JUDDD TWEAKERS, FAST 5-ers, & WATER FASTERS

[maizenbluebabe]

ATTENTION : JUDDD TWEAKERS, FAST-5-ers, & WATER FASTERS.

Welcome to some fresh (and broader) interpretations of very three popular "calorie restriction" plans floating around this forum . And dont forget, there's always very good advice and solid information to be found at the classic JUDDD thread site, but this thread will be more free-wheeling.

And it is planned as a refuge especially for those who like to make up their own rules or "color outside the lines." . and dont want to stick to anyone else's rules unless they are really working for them.

I am going to break down the beginning of this new thread into 3 separate brief introductory posts ,and then see if there is any interest in continuing a discussion of these three related (but very different) ways of improving health and losing weight.

We'll begin by considering :1.) Fasting With Water, 2.). Dr Johnsons's UpDayDownDay Diet, and 3..) Dr Bert Herring's Fast Five Diet,

And after that, it's a free-for-all where everyone is welcome to suggest any versions/modifications of the above plans--(or entirely new plans--which appeal to them so long as they fit into the general scheme of .some variation on fasting or low-carbing. And if the ideas expressed here seem a bit too much on the unstructured side to you, we hope you will find helpful reading at threads which fit in better with your particular health needs.. .

For starters, , I have been led by a creative new member of our old JUDDD thread into examining something I had always thought sounded "far out" WOW! I couldnt have been more wrong! I found something called The One Day (24 Hour) Water Fast And it is so amazing that I will start with it first. The following article explains briefly the advantages of water fasting (as well as warnings about the potential severe problems caused by extended fasting.)

And since we arent allowed to post links here, if you'd like to look at the original from NPR just google water fast and it ought to come up






Retune The Body With A Partial Fast

by Patti Neighmond



A glass of water

Consuming only water for a 24-hour period — no more than once a week — can suppress insulin secretion and reduce the desire for sugar. iStockPhoto.com



All Things Considered, November 21, 2007 · For thousands of years, beginning with philosophers like Hippocrates, Socrates and Plato, fasting was recommended for health reasons. The Bible writes that Moses and Jesus fasted for 40 days for spiritual renewal.

To understand how the body reacts to a lack of food, you could start by looking at what happens to newborns. Newborns can't sleep through the night because they need to eat every few hours. They don't produce enough glycogen, the body's form of stored sugar, to make energy.


"Glycogen is necessary for thinking; it's necessary for muscle action; it's necessary just for the cells to live in general," says Dr. Naomi Neufeld, an endocrinologist at UCLA.

Neufeld says most adults need about 2,000 calories a day. Those calories make energy, or glycogen.


Neufeld says it doesn't hurt — it might even help the body — to fast or stop eating for short periods of time, say 24 hours once a week, as long as you drink water.

"You re-tune the body, suppress insulin secretion, reduce the taste for sugar, so sugar becomes something you're less fond of taking," Neufeld says.


Eventually the body burns up stored sugars, or glycogen, so less insulin is needed to help the body digest food. That gives the pancreas a rest. On juice diets recommended by some spas, you may lose weight, but your digestive system doesn't get that rest.

Mark Mattson, a scientist with the National Institute on Aging, says that when we convert food into energy, our bodies create a lot of byproducts we could do without, including free radicals.


"These free radicals will attack proteins, DNA, the nucleus of cells, the membranes of cells," Mattson says. "They can damage all those different molecules in cells."

And even if you don't fast, Mattson says that simply limiting the calories you consume may be beneficial. He points to studies where rats and mice were fed every other day. Compared with those fed normal daily diets, there was a reduction in disease among the rats that were severely restricted in their food intake.


Mattson says those findings hold promise that humans could also benefit from partial fasting.


Mattson thinks partial fasting has numerous benefits, from improving glucose regulation, which can protect against diabetes, to also lowering blood pressure. Some animal studies have also shown that partial fasting has very beneficial effects on the brain, protecting against Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and stroke.


