AJ has moved to refeed!

[Annabelle Joy]

I visited my clinic today to discuss my refeed programme. I hadn't expected to be starting refeed for a while yet, but I'm going to start tomorrow. I've posted the reasons in my personal diary, and copied most of that post below.

I can't speak highly enough of the consultants at the Geelong clinic. I have had consultations with each of them across the past nine months. They are all a fountain of knowledge and I always come out with new knowledge and feeling good.

My consultant is on holiday and I saw Bettina, who runs the clinic. She went through refeed with me, answered my questions and wrote down examples of how to work out what to eat, and how to spread it across the day, for a couple of the days of the refeed programme. I thought I understood it fairly well before I went in, but realised that her explanations were invaluable.

I mentioned that I planned to go to either the low end of my range (59 kgs) or until I was really hungry. I asked just what 'really hungry' meant, as I have had short periods of hunger, more hunger than usual, but can go for seven hours without feeling hungry if I am occupied. She asked if I used to get hungry before I started the diet. Light bulb moment. I have never had a good sense of either hunger or fullness. That's been part of my problem. Hunger was more likely to be cravings than real hunger. When busy, I have always been able to skip a meal without feeling hungry. On the other hand, I have continued to eat bits and pieces for a long time beyond when I must have been full and still not feel over full. Bettina then suggested that it was likely that I would reach the low end of my range without feeling extreme hunger. That made sense. Why should I experience it now when I never have in the past?

Next she asked where I maintained when I was slim. I used to maintain at 68 kgs reasonably well. That's 2 kgs above my current weight. If I went below that, I couldn't hold a lower weight for more than 2-3 weeks at most.

Other indications that I'm probably ready for refeed are the backaches, periods of feeling hungrier than usual, and a couple of feelings of really needing to eat immediately or I would collapse. My legs are heavy, always have been, and I'm not losing anything off them. If I was to go to 59 kgs they wouldn't be any smaller, and the rest of me would look anorexic.

So, I'm starting refeed tomorrow. If I'm not ready for it, apparently my weight will go up over the next few days. If that happens I will return to the diet and continue to a lower weight and more signals. If I am ready for refeed, I should continue to lose weight for a few days, then stop losing and possibly gain weight. The lowest point is my equilibrium weight. A kilo above that and I go back two days. My refeed is nineteen days if all runs smoothly.

It's a bit lonely in refeed. I've found Kate, Adriana and Helen. Is there anyone else around here?

AJ

[Jenniwren]

Congratulations AJ for reaching re-feed you have
done well for the nine months you have been on this
program I wish you luck with day 1 in the morning.
Go and have a good nights sleep so you are fresh and
ready to go in the morning.
I will be back to see how your first day is going.
Take Care
Jenni x

[Francesca]

Hi AJ

Don't feel lonely. I may be far off from Refeed but I'll definitely be visiting you here very often. Was just telling Ceb today that we might want to start visiting some refeed diaries to pick up some tips.

All the very best for your first refeed day - I'm sure you'll do great!

[Barczar]

Good for you AJ!! Good luck with it all and I know you'll kick ass at it! I look forward to the day in the not so distant future that I get to do the same!

[katiefrank70]

Yay for AJ

How exciting to finally reach Refeed. I bet you are full of mixed emotions and drooling over all the new food you can tease us dieters with

I hope it all goes smooth and I'll be waiting to read how it goes.

Well done

Katie

[asy]

Congrats AJ.

Well done.

Look forward to seeing you celebrate finishing.

asy.

[Soon2BSlim]

Well done AJ for starting the next stage of your journey! You've done incredibly well and I know you'll do well with your refeed too.

The timing of your refeed is perfect! You will be done in time for the wedding and able to enjoy the day knowing that you're not deviating! How good is that! I know there is a possibility that you may need to go back 2 days if you put on a kilo but I can't see that happening. You've continued to lose weight at a good pace right until the end of this stage and if the good Dr wasn't wrong with your personal formula for this bit I don't think he will have got it wrong for the next one.

Well done AJ. You're a superstar! I'll be eagerly following your refeed journey and wish you the easiest of transitions.

