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I wasn't certain where to put this comment but since everything I am experiencing is a direct result of the book "The Starch Solution" I decided on here. I happened upon the book just by chance at the library and had absolutely no expectations. I read it and I and my husband decided to try it. We have been relatively successful at not eating meat and dairy and cutting the added fat quite a bit. This has been our experience: I am HUNGRY all the time! There really is a sensation of my stomach gnawing away at itself and no, I do not want to eat another potato or sad dry piece of bread. I don't know how to get over this as I have tried to eat but I just don't have the time to eat continually. Second, I seem to have a problem with my tummy, well, more like my, uh, elimination system to put it nicely. I just seem to have stomach cramps and everything that accompanies that. Oh, I'll just come out and say it, I have diarrhea. Third, I have tried two of the recipes (specifically, the Tunisian Sweet Potato Stew and the McDougall Burgers) with plans to try several others. They were okay but not great but my bigger complaint was how time consuming they were. I have a 3 and 6 year-old and as much as I like being a house frau, I really don't like preparing a 2 hour meal when there are never enough hours in the day. In line with this, I don't see how you could ever buy any sort of fast food again. Maybe a potato at Wendy's but what to put on it? Nothing. So sad. Another dry little potato. How would you travel? With children? The only good thing is that I do feel as though my clothes are looser and I have lost about 1-2 pounds (in about 10 days). Possibly because I am hungry all the time? Could be. I deal with muscle and joint pain (which are not gone) and I really had high hopes in this lifestyle change but can't understand how to make it feasible. I am completely frustrated.

Hi Welcome Melanie!
I would recommend you post your question in the Lounge where it will probably get more responses. What would really help is to let us know what your meals are like and we could give you some pointers. I suspect that if you are hungry, could be you are not eating enough. I understand when you are starting out how frustrating it can be especially because it is a totally different way of cooking and eating that what you did before.
There are lots of mcdougallers with families who can give you tips for the kids.
2 hours to prepare a meal is long. Personally I would only do that for a special occasion. My meals are thrown together in no time at all by keeping it simple. We have a handful of meals that we love and that are simple and quick to prepare, and we make them over and over. A meal can be as simple as a microwaved baked potato with jarred salsa on top...5 min to prepare or a bean burrito (ready made tortilla, mash a can of beans, salsa, chopped lettuce, chopped onion). With a bit of trial and error, you will find meals that you love and that are easy to prepare.
Some appliances are gold for helping you speed things along...food processor, pressure cooker, slow cooker, blender

I noticed this when I first started too. It seems to take a while to adjust to the lower fat intake. No matter how much I ate, I didn't get that full, heavy feeling I got when I ate high-fat food. It passed over a week or so, and I got where I preferred the lighter feeling because I had more energy and didn't feel sluggish after eating lunch. My advice is to just keep with the plan and make sure to eat a cup of beans every day with some non-starchy vegetables as well. You don't need to make it complex. Try some of the healthy dips and sauces to make the food taste better until your tastebuds adjust.

Michael

Never go hungry. If you are hungry because you don't like the food, then that will take some time and exploration of the various recipes. I went through a similar phase, and had to force myself to have healthy choices around all the time. But I did adapt. I know the book recommends limiting fruit, but, intially, I ate a lot of it to curb the hunger. Now that my palate has adjusted, I eat more at mealtime, and no longer need to snack as much.

I positively love the Tunisian stew, particularly after I followed Dr. McDougall's advice and added a little salt at the table. This applies to a lot of the recipes. Also, seeking out quality fresh ingredients will make a difference. This applies to the spices as well as the produce.

You might want to explore other books for recipes (Engine 2 Diet, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, Everyday Happy Herbivore are all good). I'm intending to check out Jeff Novick's Fast Food DVDs.

Give it time - I promise you will grow to really appreciate the food after your palate adjusts.

I recommend that you get the Happy Herbivore or Everyday Happy Herbivore books by Lindsay Nixon. The recipes are quick and easy, and she uses easy-to-find ingredients. They are saucier and more seasoned than many of the plain, boring meals some long-timers here eat (no offense meant), but are great for transitioning over to a whole foods, plant-based, no oil way of cooking.

As for your gastrointestinal troubles, I hope those pass as you adapt. Remember, the damage caused from eating the Standard American Diet for 30-40 years won't be undone in a week worth of McDougalling!

Good luck!

I have only been on the program for about a month, but I have learned that I need to stay prepared. If I cook big batches, I don't have to cook often. And the RIGHT type of food is at my fingertips when I need a meal or snack, which makes me stay away from the WRONG foods. lol

Once a week, I am making a large pot of brown rice, 5-10 pounds of boiled or mashed potatoes, and some type of dried beans (in the crockpot, for the beans).

If I keep those staples ready in the fridge, I can use salsa, fat free dressings, soy sauce, tomato sauce...a multitude of things...to flavor the starches into so many meals that I do NOT get bored.

And of course, I still bake a white or sweet potato at some point in the week, and add my quick-to-cook yellow and green veggies.

The stockpile cooking is for when I am too busy, or too tired, to cook. Those types of foods store well in the fridge for days.

