The Rotation Diet 2013 My Journey- by Sunnyside!

sunnyside

New member
Wow! 2013 is here. I've been preparing myself for a couple of weeks now. I've always known that I will never lose weight until I am good and ready! (And highly motivated) I found The Rotation Diet book at a garage sale. I grabbed it and threw it in my garage. A couple of weeks ago while trying to find some Christmas items, I found it. I wasn't wanting to get into anymore fad diets, but I thought that I might find some great tips. I must say, I was pretty fascinated! I always believed that there was something to calorie zig zagging. I've read a lot about it.

Dr. Martin Katahn’s Rotation Diet is unique in that you get one week off your diet every month. His theory is that dieters fail because they get bored eating the same foods day in and day out. In addition, their metabolism slows to keep their bodies from starving, causing them either to maintain their weight or even gain. Reducing food intake also causes headaches, fatigue, constipation, and other problems that make it hard for you to keep it up long-term. Therefore, by taking regular breaks from your diet, you will end up losing more weight. He also advocates that you take up a daily 30-minute exercise routine along with your diet, because without exercise, you will gain back any lost pounds. Women start with 3 days at 600 calories, 4 days at 900, and 7 days at 1200. Then you can take a week or 2 off to maintain your loss. This will be the hard part i'm sure. But, I need to learn sometime.

About 5-6 years ago, I lost weight just by counting calories. I lost about 30 lbs in 3 months. Pretty good. I kept it off for a few years. Until I quit my waitressing job and moved to California. No work for 2 years and lack of exercising got me to where I am today...50 lbs too heavy and feeling unattractive!

I'm excited about this diet because it shows quick results. I'm a very impatient person. I need to be motivated and encouraged. So, although, i'm sick today. (Finally caught the cold that my family has had) I'm laying in bed, not hungry anyways. I said I would start and Jan. 1. So here I am.

Jan 1 600 calorie day. Starting weight 196.
 
Hey Sunnyside ! .... you've found an "oldie but goodie" in your garage sale find of Katahn's Rotation Diet ....

I originally bought the book & did the diet back in the late 80's... I was much younger then - & I did manage to lose 30+ pounds on it back then.... but - the low-cal days are Really low cal- ....I got REallY hungree....
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You do get fast results - ( sounds like it might be what U are after).... it does follow good nutrition - fresh foods, low-fat, fairly low carb , but for me- was just too tuff to stick to...

Many years older now ( & heavier) - I have come back to Kathan's book/diet - I follow the Katahn's food choices...but I increase serving sizes - and alternate my calories in a 2 day rotation , rather than his 3 weeks on/ 1 off.... I alternate 1,600 cals daily with 1,200 cals... the "alternating" does seem to help increase the loss - and easier to handle a low-cal day- knowing the next day is "more cals".

A good calculator for planning exercise/calories is: .... I found it gave me a fairly good estimate of what I should be doing....

...going "too low" on calories can sometimes slow your metabolism & really slow-stall weight loss- so if you find the ultra-low cal Katahn plan doesn't give U results U are wanting - U might want to check out a bit more generous calories...

& YES YES on the 30mins. exercise - besides helping the weight loss- it is so good for overall-health & illness prevention ( check out U-tube video 23 & 1/2 hours .... excellent (& entertaining) quick over-view from a doctor on what 1/2hr exercise daily can do for ya.)

wishing U much success,
cheers maryann c.
 
Hi Maryann. Thank you for the encouragement! I will be especially watching my body. I'm not afraid to up my calories if I need too. Thank you for reminding me to remember to get in my exercise.

Today was my second day on The Rotation Diet. Yesterday was pretty easy. I was out sick with a cold, so I laid in bed most of the day. I feasted on mostly oranges and pineapple during breakfast and lunch. For supper I had sprouted flax seed bread with peanut butter, and a large stir fry with zucchini , onions, and cabbage. Quite tasty. This morning to my surprise I woke up with 4 lb loss! I was quite surprised. But, i'm assuming that its from the New Years party the night before. Eating chips and dips into the New Year will make anyone bloat up!

For the most part, i'm doing pretty good! We got a gift box from my inlaws filled with cookies, and candy. I was able to avoid eating it. But, they did send me my favorite-chex mix! Yuppers! I ate some. Bummer! Good thing though, I didn't binge!! I think I still manged to stay within my 600 range. Darn salty foods!!

Day 2 192 lbs. 5'7
 
Hey there sunnyside, and welcome.

Wow 600 cals.. I don't know if I could go there, but i'll be watching your journey with interest... I hope it works for you!

See ya round
 
Hey Sunnyside - good work on keeping the chex-mix in Check ! lol. -

4 lbs. down- yay ! .... what a great start.
Hope the cold is better soon & keep up your good work - way to mash those pounds.

cheers, Maryann
 
So, I wanted to eat the rest of the bag of chex mix tonight. I asked my daughter for them and she looked straight at me and said, "Modre (don't know why she calls me that) anyway, "Modre, even though your face looks totally scary right now, i'm not giving you that bag!" So good to have support.

