Do you have to do refeed if you go back on plan?

[lindy lou]

I was wondering if anyone has finished refeed and been maintaining and then decided that they wanted to lose a bit more? can this be done and not have to do refeed all over again? I am starting refeed tomorrow at my high end of my range and i still think i would like to lose more but My mind is just not ready to be still on a diet as such and i want to just have a break and maintain but maybe later do it again to lose a couple of kilos more. Any advice? I am really struggling so i thought it would be better to do refeed and get my head back in order then try again.thanks

[thenewvee]

Hi Lindy Lou

I hear you!
I started refeed a bit above my upper goal weight, and it was at a higher weight than I really wanted to be. I was advised by my clinic to do the refeed and maintain my weight for a while, a couple of months, and then if I wanted to go back on the programme to lose more, that would be my best option. So that is what I'm looking at doing. If you are on the programme for more than 2 weeks, then you need to do refeed again, otherwise its not necessary.

Getting used to being in maintenance, I found, especially with regard to the headspace, so I'm finding it a learning curve just monitoring how I'm going day to day, and when I feel more settled in maintenance, then to attack any excess kgs!

Hope this is of help.
It's always good to discuss these things with your own clinic/consultant!

Vee

[hope_ful]

hi guys
hope you all had a nice easter!

just wondering, i read somewhere that if you go back on plan for less than 2 wks you dont have to do refeed again.. but then i also read somewhere that it was less than 12 days?! could i be mixing this up in my head? probably. haha. so i thought id ask all you lovelies out there to clarify..

xxx thanks all xxx

[ConnieK..]

hope_ful it's in your guidelines .... mine says 2 weeks

[hope_ful]

thanks connie xxx

[Maya]

I-ve been on the strict Cohens diet now for 4 days...I feel good and not hungry...I would like to introduce new foods slowly, because I have been on protein diet (VERY STUPID!) for more than 2 months (and then binged on EVEYRTHING for 3 days).

If I wanna do the refeed (21 days) and finish it here (I am in a nice place, where I have time and space to do it), I would have to start it kind of soon (in few days).
I dont have to lose much more weight, as I am sort of ok at where I am...but - would it make any sense doing the whole refeed after only 5 days of diet? (I remember Jennie only did some part of her refeed without 2 deviation free weeks before that and it worked well)... My wish is to reintroduce food without big damage to my body.

If I start it anytime later, it will be impossible to finish it... (my parents coming here, us together travelling...)
So I-m thinking - either to simply go day by day with the refeed (first week is still so very low in calories I might lose some weight I gained with my binging in last week), or should I do 2 weeks of diet and then just some of the refeed days?

Please, any help I would really really appreciate...

THANK YOU!!!!!!

[hexi2]

I think you have answered your question...just start the refeed and get your body used to carbs again. Enjoy it!

I cant see the point of staying on program for another x amount of days to do the 14 days...you might end up too low and want to binge again?

[asy]

Maya,

How many times are you going to do this merry go round?

Either do the whole refeed or none of it. Don't bother mucking around. If you don't intend to finish it, don't bother starting and just eat what you like.

To do the refeed to any benefit at all, you need to be at LEAST a week at 100%, preferably 2 weeks, prior to starting, then you need to do the WHOLE REFEED.

You can't make decisions on the refeed based on whether or not it's convenient around your visitors, instead of screwing up your refeed and your health, why don't you delay your visitors?

asy.

[Maya]

I know, You are right Asy... well, the thing is not so easy, cuz I have to leave this place on certain date and either I fly home or they come pick me up. And if you just knew how many times I have been avoiding social life, things to do together with my parents because I was on a diet...

I just wish to have 2 nice days with them...as well as use this refeed time a little differently - use it while being completely alone, where noone knows me and I dont have to "fit in"...

I know, it's complicated, but I really really wish this to be my last "diet".
If I could, I would already eat what my body needs, but after all these diets, I can't hear my body anymore and these diets had messed up with my head so much!
Besides - after the last time on it, I hired a personal coach so we would together find exactly the foods and quantities that my body needs in order to keep it happy, because see, Asy - sooo many women DEVELOP binging on this diet. I have been reading other forums as well, sooo many women start getting even bigger problems with the food, more obsession, more fear... I know, it can work great, but I guess I'm not one of them and I am just trying to get back in touch with myself.
Sorry if it doesnt make any sense...Maybe if I spoke better english, I could explain it?

Unfortunately this woman didnt help me at all, as she took me off carbs for over 2 months completely, so if I eat whatever I want just now, I know the insulin will be a problem for me as my body might pack on all the carbs it can. That's why I would like to do the refeed by plan, just to have a tool and a rule to add things slowly.

I hope I'm not too complicated right now, but there's a huge pressure to be on a diet when I'm at home. The time here is so important for me, to be calm, be myself, be who I am. I already feel 100% better than ever before.

I'm sorry if the posted question was weird.

