We continue with wonderful feedback from the program’s very valuable participants.

A.Ö.

I learned valuable information from you that specialists I’ve seen since my 20s, and even some famous doctors I’ve visited, never told me up to age 51 — information I never even came across in the vast sea of the internet. How lucky we are that you shared what you’ve learned and experienced with us. Bless you, thank you for existing. Both you and your knowledge are so valuable… Let me tell you what the nutrition plan you taught did for me…

• When I get out of bed in the morning I feel incredibly refreshed, and my energy doesn’t run out until bedtime.
• My nighttime sleep has become uninterrupted.
• I never have a hypoglycemia attack.
• Junk food never crosses my mind anymore — I used to devour a bag of chips every evening.
• I do 17-hour fasts and don’t feel hungry before my meal.
• The hunger I do feel isn’t in the form of a hypoglycemia attack, but in the form of stomach growling — a sound I’d forgotten the voice of for years 🙂

My measurements on April 26: Chest: 126 cm Waist: 117 cm Lower abdomen: 123 cm Hips: 128 cm Calf: 66 cm Weight: 106 kg

My measurements on May 9: Chest: 119 cm Waist: 110 cm Lower abdomen: 118 cm Hips: 121 cm Calf: 66 cm Weight: 97 kg

I used to describe zucchini as “a bland, watery, unnecessary vegetable” — now I get an amazing taste and aroma from it, for example. It turns out my body had forgotten so many wonderful things over the years. Thank you again and again. I could never repay what I owe you, even if you forgave the debt.

N.S.

I didn’t really know what to expect when starting this program. I could never make peace with my postpartum body, could never get back to my old eating system. I worked with more than one specialist, and I did lose good amounts of weight, but I gained it right back. Because my logic had gotten lost, and most likely my body wasn’t the same as before either. I needed a new key, and I couldn’t figure out what it was. You gave me that key — no amount of thanks would be enough. Thanks to this program, I figured out the logic of the matter and approached myself with compassion instead of anger. I even forgave my past self, because I simply didn’t know :))) I never weighed myself or took measurements, because I didn’t want it to become a source of pressure, and I can say that yesterday I fastened my belt on the 3rd hole or so, something I hadn’t been able to do in 2 years 🙂 In short, I’m leaving equipped with a wealth of knowledge from you, knowing exactly what to do. I’m so glad you exist 🙂 I hope our paths cross again.

B.Ü.

What was your goal when starting this program?

Following the elimination program I started with you in February, my goal with the 6 cm program was to evolve my eating into a more sustainable way of life. I achieved this fully. My “in for a penny, in for a pound” mentality changed 🙂 I learned how I should continue after occasional slip-ups. Not only did I learn, I’ve started explaining this mentality to people around me too. Since I’ll miss you and your emails, I’m thinking of joining more programs 🙂

How did the program help you achieve your goals?

Even though I wanted to follow the functional nutrition approach I discovered 5 years ago, I could never achieve consistency until now. Even though I did eliminations from time to time, I could easily slip back to old habits after a while. With this program I learned what sustainability should look like. The daily emails increased my motivation a lot. The topics covered in the livestreams, the Q&As, fed my knowledge. By the way, my bedside book became “Mutlu Beslenme” [Happy Nutrition]. In short, everything I’d been trying to learn piecemeal on the internet came to me all organized in one place. It was a program I applied step by step, digesting it, understanding it, without getting lost in information and without the fear of “how will I do this?” Getting knowledge from someone who knows and applies it, your own personal experience, gave me confidence 🙂

What physical and behavioral changes do you notice in yourself as the program ends?

I slimmed down more than what the scale showed 🙂 I used to have breakfast at 9:00 AM; now I don’t eat anything before 11:00-11:30. In the evening I eat dinner at 18:00 and then nothing afterward. These hours settled on their own. For however long I’d struggled with intermittent fasting, I could never get the timing to settle — this time the system formed itself 🙂 In your words, while I’m not exactly coming from “chocolate waterfalls,” I am coming from “carbohydrate waterfalls,” and I no longer crave them. With the elimination, I haven’t consumed sugar in months. What’s more, I don’t even make an effort for this. The lovely part is that for the first time, my son and husband are in this process with me. I’m imposing on them too that this isn’t a diet, it’s a behavior pattern. I was so happy when my husband said this morning, “Measure me too, let’s see how many cm I’ve lost.” We’re changing as a family, learning as a family 🙂

Who would you recommend this program to?

I recommend it to anyone who values and loves themselves, who wants to age gracefully, who wants to eat clean and learn this from the right source, and to everyone like me who has MS and an autoimmune disease.

Anything you’d like to add…

For as long as I can remember I’ve spent my years dieting, losing weight, and then gaining it back after a while. There’s barely a famous name I haven’t gone to. For the first time in my life, without dieting, I learned what proper nutrition means, how it’s applied, and how a lifestyle evolves into this. For the first time, instead of feeling regret when I ate something, I learned how to minimize its effect. Now even if I eat a börek, I know how to balance it out. Though I honestly don’t crave it — that’s a separate matter. Thank you for teaching me to fish. I’m trying to explain this mentality to everyone around me. I even direct them to join the programs to give themselves this gift. Most importantly, I’m happy, my energy is quite high. Thank you for everything.

A.B.S.

What was your goal when starting this program?

I’m not someone who’s extremely overweight, but my body fat percentage was high. I wanted to get rid of my excess fat. I wanted to slim down. Besides this, I’m 36 years old, and my husband and I care about having a healthy eating pattern together. For a while I’ve been trying to create a sustainable nutrition plan for our two-person family. That’s why I’ve joined three different programs of Sema Hanım’s, trying to build the best system for us.

How did the program help you achieve your goals?

Before starting the program, Sema Hanım says, “You’ll get an email from me every morning,” “In for a penny, in for a pound isn’t how it works here,” “I’m going to teach you to fish.” At first you don’t understand what kind of effect these will have. As the days pass, you realize she’s weaving your new life stitch by stitch. Knowing I wouldn’t need Sema Hanım or anyone else after all these programs I’ve joined was one of the other things that helped me. For example, three weeks isn’t enough to reach my personal ideal weight, but I have all the tools to reach my goal and sustain it afterward without needing to consult any specialist.

