Real Name: Carolyn Avery
Location: Live in East Bay, work in San Francisco
Where/How did you find out about the site &/or Dr Mcdougall?: I found Dr. McDougall's website via a split pea soup cup and some free time at an office job. I consumed the website off and on for 2 months (at first thinking it was too extreme) and then decided to become a vegan McDougaller on my 28th birthday. I've read enough now to be convinced that the reason this program works so well is that humans are designed to be herbivores (starchivores really).
How long have you been following the McD program?: Since my 28th birthday I've been a follower of Dr. McDougall, but not always a good follower. In the past I slip up with dairy. I won't eat meat but have eaten dairy or oil. When I do, I get bad results, so I've been getting back to McDougalling to get healthier and lose some weight I gained while being vegetarian.
What was your initial reason/goals for starting the program?: I've always loved animals so I was happy to see that I didn't need to eat them to be healthy. Ethically this program really suits me and aligns with my principles. I also really liked the fact that I could eat until I was full (thanks to fiber) and not gain weight, in fact, even lose weight.
The other thing I liked, as I learned more, was all the disease prevention and reversal that happens with this way of eating... not just heart disease and diabetes, but cancer, arthritis, constipation, ulcer prevention, acne clears up, and more.
Initially it was the animals, my health, and easy weight loss. I also like that I'm doing right by the environment and not contributing to global warming.
What is your success to date?: I'm losing weight without really trying and getting my cholesterol level lower. Not sure exactly where I'm at now but about 20 lbs down from my high (from being junk food vegetarian).
Describe a typical day of McDougalling for you:Breakfast: cereal (wheat puffs, shredded cinnamon wheat, dry oats) + quinoa milk + sliced banana + lots of cinnamon
Lunch: varies but starch like potato with ketchup or sweet potato with hummus + veggies or salad
Dinner: tacos, no-quesodillas, pasta, rice or noodles with veg stir "fry", vegan sushi, soup and potatoes...etc.
Favorite Mcdougall Recipe/Dish: vegan french toast baguette with cranberries and real maple syrup
Describe your exercise (how much, what kind, etc): I bike to work every day and walk (sometimes) at lunch. I'm taking up skiing so there will be more of that next winter because I'm going to buy a pass.
Also, I like to jog for 1/2 hour first thing in the morning but I'm waiting for my knee to get better after a sprain. I really like swimming but I don't belong to a gym any more so I'm only swimming once in a while now. I should really walk and bike more while I wait for my knee to heal up.