Your thoughts on Re-feed days?

[brender]

Originally Posted by CherylB

Hey, gang. It's "the morning after" and I'm up 3 lbs on the nose. Unlike some of you who are refeeding and getting energized, I feel identical to how I was feeling on VLCD. Sluggish. I even overslept and didn't take my first dose of hhcg pellets until 11:30 today! First time for everything.

It occurred to me last night that food isn't such a great pastime. I was thinking and wondering how it ever became such a preoccupation in the first place. My gut got distended and full (and gassy) but the rest of me remained the same. It was as if my gut had become a separate entity and was doing something entirely different that the rest of me was.

Today, the menu may include Mac n' Cheese with Tabasco, potato chips and dip, stuffed mushrooms (crab stuffing) with butter and lemon, and possibly the last three pieces of pizza.

I sure hope my energy level picks up today. That was the primary reason I decided to do this. If it doesn't, I seriously doubt I'll ever do this again. In the future, my refeeds will just be lots more protein and things that are allowed on a typical rogue hhcg day.

Later, dudettes.

I was just curious if you take supplements? I have become a supplement junkie on HCG. I feel better than before I started this diet. I think good supplements are key to getting through this.

[CherylB]

I do, and I felt wonderful until the 23rd VLCD. Then it just hit me. I take a good MVI, Calcium+D twice a day, Magnesium twice a day, Potasium Gluconate, B complex, and a C. It's not that. I think it is what Simeon's says in Pounds and Inches. I'll copy and paste here:

Muscular Fatigue

Towards the end of a full course, when a good deal of fat has been rapidly lost, some patients complain that lifting a weight or climbing stairs requires a greater muscular effort than before. They feel neither breathlessness nor exhaustion but simply that their muscles have to work harder. This phenomenon, which disappears soon after the end of the treatment, is caused by the removal of abnormal fat deposited between, in, and around the muscles. The removal of this fat makes the muscles too long, and so in order to achieve a certain skeletal movement - say the bending of an arm - the muscles have to perform greater contraction than before. Within a short while the muscle adjusts itself perfectly to the new situation, but under HCG the loss of fat is so rapid that this adjustment cannot keep up with it. Patients often have to be reassured that this does not mean that they are “getting weak”. This phenomenon does not occur in patients who regularly take vigorous exercise and continue to do so during treatment.

He says it's more like fatigue than feeling weak, but it's not presenting that way for me. Anyway, I think my body is saying to shift gears and consider calling it a round.

[rorita]

This morning I was up by 1.6 lbs (146 exact). I started at about 2PM yesterday and I plan on going til I go to sleep tonight. I tried to eat as little fat as possible (kind of hard when everything in the house is atkins ready!). Really wanted pizza or ravioli or some kind of cheesy italian food but decided against it. Yesterday I ate a bagel and low fat cream cheese, a low fat blueberry muffin (on Dunkin Donuts "healthy" menu- and it was COMPLETELY encrusted in sugar! lol), pepsi, chicken fingers, a small amount of cheetos (they pretty high in fat and suprisingly not that high in carbs but I really wanted them and I didn't get the pizza I wanted), low fat rice pudding, and one of those Contessa meals (also low fat). Pretty much nothing was very satisfying. My body was literally starting to warm up though... I was so warm and so used to being cold I could barely sleep at all. I also ate a bowl of cookie crisps for breakfast... immediately felt really crappy. Had a test in my calculus class this morning and ended up zoning out and running out of time... I'll be lucky if I got a C, and calculus is my best subject this semester. but then I had a cup of coffee and some cranberries and got a 100 on my Chemistry exam (my worst subject this semester) an hour later. It's like opposite day...

[pacetbostic]

I was DOWN.4 this morning even after eating 'normally' yesterday. I tried to be conscious of what I was eating and stayed away from sugars except for coke (and the Eggo waffle cereal my hubby 'made' me eat at 10pm last night). I forgot my drops at home today so I gaven't dosed at all, about to take one now and again before bedtime but not enough time for all 3 today.

I felt good and depsite not having the drops I wasn't overly hungry so I guess the refeed did help in that respect. I am hoping another 2 weeks will get me to goal so I can move on th P3 and more choices...

