JUDDDD / Alternate Day Diet April 2009

[Redeemed]

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DD here! Have been trying an experiment this week for DD's. One 350-400 calorie meal around 4-5PM of high protein. I'll see if it makes a difference when I weigh in tomorrow. The DD's are no problem for me. It's still the UD's where I need the most discipline. Hope everyone has a great day.

[Trishagrrl]

Happy Wednesday!
DD #2 for me today. I should hit the gym today too. I'll probably drink a muscle milk light before I go to the gym and then have a nectar after I get home. There will be half my calories gone all before noon. Total bummer! I'm really tired today... we'll see how the gym goes.

I was quite happily surprised this morning that there was only a 2 pound jump up on the scale after an up day. I figured after my 4 pounds down I'd be 4 or 5 pounds back up today. I'm still retaining water... I'm not sure whats up with that?

I didn't count my calories yesterday, just ate till I was full. Do you guys count your calories on up days?

[dointhis4me]

Sun I weighed in at 160.8, then I had a medium day, and Monday was an UD. After those two days I was back up to 163.4 then after yesterdays DD I am 161.8 this morning. My body is really fighting the 150s I think, lol. I haven't been in the 150s since I was about 10 years old so maybe my body is freaking out over it But I'm not worried, I know I'll be there SOON and I can't wait!! DH is excited for me too because he knows how bad I want to see the 150s, every morning after I weigh he's waiting to hear if I'm there yet and when I say I'm not he'll give me a hug and tell me to keep at it, I'm so close
Speaking of DH I am so proud of him! Yesterday he attempted and completed his first DD. It was very hard for him but he did it and dropped several pounds. He seems very motivated but we'll see. He almost broke down and ate late last night but I told him it was so late he might as well go to sleep and he could eat in the morning. Thats what he did and he was shocked to wake up not even hungry
Todays an UD and I'm determined not to mess up, UDs are where I usually run into problems.
Hope everyone has a great day and I'll check in later!

[pushing 40]

Originally Posted by hummingbird11

thanks Push! WOW! look at YOU! YOU are Gorgeous! LOVE your new Avi!

Thanks HB. Looks like Hawaii did you good, your glowing. What kind-of plan are you on these days or are you still kind-of doing your own thing? JUDDDD has worked well for me. My DH is still following CTFLC loosely as he is super busy this time of year and will lose weight because of that (he can eat more this time of year).

[JONAH'S GRANNY]

I suppose I am kinda doing my own version of this; one day 800 calories the next 1200. Seems to be treating me good.

[msgirl]

WOW! Congrats to all the losers. I didn't check in but once yesterday and had two pages worth of reading to do!!!!


Today is my DD and it is my 2nd week on JUDD. I am looking forward to weighing tomorrow. I don't know if I have lost pounds but, I can tell in inches for sure! I have one skirt I keep trying on - which has been too TIGHT for months, and it gets loser every day!!!!

I have gone through TOM and hopefully have lost some of the water that my body was holding on to. We will see tomorrow

The only issue I am having with JUDD is the one everyone else seems to mention - my UDs. I am just not sure what I want to eat on those days so I just wander around the kitchen trying to find something that fits. I actually had oatmeal for supper last night cause I was at a total loss of what to eat!

I am soo much more aware of my calories as well! I have been watching them so closely. Yesterday, my UD, I couldn't get above 1700 with around 130 carbs (high) but not excessive. Nothing sounded good to me.

Any ideas for UD meals? I don't want to go all crazy and eat EVERYTHING. I want to eat healthy, somewhat low carb and keep the calories in check as well.

[msgirl]

Jonah's Granny - I bet you will like this. Your calories on UD are low but, I have followed some of your posts for years now and you will probably do very well! I remember the yogurt fasts you did - you were my inspiration!!! I remember how much you lost and I followed your plan and lost to my all time low. I just didn't stick with it.

JUDD on the other hand is much more doable because I am not restricting EVERY day just every other

I hope it goes well for you!

[msgirl]

Redeemed - I sent you a PM

[Whitlin']

[COLOR="Green"]Good morning, good morning! I am because I was down a half-pound this morning!

Congratulations on FIRST DOWN DAYS COMPLETED (or first 2) to:

JunkInMyTrunk
onexone
bryn
Jonah's Granny
and dointhisforme's dh!

