Hannah's lost weight diaries

[hannah]

My 8th week of cohens, so far have lost 2.3kg this month,hopefully by the endof this week i can loose another 1.5kg,so that at least i've lost 3.5 to 3.8kg on the 2nd month compared to 1st month i've lost 3.5kg. My weight lost have been slow and steady, between these 7-8weeks,i've used to a lot of things. Used to see ppl eating and i'm not, used to skip family dinner to do other things, used to prepare my meal everyday...nowadays my mood seems better and i'm happier,not sure why,may be my hormone more balanced after TOM,or may be is my weight lost. NOwadays i get sleepy around 11pm,and sleep pretty well,unlike begining of the diet i acctually wakeup in the middle of the night thinking what time is it now.I think this is the most tolerable diet i've tried.

[Kohinoor]

Hi Hannah,

hopefully by the end of this week i can loose another 1.5kg,so that at least i've lost 3.5 to 3.8kg on the 2nd month compared to 1st month i've lost 3.5kg.

Usually, the first month is bigger than the following months (mostly ~2 times in the first month). So, if you've done 2.3Kg already in month 2, you are doing really WELL!! You don't have a lot to lose, Hannah, so you are not likely to be dropping as quickly as most others. This is just "the way it works". Others, with 50 Kgs to lose, may seem to lose weight SO FAST compared to you - but they will be on the journey longer....

My weight lost have been slow and steady, between these 7-8weeks,i've used to a lot of things.

That is GREAT news !! Slow and steady is good, and quite expected on here (except for the first month, which is better than most others).

Many say, it is good to have TIME to learn a new way while doing Cohens. If it all goes by too quickly, your mind does not have enough time to LEARN new ways.

Hannah, don't be too concerned if month 2 is below month 1 - this is NORMAL !! And month 3 will likely be around month 2 in weight-loss too. Your journey is not so long - and you might need every minute of it to learn a new way.

Stay light and happy, Hannah - you will reach your goal in the time that is right for YOUR body,

Koh

[hannah]

Thanks Koh, will definitely appreciate the time to learn a new way while doing cohens.

[hannah]

Another 3 more days to full 2nd month of cohens. After reading Francesca's diary,me too decided to weight my self more often. So that i can keep track how much i've lost everyday. Weight myself this morning, loose another 0.3kg, left another 5.3kg to reach my target. As i've mentioned my progress is slow and steady,eventhough the lost is small but i'm already happy,cuz at least is not platue.Even 0.1kg i'm glad too decided to order refeed at 52kg, allowed more time for me to read through the refeeding program and the most important thing is i don't want to risk my self of deviate,cuz Dr cohens set my target at 52kg to 55kg,but i decided to go for 50kg.Just worried that if my body already send me alarm to do refeed eventhough i have not reached my own target weight,i'll listen to mt body and have my refeed in hand to start imediately.

[Shanara]

HI Hannah

Quickly droppped in to invite you to participate in the new WaterWise Challenge.

See here for details:

Hope you feel inspired

Shanara

[hannah]

thanks for inviting me,will definitely drop by the site u provided.

[hannah]

weight my self yesterday,drop 0.5kg,so happy another 2.8kg i'll order my refeeding soon. Feeling hungrier nowdays,usually if i eat my protein and vege i'll be satisfied, but nowdays i still have space for an apple. And i realised i feel cold easily nowadays, could it be my body is trying to hint me i should starts to refeed any time?(i'm now in the range 52kg-55kg set by Dr cohens) but i don't have other symtoms like wake up in the middle of the night, backache, diziness... i keep telling my self,nope,i don't think is the time yet.

[Kohinoor]

Hi Hannah,

May I suggest you contact your clinic to arrange refeed. Many reasons for this:-
1. I believe Cohens may be closing down over Christmas.
2. You are already WITHIN goal range (Cohens allows you to order from 2Kg above range).
3. It could take up to a week to arrive anyway.
4. As far as I recall, even if you order now, you can choose to start it in the next few weeks (don't HAVE to start right away)
5. If you DON'T have it, and the hungries hit you, and Cohens is CLOSED - HOW are you going to get through ????

It is important to start refeed when "it's time" - and your "time" might be in just one more week (better have it on hand, eh?)

Call your clinic tomorrow, Hannah and ask THEM !!! I'm not qualified to say all this (except that I read a lot, and learn from others' troubles),

Koh

[hannah]

Thanks Koh, very good idea. Din't strike me bout the holiday thing. I've emailed my consultant and she will get back to me soon. Thanks again

[Kohinoor]

Cool, Hannah !!!

