refeed second time around

[sasha002]

Hi Everyone.

I'm on the programme for the second time and am a bit worried about refeed time. I'm about 6 kgs away from refeed (judging from my previous experience). After refeed then, I stabilised at around 52 kg. My question is, do I wait till the hunger pangs strike or do i start refeed 52kg or any weight that I want to be comfortable in?

Appreciate any feedback here. Thanks very much.

[claireybell]

Cue Ciors

Ciors has a bunch of experience here.

General consensus is each refeed can be different, the symptoms can be different and you may need it at a totally different weight (read Ciors diary for more info on this!!) so therefore do not judge it on the number onthe scales but on the way you feel!!!

[JayCee]

Agreed CB. Sasha you will need to take your body to its (new) equilibrium so I wouldn't recommend starting refeed until your body says to.

Good luck!

[Ciors]

LOL CB....I feel like red carpet material after that!

Sasha, I did refeed, didn't stabilise, and was recommended to go back on plan...I then lost a further 3 kg and I'm still waiting for refeed symptoms to hit...my decision to go back on refeed is post 339 on pg 17, then 729 on pg 37 discusses the stabilisation at equilibrium or where you want...and the post that Koh gave me that really set me to task is this...
http://newyouforum.com/forum/showthr...283#post158283

After my experiences, I would recommend waiting for refeed, rather than because your at a weight where your happy....but everybody's body is different and you may not have the issues I did...

Good luck

[Kohinoor]

Hi Sasha,

Only one other "caveat" that I wanted you to know.... Depending on an individual's past eating habits, "some" people actually don't recognise hunger !!

In particular, those who might have only (previously) eaten one meal per day. Their bodies/minds had become used to "waiting" for food. One case worth a read is SMS (SundayMorningStaple). He was a "one meal a day" bloke who didn't recognise hunger per se.

He Refed at goal weight, maintained for two years, then deliberately added a few Kgs with the intention of re-doing Plan and Refeed, but this time, he waited for "hunger" to strike.

I won't post too much, as I might "mis-remember" all of the circumstances - but may I suggest you seek out his Maintenance Diary, and/or his Personal Diary. He explains a lot in there.

If you, too, don't recognise hunger, do take note of the other Refeed symptoms instead. In short, you will be feeling "bloody awful", your mind will be a mess, and other strange things start happening. Keep on posting your symptoms as they arrive......

It is often said "You'll KNOW when it is time" - and your cliniic will also help with this, so be in constant touch (even if NOT hungry, but the rest of you is "falling apart".... ) And yeah, it is likely to be around goal weight, give or take.

Koh

[sasha002]

Thanks so much everyone. That's a lot of really good info to have at hand. I'm not in touch with my clinic at the moment cos its been some time. But checking out the diaries of others will really really help. Thanks for that.
I'm like 6 kgs away and already feel fed up and tired all the time. Not so much hungry though.
Its not at all like my first time on the plan. I'll keep to the plan. I think I'm not even recognising symptoms.....perhaps my body is telling me in other ways. I was so bloody disciplined the first time, it was scary. I'm having a really hard time now...don't know why?
Going straight in to check out diaries...
Had a weekend of indulgence though (just couldn't handle another mouthful of good wholesome food).
Is it true you're body takes a week to detox everything? I always feel like I've started to lose weight after the 3rd or 4th day....

Anyways.....will keep posting symptoms as they arrive...cheers everyone and have a great week ahead.

sasha

[Kohinoor]

Hi Sasha,

Is it true you're body takes a week to detox everything? I always feel like I've started to lose weight after the 3rd or 4th day....

That's the trap !! Many people can shed any "naughty excess" within 3 days - BUT, getting the body back into balance again after a deviation is what tends to take a week.

And, even though you might gain (and then drop) 2 Kgs during a deviation, the follow-on weightloss often doesn't start again until a week has gone by, Let's see how it works for you (you might be lucky, but don't hold your breath ) So, you effectively "lose" a week.

Keep deviating weekly, and you'll end up standing still (or gaining again )

Koh

Koh

[jessy]

Hi Sasha

Defently get a hold of your consultant ASAP. Your So close. This is when they really do need to hear from you. You might just need to up the vitamins, or add something small and a bit extra to see you through. Hang in there.

[sasha002]

Hi everyone....

Crazy thing happened today. Had a short nap because I was so extremely tired. Woke up and was starving. This was around 3 hrs after lunch. Downed 2 crackers (eventhough I already finished allowance for the day). It was as if I was in a daze...then figured it might be water (but already drank quite a bit earlier on)...so downed about 600ml. Still tired after nap so just couldn't cook anything but instead of getting non-cohens food, just ate yogurt (again, had it for breakfast).
Does anyone think these are refeed symptoms? Its only been ayear since my first plan....could my body have changed that much. Just turned 40 btw.

Thanks everyone....

Sasha

[sasha002]

Hi everyone...does anyone know if I can still contact my clinic eventhough my 'term' has 'expired' so to speak? I'm on the plan again on my own a year after refeed and I believe there's been changes to the Syd clinic. Who do I contact anyway?

Thanks....

S

[Not2Much]

You are lucky because the new Sydney clinic consultant is right here on this forum...MH76...

