Well 1 week into the program lessfatty also got the same problem. Sorry I think it has a lot to do with Cohen's diet. Actually there is LOTS AND LOTS of evidence (real science) that this occurs, http://www.obesityonline.org/slides/...ormation&dpg=1. Basically there is a strong link between low calorie diets (and Cohens IS a very low calorie diet) and gallstone formation.

Gallstones are basically Cholesterol that becomes crystalized in your gallbladder over time. The more you loss weight the more cholesterol is released by your liver. I am not sure why but my guess is that the more fat you are burning the more cholestrol is "left over" in your body which your liver then dumps into your bile (gall) causing your bile to become very heavy with cholestrol ...causing crystals in the form of gallstones.

Now in my case and in Slinkee's case, we clear HAD gallstones already before the diet...the low calorie diet just made our condition worse quickly!!! Slinkee' I drank a blended (with my bamix) some virgin olive oil (150mls) mixed with lemon juice ...not Cohens, but it helped relieve the pain.

My doctor put me on Urso (chemical name is ursodeoxycholic acid ) you can see the trail results at this link. I believe taking Urso is the best and smartest move to prevent gallstones for anyone on Cohens, particularly if you have had gallbladder like symptoms (for me this was occassional sharp pains near my right diaphram), it may actually be a good idea to start taking it before Cohens.

Once you complete the diet the gallstones may disappear

This article on gallstone formation I believe offers some hint that Cohens rapid weight loss may be unsafe for gallstone formation
I asked my consultant about this after saying I was visiting a doctor and I got the reply :
"These symptoms are unfamiliar to us and we suggest that you consult your doctor." Sorry this to me means either the Cohen consultants on the internet plan are too stupid or just dont care, clearly I am not the only person on Cohen to have such problems.

Actually with my trusty excel spreadsheet I guess your steak allowance if it is in meal 3 is 90gms, or generally somewhere between 80 and 100gms. How did I go with the guess?

Hi
Welcome all the newbies! You are taking the right step. Good luck with it - we'll be here for support.

Just a quickie - I have my first initial weigh in tomorrow and I am very anxious about it. And for some reason today I am all bloated, crampy and tired. I look terrible and don't feel as though I have lost any weight. I have not deviated at all and I am drinking 3+litres of water daily. Any tips to make me feel better and get optimum results on the scales???

I am afraid if I have not lost a substatial amount (7kg or so) that I will feel deflated and wonder why I have bothered to be so strict.

Please help! Thanks.

This is a nice article and very informative...and good guide to life after Cohens.

Interest to read the link between Trytophan and Serotonin. Trytophan is a amino acid found in meats.

A little check about foods high in Trytophan and I could find this article



High Trytophan Foods - - Cohens
Chicken Breast
Tuna - -
Soybeans/Tofu - -
Beef Tenderloin - -
Lamb - - (high fat?)
Turkey Breast - -
Halibut/Flounder - -
Shrimp - -
Salmon - -
Snapper - -

STOP STRESSING!!!!!!!

My golly you sound like me on my first month, dont worry if you are feeling shithouse today. tomorrow is a new day and i promise you you will not feel like this tomorrow!!

My body went through stages like that aswell.. It feels terrible and makes you feel as fat as a cow.. but i can assure you, if you have done everything correctly you will be fine!!

Try having some fruit tonight.. or laxitives? LOL That will surely make you feel lighter in the morning! It worked for me!

I cant wait to hear how you went!! You'd better post immediately when you get home! I really think you will do well First month is always good, well it has been for everyone ive spoken to, its the 2nd month thats to worry about.. slows right down apparently..

You my girl have got to stop thinking about cohen's and just be patient and wait and see

Take care, ill be thinkin of ya!!

Hi lessfatty
This is my second go around on Cohen's, and I didn't get anything like this last time. I guess i'd better complete this picture and admit I ate masses amount of crap yesterday, very high fat, don't want to talk about that really First time around for about 2 months I would sit on the couch at night having heart palpitations, do you think Cohen's could've caused them?? But none of that so far, fingers crossed.

