JohnsonAlternateDayDiet/JUDDD Jan 2009

[maizenbluebabe]

Here we are beginning a new year and a new month on this great plan to lose weight and improve our general health.

I will start this now and link to it in our old thread and then later today gather up some specific Johnson information for us to refer to when newcomers join us and have questions.

I wish for all of you dear friends and JUDDDlets a wonderful New Year of many blessings of heart, spirit, and body!

WE CAN DO THIS!


THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION COMES DIRECTLY FROM DR JOHNSON UP DAY DOWN DAY DIET SITE:



Getting Started

There are two phases: weight loss and maintainance. To lose weight, calorie intake on the “down” day is limited to 20% to 35% of daily calorie requirement, although it is strongly recommended that calories be below 25% when starting a weight loss diet. To maintain weight loss and for optimal health, down day intake is kept at 50% to 60% of calorie needs.

Use the following tool (go to Dr JOhnsons website for this) to calculate the down day calorie requirements. There is a strong tendency for overweight individuals to overestimate the "Activity" level, thereby allowing themselves high calorie allowance on the down day. To avoid this problem, for the first two weeks, you should consume no more than 500 calories on the down day regardless of your activity level.
Calorie Calculator
Gender Male Female
Input Height cm in
Input Weight kg lb
Input Age yrs mos
Activity
Restriction

Normal Calories* = kcal/d
Down Day Calories = kcal/d
*This calculator provides an estimate of your calorie requirement so that you can determine your down day calories. The "Normal Calories" shown may be more or less than you actually feel like eating on the up day. The important principle is to adhere to the down day calorie limit as closely as possible. You do not have to eat all the calories shown as "Normal Calories".


Hunger Management

The key to success on the down day is learning what works for you. Remember that you can eat tomorrow. The book will detail useful techniques for down day hunger management.


Diet Stress

Other diets require daily reduction in calorie intake or limit the type of food eaten. This requires intricate meal plans and menus, cooking separate meals, and often more expensive foods. This wastes a lot of time and creates great stress. With the Johnson UpDayDownDay Diet™, you are allowed to eat whatever you want on the up day and your choices are greatly simplified on the down day, markedly reducing stress.


Energy level/mood

We have observed a consistent, measurable dramatic increase in energy level which is noticeable within 7-10 days which peaks around three weeks on the diet. This is consistent with animal studies in calorie restriction. This is a desirable and reinforcing sensation which encourages you to keep going.



The Up Day

On the up day, you can eat anything you want and as much as you want, but do not intentionally over eat.

When starting out, it is important to not concern yourself with up day calorie intake because of the phenomena of diet stress and diet fatigue. Focus on staying under 20-25% on the down day.

Based on animal research, the type of food eaten on the up day is unimportant compared to adhering to the down day calorie limit. This will activate genes (SIRT1) which set in motion the beneficial processes which produce optimal health.

The Down Day

It is important to commit in advance to a certain number of calories on the down day. We strongly suggest 20 – 25% for the first two weeks, but find that 30 - 35% is more tolerable for some people for a prolonged period of dieting. The lower the calories on the down day, the better, but the most important thing is to find a caloric intake you can comply with on ongoing basis.

We strongly suggest using only commercially prepared shakes in the first two weeks. Later, prepared foods with the calorie content marked on them can be eaten.. This is critically important to help guard against the universal tendency to underestimate how much we are eating.

Body Weight

How much you lose depends on several factors, the average in our study was 2.5 pounds per week, more the first week or two.

You should weigh yourself only on the morning after a down day and not more often than once a week or fluctuations will lead to frustration.

Down Day Recipes

It is important to choose a shake which is personally tolerable and satisfying. There are a number on the market including Atkins Advantage, Slim Fast Optima, MetRx. For weight loss diet, it is highly advisable that for the first two weeks, you consume only shakes on the down day.

Delicious, easy, very low calorie recipes are available in the soon to be published book, The Johnson UpDayDownDay Diet™.

What People On The Diet Have To Say
“I will never diet any other way. I lost 30 pounds three years ago which I have kept off without the awful feeling of being on the diet.” – Heidi P.
“There was never a time in my entire life when I wasn’t wheezing from asthma until after being on the diet for two weeks.” – Theresa G.
“I couldn’t walk 50 feet without resting. After three weeks on the diet, I spent all day walking around the shopping mall.” – Ellen M.
“My rheumatoid arthritis got better 31 days after starting the diet.” – Judy L.

(I dont believe we are allowed to link directly to another website here, but Dr Johnsons's plan is very easy to find if you google it.) YOU DO NOT NEED TO BUY THE BOOK--all information is avaliable at his website and it is the simplest plan in the world once you have the basic information.