What physical and behavioral changes do you notice in yourself as the program ends?

April 22 → May 10: Weight: 70 kg → 66.7 kg Waist: 78 cm → 75 cm Lower abdomen: 83 cm → 78 cm Hips: 105 cm → 103 cm

I’d seen in another feedback post — someone had written “turns out I have a waist.” Today I understood what that person meant. I now have a curvy upper body. I like seeing myself this way. Not struggling while putting on my jeans is one of the things I love most these days… I don’t feel hungry for long stretches. I used to have a strange habit of snacking on something sweet or salty every two hours. Now some days I don’t even have a snack. Mostly I eat two meals. I don’t have sweet cravings anymore.

Who would you recommend this program to?

To those trying to find their own ideal eating plan for the rest of their lives, to those tired and fed up with classic diet lists and opinions, to those who say “I don’t consume gluten, I stay away from refined sugar” but consume the alternatives they consider relatively healthier in large portions at every meal…

Anything you’d like to add…

My grocery spending decreased. I used to be someone who thought I ate very well. I buy every kind of odd product and try different recipes. I realized my portions were too big. My fridge started filling up with more colorful vegetables. I also realized I never actually needed many of the snacks I bought thinking they were good for me. (I think I can only finish a drawer full of snacks in three or four months now.) Social media, used the right way, can also be a vehicle for good things. I’m so glad I got to know you. Thank you for everything you taught. Thanks also to Tuğçe Hanım. Thank you for your facilitation throughout the program. May your path be clear too.

C.S.

What was your goal when starting this program?

My goal was to get out of the gluten rut I’d fallen into because of the gloomy weather, and to get rid of the weight I’d diligently gained all winter.

How did the program help you achieve your goals?

I used to constantly buy ready-made meals or sandwiches and feed myself with these at the office. The program placed healthy eating into my life (hopefully in a long-term way) without going hungry, simply by acting with a plan. Since my daughter has celiac disease (I’d actually discovered your account for this purpose in the first place, and later bought your book), we eat gluten-free at home. Despite this, I realized I was living very carb-heavy. The program brought me back to myself 🙂

What physical and behavioral changes do you notice in yourself as the program ends?

Even though the program is three weeks long, I’m continuing with pleasure in the same way as the first day. When I start feeling like I’m getting bored, I add in legumes and fruits too. So far I’ve lost 4 kg and I think I’ve slimmed down by around 5 cm. My stomach is completely flat for the first time in a long while. I feel more refreshed, and I’ve become able to taste the natural sugar in foods like peanut butter and peppers.

Who would you recommend this program to?

I recommend the program to everyone who wants to learn healthy eating and incorporate it into their life. What caught my attention in particular was the complete absence of men’s interest in the program (unless they hid it). I hope the desire for healthy eating and a fit appearance doesn’t remain the sole domain of women!

Anything you’d like to add…

For reasons beyond my control, I started the program during one of the busiest weeks of my work life. I brought my nutrition to where it is today starting from a week when colleagues from Turkey visited and I had 3 business dinners that week 🙂 I’m proud of myself and my willpower for not straying at all and staying loyal to my macros during this process. If I could do this, I fully believe I can continue in a controlled way afterward, and continue eating healthily even with occasional slip-ups. Thank you to you and Tuğçe Hanım for your positive and professional approach, and for answering the emails I sent about things on my mind quickly and in such an encouraging way. May your success be lasting!

G.S.

What was your goal when starting this program?

When starting the program, my goal was to change my eating style — which I’d discovered didn’t do my body good but couldn’t shake off as a deeply ingrained habit — and of course, as a bonus, to lose the extra 3 kg I had. As someone coming from “chocolate waterfalls,” my sweet cravings, and the coughing attacks (unpleasant reflux) that would come from eating gluten products especially combined with yogurt (like dumplings, pasta with yogurt, etc.) had started lowering my quality of life so much that I’d decided to start this program. What’s more, even though I knew these habits I couldn’t give up weren’t beneficial — even harmful — I knew I’d be able to discipline myself more easily if I felt accountable to someone.

How did the program help you achieve your goals?

I was on my period when I started the program. Normally during this time chocolates should come and go one after another, but that’s not what happened. Of course there were times I really craved it, but I was able to control myself. And I, who thought I ate close to healthy, turns out I’d been going around hungry, which is why I was constantly attacking snacks. With this program, I’m full like never before. I lost 1.5 kg of my 3-kilo goal, but more importantly, I slimmed down. Pants and shorts that were tight around the waist and hips getting loose was wonderful. I no longer wake up in the mornings with a bloated stomach. I don’t walk around feeling like I’m about to burst.

What physical and behavioral changes do you notice in yourself as the program ends?

My cravings are gone; for 3 weeks I haven’t had a single reflux-related coughing attack after any meal. Even though I eat full meals, I don’t get bloated. I’ve gotten close to my target weight and slimmed down visibly. I feel more energetic and better.

Who would you recommend this program to?

I recommend it to everyone who wants to learn what it means to take good care of themselves.

Anything you’d like to add…

I learned wonderful, useful things, and now I know what and why I need to do things. I think that’s one of the reasons the program is sustainable. Thank you, Sema Hanım, for guiding me toward knowledge-based eating rather than rigid lists to follow to the letter.

E.A.

What was your goal when starting this program?

My goal was to lose 3 kilos and build an eating pattern I could always follow while feeling full.

How did the program help you achieve your goals?

I fully reached my goal, lost exactly 3 kilos. I slimmed 7 cm from my waist, 6 cm from my belly, 4 cm from my hips, 3 cm from my legs. Meanwhile, I achieved this result even though I didn’t have the opportunity to do my usual exercise.

What physical and behavioral changes do you notice in yourself as the program ends?

Above all, I feel lighter. When my stomach gets hungry, I make myself healthy snacks and now prefer them.

Who would you recommend this program to?

Absolutely everyone.

Anything you’d like to add…

Thank you so much first of all — this eating style has now become my way of eating. I go through the day feeling full, and whenever I want to eat something, I immediately prepare it from your recipes (both easy to make and incredibly tasty). I’m so glad I joined your program — I changed my eating style thanks to you and I’m very happy.