I honestly think the refeeds work differently for everyone and it is less about WHAT they eat as much as HOW they eat. Even with a free ticket, I was very cautious about what I was eating (totally unlike me) I even said no to cookies and donuts Had I gone down that path, I may not have resurfaced without a 5lb gain.....so, in my case....it looks like carbs aren't my problem but sugar is.

[julieboolie]

Originally Posted by rorita

This morning I was up by 1.6 lbs (146 exact). I started at about 2PM yesterday and I plan on going til I go to sleep tonight. I tried to eat as little fat as possible (kind of hard when everything in the house is atkins ready!). Really wanted pizza or ravioli or some kind of cheesy italian food but decided against it. Yesterday I ate a bagel and low fat cream cheese, a low fat blueberry muffin (on Dunkin Donuts "healthy" menu- and it was COMPLETELY encrusted in sugar! lol), pepsi, chicken fingers, a small amount of cheetos (they pretty high in fat and suprisingly not that high in carbs but I really wanted them and I didn't get the pizza I wanted), low fat rice pudding, and one of those Contessa meals (also low fat). Pretty much nothing was very satisfying. My body was literally starting to warm up though... I was so warm and so used to being cold I could barely sleep at all. I also ate a bowl of cookie crisps for breakfast... immediately felt really crappy. Had a test in my calculus class this morning and ended up zoning out and running out of time... I'll be lucky if I got a C, and calculus is my best subject this semester. but then I had a cup of coffee and some cranberries and got a 100 on my Chemistry exam (my worst subject this semester) an hour later. It's like opposite day...

I'm freezing too!! I have been all weekend, and I live in AZ!! Dh thinks I'm crazy, but I think it's the weight loss/diet!! Feeling vindicated by your post, and encouraged that a refeed could help w/ that. I'm also hungrier than normal today too? I would rather not extend this round, and if I do a refeed I'll need to extend to see if it worked. I'm gonna' stay the course a while longer, but it's good to know the cold can be fixed!

Pace-that's an excellent point. I'm trying to sort it out in my head, and the sugar vs. carb point is interesting!

[HappyisNow]

Hey all!

I'm looking forward to this weekend!! Dh will be home again and I plan to enjoy myself just for one day. He doesn't know it yet but he's taking me to this fancy Japanese buffet for lunch and I'm going to enjoy my mom's famous dumplings for dinner.

My weight loss has been pretty sluggish lately. I would drop a lil over 2 lbs but then gain half a pound and then stay there....ugh.
I need to shake things up!

[paulabob]

I find this thread very fascinating. I normally do P2 Monday-Friday, and P3 my weekends - which I think you could think of as refeeding, although without carbs. I'd love to figure out if I should do more carby things every once in a while, but am afraid to since I'm hypoglycemic and prediabetic.

Anyways, overall, I tend to lose at the same rate whether I go strict 21 days thru, or take weekend breaks - it always average .5 per day overall, until January. Since then I'm really having difficulty. I'll update if I decide to do a carbier weekend.

I know even with just P3 on the weekends, it helps. By the time Monday morning rolls around, I'm not freezing anymore and wearing my robe and coat everywhere. By the time it's Wednesday, I usually am cold again.

[kaylem]

Originally Posted by Jodarina

Did a refeed yesterday making the decision to do so about 11AM.

Celebratory snack: 3 monster tea cookies (choc chip/pnut butter)from Whole Foods

Really enjoyed being able to eat at will again so mentally it was very freeing and I was a happy camper in that respect. Energy way up, motivation to "do things" way up. Got some yard work done and even began tackling organization of my garage/shed which has been put off since I donno, 2009. Made a considerable dent in it too

Bring it...

LOVE IT! The celebratory snack is great...and what a fabulous place to do it...Jeesh, I could eat an entire bag of their fresh tortilla chips and guacamole...Not to mention their desserts. Wowsa!

Originally Posted by julieboolie

Kay-yep, I'm sitting here in my baggy size 6's!! Love it!! I'm not sure the sizes all are legit these days, but I'm not arguing!! . I wear (apparently) anywhere from a 4-11 in jeans. Jr's sizes are different, and each store is different. I have 1 pair of 11's that I got at Tillys that fit great!! Other places I need a 9 or 7, and in Levi's apparently a 4 is a good option!! I guess online ordering is out for me !!
KUTGW all!!