[maizenbluebabe]

Maybe it would be good if several of the first few replies added here would be based on special tips or discoveries by those who have been following the JUDDD plan at least for a little while--that way we could refer new members to the first half dozen posts or so and let them pick up helpful ideas all at one time and place, saving them time and the rest of us from hunting back for old posts when someone new comes with a lot of basic questions.

(I dont mean that no other posts are welcome, but if you have any helpful Eureka moments about this plan, please do post them right along here, even if you have posted them in our old thread of "LAST YEAR"

One thing I am doing (despite the general curse put on "New Year's Resolutions" because of so many failed ones) I am promising myself that I will use this minute, and this day to begin again and just keep on trying to do something good every day for myself, even if I am not perfect.

I said to myself this morning: "Self," I said, "you are at the very beginning of a brand new year. It is a totally clean slate and no old baggage can follow you here unless you invite it. So, Self, let's try our best and see if we can make good use of every day in 2009 ."

[fjeld]

I think it's important to know that you don't have to do it every other day, just one or two days a week brings benefits. When I tried it, two days a week was enough for me to lose a noticeable amount of weight in only two weeks. It's the sticking to it that can be hard - I could never (or wouldn't want to) do it every other day.

Here is a link to someone writing from an alternate day diet/intermittent calorie restriction point of view:

Matt Metzgar: Intermittent Calorie Restriction

"In contrast, you can look at studies where calories were intermittently restricted and you see much better results. By intermittently restricted, I mean that calories are cut fairly low on some days with normal eating on the rest of the days. In the book, "The Alternate Day Diet", the idea is to restrict calories one day and have unlimited eating the next (as the title implies). Others recommend different frequencies as to how often calories should be reduced."[...]
"What I wonder is why this approach is not more widely known. If you continually restrict calories, your metabolism will slow and the lost weight will come back. If you restrict calories every other day (or every third day or twice a week), then you can lose weight but the metabolism will not adapt and slow down."

And Hi Maizenblue I'm glad this thread got started because the results from studies on/experiences from doing intermittent calorie restriction - whether by eating less or fasting - are incredibly interesting.

[maizenbluebabe]

Hey there Fjeld, my old buddy, it's good to see you here and thanks for posting the interesting information about the benefits of calorie restriction.

Alas, I have tried not cutting calories every other day in a regular rotation as you mention and I am one of the unlucky ones it doesnt work for. But it is helpful to know that some people can get good results without following a strict every other day UD/DD arrangement. One of the things I like about the Johnson plan is that it does allow for creative tweaking and I say GO FOR IT when someone gets results by "doing it their way."

I am on a DD and feeling really energetic--have only had coffee and a boiled egg so far (late in the morning)-- and not hungry at all, but mostly on DD's I pretty much dont eat until dinner time and then dont eat anything else afterward . "One" meal per day keeps me from getting the craves or hunger pangs that I get when I eat more times per day. More frequent meals (even tiny ones) seem to get my BG rising and falling as digestion takes place, so I have learned I am better off with just basically one meal per day. And unfortunately I cant handle simple carbs like rice (or breads or crackers--even low carb ones) so I dont do them.. I love rice but one dish of that stuff and I start cramming my mouth full of whatever.

[Debbi]

Hi everyone - I have been reading your thread and have been giving this diet a lot of thought. I am going to try this for 30 days and see if it will shake up my weight loss. I am also comitting to 4 days of exercise every week. I hope it is okay if I join in......

I have a journal on the board called Menopot...so if you have time you can read about my issues over there - I won't bore anyone here w/them !! Although I am sure from the title you can tell it has to do w/Menopause.

I started this morning and am doing an Up day today and will alternate w/DD like Dr Johnson's site reccomends.

I am from New Orleans and very familiar w/Dr Johnson - very good looking guy - all the Who's who elite in N.O. used him for their Plastic Surgery - he is very well known and well respected.

Here is hoping we all have a great 2009 and become successful losers!!!

[caramel]

Happy New Year everyone
And a special thankyou to Maizenbluebabe for starting this new thread. The added info will be such a benefit for those who are just starting out on this plan too. I don't always post everyday but I do lurk cause I don't want to miss any new info that I need. Yesterday was a down day for me and I was not even hungry That is a major blessing to me so those of you who are just starting out and it is hard on the first few DD's believe me it does get easier. I have decided to weigh in only once a week versus everyday. I think that if I work hard at this all week I will see a loss at the end of the week verses weighing in everyday and when I don't see a loss I tend to get a little discouraged. Well hope to hear from you all throught the day and a special to those of you who joined in hear this past week or are plannning to make this day your first.