I did not realise that a VLCD and gallstones had connections, my understanding was the high fat diet was the main cause. Once again you have educated me so thank you for that.

About ten years ago I also had suspected gallstones, but after leaving the crappy job, i believe that it was just a symptom of stress, as that is where my stress manifests itself, in my stomach. My latest attack 18 months ago involved a VERY crappy job that i was dying to get out of, and I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, and after waiting in pain for 5 hours I finally got some morphine and was fine. I'm now getting to the stage in my current job where I'd rather have gallstones than go to work.

I really hope I won't have to give up Cohen's, I could not be a happy bride in a size 20 dress, I can hear hubby2b now saying to his friends "she's not a small bride" Of course, i don't want to harm myself, but I NEED to lose this weight, and not in the conventional .5kg a week sort of way.

thanks for your post
and i'll keep you informed of the diagnosis
slinkee

ps. I won't be drinking any olive oil and lemon as the ultrasound people have said no fat for 24 hours, though it does sound like lovely salad dressing LOL

pps. dammit, I need to lose 1.6kg a week to get to my wedding GW of 78. that puts me over the recommended keeping it under 1.5kg a week to avoid gallstones

Hi Guys

Thanks for your reply. I called the clinic today and made an apppointment to see them tomrrow for an information session. But i think that i am ready to start a new life and join.

It was so funny because the woman i spoke to on the phone told me she lost the same amount of weight that i want to lose and how quickly it all happened. Well, she was rather poetic when she explained it and i have to admit (only because you don't know me), i just broke down and cried, trying to hide it from the person who i was talking to. It just felt so surreal. I need to get there. I have to get there and more than anything i want to get there. if i join this week, i won't be able to start the do until next week anyway becuase of the time the blood readings take to come back. But it sounds promising and you guys were the ones who made me see it.... so thanks a million.

Now, someone tell me how to set up those rulers which show how your weight loss is going. I am reved and ready to start this engine. I am Shit scared.... but hopeful.

Glad you are all here to share it with.

Just checking in to say hi to everyone.
Welcome to all the new people and goodluck - you have made the right decision and found the right place to come for help and advice.

Slinkee, My guess is that your belly is reacting to the crap you fed it yesterday. I have had gallstones (been removed) and my belly always plays up with really bad cramps if I eat crap after not eating it for a long time. I hope for your sake it's not gallstones!!!!

Bam - Did you enjoy chatting with Hubby. He's still laughing at you!

I had a great day today. Having a day off tomorrow to get my hair done and then going away for the weekend, to say farewell to Hubby for a while.

Anyway, best go things to do.

Take Care all.

Thanks BAM. I still feel like crap, but I promise to post as soon as I get back from the clinic.
Wish me luck....

Princessoz- Yeh i had a little chat to ya hubby, thought it was you.. then my boss came and nearly busted me (Wouldnt be the first time)..

8-2 Much- GOOD LUCK!!!! You'll be fine, dont think too much about it and dont expect too much you dont want to be dissapointed! But just remember.. a loss is a loss and there are more loss's to come!!!

Hi everyone...

Hi lessfatty, I'm afraid that your spreadsheet is slightly flawed as my meat allowance in meal three is 115g.

How did you come up with 90g, if you dont mind me asking?

just a quick one as i'm at work (naughty me!!)

Opps well there goes my theory on how to calculate the protein intake.

How I calculated; using your height and shoe size I used a formula to make an estimate of your lean body mass (which means everything except for fatty tissue), basing my lean body mass 76KG and the ratio of protein to lean body mass ie my meat allowance is 130gm, I calculated that apples-2-apples you should eat ie around 2/3 of my allowance. Obviously this was way too low, so my Dr Cohen *decode* isnt working well

Actually now I think about it the only sensible way is total protein intake per day. May I ask the weight of vegetables you can eat with your steak meal?

lessfatty: I am interested to know about your decode. Can you send me a copy of your spreadsheet to me? fornight.tan@gmail.com

I can send it to you...but it is wrong :