Katrin's REFEED diary

[kagiesen]

Well, I've finally decided to start a diary. Man, am I commitment-phobic. , the thought of 'having to post' really fridgehtened me.

Anyway, most of you know that I have been thinking long and hard about refeeding now or later. Had very helpful advice from you guys, and great discussions with Pandaroa, who's in the same boat. I am at 60.6 this morning. Great. In the last two weeks I was struggling to make a decision and was all confused as on one side I knew I wanted to lose some more weight, on the other I was afraid to ruin my efforts if I did that cos everyone, including my consultant was saying: start refeed now. There were all these voices cautioning me not to get too skinny (funny, never had anyone tell me that before, ). And I was investigation my motivation. In those 2 weeks, I stalled a bit and deviated quite a few times. I put back on again one kilo, but that doesn't bother me. I needed the time to figure out what to do.

So now I know what I want, and have my focus back. I will lose weight until I stand in front of my mirror and am 100% happy. I know there is the danger that I don't see what is in the mirror, as I still have my fat-chick colored glasses on, but I've got my husband to watch over me. He's a good indicator, as he is sporty and fit himself, knows what I want to look like, and doesn't like skinny without tone. I just know that there are still quite w few kilos, which if I manage to shift them, will make all the difference. I have got abs, I've worked hard for them, but you still can't see them as there is this layer of fat on my belly. And I have good glute muscles, but again, it looks like my bum sags, as there is still excess fat on there as well.

So what I will achieve is a body where you can see all the work I put into the muscles, and where I can finally go with a belly-less top and tight jeans.

Unlike a lot of you, I have never been pregnant, hence I think there is no excuse for a less than perfect belly. I would have loved to have kids if life had been different, but that's one advantage, and I am very happy where I am now.

So, after all if this, I'm happy I made this decision, and will focus on the deviation-free program for the next 2 weeks for detoxing, and then see how I go from there.

Love to all of you, as without your help, this would have been such a struggle. All the heartfelt comments, the recipes, the wonderful posts have touched my core and that's where the change has to happen as well.

Katrin

[Debs]

HI katrin


Wow you sounds focused and determined which is good!! Very good!!

Keep in mind that your body will tone up over the next 12 months or so and some of that sagging will disappear


Great to hear that you're off the deviation fence and back on track!

Refeed here she comes!!


Debs

[pandora]

Hi Katrin!
I am so excited for you and that you now have yr own diary! We can do this 2 week pre-refeed thing together! I think one major point here is based on what my clinic told me on Thurs (as per my diary but i will mention again here cos this is yr diary!) and that is, since you and i both deviated in the past 2 weeks, we now have to wait another 2 weeks clear 100% NO DEVIATIONS before we are "allowed" to start refeed. This is due to the fact that ANY slight deviaton, stops the HGH and it takes at least one week for that to kick start again so this process interferes with the entire refeeding chemistry!

I am also with you about wanting to go that bit further to fine tune what is left of us, sculpt a bit and look fabulous and why not? I am 53 years old, size 8, and since getting to the low end of range and now going under that, its NOW that people are remarking on how much younger i look, and i have always been told that anyway, so its like turning on your own fountain of youth! And, i think you said you are 40 years old Katrin, and tall, so why not look amazing, hot, buffed and scuffed cos you can! Why not stand out in the crowd and be proud of looking the way you have wanted for years!

And yes, i also have lots of people (the genuine ones this time) who say dont lose any more etc, yr tiny! But also, like you, i know there's still a wee bit left to melt away and it will in the next 2 weeks! How lucky are we? Write in yr diary every day and i'll reply and vice versa. Cant wait to see those bikini shots at the end, ha ha! You not me that is! Pandora

[kagiesen]

Thanks, Debs, for your warm welcome.

And Pandora, I might actually for the first time in my life feel comfortable posing in bikini. However, bought one the other day, looks great, but as I'm still loosing, dunno if it will be too baggy. 6 kg, one dress size, so I'll see. Getting a bit expensive, as I bought so much new stuff, mostly size 10, and today I re-bought a pair of Esprit black cargo pants in 8, as the 10 is quite wide already, and I wanted to make sure that I can wear them later also, and not put off loosing more weight cos I have no clothes, haha. I guess I'll have to offer some stuff on ebay, as it's only been worn a few times. Also, I found that buying stuff from ebay significantly reduces costs. I bought a pair of Lee jeans the other day, a super tube stretch in 12, and they were 150 $, whilst in the last two days, I've successfully bid on two pairs of Lee in 11 for 27 and 28 bucks respectively. Makes life cheaper, and I don't care if somebody has worn them before, not often anyways, and I do like the worn look in Jeans, people pay lots of money for the used look, and I just get other people to wear them in until their nice!

