Don't Let Those DD Calories Scare You Into NOT Trying JUDDD!

[Beeb]

Most come onto the JUDDD forum here and read about our wonderful plan and then go to the JUDDD site (and maybe others) and do the calculator and out when they see that their DD calories are really low (as is the case for most of us, me included )! I almost didn't even try JUDDD because the site calculator told me I needed to eat no more than 330 calories on my DDs, at the lowest percentage of 20% with little or no exercise!

NO WAY!! I knew I would never make it if I could only eat this little bit! I wrote to Pat (SoHappy) and she suggested I start at a calorie number somewhere between 40 and 45 percent on the site calculator. This brought my DD calories up to 700 and that I KNEW I could do.

I did and the rest is amazing weight loss history!! So......don't let that number scare you. YES, I KNOW Dr. J recommends that we keep our DD number, at least for the first 2 weeks, no higher than 500 calories and I think that is a great thing, IF you can do it. IF not then why not up them a bit, especially if you only have a little bit to lose to get to your goal weight (I only had 6 pounds to get to the goal of 145)? And the funny thing is I never got up to that 700 calories anyway, but it was nice knowing I could if I wanted to! And it also gave me the knowledge that this plan is flexible enough to work in a way I felt comfortable with!!

I think this may help those who see that number, like I did, and run for the hills!! AND it could mean the difference between trying JUDDD or not!

[sophiethecat]

My early DDs were in the 700 - 800 range and I gradually lowered them. Still worked that way.

[KeirasMom]

The calculator gave me 469 for DDs. I started a week ago, shooting for 500 on DDs and have never gone over 400. As you can see from my stats, I'm quite big and was really, really nervous about staying around 500. I'm creative with my calories, and have tried the strategies posted about here--i.e. wait until later in the day to start eating, have broth and veggies on hand, etc.--and haven't felt deprived or hungry. The only day I even really noticed my hunger was when I drank half a regular coke, thinking it was diet coke. I think the sugar really affected me.

If you're thinking about trying this WOE, I suggest you give it a couple of weeks of earnest effort and see what happens. I'm only a week in and am having fabulous results. What's the worst that can happen?

[Knittering]

It's really not that bad, especially once you go through the DD recipes and start trying things like the very-low-calorie muffins and our favorite cabbage stir-fry!

[janetsbreeze]

Thanks for posting this!

[theredhead]

Thanks for an excellent post, Beeb! You're so right that people freak out at the low calories numbers. But it's amazing when you realize how "do-able" it actually is. And, of course, you can always eat tomorrow.

[sazzie]

I was and still am amazed about how much good food that can be eaten within the 500 calories and feel perfectly satisfied. Even when I was doing HHCG, I had more cravings eating 500 calories.

Actually as of late, I've been in the ±400 range and seem to be able to go lower as time goes on without a lick of hunger.

It almost seems that my body has adapted well and likes to be 'set free' every other day to cleanse itself, if that makes any sense.

[piratejenny]

Great thread, Beeb!!!
This is exactly what scared me off for 10 months...this needs to be a sticky!!!

Originally Posted by KeirasMom

What's the worst that can happen?

I think what I, as a low-carber, feared as "the worst that could happen" was losing control over my hunger. I never felt serious appetite suppression on LC, but I felt a different type of hunger...calm, not shaky or desperate; I could be hungry for several hours with no problem.

So, if you've been LC for a while and want to try JUDDD, I recommend staying LC for a couple weeks; if JUDDD doesn't feel right for you, you can go back more easily. If you stay, re-introduce good carbs in small amounts. Some people find that they actually feel better with carbs in their life--less depression, more energy--so if you have been feeling yucky on LC, JUDDD might be the answer!

[SlowSure]

Originally Posted by piratejenny

So, if you've been LC for a while and want to try JUDDD, I recommend staying LC for a couple weeks; if JUDDD doesn't feel right for you, you can go back more easily.

Very helpful advice.

My recommended DD calories are 320 if not active. I would have found that intimidatingly low if I'd not stalled on [low carb + portion control] and then broken it by eating [LC + only 600-700 cals] a day. Although the recommended DD target for me is less than half of that, at least I knew that I'd recently been eating very low calorie for two weeks and had managed it which gave me some indication that I might be able to handle JUDDD's calorie cycling.