Partial fasting may even extend lifespan because eating less sends a message to the cells of the body that they should conserve and use energy more efficiently.

"When they're exposed to a mild stress, [the body's cells] sort of expect that maybe this is going to happen again," Mattson says. "So maybe next time I may have to go longer without food, so I'd better be able to deal with that when it comes on."


Mattson says that process is similar to the way muscles get built up when they're stressed by exercise. Mattson adds that because complete fasting is difficult to study and there is little actual research comparing people who fast with those who don't, it's not clear whether complete fasting (water only) is also beneficial.


Proponents say small, short-term studies find that complete fasting lowers blood pressure and reduces cancer risk. But Dr. Naomi Neufeld worries that complete fasting could be harmful. After the first few days of liquid only, the body uses up all its stored glucose to make energy. And then it turns to other sources, including fat and muscle.


"The main tissue that's the target in long-term fasting is muscle, because muscle has readily available amino acids which can be converted to glucose right away," Neufeld says. "In that way, your brain is never deprived of needed glucose."

The problem, Neufeld says, is that when muscle breaks down, potentially toxic proteins are released. These proteins are partly composed of nitrogen, and too much nitrogen in the body can be toxic to the kidneys and liver. That's when starvation is officially under way.".

[maizenbluebabe]

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 his recently 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.

We are not 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 available at his website and it is the simplest plan in the world once you have the basic information.

[maizenbluebabe]

The following information comes from Dr Bert Herring's Fast Five website His book is also inexpensive and very informative --but like Dr Johnson's program , this is not a plan where you must own the book if you read the site carefully. And like JUDDD, the basics are simple and easy to follow

Fast-5 Summary

Summary: Eat within five consecutive hours.

That’s it. Eat within five consecutive hours. “Eat” means consume calories. During the five consecutive hours (the “eating window”), eat as much as you’re hungry for, and eat what you want to eat. As long as you keep at least a nineteen-hour fast daily and eat within five or fewer consecutive hours, you’re within the guidelines of the Fast-5 program. Any window of five consecutive hours can be used.

What to expect:
Expect zero weight loss in the first three weeks, which is the adjustment phase. You may even see weight gain during this period due to compensatory overeating. Weight measurement during this time is not recommended, but many people can’t resist, so don’t expect a loss. Three weeks after starting the Fast-5 program, you should see an average of a pound per week loss. That means over the course of four weeks, you should see four pounds lost, but the loss may not be evenly spread from week to week; it can be two pounds one week, none the next, then two again, and so on.

Some people see more rapid weight loss, even in the first three weeks. That’s not a problem, but may not be seen by everyone, and is less likely for someone who’s already been maintaining a low-carb diet. An early loss of several pounds early is likely to be mostly water, so if you see a large early loss, do not expect to see the same rate in later weeks.


How to start: There are two ways to start, “cold turkey” and a gradual “adjustment” approach.

1. Cold Turkey
In a cold turkey start, one simply chooses to not eat until the eating window opens. This approach is usually effective but may require a number of “close” days before finally reaching the target time. Using this approach, the third, fourth, fifth day is typically the hardest to get through, and after this “crunch” day, the days get easier quickly.

Key to remember: If you slip and don’t reach your goal, don’t give up. Getting close to your goal pushes your body to adapt, which can make it easier to reach your goal on your next try. Slips are a normal part of adjustment.

2. Adaptation
In the adaptation approach (extensively described in the book), the time one first eats (called break-fast and pronounced “brake-fast” to avoid confusion with breakfast) is gradually pushed back. The time of break-fast is pushed back by the same interval (half an hour or an hour) every day or every few days until it is the desired window opening time.

One can also adapt using the “ratchet” approach, in which you don’t eat until at least 15 minutes later than yesterday’s break-fast time, but if you’re not truly hungry at that time, you wait until you are. With this approach, you postpone break-fast by whatever time increment your body’s ready for. Some days break-fast may be 15 minutes later than the day before, and some days it may be an hour or more later, but it doesn’t fall back.

