OCT. JUDDD/Alternate Day Diet

[nitenurse]

I would like to echo that JUDDD is not doing more than one DD at a time. Doing alternate days is what activates the SIRT1 we all want. Two UDs would be better when we have to get off schedule for events, etc. More DDs in a row will slow the metabolism.
Yes, Our bodies try desparately to hang onto the status quo-"Our bodies are hardwired to maintain weight" I think it's called homeostasis, trying to keep things the same. But knowing that, and that it will have to adjust eventually, should make it easier for me to accept the days I seem to be stuck. Good ol' body trying to keep me alive lol.

[GME]

Well my week (diet-wise anyway) has been a failure. I have not managed a single DD. I would make it til evening and then go way overboard. I am up 6 lbs to show for it.

Why? I think its because I went into the week with too many activities/things I had to get done and no plan. I usually plan our meals for the week, do the shopping, then its fairly easy to stick to. I plan stuff I can modify for DDs and reasonable but satisfying thisngs for UDs.

Well, I didn't do any of that last week. I was constantly on the go and when I was home I hadn't planned anything and didn't have the right foods on hand so we wound up with junk and takeout. I also messed with my MWF schedule and that threw me off.

I thought about trying a DD today, but I think I'm just going to go back to my MWF plan. I'm making a list and heading for the store.

[mistydisa]

I couldn't decide whether to weigh in this morning (6 days after last weigh in) or wait until Tuesday (8 days)... I went ahead and took a peek, and I'm down 1.4 lbs. this week. I'm happy with that!

Less than 6 weeks until my cruise! Holy moly, it's getting close!

Gina ~ Hope you have better luck this week.

Leo ~ I agree that the body holds on to weight...It's a defense mechanism, just like the way our metabolisms will slow down to hold onto weight in times of famine. This is the only way many of our ancestors survived. I just wish our bodies could somehow know the difference between a diet and a famine.

Just thought I'd post my "progress report":

7/13 215.2
7/20 211.4
7/27 210.2
8/03 210.6 (started JUDDDD)
8/09 206.4
8/17 207
8/24 204.6
8/30 202.6
9/06 202.2
9/14 200.6
9/21 199.8
9/29 198.4
10/06 199
10/12 198
10/18 196.6

[Leo41]

Gina-
Sorry about your horrendous week, but I, too, find planning to be the key. In addition, if I have too much too do as you seem to have had, that stresses me. And for me stress=eating, alas. But you're on the right track. As old Scarlett O'Hara used to say, "Tomorrow is another day." And for us, Monday is a great DD.

Misty-
Great loss and inspiring progress report. It meas a lot to me because I'm now where you started, so I have confidence that one day, too, I'll see onderland. Your journey gives me hope.

[BillB]

Hey everyone,

Thanks to everyone who sent me a PM (and also those who posted for me in the forum). I checked my email and saw that I had 6 private messages waiting at LCF, and I had to log in to read them. I also really missed this forum and everyone here.

I've been sick, and in bed a lot the last couple days, so it was easy for me to be angry about my cen()sor()ship. I did, many times, however, want to login and read this board. I was being stubborn (tapping into the same stubbornness that helps me do DDs, I guess).

I think my problem with l-c-f started a couple months ago (or less) when a major-long-time super-poster (who may be an ad*min) started a (snarky and mean) thread basically making fun of her overweight / obese health care provider. This person and his /her friends were having a good laugh at the expense of the "fat doctor". I was offended for myself (and also for my sweet doctor, who may or may not be "fat" depending on who's judging him--I certainly don't judge him and appreciate that he doesn't judge me, but he has been very kind and helpful). I responded in the thread, saying I thought the entire topic was inappropriate, mean-spirited, and that I was disappointed to see it in this forum. The original poster responded, telling me to "lighten up for God's sake" or something like that (and then the thread was "moved"--actually deleted). Since then, I have been spanked a couple of times for telling people about products they could find at a certain ubiquitous discount superstore (similar discussions go on daily with no censorship) and then this, the censoring of my response to a poster, claiming to be doing Atkins (and for way less than a month) who had started threads about how often she could eat a certain popular "low-carb" pasta and asking for suggestions for what she could use to spread peanut butter on. A lot of responses (mostly from longtime failures [apologies here for using such a judgmental term] or from maintainers) were just placating her and giving her suggestions inappropriate for her "phase" of Atkins. I posted (perhaps too abruptly) that she wasn't following the plan, and that she was trying to "climb the carb ladder" (sorry, I hate that phrase) too quickly. I was reprimanded for rudeness and my post was deleted.

