Hi Beth,
Good for you. Going to a restraunt would have made me nervous too.
I am on a down day now. I thought I would do down days on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and take Tuesday, Thursday and weekends as up days and see how it goes. I kinda made that decision at a Supperbowl Party so I had alot of temptation. I didn't go overboard even though I gave myself permission. I only had 1 piece of pizza and 3 chicken wings. I don't think that was too bad. The soda I drank was the part that got me the most. I can't stand the diet soda so I had the real thing. Alot of empty calories come from that I know.
Anyway I am back on track (hopefully) and none the worse for it.
Keep on going Beth. You are encouragment to me.

Beth and others doing the diet -
I read the same article and it lists suggestions for an 1100 calorie diet on your down days, but when I input my data, it gave me 473 calories on my down days. Is that where your 3 shakes a day come into play? I don't see how I can do the 473 calories a day. Please tell me what you are doing for your meals on a down day.
Thanks.
Sarah

Alyssa, first of all, congrats on your 3-pound weight loss--that is awesome!!

I do find that I am not as crazed on my up days as I thought I would be. I wake up and I am just not all that hungry, you know? So I might nibble here and there--but it's not an all-out food orgy. However, I am totally satisfied--not hungry, not feeling deprived.

And, yes, I'm pretty much sticking with the shakes. The reason being is that it was what the website recommended for at least the first two weeks. It is really FREEING to just stay out of the kitchen when I'm on a down day. Preparing food ahead for my family on my up day works well, too, or asking my dh to pick up something after work that they would all like.

Literally the only things I have eaten on a down day are three SlimFast type shakes and raw freebie veggies such as lettuce, cucumber, zucchini--these have almost no calories at all.

I encourage you and hope that you enjoy even more success!!

I am glad to offer some encouragement. I'm really happy to have this little forum to discuss this, actually. It helps me, too!

The nice thing about this diet is you basically start fresh every other day. I wouldn't worry too much about the Superbowl thing. I hope you have excellent success!!

I saw that 1100 figure as well, and it's too many calories for my down day also, according to the calculator. Since I am shooting for the 20-25% calorie range, and I don't due a lot of strenuous exercise, am female, and over 40 years old, my daily calorie allotment was pretty small, too! On my down days I have 3 shakes (they range from 180 to 220 calories each). The first few days I kind of panicked and had cucumbers and zucchinis in the fridge--a whole one of those was only about 30 calories. I had a couple of stalks of celery on two different occasions. Um, and I had a hot drink before going to bed. I had some sugar-free gum around, too. I drank a small glass of tomato juice (50 calories) on each of the first two down days, but I haven't had to do that again.

I noticed--biggie for me--is that if I wake up on the down day I'm not hungry yet, and I can hold off on my shake until lunchtime. That helps a lot. If I drink the shake in the morning, it's a lot harder to maintain the fast for me.

Now that I have done a few down days, they are not so scary. And, my gosh, with this kind of weight loss, even if they were kind of stressful, I'd do 'em anyway! But they haven't been bad, really.

Good luck!

Tomorrow will be my official weigh in for my first week on this diet. I lost four pounds the very first day but they came back on each up day because I really, really pigged out on my up days. I guess I was thinking I wanted to put this diet to the test, and the good thing is that I felt really gross eating all that greasy food! I'm starting to crave more healthy foods and I don't want sweets and soda anymore. Since they're not forbidden, I don't seem to need them as much now. My biggest challenge so far was sitting next to my husband in the car on one of my down days while he drove through Steak and Shake and then parked and ate it right next to me!!! He is the type that "forgets" to eat so he'll eat lunch at 4:00 p.m. without having eaten all day. Hate him! Anyway, I was hungry, but I didn't want any of what he was eating because I had already grossed myself out with fries and chicken wings earlier in the week. So hopefully I'll be back down that four pounds again tomorrow so I can reap the rewards of my down day today. I am getting sick of the shakes already, so I'm really hanging on with my fingernails today. However, like you, Beth, I am enjoying the job this diet is doing on my brain. I just feel different, more empowered maybe? I feel like I have control since nothing is forbidden on an up day and I know the weight will come right off after a down day. From now on I just want to eat healthy on my up days. More food than usual, but still healthy food. Like extra rice, pasta, or beans, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, stuff that's healthy but that I usually have to limit my quantities on. I'm just so glad I'm not craving fatty, greasy stuff anymore. I never thought that would happen! I made some mini pizzas for myself and the cheese tasted too fatty to me. Weird things are happening and I love it!

