Refeed question [Archive] - 1st Personal Diet Forum

Maya

06-17-2008, 07:41 PM

Hi, Brownie, hi Shasha!:party1:
Brownie, my Brownie, I made a Brownie cake last night, I was thinking about you, seriously!!!!! As if I knew it was something to celebrate for you!!!! CONGRATULATION!!!!!

Did you get that huge hunger "to eat a horse" hunger everybody's talking about? I'm still waiting for it!
Are you at your target weight? How did you decide it's time for the refeed? I'm so afraid I would start too early...
Again, congratulations!!!!{wave}

I'm still on the boat, yes, very hard to get internet here...
I'm doing good on the diet, I was just on some other forum, its been too quiet here and I needed more help...sorry...

I reached my target weight on week 11, but I'm still not hungry for the refeed, so I am waiting. Since my work is hard, I get tired, but then through enough rest on weekends I get some energy back... so, I'm good.
I love my new body and wanna make sure to do the refeed right.

So, I got very different answers as far as refeed goes.

I was told to go back 2 days either way - gaining 2 pounds *1.3kg* either during the night OR during the refeed itself, as it then means the weight is crawling up...

I was also told NOT to have bread in the morning.

And I was told by consultant that I should not eat everything thats written on the refeed plan. If I get full then I should stop.The other women that actually go to the clinics said that we should eat everything (as it is written by dr.Cohen), to train the body to cope with more food. So, another confusion here.
Shasha, what would your advise be? I really need some help here... Please?

So, honestly, I'm confused with all these instructions.
Consultant told me not to wait too long before starting the refeed, but lots and lots of women that had done refeed told me to defenitely wait for the signs (morning hunger...) to start it as it is SO important to be at the right phase where your body is actually ready for the refeed, or you gain the pounds back.

So, I'm still waiting for that hunger to come...but gotta say - last week was the LEAST hungry week of my whole diet!!!!

So, I guess I will just wait... I'm travelling back to Europe next week or so and then back here again, so I'm not really excited to do the refeed during that travelling (will be hard to weigh myself every morning...), but I dont know if I can postpone the refeed for so long as I have important exam at home... Have reached 52kg on week 11, now I'm 50kg... (end of week 13), so I will wait for the hunger and then we'll see...

OK, gotta go, my timing on internet is done, will be back on Friday... I miss you both, too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bitten

06-18-2008, 11:09 AM

hello maya-

just wanted you to know that i was thinking of you !!!!

you are shrinking away....
hope your trip back home is safe and easy-
big love to you-
bitten

Shasha

06-18-2008, 01:47 PM

{hi}there Maya

I hope this post finds you well when you log on again on Friday – and I’m sending you a :bighug: from across the big and many waters!!!

Your goal weight is 52 kg… you’re now at 50 kg… so you are at goal? Right?

Most Diet Buddies are happy with the goal weight that Dr Cohen recommend for them, unless you feel that you have a smaller than ‘normal’ frame size and that you are still carrying excess fat… in which case you may chose a lower goal weight – if you are not sure I recommend asking a friend or even asking your personal doctor.

Bottom line is: if the excess fat is gone, you can and you should begin Re-feeding. Hunger or no hunger. Lots of Dieters find that when they get close to goal they become hungry like wolves… but that is NOT always true for everyone! You are unique and your journey to health and wellness will also be a unique journey, just because some people are hungry, it doesn’t mean that this will be your exact experience too! There are quiet a few people that I know who didn’t get hungry at all, so don’t let that be your guiding light…

What I do want to caution you about is not pushing yourself too hard or too far…

Basically you need to take a good long look at my Diet Buddie Maya, how does she look? How does she feel? I’m not talking about hunger but I mean how does she feel in her new body? Happy? Content? Satisfied or is there still a pound or two?

Then you need to look at what you can and cannot do successfully… if you are travelling it will be hard to do the Re-feeding Program 100% correctly weighing everything including yourself… in this case it would be better to wait just another week or so. Or to count your days and see if you can be done before travelling (but I don’t think so…)

As you can see during the Re-feeding Program you will be brining in more foods – so this can already help when you are studying…

Now, let’s look at some of that ‘conflicting’ stuff you mention… and, I hope I’m not standing on anyone’s toes, but I’m going to give it to you the way I understand it:

The point of Re-feeding is to TRAIN your body to cope with more food in a controlled manner so that it can cope with a normal healthy lifestyle. This means you need to teach your body to handle more food. Remember when you started dieting, you had to teach your body to handle less food – for most people this meant 3 or 4 days of being HUNGRY. If you teach your body to cope with more food, it will mean that you feel FULL and not hungry, possibly even a bit STUFFED. But, you need to teach your body to cope with more food because you cannot live off diet food forever.

Remember that while you were on diet your body is eating the food as per Dr Cohen together with the FAT you had stored up. Now that the extra fat is gone, YOU NEED MORE FOOD. It is better to train your body to cope with more food at meal times than to eat little at meal times and then want to snack often in-between as this usually leads to grabbing something fast and something that is fattening. So, I really believe you need to eat all your food to train your body. Why else would Dr Cohen give you a certain number of days to complete? I believe you should aim to complete your Re-feeding Program the way it is written, unless you become really uncomfortable and decide that you will never add + 200 grams of protein but that + 160 grams is your limit. If that happens you must stop adding more veggies at the same time but you still need to complete your Re-feeding Program, but stay with those specific quantities. Ie you must bring in the new foods like the cookie etc.

Even so, there are ways to eat all your food even if you are full – by this I don’t mean stuff it in, I mean be creative and swop things around a little. After Day 16 you can mix proteins. Swop meals and have Meal 1 for dinner. Add to this all your extra proteins and veggies, about the size of a diet meal and then then have the yogurt with cinnamon and sweetener for desert. Mmmmmmm!!! (LOL yes, I also think that’s a clever move she says patting herself on the back…)

The main reason I’m telling you to EAT THE FOOD is because I believe that if you are short changing your body on good food ie: proteins and veggies, you will end up trying to catch up and then it’s normally not with FOOD… but with junk… or too much starch…

There are 3 phases to Dr Cohen’s program and each needs to be implemented in order to have ongoing success: 1) Diet 2) Re-feeding 3) Maintenance.
The Starch once a day rule is for AFTER THE RE-FEEDING – same with the NEVER HAVE STARCH FOR BREAKFAST RULE – these rules form part of the Maintenance Program and you do not need to worry about them during the Re-feeding Program. During the Re-feeding program you will introduce lots of new foods, + 200 g protein and + 200 g veggies ON TOP of your DIET FOOD – that is a whole lot of food! There is no way you can bring in all this food + 3 slices of bread ADDED into one meal – you will probably POP – and at the very least you will most certainly have a very, very painful tummy ache if you try this. Most ladies find that having 2 slices of bread in one meal is TOO MUCH on Re-feeding. How will they then eat 3 slices in 1 or 2 meals? I recommend splitting your 3 slices between your 3 meals while you are on the Re-feeding Program. After the Re-feeding Program you implement the Maintenance Rules: no starch / bread for breakfast and starch only once a day…

About the gaining weight bit, it’s always been my understanding that the weight gain and going back is only relevant IF you gain more than 2 pounds between yesterday and today or between today and tomorrow. I’m not going to argue with anyone who says it’s during your whole program… but, what I am going to say is: how about you cross that bridge IF YOU EVER GET THERE… Many people continue to lose weight on the Re-feeding Program – if you have been following your eating plan 100%, I don’t believe you need to fear gaining on Re-feeding.

{oops} this post is getting way too long, but I think I’ve answered all your questions as best I could in any case - if I missed something just let me know…

One more tip: RELAX!!! It’s not as scary as it looks!!! Many people find the whole idea of going off diet quiet frightening – just take it slowly, one day at a time, we are all right here to help support you as much as we can {bighug} you are NOT alone...

Bronwyn

06-18-2008, 04:08 PM

Hi Maya dear! I think Shasha said it all. I didn't feel ravenous before starting refeed, but definitely noticed that I was a bit hungrier and definitely needed each snack each day. I also began to feel extremely tired and sometimes even a bit dizzy. I'm on day 4 of my refeed and yesterday noticed an increase in energy and no dizziness so am sure that was what was going on. I do think refeed would be near impossible while travelling, unless you are only travelling for a day or two and can handle it. I postponed starting because I had a business trip last week so I waited until I was home to begin and am glad I did.

I also recommend following refeed to the finest detail, just as prescribed by Dr. Cohen. I wouldn't adjust or change a thing unless something major happens (i.e. weight gain and/or physical discomfort). I have noticed the last two nights that I'm a little uncomfortable after eating dinner - nothing bad - but noticeable. I think it's due to the increase of meat. It goes away very quickly so am not worried about it and it's probably just how my body is reacting to the increased portion sizes.

I have lost another whole pound since staring refeed and this morning I weighted 115.6! LOVING THIS!!!

Please keep us posted on how you're doing. Even if our board gets quiet we miss you and are thinking of you! Best of luck with all your travel. I admire you for sticking with this program with so many hard challenges.

Bronwyn

06-18-2008, 04:11 PM

Hi Shasha, dear Shasha!

So yes - Refeed is going great. I haven't gotten too experimental with my bread yet but have enjoyed yesterday and today just having toast with homemade jam (yesterday was blackberry and today blueberry). I just warm the fruit in a sauce pan, add a little sweetener, spread on my toast and YUM YUM YUM. I don't miss the butter at all and will probably continue to have my toast this way in the future as I'm sure it is healthier. Yesterday I had the toast with my breakfast, but today had it as my mid-morning snack.

