Discussion Board

Hello!

To start I'll explain how I got to this point:
I tried the elimination diet last year, and that wasn't very motivating for me, and I gave it up. Thinking of that, here are the excuses to made to stop it.
1) I hated the elmination diet. I was desperate for flavour. The first thing I tried I started getting severe stomach pains, and it wasn't because of that specific food but because my stomach still wasn't lear off offensive foods. My dad had bought me some treats, after which he remembered I was on the elimination diet. I ate them, and that was the end of it.
2) There was a young woman who was living with us who kept pointing to my large meals and saying "I don't know why you don't put on weight", with little understanding of why I wasn't putting on weight, I started eating less and letting myself get hungry. I realise now how silly that was.

I came back to McDougal because my Dad kept mentioning that he wanted to go on MWL, so I read the book again, and, even though I definitely don't need MWL, I found the information very helpful and a little more clear than the books I have. What really got me motivated though, was when I had heartburn so bad it was burning up to my throat and ears. I couldn't even lay down to sleep. So I started doing just the regular McDougall plan, letting myself eat all that I want. The first few days, I let temptation kick in, and to use Skamboots terms, I ate some "VAD" (Vegan American Diet food). My sister, who is not even remotely interested in this diet, keeps tortilla chips around. My plan of attack: Why eat these flavourless, greasy chips when there are prefectly good potatoes that I can microwave? Really, if you chew your food really well, after a couple of bites, these foods have little flavour.

So I have been McDougalling for almost a week now, and I have started exercising today. It was a 20 minute walk, I got too tired out and had to stop halfway through. I guess I'll have to make walking 5k a goal, or do it at a much slower pace.

My Goals:
Keep trim and fit
Decrease heartburn by eating less tomato, garlic, onion, and spices
Treat oil like it is poison! (Evil oil!)
Limit sugar to 1tsp a day to eventually cutting it out
Exercise (and by doing that, getting outside) every day
Get rid of my skin problems by cutting out oil
Get more energy, mentally and physically

I am already starting to feel better, both mentally and physically, my excuse has always been, "What's a little bit of oil going to hurt?" apparently it hurts a lot. After reading MWL, I now realise why it had been doing to me. My skin is already less oily, today I even felt like going out and doing things, and I look forward to things getting even better!

Breakfast: Sweet potato
Lunch: "Steam fry", and congee
Dinner: Probably steamed potatoes, veggies, served over lettuce with some mild salsa
Exercise: 20 min walk + biking to the gym and back instead of driving

i remember you and I'm glad your back, yaya yaya yaya!!!

Thanks Sksamboots! I'm happy to be back! When I did the elimination diet for 1 week last year, I felt better then I had ever felt! I had energy, I was happy, I was being goofy...but I introduced something new and it bothered me, I now realise it was because I should have waited 10 days not 7 days before adding something new. Anyways, I'm going to stick to regular McDougall foods for now, and if I feel like I need it, I might go on the elimination diet again, now that I know what I did wrong, there are better chances of success next time!

Today was not a good day.

I woke up with heartburn burning up to my throat. I think it might have been the salsa, or the dired fruit I ate yesterday. All I wanted this morning was potatoes, however, we didn't have very many left. So I used this as an excuse to eat Tostitos. I just ate them out of habit, rationalizing that it will alleviate my heartburn. They tasted gross, I didn't even want to eat them.

However, while reading other posts on this board I came to a realization: Why keep making myself sick when I KNOW there is something I can do about it. I only ate congee (and tostitos) this morning and I felt so tired, mentally and physically. Then for dinner I had rice,lentils, and vegetables. I realise now that to continue eating things that I know will make me sick just seems crazy to me. I know that if I eat enough starches I will feel better. I have experienced this. There are many other McDougallers who has stuck with this diet a while and they are healthy.

Hi Loveskale,

I can relate to feeling self-conscious because of the enormous amounts I eat, and yet I'm underweight right now. I find I need a ton of MWL foods to avoid the dissatisfaction that leads me to eat off plan. I'm currently doing the elimination diet, so check out my journal if you're interested in knowing more (Burgess and KMD have, or are currently, doing the elimination diet and we've been sharing our experiences).

All the best on your journey!
lfwfv

Thanks! I will definitely look at your journal!

Bad anxiety that night

Today I slept in, longer than I have in years. However, I was able to get to the gym today, abd I am quite proud of that. I ate a potato before and it gave me enough energy to do almost 1 hour of walking. The last time I went to the gym I pushed myself too hard on the treadmill, I went speed 4.2, and after 20 minutes I was tired and had to stop. However, today I went at a good pace, speed 3.6 and walked 5k (6.25miles) in 50 minutes! I felt great afterwards and could speed up to 3.8 prtway through So I was happy!

Breakfast: Congee (Rice cooked with ginger & kombu), cilantro, green onion, and toasted flax seeds
Snack: potato
Lunch: a little bit of rice & lentils
Snack: 1/2 pint of raspberries
Dinner: Kale, pasta, and beans
Snack: a rice cake with my homemade roasted garlic chipotle hummus (Made totally fat free of course!)

...and the rest of those raspberries might not make it either

I have been celebrating the small victories lately. Recently, on VAD ( and restricting calories quite considerably ) I was so tired I could barely do anything. I had to take a nap by the afternoon. Now I have more energy, if I have to walk downstairs to grab some dried beans, no problem! Which is better than groaning and say "I'll just cook them more tomorrow", I also have the energy to go to the gym now. Which I am very happy about. I am still experiencing panic/anxiety, but it is not nearly as bad now.

Breakfast: Congee, sweet potato, 1/2 of a potato, 1/2 pint of raspberries
Lunch: leftover kale and paste (I felt hungry afterwards, and I didn't have as much energy. I don't think pasta is for me).
Snack: Rice cakes and hummus
Dinner: Beet and potato salad, beans and quinoa with veggies
Exercise: Some weight lifting and a 50 minute walk on the treadmill

I also ate some VAD, I ordered them weeks ago and they came in today, and temptation took over. I will not order them again next time!

This evening, I started to feel tired again, but not as tired as before. I am still able to function. No more processed food for me I guess. Also, I woke up early, and my muscles weren't used to the weights.

Yay for more energy. Keep that feeling and remember it. Keep on keepin on

Yesterday evening, when I went to post, my internet was down so I couldn't. That day I couldn't exercise since I was so sore. Today, however, I was able to make it to the gym again. But after going ton the treadmill I felt tired, and it got worse after my bike ride home.

Breakfast: Congee
Snack: Potato
Lunch: Rice and beans, 2 rice cakes w/ ff hummus
Snack: Potato and some raspberries
Dinner: Probably rice and beans again

Have you ever tried grating nutmeg over a microwaved potato? Tastes good

just popping in to say hi. Looks like you're doing well! Any idea what's behind the fatigue?

Take care
lfwfv

Thanks for stopping by to say hi Lynn Green! I'm still not sure what's behind the fatigue. I had it yesterday and barely mustered up the strength to do some yoga for exercise (but I pushed myself). My heartburn was also bad, maybe...just maybe that has something to do with it. Being sick can definitely take a toll.

Hope you have a better day

Thank you Sksamboots! I am going to be busy all weekend, I'll try to post tomorrow if I'm not home too late, but if not, I'll post monday and start my challenge!