The only long term evidence I have that JUDD really works is my 80 year old dad. ( now my fellow JUDDers will yawn because I bring him up a lot LOL). He really has been JUDDing his entire life. ( He is also a medical doctor). He is 80 years old - healthy as can be.... runs, bikes, in the winter skiies every day, golfs, travels, etc. etc. In fact, he just got married!!! All my life I watched him select about 3 "diet days" a week to limit calories. The rest of the time he ate whatever he wanted - especially on the weekends. He gets annual physicals and checks out like a 60 year old!!!

I just thought I would add this in - I know it is not really scientific. I also watch my naturally thin friends automatically cut calories one day in order to compensate for too many calories the day before.

The bottom line is...... Most days, most people ( as evidenced by the epidemic of obesity) eat more calories than what they need. Therefore several options occur... 1) continue the pattern and gain weight 2) limit calorie intake every day AAAGH!!!!! or 3) create a plan for healthy calorie intake which accounts for living life...... for me that is JUDD!

I have never been on an eating plan that has been so succesful for me. When I went to my dad's wedding and everyone commented on my weight loss - I said "well, I went on our tried and true family plan - eat less, move more!"

You know, that's a really good idea, just to figure out what's going to work best week by week. Then you won't have any preconceived notions to get hung up on. For example, my husband and I are taking my mother-in-law out to dinner on Friday, which ordinarily would be a down day. When I realized that, I then also realized that I had better make Saturday a down day to avoid three up days in a row. But I felt disappointed, because I enjoy the Saturday up day. But, I know that for me, expectation has a lot to do with my state of mind. If I didn't expect Saturday to be an UD in advance, then I wouldn't be as bummed if it didn't work out that way for a given week.

Does your father ever to two down days in a row?

Interestingly enough, there is some science showing that alternate day calorie restriction brings about similar (and greater) health benefits than just consuming antioxidants. According to Dr. Johnson, it doesn't even particuarly matter where the food calories come from, as long as the up/down pattern is followed, which is why he feels this diet could really help people make long-term changes, as the endless deprivation of dieting which causes so many to fail is taken out of the picture.

The experiences of many on this JUDDDD diet forum is that there is an initial feeling of "Whee! I can eat anything I want!" on up days, but that quickly is replaced with more sensible eating. Just knowing you can eat a treat if you want to makes the treat less desirable. And you just don't feel well if you eat a lot of junk food, so that again is a largely self-correcting problem over time.

I really appreciate your thoughtful comments. Thank you!

This is such an intersting anecdote. Thanks for sharing it! How did he decided to do the 3 day thing?

That's marvelous--what a boost for you to hear that positive feedback! You're doing really well, and we're all proud of you!

You know, I think it just fell into place. I just remember my mom and dad's discussion on Sunday about meals and my dad saying things like "tomorrow I can come home for lunch so I want to make it a diet day....... or I have a lunch at the hospital so there goes that diet day....." Those are the kinds of things I remember. I do remember if it was a "diet day" he wouldn't waver even if a chocolate chip cookie was waved in front of his face.

I really had two models of eating growing up ...... my dad who seemed to embrace life, activity . eating and yet had some self control ( still does ) and my mom. .... My mom was a chronic dieter. She even tried the real invasive ones, pills, shots, etc.etc. I never saw her eat anything remotely caloric ( even a sandwich) without lots of verbal abuse to herself "I really shouldn't eat this.... oh well, what does it matter..... I'll start my diet tomorrow etc.etc." She never ever came to terms with the role food should have in our lives. We lost her 3 years ago to kidney disease. I think a part of this was all the abuse she gave her body over the years. Her metabolism was pretty wrecked!!!

So....... I told myself in the last few years of my mother's lives that I would not ruin my life by always seeking the next diet fix! I would enjoy food ..... try to just eat in moderation, exercise more blah, blah, blah. After gaining 40 pounds of that method, I stumbled across the JUDD article and the rest is history. I know I can JUDD forever!!!

That whole "moderation" thing is hard, isn't it. You just never know if you're doing it right. JUDDDD at least gives us a framework to use. Otherwise, I would end up eating moderate amounts of chocolate all day. And a moderately sized donut for breakfast. A moderate helping of dessert after dinner . . . you get the idea. I need something a little more definite than that!

Hello friends,

I'm new to Traineo and I've just started the JUDD diet. Going suddenly to a hard core 1200-1500 calorie diet was so difficult for me and I hope that the days will go by easier with this diet since I can always look forward to the Up days

Would someone please let me know how much they've heard of people losing while on this new plan? Or how much they themselves have lost? I'm hoping this will keep me motivated knowing that its possible to actually lose some weight while on this diet. The Up days are kind of scary. I'm at the 20-25% range and eating 730 calories on the down days 3660 calories on the up days. Thanks in advance for your input...