[Ciors]

hi Sasha... I did refeed just before Christmas last year...didn't stabilize properly, went back on plan and my refeed symptoms are completely different being tired certainly is a sign.

[Not2Much]

Would you girls reckon - hypothetically speaking - there is any advantage in doing the complete 30-day refeed the second time around (obviously one must be crazy to even want to do it for so long)?

[Ciors]

N2M...is your refeed 30 days?!!!! I guess the idea is that refeed helps you to stabilise, and as such, yes, I would think doing refeed from start to end would be beneficial...necessary

[Not2Much]

Originally Posted by Ciors

N2M...is your refeed 30 days?!!!! I guess the idea is that refeed helps you to stabilise, and as such, yes, I would think doing refeed from start to end would be beneficial...necessary

NOOOOO!!!! But almost...21 days. At the time it felt like forever...but now I'm wondering if it wouldn't be better to do the complete 30 days as you'll give your body even more time to adjust?

Saying that - I must admit that I didn't do all of the 21 days as I just couldn't increase my portions anymore - I just waited until I had all of the new additions and varieties and finished myself the day before. This time I will follow it to the T though.

[Kohinoor]

N2M...is your refeed 30 days?!!!!

I believe that many countries outside Australia/NZ have a 30 day sheet. On that sheet are marked the days Dr Cohen wants YOU to do (in N2M's case, 21 days of those 30).

Here, (australia, and NZ?) only the days needed are presented to the client, so there is never a mention of 30 days. Refeed lengths typically vary betweeen 14 days and 22 days I think.

Hope that helps to understand when "International members" mention 30 days on the Refeed document.

Koh

[sasha002]

Hi N2M and Ciors....thanks for that. Was away for a while so couldn't reply soon.
Yeah...tiredness, big time.
Have a couple kgs to go before refeed. Last time, I exhibited 'symptoms' only at 50kg which is 2 kg below the lower part of target weight. Seems different now. Some days am not tired and feel I could go on forever, other days not too good. Have no idea what's going on.


~S

[sasha002]

Hi All!

I just had a read of my managment guidelines (eventhough I haven't started my refeed yet) and it says that if I have gained more than 2-3 kgs, I should get a new series of blood work and possibly a new plan. Here's what this genius did - Gained 9kgs and followed old plan! lost most of it but (if I'm following my refeed start weight of 50.4 as before) have about 4 kg to go. But really really tired and hungry on some days and not on others. The possibility of my body's change may require a new programme and that could explain the tiredness and hunger eventhough I'm 4kg away from refeed weight (if that is my new weight). So now am at a loss....what do I do? Should I start refeed now or wait to lose a bit more (if that weight loss is still relevant here)?

To complicate things....I was so hungry and stressed out today that I deviated from my plan by eating carbs, something I know is a major no-no for me. So not only did I realise I did things all wrong, I made matters worse by gorging on stuff that's so bad for me.

I'm just so fed up and tired of the whole thing that I just want to stop at this weight and go stratight to managing this weight....
Any advice? Anyone?

[Kohinoor]

Hi Sasha,

First thing - Breathe, slowly, deeply, and gently - continue for 2 - 3 minutes, then read on.....

That first sentence was designed to have you tske a minute to just still that mind of yours, 'cos the information following needs some quiet, considered thought. OK?

Here we go :-

It seems to me that MANY on here seem to forget that there are MANY tools in your toolbox, once you have finished Refeed (the FIRST time), and gone into maintenance. Most only remember one - go back on Plan !!

Have a good long read of the linked thread below :-

http://newyouforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6408

Having done that, have a think about what YOU think might be a better option.... Rather than being tired and hungry (again and again?) is there a BETTER way to trim off some excesses, while keeping up with any new exercise, etc?

Lemme know what you think,

Koh

[sasha002]

Hi Koh...thanks for that. Thought provoking indeed.
My intention was, as far as good intentions go, was to finish refeed and get back to my exercise routine of before i.e. 30 mins cardio 3x/wk and an hr of weights 2x/wk. Was really good on this for about 3-4 years before injury and weight gain.
Things just happened, as they will, and having been away from the gym for quite a bit, had a hard time getting back which got me stressing out about maintenance and how I'm going to handle it which then (ironically) led to weight gain (among other things).If it was a couple of kilos I would have let it go but it was 9...which got me scared and worried that the numbers might go up hence the plan.
I too feel (as many have written in the thread) that constantly going on and off the plan might not necessarily be a sustainable action plan to maintenance but it certainly is the fastest way to get things in 'order'. This round is in effect to prepare me to hit the gym again, if that makes sense. The new weight loss working as a motivator and all that. The plan is definitely not a long term goal. Having said that, I applaud all those who have successfully maintained their new weights if their own way. I'm still trying to get there but got lost along the way. Just getting on the right path again. I like the 80/20 rule (good 80% of the time and 'bad' 20% of the time)that Lulabelle mentioned. I also love the thread. I think I know what you intended wen you referred me to the thread - need to find my own management strategy without necessarily depending too much on the plan (unless of course you've screwed it up like I have....). And it has to work for me.
I'm hoping to finish this refeed (which is taking me an extraordinarily long time given all the deviations), and move on to my own sustainable plan. Then you'll see me on the maintenance threads.
Thanks koh

Cheers,
~S