Welcome to the August Weigh-In Thread for Dr McDougall's Maximum Weight Loss Program.
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.
I don't know about all of you, but summer can wreak havoc on even my best laid weight-loss plans. Trying to lose weight is difficult. It's difficult to take it off, and difficult to keep it off. It takes continual effort and dedication over a very long period of time.
I know I'm not the only one who's tried multiple diet plans and yo-yo'd my weight up and down both sides of 200. I'm also beginning to realize that I'm not the only one who hasn't been able to take this amazingly effective MWL plan and follow it consistently and easily. I feel a bit better understanding I'm not the only one who struggles to get their body to do what their mind knows is best.
I thought it would be fun to share with you how I feel when I cycle off and on these best laid plans. Since I'm not a very eloquent writer, what better way to share emotions than through music.
I'll start with the getting off track part, this is when I'm eating pretty darn well, in my opinion, but a small bite here or an extra rich ingredient there and then...
Stage 1: Oh-Oh, my forays into craving-triggering foods have caught up with me:
Relapse, Shawn Hook
After this point, I begin to have many days in a row where I just can't seem to get to the end of the day without making food choices that I wished I hadn't, whether it's the type of food or the amount or both. Night-time eating begins to become a habit again and I begin to feel sad...
Stage 2: I'm not sure I can do this, I'm so disgusted with myself:
Say Something (I'm Giving Up On You), A Great Big World
This low point used to last for much longer than I'm proud to admit, but thanks to all of the information and support available on this website (book recommendations, recipes, newsletters, webinars, supportive people who have been following the plan for many years, access to the doctors and experts for advice), with a bit of diligence and understanding I begin to pull myself out of that funk...
Stage 3: Feeling Inspired to get out of the Pleasure Trap:
Fight Song, Rachel Platten
If I can keep up the momentum for a little less than a week or so things begin to get much easier...
Stage 4: Ok! I think I'm back on track:
Eye of the Tiger, Survivor
Now I just have to remember to follow the guidelines closely and not fall prey to the little temptations because I'm entering into a great spot where keeping the momentum going just gets easier and easier if I'm smart and careful and don't get too cocky!
Stage 5: Oh ya, this is what it's like to have room for other thoughts in my head...
Calm Happy place:
Peace Train, Cat Stevens
Dance-y Happy Place:
Fire In My Soul, Walk Off The Earth -this band is from my home town.
What plays in my head while chopping vegetables (when not listening to podcasts or webinars):
Bem Bem Maria, Gypsy Kings
If you've taken the time to read this far, please take one more minute to say Hi and join our little group for the month. I'd also love to know what songs others find particularly inspiring or motivating.
Talk to you all on Friday!
(Edited to fix an incorrect link)
Amy XO
PS. I'm hitting Stage 4 right now. Feeling plucky and motivated!
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.
I'm glad you managed to stay pretty even. That means you made some pretty okay choices too. It can be so disheartening to have to try and get back to a weight previously (recently) achieved. 
) I know if I am fully compliant I will start losing weight again.
I also find music expresses things so well. I am listening to Fight Song right now and am in tears, without being able to explain why. Thanks again for all the encouraging words and links to resources.
