problem arising out of hormonal imbalances. By re-balancing the hormones via the correct nutrition for each individual, the body will automatically take care of the fat loss and other consequences of obesity. Rather than use costly, synthetic drugs, Dr Cohen's obesity research showed that the best way to address this imbalance would be to use food as the 'medicine' in a natural and safe way.

As a result, thousands of tests on various foods were conducted over a number of years. The outcome was an intricate understanding of what foods and combinations of foods trigger the correcting of obesity-related hormonal imbalances. Dr Cohen used this knowledge to develop a very specific weight loss diet.

The Cohen’s Diet

Stage 1: Personalized Eating Plan

The Eating Plan is the first of the three stages of the Program, and is based on your initial blood test results.  Your individual Eating Plan will be made for you by Dr Cohen based on your unique biochemistry from the results of your initial blood test. Your Eating Plan is designed to create a chemical balance in your body to stimulate the Human Growth Hormone, Serotonin production and lower Insulin levels - the three hormones that Dr Cohen believes to be the cause of weight gain. The Eating Plan that he develops for you is a balanced plan, so it includes proteins, fresh fruit and vegetables - there are no pills, tonics, shakes, seeds or the like.

To help you create yummy treats you will also receive a Cohen's Lifestyle Clinic Recipe Book

Stage 2: Personalized Refeeding Plan

This is the second stage of your Program which usually lasts between 2 - 3 weeks and is based on all your repeat blood test results.  It involves a gradual increase in portion sizes, a gradual introduction of new and richer foods—new proteins, new vegetables, new fruit categories, complex carbs like rice, potato, popcorn, processed carbs like bread and pasta, low fat milk, sweet biscuits and eventually alcohol.  It stabilizes your body chemistry and helps your body to adapt to increased portions and richer foods while maintaining your hormonal balance and preventing weight gain.
 

Stage 3: Management Guidelines

This is the final stage of the Program.  People with a tendency to have a weight problem need a different eating strategy in order to maintain the weight.  The Management Guidelines provide practical advice on how much food to eat, which foods to choose and which to avoid, and a set of strategies to help cap the surge in insulin that results from consuming foods such as desserts, chocolate, cakes, and alcohol.  It also includes advice on what to do if you do gain weight.  These guidelines represent the long-term lifestyle changes necessary to maintain your weight.

6-month Support Contract

Together with the Program is a 6 month support contract. Our clinic provides monthly weigh-in and face to face consultations, as well as blood test reminders.  Our consultants have successfully undergone the Program and can assist in helping you adjust to your new lifestyle. 

The Solution - Dr Cohen's Rapid Fat loss and Weight Loss Diet

Dr Cohen's Program is a rapid fat and weight loss diet. It helps clients rapidly reduce their fat in a safe and healthy way. It is not a kilojoules-based diet, nor a high protein diet. The weight loss diet is actually a balanced eating plan. No expensive or exotic foods are needed, only the food already in most people's kitchens. All types of food on the program can be eaten, including various types of red/white meat, fish, vegetables, fruit and dairy products such as cheese and yogurt. No tonics or pills are involved - the food itself becomes the 'medicine', and food quantities and combinations are critical to the weight loss diet. Each client follows a diet precisely calibrated to meet their body's needs, to lose fat quickly and increase their general wellness. An exemplary menu for a Cohen diet follower will be very easy to come up with. A breakfast for example can consist of tea or coffee, natural yoghurt and mango. The lunch can involve chicken and steamed vegetables. The dinner option may be lean beef and a green salad.

What have past customers achieved on the Dr Cohen's diet?

• Massive and rapid fat loss of up to 20 kilograms per month (the average monthly weight loss on the program could be between 7 to 15 kilograms).
• No loss of muscle (rather increased firmness and muscle tone).
• No hunger pangs or cravings.
• Increased energy levels and vitality (physical and cognitive).
• Reduced cellulite.
• Lowering and normalisation of high blood pressure.
• Rapidly reducing high cholesterol.
• Improving skin appearance and slowing the ageing process impact.
• Increased ability to cope with stress.
• Increased overall health and well-being.