That's awesome! I am looking forward to my shopping "spree" this Friday...I have about three stores that I want to hit. I'm definitely needing some pants that fit! Good luck on deciding about the re-feed. I think it is certainly a good psychological fix. The jury is still out for me as to whether it sped things up or not.

Originally Posted by CherylB

Hey, gang. It's "the morning after" and I'm up 3 lbs on the nose. Unlike some of you who are refeeding and getting energized, I feel identical to how I was feeling on VLCD. Sluggish. I even overslept and didn't take my first dose of hhcg pellets until 11:30 today! First time for everything.

It occurred to me last night that food isn't such a great pastime. I was thinking and wondering how it ever became such a preoccupation in the first place. My gut got distended and full (and gassy) but the rest of me remained the same. It was as if my gut had become a separate entity and was doing something entirely different that the rest of me was.

I sure hope my energy level picks up today. That was the primary reason I decided to do this. If it doesn't, I seriously doubt I'll ever do this again. In the future, my refeeds will just be lots more protein and things that are allowed on a typical rogue hhcg day.

I sure hope you feel better, Cheryl!

Originally Posted by julieboolie

Ok, re-read the original recommendations on the refeed. It looks like most of our guinea pigs are doing about 24 hours of re-feed, right? Wondering if the length of time + food choices impacts either weight gain, energy level and re-losing phase. Thoughts?

I don't know if I COULD have done two days. I was so bloated and gassy, that it didn't feel good to eat all those things I wanted.

[kaylem]

Ok, Ladies, so I am up by a 1/2 pound today. BUT, I also have not seen nor heard from Bernice since my refeed LAST WEDNESDAY. That could DEFINITELY have something to do with it!

I have been drinking Yerba Mate tea in the hopes that it helps in that department, as well as taking 2Tbsp of ACV to help things out. Don't know if it will help or not. We will see!

I also think that I ate more ground beef than I should have--I had it measured out, but then my hubby ate some, and then I just eyeballed it. That MIGHT have affected me, but generally, my body likes beef.

So, because of the 1/2 pound increase, the jury is still out on my opinion of the re-feed. As I mentioned to Julie, mentally, it really helped me be able to extend the round. BUT, speed-wise? Unless I hit 140 by the end of this week, then I will say that it didn't really speed anything up for me.

Just my thoughts! Hang in there, ladies, as we all try to figure this out! As I have said before, the only thing I really KNOW about weight loss is that NO ONE has it figured out, and it is much more complicated than "calories in vs. calories out."

I hope this week treats us all well.

-Kay

[brender]

Originally Posted by CherylB

I do, and I felt wonderful until the 23rd VLCD. Then it just hit me. I take a good MVI, Calcium+D twice a day, Magnesium twice a day, Potasium Gluconate, B complex, and a C. It's not that. I think it is what Simeon's says in Pounds and Inches. I'll copy and paste here:

Muscular Fatigue

Towards the end of a full course, when a good deal of fat has been rapidly lost, some patients complain that lifting a weight or climbing stairs requires a greater muscular effort than before. They feel neither breathlessness nor exhaustion but simply that their muscles have to work harder. This phenomenon, which disappears soon after the end of the treatment, is caused by the removal of abnormal fat deposited between, in, and around the muscles. The removal of this fat makes the muscles too long, and so in order to achieve a certain skeletal movement - say the bending of an arm - the muscles have to perform greater contraction than before. Within a short while the muscle adjusts itself perfectly to the new situation, but under HCG the loss of fat is so rapid that this adjustment cannot keep up with it. Patients often have to be reassured that this does not mean that they are “getting weak”. This phenomenon does not occur in patients who regularly take vigorous exercise and continue to do so during treatment.

He says it's more like fatigue than feeling weak, but it's not presenting that way for me. Anyway, I think my body is saying to shift gears and consider calling it a round.

that's true! Im not tired but I do get that in my legs sometimes when I do stairs .

[CherylB]

I just want to say that I'm so glad to be getting back on plan tomorrow! If anyone had told me a month ago that I would be eager to eat 500 calories a day, I'd have thought they were bonkers. But, it's true. I hate this feeling of being overly satisfied. If I ever do this again, I will do it much differently. But I will only do another refeed if it in fact accelerates things. I'm thinking it won't, but who knows?

