Jen's refeed diary

[princess_sunbeam]

Well I am on my way to refeed land! Yesterday I started- day 1. I am not going to post my weights here until I am done, as I have found in the challenges that my weight loss doesnt seem to go as well as when I am only accountable to myself, so I hope you all understand.

DAY 1
Extra old protein, extra old vegies, 1 extra old fruit and a slice of bread! YUMMM!!! Day 1, being my birthday, was a very special day. Apart from spending the day with my wonderful husband and kids, this was the best birthday present I could give myself. The bigger meals were great, but french toast (white woolies bread) with stir fried onion, mushroom & tomato on top was a special treat! BREAD!!!! MMMMMMMMMMM! I so loved bread before Cohens. I did, however, find, as yummy as it was, that it was a little disappointing! I also found that about a half hour after the bread that my tummy became very noisy!

I spent the day mostly with my husband, did some shopping, saw my mum and didnt even consider that because it was my birthday, I should stuff something naughty in my face! We went to "Wheel and Barrow" and bought a yummy coconut & honey hand scrub & coconut & honey hand cream. Mum also gave me some $$$ to go get a new haircut/colour/look, so I have started investigating that too! I also went and saw a tattooist about covering the ancient Betty Boop on my butt with something new and different. We then went in the evening to Caboolture for a birthday celebration with the in-laws, as I share my birthday week with my father-in-law. I took my dinner, but did allow myself the tiniest sliver of birthday cake. I discussed this with my psychologist this week. Previously, I would have "taken the day off" the diet, but she suggested that I be as good as I can, allow myself a small concession, enjoy it, rejoice in the fact that I enjoyed the taste, but stopped a small piece. My daughter had made her super carrot cake with a light philly/lemon icing. The taste was superb, I enjoyed the flavour and was happy to leave it at a taste. This was a big step for me. There was another cake and a custard tart, but I didnt try those.

DAY 2
More old protein, more old vegies, 1 extra old fruit, a slice of bread. Started the day at the markets. Caboolture markets are awesome! Bought lots of fruit & vegies and some new seedlings for the vegie garden. Breakfast today was an egg on wholemeal toast, with stir fried vegies. Wholemeal seemed to agree with me more. Visited some family & friends up in Caboolture. Family members we havent seen in nearly 12 months- and they were stunned & complimentary. The friends were the same ones who have not said a word about my weight loss AT ALL, the entire time I have been on this journey. Still not a word today. This amazes me because they couldnt have NOT noticed that nearly 50kgs are sort of missing! We then dropped by an old friend of mine who was in our wedding party. I havent seen her in ages either! Because we have moved about 30mins from where we used to live, and have built, landscaped, ferried teenagers around- and life in general, we dont see our friends as much anymore. Life moves in cycles. She was gobsmacked- excited and so happy for me, and I am hopeful that she may be inspired to make this journey now herself. Whenever I see old friends, I wonder at why I dont make more effort to see them. Life is too busy and this weekend of no work and all pleasure has made me think that maybe we need to not work so hard and step back and enjoy life a little more.

You may be thinking "what happened to the crabs?" Well the weather this time wasnt conducive to going out to our fave crabbing spot, and the tides not right for the prawns, we we will try- yet again- next weekend. Failing this, we have already booked a site on the banks of Mission Point for 6 days over Easter- SO IT WILL HAPPEN! I am so looking forward to that holiday.


I am now going to formulate an exercise program to go with this smaller frame, to firm it up. I bought a book (on eBay) called "Bums & Tums" as I think these are 2 great spots to start. I dunno if anyone else has noticed this, but along with the loose flab around my belly, when I sit down my butt feels uncomfortable with the excess skin around my butt cheeks! I am so hoping that I can get rid of that, because sitting is not a pleasure at the moment!

Have a great fat burning week everyone!

[Gorgeous one]

Hey Jen,
Happy to see you are enjoying refeed so far. I was surprised you had started refeed already. Were you given special permission to start refeed even though you have 9kgs to go?. I thought you looked great at lunch last time I saw you so not that surprised to see you're moving on.
Exercise hopefully will tighten those nasty skin problems. Time I suppose is the answer. Sounds like you are enjoying the new freedom of foods.
And..... HAPPY BIRTHDAY. What a great present to be on refeed.
Yeah, hope to catch up with you again soon.

Michele

[Mette]

Happy birthday, darling! And congratulations on reaching refeed! You have done so well, you should be really proud of yourself!

[louise41]

Congratulations on making it to refeed Princess! Have fun with the exercising. I found that I had heaps more energy on refeed and really enjoyed getting active!

