JohnsonAlternateDayDiet/JUDDD Jan 2009

[EmandM]

Hi ladies, I am curious about those of you who don't weigh everyday. I would love to let go of my daily weigh-in obsession, but I wonder about fluctuations. For example, since I weigh every day, I can see the scale fo up and down throughout the week, or at certain times of the month. So if I have a high weight one day, I average the week and can see my loss from one week to the next. I worry if I were to weigh once a week that I would catch myself on a high day and get discouraged. Did that make sense and if so, how do you handle that?

Thanks!

[retroworx]

Originally Posted by mammapo

You just made my millenium.

Note to self: make shiritaki omlettes.

Well, let me know how you feel after you try them . You might decide I owe you a couple of eggs.

[caramel]

Hello everyone,

Thanks Naomi for the advice on the "noodles, and retroworx for the recipe. Thank you Maizen for the comments about my avi(thats my five year old)and about my progress thus far, it's really encouraging . Today is a UD and I'm finishing in a 2100 calories. Tommorow I'm going to water fast. Everyone please stay strong, your worth it!

[faithgirl]

Subscribing:this looks interesting. I haven't read all the posts yet, but I will go back and read through it. I have a couple questions though:

1. Is anyone doing this and NOT doing lowcarb?

2. How long have you all been doing this? Are you really losing weight? I have a lot to lose and would love to find something that doesn't make me feel like I am really on a diet. I am hoping the up days will help with that.

[fireblaze252]

Please over look my mistake... placed on the wrong forum... SORRY

[fireblaze252]

Posted on wrong forum.. SORRY

[Zer]

I'm still lurking and learning as I read posts at this thread. Awfully encouraging to hear how people are finding DD easier to handle, knowing that an UD is just around the corner. Having a day when a taste of this or that fits into a plan sounds like a great way to manage my own journey down to ONEderLand. Yep, I can see how that might keep a LC plan fresh and inspiring to someone on a long haul, as I am. This whole idea fits well with my notion that my body works well on a 48hr cycle - and inflammation is lots lower after a light-eating day than after a day when I'm pushing to meet my BMR. AGH!

[jgw]

Originally Posted by Zer

I'm still lurking and learning as I read posts at this thread. Awfully encouraging to hear how people are finding DD easier to handle, knowing that an UD is just around the corner. Having a day when a taste of this or that fits into a plan sounds like a great way to manage my own journey down to ONEderLand. Yep, I can see how that might keep a LC plan fresh and inspiring to someone on a long haul, as I am. This whole idea fits well with my notion that my body works well on a 48hr cycle - and inflammation is lots lower after a light-eating day than after a day when I'm pushing to meet my BMR. AGH!

DD do get easier. I've been Juddding for 2 weeks and I'm down 4 pounds. I haven't felt deprived and I feel this is the best plan I've been on so far. On the UD I eat whatever my family is eating making sure I don't go over my calorie limit of 2200 calories. Usually I don't even get the max calories in on my UD because I'm not obsessed with food like I use to be.
Faithgirl, I am not lowcarbing. Do what's best for you.
Today is my UD and I know I will not over eat.

[Leo41]

EmandM--

If you can handle the daily fluctuations, you're probably best weighing every day because, you're right, if you weigh once a week, you can get a "high moment" that may even show a gain for the week, and there's nothing more discouraging.

Because I tend to retain fluid, I can fluctuate 4-5 pounds within one day, so I'd probably be better weighing once a month, so that I'd be bound to see SOME loss even if it wasn't entirely accurate. But I'm too wedded to the scale for that. And since I struggle so much to lose, I want to know what's happening so that I can "tweak" my eating as needed.

What I struggle with is not to be demoralized by gains that HAVE to be water or hormones or something because I've been eating so cleanly that it can't be fat. For example, a few months back when my T3 was out of whack, I gained 10 lbs in ONE WEEK without changing my eating at all. Not knowing that my thyroid had tanked, I was frantic. Moreover, once I was adequately medicated, those pounds didn't "melt off," I struggled to lose every ounce.

One of my neighbors had cancer surgery yesterday, so I need to keep in mind that there are worse things than weight problems!

[wallaby]

I really struggle with weighing/not weighing in daily. A momentary gain can throw me into a very counterproductive funk and a loss can leave me too confident - depending on my mood. I feel like I should move to 1x week but it's hard to resist.

Thank you thank you to all who extolled the virtues of Shirataki (SP)! I ran out and bought some and it's literally going to change my life - I made some sesame noodles w/cabbage for lunch and it was heaven. Hadn't had those in months.