It really was only a 27 hour refeed, since I began at 5:30 yesterday evening and quit eating at 8:30 tonight. When I think on how few hours I was actually awake and how many calories I consumed, it's no wonder I want to put this day behind me! Ugh!

Sweet dreams, ladies.

[rorita]

I woke up this morning feeling horribly bloated and erm, backed up... but was surprised that the scale was down from yesterday. (155.4, +1 over where I started).

I don't think refeed days will incite cravings in me personally. I ONLY ate carbs, really, other than incidental protein and fat that was in high carb foods. The only thing that I ate that didn't make me feel like total hell was some spaghetti with a very light amount of parmesan.

The entire time I was able to eat any sugary snack in the world that I wanted, all I wanted was eggs and cheese and chicken skin hahaha. I'm so excited to be back to my WOE, I feel like today is a "cheat" day!

I think I would have enjoyed myself more if I had consumed some fat (piiiizzzzaaaa!) but I think the fat would have slowed the glucose production/absorption down and that was the whole point of the refeed.

At any rate, it's going to take me a couple days to get back into ketosis and start losing so the jury is still out.

[belfrybat]

I'm down a half pound this morning, which nets me 2-1/2 lbs. from the refeed. Just about what I was losing before it, so it didn't help me with more rapid weight loss. But neither did it stall me. So for a mental break, it was helpful, kickstarting more rapid weight loss not.

For those who are feeling sluggish the day after a refeed -- that is probably due to excess carbs -- your energy level should pick up when the carbs are out of your system.

This has been an interesting experiment. I'm going to continue eating VLC until Saturday and then transition into P3 even though I will be 4-5 lbs. short of my goal.

[julieboolie]

Brigit-Carol-your post was probably just what I needed to see this morning. I'm stalled right now and Monday should be my LDW. I've been stalled about 5-6 days it seems and I'm not eating off plan or cheating. I'm wondering if the scale will start moving on it's own or if I should shake it up a bit. I'll probably continue to mull it over for the next day or so. Maybe tomorrow I'll eat higher cals, but not really overdo it. Wonder if it'll be of any benefit. I'm not hungry, which is something, but I'm not losing either. I knew a stall was inevitable, but did hope I'd have a littlel short one and move closer to goal. We'll see.

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences ladies!! I'm learning a lot!!

Cheryl-are you happy w/ your refeed overall? Would you eat something different if you did it again?

Kay-that's my goal too!! I'm about 6lbs away and have about a week of P2 left. What do you think I should do? If I stick to P2, I'm hoping to start losing again soon, maybe another 2lbs? I'll still be far from that goal. If I refeed, it'll take me several days to lose that new weight before even being able to get to new weight loss! I may do Easter as an interruption and go back for another week of P2 to try and get to goal. But would Easter be considered a refeed? LOL! I'm a nut!! !

[jabbok]

Originally Posted by belfrybat

I'm down a half pound this morning, which nets me 2-1/2 lbs. from the refeed. Just about what I was losing before it, so it didn't help me with more rapid weight loss. But neither did it stall me. So for a mental break, it was helpful, kickstarting more rapid weight loss not. For those who are feeling sluggish the day after a refeed -- that is probably due to excess carbs -- your energy level should pick up when the carbs are out of your system.

This has been an interesting experiment. I'm going to continue eating VLC until Saturday and then transition into P3 even though I will be 4-5 lbs. short of my goal.

This is good for people who are planning to do a long round the refeed will help you with the mental part of dieting and I think that you will be able to continue for alot longer. I would probably only do a refeed after the initial 21 days of vlc just so that I could have a good start.

[CherylB]

Hi, ladies. I will be giving a detailed report a few days to a week down the road, when I can have the benifit of hindsight, to make all the day-to-day developments come together.

No, I wouldn't do the refeed the same way. I'd do it Atkins' style. If I did eat things like Pizza again, I would plan out a maximum amount of calories I'd consume in a day and not go over that. And I wouldn't be in the grocery store and see some stuffed mushrooms with crab and say, "I think I'll eat those, too!" Too much food!