The next few days aren't too exciting... Just increasing even more my old protein and old veggie portions. I'm so looking forward to some new meats and veggies (even if I can't have my ham! I should've known that I couldn't have that!)

Thanks for rooting for me and checking in. I will certainly try that French Toast idea - probably this weekend!

Shasha

06-19-2008, 02:40 PM

{hi} there Bronwyn

WHOOOOO HOOOOOO YAAAAAAY 115.6! POUNDS!!! {wave} FANTASTIC!!!

I’m glad to hear that you are doing well – and I love the JAM idea!!! That’s so clever!!! For now you can enjoy having your bread at any time … while that little privilege lasts ie: for the duration of your Re-feeding Program, cos after Re-feeding its going to need to be STARCH ONCE A DAY… but you could still have you Jammie Sammie as part of your starch meal or just after…

Thanks for sharing with everyone how you are feeling and how you are doing… I see the Diet Buddies are a bit quiet on the Re-feeding threads, but I have no doubt that they are very curious… so please keep letting them and me know how you are doing and how you are feeling and what your weight is doing… It’s wonderful that our Diet Buddies enroute get to hear this first hand from a DIET BUDDIE who they have gotten to know, love and trust through the last few months… So, thank you very much from the bottom of my :love4:

Remember read your program ahead for shopping purposes ie do not to buy too many good fruit cos it goes from 1 good to 2 good, then 1 good, 1 bad then 2 bad fruit quiet quickly… we can’t have you stuck with too many pineapples or too many berries :flirt:

Bronwyn

06-19-2008, 06:37 PM

That is a very good point dear Shasha and one that I've already considered. Overall, I am planning ahead only a day or two at a time because each day is so different (well not so much right now, but coming up). So - more trips to the grocery store and I'm not able to measure and cook a week's worth of meat at once anymore. But hey - I'm certainly not complaining.

I'm happy to share my experience and hope that no one is annoyed with hearing about the perks of refeed. It's certainly meant to share so that they'll know what they have to look forward to. This portion of the diet is so important, I know, so I'm really focusing on doing it right.

MrsPeel

06-19-2008, 07:03 PM

Dear Bron, yes, please do keep posting about re-feed! There are quite a few of us who are nearing your exalted status and the preview of coming attractions is a big help!!!

LesKiya

06-20-2008, 12:42 AM

Great questions and I am bookmarking this thread in case I have some questions for refeeding too! Everyone is doing so great, its so exciting to be thin again!!! Ladies, guys, hang in there with the diet and the refeed! We can do it!

Maya

06-20-2008, 01:03 AM

Hi, Shasha, hello my Brownie, sweet sweet bitten!!!!

Just a quicky, its 1 am, I'm just burning dvds for people, gotta go to bed, we were rolling in the HUGE waves today and I am exhausted, gotta be up at 5am...

Shasha, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR ALL THE EXPLANATIONS! YOU ARE TRULLY A SWEATHEART!!!!!

I will post more tomorrow, when I will have some time...but just in case anyone will be there until then...

My travelling is like this:

Next Friday (27th) from Florida to Europe, I would be able to have all the meals as perscribed (have been cooking and packing on the plane things before, totally managable, sneakable, if you are organized)...the only thing is - I fly in Europe on Saturday, so if I dont bring my scale with me, I wont be able to weigh myself on Saturday. We come to Germany and then I go on the train (during the night) and come home at 6 am on Sunday. I can weigh myself there.
Food - I will cook, prepack, no problem.

Then I am there for 2 weeks, during which it would EVEN BETTER AND EASIER doing the refeed (as I will be in my apartment) than here (I work on the boat and the scales already have motion sickness from all the moving, so I am preparing all the meals for myself on Sundays anyway)...
But,
I also am flying back - so, the refeed will defenitely fall on the travelling.
From Europe to States will be same (on July 10th) - train from my country to Germany, sleep on the airport (no weighing in the morning for one day) and then I fly to Florida in the evening, where my friend can wait for me with the scale in the hotel.

To wait another 3 weeks on the original diet - I'm not sure if this would be healthy and how I would survive my exams, travelling... so, I was SERIOUSLY thinking to simply travel with the scale and since the crackers and bread are optional, just leave them out on the travelling days, in case I gain some weight because of water retention - if I added bread would probably just make me panic if I gain those 2 pounds and might be false alarm...

Or really...what else can I do?
I wish I wish I knew before this refeed was so strict, you know?
I mean, I can't postopne for another 3 weeks???
I was planning to go at least one way with least possibility to gain those 2 pounds during the night, so one morning not weighing wouldnt kill it all... So, I thought if it's first week when it's still old food...would kind of be easier?

I thank You Soooo much for beautiful explanation. My consultant was sometimes really kind of...well, will leave that out... It just became so unclear, you know?

I'm so tired, I will go to bed now and write more tomorrow...
Thank you all SO SO MUCH!!!!

Bronwyn

06-20-2008, 10:44 AM

Poor dear Maya. Reading your posts makes me exhausted!! Yes - I think three weeks continuing on your original plan when you're ready for refeed is too much. Sounds like you could do it (Refeed) with a lot of planning and preparation. I would recommend doing that and taking your scale with you. After travelling last week after putting off refeed for one week, I was EXHAUSTED!!! After two days of refeed my energy was backc to normal. And my trip was very minimal compared to yours. Of course, see what Shasha suggests, but that's my two cents. Hang in there my dear, the end is near!

Shasha

06-20-2008, 04:08 PM

{hi} there Ms Maya

{uhm} I’m not your consultant and I’m not telling you what to do, but, I must say that I agree with Bronie… If I was in your shoes and I knew what I know, I would REFEED…

You may very well still drop a few pounds on the Re-feeding Program… If you don’t you can still opt to drop a pound or two after Re-feeding by going back on your old diet once things have settled in your schedule. You must simply not allow yourself to go wild and gain weight.

Just remember, Re-feeding is actually only the beginning of implementing your new healthier lifestyle. (Dieting was like doing damage control…) Now that you’re done, it’s time to learn to eat more healthy foods and once you’ve done with your Re-feeding Program… you will need to implement a healthy eating pattern that is right for your body on a daily and ongoing basis.

After Re-feeding please don’t stay away from the 1st Personal Diet Forum, keep on coming back and telling us how you are doing, that way we can be sure to give advise quickly if necessary and we can encourage you and help you to stay accountable.

Like I said, what I would do is Re-feed, then see how my body reacts. If after the Re-feeding Program you find that you are still 2 pounds above goal and you feel that you gain weight too easily you can decide to drop a few more pounds. You must determine (like everyone else) that you are not going to let yourself gain weight again. It’s about being in control and keeping your hormones in control.

I agree about having crackers (your original amount) on your traveling days. + On those days to help prevent water retention please drink MORE WATER… besides, drinking more water will help to give you time to exercise ie: run to the toilet!

Keep us posted and please: GET SOME REST! :sleeping: :sleeping:

Maya

06-20-2008, 07:15 PM

Thank You thank You thank You Brownie and Shasha!
Please, Shasha, always tell me what you think!!!! My consultant was not so much help anyway... I am hungry for advises, for comments, ideas!!!!!:praying:
I had a really heavy night behind me, I couldnt sleep, I got a mail from a friend – her perfectly healthy dog died and I couldnt sleep, and I also have some problems with travelling papers now...anyway – I was hungrier today, of course, but I think I need a rest. Since I can't just take a nap here and there, I ate my dinner at 6.30 and will be in bed by 9. And hopefully have a LONG RESTING NIGHT.

I will see what the scale will show tomorrow, I will see if I will be a little more hungry than normal and if yes, then I will start the refeed. I will listen to my body and hopefully bringing the scale with me wont be so hard... I will stay away from bread (I thought I wouldnt even have crackers, as it says they are optional and that day maybe just have protein and veggies – the food that is a MUST?) and yes, water water water...and then Sunday when I'm home, totally dedicated, with daily weighing in my bathroom.

I will keep posting. I will write tomorrow, too.
You know I wrote a lot, but it seems I was writing to myself, that's why I stopped. I can rather do that in my diary, then... : )
But of course, if my experience can help anybody...I'm glad!
I will write tomorrow's weight and measurments and how much they were in the beginning.

And yes, you are right. I can always learn more. This is just the beginnig.
I just dont wanna start the refeed just because »I'm tired of the diet«... I wanna make sure it IS THE RIGHT TIME for my body. 13 weeks have been too long to make a mistake because of few days.
Thank you Shasha for ANY thought, ANY comment, ANY suggestion, ANY idea what YOU would do. I know you must have a lot of experiences and I am dying to hear some more, so I will be more confident at starting the refeed. (again, I'm repeating – if I was in normal circumstances and able to weigh and observe myself better, I wouldn't make such big of a deal about the refeed, but here I am – no matter how hard it will be – if it is doable, I WILL DO IT.

Thank you girls, big time!!!!

Shasha

06-21-2008, 07:42 AM

{hi} there Missy Maya

Sorry about the doggie, I wouldn’t sleep either - :comfort:

I hope that last night you have had a GOOD night’s sleep and that you feel refreshed and alive and strong today!

Maya, I’m sure you’re ready for Re-feeding and I don’t want you to push yourself over the edge. We all have various emotional and mental and physical edges… I’m referring to the straw that breaks the camel’s back – that last little bit that was simply TOO MUCH to handle… Too difficult and too hard for too long… and if you push too far, too hard, too long you could very well end up having a fall right over the edge: BAM!

Let’s say you do keep pushing your edge – you get sick & tired of the diet, or you feel too hungry or even too tired and then you deviate… what’s that going to do?

It will unbalance your precious hormones immediately!!! OOOOoooops!