I have had some "tough love" advice a few times on this board. It's the best advice I have ever gotten here. It's what I look for when I come here. Of course, support is great, but encouragement in the wrong situation can encourage bad behavior. I don't want that kind of support, and I try not to give it either. We can do hard things. My great friendship with Leo began when she sent me a PM with wise and generous advice that she thought I wouldn't want to hear...the same thing with Kisha a couple times over the past couple years....etc.

I am going to take a break now, and come back later to try and catch up on the posts from the last few days.

You all totally RULE!



--bill

[Beezle]

Musing Forces Alternate Day Fasting

Just found this blog. She went from 155 to 120 in 5 months with IF. She lists everything she ate. I want those results!

[nitenurse]

Gina-I've had to try a lot of things that didn't work before finding something that did. Congratulations for getting ready for a fresh start.Progress report is sensational, Misty.
Welcome back Bill. Leo, you always inspire me. I am sorry to not comment on everyone, I am not the sharpest computer user. best I can do is short posts.

[Beezle]

Yay for Bill being back! Your advice to me got me moving in a direction that's much better for me. Not to be too flattery, but I think you're pretty wise and can see issues from a lot of angles. I see you as a web thinker with a negotiator personality. Keep it up. If someone has a grudge hopefully they'll get over it soon

[EmandM]

Originally Posted by Beezle

Musing Forces Alternate Day Fasting

Just found this blog. She went from 155 to 120 in 5 months with IF. She lists everything she ate. I want those results!

I've been reading her blog for ages. We've sent e-mails back and forth too. I love her blog and her success is inspiring. She doesn't eat anything on her version of DD (the odd time she has cottage cheese with flax to curb the hunger, about 2 tbsp total). She is amazing! Thanks for re-posting this (I think I put it in the Tweaker thread when I was posting there, should have put it here too).

Bill - glad you are back. Looks like it was nothing more than rubbing someone the wrong way. Think nothing of it and continue posting, you are a valued member of our little community!

[giJ]

Yay! Bill is BACK!

Originally Posted by BillB

I have had some "tough love" advice a few times on this board. It's the best advice I have ever gotten here. It's what I look for when I come here. Of course, support is great, but encouragement in the wrong situation can encourage bad behavior. I don't want that kind of support, and I try not to give it either. We can do hard things. My great friendship with Leo began when she sent me a PM with wise and generous advice that she thought I wouldn't want to hear...the same thing with Kisha a couple times over the past couple years....etc.

You know, sometimes support is a good kick swift in the rear. Lord knows, sometimes what I NEED to hear is not what I WANT to hear. But I still NEED what I NEED.

FEEL BETTER!

[BillB]

Originally Posted by Leo41

My YouBars!

I posted a while ago that I had ordered 'custom' bars to use when I travel, and I promised to report on the result. They arrived today.

They are so incredibly delicious--better than any of the 'protein bars' I've ever had.

I got to choose all the ingredients, and since I'm now eating 'primal,' my goal was to choose only natural things, no additives or questionable ingredients.

I included whey powder because it was the only way to get the amount of protein that I wanted for these bars that will be meal replacements for me, but everything else is completely natural--dates, almond butter, almonds, walnuts, unsweetened cocoa, and cinnamon.

They came to 167 cal, 9g net carbs (dates are used as sweetener; no sugar or any artifical sweetener), 10g fat, and 10g protein.

Once I chose my ingredients, I had the choice of a small, average, or large bar. To keep the calories down, I chose the average, and it's a decent size.
The one I had this afternoon with my tea (to taste them) was satisfying and didn't seem to spike my insulin (my point in staying under 10g carbs).

It's really good to know I can have something when I'm traveling so that I don't have to rely on junk. I used to bring plain nuts, but in order to get satisfied, the calorie count was too high.