As for that dry bread you mentioned, I would skip it. You don't need the bread when there are better starches to eat that will make you feel fuller. At least until you get the flow of what works for you and makes you feel really good and satisfied. For me, a snack of a big bowl of mashed potatoes feels decadent and sinful. Just my style. LOL

I don't care for plain food either but have come up with some really simple recipes. Like someone else said most people have 8-10 favorites that they rotate.
Having little ones it makes it even more important to stay with it. You want to give them the best you can and this is it!!!!! I know it's hard at first while you learn but it will be worth it in the long run. I'll send you a couple of my favorites that are quick and easy and maybe others will do the same., to get you started.
Eating out is not imposible but it is definately tricky. I know you are busy with two little ones but homecooked meals are hugely better for you. When you "Cheat" you are just making it harder for your tastes to change.... and they will. Your digestive system will adapt as well. If it doesn't let us know and we will continue to help.
Keep it up!
You can do it!
It is worth it!
Dig in and don't let go!
It gets better!!!!!!

Barley and soup
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=30540

Blackbean burgers
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=30543

Snack Hummus substitute
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=30584

Green chile Stew (Go with mild chiles for the kids it's not HOT)
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=30813

bean tacos
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=30815

Check out the food and recipes section on this site for lots more. just reading them you be able to figure out if they are quick.
I don't spend more than 30 minutes on mine. Prep time some need to cook a little more. But you can walk away. I used to prep and cook while my daughter was napping and then just finish up at dinner time. I also make salad for 2 nights, rice for 2 nights and always make enough for Hubby to take for lunch the next day. When I chop I make an extra cup of each veggie and put in frig for the next few days. It's like getting a vacation on the off nights. just add veggie stock and your done. Freezing it another great idea. Make it times 2, freeze it and it's ready when you need it.
You can do it!!!!!

I have found this thread helpful and wish the OP would comment.

I am not sure about making my own taco shells. Are there any store bought ones that will work. Hard and/or soft?

I had severe diarrhea in the beginning also and had no choice but to give up the coffee. That was going from a vegetarian to a vegan diet so I was very surprised. For me the potatoes cooked in a variety of ways stops any hunger pains. I prepare them in different ways and use different toppings or I have brown rice and lentils or plain rice. I mimic a lot of traditional recipes, making them fat free vegan and this makes it less diet feeling. I love having a huge salad at dinnertime too.
Keep at it, its really worth it. I feel great after eating this way for 4 1/2 months and have lost 42 pounds.
Chris

My version of the McDougall Burger

Start with 1 10 oz. Pkg. Frozen chopped spinach. Thaw unwrapped box for 4 minutes in microwave, then squeeze water out after its cooled a little.
Simmer 1 chopped onion and 8 to 10 oz. chopped mushrooms in a little water. Drain. Add a
16 oz pkg of extra firm organic tofu – rinsed and drained. Crumble it up with your hands, mashing it to break up. Add 1 ½ cups old fashioned oats, 1/3 cup ketchup, 2 T. soy or Braggs, 2 tsp. Lemon jc,1 T dijon, ½ tsp. Garlic powder and pepper. Mix all with your hands, squeezing to break up tofu and combine all.
Preheat oven to 375. Very quickly spray a large baking sheet. Take a ball of maybe ½ to ¾ cup of mix and press into burger shape in corner of sheet. I can fit 8 on my sheet. Bake 20 to 25 minutes each side. Refrigerate or freeze burgers. We love these and I never get tired of them.
Chris

I have just finished week 3, and felt the same way the first week or two on both counts. I still am having a lot more bowel movements and they are looser than they used to be, but I am regarding that as the new normal for me.

I have made lentil soup and split pea soup and find that a bowl or two is a filling snack when hunger hits between meals. Also oatmeal cooked with fruit in it during cooking makes a filling breakfast. For me, meals that are based on raw and cooked veggies result in hunger within an hour. I have to add in starch and or beans. I aim for about 50% green veggies and 50% starch and beans. That balance has helped me manage hunger. When I get up to 75 or 100% veggies and fruit I suffer from bad hunger. I don't feel I can ignore it the way some on the board do. My stomach hurts, I start to shake, I get a headache, and generally ruin my day when hunger is severe. I agree with those who suggest potatoes as a way to battle hunger, also, though I generally cook mine into a stew, rather than eat plain.

I am new, but I am guessing more starch (70%) would help with the hunger.

I have tried to center my meals as potato being the main dish (or what would have been meat in the past). Almost every lunch and dinner for the past week has had potato in it. I have had plenty of rice, beans and veggies. Breakfast has been oatmeal with fresh fruit. I also have had wheat bread with bannana and rye read with cucumber and tomato for snacks, but only a few times.

I do have more gas, but not smelly. No hunger pains or even being hungry. More energy than I had in years and my skin feels less oily.

John,
I have not found any taco shells that are compliant. They might be out there but I have never found them. They are easy to make though.
Good to hear about your skin. I have noticed the same in my Hubby's skin and mine is nicer than it's been in a decade.

I think the store bought corn tortillas are okay. I bought a 100 pack of them today and made tacos.

Corn Tortillas
Fat Free Refried Beans
Red Potatos
Brown Rice
Black Beans
Picante Sauce
Hot Sauce
Romain Lettuce
Tomatoes

I also baked some to corn tortillas in the toaster oven, still working on the time and look. Fine line between crispy and burnt.

I think I will use the corn tortillas for snacks instead of dark bread, not sure.