Hello everyone!

I have submitted my blood test results to the Cohen team and I am waiting to hear back from them about my programme. In the meantime, I've been looking for a suitable multi-vitamin supplement to take as I understand we are required to do so.

My consultant mentioned that the supplement we choose has to have < 6mg of Vit B6 per day as high levels of B6 apparently cause hunger. I think it has something to do with the effect of B6 on serotonin levels.

Unfortunately, I did a quick survey in the shops and all the multi-vitamin formulations I saw had higher levels of B6 - about 40-50mg per day.

Can anyone please give me more information about this? Did you abide by the 6mg limit strictly? If so, what is the name of your multi-vitamin?

If you didn't abide by the 6mg limit but still met with success, I'd love to hear from you too!

Francesca, I took the Blackmore's sustained release multi-vitamins as they were recommended by my consultant & I had no trouble with hunger. I think they have 31.5mg of B6. I lost 36kgs in 28 weeks. Cheers, cate

Thanks for your reply, Cate! I think I saw a Blackmore's multi-vitamin today that looked good (no yeast, no gluten etc) and had quite a low B6 content. Might go and get that!

Congratulations on your weight loss! Those are awesome numbers! Very inspiring for newbies like me, I really can't wait to get started. Wish the Cohen people had sent the report in to my consultant already!

Did you not feel hungry at all while you were on the diet? I keep reading about the headaches and the awful first few "detox" days, and I'm quite worried, I have to say, because my job is quite stressful and I'm not sure I could do it while feeling hungry.

Which is not to say I'm not determined...just worried about my own limitations, you know?

Hi Francesca. I had cut down on my caffeine before I started the program so only had a head-ache for the first 2 days. The hunger was really only for the first few days as well. If possible try to start when you have a couple of days off work, even if that means you wait a few days after you get the plan to actually start. I was really tired at first. Make sure you get enough sleep. It's essential. Be organised so that you always have your next meal planned. Organisation and determination are what's needed to succeed. I'm sure you can do it. Don't use stress as an excuse as there will always be stress. It's part of life. Don't eat anything that is not on your plan. Before you know it that 14kgs will have vanished, cheers, Cate.

I used the USANA vitamins that the clinic was selling (but I didn't buy them from the clinic as their prices are rediculous (the fat consultant is an MLM'r) and continuous deviater. But he did tell me that they are very good and it wasn't necessary to take them as suggested by the maker (twice a day). I took them once a day throughout the program. I actually went to another source to buy them (eBay Singapore is your friend). and once you cut the quantity in half, they aren't that expensive. That way it puts the B6 at about 8.5mg. Still a wee be heavy but not enough that you would notice it.

Thanks cate for those excellent and encouraging tips! I totally agree that stress is no excuse. A doctor recently told me he thinks my hormonal imbalances are due to tired adrenals and he told me that the main thing I have to do is cut back on stress. I retorted that I have to work etc and the only response he could muster was, "I can help you draft your resignation letter!" Not very realistic, I thought. I hope that Cohen is my answer to the hormonal issues and this just adds to my determination to do this properly.

SMS - thanks for the info about the USANA supplements. My consultant did say it was possible to halve the recommended dosage (just like what you did). A point of confusion for me stems from the fact that my consultant said that overly high levels of B6 inhibits the production of serotonin (the hormone that makes you feel full), whereas some articles I found online (tried to post the link but I haven't been around long enough to post URLs) seems to suggest the opposite! Any thoughts?

I don't think it upsets the serotonin levels but in some people the heavy B6 can cause or aggravate hunger. It doesn't affect everybody. There is also the problem of what else is in the vitamins as well. Some of the stuff may not be allowable on the program. Like sugars and such. I know baloo used several types during his 6 months on the course without too much affect. You will just have to monitor it and possibly have to take some other allowed supplements. Check the threads over there for supplements that some take (for hair, nails, etc, etc.) As I'm a crusty ole farmboy with no hair it don't mean that much to me so I didn't really look into it that hard.

I've literally just asked my consultant about this question!

She recommended Neways Orachal Plus and Orchal (which the clinic sells, and which I know is also MLM-based), but she also said that Blackmore's 8 Hour Release, or Natures Own are okay.

I think given Cate's recommendation I may stock up on the Blackmores