Saturday, December 8, 2012

Doing Something Out There...

Weight - 239.0
Mood - 8
Pain - 5
Exercise - House Cleaning

On Day 11 I determined that something was not working for me. I've tried to eat original Atkins (65-75%) fat on average, while keeping carbs at 20g net and eating protein to adequacy. (I actually keep my protein between a range of 60-80g when eating "normal lc".)

What I saw happening is actually fairly representative of what I've seen in the past. This time I averaged about 65-80% fat. And I gained weight. I didn't feel bad. Other than feeling increasingly uncomfortable from the fluid retention. I didn't have any earth shattering cravings or anything.

And I've no doubt that NK (Nutritional Ketosis) or original Atkins as written are plans that work for many, many people and are better for us than other forms of LC or other HC diets. But as most will concur, weight loss is highly individual. And what works for some doesn't work for others.

I'm a firm believer in the superiority of low carb living, especially when faced with metabolic issues as I am. So I've no intention of changing things us to eat a low fat high carb diet. But here's what I do know about me right now...

1. It IS about the calories for me as well as the carbs.
2. It IS about the fat for me as well as the carbs and calories.
3. It IS about the protein for me as well as the carbs, calories and fat.

I have a better response from eating at a "lower" Atkins fat % and eating a higher level of carbs. So my preferred diet is about 40-60% fat, 60-80g protein (all sources), and 40-60g net carbs daily. That's generally around 1400cals give or take a couple hundred cals. BUT that's maintenance for me. I don't lose very rapidly at that level. Trouble is...I can't stick 1000 cals daily, day in day out. Cuz I get mad and rebellious.

So I found JUDDD (Johnson Alternate Day Down Day Diet) which is a type of alternate caloric restriction style diet which allowed me to enjoy a day around 1400cals then alternate with a nutrient dense, very low calorie day of 500 cals every other day. And that works for me for weight loss. I also tend to try to introduce intermittent fasting with that where I eat within an eating window. That was very effective in helping me reach my all time low of many years - 218lbs about 2 weeks reconstructive surgery #1, a bilateral latissimus dorsi flap procedure.

After surgery I'd gained from 226 lbs day of surgery (I went off LC for surgery prep, per the surgeons strict orders) up to 240.8lbs on the first day of Atkins Challenge. I made it through 10 days. The eleventh day I woke up to see 247.8lbs. Something was wrong. So I went searching for some kind of break.

I stumbled upon a thread in the JUDDD forum, started by my friend Ouizoid, about a diet hack being conducted by some of the people over at Mark's Daily Apple called the Potato Hack. Nothing but potatoes, vinegar, and salt. And people are losing. And losing quickly. There are reports of people losing as much as .5 to 1lbs of FAT per day.

I don't understand the biochemistry enough to be able to explain it nor to refute its efficacy or proclaim its safety as a means of short term weight loss. I can tell you after about 11oz of carbs my blood sugar isn't really "horrible" from how many points it rises post-prandially. It hit a high of 146 which isn't great but it was 107 pre-prandially and 104 fasting. So the potato diet isn't totally taking my blood sugars off the charts.

Supposedly this diet because of being low fat helps liberate fat stores and makes you become glucose responsive as opposed to insulin resistant. Dunno. I can tell you, here are my results (even alloting for a cheat last night at 2am).

Thursday 8am - Weight 247.8lbs
Friday 8am - Weight 244.8lbs
Saturday 8am - Weight 239.0lbs

So SOMETHING about this diet is making me shed all the fluid I had been retaining. It's boring but fairly satisfying. There is a little hunger there but it's not overwhelming.

Typically I lost best in the past from a ZONE style diet which is pretty low carb, but also low fat (30% fat). Maybe this loss with the PH (Potato Hack) is only water, maybe it's part fat and part water. Maybe there is some LBM loss (muscle loss). Dunno. But I've committed to see it through this third day and will hope to see more losses tomorrow.

I don't know if I will continue it tomorrow or return to my low carb JUDDD rotation (which as you know from my past menus is 1 day is eaten at lower fat Atkins on an OWL ladder and one day very low fat, very low protein, low carb day).

I start an entire month of daily physical therapy for the lymphedema in my left arm, breast area (no breast left), and back/side. I will have to do two therapies. One is for the lymphedema. And one is for my back which contributes to functionality. My left arm is in a 40-75% deficit and the therapist basically said that is not a functional arm, meaning it's disabled and I can't proceed with normal daily activities with it like it is. Which is true, there's so much I am limited in doing with it as it is.

I will be doing JUDDD until the next surgery which has been scheduled for February 19th. Hopefully I will get back down to the pre-surgery low of 218lbs or lower.

Hope you won't desert me. I will still be making up yummy low carb foods and showing yummy pics of my meals. I think you will be surprised at how big my daily plates are at 500cals!