A.E.

What was your goal when starting this program?

As someone who’s followed Sema Hanım for years, the most important reason I started this program was to lose the 4 kilos I hadn’t been able to shed for a long time and get rid of the fat around my belly and waist.

How did the program help you achieve your goals?

Thanks to the program, I first got rid of the wrong things I thought were right. I feel healthier and more energetic. I started programming my nutrition and enjoying it. Now I can predict what the outcome will be based on what and how much I eat.

What physical and behavioral changes do you notice in yourself as the program ends?

I was 72.5 kg when starting the program. Now I’m 68.5 kg and slimmed down 5 cm (I’m 1.80 m tall). In the past, when I lost weight my face used to look sunken — thinness never suited me. Now, since it’s coming off from fat, my face hasn’t gotten too thin, but my body shape, of course with the help of exercise, has changed a lot. I’ve gotten the shape I’ve wanted for a long time. I can now comfortably wear all the clothes that used to be tight on me. I’m happy. My sleep is much healthier. No more fatigue during the day, sleep crashes, or feeling heavy…

Who would you recommend this program to?

I already recommend it to anyone I come across who needs it — who eats poorly, who complains about their weight or fat, whose hands and feet tremble from hunger.

Anything you’d like to add…

Many people, myself included, are making a lot of mistakes we think are right when it comes to healthy eating — this program taught me that. For example, I thought going hungry, eating very little, and depriving myself of everything meant living a healthy life. Right now I eat so much in one meal just to complete my macros… And for the first time in a very long time, I truly feel full. I don’t have a craving for sweets anymore. These make me very happy. A new chapter has begun in my life, and I thank you for that.

K.G.

What was your goal when starting this program?

My goal when starting the program was to give up, without the fear of “I’ll die of hunger,” the bad habits that were the cause of the 20 kilos I’d added on top of my already-excess weight over the past 2 years, by adopting the motto “another routine is possible.” Of course, since my weight was high, the initial motivation, compared to those high numbers, was also to lose weight by the end of the program in a meaningful but healthy way — that is, by losing fat.

How did the program help you achieve your goals?

The program contributed to a lasting change in consciousness by helping me learn, in a broader and more applicable form, principles I’d had a rough idea of for years and even recommended to relatives with autoimmune diseases in particular — and because I learned by doing, it stuck. It showed me that I could go without hunger while eating healthily, and use my willpower with more confidence and minimal feeling of deprivation. In the past I always lost and regained weight, but looking back honestly, the feeling of hunger was always in the foreground. Now that’s completely gone. Still, living without gluten, without sugar, and without a bunch of horrible things I used to eat morning and night isn’t that easy — let me be honest about that part. Maybe it gets easier with time. Living through this whole change with someone who has extremely high empathy, is extremely likable, has developed herself tremendously, and whose real concern is to spread this awareness and knowledge, with the feeling of being by your side every day, made the process much, much easier.

What physical and behavioral changes do you notice in yourself as the program ends?

First of all, right after the first week, there were many physical and behavioral changes. I don’t have a gas problem. I used to go to the bathroom excessively; now it’s even at a set time during the day and more regular. I don’t experience much bloating. My eczema decreased a lot. There was also a decrease in my hives, though I think that’s a bit more related to skin sensitivity.

Who would you recommend this program to?

I’d recommend this program first to those whose eating pattern has gone off track, to those who don’t feel healthy despite having no weight problem and believe it’s rooted in their eating pattern, to those with autoimmune diseases, and to those at hereditary risk of diabetes, thyroid, or heart conditions. Even without any of these, I have no doubt that anyone who says “let me just raise my awareness level, let me see things by doing” would benefit greatly too. As long as you feel ready and willing.

Anything you’d like to add…

I have endless respect for those who do this work truly without financial expectation, solely out of a concern to share their knowledge and experience with society. There’s one platform I’ve followed for a long time in this vein. Aside from them, this is the first time I’ve seen someone approach this subject without expectation, without anxiety, entirely with good intentions, and this greatly increased my trust in the program. As someone who’s been immersed my whole life in various nutrition-consulting schools of thought and follows some “famous names” (I even saw one today) just out of curiosity, I’ve noticed this: even the most die-hard soldiers for gluten, bread, fruit, etc. have started to backtrack. They used to say “bread isn’t your enemy” and proudly share the simit they were eating. They used to say “if you’re not celiac, don’t worry about gluten.” Now they’re saying “let’s limit” carbs, gluten, even fructose. “Well, look at that,” I think to myself. Because these eyes have seen these people promote and share all sorts of nonsense for years under brand partnerships. I hope those in this field who are in the public eye and could have influence on society keep financial concerns in the background and move forward in the light of science — I wish that for all of them. In short, the work you do and your contribution to people’s transformation is very valuable. I’m so glad our paths crossed.

H.A.

What was your goal when starting this program?

My goal when starting this program was, of course, to slim down and learn a sustainable way of eating.

How did the program help you achieve your goals?

I slimmed down 2 cm around my waist and 5 cm in my lower abdomen. I have a pear-shaped body and generally gain weight in my lower body. Because of this, those 5 cm made quite a difference for me, and my tight pants started to fit comfortably.

What physical and behavioral changes do you notice in yourself as the program ends?

Most importantly: “in for a penny, in for a pound isn’t how it works here” 🙂 Even on days I slipped up, I immediately went back to eating the same way the very next day. Maybe if I’d applied the program without any slip-ups at all, I could have slimmed down even more. Also, my sweet cravings definitely decreased — I ate ice cream once in between, for example, and it gave me no pleasure at all. Chocolate at 99% cocoa now curbs my chocolate cravings during my period. I’m genuinely very happy because I used to be someone who couldn’t live without sweets/chocolate. The Fat Secret app was also incredibly helpful. By logging what I eat in the morning, at noon, and in between, I can figure out how much I should eat in the evening. I don’t have breakfast before 9:30 AM, and I finish dinner by 7:00-8:00 PM at the latest. If I ate at 8:00 PM, the next day I try not to have breakfast before 10:00 AM, and interestingly, I don’t wake up ravenously hungry.

