August's Uber-Hot JUDDDDers!

[mistydisa]

Good morning, all. DD #3 for me.... *fingers crossed* that all goes well.

I was reading several posts from past threads and was hoping someone could help me with some of the abbreviations. For example, AWF, WF, TOM?

[dasiey]

awf...almost water fast some pf us have coffee with cream.

wf...water fast water or 0 calorie drinks.

tom... time of month.

[NoSugarShell]

Okay guys!

Still struggling here with eating! I don't know what's happened, but I have just lost it on UD's and DD's.

Today, is a WF no matter what. I just have to get this under control. Wish me luck!

[Leo41]

Good luck with this, Michelle. It sounds hormonal to me because that's the only time I get hunger that I really can't control. Just keep telling yourself, "I'll eat it tomorrow." I've found that works when I'm really, really hungry. That and hot tea or broth.

Maryann-

Re my 3 lb gain. At 68, I'm well past TOM, and although I have some water retention issues, I also have an rx diuretic that I can take as needed, and I usually take one the afternoon before my 'weigh in.'

I suspected that the gain was due to thyroid issues (I'm hypo), but the blood test I took was not conclusive (my T3 was down but not extraordinarily low), but I did get my endo to increase my meds. The problem is that although the increased meds will help, they don't instantly banish the weight they caused. It has to be lost just as slowly as any gain.

But I'm not even sure it was my thyroid. It's really frustrating to have such a gain and not know the cause. That's why I'm so cautious this month. If something similar happens, I need to take more drastic action--but what? That's my problem. My hope is that this was a one-time problem that won't recur.

[snaggle]

I still haven't read thru all the posts from while I was gone on my camping vacation, but I do want to give a big juddd welcome to the newbies: Mistidisa, allieglover, hotmama, cherlyndria!! Hope I didn't miss anyone, but I probably did. I love juddd and have been doing it for 4 months and have lost 16 lbs on it. I came to it from a week of atkins induction, so I did NOT get any big water loss my first week of juddd. I have been the queen of going off plan for little mini vacations (3-4 days) and just last week, a full week of no dd's. The main reason I love this woe is because I have been able to do this and bounce right back onto plan. My motto is that it just takes ONE dd and you are back in the saddle. I am happy to report that after just one dd, I am only up 1.5 lbs from my low of 154. I was actually happily shocked that it wasn't at least 5-6 lbs. I had all sorts of indulgences, and no restrictions on carbs, so I feel super motivated now to kick it into high gear and lose the last 15 lbs to hit my goal. I know if I had been doing strict atkins, the gain would have been far more!

Kisha, Trish, Leo: I am really hoping/praying that this woe will start working again for you all!! I am not that familiar with thyroid issues, but am learning so much on these threads and I find it so interesting. I know how frustrating stalls can be.
Kisha--- I know you had success last year with raising calories for a while-- and I know for me that my off plan times have actually resulted in going into more vft within a short time after, so I guess I am wondering about trying a little extra calories for a while? Or
some other form of mixing it up?

THe other thing I am exited about is the new book coming out soon by my hero, Dr. Eades (protein power guy). I get his blog (so great!!) and he mentioned it recently. Something about a six week plan for middle aged gut. Supposedly the fat we middle agers gain in our gut is unique and he has a plan to get rid of it. His blog post was actually looking for people to try it and possibly be a success story for the book.

[hotmama_007]

Snaggle,

Your stats are great! Congrats on all the weight loss. Did you lose the initial bulk of weight on Atkins/LC or on a JUDDD like program?

Also, do you watch your calories on Up days or do you eat whatever you want?

The reason why I'm asking is I'm wondering if people's metabolisms slow doing JUDDD. Looking back at some postings and some other info online, I see that people stop losing weight after a while and sometimes even gain weight - yikes! Who wants to gain weight while practically not eating every other day.

