December JUDDD/Alternate Day Diet (We can do hard things...)

[Ilpirata]

AWF= Almost Water Fast

Its a phrase coined back on one of our way earlier threads. So its an all liquid day. For me its coffee and unsweetened coconut milk and coffee with 1/2 and 1/2.

[Timiano]

I wasn't too sure if you meant "Away With the Fairies"

[Ilpirata]

Originally Posted by Timiano

I wasn't too sure if you meant "Away With the Fairies"

LOL... Yeah I could go for that today too! Got to be better than work...

[Leo41]

Kisha-

If you've been having trouble doing DDs, should you try AWF? Or is it easier for you than having any food at all? Some people say that they find it easier, but I'm not one of them. Those 3-400 calories really make it easier.

If you're tempted today, think of me--trying to do this at home with all the resources to eat and none of the distractions of work

[Ilpirata]

Originally Posted by Leo41

Kisha-

If you've been having trouble doing DDs, should you try AWF? Or is it easier for you than having any food at all? Some people say that they find it easier, but I'm not one of them. Those 3-400 calories really make it easier.

If you're tempted today, think of me--trying to do this at home with all the resources to eat and none of the distractions of work

I COULD NEVER NEVER NEVER do it at home like you do girl! I have to be at home as little as possible on good DDs.

[Timiano]

Originally Posted by Ilpirata

I COULD NEVER NEVER NEVER do it at home like you do girl! I have to be at home as little as possible on good DDs.

Not that I've been doing this long , but I presume I'm going to find it easier at home as there isn't any social pressure at all. My wife supports me, and is even doing mini-DDs with me as we're not eating together.

At work or with clients, I'd feel more pressured to eat or have to make up excuses.

Tim

[Redeemed]

Originally Posted by Ilpirata

I COULD NEVER NEVER NEVER do it at home like you do girl! I have to be at home as little as possible on good DDs.

I actually prefer doing DD'S at home now. I need the extra calories for my work as I rarely get an eight hour shift.

[GrammyPat]

Hey guys, my DD today turned into an UD because I'm still sick. Went to work yesterday and today but had to leave early today because I'm just too sick and tired....we had a cookie exchange at work; really thought I could get through it but I didn't. I was "looking for love in all the wrong places" chocolate chip cookies, coconut bars, pound cake...oh well. And you know what makes it even worse? I really couldn't even taste any of it! that's limbic eating at it's finest! think alligator brain! oh good grief! I think it's just too hard for me to try to do a DD when I feel this bad. But I'm hangin' in there and hope to feel better soon! anyways, no dinner for me tonight. Thanks Redeemed for checkin' up on me! I may not always post, but I'm always reading about all your progress. Kisha and Leo, you both can do this! "Embrace the hunger"....it means you're losing weight!!!

[Ilpirata]

Originally Posted by GrammyPat

Hey guys, my DD today turned into an UD because I'm still sick. Went to work yesterday and today but had to leave early today because I'm just too sick and tired....we had a cookie exchange at work; really thought I could get through it but I didn't. I was "looking for love in all the wrong places" chocolate chip cookies, coconut bars, pound cake...oh well. And you know what makes it even worse? I really couldn't even taste any of it! that's limbic eating at it's finest! think alligator brain! oh good grief! I think it's just too hard for me to try to do a DD when I feel this bad. But I'm hangin' in there and hope to feel better soon! anyways, no dinner for me tonight. Thanks Redeemed for checkin' up on me! I may not always post, but I'm always reading about all your progress. Kisha and Leo, you both can do this! "Embrace the hunger"....it means you're losing weight!!!

Consider my hunger UN-EMBRACED!!! LOL. I went to Target at lunch and bought a cheese stick and some deli turkey. Still okay for DD but wasn't embracing my hunger AT ALL! LOL.

[Redeemed]

GrammyPat: hugs003.gif Get well soon! BTW: I love Ronny Millsap!! (He did sing that song, didn't he?)