After your initial post, I went to the site and played around with some recipes. There were a lot of choices I liked and I may order some of these. My big concern is....can I get enough protein, and can I make it low-carb enough for me. The idea would be to use these for DD when I travel. Or...does it make more sense for me to simply "take a break" from DDs when I travel, and try to do a series of medium days? That plan did work for me during my last little vacation, and I felt free to make plans to have meals out with friends. Whatever I decide, it's nice to know that there is this custom made food source available to order whenever I might need to. I try to keep as many "tools" on hand and in mind as I possibly can. I was not surprised to learn that these are tasty. With the ingredients, what is not to like?

--bill

[BillB]

Originally Posted by onceNforall

Beezle....

I have to agree with Leo, though. I never thought I could do 500 calorie DD's either and today will be DD#6 and the completion of my two weeks of induction. Believe me....820 calories EVERY day sounds like pure torture to me (and it would surely screw with my metabolism and MY body would hold on to every fat cell for dear life fearing impending starvation).

JUDD is all about ALTERNATIVE eating. I think you'll understand more when you read the book...it explains it quite well. I know for me, my body after all these years of yo yo dieting, adapts and adjusts to any WOE very quickly. I truly believe (from the people on this forum who have been doing it now approaching a year, like LEO) that however this plan works, it does seem to confuse the body's chemistry and doesn't shut down your metabolism like a continual low calorie diet.

I do plan, now that my two week induction period is almost over, to allow myself to up my DD calories if needed to 600-800 to get me through a particularly hard DD, but have more faith in myself to do the 500 now than I did two weeks ago. I HAVE DONE IT AND I CAN DO IT. This is my third attempt at JUDD, but never made it through the whole first two weeks before. I am feeling very positive and optimistic that this is the WOE for me for life. Believe me....even with 500 calories every other day (and I do the MWF rotation), I know I can ALWAYS eat tomorrow...it's always just one day away.

My recommendation? Give it a try before telling yourself you can't do it. But either way, welcome and good luck in whatever you decide. The support and encouragement on this board is stupendous!!!

Though I am late to the discussion, I want to add for Beezle that I was one of the people who was sure I could not do 500 calorie days. I am so very glad I tried. The immediate sense of success was (and continues to be) a valuable motivator to me. But the big advantage (to me) was the unexpected: getting a grip on my hunger issues (understanding what was really hunger and what was actually habit). And too, I feel that my eating / hunger is under my control for the first time ever, including the time I successfully (and perhaps too effortlessly) lost 140 pounds doing Atkins.

Of course, and we all say this, you must find what works for you. I will only caution that extended calorie restriction seems to be a bad choice for the metabolism and general health.

--bill

[BillB]

Originally Posted by Leo41

My Weekly Weigh In

ARGHH! I am exactly the same as last week, 210.5, and I desperately wanted to be in the single digits today. My body does evil things to me!

I am especially disappointed because I ate so clean and low calorie all week, experienced a lot of hunger on DDs (usually a sign of loss), followed my workout plan, and hoped to see a good result. But after I stepped off the scale and resisted the temptation to smash it , I reminded myself that my pattern is that there's at least one week each month when I register no loss at all on the scale--so I hope this is that week. Since I had a good loss last week, I shouldn't be complaining.

So I'll just keep on plugging and hope to see the scale move down next week

I know how discouraging this can be. I admire your ability to use the scale as a tool to give yourself occasional information. I've been a slave to the scale (or, more specifically, its numbers) and I don't want to go there again. But I have a tendency towards addiction / obsession, anyway.

I sometimes feel like I am having a battle with my body too. Sometimes I hate it (the battle, and my body). I have to remember what Dr. Atkins wrote: "Your body is a good one, or you wouldn't have gotten this far." Or something like that.

I am having "scale anxiety" about my upcoming visit to the doc...I know I will get weighed. I know that if I have a good loss, I will be overjoyed and feel great affirmation for my work, and if I have not lost, I will be devastated, demoralized and disappointed. I can't see or feel a loss (at this size, it takes a huge loss to notice any difference), but I have greatly reduced my calorie intake, and I was working out regularly until I got sick. So my overall emotion regarding this upcoming visit is half dread, half excited anticipation. I don't think I will ever be able to endure it on a weekly basis.

Your dedication amazes and inspires me.