Key to remember: Same as the cold turkey approach: If you slip and don’t reach your goal, don’t give up. Getting close to your goal pushes your body to adapt, which can make it easier to reach your goal on your next try. Slips are a normal part of adjustment

Effects and Side Effects
The Fast-5 way of eating works because it restores appetite to an appropriate level for the amount of stored energy (fat) you have and the amount of energy you expend in a day. You take in less food so your body burns more fat. Binge eating may occur during the adjustment phase of the program, but doesn’t typically persist.

People on a Fast-5 way of eating have reported the following:

Inches before pounds – Inches seem to disappear before the weight comes off. Probably due to fat redistribution, this means a Fast-5er typically will see loosening of belts or pants before the weight loss is seen on the scale.
Feeling cool or cold when they’d usually be comfortable – this occurs during the fasting period due to the absence of heat generated as a byproduct of digestion of the usual meals. Digestion is metabolic activity, but the energy burned by digesting food is less than the energy that gets stored, resulting in a net gain of calories and fat. While the absence of digestive heat may mean wearing an extra layer in cold weather, it also means greater comfort in warm or hot weather. After starting Fast-5, the heat byproduct of digestion may be more noticeable after break-fast because it hasn’t been going on constantly.

Decrease in symptoms of inflammatory and other diseases:
Fast-5ers have reported diminished symptoms of: rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, asthma, congestive heart failure and a reduction of insulin requirement for type 2 diabetes.

Saving money and time
Fewer meals, less food, and less time spent preparing meals means more time and money for you to spend as you wish.

Please read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) file at the website for more information.



I would like to add that although Dr Herring warns people about not showing loss on the scale for a matter of "weeks", by the time I was into my fifth day on this plan, I had begun to show a small amount of weight loss and my clothes were starting to fit looser but I really did not "eat all I wanted" in the sense that I ate until I was full and feeling like "YAY, I can stuff myself and still lose weight because of the 5 hour window." I still ate sensibly and combined this program with low carbing because of my wacky blood sugar.

And I "cheated" a bit, too. I did not actually eat until my 5 hour window began at 1 or 2 PM. but I had my one morning cup of coffee as usual with half and half in it. It did NOT stall me. Neither did my morning Cod Liver Oil.

And another thing I did after I got into the rhythm of it that probably helped was to have basically one really well-balanaced meal and finish it well before 7. (I never had night time craves with this plan or the JUDDD plan.

At first, it takes a little doing to move your eating time in to a 5 hour period, but once you get into it, you dont feel weak or tired or hungry --or at least I didnt.

[caramel]

Hello everyone,

Maizenbluebabe, I love, love, love, this new thread. I have been fasting on Mondays or the first part of the week for the past two week and my weight loss has more than doubled. I do it just for that one day and my other DD in the week I keep at 500 calories and I have noticed a drop in my cravings. Thank you so much for the information you provided it helps me to know I am not hurting my body in any way. All the information is going to give so many people good number of choice that will work for them. Thank you , you're a dear.

[maizenbluebabe]

WOW--Sunshine, what a thrill to see you! You are the very first one to join! I can hardly wait for some of the other information to come in from the others about the single day fast. I am fascinated by the health benefits of it.

You are doing so well! Sally

[LadyWuzzy]

Hello there! Anytime I see the words Fast-5 I get all excited! I followed Fast-5 strictly for a year and lost weight, saw the end of my acid reflux and overall just felt better about myself. Come July of last year, a blood test showed my potassium level was too low so I abandoned it for a while to get that back to where it needs to be. Since then it's been hard to get back on the wagon full force but I'm not giving up because I so love this way of eating! I just need to make sure I'm getting in enough fruits and vegetables, that's where I went wrong.

I've only gained 8 pounds since falling off the wagon which is good but I desperately want those 8 pounds gone.

