Back onto the old program after 15 mths of maintenance

[Lindy79]

Happy new year to everyone!

I thought I'd share my (not so successful) maintenance experience in part as therapy to get all my thoughts down and also to help anyone else out there who is struggling.

I finished refeed in Nov 09 after losing a total of 14.5kg. 15 mths later I have put on half of that, so 7 kg. What I have found is that it is easy to maintain ie. if you eat well for the week (90% of the time) and have a couple of blowouts say on the weekend you can get off the 1 kg or so straight away (which is probably water retention) if you watch your carb intake for the next 2 days after the blowout ie. carb reset for 48 hours as per the maintenance guidelines.

Where I have come unstuck is that if I have a 3-7 day period eg. holidays etc, where I don't watch what I eat, I have found it impossible afterwards to lose the 1-2kg I put on.

So here's how it happened:
Xmas 09/10 -1.5kg over a 3 wk holiday away
Easter - 1kg (too much chocolate!)
August Weekend away - 1.5kg
October Weekend away - 1kg
Lead up to Xmas - 1kg (too many parties & alcohol)
This Xmas holidays - 1kg over 3 wk holiday away

So whilst the kg crept up slowly over 15mths, if you can't take it off...it all adds up!

So I am now on day 5 of the original programme and 3.3kg down. I know the guidelines say I should buy a new programme if you put on 3-4+ kg from goal weight but I am going to give this a go first. I have worked out (based on results from the first time I did the diet) that it should take me 4 wks to get to goal, then 17 days of refeed.

Leading up to deciding to go back on Cohen's again I found it hard as 2nd time round you know what you're in for ie. first few days of hunger, no drinking, preparing every meal etc. for the time you're on it. When I first did it I was so excited as I knew it would be a new beginning but second time round it's like punishment for not following the maintenance guidelines so it has taken much more motivation to get started.

Having said that though, I am not beating myself up too badly. The 7kg gain means that I can't fit into 2 or 3 outfits I used to 6 mths ago (which isn't too bad). The main thing is that I have used the last 15 mths to work out what I "can" and "can't" do food-wise for the rest of my life. I kept a food diary everyday so I know exactly when and how I have put on the weight.

In future I will also have to be vigilant in watching my portion sizes. Whilst I eat well 90% of the time (only some carbs for snacks and 1 meal, usually lunch) I have found that I got back into my old habit of eating way too much in one meal, usually for dinner. Even though most dinners are meat/fish/chicken and veg/salad I need to remember my last day refeed portions. It's easy to get back into the mindset of "well it's good food so I can eat heaps of it". Not so!

Anyway, sorry to ramble. Just hoping that my experience may be insightful for some of you out there.

Feeling positive about getting back to goal and staying there.

[new_ruby]

Hi Lindy,
Definitely don't beat yourself up! 7kgs in 15 months is not that bad. And you know you can get it off right? I would not be so concerned when there are people who come back after a year, and have regained ALL their weight !
Good luck.

[Annabelle Joy]

Welcome back, Lindy. I'm another one who is back, in my case after two years, and with more to lose than you. However, I'm not on the diet but using a lower calorie version on maintenance eating. However, like you, what I'm working on is how to manage long term maintenance.

AJ

[Cate]

Lindy, You are certainly not the only one! Your post is almost exactly my story, word for word. I'm back on my 2007 original program(lost 36kgs) after gradually regaining 10.5kg all up & am currently 6.5kg above my lowest post-Cohen's weight. I was going to do the program 100% for 2 weeks & then have a few days of being careful, but not weighing my food & then go back on it (to avoid re-feed.) but your post has made me reconsider. I think it would be far better for me to do re-feed & re-train my thinking. Portions have crept up, bad habits crept back in & it's time to snap out of it. Ahhh Cohen's. My body loves it! Cheers, Cate

[carrieanne_c]

Hi Lindy,

I too am here with similar kilo creepage. I have a very similar story and am using my original plan as well. I am sure it will take away these pesky pounds.

Patience and pereseverence! you are not alone.

[louise41]

This sounds like dieters anonymous! Me too - you are among friends!
The great thing is we are all here to ensure we rectify the situation and you are already nearly halfway there!

[Never Give Up]

I'd say about a third if the people on the forum have done cohens before! For me, I'm convinced there is no better program, it's healthy, it works, you're not hungry and you usually feel good. Just have to get this maintenance business worked out!!

[Lindy79]

Thanks all for your posts and support. It's good to know I am not alone! Just wondering if anyone in the past has successfully used their old programme to get back to their goal weight?

From reading through the diaries there have been a few that have bought a new programme and restarted however would be interested to know if the old programme will still work? My consultant said it should but this goes against the "science" that your blood/chemical makeup will have changed from first time around. Would be great to know if anyone has any more insights or feedback.

Day 7, 4kg down which is more than I lost in Wk 1 first time around but the losses should decrease from here. As long as the scales go down though I'm not complaining!