Actually I always did everything 100%, I never just started something and didnt finish it.
Ever.
Saying to allow myself not to do it all the way was more like giving a sense of freedom to myself as I have been under so many restrictions the whole time and they intend to make me break them.

I know I would have to do the diet for 2 weeks, but I did it for 5 days strict (because of 3 overindulged days) and today I started the refeed. I am at the weight where I feel comfortable and I can't see why would I gain weight on the refeed - it is still very healthy and very low in calories, plus, mine is 21 days long, so the adding of food is very slow.
If I would be eating freely, I am sure I would be lost and gained unnecessary weight.

Actually my problem was going all the way down to the weight it was so hard to maintain and hence, I have no idea why I got so obsessed to keep it there for whatever price... I was sitting at 51.9 kg while avoiding fruits, carbs, everything... that's why this time I decided to stay at the healthier weight and at the same time accepting my body just the way it is.

So, eventhough I havent been on diet for 2 weeks, I decided to start the refeed (and finish it), as I am trying to reintroduce new foods to my body.

You still think that would do no good to my body? I mean, it is still very healthy food and I feel very calm and good - as my hormones are where they should be? Because even if I stay on the strict diet for 2 weeks, I might lose too much weight and then have trouble staying there.
I'm 53.7 kg right now at 155 cm.
(I started refeed the last time at 54.6 and lost another 2.2 kg during the refeed...)

I value your opinion, thank You and I hope I am not too complicated... I feel like a little monster now...

[hope_ful]

heheh a little monster, you are too cute maya!

i think its not a bad idea to do refeed because you are doing it more for your mental state and to ease your mind into eating carbs, as well as your body!

good luck with it maya and if u are happy with your weight, then maintaining is easier than u think! its all in your mindset.. good luck, i want to hear how ure going! xx

[Faithy]

Hey Maya.. long time hey .. hope you're going well.

I've read a couple of your posts & while I'm not 100% sure where you're at I hope that what I add here may help just a little..

You mention that a lot of people who have done Cohen's end up binging.. I know I did & I know for me personally it had nothing to do with 'diet' as such.. it had to do with me, personally, not 'getting it'.. so many of us do so well during the losing stage & then come maintenance we forget (how convenient ).. that this is a lifestyle change..

I personally feel that we fit into 2 different categories.. those of us who just need to get healthy & be sensible & those of us who just can't ever eat the nasties.. we need to work out which categorie we fit in..

Maintenance works for either of these 2 categories, but for someone like me I can't just eat a little bit of something.. I have an incredibly addictive personality so I need to stay away from certain foods.. BUT there are others that, so long as they follow the guidelines, can pretty much eat what they want (but knowing when to stop & staying away from the REALLY bad stuff).. taking quantities into account & the time certain foods are eaten etc etc.

You mention you're over the 'dieting'.. but to me this thought process is wrong.. it's OUR lifestyle..
We SHOULD be able to meet up with friends & family & it shouldn't matter whether we're on the program, refeed or maintenance.. we eat sensibly & healthy.. we don't owe ANYONE an explanation as to what we're doing & or why.. it's forever.. not just a month or 2 weeks..

Maya, for yourself & ONLY you.. you need to follow the program as long as needed, then do refeed properly & then follow maintenance to the letter. If you don't get it right now you'll end up right back where you started, if not worse off..
I know ..

For me the binging days are over & the rest is now following.. You HAVE to get that gorgeous head of yours in the right space & be honest with yourself once & for all.. face what your fears are & deal with them in whatever manner you need too..

I wish you the success I know you can achieve

HUGS.

[Maya]

Thank You hopeful, thank you Faithy... (Faithy how are you, I missed you!!!!)
Well, I think I didnt write it quite well what I was trying to say...

I apologize for this mess I made up here...

The thing is -

I only wanted to reintroduce carbs after being off them for so long and somehow undamage the damage I made with the 3 day binge I got when I came here.

So, I had 5 days of strict diet and yes, I started the refeed.
My weight is where I am comfortable at, it is even lower than in February when I started the refeed.
I am gonna do the whole refeed day by day with all the food and crackers and fruit.
I am gonna do it (am doing it) with love and patience.

If I stayed on the diet longer, I would lose too much weight and I would put myself too low again.

I have not been hungry on this refeed.
I am feeling better than before on the refeed. I am not hungry, I am calm and satisfied with food.

When I said I wish to stop dieting - I didnt mean I am gonna pig out for the rest of the life. I mean I would like to learn to listen to my body and eat in moderation and STOP obsessing about my weight. I know it's all in my head.
OK, so -
I would like to go on a diet from negative thoughts.
How's that?

I KNOW I will always have to be careful with food - how much of sweets, how much of what... that's not even a question.
I guess this is more it...a diet from negative thoughts and from the wish to be perfect...

I'm on refeed day 4 and I will fantastic, still losing weight every day, which - if it wasnt necessary - I wouldnt even check daily.

I apologize again for not making it clear enough....