It was Cherry Blossom who had the idea of listing 250-calorie meals and picking 2 per day for certain 500-cal success - THANK YOU! Although you built on one of Leo's ideas, your spin on it really helped me yesterday, and today, hey, a half-pound gone. (Happy belated wishes to your daughter!)

Trish - I don't seem to have any problem when I neglect to count calories on up days. I guess I've just gotten a "handle" on how I feel and can approximate. OR, perhaps it is the "occasional feast" being okay/helpful, as Leo said.

INCHES!!! Yes, msgirl, I am with you - experiencing midsection inch loss that seems more than just the weight-loss numbers would explain! Didn't Kisha also find this happened for her?[/COLOR]

[jgw]

Originally Posted by msgirl

JUDD on the other hand is much more doable because I am not restricting EVERY day just every other

So true. You may be able to stick to this WOE longer!

[Leo41]

Those with UD issues

Several have commented on not knowing what to eat on UDs or wandering around looking for something that seems right, so I thought I'd share my approach. I do this because unlike so many of you, I need to restrict my calories on UDs, so I always PLAN, just like DDs. I'm more flexible on UDs (for example, yesterday I substituted half a can of sardines for the planned string cheese and added a 100 calorie Greek yoghurt at 8 pm), but I mainly stick to my plan with only healthy additions/substitutions (as noted above).

I know that if I did not plan, I'd make poor choices. For example, yesterday when I was out doing errands, I was tempted by some fast food items, but I remembered that the shrimp and broccoli dish I planned for supper was better than any of those things--and far healthier for me.

Since my UD plan is flexible, I don't feel deprived--although it's hard to feel deprived on any UD after a 400 cal DD:-)

[Redeemed]

Originally Posted by Leo41

Those with UD issues

Several have commented on not knowing what to eat on UDs or wandering around looking for something that seems right, so I thought I'd share my approach. I do this because unlike so many of you, I need to restrict my calories on UDs, so I always PLAN, just like DDs. I'm more flexible on UDs (for example, yesterday I substituted half a can of sardines for the planned string cheese and added a 100 calorie Greek yoghurt at 8 pm), but I mainly stick to my plan with only healthy additions/substitutions (as noted above).

I know that if I did not plan, I'd make poor choices. For example, yesterday when I was out doing errands, I was tempted by some fast food items, but I remembered that the shrimp and broccoli dish I planned for supper was better than any of those things--and far healthier for me.

Since my UD plan is flexible, I don't feel deprived--although it's hard to feel deprived on any UD after a 400 cal DD:-)

Good advice, Leo. Yes, I think my victory will be in good planning.

[jgw]

This is what I will be eating for lunch today. It has 180 calories.

LEAN CUISINE® Comfort Classics | Herb Roasted Chicken

[JONAH'S GRANNY]

Originally Posted by msgirl

Jonah's Granny - I bet you will like this. Your calories on UD are low but, I have followed some of your posts for years now and you will probably do very well! I remember the yogurt fasts you did - you were my inspiration!!! I remember how much you lost and I followed your plan and lost to my all time low. I just didn't stick with it.

JUDD on the other hand is much more doable because I am not restricting EVERY day just every other

I hope it goes well for you!

Thanks. Your stats look great. I certainly remember you too.

By the way, I still eat a lot of yogurt but am stuck on mangoes right now.

[Redeemed]

Originally Posted by Ilpirata

I LOVE IT!!! And Maryposa ^^
Is in Santa Cruz too!

Well, doggone! I was born in San Miguel and raised in Monterey. Now I'm stuck in Minnesota! Otherwise, I'd join you.

[msgirl]

JGW - thanks for that link and that post! I am always looking for some convenient ideas. That will be added to my list!

[jgw]

Originally Posted by msgirl

JGW - thanks for that link and that post! I am always looking for some convenient ideas. That will be added to my list!

No problem!

[Cherry Blossom]

Whitlin, I'm so glad the 250 calorie/meal plan worked for you. It made my down day easier yesterday too. Leo is right when she says planning is key. Last night I planned today's UD and it took the stress right out of the morning. I am basically eating my LC meals plus a little more of fruits, 85% chocolate (yes, for breakfast, lunch or dinner , and vegies. I feel happy and satisfied this morning.

I want to share some of my progress. Seventeen days ago I started JUDDD and have lost 8lbs. I think that's pretty good and it helped break a 2 month plateau.

