Almost ready for refeed but not hungry?

[Marmaduke]

thanks Koh and everyone on the thread.

I was 2kg from top of range, collected my refeed, but my weight has gone up 700g in a week and I seem to be retaining water. I've had digestion problems while on the program and thought it might be the large amounts of tofu I consume.

has anyone else had the problem of weight plateau/increase just before refeed?

I don't feel particularly hungry, but have been very tired.

M

[manilamommy]

Hi Marmaduke,
I feel the same way. Not particularly hungry, but tired.
I also had a weight gain and plateau, but it was my fault --- I deviated a bit and ate several crackers more than I should have (more than several maybe... a couple days' worth crackers in one go!!!) hehehe. But my weight just started to move again, but very slowly.

Ive decided to wait abit before starting refeed until I experience the intense hunger. Or until Im at lower goal range + having other refeed symptoms + when I no longer see any fat reserves in my body.
MM

[mcbell]

I have just had another email back from my consultant, after I said I wasn't sure if I was ready for refeed, can see fat deposits, body fat % is still quite high....

"Wait and see what the scales say….you can wait till you are 52kgs then start.
The lower you can go the better.
Your body will tell you when it is ready."

I am assuming she means 52 on the clinic scales, which would be about 50.4 on my scales at home.

It would suit me to start by August 11, so I can be finished before my next planned trip away - which gives me almost three weeks. I was 52.8 on my home scales before I left on Thursday morning, so that should give me time to get down closer to 50 at home, and hopefully I will experience some of those refeed symptoms for real by then also.

Glad I have the programme and everything, so once I "know" it is time to start, I can just begin.

[Marmaduke]

Hi MM,

Thanks for sharing your experience. It is funny to be so close and yet, scales going backwards! I find it curious as I haven't deviated. Maybe the body is 'reshaping'? It is funny that after months of obsessing over scales going down I'd forgotten what it is like for them to go up and am not trying to get stressed about it, which is my natural reaction!

Oh and isn't it great to be SO CLOSE?! Well done you on the fantastic loss. Look forward to refeeding at the same time with you

M

[Marmaduke]

Originally Posted by mcbell

Glad I have the programme and everything, so once I "know" it is time to start, I can just begin.

Ditto, I feel like a plane on standby! though getting a bit obsessive, must try and relax about it and accept refeeding won't start for me this month.

By the way, what was your recommended weight range? I imagine she means 52kg in the morning on empty tummy, not after meals + water. Which has usually been consumed by the time we get to the clinic!

M

[mcbell]

Hi Marmaduke

My Cohen's goal range is 52-55kg........... I weighed in at the clinic last Monday at 54.8 - so I am taking it that I can check what my home weigh in was, and subtract 2.8kg and aim for that at home - I can always make an appointment to go in and get weighed and have a chat on Wed or Thurs if I need clarification I guess.

[manilamommy]

Thats great guys -- this means that the three of us will be co-refeeders, give or take a few days. It appears that we are all lingering around the upper edge of our goal weights, and not much refeed symptoms to date.

Ive always used my scale at home as my guide. This way its my base weight first thing in the morning after emptying my bladder and on an empty stomach and stripped down to my underwear. After all, its our scales at home that we use to dictate any adjustments we need to do on RF. The clinic scale is always off because of clothes, having had breakfast and water, etc. So to me, thats not as "accurate".

[mcbell]

My scales said 52.4 this morning. I might give the clinic a call, but intend to stay on plan until at least my next scheduled appointment next Monday - which was meant to be day 7 of refeed. I guess now I should check how long after a blood test that I can still do the refeed (if there is an expiry), as I think I will be due for my 20 week blood test in a couple of weeks - wonder if I will still need to get it done?

[Collie]

No I'm pretty sure mcbell you won't. Your refeed is already written so it'd be a waste of time.

I think your refeed needs to be started within 6 weeks of being written, check with your clinic on that though too, my memory could have failed me on that!!!!