Louise

[sundaymorningstaple]

Way to go AJ. I never had a doubt about you getting here even back in January when we both started a day apart. You had a bit more to lose than I and us guys do tends to shed it a wee bit quicker but now looking back our average is not all that far off considering mine was for a shorter period. You still averaged a bit over 1kg/wk correct? I only managed 1.1kg/wk. Your consultant also tends to corroborate my feelings regarding starting of refeed as I never knew when I was hungry before the program (remember I only ate once a day anyway). So when I hit bottom of range then let's do it.

Anyway, congratulations on hitting phase two. Looks like you copped an extra couple of days but like phase one, you will stoically march through in your inimitable style like you have for the past 9.5 months. One commendable trip I must say.

[shell]

Good on you AJ,
You have done a sensational job, and been a real inspiration to a lot of people on this forum.
I am so excited for you!
Shell

[thenewvee]

Congratulations AJ!!

I'm so excited and happy for you that you are on the next stage of your Cohen journey. I'll be following your refeed progress with much interest.
That was really interesting what you said about the feeling of hunger and reaching the time to start refeed, as I think that will be the same case for me as what you experienced. I can't wait to find out how I go!

I do hope you will be finished refeed so that you can enjoy your son's wedding without any feelings of guilt! That would make it perfect for you!

I can't wait to see the photos of you in your lovely outfit, looking sensationally slim and feeling so wonderful!!

Good luck on refeed, hope it goes smoothly!

Vee

[Cocopop]

Originally Posted by Annabelle Joy

It's a bit lonely in refeed. I've found Kate, Adriana and Helen. Is there anyone else around here?

AJ

Don't be lonely AJ - I'll be there in about 8 months

Well, you're officially the very first person that I've KNOWN to go into refeed - and I'm EXCITED - yay!!

I hope you haven't gone in too early - I hope it is the perfect time for you and you get it done and are on your merry way for the rest of your life.

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS AJ - what a fantastic and amazing job you've done!

I will find it very interesting seeing what happens to you - I've never checked out anyone in refeed or maintenance before so I'm looking forward to it.

GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING!

[honeybuns]

AJ, CONGRATULATIONS! You are such an inspiration to so many people on this forum and we all hold you in very high regard
I will join them in wishing you the best of luck with refeed (not that you'll need it!)and I look forward to picking up tips from your journey for when I get there!!

Your the best!

HB xxx

[*dreamchaser*]

Woohooo Congratulations AJ!!!

I will be following your refeed journey with much interest.
Well done

DC

[lindy]

Congrats Aj one making it to Refeed.

Can't wait to see how you manage this next step. Will you be finished now in time for the wedding ?

Good Luck

[ceburoo]

AJ you thought ypou miht have been lonely and oyu might be as far as those on refeed but the program team is with you all the way and then some. So go for it as you always do. I was looking at some of the other diaries on the program and you wont be lonely for long. There seems to be quite a few who will be graduating in the not too distant future and the good thing is you will be there to welcome us, and the cycle will begin all over again.

[Annabelle Joy]

I'm finishing the diet phase, starting refeed, at 65.5 kgs. If I manage to lose another 900 gms during refeed I will have lost a total of 40 kgs.

I used to come to the refeed diaries and salivate over what people were eating. I tried not to read some of it. I've decided that I won't put down everything I'm eating, but will try to describe my refeed without making anyone visiting from the Personal Diaries board drool too much.

Today I get to add a new 'good fruit' to my fruit allowance. Good fruit include blueberries, rockmelon and pineapple and several others that I don't think are currently available, all with specified weights. I also get to have (very roughly) 25% more protein and 33% more vegetables, still the same proteins and vegetables, just making my meals a bit bigger. I'll add about a third of the extra protein and vegetables to my lunch and the rest to my dinner. I always feel hungrier at night. I was told yesterday that I should keep the proportions of protein and vegetables that I add to each meal roughly the same. I remember there was a discussion on this a while back.