PirateJenny is spot on with the advice to remain LC during at least the induction (2 weeks) to give the option of reverting back to that if JUDDD doesn't seem to be fitting in with your lifestyle.

[Beeb]

Giving this a bump for all the Newbies that I feel will be coming in soon!

[belfrybat]

This brings up an issue I've been wondering about. According to the website, my DD should be 360 cal, but the Dr. states "no more than 500" for induction. So I gather by this thread it is OK to eat up to 500cal? That I know I can do as I did hHCG a couple of years ago and still have those recipes.

[julietcc]

I think most of us started around 500 calories and have been successful with it. I'd definitely have trouble with 360!

[sophiethecat]

Originally Posted by belfrybat

This brings up an issue I've been wondering about. According to the website, my DD should be 360 cal, but the Dr. states "no more than 500" for induction. So I gather by this thread it is OK to eat up to 500cal? That I know I can do as I did hHCG a couple of years ago and still have those recipes.

dang, I suffered at less than 600 calories, so I bow to those of you who do less! You

Yes, 500 is amazing, but don't feel bad if you need up to 800 at first... work down as you can, and see how you do...

[KeirasMom]

I've been consistently below 400 on DDs without too much difficulty. If you're creative, it can be done, but it's not necessary. I just have a LOT to lose and want a greater gap between UDs and DDs.

[kris4chloe]

i stuck to 500 the first few weeks, but now i stick with 500-700 and have been consistently losing

[synger]

I started at 700 and worked my way down. I aim for 500 now, but "allow" an extra 100 on especially hungry DDs. Most of my DDs are between 450 and 550.

[b_lou_who]

it is nice not to be panicked about the dd number. No one needs more stress in their life.
I made a little sticky on my phone with my calorie levels for down days at the 25%, 30%, and 35% so I can clearly see on a dd where I am IF I feel like I need a little more food. I haven't yet gone above the 30%, but it is freeing somehow to see that those few extra calories aren't a big deal in the overall picture and still fit within the plan for loss.

[gotsomeold]

THAT is a really GREAT idea and definitely deserves a whoo-hoo.

WHOOOOO HOO!

[Alcestis]

Agreed!

[Beeb]

Originally Posted by b_lou_who

it is nice not to be panicked about the dd number. No one needs more stress in their life.
I made a little sticky on my phone with my calorie levels for down days at the 25%, 30%, and 35% so I can clearly see on a dd where I am IF I feel like I need a little more food. I haven't yet gone above the 30%, but it is freeing somehow to see that those few extra calories aren't a big deal in the overall picture and still fit within the plan for loss.

OMG, YES !! What a great idea and thanks so much for adding this to this thread! I'm sure this is going to be a great help for lots of JUDDD BUDDDs!!!!!

[Beeb]

Bump!! Hope this helps those thinking about JUDDD and getting when they see that DD number on the JUDDD calculator!

I wouldn't be here is I hadn't "pushed" the rules a bit! And the rest is history, as you may know from reading my posts/threads!

[zipp2play]

Great information here!!!!!!!!

[cuttie99]

Originally Posted by Beeb

Most come onto the JUDDD forum here and read about our wonderful plan and then go to the JUDDD site (and maybe others) and do the calculator and out when they see that their DD calories are really low (as is the case for most of us, me included )! I almost didn't even try JUDDD because the site calculator told me I needed to eat no more than 330 calories on my DDs, at the lowest percentage of 20% with little or no exercise!

NO WAY!! I knew I would never make it if I could only eat this little bit! I wrote to Pat (SoHappy) and she suggested I start at a calorie number somewhere between 40 and 45 percent on the site calculator. This brought my DD calories up to 700 and that I KNEW I could do.

I did and the rest is amazing weight loss history!! So......don't let that number scare you. YES, I KNOW Dr. J recommends that we keep our DD number, at least for the first 2 weeks, no higher than 500 calories and I think that is a great thing, IF you can do it. IF not then why not up them a bit, especially if you only have a little bit to lose to get to your goal weight (I only had 6 pounds to get to the goal of 145)? And the funny thing is I never got up to that 700 calories anyway, but it was nice knowing I could if I wanted to! And it also gave me the knowledge that this plan is flexible enough to work in a way I felt comfortable with!!