--bill

[BillB]

Originally Posted by onceNforall

Well, I'm down another two pounds...happy about that but feel like it could be more. I had a very successful DD yesterday until about 8PM when I decided to bake two desserts I needed to bring to a party tonight. Got to tasting and licking spoons and having a few of the chocolate chips etc, etc, etc. Not sure how many calories I consumed, but I know I didn't make my usual two trips to the bathroom last night and probably retained some fluid after consuming those carbs.

This is a critical time for me....big UD today with a gathering with friends (homemade lasagna on the menu) and the yummy desserts I made last night. My plan is to have a small portion of everything, or else I know I'll feel deprived. Going to try not to bring home any leftover desserts (although hubby might have something to say about that...sweet tooth that he is). So guess tomorrow is the more critical day of the two. I will need to make tomorrow a MD for sure...can't really afford two UD's this weekend.

YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS, SHERRIE......

Any loss is a good loss. 2 pounds is good. Look at 2 pounds of butter, and imagine that stuck back to your body.

I could not make the desserts. No way, no how. (Even though I can do hard things, this is not in my "realm"). I used to be one of those "time to make the donuts" guys at a little convenience store bakery. We had a bazillion kinds of pastries to make, every day. I could custom-make them for myself any time, no questions asked. Then (OMG, how did I survive that year) after my donut-shift, I went to work at Hardees for breakfast and lunch just about every day. We had a little old lady who made biscuits from scratch every day. Just exactly like my grandma used to make for me, while I was getting ready for school. OMG...biscuits are a hideous weakness to me. And Berneice would make cinnamon/apple/raisin biscuits, just for me, that she would glaze with that devil-inspired icing, and then put back in the oven, because she knew I didn't like the icing to be too wet or the biscuit to be soggy from the icing. I thought I was fat then, and I weighed over about 125 pounds less then than I do now. Grandmas and grandma-like people always want to feed me. Even now.

I think I will always envy people that can have "a little of each thing". Maybe someday I will learn how to do it. Partly because of my diabetes diagnosis, I don't feel like "bad carbs" have the same "hold" on me that they once had. I miss certain things, especially fruit (all kinds of fruit--even small portions of LC fruit cause me stalls and gains), fruit desserts (pie), cake, corn and bread. But *all* of those things will probably be on my no-no list forever (except maybe fruit...I keep hoping at can add some back when I finally reach maintenance-land.

Good luck with your party and being surrounded by all those temptations. Those of you who can safely enjoy some carbs during JUDDD have, I think, found the perfect balance. I wish I had known about this possibility a long time ago, because I believe it might have saved me a lot of misery and lost health.

Absolutely, you can do hard things.

--bill

[BillB]

Originally Posted by onceNforall

Leo....are we ever happy with our results?

Wow, this is such a great topic for thought and discussion. There are lots of perspectives on this. I think it's human nature (sadly) to always want more / better. Billy Joel (my hero) quoted William Shakespeare (another one of my heroes) when he said "Only fools are satisfied."

Another brilliant person (my granny) was probably quoting the Buddha when she used to say that the secret to happiness was not wanting what we don't have, and also wanting what we do have.

I can't remember who I heard this one from, I think it was a school friend..."Happiness is not a place, it's a path."

So...I am trying my very best to be happy with what I am doing for my health, trying not to focus too much on a particular number or goal, and trying not to want things I can't have (foodwise and otherwise).

--bill

[snaggle]

Originally Posted by Beezle

Musing Forces Alternate Day Fasting

Just found this blog. She went from 155 to 120 in 5 months with IF. She lists everything she ate. I want those results!

I didn't read too far back but I cannot get over how little this woman eats, AND how unsatisfying her meals sound to me. Is she a vegetarian?
I mean the main reason JUDDD works for me is because I eat wonderful food on my up days including lots of fat and protein.
Air popped popcorn with nutritional yeast???? what the heck is that about?

As I have thought before when I have seen how certain thin people eat, "if that is what it takes to be thin, then I will take fat any day."

Just my opinion of course.

[snaggle]

Bill- so glad to see you back here! I was getting worried you were gone for good.

[Trishagrrl]

Good Evening my JUDDD friends,

Even though I've jumped ship and started the hcg diet I've been following your thread and keeping up with you. Actually, I keep up with this thread but can't at all keep up with the hcg thread because it moves to fast. I miss the support of a smaller group like this.