[EmandM]

Happy New Year Judddlets!

Maizenbluebabe - thank you for starting this new thread (and for so many other things you've done for me in 2008)! I love how you started your day with your talk to self! I do that too. I told myself that each day I will commit to my woe and to a healthy lifestyle. I feel great today. It's an UD and it's been a great day so far!

Michelle - I ate too much yesterday too (was supposed to be a DD but at a New Year's Eve party that was pretty much impossible)! lol I too am forcing myself to eat my allotted calories but I have had nothing but healthy things today and for dinner we are making a brown rice stir fry. Yum!

Fjeld - good to see you here. Thanks for the info. about fasting twice a week and having success.

Caramel - weighing once a week is a good idea, i may follow your lead!

Debbi - welcome! Good luck with this woe and I hope it bring you a ton of success!

Hmmmmm, what tip can I offer? What I find easier on DD's is to fast for as long as I can (except for my coffee in the morning). If I eat too early I want to eat all day, so I hold off until dinner and it's usually something like fruit and veg or soup.

Hi to e/e and here's to 2009!

[Debbi]

Thanks for the welcome and thanks to EmandM for the tip - I have bought a bunch of low sodium low carb soups and I think they will make a great dinner on my down day and that is a way to get some veggies in......

Caramel - I am home today for the holiday but I usually do not post from home - computer is too slow....I usually post once a day from my office so I will most likely be signing off for the rest of today -

Happy New Year!!

[LYNN8498]

I attempted to start the diet a couple of days ago, however; it was rather difficult to stick to due to NY. So, I begin again - a DD...I can have about 275 more calories today, which is not much considering I have a traditional family dinner to attend in 2 hours that will consist of delightful food...
I am 5'4" and weighed in at 140lbs this morning...I am not pleased about this number at all, so hopefully I can make some changes...

[Leo41]

Hi everyone!

I've only been following JUDDDD for about two weeks, but I've made some "discoveries" that I'd like to share.

I think the fact that I've been eating low carb for quite a while helps me with DD hunger because my enormous appetite is rather suppressed. That's one reason I continue low carb, even on UDs--it's the healthiest woe for me.

I use mainly shakes on Down Days because it's the easiest way I know to get enough protein. I believe that adequate protein is essential for health with calorie restriction of any kind (I basically follow the tenets of ProteinPower), but I've also done a couple of "all fish" days at about 350 calories total with adequate protein. When I eat whole foods, I eat about 3 times a day, unlike many others on this plan who don't eat at all until evening. Since I'm eating protein, I find that I don't evoke hunger by eating.

Now for my discoveries--
The first time I completed a DD, I felt truly in control of my eating for the first time in my life. I really felt (and continue to feel) that I am managing my food rather than my food managing me. If this is the only benefit of this plan, it would be worth it.

I realized that I could "survive" on much less food than I imagined because of the DD. I also discovered that I could go to bed hungry and sleep well. In the past, any tinge of hunger at bedtime, and I convinced myself that I "had" to have a snack or I wouldn't be able to sleep. But since I've been so determined to maintain my DD calories, I've realized that I was just making an excuse to eat more because I get to sleep easily and sleep well.

As I write this, I'm completing an UD and anticipating a DD tomorrow--but I don't have any fear or regret about this. I discovered that I actually LIKE the feeling of so much less food--there's something cleansing about it. And that's just amazing since I've had such food issues all my life.

Thus, I think the psychological benefits of this eating plan are as important to me as the physical ones. I don't feel as though I'm "deprived" in any way--in fact, on my UDs I'm eating better than I did on regular low carb when I seemed to look for any excuse for more food. Having had so little on my DD, the basic meals on my UD seem enormous, and I'm completely satisfied with much less than I ate before beginning this plan.

Because of my age (67) and Hashimoto's issues, I need to seriously restrict calories in order to lose, and this seems to be the ideal way to do it.

[maizenbluebabe]

Originally Posted by Leo41

Hi everyone!

I've only been following JUDDDD for about two weeks, but I've made some "discoveries" that I'd like to share.

I think the fact that I've been eating low carb for quite a while helps me with DD hunger because my enormous appetite is rather suppressed. That's one reason I continue low carb, even on UDs--it's the healthiest woe for me.

I use mainly shakes on Down Days because it's the easiest way I know to get enough protein. I believe that adequate protein is essential for health with calorie restriction of any kind (I basically follow the tenets of ProteinPower), but I've also done a couple of "all fish" days at about 350 calories total with adequate protein. When I eat whole foods, I eat about 3 times a day, unlike many others on this plan who don't eat at all until evening. Since I'm eating protein, I find that I don't evoke hunger by eating.

