Losing Big to Become Small

Having been wearing size 16, 18, 3XL or 4XL for nearly 10 years, I would naturally go straight to the plus size section to buy clothes.  There was even a time I had to go online shopping with One Stop Shop OSP, Avenue or Jessica London since most US sized clothes fit me well. I had more choices when I shop online than to go local department store simply because the average Filipino ladies have small to medium body frames. It is also unfortunate that there are few choices for plus sized ladies when it comes to clothes.  

Few months ago, I decided to take a healthier lifestyle by enrolling at the Cohen Lifestyle Program. It was a big challenge to my discipline and determination.  Following the eating plan, one is guaranteed to lose weight in a healthier manner.  I am on my 7th month and finally reaping the fruits of my labor.

I lost 64 lbs already but I am still 16 lbs away from my target weight.  Although I still need to shed this last difficult pounds away, it feels good to be able to wear small or medium sized clothes at this stage. It has been ages since I am able to wear clothes of this size.  Month on month my clothes sizes changes and this month having been able to wear S/M was all worth the control for cravings.  

Not that I feel less confident when I was bigger but losing the fats made me feel healthier.  I can walk for hours without getting tired easily or having sore feet.  Surprisingly my acid reflux and the joint pains in my hands due to high uric acid stopped.  I pray for more strength to keep on going and make better choices for my body.  Some of the things that became a habit under the lifestyle are the following:

• Water intake of at least 2 liters a day
• Spacing of meals is key (5 hours in between major meals)
• Cooking the healthier way like broiling, steaming or air frying and using canola and olive oil to pan fry food
• Appreciating vegetables more than ever (eating more greens)
• Getting enough sleep (at least 6 hours) and going to bed before 10pm

I may have not sweat it out but I lost big time to become small by food discipline and focus.  It not easy but the sacrifices are all worth it.  Choose to be healthy :-)

Obese No More!

It's been four months since I started with my weigh loss journey through the Cohen Lifestyle Program.  On April 3, 2014 I made a decision to shed the excess weight that I had for years.  For more than 10 years I just kept on gaining weight.  I tried so many programs from gym enrolment, weight loss program from Marie France to calorie counting and diet supplements.  Nothing worked on me.

I started 206.7 lbs and now I am down to 157 lbs.  My target weight under the program is between 112 to 116 lbs.  I know I am still 40 lbs away from this but I know I am getting there one pound at a time.  I have never been under or within the 150s ever since I gave birth to my eldest.  So as early as now I am so convinced that the Cohen Lifestyle program really works if you stick to the eating plan.

April 3, 2014 and August 7, 2014

All the cooking and food preparations paid off.  Time management and discipline are key elements in entering the program.  You have to follow the prescribed eating plan and truly food becomes your medicine.  From a 3XL or sometimes 4XL I am now down to Large sized clothes, there are even cases where I fit to medium.   I really thought this will never happen in my life.  I really gave up on my weight and accepted the fact I'd be obese until I saw people losing weight from this program.  I started asking people under the program and learned that if I follow the plan then weight lose is a sure thing to happen.  Contrary to the other programs I have been to with no definite plans or process on how to go by day by day, I find it easier to have a set of rules to follow.  Cohen definitely is black and white on what can or cannot be done under the program.  For someone who tried so many things already, having a set of steps and rules to follow that will guarantee weight loss would mean a lot in terms of focus and determination.

I am really glad that I made the decision 4 months ago.  Finally, I can hear people complimenting me on my slimmer look, something I thought was just a dream or wishful thinking.  I am still be overweight but I am OBESE NO MORE :-)

A Choice to be Light

A month ago I have made a big decision about how big I am.  I enrolled myself in the Cohen Lifestyle program.  I have been comfortable of myself for the longest time and was not bothered by my increasing weight until a I woke up weighing 207 pounds :-(  For the past years I just kept on getting heavier.  It started after giving birth to my first kid.  From the usual 130lbs i weighed 160lbs.  I was not able to get rid of the post natal weight gain and just continuously gained in the next 10 years.


I have tried several means to lose weight but nothing really worked.  I went on crash diets, enrolled my self to gym and even tried those slimming machines and cold wraps but nothing really gave me the significant result.  Either I don't gain weight, lose a little but later on gain back double.  Hitting the 200lbs mark was a wake up call.  I never really thought I could be this big.

Right before enrolling myself to the Cohen Lifestyle program, I did some mental preparation.  I was on vacation in South Korea, the picture above was taken 2 days before I started with this lifestyle change. While overseas,  I conditioned myself to stop craving for restaurant and fast food.  I prepared myself that I will eat differently with my family moving forward and that I need to do this to heal myself from sickness called obesity.  Right now, I am taking to heart what the center told me.  Food is my medicine.

I started the day before my birthday.  It was a test of how I can control myself.  While everyone is eating spaghetti, chicken, cake, barbeque and cake, I had chicken breast salad in balsamic vinegar.  In the first few days of my journey, I thought of backing out but every time I think of how costly the program is and how many people actually made it in the program puts me back to the right perspective.

The Cohen Lifestyle is based on blood chemistry of a person.  The food is weighed based on personal eating plan and cooked the Cohen way.  This program really needs time management and attention to details when it comes to food preparation.

I am now on my 6th week.  From my last weigh in (4th week) I lost 18lbs, something i never ever achieved in the different programs i took before.  This is what is keeping my determination from sticking to my eating plan.  It's still a long way to go but every step of the way is worth it.