That's so cool! I can relate to your wanting to eat all that greasy stuff, and also to getting tired of it. Maybe that's just your mind letting go of the "forbidden fruit" mindset. I noticed that on my up day, I want my food to taste good and fresh--not just eat any old junk, kwim? I tried some chocolate candy and didn't like it--it just tasted like brown wax to me! Maybe this diet turns you into a gourmet.

Sorry you are getting sick of the shakes. That would make it tough. Maybe after the first couple of weeks you could switch to some low-cal frozen meals? They also are prepackaged so you know what you're getting calorie-wise. Or, maybe you could alternate shakes with frozen meals? Supposedly there is a book coming out. I sent an email to them to ask when it is supposed to be published.

There is a similar diet out there called QOD which is basically eating every other day--but it seems to have more rules. I like this one--easy!

I am definitley going to switch to eating Lean Cuisine or something instead of the shakes after this week. Right now I'm eating some celery and I was just thinking back to things I'd read about the negative calorie diet. What if I ate the fruits and veggies on the negative calorie list instead of drinking the shakes? I wouldn't mind eating steamed spinach and asparagus with lemon instead of a shake. It sounds so much better to me. The found a couple of lists on the internet of negative calorie foods, and I like a lot of them, 17 different ones, in fact. I would much rather eat fresh fruits and veggies on a down day than these dang shakes. Bleh. I could do a Lean Cuisine for dinner and then eat fruits and veggies on the list the rest of the day. That would be so much more tolerable for me, and I could still stay in the 20-25% weight loss calories allowed since the fruits and veggies would be negative calories. Any opinions on this anyone?

I am at a weight-loss plateau. I have weighed almost the exact same since I was 19 (25 now) and I am looking for something to break up my plateau. My mom has a degree in biology and says this looks legit, So I may try it. I am also training for a marathon, so I will let you know how it goes. I think that way my cross-training days can be my down days since I am not running a ton on those days. I'll let you all know.

Good luck, Shawna! I hope it works for you.

I am new to this forum. I found it while doing research on the JUDDDD. I had my first down day yesterday. It really was not hard to do. I realize that it easy after just day one, but I am looking forward to seeing how this all turns out. Hoping for Beth's good fortune!

Greetings, All, : )

I'm a newbie to this forum, (although after peeling off 38 pounds over the last 9 months, not a newbie to trimming the fat off this ole turkey! ; ).

Yesterday, after hearing about this diet plan at a different forum, I decided to Google for more info, which lead me here.

After eating about 2100 cals. of clean foods yesterday, I am on my very first down day as I type this.

I've been calorie/carb cycling a la BFFM since Sept., (3 days at 1200-1500 cals--accent on good proteins like nuts and fish--then 1 day at ~ 2100 cals., accent on good carbs like sweet potatoes, oatmeal, brown rice/pasta and greens/certain fruits).

I also work out usually 6 days/week comprising of: lo-intensity cardio like walk/jogging, elliptical machine work, or areobics, coupled with some resistance moves like crunches.

I shall try this new plan for 2 weeks, staying true to the usual good-foods regime I have become so used to, while taking it easier workout-wise on my down days.

After reading of the tremendous success of Beth and you others here, I must say that I'm quite keen to see the results of this little experiment.

Next weigh in is Monday, Feb 12th.

(My last recorded weight was 71.5kg, which is about 157lbs.)

cheers and nice to meet you all,

Minu

Good luck, Minu and Valarie! I will look forward to reading about your results. I'm doing a down day today after a very satisfying and delicious up day yesterday.

Hi Beth, The Upday Downday diet has turned me into a cat too .

I started the diet 2 weeks ago and am down 8lbs. My fiancee laughs because everytime he turns his back, I'm telling anyone who will listen about this diet. I love it because every day is an accomplishment. I'm interested in hearing how you and everyone does on this plan.

I beleive this diet plan could be one of the most successful plans out there!

-Amy

Hi Beth and all,

I am so excited to come across this forum!! I've been googling the Up Day Down Day since I read the article, but hadn't found anything but Dr. Johnson's website. I wanted to read testimonies! It sounds like several of you are having great success with this plan.