Now for my discoveries--
The first time I completed a DD, I felt truly in control of my eating for the first time in my life. I really felt (and continue to feel) that I am managing my food rather than my food managing me. If this is the only benefit of this plan, it would be worth it.

I realized that I could "survive" on much less food than I imagined because of the DD. I also discovered that I could go to bed hungry and sleep well. In the past, any tinge of hunger at bedtime, and I convinced myself that I "had" to have a snack or I wouldn't be able to sleep. But since I've been so determined to maintain my DD calories, I've realized that I was just making an excuse to eat more because I get to sleep easily and sleep well.

As I write this, I'm completing an UD and anticipating a DD tomorrow--but I don't have any fear or regret about this. I discovered that I actually LIKE the feeling of so much less food--there's something cleansing about it. And that's just amazing since I've had such food issues all my life.

Thus, I think the psychological benefits of this eating plan are as important to me as the physical ones. I don't feel as though I'm "deprived" in any way--in fact, on my UDs I'm eating better than I did on regular low carb when I seemed to look for any excuse for more food. Having had so little on my DD, the basic meals on my UD seem enormous, and I'm completely satisfied with much less than I ate before beginning this plan.

Because of my age (67) and Hashimoto's issues, I need to seriously restrict calories in order to lose, and this seems to be the ideal way to do it.

what a fabulous post--thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and experiences on this plan, Leo41! I can identify with just about every word and I am sure a lot of others here can, too.

[maizenbluebabe]

Originally Posted by Debbi

Hi everyone - I have been reading your thread and have been giving this diet a lot of thought. I am going to try this for 30 days and see if it will shake up my weight loss. I am also comitting to 4 days of exercise every week. I hope it is okay if I join in......

I have a journal on the board called Menopot...so if you have time you can read about my issues over there - I won't bore anyone here w/them !! Although I am sure from the title you can tell it has to do w/Menopause.

I started this morning and am doing an Up day today and will alternate w/DD like Dr Johnson's site reccomends.

I am from New Orleans and very familiar w/Dr Johnson - very good looking guy - all the Who's who elite in N.O. used him for their Plastic Surgery - he is very well known and well respected.

Here is hoping we all have a great 2009 and become successful losers!!!

Debbi, so glad to have you join us. And it is a special treat to have someone from NO and who is familiar with Dr Johnson--his practical, down-to-earth WOE is a revelation for many of us and a real stroke of genius for those who appreciate the rewards of being able to lose weight and still follow a normal (satisfying) way of life. Bless him for changing our lives!

Sounds like you are off to a good start with your UpDay and I know that you will soon be following it with successful DD's , too!

Originally Posted by EmandM

Happy New Year Judddlets!...

...I told myself that each day I will commit to my woe and to a healthy lifestyle. I feel great today. It's an UD and it's been a great day so far!

Michelle - I ate too much yesterday too (was supposed to be a DD but at a New Year's Eve party that was pretty much impossible)! lol I too am forcing myself to eat my allotted calories but I have had nothing but healthy things today and for dinner we are making a brown rice stir fry. Yum!

Fjeld - good to see you here. Thanks for the info. about fasting twice a week and having success.

Caramel - weighing once a week is a good idea, i may follow your lead!

Debbi - welcome! Good luck with this woe and I hope it bring you a ton of success!

Hmmmmm, what tip can I offer? What I find easier on DD's is to fast for as long as I can (except for my coffee in the morning). If I eat too early I want to eat all day, so I hold off until dinner and it's usually something like fruit and veg or soup.

Hi to e/e and here's to 2009!

EmandM: super tip--did you know that in doing this you are also using some of the ideas from Dr Bert Herring, author of the Fast Five plan of intermittent eating?

[shunsweets]

Welcome to our new Judders! Yes it's the time of year to recommitt to healthy eating and living.
I've been doing this for 1 month. Mostly I repeat what other's have said. For me only every other day works, waiting to late in the day to eat works, keeping to very low carb keeps my blood sugar stable. I would add remember this plan is as much about health benefits as it is weight loss and the key to getting those is to keep DD low. If UD goes overboard it may effect weight loss but so long as DD is low the health benefits continue. And eat enough on UD - it keeps metabolism humming and tricks the body into feeling no need to worry it's safe to release stored fat.
I really like the flexibility of being able to juggle the days a bit for family functions, holidays, and such and still lose or at least maintain.
I like shirataki noodles on DD. Fill me up and give some fiber. Others that can tolerate grains like bran crisps.
I also weigh once a week (though sometimes peek in between). I try to exercise most days - jogging or walking.