Who would you recommend this program to?

I recommend this program to anyone who truly wants to learn the logic behind it, who wants to change their lifestyle but doesn’t know where to start. I recommend it very, very strongly, in fact. You can find this information in plenty of books, but starting alone is always much harder. There’s nothing like starting with a community and someone who holds your hand and is available whenever you need them. After 3 weeks, it already starts becoming a habit and your awareness level rises. Sustaining it afterward becomes much simpler. Also, the recipes Sema Hanım shares are quite life-saving.

Ş.B.D.

I was diagnosed with menopause again this year — I’m 52 years old. I’ve also had Hashimoto’s since 2018. Thankfully I have no bothersome symptoms, but I noticed my metabolism slowing down, feeling low on energy, gaining weight, and having trouble losing it. I was experiencing fatigue after meals unlike anything before, even though my blood sugar readings were always fine. Saying “this can’t go on, I don’t understand something, I’m doing something wrong, I need to get informed,” I wanted to join your DKYY training. I missed the first group’s registration and was so upset about it that when you opened the second group, I raised the flags 🙂 I signed up right away. I’m so glad I joined — there was so much I didn’t know or knew wrong. You explain the topics with such passion and love that it’s impossible not to listen to you with full attention.

1. I got informed and educated in your training. I added to my knowledge with what you explained and the files you sent us. Best of all, this knowledge will stay with me forever — I can pick it up and look at it whenever I want.
2. Eating while weighing, measuring, and logging everything every day on FS, knowing what I was doing, gave me great confidence and put my mind at ease. Because I now knew I was taking the right steps and how I could reach my goal in a healthy way.
3. That you explained how our bodies work, that you raised our awareness about how important the steps we take for our health are — this is priceless to me.
4. I always took notes, and even rewatched the broadcast the next day, and it really sank in!
5. So what happened? It was legendary. I feel like dancing. I’ll get to the weight eventually because actually, even better things happened.
6. I just had my thyroid values tested, and the doctor lowered my medication from 50 milligrams to 25 — and this happened in just 14 days. Incredible. No, believable 🙂 I’ll keep going this way and hopefully I can stop taking medication entirely.
7. I’m full of energy. Those exhausted states of mine vanished — after a morning walk I used to have no energy left for anything. I’d get sleepy right away. There was no strength in my muscles. Now, walking, cooking, housework, going out somewhere… I’M BACK. Hooray 🙂
8. I was eating protein-free, and how wrong that was. Eating protein every day, I noticed my muscles getting stronger. Even my posture improved.
9. Actually I only lost 2.5 kg, but it made an incredible difference. You’d said, “300 grams on the scale won’t make a difference, but 300 grams on your body makes a lot of difference.” Yes, absolutely — my waist slimmed 6 cm and my hips 7 cm. I can comfortably wear pants I couldn’t fit into before.
10. I’d done a water fast a few times before, just for the sake of autophagy, and I lost 3-4 kg in 6 days that time, and my weight had dropped a lot. Now my weight is higher, but I can wear the clothes from back then. I realized that back then I’d only lost water and muscle, but this time I’m certain I burned fat without losing muscle! In fact, I think my muscle mass increased, because my energy came back, I got stronger, and even my posture improved.

You’d said, “Insulin doesn’t want zucchini and cabbage, insulin wants künefe” — this really cheered me up and I never forget it. It’s like a slogan 🙂 “Raw vegetables are the king of alkaline” is also from you, and I loved that one too. I’ll never forget your picture-perfect sayings.

Thank you so, so much for the effort you put in, for showing us how to set out on a healthy path and stay on it without straying. I hope you keep overflowing with even more knowledge and continue sharing it with us and motivating us. This world needs people like you so much.

I’m so glad I joined your training — I learned how to give up sugar in such a sweet way. Thank you so much. Stay well and healthy.

S.B.A.

What was your goal when starting this program?

My goal was to lose weight and slim down.

How did the program help you achieve your goals?

The program helped me realize that I could feel full and lose weight without going hungry, while being fully aware of what I was eating.

What physical and behavioral changes do you notice in yourself as the program ends?

Even though I’m following the program a bit behind schedule and am only in week 2, I lost the 2.5 kilos I hadn’t been able to shed for a long time. Beyond the weight loss, I slimmed 4 cm in my belly and 2 cm in my hips. Along with all this, I gained awareness in many areas. For example, I became conscious of the fact that especially in the mornings I was eating without being hungry, purely out of routine habit, and that more than half of what I ate throughout the day was due to social settings, emotional reasons, etc. I also realized I was actually overconsuming many things I ate thinking they were healthy (especially because of their fat content). Right now I’m eating with my first meal around 12:00 PM and my last meal around 7:30 PM, and I can go through the day without feeling hungry in between.

Who would you recommend this program to?

I recommend it to everyone who wants to bring a sustainable healthy eating style into their life.

Anything you’d like to add…

I had previously joined Sema Hanım’s meditation program as well. Just like that one, this is a program organized extremely well, where all the documents we need are sent to us. Thank you to the whole team, especially Sema Hanım, who shares all her experience and knowledge with us above all.

S.İ.K.

What was your goal when starting this program?

I couldn’t really say I had a clear goal. I was thinking “let me slim down a bit, I always diet every spring anyway” — this was one of those times.

How did the program help you achieve your goals?

From the very first email/document of the program, I started to understand this wasn’t a standard diet, and I kept telling people around me, “I’m doing a special eating plan. It doesn’t really count as a diet.” Because, for instance, how do I now explain in two hours that I ate kaymak (clotted cream) 🙂

What physical and behavioral changes do you notice in yourself as the program ends?

I can say I’ve changed a lot behaviorally. In fact, I feel like I’ll keep changing even more. Normally I’d struggle to stick to a given diet list, and once it slipped a little, I’d quickly slip into an “in for a penny, in for a pound” mindset. What you said in the livestreams — “we don’t quit when we slip up” — helped me a lot. These were like guiding words for me on the topic of consistency. Of course, not craving sweets anymore feels like a miracle. Inevitably, I started finding the mistakes about insulin in the diet lists I’d previously followed. Even though I’m not diabetic, discovering on myself the direct correlation between blood sugar and hunger and craving sweets/carbs was the best result I got. The program’s fee felt very high to those who heard about it. At first even I said, “Am I making a mistake?” then I told myself, “This is a training — were you expecting it to be cheaper? You’re on the right path, keep going.” And now, after the program has ended, I can say very comfortably that it was worth every penny — I’m at a point where I say “I’m so glad I joined this training.”