I'm joyfully back on plan today. The apple I just ate was so cleansing and pure. Now I'm going to sip on my coffee and try to think that the past 2 days were just a bad dream

[KOO]

Originally Posted by CherylB

Hi, ladies. I will be giving a detailed report a few days to a week down the road, when I can have the benifit of hindsight, to make all the day-to-day developments come together.

No, I wouldn't do the refeed the same way. I'd do it Atkins' style. If I did eat things like Pizza again, I would plan out a maximum amount of calories I'd consume in a day and not go over that. And I wouldn't be in the grocery store and see some stuffed mushrooms with crab and say, "I think I'll eat those, too!" Too much food!

I'm joyfully back on plan today. The apple I just ate was so cleansing and pure. Now I'm going to sip on my coffee and try to think that the past 2 days were just a bad dream

Good to hear another experience. If you do the refeed Atkins way, wouldn't that just be an interruption? Then it would still be totally on protocol.

[CherylB]

You totally focused on that one sentence, but read the one that comes after that one. I was still saying I might do a less Atkins' type refeed. I just won't ever do another all-out food fest. Set a maximum amount of calories and then decide what you really want to eat.

[KOO]

Originally Posted by CherylB

You totally focused on that one sentence, but read the one that comes after that one. I was still saying I might do a less Atkins' type refeed. I just won't ever do another all-out food fest. Set a maximum amount of calories and then decide what you really want to eat.

Okay, maybe I did misread that. I am waiting to hear about your full account, since I am thinking about this weekend as a refeed or interruption for my daughter this weekend.

[JeniferCA]

Originally Posted by KOO

Okay, maybe I did misread that. I am waiting to hear about your full account, since I am thinking about this weekend as a refeed or interruption for my daughter this weekend.

Even after reading this whole thread (and being intrigued by it), to me an interruption and re-feed still seem like the same thing!

The only difference I can see if that you stay on the drops/pellets during a re-feed. Hmmm.

[CherylB]

Originally Posted by CherylB

Hi, ladies. I will be giving a detailed report a few days to a week down the road, when I can have the benifit of hindsight, to make all the day-to-day developments come together.
No, I wouldn't do the refeed the same way. I'd do it Atkins' style. If I did eat things like Pizza again, I would plan out a maximum amount of calories I'd consume in a day and not go over that. And I wouldn't be in the grocery store and see some stuffed mushrooms with crab and say, "I think I'll eat those, too!" Too much food!

I'm joyfully back on plan today. The apple I just ate was so cleansing and pure. Now I'm going to sip on my coffee and try to think that the past 2 days were just a bad dream

Koo, there's another important part of that post that you missed. I seriously doubt I'm going to have any answers for you or your daughter by this weekend. If she does a refeed, she will be part of the guinea pigs here! How old is your daughter? How is her progress going on her regular hhcg plan? If things are going well, tell her to just keep on truckin'. Otherwise, she needs to make a decision based on her own needs and situation.

[LoosinItNow]

Originally Posted by belfrybat

This has been an interesting experiment. I'm going to continue eating VLC until Saturday and then transition into P3 even though I will be 4-5 lbs. short of my goal.

I was looking at Saturday as my P3 day as well, but TOM came knocking at my door this morning, and I am up 2lbs! I was hoping to get to my goal wt this round of 230 lbs, with the 2 lb gain, I am now 7 lbs away from that goal. I admit that I struggled the past two days, as I was off work and at home - I know that I ate more than I should have, that darn Chocolate crack! Never should have tried it - I told myself that I could eat just one or two pieces a day (HAH!)

My last dose of pellets was this morning, 'cause I've had an awful day at work - am working the late shift, but got called in early & won't get home until sometime after 9 pm.

I'm afraid that I will continue to gain wt because of TOM, and that my LDW will be 2 - 5 lbs higher than now. I had lost a total of 24 lbs, but my total loss is now just 22 (I actually LOST a lb during the load days).

So what do you guys think? Transition NOW into P3 (so that would be Thursday for Lunch), or try to ride it out through TOM and hope for a few more losses? I go on 24-hr call for my Job on Saturday, so I HAVE to be in P3 by then, I'll never make it otherwise.

Tell me what you guys think???? To P3 or not to P3 right now? Thanks!!!