[snaggle]

hotmama: I lost 40 lbs 3 years ago doing Atkins and starting an exercise plan. I journaled every day and did my best to count calories. I found that I needed to stay below 1200 or so to lose. I was keeping carbs to around 30 per day. I did get frustrated with the slow losses, but just did not want to cut carbs down to vlc or zc because I knew I could not sustain it and I hated the bad weight bounce backs after weekends or trips off-plan. I ended up to where really sick of such low carbs. I had started in May 2006 and by the holidays, I kind of stopped. I managed to kind of keep it off and would make half a**ed attempts to get back on atkins, but never could stick to it long enough to get into vft (virgin fat territory). Just kept losing the same 10 lbs over and over. I kept reading about alternative plans on this board and ended up finding this group this spring. I immediately was intrigued because it sounded like many of the folks here had added in some carbs and were still losing. THAT, above all, was a big appeal. I knew that for me to stick to something as a lifestyle and not just a diet, it had to be more flexible with the food choices. At first I did not do a regular rotation, but did medium days every weekend and it was fine, but I tried doing it more strict and actually liked it better. As I mentioned earlier, I have had LOTS of stuff going on during this period and tend to do a lot of entertaining, so this has been perfect for me. I plan my social stuff around the up days and if it has to be, will throw in a medium day and skip eating all day (ala fast five) and then can go out to dinner or whatever.
I got so much flak from a lot of the folks I go camping with about this woe, and could not convince them it was healthy, but I know that for me, it is a good thing. It seems such a simple concept to me now to look at a week as a sum total of calories and just plan accordingly, knowing that I CAN have the foods I want, IF I restrict at other times during the week.
As far as your question about up days, I really try and keep them a couple of hundred calories below the Dr. Johnson calculator number and YES, I do still count calories most days, unless I am on vacation. I really am convinced that this woe helps metabolism, rather than hurting it.

[hotmama_007]

Snaggle, thanks for the info. It sounds like you really have it together - good for you.

I'm on DD #3. For my DD's I've been doing the fast-5 approach because I'm not great at rationing mini-meals throughout the day. I'd rather have just 1 good size meal at night and try not to worry about food during the day. I can hardly imagine splitting 500 calories over 3 meals anyway.

Did laps in the pool today and now I'm practically passing out! I ate a large pickle which picked me up for about 45 seconds but boy am I tired! Do any of you exercise on your DD's? Is it because I'm adjusting to the program or because I overdid it on the exercise?

ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

[Leo41]

Hotmama-

I swim laps for exercise, and I only exercise on UDs. But once I did exercise on a DD, and it didn't bother me. I suspect it's because I swim at 6 am and had some calorie balance available from the previous UD. There are people here who do exercise on DDs.

I wanted to comment on your concern about metabolism. If you read Dr. J's book, you'd see that he points out that the purpose of the alternate day calorie restriction is to avoid slowing metabolism. He says that it takes at least 40 hours, and more often 72 hours, for the body to respond to any change. That's the reason that consecutive DDs are forbidden on JUDDD; it's the alternation that keeps the metabolism running.

The reason you've been reading about some of our recent problems is that several of us came to JUDDD because we already have compromised metabolisms due to hypothyroid, which makes it exceptionally difficult for us to lose. A few people are not yet optimally medicated, and if your meds aren't right, it's impossible to lose. So please don't think that this is a JUDDD issue. For some of us, JUDDD has been salvation.

The reason I'm with JUDDD, for example, is that I cannot lose unless my calories are <1000 on a daily basis. That was very difficult to sustain on standard low carb, but on JUDDD, I can manage 400 DD/1400 UD, and the UD seems like a feast by comparison to the DD. My endo thinks this is great and is especially pleased with the results. I've been doing JUDDD for a little over 7 months and have lost 35 lbs. That may not seem like much to you, but it's a miracle for someone like me who is post-menopausal and hypothyroid.

[NoSugarShell]

Hey guys!!

I am considering today a successful AWF! It started as a water fast, but I ended up having some chia seeds and a cup of coffee with half and half. Around 109 calores and 7 carbs. I will take it!!

