On to refeed!

[SurferGirl]

Hi Buddies,

Here I am. Refeed time. I held off on doing the refeed while I was on vacation over the holidays. I couldn't handle the snow, christmas presents, my dogs, my family, all the temptations, all the obligations, AND figuring out refeed at the same time. Too much!

Anways, I have started refeed at 145.2lbs. As it turns out, this is only 5.2 lbs from the goal 1PD set out for me, go figure.

Here's the Stats:
I Started 4/14/2008, Began Refeed 1/2/2009
BF% Start: 32.7%
BF% Finish: 21% (Down 11.7%)
BMI Start: 37.4
BMI Finish: 21.4 (Down 16)
Weight Start: 252
Weight Finish: 145.2 (Down 106.8 lbs)
Pants Size Start: 22-24
Pants Size Finish: 8-10 (Down 12-14)
Chest Measurement Start:51"
Chest Measurement Finish:32" (Down 19")
Waist Measurement Start: 42"
Waist Measurement Finish:30" (Down 12")
Hips Measurement Start: 53"
Hips Measurement Finish: 37" (Down 16")

Refeed has been pretty great so far. At this time I have no complaints about too much food. Should I be concerned that my body seems so willing to eat the bigger quantities?

It's funny, I have been complaining that my refeed took so long to finally get to me because I was so ready to be done with the program (and start exercising again) but now I find myself a bit torn. I was so used to my plan and branching out seems a little scary. And after refeed, with no exact plan, seems really scary. It is pretty cool though noticing how different I feel about food. I am no longer chomping at the bit to get some sweets as I know how they effect me and I have been off them for so long it doesn;t really seem like the big deal it once was. Anyways, I better get back to work :innocent4:

Thanks for checking in.
Surfer Girl

[Zee]

Hey Surfergirl,

CONGRATULATIONS on reaching your goal and re-feed.

I look forward to hearing your progress on the refeed and maintenance, always an inspiration.

Post some pics.... please!

Well done, you are an inspiration to us all :)

Zee

[PhyllisRis]

Congrats Surfer.....refeed should be FUN!!! You are a true inspiration to me!
Phyllis

[CohenInAz]

I am SO proud of you!!!!!

Fantastic job! I can't wait to track you re-feed journey!

[SurferGirl]

Refeed Day 5- Weighed in at 145.2 (same as day 1!!)
It's great to hear from all of you. Thanks for the encouragement.

As for pics, I was planning to wait till my hawaii trip for real surfer girl pictures but maybe i will post one earlier.

Have great day!

[PhyllisRis]

yes....picture....you know we aren't very patient!!:)
Phyllis

[Sharon]

Great to see you on the refeed thread, we are all so excited for you.
{elmo}{cheerleader}{taz} :jumping2:

[lfingers11]

I am so happy for you. I am so excited that you will be done with refeed for your fabulous vacation. Have a great time.

[SurferGirl]

Hi Guys...

Bad news! I weighed in yesterday at 148.6 (UP 3.4 lbs from my refeed start weight!!!!) {uhm} The day before I was up .8. Because I went up more than 2lbs from my intial weight I had to go back and repeat the last 2 days. Today I was down to 148.2 (still up 3lbs from the intial!). I am soooooo frustrated! {bangdesk}

I have only completed the first 6 days of my refeed plan (I was given 16!). I haven't even felt full yet. The refeed guide says that if you're up two lbs and you go back two days, and you're still up 2lbs you stop refeed, and that is the amount of food your body can handle. I CAN NOT BE DONE YET! That will not be okay with me!! For those of you with refeed guides, I'm on day 9 of the guide. That's it, DAY 9(out of 30)!!!!!!!

I am so torn up about this right now. I'm really worried that my weight is just never going to stay and I'm going to have to be eating the same tiny portions forever. As you can all see, I'm being a little dramatic but I'm super frustrated.
{scream} {slapfight}

A VERY VERY UNHAPPY,
SurferGirl

[lfingers11]

Sorry to hear of your troubles. First, you need to write your consultant now and let them know what is happening.

Also, please write down for us to see what you have been eating and times. Maybe you are making a small mistake and not even realizing it. Is your time of the month here? I actually go up 2-3 pounds when I ovulate. I will wait to see what you have been eating.