It doesn’t matter how hard you were trying – at the point of deviating you will have messed up your hormones and they will be unbalanced. This means that you will end up having to do your diet program again 100% for 2 weeks to balance your hormones BEFORE you can start your Re-feeding Program. When you’re at your goal weight, if you deviate it is very hard to get back on the bus and focus again and I don’t want that to happen to anyone.

I’ve seen a friend doing this, she was ready for Re-feed, but put it off because she wanted to drop another 2 pounds, despite knowing that she would be going away. Then she went away, gained 5 pounds, so then it was 7 pounds needing to be dropped, so back on diet, two weeks later it was something or other and again up, then down, then up, then down and bottom line: 6 months later, she IS STILL NOT DONE!!!

Would it not have been better to do the Re-feed and control her weight? Besides, during the Re-feeding Program she may very well have lost that stupid last pound or two – many clients continue to drop during Re-feeding. If after the Re-feed she still wanted to drop 2 pounds, so be it, diet, get it over and done with but… 6 months of on and off is not good and I don’t think at this time she will ever do her Re-feeding Program nor do I know that it will still work.

So, rather start with that Re-feeding Program…

I don’t recommend that you cut the crackers out, sure, go from bread to your diet cracker amount on the days you are travelling, but don’t go from bread to nothing. The reason I say this is that the bread is training your body to cope with more food and more starch. If you go from 3 slices of bread to nothing and back to 3 slices of bread I do think you may gain.

TIP: You will see after your first and second and third slice how your body reacts and then you will have a better idea of what to do when travelling. Best is start, see how your body reacts, plan your days ahead, smuggle your food where needs be… and just do your best.

Another point: Basically from Day 10 onwards you’ll be on 3 slices of bread – now I don’t know what day that is for you, maybe it will fall on your Day 4 or 5, but if you see early on in your program that your body is not having a problem with bread, and you’ve been eating 3 slices of bread for 4 days and it’s time to travel, I don’t think you will suddenly gain 2 pounds in one day from the bread if you were already use to the bread and especially not if you go from 3 slices of bread to 5 crackers for just that one day.

If needs be, the very next day when you are able, you can stand on the scale and if you are up, redo those last two days, then go on with the rest of the plan. I don’t think this will happen though, especially not if you keep drinking your water to as to prevent water retention.

About feeling like writing to yourself – hey girl, that’s no problemo! Just do it anyway – if it makes you feel better call your thread MAYA’S BLOG / DIARY then everyone can know, this is where they can go to read about your progress ie: it’s YOUR SPACE! And YOUR PLACE!

Get me clearly on this: I never, ever, ever want anyone to feel that any post is a waste of space… because it is not!!!

I see from the home page we have 304 members – but only 94 of them are active. My question is: who are the rest of them? Why don’t they simply just pop in and say Hi, I’m XY or Z and this is how I’m going…

We want to know so please come and tell us about the good, the bad and the ugly… there is nothing to be shy about – we don’t even know you!

:thinking: some of you seem to be a bit like Peeping Tom’s… popping in to read quietly when nobody else is looking… but maybe you're just too busy or just too shy or just too busy reading to ever write… but hey, even that is fine too {grouphug1} whatever float's your boat ~ but, I still wish you would write even once in a while…

So it’s back to you Maya dear, your homework for this weekend: STRESS LESS & EAT MORE!!! (and oh boy, I will bet there are plenty of Diet Buddies who are reading this and who wish they were in your shoes!!!) So don’t just sit there… go get your slice of bread (only if you start on Day 4 that is!)

Have a wonderful relaxing weekend! And enjoy your Re-feeding Program – let us know when you start and tell us what you do with your first slice of bread… just like Bronwyn who made yummy berry jam…

Bronwyn

06-21-2008, 11:38 AM

Hi Maya,

Yes - you need to start that refeed so that you're done by the time you have to come back to the boat. I also agree about not dropping the crackers... especially if you're travelling and needing your energy, you will need the additional carbs and calories. I have lost 1.8 pounds after completing 6 days of refeed. From everything you've said, I think you're ready and I think, given your travel schedule, you need to start! Let us know!

Maya

06-21-2008, 04:05 PM

Shasha, brownie....how in the world can I thank You? {grouphug1}
Shasha, thank you for spending so much time, effort and energy on me... I APPRECIATE IT MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW!!!!!
Thank You Thank You Thank You!

My best friend just arrived and I asked her - please, tell me honestly, how do I look? (she saw me in the winter when I was 17 kg heavier..) And she said -

"You look awesome! You are still mascular... I was worried, cuz your friend said you look anorexic...But you shouldn't go too far, maybe another pound, but thats it!"

So, people that just meet me, also think I just look good, no one thinks I'm thin or anything. I really look healthy? But of course it is a big change for someone that knew me 37 pounds heavier...

I got great sleep and I am OK today. I am NOT hungry! I mean, in the morning I just had that yogurt (after a week of eggs)...I do get a little more hungry in the afternoon (maybe, or I just had time today), but when I have my apple, I'm satisfied.

The reason why I was thinking so much about the right timing of the refeed is... (now I will write more, cuz you gave me the green light, so people that are coming to the refeed wont feel lonely in their preparing...)...

I meet lots of women that started refeed too soon and they struggled with food choices during the refeed and afterwards their heads got all messed up... They still can't go off diet completely (AFTER the refeed), still obsessing with food every day, the weight goes up and they struggle to get it down and they are bloated and feel stuffed and heavy again and they just doesnt seem to find the right balance and with that - peace with food I am sooo needed for.

You know, Shasha, I did this diet and am 100% dedicated to it (I was 100% through it, NO deviations in all 13 weeks even when I had to eat slimy, nasty spinach because it was all I had on the boat premeasured right...even when I almost threw up because of seasickness, even when I had to jump in the water just when I had chicken still in my throat and prayed not to throw up in the water, even when I sat in the middle between two men munching on their yumm food on the plane, and here, where I cook 3 meals a day with freshly baked deserts every day (I made peanut butter cookies for my friend just this morning AND banana bread with chocolate chips and pecans...) - I decided to finally get in shape and get my hormones in balance.

And I feel too good to ruin it now.

So, these women that started refeed because they THOUGHT they were ready, but actually they were just "tired of same old food and tired of diet" - they haven't done themselves any favor with it - after the refeed they had to go back on the diet and ... just neverending story where this diet can become just one of many.

This is what I am trying to avoid.

As there are many other signs I heard could show the time for the refeed: backache (dont have it), antzy, nervousness (not any more than normal), huge morning hunger (not hungry at all), easily bruisiness (nope)..., tiredness (not if I get normal sleep and rest).
so, that's why I'm not sure why to start, you know?

Yes, travelling, but I already made a plan. Will bring the scale with me on the plane, take the batteries out, when I fly to London, it will be 11 am London time, but 5 am my body time, will simply go to the bathroom, get naked and weigh myself. No big deal. Even if I start refeed tomorrow, it's still gonna only be my 6th day, which is...8th day on the plan. (I got 18 days) - so, just some more old protein in old veggies and some more fruit.
I decided to certainly do the heavy part of refeed at home (from new fruits, bad fruits, new meats...) cuz I would be able to measure, feel myself better there... Here is a mess, I'm telling you.

I'm getting up at 5 every morning, feeding 16 people 3 times a day, every day,in the waves, any kind of weather... I just prepared all the meals (precut veggies, premeasured, all 3 meals a day - plus crackers and premeasured blueberries. I also froze all the packages of first week's reefed - all meat ready as must be.
So, I AM READY.

Please, horsy hunger come for visit!!:praying:

My only wish here, really, is to - finish the refeed the way it should be and NEVER have to think about dieting again. Yes, I wanna feed my body to give it energy and spend time on some other things in life but dieting, reading about my weird syndroms of imbalanced hormones and START LIVING.

Shasha, how can I thank You for everything you are telling us here?
I got tears in my eyes when reading the post - thank you!

So, just to make it clear again - you think (I guess these are instructions from dr.Cohen?) - that we should eat EVERYTHING that is on the refeed plan? (my consultant said that hardly any woman really eats 3 slices of bread, mostly they only have one or two as carbs are the problematic ones..., she also didnt tell me that if I will not add more than additional 60g of meat a day, that I also have to limit veggies then and I asked her about importance of the balance between veggies and meat?

I just wonder where these rules come from and why are they different? I believe YOU, of course, it makes more sense and it is also written that way in the instructions, but she said the refeed was written also for men and they need more protein and carbs.
But why did dr.Cohen chose our days out, then?

So, I did - I prepared everything for the refeed and I am ready. Thank You, Shasha. Thank you SOOO SOOOO MUCH!!!!!! I promise I will report and help others, too.

Shasha

06-23-2008, 11:46 AM

{hi} there Missy Maya

Firstly, I really admire your sheer tenacity and dedication that you have shown in following your 1st Personal Diet Program 100%: {goodjob}

It can indeed be a BIG problem when your friends and family keep on telling you that you look too thin – they mess with your mind, even though they probably don’t intend to, I believe it is only because they keep comparing you to your former fat self… who was way too big in any case. I’d go with the opinion of those who didn’t know the former fat you (ie: the pretty you + 37 pounds extra) – people who never saw this are much more likely to be objective in their thinking.

I just feel the need to recap – normally Dr Cohen gives you a goal weight between 2 points ie: 130 – 136 pounds. What was your goal weight? What are you aiming for? Remember the bottom end ie: 130 pounds in our example is for if you have a small frame size and the 136 pounds would be for if you have a large frame size. The idea is that when you reach your ideal goal weight be it 130 or 136 pounds that you start Re-feeding. Also, if you have more muscles you probably should weigh more ie: choose 136 and not 130 pounds.

