When should I start refeed

[Imfef]

Sounds like time to me. You don't want to push it. You could still lose in refeed, but if you've reached the bottom end of your Cohen range, why wouldn't you start refeed?

Personally, I'd listen to my body, enjoy refeed, and then start hitting the gym to firm and tone when you've finished.

[Shanara]

Khyla,

Definitely!

Something to think about - it will take some days for your refeed to come. the last thing you wan to do is be totally ready and are waiting for your refeed to come. That could throw you into a situation you don't want to be in. So my advice - order the refeed then plan when you start.

Shanara

[shell]

*bump*

[FlaMie]

Ok, this is SERIOUS folks. So, kindly give me a couple of mins of your time. I've been reading ever so often about people saying that "your body will tell you when you are ready for refeed". What are the signs really? I'm like really ignorant on this! How many signs do I need to have to know that I'm ready?! To be honest, I've been able to "condition" my body to go hungry for the longest stretch of time so I don't think hunger will really be my best indication. Hair drop? Back ache? Sleepless nights? Darn...ADVISE ME PLEASE!

[Kohinoor]

Hi FlaMie,

You might want to hear from "the Goddess" - if so, check post 11 in this thread:-
Almost ready for refeed but not hungry?

There, Asy tells it from her perspective - let's see how her words sit with you,

Koh

[hexi2]

I would like to add some symptoms of being ready for refeed as i am another that didnt get ravenously hungry and going through this the second time i am taking more notice:

• inability to concentrate (very scatty and forgetful) do one thing then forget what i was doing, or putting things that belong in the fridge into the cupboard?
  tiredness
  snappy and crabby
  out od balance: constant walking into door frames (misinterpreting the frame) ouch on the shoulders
  waking numerous times throughout the night
  waking up very early in the morning

[littlemiss]

Good points, all.

Just wanted to add that I started refeed despite wishing I was on the lowest end of the Cohen range (I wasn't but I was at goal weight I think - crazy!) - I wasn't feeling the symptoms as listed above but I found myself thinking about refeed, wondering when to start. When you start thinking like that and are still not hungry, still feel that you have much more to lose, trust me, starting refeed is a GOOD IDEA. Note that your body (and mind) would give you signals that you have to start refeeding yourself.

I didn't lose much on refeed but I ended up losing more on maintenance! So it could happen to you if you want to lose a couple more kg's.. Even if you don't, you've already come a long way to lose a BULK of your weight!

[blondechick]

Hi all, I would appreciate your thoughts. I have lost about 27kg but I have 5 to go, however, I have begun passing out and feeling extremely faint and quite hungry and I don't think this is a normal reaction. I am beginning to think that my goal weight may be a little higher than originally thought. Has anyone heard of this happening to others?

[jlou]

Hi Blonde chick

Have you checked with your doctor to make sure you aren't sick? I think that should be the first step as you are a way off goal yet and not within a normal BMI yet...

[blondechick]

HI jlou, I have been checked out and everything is normal, because of my medical history (Im a bit unique) they think my body needs a rest for a while

[forfreddie]

Hi

My clinic ordered refeed for me last week at 1.6 kg above goal and I am expecting it to arrive in the post today or tomorrow.

BUT.... I don't know when to start!

The recent earthquake in NZ has thrown me completely and I am worried I am not going to finish the programme.

All being well over the next few days I will be back on plan 100%, get to goal, wait for the hunger signs and start.

My main worry is if I can't control the little slips because of anxiety and stress or if I can't cope with hunger for the same reason (not hungry at present). Rather than floundering about and not ever doing refeed would it be better to just do it at this weight?

As I say I am hoping that this won't be necessary but I need to have an emergency plan so to speak!

Thanks

ff

[lil_doll]

Tough situation, FF...

The first few days of refeed are pretty simple. Same foods pretty much, just a little bit more. But after awhile, it gets pretty tricky tricky.

Has your clinic suggested anything??

My clinic wanted me to start ASAP, even though I didn't even have my plan, so I actually stuck to the first day of refeed for an extra day... maybe that might be an idea for you? That way you aren't deviating, you are just satisfying the hunger and delaying all the tricky stuff.

Oh woops, perhaps I should have read the question properly... as far as I know it is pretty important to be 100% before refeed, or how will you know how you are really reacting to new food? If you deviate on anything, try to stick to cohens... ie: extra fruit, crackers... etc.

Best of luck!

xoxo
Missy

[Never Give Up]

Hi FF, you need to be deviation free for 3 days - i was told that by the clinic. last time, I wasn't, because i was hungry, but I had to wait, even though I was a bit below goal weight. It was about 72 hours after i deviated that I was allowed to start (I'd deviated 3 evenings before, so she said I could start with my 3rd meal of the day - sounds a bit funny, but there you are) usually the up to the first week it's not too hard, but after the food comes thick and fast, and then the weights start really changing - reducing old protein and veg for example. You can go nuts. For me, it almost took all the fun out of it. BUT you need to focus at that time - to see how you react to foods, so you will see what your body will tolerate. The clinic told me yesterday you need to be hungry (as in not satisfied) for 2 - 3 days - that's one of the usual signs. Plus cranky, and drinking more water (because you're hungry? not sure). Hope this helps. All the best!
Lesley

[rk70]

Hey,
My first post today - I'm in the same situation as FF.
I was advised / pushed to order my refeed 10 days ago, when i was 1.5kg away from top end of goal weight. At that time i had just deviated for the first time - having gone slightly insane after the earthquake (i live in central christchurch). Since then i cant get back on plan, i'm bingeing and i've piled on the weight - 5kg to be precise. I collected my refeed programmme today and was told it had to be started within 4 weeks of the blood test but you also had to be at goal weight - so this gives me 2.5weeks to loose approx 7 kgs!!!!? My consultant was not particularly helpful / interested. There was also the suggestion of "just start it and then go back on plan later to loose more"
So, my questions are:
1. is there a time limit between ordering the refeed and starting it?
2. which is the lesser of 2 evils - starting refeed before you reach your goal or delaying your refeed longer than 4 weeks?
3. how the hell am i going to get back on plan????
Help!
RK.