[princess_sunbeam]

Thanks for stopping by Michele, Mette & Louise!

Michele, they did have to ask Dr if it was ok. Obviously he wouldnt have given out my refeed if he didnt think it was the right time. In the last 7 weeks I have lost 2.7kgs, and it has been a real struggle. The last 3 weeks I have lost .3kg per week. I figure my body has decided it is time. I have quite a bit of muscle mass on me from years of playing sports and weight training, which muscle weighs more than fat. I am going on Tuesday week to have Bio Impedance Analysis (BIA testing) done, which will tell me how much fat I still have to lose and how much lean muscle mass I have lost. I think this will give me a fairer idea of where I will end up. I plan on having a couple of months of eating healthy (Cohens friendly) and exercise, hoping that my skin can tighten some in that time, then I will go back on the plan again to get down to the recommended weight that comes from the testing.

[maria1969yellow]

Good morning Jen, congrats on all the obstacles and challenges that came with your birthday like eating a sliver of cake and not going for more.

you have done so well and Im sure this is all just your mind getting used top the new you.

I reckon next time when you see your friends tell them (if your confident enough and brag about what you have achieved.) they most likely dont know how to approach the subject (who knows.)

Glad you had a special birthday and celebrating in the way you did treating yourself...

Look forward to hearing what you think about refeed...

Have a beautiful week.

Maria

[thenewvee]

Congrats on making it to refeed and to enjoying some extra foods and amounts!
Also a belated Happy Birthday to you!

It sounds like it has really boosted your mood and hopefully it also boosts your weight loss!

It's so good to see you achieve what you wanted!!

I know the feeling of wanting to share this good thing called Cohens will all and Sundry!! Some people just don't want to know, though!

Keep going strong and keep enjoying your refeed!

Vee

[MelB]

Hiya Jen,

Looking forward to hearing about your BIA test results. Let me know where, how, and what. Hope you had a special birthday.

Melissa

[princess_sunbeam]

Thanks Mel & Vee for your kind words.

The BIA testing is being done at the Cribb Street Medical Centre @ Milton. I will let you allknow how it goes.

Day 3 has gone well. I opted not to have bread today, as my belly has been having a bit of a party for the past 24 hours. TOM arrived this morning, so that may be part of it, but doesnt explain the diahorrea I woke up with. Dunno where that came from! I have been having my extra protein at lunchtime and the extra vegies at night. Today for my good fruit I had pineapple in my yoghurt! It was a really sweet pineapple, so was a yummy change! I am still drinking loads of water. I wonder about the possibility of water retention?? Last night I was 1.9kgs heavier than the morning. This is very unusual. I have weighed in the evening and morning a few times whilst on program, and found that there was usually 1kg between my evening and next morning weight. I was terrified last night, but got up this morning and it was all gone. Must have been the bread (blame everything on the bread!!!) Looking forward to tomorrow when I get 4 pieces of fruit! I have made up a fruit salad, so will start taking that in my lunchbox!

Have a great fat burning sleep everyone!

[thenewvee]

Hi Jenny!

Sounds like you have pretty much got things sussed out, noticing the changes in your body and how your body is being affected by the different foods.
Have you lost much weight since starting the refeed? I hope so!
Good luck with the BIA test!

Vee

[princess_sunbeam]

Vee- I have lost .3kg since the start of refeed.

DAY 4
Increased protein & Veg, 1 extra piece of fruit
Pretty good day today. Felt good!

DAY 5
Woke up happy today. Today is our 8th wedding anniversary! Started the day with cheese & tomato on TOAST! YUMMO!!! Went to work, and a funeral, for a dear college who lost his battle with lung cancer. He had a good innings though, at 72 after 2 major heart surgeries. Saw lots of old collegues I havent seen in a long time and still got lots of positive comments. All the positive reinforcement only strengthens my resolve to stay slim. Went to physio this afternoon (shoulder) and started some light weights. Tonight, hubby & I went for a drive to Manly- we were married in a park down there,swung by the park then- went out for tea . We havent dont that since pre-Cohens days. I ordered grilled fish and green vegies. I thought I had chosen well, until it arrived- smothered in a citrus melted butter! I didnt realize citrus beurre meant- gallons of melted butter poured over the fish! I didnt even see the size of the fish, or the vegies, just all the butter! GALLONS OF IT!!! I think the waitress saw the look of horror on my face, and she asked what was wrong. I told her that I am on a diet and when I ordered grilled fish I didnt expect it to come smothered in melted butter! Fortunately, she was great and took it away and returned with a fresh meal, minus the butter. It was - I would estimate, less than 200grams of lovely white fish, which, with the increased protein I kept for tonight and the taste I gave to hubby, fitted nicely into my day. Had to pick through the veg a bit, but fortunately, there was heaps of it, so I could get enough. Looking forward to tomorrow- I get another piece of bread! 2 pieces of bread- a sandwich Guess who is a happy girl!!