[louise41]

I used my old program and it was not any good for me at the lower weight. I was so tired on the quantities of food i couldnt stop sleeping. Consequently I stopped weighing and just went cohen friendly and just kept using a small plate to limit my portion sizes. Perhaps I would have lost the weigh more quickly with a new program but Im cool as long as I get there eventually

[aussueeater]

Hi, I'm a repeater too.
2006 was my 1st time, and I lost 18kg to get to my goal weight. Sadly the clinic I signed up with ,folded before I finished. They very quickly got me a refeed program, although I had 3.5kg to go... and mailed it to me. Then I muddled through with email help from the only clinic in victoria at the time..Geelong. They were really kind and helpful, but I went back wards after reaching goal, and just couldn't seem to find a stable weight.
It's taken a while for me to regain the weight, but here I am...right back at the start.
I know Cohens works.
I know I can lose the weight permanently.
Now I have this forum site to get support.
....on my way...

[new_ruby]

Hi Lindy,
I'm about to start on my 2nd program. First one was purchased in 2008, and I successfully pulled off 22kgs in 20 weeks, did refeed, and then went on IVF hormone injections which have landed me back at the start (So, aussueeater - I hear ya !!).
I found that when I tried to go back to my old program, I was ravenously hungry - something I didn't experience the first time. I also felt extremely weak, and couldn't stick at it for more than about a week, before I 'gave in' to my hunger pains and cravings. This never happened the first time either. So I do believe that the blood chemistry has changed - along with all the stuffing around my hormones have received of late.
So I have purchased a new plan, and am about to start in early Feb (start date still TBC). But I am back because I know it is the only thing that really works, peels off the weight, without stripping me of energy or sanity, and also takes all the fat blubber and cellulite with it! Did I say that I love Cohen's !!!
Good luck everyone; I'll be a regular in here to see how we are all going.
Ruby

[aussueeater]

Hi Ruby,
At least we know Cohens works!! ....and I think we have learnt a lot doing the program the 1st time....so maintenance can only be easier. (like giving up smoking....you get there eventually!)
I worked in health previously, and trained in hypnosis. A lecturer said to me...all those who want to be rid of excess weight, should stop talking about LOSING it/weight......Lost things get FOUND again.
What we need to do is talk about "shed", "rid", remove ,or whatever term means PERMANENT removal of the weight for that individual. I think that has a lot of sense to it.
Sue

[Annabelle Joy]

Further to Sue's comment about 'losing weight' I heard that many years ago and for myself I usually say 'becoming slimmer'.

AJ

[new_ruby]

Hi Sue & AJ (AJ - long time no speak hey ??)...
I think this is great! I like the idea of telling the universe that I am 'rid' of that size/fat/life whatever. So much better than damnwell losing it and finding it again!
Onward and downward people!!!
ruby

[Annabelle Joy]

Ruby, I didn't realise it was you, should have looked at the join date because the name did seem familiar. Seems there are quite a lot of us back on the forum, some just lurking around. We'll have to catch up for a coffee sometime.

AJ

[bloss]

I fee your pain, why does holiday food creazte weight gain!!! Its rather depressing! Ive gained 6.4kg in 4 months and im half way threw my programme i hiope it wont mater??? No one has said it would o dear hmmmmmm well this is week 2 and last week lost 2kg so now im at 4.4kg weight gain it is hard i totally given that but forst week over and to be fair apart from 1 meal of fish n chips im coping ok JUST haha water water water focus!

[Lindy79]

Hi all, just updating on how it all went! Did exactly 4 wks of the old plan with no deviations and lost 7.5kg which is pretty much what I estimated at the beginning. Had a handful of ravenously hungry days but found that I lost the most on those days.

Another observation is that compared to when I did the original plan first time round I lost more in the first week this time but had about 3 plateau periods lasting 2-3 days where I didn't lose anything. Didn't experience that first time round.

So I am starting refeed tomorrow which is both daunting (forgot how organised you need to be to start adding all the new foods back in, mixing proteins etc) but liberating at the same time.

Determined to not have to do all this again. Whilst 4 wks + refeed does not seem like a long time, when you're in the middle of doing it, it seems like an eternity!

Good luck to everyone else (there appears to be quite a few of us!) doing round 2. Well worth the effort but clearly the effort is better spent getting maintenance right!

Cheers,
Lindy

[Annabelle Joy]

Congratulations, Lindy. Yes, having done Cohen once getting back on plan is much more difficult the second time, so even four weeks would seem far too long. Some incentive there never to need to do it again.

AJ

[Beccy]

Hi everyone this is the first time Ive ever posted on here, Im really nervous. I am also having to start the program again. I first started in 2009 and lost almost 60kg in just over a year. Fantastic hey!! I started refeed and got sick with gastro so I had to wait until I was better to continue.
After I got better I started back on the program before stating refeed, long story short, I battled the next 4 or so months with Bronchitas, Asthma and chest infections. I went on prednisolone (a steriod) for my lungs and have gained back almost all the weight I had lost. I have also just spent many weeks in hospital for other medical reasons.
I feel and look discusting. I cannot believe looking at photos of me this time last year, that I look like this again.
I am ashamed of what ive become once again.

[carrieanne_c]

welcome to the club! don't worry you know what works now! Big hug and hope to see you around!