[EmandM]

Hi everyone!

Leo - thanks for the response and I will continue to weigh each day. I can handle it and like you, I use it as information and for tweaking purposes. You are so right about putting things into perspective. I hope everything is ok with your neighbour.

wallaby - I have heard so much about the shiraki noodles. I will need to re-read everything about them and see if I should get them. Are they made of tofu? I avoid soy, so if they are, then I won't get any.

[retroworx]

Originally Posted by wallaby

Thank you thank you to all who extolled the virtues of Shirataki (SP)! I ran out and bought some and it's literally going to change my life - I made some sesame noodles w/cabbage for lunch and it was heaven. Hadn't had those in months.

How funny! I am sitting here with a bowl of stir fry shirataki + cabbage as I read this.

I have been relying on shirataki at least twice a day to help me stay on my current under-1,000 calories/day experiment.

[mammapo]

Originally Posted by faithgirl

Subscribing:this looks interesting. I haven't read all the posts yet, but I will go back and read through it. I have a couple questions though:

1. Is anyone doing this and NOT doing lowcarb?

2. How long have you all been doing this? Are you really losing weight? I have a lot to lose and would love to find something that doesn't make me feel like I am really on a diet. I am hoping the up days will help with that.

I'm not LCing per se. Meaning I don't really count carbs. Especially on UDs

I've lost about 4.4 pounds in 2 weeks. And I'm pretty sure I'm hypothyroid.

[shunsweets]

Count me as another Shirataki lover. I've been eating it several times a week for 4 years. Now I eat a serving every DD. I love it. Reto I'm going to try turning my "pearls" into mash cause I don't like them as well as the angel hair.

Emandm I weigh "weekly" to get my weight change for the week - always morning after DD, but I do peak at the scale in between and the fluctuations drive me crazy! I used to be a compulsive weigher at least twice a day so once a week works better for me.

Today is DD and DS just showed up wanting dinner. Guess I'll be making 2 different dinners and listening to a lecture on not eating properly. My family is still not completely on board with JUDDD. They want me to just eat moderately every day - but that just doesn't work for me. I hate to upset them but I really like this plan and would like to stay with it. Ah families.

Got to go. 16 hour work day tomorrow yuck.

[skeeweeaka]

Hey all...sounds like everyone is doing amazingly well on this plan... Today was my DD but think I will do a water fast tomorrow to sort of detox...

Again, congrats on the continued weight loss... I'm enjoying this program but keep forgetting to take my supplements... NEed to really get back into the groove...

TJ

[caramel]

Good morning everyone,

I was in my bed last night and a light bulb went off for me. I usually fast on the first of the week ( easier for me to do it Mondays so I can get it over with) so I said Mondays should be my day of fasting with Wednesday, and Friday being DD also, Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday would be UD. I always make a large Sunday dinner so when it fell on a DD it was torture for me , that would leave me with Saturday as a moderate day. Wow my days would always stay the same and this will be much easier for me. This plan is awesome. And oh yeah for those of you contemplating weighing in once a week I would encourage you to consider it. For me its like a kid waiting for that special package at the end of the week so you are so good cause you don't want to mess things up. I've been doing it for the past two weeks and it has kept me faithfully on plan and without the stress.

[Ilpirata]

Just checking in... I haven't been too great at tracking this week so far. oops! I'm on DD today and I'm going to try again for a water fast. We'll see if I can make it!

[jgw]

Hello just checking in too. Have a great day!

[wallaby]

It is a great day so far! It's a DD and I'm trying to stay below 300cals. We'll see.

Caramel, I LOVE your weekly plan. I think I'll try that too.

[EmandM]

Hi all,

Thanks for the responses re: weighing every day. I can't seem to step away from the scale! lol I am at a new low this morning! so I am super happy! Today is a UD and I am eating when hungry and stopping when satisfied. I love this woe!

Caramel - it is great that this plan can be tweaked so we enjoy social things that involve food. Glad you found what works for you!

[Leo41]

Another great thing about this plan is staying on course. On Saturday, I had a BIG UD--with two social engagements (lunch and dinner), which is very unusual for me, I ate more than I normally would on an UD. This is the first time this happened in the month or so that I've been doing JUDDD.

On a "regular" diet, such indulgence can lead to days of overeating, as one tries to get back on track. But with JUDDD it is so easy to go right into a DD and feel so much better. There's minimal "damage" with this woe!