I had promised to report back and I've been keeping very detailed notes on how this diet is going. Despite a really bad cheat on Friday I still managed to lose 4.2 pounds this week. I probably would have lost at least 6 without that cheat. I'm also keeping measurements and lost 1.5 inches around my waist, plus more elsewhere. I'm quite happy with my results. I have had to deal with some hunger, but nothing unbearable and nothing every day. I'm hoping this next week that my hunger will completely disappear.

I don't want to hijack this thread... I just wanted to update you on how it's going. It looks like there has been some great losses on here. Congrats! And I'm sure that those who didn't lose will with next weeks weigh in!

[BillB]

Originally Posted by snaggle

It makes me want to never go back to hard core low carb again. I mean, if I know it isn't something I will stick to forever, then what is the point?.

I can totally relate to this. However, in your case, where you are *very* close to goal and have (I think I remember this right) done the carb roller-coaster a few times, it might be that you just need to identify which carbs are your problem foods. Or you might find that for maintenance, you have to do some sort of "control" system (South Beach, CAD, or something) on UD to maintain where you want.

It seems to me, from reading thousands of stories, that for most people, the closer they are to goal, the harder it is to lose--no matter what the plan. It's easier to maintain (for most people) while eating more carbs than it is to lose while eating more carbs. Just something to think about.

You can do hard things.

--bill

[BillB]

Originally Posted by snaggle

As we all know, losing lbs is great but keeping them off is what is important!!

Only quoting and responding to add emphasis to Snaggle's post. Import to remember this; very easy to forget this.

--bill

[BillB]

Originally Posted by snaggle

I ranted last week in the m.l. about a $6 spaghetti squash (the thread got removed because I mentioned my boycott of a big national chain that rhymes with Froger) I bought one last night for half the price at W.F. and it was organic. The checker asked how I was liking the new store and I just gushed at how happy I was for them to finally be open.

You can shop there and be thrifty if you are careful. At another chain that I don't really recommend, but that has a great new and clean store near my home, they had very nice spaghetti squash last week for $1.39. Wow. This store has another name, with a different animal in the title, but I like to call it the food lobster. I like to nickname everything. That store that people like to call whole paycheck, I like to call whole equity lion....sort of a pun on both chains.

--bill

[BillB]

Originally Posted by mistydisa

Which brings me to a question I have for anyone who wants to answer: I cannot/will not do low carb. However, sometimes I'll consider eating my hamburger without the bun or having some eggs without a slice of toast, etc, and I wonder if it's beneficial at all to limit breads sometimes but not all the time? In other words, am I just wasting my time by only doing this occasionally, or does every little bit help?

Misty,

I know that low carb / lower carb is not for everyone. I agree with what Leo said about definitely not eating those refined carbs any time you don't want to eat them. I'd like to suggest that if you are going to eat bread, pasta, rice...choose those items as carefully as you choose your veggies and proteins. I know that when I was a good little carb addict, I didn't pay that much attention to the quality of my carbs. I ate bad bread without a second thought. If you choose your bread--a good one, say from TJ's or a local bakery, or any place where you you can be sure of the ingredients. Or...better still...bake your own with the best whole ingredients you can buy. Same with pasta, desserts, whatever. I probably will never eat bread again, but I remember loving that crap that Olive Garden calls bread, until my friend started making real whole wheat bread, and served it to me hot out of the oven with grass-fed Amish butter. OMG.

--bill

[BillB]

Originally Posted by giJ

They also have chicken, for 40 calories. Mostly protein.

--This sounds like a DD jackpot to me. I have to look for these.

We stopped at Subway. I got a drink. I really wasn't all that hungry. I made it back to my car, at 1:30PM, and was fine. No chewing off of appendages.

--Did you feel good about your accomplishment? I hope so! That was great.

AND, when we went to get on the vessel, they told me, originally, that I would have to go up a rope ladder to get on it. I gulped and smiled and said ok. Because, in the back of my head, I heard y'all reminding me that I can do hard things - even when it's not food/diet related!

--I can do hard things. It's a secret weapon.

--bill

[BillB]

Originally Posted by PMoon

But I was a bit depressed again. I am beginning to wonder if my down days and depression are related. I want to get the book and read it. I will order it once I get started working and get paid. And i'm starting to monitor my moods and how they are related to how much I am eating.