At the end of the program, my expectations regarding physical change were higher, but I came to the conclusion that to get rid of body fat, I need to cut back more on macros, especially fats. As I start deviating a little, I now apply exactly what to add and remove, with much more clarity and background knowledge. Not having been able to exercise properly at all during this process also shows I didn’t fully comply with the program. So the issue stemmed from my own execution.

Who would you recommend this program to?

I’d recommend this program to my friends who want to lose 3 kilos in 10 days [ironically]. So many quick-fix solutions for the day are popular, just like how autoimmune/allergic diseases are tried to be resolved with antihistamines and cortisone creams. Because I had eczema on my hands, which appeared due to using too much disinfectant with the pandemic. To heal this condition, I tried everything from old wives’ remedies to professors — there was no method I hadn’t tried. In fact, a dermatology professor once said, “You need to keep your hands away from water, use disposable gloves even when using the toilet.” With two children (one a baby), of course I couldn’t follow this advice. During this time, dish gloves became like my third hand. Seeing the eczema recede on its own by the end of just the first week of the program had me in tears. I, who couldn’t touch water/soap and couldn’t cut tomatoes/lemons, started squeezing lemons without gloves. Now, when I come out of water, my hands just get a little dry, that’s it — which is normal anyway. But whenever I remember the days I washed my hands with Vaseline, I say “I’m so glad” all over again.

Anything you’d like to add…

Actually, I’ve been following you for a very long time. I mean, I’m someone who has read your writings, including some of your blog posts. Doctors know how harmful smoking is, but they smoke anyway — mine was a bit like that too. I knew dairy and gluten weren’t good for eczema. I just could never take the “baby steps” you mentioned in your “final word” to apply it. This program both enabled me to apply it, and made it easier to progress without asking “so now what do I do?” For example, the plant-based menu examples told me, “This isn’t actually that expensive if you want it to be.” Given our country’s economic conditions, one might think the listed items look expensive. But a person can’t eat meat, fish, chicken every day — it’s just not eaten. As I produced alternatives and, most importantly, learned them, my mind was at ease, and I’ve transitioned to an eating pattern I can shape based on what’s available at home.

Ö.D.

My goal when starting this program was to understand how macros work and to lose the last 3 kilos I’d been stuck on for a long time. I had a constant feeling of bloating and a craving to eat in the evenings. Thanks to this program, I no longer have late-evening eating urges. Most importantly, I’m very fond of sweets, and eating something sweet literally didn’t even cross my mind! My waist slimmed by 9 cm and I lost 3 kg in 3 weeks. This way of eating did incredibly good things for my body. And the information you gave for afterward is also very valuable — its sustainability is the most reassuring part for my peace of mind 🙂 I especially recommend this program to those who eat healthily but somehow can’t shed the weight they’re stuck at. Because when you eat according to macros suited to you, you really understand the difference and can’t believe the change in your body. And of course, the energy that comes with it 🙂 No amount of thanks would be enough. Truly, your energy and smiling face supported me a lot. May everything go your way, may all good things find you. Sending lots of love…

D.Y.

What was your goal when starting this program?

To learn to feed myself well and feel better over time.

How did the program help you achieve your goals?

When the program started, the gradual, step-by-step change was a process I didn’t expect. I thought there’d be a list of foods allowed and not allowed and once I did it, it would be over — but it wasn’t like that. First, Sema Hanım taught, step by step, an eating style that doesn’t create a feeling of deprivation. With the emails coming every morning, my motivation was renewed each day, and I learned what and why I was doing something. When I started using the app, I roughly learned the content of the foods that had been going into my body up to that point. This was a huge revelation for me. The feeling of preparing my own main foods calculated according to my own body, and the sense that control was in my hands, not someone else’s — the experience of “I choose what I’ll eat and adjust the amount myself” — was as important as the food itself making me happy. Also, the reminder that what I eat feeds my cells, and that if there’s a deviation, the world doesn’t end, was very effective in helping me return to eating that feels good to me. Lastly, before starting the program, my nighttime eating had increased. My hunger interval was quite narrow — meaning I got hungry frequently and constantly wanted to eat. I realized that whatever I ate, I felt fuller, and that sometimes I was eating even when not hungry. My gratitude for this is huge!

What physical and behavioral changes do you notice in yourself as the program ends?

I don’t feel bloated. My skin became smoother, more vibrant. My waist and belly slimmed a bit — I haven’t measured yet, but noticing it from my clothes is nice enough. I was able to increase my water intake to what I need. Sometimes when I think I’m hungry, I’ve started asking myself questions like “maybe I’m actually thirsty” to understand my real need. I now care much more about regulating my sleep.

Who would you recommend this program to?

I recommend it to those who’ve given up on taking care of themselves out of a feeling of failure. Even though this program seems nutrition-based, it has a great effect on turning toward your own needs. I’d previously joined Sema Hanım’s other programs at various times too. They were all wonderful, but in my particular case, this program was more sustainable for me. I recommend it to those who get hungry frequently, who lose themselves in chocolate waterfalls, in pots of pasta — because that’s how I started too. In week 3, even eating one bite of a pastry made from buckwheat flour felt like eating cake to me. I think anyone who wants their palate to return to factory settings should try this.

Anything you’d like to add…

I admire Sema Hanım’s style so, so much. I see the programs are much deeper and more substantive than her Instagram posts. Thank you so much for sharing knowledge so generously! Her existence, her presence, her joy are so valuable to me. I’m so glad I joined!

R.Ü.

What was your goal when starting this program?