Woke up this morning to another lb loss. I was actually able to button my "fat" pants.. I didn't say I could zip them up though...just button. You know, we all have them pants. I just fold them over my belly....and go on with my day.
Today is my last 600 calorie day. It was a pretty easy day. The book gives us free veggies and a safe fruit to eat. He says that we should never go hungry. Which is perfect. I hate going hungry. 900 day tomorrow. Guess, i'm eating like a king! Can't wait.

I put it out on my facebook page that I wanted to lose 40 lbs by my 40th birthday. Now, it's official. One thing that i've been reading is that we need to anticipate events, pressures , and temptations that might interfere with our resolve. I actually practiced that today. My daughter was making pizza. I knew this, so on my way home from work, I told myself that there is going to be pizza (my favorite) when I get home. I'm not going to have any. I thought of everything I will eat instead. Fruit, veggies,ect...then I thought, Wait! I am going to eat pizza. But, I don't have to pig out on it. So, that's what I did. I came home, had 1 piece of pizza and fruit. I felt really good. One was enough. I didn't feel like it was "forbidden". Which usually makes me go hog wild. In the past I would say, "i'll just eat like crazy today, and tomorrow i'll start over." Or, "I already ruined today, so...." after thinking like this everyday has made me the weight i'm at today!


Jan 1 196
Jan 2 192
Jan 3 191
 
Go to settings at the top, and it will be under Edit avatar on the side. Good luck with your weight loss! :)
 
Hey there sunnyside, and welcome.

Wow 600 cals.. I don't know if I could go there, but i'll be watching your journey with interest... I hope it works for you!

See ya round

Nice to meet you! Luckily the 600 is only for 3 days. Hasn't been bad though.
 
Hey Sunnyside - great work on keeping the pizza to 1 slice - 1 slice can be satisfying - add the fruit ...and you are learning "moderation".... and no guilt - perfect ! - that's a habit that U can learn to keep up for good-
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& sounds like U have a perfect mentor in your daughter- good for her keeping you in "check" with the "Chex"...

great on another pound down- ...U R rocking ! -
 
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I had a wonderful day today eating my upped calories. We ate out at my favorite Burrito joint. Called Freebirds. I ordered a bowl. It had beans, rice, lettuce, guac, salsa, and roasted garlic. It was delish! I usually have it with chips, which I passed on. Yay me!!

I woke up this morning another 2 pounds down. This was surprising. And I was able to button another pair of my pants. It feels good to be fitting into clothes again. I still have many pounds to lose, but this is such a great start!

In the book it says the key to keeping off your weight is to get at least 200 calories a day burned by exercise. He suggests walking. I see how this works now. When I first lost a lot of weight I was waitressing in a busy restaurant everyday. Then no work. My pounds came back quickly. I should not have stopped moving around. Now I have a desk job. I need to find new ways to get my walking in. I can't let this derail my success. So, i'm off to walk. Have a wonderful weekend!

Jan 1 196
Jan 2 192
Jan 3 191
Jan 4 189
 
Holding steady today at 190. Weekends are hard! I chose not to go out to a friends house on Friday. They were having food into the night. I just don't think i'm quite strong enough yet. On Saturday night we had a youth party. Chips and dips and cookies...I think I ate a little more chips then I should have. But only woke up with a pound more in water weight! Today is my 3rd day on 900 calories. Looking forward to the weekdays ahead. And starting to walk...thanks Maryann!
 
It's been 1 week since i've started my Rotation Diet. For the exception of my night of too many chips, i'm still down 7lbs. Tomorrow I start with my 1200 calorie days. 1 week at 1200 calories! Wow. Think of all the possibilities! LOL.

I have to think about my trials and successes this week. I passed up junk food on Friday, and gave in on Saturday. What was the difference? Well, I skipped my friends house on Friday, but didn't skip the house on Saturday. Why not? Because that would be rude! I realize that i'm a big time social eater. I've got to find ways to combat this. I have a staff office party this Friday night. At least it will be on of my 1200 calorie days. I sure hope there is not sweets. I'm going to have to "fantasize" about not overeating. Seemed to work once this last week.

A pro and a con for this week. My husband has been kind of cranky and distant from me. (No fault of mine-I know). But, a great pro is that I did not pig out on ice cream and popcorn. But, my con is that I blamed myself. I was thinking about how it's because i'm fat, or ugly, or not a good housewife. I've got to get a grip on things that make me want to binge out. I cannot use my husbands moods to decide whether or not i'm going to be healthy. I don't think it's fair to him or me.

So, I hope everyone is having a wonderful week. I've never had a diary before. This is kind of fun...even if i'm talking to myself! :seeya:

Jan 1 196
Jan 7 189
Goal May 3 156
 
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Wow sounds like a really inspiring first week! Use that motivation to keep on going - LOL 1200 cals sounds like enough for a banquet compared with your calorie allowance for the last week!

I might go and look on amazon for the latest version of the book!
 
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