Pam

[SurferGirl]

Hi Pam,

Thanks for being here for me. Below is what I have been eating for my refeed:

I recieved the following days: 4 to 9 and then 11 14 15 16 18 21 22 25 27 28 29

1/2/2009: Refeed Day 4
Weight: 145.2
Meal 1: normal egg and vege breakfast
Meal 2: +15 gm meat, +20 gm vege
Meal 3: + 15 gm chick, +20 gm vege
Blueberries 100gm
1 Slice Wheat Bread
2 Crackers
2 Apples
1 Orange

1/3/2009: Refeed Day 5
Weight: 145.4
Meal 1: normal egg and vege breakfast
Meal 2: +30gm meat, +20 gm vege
Meal 3: + 30gm meat, +20 gm vege
Pineapple 120gm
1 Slice Wheat Bread
2 Crackers
2 Apples
1 Orange

1/4/2009: Refeed Day 6
Weight: 145.4
Meal 1: normal egg and vege breakfast
Meal 2: +30gm meat, +40 gm vege
Meal 3: + 30 gm chick, +40 gm vege
1/2 Pineapple 60gm
1/2 Blueberry 50gm
1 Slice Wheat Bread
2 Crackers
2 Apples
1 Orange

1/5/2009: Refeed Day 7
Weight: 145.2
Meal 1: normal egg and vege breakfast
Meal 2: +30gm Chick, +40 gm vege
Meal 3: +30 gm meat, +40 gm vege
Pineapple 120gm
Blueberry 100gm
Cut out bread, 6 Crackers
2 Apples
1 Orange

1/6/2009: Refeed Day 8
Weight: 145.2
Meal 1: normal egg and vege breakfast
Meal 2: +30gm meat, +40 gm vege
Meal 3: +30 gm chick, +40 gm vege
Pineapple 120gm
Blueberry 100gm
1 Slice Wheat Bread
2 Crackers
2 Apples
1 Orange

1/7/2009: Refeed Day 9
Weight: 146
Meal 1: normal egg and vege breakfast
Meal 2: +45gm chick, +40 gm vege
Meal 3: +45gm meat, +40 gm vege
Pineapple 120gm
Blueberry 100gm
2 Slices Wheat Bread
2 Crackers
2 Apples
1 Orange

1/8/2009: Refeed Day 8...AGAIN
Weight: 148.6
Meal 1: normal egg and vege breakfast
Meal 2: +45gm chick, +60 gm vege
Meal 3: +15gm meat, +20 gm vege
Pineapple 120gm
Blueberry 100gm
1 Slice Wheat Bread
2 Crackers
2 Apples
1 Orange

1/9/2009: Refeed Day 9...AGAIN
Weight: 148.2
Meal 1: normal egg and vege breakfast
Meal 2: +15gm meat, +20 gm vege
Pineapple 120gm
1 Slice Wheat Bread
2 Crackers
1 Apples
1 Orange
tonight I will have:
Meal 3: +75 meat, +60vege
120gm pineapple
1slice bread
1 orange

I didn't write down all my eating times, so I don't really have that info. I do try my best to space my foods out. Like wait and hour at least between snacks, although I don't always wait that long, and I enjoy having my blueberry with my toast. I still keep to my at least 5 hrs between meals. I have been drinking all my water and taking vitamins. I haven't been exercising. I have no idea about my cycle because it has never really been very normal. I do know however, that I am not pregnant as my husband jokingly mentioned, and made me paranoid enough to do a test last night. He should know better than to say something like that when I am this stressed! LOL, at least that possibility is eliminated.

I have asked my consultants but haven't heard back from them, yet. The only thing that is stuck in the back of my mind is that the night before my weight jumped up, my husband made chicken soup. Because my portions are so much bigger, and he made it the same as he did before, there was a LOT of soup! Meaning also a lot of water! I added salt to give it the same flavor I have enjoyed throughout the diet but it probably took a lot more salt to make that much water have the flavor I like. That is the only thing I can think of that might be causing this.

Well thanks again for being around to help :-)
Grateful,
SurferGirl

[lfingers11]

FYI~Sharon's consultant told her (incorrectly) that your weight gain was from day to day. I think I ended up hitting 123.6 at my highest weight and easily can maintain 120-122 now.