[mcbell]

Originally Posted by Collie

No I'm pretty sure mcbell you won't. Your refeed is already written so it'd be a waste of time.

I think your refeed needs to be started within 6 weeks of being written, check with your clinic on that though too, my memory could have failed me on that!!!!

Will phone them today Collie, and ask. One of my friends at work said that she would give me an opinion about my body fat tomorrow, and suggested maybe I should start refeed on 1st of August, to make it easier to keep track of what day I am on - this would only be delaying my first intended refeed date by just over a week - might be worth considering.

[Collie]

True, could make it easier......and it'd be good to get an outsiders honest opinion about it all.

If you're game and brave enough to strip down and really get to the nitty gritty of where, if any bits and pieces still need 'work' then it'd be the way to go.

And the thing is, that I continued to lose all the way through my refeed.......1.5kg overall, it did't stop half way through, it didn't seem to stabilise until I got to maintenance and hovered around 54kg..........maybe what you need to get rid of those last 1-2kg is more food!!!!!

[Flutterby1983]

Hi All

Just thought I'd chime in as I have been in a similar situation to you all with my program.
I have spent the last 2 or so weeks in a constant state of being tired and lethargic. I have been irritable, and towards the end of last week got sick - which I haven't been the whole time I've been on the program.
But I was still 2kg away from the top end of my goal.

Dr Cohen, however, approved the order of my refeed anyway. And I started yesterday

Although I do have the voices that try tell me maybe I've failed by not reaching goal first, I also have the ones that say we have been told so many times to listen to our bodies. To me, that means not focussing on the scales! Every body is different.
My body was definitely telling me something was up... it needed more food!

I haven't updated my ticker in a while... but if you are interested I've lost 48kg in 33 weeks
Goal is 60-63, currently 65.3 (as of this mornings daily refeed weigh in). And happy to have started refeed!

[mcbell]

Congrats Flutterby! Are you going to start a refeed diary? Have fun in refeed land. Good on you for being able to listen to your body - I think I am having communication issues with mine - or it really isn't time for refeed for me yet. For instance, I finished meal 2 lunch 30min ago, and I kind of feel not as satisfied? But I don't know if it is real or not.... come on Red Flag!

My consultant told me she is happy for me to carry on to 52kg (50.4 on my home scales) as long as i feel good and am not getting too hungry....and I have my refeed programme here so I can start whenever I like.

Collie: My consultant said as long as I start within 6 weeks....and no need for week 20 blood test (which is due early August) as I already have the refeed programme. She also reminded me that it was likely that I could continue to lose weight through refeed too - I think I am worried I won't, so I want to get as low as possible - and with my shoe size shrinking, my goal range is likely to be 51-54kg now.

I am taking the shorts I brought off trademe to work tomorrow,and my friend and I will have a decidedly dodgy time in the womens bathroom at some stage while she inspects me in shorts and singlet, will have to expose the "problem areas" to her - poor girl - she's a true friend I will listen to her opinion, and who knows, might be starting refeed by the end of the week! My consultant also said I would probably be "soft" before refeed, and that you "firm up" as time goes by, so what I might think is soft fat deposits might not end up staying like that??? - Collie do you have any experience with this? I might need to do a forum search or start a thread.

Good luck refeeders, and soon to be refeeders! Exciting times.

Right I have Adele cranking, now I need to prep 7 days worth of refeed meals (I still have 2 weeks worth of plan meals in the freezer).

[Collie]

Yep, you absolutely continue to shrink once you finish, not so much getting smaller, although you might feel it and your clothes should give a little more that at first, and your skin definitely tightens up. It take 6-12 months though after finishing.......now I didn't get to formal exercise the first time so that probably slowed the process further, but with getting to it this time, I reckon it'll have to make a difference more quickly.

Your consultant is right about all of that, sounds like she's on the mark to me!!!!!

