Discussion Board

Hello All.

My name is Scott.

I'm very excited to be here and to get started as a McDougaller! I discovered Dr. McDougall from reading “The China Study”. I just finished it a few days ago and surfed over here and have been reading a lot and have watched several videos. There is a lot of information to take in, but instead of trying to read every single article, we’ve decided to do the Free 12 Day Program. This is sort of a leap of faith because eating potatoes and beans goes against everything we’ve ever been taught about losing weight.

We have some nervousness about what eating potatoes is going to do on the scale, but everything I’ve heard Dr. McDougall say in the videos and everything that I’ve read in his newsletters, makes me believe that he is right and that even if we don’t see results at the scale the first week, we are doing what is right for our health. We have been on Weight Watchers since January 2011.

My wife, aged 33, has lost 76 lbs. She has Hashimoto's disease (hypothyroidism) and MS. She has been off her disease-altering medication (Betaseron) for over 4 months because we are trying to conceive. This may be difficult due to the thyroid issues, but she is working with her docs to get her numbers “in line” and we hope to be blessed with a baby sometime soon. Because of what we’ve heard about dairy and MS, we’ve given up dairy for several months and have replaced it with almond milk. All in all, the combination of the weight loss and giving up dairy has her feeling very well. After watching the Starch Solution and MS video, we are considering her taking her chances by NOT going back on the Betaseron for her MS. Instead, we are hoping that following Dr. McDougall’s plan will help keep it under control (I’m hoping for a miracle that it will just go away! I know, this thought on my behalf may be crazy, but, there is always hope…)

We’ve been eating vegetarian since the beginning of the year, and have been toying with the idea of trying veganism.

I'm aged 39, and have lost 68 lbs (I started at 333 lbs). I have a brand of kidney disease called Glomerulonephritis, which means that I do not process protein correctly and I pass it through my urine. I am on Lisinopril and Simvastatin, both as a result of the effects of my kidney issue. I have also been prescribed Vitamin D by my internist, although after hearing what Dr. McDougall has said about the Vitamin D tests and how just about everyone fails them coupled with the danger behind Vitamin D supplements, I think I am going to stop taking it. I am also going to stop taking the fish oil capsules that I have taken for several years in hopes that it was doing something good for my kidneys (it’s an oil, it’s animal sourced, and I have no idea if it’s really done me any good!).

She has 15 more lbs to go to goal and I have...I don't know...another 70-80. We're both on plateaus and want to get rolling again. Besides being concerned about going against everything we’ve been taught about eating starchy foods, we now have the extra concern that we are following the wrong McDougall program. We want to get off our plateaus! In my haste, we went and bought groceries for the Free 12 Day Program menu and think that I have figured out that this is not the Maximum Weight Loss (MWL) program menu. Will the Free 12 Day Program help us kick-start our weight loss or is this more of a weight maintenance program? What do we need to change in the Free 12 Day Program to get maximum results?

Does anyone have any words of wisdom or advice as we get started on our Dr. McDougall journey?

Sorry for writing a novel!

Thank you,
Scott

PS – We’ve ordered The Starch Solution and want to check out Jeff’s DVD on calorie density.

Just dropping in to say hi again & welcome. We will all join you in hoping for great results you both in defeating your health issues. I have a dear friend with MS and will be on the edge of my seat wanting to hear that this is working for your wife. Dr. McDougall said in February at the Advanced Study Weekend that his MS study is looking promising, but he can't ethically let the cat out of the bag any more than that.

Best wishes again - Michelle

Welcome aboard to you and your lady, Scott!

I expect that you will both benefit from following the program here, especially in regard to MS and weight management. Some have also reported good results in regard to fertility.

Since you are both serious about getting thin, I suggest that you follow the MWL program. I think that trying to blend it with the 12-day program would be confusing and you can make the MWL program as simple as you like. For example, I eat only veggies and starches and this has worked very well for me in regard to weight management. You can see my story here:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=26307

Do not fear potatoes or any of the unrefined starches. Eat when you are hungry and eat until you are satisfied and you will do well!

Please keep us posted on your journey!

The Star Mcdougaller section has two stories of women diagnosed with MS who are doing great on this program. They are worth reading!

Hi Scott, and welcome!

I spent several years sort-of-following the McDougall program (I was about 90% compliant) before deciding at the beginning of the year to commit to MWL because I needed to lose about 20 lbs. I have been very happy not only with my weight loss, but with increased energy and generally feeling very well. MWL has given me a much better awareness of what kinds of foods my body needs to function at its best. You will find lots of support and resources on this website and discussion boards, and the MWL board is good for motivation and answers to any questions you have about the program.

Best of luck to you and your wife and I look forward to hearing about your progress!

Wow, thank you all for the kind welcomes and your personal stories. I definitely will read your story, Pinkrose. This seems like a very supportive community and it feels good knowing that the wife and I can turn to here with questions and for encouragement.

We already have the groceries for the first 6 days of the Free 12 Day Program, so we will follow those recipes. After that, are there any specific recipes for MWL program?

I like the idea of keeping it simple, but my wife really likes to cook and prepare things, so too simple, I'm afraid, will make her bored.

I did run into Jeff's simple recipes on Facebook (but need to find the link again!) and those all looked delicious.

Anyway, I have to get motivated here in the office, but I did want to drop in and say thanks.

Scott

I really loved Jeff's Calorie Density DVD. It's a good one for non veggies to look at too.

Welcome aboard. There is so much info out there. You all have done reading and research and have eachother, I know you will be a success.

Thanks, Faith. Getting the Calorie Density DVD is on my list.