I could be completely wrong but I would go to the next day just to see if you can maintain or if you do go up.

Also, I see that you eat an egg for breakfast every morning. Maybe eating cheese/yogurt might get you to drop again.

I really hope that your consultant writes to you. did you hear anything and are you up or down today?

Also, I would eat breakfast~snack~lunch~snack~dinner. I would make sure 2 1/2 hours are in between snacks and meals so it is not messing with my blood sugars. Also I only did two snacks and made sure all my fruit was in those or had it with a meal. I don't think I ever did three snacks.

Let me know how it goes.

[SurferGirl]

Hi Pam,

GOOD NEWS, I was down to 146.6 this morning!!! That's 1.4 lbs above my start weight, still with in the 2lb max!!! YAY!!! I am so happy that going back two days worked out. That really freaked me out. I'm thinking, there is no WAY that I'm supposed to eat this tiny amount of food for the rest of my life. No WAY!!

Now I am happily continuing with refeed, but I am certainly not taking it for granted any more. I think I will try to cut out some of the diet fruits we are still allowed to have to make sure that my weight doesn't get out of the range. I know that we can cut out the bread and the crackers too if we want. But it seems like an important thing to get my body used to gradually, as they dictate(i think sasha said this too). I may not eat the crackers anymore, but I will continue with the bread.

As for the limit of 2 snacks in between my meals. I hadn't heard that before. I had been having lots of snacks throughout the day to spread out my food. I was thinking this would have less of an impact on my blood sugar, LOL, I guess I don't have a clue what's the best way to do that. Maybe Shasha can help us out with that one. It would certainly be important for the maintenance phase too.

My breakfast options are limited to fish, tofu, and egg. Given the choices, I really prefer egg, but you might be right that that routine isn't helping my problem. I'm supposed to start mixing protein tommorow so maybe I'll throw some chicken or beaf in with my egg. That would be yummy.

I am so grateful for you helping me trouble shoot. Thank you thank you thank you!

Here's the consultant response it sounds like they agree with Sharon's consultant:
Thank you for your e-mail.

Glad to see that you are .4 down again.

To answer your questions please see below:

What will I do tomorrow if:

1. I lose more weight but am still above the 2lbs. limit?
Simply continue with Re-feeding.

2. I lose more weight and get below the 2lbs. limit?
Simply continue with Re-feeding.

3. I gain weight?
If you again gain 2 or more pounds in 1 day, go back to 2 days and keep going
through Re-feeding.

If this happens again on the same day when you get back to it, then you know that that is the maximum quantity that your body can cope with, as per Page 7, this is when your Re-feeding Program is complete. I would still recommend that you continue on with the rest of the days, staying with the lower quantities that your body can cope with, but, still bringing in the new variations.

Sorry to ask, but with the holidays and all, did you manage to follow your eating plan 100%, for a minimum time of two weeks, prior to starting with your Re-feeding Program?

Please keep us posted on your progress and please let us know if you have any further questions.

Regards
The 1st Personal Diet Team

Of course, I did make sure to be very strict with my plan before I started refeed, so I know that's not the issue.

Anyways, I'm enjoying my first "bad fruit" right now, yummy strawberries!!!

Thanks again for your help, hopefully my weight will calm down a bit now!

SurferGirl

[lfingers11]

Oooo, that is irritating about each consultant saying different things. We need clarification on if it is 2 pounds overall or 2 pounds in a day.

Shasha has said before to try to keep all your fruits/crackers/bread in if you can so your body gets use to all the food. I know you are nervous but I really think it will work itself out especially since you went back down. Congrats!! It might just take you a little longer to get through refeed than most. Crossing my fingers you don't need to repeat anymore days.

I am glad you enjoyed your strawberries. I love bananas!

Pam

[Sharon]

Talk about frustrating with the consultants, just when you think you have got it, which consultant is correct ???? - pick which one suits what you want to hear I guess, cos trying to get clarification obviously isn't so easy, I think I will go straight to the source in SA (will get back to you).Sorry you are getting sooo frustrated with the fluctuating weight, hope it all sorts itself out.
With regard to the bread, must say I did and still do enjoy it, but I find carbs such as bread trigger the desire for more and it can end up nasty, so will keep it to the weekends as much as possible.