I agree, you should not stop dieting because you are tired of diet food.

You say: As there are many other signs I heard could show the time for the refeed: backache (dont have it), antzy, nervousness (not any more than normal), huge morning hunger (not hungry at all), easily bruisiness (nope)..., tiredness (not if I get normal sleep and rest). so, that's why I'm not sure why to start, you know?

I don’t know anything about HAVING TO HAVE backache or horsy hunger, antyz feelings (whatever those may be?) nervousness, bruising easily etc AS PRE-REQUISITS BEFORE you can start Re-feeding… I think these things may just be here say on many Blogs – one girl has this experience shortly prior to Re-feeding and wha la, now she’s gone and made it a new rule: so now you must have this experience before you can Re-feed. I don’t think so!!!

WHY?

Truth is many Dieters get horsy hunger THE MOMENT THEY DEVIATE IN ANY WAY – that can be 40 pounds above goal.

Many Dieters NEVER ever feel hungry – in fact, they can even forget to eat. Bottom line: Re-feeding must happen at a weight ie: when your excess fat is gone – normally the weight Dr Cohen recommend for ladies, although I have noticed a fair amount of men need to go lower than their recommended goal – maybe because some men have more muscles and others have less and the goal weight formulation is calculated on men with more muscles.

Truth is, some Dieters DO get lower back ache, but this is NOT A SIGN TO REFEED.
Let’s say someone has 100 pounds to drop. If she drops 40 pounds she can already have lower back ache – but it does clearly not mean that she is ready for Re-feeding. Dr Cohen says that if you experience lower back-ache you are not to worry. What happens is that the spine adjusts into a healthier position, even with just a few pounds lost, and it is the muscles around the spine that cause the back-ache. It will settle in a few weeks. Dropping a few pounds makes a huge difference in the effort it takes your muscles to keep upright.

Truth is, some Dieters DO find they bruise easily or that they get cold quickly – again, this is NOT THE SIGN TO REFEED, Dr Cohen says the following: Before the Eating Plan your body had many fat layers, protecting against cold and bruising. Because you lost the fat so quickly, the body needs to adjust to the fact that it does not have those cushioning’ extra layer any more. It will take a few weeks for the body to adjust.

I really think you should eat everything on your Re-feeding plan – if Dr Cohen didn’t want you to get to + 200 grams of protein, he could have stopped your Re-feeding Program on Day 10 or whatever.

About the bread, many, many ladies I know can easily eat 3 slices per day :shocked: maybe not all in one go... but, you don't have to do that on Re-feeding! I'm not saying you must eat 3 slices of bread AFTER RE-FEEDING!!!

Remember I told you there were 3 phases: 1) Diet 2) Re-feeding 3) Maintenance.
The Re-feeding Program is there to TRAIN your body to cope with foods for the Maintenance phase in a controlled manner. I recommend that you eat ALL the bread on Re-feeding and then you can leave it out on Maintenance if you like. The reason I’m saying this is the following: If you notice the Starch veggies are 50 grams only – this is not a lot of cooked potato for example - only about 1/4 of a medium potato and then there is no starch room left for anything else ie: peas or beans or corn etc. Bread is also starch – on Maintenance you can LEAVE the bread and have more starch veggies, which is what I do, BUT ONLY IF YOU TRAINED YOUR BODY TO COPE WITH MORE STARCH by eating the bread during Re-feeding. So, the gradual introduction of 3 slices of bread is not because bread is good for you – bread is a bad habit – but it is for training your body to cope with more starch – after the Re-feeding Program you can save having bread for high days and holidays ie: a weekend treat, you go to a BBQ and there's some fancy bread that looks good - by all means, have a slice. During the week, who needs bread? Rather have more starch veggies.

Obviously you will have to see, by weighing yourself how much starch veggies like peas, beans, potato etc you can have INSTEAD of all that bread. Perhaps you can leave out 3 slices of bread and have 2 crackers as snacks during the day and then eat a bit more starch veggies during your evening meal. If you never trained your body on bread, that’s it, you will probably only be able to cope with 50 grams of starch veggies.

Same with the fruit, I know it’s optional, but it trains your body to cope with more sugar… so, I believe you should eat it, even if you won't be eating that much fruit after Re-feeding.

I know there must be different ways to interpret the same thing, but I’ve explained my thinking to you by reasoning that makes sense to me and you can decide what to do with it…

To me a ladder means it’s the end of that particular pair of pantyhose – to a painter it’s the tool that gets him onto a roof – to the guy in the corporate world it’s means his struggle to the top… so there will always be different ways to see something.

Now I have a question for you my Dear Missy Maya: so, when do you start your Re-feeding Program??? :flying:

PS: I hope the rest of you are enjoying this BOOK... maybe copy and save the info somewhere for future reference when you do get to Re-feeding...

PPS: ...and, Missy Maya, I think our Diet Buddies are going to be quiet because today they will be reading a BOOK, not just a few posts... no doubt, it's going to get you thinking LOL!

macresco

06-23-2008, 12:28 PM

THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU for this, Shasha!!!

That's EXACTLY the sort of information often lacking in the program at large. You are a superwoman!!! Thanks from all of us not yet on re-feed for reiterating that just because you DON'T have the symptoms a lot of people out there seem to get when they're at goal doesn't mean you need to wait to do refeed.

I think I know where Maya comes from with her concern, though! SO MUCH EMPHASIS is put on only doing refeed when your body has no more excess fat...that is a really hard thing to determine -- especially for those of us who have never been our goal weight as adults...we simply don't know what we're supposed to look like - and therefore, weigh! Besides getting an expensive professional bodyfat measurement done, it's hard to know if your body has "excess" fat on it or not because we've spent so much time with our thin bodies hidden under heaps of the stuff.

Plus, we're led to believe that if you're NOT at you body's own physiological goal weight, that re-feed wont work as well and you might gain it back!!! YIPES!!!

Anyway, thanks for the "book"! It's really helpful :)

ps: how can you tell if you have a small, medium or large frame?

Shasha

06-23-2008, 01:31 PM

{hi} there Maresco

LOL {rofl} I don’t know about SUPER WOMAN! I very much doubt that! So far I can remember there was ever only a SUPER MAN and we’re {noway} related… But, thanks anyways… you’ve made my day :flirt:

I agree with you: Finding your ideal goal weight can be a bit difficult especially if you’ve never been at goal as an adult... That's when it's good to take Dr Cohen’s recommended goal weight for you. Unless you have a very light bone structure or are very petite… or have lots of muscles etc. then you may need to change.

Another thing that makes it difficult is what lies directly between your own two ears ie: your thinking – sometimes even when you are at goal you don’t FEEL THIN! You still feel like the same person that you were a couple of weeks or months ago and you don't SEE what all the fuss of your friends is all about... That’s when it’s time to listen to what someone else who is objective says…

About your frame size: looking at your wrist, how broad your shoulders, hips and even shoes are can give you a pretty good indication as to which frame size you are. If you are not sure, how about asking a friend or someone who can see you…

Never the less, always remember that even if you are the right weight and start Re-feeding at the right time, the big key to winning the battle of the bulge is still going to be not to indulge and remember, it’s all about starch, which triggers too much insulin... and how sensitive your body is to starch.

If I can add to the BOOK: I still believe it is better to eat enough proteins and veggies so that you are full from meals ie: actual food so that you are not constantly wanting to snack between… that’s typically when we grab the quick and easy and bad for us starch or sugary foods! Most people don't get fat from lean proteins and veggies, rather from starch and sugary goodies...

SurferGirl

06-23-2008, 04:38 PM

Hi Shasha and Maya,

Thanks for posting all this information. Maya, I am so grateful that you are open about all your struggles, frustrations, and questions. :thinking:

Shasha thank you for providing us with the reasons behind the diet instructions. I know lots of us have questions but we're too shy to ask.{blush2}

All this info. really helps those of us out there who never grew out of wanting to know the "Whys" or "Why nots" . I don't know exactly what makes it so much easier when I learn the reasons behind the plan, but it really REALLY does!!

So thank you both!{bighug}

PS-Maya, I'd love read your diet journal. You are making it through some of the most challenging diet struggles I can imagine. Your stories would certainly inspire many of us to stay OP like you!

Shasha

06-24-2008, 11:32 AM

Hi there :surf:Girl

Thank you very much for stepping out :hiding: and writing this to MAYA – she was beginning to feel really lonely… At least she knows there is one Diet Buddie out there who has also benefitted from her questions…

{grouphug1}

I know lots of us have questions but we're too shy to ask.{blush2}

As for me: LOL!!! I'm thinking: YOU’RE TOO FUNNY!!! … I’m wondering if you think our 1PD SPY TEAM of Under Cover COHEN Cops are going to go down to the beach and find you!!! aaaaHA!!!

But sadly my precious friend you have a point… despite being anonymous, some people are still simply too shy to post!

To all of you who feel too shy to post - here's my best advise:

FEEL THE SHY & THEN SUBMIT YOUR POST IN ANY WAY!

SurferGirl

06-24-2008, 01:20 PM

Alright, you asked for it.

When I asked for my diet, I asked for dairy to be excluded because I suspect that I may be a bit lactose intollerant. Therefor my diet includes soy yogart(which is totally disgusting:sick:) and Tofu. Both contain soy, but I'm not allowed soy sauce. What's the reason behind that?

Also why are our spices limmited?

What do the extra blood tests tell Dr. Cohen?

Why is diet coke okay, while all other processed junk is not allowed? (As it an ex-diet coke addict, I know that that stuff does weird things to your system, and it seems like a lot of diet buddies are staying away from it too)

Not really a diet question...Why am I so tempted by free food. For some reason it is extra tempting?? You know the cookie samples at the grocery store, etc. That's so weird!