[kaylem]

Originally Posted by belfrybat

I'm down a half pound this morning, which nets me 2-1/2 lbs. from the refeed. Just about what I was losing before it, so it didn't help me with more rapid weight loss. But neither did it stall me. So for a mental break, it was helpful, kickstarting more rapid weight loss not.

For those who are feeling sluggish the day after a refeed -- that is probably due to excess carbs -- your energy level should pick up when the carbs are out of your system.

This has been an interesting experiment. I'm going to continue eating VLC until Saturday and then transition into P3 even though I will be 4-5 lbs. short of my goal.

I'm in agreement with you, belfrybat! I feel the same way. It was a nice mental break, but not really a major benefit over all.

Originally Posted by julieboolie

Kay-that's my goal too!! I'm about 6lbs away and have about a week of P2 left. What do you think I should do? If I stick to P2, I'm hoping to start losing again soon, maybe another 2lbs? I'll still be far from that goal. If I refeed, it'll take me several days to lose that new weight before even being able to get to new weight loss! I may do Easter as an interruption and go back for another week of P2 to try and get to goal. But would Easter be considered a refeed? LOL! I'm a nut!! !

It's so confusing, isn't it? I think *maybe* it gets just that much tougher as we get that close to goal. I REALLY think that I will be transitioning to P3 soon--as in, tomorrow will be my last dosing day, soon. Originally, I would have transitioned to P3 at the end of last week, but when I did the re-feed, I obviously extended that. I think that I am just not in it mentally because when I planned this round I thought I would be in P3 by now. I vacillated all day today! I woke up to 145.5, which is back to my Sunday weight. It is 3 pounds less than I was a week ago. I am smaller than I have ever been, and none of my clothes fit me. Additionally, I have been STARVING for the past two days. To me, those are all signs that it is time to learn how to care for this new body of mine...But that's just me! I look forward to hearing what you decide. Good luck! I know you are soooooo close to goal, you can taste it!

[kaylem]

Originally Posted by LoosinItNow

I was looking at Saturday as my P3 day as well, but TOM came knocking at my door this morning, and I am up 2lbs! I was hoping to get to my goal wt this round of 230 lbs, with the 2 lb gain, I am now 7 lbs away from that goal. I admit that I struggled the past two days, as I was off work and at home - I know that I ate more than I should have, that darn Chocolate crack! Never should have tried it - I told myself that I could eat just one or two pieces a day (HAH!)

My last dose of pellets was this morning, 'cause I've had an awful day at work - am working the late shift, but got called in early & won't get home until sometime after 9 pm.

I'm afraid that I will continue to gain wt because of TOM, and that my LDW will be 2 - 5 lbs higher than now. I had lost a total of 24 lbs, but my total loss is now just 22 (I actually LOST a lb during the load days).

So what do you guys think? Transition NOW into P3 (so that would be Thursday for Lunch), or try to ride it out through TOM and hope for a few more losses? I go on 24-hr call for my Job on Saturday, so I HAVE to be in P3 by then, I'll never make it otherwise.

Tell me what you guys think???? To P3 or not to P3 right now? Thanks!!!

I'm in a similar situation, and I think P3 sounds pretty great right about now. I think you should go for it. 22 pounds is amazing, and even though you didn't reach your original goal, you still had remarkable success! Go to P3, learn how to maintain your new weight, re-energize your body and introduce really healthy, yummy foods. Then, after you've stabilized and have done a full P3/P4, come back and kick some tail during the next round! That's just my opinion, though! We will cheer you on no matter what you decide!

[HappyisNow]

Do you guys think a 2 day refeed would be too long? Dh wants to take me to an engagement where food would be an issue, well a delicious issue, and I'm thinking about extending my original plan of 1 day to 2 days.

[emel]

Originally Posted by JeniferCA

Even after reading this whole thread (and being intrigued by it), to me an interruption and re-feed still seem like the same thing!

The only difference I can see if that you stay on the drops/pellets during a re-feed. Hmmm.

The way I understand it, a refeed's purpose is to replenish glycogen stores and leptin. Carbs in moderately high quantities are the way to go, and hcg is continued.

On an interruption, you stop hcg and then do 2-3 days of VLCD, just like you were moving to P3. Then you try to stay as close to 800 cal as you can. It is my feeling that an interruption does not require heavy feeding. It is more like a strategy to have a holding pattern while the protocol cannot be maintained.