After my daughter's birthday and my splurge on highly refined cake and icecream two days ago, I gained 4 lbs. Today I lost that 4lbs and .5lb more!!! If I was just doing LC, it would have taken me a week to drop that water weight. What a great benefit to this woe...

DD's are fatiguing and long but I'd much rather take a shorter, challenging path to reach my goal than a longer easier one. Once I reach my goal, I feel like I have the tools to maintain and it has taken the fear out of gaining any of the weight back. I feel so grateful!

[JunkInMyTrunk]

Originally Posted by Cherry Blossom

Hopefully no one takes this wrong, but I would go crazy trying to have low carb foods and low fat foods in my fridge. It seems like that would mess with my mind too much.

I need to stay on one track so I do not get frustrated. Because I have been LCing and counting calories for quite awhile, I pretty much have the numbers down for LC meals. If on down days I started throwing low fat options in to get the calories down, I'd go crazy (and be too hungry).

I prefer to eat a little higher fat and less food. I don't like being hungry and the fat really holds me through the day and night.

I had my first meal at 12:00 noon. It was 2 Cups of Cabbage with 2 strips of bacon and 1T oil. For dinner I had 2 Cups of blackberries and cherries with 2T of cream. I feel full and happy. I'm just always tired by 8pm on my DDs and want to go to bed.

Maybe I'm just simple minded, but I enjoy eating very simple, full fat meals. Every time I try to cut out the fat, butter, cream, etc...I miss it too much.

No offense taken.............. I also low carb, but try to keep it under 40 carbs a day. I'd like to do lower, but with thyroid problems that probably isn't best.

When my preferred salad dressing is 160 calories/2tbsp, I have to look to low fat to lower the calories. Also, some lower fat options are not always that many more carbs, such as cottage cheese. Since I work, salads are an easy meal on the DDs, but the 160 calories in dressing is too much.

I'm sure as I go along with this WOE, I'll find other items that will fill me up and still be lower carb options. Right now I'm doing a lot of weighing and measuring and tweaking it as I go along. I may find that somedays the items I've prepared keep me too hungry and then I'll have to try something else the next time. Before JUDDDD, I would have never thought of using eggbeaters, but I get more food for less calories and the carbs are still low.

[GME]

Originally Posted by Cherry Blossom

Hopefully no one takes this wrong, but I would go crazy trying to have low carb foods and low fat foods in my fridge.

I am coming to this conclusion too. When I first started JUDDD, I searched out low cal stuff and wound up with more than I can eat in two weeks (cause we eat so little on the DDs anyway). I think I'll make the best choices I can from my usual foods (obviously not the day for a cream cheese desert) and just eat less.

I focus on protein anyway and if I have to eat LF dressing I'll just wait for tomorrow to eat salad. I've picked a few up in the store but I just can't bring myself to put them in the basket.

For example, yesterday was an UD and last night I bought a rotis chicken from Costco and ate the dark meat and a lot of skin. Today, I brought a bowl of white meat, no skin. Tonight we are going to BBQ hot dogs and smoked sausage for the family and I'm going to eat some of the 45 cal, LF hot dogs. In the future, I'll probably just throw on a piece of fish or chicken.

So, DD for me today. Crossing my fingers for another loss in the morning, though I'm trying not to get too spoiled.

A meet up sounds fun. I'm always swamped with teenage activities and company this time of year (all of our friends and family are still in the Central Valley- needless to say everyone wants to be at our house in the summer), but you guys plan whatever works for you and I'll come if I can.

[JunkInMyTrunk]

Originally Posted by Leo41

Those with UD issues

Several have commented on not knowing what to eat on UDs or wandering around looking for something that seems right, so I thought I'd share my approach. I do this because unlike so many of you, I need to restrict my calories on UDs, so I always PLAN, just like DDs. I'm more flexible on UDs (for example, yesterday I substituted half a can of sardines for the planned string cheese and added a 100 calorie Greek yoghurt at 8 pm), but I mainly stick to my plan with only healthy additions/substitutions (as noted above).

I know that if I did not plan, I'd make poor choices. For example, yesterday when I was out doing errands, I was tempted by some fast food items, but I remembered that the shrimp and broccoli dish I planned for supper was better than any of those things--and far healthier for me.

