Hurrah Maggie. Thanks for sharing. As you know, and thanks to your inspiration, we're on our own journey with rabbits as well. We picked up a breeding pair of NZ's on Easter (by coincidence). We're slowly processing our first litter born two weeks after Easter. Since then, we too have been experimenting with diet and valiantly searching for info - namely, a recipe for homemade pellets (wafers, whatever) to supplement with hay or dried grass. Our ideal is to rid ourselves from a dependence on feed stores, but still have healthy rabbits. We have lots of green stuff here in the Pac NW, but hay is a little trickier to make. It rains A LOT. We managed, but it was a real struggle to dry properly, and I'm not sure it is the best quality, even though its from pasture grass seed sewn this spring. They eat it though! Here's our report: Without a doubt, Mr. & Mrs. Bunny were raised on pellets. Since Mrs. Bunny was pregnant when we bought her (surprise!), we never moved her entirely from pellets, but slowly introduced greens, much to her delight. Mr. Bunny was far less receptive for a long while, but he's rather a cranky sort anyway (honest) and displays his various moods by accepting or rejecting food (and bowls) no matter what we feed him. So no real baseline sample with him! Our first litter was exposed to salad and pellets from day 1. They prefer salad to pellets and grass hay as a slightly distant third. We also treat them with toasted bread ends. I get these from a bakery I work at - no hormones, preservatives etc., just toasted whole-wheat bread. (Inspired, I experimented in the creation of a bread substance specifically for rabbits that could be more easily preserved, but later abandoned the idea). The results from our first litter were that the kits never reached a good weight until much later - even though they always had pellets available! Our biggest - now at twenty or so weeks is finally 5 lbs, though most are averaging 4.5 lbs. On the plus side, no one was ever sick or in poor health. It just took them lots longer - which cost us time, energy (and $$$ for extra housing!) When we brought this topic to the meat rabbit group on Yahoo, it was explained that our feeding program was prohibiting rapid meat development. Were surely not surprised really, but the alternative (for best results), would be a feeding more program which more resembles the "Cornish Cross Rock" practice. We're searching for a happy medium. We were fortunate enough to meet one of our state's most knowledgeable rabbit growers showing at the fair this year. She echoed the meat group and admitted that rabbits will suck down greens "like candy bars" when given the choice. (I'm not so sure this is a bad thing). She DID mention that we should ignore what others say about having to have high grade pellets. Her opinion is that the cheaper brands work just as well as the more expensive ones. As for home made foods, she recommended an old book that lists a recipe for meat production (author - Templton, we have a used copy on order). I'll share the recipe when I get the book. At least we'll know whatÂs IN those pellets - or should be according to Templeton! Mrs. Bunny just kindled 7 more kits last week, so we can make adjustments this time. The meat rabbit group often discusses diet so lots of good info there, thanks to someone here who recommended it. Again, when the book arrives I'll share the info. Thanks, Maggie for your post. How timely! LF RJ

Hi, I hope you can help and that you can allay my fears that weird things are going on. I am a major fan of the Atkins diet and managed to shed 28lbs, 2 years ago, on it and have kept it off. I am now 159lbs and went on the Atkins again about 8-10 weeks ago as I was starting to feel suffocated by my extra weight. slowly, I managed to lose 6.25lbs, but more importantly 10 inches. I had a bit of a bad spell when my Boyfriend had his Birthday, but I got straight back to it and have been feeling slimmer than ever. However, I weighed myself this morning and I have put on 3.25 of the 6.25lbs I lost (not all in one go, the last time I weighed I had put some on), but I have lost another 1.5 inches, making my total inch loss 11.5. How can I be losing inches, but not weight and actually putting it on? I am desperate to be around 140lbs as I am only 5'2". If any of you have any help, advice or reassurance, please may I have it? Thanks

When I first saw this, I didn't know whether it was the "Corn" Rotation Diet or the Short-for-"Carnal" Rotation Diet. Either way, I'd consider this an ad if I worked here.... :-(

Diets work best when you time them well. Your brain and liver work together to regulate your weight. The most effective "diet" I know is the leptin diet. Try either book, the leptin diet by Byron Richards or his more detailed book Mastering leptin. When leptin is not being understood by the brain, no diet is going to help. Ann louise gittleman's books including fat flush plan give you more eat this instead advice but everyone could use some liver support when they are losing weight. Lastly, diet foods with artificial this and that cause weight gain. That's been proven for a while now so just eat real food without chemicals your hard workin liver has to filter out. The less chemicals your liver has to deal with, the more it can focus on weight loss. Everyone trying to lose weight should see their livers as the magical solution that they are. ................................................................................................................................................................. Tips from the books Don't eat right before bed. You need to be repairing and losing weight, not digesting. Eat lots of fiber. Your body attaches fats to fiber when it wants to let it go. This is also how your body lets go of toxins. You NEED that fiber at dinner. Sleep at least 7 hours. Most weight loss happens after the repair cycle while you sleep. Your body will always repair first so don't shot yourself your weight loss hours. Give your liver a few hours rest between meals ( no snacks! ) Eat as pure as you can without added chemicals, artificial lab created whatevers. Be positive, don't put yourself down. Weight loss is a gradual journey. Doing it too rapidly is hard on your body. Move around every day. Jump on a trampoline or jump rope to circulate your lymphatic system. Your lymph doesn't have a heart to keep it moving and you need to when you're losing weight. If you're gonna have a treat, eat it with a meal. Makes life so much easier for your liver. Turns out, the old 3 meals a day was the right way to go. Start off with a good protein at breakfast and a palm sized portion of carbs plus as many fruits and veggies as you want. You get enough sleep, didn't eat right before bed so you have a good breakfast. That's half the battle already won!