Reminds me of when I was about 14, and my mum bought me this pair of jeans, and I then went into my room and filed (with a nail file) nice holes into them, and my mum nearly went mental!

Katrin

[pandora]

Yup! I know what you mean! My size 10's i bought a few weeks ago are falling off me! Now into the size 8's and depends on make, some better than others. Just on the point of Lee (Cooper?) jeans. I was slimmer for about a month! in 2001 over in the U.K. (was 4kg heavier than now!). I bought 2 pairs of the first Lee Cooper bootleg jeans in London (were not available here back then) , both size 8's, one pair are faded and the other darker blue. I LOVED those jeans, only thing they fit me now, but since i am a shorty and the 2007 bootlegs are wider at the bottom, the Lee's dont suit my shape! Boohoo! I look better in a cheap pair of size 8's from Big W! Or Levis (also bought 2 prs size 7 Levis in 2001 overseas and they rock!).

Anyway, the Lee size 8's are stretch and dont know length but can check - let me know if you are interested as i'd rather give them away than put them in a charity shop.

How are you going with "the plan". I know i am being very clear re the - dont meddle with the HGH balance so even if scales dont go up, chances are ANY deviation will slow down the end of the race to refeed! Have a great Sunday, Pandora

[kagiesen]

Dear Pandora

I don't dare to think that they would fit me, but maybe size 8 in the UK is different here? Maybe you could do me a favour and measure around the waist/top of the jeans, just fiddle your tape measure through the latches?

60.5 today, so not bad. Gonna do Jacob's Ladder with my husband today, that' stair climbing outside, just 3 or four times (used to do and shortly before lunch so that then I can go home and fill up.

Smallest deviation of a bit more tuna yesterday evening cos I felt hungry, still have to work on that, couldn't sleep and thought that would help.

Hope you had a great weekend,

Katrin

[kagiesen]

Me being the anal weigher, today was 60.3. That's very pleasing, and I can't wait to be under 60 for the first time I can think, probably since being a teenager, don't know at all when I was that. My lowest weight ever I can remember was 62, and that was 15 years ago. There, my diet consisted of one big healthy per day, and lots of water. Doesn't sound too good in hindsight.

However, Cohens still is so amazingly rewarding. My excuse for not weighing myself before Cohens that often (probably about once a week) was that the weight is not reliable, fluctuates from day to day, etc. But with Cohens I find if I don't deviate, it reliably stays the same or goes down a few hundred grams, I can tell in my spreadsheet when I was naughty, when I have my period, etc.

I am still loving this so much.

So far, I'm also not to hungry. I do get a bit peckerish between lunch and dinner, and dinner never really seems to make my full, tummy still growls, so I try to save 2 crackers for after dinner and a stewed apple, that makes it better. Once you're asleep, hunger doesn't really matter.

So off to another motivated day in this new found body of mine, YEAH!

Katrin

[Debs]

Well done Katrin

Geez.. can't wait until I'm discussing size 10s and 8s *LOL*

Should be just in time for winter next year actually!

The focus in your posts is very inspiring!

Debs

[pandora]

Fabulous Katrin
Sounds like you had a great weekend and kept to the program! Watch out for that stairmaster, jacobs ladder thingy tho! Dont exert yourself too much as remember it can be counter productive IF it plays havoc with yr blood sugar. I intend to wait until one week on Friday, start refeed, then do light exercise, with a view to doing a bit more from end refeed. How many days is yr refeed, mine is 18.