No great wisdom here from me. Dr J says it all on the site. Lets bump it up a notch for the new year! Yea we rock!

[maizenbluebabe]

Originally Posted by shunsweets

... Yes it's the time of year to recommitt to healthy eating and living...
I've been doing this for 1 month. For me only every other day works, waiting to late in the day to eat works, keeping to very low carb keeps my blood sugar stable.

I would add remember this plan is as much about health benefits as it is weight loss and the key to getting those is to keep DD low. If UD goes overboard it may effect weight loss but so long as DD is low the health benefits continue.

I really like the flexibility of being able to juggle the days a bit for family functions, holidays, and such and still lose or at least maintain.
I like shirataki noodles on DD. Fill me up and give some fiber. Others that can tolerate grains like bran crisps.
I also weigh once a week (though sometimes peek in between). I try to exercise most days - jogging or walking.

No great wisdom here from me. Dr J says it all on the site. Lets bump it up a notch for the new year! Yea we rock!

Aw, you said, "No great wisdom here from me." THINK AGAIN!! I found lots of wisdom in this post and you reminded me again, I HAve to add an exercise component if I want to be really healthy. I am still mostly a sofa potato right now. (here in the South we have more sofas than couches )

And like you said, for some of us--like me- it certainly does help to eat later in the day and thus keep my BG stable.

[EmandM]

Leo - I totally feel the same way about DD's. I find them very detoxifying and cleansing. I read somewhere what fasting can also help cure people (or at least help them manage) food addictions to certain things. I totally thought my UD's would consist of chocolate and donuts, but instead I eat a ton of fruit, veg, whole grains and legumes (with some dark chocolate if I really want a sweet fix) and that really surprised me! When I was on CAD my meals were usually McDonalds nuggets and french fries (pre-kids of course, I started eating much healthier once my DD's were born)!

Maizenbluebabe - funny, I had never thought about the fact that I sort of follow that other plan! I think because I eat carbs, the more often I eat the hungrier I am so I limit the amount of times, but on UD's I definately get my calories in!

Lynn - welcome! I started following this program a couple of weeks before the holidays and then got completely derailed due to too many social functions (not that I am complaining, as it's great to have family and friends around for celebrations)! Yesterday was supposed to be my back-on-track DD but I decided to start today with an UD, so DD will be tomorrow!

Debbi - yes, I eat a lot of low-sodium soups on DD's. V8 is good too.

Shunsweets - your tips are great and you are doing so well! KUTGW!

Today was an UD and at the end of the night I am still short on calories! I will head off for a healthy snack now!

[OceanDreaming]

Happy New Year everyone! I am enjoying everyone's posts and am looking forward to hearing of your successes!
I'm at the tail end of my second DD. The first one wasn't too difficult, this one was a bit more difficult. I had a headache later in the day. But I also kept my calories lower today as well (250 as opposed to 400-ish my first dd). Good to know that the DD do get easier. New Years Eve was an up day for me and surprisingly, I didn't go nuts with all the snack food. I did have a few chips and dip but then I had a normal lower-carb dinner and didn't really care about the dessert. I think there is really something to this WOE. And if the DD do get easier, I think I could stick to it long term. I peeked at the scale and no loss yet but it's only been three days. I've been able to subsist on protein shakes and chicken broth on the dd along with lots of tea-iced and hot. Exercise is a super idea...I must get on that someday soon.

Does anyone remember the cabbage soup diet? My step-mom went on the diet a few years ago and gave me the recipe for the soup (sans cabbage as I don't like cooked cabbage). I didn't like the diet but I remember that I really did enjoy the soup-surprisingly. One cup is 35 calories. I thought it might be a good DD thing to eat~perhaps? Maybe a couple cups of this with some protein? I'll share the recipe (sorry if this has been posted before):


24 Cups

* 5 medium carrots, cut into 1 inch slices
* 3 medium celery ribs, sliced
* 3 large onions, chopped or 3 medium leeks, each cut into 1 inch slices
* 1 garlic clove, minced
* 1 (28 ounce) can tomatoes (in juice)
* 1/2 medium cauliflower, cut into bite sized pieces
* 12 ounces green beans, each cut into thirds
* 3 medium zucchini, cut into 1 inch slices
* 2 (5 ounce) packages baby spinach leaves
* 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
* 2 chicken bouillon cubes
* 12 cups water
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

1. Coat pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Over medium high heat add carrots, celery, onions, and garlic.
3. Cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes.
4. Stir in tomatoes with their liquid, breaking up tomatoes with side of spoon.
5. Add cauliflower, remaining ingredients and 12 cups of water.
6. Heat to boiling over high heat, stirring occasionally.
7. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes or until vegetables become tender.
8. Add more salt and pepper if desired.


Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 Cups 252g

Recipe makes 24 Cups
Calories 35
Calories from Fat 2 (7%)
Amount Per Serving %DV
Total Fat 0.3g 0%
Saturated Fat 0.1g 0%
Monounsaturated Fat 0.1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.2g
Trans Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 193mg 8%
Potassium 364mg 10%
Total Carbohydrate 7.7g 2%
Dietary Fiber 2.5g 9%
Sugars 3.4g
Protein 1.9g 3%
Vitamin A 3800mcg 76%
Vitamin B6 0.2mg 9%
Vitamin B12 0.0mcg 0%
Vitamin C 23mg 39%
Vitamin E 0mcg 2%
Calcium 42mg 4%
Iron 0mg 4%

[EmandM]

oncedreaming - thanks for posting the recipe, that is a great DD food! I will be making some.

There is definately something to this woe. I may have said this before, but when I followed CAD/one meal it was like the last supper! I would stuff myself and eat everything in sight. I also craved foods that were very unhealthy for me. A typical meal would be fried stuff and something like a chocolate cake or donut for desert. Amazingly I maintained a slim figure, but man was I unhealthy and pretty darn moody! My fear starting JUDDD was that I would eat unhealthy things all day long for my UD but that has yet to happen! Yesterday was an UD and this morning I too peaked on the scale and lost a pound! I ate all my UD calories but the foods I ate were healthy and whole. I had a ton of veg and fruit, a brown rice stir fry and 3 pieces of dark chocolate (organic, 70%). I was full too! Yay!

Today is DD and I am back on track after totally derailing over the holidays and the damage wasn't too bad, I am at 117 as I guessed. Here's to the last 6 pounds! lol I even exercised yesterday. I did half of my cardio pilates workout (my kids were with me and got tired of it after half). Then when they napped I did some skipping (that is a crazy workout)! Today I am sore but proud!

[NoSugarShell]

Good Morning Everyone!

So this is the day I have been excited about but also dreading. My very first down day. So far so good but it's only 7:55am....lol.

I usually spend a good amount of time planning what I am going to eat for my next meal and it seems weird not doing that. Maybe I will get more work done today. I don't know why I am so scared of being hungry. I really think this is going to be a good thing for me.

Sorry, for the rambling. I am sure I will be on throughout the day.

Michelle

[Debbi]

Morning everyone - I had a successful UD yesterday and am down .4 on the scale today. Today is my first DD and with work stress it may be a difficult one - but it is Friday! and we are off tomorrow and Sunday so that will certainly help to ease into it. I have had a Cliff mini protein bar today and coffee/plan on a piece of cheese and yogurt then soup tonight which will put me right around 400 - which the calculator says 389 but I figure for my first DD 400 and under is okay - I will do better on Sunday. I am hungry and it is only 8:35 - I will start drinking water in a few minutes. It is hot here and muggy - it will be 80 today . Yesterday for my UD I was actually looking for things to eat to bump my calories up! What happens if you cannot or do not reach the high calories the calculator says you should eat, is that a serious problem if you miss it by a couple of hundred calories?

I did a little exercise this morning - legs and my glider. I plan on really bumping up the cardio this weekend.

Have a great day!!

[NoSugarShell]

Hey Debbi - I was in the same boat as you yesterday and looking for things to up my calories. I managed to get there but I am not used to eating so many calories.

It is 9:19am and I am starting to feel some hunger but I am going to drink some water and try not to think about it. I really want to get past this DD and am curious to find out how it makes me feel. I do hope it gets easier for me. It might help break some habits that I have about constantly thinking about my next meal.

Anyway, back to work! I will be checking in alot today......

[shunsweets]

No Sugar Shell Hang in there. You can do this and the next DD will be easier. If you want to think about and plan food how about planning all the good things you'll eat tomorrow on UD. By tomorrow you may not want them but sometimes reminding ourselves we can have whatever we want tomorrow is enough to get over the hump on DD.

Hi EmandM Your UD menu sounds so yummy. Wish I could do some of those healthy carbs! Sometimes I really miss brown rice and veggies! Way to go on the exercise. Woo hoo we are all getting healthier!

Ocean dreaming Thanks for the recipe. I'm going to tweak the carbs a bit and give it a try! Yum! You are off to a terrific start.

