Discussion Board

Thanks, Toadfood, we're both still quoting Letha! Hi all -I'm doing really well this week with food - exercise needs to get a little better. I have had a pretty busy week, but that hasn't gotten in the way of my eating plan. I'm sorry that I haven't posted more. I'm sticking with oatmeal, brown rice with steamed veggies, and veggie soup. I'll check in again soon. Take care, LauraA

Hi everyone! OK, it has been two weeks since I've posted, and a month and a half since I've weighed in. There's some good news in here somewhere - I haven't eaten compulsively/binged at all, and I haven't gained weight. The bad news is, though, that I haven't lost either. Now I'm about to leave on a two week trip, and shortly after I return from that I will go to Tanzania for a month to work. I'm just going to stay there same, or do my best to stay the same, until I am home again in the beginning of July. I'm disappointed in myself, because I'm no longer keeping up the weight loss, but I still have the goal to lose all of the weight that I need to lose in 2012, and I can still do that, even if weight loss doesn't pick back up until July. I'll still have 6 months! The main thing is, I just can't quit or start back overeating or eating things that cause me to binge. I'm going to try to get back to posting more regularly, and that seems to really help me. Take care, LauraA

Hi Laura,

Bummer about the no weight loss but YAY on no compulsive overeating!!! That step has to come before anything else so it's a win. I'm impressed by the way you're dealing with this but I understand the frustration.

What will you be doing in Tanzania? I've wanted to go there ever since college. My Swahili instructor is from there and some of my old classmates have visited her family on vacation. I'm still trying to find a way to get over there without going bankrupt.

Keep up the good work. One step at a time!

Laura the fact that you've lost weight and are maintaining that weight is good. It's always enjoyable to read your posts. Good luck with all you're doing.

thanks Birdy and kkrichar for stopping by. I leave tomorrow to visit grandchildren for a couple of weeks. There shouldn't be any eating problems. Both daughters that I'm visiting are vegetarian, and one does the McDougall program.
I've been giving a lot of thought to weighing and compulsive eating. A few years ago I had some therapy concerning compulsive eating. The therapist, who had eaten compulsively for years, really urged my to toss the scale. I don't know that she recommends this for everyone, but it is what she did herself. She feels that she is in normal weight range, but hasn't weighed in years. She doesn't even weigh at the Dr's office. I tried it for awhile, actually gave away my scale. Later, though, I bought a new one. I can't really weigh the next couple of weeks, can't weigh in Tanzania in June, and so I may just try going a few months without weighing. Here's what often happens with me with the scale - I eat well, weigh, and have lost. I then tell myself that I don't have to be quite that careful. If I've ever gained, or stayed the same, I tell myself that I can go ahead and overeat for a few days, and then I'll get back on track. I know that I will always know about what I weigh, and how well I'm following the program. I might just see how this works for me for awhile. Take care, LauraA

I'm now visiting my daughter, her partner and my grand kids, and doing great with eating. My daughter's partner really understands my eating, and is a great cook! We have eaten out a couple of times, and that has gone well also. Really, food hasn't been on my mind that much, which, for me, is a great thing! My knees are still quite stiff, and
that is a big motivation for me to stick with my healthy eating forever. I'm just really hoping that I'll no longer have such stiff knees when I'm at an ideal weight. It's really noticable when I'm with grand kids, walking fast, climbing in and out of backseat of car, etc.
Take care, LauraA

Now I'm visiting another daughter and grandchild. Eating is going well. This daughter McDougalls too, and i showed her Cloudy's Star McDougall information, and commented that i wish that i could stay that committed. My daughter had an idea- she suggests sort of the opposite of what I had been thinking about the scale. She said that I should weigh in once a week at a doctor's office, to feel more accountable. We thought of my regular doctor or maybe weight watchers. Then, she had the idea of me weighing in at Curves.I think they'd be glad to do it, and I could still not have a scale at home. I cant start this till after I work in Tanzania for the month of June, but I think it's a great idea for me. As I've said, I too often use the scale as an excuse, whether I've gained or not. I just think that with someone else to answer to, I'd be more reasonable. I'm planning to give it a try. I hope that everyone is doing well.Take care, LauraA