There are many 'diet fads' today. Why should this be the one I do?

In most cases the clients who come to us have already tried everything. You are free to choose, but the many thousands of successful clients Dr Cohen has had over the past 25 years, is ample proof that this is not another 'diet fad'. Dr Cohen's Program is based on an internationally accepted medical research and sound facts. It stimulates the hormones with specific food combinations and quantities, so that the body starts burning its own fat and uses the food you give it properly. The body corrects the chemical balance naturally, so there are no synthetic elements in the Program - Everything is based on your body, its current profile and basic food to become healthy. Your food becomes your 'medicine'. It is a simple, inexpensive solution to a complex, and sometimes lifelong, problem!

Email us today for a free information pack – sydney.info@cohens.com.au or visit the website www.cohens.com.au

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After Losing 55kg With Cohens, Food Is No Longer Margaret's Enemy

I was always the bigger girl. An emotional eater at the best of times! I was that girl who - had the pretty face - but... My biggest weight was 161kg and I lost the first 40kg of my weight loss journey with so much pain and confusion that led me to fail time and time again. I had tried all programs, spending thousands of dollars trying everything from diet pills, to shakes, to vigorous personal training sessions! The diet pills and shakes are obviously not a natural way and this is why those did not work for me.

I had finally had enough of the comments and the failure, so I made the decision to lose my final kilos. I stumbled across a forum that raved on about Dr Cohen's lifestyle program. After hours of research I started Cohen's on 23 January 2012 with a start weight of 121kg. I commenced this part of my journey with commitment, passion and determination. I was ready!

Cohen's is the easiest thing I have done in my life. In the first month I lost almost 10kg. Was I hungry? No. Did I miss the kilos of sugar I was used to consuming? No! Cohen's is not a DIET - the first 3 letters say it all. It is a lifestyle. What you put into your body is exactly what it will look like on the outside. Cohen's taught me to listen to my body and eat only what I had to eat. My results speak for themselves!

I have lost 55kg on the Cohen's Lifestyle Program in less than 10 months (only because I went overseas and was not able to be 100% whilst traveling).

I have lost a total of 97kg and gone from a size 26 to 10. My skin is glowing and I am always smiling and radiant! I entered into the Slim and Win Womans Day Competition for 2013 and you know what - I WON!

I am confident, happy and food is no longer my enemy but my friend. Nothing is sexier than my own freedom! I am now the real ME!

My advice to others who want to lose weight:

1. Commit to yourself
2. Take each day as a new day
3. Do not be hard on yourself
4. Have a support network
5. Think positively

and most important HAVE FUN!

I want to help others on their journey to discovery - so get in touch with Cohen's.

I would not have been able to do this without you Dr Cohen! Your team have been amazing and my rock of support. A BIG THANK YOU

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Make Yourself Get Started

One of the most common things we see with clients who are battling with their weight is procrastination. They want to get started but get lost in birthday parties, anniversaries coming up, holidays and general everyday stress. I am sure we have all been there at some point. But what can you do about it?

The solution is to reduce the pressure and expectations as much as possible. Because if you see a big task or goal in front of you then that causes some kind of pain or resistance inside of you. So you shy away from doing it and rather think about other goals that are easier and make you feel better instead. So here are a few things to think about:

• Your Eating Plan is the foundation of your new lifestyle. You will not spend the rest of your life on it, but it will give you a sound foundation by balancing your body chemistry, so that the extra foods and richer foods introduced in Refeeding do not mess up your hormones.

• Recognise that what seems like a long way to go before Refeeding, really is not when you put it into the context of the number of years you are likely to live. What are a few weeks or months in the scale of your life?

• Remember Dr Cohen’s Program, with its three stages, is designed to equip you for life to eat well, be healthy and avoid future weight gain. To be effective it must be implemented properly. Dr Cohen provides you with the tools to do that. It is a learning experience.

• Think about the Program as a whole as a lifestyle commitment and not a diet. It has strongly positive outcomes, especially with respect to your health, so it is worth a little hard work and commitment to achieve these goals.