It feels so good to be back in the saddle. I have tommorrow all planned! I have been thinking about it and I realize that I do better when I think of this as living a healthy lifestyle rather than I need to lose this many pounds by this day. I think I always fail when I try to put a time limit or look at this just from a weight loss point of view. So, back to healthy eating, somewhere along the lines I got off track.

[hotmama_007]

Leo - thanks for your post.

35 pounds in 7 months is great. I've been trying to lose 35 pounds for 3 years!!!Congrats on your success.

NoSugarShell - great job today! Since discovering Chia seeds I've been putting them in everything. I threw them into a glass of coconut milk the other day along with a packet of Stevia and it was sort of like one of those Asian Tapioca drinks.... ok a little worse, but it was a healthy dessert!

[NoSugarShell]

Originally Posted by hotmama_007

Leo - thanks for your post.

35 pounds in 7 months is great. I've been trying to lose 35 pounds for 3 years!!!Congrats on your success.

NoSugarShell - great job today! Since discovering Chia seeds I've been putting them in everything. I threw them into a glass of coconut milk the other day along with a packet of Stevia and it was sort of like one of those Asian Tapioca drinks.... ok a little worse, but it was a healthy dessert!

That is funny! I love coconut milk, so I might have to try that.

[mammapo]

Originally Posted by hotmama_007

Did laps in the pool today and now I'm practically passing out! I ate a large pickle which picked me up for about 45 seconds but boy am I tired! Do any of you exercise on your DD's? Is it because I'm adjusting to the program or because I overdid it on the exercise?

ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

I excercise on DDs, so that I can eat more calories - if you're not adjusting your DD calories for the excercise, maybe that is why you're so fatigued??

[nitenurse]

Good DD, shakes, hamburger patty-made some soup (old cabbage diet soup recipe) minus the cabbage-had to use what I had on hand, which was chix broth, tomatoes, dried onion, green pepper and zucchini. Some taco seasoning, I just like that soup so it made the day easier. And got a few veggies.
Who was sit mentioned a recipe for homemade pickles without the salt, that sounded interesting, could you share the recipe??

[Leo41]

Nitenurse-

I'm the one who mentioned less salt pickles, but I can't share the recipe because I don't have it. A neighbor gave me some pickled veggies he'd made, and when I finished them, I continued to use the liquid, putting cukes into it. It's much less salty than commercial stuff. It tastes like it's mainly vinegar, dill, garlic, and some salt, but I can't swear to that. I plan on experimenting when this stuff is no longer good. How can you go wrong just playing around with vinegar?

Michelle-

You are absolutely right to focus on health and good choices. I long ago abandoned time/weight goals (e.g., x weight by Thanksgiving) because my body just doesn't cooperate. I really think it learns of my goals and deliberately thwarts me.

My goals now are to stay on plan and follow my exercise routine. Whatever happens as a result, I try to deal with. That is, my plan is 'supposed' to result in weight loss, and if it doesn't, then I just examine the plan, but I don't feel like a 'failure' for not losing.

[Leo41]

Snaggle-

I, too, get Dr. Eades's blogs and am looking forward to his new book. But lately he's been talking a lot about 'shakes,' so I hope this isn't one of those "two shakes a day and low carb meal" deals. He's promising more info (up-to-date research) than in previous books, and I hope that's true.

[dasiey]

Originally Posted by mammapo

I excercise on DDs, so that I can eat more calories - if you're not adjusting your DD calories for the excercise, maybe that is why you're so fatigued??

So I guess that would be a tweak. because as I understand it. On dds we are to stay under 500 calories. or it becomes a medium day, another tweak. Am I right or wrong because when I exercise I do not add calories I stay under 500 calories. So that I have a success dd.

[snaggle]

Leo, I hope he doesn't talk about shakes either! I would be so dissapointed. It already irks me that he runs ads on his blog for atkins products.

Hotmama- I have exercised 4-5x a week since the beginning and never had a problem working out on my down days. Actually it usually feels pretty good to me to not eat all day, exercise right after work, then eat my one meal.

