Plateau or refeed?

[Hayley23]

Hi all,

I realise there a lot of threads regarding plateaus but I was unsure which one to post in. I would love to hear your opinions on my situation...

For almost 2 weeks now I have been hovering just under 61kg. My goal range calculated by Dr Cohen was 56-59kg. During this time of no weight loss one week was TOM, however, thats been and gone and still nothing is happening.

I know I am naughty weighing most days but I only have 5kg left to lose. The reason I want to get to the lower end of my goal weight range is so that if I put on 1-2kg during or after refeed, that I still am within my happy range and have a little room to play with.

I phoned my consultant and she wondered if perhaps I am ready for refeed and this is why I have hit a wall? She asked me if I had been experiencing any symptoms like hunger etc but its more towards the opposite - not hungry at all! And no other symptoms like back pain, lack of energy etc. that some others experience.

I really really want to get to 56kg as personally I don't feel I am ready for refeed just yet as I feel fine. I just feel as if i've been 'stuck' for almost 2 weeks now. Could it be anything to do with PCOS? I tried cutting down on crackers for a few days but didn't have any luck with the scale. My consultant said its probably best to eat all my fruit and crackers at the moment anyway, as knocking back might not help with a stall.

I guess I just didn't think a plateau would be over 2 weeks? Hope to hear some advice from you wise and wonderful people!

xx

[Mette]

There have definitely been others in your situation, Hayley! Have a read through Irene's (Fotohijinx) diary. While she was on the program, she had stays on Plateau Island that were so long that she opened Lusty's Bar there lol!
If you don't have any other refeed symptoms, go for a while longer. It might just be that you're subconsciously anxious and stressing about finally getting to your goal. And that makes your body hold on to the weight.
Have you tried switching your meals around? It's worked for some people.
Be kind to yourself and take care of yourself. It will come!

[Hayley23]

Hi Mette thanks for your reply

I could probably do with switching my meals around a little more. I have always had meal 1 for breaky (Yoghurt or egg & veg) but yesterday had meal 2, some chicken and veg. Wasnt as strange as I thought it would be, having chicken in the morning, hehe.

I'm glad you agree to stick with it a bit longer - it almost freaked me out hearing my consultant suggesting refeed - seems way too soon! Mind you, there have been several things my consultant has said over my time on the program, which I have taken with a grain of salt.

Thanks for the advice, i'll check out that diary.

[Kohinoor]

Hi Hayley,

Could it be anything to do with PCOS? I tried cutting down on crackers for a few days but didn't have any luck with the scale. My consultant said its probably best to eat all my fruit and crackers at the moment anyway, as knocking back might not help with a stall.

In a way, it's a bit like "kum see, kum saa" (however you spell it). In a way, I'm with your consultant - as some on here have found they LOSE once they start eating MORE !!

The flip side is, don't go thinking "I'll cut back on crackers and fruit as I want to lose weight quickly" - it can bite you in the butt !!

Of course, the kicker is PCOS - and that can slow you down more than other things. Based on that, and your own words, I'd say stick with it for now. I'm currently working with others on here to try to quantify the "refeed symptoms" thing a bit better - there are so many symptoms, and not experienced by all.

For now, it strikes me you are OK - so go with your gut, Hayley. In saying that, keep any limiting thoughts at bay. The trick is to stay light, happy and excited (i.e. rev up the seratonin, and catch a few early nights for an extra boost).

You've done well, girl - I'm sure you would realise this - maybe focus on that too, to crank up those "happy feelings" a bit more. It all helps,

Koh

[Shanara]

Hi Hayley,

Thanks for posting this. I am some way off refeed yet but have come to realise this decision you are facing seems quite crucial to the long term success of the programme.

One of the things i have been doing is reading people's diaries as they approach refeed to witness their process. I am pleased that Koh is putting his attention to this vital element of the programme.

One of the things which my consultant has shared with me that may help you is that this programme is really about getting us to listen to our body. She says that is the skill which will ensure we maintain well. I know for me listening to my body is a skill I am still perfecting as my damn head comes in and thinks it knows the answer.