Since starting 1PD I have had way more energy over all BUT when I exercise or do a bunch of work around the house I am exhausted. I went surfing Saturday and Sunday and after all that I am completely spent...oh ya and hungry for the next couple days:drool:. What's going on that makes exerting ourselves even more tiring than when we're off plan? Perhaps it's because off plan we'd go eat lots and lots if we did extra work? :munchies:

Well that felt good! I love my diet buddies! Thanks Shasha for freeing the beast!{taz}

bitten

06-24-2008, 03:39 PM

great ?'sssss
i want to know all this too.
so often i hear from 1st PD that is is 'just because the dr. says so...' well that is really hard to 'swallow' for an intelligent adult who is lucky for knowledge and understanding.
i am hoping for more information.
yeah for surfer girlie & the amazing mermaid maya!

SurferGirl

06-24-2008, 04:10 PM

Thanks Bitten! Ya that's right, we're just intelligent adults looking for knowledge and understanding!

Although sometimes I feel like the 4 year old who asks mom "why" after everything she says:rolling:. I'm really not looking for a loophole (unless one could get me some cake{mischievious}); I just want to know the reasoning behind this stuff.{idk}

LesKiya

06-24-2008, 10:40 PM

I too started the refeed a few days ago with 1 pound to go. Its going well so far and I've dropped .5 pound while doing it even! The blueberries are wonderful! and the bread has given me gas, as warned!!! So far though, I feel fabulous. I am so thrilled that I finally got the gumption to get this done!

You all are doing great and keep it up!

Bronwyn

06-25-2008, 10:16 AM

YAY LesKiya! Welcome to refeed - Ain't it fun? I'm so, so happy for you and so glad you'll be done for your trip.

Bronwyn

06-25-2008, 10:24 AM

Hi SurferGirl!

Good questions! Don't be shy - ask away!!!

I don't know about some of those, but with regards to exercise... This program doesn't really encourage exercise, unless you were already working out a lot before and even then you must be very careful. You simply aren't eating enough to warrant and type of physical exertion so exercise can result in a lack of energy, extreme tiredness, very sore muscles, etc. You must pay attention to your body and if you are finding you are way too tired or sore after surfing or working out, you might need to scale it back. Be sure to eat your apple about 30 minutes before you workout as that helps. Also take an extra vitamin on the days you surf too as that will also help. When I did work out during this, I would do so about 1/2 hour after my breakfast of lunch and then immediately after my workout I would have an apple and my cracker snack. And definitely would take the extra vitamin. Even with all of that, I did notice a lack of energy during my workouts and was very careful to scale back when I found myself getting tired (i.e. more walking in place instead of running, etc.).

SurferGirl

06-25-2008, 04:29 PM

All that info really helps. ALthough I don't know if I'll be able to limit my surfing to half an hour, not when the "just one more wave" syndrome kicks in:innocent4:. I was definately way more sore than usual too, and it sounds like that's because I needed more vitamins! It's just so exciting to be getting smaller, surfing is so much more fun! Thanks again for all the helpful tips!;) BTW-congrats on reaching goal, I really love your posts about the refeed!

Shasha

06-25-2008, 04:44 PM

Hi there Everyone

Has anyone of you of you ever had one of those days when it feels like you’ve been totally misunderstood…? Sigh… and then things just don’t feel right?

Well, you’re going to have to pardon me today :sadeyes: I’m feeling sad cos I feel like I’ve been misunderstood… As the long lost Cyber Chick would say: BOOOOOO HOOOOO!!!

Phew… sigh again… but I’m thinking that I’ve really only got myself to blame for this one… talk about ask and you SHALL RECEIVE!!! Like as in BAM!!!

No problem with the questions, - I really don’t ever mind answering them, but when I invited you to POST I was kind of hoping you would tell us more about YOU – what works for you? How do you keep your focus? What motivates you most? What does not? When do you find you just want to eat and how do you manage to stay strong? Or what causes you to fall off the bus or not to stay strong – stuff like that… I’m hoping some of our missing Diet Buddies would pop in and TALK to us…

In all honesty, I am trying to figure out more about some of the thoughts behind the many different Diet Buddies we’ve had on the Forum and why some people can drop 50 or 100 pounds and keep going strong week in and week out while others seemingly struggle so much to drop only 10 or 15 pounds. I know if you have less it’s harder to drop – but that’s not it. I’ve seen plenty of successful smaller weight losers drop fast – my question is more about what it takes in the HEAD or the HEART to be successful. Something in the mind… We all know that simply following your 1PD eating plan will move mountains – but I want to know how come some people CAN JUST DO IT, while other’s struggle on and on…

What is it that makes one person be able to go to a restaurant and eat wisely and what is it that makes another person in a similar situation totally go banana’s and never be able to focus again. Is it that one person sees a bigger picture and the other is thinking: that’s it, I’ve blown it for good, may as well eat it all because clearly it is the end of my plan?

I’m not being judgmental of anyone – please DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND – also, what I’m writing is not a reflection on anyone recently going off diet for whatever reason. I rather want to know what successful dieters do or think that non successful dieters do or do not. Is there a way to change destiny? If someone is struggling is there a magic button we can push to help her to go from struggling in the mind to success?? I guess those buttons would be different for different people…

This is a question I’ve been wondering about it for ages – I believe it’s got to do with a mind set maybe? Wanting to be slim badly enough maybe? Maybe it is desperation ie: your doctor told you xyz is going to happen if you don’t trim down? If we can put our fingers onto this, I think we may be able to help struggling Diet Buddies better… so, if anyone out there has any thoughts on this specifically, please come and tell us.

In any case, so know you know, I also have questions… sigh... at least in typing them, they are off my chest, and I can focus on the greater task at hand:

SurferGirl: all I can say for now is: WOW, TALK ABOUT UNLEASHING THE {taz} – sit tight, I’m going to get my tranquilizer gun!! Maybe I can cook up some answers to your questions… LOL… I better go find me a bottle of SOY sauce to check the ingredients… Despite what you may think, I’m just Shasha, not Dr Cohen’s clone… (cloning… now that may be a very good idea – if only we could get a strand of hair…)(just kidding!!)

Bitten: thanks Babe! for encouraging SurferGirl and stirring that POT! {pot} I just knew I could count on the curiosity in you to join forces LOL

LesKiya: GIRL, I’m so very proud of you!!! Well done!!! Also on dropping another 0.5 so far!! How many days did you get? How many days are left??? Eat the bread for now, space it out so you don’t get too much bloating, – after the Re-feeding you can drop the bread and have a bit more starch veggies in the evening…

Bronwyn: You’re my LIFE SAVER! Thanks for that perfect answer about exercises!! What would I do without you??? Please, promise you will never ever leave me here on my own some!!!

SurferGirl: I’m back Soy Sauce and all; ingredients: water, soy beans, wheat, salt – but, alas, I don’t think the answer lies in the ingredients. Remember Dr Cohen says 5 hours between proteins – soy beans contain protein, now you want to add this to meat or chicken? I think that would be mixing proteins. Not good. If that is not the correct answer, maybe Dr Cohen knows something that we don’t ie: perhaps soy sauce triggers insulin? Or hunger? Or both? In either way, you can know for sure that Dr Cohen would have tested Soy Sauce and the reason it is not allowed it because it somehow interferes with the program making your diet less effective. Are you feeling better without the lactose?

Why are our spices limited? What do you mean by limited? I see 3 questions in 1:
Dr Cohen says: you may use spices in moderation to flavor your food – why moderation? I think because there can be side effects – I have heard that too much cinnamon can lead to constipation – don’t know how true that is, never had the desire to test the theory – but we all know that too much of a good thing is not good.
Why are they limited as in: no cayenne pepper or red pepper? Red chilies and cayenne pepper trigger HUNGER – big no-no for dieting!
Why are spices limited as in why no pre-mixed spices like BBQ, Chicken Spice etc? Because these contain a lot of ingredients that you are not allowed to have like starch, preservatives, fat etc. All of these will slow your progress down…

What do the extra blood tests tell Dr. Cohen?
Dr Cohen compares your follow up blood tests to your initial blood tests and then applies his 20 + years of research data / medical formula and knowledge to these results to see how you are doing? The results of this will be either that everything is 100% and Dr Cohen is SATISFIED or that Dr Cohen wants you to check if you are making mistakes because he has found your results to be borderline ok meaning you are probably making small mistakes that are slowing your progress down. On the borderline of deviating means you’re following your plan sort of, but not 100%. Then there is just plain deviating {uhm}. Sometimes Dr Cohen will instruct you what to change in your eating plan. Dr Cohen also uses all these blood test results 4, 12, 16 weeks etc when you get to your goal weight to calculate your personal Re-feeding Program for you. (Don’t ask me how!)

Why is diet coke okay, while all other processed junk is not allowed? (As it an ex-diet coke addict, I know that that stuff does weird things to your system, and it seems like a lot of diet buddies are staying away from it too.)
Your New Customer guide does say: you may have up to 1 liter of diet soda drink per day… This does not mean the same as YOU MUST HAVE… the choice is yours. Remember, the 1st Personal Diet Program has many clients, from many walks of life and it has been around for over 20 years. Tests done were not done on how does aspartame affects you but, rather with the weight loss program in mind ie: does this trigger insulin? Hunger? Does it interfere with Human Growth Hormone Production? Will is slow weight loss down? Lots of people I know do not drink tea or coffee – if you were to take out diet soda, that would leave them with only water – which is undoubtedly the most healthiest choice but I believe Dr Cohen has allowed this choice for numerous reasons ie: you can use diet soda for many things – even to cook with etc.
My opinion, if you know it doesn’t work for you – stay away from it.

