JUDD/JohnsonAlternateDayDiet Feb 2009

[SpaceCowgirl]

Originally Posted by Ilpirata

Scale finally moving down again... new low low of 198.6 this a.m. after good clean DD yesterday:

I am OVERJOYED!!! I can't believe I am averaging over 1/2 LBS per week. This is a super super result for me. Most will lose more than I do as I am hypothyroid and REALLY struggle to drop the LBS. So, if this WOE is working for ME I KNOW it will work for others!

That is so awesome! Keep up the good work

[Redeemed]

"Redeemed- Kisha has given you good advice on your UD, but I thought I'd stress that in his book Dr. J makes the point that the only calorie count that should be "sacred" is the DD. You can experiment with the UD calorie number to see what works for you. I keep mine unnaturally low because I'm post-menopausal and hypothyroid--which means my metabolism is SLOW."

Thanks, Leo

[Ilpirata]

Kisha! This is sooo MAJOR!

May I ask: Have you changed your thyroid medication recently, or are you finally "optimized" and keeping to the same dose?

Thanks!

I started out at 60 mg armour per day split.
Got that from my GP.
Then went to Endo who wasn't the greatest but agreed to up it to 90mg per day without blood work.
I haven't gone in for more testing but NO I absolutely do not believe I am optimized yet. I have to pay out of pocket and won't be able to afford new labs for another couple of months. I really think its this WOE and the calorie deficit that have finally helped me lose~!

[Ilpirata]

Kisha that is FABULOUS!! Congratulations on your new LOW!! I can't wait to join you in ONEderland!!

Keep it up and you'll get here before you know it~!

[Redeemed]

So much success on this thread. My "heckler" stopped by my journal again today. She misread my entry and thought I was going to be on 500 cals for up and down days. Can't blame her for such a strong reaction. All is well - hope she comes by to check out the thread. I misread stuff too sometimes. It's easy to do with so much written material to read through.

[Leo41]

Retro-

I know you asked Kisha about thyroid meds, but I wanted to jump in with my two cents. I don't think there's such a thing as "optimized" except in relation to specific blood test results. Let me explain.

I get tested by my endo every four months. I take synthetics (Levoxyl and Cytomel), but for several years, I was doing fine on 75mcg of Levoxyl when suddenly I hit the wall with major fatigue. I never thought it was thyroid because I had my meds, but fortunately, my regular appointment with my endo was just around the corner, and my blood tests showed that my T3 was off the charts low. That's when I began Cytomel--which solved that problem immediately. But 8 months later, more fatigue (not as bad), and I had to increase the Cytomel. My latest tests showed that I'm "optimized" because TSH, T4, and T3 numbers were exactly where they should be (according to my endo). But that can change at any time.

My point is that as the disease progresses, meds often have to be adjusted, so regular blood tests are important (in my opinion). Fortunately, I have excellent medical insurance. By the way, when my T3 was so low, I put on ten pounds (real weight, not water) in two weeks while low carbing carefully! That's how powerful these hormones are.

[Redeemed]

Where there's a will, there's a way! This should be good for both UD's & DD's:

heat 1/2 cup water and 4 oz. unsweetened choc. Almond Breeze 22 cal.
and 1 carb

add 2 tsp. chocolate Stevia Delight 13 cal. Total: 37 calories 1 & 1/2 carb

I wanted it real sweet so added 2 pks Truvia. Supposed to be 0 calories.
I thought this was very delicious.

[retroworx]

Originally Posted by Ilpirata

I started out at 60 mg armour per day split.
Got that from my GP.
Then went to Endo who wasn't the greatest but agreed to up it to 90mg per day without blood work.
I haven't gone in for more testing but NO I absolutely do not believe I am optimized yet. I have to pay out of pocket and won't be able to afford new labs for another couple of months. I really think its this WOE and the calorie deficit that have finally helped me lose~!

Thanks for sharing, Kisha.

Originally Posted by Leo41

My point is that as the disease progresses, meds often have to be adjusted, so regular blood tests are important (in my opinion). Fortunately, I have excellent medical insurance. By the way, when my T3 was so low, I put on ten pounds (real weight, not water) in two weeks while low carbing carefully! That's how powerful these hormones are.