Have a great fat burning day everyone!

[princess_sunbeam]

DAY 6
Much the same as day 5 in additional foods. I am enjoying having pineapple for breakfast, but it doesnt really go with yoghurt I am still enjoying my chicken & veg stir fry for lunch, but need to upsize the container that I am taking my lunch in, as I have another xxg veg to fit in tomorrow! Cooking lunch looks HUGE now, as I am adding a lot of veg & a little bit of chicken at lunch, so I can save most of my protein for steak at dinner!

The scales didnt like me going out to dinner last night, I was up .4kg this morning. I am still happy with how the refeed is going. I am starting to see what other people mean about the amounts you are supposed to eat on refeed! I will keep plugging away at it though, but I dunno how I will be by the end of next week

[Mette]

Going great guns, Jen! I wouldn't worry about the 400grams. It's most likely just fluid, and it'll be gone in a few days.
And happy anniversary!! Sounds like you guys had a wonderful night! You really deserve it! I would have liked to see the look on your face when the fish came with all that butter Thank goodness the waitress was nice and got you a new one!
Keep up the great work pretty lady!

[princess_sunbeam]

DAY 7
The .4kg that I gained after dinner out on Weds night was gone on Friday morning WOOOHOO!! Today I got more additional protein & veg, 2 slices of bread & 2 extra good fruits. I had to upsize my lunch container to fit in all this extra food!

Yesterday I went and saw my psychologist again. She is really helping me adjust to the new me. Giving me strategies to ensure that I dont slip back into bad habits. I am learning to look at the things I previously liked and associate them with how I was, which makes me not want them as much. It will be interesting when I get to put this into practice. She says that I need to make sure when I do get to eat something naughty that I have a small amount, enjoy it, and move on. My daughter thinks I am nuts.

Today I finally went and got my new tattoo. I had a very old, faded Betty Boop on my butt. Now I have a rose. I am intending (once I get over the pain of this one) on getting a butterfly on my lower back. The butterfly symbolising my rebirth- the new me.

DAY 8
Got up this morning and was .3kg lighter again! WOOOHOOOHOOO!! Today I got 3 slices of bread and got to eat a BAD fruit so I finally got my banana! YUMMO! Breakfast I had french toast and lunch was a toasted chicken & cheese sandwich with 2 slices of bread. Sensational! Today I got to mix proteins as well. Tonight I had to fit in all the extra veg allowance for the day so I am totally stuffed! I still have fruit to eat. Getting to the business end of refeed and I dont know how I am not putting on weight, better still, I dont know how I am going to manage to eat like this forever! I didnt eat this much before, but I got fat. I am sure though, it was the type of food I was eating. My fave vegie mix is definitely going to stay a part of my new lifestyle.

Busy day today! I got a gift voucher for $50 to Jeans West from a girlfriend for my birthday. I went there today with the intention of getting a pair of jeans. I chose some nice black ones, but was in a bit of a quandry as to size. I thought I would play it safe and took both size 12 & 13 into the change rooms. I tried on the 12, then the 13 , then the 12??? The sales assistant came and had a look and told me the 12's were too big, I needed a size 11! I was pretty stunned. I now own a pair of size 11 jeans. I am feeling pretty chuffed! I also bought a jacket & a jumper from another shop, both were size "small". This is definitely freaking me out!

Today I also ordered a vibration machine from one of those stands in the shopping centre. They claim that you get more benefit from 10mins on the machine that you do from 1 hour in the gym. They set it up in your home and teach you how to use it. This will be interesting! @ $10 per week, I didnt see it as a big expense if it has the benefits. The major benefit is that it is supposed to rebuild lean muscle. On Tuesday I will find out how much lean muscle mass I need to rebuild when I have the BIA test done.
This afternoon I went out and got my hair cut- off . I have had long hair for quite a long time. I didnt go all the way, but lost about 10 inches in length. Next weekend I am going to change the colour. Once the transformation is complete, I will post piccies for you all to see.

Have a great fat burning weekend everyone!

[Gorgeous one]

Jen,
So happy for you with the shopping experiences. Wow you will have lost even more weight with all that hair cut off. Must feel really good and a new colour will make you feel even more glamorous. Keep up the good work.
Michele

[princess_sunbeam]

DAY 9
More of the same, increased protein and vegies, 4 pieces of fruit- 1 bad, 3 pieces of bread. It is a struggle to fit all these vegies in! It is amazing- how much bigger the meals look and how much longer it takes to eat them, even though they are still not as big as the rest of the family eat!