As for the jeans, U.K. sizes are the same as OZ. Whereas, a U.S. size 8 is an OZ size 10 or 12? etc, as the U.S. is 1 or 2 sizes LARGER than ours. Hence when the celeb gossip talks about all those Hollywood nuts wanting to be a size ZERO, that is at least a size 2 or 4 here, not that anyone of us on here cld care less about being that little! I will measure the jeans and let you know. Point is, you are 170cm and i am a wee little thing at 158cm so i forgot to take that into account! Have a great day and lets catch up again tomorrow! Time to go update my dairy, woohoo! Pandora

[kagiesen]

Oops, deviated yesterday: I was still so hungry after dinner that I had a whole extra can of tuna. But the funny thing was: I can't really have been that hungry because after the can of tune (79 gr of tuna) I was so stuffed, had I been really hungry before I wouldn't have been. I'm annoyed that I still can't rely tell hunger from, hmm, well, I wasn't bored, I think I just wanted to eat something.

And then had an argument with my husband, couldn't sleep, and ate one of the muffins from Debs' recipe which I had frozen in the fridge. The consequences I see on the scales this morning, up 0.2 to 60.5. Well, not the worst, but surely I have to get this deviating under control.

I still don't think I'm hungry, therefore, at least not enough to go on re-feed, an effort which I have just destroyed anyway.... Still waiting for my consultant's reply to an email sent yesterday about this whole issue of 100% deviation free to start re-feed. Explained all the the thoughts we have here, without naming and asked her to explain to me the reasons. Might take her a while to write that up.

OK, lessons learned and re-enforced: During the day I'm fine. I have no need to deviate, I sometime eat the crackers along, sometimes the fruit, sometimes don't think about it. Then come evening, and I am craving for my dinner, and after dinner I don't feel satisfied. Why is that? Will try today to have breakfast (egg, veg), one cracker from 5 in between, lunch (chicken, veg), stewed apple in between, tuna, veg spread with 2 crackers. I'm in lectures til 9, so by the time I get out I can have the remaining 2 crackers if I wish, and the rest of the fruit. See if spreading it like that is better for me than trying to save the crackers for later.

No problems on the water front, 3 liters, sometimes 3.5, never under. Another thing: might have to give up my coffee habit, as that causes hunger. I don't know what's worse though: not having coffee, or being hungry....Having a coffee for breakfast, then usually an espresso during the morning, and another espresso in the arvo, that's three, and if I have one at night, it's de-caf. Will cut down' on it today and monitor that.

Still very keen on getting below 60 soon (this week?). Also, Pandora, I found it less difficult not to deviate if I actually do do some exercise. Reason might be that when I feel hungry, I instead go for a run, delay the meal another 30 mins, and then have the meal and loads of water and feel fine. As the weather is so beautiful today, I will have breakie soon, and then before I have to go to Uni have a leisurely run for 30 mins.

Ramble, ramble, ramble, but that's what a diary is for!

Cheers

Katrin

[pandora]

Hi Katrin
I get that not doing exercise is giving you space, time to be hungry! Why not replace the exercise with something else that does not mess with yr blood sugar! Got a bath? Cant really nibble in there either, or a long shower. What about you and hubby having "an early night"? Its all about finding ways to be busy at this stage of the game. I know on the one hand you say yr not hungry but i tend to say that too, yet i am feeling something "different" from when i was heavier, it may well be since we are so close to the Docs idea of correct weight for us, that the dreaded hunger is setting in and that's what makes us restless.

Maybe if/when you do start refeed, the added protein and veg allowance will prevent any more of the minor deviations etc, cos the extra tuna WONT be a deviation on refeed! Maybe you need to do refeed, maybe even lose a kilo or so in the process, and then do refeed again! Surely that's possible, to do refeed until you get to yr desired weight. Maybe i am crazy but just an idea! Pandora

[kagiesen]

Off course you're crazy, that's what I like about you

Will try to not go on re-feed unless it gets really bad, but you're right, could do refeed, go back on Cohens, loose more weight. If you're on original program for more than 2 weeks, you have to do re-feed, otherwise you can just eat normally again. I'll have a good think about it.

Also, just bought the second book by the "French women don't get fat" and love it again. How's this (talking about a US airport cafeteria and then comparing it to Paris): "I witnessed a surreal spectacle I wish I had videotaped. People all around me in the terminal were gulping down hamburgers, fries, and pizza and knocking back big tubs of cola or coffee as they tapped away on their laptops, talked on their mobile phones, and flipped through newspapers. Most remarkable: it was 10 am. Why were they even eating? I asked myself. Breakfast? Early lunch? Or just a way to pass the time?. It looked more like stuffing than eating, actually" and then Charles de Gaulle "When French people eat, they still generally sit down with a knife and fork at enclosed cafeterias or restaurants. There are small stand-up bars for those who want a quick croissant or perhaps a 9...0 or a cup of coffee. But have you seen a typical French cup o coffee? Three sips, four max. No frappuccino gargantuoso con lateria or whatever."