It's all about your adverage calorie intake. The down days aren't nearly as hard as you would expect. The up days are harder for me. I just can't be left to eat whatever I want. I would go over 4000 calories with ease. I still need to count calories and watch my sweet treats on my up days. I only weigh myself once a week to avoid the mental roller-coaster. Just use your weekly weightloss as a guide. If you are losing between 1 and 2 pounds per week your up-day down-day adverage is perfect. If you don't lose (and your calorie counts were correct and honest) you just need to adjust your up-days. I have been JUDDing for about one month. I only do down days on Monday Wednesday and Friday. I take weekends off. I do exercise alot but my up days and weekends are sometimes gluttonous. I have gone from 204 down to 196. Hey I think thats pretty good. This diet works just drink lots of water and get through the down days and don't get to crazy on the up days.

Hi Maureen, and welcome!

You've come to the right place for support and advice - it's great.
I've lost 26lbs in six months on this and have 23 to go to reach goal. Don't worry about your up days at the start, it really isn't neccessary. You don't HAVE to eat all those. Just eat until you're satisfied. Counting on up days only seems to become neccessary after a while. One thing to watch though, is to re-check your calorie allowance as you lose weight, it changes quite a bit as you progress.




Me too, Joe - and I did manage to do so on several occassions; but as Beth pointed out above, it does seem to rectify itself - at least it did for me.

I found I started to crave healthier foods and became less interested in the bad stuff. If I do have some 'junk' (which I do now and then), I often find myself wishing I hadn't bothered afterwards as I'll tend to feel horrible. (I'm a slow learner though and keep making the same mistake...lol). I am finding that I'm very gradually moving away from it though, which can only be a good thing.

Onward and downward Judddders!

For those worried about lean/muscle loss on Juddd:

This was posted by a moderator on the Judddd site in response to a query about the above:

Activation of SIRT1 turns off the gene PPAR-gamma which allows fat storage producing a net reduction in body fat. Various studies of intermittent fasting show trend toward greater lean body mass (see article).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed &Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=17413096&ordinalp os=16&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_Re sultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

I'm not sure I believe it but I've lost 5 pounds already...still, I will be focusing on keeping my expectations of weight loss at a reasonable pace. Too often, I get annoyed with a new plan when loss isn't happening quickly enough and jump ship prematurely. So far, I'm very happy with the plan indeed.

I'm a little concerned about how weekends are going to go on a down day however, especially when I'm usually eating out at nice restaurants with my boyfriend. Must be strong, must be strong, must be strong!

Try asking for something with just meat and veggies. Stay away from the breads and desserts. Remember portion sizes and take some home with you for another day. Drink lots of water, esp. before you eat. That way if you think you've eaten too much, it will be mostly water. Try not eating until you go out and then do the above, making it a medium day, that way you're not too far out...Good Luck...Come visit us over at "Friends of Dr. Johnson" team on spark people. We post our DD and UD foods. You might get some ideas. What ever you do, don't quit. Any loss is better than a gain. Good luck, this is the diet for success if you stick with it and so much easier to do than other diets. Lots of great support here too...Bug

this is good to hear!! I am not doing too well. I just can't seem to eat right at night!! I do fine all day-on my DDs but then at night, i want to eat!!! Today was an UD. I feel like I ate too much so i am going to try not to eat anymore tonight and FRI and SAT i am going to make DDs so that Sunday i can eat a little more. At least that is my plan!!! UGH I am afraid this gives me too much freedom!!

Cheryl,
I have the same problem and at first I thought JUDD would just intensify this tendency as an up day would be coming to an end and the thought of facing a dd tomorrow. I have definitely had some blow-out nights during my journey of JUDDing ( since 1/07 and lost 25 lbs). They are getting fewer and fewer. Now I find myself still wanting to eat at night but reaching for fruit and nuts. I know I consume 70% of my calories on both days after 5:00 p.m. The bottom line is - it is just the time of day I like to eat!!! I also really need to keep from drinking wine except for special times with friends - that can also kick in lots of eating.
Hang in there - it does work!!!!

Some of what you are saying sounds similar to the warrior diet written by ori hofmekler.

The basic concept is too eat raw food (He calls it live food) all day with just water, and consume one actual meal a day. In that meal you consume veggies first, then your protein, then your carbs. You stop eating carbs when you start to fell thirsty and that is that. There are no limits to calories, so it isn't uncommon for people on this diet to exceed 3000 calories in one meal, just stop when you're finished and listen to the body.