I wish people understood more why some choose to do such a way of eating but there are those who just firmly have implanted the eat 6 times a day on their brain, my husband does but he has changed a bit since he saw how I was able to lose weight effortlessly. After seeing the difference it made in me, I strongly believe in this way of eating/calorie restriction. My next move is to start juicing again to make sure I don't have that potassium issue again.

I will definitely come back to this thread! Thanks for starting it!

Wuzzy

[EmandM]

HELLO FRIENDS!

Maizenbluebabe - thank you so much for starting this thread. You did a great job with all the info!

Caramel - HI! How wonderful that you are doing so well. I am aiming for one of my DD's as a water fast. I can go all day without eating and at night I am still not hungry, but I give in to that should-have-something mentality.

Hi LadyWuzzy, nice to meet you.

Today is UD for me. I saw a new low on the scale this week. I am so close to maintenance and it feels great! I have noticed certain foods trigger me to overeat, even though I don't do low carb. It seems I have some sort of weird relationship with brownies, cookies and donuts. Must. Abstain!

[shunsweets]

Hi everybody. Glad to see the new thread. Yesterday ended up a near fast day for me just because I never got hungry! Today is UD and I will eat at least 2000 cals. I'm looking forward to everyone's experiments and outcomes!

Thanks for the thread Maizen. HiCaramel andEmandm! Welcome LadyWuzzy.

I'm maintaining well on plan and may make some tweaks. Would really like to get on a MWF DD (maybe 1 fast day) and have weekends as UD's which would be better for family. So far I haven't done well with two UD's in a row but may give it another try once maintainance is firmly established.

So happy we're all together and supporting each other whatever our plans!

[maizenbluebabe]

Good morning fellow TWEAKERS! to our first day as Tweakers out of the closet and in the open!

It's so good to see all of you. EmandM, so glad the twins let you get to the computer this AM, And shunsweets I know how busy you are right now so it is a delight to see you, too. And of course, dear Caramel who was burning the midnight oil and posted last night! This will end up being a small cozy group but we will have fun and learn from each other, and that's what counts!

Lady Wuzzy, special Like you, I love Fast 5--I have done it in the past and found it an amazing way to eat and be happy! I think Drs Herring and Johnson have come across some miraculous information for those of us who benefit from intermittent eating. They are my heroes right up there with Dr Atkins and Gary Taubes and some of the other pioneers of TRUE healthy eating.

Hey gang, I want to tell you about my AMAZING water fast of yesterday. First, but not the most important: I LOST 2.1 pounds (but that was water weight so wont stay gone on its own, as we all know--still it was nice to see the scale this AM.)

Well, yesterday started out to be a DownDay but I was going to do a Fast5 with it and not eat any of my 500 calories until dinner time in late afternoon-early evening.

So I had my morning coffee with half and half like I always do and went about my day with some projects here around the house and just drank water, and was fine. But when "supper time " came I realized I had no appetite for food at all and wasnt feeling the least bit hungry or tired or any of the other bad stuff people say about going without food, so I had more water and thought I'd eat later if I got hungry.

BUT I NEVER GOT HUNGRY! AND I FORGOT TO EAT. And look what Sunshine has said about her experience with water fasts. And others have done variations of it too. But what really convinced me to try this again every now and then is the article in my first post about the actual health benefits from a short fast.

How can giving your body a rest from the digestive process for a day now and then be harmful?

I've read remarks recently from those claiming that fasting results in binge eating. (HUH ?????) And some people also say it is a sure road to anorexia. My response to that is that we are each responsible for ourselves and we ought to have perfect freedom to discuss and consider different nutritional ideas freely. and I sure dont feel like binging today--wasnt even hungry when I got up this AM (I think it is because of my nice steady blood sugar )


And Whirleybird (she will join us later I am sure) has a friend who lost an amazing amount of weight in a short time and feels super and looks gorgeous. Wait until you hear about her! I am sure Whirley will post pics of her friend. She looks adorable and glows with happiness and good health.

As you can tell, I am very interested in what everyone thinks of fasting from food briefly and sensibly, and what you know about it.

