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I have been on this plant based diet since November 2011. I have lost 35lbs and fit into clothes I haven't seen in 6 years. I'm looking to get down to at least 185 and a 32 in waist. Forks Over Knives and Dr. McDougalls books changed this households lives and some of my family members.

Now what also helped me with the weight and fatloss were a couple of guys by the name of Craig Ballantyne and Mike Whittfield. Craig develops and plans out training routines in a way he calls Turbulence Training (Metabolic Resistance, Met-Con type workouts). These workouts are designed to jack up your metabolic rate (thermogenic engine) burn fat and make you sweat. When I workout in the basement the windows are all fogged up in the house from me getting my butt kicked by these workouts. Add in Mike Whittfields Workout finishers instead of running on the treadmill or rower and I'm wiped out. I do these workouts 3x's a week for 30mins in total, that's all i can handle. I'm not getting paid for this thread topic by the way, I am just so excited about this new diet and workout regiment. I see alot of people asking for help and looking to design workouts. Trained athletes don't design their own workouts so why should the average, day to day person design theirs. You're just asking for injuries. Find a personal trainer for technique help or do what I did, go ask Craig and Mike for help. They're on Facebook and everyday hold a 30min live question period. If you can't lift or push your own bodyweight for more than 10reps than why are some people squatting or pulling dumbells and barbells. Use what you have, your very own personal gym (your body)!!

I have to admit I still have 20lbs to go, but it's working...I used to be 155lbs as a college rower and before November 2011 i was 235lbs. Give it a try, they both have free advice and a couple of free workouts that you can download to try out for 4-6weeks. After the free trial I was so excited and went back for more. I think I paid 9$ in total and have over 10-20 different workouts and 30 different workout finishers from Mike. GOOD LUCK!!! I'm not a personal trainer or a spammer or a pusher for these two guys. I'm a regular working guy who is just trying to help. Ask Lani, I think I have been bugging her since the day I first watched FOK and picked up the Engine 2 Diet.

Too better health and healthier cows;

JR

Hi Rutty,

It's great to see your enthusiasm for the plants and the workouts. Nice work!

I'm very familiar with Craig's work with Turbulence Training, and actually had Craig on my Teleclass series awhile back on the topic of "Musclehead goes veg" as he had ventured into a a vegan diet for a month, and kept up thereafter with some of the principles, though eats, last I knew anyway, an omni diet.

Turbulence Training is a variation of Supersets, a style which I really like and which I also do with the Fit Quickies. It's a great way to keep things moving and get a lot done in a short period of time.

Thanks for the report.

Here's to healthy living,

Lani

Rutty, congrats! I can relate to the weight loss and fitting into clothes I thought I would never fit back into. I feel great. While the change this way of eating was part of it, adding in the gym workouts for me has been the biggest move for me. I am slowly starting to see results. Pants, like you said are fitting better I am losing some fat around the midsection and actually forming muscle! While I have tried the recommendations, the exercise I had added 3-4 times a week has made a big difference.

Steve, you make a strong case or the combination of eating right and challenging your body. Together they create a bigger win for well-being. And the brain and mood improvements that exercise bring make it easier to follow through with your dietary plan.

Congrats and thanks for the Saturday inspiration!

Lani

I know I had heard "diet and exercise" growing up. When I last tried to get healthy, I had the exercise portion down, but the diet was rather lacking. Thankfully 11 years later I have been able to put both pieces together. Changing the diet alone as Dr. McDougall said in his first book I read, The McDougall Program, you don't have to add exercise, which I didn't and the results were still incredible. Now that I am working out, I miss not going to the gym. I feel much better the following day when I have worked out. I enjoy spending 45 minutes on a elliptical machine and working specific muscle groups. Now I only wish I would have done this 10 years ago. Better late than never...

Rutty, Congrats !


This comes to 5 lbs per month. That is an excellent rate.

I interested to know how you went about getting the rest of the household into this new eating plan.


Cheers

luckily for me the household is only my wife and I. I've had allergies to everything but dish soap. constant swelling of the hands, losing hair in my beard and I finally had enough. the doctors couldnt figure it out the specialists either. I found "Fat Sick and Nearly Dead", "Forks Over Knives", and "Food Inc". We looked at eachother, ran to the freezer and dumped everything but the veggies and fruit. Got rid of the dairy in the fridge and the other processed junk in the house. Are lives have changd so much, it gave us so much energy and my family back home are so proud of the changes that theyre actually trying it slowly...baby steps as Bill Murray would say. My wife is very supportive and that's what everyone needs when you need to make changes.

Rutty - I'm impressed by the major freeze purge. NOT a baby step, by the way! Nice work on all and congratulations!

Lani

Another item that helps are Brendan Brazier's "Thrive" books and his VEGA line of Sports Recovery BCAA's, Meal Replacement and Pre-workout berry powder. He does use coconut and flax oils but you don't have to, he's a triathalete and doesnt need to worry about gaining weight. I know the powders go against the RAW lifestyle for some people. But I find when you work 12 hrs a day, followed by making dinners and weekly lunches after work you just don't have all the time in the world to prepare post and pre workout meals. You have to fuel and re fuel if you want your workout to be successful. His ingredients are completely plant based, gluten and soy free. They fight inflammation, promotes an alkaline balance to your body and boy is the vanilla chai delish! Be warned of the gassius maximus for the first week though.

Just a note to remind, the McDougall plan is neither RAW nor does it recommend the use of powders and BCAA supplements. Better to prepare and eat real food.

Here's to healthy living,
Lani

very true, although sometimes life is busier than we can manage and the powders are a good backup. better that then the un-healthy muffins, cookies and other wasteful snacks served at surprise meetings or business trips. powders for me are never a choice over real good wholesome KALE, beans and quinoa! LOL

Rutty

Good on you. The few people the easier it is. My wife is supportive but not commited yet. At the moment, I am leading the change and I am hoping that she gets converted over time and takes over the food preperation and cooking as it is time consuming. This is what happended when we turned vegan 10 years ago.

mcfruit, my wife is probably 75% on board with the changes I have made. Unfortunately, I was hoping for better results as I feel she is still relying on her medication way too much. I can't even tell you what medication she is taking, along with a handful of supplements. It's quite shocking! I was hoping the change in diet would lead to better health and decreasing the medications and supplements, but it has not happen. It also seems to be a touchy subject, as all I ever hear is "I need them" when I bring up the medication or supplements. So I will continue to support her and eating better and hopefully these pills will decrease and maybe in the future fall by the wayside.

When it comes to the meds, having health care provider supervision can be important, along with individual conviction about the wisdom of same. You've probably already done this, but have you been able to find a good arsenal of reading to give to your wife from the McDougall archives to help with clarification?

Lani

Stoumi, I agree with Luni's comments and recommendations for medical supervision.

As for subject of converting the family househould, it remains a challenge for me:
The son is not interested in dropping oil from his food and vegan fake burgers & schnitzels & chips are a major part of his favourite food.
The daughter is adamant that strach makes her fat and shes does not eat much of it.
The wife eats whatever I prepare but this is putting a burden on me to keep cooking.
In short currently, I cook for both of us and the wife cooks for the kids the usual vegan dishes and fake food. I can not expect them to read The Starch Solution as the kids are still young and not interested.

My current approach is to continue with the change, hoping that they will be influenced. The risk is that we remain on 2 different regimens in the household.

Any ideas how to better lead the change?

Cheers