For the program details visit the MWL Guidelines thread in this forum. Please check out as many of the links as you have time for, there is so much here to discover!
A couple of other great resources, for those just starting out, are from Jeff Novick the staff dietician for the program: The Ultimate Guide to Free Calorie Density (MWL) Resources and his 1 hour video explanation on Calorie Density: How to Eat More, Weigh Less and Live Longer.
Summer is well under way and I am still on vacation, driving across the Midwest, on what has been a fun adventure so far.
Last week I challenged myself to follow the Maximum Weight Loss plan for the duration of my vacation. It's been interesting for me to see just how easy it can be while travelling, with a little diligence, planning and acceptance that you may have to sweet talk every server you meet in order to get a plain baked potato and some sort of veggies.
(Here are some of my dinners, at a fast food buffet x 2, a roadside cafe and a Kansas Steakhouse)
For our travels, we decided the family would only eat out for dinner (with an exception or two). Our breakfasts have consisted of oatmeal and fruit (either through free-hotel buffets or microwaved in our room). For lunch we eat cut fruit/veggies and pre-baked potatoes or dinner leftovers (for me) and sandwiches (everyone else) in the car.
Since my whole family doesn't follow this way of eating, at dinner we strive to find restaurants that appeal to all while still having a 100% compliant meal for me.
It has been a lesson in very simple eating. Lots of plain baked potatoes, brown rice, raw or plain steamed vegetables and fresh fruit.
We've been staying with relatives for a few days now and one of them wondered if I would have trouble continuing to eat this way over the long term because it was so "limited". Instead of trying to convince them of anything myself, I pointed them to this article from Jeff Novick Variety vs Simplicity: The Key to Success and
The Free McDougall Program Links page that highlights this concept on the Steps to Recovery page. Dr McDougall says Simplicity has great value and makes the diet easy to prepare. There is no requirement for great variety to assure nutritional adequacy. The foods are complete long before they reach the table.
Best wishes this month!
Amy XO
PS. Travelling tip: The Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, CO is a beautiful place to hike!
Here are the standard monthly instructions for participating in this thread:
Our weigh in's are on Fridays and you have until 12 PM PST on Saturday to report.
Anyone is welcome to join the weekly weigh in group as long as they follow the McDougall principles. We recommend following the Maximum Weight Loss (MWL) plan or the Mary's Mini's Plan.
There is a sticky at the top of this forum on the guidelines for the MWL program.
In order to tally the results please submit your results by posting the total pounds you have lost or gained that week. You don't have to share your total weight if you'd rather keep that to yourself. This is an honor system so we take the gain, loss or maintain you give us in order to tally. (Please make a new post each week)
If you are a new member and would like to join but don't have a weight to be counted for the week then you will be counted either as a body with a zero starting weight, or when you check in for the weekly weigh in the following week. Large amounts of weight lost over a period of months or weeks, prior to joining the weekly weigh in group, will not be counted towards the weekly total.
If you measure your weight in something other than pounds please convert the measurement to pounds.
All gains will be counted towards the total to encourage weekly participation. Posting is encouraged whether it's a gain, a loss, or a maintain.
You are welcome to share as little or as much as you want on your weight loss journey here in this thread. We encourage members of the group to talk to each other, cheer each other on and set goals together.
This thread is for the mutual support of all who wish to participate.
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