To kickstart my metabolism, which I felt had reached a standstill. I was someone who had always been slim throughout my life, generally ate healthy, rarely consumed junk food, wasn’t fond of sweets. Then I quit smoking. Yes, I ate erratically at first, but afterward I immediately started a process of daily exercises at home, constantly watching what I ate, etc., to lose the roughly 10 kilos I’d gained. But despite all my effort, I could never get back to my old weight. Constant two steps forward, one step back — I got tired of it. I needed to get rid of this weight too. And listed diet plans were never for me. Considering my age (45), I needed an eating style that wouldn’t feel like dieting, that would contribute positively to my health, kickstart my metabolism, and that I could continue consciously for the rest of my life.

How did the program help you achieve your goals?

I’d been noticing for 6-7 years that carbs didn’t do me good. I’d reduce them from time to time, but it wasn’t something I did consciously. This program gave me what feels like a lifelong toolbox. Now I understand very well why high fat, why low carb. Being conscious is very motivating and reassuring. I feel like I’m in control, and that’s a wonderful feeling.

What physical and behavioral changes do you notice in yourself as the program ends?

By the end of the second week of the program, my waist had slimmed by 5 cm. Right before the program, even on an empty stomach, my pants felt like a squeezed-out toothpaste tube around the middle, and after eating something I could barely breathe in them — now that same pair fits me and doesn’t feel tight at all even though I just ate. People around me already started saying “you’ve lost weight” from the first week. There wasn’t a very dramatic change in my weight on the scale, but I can tell from my clothes. Not just my waist — my legs, arms, face, everywhere is slimming down. I feel really good. I know I’ll get back to my old weight within a short time.

Who would you recommend this program to?

I strongly recommend this program to everyone — young, old, women, men.

Anything you’d like to add…

I’ve been following you on Instagram for a long time. I bought your first book during the pandemic, right when I first quit smoking and started struggling with my weight. Then I bought “Mutlu Beslenme” [Happy Nutrition]. Right while I was reading it, because gaining weight ruined my mood, I almost started smoking again. I’d smoked for a few weeks when I saw your last-call post for DKYY, and I said, “I need to do this for myself, I don’t want to smoke.” I already thought it would be very useful, and even before joining myself, I always mentioned your programs to people around me struggling with weight issues or insulin resistance. Thank you so much, I know I’ll see its benefits growing in the future. Love 🙂

S.E.

What was your goal when starting this program?

I didn’t actually have a significant weight problem, but I kept thinking “if only I could lose 2-3 more kilos.” So my goal became losing 2-3 kilos through self-discipline and healthy eating.

How did the program help you achieve your goals?

The program went beyond just helping me reach my goal. I reached my weight goal. My belly area decreased by about 3 cm. But beyond these, I learned to prevent involuntary eating, and my sweet cravings disappeared. I learned to control my carb intake.

What physical and behavioral changes do you notice in yourself as the program ends?

Physically, my belly area shrank. I think more importantly was the psychological happiness that came from having transitioned to healthy eating.

Who would you recommend this program to?

I recommend the program to everyone who values themselves.

Anything you’d like to add…

I lived in Gaziantep for many years before settling in Istanbul. I work as a professor at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University’s Faculty of Architecture. I served as dean at the same university for 6 years, but over the past few years I’ve developed a keen interest in healthy eating and intermittent fasting. I read Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Çoruhlu’s books. Then I read your book “Mutlu Beslenme.” After reading your book, I started adopting the motto “if you’re not hungry, please don’t eat.” When I saw your training programs on your website, I wanted to join the 6 cm DKYY program. Sometimes disciplining myself is hard. With the program, I built myself an eating routine. Now I don’t even think about those wonderful Gaziantep baklavas. My favorite dessert is künefe. I don’t even seek it out anymore. I didn’t eat any sweets throughout the program. Forbidden things always seem tempting. The most wonderful thing about this program is that everything is free but controlled, and how important healthy eating is highlighted for a healthy life. Thank you so much for all your support and effort. With love..

N.O.

What was your goal when starting this program?

I came primarily to learn healthy eating better and to lose weight. I’d gained a bit of extra weight recently. Actually I’m not someone who eats a lot, but I thought I must be making a mistake somewhere. I discovered these. I wanted to learn “I’m approaching menopause, how should I eat and what should I watch out for.” I might not lose weight cm by cm, but there was a visible slimming — clearly I lost fat. On the scale, I appear to have lost about 2.5 kilos. But I still have a way to go, and I’m continuing to eat properly.

How did the program help you achieve your goals?

Since I have a gluten allergy, I need to never consume gluten at all. I benefited a lot from your page and recipes. I needed someone who would guide me without stressing me out about nutrition, someone who would teach me. When told to go on a diet and not to eat something, I’d crave the forbidden things even more. That’s why I decided to join your training. I missed the first training in April, then while going on a short trip I coincidentally saw you’d opened the second class, and taking it as a sign, I signed up right away. I’m so glad I did.

What physical and behavioral changes do you notice in yourself as the program ends?

I saw that by consuming protein, especially red meat, I stayed full for a long time. I’ve been eating two meals for a while, but I’ve been able to extend the interval between them significantly. I don’t feel hungry — there were even times I didn’t eat dinner. My sweet cravings decreased, even though I was on my period. In the first week I had no sweet cravings at all. If I can convince myself to exercise too, it’ll be super 🙂

Who would you recommend this program to?

Actually, I’d recommend this program to everyone.

İ.S.A.

What was your goal when starting this program?

I’d joined your “3’lü Eliminasyon” program and my eating habits changed a lot. Afterward I decided to join this program too. My goal was to slim down a bit.

How did the program help you achieve your goals?

I couldn’t apply the intermittent fasting part and the rule of not eating after 7:00 PM, because I give online training and since I finish at 8:00 PM, I had to eat dinner around that time. Despite that, I noticed I lost 2 cm from every area. My weight dropped by 1 kg too. My eating pattern changed completely in a positive direction. I no longer experience hunger crises, and I have no craving for sugar or sweets at all. Since gluten isn’t in my life, my digestive system works wonderfully. I learned healthy, very varied food alternatives from you. Now I can prepare wonderfully healthy meals in 10 minutes. All the recipes you shared are wonderful. My family loved the recipes too. Not just my own but my family’s eating style has changed thanks to you.

What physical and behavioral changes do you notice in yourself as the program ends?