Thanks, Leo. I too agree that "optimized" is custom for each individual and may very well adjust over time. The 10 pounds or so that I have been trying diligently to remove this past year came on much as you describe -- suddenly and while I was still following my previously successful eating plan. The fatigue slapped me down at about the same point, which is when I finally investigated the thyroid issue for myself. I have been gradually titrating up my Armour since the Fall. Within a day (!) of my most recent dosage increase I have no longer been falling asleep on the couch in the evenings. This had been a regular occurrence along with falling asleep while a passenger on car rides, inability to walk up hills or do much in the way of physical activity, etc. I may even see some scale movement this month. I think I may be getting there!!

[torister]

I agree on the hypothyroid issue. You are being medicated based on the blood drawn on one day. Levels change. I just had my bloodwork done and all looks well for NOW. I will have to recheck in 6 mos unless I feel like I am "off" and she said to call and I could come right in. I do know that I felt HORRIBLE just before Christmas, and the levels showed why. I am currently on 125 mg Levothyroxin and feel really good right now.

I really enjoy this thread. I am currently losing pretty well on just LC Atkins, but when I stop, this is the woe that I will turn to. In the meantime, I am lurking and learning. Y'all are great!

[Leo41]

Yes, Retro, that fatigue you describe is EXACTLY how I felt when my T3 was so low. It was scary when I found myself driving sometimes, and was so fatgued that I was shaking. Fortunately, it was just local errands, so I was able to get home quickly. It was amazing how swiftly the fatigue came on, but what really amazed me was how quickly it vanished with that tiny pill of Cytomel (T3). I would never have imagined that a hormone deficiency could affect the body that dramatically. It shows how important the thyroid is.

[retroworx]

Originally Posted by torister

I agree on the hypothyroid issue. You are being medicated based on the blood drawn on one day. Levels change. I just had my bloodwork done and all looks well for NOW. I will have to recheck in 6 mos unless I feel like I am "off" and she said to call and I could come right in. I do know that I felt HORRIBLE just before Christmas, and the levels showed why. I am currently on 125 mg Levothyroxin and feel really good right now.

I really enjoy this thread. I am currently losing pretty well on just LC Atkins, but when I stop, this is the woe that I will turn to. In the meantime, I am lurking and learning. Y'all are great!

A potential JUDDD-er and a Red Sox fan!

[torister]

Originally Posted by retroworx

A potential JUDDD-er and a Red Sox fan!

Does it get any better than that!?!?!

[Ilpirata]

Welcome Peggy! Glad to see you here.

[Ilpirata]

Wow did I enjoy my eating yesterday! LOL. I had TWO Trader Joe's 100 calorie dark chocolate bars (they're pretty tiny) smeared with ALMOND BUTTER! OMG. NOM NOM NOM.

Calories were higher than I am aiming for BUT my weight was still at new low low of 198.6 this a.m. so I'm feeling good. Gotta' love no bounce up after an UD.

Calories 2,383
Fat 192.6 1,696 70 %
Carbohydrate 65.2 254 11 %
Dietary Fiber 14.0
Protein 113.6 461 19 %
Alcohol 0.0 0 0 %

Thats probably the most carbs I've eaten in a day in a year and a half! I'm that a good clean DD today may even result in another tiny loss tomorrow a.m.

I really think adding my daily mile little walkie to and from the lightrail station has done me very well. In addition I REALLY enjoy the morning walk. I listen to affirmations that I have downloaded onto my MP3 and take that ten minutes in the morning to start my day off right!

[shunsweets]

What there are Red Sox fans on the faithful JUDDer's thread?

Heck I may have to give up tweaking to join you all!! I have loved the Red Sox since my mom taught me about baseball (and who's the team!) as a tiny preschooler.

[SpaceCowgirl]

Well, I'm slightly frustrated

JUDD helped me get past a huge set point last week (188) and I was down to 185 and feeling great! So I slipped a little and moved away from Atkins but I was still following JUDD perfectly (Aren't there some people in here that do JUDD but not Atkins? I figured it would still work).