[WHIRLYBIRD]

Good Morning Lovely People!

I don't know about you, but I feel like I can finally take a deep breath now since this new thread has been created.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!

I think this is just what we needed so that no one is lurking around the corner with a ruler in hand to whack us over the knuckles if we stray too far from our regimented rules.

We are Free Birds and can spread our wings and explore all there is with our new found knowledge.

I can't wait to hear everyone's experiences and what tips and tricks have helped lead them to where they are today with their weight loss.

Also, any new comers are sure to join in and ask as many questions as they want. If we're not sure of the answer, we will help look it up and learn along the way.

Right now, the song " I'm So Excited" is playing in my head. I'm so excited, I just can't hide it, I'm about to lose control and I think I like it.... hahaha

Have A Glorious Day Everyone and I'll check back in a few. I've got to go do a load or two of laundry.

XO,
Jen

[wallaby]

Maizenbluebabe you are awesome for doing all this work. And look at the results already! Clearly you're filling an unmet need. WAHOOO. I'm psyched!!

Caramel, I'm really excited to know the excellent results of your water-fast. I think I'm going to aim for at least one day a week to do this - along with your previous suggestion of the MWF DDs with Sat MD and Sunday UD. (Although today I think instead of a MD I'm going to stick with a DD.)

I think water fasting is a valuable thing - not only for weight loss, but for other purposes. It helps me readjust to more reasonable thinking - less greed,less selfishness, less over-indulgence all the way around. It helps me remember that most of the world's population does not have access to the foods we have, that we often consume far more than our fair share, and it just pulls me personally back down to earth.

In my life right now, calorie restriction is going hand in hand with other major changes. I've unloaded years of unnecessary belongings, I've emptied my own parents' house of 50 years of collections, and my DH and I are taking some drastic financial measures to ensure the success of our children and "start anew." All this is helping me feel more confident, less dependent on "things' around me, and I feel quite capable of just living on less all the way around.

[wallaby]

Jen, I for one want to know the details of your incredible weight loss. do tell.

[maizenbluebabe]

Originally Posted by wallaby

Caramel, I'm really excited to know the excellent results of your water-fast. I think I'm going to aim for at least one day a week to do this - along with your previous suggestion of the MWF DDs with Sat MD and Sunday UD. (Although today I think instead of a MD I'm going to stick with a DD.)

I think water fasting is a valuable thing - not only for weight loss, but for other purposes. It helps me readjust to more reasonable thinking - less greed,less selfishness, less over-indulgence all the way around. It helps me remember that most of the world's population does not have access to the foods we have, that we often consume far more than our fair share, and it just pulls me personally back down to earth.

In my life right now, calorie restriction is going hand in hand with other major changes. I've unloaded years of unnecessary belongings, I've emptied my own parents' house of 50 years of collections, and my DH and I are taking some drastic financial measures to ensure the success of our children and "start anew." All this is helping me feel more confident, less dependent on "things' around me, and I feel quite capable of just living on less all the way around.

wallaby, what a delight to see you here with us.

But more than just "being here" (which is wonderful in itself) you have just written one of those most inspirational posts I have ever seen. Thanks. In a world of such trgic need and scarcity, it is well for all of us to give thought to what you have just said so well.

[maizenbluebabe]

Originally Posted by WHIRLYBIRD

Good Morning Lovely People!

Right now, the song " I'm So Excited" is playing in my head. I'm so excited, I just can't hide it, I'm about to lose control and I think I like it.... hahaha

Have A Glorious Day Everyone and I'll check back in a few. I've got to go do a load or two of laundry.

XO,
Jen

Oh Jennifer, you are SO BAD! Thanks to you, the Pointer Sisters (yes, all three of them plus their entire band) are bopping and boogying around in my already overcrowded brain! And I cant get the tune out of my head. Maybe I ought to take this beat to my treadmill!

[Zer]

Signing on, curious to find out what Fast-5 is... and to learn more about JUDDD in all its variations. What works for YOU may also work for me too!