That being said, if I extend this P2, I'll include an interruption to handle a camping trip. I won't go nuts, but I'm sure my calories will be over 800. My goal is to avoid starch/sugar as much as possible, to allow myself a few sf cocktails daily, and to not stress it if our group meals include some gunky stuff.

If I was refeeding during the camping trip, I imagine I would have buns with my burgers and dogs, and would eat potatoes with dinner and toast with breakfast, that sort of thing.

[Gracie514]

Originally Posted by emel

The way I understand it, a refeed's purpose is to replenish glycogen stores and leptin. Carbs in moderately high quantities are the way to go, and hcg is continued.

On an interruption, you stop hcg and then do 2-3 days of VLCD, just like you were moving to P3. Then you try to stay as close to 800 cal as you can. It is my feeling that an interruption does not require heavy feeding. It is more like a strategy to have a holding pattern while the protocol cannot be maintained.

That being said, if I extend this P2, I'll include an interruption to handle a camping trip. I won't go nuts, but I'm sure my calories will be over 800. My goal is to avoid starch/sugar as much as possible, to allow myself a few sf cocktails daily, and to not stress it if our group meals include some gunky stuff.

If I was refeeding during the camping trip, I imagine I would have buns with my burgers and dogs, and would eat potatoes with dinner and toast with breakfast, that sort of thing.

Sounds 100% correct to me too. A refeed is pretty much whatever you want and any quantity - enough to make you full. An interruption is no starches/no sugars and increasing your calories to around 800 without taking hcg. From what I'm reading, the refeeds don't seem to do much to your losses because it takes many days to get back down. But, it may help mentally so you can extend your round and lose more. Either way, it's an interesting concept especially if you are really tired of P2 and need energized.

[mermaid]

Originally Posted by luckylychee

Do you guys think a 2 day refeed would be too long? Dh wants to take me to an engagement where food would be an issue, well a delicious issue, and I'm thinking about extending my original plan of 1 day to 2 days.

I would be very cautious and controlled with that, not go hog wild. We have to remember that most of us got fat due to insulin resistance, which makes us pretty sensitive to carbs, so a little goes a long way toward triggering our hormone changes. We're not normal and can't do things the way normal people do. If I were going to do two days I would indulge some, but not a whole lot. It's just too disappointing to see a 5-10 pound gain.

What Emel said makes sense to me, just add a little carby thing here and there. Maybe also up the portions a bit on the good for you stuff like meat and veggies. Have a little cheese. One of my favorite refeed items is a big bowl of broccoli with butter or cheese sauce. To me that's a total luxury. Of course, I do like pizza and cookies too, but just a little, not a binge.

Just my opinion, of course.

[CherylB]

I'm down 3.6 of the weight I gained during my refeed, but I had to practically wring out my intestines, IYKWIM. I am so regretting having done this. I feel like my body deserves to be treated with more care and respect than how I treated it during those 2 days of excess.

If you do a refeed, just eat more of the foods that are good for you. Ones that you know your body has done well on in the past. And set a calorie ceiling for each day, so you don't go overboard.

I don't see how this little escapade of mine can possibly make up for the time lost. I might break even when I get back down to a new low weight, but I don't think I will have accelerated anything. And I put my self through misery in the process.

My advice: Don't? Unless you are really struggling with food temptation and think you might quit otherwise.

[pacetbostic]

I am calling my refeed a success. I only gained .8 over the weekend and that was all gone yesterday. Today I finally broke my 132 plateau and was down to 131.

I had forgotten to do my measurements last weekend so I did them last night since all of my clothes are starting to become very lose. I had to redo my math 3 times to make sure I was doing it right. In 16 days I have lost an astounding 17 1/2 inches overal l!!! I am only down 9 lbs (including 3 of load weight) and was feeling somewhat bummed about the slower than expected drop on the scale....HOLY COW!! 17 1/2 inches!!!

I'm not sure at this point if my initial goal of 115-120 is rational, if I lose more inches than pounds, I may need to pay less attention to the scale and simply call goal when I am satisfied with what I SEE in the mirror ....what are some of your thoughts on this, ladies???