One other thing, more and more, I'm seeing that "refeed signals" seem to be as many and varied as there are people doing them.

So, do have a good look around at other diaries (specially of those approaching, or have just done, refeed). Some of the "signs" that were agreed upon (a few months ago) were:-

1. Back-ache
2. Feeling antsy
3. Hunger
4. Waking early (real early!!)

Recently, it seems there may be others that may (or may not) be applicable to you:-

Tired
Cold
Not losing any more weight

I'm wondering if the earlier signals may have applied to those with larger amounts to lose (in the early forum days, most members had 30Kg or more to shed). Recently, we have had more new members (and many of them with no more than 15Kgs to lose). I simply question whether the latter MAY receive DIFFERENT signals from what was "the accepted norm".

In the end, I hear many saying "listen to your body" (and be in touch with your consultant - or on here, or both - if "things" seem to change markedly for you once you near goal).

And, as you know, I don't know (I just read a lot )

Good luck, reckon it won't be long now - for you

Koh

[hannah]

Koh, u are right!! my consultant also think i should order my refeeding now, cuz Dr cohens will be away for chirsmas, and i don't have to start the refeeding immediately i can just sustain as long as i can, if hunger hits me i can start anytime since i have refeed in hand. Another advantage of ordering it earlier will also allowed me to read through the whole refeeding clearly, i'm sure it will be very complicated compared to the diet now. I can have more time to ask 101 questions regarding bout my refeed too. I know the refeeding is the most important part and i just want to make sure i do it 100% and graduate from cohens with flying colours can't wait to see my refeeding!! wondering how many days of refeed i'll get

[hannah]

Koh, i'm not very sure wether i'm experincing refeed symptom. I do feel much hungry compared to last 2 months, nowadays i'm counting down my meal time and not satisfied after the meal, need to eat my fruit and crackers where i usually keep it for between meal. I do feel bit cold nowadays but din't wake up "early" as mentioned, still sleep through the night pretty well.

[Kohinoor]

Hi Hannah,

Koh, i'm not very sure wether i'm experincing refeed symptom.

It seems it is an "inexact science" - and I can't help with much more - do check out words in other diaries, and hopefully others with direct experience might drop by to advise. e.g. check the Maintenance Diaries, get some names, then check THEIR plan diaries (near the end) to see what THEY had happen when approaching refeed. Hope that helps...

For now, I'm just happy you have ordered refeed - you'll need to "have it with you" very soon methinks

Koh

[shell]

Hi Hannah,
Just be aware that some people dont get all the symptoms that they are ready for re feed.
As Koh mentioned, & I also think he is right, that those who don't have a lot to loose don't seem to get many of the re feed symptons.

Have you orderd your re feed yet?
I also agree with Koh, that you should have it on hand over Christmas if you need it.

Listen to your body, if it is telling you it needs more food- you are ready for re feed.
Keep us informed.

Shell

[sundaymorningstaple]

Hannah, while not to alarm you, what Koh has pointed out is good stuff. Having your refeed program in hand will alleviate any anxiety that you may have now that you are aware that Dr. C will be out for the 2 weeks holiday.

Also, as Koh mentioned, they symptoms are many and varied. Some suffer them and other don't. Be sure that you know what your are experiencing and also make sure that the reading of the diaries of those of us who came before have not caused what is commonly referred to as Psychosomatic Symptions. It may well be that you are getting or imagining symptoms that are not really there yet. When you get hunger you will know it for sure. It won't be a little niggling but it will be a gnawing hunger that makes you contemplate biting off the head of noisy children! Same with the backache. Feeling cold is normal for all once we get to the last few kg's left as we have burned off all the fat from everywhere and this leaves us with no insulation. Therefore the evaporation cooling down the skin surface reaches the blood vessels faster as well.

To be on the safe side, go to the bottom of Dr.C's range and then see how you feel. I didn't wait for any of the symptoms but I started refeed at the bottom of my target. You can look at my daily chart linked in my signature or read my diaries (phase one & refeed). Yesterday was 6 months post refeed and I'm still at my target weight and never fluctuation more than .5kg above or 1.5 kg below my target. My personal feelings are we should go to Dr. C's range (any point) and then start. Or, if you are within 2 kg of the upper range and the massive hunger some talk about hits, then start refeed instead of trying to prolong it. Think about Dr. C's instructions. It's possible to start refeed within 2 kg of the upper range if the hunger hits, but it never says go below until you hit hunger (this is where I differ with some of the others here). I believe I could have gone another 2 or 3 kg below target but why? I am at a point where I still look good (for 61 anyway), I hit maintenance and am having no difficulties. I've regained perfect health. Why would I want to keep going? To prove a point? Nah. That's not why I did the program.