6 comments:

  1. Never desert you, my dear. Still love to read what is going on with you. Tried JUDDD but did not seem to work well for me. I say whatever works for you and helps you feel good, too. In my prayers, Nancy

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  2. Never desert you -- You inspire me! From the date of my surgery in Feb of this year, and second one in June, I have gained 40#. Im beside myself in horror! Today started my effort in making a change. I have to make this change. I am so appreciative that I found your blogs and the arsenal of information.. This is what I need.

    I hope your feeling better, I think of you often! - Michelle

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    Replies
    1. Oh Michelle the feeling is completely mutual! Hey did you have lymph node dissection? I can't remember. So sorry bout those 40#. Has your onc given you his "facts of life speech" re: weight gain and breast cancer? It's such a yukky talk to have with em. Come be my breast buddy in weight loss!!!!

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Fluffy Chix eat what??? Holy smokes! You can't eat that on low carb, can you? Thanks for joining Fluffy Chix Talk Chicken Scratch, the adventures in daily low carb nutrition and all the menus that go with it and maybe a picture or two! This is the daily Fluffy Chix Low Carb Menu Blog. Leave lots of comments and love, ya hear?!! Please share Fluffy Chix Cook with your friends!


November 26, 2012
Resumed Atkins Induction after surgery and recovery.


September 25, 2012

Bilateral Latissimus Dorsi Flap Resection for Stage IIIC Breast Cancer Reconstruction



September 19, 2012

Quit JUDDD and low carb to prepare for surgery.


August 13, 2012 -

Resumed JUDDD schedule while continuing with the Circadian Rhythm Schedule for eating and sleeping windows.


July 23 - August 12 -

I'm starting an n=1 pseudo-experiment today. It's based on experiments with Calorie Restriction and Food Restriction or Food Windows. I'm working with some guidance on this. The idea will be to reset my Circadian Rhythms.New research shows that Circadian Rhythm disruption influences inflammation and obesity as well as insulin sensitivity. These are all areas I'm desperate to address because fixing these areas could allow my body to heal. This could give me a better shot at remaining cancer free.


For the next 3 weeks, I must reset the Circadian Clock inside my body. To reset the CC (Circadian Clock) I need to discontinue JUDDD over the next 3 weeks and simply adhere to a feeding, sleeping and waking schedule. I will be adding a note section at the end of each day in order to evaluate status and moods.

Step 1: Eat a low carb diet without calorie restriction for the next 3 weeks without any type of calorie rotation.

Step 2: Eat all meals within an 8 hour feeding window - 11am - 7pm. Absolutely no eating after 7pm. Non-caloric liquids are allowed on demand.

Step 3: Adhere to a bedtime with total darkness at 11pm and wake time of 6:30am, every day.

Step 4: After 3 weeks I will resume JUDDD Rotations with a 20% Calorie Restriction on Down Days - 500 kcals, Up Days will allow up to 2340 kcals. The JUDDD Rotation will feature low carb nutrition. Continue to follow the FR (Food Restriction eating window, bedtime, and waking time.)

Step 5: After 2 weeks back on JUDDD Rotations, evaluate the ongoing weight loss level I feel comfortable in sustaining for the long term. I can go as high as a 50% restriction and still experience activation of the SIRT1 genes and asthma alleviation. Continue to follow the FR (Food Restriction eating window, bedtime, and waking time.)

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JUDDD Plan -

What in the Sam-hill, cockamamie food plan are you following? That can't be low carb!! Well, you're right it isn't simply low carb. I follow a derivation of the Johnson's Alternate Day Diet. I tweaked the JUDDD diet, as it's called, into a low carb version.

I choose to follow this plan right now, because I am experiencing dramatic improvement on asthma symptoms, blood sugar control and weight loss.

More importantly, I also experienced a greater than 50% response rate in neo-adjuvant chemotherapy towards a high grade prolific ER+/PR+/Her2Neu- breast cancer and lost 45lbs during treatment - when most people in breast cancer treatment gain 10-20lbs. (KI-67 was 22% with 17mitotic bodies).


Sure, I'm a turtle. Weight loss is slow weight loss. But it's weight loss! Hope that helps bring you up to speed!

The JUDDD diet has quite a bit of testing behind it and is founded upon theories that alternate day caloric restriction activates the longevity gene, the SIRT1 gene.


Suggested side effects of the JUDDD Diet are greater blood sugar control, reduction of systemic inflammation, relief or improvement of asthma conditions, reduction in movement disorder brain dysfunction, and possible anti-cancer effects.

But! Key to remember, I'm an n=1, not a doctor, not a nutritionist, nor allied health practitioner and you MUST do your own research. I'm just a girl who had cancer and is dancing with NED at this point in time.