I've done Cohens before, and didn't do refeed. So I'm back again. Today was day one. I have lost 14.5kgs over the last few weeks, but haven't followed the program 100%. It's time to start doing that now. I'm more active now, than I have been in recent times, and really want it to be a lifestyle change. Hopefuly by tracking on here, I can keep on the straight and narrow

Hi L-Jay and welcome!!!

WOW, 14kg is great work! If you follow Cohen's 100% you'll lose the next 30kgs in no time..

Stay strong and good luck!!! Feel free to track your progress here and post regularly
We're all here to support you in your journey.

Greetings, Luvbug

Hi L-J. You sound about the same as me. I'm also second time around, also didn't do refeed properly last time because we were suddenly moving interstate, had to pack up etc, and now back on it again under my own steam.

I've lost 17kg so far doing it by myself, not 100% on track. My lifestyle is pretty ridiculous these days, so find it hard to do everything exactly 100%. I'm still debating with myself about rejoining - feel I do need a bit more motivation at the moment, but the $750 would be hard to find just at the moment. Seem to have one thing after another needing money right now.

Good luck, hope to hear more from you about how you're going!

Thanks Luvbug and Niyah.

Luvbug, thanks for the encouraging words, and the welcome.
Niyah, it is hard when life is hectic. That's something which affects me a lot. You've done really well, and I sincerely hope you can finish it this time. Aside from having to fork out the money again - do everything you can to put your needs first in this regard. At the risk of sounding like a commerical for L'Oreal, you are worth it.

Cheers people!

Hi L-Jay, & welcome back to the forum & to Cohen's. It's great that we know that Cohen's is our best shot & losing any weight we may put back on. We know it works. Maintenance is by far the hardest part, whether or not, we do re-feed. I think I have learned more this time after putting some weight back on & then losing it again. I know now to go straight back on it if I get near GW+3kgs. Before I let it creep back up as I just didn't want to eat so strictly again. It just falls off fast if you jump straight back on plan, without even needing to weigh your food. Basically I have realised that everything they told us to follow in maintenance works as well. Doh! I'm a slow learner!
It's nice to have a good mix of forum buddies. I'm looking forward to reading about your success as well. Cheers for now, Cate

Thanks Cate. I hope I have some good success for you to read about.
Yesterday, a friend insisted on taking me out for lunch, and I didn't want to, but they wouldn't take no for an answer. I ended up having some of my daughters chips, and and iced coffee. . Lastnight, I was trying to resist my usual attitude of "well I've blown it now, so I may as well eat whatever", and I succeeded. I was very happy to see I'd lost 1.5kgs this morning. I'm trying to work on not going to extremes if I have eaten something not on the program. It's important for me to learn balance in this area for long term success. I posted twice last night, and lost both posts . So this is the shortened version. I know I have good losses when I eat seafood, which isn't really my favourite thing. I compensated last night for the lunch by having prawns instead of chicken schnitzel (made cohens style of course) which I'd usually have, and it paid off.

Hope everyone has a great day.

L-Jay- It's good that you didn't then binge after lunch & that's a great step forward for any of us. Try to be strong when faced with friends who may be well-meaning but who tempt you to deviate off the plan. A good friend would understand, especially if you explain your reasons. I wouldn't force yourself to eat things that you don't enjoy. I would do the opposite. Only eat things you love that are on plan. Spoil yourself with good quality food that you love. Be strong, nurture your body & take care L-Jay, xo Cate

L-Jay, I too think that the key to long-term success is not to panic if something happens which is off-plan.

Although it's better not to deviate, long-term success consists of managing the events of everyday life. I'm learning slowly that nothing is a true "disaster" unless we make it so. If something forbidden enters our mouth, we have to deal with it, and just get back on plan. Nothing "breaks" except our peace of mind.

The first time around, I know I panicked at the end when I ate some things I shouldn't have, and just basically gave up, refused to get on the scales. I have found this time around that it is better to just get back on the scales and deal with it. It's far easier to deal with when we're a few chips over the limit, instead of after having put back on another 20kg!

This is how our lives will be long-term - just the accumulated choices we make meal by meal, hour by hour. Every meal is a fresh start and a chance to eat healthily once again.

Well done on not flipping out on the tea after the chips at lunch.

L-Jay- i think u were here wen i first did cohens also- were u on this forum when u last did it??? I didnt do refeed and i actually stayed close to weight until i moved interstate. I put on 8-9kg.... i have tried to get back on to the wagon- but iv struggled. I have got aim of getting back on the wagon this wk but for sm reason it doesnt feel as though it will happen. Gd luck and hope u can get thru the refeed. I was going to actually redo the blood test and pay the 750 again but im guna try the plan i have to start with and see. It might work. i lost 5kg last cpl of wks so it may do. Stick with it mate. IT might be hard but well worth it. Wil hopefully get back here this wk with a better ligth on things.......