No hunger crises at all — I feel full with plenty of salad. I have no stomach gas at all and have a healthy digestive system; I used to have occasional constipation before. My skin got even more beautiful. I feel more alive.

Who would you recommend this program to?

I recommend this program wholeheartedly to all my loved ones.

Anything you’d like to add…

Thank you so much for your smiling face and kindness. Thanks to you, my eating pattern has completely changed. May your knowledge keep growing. I’m so glad you exist!

H.T.

I’m 62 years old, have a 40-year-old son and a 7-year-old grandchild, and come from a family where my parents and siblings were obese. For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled not to become overweight and unhealthy. As you can imagine, there’s no diet or eating type I haven’t tried. By the way, I’m 1.65 m tall and my weight was 64 kg (before you). Of course, with this much knowledge but no proper foundation, it eventually creates confusion. While wondering, “Could I incorporate the ketogenic diet into my life now?”, I decided to join your group.

By the end of three weeks, everything fell into place in my mind, and as a bonus I lost 4 kg. I lost 4 cm from everywhere except my lower belly, and a full 8 cm from my lower belly 🙂 My sleep improved — I get good, healthy sleep and start the day energetically early in the morning. I always used to pop something sweet, even just a tiny bite, into my mouth — now I don’t even want that. I was already a woman who didn’t look my age; eating this way, I’m afraid I’m going to start getting younger 🙂 I’ve now found a sustainable eating model I can follow for the rest of my life, aging healthily. Extra huge thanks for your effort, for sharing your knowledge with us, and for being a light for young people too. Have no doubt that I’ll keep following you with great enthusiasm and the constant question “what more can I learn?” Stay with love.

G.Ö.

Whatever I say to you, however much I thank you, it will fall short. Even if I wrote poems and songs, it still wouldn’t be enough… I’m someone who’s followed you for years and has a special interest in health and science topics. My problem wasn’t lacking knowledge but rather deciding, showing willpower, and putting it into practice. On my 38th birthday, I gifted myself your program as the most beautiful, lifelong birthday present. You share such detailed information on your page that, rather than learning new information when starting your program, I began the process with the motivation of applying it together with you. My main goals were to balance my blood sugar, calm my eczema and psoriasis flare-ups, and get rid of the few extra kilos that had clung to me for years.

But I found many times more than I expected. I learned, internalized, and applied it all. Since it coincided with the time I put my child to bed, I couldn’t attend any Zoom meetings, but with discipline and excitement I sat down and watched every broadcast afterward, took notes, and got refreshed by your energy.

The result in 2 weeks was truly incredible! Ended sugar cravings, a visible decrease in eczema and psoriasis, rings falling off my fingers, tremendous energy, 6 cm off my waist, 8 cm off my belly area, and a total of 5 kg lost — bringing tremendous motivation with it!

The emails you sent every morning became a source of motivation for me. Thanks to the macro calculations you taught, I never went hungry, and the program became sustainable for me. Brand-new knowledge, recipes, the energy in the Zoom meetings — all of it was wonderful.

After the 2 weeks ended, my colleagues and my mother, amazed at how I could eat so much and still lose this much weight and radiate health, excitedly cut out processed food and sugar. Just their doing this made such a difference in their lives… In other words, the motivation you gave surpassed me, spread in waves, and now a diabetic man who has never even met you (my colleague’s husband) has reached the point of going to his doctor to ask about lowering his medication dose. This isn’t a miracle, it’s pure science — but believe me, you are a miracle!

I’ve now found my balance; when I indulge, I make sure it’s the best, most delicious version, and instead of saying “oh no,” I say “oh yes!” I immediately go back to my balance afterward and continue on my way. And just like you wrote in your last email, knowing you’re always there, sincerely ready to support us, gives me strength.

Sema Hanım, I’ll remain grateful to you for the rest of my life. May no stone ever touch your foot, may you always radiate light, and may light always be scattered inside you. I’m so glad you exist, so glad…

A.A.

What were your goals when starting this program?

My first goal was to establish a healthy eating pattern for myself and my family, put an end to the packaged foods in our lives and the unhealthy food we ate out, and lose a few kilos.

How did the program help you achieve your goals?

I’d previously taken a mindfulness training from Sema Hanım (the last one being online :)). From the moment Sema Hanım starts speaking, she has an energy that motivates me and makes me feel good about myself. My expectations for the training were very high because I had endless trust in her. I followed what needed to be done in the program, followed her instructions, and reached my goals one by one. The emails coming every morning and the fast responses I got to my questions made it feel, even though the program was online, as if I was getting individual support. Besides all this, through this program I realized that this eating style can be easily adapted into our lives and easily sustained. The logic of “you can turn back at any moment” from the “in for a penny, in for a pound isn’t how it works here” statement made me feel free. Yes, I struggled the first two weeks, thinking a lot about “can I do this, will I be able to see it through?” While I’m normally not someone who thinks about food this much, my mind was constantly on food. The two meals I ate a day became so precious to me that I ate those meals with more pleasure, and the taste and enjoyment of every bite I took was completely different. Every plate I used to eat quickly and move on from turned into a feast in my eyes, and every bite became a reason for gratitude.

What physical and behavioral changes do you notice in yourself as the program ends?

Physically, my waist and hips slimmed down in a way I hadn’t expected. My initial goal wasn’t to slim down. While I used to wake up very tired in the mornings and get exhausted quickly in the evenings, I now feel much more energetic and highly motivated. This feeling made me start the exercise I’d paused for a year. I feel more cheerful and more self-confident, because previously that poor eating pattern used to pull me in like a bottomless pit, and I kept sinking with a complete “in for a penny, in for a pound” mentality, feeling aggressive. Right now I can tell myself, “you can do anything.” It wouldn’t have crossed my mind that changing my eating pattern could have such an effect on my psychology too.

Who would you recommend this program to?

I think categorizing this program with “this one should get it, that one should get it” would be doing it an injustice. I recommend it to everyone, absolutely everyone, who wants to be physically and mentally healthy.

Anything you’d like to add…

Sema Hanım, I truly love you. You’re like my psychologist. Watching your videos, listening to your advice, is such a pleasure. I hope you open the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program next year. Taking a training from you every year does me so much good. I’m so glad you exist, so glad our paths crossed. Thank you for everything. See you soon :))

D.P.