When on the refeed I followed the plan to the absolute as far as never going above the allowance, but often didn't eat all the quantity of fruit or sometimes the weight of fruit allowed, ie 120gm of *** allowed but only ate 50gm (what was available). Always ate the allowance of meat, veges and bread, and of coarse the cookies - mmmm. I found my weight was all over the show throughout the refeed program, it is quite a nerve wraking time isn't it.
I'll keep everything crossed for you that you wil plain sail through the rest.

[SurferGirl]

Thank you so much ladies! You really got me through that. Amazingly enough my weight has now gone back to the 145.2 starting weight. Wow, I am surprised! and relieved.

I really hope my body calms down a bit now and stops hanging on to the new calories it's getting.

I hope you all had a wonderful relaxing weekend.

[Mei Mei]

Surfer girl--
I qickly glanced over some of these posts, so I don't have all the details bt wanted to let yo know that yo are doing fine. My weight did not go down at all dring refeed. All that extra food freaked me ot just a bit. I did not choose to eat all of the bread because I know that my body doesn't like it.
The good news...on maintenance, yo do figre out a balance. Yo go a bit back and forth--i've only gone a few ponds up and was able t drop them in a day--and my hbby has experienced the same thing. I know how scary it is becase I was pet rified that I wold gain back weight, and I never want t gian like that again. You won't. the system really works. for instance. I was at goal weight this am. I had a weird day and felt stressed I guess. I'm sre I ate too much late in the day--and had some drinks...But tomorrow, if I am p on the scale, I can do what I need to to get back down. I'm sure I
m not explaining exactly as yo need it, bt, you have to figre ot that balance for yourself. Just se the rles. (This computer the u doens't always work, and I'm sick of ptting it in, so forgive me...)
You are doing really well, yo too Pam!
So keep it up! Let me know if I can help
Blessings,
Mary

[PhyllisRis]

you need a new keyboard, Mary....smile!!! You can pick those up cheap...
Phyllis (the computer tech....sorry...couldn't resist!!){lol}

[lfingers11]

I am so glad you are back down. I think it is pretty normal (for some of us) to be up and down all the time. Sometimes I feel like I am on a roller coaster but it really is a great ride. I will be watching to see how everything continues on refeed. You are doing great.
Pam

[Sharon]

Hey Surfergirl,
So pleased to hear you were back down, hope by the time you read this you will be holding steady - you are doing so well, and you are nearly there.
Pam has it so right with the rollercoaster.

[SurferGirl]

It is so great to have you maintenance people around on the forum. It's quite a relief to hear about your success and how you are able to recover from gains pretty easily. It is super scary adding all this food back in. I have people saying"Wow that's a lot of food" and it makes me really nervous. I'm worried that my body is going to go back to wanting more food than it needs. But then I remember that refeeding is designed to push the body to more food in a controlled way and after refeed I can adjust how much I'm eating if I go up. Also, even though I am eating a lot more, pretty much everything is meat and veges which are low in fat and carbs and calories. Which means yes, I'm eating more but I'm also probably eating less calories than my friend having a bowl of fettucinni. My husband got pizza last night and that really freaked me out a bit, because in a week I'm going to be able to choose whether or not I eat it. Right now it's not an option, but in a week it will be an option. Of course, I know now that if I eat that pizza I will probably be up the next day and I will have to cut other things out to make up for it. My perception of food and how I think about what I eat has really changed. Instead of eating crap and wondering why I can't lose weight, I now really think about everything that I eat and what effect it will have. Before, I think I just ignored it, I knew it, but I ignored it.
I realize I'm rambling, sorry about that.

As for refeed, I'm currently up .8lbs from my start but that sounds pretty normal from what everyone is saying. I'm eating my bread with my meals for now and eating all the fruit (including diet fruit). The consultant also suggested that I try and keep to eating them because that's how the program works the best.
I am noticing that I'm still hungry sometimes even though I'm eating a huge amount more food. I really think this is because of the bread and the bad fruit. I guess its good to learn this stuff now, when my intake is still controlled by the program.

Well that's all for today. Talk to you all soon!
SurferGirl

[CohenInAz]

Thanks for sharing this!