Well, I'm an all or nothing person. I'm happy to report that during this time in NY with my daughter and grandson, I've been totally on track! Every breakfast oatmeal and fruit and Zen green tea, every lunch brown rice, steamed greens and beans (usually at one of our favorite NY restaurants, Blossom, Candle Cafe or Mana) , and every dinner we've fixed veggies and potatoes and greens in the apartment. You can certainly get vegan junk food at the restaurants, but I'm following Cloudy's idea of thinking that those items aren't food for me. Here's how things can go for me if I'm not really careful - maybe I would add nuts to my oatmeal, then later in the day I would tell myself that since I had already had some nuts that day, that I might as well buy a little bag of nuts. Then, maybe I'd order avegan desert, since I was already not quite on program. Well, none of that thinking is getting in my way now!! I'm doing well, feeling great! Also, we're in NY, so we are doing lots of walking. I also just finished The Starch Solution for more motivation. Thanks to all whose posts on all of the boards are so inspiring!! Take care, LauraA

Laura, way to go! Food looks good and you sound good. It is a relief to be on plan, huh? I feel that way sometimes when I'm doing well. I really loathe the struggle.

You have a good one.

Way to go Laura sounds like your really doing good.

Hi Laura, someone said (you? Letha?) that just because you veer off the road doesn't mean you have to drive off the cliff. I think of that when I eat something off track and then have the urge of "might as well"....really NO, not might as well.

I recently learned that the response I want is this: Oh, I veered off the road. Therefore, my very next eating must be a huge bowl of greens or a salad or something VERY high nutrient....to get back in balance.

With Affection...
Riva

Thanks Riva ( great advice!), Rosie, and Anna. I love having company visit my journal! Right now I'm on a flight that has wi-fi, flying from NY back home. As far as I know, I was 100% compliant on my trip! I just topped it off by saying "no thanks" to the plane snacks. More often than I'd care to admit, I talk myself into that tiny bag of peanuts, or maybe two. Well, not today. I'm proud of myself and feeling great! One thing I've been doing every day is rereading a few Star McDougaller stories and a few testimonials. It is really helping. My latest revelation? I'm really glad that i've had this struggle with weight- that's what got me to McDougall and this healthy way of eating!! Most people my age are on lots of Meds, can't sleep, and don't have much energy. Really, I'll never again wish that I had never had a weight problem! Take care, LauraA

Great work on saying no to the peanuts.
I tried to keep models for every situation in mind. For example, about ten years ago a woman sat next to me. She ate a small yogurt and 2 apples on the entire cross country trip. During that same period I ate...I won't even say. Ever since I remember her because she was fit and lithe and if she could do it...so could I.
Riva

Riva, that's a great idea. I need to stop noticing the tiny, trim people who eat tons of stuff!
Something unusual happened to me this morning. I am home, and had my usual oatmeal. I try to give myself reasonable portions, but I usually clean my plate (starving children somewhere, you know). Anyway, in NYC we had our oatmeal at Starbucks, and the portion is fairly small. Sometimes I'd have a bite or two of my grandson's if he didn't finish his. Today I got about half way finished with my oatmeal and I was stuffed!! I actually left some in my bowl. I couldn't believe it!
I hope that everyone has a great day. Please visit my journal and comment. Take care, LauraA

Well, I've learned a lot this morning from catching up on Geo's journal! We both seem to be all or nothing people, but I've had way more times that I'm on and off of this way of eating. Let's see, as I've said before, I've been vegan for 18 years. I've known about the McDougall plan for that long also. I did have a few months at one point (about 10 years ago) where I tried adding fish. I've been on these boards since 2008, so that is 4 years. I've had big times of being strictly MWL, and other times of loosening up and regaining some of my losses. I've still down in weight from 2008, but I still have weight to lose (maybe 30 or 40 pounds?). I think that my goal weights have been too high. I started January of this year with very compliant MWL, and have been learning a lot about myself.From Jan through March I lost 14 pounds, I slipped some during lots of travel in April and May, and I have been 100% compliant now for 10 days.I have not weighed in in a couple of months. I have lost, though, because I can tell by clothes and how I feel. I now plan to keep counting compliant days of strict MWL, and to begin some really good record keeping when I return from my yearly trip to work in Tanzania. I'll be gone for most of June. I definitely have some food addiction issues, and I do so much better when I'm 100% compliant with MWL. So, for now, day 10 feels great, and I'm doing fine. I will get more involved with keeping track of exercise etc after Tanzania. Of course, I get pretty much exercise there - I work in an orphanage. For now, I'm spending as much time as I can reading things here that keep me on track and inspire me. Take care, LauraA