Hello dear Sema teacher,

There was a reason I didn’t write to you right away. After the program, I decided to wait a bit to understand whether I’d truly internalized this myself. I wanted to see if I could apply it on my own, what I was doing. Because I’d joined other programs before, and after they ended, I experienced what everyone experiences — once the program was over, I’d go back to my old routine. With this one too, I wondered “will the same thing happen?” Yes — you really do teach us what we need to do. You don’t hand us a prescription; you teach us how to build that prescription ourselves. My fat literally melted away from my hips, my belly. All my pants are too big for me now, and I feel incredibly fit and energetic. Before the program, my kidney function values were coming out high. When I had blood tests done again at the end of the program, the doctor said the values were normal now and told me to keep doing exactly what I was doing.

I sleep wonderfully at night.

I feel more energetic and fit.

Metabolic flexibility became a legend for me.

My cells feel satisfied.

Most wonderful of all, I’m regulating my own nutrition myself. I’ve learned so beautifully when to eat, what to eat, and what could happen to me if I eat certain things… Endless thanks for everything. See you in the September program..

N.A.

I’m continuing exactly with the eating pattern you taught. I’m in great spirits. Honestly, this eating pattern turned out to be a perfect fit for my lifestyle and constitution. I want to keep this pattern going continuously. Now I know how to cope with my hunger crises and sweet cravings, and I never feel regret about what I eat. Just as I devote time to my hair, nails, or hobbies, I’ve now started devoting time to my nutrition, my kitchen, and to preparing recipes I can eat without regret. What I learned from you is very valuable — when I’m stuck, I reread your emails again and again and get help from the app. Slimming down is wonderful. Even my walk has changed — I’m more confident. Wherever I go, I make sure to choose my food carefully. I learned to say “no,” to say “I won’t eat that,” and best of all, to ask “what’s in it?” 🙂 In the end, I’m so glad our paths crossed. I keep following you with pleasure.

S.S.

What was your goal when starting this program?

Since my forties, aging healthily has become an important matter for me. The fluctuations in my blood sugar had been bothering me throughout my life, but especially over the past few years. It was like being in a vicious cycle. Finally, when a post by Sema Hanım about menopause and hormones gave me insight into my waist-area weight gain, I joined this program for my blood sugar and hormonal regulation. I was convinced that the weight I could never lose would go away this way too.

How did the program help you achieve your goals?

I never thought it would be this easy, but from the second day, my hunger experience changed completely. None of my complaints like hand tremors, dizziness, fatigue remained. Hunger became something I only felt in my stomach. And when I ate, the “I need to rest, my heart is racing” feeling I used to have was gone too. I keep doing whatever I’m doing in a completely energetic state. What’s more, this energy comes after at least 14-15 hours of fasting. This was something I’d never experienced before.

There was another very surprising experience: I literally slimmed down!! 🙂 Even though it didn’t show much on the scale, and even though the first week coincided with my pre-period week, I can’t describe my body in the mirror with any word other than “slimmed.” Seeing this was a bonus.

What physical and behavioral changes do you notice in yourself as the program ends?

Eating no longer comes with a sense of urgency, and I think that increases the pleasure of it too. I didn’t understand what “I’m more energetic” meant when I read it in previous participants’ comments, but I understood once I experienced it myself. I really am more energetic, even though unfortunately I still haven’t managed to regulate my sleep very well. I’ve had very problematic skin since adolescence — even that improved.

I also have a special thank-you for you: I used to describe myself as a very serious coffee addict and never thought this could change. When you said maximum two cups a day, I said “let me try.” The first day was very hard, but even that stopped being an issue by the second day. By the end of the first week, when my second cup of coffee was in a slightly larger cup, I started feeling uncomfortable. Now I drink my second coffee only as a small, enjoyment-only cup 🙂 Seeing that the body can respond this easily is very surprising and very hopeful.

Who would you recommend this program to?

Honestly, I was a bit worried about the details at the start, but I progressed using the most basic version of everything. You sent very lovely recipes, but I’ve only made a few so far (of course I’m saving all of them for later). As someone with limited time, even I adapted quite well — you bring a lot of practicality to the process. I think those whose quality of life suffers due to blood sugar fluctuations like mine, those who struggle to lose weight after forty, those who want to stop making eating an issue would benefit a lot. You know how you have your slogans — my slogan for this program became “blood sugar fluctuation isn’t fate after all.”

Anything you’d like to add…

With this program, I saw how things I thought would “never change” could change within a few days, truly without any struggle, easily — and this experience was unmatched. Thank you.

B.İ.

I’ve been very satisfied with these trainings as a back-to-back “3’lü Eliminasyon” and then “6 cm” participant. In the elimination, I learned which foods I have intolerances to. Paying attention to these, my sleep and gut activity improved. Along with this, my need for sugar and the constant “what should I eat?” thought were erased from my mind. Actually, I thought a lot about joining “6 cm,” saying “I already learned the logic anyway.” Turns out it had nothing to do with that. Even though the calculations felt a bit rigid at first, once I understood everything had a logic to it, I felt free as a bird. By the way, my waist had already slimmed a bit during the elimination — when I moved on to “6 cm,” everyone around me was surprised by my appearance. At the start of the elimination, my waist was 86, chest 94, hips 99 cm. After the elimination and “6 cm,” my waist is now 77, chest 88, hips 94 cm. (This includes a week-long trip to Italy 🙂)

I’m currently trying to maintain the same logic. I try to stick to allowing myself one “cheat” meal a week. Not craving sweets at all is wonderful (though of course, at 54 and entering menopause, I think that’s a bit of a privilege). I feel quite healthy and fit. During this process, I’ve continued the reformer Pilates I do twice a week. Between the elimination and “6 cm,” I had a 3-month sugar and insulin test done. There’s a visible improvement there too. I’ll have it done again next week.

By the way, I’ve dropped from 73.6 to 67.8. About 4.5-5 kilos of that came off as fat. What an unnecessary burden I’d been carrying. Bless you, thank you for existing. Now I’m working on convincing my husband — he’s diabetic himself. I hope I can bring him over to my side too. With love..