[wallaby]

Hi Zer - Fast-5 is what got me into this whole mess in the first place! when I started juice fasting last year I stumbled on this site: The Fast-5 Diet and the Fast-5 Lifestyle

I believe this is the plan that most of the folks on the IF thread are pursuing.

[wallaby]

Question for Shunsweets: how long have you been maintaining and were you very far off your goal weight when you began this trek?

[maizenbluebabe]

Originally Posted by wallaby

Hi Zer - Fast-5 is what got me into this whole mess in the first place! when I started juice fasting last year I stumbled on this site: The Fast-5 Diet and the Fast-5 Lifestyle

I believe this is the plan that most of the folks on the IF thread are pursuing.

Zer, this linked site from Wallaby is excellent and will tell you all you need to know about the details of Fast 5. (It is the exact reference I quoted from in my third post, BTW) If you go back and read that post, you will get the most important basics of the plan. It is a wonderful and simple plan.

I like the IF thread a lot and still lurk there--it's got great, helpful warm-hearted members and creative ideas, but it is so big I cant keep up with it anymore and also I get bogged down in the details of people's personal lives so am not active there now. (I am not disapproving of the IF thread for the daily reports of lives and activities--these are genuine personal friendships-- but dont have enough time to do the place justice.)

Unfortunately, I cant lose weight using Fast 5 all by itself (i.e. by just eating "normally"--whatever that is-)-so ended up combining it with other plans and that was when I knocked off the 18 pounds painlessly in about 4 months.

[maizenbluebabe]

Originally Posted by Zer

Signing on, curious to find out what Fast-5 is... and to learn more about JUDDD in all its variations. What works for YOU may also work for me too!

Zer, I'll give some more details of my "combinations" a bit later when I have time to come back and write something that makes sense.


Meantime, I was looking at your stats again and all I have to say is: YOU have lost an impressive amount of weight in the past almost-year. Why dont you share with us what you have found to be most helpful?.

[wallaby]

I don't think I've ever posted this much in one day, but I feel compelled to share my new "duh" moment. Grocery shopping when trying to water-fast is not necessarily the best idea. I made it through the store OK, but not without some rocky moments, including a raging headache and real desire to flee the store.

[shunsweets]

Wallaby Hi. I lost 17 pounds with Atkins 5 years ago and had been maintaining with very low carb <20 daily up until about 6 months ago when I started gaining about 2 pounds a month no matter what I tried. I cut carbs to 5, tried just meat and egg, low cal daily (which drove me nuts, made me feel deprived and I still kept gaining!) I upped fats, lowered fats and generally tried everything I could think of. Nothing worked and my blood sugars were unstable.

JUDDD over the last 8 weeks has stabilized my blood sugar, taken away my feelings of deprivation (I eat well though very low carb on UD), and I have lost 9 pounds and am back to my usual weight of 110. I do eat only once a day on DD and often only once on UD so I guess I'm combining plans a bit, but just IF one meal a day didn't work for me. I really seem to need the low DD to get the benefits. Just my experience and yes I'll tweak a bit to find my best choice but clearly it will be some form of alternate day fasting/IF. I believe Dr J writes in the book that 20hr fasts ie fast5 type IF are not long enough to trigger SIRT1 and all the benefits of fasting for many people. That is why he went to alternate day with a very small meal to make it more doable long term. A complete fast 1 day a week may be enough to kickstart the fasting processes and allow more cals on other DD's. I guess we each just must experiment with our metabolisms to see what works! Like a fun science experiment!

[WHIRLYBIRD]

[COLOR=black]Maizenbluebabe requested that I post my friend's success story of using a "tweaked" version of the JUDDDD program.[/COLOR]
I hope you enjoy reading it as it is a daily inspiration to me.

