After “meeting up” online with dieter after dieter who lost a great deal of weight on the Cohen’s plan, we decided it was time to find out just what this diet entailed. The Cohen’s Lifestyle Clinic, run by Dr. R. Cohen, provides an extensive weight loss plan. Unfortunately, it appears as though this weight loss plan is only available for residents of Australia at this time.

What’s in it?

Cohen’s Lifestyle Clinic includes a complete menu plan, using results from blood tests to determine what kinds of foods your body needs (and what kinds of foods you should avoid). The program promises to use only foods you might find in a standard kitchen, providing specific recipes to help you achieve your weight goals.

The website does suggest “acceptance” to the program, so obviously Cohen’s Lifestyle Clinic may not accept the average dieter. According to the FAQ, it is geared toward someone who is looking to lose at least 8-10 pounds (or 4-5 kgs). In addition, the Cohen’s website suggests continuing whatever exercise regimen you are currently using but not adding exercise if you’ve not currently been exercising (especially if you are extremely overweight).

How does it work?

According to the Cohen’s website, there is a great deal of research that has lead Dr. Cohen to focus his weight loss plan on correcting hormone imbalances in your body. By performing analytical blood tests, Dr. Cohen contends he can determine the correct foods to right these imbalances, causing your body to naturally release the excess fat that it has chosen to store. You are required to have regular blood tests to reevaluate your hormone levels at regular intervals (at weeks 4, 12, 16, & 20, and every 8 weeks afterwards that you choose to remain on the program).

Who does it work for?

As we already mentioned, the Cohen’s Lifestyle Diet is geared toward those customers who have a great deal of weight to lose. There are a number of full-length testimonials available via the Cohen’s website and countless other brief quotes from satisfied customers. The general consensus is that Cohen’s Lifestyle Clinic can lead you to drop a great deal of weight, but it is certainly up to you to stick with the “lifestyle” changes that they recommend.

Are there possible side effects?

We were a bit miffed by Dr. Cohen’s recommendation to avoid exercise while on this program if you’re not already exercising, but certainly there should be no side effects related to following a balanced diet (even if the balance is determined by a specific blood test). Cohen’s Lifestyle Clinic doesn’t recommend their program for those with heart, kidney, or liver problems; over age 65 or under age 15; pregnant or breastfeeding women; vegans; or diabetics on high levels of insulin or other medication.

Are there any “bonus” features?

It appears that there are no bonus features available for Cohen’s Lifestyle Clinic – in fact, we were unable to find any reference to pricing. We have no doubt that this program is quite pricey, although the overall cost is likely determined by the amount of time you continue to return to the clinic.

As we already mentioned, we have no doubt that Cohen’s Lifestyle Clinic works for a variety of extremely overweight customers. It is a bit disappointing that the plan is only available to residents of Australia, but for those who have access to the program, it seems to provide a great deal of guidance regarding weight loss and continued weight maintenance.