Food! for though.......

There are mixed feelings about going below target. Read Maya's original diary or for that matter Pandora's. Other's have gone below with no problems but I rather err on the side of caution rather than causing a relapse due to the low weight being hard to control as it isn't a "normal" weight but rather a artificial bottom that you, as not a doctor, have set for yourself. I rather trust the good judgement of Dr. C.

Listen to your body and not other Cohenites as each of our stories is different. The only constant is Dr. C.

SMS
"The New Stallion"

[Maya]

Hannah...I'm Maya...I was on the diet and went too low. Somehow I was waiting for all these signs...but after being hungry for the whole diet I didnt feel hungry at all... no backache, no moodswings...nothing...
Please please dont do the same mistake...everybody loved the refeed...I was starving at the refeed as my body was in starvation.
After the refeed I lost the satiety feeling and I was never full.
I know I made a huge mistake going too low.
Maybe, if I was in a better situation I could still jump off...I did, went back on strict diet for 2 weeks, but it was all one weird complication.

If you feel you're ready, order the refeed. Give yourself few days, but dont postopne it too much. You can still lose some on the refeed and if in the end you still feel you wanna lose some, you can still do it.

My advise is - dont wait too long.
Good luck!

[hannah]

koh, shell, sms and maya, really thanks for the advice. I've already ordered my refeeding, but i'm not sure when i'm going to start doing it, cuz i really hope i can reach 50kg.
Since yesterday, i don't feel as hungry as few days ago. But i realised my weight is fluctuating from 54.8kg to 55.3kg, then today come down to 55.1kg. May be my body is experiencing starvation mode, holding on to my fats and water i guess. So i decided to have more cheese meal (but still make sure once daily) cuz i feel more full and satisfied after having cheese. And i also decided to increase one more tab of multivit. I hope by doing this my body will realised i'm not in starvation mode and just resumed to normal.
Maya, i've read your diary, thanks for your warning. After reading what u have told me, i'm bit worry i went to low and end up like what u have experinced, sounds pretty scary too.
I promised i will listen to my body, and will not force my self to reach my own below target range set my dr cohens. I think at the mean time i will follow sms advice, try to go to the lowest range set by Dr, and hope during refeeding i'll loose another 2 kg. But if i experinced the "hunger" (biting off the head of noisy children) as sms described, i will definitely start my refeeding immediately. I hope everything will run smoothly.

[shell]

Hi Hannah,
Good on you for ordering re feed, you will have it now for when you need it.
Having more cheese, because of the high salt content can make you retain a bit of fluid.
Have you tried swapping your meal's around?
That can sometimes get your body dropping weight again, maybe have meal 1 or 2 for breakfast and have meal 1 for tea?

Not far for you to go now- well done!
Shell

[hannah]

Hi shell,yes have been swapping my meal all the while. yeah,i know the cheese is high in salt and may cuz water retention, will try to reduced salt in other meal.Water retention have been my problem since before cohens espeacially one or two weeks before period come. But after shortly i started cohens, water retention seems diminished. But this week the water retention seems come back again(mild one),cuz i realised i still drink that much of water everyday, but the amount of water come out seems lesser than few weeks ago. So i guess that might be the reason my weight now fluctuating and can't seems like going down any more instead it when few hundred grams up i hope i will not stop loosing weight now and have to go reefeeding immediately,i really want to loose a few more kg's....

[hannah]

changed my ticker target weight from 50kg to 52kg(Dr cohens range). Y i did that?? cuz i learned and realised something from my yoga instructor. She asked us, y we learn yoga? have we achieved our target so far? if we have achieved thats great, and keep it up. If we don't its ok, as long as we know we have tried our best. We have to respect our limitation, don't hurt our body if we can't sustain or do certain pose, we have to listen our body, thats respect to our body. I suddenly thought of my diet program, yes, i love to reach 50kg which i've never that slim in my whole life. But if i try to force my self, i will still reach that target if i continue the diet longer, but in this case means i have not listen to my body and have no respect to my body in returns my body will not listen to me and will not respect me too. In this case, my body will fall into starvation mode or worst, loss the satiety to food and cuz rapid weight gain. i really don't want this to happened to me. I rather reached my precribed weight range, do the refeeding perfectly then apply what i've learned from this diet program to sustain my weight as long as i can. i shouldn't be too stuborn/take it too seriously with just the few kg's.