[Leo41]

GrammyPat I hope you're better soon, but I, too, would have embraced the baked goods if I weren't feeling well. Even being unable to taste anything never stopped me because there was something about feeling ill that always made me want to eat! I can never remember whether it's "Feed a cold, and starve a fever" or the other way round because I always 'feed' any illness

All our talk about whether it's easier to have DDs at home or work shows how individual it all is. At my last job, I was always so busy that I often didn't have lunch and certainly didn't take any time for it. Had I known about JUDDD then, DDs would have been a breeze at work. But that was't the case at other jobs I've had. One, in particular, was very 'social,' and there was always food around and people making plans to eat. My point is that we all have ur challenges. For example, I might be home all day, but I don't have to cook for anyone else, so I can really control my situation more than many people.

[Leo41]

Weekly Weigh In

Down just a half pound this morning, but I'll take any lower number

I averaged just 4 lbs a month all year, and in November for some reason, I dropped 7 lbs, so I think my body is in shock and holding on to weight as much as possible. Since this is all VFT for me (the lowest in more than 35 years), I can't complain.

I'm getting eager for bigger losses, but I have too much experience to screw things up now by tweaking. I plan to just stay the course with my UDs/DDs.

[Redeemed]

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Congratulations Leo - a half pound in the right direction.

I am going to wait until tomorrow to weigh in because of last night's pot luck. Today is a DD, so I should be able to undo a little of last night's indulgences.

[Leo41]

Redeemed-

Dr. J advises only weighing after a DD, so you're on target with weighing tomorrow. We're having our coldest day of the year today, so all I want to do is "cocoon" with my hot tea, but I have a lot of chores yet to do

[WonderfulLife]

I’m de-lurking to share my JUDDD results. First, let me say I’ve struggled with my weight most of my life and I’ve yo-yo’d between 130 to 170 numerous times. I started low carb (Protein Power) about 8 years ago and I find I feel much better if I avoid the “white stuff”. I also enjoy exercise – I usually jog or bicycle before work and I try to do weight training 2 or 3 times a week. Weekends we do long bike rides or hiking. At the beginning of 2009, my weight was bouncing between 150- 155. I was going through a lot of menopause symptoms and my exercise routine dwindled to an occasional bike ride on the weekends. I was not staying on my low carb plan either and the weight started to pile on. In June I was up to 175 and I finally decided to go to a naturopath to get help with the menopause symptoms. After 6 weeks of working with her, I finally felt like I might be able to stick with a nutrition and exercise plan. I had read about JUDDD in a magazine article and then did some additional research on the Internet.

I started JUDDD on Aug 16, 2009 at 178 lbs. I lost 10 lbs in 4 weeks. Then it slowed to about 1 or 2 lbs a week. There was 1 week when I went up 2 lbs, but I lost inches that week. I also started exercising again: first just walking in the morning before work and going to the gym 1 day a week. Now I’m jogging 3 mornings a week (3.5 to 6 miles); I bike commute 2 days to work (36 miles) and do a long ride (40 to 60 miles) on the weekend; and I do weight training 3 days after work. I’m doing DDs on M, W, F. My DD calories started about 650, I dropped to 500 for awhile, but now they are up to about 750 calories. At first I did not count calories on my UDs, but I decided I wanted to know my average calories – I like to track it. My average calories come to 1200.

My current weight is now 144 (I’m 5’6” and I have a medium build). My LBM started at 110 and its now 108. My fat percentage started at 36% and its now 25%. I use a calculation from Protein Power to determine my LBM and fat % - it uses height, weight, waist and hip measurements (for females). At this point, I’m not sure what is my goal weight. I think I’m just going to continue to do JUDDD until I like what I see in the mirror.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know how much I appreciate the forum. I was watching the forum when I started JUDDD in August, until the admin shut it down to non-members. I finally decided to sign up because it helps me to read about what other folks have learned.

