Discussion Board

I have a question on the starch based diet. I've been told by various people that if I went on a starch based diet all of the starch will turn to sugar and I won't be able to lose weight. I've been thinking of going on the McDougal program because I want to lose weight but am worried about gaining weight with all the starch in the McDougall program. Can anyone give me some help on this issue?

Go to the main page and on top look for the Star McDougallers. Read all the stories and you will understand that yes you can and will lose weight. I did and continue to. While I eat my potatoes

Here's one possibility. The people who have told you that you will gain weight on a starch based diet are mistaken.

But here's a longer answer for you.

One of the main reasons why people gain weight is because they eat a high calorie density diet. Think of calorie density in terms of either calories per gram or calories per pound.

When you eat a low calorie dense diet you will feel full before you have consumed too many calories. On the McDougall diet you will likely be eating a higher volume of food. But you will actually be consuming fewer calories.

Look into McDougall's Maximum Weight Loss Plan (often called "MWL" around here). That program mostly eliminates flour based products like whole wheat breads and crackers, because of their higher energy density. You see, if you take a food and remove the water and fiber this food ends up with a higher calorie density and it won't fill you up as much.

Avoid smoothies too.

So, what does this mean in terms of what you should eat?

You should eat:

grapes instead of raisins
whole wheat pasta instead of whole wheat bread
baked potatoes instead of potato chips
brown rice instead of rice cakes

And don't forget the non-starchy vegetables. Even though the McDougall diet is starch based, it does include lots of non-starchy vegetables like spinach, collard greens, lettuce, onions, kale and so on.

Does that help?

Dear Cuddles, some of us have found that by eating lots of starches we have gotten thinner than we imagined and actually find it challenging to avoid excessive boniness. So, if you faithfully follow the program, I expect that you, too, will become a happy customer!

Here is the link to my story:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=26307

Also see

http://www.drmcdougall.com/free.html

Use the great resources here and, if you decide to join those of us who eat the low fat unrefined plants (especially starches), please keep us posted on your journey!

pinkrose I have a question for you, Cuddles please forgive my brief highjacking of your thread. Since you have reached your goal weight, have you had to increase your calories a lot to make sure you don't get too skinny?

I am not cuddles, sorry, but to answer your question....yes, I have started eating some nuts, a little avocado and more flaxseed. I am 5'9" and my weight on friday was 135.8, which is almost not enough for me considering I hardly have any fat left on my body....just a tiny layer on my belly.
So yes, on this diet you can and will lose weight.

No, Jen, on the days I hike very far I usually eat a second breakfast of noodle soup--perhaps less than 400 Kc--a nice big bowl.



I am trying to practice CR for health and longevity and do not want to add too many calories.

My doctor has the same concerns that you do and advises me not to eat this way, even after extensive blood work to "prove" my diet was harmful came back showing I'm healthier than ever. I guess losing 160 pounds while eating as much as I want and having lower blood pressure than I have in decades isn't sufficient to convince her otherwise. The way she describes it I was healthier 160 pounds heavier and on meds!! Is that insane?

If you want a doctors opinion on this way of eating, listen to Dr. McDougall. If you want the opinion of people who have tried it, read the success stories on this web site. But don't be discouraged because people who've been brainwashed by Western Medicine and Big Pharmaceutical tell you otherwise.
If you can stream video watch this video: The Starch Solution
A condensed text version of the above: February 2009 McDougal Newsletter

-Norm

People tend to get caught up in the whole protein/carb/fat thing and forget that there is so much more to our food.

Stick to whole, unprocessed foods and keep fat to a minimum and you can't go wrong. Just read the boards for a bit and you will see the fabulous successes that are all around us here.

Does that soup ever look delicious! What kind of broth is it made with?

Yvie, I Googled to get that photo to give an example of the noodle soups that we have here. So I do not know what was in that bowl.

At the noodle shops here, you can usually select your noodle (My favorite is large rice pasta.). Boiling water is added and then you will have many choices about what else you will add. A bit of the red stuff (chopped chilies) is extremely hot. So my noodle soup usually has a bit of salt and black pepper and not much else. On a cold day, eating a bowl of this is a great way to warm up!

If you visit us here, I will be glad to treat you to a bowl of soup, Yvie!

I have had soup buffets in Thai restaurants where they add whatever ingredients to the broth that you choose...I wonder now if the broth was just water.

I have never tried to eat soup where only boiling water is added. I've got to try it sometime.
And I'd love to go visit you. I dream of being a world traveler, but alas, I must wait until retirement.

OK, put China and a bowl of soup with us on your bucket list, Yvie!