[jgw]

Originally Posted by wallaby

It is a great day so far! It's a DD and I'm trying to stay below 300cals. We'll see.

Caramel, I LOVE your weekly plan. I think I'll try that too.

Yes Caramel it is a great plan.

[OceanDreaming]

That sounds like a great plan Caramel! I stopped weighing every day myself. I gave the scale to DH and said, "hide it and don't give it back for exactly one month!" He said, "um...ooookkkkaaaaayyyy...." He just doesn't understand.

Today is a glorious up day for me! Twenty days and going strong (well except for a couple of infractions last week...) I'm looking forward to weigh day!
Happy JUDDD-ing all!

[Ilpirata]

Here's my second check in on my DD. i went over to Zonatto's (the local deli/grocery) at lunch. I actually didn't feel HUNGRY so I just got myself a Fiji Water and drank that while reading my book over the lunch hour. Wether today turns out to be a real waterfast, or turns into a three scrambled egg dinner day I feel good, strong, NOT HUNGRY and ON TRACK.

[jgw]

Originally Posted by Ilpirata

Here's my second check in on my DD. i went over to Zonatto's (the local deli/grocery) at lunch. I actually didn't feel HUNGRY so I just got myself a Fiji Water and drank that while reading my book over the lunch hour. Wether today turns out to be a real waterfast, or turns into a three scrambled egg dinner day I feel good, strong, NOT HUNGRY and ON TRACK.

Kisha you are doing great! I had a 90 caolrie shake for lunch, dinner will be some oatmeal. It usually holds me throughout the evening until bedtime. I will also have a cup of coffee later too. It's cold here and I need something to warm me up.
Later!

[wallaby]

Thrilled to be down another couple of lbs!

I have one question, having not read Dr. Johnson's book: Does the fact that we're eating a "normal" calorie load every other day help maintain - or increase - metabolism? I know that if you don't take in enough calories your metabolism drops or stalls. I'm hoping that with this WOE, that's not the case. Anyone know?

[Leo41]

Wallaby-

Yes, this is the point of the alternate days--the body would need about 3 consecutive days of very low calories before metabolism is affected.

You don't have to read the book. Just Google the JUDDD, and Dr. J's website provides all the info you need.

[Leo41]

OK--I'm having a crisis and I hope this WOE isn't the problem.

As many of you know, I'm hypothyroid (Hashimoto's) and was hoping that JUDDD was the answer to weight loss for me, as I need to seriously restrict calories to lose at all.

After about 4 weeks on JUDDD and 6-7 pounds lost, I suddenly gained 4 pounds almost overnight with no increase in calories at all. I thought it might be water weight, but that's not the case. What I didn't notice is that I was drinking twice as much coffee in the mornings to clear my "fog," a sure sign that my thyroid was tanking. I have my regular appointment with my endo next month, and I was planning to log my daily calories to talk to him about this.

However, this morning, I had my annual check up with my cardiologist. I was telling him about the mysterious weight gain--which I cannot lose, and he mentioned that my EKG showed a slowing of my heart rate, and the swelling in my ankles, he said, is not water but a characteristic swelling of undermedicated hypo! He suggested I not wait but see my endo ASAP.

But when I phoned, I learned that my endo is out of the country until next week--and then totally booked. I'm going for my bloodwork on Friday so that he can look at it at least as soon as he returns.

It's clear that my thyroid is messed up, but I hope it's not related to JUDDD. I would hate to give up this WOE just when I began to see some steady loss. Of course, that loss has been obliterated by the thyroid gain now. I'm not sure whether my depression is the usual result of hypo or disappointment in not being able to continue to lose.

I'll keep you all posted on what I find out. If JUDDD is not good for hypo, it will be important to know that.

[jgw]

Originally Posted by wallaby

Thrilled to be down another couple of lbs!

Good Job!!

[Ilpirata]

Leo! So sorry to hear you are going throug this. Hypothyroid is just THE PITS! Please please keep us posted on what you find out. I personally can't figure a correlation between this WOE triggering a hypo attack. Sometimes I think the thyroid just does its own thing and it really really does seem like you are just undermedicated. Definately get the labs ASAP. If your T3 isn't in the top 3/4 of the range with T4 at least halfway then yes you need an up in your meds...

UGH. I'm so sorry! Hang in there. Fighting HypoT is such a struggle. We have to work so so so so so much harder than those with normal metabolisms just to lose even 1 pound. Please let me know your lab results with test ranges if you feel comfortable with that when you get them. Could you PM them to me if you don't feel comfortable posting?