And then there is so much stuff in there on quality food over quantity. Also bought Allen Carr's Easyweigh to lose weight, as 5 years ago I quit smoking with his famous smoker book and it worked really well longterm, I'm a happy not at all deprived, but also not anally retentive or militant non-smoker. I don't look back at all. So I hope his eating book will have a similar effect, I am very driven once something settles in my brain, like with the smoking, it just seemed such a weird thing to do after I read the book so I stopped.

You'll be glad to know that I didn't go for run after all. Instead, bought the books, sipped a 3 to 4 sips espresso, read some, and now I'm at work. Not too hungry yet, time to eat is in 40 mins, I've had one cracker so far.

See you tomorrow.

Katrin

[pandora]

Guess you love books just as much as i do!
Looks like i'd better hop in the car, go to the bookshop and get at least the French Women dont get Fat book One. Never read that one. Sounds fab, like designer eating! I do have a book i started reading, was enjoying but it is gathering dust, called The Martini Diet, maybe i shld dust that off cos its about

becoming a complete food snob who simply cant be bothered with most of the calorie laden junk that surrounds us! So save yourself to indulge in only the best!

I might get a few tips in there for the future!

A week before i found Cohens i ordered a book from U.S. called SKINNY ***** it says "a no-nonsense tough-love guide for savvy girls who want to stop eating crap and look fab". By the time i got it, was on Cohens. Yet another diet book gathering dust. It cost me $25 and its vegan based. It just serves to remind me of the desperation i was in back then, saw mag article with Victoria Beckham clutching a copy & thought i might find "the answer" in there! Didnt have the assertiveness (then, do now!) to say to bkshop, dont want it now! Oh well.

As for Allen Carr's weight loss book. I had it 2 yrs ago, loved it, totally got the theory but when i got to the food part, wasnt right for me, prefer Cohen food philosophy, let me know what you think!

[pandora]

Oops, one more thing i forgot! You say you might try refeed, then go back to Cohens to lose more weight. That wasnt what i meant, as of course refeed IS Cohens just more of. So my suggestion is to adopt refeed as in add yr extra Cohen friendly foods each day but continue on REFEED indefinately UNTIL GOAL.

For example, start day one refeed, be VERY vigilant with ANY weight gain even the grams, of course do not continue to the next day if ANY weight gain. If still losing, carry on adding a day until final day and then continue on final day guidelines until the new lower weight goal of yr choice.

Already i can hear the Cohen graduates groaning at the very idea i suggest such a thing. BUT, my refeed program distinctly says

REFEEDING IS MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN YR WEIGHT IS WITHIN THE RANGE SUGGESTED BY DR COHEN

Since in your case Katrin, you are BELOW that guideline and you want to go LOWER, you are not now completing refeed as per the Docs recommendation. So it may be healthier for you to start refeed and use refeed guidelines to go to yr lower goal. At least that means from my plan,

day one thru to day 11 : extra protein, extra veg, extra fruits (differing amounts each day)
day 12 to end : also adds protein, veg, fruits, milk optional, and extra carbs at yr discretion

Sounds to me this will take care of yr desire to continue on without the hunger, and you can do yr refeed indefinatley as yr final day is pretty much it as far as approx serves for life. Do you get my drift? Pandora

[kagiesen]

Hmm, that sounds interesting. I get what you mean. Am still waiting for my Consultant's reply on the 100% issue and will reconsider then. However, as long as I can drag myself along without starting it, I wanna continue on the program. There are still things I could to to curb hunger. Drop the caffeine completely for starters, then stick to it 100%, which seems to also positively affect hunger, not exercise (started that and will continue til refeed from now on, so that might change things). Once all that fails, I guess it's re-feed time for me.

But you're right, it doesn't have to be either or, it can be refeed a bit slower (dunno what my consultant would say to that...). I'll think about it.