--Depression...a lot of personal experience with that here, myself and my family. I've had various prescriptions (many) from the time I was a teenager until I was in my thirties and I said, "No more." None of the drugs ever really worked for me. I won't go into details, unless someone asks me to, but I am anti-Rx in general. Lots of history of depression in my father's side of the family; his father committed suicide; several of my father's siblings have been hospitalized for depression. My grandmother was depressed (she called it having the blues) but she was also addicted to valium the entire time that I knew her--that was how her doctors chose to "manage" her situation.

--I generally feel a lot better when I do LC. And of course, I feel better when I lose weight (too many reasons, and I don't think I need to explain here). But I have also been supplementing with 5-HTP. I think it has *really* helped me. Do some research, make your own choices. I can only say that it has definitely worked better for me than any stuff I ever had with a prescription.

I thought it was funny in an interesting way how it sort of grossed me out. A year ago, I could have eaten a whole pan of that stuff by myself. Now, I find it sort of icky.

--I have that aversion reaction to a lot of carby things. The ones that worry me are the ones I don't have the aversion to!

I miss you Bill!

You are all so very kind. THANK YOU!

-bill

[Agee]

Quick question for people who've been at this longer than moi.
If you end up having a medium day (maybe 1100 cal?) is it better to have an UD or to follow with a DD?
A

[BillB]

Originally Posted by GME

I'm just going to go back to my MWF plan. I'm making a list and heading for the store.

Do it. Don't let another week get away from you. You can do hard things.



--bill

[EmandM]

Originally Posted by snaggle

I didn't read too far back but I cannot get over how little this woman eats, AND how unsatisfying her meals sound to me. Is she a vegetarian?
I mean the main reason JUDDD works for me is because I eat wonderful food on my up days including lots of fat and protein.
Air popped popcorn with nutritional yeast???? what the heck is that about?

As I have thought before when I have seen how certain thin people eat, "if that is what it takes to be thin, then I will take fat any day."

Just my opinion of course.

LOL! It sounds gross, but it's good. It tastes like cheese popcorn (I hope she put oil on it, that's the only way it will taste good). Nutritional yeast is a cheesy nutty flavour that vegans use as a cheese substitute. I've used it before to make mac and "cheese" that was non-dairy. I don't think she is a vegetarian, but I think she chooses to eat a lot of meatless meals from what I remember (I can remember her eating fish in one of her posts, but don't quote me on that). I agree, if I was not able to eat what I wanted while being thin I would prefer to be fat too!

[BillB]

Originally Posted by mistydisa

Less than 6 weeks until my cruise! Holy moly, it's getting close!

Oh my! That is sooooooo exciting! Are you gonna do the cruise splurge, or are you gonna JUDDD, or MD, or LC, or what?

--bill

[EmandM]

Originally Posted by Agee

Quick question for people who've been at this longer than moi.
If you end up having a medium day (maybe 1100 cal?) is it better to have an UD or to follow with a DD?
A

I've done both and it didn't affect my weight loss at the time. Sometimes I would go by how I felt the next day. For example, if my 8 am I was starving, I would just make it an UD. If I was ok until much later in the day then it would be a DD. I found eating on the UD's were what got me through the DD's the next day, but sometimes an MD would get me through as well. So try for a DD but don't beat yourself up if it turns into an UD.

HTH!

[BillB]

Originally Posted by Beezle

Yay for Bill being back! Your advice to me got me moving in a direction that's much better for me. Not to be too flattery, but I think you're pretty wise and can see issues from a lot of angles. I see you as a web thinker with a negotiator personality. Keep it up. If someone has a grudge hopefully they'll get over it soon

Thanks to everyone for all the kind words. Being able to come on here and get help (and maybe occasionally help someone else) is definitely something I am not ready to give up.

On a more boring note, I am back on the true rotation, still doing under 500 cals for DD. I am a little worried; my last 2 UDs have been 1500 and 1000 cals. But, I've been really sick and very inactive. I can't force myself to eat when I feel this bad.

I'm prolly heading to bed for the night pretty soon...will check in with everyone again tomorrow.

THANKS AGAIN, EVERYBODY!!

--bill