Apart from the eating, I still have two computer problems to solve, hope to get both of them done today. I'm also hoping to get to a few diaries. I had two late nights, and last night had other things on my mind.

Refeed and The Wedding. If I start today and finish in the nineteen days of my refeed I will finish the day before we go to Melbourne for our four day stay, beginning on the day of the rehearsal dinner. I don't even want to think about it. It assumes firstly that I have started at the right time, won't be back dieting to go a bit lower, and secondly that I won't add a kilo at any time along the way. The 600 gms of fluid I added Thursday night frightens me. If I go up 500 gms, then add another 600 gms of fluid I'll be over the kilo, and I won't know if it's fluid retention due to a busy day, or due to something I've eaten, and the solution is to go back two days. I'm not going to think about it until it happens.

Thanks for stopping by Jenni, Francesca, Barcazar, Katie, asy, Louise, SMS, shell, Vee, Cocopop, Honeybun, DC, Lindy, Ceburoo and anyone reading this.

Jenni, I've started, just a bit more mango in my yoghurt this morning. I didn't sleep so well, woke and couldn't get back to sleep. I think I was excited about starting refeed.

Francesca, I'll be keeping you and Ceb in mind as I write. I'm hoping that I can give you an idea of what to expect that will help you both, and others who follow me.

Barczar, one thing I'm hoping for over here is that the backaches will disappear. I'll let you know on that.

Katie, I'll try not to tease you too much with what I'm actually eating. I did discuss with my consultant making a real pizza for my favourite meal of Cohen pizza.

Thank you asy. I'm looking forward to celebrating finishing too.

That's a reassuring thought about Dr Cohen, Louise. I hadn't thought in terms of this being designed for me, but of course it is. Dr Cohen has probably allowed for me being older and needing less calories.

Thanks, SMS. I was a bit doubtful at the beginning that I could do it, but it was only a couple of weeks before I knew I would get here. I have averaged 1.02 kgs a week over 38 weeks, so not too bad. I thought of you yesterday when my consultant suggested that I might not feel real hunger, remembered that you ate only once a day. I do think that 59 kgs is too low for me given the extra kilos that would still be on my legs.

Thanks, shell.

Thanks, Vee. The notion that I mightn't feel the hunger but still be ready for refeed has not been raised on the forum previously to my knowledge. Also, the indicator that if my weight increases over the next few days it's an indication that I'm starting too early is a safeguard.

Cocopop, I do think it's probably right for me now. Just keep plugging away and you'll get here too. Keep reminding yourself that the diet is preparing you for watching what you eat for the rest of your life.

Thanks, Honeybuns and DC.

Thanks, Lindy. Still touch and go on The Wedding. It would be fantastic if I was finished.

Thanks, Ceburoo. I see we cross posted in my other diary. You're right, there's a whole line of people waiting to get into Refeed, and I'll still be visiting you all in Personal Diaries.

Have a lovely, stress free, day, everyone.

AJ

[katrina]

Awesome going A.J you are a legend you are an inspiration to all here great going beautiful lady.
katrina

[ConnieK..]

AJ,

What can I say .... You are the most inspirational, devoted, fantastic resource that this forum has and I am so glad to see you on refeed!

I have no doubt you will fly through this with the same panache as you have done with everything else and be a continual source of inspiration to many.

Even today you have helped me immensely - I have always had a nagging doubt in my mind that I started too early, was in fact planning to try and repeat some time on the program when life settles down as even though I maintain pretty easily part of me always wondered .... then you said

If I'm not ready for it, apparently my weight will go up over the next few days. If that happens I will return to the diet and continue to a lower weight and more signals. If I am ready for refeed, I should continue to lose weight for a few days, then stop losing

Thanks again AJ, I look forward to following your journey into maintenance.

Connie

[indiana13]

Hi AJ, congratulations on achieving your goals and going onto the next stage of the program! 40kg - what a fantastic loss! You are such a lovely person and always have very supportive and positive posts when others really need it! Goodluck on refeed.
Em

[Justine]

Fantastic. OK, now tell me everything. What are you eating? Is it hard to work out? Have you had a chicken sandwich yet?

J