Her words exactly (interviewing with a popular magazine about her story):

[COLOR=#1f497d]Thank you in your interest in my story. It’s pretty amazing at how it really does work. In fact, it worked so well and was so easy that I didn’t know what was happening to my body. I felt like I was melting! [/COLOR]
[COLOR=#1f497d]Anyway, a few short years ago, I weighed 180lbs and I was supposed to weigh 115 as I am 4’11. I never really overate per se but I ate 3 meals per day everyday without failure. I had always thought it was the thing to do plus I was hungry 3 times per day and sometimes more than that. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=#1f497d]One day at my GYN appointment, my doctor counseled me on my weight and gently told me to LOOSE IT. Luckily, I didn’t have any medical problems such as diabetes or high blood pressure as a result of being over-weight but I did have the craving to look “Hot” in a bikini! Instead, I wore shorts to the pool. [/COLOR][COLOR=#1f497d]L[/COLOR][COLOR=#1f497d] He told me that I didn’t need to eat 3 times per day and that my body didn’t obviously need all of the food I was consuming because it will always use what it NEEDS and the rest will become fat. The way he explained it made perfect since. Plus, I guess I never really thought of it that way. Me being a Paramedic, we don’t study the pathophysiology of obesity. I just knew I was doing what I was supposed to and never understood why I could never lose weight. So, I decided I would take what he said and go for it. That is the Alternate Day Diet. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=#1f497d]I can certainly give you more details but basically I did exactly what the book says with one exception. I ate only 1 meal on my eating day. It was a well balanced meal including appetizer and dessert. My first day was agony, my first week was torture and the second week was so “addictive” that I couldn’t quit. The reason for the addiction is because at the 2nd day mark I had lost 5 lbs. By the end of the 1st week, I had lost 9 lbs. I couldn’t believe it. The second week I lost another 10lbs. Literally during the first month I lost a little over 30lbs and people at work were questioning me about how this could be and even asked “are you on drugs”? I laughed and knew they weren’t serious but it’s hard to imagine how else I can look “normal” day to day but keep getting so much thinner. I went from a size 14-16 to a size 4 in 3 months. NO SURGERY, just eating what my body NEEDED instead of wanted. At the end of the 3 months I weighted 110lbs for a total loss of 70 lbs in 3 months. Today, I weigh 115lbs and wear a size 4. I eat every day but only 1 meal per day and sometimes I still fast in between. It’s perfect for me and for the 1st time in my life I eat to live and not live to eat! [/COLOR]

[maizenbluebabe]

Originally Posted by wallaby

I don't think I've ever posted this much in one day, but I feel compelled to share my new "duh" moment. Grocery shopping when trying to water-fast is not necessarily the best idea. I made it through the store OK, but not without some rocky moments, including a raging headache and real desire to flee the store.

OH do I ever know what you mean! I guess this is why they say to shop after eating, only when you are FULL! I will have to watch for this problem on Water Fast days or DD's .

As soon as Christmas was over, our local super-mercado and the local WallyWorld started putting out huge displays of Valentines candies so that you HAD to pass them no matter what you were in there for.

I suffer from MSTD (Major Sweet Tooth Disease) and also have hideously sensitive olfactory glands--can smell a Snickers bar 2 blocks away. The only thing that keeps me from sending my body into terminal sugar shock is to eat low carb on a very carefully thought-out schedule.


(And my DH knows we are headed for divorce court--or a homicide indictment against me--if he EVER gives me candy for Valentine's Day. )

[maizenbluebabe]

Jennifer, what an amazing story of success of one individual in finding exactly what is most effective for herself and sticking to it

And what fabulous proof that combining JUDDD with a water fast program works safely . Just love her pictures--here is someone who went from " a girl with a sweet smile" to a gorgeous person right before our eyes.

Thanks so much for posting this. It is a real keeper and will inspire all of us when we get into a bad frame of mind about trying to lose or maintain!

[WHIRLYBIRD]

Originally Posted by wallaby

Jen, I for one want to know the details of your incredible weight loss. do tell.