Well, I'm up to 189 after a DD

I thought I could do JUDD without being as strict with Atkins. I may take a break from JUDD to get back on strict Atkins because I think JUDD gives me an excuse to eat carbs...

Any advice?

[Leo41]

SpaceCowGirl-

I've you've been strict on low carb, ANY deviation will send that scale up big time. It's one of the things that makes many people go off Atkins--i.e., they feel frustrated and "doomed" to doing it for the rest of their lives. I've heard that the gain is water and will disappear in time.

I can't do JUDDD without low carb because that's the only thing that controls my appetite, but I do low carb MAINLY for health reasons (to avoid diabetes).

Like you, I have some frustrations with JUDDD--I expect those DDs to help me lose more quickly, but they don't, so if you can manage regular Atkins, that might be better for you. My issue is that I have to restrict calories so severely to lose at all that any "regular" eating plan is too limiting for me. So far, I prefer JUDDD to gain a "little" leeway on UDs.

For you, regular Atkins may work just fine. JUDDD is not really all that helpful for some people.

[dasiey]

Originally Posted by SpaceCowgirl

Well, I'm slightly frustrated

JUDD helped me get past a huge set point last week (188) and I was down to 185 and feeling great! So I slipped a little and moved away from Atkins but I was still following JUDD perfectly (Aren't there some people in here that do JUDD but not Atkins? I figured it would still work).

Well, I'm up to 189 after a DD

I thought I could do JUDD without being as strict with Atkins. I may take a break from JUDD to get back on strict Atkins because I think JUDD gives me an excuse to eat carbs...

Any advice?

you did not mention how many calories you are getting on dd or ud. I went from m/e to juddd. and starting losing again. I eat what every I want. But on dd 400 calories or less. and on ud I aim for 1200 to 1500.

[Zer]

I'm just cheeky enough to offer advice to someone who is at 185# - a weight I last saw in 1970 or so! Wish I'd had the sense to hold on to that weight when I was 26 instead of wrapping my fragile self in layers of fat to protect me.

What makes anyone think the scale registers what we ate in the past 24hrs? Okay, salt and/or carbs will blow me up and make all my joints ache and swell. But we all know that's weight that we can flush out by drinking water, right? (Just added two sentences after reading what Ilpirata wrote later on.)

Originally Posted by SpaceCowgirl

Well, I'm slightly frustrated

JUDD helped me get past a huge set point last week (188) and I was down to 185 and feeling great! So I slipped a little and moved away from Atkins but I was still following JUDD perfectly (Aren't there some people in here that do JUDD but not Atkins? I figured it would still work).

Well, I'm up to 189 after a DD

I thought I could do JUDD without being as strict with Atkins. I may take a break from JUDD to get back on strict Atkins because I think JUDD gives me an excuse to eat carbs...

Any advice?

Yep. Work your plan faithfully. Be persistent. Trust that the persistence will pay off in time. Your DD may register next week on the scale. When I see a good loss, I look back a week at my food diary to see what I was doing right back then to bring forth results a week later.

[Ilpirata]

SpaceCowGirl-

I've you've been strict on low carb, ANY deviation will send that scale up big time. It's one of the things that makes many people go off Atkins--i.e., they feel frustrated and "doomed" to doing it for the rest of their lives. I've heard that the gain is water and will disappear in time.

weeel, there is actualy one time that the scale DOES reflect the last twenty four hours. Its when we go from LC to HC. Its all water weight cowgirl! Its the result of introducing carbs where there previously were none. If you really want to try just JUDD NOT combined with low carbs I think one solid week of UD DD UD DD not low carb but really getting your calories right will put you back on track losing.

[dasiey]

well I had to get blood work done. Because last time my total cholesterol was 289. I was doing m/e. But it has been known to be high for awhile. Well I have been doing Juddd for 1 month. And kinda low fat but mostly just counting calories. Well any way my blood work was great. chesterol 189 I can't remember the last time it was under 200.

[SpaceCowgirl]

Thank you all for your replies! I hadn't even thought of the water weight

I think I'm going to do a few solid days of strict Atkins to get rid of all my carb cravings and then I'll start back up with JUDD. I really like this WOE and it has helped me lose weight faster than anything else.