[homestretch]

**Leo**Congrats on the one pound loss! Keeping my fingers crossed that you will get to officially claim it.

**Sanggle**Thanks for sharing your story. It makes a lot of sense to me that this WOE offers you the flexibility and control that you need.

I had a big UD yesterday. Went to a party and while I did not eat a ton of food, it was really all the wrong things. I ended up drinking and for me that always leads to poor food choices which is why I ended up eating some chips and cake. Today is DD so I hope that I can correct that error. I will weigh in this week and see how this is going for me. I told myself that I would be happy maintaining until school started because there are just too many reasons to eat wrong However, school starts Friday soooooooooo I have to begin being much stricter with my choices.

[mammapo]

Originally Posted by dasiey

So I guess that would be a tweak. because as I understand it. On dds we are to stay under 500 calories. or it becomes a medium day, another tweak. Am I right or wrong because when I exercise I do not add calories I stay under 500 calories. So that I have a success dd.

I believe you're incorrect, if for the only reason being that as you estimate higher levels of activity at the site calculator, Dr. Johnson's numbers for your DD go up.

For instance for me Here are the recommended DD numbers based on exercise frequency (once again, directly from the site):
DDs
Little or No exercise 369 calories
Light Exercise 1-3 days a week 423 calories
Moderate Exercise 3-5 days a week 477 calories
Light Exercise 1-3 days a week 531 calories


As you can see - the difference in calories from one end of the range to the other is quite large.


Another note -- Depending on total weekly exercise, UD calories also go up, and by quite a bit!
UDs
Little or No exercise 1847 calories
Light Exercise 1-3 days a week 2116 calories
Moderate Exercise 3-5 days a week 2385 calories
Light Exercise 1-3 days a week 2655 calories


So increasing calories for exercise is most definitely NOT a tweak. I'd rather think the reverse is true.

[Leo41]

But if you're using the calculator and factor in your exercise, then you wouldn't subtract any further for exercise, it seems to me. That's already been programmed into your calorie limit.

Personally, I never deduct for exercise because my metabolism is so slow that I don't think those charts of calories burned would be accurate for me.

[mammapo]

Originally Posted by Leo41

But if you're using the calculator and factor in your exercise, then you wouldn't subtract any further for exercise, it seems to me. That's already been programmed into your calorie limit.

Personally, I never deduct for exercise because my metabolism is so slow that I don't think those charts of calories burned would be accurate for me.

Good, point, Leo!

I guess my questions for daseiy:

a) What is your UD/DD limit as set by the calculator?
b) Have you factored in this exercise in the above calculation or is this in addition to your set days?


Your answers to this will change whether you should up your calories or not.

For instance - I'm not a regular exerciser, so my UDDD limits are set on little or no exercise.

If I happen to do exercise I try to do it on DDs, and then allow myself to eat those extra calories, because I've burned them off, bringing my Total Daily Net Calories to my DD numbers. Keep in mind these are EXTRA calories burned that were not accounted for in my limits.

I do NOT also raise my UD limits UNLESS I also happen to exercise and it happens to be an UD...

I remember reading that this was permissible to do on one of the 'canon' sites, but since the new JUDDD site's gone up I can't find it.


Now, on the other hand, if I discover that I'm starting to exercise regularly, I will just readjust my Total Daily Averages using the calculator, which will allow me to eat more calories every single day.....

See the difference?

One the one hand I increase to adjust for the higher caloric need for that one day.

On the other hand, I increase to adjust for a general higher caloric need.


I think, given we're free to do WFs on DDs that we could exercise without adding calories and be perfectly fine, but for me, being allowed to eat a smidgen more is a fantastic motivator - I wouldn't do it otherwise, trust me!