I will be starting tomorrow with a down day. Thanks, Beth, for the info. regarding having a shake at noon instead of first thing in the morning. That sounds like it would work out better.

I'm excited to get started, and I hope we can all be an encouragement to one another!

Angie

Congratulations on your excellent weight loss!



I've been telling a lot of people about it too. They are all amazed at how successful it's been for me. (*I* am amazed myself!). The fast results and the every OTHER day concept together are very motivating to me. I checked on the website and after the initial quick loss of pounds, it says the average loss is 2.5 pounds a week--average meaning that some lost slower, some lost faster than that. I would be very happy with steadily and reliably losing 2.5 pounds a week the next several months--especially since even on popular plans like Atkins and Weight Watchers where you have to be very self-controlled every single day, I was not able to do that. However, since I have to diet only every OTHER day on the Johnson Up Day Down Day diet, I think I can do it!

I noticed that in under two weeks, this forum has generated a very
large number of hits in the diet plan forum on this website. People are curious about it.

Angie, I'm loving it! I feel so successful, and I haven't even been doing it a full two weeks yet!



It works for me. Someone I know turned to cucumber slices and salsa to keep her going through her down day, because she ran out of shakes and didn't have a way to get to the store.



I, for one, would love to hear how it's going for you. It's really encouraging to me to be able to read about other people's success in following it and get ideas. I know it's probably not for everyone, but it's working for me. Good luck, Angie! Keep us posted on your progress!

Thanks for the advice on the veggie slices, Beth. That sounds like a good way to get some "crunch" in your diet on down days, too.

Do you ever supplement protein bars instead of shakes? Just curious!

Angie

I haven't, but somebody I know who is trying it alternated between Slimfast shakes and SlimFast bars because she would be away from a fridge during the middle of the day and didn't want a warm shake. I think that worked fine for her.

I noticed that the website highly recommends using shakes only (your choice of brand--whatever you like) for the first couple of weeks. I have tried to follow this advice. Using shakes has some benefits for me--first, I don't have to be in the kitchen longer than it takes to pull it out of the fridge; second, it kind of gets me out of the mindset of mealtimes and thinking about food; third, it's really convenient and easy.

Oddly enough, when I tried the SlimFast diet itself (a shake or two plus a regular meal every day), I didn't actually like doing it and was hungry most of the time. However, on my down days for THIS diet, I'm not hungry most of the time, and I don't feel crabby.

I don't know why this works, but I'm happy that it does!

How's it going for you, Cookie?

Hi Beth! Thanks for asking about me. I'm really inspired by your fast weight loss and great adherence to this diet. Well, I am pretty bummed that my four pounds reappeared with all my pigging out on my three up days so far. I had a down day yesterday and had one shake 180 calories, one V8 70 calories, three stalks of celery 20 calories (negative calories), a plum 36 calories (negative calories), Campbells' chicken noodle soup with 8 crackers for dinner, 200 calories, and my weight was not down today! I did my weight lifting yesterday, too. I think my body is freaking out trying to readjust. Maybe it was the onslaught of food after my first day on the diet when I lost 4 pounds and the repeated onslaughts of food the next two up days. I probably ate more than 2400 calories on those days with the wine involved, huh? I guess I kind of have to start over, but at least I haven't gained any weight, which is miraculous thinking of all the food I ate and wine I drank on those up days. Today I'm having a normal, healthy up day. I am going to eat all the healthy food my body is craving and not much junk because I feel horrible when I eat a lot of it. Hopefully those four pounds will slide off again with my next down day. They better!

Cookie, I'm sorry you're having a bit of a struggle! It sounds like you tried to copy my butter and donut day! LOL! I guess we dieters are so used to feeling deprived that when somebody finally lets us out of food jail, we go a little crazy for a few days! I noticed on the homepage of the JUDDDD website they have a picture of a man eating a gigantic multi-layered burger, and also a shake--so I think the message there is definitely--eat what you want/need on the up day, and really do the fast on the down day.

Also, I know you have probably gotten a lot of those cravings out of your system now, since you are wanting more nutritious stuff now. It's okay to have desert after, though, if you want!

I noticed myself buying treats for my up days, and I can't usually eat all of it--I either am full or I just don't want it. So . . . . I save it for my next up day.

