28 Weeks (7 Months) on JUDDD--Back in the Saddle

[stephdray]

Today I weighed in at 255 lbs, for a loss of 1 lb this week, 35 lbs total, 31 of them on JUDDD.

This week I'm entertaining a visit from Aunt Flo, and yet the scale is still down. Moreover, I've seen new exciting lows this week, though I never call 'em until they're official. All-in-all, I'm a happy camper. Why? Because this remains the easiest, most convenient, flexible, happiness inducing diet I have ever been on in my life--and I've been on them all. Now, on to this week's upsides and downsides.

Upsides

Taming My Up Days. I remember those early JUDDD days when my up day calorie allotment seemed outrageously high. It's been a struggle for the past few weeks to keep to my numbers, but this week I did some meal planning and stretched everything out to get the most bang for my buck. I've been happy and not feeling deprived. And I learned that it's important not to let myself feel hungry two days in a row, because it's breaking the fundamental covenant I've made with my body that it must suffer famine one day for a feast the next. To this end, I've incorporated some helpful lower calorie products back into my diet including veggie burgers, lite buns, laughing cow lite, etcetera.

Companionship. And not just the JUDDD BUDDD kind, though that is never to be discounted. Because my husband does JUDDD with me, we're always in sync and we make plans together and everybody's happy. He's getting healthier and I'm feeling less challenged. Last night he was delighted to learn he could have a ham sandwich in his calorie allotment. And we have put the cats on JUDDD too. Everybody in Drayvania now has up days and down days.

Downsides

Punishing Myself on Down Days. Each down day this week I've had calories to spare. And I've wanted to use them up. I've been hungry. But there's something about JUDDD that makes me push myself. I learn new tolerance limits. The thing that decides for me now whether or not I'm going to eat something is not hunger or even hunger pangs--it's whether or not I'm so distracted by such pangs that I cannot do work. I'm not sure anybody wins any awards for eating under their down day calorie allotments, so maybe there's no reason for me to do it. I think I'm in pursuit of a those very elusive down days that felt almost euphoric.

Madness. By madness, I mean that I get mad when an up day doesn't turn out the way it should. For example, I had a really beautiful meal planned tonight with my beloved husband. Instead, I'm having to go to one of my least favorite restaurants. The company will be good but the food is godawful and I am mad that I'm going to eat it. JUDDD makes me very possessive of my calories because I don't eat just for fuel. I also eat for the psychological satisfaction to see me through the next day.

[sterlinggirl]

Ya know i can still relate to the MAdness part.. I know what you mean.. i love to take that food that ive been waiting for and enjoy every morsel and then BAM!! In my mouth is NOT to taste it should be!!! ugggg.. Some times i look for something sinfull to eat .. JUST CUZ I CAN.. knowing my DD is not to much fun dreaming of food
On a personal note.. I loved your TV clip.. and especially the prop.. you look so cute with that roaring 20S band on. Some day steph i will pick up your books and see what all the RAVE is about.. I hear... you are amazing at it~
Well dear, i am so glad you are hear with us and have found your "home"

[SICCHI]

You put your cats on Juddd, how cute! I sometimes give my dog a DD when his harness is getting a little tight, glad I'm not the only one!

I totally get the mad - or angry - thing too... I get mad at people when they come over for a drink on a DD. I get mad when my fiance says "wanna go out for dinner?" when its a DD (he doesn't know about juddd), and I get mad when I overeat.

Glad you are still kicking on though and loving it for the most part, and it's great that your hubby is with you on it

[gotsomeold]

Happy Dance for new weight loss territory!

Total agreement on the mad part. A calorie is truly a terrible thing to waste. An entire meal, especially when you had something delightful planned, is so far beyond waste it cycles towards upset tummy.

You put your cats on JUDDD?

You. Put. Your. Cats. On. JUDDD.

And survived?

I have to think about that one. I think I just sprained my brain.

[sdjade]

It's always good to be "back in the saddle". Between the holidays and then a 6-day vacation in early January, I was so happy to get back to JUDDD when I got home! The vacation weight was gone (amazingly) after on DD. I'm still about a pound off from losing the holiday weight (aka cookie weight).

I have been pushing myself on my DDs as well. I always just allowed myself to go between 500-600 cal, but lately I've been doing closer to 350-400 and it has been great! I like going to bed feeling proud of myself.

On the cats.... I follow Dr. Mosley (from BBC, did the Horizons show) on twitter and people were discussing cats and fasting. The general consensus was that it could be dangerous and cause fatty liver disease in cats. I didn't do any research of my own, nor do I even know what fatty liver means, but I just wanted to pass that on. I have two cats myself (one in good shape, one that the vet called "chubby") and I'm always trying to find ways to cut their food down, but they whiiiiiiine so much.

[sorenkkg]

Well done Steph!

re: pets. I have greyhounds, and they're old, so I'm actually trying to put some weight on one of them, and just manage the other one. The skinnier one? she does JUDDD herself naturally... don't get me started, I have FITS when they don't eat.