Not really a diet question...Why am I so tempted by free food. For some reason it is extra tempting?? You know the cookie samples at the grocery store, etc. That's so weird!
That’s pushing it… but, I think it has something to do with the way we are brought up – the way we think is typically: it’s free – WHAT A BE A BARGAIN! YAAAAAY!!! Next time you think it’s FREE – think further – free what? Free sugar, free fat, free cholesterol, free weight gain, free disappointment, free clothes that don’t fit… Try to change the way you think about it. Don’t go aaaaah, my favourite…. Go sis, yug, I don’t like how those make me feel… ask yourself: Do I really want to trigger my fat fact*ry by sending my insulin monster soaring? Always remember: all things may be FREE and or even ‘allowed’, but not all things are beneficial or good for you!!!

Sorry, but I’ve had to cut this post into two because for the first time ever, I got a message saying:

The following errors occurred when this message was submitted:

The text that you have entered is too long (13110 characters). Please shorten it to 10000 characters long... Guess I got me a new record!!!

Shasha

06-25-2008, 04:52 PM

Since starting 1PD I have had way more energy over all BUT when I exercise or do a bunch of work around the house I am exhausted. I went surfing Saturday and Sunday and after all that I am completely spent...oh ya and hungry for the next couple days. What's going on that makes exerting ourselves even more tiring than when we're off plan?

Perhaps it's because off plan we'd go eat lots and lots if we did extra work? I do think so.

On the 1st Personal Diet Program your food intake is limited. Your body uses energy for fuel from two sources: 1) the food that you eat and 2) the food that is stuck in your grocery cupboards (you know where those sit: hips, thigh’s etc)… So you end up losing weight because your body uses fuel for energy. Basically your cells use the FUEL and a little explosion takes place in the cells and this allows you to move your arms and legs etc. While you are on diet, less energy comes in to your body from food so your body must go find more energy – and so it uses fat. On the diet you are no longer in FAT STORING mode – but rather, the Human Growth Hormone fetches the fat, breaks it down into water and then sends it through your body which then uses the fat as needed as energy.

This is why you have the extra energy on 1PD and you are not feeling tired or lethargic if you don’t over do it. :weights:(Unless of course you have low blood pressure – which causes tiredness etc.) Growth Hormone makes the fat available to your cells to use instead of food intake as energy.

Fat gets converted to energy that your body can use at a certain rate – this conversion can only go as fast as your particular body allows it to go. (metabolism)

If you need more energy due to exercises (which burn energy faster) than the limited reserves that your body has stored up in your liver and muscles or than what your body can produce in a certain time, your body tries to tell you it is not getting enough FUEL. You will not feel well, tired, low blood sugar etc.

The solution in this case is not to eat more – it is too difficult to try to calculate what you did, how this affected your personal body and how much more food you should add to compensate. The solution is rather to listen to your body and to exercise less – JUST FOR NOW. You can exercise again to your hearts content after the Re-feeding Program.

While you are on diet you should ever only exercise in moderation – listening to your body – stop before you feel exhausted or too tired – if the exercises you do triggers hunger, exercise less. So, I’m guessing that it’s going to be less time on the board and more time on the beach – I’m not saying STOP, I’m saying: listen to your body and please follow the tips Bronwyn has given you… fruit before, extra vitamin etc.

Remember, often when people exercise for extended periods of time, they use energy drinks or eat – which give them boosts of energy as they go along, preventing your body from having to struggle too hard to try to convert fat to energy – this increased food / drink / energy intake prevents the tiredness because you have instant energy right there but, at the same time if you are taking in energy drinks, you will not be burning fat – so, it’s really contra-indicative, you work hard, to try to aid weight loss but the extra intake you take to help you cope with the tiredness then prevents you from making progress on weight loss. So you get fit, but not really slimmer. Worse than not making progress is the following: you exercise too much, blood sugar drops too fast, :gurney: you feel bad then eat too much to cope with lowering blood sugar and feeling bad and then you can end up gaining weight from the extra food consumed.

Phew – long post… way tooo long.... sorry, but I just tried to answer your questions as best I could...

and I hope that your diet makes more sense to you now... {grouphug1} {grouphug1}

MrsPeel

06-25-2008, 05:41 PM

Dearest Shasha, I feel your disappointment. So here are a few of my answers, based on my personal diet success so far:

What motivates me?
Vanity, vanity, health, & vanity.

How do I stay on plan?
I consider that I have no alternative. I consider that securing my health as best I can for the second half of my life is more important than any temporary and forgettable temptation. How many meals have any of us had in our lives that were truly memorable? I can think of a few - really special meals in other countries or with family & friends or in fine restaurants. But the vast majority of things I've eaten have been sustenance. And your body doesn't care what form the sustenance takes - it's the mind that has cravings for treats and fat, salt and sugar.

Why am I not tempted by others' food choices/free food/desserts/alcohol?
Again, I can't imagine any of those things holding a candle to a slender, healthy vibrant old MrsPeel. I want to travel the world and be able to walk where I want, ride a bike, stay in modest accommodations; be medication-free; stay strong & active; live as long as I can and love every minute of it.

Why do some succeed easily and some struggle constantly and even fail?
It's sort of unknowable, really, but in general, I believe most people are too easy on themselves. Even 100 years ago, life was more difficult and more physically demanding than today. Most of us have been easily seduced into a cushier consumer-based lifestyle. I work every day with all sorts of people of all ages, and almost everyone wants to get the most for the least. That doesn't work, but it really doesn't work for this plan.

Hope some of that makes some sense - I am so delighted with 1PD and the future it is helping to create for me!

pumbza

06-26-2008, 12:06 AM

Wow Shahsa that was a great piece not for me yet by far but its great to see how other DIET BUDDIES think this is great to know that the people who have been there and done it and how they are thinking and it puts the newbies GOALS in perspective!Nice Piece and fantastic answer Mrs Peel u have it Taped u know where u going thats for sure!:innocent4:I must be honest In my day 3 I still wonder am I going to be able to live this way all my life I love food and that why I am in the state I am in and have been so for many years I just find it Bewildering to think I have to eat like this all my life to stay healthy I know its sensible hopefully my attitude will change as I continue this Mission to lose weight to achieve my GOAL!:innocent3:

MrsPeel

06-26-2008, 01:06 AM

Hi, Pumbza! I'm glad my post was helpful. I know everyone's journey to their goal weight is a different challenge for each, but I think some things are universal.

Speaking of which: remember that this stage of the 1PD is a rapid weight loss "prescription" - though you will learn to modify the way you formerly ate, it is by no means the way you will have to eat for the rest of your life! Once your hormones are in balance and the excess weight is gone, you will be adjusting your food needs to maintain a healthy normal weight. Your meat will not always slip through the barbecue grill!!

SurferGirl

06-26-2008, 11:55 AM

I was afraid of this. :sadeyes:This is why I was reluctant to post my questions. I thought that maybe they weren't really what you guys want the forum to be about.

Well Anyway... Thank you thank you thank you.{grouphug1} I'm sorry if I misunderstood. I'm just a curious girl. I'm so exatatic at how well this diet is working when everything else has failed for me that I want to know why this,and why that? I guess I too wonder why I have been so unsuccessful in the past and why 1PD works so well. Lots of people on the forum say it's a miracle and I would have to agree but I guess the scientist in me wants to how it really works.

You have appeased the {taz} for now. Thanks again.

bitten

06-26-2008, 12:47 PM

thank you shasha.....what you have written, in book form....is wonderful and kind and helpful.
there are some things we will never know.

i believe in right time..right place.

thanks mrs.peel, for you this is IT! i get it.
i want IT to be my time too.

thanks to all-
bitten

Shasha

06-26-2008, 03:40 PM

{hi} there Mrs Peel

Vanity, vanity, vanity – oh don’t we all! and trust you to put the smile back on my dial :flirt:

I’m thinking maybe you’re so strong and successful is because you have it all together in your head – you know what you want and that’s the end of it. Clear cut – almost a thing of Diet or Death… well, not quiet that bad, but it’s Diet and be healthy, strong, active and medication free for a long, long time to come and the rest is simply not negotiable – you’ve closed that door in your mind and locked it and thrown away the key… There is no going back and that is FANTASTIC!

Also, wanting it badly enough brings perspective so that little things like food don’t matter. As you’ve said, a meal is a meal is a meal… food will always be there… it is not a big deal.

Thanks for bring us back to that good old fashioned: NO PAIN NO GAIN…

I agree, in today’s fast world, we want the rewards, but we don’t want t to work for them or wait for them – we want it easy and we want it now and when it doesn’t happen fast enough, disappointment and frustration sets in… as you said, we’ve lost reality with hard work but good old fashioned hard work has always paid off in terms of consequences.

:bighug: thank you so much for sharing this – I hope it helps some Diet Buddies out there to think about their inner thoughts…{grouphug1}

Shasha

06-26-2008, 03:48 PM

{hi} there Pumbza

:bighug: it get’s better and the good news is: {noway} do you have to live off this little food for the rest of your life!!!

Your DIET is for a limited time only – until you have lost that excess fat – then your body will need more foods!!!

I’m thinking this is a bit cruel – kind of like holding the carrot out in front of you, but, when you’ve lost all the excess fat, during your Re-feeding Program, Dr Cohen will be adding lost more food to your eating plan…

Picture your current food per day + 200 grams more protein and 200 grams more veggies and 3 slices of bread and two more fruit per day… that means you’ll be eating about DOUBLE what you’re currently having.