[forfreddie]

Hi rk

Welcome to the forum! I don't know that there is a lot of expertise on Cohens and post mag 7+ earthquakes!!! But, there is lots of knowledge and advice out there that people who have completed this will be able to help you with.

Following my post below I did manage to get back on plan and get to goal weight before starting refeed. In an ideal world I would have waited a bit longer for more signs of hunger etc but it wasn't really an option.

In your situation I think you need to get a handle on your eating again because its sounds like you're not in the right place to do refeed properly at the moment anyway. Personally I would try and get back towards goal and delay refeed until you are in a better head space/weight bracket.

That would mean you might be outside the 6 week window but I think it would be the lesser of two evils so to speak. Others may think differently.

Good luck! Hope you and your close ones are safe.

ff

[danders]

Hey rk70, I havnt got to goal yet so dont know how valuable my opinion is here but I think forfreddie is probably right and you need to get back on plan and your head together before you start refeed. I gather it can be quite complicated once you get going so if youre struggling now it will only get worse. If youre worried about refeed timing maybe just try and be deviation free for 2-3 weeks and then start.. you may find some of those extra kgs fall off due to fluid.
All the best

[Never Give Up]

Hi rk70, yes, get back on the program, (easier said than done when you've gone off it! I know), stick with it until your time for refeed jsut about runs out, then start - if you are deviation free (must be for 3 days at least before you start RF), you could lose it the 7 kgs. Make sure you keep up your water, vitamins, and try not having cheese and have fish most days - I did this (my 3rd time on the program) and I was losing .2 - .4 more each week! I know everyone is different, but you could give it a try. hope it goes well for you,

all the best, lesley

[Kohinoor]

Hi rk70,

There are many differing opinions (and yeah, I have one too.... )

I'm sorry to hear that your clinic is not appearing to be overly helpful to you - I would have thought that was paramount for your success

So, my questions are:
1. is there a time limit between ordering the refeed and starting it?

I could point you to many posts, and all different - I tend to think that, since most blood tests are 8 weeks apart, that a refeed won't change much within an 8 week period...

Of course, YOUR blood test might have last happened 6 weeks back, yet a refeed was ordered..... How does THAT work? Does that mean you have just 2 weeks to start it? (I WOULDN'T think so, but then, I'm not qualified to answer, except with an opinion - so that's mine....)

2. which is the lesser of 2 evils - starting refeed before you reach your goal or delaying your refeed longer than 4 weeks?

Like the other replies, I think you need a bit of time to "settle" once more, RK. Try to put "time" out of your mind, and just concentrate on a day at a time, and shedding those extra Kgs (they will move quickly...) then start when it seems right to.

3. how the hell am i going to get back on plan????

Hmm, pass !! I'll defer to others on that one..... Maybe start by re-reading YOUR Diary, soak up all of the good vibes, relive the successes, and bring your mind back in tune with your journey. Your diary can be a source of strength for you !! Don't under-estimate it

Edited later:- Whoops I just read that this is your first post, so you don't have a Diary as such - so, just think back to when you started, how it went, recall the "woohoo" moments as you realise this was working.... and draw strength from those feelings - that kind of thing....

Luck,

Koh

[arlo]

Whew! I so glad i found this thread!

I was working on the assumption that i still needed to lose 6kg before going to refeed when i decided to reread my program only to realize that i was actually already just 2kg above the upper side of my target weight range. That got me excited coz that means i could go on refeed just 8 weeks after i started! i'm gonna order refeed!

Reading the posts, i realized that i've been experiencing symptoms of approaching refeed without realizing it. I was ignoring the small hunger pangs coz i have been used to ignoring this preCD doing other kinds of diet. The wooziness and being unbalanced coz i have vertigo and though they were mild attacks. The sore back i attributed to bad sleeping posture. Didnt experience the broken sleep pattern coz from the start i usually fall asleep past midnight and wake up at 6am raring for breakfast. The tiredness and weakness i attributed to, well, i have not been eating much right? And the crankniness due to... well i have never been know for my sunshine-y disposition hahaha.

but reading further, i found out that most of the people here (on the thread) regret doing their refeed earlier. That got me to stop a bit. i do still think that my body can stand to lose some more kg along the lovehandles area. Plus symptoms are not unbearable... yet. I was ready to wait til i lost 6 kg before the lightbulb moment happened and it's kinda hard to let the idea of refeed go.

So here's my decision. Order my refeed today but try to stick to phase 1 of CD for a week more after i actually reach the upper side of my goal range. that way i could read up and internalize the refeed portion before i jump into it. or at least if the symptoms do get unbearable, i already have the refeed program onhand.

so glad i found this forum. I learn a lot from other people's experiences in one reading binge wc prevents me from committing mistakes that might derail this adventure hahaha. thank you guys!

[sasha002]

Dear Baloo and Tuberose,

Are you guys by any chance in Singapore?