Debbi 400 is a great DD. Like your menu too! KUTGW

Leo I'm with you on liking the light feeling on DD. I even forgot today was UD and skipped breakfast this a.m. That's OK now that I've remembered I'll eat a ton. I still seem to overdo on UD a bit. Must be those darn insulin surges but I feel jealous of those who have trouble getting in their calories. I'm always very high. Good food and mostly fats but too high.

Hi Maizen, Quandria, Caramel and everybody. Hope everyone is having a great day.

[NoSugarShell]

Hey Shunsweets -Thank you for the encouragement. Yes, I have found myself thinking about what I will eat tommorrow. I was starving a little while ago but the hunger seems to have subsided a little bit and it's not so urgent..yea! I am going to make it! Knowing the next DD will be easier is very motivational.

Also, kinda weird is I have somewhat of a headache and a little heartburn...both are very unusual for me. Has anyone else experienced this? Just curious.

[OceanDreaming]

Originally Posted by NoSugarShell

Hey Shunsweets -Thank you for the encouragement. Yes, I have found myself thinking about what I will eat tommorrow. I was starving a little while ago but the hunger seems to have subsided a little bit and it's not so urgent..yea! I am going to make it! Knowing the next DD will be easier is very motivational.

Also, kinda weird is I have somewhat of a headache and a little heartburn...both are very unusual for me. Has anyone else experienced this? Just curious.

I was afraid of my first DD too. But it wasn't so bad. My UD was great. Then instead of fearing my second DD, I was dreading it, LOL. Again, not so bad. I can eat any time now but here I sit drinking coffee and clickity clacking away. I had a big headache my second DD but drank some chicken broth and took an Excedrin and it went away. I have frequent heartburn so that's not unusual for me but mostly I get it when I eat carbs.

I was talking to my DH yesterday about my new WOE and mentioned that I felt a little guilty about dreading my dd because lots of people don't have enough to eat and they don't have an UD to look forward to so I no longer am going to complain about my DD!

[OceanDreaming]

Originally Posted by EmandM

oncedreaming - thanks for posting the recipe, that is a great DD food! I will be making some.

There is definately something to this woe. I may have said this before, but when I followed CAD/one meal it was like the last supper! I would stuff myself and eat everything in sight. I also craved foods that were very unhealthy for me. A typical meal would be fried stuff and something like a chocolate cake or donut for desert. Amazingly I maintained a slim figure, but man was I unhealthy and pretty darn moody! My fear starting JUDDD was that I would eat unhealthy things all day long for my UD but that has yet to happen! Yesterday was an UD and this morning I too peaked on the scale and lost a pound! I ate all my UD calories but the foods I ate were healthy and whole. I had a ton of veg and fruit, a brown rice stir fry and 3 pieces of dark chocolate (organic, 70%). I was full too! Yay!

Today is DD and I am back on track after totally derailing over the holidays and the damage wasn't too bad, I am at 117 as I guessed. Here's to the last 6 pounds! lol I even exercised yesterday. I did half of my cardio pilates workout (my kids were with me and got tired of it after half). Then when they napped I did some skipping (that is a crazy workout)! Today I am sore but proud!

You're doing GREAT! Gee, I wonder what it would be like to be 117....

[OceanDreaming]

Has anyone here been on this WOE long term or is it just us newbies here now? Just curious.

[retroworx]

Originally Posted by Leo41

Thus, I think the psychological benefits of this eating plan are as important to me as the physical ones. I don't feel as though I'm "deprived" in any way--in fact, on my UDs I'm eating better than I did on regular low carb when I seemed to look for any excuse for more food. Having had so little on my DD, the basic meals on my UD seem enormous, and I'm completely satisfied with much less than I ate before beginning this plan.

Because of my age (67) and Hashimoto's issues, I need to seriously restrict calories in order to lose, and this seems to be the ideal way to do it.

Thank you for sharing this, Leo. The psych benefits are exactly what I am hoping for if I choose to start this plan after my current "calorie-restriction (under 1000) every day" experiment. I, too, have thryoid issues and strict every day restriction hasn't seemed to work so far, but I'm giving it one last shot -- won't weigh before the month's experiment is over, so I don't know how it's working quite yet.

Frankly, I think that JUDD is probably the last thing to try for me -- like Ilpirata here (also with thyroid issues) I've tried just about every matrix -- higher cals, lower cals, higher carbs, lower carbs, higher fat, lower fat, etc. Metabolism is just not cooperating. I have logged my food into ****** practically EVERY DAY for the past 3 years (!!!) and I can discern no pattern to explain gains or losses. Frankly, I am sick to death of thinking and working all of this, so if JUDD (how many Ds in here again??) even only keeps me maintaining, but free of the head games (should I eat this? Could I eat this? Am I eating too little? Too much?), I will settle in.