--------------------------------------
Susan

[EmandM]

Hi Susan and welcome. That is great news about your JUDDD success. I really like this program and I have been in maintenance for months. I think I will continue to eat this way for life. It is very forgiving for indulgences (ie. around the holidays, which are right around the corner). And it suits my personality which likes rules but also likes to rebel with treats!

Keep posting so we can get to know you. The men and women on this thread are amazing!

[Leo41]

Susan!

I'm glad you find JUDDD helpful. Personally, of all the low carb plans, I'm most partial to Protein Power, but I need JUDDD to help with calorie restriction. I find that keeping my protein up is important as I try to lose fat.

[EmandM]

Note to self: do not mix a DD with a trip to the movies with your 3-year-olds and their snacks. Nuff said.

On a side note, we saw The Princess and the Frog and it was outstanding! Hand drawn animation and Disney outdid themselves with this story and production. Great soundtrack (for those who don't know it is set in New Orleans in the 1920's) and a wonderful message for the youngsters. Loved it.

So MD today and I will continue with my M/W/F UD's for this week.

[GrammyPat]

Hi guys, am feeling soooo much better now after 4 days of being sick and just not having enough energy to pay attention to calories.....so today is my 1st DD and am welcoming it! Will do M-W-F DD's this week because Thursday has two Christmas meals: lunch with my boss's boss, and dinner with my boss and the other folks in our department. Have a great JUDDD week folks!

[Leo41]

Glad you're feeling better, Grammy Pat! And your plans for the week is what's great about JUDDD--i.e., organizing UDs around social events. I already have my plans in place to make sure that Christmas is an UD--although after a year of Friday DDs, I hope I don't get too confused

[nitenurse]

Really good DD yesterday-400 cals, all soup and shakes. The successs was partly because I ate more the day before. What I had fallen into was MDs, one after another, that kind of defeats the purpose of JUDDD.
Anyhow, the DD was better following a UD when I made sure I ate enough fat and protein to make it through, without being hungry all the time. Maybe it is that elusive SIRT that makes it feel better. Whatever works.
I am mulling over the Christmas menus again and again-each time I find some stuff that really is not necessary and that I will eliminate. Less sugar. We have meals on both Christmas eve and day, so needs a little variation in the menu, to make it seem fresh, since different guests each day.

[Leo41]

Nitenurse-
That's the thing that makes me obsessive about DDs. I know how easy it would be to slide into just a series of MDs, thus defeating the purpose of JUDDD. That's pretty much what I was doing when I was on just standard low carb and trying to keep my calories low--and I couldn't lose that way. I need these DDs!

By the way, you should take a lesson from us Italian-Americans. Christmas Eve is always FISH--so that distinguishes it from Christmas Day. We don't have the multitude of fish as in the old days, but it's still a tradition.

Since I need to have the 24th a DD, I've already planned my shrimp w/broccoli (300 cal) for dinner--and I'm hoping to be able to get way with just my morning egg whites for 50 cal. (If I use up more calories during the day, I won't be able to saute my broccoli in olive oil, and I'd hate to miss that.)

[nitenurse]

The Irish have fish on Christmas Eve, too, at least my grandparents always had oyster stew. Good idea, I think I'll have shrimp scampi along side the usual traditional fare. Sounds fancy, but I just use salad shrimp in butter and garlic.
Christmas Day I'll have some ham and maybe a beef roast, too, something for everyone?????Both those things I can throw in the oven.

[NoSugarShell]

Hey JUDDDERS!!!

Well, I am still going up and down the same darn 3 lbs, BUT it's my own fault. I looked back through ****** and I didn't realize my last good true DD was Nov 30th. I must have been in some kind of denial. I have had more like a bunch of moderate days.....

I am trying to look at the bright side. If I was following JUDDD faithfully and not losing (like before I was optimized), that would be one thing. But since I haven't been I can fix it! I am doing a DD today, no matter what. I would like to start the new year in a good place. But even if we started the New Year today, I am still 10 lbs less than last year. I started Fast 5 on January 2nd last year.