I don't have a lot of personal experience about this so I can't vouch for it. Does that sound like it has some similarities? or am I getting my wires crossed.

"The Warrier Diet", is similar in a basic way to "F5", (which is eating only within a strict 5 hour window each day--with NO snacking outside of that timeframe).

I've lost weight F5-ing, and fat, NOT muscle, and I have no doubt that The Warrior Diet works as well. I have read that it's even more effective with no foods eaten until that main meal, which is more doable for folks not into weight training.

It's worth giving either a shot, as I find the freedom of not having to bother with food for most of the day quite a nice break. Plus, the yogi-high from the fasting is for me, rather enjoyable in a mildly masochistic kinda way!



And yahooooo, it's nearing 4pm here, so I must plan what I'll break my lil fast with--likely some raspberries, a juicy peach and a 2-egg-1-yoke omelette with garlic, onions and a lil emmental cheese. YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...

Hi all! I'm new to JUDDDD. Had my first UP day yesterday and will experience my first down day today. I've been doing Fast-5 for about a month and was initially pleased with my results...however, I am very close to my (five or six pounds away) and need something to shake up my results. So, I'm committing to a month of JUDDDD to see what happens.

Rachel

P.S. I am going to do JUDDDD within my window. I think it will be most effective that way. I am in a 12-5 window on most days.

All the best, Rachel. I'm sure JUDDD will be just the trick to help you reach your final destination.



Minu

What is the 5 F eating plan? Thanks, margareta

I've lost 8 pounds my first week JUDDing. I also did three days of TaeBo. This is great! I love diets the first week lol, they always work

I actually don't have a problem sticking to 1500 calories a day...and if I go over, I take it out of the next day...

I'd love to try the JUDDD diet, as I greatly miss ice-cream, but I'd like to wait for a while to see if people get long-term results or not.

Hi Mideala,
Well I don't know how long term you are looking for - I have been at it since 1/07 and lost 25 pounds. There are quite a few in my same camp. The most important thing is that I didn't do the program for several vacations and could always jump right back in......... More than losing the weight - I am keeping it off!!!!

I really think it is a great program and seems to be working for many. If you decide to give it a try, I encourage you to join the JUDD group. There is a lot of great information over there.

Hi.... I wandered in while doing a google search on intermittent fasting. I have been doing the intermittent fasting (20/4) since February 2007 at 206lbs. I am now at 160lbs. This is the perfect lifestyle for me. I eat healthier... get in a hour walk every evening.... don't have to count calories.... can see myself doing it for a lifetime.

My plan is to get to 131lbs and I can see myself doing this without any problem. I couldn't say that with any other diet I have tried and at 48 years old I have tried more then my fair share.

There is also lots of research and more everyday on the health benefits of IF and CRON(Calorie Restriction Optimal Nutrition). I'm a true believe and want to tell everyone. LOL

Good luck to everyone on there healthy lifestyle journey.

Dyan

Hi, Dyan. What does 20/4 mean? Sorry to be dense . . .

Congratulations on losing 46 pounds this year! Awesome!!!

FANTASTIC, Maureen! I'm really proud of your hard work. (You're right, the first week of a diet is often a weight-loss honeymoon, isn't it?) The cool thing is, you had to diet only half the time.

Hi Beth. The 20/4 is 20 hours fasting and 4 hours feeding in a 24 hour period. I could actually do 23/1.... I only really eat one large meal.

Well I still have 29 more pounds to go, but I have finally seen the light and feel good about reaching my goal and keeping it off. Thanks for the praise.

Dyan

Hi, all-- I am considering going on the JUDDD plan because it really appeals to me, but I am hesitating because of my schedule. I have a job that involves one or two breakfast-lunch-dinner meetings each week. They are not on set days, so I can't plan my up days or down days in advance. I am concerned that if I have to start hedging the routine right from the start to accommodate my business functions, I'll be setting myself up for failure. Anyone faced a similar situation?
BL
ps-- I have been reading all your posts for an hour now-- this is a wonderful resource for ideas and encouragement to make the diet work!

Hi, BL, if you have some iron-clad-will, you could always handle those meetings with a, "I ate already", or with a, "Diet..." followed by a knowing look, insinuating silence.

Either that or just start when you want and hope for the best in scheduling. I have found that more often than not, the dinner parties I'm invited to fall on up days. Guess I'm lucky...

Welcome to traineo,

Minu