Shell in your diary is right too......the stupid o'clock waking hours is a HUGE symptom.......it was my number one symptom in the end, because the hunger never came!!!!!!

[ej_nz]

Just chiming in here Collie as I just read the part you wrote about formal exercise....

Does the Dr prescribe everyone their own "course" of exercise...I mean how many days and for how long? Or does everyone who finishes refeed and start maintenance get the same kind of guidelines for exercise?

Just pondered on that as everyone in their glorious height and weight would burn different amounts of energy for the same duration and intensity of exercise?

Does that make sense? Lol!

I still have the fat deposits you mention McBell...definately on my innner thighs! I have noticed it get quite "soft" too...I was worried that I am turning into a awkward body shape...half bones/half jelly!

[mcbell]

Originally Posted by ej_nz

Just chiming in here Collie as I just read the part you wrote about formal exercise....

Does the Dr prescribe everyone their own "course" of exercise...I mean how many days and for how long? Or does everyone who finishes refeed and start maintenance get the same kind of guidelines for exercise?

Just pondered on that as everyone in their glorious height and weight would burn different amounts of energy for the same duration and intensity of exercise?

Does that make sense? Lol!

I still have the fat deposits you mention McBell...definately on my innner thighs! I have noticed it get quite "soft" too...I was worried that I am turning into a awkward body shape...half bones/half jelly!

I don't think my management guidelines specify exercise....I have been a gym goer on and off since 2002, so I fully intend to hit the gym and do some weight bearing exercise. I also own a crosstrainer and the insanity and P90X dvd courses, along with kettlebells, a hula hoop, skipping rope, swiss ball and a bar bell set - and look where it got me before Cohens ! Anyway, I really want to build some lean muscle, so I will be joining a gym and stating that my goals are to tone and strengthen, and build lean muscle, and get my body fat percentage down to under 25% - and then I shall do what I am told.

I really hate running, but I am looking forward to giving it another go at some stage to see if it is much easier now that I am 23kg lighter. Oh, and I will be riding my bike (the big one and the little one) a lot more, especially once the weather cooperates.

[Collie]

My memory of the exercise guidelines that i received when i 'graduated' first time is that you should undertake a minimum of 4 hours a week of decent exercise, so I guess more than a stroll along the waterfront if you know what I mean........

For me I'm aiming to take on 4 or 5 if i can get thete enough of my hour long classes per week and try to mix up with cardio/weight bearing etc........

[Marmaduke]

Originally Posted by Flutterby1983

Hi All

Just thought I'd chime in as I have been in a similar situation to you all with my program.
I have spent the last 2 or so weeks in a constant state of being tired and lethargic. I have been irritable, and towards the end of last week got sick - which I haven't been the whole time I've been on the program.
But I was still 2kg away from the top end of my goal.

Dr Cohen, however, approved the order of my refeed anyway. And I started yesterday

Although I do have the voices that try tell me maybe I've failed by not reaching goal first, I also have the ones that say we have been told so many times to listen to our bodies. To me, that means not focussing on the scales! Every body is different.
My body was definitely telling me something was up... it needed more food!

I haven't updated my ticker in a while... but if you are interested I've lost 48kg in 33 weeks
Goal is 60-63, currently 65.3 (as of this mornings daily refeed weigh in). And happy to have started refeed!

Congrats Flutterby! How wonderful for you. So we are incredibly close in weight range and stage of diet. I was 2kg above top of my goal range last Tuesday and have mysteriously gone up since. Was getting a bit obsessive about the weight so am not weighing myself till after my TOM (due next week) and hoping to start refeed the weekend after that.

Hooray! Love to hear how you go. And well done on 48kg that's brilliant! I've lost 24kg in 27 weeks without deviation, but loss is much slower without eating meat. Totally delighted though. Hooray for good health and wearing happy new clothes!

M

[Never Give Up]

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