I think this may help those who see that number, like I did, and run for the hills!! AND it could mean the difference between trying JUDDD or not!

Thank you for the inspiration. the dd cal can be a bit scary!!!

[CharlotteChick]

Since I also did the hcg diet, the 500 calories on the DDs have been a piece if cake, ESPECIALLY since I fill them with high fats and protein. What slowed me down from losing was that I wasn't eating enough calories on my UDs.

JUDDD is very freeing and rewarding. Healthy, too! It's amazing hiw much energy I get when on a DD!

Again,

[Abbyshu]

I've been reading these threads with my eyes wide open This sounds so doable for me. But the part that has me thinking goofy is.

I don't count carbs?

I only count calories?

Am I reading that right? I just started reading about this WOE so I have some learning to do.

Yikes, such a change of thinking that will be, and almost refreshing.

Sorry to sound dumb about this, but I just came across this.

[Becky]

Originally Posted by Abbyshu

I've been reading these threads with my eyes wide open This sounds so doable for me. But the part that has me thinking goofy is.

I don't count carbs?

I only count calories?

Am I reading that right? I just started reading about this WOE so I have some learning to do.

Yikes, such a change of thinking that will be, and almost refreshing.

Sorry to sound dumb about this, but I just came across this.

You can have as many or as few carbs as you want! I've consistantly had at least 100 carbs per day and am doing wonderfully! It was a bit of a shock that this actually works espically moving over from Atkins (which I also did).

[Sheridan]

Originally Posted by Abbyshu

I've been reading these threads with my eyes wide open This sounds so doable for me. But the part that has me thinking goofy is.

I don't count carbs?

I only count calories?

Am I reading that right? I just started reading about this WOE so I have some learning to do.

Yikes, such a change of thinking that will be, and almost refreshing.

Sorry to sound dumb about this, but I just came across this.

Oh, it's refreshing, to say the least!

IT'S SO SIMPLE....REALLY!!

[Texas Girl]

I am almost ready to make a move.....thanks for your post. Currently doing Atkins, but craving a cupcake after reading a previous posts.

My DD came in really low but think I should start at 500. I only want to lose 5 - 6 pounds to give me some cushion but feel great where I am. I can do everything 100% during the week but do love going to dinner on Friday nights and enjoying the weekend with my fiance. Still trying to resolve my weekend situation...

Thinking I could make Friday a DD and try not to eat until dinner...this might be difficult since I work and wake up early. Sat. would be an UP and Sunday either another DD if I could or make it a MD? I have a vacation in early June and would not start until I get back.

[Abbyshu]

Hi and thanks Becky and Sheridan, and welcome Texas Girl.

I've been off reading and subscribing to JUDD threads. I am so IN! The fact that there is tomorrow is so ~ big breath of air, sigh ~ wonderful. I can do anything for a day when I know that I have tomorrow.

That has been the biggest part of my failure all this time. The word "forever". Give this or that up forever. That and I seem to be an all or nothing type of person. If I had a bad day low carbing, then I just would throw in the towel and eat everything for days before I would get my common sense back, but, by then I would have added another 5 pounds to take off. Crazy for me.

I got where I saw bananas as such a "no no", but lately I have been eating them on occasion and they are so good and I think healthy, at least for me.

I haven't dieted or low carbed for awhile now, I pretty much just gave up and have been eating everything. Now after finding this JUDDD forum, I want to do it!

I know I am rambling here, but this sounds so doable. I can't believe I never read this part of the forum before!

I'll weigh tomorrow and update my stats.

[sophiethecat]

Originally Posted by Abbyshu

I've been reading these threads with my eyes wide open This sounds so doable for me. But the part that has me thinking goofy is.

I don't count carbs?

I only count calories?

Am I reading that right? I just started reading about this WOE so I have some learning to do.

Yikes, such a change of thinking that will be, and almost refreshing.

Sorry to sound dumb about this, but I just came across this.

Hi and Abby! Good questions! Yes, as Becky & Sheridan have said before me, you only count calories. What you decide to eat to reach your calorie allotment is completely up to you. We have people eating at all carb levels here. You can count carbs if you like, or forget about them if you like. Calories are the focus as far as JUDDD is concerned, because it is a calorie-cycling framework for eating any way you want to.

Ahhh, be refreshed, my new JUDDD bud!