[lfingers11]

wanted you to know I have pizza once a week and I can have 2-3 slices. I am never up on pizza days. You will quickly learn how much you can eat. Usually when I go up it is because I have made wrong decisions and I accept my consequences. You would be proud, I was good tonight!:party1:

[Zee]

What a great post, surfergirl!

Seems like you have refeed all but wrapped up. Congratulations, I am sure everything will balance out once you start maintenance.

Zee

[Sharon]

Pizza freaks me out a bit to surfergirl. So Pam it is good to hear about your success with it, do you make your own? what is your choice of topping?

[SurferGirl]

LOL, the pizza my husband bought was not just any pizza. It was a huge 2 layer stuffed pizza!:shocked: With all the toppings on both layers and tons of crust and cheese! Really really sinful! :devil:Pam I think you would have fainted if you tried to eat 3 pieces of this beast of a pizza:pizza:!
I am also interested in what kind of pizza you eat and how you accomodate the indulgence. I can use all the tips I can get :flirt:

[flwrgrlie]

CONGRATULATIONS SURFERGIRL! I can't wait to hear all about your refeed journey! WAY TO GO!!!

[Sharon]

WOW - now that is a pizza!!!!

[lfingers11]

I think you might have to say no to that pizza. Or you can get your own and hubby can get his own.

I usually have plain cheese, pep and cheese or a veggie one. I don't let anything really freak me out because I know if I try it and I go up I just go no carb for a day or two and it comes off.

[Sharon]

I enjoy/prefer to make my own pizza, or even a calzone, stuffed with pizza type filling - hot out of the oven - mmm. The bought ones are a bit too much of an unknown quantity/ quality, and I would often will eat too much - maybe next weekend!!!

[CohenInAz]

I don't let anything really freak me out because I know if I try it and I go up I just go no carb for a day or two and it comes off.

I think that is the best quote and after diet attitude!!

[SurferGirl]

I totally agree Cohen in Az!

We just need to stay on top of it and watch our weight! And apply the rules!

It is stressful for me, but I think I need to chill!! BTW cookies seems to make me want more cookies. Ughhh!

[Sharon]

I don't think it is so much about the actual type of food, ie pizza, biscuits, chocolate, its that you might enjoy it so much that you get carried away sits in the back of your mind.

[lfingers11]

Thanks that you liked my statement!!

I totally agree with getting carried away with sweets/yummies. I think that almost everytime that I have had to go no carb is because I got a little carried away. I have been thinking that I might need to get rid of sweets for a while or at least limit it to once a week. I think it is the reason I have been on this crazy rollercoaster ride.

Pam

[SurferGirl]

Hi Ladies,

I can definately agree that the "Yummy Factor" (that's what I'm, going to call it from now on) has a lot to do with that feeling of wanting more...more...MORE!!!! But I also think the types of foods makes a difference. In the "Falling off the bus" post Shasha describes what those sugary foods do to our bodies and it can be kinda nasty. And result in side affects like being extra hungry, irritable, sleepy, etc. That's why I'm thinking that straight up sugar stuff (i.e. cookies) is really a killer, even more so than pizza.

Surely my expectations that this might happen may have caused a psychosaumatic reation and that's why after eating the cookies during refeed, I found myself way more food focused and less satisfied. But the Yummy factor certainly played a role. :innocent4: Okay, it's too early for me to be using words like psychosaumatic.

Yesterday was my last day of refeed! I have decided to go 48hour no carb to lose the 2.4 lbs I gained during refeed. I must say, it is difficult to go from refeed foods to healthy and no carb again. It's not even 9am and I am already thinking a snack would be great (During refeed, I had two snacks between each meal). And I'm missing all that bread. Oh well, I'll get used to it again.

As for excerise, I am SOOO excited to get back. I have a cardio kick boxing class tonight that I have been warned, is extremely chalenging. I'm also planning to surf as much as possible this weekend. I really need to get some of my strength and endurance back before hawaii (where I plan to surf all day :) for two weeks!!!!)

I'm going to start a life after the diet thread where I will document my first little while on maintenance. I just want somewhere to keep track and as always, I love my forum buddies and any feedback!

[PhyllisRis]

Your maintenance journal would be very helpful to all of us who are anticipating the "end of the road".....just don't leave us!!!! Don't be a Pumbza!! grin....
Phyllis