I'm proud of you for not giving up. With that kind of can-do attitude, you will succeed!

Go, Cookie!! I am in your corner!! You can do it!!

a few questions now.. do I have to stick to the regular amount of calories my body needs on an upday?? I think that's 2100.
And last night (down day) I was so freaking hungry that I couldn't sleep. My tummy wouldn't stop rumbling.. and i was up til 4am. Anyone else having this problem??

Beth I think this is the only site where JUDDDD exists besides the home site. Isn't it exciting to be watched by thousands???

I will just share my own experience--I do not keep track of any calories on the up day. I have gone to restaurants, I have eaten sweets, and frankly, just allowed myself not to be on a diet. I don't know if that is typical or not. I also don't know if it makes a difference depending on whether or not you have a lot of weight or just a little bit to lose.

On the down day, I am really strict and just try to keep myself busy with other things and not focus much on eating and food.



Oh, you poor thing! Rather than suffering, maybe you could have a hot drink or some raw vegetables to give your tummy something to do. Sugar-free Suisse Mocha instant coffee saved me a couple of times--only 35 calories, nice and hot, very flavorful.

I hope that doesn't happen to you again!



I think you may be right . . . and I'm trying not to think about being watched--though as you know, I exchanged my personal photo for one of my cat!

Ok that's what I typically do (not count calories but eat whatever).. and I have about 15 pds to loose.

Thanks Beth! you're so sweet! but you know.. I have done all of the above (veggies and hot drink).. it is so anoying..but maybe what i'll have to do is wait to eat until at night then have the heavy protien shake. It's unfortunately happened about 3 times.

Good idea about changing your picture. The comment about the diet changing you into a cat made me LOL!! hilarious!!

You're the pioneer person in all this.. you've instantly become an expert with all that weight loss!! So exciting! PTL you're doing so well.

Hmm, you know, that's not a bad idea. Let us know how that works.

You know what is fun? I can wear some of the clothes in my closet which had were too tight before! (I KNOW I am not the only person on this forum who has multiple sizes of clothing in the closet.) Anyway, I now have a pair of jeans that is too baggy for me to wear. I'm going to cut them up and add the pieces to some other recycled denim I'm collecting to make this quilt:

http://www.equilters.com/library/jeans/jeans_gallb aros.html

I feel totally confident with cutting up the jeans, because I am not going to be that size ever again. Hah . . . take THAT, Fat Jeans! Wheee!!

I (too) Googled the Up-Day-Down-Day diet and found this forum. I've been at a plateau for quite some time now and am excited to see someone succeeding on this plan. I am concerned that I won't do well with the down days, however I'm not doing well with any days as far as eating goes right now. You all inspired me to sign up on this "traineo.com" and become part of this fight against obesity. It seems I can only eat (drink) 445 cal. on my down days. I will try this AFTER I go to the store and stock up on shakes/Lean cuisines/etc. If I can keep myself from eating my little girl's leftovers on the down days, I'll be doing well! ;)

Hi Guys,
Today is an up day for me. I have found that I don't want to eat the greasy stuff as much either. Someone said lets go for McDonalds and I just didn't want any of the heavy stuff. I guess that is good. The down day yesterday wasn't hard until late in the day. Then I was hungry and had a hard time going to sleep. I just kept telling myself I could eat in the morning. Then when I woke up I wasn't really hungry right away, go figure. Today so far I really haven't been overeating even though the opportunity was there.
The good news is I have lost 3lbs so far when I wasn't able to budge the scale on the diet I was doing before this.
Thanks so much everyone out there. I am glad I know I am not alone in this. For the first time in a long time I feel like I am going to win the weight war this time. LOL
Keep it up everyone!!!

Hey Beth,
You know I have about 4 different size clothes in my closet. The FAT clothes, the I can almost fit these clothes, the I wish I could fit in these clothes, and the now I'm dreaming big clothes. LOL
I know what you mean about the picture. I almost put a picture of myself, but just couldn't do it. I work at a nursing agency and had this picture handy. I'm not even a nurse just a scheduling coordinator. Well anyway at least I'm not a cat. LOL

Beth,

Would you mind posting what a typical "up" day consists of meal-wise for you? You've lost a good amount of weight so I'm curious to see how you eat on those days. I guess I'm a little worried about no restrictions...

Thanks,

Angie