Thanks again guys!

[retroworx]

Originally Posted by shunsweets

What there are Red Sox fans on the faithful JUDDer's thread?

Heck I may have to give up tweaking to join you all!! I have loved the Red Sox since my mom taught me about baseball (and who's the team!) as a tiny preschooler.

SS:

Were we separated at birth??

"GOooooo Sox!" says this transplanted Massachusetts girl. (Now living in the Evil Empire )


[You may all now resume regularly scheduled programming. . . .]

[Leo41]

Based on Dasiey's experience, I wonder if there's something in JUDDD that affects cholesterol? My endo always checks it when he does my thyroid panel, and I've struggled with slightly high LDL for a long time. Last time, after a couple of months on JUDDD, my LDL was only 103 (usually about 130), and my total was under 200 for the first time in YEARS. I didn't like the fact that my HDL was only in the high 60s because it's usually in the high 80s
but my endo pronounced the numbers "ideal."

Keep in mind that except for JUDDD, there were no changes in my diet--I've been eating low carb for years.

[Leo41]

I've only lost 4 lbs this month, and although that's disappointing, I've been going steadily down since starting JUDDD in late December--for the first time in a year. It helps to post my weight on a calendar each week so that I can see the progress, even if I don't like the specific numbers.

Since I need to restrict calories so much, JUDDD is a plan that really helps me stay on track. The DDs are not that difficult (you get used to them, and the sense of accomplishment is very motivating), and then the UDs feel like a binge--although, of course, they're not.

What's more interesting to me is that I'm no novice to weight loss efforts, but this is the first time that I actually get insight into my eating habits, etc. from the plan itself. I don't know what it is about JUDDD, but I've learned more in these past weeks about my food issues than ever.

[kind]

I did dd yesterday at 200 cals. I write everything down. I measure. I weigh foods.I exerice.
Been doing Juddd Feb11.Lost 9lbs. Started week 3 Wed. and got on scale and gained 1 lb.. I dont know how?Just need to vent.
kind

[kind]

Leo41. 4lbs in month is good.At least you didnt gain.

[Redeemed]

"more interesting to me is that I'm no novice to weight loss efforts, but this is the first time that I actually get insight into my eating habits, etc. from the plan itself. I don't know what it is about JUDDD, but I've learned more in these past weeks about my food issues than ever." - Leo41

How valuable to gain insight into our food issues. Four pounds lost is four pounds of stress off your heart and every other system of your body.

[Leo41]

Kind--

We may be having a similar problem. The reason I'm a little disappointed in my 4 lb loss in Feb. is that in the first week, I lost 2 lbs; the second week,
1 lb. I thought, "OK, this is fine. I'll just keep on with this calorie count." But for the next two weeks, I lost, gained, and lost that single extra pound, and I have no idea why. It is very frustrating.

For myself, I think that my body just decides to hold onto weight. I've read, for example, that as you lose fat, the body can (temporarily) replace the lost fat in the cells with water--which weighs more than fat. That might be what's going on with your gain. Eventually, it has to let that water go, but I think that sometimes I get frustrated, overeat, and then the water gets replaced with more fat!

The key (from my experience) is just to keep on trucking. My loss is never "smooth," but, as Kisha wisely says, NEVER GIVE UP!

[retroworx]

I've been rather quietly attempting JUDDD for about 1 month. End result for me is no weight loss. Here are the details:

The calculator suggested my DD calories should be 350-ish and I was surprised to learn that this was a continual struggle for me -- I thought I was pretty good at calorie restriction, having just come off of a 2 month plan with an avg of only 914 calories per day, but I confess that my DD average was more like 550 cals. UD avgs approx 1500. So avg overall calorie intake was 1000ish, with carbs avg 30ish net.

The failure to reach the appropriately low DD calories may very well explain my failure on the plan, and the SIRT1 gene at the heart of this plan may never have been activated. Still, eating so few calories even w/o the gene benefit could have caused weight loss in some people -- I'm just disappointed to have yet more evidence that I am not one of these fortunate folks.

I've run out of plans to try (except zero carb) and have absolutely no idea where to go from here.