Anyway, I totally get what you're talking about with the value of a calorie.
but, I also feel sort of the opposite sometimes, like-- I've learned that food is fuel, and that I don't have to seek out pleasure from my meals, b/c it's just food.
I can't explain this right... I'm a foodie, and I loooooooove food, and different cuisines, and going out, or making big meals, etc.
What I'm learning from JUDDD is that my emotional well-being isn't tied to my food. Does that make more sense?

I can have a great down day, and fast almost entirely, or eat just 1 meal, and that meal might be a little "eh" on the scale from yuk to OMG... but that's ok, b/c it's just fuel for my body.

Yes, ok, that's it. ^^^^

On an UD, I want to get in all my nutrition, and yes, eat something yummy. But I'm not going for the fries and burgers each UD, ya know? I make a prime rib, and have a nice broccoli and luxuriate in some butter, and some 85% chocolate after.

I could have super sweet milk chocolate or a doughnut, but I'm choosing the more nutritious foods and enjoying them.

Ok, well, that said, DH is home and might have tater tots with him

lol,
s.

[KeirasMom]

Virgin Weight Loss for Steph!

Cats on JUDDD.

[route66]

Originally Posted by sorenkkg

Well done Steph!

Ok, well, that said, DH is home and might have tater tots with him

lol,
s.

mmmmmm....tater tots.....(you're not the only one!)

[Carly]

I have a severely obese cat (23 pounds!) I tell DW he can have all his food eod and eod he can have 20% of his food. She's been like "No way! That's cruel!" but the other day she saiid "Do you think we should put Ben on JUDDD?" She doesn't know it, but when I feed him he gets way less than what she gives him. I think it's cruel that he can barely jump and he wobbles when he walks- I'm all for pets JUDDDing- the 4 little ones get treats whenever, but they weigh between 10-14 pounds and jump, climb, run all over the place.

Steph- KUTGW and I hope the dinner out isn't too terrible.

[Librarygirl]

I get angry too when I can't have what I want on UD's. I've been known to say, THIS is what I have to eat and I can eat nothing tomorrow?!!

Cat's on Juddd, lol.

[calichris]

Originally Posted by stephdray

I think I'm in pursuit of a those very elusive down days that felt almost euphoric.

I know what you mean! Aren't those down days great? The ones that sail by with no hunger, but with lots of focus, energy ... but who knows when they will come, and who knows why???

Congratulations on a great week!

[sunday]

Ohmygoodness, I have to see this JUDDDing cat.

I love your reports. It is more fun than JUDDD on an UD.

[angie1]

hahaha you put your cat on JUDDD. AMAZING. that is a true family commitment lol.

I will chime in with the "madness". I especially get upset when I HAVE to change my rotations lol. why can't everybody elses plan revolve around my JUDDD rotations? lol

[sorenkkg]

i know right?

[Kissa]

Coming to your latest report very late Steph. So pleased to see things still working nicely, loving the new 'lows'.

As for cats on JUDDD, brilliant!

[stephdray]

Haha. Hi all. I just wanted to pop in to say that I don't make the cats do a total fast! It's just that when it's a DD they only get one can. When it's an up day, they get two!

[stephdray]

Originally Posted by sterlinggirl

On a personal note.. I loved your TV clip.. and especially the prop.. you look so cute with that roaring 20S band on. Some day steph i will pick up your books and see what all the RAVE is about.. I hear... you are amazing at it~
Well dear, i am so glad you are hear with us and have found your "home"

Aww, thank you so much! You have helped make it a home for me. I love you all!

[stephdray]

Originally Posted by gotsomeold

You put your cats on JUDDD?

You. Put. Your. Cats. On. JUDDD.

And survived?

I have to think about that one. I think I just sprained my brain.

Haha. They are not as happy with the diet as I am so far

[stephdray]

Originally Posted by sorenkkg

I can't explain this right... I'm a foodie, and I loooooooove food, and different cuisines, and going out, or making big meals, etc.
What I'm learning from JUDDD is that my emotional well-being isn't tied to my food. Does that make more sense?

Nope :P

But I think that's just because I've spent my entire life trying to convince myself of this, and for me, it's a lie. My emotional well-being is very much tied into my food and once I accepted it and learned to work with that on JUDDD I've been so much happier.

Different strokes, though, and all that!

[stephdray]

Originally Posted by KeirasMom

Virgin Weight Loss for Steph!

Cats on JUDDD.

Just about the only virgin thing left about me ;P

[Luv2Eat]

As always, love to ready our updates, Steph

Yes, I agree with the madness part - I've always jealously guarded my food indulgences - can totally relate to that feeling

[sorenkkg]

Originally Posted by stephdray

Just about the only virgin thing left about me ;P

snort.

[Kissa]

I am very pleased to hear it.