Actually, I am 15 lbs less than January 2nd of last year. I just realized I started Fast Five at 138.

Good to see you guys! Leo, Kisha, Grammy, Redeemed, Emandm and all the other fellow JUDDDERS!

[Leo41]

Michelle-

Any number lower than last year is good! As I mentioned in a previous post, I cannot lose without DDs, and that's the only think that really keeps me faithful to them--i.e., I know the consequences for me if I just try to do "MDs" --I'll not only stall, but I'll start to gain. It's too difficult for me to lose for me to even consider the idea of gaining

[Redeemed]

Michelle Hang in there until the New Year when you can start again. It should be a good way to start the New Year.

GrammyPat glad you're feeling better.

Susan: Welcome - I hope you enjoy your JUDDD journey.

I have been doing my DD's and UD's according to plan, but have been retaining water. Today I started my new thyroid med from Canada - so I'm hoping I can start losing again. DD today with only 280 calories. Now I'm going to have the low sodium chicken broth with ACV and hot sauce recipe that Leo created.

[fjeld]

Delurking to say:

Doing just one or two DD:s a week can be enough to lose weight and it can also be more tolerable (i e resulting in completed DD:s) than the alternate day approach. Personally I can fast/calorie restrict for one or two days a week, but every other day- never!

There seems to be a lot of value even in just one day of fasting/calorie restricting every week. One DD high in raw low calorie veggies for ex. should be equivalent to a one day veggie juice fast.

I did a DD yesterday and it amazes me how it regulates and fine-tunes my appetite the day after.

I think one real DD a week is a great accomplishment for anyone and far better than trying to do it every other day if it leads to giving up the benefits of intermittent calorie restriction altogether.

[tami73]

Another de-lurking newbie here. I came across JUDDD a couple of days ago. I was looking for a solution to hunger on the hcg diet. 500 calories every day is no joke!

As a result, today I had a UD. Thoughts of hcg dieting are now fading into the distance. I'm semi low carbing as well as it helped me lose 40 pounds a few years ago until a permanent stall made me quit! Put some of the weight back on again but now I am looking for a more permanent solution and JUDDD seems like it.

Will continue to post and I will give you my results after a week or so. Fab thread!

[caramel]

Good evening everyone,

Today is a particularly hard DD for me probably cause I had a particularly high UD yesterday. I am fininshing right at 500 cal it's 7:48 p.m. and I hope I can make it through the night. Well tomorrow I can eat right. Hope you all had a very good day on this woe it sure does keep one motivated

[GrammyPat]

Finished at 334 calories and I'm not hungry yet this morning! that STILL amazes me. Way to go Caramel - see you can do this! And Leo, way to go girl in VFT!!!! That's so awesome Redeemed, how did you like the broth you had? It really keeps hunger at bay for me on those DD's. Recently read that another study came out to reinforce the length of time between meals, as well as caloric intake.

"It has long been believed that the activation of metabolic genes are set according to a circadian (24 hour) pattern and not related to when you eat. A new study by researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies turns this belief on its head. Their experiments revealed that the daily waxing and waning of thousands of genes in the liver—your body’s metabolic factory—is mostly controlled by food intake and not by the body’s circadian clock as conventional wisdom had it.

“Our study represents a seminal shift in how we think about circadian cycles,” says the study’s leader Satchin Panda, Ph.D. “The circadian clock is no longer the sole driver of rhythms in gene function, instead the phase and amplitude of rhythmic gene function in the liver is determined by feeding and fasting periods—the more defined they are, the more robust the oscillations become.”

Simply put, this study proves that when you eat will have a huge impact on your metabolism. Panda points out that the activity of fat-burning genes is highest when you haven’t eaten for a while. Thus, extending time between meals and not eating after dinner actually turns on liver genes that enhance your ability to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.

It’s not just the calories. Timing is of major importance to metabolism."

This would seem to support the stalls experienced by Michelle and Leo that result from a string of MD's.