Yes, De, I remember you. Hope you are getting where you want to be. I have stayed the same. Which means no progress, but no regress either. I am full of excuses for not doing it, I just don't seem to have the resolve, but I can't identify what it is exactly that is holding me back. I'm thankful that I've kept off the weight I lost earlier this year, but I need to move forward. If you stand still too long, it's only a matter of time before you slide backwards.

Hello L-Jay. Just wanted to say hi and welcome to forum.

Finally I have found the thing that keeps me focused and controlledTHINSPO
This week, after months and years even of trying to find that thing that makes me want this more than anything, I found it. I have stuck to Cohens 100%, where normally I give up by Thursday, and I feel great.
This is what I looked like when I was married. If you need a kick up the bum, check out thinspo on Youtube. It's awesome. No wonder I got so fat.
I have constantly looked for inspiration in the wrong places. I have friends who work out, and watch all their calories etc, and they are really only maintaining. Sometimes they invite us over for tea, and I feel sabotaged, because no matter what you say, they say stuff like : "oh but this is really healthy". I just wish they'd leave it alone. Looking to ones like that for support leaves me feeling inferior, and worthless. What they do may work for them, but I know it doesn't for me. I have to be 100% controlled 100% of the time.
Thinspo concepts kept me on the right track into my 20's. Around 30 I lost the plot. I've tried some of the thinspo stuff I used to, eg journals, visual aids etc, but I don't buy many mags now, they cost so much, and never found much on the internet until I came across Thispo pics and vids on the net. The difference between me and them is that I am not ana or mia. I have had ana tendencies in the past, according to a doctor I once saw, and was borderline with my weight at times, but never crossed the line. I think you have to have a BMI below 18 to be classed as ana. I have purged on the odd occasion, but not for years. I have no desire to do that. But I have the control back thanks to places that promote these perfectionist ideals. Yay. I haven't felt like this for so long. No words can describe the feeling. It's awesome.

Here is one of my favourite quotes: You will be tempted quite frequently. You will have to choose whether to enjoy yourself wholly for those 20 minutes or so that you will be consuming excess calories, or whether you will despise yourself cordially for the next three days.

Ick, I'm posting this in 2 places in this thread, so as to clear up something. I just read the thread about cohens aka anorexia. If I had read that before I would never have posted my earlier post. Cohens is soooooo not pro ana, in any way shape or form, however it is the only thing that has been able to help some people who have literally tried everything else, and it worked for like the 1st month, then nothing. I love it, it works for me when I stay motivated to do it. I also feel good on it, and everyone tells me I look healthy.
Apologies to everyone who defended Cohens on the other thread. I don't want to start up that whole issue again.
If I am left to my own devices, I don't trust myself to eat properly. Either compulsive overeat, or cut calories to a very unhealthy amount, then become scared to eat. Without a plan, where I am told what to eat, I battle. Yep, tried WW and all the other ways, including the 2 hours exercise every day for months on end while cutting down on fat and following the healthy diet. I ended up getting sick and run down, yes even on WW.
I used to be so controlled about what I'd eat, and just this week, I realized all the control I had went from being focused on myself, to keeping my house in perfect order. I hate clutter, I hate mess, I like everything in it's place. Yes, I have some issues. I have been on meds for anxiety, for years, and am off all of them, and am no worse for it. I know what anorexia does. I don't want to die, I don't want to look like them. I have no desire to skip meals and not eat.
Again, sorry to all who defended Cohens, I didn't mean to undo you good work. I have posted on a thread in another section about pro ana sites, and am going over to delete it. I don't want this to reflect in any way on Cohens. But I'm sure I'm not the only person on Cohens who has these issues. Thanks for reading.
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Whatever motivates you is OK, LJ, but don't give in to the ana tendencies. The goal is "healthy". If you can look beautiful as well, OK, but we have the bodies and shape we have which is never altered by diet. Just don't go to extremes with it, because it won't end up doing you any good. "Perfect" is an opinion and an illusion. Perfection of character is much more lasting - and helps you win more of life's goals.

Good luck with your journey, and the key is health and wellbeing in everything you do. Keep a healthy-range BMI in mind at all times.

I like to play all types of video games. I like to play all types of video games.Thanks for your info.

Thanks Niyah, I know it can be like walking a tight rope. But as long as I have a specific eating plan, that tells me what I can eat, and all I have to do is weigh it, I can cope. It's all the thinking about food, and deciding that I hate. I want to be the best I can be, and while I find those pics motivating, I know I will never look exactly like them. I appreciate your comments :-)