• You can set yourself a series of goals, a schedule of steps to your long-term goal, perhaps 5kg steps. Then as soon as you achieve the first goal you have a pre-determined reward for achieving it. Plan this reward carefully, so that you know what it is and can look forward to it. Then you would proceed to the next goal – another 5kg and so on. You would label each goal a 5kg loss and would not cumulate the loss, and this would keep it out of the context of your overall planned loss.

• Just start – commit to 2 days and see how you go. If you do not feel comfortable about it, just commit to 1 day.

When you think of the positives and the future and break things down in to smaller goals, it does not feel big or hard or uncomfortable anymore. It may not feel like fun either, but once you get started and take those first steps, you will almost never just quit. Instead, you will be telling yourself: "Okay, those first few days were not that bad really and I am enjoying how I feel and the change in my body". And so you will continue for a few more days or it just may ignite a small spark of enthusiasm or kick-start a little bit of forward momentum and you will be on your way!

Make the start as easy and light as you can. Be kind to yourself in this way and you will be amazed at how much you can achieve that you have been procrastinating on for quite some time. Today is the day to do it!

Source: Cohen's Lifestyle Clinic

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Beating Sugar Addiction

If you regularly crave sweet things or you find it impossible to stop after just one biscuit or one piece of chocolate, you may have a case of sugar addiction. Your drive to eat sweet things is disrupting your blood sugar levels, diet and then ultimately your weight. Here are seven simple tips to help you beat that sugar addiction:

• Stick to foods that are closest to their original form. The closer a food is to its original form, the less processed sugar it will contain
• Eat protein for breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day. Your first meal must create blood sugar stability that will carry you to the next meal without sugar cravings
• Eat protein with every meal. Eating protein with each meal prepares your body for the increase of serotonin production and keeps your blood sugar stable throughout the day
• Read Labels! It is amazing how many things we put into our mouths without the slightest idea of what is in them. The longer the list of ingredients, the more likely sugar is going to be included on that list
• Do not starve yourself in order to reward yourself with donuts or chocolate. Your body goes into starvation mode, so that treat you eat after a seven hour fast turns straight to fat
• Keep a journal of what you eat; you will be shocked by the amount of sugar-filled snacks in your diet
• Drink water constantly, this assists the Human Growth Hormone to metabolise fat

Source: Cohen's Lifestyle Clinic

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2013 Woman's Day Slim & Win

Well, I am honoured that I won the 2013 Woman's Day Slim & Win Competition.
What I got from the experience with Woman's Day was to learn to love myself; to accept my journey and be proud of what I have done.

I must admit, I thought of my weight loss journey as reversing what I had done to my body for all those years and just another "thing" to tick off my list to do's in my lifetime; but now I know through all the struggle that it was one of the hardest decisions I had to make.  Why you must be thinking?  The mind is a powerful tool that will hold you back, it plays tricks on you, tells you things you want to hear!  The journey has taught me to align not only my mind, but body and soul!  I must say; it hasn't changed me as a person, it has just taught me to love the person I always was hiding under my sumo suit.

Everyone who entered this competition should be feeling amazing right now!  You have done a remarkable job and I am very excited for all of you.

Here is a peak of what went on during the photoshoot - it was such a wonderful day!  I am glad I got to share the limelight with two other fantastic people.  Natalie and Katie - you are both extraordinary and I am so glad our paths crossed!

xxxooooo
Marg

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MORNINGS show

It was such a wonderful experience to appear on the MORNINGS show with David Campbell and Sonia Kruger.

The support and feedback has been phenomenal. Who would have thought that making a decision to lose weight would open the doors to so many more possibilities.

One of them was opening Cohen's Lifestyle Clinic here in Sydney.

I am hoping that my courage and story will help others out there make a decision to change their life.

Watch the video of MORNINGS show :)

Margaret
xxoo

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The owner of the Cohen's Lifestyle Clinic Sydney - Margaret Homsy - is sharing her story about weightloss on Channel 9 - 9:20am Feb 12 2013

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Sydney Clinic Contact Details

Suite 201, 71-73 Archer Street, Chatswood, NSW 2067
sydney.info@cohens.com.au
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consultations by appointment only

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Cohen's Lifestyle Clinic Sydney opened today…

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