Not sure I started refeed at right time

[tiny m]

Hi - this is my first post but after spending 1 hour each morning this week reading all of you - I know you are the right place to come for clarification on this. And why didn't I use these boards during the whole losing process?

I lost 30 pounds in 3.5 months and this is the SECOND time I have done Cohen's. Lost 30 pounds 2 years ago, kept it off for 1.5 years, called off my wedding 6 weeks before it was to take place and gained it all back and then just lost it all again. I could say more about THAT whole process....but let me get to my question at hand.

Ok - I am on day 4 of re-feed and have been losing .2 pounds each day (I'm in US so I'm a pounds vs. kg girl). I started re-feed at 2 pounds below my Cohen goal weight (Cohen said be 120 - 126 and I started refeed at 11. I kind of wanted to keep losing because I got fascinated by my body and wondered just how low I could go. But everyone was telling me I looked too skinny and I am ready to be able to go out to dinner on special occasions again.

One week before re-feed started I went on a Caribbean cruise for work and could not be perfect on the plan. I could not weigh or measure my food raw and did not cook my own anything....but I made smart choices and did not cheat and still lost 2 pounds that week. I came home and did the plan for 4 days and then started refeed. But I am wondering if I should have waited a few more weeks so I have 2 weeks of perfect balance before refeed (I never read this anywhere other than the boards- Cohens documents never said this anywhere). I never got to the point of being starving and feeling like I MUST have more food - I have just been totally content with the diet amounts.

I feel good on re-feed and am having no problems...but I have this nagging "what if" about maybe putting it on hold and going back to the diet for a couple weeks and waiting longer, losing more, etc...before starting refeed again.

Your thoughts are appreciated!

[kagiesen]

Hi Tiny M

I think you did just fine.

Sometimes it's more important to start re-feed than to be perfect for 2 weeks beforehand. You're a bit like me: I started re-feed 4 kilos (kilo girl) under lower range, and even getting to that weight everyone was urging me to start re-feed, and I'm glad I didn't! Anyway, my consultant urged me to start re-feed even though she knew I had not been deviation free for 2 weeks.

You said you lost 2 pounds in the week you were off the plan. That's awesome! It basically means you did a bit of your own re-feed already. It's all about getting your body used to other foods without putting on weight. You did exactly that. Might not be exactly as re-feed has planned it, but you are in control, which means your chances of keeping it off are much better! Have a read of my diary (in the dairy section, kagiesen) and Pandora's diary. We both started re-feed from not 100% Cohens, and we both ended re-feed just fine.

Your statement "I kind of wanted to keep losing because I got fascinated by my body and wondered just how low I could go": I can relate to that 100%. However, it also sends a warning sign, cos we all have to be careful not to slide into a eating disorder. It does sound a bit anorexic. Having said that: You can always continue if you're not happy AFTER re-feed. You can either go back onto original program for less than 14 days, or if it's more than 14 days, you need to re-do re-feed.

So interrupting re-feed would probably not be good. Just continue, and if you're not happy with result, go back on 100%, as Pandora did.

Happy New Year

Katrin

[pandora]

Hi Tiny M

Yes, i can only agree with everything Katrin has said. I also find cohens can be addictive, how low can i go etc. However, BEFORE i did refeed, i began to believe i was slim enough. Now 3 wks later and after refeed, i can now see my body more realistically as i have been this size now for 8 weeks AND now KNOW i do have a few more kg to go, so not an eating disorder but a real need to fine tune that last little bit if tummy flab! Somehow, for me (and I think Katrin) doing refeed and THEN re-assessing the situation can give you a much more balanced and realistic perspective AND you get to see what extras your body can manage effortlessly. Pandora

[tiny m]

Thank you Katrin and Pandora...and Happy New Year!

You gave me just the bit of reassurance I needed. I will continue with re-feed and then see how I do for first few weeks of maintenance before making any decisions to go back on plan. I just get a little panicked about eating so much food again....I know this is totally normal from reading your posts....I am just DETERMINED not to gain back the weight this time and if it's one thing we all have in common from this program, it's determination.

I'm in the stage of thinking and planning about what I will and will not be able to eat after....i.e. no chips or crisps or salty snacks EVER because I have zero control over portions on those things and if there is an open bag I will eat it all and justify it later, but I think I'll be ok having a small bit of chocolate each day as long as I follow the maintenance rules with it. I know it will all be an experiment to see how my body reacts and it large part this is a battle with my mind not my body. My body doesn't WANT bad food.

2008 is the year of doing what works.....eating good food works....binge eating does not work. I have created a goal of not seeing 125 pounds or above for the next two years at least....with a real intention of staying around 120. I just cannot ever "let go" of the control I have learned through this program.

Reading your re-feed and maintenance journeys have really helped me....perhaps I will start my own...the feedback from people is invaluable.

Cheers,

Tiny M

[meagain]

TinyM,

Like you I didn't find this board until close to refeed.

I have to confess, I was very happy to start refeed at my top goal, as I was just so hungry. I had a long refeed which gave me a chance to actually lose more weight, and adapt to life on the outside. I was a tad confused (and actually concerned that they may be overdoing it) by Pandora and Kagiesen wanting to go below their bottom goal weights, until I had a major pig out at Christmas, and hit 2 kgs over my top goal weight. Then I read Patti's concerns about weight gains due to greater muscle mass. Now I get it, and I do want a 1 to 2kg buffer.

I am glad I have done refeed, and I know I can just do a couple of days to loose the excess weight, and a few more to reduce down even further.

At the end of the day, it is your deciosn about what is best for your body.

[tiny m]

I have just done a LOT of reading of Katrin, Pandora and Meagin's boards.

I must say I feel regret at starting re=feed when I did. I loved how I felt before re-feed....I felt slim and good and wasn't hungry. Now I am on day 10 of 17 of refeed and I feel FULL and that makes me feel heavy again. I started refeed at 118.4 and am now at 118.2 (lost and then gained 1.2 during the first week). I know that at 118.2 I am still below the Cohen goal and while in the original phase I didn't even hope to get this low....but now that I'm here I just don't feel as good as I did when I was eating less.

I suppose I can just learn from this that I don't need to eat these big portions...and after re-feed nobody is forcing me to. I will continue to do refeed as it was designed (I am doing full amounts, full crackers, full fruit) and then cut back after it's over. I am just not enjoying how I feel right now. Plus no BM for days on end and TOM right now....all contributing factors. The other thing I just realized is that before refeed I was on a cruise where I wore my best and cutest clothes every day and had TONS of positive feedback about my new body all day long. Now I am home and in sweats again and nobody is telling me I look good. That is kind of a wake-up call for me...I didn't do this diet and lose this weight so somebody else could tell me I look good (it helps, though)...I did this because I want to FEEL good for myself and about myself. Just easy to forget that sometimes.

Thanks for reading.

[kagiesen]

Hey, Tiny M

I felt the same in re-feed, and still reckon I did it too early, BUT I am feeling great, and despite eating loads of nice (and healthy, but also indulging) stuff, I have not put on weight since, and will drop the extra 2 kilos some time, at the latest mid Feb when i get back from 2 weeks of holidays. Being stable is the biggest achievement so far, and hence I don't regret re-feed anymore!

Katrin

[TheSkinnyMeInside]

Hi Tiny,

Can you post a picture of yourself so we can all see how fabulous you look?

Cindy