[nitenurse]

I am so grateful, DD yesterday took off the last of my 10# bounce, in fact I lost 1# more than my previous sign in. Now if it will just keep going. I haven't been hungry today, UD, so didn't eat til 1pm, but have 2 more small meals planned, getting ready for tomorrow's DD.
I know it is not possible to gain 10# of fat in a weekend, and that it is all water, but wonder why it takes so long to get rid of it????? I've heard that the liver will store glucose for 3 or 4 days and that is why it takes awhile after carbing up to get back to losing again, maybe it's possible it can even take longer than that.
But it sure is easier to get back on track with JUDDDD than any other lowcarb plan I've done before.

Good luck to all of us.

[dasiey]

Originally Posted by Leo41

But if you're using the calculator and factor in your exercise, then you wouldn't subtract any further for exercise, it seems to me. That's already been programmed into your calorie limit.

Personally, I never deduct for exercise because my metabolism is so slow that I don't think those charts of calories burned would be accurate for me.

and this is how I see it.

[dasiey]

well all I was sayind according to the book. the lower the calories on dds the better weather you exercise or not. Dr. J says the lower you go the more successful you will be. he says wf is idea but most people can not do that.

[mistydisa]

Thanks for the warm welcome! It's so nice to be able to discuss this diet with others!

Day 6 for me. I went ahead and weighed today (because the suspense was killing me) and I've lost 4.2 lbs.! Woo-hoo!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

[cherlyndria77]

My first weigh in! Hurray!!! Its a loss! 5 pounds, and I know that's usual for a first week, but I feel really good about it. On my UD today, I plan to try not to overindulge. Now that my body is adjusting to the diet I'm guessing I won't have as much leeway with the calorie limits as I've given myself. This week I haven't been too trouble if my DD's were 50 over and sometimes a couple of hundred on my UD's!
Good Juddding to all xxx

Congratulations on your loss too Mistydisa xxx

[Leo41]

Nitenurse-

Many of us have found the same thing--JUDDD is much more forgiving of any 'indulgences.' When I was just doing low carb, I would gain about 7-8 lbs on a week's vacation (and that was eating carefully!), and it would take forever to lose that extra weight. It was so discouraging. On JUDDD, I went away for 4 days and came back up 2.5 lbs (I was in New Orleans and ate well:-) But I went right back to JUDDD, and by the end of the week, I was down 3.5 lbs--my vacation weight plus my usual one pound for the week. This has happened to others as well. The great thing about JUDDD is that it's so easy to get back on track with a DD.

misty & cher

Congratulations on the losses!

[Agee]

Okay ya'll, I'm in!
I have tried every other version of LC out there with very little success - I might as well give this a shot. I actually really, really like eating LC and have no trouble following it, but I've never lost weight. I will spare you the sad story - just trust me on this!
I am thinking it is time for some calorie control, which I've tried before w/o much success either - largely b/c calorie control every day makes me very cranky. I am not good at dealing with hunger day after day after day, which is why LC is my favorite way of eating. But I think this may be doable b/c it's like you all have been saying: you can do anything if it's just for a day.
Anyhoo, I am on DD #1. I have eaten my 500 cal already. It was about as hard as I thought it would be. I planned out what I was going to eat, and while I'll choose differently next time (I ate 2 170 cal atkins bars that I had laying around, which were very chemically and gross, so next time it'll be more whole foods for me) it wasn't that bad. I also had 2 hardboiled eggs and a cucumber, fresh from the garden, with a little vinegar and splenda to pickle it up.
I am PSYCHED to eat real food tomorrow!
The only impediment I see re: doing this is that I am going to the beach for 4 days on Wednesday, and I will probably be pretty tempted not to do this, considering we'll be with 3 other families and the adult beverages and snacky goodness will be flowing. I'm thinking I'll just use these 1st 4 days as a practice run, eat moderately (but not count calories) at the beach, then pop right back on plan when I get back. The 2 DD before the beach will give me confidence this can be done!
I've enjoyed reading this thread (and the previous one).
Adrienne

[dasiey]

Originally Posted by mistydisa

Thanks for the warm welcome! It's so nice to be able to discuss this diet with others!

Day 6 for me. I went ahead and weighed today (because the suspense was killing me) and I've lost 4.2 lbs.! Woo-hoo!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

and on the weight loss