Hey Wallaby,
My weight loss story is less enlightening than my friend's story to say the least.
I've been on every diet under the sun and have shed the same 100 pounds more times than I care to remember.
What really helped me to finally come to a realization about my weight and turn toward low carb eating was when I came across a book called, How I Gave Up My Low Fat Diet And Lost 40 Pounds by Dana Carpenter.
About 2 years ago, I was really board with nothing to do one day while my CPA was doing my monthly taxes so I decided to pass the time and open this book that I had bought a year or 2 earlier but never bothered to read. I tell you what, it read like a novel. I couldn't put it down. This woman gave her complete story and how she had suffered for years to tame the diet demon within her by doing low fat diets until she finally made the switch to low carb eating.
Anyway, it resonated with me so much that I started that day cleaning out my pantry of all the Fat Free foods and made a huge purchase on Netrition for all of my new pantry staples.
She has, I think 4 or 5 really great cook books that I use almost on a weekly basis.
Once I started this way of eating, I eventually started using my treadmill to where I was doing a walk/jog routine for 1 hour, 6 days a week.
I would start off by walking for 5 minutes to warm up, then I would do a jog at about 4.0 mph speed for 2 minutes, then back to walking for 3 minutes and then jog for 2 minutes, etc. I did this in front of the TV and it was amazing how fast the time went by. Normally jogging or walking on a treadmill can be painfully boring but if you spice it up by doing this routine, that hour really does seem like 30 minutes. It's over before you know it.
Anyway, I had gotten all the way down to 140 lbs by doing this and then thought that I didn't need to watch the carbs as much so I started adding a little bread back in or a piece of cake here and there and before I knew it, I was back in the 190's. Not to mention but I will, my exercise routine had fallen by the way side too. It took a 1 week long vacation to totally derail me from my beloved treadmill. Don't know why but I have never felt the same love for it that I once did. I hope and pray that will change. So, here I am and trying again with the help of my friend and also this wonderful group of people here on this thread.
I've managed to lose back down into the 180's and I just know that before summer arrives, I'll be back down to a manageable weight in the 150's. I'm so looking forward to it.
Thanks for asking.

[WHIRLYBIRD]

Me at my heaviest: 265 lbs And Me at 140 lbs

[Zer]

Originally Posted by WHIRLYBIRD

I've been on every diet under the sun and have shed the same 100 pounds more times than I care to remember....

... It took a 1 week long vacation to totally derail me from my beloved treadmill. Don't know why but I have never felt the same love for it that I once did. I hope and pray that will change.

Maybe you can find a new way to work your muscles. What about this Wii workout that puts a person through a sports workout in front of a tv set? Is that anything you'd enjoy?

I'm not sure I understand just what Wii is, but it seems to pay off as a workout.

What a contrast your before/after pix are. Awesome!

[maizenbluebabe]

Jennifer, WOW! Your pictures are so inspiring! And I know you will soon look like that "after" picture again!.

You are inspiring me to get back to my treadmill faithfully. I used to get high as a kite on endorphins on it just from walking 3 miles an hour and listening to Bob Seger (the perfect beat for exercise!) I did start back a couple of weeks ago but was moving some furniture around here and "insulted" my sciatic nerve in the process so have been off the TM for a while again and as you say, once you break the habit, it is hard to take it up again.

PS--I Dana Carpender--and she inspired me too, with her own story of successful and healty weight loss!

[caramel]

Hello everyone
Good to hear from you all, the encouragement here is through the roof and it is going to help everyone of us so keep posting your progress, and if by chance you run into a problem and their is weight gain, don't be afraid or ashamed to post, come in we are in this together,

Whirlybird your friends weight loss is so encouraging, yours also, I too feel so free posting here.

Love hearing from everyone.

[LadyWuzzy]

Originally Posted by wallaby

I don't think I've ever posted this much in one day, but I feel compelled to share my new "duh" moment. Grocery shopping when trying to water-fast is not necessarily the best idea. I made it through the store OK, but not without some rocky moments, including a raging headache and real desire to flee the store.

that was my downfall in the past, grocery shopping while fasting. i try to avoid it at all costs!