Today I went to my Auntys 80th birthday party. It is scary thinking my aunts & uncles are in their late 70's to early 90's! That makes me feel OLD!!! My 3 aunties introduced me to everyone that walked past as "this is my niece Jenny, she has just lost nearly 49kgs!" After the 5th person it got kind of embarrassing! I wore a dress- I havent worn a dress for more years than I care to admit, and felt really good about doing so. Lots of yummy party food about, but I had eggs samo's for lunch. I baked cupcakes, and watched them dissappear. I didnt feel the need to eat from every platter that was walked past me, and definitely didnt feel the need to patrol the sweets table and scoff everything there! I am getting a handle on how the future looks- so far as how I am going to eat.

The bakery that I used to stop at every afternoon pre-Cohens for a doughnut, has finally reopened this weekend after a 5 month closure. They advertised all the same stuff will be available, in addition they are serving coffee and have put tables out! I adored their jam & mock cream doughnuts! I was so looking forward to having one as soon as I finish refeed, but have decided that I am not going to allow myself to slip back into that habit. I have been reading lots in the "maintenance and life after Cohens" section. Lots of people seem to get off refeed and go silly- eat the stuff they have been denied for so long, then lament at the fact that they have gained some weight! I love Maccas, chocolate, doughnuts, sweets, bread & milk, but I have worked too hard to gain this fantastic slimmer body, and do not plan on ruining this for the sake of a doughnut! Therefore, I am NOT going to go into the new bakery. I am NOT ever going to buy chocolate at the servo. I am NOT going to stop taking my lunch to work every day so that I have to go buy some junk somewhere. I am NOT going to pop into Maccas for a choc thickshake & apple pie for afternoon tea ever again. I am learning a new respect for my body. I dont pour cordial into the fuel tank of my car- as my car is worth alot ot me and I respect that it nees quality fuel to run efficiently- so now I need to treat my body the same way. I have some slim friends and I dont believe that they display any of the prevous behaviours (listed above) as a part of their every day life. I want to be "slim Jen" , so I need to start learning the behaviours of a slim girl, cos if I start to put on weight, I can only blame myself. THE BUCK STOPS HERE!

[Kohinoor]

Hi slim Jen,

What a GOOD post !! The path to the finish line must be looking pretty smooth to you now, eh? With an attitude like that, you're a winner for sure

(Liked your car analogy - "cordial in the petrol tank" - it tickled me and you are SO right !!)

Koh

[thenewvee]

I see you are getting your head around the final stages of your journey, Jen!
That is great to see. What you say about quality fuel for your body is so true and a great way of looking at it. Great strategies!
It sounds like the party went really well and I'm so happy for you that you are finding your peace early on.

Go Jenny!

Vee

[drexyl]

Hey Jen,
I'm a bit slow in visiting your refeed diary. You must be SOOO chuffed to be here!
Sounds like things are really positive for you & I'm really looking forward to your pics with the new do!
Good on you for sticking with it & remaining strong & getting the help you need. I'm sure you're a HUGE inspiration to many on here!
Will check in on you again soon,
Toodles lovely from me xo

[princess_sunbeam]

Thanks Michele, Vee, Koh & Sharlene for visiting! Nearly there now!

DAY 10 3 days to go!
Increased again protein & veg, new vegies!! 2 bad fruit, Broccoli & Carrot, milk, rice.

Lots of new additions today. It will be interesting to see what the scales do tomorrow! I am probably the most nervous of any day on refeed so far. So many changes! I split my lunch into morning tea & lunch, since I dont have to wait 5 hours between meals any more. I will be very surprised if the scales do anything buy go up tomorrow! Tonight I am feeling fat & bloated. I had 3 pieces of bread in a cheese samo for morning tea, then my usual stir fry for lunch (with a portion of new protein) I am wondering if the combination of cheese and so much bread is why I am feeling this way tonight. I made up a curry for dinner, with my 50g of cooked rice. 50g of rice is hardly exciting, it is about 2 tablespoons full! I think I would rather have no rice then a small amount like that. I love rice, and it was hard to stop at 50g! I have resolved to make limited carbs part of my regular lifestyle, so I had better get used to this!

This morning I went to the dentist and got my broken filling fixed. I go for the BIA test tomorrow afternoon. Friday I have speech therapy and molescan. I feel all I do lately is go to some sort of medical treatment! I am normally so healthy. This is my last speech therapy visit, so that is one thing gone!

Have a great fat burning day everyone!
Jen