I reckon Koh is on a winner when he says

For now, it strikes me you are OK - so go with your gut, Hayley. In saying that, keep any limiting thoughts at bay. The trick is to stay light, happy and excited (i.e. rev up the seratonin, and catch a few early nights for an extra boost).

You are doing great on the programme and asking great questions as well.

I really really want to get to 56kg as personally I don't feel I am ready for refeed just yet as I feel fine. I just feel as if i've been 'stuck' for almost 2 weeks now.

Perhaps your body is taking some integration time. Rapid change often brings a need to integrate these changes.

Thanks
Shanara

[asy]

Also, your consultant needs to be slapped. Fancy suggesting a refeed in your circumstances!!! Grrr....

Mixing your meals around is the PERFECT first step to shaking out the plateau. Remember, these late plateaus can be a few weeks, without any question. You are now down to the hard-core, "inground fat", the fat between the muscle layers, and the stuff that's been there forever.

If you aren't hungry yet, you usually aren't ready for refeed. Have a look at yourself in the mirror and see whether there's ANY fat left to lose. It's VERY rare to get to goal weight and have no more discernible fat and not be hungry yet. It has happened, but it's like a .1% thing.

Keep going. Remember stress can really impact on weight loss.

Keep up your water intake. Keep up your sleep levels, and mix the meals around. Still obviously a meal 1, 2 and 3 each day, but in odd orders.

asy D

[Hayley23]

Wow thanks Koh, Shanara & Asy - spoken like true experts - you could just about open your own clinic!

Koh - Your very right and I always believe that you can't go wrong with listening to your gut instinct, after all, we are all so finely tuned, as this program has truely shown. And of course, we are all so individual. Mmmm I agree with the early nights but unfortunately I could be sleeping a lot better at the moment. Since I moved back to New Zealand from Melbourne the recession has affected my little town BIG time and I am having trouble finding work. No job = no brain drain = not the deepest sleeps.

Shanara - Sounds like your consultant knows what shes talking about! Before beginning Cohen's I'd always been concious about diet but I cannot believe how much I have learned about my body from this! I feel like I am the luckiest girl in the world sometimes because I have learned this at age 23. I also considered that my body would be taking some integration time, I guess it's only natural so I am throwing caution to the wind and have decided thats whats happening. Most of my time on the program I ahve avereged around 1kg per week which I am MORE then happy with taking into consideration y personal circumstances.

Asy - Exactly the reason I pick and choose what to 'hear' from my consultant and what to actually 'listen' to. Don't get me wrong, shes great and I can chat away for her to ages but she really doesnt understand PCOS. I don't blame her really (sometimes ignorance is bliss) but thats why I choose to talk to you fine people. There is definately some fat to lose from my butt and thighs. I am the kind of person who stores everything in that area, which is a little surprising as mofe often then not PCOS weight tends to accumulate around the middle. I've always been blessed to have a pretty flat tum but it's my booty thats the problem area. I always tend to lose a lot up top and end up with small arms and waist but it is sloOoOoOoow going for the hips and thighs. I'm fine about it though and just ecstatic to have results after so long of having failure!

Ohh and by the way I was down 300g this morning - probably due to the reassurance of your wonderful selves!

Thanks so much everone xx

[ConnieK..]

Hey Hayley,

Sooo glad you had a shift on the scales hon. Having PCOS makes it soo much harder, but it is still possible just takes perserverance, and we have that in buckets

Hang in there kiddo, good stuff happens

Connie

[Hayley23]

Thanks Connie!

As you can see I have updated my ticker.

Only around 4kg to go! I'm assuming these last kilos will hang on for dear life. I would have been on the program 8 weeks next Tuesday and I have to admit - its been somewhat pleasant. No cravings, no bloated tum and my moods have been so much better!

The funny thing is, no one really notices I have even lost weight except my family? I do know that I am damn good at dressing to hide myself - hopefully a habbit I will be able to let go soon enough.

xx

[Hayley23]

Wellllll silly me for speaking so soon!!

Yes siree I dropped a kilo last week but now once again have hit a plateau. No movement in the scale for 5 or 6 days - actually I tell a lie, it did go up 100g.