Since my UD plan is flexible, I don't feel deprived--although it's hard to feel deprived on any UD after a 400 cal DD:-)

Thanks for the advice. I believe that planning is key to this as it was with low carbing, but so far that has been my downfall. I haven't fallen off the wagon yet and I had a successful DD and UD, but I feel like I'm flying by the seat of my pants. Also I'm working on the plan and seeing what works for me and keeps me fuller throughout the day.

I haven't read the book yet (it's been ordered, but hasn't arrived), but have visited the website, but the engineer in me likes to cover all the details and know as many facts about the plan as possible.

I'm on DD#2 and feeling like I can stick with this. A little hunger never hurt anyone and I certainly won't die from it.

Thanks Leo41 for all of your wonderful, helpful posts.

[Ilpirata]

Calories 2,306
Fat 163.7 1,459 63 %
Carbohydrate 87.7 340 15 %
Dietary Fiber 10.8
Protein 123.8 509 22 %

I ended up eating a (very) small piece of the german chocolate bakery cake that has been in my house since last friday. There is like half a sheet left! So its weird that my carbs didn't come out higher but thats ****** for you.

For those having issues knowing what to eat on UD... I can't relate! LOL. My problem is eating too MUCH. And yes I track calories on all days. On UD I could probably eat 3000 if I wasn't tracking. Here are some of my UD staples:

Brekky: 2 scrambled eggs with melted cheddar and ranch, OR 2 chicken sausages (these are not breakfast sausages they are bigger) with sauce made of mayo and horseradish

Lunch: chicken salad, OR tuna salad, OR bunless burger with side salad, OR grilled chicken breast with melted cheese and salad

Dinner: Trader Joe's Turkey Meatballs on salad with Full Fat dressing, OR steak and eggs (nom nom nom)

As far as buying low fat low cal foods... yeah it was weird at first but I have found that all I really need are Trader Joes Turkey Meatballs (I eat these on UD and DD both), low fat low cal dressing, Hebrew National 97% fat free hot dogs and laughing cow light cheese (I eat this on UD sometimes also). O, and SALAD! O, and my "pure protein" canned shakes. Its just a few extra items and the meatballs and hotdogs go in the freezer.

[Trishagrrl]

Originally Posted by JunkInMyTrunk

No offense taken.............. I also low carb, but try to keep it under 40 carbs a day. I'd like to do lower, but with thyroid problems that probably isn't best.

Why is really low carb not good with thyroid problems? Just curious since I am hypothyroid and have done really low carb at different times for quite a while.

[Trishagrrl]

Well, I have to boys that are coughing and have runny icky noses. So my 4 year old didn't go to preschool and I decided I ought not take them to the childcare at the gym. So, no gym for me. Doesn't hurt my feelings too terribly since I'm feeling pretty lethargic today.

I decided to try one of the low-carb slimfast shakes i picked up today.... YUCK! I've been working on trying to choke it down for over 2 hours. I don't want to throw something away that costs so darn much! And I still have 3 more I have to drink sometime. Any good recommendations on protein shakes? I tried the Atkins shakes on Monday and they were sorta so-so. I also use Nectar by syntrax. I thought about doing more real food, but I want to make sure to keep my protein really high during my DD especially when I go to the gym and lift. THe shakes are just so convenient too. I like not having to put any thought into them.

THANK YOU to all of those who have weighed in on what they do on Up Days!

[Leo41]

JunkinmyTrunk-

I can relate to needing low cal/low fat items because I have some GI issues that prevent me from eating the traditional high fat/low carb. So JUDDD works for me because I've already eliminated a lot of the higher cal items.

One thing I do for salad dressing is add vinegar to a regular dressing that I like to cut the calories, but I also love Newman's Own low fat balsamic vinegarette that I think is only about 60 cal. per T (I sometimes add more vingegar to lower that.

I've also had some success in "making up" a very low cal salad dressing with mustard, vinegar, water, garlic (sounds dreadful, I know, but it can work if you tinker with it to get the taste right).

I've also found that fat free yoghurt and low fat mayo do not add significant carbs (I read labels religiously).

And I've been eating Eggbeaters for years because I need to avoid the inflammatory qualities of egg yolks. On DDs, I fry my Eggbeaters in Pam, and can get a nice 'omelet' for 60 cal.

Kisha-

You are admirable if you could have only one piece of that cake and there's an entire sheet left. One bite for me would lead to consuming the remainder!