Sorry for the rant. I'm just sayin'

[trace4sewing]

ok yall Im back and I got on the scale yesterday morning to assess the damagae and was up exactly one pound. I am thrilled,Ive never in my life only gained 1 pound over the holidays. Today is my first dd in a couple of weeks and all is well. I have enjoyed reading everyones posts the last couple of weeks! I wont weigh again till Feb. 20th (the day before a big party Im throwing for my husbands BD) but my clothes will tell me how Im doing. You guys rock on,Im right there with you!!! Tracey

[Leo41]

Retroworx-

Your not losing on 1000 a day is what's scaring me! Over the past few years, I've lost almost 100 lbs, but about a year ago (with much more to lose), my body suddenly just stopped losing--in fact, it fights to gain weight. I had a little thyroid disruption that caused me to gain 10 lbs (needed to add Cytomel for T3), and I've struggled to lose that, continually losing and gaining the same 10 lbs. Trying to keep my calories at 1000 and NOT seeing any loss resulted in my binging every now and then, thus defeating my attempts at calorie restriction.

This plan seems to be working, but I'm not yet sure because I've only been doing it for about 2 weeks. On regular low carb at 1000 calories, I'd lose a couple of pounds, but then I'd stop losing and regain without adding calories--THAT'S what would drive me to binge! So I need to be on this at least a month to see if it's really working.

Like you, I'm getting kind of desperate because it's unnatural to not lose on 1000 calories. I've mentioned this to my endocrinologist, but he seems to think this is "normal"--i.e., he isn't surprised to learn that I have difficulty losing on 1000 calories!

[EmandM]

Tracey - that is super that you only gained a pound! I gained 3 but I am not stressed about it. I am so back on track and really pleased with how I feel and my motivation (not to mention I lost 1 of the 3 pounds already)! lol

Retroworx - I would be frustrated too. Maybe this woe will work because it prevents against the starvation-mode. Could that be part of why you weren't losing on 1000 cals a day? I really hope this woe works for you and like you said, even if it gets you off the crazy diet bandwagon that's a good thing!

Leo - when did you start this woe? When is your month up so we can see how you did? I hope it works for you too.

For my DD's another thing I eat to keep hunger away is dill pickles. I love them and they are only 3 calories and they are very filling. They do have a lot of sodium though.

From a psychological standpoint if I find DD's touch I tell myself it's just one day. Anyone can do it for one day (that's what I tell myself anyway)!

[retroworx]

Originally Posted by Leo41

Retroworx-

Your not losing on 1000 a day is what's scaring me! Over the past few years, I've lost almost 100 lbs, but about a year ago (with much more to lose), my body suddenly just stopped losing--in fact, it fights to gain weight. I had a little thyroid disruption that caused me to gain 10 lbs (needed to add Cytomel for T3), and I've struggled to lose that, continually losing and gaining the same 10 lbs. Trying to keep my calories at 1000 and NOT seeing any loss resulted in my binging every now and then, thus defeating my attempts at calorie restriction.

This plan seems to be working, but I'm not yet sure because I've only been doing it for about 2 weeks. On regular low carb at 1000 calories, I'd lose a couple of pounds, but then I'd stop losing and regain without adding calories--THAT'S what would drive me to binge! So I need to be on this at least a month to see if it's really working.

Like you, I'm getting kind of desperate because it's unnatural to not lose on 1000 calories. I've mentioned this to my endocrinologist, but he seems to think this is "normal"--i.e., he isn't surprised to learn that I have difficulty losing on 1000 calories!

Hey Leo:

We're partners in misery, huh? It all sounds VERY familiar.

That pattern of going off plan when I get frustrated with the scale is what has me trying my current experiment for the full month without weighing. I'm able every day to fantasize that clothes are looser, stomach pooch smaller () etc without being confronted by the awful scale reality. This way I'm able to proceed optimistically every day -- "lah, lah, lah" -- without saying, "Oh, what the heck, why not eat [fill in the blank], doesn't seem to matter if I don't eat it anyway."

Even if I do see some small scale movement with the every day restriction experiment, it seems that JUDDD would be a better plan for me if it kept weight off. I'd like to be able to "indulge" every other day in something basic (not even extravagant! -- like a small piece of steak for instance) without deciding it had to be steamed fish instead because beef was too caloric.

Can't believe your Endo thinks under 1000 cals is "normal". I guess if they see enough poorly optimized thryoid patients, they see plenty of this.

Keep reporting back here with your JUDDD progress -- I'll be interested to see how this works out for you.

In the meantime, I'm reading the JUDDD book -- I'll post here if I discover any significant revelations.