The French women book is sure worth it, lovely attitude to food, indulge, but exercise portion control and go for the very best. Not a 250 gr T-bone, but 120 to 150 gr fillet, same price! Or one piece of Lindt, not 1 Snickers, same price or cheaper again. One glass of superb red rather than a bottle of vino wine. Small glasses, 1/3 full, times 3, makes you think you are having three full ones, body is easily fooled. I think you'll enjoy it. Will keep you informed about what I think of Carr. Maybe if you read it again today, you'd get Cohens friendly recommendation out of it. But the French women one is definitely Cohens friendly the way she talks about carbs. She loves pasta and bread, but limits intake.

See you soon

Katrin

[anniem]

Hi what do you guys think about low GI after cohens. Apparently that is the best foods to eat??????


Annie

[cait]

hiya Katrin,
i'm delighted to see you have started a diary, that's great.
and can i also add - it's already been really helpful!
i've just read all entries so far and am heading out a lunchtime to buy the book (French Women etc' you recommned so highly - THANKS.
best of luck - and please keep posting - i'm fascinated to hear how you go with refeed / exercise/ gorgeous abs!!
cait.

[anniem]

Hi there

how exciting every one talking about re feed well i want to join in too hee hee i have definately worked out that i want to go to 53 kg like reading your posts i have extra flab to melt away on my butt and why not keep going while i am doing it already instead of having to do it again.

I am like you both i bought some size 10 cargo pants and they are all baggy now partly cause of the material but not good and now they are all sold out and i swear i cant find any other 3/4 ones that i like. I saw the ones at esprit ( i never buy from there cause so expensive) but i think that is where i will be going for some i think they were 80-100 but if they fit well and i can wear all the time and not be all floppy would be worth it.

I have seen that book about french woman not getting fat and thought about getting it do you think that will be best to get instead of a low GI one. I may borrow it from the library before buying it.

Wow you two will be doing this before me definately i think. But i will not be far behind.

I am glad you are all well and to every one who is reading this and will be here in this position very soon, you will all feel just as good and it is an amazing feeling to be able to wear things and just not worry and feel good about yourself and have all your confidence come back to you.

The clothes part is good except all the things that were tight before cohens and could not wear cause they did not fit are now too loose and dont look right either, you cant win. I will save those clothes cause i still plan to get pregnant and i am sure that i will need them for that purpose ONLY and then back to the programe straight after.

Sorry to ramble so much it is just that i relate to every thing on here.

See you

annie

[kagiesen]

Good morning all,

after (here comes a confession, I don't want to be a closet deviater) I had not fallen asleep by 1 am or so, I raided the fidge (luckily there's a padlock on the pantry) and found a cold Picnic bar. I hate Cadbury, and I hate eating cold chocolate, and I still had the whole bar. Hmmm, still a long way to go, I guess! Anyway, weight is 60.3, let's see what tomorrow brings.

Re=reading the French Woman book. I think it's the best for maintenance, as it is not a diet, but just a sensible approach to enjoying life and food that I know I can follow. I don't know if I would have been patient enough to loose weight with it (as the author herself, who as a teenager went to the US for 1 year of high school and returned about 10 to 15 kilos overweight) did, but it's definitely the way to go later. Nice simple tips that are all centered around enjoyment, indulgence and moderation. Mouthwatering recipes, there's one with baked chicken breast (and leave skin on! Yeah, just not 250 grams each per serve) with champagne and fresh herbs, and the champagne you don't cook, you drink (leaves about 1 glass for 2 people). Definitely low GI, but she does have fab pasta recipes as well, but not the whole bowl, rather 80 (entree) or 120 grams cooked. Once or twice a week only. Anyways, let me know what you think about it.

Also bought Alan Carr's Easyweigh to lose weight, I stopped smoking with his book from one day to another abut 6 years ago, cos after having read his book it so didn't make ANY sense at all. I'll let you guys know what I think of this one.

A beautiful day in Perth, I've got the day of after a mammoth day at work yesterday, so I'll scooter into Subiaco, have a nice espresso, buy some fish fillet for dinner, etc, etc.

I know with the combination of Cohens and the French Book I'll be able to enjoy food in moderation.

See you soon.

Katrin

[anniem]

Hi i know the picnic bar was not good but i have done that just stick in in your mouth and it is too late even if you really dont like it. Try not to worry and who knows it may not even make a difference to your weight maybe your body needed it.

Let us know how you go.....

Looks like the 3 of us, you, Pandora and I will be doing refeed at the same time. That is good we can check how we are all doing and ask any questions.

Have a good day

Annie