Trishagrrl-

I read on these boards that hypothyroids don't do well with less than 30g carbs a day. This has been true in my experience because when I was much younger and not hypo, I thrived on almost zero carbs, but when I tried doing the "meat/eggs" routine to break a stall (after hypo), I felt awful and had to stop. As soon as I had more carbs, I felt so much better. It's possible that this is NOT true for you, and if you can manage with fewer carbs, it's probably better for you.

[Ilpirata]

Kisha-

You are admirable if you could have only one piece of that cake and there's an entire sheet left. One bite for me would lead to consuming the remainder!

It wasn't even a piece exactly. It was four spoonfulls LOL.
it was actually pretty damn good and I can't wait til my two skinny roomates finish eating the rest of it!

[kraftymom]

Well, I have completed a little more than a week of JUDD and have learned a few things.

1. I can make it through DD of 400 calores with minimum discomfort and plenty of energy. That was a surprise and relief! I actually like DD?! Wow.

2. My UD start out healthy, controlled. I wake up not hungry and make good choices most of the day, but by early evening it is a free for all carb fest, bordering on a binge. This sets back all the progress made on my DD! My hope was that the JUDD plan would allow me to have carbs again without those old issues (weight gain, cravings, digestion trouble etc) but that isn't true, for me. I can see how, maybe in maintenance, I could occasionally do some medium level carbs (beans, more fruit, Dreamfelds?) but not now, not to lose. Besides the lack of weight loss I know that the carbs just aren't good for my body. I start with eating fruit and whole grains and a very balanced mindset but within hours, I am a craving mess that falls face first into Fritos and Snickers! Just being realistic about a pattern that is decades old, for me. The "just eat less" and "just eat healthy" advice have never worked for me, long term. What "works" is my avoiding starch and sugar so that the cravings/addiction pattern is broken. I am finally, finally learning what is TRUE for my body, my lifestyle, my mind...

So I am choosing to look at the last week as a learning curve. I like JUDD, and have great hope that it will get this 30 lbs off...so I am going to do it Low Carb, as so many of you successful losers are doing, and thanks for blazing that trail for many of us stumbling around, still figuring stuff out.
I'm not going to count calories on my UD (yet). I am going to save Linda's LC recipes, steak, big BLT salads, sugar free cheesecake...all my old low carb but high cal favorites, for UD. I NEVER overeat low carb, have never had binges or issues with those foods. They satisfy me with small amounts and without the cravings mastering my choices I am hoping the calories counts will naturally fall lower and lower (especially if SIRT kicks in?) I'm going to try that and see. I am reluctant to count the cals on my UD, as you can tell! But am willing to do that, if it comes to it.

It's almost May and I have a Summer full of plans with family and friends and I WANT TO WEAR TANK TOPS. That's my whole goal, there...I haven't worn one since 2003 and I want to live in them, in 2009!

[Redeemed]

Received message from Clannad. She's okay and I think will be joining in soon again.

I have a question about exercise on DD's. If you plan on 500 calories and exercise to burn up 300 calories, does that mean you can eat 800 calories on DD's and achieve the same benefit of 500 calories alone?

[hummingbird11]

I've read that, hormonally, many women don't fare well on less than 30 carbs per day, long term.

Remember that less than 30 -50 is Very Low Carb; anything under 100 is technically Low Carb.

The average person eats several hundred per day!
(just like we used to do)

Originally Posted by Leo41

JunkinmyTrunk-
Trishagrrl-

I read on these boards that hypothyroids don't do well with less than 30g carbs a day. This has been true in my experience because when I was much younger and not hypo, I thrived on almost zero carbs, but when I tried doing the "meat/eggs" routine to break a stall (after hypo), I felt awful and had to stop. As soon as I had more carbs, I felt so much better. It's possible that this is NOT true for you, and if you can manage with fewer carbs, it's probably better for you.

[Maryposa]

Originally Posted by Trishagrrl

I decided to try one of the low-carb slimfast shakes i picked up today.... YUCK! I've been working on trying to choke it down for over 2 hours. I don't want to throw something away that costs so darn much! And I still have 3 more I have to drink sometime. Any good recommendations on protein shakes? I tried the Atkins shakes on Monday and they were sorta so-so. I also use Nectar by syntrax.

I also use Syntrax - but I have a Sweets one - Vanilla Torte. Yum.

A quick fix to get those other 3 shakes down is to blend them in a blender with a handful of frozen strawberries and a couple ice cubes... That aughta YUM it up That is, if you can tollerate the few carbs in the berries