I've been mixing up my meals, drinking my 3L of water etc etc. I really hope this is not what I am to expect from now on??!

Still very un-hungry though so I'm still staring clear of refeed at this stage.

[Mette]

Perhaps the problem is that you are focusing too much on the weight? What I mean is that it is on your mind a lot, and often that is when the body will hold on to it, because your mind is stressing on some level.
Maybe stay off the scales for a while. Focus on yourself, do things you like and be kind to yourself. Once you stop worrying about it, you'll often find the weight drops off again.

[Hayley23]

Hi Mette,

Yes your right in assuming I am focussing a lot on losing weight lately. I have still been unable to find work here and I don't have a lot going on in my life. Its doing my head in a bit. I am starting to wonder if perhaps I am a little too inactive now? I am used to working and exercising a lot and at the moment I am doing neither. The work side of things is circumstantial and I am trying my best to find something. I have really only been on the occasional walk since beginning the program - and I do stress occasional. I have so much time on my hands I find myself just 'sitting around' a lot of the time. Maybe I have gone from one extreme to the other and now i'm not even 'incidentally' active enough??

[Mette]

Could be. Maybe as part of your routine, go for gentle walks (no overdoing it!) just to be doing something to activate your body. I actually find my... erm... insides work better when I do lots of walking.

[Hayley23]

Well gee whiz!

I know I shouldnt rant so tell me to shut up if you must....

...But are the last 3-4kg always this difficult? I probably get a movement on the scales every 10-12 days the last few weeks. This Tuesday I would have been on Cohen's for 10 weeks - deviation free I might add! I've been happy with my rate of loss taking into consideration my PCOS but it really seems to have come to a grinding halt. I'm still not hungry, if anything - I seem to get less hungry! This probably due to me being pretty inactive at the moment. I wanted to try and go for some gentle walks like Mette suggested but the weather here has been shocker and i'm usually quite cold anyway so don't know if i'm brave enough face walking in the cold.

I can't find any work here I have been trying and trying and I really feel that if I had some 'brain drain' it might really help me. Maybe I should move back to Australia sooner then planned. I just really wanted to lose the last few and put my all into refeed before jumping into some other huge changes.

I guess I'm just really wondering if others have experienced this in the last legs of the program? I am not sick of the journey/food/restrictions, as my time on Cohen's has not been long thus far compared to some of the other troopers on here!!

Sorry if I'm moaning everyone!!!!!
Not a day goes by that I don't feel greatful for having come as far as I have.

xx

[shell]

Listen to your body, it will tell you when you are ready for re feed.

Shell

[newcel]

Hi Hayley I have also plateaued for two weeks now at just under 71. Not fun, but i'm trying to persevere too!!

xxxxc

[Hayley23]

Hi Newcel,

Its a pain isnt it??! The same thing keeps happening to me, then I'll lose 1kg then it will happen again!!!!! Grrrr...haha.

I've tried mixing meals etc to get things going but I think the ol plateau has a mind of its own!

[Kohinoor]

Hi Hayley,

A gold star for stoicism to you, girl !! Keep on sticking to it, and you WILL be the winner (I really believe you already are )

I can't find any work here I have been trying and trying and I really feel that if I had some 'brain drain' it might really help me.

Have you thought of doing volunteer work - just to get you out of the house, and get your mind on other things ? As others have said, any stress (think - anxiety, anticipation followed by disappointment, etc) will stop you stone dead !!

If you can change your focus by introducing new interests, it may work wonders (what've you got to lose by trying it? - perhaps Kgs )

Koh

[Hayley23]

Hi Koh,

Well gold star to you - for your optimism!

Yeah I really hope I do get there and that this is all part of the process. It helps to know that others have had frequent and long plateaus so feel free to speak up everyone! Hehe.

Hmmm I'm not sure I would do volunteer work as I actually really need the money! I see your point though and you never realise how valuable the brain drain aspect of work really is until you don't have it.

Really looking at moving back to Melbourne later this year. I wonder what the work scene is like in Australia at the moment? Its bound to be better then here!

I just know that I can't change clinics and since I started the program here I thought it best to continue here.