So, try Mrs Peel’s thinking – think of other things that you would like to do with your life, besides food – what dreams and goals do you have? Maybe if you can really connect with these and see yourself walking in your dreams in the future, it will help you through this difficult first week…

We’re here with you – please be STRONG! :weights2:

Shasha

06-26-2008, 04:09 PM

{hi} there :surf: Girl

{noway} Please don’t be scared to post your questions, I promise you I do enjoy answering them - it would be nice if maybe you could try posting them one or two a day… :flirt: that way I can still make my rounds through all the threads… and catch up everywhere…

I promise you I don’t mind the questions at all, but, I do ALSO want to know what works for YOU? – clearly for you and I believe for Bitten too, the important thing is in knowing WHY – understanding how it works – am I right in thinking this?

The fact is that Dr Cohen will ever only share limited info with us – but, thankfully we already know a whole lot more that we did before joining the program… I mean take how much we’ve learned about the ‘fat fact*ry’ caused by too much insulin, too little serotonin and too little human growth hormone – who ever would have thought that our bodies could have had such a reaction, but it all makes sense when you think about it and to think that Dr Cohen’s literally been fighting the war against too much starch for decades…

I agree, Dr Cohen’s formulas are very much a miracle cure – all you have to do is DO IT and it works – it’s easy enough to start a new project but I want to know what keeps people doing it… going one day at a time, so, please do tell us, what motivates you? We know you are having a great time on your board… please tell us how did you get to know about the program? What got you started and what keeps you going?

Shasha

06-26-2008, 04:22 PM

{hi} there Bitten

You are so welcome – I may not be able to answer them all, but I really don’t mind the questions.

I also want to know about YOU… so you want this to be your final diet too? Does this thought give you strenght to push through?

It can most definitely be – but just remember that when you finish your diet, that’s not the end of the effort, that’s only the beginning… daily healthy choices need to be made, but it’s a lot easier to maintain a house than it is to demolish and rebuild a house.

So, just remember that you are currently undergoing construction… but it’s going to be so much fun when you get to re-decorate those new rooms! :love7:

pumbza

06-27-2008, 01:00 AM

I must admit all my life everything else has come first but my health YES I worried about it but resigned myself to being lucky to reach 50 well 50 will arrive this year and now I have a chance to a new lease of life and to be healthy to face it as well!:innocent4:It is strange how we put all our effort into other things and not our health and yet if we are healthy we work better we have less stress we would not be tired would be much happier all round YET we AVOID this section of our life like the plague and I would rather walk around uncomfortable can't bend to tie my shoe laces with out over stressing my self How Ridiculous but I think we just put our heads in the GROUND like a Ostrich!:elmer:I think I have been so use to eating unhealthy and to much most of my LIFE that I can just not get the PICTURE in my head of a changed LIFE style and YESSSS I will have to change and when I get there I may not miss the old life Style One BIT!Thanks Shasha the FOOD after DIET sounds very pleasing and maybe I can go to restruants and select the food I want to eat with out to many problems at the moment I have a total ban on eating out at all I don't really enjoy the eating out to much because its linked to my past LIFE!Its Day 3 and I am up early agin and full of energy getting my DOSE of Motivation keep up the GOOD work DIET Buddies!:innocent3:

Bronwyn

06-27-2008, 09:57 AM

Good morning Pumbza! I'm glad you're writing so much about your thoughts and feelings about this diet because it'll be nice for you to be able to read through these posts later on when you need to find your motivation again, or to remind you. I lost my Dad way too soon (he was only 58) and it was largely becuase of his deteriorated health (he passed in a car crash, but we believe he was having a heart attack when he crashed). My sister and I still are devastated over losing him too soon in our lives. He passed before my son was born and it kills me that he's not around to influence him the way he influenced me. I love reading that you are taking charge now - It is never too late - and that you want to be around for your kids and your grandkids someday. As the weight falls off you're going to be amazed at how good you feel and that really begins to make you realize how unimportant food really is compared to feeling good, being able to do things you want to do, and looking good. You'll see that your mindset really starts to shift the longer you're on the diet and the closer you get to your goal. At least, that's been my experience. I am enjoying playing in the park with my two year old (yes - I'm climbing all over the playground, fitting in all the little tunnels, etc. and having a blast)! I'm realizing now how limited I was with the extra weight and it is so freeing to have it GONE!! I never, ever want to go back so am embracing the new lifestyle. You will too!

Maya

06-27-2008, 05:07 PM

My dearest friends.
I'm on the airport, waiting for the big bird taking me to Europe.
I will be short. Well, at least I will try. (the next part doesnt have much to do with the refeed itself, it is more explanation I promised about how I am doing personally, so you can easily skip it, thanks!)

Shasha - your last few posts were worth more than you will know. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Everything seems so much more clear now.
I agree with you on a lot of things.

My last week on the diet...
The week was good. I still had the same meals, because I couldn't do it any differently - still cooking for a whole group, the food was premeasured and too late to start to refeed. I wasn't too hungry or anything, though.

I did have an amazing experience I might write in my journal one day - I was with the dolphins when I believe the "reset" happened. Very hard to describe... just imagine ...

Being totally aware of yourself, your body...tired, but so clean and healthy... YES, I was tired, after almost an hour of freediving...I was swimming with them for like an hour and spinning and holding breath took lots of energy from me. Once I was on the bottom, taking a photo of them, they came to me and I layed on the sand, while 3 dolphins start zooming through my body... Slowly slowly slowly I got up and they were literally standing next to me, looking in my eyes... while I was completely opening my heart, my soul... and asked them - Please, help me. Help me get healed, fix my hormones and let me enjoy this body and health once and for always,...help me learn to treat it, honour it and be happy.
As we were slowly coming up, spinning around each other I was in a different world.

I came out of the water and cried like a baby.
I felt they did some work on me.
I felt as they reset my body.
As crazy at this sounds.
I have been with these dolphins for 5 years and never had an experience so dramaticly strong as this one.

I was shaking, I was weak, yes, I was down a little too long, maybe...but also - something special happened while we were down there.

That's when I decided I am ready for the refeed.

The next day I got up and was a little hungrier than normal. 2 hours after lunch I was watching the clock...I went to bed, so I could get up again and eat. And all I wanted to talk about was our European food.

I weigh myself today and the scale showed 49 kg.
Shasha, I dont remember where to look for the lowest range of what dr.Cohen recommended to me, I only remember 52kg.

Today I am still eating the diet food and for some reason I am very full after lunch... I had some problems bringing fruit over to States, so I had to dump it and now I bought some on the airport, but they let me have my prepackaged meals, as I explained to them how very important it is for me.

On Sunday, after a night trip on the train to my country, my refeed starts. I made a plan, my mom already bought chicken and veggies and I also decided to stay at home for the time of the refeed despite I was suppose to go back after 2 weeks.
I also have a ticket to go back, but I decided this is just too important for me to not be able to do it 100%. I can not weigh myself every morning on the boat, (rocking is killing the digital scale), it's hard to cook for 18 people and for myself and I really wanna listen to my body during the refeed to see how it reacts on certain food, which on the boat is hard - sometimes I'm seasick, sometimes the I had too much stress, too much workout...
So, I decided to simply stay another week and sacrifice one working week for myself.

Shasha - before your posts I was thinking to eat maybe just 1 slice of bread and even that just in the end...not to have 5 fruits a day and... AS ALWAYS adapt the diet to my best knowing...but THANKS TO YOU I will listen to dr.Cohen and not ruin my own diet AS ALWAYS did - thinking I wanna be better and then break because it wasnt realistic.

So, I will try to have 5 fruits a day, all the bread and everything he says. I hope my body will cope with it ok and not gain back too much.

This is also my 100st day of the diet and I can easily say I am damn proud of myself to be able to go through 100%, no deviations, through travelling, being a chef, during plane trips, boat trips, train trips... I did it.

Shasha, when you asked what makes some people succeesful in some diets and what makes them fail...

I can say for myself - when I believe in sth - I always do it 100%. People say I am made from steal - because when I decide to do something, I do it no matter what. Make a good plan and stick to it. But sometime I think it might not be strength that helps me, ...maybe I am just too weak or too lazy to allow myself to fail and then do it all over again.
So, for me - do it or don't do it. Which is sometimes really bad...because if I would fail - I would fall off the bus completely. Jump in the biggest hole and punish myself all over again.

I can not believe that 100 days ago... or 14 weeks...or 3 months... I had 66,9 kg... today I have 49 kg. I was miserable, hungry, my skin was terrible, my periods were a mess (I havevnt had it since the start of the diet?), I had nightsweats, when I ate I didnt get energy, but got only very tired and moody, I was extremely overheating, so I would collapse... all this is gone.

I am very proud of myself. Yes.
And I thank you for EVERY SUGGESTION, EVERY ADVICE.
Every word.

Thank You all for being here and sharing you experiences.

OK, gotta catch a plane now!!!

