Hi Kiwi,
I have just began to follow the Cohen's lifestyle. I have to tell you that tomorrow will be one week and my scale already says I have lost 6.6 pounds.
If you can justify spending the start up cost, maybe you could try the plan.
You dont seem to want to lose too much so you may not want to spend the $249. to get started. I can understand that. I would probably not do this for just 10 pounds. But then again if I did awhile back I may not have to lose 35 pounds. LOL

Sounds like you have the same issues everybody else does. Who doesn't enjoy a social outing with a few drinks and some good eats. I know I do!
What has been most shocking to me is that I
do feel satisfied with the smaller portions I am eating. When it is the right foods in the right amounts the body seems to have its own way of balancing out.
Whatever you do decide good luck. If I can answer any other ?'s I would be hgappy to. I have only been doing this for a week now but I have been reading a lot about this plan & it is amazing how the people I know doing it have lost so much weight & just really learned how to eat properly.