:party1:
Maya

bitten

06-27-2008, 05:37 PM

oh maya-
you have me here crying and smiling and crying more.
OMG...what an incredible experience you have had....how utterly joyous and beautiful.

i am so pleased you are on your way home...i admire each and every moment of your journey and how you are made of steal.

wow. you are a superstar.

lots of love & hugs & joy-
bitten

MrsPeel

06-27-2008, 05:41 PM

Maya, thank you so much for writing us the dolphin story!!!! It made my day - it made my week, actually - I can totally envision the whole thing and I believe it was just as you felt it - the dolphins passed some life-force vibration to you.
What a wonderful way to "wake up" to the new you!

pumbza

06-28-2008, 07:52 AM

I am speechless what and experience its very spiritual and well done on your being 100% committed I wish I could do that I know I CAN DO IT!!:innocent4:Good luck for the rest and enjoy yourself thanks for the motivating STORY!!!

pumbza

06-28-2008, 10:17 AM

Jeez Bronwyn this is the Third time I have sent this message first I did not log in properly and then I tried to save the text and paste by accident and hopefully this will go through tough dealing with slow people hey?Ha Ha:innocent4:
What I was trying to say is that GOD has blessed us with children u and your husband must enjoy ur little ones they are the joy of ur lifes!I was unfortunately divorced about 11 years ago and that was not great for my kids and I never thought I would ever get Divorced I was the Boring type of husband loyal working hard and not going out with the BOYS but the sliver lining was as a husband I did not see the children to much because I worked hard and let MOM look after them now I became MOM & DAD at my house and the KIDs tease me when I nagg them YES MOM they would say!Now I am like a friend to them their Friends ask me to join them when they go out (I am sure its because they hope I will PAY!Ha HA) and I do feel uncomfortable and out of breath and FAT!My children have adapted well my son has graduated Bcom Economics and is doing his Master's this year my eldest daughter is doing Occupational Therapy at university and is in her second year and she loves kids and my youngest finishes school next year and she want's to go to college and I love them dearly and they have been a joy in my life and To think I nearly missed that (GOD blessed me a second time and now a third time to go on Dr Cohens Diet I think still to early to say but I CAN DO IT!!!).Well I am off to sort out fillet Kebabs for supper and I feel so full of beans Ha Ha! Have a Cool Day!!!:innocent3:

Maya

06-28-2008, 03:27 PM

Thank you my friends...thank you..thank you for being able to share it with you... I am one lucky girl, I know...

Have been through few countries now... Bahamas then Florida, then Chicago, then London, now Munich, waiting for the train... hoping to get some sleep and wake up and my daddy waiting for me on the trainstation.

I will have the last meal in half hour and I just had to tell you about it. :party1: Very excited. And hungry (haven't slept well in 2 days and since I'm losing 6 hours, left one apple and cracker out).

I found the range dr.Cohen gave me - 50-52kg - so, I am only 1 kg under the lower suggested weight. As I had 16.1% of fat yesterday (well, according to the scale), I decided it's low enough. I might wait few more days, but I've been thinking about food a lot now... so, I decided - if I lose another kilogram during refeed that will be great, but if not, I'm more than happy on 49kg.

So, in half hour, I will dedicate myself to my last refeed in the ziploc bag (might even put it into the tupperware) - have my orange and then...tomorrow - well, I know, same food, just a little more, but gotta make a holiday if I can...

Big hugs to you all.
Thank you for reading this spaghetti stories...
Hope I will be able to share some useful experience, happy news of course, from the refeed!!!!!

Maya

pumbza

06-28-2008, 10:34 PM

First of all I really found ur commentary Shasha very exciting I only heard about diet refeed and now I Learned about Maintenance wow very intresting!:innocent4:I do find it incredible that eventually after the DIET we will struggle with eating 200g of Protien and Vegtables use to do that on one sitting isn't that a turn up for the Books!Ha Ha:love8:Bronwyn I have to lose more than u to get to my GOAL weight can u imagine that I can walk around saying I lost a Bronwyn!Ha Ha!(Sorry Overboard just in a Good Mood).And Finally I VOTE WE DON"T SAY HUNGER but "FAT BURNING"!Ha HA!Just a thought all of u have a GREAT REFEED DIET I am soooooooooo Jealous but Hugely Motivated!!!:innocent3:

Bronwyn

06-29-2008, 12:21 PM

Hello dear Maya! WOWWWWOWW about the dolphins my dear. That is so incredible and thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing such an amazing spiritual experience with us. Yes, they were there for you, understanding you and your body, and they gave you just what you need.

Want to share with you from my refeed. I have lost another 3 pounds on refeed. I had changed my goal weight from 120 to 117 pounds after realizing that I should have chosen a smaller target weight as I am not "big boned". I weighed 116.8 when I started refeed and this morning I weighed 113.8. I have gone up a bit and back down here and there as my body is adjusting to the new food and new portions, but never have gone up more than the alotted 2 pounds. It is amazing to know that my body truly is "reset" to burn the fat and food as it should and this has been very interesting.

Also - I am not always getting in the 5 fruits and I'm not having three slices of bread, but two slices (usually in the form of a sandwhich) and then one or two snacks of crackers. Our refeed guide says that fruit and crackers remain optional and that bread is a choice too as some people don't want to eat that much bread. I'm one of those people... Still, don't try to deprive yourself, but wanted to share with you that it still works if you don't get all of your optional items in.

I'm so excited for you!!! Please, please keep us posted and let me know how you're doing on this. I'll be done (if all goes according to plan) on Thursday this week! Crazy!

Oh - and yes the portions feel HUGE!!! Now I understand what the other dieters on refeed have been talking about. It feels so weird to have to eat so much food, and it feels even more strange when you wake up and weigh LESS for having eaten all the food!

Bronwyn

06-29-2008, 12:27 PM

Mornin' Dear Pumbza!

Your kids sound amazing! I'm sorry to hear that you had to divorce, but that sure is common these days. My mom and dad divorced when I was 8, my sister 3, and my Dad was the hero of our lives!! Yes - having children is amazing and that is a HUGE reason too why I'm so happy my husband I are getting healthy and have made this life change. My son is only 2 1/2 and we really want to set an example for him and give him the building blocks he needs to live a long, healthy life too. In fact, we had two birthday parties yesterday and he didn't want the cake!! First party he opted for a banana instead and the second party he had a Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwhich (still some sugar here, but not as much as chocolate cake w/frosting)!

Again, I'm so happy you are doing this not only for yourself, but for your kids. I'm sure they want you in their lives as long as possible. I miss my Dad so much each and every day. I know he looks over my family and I, but it's not the same as having him here.

pumbza

06-29-2008, 04:06 PM

Hi there yes my kids have been very supportative the last couple of days they know that I always say I am going to go on DIET and I don't but they have seen me the last couple of DAYS and they are now saying YOU CAN DO IT!Ha Ha:innocent4:I think they can't believe I have gone for 6 days so far so this is very new to them so they are supporting keenly asking hows going and I am going to make!I lost my Dad a while back but I am lucky to have my mother living at my house and she is enjoying her retirement and playing golf and enjoying all the GRANDCHILDREN as Well!My kids have luckily listened to there parents and have eaten healthy and are not over weight and hopefully they will stay like that when they are older because they can see how I suffered and how easy it is to happen as well!Have a GOOD day!:innocent3:

Maya

06-30-2008, 01:53 AM

Thank You all for visiting... I know I am one lucky girl..

As I am still buzzing around to do everything here but still waited so long to start the refeed, I just wanna make a conlcusion in this diary...and later this week I will catch up with you all...

So, my last meal on the diet wasnt spectacular at all... I had a soury tasty, falling apart pieces of beef in the saugiest, smelliest, saddest spinach you have seen:eyebrow:...it would still all be ok if I didnt let some air through my nose at one bite...everything while standing in the metro, trying to catch the balance while stopping every few seconds....but I got it down! :p

The train was hot - no AC... hardly slept at all... At 5 am the sunrays behind the glorious mountains woke me up and I was just so happy to be home again... It was soooo beautiful and soooo soothing, knowing I am home.

When the train stopped, I was right in front of my dad and when the door open I could just fall in his embrace. It was nice. Of course, he was shocked at how much weight I have lost (I have been away just during last 2 months of the diet)...

At home my mom made huge breakfast, everything I can't have but oh SO wanted...
Of course, all my mom spoke about was my veins, my weight... but she believes it is good, too, she can't stop saying what nice skin I have and kept asking me to take a picture (she thinks it is all temporary) and how I am cool (I used to be super hot all the time)...

I made sure I drank enough water through last 2 days of travelling and ran to the bathroom to weigh myself immidiately - I still wanted to get as proper weight possible on the first day of the refeed as possible.

48.6 kg.

But...
Gotta tell you.. Seing the skeleton in the mirror of my own bathroom...that was scary. I was shocked. We dont have big mirrors on the boat - I mean, you can see parts of your body here and there, but not the whole body. So, I think my eyes were not aware how the other brothers and sisters body parts are coming together...

But I have to tell you -
I AM VERY HAPPY I STARTED THE REFEED.
I am very confident it is the right time.

No, I didnt wake up thinking about the horse. But again, I dont remember EVER being hungry in the morning (except after overeating in the middle of the night, when you wake up with the WORSE pain and hunger?!) - mostly I get hungry in the afternoon in evenings...
But other signs were:

- I was daydreaming about the food. All I wanted to talk about was food. When I woke up, I would think about lunch, after breakfast about dinner... when I finished dinner, filled myself with teas and decafs to go to bed and be able to wake up and eat again...
- My cramps in my legs were getting worse...
- I was done. I was tired. Not from travelling and all the stuff going on. Different tired.
- And weight was more than low enough.
- I reread the refeed and made so many plans, I am more than ready.

I know if I would be doing it just a day or two longer, my body would start eating itself, using muscles for the fuel.

After I talk to the girl in the mirror, told her we're ok, told her I will take best care of her, I also accepted I am ok if I will gain a pound or two during refeed, it is nice to be able to be relaxed during the refeed and not trying to eat less in a fear of gaining weight back... I decided to eat what I am suppose to, maybe not 5 fruits if I wont be able to have them all...but I think I should try to see how my body handles with all the food dr.Cohen recommends. This diet has been working like a miracle to my body and why wouldnt I trust him all the way?

I took measurments and went down to the kitchen, where my first egg on the refeed was boiling.
But I think it would be time to open a new thread just as my diary and not as a public question-answer thread.

Thank You all and just stay strong :weights: and keep on going. It is SOOOO worth it.